N° CXXII. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1751. NOT NESCIO QUA NATALE BOLUM DULCEDINE CUNCTOS. DUCIT. OVID. BY SECRET CHARMI OUR NATIVE LAND ATTRACTS. OTHING is more fubject to mistake and disappointment than anticipated judgment concerning the eafinels or difficulty of any undertaking; whether we forin our opinion from the performance of others, or from abftracted contemplation of the thing to be attempted. Whatever is done skilfully appears to be done with eafe; and art, when it is once matured to habit, vanishes from obfervation. We are therefore more powerfully excited to emulation, by thofe who have attained the highest degree of excellence, and whom we can therefore with leaft reafon hope to equal. In adjusting the probability of fuccefs by a previous confideration of the undertaking, we are equally in danger of deceiving ourselves. It is never eafy, nor often poffible, to comprife the feries of any procefs with all it's circumftances, incidents, and variations, in a fpeculative fcheine. Experience foon fhews us the tortuofities of imaginary rectitude, the complications of fimplicity, and the afperities of fmoothnefs. Sudlen difficulties often start up from the ambushes of art, ftop the career of activity, reprefs the gaiety of confidence, and when we imagine ourfelves almost at the end of our labours, drive us back to new plans and different meafures. There are many things which we every day fee others unable to perform, and perhaps have even ourfelves mifcarried in attempting; and yet can hardly allow to be difficult; nor can we forbear to wonder afresh at every new failure, or to promife certainty of fuccefs to our next effay; but when we try, the fame hindrances recur, the fame inability is perceived, and the vexation of difappointment must again be fuffered. Of the various kinds of fpeaking or writing, which ferve neceffity, or promote pleasure, none appears fo artlefs or eafy as limple narration; for what should make him that knows the whole order and progress of an affair unable to re late it? Yet we hourly find fuch as endeavour to entertain or inftruct us by recitals, clouding the facts which they intend to illuftrate, and lofing themselves and their auditors in wilds and mazes, in digreflion and confufion. When we have congratulated ourselves upon a new opportunity of enquiry, and new meana of information, it often happens, that without defigning either deceit or concealment, without ignorance of the fact, or unwillingness to disclose it, the relator fills the ear with empty founds, harasses the attention with fruitless impatience, and difturbs the imagination by a tumult of events, without order of time, or train of confequence. It is natural to believe, upon the fame principle, that no writer has a more eafy talk than the hiftorian. The phi lofopher has the works of Omniscience to examine; and is therefore engaged in difquifitions, to which finite intellects are utterly unequal. The poet trufts to his invention, and is not only in danger of thofe inconfiftencies, to which every one is expofed by departure from truth, but may be cenfured as well for deficiences of matter, as for irregularity of difpofition, or impropriety of ornament. But the happy hiftorian has no other labour than of gathering what tradition pours down before him, or records treasure for his ufe. He has only the actions and designs of men like himfelf to conceive and to relate; he is not to form, but copy characters, and therefore is not blamed for the inconfiftency of statefmen, the injuftice of tyrants, or the cowardice of commanders. The difficulty of making variety confiftent, or uniting probability with furprize, needs not to disturb him; the manners and actions of his perfonages are already fixed; his materials are provided and put into his hands, and he is at leifure to employ all his powers in arranging and difplaying them. Yet, even with thefe advantages, very few in any age have been able to raise themielves to reputation by writing hi tories? tories; and among the innumerable authors, who fill every nation with accounts of their ancestors, or undertake to tranfmit to futurity the events of their own time, the greater part, when fashion and novelty have ceafed to recommend them, are of no other ufe than chronological memorials, which neceffity may fometimes require to be confulted, but which fright away curiofity, and difguft delicacy. It is obferved, that our nation, which has produced fo many authors eminent for almost every other fpecies of literary excellence, has been hitherto remarkably barren of hiftorical genius; and fo far has this defect raifed prejudices against us, that some have doubted, whether an Englishman can stop at that mediocrity of ftyle, or confine his mind to that even tenour of imagination which narrative requires. They who can believe that nature has fo capriciously diftributed understanding, have