l'J()t. ON THE ART OF IDLENESS. 4:5 



like the vernal delight and joy of Milton, is' " enough 

 to drive all fadnefs but defpair." 



Sometimes he amufed himfelf with collecting ufefnl 

 information for the illuftration of the hiftory 01 his 

 country ; fometimes flitting over the furfact- - of fugi- 

 tive events, and moralifing on the flippery fortunes of 

 the paffing world of the day ; but ol'rener fetting down 

 with poignant remark what efcaped the notice of others, 

 and making his obfervations fubfervient to that noble 

 art of idlenefs, which is the fubjefl: of my prefent re- 

 fearch . 



About fix years ago, I received a letter from this 

 charming companion, and inftructive friend, which I 

 feleft as an inftance of the moll ingenious and ingenu- 

 ous application of fenfe, wit, and good humour, to 

 the drawing forth of agreeable refle<Elions from the oc- 

 currences of the day. 



Sir, 

 " You are too condefcending, when you incline to 

 keep up a correfpondence with one who can expecl to 

 maintain it but a fhort time, and whofe intervals of 

 health are refigned to idlenefs, not dedicated, as they have 

 fometi«iesbeen, toliterarypurfuits; for what could I pur- 

 fue with any profpe6l of accomplifliment ? or what avails 

 it to ftore a memory that muft lofe fafter than it ac- 

 quires ? Your zeal for illuminating your country and 

 countrymen is laudable, and you are young enough to 

 make a progrefs ; but a man, who touches the verge of 

 his fixty eighth year, ought to know, that he is unfit to 

 contribute to the amufement of more aftive minds. 

 This confideration makes me much decline correfpon- 

 dence ; having nothing new to communicate, I perceive 

 that I fill my letters with apologies for having nothing 

 to fay. The difcoveries made byHerfchell, winch you 

 have been fo good as to communicate, are ftupcnduous 

 indeed : You have launched my meditations into fuch 

 a vaft field, that if 1 tapped one channel, I f]ioul(3 



F2 



