women to have true actions of right and equity, find out in the best authors, ancient and modern, and that therefore they cannot peruse a better book such passages as may be for their use, and endea. than Dalton's Country Justice. Another thinks vour to accommodate them as well as I can to their they cannot be without The Complete Jockey. A taste; not questioning but the valuable part of the third, observing the curiosity and desire of prying sex will easily pardon me, if from time to time I into secrets, which he tells me is patural to the fair laugh at those little vanities and follies which appear sex, is of opinion this female inclination, if well in the behaviour of some of them, and which are directed, might turn very much to their advantage, more proper for ridicule than a serious censure. and therefore recommends to me Mr. Mede upon Most books being calculated for anale readers, and the Revelations. A fourth lays it down as an un- generally written with an eye to men of learning, questioned truth, that a lady cannot be thoroughly makes a work of this nature the more necessary; accomplished who has not read The Secret Treaties besides, I am the more encouraged, because I flatter and Negociations of Marshal d'Estrades. Mr. Jacob myself that I see the sex daily improving by these Tonson, junior, is of opinion, that Bayle's Dic- my speculations. My fair readers are already deeper tionary might be of very great use to the ladies, in scholars than the beaux. I could name some of order to make them general scholars. Another, them who talk much better than several gentlemen whose name I have forgotten, thinks it highly pro- that make a figure at Will's; and as I frequently per that every woman with child should read Mr. receive letters from the fine ladies and pretty fellows, Wall's History of Ipfant Baptism; as another is I cannot but observe that the former are superior to very importunate with me to recommend to all my the other, not only in the sense but in the spelling. fernale readers The Finishing Stroke; being a Vin- This cannot but have a good effect upon the female dication of the Patriarchal Scheme, &c.

world, and keep them from being charmed by those In the second class I shall mention books which empty coxcombs that have hitherto been admired are recommended by husbands, if I may believe the among the women, though laughed at among the men. writers of them. Whether or no they are real hus- I am credibly informed that Tom Tatile passes for bands, or personated ones, I cannot tell ; but the an impertinent fellow, that Will Trippet begins to books they recommend are as follow:-A Paraphrase be smoked, and that Frank Smoothly himself is on the History of Susannah. Rules to keep Lent. within a month of a coxcomb, in case I think fit to The Christian's Overthrow prevented. A Dissua continue this paper. For my part, as it is my busisive from the Playhouse. The Virtues of Camphire, ness in some measure to detect such as would lead with Directions to make Camphire Tea. The Plea- astray weak minds by their false pretences to wit sure of a Country Life. The Government of the and judgment, humour and gallantry, I shall not Toogue. A letter dated Cheapside, desires me that fail to lend the best light I am able to the fair sex I would advise all young wives to make themselves for the continuation of these their discoveries.-L. mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic, and concludes with a Postcript, that he hopes I will not forget The Countess of Kent's Receipts.

No. 93.] SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1711 I may reckon the ladies themselves as a third class

Spatio brevi among these my currespondents and privy-coun

Spem longam reseces : dum loquimur, fugerit invida sellors. In a letter from one of them, I am advised Ætas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero. to place Pharamond* at the head of my catalogue,

Hor. I Od. xi. 6 and if I think proper, to give the second place to Thy lengthen'd hopes with prudence bound Cassandrat. Coquetilla begs me not to think of Proportion'd to the flying hour: Dailing women upon their knees with manuals of de.

