I * ? i I r 1 - HJ 1 s I 3 gs I 3 : C! I 1 >&AHvaaiH^ s = c <: 5 1. Jfe ^OF-CAilF g" MORAL AND LITERARY DISSERTATIONS; CHIEFLY INTENDED AS THE SEQUEL T o A FATHER'S INSTRUCTIONS. TIBI SOCRATICJE POTERUNT OSTEIf-DERE CHARTS. Q.UO VIRTUS; QJJO FERAT ERROR. HOR. MORAL AND LITERARY DISSERTATIONS, O N THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS; 5. On a Tafte for the Fine 1. On Truth and Falttfulteft. 2. On Habit and Affodathn. 5. On Inconfftency of Expec- tation in Literary Purfuits. 4, On a Trf/? for the general Beauties of Nature. 6. On the Alliance of Natural Hiftcry, and Pbihfofby, with Poetry. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES D E P L I E R, E S ^ AND AN APPENDIX. B Y THOMAS PERCIFAL, M.D.F.R.S. & S.A. MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH, i I C 1 A N S AT PARIS, &C. &C. W A R R I N G T O N, Printed by w. EYRES, for j. JOHNSON, St. Paul's Church-Yard, LONDON. MDCCLXXXIY. ' I \ 3 k THE RIGHT REVEREND RICHARD WATSON, D.D. F.R.S. LORD BISHOP OF LANDAFF; &c. &c. &c. MY LORD, TH E approbation, with which your lordfhip has been pleafed to honour the firft part of the Work, now offered to your acceptance, encourages me to hope that you will receive the fubfequent Diflertations, with the fame friendly and A 3 candid 13776 6 DEDICATION. candid indulgence. And I am happy in the prefent oppor- tunity, of publicly exprefling the refped, efteem, and attach- ment with which I have the honour to be, MY LORD, Your Lord/hip's much obliged, and moj} faithful humble Servant ! , THOMAS PERCIVAL. THE PREFACE. IN offering to the public a mif- cellaneous work, like the follow- ing, it may be proper to give a brief account of the different parts, of which it is compofed. The SOCRATIC DISCOURSE was written feveral years ago, for the ufe of the author's own family ; and a few printed copies of it were diflributed amongst his friends. The appro- bation with which it has been honour- ed, by fome of the moft judicious of them, has abated his diffidence con- cerning it j and the defire of render- ing his private labours of utility to A 4 mankind, 8 PREFACE. mankind, has induced him to commit it 'again to the prefs. It forms the firft part of a plan, which he has long had in contemplation, of teach- ing his older children the mofl important branches of ethics, viz. VERACITY, FAITHFULNESS, JUS- TICE, and BENEVOLENCE, in a fyftematic and experimental manner, by EXAMPLES. But various caufes have hitherto prevented, and will probably continue to prevent, the completion of his delign. He cor- dially wifhes, therefore, that fome moraliit, of more leifure and fuperior abilities, iitfo whofe hands this little piece may fall, would execute, in its full extent, what is here fo partially and imperfedtly attempted. To promote the love of truth, and to excite an averiion to duplicity and falfhoodi PREFACE. 9 falfhood, are objects which merit the mod ferious attention, in the bufinefs of education. And as the minds of children, at an early age, are incapable of difcerning the dif- tinctions and fubordinations of moral duty, the rules, prefcribed to them, ihould be abfolute and without ex- ception. But in the more advanced period of youth, obfervation and reading will necelTarily point out many deviations from thefe rules, not only in the converfation and conduct of their friends, but in the moft applauded actions which hiftory re- cords. And when fuch reflections fuggeft themfelves, it is a proof that the powers of the underftanding are unfolded ; and that it will be feafon- able to graft rational knowledge on, the love of virtue. For to obviate error, is the firfl flep towards recti- tude; and the abufeof reafon, in our moral i3 PREFACE. moral judgments, too frequently terminates in depravity of principle*. The author has, in general, given his authorities for the facts, which he has related, that hiftoric truth may be diftinguifhed from the jfictions, introduced for the fake of illuflration : But in the ilory of the king of Navarre, afterwards Henry IV. of France, they have been un- avoidably intermingled. The re- ference to Sully's Memoirs will, however, mew were the former ends, and the latter commences. It is well known to the learned, that Socrates gave rife to a new mode of inflrudtion, in the fchools of phi- lofophy ; and that Plato and Xeno- phon, by recording the moral con- verfations of their amiable mailer, excited a tafte for dialogue, which has P R E F A C E. ii has prevailed through all fucceeding ages. The mode of exemplification, purfued in the prefent work, has ne- ceffarily occafioned fome deviation from each of thefe great originals j who are, indeed, themfelves fo dif- ferent, as to agree only in one com- mon outline. But he has copied both in many particulars ; efpecially in the adoption of real characters, for the dramatis perfona, or fpeakers in his difcourfe. How far he has done juflice to the talents or opinions of Philocles, it is not for him to determine. But if the fentiments, imputed to his late honoured friend, be fuch as he would not have avow- ed ; let it be remembered, that Plato alfo wrote what Socrates dif- claimed $ * and that the author alone is * The LYSIS. When Socrates heard this dialogue of Plato read, in which he fupported the 12 PREFACE. is anfwerable for whatever he has delivered. The ESSAYS on the INFLUENCE of HABIT and ASSOCIATION ; on INCONSISTENCY of EXPECTATION in LITERARY PURSUITS j on the ADVANTAGES of a TASTE for the GENERAL BEAUTIES of NA- TURE and of ART -, and on the ALLIANCE of NATURAL HISTORY and PHILOSOPHY with POETRY, have been read before the LITERARY and PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, of Manchester, and honoured with a place in their journals. But in thefe feveral compofhions, the difcerning reader will perceive evident traits of paternal inftru&ion : And that both the principal character, "Gods ! " he exclaimed, * how this young man makes me fay what I ** never thought ! " in PREFACE. 13 in the choice of the fubjects, and in the experimental method of dif- cuffing them, he has had in view, the interefts of thofe, in whofe improvement he is moffc nearly and tenderly concerned. They will therefore, he trufls, be deemed no improper fequel to the SOCRATIC DISCOURSE. The compofition of a TRIBUTE tO the MEMORY of CHARLES DE POLIER, ESO^ devolved upon him, as the friend of the deceafed, and officially as prefident of the very re- fpeftable fociety, which appointed this record of his merit. It was written under the impreffion of heart- felt forrow ; and on that account may, perhaps, be fufpefted of exhibiting a pidlure, too ftrong in its lineaments, and too glowing in its colours. But time, which calms every emotion, and i 4 PREFACE. and reilores the due authority of judgment over imagination, has made no change in the author's fentiments, concerning the character he has drawn. And the infertion of it, in this work, whilft it gratifies the feelings of his mind, is perfectly confonant to the general defign, which he has in view. For it offers a moft inftructive model to young men, who are animated with the laudable ambition of uniting liberal and polite manners, with the more folid attainments of learning and virtue. The APPENDIX to the SOCRATIC DISCOURSE contains fuch remarks and illuftrations, as further reflection or reading have fuggefted, fince that piece was written. The author is fully apprized of the peculiar delicacy and difficulty of the moral topics, which PREFACE. 