"It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance;" and yet this folly is practifed every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanack. Many a one, for the fake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half ftarved their families; Silks and fattins, fcarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire," as Poor Richard fays. These are not the neceffaries of life; they can fcarcely be called the conveniences: and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them?-By thefe, and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of thofe whom they formerly defpifed, but who, through induftry and frugality, have maintained their ftanding; in which cafe it appears plainly, that "A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees," as Poor Richard fays. Perhaps they have had a small eftate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think "It is day, and will never be night:" that a little to be spent out of fo much is not worth minding; but Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, foon comes to the bottom," as Poor Richard fays; and then, When the well is dry, they know the worth of water." But this they might have known before, if they had taken his advice. "If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow fome; for he that goes a borrowing, goes a forrowing," as Poor Richard fays; and, indeed, fo does he that lends to fuch people, when he goes to get in again. Poor Dick farther adviles, and lays,

"Fond pride of drefs is fure a very curfe;

Ere fancy you confult, confult your purfe." And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more faucy." When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick fays, "It is eafier to fupprefs the first deire, than to fatisfy all that follow it:" And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to fwell, in order to equal the ox,

"Veffels large may venture more,

"Pride that

But little boats should keep rear shore." It is, however, a folly foon punished ; for, as Poor Richard fays, dines on vanity, fups on contempt;Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and fupped with Infamy." And, after all, of what ufe is this pride of appearance, for which fo much is risked, so much is fuffered? It cannot promote health, nor eafe pain; it makes no increase of merit in the perfon, it creates envy, it haltens misfortune.

But what madness it must be to run in debt for thefe fuperfluities? We are offered, by the terms of this fale, fix months credit; and that, perhaps, has induced fome of us to attend it, becaufe we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you fpeak to him; you will make poor pitiful fneaking excufes, and, by degrees, come to lofe your veracity, and fink into bafe, downright lying; for, "The fecond vice is lying, the firft is running in debt," as Poor Richard fays; and again, to the fame purpose, "Lying rides upon Debt's back:" whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be afhamed nor afraid to fee or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. "It is hard for an empty bag to ftand upright."-What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who fhould iffue an edict forbidding you to drefs like a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprifonment or fervitude? Would you not fay that you were free, have a right to drefs as you pleafe, and that fuch an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and fuch a government tyrannical? and yet you are about to put yourfelf under that tyranny, when you run in debt for fuch drefs! Your creditor has authority, at his pleafure, to deprive you of your liberty, by con. fining you in gaol for life, or by felling you for a fervant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think

little of payment; but, as Poor Richard fays, "Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a fuperftitious fect, great obfervers of fet days and times." The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to fatisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at firft feemed fo long, will, as it leffens, appear extremely fhort: Time will feem to have added wings to his heels as well as his fhoulders. Those have a fhort Lent, who owe money to be paid at Eafter." At prefent, perhaps, you may think yourfelves in thriving circumftances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but

• Gain

"For age and want fave while you may, No morning-fun lafts a whole day.' be may temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expence is conftant and certain; and, "It is easier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel," as Poor Richard fays: So, Rather go to bed fupperlefs, than rife in debt.

Get what you can, and what you get hold,
'Tis the ftone that will turn all your lead into
gold."

And when you have got the philofopher's ftone, fure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.

IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reafon and wisdom: but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own induftry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blafted without the bleffing of Heaven; and therefore, afk that bleff ing humbly, and be not uncharitable to thofe that at prefent feem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember, Job fuffered, and was afterwards profperous.

And now to conclude, "Experience keeps a dear fchool, but fools will learn in no other," as Poor Richard fays, and scarce in that; for it is true, "We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct." However, remember this, "They that will not be counfelled, fannot be helped;" and farther, that

"If you will not hear Reafon, fhe will furely rap your knuckles," as Poor Richard fays.'

