University of California Berkeley In Memory of Leonore Rawson Stock Sbepard Boo* Company, | Yi 01 ' '' Bh. | i"- ." 27 28. State Str?. I, ;. ,- i ^ VKE CITY, I PAJ1 REFL ECTIONS CRITICAL- AND MORAL ON T a s L E T" T E K S OF THE LATE Earl of Chefterfield. BY THOMAS HUNTER, M. A VICAR. OP WEAVERHAM IN CHESHIRE, A GREAT MEN ARE *T ALWAYS WISE : NEITHER THE AGED UNDERSTAND JUDGMENT. JOB xxxn, 9, $x la ntllejft eft > irure, not on artifice and fa! is fingle I- DEDICATION. $ views, his words and adieus* ' He is .wfeac, he feems : he fpeaks what he thinks : he iitends what he profeflfes : he is faith ful to his word as to his oath. He fcorns alike fimulttion and difiimulation, under Whatever fpecious fophiftry diftiaguifhed or recommended. He is eminent for na tive ftrong ienfe, irppfQved and adorned, not only by a juft taftcf-fer polite letters, aid elegant compofition, bur^ by ufeful andextenfive fcience. He liftens more tq the dilates of rcafoa, than to the arts of refinement, and dwells more on the ge neral rule than on the exception* He ig equally unafFe&ed in his mannenfand ft-yle, He is leriou?, manly, firm and elevated ; fteady and inflexible in che preiecution of truth and juftice ; and, arnidft the various 2nd .flu&uating notions of nominal and lacitudinarian Ghriftians, an UKciificnibied affcttor of the faith once delivered to the Saints. we obferve prudence renounc ing craft, wifdom not dtfealcd by intrigue, fagacity and ,fuccefs nor dtfgraced by arti- icc and hypocriiy : When eminence ap- 6 D E D I C A T I O N. pears without magnificence, elevation Without pride, fuperiority without vaoity, and figmficance and importance of cha- rafter without the parade of outward e- kc, and the badges of office and honour: When the man, the citizen, the Briton appears diftinguifhed by fidelity to his friends, by companion to th miferable, by relief to the oppreffed, by favour to the good, by proceftion to the learned^ by love to his country, and loyalty to his prince, upon principles of conference and conviftion : When an undiflembled zeal for GOD and his truth, as the foun dations on which the pillars of the enoral and civil world are fupported, form the ruling paffion of the heart, and give law to the general condudT: : When we view fuch a chara6ler, we look down -with con tempt on thofs fuperficial graces, to the , ftudy and attainment of which LordChef- terfitld would be thought to confine all ikebufmefi of education, and all the per- feftion of human nature, BUT, my l v orcJ, I dare not proceed. Your Lordfhip does noc feck, as you 'J.o DEDICATION. 7 not want the applaufe of man. Befides t we have found, by experience, that a great and illuftrious character has, fomt- times, fuffered by the difplay, and been regarded, if not refented as a libel upon the bulk of mankind : like a body emi nently luminous, which affords not plea- fure, but offence and pain to a weak and difternpered eye. I will not, therefore, by attempting a full and. more perfedt portrait of your Lordfhip, hurt the pride, mortify tht ignorance, and provoke the envy and malignity of thevulgar-fpirited reader ; and fhall concent myfelf with wifli- ing, that fuch chara&ers as yourLordftiip's may never be wanting to confront the vain wit, the falfe philofopher, the disenabling politician, the ignoble patrician, and the profligate man of pleafare. Tih: beft title which thefc Refiedtioas bave to your Lordfhip's patronage is, that they are meant to co-operate with your Lordfhip's example, which holds out to us fo different a ftylc and order of per- fediioo to that adopted and recommended by th'n noble Lord ^ as the ft DEDICATION. of Chriftians, in general, and of the Chrif- tian Clergy, in particular, will always be the beft recommendation of their religion, and the moft effeftual confutation of thole who deny its influence and authority by their practice or opinions. MY I, ORE, Tour wcjt dutiful find devoted THOMAS HUNTER- PREFACE. WE are fometirnes overtaken by dea*l calms, and, fomedines aiTaultcd by ruder tcmpefts in the voyage Of life, which damp the vigour and activity of the foul, and render us alike incapable of difcharg'ng the ordinary offices, and of ftiaring in the innocent pleafures of our being. In cither cafe, our care, next to that of devoting and resigning owrfelvci to the great pilot of nature, will be to a- mufe, as well as we can, and to fill up the vacant Bours with what may Be agreeable ta euffclves, though not profitable to others. But, if we ccn render pur amufemsnts of any advantage to the wor^d, we have tke cbmfort of reflecting, that we are not ufelefs members of focisty ; that .we eo not Jive in vain, and that an Incapacity fr greater atchievernents may have its u(e in the plan of Pro vidence, by fuggePiing a drifter aucnnoh to the humbler offices- of life. WE may not be qualified to cOB:kl ?,rmi?>, to fght battles, to extendenipue abroad, or to defend sr.d fecurcrits liberties at home ; wd may net pre- fumff to inform princes, or to teach fecators wifdcm. Bat if we have,- 111, any nbiliry left to iftrii(f." i^r.orar.t, to dlreft the v/andcccr, to recblm the flig'uious, to fuppcrt the v%e&k, to confirm the vir tuous, to remove prfjudicc*?, to vsodicatj?, or ir sr.j dr r ee to roT.otf? the virru? end hainefs of r io PREFACE; LORD CHESTERFIELD'S Letters were firft takso vp as an amulement to deceive the pa/ling moments. They were, indeed, amufing, but foon appeared a* larming. The leader found his faith, his virtue, his under {landing infuhed ; and the fen ti merits cf the juft and good in all ages and nations of the world who were favoured with almoft any degree of light, of truth and fcicncs oppofed and coatradi&eJ, by cur well bred and courtly philofopher. The mere reader was thus Id to commence author ; and, ve ry freely to exprefs his indignation and contempt of a writer, who, great and finning as his abilities were, fcath dlfgrace^, by applying them, to poifon the morals, to banifh the fublimeft virtue, , to ex- tipguiih the inofc falutary truths, and to exterminate the mail important interefts and the fincerefl hap pinsfs of mankind. IF the author of thefe fheets his made his air.ufe- sncnts, any way, contribute to the benefit of others, by exposing this feduclive and dangerous writer ; h \vill be abundantly fatisfied with tiie confcloufuefs cf having diicharged his duty ; regardlefs of the re proach he may incur, for prefuming to cenfure fo Popular, fo polite, fo diftingqi&sd a noble man. cf enquiry is truth and virtue. Here, fore, ve aiFsdl no complaifance or Tervslity ; . fieftions are the dictates cf the heart. Lord ::-rticld is rcgarued and addreffed not as a no- *?., but ss a man, a moralift and a ciiisen \- and 5, as thajud-e cf a!!- REFLECTION S, &c. S E C T. I. cer! f are ' n a difagreffsble part to the writer, and reader : To csfcfure, where great and ccnfpicuous merit is allowed, wears the appear ance ef Hill mere ma'ignity : Bat> to cenfbre a Wiir- cr fo general!/ celebrated and admired as the Lord Chetet field, muft prove itili cicre cfFenflvc and per haps ir.ore dargci'oas rej the reputation of the critic, than of ihe author whom hs aiFeb to ccnslcmn. BUT ;hers Is a flrengih and beauty Ir* tru'h and visittTi * power and authority in religion which C2.r- b) oad ourfeVvj?t, aad difpofc us to a conterapt . and difficult;', in their fupport arjc fence : Thofe principles were of little valu^ v/hlc!i &re not wonh ^cfcndi^g at the hisird of cur I;, Dear as 'reputation;, and s \vful as ihs reproach ef the world, may be to an auihor, ah honeft man will prefer the difchargc of his duty, and th? apprcbjciofi cf his cGtilsif^ce anil his GX)D, to tfec tsuiied *jp- Blmfc f ihe uaivsrib, it S E C T I O N I. YET a regard to aruth will preclude unjuil pre judice, as well as general Reprobation ; and to deny a writer the praife to which he has a claim, on ac count of tne cenfure to which he is liable, wefte RO lefs impolitic than p.BJuJh Let us, therefore, do juf- tice to Lord Chefterfbld as a Writer, before we pro ceed tocandemn him as aa Author. To do juftice to Lord Che&jifield's compofuion \voald require a pen like his own : Or let his Lord- Ihlp's favourites, Venus and the Graces, join in ccn- cert to fing his eulcgium ! WE fhould not do him ft fKcietU juries fhculd we only fay that he is c!ear ard c afy, natural and sn- aiFcded : far he u rlguraiive. florid, ornamented and highly po:':f!icd. l:i: aoe,- rf;i h^j'. ;:;e -., t?,cam- ber ihc K-n.^, or perpk ..ghts with long and ted: b^t ;:, wvcry v\ijcie, pure; \feort, but cxprcihve ; connfe, bat not abrupt; 'full a^d (atisfadtory, bu? no^ veluml^^fis ; una h<\j? }-:icrsl ; y uniitd laconic bruvl y with attic d.^s^ce, lie is happv io exprtffions aKv^yc fuiiiii r-j his iVl>j trir quillity, 14 S E C T I O N I, the effect of natural temper and gaiety of heart ; and thtfe cherifned and improved by cultivaiicjvby poHte letters, and by that eafc and ierenity, that in dolence, that independence which every friend rf the Mufes ought, or would be tfeaughr, to be foiled cf. His fortune, his titlei md honours might be ^/Tigned g* contributing to this happy fpirit, did we not obferve men pofT-fiei of a3i tkefe, not dif- tinguifhed by their humanity, their placability, cr good temper. HE is nin fo laboured and afc&edly learned as Lord Bolingbroke ; but, thea, he is more clear, mere eafy and agreeable ; and infults not his read ers with fuch a f rotation of erudition, and fuck an txhibidc^ cf fupeiior reafoaing, irpon every fubjod that occurs, as tend to fpeak him fupreme dictator, ia JeUers as in politics, in theology as in philofophy, 2r,d, rext to the infinite Crfacor,-the firft gecius in the univetff. ~ Lord Chefterfisid is, ia his writing?, what, ^s^prefuffie he wa?, in his Kfe ; hum chearfjl, comp^aifint find obliging ; enteruir. \viihout form, ans itftrullve without pride or info- lence ; cearous, at the fume time, to p!e;,fe and to inf^r> i i ife as a ffittd, r.:' M^. fcss ?. q'-ick snd c'ear car.cfpiion en tbs iVj- f) a ie imagination, n ccri . for cwrtporuian and work* of - .'.if beiuty of c.xprcffion ; the he, offfB times, nsakeB ufe of, have net, c..;';, a p. \-fvcl pn . '-ui a nu!ar delicacy SECTION I. 15 and poetical juflnefs, in their application. JJ e ha* not, indeed, giyefi as rr*uch that is n^w, ca the fub- jeft of criticifra ; but his own compoiition and Jet- ten exhibit the jutted fpecimea ef that ccne&nefs, perfpicuity and elegance, which he recoiumemkd to the practice of his fon : and, athoufand critical pre cepts would not contribute, fo much, to form a per fect $yle, as his own example. His wit is prompt a&d natural, yet keen and manly : and volumes could fcarce contain aftronger fatyr againfl pedants and antiquarians, than what is couched ia one fhcrt fentence, amongfi the direc tions for his fon's Audics : ". Let blockheads read what blockheads write/' IT is much to ths honour of Lord Chefterfield^ that, scaidH . "omens ,* 5 E C T I O N I. were more juft and folid than might be expete from a roan of fafhion ; wEo, in forming the cha- ra&er and dire&ing the conduct of his fon, recom- rctnds to him, and prefers, &ew to fubftance, sad fplcndour to v/eight. As a critic, his lordfhip, in conformity to tie btft medern author*, both French and Englifh, a- dopts fimpiicity and truth, before a fteftation, con ceit, refinement, and brilliancy : and though, w fay, he has given s nothing new or original, on this fuVjeft, yet we cansot but regard the Lord Chefter- field's verdil as valuable, and his comment as judi- clous in favour of truth, fimpiicity and the genuine beauties of natnie. If s has not only a juft bat a refined ta&e, in the polite arts and polite letter*. He joins the general approbation and appkufe given to the great maftert cf antiquity ; (except in the cafe of Homer ; thft liatuml, th getiaine, and rude raEnaers cf wliofe heroes hurt the delicscy of our mo poinrs oa: their parcicuUr Leautlr.'.?, He, acutely, expo/Vsr the t. r dart, the {c^iolar without t:,;" 5 vl;uio.r.3 v'thQut featiment. He was a -.1 jn.cge of the .an cients, than of the moderns : ;r> hi* r-part and ci>2- rader c=f rhcfe hi!, he was : 'Mr*, fey paliion, by hi mornlf, aud Uv ti r.' maxims which concur with ai His i;r SECT 10 N I. 17 * fine fentimenf in an author, or a quick fenfatiaa of plesfure had made upon him, feem to have retained their cclour, flavour and imprelfion upon his fancy, to extreme old age : and, he is happy, enough, in recoHe&iRg and applying the ideas he had (tared up ( in the courfe of his former p&lite converfation and reading. Amidft diffipauOn,pieafure and bufinef, he poJftefTed a very clear and cool head ; and msy feem to have ftudied his fubjeb on good manners and the world, as he has treated them, with ail the precifion, attention acd accuracy of a pi of; flb r. YET difpafiionate as he feems, he was 'no reafcn- cr. Wit, which was his talent, is (back, and ex- pefts others fhsuld be fo, with the prefcnt though % without regarding coafidency, or purfaing confe- qacnccs. He has hirofclf pra^Ufed the maxims which fee has given his fon, and aims more to gam the pafilons than to convince the urideritaadirg of his readers. EAST in his fortoacj content with his ret fatisfied with his rank and Nation, and findin imagtffing, himfel fat liberty to indulge topics- fure, to gay amufemeots and polite fludies, it not appear that he had been in any figsal dir or ac^uaiifued with an'y weight of forroW, or cala mity in' life. Thus difchargfd from the difcr f the fewer" virtues, he had the great raog?f i i/ pleafure, and wa: con vc famiiinr with i ^ as the ^06 giy aaJ i$ S EC T I ON I. -efa of life, he gave full play to his genius sjnd confutation; to wi?, to frolic, to delicacy, to the r>fte assi fkfhicn cf the world ;'and irufhkes plea- fra for happiaefs, pomp for greatnefs, fplendour for glory, and popular tlkem for real good fame, Thus difpofed, he devoted, he facrificed himfe!fto the Gracce, and to the attainment of fuch qualities and accompli foments as weze belt fitted to plcafe, to attract, find raife the admiration cf mankind, and to gratify his own vanity and felfifhnffs; Hence, he who cosficercd this world as his all, was lead to Meal, as much as poflible, in the p!ea- /arable, the brilliant, the fhewy and ponipous trads of life ; to ftudy pleafurc as a fcknce ; and to prac- dib h is others do the ordinary occupations of life, His heart, his head, the whole man was infeded with this enchanting forcere Is. His ftyle in writ ing naturally ccntra&td a call find colour from hit l-ahit of thinking and s&ing : and from tht man cf plcafure, of tail e and elegance, we expect; 'what w find, ia Lord Ch^fserficld, ideas, and a di&ien gay, refined a?sd elegant. His lyre anf^ered tq the polfe of his heart, and the enchantrcfs pleafure at- luaes the notes, and harmonizes the periods of his coznpdiiuon. With delight we liftcn to the fyren ii^ugh we rcjeft the^ubject and matter with Ic.orn, contempt and i*>dignatk 4 n. .Hs took, and a^vifed bis friend to take th..mfe!f, and to difplay ihofe admirable talents which God had given him, His title, his fortune, t ccnfciciifr.efs cf his parts &r or, of thofe who think themfdves nc- glele^i or injured, that is, defied fimewhat, vvhkli their vanity fuggeds as due to their fuperior abiiiiics and rank in life. He writes, therefore, n$t only with more freedom and feei&nty, but with e.ife, fleafure, ani perfc*bferved by one * who was fami- Mar with, and happily imitated his manner, <{ that we fes him in a ruftic majefty, like tbat of a Roman dictator at the plough, that hs delivers the meaneft of his precepts wi;h a kind of grandeur, and that he tweaks the clods, and tfles the dag about with an air of gracefulnefs." In other psfTages of his works, where he would faew mod: to tkprefs himfelf, and to renounce all ambition, wealth and grandeur, he i$> indee^ mod admirabls^nd elevated ; as in the fol lowing paiTag3. Flumina Am?.*&, fy!vnfque lugloricus ! Amle hofpcs conternnere opes, & te qucqae di*num Finge Deo. FROM .tbr om: v/c naJur^JIy exped even in their triflings and arnufenenrs, in their fon^ets and leN ter, an air of elevation and foperior dignity, fuitei to their birth, their titles and ftauon. Hamlet is filll the prince of Denmark in his madnefs and ex travagancies, even In his gallant badinage with lia 5 and in his droll raillery with Polonius. pnnce of Wales, ami^il the blemiihes and irregula* lilies which ilained tie morning of his life, and' con* nested, as he was witK ( that low ar.d lewd bufFcon- FalftafF, ftili preferved and gave freqjeat proofs of carfcieus dignity and s -princely fpiric, and 24 ' SEC T I O N I. witk a kind of clouded ?jefty that bcfpoke the brightuefi and glary of his future day* A* we have done fufficient jjflice to Lord Chef- terfield's ilyle and maaner, (though we fay that ke has more of Paterculus than of Livy, more of Xeno- phorr than of Plato) fo we mail not pafs over his matter, witkoat allowing iis due claim to approba tion fcod applaufe, on various fubjeds. He had from expedience, and refle&ion, a deep and exteniive knowledge of hman nature,; particularly, of iu fol lies, its weaknefFes and vices ; though cf its gr^at dignity, its rational powers, its intellectual attain ments, its moral perfection and divine capacities he had no experience, and appears to have had no con ception. But, on ether fub)5c~b, that lie aore within his fphere, he ihcws great knowledge, and makes not only pertinent and ufeful, but deep and refined obfervations. IN politics, fo far as thefe were an art not con nected with, nor founded in virtue, troth an2jcorj- fclence, Lord Cheftcrfidd was a g^st prcficic-nt : for he had great matters ; rot indeed, a Livy nor a (7 ? arendorj, hut the Cardinals RichUeu, Ma2";rlrr, De Ret7, wuh'Machiavel s i H Taeitus, Thefe all made human nature, iu fjli'ti, its frailties and hood, the chf~f fubjed or ii/!l.-i?ment of their opera tions ; and admitted as kwfu' in the rr.^ns, \\ ever v^'as -expedient to 1115 ends i ON- otnrr f, S E C T I O N I. 2 r mt very good judgment in refpecl: to the bufmefs and conduit of the world ; and fuppofing This to be car all, his lordihip's advice in the scquilition and management of its profits and pleafures is perfectly cecofiomical and judicious. His prudential maxims, refpe&ing his pupil's future conduct in life, fpeak a difcernrnent perfectly acquainted vvhh bis fubj.*6l, and an ardor and intenfenefs that had no other fub- je& or object in view. No child of this world was, perhaps ever wifer in his generation than Lord Chefter field ; or prefer! bed more proper or efrV&ual methods for making the moft, or acquit tag the larg-' eft lhare of it. Every cfiild of the world, inter J, adopts the fame con (fuel ; but few, upon the corn- parifon, have the fame catoral fagacity or acqLircd experience, to qualify them to prefer i be the tr^ef^ ineafurcs of fuch a conduit, pr to cover the grcfinefs and immorality of the practice, in fome inflaac^s, with fuch plauftbility of reafooing, fucli a fsnablarci? of prudence dad fuch pclitcnefs of addrcfs* THE rules he gives refpe^ling con. peVfeclly jod and rational : so one can mc.. r, or more fully expofe the folly, th> ioirperi:. nity of ordinary characters, In nrxec! company, | well bred author. Buc tlicf^ .eh as the cemrcon r r.