As the article A, or an, fignifies one in the languages from whence we have adopted it, fo it likewife is ufed instead of one, or the unites of a collective number, taken feparatively; thus we fay, a hundred a year; i, e. a hundred every fingle year in a certain feries.

Though the articles are not properly used before fuch words as are in their own nature as definite as they may be, and upon that account are not fet before PROPER names; yet there are cafes in which even proper names receive them. Tho' proper names fignify originally individuals, yet when they are ufed as family names, which extends to all the individuals, they then admit an article, as THE Howards, THE Pelhams. Again, when the high character or aminence of fome individual, was fo remarkable, that his name became afterwards a common or appellative noun, used to denote those who excelled in the fame way, it then af fumed an article; thus any great critic may be called AN Ariftarchus, any illuftrious warrior, AN Alexander, or a Marlborough; every great beauty AN Helen, or a Venus; and Shylock very properly exclaims, "A Daniel come to judgment! yea, A Daniel!" when he would applaud the wisdom of the young lawyer.

In fome few inftances the definite article THE is prefixed to the names of towns, as THE Hague, THE Ha-. vannah, THE Devizes; in the two former inftances we follow the French, who prefix their article to those words; and we add the article in the. laft, because the word has a plural termination.

The ufe or omiffion of the article A makes a nice, and fometimes an important, diftinction in a sentence;

thus if we fay, "He behaved with A little reverence," the fenfe is quite different from what it is when we drop the article, and fay, "He behaved with little reverence." In the former sense we praise, and affert that fome reverence was fhewn, tho? not a great deal; in the latter, we difpraife, and intimate that the perfon did not fhew so much reverence as he ought, because he should have shewn a great deal.

A

The very pofition of the article has a great effect upon the fenfe: when we infert the article a between the adjective and fubftantive, as in half a crown, we mean only half the value of a crown-piece; but when we say A HALF CROWN, we mean a piece of money which is but half the value of a crown-piece. To make this plainer, two fhillings and fixpence is half a crown, but not a half crown.

The definitive article THE is fometimes joined to adverbs in the comparative and fuperlative degree, and its effect is to mark the degree more strongly, and to define the more precifely; as THE more I examine it, THE more I like it. I like this THE leaft. But this article is fometimes omitted, both by writers and fpeakers, before the fuperlative degree, but especially by the Scots, who have not contributed a little to corrupt our language by the multiplicity of their works. Thus a Scotch hiftorian and effayift writes, "At wort, time might be gained." To the fame writers we may attribute the omiffion of this article, before fubftantives, when they are used in an eminent or emphatical fenfe, and require a definitive the moft. Thus, we read preface, dedication, introduction. And the politicians of that country too frequently tell us of the wants of government; and that government cannot fubfift without a change, not confidering that government is used as a species without

the

I HAVE been unfortunate almost from my, cradle. Fortune, I believe, delights in perfecuting thofe on whom nature has bestowed fome of her gifts..

A woman, named Melita, had the care of my infancy, and I believed fhe was my mo ther: fhe was of the city of Syracuse, but for tune croffing her expectations, he lived in a kind of obfcure. mediocrity.

As foon as my understanding began to be illuminated with the light of reafon, Melita acquainted me that I was not her daughter, but her flave; and that she had bought me of an African merchant.

Melita told me alfo that I was handfome, and that it was on my beauty the depended to re-establish her fortune and my own.

Melita gave me an education fuitable to the projects the had formed: pleafure, said she to me, is the fovereign blifs of life. There are indeed fome men whom age or loss of health have rendered auftere and peevish, who would perfuade us that pleafures fhould be ufed with caution, and that they ought to be confined within proper limits. Others, who are called fages, who act on nearly the fame principles, tho' from different motives, endeavour to implant thefe maxims in all nations and countriés.

Before the laws had infulted nature, every heart was fenfible and generous; then there was no perfidy or cruelty; but thus nature will be revenged.

