for I am not so vain as to think it presaged any dignity that I should arrive at in my future life, though that was the interpretation which the neighbourhood put upon it. The gravity of my behaviour at my very first appearance in the world, and all the time that I sucked, seemed to favour my Mother's dream: For, as she has often told me, I threw away my Rattle before I was two months old, and would not make use of my Coral till they had taken away the Bells from it.

As for the rest of my infancy, there being nothing in it remarkable, I shall pass it over in silence. I find, that during my nonage, I had the reputation of a very sullen youth, but was always a favourite of my Schoolmaster, who used to say, that my parts were solid, and would wear well. I had not been long at the University, before I distinguished my self by a most profound Silence; for during the space of eight years, excepting in the publick exercises of the College, I scarce uttered the quantity of an hundred words; and indeed do not remember that I ever spoke three sentences together in my whole life. Whilst I was in this Learned body, I applied my self with so much diligence to my studies, that there are very few celebrated Books, either in the learned or modern tongues, which I am not acquainted with.

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Upon the death of my Father, I was resolved to travel into foreign countries, and therefore left the University, with the character of an odd unaccountable Fellow, that had a great 25 deal of Learning, if I would but shew it. An insatiable thirst after Knowledge carried me into all the countries of Europe in which there was any thing new or strange to be seen; nay to such a degree was my curiosity raised, that having read the controversies of some great men concerning the Antiquities of Egypt, I made a voyage to Grand Cairo, on purpose to take the measure of a Pyramid: and as soon as I had set my self right in that particular, returned to my native country with great satisfaction.

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I have passed my latter years in this city, where I am frequently seen in most publick places, though there are not above half a dozen of my select friends that know me; of whom my next Paper shall give a more particular account. 5 There is no place of general resort, wherein I do not often make my appearance; sometimes I am seen thrusting my head into a round of Politicians at Will's, and listning with great attention to the narratives that are made in those little circular audiences. Sometimes I smoak a pipe at Child's, and whilst I seem attentive to nothing but the Post-Man, over-hear the conversation of every table in the room. I appear on Sunday nights at St. James's Coffee-house, and sometimes join the little Committee of Politicks in the inner-room, as one who comes there to hear and improve. My face is likewise very well known at the 15 Grecian, the Cocoa-Tree, and in the Theatres both of DruryLane and the Hay-Market. I have been taken for a Merchant upon the Exchange for above these ten years, and sometimes pass for a Jew in the assembly of Stock-jobbers at Jonathan's: In short, wherever I see a cluster of people, I always mix with them, though I never open my lips but in my own Club.

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Thus I live in the world rather as a SPECTATOR of mankind, than as one of the species; by which means I have made my self a speculative Statesman, Soldier, Merchant and Artizan, without ever meddling with any practical part in life.

very well versed in the theory of a Husband or a Father, and can discern the errors in the oeconomy, business and diversion of others, better than those who are engaged in them; as standers-by discover blots, which are apt to escape those who are in the game. I never espoused any party with violence, and am resolved to observe an exact neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I shall be forced to declare my self by the hostilities of either side. In short, I have acted in all the parts of my life as a Looker-on, which is the character I intend to preserve in this paper.

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I have given the reader just so much of my History and Character, as to let him see I am not altogether unqualified for the business I have undertaken. As for other particulars in my life and adventures, I shall insert them in following papers, as I shall see occasion. In the mean time, when I consider how much I have seen, read and heard, I begin to blame my own taciturnity; and since I have neither time nor inclination to communicate the fulness of my heart in speech, I am resolved to do it in writing, and to print my self out, if possible, before I die. I have been often told by my friends, 10 that it is pity so many useful discoveries which I have made should be in the possession of a Silent man. For this reason therefore, I shall publish a sheet-full of thoughts every morning, for the benefit of my contemporaries; and if I can any way contribute to the diversion or improvement of the country in which I live, I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the secret satisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain.

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There are three very material points which I have not spoken to in this paper; and which, for several important reasons, I 20 must keep to my self, at least for some time : I mean, an account of my Name, my Age, and my Lodgings. I must confess, I would gratify my reader in any thing that is reasonable; but as for these three particulars, though I am sensible they might tend very much to the embellishment of my paper, I cannot 25 yet come to a resolution of communicating them to the publick. They would indeed draw me out of that obscurity which I have enjoyed for many years, and expose me in publick places to several salutes and civilities, which have been always very disagreeable to me; for the greatest pain I can suffer, is the being 30 talked to, and being stared at. It is for this reason likewise, that I keep my Complexion and Dress as very great secrets; though it is not impossible, but I may make discoveries of both in the progress of the work I have undertaken.

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After having been thus particular upon my self, I shall in to-morrow's paper give an account of those Gentlemen who are concerned with me in this work; for, as I have before intimated, a plan of it is laid and concerted (as all other matters of importance are) in a Club. However, as my friends have engaged me to stand in the front, those who have a mind to correspond with me, may direct their Letters to the SPECTATOR, at Mr. Buckley's in Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the Reader, that though our Club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a Commitee to sit every night, for the inspection of all such papers as may contribute to the advancement of the publick weal.

N° 2. Friday, March 2. [1711.]

The first of our Society is a Gentleman of Worcestershire, of antient descent, a Baronet, his name Sir Roger de CoverLY. 15 His Great Grand-father was inventor of that famous countrydance which is called after him. All who know that Shire, are very well acquainted with the Parts and Merits of Sir Roger. He is a Gentleman that is very singular in his behaviour, but his singularities proceed from his good sense, and are contradictions to the manners of the world, only as he thinks the world is in the wrong. However, this humour creates him no enemies, for he does nothing with sourness or obstinacy; and his being unconfined to modes and forms, makes him but the readier and more capable to please and oblige all who know 25 him. When he is in town, he lives in Soho-Square. It is said, he keeps himself a Bachelor by reason he was crossed in love by a perverse beautiful Widow of the next County to him.

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Before this disappointment, Sir ROGER was what you call a fine
Gentleman, had often supped with my Lord Rochester and Sir
George Etherege, fought a Duel upon his first coming to town,
and kicked Bully Dawson in a publick Coffee-house for calling
him Youngster. But being ill used by the above-mentioned
Widow, he was very serious for a year and a half; and though,
his temper being naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew
careless of himself, and never dressed afterwards. He con-
tinues to wear a Coat and Doublet of the same Cut that were
in fashion at the time of his repulse, which, in his merry humours,
he tells us, has been in and out twelve times since he first wore
it. 'Tis said Sir ROGER grew humble in his desires after he
had forgot this cruel Beauty, insomuch that it is reported he
has frequently offended in point of chastity with Beggars and
Gypsies But this is looked upon by his friends rather as mat-
ter of raillery than truth.
cheerful, gay and hearty; keeps a good house both in town
and country; a great lover of mankind; but there is such a
mirthful cast in his behaviour, that he is rather beloved than
esteemed His Tenants grow rich, his Servants look satisfied,
all the young women profess love to him, and the young men
are glad of his company: When he comes into a house, he
calls the servants by their names, and talks all the way up
stairs to a visit. I must not omit, that Sir ROGER is a Justice
of the Quorum; that he fills the Chair at a Quarter-Session
with great abilities, and three months ago gained universal
applause by explaining a passage in the Game-act.

He is now in his fifty sixth year,

The Gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another Bachelor, who is a member of the Inner-Temple; a man of great Probity, Wit, and Understanding; but he has chosen his place of residence rather to obey the direction of an old humoursome Father, than in pursuit of his own inclinations. He was placed there to study the Laws of the Land, and is the most learned of any of the house in those

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