age is furnished, and the records of literature are replete with the names of scholars, whose shamefui indolence is an indelible mark in the escutcheon of their characters. These men possessed arms of irresistible force, and authority of unlimited jurisdiction. Their acquaintance with the liberal arts might have furnished new gratifications of elegant luxury, and their knowledge in mechanicks might have created unknown accommodations of general life, and made the elements common tributaries to the service of nations their scientifick researches would perhaps have perfected the knowledge of the solar system, and guided the future observer to sublime discoveries among the suns and comets, which are scattered in infinite space; their physiology would perhaps have mitigated the pain, or removed the cause of the most grievous diseases; it might have added new powers to our bodies, and lengthened the duration of existence their exertions might have adorned morality with new beauties to captivate, and armed it with irresistible arguments to persuade; while their holy prayers and pious reflections would perhaps have induced the hardened infidel to contemplate the infinite merits of the Saviour, impelled the atheist to purge his soul from crime, and acknowledge in devout adoration the existence of a God.

The principle of gratitude furnishes another obligation to make our knowledge subservient to the good of mankind. This virtue, unincumbered by any nice moral distinctions, is founded humanly on the reception of some good, and the consequent duty of returning the favour. The duty may be evidenced by actual benefit, not to these who imposed the obligation,

for they may not be in existence, but to others in necessitous situations, whom the benefactor would rejoice to have assisted, and whợ are to be considered proper objects of favour, according to the nature of things and the actual system of relation. If all have received, all should give. If there have been an unequal distribution of good, there are different measures of good to be returned, as testimonials of gratitude. But the sons of learning should not calculate their grateful offerings by precise rules of obligations. As they are dignified with high rank, and endowed with enlarged views, they will give with munificence; they will act with liberal propriety; they will not nicely scan and studiously weigh motives, and principles. and conduct; they should be above petty arts and contemptible contrivances to escape the duties of virtue. But whether gratitude impel, or benevolence incite them, they should communicate with the flowing hand of plenty. They have received liberally from their fathers, and they should transmit to their sons whatever they possess of confirmed science and new discovery; for if they retain their literary property, it can profit them little; but if they bestow it, they will discharge their obligation, widen the circle of future felicity, and their names will be mentioned with esteem, and their memory covered with glory. There can be no doubt of their having a great duty to perform. Indeed, if we observe the riches, which learning has received, we might hesitate in saying that the best exertions could cancel the bond. world has obtained an hereditary fortune in the works of men exalted in erudition and venerable in holiness. This treasure has been

The literary

accumulating from age to age, and has descended from generation to generation, till its present proprie tors are transported in examining the number of its parts, and the variety of its materials; or are overpowered in contemplating its mighty magnitude, diversified splendour, and irresistible power.

The all-wise creator of the universe has made nothing in vain. The general contrivance of the world is demonstrated by astrono my to be best adapted for its situation; and the apparent irregularities on its surface, or disorders in its atmosphere, are shown by philosophers to be productive of general happiness. The animals are endued with certain powers: for the execution of certain purposes; they are furnished with means of offence and defence, with the abil ity of continuing existence, and with various passions and portions of reason and instinct. Thus the system of things is preserved in order and harmony. But this universal agreement has not been demonstrated to exist in the moral world. Without, however, dis cussing extensively and nicely this interesting proposition, it may be sufficient to observe, that the pos

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sessor of enlarged faculties, attended by continual indolence, exhibits a character of little use to the world. Where power is granted, there must be an intention, that the power should be exercised. If it be of a beneficial nature, the in-. tention becomes more evident, and an absolute obligation ensues. Let then Genius beware of his conduct, and let Learning resolutely shake off her idleness. By divine authority we are commanded not to hide in a napkin the treasures we have received, and from the same source we know, that an account is to be given of their exertion or inactivity. But, reasoning on moral principles alone, we may discover, that we obstruct the evident designs of our Maker, when we willingly consign our knowledge to shameful inertness: talents are bestowed by heaven to be employed in doing good, he surely is guilty of contempt, and perhaps of rebellion, who slights the intentions of superiour wisdom; who defers his exertions till the hour of exertion be past, and consumes the petty remainder of an unprofitable existence in foolish gaiety or unavailing indifference.

