The De Coverley Papers | Page 4

pyramid: and, as soon as I had set myself right in that particular,
returned to my native country with great satisfaction.
I have passed my latter years in this city, where I am frequently seen in
most public places, though there are not above half a dozen of my
select friends that know me; of whom my next paper shall give a more
particular account. There is no place of general resort, wherein I do not
often make my appearance; sometimes I am seen thrusting my head
into a round of politicians at Will's[8], and listening with great attention
to the narratives that are made in those little circular audiences.
Sometimes I smoke a pipe at Child's[8], and, whilst I seem attentive to
nothing but the Postman[9], overhear the conversation of every table in
the room. I appear on Sunday nights at St. James's[8] coffee-house, and
sometimes join the little committee of politics in the inner room, as one
who comes there to hear and improve. My face is likewise very well
known at the Grecian[8], the Cocoa-Tree, and in the theatres both of
Drury Lane and the Hay-Market. I have been taken for a merchant upon
the Exchange for above these ten years, and sometimes pass for a Jew
in the assembly of stock-jobbers at Jonathan's: in short, wherever I see
a cluster of people, I always mix with them, though I never open my
lips but in my own club.
Thus I live in the world rather as a spectator of mankind, than as one of
the species, by which means I have made myself a speculative
statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with
any practical part in life. I am very well versed in the theory of a

husband or a father, and can discern the errors in the economy[10],
business, and diversion of others, better than those who are engaged in
them, as standers-by discover blots[11], which are apt to escape those
who are in the game. I never espoused any party with violence, and am
resolved to observe an exact neutrality between the Whigs and Tories,
unless I shall be forced to declare myself by the hostilities of either side.
In short, I have acted in all the parts of my life as a looker-on, which is
the character I intend to preserve in this paper.
I have given the reader just so much of my history and character, as to
let him see I am not altogether unqualified for the business I have
undertaken. As for other particulars in my life and adventures, I shall
insert them in following papers, as I shall see occasion. In the
meantime, when I consider how much I have seen, read, and heard, I
begin to blame my own taciturnity; and, since I have neither time nor
inclination to communicate the fulness of my heart in speech, I am
resolved to do it in writing, and to print myself out, if possible, before I
die. I have been often told by my friends, that it is pity so many useful
discoveries which I have made should be in the possession of a silent
man. For this reason, therefore, I shall publish a sheet-full of thoughts
every morning, for the benefit of my contemporaries; and if I can any
way contribute to the diversion or improvement of the country in which
I live, I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the secret
satisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain.
There are three very material points which I have not spoken to[12] in
this paper; and which, for several important reasons, I must keep to
myself, at least for some time: I mean, an account of my name, my age,
and my lodgings. I must confess, I would gratify my reader in anything
that is reasonable; but as for these three particulars, though I am
sensible they might tend very much to the embellishment of my paper,
I cannot yet come to a resolution of communicating them to the public.
They would indeed draw me out of that obscurity which I have enjoyed
for many years, and expose me in public places to several salutes and
civilities, which have been always very disagreeable to me; for the
greatest pain I can suffer, is the being talked to, and being stared at. It is
for this reason likewise, that I keep my complexion[13] and dress as

very great secrets; though it is not impossible, but I may make
discoveries[14] of both in the progress of the work I have undertaken.
After having been thus particular upon myself, I shall, in to-morrow's
paper, give an account of those gentlemen who are concerned with me
in this work; for, as I have before intimated, a