You may think as flightly, as you please, of the exterior polish of manners, or may even treat, as fuperficial, the information that can be acquired in good company. But what fay you to that fupreme accomplishment, a KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD? A fcience fo useful, as to fuperfede or difgrace all the reft; and fo profound, as to merit all the honours, and to fill up all the measures, of the best philofophy? For, by a knowledge of the world, I mean that which refults from the obfervation of men and things; from an acquaintance with the customs, and ufages of other nations; from fome infight into their policies, government, religion; in a word, from the study and contemplation of men; as they present themselves on the great stage of the world, in various forms, and under different appearances. mafter-science, which a gentleman should

This is that

comprehend,

comprehend, and which our schools and colleges never hear'd of.

I KNOW this feience is too difficult to to be perfectly acquired but by long habit and mature reflexion. I know it is not to be expected from a flight furvey of mankind; from a hafty paffage through the different countries, or a short refidence in the great towns, of Europe. All this I am not to be told; but it must be allowed me at the fame time, that fo important a ftudy cannot be enter'd upon too foon, and that the rudiments at least of this fcience cannot be laid in too early.

THE proper business of men, especially thofe of rank and quality, lies among men. The first and last object of a Gentleman fhould be an intimate study and knowledge of his fpecies. Say, that fome chapters of this great book, the world, are above his reach, and too hard

for

for his decyphering. Yet others arè eafier and more manageable. Initiate a young man betimes in these pursuits, and his progrefs, as in other things, must be the more fure and fuccessful.

ABOVE all, let him be taught to give an early attention to the manners of men; to obferve their difpofitions, to infpect and analyze their characters. What a field is here for an intelligent young man, affifted by the fuperior lights and experience of an able governor! And what a harveft of true knowledge and learning must he gather and bring home with him, from the numberless varied fcenes he has paffed through in his Voyages! With what luftre müst such a perfon appear in the court or fenate of his own country! How fecure against the attempts of artifice and defign! the plots of infidious enemies, or the pretences of falfe friends! how apt for the business of life, and for bearing his part Vol. III. E

in

in public debates and cabinet-confultations!

MR. LOCKE.

YOUR Lordship declaims fo handfomely on this theme, that I am fomething loth to spoil your panegyric by asking a plain question, "How this knowledge of "the public affairs of his own country "is to be come at, by foreign politics?”

LORD SHAFTESBURY.

As if the objects of that knowledge were not every where much the fame! Bigotry or Fanaticifm in religion, selfish or factious intrigues in government, neglected or ill-improved agriculture or commerce, infolence and want of discipline in fleets and armies, a bad-constituted police under venal magiftrates, and a corrupt adminiftration; Are not thefe the principal mifchiefs to be guarded against by our young citizen, or perhaps. fenator? And where is the country, which does not afford opportunities of

laying in ufeful leffons on all thefe fubjects?

To fay the leaft, a little home-practice will go a great way when entered upon with fo true a preparation of general knowledge. On the other hand, it hardly needs to be observed, the disadvantage, with which our young Iflander must come into this fcene; a novice to the affairs of the world; a ftranger to men and characters; and who has never perhaps ftretched his obfervation beyond the narrow circle of his companions, or even his own family.

My panegyric, as you call this plain reprefentation of facts and things, would never have an end, if I were to take to myself all the advantages, which this topic of an early knowledge of the world in a young traveller, affords me. But I leave the reft to be fupplied out of thefe hints; and pafs on to other con→ fiderations,

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