the author by an observation on
Virgil he had communicated to him. This discovery led him to afford
farther assistance, insomuch, that as the author of the Tatler well
exprest it, he fared by this means, like a distrest prince, who calls
in a powerful neighbour to his aid: that is, he was undone by his
auxiliary.

The superiority of Mr. Addison's papers in that work is universally
admitted; and being more at leisure upon the change of the ministry, he
continued assisting in the Tatler till 1711, when it was dropt.

No sooner was the Tatler laid down, but Sir Richard Steel, in concert
with Mr. Addison, formed the plan of the Spectator. The first paper
appeared on the first of March 1711, and in the course of that great
work, Mr. Addison furnished all the papers marked with any Letters of
the Muse CLIO; and which were generally most admired. Tickell, who had
no kindness for Sir Richard Steel, meanly supposes that he marked his
paper out of precaution against Sir Richard; which was an ill-natur'd
insinuation; for in the conclusion of the Spectators, he acknowledges to
Mr. Addison, all he had a right to; and in his letter to Congreve, he
declares that Addison's papers were marked by him, out of tenderness to
his friend, and a warm zeal for his fame. Steel was a generous grateful
friend; it therefore ill became Mr. Tickell in the defence of Mr.
Addison's honour, which needed no such stratagem, to depreciate one of
his dearest friends; and at the expence of truth, and his reputation,
raise the character of his Hero. Sir Richard had opposed Mr. Addison,
in the choice of Mr. Tickell as his secretary; which it seems he could
never forget nor forgive.

In the Spectators, Sir Roger de Coverly was Mr. Addison's favourite
character; and so tender was he of it, that he went to Sir Richard, upon
his publishing a Spectator, in which he made Sir Roger pick up a woman
in the temple cloisters, and would not part with his friend, until he
promised to meddle with the old knight's character no more. However, Mr.
Addison to make sure, and to prevent any absurdities the writers of the
subsequent Spectators might fall into, resolved to remove that character
out of the way; or, as he pleasantly expressed it to an intimate friend,
killed Sir Roger, that no body else might murther him. When the old
Spectator was finished, a new one appeared; but, though written by men
of wit and genius, it did not succeed, and they were wise enough not to
push