The Virginia Gazette

The Fool, in the London Gazetteer humorously proposes a Scheme for preventing the Trouble and Fatigue of reading many Books, by Substituting Cuts and Pictures in the Room of tedious Histories, Poems, &c.

And after recommending it in several Instances, proceeds thus.

If this Undertaking meets with proper Encouragement, I hope we shall be supplied, in the same Way, with all that is material in the Roman, Grecian, and other ancient Historians. In like Manner, all the fabulous Stories of the Ancients may be recorded, and the Pencil make Homer and Virgil speak to our Eyes, in Images more striking and instructive than their groveling Pens can convey to a Reader of the soundest Judgment, and most lively Imagination: So that we may know, without reading Virgil, what passed between Aeneas and Dido in the Grotto: How she afterwards hanged herself, and upon what Account: How the Trojan Hero and his Followers fought with Harpies; and how they eat their Trenchers for want of Plates: And how the wooden Horse was introduced into the City of Troy; and what Heroes and Commanders lay concealed in its Belly, may be clearly seen only by peeping thro' its Ribs, without ever looking into the Grecian Bard for their Names.

The Transactions and memorable Events of our own Times might all be likewise recorded in this Manner, and with equal Advantage. A masterly Hand might give us a livelier Description or View of the Battle of Blenheim, than the Pen of the celebrated Addison: And so, in one Print, we may attain as just Notions of the Affair of F--nt--n-r-y, as the Nature of it will admit; and yet understand no more of the G---l's Dispositions, than we do of the Order of Battle between Abraham and the Four Kings, recorded in the 14th Chapter of Genesis. Then, as to daily, petty Occurrences, they may be as faithfully expressed as in a News-Paper, and generally with more Safety too: Such as the Adventure of the M--n--t--e Girl; the Affair of the Bottle Conjurer, with a View of the desperate Battle which ensued, how many Heads were broke, and how many Swords lost: As also, how many hundred Guineas a g---t G--l lately lost in Wagers and Bets at a Bear-Garden or Boxing-Match, &c. &c.---But the greatest Benefit accruing from my Project is yet behind.

For Example: Whores and Rakes of the Class need no more pester the Town with Apologies for their Conduct, Memoirs of their Lives, singular and surprising Adventures, &c. all they have to do, is to relate the most agreeable and delightful Part of their Life and Conversation to some eminent Artist, and the Publick will quickly be furnished with a faithful Representation of the most material Scenes, for the Instruction of Youth of both Sexes, who now purchase the Books, chiefly to learn what a Picture would make them complete Masters of in half a Minute, without spoiling their lovely Eyes, as many of them do, by poring too much upon obscene Memoirs and immoral Romances.

Thus, I hope, I have proposed an effectual Method to prevent the Increase of new Books, and render a vast Number of old Authors useless; and I doubt not but the Hint will be taken, and duly encouraged by all who have any Taste of modern, polite Knowledge; that so, half our Booksellers may, in a few Years, become Bankrupts, and begin the World again in a Print-shop. But, especially I would recommend Pictures, Statues and Busts of living and lately deceased Personages, eminent in Church or State, in the military or learned World; because we are not so liable to be imposed upon here, as in the Case of antique Figures; and as the Face is generally allowed to be the Index of the Mind, we may, consequently, by conversing with a Man's outward Form, come at the Knowledge of his intellectual Faculties, and find out all that is in his Soul: Just as I have seen a Room adorned with the Effigies of a Shakespeare, Milton, Addison, Dryden, Pope, Swift, &c. but not one Volume of theirs in the House: The Reason of which might be, that the Proprietor could not afford to stock himself with both, and so wisely preferred the Shadow to the Substance.