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we not make choice of a passion that will keep one long in play?

A sportsman of vivacity will make choice of that game which will prolong his diversion: a fox, that will support the chace till night, is better game than a rabbit, that will not afford him half an hour's entertainment.-E.

The submission of Prince Hal to the civil magistrate that committed him, was more to his honour than all the conquests of Henry the Fifth in France.

The most animated social pleasure, that I can conceive, may be, perhaps, felt by a general after a successful engagement, or in it: I mean by such commanders as have souls equal to their occupation. This, however, seems paradoxical, and requires some explanation.

Resistance to the reigning powers is justifiable, upon a conviction that their government is inconsistent with the good of the subject; that our interposition tends to establish better measures; and this without a probability of occasioning evils that may overbalance them. But these considerations must never be separated.

People are, perhaps, more vicious in towns, because they have fewer natural objects there to employ their attention-or admiration likewise because one vicious character tends to encourage and keep another in countenance. However it be, excluding accidental circumstances, I believe the largest cities are the most vicious of all others.

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle size are alone entangled in.

Though I have no sort of inclination to vindicate the late rebellion, yet I am led by candour to make some distinction between the immorality of its abettors, and the illegality of their offence. My lord Hardwick, in his condemnation speech, remarks, with great propriety, that the laws of all nations have adjudged rebellion to be the worst of crimes; and in regard to civil societies, I believe there are none but madmen will dispute it. But surely, with regard to conscience, erroneous judgments and ill-grounded convictions may render it some people's duty. Sin does not consist in any deviation from received opinion; it does not depend upon the understanding, but the will. Now, if it appear that a man's opinion has happened to misplace his duty; and this opinion has not been owing to any vicious desire of indulging his appetites-in short, if his own reason, liable to err, have biased his will, rather than his will any way contributed to bias and deprave his reason—he will, perhaps, appear guilty before none, beside an earthly tribunal.

A person's right to resist, depends upon a conviction, that the government is ill-managed; that others have more claim to manage it, or will administer it better: that he, by his resistance, can introduce a change to its advantage, and this without any consequential evils that will bear proportion to the said advantage.

Whether this were not in appearance the case of Balmerino, I will not presume to say: how conceived, or from what delusion sprung. But as, I think, he was reputed an honest man in other respects, one may guess his behaviour was rather

owing to the misrepresentations of his reason, than to any depravity, perverseness, or disingenuity of his will.

If a person ought heartily to stickle for any cause it should be that of moderation, Moderation should be his party.

XXIV.

EGOTISMS.-FROM MY OWN SENSATIONS.

I HATE maritime expressions, similes, and allusions: my dislike, I suppose, proceeds from the unnaturalness of shipping, and the great share which art ever claims in that practice.

I am thankful that my name is obnoxious to no pun.

May I always have a heart superior, with œconomy suitable, to my fortune!

Inanimates, toys, utensils, seem to merit a kind of affection from us, when they have been our companions through various vicissitudes. I have often viewed my watch, standish, snuff-box, with this kind of tender regard; allotting them a degree of friendship, which there are some men who do not deserve:

"Midst many faithless only faithful found !

I loved Mr. Somerville, because he knew so perfectly what belonged to the flocci-nauci-nihili-pilification of money.

It is with me in regard to the earth itself, as it is in regard to those that walk upon its surface. I love to pass by crowds, and to catch distant views

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of the country as I walk along; but I insensibly choose to sit where I cannot see two yards before

me.

I begin too soon in life to slight the world, more than is consistent with making a figure in it. The non est tanti" of Ovid grows upon me so fast that in a few years I shall have no passion.

I am obliged to the person that speaks me fair to my face. I am only more obliged to the man who speaks well of me in my absence also. Should I be asked whether I chose to have a person speak well of me when absent or present, I should answer the latter; for were all men to do so, the former would be insignificant.

I feel an avarice of social pleasure, which pro duces only mortification. I never see a town or city in a map, but I figure to myself many agreeable persons in it, with whom I could wish to be acquainted.

It is a miserable thing to be sensible of the value of one's time, and yet restrained by circumstances from making a proper use of it: one feels one's self somewhat in the situation of Admiral Hosier.

It is a miserable thing to love where one hates; and yet it is not inconsistent.

The modern world considers it as a part of politeness, to drop the mention of kindred in all addresses to relations. There is no doubt, that it puts our approbation and esteem upon a less partial footing. I think, where I value a friend, I would not suffer my relation to be obliterated even to the twentieth generation: it serves to connect us closer. Wherever I disesteemed, I would abdicate my firstcousin.

Circumlocutory, philosophical obscenity appears to me the most nauseous of all stuff: shall I say it takes away the spirit from it, and leaves you nothing but a caput mortuum? or shall I say rather it is a sire in an envelope of fine gilt paper, which only raises expectation? Could any be allowed to talk obscenely with a grace, it were downright country-fellows, who use an unaffected language; but even among these, as they grow old, it partakes again of affectation.

It is some loss of liberty to resolve on schemes before-hand.

There are a sort of people to whom one would allot good wishes and perform good offices; but they are sometimes those, with whom one would by no means share one's time.

I would have all men elevated to as great a height, as they can discover a lustre to the naked eye.

I am surely more inclined, of the two, to pretend a false disdain, than an unreal esteem.

Yet why repine? I have seen mansions on the verge of Wales that convert my farm-house into an Hampton-court, and where they speak of a glazed window as a great piece of magnificence. All things figure by comparison.

I do not so much want to avoid being cheated, as to afford the expense of being so: the generality of mankind being seldom in good humour but whilst they are imposing upon you in some shape or other.

I cannot avoid comparing the ease and freedom I enjoy, to the ease of an old shoe; where a certain degree of shabbiness is joined with the conveni

ence.

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