I HAD lately a very remarkable dream, which made so strong an impression on me, that I remember it every word; and if you are not better employed, you may read the relation of it as follows:

Methought I was in the midst of a very entertaining set of company, and extremely delighted in attending to a lively conversation, when on a sudden I perceived one of the most shocking figures imagination can frame advancing towards me. She was drest in black, her skin was contracted into a thousand wrinkles, her eyes sunk deep in her head, and her complexion pale and livid as the countenance of death. Her looks were filled with terrour and unrelenting severity, and her hands armed with whips and scorpions. As soon as she came near, with a horrid frown, and a voice that chilled my very blood, she bid me follow her. I obeyed, and she. led me through rugged paths, beset with briars and thorns, into a deep solitary valley. Wherever she passed, the fading verdure withered beneath her steps; her pestilential breath infected the air with malignant vapours, obscured the lustre of the sun, and involved the fair face of heaven in universal gloom. Dismal howlings resounded through the forest, from every baleful tree the night raven uttered his dreadful note, and the prospect was filled with desolation and horrour. In the midst of this tremendous scene my execrable guide addressed me in the following manner:

"Retire with me, O rash unthinking mortal, from "the vain allurements of a deceitful world, and learn "that pleasure was not designed the portion of human

life. Man was born to mourn and to be wretched; "this is the condition of all below the stars, and who"ever endeavours to oppose it, acts in contradiction to "the will of heaven. Fly then from the fatal enchant"ments of youth, and social delight, and here conse"crate the solitary hours to lamentation and woe. Mi"sery is the duty of all sublunary beings, and every enjoyment is an offence to the Deity, who is to be worshipped only by the mortification of every sense "of pleasure, and the everlasting exercise of sighs and "tears."

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This melancholy picture of life quite sunk my spirits, and seemed to annihilate every principle of joy within me. I threw myself beneath a blasted yew, where the winds blew cold and dismal round my head, and dreadful apprehensions chilled my heart. Here I resolved to lie till the hand of death, which I impatiently invoked, should put an end to the miseries of a life so deplorably wretched. In this sad situation I espied on one hand of me a deep muddy river, whose heavy waves rolled on in slow sullen murmurs. Here I determined to plunge, and was just upon the brink, when I found myself suddenly drawn back. I turned about, and was surprised by the sight of the loveliest object I had ever beheld. The most engaging charms of youth and beauty appeared in all her form; effulgent glories sparkled in her eyes, and their awful splendours were softened by the gentlest looks of compassion and peace. At her ap proach the frightful spectre, who had before tormented me, vanished away, and with her all the horrours she had caused. The gloomy clouds brightened into cheerful sunshine, the groves recovered their verdure, and the whole region looked gay and blooming as the garden of Eden. I was quite transported at this unexpected change, and reviving pleasure began to glad my thoughts, when, with a look of inexpressible sweetness, my beauteous deliverer thus uttered her divine instructions:

"" My name is RELIGION. I am the offspring of "TRUTH and LOVE, and the parent of BENEVOLENCE, "HOPE, and Joy. That monster from whose power have freed you is called SUPERSTITION; she is the

"child of DISCONTENT, and her followers are FEAR and SORROW. Thus different as we are, she has of"ten the insolence to assume my name and character, "and seduces unhappy mortals to think us the same, "till she, at length, drives them to the borders of DESPAIR, that dreadful abyss into which you were just "going to sink.

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"Look round and survey the various beauties of the globe, which Heaven has destined for the seat of the "human race, and consider whether a world thus exquisitely framed could be meant for the abode of mi66 sery and pain. For what end has the lavish hand of "Providence diffused such innumerable objects of delight, but that all might rejoice in the privilege of "existence, and be filled with gratitude to the benefi"cent author of it? Thus to enjoy the blessings he has "sent, is virtue and obedience; and to reject them "merely as means of pleasure, is pitiable ignorance or "absurd perverseness. Infinite goodness is the source "of created existence; the proper tendency of every " rational being, from the highest order of raptured seraphs, to the meanest rank of men, is to rise incessantly from lower degrees of happiness to higher. They have each faculties assigned them for various "orders of delights."

