session of it. I have done my utmost for some years past to stop the progress of mob and banter, but have been plainly borne down by numbers, and betrayed by those who promised to assist me.

In the last place, you are to take notice of certain choice phrases scattered through the letter, some of them tolerable enough, until they were worn to rags by servile imitators. You might easily find them though they were not in a different print, and therefore I need not disturb them.

These are the false refinements in our style which you ought to correct: first, by argument and fair means; but, if those fail, I think you are to make use of your authority as Censor, and by an annual Index Expurgatorius expunge all words and phrases that are offensive to good sense, and condemn those barbarous mutilations of vowels and syllables. In this last point the usual pretence is, that they spell as they speak. A noble standard for language! to depend upon the caprice of every coxcomb, who, because words are the clothing of our thoughts, cuts them out and shapes them as he pleases, and changes them oftener than his dress. I believe all reasonable people would be content that such refiners were more sparing in their words, and liberal in their syllables: and upon this head I should be glad you would bestow some advice upon several young readers in our churches, who, coming up from the university full fraught with admiration of our town politeness, will needs correct the style of their prayerbooks. In reading the Absolution, they are very careful to say pardons and absolves; and in the prayer for the royal-family, it must be endue'um, enrich'um, prosper'um, and bring'um.* Then in their sermons they use all the modern terms of art, sham, banter, mob, bubble, bully, cutting, shuffling, and palming; all which, and many more of the like stamp, as I have heard them often in the pulpit from such young sophisters, so I have read them in some of" those sermons that have made most noise of late." The design, it seems, is to avoid the dreadful imputation of pedantry; to show us that they know the town, understand men and manners, and have not been poring upon old unfashionable books in the university.

reign of queen Elizabeth, are in a style that, with very few allowances, would not offend any present reader, and are much more clear and intelligible than those of sir Harry Wooton, sir Robert Naunton, Osborn, Daniel the historian, and several others who writ later; but being men of the court, and affecting the phrases then in fashion, they are often either not to be understood, or appear perfectly ridiculous.

What remedies are to be applied to these evils I have not room to consider, having, I fear, already taken up most of your paper. Besides, I think it is our office only to represent abuses, and yours to redress them. I am, with great respect, sir, Your, &c.'

Principiis obsta―
Prevent the growing evil.———

From my own Apartment, September 29.

THERE are very many ill habits that might with much ease have been prevented, which, after we have indulged ourselves in them, become incorrigible. We have a sort of proverbial expression, of Taking a woman down in her wedding shoes,' if you would bring her to reason. An early behaviour of this sort had a very remarkable good effect in a family wherein I was several years an intimate acquaintance.

A gentleman in Lincolnshire had four daugh ters, three of which were early married very happily; but the fourth, though no way inferior to any of her sisters, either in person or accom. plishments, had, from her infancy, discovered so imperious a temper, usually called a high spirit, that it continually made great uneasiness in the family, became her known character in the neighbourhood, and deterred all her lovers from declaring themselves. However, in process of time, a gentleman of a plentiful fortune and long acquaintance, having observed that quickness of spirit to be her only fault, made his addresses, and obtained her consent in due form. The lawyers finished the writings, in which, by the way, there was no pin-money; and they were married. After a decent time I should be glad to see you the instrument spent in the father's house, the bridegroom went of introducing into our style that simplicity to prepare his seat for her reception. During which is the best and truest ornament of most the whole course of his courtship, though a man things in life, which the politer ages always of the most equal temper, he had artificially laaimed at in their building and dress, simplemented to her, that he was the most passionate munditiis, as well as their productions of wit. creature breathing. By this one intimation, he It is manifest that all new affected modes of at once made her understand warmth of temper speech, whether borrowed from the court, the town, or the theatre, are the first perishing parts in any language; and, as I could prove by many hundred instances, have been so in ours. The writings of Hooker,† who was a country clorgyman, and of Parsons the Jesuit, both in the

to be what he ought to pardon in her, as well as that he alarmed her against that constitution in himself. She at the same time thought herself highly obliged by the composed behaviour which he maintained in her presence. Thus far, he, with great success, soothed her from being guilty of violences; and still resolved to give her such a terrible apprehension of his fiery spirit, that she should never dream of giving way to her own. He returned on the day appointed for carrying her home; but, instead of a coach and six horses, together with the gay equipage suit able to the occasion, he appeared without a ser

some effect upon the speech of the drinker, and
restores all the letters taken away by the elisions
so justly complained of. Will Hazard was cured
of his hypochondria by three glasses; and the gen-
tleman who gave you an account of his late in-
disposition, has, in public company, after the
first quart, spoke every syllable of the word ple-
nipotentiary.
Your's, &c.'

No. 232.]

