cular occafions, and especially the cafe of going abroad, where you wish to be admitted among genteel ftrangers, or even well treated by the common people; I am apt to believe, that a polite address and engaging conversation will, with a plain but becoming habit, seldom fail to procure both notice and refpect in every company where a fenfible man would defire to be the object of either. On this article, indeed, perfons of condition poffefs, when they are known, a fingular advantage: they may often go plainer than many of their inferiors. Their rank is fufficient to recommend them in moft places, with very little affiftance from other circumftances, as far at least as exterior regard extends. To say the truth, it frequently excites in vulgar fpirits an admiration, and a reverence, merely for its own fake, which are due only to fuperior virtue and capacity. Meanwhile I am always pleased in a certain degree, when I obferve people of station difpofed to drefs as often as poffible with

with fimplicity; and yet more when their deportment is of a piece: nor should it be forgotten, that many of them are agreeably distinguished by their eafe, their unaffuming manners, and their unoftentatious appearance. What pity but the fame perfons were always equally marked out by their principles, by their talents, and a laudable imitation of their illuftrious and truly noble ancestors!

It is not to be denied, that numbers who have neither quality to justify at times extraordinary fplendor, nor affluence to support it, are yet more devoted to fhow, and the luxuries ufually attendant on it, than many who are much above them. The extravagance, indeed, which spreads like wild-fire through the lower walks of fociety, and produces fuch havock of fortunes and of morals, ftruck at first every fober eye with astonishment and grief, but is become now fo common, and consequently fo familiar, as to make very little impreffion-fave on those who perfonally

fuffer by it. On what multitudes has ruin, like a deluge, rushed from this fource!

I know it has been repeatedly and confidently pleaded, that the unusual prevalence of public diverfions, which the prefent effeminate fyftem of nurture concurs with other caufes to promote, is a mighty advantage to trade and manufactures. Were thofe diverfions frequented only by fuch as could well afford the requifite expence, the argument might hold. But is there not ground to fufpect, that the epidemical paffion for coftly affemblies and other modish entertainments, beyond the limits of real ability, is the chief occafion of the distress incurred by fo many perfons who furnish the neceffary preparations, and of course by their connexions, as well as the individuals and families immediately concerned?

Let us fuppofe, however, that manufactures and trade were on the whole gainers, and that the perfons who indulge without controul to fuch pleasures were not deep

lofers in their pecuniary interefts, which it is yet certain they often are, not only from the immoderate fums actually expended, but from neglects of business, habits of indolence, and a growing propenfion to every kind of prodigality; I will ftill afk, Were not the community in general happier, much happier, without this excefs? Or will any reflecting man, who is converfant in history, and friendly to virtue, maintain that opulence or grandeur, at whatever height they may arrive, can com→ pensate to a nation the lofs of its good order, wife economy, and masculine spirit?

To proceed in our furvey; the Effeminacy of the times, though extreme, will furprise us yet lefs if we next attend a little to the ftyle in which the majority of our young gentlemen are bred, after their nurfes and mothers have done all in their power to render them infignificant. How feldom are they, when placed under the care of mafters, inftructed in any thing more important or valuable than the means

of knowledge, or the forms of bufinefs, with a few exterior and fubaltern accomplifhments, of which the main intention is to confer a little smartness and gentility! How few teachers, in comparison, have the inclination, or the talents, to" prin"ciple them in Virtue's book;" to inflame them with the love of truth, of temperance, of divine philofophy; to exalt and direct their aims for life, and for immortality; to animate their bofoms with those benevolent affections, and liberal views, which. comprehend the whole circuit of focial good, of a commonweal, of univerfal humanity, and which, when afterwards called. forth in different fituations, will impart a luftre to exiftence, by proving the fources. of extenfive usefulness, and the ingredients of a confpicuous character! To train. young minds in this manner, fuppofing them capable of fuch culture, what various. attainments and generous ideas are requifite! what extent of erudition, what powers. of perfuafion, what infight into the heart,. what unwearied affiduity and unextinguish