contending mothers before Solomon; the true | ness of temper, which is naturally an enemy to one was easily discovered from the pretender, by refusing to see his offspring dissected.

extraordinary merit. It is from this, that libel and satire are promiscuously joined together in the notions of the vulgar, though the satirist and libeller differ as much as the magistrate and the murderer. In the consideration of human life, the satirist never falls upon persons who are not glaringly faulty, and the libeller on none but who are conspicuously commendable. Were I to expose any vice in a good or great man, it should certainly be by correcting it in some one where that crime was the most distinguishing part of the character; as pages are chastised for the admonition of princes.* When it is performed otherwise, the vicious are kept in credit, by placing men of merit in the same accusation. But all the pasquils, lampoons, and libels we meet with now-a-days are a sort of playing with the four-and-twenty letters, and throwing them into names and characters, without sense, truth, or wit. In this case, I am in great perplexity to know whom they mean, and should be in distress for those they abuse, if I did not see their judgment and ingenuity in those they commend. This is the true way of examining a libel; and when men consider, that no one man living thinks the better of their heroes and patrons for the panegyric given them, none can think themselves lessened by their invective. The hero or patron in a libel is but a scavenger to carry off the dirt, and by that very employment is the filthiest creature in the street. Dedications and panegyrics are frequently ridiculous, let them be addressed where they will; but at the front, or in the body of a libel, to commend a man, is saying to the persons applauded, My Lord, or Sir, I have pulled down all men that the rest of the world think great and honourable, and here is a clear stage; you may, as you please be valiant or wise; you may choose to be on the military or civil list; for there is no one brave who commands, or just who has power. You may rule the world now it is empty, which exploded you when it was full: I have knocked out the brains of all whom mankind thought good for any thing; and I doubt not but you will regard that invention, which found out the only expedient to make your lordship, or your worship, of any consideration.'

I KNOW no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception; which proceeds (where men do not do it to introduce malice, and make calumny more effectual) from the common error of considering man as a perfect creature. But, if we rightly examine things, we shall find that there is a sort of economy in providence, that one shall excel where another is defective, in order to make men more useful to each other, and mix them in society. This man having this talent, and that man another, is as necessary in conversation, as one professing one trade, and another another, is beneficial in commerce. The happiest climate does not produce all things; and it was so ordered, that one part of the earth should want the product of another, for uniting mankind in a general correspondence and good understanding. It is, therefore, want of good sense as well as good nature, to say Simplicius has a better judgment, but not so much wit as Latius; for that these have not each other's capacities is no more a diminution to either than if you should say, Simplicius is not Latius, or Latius not Simplicius. The heathen world had so little notion that perfection was to be expected amongst men, that among them any one qual. ity or endowment in an heroic degree made a god. Hercules had strength; but it was never objected to him that he wanted wit. Apollo presided over wit, and it was never asked whether he had strength. We hear no exceptions against the beauty of Minerva, or the wisdom of Venus. These wise heathens were glad to immortalize any one serviceable gift, and overlook all imperfections in the person who had it. But with us it is far otherwise, for we reject many eminent virtues, if they are accompanied with one apparent weakness. The reflecting after this manner made me account for the strange delight men take in reading lampoons and scandal, with which the age abounds, and of which I receive frequent complaints. Upon mature consideration, I find it is principally for this reason, that the worst of mankind, the libellers, receive so much encouragement in the world. The low race of men take a secret pleasure in finding an eminent character levelled to their condition by a report of its defects; and keep themselves in countenance, though they are excelled in a thousand virtues, if they believe they have in common *This alludes to a practice, long prevalent in England, with a great person any one fault. The libeller of whipping the royal children by proxy. The curious falls in with this humour, and gratifies this base-kin's Hist. of Music.

Had I the honour to be in a libel, and had escaped the approbation of the author, I should look upon it exactly in this manner. But though it is a thing thus perfectly indifferent who is exalted or debased in such performances, yet it is not so with relation to the authors of them; therefore, I shall, for the good of my country, hereafter, take upon me to punish these wretches. What is already passed may die away according to its nature, and continue in its present oblivion; but, for the future, I shall take notice of such enemies to honour and virtue, and preserve them to immortal infamy. Their names shall give fresh offence many ages hence, and be detested a thousand years after the commission of their crime. It shall

may find an account of this custom, in sir John Haw.

not avail, that these children of infamy publish | very moderate ambition in this particular. His their works under feigned names; or under name, it seems, is Charles Lillie, and he recom none at all; for I am so perfectly well acquainted mends himself to my observation as one that with the styles of all my contemporaries, that I sold snuff, next door to the Fountain tavern, in shall not fail of doing them justice, with their the Strand, and was burnt out when he began to proper names, and at their full length. Let have a reputation in his way. those miscreants, therefore, enjoy their present act of oblivion, and take care how they offend hereafter.

