would, at the fame time, be the most invidious of any order that was ever inftituted.

THE first maxim a child is taught, is that

Learning is better than house and land;" but how little is it's influence as he grows up to maturity!

THERE is fomewhat very aftonishing in the record of our most celebrated victories: I mean the small number of the conquerors killed in proportion to the conquered. At Agincourt, it is faid, were ten thousand, and fourteen thoufand maffacred. Livy's accounts of this fort are fo afto nishing, that one is apt to disbelieve the hiftorian--All the explanation one can find, is, that the grofs flaughter is made when one fide takes to flight.

A PERSON that is difpofed to throw off all referve before an inferior, fhould reflect, that he has alfo his inferiors to whom he may be equally communicative.

It is impoffible for a man of sense to guard against the mortification that may be given him by fools, or heteroclite characters; because he cannot foresee them. A wit-would cannot afford

to

.

to difcard a frivolous conceit, though it tends to affront you: An old maid, a country put, or a college pedant, will ignorantly or wilfully blunder upon fuch hints as must discompose you.

A MAN that is follicitous about his health, or apprehenfive of fome acute diforder, should write a journal of his conftitution for the better inftruction of his phyfician.

GHOSTS have no more connexion with darknefs, than the mistery of a barber with that of a furgeon; yet we find they go together. Perhaps Nox and Chaos were their mythological parents.

He makes a lady but a poor recompence who marries her, because he has kept her company long after his affection is estranged. Does he not rather encrease the injury?

SECOND thoughts oftentimes are the very worst of all thoughts. First and third very often coincide. Indeed fecond thoughts are too frequently formed by the love of novelty, of fhewing penetration, of distinguishing ourselves from the mob, and have confequently less of fimplicity, and more of affectation. This, however, regards

regards principally objects of taste and fancy. Third thoughts, at leaft, are here very proper

mediators.

"SET a beggar on horfe-back, and he'll ride," is a common proverb and a real truth. The

novus homo" is an "inexpertus homo," and confequently must purchase finery, before he knows the emptiness of it experimentally. The established gentleman difregards it through habit and familiarity.

THE foppery of love-verfes, when a perfon is ill and indifpofed is perfect ipecacuanha.

ANTIQUITY of family, and diftinctions of gentry, have, perhaps, less weight in this age, than they had ever heretofore: The bend dexter or finifter; the chief, the canton, or the cheveron, are greatly out of date. The heralds are at length discovered to have no legal authority. Spain, indeed, continues to preferve the diftinction, and is poor. France (by our difpute about a trading nobility) feems inclined to fhake it off. Who now looks with veneration on the anti-diluvian pedigree of a Welchman? Property either is, or is fure to purchase, dictinction, let the king at arms, or the old maiden aunt preach as

long

long as either pleafes. It is fo; perhaps it ought to be fo. All honors fhould lie open, all encouragement be allowed to the members of trade in a träding nation: And as the nobility finds it very expedient to partake of their profits, so that they, in return, should obtain a share in the others honours. One would, however, with the acquifition of learning was as fure a road to dignity, as that of riches.

VOL. II.

CA

ΟΝ

1

ON BOOKS AND
WRITER S

I

Tis often afferted by pretenders to fingular

penetration, that the affiftance fancy is fuppofed to draw from wine, is merely imaginary and chimerical That all which the poets have urged on this head, is abfolute rant and enthufiafm; and has no foundation in truth or nature. I am inclined to think otherwise Judgment, I readily allow, derives no benefit from the noblest cordial. But perfons of a phlegmatick constitution, have those excellencies often fuppreffed, of which their imagination is truly capable, by reafon of a lentor, which wine may naturally remove. It raifes low fpirits to a pitch neceffary for the exértion of fancy. It confutes the "Non eft tanti," fo frequently a maxim with speculative persons. It quickens that ambition, or that focial biafs which makes a perfon with to fhine, or to please. Ask what tradition fays of Mr. Addifon's converfation. But inftances in point of converfation come within every one's observance. Why then may it not be allowed to produce the fame effects in writing?

THE