-- jjted *6 S E C T I O N I. no little inScence on his conduct, we may fuppofe that it did not make any part in his converfation. His ebfcrvationa on men and manners fpeak great fagacity ; are juft and clear, yet pfofaund. They are only unhappily applisd, when adduced as reafons to juflify, to countenance or flatter the faihions, the follies a*d vices of mankind. Some of his re marks, however, are fj trite and obvious to com mon obfervatron, that they betray a fimplicity of paternal fondnefs, and forne feeding defect of un- derir.an'diBg "n a fca who could want fuch admoni- tio83. Bu: we rauft remember that the father was, kcre, fpeaking to the fan, and not to the public. Urs . ob&rvfiticns on books and reading, on tht ufe and abufe of time, on the end and advantage of travel, on compofition in genera!, and the epiflo- kry in particular, are all perfectly juft arJ truly va luable. His auvkc to his Ton reccmmendiag truth, virtue, honour anil the purity of his moral character, tve fhould have valued the more, had ws not feen them afterwards explained away by court -cafuiftry, by the documents of palitenef?, by poliucal !ogic : by an in- dubence to pleafarc and paflion, to avarice and air.- bition, which the preceptor recammfiid* elfe where to his pupil-: as the juft contempt which the noble Lord pours upon the infidel tribe .among us, had been of more weight, had he been Icis JavHh of hit compliments to fome of the moil eminent fofidc! SECTION L IF there is a fault In Lord Chcderfield's flyle, it i, that iris too much ftyie. It has in it more of art -than nature. Such an uniform ccnftrufticn cf verbage, the fame rounded periods, the fame ha/mo- nioiw cadences, fuch a perpetual flow of wit and me taphor, with which his llyle is net only crouded, bat, I had almcft faid, fuTfeited, like tco kfcious facets, cloy rather than reffefh us ; and, we .are difgoflerf vnck a vanity appearing ia fo luucb nrnatncat and bn'iliancy-of diclloa. Perpetual frn3Othr,efs grews infipid: all feftnefs, wuhout a proper inlxtu. harlher, of fircngs* and bolder notes, affords but a hnguid pleafure; animates no ruble ...pafficn of the foul, nor icfpijcs any L-ercic or elevated fentiments* THEB.E is a m^nly ar.d fpi 1'e.s dcqi^ence, equal * ly removed from the cold corre&nefi of the pedaat, from tV>e c^tU of a languifhlng laimsrati,- and the fiippcry cf modi fli coniplaifance, as from the rude- nefs cf.ihe boar sad the barbar^fm of a "provinciij diiacdl. This manly e!cqjence afrcdts tr: more than the ear, ibe fj^l more thaa the fenf':, cif livatts nature with a happy violence and a po s v tr orJy lefs than r!iv;ise. THE {Implef!: truth or obje6l juftly cof^.i frdrri ra?ure, (Irikes ysi: nio-re tban the rnoil labcu ed or high coloured pecs, ir;. vvhkh ycu p*icfu;s a.'- prniite/'s inter.tion was only to exhibit hi.-- to gtarify iiis own v^tihjF aad o.T-.-i-.ca-Ica.' I Cheile? field generally prefer ves the tcne of the o nan, at Icalx ss much as cou!d be cxpcQed ia rht,? familiar co 28 S E C T I O N I. fts himftif, and falls below hit praper dignity : he is not only too lavifh, cf, but has too much levity in, his wh : and iavthe perufal of thcfe Letters we eannct always feehide the idea of the iciotraat doc tor, with that^arch wag his buffoon, united in one pcrfon, a&ing, at the faire time, ihe fage and the droll, and difpenfing v by turr*3 his jake acd his pacquets. WHRS we ! cpmparc this famous coile&ion of Letters with thofe of Tally or Pliny, we fhould fay, That if car nc/ble. au:kor is lef* Entertaining and iuftrudlive, more bairiDR and more abounding in re- petitiotts thaa the two Romans ; it may be sbferved in his defsRce, tliat he was more confined in his fohjeft, and ia his epiilolary correfpondenc ; nor does it appear that he wrote to the world, acd with a view to its applaufs or approbatfen. CICERO'S and Pliny'* Letters were wrote in form, frequently, en public ocsaftons, and, to forae of the moft eminent eharg^srs in Rsme, dillinguiihed for letters and philsfop'ay, for fF.ces and honours* Lord Ch^rrorfijld's Letters are the infant and un- ^;uirjc^ cffvii>ns of his heart, rather thaa the f!u- 1 co n> petitions of his kead ; antl, though thrown .:* random, give us a njore real portrait of the noble Lord, than perhrps the msft laborious anJ accuiatc pencil could have done. H is more na* turaJ and eaiy, lefs.fprucc, kfs laboured and af fj.i than Pliny, but more oflentatlous ; and, as a .wit,' 'l--.fs fet:oi:s, Jefs irap^) riant, Icfi moral,, Icfs manly, lers a R^nrtsn than Tully ; whofe Epifj'cs S E C -T I O N I. 29 are, we agree with Lord Cheflerfield, perhaps the bed models cf-cdropofuioR, in this kind, of any yet extant. Ci ex HO > in his E pi file?, .gives us a variety of in ci cents and characters ; and exhibts fhong inftancea of his humanity and bcnevolcase, by the advice, the fupport, the comfort he adminifters to fame o his friends, and by the recoMmeadation he wrte with, and the protection and favour he procured, for others. Thefe f?i?ndly offices fecni to occupy the greateft part of his literary correfpoadencc. But in the Letters before us we are tired and difgufted with the fame fpirit cf meannefa and felBfhsefs, 'which dictates every letter, 1 had almc-it f&id ev 7 ery line f this correfpondence, between the father and his fon, whom Lc inflrucls in -the practice of humanity and benevolence, cot as a duty, but an art er pro- feilkn which he was to live aad thrive by ; and who is taught co pleafe and oblige mankind, cos for their o;*n fakes, but to engage thcsi to fecond his own views, and to promote his incereft r aai- b'nipn. No TWITHSTANDING all th dl g K it y which Lard CheilerSeld affecls and prelcribet, there is a con* fplcucus littlerjcfs in his general fennmentt and di- xecliens, confined as they are, in their fubjccl, to the mere interclt of the two correfpOEding partiei ; as if Lord Cheiie; field and his foa wers the only two jperforts worthy note ; or as if others were only con- fiderable in proportion to rheir capacity cf fcr/iirg and obliging tie father and the fen. Mankini S o SECTION!. be Com e what mertified in confidenng themfelves IB the light, in which Lord Chefter field has con- ficlered thfin ; as puppets and machine?, which thefe two political juggler* are to manage and play cfF, as beft fuits their own intcrefh and occafions. He who exacts fo much attention to others, may feeci to have no faculties but for this his other felf : and we are hurt by aa anxiety, 93 inrenfejy and ardent. Jy coRceived and exprefTed, for one bsardlefs boj, as if the whole univerf? was concerned, or st (lake, on the advancement cr mifcarmge cf his future fi gure snd fcrtanc* IF Cicero is accufbil of having defertcd Ms friendt and the csufe of the republic, it Ihould be remem bered, ;ha? it was not before that caufe was defperate ; and he bas in his Letters frequently and warmly ex- preflbd his z?al for the commonwealth, and lament ed the wretched (late cf his country, " which had Ret one patriot lef:." Bat cur ncble author fcems t* confidcr corruption 2* p.n inciif^rent, r innocent thing : he talks of vrr^-ing vviih the burrough job- fecrs, for the purchak cf a feat in the,h8ufe, as a eccfiary end ufof-I cxnc-.'LiU for ihe benefit of his foa ; nnd appears tv> Juve confii:red his COUP try ia RO ether light, thsn cs that of r conquered province, on whofc f^oils its govciroia vvcr* io ftcianJ fAtx-n, CICERO has not, if I remember right, ukd one ii.fr^.ioos or indecent tlougKt cr o.preilbr, except one ; ard shis inicnjicd to cxpc-i',- ihc l^vd creature t whom h was' j>f p!;2i f , a^d who was ths S E C T I O N I. jf of truth, maxims of wifdoni, and juft, m*ral, and political reHe&ions ; but ths^ ranked Epicurean/ could not well be mor? a Seafualift, more diflblute or more immoral than the Noble Lord in theftt epitfolary Le&urea to his Son. IF Ssneea 15 a beau, as Lord S^Hngbrcke, I think, has ftyled him, he is of a different order to the Noble Lord under our cofiflderauorK The phi* lofopher's foppery arifes from a greatnefs ani iplen- dor of thought.. If his unaatural raat is laadncfs, it is virtue rua xnad, Jf the philofopher is ambi- uoas, his ambition appears in the many and excel lent things which he rm faid in favour not of vice but virtue ; in defcribing a perfeHon and fubliniify of truth and morality, which rasre kuman nature was never capable of ; and in recoas mending .ftocial abfurdlty as a prafiical principle. This was cer- taialy a mi!.h more venial faah than what our Noble Author is guihy f in' the exceSive care and calti- vatlon of external grass and outward accomplifn^ c*ents, which he has prcfcribed, aai in the relaxa tions which he has indulged to tbe appetites and palfisns of vitiated nature. For, furely, it fa bctttr to fay fine things, that tend to purify and exalt, than "fuch as are fitted to deb^i^ and corrupt. In ths eye of trai'h and reafon, of G O D and his Angels, ne Senrca is of much TBS re vsluc :h?n a Kun-d^J C Jerfiilda ; and thcr is mz^y a neca, thc-t, io poiut of the gz S'E C T I O N I. pinefs of mankind, amounts not to the weight of a grain, or the value ^f a cypher* BuT-Rvnan or Heathen Mcralifb were not tks authors fuited to Lord Chefterfield's tafte and paf- fions.'' Though he had a great native Hock of his cvvn r yet he vras more ad) hiatus of borrowing from, And iomatlcg the I 7 reiich, bath in the delicacy of kia manner, and in tke refinement of his matter and fcBtimcnts. La, Bruyert, Rtckefaucauit, le Cardinal dz Ret&t ad h Due de Sully ^ were amongfl his principal mafters ia morals ani politics. He hat particularly ..and very jaftly recommended l& Sri/jere 9 but is left exa& in nis fcotiments of truth and nature, lefs origiaal in his manner, Jefs moral in his reflexi ons, Icfs various, entertaining, and inftrulive in his characters, lefs picturefque in his defcriptioits ; and, if lie has more wit and levity than the Freicbman, f he falh (hrt f him in genuine humour aod viva- cuy, in depth and penetration, and ia his eflimate of tree virtu?, perfonal merit, and real greatncfs. THE l^nke de Rtcbcfaucnuh's msx'ms are gene- raHy founded in else corruption o* haimn natu~e, sn^ dechicrbit Jrom that can This i?, in many inftances, uat no: trVe ; for, this would re? th r.oblcd cffbrrs, both c vi'-tues. Yet ifee Lord Chef this, and he v , ?.nd the S E C T I O N L 33 himfelf a&cd upon, and adviftd kis fonto al upon thofe principles. What may be confidereJ, Ir. the Duke de Rocbefaucault, a* a mere Jtux fefprit, the effort and pride of genius, is embraced by* our author as fober and philosophical truth : or, if Rochefaucaulc is/ perhaps, as licentious in his prin ciples, he is more chafte* and lefs ofFenfive in his fixprcflion, and offers lefs outrage to decency and i-he common fenfe of mankind. THS Duke dt Reckefaucdult thinks juiily and. ex- preflcs kimfdf happily on many occafions. Wiih- cut the vanity of wit, or the often ta:ipa of fciency and reading, he every whe/e preferves the air of s fcber inquirer and of the man of quality. He re- garded himfelf as addreifing the public : whilll: Lord Chefterfield gave full range to his licentious fpirit, fecure, as he thought himfelf, -from the En tice and cenfurc of the world. NOTWITHSTANDING -his great abilities snd af fectation to difplay kis wit, Lord ChtAer field has r/iany common place reifledioiis, which had msd? & very indifferent H^urejn a writer of iefs name and note. You rend many a page, I had alia&fl faid & volume together, particularly the laft or fiH. wiih very little improvement ojr information ; ex cept of fume private anecdotes and tL news of tfcs day, obvious to every obft-rver as well s his "Lo:J[- ihip, who confefics f:^t -Le we F,cr k sbs fee As a 'man of cafte, he difa^proves 34- S E C T I O N I. thsm in c*nverfation. They arc as tedious, hij lord/hip might have known, in books as in difcourfe. Yet, many of his maxims and moral documents are fuch as have been hgckneyed and handed down,, from father to fen, for two thcufani years paft. H's own frequent repetition f them tire* us ; but we grow fick of thera, when we fee them ha&ed o- vci; again, and ferved up aaew, by a Reverend Doc tor, whether for his owa advantage, or for the be nefit of the public, he knows bed. The Due Je facbefattault has, inseed, the fame fentiment run- Ing through ali his books, but then it is expreiTed in fuch various language, and illuftrated by fo many various iaHances and examples, that we are rather entertained than dlfgufled with the noble author. His fubjel is, indeed, the mofl obvious and com* nion, viz. the human conduct : bat, the motives from which he derives that conduct, or, on which he founds it, have generally aa air of novelty ; and ihus pleafe, at Icaft, if they do not .Infirm and in- A r uct the reader. R*cbgftiucault' > B msximt may be allowed, as many of thc are, xenainly true ; yet b? applied, contrary to, or beyond the viewt and fccming ittention of ihe author, to the fupport of uee rcligron. For, while they expofe the feeb T .*nefs snd intipe^Teclion, they mortify the pride of human VTtue 5 tbsy ihew us the propriety of hurni'ity, \*\:h the necefiity of the divine affiSance to regulate , cur mar t nsrs, and to form a jufl morsl conuoct j and v/nllil they rtrip us of a falfe f^U;nviour, that m^kes .in, they teach us both the re nefs /Irucv ti-.'it is both -humble and Hucer- S E C T I O N I. 35 ral fubjefts, arc often- dlredly fubverfive of the prin- cifles of both natural and revealed religion. AN cnthyfiaft would take R&c&ffaucault for a fe- rlois afTertor, and an abfe defender of that extra* vagant puritanical paradox, wkich {lamps iin, dam nation, and death upon the whole moral and rati onal creaticn of GOD ; whilft Lord Chefterfield might faem to regard thofe ruaxims as founded in truth and the eonftitution of nature, and therefore a fufficierrt excafe for al! the vicp, folly, snd imaiurality ^ that abounds in the world ; and poor human nature mud, it feems, be an apology for all the vveakneiTes and obliquities we are guilt? of. Thus, tho' he who invades another's property is, according to kisLord- fhtp, juilly hanged for it, yet he who invades or vl elates a property, which tke owner may bs'fuppofcd to koid mafl dear,: die virtue of his wife or daugh ter, may charge the fault oa fortune or the {lars, Such is the latitude in morality which the modern polite philofopher permits .and indulges. And, what could .be the cdufs of ihis degenerate way of thinking in the two noble authors here compared, but a confcioufnefs of their own Irailcics and vices, which they were wiiiifcg to charge upon nature and rcceftlty, and not to admit as their own al snd deed ? Bur, perhaps, we have digreflbd too far la bang ing into view the general character of Lo?d Chef-- terfieJd, when the^pPofc/Ted dciign of this* fsdioa was to exhibit the fairer fide of it. But, fo cbaox- ious is his moral char^cler, that k is difficult to view him in asiy light without {bme-dsgree of csnfare QT prejudice,- S E C T I O N !L SECT. II, WE fhall therefore be cxcufed, if we indulge ourfelvea a moment longer in reviewing the amiable -part of Lord Cheflerfield's character, as it ftrikes us at firf!; fight, and before we couie to s near er irfpec"lion and examiaation cf his genuine form and features, THE true character cf the noble Lord is given us, by kimfelf, in colours too linking to be miftaken, He was eafy and pleafing in hw diction, elegant ia his manners, polite in his adarefs, endowed by art and natcrft with knowledge to Inilruft, with elocu tion to perfuade,.to charm, and captivate maskindo He had read books ; he had read men ; h? vi/as well acquainted with th* workings of human na- f;-ie, its various paffions and propenfities. Good breeding, ar.d the art of pleafing, ieem to have beea \\c principal objetl of his ftudy ;.and thefe were * made fubfervicnt to a darling ambition of (baring in the advantages, and (hining in the dignity and fplea- cur of high life, of popular admiration, and courtly rongni licence. Educated in eafe and elegance, in polite letters and polite company, diftingulfhcd by title and fortune, by wit and genius, we obferve his head imprcfTid with ideas, and his fefitimeurs I tinctured with a colouring derived from tbcfe va cir^mlhaccs, and accic:nts of his life and SECTION II. 37 All is cafy and nattral, except his wir, which ap* pears, in the application, fometimes afFe&edarid ex travagant, and indulged, at thecxpence both of truth, decency, and virtue: the luxuritncy of his ima gination raa4e him prodigal of it. Animated, as he was, with the ambicion of his fen's .making a figure in courts, we naturally, cxpeft, and are not difappointed in our expectations, that a compre- "heniive or a competent knowledge of the hiftory, the genius, thfc temper, the various ccnftitutions, laws, iaterefls and productions of the feveni dates of Europe fliould be recommended to his attention and cultivation. Hi* plan of fludy en this fubjeft, though not regularorfyflernatical, a communicated in fcattered hints with the eafe and familiarity of a friend, is yet rational and judicious, and is only too minute in the parts, and too extenfive in the whole for the comprchenflon, or at Icaft the perfect attain- , nient pf his jcung pupil ; ^hcfe capacity he fcems to have meafured by his own, or by his partiality QT his ambition for him : yet the noble author faw, that all his com prchen live knowledge wapld be cf little ufe to tht pofTeiTor,in public counfels or popu. hraiimb]ies,W!thot language to exprefs, andthesrt and ornament of elocution to scldrn and recommend his frruimentfi to hie liea/ers. His re fir cl ions on tafte in general, asd on eloquence in particular, ar^ac- curate and inflrucllve ; ard the fffecla sfcrifecd to Y-j lail verified by pertinent and itriking inftacces. Lord ChtHei field was himfelf, we may fairly pire- fume, a great mafler in (he art of fpeaking which he here jccomri^rxl?. 3 3 S E C T I O N I!. BISIDES the foreign, the fffccuJiidve and im portant knowledge proper and neceflary for the forming of our young fhte/man, the "noble author recommends, as Hill more ne-celfar-j,, the knowledge sf human natsre, and the karning-and &rs pratifed in a court. The art of pleafing, of which he w?s a perfect mafter, he prescribes to his pupil as the moil c!irec"t and uleful ladder, by which he is to.afcend to Ac honours and favours of a court, and to the c!if- tin'clioa and eminence of a courtier. Other virtues may ccx^mand rcfpedl and eileeni ; yet to pleafe is the only way to command affection and love : ~ but to pkafe, you lauft firll know, you muft firft fluey rn an kind ; a iludy in which the noble author feems to have been a great roficient, as might eafonabl/ be expected from his