I NUMBER LXIV. Ingratum fi dixeris, omnia dixeris. CALLED the other morning upon my friend Hafty, and found him and his lady in no fmall pett, much difcompofed, and very indignant. The common compliments had scarce paffed, and I had but just taken my chair, when he began. "You may be furprized perhaps at feeing me and my wife a little difordered-But fuch ingratitude-Few men I believe could bear it. It is rather too much for human nature.”He delivered this with some pathos; and was feconded by the good lady his wife, who turtled up, and reddening with indignation, found breath to say," Indeed it is too much; but people now-a-days, if they can get their own turn ferved, care little for-They will use the ladder, till they have got up, and then throw it away.' I was obliged to remark very meekly, that " be fure ingratitude was a very bafe and odious crime; the growth of a bad foil; universally and juftly abhorred: but I took the liberty to hint, that on that very account, we ought to be the more careful how we lay the charge of it against any 'man; which fhould never be urged in general terms, but proved by the clear to eft have done me fome fer eft evidence." "Read that then, Sir, faid Mr. Hafty, giving me a letter, and you'll find, that we have pretty clear evidence." I read the letter, and perceived, that it was an apology from a young gentleman of our mutual acquaintance, for omitting his vifits to Mr. and Mrs. Hafty, who had done him fome services; but which they had been mutually and industriously careful to proclaim; with many diminishing strictures on the young gentleman's character, and as many aggrandizing remarks on their own generofity and benevolence. I remember he concluded his letter in these or in terms very fimilar to them." That you vices, I do not, I never did deny. But these services have been returned and repaid; with all proper acknowledgments: nor have I ever been wanting in all due respect, or in any grateful remembrance. But certainly, Sir, were not this the cafe, you have fully acquitted me of all obligation. Since every fenfible man will agree, that a public proclamation of obligations conferred, on the part of the obliger, entirely releases the perfon obliged. As therefore you and your wife have been pleased so frequently to set forth the fervices you have done me, and have fet them forth in a much stronger light, than truth will warrant, I hope you will henceforth conclude me free of all debt, and not at all liable to the odious charge, you lay against me,-the VOL. II. charge I charge of ingratitude. Yet this notwithstanding, allow me to add, that I shall always be ready to do you or yours any agreeable fervice; and I dare fay, upon reflection you will be perfuaded, that you have too rafhly expected the flavish attachment of a man's whole life, for fome few benefits conferred, which a generous mind would foorn to mention,” "There, faid Mr. Hafty, when I had read the letter-There's an ungrateful fellow! Did you ever read the like? Why, Sir, I faved this man from perdition; I raised him from the dunghill; I gave him bread to eat; and now hẹ is grown great, fee his bafenefs." Soft, my dear Sir, quoth I; you know I am no ftranger to Mr. Ladmell, or his character. You know too, that I have often heard of your friendfhip to him, as well from him as yourself. I never heard him exprefs himself concerning you without respect; I have often heard you, in cool converfation, advance as much as you have done now. And permit me to fay, it is too much by far; nay, if it were not, if it were strictly true, it doth not become you to say it. Let others speak it to your praise. On your fide, it appears with a very ill grace." "What then, faid Mrs. Hafty, are you too an advocate for Ingratitude?" God forbid, Madam, replied I; I deteft the crime. But fuffer me to ask, what you mean by Ingratitude." "Mean, "Mean, quoth my friend; there's no need for her to explain that; all the world knows what is meant by Ingratitude; and all the world is agreed to hate the man, who is guilty of it; and I'll take care, that Lodmell's behaviour fhall be no fecret.""Oh, Sir, said I, you are warm; or you would foon fee, that Refentment, Paffion, and Pride, are crimes as well as Ingratitude. But pray, be cool a little; and only tell me, Do you think a benefit conferred, can never be equalled by any return? Or do you conceive benefits immortal, and acknowledgments endless? There certainly is an adequate return for many, for general favours; and that made, we conceive the balance equal. For example, you have lent me, in a time of diftrefs, a thousand pounds, for which I have paid you five per cent. and at length have returned the whole money, with grateful thanks and acknowledgments to you; and with a mind well difpofed to do any thing in my power, that may ferve or oblige you. Can it be faid, that I am wanting in gratitude?" "Doubtless no, replied Hafty; but how different is Lodmell's behaviour?""Suffer me, Sir, faid I, to proceed; -Should the man, who hath done me this favour, proclaim it improperly, and let the world know, as far as he is able, that he hath faved me from poverty and ruin; (though this be far from the truth) fhould he, thus infinuate my eternal I 2 . N° 64. eternal obligations to him, and moreover expe& me to pay the most humble court to him: let reafon anfwer, whether I fhould not be justifiable in the fight of God and man, if I conceived my debt amply discharged, and myself fully acquitted from all obligation." "Sir, faid Mrs. Hafty, I am forry to hear you plead in fo bad a caufe; I thought you especially would have never undertaken the defence of fuch a wretch as Lodmell; nor have spoken against so amiable a virtue as gratitude. "Madam, replied I, I have only to say, that with all mankind I agree in admiring and revering gratitude: nor would I have any connections with, or regard for the man, who is infenfible to its charms, and injurious to his benefactor. Nay, I would subscribe to Mr. Dryden's fine lines on this fubject: Take away this (gratitude :) Why then no bond is left on human kind; All must be rapine, wars and defolation, But tho' I thus reverence gratitude, I cannot eafily believe all thofe ungrateful, whom their benefactors call fo: Men are apt to conceive too |