titude, and confidence; the friend of Serenus displayed his prospects, and counted over the sums of which he should infallibly be master The consequence of his flight was the ruin of before the day of payment. Serenus in a short Candidus: ruin surely undeserved and irretime began to find his danger, but could not pre-proachable, and such as the laws of a just vail with himself to repent of beneficence: and government ought either to prevent or repair; therefore suffered himself still to be amused with nothing is more inequitable than that one man projects which he durst not consider, for fear of should suffer for the crimes of another, for crimes finding them impracticable. The debtor, after which he neither prompted nor permitted, which he had tried every method of raising money he could neither foresee nor prevent. When we which art or indigence could prompt, wanted consider the weakness of human resolutions and either fidelity or resolution to surrender himself the inconsistency of human conduct, it must apto prison, and left Serenus to take his place. pear absurd that one man shall engage for another, that he will not change his opinions or alter his conduct.

was in danger; there was now no other conten- difference; but an inhabitant of the remoter tion but who should first seize upon his person, parts of the kingdom is immediately distinguishand by forcing immediate payment, deliver him uped by a kind of dissipated curiosity, a busy ennaked to the vengeance of the rest. In pursu-deavour to divide his attention amongst a thou ance of this scheme, one of them invited him to sand objects, and a wild confusion of astonisha tavern, and procured him to be arrested at the ment and alarm. door; but Lentulus, instead of endeavouring secretly to pacify him by payment, gave notice to the rest, and offered to divide amongst them the remnant of his fortune: they feasted six hours at his expense, to deliberate on his proposal: and at last determined that as he could not offer more than five shillings in the pound, it would be more prudent to keep him in prison, till he could procure from his relations the payment of his debts.

The attention of a new comer is generally first struck by the multiplicity of cries that stun him in the streets, and the variety of merchandise and manufactures which the shopkeepers expose on every hand; and he is apt, by unwary bursts of admiration, to excite the merriment and contempt of those who mistake the use of their eyes for effects of their understanding, and confound accidental knowledge with just reasoning.

Lentulus is not the only man confined within But, surely, these are subjects on which any these walls, on the same account; the like pro-man may without reproach employ his medita cedure, upon the like motives, is common among tions: the innumerable occupations, among men whom yet the law allows to partake the use which the thousands that swarm in the streets of fire and water with the compassionate and the of London are distributed, may furnish employjust; who frequent the assemblies of commerce ment to minds of every cast, and capacities o. in open day, and talk with detestation and con- every degree. He that contemplates the extent tempt of highwaymen or housebreakers: but, of this wonderful city, finds it difficult to consurely, that man must be confessedly robbed, ceive, by what method plenty is maintained in who is compelled, by whatever means, to pay our markets, and how the inhabitants are reguthe debts which he does not owe: nor can I look larly supplied with the necessaries of life; but with equal hatred upon him, who, at the hazard when he examines the shops and warehouses, of his life, holds out his pistol and demands my sees the immense stores of every kind of mer purse, as on him who plunders under shelter of chandise piled up for sale, and runs over all the the law, and by detaining my son or my friend manufactures of art and products of nature, in prison, extorts from me the price of their which are every where attracting his eye and liberty. No man can be more an enemy to soci-soliciting his purse, he will be inclined to conety than he, by whose machinations our virtues clude, that such quantities cannot easily be exare turned to our disadvantage; he is less de-hausted, and that part of mankind must soon structive to mankind that plunders cowardice, than he that preys upon compassion.

I believe, Mr. Adventurer, you will readily confess, that though not one of these, if tried before a commercial judicature, can be wholly acquitted from imprudence or temerity; yet that, in the eye of all who can consider virtue as distinct from wealth, the fault of two of them, at least, is outweighed by the merit; and that of the third is so much extenuated by the circumstances of his life, as not to deserve a perpetual prison: yet must these, with multitudes equally blameless, languish in confinement, till malevolence shall relent, or the law be changed. I am, Sir, your humble servant.

No. 67.]

