number of his slaves, and the extent of his which depends not on event ever know disapterritories? Such undoubtedly would be the pointment. tragical effects of a prince's living with no reli- "With the undoubted character of a glorious gion, which are not to be surpassed but by his captain, and (what he much more values than having a false one. the most splendid titles) that of a sincere and 'If a nbition were spirited with zeal, what honest man, he is the hope and stay of Euwould follow, but that his people should be rope, an universal good; not to be engrossed converted into an army, whose swords can by us only, for distant potentates implore his make right in power, and solve controversy in friendship, and injured empires court his asbelief? And if men should be stiff-necked to sistance. He rules the world, not by an inthe doctrine of that visible church, let them vasion of the people of the earth, but the adbe contented with an oar and a chain, in the dress of its princes; and, if that world should midst of stripes and anguish, to contemplate be again roused from the repose which his on Him whose yoke is easy and whose bur-prevailing arms had given it, why should den is light." we not hope that there is an Almighty, by that 'With a tyranny begun on his own subjects, whose influence the terrible enemy and indignation that others draw their breath thinks himself prepared for battle may find independent of his frown or smile, why should he is but ripe for destruction ?—and that there he not proceed to the seizure of the world? may be in the womb of time great incidents, And if nothing but the thirst of sway were the which may make the catastrophe of a prosmotive of his actions, why should treaties be perous life as unfortunate as the particular other than mere words, or solemn national scenes of it were successful ?-for there does compacts be any thing but an halt in the not want a skilful eye and resolute arm to obmarch of that army, who are never to lay serve and grasp the occasion. A prince, who down their arms until all men are reduced to fromthe necessity of hanging their lives on his wayward will; who might supinely, and at leisure, expiate his own sins by other men's sufferings, while he daily meditates new slaughter and conquests? For mere man, when giddy with unbridled power, is an insatiate idol, not to be appeased -Fuit Illium et ingent Gloria- Heu pietas! heu prisca fides! Dryden. Virg. En. vi. 878.. Mirror of ancient faith! Dryden. with myriads offered to his pride, which may No. 517.] Thursday, October 23, 1712. be puffed up by the adulation of a base and prostrate world into an opinion that he is something more than human, by being something less and, alas, what is there that mortal man will not believe of himself, when complimented with the attributes of God? He can then conceive thoughts of a power as om- WE last night received a piece of ill news nipresent as his. But, should there be such at our club, which very sensibly afflicted evea foe of mankind now upon earth, have our ry one of us. I question not but my reasins so far provoked Heaven, that we are left ders themselves will be troubled at the hearutterly naked to his fury? Is there no power, ing of it. To keep them no longer in susno leader, no genius, that can conduct and ani- pense, Sir Roger de Coverley is dead. He mate us to our death, or to our defence? Yes; departed this life at his house in the counSir Anour great God never gave one to reign by his try, after a few weeks' sickness. permission, but he gave to another also to reign drew Freeport has a letter from one of his by his grace. correspondents in those parts, that informs All the circumstances of the illustrious life him the old man caught a cold at the counof our prince seem to have conspired to make ty-sessions, as he was very warmly promothim the check and bridle of tyranny; for his ing an address of his own penning, in which mind has been strengthened and confirmed by he succeeded according to his wishes. But one continued struggle, and Heaven has edu- this particular comes from a whig justice of cated him by adversity to a quick sense of the peace, who was always Sir Roger's enemy distresses and miseries of mankind, which he and antagonist I have letters both from the was born to redress. In just scorn of the chaplain and captain Sentry, which mention trivial glories and light ostentations of pow-nothing of it, but are filled with many parer, that glorious instrument of Providence ticulars to the honour of the good old man. moves, like that, in a steady, calm, and si- I have likewise a letter from the butler, who lent course, independent either of applause took so much care of me last summer when or calumny; which renders him, if not in a I was at the knight's house. As my friend political, yet in a moral, a philosophic, an the butler mentions, in the simplicity of his heroic, and a Christian sense, and absolute heart, several circumstances the others have monarch: who, satisfied with this unchangea-passed over in silence, I shall give my reader ble, just, and ample glory, must needs turn a copy of his letter, without any alteration or all his regards from himself to the service diminution. of others; for he begins his enterprises with his own share in the success of them; for integrity bears in itself its reward, nor can that VOL. II. HONOURED SIR, 'Knowing that you was my old master's 34 from, ، Your most sorrowful servant, EDWARD BISCUIT.' 