TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON MAGAZINE. SIR, Am greatly pleafed, as I doubt not the majority of your readers are, to find you intend to extend your plan, and, while you announce the increase of the price, you affure the public that your work fhall be enlarged in proportion, and made every way more deferving univerfal approbation. I have for fome time paft fent you my little compofitions, which I fhall continue to do, while you think them worthy of infertion; at prefent I beg your acceptance of the following, ON CONNUBIAL HAPPINESS. Thrice happy they! the happieft of their kind, Whom gentler ftars unite, and in one fate 'Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend. Thomfor's Seafons. THE HE great Supreme Governour of and trifling differences too much prethe Univerfe, when he brought vail, and fofter indifference, if not conEve to the father of mankind, had tempt. the happinefs of both parties equally în view; and well knowing the felicity of the married state, united them together in the nearest and deareft bonds for life; a greater precedent or better plea to encourage matrimony cannot poffibly be pointed out; indeed the great Saviour of the world evidently recommended as well as countenanced this firft divine inftitution, by his prefence and firft miracle; as it is recorded of him in the 2d chapter of St. John's gofpel. Were the question to be asked, Wherein does the happinefs of the married ftate confift? I would reply, in my humble opinion, in a mutual affection, a fimilarity of tempers, a reciprocal endeavour to pleafe, and an invariable aim at each other's comfort (under the bleffing of Heaven) muft conftitute the very effence of connubial blifs. Was the queftion to be afked, Why are not married couples more generally happy? I would anfwer, because feparate pleafures, oppofite difpofitions, Before perfons enter themfelves as candidates for matrimony, it is indifpenfably neceffary for them to enquire, in what refpects they are qualified to render esteem lafting and the state hap py. It is not merely the parties loving each other, that is fufficient, or all that is neceffary to produce a happy union. No: if there is not fomething more than love, though would to God there were more of this; if there are not fome, if not all the prerequifites I have before mentioned, to be found and unite in thofe who enter the hymeneal bands, permanent felicity is not to be expected. I do not pretend to affert that riches, beauty, and good fenfe may not greatly heighten, and (if I may ufe the expreffion) tend to confolidate nuptial happinefs, but I do fay, and experience daily proves, that neither of them are abjolutely necessary to make a couple happy. THE RURAL CHRISTIAN, July 6, 1783. THE INSTRUCTIONS OF REASON. A FRAGMENT. "THE THE gods, my dear Iphis (faid Reafon to her pupil) implanted in man, at his creation, the defire to be happy; and that defire could not but produce in him a reverence for virtue, who on earth, as in Heaven, is the fole fource of happinefs. The paffions were then fubjected to my laws; and man, aided by me, continued to hold them in his chains.- Typhon, however, the principle of evil, having been banished Olympus for his pride, defcended to the terreftrial regions. He appeared; and instantly the the paffions burft from their captivity. Like an impetuous torrent, they carried havock with them to the remoteft quarters of a world, feemingly devoted to deftruction. In vain did I then call them in vain, alas! do I call them ftill. Rebels to my authority, and flaves to their own irregular appetites, they have never fince hearkened to my voice. From that fatal day hath the whole race of mortals been exposed to their tyranny; and they only can be accounted wife, who, obedient to my call, know how to oppose them vigoroufly, if not to overcome them. But of thefe, fmall is the number. The giddy multitude yield to the paffions, without even wishing to refift them; nay, fo infatuated are they, that they actually look for felicity under their dominion.-Of all captives the most abject, they hug their chains, and rather than not indulge a favourite paffion, they will facrifice truth and juftice-will facrifice every dictate of reafon, every principle of virtue Strangers to thofe elevated fentiments, which once characterifed the fons and daughters of humanity, even the heaven-born principles of love and friendfhip have loft their influence over them; and they daily render both fubfervient to the moft ignoble purpofes, and that often without even affecting a blush on the occafion.