THE SPECTATOR. VOL. I. No. 1. Thursday, March 1, 1710-11. Non fumum ex fulgore, fed ex fumo dare lucem I Hor, Have observed, that a Reader seldom peruses a Book with Pleasure, till he knows whether the Writer of it be a black or a fair Man, of a mild or cholerick Difpofition, Married or a Batchelor, with other Particulars of the like Nature, that conduce very much to the right understanding of an Author. To gratify this Curiosity, which is so natural to a Reader, I design this Paper, and my next, as Prefatory Discourses to my following Writings, and shall give some Account in them of the feveral Perfons that are engaged in this Work. As the chief Trouble of Compiling, Digesting, and Correcting will fall to my Share, I must do my felf 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 Village where it lies, was bounded by the same Hedges and Ditches in William the Conqueror's Time that it is at present, and has been dee B delivered down from Father to Son whole and entire, without the Loss or Acquisition of a fingle Field 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-Suit which was then depending in the Family, or my Father's being a Justice of the Peace, I cannot determine; for I am not so 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 till 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 Silence. I find, that, during my Nonage, I had the Reputation of a very fullen Youth, but was always a Favourite of my School-master, who used to say, that my Parts were solid, and would wear well. I had not been long at the University, before I di stinguished my felf by a most profound Silence: For during the Space of eight Years, excepting in the publick Exercises of the College, I scarce uttered the Quantity of an hundred Words; and indeed do not remember that I ever spoke three Sentences together in my whole Life. Whilst I was in this learned Body I applied my felf with so 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 resolved 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 insatiable Thirst after Knowledge carried me into all the Countries of Europe, in which there was any thing new or strange to be seen; nay, to such a Degree was my Curiosity raised, that having read the Conoverfies of some great Men concerning the Antiquities of 4 a of Egypt, I made a Voyage to Grand Cairo, on purpose to take the Measure of Pyramid; and as foon as I had fet my felf right in that Particular, returned to my native Country with great Satisfaction. I have passed my latter Years in this City, where I am frequently seen in most publick Places, tho' 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 Resort, wherein I do not often make my Appearance; sometimes I am seen thrusting my Head into a Round of Politicians at Will's, and liftning with great Attention to the Narratives that are made in those little circular Audiences. Sometimes I smoak a Pipe at Child's; and whilst I seem attentive to nothing but the Poft-man, over-hear 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 Politicks in the Inner-Room, as one who comes there to hear and improve. My Face is likewise ✓ very well known at the Grecian, the Cocoa-Tree, and in the Theatres both of Drury-Lane and the Hay-Market. I have been taken for a Merchant upon the Exchange for above these ten Years, and sometimes pass for a Jew in the Assembly of Stock-Jobbers at Jonathan's. In short, where-ever I see 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 my self a speculative Statefman, Soldier, Merchant and Artizan, without ever medling with any practical Part in Life. I am very well versed in the Theory of a Husband, or a Father, and can difcern the Errors in the Oeconomy, Business and Diversion of others, better than those who are engaged in them; as Standers-by discover Blots, which are apt to escape those who are in the Game. I never espoused any Party with Violence, and am refolved to observe an exact Neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I shall be forced to declare my felf by the • Hostilities of either Side. In short, I have acted in all the Parts of my Life as a Looker-on, which is the Character I intend to preserve 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 insert them in following Papers, as I shall see Occafion. In the mean time, when I confider how much I have seen, 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 my self 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 Possession 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 summoned out of it, with the fecret Satisfaction 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, I must keep to my self, at least for fome Time: I mean, an Account of my Name, my Age, and my Lodgings. I must confefs, I would gratify my Reader in any Thing that is reasonable; butas for these three Particulars, though I am sensible they might tend very much to the Embellishment of my Paper, I cannot yet come to a Resolution of communicating them to the Publick. They would indeed draw me out of that Obscurity which I have enjoy'd for many Years, and expose me in publick Places to several Salutes and Civilities, which has 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 likewife, that I keep my Complection and Dressas very great Secrets; tho' it is not impoffible but I may make Discoveries of both, in the Progress of the Work I have undertaken. AFTE Rhaving been thus particular upon my felf, 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 con 4 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 tho' our Club meets only on Tuef days 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 Publick Weal. C : No. 2. Friday, March 2. Aft alii sex Et plures uno conclamant ore. Juv. HE first of our Society is a Gentleman of Worcestera Baronet, his Name Sir ROGER DE COVERLEY. His Great Grandfa ther 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 fingular in his Behaviour, but his Singularities 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 Sourness 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 Batchelor by reason he was crossed 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 fist coming to Town, and kick'd Bully Dawson in a publick Coffee-house for calling him Youngster. But being THE a B-3 |