3s THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND. provided that every one be so attentive, and so free as to make their occasional remarks on such lines or sentences, such periods or paragraphs as in their opinion deserve it. Now all those pa. ragraphs or sentiments deserve a remark, which are new and uncommon, are noble and excellent for the matter of them, are strong and convincing for the argument contained in them, are beautiful and elegant for the language or the manner, or any way worthy of a second rehearsal ; and at the request of any of the company, let those paragraphs be read over again. Such parts also of these writings as may happen to be remarkably stu- pid or silly, false or mistaken, should become subjects of an oc- casional criticism, made by some of the company ; and this may give occasion to the repetition of them for confirmation of the censure, for amusement or diversion. Still let it be remembered, that where the historical narra- tion is of considerable moment, where the poesy, oratory, &c. shine with some degrees of perfection and glory, a single read- ing is neither sufficient to satisfy a mind that has a true taste of this sort of writings ; nor can we make the fullest and best im- provement of them without proper reviews, and that in our re- tirement as well as in company. Who is there that has any gout for polite writings that would be sufficiently satisfied with hear- ing the beautiful pages of Steele or Addison, the admirable de- scriptions of Virgil or Milton, or some of the finest poems of Pope, Young, or Dryden, once read over to them, and then lay them by for ever ? XVI. Among these writings of the latter kind, we may justly reckon short miscellaneousessays on all manner Of sub- jects : such as the Occasional Papers, the Tattlers, the Specta- tors, and some 'other books tliathave been compiled out of the weekly or daily products of the press, wherein are contained a great number of bright thoughts, ingenious remarks, and admi- rable observations, which have had a considerable share in 'fur. nishing the presedt age with knowledge and politeness. I wish every paper among' these writings could have been recommended both as innocent and useful. 'I wish every un= seemly idea and wanton expression had been banished from amongst them, and every trifling page liad been excluded from the company of the rest when they had been bound up in vo- lumes. But it is not to be expected, in so imperfect a state, that 'every page or piece of such mixed public papers should be en- tirely blameless and laudable. Yet in the main ,it must be con- fessed, there is so much virtue, prudence, ingenuity and good-. uess in them; especially in eight volumes of Spectators, there is such it reverence of things sacred, so many valuable remarks for our conduct in life, that they arc not, improper to lie in par- lours, or summer-houses, or places of usual residence,to enter- tain our thoughts in any moments of leisure, or vacant hours
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