15 which he has attempted to invefti- gate ; and trufts, that he mall always be difpofed to acknowledge and to rectify any errors, into which he may have fallen. For he deems a return to truth and reafon, more honourable than the pofTeffion even of infallible judgment ; and fincerely adopts the fentiment of a celebrated writer -, ft that the man, who is free *' from miftakes, can pretend to no " praife, except what is derived from " the juftnefs of his underftanding ; " but that he, who corrects his mif- " takes, "difplays at once, the juftnefs " of his underftanding, and the can- " dour of his heart." MANCHESTER, September i, 178.5. ERRATA. Page 62, line 1 5, for Shakefpear, read Shakefpeare. 92, 6, authorifed, read authorized. 98, 7, id. _ id. TOO, 13, apologifed, read apologized. 107, 14, philofophifing, read philofophizing. no, 18, Chimsras, read Chimeras. J45, Note, Shakefpear's, read Shakefpeare's. 147, 3, chara&erifed, read characterized. 209, 23, humanifes, read humanizes. aiz, 14, civilifed, read civilized. 248, 8, lightenings, read lightnings. 19, id. id. 2 4-9> 3> Shakefpear, read Shakefpeare. 319, 16, authorifed, read authorized. N. B. The Author having fupprefled feveral feftions, in- tended for infertion in the Appendix, the references in the Socratic Difcourfe, to pages 19, 20, 53, 76, 85, 102, 108, arc confequently erroneous. CONTENTS. S 'OCR A TIC Difeourfe on Truth. - i On the Influence of Habit and Affectation. 117 On Inconfijlency cf Expectation in Literary Purfuits. - 185 On a Tajle for the Beauties r,f Nature. - 201 On a Toft e for the Fine Arts. - air On the Alliance of Natural Hi/lory with Poetry. 223 A Tribute to the Memory of Charles de Po!ifr 9 Ef q . - - 27^ APPENDIX. On true and falfe Honour. - 291 Onfalfe Maxims of Morality. - - 298 On Fealty to Magijlrates, - 302 Onfalfe Opinions concerning Friendjhip. - 308 On Difputation. - 309 On tke indifcriminate Pleadings of Lawyers. 329 S O C RAT I C DISCOURSE T R U T H. INTER SILVAS ACADEMI QJU JE R E R E VE RU M. H O R. S O C RAT I C DISCOURSE RUTH, r. B. P. YOU have often been a witnefs, my dear Son, of the pleafure experienced by me, in the recol- lection of the Academical years, which I pa{Ted at in the purfuit of gene- ral fcience, before I engaged in my pro- fefiional ftudies at the univerfity of And you have no lefs fre- quently heard me exprefs the higheft B 2 veneration 4 ON TRUTH. veneration for the profound learning, and exalted character of Philocles, under whofe tuition, the charms of knowledge firft attracted my regard. I have lately revifited thofe fcenes fo delightful to my youth : But, leaving to your conception the emotions which I felt, I fhall relate to you a SOCRATIC CONVERSATION, that occurred there in my prefence, between Philocles and your kinfman Sophron. This amiable youth, who is likely to re- flect a luftre on the facred office, to which, I truft, he will ere long be called, had been reciting to his ProfefTor an Academical compofition on the im- portance of TRUTH, and on the folly, infamy, and bafenefs of LYING and DE- CEIT. And, when he laid down the book, Philocles exprefTed an earneft wifh, that fuch fentiments might ever influence the heart, and direct the conduct of his pupil. But general rules, continued he, are inefficient for our government in the diverfified and complicated occurrences of O N T R U T H. 5 of life: And, if we be ambitious of acting with wifdom, honour, and virtue, it is neceflary that we fhould make ourfelves acquainted with the various branches and fubordinations of each moral duty. Let us, therefore, take a particular view of TRUTH, and of her infeparable com- panion FAITHFULNESS. You are no novice in thefe fubjects ; and Euphronius, I am perfuaded, will be pleafed to hear you exercifed in the difcuflion of them. I prefume you will concur with me in opinion, that MORAL TRUTH is the con- formity of our exfrejjions to our thoughts ; and FAITHFULNESS, that of our aclions to our exprejfions : And that LYING or FALS- HOOD is generally a mean, Jelfift), or male- volent, and always an unjuftifiable endeavour to deceive another ; by fignifying or averting that to be truth or faft> which is known or believed to be otherwife ; and by making promtfeSy without any intention to perform them. B 3 But, 6 ONTRUTH. But, if we believe our afiertions or figns to be true, and they fhould afterwards prove to be falfe, tell me, Sophron, are we then guilty of Lying ? No, replied Sophron j we fhall have committed only an error or miftake : For under fuch circumftances, we mud have been deceived ourfelves ; and could have had no defign of impofmg upon others. But is every breach of promife a Lie, continued Philocles ? I fhould think not, anfwered Sophron, if the promife were made with fmcerity, and the violation of it be unavoidable. Your diftinction is juft, faid Philocles ; and there are alfo certain conditions, obvious to the general fenfe of mankind, underftood or implied in almoft every promife, on which the performance muft depend. Whang-to, Emperor of China, who O N T R U T H. 7 who governed his people like a father, and regarded his own elevation and power as trufts delegated for their good, had a daughter who was his only child, and the darling of his old age. He promifed her in marriage to Oufan-quey, the fon of his favourite mandarine, and that he would bequeath to him all his domi- nions as her dowry. Oufan-quey was at that time a youth of the moft promi- fmg abilities and difpofitions ; but the profpect of royalty, and the adulation of a court, foon corrupted his heart. He became haughty, infolent, and cruel j and the people anticipated, with hor- ror, the tyranny which they muft en- dure under his government. By the inftitutions of the Chinefe, the great officers of flate may remonftrate to the emperor, when his decrees are injurious to the public intereft ; and this privi- lege has often tended to abate the rigour of defpotifm. Whang- to heard, with grief and aftonifhment, the complaints 64 of 8 ON TRUTH. ef his mandarines againft Oufan-qucy. He fummoned him into his prefence, and being fatisfied with the proofs of his demerit, he addrefTed the officers of ftate in the following terms : " I engaged and regret that his exalted vir- tues were not difplayed on a more im- portant and honourable occafion. But when thefe firft emotions are over, and we difpaflionately reflect on the conduct of the flave, we muft condemn it as an unjuftifiable facrifice of truth, of his own life, and of the duty which he owed to fociety.