ATTACHMENT TO RELATIONS.

In a country so commercial as ours, where every man can do for himself, there is not so much occasion for that attachment. No man is thought the worse of here whose brother was hanged. In uncommercial countries, many of the branches of a family must depend on the stock; so, in order to make the head of the family take care of them, they are represented as connected with his reputation, that, self-love being interested, he may exert himself to promote their interest. You have first large circles, or clans; as commerce increases, the connexion is confined to families; by degrees, that too goes off, as having become unnecessary, and there being few opportunites of intercourse. One brother is a merchant in the city, and another is an officer in the Guards; how little intercourse can these two have?

SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

It should be different from another day. People may walk, but not throw stones at birds. There may be relaxation, but there should be no levity.

G

BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS."

His "Pilgrim's Progress" has great merit, both for invention, imagination, and the conduct of the story and it has had the best evidence of its merit, the general and continued approbation of mankind. Few books, I believe, have had a more extensive sale. It is remarkable, that it begins very much like the poem of Dante; yet there was no translation of Dante when Bunyan wrote. There is reason to think that he had read Spenser.

THE IDLENESS OF TRAVElling.

Time may be employed to more advantage from nineteen to twenty-four, almost in any way than in travelling; when you set travelling against mere negation, against doing nothing, it is better to be sure; but how much more would a young man improve were he to study during those years.

WRITING.

A man may write at any time if he will set himself doggedly to it.

ARGUMENT.

Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled. The greatest part of men cannot judge of reasoning, and are impressed by character; so that if you allow your adversary a respectable character, they will think that, though you differ from him, you may be in the wrong. Sir, treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in a battle.

PATRONAGE.

If learning cannot support a man, if he must sit with his hands across till somebody feeds him, it is as to him a bad thing, and it is better as it is. With patronage, what flattery! what falsehood! While a man is in equilibrio, he throws truth among the multitude, and lets them take it as they please; in patronage, he must say what pleases his patron, and it is an equal chance whether that be truth or falsehood.

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

Differing from a man in doctrine is no reason why you should pull his house about his ears.

MIMICRY.

To be a good mimic requires great powers; great acuteness of observation, great retention of what is observed, and great pliancy of organs to represent what is observed. I remember a lady of quality in this town, Lady who was a wonderful mimic, and used to make me laugh immoderately. I have heard she is now gone mad. Boswell, It is amazing how a mimic can not only give you the gestures and voice of a person whom he represents, but even what a person would say on any particular subject. Johnson, Why, sir, you are to consider that the manner and some particular phrases of a person do much to impress you with an idea of him, and you are not sure that he would say what the mimic says in his character.

GOLDSMITH'S CONVERSATION.

Goldsmith should not be for ever attempting to shine in conversation: he has not temper for it, he is so much mortified when he fails. Sir, a game of jokes is composed partly of skill, partly of chance; a man may be beat at times by one

who has not the tenth part of his wit. Now Goldsmith's putting himself against another, is like a man laying a hundred to one who cannot spare the hundred. It is not worth a man's while. A man should not lay a hundred to one, unless he can easily spare it, though he has a hundred chances for him: he can get but a guinea, and he may lose a hundred. Goldsmith is in this state. When he contends, if he gets the better, it is a very little addition to a man of his literary reputation: if he does not get the better, he is miserably vexed.

EVILS OF PATRonage.

Boswell, May not a man, sir, employ his riches to advantage in educating young men of merit? Johnson, Yes, sir, if they fall in your way; but if it be understood that you patronise young men of merit, you will be harassed with solicitations. You will have numbers forced upon you who have no merit; some will force them upon you from mistaken partiality, and some from downright interested motives without scruple, and you will be disgraced.