and, if they were in any degree vivacious, the vivacity ought to have been rendered graceful, by being accompanied with the noblest efforts of the intellect, of which, the efforts were going to cease for ever. The low vivacity of which we have been reading, seems but like the quickening corruption of a mind, whose faculty of perception is putrifying, and dissolving even before the body. It is true, that good men, of a high order, have been known to utter pleasantries in their last hours. But these have been pleasantries of a fine ethereal quality, the scintillations of animated hope, the high pulsations of mental health, the involuntary movements of a spirit, feeling itself free, even in the grasp of death, the natural springs and boundings of faculties, on the point of ohtaining a still much greater, and a boundless liberty. These had no resemblance to the low and laboured jokes of our philoso pher; jokes, so laboured, as to give strong cause for suspicion, after all, that they were of

purpose, Same nature, and for the same

purpose, as the expedient of a expedient of a boy, on passing through some gloomy place in the night, whistles to lessen his fear, or to pursuade his companion that he does not feel it.

3. Such a manner of meeting death was inconsistent with the scepticism, to

which Hume was always found to avow his adherence. For that scepticism necessarily acknowledged a possibility and chance, that the religion which he had scorned, might be found true, and might, in the moment after his death, glare upon him with all its terrors. But how dreadful to such a reflecting mind, would have been the smallest chance of meeting such a vision! Yet, our philosopher could be cracking his heavy jokes, and Dr. Smith, could be much diverted at the sport.

4. To a man who solemnly believes the truth of revelation, and, therefore, the threatenings of divine vengeance against the despisers of it, this scene will present as mournful a spectacle," ung porter sun ever shone upon. We have beheld a man of great talents, and invincible perseverance, entering on his career with the profession of an impartial inquiry after truth, met at every stage and step by the evidences and expostulations of religion, and the claims of his Creator, but devoting labours to the pursuit of fame, and the promotion of impiety, at length acquiring and accomplishing, as he declared himself, all he had intended and desired, and descending toward the close of life, midst tranquillity, widely extended reputation, and the homage of the great and learned. We behold him appointed soon to appear

before that judge to whom he had never alluded, but with entire malice or contempt; yet, preserving, to appearance, an entire selfcomplacency, idly jesting about his approaching dissolution, and mingling, with these insane sports, his reference to the fall of "superstition," a term of which, the meaning is hardly ever dubious, when expressed by such men. We behold him at last carried off, and we seem to hear, the next moment, from the darkness in which he vanishes, the shriek of surprize and terror, and the overpowering accents of the messenger of vengeance. On the whole globe there probably was not acting, at the time, so mournful a tragedy as that, of which the friends of Hume were the spectators, withwas any tragedy

at all.

If that barbarous old Charon would have permitted a century or two more of life, it is probable that Hume would have been severely mortified in viewing the effect of his writings against "superstition,

an

effect so much less than his vauity no doubt secretly anticipated. Indeed his strictly philosophical works seem to fall into utter neglect. The biographer justly observes, that though, very acute, they are not very lucid or systematical în point of reasoning; and they have none of that eloquence, which sometimes continues to

interest the general reader, in works that are becoming superannuated in the schools of philosophy. Many of his shorter essays will allways be read with much advantage; but his history, we need not say, is the basis of permanent reputation; and it will perpetuate the moral, as well as the intellectual cast of his mind; it will shew a nan indifferent to the welfare of mankind, contemptuous of the sublime feelings of moral and religious heroisin, incapable himself of all grand and affecting sentiments, and constantly cherishing a consumate arrogance, though often under the semblance and language of philosophic moderation."

Eclectic Review, 1808.

THE COCK-FIGHTER IN DESPAIR.

Joseph M-ge of the parish of Sy, near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, lived estranged from God, in a course of open rebellion and actual transgression against him, violating his law, trampling upon

his authority, and adding iniquity unto iniquity walking in the ways of his evil heart, and in the sight of his eyes; not considering that for all these things, God would bring him into judgment; and that he was treasuring up for himself wrath, against the day of wrath; Satan having blinded his eyes, and hardened his heart. It may be necessary to observe here, that amongst other vices, he was much addicted to the brutal practice of Cock-fighting.

of

When he was nearly thirty years age, it pleased God to afflict him with a violent fever, when there was little hope of his recovery. He now began to be alarmed; his conscience, which 'till this time, seemed to have been asleep, was roused; the fear of death was on every side, yea, the unutterable pangs of hell got hold of him, and the keenest sensibility of being exposed to eternal punishment constrained him to cry out in the bitterest anguish, uot so much for the pardon of his sins, as to have his life spared; for the thought of dwelling with everlasting burnings, which was all he dreaded, was what he could not endure. "O, said he, that God would spare me a little longer. O that he would suffer me to live, that I may turn to him, and become a new man." Many such things as these he uttered, when he thought death was approaching near him, and its terrors took