to infinuate, that other languages are not neceffary to him who aspires to eminence, and whose whole life is devoted to study; but to him who reads only for amufement, or whofe purpose is not to deck himself with the ho nours of literature, but to be qualified for domeftick usefulness, and fit down content with fubordinate reputation, we have authors fufficient to fill up all the vacancies of his time, and gratify most of his wishes for infor mation.

Of our Poets I need fay little, because they are perhaps the only authors to whom their country has done juftice. We confider the whole fucceffion from Spenfer to Pope, as fuperiour to any names which the continent. can boaft; and therefore the poet of other nations, however familiarly they may be fometimes mentioned, are very little read except by those who defign to borrow their beauties.

THERE is, I think, not one of the liberal. arts which may not be competently learned in the English language. He that fearches after mathematical knowledge may bufy himself among his own countrymen, and will find

one or other able to inftruct him in every part of those abstruse fciences. He that is delighted with experiments, and wishes to know the nature of bodies from certain and visible effects, is happily placed where the mechanical philofophy was first established by a publick inftitution, and from which it was spread to all other countries.

THE more airy and elegant ftudies of Philology and Criticism have little need of any foreign help. Tho' our language, not being very analogical, gives few opportunities for grammatical researches, yet we have not wanted authors who have confidered the principles of speech; and with critical writings we abound fufficiently to enable Pedantry to impofe rules which can feldom be observed, and Vanity to talk of books which are feldom read.

BUT our own language lias from the Reformation to the present time, been chiefly dignified and adorned by the works of our Divines, who, confidered as commentators, controvertifts, or preachers, have undoubtedly left all other nations far behind them. No vulgar

language

Language can boaft fuch treasures of theological knowledge, or fuch multitudes of authors at once learned, elegant, and pious. Other

countries and other communions have authors perhaps equal in abilities and diligence to ours; but if we unite number with excellence there is certainly no nation which must not allow us to be fuperiour. Of Morality little is neceffary to be faid because it is comprehended in practical divinity, and is perhaps better taught in English fermons than in any other books ancient or modern. Nor fhall I dwell on our excellence in metaphyfical fpeculations, because he that reads the works of our divines will eafily difcover how far human fubtilty has been able to penetrate.

POLITICAL knowledge is forced upon us by the form of our conftitution, and all the myfteries of government are difcovered in the attack or defence of every minifter. The original law of fociety, the rights of subjects, and the prerogatives of kings have been confidered with the utmoft nicety, fometimes profoundly investigated, and sometimes familiarly explained.

THUS copioufly inftructive is the English language, and thus needlefs is all recourfe to foreign writers. Let us not therefore make our neighbours proud by foliciting help which we do not want, nor difcourage our own induftry by difficulties which we need not fuffer.

N° 92. Saturday, January 19.

WHATEVER is ufeful or honourable

will be defired by many who never

can obtain it, and that which cannot be obtained when it is defired, artifice or folly will be diligent to counterfeit. Those to whom fortune has denied gold and diamonds decorate themselves with ftones and metals which have fomething of the fhow but little of the value; and every moral excellence or intellectual faculty has fome vice or folly which imitates its appearance.

EVERY man wishes to be wife, and they who cannot be wife are almost always cunning. The lefs is the real difcernment of

thofe

thofe whom bufinefs or converfation brings together, the more illufions are practised, nor is caution ever so neceffary as with associates or opponents of feeble minds.

CUNNING differs from wisdom as twilight from open day. He that walks in the funfhine goes boldly forward by the nearest way; he fees that where the path is ftreight and even he may proceed in fecurity, and where it is rough and crooked he easily complies with the turns and avoids the obftructions. But the traveller in the dufk fears more as he fecs lefs; he knows there may be danger, and therefore fufpects that he is never fafe, trics every step before he fixes his foot, and shrinks at every noise left violence fhould approach him. Wisdom comprehends at once the end and the eftimates eafinefs or difficulty, and is cautious or confident in due proportion. Cunning difcovers little at a time, and has no other means of certainty than multiplication of ftratagems and fuperfluity of fufpicion. The man of Cunning always confiders that he can never be too fafe, and therefore always keeps himself enveloped in L 4 a mift,,

means,