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Ur ́in vitâ, fic in ftudiis, pulcherrimum 3 humaniffimum exiftimo, ferveritatem comitatemque mifcere, ne illa in triftitiam, hæc in petulantiam procedat.

PLIN. Epift.

"As in a man's life, fo in his literary pursuits, I think it the most beautiful and humane thing in the world fo to mingle gravity with pleasantry, that the one may not fink into melancholy, nor the other rife up in wantonnefs."

HE ceremony of introducing himself to the

T public is, perhaps, the most difagrecable

circumstance a periodical writer has to encounter. Contrary to the established rule of the poets, who invariably commence their labours with invoking the mufe, it is neceffary he should avoid the footsteps of his predeceffors in every thing but an endeavour to render his lucubrations useful as well as amufing.

In compliance with this rule, I fhall decline. troubling the reader, with any account of my perfon, name, or family, the planet I was born. under, or the feats I performed at School. All thefe minutia, though vaftly entertaining to some readers, I fhall reserve for a very learned work to be published in the one hundred and fiftieth year of my age, at which time my very good friend, Dr. GRAHAM, affures me, I fhall enjoy a perfect state of health, full-toned juvenile virility, together with that brilliancy of imagination, and ferenity of mind, fo effential to one of my occupation: provided I follow the mode of living prescribed to me, and indeed to all the world,

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INFORMATION, inftruétion, or at least innocent amufement, muft always be expected from those who, whatever be their motives, step forth the candidates for public favour. It has been the fingular felicity of fome writers, by the strength of their genius, and the foundness of their judgment, to produce works in which these feveral excellencies have been united; and I know not of any fpecies of compofition that more happily admits of their union, than those detached effays which are prefented to the public as literary amufements, but from which may be derived all the advantages generally supposed peculiar to more voluminous productions.

IN fupport of this observation, it seems unneceffary to mention the SPECTATOR as the moft

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moft convincing proof of its propriety. To that paper, and to the feveral others which have been published on the fame plan, every English reader will cheerfully acknowledge himself indebted for inftruction conducive to his real happiness, for information contributing to his real intereft, and for hours of amufement recollected with pleasure. And who fo fit to entertain the mind, As he who pictures morals and mankind?

GARRICK.

THE immediate object of publications of this kind is, in a familiar manner, to lafh vice, however dignified; to expofe folly, whatever forms fhe may affume; and to recommend those graces and virtues which have the honour to be univerfally praised, and the misfortune to be very little practifed.

THIS was the grand object of the former SPECTATOR; and it reflects great honour on the conftellation of geniufes which produced it, to record, that its influence was fuch as to correct vice and folly in the bud, and to stop the progress of manners obnoxious to virtue. When a fashionable lady, by a fantaftic appearance, had rendered herself publicly ridiculous, the SPECTATOR of those days, by expofing her folly, prevented imitation, and generally reflored the pretty flutterer to realon and herself.

BUT these are honours which the NEW SPECTATOR can never hope to fhare, and which ADDISON himself would now find it difficult to acquire. Since his time, this country has abounded in writers, whofe chief aim, inftead of ftrengthening, has been to undermine virtue, to patronife hypocrify, to render piety ridiculous, and, in effect, to fubftitute external grimace for moral rectitude.

And grace and virtue, fenfe and reason split,
With all the rash dexterity of wit!

POPE.

INDEED they have not stopped here, but, throwing afide the mask, have recommended vice itfelf in fuch flattering colours, that even our daily news-papers are fafhionably vicious: uniting the effufions of party virulence, with partial and interested defcriptions of public amusements, and perpetual panegyrics on fuch characters, male and female, as a rational man would naturally look for in the Newgate Calendar, and Harris's Lift of prostitutes.

SUCH is the present state of the more amusive branches of literature, and particularly of periodical productions, that it is dangerous to lay them before the youth of either fex, whofe morning bufinefs, it formerly was, to read them to their parents; but

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who are now obliged to renounce that kind of improvement, left their morals fhould be tainted, their paffions inflamed, their delicacy destroyed.

Who, therefore, feeks in thefe

True wifdom, finds her not, or by delufion
Far worfe, her falfe refemblance only meets,
An empty cloud!
MILTON.

