98 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



intermeddle with the pilot's province. This thonglit, 

 like fo many others borrowed from books, is a 

 mere efFufion of wit. It refembles that of the man, 

 who, feeing a houfe on the point of being feized 

 with the flames, fcampered off, without making 

 any attempt to fave it, becaufe, forfooth, the houfe 

 was not his. For my own part, I think myfelf fo 

 much the more obliged to take an intereft in the 

 veflel of the State, that I am a paffenger on board, 

 and thereby bound to contribute my efforts toward 

 her profperous navigation. Nay, I ought to em- 

 ploy my very leifure, as a paffenger, to admonifh 

 the (leerfman of any irregularity, or negleft, which I 

 may have perceived incondu6ting the bufinefs of the 

 fhip. Such, to my apprehenfion, are the examples 

 fet us by a Montefqiiieu^ a Fenelon^ and fo many 

 other names to be held in everlafting refped, who 

 have, in every country, confecrated their labours 

 to the good of their compatriots. The only thing 

 that can be, with juPiice, obje^fled to me, is my in- 

 fufficiency. But I have feen much injuftice com- 

 mitted ; 1 myfelf have been the vidbim of it. 

 Images of diforder have fuggeflied to me ideas of 

 order. Befides, my errors may, perhaps, ferve as 

 a foil to the wifdom of thofe who (hall deted 

 them. Were 1 but to prefent one fingle, ufefui 

 idea to my Sovereign, whofe bounty has hitherto 

 fupported me, though my fervices remain unre- 

 warded, I (l^iall have received the mofl precious re- 



compenfc 



