There is an elderly Person, lately left off Business and settled in our Town, in order, as he thinks, to retire from the World; but he has brought with him such an Inclination to Talebearing, that he disturbs both himself and all our Neighbourhood.  Notwithstanding this Frailty, the honest Gentleman is so happy as to have no Enemy:  At the same time he has not one Friend who will venture to acquaint him with his Weakness.  It is not to be doubted but if this Failing were set in a proper Light, he would quickly perceive the Indecency and evil Consequences of it.  Now, Sir, this being an Infirmity which I hope may be corrected, and knowing that he pays much Deference to you, I beg that when you are at Leisure to give us a Speculation on Gossiping, you would think of my Neighbour:  You will hereby oblige several who will be glad to find a Reformation in their gray-hair’d Friend:  And how becoming will it be for him, instead of pouring forth Words at all Adventures to set a Watch before the Door of his Mouth, to refrain his Tongue, to check its Impetuosity, and guard against the Sallies of that little, pert, forward, busie Person; which, under a sober Conduct, might prove a useful Member of a Society.  In Compliance with whose Intimations, I have taken the Liberty to make this Address to you.

  I am, SIR,

  Your most obscure Servant

  Philanthropos.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

  Feb. 16, 1712.

This is to Petition you in Behalf of my self and many more of your gentle Readers, that at any time when you have private Reasons against letting us know what you think your self, you would be pleased to pardon us such Letters of your Correspondents as seem to be of no use but to the Printer.

It is further our humble Request, that you would substitute Advertisements in the Place of such Epistles; and that in order hereunto Mr. Buckley may be authorized to take up of your zealous Friend Mr. Charles Lillie, any Quantity of Words he shall from time to time have occasion for.

  The many useful parts of Knowledge which may be communicated to the
  Publick this Way, will, we hope, be a Consideration in favour of your
  Petitioners.

  And your Petitioners, &c.

Note, That particular Regard be had to this Petition; and the Papers marked Letter R may be carefully examined for the future. [1]

T.

[Footnote 1:  R. is one of Steele’s signatures, but he had not used it since No. 134 for August 3, 1711, every paper of his since that date having been marked with a T.]

* * * * *

No. 311.  Tuesday, February 26, 1712.  Addison.

  Nec Veneris pharetris macer est; aut lampade fervet: 
  Inde faces ardent, veniunt a dote sagittae.

  Juv.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,