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heaven would reward with long possession of that reputation into which you have made so early an entrance, the reputation of a man of sense, a good citizen, and agreeable companion,

a disinterested friend, and an unbiassed patriot,
is the hearty prayer of, sir, your most obliged,
and most obedient, humble servant,
THE GUARDIAN.

THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

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Mr. Pope for their author. Now I mention this gentleman, I take this opportunity, out of the affection I have for his person, and respect to his merit, to let the world know, that he is now translating Homer's Iliad by subscription. He has given good proof of his ability for the work, and the men of greatest wit and learning of this nation, of all parties, are, according to their different abilities, zealous encouragers, or solicitors for the work.

It is a justice which Mr. Ironside owes gentlemen who have sent him their assistances from time to time, in the carrying on of this work, to acknowledge that obligation, though at the same time he himself dwindles into the character of a mere publisher, by making the acknowledgment. But whether a man does it out of justice or gratitude, or any other virtuous reason or not, it is also a prudential act to take no more upon a man than he can bear. Too large a credit has made many a bankrupt, but But to my present purpose. The letter from taking even less than a man can answer with Gnatho of the Cures performed by Flattery, and ease, is a sure fund for extending it whenever that of comparing Dress to Criticism, are Mr his occasions require. All those papers which Gay's. Mr. Martin, Mr. Philips, Mr. Tickell, are distinguished by the mark of a Hand, were Mr. Carey, Mr. Eusden, Mr. Ince, and Mr. written by a gentleman who has obliged the Hughes, have obliged the town with entertainworld with productions too sublime to admiting discourses in these volumes; and Mr. Berkethat the author of them should receive any addition to his reputation, from such loose occasional thoughts as make up these little treatises; for which reason his name shall be concealed. Those which are marked with a Star, were composed by Mr. Budgell. That upon Dedications, with the Epistle of an Author to Himself, the Club of little Men, the Receipt to make an Epic Poem, the paper of the Gardens of Alcinous, and the Catalogue of Greens, that against Barbarity to Animals, and some others, have

ley, of Trinity College in Dublin, has embellished them with many excellent arguments in honour of religion and virtue. Mr. Parnell will I hope forgive me, that without his leave I mention, that I have seen his hand on the like occasion. There are some discourses of a less pleasing nature which relate to the divisions amongst us, and such (lest any of these gentlemen should suffer from unjust suspicion,) I must impute to the right author of them, who is one Mr. Steele, of Langunnor, in the county of Carmarthen, in South Wales.

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THE GUARDIAN.

No. 1.]

Thursday, March 12, 1713.

Mart. Epig. ii. 1.

some hope of having my vanity, at the end of them, indulged in the sort above-mentioned.

