furious Zeal, when it is not kept within the Bounds of Charity and Reafon. Female Zeal, though proceeding from fo good a Principle, has been infinitely detrimental to Society, and to Religion itself. If we may believe the French Hiftorians, it often put a Stop to the Proceedings of their Kings, which might have ended in a Reformation. For, upon their breaking with the Pope, the Queens frequently interpofed, and by their Importunities reconciled them to the Ufurpations of the Church of Rome. Nay, it was this vicious Zeal which gave a remarkable Check to the first Progrefs of Christianity, as we find it recorded by a facred Hiftorian in the following Paffage, which I fhall leave to the Confideration of my Female Readers. But the Jews ftirred up the devout and honourable Women and the chief Men of the City, and raised a Perfecution against Paul and Barnabus, and expelled them out of their Coafts.

N° 33

Friday, April 13.

Nulli adverfus Magiftratus ac Reges gratiores funt, nec immeritò, nullis enim plus præftant quàm quibus frui tranquillo otio licet. Itaque bi, quibus ad propofitum bene vivendi confert Securitas publica, neceffe eft auctorem bujus boni ut parentem colant. Senec. Ep. 73.

None have a greater Refpect for Magißrates and Kings, and none with more reafon; for none are more obliged to them, than thofe, who enjoy Eafe and Tranquillity thro' their Means. Thofe therefore, whofe Happiness is fecured by the Publick Safety, ought to respect the Author of this Good as a Parent.

WE'find by our publick Papers, the Univer

fity of Dublin have lately prefented to the Prince of Wales, in a moft humble and dutiful manner, their Diploma for conftituting his Royal Highness Chancellor of that Learned Body; and that the Prince received this their Offer with the Goodness and Condefcenfion which is natural to his illuftrious Houfe. As the College of Dublin have been long famous for their great Learning, they have now given us an Instance of their Goodfenfe; and it is with Pleasure that we find fuch a Difpofition in this famous Nurfery of Letters to propagate found Principles, and to act, in its proper Sphere, for the Honour and Dignity of the Royal Family. We hope, that fuch an Example will have its Influence on other Societies of the fame nature; and cannot but rejoice to fee the Heir

of

of Great Britain vouchfafing to patronize in fo peculiar a manner that noble Seminary, which is perhaps at this time training up fuch Perfons as may hereafter be Ornaments to his Reign,

When Men of Learning are acted thus by a Knowledge of the World as well as of Books, and fhew that their Studies naturally inspire them with a Love to their King and Country; they give a Reputation to Literature, and convince the World of its Usefulness. But when Arts and Sciences are fo perverted as to difpofe Men to act in contradiction to the reft of the Community, and to fet up for a kind of feparate Republick among themfelves, they draw upon them the Indignation of the Wife, and the Contempt of the Ignorant.

It has indeed been obferved, that Perfons, who are very much efteemed for their Knowledge and Ingenuity in their private Characters, have acted like Strangers to Mankind, and to the Dictates of right Reafon, when joined to gether in a Body. Like feveral Chymical Wa ters, that are each of them clear and transparent when feparate, but ferment into a thick trou bled Liquor when they are mixed in the fame Vial.

There is a piece of Mythology which bears very hard upon Learned Men; and which I fhall here relate, rather for the Delicacy of the Satire, than for the Juftness of the Moral. When the City of Athens was finished, we are told, that Neptune and Minerva prefented themselves as Candidates for the Guardianship of the Place. The Athenians, after a full Debate upon the Matter, came to an Election, and made choice of Minerva. Upon which Neptune, who very much refented

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resented the Indignity, upbraided them with their Stupidity and Ignorance; that a Maritime Town fhould reject the Patronage of him who was the God of the Seas, and could defend them against all the Attacks of their Enemies. He concluded with a Curfe upon the Inhabitants, which was to ftick to them and their Pofterity; namely, That they should be all Fools. When Minerva their Tutelary Goddefs, who prefides over Arts and Sciences, came among them to receive the Honour they had conferr'd upon her, they made heavy Complaints of the Curfe which Neptune had laid upon the City; and begg'd her, if poffible, to take it off. But fhe told them, it was not in her Power; for that one Deity could not reverse the Act of another. However, faid fhe, I may alleviate the Curfe which I cannot remove: It is not poffible for me to hinder you from being Fools, but I will take care that you shall be Learned.

There is nothing which Bodies of Learned Men fhould be more careful of, than, by all due Methods, to cultivate the Favour of the Great and Powerful. The Indulgence of a Prince is absolutely neceffary to the Propagation, the Defence, the Honour and Support of Learning. It natu ally creates in Mens Minds an Ambition to diftinguifh themselves by Letters; and multiplies the Number of those who are dedicated to the Pursuits of Knowledge. It protects them against the Violence of Brutal Men; and gives them Opportunities to purfue their Studies in a State of Peace and Tranquillity. It puts the Learned in Countenance; and gives them a Place among the fashionable Part of Mankind. It dif tributes Rewards; and encourages Speculative Perfons, who have neither Opportunity nor a

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Turn of Mind to increase their own Fortunes, with all the Incentives of Place, Profit, and Preferment. On the contrary, nothing is in itself fo pernicious to Communities of Learned Men, nor more apprehended by thofe that with them well, than the Displeasure of their Prince, which thofe may justly expect to feel, who would make ufe of his Favour to his own Prejudice, and put in practice all the Methods that lie within their Power to vilify his Perfon, and diftrefs his Government. In both thefe Cafes, a Learned Body is in a more particular manner expofed to the Influence of their King, as defcribed by the wifeft of Men, The Wrath of a King is as the Roaring of a Lion; but his Favour is as the Dew upon the Grass.

We find in our English Hiftories, that the Emprefs Matilda, (who was the great Ancestor of His prefent Majefty, and whofe Grand-daughter of the fame Name has a Place upon feveral of the Hanover Medals) was particularly favoured by the University of Oxford, and defended in that Place, when moft Parts of the Kingdom had revolted against her. Nor is it to be queftioned, but an University, fo famous for Learning and found Knowledge, will fhew the fame Zeal for her illuftrious Defcendent, as they will every Day difcern His Majefty's Royal Virtues, through thofe Prejudices which have been raifed in their Minds by artful and defigning Men. It is with much Pleasure we fee this great Fountain of Learning already beginning to run clear, and recovering its natural Purity and Brightness. None can imagine, that a Community which is taxed by the worst of its Enemies, only for overftraining the Notions of Loyalty even to bad Princes, will fall fhort of a due Allegiance to the beft. When

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