172. The Effect of sudden Riches upon the Manners .... 176. Directions to Authors attacked by Criticks the various Degrees of 177. An Account of a Club of Antiquaries.. 178. Many Advantages not to be enjoyed 179. The awkward Merriment of a Student 180. The Study of Life not to be neglected 183. The Influence of Envy and Interest com- 184. The Subject of Essays often suggested by Chance-Chance equally prevalent 185. The Prohibition of Revenge justifiable by Reason-the Meanness of regulating our Conduct by the Opinions of Men 186. Anningait and Ajut, a Greenland History 188. Favour often gained with little Assist- 189. The Mischiefs of Falsehood-the Cha- JOHNSON 191. The busy Life of a young Lady 192. Love unsuccessful without Riches .... ness 196. Human Opinions mutable-the Hopes 197. The History of a Legacy-hunter.. 198. The Legacy-hunter's History concluded 199. The Virtues of Rabbi Abraham's Magnet 200. Asper's Complaint of the Insolence of 203. The Pleasures of Life to be sought in Prospects of Futurity-future Fame 208. The Rambler's Reception-his Design·· THE RAMBLER. N° 160. SATURDAY, SEPT. 28, 1751. tr -Inter se convenit ursis. Beasts of each kind their fellows spare; JUV. THE world," says Locke, has people of all "sorts." As in the general hurry produced by the superfluities of some, and necessities of others, no man needs to stand still for want of employment; so in the innumerable gradations of ability, and endless varieties of study and inclination, no employment can be vacant for want of a man qualified to discharge it. Such is probably the natural state of the universe, but it is so much deformed by interest and passion, that the benefit of this adaptation of men to things is not always perceived. The folly or indigence of those who set their services to sale, inclines them to boast of qualifications which they do not possess, and attempt business which they do not understand and they who have the power of assigning to others the task of life, are seldom honest or seldom happy VOL. XXII. in their nominations. Patrons are corrupted by avarice, cheated by credulity, or overpowered by resistless solicitation. They are sometimes too strongly influenced by honest prejudices of friendship, or the prevalence of virtuous compassion. For, whatever cool reason may direct, it is not easy for a man of tender and scrupulous goodness to overlook the immediate effect of his own actions, by turning his eyes upon remoter consequences, and to do that which must give present pain, for the sake of obviating evil yet unfelt, or securing advantage in time to come. What is distant is in itself obscure, and, when we have no wish to see it, easily escapes our notice, or takes such a form as desire or imagination bestows upon it. Every man might for the same reason, in the multitudes that swarm about him, find some kindred mind with which he could unite in confidence and friendship; yet we see many straggling single about the world, unhappy for want of an associate, and pining with the necessity of confining their sentiments to their own bosoms. This inconvenience arises in like manner from struggles of the will against the understanding. It is not often difficult to find a suitable companion, if every man would be content with such as he is qualified to please. But if vanity tempts him to forsake his rank, and post himself among those with whom no common interest or mutual pleasure can ever unite him, he must always live in a state of unsocial separation, without tenderness and without trust. There are many natures which can never approach within a certain distance, and which, when any irregular motive impels them towards contact, seem to start back from each other by some invincible repulsion. There are others which immediately cohere whenever they come into the reach of |