[Footnote 289:  No. 21.]

[Footnote 290:  People of fashion dined at about four o’clock in Queen Anne’s time, and by six the men, who had often drunk a good deal of wine, would be finding their way to the clubs and coffee-houses.]

[Footnote 291:  Charles Mather, a toyman in Fleet Street, next door to Nandoe’s Coffee-house, over against Chancery Lane.  Swift wrote ("Sid Hamet’s Rod,” 1710): 

    “No hobby horse with gorgeous top,
    The dearest in Charles Mather’s shop;
    Or glittering tinsel of Mayfair
    Could with the rod of Sid compare.”

See Nos. 113, 142, and Spectator, Nos. 328, 503 ("One of Charles Mather’s fine tablets"), and 570 ("The famous Charles Mather was bred up under him").]

[Footnote 292:  Charles Lillie, the perfumer, tells us how snuff came into use.  A great quantity of musty snuff was captured in the Spanish fleet taken at Vigo in 1702, and snuff with this special musty flavour became the fashion.  In No. 138 of the Spectator, Steele humorously announced that “the exercise of the snuff-box, according to the most fashionable airs and motions, in opposition to the exercise of the fair, will be taught with the best plain or perfumed snuff at Charles Lillie’s, perfumer, at the corner of Beaufort Buildings in the Strand.”]

No. 28. [STEELE.

From Saturday, June 11, to Tuesday, June 14, 1709.

* * * * *

White’s Chocolate-house, June 13.

I had suspended the business of duelling to a distant time, but that I am called upon to declare myself on a point proposed in the following letter.

“June 9, at night.

“Sir,

“I desire the favour of you to decide this question, whether calling a gentleman a ‘smart fellow’ is an affront or not?  A youth entering a certain coffee-house, with his cane tied at his button, wearing red-heeled shoes, I thought of your description,[293] and could not forbear telling a friend of mine next to me, ’There enters a smart fellow.’  The gentleman hearing it, had immediately a mind to pick a quarrel with me, and desired satisfaction:  at which I was more puzzled than at the other, remembering what mention your familiar makes of those that had lost their lives on such occasions.  The thing is referred to your judgment, and I expect you to be my second, since you have been the cause of our quarrel.  I am,

“Sir,

“Your Friend and humble Servant.”

I absolutely pronounce, that there is no occasion of offence given in this expression; for a “smart fellow” is always an appellation of praise, and is a man of double capacity.  The true cast or mould in which you may be sure to know him is, when his livelihood or education is in the Civil List, and you see him express a vivacity or mettle above the way he is in by a little jerk in his motion, short trip in his steps, well-fancied lining of his coat,