the ignorant. A variety of other thoughts croud on my mind at that peculiar inftant, but they all vanish by the time I return home.-If, in a cold night, I fwiftly travel in my fledge, carried along at the rate of twelve miles an hour, many are the reflections excited by furrounding circumstances. I ask myfelf what fort of an agent is that which we call frost? Our minifter compares it to needles, the points of which enter our pores. What is become of the heat of the fummer? In what part of the world is it that the N.W. keeps thefe grand magazines of nitre? When I fee, in the morning, a river over which I can travel, that, in the evening before, was liquid, I am astonished indeed!-What is become of thofe millions of infects which played in our fummer fields and in our evening meadows? They were fo puny and fo delicate, the period of their existence was fo fhort, that one cannot help wondering how they could learn, in that fhort space, the fublime art to hide themselves and their offspring in so perfect a manner as to baffle the rigour of the feason, and preserve that precious embryo of life, that fmall portion of ethereal heat, which, if once destroyed, would deftroy the fpecies! Whence that irrefiftible propenfity to fleep, fo common in all those who are feverely attacked by the froft! Dreary as this feafon appears, yet it has, like all others, its miracles. It prefents to a -man a variety of problems which he can never refolve. Among the reft, we have here a fet of fmall birds which never appear until the fnow falls. Contrary to all others, they dwell and appear to delight in that element.

It is my bees, however, which afford me the most pleafing and extenfive themes. Let me look at them when I will, their government, their induftry, their quarrels, their pafii

ons, always present me with fomething new; for which reafon, when weary with labour, my common place of reft is under my locuft trees, clofe by my bee-house. By their movements I can predict the weather, and can tell the day of their swarming; but the most difficult point is, when on the wing, to know whether they want to go to the woods or not. If they have previously pitched in fome hollow trees, it is not the allurements of falt and water, of fennel, hickory-leaves, &c. nor the finest box that can induce them to ftay. They will prefer those rude, rough habitations, to the best polished mahogany hive.

When that is the cafe with mine, I feldom thwart their inclinations. It is in freedom that they work. Were I to confine them, they would dwindle away and quit their labour. In fuch excurfions we only part for a while. I am generally fure to find them again the following fall. This elopement of theirs only adds to my recreations. I know how to deceive even their fuperlative inftinct. Nor do I fear lofing them, though eighteen miles from my house, and lodged in the most lofty trees in the molt impervious of our forefts. I once took you along with me in one of thefe rambles, and yet you infist on my repeating the detail of our operations. It brings back into my mind many of the useful and entertaining reflections with which you fo happily beguiled our tedious hours.

After I have done fowing, by way of recreation, I prepare for a week's jaunt in the woods, not to hunt either the deer or the bears, as my neighboars do, but to catch the more harmless bees. I cannot boast that this chace is fo noble or fo famous among men, but I find it lefs fatigueing, and full as profitable; and the laft confideration is the only one that moves me. I take with me my dog, as a companion, for he is ufelefs as to

this game; my gun, for no man you know ought to enter the woods without one; my blanket, fome provifions, fome wax, vermillion, honey, and a fmall pocket-compafs. With thefe implements I proceed to fuch woods as are at a confiderable diftance from any fettlements. I carefully examine whether they abound with large trees; if fo, I make a fmall fire, on fome flat ftones, in a convenient place. On the fire I put fome wax: close by this fire, on ano ther ftone, I drop honey in diftinct drops, which I furround with fmall quantities of vermillion, laid on the fone; and then I retire carefully to watch whether any bees appear. If there are any in that neighbourhood, I reft affured that the fmell of the burnt wax will unavoidably attract them. They will foon find out the honey, for they are fond of preying on that which is not their own; and, in their approach, they will neceffarily tinge themselves with fome particles of vermillion, which will adhere long to their bodies. I next fix my compafs, to find out their course, which they keep invariably straight, when they are returning home loaded. By the affiftance of my watch, I observe how long thofe are returning which are marked with vermillion. Thus, poffeffed of the course, and, in fome measure, of the distance, which I can eafily guess at, I follow the first, and feldon fail of coming to the tree where those republics are lodged. I then mark it; and thus, with patience, I have found out fometimes eleven swarms in a season; and it is inconceivable what a quantity of honey these trees will fometimes afford. It entirely depends on the fize of the hollow, as the bees never reft nor fwarm till it is all replenished; for, like men, it is only the want of room that induces them to quit the mater

nal hive. Next I proceed to fome of the nearest fettlements, where I procure proper affistance to cut down the trees, get all my prey fecured, and then return home with my prize. The first bees I ever procured were thus found in the woods by mere accident; for, at that time, I had no kind of skill in this method of tracing them. The body of the tree being perfectly found, they had lodged themselves in the hollow of one of its principal limbs, which I carefully fawed off, and, with a good deal of labour and industry, brought it home, where I fixed it up in the fame pofition in which I found it growing. This was in April. I had five fwarms that year, and they have been ever fince very profperous. This business generally takes up a week of my time every fall, and to me it is a week of folitary eafe and relaxation.

