14 THE BEE, CR Dec. 23, 



been contrived, for raifing human nature to its higheft 

 decree of exaltation,^ and for conferring upon man a 

 more confpicuous degree of dignity above all other 

 animals, and a more extended power over the ele- 

 ments, and other objefts of nature, than he could other- 

 wife hope to obtain. 



Men of all ranks, and^of all nations, however widely 

 disjoined from each other, may be faid to be brought 

 together hei'e to converfe at their eafe, without cere- 

 mony or reifraint, as at a mafquerade, where, if a pro- 

 priety of drefs and expreflion be obferved, nothing 

 elfe is required. A man, after the fatigues of the day 

 are over, may thus fit down in his elbow chair, and, 

 together with his wife and family, may be introduced, 

 as it were, into a fpacious coifee-houfe, which is fre- 

 quented bv men of all nations, who meet together for 

 their mutual entertainment and improvement. The 

 dead iire even called back to their friends, and mix 

 once more in focial converfe with thofe who have re- 

 gretted their departure. Could a Pliny or a Cicero 

 have foniied an idea of fuch a liigh degree of mental 

 indulgence, what would have been the raptures tliey 

 would have experienced ? To them, this moll exalted 

 of all entertainnients was forbid by fate : But what they 

 could never enjoy, and what Cicero would have glad- 

 ly purchafed at the price of his beloved I'ufrulion itfelf, 

 is now ollered to every inhabitant of Britain, at a very 

 fmall expence. Let us then enjoy with thankfulnefs 

 the bleflings that Heaven hath bellowed, and make a 

 proper ufe of thofe diftingniflied privileges that the pro- 

 grefs of improvement in fociety hath conferred upon us; 

 nor let us fail to add our mite as we pals, to the ge- 

 neral Itore, that poftcrity may not have reafon to re- 

 proach us for having hid our talent in the earth, and al- 

 lowed it there to remain without improvement or be- 

 nefit to any one. 



