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the inflaming their readers ima-taining) is merit, as this is one of ginations, than in correcting their understandings; the affections. of youth are generally prompt enough of themselves, and stand more in need of a bridle than a spur.

Nothing has in a greater degree contributed to give us wrong notions of love, than the manner in which it is represented to us on the stage, the chief business of which for several years past, instead of recommending innecence, and inculcating virtuous principles, has been to infuse into people's minds a love of libertinism and a spirit of intrigue and stratagem; even an honorable amour to persons of this temper, if there are in it none of these plots and stratagems, one of the many various contrivances to cheat the old folks (as they are called) with which most modern comedies abound, is the most insipid thing in the world. Such people generally like each other, they know not why, they encounter a thousand difficulties to get married, and for ever after are quite indifferent to each other. I do not doubt but that amongst other things, the frequent examples of this sort which France might produce, occasioned M. St. Euremond's saying, that true love resembled ghosts and apparitions, because every one was talking of it, but few or none had ever seen it.'

The only incentive to, and the best preservative of love, (I mean that sort of it which is worth ob

those truths that carries demon-.
stration along with it, methinks,
the worth of beauty is less than
we imagine it to be. The opinions.
and inclinations of persons are as
different as their faces; and beau
ty, be it ever so perfect, can never
have the same influence on all;.
whereas merit is an universal
charm, and besides, it is always.
sure to make the deepest impres
sion on the most worthy. In short,
in matters nf love, beauty alone is
not to be trusted to, and she who
thinks to secure the esteem of an
husband with no other claim to it
than what a fine skin or genteel
air can give her, will to her cost
find that as these abate, that will
diminish. I cannot on this occa-
sion omit mentioning the advice
which a lady who understood the
world gave to her daughter on
her marriage, her words are these,
'You are now become the partner
for life of a person whose even
temper and exact breeding are the
least of his many good qualities,
and though perhaps you are hand-
some enough to gain an absolute
dominion over a man of less dis-
cretion, yet neither the love nor
the complaisance of your husband
will suffer him to esteem you for
what the pictures in his gallery,
or the statues in his garden, pos-
sess in as eminent a degree as
yourself; believe me who am ac-
quainted with the world, and who
have seen husbands in a few
months time cease to be lovers,
believe me, I say, when I tell you,

that it requires no small share of virtue and good (I had almost said politic) management, to keep alive any tolerable degree of passion for 30 or 40 years in spite of age, sickness, and other calamities to which human life is incident; the love of a person of merit is well worth the striving for, and this you may lay down as an infallible rule, that there is no way so effectual to attain it. as to deserve it.'

We who inhabit the more westeru parts of the world, and value ourselves so much above the rest of mankind, on account of our su perior attainments, have perhaps but little reason to boast of our capacity for, or behaviour, in love; since there greater and more frequent instances of it to be found" amongst people wholly strangers to our modern refinements and those empty theories which we have formed of it. What is reported and so well attested of the women of Narsinga in the East Indies will sufficiently justify this assertion, and at the same time serve to shew that flattery, dissimulation, and the many other arts that the politer Europeans practise to procure, and support love, are nothing when compared with that natural innocence and simplicity, which (the more is the pity) is the effect of ignorance alone.

That ingenius lady, the Marchioness de Lambert, whose thot's are faulty only in that they are somewhat too refined (for alas!

there are but few Abelards and
Heloises now a days) tells us, that
'those whose souls are of a grave
and serious cast are of all others
he most susceptible of love;' those
of a more volatile fancy are apt to
have their affections diverted by
every new object' they meet with ;
but that refined and scothing kind
of melancholy so natural to per-
sons of this temper, is continually
suggesting to their imaginations
a thousand pleasing reflections,
which serve to administer fuel to
their fires, and of which none but
themselves are capable; as suc-
cess in love to this latter sort of
people is the highest degree of
hunian felicity, so is disappoint-
ment the greatest calamity that
can befal them; there are but few
other kinds of distress which the
more ordinary amusements of
life will not in a short time allevi-
ate; but this has need of all the
assistances of reason, philosophy
and patience, and it is not often
that these prove effectual.
cannot without the utmost concern
reflect on those unhappy persons
whose distresses of this kind have
ended in their total destruction,
many have been deprived of their
reason, others have sacrificed their
fame, wealth, and all that they
held dear for the gratification of
their passions, and not a few have
committed the most violent out ages
on themselves.

One

I remember somewhere to have met (I believe in Moreri) wi:q an example of this last sort, which

204

THE LADY'S MISCELLANY;

one can scarce read without trembling, and with which I shall conclude this essay.

X.

