collected themselves; Whether from a Natural Vivacity of Temper, an Affectation of appearing to be Rea dy at these things, or from whatever other Caufe; Such Sudden Opinions are commonly different from what the Same Perfon's more Deliberate Judgment is: But fuch is the Pride, and Folly of Some People that what they have Once faid, the Opinion they have once Efpous'd they will adhere to, how much in the Wrong foever they may find themselves to have been; and this rather than Own 'twas poffible for Them to have been Miftaken; Tho' that is common to the Wiseft of Men, and the perfifting in a Known Error None but a Fool (in That refpect at least) is capable of: That has no Dishonour in it, and oftentimes the Contrary; The Other is Shameful, and Ridiculous.

Some are Exorbitant in the Prai

T 2

fes

fes of what Themfelves Poffefs, and as much Depreciate every thing elfe; and that from Partiality on the one Hand, and pure Malice, and Ill Nature on the Other; but however it be, an Account is Thus given of Piatures, or Drawings very Different from what will be had from other Connoiffeurs. Just as I have feen Party-men in Civil, or Religious Matters represent the Cause they Espouse as without Spot, or Blemish, and that of their Opponents as utterly abfurd, and Mischievous; Whereas the Great Difference is in their Interefts, and Inclinations, not in their Judg

ments.

Men frequently Diffemble their Real Sentiments in Connoiffance; and that either with an Ill Intention, or very Justifiably. The first of Thefe Cafes many a Gentleman has known to have happened to his Coft in Some Inftances; and in More they never Have been, nor

ever Will be Undeceiv'd. There are Picture-Jockeys who will make what Advantage they can of the Credulity of Others, and their own Superiour Understandings in That Particular, and to that End affert what Themfelves believe to be -False,

Others again put on the Mask for Their Own Sakes in part, and partly for the Sakes of Other People. We frequently meet with Pictures, or Drawings which we know are not what The Owners of them take them to be: What can we do in This Cafe? What, but the Same as Every Wife Man Muft, and Will do in like Circumftances; and many Cafes there are in the World where Wife Men are Thought to think Otherwife than they do, becaufe they are too Wife to tell their Real Thoughts; the Maxim which Sir Henry Wootton recommended to Mr. Milton when he was entering

upon his Travels i Penfieri Stretti, il Vifo Sciolto. Clofe Thoughts, and an Open Countenance is as neceffary to be observ'd by Connoiffeurs, as Travellers, or any other Sort of Men whatsoever. Some Years fince a very Honeft Gentle man, a (Rough Man) came to me, and amongst Other Discourse with abundance of Civility invited me to his House. I have (fays he) a Picture of Rubens, 'tis a Rare good one; Mr. was t'other Day to fee it, and fays 'tis a Copy; G d him If any One fays That Picture is a Copy I'll break his Head, Pray Mr. Richardson will you do me the Favour to come, and give me YourOpinion of it. Mankind is generally difpos'd to Believe Thofe who tell them what they would have to be true; Not because their Affent is regulated by their Paffions, and differently from the Evidence as it Appears to Them; but they really

conceive

conceive a better Opinion of Thefe People, and think their Judgment is better than the Others; and Thefe kind of Arguments being what they rely upon in This Cafe, they appear Stronger on That Side than on the Other; their Minds being also more apply'd to the Confideration of Thefe, than Thofe Other.

And These People have a Degree of Happiness by Error in This Cafe which Truth would deprive them of, and confequently they would Suffer by it; And Truth, and Error are Indifferent to us, but as Either tends to our Good, that is to our Happiness; Or in other Words, the Degree of our Enjoyments, the whole Duration of our Existence being taken into the Account. In this World we probably Enjoy as much from our Ignorance, and Miftakes, as from our Knowledge, and True Judgments; And we are

many