On the Revolutions of Opinion. before it is capable to comprehend itWho that does but obferve the maa prejudices that are inculcated, anticip WHOEVER has habituated himself ting reafon, in the infant mind, and to compare his fentiments at different periods, upon the fame, or approximated fubjects, cannot fail to have had repeated occafions to obferve the revolutions of opinion, and the inftability of human judgment. In short, every thing in the human fyftem feems addicted to change. Our very appetites languifh with defire at one period, for what is offenfive to them at another, our taftes, our favourite recreations, vary with almoft every revolving fun; the ufeful and the neceffary become inconvenient and fuperfluous, as new lights of experience are acquired, or new modifications of fpeculation are adopted; that which was once reasonable becomes abfurd, and the fuppofed abfurdity itself, upon more perfect acquaintance, is adopted as rationality and truth; nay even right and wrong change fides, not unfrequent ly, in our minds, and we exult at one time in an action, which at another we fhould have remembered with all the bitterness of remorse. For my own part, I confefs there are fome political prejudices, I fhould once have thought it my duty to defend with my life, which now I regard it as the duty of a good citizen to explode; and with refpect to affairs which fome will deem of ftill higher importance, I have relinquished (upon mature deliberation) fome golden profpects of emolument and ambition, because my mind revolted with horror at the idea of propagating opinions, I fhould once have thought it blafphemy to doubt. Shallow-headed obftinacy may perhaps fneer at this inconftancy of mind; but I am confcious that I am by no means fingular in this refpect; and that the only perfons who never change opinions, are thofe who never formed an opinion of their own, nor had vigour enough of mind to dare to question what was tranfmitted to them. For who that does but obferve how many prejudices are inculcated-for every opinion, whether true or falfe, is a prejudice with refpect to the mind that adopts it without pre-examination, or Hib. Mag. Jan. 1793. reflects on the bias of fentiment, which early communication cannot fail to produce, can wonder that the human judgment, when it has courage to break its leading ftrings; when, ftimulated by the love of truth, it burfts its narrow boundaries, and dares to make excurfions into the regions of enquiry; should find a two-fold labour to encounter,' and have to relinquish as well as to acquire? Nor is this the only fource of that diverfity of opinion fo frequently to be remarked, at different periods, even in individuals of the ftrongeft mind. Almost every mental, as well as cvery vifual, object has to many varied alpects, that it is almoft impoflible not to behold it in different lights, from the different points of view, in which it is prefented at different periods to our obfervation: and, in fhort, it would fometimes be rather a proof of the caprice, than of the fleadiness, of our judgment, dia we behold all these various afpects with the fame complacency. With refpect to the works of tafte, in particular, how various are the points of view in which they may be examined! The economift may confider them as objects of extravagance, and, thence, may condemn them, as among the pernicious luxuries that injure the ftate; while the man of more enlarged commercial views, on the contrary, arguing from data which the former has not nad the means of acquaintance with, may hail them as additional fources of national opulence. The man of tafte and elegance may think only of the fplendour of genius they difplay, and the pleasure which their contemplation imparts; while he to whom Nature has denied thefe fine perceptions, may regard the time as devoted to objects not effential to fociety, and think a carpenter or a bricklayer more worthy of encouragement than their moft ingenious profef fors: and the hiftorical moralift, when he obferves the periods at which they have been moft encouraged in the refpective empires of the world, may be C inclined inclined to confider them as the ominous indications of national profligacy, and degeneracy of public fpirit; while the political philofopher, on the contrary, as he rifes from facts to their caufes, difcovers them (as they divert a part of that time and opulence, which would otherwife be diffipated in more fenfual purfuits, and lefs laudable expences) to have a tendency diametrically oppofite to that inferred, forming a temporary barrier againft that inundation of voJuptuoufnefs, which is too apt to break in upon a flate, whofe affluence and refinement have arrived at a fufficient