way; but these paffions, where they are fmothered, will be apt to fefter, to grow venomous, and to difcharge themselves by a more dangerous organ than the mouth, even by an armed and vindictive hand.

Perhaps the reason why, in arbitrary conftitutions, the blow is always aimed at the king, is becaufe in fuch states, all the vifible orders of government are centured in the fovereign's perfon. Therefore as there is no other legislative branch, no other distinct ettate, which may balance and counteract his power, his ruin is the only means of redrefs. But if limited monarchs have a better title to fecurity, we are not therefore to conclude that even they enjoy felicity. Kings, of all men, have the leaft profpect of happiness. Their greatnefs, which fools are apt to envy, is an infu

in HERE is not certainly a greater contented mind; they are above all men blessed who possess it, and it is almoft impoffible but that every one who is connected with them muft in fome degree partake of their happiness. All this and more may be advanced of flerling content, but as there is no true quality which has not also its counterfeit fo it happens by this;-there are peo ple in the world who never really poffeffing it would fain impofe a counter. feit coin upon us, which however milar it may be in its first appearance is widely different in its effects and confequences in every stage and degree of life.

When one man neglects the means which heaven and fortune have put into his hands to raile himself, when another after having brought misfortunes upon himself, refutes to make any efforts to difengage himself from themand abandoning all proffered help,refolyes to drive carelessly down the stream, whatever either of thefe may pretend fuch a conduct draws not its fource from content; no it owes its origin either to floth or to a certain imbecility of mind, which is fo far from carrying them through misfortunes that in the

plunges them in a horrible despair.

Yet men impofe not only on others, but even on themselves in this matter, and, Brange to think, go on with a kind of unfeeling apothy from one fcene of diftrefs to another till they find themfelves involved in ruin, merely by their own neglectful conduct.

Archin was a ftriking infance of this kind of behaviour. In his youth he gave himself up to all manner of diffipation, and spent a plentiful fortune in loofe and idle pleafures. Could it be expected that such a one should ever experience that contentment of mind which is fo juftly afcribed only to the virtuous?-certainly not-yet but a little while ago, Archin tired of his exceffes, and devoid of spirit to retrieve his fortunes, fat down feemingly contented, while the wort of profpects was before him, while want and beggary stared him in the face. In vain, did his friends advife him to beftir himself and try what indufty could do; he flighted alike their advice and all offers of alliftance which he knew he could obtain upon no other condition than that of his ufing his beft endeavours to fecond it; he afferted that he was contented,

that

that he could bear his afflictions; and doubted not but they foon would have an end though he never ftruggled against them. Among thofe who knew him not there were fome who believed that he poffeffed this refignation which he boatted, but his intimates were too well acquainted with his temper and difpofition, to fuppofe him poffeffed of fuch a jewel as content.-The event proved them right; for Archin going on from time to time to involve himself in fresh misfortunes, found them at laft indeed too heavy for him to bear.-Devoid as he really was of true fortitude, he then first gave himself up to womanish complainings, and afterwards to total def pondence. In fhort in a fit of defpair he put an end to a life which was become a burden to him, which yet he might have preferved, and rendered happy had he followed good counfel and fuffered himself to be led by prudence in the paths of virtue and induf

try.

It would be well if there were not too many of Archin's difpofition, who love ignoble floth and eafe though they are frangers to true content, which can never refide but where there is fortitude alfo, and fortitude certainly never dwells but with virtue,

Few it is to be feared there are who poffefs this bleffing; yet I have I think met with one or two who were happy in the enjoyment of it.-Amafia, a lady with whom I have the pleasure to be acquainted is one of thefe reduced from a ftate of plenty and affluence by a bad hufband to one of poverty and diftrefs, and fuffering perpetual infults and ill ufage even from the author of her misfortunes, the poffeffed herself in contentment, and confcious innocence. She bore with patience every outrage, not from a want of feel ing but from an invincible fortitude and perfect refignation to the will of heaven. When her husband died, and left her, in regard to fortune yet more wretched than ever, having two helpless innocents to provide for though without the visible means of fubfiftence the ftill maintained her strength of mind, while patience appeared in her with fuch a dignity as won her the esteem of every one that knew her.-Yet during thete times of affliction Amalia, though per

rectly refigned was not idle; on the contrary, Se made ufe of every means in her power to extricate herself from her misfortunes, or at least to alleviate the hard lot which her children now unhappily fhared with her.-Though bred in the very lap of plenty, and educated with the utmost delicacy of her fex, the fubmitted to earn a fcanty subfiftance by the labour of her hands, and what is more, fubmitted to it without repining, and thought herself fully recompenfed when he could adminifter by fuch means the fmallest degree of

comfort to her infants.

If the fo far fucceeded, gleams of joy brightened up her countenance, when difappointments ftill croffed her induftry, he would perhaps heave a figh, a tear might stand in her eye but prefently her bofom was calmed, fhe would look up to Heaven the protector of the innocent for fuccour, and refuming her tranquility, would fit

-Like Patience on a monument finilling at Grief.

Such was the conduct of Amafia; and providence that had tried her by affiction, at length relieved her; yet in the bloom of life. Lucilio a gentleman of worth and fortune, fued, and addreffed her for a wife. At first the hunned him, when he still perfued her, the would modestly have excufed herself from confenting to be wedded to one to whom he could bring nothing but incumbrances; but he was not to be fo repulfed, he knew her worth, and was refolved if poffible to make her happy. As his perfon and character were unexceptionable and his fincerity and honour fuch as not to admit of a doubt, Amafia with a heart overflowing with grati tude received and returned his love. In a word they were united, and now live happy, the lady finding in Lucilio an affectionate husband, and her children a

molt tender father.

