to time
cloud reason without eclipsing it, it requires so much nicety to exhibit
that Addison seems to have been deterred from prosecuting his own
design.

To Sir Roger (who, as a country gentleman, appears to be a Tory, or, as
it is gently expressed, an adherent to the landed interest) is opposed
Sir Andrew Freeport, a new man, a wealthy merchant, zealous for the
moneyed interest, and a Whig. Of this contrariety of opinions, it is
probable more consequences were at first intended than could be produced
when the resolution was taken to exclude party from the paper. Sir
Andrew does but little, and that little seems not to have pleased
Addison, who, when he dismissed him from the club, changed his opinions.
Steele had made him, in the true spirit of unfeeling commerce, declare
that he "would not build an hospital for idle people;" but at last he
buys land, settles in the country, and builds, not a manufactory, but
an hospital for twelve old husbandmen--for men with whom a merchant
has little acquaintance, and whom he commonly considers with little
kindness.

Of essays thus elegant, thus instructive, and thus commodiously
distributed, it is natural to suppose the approbation general, and the
sale numerous. I once heard it observed that the sale may be calculated
by the product of the tax, related in the last number to produce more
than twenty pounds a week, and therefore stated at one-and-twenty
pounds, or three pounds ten shillings a day: this, at a halfpenny a
paper, will give sixteen hundred and eighty for the daily number. This
sale is not great; yet this, if Swift be credited, was likely to grow
less; for he declares that the Spectator, whom he ridicules for his
endless mention of the FAIR sex, had before his recess wearied his
readers.

The next year (1713), in which Cato came upon the stage, was the grand
climacteric of Addison's reputation. Upon the death of Cato he had,
as is said, planned a tragedy in the time of his travels, and had for
several years the four first acts finished, which were shown to such as
were likely to spread their admiration. They were seen by Pope and by
Cibber, who relates that Steele, when he took back the copy, told him,
in the despicable cant of literary modesty, that, whatever spirit his
friend had shown in the composition, he doubted whether he would have
courage sufficient to expose it to the censure of a British audience.
The time, however, was now come when those who affected t