8 AUTHORS AND READERS. 



their play better than they like their lessons, or, 

 to come nearer to the point, just as lazy folks like 

 better to have things given them, than to make 

 them for themselves, or to be told how to make 

 them. But then we should have some difficulties. 

 Some readers would know the subject better than 

 we do ; others might not understand us, not from 

 any want of ability (for any body may understand 

 any thing, if the explanation of it be plain and 

 clear enough;) and people's tastes are so very 

 different, that perhaps not one in ten of those to 

 whom the information was novel and intelligible, 

 would care about it. Besides, why should the 

 man who writes a book, treat all his readers as if 

 they were beggars ? It is disgraceful to beg any 

 thing, if we be able to get it by any other means ; 

 and there are few names that offend a man of 

 spirit more than to call him " a beggar." It ap- 

 pears to be more humiliating, too, to beg know- 

 ledge than to beg any thing else; for few men are 

 satisfied with their wealth, but most are satisfied 

 with their understanding; and, insulting as the 

 word " beggar " is, it is not hah so insulting as 

 the word " fool." 



The only ground upon which begging can 

 be justified, is that of inability to work, on ac- 

 count of weakness, disease, or decay. Indo- 

 lence is too often the real cause ; but it admits of 

 no proper excuse; and shame, or even the whip, 

 rather than alms should be given. But there is 

 no disease 'or decay of the mind; and, therefore, 

 the man who begs for knowledge can have no 

 plea but idleness, and shame or the whip ought 

 to be more especially his reward. There is no 

 harm in pointing out to him where the knowledge 



