and was the God expected by the Universe. The Dervizes have their Alcoran.

I BELIEVE there is no one will dispute the Author's great Impartiality in setting down the Accounts of these different Religions. And I think it is pretty evident he delivers the Matter with an Air that betrays the History of one born of a Virgin has as much Authority with him from St. Sommonocodom as from St. Matthew. Thus he treats Revelation. Then as to Philofophy, he tells you, p. 136, Cicero produces this as an Inftance of a probable Opinion, that they who study Philofophy do not believe there are any Gods; and then, from confideration of various Notions, he affirms Tully concludes, That there can be nothing after Death.

AS to what he mifreprefents of Tully, the fhort Sentence on the Head of this Paper is enough to oppofe; but who can have Patience to reflect upon the Affemblage of Impostures among which our Author places the Religion of his Country? As for my part, I cannot fee any poffible Interpretation to give this Work, but a Defign to fubvert and ridicule the Authority of Scripture. The Peace and Tranquillity of the Nation, and Regards even above thofe, are fo much concerned in this Matter, that it is difficult to exprefs fufficient Sorrow for the Offender, or Indignation against him. But if ever Man deferved to be denied the common Benefits of Air and Water, it is the Author of a Difcourfe of Free-thinking.

Monday,

T

Hudibras.

HOUGH moft Things which are wrong in their own Nature are at once confeffed and abfolved in that fingle Word the Cuftom; yet there are fome, which as they have a dangerous Tendency, a thinking Man will the lefs excufe on that very Account. Among thefe I cannot but reckon the common Practice of Dedications, which is of fo much the worfe Confequence, as 'tis generally used by People of Politenefs, and whom a Learned Education for the most part ought to have infpired with nobler and jufter Sentiments. This Prostitution of Praife is not only a Deceit upon the Grofs of Mankind, who take their Notion of Characters from the Learned; but also the better fort muft by this means lofe fome part at least of that Defire of Fame which is the Incentive to generous Actions,

when

when they find it promifcuously bestowed on the Meritorious and Undeferving: Nay, the Author himself, let him be fuppofed to have ever so true a Value for the Patron, can find no Terms to exprefs it, but what have been already used, and rendered fufpected by Flatteries. Even Truth itself in a Dedication is like an Honest Man in a Disguise, or VizorMafque, and will appear a Cheat by being dreft fo like one. Tho' the Merit of the Perfon is beyond Difpute, I fee no reason that becaufe one Man is eminent, therefore another has a right to be impertinent, and throw Praises in his Face. 'Tis juft the Reverse of the Practice of the Ancient Romans, when a Perfon was advanced to Triumph for his Services: As they hired People to rail at him in that Circumftance to make him as humble as they could, we have Fellows to flatter him, and make him as proud as they can. Suppofing the Writer not to be mercenary, yet the great Man is no more in Reafon obliged to thank him for his Picture in a Dedication, than to thank a Painter for that on a Sign-Poft; except it be a lefs Injury to touch the most Sacred Part of him, his Character, than to make free with his Countenance only. I fhould think nothing juftified me in this Point, but the Patron's Permiffion before-hand, that I should draw him as like as I could; whereas most Authors proceed in this Affair just as a Dawber I have heard of, who not being able to draw Portraits

Portraits after the Life, was used to paint Faces at Random, and look out afterwards for People whom he might perfuade to be like them. To exprefs my Notion of the Thing in a Word: To fay more to a Man than one thinks, with a Profpect of Interest, is difhoneft; and without it foolish. And whoever has had Succefs in fuch an Undertaking, muft of neceffity, at once, think himself in his Heart a Knave for having done it, and his Patron a Fool for having believed it.

are.

I HAVE fometimes been entertained with confidering Dedications in no very common Light. By obferving what Qualities our Writers think it will be most pleasing to others to compliment them with, one may form fome Judgment which are most fo to themselves; and, in confequence, what fort of People they Without this View one can read very few Dedications but will give us caufe to wonder, either how fuch things came to be faid at all, or how they were faid to fuch Perfons? I have known an Hero complimented upon the decent Majefty and State he affumed after Victory, and a Nobleman of a different Character applauded for his Condefcenfion to Inferiors. This would have feemed very ftrange to me, but that I happened to know the Authors. He who made the first Compliment was a lofty Gentleman, whofe Air and Gate discovered when he had published a new Book; and the other tippled every Night with

the

the Fellows who laboured at the Prefs while his own Writings were working off. 'Tis obfervable of the Female Poets and Ladies Dedicatory, that here (as elfewhere) they far exceed us in any Strain or Rant. As Beauty is the thing that Sex are piqu'd upon, they speak of it generally in a more elevated Stile than is ufed by the Men. They adore in the fame manner as they would be adored. So when the Authorefs of a famous modern Romance begs a young Nobleman's Permiffion to pay him her Kneeling Adorations, I am far from cenfuring the Expreffion, as fome Criticks would do, as deficient in Grammar or Sense; but I reflect, that Adorations paid in that Posture are what a Lady might expect herself, and my Wonder immediately ceases. Thefe, when they flatter moft, do but as they would be done unto; for as none are fo much concerned at being injured by Calumnies, as they who are readieft to caft them upon their Neighbours; fo 'tis certain none are fo guilty of Flattery to others, as those who most ardently defire it themselves.

WHAT led me into these Thoughts, was a Dedication I happen'd upon this Morning. The Reader muft understand that I treat the leaft Inftances or Remains of Ingenuity with Refpect, in what Places foever found, or under whatever Circumstances of Disadvantage. From this Love to Letters I have been so happy in my Searches after Knowledge, that I have VOL. I. found

C