* The divine command, " 'Thou fc /halt not bear falfe witnefs AGAINST tby * See Appendix, Seh V. 20 O N T R U T H. "neighbour," cannot furely be fuppofed to imply, that he may bear falje witnefs in bis FAVOUR ; becaufe this would be to forbid private injury, and to authorife public wrongs. Judicial teflimony, in the prefent circumftances of the moral world, is eflential to the well-being of fociety ; and to lefTen the general credi- bility of it, by introducing into courts of law falfhood and perjury, is a high crime againft the Itate, and feverely punifhed in all countries which have emerged from barbarifm.* Befides, the good of the community requires that juilice fhould be executed on the of- fender himfelf, to prevent him from committing other crimes : And it would give encouragement to vice, if an inno- cent perfon, perhaps tired of life, or influenced by enthufiaftic notions of honour, friendfhip, or love, might fuffer for another who is guilty. See Appendix, Seft. VI. The ON TRUTH. 21 The certainty of punifhment, even in mifdemeanors, is ftrongly urged by the Marquis de Beccaria, the great advocate for judicial lenity. And he thinks the forgivenefs of the injured party himfelf, fhould not interrupt the execution of juflice. .5* This may be an act of good- " nature and humanity," he obferves, " but it is contrary to the good of the fc public. For although a private citi- which I cannot condemn, though I know not how to juftify. I will endeavour to recoiled, and to repeat the ftory. A Britifti ferjeant was taken prifoner by the favages in America; who prepared them- felves to put him to death, with all the barbarity which their ikill in torture could invent. Shocked with the view of the horrid fufferings which awaited him, he thus addrefled the Indians : " Mighty I fray " tbee, from thy fervant '."f See Barclay's Apology, p. 525. f Cenefis, Chap, xviii, Ver, z, 3. Lot, 64 O N T R U T H. Lot, alfo, is reprefented, in the book of Genefis, as accofting, in fimilar terms, two ftrangers, with whofe dignity he was then unacquainted. tf And be Jaid, " Behold now, my lords, turn in, I fray "you, into your Jerv ant's houfe, and tarry " all nighty and waft) your feet -, and ye "Jball rife up early, and go on your ways"* The conduct and exprefiions of thefe venerable patriarchs, might, I obferved, be perfectly confiftent with the niceft adherence to truth and lincerity. For though they ftiled themfelves thejervants of the ftrangers, whom they addrefled, they could not mean to extend the term beyond fuch fervices, as the laws of hof- pitality required. Similar laws, anfwered Philocles, which general confent has eftablifhed, bind every man, in the common inter- courfe of life, to reftrain his angry * Genefis, Chap, xix, Ver, a. paflions, O N T R U T H. 6$ paflions, to filence his fevere judgments, to fupprefs his pride and arrogance, and not only to correct whatever is offenfive in his manners, but to Ihew that urbanity of fpirit, which, by its benevolent atten- tions, contributes to alleviate mifery, and to increafe the fum of public happi- nefs and order. Miftake me not, how- ever, by fuppofmg that I would recom- mend forward profefiions, a fawning de- meanour, or unlimited complaifance. Integrity of heart, and fteadinefs of prin- ciple, forbid all fmful conformity with the world : And I would neither flatter folly, countenance vice, nor yield up one important duty to artificial polite - nefs. But the facrifice of my own pride, refentment, caprice, or ill nature, to focial eafe and enjoyment, may often be required : And he, who, like Diogenes, neither poflefles the fubftance, nor the form of courtefy, fhould be banifhed from the world. This Cynic, you re- member, when he paid a vifit to Plato, F who 66 O N T R U T H. who united a tafte for elegance with the love of philofophy, exulted in the rude- nefs of reproof, and bedaubing with his dirty feet the fine carpet, which covered the floor, cried out, " Thus I trample on the pride of Plato. " " But with far greater pride," retorted Plato, with a farcaftic feverity, which the occafion fully juftified. Lord Bacon mentions two noblemen of his acquaintance, one of whom kept a very magnificent table, but treated his guefts with illiberal free- dom : The other, when he entertained the fame guefts, probably with humbler cheer, but more politenefs, ufed to alk them, " Tell truly, was there never a flout, or dry blow given at my lord's table ? " To which the guefts anfwered, " Such and fuch a thing patted." " I thought," faid this nobleman, " he would mar a good dinner/'* Urbanity has been admirably charac- terifed, .by a celebrated writer, under Bacon's Effays, XXXII. the ON TRUTH. 67 the appellation of GENTLENESS. " This virtue," he obferves, " is founded on a " fenfe of what we owe to Him who * c made us, and to the common nature ui neqult } tie Nlgtr eft j kur.c tu, Romane, cavett. Hor, Lib, I. Sat. 4. can. So O N T R U 1* H. can, habitually, praftife infincerity and hypocrify, in thofe ferious and impor- tant tranfactions with his Creator, Bene- factor, and Judge, which have eternity for their objecl:, is not likely to pay any Heady regard to temporary interefts, refulting from the laws of fociety, or the ordinary obligations of morality. When one of the kings of France folicited M. Bougier, who was a proteftant, to conform to the Roman Catholic religion, promifing him, in return, a commifiion or a government, "Sire," replied he, " if I could be perfuaded to betray my and was perhaps a witnefs of the mo- narch's firing with a carabine, upon the wretched Calvinifts, who fled from their murderers by the windows of the palace. The courtiers, as they came into the royal prefence, vied with each other, in boafting of the barbarities which they had committed 5 and Charles faid to Pare, whofe religious opinions he well knew, " The time is now come, when " I fhall have none but catholics in my "dominions." "Sire," anfwered he, without embarraflment or perturbation, ec can you forget your promife to me, " that I fhould never be obliged to go " to mafs ! " The duke of Sully feems to be of opinion, that the edict, which Charles iffued the fucceeding day, to prohibit the continuance of the maffacre, was partly owing to the intrepidity and influence of Pare. O The 82 ON T R U T H; The conduct of Pare, faid Philocles, on fo trying an occafion, affords a ftriking proof of firmnefs and fmcerity, in the profefiion of religious faith. But exam- ples, of much higher degrees of fimilar fidelity, are to be found in the earlier annals of the Chriftian church. Nor are inftances wanting, even in the hea- then world, of a zealous and fearlefs attachment to thofe rites, which igno- rance deemed facred, and which indi- viduals or bodies of men bound them- felves, by folemn engagements, to per- form. When the Gauls were become matters of Rome, they befieged the ca- pitol, and clofely guarded every avenue, to prevent the efcape of a fmgle Roman citizen. Under thefe circumftances of danger, Caius Fabius Dorfo, a young man of an illuftrious family, defcended from the capitol, bearing certain holy utenfils in his hands ; and patted through the midft of the enemy, regardlefs of their menaces, to offer a facrifice to the gods O N T R U T H. 83 gods on the hill Quirinalis. This facri- fice, it was the cuftom of his anceftors to perform yearly, on a ftated day j and when he had finiihed the folemnity, the Gauls, though a fierce and barbarous people, fuffered him to return unmo- lefted, admiring his piety, and aftonifhed at his intrepidity.