which raises a thousand enemies; for who can esteem those by whom he is set up to ridicule; and never, I own, · could I restrain my indignation at see

It has been ingeniously observed, that if all men possessed the same voice, countenance, and manner of speaking, the commerce of life could not be carried on. Men could not be distinguished from each other by reason of their resemblance, and society would become insipid from its uniformity. Indeed, the more civilized they are, their manners and address are more uniform; like the waves of the sea, though differing in their magnitude, still preserve their form. Now, these peculiarities which frequently give life and zest to society, it is the mimic's aim to make ridiculous by magnifying and distorting them, as a profile is made to excite laughter by being caricatured. But this ridicule, by a just retribution, often recoils upon those who use it, they " imitate nature so abominably." Mimicry is the mark of a little genius more attentive to minutiæ than to great and valuable qualities; and it must be mortifying to the mimic's pride to reflect, that, after a life-time spent in the practice of his art, he cannot reach the perfection of an Ape! Besides, how few there are who can mimic the character or mode of thinking, or give more amusement to a Philosopher, than a Harlequin or a Buffoon. It has been termed a dangerous, as well as a trifling accomplishment,

I shall not detain you, Sir, with a description of the Loungers, who continually vacillate up and down the fashionable street, for the two-fold purpose of exhibiting their precious persons and walking off the preceding night's debauch,-the gazers, who gaze at you cap-a-pee, as if they were for taking your measure, the loud talkers, who, like other empty vessels, prove their vacancy by the noise they make,and, to complete the list, the bang-ups, that race of modern jockies who partake of the nature of the brutes they drive.

I own, Sir, I was not a little disappointed, to, find that so many of our fashionable youths, instead of being distinguished by the elegance of their taste, sentiments, and manners, should be nothing more than a race of quizzers, punsters, story-tellers, and buffoons.I trust my son Tom will have enough of his father in him, to entertain a hearty contempt for such emptiness and absurdity. And I am determined to keep him at home till his understanding be matured, ere I expose him to the dissipation and folly of the times. Premature dissipation is as ruinous to the mind as to the constitution; and rather would I see my son a plain intelligent fellow, than the most dashing

of the quizzing fraternity.

In the present education of our young gentlemen, three mistakes are usually committed by their parents, guardians, or teachers. They are allowed to be too much in company, to have too much money in their pockets, and to have too little employment. Never should boys be permitted to sit and guzzle with their elders, when the ladies have left the table; for this stimulative regimen is too hot for young blood, not to mention that the conversation to which they are then too often called to listen, serves only to inflame their imaginations, and to corrupt their hearts. Nothing kindles the passions, or blunts the moral sensibility so much as wine; and, if inebriation be the disgrace of a man, 'tis the ruin of a boy. The youth, whose pockets are filled with money, has the means of dissipation generally in his power, and he who is idle, is frequently led astray from the want of

would disgust young gentlemen at their
studies by too much confinement, but
I would have their time so completely
filled up between study, elegant acqui-
sition, and healthful exercise and amuse-
ment, that they would have neither
leisure nor inclination to frequent the
society of licentious wits, affected fops,
or to follow foolish and profligate cours-
es. Their studies, as well as their amuse-
ments, must be various and inviting;
but my maxim is, that, if our young
gentlemen are to be dissipated, this un-
happy stage of their being, should be de-
layed as long as possible.-Good princi-
ples, however, and a well-directed edu-
cation, bid fair, even in these times, to
make them an honour to themselves,
and an ornament to their country.
I am,

Mr. Editor,
Your most obedient
and humble servant,
PHILANTHROPUS.

1810.

SIR,

I AM a foreigner who have resided some months in Edinburgh; and, as I have experienced several very unpleasant occurrences since my arrival here, I trust you will insert this letter in one of your early papers, of which I understand one object is to notice abuses of the nature complained of. My chief reason for writing it is, to ask you, Sir, if these affronts have been put upon me because I am a stranger; and, if so, to request that my countrymen may be better treated in future, and I shall promise in return to shew any civility in my power to those Scotchmen whom chance may direct to my native city. I am a young man, not much above twenty; and was led to Edinburgh by the fame of the University; by the character of the inhabitants for intelligence, elegance, and polish of manners; and kindness and hospitality to strangers. I brought several letters of introduction to people of distinction; some of them from countrymen of my own, who had been in Edinburgh twenty or thirty years ago, and talked of the society of this city in terms of high encomium; others from Scotchmen whom I had often seen at my father's house. The first thing of which I thought, after my arrival, was the delivery of these letters; and I went to the house of Mr A. pulled the bell, and was told by a footman, that none of the family were at home. I thought this rather singular,

