even to exceed the bounds of truth." The younger Pliny appears to have had the fame paffion for fame, but accompanied with greater chafteness and modefty. His ingenuous manner of owning it to a friend, who had prompted him to undertake fome great work, is Exquifitely beautiful, and raifes him to a certain grandeur above the imputation of vanity. I must confefs,' fays he, that nothing employs my thoughts more than the defire I have of perpetuating my name; which in my opinion is a defign worthy of a man, at leaft of fuch a one, who being con fcious of no guile, is not afraid to be remembered by pofterity.' I think Lought not to conclude, without interesting all my readers in the subject of this difcourfe: I fhall therefore lay it down as a maxim, that though all are not capable of thining in learning or the politer arts; yet every one is 'capable of excelling in fomething." The foul has in this refpect a certain vegetative power which cannot lie whol ly idle. If it is not laid out and cultivated into a regular and beautiful garden, it will of itself shoot up in weeds or flowers of a wilder growth. N° DLV. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6. RESPUE QUID NON ES PERS. SAT. IV. VER. Šia LAY THE FICTITIOUS CHARACTER ASIDE. ALL the members of the imaginary my firft papers, having difappeared one I hope the apology I have made as to the licence allowable to a feigned character, may excufe any thing which has been faid in thefe difcourfes of the Spec tator and his works; but the imputa tion of the groffeft vanity would still dwell upon me, if I did not give fome account by what means I was enabled to keep up the spirit of so long and approved a performance. All the papers marked with a Can L, an I, or an 0, that is to fay, all the papers which I have diftinguished by any letter in the name of the mufe CLIO, were given me by the gentleman of whofe affifiance I formerly boafted in the preface and concluding leaf of my Tatlers.. I am indeed much more proud of his long continued friendship, than I should be of the fame of being thought the author of any writings which he bimself is capable of producing. I remember when I finished the Tender Hufband, I told him there was nothing I fo ardently wished, as that we might fome time or other publish a work written by us both, which should bear the name of the Mo. nument, in memory of our friendship. I heartily with what I have done here, was as honorary to that facred name, as learning, wit, and humanity, render thofe pieces which I have taught the reader how to diftinguith for his. When the play above-mentioned was last acted, there were fo many applauded strokes in it which I had from the fame hand, that I thought very meanly of myself that I have never publicly acknowledged them. After I have put other friends upon importuning him to publish dramatic, as well as other writings he has by him. I fhall fhall end what I think I am obliged to lay on this head, by giving my reader this hint for the better judging of my productions, that the belt comment upon them would be an account when the patron to the Tender Hufband was in England, or abroad. The reader will also find some papers which are marked with the letter X, for which he is obliged to the ingenious gentleman who diverted the town with the epilogue to the Diftreffed Mother, I might have owned thefe feveral papers with the free consent of thefe gentlemen,' who did not write them with a defign of being known for the authors. But as a candid and fincere behaviour ought to be preferred to all other confidera tions, I would not let my heart reproach me with the confcioufnefs of having acquired a praife which is not my right. The other affiftances which I have had, have been conveyed by letter, fometimes by whole papers, and other times by fhort hints from unknown hands. I have not been able to trace favours of this kind with any certainty, but to the following names, which I place in the order wherein I received the obligation; though the first I am going to name can hardly be mentioned in a lift wherein he would not deferve the precedence. The perfons to whom I am to make thefe acknowledgments are, Mr. Henry Martin, Mr. Pope, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Carey of New College in Oxford, Mr. Tickell of Queen's in the fame univerfity, Mr. Parnelle, and Mr. Eufden of Trinity in Cambridge. Thus, to speak in the language of my late friend Sir Andrew Freeport, I have balanced my accounts with all my creditors for wit and learning. But as thefe excellent performances would not have feen the light without the means of this paper, I may ftill arrogate to myfelf the merit of their being communicated to the public. I have nothing more to add, but having fwelled this work to five hundred and fifty-five papers, they will be difpofed into feven volumes, four of which are already publifhed, and the three others in the prefs. It will not be demanded of me why I now leave off, though I must own myfelf obliged to give an account to the town of my time hereafter; fince