bickerstaff-partridge papers(比克一帕特拉奇文件)-第7节
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with me； but I am too tender of his reputation to publish them to the world。
That spirit of envy and pride； which blasts so many rising genius's in our
nation； is yet unknown among professors abroad： The necessity of
justifying myself will excuse my vanity； when I tell the reader that I have
near a hundred honorary letters from several parts of Europe （some as far
as Muscovy） in praise of my performance。 Besides several others； which；
as I have been credibly informed； were open'd in the post…office and never
sent me。 'Tis true the Inquisition in Portugal was pleased to burn my
predictions； and condem the author and readers of them； but I hope at the
same time； it will be consider'd in how deplorable a state learning lies at
present in that kingdom： And with the profoundest veneration for crown'd
heads； I will presume to add； that it a little concerned His Majesty of
Portugal； to interpose his authority in behalf of a scholar and a gentleman；
the subject of a nation with which he is now in so strict an alliance。 But
the other kingdoms and states of Europe have treated me with more candor
and generosity。 If I had leave to print the Latin letters transmitted to me
from foreign parts； they would fill a volume； and be a full defence against
all that Mr。 Partridge； or his accomplices of the Portugal Inquisition； will
be able to object； who； by the way； are the only enemies my predictions
have ever met with at home or abroad。 But I hope I know better what is
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due to the honour of a learned correspondence in so tender a point。 Yet
some of those illustrious persons will perhaps excuse me from transcribing
a passage or two in my own vindication。 The most learned Monsieur
Leibnits thus addresses to me his third letter： Illustrissimo Bickerstaffio
Astrologiae instauratori； etc。 Monsieur le Clerc； quoting my predictions in
a treatise he published last year； is pleased to say； Ita nuperrime
Bickerstaffius magnum illud Angliae fidus。 Another great professor
writing of me； has these words： Bickerstaffius； nobilis Anglus；
Astrologorum hujusce Saeculi facile Princeps。 Signior Magliabecchi； the
Great Duke's famous library…keeper； spends almost his whole letter in
compliments and praises。 'Tis true； the renowned Professor of Astronomy
at Utrecht； seems to differ from me in one article； but it is in a modest
manner； that becomes a philosopher； as； Pace tanti viri dixerim： And
pag。55； he seems to lay the error upon the printer （as indeed it ought） and
says； vel forsan error typographi； cum alioquin Bickerstaffius ver
doctissimus； etc。
If Mr。 Partridge had followed this example in the controversy between
us； he might have spared me the trouble of justifying myself in so publick
a manner。 I believe few men are readier to own their errors than I； or more
thankful to those who will please to inform me of them。 But it seems this
gentleman； instead of encouraging the progress of his own art； is pleased
to look upon all attempts of that kind as an invasion of his province。 He
has been indeed so wise to make no objection against the truth of my
predictions； except in one single point； relating to himself： And to
demonstrate how much men are blinded by their own partiality； I do
solemnly assure the reader； that he is the only person from whom I ever
heard that objection offered； which consideration alone； I think； will take
off all its weight。
With my utmost endeavours； I have not been able to trace above two
objections ever made against the truth of my last year's prophecies： The
first was of a French man； who was pleased to publish to the world； that
the Cardinal de Noailles was still alive； notwithstanding the pretended
prophecy of Monsieur Biquerstaffe： But how far a Frenchman； a papist；
and an enemy is to be believed in his own case against an English
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Protestant； who is true to his government； I shall leave to the candid and
impartial reader。
The other objection is the unhappy occasion of this discourse； and
relates to an article in my predictions； which foretold the death of Mr。
Partridge； to happen on March 29； 1708。 This he is pleased to contradict
absolutely in the almanack he has published for the present year； and in
that ungentlemanly manner （pardon the expression） as I have above
related。 In that work he very roundly asserts； That he is not only now alive；
but was likewise alive upon that very 29th of March； when I had foretold
he should die。 This is the subject of the present controversy between us；
which I design to handle with all brevity； perspicuity； and calmness： In this
dispute； I am sensible the eyes not only of England； but of all Europe； will
be upon us； and the learned in every country will； I doubt not； take part on
that side； where they find most appearance of reason and truth。
Without entering into criticisms of chronology about the hour of his
death； I shall only prove that Mr。 Partridge is not alive。 And my first
argument is thus： Above a thousand gentelmen having bought his
almanacks for this year； merely to find what he said against me； at every
line they read； they would lift up their eyes； and cry out； betwixt rage and
laughter； 〃They were sure no man alive ever writ such damn'd stuff as
this。〃 Neither did I ever hear that opinion disputed： So that Mr。 Partridge
lies under a dilemma； either of disowning his almanack； or allowing
himself to be 〃no man alive〃。 But now if an uninformed carcase walks still
about； and is pleased to call itself Partridge； Mr。 Bickerstaff does not think
himself any way answerable for that。 Neither had the said carcase any
right to beat the poor boy who happen'd to pass by it in the street； crying；
〃A full and true account of Dr。 Partridge's death； etc。〃
Secondly； Mr。 Partridge pretends to tell fortunes； and recover stolen
goods； which all the parish says he must do by conversing with the devil
and other evil spirits： And no wise man will ever allow he could converse
personally with either； till after he was dead。
Thirdly； I will plainly prove him to be dead out of his own almanack
for this year； and from the very passage which he produces to make us
think him alive。 He there says； 〃He is not only now alive； but was also
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alive on the very 29th of March； which I foretold he should die on〃： By
this； he declares his opinion； that a man may be alive now； who was not
alive a twelvemonth ago。 And indeed； there lies the sophistry of this
argument。 He dares not assert； he was alive ever since that 29th of March；
but that he is now alive； and was so on that day： I grant the latter； for he
did not die till night； as appears by the printed account of his death； in a
letter to a lord； and whether he is since revived I leave the world to judge。
This indeed is perfect cavilling； and I am ashamed to dwell any longer
upon it。
Fourthly； I will appeal to Mr。 Partridge himself； whether it be probable
I could have been so indiscreet； to begin my predictions with the only
falsehood that ever was pretended to be in them； and this in an affair at
home； where I had so many opportunities to be exact； and must have given
such advantages against me to a person of Mr。 Partridge's wit and learning；
who； if he could possibly have raised one single objection more against
the truth of my prophecies； would hardly have spared me。
And here I must take occasion to reprove the above mention'd writer
of the relation of Mr。 Partridge's death； in a letter to a lord； who was
pleased to tax me with a mistake of four whole hours in my calculation of
that event。 I mu
