tenants pay for it." "How so!" 66 Why, when your steward first raised my rent, I took a little more toll from them, and when he doubled it, I did the same." "O, if that's the case, answer'd his lordship, pray take the mill at the old rent."

MR

ANECDOTE

OF

DEAN SWIFT.

R. Sheridan relates a remarkable incident, occasioned by Wood's halfpence, which he says was communicated to him by Mr. Hoffsleger, a native of Germany, then a resident merchant of some eminence in Dublin, who was present when it happened. The day after the proclamation was issued out against the author (Dean Swift) of the Drapier's Fourth Letter, there was a full levee at the castle.The Lord Lieutenant was going round the circle, when Swift abruptly entered the chamber, and pushing his way through the croud, never stopped till he got within the circle; where, with marks of the highest indignation in his countenance, he addressed the Lord Lieutenant with

the

the voice of a Stentor, that re-echoed through the room, "So, my Lord Lieutenant, this is a glorious exploit that you performed yesterday, in issuing a proclamation against a poor shop. keeper, whose only crime is an honest endeavour to save his country from ruin. You have given a noble specimen of what this devoted nation is to hope for, from your government.— I suppose you expect a statue of copper will be erected to you, for this service done to Wood.” He then went on, for a long time, inveighing in the bitterest terms against the patent, and displaying, in the strongest colours all the fatal consequences of introducing that execrable coin. The whole assembly were struck mute with wonder, at this unprecedented scene. The titled slaves, and vassals of power, felt, and shrunk into their own littleness, in the presence of this man of virtue. He stood super-eminent among them, like his own Gulliver amid a circle of Lilliputians. For some time a profound silence ensued: when Lord Cartaret, who had listened with great composure to the whole speech, made this fine reply, in a line of Virgil's:

Res duræ, & regni novitas me talia cogunt 'Moliri.'

Hard fortune, and the newness of my reign, compel me to such measures.'

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The whole assembly was struck with the beauty of this quotation, and the leyee broke up in good humour, some extolling the magnanimity of Swift to the skies, and all delighted with the ingenuity of the Lord Lieutenant's answer.

AN ESSAY

ON

THE PASSIONS.

WO or three days ago I dined at a village a

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few miles from London, and in the evening walked to town with a gentleman, between whom and myself a strong friendship has subsisted ever since we went to school together; and, I doubt not will subsist through life, as we are The evenexactly of the same turn of mind. ing was fine, and the agreeable conversation related to the use and abuse of the passions.When I sat down in my study, what had passed between my friend and me, suggested the following reflections.

The various passions implanted in the human mind, were given for the greatest and most exalted purposes, by the great Creator, whose

sole

sole aim in forming man, and giving him these passions, was to render him happy, wise, and good. The passions, when properly used, lead us to every good and laudable action; they excite us to excel others in virtue, and make us emulous to surpass the rest of our fellow-creatures: when abused, they ruin our constitution, impair our health and intellects, and from being the most noble of nature's works, degrade and render us inferior to the brute creation.

It is evident, therefore, that what was intended for our use and advantage, is often prevented and abused, even by the best and most virtuous men; for all have abused them in some measure. Since this is the case, it is the duty of every man to govern and restrain his passions with the utmost care and diligence, to keep them under as tight a rein as possible, which he will find no easy task. For the passions may be well compared to a wild and fiery steed, which, if not restrained, will fly to the top of a precipice, and plunge the horseman into destruction; but if kept under by a skilful rider, will carry him to the wished for goal in safety.— Thus the passions, when unskilfully guided, lead a man into the paths of misery and ruin; but when directed by reason and virtue, carry him safely through the rocks and shallows of a troublesome

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blesome life, and bear him to the eternal haven, crowned with peace, honour, and happiness.

It may be said, since it is so difficult a task to restrain and govern our passions, it would be better for us, if they had never been planted in our breasts: but it is far otherwise; for the passions are the greatest blessings of life, and though they act so different upon different men, yet without them our lives would be mere blanks, as we should never be impelled to perform any good or virtuous action. We have instances of very opposite passions actuating the same men by turns; but if we could govern our own passions, the whole world, and every thing in it, would move calmly and uniformly before our eyes.

The best way to govern them is, by following the dictates of reason and virtue, calling to our aid perseverance and fortitude. Reason, when we apply to her, will point out the way to the temple of virtue, who will open her arms wide to receive us; when we once begin our journey, fortitude and resolution will kindly grant their assistance, if we solicit it, and are desirous of accepting it. We often display great constancy in order to compass trifling pleasures, and insignificant pursuits; why can we not then exert the same resolution to attain what will conduce

to