CHAP. IV.] THE CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.

imaginary interviews with booksellers, laughing at their I7*)u.

sordid mistakes; in remonstrances with his own class, J3t. 32.

warning them of the danger of despising each other; and, in

rarer periods of perfect self-reliance, rising to a lofty

superiority above the temporary accidents around him,

asserting the power and claims of men of letters, and

denouncing the short-sightedness of statesmen. " Instead

" of complaining that writers are over-paid, when their works

" procure them a bare subsistence, I should imagine it the

" duty of a state, not only to encourage their numbers, but

" their industry, . . "Whatever be the motives which induce

" men to write, whether avarice or fame, the country becomes

" most wise and happy, in which they most serve for

" instructors. The countries where sacerdotal instruction

" alone is permitted, remain in ignorance, superstition, and

" hopeless slavery. In England, where there are as many

" new books published as in all the rest of Europe together, a

" spirit of freedom and reason reigns among the people: they

" have been often known to act like fools, they are generally

" found to think like men." * At the close of the same paper

he rises into a pathetic eloquence while pleading for those

who have thus served and instructed England; men " whom

" nature has blest with talents above the rest of mankind;

" men capable of thinking with precision, and impressing

" their thoughts with rapidity; beings who diffuse those

" regards upon mankind, which others contract and settle

" upon themselves. These deserve every honour from that

" community of which they are more peculiarly the children;

" to such I would give my heart, since to them I am indebted

" for its humanity! " In another letter the subject is more

calmly resumed, with frank admission that old wrongs are at

* Citizen of the World. Letter Ixxv.nd that eating fire was the most ready way to live ; and another who