founded hopes which meeting with disap pointment, introduce a species of misanthropy, and a dislike of life, merely because life cannot give more than it was intended to give. It must be confessed indeed that modern novels, a species of composition unknown to our ESSAYISTS, have produced affectations of feeling and sensibility that still require the chastisement of an humorous pen: but they are seldom of long duration, and, like other kinds of vanity, disappear when they fail in attracting notice. All affectation is made for show; and is something in the drawing-room or the park, but nothing in the closet.

Before the appearance of the ESSAYISTS, few moral writers had penetrated into DOMESTIC CIRCLES, but contented themselves with general dissuasives from the encouragement of the malevolent passions. Pride, envy, and revenge, were justly exposed, as pernicious to man and offensive to the Deity. But these instructors, as we have already observed in other cases, frequently failed to produce amendment, by being too general, and their works were not probably in many hands. The distribution of popular instruction, at stated times and at easy rates, is that which distinguishes the ESSAYISTS from all other writers, which has enabled them to go along with the age, and afforded them opportunities to simplify their subjects to the meanest comprehension. The early ESSAYISTS also se

lected specific cases, and applied them to the business and bosoms' of their readers; and shewed, by apt examples, in how many cases, envy, pride, and revenge, appear in the disguise of emulation, dignity, and justice. No general declamation could familiarize these truths to common minds. It was necessary to follow the reader to his closet, his counting-house, his family, and even to the pew and the altar. In this extensive range, topics of ridicule could never be wanting to men of such pregnant wit and turn for observation as the authors of the TATLER and SPECTATOR; and it will be found that the crimes or whims of pride, envy, and revenge, occupy no inconsiderable part of their lucubrations, and afford some of the most striking pictures of real life, and displays of genuine humour.

Connected with REVENGE, are the various phenomena of courage and cowardice, two qualities which, on certain occasions, form one of the grand divisions of mankind, but which are in general so mixed and shaded as to require great accuracy of distinction. In separating the merits of true courage from the glare of the false, and in recommending that only useful valour which gives a daring to the mind in defiance of the custom of the world, and the contempt of fools,our ESSAYISTS have earned their best fame. If the custom of the world is in many cases still too powerful, it is at least without excuse. Men may be pre

cipitated into crimes by a false notion of honour; but they do not affect to be without remorse, and have seldom insulted public decency by apologies or vindications.*

In surveying the manners of domestic life, a very copious fund of ridicule is derived from observing the various effects of a TASTE for EXPENSE and SHOW, arising from a compliance, rather voluntary than compelled, with the mandates of fashion. This naturally induces the consideration of dress, furniture, equipage, and the luxuries of the table; subjects which do not court privacy, but obtrude themselves with proud ostentation, and are therefore among the fairest game of the literary sportsman. At the commencement of the last century the distinction of ranks, it is believed, was more strictly observed than it has been since. The man of title or fortune, and the citizen, were characters essentially different: there was indeed scarcely any point of resemblance. In the one appeared state, splendour, show, a manly spirit, and high sense of family-honour, yet sometimes with notions rather gay and loose; in the other, œconomy, snugness, integrity, and some prejudices of pretty high antiquity. When, however, successful commerce afforded the latter the means, there soon ap

*The papers on Duelling in the TATLER were written by STEELE, whose thoughts are said to have been turned towards that subject in early life, when he was involved in a duel with a brother officer,

peared an affected imitation of the manners and expenses of the great and such imitations at first could not fail to be ludicrous as well as pernicious, but they were not to be attacked only by serious argument. They were not always worthy of it; and it is perhaps as wholesome to shew a man that he is vain, as to prove that vanity is a great folly. During the progress of this change in manners, if an expense was fashionable, that sanction was sufficient, and the splendour and style of a suite of rooms were attempted in confined parlours and closets: entertainments in miniature were given in such camere obscure to persons who would only laugh at the folly of the host; while the youth of both sexes began to be trained up with notions of high life, which, by destroying industry and perverting the use of wealth, soon left them in a motley beggary with an outside show neither splendid nor squalid. Yet these examples of "high life below stairs" were not perhaps so frequent in the days of STEELE and ADDISON as they have become in our time, in which a different state of society has shewn how very prolific pride and vanity are in grotesque appearances and expensive anomalies: still they occurred with frequency sufficient to afford those wits opportunities of exposing them to just ridicule, as well as of pointing out the more fatal effects of stepping out of the rank in which education and circum stances have placed us.

GAMING in all its varieties had attained, in the days of the TATLER, a perfection, if we may so term it, not inferior to what so eminently distinguishes and dishonours the present times. The mischiefs arising from this vice alone are acknowledged greatly to exceed what can be attributed to any other cause. Yet to the present moment the young of all ranks are early initiated in the science of play, and with no other check than a hope, sometimes casually expressed, that what is intended for amusement may not become their more serious study*. Perhaps one of the most fatal effects which gaming, even in its least degrees, has produced on the public mind, is the distinction made between honour and honesty, and the consequent opinion that a debt contracted at the cardtable is more obligatory than one contracted in trade. Few principles will appear more detestable than this, if it be fairly examined; and the MAN OF HONOUR, who has no other claim to the title than what arises from his punctual observation of such a precept, ought not to complain if that too be taken from him by the verdict of religion, law, and integrity.

Many of the TATLERS were very laudably employed in detecting the arts of gamblers and sharpers; some at least of whom were

When Plato reproved a young man for playing at dice. Wha! for such a trifle of money?" " CUSTOM," answered Plato, "is no trifle."