heop-petticoat. The learned writers of antiquity are filent upon the occafion; which makes me conjecture that the glory of this pompous piece of elegancy is due to the moderns. MOP. TOURNEFORT, in his voyage through the Levant, gives the defcription and figure of a very magnificent petticoat, worn by the ladies of Myconia, which may, probably, have been the original of yours: That, indeed, is full of plaits, and quilled from top to bottom; whereas yours are plain, which is after the grand gufto in Aructures of every kind. When I confider the clinging drapery of our grandmothers, and compare it with the spreading coats of this affembly, I do not fo much wonder at the rudeness of the former, as I am aftonished at the politeness of the prefent age. They crept along, as it were, in fetters; and a women with her head peeping out of a fack, could hardly be more confined, or make a more Grotefque figure. On the other hand, the cupula coat allows all the freedom of motion, the graceful walk, and the majestic ftep; not to mention the beauty and fplendor of the foot, which plays vifibly within the circle, and ravishes the watchful eyes of the beholder. When I furvey the fru&ture of this filken dome, and contemplate the convex, or concave of the building, I am Aruck with admiration at the ingenuity of mankind: A fabrick fo ample, and withal fo portable, is ftupendous! And after-ages, who, perhaps, may fee this contrivance only in the paintings of fome great mafters, fhall with pain believe what the juftnefs of the pencil reprefents. Were I to enumerate the conveniencies and ornaments, which accrue to the fex from the ufe of the hoop, the tapers would require fouffing, before my fpeech could draw to an end: Therefore, I fhall only touch upon two obfervations. The firft is, that the compafs of the coat ferves to keep the men at a decent diftance, and appropriates to every lady a fpacious verge, facred to herself. In the next place, the compliment, allowed in all times, of comparing a beauty to a flar, will now quadrate in every refpe&t, when it may, properly, be faid of every fair female, that the moves in her orb, and fhines in her fphere, in proportion to a ftar of the firft magnitude. I might, here, mention the vast benefit the public reaps from this dress, and take notice of the great number of of hands employed in building and repairing thefe beautiful edifices, were it not too well known to my hearers. I cannot, however, pass over in filence the particular encouragement this mode has given in whale fishing, no inconfiderable branch of our commerce. Go on, then, adorable creatures! to cherish and improve an ornament, every way praife worthy. Suffer not yourfelves to be perfuaded to your downfal, by those who would undermine your main fupport. Sufpe&t the artifices of fuch as would narrow your foundation, and refolve to maintain the establishment of your charms upon a wide fpreading bottom to the last. As foon as Florio had finished his declaration, a young damfel of fifteen made two exorbitant fteps (meafuring at each the compass of her hoop) quite across the room, and, with her flender fingers, tied a gold cord, with two large taffels of gold, to his fword; a prefent, it feems, which the the youthful part of the affembly had bespoke for their orator. This gallantry performed, SOPHRONIO ftood up, and, modeftly bowing, went to the Settee; where, ftanding upon the floor, he took his turn to speak. Gentlemen and Ladies, Perceive, by the applauding fmiles, and triumphant difplay of the fans from the gay fide of this bright circle, that the prejudices of youth will weaken the force of any arguments I may draw from reafon to combat the flattering eloquence of my antagonist. But when I turn to the unbias'd part of my audience, I doubt not of a favourable hearing from them: And, I am perfuaded, their approbation (which ever way it points) will have its proper influence over the virgins; fince their modefty will not fuffer them to difregard the judgment of perfons, whofe wifdom and experience entitle them to respect. I have always been of opinion, that the two principal articles to be confulted in drefs are conveniency and orna ment ment; and that, in both, there fhould be fome regard had to frugality. and an inviolable adherence to modefty; more especially in the fair fex. Now, if you would please to confider the hoop petticoat impartially, in its moft fafhionable dimenfions, I fear you will not find it anfwer to any of thefe confiderations. I believe, it would puzzle the quickeft invention to find out one tolera ble conveniency in thefe machines. I appeal to the fincerity of the ladies, whether they are not a great incumbrance upon all occafions( vanity apart) both at home and abroad. What skill and management is required to reduce one of thefe circles within the limits of a chair, or to find a space for two in a chariot! And what precautions muft a modifh female take even to enter the door of a private family, without obftruction! Then, a vivacious damfel cannot turn herself round in a room, a little inconfiderately, without overfetting every thing like a whirlwind. Stands and tea tables, flower pots, china jars and bafons, innumerable, perifh daily, by fpreading mifchief; which (like a comet) fpares nothing that comes within its sweep. this Neither is this fashion more ornamental than convenient. Nothing can be imagined more unnatural, and confequently, lefs agreeable. When a flender virgin flands upon a bafis fo exorbitantly wide, the refembles a tunnel; a figure of no great elegancy. And I have feen many fine ladies of a