The feed is by that time committed to the ground. There is nothing very material to do at home, and this additional quantity of honey enables me to be more generous to my home bees, and my wife to make a due quantity of mead. The reafon, Sir, that you found mine better than that of others, is, that he puts two gallons of brandy in each barrel, which ripens it, and takes off that fweet, lufcious tafte, which it is apt to retain a long time. If we find any where in the woods, no matter on whofe land, what is called a beetree, we must mark it. In the fall of the year, when we propofe to cut it down, our duty is to inform the proprietor of the land, who is entitled to half the contents. If this is not complied with, we are expof. ed to an action of trefpafs, as well as he who fhould go and cut down a bee-tree which he had neither found out nor marked.

(To be concluded next month.)

Character

EATH, fay thefe doctors, has

which ferves to deliver them from the

of that writer, fo celebrated for his uncommon talents, fo culpable on account of the deteftable use he made of them; of that famous man who, in the fight of all Europe, fpent his whole life in defending and propagating impiety. As a philofopher, rafh and without principles; as a poet, licentious and diffolute; as an hiftorian, void of judgment and good faith; laying claim to all the sciences, without going deep into any; eager to degrade all merit that flood in his own way; and proftituting his talents and his labours, during the courfe of his long life, for the purpose of becoming the oracle and idol of his age. He knew well the power of ridicule over the greater part of mankind; and he failed not to avail himself of so useful a weapon, in order to feduce weak minds. He knew well, that most readers are incapable of difcuffion, of ferious examination and reflection; and that every thing

TH

reftraint on the paffions, is received with eagerness and applaufe. Hence the impieties he uttered are feafoned with fome facrilegious jeft; hence he fpared not the sharpest fatire; and, if he undertook to fubvert the doctrines of our religion, disfigured them by the ridicule thrown upon them. Or, does he feek to deftroy the immortality of the foul, the foundations of morality, and the rewards and punishments of a future life; he recurs not to reasoning; he affumes the tone of raillery and irony; he tries to excite laughter; he turns every thing to a jest. It matters not that he advances abfurdities, that he often contradicts himself, and deferves no credit; nothing stops him, if he can procure himself readers. In fhort, he employs against religion the most diffolute libertiniẩm, and the depravity of the most corrupt heart.

Monf. BOUGAINVILLE. HIS celebrated navigator, after being made prifoner at the reduction of Quebec in 1759, embarked for Europe on board a tranfport, commanded by one Gilchrift, a Scotchman. It happened, that a few days after the veffel failed fhe was wrecked upon a defert part of the coaft of Nova Scotia and though the whole crew got fafely on fhore, a fmall quantity only of provifions could be preferved. In the courfe of their journey back to Quebec, being reduced to the fad neceffity, when their flock of provifions was expended, of cafting lots who fhould be put to death, Captain Gilchrift, with a power of eloquence which would have given reputation to the greatest ora

tor, pursuaded his famifhed comrades to excufe Monf. Bougainville from drawing at all: "For (added he) should the fatal lot fall upon him, nothing we shall be able to fay will convince his countrymen but that we have murdered him." He was accordi gly excufed three feveral times; for fo often were they obliged, for the fake of subsistence, to have recourfe to this dreadful expedient.

G. A. STEVENS.

WHEN, about thirty years fince, George Alexander Stevens was a first actor in the Norwich company, he performed the part of Horatio in the Fair Penitent. The Califta was a Mrs. B-, who had been long the celebrated heroine in tragedy, and the

lady

lady in high life in comedies. Mrs. B. in her decline, facrificed too often to the intoxicating god. In proportion as the action of the play advanced towards a conclufion, by endeavouring to raise her fpirits with a cheerful glafs, fhe became totally unfit to reprefent the character. In her laft fcene of Califta, it was fo long before he died, that George, after giving her feveral gentle hints, cried out, 66 Why don't you die, you b?" She retorted, as loud as fhe could, "You robbed the Bristol mail, you dog!" This fpirited dialogue fo diverted the audience, that much and loud clapping enfued. The manager feeing no end of this merry bufinefs, dropt the curtain, and put an end to the tumult.

Dr. YOUNG.

