_Freeholder_, there is a vigour and masculine energy which he has seldom
equalled elsewhere. When it expired, Swift exulted over its death in
terms which sufficiently proved that he was annoyed and oppressed by its
life. "He might well," says Johnson, "rejoice at the death of that which
he could not have killed."

On the 2d of January 1711, the last _Tatler_ came forth; and on the 1st
of the following March appeared the _Spectator_, which is now the main
pillar of Addison's fame, and the fullest revelation of his exquisite
genius. Without being as a whole a great, or in any part of it a profound
work, there are few productions which, if lost, would be more missed in
literature. One reclines on its pages as on pillows. The sweetness of the
spirit,--the trembling beauty of the sentences, like that of a twilight
wave just touched by the west wind's balmy breath,--the nice strokes
of humour, so gentle, yet so overpowering,--the feminine delicacy and
refinement of the allusions,--the art which so dexterously conceals
itself,--the mild enthusiasm for the works of man and God which glows in
all its serious effusions,--the good nature of its satire,--the geniality
of its criticism,--the everlasting April of the style, so soft and
vivid,--the purity and healthiness of the moral tone,--and the childlike
religion which breathes in the Saturday papers--one or two of which, such
as the "Vision of Mirza," are almost scriptural in spirit and beautiful
simplicity,--combine to throw a charm around the _Spectator_ which works
of far loftier pretensions, if they need not, certainly do not possess.
Macaulay (whom we love for his love of Addison and Bunyan more than
for aught else about his works) truly observes, that few writers have
discovered so much variety and inventiveness as Addison, who, in
the papers of a single week, sometimes traverses the whole gamut of
literature, supplying keen sarcasm, rich portraiture of character, the
epistle, the tale, the allegory, the apologue, the moral essay, and the