FROM 1689 CYCLOPEDIA OF two of Virgil; and if there remain any overplus, you may lay them by for a skirmish. Season it well with similes, and it will make an excellent battle.' For Burning a Town. If such a description be necessary, because it is certain there is one in Virgil, Old Troy is ready burnt to your hands. But if you fear that would be thought borrowed, a chapter or two of the Theory of the Conflagration, well circumstanced, and done into verse, will be a good succedaneum.' As for Similes and Metaphors, they may be found all over the creation; the most ignorant may gather them; but the danger is in applying them. For this advise with your bookseller. 'Here For the Language.-(I mean the diction.) it will do well to be an imitator of Milton, for you will find it easier to imitate him in this than anything else. Hebraisms and Grecisms are to be found in him, without the trouble of learning the languages. I knew a painter, who (like our poet) had no genius, make his daubings to be thought originals by setting them in the smoke. You may, in the same manner, give the venerable air of antiquity to your piece, by darkening it up and down with Old English. With this you may be easily furnished upon any occasion by the dictionary commonly printed at the end of Chaucer. I must not conclude without cautioning all writers without genius in one material point; which is, never to be afraid of having too much fire in their works. I should advise rather to take their warmest thoughts, and spread them abroad upon paper, for they are observed to cool before they are read. DR JOHN ARBUTHNOT. DR JOHN ARBUTHNOT, the friend of Pope, Swift, Gay, and Prior, was associated with his brother wits in some of the humorous productions of the day, called forth chiefly by political events. They were all Jacobites, and keenly interested in the success of their party. Arbuthnot was born at a place of the same name in Kincardineshire, and having studied medicine, repaired to London, where he became known as an author and a wit. He wrote an Examination of Dr Woodward's Account of the Deluge, and an Essay on the Usefulness of Mathematical Learning. In 1709 Arbuthnot was appointed physician in ordinary to the queen. The satirical Memoirs of the Extraordinary Life, Works, and Discoveries of Martinus Scriblerus, published in Pope's works, was chiefly, if not wholly, written by Arbuthnot. The design of this work, as stated by Pope, is to ridicule all the false tastes in learning, under the character of a man of capacity, that had dipped into every Cerart and science, but injudiciously in each. vantes was the model of the witty authors; but though they may have copied his grave irony with success, the fine humanity and imagination of the Spanish novelist are wholly wanting in Scriblerus. It is highly probable, however, that the character of Cornelius Scriblerus suggested to Sterne the idea of Walter Shandy. His oddities and absurdities about the education of his son (in describing which Arbuthnot evinces his extensive and curious learning), are fully equal to Sterne. Useful hints are thrown out amidst the ridicule and pedantry of Scriblerus; and what are now termed object lessons in some schools, may have been derived from such ludicrous passages as the following:- The old gentleman so contrived it, to make everything contribute to the improvement of his knowledge, even to his very dress. He invented for him a geographical suit of clothes, which might give him some hints of that science, and likewise some knowledge of the commerce of different nations. He had a French hat with an African feather, Holland shirts and Flanders lace, English cloth lined with Indian silk; his gloves were Italian, and his shoes were Spanish. He was made to observe this, and daily catechised thereupon, which his father was wont to call "travelling at home." He never gave him a fig or an orange, but he obliged him to give an account from what country it came.' A more complete and durable monument of the wit and humour of Arbuthnot is his History of John Bull, published in 1712, and designed to ridicule the Duke of Marlborough, and render the nation discontented with the war. The allegory in this piece is well sustained, and the satirical allusions poignant and happy. Of the same description is Arbuthnot's Treatise concerning the Altercation or Scolding of the Ancients, and his Art of Political Lying. His wit is always pointed, and rich in classical allusion, without being acrimonious or personally offensive. Of the serious performances of Arbuthnot, the most valuable is a series of dissertations on ancient coins, weights, and measures. He published also some medical works. After the death of Queen Anne, when, both as a physician and a politician, Arbuthnot suffered a heavy loss, he applied himself closely to his profession, and continued his unaffected cheerfulness and In his latter years he suffered much good nature. from ill health: he died in 1735. The most severe and dignified of