N° CXXIX. TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1751. -NUNC, O NUNC, DEDALE, DIXIT, MATERIAM, QUA BIS INGENIOSUS, HABES. POSSIDET IN TERRAS, ET POSSIDET ÆQUORA MINOS. OVID. NOW DEDALUS, BEHOLD, BY FATE ASSIGN'D, MORALISTS, like other writ ers, instead of calting their eyes abroad in the living world, and endeavouring to form maxims of practice, and new hints of theory, content their curiofity with that fecondary knowledge which books afford, and think theinfelves entitled to reverence by a new arrangement of an ancient fyftem, or new illuftration of eftablished principles. The fage precepts of the firft inftructors of the world are tranfmitted from age to age with little variation, and echoed from one author to another, not perhaps without fome lofs of their original force at every repercuffion. I know not whether any other reason than this idlenefs of imitation can be affigned for that uniform and constant partiality, by which fome vices have hitherto efcaped cenfure, and fome virtues wanted recommendation; nor can I difcover why elfe we have been warned only againft part of our enemies, while the reft have been fuffered to steal upon us without notice; why the heart has on one fide been doubly fortified, and laid open on the other to the incurfions of error, and the ravages of vice. Among the favourite topicks of moral declamation, may be numbered the mifcarriages of imprudent boldnefs, and the folly of attempts beyond our power. Every page of every philofopher is crowded with examples of temerity that funk under burthens which the laid upon herfelf, and called out enemies to battle by whom he was deftroyed. Their remarks are too juft to be difputed, and too falutary to be rejected; but there is likewife fome danger left timorous prudence should be inculcated till courage and enterprize are wholly repreffed, and the mind congealed in perpetual inactivity by the fatal influence of frigorifick wifdom. Every man fhould, indeed, carefully compare his force with his undertaking; for though we ought not to live only for our own fakes, and though therefore danger or difficulty fhould not be avoided merely because we may expofe ourfelves to mifery or difgrace; yet it may be justly required of us, not to throw away our lives upon inadequate and hopelets defigns, fince we might, by a juft eftimate of our abilities, become more useful to mankind. There is an irrational contempt of danger which approaches nearly to the folly, if not the guilt, of fuicide; there is a ridiculous perfeverance in impracticable schemes, which is juftly punished with ignominy and reproach. But in the wide regions of probability, which are the proper province of prudence and election, there is always room to deviate on either fide of rectitude without rush ing against apparent abfurdity; and according to the inclinations of nature, or the impreffions of precept, the daring and the cautious may move in different directions without touching upon rafhness or cowardice. That there is a middle path which it is every man's duty to find, and to keep, is unanimously confeffed; but it is likewife acknowledged, that this middle path is fo narrow, that it cannot eafily be difcovered, and fo little beaten, that there are no certain marks by which it can be followed; the care, therefore, of all those who conduct others has been, that whenever they decline into obliquitics, they fhould tend towards the fide of fafety. K It can, indeed, raife no wonder that temerity has been generally cenfured; for it is one of the vices with which few can be charged, and which therefore great numbers are ready to condemn. It is the vice of noble and generous minds, the exuberance of magnanimity, and the ebullition of genius; and is therefore not regarded with much tenderness, because it never flatters us by that appearance of softness and imbecility which is commonly neceffary to conciliate compaffion. But if the fame attention had been applied to the fearch of arguments against the folly of prefuppofing impoffibilities, and anticipating fruftration, I know not whether many would not have been roufed to usefulness, who, having been taught to confound prudence with timidity, never ventured to excel, left they should unfortunately fail. It is neceffary to distinguish our own intereft from that of others, and that diftinction will perhaps affift us in fixing the just limits of caution and adventuroufnefs. In an undertaking that involves the happinefs or the fafety of many, we have certainly no right to hazard more than is allowed by thofe who partake the danger; but where only ourfelves can fuffer by mifcarriage, we are not confined within fuch narrow limits; and fill lefs is the reproach of temerity, when numbers will receive advantage by fuccefs, and only one be incommoded by failure. Men are generally willing to hear precepts by which eate is favoured; and as no refentiment is raised by general reprefentations of human folly, even in those who are most eminently jealous of Comparative reputation, we confefs, without reluctance, that vain man is ignorant of his own weaknefs, and therefore frequently prefumes to attempt what he can never accomplish; but it ought likewife to be remembered, that a man is no leis ignorant of his own powers, and might perhaps have accomplished a thousand defigns, which the prejudices of cowardice reftrained him from attempting. It is obferved in the golden verfes of Pythagoras, that power is never far from neceffity. The vigour of the human mind quickly appears, when there is no longer any place for doubt and hesitation, when diffidence is abforbed in the fenfe of danger, or overwhelmed by fome refiftleis paffion. We then foon difcover, that difficulty is, for the most part, the daughter of idleness; that the obstacles with which our way femed to be obstructed were only phantoms which we believed real, because