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Show 68] the belt method of gratifying low perfonal l 69 l pride, or ambitious interefi, he is mifiaken; tionably produces, (Whether in a greater or lcfs and kDOWS nothing of the world. number than in former times, I know not) daring profiigates, and infidious l'iypocrites. Preferring this connexion; I do not mean to What then .9 Am I not to avail myfelfof what- detract in the {lightef't degree from others. There are fume of thofe, whom I admire at fomething of a greater difiance, with whom I ever good is to be found in the world, becaufe have had the happinefs alfo perfectly to agree, in almoft all the particulars, in which Ihave didered with fome fucceflive adminiflrations ; and they are fuch, as it never can be reputable to anV government to reckon among ltb enemies. I hope there are none ofyou, corrupted With the doctrine taught by wicked men for the worfl purnofes, and greedily received by the of the mixture of evil that will always be in it? The finallnefs of the quantity in currency only heightens the value. They, who raife fufpicions on the good on account of the behaviour of ill men, are of the party of the latter. The common cant is no juttitication for taking this party. Ihave been deceived, fay they, by ‘Tz'tz'm and A'Iaevius. I have been the dupe of this pretender or of that mountehank ; and I can trult appearances no longer. But my credulity and want of dilcernment cannot, as malignant credulity of envy and 1gnorance, I conceive, amount to a fair prefiimption againfi any man's integrity. A confcientious pcrfon which is, that the men who act upon the public would rather doubt his own judgment, than Huge are all alike; all equally corrupt ;_ all in- fluenced by no other views than the fordid ltiCi e obferved without attention, or judged upon of falary and peniion. The thing, I know by, eXperience to be t‘alle. Never expecting to find perfection in men, and not looking for divine attributes in creatcd beings, in my com- merce with my cotemporaries, I have found much human virtue. I have feen not a little public fpirit; a real lithordination of interell‘ to duty; and a decent and regulated lenfibility to lionell fame and reputation. "i The age unqueltionably condemn his fpecies. He would lay, Ihave erroneous maxims; I trolled to profellion, when [ought to have attended to conduc‘t. Such a man will grow wife, not malignant, by his acquaintance With the world. But he that accufes all mankind of corruption ought to remember that he is litre to convift only one. In truth I {hould much rather admit thole, whom at any time I have dili‘eliihed the molt, to be patterns of perfei‘tion, than feeh a couloiation to my own unworthincls, in a general com- munion of depravity with all about me. F 2 'l‘lmt |