none fo Odious, nor indeed fo exquifitely Ridiculous, as that of a rigid fevere Temper in a Worthlefs Man. THIS Part of Good-nature, however, which consists in the pardoning and over-looking of Faults, is to be exercifed only in doing our felves Juftice, and that too in the ordinary Commerce and Occurrences of Life; for in the Publick Adminiftrations of Juftice, Mercy to one may be Cruelty to others. IT is grown almost into a Maxim, that Good-natured Men are not always Men of the moft Wit. The Obfervation, in my Opinion, has no Foundation in Nature. The greatest Wits I have converfed with are Men eminent for their Humanity. I take therefore this Remark to have been occafioned by two Reasons. Firft, Becaufe Ill-nature among ordinary Obfervers paffes for Wit. A fpightful Saying gratifies fo many little Paffions in those who hear it, that it generally meets with a good Reception. The Laugh rifes upon it, and the Man who utters it is looked upon as a fhrewd Satyrift. This may be one Reafon, why a great many pleasant Companions appear fo furprizingly dull, when they have endeavoured to be Merry in Print; the Publick being more just than Private Clubs or Affemblies, in distinguishing between what is Wit and what is Ill-nature. ANOTHER Reason why the Good-natured Man may fometimes bring his Wit in Question, is perhaps, because he is apt to be moved with Compaffion for those Misfortunes or Infirmities, which another would turn into Ridicule, and by that means gain the Reputation of a Wit. The Ill-natured Man, though but of equal Parts, gives himfelf a larger Field to expatiate in, he expofes the Failings in Human Nature which the other would caft a Veil over, laughs at Vices which the other either excufes or conceals, gives Utterance to Reflections which the other stifles, falls indifferently upon Friends or Enemies, expofes the Perfon who has obliged him, and in fhort sticks at nothing that may establish his Character of a Wit. It is no wonder therefore he fucceeds in it better than the Man of Humanity, as a Person who makes use of indirect Methods is more likely to grow Rich than the fair Trader. L INDEX to the Second Volume. A A. CTION the Felicity of the Soul, Number 116. Alexander, his Artifice in his Indian Expedition, N. 127. Ambition the Occafion of Factions, N. 125. Animals, the different Make of every Species, N. 120. The Amusements of Life, when innocent, neceffa y and al Apparitions, the Creation of weak Minds, N. 110. Arable (Mrs.) the great Heiress, the Spectator's Fellow- Ariftotle, his Account of the World, N. 166. Artift, wherein he has the Advantage of the Author, N.166. B. BAreface, his Success with the Ladies, and the Reafon it, N. 156. Bear-Garden, the Spectator's Method for the Improvement P Beau Beauties, whether Male or Female, very untractable, N. Board Wages, the ill Effects of it, N. 88. Bodily Exercifes, of ancient Encouragement, N. 161. Burnet (Dr.) Some Paffages in his Theory of the Earth C C. ESAR (Julius) his Reproof to an ill Reader, N. 147. Cambray (the Bishop of) his Education of a Daughter re- Cant, from whence faid to be derived, N. 147. Care, what ought to be a Man's chief Care, N. 122. N. 144. Caffius, the Proof he gave of his Temper in his Childhood, Caftle-Builders, who, and their Follies expofed, N. 167. Chaplain, the Character of Sir Roger de Coverley's, N. 106. Children, wrong Measures taken in the Education of the Children in the Wood, a Ballad, wherein to be commend- Church-yard, the Country Change on Sunday, N. 112. Compaffion, the Exercife of it would tend to leffen the Compliments in ordinary Difcourfe cenfured, N. 103. Ex- Conde (Prince of) his Face like that of an Eagle, N. 86. Cons Contentment, the utmoft Good we can hope for in this Converfation, ufually ftuffed with too many Compliments, Cortilus, his great Equanimity, N. 143. Coverley (Sir Roger de) he is fomething of an Humourist, Country, the Charms of it, N. 118. Country Gentleman Courage recommends a Man to the Female Sex more Cowley, his Magnanimity, N. 114. Coxcombs, generally the Womens Favourites, N. 128. DEATH; the Contemplation of it affords a Delight mix'd with Terrour and Sorrow, N. 133. Intend- Debt, the ill State of fuch as run in Debt, N. 82. Demurrers, what fort of Women fo to be called, N. 89. Devotion, the great Advantage of it, N. 93. The most natural Relief in our Afflictions, 163. Dick Craftin challengeth Tom Tulip, N. 91. Difappointments in Love, the most difficult to be conquered of any other, N. 163. Diffenters, their canting way of Reading, N. 147. Diffimulation, the perpetual Inconvenience of it, N. 103. Duelling, a Difcourfe against it, N. 84. Pharamond's Edict against it, 97. Duration, the Idea of it how obtained according to Mr. Lock, N. 94. Different Beings may entertain different Notions of the fame Parts of Duration, ibid. E. Duration, an ill Method obferved in the educating our Eminent Men, the Tax paid by them to the Publick, N. 101.. Englishmen, the peculiar Bleffing of being born one, N. 135. The Spectator's Speculations upon the English Tongue, ibid. English not naturally talkative, ibid. and 148. The English Tongue much adulterated, 165. Epaminondas, his honourable Death, N. 133. Ephraim, the Quaker, the Spectator's Fellow-Traveller in a Stage-Coach, N. 132. His Reproof to a recruiting Officer in the fame Coach, ibid, and Advice to him at their Parting, bid. Equanimity, without it we can have no true Taste of Life, N. 143. Equestrian Order of Ladies, N. 104. Its Origin, ibid.Errors and Prepoffeffions difficult to be avoided, N. 117. Eternity, a Profpect of it, N. 159. Eucrate, his Conference with Pharamond, N. 84. Eucratia, her Character, N. 144. Eudofia, her Character, N. 144. Eudoxus and Leontine, their Friendship and Education of their Children, N. 123. Exercife, the great Benefit and Neceffity of bodily Exercife, N. 115. F F. Alfhood in Man, a Recommendation to the fair Sex, N. 156. Families, the ill Measures taken by great Families in the Education of their younger Sons, N. 198. Fan, |