590 On eternity 591 Questions and cases of love 592 Dramatic improvements-Criticisms 596 Distresses of a very amorous gentleman 597 The dreams of various correspondents 598 On a merry and serious cast of temper 599 The cave of Trophonius, a dream 603 Phoebe, a poem 604 On a desire of knowing future events 605 A difficult case in love resolved. 606 Embroidery recommended to the ladies 608 List of persons who demanded the flitch of bacon 610 Applause of men not to be regarded-Story of 611 Letter from a lady insulted by her seducer-Re- 612 On the pride of genealogy 613 Letters, on ambition-Eloquence of beggars-from 614 Questions on widows, answered by the love 624 Division of mankind into classes-Pursuits of 625 Questions in love solved by the love casuist 627 Letter to Zelinda from her lover-his death Translation of Cato's soliloquy 629 Absurd claims of reward 630 Church music recommended-Improper behaviour in church . GROVE BLAND UNKNOWN THE SPECTATOR. No. 544. MONDAY, NOV. 24, 1712. Nunquam ita quisquam benè subductâ ratione ad vitum fuit, TER. Adelph. Act. v. Sc. 4. No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience: insomuch that we find ourselves really ignorant of what we thought we understood, and see cause to reject what we fancied our truest interest. THERE are, I think, sentiments in the following letter from my friend captain Sentry, which discover a rational and equal frame of mind, as well prepared for an advantageous as an unfortunate change of condition. 'SIR, Coverley-hall, Nov. 15, I AM come to the succession of the estate of my honoured kinsman, Sir Roger de Coverley; and I assure you I find it no easy task to keep up the figure of master of the fortune which was so handsomely enjoyed by that honest plain man. I VOL. VIII. B cannot (with respect to the great obligations I have, be it spoken,) reflect upon his character, but I am confirmed in the truth which I have, I think, heard spoken at the club; to wit, that a man of a warm and well-disposed heart, with a very small capacity, is highly superior in human society to him who, with the greatest talents, is cold and languid in his affections. But, alas ! why do I make a difficulty in speaking of my worthy ancestor's failings? His little absurdities and incapacity for the conversation of the politest men are dead with him, and his greater qualities are even now useful to him. I know not whether by naming those disabilities I do not enhance his merit, since he has left behind him a reputation in his country, which would be worth the pains of the wisest man's whole life to arrive at. By the way, I must observe to you, that many of readers have mistook that passage in your your writings, wherein Sir Roger is reported to have inquired into the private character of the young woman at the tavern. I know you mentioned that circumstance as an instance of the simplicity and innocence of his mind, which made him imagine it a very easy thing to reclaim one of those criminals, and not as an inclination in him to be guilty with her. The less discerning of your readers cannot enter into that delicacy of description in the character: but indeed my chief business at this time is to represent to you my present state of mind, and the satisfaction I promise to myself in the possession of my new fortune. I have continued all Sir Roger's servants, except such as it was a relief to dismiss into little beings within my manor. Those who are in a list of the good knight's own hand to be taken care of by me, I have quartered upon such as have taken new leases of me, and added so many advantages during the lives of the persons so quartered, that it is the interest of those whom they are joined with to cherish, and befriend them upon all occasions. I find a considerable sum of ready money, which I am laying out among my dependents at the common interest, but with a design to lend it according to their merit, rather than according to their ability. I shall lay a tax upon such as I have highly obliged, to become security to me for such of their own poor youth, whether male or female, as want help towards getting into some being in the world. I hope I shall be able to manage my affairs so as to improve my fortune every year by doing acts of kindness. I will lend my money to the use of none but indigent men, secured by such as have ceased to be indigent by the favour of my family or myself. What makes this the more practicable is, that if they will do any one good with my money, they are welcome to it upon their own security: and I make no exception against it, because the persons who enter into the obligations do it for their own family. I have laid out four thousand pounds this way, and it is not to be imagined what a crowd of people are obliged by it. In cases where Sir Roger has recommended, I have lent money to put out children, with a clause which makes void the obligation in case the infant dies before he is out of his apprenticeship; by which means the kindred and masters are extremely careful of breeding him to industry, that he may repay it himself by his labour, in three years' journey-work after his time is out, for the use of his securities. Opportunities of this kind are all that have occurred since I came to my estate; but I assure you I will preserve a constant disposition to catch at all the occasions I can to promote the good and happiness of my neighbourhood. |