'P. S. My master desired, some weeks before he died, that a book, which comes up to you by the carrier, should be given to Sir Andrew Freeport in his name.' good friend, I could not forbear sending you those whom my master loved, and shows great the melancholy news of his death, which has kindness to the old house-dog, that you know afflicted the whole country, as well as his poor my poor master was so fond of. It would have servants, who loved him, I may say, better than gone to your heart to have heard the moans we did our lives. I am afraid he caught his the dumb creature made on the day of my death the last county-sessions, where he would | master's death. He has never joyed himself It was the mego to see justice done to a poor widow woman, since; no more has any of us. and her fatherless children, that had been lancholiest day for the poor people that ever wronged by a neighbouring gentleman; for happened in Worcestershire. This being all Honoured Sir, you know, sir, my good master was always the poor man's friend. Upon his coming home, the first complaint he made was, that he had lost his roast-beef stomach, not being able to touch a sirloin, which was served up according to custom; and you know he used to take great delight in it. From that time forward he grew worse and worse, but still hept a good heart to the last. Indeed we were once in great hope. This letter, notwithstanding the poor butler's of his recovery, upon a kind message that was sent him from the widow lady whom he had manner of writing it, gave us such an idea of our good old friend, that upon the reading of made love to the forty last years of his life; but this only proved a lightning before death. it there was not a dry eye in the club. Sir He has bequeathed to this lady, as a token of Andrew, opening the book, found it to be a his love, a great pearl necklace, and a couple collection of acts of parliament. There was of silver bracelets set with jewels, which be- in particular the Act of Uniformity, with some longed to my good old lady his mother. He passages in it marked by Sir Roger's own hand. has bequeathed the fine white gelding that he Sir Andrew found that they related to two or used to ride a hunting upon to his chaplain, three points which he had disputed with Sir because he thought he would be kind to him; Roger the last time he appeared at the club. Sir Andrew, who would have been merry at and has left you all his books. He has, moresuch an incident on another occasion, at the over, bequeathed to the chaplain a very pretty tenement with good lands about it. It being sight of the old man's writing burst into tears, a very cold day when he made his will, he left and put the book in his pocket. Captain Senfor mourning to every man in the parish, a try informs me that the knight has left rings great frieze-coat, and to every woman a black and mourning for every one in the club. riding-hood. It was a moving sight to see him Miserum est alienæ incumbere famæ, "Tis poor relying on another's fame; - The superstructure must in ruins fall. Stepney. MR. SPECTATOR, take leave of his poor servants, commending No. 518.] Friday, October 24, 1712. us all for our fidelity, whilst we were not able to speak a word for weeping. As we most of us are grown gray-headed in our dear master's service, he has left us pensions and legacies, which we may live very comfortably upon the remaining part of our days. He has bequeathed a great deal more in charity, which is not yet come to my knowledge, and it is peremptorily said in the parish, that he has left money THIS beiag a day of business with me, I must to build a steeple to the church; for he was make the present entertainment like a treat heard to say some time ago, that, if he lived at an house-warming, out of such presents as two years longer, Coverly church should have have been sent me by my guests. The first dish a steeple to it. The chaplain tells every body which I serve up is a letter come fresh to my that he made a very good end, and never speaks hand. of him without tears. He was buried, according to his own directions, among the family of the Coverleys, on the left hand of his father 'IT is with inexpressible sorrow that I hear Sir Arthur. The coffin was carried by six of of the death of good Sir Roger, and do heartily his tenants, and the pall held up by six of the condole with you upon so melancholy an ocquorum. The whole parish followed the corpse casion. I think you ought to have blackened with heavy hearts and in their mourning suits; the edges of a paper which brought us so ill the men in frieze, and the women in riding-news, and to have had it stamped likewise in hoods. Captain Sentry, my master's nephew, | black. It is expected of you that you should has taken possession of the Hall-house, and write his epitaph, and, if possible, fill his place the whole estate. When my old master saw in the club with as worthy and diverting a him, a little before his death, he shook him by member. I question not but you will receive the hand, and wished him joy of the estate many recommendations from the public of which was falling to him, desiring him only to such as will appear candidates for that post. make a good nse of it, and to pay the several 'Since I am talking of death, and have menlegacies, and the gifts of charity, which he told tioned an epitaph, I must tell you, sir, that I him he had left as quit-rents upon the estate. have made a discovery of a church-yard in