sions, surprising metaphors, and admirable sentiments are always ready at hand; and while the fancy is full of images collected from innumerarable objects and their different qualities, relations, and habitudes, it can at pleasure dress a common notion in a strange and becoming garb, to the great delight and wonder of the hearer.

But, unfortunately, persons of this lively and facetious turn are generally deficient in wisdom; for wit and discretion are almost incapable of a friendly union, and cannot, without great difficulty, be incorporated in the constitution of any single individual. For nothing is more common, than to see persons of this class always think right, and always act wrong; admirable for the richness, delicacy, and brightness of their imaginations, and at the same time to be pitied for their

*Lord Chesterfield, who spoke from experience on this subject, corroborates the remark, that wit and judgment are seldom united. In a letter to his son, he justly observes, "That ready wit which you so partially allow me, and so justly to Sir Charles Williams, may create many admirers; but, take my word for it, it makes few friends. It shines and dazzles like the noon-day sun, but, like that too, is very apt to scorch; and therefore is always feared. The milder morning and evening light and heat of that planet, sooth and calm our minds. Good sense, complaisance, gentleness of manners, attentions, and graces, are the only things that can truly engage and durably keep the heart at a long run. Never

want of prudence and common sense; abounding with excellent maxims, and instructive sentiments, which, however, are not of the least use to themselves, in the conduct of their lives. And hence it is certain, that though the gentlemen of a pleasant and witty turn of mind often make the industrious merchant and grave persons of all professions, the subjects of their raillery, and expose them as stupid creatures not supportable in good company; yet these in their turn, may as justly reproach the others for want of industry, good sense, and regular economy; much more valuable talents than those, which any mere wit can boast. Therefore, wise parents, who earnestly desire that their children may excel in intellectual endowments, should, instead of refined parts, and a genius turned for pleasant conversation, wish them a solid understanding, and a faculty of close and clear reasoning; these qua

seek for wit; if it presents itself, well and good: but,. even in that case, let your judgment interpose, and take care that it be not at the expence of any body. Pope says, very truly,

"There are whom Heaven has blest with store of wit, "Yet want as much again to govern it."

And in another place, I doubt with too much truth:

"For wit and judgment ever are at strife,

"Though meant each others aid, like man and wife.”

lifications being likely to make them good men, and the other only good companions.

This leads to another observation, namely, that persons of facetious talents, and agreeable humour, in whose temperament judgment and discretion are usually found in a disproportionate ́measure, are more inclined than others, to levity and dissolute manners. The same swiftness of thought and sprightliness of imagination, that qualify them for ingenious conversation, sports of fancy, and comic writing, do likewise give them an exquisite taste of sensual pleasures, and expose them to the prevailing power of tempting, though forbidden enjoyments. The passions and appetites of men thus endowed with a redundancy of warm and lively spirits, are more violent and impatient of restraint, than those of a cooler and less active complexion, who, however, may be more eminent in the superior faculties of the mind. Hence it will be no wonder, that while their propensity to pleasure is much stronger; and their reason much weaker than those of other men, they should be less able than others to resist the allurements of criminal delights. This remark is confirmed by daily experience. How few of this facetious and comic species of men, caressed and applauded for their shining parts, and witty discourses, escape the suares

that encompass them, and preserve their virtue and sobriety of manners? It too often happens, that a man, elevated above the rest by his uncommon genius, is as much distinguished by his extraordinary immorality.

The objects about which wit is exercised, are the common and less important actions of life. It is employed in its own province, when it is exercised on the ordinary customs and manners of life, either in conversation or comic writing. It has, therefore, no place in works of severe knowledge and judgment; those superior productions of the understanding, must be expressed in a clear and strong manner, without intervening strains of wit, or facetious fancies, which, were they admitted, would appear incongruous and impertinent, and diminish the merit of the writing.

Hence wit has no place in history, philology, philosophy, or in the greater lyric or epic poems, the two last of which containing either the praises of deities, or demi-gods, or treating of lofty and illustrious subjects, such as the foundation, rise, and revolution of kingdoms, commotions of state, battles, triumphs, solemn embassies, and various other important actions of princes and heroes, are exalted above the sphere of wit and humour. The strength and dignity of the sub

lime stile is debased by the foreign mixture of light sentiments and pretty fancies. These sallies and sports of the imagination, will no more heighten the beauty of such superior productions, than the addition of glittering tinsel and glass beads, will improve the imperial purple, or adorn the crowns of great monarchs; we see, therefore, with what judicious care Virgil has avoided this error; how clear are his celebrated writings from the least sprinkling of wit and pleasant conceits, which corrupt the purity, debase the majesty, and sully the lustre of the greater species of poetry. And, as the gravity and chastity of the sublime stile will not endure the gay ornaments of fancy, so does that light dress more misbecome the pious and wise discourses that issue either from the pulpit or the press *. Wit is so far from being a grace or improvement of divine eloquence, that, on the contrary, it destroys its dignity, breaks its force, and renders it weak and puerile.

The end and use of this ingenious qualification, is to delight and instruct; it animates and sweetens conversation, by raising mirth and good

There was just reason for this censure of wit in the pulpit, in the time of Blackmore, when even our best Divines frequently indulged in ridiculous puns and conceits.