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practifed the contrary, juft as if it had been a common fermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly.-I found the good man had thoroughly ftudied my Almanacks, and digefted all I had dropt on those topics during the courfe of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was confcious, that not a tenth part of the wif dom was my own, which he afcribed to me; but rather the gleanings that I had made of the fenfe of all ages and nations. However, I refolved to be the better for the echo of it; and though I had at firft determined to buy ftuff for a new coat, I went away, refolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine.-I am, as ever, thine to ferve thee,

RICHARD SAUNDERS,

§ 158. On Cruelty to inferior Animals.

Man is that link of the chain of univerfal existence, by which spiritual and corporeal beings are united as the numbers and variety of the latter his inferiors are almost infinite, fo probably are thofe of the former his fuperiors; and as we fee that the lives and happinefs of thofe below us are dependant on our wills, we may reasonably conclude, that our lives and happiness are equally dependant on the wills of thofe above us; accountable, like ourselves, for the ufe of this power, to the Supreme Creator and Governor of all things. Should this analogy be well founded, how criminal will our account appear, when laid before that juft and impartial Judge! How will man, that fanguinary tyrant, be able to excufe himself from the charge of thofe innumerable cruelties inflicted on his unoffending subjects committed to his care, formed for his benefit, and placed under his authority by their common Father? whose

mercy

mercy is over all his works, and who expects that his authority fhould be exercifed not only with tenderness and mercy, but in conformity to the laws of justice and gratitude.

But to what horrid deviations from thefe benevolent intentions are we daily witneffes! no fmall part of mankind derive their chief amusements from the deaths and fufferings of inferior animals; a much greater, confider them only as engines of wood, or iron, ufeful in their feveral occupations. The car man drives his horfe, and the carpenter his nail, by repeated blows; and fo long as thefe produce the defired effect, and they both go, they neither reflect or care whether either of them have any fenfe of feeling. The butcher knocks down the fately ox, with no more compaffion than the blackfmith hammers a horfe fhoe; and plunges his knife into the throat of the innocent lamb, with as little reluctance as the taylor fticks his needle into the collar of a coat.

If there are fome few, who, formed in a fofter mould, view with pity the fufferings of thefe defenceless creatures, there is fcarce one who entertains the leaft idea, that juftice or gratitude can be due to their merits, or their services. The focial and friendly dog is hanged without remorse, if, by barking in defence of his master's perfon and property, he happens unknowingly to difturb his reft: the generous horfe, who has carried his ungrateful mafter for many years with eafe and fafety, worn out with age and infirmities, contracted in his fervice, is by him condemned to end his miferable days in a duftcart, where the more he exerts his little remains of fpirit, the more he is whip. ped to fave his ftupid driver the trouble of whipping fome other lefs obedient to the lath. Sometimes, having been taught the practice of many unnatural and useless feats in a riding-houfe, he is at laft turned out, and configned to the dominion of a hackney-coachman, by whom he is every day corrected for performing thofe tricks, which he has learned under fo long and fevere a difcipline. The fluggish bear, in contradiction to his nature, is taught to

dance, for the diverfion of a malignant mob, by placing red-hot irons under his feet: and the majestic bull is tortured by every mode which malice can invent, for no offence, but that he is gentle, and unwilling to affail his diabolical tormentors. Thefe, with in. numerable other acts of cruelty, injuf tice, and ingratitude, are every day committed, not only with impunity, but without cenfure, and even without obfervation; but we may be affured, that they cannot finally pass away unnoticed and unretaliated.

The laws of felf-defence undoubtedly juftify us in deftroying thofe animals who would deftroy us, who injure our properties, or annoy our perfons; but not even thefe, whenever their fituation incapacitates them from hurting us. I know of no right which we have to fhoot a bear on an inacceffible island of ice, or an eagle on the mountain's top; whofe lives cannot injure us, nor deaths procure us any benefit. We are unable to give life, and therefore ought not wantonly to take it away from the meanest infect, without fufficient reafon; they all receive it from the fame benevolent hand as ourfelves, and have therefore an equal right to enjoy it.