* Facls, like thefe, fhould make us blufh at indifference, and abhor difllmulation in religion. But whilft we allow fuch impreffions to pro- duce their full influence on our hearts, let us beware of pafling judgment upon others, with ralhnefs or unchriftian fe- verity. Intemperate zeal is apt to beget a malignancy of fpirit, no lefs incom- patible with the love of GOD, than with benevolence to man. The conviclion of the mind, in matters of faith, often de- pends more upon education and au- thority, than on the exertions of reafon : And if we fee men profeffing to believe, * Vid. Liv. Hift. G 2 what 8 4 O N T R U T H. what is unintelligible or abfurd, we fhould be well aflured that they have not deceived themfelves, before we ac- cufe them of mocking their Creator, and impofing on the world. We may pity ignorance, and lament credulity ; but hypocrify, urged Sophron, merits from us no indulgence : And this fpecies of falfhood is fo characteriftically marked, that it cannot be miftaken. Who, that obferves a man fanctified in his behaviour, and afliduous in his public devotions, whilit he is at the fame time felfifh, malevolent, bigoted, and oppref- five, will hefitate ,to charge him with the grofieft and moft infamous diffimu- lation ? If there be fufficient proof, that this is really his temper of mind, I acknow- ledge, faid Philocles, that you may and ought to brand him with the name of hypocrite. But no man fhould be charged with ON TRUTH. 85 with a crime univerfally odious, on flight or equivocal evidence.* There is a fpecies of devotion, which, having its feat chiefly in the imagination and the paflions, bears no exact proportion to the virtue of the character in which it is found : And charity, together with a humble fenfe of our own infirmities, will always lead us to put the moft favourable conftruftion on the conduct of our fellow creatures. We {hould remember alfo, that enthuilafrn and fuperftition have often appeared, with the external marks of diflimulation. The famous lord Her- bert, of Cherbury, had written an elabo- rate work againft Chriftianity, which he intitled, De Veritate, front diftinguitur a Revelatione. But knowing that it would meet with much oppofltion, he remained fome time in anxious fufpence about the publication of it. Providence, how- ever, as he informs us, kindly interpofed, * See Appendix, Sea. X, G 3 and 86 O N T R U T H. and determined his wavering refolu- tions. Hear the marvellous tale, which he relates ! and confidered this fuper- " natural movement, as the anfwer which C Heaven, having rejected the king, " had fent to my fupplications."* Let us further fuppofe, that this ftranger attended the high court of juf- tice, and faw Cromwell, when he took the pen in his hand, to fign the warrant for the king's execution, jocularly be- daub the face of his neighbour with the ink; could he forbear to exprefs his difguft at the levity which he then ob- * Whitlcck. ferved ; 90 ON TRUTH. fervedj and his abhorrence of the grofs diffimulation, to which he had been before a witnefs ? You have drawn your example, re- plied Philocles, from that diffracted period of our hiftory, when truth ap- pears to have been banifhed from public life. The defpotic views of a monarch, who was under the influence of a popifh queen, a bigoted prelate, and a corrupt ftatefman, led him to the practice of deceit and fallhoodj* and the parties, Confult Clarendon, Vol. I. p. 22. Ruftnvorth, Vol. I. from p. 119 to 127. Hume's Hift. 410. Vol. I, p. 103. Ed. 1754. " He had promifed to the laft houfe of commons a redrefs of uod quit deridet, quatn. quod probat et weneratur. HOR. PARODY is a favourite flower both of ancient and of modern literature.* It is a fpecies of ludicrous compofition, which derives its wit from afibciation; and never fails to produce admiration and delight, when it unites tafte in felection, with felicity of application. Even licentious fpecimens of it move to laughter j for we are always inclined to be diverted with mimickry, or ridiculous imitation, whether the original be an object of refpecl, of indifference, or of contempt. A polifhed Athenian audi- ence heard, with burfts of mirthful ap- plaufe, the difcourfes of the venerable Socrates, burlefqued upon the ftage ; and no Englifhman can read the Rehearfal without fmiling at the medley of bor- rowed abfurdities, which it exhibits. * See Diog. Laertius, Lucian. Dialog. Boileau, Cervantes, Butler, Swift, &c. &c. Mr. AND ASSOCIATION, 161 Mr. Pope's Dunciad, and Rape of the Lock abound with the moft admirable parodies ; but fome of them may appear, to a reli- gious mind, chargeable with levity and profanenefs. I lhall quote an example, both of the excellent and exceptionable ; as the beauty of the one, and the fault of the other, equally relate to the fubject of the prefent eflfay. When the fatal rape was committed by the Baron, on Belinda's Lock, fhe is reprefented as attempting to revenge herfelf by her bodkin. Now meet thy fate, incens'd Belinda cry'd, And drew a deadly bodkin from her fide. The fame, his ancient perfonage to deck, Her great great grandfire wore about his neck, In three feal rings ; which after, melted down, Formed a vail buckle for his widow's gown : Her infant grandame's whittle next it grew, The bells fhe jingled, and the whittle blew ; Then in a bodkin graced her mother's hairs, Which long fhe wore, and now Belinda wears. * * Canto V. line 87. M The 1 62 O N H A B I T, The unlearned reader will be ftruck with this fplendid, genealogical defcrip- tion of an infignificant bodkin : But he, who is verfed in the writings of Homer, will perufe it with additional delight, from the recollection of the analogy, which it bears to the progrefs of Aga- memnon's fceptre. In the third Canto, of the incomparable poem above referred to, a game of Ombre is defcribed with all the patbds and folemnity, which the heroic mufe can call forth : And the cards in Belinda's hand being pompoufly enumerated, viz. Four kings, in majefiy rever'd, With hoary whifkers, and a forky beard : And four fair queens, whofe hands fuftain a flow'r, Th' expreffive emblem of their fofter power, &c. the two following lines fucceed - 3 The fkilful nymph reviews her force with caie, Let Spades Le trumps ! Jbefaid; and trumps they nuere. This parody of one of the molt fub- lime paffages in the Old Teftament, " and AND ASSOCIATION. 