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Your Lordship appears as great in your private life, as in the most important offices which you have borne. I would therefore rather chuse to speak of the pleasure you afford all who are admitted into your conversation, of your elegant taste in all the polite parts of learning, of your great humanity and complacency of manners, and of the furprizing influence which is peculiar to you, in making every one, who converses with your Lordship, prefer you to himself, without thinking the less meanly of his own talents. But if I should take notice of all that might be observed in your Lordship, I should have nothing new to say upon any other character of distinction. I am,

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SPECТАТОOR.

VOLUME THE FIRST.

No I. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1710-11.

NON FUMUM EX FULGORE, SED EX FUMO DARE LUCEM
COGITAT, UT SPECIOSA DEHINC MIRACULA PROMAT.

HOR. ARS POET. VER. 143.

ONE WITH A FLASH BEGINS, AND ENDS IN SMOKE;
THE OTHER OUT OF SMOKE BRINGS GLORIOUS LIGHT,

AND (WITHOUT RAISING EXPECTATION HIGH)

SURPRIZES US WITH DAZZLING MIRACLES.

I Have obf

Have observed, that a reader seldom book with pleasure, till he knows whether the writer of it be a black or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition, married or a bachelor; with other particulars of the like nature, that conduce very much to the right understanding of an author. To gratify this curiofity, which is so natural to a reader, I design this paper and my next as prefatory difcourses to my following writings, and shall give fome account in them of the several persons that are engaged in this work. As the chief trouble of compiling, digefting, and correcting, will fall to my share, I must do myself the justice to open the work with my own history.

I was born to a small hereditary estate, which, according to the tradition of the vilage where e it it lies, was bounded by the fame hedges and ditches in William the Conqueror's time that it is at prefent, and has been delivered down from father to fon whole and entire, without the lofs or acquifition of a fingle field

ROSCOMMON.

or meadow, during the space of fix hundred years. There runs a story in the family, that when my mother was gone with child of me about three months, she dreamt that she was brought-to-bed of a Judge: whether this might proceed from a law-fuit which was then depending in the family, or my father's being a justice of the peace, I cannot determine; for I am not fo vain as to think it presaged any dignity that I should arrive at in my future life, though that was the interpretation which the neighbourhood put upon it. The gravity of my behaviour at my very first appearance in the world, and all the time that I fucked, seemed to favour my mother's dream; for, as she has often told me, I threw away my rattle before I was two months old, and would not make use of my coral until they had taken away the bells from it.

As for the rest of my infancy, there being nothing in it remarkable, I shall pass it over in filence. I find, that, during my nonage, I had the reputation of a very fullen youth; but was always a favourite of my schoolmaster, who used to fay, 'that my parts were fo• lid, and would wear well. I had not been long at the university, before I diftinguished myself by a most profound filence; for during the space of eight years, excepting in the public exercises of the college, I scarce uttered the quantity of an hundred words; and, indeed, do not remember that I ever spoke three fentences together in my whole life. Whilit I was in this learned body, I applied myfelf with fo much diligence to my studies, that there are very few celebrated books, either in the learned or the modern tongues, which I am not acquainted with.

Upon the death of my father, I was refolved to travel into foreign countries; and therefore left the university, with the character of an odd, unaccountable fellow, that had a great deal of learning, if I would but shew it. An infatiable thirst after knowledge carried me into all the countries of Europe, in which there was any thing new or strange to be feen; nay, to fuch a degree was my curiofity raised, that having read the controverfies of some great men concerning the antiquities of Egypt, I made a voyage to Grand Cairo, on purpose to take the measure of a pyramid; and as foon as I had fet myself right in that particular, returned to my native country with great fatisfaction.

I have passed my latter years in this city, where I am frequently seen in most public places, though there are not above half a dozen of my select friends that know me; of whom my next paper shall give a more particular account. There is no place of general refort, wherein I do not often make my appearance; fometimes I am seen thrusting my head into a round of politicians at Will's, and listening with great attention to the narratives that are made in those lit

tle circular audiences. Sometimes I smoke a pipe at Child's, and whilst I seem attentive to nothing but the Poftman, overhear the conversation of every table in the room. I appear on Sunday nights at St. James's Coffee-house; and sometimes join the little committee of politics in the inner room, as one who comes there to hear and improve. My face is likewife very well known at the Grecian, the Cocoa Tree, and in the theatres both of Drury

Lane and the Haymarket. I have been taken for a merchant upon the Exchange for above these ten years, and fometimes pass for a Jew in the affembly of stockjobbers at Jonathan's. In short, wherever I fee a cluster of people, I always mix with them, though I never open my lips but in my own club.

