16. On Poetry-Songs-Song Writing 17. On illicit Love-Story of a French 32. The Subject of Pastoral Poetry treated in 33. On the Merits of the Tragedy of Cato- 34. Conversation on fine gentlemen.. HUGHES 49. Essay on Pleasures, natural and fantastical ...... 50. Visit to the Country-offensive Barber- 31. On sacred Poetry-David's Lamentation 52. Colbert's Conversation with the French BERKELEY STEELE HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE ΤΟ THE GUARDIAN. THE seventh volume of the SPECTATOR, originally intended to be the last, was concluded Dec. 6, 1712, and the first paper of the GUARDIAN made its appearance March 12, 1713. This work had been actually projected by STEELE before the conclusion of the SPECTATOR. In a letter to POPE, dated Nov. 12, 1712, he announces his intention in these words: "I desire you would let me know whether you are at leisure or not? I have a design which I shall open a month or two hence, with the assistance of the few like yourself. If your thoughts are unengaged, I shall explain myself farther." To this, which indicates that POPE had previously assisted STEELE, though of that assistance we have no direct proof, he answers, that he shall be very ready and glad to contribute to any design that tends to the advantage of mankind, which, he adds, "I am sure, all do." yours * STEELE'S Letters to his Friends, vol. ii. p. 338, 359, It would appear that STEELE undertook this work without any previous concert with his illustrious colleague, and that he pursued it for many weeks with vigour and assiduity, and with very little assistance from his friends, or from the letter-box. To the character of Nestor Ironside, the GUARDIAN, some objections have been offered. Dr. JOHNSON thinks," it was too narrow and too serious: it might properly enough admit both the duties and decencies of life, but seemed not to include literary speculation, and was in some degree violated by merriment and burlesque. What had the GUARDIAN of the Lizards to do with clubs of tall or of little men, with nests of ants, or with STRADA'S Prolusions?” Dr. JOHNSON's opinions are so generally entitled to reverence, that it is not without reluctance I presume to object to this decision. It appears to have been written in an unlucky moment of caprice. To scrutinize the titles assumed by the ESSAYISTS, in this severe manner, would be to disfranchise the whole body, and probably no one would suffer more than the RAMBLER, a name which Dr. WARTON has censured, and with as little reason. And what shall be said of names intrinsically so contemptible as IDLER and LOUNGER? But "It were to consider too curiously to consider so?" The views of our ESSAYISTS in the choice of a name, have been either to select one that did not pledge them to any particular plan, or one |