the occasional productions of Dr Arbuthnot is his epitaph on Colonel Chartres, a notorious gambler and money-lender of the day, tried and condemned for attempting to commit a rape: Here continueth to rot the body of Francis Chartres, who, with an inflexible constancy, and inimitable uniformity of life, persisted, in spite of age and infirmities, in the practice of every human vice, excepting prodigality and hypocrisy; his insatiable avarice exempted him from the first, his matchless impudence from the second. Nor was he more singular in the undeviating pravity of his manners than successful in accumulating wealth; for, without trade or profession, without trust of public money, and He was the without bribe-worthy service, he acquired, or more properly created, a ministerial estate. only person of his time who could cheat with the mask of honesty, retain his primeval meanness when possessed of ten thousand a-year, and having daily deserved the gibbet for what he did, was at last condemned to it for what he could not do. Oh, indignant reader! think not his life useless to mankind. Providence connived at his execrable designs, to give to after ages a conspicuous proof and example of how small estimation is exorbitant wealth in the sight of God, by his bestowing it on the most unworthy of all mortals.' The History of John Bull. CHAP. I.-The Occasion of the Law-Suit.-I need not tell you of the great quarrels that happened in our neighbourhood since the death of the late Lord Strutt; how the parson and a cunning attorney3 got him to settle his estate upon his cousin Philip Baboon, to the great disappointment of his cousin Esquire South.5 Some stick not to say, that the parson and the attorney forged a will, for which they were well paid by the family of the Baboons. Let that be as I Charles II. of Spain died without issue, and Portocarero, and the 2 Cardinal 3 Marshal of Harcourt, employed, as is supposed, by the house of Bourbon, prevailed upon him to make a will, by which he settled the succession of the 4 Philip Bourbon, Duke of Anjou, Spanish monarchy upon though his right had by the most solemn renunciations been 5 the Archduke, Charles of Austria. 642 barred in favour of it will, it is matter of fact, that the honour and estate have continued ever since in the person of Philip Baboon. You know that the Lord Strutts have for many years been possessed of a very great landed estate, well-conditioned, wooded, watered, with coal, salt, tin, copper, iron, &c., all within, themselves; that has been the misfortune of that family to be the property of their stewards, tradesmen, and inferior servants, which has brought great incumbrances upon them; at the same time, their not abating of their expensive way of living has forced them to mortgage their best manors. It is credibly reported, that the butcher's and baker's bill of a Lord Strutt that lived two hundred years ago, are not yet paid. with all sorts of drapery-ware time out of mind; and whereas we are jealous, not without reason, that your lordship intends henceforth to buy of your grandsire, old Lewis Baboon, this is to inform your lordship that this proceeding does not suit with the circumstances of our families, who have lived and made a good figure in the world by the generosity of the Lord Strutts. Therefore we think fit to acquaint your lordship, that you must find sufficient security to us, our heirs and assigns, that you will not employ Lewis Baboon; or else we will take our remedy at law, clap an action upon you of L.20,000 for old debts, seize and distrain your goods and chattels, which, considering your lordship's circumstances, will plunge you into difficulties from which it will not be easy to extricate yourself; therefore we hope, when your lordship has better considered on it, you will comply with the desire of, your loving friends, JOHN BULL, NIC. FROG. Some of Bull's friends advised him to take gentler methods with the young lord; but John naturally loved rough play. It is impossible to express the surprise of the Lord Strutt upon the receipt of this letter. He was not flush in ready either to go to law, or clear old debts, neither could he find good bail. He offered to bring matters to a friendly accommodation, and promised upon his word of honour that he would not change his drapers. But all to no pur When Philip Baboon came first to the possession of the Lord Strutt's estate, his tradesmen, as is usual upon such occasions, waited up on him to wish him joy and bespeak his custom; the two chief were John Bull the clothier, and Nic. Frog the linen-draper.2 They told him that the Bulls and Frogs had served the Lord Strutts with drapery ware for many years, that they were honest and fair dealers, that their bills had never been questioned, that the Lord Strutts lived generously, and never used to dirty their fingers with pen, ink, and counters; that his lordship might depend upon their honesty; that they would use him as kindly as they had done his predecessors. The young lord seemed to take all in good part, and dis-pose, for Bull and Frog saw clearly that old Lewis would have the cheating of him. missed them with a deal of seeming content, assuring them he did not intend to change any of the honourable maxims of his predecessors. CHAP. II.