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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmA A partir de I'angie sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A drolte, et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 pxDi^^q TnHLt/}t'd Jan^. l6,iyQO. hy JlFowrr A' I'o. J^J'iii/j' fhmrh Jiird. THE i B E R B y The AUTHOR of the RAMBLER. INTWO VOLUMES. THE FIFTH EDITION. WITH ADDITIONAL ESSAYS. VOLUME IL «c Duplex Hhelli Co$ eft, qnod rifiim move% *• Et quod prudenti vitam confilio monei." Pu^DRUt* LONDON: Printed for J. Rivington and Sons, and F. Power, in St.PauPs Church Yard; T- Pavme and Son, Mews Gate j T. Cadell, in the Strand ; J. Nichols, Red Lion Paffage, Fleet - Street ,• and S. Hayes, Oxford Street. MDCCXC. W^m\ tnv,f<3V«^MH3T^AW3»4 m»~mMm*%n ■ «^* 79 83 9P 94 98 ro2 ro7 ii« ii4 122; N°8q- ■*^ h C O N T E N T & N" go. Lattifs Jourmy ta Londbn^ Page n& oi. Indian's Spetcb to his Ceuntrymtn, i qk Sa. T64 trui idta of Beauty, 1%^ ^3. Scruple, Wormwood^ Stur- DY, andGElS^TLE, 14-1 »4, Biography how beji performed^ 145 »5. Boohmuhiptiedhy-afriifs Compilattom^ 149 86, i^/S Heartless's i5^lies and magnificent Apartments but fhc growls out her difcon-tent, and wonders why flie was doomed to fo indigent a ftate. When flic at- tends the Duchefs to a fale, Ihe always fees Ibmething that Ihe cannot buy ; and, that ftie may not feem wholly inlignificant, flie will iametimes venture to bid, and often makes ac- quifitions which (he did not want at prices which ihe cannot afford. What adds to all this uneafinefs is, that this expence is without ufe, and this vanity without honour ; Ihe forfakes houfes where (he might b« courted, for thofe where (he is only fufFcred ; her equals are daily made her enemies, and, Ijcr fuperiors will never be htr friends. I am, Sir, yours, 6cc* NuMiS^ 'A N- 54. THb IDLER. Numb. 54. Satorday, Jpril 28, ij^^. To the IDLE R. Sir, YOU ha^e lately entertained your admi- rers with the cafe of an unfortunate Hulband, and thereby given a demonftrative proof you are not averfc even to hear Appeals, and terminate Differences between Man and Wife ; I therefore take the liberty to prefent you with the Cafe of an injured Lady, which, as it chiefly relates to what I think the Lawyers call a Point of Law, I Ihall do in as juridical a- manner as I am capable, and fubmit it to the confideration of the lear.ned Gentlemen of that Profeflion. Imprimis, In the ftyle of my marriage Arti- cles, a Marriage was had and foUmni%ed^ about fix months ago, between me and Mr. Savtcharges, a Gentleman poflefled of a plentiful fortune of his own, and one who, I was perfuaded, would improve, and not fpend mine. Before our marriage Mr. Savecharggs had all along preferred the falutary exercife of walking , on foot, to the diftempered eafe, as be terms it, of lolling in a chariot : but notwithftanding his fine pancgyricks on walking, the great advan- , ^4 tage;j p THE IDLER. N' tt^s the inftntry weris in U,e fole pofleffion of tound I had very different notions of an Equi- page, and was not eafily to be conver^ef or gained over to his party. ^ whtnev« f''"^'- \ "": /»* " 4iijh, fliaH think fit and cotwcniertt.'* Sudi, Mr, Idlery is the agreement my fUffiok^ ate Admirer enterfed into; aiid What 'the i^«r frugal Hujband calls a performance of it remains^ to bedefcribcd. Soon^ after the ceiietoony ^f %ning and fealing was over, i burs: wftd^g- eloaths being fent home, ahd^iin il*drt,< ^vdy thing in rcadiiiefs except rtie Go^cl>i my oW» Ihadow was feared more coiiftant than mypaf* fionate Lover in his attendanceon tne. We^f^d by his perpetual iraportunkies for vi^at^ he called a completion of his blifs, I c^nfentedio make hira^ happy ; in a> few days. I gave him mf hand,, andj attended: by Hymen m his fafFron- robes, retired to a country-ieat of my htjd)andfs^ where the Honey-moort flew over our heads ere we hadtititt tarecollea ourfelves, or think of* our engagements in town^. Well, to- town ^e came, and you may be fure. Sir, I expcded t© ftep into m.y Coach on my arrival here ; bbt what was my furpriz^and difappointmeiK, vthen^. inllead of Oiis^ be began to found in my ears^ 'IIP *i' tw THE IDLER. .N's^. "That the intcreft of money wai low, very low ; and what a terrible thing it was to be in- cumbered with a little regiment of fervantff in thefe hard times I" I could eafily perceive