THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

THE

SPECTATOR.

NEW EDITION,

ÍN EIGHT VOLUMES;

WITH

ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES

TO WHICH ARE PRÉFIXED

THE LIVES OF THE AUTHORS.

Br ROBERT BISSET, A.M.

AUT SIMUL ET JUCUNDA ET IDONEA DICERE VITÆ.

Hor: de Art. Poet:

VOL. VI.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR G. ROBERTSOŃ, NO. 221, PICCADILLY; J. CUTHELL,

NO. 24, MIDDLE-ROW, HOLBORN; AND MESSRS, BELL AND BRADE-
FUTE, EDINBURGH.

VERY many favours and civilities (received from you in a private capacity) wbich I have no other way to acknowledge, will, I bope, excuse this presumption; but the justice 1, as a SpectATOR, owe your character, places me above the want of an excuse.

Candour and openness of heart, wbich shine in all your words and actions, exact the big best esteem from all wbo have the honour to know you; and a winning condescension to all subordinate to you, made business a pleasure to those who executed it under you, at the same time that it beigbtened ber Majesty's favour to all those who bad the happiness of having it conveyed through your hands.

A Secretary of State, in the interest of mankind, joined with that of his fellow-subjects, accomplisbed with a great facility and elegance in all the modern as well as antient languages, was a bappy and proper member of a Ministry, by wbose services your Sovereign is in so bigb and flourisbing a condition, as makes all other Princes and

Potentates

* CHARLES SPENCER Earl of SUNDERLAND, succeeded to that title, Sept. 21, 1702, on the death of his father Robert. He was made Secretary of State, in 1706; and dismissed in 1710, with the other Whig Ministers. Sept. 1, 1715, he had a pension of 12001. per annum settled on him. April 16, 1717, was again appointed Secretary of State; March 16, 1717-18, Lord President of the Council; Feb. 6, 1718-19, Groom of the Stole; and died April 19, 1722. He married Lady A. CHURCHILI, second daughter of John Duke of MARLBOROUGH, a lady of great beauty, often called the Little Whig; to whose titles her eldest surviving son, CHARLES, sueceeded in 1733.

Potentates powerful or inconsiderable in Europe, as they are
friends or enemies to Great Britain. The importance of
those great events which happened during that Administration,
in which your Lordship bore so important a charge, will be
acknowledged as long as time sball endure. I shall not
therefore attempt to rebearse those illustrious passages; but
give this application a more private and particular turn, in
desiring your Lordship would continue your favour and
patronage to me, as you are a gentleman of tbe most polite
literature, and perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of
books * and men, which makes it necessary to beseech your
indulgence to the following leaves, and the Autbor of tbem;
who is, with the greatest truth and respect,

My LORD,
Your Lordsbip's obliged,
Obedient,
And bumble servant,

THE SPECTATOR.

His Lordship was the founder of the splendid and truly valuam ble library at Althorp,