meet with that unfeigned respect, and warm good-will, that all men have for him? Wilt thou never understand, that the cringing, mean, submissive deportment of thy dependents, is (like the worship paid by Indians to the devil) rather through fear of the harm thou mayst do them, than out of gratitude for the favours they have received of thee? Thou art not wholly void of virtue; there are many good things in thee, and many good actions reported of thee. Be advised by thy friend: neglect those musty authors; let them be covered with dust, and moulder on their proper shelves; and do thou apply thyself to a study much more profitable the knowledge of mankind, and of thyself. This is to give notice, that the Busy-body strictly forbids all persons, from this time forward, of what age, sex, rank, quality, degree, or denomination soever, on any pretence, to inquire who is the author of this paper, on pain of his displeasure (his own near and dear relations only excepted). It is to be observed, that if any bad characters happen to be drawn in the course of these papers, they mean no particular person, if they are not particularly applied, Likewise, that the author is no party-man, but a general meddler. N. B.—Cretico lives in a neighbouring province. The Busy-Body.-No. IV. Nequid nimis.* In my first paper, I invited the learned and the ingenious to join with me in this undertaking; and I now repeat that invitation. I would have such gentlemen take this opportunity (by trying their talent in writing) of diverting themselves and friends, and improving the taste of the town. And because I would encourage all wit of our own growth and produce, I hereby promise, that whoever shall send me a little essay on some moral or other subject, that is fit for public view in this manner (and not basely borrowed from any other author), I shall receive it with candour, and take care to place it to the best advantage. It will be hard if we cannot muster up in the whole country a sufficient stock of sense to supply the Busy-body at least for a twelvemonth. For my own part, I have already professed that I have the good of my country wholly at heart in this design, without the least sinister view; my chief purpose being to inculcate the noble principles of virtue, and depreciate vice of every kind. "But as I know the mob hate instruction, and the generality would never read beyond the first line of my lectures, if they were actually filled with nothing but wholesome precepts and advice, I must therefore sometimes humour them in their own way. There are a set of great names in the province, who are the common objects of popular dislike. If I can now and then overcome my reluctance, and prevail with myself to satirise a little one of these gentlemen, the expectation of meeting with such a gratification will induce many to read me through, who would otherwise proceed immediately to the foreign news. As I am very well assured the greatest men among us have a sincere love for their country, notwithstanding its ingratitude, and the insinuations of the envious and malicious to the contrary, so I doubt not but they will cheerfully tolerate me in the liberty I design to take for the end above mentioned. As yet I have but few correspondents, though they begin now to increase. The following letter, left for me at the printer's, is one of the first I have received, which I regard the more for that it comes from one of the fair sex, and because I have myself oftentimes suffered under the grievance therein complained of : "To the Busy-Body. SIR,-You having set yourself up for a censuror morum (as I think you call it), which is said to mean a reformer of manners, I know no person more proper to be applied to for redress in all the grievances we * [Too much of one thing is good for nothing.] suffer from want of manners in some people. You must know I am a single woman, and keep a shop in this town for a livelihood. There is a certain neighbour of mine, who is really agreeable company enough, and with whom I have had an intimacy of some time standing; but of late she makes her visits so exceedingly often, and stays so very long every visit, that I am tired out of all patience. I have no manner of time at all to myself; and you, who seem to be a wise man, must needs be sensible that every person has little secrets and privacies, that are not proper to be exposed even to the nearest friend. Now, I cannot do the least thing in the world but she must know about it; and it is a wonder I have found an opportunity to write you this letter. My misfortune is, that I respect her very well, and know not how to disoblige her so much as to tell her I should be glad to have less of her company; for if I should once hint such a thing, I am afraid she would resent it so as never to darken my door again. But alas, sir, I have not yet told you half my affliction. She has two children that are just big enough to run about and do pretty mischief: these are continually along with mamma, either in my room or shop, if I have ever so many customers or people with me about business. Sometimes they pull the goods off my low shelves down to the ground, and perhaps where one of them has just been making water. My friend takes up the stuff, and cries, 'Oh! thou little wicked mischievous rogue! But, however, it has done no great damage-it is only wet a little;' and so puts it up upon the shelf again. Sometimes they get to my cask of nails behind the counter, and divert themselves, to my great vexation, with mixing my tenpenny, and eightpenny, and fourpenny together. I endeavour to conceal my uneasiness as much as possible, and with a grave look go to sorting them out. She