_Letters on history, vol. 1. let. 5._ It seems to me, that in order to maintain the moral system of the world at a certain point, far below that of ideal perfection, (for we are made capable of conceiving what we are incapable of attaining), but however sufficient upon the whole to constitute a state easy and happy, or at the worst tolerable: I say, it seems to me, that the author of nature has thought fit to mingle from time to time, among the societies of men, a few, and but a few, of those on whom he is graciously pleased to bestow a larger proportion of the ethereal spirit than is given in the ordinary course of his providence to the sons of men. _Bolingbroke, on the spirit of patriotism, let. 1._ To crowd into a single member of a period, different subjects, is still worse than to crowd them into one period. ---- Trojam, genitore Adamasto Paupere (mansissetque utinam fortuna) profectus. _Æneid. iii. 614._ Where two things are so connected as to require but a copulative, it is pleasant to find a resemblance in the members of the period, were it even so slight as where both begin with the same letter: The peacock, in all his pride, does not display half the colour that appears in the garments of a British lady, when she is either dressed for a ball or a birth-day. _Spectator_, Nº 265. Had not my dog of a steward run away as he did, without making up his accounts, I had still been immersed in sin and sea-coal. _Ibid._ Nº. 530. My life’s companion, and my bosom-friend, One faith, one fame, one fate shall both attend. _Dryden, Translation of Æneid._ There is obviously a sensible defect in neatness when uniformity is in this case totally neglected[84]; witness the following example, where the construction of two members connected by a copulative is unnecessarily varied. For it is confidently reported, that two young gentlemen of real hopes, bright wit, and profound judgment, who upon a thorough examination of causes and effects, and by the mere force of natural abilities, without the least tincture of learning, have made a discovery that there was no God, and _generously communicating_ their thoughts for the good of the public, were some time ago, by an unparallelled severity, and upon I know not what obsolete law, broke for blasphemy[85]. [Better thus]: Having made a discovery that there was no God, and having generously communicated their thoughts for the good of the public, were some time ago, _&c._ He had been guilty of a fault, for which his master would have put him to death, had he not found an opportunity to escape out of his hands, and _fled_ into the deserts of Numidia. _Guardian_, Nº 139.