be defeated, if he had not intervals of pleafure; and unless that pleasure be innocent, both he and fociety muft fuffer. Now what pleasures are more harmless, if they be nothing else, than those afforded by polite arts and polite literature? Love was given us by the Author of our being as the reward of virtue, and the folace of care; but the bafe and fordid forms of artificial, (which I oppose to natural,) fociety in which we live, have encircled that heavenly rose with fo many thorns, that the wealthy alone can gather it with prudence. On the other hand, mere pleasure, to which the idle are not justly entitled, foon fatiates, and leaves a vacuity in the mind more unpleasant than actual pain. A just mixture, or interchange of labour and pleasures, appears alone conducive to fuch happinefs as this life affords. Farewell. I have no room to add my useless name, and ftill more ufelefs profeffions of friendship.

*

The fentiments expreffed in this letter do

credit to the heart and understanding of Mr. Jones; they exhibit the pure feelings of an uncorrupted mind; but in giving them to the public, I deem it a duty to observe, that though a just mixture of labours and pleafures, (fuch innocent pleasures as Mr. Jones defcribes, and fuch only as he ever enjoyed,) is greatly conducive to the happiness of this life, the true foundation of real happiness must be fought in a higher fource. In the unpremeditated effufions of friendly correfpondence, expreffions are not to be scrupulously weighed, nor rigorously criticised; but I feel a confidence, which the reader, if he peruses the whole of these memoirs, will participate with me, that Mr. Jones would have himself approved the observation which I have made upon his letter.

In March of this year, a propofal was made to Mr. Jones, to become a member of the fociety for conftitutional information, and it appears from a letter which he wrote to the fecretary of the fociety, in reply, that he readily accepted it. To prove that he was

not regardless of the objects of the fociety's inftitution, a fhort time afterwards he addreffed a fecond letter to the fecretary, for the exprefs purpose of confuting fome doctrines in the writings of the celebrated Fielding, which he thought dangerous to the conftitution of England; I infert both from a periodical publication of 1787, in which they have been preserved.

Mr. JONES to Mr. THOMAS YEATES, Lamb's Buildings, April 25, 1782.

SIR;

It was not till within thefe very few days that I received, on my return from the circuit, your obliging letter, dated the 18th of March, which, had I been fo fortunate as to receive earlier, I fhould have made a point of anfwering immediately. The fo ciety for conftitutional information, by electing me one of their members, will confer upon me an honour which I am wholly unconfcious of deferving, but which is so flattering to me, that I accept of their offer with pleasure and gratitude. I fhould indeed long

ago have teftified my regard for so useful an institution by an offer of my humble service in promoting it, if I had not really despaired in my present fituation of being able to attend your meetings as often as I fhould ardently with.

My future life fhall certainly be devoted to the support of that excellent constitution, which it is the object of your fociety to unfold and elucidate; and from this refolution long and deliberately made, no prospects, no connections, no ftation here or abroad, no fear of danger, or hope of advantage to myfelf, fhall ever deter or allure me.

A form of government fo apparently conducive to the true happiness of the Community, must be admired as foon as it is underftood, and if reafon and virtue have any influence in human breafts, ought to be preferved by any exertions, and at any hazard. Care must now be taken, left by reducing the regal power to its juft level, we raise the aristocratical to a dangerous height; fince it is from the people that we can deduce the

obligation of our laws, and the authority of

magiftrates.

On the people depend the welfare, the fecurity, and the permanence of every legal government; in the people must reside all fubftantial power; and to the people must all thofe, in whose ability and knowledge we fometimes wifely, often imprudently confide, be always accountable for the due exercise of that power with which they are for a time. entrusted.

If the properties of all good government be confidered as duly diftributed in the different parts of our limited republic, goodnefs ought to be the diftinguished attribute of the crown, wisdom of the aristocracy, but power and fortitude of the poople. May justice and humanity prevail in them

all!

I am, Sir,

Your very

faithful and obedient fervant,

W. JONES.