At this inftant arofe in my mind all the little fentiments of humanity I had hitherto cultivated; and I began to blame my criminal curiofity, that prompted me to afcend the mountain; but in a few minutes the scene was very agreeably reverfed; for towards the fouthern boundaries I difcovered the clouds parting, the fky purpling, and the fun breaking forth in all his glory; when immediately there appeared advancing towards me Good-Nature, in all her fplendour, arrayed like a fylvan nymph, blooming with unftudied graces. She was of a fair and ruddy complexion, which received additional beauty from the pleafing fmiles which dwelt upon her countenance. On her right hand fhone Good-Senfe, with a peculiar majefty, though with fomewhat of diffidence in her mind. She was the chief favourite with the Goddefs, and feemed to have the direction of her perfon. On her left was Generofity, carrying a heart in her hand. The next that presented herself was Modefty, with her eyes fixed on the ground, and her cheeks fpread with rofes. Then followed a long train of beauties, who, by the unaffected charms of their perfons, and an engaging peculiarity of drefs, made me defirous of a more intimate acquaintance with them.-Upon a nearer approach, I found they were a tribe of British Ladies, who were always fond of appearing in the retinue of Kk 2

the

the Goddess, from whofe indulgent fmiles they received an additional luftre to their charms.-I then turned my eyes to the monfters that I have above described, the principal of whom grew pale, and presently fell in a fwoon from her throne.Pride funk into a fhade; Envy fell proftrate, and bit the ground; while Ignorance vanished like a morning cloud before the rifing fun. As the Goddefs drew near, the whole collection of fiends disappeared. The bafilisk skulked into the glade, the wild beaft betook himself to the covert; and the oak, on which the fury had been feated, budded forth afresh. Wherever the Goddess walked, the flowers fprung up fpontaneous at her feet; the tender roe was feen bounding o'er the mountains, and the little lambs fporting on the hills. Inftead of the briar and the thorn, there shot forth the myrtle and every odoriferous fhrub: the voice of the turtle was heard in the groves, and the dales refounded with the melodious harmony of the nightingale. In a word, the whole region. confeffed the benign influence of the Deity, and appeared in all the blufhing foftness of the fpring.

ANECDOTE,

་

ANECDOTE

OF THE

Mean Complaisance of the Governor of the Minority of Lewis XIV.

De la Porte, who was firft valet de Cham

M. bre for many years to Lewis XIV. in his

minority, in his memoirs fays, as it often happened that young Lewis would misbehave in the presence of his Governor, Marshal de Villeroy, I ufed to wait without faying any thing, in hopes that his Governor would correct him; but when I perceived he let his royal pupil go on, I took the liberty to put his Majefty in mind of what he was, and of what he ought to do. Then, indeed, M. Villeroy, after mufing a while, would fay, "La Porte tells you truth, Sir! La Porte tells you truth!" And this was all the reprehenfion or advice that this confcientious Governor could afford; for fo extremely complaifant was he to all the King's foibles, that, young as he was, Lewis himself perceived it; and frequently, when he appealed to the Marshal with regard to things, unless his own fenfe told him they were wrong, he said he would anfwer that his Governor would fay, "Yes Sire, you are in the right.".

ON

ON POLITENESS.

HERE is no qualification in which people

THE

are more generally folicitous to excel than politeness; but yet the principles of it are fo feldom understood, that we are continually difgufted with a ftudied ceremony of behaviour, which muft be confidered by every man of difcernment as a miferable fuccedaneum for that unconstrained, and apparently natural addrefs which is one of the principal characteristics of good breeding.

Too much anxiety to be agreeable in company feldom fails to incur the cenfure of impertinence; and to be continually on the watch for opportunities to pay compliments, or perform little offices of kindness, proves that the party is rather influenced by the vanity of difplaying his own compliments, than a defire to contribute to the gratification of the company. Overstrained compliments are neither practifed or encouraged but by filly people and indeed they are a fevere reflection on fuch as make ufe of thein; for there cannot be a more palpable abfurdity than to attribute qualities to perfons, who muft themselves be conscious that they do not poffefs them. This glaring vicein converfation is befides grofsly affronting, as it evidently conveys an imitation of defect,

by

by reminding the person that he does not in reality poffefs what is attributed to him.

Good nature is fo effential to politeness, that every other advantage will not compenfate for the want of it. The man of a morofe difpofition may employ his utmost endeavours to affume a gracefulness of behaviour:-he will ftill be aukward, ftiff, and affected; for that eafe which is the principal evidence of true gentility, arifes from a complacency of temper, readily accommodating itself to the convenience of others, and not from an affectation of kindnefs, which implies vanity and conceit, and bears no relation to the defire of rendering service, or communicating fatisfaction.

Politeness is faid to be the art of rendering one's felf agreeable; but it is an art in which a proficiency cannot be attained, unless the natural difpofition correfpond with an inclination; for politeness more materially depends on a beneficence of heart, than an attention to common civilities: the first will give the qualification in reality, and the other an affectation of it. It is, however, to be understood, that the introduction of art is juftifiable, as far as it tends to the improvement of nature.

Mr.