Cunning. fo mechanically imbibed; to bring it to maturity, we must fearch the fcriptures; not vainly strive to cultivate our foil without the neceflary implements: To read is to believe. Can it be collected from the fun, moon and ftars, or the face of this globe, that there will be a remiffion of fins ? A deift may reasonably suppose that the Almighty is a beneficent as well as omnipotent being; that he willed and defigned men's happiness Nay there can be no tronger proof of his goodness than his having endued mankind with this capacity: But furely it rauft be confined to the condition, by the tenets of natural religion, I fay, of man's keeping himself void of offence. Upon no other terms can the deift promife himself happiness: If he does, he invades the privileges, the grand characterif-. tick of that gofpel whofe truth and divinity he denies. So that to expect happiness, a Deift should be, what I believe is feldom the cafe, a much better man than a christian; nay, he should be perfect, which, as revelation and our own experience tell us, no man can be; for that caufe perhaps it was, that is, to remedy and expiate our imperfections, our bleff C U N THE defire of gain will fometimes infpire with difhoneft cunning the illiterate favage. After a fuccessful attack on the Roy al party in 1745, a Highlander had gained a watch, as his fhare of the fpoils of the vanquished. Unacquainted with its ufe, he liftened with equal furprife and pleafure, to the ticking found with which his new acquifition amufed him; after a few hours, however, 469 ed Lord undertook to make overtures more practicable by our infirm and depraved natures. In fhort, what is the fubftance of this hymn reduced to profe, if it could be. fo and at the fame time retain its poetical beauty and fentimental brilliancy, but barely this ? Almighty Being! thou art all mercy and juftice; but fo unworthy of that mercy is the wretch at thy feet, that to hope it would be the fummit of prefumption. The dictates of juftice declare the neceffity of making me an example, for if fins like mine can efcape with impunity, who will be afraid to offend thee, or whom canst thou destroy? therefore confign me to merited perdition. But no: A fudden gleam of hope darts on my despairing foul: If one so devoutly penitent as I am is paft redemption, then indeed thy Jefus died in vain, (or to ask the queftion as it is in the poetry ;) but whom can thy thunder ftrike that Jefus did not die to save ? N Is not this a very natural, a very contrite, a very animated ejaculation? Could a uniform christian have faid more? And if he had faid lefs, would he not have faid too little ? S. C. his watch was down, the noise ceafed, and the difpirited owner, looking on the toy no longer with any fatisfaction, determined to conceal the misfortune which had befallen it, and to dispose of it to the first person who offered him a trifle in exchange. He foon met with a customer, but at parting, he could not conceal his triumph, and exultingly exclaimed, "Why, she died lalt night." DESCRIPTION 470 Defcription of a Genius.-Anecdote of. Chriftina. DESCRIPTION of a GENIUS. E may be truly faid to be a ge- alfa concur, that new scenery may Hms who poffeffes the lead- be opened to the fancy, or at lealt ing faculties of the mind in their vigour, and can exercife them with warmth and fpirits, upon whatever fubject he chufes. The imagination (in order to form a writer of eminence) muft, in particular, be very quick and fufcept ible, or as a fine poet has expreffed it, must be feelingly alive all o'er, that he may receive the strongest impreffions either from the objects of nature, the works of art, or the actions of men; for it is in proportion as this power of the mind is wrought upon, that the author feels in his own breaft thofe fine fenfations, which it is his bufinefs to impart to others, and that he is able to describe things in fo lively a manner, as to make them, as it were, prefent to us, and of confequence to give what turn he pleases to our affections. The judgement alfo must be clear and ftrong, that the proper parts of a ftory or description may be felected, that the defcription of the various members of a work may be fuch, as to give a lucid order to the whole, and that fuch expreffions may be made ufe of as fhall not only ferve to convey the intended ideas, but fhall convey them forcibly, and with that decorum of ftyle which the art of compofition requires; fo that fimplicity fhall not be impoverished into meannefs, nor dignity be incumbered with a load of finery, and affected ornament. Invention muft that new lights may be thrown upon the profpects of nature; that the fphere of our ideas may be enlarged, or a new affemblage may be formed of them, either in the way of fable or illuftration; fo that if the author does not disclose original traces of thinking, by prefenting to us objects unfeen before, he may at leaft delight by the novelty of their combination, and the point of view in which he offers them. The power of the mind, moreover, which exerts it felf in what Mr. Locke calls the "affociation of ideas," must be quick, vigorous, and warm; because it is from thence that lan guage receives its animated figures, its bold translation of phrases from one idea to another, the verbum ardens, the glowing metaphorical expreffion, which conftitutes the richness and boldnefs of his imagery; and from thence likewise fprings the readiness of ennobling a fentiment or description with the pomp of fublime comparison, or