It belongs to the church of Stebon-Heath, world, give their limbs and features their full Whether or no play. commonly called Stepney.

As you have considered human nature in it be that the people of that parish have a particular genius for an epitaph, or that there be all its lights, you must be extremely well apsome poet among them who undertakes that prized, that there is a very close corresponwork by the great, I cannot tell; but there dence between the outward and the inward are more remarkable inscriptions in that place man; that scarce the least dawning, the least than in any other I have met with; and I may parturiency towards a thought can be stirring say, without vanity, that there is not a gentle- in the mind of man, without producing a suitman in England better read in tomb-stones able revolution in his exteriors, which will easily than myself, my studies having laid very much discover itself to an adept in the theory of the in church-yards. I shall beg leave to send you phiz. Hence it is that the intrinsic worth and a couple of epitaphs, for a sample of those I merit of a son of Alma Mater is ordinarily calhave just now mentioned. They are written culated from the cast of his visage, the contour in a different manner; the first being in the of his person, the mechanism of his dress, the diffused and luxuriant, the second in the close disposition of his limbs, the manner of his gait contracted slyle. The first has much of the and air, with a number of circumstances of simple and pathetic; the second is something equal consequence and information. The praclight, but nervous. The first is thus: titioners in this art often make use of a gentleman's eyes to give them light into the posture of his brains; take a handle from his nose to judge of the size of his intellects; and interpret the overmuch visibility and pertness of one ear as an infallible mark of reprobation, and a sign the owner of so saucy a member In conformity to fears neither God nor man. this scheme, a contracted brow, a lumpish downcast look, a sober sedate pace, with both hands dangling quiet and steady in lines exactly parallel to each lateral pocket of his galligaskins, is logic, metaphysics, and mathematics, in perfection. So likewise the helles-lettres, are typified by a saunter in the gait, a fall of one wing of the peruke backward, an insertion 'I will not dismiss you, whilst I am upon of one hand in the fob, and a negligent swing this subject, without sending a short epitaph of the other, with a pinch of right fine Barcewhich I once met with, though I cannot pos-lona between finger and thumb, a due quantity sibly recollect the place. The thought of it is of the same upon the upper lip, and a noddleserious, and in my opinion the finest that I case loaden with pulvil. Again, a grave solemn ever met with upon this occasion. You know stalking pace is heroic poetry, and politics; an sir, it is usual, after having told us the name of the person who lies interred, to launch out into his praises. This epitaph takes a quite contrary turn, having been made by the person himself some time before his death.

"Here Thomas Sapper lies interr'd. Ah why!
Born in New England, did in London die;
Was the third son of eight, begot upon
His mother Martha, by his father John.
Much favour'd by his prince he 'gan to be,
But nipt by death at th' age of twenty-three.
Fatal to him was that we small-pox name,
By which his mother and two brethren came
Also to breathe their last, nine years before,
And now have left their father to deplore
The loss of all his children, with his wife,
Who was the joy and comfort of his life."

The second is as follows:

"Here lies the body of Daniel Saul, Spittlefields weaver, and that's all."

"Hic jacet R. C. in expectatione diei eupremi. Qualis erat dies iste indicabit."

"Here lieth R. C. in expectation of the last day. What sort of a man he was that day will discover."

'I am, Sir, &c.'

unequal one, a genius for the ode, and the modern ballad; and an open breast, with an audacious display of the Holland shirt, is construed a fatal tendency to the art military.

'I might be much larger upon these hints, but I know whom I write to. If you can graft any speculation upon them, or turn them to the advantage of the persons concerned in them, you will do a work very becoming the British Spectator, and oblige,

'Your very humble servant,
TOM TWEER.'

The folloying letter is dated from Cam-No 519.] Saturday, October 25, 1712. bridge.

'SIR,

Inde hominum pecudumque genus, vitæque volantum,
Et que marmoreo fert monstra sub æquore pontus.
Virg. En. vi. 728.
Hence men and beast the breath of life obtain,
And birds of air, and monsters of the main.

