Spectator (The)

public has received from your administration, would I should not act the part of an impartial Spec- be a more proper work for a history, than for an adtator, if I dedicated the following papers to one who dress of this nature. is not of the most consummate and acknowledged Your Lordship appears as great in your private merit.

life, as in the most important offices which you have None but a person of a finished character can be a borne. I would, therefore, rather choose to speak proper patron of a work which endeavours to culti- of the pleasure you afford all who are admitted to vate and polish human life, by promoting virtue and your conversation, of your elegant taste in all the knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may polite arts of learning, of your great humanity and be either useful or ornamental to society.

complacency of manners, and of the surprising inI know that the homage I now pay you, is offering fluence which is peculiar to you, in making every a kind of violence to one who is as solicitous to shun one who converses with your Lordship prefer you to applause, as be is assiduous to deserve it. But, my himself, without thinking the less meansy of his own Lord, this is perhaps the only particular in which talents. But if I should take notice of all that might your prudence will be always disappointed. be observed in your Lordship, I should have nothing

While justice, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the new to say upon any other character of distinction. good of your country, and the most persuasive elo. I am, my Lord, quence in bringing over others to it, are valuable

Your Lordship’s most devoted, distinctions: you are not to expect that the public

Most obedient humble servant, will so far comply with your inclinations, as to for.

THE SPECTATOR. bear celebrating such extraordinary qualities. It is in vain that you have endeavoured to conceal your

TO CHARLES LORD HALIFAX. share of merit in the many national services which you have effected. Do what you will, the present

My LORD, age will be talking of your virtues, though posterity SIMILITUDE of manners and studies is usually men. alone will do them justice.

tioned as one of the strongest motives to affection Other men pass through oppositions and contending and esteem; but the passionate veneration I have interests in the ways of ambition; but your great for your Lordship, I think flows from an admiration abilities have been invited to power, and importuned of qualities in you, of which, in the whole course of to accept of advancement. Nor is it strange that these papers, I have acknowledged myself incathis should happen to your Lordship, who could pable. While I busy myself as a stranger upon earth, bring into the service of your sovereign the arts and and can pretend to no other than being a looker-on, policies of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the you are conspicuous in the busy and polite world most exact knowledge of our own constitution in both in the world of men, and that of letters. While particular, and of the interests of Europe in general; I am silent and unobserved in public meetings, you to which I must also add, a certain dignity in your are admired by all that approach you, as the life and sell

, that (to say the least of it) has been always genius of the conversation. What a happy conjuncequal to those great honours which have been con. tion of different talents meets in him whose whole ferred apon you.

discourse is at once animated by the strength and It is very well known how much the church owed force of reason, and adorned with all the graces and to you, in the most dangerous day it ever saw, that embellishments of wit! When learning irradiates of the arraignment of its prelates; and how far the common life, it is then in its highest use and perfecSPECTATOR-Nos. 1 & 2.

B

tion; and it is to such as your Lordship, that the most sublime pens; but if I could convey you to sciences owe the esteem which they have with the posterity in your private character, and describe the active part of mankind. Knowledge of books, in stature, the behaviour, and aspect, of the Duke of recluse men, is like that sort of lantern which hides Marlborough, I question not but it would fill the him who carries it, and serves only to pass through reader with more agreeable images, and give him a secret and gloomy paths of his own; but in the pos- more delightful entertainment, than what can be session of a man of business, it is as a torch in the found in the following, or any other book. hand of one who is willing and able to shew those One cannot indeed without offence to yourself who were bewildered the way which leads to their observe, that you excel the rest of mankind in the prosperity and welfare. A generous concern for least, as well as the greatest endowments. Nor were your country, and a passion for every thing that is it a circumstance to be mentioned, if the graces truly great and noble, are what actuate all your life and attractions of your person were not the only and actions; and I hope you will forgive me when pre-eminence you have above others, which is left I have an ambition this book may be placed in the almost unobserved by greater writers. library of so good a judge of what is valuable in that Yet how pleasing would it be to those who shall library where the choice is such, that it will not be read the surprising revolutions in your story, to be a disparagement to be the meanest author in it. made acquainted with your ordinary life and deForgive me, my Lord, for taking this occasion of portment! How pleasing would it be to hear that telling all the world how ardently I love and honour the same man who carried fire and sword into the you; and that I am, with the utmost gratitude for countries of all that had opposed the cause of liberty, all your favours,

and struck a terror into the armies of France, had, My Lord, your Lordship’s most obliged, in the midst of his high station, a behaviour as genMost obedient, and most humble servant, tle as is usual in the first steps towards greatness !

