After having been thus particular upon myself, I shall, in to-morrow's paper, give an account of those gentlemen who are concerned with me in this work; for, as I have before intimated, a plan of it is laid and concerted (as all other matters of importance are) in a club. However, as my friends have engaged me to stand in the front, those who have a mind to correspond with me, may direct their letters to the Spectator, at Mr. Buckley's, in Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the reader, that though our club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have appointed a committee to sit every night for the inspection of all such papers as may contribute to the advancement of the public weal.

ADDISON.

Portrait of the friends of the Author. THE first of our society is a gentleman of Worcestershire, of an ancient descent, a baronet, his name Sir Roger de Coverly. His great grandfather was inventor of that famous country-dance which is called after him. All who know that shire are very well acquainted with the parts and merits of Sir Roger. He is a gentleman that is very singular in his behaviour, but his singularities proceed from his good sense, and are contradic

Après être entré ainsi dans des détails sur ma personne, je vous parlerai demain de ceux qui sont intéressés avec moi dans cet ouvrage; car vous savez déjà que c'est une coterie qui en a formé le plan, et qu'elle choisit de concert tous les matériaux qui doivent y entrer. Mais, puisqu'elle a jugé à propos de me placer à sa tête, il est bon d'avertir le public que toutes les personnes qui voudront m'écrire, peuvent adresser leurs lettres au Spectateur, chez M. Buckley, dans la rue de la Petite-Bretagne. De plus on saura que, bien que nos conférences ne se tiennent que les mardis et les jeudis, nous avons établi un comité, qui s'assemblera tous les soirs pour examiner tous les mémoires et les papiers qu'on m'enverra, et admettre ceux qui pourront en quelque sorte contribuer à l'avancement du bien public.

Portrait des amis de l'auteur.

ADDISON.

Le membre le plus honorable de notre société, est le chevalier Roger de Coverly, baronnet, d'une ancienne famille de la province de Worcester. Son bisaïeul inventa la fameuse contredanse qui porte son nom. Tous ceux qui ont fait quelque séjour dans cette province, connaissent les talens et le mérite de notre gentilhomme. Il est fort singulier dans ses manières; mais cette singularité ne vient que de son bon sens, et il n'est en contradic

tions to the manners of the world, only as he thinks the world is in the wrong. However, this humour creates him no enemies, for he does nothing with sourness or obstinacy; and his being unconfined to modes and forms, makes him but the readier and more capable to please and oblige all who know him. When he is in town, he lives in Soho-square. It is said, he keeps himself a bachelor by reason he was crossed in love by a perverse beautiful widow of the next county to him. Before this disappointment, Sir Roger was what you call a fine gentleman; had often supped with my Lord Rochester and Sir George Etherege, fought a duel upon his first coming to town, and kicked bully Dawson in a public coffee-house for calling him youngster. But being ill-used by the abovementioned widow, he was very serious for a year and a half; and though, his temper being naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew careless of himself, and never dressed afterwards. He continues to wear a coat and doublet of the same cut that were in fashion at the time of his repulse, which, in his merry humours, he tells us, has been in and out twelve times since he first wore it. It is said Sir Roger grew humble in his desires after he had forgot his cruel beauty, insomuch that it is reported he has frequently offended in point of chastity with beggars and gypsies: but this is looked upon, by his friends, rather as matter of

tion avec les usages du monde que parce qu'il pense que le monde est dans l'erreur. Cependant, cette bizarrerie ne lui attire point d'ennemis, parce qu'il n'est ni opiniâtre ni d'une humeur chagrine. Indifférent pour toutes les modes et les formalités, il n'en est que plus en état de plaire à tous ceux qui le connaissent, et plus prompt à les obliger. Lorsqu'il habite la ville, il demeure dans Sohosquare. On dit qu'il a renoncé au mariage, parce qu'une belle veuve d'une province voisine n'avait pas daigné répondre à son amour. Avant cette infortune, sir Roger était ce qu'on appelle un homme du bon ton; il s'était souvent trouvé aux soupers de lord Rochester et de sir George Etherege; il s'était battu en duel dès la première fois qu'il était venu à Londres, et avait donné des coups de pied, dans un café, au bretteur Dawson, qui l'avait traité de jeune damoiseau. Mais, mal reçu de sa cruelle veuve, il a été, pendant dix-huit mois, dans une profonde mélancolie; et, quoique sa gaieté naturelle ait enfin repris son empire, il a toujours été depuis très-négligé dans sa personne et dans sa parure. Il porte encore aujourd'hui un justaucorps et un pourpoint, taillés de même qu'on les faisait du temps de son désastre; et, quand il est dans sa belle humeur, il nous dit que cette mode a été abandonnée ou reprise une douzaine de fois depuis cette époque. On dit que, depuis qu'il a oublié sa fière maîtresse, sir Roger

raillery than truth. He is now in his fifty-sixth year, cheerful, gay, and hearty; keeps a good house both in town and country; a great lover of mankind; but there is such a mirthful cast in his behaviour, that he is rather beloved than esteemed. His tenants grow rich, his servants look satisfied, all the young women profess love to him, and the young men are glad of his company. When he comes into a house he calls the servants by their names, and talks all the way up stairs to a visit. I must not omit, that Sir Roger is a justice of the quorum; that he fills the chair at a quarter-session with great abilities, and three months ago gained universal applause, by explaining a passage in the game-act.

The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us is another bachelor, who is a member of the Inner Temple, a man of great probity, wit, and understanding; but he has chosen his place of residence rather to obey the direction of an old humoursome father, than in the pursuit of his own inclinations. He was placed there to study the laws of the land, and is the most learned of any of the house in those of the stage.