distracts and shatters the Mind, and the fond Builder of Babells is often cursed with an incoherent Diversity and Confusion of Thoughts.  I do not know to whom I can more properly apply my self for Relief from this Fantastical Evil, than to your self; whom I earnestly implore to accommodate me with a Method how to settle my Head and cool my Brain-pan.  A Dissertation on Castle-Building may not only be serviceable to my self, but all Architects, who display their Skill in the thin Element.  Such a Favour would oblige me to make my next Soliloquy not contain the Praises of my dear Self but of the SPECTATOR, who shall, by complying with this, make me.’

  His Obliged, Humble Servant.
  Vitruvius.

[Footnote 1:  “(unreadable on original page) in Dryden’s ’Conquest of Granada.’”]

* * * * *

No. 168.  Wednesday, September 12, 1711.  Steele.

      ‘... Pectus Praeceptis format amicis.’

      Hor.

It would be Arrogance to neglect the Application of my Correspondents so far as not sometimes to insert their Animadversions upon my Paper; that of this Day shall be therefore wholly composed of the Hints which they have sent me.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

I Send you this to congratulate your late Choice of a Subject, for treating on which you deserve publick Thanks; I mean that on those licensed Tyrants the Schoolmasters.  If you can disarm them of their Rods, you will certainly have your old Age reverenced by all the young Gentlemen of Great-Britain who are now between seven and seventeen Years.  You may boast that the incomparably wise Quintilian and you are of one Mind in this Particular.

    ’Si cui est (says he) mens tam illiberalis ut objurgatione non
    corrigatur, is etiam ad plagas, ut pessimo quaeque mancipia,
    durabitur. [1]

    If any Child be of so disingenuous a Nature, as not to stand
    corrected by Reproof, he, like the very worst of Slaves, will be
    hardned even against Blows themselves.’

  And afterwards,

    ’Pudet dicere in quae probra nefandi homines isto caedendi jure
    abutantur_,

    i. e. I blush to say how shamefully those wicked Men abuse the
    Power of Correction.’

I was bred myself, Sir, in a very great School, of which the Master was a Welchman, but certainly descended from a Spanish Family, as plainly appeared from his Temper as well as his Name. [2] I leave you to judge what sort of a Schoolmaster a Welchman ingrafted on a Spaniard would make.  So very dreadful had he made himself to me, that altho’ it is above twenty Years since I felt his heavy Hand, yet still once a Month at least I dream of him, so strong an Impression did he make on my Mind.  ’Tis a Sign he has fully