ed, and the offices once held by men of reputation and talents, and the honours once bestowed upon faithful and long-tried services, are brought within the reach of needy adventurers, who are content to be well known to some, if they can conceal themselves from others whom it is of more importance to deceive.

If in this attempt to overthrow the bounds. which have hitherto kept the ranks of society distinct, and to confound and mix all that ought to have been kept separate, we find the causes of Suicide, our wonder ought, in some measure, to subside. But there are inconsistencies in the system of ostentation which still want to be explained. Character is of so much importance to the existence of men in society, to their advancement, to their comfort, and their happiness, that life itself is not thought to be a superior object. When we hear, therefore, of men who have precipitated themselves into the grave, because shame made them weary of the present life, we are naturally inclined to wonder that the shame which did not prevent crimes should be so extremely averse to suffer for them. Yet such is the inconsistency into which men are led, when they have once determined to go through the scenes of human life without the proper foundation for their conduct. Such are

the consequences of those lax systems of morality which infidelity has introduced, and which are propagated, not so much by written theories on the subject of morals, as by an imitation of what is practised by others without inquiry or examination. The only check given to those lax moralists, whose object is their own interest, arises from the laws; and it is wonderful with what nicety they will "drive to a hair," as the sportsmen express it, to avoid the penalties of an Act of Parliament. Yet as the laws only are permitted to set limits to their ambition, their range is, in general, sufficiently extensive for their purpose; or if perchance they have been obliged to make free with a written statute, they have still their favourite exit in view; and if we may credit the verdict of the jury, although they are mad, they are at the same time wise enough to escape the hands of the public executioner.

As some have proposed remedies for the increasing crime of Suicide, it may be thought that the Projector ought not to close his paper without offering something of the same kind. But as I have already hinted that I consider this as no proper subject for the Legislature, it may be deemed presumption to put any inferior power in the place of our Lords and Commons.

All that I shall therefore add is, that whoever considers the artificial manners, the useless amusements, and the unprincipled ostentation, which prevail in the Metropolis; and with this, the increase, not only of gaming properly so called, but of speculations equally liable to the laws of chance, will not be much surprised if Suicide, which has lately been increasing, should still continue to increase. They will at least find that the causes now assigned have rather a better foundation in experience than what some writers on the subject have been pleased to assign. So very desirous are we to find fault with every thing but ourselves, that Suicide has been gravely ascribed to the variableness of our climate, the use of animal food, and even to the exhalations of the coals used as fuel. But if my Readers will seriously cultivate the principles of industry, morals, and contentment, founded upon what they find recorded in the Scriptures of eternal truth - if they will carefully avoid ambition, avarice, and ostentation, — if they will consider riches as more dangerous than useful to human happiness, and remember that coaches and equipages, lace and diamonds, are not essential to the felicity of a rational creature: if they suffer no passion to gain the ascendancy, and avoid the

common means by which the intellect is disturbed and disease promoted, I will venture to assure them, that the variations in the climate will produce no inconveniencies but what are within the power of remedy; that they may enjoy their roast-beef and pudding with cheerfulness and thankfulness, and dispel the cold of a Winter's evening with the best produce of Newcastle, without the least apprehension from any exhalations but those which vanity and ostentation produce.

F

Or late years we have been favoured with some elaborate essays on Taste, the

authors of which have endeavoured to establish certain general principles, and thus to introduce an uniformity of opinion in matters that are cognizable at this tribunal. But whether

it be that their attempts have failed from a want of understanding in the readers, or from a wilful neglect of this branch of polite education; or whether it be that uniformity of opinion is denied in all cases to mankind in this lower world; certain it is that our tastes are not yet regulated in such a manner as to produce one general standard. We cannot yet explain what it is that affects us with pleasure or disgust; nor have we been able to fix upon such elementary rules or instructions as may enable the young to acquire taste as readily as any other accomplishment.

"There is a class, indeed, and I believe a very numerous one, of persons who, without any very arrogant pretensions to taste, seem to enjoy the pleasure, or express the dislike, with which certain objects affect them, in a very homely way. When asked if they understand musick, poetry, or painting, they honestly confess their deficiency, but add, that they know what pleases themselves.' With this knowledge, be it little or much, they read a Poem, listen to a Concert of Musick, and visit an Exhibition of Pictures. From these they select what they like, and seem very indifferent to the opinions of others. Professed men of taste, however, who set up as arbiters, and as the