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readily on his tongue, that nothing had been certain with him in speech for ten years past; but to the clearest truth, or the inference of the most correct syllogism, he would only observe" probably it may be so." Another could not, for four years of my acquaintance with him, make a reply to a trifling observation without dividing it into firstly, secondly, and thirdly; nor prove a common truth without giving three or four distinct reasons for it. He, however, was cured by discovering it inconvenient to be obliged to say so much on every subject, and that in the nature of things, every truth would not admit of four reasons in proof of it. A third person, I remember, who could talk of nothing but what was "infinitely superior" to something else, and never discovered the absurdity of it, till he saw a whole company convulsed with laughter at his gravely asserting, that a stool with four legs was infinitely superior to one with three, when all the world besides would as lief sit on one as the other. With respect to my advice on this subject, I fear that he whom the danger of being disinherited could not reform, is indeed incorrigible; but at the same time beg to remark, that there is hardly any habit so fixed, but caution may prevent and perseverance at length overcome it. There is another class of characters who may not unaptly be also noticed here, but whose failings are not quite so excuseable or innocent as that mentioned above. They are such as fancy themselves gifted with superior excellence in certain particulars, in which, in fact, they are really deficient; and accordingly are for ever displaying their fancied excellencies, without perceiving that the world

is not inclined to give them the suffrages they demand. Leonilla has lately discovered herself to be a great favourite of the Muses, and is all the morning long stringing together a set of verses which she repeats to her friends in the evening; nor can Leonilla discover that the good-natured laugh, and that the less indulgent are displeased at her vanity, whilst the learned think her verses too contemptible for their criticisms. Loquacious tires us with long and stupid harangues on every thing he touches, because he thinks he talks well; and Corvus grates the ears of every company into which he enters, by what he terms singing; whilst Tragicus puts them asleep by reciting parts of plays without action, expression, or character. Orsin, who is a stiff formal man, of about fifty years of age, prides himself on the dignity of his carriage, and the peculiar ease and gracefulness of his manners; and never fails to introduce himself with a multitude of strange motions and distortions of body, which give us only the idea of a bear affecting the airs of a dancing master. Myrtilla is as vain of her dark complexion, because she has somewhere heard of the pretty brunettes of France, as her friend Laura is of a very prominent feature, far exceeding the line of beauty, because she has heard a certain great lady admired for her aquiline But the most remarkable instance of the kind which has lately come under my notice, is Stentor, a gay man, whom nature has furnished with a loud untimable voice; but who fancies himself gifted with extraordinary abilities in reading the church service, and never yet heard it delivered without shaking his head and wishing himself a parson. He accordingly takes

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frequent occasions to give his friends specimens of his talent that way, and has been known in the midst of a convivial meeting to repeat one of the penitential prayers, and at the christening of his last child read the burial service aloud, to the great improvement of the parson, and the edification of the company. lately paid him a visit with a friend, but was surprised at the sudden and abrupt manner in which my companion hurried me away, till he informed me that he had been frightened by a prayer-book which lay on a table in one corner of the room. Such characters as

these will never be reformed whilst they can find themselves listened to with politeness, and looked on with complacency. They never doubt of their own merit, but conclude it to be envy or want of taste in others, which has so long deprived them of universal admiration. In order, therefore, to cut up the root of this evil at once, and for the relief of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, I do hereby direct and ordain, that from henceforth it shall and may be lawful for any person to be inattentive to all such talkers, readers, singers, and reciters, and even fall asleep in their company if possible; and also to turn away from all such as are evidently attempting to exhibit themselves, without its being considered any breach of good manners, and without any charge of unpoliteness to be hereafter brought against him for the same.

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HUMANITY the chief blessing, solace, and charm of life, how much of happiness do we owe to thy soft endearments, enchaining heart to heart in the social ties of love and friendship, disposing every thing to harmony, abating the pride of prejudice, and reconciling the differences of philosophy and religion, in that admirable agreement of general principles, which is the preservation of the morals, and of manners; how easily might thy kind influence be used to dispel the gloom of disaffection, and all the mischiefs of party distinction, and yet a blind and mistaken policy prevails, a system of terror is still preferred, and unhappy IRELAND remains the peculiar object of its stern regards; the opiates of conciliation are yet neglected by men who judge without feeling the pulse, or being properly acquainted with the fever of the people of that country, as ignorant physicians prescribe wrong from their mistaking the true complaint of the patient. To cut off a diseased member, the knife may be applied with success, but where the whole body is in a morbid state, skilful alteratives must be used, and

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the change in the constitution must be effected by regimen and gentle treatment. It is true, that when rebellion erects its hydra heads, it is time to be severe ; but it should be that just description of severity, that shows both the power to punish, and the desire to pardon; and indeed, where the people of a country from peculiar circumstances like the Irish, labours under the misfortune of disunion among themselves, it would be wise and prudent to use some mild means to abate the virulence of their mutual hatred, by a mediation that might cause them to believe an union with England, the greatest blessing that could happen them.

The fact is, that the disposition of the people of Ireland is misunderstood, the country is divided in itself, and not all the military power that exists, can remove the rooted enmity one party bears the other. It was currently believed, and insisted upon by the Roman catholics, that they were to be massacred immediately after the union should take place, and even at this time, they believe it fatal to their interests in the commonwealth. The distinctions in use, that is the bit of orange ribband, worn in the breasts of the Orange party, is another eye sore to the Catholics, and serves to keep in recollection dangerous memoranda, that are mischievous to the true happiness of the country. To such an extent is this reciprocal hatred carried, that the great Roman catholics will not purchase even the articles of trade from the shop of a protestant, and so vice versa. Where such ignoble

tenets prevail, it is virtue to be of no religion, but that

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