-How Bull and Frog grew jealous that the Lord Strutt intended to give all his custom to his grandfather, Lewis Baboon.3-It happened unfortunately for the peace of our neighbourhood, that this young lord had an old cunning rogue, or (as the Scots call it) a false loon of a grandfather, that one might justly call a Jack of all trades; sometimes you would see him behind his counter selling broad-cloth, sometimes measuring linen; next day he would be dealing in mercery ware; high heads, ribbons, gloves, fans, and lace, he understood to a nicety; Charles Mather could not bubble a young beau better with a toy; nay, he would descend even to the selling of tape, garters, and shoebuckles. When shop was shut up, he would go about the neighbourhood and earn half-a-crown by teaching the young men and maidens to dance. By these methods he had acquired immense riches, which he used to squander away at back-sword, quarter-staff, and cudgel-play, in which he took great pleasure, and challenged all the country. You will say it is no wonder if Bull and Frog should be jealous of this fellow. It is not impossible (says Frog to Bull) but this old rogue will take the management of the young lord's business into his hands; besides, the rascal has good ware, and will serve him as cheap as anybody. In that case, I leave you to judge what must become of us and our families; we must starve, or turn journeymen to old Lewis Baboon; therefore, neighbour, I hold it advisable that we write to young Lord Strutt to know the bottom of this matter." CHAP. III. A copy of Bull and Frog's Letter to Lord Strutt My Lord-I suppose your lordship knows that the Bulls and the Frogs have served the Lord Strutts 1 The English and 2 the Dutch congratulated Philip upon a succession, which they were not able to prevent; but to disappoint the ambition of 3 Louis XIV., and hinder the French nation, whose 4 trade and character are thus described, and whose king had a 5 strong disposition to war, from becoming too potent, an alliance was formed to 'procure a reasonable satisfaction to the house of Austria for its pretensions to the Spanish succession, and sufficient CHAP. IV. How Bull and Frog went to Law with Lord Strutt about the Premises, and were joined by the rest of the Tradesmen.-All endeavours of accommodation between Lord Strutt and his drapers proved vain ; jealousies increased; and indeed it was rumoured abroad that Lord Strutt had bespoke his new liveries of old Lewis Baboon. This coining to Mrs Bull's ears, when John Bull came home, he found all his family in an uproar. Mrs Bull, you must know, was very apt to be choleric. You sot,' says she, 'you loiter about alehouses and taverns, spend your time at billiards, ninepins, or puppet-shows, or flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot, never minding me nor your numerous family. Don't you hear how Lord Strutt has bespoke his liveries at Lewis Baboon's shop? Don't you see how that old fox steals away your customers, and turns you out of your business every day, and you sit like an idle drone with your hands in your pockets? Fie upon it! up, man; rouse thyself; I'll sell to my shift before I'll be so used by that knave.' You must think Mrs Bull had been pretty well tuned up by Frog, who chimed in with her learned harangue. No further delay now, but to counsel learned in the law they go, who unanimously assured them both of the justice and infallible success of their lawsuit. I told you before, that old Lewis Baboon was a sort of a Jack of all trades, which made the rest of the tradesmen jealous, as well as Bull and Frog; they, hearing of the quarrel, were glad of an opportunity of joining against old Lewis Baboon, provided that Bull and Frog would bear the charges of the suit; even lying Ned,3 the chimney sweeper of Savoy, and Tom,4 the Portugal dustman, put in their claims; and the cause was put into the hands of Humphry Hocus,5 the attorney. A declaration was drawn up to show, That Bull FROM 1689 CYCLOPEDIA OF and Frog had undoubted right by prescription to be drapers to the Lord Strutts; that there were several old contracts to that purpose; that Lewis Baboon had taken up the trade of clothier and draper, without serving his time or purchasing his freedom; that he sold goods that were not marketable without the stamp; that he himself was more fit for a bully than a tradesman, and went about through all the country fairs challenging people to fight prizes, wrestling and cudgel-play; and abundance more to this purpose. CHAP. V.-The true characters of John Bull, Nic. Frog, and Hocus.