them on the road of life. It would be well it they learned early to throw afide chofe baby ftrings, which keep the mind in a fiate of infancy, long after the body has tained that of manhood. When you fee a man fo devoted to pleafure as never to be found in retirement, who is never happy but in a round of company of any kind, and of pleafures in every poffible variety, and who is fo much every body's elfe, that he is never his own, you inay fafely conclude that he is one of thofe overgrown and fpoiled babies who cannot go alone.' Mira would be one of the most agreeable of women, the beft of wives and of mothers, were the not a determined enemy to an hour's retirement. Her mornings, which commence with what the vulgar term day, are divided between the neceflities of fleep, drefs, and formal calls, auctions, fhopping, &c. Her day is spent in company, either at home or abroad, in public amufements, routes and cardparties. The fighteft bodily complaint is an affliction infupportable, from its impertinent interference with fome engagement, depriving her of the happiness of feeing felect party, and, what is worse, though a confequence of the other, cording her to her own thoughts, which, from want of tuangement, have long been a mere Quans or, to ule the new French Shafe, are in a flate of permanent archy. Balas! how ineffectual is the course of life, to exclude the lefictions that, torment, and the remembranes dat we are afhamed of --Mira win fcon profit an affecting mhance of de misto Canes which arife man being able to go alone. French Writer, whok na Pre rerollect, fays, that it is not nube kumves bem to take a salt and a must be confeffed, that vas ir ap am not to be learned in the used prefair of comparions, Cociety is, in all rotpets more dan Lerons the mind than retirement: Or, if we enter heartily into the plea fres of fociety, we foon learn to for get the duty of meditation, and to think it unneceffary, because we may avail ourselves of the wildom of others; but the man who is always borrowing cannot be rich.-In retirement, the cafe is widely different; for if a man does not acquire an extraordinary attachment to it (which is very rare, and not much to be apprehended in thefe days) the love of fociety, implanted in us by the author of our nature, returns by degrees, and he quits the murmuring of brooks for the bufy hum of inen; his mind, in the mean time, having received a confiderable acceffion of prudence and wildom.-Indeed, any perfon may be fafely trufted with retirement; but all the dangers incident to youth arife from their being left to fociety without a guide. I truft that this requires no higher proof than may be fupplied by a very fuperficial obfervation. The leaft of the disadvantages which flow from an averfion to folitude are levity, ficklenefs of inclination, and imbecility of refolution. External circumftances may prevent thefe from affuming other fhapes; and a woman, or a man, may become a filly fool, and nothing worfe; but this is not always the cafe. They very often lead to vice, by removing the guards againft temptation, and by depriving us of those comforts which render afe fiction and adverfity fupportable. Nor are levity, ficklenefs, and irrefolution altogether harmless, fince they are the parents of extravagance and expenfive pleafures, which occafion thofe reverfes of fortune, which the wife and the good only are able to fuftain without despair. When we have nothing to hope from ourselves, the affiftance of others will avail nothing in the hour of calamity. There are it must be acknow edged, fome cafes, in which a courfe of company, if I may fo exprefs myfel is recommended with advantage. There are certain anxieties of mind, proceeding from a habit of body naturally morbid, or from the remains of an accidental difeafe, in which cafes cheerful company, and a fuccellion of harmlefs pleafures, are recommended with great propriety, Company has likewife been confidered as a gentle, yet effectual cure for certain forrows arifing from tenderness of affection, and, with the co operation of time, this may no doubt answer every expectation. It has unqueftionably been often found, that on fuch occafions, folitude will prove hurtful by cherishing a hopeless melancholy, But it is not neceffary that what is recommended to one as a cure, fhould be adopted by all as a diet. Our medicine ought not to be our daily bread; and it may be remarked, that they who, to prevent imaginary diforders, are for ever taking medicine, frequently contract real diforders, in which all medicine is in vain. What can a phyfician prefcribe to a man, who is relaxed by a courfe of corroborants? One argument that may be advanced in favour of temporary retirement is of a nature, which furely ought to have the greatest weight, with those who are the greatest lovers of pleasure. I mean, that the more we partake of pleasure, the more infipid it becomes, and that when the edge of novelty is worn off, and variety is no longer attainable, we exhauft, our fpirits in a clamorous demand for amufement, which none can fupply, and in a perpetual effort to create, long after invention has ceafed to operate, and has loft its powers. No perfon can enjoy fociety, who does know the luxury of being alone. Indeed, fociety and retirement are fo abfolutely neceffary to each other, that it is almost impoffible to conceive how they could ever have been feparated.. Unhappy must that man be, who has diffolved the connexion, for he has thereby left to the fhort and painful hour of death, what ought to have been the bulinefs of a long and tranquil life. So well convinced am I of the necefity of temporary retirement, that I am inclined to attribute many irregularities and improprieties to the neglect of it, which, in the opinion of other men are afcribed to very different fources. I never see an absurd fashion, for inftance, gain ground, without attributing it to the giddinefs and thoughtleffnels of those, who cannot fubmit to a moment's reflection. If any of thofe ladies, who lately affumed the appearance of pregnancy, had entered into her clofet, and for five minutes