THE endeavour, therefore, to restore this bud of amusement to the garden of literature, cannot be deemed an unworthy tafk, and, it is hoped, will meet with the candour and protection of a generous and an enlightened public: whether it will be fo conducted as to merit that candour and protection, the NEW SPECTATOR must leave to the determination of his readers. In one part of his conduct, at leaft, the NEW SPECTATOR will endeavour to deferve commendation: though the pleafure of his readers may not be augmented, their innocence will not be diminifhed; though he fhould be too weak to add stability to virtue, he will not be weak enough to give colour to vice. Vilius eft argentum auro, virtutibus aurum.

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With this determination he commences his labors, and, relying on the protection and affiftance of the virtuous, he will cheerfully proceed in their fervice, and deem their approbation his greatest reward.

As in a work of this nature variety of entertainment is naturally expected, and as almoft every fpecies af public amufement now forms an object of criticifm; I found it neceffary to depute fome trufty SPECTATOR of those affairs, who will make a juft report of his obfervations, and give his fentiments freely, without refpe&t to perfons of either fex, or of any denomination, whilft I attend to the more ferious objects of this publication.

LUCKILY, for me, I have long been intimately acquainted with a man on whofe judgment I can rely, and whofe integrity is inflexible. JoнN BULL is, to be fure, as honest a creature as ever was born. With a tincture of found philofophy and a great deal of good nature, John is perpetually contemplating the objects before him, and is freqently giving his opinion unafked. I have fometimes feen him at a theatre, gravely fhaking his head, whilft a celebrated performer has been applauded from all parts of the houfe. At other times, I have difcovered pleasure sparkling in his eye, and his hands ready to exprefs his fatisfaction, when the houfe has appeared quite infenfible

infenfible of excellence in the performance. It must be confeffed that, with all his philofophy and good nature about him, he will fometimes exprefs himself with afperity not becoming a thinking man; but it is only on occafions wherein others, as well as himself, have fuffered, or are liable to fuffer, from knavery, folly, or igno

rance.

COMMUNICATING to John my intentions refpecting this undertaking, he earnestly folicited the privilege of inferting his opinions respecting fome things, which, he faid, the papers of the day either totally overlooked or quite mifreprefented. I gladly granted him the privilege, requefting, on my part, that he would not confine himself to particular transactions or objects, but give scope to his obfervations, and communicate them with freedom and fincerity; and as I have always been taught to look up to him with some degree of veneration, I thought proper to notice his productions in the very title of my work; and I trust the SAGE OPINIONS of JOHN BULL will merit the attention of my readers.

ADDED to the regular correspondence of my friend, John Bull, I fhall in every number of this work infert fome POETICAL production, which, I hope, will merit the attention of those who are attached to the muses.-But as I am determined not to give place to any poetry which does not bear evident marks of genius, and as very few original verses, if I may judge from daily, weekly, and monthly publications, difcover any pretenfions to that diftinction; fo I fhall find myself under the neceffity of republishing fome choice pieces which have already appeared, but which are not so univerfally known as they ought to be. This scheme meets the approbation of my friend John, who hopes that it may have fome effect on public taste, and give men a relish for the flights of true genius, which are seldom to be found in the fugitive productions of the day. Meanwhile I fhall very cheerfully infert the tical, as well as profe productions of such as choose to become my correspondents, or candidly affign proper reafons for their rejection, and requeft they may be addreffed as mentioned at the foot of this paper.

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SUCH being the plan of the New SPECTATOR,, it remains only to apologife for the apparent prefumption of adopting a Title which may indicate arrogance rather than that diffidence which is the concomitant of genius. It is well known that feveral publications of this kind have failed for want of their nature and tendency being fufficiently explained to the public: many who have

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My brother John having informed me that, when deftitute of fuch original Poetry as may have fufficient merit to recommend it to the public, you mean to infert the poetical effufions of the more ancient Bards; I requeft the favour of feeing the following SONG in the NEW SPECTATOR, not only as being worthy of fuch a place, but as it is the whole of one of those beautiful pieces of fimplicity, with a line or two of which OPHELIA, in her distraction, fo captivates the attention of all who have not sacrificed every pretention to real taste. Your's, &c.

ANNA MARIA BULL.

SONG.

O fing unto my roundelay,

O drop the briny tear with me ; Dance no more on holiday; Like a running river be.

My love is dead,

Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow tree!

Black his hair as winter night;
White his skin as fummer fnow
Red his face as morning light ;---
Cold he lies in the grave below!
My love is dead, &c.
Sweet his tongue as throstle's note;

Quick in dance as thought can be ;
Deft his tabour; cudgel flout ;---
O he lies by the willow tree!
My love is dead, &c.
Hark! the raven flaps his wing,

In the briered dell below; Hark! the death-owl loud doth fing To the night-mares as they go. My love is dead, &c.

