mind does not only dissipate sorrow, which would be extreme without it, but enlarges pleasures which would otherwise be contemptible. The most indifferent thing has its force and beauty when it is spoke by a kind father, and an insignificant trifle has its weight when offered by a dutiful child. I know not how to express it, but I think I may call it a transplanted self-love." All the enjoyments and sufferings which a man meets with are regarded only as they concern him in the relation he has to another. A man's very honour receives a new value to him, when he thinks that, when he is in his grave, it will be had in remembrance that such an action was done by such a one's father. Such considerations sweeten the old man's evening, and his soliloquy delights him when he can say to himself, "No man can tell my child his father was either unmerciful or unjust. My son shall meet many a man who shall say to him, 'I was obliged to thy father, and be my child a friend to his child for ever.'*"

A consolation this, truly rational and delightful, and which implies not only a conscious sense in the parent of having done well, but a moral certainty likewise that his son shall rival him in

* Spectator, No. 192.

the public esteem.

There is something in the expression and manner at the close of this fine passage, though not in the sentiment, which strongly recals to my recollection the impressive prayer of Hector in the Iliad for his son, as translated by the admirable Cowper. Had moral virtue been the object of the supplication, instead of military renown, it had approximated nearer to our purpose; yet as a specimen of the noblest translation of the Grecian bard, I shall not, how ever slight the coincidence, withhold it; the casual association gave me pleasure, and, I doubt not, will produce a similar emotion in the reader. Oh Jove! and all ye gods! grant this my son To prove, like me, pre-eminent in Troy ! In valour such, and firmness of command! Be he extoll'd, when he returns from fight, As far his sire's superior! may he slay His enemy, bring home his gory spoils, And may his mother's heart o'erflow with joy! Iliad, Book vi. Against the great and prevailing vices of his day Steele has written with undaunted energy and perseverance, although repeatedly threatened by those who, conscious of their guilt supposed themselves the objects of his censure. Gamesters, Sharpers, and Swindlers, a formidable body, and who mingled in the highest ranks of society, encouraged by those who ought to have shunned

them with contempt and abhorrence, he has exposed in a series of essays in the Tatler with unsparing keenness and humour. That he contributed in a very great degree to repress the vice of gaming, and to place in a proper light the characters of those who professed this degrading 'pursuit, is evident from contemporary history and the violence of the opposition which he incurred. In the last number of the Tatler, speaking of those who had publicly declared, that, on account of his satire on gaming, they would support any man who should insult him, he adds, "when I mention this subject, I hope Major General Davenport, Brigadier Bisset, and my Lord Forbes, will accept of my thanks for their frequent good offices, in professing their readiness to partake any danger that should befal me in so just an undertaking, as the endeavour to banish fraud and cozenage from the presence and conversation of gentlemen." Lord Forbes, says Mr. Nichols, happened to be in company with the two military gentlemen just mentioned in St. James's coffee-house, when two or three welldressed men, all unknown to his lordship or his company, came into the room, and, in a public outrageous manner, abused Captain Steele as the author of the Tatler. One of them, with great audacity and vehemence, swore that he would

cut Steele's throat, or teach him better manners.

"In this country," said Lord Forbes, "

you will find it easier to cut a purse than to cut a throat.” His brother officers instantly joined with his lordship, and turned the cut-throats out of the coffee-house with every mark of disgrace.*

Sir Richard felt much self-approbation and pleasure from his success in expelling these miscreants from society; and in his Apology for himself and his writings, when refuting a charge brought against him in the House of Commons for injuriously reflecting on the nobility and gentry, he observes in a style of exultation:

"It would be a contradiction to all Mr. Steele's past writings, to speak to the disadvantage of the nobility and gentry. The war that the Tatler brought upon himself, for stigmatizing and expelling sharpers out of their company, is a merit towards them that will outweigh this allegation.That gamesters, knaves, and pick-pockets, are no longer the men of fashion, or mingled with so good an air among people of quality as formerly, is much owing to Mr. Steele---more than to any · other author, transcriber, or publisher, that ever made use of pen and ink."†

* Nichols's Tatler, vol. iv. p. 545.

† Apology, 4to. 1714, p. 84.

Another fashionable vice which loudly called for animadversion was, Duelling; on which our author has written with uncommon animation, and in a vein of strong wit and invective.* Of its fallacy and incompetency, as a mode of ascertaining truth, or inflicting punishment, he has brought forward ample proof, and drawn a striking picture of the misery and remorse which it ought ever to entail. On this subject he has written from painful experience; for whilst in the Coldstream regiment, under Col. Cutts, a brother officer acquainted him with his resolution of immediately challenging a gentleman by whom he imagined he had been offended. Steele endeavoured, and with success, to avert his intention. The companions of this young man, however, shortly afterwards induced him to believe that Steele had been ac tuated in this advice by a partiality to his opponent, and that his own honour had been sacrificed by submitting to the decision. In consequence of this unfortunate suggestion, he had the folly to challenge Steele himself, who, just recovering from a violent fever, tried by every species of raillery and ridicule, though in vain, to dissuade him from his purpose. Skilful, however, in the. use of his weapon, and trusting that he should be

* Tatler, No. 25, 26, 28, 39, 31, and 39.