emulation among all ranks and claffes in fociety, more especially among the commercial. Upon the whole, it is evidently for the intereft of both kingdoms, that the prefent bill fhould be deferred. Matters are not yet ripe enough for either country to avail itTelf of thofe advantages, which may be enjoyed on both fides in the course of ten or fifteen years hence, were every thing to remain in fatu quo; and were the confideration of the whole affair to be poftponed to that diftant period. New lights would then arife; new interefts and connections would be formed; and it is not improbable, but that the most violent oppofers of a real union would be then the moft zealous to promote it. At prefent, an alliance, such as is propofed by the bill now depending, may be truly faid to hang out falfe colours to both nations; for it buoys the Irish up with delufive hopes, which cannot be realized according to the fyftem now propofed; and it fills the English with terrors and panics, which have no foundation but in the artifice of the few, and the credulity of the many. Happily for the world, it is the prerogative of Providence to bring good out of evil. This may be clearly feen in a thoufand inftances; and it will be our faults (I include the Irish, as well as English), if we do not turn to our own profit and advantage the evil which is now before us. A real union and incorporation with Ireland is certainly a moft defirable thing; but, according to the prefent fituation of affairs, and men's tempers and difpofitions, this is an event more to be wished for, than to be expected. Neverthelefs, when many of thofe obftacles, which now appear fo formidable, shall be smoothed by the lenient hand of time, and when a mutual intercourfe between England and Ireland (according as above deferibed) fhall confer mutual benefits on each other; it will then be found, that the only thing remaining towards completing the commercial and political fyftem, and towards. giving firength and fecurity, confiftence and ftability to the whole, will be to unite under one legislature, to form one parliament, and to become ONE PEOPLE. Efay on Gentlemen. HE title of gentleman is fo generally Tchained, that a proper definition of the word cannot but be much wanted.We have gentlemen every where. Gentlemen at court. Gentlemen in hotels. Gentlemen in whiskey-fhops. Gentlemen wallowing in the mire. In short, every man is, or, what amounts to the fame purpofe, every man thinks bimfelf a gentleman: but few give themselves the trouble to act like gentlemen-They take up the name, as they put on their fine cloaths, without enquiring into the materials of which they are made. Óne fays, no man can be a gentleman but by birth-Formerly the epithet gentleman was applied only to those who inherited eflates, but that was when the diftinctions of fociety (which ftill fubfift in fome parts of the world) were three, nobles, gentlemen, and peasants. According to fome ideas of the word gentleman, I believe it will not be easy to conceive that any one can be born a gentleman- Nature makes men, indeed, and fends them into the world, but education must make gentlemen or brutes. But, if birth made gentlemen, how is it that fo many men of birth and family have lefs of the gentleman than their meaneft tradefman? Nay, fo little have they of the gentleman, that the point of their fword is abfolutely neceffary to perfuade mankind into a belief that they are gentlemen. The fword of fuch men is, therefore, very properly placed by the feat of honour. Others fuppofe, that riches make gentlemen. In all av obfervations I never could find a fact to juftify this affertion. Riches make fools of wife men. Riches make proud men. And riches deform our natures in many ways; but, I prefume, it will hardly ever be found that riches give politeness, affability, good fenfe, the art of pleafing, or any appurtenance to the character of a gentleman. The only use they are of, is to give confe quence, and even this is never with gentlemen, unlefs, indeed, gentlemen's gentlemen, or gentlemen at large, or any other gentlemen of a like caft. Some think that he who has no business is a gentleman. A gentleman is a character of merit. He who does nothing can have no merit. But a gentleman is a character of merit. Ergo, He who does nothing cannot be a gentleman. Of all the pretenfions to the character of a gentleman, this is undoubtedly the moft ridiculous-Becaufe a father has left a booby of a fon a thousand