As 1 was indulging such reflections，a gentleman，dressed in black，perceiving me to be a stranger，came up，entered into conversation，and politely offered to be my instructor and guide through the temple．“If any monument，”said he，“should particularly excite your curiosity，I shall endeavour to satisfy your demands．’’I accepted with thanks the gentleman offer，adding，that“1 was come to observe the policythe wisdom，and the justice of the English，in conferring rewards upon deceased merit．” “If adulation like this，”continued I，“be properly conducted，as it can no ways injure those who are flattered，SO it may be a glorious incentive to those who are now capable of enjoying it．It is the duty of every good government to turn this monumental pride to its own advantage；to become strong in the aggregate from the weakness of the individual．If none but the truly great have a place in this awful repository，a temple like this will give the finest lessons of morality，and be a strong incentive to true ambition．I am told，that none have a place here but characters of the most distinguished merit．”The man in black seemed impatient at my observations；SO I discontinued my remarks and we walked on together to take a view of every particular monument in order as it lay．
As the eye is naturally caught by the finest objects，I could not avoid being particularly curious about one monument，which appeared more beautiful than the rest．“That，”said I to my guide，“I take to be the tomb of some very great man．By the peculiar excellence of the workmanship，and the magnificence of the design，this must be a trophy raised to the memory of some king who has saved his country from ruin，or law-giver，who has reduced his fellow—citizens from anarchy into just subjection．” “It is not requisite，”replied my companion smiling， “to have such qualifications in order to have a very fine monument here．More humble abilities will suffice．”What!I suppose then，thegaining two or three battles，or the taking half a．score towns，is thought asufficient qualification?”Gaining battles，or ta~fing towns，’’replied theman in black，“may be of service；but a gentleman may have a very finemonument here without ever seeing a battle or a siege．’’ “This，then，isthe monument of some poet，I presume，of oneⅥ，hose wit has gained himimmortality?”No，sir，”replied my guide，“the gentleman who lieshere never made verses；and as for wit，he despJ sed it in others，becausehe had none himself．’’ “Pray tell me then in a word，”said I peevishly，“what is the great man who lies here particularly remarkable for?’’“Remarkable．sit!’’said my companion；“why，sir，the gentlemanthat lies here iS remarkable，very remarkable for a tomb in Westminster Abbey．’’ “But，head of my ancestors!How has he got here?I fancy he could never bribe the guardians of the temple to：give him a place．Should he not be ashamed to be seen among company，where even moderate merit would look like infamy?’’ “I suppose。”replied the man in black，“the gentleman was rich．and his friends，as is usualin such a case，told him he was great．He readily believed them；the guardians of the temple，as they got by the self-delusion，were ready to believe him too；SO he paid his money for a fine monument；and the workman，as you see，has made him one of the most beautiful．Think not，however，that this gentleman is singular in his desire of being buried among the",great；there are several others in the temple，who，hated and shunned by the great while alive，have come here，fully resolved to keep them company now they are dead．’’