N.B.: _There is now in the Press, my Appeal to the Learned; Or my general Invitation to all Astrologers, Divines, Physicians, Lawyers, Mathematicians, Philologers, and to the_ Literati _of the whole World, to come and take their Places in the Common Court of Knowledge, and receive the Charge given in by me, against ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq., that most notorious Impostor in Science and illiterate Pretender to the Stars; where I shall openly convict him of ignorance in his profession, impudence and falsehood in every assertion, to the great detriment and scandal of Astrology. I shall further demonstrate to the Judicious, that France and Rome are at the bottom of this horrid conspiracy against me; and that the Culprit aforesaid is a Popish emissary, has paid his visits to St. Germains, and is now in the Measures of LEWIS XIV.; that in attempting my reputation, there is a general Massacre of Learning designed in these realms; and, through my sides, there is a wound given to all the Protestant_ Almanack _makers in the universe_. Vivat Regina! Not satisfied with this _Impartial Account_, when next Almanack time came (in the following November, 1708), PARTRIDGE's _Almanack_ for 1709 [P.P. 2465/8] contained the following: You may remember that there was a Paper published predicting my death upon the 29th March at night, 1708, and after the day was past, the same villain told the World I was dead, and how I died, and that he was with me at the time of my death. I thank GOD, by whose mercy I have my Being, that I am still alive, and (excepting my age) as well as ever I was in my life: as I was also at that 29th of March. And that Paper was said to be done by one BICKERSTAFF, Esq. But that was a sham name, it was done by an impudent lying fellow. But his Prediction did not prove true! What will he say to that? For the fool had considered the "Star of my Nativity" as he said. Why the truth is, he will be hard put to it to find a _salvo_ for his Honour. It was a bold touch! and he did not know but it might prove true. One hardly knows whether to wonder most at the self-delusion or credulity of this last paragraph by the old quack. This called forth from SWIFT: A VINDICATION OF ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq., &c. MR. PARTRIDGE hath been lately pleased to treat me after a very rough manner, in that which is called his _Almanack_ for the present year. Such usage is very undecent from one Gentleman to another, and does not at all contribute to the discovery of Truth, which ought to be the great End in all disputes of the Learned. To call a man, _fool_, and _villain_, and _impudent fellow_, only for differing from him in a point merely speculative, is, in my humble opinion, a very improper style for a person of his Education.