Some will have it, that I often write to myself, and am the only punctual correspondent I have. This objection would indeed be material, were the letters I communicate to the public stuffed with my own commendations; and if, instead of endeavouring to divert or instruct my readers, I admired in them the beauty of my own performances. But I shall leave these wise conjecturers to their own imaginations, and produce the three following letters for the entertainment of the day.

SIR,

I WAS last Thursday in an assembly of ladies, 'where there were thirteen different coloured hoods. Your Spectator of that day lying upon the table, 'they ordered me to read it to them, which I did 'with a very clear voice, until I came to the Greek verse at the end of it. I must confess I was a little 'startled at its popping upon me so unexpectedly. 'However, I covered my confusion as well as I 'could, and after having muttered two or three hard 'words to myself, laughed heartily, and cried, a very good jest, 'faith. The ladies desired me to explain ' it to them; but I begged their pardon for that, and 'told them, that if it had been proper for them to 'hear, they might be sure the author would not have wrapped it up in Greek. I then let drop several 'expressions, as if there was something in it that 6 was not fit to be spoken before a company of ladies. Upon which the matron of the assembly, who was ' dressed in a cherry-coloured hood, commended the 'discretion of the writer for having thrown his filthy thoughts into Greek, which was likely to corrupt but few of his readers. At the same time she de'clared herself very well pleased, that he had not ' given a decisive opinion upon the new fashioned 'hoods; for to tell you truly, says she, I was afraid he would have made us ashamed to show our heads.

Now, sir, you must know, since this unlucky acci'dent happened to me in a company of ladies, ' among whom I passed for a most ingenious man, 'I have consulted one who is well versed in the Greek language, and he assures me upon his word, 'that your late quotation means no more than “that • manners, and not dress, are the ornaments of a If this comes to the knowledge of my • female admirers, I shall be very hard put to it to 'bring myself off handsomely. In the meanwhile, I " give you this account, that you may take care hereafter not to betray any of your well-wishers into 'the like inconveniences. It is in the number of 'these that I beg leave to subscribe myself,

woman.

TOM TRIPIT.'

MR. SPECTATOR,

YOUR readers are so well pleased with your character of Sir Roger de Coverley, that there appeared a sensible joy in every coffee-house, upon hearing the old knight was come to town. I am now with a knot of his admirers, who make it their 'joint request to you, that you would give us public notice of the window or balcony where the knight • intends to make his appearance. He has already given great satisfaction to several who have seen him at Squire's coffeehouse. If you think fit to place your short face at Sir Roger's left elbow, we shall take the hint, and gratefully acknowledge so great a favour.

I am, SIR,

6 your most devoted humble servant,
'C. D.'

SIR,

KNOWING that you are very inquisitive after every thing that is curious in nature, I will wait on 'you if you please in the dusk of the evening, with

'my show upon my back, which I carry about with 'me in a box, as only consisting of a man, a woman, and a horse. The two first are married, in which 'state the little cavalier has so well acquitted him'self, that his lady is with child. The big-bellied woman, and her husband, with their whimsical 'palfrey, are so very light, that when they are put together into a scale, an ordinary man may weigh 'down the whole family. The little man is a bully in 'his nature; but when he grows choleric, I confine 'him in his box until his wrath is over, by which ་ means I have hitherto prevented him from doing 'mischief. His horse is likewise very vicious, for 'which reason I am forced to tie him close to his

( manger with a packthread. The woman is a co" quette. She struts as much as it is possible for a ་ lady of two foot high, and would ruin me in silks, ( were not the quantity that goes to a large pin'cushion sufficient to make her a gown and petti'coat. She told me the other day, that she heard 'the ladies wore coloured hoods, and ordered me to get her one of the finest blue. I am forced to comply with her demands whilst she is in her present 'condition, being very willing to have more of the " same breed. I do not know what she may produce me, but provided it be a show, I shall be very well 'satisfied. Such novelties should not, I think, be con'cealed from the British Spectator; for which reason I hope you will excuse this presumption in

"Your most dutiful, most obedient,

and most humble servant,

'S. T.'

VOL. IV.

I

THE occasion of this letter is of so great im( portance, and the circumstances of it such, that I 'know you will but think it just to insert it, in preference of all other matters that can present themselves to your consideration. I need not, after I have said this, tell you that I am in love. The cir'cumstances of my passion I shall let you under• stand as well as a disordered mind will admit. That 'cursed pickthank, Mrs. Jane! Alas, I am railing at one to you by her name as familiarly as if you were acquainted with her as well as myself: but I will tell you all, as fast as the alternate interrup'tions of love and anger will give me leave. There is a most agreeable young woman in the world whom I am passionately in love with, and from 'whom I have for some space of time received as ( great marks of favour as were fit for her to give, or me to desire. The successful progress of the affair ' of all others the most essential towards a man's hap'piness, gave a new life and spirit not only to my behaviour and discourse, but also a certain grace to all my actions in the commerce of life in all things though never so remote from love. You know the 'predominant passion spreads itself through all a 'man's transactions, and exalts or depresses him ac'cording to the nature of such passion. But alas! I ' have not yet begun my story, and what is making 'sentences and observations, when a man is pleading for his life? To begin then this lady has corresponded with me under the names of love,

'she my Belinda, I her Cleanthes. Though I am 'thus well got into the account of my affair, I cannot 'keep in the thread of it so much as to give you the 'character of Mrs. Jane, whom I will not hide under ( a borrowed name; but let you know that this crea'ture has been since I knew her very handsome, ( (though, for the future, I will not allow she has 'been) and during the time of her bloom and beau6 ty was so great a tyrant to her lovers, so over-valued 'herself, and under-rated all her pretenders, that they have deserted her to a man; and she knows 'no comfort but that common one to all in her con'dition, the pleasure of interrupting the amours of 'others. it is impossible but you must have seen 'several of these volunteers in malice, who pass their 'whole time in the most laborious way of life, in 'getting intelligence, running from place to place with new whispers, without reaping any other be'nefit but the hopes of making others as unhappy as themselves. Mrs. Jane happened to be at a 'place where I, with many others well acquainted with my passion for Belinda, passed a Christmas' evening. There was among the rest a young lady, so free in mirth, so amiable in a just reserve, that " accompanied it; I wrong her to call it a reserve, but there appeared in her a mirth or cheerfulness ' which was not a forbearance of more immoderate 'joy, but the natural appearance of all which could 'flow from a mind possessed of an habit of innocence and purity. I must have utterly forgot Belinda to 'have taken no notice of one who was growing up 'to the same womanly virtues which shine to perfection in her, had I not distinguished one who seem'ed to promise to the world the same life and conduct with my faithful and lovely Belinda. When 'the company broke up, the fine young thing permitted me to take care of her home. Mrs. Jane saw 'my particular regard to her, and was informed of