I am far from intending to insinuate that you have "four legs;" and as for your "two voices,"* -these I trust will be united, in a plumper for my return.

But whom am I, that thus canvass for your Votes? Alas! I cannot describe myself in the usual way; for you perceive, that until you give it, I even want a Name. By whoever superintended Sancho Pança's education it was said, "Inform me with whom you associate, and I will tell you who you are." But this criterion cannot apply to the case of one so repandu as I am. My intercourse is necessarily as extensive as my province; and it will be recollected, that quicquid agunt homines is the source, from which "nostri farrago libelli" must be drawn.

"Libelli" must not however be translated libel: this being a drug, in which I shall not deal. On the contrary, whatever else may be my fate, I hope that when my labours, or amusements have an end, no

Tempest; ac. 2. sc. 2.-The classical reader need not be reminded of a certain whisper, made, as we must presume, in the neighbourhood of PACTOLUS; and which insinuated that Midas was little better than an Ass.-Neither will any who have read the paper of notes, dropped by the Spectator, require to be informed, that of the costume of Pactolus, embroidered stockings, (the gift of the same Midas,) formed a part.-Au reste, a plumper is a vote given singly and exclusively to one candidate. This work was begun just after a general election.

worthy man will complain of a wound of my infliction. But if any Reader shall inconsiderately come forward, and say, "MR. NAMELESS, the VICE or FOLLY, which you treated so roughly in your last paper, belongs to me: all who know me, (my "friends particularly,) will tell you it is mine: I therefore request you may never meddle with it

፡፡

again," I give notice, that I shall attend to no such claim. My Counsel, Mr. Serjeant Mootall, (a gentleman of the first eminence and tautology at the Bar,) assures me, in an opinion of which the following is an abstract, that the "aforesaid Vice and "Folly are, especially the former, beings fera natu"ra; in which no property can be acquired, by petting or domestication."

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Under the authority of this response, and without regard to expostulations, I shall accordingly endeavour to entangle Vice in her own snares, and with my graygoose-quill, shoot Folly as it flies. But as for the innocent foibles of good men, these I do not consider as my chasse. They may therefore pursue their gambols, and roam at large for me.

But though Incognito, I am not the marvellous Unknown, of whom we read in a modern Romance, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme: nor though nameless, am I about "a deed without a name." My sorceries are of the whitest kind; and consist merely in the accomplishment of such transforma

tions, as may procure me that extensiveness of intercourse, and freedom from observation, which are requisite towards qualifying me for my present functions.

In the routine of these metamorphoses, I am at some times an Orderly; at others an Aid-de-camp in waiting and during the rheumatism of Sir Charles Vernon,* I did not scruple to cast him into a deep sleep; (can any reader doubt my narcotic powers?) and officiate at the drawing-room in his stead: personating him so exactly, and representing to him all that passed there, so fully in a dream, that neither he nor others have the least suspicion that he was absent. Not one expression of her Grace's countenance escaped my accuracy, or that of. the OvEpos whom I deputed. Nor though she was our principal figure, did we confine ourselves to the Duchess. On the contrary, the groups of Anglico-attendant Sneers, sotto-voce Sarcasms, and Gibes in waiting, were sketched by my airy envoy with so much truth and spirit, that, depend upon it, if Sir Charles had been aware of the mimickry, he would have approved it.‡ By such innocent, though preternatural contrivances as these, I become acquainted with the surface, (that is, as some assert, with all

• Who holds the office of Chamberlain, in the Irish Court.
t Of Bedford.

Sir Charles is said to possess this talent in its perfection.

there is to know,) of Military, Court, and Fashionable Life in Ireland. In pursuit of the latter knowledge I perhaps sometimes go too far. At least I did so when I tried a second a-la-Vernon to the Park:* from whence I returned, not like the Phoenix, in a flame; but in something not half so rapid or reviving, viz. a hackney coach. Starved with cold, and jolted as I was, is it strange if I deviated from reality and truth, so far as to forget that I was not actually of the household, and to mutter that they ordered these matters better in Lord Hardwicke's time?

To return, (not to the Park, but to my subject ;) I attend visitations as an Apparitor; and Chapter meetings as a Verger: the Courts of Justice as a Tipstaff; and the hustings as an Elector. At the late election for this city, I voted twelve times: in doing which I have reason to think that I was no otherwise singular, than in my motive,-which was, curiosity to see the more of what was passing;-and in the impartial distribution of my votes; which was such as to produce neither good nor harm to any of the candidates. When I wish for particular informa

* The Phœnix park; where the Irish Court then resided. In Lord Hardwicke's time a vice-regal coach was at the orders of the Chamberlain. For this his Successor is said to have substituted his permission to resort to the accommodation of a hackney coach.

tion on Church affairs, I wait upon some Bishop, in the shape of his Vicar General. In short, " Mille something, what d'ye call? mille decenter habet." I preserve the metre; but have forgotten the line: which forms an admirably apposite quotation; and means that all my disguises are neat, appropriate, and becoming.

I have occasionally been Mr. Verner, Mr. Giffard, Mr. Rosborough, and Mr. M'Nally:* in which characters I obtain easy admission to all Orange, Loyal, Charitable, and Reasonable As

sociations.

From what has been stated, some Readers may pronounce me a detected Rambler. A' Rambler and Adventurer I indisputably am: but my fair Perusers may rest assured that I also am a Tatler: and a moment's reflection, if they could endure it, would shew that I am a Mirror. Into the fraternity of Idlers and Loungers I have been unanimously admitted; and I would therefore dissuade Artists from denying that I am a Connoisseur. A just Observer I trust that I shall be found; in the character of a Spectator, which I not unfrequently assume. But author of the Familiar Epistles I would not be for the World! Vile poetry, and worse criticism! Don't you think so Mr. Jones?

* Four well-known characters: take care how you read the titles of these various associations.