-Ille quem requiris. I should not have assumed the title of GuarHe, whom you seek. dian, had I not maturely considered, that the THERE is no passion so universal, however qualities necessary for doing the duties of that diversified or disguised under different forms character, proceed from the integrity of the and appearances, as the vanity of being known mind more than the excellence of the underto the rest of mankind, and communicating a standing. The former of these qualifications it man's parts, virtues, or qualifications, to the is in the power of every man to arrive at; and world: this is so strong upon men of great the more he endeavours that way, the less will genius, that they have a restless fondness for he want the advantages of the latter; to be faithsatisfying the world in the mistakes they might ful, to be honest, to be just, is what you will possibly be under, with relation even to their demand in the choice of your Guardian; or if physiognomy. Mr. Airs, that excellent pen- you find added to this, that he is pleasant, inman, has taken care to affix his own image genious, and agreeable, there will overflow opposite to the title-page of his learned treatise, satisfactions which make for the ornament, if wherein he instructs the youth of this nation to not so immediately to the use of your life. As arrive at a flourishing hand. The author of to the diverting part of this paper, by what asThe Key to Interest, both simple and compound, sistance I shall be capacitated for that, as well containing practical rules plainly expressed in as what proofs I have given of my behaviour as words at length for all rates of interest, and to integrity in former life, will appear from my times of payment, for what time soever, makes history to be delivered in ensuing discourses. up to us the misfortune of his living at Chester, The main purpose of the work shall be, to proby following the example of the above-men-tect the modest, the industrious; to celebrate the tioned Airs, and coming up to town, over against his title-page, in a very becoming periwig, and a flowing robe or mantle, inclosed in a circle of foliages; below his portraiture, for our farther satisfaction as to the age of that useful writer, is subscribed, 'Johannes Ward de civitat. Cestriæ, ætat. suæ 58. An. Dom. 1706. The serene aspect of these writers, joined with the great encouragement I observe is given to another, or what is indeed to be suspected, in which he indulges himself, confirmed me in the notion I have of the prevalence of ambition this way. The author whom I hint at shall be nameless, but his countenance is communicated to the public in several views In order to contribute as far as I am able to and aspects drawn by the most eminent paint- it, I shall publish in respective papers whatever ers, and forwarded by engravers, artists by way I think may conduce to the advancement of of mezzotinto, etchers, and the like. There the conversation of gentlemen, the improve. was, I remember, some years ago, one Johnment of ladies, the wealth of traders, and the Gale, a fellow that played upon a pipe, and encouragement of artificers. The circumstance diverted the multitude by dancing in a ring relating to those who excel in mechanics, shall they made about him, whose face became gene- be considered with particular application. It rally known, and the artists employed their is not to be immediately conceived by such as skill in delineating his features, because every have not turned themselves to reflections of that man was a judge of the similitude of them. kind, that Providence, to enforce and endear the There is little else, than what this John Gale necessity of social life, has given one man's arrived at, in the advantages men enjoy from hands to another man's head, and the carpenter, common fame; yet do I fear it has always a the smith, the joiner, are as immediately necespart in moving us to exert ourselves in such sary to the mathematician, as my amanuensis things as ought to derive their beginnings from will be to me, to write much fairer than I can nobler considerations. But I think it is no myself. I am so well convinced of this truth, great matter to the public what is the incentive that I shall have a particular regard to mechawhich makes men bestow time in their service, nics; and to show my honour for them, I shall provided there be any thing useful in what place at their head the painter. This gentlethey produce; I shall proceed therefore to give man is, as to the execution of his work, a me an account of my intended labours, not without I chanic; but as to his conception, his spirit, and

wise, the valiant; to encourage the good, the pious; to confront the impudent, the idle; to contemn the vain, the cowardly; and to disappoint the wicked and profane. This work cannot be carried on but by preserving a strict regard, not only to the duties but civilities of life, with the utmost impartiality towards things and persons. The unjust application of the advantages of breeding and fortune, is the source of all calamity, both public and private; the correction, therefore, or rather admonition, of a Guardian in all the occurrences of a various being, if given with a benevolent spirit, would certainly be of general service.

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design, he is hardly below even the poet, in liberal art. It will be from these considerations useful to make the world see the affinity between all works which are beneficial to mankind is much nearer, than the illiberal arrogance of scholars will at all times allow. But I am from experience convinced of the importance of mechanic heads, and shall therefore take them all into my care, from Rowley, who is improving the globes of the earth and heaven in Fleet-street, to Bat. Pigeon, the hair cutter

in the Strand.

But it will be objected upon what pretensions I take upon me to put in for the prochain ami, or nearest friend of all the world. How my head is accomplished for this employment towards the public, from the long exercise of it in a private capacity, will appear by reading me the two or three next days with diligence and attention. There is no other paper in being which tends to this purpose. They are most of them histories, or advices of public transactions; but as those representations affect the passions of my readers, I shall sometimes take care, the day after a foreign mail, to give them an account of what it has brought. The parties amongst us are too violent to make it possible to pass them by without observation. As to these matters, I shall be impartial, though I cannot be neuter: I am, with relation to the government of the church, a tory, with regard to the state, a whig.

The charge of intelligence, the pain in compiling and digesting my thoughts in proper style, and the like, oblige me to value my paper a half-penny above all other half sheets.* And all persons who have any thing to communicate to me, are desired to direct their letters (postage paid,) to Nestor Ironside, Esq, at Mr. Tonson's in the Strand. I declare beforehand, that I will at no time be conversed with any other way than by letter: for as I am an ancient man, I shall find enough to do to give orders proper for their service, to whom I am, by will of their parents, Guardian, though I take that to be too narrow a scene for me to pass my whole life in. But I have got my wards so well off my hands, and they are so able to act for themselves, that I have little to do but give a hint, and all that I desire to be amended is altered accordingly.