In thofe happy days of innocence and peace, there was no blushing at the tranfports of love; each liftened to the voice of their defires; they never imagined that an invincible inclination could be criminal; they had not fo much vanity as to torture and tear the foul to combat with the fofteft fentiments. But do not think that error is now generally received. Every thing that exifts breathes pleasure. Women are the beftowers of it, beauty is the goddess of it. Charms and attractions will fubdue to us the moft illuftrious of men. Can there be a nobler ambition than that which fhowers on us wealth and pleasure?

Such was the difcourfe of the pernicious, Melita; fhe neglected nothing that might tend to mould me to her defires. She gave me continual leflons in every branch of coquetry. She did not however fucceed in all her projects, though the augmented in me the natural inclination which we have to love.

She was continually entertaining me with feductive lectures, to flatter and alarm the paflions; he did not difapprove of irregularity or excess.

Upon thefe principles I was impatient to £nd an object to engage my defires, but MeVOL. 1.

I had attained my fifteenth year, when she made a propofition for me to go to Elida; I confented to it with joy. Melita promised herself that my attractions would procure me the most brilliant conquefts; nor was the miftaken. As foon as I appeared in Elida, every eye was fixed upon me; my vanity was nourifhed by it, but my heart continued yet untouch'd; Melita was not impatient for me to determine my choice; her intentions were to work up the defire of my lovers, and not to have me yield but to the charms of intereft.

I faw the Olympic games: I need not defcribe them; you are Greeks, and therefore cannot be unacquainted with them.

I took notice of the different fhews which were prefented to my view, and the combats of the Atheletes. What delights take poffeffion of our foul when ideas unknown before are communicated to it. The mind naturally; afpires after knowledge; it is ever diffatisfied, because it must not exceed its limits.

The new objects which I beheld created in me a thoufand various reflections, and I communicated them all to the ideas which Melita,

had given me. Prejudice, of what kind foever, has infinite power over us.

Strength then, faid I to my felf, is a great advantage to mankind, fince the prize is deftined to him who overcomes by his fuperior might; but I think they have not much reafon to be proud of it, if they employ it thus cruelly against their fellow-creatures.

While I was reafoning thus all my fenfes were agitated at the fight of a young Athelete, who was more beautiful than even love himfelf: I will not make you a portrait of him for it is impoffible: words cannot exprefs it.

I experienced in feeing Thyamis (that was the name of this young Athelete) thofe trem blings and agitations which are the common fymptons of love. I could not lofe a moments fight of Thyamis; my eyes were intoxicated with pleafure while I was gazing on him; my heart leap'd into his poffeffion; I formed the moft ardent wifes in his favour; I felt every blow he received; I would have ran to his affittance and warded them off, but infurmountable barriers oppofed my purpose.

If love in general, when it attacks a heart, fills it with agitations of the most violent tranfports; with what ardour must mine be enflamed, difpofed as it had been to receive it?

Thyamis was conqueror; the glorious laurel was fixed upon his forehead. I follow'd with the crowd who ran to admire him. Thyamis perceived me, he fixed his eyes upon me! he Fi appeared

appeared to forget his glory: the noble fiercenefs which fat upon his countenance was inftantly changed to an engaging tenderness. After this view I was no longer miftrefs of myfelf, I ran to Thyamis; I took from my hair a crown of rofes which ornamented it, Here, amiable conqueror, faid I to Thyamis, prefenting him with it, receive the prize of a fecond victory; love has prefented you with my heart, and this crown of rofes. Thyamis difplayed an emotion, mingled with furprize and joy at my difcourfe, and the manner of expreffing it.

The fpectators were at first astonish'd; prefently they applauded me: love can justify itfelf in excefs.

I receive this crown, faid Thyamis, on taking it of me, from the hands of the goddefs of beauty; what a dear and glorious prefent! Call me no longer conqueror, I refign to you the honours of the triumph.

