It is perhaps one of the severest misfortunes of the great, that they are, in general, obliged to live among men whose real virtue is lessened by dependence, and whose minds are enslaved by obligation. The humble companion may have at first accepted patronage with generous views, but soon he feels the mortifying influence of conscious inferiority, by degrees sinks into a flatterer, and from flattery at last degenerates into stupid veneration. To remedy this the great often dismiss their old dependants, and take new. Such changes are falsely imputed to levity, falshood, or caprice in the patron, since they may be more justly ascribed to the client's gradual deteri

oration.

No, my son, a life of independence is generally a life of virtue. It is that which fits the soul for every generous flight of humanity, freedom, and friendship. To give should be our pleasure, but to receive our shame; serenity, health, and affluence attend the desire of rising by labour; misery, repentance, and disrespect that of succeeding by extorted benevolence; the man who can thank himself alone for the happiness he enjoys is truly blest; and lovely, far more lovely the sturdy gloom of laborious indigence, than the fawning simper of thriving adulation. Adieu.

LETTER

LETTER C.

From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, first President of the Ceremonial Academy, at Pekin in China.

IN every society some men are born to teach, and others to receive instruction; some to work, and others to enjoy in idleness the fruits of their industry; some to govern, and others to obey. Every people, how free so ever, must be contented to give up part of their liberty and judgment to those who govern, in exchange for their hopes of security; and the motives which first influenced their choice in the election oftheir governors should ever be weighed against the succeeding apparent inconsistencies of their conduct. All cannot be rulers, and men are generally best governed by a few. In making way through the intricacies of business, the smallest obstacles are apt to retard the execution of what is to be planned by a multiplicity of counsels; the judgment of one alone being always fittest for winding through the labyrinths of intrigue, and the obstructions, of dis appointment. A serpent, which, as the fable observes, is furnished with one head and many tails, is much more capable of subsistence and expedition; than another, which is furnished with but one tail and many heads.

Obvious as these truths are, the people of this country seem insensible of their force. Not satisfied with the advantages of internal peace and opulence, they still murmur at their governors, and interfere in the execution of their designs; as if they wanted to be something more than happy. But as the Europeans instruct by argument, and the Asiatics

mostly

mostly by narration, were I to address them, I should convey my sentiments in the following story.

Takupihad long been Prime Minister of Tipartala, a fertile country that stretches along the Western confines of China. During his administration, whatever advantages could be derived from arts, learning, and commerce were seen to bless the people; nor were the necessary precautions of providing for the security of the state forgotten. It often happens, however, that when men are possessed of all they want, they then begin to find torment from imaginary afflictions, and lessen their present enjoyments, by foreboding that those enjoyments are to have an end. The people now therefore endeavoured to find out grievances; and after some search, actually began to think themselves aggrieved. A petition against the enormities of Takupi was carried to the throne in due form; and the Queen who governed the country, willing to satisfy her subjects, appointed a day, in which his accusers should be heard, and the minister should stand upon his defence.

The day being arrived, and the minister brought before the tribunal, a carrier, who supplied the city with fish, appeared among the number of his accusers. He exclaimed, that it was the custom time immemorial for carriers to bring their fish upon an liorse in a hamper; which being placed on one side, and balanced by a stone on the other, was thus conveyed with ease and safety; but that the prisoner, moved either by a spirit of innovation, or perhaps bribed by the hamper-makers, had obliged all carriers to use the stone no longer, but balance one hamper with another; an order entirely repugnant to the customs of all antiquity, and those of the kingdom of Tipartala in particular.

The

The carrier finished; and the whole court shook their heads at the innovating minister: when a second witness appeared. He was inspector of the city buildings, and accused the disgraced favourite of having given orders for the demolition of an antient ruin, which obstructed the passage through one of the principal streets. He observed, that such buildings were noble monuments of barbarous antiquity; contributed finely to shew how little their ancestors understood of architecture; and for that reason such monuments should be held sacred, and suffered gradually to decay.

The last witness now appeared. This was a widow, who had laudably attempted to burn herself upon her husband's funeral pile. But the innovating minister had prevented the execution of her design, and was insensible to her tears, protestations, and entreaties.

The Queen could have pardoned the two former offences; but this last was considered as so gross an injury to the sex, and so directly contrary to all the customs of antiquity, that it called for immediate justice. "What," cried the Queen, “not suffer "a woman to burn herself when she thinks proper? "The sex are to be very prettily tutored, no doubt,

if they must be restrained from entertaining their "female friends now and then with a fried wife, or "roasted acquaintance. I sentence the criminal to "be banished my presence for ever for his injurious "treatment of the sex.

Takupi had been hitherto silent, and spoke only to shew the sincerity of his resignation. "Great "Queen," cried he, "I acknowledge my crime; "and since I am to be banished, I beg it may be to "some ruined town, or desolate village in the country I have governed. I shall find some pleasure

❝ in

“in improving the soil, and bringing back a spirit "of industry among the inhabitants." His request appearing reasonable, it was immediately complied with; and a courtier had orders to fix upon a place of banishment, answering the minister's description. After some months' search, however, the enquiry proved fruitless; neither a desolate village, nor a ruined town was found in the kingdom. Alas, said Takupi then to the Queen, How can that country be ill-governed which has neither a desolate village, nor a ruined town in it? The Queen perceived the justice of his expostulation, and the minister was received into more than former favours.

LETTER CI.

FROM THE SAME.

THE ladies here are by no means such ardent gamesters as the women of Asia. In this respect I must do the English justice; for I love to praise where applause is justly merited. Nothing is more common in China, than to see two women of fashion continue gaming till one has won all the other's cloaths, and stripped her quite naked; the winner thus marching off in a double suit of finery, and the loser shrinking behind in the primitive simplicity of Nature.

No doubt, you remember when Shang, our maiden aunt, played with a sharper. First her money went; then her trinkets were produced; her cloaths followed piece by piece soon after; when she had thus played herself quite naked, being a woman of spirit,

and