y teem for her, would have endeavoured, by his converfation and attention, to confole her on this trying occasion.— She foon, however, gueffed the cause of his abfence. With the moft fervent devotion, therefore, the poured forth the thankful effufions of her grateful heart, to that kind, over-ruling Deity, who had, by a trifling incident, refcued her from the worst of human mifery-a tad husband. She was left in full poffeffion of a genteel fortune: a few years ago, before luxury arrived at so high a pitch, it might have been termed large; but by fome means a report prevailed among her acquaintance, that her father's affairs were in a very different ftate from what was expected, and that fhe was left with only a bare fubfiftence. Such was the furprife of every one at these unexpected tidings, that every one who heard it was impatient Yet, in fpite of all her endeavours, to communicate it to another: it the found herself uneafy. Her refined gained credit every day, and hourly fentibility made her fuffer the more. added fome freth converts to the gene- She was vexed with herself for fixing ral opinion. Matilda herself heard of | her affections on a being fo felfish, fo it, but thinking it might teach her perfidious, and who had proved himself that which fcarcely any thing elfe fo bafe and unworthy. To add anocould, determined to encourage the ther bad quality to this deteftable chaworld in their fufpicions. According-racter, he poffeffed an uncommon share ly the foon found herself deftitute of ac-of curiofity, which, at length, promptquaintance. Those who had once been ed him to repair to the Commons, to proud of an intimacy with her, now read a will, the fuppofed contents of paffed her in the street unnoticed: but which had made him defert a beautimeeting one day a young lady, who ful and amiable female. But how great but a very short time fince had made was his aftonishment, to find that the the greateft profeffions of friendship, miftrefs he had so precipitately fled fhe could not relift the temptation of from was actually in poffeffion of as accofting her, (for, judging by her own many thoufands, as in his eyes renderheart, he was unwilling to believe her ed her a moit defirable wife! Amazed friend could be influenced by merce- and overjoyed, he feampered from nary motives) but had the mortifica- houfe to houfe with tidings of the wontion to receive for anfwer," that fhe derful difcovery he had made. He fancied the mistook her for fome one then ran, almost out of breath, to Maelfe." Matilda was now obliged to tilda's, for though he very naturally give credit to the plain evidence of her fuppofed fhe must be difpleafed at his own fenfes, and replied in a manner negligence, yet as fools and coxcombs which at once expreffed the different feldom want for a good opinion of their fenfations of refentment and affection, own dear felves, he very readily ima"that the found he was indeed migined that her joy would be lo great tak'n !" on feeing him again, as to deprive her of the power of expreffing any difpleafure at his paft conduct; and he thought it morally impoffible that the fhould know the real caufe of his be haviour. Among thofe whofe behaviour was changed with a (fuppofed) change of circumftances, was a young man (I was going very improperly to fay gentleman) of fortune, who had for fome time visited her on a tenderer errand 'Tis true, Matilda could not any than mere chit-chat, but had difcon- ways account for such an unexpected tinued giving her his company on hear-vifit; but he was prudent enough to ing the current report. As the time fummon her whole ftock of resolution, of affliction is the feafon when we have and in a very fpirited and peremptory a right to expect the confolations of manner, for bad his future appearance our particular friends, Matilda had eat her houfe, Scarcely had the dif very reafon to fuppofe, that the man miffed her avaricious lover, before the who apparently poffeffed fo much ef.received cards from feveral of her for Matilda; or, the Female Reclufe. 203 mer companions, inviting themselves | it agreeable to her own taste. It was to renew the acquaintance, and alledg-well stocked with an excellent collection of the beft authors. Fronting the entrance was a pair of handsome globes, on proper ftands. On neat marble pedestals, were placed the bufts of feveral of the greateft geniufes of the prefent age; an equal number of both fexes. The room was likewife ornamented with china vafes, filled with natural flowers, which at once feafted the eye, and gratified the fenses with their odoriferous fweets. ing trivial excufes for not waiting on her fooner; but as he was bleffed with a great fhare of difcerument, it immediately recurred to her, that most probably they had found out their error. Her own fentiments were noble and exalted, above all fordid views, and confequently fhe could not avoid being disguited at fo mean a proceed ing, and therefore returned a negative anfwer to each. In this charming retirement the blooming maid is perfectly contented: no cares disturb her in this humble dwelling. Amidit all the treachery of a deceitful world, merit has fecured her one conftant, one unalterable friend, who fhares with her every joy and pang of life. They live in one houfe-they know but one purse they poffefs but one heart. Is it then to be wondered at, that when the feafon arrived, in which he had intended to have return. ed to London, that the found herself unwilling to leave her cottage. She had now experienced a fufficient fhare of the treachery and inconftancy of the world to be heartily tired of it, and therefore determined to fet out on a journey, and if he met with any fpot agreeable to her inclinations, to take it for her fummer refidence.Having fome relations in Derbyshire, and it being a pleasant, romantic country, the fixed on that as the place of her deftination. During her ftay with her friends, the fell in company with a gentleman, whon, being well acquainted with the country, the thought a very proper perfon to direct her to When dreary winter approaches, and the attainment of her wifhes, and ac- the inclemency of the weather will not cordingly afked him " if he knew of permit her to walk about, and vifit a retired little box that was likely to her acquaintance, fhe ufes a carriage, fuit her?"He chearfully replied, which he keeps more for use than "that if he had charitably resolved, fhow. Her door is ever open to defor the fafety of mankind, to turn re- crepid age, and helpless infancy. The clufe, he had, on his own eftate, a fo. poor always know where to find a belitary retreat, that was well adapt- nefact refs, for Matilda is the friend of ed to fuch a defign."