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What," cried I, "is this the language of RELIGION? "Does she lead her votaries through flowery paths, and "bid them pass an unlaborious life? Where are the painful toils of virtue, the mortifications of penitence, "the self-denying exercises of saints and heroes?"

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"The true enjoyments of a reasonable being," answered she mildly, " do not consist in unbounded in"dulgence, or luxurious ease, in the tumult of passions, "the languor of indolence, or the flutter of light amuse❝ments. Yielding to immoral pleasure corrupts the mind, living to animal and trifling ones debases it; both " in their degree disqualify it for its genuine good, and consign it over to wretchedness. Whoever would be "really happy, must make the diligent and regular ex"ercise of his superior powers his chief attention, ador"ing the perfections of his Maker, expressing goodwill "to his fellow-creatures, cultivating inward rectitude.

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"To his lower faculties he must allow such gratifica"tions as will, by refreshing him, invigorate his nobler pursuits. In the regions inhabited by angelic natures, unmingled felicity for ever blooms; joy flows there "with a perpetual and abundant stream, nor needs there any mound to check its course. Beings conscious of " a frame of mind originally diseased, as all the human "race has cause to be, must use the regimen of a stricter "self-government. Whoever has been guilty of volun

tary excesses, must patiently submit both to the pain"ful workings of nature, and needful severities of me"dicine, in order to his cure. Still he is intitled to a "moderate share of whatever alleviating accommoda"tions this fair mansion of his merciful Parent affords, "consistent with his recovery. And in proportion as "this recovery advances, the liveliest joy will spring "from his secret sense of an amended and improved "heart. So far from the horrours of despair is the con"dition even of the guilty.-Shudder, poor mortal, at "the thought of the gulf into which thou wast but now "going to plunge.

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"While the most faulty have every encouragement to “ amend, the more innocent soul will be supported with "still sweeter consolations under all its experience of "human infirmities; supported by the gladdening as"surances that every sincere endeavour to outgrow "them shall be assisted, accepted, and rewarded. To "such a one the lowliest self-abasement is but a deep"laid foundation for the most elevated hopes; since "they who faithfully examine and acknowledge what they are, shall be enabled under my conduct to be"come what they desire. The christian and the hero "are inseparable; and to aspirings of unassuming trust, " and filial confidence, are set no bounds. To him who "is animated with a view of obtaining approbation from "the Sovereign of the universe, no difficulty is insur"mountable. Secure in this pursuit of every needful "aid, his conflict with the severest pains and trials, is "little more than the vigorous exercises of a mind in ..health. His patient dependence on that Providence "which looks through all eternity, his silent resignation, his ready accommodation of his thoughts and

"behaviour to its inscrutable ways, is at once the most "excellent sort of self-denial, and a source of the most "exalted transports. Society is the true sphere of human virtue. In social, active life, difficulties will perpetually be met with; restraints of many kinds will "be necessary; and studying to behave right in respect "of these is a discipline of the human heart, useful to "others, and improving to itself. Suffering is no duty, "but where it is necessary to avoid guilt, or to do good; "nor pleasure a crime, but where it strengthens the influence of bad inclinations, or lessens the generous activity of virtue. The happiness allotted to man in "his present state, is indeed faint and low, compared " with his immortal prospects, and noble capacities; "but yet whatever portion of it the distributing hand "of heaven offers to each individual, is a needful sup66 port and refreshment for the present moment, so far may not hinder the attaining of his final desti

as it

"nation.

"Return then with me from continual misery to mo"derate enjoyment and grateful alacrity. Return from "the contracted views of solitude to the proper duties "of a relative and dependent being. Religion is not "confined to cells and closets, nor restrained to sullen "retirement. These are the gloomy doctrines of Su"PERSTITION, by which she endeavours to break those "chains of benevolence and social affection, that link "the welfare of every particular with that of the whole. "Remember that the greatest honour you can pay to the "Author of your being is by such a cheerful behaviour, as discovers a mind satisfied with his dispensations." Here my preceptress paused, and I was going to express my acknowledgments for her discourse, when a ring of bells from the neighbouring village, and a newrisen sun darting his beams through my windows, awaked me.*

I am, yours, &c.

* This paper was written by Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, of Deal, in Kent.