low ftature, who, when they fail in their hoops about an apartment, look like little children in go-carts. The minifeft profufenefs of the drefs makes it needlefs for me, to obferve how little it is calculated to anfwer the purpofes of frugal ty, efpecially if we confider, that the luxuries of a lady generally bear a proportion to this circumference of her garment. Upon this account the mafter of a family, who has three or four hoops to maintain, must be a good husband in other more neceffary articles, or he will be apt to turn a male content, and think the additional burden of publick taxes infupportable. I come, in the last place, to speak to the modefty of this cumberfome, in elegant, expenfive mode. I could eafily enlarge upon this topick, were it not too delicate a point before fuch an audience. It will be fufficient, only to remind the affembly of what the gentleman who spoke before me, intimated concerning the vifible play of the foot; and I wish it could be said, that the watchful curiofity of the men was never gratified farther upon certain occafions; fince the modern petticoat is but a treacherous covering to the unwary. I fee, on my left hand, blushes begin to rife, which are more eloquent than any thing I can fay against this abuse of cloathing. From thefe fair omens I hope for fuccefs. I have only hinted (without the varnifh of rhetorick) at fuch plain argument as your own reflection will readily improve to a full conviction. The confequence of which will be, the introducing of a more reasonable fashion of coats; or, at leaft, the reducing of the extravagance of the hoop within the bounds of decency and moderati on. No fooner had SOPHRONIO retired from the fettee to his chair, than a grave lady took out of a corner cupboard behind her, a large, maffy caudie cup; a comfortable piece of plate, after the good old fashion; and prefented it, in the name of the matrons, to him, as their acknowledgment of the fignal fervices of his fpeech. The wit and vivacity of FLORIO, and the good fenfe and modefty of SOPHRONIO, were commended on both fides. when the two gentlemen, who did not fpeak, were defired to gather the votes of the company, the hoop petticoats were approved of, by above two thirds of the voices. But jects, fhould they be deemed ever fo heretical. This would difcountenance rational enquiry, which every feasible friend to revelation would wish to encourage. But why fhould thofe, who are firmly perfuaded of the truth of the chriftian religion, be inftrumental in diffeminating the opinions of fuch as reject it? 'Tis fufficient that they have a right to do it themfelves. Whoever has read the ENQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF EVIL, and the VIEW OF THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN, RELIGION, both published by the author of this Difquifition, muft conclude him to be a deift. For although, in the laft mentioned performance, which many were willing to thick came from a chriftian, he writes admirably, I had almoft faid incomparably, on the intrinfic excellence of the precepts of the gof pel; and has faid fome things in its defence, in the most elegant, original, and affecting manner; yet when he afferts that the doctrine of the atonement, which he allows to be a fcripture truth, CONTRADICTS all our ideas of divine juftice that doctrines CONTRADICTORY to reafon, are not, on that account, lefs credible--that reafon is never fo ill employed as when the endeavours to accomodate the particular doctrine above-mentioned to her own ideas of rectitude--and that the lefs incomprehenfible a revelation is, the more incredible, we fee the cloven foot, and the propriety of placing the book on the fame shelf with Dodwell's CHRISTIANITY NOT FOUNDED ON ARGUMENT; which has been ftyled a masked battery, and was fo artfully railed and confructed that many at its first appearance, took it for a defence of that religion it was intended to deftroy. In the Difquifition there is the fame 'design carried on. A mortal blow is aimed at the caufe of chriftianity, under a pretence of refcuing it from the abufes of rationalifts, whom he charges with CONVERTING CHRISTI. ANITY INTO DEISM. Strange, that, men whom he fuppofes engaged to promote deifm, thould meet with fuch fevere cenfures, merely because they do not pursue the fame measures to accomplish their end as the Dif quifitor has adopted! We find in this DISQUISITION the fame paradoxical ftrain that appeared decrying the ufe of reafon in religion; in the VIEW, and the fame zeal in becaufe, it feems, chriftianity "is fo adverse to all the principles of human reffon, that, if brought before her tribunal, it muft inevitably be condemned." So faith Mr. Jenyns--and those who are for reconciling revelation with reafon, he charges with DISHONESTY and HYPOCRISY ! Let unbelievers write with freedom; but let them attack chriftianity in á fair, open and undisguised manner. Believers defire only a clear ftage; but no favour. There are many a= bundantly able to confute all the BOLLINGEROKES, VOL HUMES, TA RES and JRNYNS's in the univerfe, if they fhould advance any thing NEW, which is not to be expected. Every thing hitherto offered her has been anfwered again and again. which HOBBS taught long ago, being The doctrine of MATERIALISM, lately revived, is confidered by many as militating with revelation, and reject the gofpel, and the "life and fome half-thinkers who embrace it, immortality brought to light" thereby. Could we be certain that the doctrine is true, and that it is not in the power of the Creator to render matter immortal, then indeed we