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Walks forth to meditate at eventide,

recline your head, or trust your cares And think on her, who thinks not for to; while doubtless many an en

herself.'

COWPER.

Gentle reader of this solitary walk! whoever thou art, whether a stately dome be thy residence, or a clay cottage thine abode; whether thou reclinest on the downy pillow of affluence, or reposest on the hard pallet of poverty; whether the emanations of genius irradiate thy mind, or thy intellectual faculties impart but a feeble ray; whether know ledge opes to thee her storehouse of scientific treasures, or ignorance denies thee access to the gate of learning, and with her clouds hides from thy ken all the inviting walks of literature; whatever be thy situation, character, or sentiments, methinks, upon a review of the account of this worthy old man, thou wilt exclaim with me • Let last end be like his !'

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gaging feminine would be happy to twine with you the gordian knot of matrimony, and range through ail the delectable groves of Hymen.

How pleasing you would find an, agreeable companion of the softer sex, to attend you in your noctural rambles, or to be ready to welcome you to a scene of domestic enjoy ment, to dry your wet raiment, and to administer a refreshing cordial, rendered doubly palatable by her kind officiousness and fond, attention!

Having myself experienced many of the cares and comforts of matrimony, I think myself qualified to become an advocate for the connubial tie.

For fourteen years I wore old Hymen's yoke, And never wish'd the chequer'd bondage broke:

Seven blooming prattlers crowd my humble board,

And make their father happier than a lord:
Their sports and fond endearments can im
part
An exquisite sensation to my heart."

Author's Manuscript Poem

I recollect that Dr. Franklin, somewhere in his works, speaking of a bachelor, compares him to an odd volume of a set of books, worth but little-or (what is more degrading) to the half of a pair of scissars, which cannot cut any thing, but may possibly serve to scrape a trencher with.

Can you read the character of Solus in the play, and not execrate the idea of being an old bachelor? Can you hear him exclaim, I wish I had been married thirty years ago; I wish a wife and half a score children would now start up around me, and

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bring with them all that affection, which we should have had for each other by being earlier acquainted;' without feeling a deep conviction of the necessity of a speedy metamorphosis? I think you cannot.

But if, in spite of what poets or prosemen may sing or say, you still remain inexorable,

For You no tender mate with anxious feart

Will dew her cheek with Nature's loveliest

tear;

and deserved success. To the pow-erful attraction of his style of sing-. ing he adds a very uncommon share of good acting and comic humour.

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At his first benefit, which he had on Thursday, the nineteenth of June, 1806, he presented the public with Meyer's comic opera, entitled Il Fanatico per Musica, which he has greatly improved and enriched, since its first appearance in Italy, by the insertion of several new pieces. Le Musicien Enragé of signor Naldi was a fine piece of that style of acting called "caricato, or chargé jusqu' a' l'exces. Mrs. Billington sung the JOHN WEBB. delightful song che temi mio cor, accompanied by signor Naldi on the violoncello, and herself on the pianoforte, and produced the most pleasing effect.

For You no prattling babes, in sweet employ,

Will wake the raptures of paternal joy. Unwept you'll fall; for your unnotic'd bier Will not be moisten'd with one heart-felt

tear.'

Haverhill, April 11, 1807.

SIGNOR NALDI.

(With a Portrait.)

AS we gave in our last an elegantly engraved portrait of that astonishing singer Madame Catalani, we this month present our readers with a whole length sketch of the celebrated performer, who so often appears on the stage with her, signor Naldi, in the the character of Roberto il Assassino, or Robert the Assassin, an operatic character similar to that of Rugantino on the English stage.

Signor Naldi is from Lisbon, and made his first appearance at the King's theatre, in the Haymarket, on Tuesday the fifteenth of April of last year, in the opera of Le Due Nozze e un Sol Marito, (Two Marriages and only one Husband), the music of which is by Guglielmi, and abounds in beauties. His voice is a tenor of great compass and brilliancy. The ease, grace, delicacy, and rapidity of his modulation, afford a treat to which English amateurs have been long unaccustomed. His début was crowned with great

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.