height for their improvement. Though it is true, that there is no great likelihood of the fame individual being influenced, in the courfe of his life, by the prejudices or advantages, alternately of all thefe different characters, yet it is evident that circumftances may readily enough fo turn out, that connection, purfuits of life, and the various flages of mental improvement may have fhewn him fome particular fubject, at feveral periods, in feveral of the different points of view; and when we reflect on the uneafinefs of doubt, and the confequent promptitude of the human mind to give a decided opinion, we cannot wonder at the different judgments of the fame object, which the fame perfon will at different times pronounce: not because the fame premifes will not always command the fame conclufions, but because the mind had not always the opportunities of the fame extensive view of the fubject. fighed for the heart of Almoran, the Almoran and Selima were not more diftinguished for their excellent quali-' ties, than for their mutual paffion; and as neither of them had any parents to oppofe their wishes, a day was appointed for the celebration of their nuptials, to the univerfal joy of their refpective friends. Almoran, impatient for the happy moment, was inceffantly feafting his imagination with vifionary raptures. Selima not lefs impatient, though more reftrained in her expreffions of the approaching felicity, painted equally warm to her fancy, the blissful fociety of all the held dear. But how vain and vifionary the expectations of a mortal? While the lovers were thus enhancing the prefent, by the moft pleafing reflections on the future, an order arrived at Bagdad, commanding Selima to attend at the court of the Caliph, who had, for fome time paft, been entertained with various reports of her unparalleled beauty, and wanted to fee, whether the encomiums of which all were lavith, were correfpondent to reality, or the more effu Almoran and Selima; An Oriental fions of exaggeration. Neither her re Tale. IN the city of Bagdad lived Almoran, Among a variety of virgins who ligion nor her allegiance could allow Selima to difpute a moment the orders of the Commander of the Faithful, who was worthipped, with implicit reverence, by all his people, as the lineal fucceffor of the facred Prophet. Scima, therefore, was conveyed immediately, with a bleeding heart, to the palace; and the inftant the Caliph beheld her, fhe was declared the favourite fultana. Language cannot fpeak the anguifh of the two lovers, thus unexpectedly torn for ever from each other. The moment moment Almoran heard that the heart of the Caliph was captivated by Selima, he regarded life with indifference and even deteftation; and, unable to support the inexpreffible agonies of his mind, he confidered the Angel of Death as the only minifter of repofe. For two days and two nights, he wandered in a ftate of diftraction, in the different rooms of his houfe; invoking, in a thousand intervals of defperation, the name of his irrevocably-loft Selima. At last, becoming fomewhat calmer, he began to review the various occurrences of his life, in order to difcover in what inftance he could have given Mahomet fuch unpardonable offence, as to meet with a punishment fo infufferably fevere. After ruminating a long time, and finding nothing to reproach himself with but fome youthful indifcretions, which had been more than expiated by thousand virtuous actions, he infenfibly dropped upon one knee, and thus began to expoftulate with the Supreme Governor of All: Thou Great Creator of the Univerfe, who fitteft enthroned above the feven heavens, mercifully look down upon the moft wretched of mankind, who has, neverthelefs, conftantly maintained the moft profound veneration for thy holy laws. Tell him, O thou infinitely High! inform him, O thou ineffably Juft, why he, who has ever made it the ftudy of his life to deferve thy approbation, is doomed to fuffer what the most impious violater of thy divine will would confider as a punishment too fevere for the most atrocious of his crimes?' Almoran had fcarcely uttered thefe words, when the loud thunder fhook the house, and an extraordinary brightnefs illumined the room. When he had recovered himself a little from the aftonifhment into which this wonderful vifitation threw him, a voice, awful as the trumpet of heaven thus addreffed him: Arraign no more, mistaken man, the juftice and goodnets of the Supreme Being, who, although he acts by fecret fprings and feeming feverities, is ever attentive to the happiness of the virtuous, and perfectly confiftent in all his laws. Know, Almoran, that this world is a render tranfitory bubble, that must foon burst upon the ocean