pursuing another of the human species, who with equal terror and haste attempted to avoid them. “This,” cried Asem to his guide, "is truly surprising; nor can I conceive the reason for so "strange an action." "Every species of animals,” replied the Genius, "has of late grown very power"ful in this country; for the inhabitants at first thinking it unjust to use either fraud or force in "destroying them, they have insensibly increased, "and now frequently ravage their harmless frontiers." "But they should have been destroyed," cried Asem; you see the consequence of such neglect." "Where "is then that tenderness you so lately expressed "for subordinate animals?" replied the Genius smiling: "you seem to have forgot that branch of jus"tice:" "I must acknowledge my mistake," returned Asem; " I am now convinced that we must "be guilty of tyranny and injustice to the brute "creation, if we would enjoy the world ourselves. "But let us no longer observe the duty of man to "these irrational creatures, but survey their con"nections with one another."

As they walked farther up the country, the more he was surprised to see no vestiges of handsome houses, no cities, nor any mark of elegant design. His conductor perceiving his surprize, observed, That the inhabitants of this new world were perfectly content with their antient simplicity; each had an house, which, though homely, was sufficient to lodge his little family; they were too good to build houses, which could only increase their own pride, and the envy of the spectator; what they built was for convenience, and not for show. "At least, then," said Asem, "they have neither architects, painters, "nor statuaries, in their society; but these are idle "arts, and may be spared. However, before I "spend much more time, you should have my

"thanks

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"thanks for introducing me into the society of some "of their wisest men: there is scarcely any pleasure "to me equal to a refined conversation; there is nothing of which I am so much enamoured as wis"dom." "Wisdom!" replied his instructor, "how "ridiculous! We have no wisdom here, for we "have no occasion for it; true wisdom is only a "knowledge of our own duty, and the duty of others "to us; but of what use is such wisdom here, each "intuitively performs what is right in himself, and expects the same from others? If by wisdom "you should mean vain curiosity, and empty spe"culation, as such pleasures have their origin in va"nity, luxury or avarice, we are too good to pur"sue them." "All this may be right," says Asem; " but methinks I observe a solitary disposition pre"vail among the people; each family keeps sepa"rately within their own precincts, without society, "or without intercourse." "That indeed is true,' replied the other; "here is no established society; "nor should there be any: all societies are made "either through fear or friendship; the people we "are among are too good to fear each other; and "there are no motives to private friendship, where "all are equally meritorious.' "Well then," said

the sceptic," as I am to spend my time here, if I "am to have neither the polite arts, nor wisdom, "nor friendship, in such a world, I should be glad "at least of an easy companion, who may tell me "his thoughts, and to whom I may communicate "mine." "And to what purpose should either do "this?" says the Genius: "flattery or curiosity are " vicious motives, and never allowed of here; and "wisdom is out of the question."

"Still however," said Asem, "the inhabitants "must be happy; each is contented with his own possessions, nor avariciously endeavours to heap

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"up

up more than is necessary for his own subsistence : "each has therefore leisure for pitying those, that "stand in need of his compassion." He had scarcely spoken when his ears were assaulted with the lamentations of a wretch who sat by the way-side, and in the most deplorable distress seemed gently to murmur at his own misery. Asem immediately ran to his relief, and found him in the last stage of a consumption." Strange," cried the son of Adam, "that "men who are free from vice should thus suffer so "much misery without relief!" "Be not surprized," said the wretch who was dying; "would it not be the " utmost injustice for beings, who have only just suf"ficient to support themselves, and are content with "abare subsistence, to take it from their own mouths "to put it into mine? They never are possessed of "asingle meal more than is necessary; and what is "barely necessary cannot be dispensed with." "They "should have been supplied with more than is neces"sary," ," cried Asem;" and yet I contradict my "own opinion but a moment before all is doubt, perplexity, and confusion. Even the want of in"gratitude is no virtue here, since they never re"ceived a favour. They have however another ex"cellence yet behind; the love of their country is "still I hope one of their darling virtues." "Peace, "Asem," replied the Guardian, with a countenance not less severe than beautiful," nor forfeit all thy "pretensions to wisdom; the same selfish motives, by "which we prefer our own interest to that of others, "induce us to regard our country preferably to that "of another. Nothing less than universal bene"volence is free from vice, and that you see is prac"tised here." Strange!" cries the disappointed pilgrim, in an agony of distress; "what sort of a "world am I now introduced to? There is scarcely

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a single virtue, but that of temperance, which they

practise ;

practise; and in that they are no way superior to "the very brute creation. There is scarcely an "amusement which they enjoy; fortitude, liberality, friendship, wisdom, conversation, and love "of country, all are virtues entirely unknown here; "thus it seems that to be acquainted with vice is "not to know virtue. Take me, O my Genius, back "to that very world which I have despised; a "world which has Alla for its contriver is much "more wisely formed than that which has been pro

jected by Mahomet. Ingratitude, contempt, and ❝ hatred, I can now suffer, for perhaps I have de"served them. When I arraigned the wisdom of "Providence, I only showed my own ignorance; "henceforth let me keep from vice myself, and pity "it in others."

He had scarcely ended, when the Genius, assuming an air of terrible complacency, called all his thunders around him, and vanished in a whirlwind. Asem, astonished at the terror of the scene, looked for his imaginary world; when, casting his eyes around he perceived himself in the very situation, and in the very place, where he first began to repine and despair; his right foot had been just advanced to take the fatal plunge, nor had it been yet withdrawn; so instantly did Providence strike the series of truths just imprinted on his soul. He now departed from the water-side in tranquility, and leaving his horrid mansion travelled to Segestan, his native city; where he diligently applied himself to commerce, and put in practice that wisdom he had learned in solitude. The frugality of a few soon produced opulence, the number of his domestics increased; his friends came to him from every part of the city; nor did he receive them with disdain and a youth of misery was concluded with an old age of elegance, affluence, and ease. ESSAY

Y 2

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324

ESSAY IV.

IT is allowed on all hands, that our English divines receive a more liberal education, and improve that education by frequent study, more than any others of this reverend profession in Europe. In general also it may be ohserved, that a greater degree of gentility is affixed to the character of a student in England than elsewhere; by which means our clergy have an opportunity of seeing better company while young, and of sooner wearing off those prejudices which they are apt to imbibe even in the best regulated universities, and which may be justly termed the vulgar errors of the wise.

Yet with all these advantages it is very obvious, that the clergy are no where so little thought of by the populace, as here: and though our divines are foremost with respect to abilities, yet they are found last in the effects of their ministry; the vulgar in general appearing no way impressed with a sense of religious duty. I am not for whining at the depravity of the times, or for endeavouring to paint a prospect more gloomy than in nature; but certain it is, no person who has travelled will contradict me when I aver that the lower orders of mankind in other countries testify on every occasion the profoundest awe of religion; while in England they are scarcely awakened into a sense of its duties, even in circumstances of the greatest distress.

This dissolute and fearless conduct foreigners are apt to attribute to climate and constitution; may not the vulgar, being pretty much neglected in our exhortations from the pulpit, be a conspiring cause.

Our