Certainly the true end of visiting foreign parts is to look into their customs and policies, and observe in what particulars they excel or come short of our own: to unlearn some odd peculiarities in our manners, and wear off such awkward stiffnesses and affectations in our behaviour, as may possibly have been contracted from constantly associating with one nation of men, by a more free, general, and mixed conversation. But how can any of these advantages be attained by one who is a mere stranger to the customs and policies of his native country, and has not yet fixed in his mind the first principles of manners and behaviour? To endeavour it, is to build a gaudy structure without any foundation; or, if I may be allowed the expression, to work a rich embroidery upon a cobweb. • Another end of travelling, which deserves to be considered, is the improving our taste of the best authors of antiquitý, by seeing the places where they lived, and of which they wrote; to compare the natural face of the country with the descriptions they have given us, and observe how well the picture agrees with the original. This must certainly be a most charming exercise to the mind that is rightly turned for it; besides that it may in a good measure be made subservient to morality, if the person is capable of drawing just conclusions concerning the uncertainty of human things, from the ruinous alterations time and barbarity have brought upon so many palaces, cities, and whole countries, which make the most illustrious figures in history. And this hint may be not a little improved by examining every little spot of ground that we find celebrated as the scene of some famous action, or retaining any footsteps of a Cato, Cicero, or Brutus, or some such great virtuous man. Á nearer view of any such particular, though really little and trifling in itself, may serve the more powerfully to warm a generous mind to an emulation of their virtues, and a greater ardency of ambition to imitate their bright examples, if it comes duly tempered and prepared for the impression. Bet this I believe you will hardly think those to be, who are so far from entering into the sense and spirit of the ancients that they do not yet understand their language with any exactness. • But I have wandered from my purpose, which was only to desire you to save, if possible, a fond English mother, and mother's own son, from being shown a ridiculous spectacle through the most polite parts of Europe. Pray tell them, that though to be sea-sick, or jumbled in an outlandish stage-coach, may perhaps be healthful for the constitution of the body, yet it is apt to cause such a dizziness in young empty heads, as too often lasts their lifetime. I am, sir, • Your most humble servant, PHILIP HOMEBRED. 2 6 SIR, ' Birchin Lane. “I was married on Sunday last, and went peaceably to bed; but to my surprise was awakened the next morning by the thunder of a set of drums. These warlike sounds, methinks, are very improper in a marriage concert, and give great offence; they seem to insinuate that the a • This letter was written by the Earl of Hardwicke. a joys of this state are short, and that jars and discord soon ensue. I fear they have been ominous to many matches, and sometimes proved a prelude to a battle in the honey moon. A nod from you may hush them; therefore pray, sir, let them be silenced, that for the future none but soft airs may usher in the morning of a bridal night; which will be a favour not only to those who come after, but to me, who can still subscribe myself your most humble and most obedient servant, ROBIN BRIDEGROOM.' 6 MR. SPECTATOR. • I am one of that sort of women whom the gayer part of our sex are apt to call a prude. But to show them that I have very little regard to their raillery, I shall be glad to see them all at the Amorous' Widow, or the Wanton Wife, which is to be acted for the benefit of Mrs. Porter on Monday the 28th instant. I assure you I can laugh at an amorous widow, or wanton wife, with as little temptation to imitate them, as I could at any other vicious character. Mrs. Porter obliged me so very much in the exquisite sense she seemed to have of the honourable sentiments and noble passions in the character of Hermione, that I shall appear in her behalf at a comedy, though I have no great relish for any entertainments where the mirth is not seasoned with a certain severity, which ought to recommend it to people who pretend to keep reason and authority over all their actions. I am, sir, your frequent reader, ALTAMIRA. STEELE. T, No. 365. TUESDAY, APRIL 29. Dere magis, quia vere calor redit ossibus- VIRG. But most in spring: the kindly spring inspires Reviving heat, and kindles genial fires. The author of the Menagiana acquaints us, that discoursing one day with several ladies of quality about the effects of the month of May, which infuses a kindly warmth into the earth and all its inhabitants, the marchioness of Swho was one of the company, told him, “That though she would promise to be chaste in every month besides, she could not engage for herself in May.' As the beginning therefore of this month is now very near, I design this paper for a caveat to the fair sex, and publish it before April is quite out, that if any of them should be caught tripping, they may not pretend they had not timely notice. I am induced to this, being persuaded the abovementioned observation is as well calculated for our climate as for that of France, and that some of our British ladies are of the same con. stitution with the French marchioness. I shall leave it among physicians to determine what may be the cause of such an anniversary inclination, whether or no it is that the spirits, after having been as it were, frozen and congealed by winter, are now turned loose, and set a rambling, or that the gay prospects of fields and meadows, with the courtship of the birds in every bush, naturally unbend the mind and soften it to pleasure; or that as some have imagin ed, a woman is prompted by a kind of instinct to throw herself on a bed of flowers, and not to let those beautiful couches which nature has provided lie useless. However it be, the effects of this month on the lower part of the sex, who act without disguise, are very visible. It is at this time that we see the young wenches in a country parish dancing round a May-pole, which one of our learned antiquaries supposes to be a relic a of a certain pagan worship that I do not think fit to mention. It is likewise on the first day of this month that we see the ruddy milk-maid exerting herself in a most sprightly manner under a pyramid of silver tankards, and like the virgin Tarpeia, oppressed by the costly ornaments which her benefactors lay upon her. I need not mention the ceremony of the green gown, which is also peculiar to this gay season. The same periodical love-fit spreads through the whole sex, as Mr. Dryden well observes in his description of this merry month. For thee, sweet month, the groves green liv'ries wear, If not the first, the fairest of the year; Accordingly, among the works of the great masters in painting, who have drawn this genial season of the year, we often observe Cupids confused with Zephyrs flying up and down promis |