and writing an exact man; and, therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. LORD BACON.

LESSON LXVIII.

Speech of Logan.

1. In the spring of the year 1774, a robbery and murder were committed on an inhabitant of the frontiers of Virginia, by two Indians of the Shawanese tribe. The neighbouring whites, according to their custom, undertook to punish this outrage in a summary way. Colonel Cresap, a man infamous for the many murders he had committed on those much injured people, collected a party, and proceeded down the river Kanhaway in quest of vengeance.

2. Unfortunately, a canoe of women and children, with one man only, was seen coming from the opposite shore, unarmed, and unsuspecting any hostile attack from the whites. Cresap and his party concealed themselves on the bank of the river; and the moment the canoe reached the shore, singled out their objects, and at one fire, killed every person in it.

3. This happened to be the family of Logan, who had long been distinguished as the friend of the whites. This unworthy return provoked his vengeance. He accordingly signalized himself in the war which ensued.

4. In the autumn of the same year, a decisive battle was fought at the mouth of the Great Kenhaway, between the collected forces of the Shawanese, Mingoes, and Delawares, and a detachment of the Virginia militia. The Indians were defeated, and sued for peace.

5. Logan, however, disdained to be seen among the suppliants; but lest the sincerity of a treaty should be distrusted, from which so distinguished a chief absented himself, he sent, by a messenger, the following speech, to be delivered to Lord Dunmore:

6. "I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During

the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace.

7. "Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed by, and said, Logan is the friend of white men. I had even thought to have lived with you, had it not been for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children.

I

8. "There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. have sought it; I have killed many; I have glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace; but do not harbour the thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan. one."

JEFFERSON.

Not

LESSON LXIX.

St. Paul's Speech before King Agrippa.

1. I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially as I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

2. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that, after the straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

3. And I now stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers. Unto which promise, our twelve tribes, instantly serving God, day and night, hope to come; for which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

4. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

5. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

6. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at mid day, O king! I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them who journeyed with me.

7. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou per

secutest.

8. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister, and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith which is in me.

9. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient. unto the heavenly vision; but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes, the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

10. Having, therefore, obtained help from God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great; saying no other things than those which Moses and the prophets did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first who should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles, NEW TESTAMENT.

LESSON LXX.

Profane Swearing.

1. Few evil habits are of more pernicious consequence, or overcome with more difficulty, than that very odious one of profane cursing and swearing. It cannot be expected that the force of moral principles should be very strong upon any one who is accustomed, upon every trivial occasion, and frequently without any occasion at all, to slight the precepts and the character of the Supreme Being.

2. When we have lost any degree of respect for the Author of our existence, and the concerns of futurity, and can bring the most awful appellations into our slightest conversation, merely by way of embellishing our foolish and perhaps fallacious narratives, or to give a greater force to our little resentments, conscience will soon lose its influence upon our minds.

3. Nothing but the fear of disgrace, or a dread of human laws, will restrain any person, addicted to common swearing, from the most detestable perjury. For, if a man can be brought to trifle with the most sacred things, in his common discourse, he cannot surely consider them of more consequence when his interest leads him to swear falsely, for his own defence or emolument.

4. It is really astonishing how imperceptibly this vice creeps upon a person, and how rootedly he afterwards adheres to it. People generally begin with using only slight exclamations, and which seem hardly to carry the appearance of any thing criminal; and so proceed on to others, till the most shocking oaths become familiar.

5. And when once the habit is confirmed, it is rarely ever eradicated. The swearer loses the ideas which are attached to the words he makes use of, and, therefore, execrates his friend, when he means to bless him; and calls God to witness his intention of doing things, which he knows he has no thoughts of performing in reality.

6. A young gentleman, with whom I am intimately acquainted, and who possesses many excellent qualifications, but unhappily in a declining state of health, and evidently tending rapidly to the chambers of death, has been from his childhood so addicted to the practice of swearing in

his common conversation, that even now I am frequently shocked by his profaning the name of that sacred Being, before whom he, most probably, will soon be obliged to appear.

7. It must surely be exceedingly painful to a sensible heart, feeling for the best interests of a valuable friend, and otherwise excellent acquaintance, to observe the person he so highly regards, confirmed in such a shocking habit, even while standing in the most awful situation in which it is possible for a human creature to be placed.

8. Almost every other vice affords its votaries some pretences of excuse, from its being productive of present pleasure, or affording a prospect of future advantage; but the profane swearer cannot even say that he feels any satisfaction; or that he hopes to meet with any benefit from this foolish habit.

9. But let not the force of habit be urged as an excuse for its continuance. As well might the highwayman, who is unacquainted with any honest employment, expect on that account to be allowed to plunder every passenger he meets, with impunity. The following anecdote will prove that this habit is not so inveterate that it cannot instantly be checked.

10. In the presence of men who are his superiors, the swearer is never profane. Why did you cut short your oath? said a gentleman to a man who was notoriously profane. I was afraid the king, who was present, would hear me, said the swearer. Why, then, said the gentleman, do you not fear to be heard by the King of kings, who is always present?

LESSON LXXI.

The Blind Preacher: Extract from a Letter of the British

Spy.

RICHMOND, OCTOBER 10, 1803.

1. I have been, my dear S. on an excursion through the counties which lie along the eastern side of the Blue Ridge. A general description of that country and its inhabitants may form the subject of a future letter. For the present, I must entertain vou with an account of