wlwt all this tended to, but would not fcem to un- dcrftand him ; which made it highly neccffkry for Mr. Savithargit to explain himfelf more intelligibly; to harp upon and proteft he dreaded the expence of keeping a Coach. And, truly, for his part, he could not conceive how the plcafure refulting from fuch a convenience i could be any way adequate to the heavy expence ^attending it. I now thought it high time to fpeak • with equal plainncfs, and tol4Jiinii, as thefor- V tune I brought fairly entitled m« toride fn my own .. Coacl^ and; as I was fcnfible his circumllances wouidvcry welliaffordit, he muft pardon me ^ if I infifted on a, performance of hi« Ugrcement. I,ap|^,to you, Mr.Mtfr, whether any thiag covld be more, civile, more complaifant, than ^ Ihi*-^ And. (would yau,believe,it?) the creature in rttuniv a few days after, accofted«ie-in an. ©fl5fi>4cd tone, with, " Madam^ Lcannowttil <^ you your Coa«h is ready; and fiijce you are ♦Vfo. paflionaiely fond of one,. I intend jyou the , ^* honouf of keeping a p»ir of hatTcs.— You ?;*« infiftcd upon having anartlde of Pin-money ; • •« and HoKfes are no part of my agreement.'* Bafe, defigfitng wretch!— I beg your pardon, Mr. /4^/^r,.the,.very recitarof fuch mean>, un- gmtlcman-like behayiour fires my blood, and iigh .N^ 54. THE IDLER. If lights up a flame within me. But hence, thou « woril of monftcrs, ill-timed Rage, and let me not fpoil my caufc for want of temper. Now though 1 am convinced 1 might make a worfc ufe of part of the Pin-money, than by extending my bounty towards the fupport of fo ' ufefula part of the brute creation ; yet, like a true-born Englifliwoman, I am fo tenacious of my rights and privileges, and moreover fo good a friend to the Gentlemen of the Law, that I proteft, Mr. Wr, fooner than tamely give vp tlie point, and be qi^ibbled out of my riglit, I will receive my Pin-money, as it were, with one hand, and pay it to them with the other ; provided they will give me,' or, which4s the fame thing, my Truftees, encouragement to commence a fuit ag^irtft < this dear frugal Huf- bandofmino. Ahd of this I can't have the leaft (hadow of doubt, inafmuch as I have been told by veiy good autliority, it isi fome way or, other laid down as a rule, ^*', ''* That . f^ henever the Law " doth give any thing to one, it givcth impli- •* edly whatever is neceflary for the taking and . ** enjoying the fame.** Novv I would gladly know what enjoyment I, or any Lady in the kingdom^' can have of a coach without horfes ? The anfwer is obvious — None at all! Foras Serj, Cik with me when the Racei were over. Being amazed to find a Mail of Learning fo indecently flighted, I refolved to indulgcvtiie pliilofophieal pride of retirement and indepen- .. dence. I then fent to. fome. of the. principal Book^ ?16 THE IDLER. N*^^^. Bookfcilcrs the pUn of my Book, and befpokc a large room in the next tavern, that I might more commodioufly fee them together, and en- joy the comeft, whil© they were outbidding one another, 1 drank my coffee, and yet no- ' body was come ; at laft I received a note from ' one, to tell me, that he wai going out of town ;, • and from another, tlut Natural Hiftory was out of his way ; at lall there came a grave man, who defired to fee the Work, and, without opening it, told me, that a Book of that fize would nevtr do» 1 then condefcended to ftep into fhops, and ' mention my Work to the Maftcrs. Some neyer dealt with Authors ; others had their hands full : fome never had known fuch a dead time ; otlicrs had loft by all that they had publilhed for the laft twelvemonth. One offered to print ^ my Work, if I could procure Subfcriptions for ?^live hundred, and would allow me two hundred copies for my property. I loft my patience, and ^ave him a kick, for which he has indited ' me* , I can eafily perceive, that there is a combina- tion among them to defeat my expeftations ; and I find it fo general, that I am fure it muft have been long concerted. I fuppofc fome of my friends, to whom 1 read the firft part, gaVe notice of my dcfign, and, perhaps, fold the treacherous intehigencc at a higher price than i thfr N^55. THE IDLER. 