had confidered the propriety of this fafhion, I am perfuaded that she must have rejected, with contempt, fo great a violation of female delicacy, fo public a proclamation of the decline of chastity, and fo grofs an affront to our fex, by infinuating that we should efteem a woman the better for looking like a proflitute*. If I were difpofed, for a moment, to admit the abfurd idea, that religion is a politic inftitution of man's invention, I fhould fay, that one of the moft politic and wifeft of its regulations, was the appointment of a day of reft from worldly labour. By those, whofe avocations during the week are preffing, this day ought to be prized, not only as a day of freedom from the calls of bufinefs, but as a day on which they have an opportunity to collect the fcattered, and arrange the confufed thoughts of the week, and, by looking backward as well as for * As we may prefume (without, we hope, the imputation of vanity) that this mifcellany may, by fome accident or other, meet the eyes of another generation, it becomes neceffary to explain this paragraph, by ftating (which we do with fome regret) that in the year 1793, feveral unmarried ladies of diftinction wore a piece of drefs, called a Ceftina, or Pad, which gave thein the appearance of being big with child. The fashion prevailed for fome months, when it raifed the indignation of the public, and at the time of writing this article, was confined principally to a few ladies, whofe practice it is to bid defiance to any impeachment against their characters, by endeayouring to prove that they have none to lofe, ward, THE ance of a puritanical fabbath, or prefcribing aufterities that would incur the ridicule of the world, we may furely lay it down as a pofition not to be controverted, that the power of enjoying one day in feven, apart from all bufinefs, from all that can distract, and all that can perplex, is a bleffing which no wife man would defpife. and which no man ever neglected with impunity. HISTORY of the ARE's and SHOULD-BE'S, I have used Similitudes.? C. SAC. SCRIP. HE family of the are's and a matter of difpute; nor can it occa of the should-be's, may be traced to the remotest periods of antiquity, and their pofterity may be found in every part of the known world. There are few, indeed, of the prefent generation, who cannot boaft of fome of their blood running in their veins; but of these two families, that of the are's claims the merit of greatly furpaffing the shouldbe's in numbers and influence. This is a circumstance we are the lefs to wonder at, because the are's have received almost universal encouragement throughout the world, whereas the hould-be's have in general been a defpifed people, no where uppermoft, very little encouraged at courts, and cherished principally in deferts, cottages, and folitary places, where they were either veiled in obfcurity, or buried in oblivion. Of the origin of the are's we are, however, more ignorant than of that of the bould-be's. The former, no doubt, can be traced back to the earliest ages, but wherever we find them, we at the fame time perceive, that fome family of the bould-be's must have preceded them, and therefore it is not without reafon that we conclude the bould-be's to have the firft claim to the merit of antiquity. This claim, however, has beeu often fion great furprife, if two families which boaft merits of fo very different a kind, fhould have ever remained at variance with each other; the are's perpetually contending for their vaft numbers, increafing population, and immenfe influence and patronage; and the should-be's for their fuperior origin, and the impoflibility of extinguishing their race, notwithstanding the mallness of their number and the fcantinefs of their power. These quarrels and difputes have been conducted by every poffible means, and by weapons of all kinds which the demon of difcord could devife; by open war and the force of arms, by fecret intrigue, and the operation of felf-intereft, by the powers of argument and the fubtilty of the pen. But an agreement between them has never yet taken place. The bould-be's, a people inclined to peace and good fellowship, can never cordially coalefce with the are's, who are heady, highminded, and quarrelfome, and never can be brought to believe that their vaft numbers are rather a disadvantage than otherwife; as tending to perpetuate the reign of folly and prejudice, and obftructing the fair and free progrefs of wisdom and common fenfe. Indeed, fomething is to be faid for them, provided the pride of 1 of human nature may be allowed to plead; for the should-be's have too often proceeded by very violent means, and, reject ng all half-meafures and gradual amendments, have infifted on the whole family of the are's being annihilated at one ftroke. It cannot, therefore, be wondered at, if the latter fhou d reject with contempt a propofition which, if advanced leifurely, moderately, and in parts, might perhaps be more acceptable, and lefs galling to the pride of human na ture. But while we thus blame the should be's for their zealous intemperance, and the boldness of their demands, we cannot deny that they are a people fo very far fuperior to the are's in every faculty and power, both intellectual and moral, that in order to see them fully established, we could with great pleasure witness the final overthrow of their antagonists, however numerous and domineering. And left it fhould be thought, that in expreffing fuch a wish, we are too fanguinary and merciless, (qualities which do not belong to the genuine fhould-be's) we hall briefly state our reasons. It appears that, from the earliest periods of fictitious, as well as of authentic hiftory, the are's have been the principal cause, and the great promoters of all the mifchief which has happened in the world; and this, in a great measure, is owing to the ferocious and barbarous manner in which they have been carrying on war against the fould-be's. They have likewife been the main props and fupporters of all the folly, nonfenfe, and ftrife, which has agitated courts, cities, camps, and theatres. They affume the