mind: the one ever excites our approbation; but prudent and necessary as some regard to interest undoubtedly is, even that commendable degree of economy will barely escape censure. To make enemies, and to seek to destroy them, for the good they possess, is wholely vicious: the emulation that seeks not only the praises of friends, but a reputation from the foe, if it be unhappy in its consequences, is yet in its foundation virtuous.

But war, even from a love of glory, can be justifiable only when it is begun on equal terms, and when both parties are inspired by the same sentiments, accounting the recompence of success an equivalent to the dangers of battle. In such cases alone men may begin a war without the imputation of cruelty or inhumanity. It is on this principle that the wars of uncivilized people are more commendable...or, perhaps only more excusable...than those of the Europeans. In civilized societies, we can expect to find a pure ambition only in the rulers of states. In every inferior station, the martial spirit is mingled with interested expectations, or motives less commendable than the love of glory. It may be suspected, that most military men do not oftener desire preferment for the honour, than for the emolument that attends it; and the soldiery, which are the most numerous, are generally driven by necessity into the profession of spilling blood for their daily sustenance. The most disinterested profess to be incited by the honour of their king or their country: but if the wars of their king or country be not begun on the principles of justice, their patriotism or loyalty cannot be justly applauded.

With the kings of Europe the love of martial fame must ever be an inexcusable passion. It requires that all parties engaged in a war of honour should be fired by the same ardour, and esteem the glory adequate to the hazard; but this can never be the situation in Europe. The greater numbers will always be inclined to peace, either from their dispositions or from the nature of their occupations; and on such the distresses of a war which does not arise from necessity will be absolute oppression. It will also be seldom that the heads of different states find themselves in circumstances so nearly equal as to indulge with prudence their love of war: so that a prince who is actuated by a desire of conquest, will be driven to the necessity of beginning unjust wars, under false or frivolous pretences; and true glory can never arise from inferior and unequal competition."

It is, then, only among the Indians, that warlike emulation can escape being totally disapproved. With them the love of glory is the ruling passion; and it is so general, that the war of a nation becomes the war of each individual, and never does one part suffer for the partial fame of the other. The miseries of war are placed in a balance with a good which is to them of equal consequence, and the lot is decided by intrepidity or accident. Therefore it is with an uncultivated people, like the Indians, and with them alone, that the love of war can be adinitted as a laudable emulation.

These were the reflections of Sassoonan, the Speculative Savage, as his comprehensive mind grew intimately acquainted with the full scope of European policy, and European customs. He had been prepared to bestow admiration, and he had expected to receive improvement: he had admired, and was improved; but his improvement served only to change his adıniration into disgust, and to increase his natural affec

tion for his own country, and its more simple but less guilty customs. He therefore soon quitted Europe, and again sought the land of his nativity; where he spent the remainder of his days in studiously avoiding the cruel practices of war, and in persuading the Chickasaws also to avoid them.

IBRAHIM AND ADALAIDE,

AN ORIENTAL TALE.

[BRAHIM, Caliph of Damascus, was juvenile and handsome. He municate happiness, and alleviate distress. He was the idol of his people, and the admiration of surrounding nations. But he had not as yet tasted of the felicity which he conferred; and the joy that brightened in every eye at his presence, could not dissipate an internal gloom. which pressed upon the springs of life, and had obtained him the appellation of The Grave.

With the searching eye of dutiful regard, his attendants had long endeavoured to develope the mystery that gave a pensive aspect to the face of majesty; but their researches had always terminated in uncertain conjectures, and ineffectual reflections; since the future had constantly convinced them that their judgment was erroneous.

Hamed was the principal officer of the court; and while his wisdom, his integrity, and his years, procured him universal esteem, these qualities by no means escaped the attention of Ibrahim the Grave, who cultivated his friendship with the most assiduous care, and sunk the monarch in the man, and the companion, whenever Hamed attended on his royal person.

The youngest daughter of Hamed, the lovely Adalaide, as far transcended the roses of Damascus in the bloom of her complexion, and the diamonds of Golconda in the brilliancy of her eyes, as the saffron tinge of the morning exceeds the most perfect imitation of art, or the lucid brightness of the stars, that glitter in the celestial canopy, the feeble glare of light that illumines the tomb of the prophet: and as virtue and innocence had ever been her guides, and her father's wisdom had been transfused into her soul, with the additional charm that humility gives to female perfections, she was the universal object of attraction, and concentered the regards of the gay, the splendid, and the young,

who fluttered round the throne of Damascus.