Sce, the white morn fhines on high;

Whiter is my true-love's shroud! Whiter than the morning sky! Whiter than the evening cloud! My love is dead, &c.

Here

Here, upon my true-love's grave, Shall the barren flowers be laid ;--

Not one holy faint to save

All the forrows of a maid ?
My love is dead, &c.

With my hand I'll plant the briars,
Round his hallow'd corfe to grow;
Elf and fairy light your fires,
Here my body ftill fhall be.

My love is dead, &c.

Come with acorn cups and thorn,
Drain my heart its blood away;
Life and all its goods I fcorn,

Dance by night, or feast by day.
My love is dead, &c.

Water-witches, crown'd with reeds,
Bear me to your deadly tide ;
I dio--I come---my true-love waits.
Thus the damsel spoke, and died!

To the NEW SPECTATOR. Friend SPEC,

To write on every thing worthy of public commendation or of public cenfure, in this metropolis, is an arduous task. To give a few loofe hints, conveying little information, and lefs inftruction, is mere waste of time and paper. In order, therefore, to avoid prolixity, on the one hand, and frivolity on the other, permit me to throw my thoughts into a fort of mifcellany, without regard to order, connection, or literary excellence; all which I leave to your more ferious and more learned correfpondents.

FEMALE DRESS.

THE ladies have affumed the treble-caped great coat and belt, in which they parade the streets, like fo many female jockies. I expect, that in a few days, my grandmother's Jofeph will foon be the ton; I fhall, accordingly, have it advertised for fale by auction, and shall depute that lady auctioneer, who is most remarkable for overpowering the voices of the performers in the most interesting fcenes of a tragedy. The great coat fashion took its rife from those females who vifit Covent-Garden thrice a week, at five in the morning, with turnips, carrots, and other wholesome vegetables to fell.

AIR BALLOON hats and caps are in the highest eftimation; the green boxes are thronged with the former, and the front boxes with the latter. In another week, the lower order of the town ladies will exhibit them in the streets, and then farewel to Balloon hats and caps! Fashions, particularly female fashions, fare just like fongs; they fometimes have a long play-house

run, till at length they get into the streets and are no more regarded. The Cyprian corps too generally meet the same fate.-The balloon hat is cer tainly pretty, and has a good effect; there is something womanly in it; but the balloon cap is fo totally eclipsed by the Turkish turban, that I cannot say a word in its favour.

To the great joy of many a waining lady, Powder has refumed its reign, and fits enthroned on the head of beauty, bidding defiance to nature and fimplicity. My fifter, Anna Maria, true to her fex, is a strong defender of this fame duft of vanity, and is now deeply engaged in writing a poem, to be entitled the Comforts of White Duft and Bear's Greafe, to be dedicated to Lady A, who, it feems, always carries a quantity of right orris, with a fmall puff in her pocket.

SQUIRE MORGAN'S NEPHEW.

THE amours of this young gentleman will hereafter form a very pretty book, and become a great favourite with your boarding-fchool miffes. His grand characteristic, and his fole business is

To rove,

Free and unqueftion'd, through the wilds of love. Variety, is his motto, and he may be truly faid to ftick at nothing. He fairly knocked up his uncle Morgan, and obliged him to go abroad for his health, et cetera. He is accufed of being too promifcuous in his amours; be that as it may, he is certainly fo much attached to one at prefent, that I am in hopes his designs have not yet fucceeded, and that the fair one may have refolution enough to refift his attempts, or that her husband may have wit enough to take her out of the way of temptation, and not be sent out of the way himself fo often as he has been. It is fomewhat fingular, but so it happens, that Squire Morgan's Nephew always finds himself vaftly inclined to the company of neighbours wives. I hear various complaints of him on this head.

ABOUT fifteen months ago, Mr. H***** married a delicate woman, who, till very lately evinced the utmost tenderness and affection for her hufband. Unfortunately, fhe was noticed by our hero, who, being a very gallant man, feldom fails in his attacks on the ladies, and being a man of property, and keeping much company, Mr. Hwas presently invited to share his confidence and friendship, which he thought it advantageous to accept of, and the intimacy increased so much, that our hero made no fcruple frequently to vifit him en paffant, and at length prefented to the lady the grey Bucephalus of his Honour's ftable.

