(iv) Nun b. 156 The laws of writing not always indisputable. Reflections on tragi-comedy 157 The scholar's complaint of his own bashfulness 158 Rules of writing drawn from examples. Those examples often mistaken 159 The nature and remedies of bashfulness 160 Rules for the choice of associates 161 The revolutions of a garret 162 Old men in danger of falling into pupilage. The conduct of Thrasybulus 163 The mischiefs of following a patron Page 80 85 90 95 99 103 109 114 16-1 Praise universally desired. The failings of eminent men often imitated 120 124 129 165 The impotence of wealth. The visit of Serotinus to the place of his nativity 166 Favour not easily gained by the poor 169 Labour necessary to excellence relation 139 143 148 171 Misella's description of the life of a prostitute 153 172 The effect of sudden riches upon the man 173 Unreasonable fears of pedantry ners 159 164 174 The mischiefs of unbounded raillery. History of Dicaculus 175 The majority are wicked 176 Directions to authors attacked by criticks. The various degrees of critical perspicacity 177 An account of a club of antiquaries 178 Many advantages not to be enjoyed together 179 The awkward merriment of a student 178 182 197 191 181 The history of an adventurer in lotteries 182 The history of Leviculus, the fortune-hunter 183 The influence of envy and interest compared 184 The subject of essays often suggested by chance. Chance equally prevalent in 185 The prohibition of revenge justifiable by rea- son. The meanness of regulating our conduct by the opinions of men 186 Anningait and Ajut, a Greenland history 187 The history of Anningait and Ajut con- 196 Human opinions mutable. The hopes of 197 The history of a legacy-hunter 198 The legacy-hunter's history concluded 199 The virtues of Rabbi Abraham's magnet 200 Asper's complaint of the insolence of Pro- spero. Unpoliteness not always the ef- 201 The importance of punctuality Numb. Page 207 The folly of continuing too long upon the POLITICIANS have long observed that the greatest events may be often traced back to slender causes. Petty competition or casual friendship, the prudence of a slave, or the garrulity of a woman, have hindered or promoted the most important schemes, and hastened or retarded the revolutions of empires.. Whoever shall review his life will generally find that the whole tenor of his conduct has been determined by some accident of no apparent moment, or by a combination of inconsiderable circumstances, acting when his imagination was unoccupied, and his judgment unsettled; and that his principles and actions have taken their colour from some secret infusion, mingled without design in the current of his ideas. The desires that predominate in our hearts are instilled by imperceptible communications at the time when we look upon the various scenes of the world, and the different employments of men, with the neutrality of inexperience; and we come forth from the nursery or the school, invariably destined to the pursuit of great acquisitions, or petty accomplishments. Such was the impulse by which I have been kept in motion from my earliest years. I was born to an inheritance which gave my childhood a claim to distinction and caresses, and was accustomed to hear applauses, before they had much influence on my thoughts. The first praise of which I remember myself sensible was that of good-humour, which, whether I deserved it or not when it was bestowed, I have since made it my whole business to propagate and maintain. When I was sent to school, the gaiety of my look, and the liveliness of my loquacity, soon gained me admission to hearts not yet fortified against affection by artifice or interest. I was entrusted with every stratagem, and associated in every sport; my company gave alacrity to a frolick, and gladness to a holiday. I was indeed so much employed in adjusting or executing schemes of diversion, that I had no leisure for my tasks, but was furnished with exercises, and instructed in my lessons by some kind patron of the higher classes. My master, not suspecting my deficiency, or unwilling to detect what his kindness would not punish nor his impartiality excuse, allowed me to escape with a slight examination, laughed at the pertness of my ignorance and the sprightliness of my ab surdities, and could not forbear to show that he regarded me with such tenderness as genius and learning can seldom excite, From school I was dismissed to the university, where I soon drew upon me the notice of the younger students, and was the constant partner of their morning walks and evening compotations. I was not indeed much celebrated for literature, but was looked on with indulgence as a man of parts, who wanted nothing but |