-For the better understanding the following history, the reader ought to know, that Bull, in the main, was an honest plain-dealing fellow, choleric, bold, and of a very unconstant temper; he dreaded not old Lewis either at back-sword, single falchion, or cudgel-play; but then he was very apt to quarrel with his best friends, especially if they pretended to govern him: if you flattered him, you might lead him like a child. John's temper depended very much upon the air; his spirits rose and fell with the weather-glass. John was quick, and understood his business very well; but no man alive was more careless in looking into his accompts, or more cheated by partners, apprentices, and servants. This was occasioned by his being a boon companion, loving his bottle and his diversion; for, to say truth, no man kept a better house than John, nor spent his money more generously. By plain and fair dealing, John had acquired some plums, and might have kept them, had it not been for his unhappy lawsuit. Nic. Frog was a cunning sly rogue, quite the reverse of John in many particulars; covetous, frugal; minded domestic affairs; would pinch his belly to save his pocket; never lost a farthing by careless servants or bad debtors. He did not care much for any sort of diversions, except tricks of high German artists, and legerdemain; no man exceeded Nic. in these; yet, it must be owned, that Nic. was a fair dealer, and in that way acquired immense riches. Hocus was an old cunning attorney; and though this was the first considerable suit that ever he was engaged in, he showed himself superior in address to most of his profession; he kept always good clerks; he loved money, was smooth-tongued, gave good words, and seldom lost his temper; he was not worse than an infidel, for he provided plentifully for his family; but he loved himself better than them all: the neighbours reported that he was henpecked, which was impossible by such a mild-spirited woman as his wife was.1 it went from him. New trials upon new points still the men of law. CHAP. VII.-How John Bull was so mightily pleased with his success, that he was going to leave off his trade and turn Lawyer.-It is wisely observed by a great philosopher, that habit is a second nature. This was verified in the case of John Bull, who, from an honest and plain tradesman, had got such a haunt about the courts of justice, and such a jargon of law words, that he concluded himself as able a lawyer as any that pleaded at the bar or sat on the bench: He was overheard one day talking to himself after this manner: How capriciously does fate or chance disHow seldom is that business pose of mankind! allotted to a man for which he is fitted by nature! It is plain I was intended for a man of law: how did Bless me! what my guardians mistake my genius in placing me, like a mean slave, behind a counter? immense estates these fellows raise by the law; besides, it is the profession of a gentleman. What a pleasure is it to be victorious in a cause, to swagger at the bar. What a fool am I to drudge any more in this woollen trade: for a lawyer I was born, and a lawyer I will be: cne is never too old to learn."2 All this while John had conned over such a catalogue of hard words, as were enough to conjure up the devil; these he used to babble indifferently in all companies, especially at coffee-houses; so that his neighbour tradesmen began to shun his company as a man that was cracked. Instead of the affairs at Blackwell-hall and price of broad cloth, wool, and baizes, he talks of alias capias, demurrers, venire facias, replevins, supersedeas's, certioraris, writs of error, actions of trover and conversion, trespasses, precipes and dedimus. This was matter of jest to the learned in law; however, Hocus and the rest of the tribe encouraged John in his fancy, assuring him that he had a great genius for law, that they questioned not but in time he might raise money enough by it to reimburse him all his charges; that, if he studied, he would undoubtedly arrive to the dignity of a lord chief justice.3 As for the advice of honest friends and neighbours, John despised it; he looked upon them as fellows of a low genius, poor grovelling mechanics. John reckoned it more honour to have got one favourable verdict, than to have sold a bale of broad-cloth. As for Nic. Frog, to say the truth, he was more prudent; for, though CHAP. VI. Of the various success of the Lawsuit.-nothing but actions upon the case, returns, capias, Law is a bottomless pit; it is a cormorant, a harpy that devours everything. John Bull was flattered by the lawyers, that his suit would not last above a year or two at most; that before that time he would be in quiet possession of his business; yet ten long years did Hocus steer his cause through all the meanders of the law, and all the courts. No skill, no address was wanting; and, to say truth, John did not starve his cause; there wanted not yellow-boys to fee counsel, hire witnesses, and bribe juries. Lord Strutt was generally cast, never had one verdict in his favour; and John was promised that the next, and the next, would be the final determination. But alas! that final determination and happy conclusion was like an enchanted island; the nearer John came to it, the further 1 The Duchess of Marlborough was in reality a termagant. The war was carried on against France and Spain with great success, and a peace might have been concluded upon the principles of the alliance; but a partition of the Spanish dominions in favour of the house of Austria, and an engagement that the same person should never be king of France and Spain, were not now thought sufficient. It was insisted that the will in favour of Philip was contrary to treaty; and there was a parliamentary declaration for continuing the war, till he should be dethroned. 