I retire when their partiality to me is fo great, that an edition of the former volumes of Spectators of above nine thousand each book is already fold off, and the tax on each halffeet has brought into the Stamp-office, one week with another, above twenty pounds a week arifing from this fingle paper, notwithstanding it at first reduced it to lefs than half the number that was usually printed before this tax was laid. I humbly befeech the continuance of this inclination to favour what I may hereafter produce, and hope I have in my occurrences of life tafted fo deeply of pain and forrow, that I am proof against much more profperous circumftances than any advantages to which my own industry can poflibly exalt me. I am, my good-natured reader, your moft obedient, moft obliged humble fervant, RICHARD STEELE. Vos valete et plaudite. TER. The following letter regards an ingenious fet of gentlemen, who have done me the honour to make me one of their fociety. MR. SPECTATOR, DEC. 4, 1712. THE academy of painting, lately eftablished in London, having done you and themfelves the honour to chufe you one of their directors; that noble and lively art, which before was intitled to your regard as a Spectator, has an additional claim to you, and you feem to be under a double obligation to take fome care of her interefts. The honour of our country. is alfo concerned in the matter I am going to lay before you: we, and perhaps other nations as well as we, have a national falfe humility as well as a national vain glory; and though we boaft ourselves to excel all the world in things wherein we are outdone abroad, in other things we attribute to others a fuperiority which we ourselves poffefs. This is what is done, particularly in the art of portrait or face-painting. Painting is an art of a vaft extent, too great by much for any mortal man to be in full poffeffion of, in all it's parts; it is enough if any one fucceed in paint ing faces, hiftory, battles, landfkips, feapieces, fruit, flowers, or drolls, &c. Nay, no man ever was excellent in all the branches, though many in number, of thefe feveral arts, for a distinct art I take upon me to call every one of thofe feveral kinds of painting, 6 Z And And as one may be a good landfkip painter, but unable to paint a face or a hiftory tolerably well, and fo of the reft; one nation may excel in fome kinds of painting, and other kinds may thrive better in other climates. Italy may have the preference of all other nations for hiftory-painting; Holland for drolis, and a neat finished manner of working; France for gay, janty, fluttering pictures; and England for portraits: but to give the honour of every one of thefe kinds of painting to any one of thofe nations on account of their excellence in any of these parts of it, is like adjudging the prize of heroic, dramatic, lyric, or burlefque poetry, to him who has done well in any one of thein. Where there are the greatest geniuses, and most helps and encouragements, it is reasonable to fuppofe an art will arrive to the greatest perfection: by this rule let us confider our own country with refpect to face-painting. No nation in the world delights fo much in having their own, or friends, or relations pictures; whether from their national good-nature, or having a love to painting, and not being encouraged in the great article of religious pictures, which the purity of our worthip refufes the free use of, or from whatever other caufe. Our helps are not inferior to thofe of any other people, but rather they are greater; for what the antique flatues and bas-reliefs which Italy enjoys are to the hiftory-painters, the beautiful and noble faces with which England is confeted to abound, are to facepainters; and befides we have the great eft number of the works of the best mafters in that kind of any people, not without a competent number of thofe of the most excellent in every other part of painting. And for encouragement, the wealth and generosity of the English nation affords that in fuch a degree, as artists have no reason to complain. And accordingly in fact, face-painting is no where fo well performed as in England: I know not whether it has lain in your way to observe it, but I have, and pretend to be a tolerable judge. I have feen what is done abroad, and can affure you, that the honour of that branch of painting is justly due to us. I appeal to the judicious obfervers for the truth of what I affert. If foreigners have oftentimes, or even for the mcft part, excelled our natives, it ought to be imputed to the advantages they have met with here, joined to their own ingenuity and industry; nor has any one nation distinguished themselves fo as to raise an argument in favour of their country; but it is to be observed that neither French nor Italians, nor any one of either nation, notwithstanding all our prejudices in their favour, have, or ever had, for any confiderable time, any character among us as face-painters. This honour is due to our own country; and has been fo for near an age: fo that inftead of going to