cries, Don't thee trouble thyself, neighbour. Let them play a little; I'll put all to rights before I go.' But things are never so put to rights but that I find a great deal of work to do after they are gone. Thus, Sir, I have all the trouble and pesterment of children, without the pleasure of calling them my own; and they are now so used to being here that they will be content no where else. If she would have been so kind as to have moderated her visits to ten times aday, and staid but half an hour at a time, I should have been contented, and I believe never have given you this trouble. But this very morning they have so tormented me that I could bear no longer; for while the mother was asking me twenty impertinent questions, the youngest got to my nails, and with great delight rattled them by handfuls all over the floor; and the other at the same time made such a terrible din upon my counter with a hammer, that I grew half distracted. I was just then about to make myself a new suit of pinners, but in the fret and confusion I cut it quite out of all manner of shape, and utterly spoiled a piece of the first muslin. Pray, Sir, tell me what I shall do, and talk a little against such unreasonable visiting in your next paper: though I would not have her affronted with me for a great deal, for sincerely I love her and her children-as well, I think, as a neighbour can-and she buys a great many things in a year at my shop. But I would beg her to consider, that she uses me unmercifully, though I believe it is only for want of thought. But I have twenty things more to tell you besides all this: there is a handsome gentleman that has a mind (I don't question) to make love to me; but he can't get the opportunity to- -O dear, here she comes again; I must conclude. Yours, &c. PATIENCE." Indeed, it is well enough, as it happens, that she is come to shorten this complaint, which I think is full long enough already, and probably would otherwise have been as long again. However, I must confess, I cannot help pitying my correspondent's case, and in her behalf, exhort the visitor to remember and consider the words of the wise man-" Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest he grow weary The letter signed "Would-be-something" is come to hand. of thee, and so hate thee." It is, I believe, a nice thing, | circumstances, characters, transactions, &c. which will and very difficult, to regulate our visits in such a man- be requisite to the perfecting and embellishment of the ner as never to give offence by coming too seldom, or said work, are desired to communicate the same to the too often, or departing too abruptly, or staying too author, and direct their letters to be left with the long. However, in my opinion, it is safest for most printer hereof. people, in a general way, who are unwilling to disoblige, to visit seldom, and tarry but a little while in a place; notwithstanding pressing invitations, which are many times insincere. And though more of your company should be really desired, yet, in this case, too much reservedness is a fault more easily excused than the contrary. Men are subject to various inconveniences merely through lack of a small share of courage, which is a quality very necessary in the common occurrences of life, as well as in a battle. How many impertinences do we daily suffer with great uneasiness, because we have not courage enough to discover our dislike! And why may not a man use the boldness and freedom of telling his friends, that their long visits sometimes incommode him? On this occasion, it may be entertain ing to some of my readers, if I acquaint them with the Turkish manner of entertaining visitors, which I have from an author of unquestionable veracity, who assures us, that even the Turks are not so ignorant of civility and the arts of endearment, but that they can practise them with as much exactness as any other nation, whenever they have a mind to show themselves obliging. "When you visit a person of quality," says he, "and have talked over your business, or the compliments, or whatever concern brought you thither, he makes a sign to have things served in for the entertainment, which is generally a little sweetmeat, a dish of sherbet, and another of coffee; all which are immediately brought in by the servants, and tendered to all the guests in order, with the greatest care and awfulness imaginable. At last comes the finishing part of your entertainment, which is, perfuming the beards of the company-a ceremony which is performed in this manner- They have for the purpose a small silver chaffing dish, covered with a lid full of holes, and fixed upon a handsome plate. In this they put some fresh coals, and upon them a piece of lignum aloes, and shutting it up, the smoke immediately ascends with a grateful odour through the holes of the cover. This smoke is held under every one's chin, and offered as it were a sacrifice to his beard. The bristly idol soon receives the reverence done to it, and so greedily takes in and incorporates the gummy steam, that it retains the savour of it, and may serve for a nosegay a good while after. This ceremony may perhaps seem ridiculous at first hearing; but it passes among the Turks for a high gratification. And I will say this in its vindication, that its design is very wise and useful; for it is understood to give a civil dismission to the visitants, intimating to them that the master of the house has business to do, or some other avocation, that permits them to go away as soon as they please-and the sooner after this ceremony the better. By this means you may, at any time, without offence, deliver yourself from being detained from your affairs by tedious and unseasonable visits; and from being constrained to use that piece of hypocrisy, so common in the world, of pressing those to stay longer with you, whom perhaps in your heart you wish a great way off for having troubled you so long already." The Busy-Body-No. V. Vos, O patricius sanguis, quos vivere fas est, Occipiti cæco, posticæ occurrite sannæ !