Chearfulness. The Misfortunes of private Families, the Misunderstandings of People whom Diftreffes make fufpicious, the Coldneffes of Relations whom Change of Religion may dif unite, or the Neceflities of half. ruin'd Eftates render unkind to each other; thefe at least may be foften'd in fome de grees, by a general well-manag'd Humanity among ourselves, if all thofe who have your Principles of Belief, had alfo your Senfe and Conduct. But indeed most of 'em have given lamentable* proofs of the contrary, and 'tis to be apprehended that they who want Senfe,are only religious thro'Weakness, and good-natur'd thro' Shame: Thefe are narrow-minded Creatures that never deal in Effentials; their Faith never looks be yond Ceremonials, nor their Charity beyond Relations. As poor as I am, I would gladly relieve any diftreffed, confcientious French Refugee at this inftant: what must my Concern then be, when I perceive fo many Anxieties now tearing thofe Hearts. which I have desired a place in, and Clouds of Melancholy rifing on thofe Faces which I have long look'd upon with Affection? I begin already to feel both what fome apprehend, and what others are yet too ftu

This was written in the Year of the Affair of Prefton.

pid to apprehend. I grieve with the Old, for fo many additional Inconveniences, and Chagrins, more than their small Remain of Life feem'd deftin'd to undergo; and with the Young, for fo many of those Gayeties and Pleasures (the Portion of Youth) which they will by this means be depriv'd of. This brings into my mind one or other of those I love beft, and among them the Widow and Fatherlefs, late of-As I am certain no People living had an earlier and truer Sense of others Misfortunes, or a more generous Refignation as to what might be their own; fo I earnestly wish, that whatever part they muft bear may be render'd as fupportable to them, as it is in the power of any Friend to make it.

But I know you have prevented me in this Thought, as you always will in any thing that's good, or generous: I find by a Letter of your Lady's (which I have feen) that their Eafe and Tranquility is part of your Care. I believe there's fome Fatality in it, that you should always, from time to time, be doing thofe particular things that make me enamour'd of you.

I write this from Windfor Foreft, of which I am come to take my last look. We here bid our Neighbours adieu, much as those who go to be hang'd do their FellowPrifoners, who are condemn'd to follow

1

them

them a few weeks after. I parted from honeft Mr. Dwith tenderness; and from old Sir William Trumball as from a venerable Prophet, foretelling with lifted hands the Miferies to come, from which he is juft going to be remov'd himself.

Perhaps, now I have learnt fo far as

Nos Dulcia linquimus arva,

b. My next Leffon may be

Nos Patriam fugimus―

Let that, and all elfe be as Heaven pleases! I have provided juft enough to keep me a "Man of Honour. I believe you and I fhall never be afham'd of each other. I know I with my Country well; and if it undoes me, it fhall not make me with it otherwife.

I

Dear Sir,

To the fame.

June 22. 1716.

Foa Regard both to Publick and Private Affairs may plead a lawful Excufe in behalf of a negligent Correfpondent, I have really a very good Title to it: I cannot fay M 3 whe

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whether 'tis a Felicity or Unhappiness, that I am obliged at this time to give up my whole Application to Homer; when without that Employment, my Thoughts must turn upon what is lefs agreeable, the Violence, Madnefs and Refentment of modern War-makers, which are likely to prove (to fome People at leaft) more fatal, than the fame Qualities in Achilles did to his unfortunate Countrymen.

A

Tho' the change of my Scene of Life, from Windfor Foreft to the Side of the Thames, be one of the grand Era's of my days, and may be called a notable Period in fo inconfiderable a Hiftory; yet you can fcarce imagine any Hero paffing from one Stage of Life to another, with fo much Tranquillity, fo eafy a Tranfition, and fo laudable a Behaviour. I am become fo truly a Citizen of the World (according to Plato's Expreflion) that I look with equal Indifference on what I have loft, and on what I have gained. The Times and Amusements paft are not more like a Dream to me, than thofe which are present: I lie in a refreshing kind of Inaction, and have one Comfort at leaft from Obfcurity, that the Darkness helps me to fleep the better. I now and their reflect upon the Enjoyment of my Friends, whom I fancy I remember much as feparate Spirits do us, at tender Intervals,

Intervals, neither interrupting their own Employments, nor altogether carelefs of ours: but in general conftantly withing us well, and hoping to have us one day in their Company.

To grow indifferent to the World is to grow Philofophical, or Religious; (whichfoever of thofe Turns we chance to take) and indeed the World is fuch a thing as one that thinks pretty much, muft either laugh at, or be angry with: But if we laugh at it, they fay we are proud; and if we are angry with it, they fay we are ill-natur'd, So the most politic Way is to feem always better pleas'd than one can be, greater Admirers, greater Lovers, and in fhort greater Fools, than we really are: So fhall we live comfortably with our Families, quietly with our Neighbours, favour'd by our Masters, and happy with our Miftreffes. I have filled my Paper, and fo adieu.

3.£f bus nofia to bas Sept. 8. 1717. 2. Dear Sir, vous

I

Think your leaving England was like a good Man's leaving the World,

.

12 with the bleffed Confcience of having acted