ing ranged themselves with Aristotle; and those who had only genius, or even pretensions to that endowment, went to augment the crowd of Platonists."

It is assumed, as an historical fact, that the maxims of moral philosophy taught in the schools of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, very powerfully contributed to discipline the minds of men for the reception of the sublimer doctrines of Christianity; though, it is no less certain, that the active jealousy of many, styling themselves disciples of Plato, had an influence in retarding the establishment of the Christian Religion. Their hostility, so well attested, is ascribed with some plausibility to their settled veneration for the head of their sect, and an apprehension, that the new system would speedily eradicate their favourite philosophy, which, of all others, in the opinion of a modern enthusiast, "discovers the greatest conformity with Revelation." Whether this honour be ascribed to the sentiments of Plato or of Socrates, is perhaps not very material; but, as the former was a disciple of the latter, the praise of conformity belongs rather to the master, than the scholar.

The united testimony of ancient and modern writers gives rank to Socrates, as the most extraordinary person, that ever appeared in the heathen world; and, in our day, we have seen a philosophical parallel, between the character of Socrates and Jesus of Nazareth, produce an interesting controversy, between two learned Theologians.+

To combat vulgar errours; to stem the torrent of popular prejudice; and to meliorate the condi

tion of men in despite of themselves, is of all employments the most thankless; and it is a solemn truth, that the best and richest gifts of providence, in the persons and characters of eminent men, have been slighted, if not rejected with loathing, by those for whom the blessing was designed. Jerusalem stoned and killed her prophets. Athens poisoned her Socrates. Rome murdered her Cicero. The Jews-But I forbear further to trespass on holy ground. The fate of Socrates is most connected with my subject. Though not untarnished with suspicion, his life and character are for the most part represented in the most amiable light. His cotemporaries shrink from a comparison, because the example he gave is reproachful of their dissoluteness of manners.

Athens was infested with a swarm of false pretenders to wisdom, denominated Sophists, whose trade was disputation and the sum of whose merit is comprised in a short sentence...they had the art "to make the worse appear the better reason." From this vermin it was the ambition of Socrates to rid his country. Their hypocrisy, not surpassed by that of the scribes and pharisees, he knew and despised; their ignorance he knew, and exposed it. While they pretended to such acquisitions of knowledge, and such a knack of imparting it to others, that, as a facetious Frenchman professed to teach the art of painting, so they could teach the art of wisdom, in three hour's time, Socrates, who was wiser than them all, professed to know but this, that he knew nothing. At an advanced period of his life, the rancour of those enemies, whom all his life had exasperated, enkindled the resent

ment of his countrymen, by impeaching him of the heinous sin of "endeavouring to bring wisdom and things together, and make truth consist with sober sense." That he corrupted the youth, and refused homage to the gods of his country, were other articles in the charges preferred against Socrates to the Athenian senate. The stage had been employed as an instrument, by the force of ridicule, to destroy the influence of his captivating manners and seducing opinions, and the ribaldry of Aristophanes occasionally bespattered the transparent drapery of theSocratick portrait of Divinity. In spite of his able defence, his enemies prevailed upon the fickle and wayward passions of the populace, and they decreed death by poison as his portion. Of his conduct while in prison, after sentence had been pronounced against him, and the magnanimity of the last scene of his life, none are ignorant. Cicero and science wept his unnatural death.

Who noble ends, by noble means, obtains,

Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains, Like good Aurelius, let him reign or bleed,

Like Socrates that man is great indeed.

Notwithstanding the partial estimation, in which Socrates was held by antiquity, and however extraordinary the appearance of such a luminary may be considered in reference to the period of his life,it is only from the writings of his two disciples, Xenophon and Plato,that testimonials of his wisdom are to be collected. These have afforded matter for enthusiastick encomium to all students in ethicks to the present day; but there are those, of no mean taste, who, comparing

* Pope. Essay on Man.

the merits of moral treatises, adjudge the prize to Tully, of whose book of Offices the famous Barbeyrac has recorded his testimony, that " without dispute it is the best treatise of morality, with which all antiquity has furnished us."

Should a parallel be run between Socrates and Cicero, with a view to determine which has most influenced the manners and opinions of posterity, the palm of victory would unquestionably be decreed to the Roman. In ethicks and jurisprudence, in oratory and polite literature, whether in theory or in practice, it must be inquired respecting Cicero, as Cicero inquired of Pisistratus, "who of those times surpassed him in learning, or what orator was more eloquent or accomplished ?”

In a disquisition upon philosophy, to omit the name of Chancellor Bacon, the great reformer, might be thought little less pardonable, than for a treatise upon the reformation in religion to forget the name of Luther.

It was he, who, in the language of Sir William Jones,t "so elegantly analysed human knowledge according to the three great faculties of the mind, memory, reason, and imagination, which we constantly find employed in arranging and retaining, comparing and distinguishing, combining and diversifying the ideas which we receive through our senses, or acquire by reflection; hence the three main branches of learning are History, Science, and Art. The first comprehends either an account of natural productions, or the genuine records of empires and states; the

Barbevrac. Preface to Puffendorf. Sir William Jones's Works. Discourse pronounced before the Asiatick Society.

second embraces the whole circle of pure and mixed mathematicks, together with ethicks and law, so far as they depend on the reasoning faculty; and the third includes all the beauties of imagery, and the charms of invention, displayed in modulated language, or represented by colour, figure, or sound."

It was Bacon, who first gave the plan of those institutions for the acquisition of natural science, which, since his day, have multiplied in, at least, three quarters of the globe; the objects of whose inquiries are "Man and Nature, whatever is performed by the one, or produced by the other."