pounds per annum, free from trade, that fon, without one good qua lity in the whole catalogue of human virtues, is a gentleman. Becaufe Because a man has amaffed money, no matter how, and chufes to retire from bufinefs, he, forfooth, is a gentleman-That is-he has provided for himfelf, has nothing more to do, and therefore commences gentleman-in which amiable character, perhaps, he includes every vice that makes a character ridiculous. Thefe are gentlemen! as the man fays in the play-of the unbanged kind. Others are of opinion, that the outward forms of politeness are the conftituents of a gentleman. In this light, we have gentlemen hair-dreffers, and gentlemen apothecaries.A duke has by this definition no fuperiority over his valet, and the first courtier at the Caftle is on a par with one of the battleaxes. The common forms of politenefs are difficult to acquire by him who has not ftudied them early, and many men of the best sense have thought they may be difpenfed with, where there is true friendship and fincerity to fupply their room. There may be other fentiments concerning the character of gentlemen which I do not at prefent recollect. But, after all, fince the tyrannical diftinctions of flavery and defpotifin are abolifhed, fince we live in a country wherein freedom gives to every man the power to fhine in wisdom and virtue; fince the value of virtue, and the miferies attendant on vice are daily obferved and known, let us establish a definition of the word gentleman, by fay ing, that every man of integrity is a gentle man-if to integrity he join urbanity and learning, let us pronounce him a finished gen tleman. It is eafy to fee that all the purse-proud gentlemen will rife up in vengeance against this definition--But, who are they? A fet of men permitted to exift on the earth merely for the purpofe of fhewing how abfurdly riches may be beftowed, and for the purpofe of making a curfe of what might be a bleffing. The men of honour, likewife, will cry out against us-But, who are they? Enquire at the Curragh, and in the feyeral gaming-houses, and, for further particulars, fearch the annals of bagnios, hazardtables, and kips. Well, gentle reader, if neither of thefe will part with their feveral opinions of gentlemen, we muft e'en be content with our own, and establish, as extenfively as we can, a new fet of gentlemen, who, nevertheless, fhall not ufurp the privilege of the purse. proud, or the bully-gentlemen. They will neither refufe affiftance to merit in diftrefs, nor protect a ftrumpet from the whippingpoft-They will neither wafte their eftates in gaming, nor in racing-nor will they affoci ate with gentlemen of that defcription, who are never fo truly rewarded as at the gallows They will never burden their confciences with murder, nor their lands with mortgages-And yet, in spite of all these advantageous characteristics, the gentlemen I propofe fhall vie with the others; aye, and beat them too, at a game of happiness, peace, and comfort. The Chapel. "The Prieft, who knows the ftate of fouls 66 gone hence, "For e'er confined in Purgatory's gloom, " For gold alone, makes prayers to free "them thence, "To tread in groves where flowers for 66 every bloom." PASST try YK. y chapel, the pathway running clofe ASSING within a few yards of a counby the fide of it, curiofity led me to take a enter a building of that kind, let it belong peep at what was going forward. As I never to what fect it may, without a degree of with gentle ftep to the further end of it :— reverence and refpect, I ftole foftly and On one fide of me, was the altar, and, on the other, a large ftone tray-like veffel of triangular form, full of Holy Water. -was deli What a bleffed fituation was I in!A little old Mendicant, of about seventy— (for fo I judged him to be, from the world who was ftanding, like a little Monarch, of refpect he paid to the Priest of the parish, in pontificalibus, at his elbow)vering a fermon, in the Irish language, to a large congregation of country folk, who were quite in raptures at the good man's piety, learning and knowledge of their language:-The Prieft himself deign'd to give audience were bewitched with him. a nod or two of approbation:-The whole After haranguing them fome time, on volence-for fo his countenance and action the fubject of Charity and Chriftian beneindicated, but I knew not a word he faid-he cluded his difcourfe. ftopt, and a general fecula feculorum con I was not miftaken, when I conceived force the grand object of Chriftian benevothe main point of his addrefs tended to enlence; for, he was fcarcely retired three prepared his lungs for an oration, and, fteps from whence he ftood, till his patron mounting a couple of fteps higher from his former polition, began THE HARANGUE. "Now you have all heard this day, my lads, (now tho' he only ftil'd them lads, he had all ages and fexes in the multitude) Ggg 2 what a bleffed fine difcourfe this holy man "Put me down a thirteen!" fhouted an old, hoarfe, miferly-looking fellow, in one corner. The Prieft looked for him that Spoke "Oh! honest Bartle the hawker, is that you? 