ventured to excel, left they should unfortunately fail. It is neceffary to diftinguish our own interest from that of others, and that diftinction will perhaps aflift us in fixing the juft limits of caution and adventuroufnefs. In an undertaking that involves the happiness or the fafety of many, we have certainly no right to hazard more than is allowed by those who partake the danger; but where only ourfelves can fuffer by mifcarriage, we are not confined within fuch narrow limits; and ftill 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 eafe is favoured; and as no refentment 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 weakness, and therefore frequently prefumes to attempt what he can never accomplish; but it ought likewise to be remembered, that man is no less 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 refiftlefs paffion. We then foon discover, that difficulty is, for the most part, the daughter of idlenefs, that the obftacles with which our way feemed to be obftructed were only phantoms, which we believed real, because we durft not advance to a close examination; and we learn that it is impoffible to determine without experience how much conftancy may endure, or perfeverance 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 fhould therefore endeavour to invigorate 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 reasonable being to owe that ftrength to neceffity 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 despair, cannot be wanting to him who confiders how much life is now advanced beyond the ftate 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 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 undiscovered, 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 happiness. To add much can indeed be the lot of few, but to add fomething, however little, every one may hope; and of every honeft endeavour, it is certain, that, however unfuccefsful, it will be at last rewarded. Bb 4 NUMB. 130. SATURDAY, June 15, 1751. Non fic prata novo vere decentia Res eft forma fugax. Quis fapiens bono Not fafter in the fummer's ray The fpring's frail beauty fades away, The fmiling virgin's rofy bloom. Some beauty's fnatch'd each day, each hour; For beauty is a fleeting flow'r : Then how can wifdom e'er confide SIR, YOU To the RAMBLER. SENECA. ELPHINSTON. OU have very lately observed that in the numerous fubdivifions of 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 pass 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 fenfes of hearing or of fight. I am fo ftrongly convinced of the juftnefs of this remark, and have on fo many occafions discovered with how little attention pride looks upon calamity of which the thinks herself 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 peruse my narrative, or without the help of fome female fpeculatift to 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 praise and admiration. My mother, whose 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, or difproportionate features; and therefore contemplated me as an affemblage of all that could raise envy or defire, and predicted with triumphant fondnefs the extent of my conquefts, and the 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 struck the fight at a diftance, but wanted my hair and teeth at a nearer view; another difgraced an elegant shape with a brown fkin; fome had short fingers, and others dimples in a wrong place. As the expected no happiness nor advantage but from beauty, fhe thought nothing but beauty worthy of her care; and her maternal kindness was chiefly exercised |