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N° 618. the finest precepts of morality, and be filled with nice reflections upon the bright and dark fides of human life; he must be a mafter of refined raillery, and understand the delicacies 6 as well as the abfurdities of converfation. He must have a lively turn of wit, with an easy ⚫ and concise manner of expreffion: every thing he fays must be in a free and difengaged manHe must be guilty of nothing that betrays the air of a reclufe, but appear a man of the world throughout. His illuftrations, his comparifons, and the greatest parts of his images, must be drawn from common life. • Strokes of fatire and criticism, as well as panegyric, judiciously thrown in (and as it were by the by) give a wonderful life and ornament to compofitions of this kind. But let our poet, while he writes epiftles, though never fo familiar, ftill remember that he writes in verse, • and muft for that reafon have a more than ordinary care not to fall into profe, and a vulgar diction, excepting where the nature and humour of the thing does neceffarily require it. In this point Horace hath been thought by fome critics to be fometimes carelefs, as well as too negligent of his verfification; of which he feems to have been fenfible himself.

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All I have to add is, that both thefe manners of writing may be made as entertaining, in their way, as any other fpecies of poetry, if undertaken by perfons duly qualified; and ⚫ the latter fort may be managed fo as to become in a peculiar manner, inftructive. I am, &c.'

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I fhall

I fhall add an obfervation or two to the remarks of my ingenious correfpondent; and, in the first place, take notice, that fubjects of the moft fublime nature are often treated in the epiftolary way with advantage, as in the famous epifle of Horace to Auguftus. The poet furprifes us with his pomp, and feems rather betrayed into his fubject than to have aimed at it by defign. He appears, like the vifit of a king incognito, with a mixture of familiarity and grandeur. In works of this kind, when the dignity of the fubject hurries the poet into defcriptions and fentiments feemingly unpremeditated, by a fort of infpiration, it is ufual for him to recollect himself, and fall back gracefully into the natural style of a letter.

I might here mention an epiftolary poem, just publifhed by Mr. Eufden, on the king's acceffion to the throne: wherein, among many other noble and beautiful ftrokes of poetry, his reader may fee this rule very happily obferved.

This day is published, "A Letter to Mr. Addison, on the King's Acceffion to the Throne," by Mr. Eufden. Printed for J. Tonfon. SPECT. in folio, No 606, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1714. It feems very probable that ADDISON was the author of this Speculation.

The author of this Poem, afterwards laureat, was a tutor in the family of the D. of Somerset; who, being informed that he too often indulged his pupil in hunting, abruptly difiniffed him from his employment. His Grace's letter mentioned his having a groom fitter for the office, and defired Mr. Eufden to call upon his banker for what was due to him. The advice of the refpectable communicator of this information, Mr. E. inftantly complied with his Grace's defire, and retired without expoftulation.

N° 619. Friday, November 12, 1714.

dura

Exerce imperia, & ramos compefce fluentes.

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VIRG. Georg. ii. 369.

-Exert a rigorous fway,

And lop the too luxuriant boughs away.'

HAVE often thought that if the feveral let

ters which are written to me under the character of SPECTATOR, and which I have not made ufe of, were published in a volume they would not be an unentertaining collection*. The variety of the subjects, styles, fentiments, and informations, which are tranfmitted to me, would lead a very curious, or very idle, reader, infenfibly along, through a great many pages. I know fome authors who would pick up a Secret Hiftory out of fuch materials, and make a bookfeller an alderman by the copy. I fhall therefore carefully preferve the original papers in a room fet apart for that purpofe, to the end that they may be of fervice to pofterity; but shall at prefent content myself with owning the receipt of feveral letters, lately come to my hands, the au thors whereof are impatient for an answer,

*They were published with STEELE's permiffion by Charles Lillie, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1725, and were probably lucrative to the publisher, though no very entertaining collection.

+ An allufion to John Barber, who had been a bookfeller, was at this time an alderman, and afterwards Lord Mayor of London,

Chariffa,

Chariffa, whofe letter is dated from Cornhill, defires to be eafed in fome fcruples relating to the fkill of aftrologers. Referred to the dumb man for an anfwer.'

J.C. who propofes a love cafe, as he calls it, to the love-cafuift, is hereby defired to speak of it to the minifter of the parith; it being a cafe of confcience.

The poor young lady, whofe letter is dated October 26, who complains of a harth guardian, and an unkind brother, can only have my good wishes, unless fhe pleafes to be more particular.

The petition of a certain gentleman, whofe name I have forgot, famous for renewing the curls of decayed periwigs, is referred to the centor of fmall wares."

The remonstrance of T. C. against the reformation of the Sabbath by barbers, fhoe-cleaners, &c. had better be offered to the fociety of reformers."

A learned and laborious treatise upon the art of fencing, returned to the author.'

To the gentleman of Oxford, who defires me to infert a copy of Latin verfes, which were denied a place in the university books. Answer: Nonum prematur in annum.

To my learned correfpondent who writes against mafter's gowns, and poke fleeves, with a word in defence of large fcarves. Anfwer: I refolve not to raife animofities amongst the • clergy.'

To the lady who writes with rage against one of her own fex, upon the account of party warmth,

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warmth. Answer: Is not the lady she writes against reckoned handfome?"

I defire Tom Truelove (who fends me a sonnet upon his miftrefs, with a defire to print it immediately) to confider that it is long fince I was in love.

I fhall answer a very profound letter from my old friend the upholsterer, who is ftill inquifitive whether the king of Sweden be living or dead, by whispering him in the ear, that I believe he is alive.'

Let Mr. Dapperwit confider, What is that long itory of the cuckoldom to me?'

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At the earnest defire of Monimia's lover, who declares himself very penitent, he is recorded in my Paper by the name of The faithful Caftalio.' The petition of Charles Cockfure, which the petitioner ftyles very reafonable'-'rejected.' The memorial of Philander, which he defires may be dispatched out of hand, poftponed.' I defire S. R. not to repeat the expreffion under the fun' so often in his next letter. The letter of P. S. who defires either to have it printed entire, or committed to the flames; Not to be printed entire.'

The King of Sweden Charles XII. was the favourite object of the political upholsterer's attention.

See the preceding papers relative to the uphelfterer, and NOTE on the fuppofed fubject of their merriment.

N° 620