some perplexities in those unscarchable mysteries that are hid even from the wisest, he entertained an opinion that every thing was enveloped in the same mazes, and that nothing but vulgar prejudice could influence a man to believe From the any received doctrine. embarrassments of doubting, he in a few years passed to a state of unsurmountable ignorance & obstinacy, and in conversation became absurd as a satural ideot, and with more impertinence than would be tolerated in the most unlicked cub. Hany one related a fact, he gave the lie direct: if an opinion was of the first, he thought that the world made itself-that it will never end; that the Scripture is fable, and, for any thing we know, not above half as old as it is said to be; that vice is certainly necessary in the world, as affording means to gratify those passions which animate us to action; that what we feel ought to be our guide; and that the man who could commit the greatest enormities without compunction, was not to be blamed: nay, that he had a right to obey the impulse of nature. On these latter maxims he formed his conduct, and by an obstinate occasionally hinted at,he challeng-adherance to them shortened his days; for, after having rendered himself odious to all his friends, he became a burthen to himself, and finished life as most men do who have lost the principles of a MAN. He was one morning found sus-• • pended by his own garters. ed the person speaking to prove it. He maintained that colours were objects of deceit, and the beat of fire a matter of doubt.Hence he was generally avoided in private, but for many seasons continued an applauded speaker in some Disputing Societies: till at length he had argued away every principle of certainty in learning, confidence in man, or conscience in religion. He held it as an invariable practice to doubt every opinion and, after he had exhausted his commonplace commentaries on it, to leave it ten tiines more obscure than he found it. By the amazing sagacity' of his assistants in this laudable science, and by his own liberality of sentiment,' he discovered a new the ory whereby to account for the appearances of human nature, and a new system for the direction of his private conduct In censequence where there were none before, and The difference betwixt this case and that of those who are daily affionting oratory and destroying common sense with sceming impunity, may appear very great ; but let it be remembered, that when a man sets out on a particular road, he must either return, or pursue it to the end. One slip from virtue may not be fatal; but a succession of such will eradecate virtue altogether. Just so, one winter of disputing on trival or unintelligible matters may not do much mischief; but a repetition of the same will soon create doubts Cease to where there was a little increase But independent of the pernicicious effects on the heart which this habit usually produces, it is in the highest degree irra ional, and unworthy of a man who would wish to be, or be thought,learned. What is learning? What is the learning of the present age? Is it not a collection of facts deduced from reason, experience and judgment, and applicable to the mechanical pursuits of the body, as well as the movements of the soul! And can this be acquired if we stop at the first outset to consider difficulties of our own fancy? No man would heap stones on the highway to obstruct his progress. Let us first store in our memory the wisdom of those who have gone before us; and when we have done so, we shall find new difficulties, to thwart the advancement of our own original thoughts. Then we shall be willing to add to former experience our own little mite, and be able to leave learning and the world in the height of his practice, and consequently had not a moment to spare, he solicited and obtained the arduous and troublesome office of an alderman in London, which he attended for some time: but afterwards thought proper to resign his gown. After many years passed in unseasing attention to his Bridge, his practice was equal to that of any physician in London. But he benevolently set apart two days for the poor in each week : and those who were of the middle rank in life he would never take above half a guinea. Among nu merous other instances of kindness, he made it a rule never to take a fee from any inferior clergy-profession, he found it time to reman, any subaltern officer, or any public performer. He went even beyond this gratuitous bestowal of his assistance, and frequently gave pccuniary aid, as well as advice. Those who best knew him will best remember some little whimsicalities that frequently attended his conduct. Though hurried and fatigued by the increasing number of his patients, and the incessant demands for his advice, that patient was surest to engage, his attention, who was a sick sportsman. Better than the fee was it to be a master of a good pointer: to have invented some new device about a fowling piece, was the best chance of obtaining a prescription: and a good shot, with a tale of shooting, would undoubtedly have kept the doctor from a dutchess who was dying. This small foible was at last so well known, that numbers affected to be sportsmen who were so weak that they could not have walked over a stub blé, and who held forth on the pleasures of the ficid, when they had unfortunately been confined to their beds. One other trait of this eccentricity, we shall be pardoned For mentioning: Whilst he was lax from his