lency of which, fufficiently confutes the above remark. Whatever vices the profeffion of the actor obliges him to perform in public, why may not his heart be as humane, and as capable of benevolence, as the moft renowned philanthropist? To this queftion every one muft anfwer in the affirmative. We may therefore conclude, that this profeffion ought rather to be refpected, than degraded below the ranks of men. Affecting Story of Mrs. Hozue. Every thing confpired to make her story interefting. Her firft hufband had been killed and fcalped by the Indians fome years before. By an unexpected affault in 1756, upon fort Dummer, where the then happened to be prefent with Mr. Howe, her fecond hufband, the favages carried the fort, murdered the greater part of the garrifon, mangled in death her hufband, and led her away with feven children into captivity. She was for fome months kept with them; and during their rambles fhe was feveral times on the point of perifhing with hunger, and as often fubjected to hardthips feemingly intolerable to one of fo delicate a (From Humphrey's Life of General frame. Some time after the career of Putnam.) T the house of Colonel Schuy her miferies began; the Indians felected a couple of their young men to marry her daughters. The fright and dif ATer, Maju Putnam became ac- guft, which the intelligence of this in quainted with Mrs. Howe, a fair captive, whofe hiftory would not be read without emotion, if it could be written in the fame affecting manner in which I have often heard it told. She was fill young and handfome herfelf, though the had two daughters of marriageable age. Diftrefs, which had taken fomewhat from the original redundancy of her bloom, and added a foftening palenefs to her cheeks, rendered her appearance the more engaging. Her face, that feemed to be formed for the affemblage of dimples and fmiles, was clouded with care. The natural fweetnels was not, how ever, foured by defpondency and petulance, but chattened by humility and refignation. This mild daughter of forrow looked as if the had known the day of profperity, when ferenity and gladnefs of foul were the intimates of her bofom. That day was paft, and the once lively features now affumed a tender melancholy, which witneffed her irreparable lofs. She needed not the cuftomary weeds of mourning, or the fallacious pageantry of woe, to prove her widowed fate. She was in that ftage of affliction, when the excefs is fo far abated as to permit the fubject to be drawn into converfation without opening the wound afrefh. It is then rather a fource of pleasure than pain to dwell upon the circumftances in narration. tention occafioned to these poor young creatures, added infinitely to the for rows and perplexities of the frantic mother. To prevent the hated connection, all the activity of female refource was called into exertion. She found an opportunity of conveying to the Governor a petition that her daughters might be received into a convent for the fake of fecuring the falvation of their fouls. Happily the pious fraud fucceded. About the fame time the favages feparated, and carried off her other five children into different tribes. She was ranfomed by an elderly French officer, for four hundred livres. Of no avail were the cries of this tender mothera mother defolated by the lofs of her children, who were thus torn from her fond embraces, and removed many hundred miles from each other, into the utmoft receffes of Canada. With them, could they have been kept together, the would moft willingly have wandered to the extremities of the world, and accepted,, as a defirable portion, the cruel lot of flavery for life: but fhe was precluded from the fweet hope of ever beholding them again. The infulterable pang of parting, and the idea of eternal feparation, planted the arrows of defpair deep in her foul. Though all the world was but a defert, and all the inhabitants were then indifferent to her -yet the Icvelincis of Schuyler; fhe was yet to learn that it was only another appellation for the friend of fuffering humanity. lovelinefs of her appearance in forrow had awakened affections, which, in the aggravations of her troubles, were to become a new fource of afflictions. As that excellent man was on his The officer who had bought her of way from Quebec to the Jerfeys, under the Indians had a fon who also held a a parole for a limited time, the came commission, and refided with his father. with feeble and trembling fteps to him. During her continuance at the fame The fame maternal paffion which fomehoufe, at St. John's, the double attach- times overcomes the timidity of nature ment of the father and fon, rendered in the birds, when plundered of their her fituation extremely diftrefling. It