the Grecian, the Cocoa-Tree, and in the Thea- I have been taken for a Merchant upon the Exters both of Drury Lane and the Hay-Market.3 change for above these ten Years, and sometimes I The Grecian Coffee House was in Devereux|lowed up the voices of the actors. Vanbrugh and Court, Strand, and named from a Greek, Con- Congreve opened their grand west-end theatre stantine, who kept it. Close to the Temple, it with concession to the new taste of the fashionable was a place of resort for the lawyers. Constan- for Italian Opera. They began with a translated tine's Greek had tempted also Greek scholars to opera set to Italian music, which ran only for the house, learned Professors and Fellows of the three nights. Sir John Vanbrugh then produced Royal Society. Here, it is said, two friends his comedy of The Confederacy,' with less sucquarrelled so bitterly over a Greek accent that cess than it deserved. In a few months Congreve they went out into Devereux Court and fought a abandoned his share in the undertaking. Vanduel, in which one was killed on the spot. brugh proceeded to adapt for his new house three plays of Molière. Then Vanbrugh, still failing, let the Haymarket to Mr. Owen Swiney, a trusted agent of the manager of Drury Lane, who was to allow him to draw what actors he pleased from Drury Lane and divide profits. The recruited actors in the Haymarket had better success. The secret league between the two theatres was broken. In 1707 the Haymarket was supported by a subscription headed by Lord Halifax. But presently a new joint patentee brought energy into the counsels of Drury Lane. Amicable restoration was made to the Theatre Royal of the actors under Swiney at the Haymarket; and to compensate Swiney for his loss of profit, it was agreed that while Drury Lane confined itself to the acting of plays, he should profit by the new taste for Italian music, and devote the house in the Haymarket to opera. Swiney was content. famous singer Nicolini had come over, and the town was impatient to hear him. This compact held for a short time. It was broken then by quarrels behind the scenes. In 1709 Wilks, Dogget, Cibber, and Mrs. Oldfield treated with Swiney to be sharers with him in the Haymarket as heads of a dramatic company. They contracted the width of the theatre, brought down its enormously high ceiling, thus made the words of the plays audible, and had the town to themselves, till a lawyer, Mr. William Collier, M.P. for Truro, in spite of the counter-attraction of the trial of Sacheverell, obtained a license to open Drury Lane, and produced an actress who drew money to Charles Shadwell's comedy, 'The Fair Quaker of Deal.' At the close of the season Collier agreed with Swiney and his actor-colleagues to give up to them Drury Lane with its actors, take in exchange the Haymarket with its singers, and be sole Director of the Opera ; the actors to pay Collier two hundred a year for the use of his license, and to close their house on the Wednesdays when an opera was played.

2 The Cocoa Tree was a Chocolate House in St. James's Street, used by Tory statesmen and men of fashion as exclusively as St. James's Coffee House, in the same street, was used by Whigs of the same class. It afterwards became a Tory club. 3 Drury Lane had a theatre in Shakespeare's time, the Phoenix,' called also 'the Cockpit.' It was destroyed in 1617 by a Puritan mob, re-built, and occupied again till the stoppage of stageplays in 1648. In that theatre Marlowe's 'Jew of Malta,' Massinger's 'New Way to Pay Old 'Debts,' and other pieces of good literature, were first produced. Its players under James I. were 'the Queen's servants.' In 1656 Davenant broke through the restriction upon stage-plays, and took actors and musicians to the Cockpit,' from Aldersgate Street. After the Restoration, Davenant having obtained a patent, occupied, in Portugal Row, the Lincoln's Inn Theatre, and afterwards one on the site of Dorset House, west of Whitefriars, the last theatre to which people went in boats. Sir William Davenant, under the patronage of the Duke of York, called his the Duke's Players. Thomas Killigrew then had 'the Cockpit' in Drury Lane, his company being that of the King's Players, and it was Killigrew who, dissatisfied with the old 'Cockpit,' opened, in 1663, the first Drury Lane Theatre, nearly upon the site now occupied by D. L. No. 4. The original theatre, burnt in 1671--2, was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, and opened in 1674 with a Prologue by Dryden. That (D. L. No. 2) was the house visited by the Spectator. It required rebuilding in 1741 (D. L. No. 3); and was burnt down, and again re-built, in 1809, as we now have it (D. L. No. 4). There was no Covent Garden Theatre till after the Spectator's time, in 1733, when that house was first opened by Rich, the harlequin, under the patent granted to the Duke's Company.

In 1711 the other great house was the theatre in the Haymarket, recently built by Sir John Vanbrugh, author of "The Provoked Wife,' and architect of Blenheim. This Haymarket Theatre, on the site of that known as 'Her Majesty's,' was designed and opened by Vanbrugh in 1706, thirty persons of quality having subscribed a hundred pounds each towards the cost of it. He and Congreve were to write the plays, and Betterton was to take charge of their performance. The speculation was a failure; partly because the fields and meadows of the west end of the town cut off the poorer play-goers of the City, who could not afford coach-hire; partly because the house was too large, and its architecture swal

The

This was the relative position of Drury Lane and the Haymarket theatres when the Spectator first appeared. Drury Lane had entered upon a long season of greater prosperity than it had enjoyed for thirty years before. Collier, not finding the Haymarket as prosperous as it was fashionable, was planning a change of place with Swiney, and he so contrived, by lawyer's wit and court influence, that in the winter following 1711 Collier was at Drury Lane with a new license for himself, Wilks, Dogget, and Cibber; while Swiney, transferred to the Opera, was suffering a ruin that caused him to go abroad, and be for twenty years afterwards an exile from his country.

