1790.. LITERARY INTELLIGENCER* 1 7 



:um me from my purpofe. If I live, I will faithfully 

 berform, in its utmoft extent, my engagements to the 

 I ociety ; and if I perifh in the attempt, my honour will 

 |i1ill be fafe, for death cancels all bofids." 



Such was the language of this extraordinary man : 

 lA. language that will be deemed infanity by the bulk, 

 of mankind : It will be deemed madnefs even by thofe 

 who are the mod eager to avail themfelves of the dif- 

 coveries that fuch men have made — Yet, if happinefs 

 be the only defirable objeft in this life, it might per- 

 haps admit of a doubt, if this very man did not enjoy a 

 greater fhare of it, than thofe infipid charafters who 

 languifh in the lap of eafe, and whcfe fouls are de- 

 voured with anxiety, when furrounded by all the allur- 

 ing objeds that affluence can procure. 



In one of his letters from Egypt, he fays, " Money ! 

 it is a vile flave ! — I have at prefent an economy of a 

 more exalted kind to dbferve. 1 have the eyes of fome 

 of the firft men of the firit kingdom on earth turned 

 upon me. I am engaged by thofe very men, in the 

 moft important objed that any private individual can 

 be engaged in : I have their approbation to acquire, 

 or to lofe ; and their efteem alfo, which I prize beyond 

 every thing, except the independent idea of fervmg 

 mankind. Should rafhnefs or defperation carry me 

 through, whatever fame the vain and injudicious might 

 beftow, I fhould not accept it ;— it is the good and 

 great I look to : Fame from them beftowed is altoge- 

 ther different, and is clofely allied to a " WELL done" 

 from God : but ralhnefs will not be like to carry me 

 through, any more than timid caution. To find the 

 neceflary medium of condud ; to vary and apply it to 

 contingencies, is the economy I allude to ; and if 1 

 fucceed by fuch means, men of fenfe, in any fucceed- 

 jng epoch, will not blufli to follow me, and per fed 

 thofe difcoveries I have only abilities to trace out 

 roughly, or a difpofition to attempt." 



Vol. I. t ^ 



