fummoned out of it, with the fecret fatisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain. There are three very material points which I have not spoken to in this paper; and which, for feveral important reafons, I must keep to myself, at leastfor fome time: I mean, an account of my name, my age, and my lodgings. I must confefs, I would gratify my reader in any thing that is reafonable; but as for these three particulars, though I am fenfible they might tend very much to the embellishment of my paper, I cannot yet come to a refolution of communicating them to the public. They would indeed draw me out of that obfcurity which I have enjoyed for many years, and expofe me in public places to feveral falutes and civilities, which have been always very difagreeable to me; for the greatest pain I can fuffer, is the being talked to, and being stared at. It is for this reafon likewife, that I keep my complexion and drefs as very great fecrets; though it is not impoffible, but I may make discoveries of both in the progrefs of the work I have undertaken. After having been thus particular upon myself, I fhall, in to-morrow's paper, give an account of thofe gentlemen who are concerned with me in this work; for, as I have before intimated, a plan of it is laid and concerted (as all other matters of importance are) in a Club. However, as my friends have engaged me to ftand in the front, thofe who have a mind to correfpond with me, may direct their letters to the SPECTATOR, at Mr, Buckley's in Little Britain. For I muft further acquaint the Reader,that, though our club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a committee to fit every night, for the inspection of all fuch papers as may contribute to the advancement of the public weal. C No 2. FRIDAY, MARCH 2. -Aft alii fex Et plures uno conclamant ore Juv. Sat. vii. ver. 167. Six more at least join their consenting voice. THE firft of our fociety is a gentleman of Worcefterfbire, of ancient defcent, a Baronet, his name Sir ROGER DE COVERLY. His great-grandfather was inventor of that famous country-dance which is called after him. All who know that fhire are very well acquainted with the parts and merits of Sir ROGER. He is a gentleman that is very fingular in his behaviour, but his fingularities proceed from his good fenfe, and are contradictions to the manners of the world, only as he thinks the world is in the wrong. However this humour creates him no enemies, for he does nothing with fournefs or obftinacy; and his being unconfined to modes and forms, makes him but the readier and more capable to pleafe and oblige all who know him. When he is in town, he lives in Soho-Square. It is faid, he keeps himself a bachelor by reafon he was croffed in love by a perverfe beautiful widow of the next county to him. Before this disappointment, Sir ROGER was what you call a Fine Gentleman, had often fupped with my Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege, fought a duel upon his first coming to town, and kicked Bully Dawfon in a public coffee-house for calling him youngster. But being ill-ufed by the above-mentioned widow, he was very ferious for a year and a half; and though, his temper being naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew carelefs of himfelf, and never dreffed afterwards. terwards. He continues to wear a coat and doublet of the fame cut that were in fashion at the time of his repulfe, which, in his merry humours, he tells us, has been in and out twelve times fince he first wore it. It is faid Sir ROGER grew humble in his defires after he had forgot this cruel beauty, infomuch that, it is reported, he has frequently offended in point of chastity with beggars and gipfies: But this is looked upon by his friends rather as matter of rallery than truth. He is now in his fifty-fixth year, chearfu', gay, and hearty; keeps a good houfe both in town and country; a great lover of mankind; but there is fuch a mirthful caft in his behaviour, that he is rather beloved than esteemed. His tenants grow rich, his fervants look fatisfied, all the young women profess love to him, and the young men are glad of his company: When he comes into a house he calls the fervants by their names, and talks all the way up ftairs to a vifit. I must not omit, that Sir ROGER is a juftice of the Quorum; that he fills the chair at a quarter-feffion with great abilities, and three months ago gained univerfal applaufe by explaining a paffage in the game-act. The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another bachelor, who is a member of the Inner-Temple; a man of great probity, wit, and understanding; but he has chofen his place of refidence rather to obey the direction of an old humourfome father, than in pursuit of his own inclinations. He was placed there to ftudy the laws of the land, and is the most learned of any of the houfe in those of the ftage. Ariftotle and Longinus arè much better understood by him than Littleton or Coke. The father fends up every poft queftions relating to marriage-articles, leafes, and tenures, the neighbourhood; all which queftions he agrees with an attorney to answer and take care of in the lump. He is studying the paffions themselves, when |