[196] In the list given by Steele to Tickell this paper was marked as
written by Addison and Steele in conjunction.
[197] Book i., Epist. xiv.
[198] See No. 35.
[199] "In the _Tatler_, about the conduct of our family in their
marriages [_Tatler_, No. 75], put in where you think best: 'It is to
be noted, that the women of our family never change their name.' This
amendment must be made, or we have writ nonsense." (No. 79, folio
issue.)
No. 76. [STEELE.
From _Saturday, Oct. 1_, to _Tuesday, Oct. 4, 1709_.
_From my own Apartment, October 3._
It is a thing very much to be lamented, that a man must use a certain
cunning to speak to people of what it is their interest to avoid. All
men will allow, that it is a great and heroic work to correct men's
errors, and at the price of being called a common enemy, to go on in
being a common friend to my fellow-subjects and citizens. But I am
forced in this work to revolve the same thing in ten thousand lights,
and cast them in as many forms, to come at men's minds and affections,
in order to lead the innocent in safety, as well as disappoint the
artifices of betrayers. Since therefore I can make no impression upon
the offending side, I shall turn my observations upon the offended:
that is to say, I must whip my children for going into bad company,
instead of railing at bad company for ensnaring my children. The
greatest misfortunes men fall into, arise from themselves; and that
temper, which is called very often, though with great injustice,
good-nature, is the source of a numberless train of evils. For which
reason we are to take this as a rule, that no action is commendable
which is not voluntary; and we have made this a maxim--that man who
is commonly called good-natured, is hardly to be thanked for anything
he does, because half that is acted about him, is done rather by his
sufferance than approbation. It is generally a laziness of disposition,
which chooses rather to let things pass the worst way, than to go
through the pain of examination. It must be confessed, such a one has
so great a benevolence in him, that he bears a thousand uneasinesses,
rather than he will incommode others; nay, often when he has just
reason to be offended, chooses to sit down with a small injury, than
bring it into reprehension, out of pure compassion to the offender.
Such a person has it usually said of him, he is no man's enemy but
his own; which is in effect saying, he is a friend to every man but
himself and his friends: for by a natural consequence of his neglecting
himself, he either incapacitates himself to be another's friend, or
makes others cease to be his. If I take no care of my own affairs, no
man that is my friend can take it ill if I am negligent also of his.
This soft disposition, if it continues uncorrected, throws men into a
sea of difficulties. There is Euphusius, with all the good qualities in
the world, deserves well of nobody: that universal good-will which is
so strong in him, exposes him to the assault of every invader upon his
time, his conversation, and his property. His diet is butcher's meat,
his wenches are in plain pinners and Norwich crapes,[200] his dress
like other people, his income great, and yet has he seldom a guinea at
command. From these easy gentlemen, are collected estates by servants
or gamesters; which latter fraternity are excusable, when we think of
this clan, who seem born to be their prey. All therefore of the family
of Actæon[201] are to take notice, that they are hereby given up to
the brethren of the industry, with this reserve only, that they are to
be marked as stricken deer, not for their own sakes, but to preserve
the herd from following them and coming within the scent. I am obliged
to leave this important subject, without telling whose quarters are
severed, who has the humbles, who the haunch, and who the legs, of the
last stag that was pulled down; but this is only deferred in hopes
my deer will make their escape without more admonitions or examples,
of which they have had (in mine and the town's opinion) too great a
plenty. I must, I say, at present go to other matters of moment.
_White's Chocolate-house, October 3._
The lady has answered the letter of Mr. Alexander Landlord, which was
published on Thursday last,[202] but in such a manner as I do not
think fit to proceed in the affair; for she has plainly told him, that
love is her design, but marriage her aversion. Bless me! What is this
age come to, that people can think to make a pimp of an astronomer?
I shall not promote such designs, but shall leave her to find out
her admirer, while I speak to another case sent to me by a letter of
September 30, subscribed Lovewell Barebones, where the author desires
me to suspend my care of the dead, till I have done something for the
dying. His case is, that the lady he loves is ever accompanied by a
kinswoman, one of those gay, cunning women, who prevent all the love
which is not addressed to themselves. This creature takes upon her in
his mistress's presence to ask him, whether Mrs. Florimel (that is the
cruel one's name) is not very handsome; upon which he looks silly;
then they both laugh out, and she will tell him, that Mrs. Florimel
had an equal passion for him, but desired him not to expect the first
time to be admitted in private; but that now he was at liberty before
her only, who was her friend, to speak his mind, and that his mistress
expected it. Upon which Florimel acts a virgin-confusion, and with
some disorder waits his speech. Here ever follows a deep silence;
after which a loud laugh. Mr. Barebones applies himself to me on this
occasion. All the advice I can give him is, to find a lover for the
confidant, for there is no other bribe will prevail; and I see by her
carriage, that it is no hard matter, for she is too gay to have a
particular passion, or to want a general one.
