of the hive, though the little animals appeared be fore to have exerted their utmost efforts, yet it is. amazing with what additional diligence they apply themselves to repair the depredation. Not a moment is allowed for despondency. The earth and the air glow with motion, and the misfortune seems immediately to add to their spirits, and ultimately both to their store and security.

The beautiful description which Virgil has given us of the busy scene in which the Tyrians are engaged in building Carthage, represents, in a most lively manner, the alacrity with which human creatures are found to exert themselves, when instigated by the stimulus of necessity. An emulation of labour seizes every bosom. No murmuring, no complainings in the street, but every one feels himself happy in proportion as he renders himself useful. Men's abilities rise with the occasion; and political evil, like other evil, under the conduct of a merciful Deity, has produced extensive good, by calling forth some of the noblest exertions, and most perfect characters which have adorned the records of human nature.

There is one beneficial effect of national adversity, of greater importance than any which I have enumerated. It subdues the haughty soul elevated with riches, and inebriated with excess, and turns the attention to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who from his throne beholds all nations, and bids the sceptre to depart from the wicked to the righteous. It teaches us to rely less upon our German auxiliaries, our musquets, our mortars, our cannon, our copper-bottomed men of war,

our generals, and our admirals, than on the Lord of Hosts.

When he fights for us we shall conquer. Without him, we shall in vain put our trust in Princes; but "the ball of empire shall continue to roll on west"ward as it has ever yet done, till it stops in Ame"rica, a world unknown to the ancients, and which

may save the tears of some future Alexander."

If Providence shall have decreed the downfal of British supremacy, happy should I be to have suggested one idea which may stimulate the exertions of my countrymen, once more to raise the noble column on the basis of liberty and virtue; or which may console them on its ruins, and teach them, while they sit by the waters of bitterness, and hang their harps on the willow, to think of him who can cause rivers of comfort to flow in the dreary desert.

NO. CXXVIII.

ON SOME OF THE FALSE PRETENSIONS AND IMPOSITIONS OF THE ARTFUL AND AVARICIOUS.

NOTWITHSTANDING the pretensions of religion, philosophy, and education, the greater part of mankind appears to be restrained in their actual conduct by few efficient principles, but those which are dictated by a regard to interest. To the love of gain, and the weakness or want of principles, it must be imputed, that every occupation and department of life abounds with imposture. A masque is easily put on. Appearances are, indeed, far more easily assumed than realities; and they are often more suc

cessful and more plausible; for the edifice of one, who employs all his time and attention in gilding, painting, and carving the front, will much sooner at tract the notice and applause of the passenger, than that of another, who has been solicitous only in securing the strength of the beam, ar i the massy firmness of a deep foundation.

So powerful are the instigations of avarice, and so easy is it to deceive the young, the simple, the innocent, and unsuspecting, that the intercourse among mankind would have been one uniform commerce of deceit, if it had not fortunately happened, that the same want of principle and superfluity of selfishness, which led the deceivers to impose upon mankind, induce them also to betray the arts of each other. Ri, val cheats, in the fury of jealous competition, have discovered the secrets of the juggling art, and opened the eyes of the deluded observers.

But as there is always a rising generation unaċquainted with the snares of the deceitful, nets and traps are still laid wherever there is a probability of prey. It becomes those then, who have seen many of the arts of life, to let others profit by their experience, and prevent the generous game from falling into the wires of the mercenary poacher.

It may be prescribed as a rule which will not often fail in the application, that where extraordinary pretensions are made, either in the manual arts, the trades, or the professions, there is just ground for caution and suspicion. Solid merit, and real excellence of every kind, usually confide in their own power of recommending themselves; while ignorance, and superficial skill, naturally endeavour to VOL. III.

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ensnare by cunning what they cannot earn by desert. There is a delicacy and spirit attendant on real worth and ingenuity, which had rather be without success, than attain it by artifice and arrogant pre

tension.

The prudent and experienced are generally on their guard against those numerous adventurers, who rely for success on advertisements in the public papers. If there is any difference between the mercer, haberdasher, or wine-merchant, who advertises his goods, and him who does not, it is, that the advertiser sells, at a dearer price, a worse commodity. His shop is a kind of trap, the bait is pretended cheapness; and many a young bird is caught with the chaff of a bargain. A wise man will take care not to lay out his money when things are to be sold at prime cost, and under prime cost, and twenty per cent. cheaper than the rest of the trade. Beware of those generous spirits, who sell their property, or 'their industry, pro publico bono; beware, as you value your health and your life, of those who will cure you of all diseases with a five shilling pill-box; beware of being poisoned by the vintner, who promises you 'neat as imported; which words being interpreted, signify a liquor in which not a drop of grape juice or foreign spirits is to be found. Beware of your purse and your credulity, when you are offered to be taught more of the languages and sciences by a new method, in six months, six weeks, or six hours, than those who preside over schools can teach in six or sixteen years. Beware of a thousand artful tricks which are displayed in the newspapers, and which the deceitful heart of man contrives, as the spider

weaves his web, to catch those who are unsuspecting, because they are innocent. The true meaning of all pompous pretences, and inviting advertisements, is, that their authors being distressed, and, probably, destitute both of character, friends, and merit, find an easy mode of supplying the defect, by digging pitfalls for the unwary, with whom the world must always abound, at the expence of a few shillings in setting each snare. Such, indeed, is the credulity of mankind, that many a quack and pretender has possessed an estate in the corner of a newspaper, equal to large freeholds of dirty acres.

There are few departments in which more instances of deception occur, than in the lower walks of literature. It happens that they who are to be mechanically instrumental in disseminating science and philosophy, and all the productions of human wit, constitute a very numerous body, consiting of many members in extreme indigence, from the author by trade, down to the bookbinder and the devil. Employment must be provided for them all, or both they and their families must want bread. The press must, therefore, be constantly in motion; but what is to supply it? A very few presses would be sufficient to prepare for the public view all productions really new and necessary. Compilations are formed under a thousand shapes and disguises; and men of straw, adorned with Doctors degrees, and the dignity of Fellows of the Royal Society, are created by the fiat of the adventurous publisher, and stand forth as the renowned authors, in all the dignity of a title-page. From these powerful men in buckram issue Grand and Imperial Bibles, new Systems