The envious moments wing their flight, Totion, nor of scorching their faces with books of Instant the fleeting pleasure seize, housewifery. Florella desires to know if there are Nor trust to-morrow's doubtful light.-FRANCIS any books written against prudes, and entreats me, We all of us complain of the shortness of time, if there are, to give them a place in my library: saith Seneca, and yet have much more than we know Plays of all sorts have their several advocates: All what to do with. Our lives, says he, are spent either for Love is mentioned in above fifteen letters; So- in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the phonisba, or Hannibal's Overthrow, in a dozen; purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. The Innocent Adultery is likewise highly approved ;| We are always complaining our days are few, and Mithridates, King of Pontus, has many friends; acting as though there would be no end of them. Alexander the Great and

Aurengzebe bave the saine That noble philosopher has described our inconsistnumber of voices; but Theodosius, or the Force of ency with ourselves in this particular, by all those Loze, carries it from all the rest. I should, in the last place, mention such books as peculiar to his writings.

various turns of expression and thought which are have been proposed by med of learning, and those I often consider mankind as wholly inconsistent who appear competent judges of this matter, and with itself in a point that bears some affinity to the must here take occasion to thank A.B., whoever it former. Though we seem grieved at the shortness is that conceals himself under these two letters, for of life in general, we are wishing every period of it his advice upon this subject. But as I find the at an end. The minor longs to be at age, then to work I have undertaken to be very difficult, I shall be a man of business, then to make up an estate, oefer the executing of it till I am farther acquainted then to arrive at honours, then to retire. Thus, with the thoughts of my judicious contemporaries, although the whole life is allowed by every one to and have time to examine the several books they be short, the several divisions of it appear long and offer to me: being resolved, in an affair of this mo- tedious. We are lengthening our span in general, ment, to proceed with the greatest caution.

but would fain contract the parts of which it is comIn the meanwhile, as I have taken the ladies under posed. The usurer would be very well satisfied to my particular care, I shall make it my business to have all the time annihilated that lies between the

** Two celebrated Freuch romances, written by M. La present moment and next quarter-day. The politiCaipreilede.

cian would be contented to lose three years in his

While thus we talk in careless ease,

life, could he place things in the posture which he teen parts of it to lie dead, and perhaps employs fancies they will stand in after such a revolution of even the twentieth to his min or disadvantage time. The lover would be glad to strike out of his But because the mind cannot be always in its ferexistence all the moments that are to pass away be- vours, nor strained up to a pitch of virtue, it is ne. fore the happy meeting. Thus, as fast as our time cessary to find out proper employments for it in its runs, we should be very glad in most parts of our relaxations. lives that it ran much faster than it does. Several The next method therefore that I would propose hours of the day hang upon our hands, nay we wish to fill up our time, should be useful and innocent away whole years; and travel through time as diversions. I must confess I think it is below reathrough a country filled with many wild and empty sonable creatures to be altogether conversant in such wastes, which we would fain hurry over, that we may diversions as are merely innocent, and have nothing arrive at those several little settlements or imaginary else to recommend them but that there is no hurt in points of rest which are dispersed up and down in it

. them. Whether any kind of gaming bas even thus If we divide the life of most men into twenty parts, much to say for itself I shall not determine; but I we shall find, that at least nineteen of them are mere think it is very wonderful to see persons of the best gaps and chasms, which are neither filled with plea- sense passing away a dozen hours together in shufsure nor business. I do not, however, include in Aling and dividing a pack of cards, with no other this calculation the life of those men who are in a conversation but what is made up of a few game perpetual hurry of affairs, but of those only who are phrases, and no other ideas but ihuse ou black or not always engaged in scenes of action; and I hope red spots ranged together in different figures. Would I shall not do au unacceptable piece of service to not a man laugh to hear any one of this species comthese persons, if I point out to them certain methods plaining that life is short ? for the filling up their empty spaces of life. The The stage might be made a perpetual source of methods I shall propose to them are as follow. the most noble and useful entertainments, were it

