When converse sweet, and beauty's fmile, From love and friendship's arms I'll flee, And when the haughty foe draws nigh, When the loud cannon's thund'ring roar And when life's journey's almost o'er, And death flies hov'ring o'er my head, No. No 41. Ingenium fibi quod vacuas defumfit Athenas, HOR. T IMITATED. The man who ftretch'd in Ifis' calm retreat To books and study gives feven years complete, The boys flock round him, and the people ftare, POPE. HERE is perhaps nothing more neceffary to the hap. pinefs of a man of letters than an habitual indiffer ence to the praise or cenfure of the world. He who learns to regard with much anxiety the opinion of others, and to regulate his happinefs by their frown or approbation, fub jects himself to the malice or caprice of all whom envy or vanity may excite to oppofe his claims. In proportion to his anxiety for fame, will be his difficulty to gain it. The man who awaits in filence till the applaufe of the world rewards his labours, has feldom much reafon to repent his caution; but he who betrays impatience for its praife, or anger at its cenfure, prefents, by his irritability and impru dence, an object to mankind of ridicule or hatred. Did this folly, however, extend to the circles of litera ture alone, it might affect the fame of its practiser, but it would not injure him in the general estimation of society. But it is too frequently carried into the circles of common life, and extends its influence to the receffes of domestic privacy. The man who knows the extent of his own abilities, and whofe talents or learning have gained him the applause of literature, is too apt to imagine that the fame homage will be paid him in the usual intercourse of mankind. He therefore obtrudes his remarks and opinions upon the attention of every company into which he is admitted, without any regard to propriety or decorum, and is furprised to discover in the end, that neither his learning nor judgment have excited admiration or respect. It should be remembered, however, that literature is not to all the chief pursuit of human life, that the mind muft fometimes be relieved from the cares of business or of study; that reflection and anxiety must fometimes be laid afide for gaiety and pleasure, and that, in the moments of relaxation, the convivial friend will be more willingly received than the dignified instructor. If the man of letters do not gain that applause in common converfation which he expected, he has not any reafon to diftruft his own abilities, but may reasonably afcribe his failure to the paffions and difpofitions of mankind. may may be doubted whether even the converfation of Johnson would have been agreeable to a circle of men affembled in the purfuit of gaiety and pleafure. Dignity and knowledge are neither refpected nor admired by the vctaries of fashion and frolic; but are rather confidered as intruders upon the general happinefs, and are therefore neglector defpifed. It is defirable, indeed, to unite the man of fashion and the scholar; to pleafe the frivolous by dignity and eafe, and the grave by philofophy and learning; but fuch attempts are feldom made without debafing the dignity of the fcholar, or defroying the politenefs of the gentleman. That feclufion which is required to form and improve the scholar, and that intercourfe with fociety which is neceffary to polish the man of fashion, it is feldom in the power human industry to unite. It is poffible, indeed, to support both of the characters with decency, but it is not easy to Shine in one without relinquishing the other. of As I before obferved, even the conversation of Johnson. was not probably such as would delight an affembly of men of fashion. Amid the playfulnefs of his humour, and his readiness of wit, there appears a bitterness of farcafm and a folemnity of expreffion, which would be little relished at a levee or a card-table. His form, indeed, was fuch as to prevent that eafinefs of addrefs which is the characteristic of the gentleman; but it cannot be proved that with all the advantages of external appearance he would A a 2 would have diftinguished himself equally as a courtier and an author. Of Addifon it is known that though in the company of his friends he difplayed wit, humour, eloquence, and learning, yet in the mixed fociety of the world, he was affected with a timidity which obfcured the luftre of his talents. He probably poffeffed the manners of a gentleman, 'but he wanted that confidence which is required to fhine in fashionable conversation. Pope and Warburton are feldem mentioned as above or below mediocrity. The behaviour of Swift was a compound of whimficallity and rudenefs. Gray was hanghty and fupercilious. Cowper was oppreffed by unconquerable timidity. Bolingbroke, though he fhone in converfation, is rather known for his perfonal accomplishments and this political intrigues, than for any depth of philofophy or extent of erudition. Chatterton fays of himself, that he had the happy art of pleafing in converfation, but befides allowing for the illufions of youthful vanity, we fhould remember that his learning was but mean, and the perfons with whom he formed his intimacies were perhaps neither remarkable for penetration nor politeness. Goldsmith was generally confidered as a foolish but good natured companion. Adam Smith was filent and unobtrusive. Chefterfield was a mafter and practifer of politenefs, but he is principally indebted for his literary fame to his knowledge of courts and |