God has been pleased to create numberlefs animals intended for our fuftenance; and that they are fo intended, the agreeable flavour of their flesh to our palates, and the wholesome nutriment which it adminifters to our stomachs, are fufficient proofs: thefe, as they are formed for our ufe, propagated by our culture, and fed by our care, we have certainly a right to deprive of life, becaufe it is given and preferved to them on that condition; but this should always be performed with all the tendernefs and compaffion which fo difagree able an office will permit; and no cir cumftances ought to be omitted, which can render their executions as quick and eafy as poffible. For this, Providence has wifely and benevolently provided, by forming them in fuch a manner, that their fleth becomes rancid and unpalatable by a painful and lingering death; and has thus compelled us to be mer. ciful without compafion, and cautious

af

of their fuffering, for the fake of ourfelves: but, if there are any whose tastes are fo vitiated, and whofe hearts are so hardened, as to delight in fuch inhuman facrifices, and to partake of them without remorse, they should be looked upon as dæmons in human fhapes, and expect a retaliation of thofe tortures which they have inflicted on the innocent, for the gratification of their own depraved and unnatural appetites.

'So violent are the paffions of anger and revenge in the human breaft, that it is not wonderful that men fhould perfecute their real or imaginary enemies with cruelty and malevolence; but that there fhould exift in nature a being who can receive pleasure from giving pain, would be totally incredible, if we were not convinced, by melancholy experience, that there are not only many, but that this unaccountable difpofition is in fome manner inherent in the nature of man; for, as he cannot be taught by example, nor led to it by temptation, or prompted to it by interest, it must be derived from his native conftitution ; and is a remarkable confirmation of what revelation fo frequently inculcates that he brings into the world with him an original depravity, the effects of a fallen and degenerate ftate; in proof of which we need only obferve, that the nearer he approaches to a state of nature, the more predominant this difpofition appears, and the more violently it operates. We fee children laughing at the miferies which they inflict on every unfortunate animal which comes within their power: all favages are ingenious in contriving, and happy in executing, the most exquifite tortures; and the common people of all countries are delighted with nothing fo much as bull-baitings, prizefightings, executions, and all fpectacles of cruelty and horror. Though civilization may in fome degree abate this native ferocity, it can never quite extirpate it; the moft polished are not afhamed to be pleased with scenes of little lefs barbarity, and, to the difgrace of human nature, to dignify them with the name of sports. They arm cocks with artificial weapons, which

nature had kindly denied to their mith levolence, and with houts of applaufe and triumph, fee them plunge them into each other's hearts: they view with delight the trembling deer and defencelefs hare, flying for hours in the utmost agonies of terror and defpair, and at laft, finking under fatigue, devoured by their merciless purfuers: they fee with joy the beautiful pheafant and harmlefs partridge drop from their flight, weltering in their blood, or perhaps perishing with wounds and hunger, under the cover of fome friendly thicket to which they have in vain retreated for fafety: they triumph over the unfufpecting fifh, whom they have decoyed by an infiduous pretence of feeding, and drag him from his native element by a hook fixed to and tearing out his entrails: and, to add to all this, they spare neither labour nor expence to preferve and propagate these innocent animals, for no other end, but to multiply the objects of their perfe

cution.

What name fhould we beftow on a fuperior being, whofe whole endeavours were employed, and whose whole pleafure confifted, in terrifying, enfnaring, tormenting, and deftroying mankind? whofe fuperior faculties were exerted in fomenting animofities amongst them, in contriving engines of deftruction, and inciting them to use them in maiming and murdering each other? whofe power over them was employed in affifting the rapacious, deceiving the fimple, and oppreffing the innocent? who, without provocation or advantage, fhould continue from day to day, void of all pity and remorfe, thus to torment mankind for diverfion, and at the fame time endeavour with his utmost care to preferve their lives, and to propagate their fpecies, in order to increase the number of victims devoted to his malevolence, and be delighted in proportion to the miferies which he occafioned? I fay, what name deteftable enough could we find for fuch a being? yet, if we impartially confider the cafe, and our intermediate fituation, we must acknow ledge, that, with regard to inferior ani mals, juft fuch a being is a sportsman.