furely no claim to the honour of ferious confutation. The inhabitants of the fame country have oppofite characters in different ages; the prevalence or neglect of any particular ftudy can proceed only froin the accidental influence of fome temporary caufe; and if we have failed in hiftory, we can have failed only because hiftory has not hitherto been diligently cultivated. But how is it evident, that we have not hiftorians among us, whom we may venture to place in comparifon with any that the neighbouring nations can produce? The attempt of Raleigh is defervedly celebrated for the labour of his refearches, and the elegance of his ftyle; but he has endeavoured to exert his judgment more than his genius, to felect facts, rather than adorn them; and has produced an historical differtation, but feldom rifen to the majefty of hiftory. The works of Clarendon deferve more regard. His diction is indeed neither exact in itself, nor fuited to the purpofe of hiftory. It is the effufion of a mind crowded with ideas, and defirous of imparting them; and therefore always accumulating words, and involving one claufe and fentence in another. But there is in his negligence a rude inartificial majefty, which, without the nicety of laboured elegance, fwells the mind by it's plenitude and diffufion. His narration is not perhaps fufficiently rapid, being stopped too frequently by But none of our writers can, in my opinion, juftly conteft the fuperiority of Knolles, who, in his hiftory of the Turks, has difplayed all the excellencies that narration can admit. His style, though fomewhat obfcured by time, and fometimes vitiated by falfe wit, is pure, nervous, elevated, and clear. A wonderful multiplicity of events is fo artfully arranged, and fo diftinctly explained, that each facilitates the knowledge of the next. Whenever a new perfonage is introduced, the reader is prepared by his character for his actions; when a nation is first attacked, or city befieged, he is made acquainted with it's history, or fituation; fo that a great part of the world is brought into view. The defcriptions of this author are without minutenefs, and the digreffions without oftentation. Collateral events are so artfully woven into the contexture of his principal ftory, that they cannot be difjoined, without leaving it lacerated and broken. There is nothing turgid in his dignity, nor fuperfluous in his copioufnefs. His orations only, which he feigns, like the ancient hiftorians, to have been pronounced on remarkable occafions, are tedious and languid; and fince they are merely the voluntary fports of imagination, prove how much the most judicious and fkilful may be mistaken, in the estimate of their own powers. Nothing could have funk this author in obfcurity, but the remotenefs and barbarity of the people whofe ftory he relates. It feldom happens, that all circumftances concur to happiness or fame. The nation which produced this great hiftorian has the grief of feeing his genius employed upon a foreign and uninterefting fubje&t; and that writer, who might have fecured perpetuity to his name, by a hiftory of his own country, has expofed himself to the danger of oblivion, by recounting enterprizes and revolutions, of which none defire to bę informed. SIR, N° CXXIII. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1751. QUO SEMEL EST IMBUTA RECENS, SERVABIT ODORIM HOR WHAT SEASON'D FIRST THE VESSEL, KEEPS THE TASTE. TO THE RAMBLER. Even while I am preparing to write a hiftory of difappointed expectations, I cannot forbear to flatter myfelf, that you and your readers are impatient for my performance; and that the fons of learning have laid down several of your late papers with difcontent, when they found that Mifocapelus had delayed to continue his narrative. But the defire of gratifying the expectations that I have raifed, is not the only motive of this relation, which, having once promised it, I think myself no longer at liberty to forbear. For however I may have wished to clear myfelf from every other adhesion of trade, I hope I fhall be always wife enough to retain my punctuality, and amidit all my new arts of politenefs, continue to defpife negligence, and deteft falfehood. When the death of my brother had difmiffed me from the duties of a shop, I confidered myfelf as reftored to the rights of my birth, and entitled to the rank and reception which my ancestors obtained. I was, however, embarraffed with many difficulties at my first reentrance into the world; for my hafte to be a gentleman inclined me to precipitate measures; and every accident that forced me back towards my old ftation was confidered by me as an obftruction my happiness. It was with no common grief and indignation, that I found my former com CREECH. panions ftill daring to claim my notice, and the journeymen and apprentices fometimes pulling me by the fleeve as I was walking in the street, and without any