not now insist on this consideration, that in human nature at large, and especially at our time of life, it is very difficult for a man to alter his disposition, or suddenly to pluck out a failing that has settled into a habit. But my advice to you is this, if you can not altogether avoid this, but passion takes possession of your mind before reason can take precautions that it should not invade it, you should undergo a course of preparation, and be every day meditating that resistance must be offered to anger, and the more violently it affects the mind, the more diligently must you restrain your tongue; which merit sometimes appears to me not less than that of never being angry at all; because the latter virtue is not solely the proof of self-respect, but sometimes of a lethargic temperament. But when you are touched with anger, to control both your temper and your language, even to hold your peace, and to keep under command all excitement and irritation of mind; these are the properties, if not of consummate wisdom, yet of extraordinaay understanding.

They say that in this respect you are become much more pliable and gentle. None of your violent emotions of passion are stated to me; none of your imprecating expressions, and opprobrious behavior, all which are as repugnant to authority and dignity as they are reproachful to learning and good breeding. For if angry passions are implacable, the utmost cruelty is involved, and if placable,' an excess of weakness; which, however, as a comparison of evils, is preferable to the cruelty.

Thus the seat of solid honor is in a man's own bosom, and no one can want support who is in possession of an honest conscience, but he who would suffer the reproaches of it for other greatness."-The Tatler, No.

202.

1 "Another form of a passionate disposition arising indeed from the same cause, is that which involves the next error which I have stated with respect to resentment-the disproportion of the anger and the offense. He who does not pause even to weigh the circumstances, can not be supposed to pause to measure the extent of injury. He feels that he is injured, and all his anger bursts out instantly on the offender. It is this disproportion, indeed, which is the chief evil of what is commonly termed passion. Some cause of slight displeasure there may be even where anger in its violence would be immoral and absurd. Yet such is the infirmity of our nature, that it is often no slight triumph over our weakness to forgive a trifle with as much magnanimity as that with which we have forgiven greater injuries."-Dr. Brown's Moral Philosophy, Lect. 63.

That the first year of your government gave rise to a great deal of talk upon this subject might be owing to your unexpectedly encountering that injustice, avarice, and insolence of individuals, which seemed intolerable. The second year, however, was more gentle; because both habit and reason, and, if I mistake not, my letters rendered you more mild and patient. Now your third year ought to admit of such amendment, as that no person may be able to utter the slightest reproach.

And on this subject I address you in the terms neither of exhortation nor precept, but of brotherly entreaty, that you employ your whole abilities, care, and concern, in accumulating praise from all quarters. If our situation were one of mediocrity as to public conversation and discourse, nothing pre-eminent would be required of you, nothing beyond the ordinary conduct of others. But by reason of the splendor and magnitude of the concerns in which we are engaged, unless we derive the highest glory from these functions, we seem scarcely capable of avoiding the deepest condemnation. We are so situated, that while all good men are our friends, they also require and expect from us, all application and virtue; in the mean while, all the reprobate part of mankind, because with them we have declared eternal war, seem to be satisfied with the slightest ground for condemning us.

Wherefore, since such a theater as Asia has been assigned you for the display of your virtues, a theater most celebrated by fame, most ample in extent, most distinguished by discernment, but naturally so noisy that its expressions and intimations reach even to Rome, I pray you to strive and labor to appear, not only adequate to these conditions, but by your merits to have surpassed them all; and as fortune has fixed my share of the public administration in Rome, and

1 "Make not the consequence of virtue the ends thereof. Be not beneficent for a name or cymbal of applause, nor exact and just in commerce for the advantages of trust and credit, which attend the reputation of true and punctual dealing. For these rewards, though unsought for, plain virtue will bring with her. To have other objects in good actions sours laudable performances, which must have deeper roots, motives, and instigations, to give them the stamp of virtues."-Sir Thomas Browne's Christian Morals, Book i. chap. 10.

yours in Asia, while I yield to none in my conduct, do you excel all in yours.

At the same time reflect that we are not now laboring for a glory that is in expectation and reversion; but we are struggling for what has been attained, a glory that we are not so much to covet as to preserve. Indeed, had I any interest that is distinct from yours, I could desire nothing more than that situation of life which has actually been assigned to me; but as the case is, that unless all your words and actions are answerable to my conduct here, I shall think that I have gained nothing by all those mighty toils and dangers in all which you have been a sharer. Now if you were my chief fellow laborer in working my way to this splendid reputation, you ought to labor beyond others that I may maintain it.

You are not to regard the opinion and the judgment of those who are now living, but also of those who shall hereafter exist, whose verdict will be the more just as it will be free from detraction and malevolence. In the next place, you are to reflect, that you are not seeking glory for yourself alone; and, if you were, you would not be indifferent about it, especially as you have thought proper to consecrate the memory of your name by the noblest memorials, but you are to share it with me, and it is to descend to our posterity. You are therefore to beware, lest if you should be careless you should seem not only to have neglected your own interests, but to have acted grudgingly even to your de

scendants.

But

And these things are said, not that my words may seem to have aroused you when slumbering, but that they may encourage you in your career; for you will continually act as you have acted, so that all may praise your equity, your moderation, your inflexibility, and your integrity. through my excessive affection for you, I am possessed with an insatiable passion for your glory. In the mean while I am of opinion, that as you must be now as well acquainted with Asia as any man is with his own house; and as so

1 This would seem to have been a proverbial simile. Juvenal has the

same :

"Nota magis nulli domus est qua, quam mihi lucus
Martis," etc., Sat. I. v. 7.

great experience has been added to your great wisdom, there is nothing that pertains to glory of which you are not fully sensible, and which does not daily occur to your mind, without the exhortation of any. But I who, when I read your letters, think I hear you, and when I write to you think I converse with you, am more delighted with your letters the longer they are, and for the same reason I myself also am more prolix in writing.

In conclusion I exhort and entreat you, that just as good poets and skillful actors are wont to do, so you will redouble your attention at this the latter part and conclusion of your business and office; that this last year of your government, like the last act of a play, may appear the most elaborate and perfect. This you will most easily do, if you think that I, whom individually you have endeavored to please more than all the world besides, am ever present with you, and take an interest in all that you do or say. Lastly, I entreat you, as you value my welfare, and that of all your friends, that you will most carefully attend to your health.

INDEX.

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