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No. 122.  Friday, July 20, 1711.  Addison.

      ‘Comes jucundus in via pro vehiculo est.’

      Publ.  Syr.  Frag.

A man’s first Care should be to avoid the Reproaches of his own Heart; his next, to escape the Censures of the World:  If the last interferes with the former, it ought to be entirely neglected; but otherwise, there cannot be a greater Satisfaction to an honest Mind, than to see those Approbations which it gives it self seconded by the Applauses of the Publick:  A Man is more sure of his Conduct, when the Verdict which he passes upon his own Behaviour is thus warranted and confirmed by the Opinion of all that know him.

My worthy Friend Sir Roger is one of those who is not only at Peace within himself, but beloved and esteemed by all about him.  He receives a suitable Tribute for his universal Benevolence to Mankind, in the Returns of Affection and Good-will, which are paid him by every one that lives within his Neighbourhood.  I lately met with two or three odd Instances of that general Respect which is shown to the good old Knight.  He would needs carry Will.  Wimble and myself with him to the County-Assizes:  As we were upon the Road Will.  Wimble joined a couple of plain Men who rid before us, and conversed with them for some Time; during which my Friend Sir Roger acquainted me with their Characters.

The first of them, says he, that has a Spaniel by his Side, is a Yeoman of about an hundred Pounds a Year, an honest Man:  He is just within the Game-Act, and qualified to kill an Hare or a Pheasant:  He knocks down a Dinner with his Gun twice or thrice a Week; and by that means lives much cheaper than those who have not so good an Estate as himself.  He would be a good Neighbour if he did not destroy so many Partridges:  in short, he is a very sensible Man; shoots flying; and has been several times Foreman of the Petty-Jury.

The other that rides along with him is Tom Touchy, a Fellow famous for taking the Law of every Body.  There is not one in the Town where he lives that he has not sued at a Quarter-Sessions.  The Rogue had once the Impudence to go to Law with the Widow.  His Head is full of Costs, Damages, and Ejectments:  He plagued a couple of honest Gentlemen so long for a Trespass in breaking one of his Hedges, till he was forced to sell the Ground it enclosed to defray the Charges of the Prosecution:  His Father left him fourscore Pounds a Year; but he has cast and been cast so often, that he is not now worth thirty.  I suppose he is going upon the old Business of the Willow-Tree.