labour. He purchas. ed a residence at Stratford in Es sex, where nearly to the last moment he wished to see and re.. ceive his friends. His doors were ever open, his table ever hospita ble, his manners were affable and gentle. He died on Sunday the 26th of December, 1790: and he died as a good man would wish to depart, loved and lamented by all. With a sufficient fortune, he left behind him a large collection, that may supply the physician and equip the sportsman. Added to treatises on physic, will be found the greatest number of fowling pieces and pointers in the posses sion of any doctor in medicine now alive. He kept them as memorials of the field, when the days of sporting were gone by: and to the latest hour when he could walk out into his garden, he would enumerate the sets which Ponto, now chained up, had made, how he ranged the fleetest of the fields, & never blinked his game. The Dr. married a lady of fortune, by whom, he had one son, who lived to be a man, and whose loss was one of the severest afflictions his father ever, sustained. The Butcher relenteth not at the bleating of the lamb: neither is the heart of the cruel moved with distress. But the tears of the compassionate are sweeter than dew-drops, falling from roses on the bosom of Spring. Shut not thine ears therefore against the cries of the poor: neither harden thy heart against the calamities of the innocent. When thou seest the naked wanderer of the street, shivering with cold, and destitute of habita tion: let bounty open thine heart, let the wings of charity shelter him from death that thine own soul may live. While the poor man groaneth on the bed of sickness, while the unfortunate languish in the horrors of a dungeon, or the hoary head of age lifts up a feeble eye to thee for pity: O how canst thou riot in superfluous enjoyments, regardless of their wants, unfeeling of their woes ! At the evening club of the performers of the Haymarket theatre, Mr. Fawcet was entering very slowly, when Mrs. Harlowe coming up behind him, said, advance, thou harbinger of impudence.True, madam, replied he with a bow, I precede you. A PARABLE. ADDRESSEDLO REPORT CATCHERS. Upon the credit of a clerical sportsman, the following recipe was given for catching wild geese: " Tie a cord to the tail of an eel, and throw it into the fens where those fowls haunt: one of the geese swallowing this slippery bait it runs through him, and is swal When the fatherless call upon thee, when the widow's heart is sunk and she imploreth thy assist-lowed by a second, and third, and ance with tears of sorrow: O pity her affliction, and extend thine bands to those who have none to help them. so on, till the string is quite filled.' A person once caught so many geese in this manner that they absolutely flew away with him! From the Newark Centinel. CASUALTY-Last Sabbath morning as the shop Minerva was on her passage to Newark from New-York, captain Jo seph Tompkins, who was at the helm was knocked overboard and drowned be 'fore any assistance could be afforded him. By this afflicting providence, a wife is bereaved of the husband of her youth, six children of an indulgent parent and society of a useful member. We are concerned to state that a fatal epidemic has recently made its appear Several per ance in Newtown, L. I. sons have fallen victims after a few days illness. The following persons have di ed within two weeks.Our informant observes, that other deaths have occured within that time of persons whose names Here follows the are known to him melancholy list. with the ages, as near as could be ascertained. Benjamin Bailey, : James Snediker, : L. 1 Star : 25 years of age. 38 50 : 19 : 23 Saml Newman, Jacob Goulder, jun. Abrm. Gouller, Mrs. Jarvis. Sam). Hopper, Johannis Debevoise, Adrian Debevoise, Hannah Burroughs, John Remsen. John Burroughs, : 50 72 : 65 : : : Esther Remsen, : David Furman, Prudence Denton, : : 53 : 64 : Abrm. Morrel, : The following occurrence happened at Kimbolton, England, on the 29th of March, (Easter Sunday); as the rev. Mr. Codling the resident Curate was preach. ing, from the 17th, 18 h and 19th ve ses of the 118 h Psalm, (I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore-but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; 1 will go into them, and I will praise the Lord') he suddenly stopped short, and exclaimed, 'I can't! I can't!'- and immediately sunk down in the pulpit, and almost instantly expired. He was only 32 years of age. Married. On Monday evening last, by the rev. Mr. Williams, the rev James Harris,of Utica, to Miss Sar h Richards, of this city At New-Bedford, Grennell, of this city, to Miss Sarah Russel. At Baltimore. Thomas Barrett printer to Miss Rachel Phillips» On Monday evening last, by the reo. Dr. Romeyn, Mr James Baker, Lieut. of the U. States Artillerists, to Miss Ann M. Wisling, of Norfolk, Vir. At Maidenhead, N Jerse,, Asa Fish, to Miss Margaret Conover. At South Amboy, Glement Sheppard to Miss Elizabeth Chetwood, both of Abingdon, Penn. On monday evening last, Mr. Patrick Sullivan, Grocer, to Miss Fane Schanck, both of this city. At White Plains, West Chester County, on Wednesday the 13th inst. by the rev. Ehen Smith, Mr Andrew L.. Halstead, of this city, to Miss Fanny Miller, eldest daughter of Abraham Miller, esq. of the former place. 4-$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$SS✈ On Tuesday morning last, Mr. George On Tuesday morning last, after a fes days illness, Mr. Peter Gibbons, aged 43 yours. |