it's influence into actions at which, under the cooler moments of reason, they would blush but from petty, and even childish disputes. Another evil, more widely extending in it's consequences, seems to stalk forward with rapid strides -and this is conjugal infidelity; an evil which involves both innocent and guilty in it's crime! O! ye parents, would ye but reflect upon the incalcalable misfortunes which arise from the indulgence of your guilty passions, sure none amongst you would be so lost to the voice of nature, or the dictates of conscience, as to plunge your nocent and unprotected offspring into that obloquy and shame which consequently overshadows them, from your deviation from the path of rectitude. The voice of nature pleads strongly even in the brutal race, and the savage tigress tenderly protects and cherishes her young. Shall mothers then, and British mothers, require instruction from the savage race? Forbid it, nature and forbid it, heaven.

In taking a retrospective view of past imperfections, the mind naturally reflects upon the means by which those imperfections might have been avoided; and the result of this inquiry is, that until the cool-blooded duelist, and the infringer upon domestic happiness, are both held in contempt, if not detestation, 'in that society where both are received with courteous civility, there is little chance of the present age witnessing a diminution of those vices, the ef fects of which are so much to be dreaded, and so sincerely to be déplored.

I have hitherto alluded to those deplorable vices which are attached to persons in a more elevated sphere of life, still allowing that dueling and conjugal infidelity have both within, a short period of time imperceptibly crept into the iniddle classes of the state-Sad proof this of the baneful force of éxample, in those who ought to become a pattern for imitation! Having lamented, without wishing to lash, the imperfections of hus man nature, it now becomes the business of a moralist to touch upon the follies, as well as the vices, of the age; a wide field this doubtless, and of a nature to puzzle the criticiser where to begin; yet as preference is due, and ought always to be shown towards the fair sex, I shall commence my observations by a few remarks upon the present fashionable mode of dress.

Fashion I allow to be an arbitrary sovereign, and to boldly set her laws at defiance might be as injudicious as to defy those of the most potent monarch; yet, when modesty, and even decency, are to be sacrificed to her lascivious mandates, I shall admire that female who openly defied them. Could our grandmothers rise from the silent mansions of the tomb, and behold their descendents attired, or rather unattired, according to the present caprices of fashion, how would they deplore the apparent loss of that native modesty which so peculiarly marked both the dress and appearance of the daughters of Albion's native isle !

It appears to me, that a remark made by the immortal Thomson has led-astray the minds of my fair countrywomen; for he observes,

when unadorned adorned the

most;' and God knows the present style of dress is actually undressing; for one half the body is uncovered, and the part that is, really is so thinly veiled, that the formation of every limb can be discerned, and it appears calculated to excite lawless passion, in stead of suppressing illicit desires. Mankind are sufficiently prone to frailty without requiring a stimulus of that nature; and so ungovernable are their passions, that they not only demand the curb of reaFon to restrain them, but the garb of modesty to keep them under

control.

Gallantry within the last thirty years has certainly undergone a total change of forin, though not of nature; and, instead of that assiduous and polite civility, which imperceptibly crept into the affections of the artless and unsuspicious, the broad stare of rudeness, and the effrontery of inattention, have taken place, and actually seem to mark the character of the man of top. A modest young women, unaccustomed to the manners of the metropolis, is actually put out of countenance by the steady gaze which is intended to compliment ber transcendent charms; and so great is the confusion excited by this singular method of paying homage, that she is scarcely able to answer a simple inquiry put to her.

This tacit proof of innate delicacy, is either construed into a deficiency of intellect, or to a total ignorance of polished manners, and the sensitive fair one is, inevitably cut by all the fashionable loungers of the present day.

If such are the injudicious inferences which are drawn from that native timidity of deportment,

which our forefathers would have admired, we cannot be so much astonished at the alteration of manners which a few years have brought about in my fair countrywomen. The desire of pleasure is natural, and we as naturally adopt those habits which tend to produce this desirable effect: yet, would the leaders of fashion once reflect upon the advantages which are to be derived from esteem being blended with admiration, and from the self-approving voice of conscience, how willingly would they resign the applause of the giddy votaries of dissipation, for the pleasure of obtaining the appre bation of the judiciously virtuous, and the applauding sanction of their own hearts.

MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS. ;

Frankness is one of the greatest virtues, but it is the least rewarded.

The same generosity which makes us forget the benefits we have conferred, will prevent us from forgetting those we have received.

If men understood their true interests, they would frequently take as much pains to avoid being troubled with a great fortune as they do to acquire one.

Fortune may be justly compared to a coquette: she is engag ing, charming, seducing, surrounded by a crowd of adorers; at the same time, her most assiduous followers are commonly the greatest dupes of her caprice and levity.

BENEDICT.

A TRUE HISTORY.

[Continued from Vol. xl, page 502.]

IT has been observed, that it was at the governor's splendid mansion my respected father first beheld the blooming Caroline; and though many persons may ridicule the idea of an attachment formed at first sight, it was evident, that both were equally charmed. It was not merely the fine form and manly figure of my father which made him an universal favorite with the fair sex, but it was that soft insinuating manner which renders the possessor doubly pleasing. A bright radiance of glory likewise shone around him; his name was never mentioned without the tribute of applause; in short, he appeared the modern Hector, and my unfortunate mother, like the fair Andromache, saw in his brilliant achievements a divinity whom she adored.

During the five years my father had been absent from his native country, a wonderful alteration had taken place in his domestic affairs; both his parents had paid the debt of nature, and he had never been on terms of affection with their heir. Fifteen hundred pounds was the amount of the fortune that had been left him, which he generously divided between his two sisters, as the chances of war had rendered that addition unnecessary, and he was convinced it would be truly acceptable to his sisters. Totally at liberty to dispose of his affections as he thought proper, he immediately made Miss Melville an of VOL. XLI.

fer of his hand; and her brother, delighted at the prospect of seeing her united to a man of family and fortune, joyfully gave his consent; and, at the expiration of six weeks after their first interview, Caroline Melville became the wife of Captain C—.

The Calcutta newspapers announced the marriage of Captain C and Miss Melville even be fore a letter from the former reached the English shores; and as if the transcendent charms of the lovely Caroline inspired the envy of those who were inferior to her, she was represented as springing from the lowest origin. My uncle, whose pride could only be equaled by his want of natural affection, was exasperated at the bare idea of his brother's forming an alliance with the daughter of a menial servant of Lord Darnley's; for in that light had the all-ac complished Caroline Melville been represented. My uncle, therefore, answered the letter which my father had written, describing the rich treasure providence had blessed him with in a style of sarcastic insolence and severity which it was impossible ever to forgive; and a paper war commenced between them, which only terminated in the death of my respected parent.

Unalloyed happiness falls not to the lot of huiñan creatures, or my mother's would have been complete; but she could not help considering herself as the cause of a disunion between two brothers, whose hearts and dispositions nature never formed to greet.

From the misguided conduct of my grandfather, the bonds of union even in childhood were divided; for the younger branches B

of the family were compelled to bow to the will of the heir apparent, which, of course, on one side inspired jealousy and envy, and, on the other, pride and overbearance. Still a heart like my father's, formed for all the softer sentiments, could not sometimes avoid feeling acutely pained by the division of those links which nature designed to be united, and he frequently expressed his sensations in spite of wounded pride. Two years, however, passed in uninterrupted. felicity, except when intruding thoughts respecting the haughty conduct of my uncle intervened; and during that period I made my appearance on the theatre of life.

-a

Though little had seemed wanting to complete the felicity of my parents, yet a new tide of happiness flowed into their breasts new cement appeared to unite the bonds of wedlock a new source was bestowed upon them of increasing bliss.. They vied with each other in marks of parental tenderness; I was scarcely suffered to be one moment out of their sight; and so much was I the idol of my father's affection, that my nurse regularly followed him on the parade. This mode of conduct in a man less dignifiedly brave than my father, would have exposed him alike to censure and ridicule; but his valor was too well known, and his character too highly applauded, for any reproach of effeminacy to be cast upon it; on the contrary, this proof of parental fondness exalted him in the opinion of those above and below him.

