"lived in folitude and darkness for more "than fifty years, and am grown familiar "with diftrefs. As yet, dazzled with the fplendor of that fun to which you have 66 which are yet to come. Yet experience and fenfation in vain perfuade; hope, more powerful than either, dreffes out the distant profpect in fancied beauty; fome happiness, in long profpective, ftill beckons me to pur-reftored me, I have been wandering the fue; and, like a lofing gamefter, every new "ftreets to find out fome friend that would difappointment encreafes my ardour to "affift, or relieve, or remember me; but continue the game. "my friends, my family, and relations are Whence then is this encreafed love of all dead; and I am forgotten. Permit life, which grows upon us with our years?" me then, O Chinvang, to wear out the whence comes it, that we thus make greater "wretched remains of life in my former efforts to preferve our existence, at a period "prifon; the walls of my dungeon are to when it becomes fcarce worth the keeping? "me more pleafing than the moft fplendid Is it that Nature, attentive to the preferva- "palace: I have not long to live, and shall tion of mankind, encreafes our wishes to "be unhappy except I fpend the rest of live, while the leffens our enjoyments; and, my days where my youth was paffed; in as fhe robs the fenfes of every pleasure, that prifon from whence you were pleased equips Imagination in the fpoils Life "to releafe me." would be inlupportable to an old man, who, loaded with infirmities, feared death no more than when in the vigour of manhood; the numberless calamities of decaying nature, and the confcioufnefs of furviving every pleasure, would at once induce him, with his own hand, to terminate the fcene of mifery; but happily the contempt of death forfakes him at a time when it could only be prejudicial; and life acquires an imaginary value, in proportion as its real value is no more. Our attachment to every object around us, encreafes, in general, from the length of our acquaintance with it. "I would "not chufe," fays a French Philofopher, "to fee an old poft pulled up, with which "I had been long acquainted." A mind long habituated to a certain fet of objects, infenfibly becomes fond of feeing them; vifits them from habit, and parts from them with reluctance from hence proceeds the avarice of the old in every kind of poffeffion; they love the world and all that it produces; they love life and all its advantages; not becaufe it gives them pleasure, but because they have known it long. The old man's paflion for confinement is fimilar to that we all have for life. We are habituated to the prifon, we look round with difeontent, are difpleafed with the abode, and yet the length of our cap tivity only encreafes our fondness for the cell. The trees we have planted, the hoofs we have built, or the pofterity we have be gotten, all ferve to bind us closer to the earth, and embitter our parting. Life fac the young like a new acquaintance; the companion, as yet unexhaufted, is at once inftructive and amufing; its company please, yet, for all this it is but little regarded. To us, who are declined in years, life appears like an old friend; its jefts have been anticipated in former converfation; it has no new ftory to make us fmile, no new improvement with which to furprize, yet fill we love it; deftitute of every enjoyment, ftill we love it, hufband the wafting treafure with encreafing frugality, and feel all the poignancy of anguish in the fatal feparation. Sir Philip Mordaunt was young, beautiful, fincere, brave, an Englishman. He had a complete fortune of his own, and Chinvang the Chafte, afcending the the love of the king his mafter, which was throne of China, commanded that all who equivalent to riches. Life opened all her were unjustly detained in prifon during the treafures before him, and promifed a long preceding reigns fhould be fet free. Among fucceffion of happiness. He came, taffed the number who came to thank their deli- of the entertainment, but was disgufted even verer on this occafion, there appeared a at the beginning. He profeffed an averfion majestic old man, who, falling at the em- to living; was tired of walking round the peror's feet, addreffed him as follows: fame circle; had tried every enjoyment, "Great father of China, behold a wretch, and found them all grow weaker at every "now eighty-five years old, who was fhut repetition. "If life be, in youth, fo dif"up in a