it may be fadly apprehended their miferies will begin where the others will end; and that the poors honesty and induftry, humility and refignation to the will of Providence, will be amply rewarded, when the irreligious and ungrateful fons of fortune will receive the juft cenfure and punishment of their conduct. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. A B the je ne fai quoi of their addrefs, or the elegance of their tafte. I look upon the dress to be an indication of the mind; nor do I think, from the observations I have made, that I am deceiv'd in my opinion: When I fee a man clean and genteely plain,drefs'd in the manufacture of Great Britain,whole appearance shews more a study for decency than finery, I fcruple not to judge that perfon a man of fenfe, a ufeful fubject, and an honest Englishman: On the other hand, when UNIVERSAL SPECTATOR, Jan. 13. I behold a fop, drefs'd up in a tawdry Ne of the greatest wits of the pre- finery, or a coxcomb defcending in his fent age has fix'd the univerfal habit to the imitation of the lowest paffion of mankind to be the love of clafs, I venture fafely to give them the fame; for whether from the generous character of vain-conceited, empty, infprings of virtue, or the depreciated ones C fignificant wretches: But however inof folly, ambition may take its fource, fignificant they may appear, we have it is that which in fact is the chief go- at prefent a reigning ambition among vernment of our actions: It is from our young Gentlemen of degrading themthis paffion that the defire of becoming felves in their apparel to the clafs of the remarkable and particular so generally fervants they keep. It may at first seem prevails; for most people covet the notice D very extraordinary that thefe fparks and admiration of others, imagining that fhould act thus to gain admiration: thereby they in reality become wonder- But from what other caufe can it be ful and extraordinary. Though all men that my Lord Jehu wears a plush frock, are in fome degree actuated by this prin- a little narrow-edg'd lac'd hat, a cociple, yet it appears differently in cach, lour'd handkerchief, and in this habit according to the temper and inclination E drives a motley fet of horfes, and a of the person whom it actuates upon : coach of his own, built by his own diwhen it meets with bold enterprizing rections, in humble imitation of those fpirits, it makes them beroes; when which carry paffengers on the road? It with covetous difpofitions, mifers; coun- is the knowledge of his own abilities try 'Squires it converts into buntfmen which dictates this conduct: How pleaand jockeys, and our London petit maitres F fing is the reflection to him, that when into fops and coxcombs. he goes through a country-town, fitting with becoming grace in his box, he hears the people fay, There goes my Lord Jebu!- His great abilities in driving, his exactnefs of fimilitude in dreis, and his affability to his brethren of the whip, muft give his Lordship a fenfible fatisfaction, that this particularity makes him as well known in most roads throughout England, as the honeft fellows themfelves who drive the ftages. I will not undertake to fay, whether it is in imitation of his Lordfhip, or whether the product of their own fertile genius's, but I have lately obferv'd a great number of finart young fellows, drefs'd in the manner of my Lord; a narrow edg'd Hat flapped In this paper I fhall not undertake to comment on all the effects which the love of fame has on mankind in general, but shall confine my obfervations on how strangely it operates on the laft fpecies of perfons I mention'd, our London beaux efprits. The young fellows of this metropolis, who have an ambition to be remarkable, without any one good or amiable quality to make them fo, immediately have recourfe to drefs; an oddnefs and particularity in this refpect makes them diftinguish'd, and draws the eyes of the world upon them: but tho' it fhould be with the utmoft conteinpt, they attribute it to another caufe, as either the genteelnefs of their perfons, G H down, down, a plain fhirt, buck-fkin breeches, many enormities which you take notice of, you will not entirely overlook this, which I would just make bold to mention to you, as a thing that has contributed to the disturbance of many of your fair readers. To be fhort, Sir, the thing is this: There are a company of young fparks about town, who make it their chief bufinefs to ramble up and down, from one beauty to another, in order, if B poffible, to gain the good graces of young Ladies (if I may ufe the expreffion) on no other intent than to bring diftrefs and vexation upon them. This they lay a foundation for by all the symptoms of flames, tortures, racks, Cand burnings, and a thousand such expreffions, which a wandering genius (together with a long