admits of no such appraisement.  In a country where “The Wealth of Nations” has been fixed as the first principle of political existence, wealth has raised an aristocracy more noble than nobility, more celebrated than genius, more popular than patriotism; but however it may partake at times of a generous nature, it hardly looks beyond its own narrow pale.  It is curious to notice that Montesquieu, who was in England, observed, that “If I had been born here, nothing could have consoled me in failing to accumulate a large fortune; but I do not lament the mediocrity of my circumstances in France.”  The sources of our national wealth have greatly multiplied, and the evil has consequently increased, since the visit of the great philosopher.

The cares of property, the daily concerns of a family, the pressure of such minute disturbers of their studies, have induced some great minds to regret the abolition of those monastic orders, beneath whose undisturbed shade were produced the mighty labours of a MONTFAUCON, a CALMET, a FLOREZ, and the still unfinished volumes of the BENEDICTINES.  Often has the literary character, amidst the busied delights of study, sighed “to bid a farewell sweet” to the turbulence of society.  It was not discontent, nor any undervaluing of general society, but the pure enthusiasm of the library, which once induced the studious EVELYN to sketch a retreat of this nature, which he addressed to his friend, the illustrious BOYLE.  He proposed to form “A college where persons of the same turn of mind might enjoy the pleasure of agreeable society, and at the same time pass their days without care or interruption."[A] This abandonment of their life to their genius has, indeed, often cost them too dear, from the days of SOPHOCLES, who, ardent in his old age, neglected his family affairs, and was brought before his judges by his relations, as one fallen into a second childhood.  The aged poet brought but one solitary witness in his favour—­an unfinished tragedy; which having read, the judges rose before him, and retorted the charge on his accusers.

[Footnote A:  This romantic literary retreat is one of those delightful reveries which the elegant taste of EVELYN abounded with.  It may be found at full length in the fifth volume of Boyle’s Works, not in the second, as the Biog.  Brit. says.  His lady was to live among the society.  “If I and my wife take up two apartments, for we are to be decently asunder, however I stipulate, and her inclination will greatly suit with it, that shall be no impediment to the society, but a considerable advantage to the economic part,” &c.]