historical merit, whether the old bard could have found any where, but in his own fertile imagination, such a state of manners, customs, and characters, as the Iliad exhibits? Can we suppose, in the prose of common sense, such a state of society, wherein heroes, who lived in gilt palaces and slept on beds of ivory and tortoise-shell, would curry their own steeds, and dress their own beef-steaks? Anecdote of Oliver Cromwell. The Usurper, when given over by his physicians, still persisted to say that he was certain that he should recover, and that God had given him assurance of it. To his particular friends he disclosed the artifice of his obstinacy: "If I recover," says the arch hypocrite, "I shall be considered by the people as a prophet; and if I die, what signifies to me that the world shall call me a liar and a cheat." This anecdote very much depends on the credit of M. Gayot de Pitaval, in his L' Art d'orner l'Esprit, seconde partie. The Way of the World. One would imagine that the world looked upon wealth with a very philosophic eye, by the generosity which they bestow, in report, so many thousands gratuitously on their prosperous neighbours. If a man or woman has twenty thousand pounds, they give them another twenty very readily, and so on in proportion to the largeness of the real sum. On the contrary, it would seem that the world estimated the powers of genius at a very great price, as they very niggardly allow the possession of superior powers of mind or intellect to any one; nay, will but seldom give the men of talent their real dues. Ovid did not look upon the surface of things, when he sung Ingenio qui vult cedere nullus erit; yet it has been accurately said that men never think they have their share of money, but are quite contented with their allotment of understanding. Quarrels among Authors. Gay has very wittily said, and perhaps very sensibly felt, that— Wits are game-cocks to one another. Fable 10. The line conveys a very large field of fancy. We see both authors with pens in their hands, that well represent the spurs which nature, as well as art, has affixed to the heel of their representative, the game-cock. Around the pit stand critics, who take the different sides, and encourage both the combatants by their acclamations, and are more interested in their hopes of their favourite combatant's victory, than actuated by any feeling about the nature and merits of the contest. Town and Country. Whilst industry and ambition lead the busy part of men towards towns and cities, philosophy and the love of quiet recommend the pleasure and ease of the country. This sage retreat from the cares of life Cowley* has well described :-“ To be a husbandman is but a retreat from the city; to be a philosopher, from the world; or rather, a retreat from the world as it is man's, into the world as it is God's. Perhaps Cowper had this distinction in his view God made the country, and man made the town. Ceremonies. How little they are connected with sentiment, may be seen, both in matters of religion and in the civil intercourse of life. Like the ancient Jew, the modern Christian, who places much of his moral or pious character on the performance of ceremonies, is found to have little in his practice. The man of the world, as he is called, who is * Essay on Agriculture, quite a "master of ceremonies" has not taken leave of one evil indulgence, soothed one irascible propensity, or improved himself in the principles of common honesty. He has learned to bow to his superiors with respect, to his equals with politeness, and to his inferiors with familiarity. Speciosa pelle decorus, Introrsum turpis. He can smile, and smile, And be a villain. N.B. The Plausibles are a very large family, and always and in every place "at home." Hunc ta, Ro nane, caveto. 】 Let honest Englishmen avoid the kaaves. PINIS. Priated by Richard Crattwell, |