163 " and GOD Jaid, Let there be light, and there was light" may, I think, be juftly deemed reprehenfible ; as it tends to connect a ludicrous idea with that Being, who ought never to be thought of, but with reverence.* But fhould this remark appear to be an overftrained refinement, it will be acknowledged that, in lefs * Pope feems to have been peculiarly fond of allufions to this paffage, of the Old Teftament ; but has been a little un- fortunate in the application of them. The truth is, that the femiment is too fublime, either for burlefque, or for compli- ment. And the extravagance of thefe lines, in his epitaph on Sir Ifaac Newton, offends almoft equally with the parody quoted above. Nature, and Nature's laws lay hid in night ; GOD faidy Let Newton be ! and all was light. This hyperbolical encomium is fuch a profanation of facred writ, to monumental flattery, that it was juftly fatirized in the following epigram, written by a young man, who has difclofed only the initials of his name. If Newton's exiftence enlighten'd the whole, What part of expanfion inhabits the fool ? If light had been total, as Pope hath averr'd, I. T. had been right, for he could not have err'd : But Pope has his faults, fo excufe a young fpark ; Bright Newton's deceas'd, and we're all in the dark. M 2 dignified 164 O N H A B I T, dignified cafes, very flight aflbciations, of the burlefque kind, have an aftonifh- ing effect on the fentiments and tafte of thofe who form them. When Thomfon's tragedy of Sophonifba was firft repre- fented on the ftage, the higheft expecta- tions were formed of its theatrical merit. But a waggifli parody on the following line, O ! Sophonifba ! Sophonilba, O ! damned the reputation of the play ; and for a while the town echoed with O ! Jemmy Thomfon ! Jemmy Thomfon, O ! * It happened not long fince, that a perfon of mean rank was elected provoft, or chief magistrate, of Aberdeen. In the firft moments of elevation, and * Johnfon's Lives of the Poets j Article, Thomfon. This celebrated critic, in another part of the fame work, has well obferved, that exclamations feidom fucceed in our language : And that the particle O ! ufsd at the beginning of a fentence, always ofwnds. whilft AND ASSOCIATION. 165 whilft receiving the congratulations of his friends, he laid his hands upon his breaft, and very emphatically declared, that " after all be was but a mortal man. " Is it pofiible for any one, under the impreflion of this ludicrous ftory, to read, without fmiling, the fa<5t related by JElian, and quoted with great ap- plaufe by many other hiftorians, viz. that Philip, king of Macedon, kept a perfon in his fervice, whofe office it was to deliver to him, daily, the follow- ing admonition; Remember, Philip, that thou art mortal? Perhaps, if fuch an inci- dent had occurred in Greece, during the reign of that monarch, it might have turned into ridicule the admiration, in which his inftitution was held; by expofmg, at once, the abfurdity, pride, and affected humility, on which it was founded. The people improperly, becaufe oppro- brioufly, called Quakers, certainly merit M 3 a very i66 O N H A B I T, a very high degree of efteem from their fellow citizens, on account of their in- duftry, temperance, peaceablenefs, and catholic fpirit of charity. For notwith- ftanding the enthufiaftic pretenfions of their founders, to fuperior fanctity and Divine infpiration, they difclaimed all dominion over faith and confcience. And Barclay, their learned apologift, wrote ably in defence of religious liberty j whilft Penn, as a lawgiver and civil magiftrate, eftablifhed it, on the broad- eft foundation, in his new government of Penfylvania. * At a period, when bigotry and perfecution were predomi- nant through the Chriftian world, fuch rational * This venerable man was fufpefted of being a papift in difguife, owing to the favour fliewn him by king James II. To obviate fo unjuft an opinion, feveral letters were written by him to Dr. Tillotfon, then dean of Canterbury, who, amongft others, had adopted it ; and in one of them he thus exprefles himfelf. " I know not a jefuit or a pried in the " world t And yet I am a catholic, though not a Roman. " I have bowels for mankind, and dare not deny others, what I crave for myfelf, I mean, liberty for the exercife of "my AND ASSOCIATION. 167 rational fentiments and liberal conduct reflect the higheft honour on this feet. But the fmgularity of their apparel, manners, and forms of worfhip, has ex- pofed them to the keeneft fhafts of ridicule. And however illiberally and unjuftifiably fuch offenfive weapons may have been employed, they would, in all probability, have prevailed, if the converts and youth of this feel: had not been fortified againft them, by the moft unremitting ilriftnefs of their inftitu- tions. Thefe are admirably calculated to correct, or to prevent, all ludicrous aflbciations ; and to fupprefs, if poffible, the very principle of laughter, as in- confiftent with the ferioufnefs y gravity, and " my religion ; thinking faith, piety, and providence, a better " fecurity than force ; and that, when truth cannot prevail " with her own weapons, all others will fail her. I am no " Roman Catholic, but a Chriftian, whole creed is the " Scripture, of the truth of which 1 hold a nobler evidence, <{ than the beft church authority in the world." Brit. Biog. Vol. VII. M 4 godly 168 O N H A B I T, godly fear of the Go/pel* It is aftonifh- ing to obferve, in a large body of people, the efficacy of a fet of practical maxims, utterly repugnant to nature : And the influence of them is early vifible, even in their children ; who difplay an inva- riable fteadinefs of countenance and de- portment, under circumftances which cover others, of the fame age, but differ- ently educated, with the blulhes of bafhful Confufion. But there is now an increafing relaxation of difcipline amongft the members of this refpeftable community j and their diftinguilhing modes will gradually ceafe, as they be- come more and more combined with the painful ideas of obloquy and derifion, in the minds of thofe who adopt them. Piety to God, whether it refpe&s the inward fentiments and affections of the foul, or the outward exprefiions of them in homage and prayer, ought to elevate * Barclay's Apology for the Quakers, p. 136. US AND ASSOCIATION. 