The first is the exercise of virtue, in the most ge under proper regulations. neral acceptation of the word. The particular scheme But the mind never unbends itself so agreeably which comprehends the social virtues, may give em- as in the conversation of a well-chosen friend. There ployment to the most industrious temper, and find a is indeed no blessing of life that is any way com. man in business more than the must active station parable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous of life. To advise the ignorant, relieve the needy, friend. It eases and unloads the mind, clears and comfort the afflicted, are duties that fall in our way improves the understanding, engenders thoughts and almost every day of our lives. A man has frequent knowledge, animates virtue and good resolutions, opportunities of mitigating the fierceness of a party; soothes and allays the passions, and finds employof doing justice to the character of a deserving man; ments for most of the vacant hours of life, of softening the envious, quieting the angry, and Next to such an intimacy with a particular perrectifying the prejudiced; which are all of them em- son, one would endeavour after a more general conployments suited to a reasonable nature, and bring versation with such as are able to entertain and great satisfaction to the person wbo can busy himself improve those with whom they converse, which are in them with discretion.

qualifications that seldom go asunder. There is another kind of virtue that may find em. There are many other useful employments of life, ployment for those retired hours in which we are which one would endeavour to multiply, that one altogether left to ourselves, and destitute of company might on all occasions have recourse to something, and conversation; I mean that intercourse and com- rather than suffer the mind to lie idle, or run adrift munication which every reasonable creature ought with any passion that chances to rise in it. to maintain with the great Author of his being. The A man that has a taste of music, painting, or man who lives under an habitual sense of the divine architecture, is like one that has another sense, presence keeps up a perpetual cheerfulness of temper, when compared with such as have no relish of those and enjoys every moment the satisfaction of think- arts. The Aorist, the planter, the gardener, the ing himself in company with his dearest and best of husbandman, when they are only as accomplishfriends. The time never lies heavy upon him: it ments to the man of fortune, are great reliefs to a is impossible for him to be alone. Kis thoughts and country life, and many ways useful to those who are passions are the most busied at such hours when possessed of them. those of other men are the most unactive. He no But of all the diversions of life, there is none so sooner steps out of the world but his heart burns proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of with devotion, swells with hope, and triumphs in the useful and entertaining authors. But this I shall consciousness of that presence which every where only touch upon, because it in some measure intersurrounds bim; or, on the contrary, pours out its feres with the third method, which I shall propose fears, its sorrows, its apprehensions, to the great in another paper, for the employment of our dead supporter of its existence.

unactive hours, and which I shall only mention in I have here only considered the necessity of a general to be the pursuit of knowledge.-L. man's being virtuous, that he may have something to do; but if we consider farther, that the exercise of virtue is not only an amusement for the time it No. 94.] MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1711. lasts, but that its influence extends to those parts of our existence which lie beyond the grave, and Vivere bis, vita posse priore frui.--Mart. Epig. xxiil. 10. that our whole eternity is to take its colour from The present joys of life we doubly taste, those hours which we here employ in virtue or in

By looking back with pleasure to tau past. vice, the argument redoubles upon us for putting in The last method wbich I proposed in my Saturpractice this method of passing away our time. day's paper, for filling up those empty spaces of life

When a man bas but a little stock to improve, which are so tedious and burdensome to idle people, and has opportunities of turning it all to good ac is the employing ourselves in the pursuit of kuow. count, what shall we think of him if he suffers pine- ledge. I remember Mr. Boyle, speaking of a ces

Hoe est

t2iQ mineral, tells us, that a man may consume his Alcoran, was transacted in so small a space of tiune, whole life in the study of it, witiout arriving at the tbat Mahomet at his return found his bed still warm, knowledge of all its qualities. The truth of it is, and took up an earthen pitcher, which was thrown there is not a single science, or any branch of it, down at the very instant that the Angel Gabriel car. that might not furnish a man with business for life, ried hiin away, before the water was all spilt. thoagh it were much longer than it is.

