Letters from Brompton advise.  That the Widow Bligh had received
  several Visits from John Milldew, which affords great matter of
  Speculation in those Parts.

By a Fisherman which lately touched at Hammersmith, there is Advice from Putney, that a certain Person well known in that Place, is like to lose his Election for Church-warden; but this being Boat-news, we cannot give entire Credit to it.

  Letters from Paddington bring little more, than that William
  Squeak, the Sow-gelder, passed through that Place the 5th Instant.

They advise from Fulham, that things remained there in the same State they were.  They had Intelligence, just as the Letters came away, of a Tub of excellent Ale just set abroach at Parson’s Green; but this wanted Confirmation.

I have here, Sir, given you a Specimen of the News with which I intend to entertain the Town, and which, when drawn up regularly in the Form of a News Paper, will, I doubt not, be very acceptable to many of those Publick-spirited Readers, who take more delight in acquainting themselves with other People’s Business than their own.  I hope a Paper of this kind, which lets us know what is done near home, may be more useful to us, than those which are filled with Advices from Zug and Bender, and make some amends for that Dearth of Intelligence, which we may justly apprehend from times of Peace.  If I find that you receive this Project favourably, I will shortly trouble you with one or two more; and in the mean time am, most worthy Sir, with all due Respect,

  Your most Obedient,
  and most Humble Servant.

[Footnote 1:  [or]]

[Footnote 2:  Pancras.]

* * * * *

No. 453.  Saturday, August 9, 1712.  Addison.

  ’Non usitata nec tenui ferar
  Penna—­’

  Hor.

There is not a more pleasing Exercise of the Mind than Gratitude.  It is accompanied with such an inward Satisfaction, that the Duty is sufficiently rewarded by the Performance.  It is not like the Practice of many other Virtues, difficult and painful, but attended with so much Pleasure, that were there no positive Command which enjoin’d it, nor any Recompence laid up for it hereafter, a generous Mind would indulge in it, for the natural Gratification that accompanies it.

If Gratitude is due from Man to Man, how much more from Man to his Maker?  The Supream Being does not only confer upon us those Bounties which proceed more immediately from his Hand, but even those Benefits which are conveyed to us by others.  Every Blessing we enjoy, by what Means soever it may be derived upon us, is the Gift of him who is the great Author of Good, and Father of Mercies.

If Gratitude, when exerted towards one another, naturally produces a very pleasing Sensation in the Mind of a Grateful Man; it exalts the Soul into Rapture, when it is employed on this great Object of Gratitude; on this Beneficent Being who has given us every thing we already possess, and from whom we expect every thing we yet hope for.