Controversy, that Party which has the greatest Abilities labours under this Prejudice, that he will certainly be supposed, upon Account of his Abilities, to have done an Injury, when perhaps he has received one.  It would be tedious to enumerate the Strokes that Nations and particular Friends have suffer’d from Persons very contemptible.

I Think Henry IV. of France, so formidable to his Neighbours, could no more be secur’d against the resolute Villany of Ravillac, than Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, could be against that of Felton.  And there is no incens’d Person so destitute, but can provide himself with a Knife or a Pistol, if he finds stomach to apply them.  That Things and Persons of no moment should give such powerful Revolutions to the progress of those of the greatest, seems a providential Disposition to baffle and abate the Pride of human Sufficiency; as also to engage the Humanity and Benevolence of Superiors to all below ’em, by letting them into this Secret, that the Stronger depends upon the Weaker.

  I am, SIR,
  Your very humble Servant.

  Temple, Paper-Buildings.

  Dear Sir,

’I received a Letter from you some time ago, which I should have answered sooner, had you informed me in yours to what part of this Island I might have directed my Impertinence; but having been let into the Knowledge of that Matter, this handsome Excuse is no longer serviceable.  My Neighbour Prettyman shall be the Subject of this Letter; who falling in with the SPECTATOR’S Doctrine concerning the Month of May, began from that Season to dedicate himself to the Service of the Fair in the following Manner.  I observed at the Beginning of the Month he bought him a new Night-gown, either side to be worn outwards, both equally gorgeous and attractive; but till the End of the Month I did not enter so fully into the knowledge of his Contrivance, as the Use of that Garment has since suggested to me.  Now you must know that all new Clothes raise and warm the Bearer’s Imagination into a Conceit of his being a much finer Gentleman than he was before, banishing all Sobriety and Reflection, and giving him up to Gallantry and Amour.  Inflam’d therefore with this way of thinking, and full of the Spirit of the Month of May, did this merciless Youth resolve upon the Business of Captivating.  At first he confin’d himself to his Room only, now and then appearing at his Window in his Night-gown, and practising that easy Posture which expresses the very Top and Dignity of Languishment.  It was pleasant to see him diversify his Loveliness, sometimes obliging the Passengers only with a Side-Face, with a Book in his Hand; sometimes being so generous as to expose the whole in the fulness of its Beauty; at the other times, by a judicious throwing back of his Perriwig, he would throw in his Ears.  You know he is that Sort of Person which the Mob