faction allow little to the operation of particular dispositions or
private opinions. Two men of personal characters more opposite than
those of Wharton and Addison could not easily be brought together.
Wharton was impious, profligate, and shameless; without regard, or
appearance of regard, to right and wrong. Whatever is contrary to
this may be said of Addison; but as agents of a party they were
connected, and how they adjusted their other sentiments we cannot
know.

Addison must, however, not be too hastily condemned. It is not
necessary to refuse benefits from a bad man when the acceptance
implies no approbation of his crimes; nor has the subordinate
officer any obligation to examine the opinions or conduct of those
under whom he acts, except that he may not be made the instrument of
wickedness. It is reasonable to suppose that Addison counteracted,
as far as he was able, the malignant and blasting influence of the
Lieutenant; and that at least by his intervention some good was
done, and some mischief prevented. When he was in office he made a
law to himself, as Swift has recorded, never to remit his regular
fees in civility to his friends: "for," said he, "I may have a
hundred friends; and if my fee be two guineas, I shall, by
relinquishing my right, lose two hundred guineas, and no friend gain
more than two; there is therefore no proportion between the good
imparted and the evil suffered." He was in Ireland when Steele,
without any communication of his design, began the publication of
the Tatler; but he was not long concealed; by inserting a remark on
Virgil which Addison had given him he discovered himself. It is,
indeed, not easy for any man to write upon literature or common life
so as not to make himself known to those with whom he familiarly
converses, and who are acquainted with his track of study, his