by lawful means only that a man has a right to preferve his exiitence, or his liberty. One branch of felf love, very common in focial life, is the thinking ourfelves to be of too much confequence, that is, of more confequence than we really are, and therefore undervaluing others; for it is to be obferved that no man adds a virtue to his lift, unless at the expence of fome other perfon. Every thing is eftimated by comparifon. He who thinks himself very wife, will think his neighbour a great blockhead; and much of the pleafure derived from wealth arifes from the confideration that it belongs not to others around us. Such is our opinion of our own fenfe and wisdom, that we frequently wonder how people can poffibly be happy who do not live precifely as we do. And this very favourable opinion of ourselves, in preference to all the rest of our neighbours, furnishes nine-tenths of that conversation, with which we cool our tea in the genteeleft parties. What would Mrs. A. have to fay, if he did not recollect what frightful dress Mrs. B. appeared in, what a fhabby dinner Mrs. C. gave, how strangely Mrs. D. brings up her children, and how aukwardly Mrs. E. plays at cards? And how eafily and naturally does fhe expect that we shall turn our admiration toward her antagonist virtues, her tasteful drefs, elegant dinner, excellent fyftem of education, and graceful handling of the cards! In fhort, any one may fee that this is a downright robbery, and that this lady has thought proper to ftrip her acquaintance of all their good qualities, that he may complete her own lift. For fuch a robbery I know of no better excufe than the lines, He that is robbed, not knowing what is ftole, A far wore confequence, however, is to be apprehended, and I am afraid is too often to be obferved; I mean, a difpofition to envy, the bane of happinefs, and to cenforicufnefs, the parent of a thoufand falfehoods. Now envy is a paflion which fteals fo gradually upon the mind, and when firmly feated there, is expelled, if expelled at all, with fo much difficulty, that we cannot be too careful to guard against its firft approaches, nor too grateful to him who points out its fource in a quarter where we leaft expected it. As to cenforioufnefs, independent of its being the most unamiable of all difpofitions, it approaches the nearest of any to a confirmed habit of falsehood. A cenforious perfon seldom fcruples to add a little to what may be really true, or if informed that there is no truth at all in the circumftance related, will be fo forry to lofe it, as to boldly defy all contradiction. A fecond bad confequence of too high an opinion of ourselves, and of its attendants, a cer for ous difpofition, is that we are by degrees fo entirely drawn away to attend to the affairs of others, as to have neither leifure nor inclination to look into our own. Indeed it cannot be expected that when we discover in the conduct of others, fo many circumftances from which we derive caufe for triumph, we fhould eafily be prevailed upon to give up fuch a delightful employment. Hence, as we never look within but to approve, and never without but to condemn, it will be no great wonder if our wifdom in doing the one or the other fhall appear equally doubtful, to one who is fo placed as to judge impartially of both.-Lady Wrangle, a perfonage of a very ancient family, and very numerous connexions, has attained great perfection in the art of finding fault with every body but her Let him not know it, and he's not robbed felf, and as her rank entitles her to a at all.' But, it is obvious, that if this high opinion of ones-felf led only to fuch difplays of vanity as are merely ridiculous, they might be treated as fuch. place at many tables, fhe is never without an opportunity to difplay her talent. What occurred yesterday is the topic of converíation to-day. The hour of dining was too late, or too E 2 early, early, or what is worfe than both, The never could abide that hour.' The dinner was too plentiful, or too fcanty; part of it was underdone, and part overdone; the dishes were improperly arranged, or too haftily removed; there was too great a pace, or not a proper space of time between the courfes; the defert was fumptuous, but it was not well chofen; the company were not all to her liking, and the wondered that fome people would afk other people to their table, when it was well known that certain people courted no fuch acquaintance. The coffee was four, and the tea was cold, and, for her part, the thould never think of fetting down her company to fuch a fupper, not to mention that the cards appeared to have been played with before, and the fum played for was vulgar. When thefe matters have been detailed, the dreffes of the company país in review, and nothing, upon the whole, can be conceived fo bad.'-Yet with all this critical skill in the affairs of others, lady Wrangle does not fee that her own want amendment, and that the feldom attempts to excel others, without affording her friends the moft ample revenge. As it is clear that fuch a difpofition, founded upon vanity, leads to envy, it is furprifing that a rational creature fhould indulge a paflion, not only hateful in itself, but fo tormenting to the poffeffor as to be the abfolute bane of happiness. Could a good opinion of ourselves, of what we do and of what we poffefs, be confined within proper bounds, it might perhaps occafionally vent itself in a little harmlefs vanity, but it would ultimately lead to a contented and peaceful difpofition; it would afford comfort to the poor, and confolation to the induftrious; and we cannot doubt that much rational confolation may be derived from contemplating the unhappy fituation of the rich, the powerful and the gay, and comparing it with the ftate of those who live in a peaceable and virtuous obfcurity, free from the cares of wealth, the dangers of power, But and the foolishness of levity. when we carry this conceit fo far as to establish our opinion as the ftandard of all propriety, we cannot stop short by being only ridiculous; we fall acquire an envious, difcontented and cenforious temper, embitter our lives, and difturb the tranquillity of others. And fuch a difpofition is fo adverse to happinefs, that wherever we find it, we