her Being. It is the Spirit of Enquiry that keeps her in a proper Condition of Defence, that polishes, brightens, and refines her.

Hobbs, therefore, fo far as he may be confidered as an Opposer of Truth, is an useful Member of Society. But he is too feeble an Enemy to be of much Service in the Contest. The Syftem of his Philofophy is purely constitutional, calculated for the Meridian of his own proper Being. Hobbs is naturally destitute both of Courage and Fortitude; and, of Course, he thinks that Fear is an universal Principle of Moral Action. With regard to Intereft, which he affociates with Fear, it can only be confidered as a Modification of that Paffion; for, in his Opinion, it confifts in nothing more than perfonal Eafe and Security. His Ideas of Government are ftill of lefs Confequence than his Opinions of Moral Principles. The Light in which he views it, always changes with the Change of his Affairs. He is now full of Fears that he fhall fuffer for the Publication of his Opinions. If the People in Power are fo wrong-headed as to punish him, it is not the Badge of Tyranny he ought to give them-It is the Cap of Folly.

LETTER VII.

ST. EVREMOND to WALLER.

HIS Freedom, Waller, is a delightful

TH

thing. This ingenuous and unrestrained Expreffion of ones Feelings and Opinions, this Gaol-Delivery of the Mind is the most happy Privilege.

Yet, methinks, I cannot enjoy it as I would.

A Man who, like St. Evremond, has been accustomed to live in Courts, where the groffeft Adulation and Infincerity are fo neceflary, acquires an Habit of artificial Expreffion, Where Nature is no longer left to the Force of her own Perceptions, to conceal our real Sentiments, and to fubftitute others, is ftudied as a Science. Thus long Habits of Diffimulation deprive us of the Natural Love of Truth, as thofe Animals we confine for our Amufement lofe the Defire of Liberty.

In good time, fure, was I difmiffed from thefe Scenes of Artifice and Delufion, before the Seeds of Native Ingenuity were totally corrupt

ed.

*

ed. I have yet fome Pleafure in the Indulgence of Veracity; and it affords me no unreasonable Confolation, when I reflect, that the fame Attachment to Truth, which occafioned my Banishment, might have been utterly loft, if I had fill enjoyed my Country.

Yet that Country, Waller, (I must confefs my Weakness,) that Country still hangs upon my Heart, and I never read the

Repetendaque nunquan:

Vale, Terra, dixi +

of Ovid, without Emotions which I know not how to fubdue

Be it yours, my Friend,

and courtly Philofopher, to fortify my Soul against thefe painful Affections. You who can apply Philofophy to every thing, and make every thing Philofophy, teach me a little of that happy Accommodation. Tell me how I may reconcile Inconsistencies how I may love the Country I have loft, and be fatisfied with amother.

Yet he was labouring through his whole Life to be rettored to them; but this is no unufual Incon

fiftency.

Ovid Met. Lib. XIII.

Be it yours, likewife, to inftruct me in the Cultivation of that Sincerity which, till this Moment, has been the Object of my Thoughts, and let me gain fomething at leaft by the Loss of Place and Favour. The Soil you have to work upon, is, I hope, not abfolutely barren, though it may have been over-run with Weeds: The Climate will affift you in your Culture, and I cannot wish you better Succefs, than that he who was $. Beyamond in France may become Waller in England.

LETTER

LETTER VIII.

WALLER to ST. EVREMOND.

INCERITY! Ingenuity of Expreffion!
There are no fuch things in the World.

Sincerity peculiar to the English! What a contemptible Opinion must you have of us! Do you look upon us as in a State of Nature? Are we not formed into Societies, polished and refined? And what can fuch a People have to do with Sincerity? It is the favage Characteristic of favage Life, the natural Effect of wild and uncivilized Qualities. It may prevail amongst the Hords of Tartary, or the Indians of North America, but in culuvated Societies it cannot poffibly exist.

Sincerity! the most unfociable of Qualities! Of all that is called Virtue the moft unprofitable! Were it abfolutely to take place, Man could never be reconciled to Man. It is upon the daily Sacrifice of Sincerity that the Good-humour of Life fubfiits. It is by the Exercise of a contrary

B 5