felf out, if poffible, before I die. I have been often told by my Friends, that it is pity fo many useful Difcoveries which I have made fhould be in the Poffeffion of a Silent Man. For this Reason therefore, I fhall publish a Sheet-full of Thoughts every Morning, for the Benefit of my Contemporaries; and if I can any way contribute to the Diverfion or Improvement of the Country in which I live, I fhall leave it, when I am fummoned out of it, with the fecret Satisfaction of thinking that I have not Lived in vain.

THERE are three very material Points which I have not fpoken to in this Paper; and which, for feveral important Reasons, I muft keep to my felf, at least for 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 reasonable; but as for thefe three Particulars, though I am fenfible they might tend very much to the Embelifhment of my Paper, I cannot yet come to a Refolution of communicating them to the Publick. They would indeed draw me out of that Obfcurity which I have enjoyed for many Years,

and

and expofe me in Publick Places to feveral Salutes 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 Dress as very great Secrets; tho' 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 my felf, I fhall in To-morrow's Paper give an Account of those 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 must further acquaint the Reader, that tho' our Club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a Committee to fit every Night, for the Infpection of all fuch Papers as may contribute to the Advancement of the Publick Weal.

C

Friday,

T

HE firft of our Society is a Gentleman of Worcestershire, of ancient Descent, a Baronet, his Name Sir ROGER DE COVER LE Y.

His

Great Grandfather was Inventor of that famous Country-Dance which is called after him. All who know that Shire, 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 Singularities proceed from his good Senfe, 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 Sournefs or Obftinacy; and his being unconfined to Modes and Forms, makes him but the readier and more capable to please and oblige

all

all who know him. When he is in Town, he lives in Sobo-Square. It is faid, he keeps himself a Batchelor by reafon he was croffed in Love, by a perverse beautiful Widow of the next County to him. Before this Difappointment, 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 kick'd Bully Dawfon in a publick Coffee-house for calling him Youngster. But being ill used by the above-mentioned Widow, he was very serious for a Year and a half; and though, his Temper being naturally jovial, he at laft got over it, he grew careless of himself, and never dreffed afterwards. 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. 'Tis 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 Gypfies: But this is looked upon by

t

s

d

d

y

his Friends rather as Matter of Raille-
ry
than Truth. He is now in his fifty
fixth Year, cheerful, gay and hearty;
keeps a good House 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 Servants 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 Servants by their Names, and talks
all the Way up Stairs to a Visit. I
muft not omit, that Sir ROGER is a
Juftice of the Quorum; that he fills the
Chair at a Quarter-Seffion with great
Abilities, and three Months ago gained
univerfal Applaufe by explaining a Paf-
fage in the Game-Act.

THE Gentleman next in Efteem and Authority among us, is another Batchelor, 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 humourfom Father, than in Pursuit of his own Inclinations. He was placed there to study the Laws of the Land, and is