MISARGYRUS.

VIRG.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1753. Inventas-vitam excoluere, per artes. They polish life by useful arts. THAT familiarity produces neglect, has been long observed. The effect of all external objects, however great or splendid, ceases with their novelty; the courtier stands without emotion in the royal presence; the rustic tramples under his foot the beauties of the spring with little attention to their colours or their fragrance; and the inhabitant of the coast darts his eye upon the immense diffusion of waters, without awe, wonder, or terror.

Those who have passed much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with cold in

stand still for want of employment, till the wares already provided shall be worn out and destroyed. As Socrates was passing through the fair at Athens, and casting his eyes over the shops and customers "how many things are here," says he, "that I do not want!" The same sentiment is every moment rising in the mind of him that walks the streets of London, however inferior in philosophy to Socrates; he beholds a thousand shops crowded with goods, of which he can scarcely tell the use, and which, therefore, he is apt to consider as of no value: and, indeed, many of the arts by which families are supported, and wealth is heaped together, are of that minute and superfluous kind, which nothing but experience could evince possible to be prosecuted with advantage, and which, as the world might easily want, it could scarcely be expected to encourage.

But so it is, that custom, curiosity, or wantonness, supplies every art with patrons, and finds purchasers for every manufacture; the world is so adjusted, that not only bread, but riches may be obtained without great abilities or arduous performances; the most unskilful hand and unenlightened mind have sufficient incitements to industry; for he that is resolutely busy can scarcely be in want. There is, indeed, no employment, however despicable, from which a man may not promise himself more than competence, when he sees thousands and myriads raised to dignity, by no other merit than that of contributing to supply their neighbours with the means of sucking smoke through a tube of clay; and others raising contributions upon those, whose elegance disdains the grossness of smoky luxury, by grinding the same materials into a

powder that may at once gratify and impair the smell.

Not only by these popular and modish trifles, but by a thousand unheeded and evanescent kinds of business, are the multitudes of this city, preserved from idleness, and consequently from want. In the endless variety of tastes and circumstances that diversify mankind, nothing is so superfluous, but that some one desires it: or so common, but that some one is compelled to buy it. As nothing is useless but because it is in improper hands, what is thrown away by one is gathered up by another: and the refuse of part of mankind furnishes a subordinate class with the materials necessary to their support.

sil must be endured, or by what awkward expedients it must be supplied, how far men may wander with money in their hands before any can sell them what they wish to buy, will know how to rate at its proper value the plenty and case of a great city.

But that the happiness of man may still remain imperfect, as wants in this place are easily supplied, new wants likewise are easily created; every man in surveying the shops of London, sees numberless instruments and conveniences, of which, while he did not know them, he, never felt the need; and yet, when use has made them familiar, wonders how life could be supported without them. Thus it comes to pass, that our desires always increase with our possessions; the knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed, impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.

When I look round upon those who are thus variously exerting their qualifications, I cannot but admire the secret concatenation of society that links together the great and the mean, the They who have been accustomed to the refineillustrious and the obscure; and consider with ments of science, and multiplications of contribenevolent satisfaction, that no man, unless his vance, soon lose their confidence in the unassistbody or mind be totally disabled, has need to cd powers of nature, forget the paucity of our real suffer the mortification of seeing himself useless necessities, and overlook the easy methods by or burdensome to the community: he that will dili- which they may be supplied. It were a specugently labour, in whatever occupation, will de-lation worthy of a philosophical mind, to examine serve the sustenance which he obtains, and the protection which he enjoys and may lie down every night with the pleasing consciousness of having contributed something to the happiness of life.

Contempt and admiration are equally incident to narrow minds: he whose comprehension can take in the whole subordination of mankind, and whose perspicacity can pierce to the real state of things through the thin veils of fortune or of fashion, will discover meanness in the highest stations, and dignity in the meanest; and find that no man can become venerable but by virtue, or contemptible but by wickedness.

