1

father used to order him to make English verfes, and would oblige him to correct and retouch them over and over, and at laft could fay, "Thefe are good rhymes."

At eight years of age, he was committed to one Taverner a priest, who taught him the rudiments of the Latin and Greek. At this time he met with Ogleby's Homer, which feized his attention; he fell next upon Sandy's Ovid, and remembered these two tranflations with pleasure to the end of his life.

About ten, being at fchool near Hyde-Park-Corner, he was taken to the play-houfe, and was fo ftruck with the splendour of the drama, that he formed a kind of play out of Ogleby's Homer, intermixed with verfes of his own, He perfuaded the head-boys to act this piece, and Ajax was performed by his master's gardener. They were habited according to the pictures in Ogleby. At twelve he retired with his father to Windfor-Forest, and formed himself by study in the best English poets.

In this extract it was thought convenient to dwell chiefly upon fuch obfervations as relate immediately to Pope, without deviating with the author into incidental inquiries. We intend to kindle, not to extinguish, curiofity, by this flight sketch of a work abounding with curious quotations and pleafing difquifitions. He must be much acqnainted with literary history, both of remote and late times, who does not find in this effay many things which he did not know before: and if there be any too learned to be inftructed in facts or opinions, he may yet properly read this book as a juft fpecimen of literary

moderation.

EE 4

INTRODUCTION

TO THE

PROCEEDINGS of the COMMITTEE

APPOINTED TO MANAGE THE

Contributions begun at London, Dec. 18, 1758, for cloathing French Prifoners of War.

HE Committee entrusted with the money con

THE

tributed to the relief of the fubjects of France, now prifoners in the British dominions, here lay before the publick an exact account of all the fums received and expended, that the donors may judge how properly their benefactions have been applied.

Charity would lofe its name, were it influenced by fo mean a motive as human praife: it is therefore not intended to celebrate by any particular memorial, the liberality of fingle perfons, or diftinct focieties; it is fufficient that their works praise them.

Yet he who is far from feeking honour, may very juftly obviate cenfure. If a good example has been fet, it may lofe its influence by mifreprefentation; and to free charity from reproach, is itself a charitable action.

Againft the relief of the French only one argument has been brought; but that one is fo populaṛ and fpecious, that if it were to remain unexamined,

it would by many be thought irrefragable. It has been urged, that charity, like other virtues, may be improperly and unfeafonably exerted; that while we are relieving Frenchmen, there remain many Englishmen unrelieved; that while we lavish pity on our enemies, we forget the mifery of our friends.

Grant this argument all it can prove, and what is the conclufion?-That to relieve the French is a good action, but that a better may be conceived. This is all the refult, and this all is very little. To do the best can feldom be the lot of man: it is fufficient if, when opportunies are prefented, he is ready to do good. How little virtue could be practifed, if beneficence were to wait always for the most proper objects, and the nobleft occafions; occafions that may never happen, and objects that may never be found.

It is far from certain, that a fingle Englishman will fuffer by the charity to the French. New fcenes of mifery make new impreffions; and much of the charity which produced thefe donations, may be fuppofed to have been generated by a fpecies of calamity never known among us before. Some imagine that the laws have provided all neceffary relief in common cafes, and remit the poor to the care of the publick; some have been deceived by fictitious mifery, and are afraid of encouraging impofture; many have obferved want to be the effect of vice, and confider cafual almfgivers as patrons of idlenefs. But all thefe difficulties vanish in the prefent cafe: we know that for the Prifoners of War there is no legal provifion; we fee their distress, and are certain of its caufe; we kuow that they are

poor

poor and naked, and poor and naked without a crime.

But it is not neceffary to make any conceffions. The opponents of this charity must allow it to be good, and will not eafily prove it not to be the best. That charity is beft, of which the confequences are most extensive: the relief of enemies has a tendency to unite mankind in fraternal affection; to foften the acrimony of adverse nations, and difpofe them to peace and amity: in the mean time, it alleviates captivity, and takes away fomething from the miseries of war. The rage of war, however mitigated, will always fill the world with calamity and horror: let it not then be unneceffarily extended; let animofity and hoftility ceafe together; and no man be longer deemed an enemy, than while his fword is drawn against us.

The effects of these contributions may, perhaps, reach still further. Truth is beft fupported by virtue: we may hope from thofe who feel or who fee our charity, that they fhall no longer deteft as herefy that religion, which makes its profeffors the followers of Him, who has commanded us to "de "good to them that hate us."

ON THE

BRAVERY

OF THE

ENGLISH COMMON SOLDIERS*.

Y those who have compared the military genius

BY

of the English with that of the French nation, it is remarked, that the French officers will always lead, if the foldiers will follow; and that the English foldiers will always follow, if their officers

will lead.

In all pointed fentences, fome degree of accuracy muft be facrificed to concifenefs; and, in this com→ parifon, our officers feem to lofe what our foldiers gain. I know not any reason for fuppofing that the English officers are lefs willing than the French to lead; but it is, I think, univerfally allowed, that the English foldiers are more willing to follow. Our nation may boaft, beyond any other people in the world, of a kind of epidemick bravery, diffused equally through all its ranks. We can fhew a peafantry of heroes, and fill our armies with clowns, whofe courage may vie with that of their general.

There may be fome pleasure in tracing the cau fes of this plebeian magnanimity. The qualities which

* This fhort paper was added to fome editions of The Idler, when collected into volumes, but not by Dr. Johnson, as Mr. Bofwell afferts, nor to the early editions of that work.

C.