My design upon the whole is no less than to make the pulpit, the bar, and the stage, all act in concert in the care of piety, justice, and virtue; for I am past all the regards of this life, and have nothing to manage with any person or party, but to deliver myself as becomes an old man with one foot in the grave, and one who thinks he is passing to eternity. All sorrows which can arrive at me are comprehended in the sense of guilt and pain; if I can keep clear of these two evils, I shall not be apprehensive of any other. Ambition, lust, envy, and revenge, are excrescences of the mind, which I have cut off long ago: but as they are excrescences which do not only deform, but also torment those on whom they grow, I shall do all I can to persuade all others to take the

same measures for their cure which I have.

* Two pence was the original price of this paper.

No. 2.]

Friday, March 13, 1713.

THE readiest way to proceed in my great undertaking, is to explain who I am myself that promise to give the town a daily half sheet: I shall therefore enter into my own his. tory, without losing any time in preamble. I was born in the year 1642, at a lone house within half a mile of the town of Brentford, in the county of Middlesex; my parents were of ability to bestow upon me a liberal education, and of a humour to think that a great happiness even in a fortune which was but just enough to keep me above want. In my sixteenth year I in Oxford. It was one great advantage, among was admitted a commoner of Magdalene-hall, many more, which men, educated at our universities, do usually enjoy above others, that they often contract friendships there, which are of service to them in all the parts of their future life. This good fortune happened to me; for during the time of my being an under-graduate, I became intimately acquainted with Mr. Ambrose Lizard, who was a fellow-commoner of the neighbouring college. I have the honour to be well known to Mr. Josiah Pullen, of our hall above-mentioned; and attribute the florid old age I now enjoy to my constant morning walks up Hedington-hill, in his cheerful company. If the gentleman be still living, I hereby give him my humble service. But as I was going to say, I contracted in my early youth, an intimate friendship with young Mr. Lizard, of before he was of bachelor's standing, to be marNorthamptonshire. He was sent for a little ried to Mrs. Jane Lizard, an heiress, whose father would have it so for the sake of the name. Mr. Ambrose knew nothing of it till he came to Lizard-hall, on Saturday night, saw the young lady at dinner the next day, and was married, by order of his father, sir Ambrose, between eleven and twelve the Tuesday following. Some years after, when my friend came to be sir Ambrose himself, and finding upon proof of her, that he had lighted upon a good wife, he gave the curate who joined their hands the parsonage of Welt, not far off Wellingborough. My friend was married in the year sixty-two, and every year following, for eighteen years together, I left the college (except that year wherein I was chosen fellow of Lincoln,) and sojourned at sir Ambrose's for the months of June, July, and August. I remember very well that it was on the fourth of July, in the year 1674, that I was reading in an arbour to my friend, and stopt of a sudden, observing he did not attend. Lay by your book,' said ne, and let us take a turn in the grass-walk, for I have something to say to you.' After a silence for about forty yards, walking both of us with our eyes downward, one big to hear, the other to speak a matter of great importance, sir Ambrose expressed himself to this effect: My good friend,' said he, you may have observed that from the first moment I was in your company at Mr. Willis's chambers, at University College, I ever after sought and courted you, that inclination towards you has improved from similitude of manners, if I may so say when I tell you I have not observed in any man

·

a greater candour and simplicity of mind than entertainment will arise from what passes at the in yourself. You are a man that are not in-tea-table of my lady Lizard. That lady is now clined to launch into the world, but prefer secu- in the forty-sixth year of her age, was married rity and ease, in a collegiate or single life, to in the beginning of her sixteenth, is blessed with going into the cares which necessarily attend a a numerous offspring of each sex, no less than public character, or that of a master of a fami- four sons and five daughters. She was the moly. You see within, my son Marmaduke, my ther of this large family before she arrived at only child; I have a thousand anxieties upon her thirtieth year: about which time she lost me concerning him, the greater part of which her husband, sir Marmaduke Lizard, a gentleI would transfer to you, and when I do so, I man of great virtue and generosity. He left be would make it, in plain English, worth your hind him an improved paternal estate of six while.' He would not let me speak, but pro- thousand pounds a-year to his eldest son, and ceeded to inform me, that he had laid the whole one year's revenue, in ready money, as a porscheme of his affairs upon that foundation. As tion to each younger child. My lady's Chrissoon as we went into the house, he gave me a tian name is Aspasia ; and as it may give a cerbill upon his goldsmith,* in London, of two tain dignity to our style to mention her by that thousand pounds, and told me, with that he had name, we beg leave at discretion to say lady purchased me, with all the talents I was master Lizard, or Aspasia, according to the matter we of, to be of his family, to educate his son, and shall treat of. When she shall be consulting to do all that should ever lie in my power for about her cash, her rents, her household affairs, the service of him and his to my life's end, ac- we will use the more familiar name; and when cording to such powers, trusts, and instructions, she is employed in the forming the minds and as I should hereafter receive. sentiments of her children, exerting herself in the acts of charity, or speaking of matters of religion or piety, for the elevation of style we will use the word Aspasia. Aspasia is a lady of great understanding and noble spirit. She has passed several years in widowhood, with that abstinent enjoyment of life, which has done honour to her deceased husband, and devolved reputation upon her children. As she has both sons and daughters marriageable, she is visited by many on that account, but by many more for her own merit. As there is no circumstance in human life, which may not directly or indirectly concern a woman thus related, there will be abundant matter offer itself from passages in this family to supply my readers with diverting, and perhaps useful notices for their conduct in all the incidents of human life. Placing money on mortgages, in the funds, upon bottomry, and almost all other ways of improving the fortune of a family, are practised by my lady Lizard, with the best skill and advice.