2 The manners and sentiments of the nation became extravagant and chimerical. 3 Hold the balance of power. 644 dispensable duty of cuckoldom; though she advanced her opinions with a becoming assurance, yet she never ushered them in, as some positive creatures will do, with dogmatical assertions-this is infallible; I cannot be mistaken; none but a rogue can deny it. It has been observed, that such people are oftener in the wrong than anybody. Though she had a thousand good qualities, she was haps reckon too great lenity to her servants, to whom she always gave good counsel, but often too gentle correction. I thought I could not say less of John Bull's mother, because she bears a part in the following transactions. PART II. CHAP. 1.-The character of John Bull's Mother-John had a mother, whom he loved and honoured extremely; a discreet, grave, sober, goodconditioned, cleanly old gentlewoman as ever lived; she was none of your cross-grained, termagant, scold-not without her faults, amongst which one might pering jades, that one had as good be hanged as live in the house with, such as are always censuring the conduct, and telling scandalous stories of their neighbours, extolling their own good qualities, and undervaluing those of others. On the contrary, she was of a meek spirit, and, as she was strictly virtuous herself, so she always put the best construction upon the words and actions of her neighbours, except where they were irreconcilable to the rules of honesty and decency. She was neither one of your precise prudes, nor one of your fantastical old belles, that dress themselves like girls of fifteen; as she neither wore a ruff, forehead-cloth, nor high-crowned hat, so she had laid aside feathers, flowers, and crimpt ribbons in her head-dress, furbelo scarfs, and hooped petticoats. She scorned to patch and paint, yet she loved to keep her hands and her face clean. Though she wore no flaunt-bits, was crammed with good pullet, chicken, pig, ing laced ruffles, she would not keep herself in a constant sweat with greasy flannel; though her hair was not stuck with jewels, she was not ashamed of a diamond cross: she was not, like some ladies, hung about with toys and trinkets, tweezer-cases, pocketglasses, and essence bottles; she used only a gold watch and an almanac, to mark the hours and the holidays. Her furniture was neat and genteel, well fancied with a bon gout. As she affected not the grandeur of a state with a canopy, she thought there was no offence in an elbow-chair; she had laid aside your carving, gilding, and japan work, as being too apt to gather dirt; but she never could be prevailed upon to part with plain wainscot and clean hangings. There are some ladies that affect to smell a stink in everything; they are always highly perfumed, and continually burning frankincense in their rooms; she was above such affectation, yet she never would lay aside the use of brooms and scrubbing brushes, and scrupled not to lay her linen in fresh lavender. She was no less genteel in her behaviour, well-bred, without affectation, in the due mean between one of your affected curtsying pieces of formality, and your romps that have no regard to the common rules of civility. There are some ladies that affect a mighty regard for their relations: we must not eat to-day, for my uncle Tom, or my cousin Betty, died this time ten years; let's have a ball to-night, it is my neighbour such-a-one's birth-day. She looked upon all this as grimace, yet she constantly observed her husband's birth-day, her wedding-day, and some few more. Though she was a truly good woman, and had a sincere motherly love for her son John, yet there wanted not those who endeavoured to create a misunderstanding between them, and they had so far prevailed with him once, that he turned her out of doors, to his great sorrow, as he found afterwards, for his affairs went on at sixes and sevens. She was no less judicious in the turn of her conversation and choice of her studies, in which she far exceeded all her sex; your rakes that hate the company of all sober grave gentlewomen, would bear hers; and she would, by her handsome manner of proceeding, sooner reclaim them than some that were more sour and reserved. She was a zealous preacher up of chastity, and conjugal fidelity in wives, and by no means a friend to the new-fangled doctrine of the in CHAP. II.