LIVE POTATO Care se stefan ural to the mind of man, is an unanswerable argunent that he is a being designed for it; especially Twe consider that he is capable of being virtuous ther vicious here: that he hath faculties improvable o all eternity; and, by a proper or wrong emdenz loyment of them, may be happy or miserable hroughout that infinite duration. Our idea indeed f this eternity is not of an adequate or fixed naure, but is perpetually growing or enlarging itelf toward the object, which is too big for human omprehension. As we are now in the beginnings fexistence, so shall we always appear to ourselves sif we were for ever entering upon it. After Mben. million or two of centuries, some considerable hings, already past, may slip out of our memory; hich, if it be not strengthened in a wonderful nanner, may possibly forget that ever there was a un or planets; and yet, notwithstanding the long ace that we shall then have run, we shall still imaine ourselves just starting from the goal, and find the 10 proportion between that space which we know ad a beginning and what we are sure will never have an end. rhood But I shall leave this subject to your managenent, and question not but you will throw it into uch lights as shall at once improve and entertain our reader. I have, inclosed, sent you a translation* of the peech of Cato on this occasion, which hath accialentally fallen into my hands, and which, for coniseness, purity, and elegance of phrase, cannot be ufficiently admired. ACT V. SCENE I. CATO solus, &c. Sic, sic se habere rem necesse prorsus est, Natura? Quersum hæc dulcis expectatio; ་ Quae demigrabitur alia hinc in corpora? Deducet, ictu simplici; hæc vetant mori. Through what variety of untry'd being, The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.' N° 629. MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1714. Experiar quid concedatur in illos, Since none the living dare implead, NEXT to the people who want a place, there are none to be pitied more than those who are solicited for one. A plain answer with a denial in it is looked upon as pride, and a civil answer as a promise. Nothing is more ridiculous than the pretensions of people upon these occasions. Every thing a man hath suffered, whilst his enemies were in play, was certainly brought about by the malice of the opposite party. A bad cause would not have been lost, if such an one had not been upon the bench; d Dean of Durham. This was done by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Bland, formerly nor a profligate youth disinherited, if he had not ad master of Eaton school, then provost of the college there, got drunk every night by toasting an outed ministry. I remember a tory, who, having been fined in a Cato (says Dr. Johnson) was translated by Salvini into Ita-court of justice for a prank that deserved the pil, and acted at Florence; and by the Jesuits of St. Omer's o Latin, and played by their pupils. Of this version a copy lory, desired upon the merit of it to be made a sent to Mr. Addison: it is to be wished that it could be found, justice of peace when his friends came into power; the sake of comparing their version of the soliloquy with that and shall never forget a whig criminal, who, upon Bland,' Dr. Johnson's Lives of English Poets, vol. ii. p. 341, being indicted for a rape, told his friends, You " edit. 1794, see what a man suffers for sticking to his princi- divines, with brawn and minced pies upon new. to be courage jud The truth of it is, the sufferings of a man in a • That your said humble petitioner hath beet || mus party are of a very doubtful nature. When they five times imprisoned in five several county-gads, som are such as have promoted a good cause, and fallen for having been a ringleader in five different rats tary upon a man undeservedly, they have a right to be into which his zeal for the royal cause hurried him, heard and recompensed beyond any other preten-when men of greater estates had not the sions. But when they rise out of rashness or indis- to rise. cretion, and the pursuit of such measures as have 'That he the said E. H. hath had six duels n rather ruined than promoted the interest they aim four-and-twenty boxing matches in defence of his at, which hath always been the case of many great majesty's title; and that he received such a blow tranq sufferers, they only serve to recommend them to upon the head at a bonfire in Stratford-upon-Anthe the children of violence or folly. as he hath been never the better for from that alread to this. 