-Yet, however infatuated the bulk of mankind may be, and however deaf to my precepts, there are few who do not ftill retain a knowledge of virtue; nor have they a pretence for neglecting her, but the frivolous one, that fhe is too rigid for them. They refpe&t but do not love her-And why do they not love her?-Becaufe, in fpite of all their efforts to filence her, fhe ftill reminds them of their faults. In order to stifle that remorfe, which is fure ever and anon to harafs them, while they perfilt in their eccentric career, they would feel a fecret pleasure could they annihilate the very name and idea of virtue. They find, to their forrow, that fhe ftill meets with faithful votaries. To feduce thefe, animated by envy, they labour! but too fuccefsfully, they labour. Soon as a young perfon, quitLOND. MAG. Sept. 1783. ting the arms of innocence, enters into what Worldlings call Life, he is fure to excite the jealoufy of thefe worldlings. With truth, indeed, he may be faid to have entered into a new fcene of life; for virtue he hears turned into ridicule; modefty is termed fheepifhness before him; and prudence-what is prudence another name merely for pufillanimity!-Though, in their hearts, many of them are actually afhamed of their exceffes, yet they do not fcruple to paint thofe exceffes, to him, in the moft engaging colours. To behold him poffeffed of qualities that merit the efteem of men whofe efteem is honourable, they confider as a grievance of all others the most mortifying; nor do they leave an effort unexerted, by which he may become as contemptible as themfelves, if not as odious. Of thefe truths (continued Reafon) you cannot be ignorant, from the woeful experience you have already had of them." "Alas! (exclaimed the fon of Melania, with an intrusive figh)—Alas! renew not, I pray you, the remembrance of what muft for ever cover me with fhame. I know, that alike af Babylon and at Thebes, I refused to follow your counfels; that I even trampled on the laws of virtue. Convinced, however, of my errors, henceforth I will be more upon my guard; and, for this purpofe, I will connect myfelf folely with perfons whofe advanced years fhall have long ferved them as a barrier against the fatal inroads of the paffions." "Beware of that delufion (refumed Reafon) -Beyond every thing else would the unlimited confidence you propofe to put in age contribute to mislead you. Be not thus deceived, Ounfufpicious Youth!-Age, far from contributing to refift the paffions, ferves often to render them yet more headstrong. Every day, we behold men, who, by countenancing exceffes in others, which they themselves are no longer able to practice, become the fcoff of the world; which, however avowedly depraved individually, seems ftill collectively to entertain an abhorrence of vice, and a reverence for virtue. Ff "Avoid,. "Avoid, likewife (continued Reafon) the fociety of thofe pfeudo-fages, who, though unacquainted with Reafon, have Reafon perpetually on their lips; fondly believing, or bafely endea vouring to infinnate, that I am the directress of their actions, the foundrefs of their fyftems. From the real followers of my laws, how eafy is it to diftinguish fuch pretended ones!-Slaves to vanity and to felf-love, the latter are for confining all merit to themfelves. Rendered still more dangerous by their lives than by their doctrines, through the affumption of a folemn and faftidious deportment, they impofe upon the fuperficial, they even fafcinate the vulgar; yet inwardly devoured by envy, they never contemplate but with difguft the good qualities that fhine forth in others. In order to eclipfe thefe, they will magnify every failing, however cafual, however trivial in itfelf; and, fhould the language of exaggeration be infufficient for their purpofe, they will not hefitate, with an art ftill more deteftable, to clothe them with vices, to which the unfufpecting objects of their fpleen are ftrangers.Alas! how often do they defcend to the meannefs meannefs! it is depravity in the extreme!-of formally laying plots to render them fubftantially corrupt!-Yes, Iphis-juftly art thou filled with astonishment and horrorand this, merely that they may afterwards enjoy the barbarous pleasure of having plunged a poifoned dagger into the bofom of truth and innocence: fuch wretches will not fcruple to invoke every fraudful art to fubject the faithfulleft of my followers to the bondage of each deftructive paffion." "Gracious Heaven! (cried the fon of Melania) what horrid tidings doft thou unfold to me! - Since men are fo perverfe, fo loft to every principle of virtue, fo infenfible to all the charms of Reafon, let me deteft and fhun them as the vileft monsters." "A repetition of the old errour! (returned Reafon) an errour to which perfons are ever prone, who fuffer as Iphis has fuffered!