terror of my new fword, which was, notwithstanding, of an uncommon fize, inviting me to partake of a bottle at the old houfe, and entertaining me with hiftories of the girls in the neighbourhood. I had always, in my official ftate, been kept in awe by lace and embroidery; and imagined that, to fright away these unwelcome familiarities, nothing was neceffary, but that I should, by fplendor of drefs, proclaim my reunion with a higher rank. I therefore fent for my taylor; ordered a fuit with twice the ufual quantity of lace; and that I might not let my perfecutors increase their confidence, by the habit of accofting me, ftaid at home till it was made. This week of confinement I paffed in practifing a forbidding frown, a fmile of condefcenfion, a flight falutation, and an abrupt departure; and in four mornings was able to turn upon my heel with fo much levity and fprightliners, that I made no doubt of difcouraging all publick attempts upon my dignity. I therefore iffued forth in my new coat, with a refolution of dazzling intimacy to a fitter distance; and pleafed myself with the timidity and reverence which I fhould imprefs upon all who had hitherto prefumed to harass me with their freedom. But, whatever was the cause, I did not find myself received with any new degree of refpect; thofe whom I intended to drive from me, ventured to advance with their usual phrases of benevolence; and those whofe acquaintance I folicited grew more fupercilious and referved. I began foon to repent the expence, by which I had procured no advantage, and to fufpect that a fhining drefs, like a weighty weapon, has no force in itself, but owes all it's efficacy to him that wears it. Nn Many Many were the mortifications and calamities which I was condemned to fuffer in my initiation to politeness. I was fo much tortured by the inceffant civilities of my companions, that I never paffed through that region of the city but in a chair with the curtains drawn; and at last left my lodgings, and fixed myself in the verge of the court. Here I endeavoured to be thought a gentleman juft returned from his travels, and was pleased to have my landlord believe, that I was in fome danger from importunate creditors; but this fcheme was quickly defeated by a formal deputation fent to offer me, though I had now retired from bufinefs, the freedom of my company. I was now detected in trade, and therefore refolved to ftay no longer. hired another apartment, and changed my fervants. Here I lived very happily for three months, and, with fecret fatisfaction, often overheard the family celebrating the greatnefs and felicity of the efquire; though the converfation feldom ended without fome complaint of my covetousness, or fome remark upon my language or my gait. I now began to venture into the publick walks, and to know the faces of nobles and beauties; but could not obferve, without wonder, as I paffed by them, how frequently they were talking of a taylor. I longed, however, to be admitted to converfation, and was fomewhat weary of walking in crowds without a companion, yet continued to come and go with the reft, till a lady whom I end avoured to protect in a crowded paffage, as fhe was about to ftep into her chariot, thanked me for my civility, and told me, that, as he had often diftinguished me for my modeft and respectful behaviour, whenever I fet up for myself, I might expect to fee her anong my first customers. Here was an end of all my ambulatory projects. I indeed fometimes entered the walks again, but was always blafted by this deftructive lady, whofe mifchievous generofity recommended me to her acquaintance. Being therefore forced to practite my adfcititious character upon another itage, I betock myfelf to a coffee-houfe frequented by wits, among whom I learned in a short time the cant of criticifm, and talked fo loudly and volubly of nature, and man ners, and fentiment, and diction, and fimilies, and contrasts, and action, and pronunciation, that I was often defired to lead the hits and clap, and was feared and hated by the players and the poets. Many a fentence have I hiffed which I did not understand, and many a groan have I uttered when the ladies were weeping in the boxes. At last a malignant author, whole performance I had perfecuted through the nine nights, wrote an epigram upon Tape the critick, which drove me from the pit for ever. My defire to be a fine gentleman still continued: I therefore, after a short fufpence, chofe a new set of friends at the gaming-table, and was for some time pleased with the civility and openness with which I found myself treated. I was indeed obliged to play; but being naturally timorous and vigilant, was never furprised into large fums. What might have been the confequence of long familiarity with these plunderers, I had not an opportunity of knowing; for one night the conftables entered and feized us, and I was once more compelled to fink