'I Comm shoul "That your petitioner hath been so far from i I have by me a bundle of memorials presented by several cavaliers upon the restoration of King Charles II. which may serve as so many instances proving his fortune, in the late damnable time, th to our present purpose. that he verily believes, and bath good reason metho When often takes Among several persons and pretensions recorded imagine, that if he had been master of an estate l by my author, he mentions one of a very great had infallibly been plundered and sequestered estate, who, for having roasted an ox whole, and distributed a hogshead upon King Charles's birth-merits and sufferings, humbly requests that he m 'Your petitioner, in consideration of his st day, desired to be provided for as his majesty in have the place of receiver of the taxes, collected his great wisdom should think fit. Another put in to be Prince Henry's governor, or whatsoever else he shall be thought qualif the customs, clerk of the peace, deputy-lieuten for having dared to drink his health in the worst for. And your petitioner shall ever pray, &c. of times. A third petitioned for a colonel's commission, for having cursed Oliver Cromwell, the day before his death, on a public bowling-green. But the most whimsical petition I have met with is that of B. B. esq. who desired the honour of knighthood, for having cuckolded Sir T. W. a notorious roundhead. "The Petition of E. H. Esq. Favete linguis HOR. Od. i. 1. 3. ver. 2 With mute attention wait. truth then all to Host without can he wards h No 630. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 174 ercifu which consists of the praises of our Creator. an argument upon this occasion, which some d leves 'HUMBLY SHOWETA, THAT your petitioner's father's brother's uncle, Colonel W. H. lost the third finger of his left-hand at Edgehill fight. That your petitioner, not withstanding the small-place in the laws and customs of the most differe ness of his fortune (he being a younger brother,) nations, as the Grecians and Romans of the always kept hospitality, and drank confusion to the fane, the Jews and Christians of the sacred w roundheads in half a score bumpers every Sunday did as unanimously agree in this as they disagr in the year, as several honest gentlemen (whose in other parts of their economy. names are under-written) are ready to testify. That your petitioner is remarkable in his coun- opinion that the pompous kind of music which I know there are not wanting some who for having dared to treat Sir P. P. a cursed use in foreign churches, is the most excellent uestrator, and three members of the assembly of most affects our senses. But I am swayed b from w There is likewise the petition of one who, having let his beard grow from the martyrdom of King HAVING no spare time to write any thing of Charles the First until the restoration of King own, or to correct what is sent me by others, hits an Charles the Second, desired in consideration there. thought fit to publish the following letters. upon to be made a privy counsellor. " SIR, I must not omit a memorial setting forth, that the memorialist had, with great despatch, carried a 'If you would be so kind to me. as to suspe letter from a certain lord to a certain lord, where- that satisfaction, which the learned world mus Oxford, November in, as it afterwards appeared, measures were conceive in reading one of your speculations, by p certed for the restoration, and without which he lishing this endeavour, you will very much made for verily believes that happy revolution had never and improve one, who has the boldness to he been effected; who thereupon humbly prays to be that he may be admitted into the number of your made postmaster-general. correspondents. A certain gentleman, who seems to write with a great deal of spirit, and uses the words gallantry and gentleman-like very often in his petition, begs that (in consideration of his having worn his hat for ten years past in the loyal cavalier cock, to his great danger and detriment) he may be made a captain of the guards. sense and good-nature profess a dislike to m However, though some few, by their or I shall close my account of this collection of memorials with the copy of one petition at length, which I recommend to my reader as a very valu- the unreasonable prejudices of others, may be into a distaste for those musical societies which erected merely for entertainment, yet sure I venture to say that no one can have the least res for disaffection to that solemn kind of melay able piece. we the of bum devotio Ast casting tural pri cularly tar. Th more up sit ma thoughts performa which, as factor, is conc When we addressin from rapt mity of go How to behold dread they them I shall aken out Lost, whe bly desc judgment to the modesty which is observed in the institute those societies there, as a clan of them musical part of our devotions. Methinks there is have in late times done, to such a degree of insothe something very laudable in the custom of a volun-lence as has given the partition