Such were the thoughts of Almamoulin, as he looked down from a gallery upon the gay assembly, regaling at his expence ; but in the midst of this soliloquy an officer of justice entered the house, and, in the form of legal citation summoned Almamoulin to appear before the emperor. The guests stood a while aghast, then stole imperceptibly away, and he was led off without a single voice to witness his integrity. He now found one of his most frequent visitants accusing him of treason, in hopes of sharing his confiscation; yet, unpatronized and unsupported, he cleared himself by the openness of innocence, and the consistence of truth; he was dismissed with honour, and his accuser perished in prison.

Almamoulin now perceived with how little reason he had hoped for justice or fidelity from those who live only to gratify their senses; and, being now weary with vain experiments upon life and fruitless researches after felicity, he had recourse to a sage, who after spending his youth in travel and observation, had retired from all human cares, to a small habitation on the banks of Oxus, where he conversed only with such as solicited his counsel. "Brother," said the philosopher, "thou hast "suffered thy reason to be deluded by idle hopes "and fallacious appearances. Having long looked "with desire upon riches, thou hadst taught thyself "to think them more valuable than nature designed "them, and to expect from them what experience "has now taught thee that they cannot give. "That they do not confer wisdom, thou mayest be "convinced by considering at how dear a price they "tempted thee, upon thy first entrance into the

"world, to purchase the empty sound of vulgar ac"clamation. That they cannot bestow fortitude or "magnanimity, that man may be certain who stood <6 trembling at Astracan, before a being not natural"ly superior to himself. That they will not sup"ply unexhausted pleasure, the recollection of "forsaken palaces, and neglected gardens, will "easily inform thee. That they rarely purchase "friends, thou didst soon discover, when thou

wert left to stand thy trial uncountenanced and "alone. Yet think not riches useless; they are "purposes, to which a wise man may be delighted "to apply them; they may, by a rational distri"bution to those who want them, ease the pains "of helpless disease, still the throbs of restless an"xiety, relieve innocence from oppression, and "raise imbecility to cheerfulness and vigour. "This they will enable thee to perform, and this "will afford the only happiness ordained for our "present state, the confidence of divine favour, "and the hope of future rewards.”

N° 121. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1751.

O imitatores, servum pecus!

Away, ye imitators, servile herd!

HOR.

ELPHINSTON.

I HAVE been informed by a letter from one of the universities, that among the youth from whom the next swarm of reasoners is to learn philosophy, and the flight of beauties to hear elegies and sonnets, there are many, who, instead of endeavouring by books and meditation to form their own opinions, content themselves with the secondary knowledge which a convenient bench in a coffee-house can supply; and, without any examination or distinction, adopt the criticisms and remarks, which happen to drop from those who have risen, by merit or fortune, to reputation and authority.

These humble retailers of knowledge, my correspondent stigmatizes with the name of Echoes; and seems desirous that they should be made ashamed of lazy submission, and animated to attempts after new discoveries, and original senti

ments.

It is very natural for young men to be vehement, acrimonious, and severe. For as they seldom comprehend at once all the consequences of a position, or perceive the difficulties by which cooler and more experienced reasoners are restrained VOL. III.

K