The epistles of Phalaris translated into English from the original Greek by S. Whately ... ; to which is added Sir W. Temple's Character of the epistles of Phalaris ; together with an appendix of some other epistles lately discovered in a French ms.

To Monsieur de Charteville.

I Have read your long and Elaborate Epistle, by which one would imagin we were all Lost, and the whole Pro∣vince upon its last Legs. I am pretty confident you need not put yourself to such Frights. But when Scholars will set up for Merchant Adventurers, there's danger in every Wind. 'Tis the little Experience you have of the World makes you Bookish men so Mistrustful and Pre∣scribing. Prove either of these two things to me, and I'll be your Convert: either that ever any one followed your Advice without Repenting of it, or that ever you offer'd a Conjecture which was not con∣futed by the Event. You may as well Travel to Persia by the Map, as direct the Management of Affairs by your Aphorism. Books. Rules were first made from Ex∣amples: and a great Genius Begins an Example and Begets a Rule. There's as much difference between Reading and Action, as there is between an Army in the Field and one on the Chimney-piece: And Painters are as fit to make Generals, as Clerks Politicians I know you are an Honest man, and Mean well. But your

Intellect is as yet too Streightned to take in Light enough to be able to pass a true Judgment upon Affairs of this Nature. 'Tis that makes you so forward and un∣reserv'd in your Censures. The Powers of Circumstance, the Qualifications of Fact, the true and genuine Characterism of Virtue, the slender Line that Divides the Honest and Dishonest, are too Spiritual things to be discerned by Material Or∣gans, or Pictured by the Pen. But you Closet Politicians never think a man safe unless he stand upon the Center, not con∣sidering that Virtue and Honour have their Circumference: nor can a man ever become truly Great, and fit for the Busi∣ness of the world, that knows not how to venture to the very Edge, and touch the Inside of the Line, yet without step∣ping over it. But these are things requi∣ring a more Extended thought than you are yet Capable of. 'Tis a hard matter to convince a Speculatist that any body is Wiser than Himself, his Author, and his Club. Since therefore you are not in condition to admit of any other Teacher, Learn from yourself, and let the so of∣ten repeated Failure of your Predictions teach you to be for the Future more Sus∣pending, and less Directorious. Mr. L'In∣tendant

Knows both your interests and his own too well, either to receive your Directions, or to neglect his Duty; which is to Procure your welfare You are Safe, if you can but think your selves so: or whether you think your selves so or not; yet still you are Safe. but 'tis by His pursuing Methods contrary to your Pre∣scriptions that we are so. I shall add no more at present, since all that I could tell you, you may (as I said before) learn from your own Mistakes: and if They will not Teach you, nothing will. But as for Presenting your Scheme, you must excuse me. Fare you well.