PRINTED FOR CHARLES KNIGHT, PALL-MALL EAST.

15 NOV 1956
LIBRARY

C, Knight, Printer, Windsor.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

No. I.--Introduction- Pursuits and intentions of the

Author-Invitations to Correspondents . .
II.-On Swearing-Its extensive influence and use in

common conversation, and in the common occurrences of
life-Scheme for teaching the Art of Swearing, recom-
mended to any projector . . . .

III.-Billet from Narcissus, a dead lounger-Reflections

on apathy-Sunday's diary of Narcissus—Vacancy in the

Lounging Club--The seat offered to Gregory Griffin-

his introduction .

. . 16

IV.-The love of fame-Unjust distribution of praise--

Actions of splendid success gain more admiration than
those of useful benevolence-Different effects of the love
of fame at different periods of time-Cursory remark

on ciphers—Irregular ode ..

. . . 24
V.-Speculation on history—The rise and fall of empires-

Possibility of England's downfall-Reflections on the

probable consequence of it--Poem on the slavery of Greece 34

VI.-Letter from Musidorus on the government of the

passions, and on silly peculiarities of behaviour-From
Octavius, a candidate for the vacant seat in the Lounging
Club, with an account of a Society of Idlers-From
Observator, giving an account of the various opinions

formed concerning the Microcosin . . . .

VII.-Letter from a fellow-citizen, complaining of certain

waggeries of an old gentleman, ridiculousness of point-

less jests, and witticisms duly expected, and disgusting,

as well from the awkward merriment, as frequency of

repetition-Cautions against the use of such-Reflec-

tions on the nature of wit-Proposals for opening a

warehouse for all the branches of that commodity . 52

PAQE

VIII.-On family pride-Moderation of Gregory Griffin in

not boasting of his ancestors—Different notions of pride

as conceived by different persons-Folly of the opinion

that mankind degenerates-Misapplication of the word

antediluvian-Antiquity of a British family certainly not

honourable-Particular duty of men of family- Equitable

treatment of the citizens of the lesser world . . 61

IX.-Unity of design in the structure of a poem-Allusion

to local circumstances censured, poetry being defined to
be an universal language-Blackmore not inferior in his
designs to the poets of antiquity-Remark on Dryden-

Examples of locality-Homer, Chaucer, Pope .
X.-On genius-Complaints of its paucity ill-founded, as

proceeding from want of cultivation-Genius to be dis-
covered even in the dark ages--The land of liberty, the
land of genius-Decay of eloquence and temporary du-
ration of poetry, after the enslavement of Rome by
Augustus-A series of learned men produced by Greece
-Šome remarks on an unfair position in the 127th
paper of the Adventurer—The falsehood of a maxim very

generally received . . .
XI.-Gregory Griffin proposes a display of his critical

abilities—Critique on the heroic poem of the Knave of

Hearts : : ....

... . : . 87
XII.—Conclusion of the critique-Admonition to the Au-

thor's fellow-citizens on the subject of the ornamental

devices to be prefixed to their poems on the Restoration 95

XIII.-Reflections on the folly of supposing gradual de-

generacy in mankind-Fiction of the golden age-Civi-
lisation by no means so injurions to the virtue of mankind
as it is represented—The love of pleasure conducive to
civilisation-Conduct of Agricola in the reduction of
Britain, and of the first subduers of America, contrasted
-Change of Manners in Sparta-in Rome-in the Eng-

lish, after the Restoration . .

: . 101

XIV. -Letter from Cæmeterius on epitaphs-From a

Country Girl, on loud whisperers-Resolutions of Mr.

Griffin's committee .

: :, . _ 108
XV.-Letter from Alfred on true and false glory-From

Christopher Cutjoke, on the miseries consequent on being

witty-From Ironiculus, a poem on the art of lying 117

135 .

PAGE

XVI.-On language--The causes which contribute to the

improvement or alteration of it-The progress of the

English language .

. . . . 123

XVII.-Letter from a correspondent on the nature and

extent of politeness-From Arthur Cassock-his mise-
rable situation as private tutor in a gentleman's family

described FromĖtonensis, a poem on taking leave of Eton 129

XVIII.-On the universal curiosity to know what others

think of one-Disagreeable consequences of indulging
that curiosity-Danger of speaking our sentiments of
other people too freely to those whom we do not know-
Instance of the effects of such a conduct—The advantage
Gregory Griffin enjoys, by being able, himself undis-
covered, to find out the sentiments of his fellow-citizens,
with regard to himself and his work-Various opinions
on the subject-Various conjectures about the author
Specimen of letters of advice from different correspondents

-Story of Apelles . .

XIX.—History of Frederico

. 145

XX.-Reflections on the character and conduct of Julius

Cæsar-His clemency opposed to the cruel behaviour of

Sylla and Augustus-Mercy rarely recommended as a

virtue by the ancients, but the offspring of christianity 154

XXI.--Letter from a correspondent, containing reflections

on a line of Virgil, on a parish register, on the desire of

posthumous fame, and an eulogy on Mr. Powel, the fire-

eater . . . . . . . . . 161

XXII.-Letter from H. Homespun, containing a complaint

against prejudices ill-founded and injurious to any body
of men, particularly those which are directed against
tailors and weavers-Analogy between the art of weaving
and the art of poetry-Proposals for drawing all metaphors

of the loom from our home manufactures-Mr. Griffin's

opinion on the letter of his correspondent, and his en.

forcement of Mr. Homespun's advice . . . 169

XXIII.--On government- The patriarchal—The monar-

chical—The States of Greece--The modification of the
Roman government considered-Remark on some lines
of Virgil-Folly of too much refinement in tracing the
origin of particular forms of government The Feudal