If

strength and vigour of the English. Yet it must be allowed, that the Gauls are more graceful and decorous in their speech, than their rival neighbours. If I might have my choice, I would make love in Italian; converse with wits and connoisseurs in French; say my prayers in Spanish; and talk to my dog in some of the dialects of the Baltick; but my funeral eulogy should be written in English by doctor Johnson.

For facetiousness, for playful civility, and easy repartee, the French idiom is unequalled. But the English is better for the purposes of manly commendation, and elegant and elaborate praise. I doubt, whether any language affords a finer specimen of panegyrick, than the Character of Chatham,' or whether any thing can excel, in dignified commendation, some of the dedications written by Johnson. The French dedicators, with a modesty, which approaches to abject humiliation, throw themselves at the feet of their patrons, and only ask the honour of unbuckling their shoes. Johnson retains the dignity of his own character, while he exalts that of him to whom he speaks. The French throw away extravagant compliment, as if it were of no value: Johnson confers praise, not as if praise were worthless, but as if he were generous.

But when praise rises to romance, the superiority of the English idiom is no more. The imagination travels easier in the loose, flowing, retiring robe of a Parisian belle, than in the stays and buckram of queen Elizabeth. Nor is it wonderful, since language is a metaphrase of the national character, that the French should excel in the FICTITIOUS; for much of the science, and all the virtue of

the nation seems to be of that description. The following letter, addressed to a French commander on his gaining a victory, is a trans-, lation from that language. Perhaps the critick will see in it little either of the spirit or the idiom of the original.

'Elysian Fields, June 20th.

'MY LORD,

THE fame of your actions awakes the dead. It arouses those, who have now slumbered for thirty years, and were destined to slumber to eternity. It compels even silence itself to break forth. What a brilliant, renowned, and glorious conquest have you achieved over the enemies of France! You have restored bread to the city, which has been accustomed to furnish it to all others. You have nourished the nurse-mother of Italy. The thunders of that fleet, which barred your passage to the port, could only celebrate your entrance. Its resistance could not detain you longer, than a reception encumbered with some excess of ceremony. Far from retarding the rapidity of your motions, it could not even interrupt the order of your course. You have constrained the South and the North obey you.

Without chastizing the sea, like Xerxes, you have yet rendered it governable. You have even done much more-you have humbled Spain. After this, what may not be said of you? NoNature in her prime, and at the age when she created Cæsars and Alexanders, never produced any thing so grand, as under the reign of Louis the Fourteenth. In her decline and debility she hath given to France what Rome could not obtain, at the moment of her utmost vigour and maturity. She hath enabled the world to behold in you, my lord, an instance of

that perfect valour, of which we had scarcely formed a notion from romances and heroick poems. Nor should it displease any of your poets, that he cannot say, that you are not known beyond the Cocytus. Your boasting is, my lord, that you have now a common fame on both sides the Styx. It hath caused you forever to be remembered in the very abode of oblivion. It hath found you zealous partisans in the regions of indifference. It has engaged Acheron in the interest of the Seine. I will say more-There is not a ghost among us, so devoted to the principles of the Lyceum, so hardened in the school of Zeno, so fortified against. joy and against grief, as not to

hear you praised with rapture,and, clapping his hands, to cry out, a miracle!

As for me, my lord, who know you much better than others, I incessantly dream of you. Your idea occupies me entirely in the long hours of repose. Continualiy do I exclaim, illustrious personage and if I have any desire to live again, it is less to see the light of heaven, than that I might enjoy the supreme happiness of your conversation; an assure you, with my own lips, how respectfully I am, with all the sentiments of my heart,

'your lordship's most humble, and most obedient servant, BALSAC.'

