THE

SPECTATOR;

A NEW EDITION, CAREFULLY REVISED,

IN SIX VOLUMES;

WITH

PREFACES HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL,

BY

ALEXANDER CHALMERS, A. M.

VOL. V.

NEW-YORK:

D. APPLETON & COMPANY,

200 BROADWAY.

1853.

DEDICATION*

ΤΟ

MR. METHUEN..

SIR,

[1712.]

It is with great pleasure I take an opportunity of publishing the gratitude I owe you for the place you allow me in your friendship and familiarity. I will not acknowledge to you that I have often had you in my thoughts, when I have endeavoured to draw, in some parts of these discourses, the character of a good-natured, honest, and accomplished gentleman. But such representations give my

*This dedication includes Nos. 474-555.

• Afterwards Sir Paul Methuen, knight of the Bath. This very ingenious gentleman, whilst ambassador at the court of Portugal, concluded the famous commercial treaty which bears his name: and, in the same capacity, at the court of Savoy, exerted himself nobly as a military hero. On his return he was successively appointed to several important offices in the state; a commissioner of the admiralty, Nov. 8, 1709; of the treasury, Oct. 13, 1714; comptroller of the household, June 4, 1720; treasurer of the household, 1725; and a commissioner for inspecting the law, Sept. 15, 1732. He represented the borough of Brackley in the several parliaments which met in 1713, 1714, 1722, 1727, and 1734; and died April 11, 1757, aged 86.