rulers would have learned to act for the people, and the people to submit cheerfully to lawful and moderate government. The fact is, that, till some great revolution take place in human nature, the world will go on at its old rate, will continue to be swayed by its interests and passions, and perpetually be vibrating between truth and error, tyranny and licence, in spite of all the efforts of patriots and philosophers.

Fifthly, by incivility. It has been often justly observed, that the miseries of the present life arise not so much from great calamities, which but seldom happen, as from a succession of small vexations, which fret a man's spirit, exhaust his patience, and so bring him into a state of perpetual irritation. Whatever therefore tends to obviate these petty evils, highly deserves the attention of every one who either values his own quiet or that of others. On this account civility is an object of important consideration, as it serves to prevent those minute offences which are so apt to disturb our friendly intercourse, and frequently to of our country with insolence or scurrility, or even as subjects of mere disputation, is manifestly an offence to public decency; although such, grave discussion as may serve to their correction or improvement, is not only consistent with the regard we owe them, but may proceed from it. How to suppress the former without discouraging the latter, is a difficulty to which no policy is equal. There have been periods when prescription was reason, and when time gave a sanction to the grossest usurpations upon the persons and property, the understandings and consciences of men; there have been periods too in which a wild and lawless spirit has gone forth, and boldly called in question every opinion consecrated by the veneration, and every institution confirmed by the practice, of former ages. If men could have been taught wisdom by past example, by this time they wo# have learned, first, in respect to truth, have sought it, though without a supix_ stitious attachment, yet not without^ becoming deference to ancient op1

rulers would have learned to act for the people, and the people to submit cheerfully to lawful and moderate government. The fact is, that, till some great revolution take place in human nature, the world will go on at its old rate, will continue to be swayed by its interests and passions, and perpetually be vibrating between truth and error, tyranny and licence, in spite of all the eHurts of patriots and philosophers.

Fifthly, by incivility. It has been often justly observed, that the miseries of the present life arise not so much from great calamities, which but seldom happen, M from a succession of small vexatious, which fret a man's spirit, exhaust his patience, and so bring him into a state of perpetual irritation. Whatever therefore tends to of our country with insolent or even as subjects of mere ;!- _ manifestly an offence to pub'"although such grave discussion to their correction or improvein; only consistent with the regara them, but may proceed from it. suppress the former without disco, the latter, is a difficulty to which m is equal. There have been periou.-. prescription was reason, and wLi gave a sanction to the grossest usurr upon the persons and property, the standings and consciences of men; have been periods too in which a wi lawless spirit has gone forth, and I called in question every opinion consct by the veneration, and every instil confirmed by the practice, of former; If men could have been taught wis' by past example, by this time they w— have learned, first, in respect to trul have sought it, though without a s stitious attachment, ye ot withou becoming deference to

ace of attending to ity among beings so ready . I:e offence. Of this the

usible, that at Pekin there s in humc for regulating the cereon at its old rat- » both among natives by its interest^ 1 punctilious regard to

rulers wouk people, and 1. to lawful ar

that

be vibrating bei
ranny and liceu
of patriots aiv
Fifthly, by
justly observ
present life
calamities,
from a
fret a man's sp
and so bring hit:
irritation. W n*.
obviate these
the attention cfe*
his own (,. •
aci

larked in one of their :ains, as we are told, lousand rules for the of every rank, and

•

se regulations could reduced exactly to lently impossible, there will easily be con> of conveying inof respect would [evoking. Human :annot be held by wastraint: nothing ion, in which pride and selfishness to a genuine and

Sers.