power of enjoyment. In this manner he led a repining, difcontented life, detefting himself, and difpleafed with his ill-judged ambition; till at last his benefactor, Wiftnow, taking compaffion on his forlorn fituation, reftored him to the ignorance and the happiness which he was originally formed to enjoy.'

No, my friend, to attempt to introduce the fciences into a nation of wandering barbarians, is only to render them more miferable than even Nature

defigned they fhould be. A life of fimplicity is beft fitted to a state of folitude.

The great law-giver of Ruffia attempted to improve the defolate inhabitants of Siberia, by fending among them fome of the politeft men of Europe. The confequence has fhewn, that the country was as yet unfit to receive them; they languished, for a time, with a fort of exotic malady; every day degenerated from themselves; and at laft, inftead of rendering the country more polite, they conformed to the foil, and put on barbarity.

No, my friend, in order to make the fciences useful in any country, it must first become populous; the inhabitant

muft go through the different stages of hunter, fhepherd, and husbandman: then, when property becomes valuable, and confequently gives cause for injustice; then, when laws are appointed to reprefs injury, and fecure poffeffion; when men, by the fanction of thofe laws, be come poffeffed of fuperfluity; when luxury is thus introduced, and demands it's continual fupply; then it is that the fciences become neceffary and ufeful; the ftate then cannot fubfit without them; they must then be introduced, at once to teach men to draw the greatest poffible quantity of pleafue from circumfcribed poffeffion, and to restrain them within the bounds of moderate enjoyment.

The fciences are not the caufe of luxury, but it's confequence; and this deftroyer thus brings with it an antidote which refifts the virulence of it's own poifon. By afferting that luxury introduces the fciences, we affert a truth; but if, with thofe who reject the utility of learning, we affert that the fciences alfo introduce luxury, we fhall be at once falfe, abfurd, and ridiculous.

Adieu.

Y

OU are now arrived at an age, my fon, when pleafure diffuades from application; but rob not, by prefent gratification, all the fucceeding period of life of it's happiness. Sacrifice a little pleasure at firit to the expectance of greater. The ftudy of a few years will make the rest of life compleatly eafy.

But instead of continuing the fubject myfelf, take the following inftructions borrowed from a modern philofopher of China*. He who has begun his fortune by ftudy, will certainly confirm it by perfeverance. The love of books damps the paffion for pleafure, and when this paffion is once extinguifhed, life is then cheaply fupported: thus a

man, being poffeffed of more than he wants, can never be fubject to great disappointments, and avoids all those meanneffes which indigence fometimes unavoidably produces.

There is unfpeakable plenfure attending the life of a voluntary student. The first time I read an excellent book, it is to me juft as if I had gained a new friend. When I read over a book I have perufed before, it resembles the meeting with an old one. We ought to lay hold of every incident in life for improvement, the trifling as well as the important. It is not one diamond alone which gives luftre to another, a common coarfe ftone is allo employed for that purpofe. Thus

• I ought

I ought to draw advantage from the ** infults and contempt I meet with from a worthlefs fellow. His brutality ought to induce me to felf-examination, and correct every blemish that may have given rife to his calumny.

·

Yet with all the pleafures and profits which are generally produced by learning, parents often find it difficult to induce their children to study. They often feem dragged to what wears the appearance of application. Thus being dilatory in the beginning, all future hopes of eminence are entirely cut off. If they find themselves obliged to write two lines more polite than ordinary, their pencil then feems as heavy as a mill-ftone, and they spend ten years in turning two or three periods with propriety.

Thefe perfons are moft at a lofs when a banquet is almott over; the ⚫ plate and the dice go round, that the number of little verfes which each is obliged to repeat may be determined by chance. The booby, when it comes to his turn, appears quite stupid and infenfible. The company divert themselves with his confusion; and fneers, winks, and whispers, are circulated at his expence. As for

him, he opens a pair of large heavy C eyes, ftares at all about him, and even offers to join in the laugh, without ever ⚫ confidering himlelf as the burthen of all their good humour.

