violence of the wind; which might extend the fight of the philofopher to new ranges of existence, and charm him at one time with the unbounded extent of the material creation, and at another with the endless fubordination of animal life; and, what is yet of more importance, might fupply the decays of nature, and fuccour old age with fubfidiary fight. Thus was the first artificer in glass employed, though without his own knowledge or expectation. He was facilitating and prolonging the enjoyment of light, enlarging the avenues of science, and conferring the highest and most lafting pleasures; he was enabling the student to contemplate nature, and the beauty to behold herself.

This paffion for the honour of a profession, like that for the grandeur of our own country, is to be regulated, not extinguished. Every man, from the higheft to the lowest station, ought to warm his heart, and animate his endeavours with the hopes of being useful to the world, by advancing the art which it is his lot to exercife, and for that end he muft neceffarily confider the whole extent of its application, and the whole weight of its importance. But let him not too readily imagine that another is ill employed, because, for want of fuller knowledge of his business, he is not able to comprehend its dig nity. Every man ought to endeavour at eminence, not by pulling others down, but by raising himself, and enjoy the pleasure of his own fuperiority, whe ther imaginary or real, without interrupting others in the fame felicity. The philofopher may very justly be delighted with the extent of his views, and

the

the artificer with the readiness of his hands; but let the one remember, that, without mechanical performances, refined fpeculation is an empty dream, and the other, that, without theoretical reafoning, dexterity is little more than a brute instinct.

NUMB. 10. SATURDAY, April 21, 1750.

Pofthabui tamen illorum mea feria ludo.

For trifling sports I quitted grave affairs.

THE

VIRG.

HE number of correfpondents which increases every day upon me, fhews that my paper is at least distinguished from the common productions of the prefs. It is no lefs a proof of eminence to have many enemies than many friends, and I look upon every letter, whether it contains encomiums or reproaches, as an equal attestation of rifing credit. The only pain, which I can feel from my correspondence, is the fear of difgufting thofe, whofe letters I fhall neglect; and therefore I take this opportunity of reminding them, that in disapproving their attempts, whenever it may happen, I only return the treatment which I often receive. Befides, many particular motives influence a writer, known only to himself, or his private friends; and it may be justly concluded, that, not all letters which are poftponed are rejected, nor all that are rejected, critically condemned.

Having thus eafed my heart of the only apprehenfion that fat heavy on it, I can please myself with the candour of Benevolus, who encourages me to proceed, without finking under the anger of Flirtilla, who quarrels with me for being old and ugly, and for wanting both activity of body, and fprightliness of mind; feeds her monkey with my lucubrations, and refuses any reconciliation, till I have appeared in vindication of masquerades. That fhe may not however imagine me without fupport, and left to rest wholly upon my own fortitude, I shall now publish fome letters which I have received from men as well dreffed, and as handsome, as her favourite; and others from ladies, whom I fincerely believe as young, as rich, as gay, as pretty, as fashionable, and as often toafted and treated as herself.

"

A

SET of candid readers fend their refpects to the Rambler, and acknowledge " his merit in fo well beginning a work that may "be of publick benefit. But, fuperior as his ge"nius is to the impertinences of a trifling age, "they cannot help a wifh, that he would conde"fcend to the weakness of minds foftened by

perpetual amusements, and now and then throw "in, like his predeceffor, fome papers of a gay

and humorous turn. Too fair a field now "lies open, with too plentiful a harvest of follies! "let the cheerful Thalia put in her fickle, and, finging at her work, deck her hair with red and "blue."

"A LADY

cr

A LADY fends her compliments to the Rambler, and defires to know by what "other name she may direct to him; what are "his fet of friends, his amusements; what his

way of thinking, with regard to the living world, "and its ways; in fhort, whether he is a perfon "now alive, and in town? If he be, fhe will do "herself the honour to write to him pretty often, "and hopes, from time to time, to be the better "for his advice and animadverfions; for his ani"madverfions on her neighbours at leaft. But, if "he is a mere effayift, and troubles not himself "with the manners of the age, fhe is forry to tell "him, that even the genius and correctnefs of an "Addison will not fecure him from neglect."

.

No man is so much abftracted from common life, as not to feel a particular pleafure from the regard of the female world; the candid writers of the first billet will not be offended, that my hafte to fatisfy a lady has hurried their addrefs too foon out of my mind, and that I refer them for a reply to fome future paper, in order to tell this curious inquirer after my other name, the anfwer of a philofopher to a man, who meeting him in the ftreet, defired to fee what he carried under his cloak; I carry it there, fays he, that you may not fee it. But, though fhe is never to know my name, she may often fee my face; for I am of her opinion, that a diurnal writer ought to view the world, and that he who neglects his cotemporaries, may be, with juftice, neglected by them.

"LADY

"LADY Racket fends compliments to the Rambler, and lets him know, fhe fhall "have cards at her houfe, every Sunday, the << remainder of the feafon, where he will be fure "of meeting all the good company in town. "By this means fhe hopes to fee his papers inter

fperfed with living characters. She longs to "fee the torch of truth produced at an affembly, "and to admire the charming luftre it will "throw on the jewels, complexions, and behaviour " of every dear creature there."

It is a rule with me to receive every offer with the fame civility as it is made; and, therefore, though lady Racket may have had fome reason to guess, that I seldom frequent card-tables on Sundays, I fhall not infift upon an exception, which may to her appear of fo little force. My bufinefs has been to view, as opportunity was offered, every place in which mankind was to be seen; but at card-tables, however brilliant, I have always thought my vifit loft, for I could know nothing of the company, but their clothes and their faces. I faw their looks clouded at the beginning of every game with an uniform folicitude, now and then in its progrefs varied with a fhort triumph, at one time wrinkled with cunning, at another deadened with defpondency, or by accident flushed with rage at the unskilful or unlucky play of a partner. From fuch affemblies, in whatever humour I happened to enter them, I was quickly forced to retire; they were too trifling for

me,