fome degree of refpect, though in a flight of gaiety it be easy to ridicule their treasure, or in a fit of fullennefs to defpife 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 fhark, 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 appropriafed; and of all natural bodies it must be generally confeffed, that they exhibit evidences of infinite wifdom, 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 fcience or manual ability, is unqueftionably useful, even when the things themfelves are of fmall importance, because it is always advantageous to know how far the human powers have proceeded, and how much experience has found to be within the reach of diligence. Idlenefs and timidity often defpair 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 greateft 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 preserve the failor. For For the utensils, arms, or dreffes of foreign na tions, which make the greatest part of 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 fhould be rejected or retained: for they may fometimes unexpectedly contribute to the illuftration of hiftory, and to the knowledge of the natural commodities of the country, or of the genius and customs 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 defire. 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 some remarkable occafion, as the lantern 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 confefling of himself, that he could not forbear at Athens to vifit the walks and houses which the old philofophers had frequented or inhabited, and recollect the reverence which every nation, civil and barbarous, has paid to the ground where merit has been buried, I am afraid to declare against the general voice of mankind, and am inclined to believe, that this regard, which we involuntarily pay to the meanest relique of a man great and illuftrious, is intended as an incitement to labour, and an encourage couragement to expect the fame renown, if it be fought by the fame virtues. The virtuofo therefore cannot be faid to be wholly ufelefs; but perhaps he may be fometimes culpable for confining himself to bufinefs below his genius, and lofing in petty fpeculations, those hours by which, if he had spent them in nobler studies, he might have given new light to the intellectual world. It is never without grief, that I find a man capable of ratiocination or invention enlifting himself in this fecondary clafsf learning; for when he has once discovered a method of gratifying his defire of eminence by expence rather than by labour, and known the fweets of a life bleft at once with the ease of idlenefs and the reputation of knowledge, he will not eafily be brought to undergo again the toil of thinking, or leave his toys and trinkets for arguments and principles, arguments which require circum fpection and vigilance, and principles which cannot be obtained but by the drudgery of meditation. He will gladly fhut himself up for ever with his fhells and medals, like the companions of Ulyffes, who having tafted the fruit of Lotos, would not even by the hope of feeing their own country be tempted again to the dangers of the fea. Αλλ' αύτε βέλοντο μετ' άνδρασι Λωτοφάγοισι, -Whofo taftes Infatiate riots in the fweet repafts; Nor other home nor other care intends, But quits his houfe, his country, and his friends. POPE Collections of this kind are of use to the learned, as heaps of ftone and piles of timber are neceffary 14 fary to the architect. But to dig the quarry or to fearch the field, requires not much of any quality, beyond stubborn perfeverance; and though genius must often lie unactive without this humble affiftance, yet this can claim little praise, because every man can afford it. To mean understandings, it is fufficient honour to be numbered amongst the loweft labourers of learning; but different abilities must find different tasks. To hew stone, would have been unworthy of Palladio; and to have rambled in search of shells and flowers, had but ill fuited with the capacity of Newton. NUMB. 84. SATURDAY, January 5, 1751. Cunarum fueras motor, CHARIDEME, mearum, Fam mihi nigrefcunt tonfa fudaria barba, Et vix a ferulis abftinet ira manum. Our steward, butler, cook and all You fright, nay e'en the very wall; You pry, and frown, and growl, and chide, SIR, You To the RAMBLER. MART F. LEWIS. OU feem in all your papers to be an enemy to tyranny, and to look with impartiality upon the world; I fhall therefore lay my cafe be fore fore you, and hope by your decifion to be fet free from unreasonable restraints, and enabled to justify myself against the accufations which spite and peevishness producé against me. At the age of five years I loft my mother, and my father being not qualified to fuperintend the education of a girl, committed me to the care of his fifter, who inftructed me with the authority, and, not to deny her what the may juftly claim, with the affection of a parent. She had not very elevated fentiments or extenfive views, but her principles were good, and her intentions pure; and though fome may practise more virtues, scarce any commit fewer faults. Under this good lady I learned all the common 'rules of decent behaviour, and ftanding maxims of domeftick prudence; and might have grown up by degrees to a country gentlewoman, without any thoughts of ranging beyond the neighbourhood, had not Flavia come down, laft fummer, to vifit her relations in the next village. I was taken, of course, to compliment the stranger, and was, at the first fight, furprised at the unconcern with which she faw herself gazed at by company whom the had never known before; at the carelesness with which fhe received compliments, and the readiness with which the returned them. I found fhe had fomething which I perceived myself to want, and could not but wish to be like her, at once easy and officious, attentive and unembarraffed. I went home, and for four days could think and talk of nothing but mifs Flavia; though my aunt told me, that fhe was a forward flirt, and thought herself wife before her time. in In a little time the repaid my visit, and raised heart a new confufion of love and admira my |