Nothing has more excited the curioſity of mankind at all times, than that deſire which prevails of prying into the ſecret actions of great and illustrious characters; ariſing in ſome, from a too general ſpirit of envy, which hopes to find ſomething in their private conduct that may ſully the luſtre of their publick fame, and ſo bring them down more to a level with themſelves: and in others, of a more candid diſposition, that they might form right judgements of their real characters; as too many, like actors in a theatre, only aſſume one when they appear on the ſtage of the world, which they put off, together with their robes and plumes, when retired to the dreſſing room.