17 tlic fraudulcncc of Trade will now allow me for my Book. Inform me, Mr. Idler, what I muft do; where muft Knowledge and Induftry find their iccompcnce, thus neglected by the High, and cheated by the Low ? I fon.etimes refolve to print ray Book at my own cxpencc, and, like the Sibyl, double the price ; and fomctimcs^anl tempted, in emulation of Ra/cight to throw it into the fire, and leave this fordid generation to the curfes of pofterity. Tell me, dear Idltr, wh«t I (hall do. I am, Sir, &c. Numb. 56. Saturday, May 21 ^ ^759* THERE is fuch difference between the purfuits of men, that one part of the in- habitants of a great city lives to little other purpofe than to wonder at the reft. Some have hdpes and fears, wifhes and averfions, which never enter into the thoughts of others, and enquiry is laborioufly exerted to gain that which tliofe who poffcfs it are ready to throw away. To thofe who are accuftomed to value every tiling by its ufe, and have no fuch fuoerfluitv of I i i I ' 111 i8 THE IDLER. - f^o ^^^ of time or money as may prompt them to un- natural warns or cipricious emulations, nothing appears more improbable or extravagant than ihc love of Curiofities, or that defirc of accu- mulating trifles, which dillinguifhes many ty whom no other diftin£\ion could have ever been obtained. He that ha«s lived without knowing to whnt height dcfire may be raifed by vanity, with what rapture baubles are fnatched out of tLc hands of rival collc£lors, how the cagerncfs of| one raifes eagcmefs in another, and one worth* lefs purchafe makes a fecond ncceflary, may, by| paffing a few hours at an auftion, learn morcj than can be Ihewiv by many volumes of Maxims QT ElTays*. The Advertifement of a Sale is a (ignal whichl at once puis a« thoufand hearts in motion^ and I brings contenders from every part to the fcene of diftribution.. He that had refolved.to buy no more, feels his conftancy fubdued ; there is now! fomething in tlie Catalogue wl ich completes his Cabinet, and which he was never before able! to find.. He whofefober reiie«£l' s lafcrm him, that of adding coiledion to co' • ■ there no end, and. that it is wife to leave early that which muft be.Ie/t impcrfeft at laft, yet cannot with^hold himfelf from coming to fee what it is that brings (o many together, and when he cr^^^ies 15 loan overpowered by his habitual paf- NV 5f>, THE IDLER. ;d out of tlic lion ; he is attra£led by rarity, leduccd by ck* ample, and inflamed by competition. VVhilc the ftores of Pride and Happincfs luc furveycd, one looks with longing eyes aud gloomy countenance on that which he defpairs to gain from a richer bidder; another keeps his eye with care from fettling too long on that Arhich LiC mod earneflly defires ; an- diaie advantage, and fa liable to depravation,, does more harm or good, is not eafily decided. Its harm is apparent at th^ firft view. It fills the mind with trifling ambition ; fixes the atten- tion upon things which, have feldom any ten- dency towards virtue or wifdom ; employs iii idle inquiries the time that is given for better p'-rpofes ; and often ends in mean and difhoneft pjaftices, when defire increafes by indulgence beyond the power of honeft gratification. Thefe are the effefts of curiofity in excefs ; but what paflion in excefs will not become vici- ous ? All indifferent qualities and pra£lices are bad if they arc compared with thofe which are good, and good if they are oppofed to thofe that are bad. The pride or tHe plcafure of making Collections, if it he rcflraincd by prudence and morality. THE IDLER. 21 morality, produces a pleafing rcmlffion after more laborious lludies ; furnifties an amufe- Imcnt not wholly unprofitable for that part of [life, the greater part of many lives, which wouk^ [otherwife be loll in idlenefs or vice ; it produces Ian uieful traffick between the induflry of indi- jgence and the curiofity of wealth ; it brings many I things to notice that would be neglected; and by -fixing th^ thoughts upon intelleftual plea- Ifures, relifts the natural encroachments of {en<' fuality, and maintains the mind in l\tr lawful Ifuperiority. ^^^ Numb. 57. Saturday, Alay 19, 1759. PRUDENCE is of more frequent ufe than any other intelledual quality ; it is [exerted on flight occafions, and called into adt [by the curfory bufinefs of common life. Whatever is univerfally neceflary has been Igranted to maiikind on eafy terms. " Prudence, [as it is always wanted, is without great difficulty [obtained. It requires neither, ^xtenfive view nor profound fearch, but forces itfelf, by fpon- Itaneous impulfe, upon a mind neither