whose influence he was diverted from his original de fign of entering into holy orders.

Soon after (in 1695) he wrote a poem to King William; addreffed to Lord Somers. In 1697, he wrote his poem "On the Peace of Ryfwick," which he dedicated to Montague, and which was afterwards called by Smith the beft Latin poem fince the Æneid.

Having yet no publick employment, he obtained (in 1699) a penfion of three hundred pounds a year, that he might be enabled to travel. He ftaid a year at Blois, probably to learn the French language, and then proceeded in his journey to Italy. While he was travelling, he not only collected his obfervations on the country, but found time to write his "Dialogues on Medals," and four acts of "Cato." Such is the relation of Tickell. He also wrote in Italy the Letter to Lord Halifax, which is juftly confidered as the most elegant, if not the most fublime of his poetical productions. But in about two years he found it neceffary to haften home; being, as Swift informs us, diftreffed by indigence, and compelled to become the Tutor of a travelling Squire.

At his return he published his Travels, with a dedication to Lord Somers---This book, though awhile neglected, became in time fo much the favourite of the public, that before it was reprinted it rofe to five times its price. When he came back to England (in 1702) the meannefs of his appearance gave teftimony of the difficulties to which he had been reduced abroad. His old patrons being out of power, he remained neglected, until the victory at Blenheim (1704) gave him an opportunity to exercife his poetical genius, which he did at the request of Lord Godolphin, and having advanced in the poem no further than the fimile of the Angel, he was immediately rewarded by fucceeding Mr. Locke in the place of Commiffioner of Appeals.

In the following year he was at Hanover with Lord Halifax; and the year after was made under Secretary of State, firft to Sir Charles Hedges, and in a few months more to the Earl of Sunderland. About this time the prevalent taste for Italian Operas inclined him to try what would be the effect of a Mufical Drama in our own language. He therefore wrote the "Opera of Rofamond," which, when exhibited on the stage, was either hiffed or neglected.---Steele confeffed that he owed to him feveral of the most fuccefsful fcenes in his comedy of the "Tender Husband." To this play Addison fupplied a prologue.

When the Marquis of Wharton was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Addison attended him as his Secretary; and was made Keeper of the Records in Birmingham's Tower, with a falary of three hundred pounds a year. The office was little more than nominal, and the falary was augmented for his accommodation.

When he was in office he made a law to himself, as Swift has recorded, never to remit his regular fees in civility to his friends. "For (faid he) I may have a hundred friends; and if my fee be two guineas, I fhall by relinquishing my right lose two hundred guineas, and no friend gain more than two: there is therefore no proportion between the good imparted, and the evil fuffered."

He was in Ireland when Steele, without any communication of his defign, began the publication of the "Tatler;" but he was not long concealed: by inferting a remark on Virgil which Addifon had given him, he difcovered himself. His firft Tatler was published April 22 (1709), and Addison's contribution appeared May 26. To the "Tatler" in about two months fucceeded the "Spectator;" a series of Effays of the fame kind, but written with lefs levity, upon a more regular plan, and published daily. It is faid by Addifon

in a fubfequent performance, that these two works had a perceptible influence upon the converfation of that time, and taught the frolick and the gay to unite merriment with decency; an effect which they can never wholly lofe, while they continue to be among the first books by which both fexes are initiated in the elegancies of knowledge.

The next year (1713), in which "Cato" came upon the ftage, was the grand climacterick of Addifon's reputation. The whole nation was at that time on fire with faction. The Whigs applauded every line in which liberty was mentioned, as a fatire on the Tories; and the Tories echoed every clap, to shew that the fatire was unfelt. The play, fupported thus by the emulation of factious praife, was acted night after night for a longer time than it is thought the public had allowed to any drama before; and the Author, as Mrs. Porter related, wandered through the whole exhibition behind the fcenes with restless and unappeafable folicitude.

While "Cato" was upon the stage, another daily paper called the "Guardian" was publifhed by Steele. To this Addifon gave great affiftance, whether occafionally, or by previous engagement, is not known. The papers of Addifon are marked in the "Spectator" by one of the letters in the name of Clio, and in the "Guardian" by a hand. It was not fuppofed that he had tried a Comedy on the ftage, till Steele, after his death, declared him the Author of the "Drummer:" This however he did not know to be true by any cogent teftimony, for when Addifon put the play into his hands, he only told him it was the work of a Gentleman in the Company---The total filence of any other claimant has determined the public to affign it to Addifon, and it is now printed with his other poetry. Steele carried it to the play-houfe, afterwards to the

prefs,

prefs, and fold the copy for fifty guineas. It was received on the stage with cold approbation.

He was not all this time an indifferent spectator of publick affairs. He wrote, as different exigencies required (in 1707), "The prefent State of the War, and the neceffity of an Augmentation." He published alfo the few papers entitled "The Whig Examinèr;" and it must be admitted, that on no occafion was the genius of Addifon more vigorously exerted, and on none did the fuperiority of his wit more evidently appear. His "Trial of Count Tariff," written to expofe the treaty of Commerce with France, lived longer than the question that produced it.

Not long afterwards an attempt was made to revive the "Spectator," and eighty numbers only appeared--These were collected into an eighth volume, perhaps more valuable than any one of thofe that went before it---Addison produced more than a fourth part. The

Spectator" from its recommencement was published only three times a week. To Addifon, Tickell has afcribed twenty-three papers *

When the House of Hanover took poffeffion of the throne, it was reasonable to expect that the zeal of Addison would be feasonably rewarded. Before the arrival of King George he was made Secretary to the Regency, and was required by his Office to fend notice to Hanover, that the Queen was dead, and that the throne was vacant. He was fo overwhelmed with the greatnefs of the event, and fo diftracted by choice of expreffion, that the Lords, who could not wait for the niceties of criticifm, called Mr. Southwell, a Clerk in the Houfe, and ordered him to difpatch the meffage. Southwell readily told what was neceffary, in the common ftyle of business, and valued

*Numb. 556. 557. 58. 559. 561. 562. 565. 567. 568. 569. 57. 574 575 579. 680, 582. 583. 584. 585. 590.592. 598. 600.

himself

himself upon having done what was too hard for Addifon.

He was better qualified for the "Freeholder," a paper which he published twice a week, from December 23, 1715, to the middle of the next year.

Auguft 2, 1716, he married the Countefs Dowager of Warwick, whom he had folicited by a very long courtship.--He is faid to have first known her by becoming Tutor to her fon---The marriage, it is faid, made no addition to his happiness. She always remembered her own rank, and thought herself entitled to treat with very little ceremony her Son's Preceptor. Rowe's ballad of the " Defpairing Shepherd" is faid to have been written, either before or after marriage, upon this memorable pair.

The year after (1717) he rose to his highest elevation, being made Secretary of State---He was however unequal to the duties of his Office In the House of

Commons he could not speak, and therefore was useless to the defence of the Government. In the office, fays Pope, he could not iffue an order without lofing his time in queft of fine expreffions. Feeling by experience his own inability, he was at last forced to folicit his difmiffion with a penfion of 1500l. a year. It was given out by his friends, that this relinquishment was in confequence of declining health.

He now began to plan literary occupations for his future life. He purpofed a tragedy on the death of Socrates; but he engaged in a nobler work, "A Defence of the Chriftian Religion," of which part was published after his death; and he defigned to have made a new poetical verfion of the Pfalms. It is related, that he had once a defign to make an English Dictionary, and that he confidered Dr. Tillotfon as the writer of highest authority.

Addifon however did not conclude his life in peaceful ftudies; but relapsed, when he was near his end;

to