ThenumberofEnglishmenwhowereinthehabitofreading，wasprobablynotasixthofwhatitnowis。Ashopkeeperorafarmerwhofoundanypleasureinliterature，wasararity。

　　Nay，therewasdoubtlessmorethanoneknightoftheshirewhosecountryseatdidnotcontaintenbooks，receiptbooksandbooksonfarrieryincluded。Inthesecircumstances，thesaleoftheSpectatormustbeconsideredasindicatingapopularityquiteasgreatasthatofthemostsuccessfulworksofSirWalterScottandMr。Dickensinourowntime。

　　Atthecloseof1712theSpectatorceasedtoappear。Itwasprobablyfeltthattheshort—facedgentlemanandhisclubhadbeenlongenoughbeforethetown;andthatitwastimetowithdrawthem，andtoreplacethembyanewsetofcharacters。InafewweeksthefirstnumberoftheGuardianwaspublished。ButtheGuardianwasunfortunatebothinitsbirthandinitsdeath。

　　Itbeganindulness，anddisappearedinatempestoffaction。Theoriginalplanwasbad。Addisoncontributednothingtillsixty—sixnumbershadappeared;anditwasthenimpossibletomaketheGuardianwhattheSpectatorhadbeen。NestorIronsideandtheMissLizardswerepeopletowhomevenhecouldimpartnointerest。Hecouldonlyfurnishsomeexcellentlittleessays，bothseriousandcomic;andthishedid。

　　WhyAddisongavenoassistancetotheGuardian，duringthefirsttwomonthsofitsexistenceisaquestionwhichhaspuzzledtheeditorsandbiographers，butwhichseemstoustoadmitofaveryeasysolution。HewasthenengagedinbringinghisCatoonthestage。

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