contrary disposition, and inclined to be pleased and to be thankful, that no extraordinary talents are necessary to form a fluent grumbler; for any man may have a bad debt, or a brokenwinded horse, an unfortunate speculation, or a fit of the gout; nor is there much ingenuity in losing a mistress, or dropping a pocket-book. In a word, any man may complain; but he must have some taste who is pleased.

THE PROJECTOR. N° 46.

July 1805.

my per

ALTHOUGH I have carried on my labours for the good of the publick above three years, my readers will, I hope, do me the justice to say that I have seldom obtruded upon them sonal concerns. I have as yet given them no account of my life, in imitation of some of my predecessors, nor have I thrown out many hints by which they can guess at my relative situation. Perhaps these particulars may be reserved for some future opportunity, when they may appear with propriety; as, for example, when the

publick shall express a general desire to adopt one or other of the many Projects I have contrived; or, when I shall think, from age and infirmities, of retiring from this life, and passtime in some snug villa

ing the remainder of my

near one of the London turnpikes, where I may have daily opportunities of contemplating the good I have done, in the passing and re-passing of former readers. But these are distant my considerations, and I should have said nothing of my personal concerns and views, unless to introduce the following letter from a gentleman who claims relationship, as belonging to the family of the SPECULATORS. Now, although I admit his letter because he evidently has some projecting blood in his veins, yet I would have him and all correspondents to take notice that they are not to bribe me with insinuations of being nearly related, or being first or second cousin. Such partialities are beneath the consideration of Projectors, who, of all men, it is well known, are so free from them, that they seldom pay much attention to the interest of their families, considering all such connexions as things to be sacrificed for the public good. In the mean time, however, I would not be thought too proud to acknowledge a poor rela

tion, and I have therefore admitted my present correspondent's letter. The SPECULATORS, I do not deny, are related to us; although, not having our genealogical tree at hand, I am not quite certain in what degree. Some of them have even been more fortunate in life than our family, and much less exposed to public sneer and contempt. It is notorious that the very name of a Project is thought to bring with it a certain portion of ridicule, of doubt, and of danger, while the wisest men in the City have no objection to what they call Speculation. There is also another family, who, I have no doubt, will be claiming kindred with us, I mean the SCHEMERS; and I think upon the whole they are more nearly related; but the fact is, and I do not wish to conceal it, some of our relations, despising the regular rites of matrimony, have taken concubines to themselves, and have begotten a race of Plotters, a spurious breed, with whom we are often confounded. These are circumstances which I hope will excuse my being a little shy in admitting family claims.

For the reasons, however, already stated, I submit my correspondent's plan to the opinion of my readers, but must beg leave to decline

giving it the sanction of my approbation until I shall have made good and sufficient trial thereof. In the mean time let him speak for himself.

66

" SIR,

66 TO THE PROJECTOR.

"BEFORE I presume to lay before you a Project which I have in view, I will endeavour to prove, that, although I cannot claim the dignity of being one of the illustrious family of Projectors, I bear some affinity to them, being myself of the family of Speculators, who are able, in their pedigree, to claim alliance to your ancestors through a female branch. You will believe that I have not degenerated from my ancestors, when I inform you that about three years since I had formed a scheme for publishing a Periodical Paper, which I intended to rival the Spectator, and to which I purposed giving my family name Speculator, for a title. But, before its public appearance (I am almost ashamed to confess such a departure from the family characteristics), I was prudent enough to resolve on writing several numbers for the purpose of trying my abilities. With this view I composed my first number, in which I largely descanted on the importance of such publications, and took for the motto,

'Dimidium facti, qui cepit, habet.'

I now thought myself proceeding in a most prosperous style, and commenced my second. number with the motto,

'Perge quo cepisti,'

and the following sentence: 'It is the peculiar privilege and characteristic of a Speculator, to begin his undertakings with confidence and clamour; and having raised his own expectations, and those of the world, to the highest pitch, to end his schemes abruptly in disappointment and confusion.' I was myself an instance of the truth of this remark, for here ended my rivalry with Addison and Steele. Having thus exhibited my affinity to you, and my claim to your notice, I will, Cousin Projector, with your leave, submit to you a Project, which will, I think, be found worthy of your powerful approbation, as a thing which promises to be of most extensive utility.

"You have, I doubt not, frequently been in parties where the conversation has been very ill apportioned among the company. You have heard how my Lady Jingle's eloquence predominates at the tea-table, and rings in the ears and silences the tongues of the rest of the com-, pany. You must oftentimes have been fatigued with the harangues of that insipid demagogue,