to be removed but by feveral Engines invented for that Purpofe. In a word, the Application of Whips, Racks, Gibbets, Gallies, Dungeons, Fire and Faggot, in a Difpute, may be look'd upon as Popifh Refinements upon the old: Heathen Logick.

There is another way of Reasoning, which feldom fails, though it be of a quite different nature to that I have last mentioned. I mean, convincing a Man by ready Money, or, as it is ordinarily called, bribing a Man to an Opinion. This Method has often proved fuccefsful, when all the others have been made ufe of to no purpose. A Man who is furnished with Arguments from the Mint, will convince the Antagonist much fooner than one who draws them from Reason and Philofophy. Gold is a wonderful Clearer of the Understanding; it diffipates every Doubt and Scruple in an Inftant; accommodates it felf to the meaneft Capacities, filences the Loud and Clamorous, and brings over the moft Obstinate and Inflexible. Philip of Macedon was a Man of moft invincible Reafon this way. He refuted by it all the Wifdom of Athens, confounded their

Statef

Statesmen, ftruck their Orators dumb, and at length argued them out of all their Liberties.

HAVING here touched upon the feveral Methods of Difputing, as they have prevailed in different Ages of the World, I fhall very fuddenly give my Reader an Account of the whole Art of Cavilling; which fhall be a full fatisfa&tory Answer to all fuch Papers and Pamphlets as have yet appeared against the SPECTATOR, C

No 249. Wednesday, December 5.

Aliter non fit, Auite, liber.

Mart.

Mr. SPECTATOR,

いI

Am of one of the most gen

teel Trades in the City, and understand thus much of liberal Education, as to

have an ardent Ambition

of being useful to Mankind, and to think That the chief End of Being as to this Life. I had thefe good. Im

preffions

preffions given me from the handsome Behaviour of a learned, generous, and wealthy Man towards me when I first began the World. Some Diffatisfactions between me and my Parents made me enter into it with lefs Relifh of 'Business than I ought; and to turn off 'this Uneafinefs I gave my felf to cri'minal Pleasures, fome Exceffes, and a 'general loose Conduct. I know not 'what the excellent Man abovementi'ned faw in me, but he defcended from the Superiority of his Wifdom and "Merit, to throw himself frequently into my Company. This made me foon hope that I had fomething in me worth 'cultivating, and his Converfation made 'me fenfible of Satisfactions in a regu"lar Way, which I had never before imagined. When he was grown familiar with me, he opened himself like a good • Angel, and told me, he had long la"boured to ripen me into a Preparation to receive his Friendship and Advice, 'both which I fhould daily command, ' and the Use of any part of his Fortune, to apply the Measures he should propofe to me, for the Improvement ' of my own. I affure you, I cannot recollect the Goodness and Confufion

of the good Man when he fpoke to this Purpose to me, without melting into Tears; but, in a word, Sir, I must haften to tell you, that my Heart burns with Gratitude towards him, and he is fo happy a Man, that it can never be in my Power to return him his Favours in Kind, but I am fure I have made him the most agreeable Satisfa&tion I could poffibly, in being ready to ferve others to my utmoft Ability, as far as is confiftent with the Prudence he prescribes to me. Dear Mr. SPECTATOR, I do not owe to him only the good Will and Efteem of my own Relations, (who are People of Diftinction) the present Ease and Plenty of my Circumftances; but also the Government of my Paffions, and Regulation of my Defires. I doubt not, Sir, but in your Imagination fuch Virtues as these of my worthy Friend, bear as great a Figure as Actions which are more glittering in the commor Eftimation. What I could ask you, is, to give us a whole Spe 'tor upon Heroick Virtue in comm Life, which may incite Men to t fame generous Inclinations, as have by

this admirable Perfon been fhewn to,, • and raised in,

SIR, Your bumble Servant,

Mr. SPECTATOR,

Am a Country Gentleman, of a good plentiful Eftate, and live as the reft "of my Neighbours with great Hofpi'tality. I have been ever reckoned among the Ladies the best Company in 'the World, and have Accefs as a fort of Favourite. I never came in Publick but I faluted them, tho' in great Affemblies, all around, where it was 'feen how genteely I avoided hampering my Spurs in their Petticoats, while I moved amongst them; and on 'the other fide how prettily they curt'fied and received me, ftanding in proper Rows, and advancing as faft as they faw their Elders, or their Betters, dispatch'd by me. But fo it is, Mr. SPECTATOR, that all our good Breeding is of late loft by the unhappy Arrival of a Courtier, or TownGentleman, who came lately among us: This Perfon where ever he came into a Room made a profound Bow,

and