we durft not advance to a clote examination; and we learn that it is impoffible to determine without experience how much conftancy may endure, or perseverance perform. But whatever pleasure may be found in the review of diftreffes when art or courage has furmounted them, few will be perfuaded to wish that they may be awakened by want or terror to the conviction of their own abilities. Every one should therefore endeavour to invi gorate himself by reason and reflection, and determine to exert the latent force that nature may have repofited in him, before the hour of exigence comes upon him, and compulfion fhall torture him to diligence. It is below the dignity of a realonable being to owe that strength to neceflity which ought always to act at the call of choice, or to need any other motive to induftry than the defire of performing his duty. Reflections that may drive away defpair cannot be wanting to him who confiders how much life is now advanced beyond the state of naked, undifciplined, uninftructed nature. Whatever has been effected for convenience or elegance, while it was yet unknown, was believed impoffible; and therefore would never have been attempted, had not fome, more daring than the reft, adventured to bid defiance to prejudice and cenfure. Nor is there yet any reafon to doubt that the fame labour would be rewarded with the fame fuccefs. There are qualities in the products of nature yet undifcovered, and combinations in the powers of art yet untried. It is the duty of every man to endeavour that fomething may be added by his induftry to the hereditary aggregate of knowledge and happineis. To add much can indeed be the lot of few, but to add fomething, however little, every one may hope, and of every roneft endeavour, it is certain, that, however unsuccessful, it will be at laft rewarded. No CXXX. N° CXXX. SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1751% NON SIC PRATA NOVO VERE DECENTIA SENZCA. SIR, NOT FASTER IN THE SUMMER'S RAY THE STRING'S FRAIL BEAUTY FADES AWAY, THAN ANGUISH AND DECAY CONSUME SOME BEAUTY'S SNATCH'D EACH DAY, EACH HOUR; TO THE RAMBLER. OU have very lately obferved, that the world, every clafs and order of mankind have joys and forrows of their own; we all feel hourly pain and pleasure from events which pafs unheeded before other eyes, but can scarcely communicate our perceptions to minds preoccupied by different objects, any more than the delight of well-difpofed colours or harmonious founds can be imparted to fuch as want the fense of hearing or of fight. I am fo ftrongly convinced of the juftness of this remark, and have on fo many occafions difcovered with how little attention pride looks upon calamity of which the thinks herfelf not in danger, and indolence liftens to complaint when it is not echoed by her own remembrance, that though I am about to lay the occurrences of my life before you, I question whether you will condefcend to perufe my narrative, or without the help of fome female fpeculatift be able to understand it. I was born a beauty. From the dawn of reafon I had my regard turned wholly upon myself, nor can recollect any thing earlier than praife and admiration. My mother, whofe face had luckily advanced her to a condition above her birth, thought no evil fo great as deformity. She had not the power of imagining any other defect than a cloudy complexion, ELPHINSTON. or difproportionate features; and therefore contemplated me as an affemblage of all that could raise envy or defire, and predicted with triumphant fondness number of my flaves. She never mentioned any of my young acquaintance before me, but to remark how much they fell below my perfection; how one would have had a fine face, but that her eyes were without luftre; how another ftruck the fight at a diftance, but wanted my hair and teeth at a nearer view; another disgraced an elegant shape with a brown fkin; some had fhort fingers, and others dimples in a wrong place. As the expected no happiness nor advantage but from beauty, the thought nothing but beauty worthy of her care; and her maternal kindnefs was chiefly exercifed in contrivances to protect me from any accident that might deface me with a fear, or stain me with a freckle: fhe never thought me fufficiently shaded from the fun, or fcreened from the fire. She was fevere or indulgent with no other intention than the prefervation of my form; the excufed me from work, left I fhould learn to hang down my head, or harden my finger with a needle; fhe fnatched away my book, because a young lady in the neighbourhood had made her eyes red with reading by a candle; but he would fcarcely fuffer me to eat, left I fhould fpoil my fhape, nor to walk left I fhould well my ancle with a sprain. At At night I was accurately furveyed from head to foot, left I fhould have fuffered any diminution of my charms in the adventures of the day; and was never permitted to fleep, till I had paffed through the cofmetick difcipline, part of which was a regular luftration, performed with bean-flower water and Maydews; my hair was perfumed with variety of unguents, by fome of which it was to be thickened, and by others to be curled. The foftnefs of my hands was fecured by medicated gloves, and my bofom rubbed with a pomade prepared by my mother, of virtue to discuss pimples, and clear difcolorations. I was always called up early, because the morning air gives a freshness to the cheeks; but I was placed behind a curtain in my mother's chamber, becaufe the neck is easily tanned by the rifing fun. I was then dreffed with a thoufand precautions; and again heard my own praises, and triumphed in the compliments and prognoftications of all that approached me. My mother was not fo much prepoffeffed with an opinion of my natural excellencies as not to think fome cultivation neceffary to their completion. She took care that I fhould want none of the