eonftant application to it : yet, as was moft fuitable fro his ambition, the highefl or ders of mankind were the peculiar and diftinguiflifd cbj:cls of his cdcrefs and adulation. The manners, the honours, the fplendor of courtly life kad charms irreHilible in his eye ; here he moved moft grace- fiiliy, as in Ms proper fphere ; in an element in .which he might feem to hsye been bo?n aad bied, and to have pad all his days. Here he prefides as she gertiu-j of the place, ar.d holds out a court- g-^rrK-r.t cowpofed of all the infinuatioa, th,e ar?, the ^icvefs, the verfaiility,' the refpecl, -the condc- fcir.itun, the com piacency, the Aveetacfs, the isi.ef- graces, the elegancks an-d proprieties of polj^ idor necefvary. to be put CD, and worn by all *ho afpire :o be favcar'ues and rninul.e*s. As he id mart in the bell SECTION II. 39 it was here he found the beft,thatis, the molt fafhiona* b!e people, and raoft fuited to4iis tafie and ambition. His pailions, his wit and imagination being un reftraiBed, unbroken and undifciplined, were natu- islly led to full range, and to adopt objects the moft pleafurable, the moft pompous, the greateS and nvoft magnificent in life : thus we fee not only his paf- -ficns, but his very tafte and judgment affected by the ply or bias which he hsd received from nature or education. Hence we account for the preference tvhxeh he gives t French manners, both in life and on the &age, to their delicacy, their fefmefs, their versatility and coanplacencv, before the rudends and favagenefs of Brhijb Bumkins, or in other words, country fqires, and- before the bloody dramatic miters of his own cdufctrj'. He requires delicacy more than'flrcngth ; p!eafure rather tHan inflrudton ; aad the graces before all the other divinities in hea ven or eaith. Hence we account for the peculiar ^Iftin&icn of tpprobstion and applaufe which he has given to the palace of Alclna in Arhfts and for his partiality to the eclat of Volt* im y and his Hiiiory of the Fourteenth. VIEW then Lord Che&erfield in the fdrefi; point of light, srsd you admire him as the fine gen dem&% eafy, elegant and polite, profuie of his complacency, blandi(hments, the moil winning addrefs and cour teous condefcenfjon ; expeniive anc^ fa^ionsble in his drefs ; .Tpscndid at his table, but not luxurious ; voloptuo, -hcd ; a libertine with -'iCy ; anJ ,;g rant a an ours aru- 4 o S,E C T I O N II. 1 illicit indulgences, (till afFeding the man of honour and truth ; refined, yet generally juft in his tafte, proper and elegant ia his di&ion ; powerful and per* fusfive in his elocution largely converfant with, and a very good judge both of. books and men ; a great mailer in the extenfive fcience of politics, yet Hill more diiiinguiflied as a courtier than a ftaief- man ; Angularly eminent for his addrefs, his move ments, his graces, the dtttcturj, the foftnefles, the placid features, the various airs, that habit of plsafing, tha: perf*6Uon of good heeding, which are natural to the /oil, and form bo;h the cflence and exterior of a court. OR in other wtr^s ; thcfe Letters, at the firft glance, exhibit Lord CheftsrfieW, and prefent him to the public as a kind maflsr, a& anxious and af fectionate parent, an engaging companion, an eb- ligiag friend, a polite fcholar, a fine geptleman, si livejy wit, aa accomplifhed courtier, a penetrating fUtefman, a compleat man of the world, fureiihed with all the qualifies, acd adorned with all the graces that niigkt promote his i.ntered, or favour Jiis Ria.biuon, tkac might renJer him eafy in him- felf, an4 agree/ibl.e, rsfpoulib!?, or necefTtr/ ta o* thers ; the man of leafs, the man' of virtue, and the man of honour ; with genius, wnhc/ut Angu larity r affedtation ;; with Isarniug, without pedan- -try ; with plate aad title, without pomp and pride ; equally qualified for baHnefs, .or for plcafure ; fof the cabipet, c/ ij-ro--'^ ; for fea'aie, or a'p/. ' rrefs- i . ; -L SECTION III. 41 ai we may colleft it thrown off in fcattered touches and random ftrokes of his naftcrly poici). lanu- snerabls graces enter into the competition ef this rffky towards perft&ion ; and we have only to la* ment, that we fiad them, opon a nearer infpedior. fo miferably (haded and difgraced by the fculcft flams, and the molt impure mixtures. SECT. III. IN the two laft fetioiss, we gave, what we calf, the bright fide of Lord Cheftereld's chsrafter ; but we muft not reft here, if we would fee his lord- (hip's real portrait, and drawn at lull length. Nor can the Peerage plead privilege at the bar of cri- tiiifna. Not only truth, but the whole truth is ex- aed from us, when we would inform ^nd inftruft mankind. This is the more ReccfTary on the p/efeat oceafion ; as the character and example of Loid CUeilsi field, celebrated as he was for wit and virtue, my^ht, otberwife, do mlfchief, by propagating vice and vanity, faily an5 fa! fehood, among maukirtd. Befides, thera is an eafe, an elegance, and charm in iis LordfhipVfty'e and manner, which may eafily isitnuate itfdf, and impofe upe?n the comnjon-rea- der : as his -pfaofibiiity impofed even upon t^e axid o;cod r ir; b^ life tftrtff. Co F 42 S fi C T ION III. failia'ous as the fchocl-lcgiq,; and wo arc in much lefs danger of being milled in our conduft and man ners, by the fubrility of a rufiy doctor, than by the refinement of a polite acd well bred man of cif~ - tiuiion and family. WHAT mod crYends us in thefe letters if, the im morality with which they are replete. As a mo- raliii, indeed, he affects to recommend virtue and goad fafth ; but he is quite out of his element on i his fahj*i, and feems to have known no more of the eflVnce, the power, ths peaceful and happy ef- fcds of virtue, than of what is doing in the moon, or any of the remoter planets : and the whc W perfec tion he requires of his fon, is the vary reverfe, not cn!y of chrifilan duty, but of true philofophy. . Us confiJsrs mcral virtue and honour, as pifTable qualities, and of foine name and reputation in the world ; and as &ch he recommends them to his fon; but of the e/TcRtia! purity, the immutable nature, and eternal Obligations of virtue, he had no concep tion ; or if .he had, be prefcribes praflies t which he allows not ftriclly jaftiliable ; and avowedly indulges a violation of laws, both divine and human, in fa- of your p". S on s, -w here you may e/cape the re, by not contradicliiig the fa (hi on ar> of* the world. Vi.- ; ... 'n thrm a foL'!-r.?, a ., . :.r-.cr-i of i 1 SECTION III. 4 j engaged in the bufmefs and.pleafares of life, to lend a proper attention to abflra't 2^2 fpiritual fubj?cls ; or ta relifh the inveftigation cf moral, intelle&ual, and reli?ioui truth. LORD CHESTERFIELD'S fyftem f ethics is veld fall fmcere love ta G U D or man, and may be properly ftyled a fyftern of felf-love. His Lordfhfp is a remarkable proof of the truth of an obferva- tiler, which he has more than once repeated, That the undemanding is the dupe of the p.iiTions. With an isrco;i:nien fhare ef underftanciing, enlarged and improved by reading and reflectien,with all his wif, kis ftudies, and fuperior fagacity, he has facriiicec, the mo ft ufiControvertcd pricciples and roblcil ef forts c-f virtue, love of your country, finccrlty to . yoc*r friends, (which he fcsrrc 'allows to have any ex- iflcA'ce) a centerppt of plcafure and vaio glsry, to a gratification 'of the -felfifh pafliyis, to what ambition afpires sfier, ar,d to wht the le-wer and animal ap petites preropL And tfce vkes fre-sa which he would 'avert his .pupil, s?e net represented in their nacive defoimity, as violations cf. the laws cf G OD, r.ii4 . of the f&ri&ions of men ; us contrary to the opi nions and practice of the be ft and wtibrt, aed a d: - firuclive of the p^snciplcs o^ truth, and of the in's- reds of fociety ; bur, they ar<; to be avoided from the consideration cf their indelicacy ^ ^n2 tgs "iaco^- vnience and damage they bring to Kerdih, to for tune, and to ycui* rfpotitirn in the wo lid ; fo fir * your ifitertil may Jep'-nd en that r^putatjen, whether tht world tliinlc* iht or wior/g. Thus 4 44 SECTION III. ens and disgraceful ; and keeping 13 condemned at what both the ladies could net fupport : but sn in trigue with a Wkerg of Duality % married, or UR- married, is a gallantry nt forbidden ; but prtpo- fei and inculcated by the father tokis fon, as what, bsfides other advantages, is not difcredhable in the opinioa of tke world. SOMH men's notions of virtue, and of th^ perfec tion of human nature, havg bten fo fubiime and re fined, that their fchemss being found impracticable, they have abandoned fociety and the world, to cr.joy their idea! virtue in the {hade. But Lord Chefter- ncld'i notions of pear human nature are fuch, and his virtue cf fo e*fy and pliant a temper, that its very efTence may fem to confid in its verfacility, and conformity to the manners of thcfe with whom you converfe. . Alclbiades's character, abandoned 33 it was, is, I think, vropcfed in this refpeft, as an exsrnple for his foa's imitation ; and a court, ac- coiding to his Lordfhip, the grand fcene of fimu- lation and difiimulaticn, is the proper foil for the growth, the difplay and expatifion of virtue. .THE noble Lord's courtefy asd humanity, over- fiowicg and benevolent ss they fecm, are all a profalion cf verbeagc, or the art of faying the befl: things, and offering ycur beA fervices, meaning and intending nothing! but to dsccive tbofe who are fimple enough to believe you fincere. For, lo.thofe who are in the fecret, aui mutually pradife this ineckaKical trade of compliment, \vithoatany mean- ing, it is the RioH ludicroua farce in nature. Fie os SECTION III; 45 it, my Lord ! A fhame upon that policy, which, makes no diftia&ion between prudence and artifice 5 between benevolence and flattery ; between com placency and compliment ; between wifdom and craft ; between the modefl rsferve of the man, ai the profeiTed. diffimulation cf the courtier ; which excludes fincerity and friendfeip, true philofo-phy, true virtue and true religion 1 * VANITY, or an appetite for farae, which Lord Chefterfield has made the motive and foundation of morality, and acknowledges to have been the prin cipal incentive te his good actions, 5a- iifelf a vice ; or a virtue, if a virtue, which mufl difpcfe the praftiferof it to adopt every vice or flly in faftuon. A fteady perfeverance ia the practice cf what ii righteous, juft and.'good, in oppofition to the fafhioa and corruption of the world has, and we hope, will ever be confidered in the eftiraaticn both of leafon, and revelation, as one of the inoll iignsl iaflance5 f and higheft exertions of true virtue : bat Lord Chef- t^riield, we prefume, was the fir philofc-pher, wh coolly sad fobcrly recommended the fafhion and cor- iupt opinions of the world, as the fbnda'rd by which, and in cosfermity to which, you are to form your moral conduct. We cannot eafn'y accoua; for a no* * " UN horamc qui fait ?accur, ef: matt re de Ton j^cli*, de fc yeux et de fon vifage, il efi prc/fcnd, impenetrable ; il diffimule les xiiauvais Offices, fed it a fes ennewis, contraint fon husseur, ceguiTe fe paffions, dement Ton cssur, parls, a^it centre. fe$ ieiitiincr.5 : tout cc grand rrffinenient n'cii qu'un \;ce r cue Ton sppeile faufTete." os LA BRVVERE,' if'em, I, p 224^ 4$ SEC T I O N III. blcmaa of fuch admirable part.% advancing fccji cut- ragiouB paiadexes ; on ! y this may be alicdgcd in his favour, that he never publdhed, nor furcly ever in tended (hat they fhould be publifh^d to the wrld : they are ao more than his private fcatiments, con- traded from his commerce with the world, and com- municaied in confidence to a particular friend, on wbofc pafTions they might eafily operate without op- pofnisa firtfli reafen or fcruple ef ccmfdence. You have m Lorl C he {V:i field a perfect pi&isre f amaaof the world. He will make the moft cf ycu, acd of that world .- he will afLcl yeur friend- fhip ; ke will narrowly watcb, and infididufly pry into your icfirmities ; he will fids out your fecieu, lie will flatter your foibles ; he will ccanive at, ra ther than reprove )car faults : by a RCW invented 6i(linclicn between morals and manners he will rs- commsnd and reconcile every plaufible and cnfaariitg srti^ce in couvcrfation and conducl, to the art cf pleafing, t po!it?n?fs, and polidcal expediency *. * rc OYIZ amitien.xt ** ufez de finefTe cr.vers vos egaux, ce diilimulatioa (f envcis le Gsands, ee ri^eur cnvers vos mferieari, " ap renez a fitisfaire vos pa (lions d* yne mas. * delicate, 'inftruifes-vcus de Ja morale politiqu?, et fulvrz ces fuyclescjtn vous coaduircnt au faeces tie *' vos galanterics, q ji voos ouvrent les chrmins de " !a faver. Sacritiez tout a votre agrand'ifcment; ** point cl* affectation cans votre prcfbiie, fi tl *' ronfraire* votre repurainn, p&Rt de pr- : " reelje, fi die eft nu fie vouc ** f^rtun^, fiiplantc-z cet ,enneini.^ (^trroliV? ce r' '* ne ionics qu* a vous clever. Telles icr.; ks maxi- ' nics ce nonde. 'M. ;: :.A ER-JYERE, Tcm. 2. p. 3.6. SECTION IV, 4? WE fhould not eafity reconcile fuch a practice to the clear end {bund underftandicg, and the candid and benevolent heart, which the Lsrd Gheflei field feems to be pcfleflcd of, had we not been told, and did we not ckfcjge it proved to us by daily examples, that the love of the world blinds the eyes of men, obkures their moral Jifcernment ; 2nd th^t avarice and ambition, lic?ntioufiafs and lewdaefs generally difpofe tke/e who are devoted to them, to evade or explain away tbe cleared: laws, and to refiit the plaisseft dictates of confcksce, which contradict the indulgence ef their favourite SEC T. IV. AS Lord Chefier field's munitions and observations arc net arranged in any order, er difbibuted into regular Effays, but thrown off occafionally and at random, as the prefent tbeupht or occafLn fug* , e&ed ; f<& thefc Reflections are the featimeats which inflantly an^ naturally prcftnted therafalves to the author, on an interrupted perufal of the noble Lr^ 7 cjpiftoitrjr crrefp^ndence. Nor is ths reader :> hope to meet in thefe remarks with the courtier, flatterer, or the man of. ef t< \ , ana a C 48 S E C T I O N 1 IV. the religioa cf his couatry, by the noble Lord. And as, we conceive, we hav already onc ample juflice to his abilities -as. a Writer, we thl*k w have a right to take the more liberty, and to cxpe& more' credit and regard to our cenfures o him, as a Man and a Moralift. MORALITY an4 Religion are too facreil things to be fpoirtsd away in wit ; and the privilege*, the comforts, the blIngs of humim nature too valuable to be facrificed to the vanity or kurnoar of the firil Peer or Prince in Chriilendom. The revertace ia which I hold dlvina truth anii the ble/T:d author of Ksy exiRervcc, will be my exculc, if I am not pro- fufe in my comp'iments to one, who however dig nified and difttnguiihed by rank and title, has fhewst himfelf an ofFeneer egainfl both. What flrikei us st firft fi^ht in thefe Letters, Is tbe little efficacy ' which wit, reafon, genius, erudition aad education hsve in promoting fincere virtue, and tftablifliing a }uft moral charafler, witkotat the power and inflaenc of.rengton. His Lor^lhlp has, indeed, frequently recommsriled integrity, and the moral virtiea ; bat ihen he recanmcnd? thssi principAilr, if not folcly, for tha cre-Hit they givs ya-j svith mankind, aocl as means fitied to forve your prefers t insert ft, and to gratify yeur fayourite ptflioas ; fo that he occa- fionally in^algcs his pupil in the mot immoral li feerties, which are not difgraceful ir, the eye cf the fafliion. TMe virtue he rcconimencsis not fuchssyoa meet with in Plst^, in Seneca, ia Fpl&etus, rAnto- nine ; ftich .n virtur ^-5 may inform, iprove ? ana for- tifv tic Aw!, S E GT I O N IV. 43 of life, pufh you on to heroic deeds, aaimate you in the cafe of liberty and your country, or iaflame your affections and beneficence to mankind ; but it is a felfifh principle, a political f<*g f jft> directed merely to ferve your ends, and tc fecond your views, in the attainment cf what Lord Cheftcre!d had sno(l at heart, as thebsft and only good ihc emo- Juments of the prefent life. OP eloquence he has fold many ae things : sad too muck, perhaps, connot be faid in us favcur, when it is employed ia fgpport of tru'h a,ad virtue, ia de~ fence of the injured ais-i oppreiu-d, to expofe the pillager and betrayer cf our couauy, and 10 tiL'rc and vindicate the common rights &ni liberties of mankind. But vvbca this divine taknt is reccrn- mended, a* Lord Caeerf:r!d lias recoaimcnded it, as a proper inftrutnent to captivate the popular ap- plaufe, to render ycusftlf necefTary to government, aad thereby to force yourfcU into cmploymsat, dif- tiaclion "fnd eminsr^ce ; ue defpife tie venal writer or fpeaker, who,- with the iiculties of an Acgel, thusbaftly prof.ic;eji Liiuifelf 10 ;Le htgkeft biddti-, P.eijgjo:* itfcl: is i ccc:& mended, ^s far as it is re- ;.ogitter*ded, s gTwojg yau an additional fect-iity in the i :-f thcfe l-o are iurluenced by it, and with , have to deal. HE p&iTcd for a patriot, yet the whole ambition, yf his foul feeois to have keen to fcrm his favourite ara$er and tcftiraucn of a ccurtier : It '- ' rUiin, for its laws or libc, :;e- 5 Lr.i. : ; >, G 5 o S E C T I O N IV. Mr. Si&KJn>pt*s graces, perfections, figure, and for tune, chat cur, patrician is concerned. The wholfc plan -of his education is directed* and calculated to Hia!:e a gieat, not a good man ; a fhiaing, not an .1 character, or only, ufefa! to kimfclf, or to the public, only for the fake of that felf. T* this end he recommends to him the fcmblanee more shan the fubftance of virtue ; artificial manners, po lite addrefs, aod all the fuperfkial graces that might aitr-ct the regard and confidence of t&ofe he coa- ;d with, LORD Cheficrfield is a wit, has grace and elo quence, and difphys a large acquaintance with hooks as well as men ; but with sll this knowledge, he knew net GOD. He was too poike, had too much fpirit to be a believer, arid too much pride to elafi -\viih the common herd of mankind *, in the a- dopting principles and privileges v/bich were ?BOII to him with his fcotrnan. * " C'EST deja trcp d'avolr fevec le peuple une meine religion & un recme Diea ; qael rRDyea t>core de Vappel'ler Pierre, Jean, Jacques, conirne Je Marchaad 6u le Isboureur : evitons d*avoir rien de C-Hntihn avrc la multitude, afTc;6\ns au coatrtire to ites les didincllons cjui neuscn feparent ; qu'elle s'approprit le* douze apoircs, bars difciples, les premiers martyrs (telles geiu, tels patrons) qa j eil vove avcc piaiiir revenir routes lei annees ce jour particuiier que chtcun celcbre camme f fe*e. Pear aatres grands, svon* ;ecrjurs atx r>om> pro- M', faifbfc nous baptifei ioi?s ceux d'Awriibal, PJH^--, c* ^raijds horn- as-:^ :..:< r I.