prohibiting the use of gold and filver; and barred up the entrance against their return by interdicting navigation and commerce, and expelling all arts, but what were immediately neceffary to their fubfiftance.'

Well! and what then? would our author recommend the fame measures to modern patriots? Would they be either advifeable or practicable, in our prefent circumstances, or indeed, in any other under which this nation is likely to fall? Particular examples can be only properly applied to particular cafes, when both are exactly fimilar in every effential circunftance; but politicians fhould be very careful not to recommend particular meafures, merely because those measures have been, at other times, and in other cafes, fuccefsful. The late lord Bolingbroke, in his letters on the ftudy of hiftory, quotes a fenfible paffage from the celebrated Guicciardini, to this very purpose; which we shall give in his lordship's words. It is dangerous to govern ourfelves by particular examples; fince, to have the fame fuccefs, we must have the fame prudence, and the fame fortune; and fince the example muft not only anfwer the cafe before us in general, but in every minute circumftance *."

The outcry of luxury, and want of public fpirit, ferves many political writers, as that of fcepticism and infidelity doth our modern divines: but no reasonable man, we prefume, let his faith or public fpirit be what they may, will think it expedient either to believe every thing that is told him, or to `dine, like an ancient philofopher, on spring water and onions.

The queftion, however, among politicians at leaft, ought not to be whether public luxury be a vice, and national œconomy a virtue; but in what circumftances the vice of luxury takes place, and the virtue of oeconomy differs from the fordid vice of avarice.

In fact, writers on thefe topics do not feem to agree in what confifts the happiness of a nation; and till they do, it is certainly to very little purpose to difpute about the means of promoting it. Some have thought, with Lycurgus, that fimplicity of manners, ignorance of the world, and a fecure poffeffion of a certain spot of ground, fufficient to produce the bare necessaries of life, were the only objects required. Others again have thought, that the morally innocent gratification of our paffions, the knowledge of arts and fciences, and a reciprocal exchange of

The words of Guicciardini are thefe. E molto pericolofo il governarfi con gl'efempi, fe non concorrono, non folo in generale, ma in tutti i particulari, le medefime ragioni; fe le cofe non fono rego. late con la medefima prudenza, & fe oltre a tutti li altri fondamenti, non v'ha la parte fua là medefima fortuna.

good

good offices with all mankind, confiftent with the perfonal fecurity of individuals and the rights of communities, were included in this happiness. Which opinion is right? or may they not have been both right, at different times and places? The political happiness of nations is a relative object; nor need it therefore be wondered at, that men, equally good and wife, have taken very different measures, in different times and places, to effect it. The prefent age, corrupt as it is in the manners of the ignorant, the idle and the vain, is, perhaps, equally diftinguishable for the virtuous conduct of the men of knowledge, industry, and modefty. If the number and influence of the former be really greater than the latter, it is the business of government, and the duty of thofe patriots who wish well to the conftitution, to do their utmost to difcourage the one and protect the other: it may, however, be justly queftioned if this be really the cafe, notwithstanding appearances. The extravagances of idleness and folly, buoy'd up as the lighteft, appear ever uppermoft in the world, while real virtue and merit, of greater weight and confequence, act unperceived, though more powerfully, below.

As to the martial virtue, fo much infifted on by our author, it is equally relative with other political virtues and vices; and the neceffity of exciting it, to the prejudice of industry and ingenuity, in the minds of a whole people, a people fuch as the English at prefent are, is, perhaps, not fo clear a point, as the advocates for a general militia fuppofe.

That a certain portion of it is neceflary to be kept alive in every state, subject to the infults and depredations of its neighbours, is moft certain; but then it should be fo kept up, as to co-operate with every other principle, equally effential to the fupport of the conftitution. That too much attention has been, of late years, given in England to our commercial advantages, and too little to that fpirit, and those means, which can only secure to us thofe advantages, may be too evident; and if valid reasons can be given against our maintaining a regular military force by land or fea, fufficient for our protection, it may not be wrong to excite a martial spirit in the people. The only doubt remaining is, whether, in the prefent circumftances, it be practicable to raife it to fuch a degree only as may be requifite and useful: and though we agree with our author, that we had even better once more become a nation of foldiers, like our renowned ancestors, than a nation of abject, crouching flaves to the most rapacious and moft infolent people in the univerfe;' yet we fay, God forbid the former fhould ever be the cafe, and we truft in providence, that at prefent we are in no great danger of the latter. K-n-k The

The Prince of Abiffinia*. A Tale. 12mo. 2 Vols. 5 s. Dodfley.

THE

HE method of conveying inftruction under the mafk of fiction or romance, has been justly confidered as the most effectual way of rendering the grave dictates of morality agreeable to mankind in general. The diverfity of characters, and variety of incidents, in a romance, keeps attention alive; and moral fentiments find accefs to the mind imperceptibly, when led by amusement whereas dry, didactic precepts, delivered under a fameness of character, foon grow tirefome to the generality of readers.

But to fucceed in the romantic way of writing, requires a fprightlinefs of imagination, with a natural eafe and variety of expreffion, which, perhaps, oftener falls to the lot of middling writers, than to thofe of more exalted genius: and therefore, we obferve, with less regret, of the learned writer of these volumes, that tale-telling evidently is not his talent. He wants that graceful eafe, which is the ornament of romance; and he ftalk in the folemn bufkin, when he ought to tread in the light fock His ftile is fo tumid and pompous, that he sometimes deals in fefquipedalia, fuch as excogitation, exaggeratory, &c. with other hard compounds, which it is difficult to pronounce with compofed features-as multifarious, tranfcendental, indifcerpible, &c. When we meet with inftances of this inflated ftile, we can fcarce forbear calling upon the writer, in the words of Martial

Grande cothurnati pone Maronis opus.