-- Are they feduced, deceived, betrayed? they contract an antipathy to their fpecies, and imagine the whole race of man enflaved by the paffions. Renounce fuch notions; and learn to confider them as the unworthy produce of a distempered mind. Again let me repeat it, the world contains many hearts firmly attached to virtue; but without my affiftance it is difficult to diftinguish them. Ever note, then, O Iphis, that the conduct of a man of real honour and probity is uniformly confiftent with his converfation; that, making a liberal allowance for the imperfection of humanity, inftead of exaggerating the frailties of his fellowcreatures, he, on all occafions, endeavours to palliate them; that, in fine, however great his deteftation of vice, over the weak he is ever ready to fhed a tear of pity. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON MAGAZINE. SIR, G. HE following letter is the production of Dr. Ifaac Schomberg. He wrote with the most friendly attention. regard, and cultivated To praise Dr. Ifaac Schomberg is unneceffary. His character is fuperior to panegyric. He poffeffed a found understanding, and no common fhare of erudition. His foul was regulated by the pureft principles: his integrity was irreproachable: his noble nature difdained the meannefs of difhonour. With the first characters of the age, he lived in habits of intimacy, and it would be difficult to point out any one of his acquaintance, who did not regret his death. You will inftantly perceive the claims which this letter has to a place in your Mifcellany. To the prefent race of readers it will prove a fource of entertainment, blended with inftruction, and to pofterity it will difplay Dr. Ifaac Schomberg's talents and goodness of heart in the ftrongeft manner. Infert this fhort character, it is drawn in weak and fading colours, but it is the effufion of a friend. I am, Sir, your's, &c. MADAM, TO MISS ONFORMABLE to your defire, CONFO and my promife, I prefent you with a few thoughts on the method of reading; which you would have had fooner, but that you gave me leave to fet them down at my leifure hours. I have complied with your requeft in both thefe particulars, fo that you fee, Madam, how abfolute your commands are over me. If my remarks fhould anfwer your expectations, and the purpofe for which they were intended; if they should in the leaft conduce to the fpending your time in a more profitable and agreeable manner than moft of your fex generally do, it will give me a pleafure equal at least to that will receive. you It were to be wished that the female part of the human creation, on whom Nature has poured out fo many charms with so lavish a hand, would pay fome regard to the cultivating their minds, and improving their understanding. It is eafily accomplished. Would they bestow a fourth part of the time they throw away on the trifles and gewgaws of drefs, in reading proper books, it would perfectly anfwer their purpofe. Not that I am against the ladies adorning their perfons; let them be fet off with all the ornaments that art and nature can confpire to produce for their embellishment, but let it be with reafon and good fenfe, not caprice and humour; for there is good fenfe in drefs, as in all things elfe. Strange doctrine to fome! but I am fure, Madam, you know there is -you practife it. The first rule to be laid down to any one who reads to improve, is never to read but with attention. As the abftrufe parts of learning are not neceffary to the accomplishment of one of your fex, a fmall degree of it will fuffice. I would throw the fubjects of which the ladies ought not to be wholly ignorant, under the following heads: HISTORY, MORALITY, POETRY, E. The first employs the memory, the fecond the judgement, and the third the imagination. Whenever you undertake to read hiftory, make a small abstract of the memorable events, and set down in what year they happened. If you entertain yourfelf with the life of a famous perfon, do the fame by his most remarkable actions, with the addition of the year and place he was born at and died. You will find thofe great helps to your memory, as they will lead you to remember what you do not write down by a fort of chain that links the whole history together. Books of morality deferve an exact reading. There are none in our language more ufeful and entertaining than the Spectators, Tatlers, and Guardians. They are the ftandards of the English tongue, and as fuch fhould be read over and over again; for as we imperceptibly flide into the manners and habits of those persons with whom we moft frequently converfe, fo reading, being as it were a filent converfa tion, we infenfibly write