nity, our mind will receive new force; even with regard to wordly pursuits, in themselves good and honourable, as learning, honour, and glory, it will be enlarged; and with fresh hope and vigour will spring up to light, life and immortality. These reflections will at the last moment illaminate our dark minds and quicken our sinking hearts. Amidst all the cares and troubles, anxieties and misfortunes of this perishable state, let us refresh ourselves with the remembrance of this one sentence, far more sublime and consoling than any which human wisdom could frame or produce.

"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, WHOEVER BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NOT DIE."

TO THE READER.

T.

In a very shorttime the larger portion of my Readers will be dispersed into so many distant corners of the Kingdom, that it would be impossible for my papers to reach them without a considerable degree of trouble and expence; in consequence of which it will be necessary for me to withhold any further publications until Monday the 10th of Sept. when SOLOMON GRILDRIG will renew his lucubrations with the continued approbation (as he hopes) of those, who have hitherto honoured him with their notice. But previous to my temporary silence, I shall beg leave to lay another Number before the Public on Monday next, that I may as much as possible shorten the period of my secession, which would otherwise be extended to an unnecessary length. Neither can I omit this opportunity to express my gratitude for the unexpected favour which I have experienced from almost every quarter. The natural difficulties, which are incidental to the age and inexperience of the Author, have not as yet, and it is to be hoped will not retard or obstruct his literary progress.---Letters post-paid, and directed to the usual place will be attended to.

THE

MINIATURE.

NUMB. XV.

MONDAY, July 30, 1804.

I have selected the two following Letters from my numerous Correspondents.-The first has passed through my hands untouched; with the latter I have taken a few necessary liberties.

Udum et molle lutum es; nunc nunc properandus, et acrí

Fingendus sine fine rota.

PERSII SAT 3. ver. 23.

THESE verses, it is well known, relate to the education of young persons. Perhaps Juvenal might have been indebted to this hint for the subject of one of his best satires. But although Persius had nothing in view but the literal meaning of this passage, another interpre

S

ation full as rational could be deduced from it. It is not uncommon to see the sense of many mottos, taken from the antient classics, perverted, and applied to things which were utterly foreign to the author's mind. A perversion of this kind is not without some service, when the interpretation is not forced, and carries along with it an air of originality.

A writer of the last age has boldly ventured to advance that" women have no characters at all." To the honor of the fair sex, his theory is false. Every maxim, which is not grounded upon truth, must soon discover its fallacy. The same author, a page or two after contradicts himself. Every woman according to him, is at heart a rake, and would be Queen for life. Admitting such a supposition to be true, it is evident that libertinism and fondness for power require some uniformity, or at least a regular irregularity, which must occasionly form what we call a character. On taking a wide and more comprehensive view of this subject, it will appear that individuals of either sex may be born with principles sufficiently steady to form a character and that it is the bulk of the human species taken in the gross, which have no character at all. Men therefore, whose minds are unsettled, and whose lives are a perpetual

rotation of changes, deserve the reproach of being called, "Moist and soft potter's clay, which can be formed into any shape."

It is not from the theories of the philosopher, the writings of the poet, or the private excellence of some individuals, that we are to form an estimate of human nature. In the middle walk of life, where mediocrity of fortune and abilities confine the generality of men, the human affections are to be investigated. In this inquiry we shall find, that a firm and steady adherence to any principle, whether religious, moral, or political, is rare: that it absorbs all other ideas of good and evil, and that it is always a sure criterion of distinguished parts. In proof of this, the names of martyrs who have bled in the cause of truth, and patriots who have fallen in the defence of their country, could be adduced. Shakespeare, Spencer, and many others could not be deterred from aiming at excellence in their art, but like true poets bore without repining the concomitant distresses of true poetry. It is also well known to what length the military mania of Charles XII. carried him. These few instances of uniformity of character exemplified in some predominant passions, ought always to be contrasted with the general bias of men.

Without incurring the censure of spleen or illnature, one may affirm that the world is like what was said in antient mythology of Proteus. The minds of men do not require the slow gradations of the various periods of life to be sensibly altered. In an hour perhaps our affections may undergo the greatest variations, and leave us nothing of what we had before, but the same features, and the same degree of intellectual vigour. I mention the intellect, because it is not in our power to alter it. It is what we inherit from the bounty of Providence; and as it can obtain but a slight degree of improvement from a liberal education, so it cannot feel any material decay but by dotage, or insanity. It is hence that an acute observer, by one intuitive glance, is enabled to form a right conception of the natural parts of others. But in investigating the inclinations of men, we are obliged to circumscribe our observations by the present moment.

It has been but too commonly believed, that this instability in men originates merely from dissimulation. To dissimulate is no easy task, and it requires qualifications which few are born to possess. The number of those whom history records to have excelled in this art, is comparatively small. It is, therefore to be rather at