tation for probity and punctuality which they have acquired. But with too many amongst us, an engagement is made in haste, and then it is deliberately forgotten; and the promise which is given in the warmth of a moment, is disregarded in the cool of reflection. And so general is this practice now become, that while it subtracts from the respectability of the individual character, it is treated with indifference by those who are accustomed to it.

"I need not say to you, Sir, who have studied the progressive development of the human character with so much close attention, that when a person has addicted himself to treat his positive engagements and promises with indifference, that he will pass on to the more flagrant habit of direct falsehood in his statements of facts, in his detail of occurrences, and in all the varied departments of narration and description. I know some, who assume on the Sabbath the sanctimonious gravity of devotion, who when they intermingle in society, in the ordinary transactions of social life, cannot obtain credit for any thing they say, unless it is confirmed by some other evidence than that of their own testimony. They will sacrifice the truth, in their statement of fact, to injure the reputation of others in their detail of occurrences, to gratify their own vanity, and in their narratives and descriptions, to bring themselves forward as the hero of their own tales, till they become at length so accustomed to this habit, that they feel no more reverence for strict, unwavering truth, than a Christian would for an idol, if he were to see it in the temple of superstition. And yet, Sir, these men, against whom the finger of a virtuous scorn is pointed as they move along our streets, have the temerity to force themselves on our attention as the servants of the God of truth; and will, as soon as they have been professedly to worship him in spirit and in truth, retire to indulge themselves in their easy besetting sin. I am informed, Sir, that in the island of Madagascar, which is semi-barbarous, that they have a law which inflicts the punishment of death on every person who is convicted of the crime of lying; and though I do not wish to see the severity of our criminal code

increased, yet ought not this fact to be universally known amongst us, to shame those, who with the garb of a public profession thrown over them, practise a vice, which would subject them to the block or to the halter if they had been heathens instead of Christians?

“And if, Sir, you had time to leave your literary pursuits to intermix with some of our religious tradesmen, and observe the principles on 'which they conduct their commercial transactions with each other, you would be astonished and confounded; and no longer at a loss to account for those charges that are brought against religion, which, I perceive from some papers of your Rambler, have reached your ear. Instead, of acting fairly, and openly, and honourably-doing to others as they would that others should do unto them, they practise an artifice and a dishonesty which many infidels would disdain to imitate. As they discard the merit of the social virtues in their supplications for mercy, they too often undervalue the importance of the social virtues in the transactions of commerce; and if we form our judgment of the design of Christianity from their conduct, we should suppose that while it gives glory to God in the highest, it sanctions injustice on earth, and promotes ill-will amongst men. They will oppress the hireling in his wages-undervalue an article of purchase, and overrate the worth of an article of sale-supplant a fellow tradesman in the confidence of a merchant, by insinuations and double-dealing-send goods in the bulk, inferior in quality to the sample-dispute the correctness of charges at the time of payment, which were not objected to when the purchase was made-avail themselves of all the subterfuges of delay, when requested to balance their accounts, and not unfrequently compel a creditor to appeal to the law before they can be induced to recognize the authority of justice. And though you may suppose that I have now given too high a colouring to my charges of inconsistency, yet you have only to submit this letter to the inspection of the public eye, and you will have the most ample testimony to corroborate the

unvarnished correctness of my statements. If you, Sir, can be induced to employ your pen in the correction of these evils, which are the disgrace of religion amongst us, I shall not regret having run the risk of incurring your censure for having obtruded myself on your notice.

، I am, Sir,
66

66 Your humble servant,
"C. V."

SIR,

I fear, from the little intercourse I have had with the customs of commercial life, that your statement is too true to be doubted; but I trust that the flagrancy of the crime of injustice and double-dealing will secure for it a merited condemnation. Your remarks on the palpable inconsistences of some Christians, who set their affections on this world, while they profess to have their treasure in heaven; whose contributions to the institutions of religion are often disproportionate to their means and their obligations; and who too often contract their benevolent expenditure rather than their domestic, as soon as the tide of their prosperity turns, I think are just : and I flatter myself that they will not be read without producing some good effect.

I hold the character of a liar in such absolute and unqualified detestation, especially when he assumes the character of a Christian, that I would cheerfully consent to have him expelled from all intercourse with society, because, while he continues amongst us, he is perpetually sapping the foundation of our reciprocal confidence; and doing all in his power to involve the social edifice in ruins.

When Aristotle was once asked, what a man could gain by uttering falsehoods, he replied, "Not to be credited when he shall tell the truth." The celebrated Dr. Johnson in one of his papers, says, "" Almost every other vice that disgraces human nature, may be kept in countenance by applause and association; the drunkard may easily unite with beings, devoted like himself, to noisy merriments or silent insensibility, who will celebrate his victories over the novices of

intemperance, boast themselves the companions of his prowess, and tell with rapture of the multitudes whom unsuccessful emulation has hurried to the grave: even the robber and the cut-throat have their followers, who admire their address and intrepidity, their stratagems of rapine, and their fidelity to their gang."

The liar, and only the liar, is invariably and universally despised, abandoned, and disowned; he has no domestic consolations which he can oppose to the censures of mankind; he can retire to no fraternity where his crimes may stand in the place of virtue; but is given up to the hisses of the multitude, without friend and without apologist. It is the peculiar condition of falsehood to be equally detested by the good and the bad. "The devils," says Sir Thomas Brown, " do not tell lies to one another; for truth is necessary to all societies, nor can the society of hell subsist without it."

It is natural to expect, that a crime thus generally detested should be generally avoided, yet so it is, that in defiance of censure, truth is frequently violated, and even by those who profess to have imbibed a purer morality than that which society in general adopts. To gratify their vanity, they will run the risk of making themselves contemptible; and rather than keep in the unadorned path of strict veracity, they will wander in the bye ways of exaggerated falsehold, where they are exposed to the danger of meeting the insults and reproaches of the detector. To cure them of this vice, when it has taken deep root in their moral constitution, is not so easy as to censure them for encouraging its growth; but we ought to avoid coming into contact with them, lest we should be contaminated by their touch, or injured by their misrepresentations. However, we may console ourselves with this reflection, that their means of doing mischief decrease in proportion to the activity of their disposition, as they cannot exist long without being known, and when known, must be despised.

Yours truly,

THE AUTHOR.

"The new married couple walked arm in arm from the Church to the turnstile which leads into the lane, and having received the congratulations of the young and the aged, who pressed near them to wish them a long and a happy life, they stepped into the chaise and drove off to the villa, where they spent the day." Page 5.

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