The present state of wit (1711), and excerpts from The English Theophrastus; or, The manners of the age (1702)

A lively snapshot of London’s coffee‑house culture, this pamphlet offers a quick‑moving tour of the essays, pamphlets, and fleeting publications that filled the streets of 1711. Framed as a friendly letter to a country reader, it catalogues the rise of periodicals like the Tatler, Spectator, and a host of lesser‑known titles, commenting on their tone, audience, and the humor that animated them. The author’s eye for detail makes the bustling world of early‑Augustan wit feel immediate and vivid.

While staying clear of overt party politics, the writer’s admiration for figures such as Steele and Addison hints at a subtle Whig sympathy, even as he acknowledges the broader spectrum of voices shaping public taste. His brisk, conversational style treats each paper as a character in a larger literary drama, giving listeners a taste of the era’s lively debate over “true” versus “false” wit. The essay serves as both a historical guide and an entertaining read for anyone curious about the foundations of modern literary criticism.