temper of his father, and even a dedication could hardly have ventured to compliment him on his private morals.  But he was an active politician, was with his father in the secret of the landing of the Prince of Orange, and was made by William Comptroller of the Household.  Thwarted in his desire to become a Secretary of State, he made himself formidable as a bold, sarcastic speaker and by the strength of his parliamentary interest.  He is said to have returned at one time thirty members, and to have spent eighty thousand pounds upon the maintenance of his political position.  He was apt, by his manners, to make friends of the young men of influence.  He spent money freely also on the turf, and upon his seat of Winchenden, in Wilts.  Queen Anne, on her accession, struck his name with her own hand from the list of Privy Councillors, but he won his way not only to restoration of that rank, but also in December, 1706, at the age of 67, to his title of Viscount Winchendon and Earl of Wharton.  In November, 1708, he became Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, with Addison for secretary.  He took over with him also Clayton the musician, and kept a gay court, easily accessible, except to Roman Catholics, whom he would not admit to his presence, and against whom he enforced the utmost rigour of the penal code.  He had himself conformed to the Church of England.  Swift accused him, as Lord-lieutenant, of shameless depravity of manners, of injustice, greed, and gross venality.  This Lord Wharton died in 1715, and was succeeded by his son Philip, whom George I., in 1718, made Duke of Wharton for his fathers vigorous support of the Hanoverian succession.  His character was much worse than that of his father, the energetic politician and the man of cultivated taste and ready wit to whom Steele and Addison here dedicated the Fifth Volume of the Spectator.]

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No. 322.  Monday, March 10, 1712.  Steele.

  Ad humum maerore gravi deducit et angit.

  Hor.

It is often said, after a Man has heard a Story with extraordinary Circumstances, It is a very good one if it be true:  But as for the following Relation, I should be glad were I sure it were false.  It is told with such Simplicity, and there are so many artless Touches of Distress in it, that I fear it comes too much from the Heart.

Mr. SPECTATOR, Some Years ago it happened that I lived in the same House with a young Gentleman of Merit; with whose good Qualities I was so much taken, as to make it my Endeavour to shew as many as I was able in my self.  Familiar Converse improved general Civilities into an unfeigned Passion on both Sides.  He watched an Opportunity to declare himself to me; and I, who could not expect a Man of so great an Estate as his, received his Addresses in such Terms, as gave him no reason to believe I was displeased by them, tho I did nothing to make him think me more easy than was decent.  His