EXTRACT.
Nature gives us talents, it is education that applies them right or wrong. Nature bestows propensities and affections, which may be directed to good, either public or private. It is culture that improves or prevents them.
ON WEALTH.
Among the many advantages of wealth, that of being able to relieve the necessaries and indigencies of others is of the greatest value, and most to be prized. In what cla.s.s of men shall we place the hard-hearted, ungenerous rich man? Upon examination of human nature, avarice is no part of it; and so we shall be forced to list the covetous man among the monsters of this world.
Let the rich man indulge his appet.i.tes, and pursue his expences and superfluities, if he will; and let him enable his family to indulge themselves in the same way, if they are so inclined. But surely, then, he ought to make as many other people easy and comfortable as he can.
I am not, it is certain, obliged to pinch myself to remove other peoples pinchings; but if a ring on my little finger has charms enough in and about it to keep half a hundred families from starving, can I hesitate a single moment, whether or no I shall part with this useless bauble for that end? If a hundred or five hundred pounds will not make me retrench in any thing, nor interfere with the figure and circ.u.mstances of life that are proper for my family now, or when I am dead and gone, what can I do better than give it to some other person or family, who are obliged to live entirely below those circ.u.mstances they are born or bred to? How can I better employ it, than in raising the spirits, and rejoicing the heart of some melancholy, depressed poor man? I am mistaken, if the application of a few hundred pounds this way, would not give a truer sensation of joy and pleasure than fifty other things, which are often purchased at a very dear rate.
Be persuaded, then, ye rich and powerful, ye honourable and great, to do honourable things with the superfluity of your wealth.
Search after ingenious persons, root them out of obscurity, and obscurity out of them, and call the long-banished muses back to their antient habitation.
TRUE MEEKNESS.
Meekness, like most other virtues, has certain limits, which it no sooner exceeds than it becomes criminal. She who hears innocence maligned without vindicating it---falsehood a.s.serted without contradicting it,--or religion profaned without resenting it, is not gentle, but wicked.
Meekness is imperfect, if it be not both active and pa.s.sive; if it will not enable us to subdue our own pa.s.sions and resentments, as well as qualify us to bear patiently the pa.s.sions and resentments of others. If it were only for mere human reasons, it would turn to a profitable account to be patient; nothing defeats the malice of an enemy like the spirit of forbearance; the return of rage for rage cannot be so effectually provoking.
True gentleness, like an impenetrable armour, repels the most pointed shafts of malice: they cannot pierce through this invulnerable shield, but either fall hurtless to the ground, or return to wound the hand that shot them.
A meek spirit will not look out of itself for happiness, because it finds a constant banquet at home; yet, by a sort of divine alchemy, it will convert all external events to its own profit; and be able to deduce some good, even from the most unpromising; it will extract comfort and satisfaction, from the most barren circ.u.mstances; "it will suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock."
Meekness may be called the pioneer of all the other virtues, which levels every obstruction, and smooths every difficulty that might impede their entrance, or r.e.t.a.r.d their progress. Honours and dignities are transient;---beauty and riches frail and fugacious;---but this amiable virtue, is permanent. And surely the truly wise would wish to have some one possession, which they might call their own in the severest exigencies. This can only be accomplished by acquiring and maintaining that calm and absolute self-possession, which, as the world had no hand in giving, so it cannot, by the most malicious exertion of its power, take away.
[[Source:
"True and False Meekness" in Hannah More, _Essays Princ.i.p.ally Designed for Young Ladies_ (1777). "Compa.s.sion" (p. 401, no. 103) is from the same source.]]
NEW-YORK.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
The Editor thankfully acknowledges the receipt of the third excellent Essay of A. D.
The Acrostic of V. E. displays some merit, but the author cannot, with propriety, expect its insertion without some correction: The effusions of the Muse will ever find a hearty welcome attending their reception, when indiscriminately adapted for instruction, or not too pointedly addressed with extatic strains to an individual.
_METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS._ _From the 22d to the 28th inst._
_Thermometor observed at 6, A.M. 3, P.M._ _Prevailing winds._ _OBSERVATIONS on the WEATHER._
deg. deg. 6. 3. 6. 3.
100 100 Jan. 22 23 29 ne. nw. snow light wd. snow 23 27 50 37 sw. do. cloudy do. clear lt. wd.
24 26 41 w. do. clear light wind do. do.
25 20 27 nw. se. clear high wind do. lt. wd.
26 28 42 s. do. cloudy lt. wd. clear do.
27 36 45 50 sw. do. clear lt. wind, do. do.
28 39 46 sw. do. clear lt. wd. cloudy do.
FRIENDSHIP.
What greater blessing can kind Heav"n send Than a sincere, indulgent, tender friend!
What greater blessing can we ask than this?
The greatest, surely, of all earthly bliss.
What comfort is it, when the mind"s depress"d, To lodge our sorrows in a faithful breast!
TO A LADY, On her too great Affectation of Ornament.
Dear Mira, whence of late this studious care, As fashion bids, to braid thy flowing hair; With costly veils to shade thy snowy breast, And load with gorgeous fringe the sumptuous vest?
Why these perfumes that scent the ambient air?
Alas! all art must render thee less fair.
Each ornament from that celestial face Detracts a charm, and banishes a grace: Who on the violet can sweets bestow?
Or needs the rose with borrow"d colours glow?
Great Nature"s beauties ever reach the heart, And spurn the trivial aids of needless art.
No art directs the vernal bloom to blow, No art a.s.sists the murmering streams to flow, And the sweet songsters of the vocal grove, By art unaided, swell their throats to love.
Phbe and Elaira charm"d of old Fair Helen"s brothers, not with gems or gold; Idas with Phbus for Marpessa vied, But for her beauties, not her wealth he sigh"d, When G.o.dlike Pelops Hippodamia won, He panted for her virgin charms alone.
With native grace these nymphs inflam"d the heart, Unskill"d in ornament, devoid of art; In the sweet blush of modesty alone, And smiles of innocence attir"d, they shone.
Then needless artifice, dear maid, forbear What charms the lover best, adorns the fair.