In the midst of this universal hurry, no man ought to be so little influenced by example, or so void of honest emulation, as to stand a lazy spectator of incessant labour; or please himself with the mean happiness of a drone, while the active swarms are buzzing about him; no man is without some quality, by the due application of which he might deserve well of the world; and whoever he be that has but little in his power, should be in haste to do that little, lest he be confounded with him that can do nothing.

By this general concurrence of endeavours, arts of every kind have been so long cultivated, that all the wants of man may be immediately supplied; idleness can scarcely form a wish which she may not gratify by the toil of others, or curiosity dream of a toy, which the shops are not ready to afford her.

Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary: we who have long lived amidst the conveniences of a town immensely populous, have scarce an idea of a place where desire cannot be gratified by money. In order to have a just sense of this artificial plenty, it is necessary to have passed some time in a distant colony, or those parts of our island which are thinly inhabited: he that has once known how many trades every man in such situations is compelled to exercise, with how much labour the products of nature must be accommodated to human use, how long the loss or defect of any common uten

how much is taken away from our native abilities, as well as added to them, by artificial expedients. We are so accustomed to give and receive assistance, that each of us singly can do little for himself; and there is scarce any one among us, however contracted may be his form of life, who does not enjoy the labour of a thousand artists.

But a survey of the various nations that inhabit the earth will inform us, that life may be supported with less assistance; and that the dexterity, which practice enforced by necessity produces, is able to effect much by very scanty means. The nations of Mexico and Peru erected cities and temples without the use of iron; and at this day the rude Indian supplies himself with all the necessaries of life: sent like the rest of mankind naked into the world, as soon as his parents have nursed him up to strength, he is to provide by his own labour for his own support. His first care is to find a sharp flint among the rocks; with this he undertakes to fell the trees of the forest; he shapes his bow, heads his arrows, builds his cottage, and hollows his canoe, and from that time lives in a state of plenty and prosperity; he is sheltered from the storms, he is fortified against beasts of prey, he is enabled to pursue the fish of the sea, and the deer of the mountains; and as he does not know, does not envy the happiness of polished nations, where gold can supply the want of fortitude and skill, and he whose laborious ancestors have made him rich, may lie stretched upon a couch, and see all the treasures of all the elements poured down before him.

This picture of a savage life, if it shows how much individuals may perform, shows likewise how much society is to be desired. Though the perseverance and address of the Indian excite our admiration, they nevertheless cannot procure him the conveniences which are enjoyed by the vagrant beggar of a civilized country: he hunts like a wild beast to satisfy his hunger: and when he lies down to rest after a successful chase, cannot pronounce himself secure against the danger of perishing in a few days; he is, perhaps, content with his condition, because he knows n

that a better is attainable by man; as he that is | sition of advantage, but perhaps without endea born blind does not long for the perception of vours after it, in the formation of schemes that light, because he cannot conceive the advan-cannot be executed, and in the contemplation of tages which light would afford him; but hun- prospects which cannot be approached. ger, wounds, and weariness are real evils, though Such is the general dream in which we all he believes them equally incident to all his fel-slumber out our time: every man thinks the day low-creatures; and when a tempest compels coming, in which he shall be gratified with all him to lie starving in his hut, he cannot justly his wishes, in which he shall leave all those combe concluded equally happy with those whom petitors behind, who are now rejoicing like himart has exempted from the power of chance, and self in the expectation of victory; the day is alwho make the foregoing year provide for the ways coming to the servile in which they shall following. be powerful, to the obscure in which they shall be eminent, and to the deformed in which they shall be beautiful.

To receive and to communicate assistance, constitutes the happiness of human life; man may, indeed, preserve his existence in solitude, If any of my readers has looked with so little but can enjoy it only in society; the greatest un-attention on the world about him, as to imagine derstanding of an individual doomed to procure food and clothing for himself, will barely supply him with expedients to keep off death from day to day; but as one of a large community performing only his share of the common business, he gains leisure for intellectual pleasures, and enjoys the happiness of reason and reflection.

No. 69.]

