which could not fail of its effect. But now, without a single enquiry, without one touch of pity, he could see her face pale with sorrow, and her once radiant eyes dim with weeping. At such a moment, instead of bending before her as he had once done, and pressing her hand to his sympathetic heart, he could cast on her a look so cold and chilling as to freeze the vital stream of life even in its fountain, fling out of his house with contempt and disgust, and lavish on the vicious and impure, those affectionate attentions which he had solemnly vowed to her alone. He might have been happy; and he might have realized to his beauteous wife all those dreams of conjugal innocence and bliss with which her youthful fancy was wont to regale her. But instead of those pure and calm joys, whose recollection might have gilded even the moment of death, he chose riot, debauchery and guilt; to his own virtuous and celestial bed, he preferred habitual impurity and prostitution; and instead of the perpetual spring which she had fondly anticipated, poor Maria experienced only perpetual winter. The blast was too keen for her tender frame. She is gone; and, with her sister angels, she has found that peace which her unfeeling husband refused to her on earth. Her death stunned him into

his senses. In vain he endeavoured to recall her fleeting breath; in vain he promised and vowed if she could be restored to him, to atone for his past neglect by future tenderness. To him the resolution of amendment came too late; may it come in time to a portion of my readers.

Y.

NUMBER III.

On POLITENESS.

THE efforts of individuals to correct and reform society would be more efficient, if it were not for the pertinacity with which most of us assume the exclusive right to examine our own faults. The propriety of erecting an inde pendent tribunal to decide between persons indifferent to us, is never questioned; but touch ourselves or our favourites, and we instantly become hoodwinked: errors the most glaring are readily covered by partiality, while we adorn

with the utmost subtilty, all that is engaging and meritorious.-There are however those, who with becoming diffidence lend their minds to the tutelage of experience: to such I address myself, since they may be operated upon, although in different degrees, by discreet and temperate reproof.

Every member of society has certainly a deep interest in promoting that quality, which we understand by the appropriate term, POLITENESS. In the intercourse which necessarily subsists between individuals in affairs of commerce, politics, arts and science, so much of our pleasure depends upon the urbanity and good breeding of our companions, that no hint should be disregarded, which may, in the remotest degree improve our manners or refine our tastes. Some men have learnt to appreciate the advantages of genteel deportment and suavity of manners; and conscious of the influence they have attained by the respect which such qualities command, only because they are rare, have applied them to purposes of seduction: they have thereby too often stolen the affections of the people, & wounded their morals by examples of deception, which however specious, are disowned and disdained by the frankness of genuine politeness. In republics therefore, it is essentially important, that we should cultivate affability and politeness. This would lead to an habitual elegance, and an agreeable equality of manners: an equality as desirable as that of intellect, and scarcely less important than that which our law of distributions was designed to promote.-An interchange of civilities, and a tender of reciprocal aid among neighbours, would win the heart of any inan, that would take the trouble to contrast them with such manners as are always the offspring of a rude and unpolished state of society; where brutal intoxication and the horrible dexterity of pugilism are in the van: where the loss of an ear may disfigure us, or the loss of our eyes deprive us of all that is beautiful. Bereft of the most delightful sense, the parent may hear the voice of his beloved infant, but the angelic smile of innocence which touches the tenderest fibre in his heart is forever closed from his view.-Let us then by correcting our manners, restrain by degrees that ferocity and licentiousness, which have afforded the enemies of democracy some plausible grounds of censure.

That we can all attain the same eminence in the various

graces which ornament a truly polite man, is not to be expected. Clowns and Coxcombs will fill up their circle, and a few of them answer very well to form a comparison. There are nevertheless certain leading points, which every man of common sense may acquire: namely-patience in argument-forbearance towards the ignorant-a prompt attention to those with whom we have to transact business: the strictest delicacy and respect towards females-an unbound. ed attention to cleanliness: and, avoid absence: that dignified inattention which claims the repetition of our names before we can condescend to lend an ear, is insufferable. Above all; if you wish to retain the supremacy of your species-if it is not your desire to degenerate into the most disgusting and swinish brutality, give yourself time to take your meals! pray do not employ both hands in serving your mouth, nor labor till you perspire. Never be too busily employed in emptying your own plate, to assist the company to the viands that are near you.-The ceremonies of the table, constitute an important item in good breeding.. I have frequently been disgusted with the habits of some of your ostentatious dispensers of flesh, vegetables, &c. They will insist upon it that you eat nothing; and although you earnestly contend for the contrary, persist in helping you to a nice little bit of their own choice. When we analyse this behavior, it stands thus: "Sir, you must feel some embarrassment, since you have not been accustomed to such company as that of which you are now a member; pray disengage yourself from the confusion which perplexes you it destroys your appetite: I am truly sorry to see you under such restraint: choose for yourself, or, as I know what is good better than you do, I will choose for you: I assure you that you are heartily welcome; consider yourself at home."-All this stuff is probably uttered with so little grace and sincerity, and merely because the upstart who repeats it has heard something like it at those tables to which his Dollars have been invited, that the person to whom it is addressed, if he has common sense, feels insulted and degraded by his visit, and too well assured that he is not at home. It is ridiculous to tell a man how free he may behave at your house; he can ascertain this by your manners: but if you want address to give him a complete idea of your hospitality, you had better let him guess at it than foolishD