accomplishments included in female education, or confidered neceffary in fashionable life. I was looked upon in my ninth year as the chief ornament of the dancing-mafter's ball; and Mr. Ariet ufed to reproach his other fcholars with my performances on the harpfichord. At twelve I was remarkable for playing my cards with great elegance of manner, and accuracy of judgment. At last the time came when my mother thought me perfect in my exercifes, and qualified to difplay in the thofe accomplishments which had yet open world only been difcovered in felect parties or domestick affemblies. Preparations were therefore made for my appearance on a publick night, which the confidered as the most important and critical moment of my life. She cannot be charged with neglecting any means of recommendation, or leaving any thing to chance which prudence could afcertain. Every ornament was tried in every pofition, every friend was confulted about the colour of my drefs, and the mantuamakers were haraffed with directions and alterations. At laft the night arrived from which 297 my future life was to be reckoned. I with a heart beating like that of an old was dreffed and fent out to conquer, knight-errant at his first fally. Scholars have told me of a Spartan matron, who, when the armed her fon for battle, bade him bring back his fhield, or be brought upon it. My venerable parent difmifglory, with a command to shew that I fed me to a field, in her opinion of equal was her daughter, and not to return without a lover. pleafing novelties with a tumult of apI went, and was received like other plause. Every man who valued himthe elegance of his addrefs, crowded felf upon the graces of his perfon, or about me, and wit and fplendor confully fatigued with inceffant civilities, tended for my notice. I was delightwhich were made more pleafing by the apparent envy of those whom my prefence exposed to neglect, and returned wealth to my utmoft wishes, and from with an attendant equal in rank and was followed by gazers in the Mall, this time flood in the firft rank of beauty, celebrated in the papers of the day, imitated by all who endeavoured to rife inage or difapppointment forced to retire. to fashion, and cenfured by thofe whom the hopes of feeing my exaltation, dref- that I had no other care than that of de- PP felf felf the want of fome power to diverfify amufement, and enliven converfation, and could not but fufpect that my mind failed in performing the promises of my face. This opinion was foon confirmed by one of my lovers, who married Lavinia with lefs beauty and fortune than mine, because he thought a wife ought to have qualities which might make her amiable when her bloom was past. The vanity of my mother would not fuffer her to discover any defect in one that had been formed by her instructions, and had all the excellence which the herfelf could boaft. She told me that nothing fo much hindered the advancement of women as literature and wit, which generally frightened away thofe that could make the best fettlements, and drew about them a needy tribe of poets and philofophers, that filled their heads with wild notions of content, and contemplation, and virtuous obfcurity. She therefore enjoined me to improve my minuet step with a new French dancingmafter, and wait the event of the next birth-night. I had now almost completed my nineteenth year: if my charms had loft any of their foftnefs, it was more than compensated by additional dignity; and if the attractions of innocence were inpaired, their place was supplied by the arts of allurement. I was therefore preparing for a new attack, without any abatement of my confidence, when, in the midft of my hopes and schemes, I was feized by that dreadful malady which has fo often put a fudden end to the tyranny of beauty. I recovered my health after a long confinement; but when I looked again on that face which had been often flushed with transport at it's own reflexion, and faw all that I had learned to value, all that I had endeavoured to improve, all that had procured me honours or praises, irrecoverably destroyed, I funk at once into melancholy and defpondence. My pain was not much confoled or alleviated by my mother, who grieved that I had not loft my life together with my beauty; and declared, that the thought a young woman, divefted of her charms, had nothing for which thofe who loved her could defire to fave her from the grave. Having thus continued my relation to the period from which my life took a new courfe, I fhall conclude it in another letter, if by publishing this you fhew any regard for the correspondence of, Sir, &c. VICTORIA. No CXXXI. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1751. FATIS ACCEDE DEISQUE, IT COLE FELICES; MISEROS FUGE. SIDERA COELO LUCAN. STILL FOLLOW WHERE AUSPICIOUS FATES INVITE; F. Lewis. HERE is fcarcely any fentiment preserve an invariable tendency, from Tin which, amidst the innumerable which they afterwards diverge in num varieties of inclination that nature or accident have scattered in the world, we find greater numbers concurring than in the wish for riches; a with indeed fo prevalent, that it may be confidered as univerfal and tranfcendental, as the defire in which all other defires are included, and of which the various purposes which actuate mankind are only fubordinate fpecies and different modifications. Wealth is the general center of incliMation, the point to which all minds berlefs directions. Whatever is the remote or ultimate defign, the immediate care is to be rich; and in whatever enjoyment we intend finally to acquiefce, we feldom confider it as attainable but by the means of money. Of wealth therefore all unanimoufly confefs the value, nor is there any difagreement but about the use. No defire can be formed which riches do not affift to gratify. He that places his happiness in fplended equipage or numerous |