parties of all kinds, I have prepared for them the following form of an association, which may express their intentions in the most plain and simple

manner.

'We whose names are hereunto subscribed do solemnly declare, that we do in our consciences believe two and two make four; and that we shall adjudge any man whatsoever to be our enemy who endeavours to persuade us to the contrary. We are likewise ready to maintain with the hazard of all that is near and dear to us, that six is less than seven in all times and all places; and that ten will not be more three years hence than it is at present. We do also firmly declare, that it is our resolution as long as we live to call black black, and white white. And we shall upon all occasions oppose such persons that upon any day of the year shall call black white, or white black, with the utmost peril of our lives and fortunes.'

Were there such a combination of honest men, who without any regard to places would endeavour to extirpate all such furious zealots as would sacrifice one half of their country to the passion and interest of the other; as also such infamous hypocrites, that are for promoting their own advantage under colour of the public good; with all the profligate immoral retainers to each side, that having nothing to recommend them but an implicit submission to their leaders; we should soon see that furious partyspirit extinguished, which may in time expose us to the derision and contempt of all the nations about us.

A member of this society that would thus carefully employ himself in making room for merit, by throwing down the worthless and depraved part of mankind from those conspicuous stations of life to which they have been sometimes advanced, and all

this without any regard to his pri be no small benefactor to his cour

I remember to have read in D account of a very active little ani he calls the ichneumon, that make siness of his life to break the eggs which he is always in search after the more remarkable, because the feeds upon the eggs he has brok way finds his account in them. W incessant labours of this industrio says the historian, would be over diles; for the Ægyptians are so f those pernicious creatures, that as gods.

If we look into the behaviour zans, we shall find them far from disinterested animal; and rather example of the wild Tartars, whe destroying a man of the most extrac accomplishments, as thinking that the same talents, whatever post th for, enter of course into his destroy

As in the whole train of my sp endeavoured as much as I am al that pernicious spirit of passion and rages with the same violence in all the more desirous of doing some g cular, because I observe that the reigns more in the country than i here contracts a kind of brutality ness, to which men of a politer wholly strangers. It extends itself turn of the bow and the hat; and a that the heads of parties preserve ther an outward show of good-bre up a perpetual intercourse of civil

ings of Wig je mention them

it produces a

I do not bow whether

my former pares that fits verley and Sir Andrew principles, the first

and the other t

mour is a moderate in eato

no farther than to an areable

often diverts the rest of t that the knight country than in tow my ear, is absolutel

his interest. In all

house we did out as mu

or if by chance the ca place, one of Sir Roger

master of the fe

last election. This e and bad cheer firewee the in as the

lord's price

of the staleres of

the more movement, e

this without any regard to his private interest, would be no small benefactor to his country.

I remember to have read in Diodorus Siculus an account of a very active little animal, which I think he calls the ichneumon, that makes it the whole business of his life to break the eggs of the crocodile, which he is always in search after. This instinct is the more remarkable, because the ichneumon never feeds upon the eggs he has broken, nor any other way finds his account in them. Were it not for the incessant labours of this industrious animal, Ægypt, says the historian, would be over-run with crocodiles; for the Egyptians are so far from destroying those pernicious creatures, that they worship them as gods.

If we look into the behaviour of ordinary partizans, we shall find them far from resembling this disinterested animal; and rather acting after the example of the wild Tartars, who are ambitious of destroying a man of the most extraordinary parts and accomplishments, as thinking that upon his decease the same talents, whatever post they qualified him for, enter of course into his destroyer.

As in the whole train of my speculations, I have endeavoured as much as I am able to extinguish that pernicious spirit of passion and prejudice, which rages with the same violence in all parties, I am still the more desirous of doing some good in this particular, because I observe that the spirit of party reigns more in the country than in the town. It here contracts a kind of brutality and rustic fierceness, to which men of a politer conversation are wholly strangers. It extends itself even to the return of the bow and the hat; and at the same time that the heads of parties preserve towards one another an outward show of good-breeding, and keep up a perpetual intercourse of civilities, their tools

that are dispersed in these outlying parts will not so much as mingle together at a cock-match. This humour fills the country with several periodical meetings of Whig jockies and Tory fox-hunters; not to mention the innumerable curses, frowns, and whispers it produces at a quarter-sessions.

I do not know whether I have observed in any of my former papers that my friends Sir Roger de Coverley and Sir Andrew Freeport are of different principles, the first of them inclined to the landed and the other to the monied interest. This humour is so moderate in each of them, that it proceeds no farther than to an agreeable raillery, which very often diverts the rest of the club. I find however that the knight is a much stronger Tory in the country than in town, which, as he has told me in my ear, is absolutely necessary for the keeping up his interest. In all our journey from London to his house we did not so much as bait at a Whig inn; or if by chance the coachman stopped at a wrong place, one of Sir Roger's servants would ride up to his master full speed, and whisper to him that the master of the house was against such an one in the last election. This often betrayed us into hard beds and bad cheer; for we were not so inquisitive about the inn as the innkeeper; and provided our landlord's principles were sound, did not take any notice of the staleness of his provisions. This I found still the more inconvenient, because the better the host was, the worse generally were his accommodations; the fellow knowing very well that those who were his friends would take up with coarse diet and a hard lodging. For these reasons, all the while I was upon the road I dreaded entering into a house of any one that Sir Roger had applauded for an

honest man.

Since my stay at Sir Roger's in the country, I