THE most necessary virtue to woman, and that which gives her the greatest degree of power, is modesty. This amiable quality influences the features, the air, the mind, in such a manner, that every thing shocks us where it is wanting.

We must allow that there are some virtues which, though one would be glad to have within call, one wishes never may be called for. Patience is one of them. She is an excellent physician to a diseased mind; but would any body desire to be sick for the sake of having a doctor, even though it were the infallible Esculapius himself?

There is but one test of friendship, a test by which no one would wish to try the genuineness of it-and this` is, necessity: and yet without that it is not easy to know whether the professions of our friends flow from the heart, or only stream from the lips.

HARRIET VERNON;

OR,

CHARACTERS FROM REAL Life.

A NOVEL,

In a Series of Letters,

BY A LADY.

(Continued from p. 189.)

LETTER XVI.

Miss H. Vernon to Miss West.

ACCORDING to promise, I sit down to inform my dear friend of our visit to the colonel and his sister. Brother put on a new black bob, his best coat, and a new pair of striped stockings. He joined us in the parlour at three o'clock: the colonel was to dine at four. We were dressed in our best; and Dorcas, who assisted, declared she thought as how there were not such pretty-looking young ladies in all London.

Come,' said brother, < you have been a long time dressing, I think:

it's time to set out.'

'Borcas then may call a coach,' *said Maria.

A coach!' repeated my brother, with a look of astonishment.

'Yes,' said Maria; 'it's impossible for us to walk so far this hot day.'

'You are likely to walk so far, or stay at home, I promise you. Pray how did you walk on Tuesday?'

'We were not dressed in our best then. Why, only consider, brother; here is Maria and me in our new white chip bonnets, which nothing injures so soon as the sun : only look on us, brother, and say if it be fit we walk all through the city dressed as we are.'-I might as well have talked to a post; for, walking up and down the room, he paid not the least attention.-A pretty pass, VOL. XXXVIIL

muttered he to himself,' the women are come to now a-days: formerly a woman could walk from one end of the city to the other with pattens, and a cloth cloak over her shoulders, rain or hail; and now two young girls cannot walk half a dozen streets in a fine summer day.'

'Indeed,' said Maria, I cannot, undertake the walk. I do not feel perfectly well to-day.'

Then stay at home; for I swear by Change-alley, there shall no coach be called to my door this day.'

Now this is an oath he never violates; so the debate ended, and we were going to take off our cloaks, when looking through the window- Joy, joy!' said I; here is the colonel's chariot come to fetch us.'

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'As sure as sixpence,' said brother; so I hope you'll be pleased.'

I don't know,' said Maria (with a sort of sneer I never saw on her face before), if it will save any thing, for I suppose the coachman will expect something to be given him.'

Then let him expect," said brother, and I will ask him if it's the first time he was disappointed.'

So saying, he led us to the door, and remarking that he saw no fun in walking when he could ride for nothing, stepped into the carriage, leaving us to follow. He then entered into a long dissertation on the growth of luxury in the increase of wheel carriages, which lasted till we reached the colonel's-While we were getting out, Do you expect any thing, young man?' said he to

the servant.

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Maria and I were confused; but before we either of us could think of a proper answer, the colonel said, Indeed! I could not suppose my omission of not mentioning it could have been attended with such fatal consequences; but I sent the chariot, as thinking it more agreeable than a hackney coach, if one may judge by their outsides.'

We have no wish for a better,' said I: but brother declared we should walk, or stay at home; and as we really felt unable to do the former, we were making up our minds to the latter.'

'How could you,' said Mrs. Ambrose, wish the young ladies to walk such a distance such a day as this?'

vided, when he began to reckon the dishes, one, two, three, four; egad I see no end to them. Fish a top, a plaguy dear dish!'

You will partake of some,' said Mrs. Ambrose, 'I hope.' 'Yes, yes; I have no objection to partake of it.'

The colonel, who was uneasy because of the footman's presence, tried to turn it off as a joke. You are merry to-day, Mr. Vernon: it's well we don't believe all you say.'

'I never say what I do not mean, and I will give any man a guineathat will say he ever saw fish at my table.'

