the good of his people, will, in general be jumphs are defeated, his laurels are blasted, most trusted by them; he who best merits and he himself only remains,

their affection, will be most sure to obtain it, in spite of the arts of a cabal, or the turbu-lence of a faction.

To point a moral, or adorn a tale,

a lasting monument of the folly of ambition, and of the uncertainty of all projects of worldly grandeur,

his subjects, is not liable to such defeats. His path is plain; his duty is clear. By a vigilant, prompt, and impartial administration of justice, his object is to secure to the industrious the enjoyment of their honest

Pagan fable relates, that when the inferior gods had once formed a conspiracy to bind Jupiter, Minerva advised him to send But the monarch, on the contrary, whose for Briareus, the monster with the hundred nobler and more virtuous ambition prompts hands, to come to his assistance; the poets, him to employ his superior power of promo doubtless, intimating by this fiction, that wis-ting the internal prosperity and comforts of dom will always suggest to a prince, that his best security will ever be found in the ready attachment and assistance of the people. And it was a good practice which the famous Florentine secretary* records of the then king of France, that he would never allow gains; by a judicious use of his supreme any person to say, that he was of the king's power, to remove difficulties and obstrucparty, which would always imply that there tions, out of the way of commercial enterwas another party against him; whereas the prise, and to facilitate its progress; to reking prudently desired not to have it thought ward and foster ingenuity; and to encouthat there were any parties at all. And, in- rage and promote the various arts by which deed, wise sovereigns will study carefully civilized societies are distinguished and emto repress all narrowing terms, and dividing bellished; above all, to countenance and faideas. Of such sovereigns the people are the your religion, morality, good order, and all party. the social and domestic virtues. A monarch, Princes will have read history with little who makes these benevolent ends the objects attention if they do not learn from it, that of his pursuit, will not so easily be disaptheir own true greatness is so closely con-pointed. The reason is obvious; nothing nected with the happiness of their subjects, depends on a single individual. His plans as to be inseparable from it. There they will are carrying on through ten thousand chansee that while great schemes of conquest nels, and by ten thousand agents, who, while have always been productive of extreme suf-they are all labouring for the promotion of fering to the human race, in their execution, their own peculiar object, are, at the same they have often lead to ultimate dishonour time, unconsciously performing their funcand ruin to the monarchs themselves. Here- tion in the great machine of civil society. It in a pious mind will recognise the goodness is not, if we may change the metaphor, a of the Almighty, which, notwithstanding the single plant, perhaps an exotic, in a churlish temptations and impediments that, in this climate, and an unwilling soil, which raised probationary state, obstruct the progress with anxious care, a sudden frost may nip, and render difficult the practice of virtue in or a sudden blight may wither; but it is the private life, has yet held out to those, who wide-spread vegetation of the meadow, are endowed with kingly power, a strong in- which abundantly springs up in one unvariducement to use it for the promotion of their ed face of verdure, beauty and utility. people's happiness, by rendering such de- While the happy monarch, whose large and signs as tend to the gratification of many vi-liberal mind has projected and promoted cious appetites which they are most tempt- this scene of peaceful industry, has the saed to indulge, far more difficult of execution, tisfaction of witnessing the gradual diffusion than such as are prompted by benevolent of comfort; of comfort which, enlarging emotions, and have in view the advancement of civil and social happiness.

with the progress of his plans to their full establishment, has been completed; not like the successful projects of triumphant ambition, in the oppression and misery of subjųgated slaves, but in the freedom and happiness of a contented people.

Thus, projects of conquest and ambition are circumscribed and obstructed by a thousand inherent and unavoidable difficulties. They are often dependent for their success on the life of a single man, whose death per- To the above important objects of royal haps, when least expected, at once discon- attention, such a sovereign as we are concerts them. Often they depend on what is templating, will naturally add a disposition still more uncertain, the caprice or humour for the promotion of charitable and religious of an individual. When all is conceived to institutions, as well as of those whose more be flourishing and successful, when the pros-immediate object is political utility, proporperous enterpriser fancies that he is on the tioning, with a judicious discrimination, the very point of gaining the proud summit to measure of support, and countenance, to the which he has so long aspired; or at the very respective degree of excellence. To these moment when it is attained, and he is exult-will be superadded a beneficent patronage ing in the hope of immediate enjoyment,-at to men of genius, learning, and science. once he is dashed to the ground, his tri- Royal patronage will be likely not only to contribute to the carrying of talents into be

Machiavel.

neficial channels, but may be the means of preventing them from being diverted into such as are dangerous. And when it is received as an universally established principle, that the direction of the best abilities to none but the soundest purposes, is the way to insure the favour of the prince, it will be an additional spur to genius to turn its efforts to the promotion of virtue and of public utility. Such are the views, such the exertions, such the felicities of a patriot king, of a Christian politician!

