enerous Education, with a bare Subsistence only, is to
be preferr'd to the largest Patrimony, and a want of Learning.

Without Education it is impossible to Write or Read any Thing
distinctly; without a frequent turning of the Dictionary, no Person
can be compleat in the _English_ Language, neither can he give Words
their proper Accent and Pronunciation, or be any ways Master of
Elocution; and a Man without Learning, though he appears tollerable in
Conversation, (which I have known some Persons do by a constant
enjoyment of good Company, and a strength of Memory) is like an
_Empirick_, that takes Things upon trust: And whenever he comes to
exercise the Pen, that the Subject is uncommon, and Study is requir'd,
you'll find him oftentimes not capable of writing one single Line of
Senfe, and scarcely one Word of _English_. And, on the other Hand, I
have known some Persons who could talk Latin very fluently, who have
us'd Phrases and Sentences perpetually in that Language, in
Conversation, vulgar and deficient in the Mother-Tongue, and who have
written most egregious Nonsense; from whence it is evident, that
Writing is the only Test of Literature.

I have a little deviated from my Subject, in pursuing the Rules and
Advantages of Education, which I take to be of that universal good
Tendency, that they are acceptable in any Performance whatsoever: I
shall offer nothing farther, but conclude this Essay with the
following Particulars; that besides the Qualifications already
mention'd, it is as necessary for a fine Writer to be endued with
Modesty as for a beautiful Lady; that good Sense is of equal
Consequence to an Author, as a good Soil for the Culture of the most
noble Plants; that a Person writing a great deal on various Subjects,
should be as cautious in owning all his Performances, as in revealing
the Secrets of his most intimate Friend; and in respect to those
Gentlemen, who have made no scruple to prostitute their Names, the
following Similie may be judg'd well adapted:

_As Musick soft, by constant use is forc'd
Grows harsh, and cloys, becomes at length the worst,
The Harmony amidst Confusion lost:
So finest Pens, employ'd in Writing still
Lose Strength and Beauty as the Folio's fill._

_FINIS._

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California

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_General Editors_

H. Richard Archer
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

R.C. Boys