all our acts of parliament, any one has passed to divorce good sense and good humour. Why may they not both reside on the same lips, and both circulate through the same assembly?-For my own part, I would neither have our discourse soured with austerity, nor evaporate into impertinence; but unite (as a judicious ancient advises) the benefits of improvement with the blandishments of pleasantry. And as to your polite people, if they can find more music in the magpie's voice than in the nightingale's note, I must own myself as much surprised at their ears, as they are at the strange man's face.

Ther. With all your gray-headed authorities, I fancy you will find very few proselytes among the professors of modern refinement. Fashion is with the world the standard of morals, as well as of clothes; and he must be of a very peculiar turn indeed, who would choose to be ridiculous in either.

Asp. Rather, Theron, he must be of a very pliant turn, who tamely delivers up his conduct to be moulded by a fashion, which has neither true elegance to dignify it, nor the least usefulness to recommend it.

And which, I beseech you, is most ridiculous; he, who servilely imitates every idle fashion, and is the very ape of corrupt custom; or he, who asserts his native liberty, and resolutely follows where wisdom. and truth lead the way?

Ther. Would you then obtrude religious discourse upon every company? Consider, Aspasio, what a motley figure this would make. A wedding and a sermon -quadrille and St. Paul-the last new play and primi. tive Christianity!

Asp. You know the rule, Theron, which is given by the great Master of our assemblies;' Cast not your pearls before swine. Some there are so immersed in sensuality, that they can relish nothing but the coarsest husks of conversation. To these, neither offer your pearls, nor prostitute your intimacy.

But, when persons of a liberal education, and elevated sentiments-when these meet together, why

Cum quadam illecebra ac voluptate utiles.'-Aul. Gel,
+ Matt. vii. 6.

should not their discourse be suitable to the eminence of their rank, and the superiority of their genius? Raised far above the level of that trite and effeminate strain' Upon my honour, the actress topt her part. Heavens! how charmingly she sung! How gracefully she trod the stage!"

Ther. Indeed, my Aspasio, I am entirely in your way of thinking, however I have hitherto put on the mask. The gift of speech is one great prerogative of our rational nature. And 'tis pity that such a superior faculty should be debased to the meanest purposes.

Suppose all our stately vessels that pass and repass the ocean, were to carry out nothing but tinsel and theatrical decorations, were to import nothing but glittering baubles and nicely-fancied toys, would such a method of trading be well-judged in itself, or beneficial in its consequences? Articulate speech is the instru ment of a much nobler commerce, intended to transmit and diffuse the treasures of the mind. And will not the practice be altogether as injudicious, must not the issue be infinitely more detrimental, if this vehicle of intellectual wealth is freighted only with pleasing fopperies?

Asp. Such folly and extravagance would be hissed out of the commercial world. Why then are they admitted and cherished in the social?

Ther. Why, indeed? He must be far more acute than your Theron who can assign a single reason to counte. nance them; to explode them, ten thousand arguments occur. A continual round of gay and trifling conversation, of visits quite modish, and entertainments not moral, must give an indolent turn to the mind;-such as will enervate its powers, indispose it for generous action, and gradually sap the very foundation of virtue. Whereas, a frequent conference on the glories of the Godhead, or the wonders of creation, would invigorate and ennoble the soul; would enlarge her faculties, and elevate her desires.

The significancy and importance of such conversation was smartly represented by the philosopher; who, being asked, How he left the company employed, made answer, "Some in milking the ram, others in holding the pail.'

Asp. Did not our hearts burn within us,' said the travellers at Emmaus, while he talked with us by the way? Those discourses, 'tis true, were conducted with a spirit, and enforced with an energy, absolutely unequalled. Yet the same happy effects would, in some inferior degree, result from our friendly conferences, if they turned upon the same important points. We also should feel our hearts warmed with holy zeal, and glowing with heavenly love.

And

Ther. Such conferences would not only be produc tive of present advantage, but yield a renewed pleasure in the retrospect. We might reflect, with real compla. cency, on hours spent in so rational a manner. who would not prefer the silent applause of the heart, to all those tumultuous joys which wanton jests create, or the circling glass inspires?

Asp. One,t who thoroughly knew mankind, and had tried the merits of the jovial board, very pertinently compares such flashes of mirth to the crackling of thorns under a pot. The transient blaze of the one, and the senseless noise of the other, continue but for a moment, and then expire; that in smoke and darkness, this in spleen and melancholy.