Thus I live in the world rather as a spectator of mankind, than as one of the species; by which means I have made myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical part in life. I am very well versed in the theory of a hufoand or a father; and can difcern the errors in the economy, business, and diversion of others, better than those who are engaged in them; as standersby discover blots, which are apt to escape those who are in the game. I never efpoufed any party with violence, and am refolved to observe an exact neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I shall be forced to declare myself by the hostilities of either fide. In short, I have acted in all the parts of my life as a looker-on, which is the character I intend to preferve in this

paper.

I have given the reader just so much of my history and character, as to let him fee I am not altogether unqualified for the business I have undertaken. As for other particulars in my life and adventures, I shall infert them in following papers as I shall see occafion. In the mean time, when I confider how much I have feen, read, and heard, I begin to blame my own taciturnity; and fince I have neither time nor inclination to communicate the fulness of my heart in speech, I am refolved to do it in writing, and to print myself out, if poffible, before I die. I have been often told by my friends, that it is pity so many useful discoveries which I have made should be in the poffeffion of a filent man. For this reason, therefore, I shall publish a sheet-full of thoughts every morning, for the benefit of my contemporaries; and if I can any way contribute to the diverfion or improvement of the country in which I live, I shall leave it, when I am fummoned out of it, with the fecret fatisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain.

There are three very material points which I have not spoken to in this paper; and which, for several important reafons,

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reasons, I must keep to myself, at least for some time: I mean, an account of my name, my age, and my lodgings. I muft confefs, I would gratify my reader in any thing that is reasonable; but as for these three particulars, though I am fenfible they might tend very much to the embellishment of my paper, I cannot yet come to a resolution of communicating them to the public. They would indeed draw me out of that ob scurity which I have enjoyed for many years, and expose me in public places to several falutes and civilities, which have been always very difagreeable to me; for the greatest pain I can fuffer is, the being talked to, and being stared at. It is for this reason likewise, that I keep my complexion and dress as very great fecrets; though it is not impossible but I may make discoveries of both, in

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the progress of the work I have undertaken.

After having been thus particular upon myself, I shall in to-morrow's paper give an account of those gentlemen who are concerned with me in this work: for, as I have before intimated, a plan of it is laid and concerted, as all other matters of importance are, in a club. However, as my friends have engaged me to stand in the front, those who have a mind to correspond with me, may direct their letters to the Spectator, at Mr. Buckley's, in Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the reader, that though our club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a committee to fit every night for the inspection of all fuch papers as may contribute to the advancement of the public weal.

No II. FRIDAY, MARCH 2.

AST ALII SEX

ET PLURES UNO CONCLAMANT ORE. JUV. SAT. 7. v. 167.

SIX MORE AT LEAST JOIN THEIR CONSENTING VOICE.

HE first of our fociety is a gentleman of Worcestershire, of ancient descent, a baronet, his name Sir Roger de Coverley. His great grandfather was inventor of that famous country-dance which is called after him. All who know that shire are very well acquainted with the parts and merits of Sir Roger. He is a gentleman that is very ingular in his behaviour, but his fingularities proceed from his good sense, and are contradictions to the manners of the world, only as he thinks the world is in the wrong. However, this humour creates him no enemies, for he does nothing with fournefs or obstinacy; and his being unconfined to modes and forms makes him but the readier and more capable to please and oblige all who know him. When he is in town, he lives in Soho Square. It is faid, he keeps himself a bachelor, by reason he was croffed in love by a perverse beautiful widow of the next county to him. Before this disappointment, Sir Roger was what you call a fine gentleman, had often fupped with my Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege, fought a duel upon his firit coming to town, and kicked Bully Dawson in a public

