Essays of Joseph Addison H

411 Pages·2017·3.96 MB·English

E S S A Y S
H
J O S E P A D D I S O N
H
C O S E N A N D E D I TE D
R E E
H
J O H N R I C A RD G N M A LL D
, . . , . .
H
on orary F ellow of j aws College O xford
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I I I D
M A C M LL A N A N D C O L M T E
I D
T ’
S M A R T N S S T R EET L O N O N
.
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1 9 1 0

I N T R O D U C T I O N
.
W R
c o m m onl y a d t h e Age o f t h e ev ol u t i on
E reg r
as an age o f m ili a ex p l o i t s a n d p ol i t i cal ch an ges
t r
y
,
an age w h os e w arl ik e gl o ri e s l o o m d i ml y t hrough
R
t h e s m ok e o f B l e nh e i m o r o f am i ll i e s an d th e
,
great n e s s o f wh os e p ol i t i c al i s s u e s s t i l l i m pre s s e s
h
us t hou g w e t rack th e m w i t h d i ffi cu l t y t h rough a
,
ch ao s o f t re as on s an d c ab al s B u t t o t he m e n
.
h
wh o l i v e d i n i t t e age w as far m or e t h an th i s
.
R
To th e m h e vo l u t i o n w a s m or e th an a m ere ly
t
e
p ol i t i cal r ev ol ut i o n i t wa t h e re cogn i t i on n o t o n ly o f
s
a ch ang e i n t h e rel at i on s o f t h e n at i o n t o i t s rul e rs
,
E
bu t of ch an ge s al m o s t as gre a t i n ngl i s h s o c i e t y an d
E I
i n ngl i s h i n t e ll i ge n c e f i t w as t h e age o f th e B i ll
.
R
of i gh t s i t w as t h e age al s o of t h e S p e ct a t o r I f
, .
M arlb oro ugh an d S o m e rs had t h e i r s h ar e i n sh ap i ng
E
t h e n e w n la n d th at cam e o f 68 8 s o al s o h a d
g 1
,
Ad di s o n an d S t e e l e An d t o th e b u lk o f p e o pl e i t
.
h
m ay b e d o ub t e d w e th er t he ch an ge th at pas s e d o ve r
l i t erat u r e w as n o t m or e s t artl i n g an d m or e i n t e re s t
~
i n g t h an th e ch ange t h at p as s e d ov e r p ol i t i c s F e w
.
ch an ge s i n d e ed h av e e ve r b e e n s o rad i cal an d c o m
, ,
L
’
l i t erat u re s u d d e n l y d fi d i t s s t at e l y garb of
t
p e e o e
.
fol i o o r o c t a vo an d s t ep pe d ab r oa d i n t h e l i gh t an d
,
e as y d re s s o f p am phl e t an d e s s ay I lon g argu m en t s
t
s
.
b
I T CT I
vi R D U
N O O N
.
h
an d cu mb ro u s s en t en ce s c o n d e n s e d t e m s el v e s i n t o
t h e qu i ck r e a s o n i ng a n d t ers e e as y p hras e s o f ordi n ary
co n vers at i on I t s t o n e l o s t t h e p e dan t ry o f t h e s ch olar
. ,
t h e b r ut al i t y o f t h e c on t ro v er s i al i s t a n d a i m e d at b e i ng
,
h
u np r et en t i ou s p ol i t e urb an e T e w ri t e r ai m e d at
, , .
t ea ch i n g b u t at t e a ch i n g i n p l e a s an t an d fami li ar w ays
,
h e s tr ov e t o m ak e e v i l u n re as o n ab l e a n d r i d i c u l o u s t o
;
s h am e m e n b y w i t an d i ro n y o u t o f gr o s s n es s an d bad
m an n e rs t o dra w t h e w orl d t o p i e t y an d vi rt u e b y
;
t e a ch i n g p i et y an d v i r t u e t h e m s el v e s t o s m i l e An d
.
t h e ch ange o f s ubj e ct wa s a s re m ark ab l e a s th e c han ge
L
o f fo rm et t e rs fo un d a n e w i n t e res t i n t h e s c e n e s
.
