himself to be no man alive. Secondly, Death is defined by all philosophers, a separation of the soul and body. Now, it is certain, that the poor woman who has best reason to know, has gone about for some time to every alley in the neighbourhood, and sworn to the gossips that her husband had neither life nor soul in him. Therefore, if an uninformed carcase walks still about, and is pleased to call itself Partridge, Mr. Bickerstaff does not think himself any way answerable for that. Neither had the said carcase any right to beat the poor boy, who happened to pass by it in the street, crying a full and true account of Dr. Partridge's death,' &c. Thirdly, Mr. Partridge pretends to tell fortunes, and recover stolen goods; which all the parish says, he must do, by conversing with the devil, and other evil spirits: and no man will ever allow, he could converse personally with either, till after he was dead. Fourthly, I will plainly prove him to be dead, out of his own almanack for this year, and from the very passage which he produces to make us think him alive. He there says, he is not only now alive, but was also alive upon that very 29th of March, which I foretold he would die on. By this he declares his opinion, that a man may be alive now, who was not alive a twelvemonth ago. And, indeed, there lies the sophistry of his argument. He dares not assert he was alive ever since that 29th of March-but that he is now alive, and was so on that day.' I grant the latter; for he did not die till night, as appears by the printed account of his death, in a letter to a lord; and whether he be since revived, I leave the world to judge. This, indeed, is perfect cavilling, and I am ashamed to dwell any longer upon it. Fifthly, I will appeal to Mr. Partridge himself, whether it be probable I could have been so indiscreet, to begin my predictions with the only falsehood that ever was pretended to be in them? and this in an affair at home, where I had so many opportunities to be exact; and must have given. such advantages against me to a person of Mr. Partridge's wit and learning, who, if he could possibly have raised one single objection more against the truth of my prophecies, would hardly have spared me."

Under a name, which had fixed the public attention by the most ludicrous associations, the Tatler quickly rose

into popularity. Steele had begun his work alone; but if he wished to keep the mask of secrecy among all his friends, he was soon disappointed. In number 6, where he commends Virgil's judgment above Homer's in the choice of epithets given to their heroes, he was discovered by Addison,* who had interchanged sentiments with him upon that subject. Whether the disclosure at the time was agreeable or not to the two friends, nothing eventually could have been more fortunate for them or the public. Addison began in Number 18 to give his assistance to the Tatler: though his contributions at first were few, yet in the last volumes they appear more frequently, and constitute not only the most finished and ingenious papers in the work, but are often equal to his best productions in the Spectator. The manner in which Steele acknowledges the help of his friend, is so candid and manly, that while it depreciates his own literary powers, it cannot fail to ele vate his moral character. "I have only one gentleman, who will be nameless, to thank for any frequent assistance to me, which indeed it would have been barbarous in him to have denied to one with whom he has lived in an intimacy from childhood, considering the great ease with which he is able to despatch the most entertaining pieces of this nature. This good office he performed with such force of genius, humour, wit, and learning, that I fared like a distressed prince who calls in a powerful neighbour to his aid: I was undone by my auxiliary: when I had once called him in, I could not subsist without dependance on him." He then enumerates some pieces by Addison, which he acknowledges to be "the greatest embellishments" of his work.

The success of the Tatler was such as satisfied the wishes, and remunerated the labour, of the projector. The emoluments arising from the weekly sale were probably not inconsiderable; and when the work was published collectively, the enormous price of a guinea for each volume was demanded. The author avows in his dedication to Mr. Maynwaring, "There is hardly a name now eminent among us for power, wit, beauty, valour, or wisdom, which is not subscribed for the encouragement of these volumes." See Johnson's Life of Addison.

Preface to the octavo edition of the Tatler, 1710.

The work having been continued for nearly two years without intermission, was dropped in January 1711, for reasons which are given in the last number. It had become too well known that Isaac Bickerstaff and Richard Steele were identical persons, and he prudently laid aside a character which it was no longer agreeable to him to wear. If the town felt any regret at the termination of the Tatler, it was soon assuaged by the appearance of its noble successor the Spectator, which came out on the 1st of March 1711. In this paper and the Guardian, (of both of which we must reserve our notice for other prefaces) Steele was actively and conspicuously engaged for some years, until by an unfortunate transition he betook himself from the calm walks of literature to the turbulent road of politics. He had that fervour of disposition which would not allow him to rest in idle indifference, while important affairs involving the most precious interests of his country, were in violent agitation. If even Cicero did not exclusively devote himself to the cultivation of learning till he had been driven from the forum and senate-house of Rome; it may be pardoned in Steele, that having signalized himself in a new species of literature, he could not forbear to mingle in the councils of his country, and the altercations of politics.

