[Footnote 230:  The Daily Courant, our first daily newspaper, was begun in 1702.]

[Footnote 231:  Chelsea Hospital, for old soldiers, was founded in 1682.]

No. 19. [STEELE.

From Saturday, May 21, to Tuesday, May 24, 1709.

* * * * *

From my own Apartment, May 23.

There is nothing can give a man of any consideration greater pain, than to see order and distinction laid aside amongst men, especially when the rank (of which he himself is a member) is intruded upon by such as have no pretence to that honour.  The appellation of Esquire is the most notoriously abused in this kind of any class amongst men, insomuch that it is become almost the subject of derision:  but I will be bold to say, this behaviour towards it proceeds from the ignorance of the people in its true origin.  I shall therefore, as briefly as possible, do myself and all true esquires the justice to look into antiquity upon this subject.

In the first ages of the world, before the invention of jointures and settlements, when the noble passion of love had possession of the hearts of men, and the fair sex were not yet cultivated into the merciful disposition which they have showed in latter centuries, it was natural for great and heroic spirits to retire to rivulets, woods, and caves, to lament their destiny, and the cruelty of the fair persons who were deaf to their lamentations.  The hero in this distress was generally in armour, and in a readiness to fight any man he met with, especially if distinguished by any extraordinary qualifications, it being the nature of heroic love to hate all merit, lest it should come within the observation of the cruel one, by whom its own perfections are neglected.  A lover of this kind had always about him a person of a second value, and subordinate to him, who could hear his afflictions, carry an enchantment for his wounds, hold his helmet when he was eating (if ever he did eat); or in his absence, when he was retired to his apartment in any king’s palace, tell the prince himself, or perhaps his daughter, the birth, parentage, and adventures, of his valiant master.  This trusty companion was styled his esquire, and was always fit for any offices about him; was as gentle and chaste as a gentleman usher, quick and active as an equerry, smooth and eloquent as a master of the ceremonies.  A man thus qualified was the first, as the ancients affirm, who was called an esquire; and none without these accomplishments ought to assume our order:  but, to the utter disgrace and confusion of the heralds, every pretender is admitted into this fraternity, even persons the most foreign to this courteous institution.  I have taken an inventory of all within this city, and looked over every letter in the post-office for my better information.  There are of the Middle Temple, including all in the buttery books, and in the lists of the house, 5000.  In the Inner, 4000.