tle world of wonders, or to expose its failings by operations. But I have the charity, I have the pleasure, to believe, that neither such experim nor the fear of being subjected to the most cri researches of a human eye, are necessary, in ord discountenance vice and folly, or to promote virt feelings, in the hearts of my fair countrywomen; pursuaded that they love virtue for her own sake, that, in their lives and conduct, the purity of motives has no reference but to that all-seeing which no art can deceive, and which nothing bu nocence and virtue can ever aspire to please.

No. XX....SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1814.

I WAS, not long ago, in a very large comp consisting of persons who frequently assemble toge at each others' houses on terms of friendship; b could not but take notice, that the conversation one side of the room, and the remarks made t upon the people on the other side, might indu

stranger to suppose, they were great enemies. Yet, as they shifted about, friends and enemies were mixed promiscuously, and two persons might be seen sitting by each other's side, in great harmony, who, at the opposite corners of the room, you would have judged, would never hold friendly converse together.

With such facts and circumstances before me, I could not but reflect, with some degree of sorrow, upon the loss of those real pleasures, which society sustains for the want of sincerity, and by the intrusion of the hateful vice of envy, and one of her near relations, scandal. These two evil beings are the bane of friendship, and spoil all the happiness which we might rationally hope to enjoy, from social intercourse. The folly, the wickedness, and the disgraceful nature of these vices, will sufficiently impress our minds, if we would realize to ourselves, what would be our feelings, were our hearts laid open to public view, whilst possessed and influenced by them.

What sinner so hardened, what wretch so impious and abandoned, as not to shrink back appalled at the idea of being thus exposed? Yet it is to be feared there are few bosoms entirely exempt from envy; few tongues that scandal has not polluted! These unhallowed spirits so haunted my mind, that I could not get rid of them, for the whole evening, and after I got home I was still plotting to have them banished from society. Whilst I was sitting alone in my chamber, with my mind employed upon this subject, I fell into a sort of reverie; I will not say it was a dream, lest my readers should also drop asleep: But I thought I made one of a very large assembly, all of whom were decently merry, and appeared to be in the full enjoyment of that happiness, and all those pleasures, derived from agreeable society and friendly intercourse. The company of two persons particularly, seemed to contribute largely to the felicity of the whole. They seemed to preside in this happy society, and their influence, conduct, and example, spread as it were a ray of cheerfulness over the countenance of every one

present. They however assumed nothing; on the contrary, there was a sort of humility about them that rather inclined to shun, than to court applauding notice. These two persons were GOOD NATURE and INNOCENCE, and I found, whilst they were encouraged and caressed, the company were all pleased with each other, and every individual equally derived pleasure from the society, and contributed something to in

crease it.

Whilst we were in this state of pleasant enjoyment, other company was announced; immediately the door flew open with a sudden swing, and a most stately figure, with lofty step, and proud, disdainful eye, entered the room, and the cheerful voices of the company were soon awed to silence by her imperious frown, or drowned in the noise of her rustling silks. This lady I found was PRIDE, and she was attended (which was still more unfortunate for the harmony of our party,) by her two daughters, Envy and Scandal. Without much ceremony, she thrust herself into the first seat in the room, and with her ill-looking progeny by her side, assumed the direction of the society, and very soon changed the pleasant aspect which was worn before, to the gloom of distrust, the leer of contempt, and the distorted smile of hypocrisy, under the mask of friendship. Our two pleasant companions, who had till now been the life of the party, were abashed, and drew off into a neglected corner; whilst the secret but powerful influence of the new comers, spread through the room, and began to obtain guilty dominion. Envy was a little, black-looking, lean, and shrivelled figure, and seemed to observe a kind of morose silence, but her malignant eye was busy, and she was constantly exciting her sister, Scandal, to mischief. Scandal, although ugly enough, wore some smiles, and affected mirth, but it was always envenomed by sarcasm ;-she was very loquacious, and though often loud and noisy, she also said a great deal in whispers. She had a most disgusting mouth, black and rancorous; but what was most observable, she

seemed to have two tongues, and, as naturalists say some serpents have two kinds of teeth, one set through which they convey their poison, so Scandal had a tongue only to wound, and a touch from this tongue produced a most poisonous effect. I observed that wherever Envy fixed her eye, it was soon followed by a lash from the tongue of Scandal, and that persons were no sooner touched by it, than they grew black, ill-shaped, and distorted, and occasioned every body to stare at them. I was glad, however, to see these persons brighten up again upon the approach of INNOCENCE, who usually slid along behind, brushed them with her hand, and dropped something into their bosoms which had a wonderful effect to remove all the spots and marks of Scandal, and make them often appear fairer and more engaging than ever. GOOD NATURE also, helped to do away the power and avert the evil of these two malicious spirits, for those under her influence would not take notice of any blemishes unless they were very glaring; and moreover, after taking lessons from her, a person was not half so liable to suffer from the poisonous tongue of this hateful genius.

Although INNOCENCE and GOOD NATURE drew back, as we before observed, upon the entrance of these more bold and forward guests, yet as the former continued in the room, and their exertions so constantly, and effectually opposed the mischievous endeavors of the latter; and as PRIDE, SCANDAL, and ENVY, can never long endure the presence of GOOD NATURE and INNOCENCE, they finally took their leave. I was so rejoiced at seeing them go out, that an involuntary clap of my hands roused me from my reverie, and I found myself alone to medidate upon the imaginary scene which had passed before me. I had no hesitation in concluding to give it to the public, and the only observation with which I shall accompany it, or the only improvement I shall make of the subject, is to express a hope that I may see this vision actually represented, in my observations on society; and that envy and

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and but little happiness to be enjoyed. Yet wh willing to give up the expectation of years to c and be suddenly arrested on the flowery road of or manhood, that he may escape the dreary and ba waste of feeble old age? If then we are trave towards a country or climate, where there are severities to encounter, and we do not choose to fo this unpromising journey, we should prepare to the evils we expect, and provide ourselves with pons to overcome them, or suitable armour to s us from their attack. A consciousness of such a paration, would soon dispel the gloom which us hovers round the picture we form to ourselves of age, and we might then look forward to this perio life with complacency rather than dismay, and hairs would assume a lustre, in the eye of wisdo least, as bright as the ringlets of fair and ruddy y

The varied year, under this our temperate affords a beautiful similitude of the several ag man, and the moralist as well as the poet, has seized with eagerness and happy effect upon a fi so favorable, either to impress truth, or please and tertain the imagination. In moral essays it is us brought forward to illustrate and enforce the im ant obligation of all accountable beings, to ma