The beginning of the eighteenth century saw the prolific production of a number of Periodical essays.

Among
the figure who stand out in the history of the periodical essays were Richard Steele and Joseph Addison. Steele
developed the recent essay format in his Tattler. In collaboration with Joseph Addison, he launched the
Spectator. Although the Tattler aimed to present stories of gallantry entertainment and news items, They
were soon suggesting views about decorum and test and prescribing position for men and women certain
aspect of contemporary situations were critique gambling coquetry rakish manner and scandals were not
approved. Although Steele wrote the content for one ninety issues it was Addison who provided many of the
insights. Addison invented the Spectator Club and some imaginary character such as Captan Centre, Sir
Andrew Freeport, Roger De Coverly, will honeycomb. This imaginary character represents various sections of
society.

The term Whig and Tory emerged as party labels during the restoration and eighteenth century. As party
labels the term derived from the execution crisis, whigs being the supporter of Exclusion and Torries being
their royalist opponents. By extension the whigs were seen as asserting the primacy of parliament over the
monarchy and Torries were seen as asserting the inverse. After the revolution of 1688 and 1699 Whigs
become the supporter of status quo and Torries become Political malcontents.

As an essayist Addisons professed doctrine was to improve the morals and more of his society. Social criticism
is by and large the core of his essays. Addison sees politics around him was not guided by purely ideological
motivation but bya violent intolerance of contrary opinion.

Addison begins his essay mischief of party spirit by way of recallin an incident that happened with sir roger to
demonstrate the malice of Party spirit. It is important to note here that Addison is not commenting for or
against one political faction. People were inimical to each other. They spread flashy hood and scandals against
each other. As a result the virtue of the nation was completely destroyed. When the party spirit raged
violently it broke out into civil war. Addison points out that the worst private evil that party spirit generated
Plutarch the greek philosopher and biographer gave the percept not to hate even the enemy. Party spirit
affected the judgement of the people. As a result learning, culture and literature suffered. Abuse passed for
satire and good literature condemned. Everything has seen from the point of the party mind were prejudiced.
Addisons answer to this problem is that all honest men should unify into an association irrespective of
political learnings and should stand against the common enemies of virtue, humanity and good sense.
Addisons final solution to the partisanship does not appear to be convincing.