Inftead therefore of thinking the number of new publications here too great, I could wish it ftill greater, as they are the moft ufeful inftruments of reformation. Every country must be inftructed either by writers or preachers; but as the number of readers increases, the number of hearers is proportionably diminished, the writer becomes more ufeful, and the preaching Bonfe lefs neceffary.

Instead, therefore of complaining that writers are overpaid, when their works procure them a bare fubfiftence, I fhould imagine it the duty of a ftate, not only to encourage their numbers, but their induftry. A Bonfe is rewarded with immenfe riches for inftructing only a few, even of the most ignorant of the people; and fure the poor fcholar fhould not beg his bread, who is capable of instructing a million.

Of all rewards, I grant, the moft pleafing to a man of real merit, is fame; but a polite age, of all times, is that in which scarcely any fhare of merit can acquire it. What numbers of fine writers in the latter empire of Rome, when refinement was carried to the highest pitch, have miffed that fame and immortality which they had fondly arrogated to themfelves? How many Greek authors, who wrote at that period when Conftantinople was the refined miftrefs of the empire, now reft either not printed, or not read, in the libraries of Europe! Thofe who came firft, while either ftate as yet was barbarous, carried all the reputation away. Authors, as the age refined, became more numerous, and their numbers. deftroyed their fame. It is but natural, therefore, for the writer, when confcious that his works will not procure him fame hereafter, to endeavour to make them turn out to his temporal intereft here.

Whatever be the motives which induce men to write, whether avarice or fame, the country becomes

moft

moft wife and happy, in which they moft ferve for inftructors. The countries, where facerdotal inftruction alone is permitted, remain in ignorance, fuperftition, and hopeless flavery. In England, where there are as many new books published as in all the reft of Europe together, a fpirit of freedom and reafon reigns among the people; they have been often known to act like fools, they are generally found to think like men.

The only danger that attends a multiplicity of publications, is that fome of them may be calculated to injure, rather than benefit fociety. But where writers are numerous, they alfo ferve as a check upon each other; and perhaps a literary inquifition is the moft terrible punishment that can be conceived, to a literary tranfgreffor.

But to do the English juftice, there are but few offenders of this kind; their publications in general aim at mending either the heart, or improving the common weal. The dulleft writer talks of virtue, and liberty, and benevolence with efteem; tells his true ftory, filled with good and wholesome advice ; warns against flavery, bribery, or the bite of a mad dog, and dreffes up his little useful magazine of knowledge and entertainment, at least with a good intention. The dunces of France, on the other hand, who have lefs encouragement, are more vicious. Tender hearts, languishing eyes, Leonora in love at thirteen, extatic tranfports, ftolen bliffes are the frivolous fubjects of their frivolous memoirs. In England, if a bawdy blockhead thus breaks in on the community, he fets his whole fraternity in a roar; nor can he escape, even though he should fly to nobility for fhelter.

Thus even dunces, my friend, may make themfelves ufeful. But there are others whom Nature has bleft with talents above the reft of mankind; men

capable

capable of thinking with precifion, and impreffing their thought with rapidity. Beings who diffuse those regards upon mankind, which others contract and fettle upon themselves. These deserve every honour from that community of which they are more peculiarly the children; to fuch I would give my heart, fince to them I am indebted for its humanity!

Adieu.

LETTER LXXV.

From Hingpo, to Lien Chi Altangi, by the way of Mofcow.

I STILL remain at Terki, where I have received that money which was remitted here in order to release me from captivity. My fair companion ftill improves in my esteem; the more I know her mind, her beauty becomes more poignant; fhe appears charming, even among the daughters of Circafia.

Yet were I to examine her beatity with the art of a ftatuary, I fhould find numbers here that far furpass her; Nature has not granted her all the boasted Circaffian regularity of feature, and yet fhe greatly exceeds the faireft of the country, in the art of feizing the affections. Whence, have I often faid to myself, this refiftlefs magic that attends even moderate charms though I regard the beauties of the country with admiration, every interview weakens the impreffion, but the form of Zelis grows upon my imagination, I never behold her without an increase of tenderness and refpect. Whence this injuftice of the mind in preferring imperfect beauty to that

which Nature feems to have finished with care? whence the infatuation, that he whom a comet could not amaze, should be aftonifhed at a meteor! When reason was thus fatigued to find an answer, my imagination purfued the fubject, and this was the refult.

I fancied myself placed between two landfcapes, this called the region of Beauty, and that the valley of the Graces; the one adorned with all that luxuriant Nature could beftow; the fruits of various climates adorned the trees, the grove refounded with mufic, the gale breathed perfume, every charm that could arife from fymmetry and exact diftribution were here confpicuous, the whole offering a profpect of pleasure without end. The valley of the Graces on the other hand feemed by no means fo inviting; the ftreams and the groves appeared juft as they usually do in frequented countries: no magnificent parterres, no concert in the grove, the rivulet was edged with weeds, and the rook joined its voice to that of the nightingale. All was fimplicity

and nature.

The moft ftriking objects ever first allure the traveller. I entered the region of Beauty with increafed curiofity, and promised myself endless satisfaction in being introduced to the prefiding goddefs. I perceived feveral strangers, who entered with the fame defign, and what furprised me not a little, was to fee feveral others haftening to leave this abode of feeming felicity.

After fome fatigue, I had at latt the honour of being introduced to the goddefs, who reprefented Beauty in perfon. She was feated on a throne, at the foot of which ftood feveral ftrangers lately in troduced like me; all regarding her form in extafy. Ab, what eyes! what lips! how clear her complexion! bow perfect ber shape! at thefe exclamations Beauty

with downcaft eyes, would endeavour to counterfeit modefty, but foon again looking round as if to confirm every fpectator in his favourable fentiments; fometimes fhe would attempt to allure us by fmiles; and at intervals would bridle back, in order to infpire us with refpect as well as tenderness.

This ceremony lafted for fome time, and had fo much employed our eyes, that we had forgot all this while that the goddess was filent. We foon, however, began to perceive the defect what, said we, among each other, are we to have nothing but languishing airs, foft looks, and inclinations of the head, will the goddess only deign to fatisfy our eyes? Upon this one of the company ftepped up to present her with fome fruits he had gathered by the way. She received the prefent moft fweetly fmiling, and with one of the whiteft hands in the world, but ftill not a word escaped her lips.

I now found that my companions grew weary of their homage; they went off one by one, and refolving not to be left behind, I offered to go in my turn; when juft at the door of the temple I was called back by a female, whofe name was Pride, and who feemed displeased at the behaviour of the company. Where are you baftening? faid fhe to me with an angry air, the goddess of beauty is here. I have been to vifit her, Madam, replied I, and find her more beautiful even than report had made her. And why then will you leave her? added the female. I have seen her long enough, returned I; I have got all her features by heart. Her eyes are ftill the fame. Her nofe is a very fine one, but it is ftill just fuch a nofe now as it was half an hour ago: could the throw a little more mind into her face, perhaps I should be for wifhing to have more of her company. What fignifies, replied my female, whether he has a mind or not; has fhe any occafion for mind, fo formed

as