this may appear to be, it was the practice of the beft ancient critics. And, befides abridging my own labour, it will much abridge that of others: For I myself, led to think favourably of a book by a fair character in an old Review, have made a tedious and fruitless search for it in both public and private libraries. Secondly, For the most part I will give my opinion in the way of specimen and extract only. I reluctantly cenfure an affociation of men who have fo often, and jo juftly, deferved well of mankind; but at all times I muft fpeak truth. And I am forced to fay, that my brethren, in criticising various departments of Literature, have written fuch good sentences of their own, as frequently to lead both themfelves and their readers quite away from the book they were giving an account of. This, to be fure, as Pope faid of his own Paftorals, though it is not criticism, is fomething better; but my modefty will not allow me to attempt it.

As a little poetry is thought necessary in works of this kind, I fhall referve my fifth department for the productions of the Female Mufe. In this article I am exceffively nice and delicate. My car is naturally good, and my understanding as yet undebauched. At the fame time I must confefs, that what we find in the multitude of Mifcellanies, which daily come abroad, is poetry

highly feafoned and refined; and were I well affured of the fex of the authors, I would not he- : fitate to admit it into mine. But as this is doubtful, I fhall only propofe it as an excellent model to all my correspondents.

My fixth and laft department I intend to make the largest, and my endeavours shall not be wanting to make it the most useful. It is wholly to confift of Freethinking. A thousand times have I been grieved to the foul, to think that that religion which emancipates the human mind from folly and prejudice, that religion which M. de Voltaire justly ftiles the mild, the benevolent, the unperfecuting, should in a great measure be confined to the moft worthlefs of the human race, whose lives difcredit their profeffion; of whom many, though they have not been perfecuted for their opinions, have yet suffered for their crimes. Human laws, ever unmerciful, and I may add unjust, to punish those for their actions, who have deferved rewards for the benevolence and freedom of their thoughts! In the fincerity of my heart, I hope none of the fair fex will think rashly of my endeavours, fince I wish to convert them to a new religion, merely that they may do honour to it. Left I should be fufpected of vanity, which of all weakneffes I hate the moft, I fhall VOL. II.

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fay

say nothing more, than that I intend to give to each number an engraving, of some woman who has diftinguished, or who may distinguish herfelf, either by her actions or her writings.

I am, SIR,

Your humble fervant,

PROJECTOR LITERARIUS.

N° 61. SATURDAY, April 1. 1786.

IN treating of the moral duties which apply to

different relations of life, men of humanity and feeling have not forgotten to mention those which are due from Mafters to Servants. Nothing indeed can be more natural than the attachment and regard to which the faithful fervices of our domestics are entitled; the connection grows up, like all the other family-charities, in early life, and is only extinguished by those corruptions which blunt the others, by pride, by folly, by dif fipation, or by vice.

I hold it indeed as the fure fign of a mind not poised as it ought to be, if it is infenfible to the pleasures of home, to the little joys and endearments of a family, to the affection of relations, to the fidelity of domeftics. Next to being well with his own confcience, the friendship and attachment of a man's family and dependents feems to me one of the most comfortable circumstances in his lot. His fituation with regard to either, forms that fort of bofom comfort or difquiet that sticks close to him at all times and feafons, and which, though

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though he may now and then forget it amidst the bustle of public, or the hurry of active life, will refume its place in his thoughts, and its permanent effects on his happiness, at every pause of

ambition or of business.

In fituations and with difpofitions fuch as mine, there is perhaps less merit in feeling the benevo·lent attachment to which I allude, than in those of perfons of more bustling lives, and more diffi pated attentions. To the Lounger, the home which receives him from the indifference of the circles in which he fometimes loiters his time, is naturally felt as a place of comfort and protection; and an elderly man-fervant, whom I think I govern quietly and gently, but who perhaps quietly and gently governs me, I naturally regard as a tried and valuable friend. Few people will perhaps perfectly understand the feeling I experience when I knock at my door, after any occafional abfence, und hear the hurried step of Peter on the ftairs; when I fee the glad face with which he receives me, and the look of honeft joy with which he pats Cæfar (a Pomeranian dog who attends me in all my excurfions) on the head, as if to mark his kind of reception of him too; when he tells me he knew my rap, makes his modeft inquiries after my health, opens the door of my room, which he has arranged for my re

ception,