MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, © 161

canst thou enjoy, who livest forlorn and solitary in a
trackless and unpeopled desert ? who hast no mate to
caress thee; no young ones to excite thy tenderness
and reward thy cares; no kindred, no society amongst
thy fellows? Not long life only, but immortality itself,
would be a curse, if it were to be bestowed on such
uncomtortable terms. For my part, I know that my
life will be short, and therefore I employ it in raising
&% numerous posterity, and in opening my heart to all
the sweets of domestic happiness. I am beloved by
my partner; [ am dear to man; and shall leave marks
behind me that I have lived. As to the sun, to whom
thou hast presumed to compare thyself, that glorious
being is so totally different from, and so infinitely
superior to, all the creatures upon earth, that it does
not become us to liken ourselves to him, or to deter-
mine upon the manner of his existence. One obvious
difference, however, thou mayest remark; that the sun,
though alone, by his prolific heat produces all things ;
and though he shines so high above our heads, gives
us reason every moment to bless his beams; whereas
thou, swelling with imaginary greatness, dreamest
away a long period of existence, equally void of com-
fort and usefulness.” —

am, 2

 

THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.

F. YT witt now, as I promised, give you an account
of the elegant and useful manufacture of Paper, the
basis of which is itself a manufacture. This delicate
and beautiful substance is made from the meanest and
most disgusting materials,—from old rags, which have
passed from one poor person to another, and have,
perhaps, at length dropped in tatters from the child of
the beggar. These are carefully picked up from dung-
hills, or bought from servants by Jews, who make it
their business to go about and collkwt them. They
sell them to the rag-merchant, who gives from two.
pence to fourpence a pound, according to their quality,

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