THE SPECTATOR. And if it were possible to express that easy gran

deur, which did at once persuade and command; it TO THE RIGHT HON. HENRY BOYLE. would appear as clearly to those to come, as it does SIR,

1712.

to his contemporaries, that all the great events which

were brought to pass under the conduct of so wellAs the professed design of this work is to entertain its readers in general, without giving offence to governed a spirit, were the blessings of heaven upon any particular person, it would be difficult to find out wisdom and valour; and all which seem adverse fell out 80 proper a patron for it as yourself, there being bydivine permission, which we are not to search into. none whose merit is more universally acknowledged most able and fortunate captain, before your time,

You have passed that year of life wherein the by all parties, and who has made himself more declared he had lived long enough both to nature friends, and fewer enemies.. Your great abilities and to glory; and your Grace may make that reand unquestioned integrity in those high employ: Hlection with much more justice. He spoke of it ments which you have passed through, would not after he had arrived at empire by a usurpation upon have been able to have raised you this general ap- those whom he had enslaved; but the Prince of probation, had they not been accompanied with that Mindelheim may rejoice in a sovereignty which was moderation in a high fortune, and that affability of the gift of him whose dominions he had preserved. manners, which are so conspicuous through all parts of your life. Your aversion to any ostentatious arts of honourable designs and actions, is not subject to

Glory established upon the uninterrupted success of setting to shew those great services which you diminution; nor can any attempt prevail against it, have done the public, has not likewise a little con but in the proportion which the narrow circuit of tributed to that universal acknowledgment which is

rumour bears to the unlimited extent of fame. paid you by your country. The consideration of this part of your character,

We may congratulate your Grace not only upon is that which hinders me from enlarging on those your high achievements, but likewise upon the extraordinary talents, which have given you so great happy expiration of your command, by which your a figure in the British senate, as well as on thai ele- glory is put out of the power of fortune: and when gance and politeness which appear in your more re- your person shall be so too, that the Author and tired conversation. I should be unpardonable if, Disposer of all things may place you in that higher after what I have said, I should longer detain you for good princes, lawgivers, and heroes, when he in

mansion of bliss and immortality which is prepared with an address of this nature : I cannot, however, his due time removes them from the envy of manconclude it, without acknowledging those great ob

kind, is the hearty prayer of, ligations which you have laid upon, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

My Lord, your Grace's most obedient,

Most devoted, humble servant, THE SPECTATOR.

THE SPECTATOR.

а

TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
My LORD,

1712.

TO THE EARL OF WHARTON. As it is natural for us to have fondness for what My LORD,

1712-13. has cost us much time and attention to produce, I

The author of the Spectator, having prefixed behope your grace will forgive my endeavour to pre-fore each of his volumes the names of some great serve this work from oblivion, by affixing to it your persons to whom he has particular obligations, lays memorable name.

his claim to your Lordship's patronage upon the I shall not here presume to mention the illus- same account. I must confess, my Lord, had not I trious passages of your life, which are celebrated by already received great instances of your favour, I the whole age, and have been the subject of the should have been afraid of submitting a work of

• Youngest son of Charles, Lord Clifford, and afterward this nature to your perusal. You are so thoroughly Lord Carleton,

acquainted with the characters of men, and all the parts of human life, that it is impossible for the

TO MR. METHUEN.* least misrepresentation of them to escape your no

SIR, tice. It is your Lordship’s particular distinction It is with great pleasure I take an opportunity of that you are master of the whole compass of busi- publishing the gratitude I owe you for the place you Dess, and have signalised yourself in all the different allow ine in your friendship and familiarity. I will scenes of it. We admire some for the dignity, not acknowledge to you that I have often had you in others for the popularity of their bebaviour; some my thoughts, when I have endeavoured to draw, in for their clearness of judgment, others for their hap-some parts of these discourses, the character of a piness of expression; some for the laying of schemes, good-natured, honest, and accomplished gentleman. and others for the putting of them into execution. But such representations give my readers an idea of It is your Lordship only who enjoys these several a person blameless only, or only laudable for such talents united, and that too in as great perfection as perfections as extend no farther than to his own others possess them singly. Your enemies acknow- private advantage and reputation. ledge this great extent in your Lordship’s character,

