tis alfo a very Delightful Exercife of our Rational Faculties:

VI

o yst And there is one Circumftance e is on in it which ought not to be forgotten, and with which I will clofe this part of my Argument. In Law we are ty'd down to Precedents; in Phyfick 'tis dangerous treading Untrodden Paths; in Divinity, Rea fon tho' flying before the Wind with all her Sails fpread must stop if an Article of Faith appears: But in This Study fhe has her full Courfe The Mind finds it felf intirely at Liberty, and with her Plumes winnows the buxom Air (to use Milton's Style.)

T

Sometimesm

She fcours the Right hand coaft, fometimes the Left, Now fhaves with level wing the Deep, then foars Up to the Empyrean tow'ring high.

This is a Pleafure which none but Thinking Men can be Senfible of, and Such know it to be one of

the

the Greatest and most Excellent they can enjoy,nor Isnoce 200 วอ ว Amino ai sech boA -109101 2: SECT. IV.dordw ti ni Ao4 lliw !

dw ww boa,05% I fancy an Author, and a Reader are as two People travelling together, if the Book be in Manu fcript, the Writer takes the Other into his Own Calafh; if it be Printed 'tis a Common Voiture. We have thus been in company longer than I expected, but are now entering upon the the last Day's journey. How my Fellow Traveller is affected I know not, but I confess I am pleafed I am so near Home.

'Twas formerly a trite faying among the Florentines (and may be fo ftill for ought I know) Cofa fatta, Capo hà; a thing done has a Head; that is, 'till then it has no Life, the Main circumftance is wanting,tis good for little. I am always glad when I clap on the Head

Head to any thing I undertake, bel cause then That Affair dis brought to the Perfection I can give it is Something and then moreover p am at liberty for a New Enterprize! When I am got to the end of the Prefent Work (and I am now come to the Laft General Divifion of it) I fhall have the fatisfaction of having done what I could for my Own Improvement; for he that endea vours to give Light to Another in any matter strikes up fome in his Own mind, which probably would never otherwise have kindled there and I fhall enjoy a Conscioufnefs of having try'd to be as Ufeful to the Publick as my Circumstances would enable me to be: I faw fomething of this kind was wanting, and did not perceive that 'twas very likely any one else would take the trouble of it. I have therefore offer'd my Prefent Thoughts on This New Subject, and in as good a Method

I could contrive.

I am too Sensible

of the Fallibility of Humane Under standing, and of my Own in particular to be too well Affured that I am Right Throughout and shall be glad to be better Inform'd if it appears that I am mistaken in any thing Material: And I have fome Pretence to such a Favour having foFreely communicated thofe Lights I believ'd I had acquired, and that with no small Labour, and Application, in a Matter which I conceiv'd might be of Ufe to the World. To be Mistaken is a Sin of Infirmity which I pretend not to be exempt from: To perfift in the Profeffion of an Error after Conviction is the Deadly Sin, and which I hope I never fhall commit.

We will Now go on; and fee what Advantages Connoiffance brings along with it. vas

w When I was reprefenting the Benefits that might accrue to the Pub

26

lick

lick by means of the Art of Painting, and Connoissance I prov'd it had a Natural tendency to Reform our Manners, Refine our Pleasures, and Increase our Wealth, Power, and Reputation. All these Advantages every Particular Connoiffeur will have if Prudence accompanies that Character. As to the two former no question can be made concerning Them: Nor of the two Latter, fuppofing we have those other, and that which alone remains to be confider'd, the Improvement of our Fortunes. Now tho' 'tis true a Man may employ fo much Money This way, and in Such a Manner as may not be proportionable to his Circumftances, nor Proper whatever Those are; Yet if (as faid) Prudence is mix'd with Connoiffance not only This Inconvenience will be avoided, but the con→ trary Advantage obtain'd, for Money may be as well laid out This

way