tians. I fhall not be fo vain as to think, that where the SPECTATOR appears, the other public prints will vanish; but shall leave it to my reader's confideration, whether it is not much better to be let into the knowledge of one's felf, than to hear what paffes in Muscovy or Poland; and to amuse ourselves with fuch writings as tend to the wearing out of ignorance, paffion, and prejudice, than fuch as naturally conduce to inflame hatreds, and make enmities irreconcileable.

In the next place I would recommend this Paper to the daily perufal of thofe gentlemen whom I cannot but confider as my good brothers and allies, I mean the fraternity of Spectators, who live in the world without having any thing to do in it; and either by the affluence of their fortunes, or laziness of their difpofitions, have no other business with the rest of mankind, but to look upon them. Under this class of men are comprehended all contemplative tradefmen, titular phyficians, Fellows of the Royal Society*, templars that are not given to be contentious, and statesmen that are out of bufinefs; in fhort, every one that confiders the world as a theatre, and defires to form a right judgment of those who are the actors on it.

There is another set of men that I must likewife lay a claim to, whom I have lately called the Blanks of SOCIETY, as being altogether unfur

*See New TATLER, No 216, No 221, N° 236, and Notes on the illiberal treatment of the R. S.

nished with ideas, till the bufinefs and converfation of the day has fupplied them. I have often confidered these poor fouls with an eye of great commiferation, when I have heard them asking the first man they have met with, whether there was any news ftirring? and by that means gathering together materials for thinking. Thefe needy perfons do not know what to talk of, till about twelve o'clock in the morning; for by that time they are pretty good judges of the weather, know which way the wind fits, and whether the Dutch mail be come in. As they lie at the mercy of the first man they meet, and are grave and impertinent all the day long, according to the notions which they have imbibed in the morning, I would earnestly intreat them. not to ftir out of their chambers till they have read this Paper, and do promise them that I will daily inftil into them fuch found and wholesome. fentiments, as fhall have a good effect on their converfation for the enfuing twelve hours.

But there are none to whom this Paper will be more ufeful, than to the female world. I have often thought there has not been fufficient pains taken in finding out proper employments and diverfions for the fair ones. Their amufements feem contrived for them, rather as they are women, than as they are reasonable creatures; and are more adapted to the fex than to the fpecies. The toilet is their great fcene of business, and the right adjusting of their hair the principal employment of their lives. The forting of a fuit of ribbands is reckoned a very good morning's

morning's work; and if they make an excurfion to a mercer's or a toy-shop, fo great a fatigue makes them unfit for any thing elfe all the day after. Their more ferious occupations are fewing and embroidery, and their greatest drudgery the preparation of jellies and fweet-meats. This, I fay, is the ftate of ordinary women; though I know there are multitudes of thofe of a more elevated life and converfation, that move in an exalted fphere of knowledge and virtue, that join all the beauties of the mind to the ornaments of dress, and inspire a kind of awe and refpect, as well as love, into their male-beholders. I hope to increase the number of these by publishing this daily Paper, which I fhall always endeavour to make an innocent, if not an improving entertainment, and by that means at leaft divert the minds of my female readers from greater trifles. At the fame time, as I would fain give fome finishing touches to thofe which are already the most beautiful pieces in human nature, I fhall endeavour to point out all thofe imperfections that are the blemishes, as well as thofe virtues which are the embellishments, of the fex. In the mean while I hope these my gentle readers, who have fo much time on their hands, will not grudge throwing away a quarter of an hour in a day on this Paper, fince they may do it without any hindrance to bufinefs.

I know feveral of my friends and well-wishers are in great pain for me, left I fhould not be able to keep up the ipirit of a Paper which I

oblige myself to furnish every day: but to make them eafy in this particular, I will promise them faithfully to give it over as foon as I grow dull. This I know will be matter of great raillery to the fmall wits; who will frequently put me in mind of my promife, defire me to keep my word, affure me that it is high time to give over, with many other little pleafantries of the like nature, which men of a little smart genius cannot forbear throwing out against their best friends, when they have fuch an handle given them of being witty. But let them remember, that I do hereby enter my caveat against this piece of raillery. C*.

N° 11. Tuesday, March 13, 1710-11.

Dat veniam corvis, vexat cenfura columbas.

Juv. Sat. ii. 63.

The doves are cenfur'd, while the crows are spar'd.

ARIETTA is vifited by all persons of both

fexes, who have any pretence to wit and gallantry. She is in that time of life which is neither affected with the follies of youth, or infirmities of age and her converfation is so mixed with gaiety and prudence, that she is agreeable both to the young and the old. Her behaviour is very frank, without being in the least

By ADDISON, dated perhaps from Chelfea. See N° 6; and N7; final Notes.

blameable;

any

blameable; as fhe is out of the track of amorous or ambitious pursuits of her own, her vifitants entertain her with accounts of themfelves very freely, whether they concern their paffions or their interefts. I made her a vifit this afternoon, having been formerly introduced to the honour of her acquaintance, by my friend WILL HONEYCOMB, who has prevailed upon her to admit me fometimes into her affembly, as a civil inoffenfive man. I found her accompanied with one perfon only, a common-place talker, who, upon my entrance, arose, and after a very flight civility fat down again; then turning to Arietta, purfued his difcourse, which I found was upon the old topic of conftancy in love. He went on with great facility in repeating what he talks every day of his life; and with the ornaments of infignificant laughs and geftures, enforced his arguments by quotations out of plays and fongs, which allude to the perjuries of the fair, and the general levity of women. Methought he ftrove to shine more than ordinarily in his talkative way, that he might infult my filence, and diftinguish himself before a woman of Arietta's taste and understanding. She had often an inclination to interrupt him, but could find no opportunity, till the larum ceased of itself; which it did not till he had repeated and murdered the celebrated ftory of the Ephefran Matron.

Arietta feemed to regard this piece of raillery as an outrage done to her fex; as indeed I have always obferved that women, whether out of a