-v^':ti;c 4 > ; i S E C T I O N IV. i I? he warns his fen sgairft the common cant and ^nillfry of -Infidelity, sgainft religion and eHablifhed opinions, it is a caution, we prefuire, fgainil ill manners, not e.Yprefilvc of any regard to facred truth, or tae principles of divine revclstion : &11 his cau tions cf this kind, which recommend, or feem to re commend, virtue, arc prudential, not piaus. So pi tiful a'quality as piety muft have for ever difgrnced the chara&er of :hc man of birth and breeding, As a wit and f hne gentleman, he very properly profcribes vulgarifirs, yet he has himfelf defcends^ to one cf the lowed ; the unrnaaly rail) 9 g at sli womankind, from his ccmmerce, we imagine, with the wejft of the i'ex. It is as certain that his Lard- fhip's tsfte nnJ reading had not led him to an ac^ qaaiotance vvith the hiilory of thcfe ladies whcfo beauty was the lead of their perfections ; whcfl? virgin iancliry or corj-^ga! fidelity has dose, nn/1 fli'l dee? honrsur, to fcrman nature ; whole grj, Cf*. have cootributird to thr onler 2rd ornament, tb*- : a s :c h:pp'nefs ofdo^^^l'c life; whofc coa.i- ffiU h^vc iiiforni 1 *^ princ*', ^ hcfe ^ii^o r rv ha d>ffi?t?d ihe reins cf cnryr*, ^ : ij' ; nr- HUPS, fought, hi; |< Rornnn in'. : < ? heros P n ; <'"? i v^n:f;^,x j fn r .3 r'ctx ; : ? Abhi ?" . '2 SECTION IV. whafc sal and /Incsrity far the caufe of GOD, aad Ms truth, have itfpircd them with the courage to brave clanger and ccath, and to embrace the rack and the flames. LORD C WESTER FIELD'S calumny againft tie tvhole ftmalc world is the more illiberal, unjuft, and inexcufabk, as he be!i?I* i* a good wo?aan, good " wif% a tender nouier ; and ?r> unmcduiirg Voi. iv. p. 225, THE C Tr,s:p In apply ing ihis charter ^ the Ia: Q^een Carol inr ? jwlip been dead i'jrne vcars, at the time of Lord Ch :tfr, which is dated Jiily 2c?, SEC T I O N IV, 51 In an odious and contemptible light, lot coafif- tency was no p^rt of 'Lord CfeeficrfieM't character as a writer, or he *,ould not Have cenfured the late Ear! of Batk, at long famous for kit fimulatioa and dimu!atior), and yet have (etioady recom mended 2nd juuified thafe qualltit ft to hi) fop. i THUS too he confutes thofc who cast fore court! ; ypt he has -himfelf given fach a pi&ure of courts, as docs no hsnour ta th* learning, the truth, an4 jGnccrity of thofe who frt-q-acat them. If he M farn^- times lavifh of his praifea in favour of the brilliancj, 4he politencfs and perfection of court-life and court- breeding, he is rot leA fjank in his report of the ill faith and ill morals pra&Ifed there, ft is only theT sppeatance of good faith and good manners which fee requires ia thofe who would fhine there : and the the author, noble as he is, fkews himfelf both illi beral and difingenuous, iq the artifice he prefc to be pracljfed on the fcib'es and follki, the pgfison? and prejudircs of thofe you meaa to esgcge in vour fervicr, sn^i rcnaer conformable co your views. Hi3 four volumes mny be entitled, An zrtirt Cett *f ' IfypQcrify ar there fort, no: wcrcfe- Fecondla cnlp&i; fccu'a naj::hs Prim um inquinaverc, c: gerMis, c? domos Koc fohic derivki* th-djo In patriam populumque fluxic. Non his jirventus tma p^e; infecit aequor fangu, Pyrrhurnque, G r- Antiochcna, Has. Sed r; 55 S E C T I O N IV. cultivating. The good opinion of the world is all that you have to confuU : by fame means moft mem are to be caught, all women a!rn by any means* Therefore, you tr to act th confidence of every mas, and the love of every woman you meet with, though you have no tntwter of refpedt for the one, cr for ths other. Study above ail things to be well with both, and make ufb cf them as kelps to ferve your intereft, and favour your ambition. Converfe vtfMi all, and watch their unguarded moments : do* tnefticate with til, that you may hunt oat tkt fecrets of families : alFed the friend fnip of all, tkat you may take the advantage ef their confidence ; apply &11 you know, and fee, and hear, to your own pro- lit. That you may penetrate the fccrets, and ac quaint you-felf with the paffions *d vie** of a ^riace, intrigue with his; whsic. Become tM thing* to all men, that, you may tin ell. VIRTUE, truth, and good fcnfe, according to Lard C lie Her field, are not fo muck to b^ Hulled as elo quence ; for by this lait you will niofl advantage ycurfilf: and if you tre cnjolrrd t ky in the Jar-, ged fleck ef knowledge, i: is nc: ihc b??tcr to CRub'e you to ferve your IHsg - ^7, bat that thcfe tr^ay ferve you. S*we of thefe political ma^irnK jnight be proper inftruilioris to a pro ft fled fpy, bat ar fr belcw, and inco(5(lent with the dignity of one, who is ftnt abroad under a public character, to reprefetit the honour, SR viuoi^aie tht lights cf a tlttioav 5 E C'T I O N IV. 57 IT has been faid, by ferae who have perafed thefe letters, that Lord Chefterfield hath left it in doubt with the world, whether he had any religion or not. I think there is no doubt remaining on this head. He has nt, indeed, like Lord Bolingbroke, at tacked the principles of religion in form, nor expli citly declared himfelfsn unbeliever; yet it is plain, from the whole tener cf thefe letters, aid the advice given to his dear friend and fon, that he would have him confidcr this world as his all, and the profc- cution and attainment of its pleaJures and prefix, its honours and dignities, as the one thing needful. Would father, who knew his fon born br life and immortality, have been fo anxious fur two inches added *e his ftature ? Tould a father, who knew his fon intended' for the purity and perfe$ion of Angels, have prefcribe* to him a conformity to this world, and an attachment to its pleafures and fnterefb. as tha proper qualification and preparation for the next ? Would a father, who had* considered his fon as an heir of glory, have confined ail his attentions, afH- duities, and attainments to that fraii bubble, the glo- jy of this world ? Could a father, who was per- fua> and the moil imps-" vl!e;;r;:3 of i o, leave hi:n^pO)r an,! ra .-?d ; ar.i, in poi^c f r /, rcn'; him J-. vcr thaa th^ low r ft of t'fci * Soa, SECTION V, 59 x SECT. V. LORD Chefter&dd is allowed to be a wit ; but his wit is unchatlifed, and licentious ; isfotne- ttimes indulged out of mere vanity, in violation of truth ; and, * we. prefume, againft his own better knowledge : it is, however, fometimes delicate* though frequently blunt end rude ; and fuch st roigbt better become a licentious companion over his battle, than the polite fcholar writing, t his eafe, a courfe of moral leftures, for the benefit, iiefiruc- tlon, attd improvement of his fon. With very lively parts, and amidfl pleafurable *mufernent$, his application and (lady feem to have been very confidcrable. He read much, but did no? think intenfely. Ke was more pleafed with what firuck his imagination" than ftudious of what might regulate his padions, emend his heart, or inform Lis Dnderflar.diagV His literal y acquirements we:e indeed uncommon for a man cf quality. Hefeerrs \ to have well undeiRood the ftatc*of -modern of pa- lite literature, both at home and abroad ; and from ike large fjml of flfeterlais, which he h?,d laid up in his various and cjfter.five rsadin^, be Critidfes j^ly, he quotes pertinently, he nnpiiss hnppur. His wblervaiioRs on the' -EngUfh arri "--nrra-are perfclly juii aiul { judicious ^2 chink 5;c Las not clore fuili.rient jufticc lo the fabliins fpint which r'iftlr.f. ..sofcar OftTfdrfi.T^ik'w.'> 60 5 E C T I O -N V. ters. la this cafe he has -acted agsinfl his awn pre- fcnpt on anoihef eccafion, and has been" more ftu- dious to -find faults than point out beauties. His tall? was fomevvhat vitiated, as his manners were corrupted, by hia attachment to the French. We deny not, nor difpute the juftioe of the applaufe he has given to Btileau, Milierg, Cirneillt, and Racine* But the encomium he has given to Voltairis hiflory -cf the age of Lewis the Fourteenth, we think alto gether partial, and unworihy the good fenfe, and moral ilie Cardinals, and Jcfuits, 6z SECTION V. .would incline one to think the author wai atid open : but when we confide? the privileges claimed by the Galilean Church, and find the Pope humbled by Lti*.-i* the Fourteenth, we fafpeft our author is but paying a compliment to his country, and would fcem rather an enemy to the court, than to the Church of Rome : I faid /gem ; for, at :he bottom, I believe him a friend to no denomination of ehriftians, though he has bolted out heretic and fchifmatic upon occafion, and branded with infamy i?ve. better than himfeif. I NEED give you no other proof of his dilhoneft conduct, than by refering you to his chapter cf Calvinifra ; and will only quote you his own word*, without troubling you with ether authority, to eon- front the aiTemoni, and fet afide the falfehoods of this tvruer. JN the beginning of this chapter lie calls Cal- vinifm (fonie nrght infer Chriilianity) a new peil, which has laid wafce the world : he derives it from the republican fpirit rf which animated the firft chur ches. This, though we do not e)l it a plain falfe- hood, we know is not agreeable to truth ; for, ne ver were better fubjects than the primitive chrlfiians. But his defign is to ftigmatize sll the Proteilant Cburcbcs. And for what reafon ? BecAttfe tfcey farmed the Arcngcft bulwark sgainil the encroach- mcn:s cf his immortal hero, and were refolved to live bidcpecdcn: of a ter,pral and fpiritual tyranny* BUT *c? us ccrfusr ilie ri Iir.es of thcfe perfccutcd - ; ar^ iheac^ ;ve rncv belt judge of th* cc| S E C T I O N V. 5 gi their gaaimment. Ltwts, fays T^Ur htHorlan, was cxafperated at them. JVYhat was the eaufe, will our hillorian fay ? Were they in rebellion agsinfl their Prince ? Did they call in foraigncrs to invade the kingdom ? Or did they refufe the paymeit ef tax es laid upon them ? He fays, no fucli thing. But the King was moved by the continual reraonftranes of his clergy ; by the infinuations of the Jefuits and the court of Rome, by the Chancellor Lt Tellier, and by Lwvois'kis fon. and the cit'ii wa.rs excited by the Prlii- ces'of the Blood, the Parliament and the BilKcps, they obfervcd a pacific eonduft, and made cfFer of their fervice to the King. He further OWES, that CMert, the Great Celbert, protected them ?s ufeful fubjtcls ; and that MaKarine was fo lenfible of their good conduct, that he admitted them inter all ths o8ke5 drp"nd?ng upon the revenue : nay he fays, that though their fathers had been rebels under Lewis the Thirteenth, their fons were become good fubje&s under Lewis the Fourteenth. Thofe very madman (fo he calls the reformed of the Cwtnxti) would never have taken up arms without the revo cation of the Edil of Nanfze. That they had not been in any eminent manner obnoxious to the go vernment, appears from this, That their churches, according to Mr. feltairc, were taken from them OFI leader reteg&i up^n tLs zioR/rivoleuf 6l S E C T I O N V. fretences* ; and thst the opprefiicns they laboured under, were covered over with a firm tfjnftice ; tfee highefl aggravations, I fhoul* think, to an ho- nsfl raaa's mifery. BUT his be reafcn for this pcrfecution of .the Proteftants is ftill behind. Ltwit t it feems, confi- dered it as one of thofe enter prizes, which was pro ductive of that luftre of glory, of which he wts ir> all things fond even to idolatry t- And thus connY- eating their eftates, depriving them of thsir chil dren, in^prifoning, dragooning, hanging, and break ing uponihe wheel, or burying alive, are lawful and juflifiable, as being the merciful means employed to aggrandize the monarch's glory, and to make con verts to the charitable religion of Jefas Chrift. SOME tender fxpreffions of humanity ihoulcr, one would think, upon this occafion, have dropt from a writer, who feems charmed with delicacy of tafte, fbftneff of manners, the cultivation of the graces, and the endearing charms of.focial life. A IUCOTTED Heather), familiar to tb.;Vs glory. Oreatncfs was in Ltn.ois^ eye, snd in his hiftorian'si the ftiewy pemp of arms and conquefls, ret the harveft reaped from great and good ad ions slonr, or mlfcfies furred in the csufs 01 virtue, for the fuppert of truth, and for the fake of public hap- pie r V tranquility and fafety. WHAT is finning, afT^^s ftltairt more than what is YoJid ; or he is all the while talking. or v.'nung agwft'Vis better knowledge ; gihnng am-. , lull and felly with polite appellation, '*: Dicing reH^idu, virtue and truth to the M .- z't^t. His ii-au$:/ of ih? mc?;.r>,' SECTION V. too tofs and apparent, and very ill becomes a wri ter of To free and ingenuous a fpirit. He feerna to be playing the frcophant to the living, rather ta* writing an impartial hiftory of the dead. His partiality to his country is as evident, as the Duketf Marlborough's victories are posrly and Malignantly told : while T^exae't line campaign Is furs to be celebrated : and yet this was more fig., nalized by the fire, devaftatioa and mifery he fpread, than by onr battle fought or gained by fuperiot courage and condu&. And I believe any one, truly acquainted with the particulars of this ravage, ao4 the cruellies 'exerci&d in the Palatinate, will call Turennt a cog of hell, rather than a ChrifHan hero. Yet this, it feems, WES but a fpark, compared t^ the feeond cefolaiion of it- * As a writer, I confefs that Mr. Ftltalre is live'y and entertaining. He , has not the phlegm of tie Engllili. He is foraenmes happy in furprifing his 'reader, and is fortunate in contrail and canparlfon. He is an admirer of wit, of which he has been all his life a careful collector : he has taken j?ains in > hiitory, and woulv], I daresay, take more pl^a- ftt-e in ficdinp 1 a moJern anecdote, than in recover- a a fragment cf Plato or Livy. He would have ;;i?.de a rhetorical pieaihfr, an cfuntsuou? 'aclor ; rnd a-b-::ter favourite at court, than a flaiefman, a Ke loved intrigue more than bufioefn : as a gentle- nun, he would h.Uw- *V;fn ?); * P. #|. 68 S E C T I O N V. flifter, a lover cf wit, pleafure, ad pomp, a pre^ liaoter of arts, and an cncourager of fciencc. la kve, he would have b?en gallant and romanti^ ; in an embafTy,v generous and fplendkl. HE is better vcrfed in modern ir aimers and politics^ than in the true knowledge of human nature, or tkc fpirit of aacient legifkcron and ancient heroifm. Trtre yirtae, and the r'iflin&ioas cf moral good and evil, are fcarce perceivable in his book. Feails, caroufals, magnificent pleafures, thefplendor of diverfions, de- Ifgh'.ful entertain men ts, polite arts, polite conver- fation, refinement of tafte, vi/acity and wit, n de cent gallantry, noble gallantry, cafe cad elegance, aie in our ChnfHan Kiflorian of the fameefkem and credit, as contempt of pleafare, contempt of richer, jnvielable chaftity, h<>neft poverty, fevers juRicc, exrenfivc goodnefs, courage onappaikd, a Jove for our country, and reverence f^r the gods are in cur Pagan Livy. And hence it is, Tho-jgh he has not ciirecliy attacked virtu?, yet he his betlcwed abun dant coleuring and ornament on vice. Guilt is no more than gallantry ; and grearnefs cf foul (who ' coa!d believe it r) is to change a miflrch with df- creaon, and wnhodr^'tftraftin^iibHc bufine/s. | THE fafliion. feerns to have b^ea with V't,ltairt the f:ndard of morals ; and the graces of more ya?ue with hitn than the virtues. Have but delicacy .;id politenefs, and our author tvill rot qaeftson your fakh or year re'igioa. O.^e reafon o J Vrf. ILp. 47- S E C T I O N V, 6 9 tlpathy to Calviiiifm is, tkat it is pedantic, and be trays a favagcnefs of manners. His religion is as bad as his morals, a vsgue detail of rafh doubts, fermed from common appearances : he'feems to have krewa as little of true philofcphy, as of true virtue, and to have borrowed his religion, as he has done hia ethies, from the gentle fyftems of modern free- thinking ; which are, indeed, weH fuited to a witty Frenchman, who is too lively to reafoa, and to gay to think, IT is difficult, he tells us, to determine what it if. that gains or lofes battles *. At other times he fays, that cur coadud and our enterprises depend ab/blutely on our natural difpefmcns, and our foc- cefs upon fortune f. He gives us more inflates than one of the power of chance in deciding battles. At tker times ha is divided between fate and for- tune ; bat this laft feemsto be his favourite ; terms, wkkh he fobflitutes in 'the room of PrcvideiK?, " Fortune,'/ fays he, * did that (the federation ff " Chorles the Second, cf Bngtand) which tfcefe lt*lrti as Soeratis is to Lcci&n. ^ The !! VcL I. p. $6. t Vol. I... p. 42, SECTION- V. g's condition was," he fsys, " concluded to '* be in a ftatecfckfpair, till msn were confounded " by fuch sn sft of Providence,, as G O D hath " fcarce vouchfafed to any nation, fince he lee! kia * own chofcn people through j;he Red Sea V And afterwards ; " In this wonderful mariner, ' and with this incredible expedition, did O > *' put an end to the rebtliion that had raged near " twenty years :" and sgain, foon after ; " By ** thefc remarkable Heps amorg ethers, did the <* wonderful hand of G O D, x.i this fhort /pace of * time, not only bind op, and heal all thefc wounds, f _&c. " He had before told ths reader, <* thit <4 the whole machine [of the reiteration] was fo iu- " finitely above his [the Gensrsl'i] flrength, that it could be only moved by a Bivlne hand ; and it " was glory enough to his m?rnory, that he was * GOl^'s inftrumeat in t bringing tkofe mighty ** things to pafs ; which, doubtlcf', not one maa " living had of himfelf,/ either wifd^m to forefce, or under/landing to contrive, or course to at- M tempt and ex.vjte *. J> w, which ef thefe two hiftonana credit upcn this iubjedl ? He who was a living whnefs, and-a careful cbfsrver of the -tranf- adlioos of thofc times ; who was prefent and pi y* TO every nieafure taken to promote or retar& the i- * Clar.'VuI. VI. p. 631. Vol. IT. p. 772 3 & ^ ?. 708, S E C T 1 ON V. ;i ftoration, ar.d wfyo had, a large fhare of learning, both hum^n and divine ? Or he who writes near a hundred years after the tranfadion, talks by hearfay, seel judges at rancforn, who retails the dregs 6f Epi curus for the object of cur fsifh, and gives us the froth of modern free-thinking for the hhlory of phi- lo%hy ? IN the thirty-third chapter, he csndemneu feme 'ncs of Janfeiaius, ss neither philcfophical nor confchuory. And will he call his fytlem of a world, governed by chance, philcfophical ? Or will raau- kin x d think his principles, by which they are left to nature, fortune, or fatltity, confolatary ? It has, I ccnfefs, furjuifed me much) and gives us a melan choly profpc,e cre sn<] siicruion of a fribble, but fem bslevy !