probability better than he ; and on me for assenting implicitly to all his injurious insinuations. Nay, I would even fain carry the mystery a little further, by alleging, that a traducer and backbiter is actually a limb or agent of the devil, and that the dream was a whisper conveyed to my fancy by one of those guardian spirits that watch over the affairs of mortal men. The strange combination of ideas which that foolish dream and its concomitant mischiefs have impressed on my mind, have, besides, given me a mortal aversion to the features and looks of my old acquaintance; it has likewise led me often to an examination of the apparent springs of this principle of detraction, and foreboding of evil from every action, whether public or private; and the more I think of it, the more firmly am I persuaded of its impropriety; and that whatever such foreseers may pretend, if their inferences point only towards evil, it is a symptom of a bad heart. "Let no such men be trusted."

We can form our opinions of that which we do not know, only by placing it in comparison with something that we do know whoever therefore is over-run with suspicion, and detects, or pretends to detect artifice, in every proposal, must either have learned the wickedness of mankind by experience, or he must derive his judgment from the consciousness of his own disposition, and impute to others the same inclinations which he feels predominate in himself. Suspicion, however necessary, through ways beset on all sides by fraud and malice, has been always considered, when it exceeds the common measure, as a token of depravity. It is a temper so uneasy and restless, that it is very justly appointed the concomitant of guilt. It is an enemy to virtue and to happiness; for he that is already corrupt will naturally be suspicious; and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.

I was for the space of twenty years intimately acquainted with an old man named Adam Bryden, whose disposition and

rule of behaviour were widely different from those of the philosopher above mentioned, and I fear too many of the inhabitants of this metropolis. It was a maxim with him, which, though never avowed, was easily discovered, that if he could not say well of a person, he said nothing of them at all. Of the characters of the fair sex he was peculiarly tender in this respect, and always defended them against every probability. When the charges became too evident to be longer denied, he framed the kindest and most tender excuses for them, on account of the simplicity of their hearts, and kindness of their natures, which induced them to trust too implicitly to the generosity of others. It was impossible to be long in his company, without conceiving a higher opinion of the goodness of the Almighty, of his love and kindness towards his creatures, and of his wisdom displayed in the government of the universe. On the contrary, it is impossible to be long in the company of Mr A. T. the philosopher, without conceiving that Being who is all goodness, to be a tyrant, who has created man, and woman in particular, for the sole purpose of working mischief, and then of being punished eternally for that very mischievous disposition which is an ingredient in the composition of their natures. It was impossible to be long in company with the former, without conceiving a higher opinion of the dignity of human nature, and of the happiness attainable by man, both in this life and that which is to come. It is impossible to be long in the company of the latter, without conceiving ourselves to be in a world of fiends, who have no enjoyment but in the gratification of sensual appetites, nor any hope but in the ruin of others.

Let your readers, then, Sir, consider seriously, which of these two characters appears to be most congenial to a heavenly mind; which of them is most likely to be productive of happiness and contentment in this life; and which of them is most conformable to the precepts left us by our great

Lawgiver, in order to fit us for partaking of the blessings of a world to come. Let them weigh all these considerations impartially, and imitate the one or the other, as reason and revelation shall direct; but perhaps those who delight in magnifying the shades in the human character, may, in the end, be subjected to pay as dear, if not dearer, for it, than either Mr A. T. the philosopher, or your humble servant,

J. G.

LOVE ADVENTURES

OF

MR GEORGE COCHRANE.

"Sans les femmes, les deux extremités de la vie seraient sans secours, et le milieu sans plaisirs." RICH.

It is well known to all my friends that I am an old bachelor. I must now inform them further, that this situation in life has fallen to me rather by accident than from choice; for though the confession can hardly fail to excite laughter, I frankly acknowledge, that there is nothing I so much regret as the many favourable opportunities which I have suffered to escape me of entering into that state, which every natural and uncontaminated bias of the human soul bears testimony to, as T

the one our all-wise Creator has ordained for the mutual happiness of creatures. Never does that day dawn in the east, shedding light and gladness over the universe, nor that night wrap the world in darkness and silence, on which I do not sigh for the want of a kind and beloved bosom friend, whom I might love, trust, and cherish, in every circumstance and situation of life; to whom I might impart every wish and weakness of my heart, and receive hers in return; rejoice in her joy; share her griefs; and weep with her over her own or the misfortunes of others, or the general depravity of human nature; kneel with her at the same footstool of infinite grace, and jointly implore forgiveness for our frailties. and failings, and a blessing on our honest endeavours at fulfilling the duties of our station. But as the case now stands with me, I find myself to be an insignificant, selfish creature, unconnected to the world by any ties that can tend to endear it to me, further than the sordid love of life, or the enjoyment of some sensual gratification. I am placed, as it were alone, in the midst of my species; or rather like a cat in a large family of men, women, and children, to whose joys it bears witness without being able to partake of them; and where no person cares a farthing for it, unless for his own benefit or amusement.

When lying on a bed of sickness, instead of experiencing the tender attention and indulgence which the parent or husband enjoys, I am left to languish alone, without one to bind up my aching head, or supply the cordial or cooling draught to my parched lips. Is not every old bachelor in the same situation? Yes, as Horace says,

"Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur." 39

Whatever he may be made to believe, he certainly is. If he be a poor man, he is a burden upon his friends, an encumbrance which they would gladly be rid of by any means;

if rich, his relations may smile and flatter him, but in their hearts they wish most devoutly for his death.

The married state, it is true, may be entered into with rashness and imprudence, especially in the heat and folly of youth; but in any way, it is more commendable than the selfish and unnatural principle of shunning it altogether. In the worst case that can happen to a man, which is, when his selected partner turns out to be really disagreeable, still the family which she brings him engages his affection; his happiness becomes interwoven with theirs, and if he has been unfortunate in his connubial love, he enjoys the exhilarating sensations of parental affection with the more warmth and delicacy; so that still his family becomes a kind of stay whereon to rest for worldly enjoyments, and the star by which he is directed throughout the dangerous voyage of life.

The argument, that some are unhappy in this state, is of no avail; for there are many people in the world of such refractory and turbulent dispositions, that they will be unhappy in any state, and whose tempers will ever contribute, in a certain degree, to keep every one unhappy who is connected with them. Such people would probably be still more unhappy in any other state than that of wedlock, and such commonly are one or both of the parties, who thus disagree. These are, however, only the worst cases that can happen ; and though I myself am a bachelor, my opinion is fixed with respect to this. I am fully persuaded, that if there is any calm, unruffled felicity, within the grasp of an erring and imperfect creature, subject to so many passions, wants, and infirmities, it is to be found in the married state. That I have missed it, has certainly been my own blame; for I have been many times most desperately in love, and never yet met with an unfavourable reception.

The first time I fell in love was with a pretty girl who lived in our family, when I was scarce seventeen years of age.