which The captain truly seems a courteous man, I believe you might spend an afternoon with though he says but little. He makes much of great pleasure to yourself and to the public. It belongs to the church of Stebon-Heath, world, give their limbs and features their full commonly called Stepney. Whether or no play. it be that the people of that parish have a par- 'As you have considered human nature in ticular genius for an epitaph, or that there be all its lights, you must be extremely well apsome poet among them who undertakes that prized, that there is a very close corresponwork by the great, I cannot tell; but there dence between the outward and the inward are more remarkable inscriptions in that place man; that scarce the least dawning, the least than in any other I have met with; and I may parturiency towards a thought can be stirring say, without vanity, that there is not a gentle- in the mind of man, without producing a suitman in England better read in tomb-stones able revolution in his exteriors, which will easily than myself, my studies having laid very much discover itself to an adept in the theory of the in church-yards. I shall beg leave to send you phiz. Hence it is that the intrinsic worth and a couple of epitaphs, for a sample of those I merit of a son of Alma Mater is ordinarily calhave just now mentioned. They are written culated from the cast of his visage, the contour in a different manner; the first being in the of his person, the mechanism of his dress, the diffused and luxuriant, the second in the close disposition of his limbs, the manner of his gait contracted slyle. The first has much of the and air, with a number of circumstances of simple and pathetic; the second is something equal consequence and information. The praclight, but nervous. The first is thus: titioners in this art often make use of a gentleman's eyes to give them light into the posture of his brains; take a handle from his nose to judge of the size of his intellects; and interpret the overmuch visibility and pertness of one ear as an infallible mark of reprobation, and a sign the owner of so saucy a member fears neither God nor man. In conformity to this scheme, a contracted brow, a lumpish downcast look, a sober sedate pace, with both hands dangling quiet and steady in lines exactly parallel to each lateral pocket of his galligaskins, is logic, metaphysics, and mathematics, in perfection. So likewise the belles-lettres, are typified by a saunter in the gait, a fall of one wing of the peruke backward, an insertion 'I will not dismiss you, whilst I am upon of one hand in the fob, and a negligent swing this subject, without sending a short epitaph of the other, with a pinch of right fine Barcewhich I once met with, though I cannot pos-lona between finger and thumb, a due quantity sibly recollect the place. The thought of it is of the same upon the upper lip, and a noddleserious, and in my opinion the finest that I ever met with upon this occasion. You know sir, it is usual, after having told us the name of the person who lies interred, to launch out into his praises. This epitaph takes a quite contrary turn, having been made by the person himself some time before his death. "Here Thomas Sapper lies interr'd. Ah why! The second is as follows: "Here lies the body of Daniel Saul, Spittlefields weaver, and that's all." "Hic jacet R. C. in expectatione diei supremi. Qualis erat dies iste indicabit." "Here lieth R. C. in expectation of the last day. What sort of a man he was that day will discover." 'I am, Sir, &c.' case loaden with pulvil. Again, a grave solemn stalking pace is heroic poetry, and politics; an unequal one, a genius for the ode, and the modern ballad; and an open breast, with an audacious display of the Holland shirt, is construed a fatal tendency to the art military. 'I might be much larger upon these hints, but I know whom I write to. If you can graft any speculation upon them, or turn them to the advantage of the persons concerned in them, you will do a work very becoming the British Spectator, and oblige, 'Your very humble servant, The folloying letter is dated from Cam- No 519.] Saturday, October 25, 1712. bridge. 6 SIR, Inde hominum pecudûmque genus, vitæque volantum, Hence men and beast the breath of life obtain, Dryden. Having lately read among your speculations an essay upon physiognomy, I cannot but think, that, if you made a visit to this ancient university, you might receive very considerable lights upon that subject, there being scarce a THOUGH there is a great deal of pleasure in young fellow in it who does not give certain contemplating the material world, by which I indications of his particular humour and dis- mean that system of bodies into which nature position, conformable to the rules of that art. has so curiously wrought the mass of dead matIn courts and cities every body lays a constraint ter, with the several relations which those boupon his countenance, and endeavours to look dies bear to one another; there is still, melike the rest of the world; but the youth of thinks, something more wonderful and surpristhis place, having not yet formed themselves ing in contemplations on the world of life, by by conversation, and the knowledge of the which I mean all those animals with which every part of the universe is furnished. The Others have still an additional one of hearing; material world is only the shell of the Universe, others of smell, and others of sight. It is wonthe