fhould have an argument against ALL religion, natural, as well as revealed. But nothing has been advanced by confidered and refuted. They have deifts which has not been thoroughly exhaufted their ftock. What Jenyns has faid, has been faid before, though not in fo mafterly a way. The denial of the immateriality of the foul gion, in the opinion of the present does not make againft revealed relichampion of the materialifts; yet fome, without half his difcernment, have given up the latter, on adopting his idea of the former; and it is to be the number; for Non omnes qui feared other Tyro's will be added to citharam tenent citharædi funt. Dr. PRIESTLY, who doubtlefs is a beIt might, perhaps, be well even for liever in chriftianity, and a worthy and 104 and excellent man, to ask himself, with reference to that doctrine, which he has fo learnedly maintained, Cui bono? Of what importance is it to us to know whether the old doctrine of the immateriality of the foul be true or faise, whilft we firmly believe its immortality? I fhall not trouble your readers any further than juft to obferve, that the friends of chriftianity ought to be extremely careful not to weaken the credibility of the gofpel by Difquifitions, which, though harmless in themselves, may poffibly shake the faith of fome lefs knowing persons. A RATIONAL CHRISTIAN. Maternal Affection: or, the Hiftory of CLEORA. [Illuftrated with a Copper-plate.] T HE viciffitudes of this life are fo numerous, and fo little forefeen, that, without being a profeffed predeftinarian, one might be induced to believe, that fome of the great outlines of our lives are chalked out by Providence; it must be with the greateft difficulty and the moft arduous fortitude that they can be furmounted. At least, actuated by those paffions which are implanted in every human breaft, we must be fomething more than mortal to fubdue all thofe nice feelings, which force themfelves upon us at moments that we are the moft unguarded, at thofe critical infiants that almoft determine our future destiny. After this exordium, we fhall endeavour to illuftrate thefe obfervations in the hiftory of Cleora. This young lady was born in Lancashire,, and defcended from an ancient family of the Romish perfuafion. According ly, when he had attained a proper age, he was fent to French Flanders, and placed in a nunnery for her education. At that period the knew not that is was intended the fhould take the veil: her parents informed her that he was to remain there only three years, in order to obtain a fluency in the French language, and other polite parts of an elegant edu cation. However, during her noviciate, the lady abbefs, who was miftrefs of her profeffion, availed herself of the inAructions he had received to feduce Cleora to a religious life; and though this kind of feduction is not fo well known, or at leaft underflood, as that of another fpecies, it is equally if not more criminal. The abbefs called forth all her rhetorical talents to difplay the felicity of a monaftic career--the heavenly joys that must neceffarily follow, as no fin was permitted within thofe walls, and even no finful ideas could pervade them. The innocent Cleora liftened with too much attention--the fwallowed the baneful ambrofia of her lips, which tickled, cloyed, and almost ruined. Cleora had not been above three months a clofe prifoner in the convent, veiled and precluded the fociety of all her former acquaintance---whet the discovered how truly wretched was her condition-how he had bee impofed upon, beguiled by the artifice of the abbels. It was at this ver period,that the flood confeffed a perfe woman, and all the paffions that a fail a female breaft operated on her She had read Abelard and Heloife and many other performances of fimilar nature, which tended to fan flame which ere this had been kindle A young abbe of great wit and a drefs, with a happy, a prepoffeff phyfiognomy, and a manly perto prefented himself at the grate, one ternoon, when Cleora found her he fufceptible of every impreffion fr the God of love. Their eyes fparkl as it were, with fympathetic fire his mellifluous tongue, added to th conveyed a thoufand Cupids to heart, which foon (urrendered at cretion to fuch powerful affaila innocent and unguarded. After a fucceffion of conferences the most tender, the most impaffio kind, Lorenzo, for so we shall call abbè, proposed an elopement. Cleo at fir, ftartled at the proposal, the foon found her affections too de ly engaged in the conflict not to fent to the defign. In fine, next ni about twelve, Cleora found mean el Mate: 20 105 effes their mutual i that Cleora's fand has bequeathed ortune; we may that Lorenzo and in, will, at length, y. the BOSTON MA INE. n your firft and fea very ingenious have taken the liu as a continuation ur next,an account performed by the Florence. They be about an inch water, and fitted to rew. Then they a mixture of fnow tinuing it exposed mofphere for fome mination, found it es had been fuffici. Danfive force of the ed to a turner, to sthickness. They befame manner as refifted the force ⚫ expanded. They econd time to the ed the thickness of d at laft, upon befreezing mixture, burf afunder. The great, that they with which the ve exceeded twen(even hundred and All this force was lobe of water, only * which water exany facts and phe. ave occafion to ob. : burfting of pipes when they are not it depth below the und, in frofty weagof the pavements. 23 on, we find the ich is occafioned by ce of the water, ezes, raises them a the ice is melted, it 'd from their beds. le accounts for the remarkable |