dungeon at the age of twenty- "pleafing," cried he to himself, "what "two. I was imprisoned, though a ftran- " will it appear when age comes on? if it ger to crime, or without being even "be at prefent indifferent, fure it will confronted by my accufers. I have now" then be execrable." This thought em bittered bittered every reflection; til, at laft, with all the ferenity of perverted reafon, he ended the debate with a piftol! Had this felf-deluded man been apprized, that exiftence grows more defirable to us the longer we exift, he would have then faced old age without fhrinking; he would have boldly dared to live; and ferved that fociety by his future affiduity, which he bafely injured by his defertion. Goldsmith. § 10. The Canal and the Brook. A Reverie. with a wreath of water-lily, interwoven with fweet-fcented flag: an angling rod fapported his fteps. The Genius of the Canal eyed him with a contemptuous look, and in a hoarfe voice thus began: "Hence, ignoble rill! with thy fcanty "tribute to thy lord the Merfey; nor thus "waste thy almoft-exhaufted urn in linger"ing windings along the vale. Feeble as "thine aid is, it will not be unacceptable "to that maiter ftream himself; for, as I "lately croffed his channel, I perceived his "fands loaded with ftranded veffels. I A delightfully pleafant evening fucceed- "faw, and pitied him, for undertaking a ing a fultry fummer-day, invited me to take "talk to which he is unequal. But thou, afolitary walk; and, leaving the duft of the "whofe languid current is obfcured by highway, I fell into a path which led along weeds, and interrupted by mishapen a pleafant little valley watered by a small pebbles; who loteft thy felf in endless meandring brook. The meadow ground mazes, remote from any found but thy en its banks had been lately mown, and the "own idle gurgling; how canft thou fupnew grafs was fpringing up with a lively "port an exiflence to contemptible and ufeverdure. The brook was hid in feveral "lets? For me, the nobleft child of Art, plices by the firubs that grew on each who hold my unremitting courfe from fide, and intermingled their branches. The hill to hill, over vales and rivers; who fides of the valley were roughened by fmall pierce the folid rock for my paffage, and irregular thickets; and the whole fcene had "connect unknown lands with diftant feas; an air of folitude and retirement, uncommon "wherever I appear I am viewed with in the neighbourhood of a populous town. "aftonishment, and exulting Commerce The Duke of Bridgwater's canal croffed hails my waves. Behold my channel the valley, high railed on a mound of earth, thronged with capacious veffels for the which preferved a level with the elevated "conveyance of merchandize, and fplenground on each fide. An arched road was did barges for the ufe and pleasure of carried under it, beneath which the brook travellers; my banks crowned with airy that ran along the valley was conveyed by "bridges and huge warehoufes, and echoa fubterraneous paflage. I threw myfelfing with the bufy founds of induftry! upon a green bank, fhaded by a leafy Pay then the homage due from Sloth thicket, and refting my head upon my hand, "and Obfcurity to Grandeur and Utiafter a welcome indolence had overcome "lity." my fenfes, I faw, with the eyes of fancy, "I readily acknowledge," replied the the following fcene. Deity of the Brook, in a modelt accent, The firm-built fide of the aqueduct fud-the fuperior magnificence and more exdenly opened, and a gigantic form ifiued "tenfive utility of which you fo proudly forth, which I foon discovered to be the "boaft; yet in my humble walk, I am not Genius of the Canal. He was clad in a "void of a praife lets fhining, but not lefs clofe garment of ruffet hue. A mural "folid than yours. The nymph of this crown, indented with battlements, fur- peaceful valley, rendered more fertile rounded his brow. His naked feet were "and beautiful by my ftream; the neighdifcoloured with clay. On his left thoulderbouring fylvan deities, to whofe pleature he bore a huge pick-axe; and in his right hand he held certain inftruments, used in furveying and levelling. His looks were thoughtful, and his features harfh. The breach through which he proceeded inftantly clofed, and with a heavy tread he advanced into the valley. As he ap" proached the brook, the Deity of the Stream arofe to meet him. He was habited in a light green mantle, and the clear drops fell from his dark hair, which was