STEELE'S PREFACE TO THE TATLER. place, and the greatest pleasures of it, I owe to its being so near those beautiful manors wherein you sometimes reside. It is not retiring from the world, but enjoying its most valuable blessings, when a man is permitted to share in your lordship's conversations in the country. All the bright images which the wits of past ages have left behind them in their writings, the noble plans which the greatest statesmen have laid down for administration of affairs, are equally the familiar objects of your knowledge. But what is peculiar to your lordship above all the illustrious personages that have appeared in any age, is, that wit and learning have from your example fallen into a new æra. Your patronage has produced those arts, which before shunned the commerce of the world, into the service of life; and it is to you we owe, that the man of wit has turned himself to be a man of business. The false delicacy of men of genius, and the objections which others were apt to insinuate against their abilities for entering into affairs have equally vanished. And experience has shown, that men of letters are not only qualified with a greater capacity, but also a 9 greater integrity in the despatch of business. Your own studies have been diverted from being the highest ornament, to the highest use to mankind; and the capacities which would have rendered you the greatest poet of your age, have, to the advantage of Great Britain, been employed in pursuits which have made you the most able and unbiassed patriot. A vigorous imagination, an extensive apprehension, and a ready judgment, have distinguished you in all the illustrious parts of administration, in a reign attended with such difficulties, that the same talents, without the same quickness in the possession of them, would have been incapable of conquering. The natural success of such abilities, has advanced you to a seat in that illustrious house, where you were received by a crowd of your relations. Great as you are in your honours, and personal qualities, I know you will forgive an humble neighbour the vanity of pretending to a place in your friendship, and subscribing himself, my lord, your lordship's most obliged, and most devoted servant, RICHARD STEELE. PREFACE TO THE OCTAVO EDITION, 1710. In the last Tatler I promised some explana-] tion of passages and persons mentioned in this work, as well as some account of the assistances I have had in the performance. I shall do this in very few words; for when a man has no design but to speak plain truth, he may say a great deal in a very narrow compass. I have, in the dedication of the first volume, made my acknow. ledgments to Dr. Swift, whose pleasant writings, in the name of Bickerstaff, created an inclination in the town towards any thing that could appear in the same disguise. I must acknowledge also, that, at my first entering upon this work, a certain uncommon way of thinking, and a turn in conversation peculiar to that agreeable gentleman, rendered his company very advantageous to one whose imagination was to be continually employed upon obvious and common subjects, though, at the same time, obliged to treat of them in a new and unbeaten method. His verses on the 'Shower in Town,' and the 'Description of the Morning,' are instances of the happiness of that genius, which could raise such pleasing ideas upon occasions so barren to an ordinary invention. ceived by the public. But I have only one gentleman, who will be nameless, to thank for any frequent assistance to me, which indeed it would have been barbarous in him to have denied to one with whom he has lived in an intimacy from childhood, considering the great ease with which he is able to despatch the most entertaining pieces of this nature. This good office he performed with such force of genius, humour, wit, and learning, that I fared like a distressed prince, who calls in a powerful neighbour to his aid; I was undone by my auxiliary; when I had once called him in, I could not subsist without dependence on him. The same hand writ the distinguishing characters of men and women under the names of Musical Instruments,' 'The Distress of the News-writers,' 'The Inventory of the Playhouse,' and The description of the Thermometer,' which I cannot but look upon as the greatest embellishments of this work. Thus far I thought necessary to say relating to the great hands which have been concerned in these volumes, with relation to the spirit and genius of the work; and am far from pretendWhen I am upon the house of Bickerstaff, I ing to modesty in making this acknowledgment. must not forget that genealogy of the family What a man obtains from the good opinion and sent to me by the post, and written, as I since friendship of worthy men, is a much greater understand, by Mr. Twisden, who died at the honour than he can possibly reap from any acbattle of Mons, and has a monument in West- complishments of his own. But all the credit minster abbey, suitable to the respect which is of wit which was given me by the gentlemen due to his wit and his valour. There are through above-mentioned, with whom I have now acthe course of the work, very many incidents counted, has not been able to atone for the exwhich were written by unknown correspond- ceptions made against me for some raillery in ents. Of this kind is the tale in the second behalf of that learned advocate for the episcoTatler, and the epistle from Mr. Downes the pacy of the church, and the liberty of the peoprompter, with others which were very well re-ple, Mr. Hoadly. I mentioned this only to de B 10 STEELE'S PREFACE TO THE