a n d ch arac t er s o f t h e c o m m on l i fe ar ou n d t h em i n
,
h
t h e c at o f t h e c o ffe e h o s e t h e l o unger s o f t he
u
-
,
M al l th e h um ou r s o f t h e s t re e t t h e p at h o s o f t he
, ,
E
fi re s i d e v e ry o n e h as fel t t h e c hang e t h at p as s e d
.
i n t h i s w ay o v e r o u r l i t erat ur e b u t w e c om m on l y
;
k
t al a s i f t h e ch an ge ha d b e e n a ch an ge i n t h e
wri t e rs o f t h e t i m e a s i f t h e i n t el l i ge n c e wh i ch p ro
,
d u ce s b o ok s had s u d d e n l y t ak e n o f i t s el f a n e w
E
form a s i f m e n l i k e A d d i s o n h a d c o n c ei v e d t h e s s ay
,
an d th e i r r e ad e rs h a d a dap t e d t h e ms e lv e s t o t hi s n e w
m o d e o f w ri t i ng Th e t ru t h l i e s p re ci s el y t h e o t h e r
.
wa y I n n o d e p art m e n t o f h u m a n l i fe d o e s t h e l aw
.
o f s up p l y an d d em an d op e rat e s o p o w e full a s i n
r
y
l i t e rat u re Wri t ers a n d re a d e rs are n o t t w o d i ffere n t
.
cl as s e s o f m en b ot h ar e p r o d u c t s o f t h e s am e s o c i al
an d m e n t al con di t i o n s a n d t h e t h o ugh t s o f t h e o n e
w i l l b e c o m m o nl y o f t h e s am e o rd e r an d k i n d a s t h e
E
th ou gh t s o f h o t h er v e n i n t h e form w h i c h a
t
e
.
I T CT I
R D U i i
N O ON
v
.
h b
i t er g i ve s t o h i s t o ugh t th e re w i l l e t h e s am e
“T
,
b
c o mp ell i n g p res s u re fro m t h e w o rl d a ou t h i m h e
;
i ll u n c o n s ci ou s l y c o mpl y w i t h w h at he fe el s t o b e th e
w
b
n e e ds o f h i s r ead ers h e w i ll wri t e s o as b e s t t o e
;
r ea d An d t h u s i t i s t h at i f w e s e ek a k ey t o t hi s
.
R
gr e at l i t erary ch ang e o f t h e A ge o f th e ev ol u t i on
,
R
w e m u s t l o ok fo r i t n o t i n t h e wri t e r s o f th e e vo
l at i o n s o m u ch a s i n th e p ub l i c fo r wh o m t h ey wrot e
.
I re s t ri c t m ys el f h e re h o w e ve r t o a s i n gl e feat u re
, ,
’
of th i s ch an ge ‘ A s a b as hfu l an d n o t for war d b o y
. ,
R
s ays t h e n o vel i s t i ch ard s o n ‘ I was a n e arl y fav o ur i t e
,
w i t h al l t h e y o u n g w om e n o f t a s t e an d re ad i n g i n t h e
n ei ghb ou rh o o d H al f a d o z e n of th em w h en m e t t o
- -
. ,
w ork wi th th e i r n e e dl e s u s ed w h e n t h e y go t a b ook
, ,
t h ey l ik e d a n d t h ou gh t I s h o u l d t o b orr o w m e t o
,
re ad t o t h e m t h e m o t h e rs s om et i m e s w i th t h em a n d
, ,
b o th m o t h e rs an d d au ght e rs u s e d t o b e p l e as e d w i th
’
th e ob s e rv at i o n s th ey p u t m e o n m aki n g Th e cl os e
.
b
o f t h i s b i t of b oy i s h au t o i ograp h y i s am u s i n gl y ch a
a i i an d t h e re are s t i l l I t ru s t r e a d ers f
r ct er st c o
, ,
R E
i ch ar ds o n t o wh om t h i s l i t t l e gr o u p o f n gl i s h
’
wom e n ‘ m et t o work w i t h t h e i r n e e dl e s m ay h av e
, ,
i t s i n t er e s t as t h e fi rs t o f a s e ri e s o f s u ch gr ou p s
,
wh i ch gat h er e d r o u n d t h e h on es t p ri n t er t h ro ugh o u t
h i s l i fe a n d o u t of wh i ch h al f a ce nt u ry la t er h
t
- - e
, , ,
on e gre at i ma i a i ’ a h i m of t h e ag e o f t h e
g t t
n ve c e v e en
G e orges t h e s t ory o f C l ari s s a w as t o p ri n g B ut
s
, , .
