firmed to others, by the relation of many matters of fact. If the blind man in the eighth chapter of Mark, was fo from his birth, we have no reason to wonder at the oddnets of his expreflion: "I fee men as trees walking" I know fome ingenious men havebeen willing to think, he law objects inverted, just as they are painted on the retina of our eyes: and then with great fagacity, they pretend, that a man bottom upwards looks very much like a tree. For illuftration, you are to fuppofe his head and neck to be the main trunk; from which shoot up two arms, fpriged at the end into fingers and thumbs: not to mention two huge limbs, which form a crotch above, by way of thighs, legs and feet. But notwithstanding the elegance of this fcheme, perhaps it may be as probable a conjecture, that when the blind perfon fpoke of fee.ng men as trees walking, he talked in a perplexed manner agreable to his own inconfiftent way of think ng. However that particular may be, it is certainly no wonder that one whofe eyes are opened from a total blindness, fhould, at firft, talk in an was fure he had his Light now? and for a tryal pointed to feveral objects in the room, and put him upon telling their various colours. This the fellow did very readily: and without any hefitation determined, this robe is purple: that carpet is green: thele hangings are blue, and thofe jewels fhine with an agreable mixture of red and yellow. The cardinal immediately bid him get away for a villain, for, fays he, "If you had been born blind as you pretend, you could never have learned, in fo fhort a space of time, to apply the names of the colours right." But as a farther illuftration of this point of philofophy, I fhall here communicate to my reader an account of the obfervations of a perfon blind from his cradle, upon his firft fight. It is taken from the philofophical tranfac tions, for the months of April, May, and June, 1728. When this gentleman firft faw, be was fo far from making any judgment about diftances, that he thought all objects whatever, touched his eyes, (as he expreffed it) as what he felt did his skin; and thought no objects fo agreable as thofe which were (mooth and regular, though he could form no judgment of their fhape, or guess what it was in any object that was pleafing to him: he knew not the fhape of any thing, nor any one thing from another, however different in fhape, or magnitude; but upon being told what things were, whofe form he before knew from feeling, he would carefully obferve that he might know them again; but having too many objects to learn at once, he forgot many of them; and (as he faid) at first he learned to know, and again forgot a thoufand things in a day. One particular only (though it may appear trifling) I will relate: Having often forgot which was the cat and which was the dog, he was afhamed to ask ; but catching the cat (which he knew by feeling) he was obferved to look at her fledfaftily, and then, fetting her down, faid, fo pufs! I fhall know you another time. He was very much furprised that thofe things which he had liked the beft, did not appear moft agreable to his eyes, expected those proceeded to examine, whether he perfons would appear moil beautiful nintelligible manner, and different from the reft of the world. I remember when I was in Italy, there was a fellow who had a great inclination to impofe a cheat upon the pope, and procure to himfelf a fmall quantity of reputation and money: but for want of this forethought was detected in his knavery. This fellow pretended be was born blind; but as he was once making a devout application to an image of St. Mary at Rome, he on a fudden gave a fhout, and told the people about him, he had at that initant received his fight. He was immediately taken up on the thoulders of feveral zealous catholicks, and carried in great pomp before a cardin, to give an exact narration of this mi raculous event. The cardinal prefently difpatched him in the following thort dialogue. First, his eminence afked him if he was really born blind; and then, if he had indeed ju received his fight at our lady's image? To both which the knave answered in the affirmative. The cardinal that that he loved moft, and fuch things Being fhewn his father's picture in, At first, he could bear but very lit, tle fight, and the things he faw he thought extremely large; but upon feeing things larger, thofe firft feen he conceived lefs, never being able to imagine any lines beyond the bounds he faw; the room he was in, he faid, he knew. to be but part of the house, yet he could not conceive that his eyes, and other marks of affection; and