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Ghap. 8. of Woods and Coppices. a8 1 



" talks of Pofterity in Matters of this Nature, 

 " he is look'd upon with an Eye of Ridicule 

 " by the cunning and felfifli part of Mankind, 

 " Moft People are of the Humour of an 

 '- old Fellow of a College, who when he 

 "was prefled by the Society to come into 

 fomething that might redound to the Good 

 " of their SuccelTors, grew very peevilh^ We 

 *' are always doing (fays he) fomething for 

 '' Poflerity^ but I would fain fee Fojlerity do 

 " fomething for us. 



" But I think Men are inexcufable, who 

 " fail in a Duty of this Nature, fince it is fo 

 *' eafily difcharg'd. When a Man confiders, 

 " that the putting a few Twigs into the 

 ** Ground, is doing good to one who will 

 " make his Appearance in the World about 

 " fifty Years hence, or that he is perhaps 

 'V making one of his own Defcendants eafie or 

 " rich, by fo inconfiderable an Expence 5 if 

 " he finds himfelf averfe to it, he muft con- 

 " elude that he has a poor and bafe Heart, 

 " void of all generous Principles and Love to 

 " Mankind. 



" There is one Confideration which may 

 " very much enforce what 1 have here faid. 

 *' Many honeft Minds that are naturally dif- 

 pofed to do Good in the World, and be- 

 come Beneficial to Mankmd, complain 

 within themfelves that they have not Ta- 

 *' lents for it. This therefore is a good Office 

 " which is fuited to the meaneft Capacities, 

 [[ and whiph may be performed by Multi- 



" tudes, 



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