Lettres, is here abfolutely neceffary; and without this fhare of knowledge at least, to affect the character of an hiftorian, is as vain as to endeavour at building a houfe without timber or mortar, or brick or tone. Homer and Milton, who, though they added the ornament of numbers to their works, were both historians of our order, and mafters of all the learning of their times.

Again, there is another fort of knowledge beyond the power of learning to bestow, and this is to be had by converfation. So neceffary is this to the understanding the characters of men, that none are more ignorant of them than those learned pedants, whofe lives have been entirely confumed in colleges, and among books; for however exquifitely human nature may have been defcribed by writers, the true practical fyftem can be learnt only in the world. Indeed the like happens in every other kind of knowledge. Neither phyfic, nor law, are to be practically known from books. Nay, the farmer, the planter, the gardener, muft perfect by experience what he hath acquired the rudiments of by reading. How accurately foever the ingenious Mr. Miller may have defcribed the plant, he himself would advise his difciple to fee it in the garden. we must perceive, that after the niceft ftrokes of a Shakespear, or a Johnson, of a Wycherly, or an Otway, fome touches of nature will efcape the reader, which the judicious action of a Garrick, of a Cibber, or a Clive *, can convey to him; fo on the real stage, the character fhews himself in a stronger and bolder light, than he can be defcribed. And if this be the cafe in thofe fine and nervous defcriptions, which great authors themselves have taken from life, how much more frongly will it hold when the writer himfelftakes his lines not from nature, but from books! Such cha

As

*There is a peculiar propriety in mentioning this great actor, and thefe two moft justly celebrated actreffes in this place; as they have all formed themselves on the study of nature only; and not on the imitation of their predeceffors. Hence they have been able to excel all who have gone before them; a degree of merit which the fervile herd of imitators can never poffibly arrive at.

racters

racters are only the faint copy of a copy, and can have neither the juftnefs nor the fpirit of an original,

Now this converfation in our hiftorian must be univerfal, that is, with all ranks and degrees of men: for the knowledge of what is called high life, will not inftruct him in low, nor e converfo, will his being acquainted with the inferior part of mankind, teach him the manners of the fuperior. And though it may be thought that the knowledge of either may fufficiently enable him to defcribe at least that in which he hath been converfant; yet he will even here fall greatly fhort of perfection: for the follies of either rank do in reality illuftrate each other. For inftance the affectation of high-life appears more glaring and ridicu lous from the fimplicity of the low; and again, the rudeness and barbarity of this latter, ftrikes with much ftronger ideas of abfurdity, when contrafted with, and oppofed to the politenefs which controuls the former, Befides, to fay the truth, the manners of our hiftorians will be improved by both thefe converfations: for in the one he will eafily find examples of plainnefs, honefty, and fincerity in the other of refinement, elegance, and a liberality of spirit; which laft quality I myfelf have scarce ever seen in men of low birth and education.

Nor will all the qualities I have hitherto given my hiftorian avail him, unless he have what is generally meant by a good heart, and be capable of feeling. The author who will make me weep, fays Horace, must firft weep himself. In reality, no man can paint a diftrefs well, which he doth not feel while he is painting it; nor do I doubt, but that the most pathetic and affecting fcenes have been writ with tears. In the fame manner it is with the ridiculous I am convinced I never make my reader laugh heartily, but where I have laughed before him; unless it should happen at any time, that inftead of laughing with me, hefhould be inclined to laugh at me. Perhaps this may have been the cafe at fome paffages in this chapter, from which apprehenfion I will here put an end to it.

I

CHAP.

CHA P. II.

Containing a very furprising adventure indeed, which Mr. Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the

Hill.

A

URORA now first opened her cafement, Anglicé, the day began to break, when Jones walked forth in company with the ftranger, and mounted Mazzard Hill; of which they had no fooner gained the fummit, than one of the most noble prospects in the world prefented itfelf to their view, and which we would likewife prefent to the reader; but for two reafons. First, We defpair of making thofe who have feen this profpect, admire our defcription. Secondly, We very much doubt whether thofe, who have not feen it, would understand it.