great nor [bufy, neither ingrofled by vaft defigns, nor dif- |trai"ted by muitiplicity of attention- Prudence 1 1 I :U:! ill ill ill 22 THE IDLER. Prudence operates on life in the fame manner as rules on compofition ; it produces vigilance rather than elevation, rather prevents lofs than procures advantage ; and often cfcapes mifcar- riages, but feldom reaches either power or honour. It IN I M I 24 THE IDLER. N» 57. few would refufe to refer their claims to his award. He might have prevented many expen- five law-fuits, and quenched many a feud in its firft fmoke, but always refufes the office of Arbitration, becaufe he muft decide againft one or the other. With the affairs of other families he is al- ways unacquainted. He fees eftates bought and fold, fquandered and increafed, without praiiing the ceconomift, or cenfuring the fpend- thrift. He never courts the rifmg, left they fhould fall J nor infults the fallen, left they Ihould rifeigain. His caution has the appearance of virtue, and all who do not want his help praife his benevolence ; but if any man folicits his affiftance, he has juft fent away all his money; and when the petitioner is gone, declares to his family that he is forry for his misfortunes, has always looked upon him with particular kind- nefs, and therefore could not lend him money, left he ftiould deftroy their friendfhip by the ne- - ceffity of enforcing payment. Of domeftic misfortunes he has never heard. When he is told the hundredth time of a Gen- tleipan's daughter who has married the coach- man, he lifts up his hands with aftonifhment, for he always thought her a very fober girl. When nuptial quarrels, after having filled the country with talk and laughter, at laft end in feparation, N' 57. THE IDLER, S5 reparation, he never can conceive how it hap- jpened, for he looked upon the«, a. . ha^!; tdU'V^'I-" '' f"^' ^' "'''' g'^« m par- ticular direftion, becaufe events are uncertain -d he u bring no blame upon himfelf b"; le takes the confulter tenderly by the hand, tells )oth fides ; obftrves that a man may be as eafil v bo hafty as too How. and that as many fa Z Jomg ,00 much as Uo little ; that a u„yLJZ . [wo ears and one tongue ; and i/m, //«/, i.v :, ,', fc^^t'ar ^ ^""''^ '^" '"* ''-^-^^^^^ :Ltati:s''^^"^'"^"^^'''^^^"^^"^Seof With this fome are fatisfied, and go home Nh great reverence of Sopkron^s wifdom and he are offended, becaufe every one is 1 f' "„ Wl poflefiion of his own opinion, iophron gives nocharaaers. It is emulhr "ntotei him of Vice and Virtue, for^t t^arked that no ma„ iifces to be cenfured a^d erytaimly to be m good circumftances • he [the meets wzth none but very fe„,ible people.* Every ii lili j5 THE IDLER. N'57. Every man is honeft and hearty, and every wo- man is a good creature. Thus Sopbrm creeps along, neither loved nor hated, neither favoured nor oppofed ; he has never attempted to grow rich, for fear of grow- ing poor ; and has r^fed no friends, for fear of making enemies. ^ Numb. 58. Satoxday, May 26, 1759- PLEASURE is very feldom found where it is fought. Our brighteft blazes of dadnefs are commonly kindled by unexpefted Lrks The flowers which fcatter their odours from iime to time in the paths of life, grow „p without culture from feeds fcattered by '*■ Nothing is more hopelefs than a fcheme of merriment. Wits and humorifts are brougb together from diftant quarters by preconcerted invitations ; they come attended by the.r ad- mirers prepared to laugh and to applaud ; they gaze a- while on each other, alhamed to befilenJ !nd afraid to fpeak-. '-"X ««»" '' ''f °"*;" J withhimfelf, grows angry ^"^ "^,f' ^,^; .^'l him pain, and refolves that he w.U contr toj N^s^. THE IDLER. a; nothing to the merriment of fuch worthlefs com» pany. Wine inflames the general malignity, and changes fullennefs to petulance, till at laft none can bear any longer the prcfence of the reft. They retire to vent their indignation in fafer places, where they are heard with attention ; their importance is reftored, they recover their good-humour, and gladden the night with wit and jocularity. Merriment is always the effba ofafudden impreffion. The jeft which is expe£led is al- ready deftroyed. The moft aaive imagination will be fometimes torpid under the frigid in- fluence of melancholy; and fometimes occafions will be wanting to tempt the mind, however I Volatile, to fallies and