drapery. An air of faſhion, which is but a badge of ſlavery, and proves that the ſoul has not a ſtrong individual character, awes ſimple country people into an imitation of the vices, when they cannot catch the ſlippery graces, of politeneſs. Every corps is a chain of deſpots, who, ſubmitting and tyrannizing without exerciſing their reaſon, become dead weights of vice and folly on the community. A man of rank or fortune, ſure of riſing by intereſt, has nothing to do but to purſue ſome extravagant freak; whilſt the needy gentleman, who is to riſe, as the phraſe turns, by his merit, becomes a ſervile paraſite or vile pander.
Sailors, the naval gentlemen, come under the ſame deſcription, only their vices aſſume a different and a groſſer caſt. They are more poſitively indolent, when not diſcharging the ceremonials of their ſtation; whilſt the inſignificant fluttering of ſoldiers may be termed active idleneſs. More confined to the ſociety of men, the former acquire a fondneſs for humour and miſchievous tricks; whilſt the latter, mixing frequently with well-bred women, catch a ſentimental cant.—But mind is equally out of the queſtion, whether they indulge the horſe-laugh, or polite ſimper.
May I be allowed to extend the compariſon to a profeſſion where more mind is certainly to be found; for the clergy have ſuperior opportunities of impovement, tho' ſubordination almoſt equally cramps their faculties? The blind ſubmiſſion impoſed at college to forms of belief ſerves as a novitiate to the curate, who muſt obſequiouſly reſpect the opinion of his rector or patron, if he