169 us far above the reach of raillery, or the influence of low and ludicrous afToci- ations. But unhappily, both the princi- ple and practice of devotion are too often debafed by fuperftition, deformed by en- thufiafm, and counterfeited by hypocrify : And as thefe conftitute legitimate objects of ridicule and contempt, the fterling value of piety itfelf becomes depreciated by the union of a bafe and foreign alloy. Such numbers draw -near to the Deity with their lips y whilft their hearts are far from him, that a noble writer has farcaftically obferved, tc If we are told a man is reli- " gious, we (till afk, what are his morals ? " But if we hear at firft that he has honeft " Will glory to behold fuch rivals rife. * " On faireft names, from every blemim free ; " Save what the jaundic'd eyes of party fee. " I am inclined to believe there is no fufficient foundation for this opinion. Galen indeed fpeaks of yellow vifion, as common to icteric patients ; and Sextus Empyricus has delivered the fame ac- count : But their relation is neither con- firmed by experience, nor confonant to reafon. In the worft cafes of the jaun- dice, now known, this fymptom has no exiftence; and I do not find it noticed in the records of Aretaeus, Celfus, or Hippocrates. The fuppofition, that the fertilifing quality of SNOW arifes from nitrous falts, which it is fuppofed to acquire in the aft of freezing, is void of foundation ; * On Epic Poetry, Epift. IV, becaufe AND POETRY. 231 becaufe the moft accurate experiments have demonftrated, that it contains no nitre, and only a fmall portion of calca- reous earth. Falfe philofophy, fays an eminent chemift, * firft gave rife to this idea, and poetry has contributed to dif- fufe the error. Thus Mr. Philips j O may'ft thou often fee Thy furrows whiten'd % by the woolly rain, Nutritious ; fecret nitre lurks within The porous wet; quickening the languid glebe. But the following lines, of Mr. Thomfon, do not appear to me to be liable to the fame objection. For the termfalts 3 with the annexed epithet little, may be applied, without much poetical licence, to the cryftals of water, formed by freezing. What art thou, froft ? Is not thy potent energy unfeen, Myriads of little fait s, or hook'd, or ftiap'd Like double wedges, and diffus'd immenfe Thro' water, earth and ether ? * Dr, Watfon, now Bifhop of Landaff, in his Chemical Effitys. The 232 NATURAL HISTORY The operation of froft is here afcribed to its mechanical powers. -For, by bind- ing the furface of the earth, it arrefts the exhalations, as they afcend from the parts below i and thus retains a nutri- tious pabulum, to be applied, at the pro- per feafon, to the roots of plants. But it chiefly meliorates the foil, by pul- verifmg the particles which compofe it, and fitting them for the abforption of the vernal dews and rains. Whenever PHILOSOPHY is introduced into poetry, truth, for the moft part, is eflential to its power of giving pleafure. And our great epic writer feems to de- fcend, fometimes, from the majefty of his work, by mixing, with modern difco- veries, the groundlefs opinions of the ancients. Thus, when Raphael addrefles Adam, concerning the great fyftem of nature, he fays, Other funs, perhaps, With their attendant moons, thou wilt defcry, Communicating male and female light. * * Milton's Paradife Loft, Book VIII. line 148. The AND POETRY. 233 The idea of male light being commu- nicated by the fun, and female light by the moon, probably originated, in the mind of Milton, from his intimate ac- quaintance with the writings of Pliny ; who mentions, as a tradition, " that " the fun is a mafculine ftar, drying all (C things, but that the moon is a foft and " feminine ftar, of diflblving power : (t And that thus the balance of nature tf is preferved - 3 fome of the ftars binding " the elements ; and others loofening << them."* The HARMONY of the SPHERES, or mufical revolution of the heavenly bodies in their feveral orbits, was firft taught by the Pythagoreans j who feem to have * Softs ardore ficcatur liquor ; et hoc ejje mafculutn fidus acce- pimus, torrent cunRa forbenfque. E cmtrario ferunt lunam femineum tf mol/e Jtdusy clique noflurnum folvere bumorem. It a penfari natttra -vices, femperque fujpccre, aliit fiderum elementa cogentibus t alili vero fundentibus. Hift, Nat. Lib. II, Cap. 100. See alf the note* to Newton's Edit, of Par. Loft. derived 134 NATURAL HISTORY derived this fanciful doctrine from ana- logy. For it was obferved, by thefe philofophers, that a mufical chord pro- duces the fame note, as one double in length, when the force is quadruple with which the latter is ftretched : Hence they fuppofed that the gravity of a pla- net is quadruple the gravity of a planet, at a double diftance. And as any mufi- cal chord may become unifon to a lefler chord, of the fame kind, if its tenfion be increafed in the fame proportion as the fquare of its length is greater ; fo the gravity of a planet may become equal to the gravity of another planet, nearer to the fun, provided it be increafed in proportion as the fquare of its diftance from the fun is greater. If, therefore, mufical chords be extended from the fun to each planet, to bring them into unifon, it would be requifite, to increafe or di- miniih their tenfions, in the fame pro- portions, as would be fufficient to render the AND POETRY. 235 the gravity of the planets equal.* This notion of the Pythagoreans is fo pleafing to the imagination, that it is not fur- prifmg the poets have adopted it. And Milton has given fuch a view of it, as wants nothing but philofophical truth to render it delightful. Myftical dance, which yonder ftarry fphere Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels Refembles neareft ; mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular, Then moft, when moft irregular they feem ; And in their motions harmony divine So fmooths her charming tones, that GOD'S own ear Liftens delighted, f Mr. Pope has not only fuppofed the actual exiftence of this heavenly harmony, but that it is poflible the human ear might have been fo conftituted, as to have been fenfible of it. Vid. Plin. Lib. II. Cap. 22. Macrob. Lib. II. Cap. i. See alfo, Maclaurin's account of Sir Ifaac Newton's Philofo- phical Difcoveries, page 34. f Paradife Loft, Book V. line 6zo. If * 3 6 NATURAL HISTORY If Nature thunder'd in his opening ears, And ftunn'd him with the mufic of the fpheres ; How would he wifh that heav'n had left him ftill, The whifp'ring zephyr, and the purling rill ? * Thofe, who are in poffeflion of the firft or fecond edition of Thomfon's Seafons, will find a grofs geographical miftake, in the hymn which is annexed to them. Towards the clofe of this beautiful poem, the author expreffes his pious confidence in the univerfal wifdom, and impartial benevolence of the Deity ; and afferts, that the fame regular feafons, which he had defcribed with fuch fervour of delight in the preceding work, are equally experienced in every part of the globe. . GOD is ever prefent, ever felt, In the void wafte, as in the city full ; Roll the fame kindred feafons round the world, In all apparent, wife and good in all. * Efiay on Man, Ep, I, ver, 201. The AND POETRY. 