SATURDAY. Waked at eleven, walked in the fields, wind N. E. Caught in a shower. One in the afternoon. Returned home, and dryed my self. Two. Mr. Nisby dined with me. First course marrow-bones, second Ox cheek, with a bottle of Brooks and Hellier. Three a clock. Overslept my self. Six. Went to the club. Like to have fall'n into a gutter. Grand Vizier certainly dead. &c. 5 10 15 20 I question not, but the Reader will be surprized to find the above-mentioned journalist taking so much care of a life that was filled with such inconsiderable actions, and received so very small improvements; and yet, if we look into the behaviour of many whom we daily converse with, we shall find that most of their hours are taken up in those three important articles of eating, drinking, and sleeping. I do not suppose that a man loses his time, who is not engaged in publick affairs, or in an illustrious course of action. On the contrary, I believe our hours may very often be more profitably laid out in such transactions as make no figure in the world, than in such as are apt to draw upon them the attention of mankind. One may become wiser and better by several methods of employing ones self in secrecy and silence, and do what is laudable without noise, or ostentation. I would, however, recommend to every one of my Readers, the keeping a journal of their lives for one week, and setting down punctually their whole series of employments, during that space of time. This kind of self-examination would give them a true state of themselves, and incline them to consider seriously what they are about. One day would rectifie the omissions of another, and make a man weigh all those indifferent actions, which, though 30 they are easily forgotten, must certainly be accounted for. 25 N° 323. Tuesday, March 11. [1712.] Virg. Modo vir, modo fæmina · The Journal with which I presented my Reader on Tuesday last, has brought me in several letters, with accounts of many private lives cast into that form. I have the Rake's Journal, the Sot's Journal, the Whore-master's Journal, and among 5 several others a very curious piece, entitled, The Journal of a Mohock. By these instances I find that the intention of my last Tuesday's paper has been mistaken by many of my Readers. I did not design so much to expose Vice as Idleness, and aimed at those persons who pass away their time ΙΟ rather in trifles and impertinence, than in crimes and immoralities. Offences of this latter kind are not to be dallied with, or treated in so ludicrous a manner. In short, my Journal only holds up folly to the light, and shews the disagreeableness of such actions as are indifferent in themselves, and blameable only as they proceed from creatures endowed with reason. 15 20 My following correspondent, who calls her self Clarinda, is such a Journalist as I require: she seems by her Letter to be placed in a modish state of indifference between vice and virtue, and to be susceptible of either, were there proper pains taken with her. Had her Journal been filled with gallantries, or such occurrences as had shewn her wholly divested of her natural innocence, notwithstanding it might have been more pleasing to the generality of readers, I should not have pub25 lished it; but as it is only the picture of a life filled with a fashionable kind of gaiety and laziness, I shall set down five days of it, as I have received it from the hand of my correspondent. Dear Mr. SPECTATOR, "You having set your readers an exercise in one of your "last week's papers, I have performed mine according to your "orders, and herewith send it you enclosed. You must know, "Mr. SPECTATOR, that I am a maiden Lady of a good fortune, "who have had several matches offered me for these ten years "last past, and have at present warm applications made to me "by a very pretty fellow. As I am at my own disposal, I come up to town every winter, and pass my time in it after the manner you will find in the following Journal, which I began "to write upon the very day after your Spectator upon that "subject." 66 66 TUESDAY Night. Could not go to sleep till one in the morning for thinking of my Journal. 