There is a very pretty story in the Turkish tales, I shall not here engage on those beaten subjects which relates to this passage of that famous imposof the usefulness of knowledge; nor of the pleasure tor, and bears some affinity to the subject we are and perfection it gives the mind; nor on the methods now upon. A sultan of Egypt, who was an infidel, oi atiaining it; nor recommend any particular branch used to laugh at this circumstance in Mahomet's of it; all wbich have been the topics of many other life, as what was altogether impossible and absurd; writers; but sball indulge myself in a speculation but conversing one day with a great doctor in the that is more uncommon, and may therefore perhaps law, who had the gift of working miracles, the doctor be more entertaining.

told him he would quickly couvince him of the truth I bave before shewn how the unemployed parts of of this passage in the history of Mahomet, if he life appear long and tedious, and shall here endea- would consent to do what he should desire of bim. your to shew how those parts of life which are exer- Upon this the sultan was directed to place himself cised in study, reading, and the pursuits of know. by a huge tub of water, which he did accordingly; ledge, are long, but not tedious, and by that means and as he stood by the tub amidst a circle of his discover a melhod of lengthening our lives, and at great men, the holy man bid him plunge his head the same time of turning all the parts of them to into the water, and draw it up again. The king acour advantage.

cordingly thrust his head into the water, and at the Mr. Lacke observes, “That we get the idea of same time found himself at the foot of a mountain time or duration, by reflecting on that train of ideas on the sea-shore. The king immediately began to which succeed one another in our minds : that for rage against his doctor for this piece of treachery this reason, when we sleep soundly without dream. and witchcraft; but at length, knowing it was in ing, we have no perception of time, or the length vain t be angry, he set himself to think on proper of it whilst we sleep; and that the moment wherein methods for getting a livelihood in this strange we leave off to think, till the moment we begin to country. Accordingly he applied himself to some think again, seems to have po distance." To which people whom he saw at work in a neighbouring the author adds, “and so I doubt not but it would wood: these people conducted him to a town that be to a waking man if it were possible for him to stood at a little distance from the wood, where, after keep only one idea in his mind, without variation, some adventures, he married a woman of great and the succession of others: and we see, that one beauty and fortune. He lived with this woman so who fixes his thoughts very intently on one thing, long, that he had by her seven sons and seven so as to take but little notice of the succession of daughters. He was afterward reduced to great want, ideas that pass in his mind whilst he is taken up with and forced to think of plying in the streets as a that earnest contemplation, lets slip out of his ac- porter for his livelihood. One day as he was walking count a good part of that duration, and thinks that alone by the sea-side, being seized with many metime shorter than it is."

lancholy reflections upon his former and his present We might carry this thought farther; and con- state of life, which had raised a fit of devction in sider a man as, on one side, shortening his time by him, he threw off his clothes with a design to wash thinking on nothing, or but a few things; so on the himself, according to the custom of the Mahometans, other, as lengthening it, by employing his thoughts before he said his prayers. on many subjects, or by entertaining a quick and After his first plunge into the sea, he no sooner constant succession of ideas. Accordingly, Mon- raised his head above the water but he found himself sieur Mallebranche, in his Inquiry after Truth standing by the side of the tub, with the great men (which was published several years before Mr. of his court about him, and the holy man at his Locke's Essay on Human Understanding), tells us, side. He immediately upbraided his teacher for " that it is possible some creatures may think half having sent him on such a course of adventures, and an hour as long as we do a thousand years; or look betrayed him into so long a state of misery and servupon that space of duration which we call a minute, itude; but was wonderfully surprised when he heard as an hour, a week, a month, or a whole age." that the state he talked of was only a dream and de

This notion of Monsieur Mallebranche is capable lusion; that he had not stirred from the place where of some little explanation from what I have quoted he then stood; and that he bad only dipped his head out of Mr. Locke; for if our notion of time is pro- into the water, and immediately taken it out again. duced by our reflecting on the succession of ideas in The Mahometan doctor took this occasion of inour mind, and this succession may be infinitely ac-structing the sultan, that nothing was impossible celerated or retarded, it will follow, that different with God; and that He, with whom a thousand beings may have different notions of the same parts years are but as one day, can, if he pleases, make of duration, according as their ideas, which we sup- a single day, nay, a single moment, appear to any pose are equally distinct in each of them, follow one of his creatures as a thousand years. another in a greater or less degree of rapidity. I shall leave my reader to compare these eastern

