“I have read you; that is a favour few authors can boast of having received from me besides yourself. My intention in telling you of it is to inform you, that you have both pleased and angered me. Never did writer appear so delightful to me as you did when you adopted the name of the Idler: but what a falling off was there1 when your first production was brought to light! A natural irresistible attachment to that favourablea passion, “idling,” had led me to hope for indulgence from the Idler, but I find him a stranger to the title.

“What rules has he proposed totally to unbrace the slackened nerve; to shade the heavy eye of inattention; to giveb the smooth feature and the uncontracted muscle; or procure insensibility to the whole animal composition.

“These were some of the placid blessings I promised myself the enjoyment of, when I committed violence upon myself, by mustering up all my strength to set about reading you; but I am disappointed in them all, and the stroke of eleven in the morning is still as terrible to me as before, and I findc putting on my cloaths still as painful and laborious. Oh that our climate would permit that original nakedness which the thrice happy Indians to this day enjoy! How many unsolicitous hours should I bask away, warmed in bed by the sun's glorious beams, could I, like them, tumble from thence in a moment, when necessity obliges me to endure the torment of getting upon my legs.

“But wherefore do I talk to you upon subjects of this delicate nature; you who seem ignorant of the inexpressible charms of the elbow-chair, attended with a soft stool for the elevation of the feet! Thus, vacant of thought, do I indulge the live-long day.

“You may define happiness as you please; I embrace thatd opinion which makes it consist in the absence of pain.2 To reflect is pain; to stir is pain; therefore I never reflect or stir but when I cannote help it. Perhaps you will call my scheme of life indolence, and therefore think the Idler excused from taking any notice of me: but I have always looked upon indolence and idleness as the same, and so desire you will now and then, while you profess yourself of our fraternity, take some notice of me, and others in my situation, who think they have a right to your assistance, or relinquish the name.

“You may publish, burn, or destroy this, just as you are in the humour; it is ten to one but I forget that I wrote it before it reaches you. I believe you may find a motto for it in Horace, but I cannotf reach him without getting out of my chair; that isg a sufficient reason for my not affixing any.—And being obliged to sit upright to ring the bell for my servant to convey this to the penny post, if I slip the opportunity of his being now in the room, makes me break off abruptly.”3