where I am at this present writing. Not to keep | he had got his trunk and his books all packed you in suspense, it comes to you from the top up to be transported into foreign parts, for no of the highest mountain in Switzerland, where reason but because the boy never talked; and I am now shivering among the eternal frosts his father said, he wanted to know the world. and snows. I can scarce forbear dating it in I could not say to a fond parent that the boy December, though they call it the first of August was dull; but looked grave, and told him, 'the at the bottom of the mountain. I assure you I youth was very thoughtful, and I feared he can hardly keep my ink from freezing in the might have some doubts about religion, with middle of the dog-days. I am here entertained which it was not proper to go into Roman with the prettiest variety of snow-prospects that catholic countries.' He is accordingly kept you can imagine; and have several pits of it here until he declares himself upon some points, before me, that are very near as old as the which I am sure he will never think of. By mountain itself; for in this country, it is as last- this means I have prevented the dishonour of ing as marble. I am now upon a spot of it, having a fool of our house laughed at in all which they tell me fell about the reign of Char- parts of Europe. He is now with his father lemagne, or king Pepin. The inhabitants of upon his own estate, and he has sent to me to the country are as great curiosities as the coun- get him a wife, which I shall do with all contry itself. They generally hire themselves out venient speed; but it shall be such a one whose in their youth, and if they are musket-proof good-nature shall hide his faults, and good sense until about fifty, they bring home the money they supply them. The truth of it is, that race is of have got, and the limbs they have left, to pass the true British kind. They are of our country the rest of their time among their native moun- only; it hurts them to transplant them, and they tains. One of the gentlemen of the place, who are destroyed if you pretend to improve them. is come off with the loss of an eye only, told me, Men of this solid make are not to be hurried up by way of boast, that there were now seven and down the world, for, if I may so speak, they wooden legs in his family; and that, for these are naturally at their wit's end; and it is an four generations, there had not been one in his impertinent part to disturb their repose, that line that carried a whole body with him to the they may give you only a history of their bodily grave. I believe you will think the style of this occurrences, which is all they are capable of letter a little extraordinary: but the Rehearsal* observing. Harry had an elder brother, who will tell you, that people in clouds must not be was tried in this way; I remember all he could confined to speak sense; and I hope we that talk of at his return was, 'That he had like to are above them may claim the same privilege. have been drowned at such a place; he fell out Wherever I am, I shall always be, Sir, your of a chaise at another; he had a better stomach most obedient, most humble servant.' when he moved northward than when he turned his course to the parts in the south, and so forth. It is, therefore, very much to be considered, what sense a person has of things when he is friends and acquaintance but by their clothes setting out; and, if he then knows none of his and faces, it is my humble opinion, that he stay at home. His parents should take care to marry A gentleman who is apt to expatiate upon him, and see what they can get out of him that any hint, took this occasion to deliver his opin-way; for there is a certain sort of men, who are ion upon our ordinary method of sending young gentlemen to travel for their education. It is certain,' said he, ' if gentlemen travel at an age proper for them, during the course of their voyages, their accounts to their friends, and, after their return, their discourse and conversa

I think they ought, in those parts where the materials are so easy to work, and at the same time so durable, when any of their heroes come home from the wars, to erect his statue in snow upon the mountains, there to remain from generation to generation.

tions will have in them something above what we can meet with, from those who have not had those advantages.' At the same time, it is to be observed, that every temper and genius is not qualified for this way of improvement. Men may change their climate, but they cannot their nature. A man that goes out a fool, cannot ride or sail himself into common sense. Therefore, let me but walk over London-bridge with a young man, and I will tell you infallibly whether going over the Rialto at Venice will make him

wiser.

It is not to be imagined how many I have saved in my time from banishment, by letting their parents know they were good for nothing. But this is to be done with much tenderness. There is my cousin Harry has a son, who is the dullest mortal that ever was born into our house;

* A comedy written by the duke of Buckingham.

no otherwise to be regarded but as they descend from men of consequence, and may beget valuable successors; and, if we consider that men are to be esteemed only as they are useful, while a stupid wretch is at the head of a great family, we may say, the race is suspended, as properly as when it is all gone, we say it is extinct.

1

From my own Apartment, November 11.

I had several hints and advertisements from

way

unknown hands, that some, who are enemies to
my labours, design to demand the fashionable
brations have given them. I confess, as
of satisfaction for the disturbance my lucu-
things
now stand, I do not know how to deny such in-
viters, and am preparing myself accordingly.
I have bought pumps and files, and am every
bour the dancing-master, has demanded of me,
morning practising in my chamber. My neigh-
why I take this liberty, since I would not allow
it him?' but I answered, 'his was an act of an
indifferent nature, and mine of necessity.' My
late treatises against duels have so far disobliged
the fraternity of the noble science of defence,
that I can get none of them to show me so

much as one pass. I am, therefore, obliged to there never breathed one man, who did not, in learn my book; and have, accordingly, several that part of his days wherein he was recomvolumes, wherein all the postures are exactly mending himself to his mistress, do something delineated. I must confess, I am shy of letting beyond his ordinary course of life. As this has people see me at this exercise, because of my a very great effect even upon the most slow and flannel waistcoat, and my spectacles, which I common men; so, upon such as it finds qualified am forced to fix on, the better to observe the with virtue and merit, it shines out in proporposture of the enemy. tionable degrees of excellence. It gives new grace to the most eminent accomplishments; and he, who of himself has either wit, wisdom, or valour, exerts each of these noble endowments, when he becomes a lover, with a certain beauty of action above what was ever observed in him before; and all who are without any one of these qualities are to be looked upon as the rabble of mankind.

