loaded with the very fame fpecies of criti. cifin, the fame method of converting the noft whimsical conjecture into abfolute certainty, and of discovering gold in the very drofs of lead. For my part, faid he, I laugh at firft when I meet with fuch fagacious abfurdities, tuch impudent af fuming of unfounded data; but my mirth foon finks into melancholy, when I confider the miferable wafte of time, ingenuity, and the knowledge of languages (for I cannot call it learning) which fome men make, at the very moment when they think they are most learnedly employed. The motto of every fcholar ought to be,

NISI UTILE EST QUOD FACIMUS, STULTITIA EST. And he who contributes his mite to laugh out of countenance that fpirit of affuming dullness, and that faftidious gravity of pedantry and hypercriticifm, which vitiates and bewilders the literary tafte of our youth, acquits himfelf as a worthy votary of the Republic of Letters; and that Republic is indebted to him."

GENTLEMEN,

MRS. Della Riviere Manley was eon

cerned in the year 1705 with one Mrs. Mary Thompfon, a young woman who had been kept by a gentleman of the name of Pheasant, of Upwood, in Huntingdonshire, and then deceated, in profecuting a fuit in Doctors Commons, on the part of Mrs. Thompson, as the widow of Mr. Pheasant; the object of the fuit being to establish her right of dower out of Mr. Pheasant's eftates, which were about 1500l. a year. It appears on the evidence, which is of record in Doctors Commons, that Mrs. Manley and Mrs. Thompson were jointly concerned in the profecution, and that the was to have had 100l. per annum for her life, if it had fucceeded. They had procured one Edmund Smith, a very infamous fellow, and then a prifoner in the Fleet, to forge a marriage entry in the regifter at a church in Alderfgate-ftreet, which was fupported by Smith's fwearing himfelf to have procured the parfon who performed the ceremony, and that he and a Mr. Abfon were prefent at the wedding. The parfon fixed on was one Dr. Cleaver, who appears from the evidence to have been a low and fcandalous prieft, and I believe the man who married at the Fleet. Cleaver and Abfon were both dead when Smith was examined. The caufe was fupported by fome weak collateral evidence, and

I am, &c.

D. G.

was overthrown by the strongest evidence to the wickedncis of Smith's character, and by proof that the entry which Smith fwore was entered by Mr. Pheafant himfelf, was not Mr. Pheafant's hand-writing, and that Mr. P. lived with Mrs. Thompfon as his miftrefs and not as his wife. Upon the whole, Mrs. Manley's conduct in this affair fhews her to have been a base and wicked woman, capable of fuborning perjury and forgery for gain. It is to be noted this was in the year 1705. In the lat ter part of queen Anne's reign fhe was in high favour with the Tories, as a partywriter, and was noticed by Dr. Swift. Whether he knew her real character is perhaps uncertain. She afterwards lived with Swift's very good friend John Barber, alderman and printer, as his miftrefs: the must have been fortunate if her bafenefs was not known; if it was, Dr. Swift's friends at leaft are not much credited by their connections with her. It is not very likely that Mrs. Manley's conduct was a fecret, as he was known as a writer before 1705; and Smith, in his evidence, fwears that he first heard of the cause be

ing initituted at a coffee-house accidentally, where Mrs. Pheafant's caule was talked of; and Mr. Peere Williams, then an eminent counfel, was examined as a witnefs, fo that the matter was certainly of public notoriety.

OPTIMISM:

PTIMISM:

By M.

A DRE A M.

HAD been a whole day reflecting on the good fortune which attends the wicked, and the evil that pursues the virtuous man. Night had spread its wings:-but who can fleep on the downy bel, whilft the unhappy fuffers-whilft his plaintive groans reproach our repofe, and awake in our hearts the invincible fenfation of pity? It is not the philofopher, or, in other words, it is not the philanthropist;-his fenfative foul is too clofely connected with the fate of his fellow-creature to be unconcerned like the wicked man. The virtuous man cannot be happy whilst mankind are miferable.

My feeble fenfes gave way to fleep, but my free and powerful thoughts ftill purfued my meditations. I did not lofe fight of the fate of the unfortunate ;my imagination was awake, and intereited in them. I was till irritated, although in a dream, at the view this wretched earth offered me, where infolent vice is triumphant, and timid virtue fcorned and perfecuted.