Adalaide and Ibrahim had, in their infant years been inseparable companions. The same sun had gilded their natal day; the same lessons of sage advice had been dictated to each, and imbibed with mutual delight and if Adalaide was celebrated for every accomplishment

which adorns her sex, Ibrahim was no less famous for the practice of every virtue that is worthy of a prince. They had, at that early period, been remarked for the fondness of their attachment. The fairest flowers in the gardens of the palace, were culled by his hands, and formed into a chaplet for her hair; the most exquisite fruits that the benignity of the climate, or the assiduity of art could produce, constantly bespread her little table; and a thousand minute circumstances continually occurred to indicate the prince's affection for his lovely companion, before either ambition or art had taken possession of their minds, or the simplicity of native innocence had learned reserve from the knowledge of vice.

The necessary restraint, and prudent circumspection, which maturer years naturally exact from the virtuous of the tender sex, the death of the Caliph Solyman, and Ibrahim's assumption of the reins of government, had dissolved this intimacy which childhood only sanctioned, and which the voice of the public might have censured, if continued under the empire of Reason. Several years had elapsed in which they had not beheld each other; yet fame had not been silent in recording their mutual virtues, and the friendship grafted on early youth had tacitly blossomed and interwoven itself with their maturer age.

The throne of Damascus was now established in the most perfect security, by the wisdom of the monarch, and the integrity of his servants. The streams of justice flowed with untainted purity; the voice of joy resounded in every street; and the benedictions of a grateful people ascended the heavens, when they contemplated the felicity of their government.

Ibrahim was alone deaf to the sounds of gladness: neither the gems that sparkled in the diadem he wore, nor the felicitations of a nation he had rendered happy, could brighten his features into joy, or clothe his lips with a smile.

The venerable Hamed began to be alarmed for the sovereign he loved; and was one day about to hint his apprehensions, when Ibrahim beckoning to him with his hand, bade him attend him in the royal gardens.

Being seated under a pavilion, perfumed by the surrounding odoriferous blossoms, and cooled by the dewy dash of a neighbouring cascade, Ibrahim commanded his minister to listen, and regard with the eye of a parent a monarch whom he had always treated as a son.

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Hamed,' proceeded he, I am sensible of your zeal to investigate the cause of my too apparent dejection, and the alacrity you have displayed to dispel it by the wisdom of age; I am convinced of your unshaken loyalty, and your unbiassed integrity; and can now without hesitation, inform you, that my happiness has ever depended on an alliance with your many virtues. The impression which the lovely Adalaide made on this heart before it was susceptible of aught but innocence, is as indelible as the seal of Mahomet, or the gratitude of virtue. Look not amazed,' added he, I have been prudent till restraint is no longer necessary. Under your auspices I see my dominions flourish, and my subjects happy; and having consulted their interest first, as becomes a sovereign, shall I be censured for making my own happiness the secondary object? The little disparity of rank which pride only will register, and folly alone can reproach, sinks into its original non-entity, at the powerful voice of love. My choice

was unalterably fixed, before reason could foresee, or ambition anticipate, the inconvenience, of titles; and I trust your approbation will complete the felicity of my life, and the glory of my reign.'

Beloved sovereign,' replied the astonished Hamed, you confound me with the honour intended to be conferred on my family; but neither the partiality of a father, nor the splendour of a throne, must influence my judgment, or draw me from my duty and approved allegiance. Adalaide esteems you as her sovereign; her father loves you as his son, and honours you as his king; but neither of them can ever consent to taint the blood of royalty, or sink you in the estimation of the reputed wise. The fairest princesses of the east court your alliance, whose rank may add dignity to the throne; and shall the humble offspring of Hamed be preferred to the progeny of kings and of heroes! Reflect, my prince, on your own quality; regard the united wishes of your people; and choose a consort worthy of the exalted line from which you are sprung!?

