member is, in fome measure, actuated by industry and frugality. No man ever yet exerted himself to the utmolt of his ftrength; nor is it on record, that any ftate was ever yet fo exhaufted, but that, while it enjoyed liberty, it night draw new refources from its own vitals. Though the tree is lopped, yet, fo long as the root remains unhurt, it will throw out a greater luxuriancy of branches, produce fruit of better flavour, and derive fresh vigour from the axe. If one has accidentally dif turbed an ant-hill, or broken the fabric of the hive, though the little animals appeared before to have exerted their utmost efforts, yet it is amazing, with what additional diligence they apply themselves to repair the depredation. Not a moment is allowed for defpondency. The earth and the air glow with motion, and the misfortune feems immediately to add to their fpirits, and ultimately both to their ftore and security.

The beautiful defcription which Virgil has given us of the bufy fcene in which the Tyrians are engaged in building Carthage, reprefents, in a moft lively manner, the alacrity with which human creatures are found to exert themselves, when inftigated by the ftimulus of neceffity. An emulation of labour feizes every bofom. No murmuring, no complainings in the freet, but every one feels himself happy, in proportion as he renders himfelf ufeful. Mens abilities rife with the occafion; and political evil, like other evil, under the conduct of a merciful deity, has produced extenfive good, by calling forth fome of the nobleft exertions, and moft perfect characters which have adorned the records of human nature.

There is one beneficial effect of national adverfity, of greater importance than any which I have enumerated. It fubdues the haughty foul elevated with riches, and inebriated with excess, and turns the attention to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who, from His throne, beholds all nations, and bids the fceptre to depart from the wicked to the righteous. It teaches us to rely lefs upon our German auxiliaries, our mufquets, our mortars, our cannon, our copper-bottomed men of war, our generals, and our admirals, than on the Lord of Hofts.

When

When he fights for us we fhall conquer. Without him, we fhall in vain put our truft in a Burgoyne, a Keppel, or a Cornwallis; but "the ball of empire fhall "continue to roll on weftward as it has ever yet done, "till it flops in America, a world unknown to the an"tients, and which may fave the tears of fome future "Alexander."

If Providence fhall have decreed the downfall of Britifh fupremacy, happy fhould I be to have fuggefted one idea which stimulate the exertions of my countrymay men, once more to raise the noble column on the bafis of liberty and virtue; or which may confole them on its ruins, and teach them, while they fit by the waters of bitterness, and hang their harps on the willow, to think of Him who can make rivers of comfort to flow in the dreary defert.

No. CXXVIII. ON SOME OF THE FALSE

PRETENSIONS AND

THE ARTFUL AND

NOTWITHSTANDING

IMPOSITIONS OF AVARICIOUS.

OTWITHSTANDING the pretenfions of religion, philofophy, and education, the greater part of mankind appears to be restrained in their actual conduct by few efficient principles, but those which are dictated by a regard to intereft. To the love of gain, and the weaknets or want of principles, it must be imputed, that every occupation and department of life abounds with impofture. A mafque is eafily put on. Appearances are, indeed, far more eafily affumed than realities; and they are often more fuccefsful and more plaufible; for the edifice of him, who employs all his · time and attention in gilding, painting, and carving the front, will much fooner attract the notice and applause of the paffenger, than that of him who has been folicitous only about the ftrength of the beam, and the massy firmness of the foundation.

So powerful are the inftigations of avarice, and fo easy is it to deceive the young, the fimple, the innocent,

and

and unfuspecting, that the intercourse among mankind would have been one uniform commerce of deceit, if it had not fortunately happened, that the fame want of principle and fuperfluity of felfishness, which led the deceivers to impofe upon mankind, induced them alfo to betray the arts of each other. Rival cheats, in the fury of jealous competition, have difcovered the fecrets of the juggling art, and opened the eyes of the deluded obfervers.

But, as there is always a rifing generation unacquainted with the fnares of the deceitful, nets and traps are ftill laid wherever there is a probability of prey. It becomes thofe then, who have seen many of the arts of life, to let others profit by their experience, and prevent the generous game from falling into the hands of the mercenary poacher.

