But fince it is true, that writers, like other competitors, are very little difpofed to favour one another, it is not to be expected, that at a time, when every man writes, any man will patronize; and accordingly, there is not one that I can recollect at present who profeffes the leaft regard for the vo→ taries of science, invites the addreffes of learned men, or feems to hope for reputation from any pen but his own. The caufe, therefore, of this epidemical confpiracy for the deftruction of paper, muft remain a fecret nor can I difcover, whether we owe it to the influences of the conftellations, or the intemperature of feafons: whether the long continuance of the wind at any fingle point, or intoxicating vapours exhaled from the earth, have turned our nobles and our peasants, our foldiers and traders, our men and women, all into wits, philofophers, and writers. It is, indeed, of more importance to fearch out the cure than the caufe of this intellectual malady; and he would deferve well of this country, who, inftead of amufing himfelf with conjectural fpeculations, fhould find means of perfuading the peer to inspect his fteward's accounts, or repair the rural manfion of his ancestors, who could replace the tradesman behind his counter, and fend back the farmer to the mattock and the flail. General irregularities are known in time to remedy themselves. By the conftitution of ancient Egypt, the prieftood was continually increafing, till at length there was no people befide themfelves: the establishment establishment was then diffolved, and the number of priests was reduced and limited. Thus among us, writers will, perhaps, be multiplied, till no readers will be found, and then the ambition of writing must neceffarily cease. But as it will be long before the cure is thus gradually effected, and the evil fhould be ftopped, if it be poffible, before it rifes to fo great a height, I could with that both fexes would fix their thoughts upon fome falutary confiderations, which might reprefs their ardour for that reputation which not one of many thousands is fated to obtain. Let it be deeply impreffed and frequently recollected, that he who has not obtained the proper qualifications of an author, can have no excufe for the arrogance of writing, but the power of imparting to mankind something neceffary to be known. A man uneducated or unlettered may fometimes ftart a useful thought, or make a lucky difcovery, or obtain by chance fome secret of nature, or fome intelligence of facts, of which the most enlightened mind may be ignorant, and which it is better to reveal, though by a rude and unfkilful communication, than to lofe for ever by fuppreffing it. But few will be juftified by this plea; for of the innumerable books and pamphlets that have overflowed the nation, fcarce one has made any addition to real knowledge, or contained more than a transpofition of common fentiments and a repetition of common phrases. It will be naturally inquired, when the man who feels an inclination to write, may venture to suppose himself himself properly qualified; and, fince every man is inclined to think well of his own intellect, by what teft he may try his abilities, without hazarding the contempt or refentment of the publick. The first qualification of a writer, is a perfect knowledge of the fubject which he undertakes to treat; fince we cannot teach what we do not know, nor can properly undertake to inftruct others while we are ourselves in want of inftruction. The next requifite is, that he be mafter of the language in which he delivers his fentiments; if he treats of fcience and demonftration, that he has attained a ftyle clear, pure, nervous, and expreffive; if his topicks be probable and perfuafory, that he be able to recommend them by the fuperaddition of elegance and imagery, to display the colours of varied diction, and pour forth the mufick of modulated periods. If it be again inquired, upon what principles any man fhall conclude that he wants thefe powers, it may be readily anfwered, that no end is attained but by the proper means; he only can rationally prefume that he understands a fubject, who has read and compared the writers that have hitherto difcuffed it, familiarized their arguments to himself by long meditation, confulted the foundations of different fyftems, and feparated truth from error by a rigorous examination. In like manner, he only has a right to fuppofe that he can exprefs his thoughts, whatever they are, with perfpicuity or elegance, who has carefully perufed the best authors, accurately noted their diversities of ftyle, diligently felected the beft modes of diction, and familiarized them by long habits of attentive practice. VOL. III. S No No man is a rhetorician or philofopher by chance. He who knows that he undertakes to write on queftions which he has never studied, may without hesitation determine, that he is about to wafte his own time and that of his reader, and expofe himself to the derifion of those whom he afpires to inftruct: he that without forming his ftyle by the study of the best models, haftens to obtrude his compofitions on the publick, may be certain, that whatever hope or flattery may fuggeft, he fhall fhock the learned ear with barbarifms, and contribute, wherever his work shall be received, to the depravation of taste and the corruption of language, NUMB. 119. TUESDAY, December 25, 1753. W Latiùs regnes, avidum domando By virtue's precepts to controul HOR. FRANCIS. HEN Socrates was afked, "which of mortal men was to be accounted nearest to the "gods in happiness ?" he answered, "that man, who " is in want of the feweft things." In this answer, Socrates left it to be gueffed by his auditors, whether, by the exemption from want which was to constitute happiness, he meant amplitude of poffeffions or contraction of defire. And, indeed· there is fo little difference between them, that Alexander the Great confeffed the inhabitant of a tub the next man to the mafter of the world; and left a declaration to future ages, that if he was not Alexander he fhould wish to be Diogenes, These two ftates, however, though they resemble each other in their confequence, differ widely with refpect to the facility with which they may be attained. To make great acquifitions can happen to |