*-PERSIUS. This paper being designed for a terror to evil-doers, as well as a praise to them that do well, I am lifted up with secret joy to find that my undertaking is approved and encouraged by the just and good, and that few are against me but those who have reason to fear me. There are little follies in the behaviour of most men, which their best friends are too tender to acquaint them with; there are little vices and small crimes which the law has no regard to or remedy for: there are likewise great pieces of villany sometimes so craftily accomplished, and so circumspectly guarded, that the All these things, law can take no hold of the actors. and all things of this nature, come within my province as censor, and I am determined not to be negligent of the trust I have reposed in myself, but resolve to execute my office diligently and faithfully. And that all the world may judge with how much humanity, as well as justice, I shall behave in this office and that even my enemies may be convinced I take no delight to rake into the dunghill lives of vicious men ; and to the end that certain persons may be a little eased of their fears, and relieved from the terrible palpitations they have lately felt and suffered, and do still livion for all offences, crimes, and misdemeanours, of suffer-I hereby graciously pass an act of general obwhat kind soever, committed from the beginning of the year 1681, until the day of the date of my first paper, and promise only to concern myself with such as have been since and shall hereafter be committed. I shall fraud and oppression, nor who by deceit and hypocrisy; take no notice who has (heretofore) raised a fortune by what woman has been false to her good husband's bed, nor what man has, by barbarous usage or neglect; broke the heart of a faithful wife, and wasted his health and substance in debauchery; .what base wretch has betrayed his friend, and sold his honesty for gold; nor what baser wretch first corrupted him, and then bought the bargain: all this, and much more of the same kind, I shall forget, and pass over in silence; but then, it is to be observed, that I expect and require a sudden and general amendment. These threatenings of mine I hope will have a good effect, and if regarded, may prevent abundance of folly and wickedness in others, and at the same time save me abundance of trouble: and that people may not loose misdemeanours from my knowledge, and in that flatter themselves with the hopes of concealing their view persist in evil doing, I must acquaint them that I have lately entered into an intimacy with the extraordinary person who some time since wrote me the that enables him to discover the most secret iniquity, following letter; and who, having a wonderful faculty is capable of giving me great assistance in my designed work of reformation: "MR BUSY-BODY,-I rejoice, Sir, at the opportunity you have given me to be serviceable to you, and by your means to this province. You must know, that such have been the circumstances of my life, and such have not only a faculty of discovering the actions of were the marvellous concurrences of my birth, that I Thus far my author. For my own part, I have taken such a fancy to this Turkish custom, that for the future I shall put something like it in practice. I have provided a bottle of right French brandy for the men, and citron water for the ladies. After I have treated with a dram, and presented a pinch of my best snuff, I expect all company will retire, and leave me to pur-persons that are absent or asleep, but even of the devil sue my studies for the good of the public. Advertisement. I give notice, that I am now actually compiling, and design to publish in a short time, the true history of the rise, growth, and progress of the renowned Tiff Club. All persons who are acquainted with any facts, himself, in many of his secret workings, in the various [0 ye, whom men for lineal merit spare, rected, on receipt of this, to burn his great book of Crudities. P. S.-In compassion to that young man, on account of the great pains he has taken, in consideration of the character I have just received of him that he is really good natured, and on condition he shows it to no foreigner, or stranger of sense, I have thought fit to reprieve his said great book of Crudities from the flames, till further order. Noli me tangere.* tions, I can recommend myself to you as the most useful man you can correspond with. My father's father's father (for we had no grandfathers in our family) was the same John Bunyan that writ that memorable book, The Pilgrim's Progress, who had in some degree a natural faculty of second sight. This faculty (how derived to him, our family memoirs are not very clear) was enjoyed by all his descendants, but not by equal talents. It was very dim in several of my first cousins, and probably had been nearly extinct in our particular branch, had not my father been a traveller. He lived, in his youthful days, in New England. There he married, and there was born my elder brother, I had resolved, when I first commenced this design, who had so much of this faculty as to discover witches on no account to enter into a public dispute with any in some of their occult performances. My parents man; for I judged it would be equally unpleasant to