may be pretty certain we have found the union of a weak head with a bad heart. No man is without vanity, but vanity in little things, in things which do not concern us, is a certain fymptom of a defect in the understanding. Although we must candidly confefs, if we examine our own hearts, that mot men have a much higher opinion of themselves than they deferve, yet the precife extent of that opinion, and how much of it ought to be take away, I believe, no man knows. Some light may be thrown upon it by confidering how men are generally apt to estimate an injury done to them, and in this, it must be allowed, they feldom err by being too humble. It is this conceit of ones-felf which occafions men to be fo very fore, when idle reports are fpread to their disadvantage; in courts of law, we have fome curious fpecimens of this, in the damages laid by the plaintiff for an injury, real or fuppofed. These are generally fo very much exceeding the injury itfelf, that there are very few inftances where the complainant is gratified to the extent of his expectations. I remember a cafe of a gentleman profecuting a printer for a libel, which reflected on his private and public character. He laid his damages at ten thousand pounds, but fo different was the opinion of the jury from that which he entertained of his confequence, that they gave only one hun dred pounds; and perhaps, if our opinion of our confequence and merits were reduced to a quellion determinable in this manner, it might often happen that the hundredth part of our merit only would be allowed. While I am upon the subject of injuries, injuries, I may obferve that it is not unpleasant to remark the avidity with which each man magnifies the injury done to him. If he has fuffered by fraud, he has fuffered as none ever fuffered before; if by misfortunes, they were the most extraordinary that ever happened. Even his difeafes atford fome fuel to the paffion of vanity. His gout was more fevere, his fever more dangerous, his broken limb more difficult to be reduced than any thing of the kind ever heard of. So fond are fome men of detailing fuch adventures, that they either derive great pleasure from them, or think that others do. To think that the world cares a great deal about us, is no uncommon failing. The Tatler or Spectator (I forget which) mentions a story of one footman afking another, what the world thought of his marriage?' This deference to the opinion of the world is but a fpecies of affectation, for very few men really care about the opinion of the world in any matter which they are earnest in pursuing, and the world is fo far even with them that they D never exprefs an anxiety about its opinión, without the mortification of a difappointment. Of all men, poetical lovers have been fondeft of entertaining the opinion that the world is concerned in their fuccefs, and this they carry to fuch an excefs as affects even the inanimate creation. If a lover is difappointed, not only the birds must ceafe to warble, but the fun must fhine no more, the rivers no longer meander, and the brooks and the purling streams must become dry, until a fmile from the fair one shall renew their powers. On the whole, while we indulge a good opinion of ourselves, it becomes us to be equally favourable to others, who may poffefs all thofe latent qualities from which our felf-admiration arifes. Difference of fentiment and conduct in little things is beneath the confideration of a wife man, who referves his cenfure or applaufe for actions, more becoming the dignity of his nature, and more interelling to his happiness. COMPARISON between two celebrated ORATORS, URING the American war, Mr. Fox was bold and violent in his measures, as in his reasoning; and manifelled a vigorous and determined oppofition to the conduct of the miniftry. If Mr. Fox's manner differs, in any refpect, at the prefent moment, it is that his notions are even more enlightened by experience, and that the afperities of his mind are worn away. He rarely defcends to perfonal attack; but till exhibits the fame dauntless fpirit, the fame zeal for liberty, and the fame fallies of unexpected and mafterly reafoning. The tyle and manner, indeed, of this fpeaker, form a very striking contraft to the ftyle and manner of the minifter. Each exhibits excellencies, for the most part, of a very different nature C. C. C. from the excellencies of the other. Mr. Pitt's oratory is diftinguished by graceful action and correct language. Mr. Fox by no means excels in the firit quality, and frequent inaccuracies of expreffion, committed in the warmth of fpeech, often prove him to be too negligent of the latter. Mr. Pitt's enunciation is diftinct as audible; the delivery of Mr. Fox, when arguments prefs most upon his mind, peculiarly rapid and impetuous. The one fpeaks according to the foundest dictates of his head, the other appears governed by the impulfe of the feelings of his heart. Mr. Pitt exhibits powerful abilities: Mr. Fox difplays uncommon genius. Mr. Pitt perfuades: Mr. Fox convinces. The eloquence of the former is diftinguish ed ed by animation, dignity, and pathos; that of the latter, by energy and fire. With a figure as much contrafted as that of his adverfary, Mr. Fox does not even experience any disadvantage from a very corpulent habit of body, but irrefiftibly interefts his hearers in the cause he undertakes, even (where that caufe is leaft favourable to their prejudices: and, engaging with earneftnefs in whatever his feelings lead to defend, reminds us of Quintilian's defcription of Pericles, who was faid to fpeak in thunder and lightening.' ON MODERN BIOGRAPHY. To the EDITOR of the UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE. SIR, T has lately become a question of fome importance, how biography ought to be written in order to convey the greateft poffible degree of inftruction. It is admitted on all hands that this branch of history is capable of more useful purposes than any other, becaufe the facts and events which biography records, come the nearest home to men's bufinefs and bofoms.' In the hiftory of a nation we are rather entertained as politicians, and enlightened as ftatefimen, than improved as men. In the hiftory of the rife and decline of great empires, a