THE

RAMBLER.

NUMBER LXXXIII.

LONDON, Tuesday, January 1. 1751.

Nifi utile eft quod feceris, ftulta eft gloria.

PHEDRUS.

Τ

HE publication of the letter in my last paper, has naturally led me to the confideration of that thirst after curiofities, which often draws contempt and ridicule upon itfelf; but which is perhaps no otherwife blameable, than as it wants thofe circumftantial recommendations

VOL. IV.

E

commendations which have long been observed to give luftre even to moral excellencies, and are abfolutely neceffary to the grace and beauty of common actions.

Learning confers fo much fuperiority on those who poffefs it, that they might probably have efcaped all cenfure, had they been able to agree among themselves. But as envy and competition have divided the republic of letters into factions, they have neglected the common intereft. Each has called in foreign aid; and endeavoured to strengthen his own caufe by the frown of power, the hiss of ignorance, and the clamour of popularity. They have all been fo much engaged in deftruction, that they have neglected defence; and by mutual hostilities have demolished thofe outworks which veneration had raised for their fecurity, and laid themfelves open to invaders, by whom every region of fcience is equally laid waste.

There paffes between men of different studies and profeffions a conftant reciprocation of reproaches. The collector of fhells and stones, wonders at the folly of him who paftes leaves and flowers upon paper, pleases himself with colours that are perpetually fading, and amaffes with care what cannot be preferved. The hunter of infects ftands amazed, that any man can waste fo much of his fhort time upon lifeless matter, while many tribes of animals are yet neglected. Every one is inclined not only to promote his own ftudy, but to exclude all others from regard; and having heated his imagination with fome favourite purfuit, wonders that the reft of mankind are not feized with the fame passion.

There

There are indeed many fubjects of study which feem but remotely allied to ufeful knowledge, and are of little importance to happiness or virtue. Nor is it easy to forbear fome fallies of merriment, or expreffions of pity, when we fee a man wrinkled with attention, and emaciated with diligence, in the investigation of questions never to be refolved, and of which, without any visible harm, the world may expire in ignorance. Yet it is dangerous to difcourage any well-intended labours, or fupprefs any innocent curiofity: for he who is employed in fearches, in the leaft degree tending to the benefit of life, is furely laudable, in comparifon of those who spend their time in counteracting happiness, and filling the world with wrong and danger, confufion and remorfe; and no man can perform fo little, as not to have reafon to congratulate himself on his merits, when he beholds the multitudes that live in total idleness, and have never yet endeavoured to be useful,

It is impoffible to determine the limits of any inquiry, or to foresee what confequences any new discovery may produce. He who fuffers not his faculties to lie torpid, has a chance, whatever be his employment, of doing good to his fellow-creatures. There are probably in every part of nature, powers and qualities yet undiscovered, which might be applied to the advantage of mankind, but which can never be known without the labour of experiment. He who first ranged the woods in fearch of medicinal fprings, or climbed the mountains for falutary plants, has undoubtedly merited the gratitude of posterity, how much foever his frequent miscarriages might excite the fcorn of his contemporaries. If what appears little be univer

E 2

fally

fally defpifed, nothing greater can be attained : for whatever is great, was at first little, and rose to its present bulk by gradual acceffions, by fucceffive improvements, and accumulated labours.

Those who lay out their time or their money in affembling matter for contemplation, and forming repofitories of natural or artificial rarities, are furely entitled to fome degree of refpect. For though, in a flight of gaiety, it be eafy to ridicule their treasure, or, in a fit of fullennefs, to defpife it; though a man goes not away much illuminated, by having enjoyed the privilege of handling the tooth of a fhark, or the paw of a white bear: yet it must be confeffed, that there is nothing more worthy of admiration, than the structure of animals, by which they are qualified to fupport life in the particular elements or countries to which they are appropriated; and of all natural productions it must be confeffed, that they exhibit evidences of infinite wisdom, bear their testimony to the fupreme reason, and excite in the mind new raptures of admiration, and new incentives to piety.

To collect the productions of art, and examples of mechanical fcience or manual ability, is unqueftionably useful, even when the things themselves are of fmall importance; because it is always advantageous to know how far the human powers have proceeded, and how much experience has fhewn to be within the reach of diligence. It is natural for idleness and timidity, to defpair without being overcome, and to forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and it is necessary for the invigoration of faint endeavours, to be able to prove what has been already performed: for though it

may

may fometimes happen, that the greatest instances of ingenuity have been exerted in trifles; yet the fame principles and the fame expedients may be applied to more important purposes; and the movements which put into action machines of no other use but to raise the wonder of ignorance, may be employed to drain fens or manufacture metals, to affilt the architect or preserve the failor.

For the utensils, arms, or dreffes of foreign nations, which make the greatest part of many collections, I have no great regard when they are valuable only because they are foreign, and can fuggeft no improvement of our own practice. Yet they are not all equally useless; nor can it be perhaps always determined, which fhould be rejected or retained; for they may fometimes contribute to the illustration of history, to the knowledge of the natural commodities of the country, or of the genius and customs of its inhabitants.

There is one fort of rarities of a yet lower rank, which owe their value merely to accident, and which can convey no information, nor fatisfy any rational defire. Such are many fragments of antiquity, as urns, and pieces of pavement, and things which are held in veneration only for having been once the property of fome eminent perfon, as the armour of King Henry; or for having been used on fome remarkable occafion, as the lanthorn of Guy Faux. The lofs or preservation of these seems to be a thing indifferent, nor can I perceive why the poffeffion of them fhould be coveted. Yet, perhaps, even this curiofity is implanted by nature and when I find Tully confeffing of himself, that he could not forbear at Athens

to