by each, as he found his favourite fubject omitted or delayed. Some were angry that the RAMBLER did not, like the SPECTATOR, introduce himself to the acquaintance of the publick, by an account of his own birth and studies, an enumeration of his adventures, and a description of his phyfiognomy. Others foon began to remark that he was a folemn, ferious, dictatorial writer, without fprightlinefs or gaiety, and called out with vehemence for mirth and humour. Another admonished him to have a fpecial eye upon the various clubs of this great city, and informed him that much of the Spectator's vivacity was laid out upon fuch affemblies. He has been cenfured for not imitating the politenefs of his predeceffors, having hitherto neglected to take the ladies under his protection, and give them rules for the just opposition of colours, and the proper dimenfions of ruffles and pinners. He has been required by one to fix a particular cenfure upon those matrons who play at cards with fpectacles. And another is very much offended whenever he meets with a fpeculation, in which naked precepts are comprised without the illuftration of examples and characters.

I make not the leaft queftion that all these monitors intend the promotion of my defign, and the inftruction of my readers; but they do not know, or do not reflect, that an author has a rule of choice peculiar to himself; and felects thofe fubjects which he is best qualified to treat, by the courfe of his ftudies, or the accidents of his life; that fome topicks of amusement have been already treated with too much fuccefs to invite a competition; and that

he

he who endeavours to gain many readers must try various arts of invitation, effay every avenue of pleasure, and make frequent changes in his methods of approach.

I cannot but confider myself, amidst this tumult of criticism, as a fhip in a poetical tempeft, impelled at the fame time by oppofite winds, and dafhed by the waves from every quarter, but held upright by the contrariety of the affailants, and fecured, in fome measure, by multiplicity of diftrefs. Had the opinion of my cenfures been unanimous, it might perhaps have overfet my refolution; but fince I find them at variance with each other, I can, without fcruple, neglect them, and endeavour to gain the favour of the publick by following the direction of my own reafon, and indulging the fallies of my own imagination.

NUMB. 24. SATURDAY, June 9, 1750.

Nemo in fefe tentat defcendere.·

None, none defcends into himself.

A

PERSIUS.

DRYDEN.

MONG the precepts, or aphorifms, admitted

by general confent, and inculcated by frequent repetition, there is none more famous among the masters of ancient wisdom, than that compendious leffon, г realov, Be acquainted with thyself; afcribed by fome to an oracle, and by others to Chilo of Lacedemon.

This is, indeed, a dictate, which, in the whole extent of its meaning, may be faid to comprize all the fpeculation requifite to a moral agent. For what more can be neceffary to the regulation of life, than the knowledge of our original, our end, our duties, and our relation to other beings?

It is however very improbable that the firft author, whoever he was, intended to be understood in this unlimited and complicated fenfe; for of the inquiries, which in fo large an acceptation it would feem to recommend, fome are too extenfive for the powers of man, and fome require light from above, which was not yet indulged to the heathen world.

We might have had more fatisfaction concerning the original import of this celebrated fentence, if history had informed us, whether it was uttered as a general inftruction to mankind, or as a particular caution to fome private inquirer; whether it was

applied

applied to fome single occafion, or laid down as the univerfal rule of life.

There will occur, upon the flighteft confideration, many poffible circumftances, in which this monition might very properly be inforced; for every error in human conduct muft arife from ignorance in ourfelves, either perpetual or temporary; and happen either because we do not know what is beft and fitteft, or because our knowledge is at the time of action not present to the mind.

When a man employs himself upon remote and unneceffary fubjects, and waftes his life upon queftions which cannot be refolved, and of which the folution would conduce very little to the advancement of happiness; when he lavishes his hours in calculating the weight of the terraqueous globe, or in adjufting fucceffive fyftems of worlds beyond the reach of the telescope; he may be very properly recalled from his excurfions by this precept, and reminded, that there is a nearer being with which it is his duty to be more acquainted; and from which his attention has hitherto been withheld by ftudies, to which he has no other motive than vanity or curiofity.

The great praise of Socrates is, that he drew the wits of Greece, by his inftruction and example, from the vain pursuit of natural philofophy to moral inquiries, and turned their thoughts from ftars and tides, and matter and motion, upon the various modes of virtue, and relations of life. All his lectures were but commentaries upon this faying; if we fuppose the knowledge of ourselves recommended by Chilo, in oppofition to other inquiries lefs fuitable to the state of man.

The

1

The great fault of men of learning is still, that they offend against this rule, and appear willing to study any thing rather than themselves; for which reason they are often defpifed by thofe, with whom they imagine themselves above comparison; despised, as useless to common purposes, as unable to conduct the most trivial affairs, and unqualified to perform those offices by which the concatenation of fociety is preferved, and mutual tenderness excited and maintained.

Gelidus is a man of great penetration and deep researches. Having a mind naturally formed for the abftrufer sciences, he can comprehend intricate combinations without confufion, and being of a temper naturally cool and equal, he is feldom interrupted by his paffions in the pursuit of the longest chain of unexpected confequences. He has, therefore, a long time indulged hopes, that the folution of fome problems, by which the profeffors of science have been hitherto baffled, is referved for his genius and industry. He fpends his time in the highest room of his houfe, into which none of his family are fuffered to enter; and when he comes down to his dinner, or his reft, he walks about like a ftranger that is there only for a day, without any tokens of regard or tenderness. He has totally divested himself of all human fenfations; he has neither eye for beauty, nor ear for complaint; he neither rejoices at the good fortune of his nearest friend, nor mourns for any publick or private calamity. Having once received a letter, and given it his fervant to read, he was informed, that it was written by his brother, who, being fhipwrecked, had fwam naked to land,

and