guns, bottles, bumpers, and wenches; but if, at any time, he is unhappily situated with people of sense, and the conversation takes a more important turn, he is suddenly seized as if with a locked-jaw, perhaps falls asleep, and has no resource but to repair to the tavern, the brothel, or the gaming-table, in order to join some riotous crew of my fine-fellows:

And when night

Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.

With such companions he associates. Similar vices, and similar ignorance, it is said, is the principle of their association, and hence their attachment is without benevolence-their familiarity without friendship. But they are pleased, and so am I. A snarling enemy of mine seeing a group of these young fellows together one day, said, it was astonishing by what a variety of hieroglyphics nature had contrived to express folly! But, as they have no mental resources, why should they not pursue folly, rendered fashionable by so many brilliant examples, and the only pursuits for which their tastes are fitted? Heavy hours, no doubt, they do experience, and I am plagued to death with contriving vicious amusements for so many of them; and yet many

come to me from tædium vitæ before their time of doing mischief is over.

This office of mine often induces me to think, that the fatigue and vexations of the laborious are not half so much to be pitied as the stare of the languid, or the vacant look and yawn of the idle. But idleness, as the proverb says, is my saddled horse, and I avail myself of it. Sunday is a wearisome day to my friends, for the laws of the country still give countenance to its observance. However, on Sunday, I do more real business among all ranks than on all the other days of the week. Whenever I bring the mind to lose reverence for the duties of that day, I reckon it a prize; and I hope soon to see the fourth law in the Decalogue in complete disuse.

As long as health and strength continue, I can contrive amusement for my friends pretty well. I do not say they are useful to the state, to society, or to themselves; but, while the delirium of pleasure and fashion continues, they feel no uneasiness, except sometimes when they awake in the dark, or are seized with a fit of sickness : But, in the decline of life, I am sadly plagued with them. A vacant mind, with no fund of consolation-the retrospect of a misspent life, and a disrelish of folly, makes them peevish and capricious to all around them, and insupportable

to themselves. It is then they have forebodings, and a foretaste of horrors which I cannot alleviate, but by drowning care with inebriety. It is then the force of the sentiment of the poet meets them,

I clasp'd the phantoms, and I found them air.-
O had I weigh'd them ere my fond embrace,
What darts of agony had miss'd my heart!

They feel pungent regret on hearing a modern author say, 66 Every year of a wise man's life should be a censure on the past." The boy despises the infant, the man the boy, the philosopher both, and the Christian all. They wish indeed to have life to begin anew; for, as sons, husbands, fathers, men, they have been miserably mistaken; but it is too late, and they die either stupidly insensible, or torn with remorse for their misconduct; but they are welcomely received into the arms of

BELZEBUB.

TO MR ******* ̧

Oct. 15.

SIR, If the many vices which degrade your character leave you doubtful of what may be the

cause of this letter, know that the purpose of it is to give you notice of the death of Miss ———, whom you basely betrayed and abandoned to dishonour.

This night she lies in a grave, a monument of your infamy, and an example of that pride which allows not its possessor to live in shame!— Of her many miseries you were the wretched cause-In her deep and poignant contrition may you ere long be her equal.

Ambitious, as you at present are, Sir, of fashionable profligacy, you were not always so. In your boyish years, I remember, you bade fair for goodness and wisdom: Personal accomplishments seemed to embellish mental attainments; but the influence of bad company, upon a latent vicious disposition, changed your conduct, and in a short time established your character.

When I review the arts which you practised to accomplish the ruin of that beauteous unfortunate who has just left the world, I know not whether to be most indignant against your profligacy, or the deep disingenuity which marked every step of your conduct. In reputation and station, you knew her family to be equal to your You knew that this daughter's education was the chief pleasure of her parents' declining days. Her mind was carefully instructed in

own.

every worthy sentiment; and it was a pleasing reflection to fond parents, that her early conduct spoke her to be amiable, ingenuous, and sensible. There is unhappily in female youth a period when sensibility of soul makes them susceptible of impression, and when experience only can guide, and teach them what is right. Her few years made her ignorant of that experience, and unsuspicious parents saw not your invidious designs. It was this period you chose for your villany. You interposed ere the laws of right and wrong, and the nice boundaries of virtue and prudence, were established. You laid your plans with subtlety, and concealed them with hypocrisy.

Was there never a time when your heart checked you? Could neither youth, beauty, nor innocence find a momentary friend in your thoughts? Did you never dread the resentment of her friends, and the contempt of the world? Were your dishonourable vices only permanent, and your good resolutions transitory? Your conduct has shewn that they were.-To feel "another's woe," was no lesson of yours. Your object was the gratification of lawless passion, and you chose to forget that your duty was to restrain passion by reason, character, humanity, and conscience.