Obferving, however, that this narration produced a very ftriking and groomy change in the countenance of Mr Blandford, he withdrew with that gentleman into his ftudy, and very candidly toid him, that this recent and expenfive tranfaction should make no material difference in the fortune of his daughter: He explained his intention of regaining the money by a partial fale of the collection, and added, that as this mode of replacing the fum expended might not be very expeditious, he fhould more than compenfate for the deficiency by a bond for four thousand pounds, with full intereft, and ftrict punctuality of payment. Mr Blandford happened to be one of thofe adventurous gentlemen, who, as they tremble on the verge of bankruptcy, ingenioufly difguife the fhudderings of real fear under artful palpitations of pretended love, and endeavour to fave themselves from falling down a tremendous precipice, by haftily catching at the hand of the firft wealthy and benevolent virgin or widow, whom they fuppose within their reach: He was a great projector in the management of ready money, and had raised many fplendid vifions on the expected fortune of Mifs Coral; but the little box of poifon, which the Doctor had brought home, converted his daughter in the eyes of Mr Blandford, into a fecond Pandora; and as that gentleman had all the cunning of Prometheus, he refolved, like the cautious fon of Japetus, to have no connection with the lady offered to him as a bride, becaufe he forefaw the evils included in her dower. Mr Blandford, on this occafion, thought proper to imitate the policy of thofe who try to conceal a bafe purpofe of their own, by aceufing another perfon of bafenefs: He upbraided Dr Coral for having fhamefully disappointed his very juft expectations, and, taking the fubject in that key, he purfued it thro' all the notes of high and artificial paffion; which produced a fuperior burst of louder aud more natural anger from the honeft infulted virtuofo. Poor Theodora, in paffing the door of the ftudy, heard the voice of her father fo unusually violent, that, from a fudden impulfe of affectionate apprehenfion, fhe entered the room, where the two gentlemen, were engaged in the most angry alterca-, tion. Mr Blandford feized the opportunity of bidding his miftrefs an eternal adieu. While fhe ftood motionlefs with furprife, he made his final bow with a farcaftic politenefs, rufhed eagerly out of the house, and decamped the very next day from the town, which contained the lovely object of his tranfient adoration. One The approach or mifcarriage of an expected wedding is a favourite subject of general converfation in every country town, and the difunion of Mr Blandford and Mifs Coral was very amply discussed. The feparated young pair were univerfaily pitied, and the whole weight of popular reproach fell immediately on the head of the unfortunate naturalift. As he was a man, who, from the pecu liarity of his purfuits, withdrew himself from cards and common company, the little parties of the town most eagerly feized an opportunity of attacking his character: As a humorift, he was ridiculed, perhaps, with fome juftice; as a man of unrivalled benevolence and active charity, he was the object of much secret envy and malice, and of course was very unjustly vilified. The good people, who arraigned him on the prefent occafion, did not fcruple to reprefent him, even to his daughter, as an unnatural monfter, who had facrificed for a cockle-fhell the happinefs of his child. Nor was the little box of gum from the upas-tree omitted in thefe charitable remarks. lady of peculiar fpirit afferted, that if her father had robbed her of fo handsome a husband, for the fake of purchasing such a rarity, the might have been tempted to anticipate the old gentleman in his experiments on the pofon, by fecretly preparing the firft dofe of it for himself. Happily for Theodora, she had fuch gentleness and purity of heart, that every attempt to inflame her against her father served only to increase her filial affection. She reproved, with a becoming fpirit, all thofe who infulted her by malignant obfervations on his conduct; and percei ving that he was deeply vexed by the late occurrences, and the comments of the neighbourhood upon them, the exerted all her powers in the moft endearing manner, to diffipate his vexation. It is true,” she said, as they were talking over the recent tranfaction; "it is true, that "I began to feel a partial regard for Mr "Blandford; but his illiberal behaviour has fo totally altered my idea of his cha"racter, that I confider the circumftance "which divided us as the moft fortunate " event of my life. I have efcaped from "impending mifery, inftead of lofing a happy establishment; and I have "only to be thankful for this protection "of Providence, if it pleases Heaven to 6 continue. continue to me the power, which I "have hitherto poffeffed, of promoting "the happiness of my father." As the uttered this judicious and tender fentiment, a few starting tears appeared in evidence of its truth; they melted the good Doctor, and converted all his chagrin into affectionate pride and delight. The juftice of Theodora's obfervation was foon afterwards confirmed in a very ftriking manner, by the fate of Mr Blandford, who plunging into all the hazardous iniquity of 'Change alley, became at laft a bankrupt, and with fuch