There is a famous passage in the Alcoran, which fables with the notions of those two great philosolooks as if Mahomet had been possessed of the no- phers whom I have quoted in this paper; and shall tion we are now speaking of. It is there said, that only, by way of application, desire him to consider the Angel Gabriel took Mahomet out of his bed one how we may extend life beyond its natural dimenmorning to give him a sight of all things in the sions, by applying ourselves diligently to the purseven heavens, in paradise, and in hell, which the suits of knowledge. prophet took a distinct view of: and after having beid ninety thousand conferences with God, was

• The Spectator's memory hath here deceived him; no such brought back again to his bed. All this, says the in some of the histories of Mahomet's life.

The sor

'l'he hours of a wise man are lengthened by his us, nothing is so fallacious as this outward siga ol ideas, as those of a fool are by his passions. The sorrow; and the natural history of our bodies will time of the one is long, because he does not know teach us that this flux of the eyes, this faculty of what to do with it; so is that of the other, because weeping, is peculiar only to some constitutions. We he distinguishes every moment of it with useful or observe in the tender bodies of children, when amusing thoughts; or, in other words, because the crossed in their little wills and expectations, how one is always wishing it away, and the other always dissolvable they are into tears. If this were what enjoying it.

grief is in men, nature would not be able to support How different is the view of past life, in the man them in the excess of it for one moment. Add to who is grown old in knowledge and wisdom, from this observation, how quick is their transition from that of him who is grown old in ignorance and this passion to that of their joy! I will not say we folly! The latter is like the owner of a barren see often, in the next tender things to children, tears country, that fills his eye with the prospect of naked shed without much grieving. Thus it is common to hills and plains, which produce nothing either pro- shed tears without much sorrow, and as common to fitable or ornamental; the other beholds a beautiful suffer much sorrow without shedding tears, Grief and spacious landscape divided into delightful gar- and weeping are indeed frequent companions; but, dens, green meadows, fruitful fields, and can scarce I believe, never in their highest excesses. As cast his eye on a single spot of nis possessions, that laughter does not proceed from profound joy, so neiis not covered with some beautiful plantor flower.-L. ther does weeping from profound sorrow.

row which appears so easily at the eyes, cannot have

pierced deeply into the heart. The heart distended No. 95.) TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1711. with grief, stops all the passages for tears or lamenCuræ leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.-SENECA TRAG.

tations. Light sorrows loose the tongue, but great enchain.-P

“Now, Sir, what I would incline you to in all

this is, that you would inform the shallow critics and Having read the two following letters with much observers upon sorrow, that true affliction labours to pleasure, I cannot but think the good sense of them be invisible, that it is a stranger to ceremony, and will be as agreeable to the town as any thing I could that it bears in its own nature a dignity much above say, either on the topics they treat of, or any other; the little circumstances which are affected under the they both allude to former papers of mine, and I do notion of decency. You must know, Sir, I have not question but the first, which is upon mourning; lately lost a dear friend, for whom I have not yet will be thought the production of a man who is well shed a tear, and for that reason your animadversions acquainted with the generous yearnings of distress on that subject would be the more acceptable to, in a manly temper, which is above the relief of

Sir, your most humble servant, tears. A speculation of my own on that subject I

“ B. D." shall defer till another occasion.

“MR. SPECTATOR,

June the 15th. The second letter is from a lady of a mind as great

“As I hope there are but few who have so little as her understanding. There is, perhaps, something gratitude as not to acknowledge the usefulness of in the beginning of it which I ought in modesty to your pen, and to esteem it a public benefit; so I am conceal; but I have so much esteem for this cor- sensible, be that as it will, you must nevertheless respondent, that I will not alter a tittle of what she find the secret and incomparable pleasure of doing writes, though I am thus scrupulous at the price of good, and be a great sharer in the entertainment being ridiculous.