*r notice of a moralift and a philofopher : :comir.rid intereH, felf-lore, vanity and am- birlon, as the proper metives of acYion, is we con- ^, an irftth upon common fen Cc 9 and i?pon all the nvorajjgfyftems that have yet been published to -crpt we might perhaps juflify it bv ffptcorus : and If we Ihould defpife the cr, we mufl both dcfpife and a^hor the pa*. aid defend or advance luch principles foundation in th-; corruption of our ns- tcr^nlnate in the deilru5lior\ of public vlr- ru% and public hsppinefs. His round ly pronouncing Ciirtius and Lconidss to be two fliningitjfhed madmtn, is fach an outrageous con- ^raaidlDn to efiabliOied notions, to cur cleared ideas cf tbc pured and fublimeft virtue, and fuc.h a blaf- phcmy commitfedl agjnad the fpirit of patrictifnnt, as will never be forgiven him by any c!a/!ical or mo- ril reader, by any lover of G O II), or of his count-;/. T< Greater love than this, hath ao mar>, that a imrf Vi lay (?s': T /n- his life for his friends," is one of thofe wnxlms of eternal truth, not peculiar to, though vr.ofc fignally Ir'udrfitcd by, the procefs of the Chrif- z'iJin Hlfprr.fxtioR, and by the life and death of its di-' yin*- '-->\t which approves itfelf not only to ::fc6l r^-.fon of individuals, but to thr :-:;Uiral feelings of every agr- - ^ cir-.h ; who have coTJiidercd, anJ ( v :ncthing more fb an mortal, t r ho hsve devoted their lives ;? ,b?ir country. Courtic'S^ s:- SECTION ..VI. ou3 enemies of the ft ate, have generally been sOiamed of, and difavowed all felfifh principles, and ned the public, gcod ss the motive of their con- ;1^1 and councils ; and nothing* we prefume, bur jrofpecl of fscrefy in thefe confidential Letters iVoa a father to a fon, couM have induced ihe ns ble Lord to advance and avow fuch principles, BUT there is nothing we csn wonder at, ia thp principles of LorcLChdleiftsld, after we- have fcea tils patrician and the father defcend from his dignity and -duty, and commeacs procurer ar*d pander to his ion ; aclisg the part of a bawd, and giving him ciret leiT^i s of JewcHicfs : he marks dowa, he'fpi-is?gs the game Cr him : he cheers him in ihc chace, b; ; fiiring him of Ajccef*. From a nobleman fj dii' tlrsguifhed for idelicacy f>f fcniimeBt and maancrs s we c.-3ii!d-ROC have cxpef\tc!^hat sa iilicu End pro- ci;fcaou3 commerce of the frxcs would hsve bcer> recommepafd cr connived sr, or that paHch snd b;tta! lull .would have been allowed, ^ thr motive nicafiire of huoian conddft, in vlo',*'u'"j ftf order erd peace cf fodety, and in -cti':,-i..:>^,r * DEINDS qaum M. Ciaucliu? circur^ft'tr. ia'ronit im ad prcbenden^arn virgliien), lam. iljTqtt? cum >;, iniug, intt-ntani !> ho, ?> in- vi:, *' Appi* r . ^r A ** NUPTIAS, Iv'ON SDuCAVI. 'FLA- ' ' C f P ** c-tr IN co: ' iiti fint, re : nui j6 SECTION VI, WHRN he propofes felf-Jove, vanity, interefUnd ambition, as the proper motives to human condu&, he aftecls to make fome apology, and to offer fbma % reafons in vindication of his paradoxes : but in the libertine advice he has given to his fon, he ufes no ceremony, nor palliates his advice, as if cowfcious of "us impropriety or immorality. We fhould naturally hence conjecture, that the noble Lord had neither wife, filler, or daughter, in whofe virtue he might think his own happinefs and honour, or the honour aad happinefs of his family any way concerned. Iw comedy an'd romance we have fcmetines locfe fcenes exhibited, loofe fentiments e^prcfTed, and lewd eharaclers and examples htfld out to u?, as copies or pidares of ordinary life, ani the real man ners of the times ; bat leffons of tewdnefs given profeffedly and cooly by a father to his fon,---pka- fure taught and recommended as a neeeffary expedi ent in buiinefc, is Aich a noyelty and refinement in the fyilam of good breeding, is fuch an outrage cone to decency, snd to the moral fenfe generally enterj#iafa by mankind, fo contrary to nature, and *he ufuel workings of parental afFe&iort, that :-nn^t eafily account for it f unlcfs we might be ailow/d to fuppofe, that the father, by engaging tip fon in the lame criminal commerce, intended to flatter or judify th?ir common condu&, and to detract from the infamy of both. s, there is fome injuftice in t ,:tion. Lord Chederfield appears cot ^f infamy ffcci his illicit commerce SECTION VI. yjr ether fex, or that any dishonour attended the ille gitimacy of bis fon ; whom he publiihed, not with- cut fome pride, in mod of the courts of Europe. The truth may feem to be this. He writes, to ufe his own exprefOcn, as a man of pleafurs d> a maa of pleafbre : but being, as he acknowledges, pad the quick fenfe of it him&lf, he is as perhaps will ing to refrefli his imagination by dwelling oa the gallantries of his fon, and by renewing the memory iif hi? own amours. * Nothing is more common % THE fentiments of the excellent Seurimtlll both explain and confirm our reflections on this occafion : On ne s* abandonne pas ain/i a fes fens fans y avoir de 1a douceur : & ce qu* il y a de plus funcfte, c'eft que cette douceur (jus Ten goute, demeure dans le touvenir, fait des traces profondes dans le cerveau, frappe 1'imaginaiioo, >--.. Si 1'aclion des ferss n' etois excitee que par la prefeuce dcs objets : fi 1* axne a' etoit agitee que par 1'a^lion dcs fens, un feul znoyen furliroit psur fe garantir des pafHons : ce fe roit ec fui- Fobjet qui le emeut. Mais les psffiors font d'agtfes deford res encore, C',eil cette forte im- ' 'prefiion qu* files lai/Tent dans i* imagination. Lors qj* on f ; eil abandcnne a fes feus, on a gcu'e de la douceur : cetie douceur frappe l^msginaticn ; & P imagination sinfi frappee des plaifirs qu Ton a trouves, en rapeile le fouvenir, & follicite i'homme pa 51 once de returner vets ces obje;s qui lui ont ete fi deux. C'E&T pour cda que les vU'illards ont encore | que'fjuefois des rellss malhereux d*une pafTion qui iemble fuppcfer certain confiitution, ^ qe Ton croiroit eifiiU?, dcs qtse-cette conftituticn n'cll plu?. Cette pe'ftfti'*, que tcls & tcls cbjets fuient la csufe de -ear? delicf s,- eR tHeore chere a Icur ame : ils en ftioient le fcuvcpfr ; ils Jes font eotrer dans tous ks ils en fcnt des portraits ik;c?, & fe ccdcm- ;8 S E C T I O N IV. than this procefs in the depravity of human nature. We have feen, in ether iflfhnce&, fcefides ihis bcfoie us, the lewd father ii "masking in the lewdnefs of his fons, into who'' e-s we hav- know a him, as eager!/ and joycufly in u J ce !ft pciwe. ' .-^flJon donoe a un p. hctnrffc d ; ''Out pour Is vcitu i SECTION Vt 79 letter to an innocent country girl, than the' cHre&or did to his pupil ; it is certain, that no pimp cr pander coald have wrote more faJa- clous letters than the nobfe Lord has done to de~ bsuch his cv/n fon. We may nd-d, upon tkis occa- fion> that Lord Chefterfield had little room to sccufe the Abbe ofhypccrify or difTimuktion, ssfornetlmes in the iaaic letter, hs encourages and dire&s the Jewel amours of his fen, nay points out to him a particular, hdy as tfce obje of criminal paffion, and, with the foiemnky of an Apoule calls upon GOD to bleG bin : elfrrvhsn* he befeeches him far G O D's fake to mr.ks liirafelf niaftcr of tl-.^fc graces and accorap'iftnnervti, which are to grrin hit-Ti the men f snd gain him the women. And it ss fomcthing re - fnarkablc, that an Englidi fox-hunter is treated as . bear, a^d held oyi as a monfler, which {hocks his', jbrdim^'s delicacy, and one would fufpecl^ threaten ed the difTo^wtran of his frame : but when a French w re of figure is ihe game, the chacc, n leem% >* honourable, .and the exerctfb Aich as tsads to the polifli and perfedlian of the m-sn-. I WOULD not charge the Noble Lord's portrait with deeper or darker colours than belong to it : I will not therefore aceufe him of entertain ing principles of fpecalative infidelity, notwiih{bndi*.ng his acknowledged prejudices In FaVoar ofibitte emi nent infidel writers. H* read much ; and it is not c*afy to reconcile a 'olerab-e kDC'.vIe-dg'p rf books ^ favourable opinion cf ir-6;mj( ; who could cxpecl that the noble Lord IhouU hazard his chara&er as a wit, end renounce the ap^ plaufe of men, for the fake of a fupreme love of G O D, ia which true devorj jn confjds, and, which is recommended as the firft and leading piinciple-by the Founder of our ChriPJajj Tehool ? THE fpiri? cf the gofpel is fo d5IF*Tfrc f Ipivjr O f f jj e vvor'd, ihnt K w? . 82 SECTION VL with all his pafliens and vanity about him, fhould enter into the kingdom of G O D, or, in other words, be a fincere and fpiritual believer. Would he have given any fupport or authority to the caufe of chriftianity, he fhouU have been the moral man ; the humble enquirer after truth ; the cool and confident reafoncr; the unprejudiced phllcfo- , pher : characters which never have been, nor ever can be united in the enemies of chriflianity. We allow him the reputation of a wit, a genius, a ftatef- nsan aud a counier : but in compliance with the dictates of eternal truth, we canatt allow him the honour an honour greater thari that cf courtiers and kings an honour that cometh frcia GOD the honour of being a chriftian. LET the unbeliever, if he pleafes, cnlifl him in hb order, and derive all the credit he can ro his c\ufe from fo iUalirious a difc'plc. ChriSianity nauft gain reputation and ftrength by fuch adverfaiies ; and the difpenfttioa and wituom of G O D bs only more confirmed by the vices, the vanity and folly of the men, who oppofe them. Behold the great man devoid of the principles of the chriiHan religion ! , Whsr, and who, i* the wit, the genius, the cour tier and datefman ? -A man of univerfal complai- fance, without one grain of benevolence -afFccling . your onftJence only in order to betray and deceive you ; prafeSlfig all languages aaa ?11 knowledge, ot to direct th$ rnind and benefit mr.nkind vvirh iifeful difcoverie^ but merely to qualify hns to p'ay a better g;, ^n to over- reach the man h? has to iteal with \ ~ a pa^crfbl fp^alcer an-i m&x a. SECTION VI. 83 the graces of elocution, but applying his oratory not to promote the peace, the intereft, the honour and liberty of his country, but folsiy to difplay his own vanity, or to fervc the ends of a party, fraught with a grace,' or rather a gracioufnefs and overflowing courtefy to all mankind, not expreflive cf any real beneficence or friendlhip towards them, bat to flatter their pafiians, and to render them de voted to his views; a roan of honour, yet net retrained by any mora! obligations from vi the wife or daughter of the friend who him ; a ganius capable of ranging through hea ven and earth, to contemplate the moral and fpi- ritual difpenfations of G D, (looping his high born faculties, and confining them to a ta#e for the works' of art and man's device, c.r to tbc gratifica tion of fenfca which he has in com mot) with the brat*! order ; the mighty man fubject to c-ifesfe fe&& diftrefs in common with the loweft cf the peo ple ; but as ia the highefl fortune, impious and ungrateful, fo in the loweft without fupport or com fort. See here the man of taile, the man cf elegance, the man of letters, the. . fcnator, the orator, the ps trician, the minifter of fiate, thecounfellor of kicgs, %^hen deprived of the inllaence, ad dxfch.irgcd from She authority of religion, uofteady, fluttering., ftTvlle, uniform only in feekicg the gratifications of his- own pagans ; and to this end facrirking hi*. time, hismanhoo^^ his honour, his truth and friend- fnip, difa vowing every virtus, or diforedijing and dtbftfing, by acccmnnodating, it to fordid and mar- ceary cnt2s, to lisske the fincfl figure at court, or at a ball j *--. -:n bt ilHyl^f4 ^ rh 34 S E C T 1 O N VI. tor in the fens!?, sn order to be tfce fercmoU in powsr and place ; and to improve and to apply his time and taleats, the bell qualities of body and mind which GOD has givea him, to the intereft and advancement of his little felf. Lord Chefter- field's beft virtue is only a decent and ptlite vice; and it hai no other Ihmdard or rule than tht eye and opinion of the public. Its objcfls are prs-eminence i-n life : it$ inftrument* arc cf the m oft poli&cd ^ as see melt tile dual to promote the cads pro- THE views he entertains and cnftantly iiolds oat to his fon difbredit all the prudential advice and ief- font of wifdqm which may be colledte^ from thefe letters. Confined as hey are by the nokle Lord to the attainment of the pleafu^cs, the pron:*, the honours of our prefent precarious acd ihort lived ex igence, they are nothing more thin leiions cf lewd- ncfs, of avarice and ambluon, the befl and mofl cfxcc^usl sneaks which occurred to cur noble phiio- fopher from his experience, his reading and re.ftec- ions, to make you rich as tke tresfures, gre^t as the titles and honours, and happy as the plcafures of this world can make you. f.ET then the infidel race challenge Lord Chef- tcr field as their own, and wha% after all, is the new fubpft of their triumph I A nobleman without true bonour ; a fenato/ more regardful of his own applaufe, than ef the laws and liberty of his country ; 'a citizen ambuloiis to cngrvfi the mod lucrative of fices of the 1 ftaie \ a nun wiihout feeling or fncnd- Hlip for his kind ; a rcafonableb:ing propofing and ynirfi- *& iinportapt food, sa SECTION VI. 15 indulgence in pleafure, and tke gratification of hii frciTft paffions. Let the unbeliever fay, whether a religion, whofe fuBdamental principles are faith in, and a fuprcme love of GOP, obedience to his laws and fubmiflion to his will : a religion which enjoins fincerity and truth in all our words and ac tions, calls for our benevolence to all mankind,, exacts the difcharge of duty both to G O D aad man upon the princinles of confcience, at threx- pertce 3$d at the hazard of all we havfc. A religion r.hich eftlmatirg the true value and little' moment tf all earthly attainments, Rcquiliions and enjoy ments, point* out to our profpeft a fat-ure and im mortal ilate, and require* as the condition of our inJe to that fcate a courfe- of uniform difciplihe, the pralice cf the focial, the moral and fpiritual duties, Let tfee unbeliever fsy, whether fuck a re- Hgion as this, does not give dfgrJty to the lowed, and add luftre to the higheft characters in life ; an$ whether Lord Chefter field unc^cr the influence cf fuch a religion had not bean a better man, a better citizen; a fxucerer friend, a firmer patriot, a more uncorrwpt fenator, a m*re npright ftatcfma>, ani a more ilJaftricus> robifman ? Such as he is, and has fhewn himfelf, in the^e letters, if the infidel feel will fUIl claim him as their owe, we freely and frankly give him up, body arid foul, to bs made the mod of, by thefe doctors in the minute philofophy, Let them hold out, as an example and an honour to their principles, ths 'infinuating flatterer, the'lnfidious * f/iend, the faithlefs gued, theinfgmouz paoder, the betrayer of innocence and beauty, the vain orator, ikg . venal patriot, and. tke a ai billots fhrefrj*aiu SECTION VIL SECT. VIL 1"* H O U G H appearances make againft the noble Lord, yet we arc willing to believe, for the konour of chriftianity and of his Lorcfaip, that he was a practical rather than a fpeculative unbe- licver, and that his commerce with thia world had na turally and infenfihiy erazed out pf his thoughts all taftc, all concern for, and afpiratioas after a future and immortal fUte. The man of wit, of gallantry and pleifur^, the courtier, the orator, the flatefraan, the nobleman were the characters in which he af fected to jQiine, and in which he found h moved saoft gracefully snd to his advantage : but they were characters, all which had immediate refpeft to this world, and which coalJ receive no improvement fiorn, if they did not abfolutely exclude, the fublims virtues, the abftradled nd fpiritual graces of the N chriilian life. His Lordfii'p by the large (hare which he polTe/Ted of fame, or*5 u;ery ani fortune, by tbt diiliactioa of rank and title, would-be lefs fcnfisle of the corruptipn, the meanncfs and mifery of his na* ture, of the nted he had of a Redeemed and Sane- tifier, of the authority of a fopcrior, or of any great- ncfs or bighnefs more exalted than Cefar'f. The great and the noble, fwimrmng ia plenty, and ac- cudomed ^ corrxiiand, think it i>e!ow th-rm to to want,, and difgracefal to obey or fobmit, tno jgii to the morality of GOD himfelf. They cauli, they *ill be fapcnor ta the common herd cf SECT-ION VII. I 7 though it is in guilt and folly; and would be as much afhamcd of Teeming to want any inftru&icm from priefts, from preacher* , and holy enthufiafts, as they would be to be caught in an a of lewdncfs, of petty larceny. THE mere man of quality is a perfoaof the High- eft importance in his o^n and in the eyes of all a- bout him : he is beheld at a di fiance with filent won* der ; he is approached with fjfoimifioii and awful refpeS ; he is addre/Ted with fervility and abjed flattery j he ecw3es and dictates magilteriaHy ; he is believed implicitly ; he is obeyed sbfolutelr. Hia tone ia high, hi manner afFtdled ; his fmilc dif- dainfu! ; his gait is flow and Rately, and the whole man of a fryle and order that /peak his fupe- tiority to the low brad vulgar. The mart of quality is feea ia his drefs and motion. H^s word is law ; *ho dare difpute it ? His ciclates oracular ; who flisl! doubt or deny them ? ^Ils fortune gives Lira ftll and rcgre than all hs wants ; his flation corn* . snands a homage more than Lc is intitled to : thong!* he may not be believed, yet all fear, all affi& to fcr or flatter him : he has no faults or failings, whom none dare canfure or reprove. To a man thus in toxics t*d by his fitoation, afd ignorant of his real ftats by nature, the fpui'uaJ truths and humble graces of the gfpel appear ftiange things ; and all i:4Ugi#Q i, with him, cat and enthufiafm. Who ihsll teach him ? Who is Lord over him ? Know- jng no fuperior on earth, he denies cr forget? the GOD who is above ;-and uill dethrone the Judg^ of heau mondt* the guces of the outward man ; rank, dignity, plac#i petition, title ; -^ the prefer ftate of politics ; the^diilaat profpecl of things ; the afpi- mions of the ambitious ; the efforts of the fa&i- eus : camps, intrigues, battles, bills ; changes and revolutions, foreign and doniellic, in charch and (late ; company and high connexions ; the bu/ine/s, the plcafurf, or a^ufements of tbe day* thefe fo ttttch engage my Lord, thathcfin.c!s no Ififure, need, tafte c? Inclinatidn fvr t^e abftracled truriir, and Ai- blime fpeculauoas of !r,orr^s and divines,- lotv- bred ^ioyilcfed pedants, or &i belt vcfp^Uble Hot- teatou, and mere barbarians in- the knctv ledge of pofitenefs, life ard manners. H reads, if he reads, in order to form his tafte, to arljuft and hsrcionias bis periods, to improve and animate his eloquence, or to acquaint himfeif with the intercfts and policy ef the different dates and princes in Europe : but tl^- .