[Footnote 3:  The followers of Martin Simglecius a Polish Jesuit, who taught Philosophy for four years and Theology for ten years at Vilna, in Lithuania, and died at Kalisch in 1618.  Besides theological works he published a book of Disputations upon Logic.]

[Footnote 4:  Erasm.  Epist.]

[Footnote 5:  Louis XIV.]

[Footnote 6:  Adrian, cited in Bacons Apophthegms.]

[Footnote 7:  Hudibras, Pt.  II. c. i, v. 297.  See note to No. 145.]

[Footnote 8:  And.  Ammonius in Bayle’s Life of him, but the saying was of the reign of Henry VIII.]

[Footnote 9:  A Sorites, in Logic,—­from [Greek:  soros], a heap—­is a pile of syllogisms so compacted that the conclusion of one serves as a premiss to the next.]

* * * * *

No. 240.  Wednesday, December 5, 1711.  Steele.

 —­Aliter not fit, Avite, liber.

  Mart.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

I am of one of the most genteel Trades in the City, and understand thus much of liberal Education, as to have an ardent Ambition of being useful to Mankind, and to think That the chief End of Being as to this Life.  I had these good Impressions given me from the handsome Behaviour of a learned, generous, and wealthy Man towards me when I first began the World.  Some Dissatisfaction between me and my Parents made me enter into it with less Relish of Business than I ought; and to turn off this Uneasiness I gave my self to criminal Pleasures, some Excesses, and a general loose Conduct.  I know not what the excellent Man above-mentioned saw in me, but he descended from the Superiority of his Wisdom and Merit, to throw himself frequently into my Company.  This made me soon hope that I had something in me worth cultivating, and his Conversation made me sensible of Satisfactions in a regular Way, which I had never before imagined.  When he was grown familiar with me, he opened himself like a good Angel, and told me, he had long laboured to ripen me into a Preparation to receive his Friendship and Advice, both which I should daily command, and the Use of any Part of his Fortune, to apply the Measures he should propose to me, for the Improvement of my own.  I assure you, I cannot recollect the Goodness and Confusion of the good Man when he spoke to this Purpose to me, without melting into Tears; but in a word, Sir, I must hasten to tell you, that my Heart burns with Gratitude towards him, and he is so happy a Man, that it can never be in my Power to return him his Favours in Kind, but I am sure I have made him the most agreeable Satisfaction I could possibly, [in being ready to serve others to my utmost Ability,] as far as is consistent with the Prudence he prescribes to me.  Dear Mr. SPECTATOR, I do not owe to him only the good Will and Esteem of my own Relations, (who are People of Distinction) the present Ease and Plenty of my Circumstances, but also the Government of my Passions, and Regulation