'Pon my word, honest Bat, you are a very great rogue, and I'm afraid you'll never be better; but this good man hall pray for you:-Put him down a fhil ling;-we'll try him-we'll try him "Who next?". pleafe your Reverence," faid the clerk, I have a mind to try him; but I'm fure he'll never be better. Come here, you de vil! come here; are not you very forry for what you did? 'Pon my word, I'm you are. -Well, go along, for this he; but, the longeft day you live, never steal my goofe again !" "Put me down a groat! Denis Lawler, the brogue-maker.""Oh! my poor Denis, is that you?-God fend you good bufinefs, my poor Denis, and foon!-a groat! oh, Denis, Denis, you must be put down fixpence, Denis, and, 'pon my word, you'll foon have good bufinefs-you'll find my word come true before May-day." "There is a pretty modeft looking lady" (faid he in a loud whisper to the Friar)upon my word, fhe's a pretty gentlewo Put me down two-and-eightpence, Sir," faid fhe, blushing-" There, my dear Sir, did not I tell you the was charitable?-God Almighty bless you, Madam, and fend a good husband !--this blessed man fhall pray for one for you;-pray for her, dear Sir!". "Put me down eight-pence!" exclaimed a poor kitchen maid, who ftood next the modeft lady." There's a pattern for you all, you jades," faid the Prieft,"God fend you good luck, young woman, 'pon my word, you'll be a cook before "Put me down fixpence," exclaimed an May-day; 'pon my word, this blessed man old woman" Oh! Molly Bettle, the fhall pray for you:-Put her down two<wash-woman! are you there?" God fend and-eight-pence? ." O Lord! your Reyou ftrong arms, my poor Molly !- your verence! it was eight pence only I faid," husband was a very great rogue; but he is "Eight-pence! why what's your name!" gone to heaven, and 'pon my word, you'll" Moll Connor, please your Reverence,' foon go there yourself, my poor Molly!" Oh! is that Moll Connor? the arranteft and you have a fine little boy, God Almighty make him a better man than his father, for he was a very great rogue”. "Holla! put me down a thirteen!-John Carrah.". "Oh! Mr. John 'pon my word you're the greateft rogue in my flock; --you stole two girls out of the parish, Mr. John, and you was excommunicated, Mr. John;-and 'pon my word you'll never be better while you live:-but we'll try-we'll try;-how much, do you fay; a fhilling!you must be put down nineteen-pence; you are a very bad man, and I believe you'll never be better::--- -but put him down-put him down:-pray for him, Sir, pray for him. "Oh you thief of the world! what brings you there! exclaimed his Reverence, at a poor fellow who had his head thruft under an old man's arm by way of a screen. "What brings you here?-You'll never go to heaven;-you thief, you ftole my goofe Jaft Michaelmas, you did, you villain!What's that he's muttering to himself?". "Bidding me put him down a fhilling, ftrumpet breathing! why, you jade, you had two baftards by the excifeman, laft Midfummer; and you broke your mother's heart with grief last Lammas! Eightpence! you brazen ftrap, how dare you ftand by fuch a charitable modeft lady!go ftand behind the door this moment,and, do you hear! put her down a fhilling: We'll fave her foul if we can,-pray for her;-mind, her name's Moll Connor. "Who is that there?-Why does not he come forward?"-" Oh! Mr. Brien Malone!-'pon my word, I have had pretty accounts of you, Mr. Brien! you beat your wife with the handle of your fiail, laft Friday night; and you dragged your father out of bed, when he was anointed, laft Whitfuntide, for the ague; and you put your goffip's goat to pound!- What's that you'r pulling out, friend?"-"Only two thirteens, your Reverence !"-" Why, Brien, I don' know, I believe your neighbours te' of you;-I have known you-let m. thefe-thefe-three-and-twenty years, in my parish, man and boy, and you were always |