transporting themselves to Great Britain, my second me and my readers, to see this paper filled with conbrother's birth was in that kingdom. He shared but a tentious wrangling, answers, replies, &c., which is a way small portion of this virtue, being only able to discern of writing that is endless, and, at the same time, seldom transactions about the time of, and for the most part contains any thing that is either edifying or entertainafter, their happening. My good father, who delighted ing. Yet, when such a considerable man as Mr in the Pilgrim's Progress, and mountainous places, finds himself concerned so warmly to accuse and contook shipping with his wife for Scotland, and inhabited demn me, as he has done in Keimer's last Instructor, in the Highlands, where myself was born; and whether I cannot forbear endeavouring to say something in my the soil, climate, or astral influences, of which are pre- could be given me by a man of worth. But as I have own defence, from one of the worst of characters that served divers prognostics, restored our ancestor's natural faculty of second sight in a greater lustre to me many things of more consequence to offer the public, than it had shined in through several generations, II declare that I will never, after this time, take notice will not here discuss. But so it is, that I am possessed largely of it, and design, if you encourage the proposal, to take this opportunity of doing good with it, which I question not will be accepted of in a grateful way by many of your honest readers, though the discovery of my extraction bodes me no deference from your great scholars and modern philosophers. This my father was long ago aware of, and lest the name alone should hurt the fortunes of his children, he, in his shiftings from one country to another, wisely changed it. of any accusations not better supported with truth and reason; much less may every little scribbler that shall attack me, expect an answer from the Busy-body. The sum of the charge delivered against me, either directly or indirectly, in the said paper, is this-not to mention the first weighty sentence concerning vanity and ill-nature, and the shrewd intimation, that I am without charity, and therefore can have no pretence to religion-I am represented as guilty of defamation and scandal, the odiousness of which is apparent to every good man, and the practice of it opposite to my-christianity, morality, and common justice and, in some cases, so far below all these as to be inhuman; as a blaster of reputations; as attempting, by a pretence, to screen myself from the imputation of malice and prejudice; as using a weapon which the wiser and better part of mankind hold in abhorrence; and as giving treatment which the wiser and better part of mankind dislike on the same principles, and for the same reason, as they do assassination, &c.; and all this is inferred and concluded from a character I have wrote in my Number III. Sir, I have only this farther to say, how I may be useful to you; and as a reason for my not making self more known in the world, by virtue of this great gift of nature, second-sightedness, I do continually see numbers of men, women, and children, of all ranks, and what they are doing, while I am sitting in my closet; which is too great a burden for the mind, and makes me also conceit, even against reason, that all this host of people can see and observe me, which strongly inclines me to solitude, and an obscure living; and on the other hand, it will be an ease to me to disburden my thoughts and observations in the way proposed to you, by Sir, your friend and humble servant." I conceal this correspondent's name, in my care for his life and safety, and cannot but approve his prudence in choosing to live obscurely. I remember the fate of my poor monkey-he had an ill-natured trick of grinning and chattering at every thing he saw in petticoats -my ignorant country neighbours got a notion, that pug snarled by instinct at every female who had lost her virginity. This was no sooner generally believed, than he was condemned to death-by whom I could never learn; but he was assassinated in the night-barbarously stabbed and mangled in a thousand places, and left hanging dead on one of my gate posts, where I found him the next morning. The censor-observing that the itch of scribbling begins to spead exceedingly, and being carefully tender of the reputation of his country, in point of wit and good sense-has determined to take all manner of writings in verse or prose, that pretend to either, under his immediate cognizance; and, accordingly, hereby prohibits the publishing any such for the future, till they have first passed his examination, and received his imprimatur for which he demands as a fee only sixpence per sheet. N. B. He nevertheless permits to be published all satirical remarks on the Busy-body, the above prohibition notwithstanding, and without examination, or requiring the said fees; which indulgence the small wits, in and about this city, are advised gratefully to accept and acknowledge. The gentleman who calls himself Sirronio, is di In order to examine the justice and truth of this heavy charge, let us recur to that character. And here we may be surprised to find what a trifle has raised this mighty clamour and complaint, this grievous what is called my gross description (be he who he will accusation! The worst thing said of the person, in to whom my accuser has applied the character of Cretico) is, that he is a sour philosopher, crafty, but not wise. Few humane characters can be drawn that will not fit some body, in so large a country as this; but one would think, supposing I meant Cretico a real person, I had sufficiently manifested my impartiality when I said, in that very paragraph, that Cretico is not without virtue-that there are many good things in him, and many good actions reported of him; which must be allowed in all reason very much to overbalance in his favour those worst words, sour-tempered and cunning. Nay, my very enemy and accuser must have been sensible of this, when he freely acknowledges that he has been seriously considering, and cannot yet determine, which he would choose to be, the Cato or Cretico of that paper-since my Cato is one of the best of the only reasons there given why I ought not to concharacters. Thus much in my own vindication. As to tinue drawing characters, viz.