No. 347. Tuesday, April 8, 1712 I [BUDGELL. Quis furor, o cives! quæ tanta licentia ferri! DO not question but my country readers have been very much surprised at the several accounts they have met with in our public papers of that species of men among us lately known by the name of Mohocks.1 I find the opinions of the learned as to their origin and designs are altogether various, insomuch that very many begin to doubt whether indeed there were ever any such society of men. The terror which spread itself over the whole nation some years since, on account of the Irish, is still fresh in most people's memories, though it afterwards appeared there was not the least ground for that general consternation. The late panic fear was, in the opinion of many deep and penetrating persons, of the same nature. These will have it that the Mohocks are like those spectres and apparitions which frighten several towns. and villages in her Majesty's dominions, though they were never seen by any of the inhabitants. Others are apt to think that these Mohocks are a kind of bull-beggars, first invented by prudent married men and masters of families, in order to deter their wives and daughters from taking the air at unseasonable hours; and that when they tell them the Mohocks will catch them, it is a caution of the same nature with that of our forefathers, when they bid their children have a care of Raw Head and Bloody Bones. 1 See No. 324. 2 Something terrible, used to frighten children. Cf. Tatler, No. 212. For my own part I am afraid there was too much reason for that great alarm the whole city has been in upon this occasion; though at the same time I must own that I am in some doubt whether the following pieces are genuine and authentic, and the more so, because I am not fully satisfied that the name by which the Emperor subscribes himself is altogether conformable to the Indian orthography. I shall only further inform my readers that it was some time since I received the following letter and manifesto, though for particular reasons I did not think fit to publish them till now: 'FINDING that our earnest endeavours for the good of mankind have been basely and maliciously represented to the world, we send you enclosed our imperial manifesto, which it is our will and pleasure that you forthwith communicate to the public, by inserting it in your next daily paper. We do not doubt of your ready compliance in this particular, and therefore bid you heartily farewell. (Signed) TAW WAW EBEN ZAN KALADAR, Emperor of the Mohocks. ""The Manifesto of TAW WAW EBEN ZAN KALADAR, Emperor of the Mohocks. WHEREAS we have received information from sundry quarters of this great and populous city of several outrages committed on the legs, arms, noses, and other parts of the good people of England by such as have styled themselves our subjects; in order to vindicate our imperial dignity from those false aspersions which have been cast on it, as if we ourselves might have encouraged or abetted any such practices; we have, by these presents, thought fit to signify our utmost abhorrence and detestation of all such tumultuous and irregular proceedings; and do hereby further give notice that if any person or persons has or have suffered any wound, hurt, damage, or detriment, in his or their limb or limbs, otherwise than shall be hereafter specified, the said person or persons, upon applying themselves to such as we shall appoint for the inspection and redress of the grievances aforesaid, shall be forthwith committed to the care of our principal surgeon, and be cured at our own expense in some one or other of those hospitals which we are now erecting for that purpose. "And to the end that no one may, either through ignorance or inadvertency, incur those penalties which we have thought fit to inflict on persons of loose and dissolute lives, we do hereby notify to the public that if any man be knocked down or assaulted while he is employed in his lawful business at proper hours, that it is not done by our order: and we do hereby permit and allow any such person so knocked down or assaulted to rise again, and defend himself in the best manner that he is able. "We do also command all and every our good subjects that they do not presume, upon any pretext whatsoever, to issue and sally forth from their respective quarters till between the hours of eleven and twelve. That they never 'tip the lion'1 upon man, woman, or child till the clock at St. Dunstan's shall have struck one. 1 Tipping the lion' was squeezing a person's nose flat to his face with the thumb. "That the 'sweat' be never given but between the hours of one and two; always provided that our Hunters may begin to hunt a little after the close of the evening, anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding. Provided also that if ever they are reduced to the necessity of 'pinking,' it shall always be in the most fleshy parts, and such as are least exposed to view. 1 "It is also our imperial will and pleasure that our good subjects the Sweaters do establish their hummums in such close places, alleys, nooks, and corners, that the patient or patients may not be in danger of catching cold. That the Tumblers, to whose care we chiefly commit the female sex, confine themselves to Drury Lane and the purlieus of the Temple; and that every other party and division of our subjects do each of them keep within the respective quarters we have allotted to them. Provided, nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall in any wise be construed to extend to the Hunters, who have our full licence and permission to enter into any part of the town wherever their game shall lead them. "And whereas we have nothing more at our imperial heart than the reformation of the cities of London and Westminster, which to our unspeakable satisfaction we have in some measure already effected, 1 Baths, from the Arabic hammam.' The Hummums in Covent Garden was one of the earliest of these bagnios established in London. The following advertisement is from the Postman for November 18, 1701: This is to give notice, that at the Hummums, in Covent Garden, persons may sweat in the cleanest and be cupped after the newest manner. There is likewise good lodgings for any persons who choose to lodge there all night. The price, as was always, for sweating and bathing, is 5s. 6d. ; for two in a room, 8s.; but who lodge there all night, 10s.' we do hereby earnestly pray and exhort all husbands, fathers, housekeepers, and masters of families, in either of the aforesaid cities, not only to repair themselves to their respective habitations at early and seasonable hours; but also to keep their wives and daughters, sons, servants, and apprentices, from appearing in the streets at those times and seasons which may expose them to military discipline, as it is practised by our good subjects the Mohocks; and we do further promise, on our imperial word, that as soon as the reformation aforesaid shall be brought about, we will forthwith cause all hostilities to cease. ""Given from our Court at the Devil Tavern, March 15, 1712. No. 348. X. Wednesday, April 9, 1712 [STEELE. Invidiam placare paras, virtute relicta? 'Mr. SPECTATOR, 'I -HOR., 2 Sat. iii. 13. HAVE not seen you lately at any of the places where I visit, so that I am afraid you are wholly unacquainted with what passes among my part of the world, who are, though I say it, without controversy, the most accomplished and best bred of the town. Give me leave to tell you, that I am extremely discomposed when I hear scandal, and am an utter enemy to all manner of detraction, and think it the greatest meanness that people of distinction. can be guilty of. However, it is hardly possible to come into company, where you do not find them pulling one another to pieces, and that from no other |