callow neftlings, emboldened her, not is true the calmnefs of age delighted to withstanding her native diffidence, to gaze refpecifully on her beauty, but the difclofe thofe griefs which were ready impetuofity of youth was fired to mad- to devour her in filence. While her nefs by the fight of her charms. One delicate afpect was heightened to a day the fon, whofe attentions had been glowing bluth, for fear of offending by lavifhed on her in vain, finding her one an inexcufeable importunity, or of day alone in a chamber, forcibly feized tranfgreffing the rules of propriety, by her hand, and declared that he would re, refenting herself as being an object now fatiate the paflions which fhe had of admiration; the told, with artefs fo long refufed to indulge. She recur- fimplicity, all the ftory of her woes. red to intreaties, firuggles, and tears, Colonel Schuyler from the moment be thofe prevalent female weapons, which came her protector, and endeavoured to the diftraction of danger not lefs than procure her liberty. The perfon who promptnefs of genius is wont to fupply; purchafed her from the favages, unwil while he, in the delirium of vexation and defire, feized a dagger and fwore he would put an end to her life if the perfifted to ftruggle. Mrs. Howe affumed the dignity of conicious virtue, told him it was what the moft ardently with ed, and begged him to plunge the dagger through her heart, fince the mutual importunities and jealoufies of fuch rivals had rendered her life, though innocent, Bufinefs having made it neceffary more irkfome and infupportable than death itfelf. Stuck with a momentary compunction, he feemed to relent, and relax his hold-and the availing herfelf of his irrefolution or abfence of mind, efcaped down ftairs. In her difordered ftate fhe told the whole tranfaction to his father, who directed her in future to fleep in a fmall bed at the foot of that in which his wife lodged. ling to part with fo fair a purchase, de manded a thoufand livres as her raniom, but Col. Schuyler, on his return to Quebec, obtained from the Governor an order, in confequence of which Mrs. Howe was given up to him for four hundred livres.-Nor did his active goodness reft, until every one of her five fons was reflored to her. that Colonel Schuyler fhould precede the prifoners who were exchanged, be recommended the fair captive to the protection of his friend Mr. Putnam. She had juft recovered from the meagles when the party was preparing to fit oft for New England. By this time the young French officer had returned, wit his paffion rather increafed than abated by abfence. He purfued her whereloThe affair fcon reached the Gover- ever fhe went; and, although he could nor's cars, and the young officer was, make no advances in her affection, he Shortly afterwards, fent on a tour of feemed refolved by perfeverance to carry duty to Detroit. This gave her a fhort his point. Mrs. Howe, terrified with refpite, but the dreaded his return, and his treatment, was obliged to keep conthe humiliating iniults for which the ftantly, near Major Putnam, who in might be relived. Her children too formed the young officer that he thould were ever prefent to her melancholy protect that lady at the risk of his life. mind. A franger, a widow, and a However this amorous and rath lover, captive, the knew not where to apply in whofe boiling veins fuch an agitation CP-7; fue had heard of the name was excited, that while he was fpeaking of of her, the blood would gufh from his noftrils, followed the prifoner to lake Champlain and when the boat in which the fair captive had embarked had pushed from the fhore, he jumped into the lake, and fwam after her until it rowed out of fight. Whether he perifhed in that distracted ftate of mind, or returned to the fhore is not known. tlewoman, that fhe was univerfally defignated for the mifhion. But the difpute was fortunately accommodated to the fatisfaction of the people, without their being obliged to make ufe of her talents. Letter to a Young Gentleman on conmencing the Study of Phyfic. My Young Friend, In the long march from captivity, through an inhofpitable wildernefs, en-TAKE the liberty of fending you a cumbered with five fmall children, fhe few remarks refpecting the manner fuffered incredible hardthips. Though endowed with mafculine fortitude, the was extremely feminine in her ftrength, and must have fainted in the way, had it not been for the affiftance of Major Putnam. There were a thoufand good offices which the helplessnefs of her condition demanded, and which the gentle nefs of his nature delighted to perform. He affifted in leading her little ones, and carrying them over the fwampy grounds, and runs of water with which their courfe was