--He offered, the diftreffed, the encourager and pain a frolic, to attend her to it, which tronefs of merit. She is religious, the accepted, and was fo pleafed with without being a gloomy devotee.. In the fituation, that, to the great fur-her converfation he is lively and enprize of the poffeffor, fhe begged to tertaining, and her behaviour is affable buy it at any price. The owner could and courteous to all. not withstand the folicitations of fo lovely a petitioner; he fold it her at a moderate estimation of its value. This is a fketch of the life and manners of an amiable female, who has philofophy enough to withstand the fopperies of fashion, and the follies of an inconfiderate world, and in this degenerate age "dares be good.”— I would not wish it to be thought that I mean to infinuate that fhe is all perfeetion; but he has fo many valuable qualifications, that I cannot help concealing her few faults-befides, they are no more than the common frailties of human nature. D da Per Permit me, ladies, to recommend to your practice whatever is praifeworthy in the character of Matilda: the virtues which grace her portrait,' will appear equally amiable in your's, and there may, perhaps, be more merit in your performing them, becaufe in the midst of luxury and diffipation, than in her, in the calm eafe and ferene pleafures of folitude. The FEMALE REFORMER. afk one important queftion, especially of those who frequent the theatres.Can you think a playhouse a fuitable place for perfous called Chrillans to encourage going to, who are profeffedly the candidates for a bleffed immortality? Ladies may endeavour to ftifle the convictions of confcience, and drive away reflection, by dreffing, vifiting, OPHELIA. Card-playing and the like, but ere long death will inevitably ftare them in the face, and their bodies, which now (it may be) they take fuch pains to adorn and fet off to the beft advantage, will be configned to the mouldering grave, to be the prey of worms, and the fubjects of putrefaction-(as the newspapers obferve will be the case with the late unfortunate Mifs Reay, as the is to be buried in full drefs, the fameas fhe was murdered in.) Oh! then, ye beauteous fair, By Bов SHORT, Jun. (Continued from Page 16.) NUMBER XXIII. A SOLILOQUY on the MURDER Addreft to the Female Confcience. HERE was fhe, or where had WH fhe been, unhappy female! just before her foul was hurried into an eternal world?-A playhoufe ! Yes; fad place to prepare in for an eternity! but this is little thought of now a days. Indeed, it would not be fuited to fuch public places of diverfion to admit the melancholy thought of death, though often reprefented on the stage to excite unavailing tears.We do not go to fee a play to remind us of our latter end, or prepare us for it; no, that is true enough: but we go to be diverted, to kill time, drown reflection, and to fee, as well as to be feen, or, as the poet very juitly fays, The gay and thoughtless to the playhouse run, Some to undo, and fome to be undone. Did we give ourselves time to think ferioufly on the certainty of a future ftate, how few among the fons or daughters of mortality would openly plead for thofe trifling amufements which the giddy multitude fo eagerly purfue, at the hazard of their virtue, and the ruin of their fouls? Our bodies are fo attentively regirded, that our fouls are almoft, if not entirely forgotten. But let me The thought of death indulge- Let modern fine ladies beware how On the Power of Philofophy. Phar. Your charity, Sir! your humanity! 205 her. In the firft ftages of her diftemper, fhe will, generally, if left to herFrid. No-a mind so well furnished self, effect her own cure: in the last, as your's is not the object of either. fhe as frequently requires external We have a pleasure in communicating aids; and, as if the had been confcious our fentiments, where we think they of the wants and infirmities that might will be fenfibly and ingenuously re- befal her, thofe aids fhe has provided ceived. When a traveller is overtaken us in her own productions. The fame by the evening, if he difcovers a light conduct is obfervable in the economy in fome neighbouring cottage, it is na- of the mind. It has a peculiar, intural for him to rejoice; but his whole trinfic power, which refifts and throws pleafure does not, I prefume, arife from off the first impreffions of vice, and his expectatiors of hofpitality and fe- which, for a while, is fufficient to recurity: he hopes to meet with fome store it to its native freedom and purikind ear, to which he may impart the ty. It oppofes the beginnings of ercircumftances of the day, defcribe the ror, too, in the fame manner, and duways he paffed through, and more par-ring their firft advances, will often fall ticularly, the observations that occur- back to the natural principles of truth. red to him as he proceeded. Such is But when error and depravity have efthe fatisfaction I have in converfing tablished themfelves by habit, then it with you. In paffing through life I is that the moral, like the material have made fome curfory remarks, nature, requires external affiftance.