|of]jd, being no AM;* f^. -cle end;, and S E C T I O N- VII." 89 yefpe&ing chiefly the intercft of a future and un known world, he thinks it an unnccefTary and un profitable wafte time to fpend a thought about it. The world is that ocean in which this great Levi athan takes his paftime, and leaves the prdpcft and provifion for futurity to thofe vulgar fouls, who have not a prefent and a more certain gams to 'play. la this cafe we conceive, he may not be determined by rcafcning or fpeculative arguments, but by mere ha bit, by his fituation and connections in life, to em brace the principles of infidelity. THE wit and the great man will prefervc his fa vourite character in every Ration and circuroftar.ee of life; and unable to attend, he will celebrate and ie- hearfe his own funeral with all the pompous fplem- oity of patrician greatnefs J. Fortune, ftatioR. ii* lure, pailion, and tfie world have formed in hie: Lv bits and opinions as abfard and ridiculous ss if be profeifedly HveJ and died, ratLouc GOB and Lev in the world. LORD CKISTIRPIELD, amidH the natL*sl i inoral ills under which he kbsared sffccls the phi.. lofcper. It 1& a more pcmp ms ar;d founding i. than tha; vulgar one, a Chriliian, Bu; J L&RD CHESTER riEL, s fh^rt death, appeared in public sn the mod pomps us fp'endid equipage. This occafiened feme in the beholders, wh we're told by cf his train, that hi WAS r>b 9 o S E OT'I-O N VI!. lordihip b?ea influenced more by tilings than wcre*$, by ihe folidity and weight of argument more tfraa by the appearance and vanity of icience, he had not been afoamed of Chriftianity, the true& and fubli-^ rieft p'hiirfiophy that ever enlightened the fons of men ; he had not lamented his being cut off from /ocial life, and his being reduced to filence and foli- tade, and the condition of a lonely gKoft : he had difchargcd the duties^and fupported the calamities of life with more 6rmnefs and alacrity, and fee had bra ved the terrors of death with more decency, cou- jage and co&ifort, than appeared in the wit and humour afie&ed on this folemn occafion. WE cannot efleem highly his wifdorn who rifqucs his whole fortune upon the chance of a card. What then.fhall we think of him who throws the die for eternity with a real or affected indifference, what fliall be his portion for ever *. A fiddle and dance * THE importance of the fubjiJl will justify our Inferring the following fcrious aud fenfire obferva- tions o M. da ]a Bruyere. % APRES toutes les convi&ions que nous dcvons svoir de notre religion, js nc fai corrment H fe trou- ve des gens d'utae impicte afiez de:erminee pou? faire parade de leur irreligion au momrnt ds la inort. Seroit-j! poible qu'ils _r*c fuflent cfraifs; par tout c-s (?u ? a d'afreux & de terribi? cetce dcrtiiere heu re r Jc nci puis eroire malgre 1* feint?? aflurancc qj'aa qho/5 ills eiTiient cle montrer, qu^ leur sni? -Jan5 une vraye trr-nquillite ; cs c^fn?e i-o-v, c?'te in.trepiditc tromoeuf". (^nonci i'ejpac ,Ics fra.y^Bf* Jc 12 rp fxion's for le h SEC T I O N VII. $i arc altogether as fuitable to the character and cir^ cumftances of a dying man, as vartity ad wit. The many bflances of drollery and humour, whrcln Lord Chefterfteld exhibited, which he feemed *o- have ftuelied in order to figure the more on his lall que cc fqefticle dcit deconcertcr la p!s inebranlable ferme.e, FA i Iu darss le Socrate Chretien de ^Tr. de Balzac une Hlftoire qui me deconcertc moi meme. ]1 dis- cju'un Prince stranger etant a Particle de la piort, k iheologien prottllant qui avcit coa'aine dc precber Levant lui, vint le viHter accompagre de deux ou trois autres d;; la Kieme communian, & = Je conjura de faire une efpece de confsfTion de foi. Le prince lui repondit en fciiriant, " Monfieur mon ami, j'ai 41 bien da c'ephir de .ne vous poovoir Conner Ic *' cpntentement qje vcuS defirez de moi, vous vbi- ** cz qae jis ne fais pis ea ctat de faire de longs dif- " cours : je vous cirai fculcment en pcu de mots que " je crois que deux & deux font quaere, & que quaere ** & quat?e font huir, Montieur tel (raorift/aat un *' ma hemsticien qui etoiJ; la prefeat) vous pourra *' eclairck des autres points de notre creancc;.** * N'Y-A-T,JL pas dans ces paroles queique chofe de rno^ureox ? F.It 02 aveogieme}):, ou bravade d'- rfprit fort r Eit-cc iafe^ifiSilite ou oHeniasiun ? une ho*Ts:7ie m^urir elarss ces lendmeflt?., faire gloire ea 'xnctir^nt c'e croire ia verite dcs nonibres, ^' de n'a- voir que cette creance ? Puis qu'il fair fi parf:iit- ment que ** deux & deux -font q-^atre, .!y rewf K,ber his COT clulion was, I know it is ray duty to fufemit fny will m all things to the will of Gi. I do fo ew'Krely, and my alfo, as far as I am able/' doing this juIHee to tbe ncble Lord, and f as we ccnceive, the benevolent views of the coramarjicator of this stecdot^ we csnrtot bjt ait;,- chat relsgnaucn iu "diftreTj to the Go^ cf natu^t or a faith that carries uj no farther, t!n o^r 5pp.'c-/ v i5 not the faiih or reSgnstion f)f a Chriftu 94 SECTION VII. be hid fenubillty enough to fee! aad the calamiaes incident to human nature ; bat he had not greatr,e> of mind enough to sccept the humble nd healing truths of the gefpe), peculiarly fuiurd to aHI& mankind in fupporting and improving thefe calamities, and in chafing away thfcfe errors. The gofpel, though the dilate and manifeftation.cf etcs- nal truth, mull naturally revolt the noble Lord, wb*n it would reduce him to the character of a mi- fersble finner, or humble and contrite penitent. The graces of iliz fpirit would be laughed ar, if recogi- mended lo tks man who admired Angularly ad mired the grace? of the dascing-mafter, or who made al! the graces center in a dancing-matter. Neither Jsfas, nor his difciples were polite, well- t)red gentlemen, from whoa , you might learn the art of plcafiag men {he air of a court or the ad- drefs of a courtier. ft BLESSED are the meek, blefTed are ths poor f * in fpirit, - blcfied are the pure in heart, blcfT- *d are they who do hunger and thirft after righte- ' oufcefs," are* moraliijes of To mecgre, ,fo mean, and hcrnble *n cfpecl, that threy might become a ceil, a cottage, or a cloyfter, bat could never be in tended for the ufe, or enter into ,tke practice of the man of tbe wcrU, the maa of wit, the man of gal lantry and fafhlon. Nohl? blood refentg the af front cfT^ed it in impoflyrg fuch trite, fuch thread bare, Ae modern gentile world. Brotherly iove aad chanty are vulgar anuqaated lcim c , in the S E C T I ON VH. 95 room of which the Noble Lord, ha fubfH'uted !&* fiauation, add refs, adulation, attention, affid allies,. rnd all the external graces of uudied comp'aifsnce. Lord Ch^fterfield was evidently a man ot th-'s wc-r-J ; the wifdom of G O D therefore hi reveaang, nnd dire&Ing eur v'ews to another, mi-fl be no Setter than fooliSinefs in the efiimation of his Lorcifhip. IT is well that jLord Che&erlield has given us all his heart ; we thence learn, as we have before ob- ferved, hov/ poor arid mlfeTabl;;, how blind and naked, is Imman nature, animated wnh wit and gemus, polifhed by education, imp-oved by reafon and reflexion, and refined by c6urt\y manners, wiihout the influence and advantage of religion. We fee wit evaporating in vaifuy ; genius and eloquence terrainating in ambition ; the paflioss degenerating into lewdnefs ; wifdom confined to human policy and ihtiigue ; good fairjj ai?d good rcnfcience fupplanted by * pro&ilion and outward feeming ; beaevolence banifhtd by good manners ; friendship by complaifance ; 5ncere virtue and s i'c^ady faith by feif-io\'eand a prudential philofophy ; and all the devoirs of life, refpdfting what we.me to GOB and man, contracted to the narrow vi? pleafing and gratifying Self. LET us fuppofe Lord Cheilerfield had admitted C&riftianity to inftuence his faith and pradlicc : had be been lefs honourable, or deemed fuch, by hli fiibjcftion to the Almighty ? Had he been left *r the proicfl'OOi the ci^^i. stid.rir.dafice 3$ SECTION VII. eerily, opennefs of manners, and cordial -chriftiaa benevolence, contributed as eafily, and effe&ually, to eftabiiih his charter in the world, and conciliate the love of mankind, as artificial addrefs, difTembled frieadfhip and French grimace ? Had feh Lordfhip's i name at this day been held lefs facred, or had he been Icf refpe&ahle in the eyes of his Kiig and Country had he been kaown to have ferved both from principles of loyalty and love, not from mo tives of ifstereft and ambitioa ? Had his Lordfliip's prudence been arraigned, if he had added to the wif- dom of the ferpeat, the inftoesnce of the dove ; or if he had improved aad applied thoic excellent rules he has given us for the improvement of our time, regularity smd diligence in budnefs, to more exten- five views tkan thofe v/hich are confuied to the bounds of mortality ? Had the Noble Lord been lefs 2 moraM, hz$ he, iiiftead ofinfiamiagthe pa(Hons, and prqjnprifig to licentious p'aafcres, endeavoured to corral the malignity, and eradlcare the depravity cf human nature ? Had he been tefs a'philof^phsr, had he taken in G O D as a ncceffary a^ent in tre pro'ccfs of nature, and favourei us and himfe-f whh fome rational, if not pious, refli!-5;.o3, on his in finite providence ani perfetftlvr.?. ; Had hi& Lord- feip*8 genius, cr literature, beca difcicditcd bj dreir being emplo/ed ia recommerding to mankind ia ge neral, and to hii fan in particular^ the love of vir tue, of glory, and immortality ? Ha-* the ncble Lord departed frora hi? fcimfelf fuhj'?-c to ;he I^ord of b< ^r-d earth, SECT I O N Vif. 97 tfce eternal exiftence and happinefs of the ceJeliial orders ? Do we not fee a meannefs and degradation in ?he Noble Lord's fpirit and character, when we cbferve hrsi a mere man of thts world, a mere ani mal, and like his &lJow-anijnaIs, providing for ro" more than his prefent being, without aft eye life up to heaven, or a thought for his future exiftence ? Poer human nature ! we will fay with his Lord(hip~ poor, yet proud, proui of its nothingnefs, of its feathers, its ribbands, and rattles of its errors, ignorance, and bliadr.efs proud of the popular breath, of the fmiles of a court, acd the promlfc* of a courtier ; cf deceiving and being deceived of living to vanity and lies the dream of the day the Shadow of a momentary exigence: Whilft we are afraid or afliamed of acknowledging our warits, would be thought great and honourable, wife and knowing, happy and independent, rich, abounding in ail things and wanting eothir^ ; smd to conceal cur poverty nnd nakednefs, wouM re- r.cuuce the bounty, and reject the bleings of hea ven itfelf. We really pity the Noble Lord, labour ing linger diftrcfs, yet above feeking any help, 'or entertaining any hope from heaven ; a feeble nior- :n!, yet independent of bis Maker ; helplef?, yet rerour>cir*g or foyeocirg ail helps from the Al^ mighty; without comfort in life, and, % hat Is (till worfe, without comfort' or profpedl in death, and making our very infirmities^ which fliould be the fubjecl of humiliation, motives to prayer, and recommend to us a Redeemer and DeHverpr, a kind ^logy for 5 and judificntiou of all ihc pricU.' N SECTION VII. 4 ihe folHes, the vicefj the inacnfifisncies, and ex* ff human nature. WE cannot kelp fznillng at his Lorel&Ip's French bafa of cjmplaifanes and good hianners, whkh he would prefent as with in the room ef the old fafcl- aed Eaglifli re pa ft, good faiih and a good ccnftiense : but we arc really inclined to pity the Noble Lord, when smidft the ^iftreiTes of nature, upon the ap pearance of his diffrlutiot?* we find him igrjoraat, or, IQ fupport of his pride, affe&iRg to be ignoraaat, that there is a G O D above him, or that he has aa scimortal foul : we lament the weaknefs of humaa nature, when we obferv* the Woble Lord, with ho nours ami titles thus mean, with fortune thus poor, wish wit thus ridiculous, with reafon and philofo- phy fo dencient in knowledge, and the art of ordi nary computation. POSR humas nature I confcious of, yet afh^rttcd to acknowled^* its wan:s ; and though a beggar, tod proud to a& afliftance of the Supreme Lord of Hea ven and Earth. Miferable condition of msrtality, whco Hninffuenced and unfupporteu by the principles and power of religion ! To be weary of a fiily world, fen Able cf the wretched bargain of life ; to fefj th^ fragment cf bis wretched CArtafe. and tic tint' &ers c>f hi* r&zy vfjftl riinniag down to decay, yet, n r?!^r? of confeqxKnces and without hope and p*ef* of repair or reparation, fpeaks a ^cgrr t eracy bcath^n pVilofapoer would have been aflla- of j* >i r-tlde which nature fhrinks fro-Ti f.nd S E C T I O N VII. 59 Ton, as well as revelation, condemn. Socrates and Seneca a& the proper part, fland forth like heroes, and difgrace that aflec\ed in fee Ability and indif ference, that fubmiffipn to nature and its Jaws, to any tiling, or nothing, after death, cxprciTed by the Noble X-ord on this foleran fukje&. MAY we not 'fuppofe the truth to have been this ? That the Noble Lord afFe&gd to Hgure as a wit, an orator, and a Peer of Great Britaia : and fuppofing this world to be the whole of huraan ex- iftence, he pofTliTcd his fhare of fame and fortune, and with this he was content ; and as he did not na turally relifli, Jbe could not eafily admit a future ftate, wherein moral and ipiritual diminutions only would have place, would advance to fuperlor degrees of honour ?nd happinefs, and where a Peer of Great Britain might poSibly rank below pcafants and Haves. * WE wi(h thst thefe letters had alFordcd us an oc- caHon of exhibiting the Noble Lord in a more ami able, more exalted, and more fplendid, that is, in a more chriftian light ; a wit decent and chaftifed, an crstor fpirt-ed in tfee difplay, and powerful i-nihere* cornmenJation cf truth and .vihue ; a patriot fiend/ and brave,- in promoting t&e* < bM^fit > nd afT^rting the rigku and liberties of hi* cp -in try ; the man o- psn, ilncere, and bejievolcnt ; k'.nd, 'yet firm ; pla cid, yet refolute ; aftio ted by convifticns of confcience ; animate; art. elevated by the prin ciples of divine truth', b? faith n the prcint G O T>, snd t'.^e prnfpe^ of K^ roo S E C T I O N-VIL and exalted and transformed by divine love and hea venly hope to a grcatnefs and dignity, a fplendour and Iove 3 beyond all ths: Kings, and courts of Kings, can exhibit and beftow. Bur -happy it is for mankind, that the eternal truth of G O D is fixed* is uniform and unchangea ble ; without this, we may obfsrve, to what various opinions, abfurdities, and immoral principles ; miflsd by the infirmity of nature, the influence of paflion, the vanity of wit, the alternation of fcience, the con jectures of ic&fon, the L authority of great names, we jnutl be expofed. G O D, and his truth, rffpect not ;he diftinclions of performs and characters in life; great and little, high snd low, arc equally fubject to the authority of the Almighty : his favour and ac ceptance are equally and cqui;ab ! y prcmifed to all thafe who love aad obey him. The wit and the Peer of Great B;hain are regarded as mere moral a- gents in the eye of the Holy and ail-perfeft GOD: and human dignities, and diflinclicns, titles, and names uf honour, maS be confidered by the high and Holy One, wlioinhabueth eternity, as the effecls 'of ou? finful pri-ie, the chafacleriilks cfour vaaify, ef cur meanfiefc, ar.d littlenefs. The. hiuiibk, the devout, the good heart, is what alone can recora- :! us to the rfi^ards of our Maker. Wits are 4 V i atler--, aad nr-bl'js maWcbfttemplible than flaves, v,; -a rtTey Mirrtnch upon the prerogatives, and af- f.a i be i'.ke or above the Moil High. THE tru ! y great and refpeftable m tV,e eye of QOi), by the ra!j ani law of rcafor., is he wha SECTION VII. om a confcioufoefs of his weaknefs, his werthkfT. ccf? and nothingaefs, humbles hirafelf in the daft before the throne cf the Almighty, accepts and o- beys his truch-however mads known to him, reflgna himfclf to bis Providence, co-operates with him in promoting the happinefs of mankind, and from a csnvldlon of the vanity of a palling life, extends his views, and builds his hopes on a future and immor tal fhte. Void of fuch a rational and moral con- dud as this, the 'richeft among mankind are but beggars, the wife ft, arc but fools, and the nob!eit mean and degenerate the phantoms of a day, ths mock-heroes of a Rage, trembling under their Hep, and haiie&ing every moment to a ruin. The great* eft, diftinguilhed by titles, by offices and honours, by opulence, by luxury, by fplendor and equipage, eminent for -wit, for tafte, for literary accomplifh- xnents, and every exiercal advantage of afe, but ignorant of, indifferent to, or defp'ifers of facred truth, and of the relation they (land in to GOD its author, in the eye of ;eafonare without real cig- nity aad honour ; without fecurity, fleadincfs or a t-roper rclifh of the beft fortune, without fupport or com fart in the worft ; flives to fe-nfe and paffion ; blind to the beauties and glories of G O D in hu works of Creation end P/ovklence, uninformed by immortal tiuth, unsnimated by any immortal pro* fpec>, unacquaiiitcd with pace of conference, Gran gers to the exalted delight cf communion with GOD by devotion and prayer, and hurrying down the pre cipice of life with {he gloomy exp?Utien of :r? for eve/. SECTION VIII. WHAT dignify of fen nine at or character, can w expert or admire in fuch a &>ndu& as this ? Witk- eut principle or virtue the hro is a mordersr, the flatefraaa a Hock- jobber, and ibs firft peer of tf- realm owly th* m*,>& iliufoicas prandercr'. Without principle and virtue prudence is but cunning,, ascl wifitazn (hort-lighted artifice; wit is liceati*as, and goad manners are infijueus ; ccmpkifasce is hypo- erify, and profc&on of friendfhip treachery ; fpkn- dour is 2 painted cloud ; power a raging temped ; riches 2 fordid mafs ; nobiiiry a 'fhihing but pefti- leatia] meteor ; and all the diflinguifiied eminence and valuable poilelHons of man, na bettor thaa the flower, or flowery dr^am of yefterday. SEC T. VIII. UP O N a free and impartial review of Lor dl Chefterfield's Letteis, you fee what a poor at>d ccnterap.t.ble figure the nc'^Ie Lord m&kei as a Moralift and a Patriot ; as a Father, a Senator or a Briton. To give his readers a kearty deteftation of the principhs and practices recommt-nded in his let ters ; and to confirm them in ths antiquated prin ciples of virtue aad religion, let us exhibit the out- lines ar-d feme of che ftriking features of that ge^u^ ine and manlr virluc which was adopted, praetiftdand recommended by the patriots a&d fageb of ascicnl Greece nnd 'Rome was might in their fchools, was maintained i* the fjium, and afierted in ihe f&* SECTION VIII. 103 wit incorporated with tkclr laws, the love of liberty, and animated tfca feveral order* fcf the fta'e to do and fuEFer all things for the hajppi- nef* and glory cf their country. * VIRTUE would ^ae of thofe fages have faid, co~ fills not ia verbal triflmg, in fcjrmal definitions, in fchooV diftin&iens, aad ia the fubtlc refinemsnta of jnc:ap) fkal or political fophifU * ;. bat it is a di- * IN a quotation from -Baron Ments^juisstj&t&z by Lord Cbcfterfittld for .?V T 4< fjr^f, from the rniiM.ude, and confufun off ancles, ** which, if they are but agreeable, sre fu re of be- **' ing well received He;e it is that honour ?t>?*r- ferrs with every thing ; to this whimficui ; nour it 19 owing' that the vip'-.