NUMB. 87. TUESDAY, January 15, 1751. Invidus, iracundus, iners, vinofus, amator, Nemo adeo ferus eft, ut non mitefcere poffit, The flave to envy, anger, wine, or love, HOR. FRANCIS. HAT few things are fo liberally beftowed, TH or fquandered with fo little effect, as good advice, has been generally obferved; and many fage pofitions have been advanced concerning the reasons of this complaint, and the means of removing it. It is indeed an important and noble enquiry, for little would be wanting to the happiness of life, if every man could conform to the right as foon as he was fhown it. This perverfe neglect of the most falutary precepts, and ftubborn refiftance of the most pathetick perfuafion, is ufually imputed to him by whom the counsel is received, and we often hear it mentioned as a fign of hopeless depravity, that though good advice was given, it has wrought no reformation. Others, who imagine themselves to have quicker fagacity and deeper penetration, have found out, that the inefficacy of advice is ufually the fault of the counsellor, and rules have been laid down, by which this important duty may be fuccessfully perVOL. VI. H formed: formed: We are directed by what tokens to discover the favourable moment at which the heart is dif pofed for the operation of truth and reafon, with what address to adminifter, and with what vehicles to difguife the catharticks of the foul. But, notwithstanding this fpecious expedient, we find the world yet in the fame state; advice is ftill given, but still received with difguft; nor has it appeared that the bitterness of the medicine has been yet abated, or its power encreafed, by any methods of preparing it. If we confider the manner in which those who affume the office of directing the conduct of others execute their undertaking, it will not be very wonderful that their labours, however zealous or affectionate, are frequently ufelefs. For what is the advice that is commonly given? A few general maxims, enforced with vehemence and inculcated with importunity, but failing for want of particular reference and immediate application. It is not often that any man can have fo much knowledge of another, as is neceffary to make inftruction ufeful. We are fometimes not ourselves confcious of the original motives of our actions, and when we know them, our first care is to hide them from the fight of others, and often from thofe most diligently, whofe fuperiority either of power or understanding may intitle them to infpect our lives, it is therefore very probable that he who endeavours the cure of our intellectual maladies, miftakes their caufe; and that his prefcriptions avail nothing, becaufe he knows not which of the paffions or defires is vitiated. 6 Advice, Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of fuperiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is moft neceffary or moft judicious. But for the fame reafon every one is eager to instruct his neighbours. To be wife or to be virtuous, is to buy dignity and importance at a high price; but when nothing is neceffary to elevation but detection of the follies or the faults of others, no man is so insensible to the voice of fame as to linger on the ground. Tentanda via eft, qua me quoque poffim VIRG. New ways I muft attempt, my groveling name Vanity is fo frequently the apparent motive of advice, that we, for the most part, fummon our powers to oppofe it without any very accurate enquiry whether it is right. It is fufficient that another is growing great in his own eyes at our expence, and affumes authority over us without our permission; for many would contentedly fuffer the confequences of their own mistakes, rather than the infolence of him who triumphs as their deliverer. It is, indeed, feldom found that any advantages are enjoyed with that moderation which the uncertainty of all human good fo powerfully enforces; and therefore the adviser may juftly fufpect, that he has inflamed the oppofition which he laments by arrogance and fupercilioufnefs. He may fufpect, but needs not haftily to condemn himself, for he can rarely be certain that the fofteft language or most humble H 2 humble diffidence would have escaped refentment; fince scarcely any degree of circumfpection can prevent or obviate the rage with which the flothful, the impotent, and the unfuccefsful, vent their difcontent upon those that excel them. Modefty itself, if it is praised, will be envied; and there are minds fo impatient of inferiority, that their gratitude is a fpecies of revenge, and they return benefits, not becaufe recompence is a pleasure, but because obligation is a pain. The number of thofe whom the love of themfelves has thus far corrupted, is perhaps not great; but there are few fo free from vanity, as not to dictate to those who will hear their inftructions with a visible fenfe of their own beneficence; and few to whom it is not unpleafing to receive documents, however tenderly and cautiously delivered, or who are not willing to raise themfelves from pupillage, by dif puting the propofitions of their teacher. It was the maxim, I think, of Alphonfus of Arragon, that dead counfellers are fafeft. The grave puts an end to flattery and artifice, and the information that we receive from books is pure from intereft, fear, or ambition. Dead counsellors are likewise moft inftructive; because they are heard with patience and with reverence. We are not unwilling to believe that man wifer than ourselves, from whofe abilities we may receive advantage, without any danger of rivalry or oppofition, and who affords us the light of his experience, without hurting our eyes by flashes of infolence. By the confultation of books, whether of dead or living authors, many temptations to petulance and oppofition, oppofition, which occur in oral conferences, are avoided. An author cannot obtrude his advice unasked, nor can be often fufpected of any malignant intention to infult his readers with his knowledge or his wit. Yet fo prevalent is the habit of comparing ourselves with others, while they remain within the reach of our paffions, that books are feldom read with complete impartiality, but by thofe from whom the writer is placed at such a distance that his life or death is indifferent. We fee that volumes may be perufed, and perused with attention, to little effect; and that maxims of prudence, or principles of virtue, may be treasured in the memory without influencing the conduct. Of the numbers that pass their lives among books, very few read to be made wifer or better, apply any general reproof of vice to themselves, or try their own manners by axioms of justice. They purpose either to confume those hours for which they can find no other amusement, to gain or preserve that respect which learning has always obtained; or to gratify their curiofity with knowledge, which, like treasures buried and forgotten, is of no use to others or themfelves. "The preacher (fays a French author) may spend "an hour in explaining and enforcing a precept of "religion, without feeling any impreffion from his own performance, because he may have no further "design than to fill up his hour." A ftudent may eafily exhauft his life in comparing divines and moralifts, without any practical regard to morality or religion; he may be learning not to live, but to reafon; he may regard only the elegance of style, just |