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 taste 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 prefent at theatrical reprefentations. I was confirmed in my thoughts of the play, by the opinion of better judges to whom it was communicated, who obferved, that the scenes were drawn after Moliere's manner, and that an eafy and natural vein of humour ran through the whole.

I do not queftion 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 first reading of it, that it was like a picture in which the ftrokes were not strong enough to appear at a distance. As it is not in the common way of writing, the approbation was at firft doubtful, but has rifen 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 faw on the stage.

The reader will confider that I fpeak 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 feem like a man who cries up his own wares only to draw in customers. RICHARD STEELE.

A

LETTER CCCCXLVII.
To Mr. HUGHES.

DEAR SIR, St. James's-ftreet, Jan. 8, 1715-16*. PAPER, called "The Town-talk †," is particularly defigned to be helpful to the ftage. If you have not fent the mask, which is to come out on Thursday, to press, if you please to fend me the copy, it fhall be recom. mended to the town, and published on Thurs day 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 Spinster," (all by the fame hand), have been collected into volumes. D. "Apollo and Daphne," a mafque by Mr. Hughes, fet to mufic by Dr. Pepufch. See it in his "Poems," vol. II. p. 167. D.

the credit, and fruftrate the defigns, 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 disrespect 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 fufpected, to make good what he seemed 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 circumstances has been thought inconfiftent with this fpirit; and it has appeared unaccountable, that he who was thus violent against the parricides,

Gg 2

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

For very many reasons that matter is not to be resumed here; but, granting that he had declared for mercy, it might poffibly be, that his heart failed againft fubmiffive criminals, though he has appeared determinate against triumphant wickedness. It ordinarily happens that the same men who make an attack very bravely upon troops in good order, do least execution upon them when they are put to flight, or ask quarter. But I never heard it faid, that they were the lefs zealous for the cause, or that they were held deferters from the fervice, 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 sui generis, in his “Memoirs,” 2d edit. 1753, 2 vols. p. 257, & seq. 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 House of Commons in ́recommendation of lenity to the Directors, after the mischiefs were produced; as if, forsooth, 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 feems, Sir Richard was in like manner reproached for advising lenity to the rebels of 1715, after the rebellion was entirely fuppreffed; though, ill pleased with the tameness of ADDISON'S "Freeholder," he is reported to have faid, that "Go"vernment had made choice of a lute on an occafion when they "ought to have made use of a trumpet.”

LETTER

LETTER CCCCXLIX.

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

66

SIR,

THE

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

I should hardly presume to press in with this little work, amongst the many who seek to shadow their labours under your patronage, but that I think the ingenious productions of the fair fex have a particular claim to it. You fhew, in feveral of your writings, a fpecial 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 reason, 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.