reafonable, is always likely to have fome prevalence, it is the duty of every man to take care left he should hinder the efficacy of his own inftructions. When he defires to gain the belief of others, he fhould fhew that he believes himfeif; and when he teaches the fitnefs of virtue by his reafonings, he fhould, by his example, prove it's poffibility: thus much at leaft may be required of him, that he fhall not act worfe than others, becaufe he writes better; nor imagine that, by the merit of his genius, he may claim indulgence beyond mortals of the lower claffes, and be excufed for want of prudence, or neglect of virtue.

Bacon, in his Hiftory of the Winds, after having offered fomething to the imagination as defirable, often propofes lower advantages in it's place to the reafon as attainable.. The fame method may be fometimes pursued in moral endeavours, which this philofopher has obferved in natural enquiries: having firit fet pofitive and absolute excellence before us, we may be pardoned though we fink down to humbler virtue; trying, however, to keep our point always in view, and struggling not to lofe ground, though we cannot gain it.

It is recorded of Sir Matthew Hale, that he for a long time concealed the confecration of himfelf to the stricter duties of religion, left, by fome flagitious and fhameful action, he fhould bring piety into difgrace. For the fame reafon it may be prudent for a writer who apprehends that he shall not enforce his own maxims by his domestick character, to conceal his name, that he may not injure them.

There are, indeed, a great number whofe curiofity to gain a more familiar knowledge of fuccefsful writers is not fo much prompted by an opinion of their power to improve as to delight; and who expect from them not arguments again vice, or differtations on temperance or justice, but flights of wit, and fallies of pleafantry, or, at least, acute remarks, nice diftinctions, juftnefs of fentiment, and elegance of diction.

This expectation is, indeed, fpecious and probable; and yet, fuch is the fate of all human hopes, that it is very often frustrated, and thofe who raife admira

tion by their books, difguft by their company. A man of letters for the moft part fpends, in the privacies of ftudy, that feafon of life in which the manners are to be foftened into eafe, and polished into elegance; and, when he has gained knowledge enough to be refpected, has negle&ted the minuter acts by which he might have pleased. When he enters life, if his temper be foft and timorous, he is diffident and bashful, from the knowledge of his defects; or if he was born with fpirit and refolution, he is ferocious and arrogant, from the confciouinefs of his merit: he is either diffipated by the awe of company, and unable to recollect his reading, and arrange his arguments; or he is hot and dogmatical, quick in oppofition, and tenacious in defence; difabled by his own violence, and confufed by his hatte to triumph.

The graces of writing and converfation are of different kinds; and though he who excels in one might have been with opportunities and application equally fuccefsful in the other, yet as many pleafe by extemporary talk, though utterly unacquainted with the more accurate method, and more laboured beauties, which compofition requires; fo it is very poffible that men, wholly accuftoned to works of ftudy, may be without that readiness of conception, and affluence of language, always neceffary to colloquial entertainment. They may want address to watch the hints which converfation offers for the difplay of their particular attainments, or they may be fo much unfurnished with matter on common fubjects, that difcourfe not profefledly literary glides over them as heterogeneous bodies, without admitting their conceptions to mix in the circulation.

A tranfition from an author's book to his converfation is too often like an entrance into a large city, after a diftant profpect. Remotely, we fee nothing but fpires of temples, and turrets of palaces, and imagine it the residence of fplendour, grandeur, and magnificence; but, when we have pailed the gates, we find it perplexed with narrow paffages, difgraced with defpicable cottages, embarraffed with obftructions, and clouded with smoke.

T

HERE is no grievance, publick or private, of which, fince I took upon me the office of a periodical monitor, I have received fo many, or fo carneft complaints, as of the predominance of play; of a fatal paffion for cards and dice, which feems to have overturned, not only the ambition of excellence, but the defire of pleafure; to have extinguished the flames of the lover, as well as of the patriot ; and threatens, in it's further progrefs, to destroy all diftinctions, both of rank and fex, to crush all emulation but that of fraud, to corrupt all thofe claffes of our people whofe ancestors have, by their virtue, their industry, or their parfimony, given them the power of living in extravagance, idleness, and vice, and to leave them without knowledge, but of the modifh games, and without withes, but for lucky hands.

