of our present SPECTATORS; but to our no small Surprize, we find them
still rising upon us, and can only wonder from whence so Prodigious a
Run of Wit and Learning can proceed; since some of our best Judges seem
to think that they have hitherto, in general, out-shone even the
Esquires first TATLERS.

Most People Fancy, from their frequency, that they must be compos'd by a
Society; I, with all, Assign the first places to Mr. Steele and His
Friend.

I have often thought that the Conjunction of those two Great Genius's
(who seem to stand in a Class by themselves, so high above all our other
Wits) resembled that of two famous States-men in a late Reign, whose
Characters are very well expressed in their two Mottoes (viz.) Prodesse
quam conspici, and Otium cum Dignitate. Accordingly the first was
continually at work behind the Curtain, drew up and prepared all those
Schemes and Designs, which the latter Still drove on, and stood out
exposed to the World to receive its Praises or Censures.

Mean time, all our unbyassed well-wishers to Learning, are in hopes,
that the known Temper and Prudence of one of these Gentlemen, will
hinder the other from ever lashing out into Party, and rend'ring that
wit which is at present a Common Good, Odious and Ungrateful to the
better part of the Nation.

If this piece of imprudence do's not spoil so excellent a Paper, I
propose to my self, the highest Satisfaction, in Reading it with you
over a Dish of Tea, every Morning next Winter.

As we have yet had nothing new since the SPECTATOR, it only remains for