But it is of no importance to read • much, except you be regular in your reading. If it be interrupted for any confiderable time, it can never be attended with proper improvement. There are fome who Qudy for one day with intenfe application, and repofe themselves for ten days after. But wisdom is a coquet, and must be court ed with unabating affiduity.

It was a faying of the ancients, that a man never opens a book without reaping fome advantage by it. I fay with them, that every book can ferve to make us more expert, except romances, and thefe are no better than ⚫ inftruments of debauchery. They are dangerous fictions, where love is the ⚫ ruling paffion.

The most indecent ftrokes there pafs for turns of wit; intrigue and criminal liberties for gallantry and politenefs, Affignations, and even vil

lainy, are put in fuch ftrong lights, as may infpire, even grown men, with the strongest paffion; how much more therefore ought the youth of either fex to dread them, whofe reafon is fo 'weak, and whofe hearts are fo fufceptible of paffion?

To flip in by a back-door, or leap a wall, are accomplishments that, when handfomely fet off, enchant a young heart. It is true, the plot is common. ly wound up by a marriage, concluded with the confent of parents, and adjusted by every ceremony prefcribed by law. But as in the body. of the work there are many pallages that offend good morals, overthrow laudable customs, violate the laws, and destroy the duties molt effential to fociety, virtue is thereby expofed to the most dangerous attacks.

But, fay fome, the authors of thefe romances have nothing in view, but to reprefent vice punished and virtue rewarded. Granted. But will the greater number of readers take notice. of these punishments and rewards ? Are not their minds carried to fomething elfe? Can it be imagined that the heart with which the author infpires the love of virtue, can overcome that crowd of thoughts which fway them to licentioufnels? To be able to inculcate virtue by fo leaky a vehicle, the author muit be a philofopher of the firit rank. But in our age we can find but few first-rate philofophers.

Avoid fuch performances where vice affumes the face of virtue; feek wifdom and knowledge without ever thinking you have found them. A man is wife, while he continues in the 'purfuit of wifdon; but when he once fancies that he has found the object of his enquiry, he then becomes a fool. Learn to pursue virtue from the man that is blind, who never makes a Repwithout ficit examining the ground with his staff.

parents of vigilance and economy; vigilance and ceconomy of riches and honour; riches and honour of pride and luxury; pride and luxury of im

purity and idleness; and impurity and idlenefs again produce indigence and obfcurity. Such are the revolutions of life.' Adieu.

I Fancy the character of a poet is in

every country the fame, fond of enjoying the prefent, careless of the future; his converfation that of a man of fenfe, his actions thofe of a fool! of fortitude able to stand unmoved at the bursting of an earthquake, yet of fenfibility to be affected by the breaking of a tea-cup. Such is his character; which, confidered in every light, is the very oppofite of that which leads to riches.

The poets of the Weft are as remarkable for their indigence as their genius; and yet, among the numerous hofpitals defigned to relieve the poor, I have heard of but one erected for the benefit of decayed authors. This was founded by Pope Urban VIII. and called the Retreat of Incurables, intimating, that it was equally impoffible to reclaim the patients, who fued for reception, from poverty, or from poetry. To be fincere, were I to fend you an account of the lives of the Western poets, either ancient or modern, I fancy you would think me employed in collecting materials for an hiftory of human wretchednefs.

Homer is the first poet and beggar of note among the ancients; he was blind, and fung his ballads about the streets; but it is obferved, that his mouth was more frequently filled with verfes than with bread. Plautus, the comic poet, was better off; he had two trades; he was a poet for his diverfion, and helped to turn a mill in order to gain a liveli hood. Terence was a flave; and Boethius died in a jail.

Among the Italians, Paulo Burghefe, almost as good a poet as Taffo, knew fourteen different trades, and yet died because he could get employment in none. Taffo himself, who had the moft amiable character of all poets, has often been obliged to borrow a crown from fome friend, in order to pay for a month's

fubfiftence; he has left us, a pretty fon

net, addreffed to his cat, in which he begs the light of her eyes to write by, being too poor to afford himself a candle. But Bentivoglio, poor Bentivoglio! chiefly demands our pity. His comedies will laft with the Italian language: he diffipated a noble fortune in acts of charity and benevolence; but falling into mifery in his old age, was refused to be admitted into an hofpital which he himfelf had erected.

