tia OF ENGLISH SOCIETY. 31 abroad, consequently there can be no deficiency of the finest materials for en, riching and embellishing society, were their possessors a little more disposed to imitate a neighbouring nation in one talent, in which they must be allowed to excel all others- the talent sefaire valoir. There is more sterling weight than show in the genuine English character, and Mr. Addison was not the only one of his countrymen who, with respect to in- tellectual wealth, could draw for a thou- sand pounds, though he may not always have a guinea in his pocket, But if they are not incessantlyproducing all they are worth to every comer ; when called out in public situations, in the senate, the pulpit, or at the bar, we see all the ener- gies of genius in all its opulence and variety. We see the most powerful reasoning, adorned by themost persuasive eloquence. With these ample materials for conversation, they are not perhaps driven, like some of their more volatile neighbours, to talk for the sake of talking. c4
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