certain, though often unobserved, ravages of these, and such like, fell destroyers.

From all which, and from all similar evils, your petitioners humbly pray for effectual and permanent relief.

To AMICUS, an epithalamium

Permit a friend, whose melancholy view
Of life's dark vista turns his thoughts to you:
Permit him to indulge the cheering sight
Of happiness like yours to cross his night.
He joyous views your bright meridian sun
Rolling as cloudless, as its course begun;
Successive years beholds, with blessings fraught,
Off'ring to merit honors, tho' unsought.
When happiness extends inviting arms,

Who would, for glittring honours, lose her charms :
Let those whose homes with no allurements shine
Be the sole vot'ries at ambition's shrine:

For thee, her lures are exercis'd in vain,
The love of home their purpose will restrain.
Fancy, prophetick, paints the happy scene
Thy home will prove, when years shall intervene :
A lovely circle shews their parent's pride,
Whose wholsome precepts and examples guide:
Their lisping prattle and a fond wife's smile
Shall banish sorrow-" all thy cares beguile".
As long as life, thy happiness shall last,
And happier far I trust when that is past.
Adieu! thy happy prospects ever cheer
A soul as dark as night, as desert drear;
On whose dark desert Envy ne'er shall reign,
That strives to mar the bliss it can't attain.

EDWIN.

LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS

BEHOLD this rose which spreads
Its leaves so fresh and fair,
And sweetest fragrance sheds
Upon the ambient air!

In beauty now arrayed,
It charms the admiring eye;
But soon its hue will fade,
Its loveliness will die.

This may thine emblem prove,
Thou too may'st soon decay;
For not our fondest love

The approach of Death can stay.

His harbinger, Disease,
Before thee soon may stand,
And all thy glories seize
With pale and ruthless hand.

Thy form, the funeral pall
May hide in deepest gloom,
And tears of sorrow fall
Upon thine early tomb.

But Hope directs thine eyes
Beyond this dreary night;
A glorious morn shall rise,
Decked with immortal light.

Then like the buds that bloom
Where late this rose was seen,
'Thy form shall life resume,
And spring to light serene.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We should be pleased to be able to present our readers with something more from the pen of Perilla.

Amelia's Reply to Ludovico shall be inserted with pleasure.

P. W's Communication is before us. To say the least, it has the merit of being original-a trait, which unfortunately, is not possessed by two or three of the previous favours, received from the same person, though under different signatures.

THE MICROSCOPE.

EDITED BY A FRATERNITY OF GENTLEMEN.

NEW-HAVEN, (CONN.) PUBLISHED BY A. H. MALTBY & CO.

No. 24.]

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1820.

It moves me more perhaps than folly ought,

When some green heads, as void of wit as thought,
Suppose themselves monopolists of sense,

And wiser men's ability, pretence.

Cowper.

IT has often been remarked, that men of studious habits do not always exhibit that superiority in conversation, which might be expected, from their high attainments in learning. Seen through the medium of their works, or as they are represented by some intimate, who is able to appreciate their talents, they appear giants in intellect; seen in a polite cir cle, they exhibit evident marks of imbecility in their colloquial efforts.

The deficiency alluded to, is produced by different causes in different individuals.

One of these causes may be a want of familiarity with company-The person may be one, who is sensible, that certain rules of conduct have been established in polished society, and yet is ignorant of these rules-or if he has made himself acquainted with the etiquette and ceremonials of good manners, yet from the want of familiarity with the application of these rules in his own personal conduct, this very acquaintance, may embarrass him by making him the more sensible of the sins against the graces, which he is constantly committing. Perhaps he is brought before a bright array of beauty; or is placed in a circle of polished gentlemen, who have been so long hackneyed in all the complimentary expressions and current phrases of company, that every tone and inflection which Walker himself would have used, comes unbidden: thus sit

uated, his mind is as much cramped in its operations, as ever was the fine form of a lady, by the shape-compelling corset; and instead of being able to convey a deep and copious stream into the general current of conversation, he can afford only a scanty and intermitting supply.

A second cause may be too high a standard of taste. By elevating the standard of taste, the difficulties of accomplishing an object in which taste is concerned are enhanced, “despair cuts the sinews of exertion," and what might have been performed in a respectable manner is left unattempted, because complete success, is unattainable. There are innumerable instances of men of uncultivated minds and that too in the higher professions, who are useful, and to some extent, respectable. They are neither pained by the perception of present defects, nor by the recollection of past blunders. Elevate their taste, make them sensible of their defects and unless you raise the other powers of their mind in proportion, a sense of their defects will press so heavily on their feelings, that they will be discouraged from making exertions; and they thus become less useful and less respectable, than if they had blundered on in blissful ignorance. The student may be one who has cultivated his taste, much more than his inventive powers, in conversation: he may have heard of the "full flow of London talk ;" he may have made himself familiar with the best specimens of elegant conversation, as they appear in genteel comedy, or in scenes from real life; compared with the high standard he has formed, his own remarks appear tame and insipid, and he is ready to settle down on the conclusion that he must be content, with the humble admiration of excellence, without endeavouring to attain it.

An additional one may be his ignorance of the topics of fashionable conversation, and his fear of incurring the charge of pedantry by introducing his favourite studies in company. I have some where seen it stated, that Boscovich, was the only philosopher that ever succeeded in introducing the sciences to which he was devoted, into mixed company in such a manner

that they could enter with ease and interest into the discussions and not feel their pride wounded by his decided superiority, Mankind dislike even the appearance of a display of learning. The traveller may talk of the different places he has visited, the curiosities he has seen; may display his knowledge of the manners and customs of different nations, which he has gained by actual inspection. But this in a mixed company is not deemed ostentation. The soldier may describe his battles, and victories and all the "pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," with a free use of military terms, without incurring the charge of ostentation. The sailor may in his descriptions go through his whole vocabulary of technical terms, and yet give no offence. But if a student, in the same situation, makes use of the terms of science and literature, and brings up to view his extensive attainments; the general cry is pedantry, pedantry. I was once in company with a gentleman of handsome literary attainments but of retired habits, who appeared to be unable to enter into conversation. He could not strike the joke which flew backwards and forwards like a shuttlecock. He could not analyze the beauty of a reticule, nor enter into the distinction between Nankin and Canton crapes, nor into the mysteries of real Merino shawls. One of the ladies, apparently from compassion, introduced some topic of literature: He seized upon it with avidity, and for a few minutes, they held a very animated discussion. The other ladies at first sat in silence, occasionally looking at each other but without discovering a single ray of feeling. Their faces however soon showed something more than apathy: though they smiled; yet there was something lurking in that smile, which put to flight all the graces that hovered round their lips. They appeared to feel that such topics should be proscribed in polite circles. What then could he say? His knowledge of the deflections of Greek verbs, does not assist him in following the digressions (pardon me ladies) in conversation his knowledge of Chemistry does not enable him to infuse into his remarks the "magic of politeness." There is no affinity between the attraction of matter and the attraction

:

And