if he did not happen to come at any time when he was expected, he would be fo grieved that he could not forbear crying at his difappointment. A year after firft feeing, being carried before Epsom Downs, and obfer ving a large profpe&t, he was exceedingly, delighted with it, and called it a new kind of feeing. And now being late ly couched of his other eye, he fays, that objects at fit appeared large to this eye, but not fo large as they did at firit to the other; and looking upon the fame object with both eyes, he thought it looked about twice as large as with the first couched eye only, but not double, that we can any ways difcover. I know not how to conclude this fubject without expreffing my admi ration at our aftonishing philofopher, Dr. MOYES, who now improves and charms us by his public exhibitions ; and who feems fo perfect, even in the theory of Vision, that, without, the ideas which we have, he can, with the moft delicate accuracy, investigate and defcribe the mystery of colours, and the tints of the rainbow; fo that his deprivation of fight feems to be fupplied by infpiration. TIRESIAS thas, by heaven's own fplendors fir'd, His Eyes were ufelefs, but his Soul infpir'd. For the BoSTON MAGAZINE... The Gods, to curfe Pamela with her prayers, Gave the gilt coach, and dappled The fhining robes, rich jewels, beds And, to complete her blifs, A fool She for mate. glares in balls, front-boxes, and the whole houfe could look bigger. Story of Elvira and Jacintha. the ring, A vain, unquiet, glittering, wretched thing? Pride, pomp, and flate, but reach her She fighs, and is no dutchefs at her outward part, N heart. POPE O Duty is more incumbent on childre children well in marriage. Reafon,' nature, and the publick good require this, and the neglect of it excufes very much the disposal of themfelves. By marrying them well is commonly understood the fecuring to them a large ftore of wealth. Where that is, few imagine happiness can be wanting: but this is a fatal error, as too too many miferable creatures prove; and nothing in the world can give it, but mutual love, efteem and tenderness. I fhall take another occafion of enlarging on this fubject, and at prefent entertain my readers with the following Spanish Story: IN a pleafant Villa, about fifteen Jeagues from Madrid, lived a lady hamed Louifa, bleffed only with two daughters, ELVIRA and JACINTHA, but poffeffed in them of all that felicity which the fondeft mother can receive from the beft of children; an happinefs (which few have hearts humane enough to relish, and fewer fill the good fortune to enjoy) unmixed with any uneafinef. but fuch only as refulted from a concern for their welfare, and a defire of feeing them well difpofed of in the world. Their birth, fortune, and fine accomplishments would not fuffer them to be long concealed: Don Alonzo, à gentleman of a noble family and a large eftate, addreffed the eldeft, very much to the fatisfaction of Louifà, who in the common traffick of the world could fearce expect a match fo advantageous for her daughter. Elvira, who with an unequalled Tweetnefs of temper had a great hare of good fenfe, was for delaying the affair till he might have fome experience of Alonzo, telling her mother, that in her opinion, riches anly could never produce happiness. But Louifa's prudence over ruled these fentiments: fhe haftened on the match as fall as poffible; and having fecured as ample provifion for her daughter, in cafe of Alonzo's death, a few days and a fplendid equipage burried her away to Madrid, very much to her mother's fatisfaction, who thought herself completely happy, except only when the turned her eyes upon Jacintha, and confidered he was unprovided for. Some little while after a Arange accident brought Don Carlos into the family; a young gentleman of fine parts, but in fortune by no means equal to Jacintha: where, being entertained with the moft friendly hofpitality, amidft the many hours of play and conversation, which unavoidably they paffed together, their tempers, notions, likings and averfiona correfponded fo exactly, that fomething more than friendship infenfibly ftole upon them, and both with furprife found themselves engaged before either of them had been aware of it. Each feemed to be the picture and reflection of the other, and they flattered themfelves, that if ever hearts were paired in heaven, theirs were fo undoubtedly, and that they came out of their maker's hands, each the others counterpart. Louifa was foon alarmed, and exerted herself to fave her daughter from the impending ruin. Jacintha was too dutious, too tender of her mother's