I experienced thofe torments which a man cannot refift who is not wrapped up in the fingle point of his on existence. I walked forrowful in a flow pace across the beautiful plains of Azora ;-but tranquillity, which reigned over the fin.ling face of nature, did not penetrate my heart. Scenes of injustice, crimes, tyranny, all rushed into my thoughts.On the one hand, I heard cries of famithed indigence difperfed in the air; on the other, the mad and bluftering exultations of barbarous and infenfible beings abounding with fuperfluities. All the miferies which load the human race, ail the griefs which confume and destroy it, crouded on my memory; I fighed; and the foft, but bitter, fhaft of pity wounded iny heart deliciously, and briny tears flowed down my cheeks.-I gave way to my complaints, and was fo imprudent as to murmur against the Almighty Hand that rules the world. I exclaimed," Oh God! let not mine ears any longer hear the fighs of mifery and the groans of defpair; let not mine eyes behold man destroying his fellow-creature; no longer let me witnefs the fparkling fword of defpotifm, or the odions chains of flavery; or give me another heart, that I may no longer fuffer with an unhappy world.

66

Providence, because thou art a stranger "to its ways:follow me." I followed him to the foot of a mountain, whole fummit reached the skies. I afcended, er rather climbed. Figure to yourself enormous rocks, fufpended one above the other, which threatened every instant to fall and crush the plain. In vain the eye fought a plant or tree in the midft of this frightful profpect, which had a refemblance to animated nature; nothing was to be feen but a range of rocks, haif calcined by the thunder-claps. Trembling, I followed my conductor, and the roaring of lions and tigers, more dreadful from the echo, ftruck me with terror; at each tep I was obliged to fupport myfelf on my affiftant angel, and on each fide-Oh dreadful fight! wretched mortals were endeavouring to fcale thofe high rocks, and hanging on their points, but foon overcome by their efforts, tottered, called in vain for help, fell crushed to pieces, and became the prey of tygers, who fought for their mangled limbs in the valley.

I dreade

I dreaded the fame fate awaited me, when the angel fad to me:-" Thus "Providence punifhes man's rafh audacity. Why will man penetrate into "what is impenetrable? His firit duty "is to acknowledge his weakness. Every thing turns invitibly under the hand of "God; God vouchtafes to pardon you; "he dos more, he enlightens you "-At that ipitant he touched my hand, and I was on the fummit of the mountain. What an enchanting furprife! The declivity we defcended was an agreeable and magnificent garden, where verdure, the harmony of birds, and the perfume of flowers enchanted the fenies; a fuperior charm aniinated the moft ind fferent being. My divine conductor fhewed me at feme diftance a temple of a molt attonithing structure; but the way that led to it was lo intricate, it was impoffible to get there without a guide.

At our approach, the gates of the temple opened; we entered, and they were fuddenly clofed by an invisible power, with a noile equal to thunder."No one can open them, no one can shut "them, but the omnipotent voice of "God," faid my illuftrious protector. Awed with refpect, I read the following words wrote in letters of gold ::-" God "is juft, his voice is hidden: who will "dare fathom his decrees?" I caft my eyes on the magnificent height of this temple: this glorious building was fupported by three columns of white marble; in the middle an altar was erected; inftead of the image of the Divinity, an odoriferous fmoke afcended, whole ctluvia filled the temple. On the right was a black marble table, and oppofite, a glafs of pure cryftal. The angel aid to me : It is "here thou art to learn, that if Provi"dence fometimes ordains the good man "to be unhappy, it is to lead him more "certainly to happines." Cold terror no longer froze my fentes; a pure, mind, ineffable joy fucceeded which filled my fcul. I thed relenting tears, my knees bent, my arms railed themselves towards heaven, and I could only filently adore the Supreme Bounty. A majetic voice, but divested of terror, faid to me:"Arife, losk, and read."

I cat my eyes on the gla's, and faw my friend Sadak; Sadak, whofe comitant and magnanimous virtue had often filled me with wonder, who had learned to defy indigence, and even make it pectable. I faw him feated in a room with bare walls; he leaned his languishing bead

