evident to the most common obferver, and it may be conceived that an habitual indulgence of thefe paffions may poffibly in fome cafes imprefs a diftinguishing mark on the countenance. But that a certain caft of features conftantly denotes certain paffions, and that by contemplating the countenance we can infallibly difcover alto the mental qualities, is an hypothefis liable to fo many exceptions, as renders it impoffible to eftablish a general and uniform fyftem. Nevertheless, Mr. Lavater, like a true enthusiast, carries his theory much farther; for he not only pretends to difcover the characters and paffions by the features, by the complexion, by the form of the head, and by the motion of arms, but he alfo draws fome inferences of the fame kind even from the hand writing. And, indeed, his fyftem is formed upon fuch univerfal principles, that he applies the fame rules to all animated nature, extending them not only to brutes, but even to infects. That the temper of a horfe may be difcovered by his countenance will not, perhaps, ftrike you as abfurd; but did you ever hear. before that any quality could be inferred from the phyfiognomy of a bee, an ant, or a cock chaffer ? While I give my opinion thus freely concerning Mr. Lavater's notions, you will readily perceive that I am not one of those who are initiated into the myfteries. COMPOSITION OF AN INDIAN PHILOSOPHER. THE following pathetic elegy was compofed by Mir Muhammed Hufain, a learned philofopher and scholar. It is contained in the Afiatic Refearches. 1. Never, O! never fhall I forget the fair one who came to my tent with timid circumfpection. 2. Sleep fat heavy on her eyelids, and her heart faltered with fear. 3. She had marked the dragons of her tribe, (the fentinels) and had difmiffed all dread of danger from them. 4. She had laid afide the rings which used to grace her ancles, left the found of them fhould expofe her to calamity. 5. She deplored the darkness of the way which hid from her the morning ftar. 6. It was a night when the eye-lashes of the moon were tinged with the black powder of the gloom; 7. A night when thou mighteft have feen the clouds like camels eagerly gazing on the stars; 8. While the eyes of heaven wept on the bright borders of the sky; 9. The lightning difplayed his fhining teeth with wonder at this change in the firmament; 10. And the thunder almoft burst the ears of the deafened rocks. 11. She was defirous of embracing me, but through modesty declined my embrace. 12. Tears bedewed her cheeks, and to my eyes watered a bower of rofes. 13. When she spake, her panting fighs blew flames into my heart. 14. She continued expoftulating with me on my exceffive defire to travel. 15. Thou haft melted my heart, fhe faid, and made it feel inexpreffible anguish. 16. Thou art perverfe in thy conduct to her who loves thee, and obfequious to thy guileful advifer. 17. Thou goeft round from country to country, and art never pleased with a fixed refidence. 18. One while the feas roll with thee, and another while thou art agitated on the fhore. 19. What fruit, but painful fatigue, can arife from rambling over foreign regions? 20. Haft thou affociated thyfelf with the wild antelopes of the defert, and forgotten the tame deer? 21. Art thou weary then of our neighbourhood? O! woe to him who flees from his beloved! 22. Have pity at length on my afflicted heart, which feeks relief and cannot obtain it. HOWARD. : HOWARD, The great philanthropist, concludes his laft publication in thefe remarkable words, expreffive of true magnanimity "To my country I commit the refult of my paft labours. It is my intention again to quit it for the purpose of re.vifiting Ruffia, Turkey, and fome other countries, and extending my tour in the Eaft. I am not infenfible of the dangers that must attend fuch a journey. Trufting, however, in the protection of that kind Providence which has hitherto preferved me, I calmly and cheerfully commit myself to the difpofal of unerring wisdom. Should it please God to cut off my life in the profecution of this defign, let not my conduct be uncandidly imputed to rafhnefs or enthusiasm, but to a ferious deliberate conviction that I am pursuing the path of duty, and to a fincere defire of being made an inftrument of more extenfive usefulness to my fellow creatures than could be expected in the narrower circle of retired life." From this journey, this incomparable man never returned. He died at Cherfon, January 