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that nothing but truth and ingenuity has any lasting good effect, even upon a man's fortune and interest.

Truth and reality have all the advantages of appearance, and many more. If the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure sincerity is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have such a quality as he pretends to? for to counterfeit and dissemble is to put on the appearance of some real excellency. Now the best way in the world for a man to seem to be any thing, is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides, that it is many times as troublesome to make good the pretence of a good quality, as to have it; and if a man have it not, it is ten to one but he is discovered to want it, and then all his pains and labour to seem to have it is lost. There is something unnatural in painting, which a skilful eye will easily discern from native beauty and complexion.

WILL HONEYCOMB was complaining to me yesterday, that the conversation of the town is so altered of late years, that a fine It is hard to personate and act a part gentleman is at a loss for matter to start dis- long; for where truth is not at the bottom, course, as well as unable to fall in with the nature will always be endeavouring to retalk he generally meets with. Will takes turn, and will peep out and betray herself notice, that there is now an evil under the one time or other. Therefore, if any man sun which he supposes to be entirely new, think it convenient to seem good, let him be because not mentioned by any satirist, or so indeed, and then his goodness will appear moralist, in any age. 'Men,' said he, 'grow to every body's satisfaction; so that upon all knaves sooner than they ever did since the accounts sincerity is true wisdom. Particucreation of the world before.' If you read larly as to the affairs of this world, integrity the tragedies of the last age, you find the has many advantages over all the fine artful men, and persons of intrigue, are ad- and artificial ways of dissimulation and vanced very far in years, and beyond the deceit; it is much the plainer and easier, pleasures and sallies of youth; but now Will | much the safer and more secure way of observes, that the young have taken in the dealing in the world: it has less of trouble vices of the aged, and you shall have a man and difficulty, of entanglement and perof five-and-twenty, crafty, false, and in-plexity, of danger and hazard in it: it is the triguing, not ashamed to over-reach, cozen, and beguile. My friend adds, that till about the latter end of king Charles's reign there was not a rascal of any eminence under forty. In the places of resort for conversation, you now hear nothing but what relates to improving men's fortunes, without regard to the methods towards it. This is so fashionable, that young men form themselves upon a certain neglect of every thing that is candid, simple, and worthy of true esteem; and affect being yet worse than they are, by acknowledging, in their general turn of mind and discourse, that they have not any remaining value for true honour and honesty; preferring the capacity of being artful to gain their ends, to the merit of despising those ends when they come in competition with their honesty. All this is due to the very silly pride that generally prevails of being valued for the ability of carrying their point; in a word, from the opinion that shallow and inexperienced people entertain of the short lived force of cunning. But I shall, before I enter upon the various faces which folly covered with artifice, puts on to impose upon the unthinking, produce a great authority for asserting

shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a straight line, and will hold out and last longest. The arts of deceit and cunning do continually grow weaker and less effectual and serviceable to them that use them; whereas integrity gains strength by use, and the more and longer any man practiseth it, the greater service it does him, by confirming his reputation, and encouraging those with whom he hath to do to repose the greatest trust and confidence in him, which is an unspeakable advantage in the business and affairs of life.

Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a great many more to make it good. It is like building upon a false foundation, which constantly stands in need of props to shore it up, and proves at last more chargeable than to have raised a substantial building at first upon a true and solid foundation; for sincerity is firm and substantial, and there is nothing hollow and unsound in it; and, because it is plain and

In tenui labor

Virg. Georg. v. 6. Though low the subject, it deserves our pains.

open, fears no discovery; of which the crafty No. 353.] Tuesday, April 15, 1712.
man is always in danger: and when he
thinks he walks in the dark, all his pre-
tences are so transparent, that he that runs
may read them: he is the last man that
finds himself to be found out; and whilst he
takes it for granted that he makes fools of
others, he renders himself ridiculous.

in general, and me in particular, with his
THE gentleman who obliges the world
thoughts upon education, has just sent me
the following letter:

in it.