prerogative of beftowing all honours, dignities, places, power, and even fame itself; which prerogative they abufe moft egregioufly, by promoting the unworthy, encouraging the faithlefs and perfidious, and treating with fcorn and contempt the virtuous and the wife. They have likewife affumed a fovereign authority over piaces of amufement and pecu liarities of drefs, rendering the former as irksome and pernicious to the mind, as the latter often are to the body. Incredible is the extent of the evils, which they create in private families, and among thofe individuals who really mean well, and would perform well, if it were not for the pernicious influence, and irresistible example of thefe people. They are often found to be beyond the reach of all oppofition, notwithstanding the fulleft force of argument and conviction; nay they will often perfuade two people to ga out armed, and kill each other, although there be not the smallest enmity between them. They perfuade grave and elderly gentlemen to become beaus and fops, and matronly and difcreet ladies to affume the airs and drefs of filly girls and babies. The perverfion of taste, which they occafion, is truly unaccountable. They often prevail upon men of family to difgrace themfelves by low company, mean purfuits, and, as a wit éxpreffes it, to value pedigree in nothing but a horse.' To others they infinuate the happiness which arifes from poverty, distress, debt, and a jail.-All this feems rather the abfolute want of thought, than an error in opinion; and, indeed, fo confcious are they that their tricks and wiles weigh nothing when oppofed to fober reafon and judgment, that of all weapons they are most afraid of these, and their first attempts, as well as their continued efforts, tend to perfuade men of the folly of thinking and reflection; well knowing that if they can fucceed in making men thoughtlefs and giddy, they have them entirely in their power, and can make them do just as they pleafe. Such, we ftate, as the pursuits and aims of the are's. But the fhould-be's are a people of a very oppofite ftamp. Indeed, it is impoffible to characterize them otherwife than by faying, that they exhibit a character in all respects the very reverse of what has now been depicted. They are placable, quiet, and orderly; enemies to every folly, vice, and impropriety; friends to thought, reflection, and argument, and the chief promoters of the happinefs of mankind. Taking them, therefore, in this view (which we are amply juftified in doing from hiftorical fact) a queftion natually prefents itself-How come the are's to be fo fuperior to the should-be's in influence over mankind, fince it is acknowledged that the latter are fo much more friendly to their happinefs and well being? No other anfwer can perhaps be given to this question, than by referring to the fuperiority of numbers which the are's boast of, and which in all cafes muft carry the day, and decide every important queftion. A majority, whether right or wrong, forms a power which it must be in vain to refift; and it is by commanding fuch a majority that the are's have ever maintained a paramount authority over the should-be's. For, although, as has just been hinted, a majority may not have truth and are gument on their fide, they have always the power to decide, and a decifion once made, truth and argument are no longer neceffary, unless for the amusement or information of pofterity, a confideration which never enters into the minds of the are's. For this is a characteristic feature of the are's, that as they have a fovereign contempt for those who went before them, fo they affect a perfect indifference toward all who may come after them. Another reason for the fuperior inAuence of the are's, arifes from the nature of thofe majorities which they command, that is, from their being compofed of perfons of great rank and diftinction, who naturally draw after them a multitude, and of perfons of great wealth, who have it at all times in their power to command a number of followers. Men of learning, too, may often be found in the majority of the are's, although it may be more natural to think that they ought always to rank on the fide of the should be's. But it is a trite remark, that we do not always fill the place appointed for us by nature, and that many circumftances concur to jostle us out of it, with which nature and our true and beft interefts have little to do. The fascinations, therefore, of learning, however perverted, may in fome measure account for the fuccefs of the are's. We might add, likewife, that there is a fecret propenfity in moft men to fide with the are's, and this is remarkably the cafe in capitals and great cities. In the more fecluded and remote fituations, we find the bould-be's are a very profperous race, though they are obferved to degenerate confiderably by travelling and mixing with the great world. The most remarkable circumstance in the hiftory of the are's and the fhould-be's is, that notwithstanding the fuperiority of the former in all the refpects already mentioned, the latter have always been enabled to flourish in a certain degree, and have often food their ground against the most virulent oppofition. This is a feeming paradox, but it must be explained, by reminding our readers, that the perfecuting fpirit of former times has abated, or has been kept under by good and wholesome laws. This fpirit, fome centuries ago, would not have left one of the should-be's in exiftence; and, indeed, it is wonderful, that in the fifteenth and fixteenth centuries, fo many of the breed were at all kept up. At prefent, they are, indeed, oppofed and defeated by numbers; but they are allowed to fettle, propagate, and carry on a free trade in any part of the kingdom; a circumftance to which we are to attribute what little fuccefs they have, and from which we may augur their fu ture fpread and favouritiim; for there are fafcinations about the should-be's, which must, one day or other, render them highly popular and refpectable. Something, accordingly, we find has already been done by intermarriages. Some of the bould-be's by marry |