When the Sexagenarian retired from the world, the same personage was still employed in the same honourable and useful pursuits, which had occupied the whole of his life, and which had more peculiarly in view the interest of literature, and the cause of truth. At whatever point, and by whatever means, the evil disposed, were exercising their machinations against what he conceived to be the honest fame, and real interest of his country, wherever subtlety and artifice were employed, by misrepresentations, to mislead, or by fallacies to attempt imposition on the public, there was his vigilance prepared to detect, and his firmness resolved to check any effectual operation of the mischief. He obtained the meed he merited, “_laudari a laudatis_.” Non quisquam fruitur veris odoribus Hyblæos latebris nec spoliat favos, Si fronti caveat, si timeat rubos, Armat spina rosas, mella tegunt apes. CHAPTER XXIII. A fourth member of this society was an individual, than whom, no one’s name has been more frequently before the public, or accompanied with more general respect, at the same time, with much persecution, and great, though undeserved, odium. Some there were, who, fancying that they saw the vital spirit of genuine liberty, in the principles of the French Revolution, were disposed to palliate enormities, at the bare memory of which, every feeling heart revolts, under the impression that they must ultimately lead to the melioration of man. These individuals reproached our Symposiast with the imputation of spreading unnecessary alarms, from an overweening zeal, and officious interference in political concerns. But this zeal, these apprehensions, and this interference, contributed, in the opinions of the majority of the best and wisest of our countrymen, to the preservation of the country. However this may be, the active and patriotic spirit exerted on the above occasion, spread universally around, and collected a phalanx, which, from its firmness, was capable of resisting all attack, from its vigilance prevented surprize, and from its consciousness of supporting the good and honest cause of religion and truth, despised and defied the artifices of calumny, and the insinuations of malignity. The prominent part taken by the gentleman, of whom we are speaking, necessarily pointed him out to the government, as a fit object of their protection and patronage. His abilities and integrity were accordingly soon exercised in situations of confidence and honour. He well merited the distinction, for few have ever been more steady, or more active in discharging the obligations of official duty.