62 70

pass for a few in the Assembly of Stock-Jobbers at Jonathan's. In short, where-ever I see a Cluster of People, I always mix with them, tho' I never open my Lips but in my own Club.

Thus I live in the World, rather as a Spectator of Mankind, than as one of the Species; by which means I have made my self a Speculative Statesman, Soldier, Merchant, and Artizan, without ever medling with any Practical Part in Life. I am very well versed in the Theory of an Husband, or a Father, and can discern the Errors in the Oeconomy, Business, and Diversion of others, better than those who are engaged in them; as Standersby discover Blots, which are apt to escape those who are in the Game. I never espoused any Party with Violence, and am resolved to observe an exact Neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I shall be forc'd to declare myself by the Hostilities of either side. In short, I have acted in all the parts of my Life as a Looker-on, which is the Character I intend to preserve in this Paper.

great Secrets; tho' it is not impossible, but I may make Discoveries of both in the Progress of the Work I have undertaken.

After having been thus particular upon my self, I shall 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 stand in the Front, those who have a mind to correspond with me, may direct their Letters To the Spectator, at For I must Mr Buckley's, in Little Britain. further acquaint the Reader, that tho' our Club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a Committee to sit every Night, for the Inspection of all such Papers as may contribute to the Advancement of the Public Weal.

I have given the Reader just so much of my No. 2.] History and Character, as to let him see I am not altogether unqualified for the Business I have undertaken. As for other Particulars in my Life and Adventures, I shall insert them in following Papers, as I shall see occasion. In the mean time,

C.

Friday, March 2, 1711. [Steele.

Ast Alii sex

Et plures uno conclamant ore.— -Juv.

When I consider how much I have seen, read, and Worcestershire, of antient Descent, a BaroHE first of our Society is a Gentleman of

heard, I begin to blame my own Taciturnity; and since I have neither Time nor Inclination to communicate the Fulness of my Heart in Speech, I am resolved to do it in Writing; and to Print my self out, if possible, before I Die. I have been often told by my Friends that it is Pity so many useful Discoveries which I have made, should be in the Possession of a Silent Man. For this Reason therefore, I shall publish a Sheet full of Thoughts every Morning, for the Benefit of my Contemporaries; and if I can any way contribute to the Diversion or Improvement of the Country in which I live, I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the secret Satisfaction of thinking that I have not Lived in vain.

All

net, his Name Sir ROGER DE COVERLY.3 His
great Grandfather was Inventor of that famous
Country-Dance which is call'd after him.
who know that Shire are very well acquainted
with the Parts and Merits of Sir ROGER. He is
a Gentleman that is very singular in his Behaviour,
but his Singularities proceed from his good Sense,
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 Sourness or
Obstinacy; and his being unconfined to Modes
and Forms, makes him but the readier and more
capable to please and oblige all who know him.
When he is in town he lives in Soho Square: 4 It
is said, he keeps himself a Batchelour by reason

I The Spectator in its first daily issue was 'Printed for Sam. Buckley, at the Dolphin in Britain; and sold by A. Baldwin in 'Warwick Lane.

The initials appended to the papers in their daily issue were placed, in a corner of the page, after the printer's name.

There are three very material Points which I have not spoken to in this Paper, and which, for several important Reasons, I must keep to my self, at least for some Time: I mean, an Account of my Name, my Age, and my Lodgings. I must confess I would gratify my Reader in any thingLittle that is reasonable; but as for these three Particulars, though I am sensible they might tend very much to the Embellishment of my Paper, I cannot yet come to a Resolution of communicating them to the Publick. They would indeed draw me out of that Obscurity which I have enjoyed for many Years, and expose me in Publick Places to several Salutes and Civilities, which have been always very disagreeable to me; for the greatest [pain] I can suffer, [is] the being talked to, and being stared at. It is for this Reason likewise, that I keep my Complexion and Dress, as very

1 Jonathan's Coffee House, in Change Alley, was the place of resort for stock-jobbers. It was to Garraway's, also in Change Alley, that people of quality on business in the City, or the wealthy and reputable citizens, preferred to go.

2

[pains . . . are.]

3 The character of Sir Roger de Coverley is said to have been drawn from Sir John Pakington, of Worcestershire, a Tory, whose name, family, and politics are represented by a statesman of the present time. The name, on this its first appearance in the Spectator, is spelt Coverly; also in the first reprint.

