ly is so good and charitable a man as the benefactor inquired
for in his letter, and that there are but two boys yet named. The father
of one of them was killed at Blenheim, the father of the other at
Almanza. I do not here give the names of the children, because I should
take it to be an insolence in me to publish them, in a charity which I
have only the direction of as a servant, to that worthy and generous
spirit who bestows upon them this bounty, without laying the bondage of
an obligation. What I have to do is to tell them, they are beholden only
to their Maker, to kill in them as they grow up the false shame of
poverty, and let them know, that their present fortune, which is come
upon them by the loss of their poor fathers on so glorious occasions, is
much more honourable, than the inheritance of the most ample ill-gotten
wealth.

The next letter which lies before me is from a man of sense, who
strengthens his own authority with that of Tully, in persuading me to
what he very justly believes one cannot be averse:

"MR. BICKERSTAFF, "London, _Feb. 27, 1709_.

"I am so confident of your inclination to promote anything that is
for the advancement of liberal arts, that I lay before you the
following translation of a paragraph in Cicero's oration in defence
of Archias the poet, as an incentive to the agreeable and
instructive reading of the writings of the Augustan age. Most vices
and follies proceed from a man's incapacity of entertaining
himself, and we are generally fools in company, because we dare not
be wise alone. I hope, on some future occasions, you will find this
no barren hint. Tully, after having said very handsome things of
his client, commends the arts of which he was master as follows:

"'If so much profit be not reaped in the study of letters, and if
pleasure only be found; yet, in my opinion, this relaxation of the
mind should be esteemed most humane and ingenuous. Other things are
not for all ages, places and seasons. These studies form youth,
delight old age, adorn prosperity, and soften, and even remove
adversity, entertain at home, are no hindrance abroad; don't leave
us at night, and keep us company on the road and in the country.' I
am,

"Your humble Servant,
"STREPHON."

The f