nd sometimes truths are smothered under the general word, when ley have a mind to discountenance a thing, " Oh ! that is in my .ady Bluemantle's Memoirs."

Whoever receives impressions to the disadvantage of others, ilhout examination, is to be hud in no other credit for intellicnce than this good Lady Bluemantle, who is subjected to have « ears imposed upon for want of other helps to better informaion. Add to this, that other scandal-bearers suspend the use of hese faculties which she has lost, rather than apply them to do 'jsriee to their neighbours ; and I think, for the service of my fair mailers, to acquaint them, that there is a voluntary Lady Bluenaatle at every visit in town.

STEELE. T.

No. 428. FRIDAY JULY 11, 1712.

Occupet extremnm scabies Hob. Ars Poet. 417.

The devil take the hindmost! English Proverb.

It is an impertinent and unreasonable fault in conversation, for one man to take up all the discourse. It may possibly be objected to me myself, that I am guilty in this kind, in entertaining the town every day, and not giving so many able persons, who have it more in their power, and as much in their inclination, an opportunity to oblige mankind with their thoughts. " Besides," said ime whom I overheard the other day, " why must this paper turn ^together upon topics of learning and morality ? Why should it pretend only to wit, humour, or the like? Things which are uwful only to men of literature and superior education. I f ould have it consist also of all things which may be necessary or useful to any part of society ; and the mechanic arts should have tMrplace as well as the liberal. The ways of gain, husbandry, »nd thrift, will serve a greater number of people, than discourses nP<m what was well said or done by such a philosopher, hero, wneral, or poet." I no sooner heard this critic talk of my works, but 1 minuted what he had said; and from that instant resolved to enlarge the plan of my speculations, by giving notice to all persnas of all orders, and each sex, that if they are pleased to send me discourses with their names and places of abode to them, so that I «n be satisfied the writings are authentic, such their labours shall 1* faithfully inserted in this paper. It will be of much more confluence to a youth, in his apprenticeship, to know by what rules wd arts such a one became sheriff of the city of London, than to *e the 6ign of one of his own quality with a lion's heart in each Tol. m. T

hand. The world, indeed, is enchanted with romantic and improbable achievements, when the plain path to respective greatness and success, in the way of life a man is in, is wholly overlooked. Is it possible that a young man at present could pass his time better, than in reading the history of stocks, and knowing by what secret springs they have had such sudden ascents and falls in the same day? Could he be better conducted in his way to wealth, which is the great article of life, than in a treatise dated from 'Change-alley by an able proficient there ? Nothing certainly could be more useful, than to be well instructed in his hopes and fears ; to be diffident when others exult, and with a secret joy buy when others think it their interest to sell. I invite all persons who have anything to say for the profitable information of the public, to take their turns in my paper: they are welcome, from the late noble inventor of the longitude, to the humble author of strops for razors. If to carry ships in safety, to give help to people tossed in a troubled sea, without knowing to what shores they bear, what rocks to avoid, or what coast to pray for in their extremity, be a worthy labour, and an invention that deserves a statue; at the same time, he who has found a means to let the instrument which is to make your visage less horrible, and your person more smug, easy in the operation, is worthy of some kind of good reception If things of high moment meet with renown, those of little consideration, since of any consideration, are not to he despised. In order that no merit may lie hid, and no art unimproved, I repeat it, that I call artificers, as well as philosophers, to my assistance in the public service. It would be of great use, if we had an exact history of the successes of every great shop within the city walk what tracts of land have been purchased by a constant attendance within a walk of thirty foot. If it could also be noted in the equipage of those who are ascended from the successful trade of their ancestors into figure and equipage, such accounts would quicken industry in the pursuit of such acquisitions, aud discountenance luxury in the enjoyment of them.

To diversify theso kinds of informations, the industry of the female world is not to be unobserved. She to whose household virtues it is owing that men do honour to her husband, should be recorded with veneration; she who has wasted his labours, with infamy. When we are come into domestic life in this manner, to awaken caution aud attendance to the main point, it would not be amiss to give now and then a touch of tragedy, and describe that most dreadful of all human conditions, the case of bankruptcy how plenty, credit, cheerfulness, full hopes, and easy possessions, are in an instant turned into penury, faint aspects, diffidence, sorrow, and misery; how the man, who with an open hand the day before could administer to the extremities of others, is shunned to-day by the friend of his bosom. It would be useful to show how just this is on the negligent, how lamentable on the industrious. A paper written by a merchant, might give this island a true sense of the worth and importance of his character: it might be visible from what he could say, that no soldier entering a breach adventures more for honour, than the trader does for wealth, to his country. In both cases, the adventurers have their own advantage ; but I know no cases wherein everybody else is a sharer in the success.

