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Years pass'd: for him the maiden pray'd
Oft on that spot, where they had parted.
He came not: sick with hope delay'd,

She languish'd, perish'd, broken-hearted.

And was it, that the ocean-storm,

O'er the frail ship at midnight sweeping, Bore to the depths his livid form?

And lies he 'neath the wild wave sleeping?

Like him who, once to madness wrought
For love of Hero, left Abydos;

And, striving with the tempest, thought,
"Nor winds nor billows shall divide us."

Or was it, that in other realms

Such adverse fate his efforts blighted, As ev'n the hardiest soul o'erwhelms With baffled hopes, toils unrequited?

Or was it, that th' unwholesome clime,
Where winds are fraught with baneful fever,

Low laid him in his early prime,

And crush'd his love and life for ever?

Ah no!-Nor fortune work'd him woe,

Nor sultry gales with death were laden :

Still, still he liv'd and lov'd; but oh!
He lov'd not thee, unhappy maiden!

Faithless in absence, he forgot

Youth's vows, too oft by manhood broken; And each soft glance thy bright eye shot, And each soft word thy lips had spoken.

And thou to sigh for him wert doom'd,
his heart unto another;

Who gave
And droop, poor girl, and die, consum'd

By that fierce flame thou couldst not smother.

COUNCIL OF LADIES.

FROM the very commencement of our undertaking we have felt, that with all our knowledge, all our abilities, all our industry-and who shall venture to call into question our possession of either of these qualities?-there were yet many things which required to be done, but which we were either unable or unwilling to do. For some we were too proud; for some we were too dull: sometimes we were too much occupied with other affairs and sometimes altogether unacquainted with the subjects on which our opinion was asked, or our interference was demanded. Points were referred to our decision, on which we were conscious that we must be incompetent and inexperienced judges. Letters and communications were addressed to us which we should have been glad to send to some auxiliary committee, which might divide our burden, and co-operate with our designs. Such, even in the present number, is the preceding epistle of the unsuccessful bachelor: such, too, are the remarks upon the taste of the age, with which we have been favoured by a probationary member of our council, who has here merely fired off a few rockets before the grand fireworks are begun; or, to change the phrase, cleared away the underwood, that the land may be put into cultivation. In all, we will not say, lighter, but less solemn, matters:— in all, which regards the decencies and elegancies, the daily and domestic concerns, of life, we have been often and sadly at a loss.

Upon mature consideration, therefore, we have determined to establish a Council of Ladies; connected and associated with us, as forming a component part of our plan, as having a common interest, common wishes for the welfare of mankind, and a common zeal for the preservation of truth, morality and decorum :-separate and distinct from us, as having to perform some peculiar offices and duties, which we shall explain more fully at a future time. Two or three collateral reasons have conduced to this resolution. Many ladies have honoured us with their communications, and even expressed a wish to be informed

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whether there was a possibility for them to belong to our society. Moreover, as the softer and more perfect sex is not directly represented in our council, more than in the other great councils of the nation, we have thought proper, like the Roman emperor of old, to grant them a senate of their own.

Our first intention was to admit them to our council, and allow them to be participators in our debates. But the danger of this intention soon stared us in the face. Some author says-we believe Fontenelle in his " Plurality of Worlds,' "How can a man think of the stars with a pretty woman at his side?" How, indeed, shall a man carry his views into other planets, while there is a lovely object smiling near him, to recal his thoughts and affections to the earth, and remind him that it is a very tolerable' abode after all, if he knows how to use and to enjoy it? In the same manner, if ladies were admitted to our council, must not the individual happiness which we should derive from their presence interrupt, and, perhaps, spoil, our projects of universal benevolence? Our deliberations, we fear, would have no more concern with the public welfare than the love-feasts of the Methodists have with religion. Our own hopes and wishes would engross our whole attention our schemes for the common good would be swept away by the torrent of private feeling: the stern sense of duty would be absorbed in softer and tenderer emotions: argument would be succeeded by entreaty, and calm calculating inquiry by warm and passionate exclamations. Our divine, our political economist, and even our President, might imbibe the sweet contagion: our Projector's plans might be directed for a week together to a single object; our traveller would retail all the compliments which he has learnt abroad: the Major would be immoderately gallant, and Urbanus terribly sentimental. Besides, if any difference should occur in conversation between the ladies and ourselves, they would be sure to have it their own way: for whenever men and women have a verbal dispute, the former may always lay their account with being beaten out of the field. We have relinquished, therefore, our first intention, although with infinite reluctance. The nation

we hope, will comprehend the extent of our self-denial; and acknowledge, that there is not a finer and more sublime instance upon record of the sacrifice of private enjoyment to the public good.

It was next proposed, that the ladies should hold their sittings in an adjoining room. But this scheme appeared, upon examination, to be far more liable to objection than the first. The tortures of Tantalus would be a solid and substantial satisfaction in comparison with our situation: and if we by chance heard the voices of our fair coadjutors, we should require to be tied to our seats, like Ulysses to his mast, lest we should hasten to the Sirens, and forget all our dreams, wishes, designs, and expectations in a moment. If we could remain quiet and contented in such a case, should we be greater philosophers, or greater blockheads, than we are?

However this may be, we have resolved, that the female Council, which we are about to establish, shall have a place of assembly entirely separate and distant from our own. A regular and frequent communication will, however, be maintained: nor shall we deny ourselves the indulgence of short meetings at stated times, to prepare our mutual reports, and consider our mutual progress.

Our Council will continue to be the tribunal of the last appeal. There may appear a grievous want of politeness in this determination; but ladies are more inclined, and perhaps better able, to feel than to think. The quickness and delicacy of their perception are wonderful; but we would not trust them with a long chain of argument, or deduction of consequences. The tact of a woman is often infinitely superior to the reason of a man; but among women, we still retain the prejudice of believing that free thinkers and close reasoners are absolutely the least agreeable, and almost the least useful. Heaven be thanked, that there are so few of them!

The senate of Roman ladies seems to have confined its attention, while it lasted, to dress, fashion and affairs of gallantry. Our female Parliament will have a wider jurisdiction. But how far its province will extend, what will be the number of its members, what are the individual

characters, of which it is to be composed; and by what regulations it will be guided, are points which our limited space will not now permit us to explain.

We have merely mentioned the establishment of a female Council at the present moment; because we would afford to our friends the opportunity of offering their suggestions upon the subject: and to the ladies who wish to be enrolled among the female Censors of Great Britain, the power of making us fully acquainted with their claims and qualifications. The communications of both parties must be forwarded during the early part of next month.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Ten in Council assembled return their thanks to their Correspondents generally; and beg leave to assure them, that if they fail in attending to their suggestions, and even answering their letters, the neglect must be attributed to the multiplicity of communications, to their want of space, and to the hurry of various occupations.

Many letters have been received with regard to the errors, anomalies, and inconveniences, of the late Marriage Act. They are all referred to the Council of Ladies.

R. W. and his friends are informed, that the new ministerial arrangements-the state of parties-the character and policy of the present Whigs and Tories-the degree of strength, stability and public confidence, which the existing Administration is likely to possess-together with many other political subjects, will be taken into early consideration, either in this publication, or some other works, which are necessary for the completion of our plan.

A-propos of other publications, we must take the liberty of reviving for them our remarks, as to the strange aspect of affairs upon the Continent-the approaching Congressthe spirit which appears to animate the Sovereigns of Europe, and the ukase of the Emperor Alexander against all secret societies. It is fortunate for us, that the power of the Russian Autocrat does not extend to the British

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