Tuesday, October 3, 1710.

vant, mounted on the skeleton of a horse, which his huntsman had, the day before, brought in to feast his dogs on the arrival of their new mistress, with a pillion fixed behind, and a case of pistols before him, attended only by a favourite hound. Thus equipped, he, in a very obliging but somewhat positive manner, desired his lady to seat herself on the cushion; which done, away they crawled. The road being obstructed by a gate, the dog was commanded to open it: the poor cur looked up and wagged his tail; but the master, to show the impatience of his temper, drew a pistol, and shot him dead. He had no sooner done it, but he fell into a thousand apologies for his unhappy rashness, and begged as I HAVE received the following letter from my many pardons for his excesses before one for unfortunate old acquaintance the upholsterer, whom he had so profound a respect. Soon after, who, I observed, had long absented himself from their steed stumbled, but with some difficulty the bench at the upper end of the Mall. Having recovered: however, the bridegroom took occanot seen him for some time, I was in fear I sion to swear, if he frightened his wife so again should soon hear of his death; especially since he would run him through! and alas! the poor he never appeared, though the noons have been animal being now almost tired, made a second of late pretty warm, and the councils at that trip; immediately on which the careful husband! alights, and, with great ceremony, first takes off his lady, then the accoutrements, draws his sword, and saves the huntsman the trouble of

From my own Apartment, October 2.

place very full from the hour of twelve to three, ference, while the unthinking part of mankind which the sages of that board employ in conare eating and drinking for the support of their own private persons, without any regard to the public.

killing him; then says to his wife, Child pr'ythee take up the saddle;' which she readily did, and tugged it home, where they found all things in the greatest order, suitable to their for- 'SIR,-I should have waited on you very fretune and the present occasion. Some time after, quently to have discoursed you upon some matthe father of the lady gave an entertainment to ters of moment, but that I love to be well informall his daughters and their husbands; where, ed in the subject upon which I consult my when the wives were retired, and the gentlemen friends, before I enter into debate with them. I passing a toast about, our last married man have, therefore, with the utmost care and pains, took occasion to observe to the rest of his bre- applied myself to the reading all the writings thren, how much, to his great satisfaction, he, and pamphlets which have come out since the found the world mistaken as to the temper of trial, and have studied night and day in order his lady, for that she was the most meek and to be master of the whole controversy: but the humble woman breathing. The applause was authors are so numerous, and the state of affairs received with a loud laugh: but, as a trial alters so very fast, that I am now a fortnight which of them would appear the most master at behind-hand in my reading, and know only how home, he proposed they should all by turns send, things stood twelve days ago. I wish you would for their wives down to them. A servant was enter into those useful subjects; for, if I may despatched, and answer was made by one, tell be allowed to say so, these are not times to jest him I will come by-and-by;' and another, that in. As for my own part, you know very well she would come when the cards were out of her that I am of a public spirit, and never regarded hand;' and so on. But no sooner was her hus- my own interest, but looked further; and let band's desire whispered in the ear of our last me tell you, that while some people are minding married lady, but the cards were clapped on the only themselves and families, and others are table, and down she comes with my dear, thinking only of their own country, things go would you speak with me?' He receives her in on strangely in the north. I foresee very great his arms, and, after repeated caresses, tells her evils arising from the neglect of transactions at the experiment, confesses his good nature, and a distance; for which reason I am now writing assures her, that since she could now command a letter to a friend in the country, which I deher temper, he would no longer disguise his own. sign as an answer to the czar of Muscovy's letI received the following letter with a dozen ter to the grand seignior concerning his majesty of wine, and cannot but do justice to the liquor, of Sweden. I have endeavoured to prove, that and give my testimony, That I have tried it it is not reasonable to expect that his Swedish upon several of my acquaintance, who were majesty should leave Bender without forty thougiven to impertinent abbreviations, with great sand men; and I have added to this an apology for the Cossacks. But the matter multiplies upon me, and I grow dim with much writing; therefore desire, if you have an old green pair of spectacles, such as you used about your fiftieth year, that you would send them to me; as also that you would please to desire Mr. Morphew to send me in a bushel of coals on the credit of my answer to his czarian majesty; for I design it shall be printed for Morphew, and the weather

success.'