where they reside tary before the first lesson; by this we are supposed in a church near one of the city gates, the denoto be prepared for the admission of those divine mination of the Rattling Pew. These gay fellows, truths which we are shortly to receive. We are from humble lay professions, set up for critics then to cast all worldly regards from off our hearts, without any tincture of letters or reading, and E all tumults within are then becalmed, and there have the vanity to think they can lay hold of someshould be nothing near the soul but peace and thing from the parson which may be formed into tranquillity. So that in this short office of praise ridicule. the man is raised above himself, and is almost lost already amidst the joys of futurity. 'It is needless to observe, that the gentlemen who every Sunday have the hard province of in $1 · 'I have heard some nice observers frequently structing these wretches in a way they are in no commend the policy of our church in this particu-present disposition to take, have a fixed character lar, that it leads us on by such easy and regular for learning and eloquence, not to be tainted by methods that we are perfectly deceived into piety. the weak efforts of this contemptible part of their When the spirits begin to languish, (as they too audiences. Whether the pulpit is taken by these often do with a constant series of petitions) she gentlemen or any strangers their friends, the way takes care to allow them a pious respite, and re- of the club is this: if any sentiments are delivered ieves them with the raptures of an anthem. Nor too sublime for their conception; if any uncommon can we doubt that the sublimest poetry, softened topic is entered on, or one in use new modified n the most moving strains of music, can never fail with the finest judgment and dexterity; or any of humbling or exalting the soul to any pitch of controverted point be never so elegantly handled: levotion. Who can hear the terrors of the Lord in short, whatever surpasses the narrow limits of of Hosts described in the most expressive melody, their theology, or is not suited to their taste, they vithout being awed into a veneration? Or who are all immediately upon the watch, fixing their can hear the kind and endearing attributes of a eyes upon each other with as much warmth as our panerciful father, and not be softened into love to-gladiators of Hockley-in-the-Hole, and waiting vards him? like them for a hit; if one touches, all take" fire, As the rising and sinking of the passions, the and their noddles instantly meet in the centre of casting soft or noble hints into the soul, is the na- the pew; then, as by beat of drum, with exact ural privilege of music in general, so more parti-discipline, they rear up into a full length of sta ularly of that kind which is employed at the al-ture, and with odd looks and gesticulations confer ar. Those impressions which it leaves upon the together in so loud and clamorous a manner, conpirits are more deep and lasting, as the grounds tinued to the close of the discourse, and during the From which it receives its authority are founded after-psalm, as is not to be silenced but by the nore upon reason. It diffuses a calmness all around bells. Nor does this suffice them, without aiming [s, it makes us drop all those vain or immodest to propagate their noise through all the church, by houghts which would be an hindrance to us in the signals given to the adjoining seats, where others erformance of that great duty of thanksgiving, designed for this fraternity are sometimes placed which, as we are informed by our Almighty Bene- upon trial to receive them. actor, is the most acceptable return which can be The folly as well as rudeness of this practice is hade for those infinite stores of blessings which he in nothing more conspicuous than this, that all that aily condescends to pour down upon his creatures. follows in the sermon is lost; for, whenever our When we make use of this pathetical method of sparks take alarm, they blaze out and grow so tuddressing ourselves to him, we can scarce contain multuous than no after-explanation can avail, it rom raptures! The heart is warmed with a subli- being impossible for themselves or any near them ity of goodness! We are all piety and all love! to give an account thereof. If any thing really How do the blessed spirits rejoice and wonder novel is advanced, how averse soever it may be to behold unthinking man prostrating his soul to their way of thinking, to say nothing of duty, men is dread Sovereign in such a warmth of piety as of less levity than these would be led by a natural ney themselves might not be ashamed of! curiosity to hear the whole. 