encircled 64 "I contribute; will pay a grateful teftimony to my merit. The windings of "my courfe, which you fo much blame, "ferve to difrufe over a greater extent of ground the refreshment of my waters; "and the lovers of nature and the Mufes, who are fond of ftraying on my banks, "are better pleafed that the line of beauty "marks my way, than if, like yours, it were directed in a straight, unvaried line. "They prize the irregular wildness with 3 F3 "which which I am decked, as the charms of "beauteous fimplicity. What you call "the weeds which darken and obfcure "my waves, afford to the botanift a pleafing fpeculation of the works of nature; "and the poet and painter think the luftre "of my ftream greatly improved by glit"tering through them. The pebbles which "diverfify my bottom, and make thefe "ripplings in my current, are pleafing "objects to the eye of tafte; and my fim"ple murmurs are more melodious to the "learned ear than all the rude noifes of "your banks, or even the mufic that re"founds from your fately barges. If "the unfeeling fons of Wealth and Com"merce judge of me by the mere ftandard "of utefulness, I may claim no undiftin"guished rank. While your waters, con"fined in deep channels, or lifted above "the valleys, roll on, a ufelefs burden to "the fields, and only fubfervient to the "drudgery of bearing temporary mer"chandizes, my ftream will bestow unvarying fertility on the meadow, during the fummers of future ages. Yet I fcorn to "fubmit my honours to the decifion of "those whofe hearts are fhut up to tafte "and fentiment: let me appeal to nobler judges. The philofopher and poet, by "whofe labours the human mind is elevated and refined, and opened to plea"fures beyond the conception of vulgar "fouls, will acknowledge that the elegant "deities who prefide over fimple and na"tural beauty, have infpired them with "their charming and inftructive ideas. "The sweetest and most majestic bird that "ever fung, has taken a pride in owning "his affection to words and ftreams; and, "while the ftupendous monuments of Ro"man grandeur, the columns which pierced "the fkies, and the aqueducts which poured "their waves over mountains and vallies, "are funk in oblivion, the gently-winding "Mincius ftill retains his tranquil honours. "And when thy glories, proud Genius! "are loft and forgotten; when the flood of "commerce, which now fupplies thy urn, "is turned into another courfe, and has "left thy channel dry and defolate; the "foftly flowing Avon fhall ftill murmur in fong, and his banks receive the homage of all who are beloved by Phoebus and "the Mufes." Aikin's Mifcell. § 11. The Story of a difabled Soldier. No obfervation is more common, and at the fame time more true, than, That one half of the world are ignorant how the other half lives. The misfortunes of the great are held up to engage our attention; are enlarged upon in tones of declamation; and the world is called upon to gaze at the noble fufferers: the great, under the preffure of calamity, are confcious of several others fympathizing with their diftrefs; and have, at once, the comfort of admiration and pity. There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on: men in fuch circumftances will act bravely, even from motives of vanity; but he who, in the vale of obfcurity, can brave adverfity; who, without friends to encourage, acquaint ances to pity, or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquillity and indifference, is truly great; whether pealant or courtier, he deferves admiration, and should be held up for our imitation and respect. While the flightest inconveniencies of the great are magnified into calamities; while tragedy mouths out their fufferings in all the trains of eloquence; the miferies of the poor are entirely difregarded; and yet fome of the lower ranks of people undergo more real hardships in one day, than thole of a more exalted station fuffer in their whole lives. It is inconceivable what dificulties the meaneft of our common failors and foldiers endure without murmuring or regret; without paffionately declaiming against Providence, or calling their fellows to be gazers on their intrepi dity. Every day is to them a day of mifery, and yet they entertain their hard fate with out repining. With what indignation do I hear an Ovid, a Cicero, or a Rabutin, complain of their misfortunes and hardships, whee greatest calamity was that of being unable to vifit a certain fpot of earth, to which