.TO SIR, MR. PULTENEYa. THE greatest honour of human life, is to live well with men of merit; and I hope you will pardon me the vanity of publishing, by this means, my happiness in being able to name you among my friends. The converfation of a gentleman, that has a refined taste of letters, and a a William Pulteney, efq. born in 1682, had early a feat in the house of commons, and diftinguished himself in oppofi tion to queen Anne's laft miniftry. On the acceffion of king George, he was appointed fecretary at war, Sept. 27, 1714; and afterward cofferer of the houfhold. He was at this time the intimate friend of fir Robert Walpole; but in 1725, that minifter being fufpected of a defire to extend the bounds of prerogative, Mr. Pulteney entered fteadily into oppofition; and at laft became so obnoxious to the crown, that, July 1, 1731, king George II. with his own hand, ftruck him out of the lift of privy councillors, and ordered him to be put out of the lift of all commiffions of the peace. A proceeding fo violent in the ministry served only to inflame his resentment, and increase his popularity. Sir Robert refigning his employments in 1741, Mr. Pulteney was again fworn of the privy council; and created baron of Heydon, viscount Pulteney, and earl of Bath. From that moment his favour with the people was at an end: and the reft of his life was spent in contemning that applaufe which he no longer could fecure. William viscount Pulteney, his only fon, who was a lord of the bedchamber, aid-de-camp to the king, and colonel of the royal volunteers, going over with his regiment in the defence of Portugal, died Feb. 16, 1763; and the earl dying July 7, 1764, the titles became extinct. disposition in which thofe letters found nothing to correct, but very much to exert, is a good fortune too uncommon to be enjoyed in filence. In others, the greatest bufinefs of learning is to weed the foil; in you, it had nothing else to do, but to bring forth fruit. Affability, complacency, and generofity of heart, which are natural to you, wanted nothing from literature, but to refine and direct the application of them. After I have boasted I had fome share in your familiarity, I know not how to do you the juftice of celebrating you for the choice of an elegant and worthy acquaintance, with whom you live in the happy communication of generous fentiments, which contribute, not only to your own mutual entertainment and improvement, but to the honour and fervice of your country. Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honour, and a gentleman, and must take place of pleasures, profits, and all other private gratifications. Whoever wants this motive, is an open enemy, or an inglorious neuter to mankind, in proportion to the mifapplied advantages with which nature and fortune have blessed him. But you have a foul animated with nobler views, and know that the diftinction of wealth and plenteous circumstances, is a tax upon an honest mind, to endeavour, as much as the occurrences of life will give him leave, to guard the properties of others, and be vigilant for the good of his fellow-fubjects. This generous inclination, no man poffeffes in a warmer degree than yourself; which that heaven would reward with long poffeffion of that DEDICATION. 3 reputation into which you have made fo early an entrance, the reputation of a man of sense, a good citizen, and agreeable companion, a difinterested friend, and an unbiaffed patriot, is the hearty prayer of, Sir, Your most obliged and moft obedient, humble fervant, THE GUARDIAN. THE GUARDIAN. N° 83. Tuesday, June 16, 1713. FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. Nimirum infanus paucis videatur, eò quòd HOR. 2 Sat. iii. 120. -Few think these mad, for moft, like these, CREECH, THERE is a reftlefs endeavour in the mind of man after happiness. This appetite is wrought into the original frame of our nature, and exerts itself in all parts of the creation that are endued with any degree of thought or sense. But as the human mind is dignified by a more comprehenfive faculty than can be found in the inferior animals, it is natural for men not only to have an eye, each to his own happiness, but also to endeavour to promote that of others in the same rank of being: and in proportion to the generofity that is ingredient in the temper of the foul, the object of its benevolence is of a larger and narrower extent. There is hardly a spirit upon earth fo mean and contracted, as to centre all regards on its own intereft, exclufive of the reft of |