-Why should any man's picture be published which he never sat for? or his good name taken from him any more than his money or possessions, at the arbitrary will of another? &c.— I have but this to answer :-the money or possessions, presume, are nothing to the purpose; since no man I [Touch me not.] THE BUSY-BODY. can claim a right either to those or a good name, if he has acted so as to forfeit them. And are not the public the only judges what share of reputation they think proper to allow any man? Supposing I was capable, and had an inclination, to draw all the good and bad characters in America, why should a good man be offended with me for drawing good characters? And if I draw ill ones, can they fit any but those that deserve them? And ought any but such to be concerned that they have their deserts! I have as great an aversion and abhorrence for defamation and scandal as any man, and would, with the utmost care, avoid being guilty of such base things; besides, I am very sensible and certain, that if I should make use of this paper to defame any person, my reputation would be sooner hurt by it than his, and the Busy-body would quickly become detestable; because, in such a case, as is justly observed, the pleasure arising from a tale of wit and novelty soon dies away in generous and honest minds, and is followed with a secret grief to see their neighbours calumniated. But if I myself was actually the worst man in the province, and any one should draw my true character, would it not be ridiculous in me to say he had defamed and scandalised me, unless he had added in a matter of truth? If any thing is meant by asking, why any man's picture should be published which he never sat for, it must be, that we should give no character without the owner's consent. If I discern the wolf disguised in harmless wool, and contriving the destruction of my neighbour's sheep, must I have his permission before I am allowed to discover and prevent him? If I know a man to be a designing knave, must I ask his consent to bid my friends beware of him? If so, then, by the same rule, supposing the Busy-body had really merited all his enemy had charged him with, his consent likewise ought to have been obtained, before so terrible an accusation was published against him. I shall conclude with observing, that in the last paragraph save one of the piece now examined, much ill-nature and some good sense are co-inhabitants (as he expresses it). The ill-nature appears in his endeavouring to discover satire where I intended no such thing, but quite the reverse-the good sense is this, that drawing too good a character of any one is a refined manner of satire, that may be as injurious to him as the contrary, by bringing on an examination that undresses the person, and in the haste of doing it, he may happen to be stript of what he really owns and deserves. As I am censor, I might punish the last; but I forgive it. Yet I will not leave the latter unrewarded, but assure my adversary, that in consideration of the merit of those four lines, I am resolved to forbear injuring him on any account in that refined manner. I thank my neighbour, PW-1, for his kind letter. The lions complained of shall be muzzled. The Busy-Body.—No. VIII. Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, Auri sacra fames?*-VIRGIL. 47 give their opinion of the thing wrote. This ungenerous way of proceeding I was well aware of before I published my first speculation, and therefore concealed my name. And I appeal to the more generous part of the world, if I have, since I appeared in the character of the Busy-body, given an instance of my siding with any party more than another, in the unhappy divisions of my country; and I have, above all, this satisfaction in myself, that neither affection, aversion, or interest, have biassed me to use any partiality towards any man, or set of men; but whatsoever I find nonsensical, ridiculous, or immorally dishonest, I have, and shall continue openly to attack, with the freedom of an honest man and a lover of my country. I profess I can hardly contain myself, or preserve the gravity and dignity that should attend the censorial office, when I hear the odd and unaccountable expositions that are put upon some of my works, through the malicious ignorance of some, and the vain pride of more than ordinary penetration in others; one instance of which many of my readers are acquainted with. A certain gentleman has taken a great deal of pains to write a key to the letter in my Number IV., wherein he has ingeniously converted a gentle satire upon tedious and impertinent visitants into a libel on some of the government. This I mention only as a specimen of the taste of the gentleman; I am, forsooth, bound to please in my speculations, not that I suppose my impartiality will ever be called in question on that account. Injustices of this nature I could complain of in many instances; but I am at present diverted by the reception