237 The two laft lines are omitted, in the fubfequent editions of this poem. The SYSTEM of PHILOSOPHY, which is now received, independent of its fuperi- ority in point of truth, infinitely exceeds in extent, elevation, and grandeur, that of the ancients. The poet, therefore, ihould be well verfed in the fcience of phyfics, not only becaufe he can feldom deviate from it,* without injury to his * In the following lines, the thought becomes low, by being unphilofophical. . . _-_- O thievifh night, Why fhould'ft thou, but for fome felonious end, In thy dark lantbarn thus clofe up the ftars That Nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps With everlafting oil. Milton's Comus. The fentiment is more brilliant, in a fubfequent paflage of this poem, but not more folid. And it is rendered abfurd by the leaft reflexion, on the impoffibility of finking the vaft orbs of the fun and moon, in the ocean ; or, as it is here improperly ftiled, thejlatfea. Virtue could fee to do what virtue v^uld, By her own radiant light ; though fun and moon Were in the Sat fen funk. Id. com- 238 NATURAL HISTORY compofitions, but becaufe thefe may de- rive from it fublimity, embellifhment, or grace. Aftronomy, in particular, fur- nifhes fuch magnificent ideas, and bound- lefs views, that imagination can hardly grafp, much lefs exalt or amplify them. " The objects which we commonly call cc great," fays an eminent writer, " vanilh, " His gentle heart bleeds with it. Peace ff to thee, generous fwain ! I fee thou tf walkeft off with anguifh ; but thy joys ef ftiall balance it. For happy is thy he was beloved for his moral endowments. His heart was open to every generous fympathy ; and the fenfibility of his na- ture fo enlivened all his perceptions, that the ordinary duties of focial intercourfe were performed, by him, with a warmth, almoft equal to that of friendfhip. Nor was this the artificial deportment of un- meaning courtefy j but the generous effufion of a heart, which felt for all mankind. In fuch fbilanthropy y polite - nefs has its true foundation : And of this joint grace of nature and education, fc which aids and ftrengthens Virtue " where it meets her, and imitates her " actions, where fhe is not," our la- mented brother was a bright example. So engaging were his manners, and at the fame time fo fmcere his difpofition, that we may apply to him, with honour, what Cicero meant as a reproach - t that T 4 he 2 8o A T R I B U T E, &c. he was qualified, cum triftibus fevere, cum remt/jts jucunde, cum Jenlbus graviter, cum juventute comiter vivere. Thefe powers of pleafing flowed from no fervile compli- ances, nor ever led him into criminal indulgences. As a companion, he was convivial without intemperance, and gay without levity or licentioufnefs. His converfation was fprightly and unre- ferved ; but, in the moft unguarded hours of mirth, exempt from all indecency and profanenefs. And the fallies of his wit and pleafantry were fo feafoned with good humour, that they gave delight, unmixed with pain, even to thofe who were the objects of them. If the coarfer pleafures of the bottle be banifhed from our tables , or if rational converfation, and delicacy of behaviour, with the fweet fociety of the fofter fex, be now fub- ftituted in their room, this happy revo- lution has been rendered more complete by the influence of Mr. de Polier. But A TRIBUTE, &c. 281 But though URBANITY, according to the moft liberal interpretation of that term, was the charaff.eriftic of our excel- lent colleague, he pofTeffed other en- dowments, of more intrinfic value. And I could enlarge, with pleafure, on his nice fenfe of rectitude, his inviolable integrity, and facred regard to truth. Thefe moral virtues were, in him, founded on no fictitious principle of honour, but refulted from the conftitu- tion of his mind ; and were ftrengthened by habit, regulated by reafon, and fanc- tioned by religion. For, notwithftand- ing, the veil which he chofe to caft over his piety, it was manifeft to his intimate friends j and may be recollected by others, who have marked the ferioufnefs, with which he difcourfed, on every fub- ject relative to the being and attributes of GOD. Defective indeed muft be the character of that man, who can difcern and acknowledge, without venerating the divine perfections j and partake of the 282 A T R I B U T E, &c. the bounties of nature, yet feel no emo- tions of gratitude towards its benevolent Author. " A little philofophy," fays lord Verulam, "may incline the mind to atheifm; " but depth in fhilojophy will bring it about " again to religion."* I have thus attempted to draw a rude {ketch of the features, of our late ho- noured friend. A fuller delineation might furnifli a more pleafmg picture to ftran- gersj but, to the members of this fo- ciety, a few outlines will fuffice to revive the image of the beloved original. This image, I truft, will be long and forcibly impreffed on our minds j and that every one, here prefent, may adopt the lan- guage of Tacitus, on a fimilar occafion. " >uicquid ex Agncola amavimus, quicquid * The noble author fubjoins a juft reafon, for this obferva- tion. M For while the mind of man," fays he, "looketh upon "Jecond caofes fcattered, it may fometimes reft in them, and " go no farther ; But when it beholdeth the chain of them " linked together, it muft needs fly to Providence and Deity." BACON'S Eflay on Atheifm. and, if they refufed, the moft exemplary ven- geance was denounced againfl them. They were threatened to be defpoiled of their wives and children, to have their country ravaged, and to be themfelves fold for flaves.* * See Herrara, Dec. I. Lib, 7, Cap. 14. alfo Robertfon's Hiftory of America, note 23. X 2 Inflances, 308 AN APPENDIX. Inftances, like thefe, afford the moft irrefragable evidence, that fealty to ma- giftrates muft always be regarded, as a conditional obligation ; and that implicit obedience to their commands may in- volve us in high degrees of guilt and infamy. IV. FALSE OPINIONS CONCERNING FRIENDSHIP.* MANY of the ancients appear to have entertained very enthufiaftic notions of FRIENDSHIP ; and to have fup- pofed, that it fuperfedes, in particular circumftances, both wifdom and pru- dence, and every fpecies of moral obli- gation. When Bloffius, the bofom com- panion of the elder Gracchus, was fum- moned before the fenate of Rome, after the tumult which proved fatal to that tribune, he was interrogated, whether * See page 19. he AN APPENDIX. 309 he had always obeyed the commands of Gracchus? "Yes," anfwered Blofiius, fi quid pates. et, quia fcripta mihi videtur negligentim, quam caster*?, ^puto foffes probare non effe meant.