The state of parties, the characters of their different champions, and their animosities against each other during the reign of queen Anne, are topics for the investigation of the historian, and not for the pages of humble biography. As much, however, of the aspect of politics must be taken in view, as will enable us to comprehend the motives and the conduct of Mr. Steele. He was in his sentiments upon civil government what is called a Whig; which, however ambiguous its meaning may now be, signified in Anne's days, a man who applauded the principles on which the Revolution was effected, who favoured the Protestant succession, and the settlement of the crown in the house of Hanover. A Whig of this description Mr. Steele was, upon the full conviction of his understanding; and with whatever party he sided, he was certain to espouse their cause with alacrity and ardour.

Although the death of king William had been rather discouraging to his hope of political distinction, yet through

the interest of his friend Addison, he gained the humble post of gazetteer in the succeeding reign. When his Tatler attracted notice, and displayed those abilities in the writer which would make him a valuable auxiliary to any party of the state, he was raised to the station of Commissioner of the Stamp Office. As the Tatler partook of the nature of a newspaper as well as an essay, he had not refrained from political subjects, but, in number 130, has given a formal eulogy of the duke of Marlborough, lord Godolphin, and other celebrated Whigs. But the party to which he attached himself were hastening to their downfal, through their own imprudent zeal. By the impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell (who by neglect would, doubtless, have continued in a sphere of insignificance) they created such a ferment in the nation, as ended in their overthrow. In August, 1710, the Whigs were dismissed from place, and the Tory interest predominated with Harley (afterwards earl of Oxford) at its head.

Steele at first lost nothing under the new minister, who either from respect to his talents, or from the hope of some future services, permitted him to continue in office. There is no cause to believe that he consented, or was required, to make any dishonourable sacrifice of his principles. Dissimulation and the arts of politicians were repugnant to the frankness of his nature. He ventured so far to avow his former political attachments, as to publish a letter in 1711, called "An Englishman's Thanks to the Duke of Marlborough." This was written on the occasion, when the Great Captain was driven from office; and Steele dared to express his regard for his Grace, and his admiration of his conduct, as boldly as he had formerly done in his prosperity.

In his Guardian for Tuesday, April 28, 1713, he did not think it, or pretended not to think it, inconsistent with the character which he had assumed, to notice the scurrilous attack of the Examiner, which was conducted by the able but acrimonious pen of Dr. Swift. This paper had accused lady Charlotte Finch, daughter of the earl of Nottingham of "knotting in St. James's Chapel during divine service," and concluded with a quaint conceit, that "there was no occasion for so public a proof, that her fingers are more dexterous in tying a knot, than her father's brains in

perplexing the government." Steele defended the earl's character with the most zealous warmth, asserted that the story respecting her ladyship was the invention of malice, and that the Examiner was, in the atrocity of his conduct, 66 worse than an assassin."

This was only a small ebullition of the political ferment that was raging in his bosom. From the conduct of the Tory ministers, from the terms of the peace concluded with France, and from the regard which her Majesty, having no issue herself, must naturally cherish for her exiled family, even the most prudent men among the Whigs had reasoned themselves into an alarm for the constitution of their country. They thought there were strong presumptions for believing that a dangerous league was formed for the annihilation of their liberties, for the overthrow of all the plans and consequences of the Revolution, and for the succession of a popish monarch. In this juncture, Steele determined upon his conduct with a manly courage, and pursued it with intrepidity and firmness. He resolved (though to his own detriment) to abandon all connexion. with those, who, he believed, were entertaining traitorous designs; and that he might serve his country with his voice, as well as his pen, he aspired to a seat in her parliament. He addressed the following intimation of his intentions to lord Oxford :

"To the Right Honourable the Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain.

"MY LORD,

Bloomsbury-square, June 4th, 1713. "I presume to give your Lordship this trouble to acquaint you, that having an ambition to serve in the ensuing parliament, I humbly desire your Lordship will be pleased to accept of my resignation of my office, as the Commissioner of the Stamp Revenues.

"I should have done this sooner, but I heard the Commission was passing without my name in it. I would not be guilty of the arrogance of resigning that which I could not hold. But having since heard this contradicted, I am obliged to give it up, as with great humility I do by this present writing.

"Give me leave, on this occasion, to say something in

d