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414.

The liberty of the Press is attended with so few inconveniences, that it may be claimed as the common right of mankind, and ought to be indulged them in almost every government. We need not dread from this liberty any such ill consequences as followed the harangues of the popular demagogues of Athens and tribunes of Rome. A man reads a book or pamphlet alone, and coolly: there is none present from whom he can catch the passion by contagion: he is not hurried away by the energy of action: and should he be wrought up to ever so seditious a humour, there is no violent resolution presented to him by which he can immediately vent his passion. The liberty of the press, therefore, however abused, can scarce ever excite popular tumults or rebellion, And as to those murmurs or secret discontents it may occasion, it is better they should get vent in words, that they may come to the knowledge of the magistrate before it be too late, in order to his providing a remedy against them. Mankind, it is true, have always a greater propension to believe what is said to the disadvantage of their governors, than the contrary: but this inclination is inseparable from them, whether they have liberty or not; a whisper may fly as quick, and be as pernicious as a pamphlet; nay, it will be more pernicious, where men are not accustomed to think freely, or to distinguish truth from falsehood.-Hume.

415. No Innovation.-To say all new things are bad, is as much as to say all things are bad, or at any event, at their commencement; for of all the old things ever seen or heard of, there is not one that was not once new. Whatever is now establishment was once innovation. He who on this ground condemns a proposed measure, condemns in the same breath whatsoever he would be most adverse to be thought to disapprove. He condemns the Revolution, the Reformation, the assumption made by the House of Commons of a part in the penning of the laws in the reign of Henry VI., the institution of the House of Commons itself in the reign of Henry III; all these he bids us regard as the sure forerunners of the monster Anarchy, but particularly the birth and first efficient agency of the House of Commons; an innovation, in comparison of which all others, past or future, are for efficiency, and consequently mischievousness, but as grains of dust in the balance.

Bentham.

416. Familiarity with Inferiors.—I should commend a soul of several stories, that knows both how to bend and slacken itself, that finds itself at ease in all conditions of fortune, that can discourse with a neighbour of his building, hunting, or any little contention betwixt him and another; that can chat with a carpenter or gardener with pleasure. I envy them who can render themselves familiar with their own attendants; and dislike the advice of Plato, that men should always speak in a magisterial tone to their servants, whether men or women, without being sometimes, facetious and familiar. For, besides my reason, tis inhuman and unjust, to set so great a value upon this prerogative of fortune.

Montaigne.

417. The Patriot cannot be bought: every Demagogue has his price.-When Alexander sent Phocion 100 talents, Phocion asked his messengers why Alexander gave him such a great reward above all the other citizens of Athens? "Because," said they, "he esteemeth thee alone to be a good and honest man." "Let me then," replied Phocion, "be what I seem."---Charles the Second sent Lord Treasurer Danby to Andrew Marvel with offers of protection: the Lord Treasurer found him in one of the little courts of the Strand, and assured him that he was expressly sent from his Majesty, to know what he could do to serve him? "It is not in his Majesty's power to serve me," said Mr. Marvell jocularly ; When the Lord Treasurer answered, "that his Majesty, from the just sense he had of his merit alone, desired to know whether there was any place at court he would be pleased with?" To which he replied, “that he could not with honour accept the offer, since if he did, he must be either ungrateful to the king in voting against him, or false to his country in supporting the measures of the court; the only favour therefore which he begged of his Majesty was, that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and acting more truly in his proper interest while thus he refused his offers, than he possibly could do should he accept them."-Montagu's Essays.

418.

The love of excelling.-This passion always chooses to move alone in a narrow sphere, where nothing noble or important can be achieved, rather than join with others in moving mighty engines, by which much good might be effected. Where did ambition ever glow more intensely than in Cæsar? whose favourite saying, we are told, was that he would rather be the first man in a petty village than the second in Rome. Did not Alexander, another madman of the same kind, reprove his tutor Aristotle for publishing to the world those discoveries in philosophy he would have had reserved for himself alone.-Tucker.

419. Honesty and Honour.-The principal, if not the only, difference betwixt honesty and honour, seems to lie in their different motives: the object of the latter being reputation; and of the former duty.—Anon.

420. Calumny made Useful.—I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavoured and taken pains to belie me. It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions. Ben Jonson.

LONDON: Printed and Published by J. H. STARIE, 59, Museum Street, and to be had of all Booksellers.

Materials for Thinking,

EXTRACTED FROM THE WORKS OF

ANCIENT AND MODERN AUTHORS.

"WHATEVER CHARITY WE OWE TO MEN'S PERSONS, WE OWE NONE TO THEIR ERRORS."-Bishop Burnet.

No. XVII.

Published Weekly.

[Price One Penny.

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421. Names and Titles.-Would it not be better for ambitious mortals to endeavour to convert their own name into a title of dignity than to be ambitious of usurping a barbarous distinction; to which they have no claim. Cæsar was the name of a man, but became a title of the most dignified nature. Who knows but some enterprising genius may spring up in the western world and convert his name into a title that will be remembered for ever?