they had foolishly attached an idea of happinefs! Their diftreffes were pleasure, compared to what many of the adventur ing poor every day endure without murmuring. They ate, drank, and flept; they had flaves to attend them; and were fure of fubfiftence for life: while many of thei fellow-creatures are obliged to wander without a friend to comfort or aflift them, and even without shelter from the feverity of the feafon. I have been led into thefe reflections from accidentally meeting, fome days ago, a poor fellow, whom I knew when a boy, dretied dred in a failor's jacket, and begging at "town, worked when I could get employ0ecf the outlets of the town with a woodenment, and tarved when I could get none: leg. I know him to have been honest and induftrious when in the country, and was curious to learn what had reduced him to his prefent fituation. Wherefore, after having given him what I thought proper, I defired to know the hiftory of his life and misfortunes, and the manner in which he was reduced to his prefent diftress. The difabled foldier, for fuch he was, though dreffed in a failor's habit, feratching his head, and leaning on his crutch, put himself into an attitude to comply with my reque, and gave me his hiftory as ful lows: ་ when happening one day to go through "a field belonging to a justice of peace, I "pyed a harc crolling the path juft before "me; and I believe the devil put it in my head to Ring my flick at it:-well, what will you have o'nt? I killed the hare, "and was bringing it away, when the juf "tice himself met me; he called me a poacher and a villain; and, collaring me, "defired I wou'd give an account of my"felf. I fell upon my knees, begged his worship's pardon, and began to give a "full account of all that I knew of my breed, feed, and generation; but, though I gave a very true account, the justice “faid I could give no account; fo I was "indicted at feffions, found guilty of be“ing poor, and fent up to London to Newgate, in order to be tranfported as "a vagabond. 66 66 People may fay this and that of being “in jail, but, for my part, I found Newgue as agreeable a place as ever I was "in in all my life. I had my belly-full to "eat and drink, and did no work at all. This kind of life was too good to last "for ever; fo I was taken out of prison, after five months, put on board a ship, and fent off, with two hundred more, to "the plantations. We had but an indifferent paffage, for, being all confined in "the hold, more than a hundred of our people died for want of fweet air; and "thole that remained were fickly enough, "God knows. When we came-afhore, we "were fold to the planters, and I was "bound for feven years more. As I was "no fcholar, for I did not know my let«ters, I was obliged to work among the negroes; and I ferved out my time, as "in duty bound to do. "I was born in Shropshire; my father was a labourer, and died when I was five years old; fol was put upon the parish. "As he had been a wandering fort of a man, the parishioners were not able to tell to what parith I belonged, or where I was born, fo they fent me to another parith, and that parik fent me to a third. I thought in my heart, they kept fend." ing me about io long, that they world not let me be born in any parith at all; "but at last, however, they fixed me. I "had fome difpoûtion to be a fcholar, and "was refolved, at least, to know my let"ters; but the mater of the workhoufe 'put me to bufinefs as foon as I was able "to handle a mallet; and here I lived an eafy kind of life for five years. I only wrought ten hours in the day, and had "my meat and driak provided for my la"bour It is true, I was not fuffered to "ftirout of the houfe, for fear, as they faid, I should run away; but what of that, I "had the liberty of the whole houfe, and the yard before the door, and that was enough for me. I was then bound out "to a farmer, where I was up both early "and late; but I ate and drank well, and "liked my business well enough, till he "died, when I was obliged to provide for "myself; fol was refolved to go feek my When my time was expired, I worked "my paffage home, and glad I was to fee "Old England again, because I loved my "country. I was afraid, however, that i "fhould be indicted for a vagabond once "more, fo I did not much care to go down "into the country, but kept about the "town, and did little jobs when I could "get them. "I was very happy in this manner for "fome time, till one evening, coming