TATLER. was calm before, I am apt to fly out again, when the thing that first disturbed me is presented to my imagination. I shall therefore leave off when I am well, and fight with windmills no more; only shall be so arrogant as to say of myself, that, in spite of all the force of fashion and prejudice, in the face of all the world, I alone bewailed the condition of an English gentleman, whose fortune and life are at this day precarious; while his estate is liable to the demands of gamesters, through a false sense of justice; and to the demands of duellists, through a false sense of honour. As to the first of these orders of men, I have not one word more to fend myself against the imputation of being | indeed, like one of those knights too, though I moved rather by party than opinion; and I think it is apparent. I have, with the utmost frankness, allowed merit wherever I found it, though joined in interests different from those for which I have declared myself. When my Favonius is acknowledged to be Dr. Smallridge, and the amiable character of the Dean in the sixty-sixth Tatler, drawn for Dr. Atterbury, I hope I need say no more as to my impartiality. I really have acted in these cases with honesty, and am concerned it should be thought otherwise; for wit, if a man had it, unless it be directed to some useful end, is but a wanton frivolous quality; all that one should value himself upon in this kind is, that he had some hon-say of them; as to the latter, I shall conclude all ourable intention in it. I have more to offer against them, with respect As for this point, never hero in romance was to their being prompted by the fear of shame, carried away with a more furious ambition to by applying to the duellist what I think Dr. conquer giants and tyrants, than I have been South says some where of the liar, 'He is a in extirpating gamesters and duellists. And I coward to man, and a bravo to God.' THE TATLER. No. 1.] Tuesday, April 12, 1709. Quicquid agunt homines Nostri est farrago libelli. Juv. Sat. i. 85, 86. P. 'Whate'er men do, or say, or think, or dream, Our motley paper seizes for its theme.' THOUGH the other papers, which are published for the use of the good people of England, have certainly very wholesome effects, and are laudable in their particular kinds, they do not seem to come up to the main design of such narrations; which, I humbly presume, should be principally intended for the use of political persons, who are so public-spirited as to neglect title of Grecian;t foreign and domestic news you will have from Saint James's Coffee-house; and what else I have to offer on any other subject shall be dated from my own apartment. own parts, the power of divination, and that I ringly, and speak but of few things until they White's Chocolate-house, April 7. "I once more desire my reader to consider, that as I cannot keep an ingenious man to go daily to Will's under twopence each day, merely for his charges; to White's under sixpence ; nor to the Grecian, without allowing him some plain table; and that a good observer cannot speak Spanish, to be as able as others at the learned with even Kidney at Saint James's without clean linen; I say, these considerations will, I hope, make all persons willing to comply with their own affairs to look into transactions of state. Now these gentlemen, for the most part, exhausted) of a penny a-piece; especially since my humble request (when my gratis stock is being persons of strong zeal and weak intellects, they are sure of some proper amusement, and it is both a charitable and necessary work to that it is impossible for me to want means to offer something whereby such worthy and well-entertain them; having, besides the force of my affected members of the commonwealth may be instructed, after their reading, what to think; which shall be the end and purpose of this my paper, wherein I shall from time to time report and consider all matters, of what kind soever, that shall occur to me, and publish such my ad. vices and reflections every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in the week, for the convenience of the post. I resolve to have something which may be of entertainment to the fair-sex, in honour of whom I have invented the title of this paper. I therefore earnestly desire all persons, without distinction, to take it in for the present, gratis, and hereafter, at the price of one penny, forbidding all hawkers to take more for it at their peril. And I desire all persons to consider, that I am at a very great charge for proper materials for this work, as well as that, before I resolved upon it, I had settled a correspon dence in all parts of the known and knowing world. And forasmuch as this globe is not trodden upon by mere drudges of business only, but that men of spirit and genius are justly to be esteemed as considerable agents in it, we shall not, upon a dearth of news, present you with musty foreign edicts, or dull proclamations, but shall divide our relation of the passages which occur in action or discourse throughout this town, as well as elsewhere, under such dates of places as may prepare you for the matter are to expect, in the following manner. "All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of White's Chocolate-house ;* poetry, under that of Will's Coffee-house;† learning, under the you *White's Chocolate-house was then on the west side of St. James's-street. "Will's Coffee-house was on the north side of Russel-street, Covent garden, where the wits of that time The deplorable condition of a very pretty gentleman, who walks here at the hours when lamented. His history is, that on the ninth of men of quality first appear, is what is much very September, 1705, being in his one-and-twentieth dow in Pall-Mall, when a fine equipage passed year, he was washing his teeth at a tavern winhim; away goes the coach, and the young genby, and in it a young lady who looked up at tleman pulled off his night cap, and instead of window until about four of the clock, sits him rubbing his gums, as he ought to do, out of the down and spoke not a word until twelve at body knew the lady?