,yp,. LITERARV INTELLtNGENCER. ^ 



tlxe expence of politenefs and delicacy. I hav« fom©- 

 ^vhere read a bitter complaint of a blind man who was 

 grofsly treated in this way, which be plcafed to receive 

 in his own words : 



Hence oft the hand of ignotahce and fcotti, 



To barb'rous mirth abandon'd, points me out 



With idiot grin : the fupercilious eye, 



Oft, from the noife and glare of profpetous life. 



On my obfcurity diverts its gaze, 



Exulting ; and with wanton pride elate. 



Felicitates its own fuperior lot. 



Inhuman triumph ■ hence the piercing taunt 



Of titled infolence inflitled deep. 



Being once defired by fame friend to attend thefli 

 to a public breakfaft, I was equally flruck with admi- 

 ration and furprife, to fee the gentleman who prefid-id, 

 called the Polish Count : his perfon was about 32 in- 

 ches high, exa£lly proportioned in all his parts ; his 

 motions were agreeable and eafy ; his converfation af- 

 fable and intelligent •, fo that the gentlemen of malig-«u 

 nant curiofity, could find nothingto gratify their fpleen, 

 either in his figure or difcourfe ; yet it was not long at 

 a lofs, for a proper fubjeft; they talked of fuch a little 

 creature being married, and having children, not with- 

 out fome farcaftic praifes of his lady's truth and ho*' 

 nour. Some of thefe ironical fpe£lators, in order more 

 perfe£lly to perceive and enjoy the contraft, hadintro- 

 duced a foldier of a gigantic ftature, who approache4 

 the Count, and began to play with the curls of his 

 hair: this appeared to the Count fo ruftic and unmanly, 

 that he turned round in refentment, exclaiming that 

 his foul was greater than this man's, in proportion as 

 his body was Icfs. Thus, in gratifying an ill-natured 

 wit, they loft a purer and more exalted pleafure of 

 contemplating nature, in the various operations of her 

 hand. Thus were the charms of a pleafmg and en- 

 lightened converfation much obfcuredj if not entirely 



X 3 