on the last moveable that was left him, his body fivering with hunger, and yet more cruel despair. One only tear itole from his eye, but it was a tear of blood! Unhappy man, he dared not weep. Four children called to their father for bread :-the youngeft, fechle and Inguifhing, freich.ed on a handful of itraw, had not itrength to utter a word,—he was breathing the laft of an innocent life. The wife of this unfortunate man, exafperated by mifery, forgetting her natu ral tenders and fweetnels of temper, reproached him for the exce's of their diitreis. Thofe cruel complaints rent his heart and increased his terments.—Sadakc rifes, turns his eyes from his children, and, in that weak condition, creeps abroad to feek alitance. He meets a man, to whom he had formerly rendered the most important fervices-this man was obliged to him for a genteel employment he poffeffed. Sadak acquaints him with his deplorable fituation s he defcribes his famified children ready to expire in his arias.-His friend, abathed to be compelled to know him, looks around with an inquifitive eye, to ice if he was not oblerved speaking to one who bore the badge of indigence;-he gets rid of the poor fuppliant by vague promites, celd civility, and retires with great expedition. This was the tenth time he had thus inhumanly treated him to whom he was indebted for all he poi feffed. Sadak, in defpair, rambles on, meets one of his creditors, who flops him, treates him with the fouleft language, gathers a mob around the miferable man, publicly threatens him, and is ready to itrike him, more from contempt than anger. At last, I faw him wandering from door to door, ftretching a fuppliant hand, fometimes repulfed, fometimes receiving alms given to importunity. He buys a loaf, takes it home, divides it among his children, fheds tears of joy in allaying their hunger, and on his knees

ges thanks to Providence for the rich

bleffing the had flowered upon him.

I exclaimed with grief, aftoniinment, and dicas. My eyes replete with tears, turned to the bi. ck marble table, and an invisible hand wrote upon it there words:

Make an end of contemplating Sa"dak, and condemn, if thou dareft, «Providence that rules all things." I turned my eyes again to the glais, and again faw my friend Sadak.-Ber how altered! how different was the fcene! It is no longer the poor, neceflitous, but ten

der,

der, virtuous, compaffionate Sadak, full of honour and humanity ;—it is Sadak in plenty, become opulent by an unexpected legacy; it is Sadak, who, corrupted by affluence, no longer cherishes the virtues he poffeffed. Sunk in luxury, he is morofe, gives his orders with haughtiness, and no longer in diftrefs, forgets there are unhappy wretches in the world, and that he was of the number. I read immediately with refpectful admiration, what the mysterious table taught me." Virtue often fuffers, be"cause it would ceafe to be virtue if it "had no struggles. When awful Pro"vidence fends misfortune on mortal "heads, her fifter, Patience, accompa"nies her, Courage fupports her, and "by this gift Virtue wants no other aid, "and is even happy when misfortunes "feem to overwhelm her.'

I turned my inquifitive eyes to the glafs. But what an affecting object struck my heart! I obferved my country, my dear country, the happy town that gave me birth! Oh heavens, what a fight In a moment a formidable army had overfpread the plains, had furrounded its ftrong works, had prepared the infernal machines of deftruction for its ruin. The fword is drawn, vengeance and rage have lighted their torches.-Oh ftately city, thou shakeft, notwithstanding thy bold defenders. The enemy thirits for the plunder of thy treafures. Yet you fill oppofe him with courageous refiftance. Vain efforts!-They mount-they fcale thy proud towers; blood flows, death flies, the flame rages;-thou art no more,—a thick smoke, a heap of ftones cover the place of thy feite, My unhappy countrymen who efcaped the flames wander in the woods;-but direful famine awaits them in the defert ;-it flowly devours them, and prolongs their fufferings

and death.

I exclaimed, "Juft God! shall a million fall the victims of one ambitious man, children be murdered at their mothers' breafts, the gray hairs of the venerable eld man be dragged in blood and duft, innocent beauty become the prey of the foul murderer, a whole city difappear, because the covetoufnefs of a monster thirfts for its wealth!"-"A country "filled with prevaricators," replied the table," deferves the chaftifement of a "Divinity too long defpifed.-Thofe "who were not guilty are torn from the danger of becoming fo; and if the "hand of Providence has struck them, it VOL. XI.

"is to preserve them from a more terrible "fate than the fuffering a tranfitory "death;-their refuge is in the elemency "of an eternal God."

The palace of the minifter Aliacin, whofe gilt pyramids almoft reached the fkies, was too magnificent to escape my attention. How often has my heart been filled with indignation at the fight of this happy monfter, who, with a venal foul, a barbarous heart, depraved morals, a defpotic mind, had, as it were, chained fortune to his chariot! His elevation was due to his meannefs, his treafures the reward of treachery. He had fold his country for gold.-An entire province groaned under his oppreffion. Sometimes he laughed at the weak murmurs of a people inured to flavery; at another their ftifled fighs he called revolt. Each day he committed fome wicked attempt,each day crowned his audacity.

