Entertains his readers with two letters; the first is from _Tristitia Stale_, who complains that she is continually persecuted, merely because she is an old maid. Virginity, she says, has not always been a reproach, sees no encouragement in matrimony, and begs the _Spectator_ to reprimand the malaperts, who ridicule chastity; adds, that a single life in woman was esteem’d among the ancient as well as modern Romans; vestals then, and nuns now. The other letter is from _Charlotte Wilful_, a young lady of 19, who says she has two admirers. The first is ’squire _Scrape_, who has 1200_l._ _per annum_, which he keeps in his own hands and farms himself, and therefore is favour’d in his pretentions by her father. Mr _Myrtle_, her mother’s favourite, is the other, who, by his own account is near 40, by that of his acquaintance 10 years older, has squander’d away a good estate, but by the death of an uncle is now worth 1000_l._ _per annum_, and is a perfect humourist. But to both these she prefers Mr _Plume_ of the _Inner-Temple_, who has no estate, but is of a sweet temper. Concludes with desiring Mr _Stonecastle_ to declaim on parents making choices for their Children, with a stroke on antiquated beaus, and rural animals, and to recommend a fine gentleman with no fortune. Desires, by way of postscript, that he would not delay publishing her letter, because Mr _Plume_ and she had agreed to run away together on _Tuesday_ next. The Universal Spectator, _Jan. 30._ No. 121. Among all those amusements people find to pass away the time, _Poesy_ and _Musick_ are the most elegantly entertaining. By the ancients they were look’d upon as immediately inspired from above, and the professors reverenc’d as sacred, and the favourites of heaven. He adds, that we excel the ancients in musick, if not in poetry, and prefers a good _English_ song, tho’ set to a common tune, before the _Italian_ trifling unnatural compositions. The _one_ ravishes the ear only, the _other_ entertains the understanding also.----Hence he takes occasion to recommend _A collection of ~Lyric~ poems and songs with musick annexed_, lately publish’d. Free Briton, _Jan. 7._ No. 58. The author refutes a falsity advanced by Mr _D’anvers_ in the _Craftsman_ of the 13th of _Dec._ wherein, speaking of the riot-act, he says, “That an election of Church-wardens hath been already made a handle for putting this law in execution. That the master of a small vessel was kept a whole year in prison, to the loss of his voyage, and almost the ruin of his family, upon happening to go thro’ the church-yard, from visiting a friend, an hour after the proclamation was read. Nay, that the poor man might have run the hazard of his life, as well as have been put to further expences, if his late Majesty had not been graciously pleas’d to grant him a _Noli prosequi_.”