It may be prefcribed as a rule which will not often fail in the application, that where extraordinary pretenfions are made, either in the manual arts, the trades, or the profeffions, there is juft ground for caution and fufpicion. Solid merit, and real excellence of every kind, ufually confide in their own power of recommending themfelves, while ignorance, and fuperficial skill, naturally endeavour to enfnare by cunning, what they cannot earn by defert. There is a delicacy and fpirit attendant on real worth and ingenuity, which had rather be without fuccefs, than attain it by artifice and arrogant pretenfion.

The prudent and experienced are generally on their guard against thofe numerous adventurers, who rely for fuccefs on advertisements in the public papers. If there is any difference between the niercer, haberdasher, or wine-merchant, who advertises his goods, and him who does not, it is, that the advertiser fells, at a dearer price, a worfe commodity. His fhop is a kind of trap, the bait is pretended cheapnefs; and many a young bird is caught with the chaff of a bargain. A wife man will take care not to lay out his money when things are to ⚫ be fold at prime coft, and under prime coft, and twenty per cent. cheaper than the reft of the trade. Beware of thofe generous fpirits, who fell their property, or their industry, pro publico bono; beware, as you value

your

your health and your life, of those who will cure you of all difeafes with a five fhilling pill box; beware of being poifoned by the vintner, who promises you neat as imported; which words being interpreted, fignify a liquor in which not a drop of grape juice, or foreign fpirits, is to be found. Beware of your purfe and your credulity, when you are offered to be taught more. of the languages and sciences by a new method, in fix months, fix weeks, or fix hours, than those who prefide over schools can teach in six or fixteen years. Beware of a thousand artful tricks which are displayed in the newspapers, and which the deceitful heart of man contrives, as the spider weaves his web, to catch those who are unfufpecting, because they are innocent. The trua meaning of all pompous pretences, and inviting advertisements is, that their authors being diftreffed, and, probably, deftitute both of character, friends, and merit, find an eafy mode of fupplying the defect, by digging pitfalls for the unwary, with whom the world nuft always abound, at the expence of a few fhillings for every fnare. Such, indeed, is the credulity of mankind, that many a quack, and pretender has poffeffed an estate in the corner of a newfpaper, equal to large freeholds of dirty acres.

There are few departments in which more inftances of deception occur, than in the lower walks of literature. It happens, that they who are to be mechanically inftrumental in diffeminating fcience and philofophy, and all the productions of human wit, conftitute a very numerous body, confifting of many members in extreme indigence, from the author, by trade, down to the bookbinder and the devil. Employment must be provided for them all, or both they and their families muft want bread. The prefs muft, therefore, be conftantly in motion; but what is to fupply it? A very few preffes would be fufficient to prepare for the public view all productions really new and neceffary. Compilations are formed under a thousand fhapes and difguifes; and men of ftraw, adorned with Doctors Degrees, and the dignity of Fellows of the Royal Society, are created by the fiat of the adventurous publisher, and ftand forth as the renowned authors, in all the dignity of a title page.

From

From these powerful men in buckram iffue grand and Imperial Bibles, new Systems of Geography, Hiftories of England, and Collections of Voyages, with a permiffion to read the first number, and return it if not approved, and a promiffory note, generously engaging. that all numbers, exceeding a certain amount, fhall be given gratis. But if any deceit can be excufed, perhaps it is fuch an one as this, which feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and communicates much entertaining and useful knowledge among the poor. I wish as good an apology could be made for those who are impelled, by avarice rather than want, to deceive the public; to bring out, with all the pomp of announcing advertisements, new editions of books, in which nothing has been reprinted but the title, to injure the character and fale of a work whenever the ingenious author prints it on his own account; and to practise all thofe mean and bafe arts which are comprehended in the fignificant, but cant, appellations of puffery and tricks in trade. Many a mean mind will perhaps take umbrage at these remarks; but I have long ago refolved to bear with patience, in the caufe of truth, all the malice of her enemies.

There are those who call fuch arts as thefe, innocent frauds; but it is well remarked by a very found moralift, that no frauds are innocent; because they destroy the confidence of fociety, on which our happinefs and convenience in every part of our intercourfe with each other, greatly depend." I will venture to add, that he who will cheat without remorfe in one thing, will cheat in another whenever he can do it with equal fecrecy and impunity. Though tricks in trade, or the deceitful myfteries of a profeffion, may enable a man to raise a capital houfe of business, to be in a great way, or to become a good man, as the phrases are in the city, yet they can never be compatible with common honesty, nor render him more truly refpectable, than the humbler adventurer who actually invades your fob, or rifles your pocket.

No.