upon the stage. I own I was very highly pleased with it, and liked it the better for the want of thofe ftudied fimilies and repartees which we, who have writ before him, have thrown into our plays, to indulge and gain upon a false tafte that has prevailed for many years in the British theatre. I believe the author would have condefcended to fall into this way a little more than he has, had he, before the writing of it, been often present at theatrical representations. I was confirmed in my thoughts of the play, by the opinion of better judges to whom it was communicated, who obferved, that the fcenes were drawn after Moliere's manner, and that an eafy and natural vein of humour ran through the whole.

I do not question but the reader will discover this, and fee many beauties that escaped the audience; the touches being too delicate for every taste in a popular affembly. My brother-sharers were of opinion, at the firft reading of it, that it was like a picture in which the strokes were not strong enough to appear at a distance. As it is not in the common way of writing, the approbation was at first doubtful, but has risen every time it has been acted, and has given an opportunity in several of its parts for as just and good action as ever I saw on the stage.

The reader will confider that I speak here, not as the author, but as the patentee. Which

is, perhaps, the reason why I am not diffuse in the praises of the Play, left I should seem like a man who cries up his own wares only to draw in customers. RICHARD STEELE.

DEAR SIR, St. James's-ftreet, Jan. 8, 1715-16*.

A

PAPER, called "The Town-talk," is particularly designed to be helpful to the ftage. If you have not fent the mask†, which is to come out on Thursday, to prefs, if you please to fend me the copy, it fhall be recommended to the town, and published on Thurfday night with that paper. Your affectionate, friend, and moft humble fervant,

RICHARD STEELE.

CCCCXLVIII.

PREFACE to "The Englishman," vol. II.

THE

HE former volume of The Englishman was written with a direct intention to destroy

* Steele was at this time member for Boroughbridge in Yorkfhire. D.

+ Neither this, nor "The Theatre," nor "The Spinfter," (all by the fame hand), have been collected into volumes. D.

"Apollo and Daphne," a masque by Mr. Hughes, set to mufic by Dr. Pepufch. See it in his "Poems," vol. II. p. 167. D.

the credit, and frustrate the designs, of wicked men, at that time in power.

To infinuate that there are evil purposes in the minifters of one's country, is, in itself, a feditious and unwarrantable practice; but the apparent tendency of the proceedings in the late times juftified the difrefpect with which the officers of the ftate were then treated.

That volume alarmed mankind against their defigns; and this lays together facts which muft convince all the world of the methods they had taken to accomplish them.

It is incumbent upon one, who had treated them fo frankly when they were only suspected, to make good what he feemed to accuse them of, now their actions are brought to light.

There needs no apology for the liberty taken with their characters upon fo good a foundation as the Report of a Committee of the House of Commons.

It is no matter to the author of The Englishman, whether they are ever punished for what they have done, according to their deferts. He has done all he could to make them live in infamy, and, after that, he cares not how long they live.

But our Author's behaviour upon fome late circumftances has been thought inconfiftent with this fpirit; and it has appeared unaccountable, that he who was thus violent against the parriGg 2 cides,

cides, discovered, in a certain place, inclination to lenity towards the rebels *.

For very many reafons that matter is not to be resumed here; but, granting that he had declared for mercy, it might poffibly be, that his heart failed against fubmiffive criminals, though he has appeared determinate against triumphant wickedness. It ordinarily happens that the fame men who make an attack very bravely upon troops in good order, do leaft execution upon them when they are put to flight, or ask quarter. But I never heard it faid, that they were the less zealous for the cause, or that they were held deferters from the service, because they have been over-run, in pursuing a defeat, by their friends, who were in the rear at the onset.

* STEELE Was wont to exprefs himself with smartness against the errors of men, without bitterness towards their perfons. Mr. Whifton, a zealous Christian fui generis, in his "Memoirs," 2d edit. 1753, 2 vols. p. 257, & feq. with little judgement, and lefs gratitude, reproaches STEELE, who was one of his most active benefactors, with inconfiftency, for writing in "The Theatre" against the South Sea scheme, when it portended the mischiefs of which it was pregnant, and speaking in the Houfe of Commons in recommendation of lenity to the Directors, after the mischiefs were produced; as if, forfooth, there was any incongruity between expreffing deteftation at a crime, and exercifing humanity to a criminal. See TATLER, with Notes, vol. VI. No 251, p. 286, &c. It seems, Sir Richard was in like manner reproached for advifing lenity to the rebels of 1715, after the rebellion was entirely fuppreffed, though, ill pleased with the tameness of Ap DISON'S "Freeholder," he is reported to have said, that “Go"vernment had made choice of a lute on an occafion when they "ought to have made use of a trumpet.”

LETTER

From the EDITOR of "A Lady's Travels into "Spain," 1716, to Sir RICHARD STEELE.

SIR,

T

[1716.] HE reputation you have obtained in the world for learning, wit, good sense, and a general knowledge of mankind, very much expofes you to addreffes of this nature.

I should hardly prefume to press in with this little work, amongst the many who seek to fhadow their labours under your patronage, but that I think the ingenious productions of the fair sex have a particular claim to it. You fhew, in feveral of your writings, a special regard to the improvement of that sex in the politer part of knowledge, by endeavouring to rescue them from the prejudices of a narrow education, and to enlarge their notions of things. The example this lady affords them of wit, judgement, and capacity, may excite the emulation of fome, and concur with your motives to answer that end. This reafon, together with the affurances I have of your readiness to encourage fuch works as have a tendency to inform the judgements, or improve any of the virtues of mankind, makes

*This entertaining little work, written originally by Madam Daunois, paffed through many editions before this Dedication was prefixed to it, and has also been fince then frequently reprinted. It was one of the first books that gave any true account of Spain.