In fpeaking thus, Thyamis caufed his car to approach; he prefented me with his hand, and ushered me into it; he placed himself by me: then, transported with love, he forgot the applaufe and honours that were prepared for him; he conducted me into his tent.

Of all the paffions, love is the most impetuous, because it is born of fentiment, and has an exiftence in our heart even before we have perceived it; we may difpute with and guard against the other paffions; but love is a rapid fire which feizes and inflames us in a

moment.

I wiped off the fweat and duft which covered the face of Thyamis; I gave myself up to the most exalted tendernefs; and how should

be able to do otherwife? Melita had told me that love was the fovereign happiness; my heart and mind were filled with this fyftem; the eager transports of Thyamis did not undeceive me.

Thyamis did not know who I was, I knew not him, we knew that we loved each other, and that our united fouls could not be feparated: we did not afk one another any queftions; the raptures which love created deprived us of the faculty of thinking: our tender intoxication would have lafted a long time, if Melita had not come to interrupt it: I heard her cries and her complaints; I requefted Thyamis to fuffer her to enter the tent. She beheld in me the confufion and agitation which love had given birth to; fhe appeared uneafy; and not daring to explain herfelf before Thyamis, the ordered me to follow her out.

No, faid I, Thyamis will leave us a moment to ourfelves: well, continued I, when I was left alone with Melita, have not I profited by your leffons: you was defirous that my happinefs fhould arife from love! it does. -Acquaint me now what I can do more to oblige you?

My fimplicity in fome measure appeafed Melita; fhe flattered herself with bringing me back to her defires. What have you done, Mirril, faid fhe, and what is it you fay to me? I fee but too plainly that you have imprudently suffered yourself to be led away by your defires; and I perceive by your discourse that you think you have fully executed my scheme, by procuring yourself a lively pleasure of a short duration : love is not a bleffing unlefs followed or accompanied with the gifts of fortune.

Love, interrupted I with vivacity, is a bleffing of itself; I now experience it. Suffer me to fpeak, replied Melita, you are delirious, and I have my reason perfect.

Come to yourself, Mirril, the ftep which you have taken will deter other lovers from coming near you: men are capricious; they efteem in us what they call virtue and reserve. We maft take advantage of their foiblefies; quit this fatal tent, follow me; and never think of beftowing yourself on any perfon who has not riches fufficient to render your condi tion happy.

You would have me the property then, cried I, of another than Thyamis! and can it be? Ah! rather give me inftant death! cruel Melita, you have deceived me! Love is the greateft of all misfortunes, if it is the flave of intereft; but I perceive it is not love that you would have me practice; my heart has followed your leffons, as long as they have accorded with thofe of nature; it will reject them when they are foreign to those. I know not who Thyamis is, but was he a fimple fhepherd, my heart would only burn for him.

Melita, irritated with this difcourfe, expressed her indignation; fhe told me that I was her flave; fhe was about to make me fenfible of it, when Thyamis entered, who had liftened to our difcourfe.

Oh Thyamis! cried I, appease Melita; she wants to take me from you; fhe can do it. Her views are centered all in intereft; fatisfy her; give her up all your riches, and only referve your heart for me; mine fhall be ever yours!

Thyamis, affected with my transports, eme braced me, he wiped off my tears; he trove to appeafe Melita, and to re-establish harmony between us; he in fome degree fucceeded.

I continued in the tent of Thyamis while he continued in Elida. The moments which paffed with him even the Gods might envy me! How fhort did they appear! The days which we confume in grief and wearinefs feem of an infupportable length: those which we pafs in pleasures, appear to fly from us with rapidity but they do not on those principles prefent themfelves to our memory: whole years made up of mifery and misfortunes appear but as a moment to us when they are paffed

me.

In the arms of Thyamis I forgot all my miffortunes; I depofited in his heart every unwelcome thought. I prefently perceived in me the natural effects of his tenderness; we were both of us as much delighted with it, as Melita was afflicted: fhe was now obliged to fufpend the execution of her defigns.