* " You have " fhocked me with the news that my fc oration is made public. Heal the fc wound, if you poflibly can. Ep. ad Attic, III. 12. " As 3H AN APPENDIX. " As it is written more negligently than " my other orations, I think you may " prove it not to be mine" It is remark- able, that Tully fhould have made a re- queft, of this nature, to Atticus, who is faid to have had fuch an abhorrence of deceit, that he never uttered a fallhood himfelf, nor could pardon it in another. Cicero's letter to Lucceius, requefting him to write the hiflory of his life, " and ^ e was J well Jkilled, that he was " an excellent preacher, whenever he had a Imi- tative in their effence and origin, 213. When injurious to the mind, 218. j4/cvcratior.s, rafh and hafty, not binding, 12. dftronomy furniflies fublime fubjedls for the poet, 238. ATHENIANS, inftance of their deteftation of perfidy, 56. Subfequent falfe maxims concerning public faith, 57. AUREHUS, MARCUS, his faith in the efficacy of a certain antidote to poifons, 176. BACON, INDEX. BACON, Lord, ftory of, 66. BARBAULD, Mrs. her defcription of the night, 242. Beauty, phyfical and moral, their relation to each other, 204. BECCARIA, Marquis de, on the certainty of punimment, 21. BLACKSTONE, on the laws relative to duelling, 297. BLOSSIUS, faft concerning, 308. BOYLE, Mr. his piety and modefty, 114. His whimfical con- ceits in fome of his theological writings, 155. BROWN, Mr. SIMON, curious account of, 127. C. CARNEADES, ftory of, 106. CATO, the younger, cenfured, 302. CHESTERFIELD, Lord, on the prudent concealment of truth, 38. CHIAN-FU, ftory of, 32. CHILO, curious fact concerning, 311. CICERO, his fclitary ref:dence at Aftura, 190. His loofe maxims concerning friendship, 311. Influenced his con- duit on feveral occafions, 313. Seems to have intended to fupport the caufe of Catiline, 329. Civility, forms of, confidered, 59. Cock, curious account of one, 257. COLUMBUS, ftratagem of, 24. Counfel and Reproof dlfcufi'ed, 69, 70. Court efy, 62. Crocodile, improperly defcribed by Dr. Young, 226. CROMWELL, OLIVER, ftory of, 88. His conduct difcufTed r 90, 91, 92. Curvilinear direfiicn, in the motion of animals, 263. D. DIOGENES, ftory of, 65. Deputation, $22, DORSO, INDEX, DORSO, CAIVS FABIUS, ftory of, 82. Duelling confidered, 293. ELIZABETH, ftory of, 36. Equivocation, 44. F. Faith, what due to rogues and traitors, 28". Faitbfulnefs defined, 5. Falfity in jeft, confidered, 40. Faljbcod defined, 5. Fealty to magiftrates, confidered, 302. Fiflions partake not of the nature of lies, 6r. Friendjhip, falfe opinions concerning, 308. Confonant to the gofpel difpenfation, 316. G. GALGACUS, a Briti/h chieftain, his fpeech, 306. Gentlenefs charadterifed, 67, 68. GIL BLAS, ftory of Archbifliop of Grenada, 70. Gofpel, gives no direct encouragement to learning, 195. Greenland, optical deceptions there, 267. H. HABIT AND ASSOCIATION, their influence confidered, 117. HALE, Sir MATTHEW, never undertook an unjuft caufe, 331. Harmony of the fpheres, falfe hypotbefis concerning, 233. HENRY IV. of France, ftory of, 15, 16, 17. His prepofieflion in favour of aftrology, 146. HERBERT, Sir RICHARD, ftory of, 29. HERBERT. Lord, ftory of, 85, 86, 298. HERCULES, judgment of, burlefqued, 159. Hi I. AH 19. I N D E X. HILAKIO, ftory of, 41. Hypocrify confidered, 84. HOGARTH, his ludicrous turn of mind, 152. HOMER, his defcription of a moonlight and ftarry night, 241. Honour, its influence, n. True and falfe, confidered, 291. HORTENSIUS, fupported the caufe of Verres, 329. I. Jaundice, does not paint objects yellow on the retina, 22^. Ideot, a curious ftory of, 122. JESUITS, their verfatile opinions accounted for, 107. INCONSISTENCY OF EXPECTATION IN LITERARY PUR- SUITS, 185. Informers, why held in contempt, 77. Inscription at the Leafowes in Warwickfliire, 204. Jrfincerjty in religion, confidered, 79. Jocularity, when innocent, 44. JOHNSON, Dr. SAMUEL, his literary difappomtments, iSS. Judicial Teftlmwy, its importance, 20. K. KENNEDIES, ftory of, n. KESWICK, without tinging birds, 270. LAUZUN, Count de, ftory of, 209. La-wyei-i, their indifcriminats pleadings, 329. Cannot fopport actions for their fees, 330. LOT, inftanceof his courtefy, 64. Lunatic, account of, 134. Lying denned, 5. INDEX. M. MARYBOROUGH, Duke, ftory of, 55. Mc.n t conftituted for two great ends, 192. MARY, Qneen of Scotland, ftory of, 50. MIDDLE-TON,. Dr. CONYERS, firft ftimulated to ftudy by a farcafm of Dr. Bentley, 141. Mifprifion, of treafon, 77. MlJJs, aflume poetical (hapes, 261. Form an interefting part of the fcenery of Oflian's Poems, 262. Moorijb Gentleman} ftory of, 9. MONTAIGNE, his extravagant not'ons of friendship, 315. Moral powers, more circumfcribed in their operation than th,e intelle&ual ones, 192* Morality, falfe maxims of, confidered, 298. Mufcular a&ions, from being fpontaneous become automatic, uS. Mujtc confidered, 213. N. Negroes, ftory of, 18. O. Opinion:, falfe, not to be fupported for the fake of arguments, 102. Originality of character explained, 124, OSSIAN, his defcription of the night, 243. OUSAN-Q,UEY, 7. Ox, not remarkable for large eyes, 226. P. PATUS, C.KCINNA, ftory of, 47. Fainting confidered, 213. PARE, ftory of, 80. Parental Lovt t not exprefsly enjoined in the fcriptures, 320* Z INDEX. Parody confidered, 160. PASCHAL, his aftonifhing powers of memory, 130. His diftempered imagination, 132. Further account of, 187. Pajfion, ruling, how learning becomes, 196. Patriotism, why fo highly efteemed, 321. PAUL, St. his prudent evafion at Athens, 37, 38. Difpute with the apoftle Peter, 94. PENN, his liberality of fentiment, 166. PETERBOROUGH, Earl, ftory of, 54. Pbyf.cian, in what circumftances he may deceive his patient, 46. Piety, how much injured by ludicrous afibciations, 168. PITCAIRN, Dr. ftory of, 151. PLINY, difgraced an al of g'enerofify, by the infult to friend- fhip, which accompanied it, 314. Poetry confidered, 214. On the alliance of natural hiflory and philofophy with it, 223. POLIER, Mr.de, TRIBUTE to his memory, 273, Politenefs confidered, 65. POPE, remarks on his parodies, 161. His folicitude in the profecution of his literary works, 187. Poultry, their habitudes, &c. 256. Promlfe, when the breach of it a lie, 6, 7. Extorted by fear, void, 31. To be performed according to the plain mean- ing, 48. Proper names, how the pronunciation of them af&dled by palfy, 121. Prove/} of Aberdeen, ftory of, 165. s, when treacherous, how to be anfwered, 35. , their character confidered, 166, INDEX. R. RAYNAL, Abbe, ftory related by him, 18. Religion, considered as a fpeculative fcience, and as a practical principle, in. Reproof and counfel, difcufTed, 69, 70. Reservations) mental, 50. ROMANS, ftory of ten, taken by Hannibal at Cannae, 49% Arrogated to themfelves the government of the world, 305. Had not much delicacy of fentiment with refpeft to friendship, 314. Rooks, their polity, &c. 254. ROUSSEAU, the probable occafion of his paradoxes and mif- fortunes, 109. S, Science, cultivated with advantage, in the bufy fcenes of aclive life, 190. SCIPIO, AFRICANUS, reprehenfible for the deftruflion of the Numantines, 304^ Secrefy confidered, 75. Serjeant, Britijh, innocent ftratagem of, 22. Steep, a knowledge of their natural hiftofy ufeful to the poet, 258. SHUCKBURGH, Sir GEORGE, his account of the mole in Switzerland, 249. Smoak, fometimes a pleafing objeft, 260.