according to the Tradition of the Village where it lies, was bounded by the fame Hedges and Ditches in William the Conqueror's Time that it is at prefent, and has been delivered down from Father to Son whole and entire without the Lofs or Acquifition of a fingle Field or Meadow, during the Space of fix hundred Years. There runs a Story in the Family, that my Mother dreamt that she had brought forth a Judge: Whether this might proceed from a Law-Suit which was then depending in the Family, or my Father's being a Justice of the Peace, I cannot determine; for I am not fo vain as to think it prefaged any Dignity that I should arrive at in my future Life, though that was the Interpretation which the Neighbourhood put upon it. The Gravity of my Behaviour at my very first Appearance in the World, feemed to favour my Mother's Dream: For, as she has often told me, I threw away my Rattle before I was two Months old, and would not make use of my Coral until they had taken away the Bells from it.

AS for the rest of my Infancy, there being nothing in it remarkable, I fhall pass it over in Silence. I find, that, during my Nonage, I had the Reputation of a very fullen Youth, but was always a Favourite of my Schoolmafter, who used to say, that my Parts were folid, and would wear

well. I had not been long at the University, before I distinguished myself by a most profound Silence; for during the Space of eight Years, excepting in the publick Exercifes of the College, I fcarce uttered the Quantity of an hundred Words; and indeed do not remember that I ever spoke three Sentences together in my whole Life. Whilst I was in this learned Body, I applied myself with fo much Diligence to my Studies, that there are very few celebrated Books, either in the learned or the modern Tongues, which I am not acquainted with.

UPON the Death of my Father, I was refolved to travel into foreign Countries, and therefore left the University, with the Character of an odd unaccountable Fellow, that had a great deal of Learning, if I would but show it. An insatiable Thirst after Knowledge carried me into all the Countries of Europe, in which there was any thing new or strange to be feen; nay, to fuch a Degree was my Curiofity raised, that having read the Controverfies of fome great Men concerning the Antiquities of Egypt, I made a Voyage to Grand Cairo, on purpose to take the Measure of a Pyramid: And as foon as I had fet myself right in that Particular, returned to my native Country with great Satisfaction.

I have paffed my latter Years in this City, where

I am frequently feen in most publick Places, though there are not above half a dozen of my felect Friends that know me; of whom my next Paper fhall give a more particular Account. There is no Place of general Refort, wherein I do not often make my Appearance; fometimes I am feen thrusting my Head into a Round of Politicians at Will's, and liftning with great Attention to the Narratives that are made in thofe little circular Audiences. Sometimes I fmoke a Pipe at Child's, and whilst I seem attentive to nothing but the Poftman, overhear the Conversation of every Table in the Room. I appear on Sunday Nights at St. James's Coffee-house, and sometimes join the little Committee of Politicks in the Inner-Room, as one who comes there to hear and improve. My Face is likewise very well known at the Grecian, the Cocoa-Tree, and in the Theatres both of Drury-Lane and the Hay-Market. I have been taken for a Merchant upon the Exchange for above these ten Years, and fometimes pass for a Few in the Affembly of Stock-Jobbers at Jonathan's: In fhort, where-ever I fee a Cluster of People, I always mix with them, though 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 myself a Speculative Statesman, Soldier, Merchant, and Artisan, without ever meddling with any practical Part in Life. I am very well verfed in the Theory of a Hufband or a Father, and can difcern the Errors in the Oeconomy, Business, and Diverfion of others, better than those who are engaged in them; as Standers-by discover Blots, which are apt to escape those who are in the Game. I never efpoufed any Party with Violence, and am refolved to obferve an exact Neutrality between the Whigs and Tories, unless I fhall be forced to declare myself by the Hoftilities of either fide. In fhort, 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.

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 myfelf, 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 these three Particulars, though I am fenfible they might tend very much to the Embellishment of my Paper, I cannot yet come to a Refolution of communicating them to the Publick. They would indeed draw