xliy INTRODUCTON.

augmented, by promoting the peaceful exertions of rural induftry, and thus preferveing the morals of the people untainted, the only fure bafis.of national welfare, I cannot but feel a fenfible re- gret at any degradation of the charaéter of a man who has taken the lead, for the prefent, that laudable undertaking. Undoubtedly no- thing tends fo much to exalt a man’s chara€ter, and to give him fuperior weight on all occafions among his equals, as that unbiaffed integrity, which, rifing‘above thofe partialities and preju- dices that are Pigeons from little minds, preffes fteadily forward in it’s courfe, without wavering, however affailed by the tempting! fures that may be held out to it, on either hand by the artful and defigning. It was this that raifed Ariftides, the Athenian, to that exalted pre-emi- nence that fupprefled even competition itfelf, and gave him fingly the power of adjufting the claims of rival ftates, Such a charaéer com- mands refpeét, even where talents are rather de- fective; and willynake érrors themfelves be over- looked by moft men: but where this divine at- tribute is wanting, the moft brilliant talents dif. play their luftre in vain; and even the moft ufe- ful purfuits, by fuch men, are fruftrated.‘I have been hurt, Sir John, at the obvious partiality of