of a letter, which, though it regards me only in my private capacity as an adept, yet I venture to publish it for the entertainment of my readers. "To Censor Morum, Esq. Busy-body General of the Province of Pennsylvania, and the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware. HONOURABLE SIR,-I judge by your lucubrations, that you are not only a lover of truth and equity, but a man of parts and learning, and a master of science: as such I honour you. Know then, most profound Sir, that I have, from my youth up, been a very indefatigable student in, and admirer of, that divine science, astrology. I have read over Scot, Albertus Magnus, and Cornelius Agrippa, above three hundred times; and was in hopes, by my knowledge and industry, to gain enough to have recompensed me for my money expended and time lost in the pursuit of this learning. You cannot be ignorant, Sir (for your intimate secondsighted correspondent knows all things), that there are large sums of money hidden under ground in divers places about this town, and in many parts of the country; but alas, Sir, notwithstanding I have used all the means laid down in the immortal authors before mentioned-and, when they failed, the ingenious Mr P-d-1, with his mercurial wand and magnet-I have still failed in my purpose. This, therefore, I send, to propose and desire an acquaintance with you, and I do not doubt, notwithstanding my repeated ill fortune, but we may be exceedingly serviceable to each other in our discoveries; and that if we use our united endeavours, the time will come when the Busy-body, his second-sighted correspondent, and your very humble servant, will be three of the richest men in the province: and then, Sir, what may we not do? A word to the wise is sufficient. I conclude, with all demonstrable respect, yours and Urania's votary, TITAN PLEIADES.” One of the greatest pleasures an author can have, is certainly the hearing his works applauded. The hiding from the world our names, while we publish our thoughts, is so absolutely necessary to this self-gratification, that I hope my well-wishers will congratulate me on my escape from the many diligent but fruitless In the evening after I had received this letter, I inquiries, that have of late been made after me. Every made a visit to my second-sighted friend, and commuman will own that an author, as such, ought to be hid nicated to him the proposal. When he had read it, by the merit of his productions only; but pride, party, he assured me that, to his certain knowledge, there is and prejudice, at this time run so very high, that ex-not at this time so much as one ounce of silver or gold perience shows we form our notions of a piece by the character of the author. Nay, there are some very humble politicians in and about this city, who will ask on which side the writer is, before they presume to * [To what accursed thirst of gain Wilt thou not human breasts constrain!] D hid under ground in any part of this province; for that the late and present scarcity of money had obliged those who were living, and knew where they had formerly hid any, to take it up, and use it in their own necessary affairs: and as to all the rest which was buried by pirates and others in old times, who were never like to come for it, he himself had long since dug it all up, and applied it to charitable uses; and this he desired me to publish for the general good. For, as he acquainted me, there are among us great numbers of honest artificers and labouring people, who, fed with a vain hope of growing suddenly rich, neglect their business, almost to the ruining of themselves and families, and voluntarily endure abundance of fatigue, in a fruitless search after imaginary hidden treasure. They wander through the woods and bushes by day to discover the marks and signs at midnight they repair to the hopeful spots with spades and pickaxes-full of expectation, they labour violently, trembling at the same time in every joint, through fear of certain malicious demons who are said to haunt and guard such places. At length a mighty hole is dug, and perhaps several cartloads of earth thrown out; but, alas, no cag or iron pot is found! no seamen's chest crammed with Spanish pistoles, or weighty pieces of eight! Then they conclude, that through some mistake in the procedure, some rash word spoke, or some rule of art neglected, the guardian spirit had power to sink it deeper into the earth, and convey it out of their reach. Yet, when a man is once thus infatuated, he is so far from being discouraged by ill success, that he is rather animated to double his industry, and will try again and again in a hundred different places, in hopes at last of meeting with some lucky hit that shall at once sufficiently reward him for all his expense of time and labour. This odd humour of digging for money, through a belief that much has been hid by pirates formerly frequenting the river, has for several years been mighty prevalent among us, insomuch that you can hardly walk half a mile out of the town on any side, without observing several pits dug with that design, and perhaps some lately opened. Men, otherwise of very good sense, have been drawn into this practice, through an overweening desire of sudden wealth, and an easy credulity of what they so earnestly wished might be true, while the rational and almost certain methods of acquiring riches by industry and frugality are neglected or forgotten. There seems to be some peculiar charm in the conceit of finding money; and if the sands of Schuylkil were so much mixed with small grains of gold that a man might in a day's time, with care and application, get together to the value of