disarm it at once of all power of mischief, and to perform a public service of the most advantageous kind in which any man can employ his time and his talents. The voice, indeed, of an honest satirist, is not only beneficial to the world, as giving alarm against the designs of an enemy so dangerous to all social intercourse, but as proving likewise the most efficacious preventative to others, of assuming the same character of distinguished infamy. Few are so totally vitiated, as to have abandoned all sentiments of shame; and when every other principle of integrity is surrendered, we generally find the conflict is still maintained in this last post of retreating virtue. In this view, therefore, it should seem, the function of a satirist may be justified, notwithstanding it should be true, (what an excellent moralist has asserted) that his chastisements rather exasperate than reclaim those on whom they fall. Perhaps no human penalties are of any moral advantage to the criminal himself; and the principal benefit that seems to be derived from civil punishments of any kind, is their restraining influence upon the conduct of others. It is not every arm, however, that is qualified to manage this formidable blow. The arrows of satire, when they are not pointed by virtue as well as wit, recoil back upon the hand that directs them, and wound none but him from whom they proceed. Accordingly, Horace rests the whole success of writings of this sort upon the poet's being integer ipse, free himself from those immoral stains which he points out in others. There cannot, indeed, be a more odious, nor at the same time a more contemptible character, than that of a vicious sa tirist: Quis cœlum terris non misceat et mare cœlo, Si fur displiceat Verri, homicida Miloni?-Juv. The most favourable light in which a censor of this species could possibly be viewed, would be that of a public executioner, who inflicts the punishment on others, which he has already merited himself. But the truth of it is, he is not qualified even for so wretched an office; and there is nothing to be dreaded from a satirist of known dishonesty, but his applause. Adieu. INDEX. Νο. I. To Clytander.-Concerning enthusiasm Page To Palamedes.-Reflections on the Roman 5 7 10 15 17 19 IV. To Philotes.-On his travels. VI. To Orontes.-The character of Varus. VIII. To Clytander.-In favour of a particular 21 22 IX. To Timoclea. A panegyric upon riddles 28 XIII. To Philotes.-Written in a fit of the spleen 41 Dr. Tillotson's style. The care of the 古出 43 49 No. Page XVI. To Philotes.-Against cruelty to insects XIX. To Cleora.-Rallying her taste for mysti- XX. To Euphronius.-Observations upon some 59 72 74 XXIII. To Clytander.-Concerning his intentions XXVI. To Phidippus.-Reflections on generosity 85 XXVIII. To Phidippus.-Reflections upon the sen- XXIX. To the same.-Upon grace in writing country. XXXI. To Palamedes XXXII. To the same. The author's resolutions to continue in retirement. 100 XXXIII. To Palemon.-The character of Hortensia 102 ding-day XXXVI. To Clytander.-Reasons for the author's XXXVII. To Hortensius.-Concerning the style of XXXVIII. To the same.-Concerning the great vari- ety of characters among mankind. The |