To the honour of virtue it must be acknowledg ed, that the greatest misfortunes befal men from their vices.

We despise not all those who have vices; despise all those who have no virtues.

but we

There are people, who, like new songs, are in vogue only for a time.

Those are deceived who imagine wit and judgment to be two distinct things. Judgment is only the perfection of wit, which penetrates into the recesses of things, observes all that merits observation, and perceives what seems imperceptible. We must therefore agree, that it is extensive wit which produces all the effects attributed to judgment.

It is a common fault, never to be satisfied with our fortune, nor dissatisfied with our understanding. Politeness of mind consists in a courteous and delicate conception.

The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse as we grow old.

It is a better employment of the understanding to bear the misfortunes that actually Lefal us, than to penetrate into those that may.

Those who have but one sort of wit are sure not to please long.

A man of sense finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.

The labours of the body free men from pains of the mind.

poor.

This it is that constitutes the happiness of the Small geniusses are hurt by small events: great geniusses see through and despise them.

Weakness is more opposite to virtue than is vice

itself.

Weak people are incapable of sincerity.

If there be a man whose weak side has never been discovered, it is only because we have never accurately looked for it.

We often forgive those who tire us, but cannot forgive those whom we tire.

We have more power than will; and it is only to disculpate us to ourselves, that we often think things impracticable.

Man's chief wisdom consists in knowing his follies.

Wisdom is to the mind what health is to the body.

The common foible of women who have been handsome, to forget that they are now no longer

So.

Of all the violent passions, that which least misbecomes a woman is love.

Youth is continual intoxication. It is the fever or reason.

THE POLITE PHILOSOPHER.

METHOD requires, that in my entrance on this work I should explain the nature of that science to which I have given the name of Polite Philosophy. Though I am not very apt to write methodically, yet I think it becomes me on this occasion to show that my title is somewhat apropos.

and

Folks that are skilled in Greek tell us, that Philosophy means no more than the love of wisdom; I, by the adjunction of Polite, would be understood to mean that sort of wisdom which teaches men to

be at peace in themselves, and neither by their words or behaviour to disturb the peace of others.

Academical critics may perhaps expect that I should at least quote some Greek sage or other, as the patron of that kind of knowledge, which I am about to restore; and as I pique myself on obliging every man in his way, I shall put them in mind of one Aristippus, who was professor of Polite Philosophy at Syracause, in the days of the famous King Dionysius, in whose favour he stood higher than even Plato himself. Should they go further, and demand an account of his tenets, I must turn them over to Horace, who has comprised them all in one line

'Omnis Aristippum decuit color, et status, et res.'

Secure, his soul preserv'd a constant frame,
Through every varying scene of life the same.

In the court of the king of Sicily, this wise man enjoyed all the delights that would have satisfied a

sensual mind; but it was the use of these which shewed him a true philosopher. He was tempcrate in them, while he possessed them; and easy without them, when they were no longer in his power. In a word, he had the integrity of Diogenes, without his churlishness; and as his wisdom was useful to himself, so it rendered him agreeable to the rest of the world.

Aristippus had many pupils; but for the regular succession in his school, it has either not been recorded by the Greek writers, or at least by any of them that came to my hand. Among the Romans, indeed, this kind of knowledge was in the highest esteem; and that at the time when the reputation of the commonwealth was at its greatest height. Scipio was less distinguished by the laurels he had acquired from foreign conquests, than by the myrtle garland he wore as a professor in his art. The familiar letters of Cicero are so many short lectures in our science, and the life of Fomponius Atticus, a praxis on polite philosophy.

I would not be suspected to mention, these great names with an intent to display learning: far be it from me to write a satire on the age; all I aim at is, to convince the beaux esprits of our times, that what I teach, they may not receive with disparagement, since they tread thereby in the same road with the greatest heroes of antiquity; and in this way at least, emulate the characters of Alexander and Cæsar. Or, if those old fashioned commanders excite not their ambition, I will venture to assure them, that in this track only they will be able to approach the immortal Prince Eugene; who, glorious from his courage, and amiable from his clemency, is yet less distinguished by his rank than by his politeness.

After naming Prince Eugene, it would debase my subject to add another example. I shall proceed therefore to the taking notice of such qualities of the mind as are requisite for my pupils to have, previous to the receipt of these instructions.

But as vanity is one of the greatest impediments in the road of a polite philosopher; and as he who takes upon himself to be a preceptor, ought at least not to give an ill example to his scholars; it will not be improper for me to declare, that, in compo sing this piece, I had in my eye that precept of Seneca Hæc aliis dic, ut dum dicis, audias; ipse scribe, ut dum, scripseris, legas.' Which, for the sake of the ladies, I shall translate into English, and into verse, that I may gratify my own propensity to rhyming

Speaking to others, what you dictate hear;

And learn yourself, while teaching you appear.

Thus you see me stript of the ill-obeyed authority of a pedagogue; and are for the future to consider me only as a school-fellow playing the master, that we may the better conquer the difficulties of our task.

To proceed then in the character which, for my own sake as well as yours, I have put on, let me remind you, in the first place,

That Reason, however antique you may think it, is a thing absolutely necessary in the composition of him who endeavours at the acquiring a philosophical politeness; and let us receive it as a maxim, that without Reason there is no being a fine gentle

man.

However, to soften, at the same time that we yield to this constraint, I tell my blooming audience