Peaceto a& in contradi&tion to her commands, and Carlos difdained fo ungenerous a return to Louifa's hofpitality, as to fteal her daughter from her. For these reafons, they tore themfelves from one another, and mourned in abfence their mutual lofs. And, what made their misery more irkfome, was, they had not the common relief of dif charging their refentment upon the author of their forrows; for, when ever they thought upon Louifa, the only oppofer of their happiness, duty and gratitude, filenced their upbraidings, took off the edge of their complaints, and changed them into prayers and kind wishes for a friend and mother. But though they parted, the generous Jacintha was refolutely conftant in her affection, and fcorned to let her heart fhrink from her beloved Carlos. She failed not daily to importune her mother in his behalf; who as often fet before her the danger of venturing on one who had only a place at court to truft to, which was a precarious poft, and at best muft die with him. Jacintha thought her own fortune would afford them a genteel and sufficient maintenance : and the only difference between them Jay lay in this, that Jacintha propofed nothing more than to be a happy wife, Louifa's ambition was to have her a rich widow. In the mean while, Don Carlos paffed all his days in melancholly, and was almoft shrunk into the fhadow of himself; when Louifa, in com. pliance to her daughter's importunity, and in compaffion to one who had no other crime but an inviolable love, with much reluctance yielded her confent. They were married: but the tranfports which the young couple found together were but litte relifhed by the careful mother, who feared their chimerical happiness would foon evaporate; and therefore to divert herself from the thought of them The foon departed for Madrid, to fpend her life with her fon Alonzo and the thrice happy Elvira. A few days after, the new married pair came thither alfo; Jacintha went to vifit her rich fifter, and took her husband with her. The grandeur of the houfe furprised them: a large court before it had two circular wings of piazzas below, and Balluftrades above. By a large flight of marble fteps they af cended the great hall, and were conducted through the faloon into a room of ftate moft richly furnished: here, being left together, Carlos could not help blushing when he looked upon Jacintha, taking all the magnifi. cence which appeared before them as a reproach upon himself, who was unable to provide for her those numerous bleffings which Alonzo showered down upon her happy elder fifter, although Jacintha's fortune and merit were in no wife inferior to Elvira's... Jacintha, who obferved him, fufpecting the kind caufe of his confufion, relieved him with an easy fmile and undiffembled chearfulness, when an immoderate laugh in a neighbouring appartment feemed to (peak the felicity which the poffeffors of that delightful feat enjoyed. It was not long ere Elvira appeared, and the fight of her fifter gave her an uncommon fatisfaction. After the first compliments, the vifitants failed not to exprefs their joy at her good fortune, and the happiness her great defert had raised her to, in fo excellent an hufband as Alonzo, with circumftances so plentiful, a palace fo magnificent, a retinue fo numerous, and friends fo chearful. Elvira could not contain herself, but burfting into tears, cried, "Oh! do "not mock my mifery Jacintha! you fee in me the verieft wretch that "ever mourned in wedlock: pru"dence, as poor Louifa thought, "joined our hands, before love had "touched our hearts; but the event "too fadly proves both the crime and "folly of making a merchandife "of marriage. Alonzo, it is true, "has large poffeffions, but I, alas! "am miftrefs of him nor them: I "have no more command of the gold "in his coffers than if it ftill continu"ed in the mountains of Peru. A "profufenefs, indeed, spreads my "table, but how much more fatisfacti"on, Jacintha, did the lefs cofly "viands, which we ufed to prepare "ourfelves, afford! besides, the peace "that used there to fmile at every "meal, is changed into the noify "laugh of drunkards, and loofe dif"courfe of wantons; these were the "chearful friends you mentioned, and "I have none but fuch to converfe "with. My attendants are not fer"vants, but fpies, guards and ene"mies; it is a crime in them to be " obliging to me, though few have "had the courage to rifque difplea"fure on that account. I am their " contempt and fcorn, and dare en ་k gage there is not one in the house "would change conditions with me. "I have been infulted by all, and be"yond fufferance by fome: that "thing yonder reigns uncontrouled, "for whom,and fome other fuch crea"tures, my lord every night forfakes "me; and the impudent fellow who "introduced you hither, not long "ago attempted on my honour, and "by his mafter's directions too, "Judge now how agreable my con"dition is: the ftately appearance of the house I am fick and weary of, "and the poor woman at the gate "there, fees and enjoys it more than I do, though perhaps the filly crea"ture is fo mad as to envy me.