The Spectator, Volume 2.

by Joseph Addison

"The Spectator, Volume 2." by Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele is a periodical publication published from 1711 to 1712. This influential daily paper aimed to enliven morality with wit, bringing philosophy from libraries into London's coffeehouses and tea-tables. Through essays and letters on politics, arts, literature, and love, the publication reached thousands of readers across social classes, including America's Founding Fathers. Targeting an emerging middle class and explicitly welcoming women readers, The Spectator shaped public discourse and social conversation with its humorous observations and enlightened values.