^-s re only j^lz what it plcafes. j it ad^^ -. ''ivsnirM to every thing p'refcn ^ li mits oar duties scco- :s O'.vr> fancy, whe ther they proc^c^ from rt". ia: ! . police?, or SECTION VIII. 105 clple that was ever affigned or recommended as a motive to the condu& of rational brings : for what are avarice and ambition, fraud and rapine, hypo- crify and flattery, corruption and bribery, gaming, luxury and lewdnefs, with all the fopperies, follies, vanities and vices in fafhion, but the effects of (hat ' felfifhnef*, which Lord Cheiferfleld has recommend ed as the ruling principle of his fan's conduct. VIRTUE would Socrates and his followers, would Gicero, Seneca, end Antonine, would Livy and Cato have, faid ; . virtue is an immortal prir- ciple, which came dcwn from heaven, and points to heaven : it i immutable ss well as immortal : it h the confUtutien of G O D in natvre, and recom mended by every motive, that fhould irfluence # rational being. It is equally binding at all limes, and in all places; upon all orders and degree? of raen ; upcn makers and Caves, upon fubjedts nd fovereigns, It flansps cignity upon the loweil, arid beftows the only true honour upon the higheft caa- ralers in human nature. Its intrinlk excellence difdains all artificial appearances, or external orns* nients. Without it prices are the mockery cf ms- j rfiy, nobVv are plebeians ; and with Ic plebeian? i/ead or* :he necks of nobles. VIRTUE belongs to no peculiar Ration or charac ter in life, ft is the dtuy, the ornament, the hap- pinefs; tha honour of every reafonabie beiDg. It is of the farri value, power and dignity in B prifoa as in a palace, in a ccrta?;! as, on * i : jjQfta, it ;5 Q SECTION VIII. r only diftinguiflied by the oppofitior? it meets with. -by the pains and penalties it undergoes, by the pleafure it reSfts, by the paflions it conquers, and .he farfe glory it defpifes. It feeks no aroplo ere for its difplty, nor the trumpet of fame to "report its praifes to the werld ; but is content with the plaudit of conscience and the approbation of heaven. Virtue is independent of fortune and ho nours, of place or titles : it'is often richeft in po verty and great in its humility,* it rifes by oppoii- tipn r and (bines mod illuftrious in the ftiade. It is more vigorous than wit, more lovely than beauty, more auguft than power; more , beneficent, more pleaiing than juftice ; more arduous, more enter- prifing and fublimer than ambition. It is potvcr- % fal without friends, fatisficd without fortune, and great in its contempt of, and fuperiority to the world. It affefts neither plenty nor want, but content with the difcharge of duty, leaves the per- q uhltss of office to others. It affecls no Hate or pomp. It is mighty in its o-.vn ftrength ; magni- cent in its own greatnefs ; without gold or purple? ^h]nes by iu own native fplendor, and is a conquer* ^r wjthout the eclat of a triumph. 4 VIRTUE is dccenf, modeft and retired, except when confcience calls it forth, and ditty pufties it f:rvard t9 a more arduous and public exertion. Jt !?, thotigh filent, yet unwearied ; perfevering :... *-i?h oppofed, and. fpirited though deployed or >- *. Watered, foilered, and *efrehcd by the S E C T I O N VIIL 107 heeded ; and is abundant in precious fruits regard- lefs of the ungrateful hand that gathers them. VIRTUE, genuine virtue feeks no favour, but that: of heaven ; refpeds no eye, but that of G O D. It confiders the lowcft ilation, as the appointment of Providence, and a fphere ample enough for the dif- play of its prowefs : and it annexes true honour and happinefs, only to the faithful difcharge of duty and confcicnce. Virtue, if it cannot rcmmand, is con tent to dcferve fuccefs, and is fatisfied with the low ed place, as the place of honour, where it minifters to duty, and affords a fubjeft of patience and mag nanimity, in doing and fufTsring the will- of GOD, VIRTUE would confider as the greateft infuJt, and the foaled diminution of its honour, the bribe ofa- varice and ambition, the temptation to luxury and lewdnefs, as the price of its conduct and con currence, in any meafure propofed, or duty exacted. It is deficately fenftble of any approach to vice, though gilded with the faireft appearance, an*l re commended by the molt fpkndid examples. Se- crecy itfelf would not tempt it to betray a trail .; to an infraction of faith, or to violate its fanclity, though heaven and earth could be fuppofcd afl^up, or to connive fu the violation. Virtue is fcipericr to dejection and fear : confcious of its own inten ions and fincerity, it is not anxious to pleafe, or fear/ul to offend. Satisfied in a good confcifnce, and or" having given no juft caufe of cfftince, it bears no ill will, it apprehends no injury, nor tlands in awe of the frown of a fuperior. lr r knows no fuprricri- icS SECTION VIII. ty, ic refpefts no power, it reveres no greatnefa, it adores no divinity but what is founded in moral excellence, and fuperior goodnefs. It reverences the honeft flave above the flagitious Peer or Prince. Virtue is hardy to er.terprize, and vigorous to per- fevere ; is neither damped by the negleft of tfee great, nor moved by the contempt and reproaches of the world. It fcefhates not st doubts and dif ficulties, nor is tinnd and cautious of daring danger Of incurring cenfures. It advances wherever* duty calls, and \vou!d rather run the hazard of a defeat, than be wanting in the piofecutlon of a brave' and honeft attempt. It betrays no fervile fsar, nor is praclifed in a ftudied ar.d laboured complaifance Virtue fears none .but GOD, and acknowledges no authority bat that of heaven. *It receives no direction but from the Divine Will, and knows no dependence but on the Divine Power. It is of ted flrcngahabit and of too mafcaline a ceraplexion to ftccp to the deli cacies of fafhionafelc life, or to the prcfcribed form* of p$lit addrefs, and artful infinuation. Superior to flattery as to fahliood, it is conilant to the trutk : it looks, u fpesks, it als the didates ef the heart : inibyaiTed by fear or favour, unbroken by p^eafure or pain, by the? fFccls of profperous or adverfe fortune; it c;o?j tends for the truth with a fimpHdey, Sincerity and ardour that da honour to the c^ufc ; and would ra ther lofe than gai ar* advantage by any indiiefl methods of profeeuting and promoting it. Virtue js fuperior to injuries and affronts : confcious of its own native li^cngth, it is unhurt by the one, and 4efpifes the other. It were not virtue that fhobM for its exiiUnee and cxcrciie on the i S E C T I O'N VIII. 109 will or malice of others. It were no temple facred to, and inhabited by the divinity of truth and vir tue, that fhould fuffer violation from the falfhood, the ir.juftke and impiety cfmcn. The out-works may be defaced or demolilhed, but true virtue, the divinity of the place, is and muft be for ever ia- violable, unavailable, unimpaired ard impregnable sgainft every attempt that ma* be made againft its rmnefs and compafl corjuruc~lion. Virtue is a ft ranger to repulfe and difgracc. Its very efforts are honourable, where they meet not with fuccefs ; it is even the more diftinguifhed by difappointmen% and rifes more illufhious from a fail. Beggared, - banifned, difgraccd and tortured, it is ftill virtue ; and the more fo from the torture, the difgrace, the banifhmeat and beggary it undergoes. VIRTUE is the reprefentacxve an! fubftitute of G O D in the foul of mia. It fuppom, it confirms^ * it ftreRgthecs, it fandifies, it exalts him above the fraihies of nature, and the terrors of mortalhy. It gives Lirn a power invincible, a flrergtth invulne- rable, a peace inviolable, a faith immovable, hope* immortal, and a fpirit infiaite and incomprcflible. VIRTUE is the only ennobling qoaHty, tr^s only ncbiUty in nature. Artificial nobility, the cr^tion of mere policy or power, and conferred on the vi cious, the venal and the bafe has no name or place in the temple of honour. It is the great foul alone, the heroic sftion, or the beneficent <*eed, that fpcaks the- msn, and transfers - his name wiih honour to ture ^es. Tfee einircBt!)' virtues, thougb pro- no SECT I O N VIII. fcribed by power, and damned by the voice of the fenate and' people, challenge the fi?(l honours of the Hate, and are entitled to the moil lading memory in th6 records of fame; while the vain and ambi tious, the public pillager, th? betrayet of his friends and country, every corrupt dependent on a court, though diilinguiftied by the moll iplendid. tides and offices, which imperial favour can beftow, are expo- fed to the eurfe of the piefent, aad doomed to ob livion, or to the juft reproaches of all future, ages. Virtue adopts as her fpns of honour the humbly good and makes a contempt of fame the bef^tttleto fame. Virtue admits no blood for patiician, which is taint ed with ignorance or felly, pride or paffion, with vice or corruption. Virtus confers the coronet, a crown and- kingdom, on him alone who is mafter of himfelf, who conquers his. pillions, who beholds with an undazz'ed eye fu peril uous riches, fuperficial ho nours, and empty titles, the blandillvments of falfe p!eafure, and the eclat of fal& glo^y. A FAILURE in virtue is a forfeiture of title : a charaUrr debafed and inverted is mo-e confpicuoufly infamous ; and the nobfeman defcending to the low arts, the vile pia&ices, and corrupt manners of bafe and vulgar fouls, ia departing from his proper cha- racler, forfeits his dignity tui title in fife, and ien- de/s himfelf an objccl of fuperior fcorn, and more dd^rved contempt. Great names and iiluilrious ti tles, diftiagutfhed by corruption, by degeneracy and licentioufnefs in principle and praftice, exhibit a peculiar malignity : as the fan and ftars converted iiuc ->4lJ. ftrike us only as more Cgnal and S.E C f LO N VIII. in horrible portents. When pnnces commence tyrants, and Nobles .degenerate into fervile fycophants, or modim debauchees, virtue razes their names from the records of tiir.e, or damns them with immortal in famy. VIRTUE, if it is fevere and awful as the GOD who infpires i>, is like him juft, benevolent^and al together lovely. Sincere in its views, and upright in its intentions, it has nothing to fear or to con- s ceal ; arnj, fscure in a good conference, it difdain* all fervility or flattery, or any indirect means to at tain its eacl, and carry its views into execution. It i generally happy in the effecl* it produces, as it is hor.eit in the ^means it employs. Sincere virtus commands the efteem and confidence of fill who de fer ve it ; while complaifance only attempts to en- fnare the credulity of thofe opon whom it Is praclifed. The plainnefs and Simplicity of the language of virtue fpeaks its finceri.ty and veracit^ ; while the courtier's ftudied phraf, profeilion of compliment, and volumi nous expreflionof kindnefs, jafl?y render him fufpecled.' The beaevofence of virtue rs feen by deeds, not by words. The delicacy of feeling is heightened by the perfection of virtue ; and the fenfjbility of nature is improved by its purity. The mod virtuous have al ways been the mod cotnpalTionate, the moil ready to i iftruct and to inform, to give r and to forgive : they orient not themfelves with verbal condolence, and ^i^lcd fympathf f but (hew thsir^ood will by; ho- p,':il advice, bv f.-ienclly Temonil.'ance^, and by real a.s procure] orcorifcrred on the unhappy. V-ir- 112 SECTION VIII. rations ; it embraces the whole human race as the object of its attention and companion ; and fecond* the pretenfiona, and promotes the intereil, of all who have a claim to humanity, or wear a kindred form. fpurns, with high difiain, the bribe and mercenary pen (ion, and feeks not its own, but the good of others, The dignity, the glory,. the very efTcnce of virtue confifts in its difintereft- ednefc ; *, varies, vanity and ambition, lewdnefs, luxury, pafiions of the fe'fiih order, true virtue de- fpifcs and abhors. The hightft infhnce of felf-de- nial fpeaks the fubHrneft efforts of virtue, which, if it fecks its own good, 'fecks it as the effect or confe- quence, not as the motive of duty ; or, feeks it as a moral good, confifling in the delight of doing good, and the complacency of confcience in the approba tion of heavn. TRUE virtue co-operxtes with the order of provi dence and the divine difp^nfations ; promoting as.it is able, the advantage of all ; and would deem as fa- crilege any advantage procured at the expence, & to the <3am3-?vf ma nation and lra~g? of : v " e human foul : a.vl the m-.v;.l qu-J ih, righ- teoufnefs, goodncf?, mercy arc the beH refemblance of the moral attributes cf G O B. Virtue like its great author and infpirer, i i^eaciy, imrnoveable and uniform, of a ra the accidents of ? S E C T I O N VIIL 115 a* the faftiion of the world : it farveys the p;ogref- five rife and fall of flues, of nations and empires, with the fhort-llved exigence, and certain and uni. verfal mortality of the human race ; and-under this xonviftion afpires to a name, a character and ex* iflence, which will mock the flight of ages, and fur- vive the delations of nature. While the ccisrtier rl inters the fhining infect of the day, virtue erects for her fons a temple facred to Immortality. The good mart apprehends ro death or diiTo'ution ! in- _ vited to heaven and Palled to gtory and ijnraortalityj he foars above this dim fpot which men call earth, and is loft in the boundlefs, the inhniic/the i ft com- piehenfible progreiBon of eternity that appears to his profprft. YET virtue, though coloured with all the graces of heaven, has no charms or beauty, were the facul ties are indifpcfed to receive or relifh it ; and we wonder net to hear chriftians called eruhufisih, or platonic madmen, when they, exhibit GOD and virtue in colours too bright, and in a form too ex- shed fwr the tafte of the fenfual epicurean philofo- pher. Virtue among fome of the ancien'swas pain ted an auguft figure ; her countenance open ; amia ble, and --elevated, with an sir of cooicious dignity, nd her perfon ccicrned with r/adve elegance ; her look with modefly, every gsflure with decency, and her garments altogevher of the pureft ^hi'e : but we wcu]^ ccRv^n the cele/llal Ser?ph int^ an errant ftruwpef, in order to fuit cwr talieand gratify our paffions. Ffow lovt-ly, how attractive u /he in her BStive chaims, heii?i| bw :p[ effects -I 3 u SECTION VIII. The founder of cities, the ena&er f laws, the fupport of focieiy, the health of a (late, the con queror in war, the ornament in peace ; the fouree of national order and happinefs, the fecurity of pro- fperty, the cement of friendfnip, the bond of con jugal fidelity, the parent of domeitic harmony ; the peafant's inviolable tenure ; the hermit's whifpering angel, the profccibcd patriot's, the dying philo- fopher's and hero's fupport and comfort ! Virtue the blifs of private life ; the beil defence, ornament and honotr of pablic characters ; life beauty of youth, tko Hay of did age, the ubj;\s unaiienable right, and to the Prince a fecurity Wronger than that ct a crcwn ! Virtus the faiteft flower that opens up on earth, the fweetef! incc.if<:, that afceads the fkies I SUCH was virtue in the eflimtition of ancient wif- dom ; and for what arc we, according to modern manners, to exchange this ineftimable jewel !r Fora place, a thle, or a wh is! Shall this virtue, ths divine image- and ea?gance, the imfrtti of the di vinity upon the human form, the only rc&mbhnce of m*n to his maker; Ifeall this virtue bs at the mercy of paffi-on and prejudice, of vice and folly ; of Lards or commons, of P;ic(ls or F,inces, to mo del it according to their own imercft, ambition or avance ? Virtue h a robe cf heavenly woof and texture, which will not 'admit any ihape or form which human invention, folly or fafhion (hall %lvg it. Let the Prince command his fubjecls ! Let the.patrki):! 1-jrd it ever his flaves ! Rut let not ekhsr ci iht;n prcfamc to diclate ta the I-ord *A feeavcn a:!d eu;th ; Shdl the iramutabls l&w cf SECTION VIII. 117 & O D, -tbe law of nature and reafon be relaxed, altered or abrogated at the *il! of a frail, a blind and corrupt mortal ? Or has a peer of Great Bmaia any more authority to cancel the conflkution of the moral, thaft of the natural world ? TheJime right which the Lord Chefterfield has to recommend whoredom and adultery, any other man has to re commend and practice calumny, pillage 'public or private, perjury, murder, or any other fpecies of cor ruption and villainy, to which huraaa assure may be inclined. MAY we p:efum3 to fuppofe that there is sny po litical malevolence in the great, in thus attempting Jo traduce virtue, and to deftroy its exifteuce cut of the world ? ^~ That this principle which raifes ths the loweft, enrickss the pooreft, and ennobles the ineaneft, which renders every man great and inde pendent, cr dependent on heaven alone, being ex* tingalfhsd, tides and fortune, offices and hoaours might rear their heads aloft, and, as the only valua ble didinctions, challenge tfce univerfa! homage of mankind ? Such degeneracy, fuch impious artifice, can furely never lodge in any paliie breaft ; and we fhould rather fuppofe in the cafe before u?, that the moble Lord^s principles were the efbt cf his educa tion, not fLfHciently inured to virtue, or o/ his good fortune, not checked by any %nal diftrefs or calaixmy,- or of his temper and coeilitutipn difpo- fsd to pUafure, vanity and wit, or of the applaufs which the Jafl gained him, and that general good reputation he held among mankind ; all .which 'u tend to hide his infirmities from hirnfelf, and from she infpeion-of ojhers, to whom he' laid him- n8 SECTION VIII. felf not fo open, as he has done in this confidential correfpondence with his fon. WHATEVER w?s the ground of his principles, it is to be lamented for his own fake, for the fake of his friends and of his country, that they were ever published to the world : they are indeed ia no de gree dangerous from any plaufible reafons, or fpecu- lative arguments by which he attempts to fupporfc them : but thfe very name and * example of faac- cornpliuScd a Nablcman, may hsva a very unhappy effil upon the morals of Britons : >and we have enly to wifti as a counter-balance or counter-fer ment to the poifon which thefe letters convey* that rician or patrkians of the firft name, diftin- gtifhsd s much by their virtues as by their titles, revered fer their reverence to the Almighty, and ex* alted above others for their fuperior love to GOD and man, would fland forth in ths caufe cf truth and virtu?, and by their writings, as well as their exans- p'e, refcac morality from the violation it has fi.fFer- cd, and fUH fufi'ers from the wanton and liceutioas pen of Lord Cheftcrfield. A PATRICIAN thus cringed, wouU do feimfelf toe higheil honour, and gdd to his otaer titles that of faviour of hi* country. A patrician fupporting its Jaws, promoting or teftpring its virtue, combating * NNUM ex em plum cut I':/cr.r'je aut a^anr'aa raihuni ma;i fdcit : c^nvidlor de!!ca i! .-5 paullatir^ pncrvat & erno!