BEAUTIES, &c.

AFFECTATION.

AFFI

FFECTATION naturally counterfeits thofe excellencies which are placed at the greatest diftance from poffibility of attainment, becaufe, knowing our own defects, we eagerly endeavour to fupply them with artificial excellence.

Rambler, v. 4. p. 104.

Affectation is to be always diftinguished from hypocrify, as being the art of counterfeiting thofe qualities which we might with innocence and safety be known to want. Hypocrify is the neceffary burthen of villainy.Affectation part of the chofen trappings of folly.

Every man speaks and writes with an intent to be underftood; and it can feldom happen, but he that underftands hinfelf might convey his notions to another, if content to be understood, he did not feek to be admired; but when once he begins to contrive how his fentiments may be received, not with most eafe to his reader, but with moft advantage to himfelf, he then transfers his confideration from words to founds, from fentences to periods, and as he grows more elegant becomes lefs intelligible.

Idler, v. 1, p. 202,

AGRICULTURE.

NOTHING can more fully prove the ingratitude of mankind, (a crime often charged upon them, and often denied,) than the little regard which the difpofers of honorary rewards have paid to Agriculture; which is treated as a fubject fo remote from common life by all thofe who do not immediately hold the plough, or give fodder to the ox, that there is room to queftion, whether a great part of mankind has yet been informed that life is fulained by the fruits of the earth.

Univerfal Vifiter, p. 411.

Agri

Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches we can call our own, and of which we need not fear either deprivation, or dimunition.

Ditto, p. 112.

Of nations, as of individuals, the first blessing is independence. Neither the man northe people can be happy, to whom any human power can deny the neceffaries, or conveniencies of life. There is no way of living without foreign affistance, but by the product of our own land improved by our own labour. Every other fource of plenty is perishable or cafual.

Ditto, ditto.

AGRICULTURE OF ENGLAND.

OUR country is perhaps,beyond all others, productive of things neceffary to life. The pine apple thrives better between the tropics, and better furs are found in the Northern regions. But let us not envy thofe unneceffary privileges; mankind cannot fubfift upon the indulgencies of nature, but muft be fupported by her common gifts; they must feed upon bread and be clothed with wool,