ter, we may, with the help of a little bad French, fell a great deal of good merchandize. We may likewise find much pleasure in reading the enchanting works of foreign poets, hiftorians, &c. and this effect may lead to one ftill more valuable; it may inspire us with fentiments of friendship for the nation to which these excellent men belong, and thus happily moderate that resentment, which, under certain circumstances we might feel against them. These effects, in a very comfortable degree, I have myfelf experienced. have found, that my paffions, kindling into pain from the blows ftruck our unoffending country, by the British, have been confiderably calmed by recollecting, that these our injurers, are the children of the fame once glorious island which gave to us and to all mankind, a Milton, a Newton, a Locke, a Barrow, and other UNEQUALLED LIGHTS

I

of

of philofophy and divinity, whose friendly fplendors have contributed fo happily to repel the coming clouds of “chaos and old night," and to establish the empire of reafon and pure religion.

As for other parts of human learning, fuch as arts, fciences, &c. God forbid that we fhould open unhallowed lips in abuse of them. We consider them as highly ornamental and useful, and therefore, instead of contemning, hold them in great esteem. But, though we esteem them as good, yet we cannot idolize them as the chief good of man.

LET blind Egyptions, fmitten with a fuperftitious fenfe of their services, fall down and worship a goofe or an ox; we, more enlightened, know that these are but creatures, and having paid them the regards due to their usefulness, we will look for happiness to a higher caufe.

IF

If it be worth fome people's while, as Solomon thinks, to mark the manoeuvres of the industrious ant, it may not be unprofitable to us who are in queft of happiness, to vifit the mifer, and hear the rules by which he arofe to wealth. He will tell us, that all precious money confifts of various metals and coins; thofe divided into Gold, filver and copper; and thefe fubdivided into half-joes, guineas, crowns, dollars, pence, half-pence, and many other forts. He will inform us with what accuracy he learnt the names and marks of all thefe; how greatly he was alarmed to hear of counterfeits; that he could never fleep found until he had learned the happy art to distinguish these vile impoftors from the precious metal; and that to this day, he never takes a piece of gold until he has tried it by his touchftone, and afcertained its worth.

of philosophy and divinity, whose friendly fplendors have contributed fo happi ly to repel the coming clouds of "chaos and old night,” and to establish the empire of reafon and pure religion.

HITHERTO we have endeavoured to point out the mistake of those, (a numerous race) who look for happiness among fenfual pleasures, and in human learning. Two other orders of candidates, equally numerous, and, as I think, equally mistaken, present themfelves,—I mean the hardy fons of avarice and ambition. The first of these, the mifer, bleffes God; wonders how people can be fo weak as to throw away their time and money on book learning and filly pleasures. He has jufter notions of things. Gold is with him the one thing needful. He rifes early, early, tate takes reft, and eats the bread of carefulnefs and toil, in order to join house to house, and

and field to field, and thus to remove himself far from all dread of want.

BUT of wealth it may be faid, happinefs is not here. Gold, it is true, is the quinteffence of lands, houses, soft cloathing, fumptuous fare, and of every other pleasure that flesh and blood is heir to. But evident it is to reafon, that all the treasures on earth can never fatisfy an immortal foul: And Scripture afferts, that "A man's life confifteth not in the abundance of the things which he poffeffeth." And whofe experience doth not witness it? We call the rich happy! Alas! could we but fee their anxious cares, their inward restleffnefs, the miseries of defires delayed or disappointed, which fometimes attend even the moft fortunate; could we know their conftant fears of lofing, and their thirst for more, which fuffers them not to enjoy their present gains; could we follow one who is "making hafte to be rich," through

all