Early initiated as I was in the field of glory, it might naturally be supposed I should instinctively acquire a fondness for a soldier's

veil

life; but destiny throws over futurity, and presumption alone can foretel the succeeding years of a child. Smiling was the prospect which then surrounded me, (and the perspective was equally bright); yet, as Cato observes, Clouds and darkness rested upon it,' though Providence dispersed them, when in mercy he saw right.

Moral reflections, I fear, my readers will consider as obtrusive; and therefore I will return to my narration; yet not supposing a little novelty would be offensive. Coelibs, who certainly gave rise to these adventures, has hazardously trod upon much more hallowed ground, and not only introduced moral, but religious subjects. Whether a theme of that sacred import ought to be blended with a novel, or whether it ought to be confined to theological works, I shall not take upon myself to answer, though I mean to avoid treading in the hallowed path.

Though a cessation of arms had induced several officers in my father's regiment to solicit permission to visit their native country for a certain period, yet as private intelligence had reached England of the hostile intentions of some of the neighbouring princes, they received orders to return; and,. soon after their arrival, several different provinces were openly engaged in war. My father's long residence in, and perfect acquaintance with the country, united to the various proofs he had given of military skill, again induced the commander in chief of the forces in Indra to bestow the command of an important expedition upon him. The hazard attending this expedition was not only great, but almost unprecedented; yet as on

it's success the terminatiou of the war in a great measure seemed to depend, he undertook it with a zeal and alacrity which did honor to himself as well as his men. My poor mother, who was then far advanced in a second pregnancy, not only foresaw the danger which attended it, but was oppressed by one of those foreboding presentiments of it's fatality, for which there is no possibility of accounting.

Although proud of that fame which the object of her affection had already purchased, yet she could not support the idea of his undertaking so dangerous an enterprise; she did not, it is true, wish him to resign his commission, or do any thing that could throw the slightest stigma upon his name, but, as there were many older, and more experienced of ficers at Calcutta, she wished him, under a pretence of doubting his own abilities, to decline the employ; and, in the words of the fair Andromache, oft said to him,

O! stay my Hector here, and guard thy Troy;

or, in another part of that beautiful picture of wedded love,

Thy wife, thy infant, in thy dangers share;

O! prove a husband's, and a father's

care!'

In these scenes of bloodshed and slaughter where my respected father had justly reaped honor, fame, and fortune, he had no being to consider but himself; but circumstances were now totally different, and his manly heart trembled when he reflected upon the pangs his adored Caroline would endure, if fate decreed the

enterprise he was undertaking should terminate his military career. Carefully, however, did le conceal the violence of those strug gles which took place between a sense of honor and connubial and paternal regard; and, whilst his spirits were actually depressed by the foreboding representations of his beloved Caroline, he appeared with all the cheerfulness of a man 'unexposed to danger.

Prudence, notwithstanding, pointed out the necessity of precaution, and, previous to taking leave of his family, he settled afl his worldly concerns, leaving my respected mother and a Colonel Gordon joint guardians of my infancy, as well as of that of the little unborn. Over the parting scene which took place between my beloved parents I shall draw the veil of concealment, though it has frequently been related to me by an old and confidential ser

vant.

All that valor could perform, or cool intrepidity accomplish, was done by the troops which my father commanded, and, though many hundred lives were sacrificed upon the occasion, victory at length declared for the English. My brave father was wounded by a dart from the enemy at the commencement of the engagement, but not finding it deep, and not apprehending it's baneful influence, undauntedly led on his men; but after victory was decided, and he was giving orders respecting the wounded prisoners, an aniversal faintness overspread his frame; the surgeon was summoned, who instantly pronounced that the dart by which he had been wounded was poisoned.

Pity and consternation ran through the whole army never