so many Ap’s upon it that it might have made a little Grove by it self.  From the Trunk of the Pedigree, which was chiefly composed of Labourers and Shepherds, arose a huge Sprout of Farmers; this was branched out into Yeomen; and ended in a Sheriff of the County, who was Knighted for his good Service to the Crown, in bringing up an Address.  Several of the Names that seemed to disparage the Family, being looked upon as Mistakes, were lopped off as rotten or withered; as, on the contrary, no small Number appearing without any Titles, my Cousin, to supply the Defects of the Manuscript, added Esq; at the End of each of them.

’This Tree so pruned, dressed, and cultivated, was, within few Days, transplanted into a large Sheet of Vellum and placed in the great Hall, where it attracts the Veneration of his Tenants every Sunday Morning, while they wait till his Worship is ready to go to Church; wondering that a Man who had so many Fathers before him, should not be made a [Knight,] [1] or at least a Justice of the Peace.’

[Footnote 1:  Lord,]

* * * * *

No. 613.  Friday, October 29, 1714.

  ‘—­Studiis florentem ignobilis oti—­’

  Virg.

It is reckoned a Piece of Ill-breeding for one Man to engross the whole Talk to himself.  For this Reason, since I keep three Visiting-Days in the Week, I am content now and then to let my Friends put in a Word.  There are several Advantages hereby accruing both to my Readers and my self.  As first, Young and modest Writers have an Opportunity of getting into Print:  Again, The Town enjoys the Pleasure of Variety; and Posterity will see the Humour of the present Age, by the help of these little Lights into private and domestick Life.  The Benefits I receive from thence, are such as these:  I gain more Time for future Speculations; pick up Hints which I improve for the publick Good; give Advice; redress Grievances; and, by leaving commodious Spaces between the several Letters that I print, furnish out a Spectator with little Labour and great Ostentation.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

’I was mightily pleased with your Speculation of Friday.  Your Sentiments are Noble, and the whole worked up in such a manner, as cannot but strike upon every Reader.  But give me leave to make this Remark:  That while you write so Pathetically on Contentment, and a retired Life, you sooth the Passion of Melancholy, and depress the Mind from Actions truly Glorious.  Titles and Honours are the Reward of Virtue:  We therefore ought to be affected with them:  And tho’ light Minds are too much puffed up with exterior Pomp, yet I cannot see why it is not as truly Philosophical, to admire the glowing Ruby, or the sparkling Green of an Emerald, as the fainter and less permanent Beauties of a Rose or a Myrtle.  If there are Men of extraordinary Capacities who lye concealed from the World, I should