ADDRESS X. ON FRIENDSHIP. T has been always fuppofed of courts, I are ma falfe pretences to Friendship; in other words, by the worft paffions, or by the coldeft indifference, under the warmest profeffions of respect and honour, attachment and fervice. But is there any reafon for fuppofing, that fuch diffimulation is much. lefs common in cities; or that it is not fufficiently practifed in fmaller focieties, and more confined fituations; in short, wherever wealth is poffeffed, or the defire of it ftrong; wherever vice has hardened. the heart, or luxury enervated the foul? We have already feen, that, as fociety grows more highly polished, fincere af-' fection becomes more rare. An earnest attention to appearance, a boundless ambition of fplendor, an inceffant study of conceited, in default of that genuine, refinement which can only be attained by delicate minds-all thefe, fo manifeftly characteristic of the prefent age, co-operating with its more depraved difpofitions, are powerful enemies to the purity and folidity of Friendship. But, fince youth is. ftill eafy of belief, and its credulity, in points that intereft its regards, is often peculiarly dangerous, we have been at fome pains to admonish you, my young auditors, against the deceits and errors to which you are moft exposed on the fide of your kindest propenfities. The last caution we prefumed to offer, turned on the neceffity of confining your expectations to a fmall number of Bofom Friends. The feelings that, belong to fuch are, in truth, too important, and too difcriminating, to be entertained for many perfons by the fame individuals. They refemble a fine river, which would lofe its force and beauty, were it broken into numerous streams. The human heart cannot receive a multiplicity of objects into its most inward and favourite receffes : nor fhould any of you be forward to imagine, that you can be admitted there, by every man who profeffes good-will, even fuppofing this profeffion ever so true. If his mind is not originally attuned to yours, it is impoffible that you and he should unite in the finer accords of life and yet with some other minds he may blend in a beautiful harmony; as you, in your turn, may find those whose particular tones of temper and intellect shall be no less hap→ pily in unifon with your own. And thus the concert of fociety at large will be more varied, more extenfive, and more complete. : When we fpeak of Friendship, we fhould carefully remember the distinction between that which is common and imperfect, and that which is peculiar and tranfcendent. The former fhould properly be termed acquaintance, familiarity, fellowship, being in fact little or nothing more the latter, which implies the nobleft alliance and clofeft communion that can subsist among men, the most intimate and endearing correfpondence of principles, views, pursuits, and enjoyments, is alone entitled to the glorious appellation of Friendship in its full force and emphafis. The former may be easily contracted, and as haftily diffolved, by the moft trivial accident: the latter, however it may fometimes take its rife from circumftances apparently fortuitous and inconfiderable, is established only by time, by reflection, by a nearer and nearer intercourfe, and a mutual approximation of hearts, till they at length meet and mix in one lovely mafs, with an union fo complete, and fo delightful, that they can never after be divided. The former often 4 refts on the flighteft grounds, that pleafure, or profit, humour, or amufement, among the flighteft fpirits, can furnish: the latter is always built on folid esteem, and reciprocal affiance, among perfons of fenfe and probity. The firft admits of many degrees, and is liable to many variations the second is by its nature always exalted, and in its effence always uniform, though it may at particular junctures, through human imbecillity, wear a different appearance. The first, we know, may take place between a great number the laft, we fear, can extend to a very few. It has been even questioned, whether a man can have more than one Friend, in the highest acceptation of that title. The first is fubjected to a great variety of rules, reftrictions, precautions, fettled forms, and neceffary guards: all thefe are generously defpifed by the laft, which is too upright and honourable to require, too dignified and free to endure them. Once more; the former must be |