the utmost importance to you to make a covenant with your eyes, as it is beautifully expressed in scripture, not to wander after other objects of desire and admiration. He that once quits the anchor of constancy, will be the sport of every wind and tide of passion, for his whole life to come. Happiness, as well as charity, ought to begin and end at home; and if ever you suffer yourself to think with disgust, or even indifference, of your wife, your days, from that unhappy moment, will lose their relish, and your nights their tranquillity; reproaches and debates will sadden your meals, and thwarting measures, perhaps, bring on your ruin.

[Our worthy author, when speaking of the ladies, occasionally uses language, somewhat harsh and severe, for one whose general character appears to be so amiable. Instead of considering them "all as syrens," it should be remembered, that, in all ages, the brightest examples of human excellence, have been found in the female ranks; and that, in the present day, there are those amongst them whose virtues entitle them to the distinction of being lineal descendants of the illustrious daughter of Scipio Africanus, whose maternal and domestic duties are properly appreciated, and who can, in pointing to their children, adopt her language "These are the only jewels of which I can boast." The danger to be feared from the slightest acquaintance with those of the opposite

character cannot well be magnified ;—they should be shunned as the pestilence.]

Of Inconstancy.

Neither flatter yourself, that you will proceed but certain steps in the dangerous path of inconstancy. Once astray, it will be one of the most difficult tasks in the world to recover the right road. So many fallacious prospects will present themselves before you, so dark and intricate will appear the maze behind you, that, once in, you will be tempted to wander on: and, through variety of adventures, will produce but a variety of disappointments, you will still pursue the ignis fatuus, till it leads you to destruction.

But, that I may leave no avenue to this fatal labyrinth unguarded, I advise you most earnestly to let all your actions, intimacies and amusements, be as unreserved, open and avowed, as possible. The public eye, though a very severe, is a very wholesome monitor; and many a man has been restrained from ill courses, merely by knowing he was observed.

Of Masquerades.

A masquerade, therefore, however innocent it may seem, or however speciously it may be defended, is a place you are never to be pre

vailed upon, either by your curiosity, or the importunities of others, to visit. It is making too bold an experiment on human frailty; and I am convinced, many persons have ventured on crimes there, they would otherwise have avoided, merely because they were unknown. It is a noble maxim of the poet, That contempt of fame begets contempt of virtue; and this may be added, That to be out of the reach of fame, is to be in the way of vice.

Of Horse-keeping.

To proceed: though riding is both an innocent and manly exercise, and I have formerly recommended it to you, as most fit for you to indulge yourself in, I have now lived long enough to retract a great part of what I advanced on that head, and see cause to dissuade you from ever keeping a horse; at least, till your circumstances or improved sagacity render it allowable, or your health or business necessary. And what has induced me to alter my opinion, you will find as follows. It is generally observed, that the ancient laudable parsimony and frugality' of the city are hardly any where to be found, and that luxury and expense reign in their stead: a very great article of which is How obviously to be placed to the account of riding, and the consequences that are become almost inseparable from it. The young trades

man is no sooner set up, but he searches Smithfield for a hunter; and having heard certain terms of jockeyship bandied about among his companions, exposes himself by using them absurdly; and is cheated ten times over, before he acquires any better skill. The charge of liverystables is now added to those of rent, housekeeping, &c. and opportunities are panted for of producing his new equipage, and sharing in the frolics of the age. Seats, palaces, public places, are visited in turn; and, as such expeditions are presupposed expensive, no article of prodigality is spared, nor any exorbitant bill taxed, for fear his spirit or ability should be called in question. To these succeed horse-races and hunting-matches; whence intemperance in drinking is learned at the one, an itch of gaming at the other, and pride, folly and prodigality at both. In consequence of all this, business is cramped into one half of the week, that pleasure may be indulged during the rest: and servants are entrusted with the management of all; who seldom fail to put in for their share of the plunder, and, having their master's secrets in their keeping, are less anxious for their own. With so many inlets for ruin, is it any wonder to hear it takes place; to hear of notes discounted at a greater premium than the most profitable trade can pay; goods taken up in one shop, in order to be pledged at another; and, finally, of bills protested, and bankruptcies, with scarce

effects enough remaining to pay for taking out the commission? This being the case, as fatal experience manifests it is, do not commence jockey, till you are sure you can sit firm in your saddle, and defy your horse to run away with his rider.

[Horse hire, to those who do not keep a horse, may likewise become a serious item of expense, if frequently incurred by rides into the country. The sabbath, it is deeply to be regretted, is too often shamefully violated in pursuit of gratifications of this kind. In addition to the great loss and positive injury sustained by those who thus spend the day set apart by the christian world for very different purposes, may likewise frequently be added, inhumanity to the noble, uncomplaining animal, injudiciously placed at their disposal. Instead of indulging in practices of this kind, be punctual in attending some place of public worship; by so doing, much evil will be avoided, and you will, at all events, be placing yourselves in the way of good. "Religion," says a great authority, "of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind, unless it be invigorated and re-impressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example."}