In Spain, it is faid, the great Cer vantes died of hunger; and it is certain, that the famous Camoens ended his days in an hofpital.

If we turn to France, we fhall there find even stronger instances of the ingratitude of the public. Vaugelas, one of the politeft writers, and one of the honefteft men of his time, was firnamed the Owl, from his being obliged to keep within all day, and venture out only by night, through fear of his creditors. His last will is very remarkable. After having bequeathed all his worldly subftance to the discharging his debts, he goes on thus: But as there ftill may remain fome creditors unpaid, even after all that I have thall be difpofed of, in fuch a cafe, it is my last will, that my body fhould be fold to the furgeons to the best advantage, and that the purchafe fhould go to the difcharging thofe debts which I owe to fociety; fo that if I could not while living, at least when dead, I may be 'ufeful.'

Caffander was one of the greatest ge niufes of his time; yet all his merit could not procure him a bare fubfiftence. Being by degrees driven into an hatred of all mankind, from the little pity he found amongst them, he even ventured at last ungratefully to impute his calamities to Providence. In his laft agonies, when the priest en

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treated him to rely on the juftice of Heaven, and afk mercy from him that made him If God,' replies he, has fhewa me no juftice here, what reafon have I to expect any from him hereafter?” But being anfwered, that a fufpenfion of justice was no argument that should induce us to doubt of it's reality-Let me entreat you,' continued his confeffor, by all that is dear, to be reconciled to God, your Father, your • Maker, and Friend.'- No,' replied the exasperated wretch, you know the • manner in which he left me to live; (and pointing to the ftraw on which he was ftretched) and you fee the manner in which he leaves me to die!'

But the fufferings of the poet in other countries is nothing, when compared to his diftreffes here: the names of Spencer and Otway, Butler and Dryden, are every day mentioned as a national reproach; fome of them lived in a state of precarious indigence, and others literally died of hunger.

At prefent, the few poets of England no longer depend on the great for fubfiftence; they have now no other patrons but the public; and the public, collectively confidered, is a good and a generous mafter. It is, indeed, too frequently mistaken as to the merits of evely candidate for favour; but, to make amends, it is never mistaken long. A

performance indeed may be forced for a time into reputation; but, deftitute of real merit, it foon finks; time, the touchftone of what is truly valuable, will foon discover the fraud, and an author fhould never arrogate to himself any fhare of fuccefs, till his works have been read at least ten years with fatiffaction.

A man of letters at prefent, whofe works are valuable, is perfectly fenfible of their value. Every polite member of the community, by buying what he writes, contributes to reward him. The ridicule, therefore, of living in a garret, might have been wit in the laft age, but continues fuch no longer, because no longer true. A writer of real merit now may easily be rich, if his heart be fet only on fortune: and for those who have no merit, it is but fit that such should remain in merited obfcurity. He may now refuse an invitation to dinner, without fearing to incur his patron's difpleasure, or to starve by remaining at home. He may now venture to appear in company with juft fuch cloaths as other men generally wear, and talk even to princes, with all the conscious fuperiority of wisdom. Though he cannot boaft of fortune here, yet he can bravely affert the dignity of independence. Adien.

I

Have interefted my felf fo long in all the concerns of this people, that I am almoft become an Englishman; I now begin to read with pleasure of their taking towns or gaining battles, and fecretly with difappointinent to all the enemies of Britain. Yet ftill my regard to mankind fills me with concern for their contentions. I could with to fee the disturbances of Europe once more amicably adjutted: I am an enemy to nothing in this good world but war; I hate fighting between rival ftates; I hate it between man and man; I hate fighting even between women!

