In September 1713 the _Guardian_ stopped; but in June 1714 Addison, now
separated from Steele, who was carrying on a political paper called the
_Englishman_, added an eighth volume to the _Spectator_. Its contents
are more uniformly serious than those of the first seven volumes, and
it contains, besides Addison's matchless papers, some only inferior to
these, especially four by Mr Grove, a dissenting minister in Taunton. It
is recorded in "Boswell" that Baretti having, on the Continent, met with
Grove's paper on "Novelty," it quickened his curiosity to visit Britain,
for he thought, if such were the lighter periodical essays of our
authors, their productions on more weighty occasions must be wonderful
indeed!

When George I. succeeded to the throne, Addison's fortunes began to
improve. A Council having been appointed to manage matters till the King
arrived, Addison was chosen their secretary; and afterwards he went
over again to Ireland in his old capacity, Sunderland being now
Lord-Lieutenant. Here, much as he differed from Swift in politics, he
resumed his intimacy with him,--an intimacy, considering the dispositions
of the two men, singular, as though a lamb and a flayed bear were to form
an alliance. In 1715 our poet returned to England, and obtained a seat at
the Board of Trade. Early in the year he brought out, anonymously, on the
stage his comedy of the "Drummer," which was coldly received. And towards
the close of it, he commenced a very clever periodical called the
_Freeholder_. We only met with this series a few years ago, but can
assure our readers that some of the most delectable bits of Addison are
to be found in it. There is a Tory fox-hunter yet riding along there,
whom we would advise you to join if you would enjoy one of the richest
treats of humour; and there is a Jacobite army still on its way to
Preston, the only danger connected with approaching which, is lest you be