with wonderful facility between Addison’s and Steele’s papers.” It is wholly Steele’s. The ‘Guardian’ was published in the interval, between the ‘Spectator’s’ being laid down and taken up again. The first Number came out March 12, 1713; the last, October 1, 1713. Inattention to marks has sometimes subjected Addison to undeserved censure. Dr. Blair vindicates Tasso’s description of Sylvia against the ‘Guardian;’ but by a double inadvertence, he quotes No. 38 for a passage contained in 28, and ascribes to Addison what was written by Steele. The ‘Whig Examiner,’ and the ‘Freeholder,’ both exclusively Addison’s, have been enabled by their wit to survive the usual fate of party-writings. The former is so much more pungent than usual with the author, and excited so much alarm and jealousy in Swift, that he triumphantly remarks, “it is now down among the dead men;” part of the burthen of a popular Tory song. The humour of the latter, Steele thought too gentle for such blustering times; and is reported to have said, that the ministry made use of a lute, when they should have called for a trumpet. On the demise of the other papers, Hughes formed a project of a society of learned men of various characters, who were to meet and carry on a conversation on all subjects, empowering their secretary to draw up any of their discourses, or publish any of their writings, under the title of Register. Addison, in answer, applauds the specimen, and approves the title; but adds, “To tell you truly, I have been so taken up with thoughts of that nature, for these two or three years last past, that I must now take some time _pour me délasser_, and lay in fuel for a future work. I am in a thousand troubles for poor Dick, and wish that his zeal for the public may not be ruinous to himself; but he has sent me word, that he is determined to go on, and that any advice I can give him, in this particular, will have no weight with him.”