the truth of this proposition, found himself in circum stances which, by the mere force of habit, caused him to draw in a long breath through his nose, and at the same time, with a grin of exquisite sensibility, to scratch his head. "But my observations, cousin," said his uncle, "have a necessary connection with a purpose that I have formed, and with which you shall also be acquainted. Draw your chair a little nearer. The passions, cousin John, as they are naturally productive of all pleasure, should, by reasonable beings, be also rendered subservient to a higher purpose. The love of variety, which is found in every breast, as it produces much pleasure, may also produce much knowledge. One of the principal advantages that are derived from wealth, is a power to gratify and improve this passion. The rich are not confined by labour to a particular spot, where the same ideas perpetually recur; they can fill the mind either by travel or by study; with innumerable images, of which others have no conception. But it must be considered, that the pleasure of travelling does not arise from the sight of a dirty town, or from lodging at an inn; nor from any hedge or cottage that is passed on the road; nor from the confused objects that are half discovered in the distant prospect; nor from the series of well-built houses in a city, or the busy multitudes that swarm in the streets: but from the rapid succession of these objects to each other, and the number of ideas that are thrown in upon the mind." Mr. Friendly here paused "for John's reply; and John, suddenly recollecting himself, said, "Very true."...." But how," said Mr. Friendly, can this love of variety be directed to the acquisition of knowledge?" Here John wriggled in his seat, and again scratched his head: he was indeed something embarrassed by the question: but the old gentleman quickly put him out of his pain by answering it himself....." Why, by a judicious choice of the variety that is to produce our entertainment. If the va

66

rious doublings of a hare only, or the changes of a game at whist, have afforded the variety of the day; whatever has been the pleasure, improvement has been wanting. But if the different customs, the policy, the trade of nations, the variety of soils, the manner of culture, the disposition of individuals, or the rise or fall of a state, have been impressed upon the mind; besides the pleasure of the review, a power of creating new images is acquired. Fancy can combine the ideas which memory has treasured; and when they have been reviewed and regulated by judgment, some scheme will result by which commerce may be extended, agriculture improved, immorality restrained, and the prosperity of the state secured. Of this, cousin John, you was not wholly ignorant before." John acquiesced with a bow; for though he had been a little bewildered, yet he understood by the tone of voice with which his uncle concluded the last sentence, that such acquiescence was expected. "Upon this occasion," continued Mr. Friendly, "I must remark, though it is something foreign to my purpose, that variety has, by some philosophers, been considered, as affording not only the pleasure and improvement, but even the measure of life; for of time in the abstract we have no idea, and can conceive it only by the succession of ideas to each other. Thus, if we sleep without dreams, the moment in which we awake appears immediately to succeed that in which we began to slumber."

A thicker gloom now fell upon John, and his countenance lengthened in proportion to his uncle's lecture, the end of which he perceived was now become more remote; for these remarks with respect to John, were not impressed with the signature of truth, nor did they reflect any idea of his own—they were not

Something whose truth convinc'd at sight we find, "That gives us back the image of our mind."

POPE.

With respect to John therefore they had no characteristic of wit; and if they contained knowledge, it was knowledge which John had no wish to acquire. The old gentleman, however, proceeded thus with great deliberation:

"But though curiosity should be principally directed to useful purposes, yet it should not always be repressed or diverted, when the use is not immediate or apparent: for he who first perceived the magnetic attraction, and applied it to various experiments, probably intended nothing more than amusement; and when the polarity of the needle was discovered, it was not in the pursuit of any project to facilitate navigation. I am, therefore, now about to gratify your curiosity, cousin, with a view of London, and all the variety that it contains." Here John's countenance brightened; he rouzed himself on his seat, and looked eager with attention.

"As you have," continued his uncle, "applied with great diligence to your grammar learning, I doubt not but you have also read many of our best English authors, especially our immortal Shakspeare; and I am willing that, before you enter upon a course of acade- · mic study, you should see the theatre." John was going to express his joy, when his uncle encreased it, by putting into his hand a bank-note of fifty pounds. "This," said he, "under the direction of a gentleman, to whom I shall recommend you, will furnish you with proper apparel, bear your expences for a couple of months, and gratify you with all the entertainments of the town."

John could now bear some part in the conversation: he was much obliged to his uncle, and hoped he should live to make him amends; "For," says he, “one of our ushers, who was just returned from London before I left school, has made me long to see it: he says there is a man there who dances upon a wire no big

ger than a packthread; and that there is a collection of all the strange creatures in the world."

John, who had uttered this with a broad grin, and expressed his delight from head to foot, was somewhat disconcerted when his uncle told him coolly, that though he would not have him leave London without seeing every thing in it that might justly raise curiosity, yet he hoped his notice was not principally attracted by objects which could convey no instruction, inspire no noble sentiment, nor move one tender passion. "I mentioned," says he, "Shakspeare, that mighty genius, whose sentiments can never be exhausted, and in whom new beauties are discovered at every view. That you may derive yet greater delight and advantage from the representation of his pieces, I will read you some historical and critical notes that I have been making during twenty years, after having read the first edition of his works, and every commentator that has either illustrated or obscured his meaning." The old gentleman then taking out and wiping his spectacles, opened his bureau and produced the manuscripts. "I am now," said he, " about to confer a favour upon you, which I do not yet intend for any other; for as I shall continually enlarge this work, it will not be printed till I am dead." He then began to read, and John sat very silent, regaling himself with the anticipation of his own finery, the dexterity of the wire-dancer, and the variety of the savages that he was to visit in London. The old gentleman, who imagined that he was held motionless with attention, wonder, and delight, proceeded long in his lecture without once adverting to John for his explicit eulogium; but at the end of a favourite passage, which closed with a distich of his own poetry, he ventured to steal his eyes from the paper, and glancing them upon John, perceived that he was fast asleep, with his mouth open, and the bank-note in his hand.