suspend our Coffee in mid-air, between our Lips and Right Ear, but the ordinary Trash of News-Papers.  We resolved, therefore, not to part with you so.  But since, to make use of your own Allusion, the Cherries began now to crowd the Market, and their Season was almost over, we consulted our future Enjoyments, and endeavoured to make the exquisite Pleasure that delicious Fruit gave our Taste as lasting as we could, and by drying them protract their stay beyond its natural Date.  We own that thus they have not a Flavour equal to that of their juicy Bloom; but yet, under this Disadvantage, they pique the Palate, and become a Salver better than any other Fruit at its first Appearance.  To speak plain, there are a Number of us who have begun your Works afresh, and meet two Nights in the Week in order to give you a Rehearing.  We never come together without drinking your Health, and as seldom part without general Expressions of Thanks to you for our Night’s Improvement.  This we conceive to be a more useful Institution than any other Club whatever, not excepting even that of ugly Faces.  We have one manifest Advantage over that renowned Society, with respect to Mr. Spectator’s Company.  For though they may brag, that you sometimes make your personal Appearance amongst them, it is impossible they should ever get a Word from you.  Whereas you are with us the Reverse of what Phaedria would have his Mistress be in his Rival’s Company, Present in your Absence.  We make you talk as much and as long as we please; and let me tell you, you seldom hold your Tongue for the whole Evening.  I promise my self you will look with an Eye of Favour upon a Meeting which owes its Original to a mutual Emulation among its Members, who shall shew the most profound Respect for your Paper; not but we have a very great Value for your Person:  and I dare say you can no where find four more sincere Admirers, and humble Servants, than T.  F., G. S., J. T., E. T.

* * * * *

No. 554.  Friday, December 5, 1712.  John Hughes.

  ’—­tentanda Via est, qua me quoque possim
  Tollere humo, Victorque virum volitare per Ora.’

  Virg.

I am obliged for the following Essay, as well as for that which lays down Rules out of Tully for Pronunciation and Action, to the Ingenious Author of a Poem just Published, Entitled, An Ode to the Creator of the World, occasioned by the Fragments of Orpheus.

It is a Remark made, as I remember, by a celebrated French Author, that no Man ever pushed his Capacity as far as it was able to extend.  I shall not enquire whether this Assertion be strictly true.  It may suffice to say, that Men of the greatest Application and Acquirements can look back upon many vacant Spaces, and neglected Parts of Time, which have slipped away from them unemployed; and there is hardly any one considering Person in the World, but is apt to fancy with himself, at some time or other, that if his Life were to begin again, he could fill it up better.