cafion of it. 'Tis a little odd too in that author, to conclude ATTICUS guilty of breach of friendship, only because earnest to renew it; and LUCCEIUS innocent, because implacable. And, fince that Gentleman affects fingularity in his difcourfes, I think he could hardly have fhewn a plainer instance of it. I cannot but take notice of one expreffion in ATTICUS's Letter, which CICERO repeats in this; "You write (fays he) that if any body "be your enemy, 'tis my business to appease « him." Friendship must have run pretty high in an age when fuch an expreffion was proper: and the most accomplish'd Gentleman of all Rome would hardly have used it to one of the greateft, if his own heart and active affection had not been warm enough to warrant fuch an expectation of a fuitable return. Which he met with accordingly; fince CICERO here owns the right of service he claims of him; and several letters fhew his punctual performance of it, tho' unsuccessfully. For it seems it was easier for CICERO to perfuade whole Senates and popular Affemblies, than one obftinate, though most cftimable person, as LUCCEIUS appears to be in all the accounts we have of him. Which is lefs to be wondred at, because those are two

very different Talents, publick eloquence, and private infinuation.

IV.

Ex omnibus moleftiis, &c. This seems to me a little strange in TULLY, the most easy. humoured, and facetious man in the world; whofe very great genius was fo fit also for bufinefs, that methinks he fhould not be fo tired with it, as never to be at ease except in his Library. Yet juft at that time perhaps fome unusual affairs crouded upon him, of no great moment to the publick; for had that been concern'd, I am confident he would never have grudg'd his pains, but made it rather his greatest pleasure. I impute all this complaint to his ufual good breeding in making that an excufe, for those many repeated troubles he gave ATTICUS about trifles towards adorning his Library; which therefore he profeffes here to be his only fatisfaction. If it be objected that an excufe has an air of ceremony, which is not only formal, but faulty among friends: it may be observ'd, he makes no difficulty of imploying ATTICUS often on this occafion, and only fhews. a little politeness in pretending it was now grown his only fatisfaction; that so his

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friend

friend might have the more, in gratifying that humour.

V.

CUJUS fermonis genus, &c. This impertinent converfation of ACUTILIUS puts us in mind of a great many, who, though far from being filly in managing their own private affairs, are yet in converfation worse to be endur'd than an ordinary Fit of the cholick Accordingly CICERO puts it down here pleafantly, as the greatest uneafinefs his friendship had ever made him undergo, to have been so long in fuch tedious company upon his ac

count.

LETTER II.

In fome Editions this was the Sixth, but mistaken.

UID agas, &c. This is one of the plea

QU

fures, as well as privileges of friendfhip. Rome was the place in all the world of the greatest affairs, and of the most entertainment: TULLY was one of the bufieft men in it, yet amidst all this, he inquires

with earnestnefs about every little thing his friend not only does, but thinks, and intends to do. Though I am apt to believe there was fomething of his own natural vivacity in the cafe; whofe active mind, and capacioufnefs of thought, the whole Empire of Rome was fcarce large enough to imploy fufficiently: So vaft a thing is the mind of fome men. Which I fay not altogether by way of commendation, but of admiration rather ; for wherever it is fuch, there appears fomething of rambling, as well as reasoning, in fo great a genius.

In fome Editions this was made a Part of the laft Letter, I fuppofe for its shortness only; fince it is plainly a different Letter.

MNEM fpem delectationis, &c. Here he repeats again his great expectation of pleasure in the Library he was now contriving; which I fhould not take notice of, but upon account of that time of life for which he defign'd it, Cum in otium venerimus: This is one fign how much CICERO

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was

was fitted by nature, for learning, as well as publick business; because he feems ever preparing himself to retire out of it; and as capable in his closet to divert himself, or inftruct the world, as he was in the Forum or Senate-house to govern it. This is no small advantage in Republicks, where a sort of rotation is necessary, by which men are seen under feveral capacities, and much better judg'd of in fuch different lights, than in a Monarchy; where one man chuses either among those few commended to him by their friends, or among others disguised always by their own infinuations and flattery.

HE

LETTER IV.

ERMÆ tui pentelici, &c. I am heartily glad to find this fondness of Statues, &c. in fuch a man as CICERO; though I am not furprized at it, because I scarcę ever knew or read of any great genius infenfible of fuch things: For indeed they have a real value in themselves, and not only (as fome imagine) in the fancy of Vir tuofoes,

LET