age, fays he, and the most natural state * 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 confefs at the fame time, that tho' it is to Tully I give my applause, it is Atticus that has my affection.

"LIFE, fays a celebrated antient, may be "compared to the Olympic games: fome "enter into those assemblies 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 divested 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 fhade. But the lowest fhrub has its

use, you are sensible, as well as the loftieft oak: and, perhaps, your friend may find fome method of convincing you, that even the humbleft talents are not given in vain. Farewel.

LETTER

XXXIII.

To PALE MON.

May 28, 1748.

Is

S it poffible you can thus defcend from the highest concerns to the lowest, and, after deliberating upon the affairs of Europe, have the humility to inquire into mine? But the greateft ftatefmen, it seems, have their trifling as well as their serious hours; I have read of a Roman couful that amused himself with gathering cocklefhells, and of a Spartan monarch who was found riding upon a hobby-horse. Or fhall I rather fay, 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,

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atmosphere, which is generally esteemed so 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 diversified than usual; and I have paffed these three months in a continual fucceffion of new fcenes. The most agreeable, as well as the farthest part of my progrefs, 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 those friends, who are most frequently with him, had the least 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 efteemed the lady whom he has L.3 chofen:

chofen: and as there is a pleasure in bringing 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 stature, and perfectly well porportioned; but one cannot so properley say her air is genteel, as that it is pleasing: for there is a certain unaffected carelessness in her drefs and mien, that wins by degrees rather than strikes at first sight; 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 agreeable liveliness to her whole countenance, that you scarce obferve, or soon 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 the poffeffes in a far higher degree than one ufually finds even in perfons of our sex. She

has

has read most of the capital authors both in French and English; but her chief and favorite companions of that kind have lain among the hiftorical and dramatic writers. There is hardly a remarkable event in antient or modern ftory, which she cannot give a very clear and judicious account; as fhe is equally well verfed in all the principal characters and incidents of the most opproved stage-compofitions. The mathematics is not wholly a ftranger to her: and tho' fhe did not think proper to perfue her enquiries of that kind, to any great length; yet the very uncommon facility with which she entered into the reasonings of that fcience, plainly difcovered the was 'capable of attaining a thorough knowledge of all its most abftruse branches. Her tafte in performances of polite literature, is always juft; and he is an excellent critic, without knowing any thing of the artificial rules of that science. Her obfervations, therefore, upon subjects 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 feveral pieces, which, you know, he

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has