THE

GUARDIAN.

N° 1.

Thursday, March 12, 1713.

Ille quem requiris.. Mart. Epig. 2. 1. 1. v. I. He, whom you feek.

HERE is no Paffion fo univerfal, however diverfified or disguised under different Forms and Appearances, as the Vanity of being known to the rest of Mankind, and communicating a Man's Parts, Virtues or Qualifications to the World; this is fo ftrong upon Men of great Genius, that they have a reftlefs Fondnefs for fatisfying the World in the Miftakes they might poffibly be under, with relation even to their Phyfiognomy. Mr. Airs, that excellent Penman, has taken care to affix his own Image oppofite to the Title-Page of his learned Treatife, wherein he inftructs the Youth of this Nation to arrive at a flourishing Hand. The Author of the Key to Intereft, both Simple and Compound, containing Practical Rules plainly expreffed in Words at length for all Rates of Intereft and Times of Paymet, for what time foever, makes up to us the Misfortune of his living at Chefter, by following the Example of the abovementioned Airs, and

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coming

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 ufeful Writer, is fubfcribed Johannes Ward de Civitat. Ceftria, Ætat. fuæ 58. An. Dom. 1706. The ferene Afpect of these Writers, join'd with the great Encouragement I obferve is gi ven to another, or, what is indeed to be fufpected, in which he indulges himfélf, 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 Publick in feveral Views and Afpects drawn by the moft eminent Painters, and forwarded by Engravers, Artists by way of Mezzo-tinto, Etchers, and the like. There was, I remember, fome Years ago, one John Gale, a Fellow that played upon a Pipe, and diverted the Multitude by dancing in a Ring they made about him, whofe Face became generally known, and the Artifts employ'd their Skill in delineating his Features, because every Man was Judge of the Similitude of them. There is little elfe than what this John Gale arriv'd at in the Advantages Men enjoy from common Fame, yet do I fear it has always a Part in moving us to exert ourselves in fuch things, as ought to derive their beginnings from nobler Confiderations: But I think it is no great matter to the Publick what is the Incentive which makes Men beftow Time in their Service, provided there be any thing ufeful in what they produce; I fhall proceed therefore to give an Account of my intended Labours, not without fome hope of having my Vanity, at the end of them, indulged in the fort abovementioned.

I should not have affumed the Title of Guardian, had I not maturely confidered, that the Qualities neceffary for doing the duties of that Character, proceed from the Integrity of the Mind, more than the Excellence of the Understanding: The former of thefe Qualifications it is in the power of every Man to arrive at; and the more he endeavours that way, the lefs will he want the Advantages of the latter; to be Faithful, to be Honeft, to be Juft, is what you will demand in the Choice of your Guardian; or if you find added to this, that he is Pleafant, Ingenious, and Agreeable, there will overflow Satisfactions which

make

make for the Ornament, if not fo immediately to the Ufe, of your Life. As to the diverting Part of this Paper, by what affiftance I shall be capacitated for that, as well as what Proofs I have given of my Behaviour as to Integrity in former Life, will appear from my History to be delivered in enfuing Difcourfes. The main Purpose of the Work fhall be to protect the Modeft, the Industrious, to celebrate the Wife, the Valiant, to encourage the Good, the Pious, to confront the Impudent, the Idle, to contemn the Vain, the Cowardly, and to difappoint the Wicked and Profane. This Work cannot be carried on but by by preferving a ftrict Regard, not only to the Duties but Civilities of Life, with the utmost Impartiality towards Things and Perfons. The unjuft Application of the Advantages of Breeding and Fortune is the Source of all Calamity both Publick 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.

IN order to contribute as far as I am able to it, I shall publish in respective Papers whatever I think may conduce to the Advancement of the Conversation of Gen.. tlemen, the Improvement of Ladies, the Wealth of Traders, and the Encouragement of Artificers. The Circumftance relating to thofe who excel in Mechanicks, fhall be confidered with particular Application. It is not to be immediately conceived by fuch as have not turned themselves to Reflexions of that kind, that Providence, to enforce and endear the Neceffity of Social Life, has given one Man Hands to another Man's Head, and the Carpenter, the Smith, the Joiner, are as immediately neceffary to the Mathematician, as my Amanuenfis will be to me, to Write much fairer than I can myself. am fo well convinced of this Truth, that I shall have a particular regard to Mechanicks, and to fhew my Honour for them, I fhall place at their Head the Painter. This Gentleman is, as to the Execution of his Work, a Mechanick, but as to his Conception, his Spirit and Defign, he is hardly below even the Poet, in Liberal Art. It will be from thefe Confiderations useful to make the World fee the Affinity between all Works

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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 Mechanick Heads, and fhall therefore take them all into my Care, from Rowley, who is improving the Globes of the Earth and Heaven in Fleetfreet, to Bat. Pidgeon the Hair-Cutter in the Strand.

BUT it will be objected upon what Pretenfions 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 Publick, from the long Exercife 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 moft of them Hiftories, or Advices of Publick Tranfactions; but as thofe Representations affect the Paffions of my Readers, I fhall fometimes 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 poffible to pass them by without Obfervation. As to these matters, I fhall be Impartial, tho' 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 digefting my Thoughts in proper Stile, and the like, oblige me to value my Paper a Half- -peny above all other Half-Sheets. And all Perfons who have any thing to communicate to me, are defired to direct their Letters (Poftage paid) to Neftor Ironfide Efq; at Mr. Tonfon's in the Strand. I declare beforehand, that I will at no time be converfed with any other ways than by Letter: for as I am an Ancient Man, I fhall 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 fo well off my Hands, and they are fo able to act for themselves, that I have little to do but give an Hint, and all that I defire to be amended is altered accordingly.

MY Defign upon the whole is no lefs, than to make the Pulpit, the Bar, and the Stage, all act in Concert in

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the Care of Piety, Juftice and Virtue, for I am past all the Regards of this Life, and have nothing to manage with any Perfon or Party, but to deliver myself as becomes an Old Man, with one Foot in the Grave, and one who thinks he is paffing 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 fhall not be apprehenfive of any other. Ambition, Luft, Envy, and Revenge, are Excrefcencies of the Mind which I have cut off long ago: But as they are Excrefcencies which do not only Deform, but also Torment thofe on whom they grow, I fhall do all I can to perfuade all others to take the fame Measures for their Cure which I have.

N° 2.

Friday, March 13.

HE readieft Way to proceed in my great Under

Ttaking, is to explain who I am myfelf that pro

mife to give the Town a daily Half-Sheet: I shall therefore enter into my own Hiftory, without lofing 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 Middlefex; my Parents were of Ability to bestow upon me a liberal Education, and of an Humour to think that a great Happiness even in a Fortune which was but just enough to keep me above Want. In my fixteenth Year I was admitted a Commoner of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford. It is one great Advantage, among many more, which Men educated at our Univerfities do ufually 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. Ambrofe Lizard, who was a Fellow-Commoner of the Neighbouring College. I have the Honour to be well known to Mr. Jofeph Pullen, of our Hall abovementioned; and attribute the florid Old Age I

now