--- Jacintha was fo concerned fhe could not fpeak, and Carlos, to wave the the melancholy fubje&,asked for Louifa, and her little fon: their compa ny, madam, fays he, must be a great relief to you amidst these calamities. "Ah! Don Carlos, replied Elviray "I must no more know comfort: the curfe of marrying without hea "ven's direction puríues me through "every circumftance of life. It is "but feldom I can fee my poor boy;, "he has learned already to defpife"his mother, and lives the miferable "monument of his father's vices;, "which he bids fair to inherit as well "as his diseases. Louifa whom you "expected here, my husband's bru "tufhinefs drove away. fome few days fince, and the is now retired withr "an inexpreffible load of forrow to "think what her too ambitious views have brought me to The only reafon why Alonzo married me, "was, that my fortune might dif charge an incumbrance on his eftate. That turn is ferved, and "I am of no farther ufe; he looks on ❝me as a mercenary wretch who fold myself by marriage, and treats me "like his flave," Don Carlos and Jacintha greatly pitied the unfortunate Elvira, and retired, but juft before night, to a little habitation which they had hired, at a small diftance from the city. Louifa (pent her life in folitude, under the bitter remorfe of having perfuaded her eldeft daughter into ruin, and the forrowful apprehenfions of what the imagined Jacintha's imprudence had drawn upon herself. For fome years the did not fee her, and at laft refolved on an unexpected wifit, that he might furprife her in her true and undifguifed manner of life. She arrived one evening and was conducted by a fervant, without notice, by her request, into the garden, where, un perceived, the beheld the loving pair fitting under the shade of a jeffamine, Jacintha employed in ber housewifery, and Carlos entertain. ing her with the merry works of the immortal Cervantes, when anon would be fleal away his eyes to fix them upon Jacintha, and often met hers wandering from her work upon a like errand. - Nor gentle purpofe, nor endearing fmiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as befeems So foon as Louisa discovered herself, he was received with fuch a graceful transport and chearfulness as (poke fincere affection. After entertaining her fome time with the agreableness of the garden, they were called to a fupper, wholesome, fimple, and elegant: the attendants looked (as they were used) rather like humble friends than fervants: respect and fatisfa&ion appeared on every countenance, and, to make up the family of love, two (ons and one little daughter com, pleted their felicity. Ia thort, happy tempers, well fuited to each other, a moderate fortune, and a pleasant has bitation, .furnished them with more real happiness than. all. Alonzo's wealth could purchase. The king's favour, afterwards, raif* ed Carlos to a more advantageous.em. ployment, fo that by his good conduct, and heaven's bleffings, he bet came master of more wealth than he thought convenient for his children to share. All he propofed. was, to fet them out handfomely in the world, and enable them to provide for themfelves.: this, if they were induftrious, would be as much as they wanted, and, if they proved idle, much more than they deferved. And afterwards, he found a melancholly opportunity of difpofing of the overplus. Alonzo's extravagant way of living threw him into great ftraits, to recover himfelf of which he purfued fuch measures as made his life a facrifice to the laws, and his eftate was a forfeiture to the crown: fo that Elvira was left a def titute and miferable widow. But heaven fhut the fcene of all her miferies, and took her to itfelf: her fon was dead, and the left one daughter only. Carlos took home his little neice, as a companion for his daughter, gave. her an equal fortune, and, what was ftill a greater bleffing, educated ber like his own. Louifa, cured of her blind ambition, fpent the quiet evening of her life with Carlos, in all the tranquility which peace, affluence and innocence could give. She died in a good old age and the fortune that fhe was poffeffed of, defcended to the : family. |