THE

PUBLISHER to the READER.

Tis a Justice which Mr. IRONSIDE owes Gentlemen who have fent Him their Affiftances from time to time, in the carrying on of this Work, to acknowledge that Obligation, tho' at the fame time He Himself dwindles into the Character of a Meer Publisher, by making the Acknowledgment. But whether a Man does it out of Justice or Gratitude, or any other Virtuous Reafon or not, it is also a Prudential Act to take no more upon a Man than he can bear. Too large a Credit has made many a Bankrupt, but taking even less than a Man can answer with Eafe, is a fure Fund for extending it whenever His Occafions require. All thofe Papers which are diftinguished by the Mark of an Hand, were written by a Gentleman who bas obliged the World with Productions too fublime to admit that the Author of them should receive any Addition to his Reputation, from fuch loose occafional Thoughts as make up thefe little Treatifes. For which Reafon his Name fhall be concealed. Thofe which are marked with a Star, were compofed by Mr. Budgell. That upon Dedications with the Epistle of an Author to Himfelf, The Club of little Men, The Receipt to make an Epic Poem, The Paper of the Gardens of Alcinous, and the Catalogue of Greens, That against Barbarity to Animals, and fome others, have Mr. Pope for their Author. Now I mention this Gentleman, I take this Opportunity, out of the Affection I have for his Perfon, and Refpect to his Merit, to let the World know,

that

1

that he is now Tranflating Homer's Iliad by Subfcription. He has given good Proof of His Ability for the Work, and the Men of greatest Wit and Learning of this Nation, of all Parties, are, according to their different Abilities, zealous Encouragers or Solicitors for the Work.

But to my prefent purpose. The Letter from Gnatho of the Cures performed by Flattery, and that of comparing Drefs to Criticifm, are Mr. Gay's. Mr. Martin, Mr. Philips, Mr. Tickell, Mr. Carey, Mr. Eufden, Mr. Ince and Mr. Hughes, have obliged the Town with entertaining Difcourfes in thefe Volumes; and Mr. Berkley of Trinity-College in Dublin has embellifhed them with many excellent Arguments in Honour of Religion and Virtue. Mr. Parnelle will I hope forgive me that without his leave I mention, that I have feen bis Hand on the like Occafion. There are fome Dif courfes of a lefs pleafing Nature which relate to the Divifions amongst Us, and fuch (left any of thefe Gentlemen fhould fuffer from unjust Suspicion,) I must impute to the right Author of them, who is one Mr. Steele of Langunnor in the County of Carmarthen in SouthWales.

THE

THE

GUARDIAN.

VOL. I.

N° 1 Thursday, March 12, 1713.

HERE is no Paffion fo univerfal, however diverfified or difguifed under different Forms and Appearances, as the Vanity of being known to the reft of Mankind, and communicating a Man's Parts, Virtues or Qualifications to the World; this is fo ftrong upon Men of great Genius, that they have a reftlefs Fondness for fatisfying the World in the Mistakes they might poffibly be under, with relation even to their Phyfiognomy. Mr. Airs, that excellent Pen

man,

man, has taken care to affix his own Image oppofite to the Title-Page of his learned Treatife, wherein he inftructs the Youth of this Nation to arrive at a flourishing Hand. The Author of the Key to Intereft, both Simple and Compound, containing Practical Rules plainly expreffed in Words at length for all Rates of Intereft and Times of Payment, for what time foever, makes up to us the Misfortune of his living at Chefter, by following the Example of the abovementioned Airs, and coming up to Town, over-against his Title-Page, in a very becoming Periwig, and a flowing Robe or Mantle, inclosed in a Circle of Foliages; below his Portraiture, for our farther Satisfaction as to the Age of that useful Writer, is subfcribed Johannes Ward de Civitat. Ceftria, Etat. fuæ 58. An. Dom. 1706. The ferene Aspect of thefe Writers, join'd with the great Encouragement I obferve is given to another, or, what is indeed to be fufpected, in which he indulges himself, confirmed me in the Notion I have of the prevalence of Ambition this way. The Author whom I hint at fhall be nameless, but his Countenance is communicated to the Publick in feveral Views and Aspects drawn by the moft eminent Painters, and forwarded by Engravers, Artifts by way of Mezzo-tinto, Etchers, and the like. There was, I remember, fome Years ago, one John Gale, a Fellow that played upon a Pipe, and diverted the Multitude by dancing in a Ring they made about him, whose

Face

Face became generally known, and the Artists employ'd their Skill in delineating his Features, becaufe every Man was Judge of the Similitude of them. There is little elfe than what this John Gale arriv'd at in the Advantages Men enjoy from common Fame, yet do I fear it has always a Part in moving us to exert our felves in fuch things, as ought to derive their beginnings from nobler Confiderations: But I think it is no great matter to the Publick what is the Incentive which makes Men bestow Time in their Service, provided there be any thing useful in what they produce; I fhall proceed therefore to give an Account of my intended Labours, not without fome hope of having my Vanity, at the end of them, indulged in the fort abovementioned.

I SHOULD not have affumed the Title of Guardian, had I not maturely confidered, that the Qualities neceffary for doing the Duties of that Character, proceed from the Integrity of the Mind, more than the Excellence of the Understanding: The former of these Qualifications it is in the power of every Man to arrive at; and the more he endeavours that way, the lefs will he want the Advantages of the latter; to be Faithful, to be Honeft, to be Juft, is what will demand in the Choice of your Guardian; or if you find added to this, that he is Pleafant, Ingenious, and Agreeable, there will overflow Satisfactions which make for the Ornament, if not fo immediately to the Ufe,

you

of