Page:The Present State of Wit - Gay (1711).djvu/23

 Swarms of Bees, the former immediately produc'd whole Swarms of little Satyrical Scriblers.

One of these Authors, call'd himself The Growler, and assur'd us, that to make amends for Mr. SteelSteele [sic]'s Silence, he was resolv'd to Growl at us Weekly, as long as we should think fit to give him any Encouragement. Another Gentleman, with more Modesty, call'd his Paper The Whisperer; and a Third, to Please the Ladies, Christen'd his, The Tell-Tale.

At the same time came out several Tatlers; each of which, with equal Truth and Wit, assur'd us, That he was the Genuine Isaac Bickerstaff.

It may be observ'd, That when the Esquire laid down his Pen, tho' he could not but foresee that several Scriblers would soon snatch it up, which he might, one would think, easily have prevented, he Scorn'd to take any further Care about it, but left the Field fairly open to any