home "from work, two men knocked me down, "and then defired me to land. They be"longed to a prefs-gang: I was carried "before the justice, and, as I could give "no account of myself, I had my choice 3 F4 "left left, whether to go on board a man of " they are all flaves, and wear wooden "war, or lift for a foldier: I chofe the lat-fhoes." "ter; and, in this poft of a gentleman, I "ferved two campaigns in Flanders, was at the battles of Val and Fontenoy, and "received but one wound, through the "breast here; bnt the doctor of our regi"ment foon made me well again. Though we had no arms, one English"man is able to beat five French at any "time; fo we went down to the door, "where both the centries were pofted, and, "rufhing upon them, feized their arms in "a moment, and knocked them down, From thence nine of us ran together to "the quay, and feizing the first boat we "met, got out of the harbour, and put to "before we were taken up by the Dorfet "privateer, who were glad of fo many "good hands, and we confented to run our "chance. However, we had not as much luck as we expected, In three days we "When the peace came on I was dif"charged; and, as I could not work, be"caufe my wound was fometimes trouble"fome, I lifted for a landman in the Eaft" fea. We had not been here three days "India company's fervice. I have fought "the French in fix pitched battles; and I verily believe that, if I could read or "write, our captain would have made me "a corporal. But it was not my good "fortune to have any promotion, for I "foon fell fick, and fo got leave to return "home again with forty pounds in my "pocket. This was at the beginning of "the prefent war, and I hoped to be fet "on hore, and to have the pleasure of fpending my money; but the govern"ment wanted men, and fo I was preffed "for a failor before ever I could fet foot ⚫ on shore. fell in with the Pompadour privateer, "of forty guns, while we had but twen"ty-three; fo to it we went, yard arm and yard-arm. The fight lasted for "three hours, and I verily believe we "fhould have taken the Frenchman, had "we but had fome more men left be"hind; but, unfortunately, we loft all cur "men juft as we were going to get the " victory. "I was once more in the power of the "French, and I believe it would have gone hard with me had I been brought back "to Breft; but, by good fortune, we were retaken by the Viper. I had almost for"got to tell you that, in that engagement, I was wounded in two places; 1 loft four "The boatswain found me, as he said, an obtinate fellow; he fwore he knew "that I understood my business well, but "that I fhammed Abraham, to be idle: "but, God knows, I knew nothing of fea-" business, and he beat me without con"fidering what he was about. I had ftill, however, my forty pounds, and that "was fome comfort to me under every beating; and the money I might have had to this day, but that our ship was taken by the French, and fo I loft "my money. "Our crew was carried into Breft, and many of them died, because they were "not used to live in a jail; but, for my "part, it was nothing to me, for I was "feafoned. One night, as I was afleep on "the bed of boards, with a warm blanket "about me, for I always loved to lie well, "I was awakened by the boatfwain, who "had a dark lanthorn in his hand : Jack,' " fays he to me, will you knock out the "French centries brains? I don't care,' fays 1, ftriving to keep myself awake, if "I lend a hand.' Then follow me,' fays "he, and I hope we fhall do bufinefs.' "So up I got, and tied my blanket, which "was all the cloaths I had, about my mid«dle, and went with him to fight the Frenchmen. I hate the French, because fingers off the left hand, and my leg was "fhot off. If I had had the good forture "to have loft my leg and ufe of my hand "on board a king's fhip, and not on board " a privateer, I fhould have been entitled to cloathing and maintenance during the "reft of my life! but that was not my "chance: one man is born with a filver "fpoon in his mouth, and another with a "wooden ladle. However, bleffed be God, "I enjoy good health, and will for ever "love liberty and Old England. Liberty, "property, and Old England for ever, "huzza!" Thus faying, he limped off, leaving me in admiration at his intrepidity and content; nor could I avoid acknowledging, that an habitual acquaintance with mifery ferves better than philosophy to teach us to defpife it. Goldsmith. § 12. A Dialogue between ULYSSES and why |