OUR hero and his friend were lately in the gallery of the House of Commons, to hear a smart debate. About ten in the evening the former re

quested

quefted the latter to keep his feat whilst he stepped out, and returned near two in the morning, with an apology to his friend for having troubled him fo long. On Mr. H retiring home, he found that our hero had taken a little refreshment with his lady whilst he kept his place in the gallery!

THIS anecdote may convince the world, that our hero is not so filly as many take him to be. Soon after that trick, he practifed another of a fimilar nature. Finding Mr. H- and his lady at home, he requested the favour of writing materials, and that his friend would step with a note to a gentleman on fome business which he could entruft to none else. The contents of this card were fimply thefe: "keep the bearer as long, and make him as drunk, as you can." This was accordingly done, and Squire Morgan's Nephew, at three the next morning, was found confoling the wife of his friend in the absence of her husband!

I HAVE feveral more anecdotes to communicate refpecting this amour, unknown even to the Abigail of Mrs. H- herself. As yet nothing has transpired, which can so much tax the reputa tion of the lady, as the folly of her husband!

AIR-BALLOON EXTRAORDINARY.

THE phylosophical inventers and improvers of the Aeroftatic Globe rightly conjectured, that important discoveries would result from a contrivance enabling people to travel in the air. In conjunction with a very fagacious friend of mine, I finished a Balloon of confiderable magnitude, and a fhort time ago, after the manner of Meff. Charles and Robert, we took our departure from this world, which, after travelling nine days, appeared to us about the fize of a reasonable plumb-pudding, and on the tenth morning was totally invifible to the naked eye; on which my friend began to be a little alarmed, and observed, that we were wandering round the world like departed fpirits, and poffibly might arrive on fome other planet, and be hanged as fpies in a foreign country. Whilft my friend was thus lamenting our fituation, I discovered, as I imagined, feveral white rocks at no great distance, to our left, and presently after a quantity of what appeared to be eagles on the wing, but, on approaching nearer, we found the rocks to be the outskirts of another world, and the eagles to be neither more nor less than so many Air balloons, which, it seems were the common packhorses and machines for conveyance in these. remote regions.

REJOICED at finding ourselves in fuch excellent company, as well as in the profpect of making aerostatic discoveries beyond any thing known in

our world, we pursued our course, and soon gained the confines of this ftrange country; then ordering our machines accordingly we ascended so much above the new world, that we could readily view every part of it, for it confifted but of one very large city, furrounded on all fides, but that on which we entered it, with villages, vineyards, meadows, woods, lawns, and gardens in abundance.

My friend who but a little time before was in a despairing mood, now refuming his courage, and impatient to find himself on the terra firma of the new world, let out fuch a quantity of gaz, that we fuddenly reached the ground, luckily without any inconvenience except that of breaking seven bottles of the best vitriol we could purchase in London, and three times that number of excellent Hock, given us by Stacie at the Bedford.

As I am determined in this account to adhere ftrictly to truth, I fhall not take the advantage ufually claimed by your terreftrial travillers of embellishing my narrative with the marvellous, though no man had ever so fine an opportunity. I fhall not therefore defcribe thefe people as either giants or dwarfs in ftature, nor amuse you with a wonderful account of powers, which they never poffeffed, and of cuftoms which they never practifed. No, Sir, thefe people, who wear the human form differ from ourselves in nothing so much as in their apparel, and being peculiarly beautiful; their language has even lome affinity to our own, being fo much like the ancient Saxon, that my friend, who is a great antiquarian, and has a particular veneration for that tongue, in the course of a few days, found himfelf able to converfe with them on any topic. Unfortunately, we arrived amongst them at a time when their whole attention was devoted to Politics. At the very moment we fell into the city, their fenate was fo deeply engaged in difputes for the good of the nation, and the people fo anxious to know the refult of their proceedings, that we escaped the notice of almost every body, but a few boys, who followed and hooted at us on account of our strange dress, and for our want of beards, which in this country are worn, both falfe and natural, as common as wigs and pig-tails among us.

THE name of this world, of which we were thus become unexpected inhabitants, was Niatirb, and that of the metropolis Bulia. The form of government nearly refembled that of ancient Rome, when a king and fenate conducted its affairs. The grand point then before the Bulians appeared to us whimsical and ridiculous enough. The Etanes or fenate compofed of the oldeft man of

the

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