Of those institutions in our own country, professing similar objects, it is remarkable, that the most conspicuous were founded amid the din of arms, and in the very heat of our struggle for independence; affording an honourable illustration of the truth of a maxim, that the love of liberty and that of solid and useful knowledge walk hand in hand.

Philosophy, indeed, is no longer followed as a profession, but in every branch of profitable knowledge, the labourers are many. Freedom of inquiry, aided by facilities in communicating the result of laborious investigation, has already led to valuable improve

ments in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures. Civil polity is in the hands of the people...let them look to it; while science and the whole family of her kindred, may be safely confided to the fostering care of our Alma Mater.

Upon you, my brethren, who are still detained in academick groves, it would be superfluous to inculcate emulation. "Verily the reward is great." Slaves to no sect, but followers of all who point the path to truth, let it be your pride, as it is your precious prerogative, like the Eclectick Philosophers, to profit of all the good and discard all the pernicious tenets of ancient or modern times. Like good soldiers in the ranks of Mi-, nerva, learn to vanquish every obstacle in your march to the fortress of knowledge, and as a motto for your banners, while scaling the ramparts of her citadel, may each individual adopt the inspiration of the Mantuan Muse.

"Tentanda via est quâ me quoque possim

Tollere humo; victorque virum volitare per ora."

"I too will boldly strive my flight to raise,

And wing'd by victory, catch the gale of praise."

Sotheby Trans.

HERE Narcissus begins to be more at his ease. He wished to sound the soul of Nero : it opens, and he sees, that nature has not cast one sigh, that there is there no remorse, not one sentiment of virtue; that Nero has done nothing from any regard to his brother, Vol. III. No. 19.

3R

or his mother, or Burrhus, but he only still fears the publick opinion, the last restraint of a perverse and and powerful man, when he has some vanity. Nero has yet a little left; and it is by this vanity that Narcissus proceeds to get the mas tery of him.

plus retenus,

Tant de precaution affaiblit votre regne ; Ils croiront,eneffet,meriter,qu'on les craigne.

We see here the most perfidious of all suggestions, and the most effectual with bad princes; it is, to irritate in them the pride of power. Who can tell how many times adulation has repeated in other terms what is here said by Narcissus. Nothing more remains for him, but to tranquillize Nero, concern ing the opinions and discourses of the Romans.

NARCISSUS. They have long been sub

jected and reconciled to the yoke; They adore the hand that holds them in chains.

You will find them always ardent to

Tempted their patience, but never have exhausted it.

You dread the turpitude of a poisoning? You may cause the brother to perish, and abandon the sister:

Rome, prodigal of her victims on the altar,

Even were they innocent, would impute to them crimés.

You will see them mark in their kalender for unfortunate days, Those, on which both the sister and brother were born.

Au joug, depuis long temps, ils se sont façonnés ;

Ils adorent la main qui les tient enchaines. Vous les verrez toujours ardens à vous complaire;

Leur prompt servitude a fatigué Tibere. Moi-même, revêtu d'un pouvoir emprunté Que je reçus de Claude avec la liberté, J'ai cent fois, dans le cours de ma gloire passee,

Tenté leur patience, et ne l'ai point lassće. D'un empoisonnement vous craignez la

noirceur ?

'oppose à ses raisons un courage inutile, Je ne l'ecoute point avec un cœur tranquille.

There remains therefore nothing to destroy, but a remnant of regard for Burrhus, expressed in such a manner, as to shew that the counsels of a virtuous governour press strangely upon Nero, although impatient to throw off every kind of restraint. This is the critical moment to strike the last blow, and Narcissus employs the weapon, so familiar to the profligate, calumny. He attributes to Burrhus, to Sneca, and to all those, who exerted themselves still to restrain the vices of Nero, speeches the most abusive and the most bitter. This artifice of flatterers scarcely ever fails of its effect. They put into the mouth of the man they would destroy, all the contempt, which they feel at the bottom of their own hearts for the master, whom they would deceive.

NARCISSUS-Burrhus, my Lord,thinks

not always as he says;

His virtue has address enough to preserve his credit;

Or rather, they have all but one mind, They would see, by this stroke, their power reduced;

Then, my lord, you will be free; and before you

These, your proud masters, will bend like one of us. What can you be uninformed of what they dare to say of you? "Nero, if they are to be believed, was not born for empire; "He neither says, nor does any thing, but what they prescribe to him: "Burrhus manages his heart, Seneca his understanding.

"All his ambition, all his singular virtue, "Is to exult in conducting a chariot in

a race;

"In contending for prizes, unworthy of his hands;

"In offering himself as a spectacle to the Romans;

"In exerting his voice upon the theatre; "In singing of songs, which he would

have adored; "While soldiers, from one moment to another,

"Vont arracher pour lui des applaudissemens."

Ah! ne voulez vous pas, les forcer à se taire ?

It is impossible that Nero should resist this infernal address. Every word is an arrow, that pierces him : He is taken at once by all his weaknesses he must surrender. NERO-Come, Narcissus, let us con

sider what we ought to do. Viens, Narcisse, allons voir ce que nous devons faire,

He says not, positively, what course he will pursue; but we see that his resolution is already taken.

This scene is perhaps the greatest lesson, that the dramatick art ever gave to sovereigns. It is asserted, that the part, which relates to spectacles, made such an impression on Louis the Fourteenth, as to correct him in a habit he had indulged in his youth, of acting on