ly attempt to ornament beyond its bearing, that which he has the means of comprehending.-Every man can feel when

he is welcome.

When the ceremony of eating is over, the no less fatiguing routine of wine-drinking demands its due respect. Here most frequently, although brutal inebriation is avoided, enough is taken into the brain, to produce

"A clash of argument, and jar of words,

"Worfe than the mortal brunt of rival fwords."

When this happy point is reached, we are told in bacchanalian language, to leave no heel-taps. In obedience to custom, and through respect to the benevolent gentleman who will not permit us to depart either sorrowful or sober, we take off heel-taps, till we have some very serious admonitions that they are transferred to the brain. This is a glori ous point gained: we are now prepared to drink a Toast, and a BUMPER! This punishment, for such it often is, is not prescribed by the company: the master of the house, who has requested his guests to act precisely as they pleased, dictates a toast, probably disgusting and offensive to threefourths of the company. By the bye, toasts lead to excess and irritation: Excess, by keeping a party over the fumes of wine, when otherwise, they would retire to a drawing-room, and converse rationally and temperately Irritation, when an unpopular or ridiculous toast is given. For example-the first toast which you receive from an agent of the British government, is GEORGE the third! Unluckily, this gentleman is frequently out of his senses: we had as well drink PEC NICHOLSON. So, when General Washington was President of the United States, have some of those characters drank his health at the house of the American minister, who had theretofore proscribed him as a traitor and a rebel.

There is a fitness in things which should always be regarded. When we hear of a man eminent for his talents, integrity, and devotion to polite learning; when for instance, we read his speeches in some public assembly, and find them bold, nervous and beautiful; when we know him to be the ardent and zealous advocate of the rights of man, and disinterestedly risking health and tranquillity for the good of his country; the generous mind lingers for an opportunity to offer testimonials of regard and veneration to one so

.

highly entitled to them. The period at length arrives, when the stranger is to meet with this object of respect and esteem.-With such qualities previously ascertained, he of consequence associates the accomplishments of easy deportment, of free access, and gentlemanly affability. These acquirements have frequently been seen together; and as a judicious writer has remarked, when two objects have been seen together, the imagination acquires a habit of passing easily from one to the other. If the first appears, we lay our account that the second is to follow, and we feel an impropriety in their separation. We miss something that we expected to find, and the habitual arrangement of our ideas is disturbed by the disappointment. So it is at the first interview with the person just described. We seize the introduction, to cultivate an acquaintance with a man so eminently useful, and of talents so brilliant. But to our mortification and chagrin, and in return for the compliment which our countenances upon such occasions never fail to express, a cold repulsive bow and a leaden hand, require you to be more distant. They bid you to approach the majestic sternness of democracy, with steps of caution and reserve. In conversation, contradiction however decently expressed, produces a dignified silence. If you essay once more to renew the topic, a stiff revolution upon the heel, and some observation to a third person, closes for ever the debate. And gladly letit close, says the disappointed stranger; so says every independent citizen. The talents of such a man may command respect, but the friendly affections of the heart, will seek for materials more congenial with themselves: they will not attempt to rest in a climate so cold and inauspicious to their growth. Hence a due regard to manners somewhat more flexible, becomes an object of important consideration, even to minds which look down upon them as light and frivolous. We should consult our friends, and correct habits in some degree immoral and injurious. Injurious, because the want of good manners must in some measure check the progress of exertions, which would otherwise obtain a wider spread. Much depends upon the accessibility and engaging ease of him who wishes to give force and currency to his opinions. From the picture just drawn, we turn with delight to those great men, who have the art of uniting us to their hearts at