'MR. BICKERSTAFF,-I send you by this bearer, and not per bearer, a dozen of that claret which is to be sold at Garraway's coffee-house, on Thursday the fifth day of October next. I can assure you I have found by experience the efficacy of it, in amending a fault you complain of in your last. The very first draught of it has

and you shall be thought a very sensible man, if you were not too hot. As love and honour are the noblest motives of life; so the pretenders to them, without being animated by them, are the most contemptible of all sorts of pretenders. The unjust affectation of any thing that is laudable is ignominious in proportion to the worth of the thing we affect: thus, as love of one's country is the most glorious of all passions, to see the most ordinary tools in a nation give themselves airs that way, without any one good quality in their own life, has something in it romantic, yet not so ridiculous as odious.

grows sharp. I shall take it kindly if you would able politicians. Thus the most barren invenorder him also to send me the papers as they tion shall find enough to say to make one apcome out. If there are no fresh pamphlets pub-pear an able man in the top coffee-houses. It lished, I compute that I shall know before the is but adding a certain vehemence in uttering end of next month what has been done in town yourself, let the thing you say be never so flat, to this day. If it were not for an ill custom lately introduced by a certain author, of talking Latin at the beginning of papers, matters would be in a much clearer light than they are: but, to our comfort, there are solid writers who are not guilty of this pedantry. The Postman writes like an angel. The Moderator is fine reading. It would do you no harm to read the Postboy with attention; he is very deep of late. He is instructive; but I confess a little satirical: a sharp pen! he cares not what he says. The Examiner is admirable, and is become a grave and substantial author. But, above all, I am at a loss how to govern myself in my judgment of those whose whole writings consist in interrogatorics: and then the way of answering, by proposing questions as hard to them, is quite as extraordinary. As for my part, I tremble at these novelties; we expose, in my opinion, our affairs too much by it. You may be sure the French king will spare no cost to come at the reading of them. I dread to think if the fable of the blackbirds should fall into his hands. But I shall not venture to say more until I see you. In the mean time I am, &c.

P. S. I take the Bender letter in the Examiner to be spurious.'

This unhappy correspondent, whose fantastical loyalty to the king of Sweden has reduced him to this low condition of reason and fortune, would appear much more monstrous in his madness, did we not see crowds very little above his circumstances from the same cause,-a passion to politics.

ADVERTISEMENT.

'Mr. Bickerstaff has received Sylvia's letter from the Bath, and his sister is set out thither. Tom Frontley, who is one of the guides for the town, is desired to bring her into company, and oblige her with a mention in his next lampoon.'

No. 233.]

Thursday, October 5, 1710.1

-Sunt certa piacula, quæ te
Ter pure lecto poterunt recreare libello.

Hor. 1 Ep. i. 36.
And, like a charm, to th' upright mind and pure,
If thrice read o'er will yield a certain cure,

R. Wynne.

From my own Apartment, October 4. WHEN the mind has been perplexed with anx. ious cares and passions, the best method of bringing it to its usual state of tranquillity is, as much It is no unpleasant entertainment to consider as we possibly can, to turn our thoughts to the the commerce even of the sexes interrupted by adversities of persons of higher consideration in difference in state affairs. A wench and her virtue and merit than ourselves. By this means gallant parted last week upon the words unli-all the little incidents of our own lives, if they mited and passive: and there is such a jargon are unfortunate, seem to be the effect of justice of terms got into the mouths of the very silliest upon our faults and indiscretions. When those of the women, that you cannot come into a room whom we know to be excellent, and deserving even among them, but you find them divided into of a better fate, are wretched, we cannot but reWhig and Tory. What heightens the humour sign ourselves, whom most of us know to merit is, that all the hard words they know, they cera much worse state than that we are placed in. tainly suppose to be terms useful in the disputes For such, and many other occasions, there is one of the parties. I came in this day where two admirable relation whch one might recommend were in very hot debate; and one of them pro- for certain periods of one's life, to touch, composed to me to explain to them what was the fort, and improve the heart of man. Tully says difference between circumcision and predestina-somewhere, the pleasures of a husbandman are tion. You may be sure I was at a loss; but they were too angry at each other to wait for my explanation, and proceeded to lay open the whole state of affairs, instead of the usual topics of dress, gallantry, and scandal.

next to those of a philosopher.' In like manner one may say, for methinks they bear the same proportion one to another, the pleasures of humanity are next to those of devotion. In both these latter satisfactions, there is a certain huI have often wondered how it should be pos- miliation which exalts the soul above its ordinary sible that this turn to politics should so univer-state. At the same time that it lessens our value sally prevail, to the exclusion of every other sub- of ourselves, it enlarges our estimation of others. ject out of conversation; and, upon mature con- The history I am going to speak of, is that of sideration, find it is for want of discourse. Look Joseph in holy writ, which is related with such round you among all the young fellows you majestic simplicity, that all the parts of it strike meet, and you see those who have the least re- us with strong touches of nature and compas. lish for books, company, or pleasure, though sion; and he must be a stranger to both, who they have no manner or qualities to make them can read it with attention, and not be oversucceed in those pursuits, shall make very pass-whelmed with the vicissitudes of joy and sorrow.

Saturday, October 7, 1710.

