pellation of Bet Page. In the course of his travels he attached himself much to itinerent quack doctors, learned their nostrums, and practised their arts. His long experience gained him the character of a most infallible doctress, to which profession he added that of an astrologer, and followed both trades to great profit; yet such was his extravagance, that he died worth six shillings only. It was a common custom with him to spend whatever he had in his pocket at an alehouse, where he usually treated his companions. About twelve months before his death, he came to reside at his native place. His extraordinary age procured him the notice of many of the most respectable families in the neighbourhood, particularly that of Mr. Thrale, in whose kitchen he was frequently entertained. Dr. Johnson, who found him a shrewd sensible person with a good memory, was very fond of conversing with him. His faculties, indeed, were so little impaired by age, that a few days before he died, he had planned another ramble, in which his landlord's son was to have accompanied him. His death was very sudden, and occasioned no small surprise, as may well be imagined, when a person so long taken for a woman was discovered to have been a man.

Amongst the precautions to prevent the discovery of his sex, he constantly wore a cloth tied under his chin, and after his death a large pair of nippers was found in his pocket, with which, it is supposed, he endeavoured to remove, by degrees, all tokens of manhood from his face. He had a mixture of the habits and employments of both sexes; for though he would drink hard with

men, whose company he chiefly preferred, yet he was an excellent sempstress, and was famous for making a good shirt. There was a wildness and excentricity in his general conduct, that frequently bordered on insanity; yet, we must allow, that he possessed talents that would have honoured any station of life, and had his disposition been properly regulated in youth, the flexibility of his genius, that seemed adapted to every thing, might have rendered him a very useful character.

ON PERSONAL EXERTION.

A MAN of a humble, diffident temper, is apt to imagine, that his example or influence is too feeble to have any weight with others; much less does he suppose, that an obscure individual can have the power to produce striking effects on the public mind. "Can the voice of such an insignificant person as I am," exclaims he, "be heard in the cause of virtue? To myself, the tenour of my actions is, indeed, important; but, to the world, of no consequence."

Such are the false reasonings of those, who are either too indolent, or too deficient in self-confidence, to aspire to the honourable distinction of benefactors to the human race. But let them turn to the page of history, nd they will find, that the records of both ancient and modern times, teem with examples of the extensive

effects produced by individuals on society; some tending to beneficial purposes, whilst others have acted in a contrary direction. Notwithstanding this difference in their consequences, they equally show the possibility of a whole kingdom's receiving essential advantage or injury from the interposition of a single man; and, in many cases, that man has emerged from an obscure station, which teaches us, that the meanest should not despair of being useful; and though few may have an opportunity of acting the hero, and performing great achievements, yet none can calculate the effects of a good example in any department of life.

When the city of Syracuse was besieged by the Romans, under the command of Marcellus, the mathematical genius of Archimedes was a stronger defence against the enemy, than the power of the soldiers. He continually invented new machines, that for a long time baffled the military skill of those veterans, and confounded their greatest exertions; till, at last, a breach was made in the walls; the Romans entered the city; and this great man was put to death by a private soldier, who rushed into his apartment, and found him so intent in working a problem, that he was not aware of the misfortune of his country, till he himself became a victim to the calamity.

William Wallace, the hero of Scotland, raised the drooping sprits of his countrymen, by his magnanimous exertions; and foiled the base attempts of Edward the First, who could not succeed in subjecting the Scots, till Wallace was delivered into his hands, by those who were envious of his merit.

Edward, with peculiar meanness, satiated his vengeance on this noble victim; and, instead of honouring his valour and patriotism with the esteem they deserved, punished his resistance by the ignominious, cruel death of a traitor.

A still more extraordinary instance of the influence of an individual in reviving the courage of a drooping party, was that of Joan of Arc, a mean country girl, who was servant at an obscure inn on the borders of Lorrain, when the duke of Bedford laid siege to Orleans. The affairs of the French king, Charles the Seventh, were at that time desperate, and almost hopeless. Wherever he attempted to face the enemy, he was defeated: he dared not confide in the friends who kept near his person, and his authority was reduced to a mere shadow. From this helpless condition he was delivered by the heroism of this girl, who possessed masculine courage and strength, with an enthusiastic mind. She either believed herself inspired to deliver her sovereign, or united with others, in feigning herself to be endued with power from above, in order to impose on the public. The ef

fect was the same: she inspired his soldiers with confidence; and, having assumed a military habit, she marched at their head, armed with a consecrated sword, taken from the tomb of a certain chevalier; and assured them, that she should not only deliver Orleans, but that the king should be crowned publicly at Rheims; an event that appeared most improbable.

The soldiers, not doubting that they should conquer under a leader sent from heaven, fought like lions, raised the siege, and gained such advantages, that her prediction was accomplished by a solemn coronation, at which she assisted in person. From this time, the face of affairs changed: the French became victorious, and the English were obliged to abandon their project, and return, with withered laurels, to their own country.

Let us now change our view from military exploits, to those of a different nature, and we shall find that the happiest consequences often follow the well-directed zeal of a single person.

The discovery of the mighty continent of America, which has wrought such important alterations in the affairs of mankind, is due to the singular genius and undaunted perseverance of Christopher Columbus, who would not be discouraged, by any obstacles, from pursu ing an object that engrossed all the powers of his mind. He had to encounter ignorance, incredulity, and envy; which were surmounted by the superiority of his de