CHAP. XXI.

their own restless way; they are anxiously looking out for some probable occurrence, which may draw them into notice, and are more eager to fish for fame, in the troubled waters of public commotion, than disposed to live in the quiet exercise of those habitual virtues, which, if general, would preclude the possibility of any commotion at all. These innovating reformers always affect to suppose more virtue in mankind, than they know they shall find, while their own practice commonly exhibits a low standard of that imaginary perfection on which their fallacious reasonings are grounded. There is scarcely any disposition which leads to this factious spirit more than a restless vanity,

The importance of royal example in pro- because it is a temper which induces a man moting loyalty. On false patriotism.to be making a continual comparison of himPublic spirit. self with others. His sense of his own supeA WISE prince will be virtuous, were it rior merit and inferior fortune, will fill his only through policy. The measure of his mind with perpetual competition with the inpower is the rule of his duty. He who ferior merit and superior fortune of those practises virtue and piety himself, not only above him. He will ever prefer a storm in holds out a broad shelter to the piety and which he may become conspicuous, to a calm virtue of others, but his example is a living in which he is already secure. Such a soilaw, efficacious to many of those who would disant patriot does not feel for the general treat written laws with contempt. The interests of his country, but only for that good conduct of the prince will make others portion of it which he himself may have a virtuous; and the virtuous are always the chance of obtaining. Though a loud depeaceable. It is the voluptuous, the prodi- claimer for the privileges of universal man, gal, and the licentious, who are the needy, he really sees no part of the whole circle of the unsettled, and the discontented, who human happiness, except that segment love change and promote disturbance. If which he is carving for himself. He does sometimes the affluent, and the indepen- not rejoice in those plentiful dews of heaven dent, swell the catalogue of public disturb- which are fertilizing the general soil, but in ers, they will frequently be found to be men of inferior abilities, used by the designing as necessary implements to accomplish their work. The one set furnish mischief, the other means. Sallust has, in four exquisite- But true public spirit is not the new-born ly chosen words, given, in the character of offspring of sudden occasion, nor the incidenone innovator, that of almost the whole tal fruit of casual emergency, nor the golden tribe,-Alieni appetens, sui profusus. But apple thrown out to contentious ambition. allegiance is the fruit of sober integrity; and It is that genuine patriotism, which best prefidelity grows on the stock of independent vents disturbance, by discouraging every honesty. As there is little public honour, vice that leads to it. It springs from a comwhere there is little private principle; so it bination of disinterestedness, integrity and is to be feared there will be little private content. It is the result of many long cheprinciple, at least, among young persons of rished domestic charities. Its seminal princirank, where the throne holds out the ex-ples exist in a sober love of liberty, order, ample of a contrary conduct. law, peace, and justice, the best safeguards

those which fatten his own pastures. 'It is not,' says the admirable South, from the common, but the inclosure, from which he calculates his advantages.'

It is true, that public virtue and public of the throne, and the only happiness of the spirit are things, which all men, of all par- people. Instead of that selfish patriotism ties, and all characters, equally agree to which, in ancient Rome, consisted in subextol, equally desire to have the credit of verting the comfort of the rest of the world, possessing. The reputation of patriotism is the public spirit of a British patriot is not eagerly coveted by the most opposite cha-only consistent with Christianity, but (mauracters; and pursued by the most contra-gre the assertion of a wit already quoted)* dictory means; by those who sedulously in a good degree dictated by it. His relisupport the throne and constitution, and by gion, so far from forbidding, even enjoins those who labour no less sedulously to sub-him to consider himself as such a member vert them. Even the most factious, those of the body politic, such a joint of the great who are governed by the basest selfishness, machine, that, remembering the defect of a aspire to the dignity of a character, against pin may disconcert a system, he labours to which their leading principle and their ac-fill up his individual part as assiduously as tual practice constantly militate. if the motion of every wheel, the effect of But patriots of this stamp are chiefly on every spring, the success of the whole opethe watch to exemplify their public spirit in

Soame Jenynɛ.

