whose impression so long a period had never been able to obliterate. But who can with justice describe the agony of their meeting? They had not seen each other since the evening before his departure for the Continent; and during that interval, a slow consuming grief had so undermined his health, that scarcely the shadow of what he then was remained. Her charms had likewise gradually fallen a prey to sickness and unavailing sorrow, and in her faded form he could with difficutly trace any resemblance to the once beautiful Julia.

No sooner had he entered the room, than she eagerly demanded, if there was any possibility of her life being spared for many days, and upon his answering, "There was not!" She clasped her hands and exclaimed, " Then Death alone shall separate us!" For ten days he never left her bedside, but watched over her with unremitting attention,and afforded every consolation in his power, A short time previous to her dissolution, she inquired of him, why he had never written to her, and whether he had really been the altered man, that had been represented to her; " Although, added she, your present behaviour appears to contradict such a report." He knew but too well the source of these mis representations; but unwilling to

expose the depravity of a parent to her dying daughter, he generously resolved not to criminate her mother by entering upon his own defence.

Judging unfavourably from his silence, she repeatedly assured him of her forgiveness; pre'sented a lock of her hair to him; and entrusted her children to his care, in the event of her husband's death, or absence. By this time he perceived by her countenance that the hand of death was already upon her, nor did he hesitate to warn her of an approaching dissolution. "Take me then, exclaimed she, in your arms, and since I have not been permitted to live for you, at least in death let me be yours!" Scarcely had he obeyed her command, when gently reclining her pale cheek upon his bosom, she expired without a groan!!

God's will be done! murmured the unfortunate Sempronius as he sunk upon the floor unable to support the agitation of his own mind. In a state almost bordering upon insensibility he was carried down stairs, and as he passed the room, which contained the parents of his deceased Julia, he overheard her father bitterly reproaching his wife, for the part which she had acted, and accusing her of bringing his grey hairs with

sorrow to the grave. During the short remainder of his life he constantly visited the children which Julia had left behind her. He did not however long survive this fatal catastrophe; but lingered out a few melancholy months of affliction, and then passed with tranquillity into a better world. By his express desire his remains were deposited under the same tomb that contained Julia's, and the following epitaph was inscribed upon their monument.

"". Two

HAPLESS LOVERS,

WHOSE FAITHFUL HEARTS EVEN THE ARTIFICE OF AN UNNATURAL PARENT

COULD NOT SEPARATE, AND WHOSE ATTACHMENT THE MOST SEVERE MISFORTUNES COULD

NOT WEAKEN,

HERE ENJOY THAT UNION IN DEATH,

WHICH, WHEN LIVING, WAS

DENIED THEM."

E.

THE

MINIATURE,

NUMB. XVIII.

MONDAY, September 24, 1804.

Præsenti tibi maturos largimur honores.

To thee we living honours pay.

HOR. Ep. 1. 1, 15.

AMONG the various novelties introduced by modern times, a species of writers perfectly unknown in former ages have made their appearance, and though already composing a large portion of our literary republic, are still in a state of daily and prodigious increase. Among the Greeks and Romans it was the constant aim of author to be received and admired by posevery terity, although from different circumstances very few in proportion have ever attained their wish. Many impressed with this idea bore with forti

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tude and patience the rigid censures of their contemporaries, looking forward to the fairer criticism and more unbiased judgment of future ages. A stronger contrast cannot be drawn than between these and the tribe of authors beforementioned, whose only ambition is to suit their compositions to the capricious taste of the present time, by no means solicitous of their welfare beyond that period. "Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die," was the sentiment of some of the ancient philosophers, nor is it less applicable to our ephemeral race of modern scribblers.

The first whom I shall mention, are the composers, or rather compilers of those immense bodies of daily information called Newspapers. By every one of these so many authorlings are keept in constant pay, that if the public were to withdraw their patronage from them, many hum¬ ble dependants on the Muses would be forced to leave the service of their mistresses, and descend for subsistence to some less honourable employThe historical department alone will furnish a constant succession of materials worthy of the pen of the greatest Greek or Roman historians. We have the arrival of a home-bound fleet and its cargo described with all the sim

ment.