It is objected by readers of history, that the battles in those narrations are scarce ever to be understood. This misfortune is to be ascribed to the ignornnce of historians in the methods of drawing up, changing the forms of a battalia, and the enemy retreating from, as well as approaching to, the charge. But in the discourses from the correspondents whom I now invite, the danger will be of another kind ; and it is necessary to caution them only against using terms of art, and describing things that are familiar to them in words unknown to the reader. I promise myself a great harvest of new circumstances, persons, and tilings, from this proposal; and a world, which many think they are well acquainted with, discovered as wholly new. This sort of intelligence will give a lively image of the chain and mutual dependence of human society, take off impertinent prejudices, enlarge the minds of those whose" views are confined to their own circumstances; and, in short if the knowing in several arts, professions, and trades, will exert themselves, it cannot but produce a new field of diversion and instruction, more agreeable than has yet appeared.

STEELE. T.

No. 429. SATUEDAY, JULY 12, 1712.

—— Populumque falsis dedocet uti

Vocibns Hob. 2 on. n. 19.

From cheats of words the crowd she brings

To real estimates of things. Creech.

" Mr. Spectator, "since I gave an account of an agreeable set of company which were gone down into the country, 1 have received advices from thence, that the institution of an infirmary for those who should be ont of humour* has had very good effects. My letters mention particular circumstances of two or three persons, who had the good sense to retire of their own accord, and notified that they were withdrawn, with the reasons of it, to the company, in their respective memorials.

• See No. 424

"' The Memorial of Mrs. Mary Dainty, Spinster,

"' Humbly showeth,

"' That, conscious of her own want of merit, accompanied with a vanity of being admired, she had gone into exile of her own accord.

" ' She is sensible, that a vain person is the most insufferable creature living in a well-bred assembly.

" ' That she desired, before she appeared in public again, she might have assurances, that though she might be thought handsome, there might not more address of compliment be paid to her, than to the rest of the company

" ' That she conceived it a kind of superiority, that one person should take upou him to commend another.

" ' Lastly, That she went into the infirmary, to avoid a particulsi person, who took upon him to profess an admiration of her.

" ' She therefore prayed, that to applaud out of due place, might b< declared an offence, and punished in the same manner with de traction, in that the latter did but report persons defective, and la former made them so.

" ' All which is submitted,' &c.

" There appeared a delicacy and sincerity in this memorial veri uncommon; but my friend informs me, that the allegations of il were groundless, insomuch that this declaration of an aversion U being praised was understood to be no other than a secret traj to purchase, it, for which reason it lies still on the table un answered.

"' The humble Memorial of the Lady Lydia Loiter,

"' Showeth,

" ' That the Lady Lydia is a woman of quality; married to apri vate gentleman.

" ■ That she finds herself neither well nor ill.

" ' That her husband is a clown.

" ' That Lady Lydia cannot seo company.

" ' That she desires the infirmary may be her apartment durin her stay in the country.

" ' That they would please to make merry with their equals.

" ' That Mr. Loller might stay with them if he thought fit.'

" It was immediately resolved, that Lady Lydia was still I London.

"' The humble Memorial of Thomas Sudden, Esq., of the Inner Temple, "' Showeth, " ' That Mr. Sudden is conscious that he is too much given argumentation.

"' That he talks loud.

'"That he is apt to think all things matter of debate.

" ' That hestayed behind in Westminster-hall, when thelate shake of the roof happened, only because a counsel of the other side as serted it was coming down.

"' That he cannot for his life consent to anything.

"' That he stays in the infirmary to forget himself.

"' That as soon as he has forgot himself, he will wait on the company.'

"His indisposition was allowed to be sufficient to require a cessation from company.

" ' The Memorial of Frank Jolly,

»'8howeth,

"'That he hath put himself into the infirmary, in regard he is sensible of a certain rustic mirth which renders him unfit for polite conversation.

"'That he intends to prepare himself, by abstinence and thin diet, to be one of the company.

*' That at present he comes into a room as if he were an express from abroad.

" 'That he has chosen an apartment with a matted anti-chamber, to practise motion without being heard.

"'That he bows, talks, drinks, eats, and helps himself before a glass, to learn to act with moderation.

" 'That by reason of his luxuriant health, he is oppressive to persons of composed behaviour.

'"That he is endeavouring to forget the word " pshaw, pshaw."

"' That he is also weaning himself from his cane.

"' That when he has learned to live without his said cane, he will *ait on the company, &c.'

"' The Memorial of John Rhubarb, Esq.,

"'Showeth, "'That your petitioner has retired to the infirmary, but that he is in perfect good health, except that he has, by long use, and for want of discourse, contracted an habit of complaint that he is sick.

"' That he wants for nothing under the sun, but what to say, and therefore has fallen into this unhappy malady of complaining that be is sick.

"' That this custom of his makes him, by his own confession, fit only for the infirmary, and therefore he has not waited for being sentenced to it.

"'That he is conscious there is nothing more improper than such a complaint in good company, in that they must pity, whether they