Add to all this, that sincerity is the most compendious wisdom, and an excellent instrument for the speedy despatch of busi-fourth letter upon the education of youth. 'SIR,-I take the liberty to send you a ness; it creates confidence in those we have In my last I gave you my thoughts upon to deal with, saves the labour of many in- some particular tasks, which I conceived quiries, and brings things to an issue in a it might not be amiss to mix with their few words. It is like travelling in a plain usual exercises, in order to give them an beaten road, which commonly brings a man early seasoning of virtue: I shall in this sooner to his journey's end than by-ways, in which men often lose themselves. In contribute to give them a right turn for the propose some others, which I fancy might a word, whatsoever convenience may be thought to be in falsehood and dissimula-world, and enable them to make their way tion, it is soon over; but the inconvenience of it is perpetual, because it brings a man either to render a man an agreeable comThe design of learning is, as I take it, under an everlasting jealousy and suspi-panion to himself, and teach him to support cion, so that he is not believed when he solitude with pleasure; or, if he is not born speaks the truth, nor trusted perhaps when to an estate, to supply that defect, and furhe means honestly. When a man has once nish him with the means of acquiring one. forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he A person who applies himself to learning is set fast; and nothing will then serve his with the first of these views may be said to turn, neither truth nor falsehood. And I have often thought, that God hath himself the second, properly studies for use. study for ornament; as he who proposes to in his great wisdom, hid from men of false The one does it to raise himself a fortune; and dishonest minds the wonderful advan- the other to set off that which he is already tages of truth and integrity to the pros- possessed of. But as far the greater part perity even of our worldly affairs: these of mankind are included in the latter class, men are so blinded by their covetousness I shall only propose some methods at preand ambition, that they cannot look beyond sent for the service of such who expect to a present advantage, nor forbear to seize advance themselves in the world by their upon it, though by ways never so indirect; learning. In order to which, I shall prethey cannot see so far as to the remote con- mise, that many more estates have been sequence of a steady integrity, and the vast benefit and advantages which it will acquired by little accomplishments than by bring man at last. Were but this sort of make the greatest figure in the eye of the extraordinary ones; those qualities which men vise and clear-sighted enough to dis-world not being always the most useful in cern this, they would be honest out of very themselves, or the most advantageous to knavery, not out of any love to honesty and their owners. virtue, but with a crafty design to promote and advance more effectually their own interests; and therefore the justice of the Divine Providence hath hid this truest point of wisdom from their eyes, that bad men might not be upon equal terms with the just and upright, and serve their own wicked designs by honest and lawful means.

Indeed, if a man were only to deal in the world for a day, and should never have occasion to converse more with mankind, never more need their good opinion or good word, it were then no great matter (speak ing as to the concernments of this world,) if a man spent his reputation all at once, and ventured it at one throw; but if he be to continue in the world, and would have the advantage of conversation whilst he is in it, let him make use of truth and sincerity in all his words and actions; for nothing but this will last and hold out to the end: all other arts will fail, but truth and integrity will carry a man through, and bear him out to the last.'

T.

The posts which require men of shining and uncommon parts to discharge them are out of the world without ever having an so very few, that many a great genius goes opportunity to exert itself; whereas, persons of ordinary endowments meet with occasions fitted to their parts and capacities every day in the common occurrences

of life.

were formerly school-fellows, and have I am acquainted with two persons who been good friends ever since. One of them was not only thought an impenetrable blockhead at school, but still maintained his reputation at the university; the other was the pride of his master, and the most celebrated person in the college of which he was a member. The man of genius is at

*“Swift, and Mr. Stratford, a merchant. Stratford is worth a plusb, and is now lending the government 40.000 yet we were educated together at the same school and university. Swift's Works, vol. xxii. p. 1, er. evo-Stratford was afterwards a bankrupt.” Chalmers

present buried in a country parsonage of eight-score pounds a year; while the other, with the bare abilities of a common scrivener, has got an estate of above a hundred thousand pounds.

I fancy from what I have said, it will almost appear a doubtful case to many a wealthy citizen, whether or no he ought to wish his son should be a great genius: but this I am sure of, that nothing is more absurd than to give a lad the education of one, whom nature has not favoured with any particular marks of distinction.

