degree of good fortune to have known as

an enemy.

Letter to Dr. Douglas.

Assurance.

He whose stupidity has armed him against the shafts of ridicule, will always act and speak with greater audacity than they whose sensibility represses their ardour, and who dare never let their confidence outgrow their abilities.

Abstinence.

Rambler, vol. 3.

To set the mind above the appetites is the end of abstinence; which one of the fathers observes to be, not a virtue, but the ground-work of a virtue. By forbearing to do what may innocently be done, we may add hourly new vigour to resolution, and secure the power of resistance when pleasure or interest shall lend their charms to guilt. Idler, vol. 1.

Auction.

He that has lived without knowing to what height desire may be raised by vanity, with what rapture bawbles are snatched out of the hands of rival collectors; how the eagerness of one raises eagerness in another, and one worthless purchase makes

another necessary, may, by passing a few hours at an auction, learn more than can be shown by many volumes of maxims or essays. Idler, vol 2.

Atheist.

It has been long observed that an atheist has no just reason for endeavouring conversions; and yet none harass those minds, which they can influence, with more importunity of solicitation to adopt their opinions. In proportion as they doubt the truth of their own doctrines, they are desirous to gain the attestation of another understanding, and industriously labour to win a proselyte; and eagerly catch at the slightest pretence to dignify their sect with a celebrated name. Life of Sir T. Browne.

Anticipation.

Whatever advantage we snatch beyond a certain portion allotted us by nature, is like money spent before it is due, which, at the time of regular payment, will be missed and regretted. Idler, vol. 2.

Applause.

It frequently happens that applause abates diligence. Whoever finds himself to have performed more than was demand.

ed, will be contented to spare the labour of unnecessary performances, and sit down to enjoy at ease his superfluities of honour But long intervals of pleasure dissipate attention and weaken constancy; nor is it easy for him that has sunk from diligence into sloth, to rouse out of his lethargy, to re-collect his notions, re-kindle his curiosity, and engage with his former ardour in the toils of study. Rambler, vol. 3

Appearances (often deceitful.)

In the condition of men, it frequently happens that grief and anxiety lie hid under the golden robes of prosperity, and the gloom of calamity is cheered by secret radiations of hope and comfort; as in the works of nature the bog is sometimes covered with flowers, and the mine concealed in the barren crags. Ibid.

Army.

An army, especially a defensive army, multiplies itself. The contagion of enterprise spreads from one heart to another; zeal for a native, or detestation for a foreign sovereign, hope of sudden greatness or riches, friendship or emulation between particular men, or, what are perhaps more general and powerful, desire of novelty,

and impatience of inactivity, fill a camp with adventurers, add rank to rank, and squadron to squadron.

Memoirs of the King of Prussia.

Aphorisms.

We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because, for a time, they are not remembered: he may therefore justly be numbered among the benefactors of mankind, who contracts the great rules of life into short sentences, that may be easily impressed on the memory, and taught, by frequent recollection, to recur habitually to the mind.

Books.

Rambler, vol. 4.

"Books," says Bacon, " can never teach the use of books." The student must learn by commerce with mankind to reduce his speculations to practice, and accommodate his knowledge to the purposes of life. Ibid. vol. 3.

No man should think so highly of himself as to imagine he could receive no lights from books, nor so meanly, as to be

lieve he can discover nothing but what is to be learned from them.

Life of Dr. Boerhaave.

When a language begins to teem with books, it is tending to refinement, as those who undertake to teach others must have undergone some labour in improving themselves; they set a proportionate value on their own thoughts, and wish to enforce them by efficacious expressions. Speech becomes imbodied and permanent; different modes and phrases are compared, and the best obtain an establishment. By degrees one age improves upon another; exactness is first obtained, and afterwards elegance. But diction merely vocal is always in its childhood as no man leaves his eloquence behind him, the new generations have all to learn. There may possibly be books without a polished language, but there can be nɔ polished language without books. Western Islands.

Benefits.

It is not necessary to refuse benefits from a bad man, when the acceptance implies no approbation of his crimes: nor has the subordinate officer any obligation to exam