fatisfaction arifing from things, the existence of which is fcarcely known to a vulgar mind.

Where, indeed, fhall we find objects, capable of attaching the mind in every period of life, at all times, and in every fituation, but in the walks of literature?Thefe ftudies,' fays Tully, in a paffage which cannot be too often repeated, afford nourish ment to our youth, and delight to our old age: they heighten the enjoy ments of profperity, and, in adverfe circumftances, fupply refources and confolation at home, they are an inexhauftible fund of pleasure, and are unattended with inconvenience abroad: they are our companions at night, our fellow-travellers on a journey, and our fociety in rural retirement. With the fame fentiments he elsewhere afks, What then are all the pleafures of the feftive board, the magnificence of the public games and exhibitions, and the fafcinating charms of the fair, compared with the enjoyments we derive from the ftudies of literature: ftudies, which, with men of fenfe and education, ever increase in attractions, as they themselves increase in years + Such were the fentiments of this illuftrious philofopher. He had roved, with pleasure, through all the various walks of learning; in every period of life, they were his favourite haunts; and, as Time moved on in rapid flight, he beheld Study his neverfailing companion, and fcattering her sweetest flowers on his hoary head.

In the idea of learning, as a fource of unfailing intellectual pleafures, we are not to confine ourselves to claffical ftudies, or to thofe abftruse investigations of science, which require uncommon powers and extraordinary efforts; not to thofe fubjects only which exercise our reafon, but thofe which are the proper objects of the faculty

we call tafte, and which give rife to an infinite variety of the most pleafing fenfations, as well as to the most fublime reflections. This effay would be too diffufe, were I to point out the innumerable inftances in which this obfervation may be exemplified. Let ùs advert only to the beauties of the creation. That tafte, which is most commonly the refult of a well-cultivated mind, fills us with admiration of the ftupendous magnitude of the mundane fyftem. It is charmed with the regularity, order, and proportion which every part of it displays; with the beauty and variety of colours which tinge the face of nature; with the fitnefs and utility of all its productions; with the inexhauftible diverfity, and endless fucceffion of new objects, which it prefents to view. Flowers difclofe a thousand delicate or vivid hues: animals appear in comely fymmetry. Here the ocean expands its fmooth and boundlefs furface: there the earth fpreads a verdant carpet. Mountains rife with rugged majefty; the vallies wear a pleasant bloom; and even the dreary wildernefs is not deftitute of auguft fimplicity. The day is ufhered in by a fplendid luminary, whose beams expofe to view the beauties of the world, and gild the face of nature; and when the curtain of night veils terrestrial objects from our eyes, the wide expanfe appears fpangled with stars, and opens the profpect of innumerable worlds. Spring, fummer, autumn, prefent us with natural beauties, in the fucceffive periods of their growth; and even tern winter leaves many objects undestroyed, from which a vigorous and well-cultivated tafte may extract no inconfiderable degree of entertainment.

What though not all Of mortal offspring can attain the heights

of his own museum. Vice admiral Munden, and other officers who had been much upon the coaft of Spain, enriched it with many curiofities, and gave the owner the name of Don Saltero.

THE celebrated fir Thomas More purchafed an eftate at Chelfea, and fettled his family there about the year 1520. His houfe was fituated near the water-fide, and, as Erafmus defcribes it, was neither mean, nor fubject to envy, yet magnificent enough.' He added to its conveniences by building at the end of his garden a library and a chapel, where he paffed much of his time in retirement and devotion. To give general anecdotes of a man fo well known as fir Thomas More, would be fuperfluous; I fhall confine myfelf therefore to fuch as are connected with his refidence at Chelfea. The capricious monarch, to whom he owed his rife and fall, frequently vifited him at this place with the utmolt familiarity, and would fometimes dine with him uninvited. Erafmus' defeription of the manner of fir Thomas More's living with his family at Chelsea, exhibits a fine picture of domestic happinefs: There he converfeth (fays he) with his wife, his fon, his daughter in-law, his three daughters and their hufbands, with 11 grand-children. There is not any man living fo affectionate to his children as he; and he loveth his old wife as well as if the was a young maid.' When we are told that this wife was not only inclining to old age, but of a nature fomewhat harsh, and very worldly, or as his great grandfon More fays, of good years; of no good favour nor complexion, nor very rich; her difpofition very near and worldly, we muft allow him great merit for his affectionate behaviour toward her; nor hould we omit to commend the means he made ufe of to foften the morofenefs of her difpofition: he perfuaded her (it feems) to play upon the lute, viol, and fome other inftruments, every day performing thereon her task; and

his family. Such is the excellence of his temper, (continues Erafmus) that whatfoever happeneth that could not be helped, he loveth it as if nothing could have happened more hap→ pily. You would fay there was in that place Plato's academy; but I do his houfe an injury in comparing it to Plato's academy, where there were only difputations of numbers and geometrical figures, and fometimes of moral virtues. I fhould rather call his houfe a fchool, or university of Chriftian religion; for though there is none therein but readeth or studieth the liberal fciences, their special care is piety and virtue; there is no quarrelling, or intemperate words heard; none feen idle; that worthy gentleman doth not govern with proud and lofty words, but with well-timed and courteous benevolence; every body performeth his duty, yet is there always alacrity; neither is fober mirth any thing wanting.'

Sir Thomas More was a great benefactor to the church of Chelsea, conftantly attended divine fervice there, and frequently affifted at its celebration. The duke of Norfolk coming one day to dine with him while he was chancellor, found him at church, wearing a furplice, and finging with the quire; God's body, my lord chancellor,' faid the duke as they returned to his houfe, what a parith clerk! A parish clerk! you dishonour the king and his office. Nay, faid fir Thomas, you may not think your mafter and mine will be offended with me for ferving God, his matter, or thereby count his office difhonoured."

The morning after he had refigned the great feal, he went to Chelica church with his lady and family, where, during divine fervice, he fat as ufual in the quire, wearing a furplice; and because it had been a cultom after mafs was done, for one of his gentlemen to go to his lady's pew, and say,

My lord is gone before;' he came now himself, and making a low bow faid, Madam, my lord is gone. She thinking it to be no more than