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1753.

this representation exaggerated beyond probabi lity, let him reflect a little upon his own life; let him consider what were his hopes and prospects ten years ago, and what additions he then expected to be made by ten years to his happiness: those years are now elapsed; have they made good the promise that was extorted from them, have they advanced his fortune, enlarged his knowledge, or reformed his conduct, to the degree that was once expected? I am afraid every man that recollects his hopes must confess his disappointment; and own that day has glided unprofitably after day, and that he is still at the same distance from the point of happiness.

With what consolations can those, who have thus miscarried in their chief design, elude the memory of their ill-success? with what amusements can they pacify their discontent, after the

Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt. CESAR. Men willingly believe what they wish to be true. TULLY has long ago observed, that no man however weakened by long life, is so conscious of his own decrepitude, as not to imagine that he may yet hold his station in the world for ano-loss of so large a portion of life? They can give ther year. themselves up again to the same delusions, they Of the truth of this remark every day furnishes can form new schemes of airy gratifications, and new confirmation: there is no time of life, infix another period of felicity; they can again rewhich men for the most part seem less to expect the stroke of death, than when every other eye sees it impending; or are more busy in providing for another year, than when it is plain to all but themselves, that at another year they cannot arrive. Though every funeral that passes before their eyes evinces the deceitfulness of such expectations, since every man who is borne to the grave thought himself equally certain of living at least to the next year; the survivor still continues to flatter himself, and is never at a loss for some reason why his life should be protracted, and the voracity of death continue to be pacified with some other prey.

solve to trust the promise which they know will be broken, they can walk in a circle with their eyes shut, and persuade themselves to think that they go forward.

Of every great and complicated event, part depends upon causes out of our power, and part must be effected by vigour and perseverance. With regard to that which is styled in common language the work of chance, men will always find reasons for confidence or distrust, according to their different tempers or inclinations; and he that has been long accustomed to please himself with possibilities of fortuitous happiness, will not easily or willingly be reclaimed from his But this is only one of the innumerable artifices mistake. But the effects of human industry and practised in the universal conspiracy of mankind skill are more easily subjected to calculation; against themselves; every age and every condi-whatever can be completed in a year, is divisible tion indulges some darling fallacy; every man into parts, of which each may be performed in amuses himself with projects which he knows to the compass of a day; he, therefore, that has be improbable, and which, therefore, he resolves passed the day without attention to the task asto pursue without daring to examine them. signed him, may be certain, that the lapse of life Whatever any man ardently desires, he very has brought him no nearer to his object; for readily believes that he shall some time attain: whatever idleness may expect from time, its prohe whose intemperance has overwhelmed him duce will be only in proportion to the diligence with diseases, while he languishes in the spring, with which it has been used. He that floats laexpects vigour and recovery from the summerzily down the stream, in pursuit of something sun; and while he melts away in the summer, transfers his hopes to the frosts of winter: he that gazes upon elegance or pleasure, which want of money hinders him from imitating or partaking, comforts himself that the time of distress will soon be at an end, and that every day brings him nearer to a state of happiness; though he knows it has passed not only without acqui

borne along by the same current, will find himself indeed move forward; but unless he lays his hand to the oar, and increases his speed by his own labour, must be always at the same distance from that which he is following.

There have happened in every age some contingencies of unexpected and undeserved success, by which those who are determined to be

probability; since, after his utmost endeavours to ascertain events, he must often leave the issue in the hands of chance. And so scanty is our present allowance of happiness, that in many situations life could scarcely be supported, if hope were not allowed to relieve the present hour by

lieve whatever favours their inclinations, have been encouraged to delight themselves with future advantages; they support confidence by considerations, of which the only proper use is to chase away despair: it is equally absurd to sit down in idleness because some have been enriched without labour, as to leap a precipice be-pleasures borrowed from futurity; and reanicause some have fallen and escaped with life, or to put to sea in a storm because some have been driven from a wreck upon the coast to which they were bound.

mate the languor of dejection to new efforts, by pointing to distant regions of felicity, which yet no resolution or perseverance shall ever reach.

