do the whole business of the republic, but to pass his evenings at assemblies and suppers, as if he had nothing else to do or think of.

VANITY.

Be extremely on your guard against vanity, the common failing of inexperienced youth; but particularly against that kind of vanity that dubs a man a coxcomb; a character which, once acquired, is more indelible than that of priesthood. It is not to be imagined by how many different ways vanity defeats its own purposes. One man decides peremptorily upon every subject, betrays his ignorance upon many, and shows a disgusting presumption upon the rest; another desires to appear successful among the women: he hints at the encou ragement he has received from those of the most distinguished rank and beauty, and intimates a particular connexion with some one; if it is true, it is ungenerous; if false, it is infamous; but, in either case, he destroys the reputation he wants to get. Some flatter their vanity by little extraneous objects, which have not the least relation to themselves; such as being descended from, related to, or acquainted with, people of distinguished merit and eminent characters. They talk perpetually of their grandfather Such-a-one, their uncle Such-aone, whom, possibly, they are hardly acquainted with. But admitting it all to be as they would have it, what then? Have they the more merit for those accidents? Certainly not. On the contrary, their taking up adventitious, proves their want of intrinsic merit; a rich man never borrows. Take this rule for granted, as a never failing one, that you must never seem to affect the character in which

you have a mind to shine. Modesty is the only sure bait, when you angle for praise. The affectation of courage will make even a brave man pass only for a bully; as the affectation of wit will make a man of parts pass for a coxcomb. By this modesty

I do not mean timidity and awkward bashfulness. On the contrary, be inwardly firm and steady; know your own value, whatever it may be, and act upon that principle; but take great care to let nobody discover that you do know your own value. Whatever real merit you have, other people will discover; and people always magnify their own discoveries, as they lessen those of others.

VIRTUE.

VIRTUE is a subject which deserves your and every man's attention. It consists in doing good and in speaking truth; the effects of it, therefore, are advantageous to all mankind, and to one's self in particular. Virtue makes us pity and relieve the misfortunes of mankind; it makes us promote justice and good order in society; and, in general, contributes to whatever tends to the real good of mankind. To ourselves it gives an inward comfort and satisfaction, which nothing else can do, and which nothing else can rob us of. All other advantages depend upon others, as much as upon ourselves. Riches, power, and greatness, may be taken away from us by the violence and injustice of others, or by inevitable accidents; but virtue depends only upon ourselves, and nobody can take it away from us. Sickness may deprive us of all the pleasures of the body; but it cannot deprive us of our virtue, nor of the satisfaction which we feel from it. virtuous man, under all the misfortunes of life, still

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finds an inward comfort and satisfaction, which rnake him happier than any wicked man can be with all the other advantages of life. If a man has acquired great power and riches by falsehood, injustice, and oppression, he cannot enjoy them, because his conscience will torment him, and constantly reproach him with the means by which he got them. The stings of his conscience will not even let him sleep quietly, but he will dream of his crimes; and, in the day-time, when alone, and when he has time to think, he will be uneasy and melancholy. He is afraid of every thing; for, as he knows mankind must hate him, he has reason to think they will hurt him if they can. Whereas, if a virtuous man be ever so poor and unfortunate in the world, still his virtue is its own reward, and will comfort him under all afflictions. The quiet and satisfaction of his conscience make him cheerful by day and sleep sound at nights: he can be alone with pleasure, and is not afraid of his own thoughts. Virtue forces her way, and shines through the obscurity of a retired life; and, sooner or later, it always is rewarded.

To conclude:-Lord Shaftesbury says, that he would be virtuous for his own sake, though nobody were to know it; as he would be clean for his own sake, though nobody were to see him.

USEFUL

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS

ON

MEN AND MANNERS.

SELECTED FROM LORD CHESTERFIELD'S LETTERS.

A MAN who does not solidly establish, and really deserve, a character of truth, probity, good manners, and good morals, at his first setting out in the world, may impose, and shine like a meteor for a very short time, but will very soon vanish and be extinguished with contempt. People easily pardon in young men the common irregularities of the senses; but they do not forgive the least vice of the heart.

The greatest favours may be done so awkwardly and bunglingly as to offend; and disagreeable things may be done so agreeably as almost to oblige.

There are very few captains of foot who are not much better company thar. ever Descartes or Sır Isaac Newton were. I honour and respect such superior geniuses; but I desire to converse with people of this world, who bring into company their share, at least of cheerfulness, good breeding, and knowledge of mankind. In common life, one much oftener wants small money and silver than gold.— Give me a man who has ready cash about him for present expenses; sixpences, shillings, half-crowns,

and crowns, which circulate easily: but a man who has only an ingot of gold about him, is much above common purposes, and his riches are not handy nor convenient. Have as much gold as you please in one pocket, but take care always to keep change in the other; for you will much oftener have occasion for a shilling than for a guinea.

Advice is seldom welcome; and those who want it the most, always like it the least.

Envy is one of the meanest and most tormenting of all passions, as there is hardly a person existing that has not given uneasiness to an envious breast; for the envious man cannot be happy while he beholds others so

A great action will always meet with the approbation of mankind, and the inward pleasure which it produces is not to be expressed.

Humanity is the particular characteristic of great minds: little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the exalted pleasure of forgiving their enemies.

The ignorant and the weak only are idle; those who have acquired a good stock of knowledge always desire to increase it. Knowledge is like power in this respect, that those who have the most are most desirous of having more. Idleness is only the refuge of weak minds and the holiday of fools.

Every man has a natural right to his liberty; and whoever endeavours to ravish it from him, deserves death more than the robber who attacks us for our money on the highway.

Modesty is a commendable quality, and generally accompanies true merit: it engages and captivates the minds of people; for nothing is more shocking and disgustful than presumption and im