all the animal tendencies and motions. It is highly probable, that a delicate fyftem of nerves, or a firmer contexture of them, is better able to obferve the external world with unerring accuracy, than a more callous or a more relaxed affemblage of these instruments of fenfation. This favourable predifpofition of the organs, followed by peculiar opportunities for collecting ideas, and by inducements to impart them to the world, may perhaps conftitute what we call literary genius. There is indeed little doubt, but that fome kind of genius, or, in other words, fome peculiar ability to receive a certain train of ideas neceffary to the practice of fome art, or to the purfuit of fome profeffion, is poffeffed by every individual not in a state of idiotifm. Nature, a kind parent to all her children, has ufually endowed them all with a power of exerting themselves with skill and advantage in fome way or other. The misfortune has been, that the indications of nature are not always fufficiently manifeft to the conductors of education. The deftination is often neceffarily fixed, before the faculties are arrived at fufficient ftrength to point out their propenfity. Univerfal genius is indeed fparingly, perhaps never, beftowed. For the prefervation of impartiality, where nature has allowed an excellence in any remarkable degree, the has often permitted a defect to counterbalance it. Yet in the literary annals of almost every nation, we find many diftinguished by intellectual endowments above the ordinary condition of humanity. It is a noble privilege to excel men in the very perfection by which they furpafs the irrational animals, and is doubtless permitted by Providence for the happiness of mankind. Let it be confidered, as an inftance of the advantage which mankind derives from fingular genius, what a train of light has been diffused far and wide on thousands and tens of thousands, for the fpace of near twenty hundred years, from the illumined underftanding of the individual Cicero. Or, to take an example from our own polished age and country, let a conjecture be formed of the number of those who have been led to every thing good and great by an Addifon. The The world, however, has feldom been grateful to its benefactors. It has neglected, banished, poifoned, and crucified them. But there was an inward fatisfaction in conscious rectitude, a generous spirit in heroic virtue, which bore them through every thing with comfort, and their merit increafed and triumphed in adverfity. They who have been poffeffed of fubordinate degrees of genius, have in later times been induced to affect a fingularity of fentiment and practice, in order to draw upon themselves the eyes of mankind. In purfuit of this end, they have adopted vices which their hearts and understanding muft have condemned. Eccentricity has been the object of their wishes. Ruin and difgrace have been the ufual confequences, and the admiration of others has at laft been extinguished in compaffion. Poor man! it has been often exclaimed, he was indeed clever, but he wanted conduct, and he unfortunately died in a gaol. If moral could be combined with mental excellence ; if the native vigour of genius could fubmit to be guided and reftrained by the decifions of well-conducted art; then might be fupplied, what none will venture to expect, the two grand defiderata in morals and literature, a perfect man and a perfect work. No. LXXXV. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD CHARACTER, CONSIDERED ONLY WITH RESPECT TO INTEREST. S the minds of men are infinitely various, and as A they are therefore influenced in the choice of a conduct by different inducements, the moralift muft omit no motive, however fubordinate in its nature, while it appears likely to lead fome among mankind to a laudable, or even a blameless behaviour. A regard to eafe, to intereft, and to fuccefs, in the ufual pursuits of wealth and ambition, may induce many to pursue an honeft and honourable conduct, who would not have been influenced by purer motives: but after they have once perceived perceived the intrinfic excellence and beauty of fuch a conduct, they will probably perfevere in it for its own fake, and upon higher confiderations. To those who are to make their own way either to wealth or honours, a good character is ufually no less neceffary than addrefs and abilities. Though human nature is degenerate, and corrupts itself ftill more by its own inventions; yet it ufually retains an efteem for excellence. But even if we are arrived at fuch an extreme degree of depravity as to have loft our native reverence for virtue; yet a regard to our own interest and safety, which we feldom lofe, will lead us to apply, in all important tranfactions, to men whofe integrity is unimpeached. When we chufe an affiftant, a partner, a fervant, our firft enquiry is concerning his character. When we have occafion for a counsellor or attorney, a phyfician or