But when I speak of you, I celebrate one who has at the same time that they use their utmost industry bad the happiness of possessing also those qualities and invention to derogate from it. But it is for your which make a man useful to society, and of having honour that those who are now your enemies were had opportunities of exerting them in the most conalways so. You have acted in so much consistency spicuous manner. with yourself, and promoted the interests of your The great part you had, as British ambassador, in country in so uniform a manner, that those who procuring and cultivating the advantageous comwould misrepresent your generous designs for the merce between the courts of England and Portugal, public good cannot but approve the steadiness and has purchased you the lasting esteem of all who unintrepidity with which you pursue them. It is a derstand the business of either nation. most sensible pleasure to me that I have this oppor

Those personal excellences which are overrated by tunity of professing myself one of your great ad- the ordinary world, and too much neglected by wise mirers, and, in a very particular manner,

men, you have applied with the justest skill and My Lord, your Lordship's most obliged,

judgment. The most graceful address in horsemanAnd most obedient, humble servant,

ship, in the use of the sword, and in dancing, has The Spectator. been used by you as lower arts; and as they have

occasionally served to cover or introduce the talents TO THE EARL OF SUNDERLAND.

of a skilful minister. Mr LORD,

1712-13.

But your abilities have not appeared only in one Very many favours and civilities (received from nation. When it was your province to act as her you in a private capacity, which I have no other Majesty's minister at the court of Savoy, at that time way to acknowledge, will, I hope, excuse this pre- encamped, you accompanied that gallant prince sumption; but the justice I, as a Spectator, owe through all the vicissitudes of his fortune, and shared your character, places me above the want of an ex- by his side the dangers of that glorious day in which case

. Candour and openness of heart, which shine he recovered his capital. As far as it regards perin all your words and actions, exact the highest sonal qualities, you attained, in that one hour, the esteem from all who have the honour to know you; highest military reputation. The behaviour of our and a winning condescension to all subordinate to minister in the action, and the good offices done the you, made business a pleasure to those who exe- vanquished in the name of the Queen of England, cuted it under you, at the same time that it height- gave both the conqueror and the captive the most ened her Majesty's favour to all those who had the lively examples of the courage and generosity of the happiness of having it conveyed through your nation he represented. hands. A secretary of state, in the interest of man. Your friends and companions in your absence frekind joined with that of his fellow-subjects, accom- quently talk these things of you; and you cannot plished with a great facility and elegance in all the hide from us (by the most discreet silence in any modern as well as ancient languages, was a happy thing which regards yourself) that the frank enterand proper member of a ministry, by whose services tainment we have at your table, your easy condescen. your sovereign is in so high and flourishing a con- sion in little incidents of mirth and diversion, and dition, as makes all other princes and potentates general complacency of manners, are far from being powerful or inconsiderable in Europe, as they are the greatest obligations we have to you. I do assure friends or enemies to Great Britain. The importance you, there is not one of your friends has a greater of those great events which happened during that sense of your merit in general, and of the favours administration in which your Lordship bore so im- you every day do us, than, Sir, portant a charge, will be acknowledged as long as Your most obedient and most humble servant, time shall endure. I shall not therefore attempt to

RICHARD STEELE, rebearse those illustrious passages, but give this apphcation a more private and particular turn, in desiring your Lordship would continue your favour TO WILLIAM HONEYCOMBE, ESQ.T and patronage to me, as you are a gentleman of the The seven former volumes of the Spectator having most polite literature, and perfectly accomplished in been dedicated to some of the most celebrated perthe knowledge of books* and men, which makes it sons of the age, I take leave to inscribes this eighth necessary to beseech your indulgence to the follow. ing leaves, and the author of them; who is, with the • Afterwards Sir Paul Methuen, Knight of the Bath. This greatest truth and respect,

very ingenious gentleman, whilst ambassador at the court of

Portugal, concluded the famous commercial treaty which bears My Lord, your Lordship’s obliged,

his name; and in the same capacity, at the court of Savoy, Obedient, and humble servant, exerted himself nobly as a military hero. THE SPECTATOR. Generally supposed to be Colonel Cleland.

I This dedication is supposed to have been written hy Eus• His lerdship was the founder of the splendid and truly tace Budgell, who might have better dedicated it to WILI valuable library at Althorp.

B 2

Wimble,

Boeken