know the World.  She dictates to me in my own Business, sets me right in Point of Trade, and if I disagree with her about any of my Ships at Sea, wonders that I will dispute with her, when I know very well that her Great Grandfather was a Flag Officer.

To compleat my Sufferings, she has teazed me for this Quarter of [a [3]] Year last past, to remove into one of the Squares at the other End of the Town, promising for my Encouragement, that I shall have as good a Cock-loft as any Gentleman in the Square; to which the Honourable Oddly Enville, Esq., always adds, like a Jack-a-napes as he is, that he hopes twill be as near the Court as possible.

In short, Mr. SPECTATOR, I am so much out of my natural Element, that to recover my old Way of Life I would be content to begin the World again, and be plain Jack Anvil; but alas!  I am in for Life, and am bound to subscribe my self, with great Sorrow of Heart,

  Your humble Servant,

  John Enville, Knt.

L.

[Footnote 1:  This has been said to refer to a Sir Ambrose Crowley, who changed his name to Crawley.]

[Footnote 2:  [considerable] corrected by an erratum in No. 301.]

[Footnote 3:  [an]]

* * * * *

No. 300.  Wednesday, February 13, 1712.  Steele.

  Diversum vitio vitium prope majus.

  Hor.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

When you talk of the Subject of Love, and the Relations arising from it, methinks you should take Care to leave no Fault unobserved which concerns the State of Marriage.  The great Vexation that I have observed in it, is, that the wedded Couple seem to want Opportunities of being often enough alone together, and are forced to quarrel and be fond before Company.  Mr. Hotspur and his Lady, in a Room full of their Friends, are ever saying something so smart to each other, and that but just within Rules, that the whole Company stand in the utmost Anxiety and Suspence for fear of their falling into Extremities which they could not be present at.  On the other Side, Tom Faddle and his pretty Spouse where-ever they come are billing at such a Rate, as they think must do our Hearts good who behold em.  Cannot you possibly propose a Mean between being Wasps and Doves in Publick?  I should think if you advised to hate or love sincerely it would be better:  For if they would be so discreet as to hate from the very Bottom of their Hearts, their Aversion would be too strong for little Gibes every Moment; and if they loved with that calm and noble Value which dwells in the Heart, with a Warmth like that of Life-Blood, they would not be so impatient of their Passion as to fall into observable Fondness.  This Method, in each Case, would save Appearances; but as those who offend on the fond Side are by much the fewer, I would have