kr

age, fays he, and the most natural state re of man."

BELIEVE me, however, I am not in the mistake of those whom you justly condemn, as imagining that wisdom is the companion only of retirement, and that virtue enters not the more open and confpicuous walks of life: but I will confess at the same time, that tho it is to Tully I give my applause, it is Atticus that has my affection.

Κ

"LIFE, fays a celebrated antient, may be compared to the Olympic games: fome "enter into those affemblies for glory, and "others for gain; while there is a third party (and those by no means the most contemptible) who choose to be merely fpectators." I need not tell you, Palamedes, how early it was my inclination to be numbered with the laft: and as nature has not formed me with powers, am I not obliged to her for having divefted me of every inclination, for bearing a part in the ambitious contentions of the world? Providence, indeed, seems to have defigned fome tempers for the obfcure fcenes of life; as there are fome plants which flourish best in the shade. But the lowest shrub has its

ufe, you are fenfible, as well as the loftieft oak and, perhaps, your friend may find some method of convincing you, that even the humblest talents are not given in vain. Farewel.

I

LETTER XXXIII.

To PALEMO n.

May 28, 1748.

is it poffible you can thus descend from the highest concerns to the lowest, and, after deliberating upon the affairs of Europe, have the humility to inquire into mine? But the greatest statesmen, it seems, have their trifling as well as their serious hours I have red of a Roman conful that amused himself with gathering cocklefhells, and of a Spartan monarch who was found riding upon a hobby-horse. Or fhall I rather say, that friendship gilds every object upon which the fhines? I am fure at leaft, it is the fingular character of Palemon to preserve that generous flame in all its ftrength and luftre amidst that ambitious atmosphere,

atmosphere, which is generally esteemed fo unfavorable to every brighter affection.

IT is upon one or other of those principles alone, that you can be willing to fufpend your own more important engagements, by attending to an account of mine. They have lately, indeed, been more diverfified than usual; and I have passed these three months in a continual fucceffion of new scenes. The most agreable, as well as the fartheft part of my progress, was to the feat of Hortenfius: and I am perfuaded you will not think my travels have been in vain, fince they afford me an opportunity of informing you, that our friend is in poffeffion of all that happiness which I am fure you with him. It is probable, however, you have not yet heard that he owes the chief part of it to female merit; for his marriage was concluded even before thofe friends, who are most frequently with him, had the leaft fufpicion of his intentions. But tho he had some reasons for concealing his defigns, he has none for being ashamed of them now they are executed. I fay not this from any hafty approbation, but as having long known and esteemed the lady whom he has L3 chosen :

chofen and as there is a pleasure in bring ing two perfons of merit to the knowledge of each other, will you allow me, in the remainder of this letter, to introduce her to your acquaintance?

HORTENSIA is of a good ftature, and perfectly well proportioned; but one cannot fo properly fay her air is genteel, as that it is pleafing for there is a certain unaffected carelesnefs in her drefs and mien, that wins by degrees rather than strikes at firft fight. If you were to look no farther than the upper part of her face, you would think her handsome; were you only to examine the lower, you would immediately pronounce the reverse; yet there is fomething in her eyes, which, without any pretence to be called fine, gives fuch an agreable liveliness to her whole countenance, that you fcarce obferve, or foon forget, all her features are not regular. Her converfation is rather chearful than gay, and more inftructive than fprightly. But the principal and most diftinguished faculties of her mind are her memory and her judgment, both which fhe poffeffes in a far higher degree than one ufually finds even in perfons of our fex. She

has

has red most of the capital authors both in French and English; but her chief and favorite companions of that kind have lain among the historical and dramatic writers. There is hardly a remarkable event in antient or modern story, of which she cannot give a very clear and judicious account; as The is equally well versed in all the principal characters and incidents of the most approved stage-compofitions. The mathematics is not wholly a stranger to her: and tho she did not think proper to pursue her enquiries of that kind, to any great length; yet the very uncommon facility with which she entered into the reasonings of that science, plainly discovered she was capable of attaining a thorough knowledge of all its moft abftruse branches. Her tafte in performances of polite literature is always juft; and she is an excellent critic, without knowing any thing of the artificial rules of that science. Her obfervations, therefore, upon fubjects of that fort, are fo much the more to be relied upon, as they are the pure and unbiaffed dictates of nature and good-fenfe. Accordingly Hortenfius, in the several pieces, which, you know, he