Italy, or elfewhere, one that defigns for portraitpainting ought to ftudy in England. Hither fuch fhould come from Holland, France, Italy, Germany, &c. as he that intends to practise any other kinds of painting, fhould go to those parts where it is in greatest perfection. It is faid the bleffed Virgin defcended from heaven, to fit to St. Luke; I dare venture to affirm, that if the fhould defire another Madona to be painted by the life, he would come to England; and am of opinion that your prefent prefi dent, Sir Godfrey Kneller, from his improvement fince he arrived in this kingdom, would perform that office better than any foreigner living. I am, with all poffible refpect, Sir, your moft humble, and most obedient servant, &c. The ingenious letters figned The Weather Glafs,' with feveral others, were received, but came too late. END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. ΤΟ WILLIAM HONEYCOMB, Esq. THE HE feven former volumes of the Spectator having been dedicated. to fome of the most celebrated perfons of the age, I take leave to infcribe this eighth and laft to you, as to a gentleman who hath ever been ambitious of appearing in the best company. You are now wholly retired from the bufy part of mankind, and at leifure to reflect upon your past atchievements; for which reafon I look upon you as a perfon very well qualified for a Dedication. I may poffibly difappoint my readers, and yourself too, if I do not endeavour on this occafion to make the world acquainted with your virtues. And here, Sir, I fhall not compliment you upon your birth, perfon, or fortune; nor any other the like perfections, which you poffefs whether you will or no: but fhall only touch upon those which are of your own acquiring, and in which every one must allow you have a real merit. Your janty air and eafy motion, the volubility of your discourse, the fuddennefs of your laugh, the management of your fnuff-box, with the whiteness of your hands and teeth, (which have juftly gained. you the envy of the most polite part of the male world, and the love of the greatest beauties in the female) are entirely to be afcribed to your own perfonal genius and application. You are formed for thefe accomplishments by a happy turn of nature, and have finished yourself in them by the utmost improvements of art. A man that is defective in either of thefe qualifications (whatever may be the fecret ambition of his heart) must never hope to make the figure you have done, among the fashionable part of his fpecies. It is therefore no wonder, we fee fuch multitudes of afpiring young men fall short of you in all thefe beauties of your character, notwithftanding the ftudy and practice of them is the whole bufinefs of their lives. But I need not tell you that the free and difengaged behaviour of a fine gentleman makes as many aukward beaux, as the eafinefs of your favourite Waller hath made infipid poets. At prefent you are content to aim all your charms at your own fpoufe, without farther thought of mischief to any others of the fex. I know you had formerly a very great contempt for that pedantic race of mortals, who call themselves philofophers; and yet, to your honour be it spoken, there is not a fage of them all could have better acted up to their precepts in one of the most important points of life: I mean in that generous difregard of popular opinion which you fhewed fome years ago, when you chofe for your wife an obfcure 622 young young woman, who doth not indeed pretend to an ancient family, but has certainly as many forefathers as any lady in the land, if the could but reckon up their names. I must own I conceived very extraordinary hopes of you from the moment that you confeffed your age, and from eight and forty, (where you had stuck fo many years) very ingenioufly flepped into your grand climacteric. Your deportment has fince been very venerable and becoming. If I am rightly informed, you make a regular appearance every quarter-feffions among your brothers of the quorum; and if things go on as they do, ftand fair for being a colonel of the militia. I I am told that your time paffes away as agreeably in the amufements of a country life, as it ever did in the gallantries of the town: and that you now take as much pleafure in the planting of young trees, as you did formerly in the cutting down of your old ones. In short, we hear from all hands that you are thoroughly reconciled to your dirty acres, and have not too much wit to look into your own eftate, After having fpoken thus much of my patron, I must take the privilege of an author in faying fomething of myfelf. I fhall therefore beg leave to add, that I have purpofely omitted fetting thofe marks to the end of every paper, which appeared in my former volumes, that you may have an opportunity of fhewing Mrs. Honeycomb the fhrewdness of your conjectures, by afcribing every fpeculation to it's proper author: though you know how often many profound critics in file and fentiments have very judicioufly erred in this particular, before they were let into the fecret. |