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(17) the Arte of chaunges, the Wey of Wynnynge, the Facultye (18) of Abrac, the Skylle of becommynge gude and parfyghte wythouten the Holpynges of Fere, and Hope; and the Universelle (19) Longage of Maconnes.

Quest. Wylle he teche me thay same Artes ?

Answ. Ye shalle be techedde yff ye be werthye, and able to lerne.

Quest. Dothe alle Macynnes kunne more then odher Menne?

Answ. Not so. Thay onlyche haueth recht, and Occasyonne more than odher Meenne to kunne, but many doth fale

(17) Arte of Chaunges, I know not what this means, unless it be the transmutation of metals.

(18) Facultye of Abrac. Here I am utterly in the dark.

(19) Universelle Longage of Maconnes. An universal language has been much desired by the learned of many ages. 'Tis a thing rather to be wished than hoped for. But it seems the Masons pretend to have such a thing among them. If it be true, I guess it must be something like the language of the Pantomimes among the ancient Romans, who are said to be able, by signs only, to express and deliver any oration intelligibly to men of all nations, and languages. A man who has all these arts and advantages, is certainly in a condition to be envied; but we are told that this is not the case with all Masons; for though these arts are among them, and all have a right and an opportunity to know them, yet some want capacity, and others industry to acquire them. However of all their arts and secrets, that which I most desire to know is, The Skylle of becommynge gude and perfyghte, and I wish it were communicated to all mankind, since there is nothing more true than the beautiful sentence contained in the last answer, "that the better men are, the more they love one another." Virtue having in itself something so amiable as to charm the hearts of all that behold it.

I know not what effect the sight of this old paper may have upon your Lordship; but for my own part I cannot deny, that it has so much raised my curiosity, as to induce me to enter myself into the fraternity; which I am determined to do (if I may be admitted) the next time I go to London, (and that will be shortly.) I am, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient,
And most humble servant,

JOHN LOCKE.

yn Capacity, and manye more doth want industrye, thatt ys Pernecessarye for the gaynynge all Kunnynge.

Quest. Are Maconnes gudder menne than odhers?

Answ. Some Maconnes are nott so Vertuous as some other Menne; but in the moste parte, thay be more gude then thay woulde be yf thay war not Maconnes.

Quest. Doth Maconnes love eidther odher myghtylye as beethe sayde?

Answ. Yea verylyche, and yt map not odherwyse be: For gude Menne, and true, kennynge eidher odher to be soche, doeth always love the more as thay be more Gude.

Here endethe the Questyonnes, and Answeres.

A Glossary to explain difficult words in the foregoing.

Allein only, alweys alwas, beithe both, commodytye conveniency, confrerie fraternity, faconnynge forming, fore sayinge prophecying, freres brethren, headlye chifly, hem plesethe they please, hemselfe themselves, her there their, hereynne therein, herwyth with it, holpynge beneficial, kunne know, kunnynge knowledge, make gudde are beneficial, metynges measures, mote may, Myddlelonde Mediterranean, myghte power, occasyonne opportunity, oder or, onelyche only, pernecessarye absolutely necessary, preise honour, recht right, reckenyngs numbers, sonderlyche particularly, skylle knowledge, wacksynge growing, werck operation, wey way, whereas where, woned dwelt, wunderwerkynge working miracles, wylde savage, wynnynge gaining, ynn into.

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POETRY.

[We exhibit the following picture of one of the worthiest of our friends, with great pleasure. The fidelity of the likeness must be acknowledged by all who are acquainted with the original.]

EPITAPH

ON A LIVING CHARACTER-IN THE MANNER OF GOLDSMITH.

Here lies our queer friend with a grave solemn phiz,
Who looks like a Judge when most ready to quiz.
Whose verses in Epigram so keenly hit,

That none could help laughing, though cursing his wit.
'Tis true in heroics he oft took delight,

And Homer-like sung of a terrible fight;

But deuce take his fancy so low it descended,

That the Muse with the subject was justly offended.
Too heavy to reach the sublime-all his pathos,
Was employed in low rhyme 'till he sunk to the bathos.
Yet strange tho' it seem, he possessed the rare art
Of gaining by some means, a place in each heart:
With men of all parties he stood high in favour,
To Demo's and Fed's he seemed equally clever.
With all arts and all artists acquaintance he made,
Manufactures, Law, Politics, Science and Trade,
With Merchant, Mechanic, Musician and Bard,
He would bargain, sing, rhyme, as by either preferr❜d.
Tho' so unskill'd in Music no tune he could turn,
In all parties he'd sing without any concern.

While industriously anxious for wealth, he ne'er spent it,
But carelessly gave it, or foolishly lent it.

A fellow so curious sure ne'er lived before,

Both the grave and the gay his sad loss will deplore.

Adieu then friend

" tho' thy faults were not few,

Yet chiefly from careless good-nature they grew.
To delight and be social with ev'ry degree,
Requir'd versatility even in thee;

True friendship can never exist with a throng,
Nor at once to such crouds of all classes belong.
And so many appear'd in thy friendship to share,
That for me, I much fear, thou hadst little to spare.
BALTIMORE.

LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS

BY HER MOTHER, WHILE

ABSENT WITH A DISTANT FRIEND.

Once more I'll touch the long neglected lyre,
And from her sleep awake my dormant Muse;
Maternal love my humble lay inspire,

And thou, Eliza, fondly shalt peruse.

Though well I know a mother's fondest care,
And father's guardian eye are well supply'd;
Though distant far, I wish thy joys to share,

To check thy errors and thy virtues guide.

Just stepping now on life's precarious stage,
With youth and health to deck the flow'ry way,
Let fair discretion grace thy early age,

While Hope's bright finger points to prospects gay.

When from the East the bright Aurora glows,
And leads the humid hours of New-born day,
May health and duty call thee from repose,
To join creation in the joyful lay.

Nor let thy hours pass unimproved along,
But gain instruction in each passing scene :
Join not too oft the gay unthinking throng,
Who seek false joys in fashion's airy train.

Be thine the joy, the satisfaction thine,

Which flows from innocence and spotless truth;
Like chrystal dews which on the rose-bud shine,
And add fresh lustre to the bloom of youth.

When sage Experience tells the tale,
Of disappointment sad in life's rough way;
Let resignation o'er thy mind prevail,

For all may feel misfortune's rigid sway.

Where fortune smiles, look not with envious eye,
But when affliction lowers the towering crest,
Where late ambition wav'd her banners high,
Check not the sigh which rises in thy breast.

With meek respect address the aged form,
Where Nature fails a modest aid bestow;

Let affectation have thy utmost scorn,
To every native female charm a foe.

But know, my child, within thy youthful breast,
There dwells a teacher, an unerring guide,
Whose mild reproofs if not too oft repress'd,
Will steer thee safe o'er life's tumultuous tide.

Banks of the Susquehanna, April 20.

ADVICE TO A FRIEND.

Gaze not, my friend, on Celia's eye
Where thousand loves in ambush wait,

Now, while thou canst the danger fly,
Nor dare like me to tempt thy fate.
Those charms I view'd in luckless hour,
Awe struck as Persians of the sun;
My bosom own'd their instant pow'r,
I did but look, and was undone
So through the air with winged force,
And deadly aim, the bullet flies;
Although unseen its trackless course,

The warrior feels it, and he dies.

ELVIRA.

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