refts on the flightest grounds, that pleafure, or profit, or humour, or amusement, among the flighteft fpirits, can furnish: the latter is always built on folid esteem, and reciprocal affiance, among perfons of sense and probity. The first 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 hear, 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 firft is fubjected to a great variety of rules, reftrictions, precautions, fettled forms, and neceffary guards: all these are generously despised by the last, which is too upright and honourable to require, too dignified and free to endure them. Once more; the former must be

foftered and kept alive by obfervances, obligations, compliances, fubmiffions, that are the effects of defign, of study, of a fyftem referring immediately to interests and gratifications of the felfifh kind; while the latter is maintained by the vigour of its own native movements, and nourished by a fpontaneous flow of affectionate feelings, kind offices, and confidential communications. In fo many respects, Gentlemen, does that Friendship, which, as I faid before, is common and imperfect, differ from that which is peculiar and tranfcendent; a difference long ago remarked by the best writers of antiquity, and which serves to prove this melancholy truth, that the fublimeft relation in human life must neceffarily be rare, as is the cafe with every thing excellent, fince it can only exist among minds fuperlatively liberal and great, whose number, we have too much cause to fufpect, never was, and never will be, confiderable.

If this be true, what are we to think of thofe, whofe undistinguishing vanity, or artificial plan, promifcuously includes, under the denomination of their Friends, every worthless and every vulgar creature, with whom they happen to have any connexion, no less than the most elegant and virtuous characters? For my own part, I am apt to conclude, that all who thus degrade the name of Friendship, are strangers to its nature, and that fuch language is the contrivance of knaves, or the effufion of fools. I mean not, you may believe, to comprehend, in this charge, the profeffional mode commonly obferved by a well-known religious fect, of calling each individual they address, Friend,—in imitation of an ancient idiom, which many of them have too much understanding, and integrity, to confound with the dictate of the heart, when it would exprefs a particular and appropriating regard.

In looking round for the bleffing we celebrate, fome of you, who are struck

with its fuperior dignity, may probably hope to enjoy it among those whose elevated rank fhould inspire them with elevated fentiments. That fuch are sometimes fufceptible of genuine Friendship for their equals, and for others nearly fo, I have no doubt; but muft take the liberty of faying, that I do not wish you to be too ambitious of cultivating close attachments among perfons who are much above you in ftation. Converfe with them, if you will, as often as you have a fair opportu nity, that is, as often as you can see them without being intrufive, or making yourfelves dependent, or refigning any better object for their acquaintance. By this intercourse you may acquire a more extenfive knowledge of the world, on many accounts useful, with a gentility of addrefs and manner, by no means to be neglected. But, as for that commerce of hearts which unites real Friends, which fuppofes the utmost ease and freedom, which difdains every claim to fuperiority,

and every air of stateliness, you have but little reafon to expect it where your fituation is very unequal.

There is no abfurdity too grofs to be fwallowed by felf-love, when long pam pered. It is ufual for people of birth to meet with such indulgence and fubmiffion in their earliest years, and as they grow up to find fuch respect and adulation paid them on all hands, that we are not to wonder if they commonly entertain much too exalted an opinion of their own importance. In reality, one would be tempted to think, they confidered themselves as a fpecies different from the rest of mankind, and imagined that all others are obliged by nature, as well as cuftom, to study them, to admire them, to applaud them, to serve them on every occafion, and to deem it a fufficient recompence, if they are graciously pleased to accept the humble tribute. Yet, would you believe it?

-this abfurd arrogance is often affoci