Transcription

"Better for Us, perhaps, it might appear, "Were there all harmony, all virtue here; "That never air or ocean felt the wind; "That never passion discompos'd the mind; "But all subsists by elemental strife; "And passions are the elements of Life. "The gen'ral order since the whole began, "Is kept in nature, and is kept in Man. Philosophers may deal out their precepts, but mankind will attend to them as it suits their situation or convenience - [[unclear]] the Passions are a little cooled, they are much more powerful than warm. Pope seems to have understood the construction of the human frame, and I should imagine, that there is a constant elemental strife between the little French girl & Tristram Shandy, when if I were to give my opinion truly, I should suppose that the former proved more powerful than the latter. And now, Sir, If you please I will proceed to more serious matter - The generality of people here, appear to be totally unacquainted with foreign politicks, and I readily class myself amongst the vulgar; yet, if the faculties be a little exerted, I apprehend it possible to draw some conclusions, which might not be very far wide from the truth. On the subject of foreign alliance, I shall suppose the mistrusts of England and France; & then of Austria & Prussia opposed to each other; that Holland, by its indolence and inactivity is incapable of supporting itself;