-which I am vain enough to find a plea- This affiftance is to be fought in phifure in communicating, though, per-lofophy, or the cultivation of reafon, haps, they may be ufelefs to every other traveller. Phar. Be affured there is one per fon for whom I have fo much regard, that I will not fuffer him either to forget or misapply them. I flatter myfelf, at least, that no material circumfance of our late converfations will ever efcape me; and I am now able to remind you of what you poffibly have forgot, that you proceeded no farther in your account of philofophy, and the confolations that may be derived from her, than thofe arguments that had refpect to her learning, and her application of that learning. Her operations on the mind were what you propofed next to confider. Fred. Thefe the Roman effayift calls "The difpoffeffing it of every bafe and unprofitable attachment, and fecuring it within the ftrong fortifications of virtue." There is the clofeft analogy imaginable between the operations of the natural and the moral world in general; but this appears in nothing more clearly than in their renovating and correcting principles. When nature falls into a depraved or vitiated habit, her firft efforts are to difengage herfelt from the caufes that brought it upon which, by exalting the mind, dispos◄ feffes it of fuch attachments as are bafe and unworthy of it, by lightening it of fuch as are vain and unprofitable. In this we may behold one of the moit important ufes of learning, that men of cultivated minds, if they deviate into vice or error, are more easily reclaimed than others; they have ac quired a dignity, a delicacy of fentiment, which continually oppofes the purfuit of low and unworthy objects; or, if they are already engaged in it, difquiets then in the progrefs. Phar. How happy, my dear Sir, are fuch effects as thefe! Surely the cultivation of the mind, and the acquifition of knowledge, are fuperior to every o ther poffible advantage. there is Fred. Their use and excellence are by no means comparative nothing that can, with any propriety, be placed in competition with them. Let us recollect, however, that we are here fpeaking of one particular good effect of philofophy, that operation on the mind which removes its vain and idle attachments. The firft ftep is to become acquainted with the original frame and conflitution of nature: the plan, as far as it may be traced, and the established laws of her economy; her general defign, and her particular paffages; the value fhe apparently fets on every fpecies of being, from the duration the allows it, or by the care the takes in its prefervation. By thus studying and attending to the original defign, and the particular economy of nature, we fhall learn, by degrees, to make our estimates agreeable to them. We fhall put ourselves in her place, make her laws, our laws, and fet the Jame value on every part of her works, that she herself feems to have fet upon them. Let us flop here, and fee how many idle prejudices, how many vain prepoffeffions, how many ridiculous forrows will at once fall to the ground! Phar. I fee, I feel it. Fred. Continue in this pofition; keep your eyes fixed here. We are now looking down upon the creation: you fee that ianumerable multitude of worlds. Phar. Aftonishing!--Magnificent beyond expreffion! Fred. Yet thefe are, comparatively, nothing; the production of a fingle idca. Phar. Great God! whither are you leading my trembling imagination?I dare not follow you farther-I fear Fred. Come on; we shall find our advantage in it. The heights of philofophy are arduous indeed; but when once we have reached them, we breathe a very falutary air. Yes, Pharamond, we will conclude that this multitude of worlds was arranged by one fingle idea of that univerfal spirit and intelligence which animated and difpofed the portions of matter. But can you fuppofe that you behold in this fyftem the limits of creation? As well might a peafant, who inhabits the valley of the Grifons, conclude, when he afcends Mount Cenis, that the whole world is under his eye. That ever active and creative intelligence must have exerted itself in the formation of fyftems innumerable, incomprehenfible; in comparison of which this that we inhabit, is probably no more than the duft of the balance. Perhaps, even now, the bufinefs of creation is following the leading of its intelligent and spiritual principle, and while we are difcourling on fome parts of existence, others are fpringing forth. Phar. I am loft, my friend; my imagination is overwhelmed and funk under the magnificence of the ideas you have excited. Good heaven! how little, how infignificant do I find myfelf! Fred. That is a point gained-but gained, perhaps, too foon. The fenfe you at present entertain of the comparative unimportance of man was excited by carrying our ideas upwards; let us fee whether it may not be confirmed by bringing them downwards, Phar. I attend you-but I do not apprehend the argument you have in view. Fred. It has been obferved, that we ought to form our estimates of things in proportion to the value which nature feems to have fet upon them. Phar. You have obferved this. Fred. And that the degree of importance they appear to have with her, may be learnt from the duration fhe has allowed them, and from the care fhe has taken for their prefervation. Phar. This feems reasonable; yet I am in fome pain about the inferences to which you are making your way. I do not like this Socratic method of argument-it brings one aground, without the poffibility of getting off. Fred. Surely you need be in no pain about those conclufions to which reafon leads you. Let us follow her coolly, and she will direct us fafely. Phar. Excufe me; you know I am naturally diffident and timorous in points of great importance; afraid both of making conceffions and drawing conclufions. Fred. I know of no worse cowardice than that of not daring to think. Come, let us go forward: we have but little light, it is true; but ftill it is fufficient to distinguish the objects as we pafs. Upon our general principle, that the most rational estimate of every being is to be drawn from the duration affigned to it, and from the care |