ration, the safety of the entire community |ing any. This genuine politeness resulting depended on his single conduct. This pa- from illustrious birth, inherent sense, and triotism evinces itself by sacrifices in the implanted virtue, will render superfluous rich, by submission in the poor, by exertions the documents of Chesterfield, and the inin the able, strong in their energy, but quiet structions of Castiglione. in their operation; it evinces itself by the But the acquisition of engaging manners, sober satisfaction of each in cheerfully filling and all the captivating graces of deportment, the station which is assigned him by Provi- need less occupy the mind of the royal perdence, instead of aspiring to that which is son, as she will acquire these attractions by pointed out by ambition, by each man per-a sort of instinct, almost without time or forming with conscientious strictness his own proper duty, instead of descanting with misleading plausibility, and unprofitable cloquence on the duties of other men.

CHAP. XXII.

On the graces of deportment.-The disposi tions necessary for business.-Habits of domestic life.

pains. They will naturally be copied from those illustrious examples of grace, ease, and condescending dignity, which fill, and which surround the throne. And she will have the less occasion for looking to remote, or foreign examples, to learn the true arts of popularity, while the illustrious personage who wears the crown, continues to exhibit not the warm affections of a people are won, only a living pattern by what honest means but by what rectitude, piety, and patriotism, they may be preserved, and increased, under every succession of trial, and every vicissitude of circumstance.

THOSE,' says lord Bacon, 'who are accomplished in the forms of urbanity, are apt to please themselves in it so much as seldom to aspire to higher virtue.' Notwithstanding Among the habits which it is important the general truth of the maxim, and the for a prince to acquire, there is not one high authority by which it comes recom-more essential than a love of business.— mended, yet condescending and gracious Lord Bacon has, among his essays, an admimanners should have their full share in fin-rable chapter, both of counsel and caution, ishing the royal character; but they should have only their due share. They should never be resorted to as a substitute for that worth, of which they are the best decoration. In all the graces of deportment, whatever appears outwardly engaging, should always proceed from something deeper than itself. -The fair fabric, which is seen, must be supported by a solid foundation which is out of sight; the loftiest pyramid must rise from the broadest base; the most beautiful flower from the most valuable root; sweetness of manners must be the effect of benevolence of heart; affability of speech should proceed from a well regulated temper; a solicitude to oblige should spring from an inward sense of the duty owing to our fellow-creatures; the bounty of the hands must result from the feelings of the heart; the proprieties of conversation, from a sound internal principle; kindness, attention, and all the outward graces, should be the effect of habit and dispositions lying in the mind, and ready to show themselves in action, whenever the occasion presents itself.

respecting despatch in affairs, which as it is short and pointed, the royal pupil, might commit to memory. He advises to measure despatch not by the time of sitting to business, but by the advancement of the business itself; and reprobates the affectation of those, who, to gain the reputation of meu of despatch, are only anxious for the credit of having done a great deal in a little time; and who abbreviate, not by contracting, but by cutting off.'-On the other hand, procrastination wears out time, and accomplishes nothing. Indistinctness also in the framing of ideas, and confusion in the disorderly disposition of them, perplex business as much as irresolution impedes it. Julius Cæsar was a model in this respect; with all his turbulence of ambition, with all his eagerness of enterprise, with all his celerity of despatch, his judgment uniformly appears to have been cool and serene; and even in the midst of the most complicated transactions, no perplexity is ever manifest in his conduct, no entanglement in his thoughts, no confusion in his expressions. Hence, we Just views of herself, and of what she cannot but infer, that an unambiguous owes to the world, of that gentleness which clearness in the planning of affairs, a lucid Christianity inculcates, and that gracious-order in arranging, and a persevering but ness which her station enjoins, will, taking not precipitate, despatch in conducting the usual advantages into the account, them, are the unequivocal marks of a supescarcely fail to produce in the royal pupil a rior mind. deportment, at once, dignified and engaging. Yet though distribution, order and arThe firmest substances alone are susceptible rangement, are the soul of business, even of the most exquisite polish, while the mean- these must not be too minute, for he that est materials will admit of being varnished. does not divide,' says the great authority True fine breeding never betrays any tinc-above cited, will never enter clearly into ture of that vanity, which is the effect of a business, and he who divides too much, will mind struggling to conceal its faults; nor of not come out of it clearly.'

that pride, which is not conscious of possess- | A prince should come to the transaction

of business, with a prepared, but not with a prejudiced mind: and the mind which is best furnished for the concern which it is about to investigate, while it will be least liable to be drawn aside by persuasion, will be most open to truth, and most disposed to to yield to conviction, because it will have already weighed the arguments, and balanced the difficulties.