I said spleen and melancholy; for, however jaunty and alert the various methods of modish trifling may seem, whatever ease and grace they are supposed to give the conversation, sure I am, it will be afflictive to look back upon interviews squandered away in very vanity; and shocking, to look forward upon the ac count which we must all shortly render. What figure will such an article make in the final reckoning, and at the decisive bar? Our social hours, which might have promoted our mutual edification, and been subservient to our Creator's glory, all lost in merriment and whim; or worse than lost, in flattery and detraction: a blank, or a blot.'

Ther. Venus, we find, has her zealous knight-errants, and Bacchus his professed votaries, in almost every company. And is it not truly deplorable, that the God of nature alone has none to assert his honour, none to + King Solomon.

Luke xxiv. 32.

Eccles. vii. 6.

celebrate his perfections, though he is. the original of all beauty, and the parent of all good?

When I have taken my morning walk, amidst dews and flowers, with the sun shedding lustre around him, and unveiling the happy landscape, how has my eye been charmed with the lovely prospect! How has my ear been ravished with the music of the grove! Methought, every note was a tribute of harmony; and all nature seemed one grand chorus, swelling with the Creator's praise. But how has the scene been reversed, when, leaving my rural elysium, I entered the haunts of men! Where I saw faculties divine meanly engaged in trifles; where I heard the tongue, prompt to utter, and fluent to express, every thing but its Maker's glory.

I assure you, I have often been chagrined on this occasion, and sometimes said within myself-'What! shall trifles be regarded, and the Majesty of Heaven neglected? Shall every friend, and every visitant, receive his share of respect; and no acknowledgments be paid to that exalted Being, who is worthy, more than worthy, of all our veneration?'

Asp. This will be still more afflictive to an inge nuous mind, if we consider, that the infinite and glo. rious God is present at all our interviews; vouchsafes to express his satisfaction, and acknowledge himself magnified, when, with admiration and love, we talk of his transcendent excellencies. Nay, we are assured, that the Lord of all lords not only hearkens, but keeps 'a book of remembrance,' and will distinguish such persons at the day of general retribution. When the loose train of licentious talkers are driven away as the despicable, chaff, these shall be selected for his peculiar treasure, and numbered among the jewels of Jehovah.

Ther. If the gentlemen, who make high pretensions to reason, think themselves discharged from these doctrines of revelation, they should not forget their

Mal. iii. 16, 17. This is a passage much to be observed. A most emphatical recommendation of religious discourse; perhaps the most emphatical that ever was used, and the most endearing that can possibly be conceived.

own Scriptures. A philosopher will tell them the duty of employing their time, as in the awful presence, and under the immediate inspection, of the Supreme Being. An orator will shew them the egregious impropriety of wasting their friendly interviews in the fumes of drollery, or the froth of impertinence. +

Asp. Who then, that is wise, would not habituate himself to a practice, which comes recommended by the voice of reason, and is enforced by the authority of God? A practice, which will administer present good-will afford pleasing reviews-and terminate in everlasting honour?

Ther. 'Tis strange that subjects, which deserve to be received as the universal topic, are almost universally banished from our discourse. Was this cabinet enriched with a series of antique medals, or a collection of the finest gems, my friends would naturally expect to be entertained with a sight of those rarities, and an explanation of their meaning. Why should we not as naturally expect, and as constantly agree, to entertain each other with remarks on those admirable curiosities which are deposited in the boundless museum of the universe?

When a general has won some important victory, or an admiral has destroyed the enemy's fleet, every company resounds with their achievements; every. tongue is the trumpet of their fame. And why should we not celebrate, with equal delight and ardour, that Almighty hand, which formed the structure, and furnished the regions, of this stupendous system?

Asp. Especially, if to his immensely glorious, we add his supremely amiable perfections. When the victorious commander is our most cordial friend;

Sic certe vivendum est, tanquam in conspectu vivamus : slc cogitandum, tanquam aliquis in pectus intimun inspicere possit et potest. Quid enim prosit ab homine aliquid esse secretum! Nihil Deo clausum est. Interest animis nostris, et cogitationibus mediis intervenit.'-Senec. epist. 83.

Cicero says, with an air of graceful indignation; Quasi vero clarorum virorum aut tacitos congressus esse opereat, aut ludicros sermones, aut rerum colloquia leviorum.-Academ. Quest. lib. iv.

Museum-Alluding to a remarkable edifice in the city of Oxford, distinguished by this name; and appropriated to the reception of curiosities, both natural and artificial.