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On the Importance of a good Character, considered only with Respect to Interest.

AS

S the minds of men are infinitely various, and as they are therefore influenced in the choice of a conduct by different inducements, the moralist must omit no motive, however fubordinate in its nature, while it appears likely to lead fome among mankind to a laudable, or even a blameless behaviour. A regard to ease, to interest, and to fuccess, in the usual pursuits of wealth and ambition, may induce many to purfue an honest and honourable conduct, who would not have been influenced by purer motives; but who, after they have once perceived the intrinsic excellence and beauty of such a conduct, will probably persevere in it for its own fake, and upon higher confiderations.

To those who are to make their own way either to wealth or honours, a good character is usually no less neceffary than address and abilities. Though human nature is degenerate, and corrupts itself still more by its own inventions, yet it usually retains to the last an esteem for excellence. But even if we are arrived at such an extreme degree of depravity as to have loft our native reverence for virtue; yet a regard to our own interest and safety, which we feldom lofe, will lead us to apply for aid, in all important tranfactions, to men whofe integrity is unimpeached. When we chuse an affistant, a partner, or a fervant, our first enquiry is concerning his character. When we have occafion for a counsellor or attorney, a physician or apothecary, whatever we may be ourselves, we always chufe to trust our property and perfons to men of the beft character. When we fix on the tradefmen who are to supply us with neceffaries, we are not determined by the fign of the lamb, or the wolf, or the fun; nor by a fhop fitted up in the most elegant tafte, but by the fairest reputation. Look into a daily newspaper, and you will fee,

from

from the highest to the lowest rank, how important the characters of the employed appear to the employers. After the advertisement has enumerated the qualities required in the perfon wanted, there conftantly follows, that none need apply who cannot bring an undeniable character. Offer yourself as a candidate for a feat. in parliament, be promoted to honour and emolument, or in any respect attract the attention of mankind upon yourself, and, if you are vulnerable in your character, you will be deeply wounded. This is a general testi mony in favour of honesty, which no writings andi no practices can poffibly refute.

Young men, therefore, whose characters are yet unfixed, and who confequently may render them juft fuch as they wish, ought to pay great attention to the first fteps which they take on their entrance into life. They are ufually careless and inattentive to this object. They pursue their own plans with ardour, and neglect the opinions which others entertain of them. By fome thoughtless action or expreffion, they fuffer a mark to be impreffed upon them, which scarcely any fubfequent merit can entirely erafe. Every man will find fome perfons, who, though they are not profeffed enemies, yet view him with an envious or jealous eye; and who will gladly revive any tale to which truth has given the flighteft foundation.

Indeed, all men are fo much inclined to flatter their own pride by detracting from the reputation of others, that even if we are able to maintain an immaculate conduct, it would ftill be difficult to preferve an immaculate character. But yet it is wisdom not to furnish this detracting fpirit with real fubjects for the exercise of his activity. While calumny is fupported only by imagination or by malice, we may fometimes remove it by contradicting it; but wherever folly or vice have fupplied facts, we can feldom do more than aggravate the evil, by giving it an apparent attention. The malignity of fome among the various difpofitions of which

mankind

mankind are compofed, is often highly gratified at the view of injured fenfibility.

In this turbulent and confufed fcene, where our words and actions are often mifunderstood and oftener mifreprefented, it is indeed difficult even for innocence and integrity to avoid reproach, abufe, contempt, and hatred. These not only hurt our intereft and impede our advancement in life, but forely afflict the feelings of a tender and delicate mind. It is then the part of wisdom first to do every thing in our power to preferve an irreproachable character, and then to let our happinefs depend chiefly on the approbation of our own consciences, and on the advancement of our interest in a world where liars fhall not be believed, and where flanderers fhall receive countenance from none but him who, in Greek, is called, by way of eminence, Diabolus, or the Calumniator.

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Good-natured Credulity.

Chaldean peasant was conducting a goat to the city of Bagdat. He was mounted on an ass; and the goat followed him, with a bell fufpended from his neck. "I fhall fell these animals," said he to himself, "for thirty pieces of filver; and with this money I can purchafe a new turban, and a rich veftment of taffety, which I will tie with a fash of purple filk. The young damfels will then fmile more favourably upon me; and I fhall be the fineft man at the Mofque."-Whilft the peasant was thus anticipating, in idea, his future enjoyment, three artful rogues concerted a ftratagem to plunder him of his present treasures. As he moved flowly along, one of them flipped off the bell from the neck of the goat; and fastening it, without being perceived, to the tail of the ass, carried away his booty. The man, riding upon the afs, and hearing the found of the bell, continued to mufe, without the leaft fufpicion of the lofs which he had fuftained. Happening, however, a fhort while afterwards, to turn about his head, he dif covered, with grief and aftonishment, that the animal was gone which conftituted fo confiderable a part of his riches; and he enquired, with the utmost anxiety, after his goat, of every traveller whom he met.

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The fecond rogue now accofted him, and faid, "I have juft feen, in yonder fields, a man in great hafte, dragging along with him a goat." The peafant difmounted with precipitation, and requested the obliging ftranger to hold his afs, that he might lofe no time in overtaking the thief. He inftantly began the pursuit; and, having traverfed in vain the courfe that was pointed out to him, he came back fatigued and breathless to the place from whence he fet out; where he neither found his ass nor the deceitful informer, to whose care he had entrusted him.

As he walked penfively onwards, overwhelmed with shame, vexation, and disappointment, his attention was

roused

roused by the loud complaints and lamentations of a poor man, who fat by the fide of a well. He turned out of the way to fympathize with a brother in affliction, recounted his own misfortunes, and enquired the cause of that violent forrow, which feemed to opprefs him. Alas! faid the poor man, in the moft piteous tone of voice, as I was resting here to drink, I dropped into the water a cafket full of diamonds, which I was employed to carry to the Caliph at Bagdat; and I fhall be put to death, on the fufpicion of having fecreted fo valuable a treasure. Why do not you jump into the well in fearch of the casket, cried the peafant, aftonished at the ftupidity of his new acquaintance? Becaufe it is deep, replied the man, and I can neither dive nor fwim. But will you undertake this kind office for me, and I will reward you with thirty pieces of filver?-The peafant accepted the offer with exultation; and, whilft he was putting off his caflock, veft, and flippers, poured out his foul in thanksgivings to the holy prophet, for this providential fuccour. But the moment he plunged into the water, in fearch of the pretended cafket, the man (who was one of the three rogues that had concerted the plan of robbing him) feized upon his garments, and bore them off in fecurity to his comrades.

Thus, through inattention, fimplicity, and credulity, was the unfortunate Chaldean duped of all his little poffeffions; and he haftened back to his cottage, with no other covering for his nakedness, than a tattered garment which he borrowed on the road.

The

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