I know not to whom I lent it, it is so many years ago. Then, sir, here is the other volume; I'll send you home that, and please to pay for both." 'My friend,' replied he, canst thou be so senseless as not to know that one volume is as imperperfect in my library as in your shop?---Yes, sir, but it is you have lost the first volume; and, to be short, I will be paid. Sir,' answered the chapman, you are a young man, your book is lost; and learn by this little loss to bear much greater adversities, which you must expect to meet with. Yes, I'll bear when I must, but I have not lost now, for I say you have it, and shall pay me.'---' Friend, you grow warm; I tell you, the book is lost; and I foresee, in the course even of a prosperous life, that you will meet afflictions to make you mad, if you cannot bear this trifle.' " Sir, there is, in this case, no need of bearing, for you have the book.'---' I say, sir, I have not the book; but your passion will not let you hear enough to be informed that I have it not. Learn resignation of yourself to the distresses of this life: nay, do not fret and fume; it is my duty to tell you, that you are of an impatient spirit, and an impatient spirit is never without woe.'---' Was ever any thing like this? Yes, sir, there have been many things like this: the loss is but a trifle, but your temper is wanton, and incapable

of the least pain; therefore let me advise you, be patient; the book is lost, but do not you for that reason lose yourself."*

The keeping of this scene, to use a technical term, is admirably sustained; and a lesson of much utility may be drawn from the occurrence, as it teaches that even in a just cause, impatience and anger defeat themselves.

It is remarkable, that near a century ago the fair sex felt the same propensity to go uncovered, which they have lately exhibited in so extraordinary a degree. The untuckered stays and the short petticoat furnished abundant food for the satire of Steele and Addison, who endeavoured, and probably not without effect, to raise the one and lower the other. The following letter on the subject, which Sir Richard addresses to himself, I consider as a peculiarly happy instance of his wit and humour::

"BEING informed that the Eveites daily increase, and that fig-leaves are shortly coming into fashion, I have hired me a piece of ground and planted it with fig-trees, the soil being naturally productive of them. I hope, good sir, you will

• Spectator, No. 438.

far encourage my new project, as to acquaint the ladies, that I have now by me a choice collection of fig-leaves of all sorts and sizes, of a delicate texture, and a lovely bright verdure, beautifully scolloped at the extremities, and most curiously wrought with variety of slender fibres, ranged in beautiful meanders and windings. I have some very cool ones for summer, so transparently thin, that you may see through them, and others of a thicker substance for winter ; I have likewise some very small ones of a particular species for little misses. So that I do not question but to give general satisfaction to all ladies whatsoever, that please to repair to me at the sign of the Adam and Eve, near Cupid's gardens. If you will favour me with the insertion of this in your Guardian, I will make your favourite, the Sparkler, a present of some of the choicest fig-leaves I have, and lay before her feet the primitiae of my new garden; and if you bring me a great many customers for my leaves, I promise you my figs shall be at your service.

VOL. I.

I am, WORTHY SIR,

Your worship's most obedient,
humble servant,

ANTHONY EVER-GREEN,

* Mary, Lady Lizard's youngest daughter,

T

"N.B. I am now rearing up a set of fine furbelowed dock-leaves, which will be exceeding proper for old women, and superannuated maids; those plants having two excellent good properties; the one, that they flourish best in dry ground; the other, that being clothed with several integuments of downy surfaces, they are exceeding warm and cherishing,"

To correct with success the foibles and follies of mankind, it is necessary, by ludicrous association and colouring, to render them the mark of laughter and contempt. The absurd fashion just mentioned, therefore, our author endeavours to discredit by the means best adapted to the purpose. On more serious occasions, where vice itself obtrudes, he has assumed a correspondent tone, and inflicted the punishment due to its enormity.

Nothing more effectually tends to impress upon the mind the precepts of wisdom and virtue, than examples of excellence or error drawn from the bosom of real life. To the moralist, therefore, a knowledge of the world, and a facility of delineating and supporting character, must ever be of inestimable value. That Steele possessed these requisites, together with a considerable portion

* Guardian, No. 142,

of wit and humour, we have already shewn; and if to these we add, what will be more fully depicted in the succeeding essay, that of all his compositions the objects were such as to improve and polish society, the great merit and utility of his writings will be fully and readily allowed.