annually destroyed in the filling season by pigeons, which do not themselves yield L. 500 of revenue per annum. This is not merely vexatious and opprefsive to the farmers, it is a national calamity, worse than the mildew or the smutt,-I had almost said, than the Hefsian fly, and yet if the industrious hufbandman, indignant at the havoc made in his crop by these vermin, hould attempt to prevent it by destroying them, he is in danger of being overwhelmed by a whole combination of landlords against him!. It would be more laudable in these great men to enter into an association to feed their own pigeons. at this season of the year, than to prosecute those. who in defence of their property destroy them. The damage they do to the standing corns is far beyond what is saved in the expence of their feeding.. It may be alleged that the farmers, instead of Shooting the pigeons, may drive them away by scares and rickets. But that has always been, and ever will be, a vain attempt, so long as their owners withhold food from them at home. Nay, fhameful as it may seem, it is a notorious fact, that many wealthy owners of pigeons, with the greatest afsiduity, drive away their own flocks at this season from their own lands, that they may prey on the crop of the neighbouring farmers! One would almost think, that in these revolution times there is a general conspiracy against our good old constitution. On the one hand we have the democratic faction endeavouring to inflame the minds of the people against it, by misrepresenting our own situation, compared with their Frenchified ideas of civil liberty. On the other hand we see the aristocratic interest in the most public manner setting up a wild claim of privilege that their pigeons, forsooth, must not be molested in the act of destroying the crop of the country! If it is unseasonable at this time on the one side, to cry up a reform, it is surely as unseasonable on the other side to irritate by the assumption of unreasonable and ill founded privileges.. Mid-Lothian, Aug. 22. 1792. } COMMON SENSE. DETACHED REMARKS. For the Bee. To receive a favour with a good grace, requires a certain greatness of soul, which our natural pride, and love of independence, render it difficult to exercise; but that surely is an unbecoming pride, which makes us revolt against obligations, conferred by those we esteem, and wish to make happy. It is one unhappy consequence of an extensive knowledge of the world, to render us cautious and suspicious, and to check that sweet benevolence that glows in the bosom of uncorrupted youth. Always believe the best you can of your species; but remember that appearances are often fallacious, and, if trusted on every occasion, may betray you into error, and even danger. The children of misfortune have a claim, not only to sympathy and relief, but to respect, because they are peculiarly sensible to the wounds inflicted by carelefsnefs and neglect. Small favours and quiet atten tions, excite a more pleasing and tender gratitude, in minds of real delicacy, than great obligations. We are opprefsed with a sense of the latter, and the feeling of conscious inferiority they awaken is always painful; but the former is soothing to our self-love, without wounding our pride or generosity.. Splendid actions are often the effect of vanity; constant attentions are always the offspring either of friendship or humanity. Console yourself with the innocence and inte-grity of your heart, and trust that being, who is not only powerful to protect, but merciful to support suffering virtue, and who at last will eternally reward it. Often when our prospects are most gloomy, and our way most perplexed, that unseeen hand, which directs the course of human affairs, is stretched out for our deliverance,, and conducts our steps to safety and peace. Conscious of the rectitude of my intentions, I commit the issue of my conduct to that being, whom it is my unfeigned desire to please, who will confirm the good resolutions he inspires, and never forsake those who trust in him. In spite of all the inconveniencies to which it exposes its pofsefsor, a feeling heart is surely to be regarded as the first of heaven's blessings. Its very pains are pleasing; how exquisite then its joys! Other qualities are perhaps more efsential towards forming the character, but sensibility never fails to The too great in constitute the truly amiable one. dulgence of tender feelings, however, often proves, prejudicial to the exercise of the social virtues ; it is only when the former are properly regulated, that they become respectable, by leading to the due discharge of the latter. Though chearfulness cannot always be mantained, amidst the unavoidable evils of life, there is a peace that may be ours, even while struggling with its heaviest misfortunes; a peace, the concomitant of virtue, which religion alone can give, and guilt only take away. The great foundation of this invaluable treasure, must be laid in just apprehensions of the divine nature and government. If we believe, as we ought, that we are the offspring of a great and good God, who, by his essential attributes, is present in every place, directing all events, and carrying on, by infinite wisdom, the plan of his divine government, to complete perfection; if we believe that he has placed us here as on a theatre, where our dispositions must be improved, our actions displayed, and our virtues tried, in order to future retribution.; if we know that, superadded to the feeble glimmerings of nature, he hath caused the glorious light of revelation to arise, to dispel our fears, confirm our hope, and lead our desires to suitable objects; if we are afsured that events here, fhall prepare us to eternal felicity hereafter, how can we be otherwise than chearful, serene, and happy? Let us habituate our minds to the prospect of that fast approaching future, the awful importance of which will cause the heaviest of our Sept. 12. present evils to seem light; yes, the time is coming when piety and benevolence fhall be rewarded with that felicity, which even in this world they anticipate, and which fhall be the portion of the truly good, through ages that shall never end. Oh! my dear friend, how do trying situations endear to us the great truths of religion. It is religion which stills the violence of pafsion, and soothes the most turbulent to peace; itis that which, in the darkest hour of adversity, illumes and chears the soul of man; it is that which proves the real dignity of our nature, by discovering to us our origin and destination; it is that alone which converts the fearful apprehension of a mortal separation, into the confirmed hope of an everlasting reunion, with those whom our souls hold dear. MIRA. MORAL philosophy makes the honest man. History, the man of experience. Poesy, the man of wit. Rhetoric, the eloquent man. Polite learning sheds a diffusive grace and ornament upon all kinds of literature. The knowledge of the world constitutes the intelligent man. The study of the sacred pages forms the good man. But ALL these must go together to make the perfect, complete gentleman. |