The Character you have in the World of being the Lady’s Philosopher, and the pretty Advice I have seen you give to others in your Papers, make me address my self to you in this abrupt Manner, and to desire your Opinion what in this Age a Woman may call a Lover.  I have lately had a Gentleman that I thought made Pretensions to me, insomuch that most of my Friends took Notice of it and thought we were really married; which I did not take much Pains to undeceive them, and especially a young Gentlewoman of my particular Acquaintance which was then in the Country.  She coming to Town, and seeing our Intimacy so great, she gave her self the Liberty of taking me to task concerning it:  I ingenuously told her we were not married, but I did not know what might the Event.  She soon got acquainted with the Gentleman, and was pleased to take upon her to examine him about it.  Now whether a new Face had made a greater Conquest than the old, I’ll leave you to judge:  But I am informd that he utterly deny’d all Pretensions to Courtship, but withal profess’d a sincere Friendship for me; but whether Marriages are propos’d by way of Friendship or not, is what I desire to know, and what I may really call a Lover.  There are so many who talk in a Language fit only for that Character, and yet guard themselves against speaking in direct Terms to the Point, that it is impossible to distinguish between Courtship and Conversation.  I hope you will do me Justice both upon my Lover and my Friend, if they provoke me further:  In the mean time I carry it with so equal a Behaviour, that the Nymph and the Swain too are mighty at a loss; each believes I, who know them both well, think my self revenged in their Love to one another, which creates an irreconcileable Jealousy.  If all comes right again, you shall hear further from,

  SIR,
  Your most obedient Servant,
  Mirtilla.

  April 28, 1712.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

Your Observations on Persons that have behaved themselves irreverently at Church, I doubt not have had a good Effect on some that have read them:  But there is another Fault which has hitherto escaped your Notice, I mean of such Persons as are very zealous and punctual to perform an Ejaculation that is only preparatory to the Service of the Church, and yet neglect to join in the Service it self.  There is an Instance of this in a Friend of WILL.  HONEYCOMB’S, who sits opposite to me:  He seldom comes in till the Prayers are about half over, and when he has enter’d his Seat (instead of joining with the Congregation) he devoutly holds his Hat before his Face for three or four Moments, then bows to all his Acquaintance, sits down, takes a Pinch of Snuff, (if it be Evening Service perhaps a Nap) and spends the remaining Time in surveying the Congregation.  Now, Sir, what I would desire, is, that you will animadvert a little on this Gentleman’s Practice.  In my Opinion, this Gentleman’s Devotion, Cap-in-Hand, is only a Compliance to the