A great statesman of that nation to which we are rather apt to ascribe steadiness than rapidity, has bequeathed a valuable lesson to princes for the despatch of business. It is well known that De Wit assigned as the chief reason why he had himself been enabled to prosecute such a multiplicity of concerns so easily was, by always doing one thing at a time.

ed; and, that they who show themselves displeased at truth, must not be surprised if they never hear it. In all their intercourse, they should not only be habituated to expect from others, but to practise themselves, the most simple veracity; they should no more employ flattery, than exact it. It will be necessary for them to bear in mind, that such is the selfishness of the human heart, that we are not disinterested in our very praises; and that, in excessive commendation, we commonly consider ourselves the more than the person we commend. It is often rather a disguised effect of our own vanity, than any real admiration of the person we extol. That flattery which appears so liberal is in fact, one of the secret artifices of self-love; it looks generous, but it is in reality covetous; and praise is not so much a free gift, as a mercenary commerce, for which we hope to receive, in return, more than an equivalent.

It is therefore important, not only fully to possess the mind with the affair which is under consideration, but to bestow on it an undivided attention, an application which cannot be diverted by irrelevant or inferior, Is there not something far more cunning objects; and to possess a firmness which can- than noble, in that popular art, which Pliny not be shaken from its purpose by art or recommends, to be liberal of praise to anflattery; cautions the more necessary, as other for any thing in which you yourself we are assured by a penetrating observer, excel?'-The motive is surely selfish, that that even the strong mind of Elizabeth was whether you deserve it or not, you may thus not always proof against such attacks. One either way, be certain of securing the supeof the secretaries of this great queen never riority to yourself-If censure wants the came to her to sign bills, that he did not tenderness of charity to make it useful, first take care to engage her in deep dis- praise requires the modesty of truth, and course about other weighty business, that, the sanctity of justice to render it safe. It is by thus pre-occupying her mind, he might observable, that in the sacred Scripture, draw off her attention from the bills to which we should do well always to consult which he wanted her signature. as our model, though there is sometimes For the private habits of life, and proprie- simple commendation, yet there is no excesty of conduct to those around her, queen sive praise, nor even the slightest tincture of Mary, as described by bishop Burnet and exaggeration.

Fowler, seems to have been a model. Her But there is a fault, the direct opposite to goodness was the most unostentatious, her flattery, which should with equal vigilance gentleness the most unaffected, her piety be guarded against. There is nothing which the most inwoven into her habits, her charity more effectually weans attachment, and obthe best principled, and her generosity the structs popularity, than the indulgence of inmost discriminating! Vanity and self-love temperate speech, and petulant wit. And seem to have been not merely outwardly re- they who in very exalted stations, unfortupressed from a sense of decorum, but to have nately feel a propensity to impetuosity or been inwardly extinguished; and she did not sarcasm, would do well, if they will not rewant the veil of art to conceal faults which press the feeling (which would be the shortwere not working within. She seems to est way) not to let it break out in pointed have united consummate discretion, with sentences, or cutting sayings, sharp enough the most conscientious sincerity. She could to give pain, and short enough to be rememdery, says her admiring biographer, the bered. It has this double disadvantage, most earnest solicitations, with a true firm- every wound made by a royal hand is mortal ness, when she thought the person for whom to the feelings of those on whom it is inflictthey were made, did not merit them. She ed; and every heart which is thus wounded, possessed one quality of peculiar value in is alienated. Besides, it is an evil, which her station, a gentle, but effectual method gathers strength by going.' The sayings of of discouraging calumny. If any indulged princes are always repeated, and they are a spirit of censoriousness in her presence, not always repeated faithfully. Lord Bacon continues he, she would ask them if they have read archbishop Tillotson's sermon on evil-speaking? or give them some other pointed, but delicate reproof.

records several instances of sovereigns who ruined themselves by this sententious indiscretion. The mischief of concise sayings, he observes, is that they are darts, supposPrinces should never forget, that where ed to be shot from their secret intentions, sincerity is expected, freedom must be allow-while long discourses are flat, less noticed, See especially bishop Burnet's essay on queen and little remembered.'

Mary.

manners,

CHAP. XXIII.

it, with proportionate diligence and caution.