I was talking after this manner in a corner of this place with an old acquaintance, who, taking me by the hand, said, 'Mr. Bickerstaff, your discourse recalls to my mind a story, which I have longed to tell you ever since I read that article wherein you desire your friends to give you accounts of obscure merit.' The story I had of him is literally true, and well known to be so in the country wherein the circumstances were transacted. He acquainted me with the names of the persons concerned, which I shall change into feigned ones; there being a respect due to their families that are still in being, as well as that the names themselves would not be so familiar to an English ear. The adventure really happened in Denmark; and if I can remember all the passages, I doubt not but it will be as moving to my readers as it was to me.

I have upon my chamber walls drawn at full length the figures of all sorts of men, from eight feet to three feet two inches. Within this height, I take it, that all the fighting men of Great Britain are comprehended. But, as I push, I make allowances for my being of a lank and spare body, and have chalked out in every figure my own dimensions; for I scorn to rob any man of his life by taking advantage of his breadth: therefore, I press purely in a line down from his nose, and take no more of him to assault than he has of me: for, to speak impartially, if a lean fellow wounds a fat one in any part to the right or left, whether it be in carte or in tierce, beyond the dimensions of the said lean fellow's own breadth, I take it to be murder, and such a murder as is below a gentlenam to commit. As I am spare, I am also very tall, and behave myself with relation to that advantage with the same punctilio; and I am ready to stoop or stand, according to the stature of my adversary. I must confess, I have had great success this morning, and have hit every figure round the room in a mortal part, without re. ceiving the least hurt, except a little scratch by falling on my face, in pushing at one at the lower end of my chamber; but I recovered so Clarinda and Chloe, two very fine women, quick, and jumped so nimbly into my guard, were bred up sisters in the family of Romeo, that if he had been alive, he could not have hurt who was the father of Chloe, and the guardian me. It is confessed I have written against duels of Clarinda. Philander, a young gentleman of with some warmth; but in all my discourses Ia good person, and charming conversation, behave not ever said that I knew how a gentleman could avoid a duel if he were provoked to it; and, since that custom is now become a law, I know nothing but the legislative power, with new animadversions upon it, can put us in a capacity of denying challenges, though we were afterwards hanged for it. But no more of this at present. As things stand, I shall put up no more affronts; and I shall be so far from taking ill words, that I will not take ill looks. I, therefore, warn all hot young fellows not to look hereafter more terrible than their neighbours; for, if they stare at me with their hats cocked higher than other people, I will not bear it. Nay, I give warning to all people in general to look kindly at me, for I will bear no frowns, even from ladies; and if any woman pretends to look scornfully at me, I shall demand satisfaction of the next of kin of the masculine gender.

The

ing a friend of old Romeo, frequented his house,
and by that means was much in conversation
with the young ladies, though still in the pre-
sence of the father and the guardian.
ladies both entertained a secret passion for him,
and could see well enough, notwithstanding
the delight which he really took in Romeo's
conversation, that there was something more in
his heart, which made him so assiduous a visit-
ant. Each of them thought herself the happy
woman: but the person beloved was Chloe. It
happened that both of them were at a play in a
carnival evening, when it is the fashion there,
as well as in most countries of Europe, both for
men and women to appear in masks and dis-
guises. It was on that memorable night, in the
year 1679, when the play-house by some un-
happy accident was set on fire. Philander, in
the first, hurry of the disaster immediately ran
where his treasure was; burst open the door of
the box, snatched the lady up in his arms, and,
with unspeakable resolution and good fortune,
carried her off safe. He was no sooner out of
the crowd, but he set her down; and, grasping
her in his arms, with all the raptures of a de-
serving lover, How happy am I, says he, 'in
an opportunity to tell you I love you more than
all things, and of showing you the sincerity of
my passion at the very first declaration of it!
My dear, dear Philander,' says the lady, pulling
off her mask, 'this is not a time for art; you

His cares are eased with intervals of bliss;
His little children, climbing for a kiss,
Welcome their father's late return at night;
His faithful bed is crowned with chaste delight.
Dryden.

From my own Apartment, November 16.

THERE are several persons who have many pleasures and entertainments in their possession, which they do not enjoy. It is, therefore, a kind and good office to acquaint them with their own happiness, and turn their attention to such instances of their good fortune as they are apt to overlook. Persons in the married state often want such a monitor; and pine away their days, by looking upon the same condition in anguish and murmur, which carries with it, in the opinion of others, a complication of all