Dryden.

Having lately read among your speculations an essay upon physiognomy, I cannot but think, that, if you made a visit to this ancient university, you might receive very considerable THOUGH there is a great deal of pleasure in lights upon that subject, there being scarce a young fellow in it who does not give certain contemplating the material world, by which I indications of his particular humour and dis-mean that system of bodies into which nature position, conformable to the rules of that art. has so curiously wrought the mass of dead matÎn courts and cities every body lays a constraint ter, with the several relations which those boupon his countenance. and endeavours to look dies bear to one another; there is still, melike the rest of the world; but the youth of thinks, something more wonderful and surpristhis place, having not yet formed themselves ing in contemplations on the world of life, by by conversation, and the knowledge of the which I mean all those animals with which

every part of the universe is furnished. The Others have still an additional one of hearing; material world is only the shell of the Universe, others of smell, and others of sight. It is won. the world of life are its inhabitants. derful to observe by what a gradual progress

If we consider those parts of the material the world of life advances through a prodiworld which lie the nearest to us, and are there-gious variety of species, before a creature is fore subject to our observations and inquiries, it formed that is complete in all its senses; and is amazing to consider the infinity of animals even among these there is such a different with which it is stocked. Every part of matter degree of perfection in the senses which one is peopled; every green leaf swarms with inha-animal enjoys beyond what appears in anbitants. There is scarce a single humour in other, that, though the sense in different anithe body of a man, or of any other animal, in mals be distinguished by the same common which our glasses do not discover myriads of denomination, it seems almost of a different living creatures. The surface of animals is nature. If after this we look into the several also covered with other animals, which are inward perfections of cunning and sagacity, in the same manner the basis of other animals or what we generally call instinct, we find that live upon it; nay, we find in the most them rising after the same manner impercepsolid bodies, as in marble itself, innumerable tibly one above another, and receiving addicells and cavities that are crowded with such tional improvements, according to the speimperceptible inhabitants as are too little for cies in which they are implanted. This prothe naked eye to discover. On the other gress in nature is so very gradual, that the hand, if we look into the more bulky parts most perfect of an inferior species comes very of nature, we see the seas, lakes, and rivers, near to the most imperfect of that which is teeming with numberless kinds of living crea- immediately above it. tures. We find every mountain and marsh, The exuberant and overflowing goodness of wilderness, and wood, plentifully stocked the Supreme Being, whose mercy extends to with birds and beasts; and every part of mat-all his works, is plainly seen, as I have before ter affording proper necessaries and conve- hinted, from his having made so very little niencies for the livelihood of multitudes which matter, at least what falls within our knowinhabit it. ledge, that does not swarm with life. Nor is The author of the Plurality of Worlds his goodness less seen in the diversity than in draws a very good argument from this con- the multitude of living creatures. Had he sideration for the peopling of every planet; only made one species of animals, none of the as indeed it seems very probable, from the an-rest would have enjoyed the happiness of exalogy of reason, that if no part of matter, istence: he has, therefore, specified in his which we are acquainted with, lies waste and creation every degree of life, every capacity useless, those great bodies, which are at such of being. The whole chasm in nature, from a a distance from us, should not be desert and plant to a man, is filled up with diverse kinds unpeopled, but rather that they should be furnished with beings adapted to their respective situations.

Existence is a blessing to those beings only which are endowed with perception; and is in a manner thrown away upon dead matter, any further than as it is subservient to beings which are conscious of their existence. Accordingly we find, from the bodies which lie under our observation, that matter is only made as the basis and support of animals, and that there is no more of the one than what is necessary for the existence of the other.

of creatures, rising one over another, by such a gentle and easy assent, that the little transitions and deviations from one species to another are almost insensible. This intermediate space is so well husbanded and managed, that there is scarce a degree of perception which does not appear in some one part of the world of life. Is the goodness or the wisdom of the Divine Being more manifested in this his proceeding?