We are all ready to confess, that belief ought But these, like all other cordials, though they to be proportioned to evidence or probability; may invigorate in a small quantity, intoxicate in let any man, therefore, compare the number of a greater; these pleasures, like the rest, are law those who have been thus favoured by fortune, ful only in certain circumstances, and to certain and of those who have failed of their expecta-degrees; they may be useful in a due subservitions, and he will easily determine, with what justness he has registered himself in the lucky catalogue.

ency to nobler purposes, but become dangerons and destructive when once they gain the ascendant in the heart: to soothe the mind to tranquillity by hope, even when that hope is likely to deceive us, may be sometimes useful; but to lull our faculties in a lethargy, is poor and des

Vices and errors are differently modified, according to the state of the minds to which they are incident; to indulge hope beyond the warrant of reason, is the failure alike of mean and elevated understandings; but its foundation and its effects are totally different: the man of high courage and great abilities is apt to place too much confidence in himself, and to expect from a vigorous exertion of his powers more than spirit or diligence can attain; between him and his wish he sees obstacles indeed, but he expects to overleap or break them; his mistaken ardour hurries him forward; and though perhaps he misses his end, he nevertheless obtains some collateral good, and performs something useful to mankind and honourable to himself.

But there is no need on these occasions for deep inquiries or laborious calculations; there is a far easier method of distinguishing the hopes of folly from those of reason, of finding the dif-picable. ference between prospects that exist before the eyes, and those that are only painted on a fond imagination. Tom Drowsy had accustomed himself to compute the profit of a darling project till he had no longer any doubt of its success: it was at last matured by close consideration, all the measures were accurately adjusted, and he wanted only five hundred pounds to become master of a fortune that might be envied by a director of a trading company. Tom was generous and grateful, and was resolved to recompense this small assistance with an ample fortune: he, therefore, deliberated for a time, to whom amongst his friends he should declare his necessities; not that he suspected a refusal, but because he could not suddenly determine which of them would make the best use of riches, and The drone of timidity presumes likewise to was, therefore, most worthy of his favour. At hope, but without ground and without conselast his choice was settled; and knowing that in quence; the bliss with which he solaces his order to borrow he must show the probability of hours, he always expects from others, though repayment, he prepared for a minute and copious very often he knows not from whom: he folds explanation of his project. But here the golden his arms about him, and sits in expectation of dream was at an end: he soon discovered the some revolution in the state that shall raise him impossibility of imposing upon others the notions to greatness, or some golden shower that shall by which he had so long imposed upon himself; load him with wealth; he dozes away the day in which way soever he turned his thoughts, im-musing upon the morrow; and at the end of life possibility and absurdity arose in opposition on is roused from his dream only to discover that every side; even eredulity and prejudice were at the time of action is past, and that he can now last forced to give way, and he grew ashamed of show his wisdom only by repentance. crediting himself what shame would not suffer him to communicate to another.

To this test let every man bring his imagina- No. 74.] tions, before they have been too long predominant in his mind. Whatever is true will bear to be related, whatever is rational will endure to be explained; but when we delight to brood in secret over future happiness, and silently to employ our meditations upon schemes of which we are conscious that the bare mention would expose us to derision and contempt: we should then remember, that we are cheating ourselves by voluntary delusions: and giving up to the unreal mockeries of fancy, those hours in which solid advantages might be attained by sober thought and rational assiduity.

There is, indeed, so little certainty in human affairs, that the most cautious and severe examiner may be allowed to indulge some hopes which he cannot prove to be much favoured by

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1753.
Insanientis dum sapienti
Consultus erro.

I miss'd my end, and lost my way,
By crack-brain'd wisdom led astray.

TO THE ADVENTURER.

Hom

SIR, IT has long been charged by one part of mankind upon the other, that they will not take advice; that counsel and instruction are generally thrown away; and that, in defiance both of admonition and example, all claim the right to choose their own measures, and to regulate their own lives.

That there is something in advice very useful