The footman, who was stifling a laugh at the side-board, in drawing out his handkerchief to stuff into his mouth, threw down a glass.

Is that the way,' said my brother, you use your master's property? There goes sixpence: it's all you livery servants are good for to waste and confound.'

'Come,' said the colonel, we will make him useful in some color way. Give a glass vine 192. John.'

My brother ser good wine, but wasting with gore meat,

to drink it

It all he endless to repeat all the mouth things said by this odd brother of curs at dinner.

Because, miss,' said he, I never ride in a hackney coach, and I see no reason why they should, who are twenty years younger, and have the De not continually expose use of their legs better than me; for bins to ridicule, I would not subI have corns, that lame me scmeet him to yours by repeating any times.' e. them.

There was no replying to every absurd a speech; and my broth, thinking he had convit ced her, tarn ed himself round in the clair, and putting one an over the back of it, sat looking out at window until din ner was arouneed.

Der! sald he; why I see no steth laid yet. The colonel informed him it was in another room.

Oa! two sitting-rooms is the Vogue now.'-He then followed us Vince a ver, genteel dinner was pro

We retired very soon after dinner, at which the colonel looked disappointed: but my brother seemed very well pleased; he relished, he said, the colonel's wine. We spent a most delightful afternoon with Mrs. Ambrose. You and your good mother furnished the chief of our conversation. Now do you want to know all that was said; but I will not tell you a word.

see

I hope,' said Mrs. Ambrose, to you here very often; but you

must excuse my attending you in the city, as I am extremely fearful of riding in London streets, and am besides very averse to visiting.' We assured her we would see her in the way most agreeable to herself-Dear obliging girls,' she called us ; 'my brother purposes spending next month in a shooting party: I will then petition your brother to spare you entirely. We can then,' turning to Maria with a smile, enter on business.” — Maria blushed, and both of us expressed our thanks in the best manner we were able. We chatted till near seven o'clock, when we summoned the gentlemen to tea. My brother made his appearance with a pipe in his mouth, and the effects of the colonel's wine pretty visible in his face. He staggered up to Mrs. Ambrose Egad,' said he,

you are a likely woman!' at the some time puffing a cloud of smoke in her face.

How could you think, brother,' said Maria, of bringing your pipe

here?'

Why, the colonel told me miss did not dislike tobacco.'-Mrs. Ambrose confirmed it, but desired he would sit a little further from her. This he complied with; and Maria and I placed ourselves on each side of her, by way of guard. The co'lonel now entered, and introduced no less a personage than Mr. Jerry, dressed in a scarlet coat, and his hat in his hand.

Oh! Curtis,' said my brother: I told him to come, if we did not come home to supper!'

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it, was at length prevailed on, and seating himself in an arm-chair, said he should not have come if Mr. Vernon had not ordered him.'

Your presence needs no apology,' said Mrs. Ambrose. She then whispered me, to know who he was.The colonel proposed cards. Maria expressed a wish to go home before stipper; but Mrs. Ambrose insisted we should stay all night, and send the gentlemen home alone. To this we had no objection, not lilang the thoughts of going with our brother, who, we had reason to think, by the time supper was ended would be incapable of taking care of us. Jerry said he could play nothing but all fours; and my brother, who was extremely talkative, proposed we should tell stories. I said, he will begin, and tell you the history of his courtship. The proposal diverted all parties, and my brother began.

I have now given over all thoughts of marrying: five years since I intended it, and took a journey of forty miles after a young woman I had taken a fancy to seven years before; she was reported to have ten thousand pounds in hard cash, independent of her father, who being a man of large property, one might reasonably expect he would give her at least five thousand more. As I had never made any overtures to the lady, and had only seen her twice in my life, I of course wanted an introduction; I accordingly packed up a basket of oranges and almonds and raisons, the best I could procure, and sent them by the waggon, carriage paid, inclosing a letter to the father, saying I would pay a visit, for a day or two, shortly. Not hearing to the contrary, 1 set out, and was received by the father and daughter very civilly. I took the first opportunity to explain my intentions, which I did in nearly the

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