There is a consequence, besides those I have already mentioned, which seems very naturally deducible from the foregoing consideraInfinite goodness is of so communicative a tions. If the scale of being rises by such a nature, that it seems to delight in the con-regular progress so high as man, we may, by ferring of existence upon every degree of a parity of reason, suppose that it still properceptive being. As this is a speculation ceeds gradually through those beings which which I have often pursued with great plea- are of a superior nature to him; since there is sure to myself I shall enlarge further up-an infinitely greater space and room for dif on it, by considering that part of the scale ferent degrees of perfection between the Suof beings which comes within our knowledge. preme Being and man, than between man and There are some living creatures which are the most despicable insect. This consequence raised just above dead matter. To mention of so great a variety of beings which are supe only that species of shell-fish, which are form-rior to us, from that variety which is inferior ed in the fashion of a cone, that grow to the to us, is made by Mr. Locke, in a passage surface of several rocks, and immediately die which I shall here set down, after having preupon their being severed from the place mised, that, notwithstanding there is such inwhere they grow. There are many other finite room between man and his Maker for creatures but one remove from these, which the creative power to exert itself in, it is imhave no other sense but that of feeling and taste.

Fontenelle.-This book was published in 1686, and obtained for the author great reputation.

possible that it should ever be filled up, since there will be still an infinite gap or distance between the highest created being and the Power which produced him.

And who can grieve too much? What time shall end
Creech.
Our mourning for so dear a friend?

'MR. SPECTATOR,

'That there should be more species of in-| telligent creatures above us, than there are of sensible and material below us, is probable to me from hence that in all the visible cor'THE just value you have expressed for the poreal world we see no chasms, or no gaps. matrimonial state is the reason that I now venAll quite down from us the descent is by easy ture to write to you, without fear of being ridisteps, and a continued series of things, that in culous, and confess to you that though it is each remove differ very little one from the three months since I lost a very agreeable other. There are fishes that have wings, and woman who was my wife, my sorrow is still are not strangers to the airy region; and fresh; and I am often, in the midst of compa

