them as they treated them well or ill. This was no other than entering them betimes into a daily exercise of humanity, and improving their very diversion to a virtue. 6. The laws of felf-defence undoubtedly juftify us in destroying those animals which would destroy us, which injure our properties, or annoy our perfons; but not even thefe, whenever their fituation incapacitates them from hurting us. 7. I know of no right which we have to fhoot a bear on an inacceffible island of ice; or an eagle on the mountain's top; whofe lives cannot injure, nor deaths procure us any benefit. We are unable to give life, and therefore ought not wantonly to take it away from the meanest infect, without fufficient reafon. They all receive it from the fame benevolent hand as ourselves, and have therefore an equal right to enjoy it. 8. God has been pleased to create numberless animals intended for our fuftenance; and that they are fo intended, the agreeable flavour of their flesh to our palates, and the wholefome nutriment which it adminifters to our stomachs, are fufficient proofs. 9. Thefe, as they are formed for our use, propagated by our culture, and fed by our care, we have certainly a right to deprive of life, because it is given and preserved to them on that condition. 10. But this fhould always be performed with all the tenderness and compaffion, which fo difagreeable an office will permit; and no circumftances ought to be omitted, which can render their executions as quick and easy as poflible. SPEECH OF NICOLAUS. THE Athenians, having made war upon the Syracufians, the army of the former, under the command of Nicias and Demofthenes, was totally defeated; and the generals obliged to furrender at difcretion. The victors, having entered their capital in triumph, the next day a council was held to deliberate what was to be done with the prifoners. 2. Dicci Diocles, one of the leaders of the greatest authority among the people, propofed that all the Athenians who were born of free parents, and all fuch Sicilians as had joined with them, should be imprisoned, and be maintained on bread and water only; that the flaves, and all the Atticks, fhould be publicly fold; and that the two Athenian generals fhould be firft fcourged with rods, and then put to death. 3. This laft article exceedingly disgusted all wife and compaffionate Syracufians. Hermocrates, who was very famous for his probity and justice, attempted to make some remonftrances to the people; but they would not hear him ; and the fhouts which echoed from all fides prevented him from continuing his fpeech. 4. At that inftant, Nicolaus, a man venerable for his great age and gravity, who in this war had loft two fons, the only heirs to his name and estate, made his fervants carry him to the tribunal for harangues; and the inftant he appeared, a profound filence enfued, when he addreffed. them in the following manner. 5. "You here behold an unfortunate father, who has felt more than any other Syracufian the fatal effects of this war, by the death of two fons, who formed all the confolation, and were the only fupports of my old age. 6. "I cannot, indeed, forbear admiring their patriotism in facrificing to their country's welfare a life which they would one day have been deprived of by the common courfe of nature; but then, I cannot but be fenfibly affected with the cruel wound which their death hath made in my heart; nor forbear detefting the Athenians, the authors of this unhappy war, as the murderers of my children. 7. "But, however, there is one circumftance which I cannot conceal, that I am lefs fenfible for my private afflictions, than for the honor of my country, which I fee expofed to eternal infamy, by the barbarous advice which is now given you. The Athenians, I own, for declaring war fo unjustly against us, merit the feverest treatment which could be inflicted on them; but have not the gods, the just aven. gers of wrongs, fufficiently punished them, and aver red us? 8. "When their generals laid down their arms and furrendered, did they not do this in hopes of having their live: fpared? And will it be poffible for us, if we put them to death, to avoid the juft reproach of having violated the law of nations, and difhonored our victory by unheard of cruelty! 9. "What, will you fuffer your glory to be thus fullied in the face of the whole world? and will you hear it faid that a nation, who firft dedicated a temple to clemency, had found none in Syracufe? Surely, victories and triumphs do not give immortal glory to a city; but the exercifiag of mercy towards a vanquished enemy, moderation in the greatest profperity, and the fearing to offend the gods by a haughty and infolent pride, are glories far more permanent than the moft fplendid conquefts. 