Morality. Several Discoveries He made, and every Discovery He improved, to this important End-to raise in his Mind, more exalted Apprehenfions of the SUPREME Being— and to enlarge his Affections, with a difinterested Benevolence; conformable, in fome Degree, to that boundless Liberality, which pervades and animates the whole Creation.

ASPASIO, was not without his Share of polite Literature, and philofophical Knowledge. He had taken a Tour through the Circle of the Sciences; and, having tranfiently furveyed the Productions of human Learning, devoted his final Attention to the infpired Writings. Thefe He ftudied, with the unbiaffed Impartiality of a Critic; yet with the reverential Simplicity of a Chriftian. These He regarded, as the unerring Standard of Duty--the authentic Charter of Salvation-and the brighteft Mirror of the DEITY; affording the most fatisfactory and fublime Difplay of all the divine Attributes.

Theron, was fomewhat warm in his Temper; and would, upon Occafion, make Ufe of a little innocent Rallery; not to expofe his Friend, but to enliven the Conversation. Sometimes difguifing his real Sentiments; in order to fift the Subject, or discover the Opinion of others.Afpafio feldom indulges the humorous or fatyrical Vein, but argues with

Meek

Meekness of Wisdom *. Never puts on the Appearance of Guile, but always fpeaks the Dictates of his Heart.

Afpafio was on a Vifit at Theron's Seat.One Evening, when fome neighbouring Gentlemen were just gone, and had left them alone, the Conversation took the following Turn.

Afp.-I would always be ready, both to acknowledge and applaud, whatever is amiable in the Conduct of Others. The Gentle

men, who gave Us their Company at Dinner, seem to be all of a different Character. Yet each, in his own Way, is extremely agreeable.

Lyfander has lively Parts, and is quick at Repartee. But He never abuses his Wit, to create Uneafiness in the honeft Heart, or flush the modeft Cheek with Confufion.-What Solidity of Judgment, and Depth of Penetration, appear in Crito! Yet, how free are his Difcourfes, from the magisterial Tone, or the dictatorial Solemnity!-Philenor's Tafte in the polite Arts, is remarkably correct: yet, without the least Tincture of Vanity, or any weak Fondness for Applaufe. He never interrupts the Progrefs, or wrefts the Topic of Conver

*

Mitis Sapientia Leli,

HOR.

Is a most amiable Character, and delicately drawn. But is, I think, expressed with greater Strength, and fuperior Beauty, by the facred Penman; Let Him fhew out of a good Converfation his Works with Meekness of Wifdom. Jam. iii. 13.

Converfation; in order to fhine in his particular Province.-Trebonius, I find, has fignalized his Valour, in feveral Campaigns. Though a Warrior and a Traveler, He gives Himself no overbearing or oftentatious Airs. In Trebonius, You fee the brave Officer, regulated by all the Decency of the Academic, and fweetened with all the Affability of the Cour

tier.

No one affects a morofe Silence, or affumes an immoderate Loquacity*. To engross the Talk, is tyrannical: to feal up the Lips, is monkish. Every one, therefore, from a Fund of good Senfe, contributes his Quota: and each speaks, not with an Ambition to fet off Himself, but from a Defire to please the Company.

Ther. Indeed, Afpafio, I think myself happy, in this accomplished Set of Acquaintance. Who add all the Complaifance and Politeness of the Gentleman, to the Benevolence and Fidelity of the Friend.

Their Conversation is as innocent, as their Taste is refined.-They have a noble Abhorrence of Slander, and deteft the low ungenerous Artifices of Detraction.-No loofe eft, has either

* Zeno being prefent, where a Perfon of this loquacious Difpofition played Himself off, faid, with an Air of Concern in his Countenance; That poor Gentleman is ill, He has a violent Flux upon Him. The Company was alarmed, and the Rhetorician stopped in his Career. Yes; added the Philofopher, The Flux is fo violent, that it has carried his Ears into his Tongue.

either the Service of their Tongue, or the Sanction of their Smile. Was You to be with them, even in their freeft Moments; You would hear Nothing, that borders upon Profaneness, or is in the least injurious to Purity of Morals.

Afp. There is but one Qualification wanting, to render your Friends completely valuable; and their focial Interviews a continual Bleffing.

Ther. Pray, what is that?

Afp. A Turn for more ferious Conferences.Their literary Debates are beautiful Sketches, of whatever is moft curious in the Sciences, or most delicate in the Arts. From their Remarks on our national Affairs, and on foreign Occurrences, a Person may almost form a System. of Politics. But, they never touch upon any Topic of Morality; never celebrate the fublime Perfections of the DEITY; never illuftrate the Beauties, nor enforce the Truths

Ther. Fie upon You, Afpafio, for your unpolite Hint! Who can forbear interrupting an Harangue, that pleads for such an outrageous Violation of the Mode? Would introduce edifying Talk into our fashionable Affemblies!How is it that You, who, in other Inftances, are a Gentleman of Refinement, can be fo ftrangely inelegant in this Particular?

Afp. For fuch a Practice, Theron, We have no inconfiderable Precedents.-Thus Socrates*, the wifeft of the Athenian Sages, thus Scipio †, the most accomplished of the Roman Generals, converfed. Thus Cicero, the Prince of Orators, improved his elegant Retirement at the Tufculan Villa.-And Horace ||, the brightest Genius in the Court of Auguftus, formed the most agreeable Hours of his Conversation, upon this very Plan.

Was I to enumerate all the Patrons of this, forgive me if I fay, more honourable Mode; the moft illuftrious Names of Antiquity, would appear on the List.

Ther. This Practice, however extolled by the philofophic Gentry of antient Times; would make a very fingular Figure, in the present Age.

Afp. And should not the Copy, after which the Generality of Mankind write, be fingularly correct? Perfons of exalted Fortune, are the Pattern for general Imitation: are the Copy, in Conformity to which, the inferior World adjust

* Vid. Socratis Memorabilia, per Xenoph. + See Cicero's Dialogue De Amicitiâ. In which we are informed, That it was a cuftomary Practice with Scipio, with his polite Friend Lælius, and fonie of the moft diftinguished Nobility of Rome, to difcourfe upon the Interefts of the Republic, and Immortality of the Soul.

‡ Vid. Tufcul. Quæst.

Such were the Interviews, of which he speaks with a Kind of Rapture,

Notes Canaque Deúm!