world of life are its inhabitants. derful to observe by what a gradual progress If we consider those parts of the material the world of life advances through a prodiworld which lie the nearest to us, and are there-gious variety of species, before a creature is fore subject to our observations and inquiries, it formed that is complete in all its senses; and is amazing to consider the infinity of animals even among these there is such a different with which it is stocked. Every part of matter degree of perfection in the senses which one is peopled; every green leaf swarms with inha-animal enjoys beyond what appears in anbitants. There is scarce a single humour in other, that, though the sense in different anithe body of a man, or of any other animal, in mals be distinguished by the same common which our glasses do not discover myriads of denomination, it seems almost of a different living creatures. The surface of animals is nature. If after this we look into the several also covered with other animals, which are inward perfections of cunning and sagacity, in the same manner the basis of other animals or what we generally call instinct, we find that live upon it; nay, we find in the most them rising after the same manner impercepsolid bodies, as in marble itself, innumerable tibly one above another, and receiving addicells and cavities that are crowded with such tional improvements, according to the speimperceptible inhabitants as are too little for cies in which they are implanted. This prothe naked eye to discover. On the other gress in nature is so very gradual, that the hand, if we look into the more bulky parts most perfect of an inferior species comes very of nature, we see the seas, lakes, and rivers, near to the most imperfect of that which is teeming with numberless kinds of living crea- immediately above it. tures. We find every mountain and marsh, The exuberant and overflowing goodness of wilderness, and wood, plentifully stocked the Supreme Being, whose mercy extends to with birds and beasts; and every part of mat-all his works, is plainly seen, as I have before ter affording proper necessaries and conve- hinted, from his having made so very little niencies for the livelihood of multitudes which matter, at least what falls within our knowinhabit it. ledge, that does not swarm with life. Nor is The author of the Plurality of Worlds his goodness less seen in the diversity than in draws a very good argument from this con- the multitude of living creatures. Had he sideration for the peopling of every planet; only made one species of animals, none of the as indeed it seems very probable, from the an- rest would have enjoyed the happiness of exalogy of reason, that if no part of matter, istence: he has, therefore, specified in his which we are acquainted with, lies waste and creation every degree of life, every capacity useless, those great bodies, which are at such of being. The whole chasm in nature, from a a distance from us, should not be desert and plant to a man, is filled up with diverse kinds unpeopled, but rather that they should be fur- of creatures, rising one over another, by such nished with beings adapted to their respective situations. a gentle and easy assent, that the little transitions and deviations from one species to another are almost insensible. This intermediate space is so well husbanded and managed, that there is scarce a degree of perception which does not appear in some one part of the world of life. Is the goodness or the wisdom of the Divine Being more manifested in this his proceeding? Existence is a blessing to those beings only which are endowed with perception; and is in a manner thrown away upon dead matter, any further than as it is subservient to beings which are conscious of their existence. Accordingly we find, from the bodies which lie under our observation, that matter is only made as the basis and support of animals, and There is a consequence, besides those I have that there is no more of the one than what is already mentioned, which seems very naturalnecessary for the existence of the other. ly deducible from the foregoing consideraInfinite goodness is of so communicative a tions. If the scale of being rises by such a nature, that seems to delight in the con- regular progress so high as man, we may, by ferring of existence upon every degree of a parity of reason, suppose that it still properceptive being. As this is a speculation ceeds gradually through those beings which which I have often pursued with great plea-are of a superior nature to him; since there is sure to myself I shall enlarge further up-an infinitely greater space and room for dif on it, by considering that part of the scale ferent degrees of perfection between the Suof beings which comes within our knowledge. preme Being and man, than between man and There are some living creatures which are the most despicable insect. This consequence raised just above dead matter. To mention of so great a variety of beings which are supeonly that species of shell-fish, which are form-rior to us, from that variety which is inferior ed in the fashion of a cone, that grow to the to us, is made by Mr. Locke, in a passage surface of several rocks, and immediately die which I shall here set down, after having preupon their being severed from the place mised, that, notwithstanding there is such inwhere they grow. There are many other finite room between man and his Maker for creatures but one remove