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It would be endless to adduce all the examples that might be found of the caprices of fame。 It has been one of the arts of the envious to set up a contemptible rival to eclipse the splendour of sterling merit。 Thus Crowne and Settle for a time disturbed the serenity of Dryden。 Voltaire says； the Phaedra of Pradon has not less passion than that of Racine； but expressed in rugged verse and barbarous language。 Pradon is now forgotten： and the whole French poetry of the Augustan age of Louis the Fourteenth is threatened with the same fate。 Hayley for a few years was applauded as the genuine successor of Pope； and the poem of Sympathy by Pratt went through twelve editions。 For a brief period almost each successive age appears fraught with resplendent genius； but they go out one after another； they set； 〃like stars that fall； to rise no more。〃 Few indeed are endowed with that strength of construction； that should enable them to ride triumphant on the tide of ages。
It is the same with conquerors。 What tremendous battles have been fought； what oceans of blood have been spilled； by men who were resolved that their achievements should be remembered for ever！ And now even their names are scarcely preserved； and the very effects of the disasters they inflicted on mankind seem to be swept away； as of no more validity than things that never existed。 Warriors and poets； the authors of systems and the lights of philosophy； men that astonished the earth； and were looked up to as Gods； even like an actor on the stage； have strutted their hour； and then been heard of no more。
Books have the advantage of all other productions of the human head or hand。 Copies of them may be multiplied for ever； the last as good as the first； except so far as some slight inadvertent errors may have insinuated themselves。 The Iliad flourishes as green now； as on the day that Pisistratus is said first to have stamped upon it its present order。 The songs of the Rhapsodists； the Scalds； and the Minstrels； which once seemed as fugitive as the breath of him who chaunted them； repose in libraries； and are embalmed in collections。 The sportive sallies of eminent wits； and the Table Talk of Luther and Selden； may live as long as there shall be men to read； and judges to appreciate them。
But other human productions have their date。 Pictures； however admirable； will only last as long as the colours of which they are composed； and the substance on which they are painted。 Three or four hundred years ordinarily limit the existence of the most favoured。 We have scarcely any paintings of the ancients； and but a small portion of their statues； while of these a great part are mutilated； and various members supplied by later and inferior artists。 The library of Bufo is by Pope described；
where busts of poets dead； And a true Pindar stood without a head。
Monumental records； alike the slightest and the most solid； are subjected to the destructive operation of time； or to the being removed at the caprice or convenience of successive generations。 The pyramids of Egypt remain； but the names of him who founded them； and of him whose memory they seemed destined to perpetuate； have perished together。 Buildings for the use or habitation of man do not last for ever。 Mighty cities； as well as detached edifices； are destined to disappear。 Thebes； and Troy； and Persepolis； and Palmyra have vanished from the face of the earth。
〃Thorns and brambles have grown up in their palaces： they are habitations for serpents； and a court for the owl。〃
There are productions of man however that seem more durable than any of the edifices he has raised。 Such are； in the first place； modes of government。 The constitution of Sparta lasted for seven hundred years。 That of Rome for about the same period。 Institutions； once deeply rooted in the habits of a people； will operate in their effects through successive revolutions。 Modes of faith will sometimes be still more permanent。 Not to mention the systems of Moses and Christ； which we consider as delivered to us by divine inspiration； that of Mahomet has continued for twelve hundred years； and may last； for aught that appears； twelve hundred more。 The practices of the empire of China are celebrated all over the earth for their immutability。
This brings us naturally to reflect upon the durability of the sciences。 According to Bailly； the observation of the heavens； and a calculation of the revolutions of the heavenly bodies； in other words； astronomy； subsisted in maturity in China and the East； for at least three thousand years before the birth of Christ： and； such as it was then； it bids fair to last as long as civilisation shall continue。 The additions it has acquired of late years may fall away and perish； but the substance shall remain。 The circulation of the blood in man and other animals； is a discovery that shall never be antiquated。 And the same may be averred of the fundamental elements of geometry and of some other sciences。 Knowledge； in its most considerable branches shall endure； as long as books shall exist to hand it down to successive generations。
It is just therefore； that we should regard with admiration and awe the nature of man； by whom these mighty things have been accomplished； at the same time that the perishable quality of its individual monuments； and the temporary character and inconstancy of that fame which in many instances has filled the whole earth with its renown； may reasonably quell the fumes of an inordinate vanity； and keep alive in us the sentiment of a wholsome diffidence and humility。
ESSAY V。 OF THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF MAN。
There is a particular characteristic in the nature of the human mind； which is somewhat difficult to be explained。
Man is a being of a rational and an irrational nature。
It has often been said that we have two souls。 Araspes； in the Cyropedia； adopts this language to explain his inconsistency； and desertion of principle and honour。 The two souls of man； according to this hypothesis； are； first； animal； and； secondly； intellectual。
But I am not going into any thing of this slight and every…day character。
Man is a rational being。 It is by this particular that he is eminently distinguished from the brute creation。 He collects premises and deduces conclusions。 He enters into systems of thinking； and combines systems of action； which he pursues from day to day； and from year to year。 It is by this feature in his constitution that he becomes emphatically the subject of history； of poetry and fiction。 It is by this that he is raised above the other inhabitants of the globe of earth； and that the individuals of our race are made the partners of 〃gods； and men like gods。〃
But our nature； beside this； has another section。 We start occasionally ten thousand miles awry。 We resign the sceptre of reason； and the high dignity that belongs to us as beings of a superior species； and； without authority derived to us from any system of thinking； even without the scheme of gratifying any vehement and uncontrolable passion； we are impelled to do； or at least feel ourselves excited to do； something disordinate and strange。 It seems as if we had a spring within us； that found the perpetual restraint of being wise and sober insupportable。 We long to be something； or to do something； sudden and unexpected； to throw the furniture of our apartment out at window； or； when we are leaving a place of worship； in which perhaps the most solemn feelings of our nature have been excited； to push the grave person that is just before us； from the top of the stairs to the bottom。 A thousand absurdities； wild and extravagant vagaries； come into our heads； and we are only restrained from perpetrating them by the fear； that we may be subjected to the treatment appropriated to the insane； or may perhaps be made amenable to the criminal laws of our country。
A story occurs to me； which I learned from the late Dr。 Parr at Hatton； that may not unhappily illustrate the point I am endeavouring to explain。
Dr。 Samuel Clarke； rector of St。 James's； Westminster； the especial friend of Sir Isaac Newton； the distinguished editor of the poems of Homer； and author of the Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God； was one day summoned from his study； to receive two visitors in the parlour。 When he came downstairs； and entered the room； he saw a foreigner； who by his air seemed to be a person of distinction； a professor perhaps of some university on the continent； and an alderman of London； a relation of the doctor； who had come to introduce the foreigner。 The alderman； a man of uncultivated mind and manners； and whom the doctor had been accustomed to see in sordid attire； surrounded with the incumbrances of his trade； was decked out for the occasion in a full…dress suit； with a wig of majestic and voluminous structure。 Clarke was； as it appears； so much struck with the whimsical nature of this unexpected metamorphosis； and the extraordinary solemnity of his kinsman's demeanour； as to have felt impelled； almost immediately upon entering the room； to snatch the wig from the alderman's head； and throw it against the ceiling： after which this eminent