ftriking it deeper on the mind by the aptnefs of witty allufion. Perhaps, what we call genius, might be still more minutely_analyzed; but thefe are its principle efficient qualities; and in proportion as thefe, or any of thefe, fhall be found deficient in an author, fo many degrees fhall he be removed from the firft rank and character of a writer. The Extravagant Wife: An American Tale. her bed, the curtain of which was entirely clofed. Tranfported at length with the pleasure the re-. ceived from a particular paffage in the mufick, fhe haftily put her head out of bed, and loudly exclaimed, "death and the devil, how well he fings!" The poor 471 Italian fingers, who are in general not remarkable for bravery, were fo much frightened by her voice, and the fudden appearance of fuch an extraordinary figure, that they became at once dumb and stupified; and the mufick immmediately ceased. FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE. The EXTRAVAGANT WIFE: An AMERICAN TALE. [Concluded from page 426.] THE HE important hour at length arrived that was destined to render Superbia the happy woman. Her fpacious rooms were decorated by the richeft hand of art. The most exquifite delicacies piled loaded tables. The coftlieft wines fparkled in chryftal goblets. A fmall errour in calculation damped her triumphs for a moment. The family pic ture of the Wakefields was too large for the dimenfions of the house. Superbia's guests were by far too numerous for separate accommodation. The crowding them together produced many laughable fcenes, which were greatly heightened by the drollery of the navy officers, who rough as the watry element, loft no opportunity of treading on a gouty toe, or fquaring their elbows into the fides of their neighbours. Among this clafs of vifitants, Captain Blaft-em rendered him felf highly confpicuous. In fact, he was a dear lover of fun, and avoided all entertainments that gave no fcope to his mifchievous turn. An immenfe pyramid that towered in the centre of the table, he defignedly mistook for the rock of Gibraltar, and painted the attack of this fortrefs, with fuch admirable energy, as dafhed it into a thoufand pieces. Several fanciful arrangements in pastry, the fervency of his imagination form ed into line of battle, and as every fhip was equally brittle, the manoeuvres on both fides were equally fatal. The goodness of the champagne began vifibly to operate. His brothers in fervice imbibed an unusual glow of vivacity, and entered deeply into the fpirit of frolick. Tarts, pies, cuftards, Blanc mange, whipt creams, fyllabubs, &c. now made their appearance. The officers did not fail to praife Capt Blaftem's gallantry in a late action, and led him from thence to a minute detail of the engagement. In a few moments, every thing upon the table was under failing orders. The front centre, and rear divifions, were inftantly formed. op The British Admiral and French Chef d'Escadre took the lead of their fleets in two enormous china pudding pans, and the whole table was directly involved in fmoking heat. To finish the neceffary deftruction of his ponents, the Captain's right leg embraced one foot of the table, and fpringing up with a horrid exclamation, he funk the beaten line upon the floor in a trice. At this unexpected conclufion of the battle, Superbia, fcarcely miftrefs of herfelf when china fell, could not reftrain the flush of indignation; and every individual who came in contact with the wounded, were at least befpattered, to their great 1 472 Of the Paffion of Fear. great mortification. The deception of politenefs foon got the better of fincerity. The miftrefs of the house, pronounced Captain Blast-em, an immensely queer fellow, and the fweeteft droll dog that ever the faw. The guefts acquiefced in her determination, and a late hour returned them to their refpective homes, heartily pleafed with the day. Poor Mercator, who was at a lofs whether ill manners, or infenfibility triumphed, foon awoke from his reverie, by calls that preft upon him for the immediate payment of breakage, nearly amounting to the fuppofed expenfes of the feaft. He discharged the bills with a tolerable grace, and hortly after embarked for Europe. A dawn of hope ftill played around his aching heart, that, a lengthy voyage might weaken her love for company, and render Superbia more attached to the pleafures of domeftick tranquillity. Many were the falutary maxims that he addreft to her ear, in the melting language of connubial af fection-trivial were the impref fions that they made upon her heart. Superbia only waited the emancipating moment, that fet her foot on fhore, to begin a new and ftill more expensive career of diffipation. Play houfes-operas, concerts and ridottos-Ranelagh, the Pantheon, Vauxhall and Bath, all boafted the charms of novelty -Saddler's Wells, Tunbridge; and Newmarket, had as yet been unexplored. In fhort, every fcene that gratified boundless whim, and kept a paffion for variety alive, was courted with avidity. Cards at laft became her favourite-and parties were formed at Mercator's houfe, whofe fecret intentions were to fleece his wife. Inexperienc ed in the mysteries of this fcience, fhe foon emptied her own purse, and finally prefented her husband's name to the publick as a bankrupt. Mercator, worn out with vexation, died of a broken heart-and the extravagant wife, is now an extravagant miftrefs, to one of the most noble order of Blacklegs. Of the PASSION of FEAR. THE passion of fear fometimes fhews itself upon the