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On the Love of Fame.

Honos alit artes, omnefque incenduntur ad fludia gloriæ.

T

Tufc. Queft 1. 1.

H E vaft variety that prefents itfel,upon the flighteft reflection, to our minds; the different fources from which action appears to originate, and thofe fo compounded, are frequently productive of an opinion, that the mind is incapable of being analyzed. But however complicated in its modes of activity, there are fill: fome Ariking traits, which upon a nearer view may in a degree tend to develope the fubject, The different paffions by which men are agitated, are fome of the most remarkable: To pretend to reduce thefe to one fource would be nugatory. They appear to be diftinct and original principles of action,though claffed under the general term PASSI ONS. With various and almost infinite differences, do they appear in different perfons; and to them are we jadebred for the largest portions of our happ nefs. Man, as is obferved by a great writer, would be one of

the most indolent creatures exifting, were he to be directed by reafon alone; the flow progreffive fteps of this faculty, would retard action, and frequently while he was contemplating the means to obtain any end, while he was examining every objection that could be made to each different mode of action, the opportunity for exertion would be loft. This can only be remedied by a fudden impulfe, which he may feel upon prefenting the proper object to excite it. This ufeful impulfe is wifely made a part of our conftitution. Among the ftrongeft in its operations, and mo2 beneficial parts of our nature, is the Love of Fame to be ranked; 'tis chiefly to this we are indebted for all thofe noble actions which have fo highly benefited man in different ages of the world; the cold view or intention of doing good to mankind, how prafe worthy foever it may be, would operate with but fmall force, were it not for this frong incentive to action, a fondness for praife. 'Tis from this principle the warrior encounters dangers and deftruction without difmay. The fatefmen, the patriot is unwearied in endeavouring.

endeavouring to raise, to dispense hap. pinefs to his country, and to leave lafting monuments of his and her fame. The Divine finds in this, full compenfation for his toilfome hours of study, to render pleafing the divine truths. The fcholar, as a reward for all his researches, afks but Fame. 'Tis the fame in every other employ ment, if any thing excellent is produced. No perfon perhaps felt this paffion in greater force than the author of the extract I have chofen for the head of my paper; indeed in general we may find it ftrongest in minds the moit noble and of greateft ability. Cicero poffeffed of the acutenefs of the metaphyfician, with all the enthufiafm and imagination of the orator and the poet, and certainly at the fame time, with the Rtrongest judgment, roundly declares 'tis from glory, fame alone, arts and fciences are purfued or carried to any extent.

Let us take a review of our own country, and endeavour to find if there is not a deficiency in this refpe& in fome inflances. In the political world, the theatre is large, the basis fo broad, that each one is in fome meafure gratified in the univerfal paffion; one can scarcely be fo low as not to be able to fay, I have fome fhare in the direction of public affairs; or, if he is fo low in life as not to poffefs the qualifications neceffary to poffefs them, becomes the object of this ambition; and by that means the flare is vafly benefited, as there is a much larger quantum of property than there would be, if fuch qualifications were not required.

In the higher orders rewards are fo well diftributed as to be fufficient to keep the mind energetic.

In civil life, the lawyer, the phyfician is prefented with objects worthy and fuch as will almoft neceffarily excite his ambition."

But if we confider the fate of another most important order of men, we hall find their condition greatly different; doomed to drag out life in the fame dull, wearifome track, they find very little to raise this holy fire, to urge on to noble endeavour. The clergyman of merit, when he looks round him, and compares his fituation with a man of merit in any other order, hads the most inortifying differ

ences. The lawyer must be acquain ted with his profeffion, the phyfician must be killed, before either can have any confidence placed in them. But in this order, learning is neglected, the person who is poffeffed of neither knowledge, nor any attractive virtue, except one, will as probably meet with fuccefs, as the most deferving. And in general, there is but one point neceffary to render a man fuccessful; that he adheres (the most proper word I can get) to a particular fyftem of opinions. Is it poffible for an enlightened mind to poffefs the fame notions with the man who never enquired?

A father, when his fon was juft going to fet out in the world, fays, my boy, you are poffeffed of good fenfe, I know, but as you are unexperienced, a word or two will be useful. The term Orthodox will frequently be founded in your ears, 'tis of almost univerfal use; but remember the meaning is prejudice, and direct op position to liberal enquiry.

'Tis from this caufe, "That true merit is no recommendation," that the number of learned Divines is daily decreasing nothing points out more ftrongly the neceffity of admitting different degrees in this order, than the non attendance of honour or fame, with the greatest merit; and this (different degrees among the clergy) muft we fuppofe be admitted in time, to preferve the order any way refpecta ble; or perhaps what is better fuited to the genius of the people. A tran. flation from one church to another, which in effect would nearly amount to the fame thing. When a gentleman fits himself for the defk, by that unwearied application which feems particularly neceffary in that walk of life, if he fucceeds in gaining any parish, 'tis as likely he will get one of the most infignificant living as the contrary; and when fixed in that fituation, what motive is there for extraordinary exertion? here he muft remain for life; no chance for escape until he is relieved by the kind hand of death, which, I belleve, in fecret he frequently withes for; but was there before him the noble profpect of rifing in fame and efteem in the world by great learning, when a living of importance became vacant, was it allowble for a man of learning, politenefs

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