Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- CHAP. I Introduction
- CHAP. II Contains some premises very necessary to be observed by every reader; and also an account of the Author's first Invisible visit
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with some passages which cannot fail of being entertaining to those not interested in them, and may be of service to those who are
- CHAP. IV Concludes an adventure of a very singular nature in its consequences
- CHAP. V Contains the history of a distress, which, according to the author's private opinion, is much more likely to excite laughter than commiseration
- CHAP. VI Shews, that tho' a remissness of care in the bringing up of children, can scarce fail of being attended with very bad consequences; yet that an over exact circumspection, in minute things, may sometimes prove equally pernicious to their future welfare
- CHAP. VII Will fully satisfy all the curiosity the former may have excited
- CHAP. VIII Contains a very brief account of some passages subsequent to the foregoing story, with the author's remarks upon the whole
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. II - Contains some premises very necessary to be observed by every reader; and also an account of the Author's first Invisible visit
from BOOK I
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- CHAP. I Introduction
- CHAP. II Contains some premises very necessary to be observed by every reader; and also an account of the Author's first Invisible visit
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with some passages which cannot fail of being entertaining to those not interested in them, and may be of service to those who are
- CHAP. IV Concludes an adventure of a very singular nature in its consequences
- CHAP. V Contains the history of a distress, which, according to the author's private opinion, is much more likely to excite laughter than commiseration
- CHAP. VI Shews, that tho' a remissness of care in the bringing up of children, can scarce fail of being attended with very bad consequences; yet that an over exact circumspection, in minute things, may sometimes prove equally pernicious to their future welfare
- CHAP. VII Will fully satisfy all the curiosity the former may have excited
- CHAP. VIII Contains a very brief account of some passages subsequent to the foregoing story, with the author's remarks upon the whole
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
It was in the beginning of that season of the year which affords most food for an enquiring mind, that I had got all things in order to sally forth on my Invisible Progressions; – the king was lately return'd from visiting his German dominions; – the august representatives of the whole body of the people were just ready to assemble; – Hanover had given back our statesmen, and Paris our fine gentlemen; – the expounders of the law were hurrying to Westminster-hall, and those of the gospel to pay their compliments at St. James's; – the ships of war were mostly moor'd, and their gallant commanders had quitted the rough athletic toil for the soft charms of ease and luxury; – the land heroes, who having no employment for their swords had pass'd their days in rural sports, now hunted after a different sort of game at the theatres and masquerades; – frequent consultations were held at the toylets of the ladies, on ways and means to outshine each other in the circle; – former amours were now revived, and new ones every day commenced; – madam Intelligence, with her thousand and ten thousand emissaries, all loaded with reports, some true, some false, flew swiftly thro' each quarter of this great metropolis; and had every pore of every human body been an ear, they all might have been fully gratified.
But tho' I confess myself to have been born with the most insatiable curiosity of knowing all that can be known, yet I could never depend upon the credit of common fame for the truth of any thing I heard; – always remembering mr. Dryden's words:
With wondrous art things done she magnifies
Feigns things not done, and mingles truth with lyes.
How pleasing therefore must this Gift of Invisibility be to a person of my inquisitive, and at the same time incredulous disposition; – a gift which enabled me to penetrate into the most hidden secrets, and be convinced of their veracity by the testimony of my own eyes and ears.
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- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 14 - 20Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014