The reader will here make many speeches for me, and without doubt suppose I told my friend he had retained me with a fortune to do that which I should have thought myself obliged to by friendship: but, as he was a prudent man, and acted upon rules of life, which were least liable to the variation of humour, time, or season, I was contented to be obliged by him his own way; and believed I should never enter into any alliance which should divert me from pursuing the interests of his family, of which I should hereafter understand myself a member. Sir Ambrose told me, he should lay no injunction upon me, which should be inconsistent with any inclination I might have hereafter to change my condition. All he meant was, in general, to insure his family from that pest of great estates, the mercenary men of business who act for them, and in a few years become creditors to their masters in greater sums than half the income of their lands amounts to, though it is visible all which gave rise to their wealth was a slight The members of this family, their cares, passalary, for turning all the rest, both estate and sions, interests, and diversions, shall be reprecredit of that estate, to the use of their princi-sented, from time to time, as news from the teapals. To this purpose we had a very long con- table of so accomplished a woman as the intelliference that evening, the chief point of which gent and discreet lady Lizard. was, that his only child Marmaduke was from that hour under my care, and I was engaged to turn all my thoughts to the service of the child in particular, and all the concerns of the family in general. My most excellent friend was so well satisfied with my behaviour, that he made me his executor, and guardian to his son. My own conduct during that time, and my manner of educating his son Marmaduke to manhood, and the interest I had in him to the time of his death also, with my present conduct towards the numerous descendants of my old friend, will make, possibly, a series of history of common life, as useful as the relations of the more pompous passages in the lives of princes and statesThe widow of sir Ambrose, and the no less worthy relict of sir Marmaduke, are both living at this time.

men.

I am to let the reader know, that his chief

* A banker at this time was called a goldsmith.

B

No. 3.]

Saturday, March 14, 1713.

Quicquid est illud, quod sentit, quod sapit, quod vult, quod viget, cæleste et divinum est, ob eamque rem æter

num sit necesse est.

Cicero.

Whatever that. be, which thinks, which understands, which wills, which acts, it is something celestial and divine, and, upon that account, must necessarily be

eternal.

I AM diverted from the account I was giving the town of my particular concerns, by casting my eye upon a treatise which I could not overlook without an inexcusable negligence, and want of concern for all the civil, as well as religious interests of mankind. This piece has for its title, A Discourse of Free-thinking, occasion. ed by the rise and growth of a sect called Free. thinkers. The author very methodically enters

