THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 69
rose in 1717 to the responsible position of Secretary of State, a place he held but for a short time, as his diffidence unfitted him for public debate, and his fastidiousness stood in the way of the dispatch necessary in the business of his office.
His other poetical works were his English opera, " Rosa mond, a comedy ;" " The Drummer, or the Haunted House ;" and in 1713 his principal work, the tragedy of " Cato." Upon this last chiefly rested his fame in his own day. It was a piece in conformity with the artificial tastes of those times, and it was for political reasons welcomed by the plaudits of his party. Addison was also the author of several political pamphlets, and of an unfinished work on the evidences of Christianity.
But his fame now rests on the part he took in the production of the daily essays that were begun in his time. The " Tatler " was commenced by Steele in 1709, and was succeeded by the " Spectator" in 1711. This was followed by the " Guardian in 1713 ; and Addison again lent his assistance when the " Spec tator 1 was revived for a short time in 1714. These papers, although ephemeral in form, and continued but for a short period, contain works that will never die, and have given for all time a place in our literature to the periodical essay : and the moral tendency of the essays was good ; suited to raise the general taste and to produce an improved tone of feeling in regard to the duties and associations of ordinary life. Addison s contributions are the best, especially those on the imagination ; his criticism on Milton, and his religious pieces, which usually appeared on Saturday. In these last appeared for the first time some of his hymns. They have taken a permanent place as favourites. They are of the highest excellence, written in the maturity of his powers, and wanting only a stronger infusion of definitely Christian senti ment to make them superior to every attack of adverse criticism.
In 1716, Addison married the Countess Dowager of Warwick. It is to be lamented that the unhappiness of this marriage drove him from his home to seek pleasure in convi-
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