ng his famous Synopsis, to rise about four o'clock in the morning, and constudies till the afternoon was pretty far adwhen he went abroad, and spent the evenne friend's house in cheerful conversation. ight here mention the effects which exerupon all the faculties of the mind, by the understanding clear, the imagination ed, and refining those spirits that are neor the proper exertion of our intellectual during the present laws of union beul and body. It is to a neglect in this that we must ascribe spleen, which quent in men of studious and sedentary as well as the vapours to which those of sex are so often subject."

SUPERSTITION.

DICIOUS history of superstition, it has erved, would be a curious and entertainand would exhibit the human characemarkable point of view. The general of it have been the same in all ages; but es certain peculiarities, according to the of character of different nations. It gainssion into the science of medicine at an iod. It prevailed also in natural philosoevery one knows the prevalence it has e religious world.

n, a Syrian shepherd, after addicting hime senseless austerities of the monkish life, irty-seven years standing on the top of

t

and forty cubits high. Habit and exercise in structed him to maintain his dangerous situatio without fear or giddiness, and successively to as sume the different postures of devotion. He som times prayed in an erect attitude, with his ou stretched arms in the figure of a cross; but h most familiar practice was that of bending h meagre skeleton from the forehead to the feet and a curious spectator, after numbering twelv hundred and forty-four repetitions, at length de sisted from the endless account. The progres an ulcer in his thigh might shorten, but it coul not disturb, this celestial life: for he expire without descending from his column.

Chares V, as an expiation for his sins, gav himself discipline in secret, with such severity that the whip of cords which he employed as th instrument of his punishment was found aft his decease tinged with his blood. Nor was i satisfied with these acts of mortification. Th timorous and distrustful solitude which alway accompanies superstition still continued to di quiet him, and, depreciating all that he had don prompted him to aim at something extraordinary at some new and singular act of piety, that woul display his zeal, and merit the favour, of heaver The act on which he fixed was, as wild and un common as any that superstition ever suggeste to a disordered fancy.-He resolved to celebrat his own obsequies before his death. He ordere his tomb to be erected in the chapel of the mo nastery. His domestics marched thither in funer procession, with black tapers in their hands. H himself followed in his shroud. He was laid in h coffin with much solemnity.-The service for th

chanted; and Charles joined in the praywas offered up for the rest of his soul, is tears with those which his attendants f they had been celebrating a real funerceremony closed with sprinkling holythe coffin in the usual form; and, all the retiring, the doors of the chapel were hen Charles rose out of the coffin, and to his apartment, full of those awful Is which such a singular solemnity was 1 to inspire. But either the fatiguing the ceremony, or the impression which e of death left on his mind, affected him that next day he was seized with a fes feeble frame could not long resist its and he expired soon after, aged 58 months, and 21 days.

ew a Russian princess," says one, "who ays a large silver crucifix following her arate carriage, and which she usually 1 her bed-chamber. When any thing had happened to her in the course of the she was satisfied with her admirers, she ed candles placed about the crucifix, and , in a familiar style, "See now, as you n very good to-day, you shall be treated ou shall have candles all night; I will ; I will pray to you." If, on the cony thing occurred to vex this lady, she candles put out; forbad the servants to homage to the poor image; and loaded eproaches and revilings."

gh superstition be generally the mark of nind, such is the infirmity of human na

find menw instances of it

men of the most sublime genius and most e lightened minds. Socrates believed that he w guided by a demon. Lord Bacon believed witchcraft; and relates, that he was cured warts by rubbing them with a piece of lard wi the skin on, and then nailing it with the fat t wards the sun on the post of a chamber windo facing the sun. Henry IV, one of the most illu trious of monarchs, was very uneasy before his a sassination, on account of some prophecies. T enlightened Cudworth defended prophecies general, and called those who opposed the beli of witchcraft by the name of Atheists.

SWEARING, PROFANITY, &c.

THERE is something so low, vulgar, an wicked, in swearing, that it is surprising that me who wish to be considered as wise and polit should be found so much in the habit of it. It not, however, peculiar to the inferior circles life, but prevails among the great and honourabl so called. Wise and suitable reproofs of this si have however had a good effect, as the followin instances shew:

Mr. John Howe being at dinner with some per sons of fashion, a gentleman expatiated largely i praise of Charles I, and made some disagreeabl reflections upon others. Mr. Howe, observin that he mixed many horrid oaths with his dis course, took the liberty to say, that in his humbl opinion, he had omitted one great excellence i the character of that prince; which, when the gen tleman had pressed him to mention, and waite

patience to hear it, he told him it was that he was never heard to swear an oath n conversation." The gentleman took the and promised to break off the practice. er time he passed two persons of quality e talking with great eagernes, and d-d er repeatedly. Upon which, taking off he said to them, I pray God save you or which they both gave him their thanks. time when the occasion Conformity Bill ated in Parliament, Mr. Howe passed a ord in a chair in St. James's Park, who footman to call him, desiring to speak on this subject. In the conversation, of the opponents of the dissenters, he O-n these wretches, for they are mad.” ve, who was no stranger to the nobleman, great satisfaction in the thought, that a God who governs the world, who ly make retribution to all according to sent characters; " And he, my lord, has he will make a difference between him reth and him that feareth an oath." The n was struck with the hint, and said, you, Sir, for your freedom. I take ning, and shall endeavour to make a good " Mr. Howe replied," My lord, I have son to thank your lordship for saving me difficult part of a discourse, which is the

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ɔn."

cctor of Cologne (who is likewise an archone day swearing profanely, asked a'peaseemed to wonder, what he was so sur