PUBLIC LIBRARY 330198B B ASTOR, LENOX AND 1945 DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, to wit: DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. ́BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the nineteenth day of January, A. D. 1828, in the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United States of America, TIMOTHY GRIDLEY, of the said District, has deposited in this Office the Title of a Book, the Right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the Words following, to wit: "The Mill of the Muses, by Selah Gridley, M. D.' In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned and also to an Act entitled "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints." CHARLES W. CUTTER, Clerk of the District of New-Hampshire. 1945 APOLOGY. THE Acrostics are moral and religious essays. No intentional allusion is made to the character of the person whose initials form the first letter of the line. They are principally the result of requests from those whose pleasure might be promoted by associating their names with moral sentiments. A benevolent stranger finds happiness in diffusing felicity to others. The cunning may allege that the writer too forcibly feels the language of the Saviour, "Give -to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away." Should the principle be universal, would wars be known? Alas, must the sword devour forever? Examples of christian virtues, have aided the formation of habits in New-England. Examples of justice in Sir William Penn, saved Pennsylvania from Indian wars. A nice sense of the feelings of others, forms the high character of our fellow citizens of the southern states. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." Examples of condescension and kindness, it is hoped, are manifest in compliance with the least of these who would courteously ask "will you write my Acrostic?" If the world" have bitter envying and strife," and "glory in that wisdom which "descendeth not from above" it is hoped that some in it, will perceive in this production, the effusions of a soul, that feels no hatred to a living mortal, but is " easy to be entreated, without partiality and without hypocrisy." It is desirable that every follower of the Prince of Peace, should see with an eye of faith, that "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Should the gay, and the fashionable perceive that these essays are too serious for modern taste, let them learn from the language of wisdom, that "By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." They are designed more for the heart of the christian, than the head of the critic. To the former, the writer only lifts a languid eye towards religion, for her mantle of Charity; to the latter, he can only say, in the language of Oithona, "my heart is not of that, rock, nor my soul careless as that sea, which lifts its blue waves to every wind, and rolls beneath the storm." The virtuous will not villify the last afforts of a care worn and wasted brain. The humble will approve every effort to direct the eye of youth, to the rock of ages. The dying cannot wish to lower the hand that points to eternal life. Those who are freed from the slavery of sin will not interrupt the progress of power, when exerted with a design to remove the yoke of the bondage of sin, by a recital of the truths of that Grace which shall make you free. May the world perceive that to the pious, the songs of Zion are sweeter than the songs of Selma. There is a slavery in fashion, which thousands who "partake of it," cannot perceive in its disguise, that it is a bitter draught." If the ears be nailed to the door post," they listen with pleasure for life, to the lyre of Apollo, when strung, by Moore and Byron, by Burns and Walter Scott. The writer of these essays has long been, also, a willing slave. The chains were thrown round him as early as the Colonies burst those which bound them to Great Britain,-by such Muses as moved Shakespeare and Milton, Dryden and Pope, Goldsmith and Gray, Addison and Steel, Watts and Wesley, Rowe and some others. Beginning to live, before Whitefield yielded his spirit to the Father of Spirits at Newbury-port, which occurred (Sep 30th 1770,)much pleasure, and it is hoped, some profit have been derived from listening to the pulpit oratory of New England from early life. With a mind thus instructed, the writer, feels the reality of " The Gloom of Autumn," and is willing to exhibit a true Emblem of old age, by imparting pleasure and moral instruction to youth. To adduce proof of the sincerity of the desire the production of a month is subjected to the press. By these means a convenient copy can be furnished to those concerned. The subjects were often proposed by the person with whose name the essay is associated. Does pride enquire for the motive in this condescension? Truth shall furnish the answer, Experientia docet. Each individual experienced in the circle of social duty, a scientific instruction, perceives that the youthful object of his care, soon becomes the companion of his way as he passes down" the stream of time," to the ocean of eternity. While truth and philosophy explain the cause, let pride be silent, while experience demonstrates the effect. If youth are indulged in that which is reasonable, they are willing to obey in that which is right. The aged by condescending to innocent amusements acquire influence to persuade, and authority to rule. From such motives the writer is induced to furnish the youth with |