peeping over the silken Fence, and threatening to break through it.  I frequently offered to turn my Sight another way, but was still detained by the Fascination of the Peeper’s Eyes, who had long practised a Skill in them, to recal the parting Glances of her Beholders.  You see my Complaint, and hope you will take these mischievous People, the Peepers, into your Consideration:  I doubt not but you will think a Peeper as much more pernicious than a Starer, as an Ambuscade is more to be feared than an open Assault.

  I am, SIR,

  Your most Obedient Servant.’

This Peeper using both Fan and Eyes to be considered as a Pict_, and proceed accordingly._

  King Latinus to the Spectator, Greeting.

‘Tho’ some may think we descend from our Imperial Dignity, in holding Correspondence with a private [Litterato; [2]] yet as we have great Respect to all good Intentions for our Service, we do not esteem it beneath us to return you our Royal Thanks for what you published in our Behalf, while under Confinement in the Inchanted Castle of the Savoy, and for your Mention of a Subsidy for a Prince in Misfortune.  This your timely Zeal has inclined the Hearts of divers to be aiding unto us, if we could propose the Means.  We have taken their Good will into Consideration, and have contrived a Method which will be easy to those who shall give the Aid, and not unacceptable to us who receive it.  A Consort of Musick shall be prepared at Haberdashers-Hall for Wednesday the Second of May, and we will honour the said Entertainment with our own Presence, where each Person shall be assessed but at two Shillings and six Pence.  What we expect from you is, that you publish these our Royal Intentions, with Injunction that they be read at all Tea-Tables within the Cities of London and Westminster; and so we bid you heartily Farewell.

  Latinus, King of the Volscians.’

  Given at our Court in Vinegar-Yard, Story the Third from the Earth.

  April 28, 1711.

R.

[Footnote 1:  ‘Epictetus his Morals, with Simplicius his Comment,’ was translated by George Stanhope in 1694.  The citation above is a free rendering of the sense of cap. 62 of the Morals.]

[Footnote 2:  Litterati]

* * * * *

No. 54.  Wednesday, May 2, 1711.  Steele.

      ‘...  Sirenua nos exercet inertia.’

      Hor.

The following Letter being the first that I have received from the learned University of Cambridge, I could not but do my self the Honour of publishing it.  It gives an Account of a new Sect of Philosophers which has arose in that famous Residence of Learning; and is, perhaps, the only Sect this Age is likely to produce.