flightest occafion, and in perfons the moft unlikely to entertain fuch a gueft. A French author relates a whimfical inftance of this kind. Charles Guftavus of Sweden was befieging Prague, when a boor of most extraordinary vifage defired admittance to his tent, and,being allowed entrance, offered, by way of amufing the King, to devour a whole hog, weighing two hundred weight, in his prefence. The old Gen. Koningfmarc, who stood by the King's fide, and who, foldier as he was, had not got rid of the prejudices of his childhood, hinted to his royal master, that the peasant ought to be burnt as a forcerer. Sir, faid the fellow, irritated at the remark, < if your Majefty will but make that old gentleman take off his fword and his fpurs, I will eat him before your face, before I begin the pig.' Gen. Koningsmare(who had, at the head of a body of Swedes, performed wonders against the Auftrians, and who was looked upon as one of the braveft men of the age) could not ftand this proposal, elpecially as it was accompanied by a moft hideous and preternatural expanfion of the frightful peafant's jaws. Without uttering a word, the veteran fuddenly turned round, ran out of the court, and thought not himself fafe till he had arrived at his quarters, where he remained twenty four hours, locked up, fecurely, before he had got rid of the panick which had so severely affected him. STORY Story of Jofephus and Ludovicus. FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE. 473 STORY of JOSEPHUS and LUDOVICUS. Jos [OSEPHUS was the fon of a labourer in the State of Georgia, and early contracted an intimacy with Ludovicus, the child of a neighbouring opulent planter; the father of the former frequently worked upon the farm of the latter, and would often take his fon Jofephus with him. Ludovicus was fo well pleased with the poor boy's difpofition, that mutual intimacy foon ripened into friendship; for the fon of affluence, was of a most amiable temper,and deftitute of that pride which difgraces too many. With thefe qualifications, nothing was wanting to make Ludovicus the complete gentleman, excepting a liberal education. His father, fenfible that fuperiour advantages were to be obtained at Harvard, fent his fon at eighteen years of age to that celebrated feminary. Here his genius, which before had not expanded itself, now began to render him fuperiour to most of his clafs mates. At the expiration of four anniversaries he quitted the college, univerfally esteemed as a fcholar, a gentleman, and a friend. Whilft Ludovicus was thus enjoying the sweets of literature, Jofephus continued at Georgia, and rendered him. felf agreeable to all the connexions of his abfent inmate, to whofe company he was admitted as a welcome gueft, in confequence of his own manly and polite behaviour, united to the repeated intelligence which he brought them of Ludovicus, who was his conftant correfpondent.-Mary Ann, the only fifter of his friend, was greatly prejudiced in his favour at firft fight, and farther acquaintance matured admiration into love. This dutiful young lady immediately effayed to check her increafing paffion, for the well knew her father's predilection, who had declared her the intended bride of fome rich planter's fon. Indeed, feveral young gentlemen of fortune, had already noticed her with a partial eye. Jofephus, on his part, felt the tendereft affection for Mary Ann, but feared to disclose his mind to her father, left he might be difmiffed from the houfe, which would deprive him of Vol. III. Auguft, 1791 B thofe innocent pleasures he enjoyed, in the company and conversation of his beloved. At length, however, he hesitatingly faultered out his love, to the amiable object of his regards, which candid confeffion he knew, was the only thing wanting to induce a fimilar acknowledgement. Mary Ann, who had too delicate a sense of filial propriety, to willingly offend her only remaining parent, ingenuoufly told Jofepus, that he had long been the man of her heart, but that in fpite of Cupid's power the determined not to proceed in the affair, until her father's confent was honourably obtained. Ludovicus, previous to an eligible opportunity of explanation with the old gentleman, on the part of our lovers, had finished his course of studies, and informed his relatives that he determined to return home immediately. Jofephus, extremely happy in the pleafing intelligence, refolved upon fetting out to meet his friend and accompany him home. The next day he accordingly mount. ed his horfe, and unattended by a fervant, fet forward on this agreeable journey. He expected to have met Ludovicus in the course of a week's ride, however was difappointed in this, and nine days elapsed in fruitless researches. Upon the tenth, he had travelled about eight miles, when he heard a noife that alarmed him: It was the voice of diftrefs which iffued from a neighbouring wood. Riding haftily forward, he faw a man difad vantageoufly held against the wall, one perfon prefenting a piftol to his breaft, and another bufily employed in rifling his pockets. The robbers, at fight of the ftranger, difcharged a piftol at his head, as he was difmounting; it flashed in the pan without going off. Jofephus running up, wrenched the inftrument of death out of the villain's hand, and threatned them with immediate execution, if they did not deliver what had been taken. This was reluctantly done, upon hearing the word "fervants" pretty loudly vociferated; and expecting to be apprehended the moment they should come |