us at the Table, and hearing my Friend that was with me humm over a Tune to himself, he told him if he would sing out he would accompany his Voice with a Tobacco-Pipe.  As my Friend has an agreeable Base, he chose rather to sing to the Frying-Pan; and indeed between them they made up a most extraordinary Consort.  Finding our Landlord so great a Proficient in Kitchen-Musick, I asked him if he was Master of the Tongs and Key.  He told Me that he had laid it down some Years since, as a little unfashionable:  but that if I pleased he would give me a Lesson upon the Gridiron.  He then informed me that he had added two Bars to the Gridiron, in order to give it a greater Compass of Sound; and I perceived was as well pleased with the Invention, as Sappho could have been upon adding two Strings to the Lute.  To be short, I found that his whole Kitchen was furnished with musical Instruments; and could not but look upon this Artist as a kind of Burlesque Musician.

He afterwards of his own Accord fell into the Imitation of several Singing-Birds.  My Friend and I toasted our Mistresses to the Nightingale, when all of a sudden we were surpriz’d with the musick of the Thrush.  He next proceeded to the Sky-Lark, mounting up by a proper Scale of Notes, and afterwards falling to the Ground with a very easy and regular Descent.  He then contracted his Whistle to the Voice of several Birds of the smallest Size.  As he is a Man of a larger Bulk and higher Stature than ordinary, you would fancy him a Giant when you look’d upon him, and a Tom Tit when you shut your Eyes.  I must not omit acquainting my Reader, that this accomplished Person was formerly the Master of a Toy-shop near Temple-Bar; and that the famous Charles Mathers was bred up under him.  I am told that the Misfortunes which he has met with in the World, are chiefly owing to his great Application to his Musick; and therefore cannot but recommend him to my Readers as one who deserves their Favour, and may afford them great Diversion over a Bottle of Wine, which he sells at the Queen’s Arms, near the End of the little Piazza in Covent-Garden.

[Footnote 1:  Named Daintry.  He was of the trained bands, and commonly known as Captain Daintry.]

* * * * *

No. 571.  Friday, July 23, 1714.  Addison.

  ‘—­Coelum quid querimus ultra?’

  Luc.

As the Work I have engaged in, will not only consist of Papers of Humour and Learning, but of several Essays Moral and Divine, I shall publish the following one, which is founded on a former SPECTATOR [1], and sent me by a particular Friend, not questioning but it will please such of my Readers, as think it no Disparagement to their Understandings to give way sometimes to a serious Thought.

  SIR,