half-a-crown, I make no question but we should find several people employed there, that can with ease earn five shillings a-day at their proper trades. Many are the idle stories told of the private success of some people, by which others are encouraged to proceed; and the astrologers, with whom the country swarms at this time, are either in the belief of these things themselves, or find their advantage in persuading others to believe them; for they are often consulted about the critical times for digging, the methods of like whimsies, which renders will in a few days' time amount to a pistole; and let Faber think the same of every small nail he drives, or every stroke with his plane. Such thoughts may make them industrious, and, of consequence, in time they may be wealthy. But how absurd is it to neglect a certain profit for such a ridiculous whimsey-to spend whole days at the George, in company with an idle pretender to astrology, contriving schemes to discover what was never hidden, and forgetful how carelessly business is managed at home in their absence-to leave their wives and a warm bed at midnight (no matter if it rain, hail, snow, or blow a hurricane, provided that be the critical hour), and fatigue themselves with the violent exercise of digging for what they shall never find, and perhaps getting a cold that may cost their lives, or at least disordering themselves so as to be fit for no business beside for some time after. Surely this is nothing less than the most egregious folly and madness. I shall conclude with the words of my discreet friend, Agricola, of Chester county, when he gave his son a good plantation:-"My son," says he, "I give thee now a valuable parcel of land; I assure thee I have found a considerable quantity of gold by digging there; thee mayst do the same; but thee must carefully ob serve this, never to dig more than plough deep." ON EARLY MARRIAGES. DEAR JACK,—You desire, you say, my impartial thoughts on the subject of an early marriage, by way of answer to the numberless objections that have been made by numerous persons to your own. You may remember, when you consulted me on the occasion, that I thought youth on both sides to be no objection. Indeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my observation, I am rather inclined to think that early ones stand the best chance of happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not yet become so stiff and uncomplying, as when more advanced in lifethey form more easily to each other; and hence many occasions of disgust are removed. And if youth has less of that prudence which is necessary to manage a family, yet the parents and elder friends of young married persons are generally at hand to offer their advice, which amply supplies that defect; and, by early marriages, youth is sooner formed to regular and useful life; and possibly some of those accidents, or connections, that might have injured the constitution, or reputation, or both, are hereby happily prevented. Particular circumstances of particular persons may possibly sometimes make it prudent to delay entering into that state; but in general, when nature has rendered our bodies fit for it, the presumption is in nature's favour that she has not judged amiss in making us desire it. Late marriages are often attended, too, with laying the spirit, and and very much caressed by, this farther inconvenience, that there is not the same them very necessary to, the poor deluded money-hunters. There is certainly something very bewitching in the pursuit after mines of gold and silver, and other valuable metals, and many have been ruined by it. A seacaptain of my acquaintance used to blame the English for envying Spain their mines of silver, and too much despising or overlooking the advantages of their own industry and manufactures. "For my part," says he, "I esteem the banks of Newfoundland to be a more valuable possession than the mountains of Potosi ; and when I have been there on the fishing account, have looked upon every cod pulled up into the vessel as a certain quantity of silver ore, which required only carrying to the next Spanish port to be coined into pieces of eight-not to mention the national profit of fitting out and employing such a number of ships and seamen." Let honest Peter Buckram, who has long without success been a searcher after hidden money, reflect on this, and be reclaimed from that unaccountable folly. Let him consider, that every stitch he takes when he is on his shop-board is picking up a part of a grain of gold, that chance that the parents should live to see their offspring educated. "Late children," says the Spanish proverb, are early orphans." A melancholy reflection to those whose case it may be ! With us in America, marriages are generally in the morning of life; our children are therefore educated and settled in the world by noon: and thus, our business being done, we have an afternoon and evening of cheerful leisure to ourselves, such as our friend at present enjoys. By these early marriages, we are blessed with more children; and from the mode among us founded by nature, of every mother suckling and nursing her own child, more of them are raised. Thence the swift progress of population among us, unparalleled in Europe. In fine, I am glad you are married, and congratulate you most cordially upon it. You are now in the way of becoming a useful citizen; and you have escaped the unnatural state of celibacy for life-the fate of many here who never intended it, but who having too long postponed the change of their conditions, find at length that it is too late to think of it, and so live all their lives in a situation that |