fancy, from their frequency, that they must be composed by a society: I, with all, assign the first place to Mr. Steele and his friend.
I have often thought that the conjunction of those two great geniuses (who seem to stand in a class by themselves, so high above all our other wits) resembles that of two famous statesmen in a late reign, whose characters are very well expressed in their two mottos, viz. prodesse quam conspici[1]; and otium cum dignitate[2]. Accordingly the first was continually at work behind the curtain; drew up and prepared all those schemes and designs, which the latter still drove on; and stood out exposed to the world, to receive its praises or censures.
Meantime, all our unbiassed well wishers to learning are in hopes, that the known temper and prudence of one of these gentlemen will hinder the other from ever launching out into party, and rendering that wit, which is at present a common good, odious and ungrateful to the better part of the nation.
If this piece of imprudence does not spoil so excellent a paper, I propose to myself the highest satisfaction in reading it with you, over a dish of tea, every morning next winter.
As we have yet had nothing new since the Spectator[3]; it only remains for me to assure you, that I am
Yours, &c.
- ↑ The motto of lord Somers.
- ↑ That of the earl of Halifax.
- ↑ "The Spectators are printed in a larger and a smaller volume: so I believe they are going to leave them off; and indeed people