frequently interfected. He mingled his own mefs with that of the widow and fatherlefs, and affifted them in fupplying and preparing their provifions. Upon arriving within the ttlements, they experienced a reciprocal regret at feparation, and were only confoled by the expectation of foon mingling in the embraces of their former acquaintances and deareft connecti ons. After the conqueft of Canada, in 1760, fhe made a journey to Quebec, in order to bring back her two daughters whom he had left in a convent. She found one of them married to a French officer; the other, having contracted a great fondness for the religious filterhood, with reluctance confented to leave them and return. A few years previous to the war between Great Britain and America, a queftion of fome importance arofe refpecting the title of the lands in Hinf dale, the town in which Mrs. Howe refided, infomuch that it was deemed expedient that an agent fhould be fent to England to advocate the claim of the town. It may be mentioned as a proof of the acknowledged fuperiority of the underlanding and addrefs of this gen in which you fhould conduct yourself at vicious will vicious pleafures and idle purfuits-Be- ments, and rendered himself superior to ware of thofe, as you may infenfibly all his cotemporaries.-I need not urge contract an attachment to the former, or your affiduous attendance on the diffe be allured from study by the latter. Iam rent profeffors, but unless you carefully confcious that your principles are as yet perufe the best authors on the different untainted, but do not truft yourfelf in fubjects treated by them, you will only improper company, as vice, frequently acquire a mutilated and erroneous knowbeheld, foon lofes its uncouth and dif- ledge of their opinions. I would not gufting garb, and often renders the advife you to follow the too common mind callous to all the calls of reafon.- method of trufting the ideas delivered However, think not that I would to the agility of your writing: rather with you to feclude yourself from focie- hear and obferve with attention, and, ty, or to relinquifh all amufement; no, when you have confulted fome of the rational enjoyment is not only neceffary beft writers on the fame fubject, take to relax your mind from the fatigue of up your own pen, and in your own deep reflection, but will add a zeft to words commit them to paper; you your induftrious labours.-However, be thus acquire a facility in compofiion, cautious in your selection of affociates, while the ideas will be more firmly imas by their example you will infenfibly planted in your mind-moreover, let me acquire good or bad habits-Let your advile you to collect occafional remarks recreation be as much as poflible in the from actual obfervation as well as from open air, and prefer thofe amufements the various authors you may perufe:which require the exertion of your limbs; thefe will not only afford hints for furyou will thus not only procure health ther confideration and more mature and ftrength of body, but your mental judgment, but will prefent an agreeable powers will be invigorated, and you retrofpect of your gradual advances in will return to the ufe of them with ala- knowledge.-In fhort, they will fert crity-but let not your pleasures inter- as fo many incentives to industry, by fere with your more important avocati- fhowing how greatly uniform ftudy and ons, otherwife bufinefs will foon accu- attention enlarge your bounds of knowmulate to fuch a degree that you will ledge. It is true you will ftore up fink under its weight. many frivolous and erroneous ideas, but you will preferve others of the great if importance, which might have bee irretrieveably loft: befide the collecti advantage, topics are thus afforded i forming or correcting your ftyle, 23 habit, as I faid before, will foon render compofition pleafant and eafy. Although the vaft multiplicity of your ftudies may at firft diftract your attention, be not difcouraged, for they will foon become pleasant, by a steady application, and every ftep will prove a fource of fatisfaction:-every art or fcience, to a Tyro, appears furrounded with innumerable barriers, but every Anatomy and Chemiftry lay t effort will diminish the difficulty:- grand foundation of all your other m thus, for inftance, you cannot but have dical ftudies; without a real knowled obferved the rude effays of a Tyro in of thefe all your endeavours will on fome of the mechanical arts, when com- ferve to embarafs.-Therefore let not pared to the finifhed productions of the your knowledge arife merely from the killed artift, yet you muft confider that defcription of authors; never take for he has acquired his fuperior proficiency granted what you can poffibly prove by dint of repeated labour-Unwearied either by diffeétion or experiment.