The fault, therefore, of our grammar schools is, that every boy is pushed on to works of genius: whereas, it would be far more advantageous for the greatest part of them to be taught such little practical arts and sciences as do not require any great share of parts to be master of them, and yet may come often into play during the course of a man's life.

'Such are all the parts of practical geometry. I have known a man contract a friendship with a minister of state, upon cutting a dial in his window; and remember a clergyman who got one of the best benefices in the west of England, by setting a country gentleman's affairs in some method, and giving him an exact survey of his estate. While I am upon this subject, I cannot forbear mentioning a particular which is of use in every station of life, and which, methinks, every master should teach scholars; I mean the writing of English letters. To this end, instead of perplexing them with Latin epistles, themes, and verses, there might be a punctual correspondence established between two boys, who might act in any imaginary parts of business, or be allowed sometimes to give a range to their own fancies, and communicate to each other whatever trifles they thought fit, provided neither of them ever failed at the appointed time to answer his correspondent's letter.

fied for the finer parts of learning; yet I believe I might carry this matter still further, and venture to assert, that a lad of genius has sometimes occasion for these little acquirements, to be as it were the forerunners of his parts, and to introduce him into the world.

"History is full of examples of persons who, though they have had the largest abilities, have been obliged to insinuate themselves into the favour of great men, by these trivial accomplishments; as the complete gentleman in some of our modern comedies, makes his first advances to his mistress under the disguise of a painter or a dancing-master.

'The difference is, that in a lad of genius these are only so many accomplishments, which in another are essentials; the one diverts himself with them, the other works at them. In short, I look upon a great genius, with these little additions, in the same light as I regard the Grand Seignior, who is obliged, by an express command in the Alcoran, to learn and practise some handicraft trade; though I need not to have gone for my instance farther than Germany, where several emperors have voluntarily done the same thing. Leopold the last, worked in wood: and I have heard there are several handicraft works of his making to be seen at Vienna, so neatly turned that the best joiner in Europe might safely own them without any disgrace to his profession.*

I would not be thought, by any thing I have said, to be against improving a boy's genius to the utmost pitch it can be carried. What I would endeavour to show in this essay is, that there may be methods taken to make learning advantageous even to the meanest capacities. I am, sir, yours, &c.*

X.

'I believe I may venture to affirm, that No. 354.] Wednesday, April 16, 1712. the generality of boys would find themselves more advantaged by this custom, when they come to be men, than by all the Greek and Latin their masters can teach them in seven or eight years.

The want of it is very visible in many learned persons, who, while they are admiring the styles of Demosthenes or Cicero, want phrases to express themselves on the most common occasions. I have seen a letter from one of these Latin orators which would have been deservedly laughed at by

a common attorney.

Under this head of writing, I cannot omit accounts and short-hand, which are learned with little pains, and very properly come into the number of such arts as I have been here recommending.

You must doubtless, sir, observe that I have hitherto chiefly insisted upon these things for such boys as do not appear to have any thing extraordinary in their natural talents, and consequently are not quali

-Cum magnis virtutibus affers Grande supercilium.Juv. Sat. vi. 168. Their signal virtues hardly can be borne, Dash'd as they are with supercilious scorn. 'MR. SPECTATOR,-You have in some of your discourses described most sort of women in their distinct and proper classes, as the ape, the coquette, and many others; but I think you have never yet said any thing of a devotee. A devotee is one of those who disparage religion by their indiscreet and unseasonable introduction of the mention of virtue on all occasions. She professes she is what nobody ought to doubt she is; and betrays the labour she is put to, to be what she ought to be with cheerfulness and alacrity. She lives in the world, and denies herself none of the diversions of it, with a constant declaration how insipid all things in it are to her. She is never

The well-known labours of the Czar Peter may be added to those enumerated above.