R ’ k ’
i t i s n o t for i ch ar ds on s s a e or for C l ari s s a s t h at
, ,
b
I qu ot e i t h e r e I qu o t e i t e cau s e i t i s on e o f t h e
.
e arl i es t i n s t an c e s t h at I c an re call o f t h e s o ci al l
r
e vo u
b
2
I T CT I
vi i i R D U
N O ON
.
I
t i o n o f whi ch s p ok e i n i t s i n fl u e n c e o n l et t ers T i ll
, .
E
n o w n gl i s h l e t t e rs h a d al m o s t ex cl us i v el y a d dres s e d
t he m s e l ve s t o m e n A s b o ok s h a d b e e n w ri t t e n b y
.
—
m en i w as a s s u m e d t h ey w o ul d b e rea d b y
t
so -
,
h
m en an d n o t o n ly w a s t hi s t ru e o f th e p h i l os op i cal
an d t h e ol ogi cal w ork s o f t he t i m e b u t e ve n i t s m or e
, —
—
p op u l ar li t e rat u re th e n ov e l et t e s fo r i n s t an c e i
o
,
E
G r e e n e a n d h i s fe l l o w l i zab e th an s b e ar o n t h e fa c e
-
,
o f t h em that t h ey w e r e wri t t e n t o am u s e n o t w o m en
b u t m Th e m o s t p op ul ar b ran ch o f l e t t ers i n fa c t
e n
. , ,
lh dram a s o ex cl u s i v el y a d d re s s e d i t s elf t o m al e e ars
e
,
R
t h at u p t o t h e e s t o rat i o n n o w om an fil l e d e v en a
’
wo m a n s p ar t o n t h e b oards n o r c ou l d a d e ce n t
,
E
w om an ap p e ar i n a t h e at r e w i t h ou t a m ask ve n
.
t h e gr e at u p ro ot i n g o f e ve ry p o l i t i c al s o c i a l an d
, ,
h
r el i gi o u s b e l i e f i n t e C i v i l Wars l e ft th i s c o n c ep t i o n
o f l i t e rat ur e al m o s t u n t ou ch e d Th e s o ci al p o s i t i o n f
o
.
R
wom an i n d e e d p r o fi t e d l i t t l e b y t h e G r eat eb el l i o n
.
h
I f s e ap p e are d a s a p re a ch e r am on g th e e arl i e
r
h
Qu ak ers n o fe at ur e o f t e Qu ak e r m ov e m e n t gav e
,
E
gre at e r s can d al am o g n gl i sh m e n a t l arge an d
n ;
’ D
M i l t o n s c ry fo r i v o rc e w a s fou n d e d n o t on any
’
n ot i on o f w o m an s e qu al i t y b u t o n t h e m os t arrogan t
,
I
as s ert i o n e v e r m ad e o f h e r i n fe ri ori t y t o m an t i s
.
a r em arkab l e fa ct t h at am i d s t t h e c ou n t l e s s s ch e m e s
o f p ol i t i c al r eform w h i ch t h e age p ro d u c e d s ch e m e s
.
of ev e ry p os s i b l e o rd er o f n o ve l t y an d ex t rav agan c e
,
I d o n o t rem e mb e r a s i n gl e o n e wh i ch p ro p o s e d
t h at e v e n t h e l e as t s h ar e o f p ol i t i c al p ow e r s h o ul d
b e gi e n t o w om en A d ye t i t i fro m t h e t i m e
v n s
.
I T CTI
i
R D U x
N O O N
.