4 Soho Square was then a new and most fashionable part of the town. It was built in 1681. The Duke of Monmouth lived in the centre house, facing the statue. Originally the square Pennant mentions, on was called King Square. Pegg's authority, a tradition that, on the death of Monmouth, his admirers changed the name to Soho, the word of the day at the field of Sedge

A General Trader of good Sense is pleasanter Company than a general Scholar; and Sir ANDREW having a natural unaffected Eloquence, the Perspicuity of his Discourse gives the same Pleasure that Wit would in another Man. He has made his Fortunes himself; and says that England may be richer than other Kingdoms, by as plain Methods as he himself is richer than other Men; tho' at the same Time I can say this of him, that there is not a point in the Compass, but blows home a Ship in which he is an Owner.

gallant WILL. HONEYCOMB, a Gentleman who, according to his Years, should be in the Decline of his Life, but having ever been very careful of his Person, and always had a very easy Fortune, Time has made but very little Impression, either by Wrinkles on his Forehead, or Traces in his Brain. His Person is well turned, and of a good Height. He is very ready at that sort of Discourse with which Men usually entertain Women. He has all his Life dressed very well,

He

and remembers Habits as others do Men. can smile when one speaks to him, and laughs Next to Sir ANDREW in the Club-room sits easily. He knows the History of every Mode, Captain SENTRY, I a Gentleman of great Courage, and can inform you from which of the French good Understanding, but Invincible Modesty. King's Wenches our Wives and Daughters had He is one of those that deserve very well, this Manner of curling their Hair, that Way of but are very awkward at putting their Talents placing their Hoods; whose Frailty was covered within the Observation of such as should take by such a Sort of Petticoat, and whose Vanity to notice of them. He was some Years a Cap- show her Foot made that Part of the Dress so tain, and behaved himself with great Gal- short in such a Year. In a Word, all his Conlantry in several Engagements, and at several versation and Knowledge has been in the female Sieges; but having a small Estate of his own, World: As other Men of his Age will take and being next Heir to Sir ROGER, he has Notice to you what such a Minister said upon quitted a Way of Life in which no Man can rise such and such an Occasion, he will tell you suitably to his Merit, who is not something of a when the Duke of Monmouth danced at Court Courtier, as well as a Soldier. I have heard him such a Woman was then smitten, another was often lament, that in a Profession where Merit is taken with him at the Head of his Troop in placed in so conspicuous a View, Impudence the Park. In all these important Relations, he should get the better of Modesty. When he has has ever about the same Time received a kind talked to this Purpose, I never heard him make Glance, or a Blow of a Fan, from some celea sour Expression, but frankly confess that he brated Beauty, Mother of the present Lord left the World, because he was not fit for it. A such-a-one. If you speak of a young Commoner strict Honesty and an even regular Behaviour, that said a lively thing in the House, he starts are in themselves Obstacles to him that must up, 'He has good Blood in his Veins, Tom press through Crowds who endeavour at the Mirabell begot him, the Rogue cheated me in same End with himself, the Favour of a Com- 'that Affair; that young Fellow's Mother used mander. He will, however, in this Way of me more like a Dog than any Woman I ever Talk, excuse Generals, for not disposing accord- 'made Advances to.' This Way of Talking of ing to Men's Desert, or enquiring into it: For, his, very much enlivens the Conversation among says he, that great Man who has a Mind to us of a more sedate Turn; and I find there is help me, has as many to break through to come not one of the Company but myself, who rarely at me, as I have to come at him: Therefore he speak at all, but speaks of him as of that will conclude, that the Man who would make a Sort of Man, who is usually called a well-bred Figure, especially in a military Way, must get fine Gentleman. To conclude his Character, over all false Modesty, and assist his Patron where Women are not concerned, he is an honest against the Importunity of other Pretenders, by worthy Man. a proper Assurance in his own Vindication. He says it is a civil Cowardice to be backward in asserting_what you ought to expect, as it is a military Fear to be slow in attacking when it is your Duty. With this Candour does the Gentleman speak of himself and others. The same Frankness runs through all his Conversation. The military Part of his Life has furnished him with many Adventures, in the Relation of which he is very agreeable to the Company; for he is never over-bearing, though accustomed to command Men in the utmost Degree below him; nor ever too obsequious, from an Habit of obeying Men highly above him.

But that our Society may not appear a Set of Humourists unacquainted with the Gallantries and Pleasures of the Age, we have among us the

1 Captain Sentry was by some supposed to have been drawn from Colonel Kempenfelt, the father of the Admiral who went down with the Royal George.

I cannot tell whether I am to account him whom I am next to speak of, as one of our Company; for he visits us but seldom, but when he does, it adds to every Man else a new Enjoyment of himself. He is a Clergyman, a very philosophick Man, of general Learning, great Sanctity of Life, and the most exact good Breeding. He has the Misfortune to be of a very weak Constitution, and consequently cannot accept of such Cares and Business as Preferments in his Function would oblige him to: He is therefore among Divines what a ChamberCounsellor is among Lawyers. The Probity of his Mind, and the Integrity of his Life, create him Followers, as being eloquent or loud advances others. He seldom introduces the Subject he speaks upon; but we are so far gone in Years, that he observes when he is among us, an Earnestness to have him fall on some divine

1 Will. Honeycomb was by some found in a Colonel Cleland.