It was thus that heaven was pleased to reward a deferving perion, and that a life which had been vexed with misfortunes was at lalt brightened with joy.

W.

The

ment pleafes him twice. He is not the fame this moment as the latt; he is perpetually withing for fomething; but when his with arrives he fays he called another. He is by nature good tempered, but fo fretful by habit that one can icarcely allow him to be a good-natured man. He is for ever in action, and yet never does any thing. He is this minute, a friend without reafon, the next he is an enemy without any of fence. He is a paffionate admirer of the fair fex whenever he happens to have feen any one that has pleased him; but if he has met with the leaft crofs from any female, he rails against all woman kind and frequently he becomes a profelled mifanthrope upon principles of a fimilar nature. He is the worit man in the world to depend upon for any thing, not fo much because he will deny you a request, but because he will promife what he never takes the least thought of performing. He will fometimes fpeak in the highest terms of an acquaintance and take all manner of pains to recommend him to day and to morrow he will do as much to flander and vilify him. With all this fickleness he generally acts upon felfish principles; but his felfishness fails of its end becaufe, he never does any thing for his own benefit

which he does not more than undo be. fore it has taken effect; he has indeed never suffered any thing by lending to

17

or trufting his friends, but he has funk a great part of his fortune in fchemes which he never had the fteadiness to purfue. He has lately married an amiable woman, whom he keeps in perpetual anxiety with his tempers. He frequent. ly praifes her, yet he acts in such a manner as if he thought her not in the leaft worthy of his notice. He keeps miftreffes but they can no more keep his affections than his wife can, or more properly speaking, he has no affections. He would fain be thought generous, yet he never gives away any thing; he talks much of humanity; yet it is impoffible for the molt affecting scenes to leave the leaft impreffion upon his mind, and he will listen to a tale of distress in much the fame manner as he will liften to a ballad.

Such are the outlines of a character which no wealth nor rank in life can ever render refpectable, which every ftranger muft wonder at, and which all who are more intimate with, even though they should find it their interest to court, must defpife.

In effect, Claudio is a man without principle, fentiment, or feeling, a certain measure of negative characters feafoned with a large degree of affectation, the different articles of whofe compofiare at belt but Cypbers, and the fum total-nothing.

houfe of Commons, the question was put, whether the affay bill for Bir mingham and Sheffield should be committed for the next day, counfel was heard against it; after which the following debate enfued:

Mr. Gilbert. Sir, I cannot but be a friend to this bill, upon every princi. ple of equality and good policy. The objections to it, which the learned counfel have infifted chiefly upon, are thofe of the fear of frauds, and the fmallness of the manufacture of filver in those towns. But this is by no means fatisfactory pointing out frauds that may happen in thofe places, unless at the fame time it is proved that they do not happen at London, is, in fact, proving nothing. But, Mr. Speaker, that could not be done; on the contrary, it appeared, in the clearest manner, to the committee, that very great frauds were common in the London affay office; may, Sir, to a great annual amount. For it was proved, that inftead of adhe. ring punctually to the parliamentary ftandard of eleven ounces, two pennyweights they had abated always the two pennyweights, and in many cafes even much more; which, upon their annual quantity of 100,000lb. was a fraud of 3000l. a year, and fometimes much more. Next, Sir, as to the manufacture being fmall in thefe towns, it is a mittake; but fuppofing it was, is that any reafon againit encreafing it? if they are indul ged with an affay office, their plate will go all over Europe in abundance, and this objection will foon be at an end.

Mr. Sawbridge. Mr. Speaker, I am entirely against this bill, on the very principles, and for the very reafons which were urged in its favour. The honourable member who fpoke laft, has pointed out frauds that are committed at London; for if frauds happen where they are guarded against with fo much care, where the officers have ample faLaries, and where every mealune is taken to prevent them, how much more likely will they be in places where they will not be half fo well fecured? where

and where every advantage will begiven to the fpirit of fraud? This argument, I think, is fully conclufive, as from the evidence given the Committee of the great omiffions at all the afflay-offices except London. Another circumstance in which the gentleman totally mistakes the matter, is the lofs to the public of 3000l. a year, from frauds in the Lon don office. Sir, the deduction of the two pennyweights is not a lols to the public; the plate is fuld proportionably cheap. The higher the affay is set, the deares it must be fold, and the lower it is fet, the cheaper.

Sir George Saville. I am fearful, Mr. Speaker, of railing a question, in which I may probably wade beyond my depth; but as there appear in the prefent cafe, to he certain circumflances which demand attention, I shall begin dulgence for a few words. The Hon. Member who spoke lat, has really fo confounded the argument, that Ifcarce know what to think or believe; for I would with the houfe would mark the light into which he has thrown it. The Hon. Gentleman behind me (Mr. Gil bert) pointed out the frauds at the of fice in London. Oh! fays the worthy Alderman, iffrands are committed hers, it is proof they will be committed there: That is, I trect a scale, and when in any market abundance of frauds happen, the fcales are tried, mine is found monitrouily deficient, I immediately fay, See, how bad my weights are it is plain enough others must be much wolfe, therefore you fhall all come to my beam. This is no ridicule; it is the plain argument of the Honourable Member. Then, Mr. Speaker, he ufed another, which added fresh perplexity, and which I know not what to make of. He remarked, that the frand of the two penny-weights in every pound, was no fraud on the public, for plate was fold the cheaper. Then pray, Sir, why object to the bill? for if this is true, the greater the fraud is the better. Let the Birmingham and Sheffield gentlemen go to work with their frauds, they will

do