R h
’
of t h e G re a t eb ell i o n t hat t e chang e i n wo m an s
p o s i t i on reall y d at e s The n e w d i gn i t y gi ve n t o h e r
.
b y t h e s el f re s t rai n t whi ch P ur i t an i s m i m p os e d o n
-
hu m an l i fe by t h e s p i ri tu al rank wh i c h s he s hare d
,
e quall y w i t h h u s b an d or s o n a s o n e o f ‘ t he e l e c t
’
of G o d b y t h e d e ep e n i n g an d co n ce n trat i o n o f th e
,
h h
affe ct i on s w i th i n t h e c i rcl e o f t e h om e wh i c wa s
,
w
’
o n e o f th e re s u l t s o f i t s w i t h d ra al o f t h e ‘ god l y
h
from t e ge n eral c on v ers e a d am us e m e n t s o f th e
n
o u t er w orl d t ol d qu i ckly o n t he s o ci al p o s i t i o n of
,
wom an An d i t t ol d as qu i ck ly o n h e r r el at i o n s t o
.
li t erat ure I t i s n o w t h at s hyly a n d s p oradi cal ly
. , ,
an d s om e t i m e s un der o d d form s w e he ar of w om e n
,
D
a w i t er s of t h e u ch es s of N e w ca s t l e of A ph ra
r
s ;
,
B eh n of M rs H u t ch i n s o n An d i t i s n o w fo r t h e
, . .
firs t t i m e t h at w e h e ar o f wo m e n n o t ex ce p t i o n al
,
L E
wo m e n s u ch a s a dy J an e G re y b u t c o m m o n n gl i s h
,
E
m o t hers an d n gl i s h m ai de ns a s fu rn i s h i n g a n e w
,
I R
worl d of re a d er s n gr ou p s s u ch as i ch ar ds o n
.
sk et c he s fo r u s l i t er at ur e fi n ds a n e w worl d o p en i n g
b efor e i t a w orl d n o t o f m e n o nl y b u t o f w om e n
, ,
o f w i v e s an d d augh t ers as w el l as hu s b an d s an d
s on s a w orl d n o t of h s tre e t o r t h e s t udy b ut of
t
e
,
t h e ho m e
.
I
t i s i n t h i s n e w rel at i o n o f wr i t ers t o t h e worl d
E
o f w o m en t h at w fi n d th e k ey t o t h e s s ayi s t s I t
e
.
was b e cau s e t h es e l i t t l e ci rcl e s o f m o t h e rs an d gi rl s
b
wer e qu i ck e n e d b y a n e w c uri os i ty y a n e w i n t ere s t
,
i n th e w orl d ab o u t t h em b e ca us e re ade rs o f t hi s n e w
,
s o rt we r e eager t o re ad th at w e fi n d o urs el ve s i n
,
I T CT I
R D U
N O ON
.
pres e n c e o f a n e w l i t e rat u re of a l i t e rat ur e m ore r e ally
,
E
p o p ul ar t h an ngla n d h a d s e en a l i t eratu re n ot
r
e ve
,
on l y o f t h e s tr e e t th e p ul p i t t h e t av ern an d t h e
, , ,
s tage b u t wh i ch h a d p en e trat e d w i t h i n t h e v er y p re
,
h
i o f t he o m e S t e el e h as t h e m eri t of h av i n g
t
c n c s
.
b e e n t h e fi rs t t o fe e l t h e n e w i n t ell e ct u al c ravi ngs f
o
h
i s d ay an d t o furn i s h wh at p ro ve d t o b e th e m e a n s
’
of m e e t i n g t h em H i s ‘ Tat l e r w as a p er i o d i cal of
.
p am p hl e t form i n wh i ch n e w s w as t o b e vari e d by
,
s h or t e s s ays of cri t i c i s m a n d go s s i p B u t h i s gr as p
.
of t h e n e w l i t erat ur e w a s a fe eb l e gras p H i s s e n s e of
.
t h e fi t t i n g fo rm fo r i t o f i t s fi t t i n g t on e o f t h e ran ge
, ,
h
an d c o i c e o f i t s s ubj e ct s w e re al ik e i n ad e qu at e
, .
H e s e i z e d i n d e e d b y a h ap py i n s t i n c t o n l et t e r wri t i n g
-
c
a n d c o n v ers at i o n as t h e t w o m ou l d s t o wh i h h
t
e
E
s s ay m u s t ad ap t i t s e l f h e s e i z e d w i t h t h e s am e
;
h ap p y i n s t i n ct o n hu m o ur as t h e p ervad i n g t em p er
o f h i s w ork an d o n m an n e rs a s i t s d e s t i n e d s ph e re
.
h ’
B u t i s n o t i on of ‘ m an n e rs w as l i m i t e d n o t o nl y t o
t h e ex t e rn al as p e c t s of l i fe an d s o ci e t y b u t t o t h o s e
,
a s p e ct s a s th ey pre s e n t t h e m s e lv es i n t o wn s w h i l e
;
hi s h u m o u r rem a i n e d p ert an d s up er fi ci al T he
.
