STEELE. 332. Account of the Sweaters-Letter from three thrifty Ladies......... STEELE. Letter on the same Subject ............... WEAVER. 335. Sir Roger de Coverley at the Theatre ADDISON. 337. Letter on Education ................................ BUDGELL. 338. Letter complaining of a merry Pro- ................................ STEELE. 339. Criticism on Paradise Lost .......... ADDISON. 340. Character of Prince Eugene......... STEELE. 341. Letter in Defence of merry Epilogues BUDGELL. 349. Consolation and Intrepidity in Death ADDISON. 350. Cruelty of a French Captain-Reflec- tions on Courage without Humanity STEELE. 354. Character of a Devotee-Impudent Behaviour of People in the Streets STEELE. 359. History of Will Honeycomb's Amours BUDGELL. 360. On Propriety in genteel Dress....... STEELE. 361. Letter on Cat-calls-History of them ADDISON. 363. Criticism on Paradise Lost ............ ADDISON. a Prude ....... 365. Dangerous Influence of the Month of May...... 366. Inconsistencies in Love-Thoughts STEELE. BUDGELL. ...... STEELE. -Paper-Printing 368. Account of the Death of Madame 369. Criticism on Paradise Lost ADDISON. ........... STEEle. ......... ADDISON. 371. Humorous Way of sorting Companies STEELE. -for Mirth-for useful Purposes ADDISON. the Puppet-showman-Club of the Parish Clerks-Lawyers' Club .... STEELE. ......... BUDGELL. 373. On Modesty and Assurance.... ments from Cæsar 375. History of Amanda...... ......... HUGHES. Schoolmistress on Dancing.... ...... POPE. 379. Duty of communicating knowledge 380. Letters, requesting Advice in a Case BUDGELL. STEELE. THE SPECTATOR. N° 311. TUESDAY, FEB. 26, 1711-12. Nec Veneris pharetris macer est, aut lampade fervet; Juv. Sat. vi. 137. He sighs, adores, and courts her ev'ry hour: MR. SPECTATOR, 'I AM amazed that, among all the variety of characters with which you have enriched your specu.. lations, you have never given us a picture of those audacious young fellows among us who commonly go by the name of the fortune-stealers. You must know, sir, I am one who live in a continual apprehension of this sort of people, that lie in wait, day and night, for our children, and may be considered as a kind of kidnappers within the law. I am the father of a young heiress, whom I begin to look upon as marriageable, and who has looked upon. herself as such for above these six years. She is now in the eighteenth year of her age. The fortune-hunters have already cast their eyes upon Not her, and take care to plant themselves in her view whenever she appears in any public assembly. 1 have myself caught a young jackanapes, with a pair of silver-fringed gloves, in the very fact. You must know, sir, I have kept her as a prisoner of state ever since she was in her teens. Her chamber windows are cross-barred; she is not permitted to go out of the house but with her keeper, who is a staid relation of my own; I have likewise forbid her the use of pin and ink, for this twelve-month last past, and do not suffer a band-box to be carried into her room before it has been searched. withstanding these precautions, I am at my wit's end, for fear of any sudden surprise. There were, two or three nights ago, some fiddles heard in the street, which I am afraid portend me no good; not to mention a tall Irishman, that has been seen walking before my house more than once this winter. My kinswoman likewise informs me, that the girl has talked to her twice or thrice of a gentleman in a fair wig, and that she loves to go to church more than ever she did in her life. She gave me the slip about a week ago, upon which my whole house was in alarm. I immediately dispatched a hue and cry after her to the 'Change, to her mantua-maker, and to the young ladies that visit her; but after above an hour's search she returned of herself, having been taking a walk, as she told me, by Rosamond's pond. I have hereupon turned off her woman, doubled her guards, and given new instructions to my relation, who, to give her her due, keeps a watchful eye over all her motions. This, sir, keeps me in a perpetual anxiety, and makes me very often watch when my daughter sleeps, as I am afraid she is even with me in her turn. Now, sir, what I would desire of you is, to represent to this fluttering tribe of young fellows, who are for making their fortunes. 2 |