From my own Apartment, October 6. I HAVE reason to believe, that certain of my contemporaries have made use of an art I some time ago professed, of being often designedly dull; and for that reason shall not exert myself when I see them lazy. He that has so much to struggle with, as the man who pretends to cen

sure others, must keep up his fire for an onset, and may be allowed to carry his arms a little carelessly upon an ordinary march. This paper therefore shall be taken up by my correspondents, two of which have sent me the two following plain, but sensible and honest letters, upon subjects no less important than those of Education and Devotion.

which is a necessary consequence of our mismanagement in that province.

For can any thing be more absurd than our way of proceeding in this part of literature? to push tender wils into the intricate mazes of grammar, and a Latin grammar? to learn an unknown art by an unknown tongue? to carry them a dark round-about way to let them in at a back-door? Whereas by teaching them first the grammar of their mother-tongue, so casy to be learned, their advance to the grammars of Latin and Greek would be gradual and easy; but our precipitate way of hurrying them over such a gulf, before we have built them a bridge to it, is a shock to their weak understandings, which they seldom, or very late, recover. In the mean time we wrong nature, and slander infants, who want neither capacity nor will to learn, until we put them upon service beyond their strength; and then indeed we balk them. "The liberal arts and sciences are all beauti

'SIR,-I am an old man retired from all acquaintance with the town, but what I have from your papers, not the worst entertainment of my solitude; yet being still a well wisher to my country, and the commonwealth of learning (à qua confiteor nullam ætatis meæ partem abhorruisse,) and hoping the plain phrase in writing that was current in my younger days would have lasted for my time, I was startled at the picture of modern politeness, transmitted by your ingenious correspondent, and grieved to see our sterling English language fallen into the hands of clippers and coiners. That mu-ful as the graces; nor has Grammar, the severe tilated epistle, consisting of hippo, rep's, and such like enormous curtailings, was a mortifying spectacle, but with the reserve of comfort to find this and other abuses of our mother tongue so pathetically complained of, and to the proper person for redressing them, the Censor of Great Britain.

mother of all, so frightful a face of her own; it is the vizard put upon it that scares children. She is made to speak hard words, that to them sound like conjuring. Let her talk intelligibly, and they will listen to her.

In this, I think, as on other accounts, we show ourselves true Britons, always overlooking 'He had before represented the deplorable our natural advantages. It has been the pracignorance that for several years past has reigned tice of the wisest nations to learn their own amongst our English writers, the great depravi-language by stated rules, to avoid the confusion ty of our taste, and continual corruption of our style. But, sir, before you give yourself the trouble of prescribing remedies for these distempers, which you own will require the greatest care and application, give me leave, having long had my eye upon these mischiefs, and thoughts exercised about them, to mention what I humbly conceive to be the cause of them, and in your friend Horace's words, Quo fonte derivala clades in patriam populumque fluxit.

'I take our corrupt ways of writing to proceed from the mistakes and wrong measures in our common methods of education, which I always looked upon as one of our national grievances, and a singularity that renders us, no less than our situation,

-Penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos.
Virg. 1 Ecl. 67.

A race of men from all the world disjoin'd.

Dryden.

that would follow from leaving it to vulgar use. Our English tongue, says a learned man, is the most determinate in its construction, and reducible to the fewest rules; whatever language has less grammar in it, is not intelligible; and whatever has more, all that it has more is su perfluous; for which reasons he would have it made the foundation of learning Latin, and all other languages.

To speak and write without absurdity the language of one's country is commendable in persons of all stations, and to some indispensa bly necessary; and to this purpose I would recommend, above all things, the having a grammar of our mother-tongue first taught in our schools, which would facilitate our youths learn. ing their Latin and Greek grammars, with spare time for arithmetic, astronomy, cosmography, history, &c. that would make them pass the spring of their life with profit and pleasure, that is now miserably spent in gram.

This puts me upon consulting the most cele-inatical perplexities. brated critics on that subject, to compare our practice with their precepts, and find where it was that we came short, or went wide.

'But here, methinks, I see the reader smile, and ready to ask me, as the lawyer did sexton Diego on his bequeathing rich legacies to the But after all I found our case required some poor of the parish, Where are these mighty thing more than these doctors had directed, and sums to be raised? Where is there such a gramthe principal defect of our English discipline to mar to be had? I will not answer as he did, lie in the initiatory part, which, although it" Even where your worship pleases." No, it needs the greatest care and skill, is usually left to the conduct of those blind guides, viz. Chance and Ignorance.

is our good fortune to have such a grammar, with notes, now in the press, and to be pub lished next term.

'I shall trouble you with but a single instance, I hear it is a chargeable work, and wish pursuant to what your sagacious friend has said, the publisher to have customers of all that have that he could furnish you with a catalogue of need of such a book; yet fancy that he cannot English books, which would cost you a hundred be much a sufferer, if it is only bought by all pounds at first hand, wherein you could not that have more need for it than they think they find ten lines together of comnion grammar; have.