the appearance of flattery, as I should rit seen! no time so important as our to offer it. own! ages, yet unborn, shall gaze I know not how to turn so trite a with wonder and applause!" To subject out of the beaten road of com- such music the important pigmy mon-place, except by illustrating it, moves forward, bustling and swelling, rather by the assistance of my me- and aptly compared to a puddle in a mory than judgment; and, instead of storm. making reflections, by telling a story.

I have lived to see generals who A Chinese, who had long studied once had crowds hallooing after them the works of Confucius, who knew wherever they went, who were bethe characters of fourteen thousand praised by news-papers and magawords, and could read a great part of zines, those echoes of the voice of every book that came into his way, the vulgar, and yet they have long once took it into his head to travel in- sunk into merited obscurity, with to Europe, and observe the customs scarce even an epitaph left to flatter. of a people which he thought not A few years ago the herring-fishery very much inferior even to his own employed all Grub-street; it was the countrymen. Upon his arrival at topic in every coffee-house, and the Amsterdam, his passion for letters burden of every ballad. We were to naturally led him to a bookseller's drag up oceans of gold from the botshop; and, as he could speak a lit-tom of the sea; we were to supply tle Dutch, he civilly asked the book-all Europe with herrings upon our seller of the works of the immortal own terms. At present, we hear no Xixofou. The bookseller assured more of all this. We have fished up him he had never heard the book very little gold that I can learn ; nor mentioned before. "Alas!" cries do we furnish the world with herour traveller," to what purpose, then, rings, as was expected. Let us wait has he fasted to death, to gain a re- but a few years longer, and we shall nown which has never travelled be- find all our expectations a herringyond the precincts of China !" fishery. Goldsmith.

There is scarce a village in Europe, and not one university that is not thus furnished with its little great men.

SON and Dr. SWIFT.

The head of a petty corporation, who 4. A Dialogue between Mr. ADDIopposes the designs of a prince, who would tyrannically force his subjects to save their best clothes for Sundays; Dr. Swift. Surely, Addison, forthe puny pedant, who finds one un- tune was exceedingly bent upon playdiscovered quality in the polype, or ing the fool (a humour her ladyship, describes an unheeded process in the as well as most other ladies of very skeleton of a mole; and whose mind, great quality, is frequently in) when like his microscope, perceives nature she made you a minister of state, and only in detail; the rhymer, who makes me a divine !

smooth verses, and paints to our ima- Addison. I must confess we were gination, when he should only speak both of us out of our elements. But to our hearts; all equally fancy them- you do not mean to insinuate, that, if selves walking forward to immortali- our destinies had been reversed, all ty, and desire the crowd behind them would have been right? to look on. The crowd takes them Swift. Yes, I do. You would at their word. Patriot, philosopher, have made an excellent bishop, and and poet, are shouted in their train. I should have governed Great Bri"Where was there ever so much me-tain as I did Ireland, with an abso

lute sway, while I talked of nothing that he could also make you as great but liberty, property, and so forth. in wit as nature made me? No, no; Addison. You governed the mob wit is like grace, it must come from of Ireland; but I never heard that above. You can no more get that you governed the kingdom. A na- from the king, than my lords the bition and a mob are different things. shops can the other. And though I Swift. Aye, so you fellows that will own you had some, yet believe have no genius for politics may sup- me, my friend, it was no match for pose. But there are times when, by mine. I think you have not vanity putting himself at the head of the enough to pretend to a competition mob, an able man may get to the with me. head of the nation. Nay, there are

Addison. I have been often told times when the nation itself is a mob, by my friends that I was rather too and may be treated as such by a modest so, if you please, I will not skilful observer. decide this dispute for myself, but reAddison. I do not deny the truth fer it to Mercury, the god of wit, of your axiom but is there no dan- who happens just now to be coming ger that, from the vicissitudes of hu- this way, with a soul he has newly man affairs, the favourite of the mob, brought to the shades. should be mobbed in his turn? Hail, divine Hermes! A question Swift. Sometimes there may; of precedence in the class of wit and but I risked it, and it answered my humour, over which you' preside, havpurpose. Ask the lord-lieutenants, ing arisen between me and my counwho were forced to pay court to me tryman, Dr. Swift, we beg leave— instead of my courting them, whe- Mercury. Dr. Swift, I rejoice to ther they did not feel my superiority. see you.-How does my old lad? And if I could make myself so con- How does honest Lemuel Gulliver? siderable when I was only a dirty Have you been in Lilliput lately, or dean of St. Patrick's, without a seat in the Flying Island, or with your in either house of parliament, what good nurse Glumdalclitch? Pray, should I have done if fortune had when did you eat a crust with Lord placed me in England, unincumber- Peter? Is Jack as mad still as ever? ed with a gown, and in a situation to I hear the poor fellow is almost got make myself heard in the house of well by more gentle usage. If he

lords or of commons ?

