as the life and genius of the conversation. What a happy conjunction of different talents meets in him whose whole discourse is at once animated by the strength and force of reafon, and adorned with all the graces and embellishments of wit? When learning irradiates common life, it is then in its highest use and perfection; and it is to fuch as your Lordship, that the sciences owe the esteem which they have with the active part of mankind. Knowledge of books in recluse men, is like that sort of lanthorn which hides him who carries it, and serves only to pass through secret and gloomy paths of his own; but in the possession of a man of business, it is as a torch in the hand of one who is willing and able to shew those, who are bewildered, the way which leads to their prosperity and welfare. A generous concern for your country, and a passion for every thing which is truly great and noble, are what actuate all your life and actions; and I hope you will forgive me that I have an ambition this book may be placed in the

library of so good a judge of what is valu-
able, in that library where the choice is
such, that it will not be a disparagement
to be the meanest author in it. Forgive
me, my Lord, for taking this occasion of
telling all the world how ardently I love
and honour

you;
and that I am, with the

,
utmost gratitude for all your favours,

My LORD,

Your Lordship’s

most obliged,

most obedient, and

most humble Servant,

THE SPECTATOR.

As when the tigress hears the hunter's din,
A thousand angry spots defile her skin.

A

BOUT the middle of last winter I went to fee

an opera at the theatre in the Hay-Market, where I could not but take notice of two parties of very fine women, that had placed themselves in the opposite sideboxes, and seemed drawn up in a kind of battle array one against another. After a short survey of them, I found they were patched differently; the faces on one hand, being spotted on the right side of the forehead, and those upon the other on the left. I quickly perceived that they cast hostile glances upon one another; and that their patches were placed in those different situations, as party-signals to distinguish friends from foes. In the middle-boxes, between these two opposite bodies, were several ladies who patched indifferently on both sides of their faces, and seemed to fit there with no other intention but to see the opera. Upon inquiry I found, that the body of Amazons on my right hand, were Whigs, and those on my left,. Tories; and that those who had placed themselves in the middle-boxes were a neutral party, whose faces had not yet declared themselves. These lait

a

a.

however, as I afterwards found, diminished daily, and took their party with one side or the other; insomuch that I observed in several of them, the patches, which were before dispersed equally, are now

all gone over to the Whig or Tory fide of the face. The cenforious say that the men, whose hearts are aimed at, are very often the occafion that one part of the face is thus dishonoured, and lies under a kind of disgrace, while the other is so much fet off and adorned the owner; and that the patches turn to the right or to the left, according to the principles of the man who is most in favour. But whatever may be the motives of a few fantastical coquettes, who do not patch for the public good fo much as for their own private advantage, it is certain, that there are several women of honour, who patch out of principle, and with an eye to the interest of their country. Nay, I am informed that some of them adhere so stedfaftly to their party, and are to far from facrificing their zeal for the public to their passion for any particular person, that in a late draught of marriage-articles a lady has stipulated with her husband, that, whatever his opinions are, she shall be at liberty to. patch on which side the pleases.

I must here take notice, that Rosalinda, a famous Whig partisan, has most unfortunately a very beautiful mole on the Tory part of her forehead; which being very conspi. quous, has occasioned many mistakes, and given a handle. to her enemies to misreprefent her face, as though it had revolted from the Whig interest. But, whatever this na-tural, patch may seem to intimate, it is well known that: her notions of government are still the same. This unlucky mole, however, has milled several coxcombs: and like the hanging out of false colours, made some of them converse with Rosalinda in what they thought the spirit of her party, when on a sudden she has given them an unexpected fire, that has funk them all at once. If Ro. salinda is unfortunate in her mole, Nigranilla, is as une happy in a pimple, which forces her, against her. inclina. tions, to patch on the Whig side.

I am told that many virtuous matrons who formerly have been taught to believe that this artificial spotting of the face was unlawful, are now reconciled, by a zeal for their cause, to what they could not be prompted by a