A D DRESS X. ON FRIENDSHIP. T has been always fuppofed of courts, that they are particularly marked by false 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 reason for fuppofing, that such diffimulation is much lefs common in cities; or that it is not fufficiently practised in smaller focieties, and more confined fituations; in fhort, 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 earneft 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 easy of belief, and its credulity, in points that intereft its regards, is often peculiarly dangerous, we have been at fome pains to admonifh you, my young auditors, againft the deceits and errors to which you are most exposed on the side of your kindest propenfities. The laft 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 resemble a fine river, which would lofe its force and beauty, were it broken into numerous ftreams. The human heart cannot receive a multiplicity of objects into its moft 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 exactly 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 whofe particular tones of temper and intellect shall be no lefs happily in unifon with your own. And thus the concert of society at large will be more varied, more extenfive, and more complete. When we fpeak of Friendship, we should carefully remember the diftinction between that which is common and imperfect, and that which is peculiar and tranfcendent. The former fhould properly be termed acquaintance, familiarity, fel lowship, being in fact little or nothing more: the latter, which implies the nobleft alliance and clofeft communion that can fubfift 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 intercourse, and a mutual approximation of hearts, till they at length meet and mix in one lovely mafs, with an union so complete, and fo delightful, that they can never after be divided. The former often |