I already informed you, that while Europe was at variance, we were alfo threatened from the ftage with an irreConcileable oppofition, and that our fing

ing women were refolved to fing at each other to the end of the feafon. O my friend, those fears were juft! They are not only determined to fing at each other to the end of the feafon; but, what is worfe, to fing the fame fong; and, what is still more infupportable, to make us pay for hearing.

If they be for war, for my part, I fhould advise them to have a public congrefs, and there fairly fquall at each other. What fignifies founding the trumpet of defiance at a diftance, and calling in the town to fight their bat tles? I would have them come boldly into one of the most open and frequented ftreets, face to face, and there try their skill in quavering.

However this may be, resolved I am that

that they shall not touch one fingle piece of filver more of mine. Though I have ears for music, thanks to Heaven, they are not altogether affes ears. What! Polly and the Pick-pecket to-night? Polly and the Pick-pocket to-morrow night? and Polly and the Pick-pocket again? I want patience. I will hear no more. My foul is out of tune, all jarring difcord and confufion. Reft, reft, ye dear three clinking fhillings, in my pocket's bottom; the mufic you make is more harmonious to my fpirit, than cat-gut, rofin, or all the nightingales that ever chirruped in petticoats.

But what raifes my indignation to the greatest degree, is, that this piping does not only peiter me on the stage, but is my punishment in private conversation. What is it to me, whether the fine pipe of one, or the great manner of the other, be preferable? What care I if one has a better top, or the other a nobler bottom? How am I concerned if one fings from the ftomach, or the other fings with a fnap? Yet, paltry as thefe matters are, they make a fubject of debate wherever I go; and this musical difpute, efpecially among the fairfex, almost always ends in a very unmusical altercation.

Sure the spirit of contention is mixed into the very conftitution of the people. Divifions among the inhabitants of other countries arife only from their higher concerns; but fubjects the most contemptible are made an affair of party here, the spirit is carried even into their amufements. The very ladies, whofe duty fhould feem to allay the impetuofity of the oppofite fex, become themfelves party champions, engage in the thickeft of the fight, fcold at each other, and fhew their courage, even at the expence of their lovers and their beauty.

There are even a numerous fet of poets who help to keep up the contention, and write for the ftage. Miftake me not, I do not mean pieces to be acted upon it, but panegyrical verfes on, the performers; for that is the most univerfal method of writing for the stage at prefent. It is the business of the ftage poet, therefore, to watch the appearance of every new player at his own house, and fo come out next day with a flaunting copy of news-paper verfes. In thefe Nature and the actor may be fet to run races, the player always coming off victorious; or Nature may

THE CHARACTER OF **

TO you, bright fair, the Nine address their lays,

And tune my feeble voice to fing thy praife. The heart-felt power of every charm divine, Who can withstand their all-commanding shine?

See how the moves along with every grace, While foul-brought tears fteal down each fhining face!

Shefpeaks; 'tis rapture all and nameless blifs, Ye gods, what transport e'er compar'd to this! As when in Paphian groves the Queen of Love, With fond complaint, addrefs'd the listening Jove,

'Twas joy, and endless bliffes, all around, And rocks forgot their hardnefs at the found. Then firft, at laft even Jove was taken in, And felt her charms, without difguife, within.

And yet think not, my friend, that I have any particular animofity against the champions who are at the head of the prefent commotion; on the contrary, I could find pleasure in their music, if ferved up at proper intervals; if I heard it only on proper occafions, and not about it wherever I go. In fact, I could patronize them both; and, as an inftance of my condefcenfion in this particular, they may come and give me a fong at my lodging, on any evening when I am at leifure, provided they keep a becoming distance, and ftand, while they continue to entertain me, with decent humility at the door.

You perceive I have not read the seventeen books of Chinese ceremonies to no purpofe. I know the proper share of refpect due to every rank in fociety. Stage-players, fire-eaters, finging women, dancing-dogs, wild-beafts, and wire-walkers, as their efforts are exerted for our amusement, ought not entirely to be defpifed. The laws of every country fhould allow them to play their tricks at least with impunity. They should

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