there are some birds that are inhabitants of

the water, whose blood is as cold as fishes, and upon any circumstance that revives her memory, with a reflection what she would say their flesh so like in taste, that the scrupulous or do on such an occasion: I say upon any ocare allowed them on fish days. There are an- currence of that nature, which I can give you imals so near of kin both to birds and beasts, a sense of, though I cannot express it wholly, I that they are in the middle between both. Am-am all over softness, and am obliged to retire phibious animals link the terrestrial and aqua- and give way to a few sighs and tears before I tic together. Seals live at land and at sea, can be easy. I cannot but recommend the and porpoises have the warm blood and the subject of male widowhood to you, and beg of entrails of a hog; not to mention what is conyou to touch upon it by the first opportunity. fidently reported of mermaids, or sea-men, To those who had not lived like husbands duthere are some brutes that seem to have as ring the lives of their spouses, this would be a much knowledge and reason as some part tasteless jumble of words; but to such (of that are called men; and the animal and vege- whom there are not a few) who have enjoyed table kingdoms are so nearly joined, that if that state with the sentiments proper for it, you you will take the lowest of one, and the highest will have every line, which hits the sorrow, of the other, there will scarce be perceived attended with a tear of pity and consolation; any great difference between them; and so for I know not by what goodness of Providence on, until we come to the lowest and the most it is that every gush of passion is a step toinorganical parts of matter, we shall find eve-wards the relief of it; and there is a certain ry where that the several species are linked comfort in the very act of sorrowing, which, together, and differ but in almost insensible I suppose, arises from a secret consciousness degrees. And, when we consider the infinite in the mind, that the affliction it is under flows power and wisdom of the Maker, we have from a virtuous cause. My concern is not reason to think that it is suitable to the mag- indeed so outrageous as at the first transnificent harmony of the universe, and the port; for I think it has subsided rather into great design and infinite goodness of the ar- a soberer state of mind than any actual purchitect, that the species of creatures should turbation of spirit. There might be rules also by gentle degrees ascend upward from formed for men's behaviour on this great inus toward his infinite perfection, as we see cident, to bring them from that misfortune they gradually descend from us downward into the condition I am at present; which is, which if it be probable, we have reason then to I think, that my sorrow has converted all be persuaded that there are far more species of roughness of temper into meekness, good nacreatures above us than there are beneath; ture, and complacency. But, indeed, when we being in degrees of perfection much more in a serious and lonely hour I present my remote from the infinite being of God, than we parted consort to my imagination, with that are from the lowest state of being, and that air of persuasion in her countenance when I which approaches nearest to nothing. And have been in passion, that sweet affability yet of all those distinct species we have no when I have been in good humour, that tender clear distinct ideas.' compassion when I have had any thing which In this system of being, there is no crea- gave me uneasiness; I confess to you I am inture so wonderful in its nature, and which so consolable, and my eyes gush with grief, as if much deserves our particular attention, as I had seen her just then expire. In this condiman, who fills up the middle space between tion I am broken in upon by a charming young the animal and intellectual nature, the visible] woman, my daughter, who is the picware of and invisible world, and is that link in the what her mother was on her wedding-day. The chain of beings which has been often termed the nexus utriusque mundi. So that he, who in good girl strives to comfort me; but how shall let you know that all the comfort she gives one respect, being associated with angels and me is to make my tears flow more easily? The arch angels, may look upon a Being of infi- child knows she quickens my sorrows, and nite perfection' as his father, and the highest rejoices my heart at the same time. Oh, ye order of spirits as his brethren, may in another learned! tell me by what word to speak a respect say to corruption, Thou art my fa-motion of the soul for which there is no ther; and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister.'

0.

Ifor. Od. xxiv. Lib. 1. 1.

I

name.

de

When she kneels, and bids me be comforted, she is my child: when I take her in my arms, and bid her say no more, she is my very wife, and is the very comforter I lament the loss of. I banish her the room, and weep aloud that I have lost her mother, and that I have her.

virtuous.

Mr. Spectator, I wish it were possible for time he has the most lively sensibility in all you to have a sense of these pleasing perplex- enjoyments and sufferings which it is proper ities; you might communicate to the guilty for him to have where any duty of life is part of mankind that they are incapable of the concerned. To want sorrow when you in happiness which is in the very sorrows of the decency and truth should be afflicted, is, 1 should think, a greater instance of a man's be'But pray spare me a little longer; give me ing a blockhead, than not to know the beauty leave to tell you the manner of her death. She of any passage in Virgil. You have not yet took leave of all her family, and bore the vain observed, Mr. Spectator, that the fine genapplication of medicines with the greatest pa- tlemen of this age set up for hardness of heart; tience imaginable. When the physician told and humanity has very little share in their her she must certainly die, she desired, as well pretences. He is a brave fellow who is alas she could, that all who were present, except ways ready to kill a man he hates, but he does myself, might depart the room. She said she not stand in the same degree of esteem who had nothing to say, for she was resigned, and I laments for the woman he loves. I should knew all she knew that concerned us in this fancy you might work up a thousand pretty world; but she desired to be alone, that in the thoughts, by reflecting upon the persons most presence of God only she might, without inter- susceptible of the sort of sorrow I have sporuption, do her last duty to me, of thanking me ken of; and I dare say you will find, upon for all my kindness to her: adding that she examination, that they are the wisest and the hoped in my last moments I should feel the bravest of mankind who are the most capable same comfort for my goodness to her, as she of it. 'I am, Sir, did in that she had acquitted herself with hoYour humble servant, nour, truth, and virtue to me.

