26o On the comparative Excellence, £s?f . 



every individual of mankind as engaged to im- 

 prove his abilities, and thereby promote his own 

 happinefs to the utmoft of his power : but that 

 I by no means would be thought to detraft from 

 the charafters of thofe men, who have employed 

 their time and talents in the purfuit of particular 

 fciences, even to the exclufion of others -, and 

 by arriving at eminence in them, have extended 

 the bounds of human knowledge, and fmoothed 

 the way for future travellers. Infinite are the 

 obligations mankind are under to the illuftrious 

 charafters who have thus devoted themfelves to 

 the public good : but we may reafonably expeft 

 to ftand excufed, if, whilft we enjoy the fruits 

 of fuch generous ardour, we aim at the fecurity 

 of our private happinefs, and prefer the fecret 

 confcioufnefs of a proper difcharge of the duties 

 of life, to the popular approbation, which de- 

 fervedly waits upon thofe who have fuccefsfuUy 

 exerted their abilities, on fubjeds which have 

 little or no connexion with the promotion 

 of virtue, and the advancement of moral rec- 

 titude. 



On 



