racters more opposite than those of Wharton and Addison
could not easily be brought together. Wharton was impious, profligate,
and shameless; without regard, or appearance of regard, to right and
wrong. Whatever is contrary to this may be said of Addison; but as
agents of a party they were connected, and how they adjusted their other
sentiments we cannot know.

Addison must, however, not be too hastily condemned. It is not necessary
to refuse benefits from a bad man when the acceptance implies no
approbation of his crimes; nor has the subordinate officer any
obligation to examine the opinions or conduct of those under whom he
acts, except that he may not be made the instrument of wickedness. It is
reasonable to suppose that Addison counteracted, as far as he was able,
the malignant and blasting influence of the Lieutenant; and that
at least by his intervention some good was done, and some mischief
prevented. 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," said he, "I may have a hundred friends; and if my fee be two
guineas, I shall, 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 suffered." He was in Ireland when
Steele, without any communication of his design, began the publication
of the Tatler; but he was not long concealed; by inserting a remark on
Virgil which Addison had given him he discovered himself. It is, indeed,
not easy for any man to write upon literature or common life so as not
to make himself known to those with whom he familiarly converses, and
who are acquainted with his track of study, his favourite topic, his
peculiar notions, and his habitual phrases.

If Steele desired to write in secret, he was not lucky; a single month
detected him. His first Tatler was published April 22 (1709); and
Addison's contribution appeared May 26. Tickell observes that the Tatler
began and was concluded without his concurrence. This is doubtless
literally true; but the work did not suffer much by his unconsciousness
of its commencement, or his absence at its cessation; for he continued
his assistance to December 23, and the paper stopped on January 2. He
did not distinguish his pieces by any signature; and I know not whether
his name was not kept secret till the papers were collected into
volumes.

To the Tatler, in abo