1

Mrs. Montagu to Mrs. Robinson, &c. at Naples.

Hill Street, 26 Feb. 1762. ****. I long most impatiently to hear of your safe recovery, and the health of the little one, who is to repay you for all the trouble his first stage of life will give you. Patience and good humour, which you possess in a high degree, greatly mitigate all sufferings. Those who have most self-love, by a strange blindness to their interest, have usually the least of that noble panacea, patience, which only can heal all the wounds, the rubs, and the scratches one receives in this rough world. I believe you found it an excellent fellow-traveller through Spain: it makes a smooth road, where the pick-axe has never levelled the inequalities, and softens the mattrass and pillow. I am under some anxiety, lest our rupture

with Spain should occasion you any inconvenience.

I am so poor a politician,that if I durst write on the subject, Į should be able to give you but a lame account of the situation of affairs here. In the house of commons every boy, who can articulate, is a speaker, to the great dispatch of business, and solidity of councils. They sit late every night, as every young gentleman, who has a handsome person, a fine coat, a well-shaped leg, or a clear voice, is to exhibit these advantages.

To this kind of beau-oratory, and tea-table talk, the ladies, as is reasonable, resorted very constantly. At first they attended in such numbers, as to fill the body of the house on great political questions. Having all their lives been aiming at conquests, committing murders, and enslaving mankind, they were for most violent and bloody

measures: desirous of a war with Spain and France, fond of battles on the continent,and delighted with the prospect of victories in the 1 East and West Indies. They They wished to see the chariot of their favourite minister drawn, like that of the great Sesostris, by six captive kings!

Much glory might have accrued to Great-Britain from this martial spirit in the ladies: but, whether by private contrivance, or that of a party, who are inclined to pacifick measures, I do not know, a ghost started up in a dirty obscure alley in the city, and diverted the attention of the female politicians from the glory of their country to an inquiry, why Miss Fanny , who died of the small pox two years ago, and suffered herself to be buried, does now appear in the shape of the sound of a hammer, and rap and scratch at the head of Miss Parsons's bed, the daughter of a parish-clerk?

As I suppose you read the newspapers, you will see mention of the Ghost; but, without you was bere upon the spot, you could never conceive,that the most bungling performance of the silliest imposture could take up the attention and conversation of all the fine world. And as the ways of the beau-monde are always in contradiction to the gospel, they are determined to shew, that, though they do not believe in Moses and the prophets, they would believe if one were to come from the dead, though it was only to play tricks,like a rat behind a wainscot! You must not indeed regret being absent, while this farce is going on. There will be an Elizabeth Canning, or a Man in a Bottle, or Some other folly, for the amusement of this frivolous generation, at all times!

But you have some reason to regret having missed the coronation, perhaps the finest spectacle in the world. As all old customs are kept up in this ceremony, there is a mixture of chivalry and popery, and many circumstances that took their rise in the barbarism of former times, and which appear now very uncouth; but, upon the whole, it is very august and magnificent.

The fine person of our young Sovereign was a great addition to the spectacle; but the Peers and Peeresses made the chief parade on the occasion. Almost all the nobility, whom age and infirmities did not incapacitate, walked in the procession. The jewels, that were worn on the occasion, would have made you imagine, that the diamond mines were in the King of Great-Britain's dominions. On the King's wedding, there appeared the greatest parade of fine cloaths I ever saw.

This winter has been very gay as to amusements. Never did we see less light from the sun, or a greater blaze of wax-candles! The presence of the Duke of Mecklenburgh, the Queen's youngest brother, has given occasion to many balls and assemblies. The Queen has not an evening drawing-room: they have sometimes balls at St. James's; but in general their majesties spend their time in private, or at Leicester-house, where the Princess Dowager hardly keeps up the air of a court. The D. of Y

makes himself amends for want of princely pastimes by very familiarly frequenting all the publick diversions; and has shared in the amusements of the ghost at Cock Lane. As all are equal in the grave, a ghost may be company for the Grand Seignior, without disparagement to human gran