herself but at church; there she displays | Whenever I walk into the streets of her virtue, and is so fervent in all her de- London and Westminster, the countenances votions, that I have frequently seen her of all the young fellows that pass by me pray herself out of breath. While other make me wish myself in Sparta: I meet young ladies in the house are dancing, or with such blustering airs, big looks, and playing at questions and commands, she bold fronts, that, to a superficial observer, reads aloud in her closet. She says, all love would bespeak a courage above those Greis ridiculous, except it be celestial; but she cians. I am arrived to that perfection in speaks of the passion of one mortal to an- speculation, that I understand the language other with too much bitterness for one that of the eyes, which would be a great misforhad no jealousy mixed with her contempt tune to me had I not corrected the testiness of it. If at any time she sees a man warm of old age by philosophy. There is scarce in his addresses to his mistress, she will lift a man in a red coat who does not tell me, up her eyes to heaven, and cry, "What with a full stare, he is a bold man: I see nonsense is that fool talking! Will the bell several swear inwardly at me, without any never ring for prayers?" We have an emi- offence of mine, but the oddness of my pernent lady of this stamp in our country, who son; I meet contempt in every street; expretends to amusements very much above pressed in different manners by the scornful the rest of her sex. She never carries a look, the elevated eye-brow, and the swellwhite shock-dog with bells under her arm, ing nostrils of the proud and prosperous. nor a squirrel or dormouse in her pocket, The 'prentice speaks his disrespect by an but always an abridged piece of morality, extended finger, and the porter by stealing to steal out when she is sure of being ob- out his tongue. If a country gentleman apserved. When she went to the famous pears a little curious in observing the edifices, ass-race, (which I must confess was but an clocks, signs, coaches, and dials, it is not to odd diversion to be encouraged by people be imagined how the polite rabble of this of rank and figure,) it was not, like other town, who are acquainted with these obladies, to hear those poor animals bray, nor jects, ridicule his rusticity. I have known to see fellows run naked, or to hear country a fellow with a burden on his head steal a 'squires in bob wigs and white girdles make hand down from his load, and slily twirl love at the side of a coach, and cry, "Ma- the cock of a 'squire's hat behind him; dam this is dainty weather." Thus she while the offended person is swearing, or described the diversion; for she went only out of countenance, all the wag-wits in the to pray heartily that nobody might be hurt highway are grinning in applause of the inin the crowd, and to see if the poor fellow's genious rogue that gave him the tip, and the face, which was distorted with grinning, folly of him who had not eyes all round his might any way be brought to itself again. head to prevent receiving it. These things She never chats over her tea, but covers arise from a general affectation of smarther face, and is supposed in an ejaculation ness, wit, and courage. Wycherly some before she tastes a sup. This ostentatious where rallies the pretensions this way, by behaviour is such an offence to true sanc- making a fellow say, "Red breeches are a tity, that it disparages it, and makes virtue certain sign of valour;" and Otway makes not only unamiable, but also ridiculous. a man, to boast his agility, trip up a beggar The sacred writings are full of reflections on crutches. From such hints I beg a specuwhich abhor this kind of conduct; and a lation on this subject: in the mean time I devotee is so far from promoting goodness, shall do all in the power of a weak old felthat she deters others by her example. low in my own defence; for as Diogenes, Folly and vanity in one of these ladies is being in quest of an honest man, sought like vice in a clergyman; it does not only for him when it was broad daylight with a debase him, but makes the inconsiderate lantern and candle, so I intend for the fupart of the world think the worse of reli-ture to walk the streets with a dark lantern, gion. I am, sir, your humble servant,

'HOTSPUR.'

which has a convex crystal in it; and if
any man stares at me, I give fair warning
that I will direct the light full into his eyes.
Thus despairing to find men modest, I hope
by this means to evade their impudence.
I am, sir, your humble servant,
T.

SOPHROSUNIUS.”

'MR. SPECTATOR, -Xenophon in his short account of the Spartan commonwealth speaking of the behaviour of their young men in the streets, says, "There was so much modesty in their looks, that you might as soon have turned the eyes of a marble statue upon you as theirs; and that No. 355.] Thursday, April 17, 1712. in all their behaviour they were more modest than a bride when put to bed upon her wedding-night." This virtue, which is always subjoined to magnanimity, had such an influence upon their courage, that in battle an enemy could not look them in the face, and they durst not but die for their country.

Non ego mordaci distrinxi carmine quenquam.
Orid Trist. Lib. ii. 563.

I ne'er in gall dipp'd my envenom'd pen,
Nor branded the bold front of shameless men.

