ESSAYS, POEMS, &c. NUMBER I. With conftant motion as the moments glide, 'L' THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. IFE,' fays Seneca, is a voyage, in the progrefs of which we are perpetually changing our fcenes: we first leave childhood behind us, then youth, then the years of ripened manhood, then the better and more ⚫ pleasing part of old age.' The perusal of this paffage having incited in me a train of reflections on the state of man, the inceffant fluctuation of his wifhes, the gradual change of his difpofition to all external objects, and the thoughtleffness with which he floats along the ftream. VOL. IV. A 1 my me of time, I funk into a flumber amidst ditations, and on a fudden found my ears filled with the tumult of labour, the fhouts of alacrity, the fhrieks of alarm, the whistle of winds, and the dash of waters. My astonishment for a time repreffed my curiofity; but foon recovering myself so far as to enquire whither we were going, and what was the cause of such clamour and confufion, I was told that they were launching out into the ocean of life; that we had already paffed the ftreights of infancy, in which multitudes had perifhed, fome by the weakness and fragility of their veffels, and more by the folly, perverfenefs, or negligence of those who undertook to fteer them: and that we were now on the main fea, abandoned to the winds and billows, without any other means of fecurity than the care of the pilot, whom it was always in our power to choose among great numbers that offered their direction and affiftance. I then looked round with anxious eagernefs; and first turning my eyes behind me, faw a ftream flowing through flowery islands, which every one that failed along feemed to behold with pleasure; but no fooner touched, than the current, which, though not noify or turbulent, was yet irrefiftible, bore him away. Beyond these islands all was darkness, nor could any of the paffengers defcribe the fhore at which he firft embarked. Before me, and on each other fide, was an expanse of waters violently agitated, and covered with fo thick a mift, that the molt perfpicuous eye could fee but a little way. It appeared to be full of rocks. and whirlpools, for many funk unexpectedly while they were courting the gale with full fails, and infulting thofe whom they had left behind. So numerous, indeed, were the dangers, and fo thick the darknefs, that no caution could confer fecurity. Yet there were many who, by false intelligence, betrayed their followers into whirlpools, or by violence pushed those whom they found in their way against the rocks. The current was invariable and infurmountable; but though it was impoffible to fail against it, or to return to the place that was once paffed, yet it was not fo violent as to allow no opportunities for dexterity or courage, fince, though none could retreat back from danger, yet they might often avoid it by oblique direction. It was, however, not very common to steer with much care or prudence; for by fome univerfal infatuation, every man appeared to think himself safe, though he saw his conforts every |