“Seldom in war a match for single persons—­nor in peace; therefore
    kings make themselves absolute.  Confederacies in learning—­every
    great work the work of one. Bruy.  Scholars friendship like
    ladies.  Scribebamus, &c.  Mart.  The apple of discord—­the laurel of
    discord—­the poverty of criticism.  Swift’s opinion of the power of
    six geniuses united.  That union scarce possible.  His remarks just;
   —­man a social, not steady nature.  Drawn to man by words, repelled
    by passions.  Orb drawn by attraction, rep. [repelled] by
    centrifugal.

    “Common danger unites by crushing other passions—­but they return. 
    Equality hinders compliance.  Superiority produces insolence and
    envy.  Too much regard in each to private interest;—­too little.

    “The mischiefs of private and exclusive societies.—­The fitness of
    social attraction diffused through the whole.  The mischiefs of too
    partial love of our country.  Contraction of moral duties.
     [Greek:  Oi philoi, ou philos].

“Every man moves upon his own centre, and therefore repels others from too near a contact, though he may comply with some general laws.  Of confederacy with superiors every one knows the inconvenience.  With equals no authority;—­every man his own opinion—­his own interest.

“Man and wife hardly united;—­scarce ever without children.  Computation, if two to one against two, how many against five?  If confederacies were easy—­useless;—­many oppresses many.—­If possible only to some, dangerous. Principum amicitias.”

No. 50.  SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1753.

  Quicunque turpi fraude semel innotuit,
  Etiamsi verum dicit, amittit fidem. PHAED. Lib. i.  Fab. x. l.

  The wretch that often has deceiv’d,
  Though truth he speaks, is ne’er believ’d.

When Aristotle was once asked, what a man could gain by uttering falsehoods? he replied, “Not to be credited when he shall tell the truth.”

The character of a liar is at once so hateful and contemptible, that even of those who have lost their virtue it might be expected that from the violation of truth they should be restrained by their pride.  Almost every other vice that disgraces human nature, may be kept in countenance by applause and association:  the corrupter of virgin innocence sees himself envied by the men, and at least not detested by the women; the drunkard may easily unite with beings, devoted like himself to noisy merriments or silent insensibility, who will celebrate his victories over the novices of intemperance, boast themselves the companions of his prowess, and tell with rapture of the multitudes whom unsuccessful emulation has hurried to the grave; even the robber and the cut-throat have their followers, who admire their address and intrepidity, their stratagems of rapine, and their fidelity to the gang.