hardships, under a Government he had served with diligence, zeal, and ability for many years; and was deprived, at once, of exercising those noble qualities, that not only rendered him conspicuous in society, as well as amiable to all classes of men; but reflected honor on the department to which he was attached. In fine, past services were buried in oblivion, and the provision that was made for the son of a Nobleman, as a reward for the fidelity with which he had served the country for upwards of forty years, was in one luckless moment snatched from him, and handed over to a stranger. But this was one of those extraordinary events that will happen, now and then, in the best regulated States; and, is a reflection on the individuals then at the head of affairs, rather than on a Government proverbial for its generosity.

In consequence of a severe, though not very tedious illness, a gentleman was appointed " to take upon him the duties of the office during his indisposition," and however incredible it may appear, the person thus appointed, was from that moment fixed in the situation; without a fault being attached, or a single reproof given to the invalid.

To the

Justice, however, is due unto all men. inflicter of evils, as well as to the inflicted. A report had been industriously circulated, that the sufferer could not long escape the grim tyrant's grasp. Application was made for the post still

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occupied by the person who had held it for many years, with equal honor to himself, and satisfaction to his patrons and the public; and though the hasty applicant was not successful, a successor was in consequence nominated-who, as stated above, was to take upon him the duties of office, during the indisposition of the Invalid." To call in question the reasonableness of such an arrangement, would be absurd; but when the person thus nominated was permitted, by the higher powers, to remain in quiet possession, to the prejudice of the Individual, who, on his recovery, in vain sought to be reinstated; then, indeed, it must be pronounced a most egregious and unjustifiable exercise of power; and censure cannot but fall on the Minister who permitted it. Whether the interloper came from York or Liverpool for support, it matters not; he ought not to have been suffered to retain the provision, which being purloined from his neighbour, reduced the latter almost to a state of starvation, while the former feasted at his expense.

Every circumstance, Humanicus, on his recovery, fully represented to those who could, and ought in justice, to have redressed his grievances. Still, year after year rolled on in fruitless expectation and anxiety. Time after time the unhappy victim was assured that his case was under consideration. But, alas! he was doomed to a retrogade motion, from the moment he reverted to the injuries he had sustained.

He wrote to the minister-received no answer; petitioned the next great mana petulant Secretary, whose peevish disposition little inclined him to pay attention to a statement replete with hardships and injustice. Misrepresentations had created a strong prejudice against the sufferer; and he had but one friend, who possessed the virtue to espouse his cause, among the many who saw and condemned the iniquity that was practised on him. This friend to justice and humanity, as often as he approached the mighty man in power, was as frequently repulsed with hard unkindness, and unfeeling petulance; so that the injured individual was obliged at last to yield to his unhappy fate, and to retire from the world for ever, on a scanty pittance, scarcely sufficient to supply the necessaries, much less the common comforts of life. For circumstances should be taken into consideration, and it should be recollected that what would be superfluity to one man, would be barely sufficient for the support of another. And had not a noble Lord, who was aware of his claims and listened to his complaints; whose love of justice has been corroborated through life by his upright and impartial conduct, succeeded to the head of affairs, and taken his case into consideration, even this pittance would have been withheld. But these are shocks, to which the honest and virtuous are constantly liable, from indiscriminate negligence, and upstarts in power! Humanicus was sacrificed to

the malevolence of one of these unfeeling mortals, who had ingratiated himself into the favour of a high officer of state; and, by gross misrepresentations of circumstances, of which he was totally ignorant, he succeeded in revenging some private pique, unjustly entertained against the sufferer ; and thus accomplished the ruin of a worthy man.

NUMBER XIV.

ON HOLINESS.

Be still, nor anxious thoughts employ;
Distrust embitters present joy :

On God for all events depend;

You cannot want when God's your friend.
Weigh well your part and do your best;
Leave to your Maker all the rest.

"IT is good for man to be afflicted," says the Royal Psalmist. When he is surrounded with troubles and difficulties, they shew him that his whole dependence is on God; and when they are considered as chastisements from Heaven, they bring him to a sense of his errors, and engage him to a better performance of his duties. "Before I was afflicted," said holy David, "I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted

me.'

Well would it be for mankind in general, would they follow the example of this Penitent, and turn to their future advantage the afflictions

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