It may be thought that one who is sensible of all this would be proof against such vain apprehensions and imaginations; but I know by experience that Philosophy is a much better thing to write about than to practise; and, therefore, without boasting of 'superior resolution and firmness, I must humbly take the liberty to shelter myself under the authority of a learned Divine, who assures his readers, that "the best of men are but men at the best."

A few days ago I met with an incident which certainly tried my courage, and which, I hope it will be allowed, was somewhat disheartening to a PROJECTOR in the commencement of his public labours. As I was walking through the Strand, I happened to overtake a man and woman, evidently of the lower order, in close conversation. What the subject was I had no business to inquire, and no anxiety to discover; and I thought indeed that I had heard quite enough, when, on my passing them, the woman exclaimed, Ay, he had always too many projects in his head to do any good."

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Now, although it may be very allowable in my literary friends to give me their advice, caution me against precipitation, and exhort me to weigh well

" Quid

"Quid ferre recusent,

Quid valeant humeri,”

the pride of authorship disdains to submit to the sneers and discouragement of the vulgar, who can be no judges, or very

indifferent ones,

of the weighty matters of the quill. We are less ashamed to be conquered by the lion than by an animal of more ignoble breed. It is the kick of the ass which aggravates the injury, and turns misfortune into insult. It may be said, however, that the ominous words above recorded were not addressed to me. Perhaps not, although of that I have no proof; yet I confess I could not help feeling their force, as a man will not be less hurt by a stone thrown at random than if it had been pointed. The incident afforded me many grave and dejecting reflections on the usage I may expect, unless

I can contrive to rescue the name of PROJECTOR from the disrepute into which it has fallen, and give a sort of consequence to those who confessedly have no object in view but the good of mankind.

On my arrival at home, I could not help imparting the circumstance to a confidential friend who was waiting for me, and whose opinions seemed in perfect unison with my

own. "I I sympathize cordially with you," said he," and can enter into your feelings. There is nothing hurts us so much as to suffer by those whom we think our inferiors. For my part, I carry this doctrine rather farther than yourself, or than most men. If I am doomed to receive injuries of any kind, I own I should prefer them at the hands of persons of superior rank, or even from inanimate objects of the better sort. For example, if a man is to lose his money on Hounslow-heath or Shooter'shill, how much more agreeable to part with it to a highwayman genteelly mounted, than to a low-bred footpad so poor and miserably furnished for his trade, that he is, perhaps, all the while frightening you with a brass candlestick? And if I were to meet with an accident in the street, I should certainly prefer a patrician to a plebeian casualty. I never pass by a cheesemonger's, when they are popping their cheeses from a cart into the shop, without shuddering at the disgraceful end of that man who should be killed by one of them. What a pretty figure a Cheshire cheese would make in an Obituary, or a few deal-boards on a marble monument! Who would not prefer dying under the Lord Chancellor's coach, or even that of the Speaker, to the best dray Mr.

Whitbread ever sent out? And then, with respect to the dangers of the sea, who would not rather go to the bottom in a 74 than in a coasting vessel? As to diseases too, I think there are distinctions to be made. There is something becoming in a fever or gout; but I am at this moment tormented with the toothach, which I tell you between ourselves.' There is a dignity, Mr. Projector, there is a dignity to be consulted in our misfortunes; and no man ought to be so miserable as not to study the Graces. You never heard me grumble about the thousand pounds I lost by Jack Humbug's bankruptcy; and why? because I knew he never was worth a groat, and broke for half a million."

My friend was running on in this strain, in which probably few of my readers will be disposed to follow him, when the servant brought me the following letter, which operated as a more refreshing cordial than all he had advanced on proud losses, spirited robberies, genteel accidents, and right-honourable fractures. I cannot refuse to give a preference to a writer who has honoured me with so early an application.

"SIR,

I

"I SHALL make no apology for, perhaps, being the first to address you on the commencement of your paper. I have no compliments to pay, for neither of us is yet of consequence to 'give and take' in that way. can foresee all you were about to say in your second number; your modesty, your humility, and the useful train of ingratiating preliminaries which your predecessors have advanced, in order to deprecate critical severity. Perhaps you were about to give us an account of yourself, your family, or your club, for Projectors, of all people, ought to keep one another in countenance by association; but these matters, let me tell you, will come out hereafter with should more propriety. In my opinion, you imitate the dramatic rather than the historic. form, and begin in the middle of the plot, reserving the denouement for the last act.

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My business is urgent-I have discoveries to make of great importance, and which cannot be longer concealed; and I know no hetter vehicle for their disclosure than that you have chosen for the exhibition of your projects. Most of Mr. Urban's readers are very