into my former condition, by fending for my old mafter to atteft my character. When I was deliberating to what new qualifications I fhould aspire, I was fummoned into the country, by an account of my father's death. Here I had hopes of being able to diftinguish myfelf, and to fupport the honour of my family. I therefore bought guns and horfes; and, contrary to the expectation of the tenants, increased the falary of the huntfman. But when I entered the field, it was foon difcovered that I was not deftined to the glories of the chace. I was afraid of thorns in the thicket, and of dirt in the marfh; I fhivered on the brink of a river while the sportsman croffed it, and trembled at the fight of a five-bar gate. When the fport and danger were over, I was ftill equally difconcerted; for I was effeminate, though not delicate, and could only join a feebly whifpering voice in the clamours of their triumph. A fall, by which my ribs were broken, foon recalled me to domeftick pleasures, and I exerted all my art to obtain the favour of the neighbouring ladies; but wherever I came, there was always fome unlucky converfation upon ribbands, fillets, pins, or threads, which drove all my my stock of compliments out of my memory, and overwhelmed me with fhame and dejection. Thus I paffed the ten first years after the death of my brother, in which I have learned at last to reprefs that ambition which I could never gratify; and, instead of wafting more of my life in vain endeavours after accomplishments, T N° CXXIV. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1751. TACITUM SYLVAS INTER REPTARE SALUBRES, CURANTEM QUICQUID DIGNUM SAPIENTE BONOQUE EST. TO RANGE IN SILENCE THROUGH EACH HEALTHFUL WOOD, HE season of the year is now come, in which the theatres are fhut and the card-tables forfaken; the regions of luxury are for a while unpeopled, and pleasure leads out her votaries to groves and gardens, to still scenes, and erratick gratifications. Those who have paffed many months in a continual tumult of diverfion; who have never opened their eyes in the morning, but upon fome new appointment; nor flept at night without a dream of dances, musick, and good hands, or of foft fighs, and humble fupplications; muft now retire to diftant provinces, where the firens of flattery are scarcely to be heard, where beauty fparkles without praise or envy, and wit is repeated only by the echo. As I think it one of the most important duties of focial benevolence to give warning of the approach of calamity, when by timely prevention it may be turned afide, or by preparatory measures be more easily endured, I cannot feel the increasing warmth, or obferve the lengthening days, without confidering the condition of my fair readers, who are now preparing to leave all that has fo long filled up their hours, all from which they have been accustomed to hope for delight; and who, till fashion proclaims the liberty of returning to the feats of mirth and elegance, muft endure the rugged fquire, the fober housewife, the loud huntfman, or the formal parfon, the roar of obftreperous jollity, or the dulnefs of prudential inftruction; without any retreat, but to the gloom of folitude, where they will yet find greater inconveniencies, and must learn, however nwillingly, to endure themselves. HOR. ELPHINSTON. In winter, the life of the polite and gay may be faid to roll on with a ftrong and rapid current; they float along from pleasure to pleasure, without the trouble of regulating their own motions, and purfue the courfe of the ftream in all the felicity of inattention; content that they find themfelves in progreffion, and carelefs whither they are going. But the months of fummer are a kind of fleeping ftagnation without wind or tide, where they are left to force themselves forward by their own labour, and to direct their paffage by their own fkill; and where, if they have not fome internal principle of activity, they must be stranded upon fhallows, or lie torpid in a perpetual calm. There are, indeed, fome to whom this univerfal diffolution of gay focieties affords a welcome opportunity of quitting, without difgrace, the poft which they have found themfelves unable to maintain; and of feeming to retreat only at the call of nature, from affemblies where, after a short triumph of uncontested fuperiority, they are overpowered by fome new intruder of fofter elegance or fprightlier vivacity. By thefe, hopeless of victory, and yet afhained to confefs a conqueft, the fummer is regarded as a releate from the fatiguing fervice of celebrity, a diimithion to more certain joys and a fafer empire. They now folace themfelves with the influence which they fhall obtain, where they have no rival to fear; and with the luftre which they fhall effufe, when nothing can be seen of brighter fplendour. They imagine, while they are preparing for their jour ney, the admiration with which the Nn 2 rufticks |