experience) has richly furnished them with. gentry difguife themfelves in rug and duffel coats, which it feems are politely termed wrap rafcals; and in short, dark wigs, and dirty linnen; chufing rather to appear like pick-pockets than Gentlemen. My country readers may wonder that I fhould inftance these perfons as examples of ambition; but they will allow them to be candidates for publick notice, when I inform them that in these habits they appear with a kind of pride in all the publick places about town: They have at last carried it so far, that When they first approach the fair, in thofe dreffes they come into the boxes it is with all the cant of a languishing at the theatres; and where one would D adorer, utter'd in a continual round of expect to fee a genteel polite circle, we view Ladies of the first Quality and diftinction furrounded by a parcel of men who look like stage-coachmen, jockeys and pick-pockets. As this manner of drefs is accompanied with as rude a manner of behaviour, I advise these young sparks not to have fo great a defire of being distinguished for the oddity of their appearance; but instead of that ardent emulation they fhew to imitate the inferior clafs of mankind, they would exert their rational faculties, and endeavour to feem, as well by their habit as converfation, men of common-fense and common good-manners. flatteries; and a repetition of the fame things; which complaints perhaps have engaged the attention of moft of the reigning toafts one time or other. By this means thefe wandering lovers have Egot a peculiar knack of ingratiating themselves into the favour of the female world: And befides fuch expreffions as are above mention'd, they endeavour to win upon the affections of the creature they hope to betray, by telling her she Fis the perfection of all felicity; that in her perfon alone all the lovely attractives of beauty, as well as the moft confpicuous marks of greatness, are affembled together; that nature form'd her to be the object of thoughts, the adamant of all loves, and the centre of celeftial beauty; in fine, that heaven is in her fmiles, and despair in her frowns. There is another clafs of pretty-fel- G lows whom the love of fame ftrangely affects, and whofe conduct the following correfpondent very juftly complains of. I fhall infert the Lady's letter here, but shall more particularly confider her complaint in fome future lucubration. Thus, by degrees, the heart of the fair creature is melted to pity and comH paffion, and by this means ten thousand diftractions immediately enter, through the falfenefs and perjury of these admirers; for no fooner have they gain'd their point, but this pretended flame is extinguifh'd, and they are engaged in difplaying their love to another, in or der der to infnare her heart alfo, and fo the than those common pofitions; That poor creature is left in the utmost per- PRINCES may bestow their favours as plexity to rescue herself out of it the they please, and, Every body may do what best way fhe is capable; though, per- they will with THEIR OWN; for, achaps, it is attended with many heavy cording to this facred doctrine, we are fighs, and gloomy reflections of love, A not allowed to make any partial or jealoufy, anger and forrow, till the whole corrupt uses of whatever we are poffoul is drenched in a sea of sorrow. feffed. T SOPHIA. CRAFTSMAN, Jan. 20. He unfteadiness and variety in hu B Dear Mr. Spectator, if you have any Princes, were the partiality of felf regard for our fex, don't fail of expo- fet afide, would not beflow their favours fing these fort of perfons to the world, where there was not fome merit. -- ĺ (in your next paper, if poffible) that do not mean the merit of flattering fa thofe of our fex, who may not be ap- vourite vices; or gaining power for ar prised of them, may by that means e- bitrary purposes; but arifing from jufcape the poifon of their darts; by fice and benevolence.- Minifters would which you will oblige many of your not, in this cafe, grow rich, at the exconftant readers and admirers, and pence of the publick.- Soldiers would particularly C not plunder the innocent and defenceless. The Spaniard would not invade our property, or we ourselves the liberty and property of one another. In following this law, the judge would put himself into the state of the prifoner, and with concern pronounce that fentence, which his office obliges him to do. He would be fo far from aggravating the feverity of the law, that he would know himfelf to have as little power as any in the court, where he is confined to certain rules, from which he hath no more right to depart, than to commit facrilege or murder. Had this law generally prevail'd, penal laws would have been uselefs; for each man, being endowed with the fame good difpofition towards his neighbour as himself, would have been more concerned about doing right, than afraid of lofing poffeffions. Ambition and avarice would have had no exiftence; but diffidence and fear of partia lity, in our cafes, might have made it G expedient to fubftitute magiftrates, who would have been chofen from amongst the wifeft of the people.