I thought you might correspond, and be able to tell me something; for I think my self highly oblig’d to make his Fortune, as he has mine.  ’Tis very possible your Worship, who has Spies all over this Town, can inform me how to send to him:  If you can, I Beseech you be as speedy as possible, and you will highly oblige

  Your constant Reader and Admirer,
  Dulcibella Thankley.

Ordered, That the Inspector I employ about Wonders, enquire at the Golden-Lion, opposite to the Half-Moon Tavern in Drury-Lane, into the Merit of this Silent Sage, and report accordingly.

T.

[Footnote 1:  Used for giving a drench to horses.]

[Footnote 2:  Falconbridge in King John Act.  I sc. i.]

[Footnote 3:  This letter was by Steele’s old college friend, Richard Parker, who took his degree of M.A. in 1697, became fellow of Merton, and died Vicar of Embleton, in Northumberland.  This is the friend whose condemnation of the comedy written by him in student days Steele had accepted without question.]

[Footnote 4:  See note p. 421, vol. ii. [Footnote 4 of No. 323.]]

* * * * *

No. 475.  Thursday, September 4, 1712.  Addison.

  ’—­Quae res in se neque Consilium neque modum
  Habet ullum, eam consilio regere non potes.’

  Ter.

It is an old Observation, which has been made of Politicians who would rather ingratiate themselves with their Sovereign, than promote his real Service, that they accommodate their Counsels to his Inclinations, and advise him to such Actions only as his Heart is naturally set upon.  The Privy-Counsellor of one in Love must observe the same Conduct, unless he would forfeit the Friendship of the Person who desires his Advice.  I have known several odd Cases of this Nature. Hipparchus was going to marry a common Woman, but being resolved to do nothing without the Advice of his Friend Philander, he consulted him upon the Occasion. Philander told him his Mind freely, and represented his Mistress to him in such strong Colours, that the next Morning he received a Challenge for his Pains, and before Twelve a Clock was run through the Body by the Man who had asked his Advice. Celia was more prudent on the like occasion; she desired Leonilla to give her Opinion freely upon a young Fellow who made his Addresses to her. Leonilla, to oblige her, told her with great Frankness, that, she looked upon him as one of the most worthless—­Celia, foreseeing what a Character she was to expect, begged her not to go on, for that she had been privately married to him above a Fortnight.  The truth of it is, a Woman seldom asks Advice before she has bought her Wedding-Cloaths.  When she has made her own Choice, for Form’s sake she sends a Conge d’elire to her Friends.