excurfions. Nothing was ever faid with uncommon felicity, but by the co-operation of chance ; and, therefore, wit as well as valour muft be content to Iharc its honours with fortune. All other pleafures are equally uncertain; the i general remedy of uneafiftefs is change of place ; almoft every one has fgfne journey of pleafure in jhis mind, with which he flatters his expeftation. He that travels in theory has no inconvenience ; ihehaslhade and funfhine at his difpofal, and I wherever he alights finds tables of plenty and I looks of gaiety. Thefe ideas are indulged till I the day of departure arrives, the chaife is called, I and the progrefs of happinefs begins. C z A few li ^^^.^^.^i:.f^9^^^4:. KuMB. 59, Saturday, June 2, 1759, IN the common enjoyments of life we can- not very liberally indulge the prefent hour, but by anticipating part of the pleafure which might have relieved the tedioufnefs of another day ; and any uncommon exertion of ftrcngth, or perfeverance in labour, is fucceeded by a long interval of languor and wearincfs. Whatever advantage we fnatch beyond the certain portion allotted ns by nature, is like money fpent be- fore it is due, which at the time of regular pay- ment will be milled and rejjretted. Fame, like all other things which are fup- ■ poled to give or to increafe happinefs, is difpenfed with the fame equahty of dilVribution. He that is loudly praifed will be clamoroufly cenfured ; C 3 he 30 THE IDLER. N''59. he that rifcs haftily into fame will be in dan- ger of finking fuddcnly into oblivion. Of many writers who filled their age with wonder, and whofe names we find celebrated in the books of their contemporaries, the works arc now no longer to be fcen, or arc fecn only amidft the lumber of libraries which are feldom vifited, where they lie only to Ihew the deceitfulncfs of hope, and the uncertainty of honx)ur. Of the decline qf reputation many caufes may be afligned. It is commonly loft becaufc it never was dcferved ; and was conferred at firft, not by the fufFrage of criiicifm, but by the fondnefs of friendlhip, or fcrvility of flat- tery. The great and popular arc very freely applauded ; but all foon grow weary of echo- ing to eajch other a name which has no other claim to notice, but that many mouths arc pro- nouncing it at once. But many have loft the final reward of their labours, becaufe they were too hafty'to enjoy it. '^I'hey ha.c laid hold on recent occurrences and eminent names,- and delighted their readers with allufions and remarks, in which all were inter- cfted, and to which all therefore were attentive. Eut the efFedt ceafed with its caufe ; the tim« quickly came when new events drove the former from memory, when the viciflitudes of the world brought new hopes and fears, transferred liii; N**^. THE IDLER. 3* the love and hatred of the publick to other agents ; and the viricer, whofe works were no longer af- fifted by gratitude or refcntmcat, was left to the cold regard of idle curiofity. He that writes upon general principles, or delivers univerfal truths, may hope to be often read, bccaufc his work will be equally ufcful at all times and in every couiitry j but he cannot cxpeft it to be received with eagerncfs, or to fpread with rapidity, becaufe dcfire can have no particular ftimulation ; that which is to be loved long muft be loved with realbn rather than with paflion. He that lays out his labours upon temporary fubje£ls, cafily finds rcadcisi and qpickly lofcs them ; for what (liould make the book valued when its fubjcdt is no more ? Thefe obfervations will (hew the reafon why the Poem oi Hud'tbras isalmoft forgoit^n, how- ever embellifhed with fentiments and divcrfified with allulions, however bright with wit, and however folid with truth. The hypocrify which it detefted, and the folly which it ridipulcd, have long vanilhed from public notice. Thofe who had felt the mifchief ofdifcord, and the tyranny ofufurpation, read it with rapture, for every line brought back to memory fomething known, and gratified refentmcnt by the juftcen lure of fome- thing hated. But the book which was once quoted by Princes, and which fupplicd conver- C 4 fation ;. !i ■ till I I i^llt m i I m\H mi St THE IDLER, N" 5^. ration to all the alTcmblics of the gay and witty. 1? now felclom mentioned, and even by thole that affca to mention, it is feldom read. So vaniiy is wit lavifho