“A politician should (as I have read)

Be furnish’d in the first place with a head.”

One of our old writers gives it as his opinion, that “there are onlie two subjects which are worthie the studie of a wise man,” i.e. religion and politics. For the first, it does not come under inquiry in this print — but certain it is, that too sedulously studying the second, has frequently involved its votaries in many most tedious and unprofitable disputes, and been the source of much evil to many well-meaning and honest men. Under this class comes the Quidnunc here pourtrayed; it is said to be intended for a Mr. Tibson, laceman, in the Strand, who paid more attention to the affairs of Europe, than to those of his own shop. He is represented in a style somewhat similar to that in which Schalcken painted William the third — hold............