Essays, Biographical, Critical, and Historical, Illustrative of the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian

To works of such celebrity as were the Tatler,
Spectator, and Guardian, and written in a form
which very readily admitted, and indeed almost
required, numerous contributions from numerous
individuals, it might naturally be expected that
many, either from motives of fame or interest,
would be eager to offer their assistance.

Of these, (to whom priority of enumeration will,
in this place, be given, in proportion to the number
of papers which they respectively produced,)

EUSTACE BUDGELL takes the lead. He was the
son of Gilbert Budgell, D. D. of St. Thomas near
Exeter, and was born in 1685. His mother, only
daughter of Dr. William Gulston, Bishop of

Bristol, was sister to the lady of Dean Addison, and consequently a relationship, which proved of essential service to young Budgell, subsisted between him and the principal author of the Spectator.

Having shown considerable facility in the acquisition of classical learning, he was at an earlier period than usual sent to Christ Church, Oxford, of which college he became a member in the year 1700. After a residence of some years in this university, he relinquished it to embrace, at the request of his father, the profession of the law, and, for this purpose, was entered of the Inner Temple. This was a designation, however, by no means agreeable to the wishes or the views of Budgell. He had acquired a decided taste for elegant literature; and the chief object of his ambition was, to be the associate and companion of those who figured as the leaders of the literary world.

Nothing could be better calculated for the gra tification of his desires than an introduction to Addison; this, as a relation, he easily obtained, and he exhibited so many proofs of ability and classical proficiency, that, when this accomplished scholar was appointed secretary to the Earl of Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he hesitated not to make an offer to his young friend of a clerkship in his office.

Books

Essays, Biographical, Critical, and Historical, Illustrative of ..., Volume 3