I have found, by long experience, that there are few enterprizes fo hopelefs as contefts with the fashion; in which the opponents are not only made confident by their numbers, and strong by their union, but are hardened by contempt of their antagonist, whom they always look upon as a wretch of low notions, contracted views, mean converfation, and narrow fortune; who envies the elevations which he cannot reach, who would gladly imbitter the happinefs which his inelegance or indigence deny him to partake, and who has no other end in his advice than to revenge his own mortification by hindering thofe whom their birth and talte have fet above him, from the enjoyment of their fuperiority, and bringing them down to a level with himself.

Though I have never found myself much affected by this formidable cenfure, which I have incurred often enough to be acquainted with it's full force, yet I hall, in fome meafure, obviate it on this occafion, by offering very little in my own name, either of argument or

DRYDEN.

intreaty, fince those who fuffer by this general infatuation may be fuppofed beit able to relate it's effects.

SIR,

THE

HERE feems to be fo little knowledge left in the world, and fo little of that reflection practifed by which knowledge is to be gained, that I am in doubt whether I fhall be understood when I complain of want of opportunity for thinking; or whether a condemnation, which at prefent fecms irreverfible, to perpetual igno'rance, will raise any compaflion either in you or your readers; yet I will venture to lay my ftate before you, becaufe I believe it is natural to moit minds to take fome pleafure in complaining of evils of which they have no reason to be ashamed.

I am the daughter of a man of great fortune, whofe diffidence of mankind, and perhaps the pleafure of continual accumulation, incline him to relide upon his own eftate, and to educate his children in his own houfe, 'where I was bred, if not with the • most brilliant examples of virtue be'fore my eyes, at least remote enough

from any incitements to vice; and 'wanting neither leifure nor books, nor "the acquaintance of fomne perfons of

learning in the neighbourhood, I endeavoured to acquire fuch knowledge " as might molt recommend me to efteem, and thought myfelf able to fupport a converfation upon moft of the fubjects which my fex and condition 'made it proper for me to understand.

I had, belides my knowledge, as my mamma and my maid told me, a very fine face, and elegant shape, and with all these advantages had been feventeen months the reigning toaft for twelve miles round, and never came to the monthly aflembly, but I heard the old ladies that fat by, wishing that it might

• end

end-well, and their daughters criticising " my air, my features, or my drefs.

You know, Mr. Rambler, that am⚫bition is natural to youth, and curiofity to understanding; and therefore I will hear, without wonder, that I was defirous to extend my victories over 'those who might give more honour to the conqueror; and that I found in a country life a continual repetition of the fame pleasures, which was not fuf'ficient to fill up the mind for the fent, or raife any expectations of the future; and I will confefs to you, that I was impatient for a fight of the town, and filled my thoughts with the difcoveries which I fhould make, the triumphs that I should obtain, and the praifes that I should receive.

pre

At last the time came. My aunt, whofe husband has a feat in parliament, and a place at court, buried her only child, and fent for me to fupply the lofs. The hope that I fhould fo far infinuate myself into their favour, as to obtain a confiderable augmentation of my fortune, procured me every convenience for my departure, with great expedition; and I could not, amidst all my tranfports, forbear fome indignation to fee with what readiness the natural guardians of my virtue fold me to a state which they thought more ha⚫zardous than it really was, as foon as a new acceffion of fortune glittered in their eyes.

Three days I was upon the road, and on the fourth morning my heart danced at the fight of London. I was fet down at my aunt's, and entered upon the scene of action. I expected now, from the age and experience of my aunt, fome prudential leffons; but, after the first civilities and firft tears were over, was told what pity it was to have kept fo fine a girl so long in the country; for the people who did not begin young, feldom dealt their cards handfomely, or played them tolerably.