We were then at Athens; a friend of Thyamis had furnished us with a lodging in his house I never went out of it; I breathed but for Thyamis; I would not be seen of any one but him; I spent my days in the enjoyment of his dear company. Melita, exafperated with my paffion, conceived as great an averfion to me as the had had a friendship. These fentiments made Thyamis tremble. the abfolute miftiefs of my fate.

Melita was

Thyamis had frequently in vain proposed to Melita to carry us into a delicious country, where we should have nothing left us to defire: Melita was determined not to part from Greece; fhe would not rely on the promifes of Thyamis.

Souls full of deceit, like that of Melita, are ever full of jealoufy and diftrust.

My dear Mirril, faid Thyamis one day to me, I can no longer endure that you should be a flave. I will be wedded to you. Hymen I know cannot make our bands more fweet and amiable, but nothing will afterwards be able to break them. Melita has fixed a price upon you, which appears exorbitant to those who are unacquainted with you. I am fenfible that I cannot pay too dear for fo precious and invaluable a treasure; but I must go into the country to procure the fum which Melita afks. I will recommend you to my friend; continue you with him; my voyage will not be long; love will favour me, and we shall never more be separated.

I neither doubted of the words or heart of Thyamis; but I, who could not pass a day without feeing him, who enumerated every moment he was abfent, how.could I endure an abfence fo long, fo infupportable? Thyamis amused me when he promised me a quick return; he went into Gaule; the distance between us then feemed almost infinite.

I fubmitted, however, notwithstanding my alarms, to reafon and my lover's intereft. Melita promised Thyamis to wait for him fix mon hs before fhe difpofed of me.

It is impoffible for me to express what I endured at parting with Thyamis; I embraced him; I would have expired in his arms, but I was forced from him in that very moment, when my grief had deprived me of strength and reafon.

The emotion of Thyamis was not inferior to mine. I was acquainted that his flaves had carried him on board the fhip in which he was to embark.

The friend of Thyamis exerted his utmost endeavours to allay the grief with which I was overwhelmed. His wife was amiable, compaffionate and generous, we were united with the strictest ties of friendship; fhe gave me the moft convincing proofs of her fincere attachment: fhe received in her arms a fon which I was delivered of, fhe took care of him, while I was labouring under pangs and misery, and at the point of death.

When I recovered my health, Melita renewed her perfecutions and her threats: fhe protested that I should fhew myself at Athens, I promised to obey her when the time was expired which had been limited to Thyamis. The time was at length elapfed. I gave myfelf over to the most poignant grief. Is this then, faid I, the happiness I expected? It would have been better for me had I never feen Thyamis. I fhould indeed have tafted lefs of pleasure, but I fhould have endured lefs pain: love prefently made me repent what my despair had dictated.

Never was a heart more tortured than mine! What did I not fear for Thyamis? What did I not fear for myfelf? I imagined Thyamis was become a prey to the most deplorable accidents; and this idea augmented my diftrefs: I did not accufe Thyamis of inconftancy; a heart incapable of infidelity does not fufpect it of another: but Melita, cruel Melita! wanted to feparate me for ever from my dearest Thyamis: could no longer refift her. I prefently underwent all the misfortunes which I dreaded.

Melita preferred a petition concerning me to the magiftrates of Athens: she came one day to tear me by force from the houfe of the friend of Thyamis; my tears and prayers could not move her. I was hardly allowed time to embrace my generous friends, and recommend to them the care of my fon; they fwore to me by the hofpitable Jupiter, that he fhould be the object of their tenderness and protection.

[To be concluded in our next.]

Ff2

GENTLEMEN,

ONE of your correfpondents who favoured

you with the grotefque figure of a common-councilman in mafquerade, with a pair of horns on his head, very fhrewdly infinuated, that the perfon who wore that drefs, at a late entertainment, might have lived on this fide of Temple-bar; and that, from the many divorces that have lately happened between great folks, it was probable that as many horns might be found among them, as among the opulent citizens of London.

