The De Coverley Papers | Page 5

plan of it is laid and
concerted (as all other matters of importance are) in a club. However,
as my friends have engaged me to stand in the front, those who have a
mind to correspond with me, may direct their letters to the Spectator, at
Mr. Buckley's in Little Britain. For I must further acquaint the reader,
that, though our club meets only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have
appointed a committee to sit every night, for the inspection of all such
papers as may contribute to the advancement of the public weal.
C.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Black. Dark.
[2] Choleric. Liable to anger.
[3] Digesting. Arranging methodically.
[4] Depending. Modern English pending.
[5] Nonage. Minority.
[6] Parts. Powers.
[7] Public exercises. Examinations for degrees at Oxford and
Cambridge formerly took the form of public debates.
[8] Will's, Child's, St. James's, Grecian. Coffee-houses; all these, and
the cocoa-houses too, tended to become the special haunts of members
of some particular party, profession, etc.; e.g., Will's was literary, St.
James's Whig.
[9] Postman. A weekly newspaper.

[10] Economy. Household management.
[11] Blots. Exposed pieces in backgammon.
[12] Spoken to. Referred to.
[13] Complexion. Countenance.
[14] Discoveries. Disclosures.

NO. 2. FRIDAY, MARCH 2
Ast alii sex Et plures uno conclamant ore.
JUV. Sat. vii. ver. 167.
Six more at least join their consenting voice.
The first of our society is a gentleman of Worcestershire, of ancient
descent, a baronet, his name is Sir Roger de Coverley. His
great-grandfather was inventor of that famous country-dance which is
called after him. All who know that shire are very well acquainted with
the parts and merits of Sir Roger. He is a gentleman that is very
singular in his behaviour, but his singularities proceed from his good
sense, and are contradictions to the manners of the world, only as he
thinks the world is in the wrong. However this humour creates him no
enemies, for he does nothing with sourness or obstinacy; and his being
unconfined to modes and forms, makes him but the readier and more
capable to please and oblige all who know him. When he is in town, he
lives in Soho Square. It is said, he keeps himself a bachelor by reason
he was crossed in love by a perverse beautiful widow of the next
county to him. Before this disappointment, Sir Roger was what you call
a Fine Gentleman, had often supped with my Lord Rochester and Sir
George Etherege[15], fought a duel upon his first coming to town, and
kicked Bully Dawson[16] in a public coffee-house for calling him
youngster. But being ill-used by the above-mentioned widow, he was
very serious for a year and a half; and though, his temper being

naturally jovial, he at last got over it, he grew careless of himself, and
never dressed[17] afterwards. He continues to wear a coat and doublet
of the same cut that were in fashion at the time of his repulse, which, in
his merry humours, he tells us, has been in and out twelve times since
he first wore it. He is now in his fifty-sixth year, cheerful, gay, and
hearty; keeps a good house both in town and country; a great lover of
mankind; but there is such a mirthful cast in his behaviour, that he is
rather beloved than esteemed. His tenants grow rich, his servants look
satisfied, all the young women profess love to him, and the young men
are glad of his company: when he comes into a house he calls the
servants by their names, and talks all the way upstairs to a visit. I must
not omit, that Sir Roger is a justice of the Quorum[18]; that he fills the
chair at a quarter-session with great abilities, and three months ago
gained universal applause by explaining a passage in the Game
Act[19].
The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another
bachelor, who is a member of the Inner Temple; a man of great probity,
wit, and understanding; but he has chosen his place of residence rather
to obey the direction of an old humoursome[20] father, than in pursuit
of his own inclinations. He was placed there to study the laws of the
land, and is the most learned of any of the house in those of the stage.
Aristotle and Longinus[21] are much better understood by him than
Littleton or Coke[22]. The father sends up every post questions relating
to marriage-articles, leases, and tenures, in the neighbourhood; all
which questions he agrees with an attorney to answer and take care of
in the lump. He is studying the passions themselves, when he should be
inquiring into the debates among men which arise from them. He
knows the argument of each of the orations of Demosthenes and
Tully[23], but not one