Young perfons are commonly inclined to flight the remarks and counfels of their elders. I fimiled, perhaps, 'with too much contempt, and was upon the point of telling her that my time had not been part in fuch trivial attainments. But I foon found that things are to be eflimated, not by the importance of their effects, but the frequency of their ufe,

A few days after, my aunt gave me notice, that fomne company, which the had been fix weeks in collecting, was to meet that evening, and the expected a finer affembly than had been feen all the winter. She expreffed this in the jargon of a gamefter; and, when I asked an explication of her terms of art,wondered where I had lived. I had already found my aunt fo incapable of any rational conclufion, and fo ignorant of every thing, whether great or little, that I had loft all regard to her opinion, and dreffed myfelf with great expectations of an opportunity to difplay my charms ⚫ among rivals whose competition would not difhonour me. The company came in, and after the curfory compliments of falutation, alike eafy to the loweft and the higheft understanding, what was the refult? The cards were broke open, the partics were formed, the whole night passed in a game upon which the young and old were equally employed: nor was I able to attract an eye, or gain an ear; but being compelled to play without skill, I perpetually embarraffed my partner, and foon perceived the contempt of the whole table gathering upon me.

I cannot but fufpect, Sir, that this odious fashion is produced by a confpiracy of the old, the ugly, and the ignorant, against the young and beautiful, the witty and the gay, as a contrivance to level all dittinctions of nature and of art; to confound the world in a chaos of folly, to take from thofe who could outfhine them all the advantages of mind and body, to withhold youth from it's natural pleasures, deprive wit of it's influence, and beauty of it's charms, to fix thofe hearts 6 upon money, to which love has hitherto been entitled, to fink life into a tedious uniformity, and to allow it no other hopes or fears but thofe of robbing and being robbed.

VEXATION will burft my heart, if I do not give it vent. As you publish a Paper, I infift upon it, that you infert this in your next, as ever you hope for the kindnefs and encouragement of any woman of tafte, fpirit, and virtue. I would have it publifhed to the world, how deferving wives are ufed by imperious coxcombs, that thenceforth no woman may marry who has not the patience of Grizzel. Nay, • if even Grizzel had been married to a gamefter, her temper would never have held out. A wretch that lofes his goodhumour and humanity along with his money, and will not allow enough from his own extravagances to fupport a woman of fashion in the neceflary • amufements of life! Why does not he employ his wife head to make a figure in parliament, raife an eftate, and get < a title? That would be fitter for the mafter of a family, than rattling a * noify dice-box; and then he might indulge his wife in a few flight expences and elegant diversions.

What if I was unfortunate at Brag? -Should he not have stayed to fee how luck would turn another time? Inftead of that, what does he do, but picks a quarrel, upbraids me with

at nurse in villages as cheap as any two little brats can be kept, nor have I ever feen them fince; fo he has no trouble about them. The fervants live at board-wages. My own dinners come from the Thatched Houfe; and I have never paid a penny for any thing I have bought fince I was 'married. As for play, I do think I may, indeed, indulge in that, now I am my own iniftrefs. Papa made me drudge at Whift till I was tired of it; and, far from wanting a head, Mr. Hoyle, when he had not given me a'bove forty leffons, faid I was one of his beft fcholars. I thought then with myself, that, if once I was at liberty, I would leave play, and take to reading romances, things fo forbidden at our house, and fo railed at, that it was impoffible not to fancy them very charming. Moft unfortunately, to fave me from abfolute undutifulness, juft as I was married, came dear Brag into fashion, and ever 'fince it has been the joy of my life; fo eafy, fo cheerful and carelefs, fo void of thought, and fo genteel! Who can help loving it? Yet the perfidious thing has ufed me very ill of late, and to-morrow I should have changed it for Faro. But, oh! this deteftable to-morrow, a thing always expected, and never found. Within thefe few hours must I be dragged into the country. The

tance, ridicules my play, and infults

my understanding; fays, for footh, that women have not heads enough to play with any thing but dolls, and that they fhould be employed in things proportionable to their underftanding, keep at home, and mind fa⚫mily affairs.