you give. I acknowledge our sex to be mucb “MR. SPECTATOR,

obliged, and I hope improved, by your labours, and “I was very well pleased with your discourse upon even your intentions more particularly for our sergeneral mourning, and should be obliged to you if vice. "If it be true, as it is sometimes said, that our you would enter into the matter more deeply, and sex have an influence on the other, your paper may give us your thoughts upon the common sense the be a yet more general good. Your directing us to ordinary people have of the demonstrations of grief, reading is certainly the best means to our instrucwho prescribe rules and fashions to the most solemn tion; but I think with you, caution in that particular affliction ; such as the loss of the nearest relations and very useful, since the improvement of our underdearest friends. You cannot go to visit a sick friend, standings may or may not be of service to us, acbut some impertinent waiter about hiin observes the cording as it is managed. It has been thought we muscles of your face as strictly as if they were prog- are not generally so ignorant as ill-taught, or that nostics of his death or recovery. If he happens to our sex does not so often want wit, judgment, or be taken from you, you are immediately surrounded knowledge, as the right application of them. You with numbers of these spectators, who expect a me- are so well-bred, as to say your fair readers are allancholy shrug of your shoulders, a pathetical shake ready deeper scholars than the beaux, and that you of your head, and an expressive distortion of your could name some of them that talk much better than face, to measure your affection and value for the de- several gentlemen that make a figure at Will's. This ceased. But there is nothing, on these occasions, may possibly be, and no great compliment, in my so much in their favour as immoderate weeping. As opinion, even supposing your comparison to reach all their passions are superficial, they imagine the Tom's and the Grecian. Surely you are too wise to Heat of love and friendship to be placed visibly in think that the real commendatior of a woman. Were the eyes. They judge what stock of kindness you it not rather to be wished we improved in our own had for the living, by the quantity of tears you pour sphere, and approved ourselves better daughters, betout for the dead : so that if one body wants that ter wives, mothers, and friends ? quantity of salt water another abounds with, he is in “I cannot but agree with the judicious trader in great danger of being thought insensible or ill. Cheapside (though I am not at all prejudiced in his natured. They are strangers to friendship whose favour) in recommending the study of arithmetic; grief happens not to be moist enough to wet such a and must dissent even from the authority which you parcel of handkerchiefs. But experience has told I mention, when it advises the making our sex scholars.

Amicum

a

Indeed a little more philosophy, in order to the sub- and I assure you, Mr. Spectator, I remember the duing our passions to our reason might be some beautiful action of the sweet youth in his fever, as times serviceable, and a treatise of that nature I fresh as if it were yesterday. If he wanted any should approve of even in exchange for Theodosius, thing, it must be given him by Tom. When I let or the Force of Love; but as I well know you want any thing fall, through the grief I was under, he not hints, I will proceed no farther than to recom- would cry, 'Do not beat the poor boy; give him mend the Bishop of Cambray's Education of a some more julep for me, nobody else shall give it Daughter, as it is translated into the only language me.' He would strive to hide his being so bad, I have any knowledge of, though perhaps very much when he saw I could not bear his being in so much to its disadvantage. I have heard it objected against danger, and comforted me, saying, “Tom, Tom, have that piece, that its instructions are not of general a good heart.' When I was holding a cup at his use, but only fitted for a great lady: but I confess I mouth, he fell into convulsions; and at this very am not of that opinion; for I do not remember that time I hear my dear master's last groan. I was there are any rules laid down for the expenses of a quickly turned out of the room, and left to sob and woman-in wbich particular only I think a gentle beat my head against the wall at my leisure. The woman ought to differ from a lady of the best for- grief I was in was inexpressible : and every body tune, or highest quality, and not in their principles thought it would have cost me my life. In a few of justice, gratitude, prudence, or modesty. I ought days my old lady, who was one of the housewives of perhaps to make an apology for this long epistle ; the world, thought of turning me out of doors, bebut as I rather believe you a friend to sincerity than cause I put her in mind of her son. Sir Stephen ceremony, shall only assure you I am,

proposed putting me to prentice; but my lady being “Sir, your most humble servant,

an excellent manager, would not let her husband T.

