ty, which yet no refolution or perfeverance fhall ever reach. But thefe, like all other cordials, though they may invigorate in a small quantity, intoxicate in a greater; thefe pleasures, like the reft, are lawful only in certain circumstances, and to certain degrees; they may be ufeful in a due fubferviency to nobler purposes, but become dangerous and deftructive, when once they gain the afcendant in the heart to foothe the mind to tranquility by hope, even when that hope is likely to deceive us, may be fometimes ufeful; but to lull our faculties in a lethargy, is poor and despicable.. Vices and errors are differently modified, according to the fate of the minds to which they are-i -incident; t; to indulge hope beyond the warrant of reafon, is the failure alike of mean and elevated understandings; but its foundation and its effects are totally different: the man of high courage and great abilities, is apt to place too much confidence in himfelf, and to expect from a vigourous exertion of his powers, more than fpirit or diligence can attain; between him and his wish he fees, obftacles indeed, but he expects to overleap or break them; his mistaken ardour hurries him forward; and though perhaps he miffes his end, he nevertheless obtains fome collateral good, and performs fomething ufeful to mankind, and honourable to himself. The drone of timidity prefumes likewife to hope, but without ground and without confequence; the blifs with which he folaces his hours, he always expects from others, though very often he knows not from whom; he folds his arms about him, and fits in expec.. tation of fome' revolution in the ftate that fhall raife, him to greatnefs, or fome golden fhower that fhall load load him with wealth; he dozes away the day in mufing upon the morrow ; and at the end of life, is roufed from his dream, only to discover, that the time of action is past, and that he can now fhew his wifdom only by repentance. T. No. LXX. Saturday, July 7. 1753. Virtus, repulfa nefcia fordida, Stranger to folly and to fear, With pure untainted honour bright, Virtue difdains to lend an ear To the mad people's fenfe of right, Mr. ADVENTURER, I AM the perfon whom your correfpondent Benevolus has thought fit to mention by the name of Agreftis., There are fome particulars in my character, which perhaps perhaps he has mistaken: but I love plain-dealing; and as he did not intend to flatter me, I forgive him: perhaps my heart is as warm as another's, and I am no ftranger to any principles that would lead a man to a handsome thing. But to the point. I approve your publishing the ftory of Eugenio, and I am determined the world shall not lofe the fequel of it, in which you are more concerned, than perhaps you may imagine. You must know, Sir, that I had obferved my girl to go moping about of late more than common, though in truth fhe has been fomewhat grave ever since she difmiffed Ventofus. I was determined to keep an eye upon her; and fo watching her pretty closely, I catched her last Saturday was fe'nnight almost drowned in tears with your paper in her hand. I laid hold of it in an inftant, and putting on my fpectacles, began to read, with a fhrewd fufpicion that I fhould find out a fecret. Her paffion of crying ftill increased; and when I had looked here and there in the paper, I was convinced that she was by fome means deeply interested in the ftory, which indeed appeared to me to be full of misfortune. In fhort, I preffed her fo home upon the fubject, that he put the two other papers into my hand, and telling me who were meant by the names, I began to read with great eagerness, though, to confefs a truth, I could scarce fee the three last pages. Odds-my-life, thinks I, what an honest fellow this Eu genio is! and leering up at my girl, I thought I never faw her look fo like her mother before. I took her about the neck and kiffed her; but I did not tell her what I had in my head: however, to encourage her, I bid her be a good child, and inftantly ordering my coach, I went directly to Benevolus, of whom I in quired the ship's name on board of which Eugenio was embarked, and when the failed. The doctor, whether he gueffed at my intention or not, looked as if he would have leaped out of his skin, and told me with a kind of wild eagerness, that the veffel having met with an accident in going out, was put back, and then lay in the river near Gravefend. With this intelligence I returned to my daughter, and told her my mind. "Emmy," fays I," the Cap"tain was always in my opinion a worthy man; and "when I had reason to believe you liked him, I did not resolve to part you because he was without a ti"tle or an estate, but because I could not be recon"ciled to his profeffion. I was determined you should never marry a cockade, and carry a knapfack; and "if he had been a general officer, I would have pre"ferred an honest citizen, who encourages trade and "navigation, before him. Befides, I was angry that "you should hold a private correspondence, and think. to carry your point without me: but you were "greatly mifreprefented; fo was the Captain: he has "gallantly removed all my objections at once, he is not now in the army, nor has he ever attempted to "fubvert my authority; he is a true heart, and I feel "that I love him as my fon. He is ftill within reach, "and you shall this moment write to him with your own hand, and tell him, that I say he fhall be your "hufband. I have money enough for ye both; and "if I please, I can make him a lord." The poor child fat with her handkerchief up to her eyes while I was speaking, and I did not immediately perceive, that, upon hearing the Captain was not gone, fhe had faint.. No. LXX. ed. We could fcarce keep life in her for above two hours; but at last fhe a little recovered her spirits, and brought me the following billet: and from this hour "My dear papa commands me to entreat that you will immediately come on fhore, " confider his houfe as your own. He is greatly af "fected with the ftory of your generofity and distress, "which he has just learnt by an accident which I cannot now communicate; and he is determined to "make you his heir, without prejudice to, "Sir, your humble fervant, "AMELIA." When I had perufed this epiftle," Pihaw," fays I, put affectionate at the end of it, or else he won't come now." This made her fmile. I was glad to fee her look cheerful; and having with fome difficulty procured the proper addition, I difpatched the letter inftantly by my own fervant on horfeback, and ordered a light chariot and four to follow him, and take up Eugenio's friend the doctor by the way. I will not tell you, Sir, how Eugenio, as he is called, behaved upon the receipt of this letter; it is enough, that in a bout eight hours he arrived with his friend at my house; neither will I tell you how the lovers behaved when they met ; it is enough that they are to be married next Thurfday. I add fome particulars for your private inspection |