of time; that life, at beft, is but a fhort voyage, in which every paffenger muft expect fome difagreeable gales, in order to prove the fincerity and conftancy of his dependence on Infinite goodnefs, and to himfelf worthy of entering into an everlafting port. Without fome tempefts in the ocean of life, the tide of profperity would frequently fwell the creature into a forgetfulness of the Creator, and reduce him to a more dangerous fituation than that into which the moft tremendous ftorms could plunge him—a total indifference to his God. In mercy, therefore, to man, a vareity of fhoals, and rocks, and quickfands are, thrown in his way, to keep alive, in this world, a conftant fenfe of his dependence on the Divine Being, and to enable him to fteer his bark aright, that in a future ftate he may arrive at everlafting happiness. But exclufive of this general order in the ftate of things, know, Almoran, that it is because thou art a favourite of Heaven, that Selima was torn from thy arms. Know, O man, and fhudder at the thought, that thy intended bride was thy fifter. Thy father Ibrahim, in a journey to Balfora, was admitted to the Cadi's wife, and the fruit of their guilty commerce was Selima. Almoran, be comforted: I have vitited Selima, and given her the fame information and the fame advice. She is at ease; do thou remain fo too; never more doubt the goodness of Providence, who from feeming evil conftantly educes good, and will never fail, (at leaft in another ftage of exiftence) ultimately to reward thofe who regard with an uncealing affiance, the various difpenfations of their benevolent Creator.' Almoran, thus admonished, was taught refignation and acquiefcence. The ardour of his paffion for the loft Selima fubfided into the gentle tendernefs of recollection, which did not prevent, a few years afterward, the indulgence of a virtuous affection for another amiable object, who, though inferior in beauty to Selima, was inferior to her in all the virtues of the mind. To her Almoran was united. not 20 the With her he lived many years in hap- views, through groves of trees, that pinefs, and left a blooming offspring thrive remarkably well, though fo near who fucceeded to his virtues and his the fea. A little river, called Owun-afortune. The eldest of these, who at- Varaa, bounds the demefne on tained to the dignity of Grand Vizier fouth, and, paffing through the imto the Caliph Haroun Alrafchid, ordered provements, in a variety of agreeable this memorable hiftory to be recorded windings, lofes itself in the fea here. in the annals of Bagdad:-to teach the The advantages of wood and water, erring mortal, that would wander com- which Courtown enjoys in a very pecufortels through the gloomy fhades of liar manner, render it one of the most fearful apprehenfion and tormenting elegant feats in this county. On a rising miftruft, that the Moft High reigneth ground, near the grand entrance is over all, ever-prefent and omnifcient; Profpect church, lately built, which atthat he regardeth all his creatures with tracts the attention of the traveller, from unceafing benignity; that his moft fe- its fine fituation, and neat fimplicity: vere difpenfations (productive as they the fteeple was erected at the fole exmay appear to be of momentary infe- pence of Lord Courtown, who alfo conlicity) tend, in their final iffue, to the good of all his creatures, and, more particularly of thofe who fincerely endeavour to merit his favour and protection, by the unceafing fentiments of piety and unremitted exertions of virtue. A Tour through the County of Wexford, tributed largely towards the building of the church. Near this is Kilbride, an elegant feat of the Hon. and Rev. Dean Stopford; a gentleman who bears a most amiable character.-About two miles from Courtown, I paffed Seafield, the feat of the Rev. Dean Bond; and about a quarter of a mile further, I beheld, with concern, a waste-house, which, Í was informed, was, in January 1786, the fcene of a moft barbarous and cruel murder, committed on the body of Mrs. Hughes; but, through the activity (Concluded from our Mag. for Dec. 1792, of John Hunter Gowan, Efq. § two of p. 488.) N the road between Ballicanow and ON Middleton, I was politely accofted by Mr. White, who, finding me to be a ftranger, very civilly asked me to take a bed at his houfe; this I readily accepted This gentleman of, as it was late. keeps a few excellent hunters, and a dafhing pack of hounds, with which he hunts regularly twice a week. Next morning, after breakfast, Mr. White to Courobligingly accompanied me town, the delightful feat of the Right Hon. Lord Courtown*. The houfe (which is not remarkable) is fituated within a fmall diftance of the fea, of which