for fport, and fome for malice; and if I asked the price of any thing, it was fufficient to double the demand. For curiofity, trafficking thus with avarice, the wealth of India had not been enough; and I, by little and little, transferred all my money from the funds to my closet: here I was inclined to stop, and live upon my eftate in literary leisure, but the fale of the Harleian collection fhook my refolution: I mortgaged my land and purchased thirty medals, which I could never find before. I have at length bought till I can buy no longer, and the cruelty of my creditors has seized my repofitory; I am therefore condemned to disperse what the labour of an age will not reaffemble. I fubmit to that which cannot be oppofed, and fhall, in a fhort time, declare a fale. I have, while it is yet in my power, fent you a pebble, picked up by Tavernier on the banks of the Ganges; for which I defire no other recompence than that you will recommend my catalogue to the publick.

QUISQUILIUS.

NUMB. 83. TUESDAY, January 1, 1751.

Nifi utile eft quod facias ftulta eft gloria.

All useless science is an empty boast.

PRÆD.

THE publication of the letter in my last paper has naturally led me to the confideration of thirst after curiofities, which often draws contempt and ridicule upon itself, but which is perhaps no otherwife blameable, than as it wants thofe circumftantial recommendations which add luftre even to moral excellencies, and are abfolutely neceffary to the grace and beauty of indifferent actions.

Learning confers fo much fuperiority on those who poffefs it, that they might probably have escaped all censure had they been able to agree among themfelves; but as envy and competition have divided the republick of letters into factions, they have nɛglected the common intereft; each has called in foreign aid, and endeavoured to ftrengthen his own caufe by the frown of power, the hifs of ignorance, and the clamour of popularity. They have all engaged in feuds, till by mutual hoftilities they demolished thofe outworks which veneration had raised for their fecurity, and exposed themselves to barbarians, by whom every region of fcience is equally laid waste.

Between men of different ftudies and profeffions, may be observed a conftant reciprocation of reproaches. The collector of fhells and ftones, derides

the folly of him who paftes leaves and flowers upon paper, pleases himself with colours that are perceptibly fading, and amaffes with care what cannot be preferved. The hunter of infects ftands amazed that any man can wafte his fhort time upon lifeless matter, while many tribes of animals yet want their history. 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 pursuit, wonders that the reft of mankind are not seized with the fame paffion.

There are, indeed, many subjects of study which feem but remotely allied to useful knowledge, and of little importance to happinefs 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 folicitude, in the investigation of questions, of which, without vifible inconvenience, the world may expire in ignorance. Yet it is dangerous to discourage well-intended labours, or innocent curiofity; for he who is employed in searches, which by any deduction of confequences tend to the benefit of life, is furely laudable, in comparison of those who spend their time in counteracting happiness, and filling the world with wrong and danger, confufion and remorse. 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 idlenefs, and have never yet endeavoured to be useful.

It is impoffible to determine the limits of enquiry, or to foresee what confequences a new difcovery may produce. He who fuffers not his faculties to lie

torpid,

torpid, has a chance, whatever be his employment, of doing good to his fellow-creatures. The man that first ranged the woods in fearch of medicinal fprings, or climbed the mountains for falutary plants, has undoubtedly merited the gratitude of pofterity, how much foever his frequent mifcarriages might excite the fcorn of his cotemporaries. If what appears little be univerfally defpifed, nothing greater can be attained, for all that is great was at firft little, and rose to its present bulk by gradual acceffions, and accumulated labours.

Those who lay out time or money in affembling matter for contemplation, are doubtless entitled to fome degree of respect, though in a flight of gaiety it be easy to ridicule their treasure, or in a fit of fullenness to despise it. A man who thinks only on the particular object before him, goes not away much illuminated by having enjoyed the privilege of handling the tooth of a shark, or the paw of a white bear; yet there is nothing more worthy of admiration to a philofophical eye than the structure of animals, by which they are qualified to fupport life in the elements or climates to which they are appropriated; and of all natural bodies it must be generally confeffed, that they exhibit evidences of infinite wisdom, bear their teftimony to the fupreme reason, and excite in the mind new raptures of gratitude, and new incentives to piety.

To collect the productions of art, and examples of mechanical science 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,

ceeded, and how much experience has found to be within the reach of diligence. Idlenefs and timidity often despair without being overcome, and forbear attempts for fear of being defeated; and we may promote the invigoration of faint endeavours, by fhewing what has been already performed. It may fometimes happen that the greatest efforts of ingenuity have been exerted in trifles; yet the fame principles and expedients may be applied to more valuable purposes, and the movements, which put into action machines of no use but to raise the wonder of ignorance, may be employed to drain fens, or manufacture metals, to affift the architect, or preferve the failor.

of

For the utenfils, arms, or dreffes of foreign nations, which make the greatest part many collections, I have little regard when they are valued 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 always fafely determined which should be rejected or retained: for they may fometimes unexpectedly contribute to the illustration of hiftory, and to the knowledge of the natural commodities of the country, or of the genius and cuftoms of its inhabitants.

Rarities there are of yet a lower rank, which owe their worth merely to accident, and which can convey no information, nor fatisfy any rational desire. Such are many fragments of antiquity, as urns and pieces of pavement; and things 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 occasion, as

the