Sons of Adam, once in Eden Virgins, much, too much, prefuming Griping mifers, nightly waking, Sons of honour, fed on praises, Brings us down to parent earth. Learned fophs, in fyftems jaded, Youths, tho' yet no loffes grieve you, Venerable Venerable fires, grown hoary, Yearly in our course returning, On the Tree of Life eternal, Man! let all thy hope be staid, Which alone, for ever vernal, Bears a leaf that fhall not fade. ANECDOTE OF > DR. JOHNSON. HEN the Doctor first became acquainted WHEN with David Mallet, they once went, with fome other gentlemen, to laugh an hour at Bartholomew fair. At one of the booths was an amazing large bear, which the fhowman affured them was "cotched in the undiscovered parts of Ruffia." The bear was muzzled, and might therefore be approached with fafety; but to all the company, except Johnson, was very furly and ill-tempered: of the Doctor he appeared extremely fond, rubbed against him, and fhewed every mark of awkward kindness. "How is it, (faid one of the company) "that this animal is fo attached to Mr. Johnfon?" Because, (replied Mallet) he knows that Linnæus would have claffed them together, as two animals ' of one species.' The Doctor difliked Mallet for his tendency towards infidelity; and this farcasm turned his dislike into downright hatred. He never spoke to him afterwards, but has gibbeted his name in the Octavo Dictionary under the word Alias. ANECDOTE. A S Mr. Cunningham, the late paftoral poet, was fishing on a Sunday near Durham, the Rev. and corpulent Mr. Brown chanced to pass that way, and knowing Mr. Cunningham, aufterely reproved him for breaking the fabbath; telling him, that he was doubly reprehenfible, as his good fenfe should have taught him better. The poor poet replied, "Reverend Sir, your external appearance says, that "if your dinner was at the bottom of the river, as << mine is, you would angle for it, though it were a "fast day, and your Saviour stood by to rebuke you." PEEVISHNESS EQUALLY WRETCHED AND OFFENSIVE. THE CHARACTER OF TETRICA. MEN EN feldom give pleasure, where they are not pleased themselves; it is neceffary, therefore, to cultivate an habitual alacrity and cheerfulness, that in whatever state we may be placed by Providence, whether we are appointed to confer or receive benefits, to implore or to afford protection, we may fecure the love of those with whom we tranfact. For though it is generally imagined, that he who grants favours may spare any attention to his behaviour, and that usefulness will always procure friends; yet it has been found that there is an art of granting requests, an art very difficult of attainment; that officiousness and liberality may be fo adulterated, as to to lose the greater part of their effect; that compliance may provoke, relief may harrafs, and liberality diftrefs. No difeafe of the mind can more fatally difable. it from benevolence, the chief duty of focial beings, than ill-humour or peevishness; for though it breaks not out in paroxifms of outrage, nor bursts into clamour, turbulence, or bloodshed, it wears out happiness by flow corrosion, and small injuries inceffantly repeated. It may be confidered as the canker of life, that deftroys its vigour and checks its improvement, that creeps on with hourly depredations, and taints and vitiates what it cannot consume. Peevishness, when it has been fo far indulged as to outrun the motions of the will, and discover itself without premeditation, is a species of depravity in the highest degree disgusting and offensive, becaufe no rectitude of intention, nor softness of addrefs, can enfure a moment's exemption from affront and indignity. While we are courting the favour of a peevish man, and exerting ourselves in the most diligent civility, an unluckly fyllable displeases, an unheeded circumftance ruffles and exafperates; and in the moment when we congratulate ourselves upon having gained a friend, our endeavours are frustrated at once, and all our affiduity forgotten in the cafual tumult of fome trifling irritation. |