may however warn us not to trust in the exterior glare of action, but to search after intention. The state of man's retirement is the most mysterious of all things. Thus far we know, that from it those vices, which directly affect private tranquillity, derive their source. Seduction and adultery, which are by many habitually committed, demand the most intire privacy, and are fostered in places, which the credulous imagine sacred to rural innocence and simplicity. These crimes are not confined to places of large concourse, but are become general, and are found among all degrees of people. They form the recreations of private hours, and because not contrary to nature, are regarded as venial. The beechen shades, and the woodland paths of the Poets, are no longer the chaste abodes of love and innocence, but are polluted by the murder of honor and the sacrifice of virtue. Depravity has various appearances. In the streets of cities, we behold the lowest prostitutes, reeking with the vapours of intoxication, mingling curses with endearments, and fondness with extortion, the sport of fortune, a prey to poverty, and the heirs of final remorse, and early death. In the chambers of the great, we perceive the votaries of gallantry pampering themselves in a hot bed of their own creation, and existing in an artificial reputation, which shrinks from open vice, but wooes it under the veil of concealment. In the country, we find rural sports become the vehicle of sin, we behold honesty supplanted by craftiness, and simplicity worn as the mask of falshood; and are often shocked by scenes of voluntary profligacy, or of base and insidious deceit. Here also the hand of commerce, intent only on gathering lucre, is widely breaking down the barriers of decency, and filling our towns with loose and abandoned characters. These These vices and immoralities are obtruded on the public notice in a thousand shapes, but seldom in that of grave censure. Even in the circles of society they form an amusing topic of conversation and inquiry, and are treated as matters of mirth and badinage. They are themes for wit and humor, and afford to the story-teller and the gossip subjects which command ready attention. On all sides we hear of fathers seeking legal redress for the dishonour of their daughters, of husbands paying themselves for the infidelity of their wives, of children intriguing under their Parents' roof, of daughters throwing themselves into the arms of seducers, and of parents committing their offspring to schools of licensed depravity; and yet for all this, we calmly look on, and think " no harm done." All these errors are nevertheless important; as they are usually the basis and foundation of greater transgressions, and often of fatal crimes. And all these arise from thoughts nourished in privacy and retirement. These it is, which "undermine insensibly the happiness of the world" by influencing or distracting all the noble aims and counsels of the human mind. The contemplation of so dark a side of human nature, Mr. Adventurer, is very shocking and very humiliating; but neither you, nor any other man of common sense and observation, can deny its existence. A common argument used to extenuate the odium of such characteristics, is to say, that we hear much of vice and little of virtue; which is really but a poor compliment to the feelings of society. For the public voice is generally in unison with the public ear; and if it be true that vice is more talked of than virtue, we naturally infer that the one is a more gratifying topic than the other. For mine own part, I want no further conviction than I have had, that the dominion of vice is more powerful than than that of virtue, and that the most fatal errors originate in the least suspected quarters: and the reason I conceive is obvious. We all seek Pleasure. Now Pleasure (in a good sense) is indispensible; life would be no blessing without it. But the majority of mankind seek pleasure in covert ways and by unwarrantable means, and by buying their satisfaction at the expence of reason and discretion, incur guilt and invite repentance. Thus is vice gradually and insensibly introduced and established among us. DUROTRIGIUS. SECTION V. A Love Letter from the works of George Farquhar, Esq. Madam, If I han't begun thrice to write, and as often thrown away my pen, may I never take it up again! my head and my heart have been at cuffs about you these two long hours--Says my head, you're a coxcomb for troubling your noddle with a lady whose beauty is as much above your pretensions, as your merit is below her love. Then answers my heart, good Mr. Head, you're a blockhead; I know Mr. Fr's merit better than you as for your part, I know you to be as whimsical as the devil, and changing with every new notion that offers, but for my share I am fixed, and can stick to my opinion of a lady's merit for ever; and if the fair She can secure an interest in me, Monsieur Head, you may go whistle. Come, comé, (answered my head) you Mr. Heart, are always leading this Gentleman into some inconvenience or or other was it not you that first enticed him to talk with this lady? your damned confounded warmth made him like this lady, and your busy impertinence has made him write to her, your leaping and skipping disturbs his sleep by night, and his good humour by day-in short, Sir, I will hear no more of it; I, am Head, and will be obeyed-You lie, Sir, (replied my heart, being very angry) I am head in matters of love, and if you don't give your consent, you shall be forced; for I am sure that in this case all the members will be on my side. What say you, Gentlemen Hands? Oh, say the hands, we would not forego the tickling pleasure of touching a delicious, white soft skin for the world. Well, what say you, Mr. Tongue? Zounds, says the Linguist, there is more extasy in speaking three soft words of Mr. Hearts' suggesting than whole orations of Signor Head's; so I am for the lady, and here's my honest neighbour Lips will stick to't. By the sweet power of kisses, that we will, (replied the lips) and presently some other worthy members standing up for the heart, they laid violent hands (nemine contradicente) upon poor head, and knocked out his brains, So now, Madam, behold me as perfect a lover as any Christendom, my heart purely directing every word I say: the little rebel throws itself in your power, and if you don't support it in the cause it has taken up for your sake, think what will be the condition of the headless and heartless. in The following little pieces of Poetry of kind, must not be tried by the rules of art. the Sonnet They are of a careless a careless and irregular measure, but discover much poetic genius, and each possesses the peculiar excellency. of conveying a moral of extreme piety and beauty. They are the productions of a Lady, whose smallest contributions to this work will be ever esteemed a favor by the Conductor. I. TO A DROP OF DEW. No orient gems from India's richest mine And weep it when thou seest it droop and die: When secretly her little store she lends The glittering tear of charity and love Shall deck her heavenly crown in realms above. II. TO SPRING. When spring has chased dark winter's sullen frown, And in her vivid green the meadows drest, She steals a diamond from his icy crown To |