STUDY XIII. 257 



tacle of the afhes of fuch as may have deferved well 

 of their country. 



The fervices which may be rendered to ouf 

 Country, are infinite in number, and very various 

 in their Nature. We hardly acknowledge any 

 but what are of one and the fame kind, derived 

 from formidable qualities, fuch as valour. We 

 revere that only which terrifies us. The tokens 

 of our efteem are frequently teftimonies of our 

 weak nefs. We are brought up to fenfe of fear 

 only, and not of gratitude. There is no mo- 

 dern Nation fo infignificant, as not to have it's 

 Alexander and it's Cefar to commemorate, but no 

 one it's Bacchus and it's Ceres. The Ancients, as 

 valiant, at leaft, as we are, thought incomparably 

 better. Plutarch obferves fomewhere, that Ceres 

 and Bacchus, who were mortals, attained the fu- 

 preme rank of Gods, on account of the pure, uni- 

 verfal, and lading bleffings which they had pro- 

 cured for Mankind ; but that Hercules, Thefeus, 

 and other Heroes, were raifed only to the fub- 

 ordinate rank of demi»gods, becaufe the fervices 

 which they rendered to men, were traniient, cir- 

 cumfcribed, and contained a great mixture of evil, 



I have often felt aftonifiiment at our indifference 

 about the memory of thofe of our Anceftors who 

 introduced ufeful trees into the country, the fruits 



■VOL, IV. s and 



