That the highest degree of reverence fhould be paid to youth, and that nothing indecent fhould Be fuffered to approach their eyes, or ears, are precepts extorted by fenfe and virtue from an an cient writer, by no means eminent for chastity of thought. The fame kind, though not the fame degree of caution is required in every thing which is laid before them, to fecure them from unjust prejudices, perverfe opinions, and incongruous combinations of images..

SANECDOTE

of HENRY IV. of FRANCE.

IN 1596, the Spaniards threatened the city of Calais; Henry IV. dispatched Sancy, one of his officers, to England, in order to engage queen Elizabeth to fuccour it, which he could do the more readily, as the earl of Effex was in the Channel with a powerful flect. The queen told Sancy, that fhe would let the King know her intentions by her ambaffador then, at his court. This was Lord Sidney, who plainly told his majefty, that the queen had defigns of more importance for the welfare of her dominions, than the relief of Calais; that he would, nevertheless, make fome

efforts

efforts to prevent the Spaniards from taking it, provided he would confent to pledge it to the crown of England, until thofe fums were repaid which he had lent his majefty, fince the first began to affift him to maintain the war against his enemies. The king received this propofal very ill, and said, turning his back upon Lord Sidney, "that if he was to be bitten, he would as foon it should be by a lion as by a lioness."

Remarkable Inftance of Refolution
IN LADY HILL,

Abbefs of an English Nunnery at Lisbon.

HIS Lady took the veil, because, like the

THIS Lady took

reft of her fifter-hood, her cirumstances did not permit a more agreeable choice. Soon after having made profeffion, a good eftate in Ireland was vacated by a relation that died inteftate, and devolved to her by right of confanguinity. To get the eftate without going to Ireland herself, was thought difficult, and fubject to much delay. Her Abbefs therefore reprefented her cafe to the Patriarch, who alone could difpenfe with her vow of conftant

L

conftant confinement. The Patriarch, upon a fimple promife of return, gave her leave to fecularize her dress, and depart: fhe did fo, arrived in Ireland, produced her title, took poffeffion, and found herself at once in a condition to live in ease, and even fplendor, in her native country. The temptation of ftaying where one is, muft be allowed to be almoft irresistible in fuch a cafe, especially to a lady not quite three and twenty, and handsome: however, if she was tempted, fhe was tempted in vain; for fhe fold the eftate as speedily as fhe could, and, faithful to her vow and promife, haften, ed back to the nunnery with the money, which fhe laid out in fuch a manner as to contribute much to the ease and convenience of her beloved community.-This was done by a woman! This fuperiority to worldly pleasure, and this fidelity to an honorous engagement, was found in a female breast! Would any Friar, in fimilar circumstances, have behaved fo nobly, and have returned to his lefs heavy fetter, after fo lucky an escape?-The lady's companions were fo ftruck with admiration, as well as gratitude, that they chose her immediately for their fuperior, and never after ceased to pay her veneration fo undoubtedly due to her unfhaken virtue.

THE

The CONSOLATIONS of RELIGION,

Written by a Young Lady in her laft Illness,

TO A FEMALE FRIEND.

My dear and much loved friend,

YOU

OU will undoubtedly be furprized, when I inform you this will, in all human probability, be the laft letter I fhall ever fend or trouble you with; but your furprize will cease, when I tell you the threatning diforder you know I have laboured under for fome weeks paft, is now drawing near to a termination, having done its worst, and brought me to the brink of the grave: the grave! yes, that dreary house appointed for all living, where forrow, grief, and trouble are known no more. I doubt not but you pity me; but for what reason? Can that person be an object of pity, who is going to exchange a life of vanity and distress, for an eternity, the hopes, of everlafting blifs? No, my dear friend, rather wifh me joy, as the common phrafe is, that I am in the near profpect of fo much happiness, and never-ending felicity. It is matter of concern to leave those who are near and dear to us on earth, and take a long farewel of them, and every pleafing enjoyment we partake of here be low; but how reviving and comfortable is the reSection, even in the agonies of diffolving nature?

That

it

That death is the chriftian's laft and best friend, as opens the door into life eternal, while the grave, as Dr. Young beautifully ftiles it, is,

"Our fubterranean road to blifs."

My dear Maria, believe me when I affure you, life with all is fleeting pleafures, wealth with all its alluring charms, youth with all its gaiety and delights, ambition with all her towering schemes, and nobility with all the dazzling titles in its ftrain, have nothing in them fo captivating and enfnaring, as to excite in me the leaft defire or most distant wifh (in the views of eternal glory beyond the grave) to continue any longer in this state of trial and probation, however flattering my profpects of affluence and independent fortune may be: no, I can fafely fay, from felt experience, and after taking a calm retrospective view of the brighteft fcenes and gayeft pleasures I have ever enjoyed in paft life," to die is gain; to be diffolved, and to be with Chrift is beft of all."

You, my dear, have often shared with me in the diverfions and amufements common to our age, and fo eagerly purfued by too many young perfons of both fexes, to the wafte of their moft precious time, and the total deftruction of ferious reflection. You have, I hope, as well as I, feen the folly and vanity of what the world calls pleafure. May we always