No. XV.

because, in my country, when a lady goes abroad, she is usually accompanied by the valet. Expecting, however, to be more fortunate next day, I called at several other houses, and received precisely the same answer. In my return home, I lost my way, and some people, to whom I applied for direction, stared at me as if I had been a savage, partly I suppose from my foreign accent, and partly from my not being dressed exactly in the fashion of this country; and were even so uncivil as to laugh in my face. At last I found my way, and entered my lodgings in none of the best of humours. I sat down, and could not help heaving a sigh for those dear friends whom I had left on my native shore. During the evening, I endeavoured to forget my chagrin over a page of Shakespeare, whom I had just begun to study.

Next day I awoke in fine buoyant spirits. The sun was shining delightfully through the casements of my chamber. To-day, said I, I shall surely find some one of those to whom my letters shall introduce me, kind enough to shew me the beauties of this celebrated city. Consoling myself with this idea, I took breakfast, and when it was over, rose and went to a north window, to enjoy a prospect of the Frith of Forth, which I had heard much praised in my own country; but, to my great disappointment, I observed a thick mist rolling in dark volumes over its surface, which soon enveloped the sky in darkness. Though I had often heard of the cloudy and damp atmosphere of Britain, I had formed no conception of

its effects on the spirits. Mine sunk like the mercury in a barometer. For in a barometer. For three successive days the fogs were so thick that it was difficult to see the houses on the other side of the street, and the rain frequently poured in torrents from the heavens. During these dreary days, I saw no person, but a dirty sooty-looking girl who attended me, and to my great annoyance, wore neither stockings nor shoes, nor a covering to her head, and, as if on purpose to render her person more disgusting, did not seem to have washed her face, arms, or feet for twelve months. When I mentioned this to her, she answered, "Troth, Sir, water's o'er scarce; I canna get water to wash my face, let be my hands and feet." This reasoning was conclusive, and I said no more about it. The fourth was a fine day, and I again sallied forth; but, to my great mortification, all my friends were from home a second time. When I looked at the great numbers of gay genteel-looking people who crowded the streets, and saw the cordial salutations which every where passed betwixt friends, and observed pleasure and satisfaction beaming on every counte nance, and considered, that I alone, of all that immense crowd, was an object of interest to no one individual, I could not help sinking into a state of melancholy, I, however, passed a few hours in sauntering up and down the streets; and amused myself by looking at the outside of the houses, being denied admittance into the inside of them. For three successive days I attempted in vain to deliver my letters. No one was at home, yet I determined to make one other effort. The servant of the first house at which I called now knew me, and I remarked a certain degree of perplexity in the man's countenance, as if uncertain what to say; when, to my amazement, I heard a lady calling in a voice sufficiently audible to be heard by me, "John, say, I am not at home!" From that moment, I deter

mined to call no more. I instantly re turned home, and turned home, and put all my letters of introduction under cover, inclosing my own address, and sent them by post.

For eight days, I heard nothing of any of them, and began to think that those letters from which I had expected so much advantage, would be of no service to me whatever. At last I received a card from the lady above mentioned, intimating that she was to be at home on Friday the 28th from eleven till three o'clock. I received the card on the first, so that I could not expect to see that lady, from whom I had expected so many civilities, for a whole month. I mistook the hour for eleven o'clock forenoon, and thought the num. ber of her visitors must be very great, that she could not receive me for a whole month. I was the more astonished, as the letter I sent, was from her own brother, who had for some years been frequently at my father's house, and had been treated by him like a brother. I mentioned my surprise to some young men from my own country, with whom I had formed an intimacy; they laughed at me and said, that it was an invitation to a rout; informing me likewise, that for several years past, the fashionable people of Edinburgh had been so much engaged in this spe cies of entertainment, as to have no leisure for the duties of private hospi tality; and that they generally remained at these parties till the morning was so far advanced, as to be unable to quit their bed-chambers till one o'clock.This explained the reason why none of my friends had been at home when I called upon them.

The long expected evening, on which I was to be introduced to the sister of my friend, at length arrived. I did not go till twelve o'clock, which I was told would be early enough. I threw myself into a sedan chair, and away I went in anxious expectation of viewing the manners of this far famed city. The company were just entering, (the great