nothing but the "Postman,"1 overhear the conversation of every table in the room. I appear on Sunday nights at St. James's Coffee House,2 and sometimes join the little committee of politics in the inner room, as one who comes there to hear and improve. My face is likewise very well known at the Grecian,2 the Cocoa Tree,2 and in the theaters both of Drury Lane3 and the Haymarket. 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 stockjobbers at Jonathan's.2 In short, wherever 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 myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical part in life. I am very well versed in the theory of a husband or a father, and can discern the errors in the economy, 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 resolved to observe an exact neutrality between the Whigs and Tories,5 unless

time. During the Stuart rebellion, in 1745, it was frequented largely by Jacobites. Jonathan's was located on 'Change Alley, Cornhill, and was a resort of stockjobbers and moneyed men.

1 The favorite newspaper of the time, published weekly by a French Protestant, M. Fonvive. 2 See Note 2, p. 15.

3 Perhaps the most famous theater in London. It was situated in Drury Lane. No less than four different theaters have been built on the original site, - the first in 1662; the second in 1674, by Sir Christopher Wren; the third in 1794; the fourth in 1812. Many of the most famous plays and actors made their first appearance there.

4 The Haymarket, another famous London theater, was situated in the Haymarket. It was known under different names; such as, the “Queen's Theater," "King's,' ‚""Her Majesty's." It was first built and established by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1703, and was burnt and rebuilt several times. The present structure dates from 1869.

5 The Whigs composed one of the two leading political parties in England.

I shall be forced to declare myself 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 see 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 occasion. In the mean time, when I consider how much I have seen, read, and heard, I begin to blame my own taciturnity; and since I have neither time nor inclination to communicate the fullness of my heart in speech, I am resolved to do it in writing; and to print myself out, if possible, 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 silent 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 diversion or improvement of the country in which I live, I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the secret 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 reasons, I must keep to myself, at least for some time: I mean, an account of my name, my age, and my lodgings. I must confess I would gratify my reader in anything that is reasonable; but as 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 public. They would indeed draw me out of that obscurity which I have enjoyed for many years, and expose me in public places to several salutes

In the reign of Charles II. the name "Whig" was a term of reproach given by the court party to their antagonists for holding the principles of the Whigs," or fanatical Covenanters in Scotland. The name of " Tory" was given to the court party founded in 1653, comparing them to the Tories or Popish robbers in Ireland.

and civilities, which have been always very disagreeable to me; for the greatest pain I can suffer, is the being talked to, and being stared at. It is for this reason likewise, that I keep my complexion and dress, as very great secrets; though it is not impossible, but I may make discoveries of both in the progress of the work I have undertaken.

After having been thus particular upon myself, I shall in tomorrow'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 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,1 in Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the reader, that though our Club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a committee to sit every night, for the inspection of all such papers as may contribute to the advancement of the public weal. C.

THE SPECTATOR CLUB.

[STEELE, in SPECTATOR, No. 2. Friday, March 2, 1710–11.]

HE first of our society is a gentleman of Worcestershire,3 of

THERM

ancient descent, a baronet, his name Sir Roger de Coverley. His great-grandfather was inventor of that famous countrydance which is called after him. All who know that shire are very

1 Samuel Buckley was the first publisher of the Spectator. His place was at the Dolphin, Little Britain Street. This street was for many years a center for the publishing trade.

2 "Six more at least join their consenting voice."

3 One of the principal western counties of England.

well acquainted with the parts and merits of Sir Roger. He is a gentleman that is very singular in his behavior, 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 humor 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:1 it is said, he keeps himself a bachelor 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 supped with my Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege,2 fought a duel upon his first coming to town, and kicked Bully Dawson 3 in a public coffee-house for calling him youngster. But being ill used by the above-mentioned widow, he was very serious for a year and a half; and though his temper being naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew careless of himself and never dressed afterwards; he continues to wear a coat and doublet of the same cut that were in fashion at the time of his repulse, which, in his merry humors, he tells us, has been in and out twelve times since he first wore it. He is now in his fifty-sixth year, cheerful, gay, and hearty, keeps a good house in both town and country; a great lover of mankind; but there is such a mirthful caste in his behavior, that he is rather beloved than esteemed. His tenants grow rich, his servants look satisfied, all the young women profess love to him, and the young men are glad of his company: when he comes into a house he calls the servants by their names, and talks all

1 A square in London, on the south side of Oxford Street. Its name is derived from an old cry used in hunting, when the hare was found. Until about sixty years ago it was a center of fashion. It was built in 1681.

2 Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege were noted wits and writers

during the reign of Charles II.

8 Bully Dawson was a noted London sharper and swaggerer during the reign of Charles II.

the way upstairs to a visit. I must not omit that Sir Roger is a justice of the quorum;1 that he fills the chair at a quarter-session with great abilities, and three months ago, gained universal applause by explaining a passage in the game-act.

The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another bachelor, who is a member of the Inner Temple; 2 a man of great probity, wit, and understanding; but he has chosen his place of residence rather to obey the direction of an old humorsome father, than in pursuit of his own inclinations. He was placed there to study the laws of the land, and is the most learned of any of the house in those of the stage. Aristotle and Longinus3 are much better understood by him than Littleton or Cooke. The father sends up every post questions relating to marriage-articles, leases, and tenures, in the neighborhood; all which questions he agrees with an attorney to answer and take care of in the lump. He is studying the passions themselves, when he should be inquiring into the debates among men which arise from them. He knows the argument of each of the orations of Demosthenes and Tully,5 but not one case in the reports of our own courts. No one ever took him for a fool, but none, except his intimate friends, know he has a great deal of wit. This turn makes him at once both disinterested and agreeable: as few

1 A distinction conferred upon certain justices of the peace in England, by directing that they must be among those holding quarter-sessions or the quarterly sessions of court in the county.

2 One of the four societies of students and practicers of the law of England; also the name of one of the buildings where law students and barristers have their chambers. Others are the Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn.

3 Aristotle and Longinus were celebrated Greek philosophers. Aristotle lived in the third century before, and Longinus in the third century after, Christ.

4 Littleton and Cooke (more commonly written Coke or Cook) were noted English jurists and annotators of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries respectively. They were the great authorities on land tenures.

5 Demosthenes (385-322 B.C.) was the greatest Greek orator; and Marcus Tullius (Tully) Cicero (106-43 B.C.), the greatest Roman orator.