As the profeft defign of this work is to entertain its readers in general, without giving offence to any particular perfon, it would be difficult to find out fo proper a patron for it as none yourself, there being whose merit is more univerfally acknowledged by all parties, and who has made himself more friends, and fewer enemies. Your great abilities, and unqueftioned integrity, in those high employments which you have paffed through, would not have been able to have raised you this general approbation, had they not been accompanied with that moderation in an high fortune, and that affability of manners, which are so conspicuous through all parts of your life. Your averfion to any oftentatious arts of setting to show thofe great fervices which you have done the public, has not likewife a little contributed to that universal acknowledgment which is paid you by your country. The confideration of this part of your character, is that which hinders me from enlarging on those extraordinary talents which have given you so great a figure in the British Senate, as well as on that elegance and politenefs which appear in your more retired conversation. I should be unpardonable, if, after what I have faid, I fhould longer detain you with an addrefs of this nature: I cannot, however, conclude it without owning those great obligations which you have laid upon, SIR, YOUR MOST OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, THE SPECTATOR. A Description of jealousy No. 170 Defcription of a Jezebel; letter from Jack Modifh 175 Letter from Philarithmus on the conquefts of Lewis XIV.180 On atheism On the vanity of popular praise On the force of cuftom, with fome rules for converfation 197 On the danger of expofing ourselves to temptation A contraft between a wife and a mifirefs On the advantages of birth with a fuitable behaviour 202 On debauching of girls, with the unhappy state of baftards 203 |