then must be the cafe of our English youth, confined in this remote corner among themselves, and indulged in their own ruftic and licentious habits?.

OUR country has never been famous for the civility of its inhabitants. We' have, rather, been stigmatized in all ages, and are ftill confidered by the rest of Europe, as proud, churlish, and unsocial. The very circumftance of our Islandfituation feems to expofe us to the juft reproach of inhofpitality. And if, with this disadvantage, we fhould cherish, and not correct, thofe vices which fo naturally fpring from it, what lefs could we expect than to be diftinguished by fuch names, as our ill-manners would well deserve, though our pride might fuffer from the application of them?

It seems then to be an inevitable confequence of what has been faid, that we of this country have a more than ordi

VOL. III.

D

nary

nary occafion for the benefits of foreign travel. And the reafon of the thing fhews, they cannot be obtained too foon. Young minds are the fittest to take the ply of civility and good manners. The task is lefs easy, and the success more uncertain, when we enter upon this busi. nefs late in life; when intractable hu mours have gathered ftrength, and the unfocial manner is become habitual to Whatever may be objected to the incapacity of this is age in other refpects, youth is out of question the time for ac quiring right propenfities and virtuous, habits.

us.

MR. LOCKE.

(

YOUR Lordship has fo many good words at command upon all occations that one cannot but be entertained, at least, with your rhetoric, if not convinced by it. But my prefent concern is, to have a clear conception of your argument, which in plain terms, as I apprehend it, ftands thus: "That every nation has "many

4

"many vices and follies to correct invits felf that this is perhaps more efpeci

"ally the cafe of our own; and that "early Travel is the only, at leaft the "moft proper, cure for them:"

!

LORD SHAFTESBURY.

and,

THAT, Sir, is my meaning though expreffed in more words than may be neceffary, it is furely not coloured by any rhetorical exaggerations. But you muft allow me to proceed in my own way, and enforce the general argument, I have delivered, by applying it to the particular exigencies and neceffities of our English youth.

I

You, who have been abroad in the world;; and have so just a knowledge of other states and countries, telb me, if theres can be anything more ridiculous than the idiot PREJUDICES of our homebred gentlemen, which fhew themselves, whenever their own dear Inland comes, in D 2 any

any respect, to be the topic of converfation. What wondrous conceits of their own prowess, wifdom, nay of their manners and politenefs! With what disdain, is a foreigner mentioned by them, and with what apparent figns of averfion is his very person treated! They scarcely give you leave to fuppofe that any virtuous quality can thrive out of their own air, or that good fenfe can be expressed in any foreign language. Nay, their foolish prepoffeffion extends to their very foil and climate. Such warm patriots are they, fuch furious lovers of their country, that they will have it to be the theatre of all convenience, delight, and beauty.

"To hear their discourse among them"selves, one would imagine that the finest "lands near the Euphrates, the Baby"lonian or Perfian Paradifes, the rich

plains of Egypt, the Græcian Tempe, "the Roman Campania, Lombardy, Pro

"vence, the Spanish Andalusia, or the "most delicious tracts in the Eaftern or "Weftern Indies, were contemptible "countries in respect of what they dote upon under the name of Old Eng"land [e].”

Now, if it were only for the fake of truth and decency, if it were but to avoid the ridicule to which these palpable abfurdities and childish fancies expofe them, one cannot but wish that our countrymen would open their eyes, and extend their prospect beyond their own foggy air, and dirty acres.

A

BUT this is the leaft inconvenience of their home breeding. How many low HABITS and fordid practices grow upon our youth of fortune, and even of quality, from the influence of their family, or at best provincial, education!

[e] CHARACT. Vol. iii. Dif. iii.

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THEY