'I curb myself, and will not tell you that this kindness cut my heart in twain, when I

Norwich, 7 Octobris, 1712.

'F. J.'

expected an accusation for some passionate No. 521.] Tuesday, October 28, 1712.

Vera redit facies, dissimulata perit.-P. Arb.

The real face returns, the counterfeit is lost.

'MR. SPECTATOR,

T.

starts of mine, in some parts of our time together, to say nothing but thank me for the good, if there was any good suitable to her own excellence! All that I have ever said to her, all the circumstances of sorrow and joy between us, crowded upon my mind in the same in'I HAVE been for many years loud in this stant: and when, immediately after, I saw the assertion, that there are very few that can see pangs of death come upon that dear body or hear. I mean, that can report what they which I had often embraced with transport; have seen or heard and this through incapawhen I saw those cherishing eyes begin to city or prejudice, one of which disables almost be ghastly, and their last struggle to be to every man who talks to you from representing fix themselves on me, how did I lose all pa-things as he ought. For which reason I am tience! She expired in my arms, and in my come to a resolution of believing nothing I distraction I thought I saw her bosom still hear; and I contemn the man given to narheave. There was certainly life yet still left. rations under the appellation of "a matterI cried, she just now spoke to me. But, alas! of-fact man" and, according to me, a matI grew giddy, and all things moved about ter-of-fact man is one whose life and converme, from the distemper of my own head; for sation is spent in the report of what is not matthe best of women was breathless and gone ter of fact. for ever. 'I remember when prince Eugene was here, 'Now the doctrine I would, methinks, have there was no knowing his height or figure, you raise from this account I have given you, until you, Mr. Spectator, gave the public sais, that there is a certain equanimity in those tisfaction in that matter. In relations, the who are good and just, which ruus into their force of the expression lies very often more in very sorrow, and disappoints the force of it. the look, the tone of voice, or the gesture, than Though they must pass through afflictions in the words themselves; which, being repeated common with all who are in human nature, in any other manner by the undiscerning, yet their conscious integrity shall undermine bear a very different interpretation from their their affliction; nay, that very affliction shall original meaning. I must confess I formerly add force to their integrity, from a reflection have turned this humour of mine to very good of the use of virtue in the hour of affliction. account; for whenever I heard any narration I sat down with a design to put you upon giv- uttered with extraordinary vehemence, and ing us rules how to overcome such griefs as grounded upon considerable authority, I was these, but I should rather advise you to teach always ready to lay any wager that it was not men to be capable of them. so. Indeed I never pretended to be so rash as 'You men of letters have what you call the to fix the matter any particular way in oppofine taste in your apprehensions of what is pro-sition to theirs; but as there are a hundred perly done or said. There is something like ways of any thing happening, besides that it this deeply grafted in the soul of him who is has happened, I only controverted its falling honest and faithful in all his thoughts and out in that one manner as they settled it, and actions. Every thing which is false, vicious, left it to the ninety-nine other ways, and conor unworthy, is despicable to him, though all sequently had more probability of success. I the world should approve it. At the same had arrived at a particular skill in warming

a man so far in his narrations as to make him Here was a fellow in town some years ago, who throw in a little of the marvellous, and then, used to divert himself by telling a lie at Charif he has much fire, the next degree is the ing-cross in the morning at eight of the clock, impossible, Now this is always the time for and following it through all parts of the town fixing the wager. But this requires the nicest until eight at night; at which time he came management, otherwise very probably the dis- to a club of his friends, and diverted them with pute may arise to the old determination by an account what censure it had at Will's in battle. In these conceits I have been very Covent-garden, how dangerous it was believed fortunate, and have won some wagers of to be at Child's, and what inference they drew those who have professedly valued them- from it with relation to stocks at Jonathan's. selves upon intelligence, and have put them- I have had the honour to travel with this selves to great charge and expense to be mis- gentleman I speak of, in search of one of his informed considerably sooner than the rest of falsehoods; and have been present when they have described the very man they have spoken the world.

