children unborn will become real sufferers through the madness of their infatuated parents. When those who have wasted the substance in riotous living are awakened by a feeling sense of their approaching shame and misery, they generally muster up all they can procure, and at one stroke venture it all in the stocks, where, if one is successful, most commonly twenty are ruined. What I have now told you is the result of long experience, and I doubt not but you will find too glaring proofs of it. It now remains that I should, in compliance with your request, point out some rules to be observed, in order to carry on business both with credit, honor and profit. But I know of no method more proper than to act diametrically opposite to the conduct of those already mentioned.

Learn to be wise by others' harm,

And you shall do full well.

Never leave that undone till to-morrow that can be performed to-day. Never trust that to either a friend or a servant which can be done by yourself.

Keep an account of every day's expense, and once at least every week, compare your debt with your credit.

Be not over auxious in acquiring riches. Trade is solid, but slow; and experience has long since convinced me, that those who are over hasty in acquiring riches, most commonly fail in their attempts, and soon find themselves real beggars. But, above all, remember, that" in vain do we rise soon, or sit up late, unless our labors are crowned with di vine blessings." I leave these things to your consideration, and am, with great sincerity, Your sincere well wisher.

LETTER 155.

From a Gentleman in decayed circumstances in the country, to another lately returned from the East Indies, recommending his Son to his protection.

SIR,

I was greatly pleased to hear of your arrival, but much more so that you had acquired an ample fortune. You knew me when my circum stances were not only easy, but likewise affluent; and you also know that at that time I was glad of every opportunity of assisting my friends. But, alas! I am now in quite a different situation. By the loss of ship from Jamaica, I was obliged to stop payment, and give up all to my creditors, who have generously allowed me a small annuity for my subsistence. When that fatal event took place, I retired into the coun try with my wife and children, and my time since has been spent in su perintending their education. The bearer, my eldest son, is just twenty, and is very desirous of going to the East Indies; but my circumstances are such that it is not in my power to give him any assistance, nor indeed do I know in what manner to proceed in an affair of so much importance. The friendship which subsisted betwixt us before you left England, gives me some encouragement to hope, that your elevation and grandeur will not make any alteration in your sentiments concerning benevolence, notwithstanding the depressed situation to

which I am reduced. I rather think that my present distressed cir cumstances will plead more powerfully in favor of the youth, than if he were supported even by the recommendation of the whole body of directors. I have given him an education, perhaps beyond my circum stances, and suitable, I hope, to any tatuation in the mercantile world. His morals, so far as I know, are pure, and I doubt not his conduct will give satisfaction. If, therefore, you will be pleased either to take him under your own direction, or instruct me in what manner to pro ceed in order to promote his interest, you will thereby confer a lasting obligation on an indulgent, though afflicted parent, and it shall be ac knowledged with gratitude to the latest period of my existence. I am, sir, your very humble servant.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER 156.

The Answer.

When I read your affecting letter, I scarcely knew whether I was more grieved to hear of your distressed circumstances, or filled with shame that I had been three months in England, and never inquired for one who had not only treated me with humanity, but even assisted me in making my first voyage to the Indies. Your house was an asylum to me when I was utterly destitute, and I should consider myself as an object of the utmost abhorrence, if I hesitated one moment in complying with your request, relating to the amiable youth who brought me the letter. But, in what light must I consider myself were my gratitude to the best of men confined to such a favor as would cost me nothing, or what I would grant even to a stranger No, sir, I am sensible of benefits received, and should consider myself as a mean, abject wretch, if I ̧ did not acknowledge them with gratitude. I have just been with your son to the directors, and he is engaged as a writer at Bengal. If the climate agrees with his constitution there is no great fear but he will soon acquire a considerable fortune. For which purpose I have deposited in the hands of the supercargo five hundred pounds for his use, which you know is more than I had when I first embarked for that part of the world. But still, I should consider myself as acting very partially, if whilst I am making provision for the son I should forget his aged parents. The ships for India do not sail till next March, so that your son will have at least three months to remain with you before he embarks. He sets off with the coach to-morrow, and I have intrusted him with something for your immediate use. I intend calling to spend a few days with you next month, and be assured that nothing in my power shall be wanting to make your life as agreeable as possible. I have not so far forgot the principles of a virtuous education as to look with indifference on the various dispensations of Providenc. How true is that saying of the wise man, "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong!" As human wisdom cannot discern the progress to earthly grandeur, so man's prudence is not always able to guard against calamitous events. I am determined, therefore, not to place too much confidence in riches, and shall only consider myself as the steward of that all bountiful God from whom I have received them. This is may

