Such a man cannot fail to be of fome ufe in the world. He fhows an example inexpreffibly ufeful. He is active, and therefore at once derives benefits, and confers them. Every day that he lives counts for fomething; and for every day that he lives mankind, through fome of their ramifications, are the better.

There is no man, with an understanding and a heart, that would not make confiderable exertions and confiderable facrifices to preferve a being like this.

It is contrary to the true intereft and policy of the human fpecies to destroy a man, because he is ufclefs, or even perhaps because he is noxious. But there are men whom, if we would not deftroy, we ought to rejoice to hear that fome cafualty had deftroyed. For man to be deftroyed by the hands of man, is a proceeding fraught with alarming confequences. But men who are worse than an incumbrance upon the face of the earth, it would be well, to speak in the jargon of the vulgar, if God would be pleased to take to himself. Such men it is to be feared, if they fhould be found incorrigible in their habits, are common beggars. They are the opprobrium of human nature, and the earth would feel itfelf lightened by their removal. We may fympathife with them as creatures fufceptible

Q

men at once thruft out of employment? Can all thefe procure themfelves employment of another fort ?

"They can procure themfelves employment," we are told. Be it fo! But when? Does not the fubftitution of one manufacture or induftry for another require time? Does it not require time for an individual, thruft out of one avocation, to gain admittance to another? But in the mcan while he is in need of clothing and fhelter; in the mean while he is without bread to eat. This is the particular aggravation of human calamities: not that we muft maintain ourselves by our own induftry; but that we cannot gain time for deliberation, for expedients, for prudence, and for preparation.

Let us not treat the adverfities of men with a fpirit of levity. It is a ferious hardship, after having devoted myfelf to one profeffion, and accomplished myself with one fpecies of fkill, to be driven forth in purfuit of another. This is a fituation that requires kindnefs and foothing. Who art thou, that affumeft to deck thy brows in frowns, and to drive away the forrows of thy brother by imperious tones and fiern rebuke?

The very prejudices and weakneffes of mankind have a claim upon our indulgence. The whole end of virtue, all that is to be defired for

man,

our alms a man to embrace this profeffion, who is not yet fallen into that ftate of degradation, is an act that a man of virtue would look back upon with the fevereft regret.

Such are the objections and difficulties that occur as to the relief of beggars. They are certainly of very ferious importance. Yet they are scarcely of such weight, as to induce a man of feeling and humanity uniformly to withhold his interference.

We must not be too fevere in our judgment of men, when it is certain, or even probable, that they are under the preffure of uncommon diftrefs. We ought to be just, but a severity of this fort is at war with juftice. A virtuous man will feel himself ftrongly prompted to do an action, even when there is only a probability that it may alleviate great mifery, or produce exquifite enjoyment: Nothing is more fufpicious than a fyftem of conduct, which, forming itself inflexibly on general rules, refuses to take the impreffion, and yield to the dictates, of circumstances as they may arife.

It is faid that men that are idle, may, if they pleafe, procure themselves employment: This is easily faid by men at ease. But do we not often fee, by fome viciffitude in the manufactures of a country for example, multitudes of

when the cafe is that of a flarving man ftealing a morfel of bread that he may eat. In the fame manner, there are fome fufferings, fo great and fo urgent, that a found morality will teach us to difpenfe with our general maxims, and, for no poffible calculation of diftant evils, to turn a deaf ear to the cries of humanity.

ESSAY

ESSAY IV.

OF SERVANTS. '

ONE

NE of the moft confiderable difficulties that prefent themfelves in the execution of a plan of domeftic education, relates to the degrees of intercourfe which is to be allowed to take place between children and fervants.

The parent and the preceptor may be in the utmost degree prudent in their conduct, and delicate in their treatment and communications. But fervants will inevitably counteract the falutary refults. The judicious friends of our infancy may conduct themfelves towards us with an even hand and a prudent rule; but fervants will fometimes be defpotic and unreasonable, and perhaps oftener prompt to injurious indulgencies, infufing into the youthful bofom the paffions of empire and command. They will initiate us in low maxims, and coarfe and vulgar modes of thinking. They will inftruct us in the practice of cunning, and the arts of deceit. They will teach us to exhibit a ftudied countenance to those who prefide over us, and to triumph in the

fuccefs