and talk in the ftile of the authors we have the most often read, and who have left the deepest impreffions on our minds. Now, in order to retain what you read on the various fubjects that fall under the head of Morality, I would advife you to mark with a pencil whatever you find worth remembering. If a paffage fhould ftrike you, mark it down in the margin; if an expreffion, draw a line under it; if a whole paper in the before-mentioned books, or any other which are written in the fame loofe and unconnected manner, make an afterisk over the first line. By thefe means you will felect the most valuable parts, and they will fink deeper in your memory than the reft, on repeated reading, by being diftinguished from them. The last article is Poetry. The way. of diftinguishing good poetry from bad, is to turn it out of verfe into profe, and fee whether the thought is natural, and Ff2 the the words adapted to it; or whether they are not too big and founding, or too low and mean for the fenfe they would convey. This rule will prevent you from being impofed on by bombaft and fuftian, which with many paffes for fublime; for fmooth verfes, which run off the ear with an eafy cadence and harmonious turn, very often impofe nonfenfe on the world, and are like your fine-dreffed beaux who pafs for fine gentlemen. Divet both from their outward ornaments, and people are furprised they could have been fo eafily deluded. I have now, madam, given a few rules, and thofe fuch only as are really neceffary. I could have added more, but thefe will be fufficient to enable you to read without burdening your memory, and yet with another view beides that of barely killing time, as too many are accustomed to do. This talk you have impofed on me is a ftrong proof of your knowing the true value of time, and always having improved it to the beft advantage, were there no other; and that there are other proofs, thofe who have the pleasure of being acquainted with you can tell. As for my part, madam, you have done me too much honour, by fingling me out from all your acquaintance on this occafion, to fay any thing that would not look like flattery; you yourself would think it fo were I to do you the common juftice all your friends allow you: I muft, therefore, be filent on this head, and only fay, that I fhall think myself well rewarded in return, if you will believe me to be, with the utmoft fincerity, as I really am, Madam, Your faithful humble fervant, July 19th, 1764. ACCOUNT OF THE EARTHQUAKES IN CALABRIA, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF SICILY. COMMUNICATED TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY BY SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON. I Am happy now to have it in my power to give you, and my brethren of the Royal Society, fome little idea of the infinite damage done, and of the various phenomena exhibited, by the earthquakes (which began the 5th of February laft, and continue to be fenfibly, though lefs violently, felt to this day) in the two Calabrias, at Meflina, and in the parts of Sicily neareft to the continent. From the moft authentic reports, and accounts received at the office of his Sicilian Majesty's Secretary of State, we gathered in general, that the part of Calabria which has been moft affected by this heavy calamity, is that which is comprehended between the 38th and 39th degrees; that the greatest force of the earthquakes feemed to have exerted itself from the foot of thofe mountains of the Apennines called the Monte Dejo, Monte Sacro, and Monte Caulone, extending weftward to the Tyrrhene fea; that the towns, villages, and farm-houfes neareft these mountains, fituated either on Naples, May 23, 1783. hills or on the plain, were totally ruined by the firft fhock of the 5th of February about noon; and that the greateft mortality was there; that in proportion as the towns and villages were at a greater diftance from this center, the damage they received was lefs confiderable; but that even thofe more diftant towns had been greatly damaged by the fubfequent shocks of the earthquake, and efpecially by thofe of the 7th, the 26th, and 28th of February, and that of the 1ft of March; that from the firft fhock, the 5th of February, the earth continued to be in a continual tremor, more or lefs; and that the fhocks were more fenfibly felt at times in fome parts of the afflicted provinces than in others; that the motion of the earth had been various, and, according to the Italian denomination, vorticofo, orizontale, and ofcillatorio, either whirling like a vortex, horizontal, or by pulfations, or beating from the bottom upwards; that this variety of motion had increased the apprehenfions 4 |