fincare elution, and I.tope no allurement whatever will tempt me to donat run it. I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend.

LETTER 157.

On Marriage--from a Lady in town to her Friend in the country.

DEAR MADAM,

Marriage is despised by some, and by others too much coveted. The first sin against the law of nature and divine ordination; the last, too often, against their own peace and happiness. For those who are in extraordinary hasto for a settlement do commonly extend their expectations beyond what they have possessed in a single life, and often the imaginary heaven prove a hell. Though your changing your condition nad an extraordinary prospect, yet I hear my last letter, which was to wish you joy, found you in scrow; but I know you are too well principled not to remember the time will come when the wicked shall cease from troubling, and the weary will be at rest. For if your husband continues so industrious to tormen: you, as the world represents him, I believe you can have but little est till that time is come; unless it is by the inward peace of a good conscience, which none can take from you. This is a consolation which clamorous wives always lose, and which can never be recompensed by any point t gain, however apparently for

their advantage.

Since the laws of God and nature have given men the supreme authority in marriage, we ought not first to accept them on these terms, and then mutiny upon all occasions. For though some men are so kind as to make our yoke light upon us, yet we take them "for better or for worse," and experience shows us that the odds are on the worse side. All this we should consider before we engage ourselves in those strict ties, which oblige us to deny our own inclinations, and comply with those of our husbands. Indeed, human policy ought to teach us this lesson; for if we make a man's home less agreeable to him than any other place, we furnish him with a good excuse for going abroad, which can never be to our mutual advantage. Those men whom business does not call out to get money, are generally on the spend; and he that is driven from hoine by a wife's ill humor, is always more extravagant abroad, and even thinks he has a better pretence to be so, while he sacrifices his body and soul, as well as his estate to his revenge.

Some women, indeed, will divert themselves and not seem to mind it; and instead of endeavoring to win their husbands by complaisance, turn as extravagant as they; or, as the old proverb says, "they light the candle at both ends;" though they know it must at last burn their own fingers. However, they seldom fail of suffering by their rashness; and the further they run out, the sooner they find a check upon their expenses; beside, if they should preserve their honesty, they undergo the certain loss of their reputation, which is infinitely more valuable to them than any thing else in the world; and although by such conduct they may think to reclaim the men, yet they "ought not to do evil that good may come."

But, most of all, I wonder at some of our acquaintace who seem to be sober women, and yet recommend it as the best way to deal with a

passionate husband, to be more unreasonable than be. Such conduct may silence some men, and might be pardonable if God as well as mau were to be silenced by it. But our religion tells us "we must not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." An evil tongue never appears so odious as in the mouth of a passionate woman, railing against her husband. We commonly say that a madman is possessed; and every cne that is not in a rage himself, will allow passion to be a temporary madness, which makes men act as irrationally as lunatics, although they have not the same excuse to plead. Such unhappy persons will often tell you that passion is a natural infirmity; a violent distemper which they strive against, and therefore they ought to be excused; but let them remember that their conduct is the more unjustifiable, as they are sensible of their folly. If a husband be unkind and cruel, it is a great affliction, and the scripture tells us that all things of that nature are grievous; but as contrary as they are to flesh and blood, yet they arise not from the dust, and it is not for us to contend with our Maker. He that can, with a word, control the winds and seas, can with as lit tle trouble avert any storm that threatens, when he sees us fit objects of mercy. For if we attempt to shake off the yoke, or think by struggling to make the chain sit looser upon us, we shall soon be convinced of our error, like birds taken in a net, who by beating their feathers off, increase their misery, and at the same time disable themselves from making their escape.

