GENERAL BENEVOLENCE. 167 
df malevolence. Great minds are always fuperior to calumny, 
but little ones are as fond of depreciating merit. We ought to 
cherifh. fuch a habit of benevolence, that even the ingratitude 
of others fhould not excite our reproaches, unlefs the offender 
can be reformed by them. 
<c Great minds , like heav n, are pleas' d with doing good, 
“ Tdho th' ungrateful objeSls of their bounty 
“ Are barren in return .” 
There is not a fault more common to your fex, than that of 
depreciating one another : and I am forry to fay, this prevails 
more in England than in any^ other country. I have feen even 
the polite world err often in this refpedt. I told you of the re- 
buke given by a lady to her fellow vifitors. Obferving that they 
were fevere on every one that left the company ; when fhe took 
her leave, fhe faid, “ Ladies, I hope you will be as indulgent to 
u me as poflible.” We fhould be careful for our own fakes, 
fince it is fenfelefs to expedt we fhall have more than neighbor’s 
fare. Women are apt to forget that every daughter of eve has 
fomething peculiar in her voice, perfon, and manners. You 
do not fufficiently diflinguifh infirmities from faults ; nor 
whether thefe ought to be afcribed to nature, or to a wrong 
education. Yet you may be well allured, that the feeds of de- 
famation once fown, are not eafily eradicated. Every repeti- 
tion of evil report, fpreads a cloud of darknefs over the moral 
world. I have no great faith in the dodlrine of sympathy or 
antipathy ; but it is furprifmg how slander, or injurious 
words, are known to thofe againfl whom they are levelled ; in- 
fomuch that it is the moft abfurd thing imaginable, to expedi- 
te* 
