STUDY Vil. 



103 



bad, in a word, let himfelf down in one Qiape or 

 another. I have feen perfons attain every variety 

 of firuation ; but, I fpeak it without referve, 

 whatever praife may have been beftowed on their 

 merit, and though many of them really had merit, 

 I never faw any one, even of the ftrifteft honour, 

 raife himfelf, and preferve his fituation, but by the 

 facrifice of fome virtue. 



Let us now look at the re-aflions of thefe evils. 

 The people ufually balance the vices of their op- 

 preflbrs by their own. They oppofe corruption to 

 corruption. From the prolific womb of vulgar 

 debauchery ifTues a monftrous fwarm of buffoons, 

 comedians, dealers in luxury of every fort, nay, 

 even men of letters, who, to flatter the rich, and 

 fave themfelves from indigence, extend diffipation 

 of manners and of opinions to the remoteft extre- 

 mity of Europe. In the clafs of the unmarried 

 vulgar, we find the moft powerful bulwark op- 

 pofed to rank and wealth. As this is a very nume- 

 rous body, and comprehends not only the youth 

 of both fexes, who, with us, do not form early 

 marriages, but an infinite number of men befides, 

 who, from peculiarity of condition, or want of 

 fortune, are deprived, as youth is, of the honours 

 of Society, and of the firft pleafures of Nature, 

 they conftitute a formidable affociation, which has 

 all reputations at their mercy, together with the 



H 4 power 