’ h
‘ Ta tl e r h o w e ve r h a d h ardly b e en s t art e d w e n i
t
, ,
I
was t ak e n i n h an d b y a gr e at e r t h a n S t e el e ‘ t
.
’
was rai s e d a s he fran kl y c o n fe s s e d ‘ t o a gre a t e r
, ,
I ’
t hi n g th a n i n t en de d b y th e o p e ra t i o n o f J o s e ph
c o
-
,
Ad d i s o n A s m e n s m i l e d ov e r t h e h u m o u rs of T om
.
U
F ol i o an d t h e P ol i t i cal ph ol s t e rer o ve r t h e p ro ce e d
,
i n gs o f t he C o u rt of H on ou r o r t h e A dv e n t ur e s f
o
a h i l l i n g t h ey re c og n i z e d th e p rom i s e o f a d e e p er
S
,
I T CT I
R D U xi
N O O N
.
an d s ub tl e r v e i n o f s o ci al ob s ervat i o n a n d p ortrai t ure
E b
t han any n gli sh p ros e wri t er h ad e ve r s h e wn e fore
.
An d p ro m i s e w as s o o n ful fil l e d Th e l i fe o f th e
t h e
.
0
’ h
Ta l l as t e d t r ou gh t h e years an d t h e
t er 1 7 09 1 7 1 0
E
t w o n ext ye ar s s aw i t s u rpas s e d b y t h e s s ays o f t h e
’
‘ S p e ct at or an d t hi s was fo ll o w e d i n b y t he
1 7 1 3
,
’ ’
‘ G u a d i an i n b y a fre s h s eri e s o f ‘ S p e ct at ors
r 1 7 1 4
, ,
’ I
i n b y t h e ‘ F re eh ol der n al l t h e s e s u c ce s s i v e
1 7 1 5
.
h
p eri o di cal s w a t was re al ly v i t al a n d i m p ort an t w as
t h e w ork of A d d i s on Ad d i s o n gras p e d t h e i d e a of
.
k H
p op ul ari zi n g k n owl e dge as fran l y a s S t e el e e
.
addre s s e d a s di re ctly t h e n e w w orl d o f th e h o m e I t
.
’
wa s s ai d o f S o crat es h e t ell s u s ‘ t h at h e b ro ugh t
, ,
ph i l o s op h y d own fro m h eave n t o i nh ab i t am on g m e n
an d I s h al l b e amb i t i o us t o h av e i t s ai d of m e th at
h
I av e b rou gh t ph i lo s op hy ou t of cl o s e t s a n d l i b rari e s
,
s ch o ol s an d c ol l e ge s t o d wel l i n cl ub s an d as s e mb li e s
,
I
at t e a t ab l e s an d i n c offe e h o u s e s w o u l d th e refor e
- -
. ,
he e n ds w i th a s m i l e re c om m e n d t h es e my s p e cu l a
,
t i on s t o all w el l regulat e d as s e mb l i e s t h at s e t ap ar t
-
on e h our i n e very m o rn i ng for t e a an d b re ad an d
b u t t e r an d w ou l d h e art i l y a dvi s e t h e m for t he i r go o d
,
t o ord er t h i s p ap e r t o b e p u n c t u all y s e rv e d u p a n d t o
,
’ B
b e l o ok e d u p o n a s p art o f t h e t e a e qui p age u t
-
.
b
’
i n Ad d i s on s han d s t h i s p op ul ar wri t i n g e c am e a
h
part o f l i t e rat ur e W i l e i t p r es erv e d t h e fre e m o ve
.
m e n t of th e l e t t er wri t er th e gai e t y an d b ri sk n e s s
-
,
h
of ch at i t ob eye d t e l aws o f l i t e rary art an d was
,
,
h
s ap e d an d gu i d e d b y a s e n s e o f l i t e rary b e a u t y I t s
.
hu m ou r t o o b e cam e a s ub t l e r an d m or e ex q ui s i t e