-The company asked night; after which, he began to inquire if any what lady? but he said no more, until they broke up at six in the morning. All the ensuing winter he went from church to church every Sunday, and from play-house to play-house used to assemble, and where Dryden had, when he lived, the Strand; probably the most ancient coffee-house in The Grecian was, and still is, in Devereux-court in No. 3. every night in the week; but could never find the original of the picture which dwelt in his bosom. In a word, his attention to any thing but his passion was utterly gone. He has lost all the money he ever played for, and been confuted in every argument he has entered upon, since the moment he first saw her. He is of a noble family, has naturally a very good air, and is of a frank, honest temper; but this passion has so extremely mauled him, that his features are set and uninformed, and his whole visage is deadened by a long absence of thought. He never appears in any alacrity but when raised by wine; at which time he is sure to come hither and throw away a great deal of wit on fellows who have no sense further than just to observe, that our poor lover has most understanding when he is drunk, and is least in his senses when he is sober.* The reader is desired to take notice of the article from this place, from time to time, for I design to be very exact in the progress this unhappy gentleman makes, which may be of great instruction to all who actually are, or who ever shall be in love. Will's Coffee-house, April 8. this gentleman, they pitied Mark Anthony of Rome, Hamlet of Denmark, Mithridates of Pon tus, Theodosius of Greece, and Henry the Eighth of England. It is well known, he has been in the condition of each of those illustrious personages for several hours together, and behaved himself in those high stations, in all the changes of the scene, with suitable dignity. For these reasons, we intend to repeat this late favour to him on a proper occasion, lest he, who can instruct us so well in personating feigned sorrows, should be lost to us by suffering under real ones.* The town is at present in very great expectation of seeingt a comedy now in rehearsal, which is the twenty-fifth production of my honoured friend Mr. Thomas D'Urfey; who, besides his great abilities in the dramatic, has a particular talent in the lyric way of writ ing, and that with a manner wholly new and unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans, wherein he is but faintly imitated in the translation of the modern Italian operas. St. James's Coffee-house, April 11. Letters from the Hague of the sixteenth, say that Major-general Cadogan was gone to Brussels, with orders to disperse proper instructions for assembling the whole force of the allies in Flanders, in the beginning of the next month. The late offers concerning peace were made in the style of persons who think themselves upon equal terms; but the allies have so just a sense of their present advantages, that they will not admit of a treaty, except France offers what is more suitable to her present condition. At the same time, we make preparations as if we were alarmed by a greater force than that which we are carrying into the field. Thus this point seems now to be argued sword in hand. This was what a great generalt alluded to, when being asked the names of those who were to be plenipotentiaries for the ensuing peace, he answered with a serious air, "There are about a hundred thousand of us." Mr. Kidney, who has the ear of the greatest politicians that come hither, tells me, there is a mail come in to-day with letters, dated Hague, April the nineteenth, N. S. which say, a design of bringing part of our troops into the field, at the latter end of this month, is now altered to a resolution of march On Thursday last was acted, for the benefit of Mr. Betterton, the celebrated comedy called Love for Love. Those excellent players, Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Bracegirdle, and Mr. Dogget, though not at present concerned in the house, acted on that occasion. There has not been known so great a concourse of persons of distinction as at that time; the stage itself was covered with gentlemen and ladies, and when the curtain was drawn, it discovered even there, a very splendid audience. This unusual encouragement, which was given to a play for the advantage of so great an actor, gives an undeniable instance, that the true relish for manly entertainments and rational pleasures is not wholly lost. All the parts were acted to perfection: the actors were careful of their carriage, and no one was guilty of the affectation to insert witticisms of his own; but a due respect was had to the audience for encouraging this accomplished player. It is not now doubted but plays will revive, and take their usual place in the opinion of persons of wit and merit, notwithstanding their late apostacy in favour of dressing towards the camp about the twentieth of and sound. This place is very much altered since Mr. Dryden frequented it; where you used to see songs, epigrams, and satires, in the hands of every man you