Having said this he arose, and left the Caliph Ibrahim absorbed in the contemplation of his own misery; and fixed in one settled look, expressive of the suspension of thought. At length, starting from his trance, he exclaims Am I, then, invested with the dignity of a king, and with power to confer bliss which yet I am not worthy to taste? It cannot be! This heart moves not in unison with the pomp of majesty, and the soundings of ambition. Dominion is no longer amiable in my eyes, than while I can at once confer and receive happiness. Royalty is incapable of extinguishing the feelings of the soul, the transports of love, or the stings of inquietude; and has Eternal Providence only elevated my head to render me more eminently miserable? This, surely, is not compatible with its mercy! But I will no more arraign its inscrutable decisions; to be humble, is to be happy, and this is still within my own power!'

He then hastily arose; and wandering without any determined view, he inadvertently passed through a door which Hamed had by accident left open, and which only separated his gardens from those of the palace. As he advanced without regarding any single object, and paused on the misery of grandeur, he was suddenly alarmed by a loud shriek from the lovely Adalaide, who was terrified at the caliph's unexpected approach, and the visible agitation of his mind. 'Dearest Adalaide! exclaimed he, hastening towards her, and receiving her in his arms, fear not the presence of love, and startle not at the voice of Ibrahim. Is the felicity of our juvenile days already forgot, and shall reason disdain to own the sensations which infant innocence taught us mutually to feel? If my remembrance be erased from your breast, Ibrahim has nothing to hope; if he is still regarded by Adalaide, there is nothing that can occasion him a fear. Your father, to whom I have unbosomed myself, has urged me to repress the honest feelings of a genuine affection; and will you, too, join to deprive that heart of its last consolation, which has only supported the cares of state, and borne the trappings of royalty, that it might the better en. title itself to your regard?'

Ibrahim,' replied the lovely daughter of Hamed, trembling with fear, our childish attachment should, if possible, be forgotten! My heart is averse to the gilded pageantry of state, and my humble birth precludes me from aspiring to royal regard. Though young, I have

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been accustomed to think; and though Ibrahim in a lower station would command the inviolable affection of Adalaide, as a king he is too exalted to be loved. I have considered elevated rank as only strewing the path of life with splendid misery; and am instructed to believe, that the virtues flourish most at a distance from the breath of adulation, and the prostituted incense of a throne. Forgive the freedom of Adalaide; and be as blessed as your transcendent virtues merit, or your fondest hopes can wish!'

Divine Adalaide,' exclaimed the caliph, the justness of your. sentiments, and their congeniality with my own, only serve to inflame my regard. The splendor of royalty has no charms for me, if they impede the current of bliss; and any station with Adalaide, is superior to the throne of Damascus. I have for some time intended to resign the sceptre in favour of my brother Alfaron, (after having sufficiently proved that the happiness of my subjects lay near my heart) and to retire to a private station, where love might illumine my future years, and the charms of Adalaide, prove capable of furnishing that happiness which the crown could never bestow. You have confessed, angelic Adalaide, that my rank is the sole obstacle to your affection; behold then, in Ibrahim, your equal and your lover; and, believe me, the sacrifice of royalty to your regard, will never prompt a single sigh !'

Generous caliph !' replied Adelaide-her full heart would not permit her to articulate another word, and she fainted in the arms of Ibrahim. While the caliph was exerting every expedient to restore her, Hamed precipitately entered the garden; and, with inexpressible astonishment and concern, beheld the situation of his daughter. Adalaide being soon recovered, Ibrahim communicated to Hamed the whole that had passed, not concealing his resolution to relinquish the throne; and added, that it would be in vain to attempt, by the eloquence of wisdom, any alteration in his views, which he declared were determined and inflexible. Hamed bowed with dutiful submission to what he saw it would be impossible to prevent; and in a few days, Ibrahim resigned the trappings of power to his brother Alfaron, that he might enjoy, uninterrupted, the more tranquil empire of love. This abdication was at first heard with consternation and dismay; but reason and gratitude soon resuming their place in the people's hearts, his nuptials with Adalaide were celebrated with the strongest proofs of ardent attachment, and not a tongue dared to with-hold its effusions of praise.

Ibrahim retired with his adored Adalaide to a delightful retreat on the banks of the Uber, and long enjoyed that happiness which the sceptred monarch seldom feels; and, to the last hour of recorded life, never heaved a sigh for the pageantry he had left behind. After spending many happy years with a numerous and virtuous family, they both slept in peace; and Alfaron being gathered to the dust of his fathers

without issue, the eldest son of Ibrahim and Adalaide was called to the throne, who swayed the sceptre with a moderation which, while it recalled the memory of his father, endeared his own name to a grateful posterity.