20, 1790, after an illness of twelve days, of a fever which he caught while adminiftering relief to the poor diseased wretches in the hofpital of that place. His monument, which, together with Johnson's, was lately placed in St. Paul's, does the British nation infinite honour. LEWIS XIV. THE Dutchess of Burgundy, when he was very young, feeing an officer at fupper who was extremely ugly, was very loud in her ridicule of his perfon :“Madam,” said the king to her, "I think him one of the handfomeft men in my kingdom-for he is one of the braveft." G g VOL. IV. ON ON DELICACY OF CONDUCT. Tdelicacy, fey are capable of appreciating its "HE moft pleafing feature of the human mind is juft value. Immerfed in bufinefs, or enchanted by pleafure; pursuing fame, or grovelling after wealth, the generality of mankind are either ftrangers to its beauties, or difdain to conciliate the affections of each other by the practice of it. And yet in the commerce of life, there are few circumftances occur which would not prove the omiffion of it injudicious. Where is the man of fuch elevated virtue, who, after receiving unfeafonable admonition, however juft, does not feel refentment firing his bofom? Stung with the fenfe of error, his heart beats with agitation; fhame fpreads a pale hue over his countenance, and his brow is moistened with the dew of mental pain. But had the advice been communicated in private, gratitude, and pleasure, no doubt, would have been the pleafing fenfations of his breast. In every sphere of life mankind demand, and they have a right to expect, a degree of delicacy in all their intercourses with their fellow creatures. Who, with propriety, can expect vigilance and fidelity from their fervants when every injunction is vociferated with a menace, or with furly fupercilioufnefs? To diminish the burthens of life, and to compenfate in a measure for the inferiority of condition, every man of affluence ought to give his commands with kindnefs, and never on any occafion fuffer the violence of his difpofition to betray him into an intemperate ufe of harsh language, or into a series of outrageous actions. It is the opinion of weak minds, that to be properly obeyed, they muft wear a stern aspect, and speak defpotickly; thofe perfons unhappily mistake morofenefs for dignity, and tyranny for firmness. Even in the delicious potion of praife, of which all mankind mankind drink greedily, if delicacy is not mingled in the cup, it generally lofes its intoxicating effect. Delicacy meliorates every virtue, and adds a luftre to every attainment of the human mind. Within the chamber of diftrefs, Oh! how pleafing to behold the fair maid, leading Benevolence by the hand to the bed-fide of the pale victim of disease; into his wounded foul they pour the balm of comfort; the weeping partner of his affections they foothe with affurances of friendship, and only with for filent gratitude in return for the favours which they as filently bestow. The melancholy differences that too frequently exift in families, originate in a great degree through the abfence of this amiable gueft. To perfons who have never been connected with large families it may appear ftrange, that thofe, whofe advantage it is to be united, fhould of all others be the moft liable to injure, rather than add fweetnefs to the felicities of life. The caufe may indifputably be traced to the want of delicacy. If each individual united by kindred ties, were not to abuse their natural privilege of familiarity; if they were as much inclined to indulge each other, as they feel them1elves almoft irrefiftibly prompted to indulge others, for whom they have no relative affections, the hoftilities which difgrace domestic circles would, doubtlefs, be annihilated, and the tweeteft harmony would prevail. Another ferious evil, the practice of duelling, appears to originate, in a great degree, from the want of delicate refpect being mingled with the difference of opinion, or with the reproof given by young perfons. In the warmth of difputation, or irritated by contrariety of fentiments, they forget the neceffary relpect due to their companions who cherish a romantic fenfe of honour. This conduct must inevitably be refented, and unfortunately for the peace of many a parent, the world too much countenance a practice dreadful in its effects, and repugnant to true bravery. In conferring obligations it is abfolutely neceffary to be very attentive to the rules. Gg 2 of |