a great heart, a courage so keen, and a nature so fearless, that no composition of the strongest limbs, and most harmonious and proportioned presence and strength, ever more disposed any man to the greatest enterprise; it being his greatest weakness to be too solicitous for such adventures; and that untuned tongue, and voice, easily discovered itself to be supplied and governed by a mind and understanding so excellent, that the wit and weight of all he said carried another kind of lustre and admiration in it, and even another kind of acceptation from the persons present, than any ornament of delivery could reasonably promise itself, or is usually attended with; and his disposition and nature was so gentle and obliging, so much delighted in courtesy, kindness, and generosity, that all mankind could not but admire and love him." After this extract from lord chancellor Clarendon, I beg leave to address myself to all little men, who are desirous to become great and wonderful, like Sir Lucius, entreating them to meditate attentively, for that end, on the following maxim of that other great chancellor, lord Bacon; which maxim may also serve as a sort of moral to this long paper on a short man: "Whosoever hath any thing fixed in his person that doth induce contempt, hath also a perpetual spur in himself to rescue and deliver himself from scorn." THE GENIUS, No. 2, Saturday, June 20, 1761. Mr. Colman, the author of this very humorous paper on little men, and who was, as he represents himself, in the character of the genius, not much more than five feet in height, might, had he survived a few years longer, have enrolled in his list of wonderful men of low stature, the present tyrant of the continent; who, however atrocious in a moral and political light, must be allowed, even by those who detest him most, to be a warrior of consummate skill. To the many energetic passages on British liberty, which the power and subtlety of this inveterate foe to the constitution of our country have called forth, I beg leave to add one from a poem just published under the title of "the Sabine Farm," the production of Robert Bradstreet, Esq.; lines that appear to me, both in strength and spirit, equal to any which the sacred fire of freedom has inspired: Not vainly Hampden, Russel, Sidney bled- The general heart is sound: the general cry No. CII. -Qui vitæ servaret munia recto More; bonus sane vicinus, amabilis hospes, HORAT. In every walk of life his conduct scan, A broken bottle with a broken head. COLMAN. Or all the qualifications of the mind, which are not positive virtues, I do not know any that is more desirable than good humour. No quality renders the possessor more easy and happy in himself, or recommends him more forcibly to other people. Virtue itself receives additional lustre, abates the rigid severity of its character, and takes its most ravishing graces and embellishments from such a disposition; a disposition so amiable in its nature, that even a man of loose principles, when of so agreeable a turn, often conciliates to himself many friends and wellwishers. The men, at least, allow that he is a pleasant fellow, court his company, and account him nobody's enemy but his own; while the women call him a dear agreeable creature, and declare that though, to be sure, he is a wild devil, it is quite impossible to be angry with him. It is hardly saying too much in favour of this quality, to assert that it is one of the first requisites in society; for though strict honour and integrity are of more essential value in the grand purposes of human life, yet good humour, like small money, is of more immediate use in the common commerce of the world. There is no situation in life, no engagement in business, or party in pleasure, wherein it will not contribute to mitigate disappointments, or heighten enjoyment. A husband, friend, acquaintance, master, or even servant, however faithful or affectionate, will occasion many miserable hours to himself, as well as to those with whom he is connected, if his virtues are not seasoned with good humour; and whether he is a partner for life, or a partner in a country dance, an associate in great and mighty undertakings, or a companion in a post-chaise, he should, on every occasion, cherish and keep alive this agreeable disposition. Some persons may almost be said to be of a good-humoured complexion, and seem to be constitutionally endued with this amiable turn of mind: a blessing for which they may thank heaven with the same kind of gratitude that he ought to feel who experiences the comforts of being born in a delightful and temperate climate. My fellow-countrymen, I think, are many of them deficient in that airy pleasantness, and cheerful temper, that distinguishes this quality and as our climate, while it answers all the purposes of use and plenty, yet seldom affords us blue skies, or tempts us to cool grots and purling streams, to lie down on the damp grass, or to those other rural delights so often mentioned by the poets; so the English themselves, though overflowing with humanity and benevolence, suffer clouds of gloomy thoughts to come over their minds, and, however they must be allowed to be good-natured, are seldom remarkable for being good-humoured. Yet this half virtue is worth cultivation, as it bestows new charms on that real one. Good humour is the fair weather of the soul, that calms the turbulent gusts of passion, and diffuses a perpetual gladness and serenity over the heart; and he that finds his temper naturally inclined to break out into sudden bursts of fretfulness and ill humour, should be as much upon his guard to repress the storm that is for ever beating in his mind, as to fence against the inclemencies of the season. We are naturally attach |