fuppofed to contribute nothing either to the advantage or pleasure of fociety; while he lives remote from communication with: mankind, and is wrapped up in principles and notions equally remote from their comprehenfion. On the other hand, the mere ignorant is ftill more defpifed; nor is any thing deemed a furer fign of an illiberal genius in an age and nation where the sciences flourish, than to be in tirely void of all relish for those noble entertainments. The most perfect character is fuppofed to lie between those extremes; retaining an equal ability and tafte for books, company, and business; preferving in conversation that discernment and delicacy which arife from polite letters; and in business, that probity and accuracy which are the natural result of a juft 'philo. fophy. In order to diffuse and cultivate fo accomplished a character, nothing can be more useful than compositions of the easy style and manner, which draw not too much from life, require no deep application or retreat to be comprehended, and fend back the ftudent among mankind full of noble fentiments and wife precepts, applicable to every exigence of human life. By means of fuch compofitions, virtue becomes amiable, science agreeable, company instructive, and retirement entertaining.

MAN is a reasonable being; and as fuch, receives from science his proper food and nourishment: But so narrow are the bounds of human understanding, that

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little fatisfaction can be hoped for in this particular? either from the extent or fecurity of his acquifitionsj Man is a fociable, no less than a reasonable being But neither can he always enjoy company agreeable and amufing, or preferve the proper relish of them. Man is alfo an active being; and from that difpo fition, as well as from the various neceffities of hu man life, muft fubmit to bufinefs and occupation But the mind requires fome relaxation, and cannot always fupport its bent to care and industry. It' feems, then, that nature has pointed out a mixed kind of life as most fuitable to human race, and fecretly admonished them to allow none of these biaffes to draw too much, fo as to incapacitate them for other occupations and entertainments. Indulge your paffion for fcience, fays fhe, but let your science be human, and fuch as may have a direct reference to action and fociety. Abftrufe thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will feverely punish, by the penfive melancholy, which they introduce, by the endless uncertainty in which they involve you, and by the cold reception which your pretended difcoveries will meet with, when communicated. Be a philofopher; but, amidit all your philofophy, be ftill a man.

WERE the generality of mankind contented to prefer the eafy philofophy to the abstract and profound, without throwing any blame or contempt on the latter, it might not be improper, perhaps, to comply

with this general opinion, and allow every man to enjoy, without oppofition, his own tafte and fenti ment. But as the matter is often carried farther, even to the abfolute rejecting all profound reasonings, or what is commonly called metaphyfics, we fhall now proceed to confider what can reasonably be pleaded in their behalf.

WE may begin with obferving, that one confider able advantage which refults from the accurate and ab. ftract philofophy, is, its fubferviency to the eafy and humane; which, without the former, can never attain a fufficient degree of exactnefs in its fentiments, precepts, or reafonings. All polite letters are nothing but pictures of human life in various attitudes and fi tuations; and infpire us with different fentiments, of praife or blame, admiration or ridicule, according to the qualities of the object which they fet before us. An artist must be better qualified to fucceed in this undertaking, who, befides a delicate tafte and a quick apprehenfion, poffeffes an accurate knowledge of the internal fabric, the operations of the understanding, the workings of the paffions, and the various species .of fentiment which discriminate vice and virtue. However painful this inward fearch or inquiry may appear, it becomes, in fome measure, requifite to thofe, who would defcribe with fuccefs the obvious and outward appearances of life and manners. The anatomist prefents to the eye the moft hideous and difagreeable ob

jects; but his fcience is highly useful to the painter in delineating even a VENUS or an HELEN. While the latter employs all the richest colours of his art, and gives his figures the moft graceful and engaging airs; he muft ftill carry his attention to the inward ftructure of the human body, the pofition of the mufcles, the fabric of the bones, and the ufe and figure of every part or organ. Accuracy is, in every cafe, advantageous to beauty, and juft reafoning to delicate sentiments. In vain would we exalt the one by depreciating the other.

BESIDES, we may obferve, in every art or profesfion, even those which moft concern life or action, that a fpirit of accuracy, however acquired, carries all of them nearer their perfection, and renders them more fubfervient to the interests of fociety. And tho a philofopher may live remote from bufinefs, the genius of philofophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself thro' the whole society, and bestow a fimilar correctnefs on every art and calling. The politician will acquire greater forefight and fubtilty, in the fubdividing and balancing of power; the lawyer more method and finer principles in his reafonings; and the general more regularity in his difcipline, and more caution in his plans and operation The ftability of modern governments above the antient, and the accuracy of modern philofophy,

have improved, and probably will ftill improve, by fimilar gradations.

WERE there no advantage to be reaped from thefe ftudies, beyond the gratification of an innocent curiofity, yet ought not even this to be defpifed; as being one acceffion to thofe few safe and harmlefs pleasures which are bestowed on human race: The sweetest and moft inoffenfive path of life leads thro' the avenues of science and learning; and whoever can either remove any y obftructions in this way, or open up any new profpect, ought fo far to be esteemed a benefac And tor to mankind. a' tho' these researches may appear painful and fatiguing, 'tis with fome minds as with fome bodies, which being endowed with vigorous and florid health, require fevere exercife, and reap a pleafure from what, to the generality of mankind, may feem burdenfome and laborious. Obfcurity, indeed, is painful to the mind as well as to the eye; but to bring light from obfcurity, by whatever labour, muf needs be delightful and rejoicing.

BUT this obfcurity, in the profound and abstract philofophy, is objected to, not only as painful and fatiguing, but as the inevitable fource of uncertainty and error. Here indeed lies the jufteft and most plaufible objection against a confiderable part of metaphyfics, that they are not properly a science, but arife ei her from the fruitless efforts of human vanity, which B 6 would