*it * maligiuj comes quamvu can^i- do & /hnpiici, rubf.girem fuam sfrVicuif. SEKFC, EF S E C T I O -tf VIII. 119 its worft enemies, and exterminating principles, wlficii have upoa tryal proved, "and muft for ever prove moft fatal to the fecurity, the (lability, ths liberty, the happmefs and grandeur of ftaiet and empires ; a patrician thus engaged, would be more than noble ; we Grould hail him as divine a legate commifTioncd by heaven, to vindicate the laws of heaven, to deliver mankind from mcannefs, cojrr up* tion and mifery, from falfe pleafure, falfe delicacy, falfe honour, and falfe greatnefs, to invite the wan derer into the path that leads to the frueft relifh of his being, and to the fovereign happinefs and glory of his nature, NOJBLES are not wanting, qualified by their learn ing to explain, and by their eloquence to defend and enforce the laws and liberties of their country ; - and we fee in the inflance before us, a nobleman, cli Ilia guifti Ing himfelf by jiis abilities, and powerful and perfaafive in the art of fcdu&icn and vice. Arrl fhall no genius, no patrician, tip orator appear in. tkfence of the firft and the bell caufe, the caufs of injured truth nnd declining virtue ? a caufe rnors important to the intereit of the Britith empire, . thsa all her taxes, all her colonies and all her treafures ; -- - a caufe with the declioe of which mud decline the induftry, the temperance, the courage, the ho- r2ur and reputation, the internal order ar.d profpj- ?Uy, and the external enlargement end grandeur of 0:e Hate ; a caufe which GOD and nature have pv.bliihed, snd dill publith to th: vvh=rh thersf:vre renders cur \ SECTION ;ix. SECT. IX. IN exhibiting the practice of Pagan Virtue, we have perhaps fomesvhat exceeded the original, and borrowed fome colouring from a diviner fource ; as the latter placonifh, we are well aware, have a- domed and improved plrilofpphy with fublimer truths and more exalted moral documents, than were % known to th? aneisnt f rofiiTjrs. It is in the fehool of Jefiis aloae, that we have the light of truth, snd 4*2 perfeflion of vir?ue, wf-hout the art, or the ftu- died elcquence of compofttion, to recommend the OR or the other. Chridian psrfe^tion is the high- ell human nature is at prefent capable of. It con- fe-s on .man the trued grandeur, the rnoft fubliantial wifJorr,, ard the finc^.efE happ?ncfs. It msy nctj, iodccd, form the man into the fpruce, the gay, the gaudy, the dfefTy, the dancing, the -deli cate, the fmooih, the fubtle and fervile fycophar.t : butvic will give a fimp'icity and fi.icenty to his worJs -nd a^bn^, a dignify to his fen timers, a complisc' "".icy and candour to hii rni;. r. *.?j- niUicy snd cdfdifce?rfion,''tha < t Ai; ens^ volence of fpirif, which the man of mode affects, batafFecls in vain to rmitat?. The fir?ccrc;t ch:iAi^.n, paradoxical as it may fee?n, would perhaps be the "bed courtier in the world : honell, without views of snterefl ; faithful and aiHJuou* without s^bitjon ; fincsre without rudenefs or infjlt ; cc* ".rt 3?id b s E c T i o N his Prince, as to his GOD, and from the fam principle of duty and conscience ; the patron of virtue ; a promoter of arts ;. a friend to his country , and to human kind ; not afFe&ing the femblance, bin pradifing the fubiiance ef virtue ; at home and abroad, refpe&id aad treated with honour, as always adding with honour, and good faith to others ; prudent upon principle, without craft ; engaging wither: artifice ; and condefccnding without fervi-ity ; daunt- Icfs from noconfdous guilt, and during to ; in the profecution cf ir*ih and duty, TY hatr* its ground-\vcik b ns:cr2, ^nd hath there'fc; been properly fty'cJ ctrrnsl and ini- mutable. Revelation is a fuptrflru&are o : n ground-work of nature, and confplcuous for 1:5 AT- perior Ibength, ufff, and beauty, Th a&s with more i'pirlt and firmnsfs r/hh raou Goipacay ^nd fincerrtyj than the natural rnsn ; ss informed br a clearer light, and influenced by nicre notives'aad ilronger convidionj* IF revala enlarged the fphcrs of du*y, it sdra!* t;onab!e n-ength sn'l ^::d :n th:?;. wrlth j r-;!dt regard to truth an^ frnctnty, c :,'r liberty tp praftif* any artificial p SECTION IX. 12 3 and happy in himfelf, from the principles of his faith, and the re8;Uons of a good coafcisnce, h$ wears the fmile of peace upon his brow, and dif- fufes from the fuln'efs of his heart, eafe and hap.pK Befs to all around him. His fublime views, his fpi- ritu J, his heavenly, kis Iranians! hopes and expec tauons, raife him above 'the world, ana exempt him from &il the felrifo, the fordid, arid vexatious pafli- ons, which difquiet and difg-race life ; give him a fuperior air, manner, and dignity, tempered with a humanity and complacency, which is not to be ac quired at any court in Europe ; 2nd our fine gen tleman, accompiiftied and fet oat with ajl the giacea of France and Iu3y, when oppofed to one who has been educated in the fchool of Chjriil, makes no bet ter a figure than a monkey does when compared to a man. It is the morality of the Gofpel alone, \vhkh cm raife man to that per&uiicn which Lord Chellef field would recommend to his fon : ard a tharr,ler formed upon the. mtral principles ofths Gofpel (ne of the ftrongeft proofs of its divinity) as much excels the aiere mm of fafhion, as the fub- ftancc exceeds the ihado^, a* truth furpaiTes filfe- hood, or 2 real 2nd (igoal bencii: conf-rr.d, doe;> an infidious pfcmifc, or r .nee. HAS Lord Cheftcrfic'd read tbe Corp-! w ;..h the fame attention^ with w/ foil ait e- t the Cardinal de Ritz, i- -ioc psr- laps iouru! the fa pride of wit, v/ ihors ; bat he had -i ia all the fi 124 SECTION IX. energy, powerful to correct every obliquity, to era dicate every corruption, and to confirm and advance every kindlier and beneficent propenfity in his na ture : and his Lordfhip might have been, at the ftme time, the beft chriftian, the moft upright iUtefunan, and the fineft gentleman ia the nation. We have only to lamtnt, that a nobleman bf-fuch eminent abilities, fhould have been ltd by vanity, by nature, and the fafnion of the world, to adopt and recommend principles fubverfive cf public and private virtue, and of the flrength, the fecurity, the glory and happinefs of his country. IF revelation would have this happy cried upon the morals and contiud of mankind, would it be !e& propitious to their iatereib and fortunes as men 2nd citizens ? LET Britons fay, if the happinefs and glory of fheir conftitution at home has been cflablifhed, or their empire ab/oad extended, by policy without probity, by the artifice of (harpers, by the wanton- nefs of wit, by the narrow views of felfilh and mer cenary fpirits ; by men devoid of principles, mo ral*, and religion ; by fribbles, by dancers, and debauchees ; -by well-b^cd courtiers, and flattering -phants ; by expert dealers in ftaall talk, aud the chit coat of ;he day ? Britons fay, if the Graces alone have formed their u^ajr, fough* their battles, gained their vie- vanced tbeir conquiils ? Whether ;ha or SECTION IX. 125 have had any weight in \ I cou!u not vvlHi it woife, ihai: th.-.t iJs i^terclls ar;d 3, C hcrr.e and sbroaJ, migki be conducted by SECTION IX, formed on the plsn ad principled of Lord Chcfter- field. BUT, this notwith (landing, thefe Letters have mat with an uncommon degree of attention And applaufe from the world, have been, and are ftii] read with much avidity ar.4 delight. Yet let me divert for a moment the candid reader's eye from the page of Loi^ Cheftei field, while J afk him thefe few qucili- oas. Da you find y?ur heart bettered by the pc ruf.il ? Are your metals impt&ved ? Are your pafiisns re- Ib-uned or conquered ? Are the vices of nature cor- reeled ? A^e the f.,- ' troubles of life afTaage J er iofieaed ; or the ttirora of death fmcothtd *nJ fmiliag witb peace and comfort ? Does the nob's ' LorJ give you fo much as a philofopliical gra? of 'fintitftent, by opening to yoar orofpeft tije im- mtrjfity of che'prefent fyftern, or lire indefinite pro- greflion of the future ? Does hU Lorrlfhi^'s know ledge of human nature fhew you wherein its mean- rrefs, and therein its gieatnefs coufii^s ; bow to correct an-J r.ife"the *ne, or to Cti!tivs.ie, improve and enh/gs :Le other ? Has the noble Lord explain ed or enforced the facial, the moral, o^ religtoirs da- ties j iniiinud your love to your neighbour, -J'our country or your GOD ? Docs nature adorned by his renal wear a fairer hue ? Or dees virtue in his Lordfhip'i drawing a flume a more lovely form : INSPIRED by his Lcnlihip's public fpn if, are yea willifg to blee"^, :o fuiTtr cr die fcr liberty, for vir tue, and your country ? Or do your hearts S E C T I ON IX, 127 wirhin you, while the Brnjh peer, fired by the ge* nius of ancient Greecean-j Rome, pours in upon you tbe fpirit of patriotifoi in a torrent of eloquence and enthafiafm ? D you find yourfdvea ctifpofed by bis Lordfhip's precepts to pay more reverence and regard jn fim- ,plicjty, fincerity and truth ? Or are your breafta more open t the impulf* of friendship, to cordial benevolence, and an undi/TemhJed love of mankind ? AmidH the various fpeculations raifad from Kfs knowledge of human nature, do you find any calcu lated to remove ycor ignorance, to fupport yoar in firmities, to heal your fickncfs, to dircl the waver ing micd, and to dill the throbbing? of an aching heart ? Do ycu feel your heat s more charmed, ea flamed nnd elevated by the love of fticseJ wifdorn difplaycd'in the woik* of the noble richer ? Do yoa obferve his Lord Hup painting cut to jou, amid ft the vanities of this "life, any real snd moral gorr? ? any fubflanti*!; fu&mc and fovereign happinefs ? Or does^our philof. , from the experienced inenity cf this fllj ivgr/d : diredl your views to new and opening fcanes, to a variety of untried being, wish a future manifeftation of Godkead to difplay his perfections, and vindicate bis prefeat Provi* d-iice f SAY lritns, is a-Jife of difTimnlation, of hy i"ii/, ef ceremony, o&compliment, f lattery a.-ia k - hy ; a life fprdicd te tbr faftiioa of this world, -?,riir f to after SECTION IX. favours of a court ; fry, is this the life worthy of a being b?rn with diflingulfhed moral and intellectual powers, capable of pervading the works of GOD, of conceiving immortal hopes, and imitating the di vine moral perfections ? AMIDST our improvements and growing difcove* rlcs in the natural, the moral and the intellectual fyfterns jamidft t;;e fap^rnatural light of heaven, t*hich hnth difperfed the darknefs that obfcured the nation?, are w ro revert to the principles of Epi- curin ; are we to adopt chance or fortune >r our GOD, 2nd ple?fure and paffion for our guides ? Decs the glory of man con fit! in imitating the beafU that perifh ; in adopting thtir appetites, and wifh- ing and expecting to die their death ? fi this the whole ambition of nobility ? -_To fhine the blaz ing meteors of a moment, and to coRgn tbfir name?* their c (Fence 2nd future profpffts to corruption and f^rgetfulneis ? Are infamy ia life, and the du.l of d^aih the only prerogatives, which man, as a re.v fonable being, was born to inherit ? And what has Jhe r.obie Lojd propofed higher or greater for ths r>l ;cLt of your atfraloment o* afp'r^; Jo'x ? Whit is the 'bir: ''-: the fortune h? poin^ cut to his .e a roalcfa&or draggifd -o 'Kc phce of e>: *cwM"n f he dies hard, becsufe paft ai hopes o l t reru SECTION IX. 129 SAY, Britons ! Sons of reafon, fay, if snudft the awful revolutions, and birtht cf time, and the roa- jeilic prccefs of nature' and pi evidence ; if, in the prefence, and under the adarainiilratioa of an infinite and all-holy GOD, amidit the difappoinfusejus, the vanity, and mifery of life, and imder ihs cer tainty of difTolutioa and of death ; fay, ii " ihi?& il tuated, you can think yourfelves born nieiely for tkc fong and dance to indulge to pjHiou nd pieafure, to knoyy nothing, to do and fufFer nothing, to hope and pciT-fs nothing, but the &bst- lived good of the prefent moment r iJay, is friendship and be- ritVolence, is virtue, liberty, and jour country, a mere name, or a nothing ? Say, if your moral fctl- Ings, the natural cperations of the foul, peace cf coiifciencc, and the terrors of confciots guile ; if the fenuments offages, of philofopkers and legiflators, the dedu&ionscf reafcn, and the :.nflitui.es of religion,, are ell nothing but a iizme ? Say, if life and !eitl3, if time and eterj>i:y, if the apparatus of ..heaven and earth, if GOD, the judge of all, contain or imply nothing refpeSiug you, but the momentary grit lo cations of your fcnfes end paflions, your var/.iy - vice ? Away w: h this folly and i^adr^fi- with xhcfo fond and chiJdifh conr-t-piicni' asd degca^rat^ iVpp'itites I -And let us, u" iiwt for GGD's kke s yet - for our otvn, awake-to the wants cf nature, u the calls of proviJciice, and to ;hc voice "of r^afba cad ie!igiii : let us act, at lean, the oiahiy aud philu- fcphic part ; and for t-he infipid, the gaudy, the ft- ijo SECTION IX. , and difplay the Character of thofe who Sr< ' rJ!cd to bs the Tons of GOD and of glory. WHAT 19 it tlisn that charms you in the page of Lord ChefterfieH* Acknowledge and blufh, whilft yoj acknowledge It, I; is his vanity (looping to, and corresponding with your vanity ; his nobility condcf sending to be your caterer SBO* pioap of p!ea- fure ; his eafy and pliant virtue a (Tinning any (lamp, which the f&duon of tha world is pleafed to imprefs L-pon it ; (littering your palfions, countenancing >ur follies, and indulgent to every corrupt propsrfity of your nature. Yoaare charmed with his Lo id (nip's private anecdotes, feafoced with wit, with ribaldry, snd /canda!, tending to (hade * feme of the onghlcjl -aarnss and charaflers that ever adorned, anJ to de- craft from the guilt and horror of fbrne of the word that ever di'feraced human nature. You are charmed o 2 patrictifni uaembarra(Ted with integrity, con- re, and love of c.yj;;tfy ; and with a peiie&Kfh Devoid cf moral ky- and inward fanclity. * SOME circumEances he mentions 5n the Duke of Marlborough'i youth, were certainly not intended fo derive new honour upon the char&fter 01 ths- H'uC trious general and difHttgaifhed ftaJtefnaan. 'All that Jhe has to fay of Hiatus is, that he was a thief in Macedonia ; he fays 'not much be? f er of Mr. Addi- tyho'n wsj nnd him affscleily fnv in iiner.ticnin^, Of reton'; sirsongft ths Rn^lifn \Q tell us of thv ITI . CDtertair.ri S E C T I O N IX. jj BRITONS, that are parents, dk your own hearts, fuppofing that Lord Chefterfidd's fchcme of educa tion was both poilible sns practicable, and that you could reconcile the ardor of youth with the fagacuy and coo! didimulation of old age : thet you could ' unite in the fanie perfon, the two different chtrsclert of an Adonis and an Ulyfies, of a Paris and a Nsflor, the wiffom and political fcience of a Walfingham, /jr a D.r!cigh, a>d the ambition and lewdneft of a Somerfct, and a Buckingliam : Britcns, who artf parents, af^ your own hea;t, ' whether yen would vvifh your children to be educated on thef.or-d Chef- terfield's plan ; WhctL 4 ?* 1 yo-js \vouM delight to il-e them accompli&ed after iis Eoi l.fclj v r-v.a cf per- ftilion ? Making a figuie and fortune in life at the cxpencc of their innocence, their iategricy ? ue;' fincerity, their liberty and indepeadecce I WcuM it plc^fe you :o fc ih?m exchange the virtues for tb$ graces : A pood confciercc for, a plauf/ble nppear- ancc ? Engliih hontily for Fiench grimace ? Arjd found morals for cx-erjiai and Tiipeificial accompli*^ - irients ? Cou T c yon n^cerely congr?taia?.e youtfclvc 5 as having gained the g.-and point, tvbcn you beheld ycur fans, as me re courtiers, faidiieh p,. prudent and police cebn.uchees, playirr part or t!?e flage'of this fi!;y we/Id, ti with aa hardy indifference what (hc-u'd beccm: of them for ever ? Yr pT-ents and ^?ns of Britain, fpurn :hc Ir.fiii-.. teiopie" frc-tn /cur cs:ljr^ce : he cfljri ' :'es of iV^eJity, taken for <;-antd : and . that the be- :r the infidel i-n point of ar^nrnfn-, vet he ?.-' nr. ^aiis??, he concludes, 25 if diving rru eig16i faich had c^ founda tion or eifir-^^rs in reafon, or the nature of tl;ng\, -rnnt? to SECTION IX. 133 t moral virtus, scd to cancel all moral ofeii* gation. THE genius of Britain is naturally firong and niafculine, great and enterprifing, ferious an 4 thoughtful, difpofed to philofophy, to virtue, to o- penefs, to integrity, to wifdora, to liberty and reli gion. None but an enemy to his country, or one ignorant of its real inter-As, would wifh to unbrace, and polifh away this hafdy and manly fpirit, and to forego thefs native properties and valuable privi leges of our reafonable nature, for fhvery, for fyco- phancy, snd infidelity, for eliU mutation and artifice, for vice, for falfehood .and folly, for a compliment* a cricijge, and a dance. i UPON the whole, "what do t'tefc letters prefent us with, but the pi&ure of a parent without true natu* ral a^Feflion ; of a man devoted to animal paflions ; of a \vit without decency ; of a rncralift without vir tue ; of a fenator without reverence to the laws ; of a patrician without love to his country ; of A flatcf- man without integrity and public afieclion ; of a praOIcal infidel nnd epicurean ; plauGble rather thaa refpehbie ; fpccious rather than virtuous ; gracious . th.nn b?n?f;ccnt ; complaifant net benevolent ; esfy no: happy ; gty ^nd joyous, not ferene or phila* "iijphical ; vain and ofientatious, not great or ekva- trt- i a !;c?nt"jon5 wit, a wanton bufrbon, not the c!-ni.f -?j and fober flatefman ; iludied in the frasJ- an'c 1 m perfection t, but unacquainred with the .tila'-rcd capacities ar;d fublimer endowments of hu- nan nature. ; i (lave to fenfe and ps IS on, but ceai *e triilh and com;o. :;{.1^sl aridfpi* r 3 4 SECTION IX. ritual world ; &]\ve to every vanity of life, but ig norant or infenfible of the prcfent GOD, and all immortal hope j egarly grafping at feathers, at rib* bems, at firings/ at pebbles and fhadows, but cardefs of the mo# important, of moral, of divine, ofcf* feruid and eternal realities*. IF, after aH,-it be faid in defence of Lord Chef- tf rfi*!d, that he wrote not for the public, and that as jfafliamed of his principle* cr precepts he pre- ftfrnsd *r enjoined, that they ihould be preferred in inviolable fecrecy, and that if he dealt i& poifon. it is. only foi his own and his fon's ufe ; this wfi ac knowledge hid been a fufHcicnt excufe and the ftrongcft argument for the non-publication cf this colltdion ; but new that they are fent into the v?crld, ar>d have n!l the ir flue-nee scd authority which the name, the clsara&er and example of Lord Chefiet field can -give them, no spology need be made for sny attempt ^o counterwork their nifchievcus ef fects and operation!, and to awaken the world out of that celufive and unmoral lethargy into wh'ch they si-e'dirofirn by thefe fafcinating Letters. Tp it ihould dill be oHj-f^d thai we have u r cd the roble Lord with too .lit tie ceremony, and have not paid him the refpeft due to his title find quality, we ffpty that t.'uth, virtue a ad religion, the io'.ere(l% the liberties & manli : . r ;^ .-ire great ''^ momentous realities ; in afTsrtlr^ * led a cautious rcfervr, fcrvility, or flattery, we had a- . ; owrd oor fear of. man, wr had betrayed we profff? to uei. j ni?, and had gi-.'en f to vi re,- -by complifiac^tipg the k s A f