Turn your

est that she will measure its continuance. face at once against her; attack her wherever she is exposed; crush her commerce wherever you can; make her feel heavy and immediate distress throughout the nation the people will soon cry out to their government. Whilst the advantages she promises herself are remote and uncertain, inflict present evils and distresses upon her subjects: the people will become dicontented and clamorous; she will find it a bad bargain, having entered into this business; and you will force her to desert any ally that brings so much trouble and distress upon her.

What is become of the ancient spirit of this nation? Where is the national spirit that ever did honor to this country ? Have the present ministry spent that too, with almost the last shilling of your money? Are they not ashamed of the temporizing conduct they have used towards France? Her correspondence with America has been clandestine. Compare that with their conduct towards Holland, some time ago; but it is the characteristic of little minds to be exact in little things, whilst they shrink from their rights in great ones.

The conduct of France is called clandestine : look back but a year ago to a letter from one of your Secretaries of State to Holland; "it is with surprise and indignation" your conduct is seen, in something done by a petty governor of an island, while they affect to call the measures of France clandestine. This is the way that ministers support the character of the nation, and the national honor and glory. But look again how that same Holland is spoken of to-day. Even in your correspondence with her your littleness appears.

From this you may judge of your situation; from this you may know what a state you are reduced to. How will the French party in Holland exult over you, and grow strong! She will never continue your ally, when you meanly crouch to France, and do not dare to stir in your defence! But it is nothing extraordinary that she should not, while you keep the ministers you

have. No power in Europe is blind; there is none blind enough to ally itself with weakness, and become partner in bankruptcy; there is no one blind enough to ally themselves to obstinacy, absurdity, and imbecility.

Jack.

THE CONJURER, A DIALOGUE.

WH

Richard.

RICHARD and JACK.

HAT a strange man this is, Richard Did you ever see a conjurer before ? There was one travelled this way before your remembrance; but he missed his figure very much. I was to have been an officer before this time, according to his predictions; and you, Jack, were to have had a fine rich young lady for your sister-in-law. But he was only an apprentice in the art; no more than A, B, C, to this man.

you.

Jack. Aye, he is master of his trade, I warrant I dare say, when father comes home, he can tell him which way the thief is gone with our old Trot. Uncle Bluster is coming over here this evening to find out who has got his watch. The conjurer is just gone out to look at the stars. I suppose after he has viewed them a while, he will cast a figure in his great black-art book in the other room, and tell in a trice what things are stolen, and where they are, to a hair's breadth.

Rich. He must have a hawk's eye to see the stars this evening. Why don't you know, Jack, it is cloudy out a'doors?

He could look

Jack. That's nothing with him. through the clouds with his glass, if it was as dark as Egypt, as easy as you can look into the other room; or, if he had a mind, he could brush away the clouds in a trice, with that long wand he carries in his hand.

Rich. No doubt he is a great almanac maker. I'll be bound he could foretel the weather to a title for a

thousand

thousand years to come. I wish I knew the tenth part as much about the planets as he does.

Jack. So do I. Don't you think our neighbours could hire him to keep our school, instead of Master Thinkwell? I believe he has fifty times as much learn. ing. Aunt Betty told me this afternoon, that he knew every star in the sky as well as I do the cattle in our stable; and that he was as well acquainted with every crook and turn in the milk-way, as I am with the road to mill. They say he rode round to all the planets one night, in a chaise made of moon-light, drawn by flying horses.

Conjurer. [Without, in a grum hollow voice.] Hoc noxe conventio planetorum tenetur est in domus Jovum.

Rich. Hark! he is going by the window don't you hear him talking to himself?

Jack. What a strange language he uses! He is talking to the man in the moon, I dare say. He will go into the back room and cast a figure now: I will look through the key hole and see him. [Exit Jack.

Rich. [Solus.] What a prodigious learned man this conjurer must be! I should suppose he had read all the books in the world, and conversed with spirits a hun dred years to know as much as he does.

Enter THINKWELL.

I am glad to see you, Master Thinkwell. Have you heard the rare news of the conjurer that is come to town?

Thinkwell. Yes; and I am informed he has taken up lodgings at your house to-night. You are greatly honored to be sure.

Rich. He is a very extraordinary man, I'll assure you. Think. So far I agree with you, Richard. I believe he is an extraordinary man, and an extraordinary impostor too.

Rich. You are always on the side of contraries, Master Thinkwell, but every body is not of so stubborn faith as you. Why, there is as great a stir in town as

there

there was when Prince Edward went through it. All the ladies are as much in the fidgets to see the conjurer, as they were to see him.

Think. It is much easier to account for these things than to justify them. We shall always act beneath ourselves, while we look up to worthless wretches as our superiors. Prince Edward was certainly no more than a man. This conjurer, in my opinion, is much less : I consider him beneath contempt. I am as great a friend to mirth as yourself; but it is really mortifying that my friends should be so anxious to make themselves the objects of ridicule.

Rich. This is your old strain, Master Thinkwell. I know you are apt to get round me in your arguments; but I believe the conjurer knows much more than both of us. I might go to you to learn grammar, arithmetic, and the common branches that are taught at school; but I shall go to him to have my fortune told.

Think. Have patience; and time, the only true fortune-teller, will disclose the future, without any pay, fast enough for your happiness or profit. Let me advise you to lay out your money for more valuable commodities than such gross imposition. Believe me, Richard, this man was never admitted into the cabinet of futurity any more than you or I, and knows no more of the events of to-morrow, next day, or next year," than the orang outang.

Rich. All our neighbours think very differently. He has told Mrs. Primble where she may find her silver spoon; and Sam Hodkins, the very day he is to be married and the very first moment he cast his eyes on Bill Blunder's face, he saw the scar on his foot, and told him he had been wounded with an axe.

Think. Depend on it, Richard, it is all gross imposition. What careless lad is there, who uses an axe, that has not a scar on his feet?

is

Rich. If a man of common learning can foretel what past, I don't see, for my part, why a conjurer may

not

not foretel what is to come. [Knocking at the door.] Ah! Aunt Betty Wrinkle, I know by her rap.

Enter BETTY WRINKLE.

Betty. How do you do, Richard? a word with you if you please, cousin. [To Richard. They go to the other side of the room.] Is the fortune-teller at your house, Richard?

Rich.

He is casting a figure in the back room. Betty. Can I see him? I wish to ask him a few questions in private.

Enter Mrs. CREDULOUS and JACK, in haste. Mrs. Credulous. Law, sister Betty! I am glad to see you! I am half frighted out of my senses.

Betty. What is the matter, sister?

Mrs. Cred. I have been looking through the key. hole to see the conjurer. I believe there is a spell of enchantment upon him! The room will be full of spirits in five minutes!

Betty. O don't be frighted, sister; if he can conjure them up, he can conjure them down again. He won't let them hurt you. I should'nt be afraid to go right into the room among them, not I.

Rich. If they were to come in the shape of widowers or old bachelors, perhaps you would not.

Betty. Law, how you joke, cousin. [Cuffing his ears. Mrs. Cred. This is no jesting matter, I assure you. I could see plainly the candle burnt blue; there was a circle of fire round his head, and it began to smoke out of his mouth and nose.

Betty. Poh! nothing more than his breath, I dare say. Jack. And I thought I saw the shadow of a spirit. The cat saw it too; for she looked as wild as though she would fly out of the window.

Beity. Well, you won't frighten me. I am determined to see him, if he breathes nothing but fire and smoke. Conj. [Speaking loud in the other room.] Horum quorum spiritorum, veniunto!

Mrs. Cred. Law me! the very ghosts are come now! he is talking to them.