Yet the infide of his palace, with its filken furniture, difplayed only hiftories\ of generofity and virtue; the bufts of the greatest men of antiquity adorned the dwelling of the most flagitious wretch; and thofe filent marbles, which fhould have reproached his heart, were heedlefsly paft over. I dwelt on this wretch, invested with power, furrounded with flatterers, dreaded by enemies, adulated by the public, but fecretly curfed. Thousands of rare curiofities adorn his cabinet,-the price of each only an act of iniquity.

He was clothed in purple, at the coft of those who were naked, and the wine he drank in a cup ornamented with precious ftones, might properly be called the effence of the tears he had caused to be fhed.

He rofe from his pompous table, and laid at the feet of a concubine the orphan's patrimony. He attends her to the window, and there calmly beholds a brave and worthy citizen, who has dared to remonftrate against the abufe of his power, put to death.

This good man is strangled; and within an hour a courier arrives to inform the minifter,that the fultan, to reward his great fervices, prefented him a confiderable tract of land. The monfter fimiles, and, become more powerful, meditates how to be more formidable.

My hatred to this odious tyrant was fo great, I turned about feveral times towards the table impatiently, as if to haften the fentence it was to pronounce,

but nothing appeared as yet wrote on it. I turned my forrowful eyes again on D

the

the wondrous cryftal. I perceived Aliaein entering a private study. What a fecret fatisfaction penetrated my heart! -Nature, the wretched, and even the earth are revenged. This powerful man, who feemed the happiest of mortals, reads a letter, turns pale, trembles, fmites his forehead with the fame hand that cut the innocent throat. Distracted with uncon. querable defpair, he goes, he comes, he rages, rent more through fear than remorfe. He tears, he tramples on the marks of his dignity, and, in his rage, weeps like a child. I endeavoured to find out the cause of this frenzy; when one of his favourites, more base than his mafter, enters his ftudy, and informs me the caufe of his defpair. One of his confidants, a fpy at court, had just wrote him a fresh ftorm was gathering against him; that he was on the point of loting his place and credit, if he had not the addrefs to ward the blow. This abandoned favourite inftantly advised his maf fer, in a firm tone, what any other would not have dared with impunity. This horrible advice pleafed the barbarian.He commanded his daughter to be brought into his prefence. Nouremi appeared. She was beautiful and virtuous. Oh God! with what horror did the hear her father intended to give her up to the fultan's lafcivious embraces, as an immolated victim to his infatiable ambitious views! -She falls almoft fenfelefs at her father's feet-the tears of beauty, of nature, of innocence, find utterance.-A fevere look commands her to obey ;-fhe obeys and dies.

Was Aliacin happier? I faw him in the bofom of repofe, ftretched on the bed of down, or plunged in the delicious bath. One would imagine he was couched on thorns.—He is in terror for his life. He rifes,his trembling knees

bear him round his palace ;-he finds his flaves afleep, and envies their peaceful flumber. The day appears :-ever uneafy,-ever fufpicious,―he fhudders as he eats, he turns pale when he drinks,uncertain whether he conveys death or nourishment to his breast. He dreads even the carcafes of the women over whom he tyrannizes, and whose flave he is. If any one is raised to an employment, a thousand ferpents gnaw his heart; it is the rival who is one day to difplace him,he is the formidable man who is to be feated in his poft.

Full of refpectful expectation, I confulted the table of the awful judgments of the Eternal, and read:-" Truth is "terrible to the wicked; and it is incef"fantly prefent to their eyes: it is this "that caufes all their torments; this "dreadful glafs is ever before them, "where they fee their bad actions, and "the deformity of their fouls."

Suddenly a rumbling noife, like diftant thunder, was heard. I turned and faw the palace of Aliacin. His gardens, his pyramids, his ftatues, even himself, all had difappeared.-In the room of his manfion, where every luxury had been collected, nothing was to be feen but a receptacle of filthy fnakes crawling in muddy marshes. Such is the foundation of palaces raised by foul deeds. The following words, engraved on the black marble, acquainted me with Aliacin's fate" He is fwept off the earth like "the vile duft, and future generations "will doubt if he exifted."

This dreadful picture will never be erafed from my memory, and from that time I fetch a figh whenever I fee a man in power. The world admire his elevation, and I view him expofed to the arm of Divine Justice.

(To be concluded in our next)

DEAR SISTER,

My late in the public prints, Y name has been fo often ment on and confequently the fubject of private converfation, that my perfonal friends (you in particular) may with reafon expet to know from myself, what steps I

T. T.