Jenyns.

mer

Duties of School Boys, from nd judicious ROLLIN.

n fays, that he has included ne duty of fcholars in this advice which he gives them, fe who teach them, as they love the sciences which they learn of them; and to look upon them as fathers, from whom they derive not the life of the body, but that inftruction which is in a manner the life of the foul. Indeed this fentiment of affection and respect fuffices to make them apt to learn during the time of their studies, and full of gratitude all the reft of their lives. It feems to me to include a great part of what is to be expected from them.

Docility, which confifts in fubmitting to directions, in readily receiving the inftructions of their mafters, and redu. cing them to practice, is properly the virtue of fcholars, as that of mafters is to teach well. The one can do nothing without the other; and as it is not fufficient for a labourer to fow the feed, unless the earth, after having opened its bofom to receive it, in a manner hatches, warms, and moiftens it; fo likewife the whole fruit of instruction depends upon a good correfpondence between the mafters and the scholars.

Gratitude for those who have laboured in our education, is the character of an honeft man, and the mark of a good heart. Who is there among us, fays Cicero, that has been inftructed with any care, that is not highly delighted with the fight, or even the bare remembrance of his preceptors, mafters, and the place where he was taught and brought up? Seneca exhorts young men to preferve always a great refpect for their masters, to whofe care they are indebted for the amendinent of their faults, and for having imbibed fentiments of honour and probity. Their exactness and feverity difpleafe fome. times, at an age when we are not in a condition to judge of the obligations we owe to them; but when years have ripened our understanding and judgment, we then difcern that what made us diflike them, I mean admonitions, reprimands, and a fevere exactness in

reftraining the paffions of an imprudent and inconfiderate age, is exprefsly the very thing which fhould make us efteem and love them. Thus we fee that Marcus Aurelius, one of the wifest and moft illuftrious emperors that Rome ever had, thanked the gods for two things efpecially-for his having had excellent tutors himself, and that he had found the like for his children.

Quinctilian, after having noted the different characters of the mind in children, draws, in a few words, the image of what he judged to be a perfect scholar; and certainly it is a very amiable one: "For my part," fays he, “ I like a child who is encouraged by commendation, is animated by a sense of glory, and weeps when he is outdone. A noble emulation will always keep him in exercife, a reprimand will touch him to the quick, and honour will ferve inftead of a fpur. We need not fear that fuch a fcholar will ever give himself up to fullennefs." Mihi ille detur puer, quem laus excitet, quem gloria juvet, qui virtus fleat. Hic erit alendus ambitu: hunc mordebit objurgatio: hunc honor excitabit in hoc defidiam nunquam verebor.

How great a value foever Quintilian fets upon the talents of the mind, he efteems thofe of the heart far beyond them, and looks upon the others as of no value without them. In the fame chapter from whence I took the preceding words, he declares, he fhould never have a good opinion of a child, who placed his ftudy in occafioning laughter, by mimicking the behaviour, mien, and faults of others; and he prefently gives an admirable reafon for it: "A child," fays he, "cannot be truly ingenious, in my opinion, unless he be good and virtuous; otherwife, I fhould rather choofe to have him dull and heavy than of a bad difpofition." Non dabit fpem bonæ indolis, qui hoc imitandi ftudio petit, ut rideatur. Nam probus quoque imprimis erit ille vere ingeniofus: alioqui non pejus duxerim tardi effe ingenii, quàm mali.

He difplays to us all these talents in the eldest of his two children, whose character he draws, and whose death he laments in fo eloquent and pathetic a

ftrain,