cient to rouze the whole lunar world to arms. Many thousands have loft their lives, in various and horrid manners, because they would persist in making the tails of their nines, near a twentieth part of an inch longer than their perfecutors; the party of the long-tailed nines, when they obtained the afcendancy, retaliated in the fame manner, and thus the fword of perfecution was never fuffered for an inftant to repofe within its fcabbard; but this fpirit is now happily near extinct; the trifling inftance we have juft feen is the faint and expiring remains of thofe prejudices which will never more destroy the peace of nations." Here the genius ceafed fpeaking, and I ftepped into the fhop of an optician for the purpose of purchasing a telefcope to enable me, in my return to my native fhores, to difcover the two nations of one-eyed and long-tailed men, which, from reading the works of a grave modern philofopher, I was very much inclined to believe had really exiftence in fome part of our globe. I made my purchase, and we proceeded to the place appointed for the debate; we got poffeffion of a very commodious feat, and the debates in a fhort time commenced; the motions, or rather contortions of the fpeakers were fo various and unnatural, and their fpeeches either fo inflated and incomprehenfible, or so dull and monotonous, that I could not forbear laughing during the whole time of the exhibition; it was no uncommon thing to hear a speaker in the middle of his fpeech, contradict what he had asferted at its opening, and conclude it by giving his vote for the opinion he had feemed to controvert. After two hours spent in continued laughter, the affembly broke up and we departed. "Well," exclaimed my guide, as we quitted the room, "how do you approve of this fcene?"-" Very much indeed," replied I, "I think it a most excellent inftitution-I applaud highly the idea of forming a good orator by displaying to the learners every thing that conftitutes a bad one-I think the teachers acted inimitably-they could not have selected more 66 more appropriate fpecimens than thofe we have witneffed." And fo you really fuppofe," said the genius, "that they were only acting the wretched orator! -upon my word your judgment is moft terribly erroneous-the perfons we have juft liftened to, conceive their powers of oratory to be of the first order-and they regularly exhibit themselves every week, for the purpose of obtaining the applaufe of their auditors; it is for this reafon that these focieties are established; it happens not unfrequently that the greatest part of the fpeakers are entirely unacquainted with their fubject till they enter the room, and until they have proceeded through more than half their fpeech, are undetermined which fide of the queftion to efpoufe.' "For heavens fake, my dear genius," exclaimed I, indignantly, convey me back to my native planet-I am difgufted beyond measure at thefe fcenes of abfurdity-I have fufficiently feen, and fhall be truly grateful to find myself once more fafely returned to my own home." I had no fooner ceafed than the genius refumed his original appearance, and clafping my hand, we inftantly began our flight: we were in the midway between the earth and moon, when an immenfe meteor appeared to approach us fo rapidly that I fhrieked out, and clinging round the genius, awoke, and found the rays of the fun peeping through my curtains, and my arms firmly encircling my pillow; glad indeed was I, when I recovered from my furprife, to find myfelf in a world where religion is refpected-where genius is patronized-and where even amusement is rendered fubfervient to the interest of morality and virtue. FERDINAND ST. JULIEN. ON THE ON FEELING. Feelingly alive to each fine impulse. AKENSIDE. HERE is perhaps no fenfation of the human breast made more the fubject of converfation than that of feeling. Every perfon is defirous of being diftinguished for the poffeffion of an ample fhare of it, though the acute obferver of human nature will often difcover lefs of its amiable influence in the actions of those who are the most forward to acknowledge its effects. How frequent do we hear the plaintive language of commiferation fall from the lips of thofe, whole hearts never fickened, and whofe eyes never fhed a tear at the fight of woe; who without painful agitation can behold the most amiable of their friends clofing their eyes for ever? The agonizing tortures of disease, the throb. bings of diftrefs, the pale cheek of hopeless penury, give them no real concern, wring not their bofoms with anguish, nor does it check the purfuit of one trifling, one momentary gratification! But though perfons of this unfeeling difpofition muft neceffarily be defpifed, yet it must be remembered, that this amiable emotion of the heart should have its restrictions. It is poffible to indulge it to an undue and injurious extent. Characters of this caft are generally feminine. Endowed by nature with fouls alive to pity, refined by education, and heightened by reflection, the fine chords of the heart vibrate too freely at the flightest touch, which eventually enfeebles the whole fyftem. But feeling, regulated by reafon, imparts the highest and most permanent pleasure. A man of this character never furveys even a group of children at their diverfions, but at firft his heart gladdens with joy; experience next pictures to his imagination the many cares they must encounter on the journey of life, now elated with hope, and now depreffed with disappointment; till evil paf fions with magic power feduce them from the paths of truth and virtue, and plunge them into an abyfs of wretchedness. Surrounded by the tumult of the city, or embofomed in the rural fhade, wandering through the flowery vale, or climbing the cloud-invefted hill creeping along the green-margined bank of a noiseless ftream, or ftanding with admiration on the fhores of the reftiefs ocean, each of these different fcenes yields him a fenfation either of unmingled pleasure, or of rapturous joy. In fociety, the converfe of intelligent friends, the mutual communication of knowledge, and the interchange of fentiments, afford him exquifite delight, nor can any thing diminish this focial pleafure, but the intrufion of petulant difputation, or of unyielding prejudice. Attached to civil and religious liberty, under the direction of an ardent benevolence, he wishes every man to enjoy his own opinion. If, however, difference of fentiment proves the fource of contention, he pities the weakness of his friends, and with regret relinquishes their fociety. But has poverty feized their hearts ? Do their cheeks look fad and pale with grief, that wont to be illumed with joy, and glowed with health? his heart inftantly expands with the fincereft concern; he flies to their relief; his fervices are tendered; fortune, time, exertion, and confolation are not wanting to cheer, and permanently relieve his diftreffed friends. Does he behold oppreffion trampling on the neck of liberty, and violating the rights of man? Are the privileges of his countrymen wrefted from them by lawless power? Then may we behold his eyes flash with indignation, and hear his lips utter the ftrong feelings of his foul. Bold and unconquerable is his fpirit in the holy caufe of truth and freedom. Nor would he stoop to flatter tyranny, or veil corruption, were the wealth of worlds the prize. Hoftile to favage perfecution and murderous war, he fighs in fecret at the mad infatuation that difpofes men to delight in carnage, and in the defolating calamities of hostility. "Is man (he exclaims) made made by the fame creator, and are not ALL the candidates for a crown of glory which will never fade away? Why then feek by means fo terrible a perishable wreath, fo tranfient in its beauty, that the flightest breath of rega! caprice, or of popular difpleafure, will blaft its charms for ever? Oh why will not man delight in peace? Or if differences muft arife, why not calmly difcufs the causes of complaint?" Thus the man of virtue, and of pure patriotifm, feels and reafons. For his country's welfare he cherishes the moft fervent defire. But his mind enlarged by experience, cannot approve of her conduct when the arrogantly prefumes to dictate laws to others. He looks with kindness upon all mankind; as branches from the fame ftock, he reverences the virtuous of all nations; ardently anticipating the blissful period when the weapons of war will be converted into implements of hufbandry, and when every nation will embrace each other as brethren : O! cherish the fair vifion: Time may bring Such happy days, when war no more shall range Shall then embrace his fellow, then shall hail A CITIZEN of earth; a FREEMAN of the WORLD! June 3, 1798, TRIUMPHS OF WAR. J. S, LEADING |