apothecary, whatever we may be ourselves, we always chufe to truft our property and perfons to men of character. When we fix on the tradesmen who are to fupply us with neceffaries, we are not determined by the fign of the lamb, or the wolf, or the fox; nor by a fhop fitted up in the moft elegant tafte, but by the fairest reputation. Look into a daily newspaper, and you will fee how important the characters of the employed appear to the employers, from the highest to the lowest rank. After the advertisement has enumerated the qualities required in the perfon wanted, there conftantly follows, that none need apply who cannot bring an undeniable character. Offer yourself as a candidate for a feat in parliament, be promoted to honour and emolument, or in any refpect attract the attention of mankind upon yourself, and if you are vulnerable in your character, you will be deeply wounded. This is a general teftimony in favour of honesty, which no writings and no practices can refute. Young men, therefore, whofe characters are yet unfixed, and who, confequently, may render them just fuch as they with, ought to pay great attention to the firft fteps which they take on entrance into life. They are ufually careless and inattentive to this object. They pursue their own plans with ardour, and neglect the opinions which others entertain of them. By fome thoughtless thoughtless action or expreffion, they fuffer a mark to be impreffed upon them, which scarcely any fubfequent merit can entirely erafe. Every man will find fome perfons, who, if they are not enemies, view him with an envious or a jealous eye; and who will gladly revive any tale to which truth has given the flightest foundation. Indeed all men are fo much inclined to flatter their own pride, by detracting from the reputation of others, that fuppofing we were able to maintain an immaculate conduct, it would still be difficult to preferve an immaculate character. But yet it is wisdom not to furnish this detracting fpirit with real fubjects for the exercise of its activity. While calumny is fupported only by imagination, or by malice, we may fometimes remove, by contradicting it; but wherever folly or vice have fupplied facts, we can feldom do more than aggravate the evil, by giving it an apparent attention. The malignity of fome among the various difpofitions of which mankind are compofed, is often highly gratified at the view of injured fenfibility. In this turbulent and confufed fcene, where our words and actions are often misunderstood, and oftener mifreprefented, it is indeed difficult even for innocence and integrity to avoid reproach, abufe, contempt and hatred. Thefe not only hurt our intereft and impede our advancement in life, but forely afflict the feelings of a tender and delicate mind. It is then the part of wisdom first to do every thing in our power to preferve an irreproachable character, and then to let our happiness depend chiefly on the approbation of our own confciences, and on the advancement of our intereft in a world where liars fhall not be believed, and where flanderers shall receive countenance from none but him who, in Greek, is called, by way of eminence, Diabolus, or the Calumniator. No. No. LXXXVI. ON THE OSTENTATIOUS AFFECTATION OF THE CHARACTER OF A T HE moft attractive beauty of the perfon results from the graces of the mind. Delicacy, fweetneis, fenfe, and fenfibility, fhining in the eyes, will compenfate an irregularity of features, and will fooner excite love in a feeling heart, than the best formed face and the finest complexional hue without expreffion. Nature muft indeed have laid the foundation of these amiable qualities in the difpofition; but they are by no methods fo effectually called forth and improved, as by the cultivation of a literary tafte. In an intercourfe with the world, we fee and feel the difagreeable paffions, fuch as have an effect in diftorting the countenance, and in giving to the eyes an envious, a proud, a difdainful, or an artful afpect; than which nothing is more repugnant to the idea of allurement. Eyes that unfortunately have acquired any of thefe appearances, whatever beauties they may be furrounded with, poffefs a repellent power, and operate like the bafilifk. But however wicked the world is, books are for the most part ftill virtuous. Human nature appears in them in its most pleafing colours. They infpire generous and tender fentiments. She who is judiciously converfant with them, will find her countenance improving as her mind is informed, and her look ennobled as her heart is elevated. This must be a powerful motive for application among the ladies; and they may reft affured, that perfonal and mental beauty, though, when feparate, their dominion is not abfolute, are truly irrefiftible when combined. An application to books, however, is often found not to produce any attractive effects; hor is it to be wondered at, when it is conducted in an injudicious and defultory |