had but more food he would be as Addison. You would doubtless much in his senses as brother Marhave done very marvellous acts; per- tin himself. But Martin, they tell haps you might have then been as me, has spawned a strange brood of zealous a whig as lord Wharton him- fellows, called Methodists, Moraviself: or, if the whigs had offended ans, Hutchinsonians, who are madder the statesman, as they unhappily did than Jack was in his worst days. It the doctor, who knows but you might is a pity you are not alive again have brought in the Pretender? Pray to be at them: they would be excellet me ask you one question, between lent food for your tooth; and a sharp you and me: If you had been first tooth it was, as ever was placed in minister under that prince, would the gum of a mortal; ay, and a you have tolerated the Protestant re- strong one too. The hardest food ligion, or not? would not break it, and it could pierce Swift. Ha! Mr. Secretary, are the thickest skulls. Indeed it was you witty upon me? Do you think, like one of Cerberus's teeth: one because Sunderland took a fancy to should not have thought it belonged make you a great man in the state, to a man.— -Mr. Addison, I beg your

pardon, I should have spoken to you with a masterly hand but there was sooner; but I was so struck with the all his power; and, if I am to speak sight of the doctor, that I forgot for as a god, a worthless power it is. a time the respects due to you. Yours is divine: it tends to improve and exalt human nature.

Swift. Addison, I think our dispute is decided before the judge has heard the cause.

Addison. I own it is in your favour, and I submit-but

Swift. Pray, good Mercury, (if I may have leave to say a word for myself,) do you think that my talent was of no use to correct human nature? Is whipping of no use to mend naughty

Mercury. Do not be discouraged, friend Addison. Apollo perhaps boys? would have given a different judg Mercury. Men are not so patient ment. I am a wit, and a rogue, and of whipping as boys, and I seldom a foe to all dignity. Swift and I na- have known a rough satirist mend turally like one another: he worships them. But I will allow that you have me more than Jupiter, and I honour done some good in that way, though him more than Homer; but yet, I not half so much as Addison did in assure you, I have a great value for his. And now you are here, if Pluto you-Sir Roger de Coverly, Will and Proserpine would take my adHoneycomb, Will Wimble, the coun-vice, they should dispose of you both try gentleman in the Freeholder, and in this manner :- -When any hero twenty more characters, drawn with comes hither from earth, who wants the finest strokes of natural wit and to be humbled, (as most heroes do,) humour in your excellent writings, they should set Swift upon him to seat you very high in the class of my bring him down. The same good authors, though not quite so high as office he may frequently do to a saint the dean of St. Patrick's. Perhaps swollen too much with the wind of you might have come nearer to him, spiritual pride, or to a philosopher, if the decency of your nature and vain of his wisdom and virtue. He cautiousness of your judgment would will soon show the first that he canhave given you leave. But if in the not be holy without being humble; force and spirit of his wit he has the and the last, that with all his boasted advantage, how much does he yield morality, he is but a better kind of to you in all the polite and elegant Yahoo. I would also have him apply graces; in the fine touches of deli- his anticosmetic wash to the painted cate sentiment; in developing the face of female vanity, and his rod, secret springs of the soul; in show- which draws blood at every stroke, ing all the mild lights and shades of a to the hard back of insolent folly or character; in marking distinctly eve- petulant wit. But you, Mr. Addison, ry line, and every soft gradation of should be employed to comfort and tints which would escape the com- raise the spirits of those whose good mon eye! Who ever painted like and noble souls are dejected with a you the beautiful parts of human na- sense of some infirmities in their nature, and brought them out from un- ture. To them you should hold your der the shade even of the greatest fair and charitable mirror, which simplicity, or the most ridiculous would bring to their sight all their weaknesses; so that we are forced hidden perfections, cast over the rest to admire, and feel that we venerate, a softening shade, and put them in a even while we are laughing? Swift temper fit for Elysium.- -Adieu! could do nothing that approaches to I must now return to my business this. He could draw an ill face above. Dialogues of the Dead.

very well, or caricature a good one!

5. The Hill of Science.
A Vision.

to the mountain was by a gate, called the gate of Languages. It was kept by a woman of a pensive and thoughtIn that season of the year when ful appearance, whose lips were conthe serenity of the sky, the various tinually moving, as though she refruits which cover the ground, the peated something to herself. Her discoloured foliage of the trees, and name was Memory. On entering all the sweet, but fading graces of this first enclosure, I was stunned inspiring autumn, open the mind to with a confused murmur of jarring benevolence, and dispose it for con- voices, and dissonant sounds; which templation, I was wandering in a increased upon me to such a degree, beautiful and romantic country, till that I was utterly confounded, and curiosity began to give way to weari- could compare the noise to nothing ness; and I sat me down on the but the confusion of tongues at Babel. fragment of a rock overgrown with The road was also rough and stony; moss, where the rustling of the fall- and rendered more difficult by heaps ing leaves, the dashing of waters, of rubbish continually tumbled down and the hum of the distant city, from the higher parts of the mounsoothed my mind into the most per- tain; and broken ruins of ancient fect tranquillity, and sleep insensibly buildings, which the travellers were stole upon me, as I was indulging the obliged to climb over at every step; agreeable reveries which the objects insomuch that many, disgusted with around me naturally inspired. so rough a beginning, turned back, I immediately found myself in a and attempted the mountain no more; vast extended plain, in the middle of while others, having conquered this which arose a mountain higher than difficulty, had no spirits to ascend I had before any conception of. It farther, and sitting down on some was covered with a multitude of peo- fragment of the rubbish, harangued ple, chiefly youth; many of whom the multitude below with the greatest pressed forwards with the liveliest marks of importance and self-comexpression of ardour in their counte- placency. nance, though the way was in many About half way up the hill, I obplaces steep and difficult. I observed, served on each side the path a thick that those who had but just begun to forest covered with continual fogs, climb the hill thought themselves not and cut out into labyrinths, cross far from the top; but as they pro- alleys, and serpentine walks, entanceeded, new hills were continually gled with thorns and briars. This rising to their view, and the summit was called the wood of Error: and I of the highest they could before dis- heard the voices of many who were cern seemed but the foot of another, tost up and down in it, calling to one till the mountain at length appeared another, and endeavouring in vain to to lose itself in the clouds. As I extricate themselves. The trees in was gazing on these things with many places shot their boughs over astonishment, my good genius sud- the path, and a thick mist often restdenly appeared: The mountain be- ed on it; yet never so much but fore thee, said he, is the Hill of Sci- that it was discernible by the light ence. On the top is the temple of which beamed from the countenance Truth, whose head is above the of Truth.

clouds, and a veil of pure light covers In the pleasantest part of the mounher face. Observe the progress of tain were placed the bowers of the her votaries; be silent and attentive. Muses, whose office it was to cheer I saw that the only regular approach the spirits of the travellers, and en

Indeed there were few who

courage their fainting steps with gress. songs from their divine harps. Not ascended the hill with equal and unfar from hence were the fields of Fic-interrupted steadiness; for, beside tion, filled with a variety of wild the difficulties of the way, they were flowers springing up in the greatest continually solicited to turn aside by luxuriance, of richer scents and a numerous crowd of Appetites, Pasbrighter colours than I had observed sions, and Pleasures, whose importuin any other climate. And near nity, when they had once complied them was the dark walk of Allegory, with, they became less and less able so artificially shaded, that the light at to resist; and though they often renoon-day was never stronger than turned to the path, the asperities of that of a bright moon-shine. This the road were more severely felt, the gave it a pleasingly romantic air for hill appeared more steep and rugged, those who delighted in contemplation. the fruits which were wholesome and The paths and alleys were perplexed refreshing seemed harsh and ill-tastwith intricate windings, and were all ed, their sight grew dim, and theiterminated with the statue of a feet tripped at every little obstrucr Grace, a Virtue, or a Muse. tion. After I had observed these things, I saw, with some surprise, that the I turned my eye towards the multi- Muses, whose business was to cheer udes who were climbing the steep and encourage those who were toilascent, and observed amongst them a ing up the ascent, would often sing youth of a lively look, a piercing eye, in the bowers of Pleasure, and acand something fiery and irregular in company those who were enticed all his motions. His name was away at the call of the Passions; Genius. He darted like an eagle up they accompanied them, however, but the mountain, and left his compa- a little way, and always forsook them nions gazing after him with envy and when they lost sight of the hill. The admiration but his progress was tyrants then doubled their chains unequal, and interrupted by a thou- upon the unhappy captives, and led sand caprices. When pleasure war- them away, without resistance, to the bled in the valley he mingled in her cells of Ignorance, or the mansions train. When Pride beckoned to- of Misery. Amongst the innumerawards the precipice he ventured to ble seducers, who were endeavouring the tottering edge. He delighted in to draw away the votaries of Truth devious and untried paths; and made from the path of Science, there was so many excursions from the road, one, so little formidable in her apthat his feebler companions often pearance, and so gentle and languid out-stripped him. I observed that in her attempts, that I should scarcethe Muses beheld him with partiali- ly have taken notice of her, but for ty; but Truth often frowned, and the numbers she had imperceptibly turned aside her face. While Genius loaded with her chains. Indolence was thus wasting his strength in (for so she was called) far from proeccentric flights, I saw a person of a ceeding to open hostilities, did not very different appearance, named Ap- attempt to turn their feet out of the plication. He crept along with a path, but contented herself with reslow and unremitting pace, his eyes tarding their progress; and the purfixed on the top of the mountain, pa- pose she could not force them to tiently removing every stone that abandon, she persuaded them to delay. obstructed his way, till he saw most Her touch had a power like that of the of those below him who had at first torpedo, which withered the strength derided his slow and toilsome pro- of those who came within its influ

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