American prosperity-In the New. York Gazette and Daily Advertiser, of Jan. 7, 1811, there are 256 Commercial A dvertisements, exclusive of 91 ships destined for foreign ports. Now let any person compare this example of opulence with the city of Dublin, and what a me. lancholy contrast: Not one ship is to be found in our deserted harbour whose

Julietta the Gonzaga, a lady descended from one of the noblest families in Italy, was so celebrated for her beauty, that the fame of it had reached Constantinople, and had induced Barbarossa, the Turk-destination is farther than Liverpool, &

ish admiral, privately to land in Italy in order to carry her off, and present her to the Grand Seignior: She had resisted for some time the honorable addresses of some of the greatest potentates in Europe, but at length yielded to the insinuations of the Duke of Mantua, who

having enjoyed, forsook her upon which the desire of revenge seized her so violently, that she promised a priest who made love to her, that if he would procure her another interview with the Duke, she would deny him nothing he should ask: This the father found an oportunity of doing, and upon her meeting the Duke, she reproached him with his falsehood in so affecting a manner, that he found his passion return, and protested his regard for her in the most tender expressions; she made a difficulty of believing all he could say on that head; but he persisting, she required of him as proof of his love to deny God, which, when with the greatest solemnity he had done, she stabbed him to the heart, and then sheathing the poinard in her own breast, fall on his body, telling the priest she would then grant him desired, and so expired.

all he

yet we are called on by every fellow in office for our allegiance, & are told, "we are the happiest and the freest people on the earth."-Certainly, if happi

ness consists in Lords, we have the ad vantage of America, but if it consists in Merchants, America is much our su perior, because as she has the Mer chants, she can have the Lords, and as many of them as she pleases, by apply ing at the manufactory in London

where they can be had on reasonable terms, and short notice, packed up and forwarded with other merchandize of British growth, in the usual manner such things are prepared, shipped and

insured.

When Simpson and Williams were proprietors of the Swan with two necks, Lad lane London, among many curious inducements for travellers to stop at their house of entertainment, they offered 'Mails and other coaches to all parts of the united kingdom" For this new mode of conveyance over land and over water, John Bull must have readily granted his scientific children a patent right for the entire use of the English and Irish channel. And as 'Britannia rules the waves,' other nations would not dare inake use of the invention without a purchase of a right from the inventor; but let this be as it may, the proprietors of those patent coaches were richly enti tled to the patronage of their country. men, and Irishmen visiting their city ought to hold their offered ride across long had sir John caused them to walk the channel in greatful remembrance, for

the wide ocean.

LADY'S MISCELLANY

NEW-YORK, January 18, 1812.

"Be it our task, To note the passing tidings of the times.

Drowned at sea, on the 8 inst. Captain Robert Tullock, late master of the schooner Jersey, of this port, em. ployed in the Philadelphia trade. He. was an Excellent seaman, and was much esteemed for his many good qualities He has left a widow and child to lament his primature death.

GOUT-A new virtue is discovered in the load stone. The severest fits of Gout will, it is said, be cured by the suf. ferer wearing a magnet enclosed in a Sannel case next his skin.

A number of the young Gentlemen of this City, deeply lamenting the deplorable calamity with which the devoted City of Richmond, has recently been visited—and, desirous of evincing in a public manner, their sincere and heart. felt sorrow for the melancholy fate of so many interesting and valuable lives have determined to assemble on the College Walk, on Sunday morn. ing at half past nine o'clock with crape on the left arm, for the purpose of proceeding in procession to the Presbyterian Church in Wall-street, where a discourse will be delivered, adapted to the occasion, by the rev. Dr Miller.

They earnestly request that the young Gentlemen generally, of this City, will unite with them in paying the tribute of their sympathy to the memory of the unfortunate victims-and of wearing he badge for the space of four weeks.

Married.

On Saturday evening the 4th inst. by the res. Mr. Leban Clark, Mr. Jacob Van Nostrand, to Miss Hannah Chaise, both of this city.

On Thursday night last, by the rev. Mr. Bangs. Mr. Morris Tompkins, Merchant to Miss Eliza Branson, all of this city.

On Sunday Evening last, by the rex. Dr. Moore, the Honorable Jacob Van Pelt, to the amiable Miss Catharine Ann Miller both of this city.

In this city, by the rev. Mr. Milledol. lar. Mr. Augustus Croft, to Miss Han nah Frost.

At Ceder Swamp, (L. I.) Mr. Jatkson Townsend to Miss Phebe Townsend. At Middletown, Joshua Miller, to Miss Rhoda Nichols.

At Newark. Israel Beach, Jun. to Miss Sarah Brant Baldwin.

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On Wednesday afternoon of a lingering illness Dr. William Bradley.

At Beverly, of the small pox, Henry Fornis, aged 25, he took the disorder on board the brig Pilgrim, from New-York, At Newark James Johnson

On Sunday morning Mr. Alexander Mowalt, aged 45 years.

On Saturday evening, after a long illness, Mr. John Parker Grocer.

In Savannah on the 30th alt. of a car. sumption, Mr. Palmer, of New-Haven ̧ He arrived in a passage of 7 days from N.Fork, and only suroived 4 days.

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