from these, which the creative power to exert itself in, it is imhave no other sense but that of feeling and taste. possible that it should ever be filled up, since there will be still an infinite gap or distance between the highest created being and the Power which produced him. Fontenelle. This book was published in 1686, and obtained for the author great reputation. And who can grieve too much? What time shall end 'MR. SPECTATOR, 'That there should be more species of intelligent creatures above us, than there are of sensible and material below us, is probable to me from hence that in all the visible cor'THE just value you have expressed for the poreal world we see no chasms, or no gaps. matrimonial state is the reason that I now venAll quite down from us the descent is by easy ture to write to you, without fear of being ridisteps, and a continued series of things, that in culous, and confess to you that though it is each remove differ very little one from the three months since I lost a very agreeable other. There are fishes that have wings, and woman who was my wife, my sorrow is still are not strangers to the airy region; and fresh; and I am often, in the midst of compa there are some birds that are inhabitants of the water, whose blood is as cold as fishes, and y, upon any circumstance that revives her memory, with a reflection what she would say their flesh so like in taste, that the scrupulous or do on such an occasion: I say upon any ocare allowed them on fish days. There are an-currence of that nature, which I can give you imals so near of kin both to birds and beasts a sense of, though I cannot express it wholly, I that they are in the middle between both. Am-am all over softness, and am obliged to retire phibious animals link the terrestrial and aqua- and give way to a few sighs and tears before I tic together. Seals live at land and at sea, can be easy. I cannot but recommend the and porpoises have the warm blood and the subject of male widowhood to you, and beg of entrails of a hog; not to mention what is conyou to touch upon it by the first opportunity. fidently reported of mermaids, or sea-men, To those who had not lived like husbands duthere are some brutes that seem to have as ring the lives of their spouses, this would be a much knowledge and reason as some part tasteless jumble of words; but to such (of that are called men; and the animal and vege- whom there are not a few) who have enjoyed table kingdoms are so nearly joined, that if that state with the sentiments proper for it, you you will take the lowest of one, and the highest will have every line, which hits the sorrow, of the other, there will scarce be perceived attended with a tear of pity and consolation; any great difference between them; and so for I know not by what goodness of Providence on, until we come to the lowest and the most it is that every gush of passion is a step toinorganical parts of matter, we shall find eve-wards the relief of it; and there is a certain ry where that the several species are linked comfort in the very act of sorrowing, which, together, and differ but in almost insensible I suppose, arises from a secret consciousness degrees. And, when we consider the infinite in the mind, that the affliction it is under flows power and wisdom of the Maker, we have from a virtuous cause. My concern is not reason to think that it is suitable to the mag- indeed so outrageous as at the first transnificent harmony of the universe, and the port; for I think it has subsided rather into great design and infinite goodness of the ar- a soberer state of mind than any actual purchitect, that the species of creatures should turbation of spirit. There might be rules also by gentle degrees ascend upward from formed for men's behaviour on this great inus toward his infinite perfection, as we see cident, to bring them from that misfortune they gradually descend from us downward into the condition I am at present; which is, which if it be probable, we have reason then to I think, that my sorrow has converted all be persuaded that there are far more species of roughness of temper into meekness, good nacreatures above us than there are beneath; ture, and complacency. But, indeed, when we being in degrees of perfection much more in a serious and lonely hour I present my deremote from the infinite being of God, than we parted consort to my imagination, with that are from the lowest state of being, and that air of persuasion in her countenance when I which approaches nearest to nothing. And have been in passion, that sweet affability yet of all those distinct species we have no clear distinct ideas.' : In this system of being, there is no creature so wonderful in its nature, and which so much deserves our particular attention, as man, who fills up the middle space between the animal and intellectual nature, the visible and invisible world, and is that link in the chain of beings which has been often termed the nexus utriusque mundi. So that he, who in one respect, being associated with angels and arch angels, may look upon a Being of infinite perfection' as his father, and the highest order of spirits as his brethren, may in another respect say to corruption, 'Thou art my father; and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister.' No. 520.] Monday, October 27, 1712. Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus 6 0. Ifor. Od. xxiv. Lib. 1. 1. The when I have been in good humour, that tender |