upon his argument, and says, 'by free-thinking, | safe from reflection by dabbling in their rhapI mean the use of the understanding in endea- sodies, without tasting the pleasures for which vouring to find out the meaning of any proposi- their doctrines leave them unaccountable. Thus tion whatsoever, in considering the nature of do heavy mortals, only to gratify a dry pride of the evidence for or against, and in judging of it heart, give up the interests of another world, according to the seeming force or weakness of without enlarging their gratifications in this: the evidence.' As soon as he has delivered this but it is certain there are a sort of men that can definition, from which one would expect he did puzzle truth, but cannot enjoy the satisfaction of not design to show a particular inclination for it. This same free-thinker is a creature unacor against any thing before he had considered quainted with the emotions which possess great it, he gives up all title to the character of a minds when they are turned for religion, and it free-thinker, with the most apparent prejudice is apparent that he is untouched with any such against a body of men, whom of all other a sensation as the rapture of devotion. Whatever good man would be most careful not to violate, I one of these scorners may think, they certainly mean men in holy orders. Persons who have want parts to be devout; and a sense of piety devoted themselves to the service of God, are towards heaven, as well as the sense of any thing venerable to all who fear him; and it is a cer- else, is lively and warm in proportion to the fatain characteristic of a dissolute and ungovern- culties of the head and heart. This gentleman ed mind, to rail, or speak disrespectfully of them may be assured he has not a taste for what he in general. It is certain, that in so great a pretends to decry, and the poor man is certainly crowd of men, some will intrude who are of more a blockhead than an atheist. I must retempers very unbecoming their function: but peat, that he wants capacity to relish what true because ambition and avarice are sometimes piety is; and he is as capable of writing an helodged in that bosom which ought to be the roic poem, as making a fervent prayer. When dwelling of sanctity and devotion, must this un- men are thus low and narrow in their apprehenreasonable author vilify the whole order? He sions of things, and at the same time vain, they has not taken the least care to disguise his be- are naturally led to think every thing they do ing an enemy to the persons against whom he not understand, not to be understood. Their writes, nor any where granted that the institu- contradiction to what is urged by others, is a tion of religious men to serve at the altar, and necessary consequence of their incapacity to reinstruct such who are not as wise as himself, is ceive it. The atheistical fellows who appeared at all necessary or desirable; but proceeds, the last age did not serve the devil for nought, without the least apology, to undermine their but revelled in excesses suitable to their princicredit, and frustrate their labours: whatever ples; while in these unhappy days mischief is clergymen, in disputes against each other, have done for mischief's sake. These free-thinkers, unguardedly uttered, is here recorded in such a who lead the lives of recluse students, for no manner as to affect religion itself, by wresting other purpose but to disturb the sentiments of concessions to its disadvantage from its own other men, put me in mind of the monstrous reteachers. If this be true, as sure any man that creation of those late wild youths, who, without reads the discourse must allow it is, and if reli- provocation, had a wantonness in stabbing and gion is the strongest tie of human society, in defacing those they met with. When such wri what manner are we to treat this our common ters as this, who have no spirit but that of maenemy, who promotes the growth of such a sect lice, pretend to inform the age, mohocks and as he calls free-thinkers? He that should burn cut-throats may well set up for wits and men of a house, and justify the action by asserting he pleasure. is a free agent, would be more excusable than this author in uttering what he has from the right of a free-thinker. But there are a set of dry, joyless, dull fellows, who want capacities and talents to make a figure amongst mankind upon benevolent and generous principles, that think to surmount their own natural meanness, by laying offences in the way of such as make it their endeavour to excel upon the received maxims and honest arts of life. If it were possible to laugh at so melancholy an affair as what hazards salvation, it would be no unpleasant inquiry to ask, what satisfactions they reap, what extraordinary gratification of sense, or what delicious libertinism this sect of free-thinkers enjoy, after getting loose of the laws which confine the passions of other men? Would it not be a matter of mirth to find, after all, that the heads of this growing sect are sober wretches, who prate whole evenings over coffee, and have not themselves fire enough to be any further debauchees, than merely in principle? These sages of iniquity are, it seems, themselves only speculatively wicked, and are contented that all the abandoned young men of the age are kept

It will be perhaps expected, that I should produce some instances of the ill intention of this free-thinker, to support the treatment I here give him. In his fifty-second page he says,

'Secondly, The priests throughout the world differ about scriptures, and the authority of scriptures. The Bramins have a book of scripture called the Shaster. The Persees have their Zundavastaw. The Bonzes of China have books written by the disciples of Fo-he, whom they call the "God and Saviour of the world, who was born to teach the way of salvation, and to give satisfaction for all men's sins." The Talapoins of Siam have a book of scripture written by Sommonocodom, who, the Siamese say, "was born of a virgin, and was the God expected by the universe." The Dervises have their Alcoran.'

I believe there is no one will dispute the author's great impartiality in setting down the accounts of these different religions. And I think it is pretty evident he delivers the matter with an air that betrays that the history of one born of a virgin' has as much authority with him from St. Sommonocodom as from St.. Matthew. Thus he treats revelation. Then as

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