The Indians give names to their children in infancy, but that Indian would sink into absolute contempt, who should not acquire, to himself, a new name, by his success in hunting or his exploits in war. Now, would the polished citizens of the United States condescend to learn something useful from the savage inhabitants of the wilderness, we think they might adopt this custom with the greatest propriety. Let every man be reckoned utterly contemptible who shall not acquire a new name before he be thirty years of age.

If he have performed any remarkable action, let his name be taken from that. If he have not at all distinguished himself by any single exploit, it is probable there will be discoverable some prominent traits in his character from which he may be designated. The new appellation would becme a title of honor to the virtuous, and a mark of opprobrium and disgrace to the vitious.

Exempli gratia: if a man discovered a great inclination to indulge in the pleasures of the table, and this propensity became the leading trait in his character, we see no reason why he should not be denominated "The Glutton." Such should be the name of the man who may be said "to live that he may eat." But should the glutton discover an extensive acquaintance with the art of preparing viands, we think he ought to be honoured with the appellation of "Cook." This title should be given to those gentlemen who distinguish themselves by learned disquisitions on the nature of custard, or can enumerate the ingredients

that enter into the composition of a pudding. Adepts in the science of preparing turtle soup, and those whose intelligence enables them to descant learnedly on the manner of giving to oysters the most exquisite flavor, should likewise be distinguished by the same designation.

If such a plan as this were adopted, instead of the unmeaning names now in use, we should hear of "Drunkard," "Swindler," "Romancer," &c. There might likewise be established, under the superintendence of government, a college of heralds for the purpose of giving appropriate ensigns armorial to every one, on the completion of his thirtieth year; but, ne quid nimis.-The Savage.

422. Mirth.-Harmless mirth is the best cordial against the consumption of the spirits: wherefore jesting is not unlawful, if it trespasseth not in quantity, quality, or season.-Fuller.

423. Ancestry.—

They that on glorious ancestors enlarge,
Produce their debt, instead of their discharge.
Begin. Who first the catalogue shall grace?
To quality belongs the highest place.
My lord comes forward, forward let him come!
Ye vulgar! At your peril give him room;
He stands for fame on his forefathers' feet,
By heraldry prov'd valiant, or discreet.
With what a decent pride he throws his eyes
About the man by three descents less wise!
If virtues at his noble hands you crave,
You bid him raise his fathers from the grave.

Men should press forward in Fame's glorious chase,
Nobles look backward-and so lose the race.

Let high birth triumph! What can be more great?
Nothing-but merit in a low estate.-Young.

424. Riches are the baggage of virtue: as baggage is to an army, so riches are to virtue.

Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit.

Riches have sold more men than they have bought.

Seek such riches as we may obtain justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.-Lady Gethin.

425. Compliments.-Though all compliments are lies, yet because they are known to be such, nobody depends on them: so there is no hurt in them, you return them in the same manner you receive them, yet it is best to make as few as one can.-) -Ibid.

426. Antiquary.-One that has his being in this age, but his life and conversation in the days of old.

He neglects himself because he was born in his own time, and so far off antiquity, which he so much admires: and repines, like a younger brother, because he came so late into the world.

He spends the one half of his time in collecting old and insignificant trifles, and the other in showing them, which he takes a singular delight in, because the oftener he does it, the further they are from being new to him.

He is a great time server, but it is of time out of mind. His days were spent and gone long before he came into the world, and his only business is to collect what he can out of the ruins of them.

He values things wrongfully for their antiquity, forgetting that the most modern are really the most ancient of all things in the world; like those that reckon their pounds before their shillings and pence, of which they are made up.

He has so strong a natural affection to anything that is old, that he may truly say to the dust and worms, Thou art my father,—and to rottenness, Thou art my mother.-Samuel Butler.

427. Advice to a Young Female.

Life swarms with ills; the boldest are afraid;
Where, then, is safety for a tender maid?
Unfit for conflict, round beset with woes,

And man, whom least she fears, her worst of foes!
When kind, most cruel; when oblig'd the most,
The least obliging; and by favours lost.
Cruel by nature, they for kindness hate:
And scorn you for those ills themselves create.
If on your fame our sex a blot has thrown,
"Twill ever stick, through malice of your own.
Most hard! in pleasing your chief glory lies;
And yet from pleasing your chief dangers rise:
Then please the best; and know, for men of sense,
Your strongest charms are native innocence.
Arts on the mind, like paint upon the face,
Fright him, that's worth your love, from your
In simple manners all the secret lies;

embrace

Be kind and virtuous, you'll be blest and wise.-Young..

428. Difficulty of detecting Fabulous Stories.-The difficulty of detecting falsehood in any private, or even public history, at the time and place where it is said to happen, is very great; but much more so where the scene is removed to ever so small a distance. Even a court of judicature, with all the authority, accuracy, and judgment which they can employ, find themselves often at a loss to distinguish between truth

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