by the public, hence they are more certain of obtaining a just reward, and, of course, become more profitable to ourselves. I hope you understand me fully. I do not mean that the Nine should be discarded; only, that the penchant for their company should not be allowed to become a formidable passion, and so ungovernable, as to preclude a due attention to avocations of more utility, both to the public and to ourselves.

"It has long been an established opinion with me, that if a man wishes to acquire the respect of the world, he ought constantly to respect himself.

I do not mean, by holding his head high, talking big, and seeming, by every glance of his eye, to say, 'Am not I a great man?' He that respects himself, will not stoop to any deliberate action derogatory to virtue, and that nice sense of honour of which every man wishes the world to believe him possessed. While he pays due respect to himself, he will not be wanting in the necessary degree of esteem and deference due to others, in the different stages of life, and many gradations on the scale of human rank. I would not be understood as wishing any man, however dependent, to act the sycophant; the low, fawning, spaniellike character, is a just object of contempt to every one capable of estimating the true dignity and in

dependence of the human mind. It is doubtless difficult to steer the due mean betwixt that mistaken pride which cannot brook the authority of a superior, and the sneaking servility above mentioned; but the attainment of this qualification is of much importance in life, and, therefore, worthy of serious study, and sedulous application.

"It is a most excellent saying of Coila's bard, that it is necessary for a man to know how much ground he occupies in society.' I am not certain if I quote him correctly, but am sure it is the sense of his expression. When I take a retrospective view of my preceding days, I feel my heart dilate with gratitude to that Being, who not only endowed me with reason, to regulate my principles of action, but continued his kindness, by blessing my honest but feeble exertions.

"When I left measuring my steps through the muir by the sound of the wedder's bell, it was only then I began to think, and found that I stood (I may say) alone in the world, left to act for myself. The pious care of a hoary headed friend had endeavoured to instil the principles of religion and virtue into my mind; and while I knew that I had the world before me, and Providence my guide,' I saw it, also, essentially necessary to exert my

self. An inviolable adherence to the laws of truth and rectitude soon presented itself as the first and necessary principle of action. Do not interpret this as insinuating that I conceive myself a perfect character; impelled by the wayward passions, pride, vanity, and the long train of et ceteras that human flesh is heir to,' I have gone astray, even as others; have seen myself a fool, resolved, and re-resolved. The character of a wilful knave I hope I have never merited.-But to return. I found that the only rational method I could pursue, to make the world agreeable to me, was to make myself useful to others. Unqualified to fill any situation requiring the exercise of talentsuntried, and, of course, improper for a place of trust, had talents been unnecessary, I scarcely had a choice; bodily labour seemed unavoidable, and, although of a feeble constitution, I had been inured to toil; I therefore kept the same track-was content, but not happy. By a patient perseverance, aided by a native inclination, although unable to range the delightful fields of learning and science, I made my escape from the uncultivated and gloomy wilds of gross ignorance. You are (I believe) acquainted with nearly all the changes of my situation: they have been by almost insensible

gradations; but a little gained, in that progression, was a great deal to me; and, although my present situation is far below envy, nor worthy the being proud of, yet it is much better than I could once have dared to hope for; and in every stage of my little progress, so far as depended upon my own powers and principles of action, my constant endeavour was to discharge the duties of my situation with fidelity, alacrity, and unremitted attention to the interest and satisfaction of my employers. These composed the steps of the ladder which hitched me up to the little hillock where I presently scramble, still venturing to look forward to one a degree higher, yet not wishing to remove the stepping-stones from the puddle whence I was fortunate enough to emerge, lest I should yet have occasion to occupy them.

"Upon looking over this scrawl, I find it most unconscionably long, and a most incoherent, strange jumble of egotisms and repetitions, very incorrectly related. But I have neither time nor inclination to correct it; most probably I have not ability to create, i. e. make something out of nothing. However, as it is only intended for your private perusal, I hope you will at least give me credit for a nobler aim than that of elegant dic

tion; and, believe that I am, with the most sincere wishes for your success and permanent happiness, my dear Sir, yours," &c.

The following letter, which is without date or superscription, also places our author in a very estimable point of view. It is somewhat lengthy, but cannot well be abridged without detriment :

" DEAR SIR,

"While I am always glad to hear from you, and to have a confirmation of your health and happiness, under your own hand, yet, I must acknowledge that your last has not afforded me that pleasure which I fondly anticipated in our correspondence; and I must solicit not only your indulgence, but your best attention, to a few remarks which I shall make on that epistle. I am quite conscious, and ready to acknowledge, that there is a rich vein of humour, which gives it what may, perhaps, be termed a fashionable gout; but it is rather too highly seasoned for my palate. But I come to particulars; and shall observe them in the order in which they stand in your letter.

"First, In acknowledging receipt of my last, you observe its contents, and, among the rest,