On the choice of society.—Sincerity the bond of familiar intercourse.-Liberality.-In- If an insinuating favourite find it more stances of ingratitude in princes.-On advantageous to himself to flatter than to raising the tone of conversation-and of and obsequiousness will be practised. The counsel his prince, counsel will be withheld, prince, in return, will conclude himself to be always in the right, when he finds that he is never opposed; and the remembrance of his faults, and the duty of correcting them, will be obliterated in the constant approbation which he is confident of receiving.

PRINCES can never fall into a more fatal error, than when, in mixing with dishonourable society, they fancy, either that their choice can confirm merit, or their presence compensate for the want of it. It is, however, sometimes very difficult for them to Discretion is a quality so important in the discover the real character of those around royal person, that he should early be taught them, because there may be a kind of con- the most absolute controul over his own spiracy to keep them in the dark. But mind! He should learn, that no momentary there is one principle of selection, which will warmth of feeling should ever betray a in general direct them well, in the choice of prince into the disclosure of any thing which their companions, that of choosing persons, wisdom or duty requires him to conceal. who, in their ordinary habits, and in select- But while he is thus vigilantly careful not ing the companions of their own hours of re- to commit himself, he should seldom appear laxation, show their regard for morality and to entertain any distrust of those, in whom virtue. From such men as these, princes may more reasonably expect to hear the language of truth. Such persons will not be naturally led to connive at the vices of their master, in order to justify their own; they have no interest in being dishonest.

prudence forbids him to confide. There is scarcely a more unquestionable evidence of sound sense and self-possession, than never to seem burthened with a secret of one's own; nor a surer mark of true politeness, than not to pry curiously into that of another. The people are not unnaturally led to The perfection of behaviour,' says Livy, form their judgment of the real principles though he said it on another occasion, is for and character of the prince, from the con- a man (he might have said a prince) to reduct and marners of his companions and fa-tain his own dignity without intruding on the vourites. Were not the subjects of the un-liberty of another.

happy Charles I. in some degree excusable Those who have solicitations to make, for not doing full justice to the piety and mo- should never have reason given them to susral worth, which really belonged to his cha-pect, that they can work their way to the racter, when they saw that those who were royal favour by flatteries which sooth rather his most strenuous advocates, were, in gene- than by truths which enlighten. Above all ral, avowedly profligate and profane?It aa prince should avoid discovering such monarch have the especial happiness of pos-weaknesses as may encourage suiters to exsessing a friend, let him be valued as the pect success in their applications, by such a most precious of all his possessions. Let spirit of accommodation, such silly complihim be encouraged to discharge the best ments, servile sacrifices, and unworthy aduoffice of friendship, by finding, that the lation, as are derogatory to his understandfrankest reproofs, instead of generating a ing, and disgraceful to his character. * formality too fatally indicative of decaying affection, are productive, even when they may be conceived to be misplaced, of warmer returns of cordiality.

It would seem superfluous to guard the royal mind

against such petty dangers, did not history furnish so

many instances of their ill effects. How much the weak

from which we extract the following passage. In ad

vising his friend how to conduct himself in the king's presence, in order to advance his fortune, after some other counsel, he adds, Touch but lightly on religion, Do not of yourself say," this is good or bad;" but if it

were your majesty's good opinion, I myself should think so. In private discourse, the king seldom speaketh of

But kings, whether actual or expectant, vanity of king James I. laid him open to these despicamust not hope, in general, to find this honest ble flatteries, we have some curious specimens in a letfrankness. They must not expect to haveer of lord Thomas Howard to Sir John Harrington, their opinions controverted, or their errors exposed directly or openly. They should, therefore, accustom themselves to hear and understand the still small voice, in which any disapprobation will be likely to be conveyed; they should use themselves to catch a hint, and to profit from an analogy: they any man's temper, discretion, or good virtues; so medshould be on the watch to discover the sense dle not at all; but find out a clue to guide you to the which is entertained of their own principles heart, most delightful to his mind. I will advise one or conduct, by observing the language which thing: the roan Jennet, whereon the king rideth every is used concerning similar principles and con- day, must not be forgotten to be praised, and the good duct in others. They must consider them-furniture above all. What lost a great man much notice selves as lying under special disadvantages, the other day, a noble did come in suit of a place, and in respect to the discovery of truth, wher-saw the king mounting the roan, delivered his petition, ever they are themselves concerned; and which was heeded and read, but no answer given. The must, therefore, strive to come possessed of noble departed, and came to court the next day, and