fraudulent appearances against him, that the compaffion, which his misfortune might have infpired, was loft in the abhorrence of his treachery. Dr Coral, who, by ftudying the inanimate wonders of the creation, had increafed the natural piety of his mind, was now moft devoutly thankful to heaven for the efcape of his child. The tender Theodora was ftill more confirmed in her partial attachment to the house of her father; she took a kind and fympathetic pleature in affifting his fanciful purfuits; the perfuaded him to retain every article in his new purchase, which she observed him to contemplate with particular delight; fhe gave an air of uncommon elegance to the arrangement of all the curiofities which he determined to keep; and, by an inceffant attention to the peace and. pleasure of her father's life, moft effectually established the felicity of her own. Their comfort and their amufements, being founded on the pureft and most permanent of human affections, have continued, without diminution, through feveral fucceeding years. I fhould fill many pages in recording the feveral ingenious works and deviacs, by which Theodora has contrived to amufe herfelf, and to delight her father; let it fuffice to fay, that, being always engaged in occupations of benevolent ingenuity, fhe is never uneafy; and the has grown imperceptibly into an Old Maid, without entertaining a wish for the more honourable title of a wife. Her mild and gentle parent has fecured himself from all the irkfome infirmities of age, by long habits of temperance, exercise, and, what is perhaps ftill more falutary, univerfal benevolence: He is ftill in poffeffion of all his faculties, at the age of eighty-seven; and if he has not the fatisfaction of feeing a numerous group of defcendants, he beholds, however, with infinite delight, one virtuous and happy daughter, moft tenderly attached to him, and withing for no higher enjoyment than what arifes from their recipiocal affection. POETRY. On an INFLAMMATION in a LADY's EYE. STELLA'S black eyes of brightest hue Where'er they turn'd admirers drew, For all were ruin'd, who came nigh them. JOHN ARMSTRONG But down on your marrowbones-that is the FT. Before you fall to, for the fake of the jest." "Brother Martin (cry'd Jackey) what kneel at my fupper! No, no by the Lord, I will rest on my crupper. What, wear out the knees of my fuftains? Not I, For your fup of sweet wine and the half of a pye. So you and your guest may be doubly cramm'd, Tho' it be but a jeft, if I kneel I'll be damn'd." By lily-fringed Ladon, or filent Ilyffus, He ne'er had been feen with the thepherds to mix, Who from my description, fuppos'd him (Heav'n blefs us!)" Some hag-feed heav'd up from the banks of the Styx. I found, this great Poet was known at Parnaffus For prowling and privately ftealing the flow'rs; But the Mufes, nice-nos'd, and most delicate laffes, Declar'd him too dirty to enter their bow'rs By Tiber, soft Arno, and fount of Vauclufe, No Dryad or Naid e'er heard of his name; No elegant haunt of the modern Muse Had yet been arous'd by the blaft of his fame. VERSES By PETER PINDAR; Said to be occafioned by the above: Sup pofing them to be written by Mr HAYLEY: from his Satire on the Gentleman's Magazine. WHO to men of canvas ftruck the lyre And set with rhyme th' Academy on fire; O'er Mount Parnaffus, Joye-like, caft my fhoe; At Poets mil'd and Poeteffes too; Where midft her fhadowy gulph Oblivion flecps; So deep, who fcarce can dive into himself! I, who to grave Reviewers figh'd my pray'r, Submiffive bending at the Critic chair; So highly honour'd by the royal throng; Mifs Whitbread's curt'fies, Mister White bread's bows, Amounting, hift'ry fays, to many a score, Such, too, as Chifwell-ftreet ne'er faw before: I who to Pitt the chords in anger ftruck, Who whelm'd his Prince fo gracefully with muck; Lycurgus Pitt, whose penetrating eyes fhine, To MRS BARBAULD. WHY the ly e, HY on yon bough neglected hangs That wak'd by Stella, charm'd the liftening throng; Glow'd to her touch with Fancy's wildest fire, Or foftly, fweetly breath'd the moral fong? Ah, who like Thee can bid it found again? Can from its chords the mellow'd cadence fling? Thefe, from the public eye awhile conceal'd, Shall round the sacred hearth their sweets dispense; Or, haply, to fome favour'd few reveal'd, With native odours gratify their sense. Yet ah! transplant them to a rougher foil! Well may they brave the critic's frigid clime; Their blazon'd charms will blefs thy foftering toil, Will load with honied wealth the wings of Time. And wherefore fhould the practis'd bard No common fate fhall such sweet flowers difdain To pour herfpirit on the trembling string? Should Genius flumber on the couch of Eafe, • Or active powers in indolence repofe, Vain were the gifts by Heav'n ordain'd to please, To melt the heart, or diffipate its woes! Not unemployed perhaps thy talents lie, If, looks, if converfe fill the paffing hour; And rapid days may roll unheaded by, While calm Retirement lulls Thee in her bower. But shall thy life, no longer dear to Fame. In Wisdom's fecret vale unnotic'd glide; Bleft, tho' no triumphs fwell thy wafted In attend. "Where EVAN mingles with the CLYDE.' The fun from India's fhore retires; To Evan's banks, with temp❜rate ray, And fhe, in fimple beauty drest, Ye lofty banks that Evan bound! Can all the wealth of India's coaft |