- Juftice would never have been delayed; for as ftipen diaries think they cannot do too little for their wages, virtuous men are indeH fatigable in their pursuits of doing good. The jargon of Westminster Hall would have been as ufelefs, as it hath been pernicious. In all probability, this was one of the perfections which the error of our firft parents loft. But that is a fpeculation very re man nature proceed more from affections than reafon. Tempers differ, D and fashions change; but, in matters of judgment, moft agree. I would not be understood to mean any thing farther than what is neceffary for order and fociety. This opinion the great Lawgiver himself seems to confirm, when he gave E that command, Do as you would be done by, which fubmits to an equitable determination of the respective agent, those actions by which others are influenced. This injunction is founded on truth and juftice. Confcience and felf- F conviction are the strongest evidences to produce the former; and when that is cleared, but a small share of capacity is required to judge uprightly, according to this law. As the word power is taken in the common acceptation, there is no fuch thing lodged with any man; I mean, every body is enjoined to follow the dictates of reafon and virtue ; and, as human perfection will aid, to fhun the inticements of vice and perfo nal affections. Every breach of this law is an injuftice to mankind in general; and the higher ftations thofe perfons are placed in, who tranfgrefs it, there is the greater number of fufferers. Nothing can be more contrary to the intent of this divine command, D mote. ·mote. It is certain, that we find ourfelves in a very different fituation; and that vice rides triumphant, in defiance of pains, penalties, and the firicteft laws, that can be made. Extruite immanes fcopulos, attollite turres ; Claudian. con. Hon. on the fame vices. But happy would it be for us, if it were a little more confidered, that the difference is not fo great in the laws themselves, as in the magiftrates; and that the vigilance and A fteadiness of the latter would be much more conducive to the well-ordering of a nation, than fevere and fanguinary punishments. 4. p. 633. The greatest punishments are defigned As nothing hath been yet fufficient for the greatest and most hardned offen to fecure us against the rapacious and B ders; but vice, before it becomes habiabandon'd, we find ourselves under the tual, may be easily check'd; and that is greater neceffity to exert our utmost en- the duty of a careful magiftrate.-Would deavours, for our defence and protection. not a magiftrate deserve much better of It would be needlefs to prove, that his country, who preferved the lives of let larus be ever fo wifely ordained, if men, by forcing them into industry and they are not vigorously executed, it were Clabour, than in procuring them to be better they had never been made; tho', hanged for offences, which idleness and in our own country, when the legisla- want had tempted them to commit?ture hath had bills under confideration, Though the latter ought to be done, I have heard a certain fet of people, the former ought not to be left undone. without doors, argue for paffing a bill, The integrity and gravity of minifters in terrorem, though at the fame time D of juftice commands an awe and revethey could not deny that it was too se- rence from the lower people, and revere for execution.—I have been afto- fpect from all. nished to think how strangely ignorant, or knavish, and how ready for flavery fuch wretches muft be. Surely, laws not fit to be executed, are not fit to be E made. In commune jubes fi quid, cencefque tenendum, populus; nec ferre negat, cum viderit Primus juffa fubi; tunc obfervantior aqui Fit ipfum Regis adexemplum; nec fic inflectere fenfus Authorem parere fibi; componitur orbis Humanos ediéta valent, ut vita regentis. con. Hon. 4. v. 206. Claud. I am fo ftrong in these fentiments, that I fincerely think, where offences are frequently and notorioufly committed, and the laws against them not duly executed, for a certain time, fuch laws F ought to be abrogated of courfe, with- This was very good advice to a young out any particular repeal of the legisla- Emperor; and in free ftates, where the ture; for a nation that can fubfift with- people have the greatest share in making out punishing offenders, may subsist with- their own laws, it is likewife good adout the power of punishing them. This vice to the fubordinate magiftrates. might