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coffee-house for calling him youngster. But being ill used by the above-mentioned widow, he was very ferious for a year and a half; and though, his temper being naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew careless of himself, and never dressed afterwards. He continues to wear a coat and doublet of the fame cut that were in fashion at the time of his repulse, which in his merry humours, he tells us, has been in and out twelve times ince he first wore it. It is faid. Sir Roger grew humble in his defires after he had forgot this cruel beauty, infomuch that it is reported he has frequently offended in point of chastity with beggars and gypsies: but this is looked upon by his friends rather as matter of raillery than truth. He is now in his fifty-fixth year, chearful, gay, and hearty; keeps a good house both in town and country; a great lover of mankind; but there is such a mirthful cast in his behaviour, that he is rather beloved than esteemed. His tenants grow rich, his fervants look fatisfied, all the young women profess love to him, and the young men are glad of his company; when he comes into a house, he calls the fervants by their names, and talks all

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the way up-ftairs to a visit. I must not omit, that Sir Roger is a justice of the quorum; that he fills the chair at a quarter-feffion with great abilities, and three months ago gained univerfal applaufe bv explaining a passage in the game

act.

'The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another bachelor, who is a member of the InnerTemple; a man of great probity, wit, and understanding; but he has chofen his place of refidence, rather to obey the direction of an old humoursome father, than in purfuit of his own inclinations, He was placed there to study the laws of the land, and is the most learned of any of the houfe in those of the itage. Ariftotle and Longinus are much better understood by him than Littleton or Coke. The father fends up every poft questions relating to marriage-articles, leafes, and tenures, in the neighbourhood; all which questions he agrees with an attorney to answer and take care of in the lump. He is studying the paf fions themselves, when he should be enquiring into the debates among men which arife from them. He knows the argument of each of the orations of Demofthenes and Tully; but not one cafe in the reports of our own courts. No one ever took him for a fool, but none, except his intimate friends, know he has a great deal of wit. This turn makes him at once both difinterested and agreeable: as few of his thoughts are drawn from business, they are most of them fit for converfation. His taste of books is a little too juit for the age he lives in; he has read all, but approves of very few. Ilis familiarity with the customs, manners, actions, and writings of the ancients, makes him a very delicate observer of what occurs to him in the present world. He is an excellent critic, and the time of the play is his hour of business; exactly at five he paffes through New Inn, croffes through Rufiel Court, and takes a turn at Will's till the play begins; he has his shoes rubbed and his periwig powdered at the barber's as you go into the Rose. It is for the good of the audience when he is at a play, for the actors have an ambition to please him.

The perfon of next confideration, is Sir Andrew Freeport, a merchant of great eminence in the city of London; a perfon of indefatigable industry, strong

reason, and great experience. His notions of trade are noble and generous, and (as every rich man has ufually fome fly way of jefting, which would make no great figure were he not a rich man) he calls the fea the British Common. He is acquainted with commerce in all it's parts, and will tell you, that it is a ftupid and barbarous way to extend dominion by arms; for true power is to be got by arts and industry. He will often argue, that if this part of our trade were well cultivated, we should gain from one nation; and if another, from another. I have heard him prove, that diligence makes more lasting acquifitions than valour, and that floth has ruined more nations than the sword. Heabounds in several frugal maxims, amongst which the greatest favourite is A penny faved is a penny got.' A general trader of good fente is pleasanter company than a general scholar; and Sir Andrew having a natural unaffected eloquence, the perfpicuity of his discourse gives the fame pleasure that wit would in another man. He has made his fortunes himself; and fays that England may be richer than other kingdoms, by as plain methods as he himself is richer than other men; though at the fame time I can say this of him, that there is not a point in the compass but blows home a ship in which he is an owner.

Next to Sir Andrew in the club room fits Captain Sentry, a gentleman of great courage, good understanding, but invincible modesty. He is one of those that deferve very well, but are very auk ward at putting their talents within the observation of fuch as should take notice of them. He was fome years a captain, and behaved himself with great gallantry in feveral engagements, and at several ficges; but having a finall eftate of his own, and being next heir to Sir Roger, he has quitted a way of life in which no man can rife fuitably to his merit, who is not fomething of a courtier, as well as a foldier. I have heard him often lament, that in a profellion where merit is placed in so confpicuous a view, impudence should get the better of modelty. When he has talked to this purpose, I never heard him make a four expreffion, but frankly confets that he left the world becaufe he was not fit for it. A strict honesty, and an even regular behaviour, are in themselves obitacles to him that must prefs

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