No man can be more a friend, and even an advocate for the liberties of his country, than myself; and a patriotic magistrate, will, at all times, attend to the voice of the people, and, as a common father, love to be put in mind of his duty. But, when I find no fault committed by the administration, except such as is inseparably connected with human nature, I consider the abettors as real incendiaries who want to create dissentions amongst a brave united people.

For my own part, when I consider the present distracted state of affairs, and compare it with my duty as an individual, I am ready to cry out with the Psalmist, "May peace be within her walls, and prosperity within her palares!" May they prosper who wish her well, and seek her peace continually and in this wish, I doubt not but you will join heartily with

LETTER 166.

To a young man on Prudence.

MY YOUNG FRIEND,

Your friend..

The first thing necessary for a happy progress in business, is prudence or discretion. This, as it relates to trade, is a habit of mind enabling us to conduct our af fairs in the wisest and best manner; or, in other words, it is pursuing the proper end, by the best means, and in the fittest time. It is not that serpentine craft, which lies in wait to captivate the unwary, impose upon the credulous, and overreach the weak understanding, and which teaches men to increase their wealth by injustice and fraud. God has given to man no superior wisdom or skill, to be directed to ends so contrary to his own nature and

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will, and the good of mankind. But it is that honest wisdom, which is consistent with a good conscience, and an ornament to it. Prudence is subtility refined from all those base and unjust views, as subtility is wisdom core. rupted by them. Wisdom, like light, is pleasant to behold; it quickens the spirits, disposes the mind to a cheerful activity, and makes the passages of life clear and open. Under God, it enables us to acquire and enjoy many advantages we could not otherwise attain; and obviates many evils and inconveniences to which we are liable, Whatever good arises from deliberate advice, sagacions foresight, stable resolution, and orderly conduct, wisdom confers. Whatever evils proceed from blind ignorance, false presumption, unwary credulity, precipitate rashness, wisdom prevents. It begets in us the reasonable hope of success; and quiets the heart in the want of it. God having given to man a considering mind, sagacity and foresight, which he has denied to other creatures, they who act foolishly, so far degrade the man, and resemble the brute; and many are ruined by their own indiscretion and folly, without any other visible means than that they were themselves rash, wilful, or weak. But, when our intentions are good, and the means proper, we may hope that allwise goodness will prosper us; our success will then be doubly pleasant. Or, if we are disappointed, we shall disarm the affliction of what makes the deepest wound, the reflection that it was caused by our own folly. It is not supposed that our wisdom and prudence can control the events of divine Providence, or make our dependance upon God unnecessary. But it will hinder us from being our own destroyers, and is the means which the governor of the world uses to bestow prosperity, and happiness where he is disposed to vouchsafe the enjoy

ment of them. A considerate head is often more successful than the laborious hand; though both should be united in most employments.

Your sincere friend.

LETTER 167.

To the same, on the vicissitudes of Human Life.

MY YOUNG FRIEND,

Remember that human life is but as the journey of a day. We rise in the morning of youth, full of vigor and expectation, set forward with spirit and hope, with gaiety and with diligence, and travel on awhile in the straight road of piety, towards the mansions of rest. In a short time we remit our fervor, and endeavor to find some mitigation of our duty, and some more easy means of obtaining the same end. We then relax our vigor, and resolve to be no more terrified with crimes at a distance, but rely upon our own constancy, and venture to approach what we resolve never to touch. We thus enter the bow

ers of ease, and repose in the shades of security. Here the heart softens and vigilance subsides; we are then willing to inquire, whether another advance cannot be made, and whether we may not at least turn our eyes upon the gardens of pleasure. We approach them with scruple and hesitation; we enter them timorous and trembling, and always hope to pass through them without losing the road of virtue, which we for a while keep in our sight, and to which we propose to return. But temptation succeeds temptation, and one compliance prepares us for another; we, in time, lose the happiness of inno. cence, and solace our disquiet with sensual gratifications.

By degrees we let fall the remembrance of our original intention, and quit the only adequate object of rational desire. We entangle ourselves in business, immerge ourselves in luxury, and rove through the labyrinths of inconstancy, till the darkness of old age begins to invade us, and disease and anxiety obstruct our way, we then look back upon our lives with horror, with sorrow, with repentance; and wish, but too often vainly wish, that we had not forsaken the ways of virtue. Happy are they, my friend, who learn not to despair, but shall remember, that though the day is past, and their strength is wasted, there yet remains one effort to be made; that reformation is never hopeless, nor sincere endeavors ever unassisted; that the wanderer may at length return after all his errors; and that he who implores strength and courage from above, shall find danger and difficulty give way before him.

Yours, sincerely.

LETTER 168.

Dr. Johnson to Mrs. Thrale, on the value of long established Friendship.

DEAR MADAM,

Since you have written to me with the attention and tenderness of ancient time, your letters give me a great part of the pleasure which a life of solitude admits. You will never bestow a share of your good will on one who deserves better. Those that have loved longest love best. A sudden blaze of kindness may, by a single blast of coldness, be extinguished, but that fondness, which length of time has connected with many circumstances and oc

casions, though it may for a while be suppressed by disgust or resentment, with, or without a cause, is hourly revived by accidental recollection. To those that have lived long together, every thing heard, and every thing seen, recals some pleasure communicated, or some benefit conferred, some petty quarrel, or some slight endearment. Esteem of great powers, or amiable qualities newly discovered, may embroider a day or week, but a friendship of twenty years, is interwoven with the texture of life. A friend may be often found and lost, but an old friend never can be found, and nature has provided that he cannot easily be lost.

I have not forgotten the Davenants, though they seem to have forgotten me. I began very early to tell them what they have commonly found to be true. I am sorry to hear of their building. I have always warned those whom I loved, against that mode of ostentatious waste.

You seem to mention Lord Kilmurry, as a stranger, We were at his house in Cheshire; and he one day dined with Sir Lynch. What he tells me of the epigram is not true, but perhaps he does not know it to be false. Do not you remember how he rejoiced in having no park; he could not disoblige his neighbors by sending them no venison.

The frequency of death to those who look upon it in the leisure of Arcadia, is very dreadful. We all know what it should teach us; let us all be diligent to learn. Lucy Porter has lost her brother. But whom have I lost? Let me not now remember. Let not your loss be added to the mournful catalogue. Write soon again to, madam, Yours, &c.