THE Doctor walking in his garden at Welwyn, in company with two ladies (one of whom he afterwards married), the fervant came to tell him a gentleman wifhed to fpeak with him. "Tell him," fays the Doctor, "I am too happily engaged to change my fituation." The ladies infifted upon it that he should go, as his vifitor was a man of rank, his patron, his friend; and as perfuafion had no effect, one took him by the right arm, the other by the left, and led him to the garden-gate; when finding refiftance was vain, he bowed, laid his hand upon his heart, and in that expreffive manner for which he was fo remarkable, fpoke the following lines:

Thus Adam look'd when from the garden driven,

And thus difputed orders fent from Hea

ven;

Like him I go, but yet to go am loth; Like him I go, for angels drove us both. Hard was bis fate, but mine ftill more unkind;

His Eve went with him, but mine flays behind.

VOL. III. No. 2.

Mr. ANSTEE, Author of the New Bath Guide.

SOME years ago, as Mr. Anftee was returning home with fome jovial companions through Bath about three in the morning, they accidentally met with the watch, who was regu. larly crying the hour.-In the mirth of heart they were in, this was conftrued by fome of the bucks to be a fort of fatire upon them for keeping bad hours. Mr. Anftee therefore infifted, that the fellow fhould cry paft eleven o'clock instead of three, and on pain of corporal punishment.After fome remonftrance, the poor man was obliged to comply;-but before he had finished his oration, fuddenly recollecting himself, he said fhrewdly, I know the hour I am to call; but pray, gentlemen, what fort of weather would you choose to have? -Sunfhine, you fcoundrel, to be fure

funfhine.-Upon which, notwithftanding its raining at that time violently, the accommodating watchman gravely cries out in the proper key,Paft eleven o'clock, and, by particular defire, a funfhining night.

Dr. JOHNSON.

WHEN Dr. Percy first published his Collection of ancient English Ballads, perhaps he was too lavifh in commendation of the beautiful fimplicity and poetic merit he fuppofed himself to dilcover in them. This circumftance provoked Johnson to obferve to him one evening at Mifs Reynold's tea-table, that he could rhyme as well, and as elegantly, in common narrative and converfation. For instance, fays he,

As with my hat upon my head
I walk'd along the Strand,
I there did meet another man

With his hat in his hand. Or, to render fuch poetry fubfervient to my own immediate ufe,

I therefore pray thee, Renny dear,
That thou wilt give to me,

F

With

With cream and fugar foften'dwell, Another difh of tea. Nor fear that I, my gentle maid, Shall long detain the cup, When once unto the bottom I Have drank the liquor up. Yet bear, alas! this mournful truth, Nor hear it with a frown ;— Thou can't not make the tea fo faft As I can gulp it down. And thus he proceeded through feveral more ftanzas, till the reverend critic cried out for quarter.

PRIOR and ATTERBURY. Dr. ATTERBURY, in one of his letters to Mr. Pope, fays, "I had not trength enough to attend Mr. Prior to his grave, elfe I would have done it, to have fhowed his friends that I had forgot and forgiven what he had

wrote on me."

Quere, What did Mr. Prior write against Dr. Atterbury, for there is nothing of that kind in his works?

To understand this, it is neceffary to look back to the Latin epitaph written by the Duke of Buckingham, and directed by him to be put on his monument, viz.

In one place,

Pro Rege faepe, pro republica femper.
In another place,
Dubius, fed non improbus vixi;
Incertus morior, fed non interbatus;
Humanum eft nefcire et errare:
Chriflum adveneror; Deo confido
Omnipotenti, benevolentiffimo :
Ens entium, miferere mei.

The above-cited paffage from Dr. Atterbury's letter, is now fully explained by the publication of the following Epigram by Mr. Prior on the funeral of the Duke of Buckingham in Weftminster abbey, as performed by the bishop.

"I have no hope, The Duke he faid, and dies ; "Infure and certain hope," the Prelate

cries.

Of these two learned peers,
I pr'ythe-fay, man,

Who is the greatest liar, the priest or layman?

The Duke he dies
An INFIDEL confeft:

"He's our dear brother," fays the lordby prief.

The Duke a KNAVE!

Still" BROTHER dear," he cried, And who dare fay "the reverend Prelate lied ?" REMAR K. They neither lied-each spoke as undeceiv'd, What all fufpected, and now all BELIEV'D.

Two gentlemen ftanding upon the Caltonhill in a fine fummer's day, one of them, who was ambitious of being thought a poet, faid to the other, "I have made one excellent line, but cannot find a fellow to it." "Repeat your line," faid his companion.

Here we may fee upon the northern shore, "Add," faid the other, Kinghorn fill ftanding where it flood before.

OLD Frederick (the late King of Pruffia) had a great opinion of the utility of experience.-A very young graduate prefented a petition, requesting his Majefty would appoint him a fupreme general. The King wrote under his petition- Turn to your bible, and in the tenth chapter and fifth verfe of the fecond book of Samuel, you will find it thus written :

Tarry at Jericho until your beard is grown, and then come again."

A Member of Legislature, who was averfe to a land lottery, begged leave to acquaint the house, that they would get more money for the land, if they gave it away.

For