it fhould be the occafion of error to half the nation; and fuch is the expectation with which I am attended, when I am going to fpeak, that I frequently pause to reflect whether what I am about to utter is worthy of myself.

This, Sir, is fufficiently miferable; but there are ftill greater calamities behind. You must have read in Pope and Swift how men of parts have had their clofets rifled, and their cabinets broke open, at the inftigation of piratical bookfellers, for the profit of their works; and it is apparent, that there are many prints now fold in the shops, of men whom you cannot fufpect of fitting for that purpose, and whofe likeneffes must have been certainly stolen when their names made their faces vendible. Thefe confiderations at first put me on my guard, and I have, indeed, found fufficient reafon for my caution, for I have discovered many people examining my countenance, with a curiofity that fhewed their intention to draw it; I immediately left the house, but find the fame behaviour in another.

Others may be perfecuted, but I am haunted; I have good reafon to believe that eleven painters are now dogging me, for they know that he who can get my face first will make his fortune. I often change my wig, and wear my hat over my eyes, by which I hope fomewhat to confound them; for you know it is not fair to fell my face, without admitting me to fhare the profit.

I am, however, not fo much in pain for my face as for my papers, which I dare neither carry with me nor leave behind. I have, indeed, taken fome measures for their preservation, having put them in

an

an iron cheft, and fixed a padlock upon my clofet. I change my lodgings five times a week, and always remove at the dead of night.

Thus I live, in confequence of having given too great proofs of a predominant genius, in the folitude of a hermit, with the anxiety of a miser, and the cotion of an outlaw; afraid to fhew my face let it fhould be copied; afraid to speak, left I felt le jure my character; and to write, left my comeíponse ents fhould publish my letters; always uneak et my fervants should steal my papers for the it if money, or my friends for that of the pubick. The a is to foar above the rest of mankind, and mo fentation I lay before you, that I may be how to divest myself of the laurels which are berfome to the wearer, and defcend to me ment of that quiet from which I find a wre firft clafs fo fatally debarred.

NUMB. 17. TUESDAY, May 15, 1750.

Me non oracula certum,

Sed mors certa facit.

Let thofe weak minds, who live in doubt and fear,

To juggling priests for oracles repair;

One certain hour of death to each decreed,

LUCAN.

My fixt, my certain foul from doubt has freed.

ROWE.

T is recorded of fome eastern monarch, that he kept an officer in his houfe, whofe employment it was to remind him of his mortality, by calling out every morning, at a stated hour, Remember, prince, that thou shalt die. And the contemplation of the frailnefs and uncertainty of our present state appeared of so much importance to Solon of Athens, that he left this precept to future ages; Keep thine eye fixed upon the end of life.

A frequent and attentive prospect of that moment, which must put a period to all our schemes, and deprive us of all our acquifitions, is indeed of the utmoft efficacy to the juft and rational regulation of our lives; nor would ever any thing wicked, or often any thing abfurd, be undertaken or profecuted by him who should begin every day with a serious reflection that he is born to die.

The disturbers of our happiness, in this world, are our defires, our griefs, and our fears, and to all these, the confideration of mortality is a certain

and

and adequate remedy. Think, fays Epictetus, frequently on poverty, banishment, and death, and thou wilt then never indulge violent defires, or give up thy heart to mean fentiments, δὲν ἐδεποτε ταπεινὸν ἐνθύμηση, ετε ἄγαν ἐπιθυμήσεις τινός.

That the maxim of Epictetus is founded on just obfervation will eafily be granted, when we reflect, how that vehemence of eagerness after the common objects of pursuit is kindled in our minds. We represent to ourselves the pleasures of fome future poffeffion, and suffer our thoughts to dwell attentively upon it, till it has wholly engroffed the imagination, and permits us not to conceive any happiness but its attainment, or any mifery but its lofs; every other fatisfaction which the bounty of providence has fcattered over life is neglected as inconfiderable, in comparison of the great object which we have placed before us, and is thrown from us as incumbering our activity, or trampled under foot as standing in our

way.

Every man has experienced how much of this ardour has been remitted, when a sharp or tedious ficknefs has fet death before his eyes. The extenfive influence of greatness, the glitter of wealth, the praises of admirers, and the attendance of fupplicants, have appeared vain and empty things, when the last hour feemed to be approaching; and the fame appearance they would always have, if the fame thought was always predominant. We should then find the abfurdity of stretching out our arms inceffantly to grafp that which we cannot keep, and wearing out our lives in endeavours to add new turrets to the fabrick of ambition, when the foundation

itself

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axion to which the virtuous and a parceliarly fubject, will be obviated me are thoughts. It will be obe a clings of our condition are enjoybest tale of this uncertain tenure. If ber, that whatever we poffefs is to be in As a very le time, and that the little Per sår med peopes can promife us, may be

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