a great degree deftroyed. Who would not blufh to be called learned or humane, when he hears the moft ignorant complimented on their knowledge, and "the well-known humanity" of the moft atrocious villain lavishly praised? MEN are, without doubt, more likely to become really virtuous in the bofom of rational Retirement, than amidst the corruptions of the world. VIRTUE, for ever frail as fair below, Her tender nature fuffers in the crowd, Unthought before, or fix a former flaw. Nor is it strange: light, motion, concourfe, noife, VIRTUE, indeed, of whatever description it may be, cannot be the produce of good example, for virtuous examples are very rarely feen in the world; but arifes from a conviction, which filent reflection infpires, that goodness is fuperior to every other poffeffion, poffeffion, and alone constitutes the true happiness of life. The greater variety, therefore, of virtuous actions are generally performed in the filence of Solitude, and in the obscurity of Retreat. THE opportunity of doing public good, of performing actions of extenfive utility or univerfal benevolence, is confined to a few characters. But how many private virtues are there which every man has it in his power to perform without quitting his chamber! He who can contentedly employ himself at home, may continue there the whole year, and yet, in every day of that year, may contribute to the felicity of other men: he may liften to their complaints, relieve their dif trefs, render services to those about him, and extend his benevolence in various ways, without being seen by the world, or known by those on whom his favours are conferred. VIRTUOUS actions are certainly more eafily and more freely performed in Solitude than in the world. In Solitude no man blushes at the fight of Virtue, nor fears to make her the beloved companion of his thoughts, and the facred motive of his actions: but in the world she drags on an obfcure existence, and, every where neglected, seems afraid to fhew her face. The world is a fchool of vice, and and its intercourse the most baneful species of education. Men poffeffed of the best inclinations are there surrounded by fuch a multitude of fnares, and beset with such a variety of dangers, that error is daily unavoidable. Many men, who play high and confpicuous characters on the theatre of the world, are totally devoid of virtuous inclinations; others, with excellently good difpofitions, are totally incapable of performing any thing great or praife-worthy. Before we engage in the hurrying business of the day, we are perhaps kind, impartial, candid, and virtuous; for then the current of our tempers has not been disturbed or contaminated; but it is impoffible, even with the greatest vigilance, to continue through the day perfect masters of ourselves, oppreffed as we are with incumbent cares and vexations, tortured by a variety of unavoidable diftractions, and obliged to conform to a thousand disagreeable and disgustingcircumstances. The folly therefore of mystic minds was in forgetting that their fouls were subjected to a body, and aiming, in confequence of that error, at the highest point of fpeculative virtue. The nature of the human character cannot be changed by living in a hermitage; but the exercise of virtue is certainly easier in those fituations where it is expofed to the leaft danger, and then it lofes all its merit. God created many hermits too weak to fave fave themselves when plunged into the abyss, because he rendered them ftrong enough not to fall into it. I SHALL here fubjoin an excellent obfervation by a celebrated Scotch Philofopher: "It is the "peculiar effect of virtue to make a man's chief "happiness arife from himself and his own con "duct. A bad man is wholly the creature of the "world: he hangs upon its favours; lives by its "fmiles; and is happy or miserable in proportion "to his fuccefs. But to a virtuous man, fuccefs in worldly matters is but a fecondary object. To "discharge his own part with integrity and honour "is his chief aim: having done properly what EC was incumbent on him to do, his mind is at reft, "and he leaves the event to Providence. His Witness is in heaven, and his record is on high. "Satisfied with the approbation of God, and the "teftimony of a good confcience, he enjoys him"self, and despises the triumphs of guilt. In pro"portion as fuch manly principles rule your heart, you will become independent of the world, " and will forbear complaining of its difcourage"ments." THE firft aim and only end of the Philofophy which may be found in this Treatife upon SOLITUDE, is to recommend this noble independence to the the attention of mankind. It is not my doctrine that men should refide in deferts, or fleep like owls in the hollow trunks of trees; but I am anxious to expel from their minds the exceffive fear which they too frequently entertain of the opinion of the world. I would, as far as it is confiftent with their respective stations in life, render them independent: I wish them to break through the fetters of prejudice, to imbibe a just contempt for the vices of fociety, and to seek occafionally a rational Solitude, where they may fo far enlarge their sphere of thought and action, as to be able to say, at least during a few hours in every day, "We are free." The true apoftles of Solitude have faid, "It is "only by employing with propriety the hours of "a happy leifure, that we acquire a fufficient de gree of firmness to direct our thoughts and "guide our actions to their proper objects. It is "then only that we can quietly reflect on the "transactions of life, upon the temptations to "which we are most exposed, upon those weak(c er fides of the heart which we ought to guard << with the most unceasing care, and previously "arm ourselves against whatever is dangerous in cc our commerce with mankind. Perhaps, though “virtue may appear, at first fight, to contract the "bounds of enjoyment, you will find, upon re“flection, that, in truth, it enlarges them: if it "reftrain the excess of fome pleasures, it favours, "and |