it commands many beautiful NOTE. * This nobleman's chief refidence is in London. He is treasurer of his majefty's houthold, knight of St. Patrick, privy counsellor in both kingdoms, of parliament for Marlbo a the affaffins were taken, and fuffered that punishment they fo juftly merited. Mr. Gowan was complimented with two elegant pieces of plate, with fuitable infcriptions, by the theriff and gentlemen who compofed the grand jury, at the following affizes. This gentleman has fhewn himself fo very active on this and fimilar occafions, that government has allowed him a penfion of one hundred pounds a year during his life. I could with every perfon who has penfions on this eftablishment, would do as much to deferve them as this gentleman has done. I am now within two miles of Gorey, where I began my fmall Tour. I rext paffed on to Arklow, by the fea, having on my left hand, a large Hill, called Tarra Hill, on which fome improveNOTE. § Mr. Gowan has an elegant feat about three miles from Gorey, called Mount Nebo, I had no opportunity of ments have lately been made by a Mr. William Smith, an eminent Land Surveyor, who refides on the verge of this hill near the road. This County may boaft of being the birth-place of the Glorious, VOLUNTEERS of IRELAND, who were the pride and ornament of our country; who have refcued it from bondage and difgrace; whofe virtues the Hiftorian will tranfmit with merited esteem and veneration to pofterity. In the year 1773 or 1774, Vefey Colclough,Efq. raifed a corps of Volunteers in and about the neighbourhood of Enniscorthy: his example was followed by Ifaac Cornick, Efq. whofe chief reafon for raifing them, was, to fupprefs evening, much fatigued after my excurfion. you Thus, my dear Sir, have I given you an account of my Tour through the County of Wexford, which I hope will afford fome little amufement; if fo, I have my wish. To the inhabitants of the County of Wexford, I return my fincere thanks, and muft confefs, fo much hofpitality, attention, and civility, I never experienced than I did among them. An Account of Mr. Ruffell's Journey from Gibraltar to Sallee, Mequinez, and Fex, and of his Return back again by Way of Tangier; beginning the 7th of June 1729, and ending the 10th of Auguft following. Magazine.) the White Boys, which at that time (Continued from Page 516 of our Dec. overrun the County,committing numberlefs outrages, fuch as, Firing houses, cropping people's ears off, Burying peo ple alive, &c. many of the Rioters were taken, who fuffered death.-I had fome converfation with a woman in Newtown Barry, who had both her ears taken off by these Gentry. Before the year 1783, many Volunteer companies, both horfe and foot, were railed in this County; and the Right Hon. George Ogle, one of its Representatives in Parliament, was chofen General, which was the higheft poffible mark of refpect they could beftow on that diftinguished character. This County contains eight Baronies, namely, 1. Ballaghkeen; 2. Bantry; 3. Bargy; 4. Forth; 5. Gorey; 6. Scarawalfh; 7. Shelburne; and 8. Shelmaliere:8 Boroughs; viz. 1 Bannow; 2 Clonmines; 3 Enniscorthy; 4 Feathard; 5 Gorey; 6 New-Rofs; 7 Taghmon; and 8 Wexford; and 109 Parishes. Í dined in Arklow at the houfe of a Mr. Rudd, who keeps an Inn in this town; after dinner I asked him to take a glass of wine with me, which he did, and affure you I was very agreeably entertained by him, till it was my hour of going to bed. Next morning about 5 o'clock, I pursued my journey towards the city, where I arrived late that July 11th. Tbreak Mr. Ruffel heard a great noife at his door, and, on enquiry, what it could mean, was told, that there were near a thousand guards, grooms, and ftable-fweepers, waiting for their part (as they called it) of what Mr. Ruffell was to give them. Upon which he fent for his great friend (as he profeft himfelf) Alcayde Aly, who, when he came, told him, that they were people daily employed by the Emperor, that they muft be difpatched, and that he advised him to do it in the best manner poffible, and not to fuffer them to reflect on him, for it might come to the Emperor's ears; fo that Mr. Ruffell found himself under a neceffity of giving them fome money, and complimenting every one by the name of " Sabo," which is as much as to fay Friend. As foon as thefe were gone, there came fome perfons of better diftinction, introduced by Alcayde Larbe: Blanquils went down with the others, but these must have gold, being fent by the Emperor to compliment Mr. Ruffell, or rather, more properly speaking, to pick his pocket. Thefe went away feemingly fatisfied; after whom came eight fecretaries, to write two letters and the articles of peace, who all infifted on their thare; |