“ ANNABELLA." throw away his money in acts of charity. I had

sense enough to be under the utmost indignation, to

see her discard, with so little concern, one her son No. 96.1 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1711.

had loved so much; and went out of the house to

ramble wherever my feet would carry me. Manciptum domino, et frugi.-Hor. 2 Sat. vii. 2.

“The third day after I left Sir Stephen's family,

I was strolling up and down in the walks of the The faithful servant, and the true.-CREECH.

Temple. A young gentleman of the house, who * MR. SPECTATOR,

(as I heard him say afterward) seeing me half"I have frequently read your discourse upon starved and well-dressed, thought me an equipage servants, and as I am one myself, have been much ready to his hand, after very little inquiry more than offended that in that variety of forins wherein you

Did

want a master ?' bid me follow him; I did considered the bad, you found no place to mention so, and in a very little while thought myself the hapthe good. There is, however, one observation of piest creature in the world. My time was taken up yours I approve, which is, ' That there are men of in carrying letters to wenches, or messages to young wit and good sense among all orders of men, and ladies of my master's acquaintance. We rambled that servants report most of the good or ill which is from tavern to tavern, to the playhouse, the Mul: spoker of their masters.' That there are men of berry-garden,* and places of resort; where my sense who live in servitude, I have the vanity to say master engaged every night in some new amour, in I have felt to my woeful experience. You attribute which and drinking he spent all his time when he Fery justly the source of our general iniquity to had money. During these extravagancies, I had board-wages, and the manner of living out of a do- the pleasure of lying on the stairs of a tavern balf mestic way; but I cannot give you my thoughts on a night, playing at dice with other servants, and the this subject any way so well as by a short account of like idlenesses. When my master was moneyless, I my own life, to this the forty-fifth year of my age was generally employed in transcribing amorous that is to say, from my first being a foot-boy'at four-pieces of poetry, old songs, and new lampoons. This teen, to my present station of a nobleman's porter life held till my master married, and he had then in the year of my age abovementioned.

the prudence to turn me off, because I was in the " Know then, that my father was a poor tenant to secret of his intrigues. the family of Sir Stephen Rackrent. Sir Stephen “ I was utterly at a loss what course to take next; put me to school, or rather made me follow his son when at last l'applied myself to a fellow-sufferer, Harry to school, from my ninth year; and there, one of his mistresses, a woman of the town. She though Sir Stephen paid something for my learn- happening at that time to be pretty full of money, ing, I was used like a servant, and was forced to get clothed me from head to foot; and knowing me to what scraps of learning I could by my own industry, be a sharp fellow, employed me accordingly. Somefor the st hoolmaster took very little notice of me. times I was to go abroad with her, and when she had My young master was a lad of very sprightly parts; pitched upon a young fellow she thought for her and my being constantly about him, and loving him, turn, I was to be dropped as one she could not trust. was no small advantage to me. My master loved She would often cheapen goods at the New ExBe extremely, and has often been whipped for not change;t and when she had a mind to be attacked, keeping me at a distance. He used always to say, she would send me away on an errand. When an that when he came to his estate I should have a humble servant and she were beginning a parley, I lease of my father's tenement for nothing. I came came immediately, and told her Sir Joho was come up to town with him to Westminster-school; at home: then she would order another coach to prewhich time he taught me at night all he learnt, and put me to find out words in the dictionary when ment near Buckingham-house (now the Queen's Palace), some

* The muiberry-garden was a place of elegant entertainhe was about his exercise. It was the will of Pro- what like the modern Vauxhall. vidence that master Harry was taken very ill of a 1 The New Exchange was situated between Durham-yard fever, of which he died within ten days after his first of millinery wares till 1737, when it was taken down, and

and York-buildings in ihe Strand. It was the fashionable mart falling sick. Here was the first sorrow I ever knew; dwelling-houses erected on the spot. SPECTATOK-Nos. 15 & 16,

I

a