Nor are the perfons of high rank the only gainers by fo falutary a custom, which extends its good influence, in fome degree, to the lower orders of people; but were it quite general, how much better and happier would the world be than it is even now! It is hard upon poor creatures, be they ever fo mean, to deny them thofe enjoyments and liberties which are equally open for all. Yet if fervants were taught to go to church on this day, fpend fome part of it in reading, or receiving inftruction in a family way, and the rest in mere friendly converfation, the poor wretches would infallibly take it into their heads, that they were obliged to be fober, modeft, diligent, and faithful to their masters and mistreffes. Now, furely no one of common prudence or humanity would wish their domeftics infected with fuch strange and primitive notions, or laid under fuch unmerciful reftraints: all which may, in a great meafure, be prevented by the prevalence of the good-humoured fashion that I would have you recommend. For when the lower kind of people fee their betters, with a truly laudable fpirit, infulting and flying in the face of thofe rude, ill-bred dictators, PIETY and the LAWS, they are thereby excited and admonished, as far as actions can admonish and excite, and taught, that they too have an equal right of fetting them at defiance in fuch inftances as their particular neceffities and inclinations may require and thus is the liberty of the whole human fpecies mightily improved and enlarged. In fhort, Mr RAMBLER, by a faithful reprefentation of the numberlefs benefits of a modifh life, you will have done your part in promoting what every every body feems to confefs the true purpose of human existence, perpetual diffipation. By encouraging people to employ their whole attention on trifles, and make amusement their fole study, you will teach them how to avoid many very uneafy reflections. All the foft feeling of humanity, the fympathies of friendship, all natural temptations to the care of a family, and folicitude about the good or ill of others, with the whole train of domestic and focial affections, which create such daily anxieties and embarraffments, will be happily ftifled and fuppreffed in a round of perpetual delights; and all ferious thoughts, but particularly that of hereafter, be banished out of the world; a molt perplexing apprehenfion, but luckily a moft groundless one too, as it is fo very clear a cafe, that no body ever dies. I am, &c. THE RAMBLER. NUMBER CI. LONDON, Tuesday, March 5. 1751. Mella jubes Hyblaa tibi vel Hymettia nafci, SIR, To the RAMBLER. MART. Aving, by feveral years of continual study, H treasured in my mind a great number of principles and ideas, and obtained by frequent exercife the power of applying them with propriety, and combining them with readiness, I VOL.IV. Ꮓ refolved |