fublime curiofity is excited, a curiofity which has for its object men collectively, but, if I may use the phrafe, we look in vain for individuality. We may find a king or emperor, and trace his actions; but we recollect that his actions are more generally the actions of his counsellors or minifters, and that the bravery or fuccefs attributed to him are the aggregate bravery and fuccefs of his fubjects and foldiers: but we feel not an intereft in his tranfactions as men, because we behold him in a fituation which in more than human probability we fhall never fill, and which, in fact, has been filled by only a few hundreds fince the world began. Indeed, if it were not for the entertainment which general hiftory affords, the anxious curiofity it keeps up, and gratifies, and the national vanity which it fometimes feeds; and if it were not a duty incumbent on those who at all pretend to talk on public affairs to be acquainted with fuch hiftory, it would much oftener be laid afide with difguft, than reforted to for pleafure. What does the hiory of most nations afford us, unlefs the detail of crimes and cruelties ? The best and most amiable part of the progrefs of a people either cannot be recorded, or is but flightly touched upon, I mean, the peaceful current of improving arts, commerce and civilization. These are omitted, while the hidorian beftows his chief attention, and ftudies hardest to develope the frauds of courts, to untwist the clue of political cunning, to detail the policy or intrigues of minifters, or to enumerate the lives that are facrificed to the wrath of tyranny, the ftruggles of ambition, or the delufion of popular anarchy. But in the biography of men dif tinguifhed for natural or acquired excellence in any branch of science, or any pursuit of uncommon utility and fame, we are feldom shocked by fuch enormities, or if we meet with vices. and failings, the advantage we derive from thefe being contrafted with fhining virtues and talents affords us a leflon of the utmost importance. Tre matter, in this cafe, comes home fo clofely to us, that we forget the distance between us and the party fpoken of, and confider him as one whofe example we may follow where it appears to have been praiseworthy, whofe vices we are to thun and deplore by knowing what created and what prometed them, and whofe fame we we may aspire to, in hopes that what has been once a:tained by diligence and industry, will not be denied to a faithful application of the fame means. As biography is allowed to fill the highest rank of utility, it has likewife of late been confidered as the means by which the ampleft gratification may be afforded to curiofity; and the accustomed method of writing men's lives has been departed from, to give place to a new mode, the propriety of which is a matter of doubt. To know the leading actions of an eminent life, to trace a man of genius from obfcurity to fame, from poverty to dignity, and to be informed of the connexion between his private and his public life, and even to have such fayings of his recorded as are peculiarly diftinguished for the wit or wifdom they difplay-all this is fairly to be expected, and is much to be defired in the biography of learned and ingenious characters. But the queftion is, whether it be fair and proper, or useful, to record every little failing, every hafty expreffion, every ebullition of pride and vanity, from which at certain times, no man is free; every opinion given, whether in moments of peevishness or levity; and, in a word, every circumftance that can poffibly be collected from memory, hearfay, or any other way, which at all concerns the character, perfon, and conduct of him whofe life is written? It will probably occur to the readers of this article that this queftion has arifen from the manner in which the very juftly celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnfon has been treated by his friends. They watched his death,' as Addison fays, like fo many undertakers, to make a penny of him;' or as a modern wit expreffes himself with fingular appofiteness; they used the doctor, as the people ufe whales caft upon any of the coafts of England: fhow the monster for a penny a piece, and then fell the blubber for what it will fetch.' They have all combined to give the world every idle as well as fenfible word he spoke, and every trifling as well as ferious action he performed: they have given at full length every little failing or defect of temper, and a thousand particulars which, if they ever occurred to any other man, were certainly thought unworthy of being recorded. Against fuch a phalanx of spies and informers, it is impoffible that any character can ftand, much lefs that of a man who, with much bodily pain and uneafinefs of mind, lived furrounded by friends (as they called themfelves) who pricked and goaded him in his agony, that they might take down what fell from him at a time when few men can poffibly be supposed to have the command of themfelves. Whoever reads the anecdotes given of him must be fatisfied that he was thus often tortured to fpeak when he withed to be filent, to give an opinon when he either had not formed one, or was not prepared to deliver it: when his temper was ruffled, his mind confused, and when confequently, if he fpoke at all, he spoke whatever came uppermoft, glad, in all probability, by any means to get rid of thofe who befet him, and little thinking that the cafual converfation of a peevish hour would be faithfully recorded, and published. This, and this only, can account for many of the harsh, uncharitable and abfurd opinions which are given as his, but which no man who knows from his writings how to appreciate his merit, will ever think of attributing to him as the deliberate fentiments of his heart. Much, very much of this fpecies of biography has been brought forward in the cafe of Dr. Johnfon, to the great mortification of his real friends, and to the fatisfaction of none but thofe who were formerly his enemies, and are now confirmed in their antipathies, or rather, to speak more properly, have now fomething to produce against him which cannot be denied, because it comes from his profefied friends, who furely would not record any thing to his prejudice that |