5 ΙΟ WEDNESDAY. From eight till ten. Drank two dishes of choc- 15 olate in bed, and fell asleep after them. From ten to eleven. Eat a slice of bread and butter, drank a dish of bohea, read the Spectator. From eleven to one. At my toilette, try'd a new head. Gave orders for Veny to be combed and washed. Mem. I look best in blue. From one till half an hour after two. Cheapned a couple of fans. Till four. At dinner. liveries. Drove to the Change. Mem. Mr. Froth passed by in his new From four to six. Dressed, paid a visit to old Lady Blithe and her sister, having before heard they were gone out of town that day. From six to eleven. At basset. Mem. Never set again upon the ace of diamonds. THURSDAY. From eleven at night to eight in the morning. Dreamed that I punted to Mr. Froth. From eight to ten. Chocolate. Read two acts in Aurenzebe a-bed. 20 25 30 5 ΙΟ From ten to eleven. Cupid for Veny. Tea-table. Sent to borrow Lady Faddle's Read the play-bills. Received a letter from Mr. Froth. Mem. Locked it up in my strong box. Rest of the morning. Fontange, the tire-woman, her account of my Lady Blithe's wash. Broke a tooth in my little tortoise-shell comb. Sent Frank to know how my Lady Hectick rested after her monky's leaping out at window. Looked pale. Fontange tells me my glass is not true. Dressed by three. From three to four. From four to eleven. Dinner cold before I sat down. Saw company. Mr. Froth's opinion of Milton. His account of the Mohocks. His fancy for a pin-cushion. Picture in the lid of his snuff-box. Old Lady Faddle promises me her woman to cut my hair. Lost five guineas at crimp. Twelve a clock at night. Went to bed. 15 FRIDAY. Eight in the morning. Abed. Read over all Mr. Froth's letters. Cupid and Veny. Ten a clock. 20 25 30 35 Stay'd within all day, not at home. From ten to twelve. In conference with my mantua-maker. Sorted a suit of ribbands. Broke my blue china cup. Shut my self up in my chamber, practised From twelve to one. One in the afternoon. Called for my flowered handkerchief. Worked half a violet-leaf in it. Eyes aked and head out of order. Threw by my work, and read over the remaining part of Aurenzebe. From three to four. Dined. From four to twelve. Changed my mind, dressed, went abroad, and played at crimp till midnight. Found Mrs. Spitely at home. Conversation: Mrs. Brillant's necklace false stones. Old Lady Loveday going to be married to a young fellow that is not worth a groat. Miss Prue gone into the country. Tom. Townley has red hair. Mem. Mrs. Spitely whispered in my ear that she had something to tell me about Mr. Froth, I am sure it is not true. Between twelve and one. feet and called me Indamora. SATURDAY. to my toilette. Dreamed that Mr. Froth lay at my Rose at eight a clock in the morning. Sat down From eight to nine. could determine it. Shifted a patch for half an hour before I Fixed it above my left eyebrow. From nine to twelve. Drank my tea, and dressed. From twelve to two. At chappel. A great deal of good company. Mem. The third air in the new opera. Lady Blithe dressed frightfully. From three to four. Dined. Mrs. Kitty called upon me to go to the Opera before I was risen from table. From dinner to six. being rude to Veny. Drank tea. Turned off a footman for Six a clock. Went to the Opera. I did not see Mr. Froth till the beginning of the second act. Mr. Froth talked to a gentleman in a black wig. Bowed to a Lady in the front box. Mr. Froth and his friend clapped Nicolini in the third Act. Mr. Froth cried out Ancora. Mr. Froth led me to my chair. I think he squeezed my hand. Eleven at night. Went to bed. Melancholy dreams. thought Nicolini said he was Mr. Froth. Me SUNDAY. Indisposed. MONDAY. Eight a clock. Waked by Miss Kitty. Aurenzebe lay upon the chair by me. Kitty repeated without book the eight best lines in the play. Went in our mobbs to the dumb man, according to appointment. Told me that my lover's name began with a G. Mem. The Conjurer was within a letter of Mr. Froth's name, &c. 66 "Upon looking back into this my Journal, I find that I am "at a loss to know whether I pass my time well or ill; and "indeed never thought of considering how I did it, before I "perused your Speculation upon that subject. I scarce find a single action in these five days that I can thoroughly approve "of, except the working upon the violet-leaf, which I am "resolved to finish the first day I am at leisure. As for Mr. "Froth and Veny, I did not think they took up so much of my "time and thoughts, as I find they do upon my Journal. The 20 25 30 |