509. does a benefit to the whole fpecies. Nothing: can be a more common good, or a more diffu: five bleffing, than freedom, which is the great foundation ftone of happiness. It is, therefore, that we pay diftinguished honours to our late departed friend, and pronounce Sir Richard Steele a benefactor to the human fpecies. This excellent man was born to a fortune much inferior to his merits: his early life was formed in camps, and feafoned to the toils of war; yet, greatly brave, and of unquestioned honour, his was a lettered genius, nor fond of military glory. He fhone diftinguished, even whilft in humble privacy; obfcured not more by his low rank in life than by his native modefty. Here he was felected by the brave Lord Cutts, whofe difcernment knew the noble genius even in the private foldier. That gallant man was his generous, difinterested patron; raised him to a better fate, and placed him in the light that he deserved. And this alone was a glorious virtue; all the fervices Sir Richard Steele did afterwards render to his country, all the honour and reputation he acquired by his actions or writings; all thefe were owing to Lord Cutts, who, when he raised a deferving man, did the world a benefit. Fair example, to men of power, whofe influence on the happinefs of mankind is very great and important, * See above, p. 279. after them. if only confidered in those whom they draw up Here they have ample opportunities to bless the future generations, fince, by judiciously discerning and promoting merit, however humble or obfcure, they leave the moft valuable legacies to the people and times which fucceed them. Such a legacy was Sir Richard Steele, who wanted nothing more to make him ufeful than to be known. He had great vivacity and ready addrefs; was diffident of his own judgement, and yielding to other men: he had fine wit and true humour; a wit which was candid and goodnatured: he was always willing to do good of fices, and far from being envious of merit in other men. Hence he was loved and honoured by all men. None was more happy or extenfive in his acquaintance: none was a more agreeable companion, or useful friend. This was his private life, and this might well recommend him to public esteem. To him we owe that invaluable work which he commenced in "The Tatler," and, affifted by the immortal labours of his ingenious friend Mr. Addison, carried into numerous volumes*. Here he *The very commendable and spirited writer of this fentimental effay, evidently includes, under the general name of TATLER, all the valuable periodical papers which STEELE began under this firft title, and continued to publifh for the entertainment and inftruction of his countrymen, daily, or occafionally, for many years, under the diversified titles of “ The Spectator," "The 66 Guardian," he began a work which at once refined our language and improved our morals. None ever attempted with more fuccefs to form the mind to virtue, or polish the manners of common life; none ever touched the paffions in that pleafing, prevailing method, or fo well inculcated the most useful and inftructive leffons. I fay, none did ever thus happily perform so important a work as these illuftrious colleagues, who, by adapting themselves to the pleasures, promoted the best virtues of human nature; infinuated themselves by all the arts of fine perfuafion; employed the most delicate wit and humour in the cause of truth and good fenfe; nor gave of. fence to the most rigid devotees, or loofeft debauchees, but foon grew popular, though advocates of virtue. Guardian," " The Englishman," "The Lover,” “The "Spinster," ," "The Reader," "The Town-talk," "The Tea"table," "The Plebeian," &c. They make in all very many volumes; but as "The Spinster," "The Tea-table,” “The "Town-talk," and "The Plebeian," were never re-published, the Editor of this work would be glad to be furnished with com plete fets of all, or of any of them, in their original folio or octavo form. They are wanted, not only for the purpose of re-publishing them in volumes with notes and illuftrations, but also for the fake of a work in preparation, which, if it can be brought to anfwer in any tolerable manner the idea of its projector, may be intituled, "A Critical Review of the Life and Writings of Sir "RICHARD STEELE."-N. B. The Editor has got a very perfect set of "The Theatre," which likewise can only be procured fat prefent (and that not without difficulty) in its half-fheet ftate; and which therefore he will speedily re-print. This was laying the axe to the root of vice and immorality. All the pulpit discourses of a year scarce produced half the good as flowed from the Spectator of a day *. They who were tired and lulled to fleep by a long and laboured. harangue, or terrified at the appearance of large and weighty volumes, could chearfully attend to a fingle half-fheet, where they found the images of Virtue fo lively and amiable, where Vice was fo agreeably ridiculed that it grew painful to no man to part with his beloved follies; nor was he eafy till he had practifed thofe qualities which charmed fo much in fpeculation. Thus good nature and good fenfe became habitual to their readers. Every morning they were inftructed in fome new principle of duty, which was endeared to them by the beauties of defcription, and thereby impreffed on their minds in the most indelible characters. Such a work as this, in a Roman age, would have been more glorious than a public triumph; ftatues would have been raised, and medals have been ftruck, in honour of the authors. Antiquity had fo high a fenfe of gratitude for the communication of knowledge, that they worfhiped their lawgivers, and deified the fathers of *For inftruction in common life, " nothing is fo proper as ❝ frequent publication of short papers, which we read not as a "Atudy but amufement. If the fubject be flight, the treatife “ likewife is fhort. The bufy may find time, and the idle may "find patience." Dr. JOHNSON. fcience. fcience. How then must they have acknow ledged fervices like thefe, where every man grew wifer and better by the fine instruction! Yet we must not leave Sir Richard Steele on this point, nor reft his merits on the glory of a plan which was fo well performed by him and his immortal friend; which was never interlarded with fcandal or faction, and which was a fatire on vices, not men *. No, we must conduct him 66 to *Mr. Newcomb, in a fatire published in 1712, under the title of "Bibliotheca; a Poem, occafioned by the fight of a Modern Library," after defcribing the progrefs of OBLIVION in a manner to which the GODDESS OF THE DUNCIAD bears a more than accidental resemblance, thus animatedly defcribes our Author: "Still to proceed the Goddess try'd, Till STEELE's immortal works efpy'd; Hail, mighty name! of all thy pen The fmoothing paint and patch are wore; |