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of being too quiet to enjoy Quiet, and too philofophical to be a Philofopher, were it not for the Ferment Lord B. will put you into. One of his Lordship's Maxims is, that a total Abftinence from Intemperance or Bufinefs, is no more PhiloSophy, than a total Compofition of the Senfes is Repofe; one muft Feel enough of it's contrary to have a Relifh of either. But after all, let your Temper work, and be as fedate and contemplative as you will, I'll engage you fhall be fit for his Lordship when you come to Town in the Winter. Folly will laugh you into all the Customs of the Company here; nothing will be able to prevent your Converfion to her, but Indifpofition, which I hope will be far from you. I am telling the worst that can come of you; for as to Vice, you are fafe, but Folly is many an honeft Man's, nay every good-humour'd Man's Lot: Nay, it is the Seafoning of Life; and Fools (in one Senfe) are the Salt of the Earth; a little is excellent, tho' indeed a whole Mouthful is juftly called the Devil.

So much for your Diversions next Winter, and for mine. I envy you much more at prefent, than I fhall then; for if there be on Earth an Image of Paradife, it is in fuch perfect Union and Society as you all poffefs. I would have my innocent Envies and Wishes of your State known to you all; which is far better than making you Compliments, for it is inward Approbation and Efteem. My Lord Digby has in me a fincere Servant, or would have, were there any occafion for me to manifeft it,

To

To the fame,

September 10, 1724,

- Dear Sir,

TAM glad your Travels delighted you, improve

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you I am fure they could not; you are not fo much a Youth as that, tho' you run about with a King of fixteen, and (what makes him ftill more a Child a King of Frenchmen. My own time has been more melancholy, fpent in an attendance upon Death, which has feized one of our Family, my poor old Nurfe. My Mother is something better, though at her advanced Age every Day is a Climacteric. There was joined to this an Indifpofition of my own, which I ought to look upon as a flight one, compared with my Mother's (becaufe my Life is not of half the Confequence to any Body, that her's is to me). All these Incidents have hinder'd my more speedy Reply to your obliging Letter.

The Article you enquire of, is of as little concern to me as you defire it fhould; namely the railing Papers about the Odysey. If the Book has Merit," (and fince you like it, it muft) it will extinguish all fuch nafty Scandal, as the Sun puts an end to ftinks meerly by coming out.

I wish I had nothing to trouble me more; an honeft Mind is not in the power of any difhonest one. To break it's Peace, there must be some Guilt or Consciousness, which is inconfiftent with it's own Principles. Not but Malice and InjuAice have their day, like fome poor short-lived Vermine, that die of fhooting their own Stings. Falfhood

Falfhood is Folly (fays Homer), and Liars and Calumniators at last hurt none but themselves, even in this World: In the next, 'tis Charity to fay, God have mercy on them! They were the Devil's Vice-gerents upon Earth, who is the Father of Lies, and I fear has a Right to difpofe of his Children.

I've had an Occafion to make these Reflexions of late, more juftly than from any thing that concerns my Writings, for it is one that concerns my Morals, and (which I ought to be as tender of as my own) the good Character of another very inhocent Perfon, who I'm fure fhares your Friendfhip no lefs than I do: ***** No Creature has better natural Difpofitions, or would act more rightly, or reasonably, in every duty, did the act by herself, or from herfelf; but you know it is the Misfortune of that Family to be governed like a Ship, I mean the Head guided by the tail, and that by every Wind that blows in it. W

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Dear Sir,

IT

To the fame.

December 28, 1724

2411

T is now the Season to wifh you a good end of one year, and a happy beginning of another; but both thefe you know how to make yourfelf, by only continuing fuch a Life as you have been long accustomed to lead. As for Good Works, they are things I dare not name, either to thofe that do them, or to thofe that do them not; the first are too modeft, and the latter too selfish to bear the mention of what are become either too old fa fhoned, or too private, to conftitute any Part of the Vanity or Reputation of the prefent Age. How ever, it were to be wifh'd People would now and then look upon Good Works as they do upon old Wardrobes, meerly in cafe any of 'em fhould by chance come into Fashion again; as ancient Fardingales revive in modern hoop'd Petticoats (which may be properly compared to Charities, as they cover a Multitude of Sins).

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certain antiquated

They tell me that at Charities, and obfolete Devotions, are yet fubfifting: that a thing called Chriftian Chearfulness, (not incompatible with Christmas Pyes and Plumb-broth) whereof frequent is the mention in old Sermons and Almanacks, is really kept alive and in Practice: That feeding the Hungry, and giving Alms to the Poor, do yet make a Part of good house-keeping, in a Latitude not more remote from London than fourfcore Miles: And lastly, that Prayers and Roastbeef actually make fome People as happy, as a Whore and a Bottle. But here in town I affure

you

at home.

you, Men, Women, and Children, I have done with thefe things. Charity not only begins, but ends Inftead of the four Cardinal" Virtues, now reign four Princely ones; we have cunning for Prudence, Rapine for Juftice, Time-ferving for Fortitude, and Luxury for Temperance. Whatever you may fancy where you live in a State of Ignorance, and fee nothing but Quiet, Religion, and Good Humour; the cafe is juft as I tell you where People understand the World, and know how to live with Credit and Glory.

I wish that Heaven would open the eyes of Men, and make 'em fenfible which of thefe is right: whether upon a due Conviction, we are to quit Faction, and Gaming, and High-feeding and Whoring, and take to your Country way; or you to leave Prayers, and Almsgiving, and Reading and Exercife, and come into our measures. I wish (I fay) that this Matter were as clear to all. Men, as it is to

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