with the fame Contempt of Indifference as he would upon a Coxcomb: The wanton Carriage in a Woman, would difappoint her of the Admiration which the aims at; and the vain Dress or Difcourfe of a Man, would deftroy the Comlinefs of his Shape, or Goodness of his Underftanding, I fay the Goodness of his Understanding, for it is no less common to fee Men of Senfe commence Coxcombs, than beautiful Women become immodeft. When this happens in either, the Favour we are naturally inclined to give to the good Qualities they have from Nature, fhould abate in Proportion. But however juft it is to meafure the Value of Men by the Application of their Talents, and not by the Eminence of thofe Qualities abstracted from their Ufe; I fay, however juft fuch a Way of judging is, in all Ages as well as this, the Contrary has prevailed upon the Generality of Mankind. How many lewd Devices have been preferved from one Age to another, which had perifhed as foon as they were made, if Painters and Sculptors had been efteemed as much for the Purpose as the Execution of their Defigns? Modeft and well-governed Imaginations, have by this Means loft the Representations of ten thoufand charming Portraitures, filled with Images of innate Truth, generous Zeal, couragious Faith, and tender Humanity; inftead of which, Satyrs, Furies, and Monsters are recommended by thofe Arts to a fhameful Eternity.

THE unjuft Application of laudable Talents, is tolerated in the general Opinion of Men, not only in fuch Cafes as are here mentioned, but alfo in Matters which concern ordinary Life. If a Lawyer were to be esteemed only as he uses his Parts in contending for Juftice, and were immediately defpicable when he appeared in a Caufe which he could not but know was an unjust one, how honourable

No 172. nourable would his Character be? And how honourable is it in fuch among us, who follow the Profeffion no otherwife, than as labouring to protect the injured, to fubdue the Oppreffor, to imprifon the careless Debtor, and do right to the painful Artificer? But many of this excellent Character are overlooked by the greater Number; who affect covering a weak Place in a Client's Title, diverting the Courfe of an Enquiry, or finding a skilful Refuge to palliate a Falfhood: Yet it is called Eloquence in the latter, though thus unjuftly employed: But Refolution in an Affaffin is according to Reafon quite as laudable, as Knowledge and Wisdom exercised in the Defence of an ill Cause.

WERE the Intention ftedfaftly confidered, as the Measure of Approbation, all Falfhood would foon be out of Countenance; and an Address in impofing upon Mankind, would be as contempti ble in one State of Life as another. A Couple of Courtiers making Profeffions of Efteem, would make the fame Figure after Breach of Promife, as two Knights of the Poft convicted of Perjury. But Converfation is fallen fo low in Point of Morality, that as they fay in a Bargain, Let the Buyer look to it; fo in Friendship, he is the Man in Danger who is most apt to believe: He is the more likely to fuffer in the Commerce, who begins with the Obligation of being the more ready to enter into it.

BUT thofe Men only are truly great, who place. their Ambition rather in acquiring to themselves the Confcience of worthy Enterprizes, than in the Profpect of Glory which attends them. I hefe exalted Spirits would rather be fecretly the Authors of Events which are serviceable to Mankind, than without being fuch, to have the publick Fame of it. Where therefore an eminent Merit is robbed by Artifice or Detraction, it does but encrease by

fuch

fuch Endeavours of its Enemies: The impotent Pains which are taken to fully it, or diffufe it among a Crowd to the Injury of a fingle Person, will naturally produce the contrary Effect; the Fire will blaze out, and burn up all that attempt to fmother what they cannot extinguish.

THERE is but one Thing neceffary to keep the Poffeffion of true Glory, which is to hear the Oppofers of it with Patience, and preferve the Virtue. by which it was acquired. When a Man is thoroughly perfwaded that he ought neither to admire, with for, or purfue any thing but what is exactly his Duty, it is not in the Power of Seasons, Ferfons or Accidents to diminish his Value: He only is a great Man who can neglect the Applaufe of the Multitude, and enjoy himself independent of its Favour. This is indeed an arduous Task; but it fhould comfort a glorious Spirit that it is the higheft Step to which human Nature can arrive. Triumph, Applaufe, Acclamation, are dear to the Mind of Man; but it is ftill a more exquifite Delight to fay to your felf, you have done well, than to hear the whole humane Race pronounce you glorious, except you your felf can join with them in your own Reflections. A Mind thus equal and uniform may be deferted by little fafhio-1 nable Admirers and Followers, but will ever be had in Reverence by Souls like it felf. The Branches of the Oak endure all the Seasons of the Year, though its Leaves fall off in Autumn; and these too will be restored with the returning Spring. T

Tuesday,

No. 173.

Tuesday, September 18.

Remove fera monftra, tuæque Saxificos vultus, quæcunque ea, tolle Medufa.

IN

Ov. Met.

Na late Paper I mentioned the Project of an ingenious Author for the erecting of feveral Handicraft Prizes to be contended for by our British Artizans, and the Influence they might have towards. the Improvement of our feveral Manufactures. I have fince that been very much furpriz'd by the following Advertisement which I find in the PoftBey of the 11th Instant, and again repeated in the Poft-Boy of the 15th.

N the 9th of October next will be run for upon Colefhill-Heath in Warwickshire, a Plate of 6 Guineas Value, 3 Heats, by any Horfe, Mare, or Gelding that hath not won above the Value of 5. the winning Horfe to be Sold for 10 /. to carry 10 Stone Weight, if 14 Hands high; if above or under, to carry or be allowed Weight for Inches, and to be entered Friday the 15th at the Swan in Coleshill, before 6 in the Evening. Alfo a Plate of lefs Value to be run for by Affes. The fame Day a Gold Ring to be Grinn'd for by Men.

THE first of these Diverfions that is to be exhibited by the 10 l. Race-Horses, may probably have its Ufe; but the two laft, in which the Affes and Men are concern'd, feem to me altogether extraordinary and unaccountable. Why they should keep running Affes at Coleshill, or how making Mouths turns to account in Warwickshire, more than in a ny other Parts of England, I cannot apprehend. I have looked over all the Olympick Games, and do not find any thing in them like an Afs Race, or a

Match

Match at Grinning. However it be, I am informed that feveral Affes are now kept in Body-Cloaths, and sweated every Morning upon the Heath, and that all the Country Fellows within ten Miles of the Swan, grinn an Hour or two in their Glaffes every Morning, in order to qualify themselves for the 9th of October. The Prize which is propofed to be grinn'd for, has raised such an Ambition among the Common People for Out-grinning one another, that many very difcerning Perfons are afraid it should spoil most of the Faces in the Country; and that a Warwickshire Man will be known by his Grinn, as Roman Catholicks imagine a Kentish Man is by his Tail. The Gold-Ring which is made the Prize of Deformity, is juft the Reverse of the Golden Apple that was formerly made the Prize of Beauty, and fhould carry for its Pofie the old Motto inverted,

Detur tetriori.

Or to accommodate it to the Capacity of the Combatants,

The frightfull' ft Grinner,

Be the Winner.

IN the mean while I would advise a Dutch Painter to be present at this great Controverfy of Faces, in order to make a Collection of the most remarkable Grinns that shall be there exhibited.

I must not here omit an Account which I lately received of one of these grinning Matches from a Gentleman, who upon reading the above-mentioned Advertisement, entertained a Coffee-house with the following Narrative. Upon the taking of Namure, amidst other publick Rejoicings made on that Occafion, there was a Gold Ring given by a Whig Juftice of Peace to be grinn'd for. The first Competitor that enter'd the Lifts, was a black fwar

thy