-The character of John Bull's sister1 Peg, with the quarrels that happened between Master and Miss in their childhood.-John had a sister, a poor girl that had been starved at nurse; anybody would have guessed miss to have been bred up under the influence of a cruel stepdame, and John to be the fondling of a tender mother. John looked ruddy and plump, with a pair of cheeks like a trumpeter; miss looked pale and wan, as if she had the green sickness; and no wonder, for John was the darling; he had all the good goose, and capon, while miss had only a little oatmeal and water, or a dry crust without butter. John had his golden pippins, peaches, and nectarines; poor miss a crab apple, sloe, or a blackberry. Master lay in the best apartment, with his bedchamber towards the south sun; miss lodged in a garret, exposed to the north wind, which shrivelled her countenance. However, this usage, though it stunted the girl in her growth, gave her a hardy constitution; she had life and spirit in abundance, and knew when she was illused now and then she would seize upon John's commons, snatch a leg of a pullet, or a bit of good beef, for which they were sure to go to fisty-cuffs. Master was indeed too strong for her; but miss would not yield in the least point, but even when master has got her down, she would scratch and bite like a tiger; when he gave her a cuff on the ear, she would prick him with her knitting-needle. John brought a great chain one day to tie her to the bedpost, for which affront miss aimed a penknife at his heart.2 In short, these quarrels grew up to rooted aversions; they gave one another nick-names; she called him gundyguts, and he called her lousy Peg, though the girl was a tight clever wench as any was; and through her pale looks you might discern spirit and vivacity, which made her not, indeed, a perfect beauty, but something that was agreeable. It was barbarous in parents not to take notice of these early quarrels, and make them live better together, such domestic feuds proving afterwards the occasion of misfortunes to them both. Peg had, indeed, some odd humours and comical antipathy, for which John would jeer her. 'What think you of my sister Peg (says he), that faints at the sound of an organ, and yet will dance and frisk at the noise of a bag-pipe?' What's that to you, gundyguts (quoth Peg) everybody's to choose their own music.' Then Peg had taken a fancy not to say her pater noster, which made people imagine strange things of her. Of the three brothers that have made such a clutter in the world, Lord Peter, Martin, and Jack,3 Jack had of late been her inclinations: Lord Peter she detested; nor did Martin stand much better in her good graces; but Jack had found the way to her heart. 1 The nation and church of Scotland. 2 Henry VIII., to unite the two kingdoms under one sovereign, offered his daughter Mary to James V. of Scotland, this offer was rejected, and followed by a war: to this event pro bably the author alludes. See page 305 of this volume. The following extract will serve as a specimen of Dr Arbuthnot's serious composition. It is taken from an essay on the Usefulness of Mathematical Learning. The advantages which accrue to the mind by mathematical studies, consist chiefly in these things: 1st, In accustoming it to attention. 2d, In giving it a habit of close and demonstrative reasoning. 3d, In freeing it from prejudice, credulity, and superstition. First, the mathematics make the mind attentive to the objects which it considers. This they do by entertaining it with a great variety of truths, which are delightful and evident, but not obvious. Truth is the same thing to the understanding as music to the ear and beauty to the eye. The pursuit of it does really as much gratify a natural faculty implanted in us by our wise Creator, as the pleasing of our senses: only in the former case, as the object and faculty are more spiritual, the delight is the more pure, free from the regret, turpitude, lassitude, and intemperance, that commonly attend sensual pleasures. The most part of other sciences consisting only of probable reasonings, the mind has not where to fix, and wanting sufficient principles to pursue its searches upon, gives them over as impossible. Again, as in mathematical investigations truth may be found, so it is not always obvious. This spurs the mind, and makes it diligent and attentive. reared up in the several branches of those sciences which they have cultivated, will hardly bear with the confusion and disorder of other sciences, but endeavour, as far as he can, to reform them. * * Thirdly, mathematical knowledge adds vigour to the mind, frees it from prejudice, credulity, and superstition. This it does in two ways: 1st, By accustoming us to examine, and not to take things upon trust. 