pectation for this difengages the mind from other concerns, and prepares us to attend to that which we look for, as foon as it fhall appear. When, therefore, we take up a book, with a view to profit by it, we ought to lay all other business afide, and prevent, as much as poffible, the intrufion of impertinent ideas. This will not only affift Memory, but also give such a variety to our thoughts as may prove very falutary to the foul. For the fame train of thinking too long purfued is often detrimental to health, and fometimes even to reason. The rule here hinted at fhould never, on any occafion, be forgotten. It is a matter of no fmall importance, that we acquire the habit of doing only one thing at one time: by which I mean, that while employed on any one object, our thoughts ought not to wander to another. When we go from home in queft of amusement, or to the fields for the fake of exercise, we fhall do well to leave all our fpeculations behind: if we carry them with us, the exercife will fatigue the body without refreshing it; and the amusement, instead of enlivening, will diftract, the foul: and, both in the one cafe, and in the other, we shall confirm ourselves in those habits of inattention, which, when long perfifted in, form what is called an absent man. In converfation too, let us always mind what is faying and doing around us, and never give the company ground to fufpect, that qur thoughts are elsewhere. Attention is a chief part of Politeness. An abfent man, provided he is good-natured, may be borne with, but never can be agreeable. He may command our esteem, if we know him to be wife and virtuous; but he cannot engage our love. For inattention implies negligence, C 3 negligence, and neglect often proceeds from contempt; if, therefore, we find that we are not attended to, we shall fancy that we are neglected, and to a certain degree despised: and how is it poffible to repay contempt with kindnefs! And when unkindness and diffatisfaction prevail in any fociety, all the comforts of it are at an end.-Befides, if we are not strictly obfervant of every thing that paffes in company, we cannot be either amused by it, or inftructed in other words, we deprive ourselves of much innocent pleasure, and useful information. For a great deal of our best knowledge is obtained by mutual intercourfe: and for the most valuable comforts of life we are indebted to the focial and benevolent attentions of one another. But, must one mind the infipid prattle of those who can neither inftruct, nor entertain?-Provided it be inoffenfive, I answer, yes: particularly, if they are, by their rank, or sex, or age, or other circumstances, entitled to more than ordinary regard. Avoid their company, if you please, and as much as you conveniently can; but when you are in it, be attentive and civil. If you are, you contribute to their happiness, which it is your duty to do; and you enfure their good-will, which is better than their hatred: you may, at the same time, improve yourself in benevolence and patience; you contract no evil habits of inattention; you will find entertainment in the difcovery of their characters, and fo enlarge your acquaintance with the human heart; and it will be strange indeed, if you do not gather fomething from them, which may either inform by its novelty, or divert by its fingularity. Let Let it not be objected, that fome great men, as Newton, have been remarkably abfent in company. Perfons, who are engaged in fublime study, and who are known to employ their time and faculties in adorning human nature by the investigation of useful truth, may be indulged in fuch peculiarities of behaviour, as in men of common talents neither are, nor ought to be, tolerated. For, in regard to the former, we are willing to fuppofe, that, if they overlook us, it is because they are engroffed by matters of greater importance: but this is a compliment, which we should not think ourselves obliged to pay the latter, at leaft in ordinary cafes. And I fcruple not to say, that it would have been better for Newton himfelf, as well as for fociety, if he had been free from the weakness above-mentioned. For then, his thoughts, and his amusements would have been more diverfified, and his health probably better, and his precious life ftill longer than it was: and a mind like his, fully displayed in free and general conversation, would have been, to all who had the happiness to approach him, an inexhaustible source of inftruction and delight. If, therefore, we wish to have a due regard for others, or for ourselves, let us endeavour to acquire a habit of strict Attention, at all times, and in all circumstances; of Attention, I mean, to that, whatever it is, in which we happen to be engaged. It is true, that fome of our customary actions may be well enough performed, even when we are thinking of fomething else. We may put on our clothes, or (when alone) eat our victuals, or play an eafy tune on a musical instrument, and our mind be all the while taken up C4 with with other matters. do often, left we contract a habit of doing it; which will be, as far as it goes, a habit of Inattention, and therefore faulty; and which, though it take its rife from trivial things, may gain upon us, till it come to affect our behaviour in things of moment. But this we ought not to Great, indeed, and many are the advantages of habitual Attention. Clearnefs of understanding, extenfive knowledge, and exact memory, are its natural confequences. It is even beneficial to health, by varying the fucceffion of our ideas and fenfations; and it gives us the command of our thoughts, and enables us at all times to act readily, and with prefence of mind. As they who live retired are difconcerted at the fight of a stranger; as he whofe body has never been made pliant by exercife cannot perform new motions either gracefully or eafily: fo the man, who has contracted a habit of ruminating upon a few things and overlooking others, is fluttered, and at a lofs, whenever he finds himfelf, as he often does, in unexpected circumstances. He looks round amazed, like one raised fuddenly from fleep. Not remembering what happened the last moment, he knows nothing of the cause of the prefent appearance, nor can form any conjecture with respect to its tendency. If you afk him a queftion, it is fome time before he can recollect himfelf fo far as to attend to you; he hefitates, and you must repeat your words before he understands them: and when he has with difficulty made himself master of your meaning, he cannot, without an effort, keep put of his ufual track of thinking, fo long as |