<

I do stay at home, Sir; and all the world knows I am at home every Sunday. I have had fix routes this winter, and fent out ten packs of cards in invitations to private parties. As for management, I am fure he cannot call me extravagant, or fay I do not mind my family. The children are out

threatenings had occafioned, and un'mercifully ordered a post-chaife. Stay I cannot, for money I have none, and 'credit I cannot get-But I will make the monkey play with me at piquet upon the road for all I want. I am almost fure to beat him, and his debts of honour I know he will pay. Then who can tell but I may ftill come back and conquer Lady Packer? Sir, you 'need not print this last scheme; and, upon fecond thoughts, you may.Oh, diftraction! the poft-chaife is at the door. Sir, publish what you will, only let it be printed without a 'name.'

N° XVI.

Juv.

· SIR,

I Am the modeft young man whom you favoured with your advice in a late paper; and, as I am very far from fufpecting that you forefaw the numberlefs inconveniences which I have, by following it, brought upon myfelf, I will lay my condition open before you, for you feem bound to extricate me from the perplexities in which your counsel, however innocent in the intention, has contributed to involve me.

You told me, as your thought, to my comfort, that a writer might eafily find means of introducing his genius to the world, for the preffes of England were 4 open. This I have now fatally experienced; the prefs is, indeed, open.

6

4

The means of doing hurt to ourfelves are always at hand. I immediately fent to a printer, and contracted with him for an impreffion of feveral thousands of my pamphlet. While it was at the prefs, I was feldom absent from the printing-houfe; and continually urged the workinen to hatte, by felicitations, promifes, and rewards. From the day all other pleafures were 'excluded, by the delightful employment of correcting the fheets; and from the night fleep generally was banifhed, by anticipations of the happinefs which every hour was bringing

4

nearer.

At laft, the time of publication approached, and my heart beat with the raptures of an author. I was above all little precautions; and, in defiance of envy or of criticifm, fet my name

upon the title, without fufficiently confidering, that what has once paffed the prefs is irrevocable; and that, though

.

*

DRYDEN.

the printing-houfe may properly be compared to the infernal regions for the facility of it's entrance, and the difficulty with which authors return from it; yet there is this difference, that a great genius can never return to his former ftate by a happy draught of the waters of oblivion.

my

I am now, Mr. Rambler, known to be an author; and am condemned, irreverfibly condemned, to all the miferies of high reputation. The first morning after publication my friends • affembled about are; I prefented each, as is ufual, with a Copy of book: they looked into the first pages; but were hindered, by their admiration, from reading farther. The first pages are, indeed, very elaborate. Some paffages they particularly dwelt upon, as more eminently beautiful than the reft; and fome delicate ftrokes, and fecret elegancies, I pointed out to them, which had efcaped their obfervation. I then begged of them to forbear their compliments; and invited them, I could do no lefs, to dine with me at a tavern. After dinner, the book was refumed; but their praifes very often fo much overpowered my modęity, that I was forced to put about the glafs, and had often no means of repreffing the clamours of their admiration, but by thundering to the drawer for another bottle.

Next morning another fet of my acquaintance congratulated me upon my performance with fuch importunity of praife, that I was again forced to obviate their civilities by a treat. On the third day, I had yet a greater number of applauders to put to filence in the fame manner; and, on the fourth, thofe whom I had entertained the first day came again, having, in the perufal of the remaining part of the book, difcovered fo many forcible fentences and mafterly touches, that it was impoffible for me to bear the repetition of their commendations: I therefore perfuaded them once more to adjourn to

the