tractions for Amelia, but where the can imagine "the presence of Eugenio. My father promifes "to bring me in a fortnight to fee you, and in the "mean time I must be fatisfied with thinking of << you; yet think of you I cannot, with all that "perfect delight with which your image used to "fill my bofom, as long as you continue to cherish this penfivenefs of difpofition, and to dip all your thoughts in this melancholy die. Why travel "into the land of dreams for topics of forrow, and "thence tranfplant into our minds thefe fhadowy griefs, while fo many substantial joys await us, "and while genial hopes and native pleasures spring up in gay luxuriance before our feet? My "dear friend, your mind is too highly wrought for "the relish of actual pleasure, and the objects of common life. Oh, how I wish you could a "little unrefine yourself, and reduce to a lower "pitch those high tones of feeling that never can "harmonife with the measures of our condition, "and our allotment here! As of late you have "fometimes complained of debility of nerves, ac"cept my recipe: inftead of repofing on the "ftrength of a fragil philofophy, and maintaining "the struggle alone, call to your aid the practical con "confolations of bufinefs and amufement; build more upon the fuccefs of diverfion than oppo"fition, and ftudy rather to make a dexterous re"treat than a defperate defence. In the mean "time accept of this little poem, which has been << given to my father by one of his friends, "and which is fomewhat applicable to your par❝ticular cafe. Say, HENRY, fhould a man of mind "Or grieve because it is not join'd "Look round with philofophic ken, "Through Nature's works below, "From very atoms up to men, "That much of all we choiceft hold, "Admire with one acclaim, "Is of a delicater mould, "And of a feebler frame. "Look at that bird* of gloffieft wings, That fcuds, that murmurs, fips and fings, N° 28. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17. Μηδ ̓ ἀγαπᾶν λίαν τὰς τοιαυτας ἀρείας, ὧν καὶ τοῖς φαύλοις μετεςιν. ἀλλ ̓ ἐκείνας ὧν ἐδεὶς αν πονηρὸς κοινωνήσεις. ISOCRATES, Epift. II. We should only value ourselves upon those attainments which are out of the reach of groveling minds. I KNOW of nothing which creates in the mind a more tormenting jealousy of other's men's fuccess and celebrity, and contributes more to make our old-age the feafon of impotent regret, than the consciousness of having lived below the measure of our abilities, in contradiction to nature's defign in the talents with which the has furnished us. The weightier part of those forrows which years accumulate, are in a manner the revenge which they take upon us, for having fuffered them to mature our faculties, without illuftrating them in our turn, by any honourable occurrence or record of utility. That broad and level road of life, which leads to the common fink of mortality, is trodden by mul-titudes of those whofe mould and conformation had qualified them for fteep and difficult afcents, for fervices C3 fervices of high account, and enterprises that demand ability, and exercise virtue. To those who, like myself, have courted literature in academical bowers, amidst a crowd of competitors, inftances have not been wanting of the truth of this obfervation. I have feen with forrow the fair promife of expanding genius, and the expectation of many a noble mind, receive a perverfion at its firft entrance into active live, and, renouncing its privileges at the very threshold of manhood, fubfide into the common rank of infignificance, and the little detail of vulgar actions and amusements. It is one of the greateft infelicities of Fashion, that the feeks no accommodation with Nature in any of her plans or arrangements; but throws an uniform colouring over one whole rank of life, and brings to the fame standard of infipid conformity, every fize of understanding, and every variation of genius. A young Nobleman, whom I formerly knew at College, gave me the most cheerful hopes that my country would derive benefit from his maturer exertions: his mind was extremely active at about the age of eighteen, and his attainments were equal to his diligence; but for thefe twenty years |