fectual to the end in view, or is so immediately directed to the purpose of en larging the mind, and curing it, at once, of all its obftinate and malignant prejudices, as a knowledge of the world, acquired in the way of fociety, and ge neral conversation.

To say nothing of the folitary fequeftered life, which all men agree to term Savage, look only on those smaller knots and fraternities of men, which meet together in our provincial towns and cities, and, without any larger commerce, are confined within the narrow enclosure of their own walls or diftricts. In as much as this condition is more focial than the other, it is, without doubt, more eligible. Yet see how many weak views are entertained by these separate clans, how many fond coneeits, and over-weening fancies! The world seems to them fhrunk up into their own private circle; juft as the heavens

appear

appear to children to be contained within the limits of their own horizon.

EXTEND this profpect of mankind to ftill greater combinations, to states, kingdoms, nations, and what we call a whole people. By this freer intercourse, indeed, their thoughts take a larger range, and their minds open to more generous and manly conceptions. Yet their native barbarifm fticks close to them, and requires to be loosened and worn off by a more focial habit, by the experience of a ftill wider and more thorough communication. Tribes of men, although very numerous, yet, if fhut up within one territory, and held clofely together under the influence of the fame political conftitution, eafily affimilate, as it were; run into the fame common fentiments and opinions; and presently take, in the whole extent of their community, one uni form prevailing character.

HENCE

HENCE the neceffity of their still looking beyond their own, into other combinations and focieties; that fo, as the mind ftrengthens by this exercise, they may be enabled to fhake off their local, as we may fay, and territorial prejudices.

THOSE other focieties may not be without their defects, which, it will be equally proper to keep clear of. But, by this free prospect of the differences fubfifting between different nations, each na turally gets quit of his own peculiar and characteristic vices; and those of others, presenting themselves to our unbiaffed obfervation, are not fo readily entertained, or do not cling fo faft to us, as what have grown up with us, and, by long unquestioned ufe, are become, as we well express it, a fecond nature.

THUS,

THUS, by this near approach and attrition, as it were, of each other, our rude parts give way; our rough corners are infenfibly worn off; and we are polished by degrees into a general and universal humanity :

EXTERNI nequid valeat per læve morari,

to use the poet's words, though with some fmall difference, I believe, in their application.

WHAT fays my friend to these principles? are they just and reasonable? or, am I going to build on precarious and infecure foundations?

MR. LOCKE.

T

WHATEVER defect there may be in this foundation, your Lordship, as a wise architect, is for fparing no coft or pains in providing for its ftability. Yet, methinks, you go deeper for it, than you need. At least, I did not expect your de fence of Travelling would require you

to

to make these profound researches inte

human nature.

LORD SHAFTESBURY.

I TAKE your meaning. Thefe re fearches, you would say, are so little profound, that I might have spared myself the trouble of making them at all, at least in conversation with a philofopher. Be that as it will; provided the principles themselves, I am contending for, be well founded. For the conclufion neceffarily follows," That therefore FOR EIGN " TRAVEL is, of all others, the most im "portant and effential part of Educa"tion.'

THE youth of the most accomplished people in Europe would have much to correct in themselves, and fomething, perhaps, to learn, in their voyages into the neighbouring nations; however inferior to their own in the general state of knowledge and politeness. What

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then