2d, By giving us a clear and extensive knowledge of the system of the world, which, as it creates in us the most profound reverence of the Almighty and wise Creator, so it frees us from the mean and narrow thoughts which ignorance and superstition are apt to beget. The mathematics are friends to religion, inasmuch as they charm the passions, restrain the impetuosity of imagination, and purge the mind from error and prejudice. Vice is error, confusion, and false reasoning; and all truth is more or less opposite to it. Besides, mathematical studies may serve for a pleasant entertainment for those hours which young men are apt to throw away upon their vices; the delightfulness of them being such as to make solitude not only easy, but desirable. LORD BOLINGBROKE. HENRY ST JOHN VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE was in his own day the most conspicuous and illustrious of that friendly band of Jacobite wits and poets who adorned the reigns of Anne and George I. He is now the least popular of the whole. St John was descended from an ancient family, and was born at Battersea, in Surrey, in 1672. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. After some years of dissipation he entered parliament, and was successively secretary at war and secretary of state. He was elevated Bothaghtha The second advantage which the mind reaps from mathematical knowledge, is a habit of clear, demonstrative, and methodical reasoning. We are contrived | by nature to learn by imitation more than by precept; and I believe in that respect reasoning is much like other inferior arts (as dancing, singing, &c.), acquired by practice. By accustoming ourselves to reason closely about quantity, we acquire a habit of doing so in other things. It is surprising to see what superficial inconsequential reasonings satisfy the most part of mankind. A piece of wit, a jest, a simile, or a quotation of an author, passes for a mighty argument: with such things as these are the most part of authors stuffed; and from these weighty premises they infer their conclusions. This weakness and effeminacy of mankind, in being persuaded where they are delighted, have made them the sport of orators, poets, and men of wit. Those lumina orationis are indeed to the peerage in 1712. On the death of Queen very good diversion for the fancy, but are not the Anne, the seals of office were taken from him, and proper business of the understanding; and where a he was threatened with impeachment for the share man pretends to write on abstract subjects in a scien- he had taken in negotiating the treaty of Utrecht. tifical method, he ought not to debauch in them. Bolingbroke retired to France, and entered into the Logical precepts are more useful, nay, they are abso- Pretender's service as secretary. Here, also, he belutely necessary, for a rule of formal arguing in pubcame unpopular, and was accused of neglect and inlic disputations, and confounding an obstinate and capacity. Dismissed from his second secretaryship, perverse adversary, and exposing him to the audience he had recourse to literature, and produced his Reor readers. But, in the search of truth, an imitation flections on Exile, and a letter to Sir William Wyndof the method of the geometers will carry a man far-ham, containing a defence of his conduct. In 1723 ther than all the dialectical rules. Their analysis is the proper model we ought to form ourselves upon, and imitate in the regular disposition and progress of our inquiries; and even he who ignorant of the nature of mathematical analysis, uses a method somewhat analogous to it. The composition of the geometers, or their method of demonstrating truths already found out, namely, by definitions of words agreed upon, by self-evident truths, and propositions that have been already demonstrated, is practicable in other subjects, though not to the same perfection, the natural want of evidence in the things themselves not allowing it; but it is imitable to a considerable degree. I dare appeal to some writings of our own age and nation, the authors of which have been mathematically inclined. I shall add no more on this head, but that one who is accustomed to the methodical systems of truths which the geometers have he obtained a full pardon, and returned to England; his family inheritance was restored to him, but he was excluded from the House of Lords. He commenced an active opposition to Walpole, and wrote a number of political tracts against the Whig ministry. In 1735 he retired again to France, and resided there seven years, during which time he produced his Letters on the Study of History, and a Letter on the True Use of Retirement. The last ten years of his life were spent at Battersea. In 1749 appeared his Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism, and Idea of a Patriot King, with a preface by David Mallet, which led to a bitter and acrimonious war of pamphlets. Bolingbroke's treatise had been put into the hands of Pope, that he might have a few copies printed for private circulation. After the death of Pope, it was found that an impression of 1500 had been printed, and this Bolingbroke affected to consider a heinous breach of |