Letter on the same Subject · STEELE. 341. Letter in Defence of merry Epilogues 342. Story of Hortensius and Sylvana ........ 343. Transmigration of Souls-Letter from a 357. Criticism on Paradise Lost 358. Proper Ingredients of Festivity and Mirth STEELE. 361. Letter on Cat-calls-History of them. ADDISON. 362, Letters in Commendation of Brook and From a new married Couple-From a Prude STEELE. 365. Dangerous Influence of the Month of May BUDGELL. 366. Inconsistencies in Love-Thoughts-Trans- 372. Letters in Commendation of Powell, the Clerks Lawyer's Club 373. On Modesty and assurance 374. On the proper Use of Time, Fragments from Cæsar 375. History of Amanda · 376. Letters, on a Partnership between a Goose on Dancing STEELE. BUDGELL. STEELE. HUGHES. STEELE. 377. Bill of Mortality of Lovers ..... 378. The Messiah, a sacred Eclogue 380. Letters, requesting Advice in a Case of ADDISON. BUDGELL. Orange Girl St. Bride's Charity-School STEELE. THE SPECTATOR. No. 311. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1711-12. Nec Veneris pharetris macer est, aut lampade fervet : Juv. Sat. vi. 137. He sighs, adores, and courts her ev'ry hour: DRYDEN. ( MR. SPECTATOR, 'I AM amazed that, among all the variety of characters with which you have enriched your speculations, you have never given us a picture of those audacious young fellows among us who commonly go by the name of the fortune-stealers. You must know, sir, I am one who live in a continual apprehension of this sort of people, that lie in wait, day and night, for our children, and may be considered as a kind of kidnappers within the law. I am the father of a young heiress, whom I begin to look upon as marriageable, and who has looked upon herself as such for above these six years. She is now in the eighteenth year of her age. The fortune-hunters have already cast their eyes upon her, and take care to plant themselves in her view whenever she appears in any public assembly. I have myself caught a young jackanapes, with a pair of silver-fringed gloves, in the very fact. You must know, sir, I have kept her as a prisoner of state ever since she was in her teens. Her chamber windows are cross-barred; she is not permitted to go out of the house but with her keeper, who is a staid relation of my own; I have like wise forbid her the use of pen and ink, for this' twelve-month last past, and do not suffer a bandbox to be carried into her room before it has been searched. Notwithstanding these precautions, I am at my wit's end, for fear of any sudden surprise. There were, two or three nights ago, some fiddles heard in the street, which I am afraid portend me no good; not to mention a tall Irishman, that has been seen walking before my house more than once this winter. My kinswoman likewise informs me, that the girl has talked to her twice or thrice of a gentleman in a fair wig, and that she loves to go to church more than ever she did in her life. She gave me the slip about a week ago, upon which my whole house was in alarm. I immediately dispatched a hue and cry after her to the 'Change, to her mantua-maker, and to the young ladies that visit her; but after above an hour's search she returned of herself, having been taking a walk, as she told me, by Rosamond's pond. I have hereupon turned off her woman, doubled her guards, and given new instructions to my relation, who, to give her her due, keeps a watchful eye over all her motions. This, sir, keeps me in a perpetual anxiety, and makes me very often watch when my daughter sleeps, as I am afraid she is even with me in her turn. Now, sir, what I would desire of you is, |