The Prevalency of Example in Tea drinking . 247 
oufty. Wifdom and virtue have, in all ages of the world, been 
the props of empires, and folly and vice the caufe of their fall. 
As the caufes which produce the moft interefting events, are 
oftentimes lefs difcernible by us, and lefs important, than the 
cafe in queftion, you muft not be furprized if great mifchiefs 
fhould attend fuch an undiftinguifhing univerfal ufe of tea. 
We may lament the evils we cannot cure ; it is vain to quar- 
rel with mankind for their sins, much more for their follies. 
What can we do better than practice what we preach ? Mode- 
ration in moft cafes is beft ; it bids faireft to conciliate the dif- 
ferent tempers and opinions of mankind. If your patriotism 
mounts into a blaze ; if you forfake the gentlenefs of the dove, 
and mount on the wings of the eagle, you may foar above you? 
own height, and lose yourfelf, without fhowing others the true 
way. We ought however to hoard up instruction ; and 
whilft we attempt to teach others, we may happily difcover our 
own faults. But if you are angry with thofe who differ with 
you in fentiment, they will be angry with you with the fame 
reafon : and from the moment prejudice takes pofleflion of your 
mind, you will injure the caufe of truth, if you do not to- 
tally defert it. Remember this. Farewell. 1 am yours, &c. 
LETTER IX. 
To the fame . 
Madam, 
I T would be fevere to charge the account of tea with all the 
mifchiefs which a raging paflion for amufements and viftts, 
have introduced into this British world : the truth is, you are 
fre- 