'I shall close these reflections with a passage Laughter, where things sacred are transacted, ken out of the third book of Milton's Paradise is far less pardonable than whining at a conventicle; ost, where those harmonious beings are thus the last has at least a semblance of grace, and where bly described: the affectation is unseen may possibly imprint I shall not here enter upon the veneration due "Then crown'd again, their golden harps they took, MR. SPECTATOR, E town cannot be unacquainted that in divers ts of it there are vociferous sets of men who are ed Rattling clubs; but what shocks me most is, y have now the front to invade the church, and The day before this paper was published, a proclamation was for a thanksgiving for King George's accession, to be ob January 20th. I might observe further, that as cleanliness ders us agreeable to others, so it makes us easy ourselves: that it is an excellent preserva health; and that several vices, destructive bett mind and body, are inconsistent with the hab it. But these reflections I shall leave to the sure of my readers, and shall observe, in the place, that it bears a great analogy with puntos t mind, and naturally inspires refined sentiments a philos passions. in his every Every this na Turl to the very says a se vite miles out of town, some Gregor as he We find from experience, that through the p valence of custom the most vicious actions ES 1 229 Nak, and a pretty young their horror by being made familiar to us. daring to acination to talk contrary, those who live in the neighbourbe sime faced mrself backward, good examples, fly from the first appeararts "NE ben, and pick a specula- what is shocking. It fares with us much after ad do er empaques. Their different same manner as our ideas. Our senses, which his dea Kryes were sufficent ar "emselves to draw my the inlets to all the images conveyed to theatre Enema es dressed in a suit, can only transmit the impression of such thing heren taz been Shack, as I perceived usually surround them. So that pure and unsul ca canes that had escaped the pow. thoughts are naturally suggested to the mind was incremersted with the greatest part those objects that perpetually encompass us, nis demu g, which cost no small sum, they are beautiful and elegant in their kind In the east, where the warmth of the c makes cleanliness more immediately necessary in colder countries, it is made one part religion: the Jewish law, and the Mahome which in some things copies after it, is filled bathings, purifications, and other rites of the * d suver V a manner cast over his shoulsemed not to have been combed since txinen, which was not much consed with plain Spanish from the he west button; and the diamond upon **e naturally dreaded the water) put other re the Ene will agre Score A Teal, ness a navë doa it sparkled amidst the rubbish of nature. Though there is the above-named clad be ere it was first discovered. On the nient reason to be assigned for these ceremos then mand, the pretty quaker appeared in all the the chief intention undoubtedly was to typ Not a speck was to be ward purity and cleanliness of heart by those ath no 4. spen der A clear, clean, oval face, just ward washings. We read several injunctions Spect to www: with Ittle thin plaits of the purest this kind in the book of Deuteronomy, which as somet Madog, der ved great advantages from the shade firm this truth; and which are but ill accounted bucs 2006, as did the whiteness of her by saying as some do, that they were only inst nat seen coloured stuff in which she for convenience in the desert, which other cool deret The plainness of her dress could not have been habitable for so many jes say and siled to the simplicity of her I shall conclude this essay with a story wi who mut together, though they have somewhere read in an account of Mahone A dervise of great sanctity one morning halation in ve me a great opinion of her religion, superstitions. ter micence. hea seven wa De roue socisioned my throwing together misfortune, as he took up a crystal cup wheThis te laws in this case made and pro- person, kept in perpetual neatness, hath won may - I am. $13, *Your very humble servant, 'B. M." FRDAL DECEMBER 10, 1714. CROL. v. 1. 1. ver. 5. C'eanliness may be said to be Beauty indeed most a passion in the mind, but An different face and - would often cost 40 guineas. The Royal Society, in 1776, adjudged Copley's medal a in his anniversary discourse when the medal was given, bo but order it is not so obvious, how much it also tends to good 4-0 each of letters the sam of the man ha that The clo Dow expe It were considerat tributions Phaco one, unadorned with this vir events a caravan passed by in its way from Me ace as much distinguished sorrow and amazement increased upon him, each sheet Socceress We need but com-washing his hands. ya Cinale Hottentot and an Eng seed of the truth of what hath Sever Virgil a Milton number na poleness. It is universally broke his arm. As the old man wondered at se hath c time, to st it. •This writ Book and th know that De from London Pareniaa the earth whi at nighters This pro most of the p to satisfactor were wit No 632. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1714. 6 MR. SPECTATOR, 'Dublin, Nov. 30, 1714. You lately recommended to your female readers the good old custom of their grandmothers, who used to lay out a great part of their time in needle work. I entirely agree with you in your sentiments, and think it would not be of less advantage to themselves and their posterity, than to the reputation of many of their good neighbours, if sereits fax love of symmetry and order, which is natural o the mind of man, betrays him sometimes into sery whimsical fancies. This noble principle,' ays a French author, 'loves to amuse itself on the they passed many of those hours in this innocent panost trifling occasions. You may see a profound entertainment which are lost at the tea-table. I hilosopher,' says he, walk for an hour together would, however, humbly offer to your consideran his chamber, and industriously treading, at tion the case of the poetical ladies; who, though very step, upon every other board in the flooring. they may be willing to take any advice given them Every reader will recollect several instances of by the Spectator, yet cannot so easily quit their his nature without my assistance. I think it was pen and ink as you may imagine. Pray allow them, Gregorio Leti, who had published as many books at least now and then, to indulge themselves in s he was years old; which was a rule he had other amusements of fancy when they are tired aid down and punctually observed to the year of with stooping to their tapestry. There is a very is death. It was, perhaps, a thought of the like particular kind of work, which of late several ature which determined Homer himself to divide ladies here in our kingdom are very fond of, which ach of his poems into as many books as there are seems very well adapted to a poetical genius; it is etters in the Greek alphabet. Herodotus has in the making of grottos. I know a lady who has a he same manner adapted his books to the number very beautiful one, composed by herself; nor is f the muses, for which reason many a learned there one shell in it not stuck up by her own hands. nan hath wished there had been more than nine here send you a poem to the fair architect, which f that sisterhood. I would not offer to herself until I knew whether this method of a lady's passing her time were approved of by the British Spectator; which, with the poem, I submit to your censure, who am, 'Your constant reader, 33 I and humble servant, Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris. Several epic poets have religiously followed Tirgil as to the number of his books; and even Milton is thought by many to have changed the umber of his books from ten to twelve for no ther reason; as Cowley tells us, it was his design, ad he finished his Davideis, to have also imitated he Eneid in this particular. I believe every one vill agree with me that a perfection of this nature ath no foundation in reason; and, with due repect to these great names, may be looked upon s something whimsical. I mention these great examples in defence of my ookseller, who occasioned this eighth volume of pectators, because, as he said, he thought seven a ery odd number. On the other side several grave easons were urged on this important subject; as, a particular, that seven was the precise number of he wise men, and that the most beautiful constelition in the heavens was composed of seven stars. This he allowed to be true, but still insisted that even was an odd number: suggesting at the same ime, that if he were provided with a sufficient tock of leading papers, he should find friends eady enough to carry on the work. Having by his means got his vessel launched and set afloat, e hath committed the steerage of it, from time to ime, to such as he thought capable of conducting The close of this volume, which the town may ow expect in a little time, may possibly ascribe ach sheet to its proper author.† It were no hard task to continue this paper a onsiderable time longer by the help of large conibutions sent from unknown hands. I cannot give the town a better opinion of the Spectator's correspondents than by publishing the following letter, with a very fine copy of verses upon a subject perfectly new. TO MRS. ON HER GROTTO. "A Grotte so complete, with such design, "Where can unpolish'd nature boast a piece "Charm'd with the sight, my ravish'd breast is fir'd "O, were I equal to the bold design, } |
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