6

Jones ftood for fome minutes fixed in one pofture, and directing his eyes towards the fouth; upon which the old gentleman afked what he was looking at with fo much attention! Alas, Sir,' answered he with a figh, I was endeavouring to trace out my own journey hither. Good Heavens! what a distance is 'Gloucefter from us! What a vaft track of land muft be between me and my own home,' · Ay, ay, young gentleman,' cries the other, and, by your fighing, from what you love better than your own home, or I am mistaken. I perceive now the objec of your contemplation is not within your fight, and yet I fancy you have a pleafure in looking that way." Jones anfwered with a fmile, I find, old friend, you have not yet forgot the fenfations of your youth '-I own my thoughts were employed as you have 'gueffed.'

4

---

They now walked to that part of the hill which looks to the north-weft, and which hangs over a vast and extenfive wood. Here they were no fooner arrived,than they heard at a diftance the moft violent fcreams of a woman, proceeding from the wood below them. Jones liftened a moment, and then, without faying a word to his companion (for indeed the occafion feemed fufficiently preffing) ran, or rather flid, down the hill, and without the leaft apprehenfion or concern for VOL. VIII. K

his

his own fafety, made dirc&ly to the thicket whence the found had iffued.

He had not entered far into the wood before he beheld a most shocking fight indeed, a woman ftript half naked, under the hands of a ruffian, who had put his garter round her neck, and was endeavouring to draw her up to a tree. Jones afked no questions at this interval; but fell inftantly upon the villain, and made fuch good ufe of his trufty oaken stick, that he laid him fprawling on the ground, before he could defend himfelf, indeed almoft before he knew he was attacked ; nor did he cease the profecution of his blows, till the woman herself begged him to forbear, faying, fhe believed he had fufficiently done his business.

The poor wretch then fell upon her knees to Jones, and gave him a thousand thanks.for her deliverance: he prefently lifted her up, and told her he was highly pleafed with the extraordinary accident which had fent him thither for her relief, where it was fo improbable fhe fhould find any : adding, that heaven feemed to have defigned him as the happy inftrument of her protection. Nay,' anfwered fhe, I could al• most conceive you to be fome good angel; and to fay the truth, you look more like an angel than a man, in my eye' Indeed he was a charming figure, and if a very fine perfon, and a moft comely fet of features, adorned with youth, health, ftrength, freshnefs, fpirit, and good-nature, can make a man resemble an angel, he certainly had that refemblance.

<

The redeemed captive had not altogether fo much of the human angelic fpecies: fhe feemed to be, at leaft, of the middle age, nor had her face much appearance of beauty; but her cloaths being torn from all the upper part of her body, her breafts, which were well formed, and extremely white, attracted the eyes of her deliverer, and for a few moments they stood filent, and gazing at each other; till the ruffian on the ground beginning to move, Jones took the garter which had been intended for another purpofe, and bound both his hands behind him. And now, on contemplating his face, he difcovered, greatly to his furprize, and perhaps not a little to his fatisfaction,

this very perfon to be no other than enfign Norther ton. Nor had the enfign forgotten his former antagonift, whom he knew the moment he came to himself. His furprize was equal to that of Jones; but I conceive his pleasure was rather lefs on this occation.

Jones helped Northerton upon his legs, and then looking him ftedfaftly in the face, I fancy, Sir," faid he, you did not expect to meet me any more in this world, and I confefs I had as little expecta tion to find you here. However, fortune, I fee, hath brought us once more together, and hath given me fatisfaction for the injury I have received, even without my own knowledge.'

It is very much like a man of honour indeed,' anfwered Northerton, to take fatisfaction by knock-ing a man down behind his back. Neither am I

capable of giving you fatisfaction here, as I have no fword; but if you dare behave like a gentleman, let us go where I can furnish myfelf with one, and I will do by you as a man of honour ought.'

Doth it become fuch a villain as you are,' cries Jones, to contaminate the name of honour by affuming it? But I fhall wafte no time in difcourfe with you. Juftice requires fatisfaction of you now, and fhall. • have it.' Then turning to the woman, he asked her, if he was near her home; or if not, whether fhe was acquainted with any houfe in the neighbour hood, where she might procure herfelf fome decent cloaths, in order to proceed to a juftice of the peace;

She answered, fhe was an entire franger in that part of the world. Jones then recollecting himself, faid he had a friend near, who would direct them; indeed he wondered at his not following; but, in fact, the good: Man of the Hill, when our hero departed, fat himfelf down on the brow, where, though he had a gun in his hand, he with great patience and unconcern, had attended the iffue.

Jones then stepping without the wood, perceived the old man fitting as we have juft deferibell him: he presently exerted his utmost agility, and with furpriz-ing expedition afcended the hill.

K. 2

The: