In obedience to the commands of my venerable correspondent. I have duly weighed this important subject, and promise myself, from the arguments here laid down, that all the fine ladies in England will be ready, as soon as their mourning is over, to appear covered with the work of their own hands.

What a delightful entertainment must it be to the fair sex, whom their native modesty, and the tenderness of men towards them, exempts from public business, to pass their hours in imitating fruits and flowers, and transplanting all the beauties of nature into their own dress, or raising a new creation in their clothes and apartments. How pleasing is the amusement of walking among the shades and groves planted by themselves, in surveying heroes slain by their needles, or little cupids, which they have brought into the world without pain.

This is, methinks, the most proper way wherein a lady can show a fine genius, and I cannot forbear wishing, that several writers of that sex, had chosen rather to apply themselves to tapestry than rhyme. Your pastoral poetesses may vent their fancy in rural landscapes, and place despairing shepherds under silken willows, or drown them in a stream of mohair. The heroic writers may work up battles as successfully, and inflame them with gold or stain them with crimson. Even those who have only a turn to a song or an epigram, may put many valuable stitches into a purse, and crowd a thousand graces into a pair of garters.

If I may, without breach of good manners, imagine that any pretty creature is void of genius, and would perform her part herein but very awkwardly, I must nevertheless insist upon her working, if it be only to keep her cut of harm's way.

Another argument for busying good women in works of fancy, is, because it takes them off from scandal, the usual attendant of tea-tables and all other inactive scenes of life. While they are forming their birds and beasts, their neigh bours will be allowed to be the fathers of their own children; and Whig and Tory will be but seldom mentioned, where the great dispute is whether. blue or red is the more proper colour. How much greater glory would Sophronia do the general, if she would choose rather to work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry, than signalize herself, with so much vehemence, against those who are Frenchmen in their hearts.

A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest, that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into expenses, but it is at the same time, an actual improvement. How memorable would that 'natron be, who shall have it inscribed upon her monument, that she wrote out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards, of wall in the mansion house."

These premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great Britain.

I. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the addresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering.

II. That before every fresh servant, she be obliged to appear with a new stomacher at the least.

III. That no one be actually married, until she hath the childbed, pillows, &c. ready stitched, as likewise the mantle for the boy quite finished.

These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually restore the decayed art of needlework, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble fingered in their business.

XII.-On Pride.

IF there be any thing that makes human nature appear ridiculous to beings of superior faculties, it must be pride. They know so well the vanity of those imaginary perfections that swell the heart of man, and of those little supernumerary advantages, whether in birth, fortune, or title, which one man enjoys above another, that it must certainly very much astonish, if it does not very much divert them, when they see a mortal puffed up, and valuing himself above his neighbours, on any of these accounts, at the same time that he is obnoxious to all the common calamities of the species.

To set this thought in its true light, we will fancy, if you please, that yonder molehill is inhabited by reasonable creatures, and that every pismire (his shape and way of life only excepted) is endowed with human passions. How should we smile to hear one give us an account of the pedigrees, distinctions, and titles that reign among them? Observe how the whole swarm divide, and make way for the pismire that passes through them; you must understand he is an emmet of quality, and has better blood in his veins than

any pismire in the molehill. Don't you see how sensible he is of it, how slow he marches forward, how the whole rabble of ants keep their distance? Here you may observe one placed upon a little eminence, and looking down on a long row of labourers. He is the richest insect on this side the hillock, he has a walk of half a yard in length, and a quarter of an inch in breadth, he keeps a hundred menial servants, and has at least fifteen barleycorns in his granary. He is now chiding and beslaving the emmet that stands before him, and who, for all that we can discover, is as good an emmet as himself.

But here comes an insect of figure! Don't you take notice of a little white straw he carries in his mouth? That straw, you must understand, he would not part with for the longest tract about the molehill: Did you but know what he has undergone to purchase it! See how the ants of all qualities and conditions swarm about him. Should this straw drop out of his mouth, your would see all this numerous circle of attendants follow the next that took it up, and leave the discarded insect, or run over his back to come at its successor.

If now you have a mind to see all the ladies of the molehill, observe first the pmire that listens to the emmet on her left hand, at the same time that she seems to turn away her head from him. He tells this poor insect she is a goddess, that her eyes are brighter than the sun, that life and death are at her disposal. She believes him, and gives herself a thousand little airs upon it. Mark the vanity of the pismire on your left hand. She can scarce crawl with age; but you must know she values herself upon her birth; and if you mind, spurns at every one that comes within her reach. The little nimble coquette that is running along by the side of her, is á wit. She has broke many a pismire's heart. Do but observe what a drove of lovers are running after her.

We will here finish this imaginary scene; but first of all to draw the parallel closer, will suppose, if you please, that death comes upon the molehill, in the shape of a cock sparrow, who picks up, without distinction, the pismire of quality and his flatterers, the pismire of substance and his day labourers, the white straw officer and his sycophants, with all the goddesses, wits, and beauties of the molehill.

May we not imagine, that beings of superior natures and perfections regard all the instances of pride and vanity, among our own species, in the same kind of view, when

they take a survey of those who inhabit the earth, or in the language of an ingenious French poet, of those pismaires that people this heap of dirt, which human vanity has divided into climates and regions.

XIII-Journal of the Life of Alexander Severus.

ALEXANDER rose early. The first moments of the day were consecrated to private devotion: but as he deemed the service of mankind the most acceptable worship of the gods, the greatest part of his morning hours were employed in council, where he discussed public affairs, and determined private cares, with a patience and discretion above his years. The dryness of business was enlivened by the charms of literature and a portion of time was always set apart for his favourite studies of poetry, history, and philosophy. The works of Virgil and Horace, the republies of Plato and Cicero, formed his taste, enlarged his understanding," and gave him the noblest ideas of man and of government. The exercises of the body succeeded to those of the mind and Alexander, who was tall, active, and robust, surpassed most of his equals in the gymnastic arts. Refreshed by the use of his bath, and a slight dinner, he resumed, with new vigour, the business of the day: ant till the hour of supper, the principal meal of the Romans, he was attended by his socretaries, with whom he read and answered the multitude of letters, memorials, and petitions that must have been addressed to the master of the greatest part of the world. His table was served with the most frugal simplicity; and whenever he was at liberty to consult his own inclination, the company consisted of a few select friends, men of learning and virtue. His dress was plain and modest; his deneancur courteous and affable. At the proper hours, his palace was open to all his subjects: but the voice of a crier was heard, as in the Eleusinlan mysteries, pronouncing the same salutary admonition: "Let nong enter these holy walls, unless he is conscious of a pure and innocent mind"

XIV.—Character of Julius Cæsur.

CESAR was endowed with every great and noble quality. that could exalt human nature, and give a man the ascendant in society; formed to excel in peace as well as war. provident in council, fearless in action, and executing what he had resolved, with an amazing celerity; generous beyond measure to his friends, placable to his enemics; for parts,

燕

His

learning, and eloquence, scarce inferior to any man. orations were admired for two qualities, which are seldom found together, strength and elegance. Cicero ranks in among the greatest orators that Rome ever bred: And Quintilian says, that he spoke with the same force with which he fought; and, if he had devoted himself to the bar, would have been the only man capable of rivalling Cicero. Nor was he a master only of the politer arts, but conversant also with the most abstruse and critical parts of learning; and among other werks which he published, addressed two books to Cicero, on the aralogy of language, or the art of speaking and writing correctly. He was a most liberal patron of wit and learning, wheresoever they were found; nd out of his love of these talents, would readily pardon those who had employed them against himself; rightly judging, that by making such men his friends, he should draw praises from the same fountain from which he had heen aspersed. His capital passions were ambition and love of pleasure; which he indulged, in their turns, to the greatest excess: Yet the first was always predominant; to which he could easily sacrifice all the charms of the second, and draw pleasure even from toils and dangers when they ministered to his glory. For he thought Tyranny, as Cicero says, the greatest of goddesses; and had frequently in his mouth a verse of Euripides, which expressed the image of his soul, That if right and justice were ever to be violated, they were to be violated for the sake of reigning. This was the chief end and purpose of his life; the scheme that he had formed from his early youth; so that, as Cato truly declared of him, he came with sobriety and meditation to the subversion of the republic. He used to say, that there were two things necessary to acquire and to support power-soldiers and money; which yet depended. mutually on each other with money, therefore, he pro ided soldiers, and with soldiers extorted money; and was, of all men, the most rapacious in plundering both friends and foes; sparing neither prince, nor state, nor temple, nor even private persons, who were known to possess any share of treasure. His great abilities would necessarily are made him one of the first citizens of Rome; but, disdening the condition of a subject, he could never rest till he had made himself a monarch. In acting this last part is usual prudence seemed to fail him; as if the height to which he was mounted bad turned his head, and made.