12 ON THE ART OF IDLENESS. May II 



banker's. Do I not deferve a diftinguifhed place a- 

 niong the favourite fons of idlenefs ? 



" I am, Sir, with regard, your faithful humble 

 Servant, 

 March 26th "7 J. F." 



1777- S 



As I propofe, in the continuation of this Effay in 

 fome future Number of the Bee, to enter ferioufly into 

 the difcuffion of the proper education and ejwcrcife of the 

 legitimate fons and daughters of idlenefs, I fhall con- 

 tent myfelf in this place to obferve, that the idle- 

 nefs I defcribe is fy Hematic ; that it leads to tran- 

 quillity in the midft of variety ; that it is epicurean 

 in practice, but in principle ftoic ; tliat it is focial, 

 yet independent of external circumftances ; that it is 

 eafy and gay, yet not flippant ; multifarious, yet not 

 irregular, or confufed in its operations ; that it enables 

 its praftitioners to be continually amufing to others 

 without prefling upon their time, and more important 

 occupations ; that it is ferviceable in town, in the country, 

 at home and abroad ; travels with you.^and follows you 

 in your night gown to your elbow-chair, leaves you 

 not on your pillow, awakes with you in the morn-. 

 ing, and carries you through* all the viciffitudes of 

 yor exiftence. 



j4 detached thought. 



The perfon we love is always more efteemed than lie 

 deferves ; the perfon we do not love, we always ef- 

 teem the leaft it is in our power; we even feek. to def- 

 pife him, and for ordinary fucceed in it. At firft, that 

 contempt is not fincei-e ; but infenlibly it becomes more 

 fo ; and at lad we grow to hate in good earneft, to defpifc 

 an eftimable perfon againft whom we have fome caufe 

 of hatred : If, however, we are forced to efteem him, 

 •we hate him the more for that. 