10. "You doubtlefs have not forgotten, that this Nicias, whofe fate you are going to pronounce, was the very man who pleaded your caufe in the Affembly of the Athenians, and who employed all his credit, and the whole power of his eloquence, to diffuade his country from embarking in this war. II. "Should you therefore pronounce fentence of death. on this worthy general, would it be a juft reward for the zeal he fhowed for your intereft? With regard to myself, death would be lefs grievous to me, than the fight of fo horrid an injuftice committed by my countrymen and fellow-citizens." INTEGRITY. THE Spanish hiftorians relate a memorable inftance of honor and regard to truth. A Spanish cavalier in a fudden quarrel flew a Moorish gentleman, and fled. His purfuers foon loft fight of him; for he had, unperceived, thrown himself over a garden wall. 2. The owner, a Moor, happening to be in his garden, was addreffed by the Spaniard on his knees, who acquainted him with his cafe, and implored concealment. Eat this, faid the Moor, giving him half a peach; you now know that you may confide in my protection. 3. He then locked him up in his garden apartments, telling him as foon as it was night, he would provide for his efcape efcape to a place of greater fafety. The Moor then went into his houfe; where he had but just feated himself, when a great crowd, with loud lamentations, came to his gate, bringing the corpfe of his fon, who had just been killed by a Spaniard. 4. When the firft fhock of furprife was a little over, he learned from the defcription given, that the fatal deed was done by the very person then in his power. He mentioned this to no one; but, as foon as it was dark, retired to his garden, as if to grieve alone, giving orders that none fhould follow him. 5. Then accofting the Spaniard, he faid, Christian, the perfon you have killed is my fon; his body is now in my houfe. You ought to fuffer; but you have eaten with me, and I have given you my faith, which must not be broken. 6. He then led the aonifhed Spaniard to his stables, and mounted him on one of his fleeteft horses, and said, Fly far, while the night can cover you; you will be fafe in the morning. You are indeed guilty of my fon's blood; but God is just and good, and I thank him I am innocent of yours, and that my faith given is preferved. 7. This point of honor is most religiously obferved by the Arabs and Saracens, from whom it was adopted by the Moors of Africa, and by them was brought into Spain; the effects of which remain to this day; fo that when there is any fear of a war's breaking out between England and Spain, an English merchant there, who apprehends the confifcation of his goods as thofe of an enemy, thinks them fafe if he can get a Spaniard to take charge of them. 8. The Spaniard fecures them as his own, and faithful.. ly re-delivers them, or pays the value, whenever the Englifhman demands them. One inftance of Spanish honor cannot but be ftill fresh in the memory of many now liv ing; and deferves to be handed down to the latest posterity. 9. In the year 1746, when the English were at open war with Spain, the Elizabeth of London, Capt. William Edwards, coming though the gulf from Jamaica, richly làden, met with a moft violent ftorm, in which the hip fprung a leak, that obliged them, for the faving of their lives, to run into Havanna, a Spanish port. 10. The 10. The captain went on fhore, and directly waited on the governor, told the occafion of his putting in, and that he furrendered the fhip as a prize, and himself and his men as prifoners of war, only requefting good quarter. 12. No, Sir, replied the Spanish governor, if we had taken you in fair war at fea, or approaching our coaft with hoftile intentions, your fhip would then have been a prize, and your people prifoners; but, when diftreffed by a tempeft, you come into our ports for the fafety of your lives, we the enemies, being men, are bound as fuch by the laws of humanity to afford relief to distressed men who afk it of us. 12. We cannot, even against our enemies, take advantage of an act of God. You have leave therefore to unload your fhip, if that be neceffary to ftop the leak; you may refit her here, and traffic fo far as fhall be neceffary to pay the charges; you may then depart, and I will give you a pafs to be in force till you are beyond Bermuda. 13. If after that you are taken, you will then be a lawful prize; but now you are only a stranger, and have a Atranger's right to fafety and protection. The fhip accordingly departed, and arrived fafe in London. AN ADDRESS TO THE VISITANTS. The following Lines were compofed by PHILENIA, with a defign that they fhould be fpoken by a lttle Girl at one of the public fchools in Boon, on the annual visitation.] ON the Spring's breaft the rofe's Gem is laid By fome fond florift, or some sylvan maid; 2. Thus the young buds, which form this bright parterre, Rais'd by affection, and improv'd by care, |