'Having got a comfortable sum by this my to, as him who first reported it, tall or short, opposition to public report, I have brought my- black or fair, a gentleman or a raggamuffin, self now to so great a perfection in attention, according as they liked the intelligence. I more especially to party-relation, that, at the have heard one of our ingenious writers of news same time I seem with greedy ears to devour say, that, when he has had a customer with an up the discourse, I certainly do not !.now one advertisement of an apprentice or a wife ran word of it, but pursue my own course of away, he has desired the advertiser to comthought, whether upon business or amuse- pose himself a little before he dictated the ment, with much tranqullity; I say inatten- description of the offender: for when a person tion, because a late act of parliament has is put in a public paper by a man who is angry secured all party-liars from the penalty of a with him, the real description of such person wager, and consequently made it unprofitable is hid in the deformity with which the angry to attend to them. However, good-breeding man describes him; therefore this fellow alobliges a man to maintain the figure of the ways made his customers describe him as he keenest attention, the true posture of which would the day before he offended, or else he in a coffee-house. I take to consist in leaning was sure he would never find him out. These over a table with the edge of it pressing hard and many other hints I could suggest to you upon your stomach: for the more pain the for the elucidation of all fictions; but I leave narration is received with, the more gracious it to your own sagacity to improve or neglect this speculation. is your bending over; besides that the narrator thinks you forget your pain by the pleasure of hearing him.

'Fort Knock has occasioned several very perplexed and inelegant heats and animosities;

T.

nemo.

'I am, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant."

and there was one the other day, in a coffee- No. 522.] Wednesday, October 29, 1712. house where I was, that took upon him to clear Adjuro nunquam eam me deserturum ; that business to me, for he said he was there. Non, si capiundos mihi sciam esse inimicos omnes homines. I knew him to be that sort of man that had Hanc mihi expetivi, contigit, conveniunt mores; valeant not strength of capacity to be informed of any Qui inter nos discidium volunt: hanc nisi mors, mi adimet Ter. Andr. Act iv. Sc. 2. thing that depended merely upon his being an eye-witness, and therefore was fully satisfied he could give me no information, for the very same reason he believed he could, for he was there. However, I heard him with the same greediness as Shakespeare describes in the following lines:

"I saw a smith stand on his hammer, thus,

With open mouth, swallowing a taylor's news."

I swear never to forsake her; no, though I were sure to make all men my enemies. Her I desired; her I have obtained; our humours agree. Perish sll those who would separate us! Death alone shall deprive me of her.

I SHOULD esteem myself a very happy man if my speculation could in the least contribute to the rectifying the conduct of my readers in one of the most important affairs of life, to wit, their choice in marriage. This I confess of late I have not been so much state is the foundation of community, and the amazed at the declaimers in coffee-houses as I chief band of society; and I do not think I formerly was, being satisfied that they expect can be too frequent on subjects which may to be rewarded for their vociferations. Of give light to my unmarried readers in a partithese liars there are two sorts: the genius of cular which is so essential to their following the first consists in much impudence, and a happiness or misery. A virtuous disposition, strong memory; the others have added to a good understanding, an agreeable person, these qualifications a good understanding and and an easy fortune, are the things which smooth language. These therefore have only should be chiefly regarded on this occasion. certain heads, which they are as eloquent Because my present view is to direct a young upon as they can, and may be called "embel- lady, who I think is now in doubt whom to lishers;" the others repeat only what they take of many lovers, I shall talk at this time hear from others as literally as their parts or to my female readers. The advantages, as I zeal will permit, and are called "reciters." was going to say, of sense, beauty, and riches, are what are certainly the chief mo* Stat. 7 Anne, cap. 17.-By it all wagers laid upon a tives to a prudent young woman of fortune contingency relating to the war with France were defor changing her condition; but, as she is to clared to be void.