great variety. He traversed the Alleghany mountains, visited the new settlements of Kentucky, and once thought of purchasing an estate, and settling as an American farmer; but the occupations of the solitary life of this pursuit, did not satisfy the cravings of his mind, which had been accustomed to the refinement and intelligence of polished society. He determined, therefore, to fix his residence in England, where the moderation of the government accorded with his idea of the happiness of the people: where the laws are paramount to every other authority, and the poor man is as much under their protection as the prince. He accordingly took a favourable opportunity of crossing the Atlantic, and arrived at London, which, though he had seen so much, astonished him by its magnitude, its riches, its commerce, and the multitude of resources it supplies to the man of science. He passed a winter in the metropolis, fully occupied in examining every thing in it worth his attention; and having met with a lady of taste congenial to his own, married her, and purchased an estate in Hertfordshire, where he finished his wandering course of life, and enjoyed a large share of felicity in the character of a country gentleman.

193

SELF-DENIAL THE TEST OF VIRTUE.

THERE is but little virtue where there is no self-dedenial; or merit in acting well, whilst it accords with our interest and inclination. But a character rises to eminence, that sacrifices self-gratification to a sense of duty, especially when custom and example authorise a deviation from that nice path of rectitude prescribed to us by delicacy of sentiment.

The truth of an opinion is confirmed more forcibly by incidents from real life, than by fictitious ones; I shall therefore relate an anecdote, in support of what I have advanced, on the credit of Frances, countess of Harford, who, for talent and virtue, was one of the brightest ornaments of the court of George the Second.

"A gentleman in Suffolk, possessed of an estate of two thousand pounds a year, had an only son, who was brought up with the expectation of inheriting that for tune after his father's death. This event took place when he had attained the age of four and twenty. As soon as his grief gave him leisure to examine the situation of his affairs, he found the property so much involved, that no more was left for him than four hundred pounds a year, which consisted of church lands.

"The young man lived on this income for twelve months; but was observed, during that time, to be much depressed in his spirits; which was probably attributed

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by his acquaintance, to his disappointment. Little were they aware of the true cause of his melancholy for it proceeded from a delicacy of conscience, that would not suffer him to be supported by a revenue that he considered to belong to the church.

"At length he took courage to declare to his friends the ground of his uneasiness; and to assure them, that he should be happier to be confined to an annuity of fifty pounds, which was all that remained after he had restored the lands, than he could possibly be in the enjoyment of a large fortune, with a wounded conscience. All arguments to dissuade him from such an extraordinary measure were fruitless: he had taken his resolu tion which nothing could alter.

"Though his friends did not unite in this measure, they could not refuse their esteem. Amongst them was a very worthy man, whose business obliged him to go into Yorkshire, always once a year, and sometimes twice. During his stay in this county, he was accustomed to visit a certain family, on the most intimate terms of friendship, which was composed of an old gentleman of good fortune, and an only daughter, who was to be his heiress. The young lady was elegant in her person, of accomplished manners and sweet disposition.

"In the freedom that subsisted between them, the traveller one day remarked to her father, that it muşt be very desirable for him to see his daughter united to a husband whom he could approve. The old gentleman replied, that it was his most earnest wish to pro

mote this event, provided he could meet with a person whose principles he esteemed, that would be willing to settle upon the estate and added, that if he could find him such a son-in-law, he would bestow his daughter upon him, though he were not worth a shilling. The traveller related the history of his neighbour; and the father of the young lady was so charmed with such a singular instance of virtue, that he desired his friend would bring him to his house the next time he came; and, that, if the young people were agreeable to each other, they should have his consent to the marriage.

"The benevolent projector of this alliance returned home with a joyful heart, not doubting that he had found an honourable means of increasing a man's fortune, whom he lamented to see labouring under the depression of poverty, from an adherence to the dictates of conscience. But here an unforeseen obstacle arose : the same principle of rectitude that had forbidden the enjoyment of that which had been devoted to sacred purposes, restrained him from accepting this proposal. He positively refused to go; declaring, that he preferred living on his scanty income all his days, to marry. ing a woman for whom he had no affection, though she possessed the dower of a princess.

"When the time approached for his return into Yorkshire, his friend not only exhausted his own powers of persuasion, but applied to a relation of the young gentleman's, in whose house he lived, to add his, to pre

vail with him to go and see the lady at least; showing several letters he had received from her father, requesting him to fulfil his promise. The youth was at length obliged to yield to their joint importunity; and consented to accompany him, on condition that he should be introduced under a feigned name, as an acquaintance, met by chance upon the road.

"This agreement being made, they set out together, and arrived in due time at the old gentleman's house; when the congeniality of their dispositions and turn of thinking, laid a foundation for mutual esteem between the father of the girl and his new friend. The young people found it no difficult task to form an attachment for each other, which soon after occasioned a happy marriage, by the consent of all parties."

ON THE DISCOVERIES OF THE CURIOUS.

MANKIND are much indebted to those persons who have made great sacrifices for the promotion of virtue, knowledge, or an increase of the comforts of human life.

The legislator, the magistrate, the philosopher, the minister of the gospel, and the school-master, are honourable and useful characters; whose labours contri