piece of intelligence that is sent us from abroad. The text is given us by one set of writers, and the comment by another.

But notwithstanding we have the same tale told us in so many different papers, and, if occasion requires, in so many articles of the same paper; notwithstanding, in a scarcity of foreign posts, we hear the same story repeated by different advices from Paris, Brussels, the Hague, and from every great town in Europe; notwithstanding the multitude of annotations, explanations, reflections, and various readings which it passes through, our time lies heavy on our hands till the arrival of a fresh mail: we long to receive further particulars, to hear what will be the next step, or what will be the consequences of that which has been already taken. A westerly wind keeps the whole town in suspense, and puts a stop

to conversation.

This general curiosity has been raised and inflamed by our late wars, and, if rightly directed, might be of good use to a person who has such a thirst awakened in him. Why should not a man, who takes delight in reading every thing that is new, apply himself to history, travels, and other writings of the same kind, where he will find perpetual fuel for his curiosity, and meet with much more pleasure and improvement than in these papers of the week? An honest tradesman, who languishes a whole summer in expectation of a battle, and perhaps is baulked at last, may here meet with half a dozen in a day. He may read the news of a whole campaign in less time than he now bestows upon the products of any single post. Fights, conquests, and revolutions, lie thick together. The reader's curiosity is raised and satisfied every moment, and his passions disappointed or gratified, without being detained in a state of uncertainty from day to day, or lying at the mercy of

e sea and wind; in short, the mind is not here pt in a perpetual gape after knowledge, nor pushed with that eternal thirst which is the portion all our modern news-mongers and coffee-house liticians.

All matters of fact, which a man did not know be re, are news to him; and I do not see how any berdasher in Cheapside is more concerned in the esent quarrel of the Cantons, than he was in that the League. At least, I believe, every one will low me it is of more importance to an Englishman know the history of his ancestors than that of his ntemporaries who live upon the banks of the Dabe or the Borysthenes. As for those who are of other mind, I shall recommend to them the folwing letter from a projector, who is willing to turn penny by this remarkable curiosity of his country

en.

"MR. SPECTATOR,

"You must have observed, that men who freent coffee-houses, and delight in news, are pleased ith very thing that is matter of fact, so it be what ey have not heard before. A victory, or a defeat, e equally agreeable to them. The shutting of a rdinal's mouth pleases them one post, and the openg of it another. They are glad to hear the French ourt is removed to Marli, and are afterwards as uch delighted with its return to Versailles. They ad the advertisements with the same curiosity as e articles of public news; and are as pleased to ear of a pye-bald horse that is strayed out of a field ear Islington, as of a whole troop that has been ngaged in any foreign adventure. In short, they ave a relish for every thing that is news, let the atter of it be what it will; or, to speak more proerly, they are men of a voracious appetite, but no

"By a fisherman which lately touched at Hamersmith, there is advice from Putney, that a cerin person well known in that place, is like to lose selection for churchwarden; but this being boatws, we cannot give entire credit to it.

"Letters from Paddington bring little more, than at William Squeak, the sow-gelder, passed through at place the fifth instant.

"They advise from Fulham, that things remained ere in the same state they were. They had inlligence, just as the letters came away, of a tub of cellent ale just set abroach at Parson's Green; but is wanted confirmation.

"I have here, Sir, given you a specimen of the ws with which I intend to entertain the town, d which, when drawn up regularly in the form of newspaper, will, I doubt not, be very acceptable many of those public-spirited readers, who take ore delight in acquainting themselves with other ople's business than their own. I hope a paper of is kind, which lets us know what is done near me, may be more useful to us than those which e filled with advices from Zug and Bender, and ake some amends for that dearth of intelligence, ich we may justly apprehend from times of peace. I find that you receive this project favourably, I ill shortly trouble you with one or two more; and the mean time am, most worthy Sir, with all due spect,

C

"Your most obedient

" and most humble servant."

VOL. X.

D D

+ ce fram mun man, how much The Supreme Being se bounties, which is hand, but even

DE DE SE D as hunter HS DE CT DIRT 11 18 TOTAL DUCT Eredmet n The act at catered to us by others. fr Le ve men, by what means soever it el cun us as the gift of Him who is ALITIE I PIÈ, and Father of mercies. anue. vie exerted towards one another, EXTRA PAs & Try pleasing sensation in the min e igrami: exalts the soul into rapare vid I serged on this great object of gesccute, a tus berbent Being who has given us youre ting we already possess, and from whom we pect every thing we yet hope for.