Though I am entirely of his opinion, yet I cannot help confidering this circumftance in a furious light.. The nobility are fuppofed to take the lead not only in drefs, but likewise in vice and he who cannot be as rich as a L, may be as drunk, or as bad as one. Indeed there is an unaccountable ambition in the lowest to imitate the highett. This is the only way the vulgar have to elevate themfelves to the fame rank as their betters, or at least to make their betters appear on a level with themfelves. But this ambition of being on a Jevel with our fuperiors in rank, confines itfelf only to their vices. I hardly ever knew one perfon who would imitate the virtue of a Lucretia; tho' I know a throufand who eclipfe, er ftrive to eclipfe, the lewdnefs of a Lais. Many a juftice may rival the Southwark Juftices in indifcretion and inhumanity; but few attempt to emulate the prudence and difcretion of the prefent lord mayor of London. Many a marine officer might wear like an admiral; but very few have been found capable of being trufted with the command of a fleet.

Virtues, when they are attendant upon high birth, are like diamonds, which, tho' they do not acquire any new value from paffing through the hands of the lapidary, are yet viewed with 'greater admiration, and appear with all the charms of radiance and lure. But it is not fo with vice; for that appears with an increase of deformity in proportion to the rank of him in whom it is to be found. High birth gives a luftre to virtue, but makes the deformity of vice appear with gcater degrees of uglineis. The uncultivated mind may be fubject to miflakes, and expofed to frailties; but both the frailties and mifukes, as they proceed from ignorance, are the objects of pity and compaffion. From a cultivated mind we expect a regard to decency and decorum; but when we find it deficient in that refpect, it becomes, what it deferves to become, an object of contempt, if not of deteftation. For though we excule a man for fumbling in the dark, we cither latch at him, er despite, or b.ame him for stumbling in the light. Thus,

though I could excufe Sir W. B. P. for the

maflacre which his Irish banditti intended to commit at Brentford, on account of the weakncis of his understanding; yet I cannot excufe his feeining friends who advifed him, becaufe they have not want of understanding to plead in their behalf, tho' they may have want of humanity, and want of patriotifm-but this is a plea they do not chufe to make, tho' it is the only one they can make ufe of. I may afiert this pretty confidently; for they have expofed their intentions in the very defence they have drawn up for him, and have made him confefs every thing that an honeft, as well as a learned ferjeant at law has laid to his charge. But as this is not the first time the author of the Auditor, a bad politician, a bad player, and a weak writer, has been overfeen before (for he is confidently reported to be Sir B's bully and tool upon this occafion) I fay it is no wonder that he thould be over feen again; nor is it impoffible that he who expatiated fo learnedly upon the Florida peat, hould acknowledge that Sir W. Bdone what he is charged with doing-with hiring a mob to affault the freeholders of Middlelex, by way of affifting the civil magiftrate, and fecuring the freedom of elections.

had

I do not know how it is that I have wandered fo far from the topic which I fat out with, unless it be that I look upon aflaflination and murder in the fame light as I do upon the unchaftity which is predominant among our fuperiors in rank, as appears from the uncommon number of divorces, which the great have procured; and which numbers, if I am not mifinformed, they are likely to increafe before the prorogation of the prefent

Pompey and Cafar, the fong says, "were both of them horned;"--but this is no excufe or comfort; in the days of good queen Elizabeth it was not. The greater character in thofe times thought the imputation of unchastity a very great crime, from which he endeavoured all he could to exculpate himflf. Tho' fome great men may laugh at this intimation, yet as a friend to fociety, to mankind, to religion, I cannot help faying, Redeant Saturnia Regna.

After the earl of Efex, the favourite of queen Elizabeth, had returned from his expedition at Cadiz, he thought it not unbecoming his high poft to regulate his life by the mot rigorous morality, and to appear in the public offices of religion more frequently an 1 purctually then ever he had done betore, Fut notwithdanding his integrity and caution, he could not cicape the calumnies of fupicion,

and