met, you have now only a pack of cards; and instead of the cavils about the turn of the expression, the elegance of the style, and the like, the learned now dispute only about the truth of the game. But however the company is altered, all have shown a great respect for Mr. Betterton; and the very gaming part of this house have been so touched with a sense of the uncertainty of human affairs (which alter with themselves every moment) that in Edward Lord Viscount Hinchinbroke, mentioned afterwards under the name of Cynthio. He died in the lifetime of his father, Oct. 3, 1722. See No. 5, and No. 22. † By Congreve. Published in quarto, 1695. the next. Prince Eugene was then returned thither from Amsterdam. He sets out from Brussels on Tuesday: the greater number of the general officers at the Hague, have orders to go at the same time. The squadron at Dunkirk consists of seven vessels. There happened the other day, in the road of Scheveling, an engagement between a privateer of Zeeland and one of Dunkirk. The Dunkirker, carrying thirty-three pieces of cannon was taken and * Thomas Betterton. justly esteemed the Roscius of his age, was born in 1635, came upon the stage in 1656, and continued on it with great reputation more than fifty years. He died April 28, 1710. "The Modern Prophets, c. quarto, 1709, his twentyseventh production, according to the list of his plays in Biog. Dram. See Tat. No. 11, and note; and No. 43. The duke of Marlborough. brought into the Texel. It is said, the courier of Monsieur Rouille is returned to him from the court of France. Monsieur Vendosme, being reinstated in the favour of the dutchess of Burgundy, is to command in Flanders. Mr. Kidney added, that there were letters of the seventeenth from Ghent, which give an account that the enemy had formed a design to surprise two battalions of the allies which lay at Alost; but those battalions received advice of their march, and retired to Dendermond. Lieutenant-general Wood appeared on this occasion at the head of five thousand foot, and one thousand horse; upon which, the enemy withdrew without making any farther attempt. From my own Apartment. I am sorry I am obliged to trouble the public with so much discourse upon a matter which I at the very first mentioned as a trifle, viz. the death of Mr. Partridge,* under whose name there is an almanack come out for the year 1709; in one page of which, it is asserted by the said John Partridge, that he is still living; and not only so, but that he was also living some time before, and even at the instant when I writ of his death. I have in another place, and in a paper by itself, sufficiently convinced this man that he is dead, and, if he has any shame, I do not doubt but that by this time he owns it to all his acquaintance; for though the legs and arms and whole body of that man my still appear, and perform their animal functions; yet since, as I have elsewhere observed, his art is gone, the man is gone. I am, as I said, concerned that this little matter should make so much noise; but since I am engaged, I take myself obliged in honour to go on in my lucubrations, and by the help of these arts, of which I am master, as well as my skill in astrological speculations, I shall, as I see occasion, proceed to confute other dead men who pretend to be in being, although they are actually deceased. I therefore give all men fair warning to mend their manners; for I shall, from time to time, print bills of mortality; and I beg the pardon of all such who shall be named therein, if they who are good for nothing shall find themselves in the number of the deceased. happened among my acquaintance. A young gentleman of a great estate, fell desperately in love with a great beauty of very high quality, but as ill-natured as long flattery and an habitual self-will could make her. However, my young spark ventures upon her like a man of quality, without being acquainted with her, or having ever saluted her until it was a crime to kiss any woman else. Beauty is a thing which palls with possession; and the charms of this lady soon wanted the support of good-humour and complacency of manners Upon this, my spark flies to the bottle for relief from satiety. She disdains him for being tired with that for which all men envied him; and he never came home, but it was-"Was there no sot that would stay longer? would any man living but you? did I leave all the world for this usage?" to which, he-" Madam, split me, you are very impertinent!" In a word, this match was wedlock in its most terrible appearances. She, at last, weary of railing to no purpose, applies to a good uncle, who gives her a bottle he pretended he had bought of Mr. Partridge the conjurer. "This," said he, "I gave ten guineas for. The virtue of the enchanted liquor (said he that sold it) is such, that if the woman you marry proves a scold, (which it seems, my dear niece, is your misfortune, as it was your good mother's before you,) let her hold three spoonfuls in her mouth for a full half hour after you come home-" But I find I am not in humour for telling a tale, and nothing in nature is so ungraceful as story-telling against the grain; therefore take it as the author has given it you. THE MEDICINE. A Tale-for the Ladies. Miss Molly, a famed toast, was fair and young, Had wealth and charms-but then she had a tongue! From morn to night th' eternal larum run, Which often lost those hearts her eyes had won. Sir John was smitten, and confessed his flame, Sighed out the usual time, then wed the dame; Oft as the watchful bell-man marched his round, "Hey! hoop! d'ye hear my damned obstreperous spouse, |