’There is no State of Life so Anxious
as that of a Man who does not live according to
the Dictates of his own Reason. It will seem odd
to you, when I assure you that my Love of Retirement
first of all brought me to Court; but this will
be no Riddle, when I acquaint you that I placed
my self here with a Design of getting so much Mony
as might enable me to Purchase a handsome Retreat
in the Country. At present my Circumstances
enable me, and my Duty prompts me, to pass away the
remaining Part of my Life in such a Retirement as
I at first proposed to my self; but to my great
Misfortune I have intirely lost the Relish of it,
and shou’d now return to the Country with greater
Reluctance than I at first came to Court. I
am so unhappy, as to know that what I am fond of
are Trifles, and that what I neglect is of the greatest
Importance: In short, I find a Contest in my
own Mind between Reason and Fashion. I remember
you once told me, that I might live in the World,
and out of it, at the same time. Let me beg of
you to explain this Paradox more at large to me,
that I may conform my Life, if possible, both to
my Duty and my Inclination. I am, Your most
humble Servant, R.B.’
R.
[Footnote 1: See the close of No. 2.]
[Footnote 2: blank left]
* * * *
*
No. 28. Monday, April 2, 1711.
Addison.
’...
Neque semper arcum
Tendit Apollo.’
Hor.
I shall here present my Reader with a Letter from
a Projector, concerning a new Office which he thinks
may very much contribute to the Embellishment of the
City, and to the driving Barbarity out of our Streets.
[I consider it as a Satyr upon Projectors in general,
and a lively Picture of the whole Art of Modern Criticism.
[1]]
SIR,
’Observing that you have Thoughts
of creating certain Officers under you for the Inspection
of several petty Enormities which you your self cannot
attend to; and finding daily Absurdities hung out upon
the Sign-Posts of this City, [2] to the great Scandal
of Foreigners, as well as those of our own Country,
who are curious Spectators of the same: I do
humbly propose, that you would be pleased to make me
your Superintendant of all such Figures and Devices,
as are or shall be made use of on this Occasion;
with full Powers to rectify or expunge whatever
I shall find irregular or defective. For want
of such an Officer, there is nothing like sound
Literature and good Sense to be met with in those
Objects, that are everywhere thrusting themselves
out to the Eye, and endeavouring to become visible.
Our streets are filled with blue Boars, black Swans,
and red Lions; not to mention flying Pigs, and Hogs
in Armour, with many other Creatures more extraordinary
than any in the desarts of Africk. Strange!
that one who has all the Birds and Beasts in Nature
