ld think that the larger the company is, in which we are engaged,
the greater variety of thoughts and subjects would be started in
discourse; but instead of this, we find that conversation is never so
much straitened and confined as in numerous assemblies. When a multitude
meet together upon any subject of discourse, their debates are taken up
chiefly with forms and general positions; nay, if we come into a more
contracted assembly of men and women, the talk generally runs upon the
weather, fashions, news, and the like public topics. In proportion as
conversation gets into clubs and knots of friends, it descends into
particulars, and grows more free and communicative: but the most open,
instructive, and unreserved discourse is that which passes between two
persons who are familiar and intimate friends. On these occasions, a man
gives a loose to every passion and every thought that is uppermost,
discovers his most retired opinions of persons and things, tries the
beauty and strength of his sentiments, and exposes his whole soul to the
examination of his friend.

Tully was the first who observed that friendship improves happiness and
abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and dividing of our grief; a
thought in which he hath been followed by all the essayists upon
friendship that have written since his time. Sir Francis Bacon has
finely described other advantages, or, as he calls them, fruits of
friendship; and, indeed, there is no subject of morality which has been
better handled and more exhausted than this. Among the several fine
things which have been spoken of it, I shall beg leave to quote some out
of a very ancient author, whose book would be regarded by our modern wits
as one of the most shining tracts of morality that is extant, if it
appeared under the name of a Confucius, or of any celebrated Grecian
philosopher; I mean the little apocryphal treatise entitled The Wisdom of
the Son of Sirach. How finely has he described the art of making friends
by an obliging and affable behaviour; and laid down that precept, which a
late excellent author has delivered as his own, That we should have many
well-wishers, but few friends. "Sweet language will multiply friends;
and a fair-speaking tongue will increase kind greetings. Be in peace
with many, nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand." With
what prudence does he caution us in the choice of our friends! And with
what strokes of nature, I could almo