have an Aptnefs to improve the Mind and to make the Heart better. I have fhewn in a former Paper, with how much Care I have avoided all fuch Thoughts as are loose, obfcene, or immoral; and I believe my Reader would ftill think the better of me, if he knew the Pains I am at in qualifying what I write after fuch a manner, that nothing may be interpreted as aimed at private Perfons. For this Reafon when I draw any faulty Character, I confider all those Perfons to whom the Malice of the World may poffibly apply it, and take care to dash it with fuch particular Circumftances as may prevent all fuch ill-natured Applications. If I write any Thing on a black Man, I run over in my Mind all the eminent Perfons in the Nation who are of that Complection: When I place an imaginary Name at the Head of a Character, I examine every Syllable and Letter of it, that it may not bear any Refemblance to one that is real. I know very well the Value which every Man fets upon his Reputation, and how painful it is to be exposed to the Mirth and Derifion of the Publick, and fhould therefore fcorn to divert my Reader at the Expence of any private Man. AS I have been thus tender of every parti cular Perfon's Reputation, fo I have taken more than ordinary Care not to give Offence to those who appear in the higher Figures of Life. I would not make my felf merry even with a Piece of Pasteboard that is invested with a pub lick Character; for which Reason I have ne ver glanced upon the late defigned Proceffion of his Holinefs and his Attendants, notwithftanding it might have afforded Matter to many ludicrous Speculations. Among those Advantages, which the Publick may reap from this Paper, it is not the leaft, that it draws Mens Minds off from the Bitterness of Party, and furnishes them with Subjects of Difcourfe that may be treated without Warmth or Paf fion. This is faid to have been the firft Defign of those Gentlemen who fet on Foot the Royal Society; and had then a very good Effect, as it turned many of the greatest Genius's of that Age to the Difquifitions of natural Knowledge, who, if they had engaged in Politicks with the fame Parts and Application, might have set their Country in a Flame. The Air-Pump, the Barometer, the Quadrant, and the like Inventions, were thrown out to those bufy Spirits, as Tubs and Barrels are to a Whale, that he may let the Ship fail on with out Disturbance, while he diverts himself with those innocent Amusements. I have been so very fcrupulous in this Particular of not hurting any Man's Reputation, that I have forborn mentioning even fuch Authors as I could not name with Honour. This 'I must confefs to have been a Piece of very great Self-denial: For as the Publick relishes nothing better than the Ridicule which turns upon a Writer of any Eminence, fo there is nothing which a Man that has but a very ordinary Ta lent lent in Ridicule may execute with greater Eafe. One might raise Laughter for a Quarter of a Year together upon the Works of a Person who has published but a very few Volumes. For which Reasons I am aftonifhed, that thofe who have appeared against this Paper have made so very little of it. The Criticifms which I have hitherto published, have been made with an Intention rather to difcover Beauties and Excellencies in the Writers of my own Time, than to publish any of their Faults and Imperfections. In the mean while I should take it for a very great Favour from fome of my underhand Detractors, if they would break all Measures with me fo far, as to give me a Pretence for examining their Performances with an impartial Eye: Nor fhall I look upon it as any Breach of Charity to criticise the Author, fo long as I keep clear of the Perfon. IN the mean While, till I am provoked to fuch Hoftilities, I fhall from Time to Time endeavour to do Juftice to thofe who have diftinguished themselves in the politer Parts of Lear ning, and to point out fuch Beauties in their Works as may have efcaped the Obfervation of others. AS the first Place among our English Poets is due to Milton, and as I have drawn more Quotations out of him than from any other, I fhall enter into a regular Criticifm upon his Paradife loft, which I fhall publifh every Saturday till I have given my Thoughts upon that Poem. I fhall not however prefume to impose upon others my own particular Judgment on this Author, but only deliver it as my private Opinion. Criticism is of a very large Extent, and every particular Master in this Art has his favourite Paffages in an Author, which do not equally ftrike the best Judges. It will be fufficient for me if I discover many Beauties S or Imperfections which others have not attended to, and I should be very glad to see any of our eminent Writers publish their Discoveries on the fame Subject. In fhort, I would always be understood to write my Papers of Criticifm in the Spirit which Horace has expreffed in those two famous Lines; Si quid novifti rectius iftis, : IF you have made any better Remarks of Tuesday, N° 263. Tuesday January, 1. 1712. Gratulor quod eum quem neceffe erat diligere, qualifcunque effet, talem habemus ut libenter quoque diligamus. 6 Mr. SPECTATOR, 'I Trebonius apud Tull. Am the happy Father of a very towardly Son, in whom I do not only fee my Life, but alfo my Manner of Life, renewed. It 'would be extreamly beneficial to Society, if you would frequently refume Subjects which · ferve to bind thefe Sort of Relations fafter, " and endear the Tyes of Blood with those of "Good-will, Protection,Obfervance,Indulgence ' and Veneration. I would, methinks, have this ⚫ done after an uncommon Method, and do not 'think any one, who is not capable of writing 6 a good Play, fit to undertake a Work wherein there will neceffarily occur fo many secret Inftincts, and Biaffes of humane Nature, which would pass unobserved by common 'Eyes. I thank Heaven I have no outragious ⚫ Offence against my own excellent Parents to ⚫ answer for, but when I am now and then ⚫ alone, and look back upon my past Life, from my earliest Infancy to this Time, there are many Faults which I committed that did not • appear |