This fwelling language may fhew the writer's learning, but it is certainly no proof of his elegance. If indeed he had put it into the mouth of a pedant only, nothing could be more apt: but unhappily he has fo little conception of the propriety of character, that he makes the princefs fpeak in the fame lofty ftrain with the philofopher; and the waiting woman harangue with as much fublimity as her royal mistress,

With regard to the matter of thefe little volumes, we are concerned to fay, that we cannot difcover much invention in the plan, or utility in the defign. The topics which the writer has chofen have been fo often handled, they are grown threadbare: and with all his efforts to be original, his fentiments are most of them to be found in the Perfian and Turkish tales, and other books of the like fort; wherein they are delivered to better purpofe, and cloathed in a more agreeable garb. Neither has the

* Advertised under the Title of RASSELAS.

end

end of this work any great tendency to the good of fociety. It is calculated to prove that difcontent prevails among men of all ranks and conditions-the knowledge of which, we may acquire without going to Ethiopia to learn it.

But the inferences which the writer draws from this general discontent, are by no means juft. He feems to conclude from thence, that felicity is a thing ever in prospect, but never attainable. This conclufion, inftead of exciting men to laudable purfuits, which fhould be the aim of every moral publication, tends to difcourage them from all pursuits whatever; and to confirm them in that fupine indolence, which is the parent of vice and folly and which, we dare fay, it is not the worthy author's defign to encourage.

It does not follow, that because there are difcontented mortals in every station of life, that therefore every individual, in those feveral ftations, is difcontented. Whatever men may conclude in the gloom of a clofet, yet if we look abroad, we fhall find Beings who, upon the whole, afford us a moral certainty of their enjoying happiness. A continued or conftant series of felicity is not the lot of human nature: but there are many who experience frequent returns of pleasure and content, which more than counterbalance the occafional interruptions of pain and inquietude. Such may be deemed really happy, who, in general, feel themfelves fo; and that there are many fuch, we fee no reasonable caufe to doubt.

We are apt to conclude too much from the reftlefs difpofition of mankind, and to confider the defire which men exprefs of changing their condition, as a conftant mark of difcontent and infelicity. But though this is often the cafe, it is not always fo. On the contrary, our eagerneis to fhift the fcene frequently makes a part of prefent enjoyment. The earneftnefs with which we purfue fome probable, though diftant, attainment, keeps the mind in a state of agreeable agitation, which improves its vigour. Be our condition what it will, the mind will feon grow torpid, and a tedium will enfue, unlefs we fubftitute fome purfuit feemingly unconnected with our prefent state. Our fondnefs for change, however, does not always proceed from difcontent merely on account of our present station, or from an expectation of greater and more permanent happiness in profpect. A wife man follows fome diftant purfuit, not as an ultimate, which is to enfure him felicity; but as a medium to keep the mind in action, and counterwork the inconveniencies with which every state is attended. He is fenfible that, when he attains his wifhes, he fhall ftill want fomething to diverfify attention, and that further pursuits will be neceffary to favour the

active progress of the mind: fuch diftant pursuits therefore, as they often engage the mind agreeably, are fo far prefent enjoyments. But it is time to introduce our Author to the reader's acquaintance.

This little work is divided into chapters; in the first of which we are prefented with a romantic, but high wrought, defcription of a palace, or rather prison, in a recefs called the Happy Valley. In this place, provided with every thing which art and nature could fupply, to render it agreeable, the Prince, who had been immured here from his infancy, grows difcontented; and his difcontent inclines him to meditate his escape. In this difpofition of mind, he becomes intimate with Imlac, a man of learning, with a tafte for poetry; and who had travelled over a great part of the globe. He entertains the Prince with the relation of his travels, and in the courfe of his narrative, he gives a description of the advantages enjoyed by the European nations.

"They are furely happy," faid the Prince, "who have all thefe conveniences, of which I envy none fo much as the facility with which separated friends interchange their thoughts."

"The Europeans," anfwered Imlac," are lefs unhappy than we, but they are not happy. Human life is every where a ftate, in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed.”

The Prince's answer difplays a fimplicity of nature and goodnefs of heart, which is perfectly amiable and engaging.

"I am not yet willing," faid the Prince," to fuppofe, that happinets is fo parfimoniously distributed to mortals; nor can believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I fhould be able to fill every day with pleasure. I would injure no man, and should provoke no refentment: I would relieve every distress, and fhould enjoy the benedictions of gratitude. I would choose my friends among the wife, and my wife among the virtuous; and therefore fhould be in no danger from treachery or unkindness. My children fhould, by my care, be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received. What would dare to moleft him who might call on every fide to thou fands enriched by his bounty, or affifted by his power? And why fhould not life glide quietly away in the foft reciprocation of protection and reverence! All this may be done without the help of European refinements, which appear by their effects to be rather fpecious than useful.”

Here many friking and pertinent obfervations might have been made by Imlac, by way of reply. He might have proved the impoffibility of filling every day with pleasure.' He might have fhewn, that even wildom and virtue, the parents of felicity,

were