Some days ago the town had a full charge laid against my Essays, and
printed at large. I altered not one word of what he of the contrary
opinion said; but have blotted out some warm things said for me;
therefore please to hear the counsel for the defendant, though I shall
be so no otherwise than to take a middle way, and, if possible, keep
commendations from being insipid to men's taste, or raillery pernicious
to their characters.
"Mr. BICKERSTAFF,
_Sept. 30._
"As I always looked upon satire as the best friend to reformation,
whilst its lashes were general, so that gentleman[203] must excuse
me, if I do not see the inconvenience of a method he is so much
concerned at. The errors he assigns in it, I think, are comprised
in the desperation men are generally driven to, when by a public
detection they fall under the infamy they feared, who otherwise,
by checking their bridle, might have recovered their stumble, and
through a self-conviction become their own reformers: so he that
was before but a clandestine disciple (to use his own quotation),
is now become a doctor in impiety, The little success that is to
be expected by these methods from a hardened offender, is too
evident to insist on; yet it is true, there is a great deal of
charity in this sort of reasoning, whilst the effects of those
crimes extend not beyond themselves. But what relation has this
to your proceedings? It is not a circumstantial guessing will
serve turn, for there are more than one to pretend to any of your
characters; but there must at least be something that must amount
to a nominal description, before even common fame can separate me
from the rest of mankind to dart at. A general representation of
an action, either ridiculous or enormous, may make those wince who
find too much similitude in the character with themselves to plead
not guilty; but none but a witness to the crime can charge them
with the guilt, whilst the indictment is general, and the offender
has the asylum of the whole world to protect him. Here can then
be no injustice, where no one is injured; for it is themselves
must appropriate the saddle, before scandal can ride them. Your
method then, in my opinion, is no way subject to the charge
brought against it; but on the contrary, I believe this advantage
is too often drawn from it, that whilst we laugh at, or detest the
uncertain subject of the satire, we often find something in the
error a parallel to ourselves; and being insensibly drawn to the
comparison we would get rid of, we plunge deeper into the mire,
and shame produces that which advice has been too weak for; and
you, sir, get converts you never thought of. As for descending to
characters below the dignity of satire, what men think are not
beneath commission, I must assure him, I think are not beneath
reproof: for as there is as much folly in a ridiculous deportment,
as there is enormity in a criminal one, so neither the one nor the
other ought to plead exemption. The kennel of curs are as much
enemies to the state, as Gregg[204] for his confederacy; for as
this betrayed our Government, so the other does our property,
and one without the other is equally useless. As for the act of
oblivion he so strenuously insists on, _Le Roi s'avisera_ is a
fashionable answer; and for his modus of panegyric, the hint was
unnecessary, where Virtue need never ask twice for her laurel.
But as for his reformation by opposites, I again must ask his
pardon, if I think the effects of these sort of reasonings (by
the paucity of converts) are too great an argument, both of their
imbecility and unsuccessfulness, to believe it will be any better
than misspending of time, by suspending a method that will turn
more to advantage, and which has no other danger of losing ground,
but by discontinuance. And as I am certain (of what he supposes)
that your lucubrations are intended for the public benefit, so I
hope you will not give them so great an interruption, by laying
aside the only method that can render you beneficial to mankind,
and (among others) agreeable to,
"Sir,
Your humble Servant, &c."[205]
_St. James's Coffee-house, October 3._
Letters from the camp at Havre on the 7th instant, N.S., advise, that
the trenches were opened before Mons on the 27th of last month, and the
approaches were carried on at two attacks with great application and
success, notwithstanding the rains which had fallen; that the besiegers
had made themselves masters of several redoubts, and other outworks,
and had advanced the approaches within ten paces of the counterscarps
of the hornwork. Lieutenant-General Cadogan received a slight wound in
the neck soon after opening the trenches.
The enemy were throwing up entrenchments between Quesnoy and
Valenciennes, and the Chevalier de Luxemburg was encamped near
Charleroi with a body of 10,000 men. Advices from Catalonia by the
way of Genoa import, that Count Staremberg, having passed the Segra,
advanced towards Balaguier, which place he took after a few hours'
resistance, and made the garrison, consisting of three Spanish
battalions, prisoners of war. Letters from Berne say, that the army
under the command of Count Thaun had begun to repass the mountains, and
would shortly evacuate Savoy.
* * * * *
Whereas Mr. Bickerstaff has received intelligence, that a young
gentleman, who has taken my discourses upon John Partridge and others
in too literal a sense, and is suing an elder brother to an ejectment;
the aforesaid young gentleman is hereby advised to drop his action, no
man being esteemed dead in law, who eats and drinks, and receives his
rents.