not die till their time comes. How fcandalously do these men misunderstand Solomon and abuse truth! How would it startle us to hear our friends fay, "that let them fleep and play, as they please, they shall not be beggars till their time

comes."

SOLOMON does indeed fay, that “the race is not always to the fwift, nor the battle to the strong;" but he must be no better than a madman, who thence infers, that it is not generally fo. For the invariable and eternal experience of mankind demonstrates, that ninety-nine times in an hundred, the race is to the swift, and the battle to the ftrong, bread to the industrious, and health to the tempe

rate.

BUT it is a matter of fact, and not to be denied, that, though temperance has the divine efficacy to fecure us from violent disease and unnatural death, yet it is not to be fuppofed to make a man immortal. It

is impoffible but that time, which effaces all things, fhould likewife deftroy that moft curious workmanship of GOD, the human body but it is man's privilege to end his days by a natural death, that is, without pain and agony, as they will fee me, when the heat and strength of nature is quite exhaufted. But I promife myself, that day is a pretty comfortable distance off yet, and I fancy I am not mistaken, because I am still healthy and brifk, relish all I eat, fleep quietly, and find no defect in any of my fenfes. Befides, all the faculties of my mind are in the highest perfection; my understanding clear and bright as ever; my judg ment found; my memory tenacious my spirits good; and my voice, the firft thing that fails others, still so strong and fonorous, that every morning and evening, with my dear grand-children around me, I can addrefs my prayers and chant the praises of the Almighty. O, how glorious

glorious this life of mine is like to be, replete with all the felicities which man can enjoy on this fide of the grave; and exempt from that fenfual brutality which age has enabled my better reafon to banish, and therewith all its bitter fruits, the extravagant paffions and diftressful perturbations of mind. Nor yet can the fears of death find room in my mind as I have no licensed fins, to cherish such gloomy thoughts: neither can the death of relations and friends give me any other grief than that of the first movement of nature, which cannot be avoided, but is of no long continuance. Still lefs am I liable to be cast down by the lofs of wordly goods. I look on these things as the property of heaven; I can thank him for the loan of fo many comforts, and when his wifdom fees fit to withdraw them, I can look on their departure without murmuring.-This is the happiness of thofe only, who grow

old

old in the ways of temperance and virtue; a happiness which feldom attends the most flourishing youth who live in vice. Such are all fubject to a thousand diforders, both of body and mind, from which I am entirely free: on the contrary, I enjoy a thousand pleasures, which are as pure as they are calm.

THE firft of thefe is to do fervice to

my country. O! what a glorious amusement, in which I find infinite delight, in fhewing my countrymen how to fortify this our dear city of Venice, in fo excellent a manner, as to make her a famous republic, a rich and matchless city. Another amusement of mine is, that of fhewing this maid and queen of cities, in what manner fhe may always abound with provifions, by manuring untilled lands, draining marshes, and laying under water, and thereby fattening fields, which had all along been barren for want of moisture. My third amufement

amusement is in fhewing my native city, how, though already ftrong, she may be rendered much stronger; and, tho' extremely beautiful, may ftill increase in beauty; though rich, may acquire more wealth, and may be made to enjoy better air, though her air is excellent. These three amufements, all arif ing from the idea of public utility, I enjoy in the highest degree. Another very great comfort I enjoy is, that having been defrauded when young, of a confiderable estate, I have made ample amends for that lofs, by dint of thought and industry, and without the leaft wrong done to any perfon, have doubled my income, fo that I am able not only to provide for my dear grand-children, but to educate and affift many poor youth to begin the world. And I cannot help faying, I reflect with more pleafure on what I lay out in that way, than

in

any other.

ANOTHER