poffibly be attended with the G Where it happens that magiftrates good confequence of making magiftrates are diffolute in their morals, or partial exert themselves; and the fear of lofing in the administration of the laws; if laws would be a fort of obligation to they affume to themfelves a power of have them duly executed; which might, difpenfing with fome laws, and to fome in fome degree, prevent any underhand people; whilst they put others rigorously or collufive gain made by trading Jufti- H in force, which they know will be aces, if there ever fhould be fuch men. greeable to their pay-mafters; or threaten to put others in force, from which moft contributions may be raised, such polluted management will render the laws themselves odious. The moral laws of most nations have been nearly the fame, in all ages; and the laws that have been made for many hundred years paft, are chiefly calculated to inflict ftill greater punishments The bare increafe of a crime, is not always always a reason for making punishments rary lenity. But when minifters and mamore fevere.- Cautious law-makers giftrates are earnest to multiply penal ought to have full fatisfaction that the laws, and not as vigorous in the execumagiftrates have faithfully and diligently tion of them, it may be more ftrongly done their duty, and that the growth of concluded, that they act from a thirst the offence hath arifen from the infuffi- A of power, not a principle of juftice, and ciency of the lare, and not from any ne- that their least aim is the making people glect in the minifters of justice; for if boneft.-They only wait for a convenithe defect is owing to them, it would ent opportunity of fubjecting the whole be as ridiculous to give thofe men larger to their ambitious purposes; and give no powers, who did not know how to use other reason for enlarging their firength, what they had already, as to put a sword B than that they may have a more coerinto the hands of a madman. cive influence over their fellow-fubjects; which is the best reafon, that can be given, for not trufting them with it. Let Solon's reflection be a warning to D us. 66 "If you now smart, said he, blame not the heavenly Powers; for they are good. The fault is only our own. We gave him all our forts; we took the chain, and now he makes us flaves; yet we complain." Nemo prudens punit, quia peccatum eft, fed ne peccetur-But if vengeance is more concern'd in the forming of laws than juftice; if fevere penalties are increas'd, upon the fuggestion of a few; or, per- C" haps, on account of a private pique, and to serve particular ends: one may venture to fay that they are shots at random amongst a croud, by which many will be hurt, but nobody knows I have often confider'd, whether it upon whom the bullet may light.- would not be most adviseable, in a free The most confiderate magiftrates will fate, to have but few penal laws, and execute fuch laws with reluctance; and those not very fevere, but to be exethe feverer the penalties are, the greater cuted without remiffion.-A Prince, let will be the oppofition and difobedience him be ever fo wife and good, cannot of the people.--Such partial laws will poffibly judge of proper objects for his never be fubmitted to, in the ordinary E forgivenefs, but as reprefented by percourfe of justice: and whenever it is ne- fons about him: and how confcientious ceffary to add extraordinary force, in the fuch men are not to mifufe the royal place of legal authority, to aid the civil clemency, or how deteftable it will be in power; I fay, whenever these things them to barter their mafter's mercy in happen in a country, that ever was free, order to fill their own pockets, we may let them boast of their conftitution and Feafily guefs, if the courtiers and miniliberties as much as they please; but fters of this age are like those mention'd their wife neighbours will shake their in hiftory; for in Ben. Johnfon's time, heads, and either pity, or infult their there seems to have been fomething of forlorn condition. this kind of traffick in England: RIDWAY robb'd DUNCOTE of three hundred pound; Of all delinquents, none can do fo much mischief as minifters and magi- G firates.-Common rogueries fall upon particulars only; but the mifdeeds of rulers may be publick calamities.Whoever therefore injudicioufly curbs the people, in order to increase the power of place-men, ties up a dwarf to unfhackle a giant. It is the fame thing as if one's head was to be cut off, in order to cure the tooth-ach. The mildeft execution of penal laws cannot justify a fuperfluous addition of power; for policy may produce a tempo H RIDWAY was taken, arraign'd, and But for his money was a courtier found The courtier is become the greatest It is a very wife maxim, never to place more power in any branch of a D 2 ftate, |