-In industry, even when fplendid abilities numerable opportunities will be affordra are wanting, renders men capable of you, and let not nicety or indolence de excelling thofe to whom nature has prive you of fuch advantages.-Confider granted much, but are lefs induftrious that you have engaged in a profeflion I may here adduce the trite example which requires a fleady and eager in of Demofthenes, who, although un- veftigation. favoured by nature, in confequence of On your commencing the fudy of induftry, overcame the greatcit impedi- Phifeology and the theory of difcales, I am am afraid that, the variety of opinions held forth by authors will be apt to confound you, more efpecially as there are many, who are deemed eminent, differ effentially in their reafoning and reprefentation of facts; but a judicious felection of the moft approved authors will greatly facilitate your acquifition of knowledge, and, on your firft outlet, it fhould be chiefly your aim to collect facts refpecting the ftructure and func tions of the Animal economy, and alfo to obferve the various fymptoms and progrefs of difeafes in every age, fex, or temperament, both by clinical obfervation and a careful perufal of the most accurate authors. I would recommend to you the works of Hippocrates, Galen, and Sydenham, who, altho' they are erroneous with refpect to a few facts, and much deficient in the theoretical parts, contain an enumeration of the phonomena, diagnottic and prognoftic fymptoms with great accuracy and difcern ment. Among the more modern let Gregory, Pringle, Lind, Cullen, Blane, &c. more particularly engage your at tention. Of all thefe, the facts contained in them are what you fhould only attend to, at least until your knowledge allows you to reafon with fafety :-it is an unfortunate circumitance for fcience in general that the youthful mind is too apt to form an attachment to particular doc to trines before its knowledge can authorife a judgment. Be careful to avoid this; adhere to no fyftem till you have calmly examined the oppofite, and cautioufly draw your conclufions from an impartial and ftrict obfervation of facts or other corroborating proofs. Should further experience invalidate any of your adopted opinions, confider that nothing evinces the liberal mind more than a ready acknowledgement of error when convicted either by obfervation or found reafoning -However, as you cannot be fuppofed to have much acquaintance with the great variety of hypothefes which have fo much engaged the attention of phyficians from Hippocraces down to the modern Paracelius Brown, I fhall merely content myfelf with remarking that the practice of phyfic has rather received detriment Hib. Mag.Oct. 1792. than benefit from this eager with to form a fyftematic theory of diseases.— You will foon find the inutility and abfurdity of many of thefe; the fuppofition of a lentor or vifcidity of the blood; the morbified matter once reckoned fo productive of difeafe; and even the improved doctrine of fpafm will be found incapable of explaining phenomena which occur every day.-A recourfe to fyftem for our guidance in the cure of any unexpected fymptom willfrequently be attended with danger, whereas a careful attendance on nature will enable us to prefcribe with fafety, if not with advantage.- However, do not think that I decry theory, or with practitioners to follow the tottering itens of a mere empiric: ro, let the attention of phyficians be directed to the operation of remote caules as much as to the diagnofis and method of cure, but let not the fond adulation of theory warp or bias our judgment. I have thus, my dear friend, given you a few hints which may not prove unaccept ptable: if you confider them as, in any degree, ufeful, I thall moft willingly write to you further on the fame fubject. I am your fincere friend, British Theatre. J. E. opened at the King's theatre in the HE theatrical winter campaign was Haymarket, on Saturday September 15, by the company from Drury-lane, with the comedy of the School for Scandal; And on the 17th, Mr. Harris opened the theatre at Covent Garden, which, from expenfive, commodious, and clegant alterations, may be called a new houfe. Having expended five-and twenty thousand pounds, and enlarged his company, he required, and reasonably, a fmail advance in the prices*; conceiving that in a country profeffing obedience to law, he had a right to offer his fervices to the public on terms proportionable to the capital he has hazarded. But a cullom becoming very prevalent, and menacing alarming confequences, that of abiding by the clamorous determination of a N O T E. * Boxes 6s-Pit 35. Od.---Gal. 25. X x mo |