Those amongst us that know we have been so obliging as never to deserve an ill word from our persecutors, should remember, that still we every day deserve God's chastisements, and that wicked and unreasonable men are a sword of his, which wounds us the deeper the more we love the hand which he employs for our corection. But how sharp soever it is, yet we should not repine, considering it is to humble us, in order to draw us nearer to himself. He has said, that when we have arrived at a proper degree of perfection, we shall be free from all our sufferings; but as long as we continue to offend we shall be punished either in this world, or, what is infinitely worse, in the world to come I have a few thoughts more to send you on the same subject, whic am not able at present to communicate, being in a poor state of healt but I am still, dear madam, Your sincere friend.

In compliance with your request, I mentioned a few things concerning marriage, and, according to my promise, now send you the remainder. It is certainly a very silly thing for people to quarrel who must be friends again; unless they choose rather to live asunder than submit to many things they cannot approve. I will not pretend to determine what provocation is sufficient to justify such a breach, nor to say that it cannot be justified, since even the best of women have parted from their husbands, although they seem sincerely to lanent their separation. Nor does their conduct accuse them of having done it lightly, or upon the account of taking their pleasure, which would soon be discovered, as in

such circumstances all eyes are upon them, and they must live more re served than the rest of the world, or else they would quickly be liable to such a censure as must vindicate the conduct of their husbands.

And though in all quarrels betwixt a man and his wife, if it comes to a hot dispute, there are faults in both parties, yet the weaker vessel 18 so little considered, merely for being weak, they are very often blamed much more than they deserve; which they can no way resent so well as by a strict observance of their relative duties, and to endeavor to have a conscience void of offence towards God and the world.

Nothing upon earth can be said to afford satisfaction only as our imagination makes it appear so at a distance; and this prospect is dressed by fancy in such various shapes, that what would be a delight to one is real misery to another; and age or possession does sometimes give the same persons such different notions, that they grow sick at the very things they languished for before. This is probably the reason why old people are so much for denying young ones those innocent diversions which they have grown weary of themselves; though, perhaps, at the same time they may gratify their own foible in something equally ridiculous. It is this contrariety in the mind that makes matrimony so uneasy; for when one sets up a separate Diana to worship, their hearts cannot be full of affection to one another; and if both are bigoted in their own way, it too often ruins, not only themselves, but also their innocent children. But you, madam, are in no danger of falling into this error, being of too complying a nature to bring yourself and others into any inconveniency on that score; and I rejoice to hear how unmoved you appear under so great a provocation. I confess, that a husband's keeping another before one's eyes, is the cruelest thing he can do; yet, even in that case, it is most prudent to show no frowardness; for the mistress will be sure to entertain him with mirth and caressing, which will make the wife's frowns appear more intolerable, and such women never fail to magnify all domestic accidents.

These prostitutes are, indeed, the greatest enemies to conjugal love; for them the gentlemen put on their best countenances, and with them they pass their most pleasing hours; the spleen and ill humor is reserved for the wife of his bosom, who must share in nothing but the grieyances, till they become partners in their wants, which invariably follow such courses. Some few instances we have seen of husbands who have been reclaimed by a wife's tenderness, before the intrigue has gone too far, but I believe none were ever hectored cut of it.

Some men are so kind to their wives as to endeavor to conceal their falsehood; which if they do, it is very indiscreet for the ladies to inquire into it, and they are no friends who give them the information. He that goes about to hide his amour, shows either a sense of shame, or a regard to his spouse; and that may in time wean him from such company, or at least it is a sign he does not desire to grieve her, which most men esteem their great prerogative, and would lose half their satisfaction in their intrigues, were it not for the pleasure of tormenting their wives. There are some husbands, who, to use the cld prorerb, have stretched the bow till it has broke,' for any woman whose heart is divested of every virtuous principle, in such cases, will return