TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES, EARL OF SUNDERLAND. MY LORD, ERY many favours and civilities (receiv Ved from you in a private capacity) which I have no other way to acknowledge, will, I 30100 ancient languages, was a happy and proper member of a miniftry, by whofe fervices your Sovereign and country are in fo high and flourishing a condition, as makes all other princes and potentates powerful or inconfiderable in Europe, as they are friends or enemies to Great Britain. The importance of thofe great events which happened during that administra. tion, in which your Lordship bore fo important a charge, will be acknowledged as long as time fhall endure; I fhall not therefore attempt to rehearse those illustrious paffages, but give this application a more private and particular turn, in defiring your Lordship would continue your favour and patronage to me, as you are a gentleman of the most polite literature, and perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of books and men, which makes it neceffary to beseech your indulgence to the following leaves, and the author of them: who is, with the greatest truth and respect, MY LORD, Your Lordship's obliged, obedient, and humble Servant, THE SPECTATOR. THE SPECTATOR. No. 395. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1712. -Quod nunc ratio eft, impetus ante fuit. "Tis reafon now, 'twas appetite before. B OVID EWARE of the ides of March, faid the Roman augur to Julius Cafar: Beware of the month of May, fays the British Spectator to his fair countrywomen. The caution of the firft was unhappily neglected, and Cafar's confidence coft him his life. I am apt to flatter myself, that my pretty readers had much more regard to the advice I gave them, fince I have yet received very few accounts of any notorious trips made in the last month. But, though I hope for the best, I fhall not pronounce too pofitively on this point, till I have feen forty weeks well over, at which period of time, as my good friend Sir ROGER has often told me, he has more business, as a juftice of peace, among the diffolute young people in the country, than at any other feafon of the year. A 3 Neither |