I HAVE been very often tempted to write invectives upon those who have detracted from my works, or spoken in derogation or

my person; but I look upon it as a particu- | no more than one of those fictitious names lar happiness, that I have always hindered made use of by an author to introduce an my resentments from proceeding to this imaginary character. Why should a man extremity. I once had gone through half be sensible of the sting of a reproach, who a satire, but found so many motions of hu- is a stranger to the guilt that is implied in manity rising in me towards the persons it; or subject himself to the penalty, when whom I had severely treated, that I threw it he knows he has never committed the into the fire without ever finishing it. I have crime? This is a piece of fortitude, which been angry enough to make several little every one owes to his own innocence, and epigrams and lampoons; and, after having without which it is impossible for a man admired them a day or two, have likewise of any merit or figure to live at peace with committed them to the flames. These I himself, in a country that abounds with wit look upon as so many sacrifices to humanity, and liberty. and have received much greater satisfaction from suppressing such performances, than I could have done from any reputation they might have procured me, or from any mortification they might have given my enemies in case I had made them public. If a man has any talent in writing, it shows a good mind to forbear answering calumnies and reproaches in the same spirit of bitterness with which they are offered. But when a man has been at some pains in making suitable returns to an enemy, and has the instruments of revenge in his hands, to let drop his wrath, and stifle his resentments, seems to have something in it great and heroical. There is a particular merit in such a way of forgiving an enemy; and the more violent and unprovoked the offence has been, the greater still is the merit of him who thus forgives it.

I never met with a consideration that is more finely spun, and what has better pleased me, than one in Epictetus, which places an enemy in a new light, and gives us a view of him altogether different from that in which we are used to regard him. The sense of it is as follows: Does a man reproach thee for being proud or ill-natured, envious or conceited, ignorant or detracting? Consider with thyself whether his reproaches are true. If they are not, consider that thou art not the person whom he reproaches, but that he reviles an imaginary being, and perhaps loves what thou really art, though he hates what thou appearest to be. If his reproaches are true, if thou art the envious, ill-natured man he takes thee for, give thyself another turn, become mild, affable, and obliging, and his reproaches of thee naturally cease. His reproaches may indeed continue, but thou art no longer the person whom he reproaches.*

I often apply this rule to myself; and when I hear of a satirical speech or writing that is aimed at me, I examine my own heart, whether I deserve it or not. If I bring in a verdict against myself, I endeavour to rectify my conduct for the future in those particulars which have drawn the censure upon me; but if the whole invective be grounded upon a falsehood, I trouble myself no further about it, and look upon my name at the head of it to signify

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The famous Monsieur Balzac, in a letter to the chancellor of France, who had prevented the publication of a book against him, has the following words, which are a lively picture of the greatness of mind so visible in the works of that author: If it was a new thing, it may be I should not be displeased with the suppression of the first libel that should abuse me; but since there are enough of them to make a small library, I am secretly pleased to see the number increased, and take delight in raising a heap of stones that envy has cast at me without doing me any harm.'

The author here alludes to those monuments of the eastern nations which were mountains of stones raised upon the dead bodies by travellers, that used to cast every one his stone upon it as they passed by. It is certain that no monument is so glorious as one which is thus raised by the hands of envy. For my part, I admire an author for such a temper of mind as enables him to bear an undeserved reproach without resentment, more than for all the wit of any the finest satirical reply.

Thus far I thought necessary to explain myself in relation to those who have animadverted on this paper, and to show the reasons why I have not thought fit to return them any formal answer. I must further add, that the work would have been of very little use to the public, had it been filled with personal reflections and debates; for which reason I have never once turned out of my way to observe those little cavils which have been made against it by envy or ignorance. The common fry of scribblers, who have no other way of being taken notice of but by attacking what has gained some reputation in the world, would have furnished me with business enough had they found me disposed to enter the lists with them.

I shall conclude with the fable of Boccalini's traveller, who was so pestered with the noise of grasshoppers in his ears that he alighted from his horse in great wrath to kill them all. This,' says the author,

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was troubling himself to no manner of purpose. Had he pursued his journey without taking notice of them, the troublesome insects would have died of themselves in a very few weeks, and he would have suffered nothing from them.'

L.

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