that resembled truth, and a sharpness of style which might be mistaken for eloquence, had not only attracted a numerous audience, but was listened to with uncommon, and dangerous attention. This man, as we drew near, betrayed symptoms of embarrassment; and after making a sudden pause in his discourse, to my great surprise, resumed it to the following effect.

[P. S.-The reader will take notice that I am still asleep; and shall dream through another paper, for his edification and amusement.]

DREAM CONTINUED.

You do yet taste

Some subtleties O' TH' ISLE, that will not let you
Believe things certain.

TEMPEST.

"Are you then the dupes of such sophistry as mine? Is "not the boldness, with which I defame your constitution, a "striking proof of the free principles which pervade it? In "such incendiaries as myself, behold the symptoms of exces"sive freedom! Yet it is the supineness of your government, "which permits us to scatter flames. We are answered from "the press, when we should be silenced by the law: your rulers "seek to convince, where they ought to coerce : to persuade "men through their reason, whom they should control through "their fears."

His audience having listened to this strange clause in his harangue, long enough to satisfy the wonder it excited, were now dispersed; when turning to Rekub, to inquire the meaning of such extraordinary candour, I observed his arm extended; and saw something in his air and manner, which explained to me, that by means of a preternatural ascendant, he had compelled the agitator to utter truths, which it was his interest to conceal.

We were now drawing near the Hill of Government; and as we approached the junction of the great roads, our landscape, though enriched with structures of more splendour, had proportionally lost of the elegant privacy, which charmed us at our outset; being intersected by cross-ways, and exposed to interruption, from the clamorous and bustling neighbourhood of Ambition. To our left, however, we perceived a wood;* to which, besides its promising a renewal of that retirement, from which we had emerged, and affording a passage of sufficiently gradual access to the hill, we were attracted by a soft and harmonious sound; † which, issuing from thence, was borne to us upon the same winds, that shook the trees with a gentle agitation. Thither we directed our steps; and ascended the hill through the consecrated Groves of Science. Rekub was known and honoured in these retreats: but Curiosity forbad our stay, and we issued forth upon the mount; which, thrown up by Nature, and improved by Art, combined the appearances of a fortress, and a hill.

It was thronged with people, richly drest, and all in motion: some ascending the summits with rapidity and ease,-others climbing slowly, and with seeming toil; and others, again, tumbling, amidst the scorn of such as had kept their footing better the whole forming a scene, which, for airiness and bustle, I do not think could be easily exceeded.

:

We now directed our eyes to the right, and overlooked the plains of Faction; which were covered with noisome vapours,

exhaled from the fens of Ignorance. But the darkness was from time to time interrupted, by meteors which started from the soil, and glaring through the mist, moved towards the most dangerous parts of the morass; where, after hovering for a time, they vanished with a loud explosion; leaving their deluded followers plunged in an abyss of error. Beyond this region lay the shores of Anarchy; a dreary tract, heaving with incessant earthquakes, and exposed to inundation, from the Ocean of Barbarism, which roared in the limits of our horizon.

On the nearest spot of the plains of Faction, at the base of the hill, the Levellers had pitched their camp; upon ground so disadvantageous, that from no part was the ascent more difficult or abrupt: a circumstance arising not from imprudent choice of position; but from this, that the more accessible approaches to the mount were fortified and strictly guarded; and admission refused to all who had not passports, from Genius, Industry, or Knowledge.

Their camp was a scene of restlessness and intoxication; produced by frequent draughts of an eager poison, with which they were supplied from its adjacent sources; and which, though I readily knew to be licentiousness, they swallowed greedily for public spirit. Of the victims who perished in consequence of its venom, their leaders formed heaps, that should facilitate their own ascent: a practice, however, studiously concealed from the survivors. Amongst those leaders there was one, whom Rekub called Imposture,—who fixed me by a smile, the most treacherous I have ever seen; and which petrified every sentiment of confidence within me. It was the repose of muscle, in which Mischief rests from toil; and basks in emanations of intense malevolence: the same malignant brightness, which may be supposed to have lighted up the features of the Arch-foe, when our first parents fell from their obedience. From the painful fascination which this smile produced, I was roused by a bustle in the Camp, announcing the

arrival of the Genius Ainep;* in whom I quickly recognised my rustic orator, the line of whose eloquence had been so refracted by the influence of Rekub; and whose present reception marked him for a Chief of note amongst the Factious. From their camp my attention was now however drawn, to a group of men upon the hill; who had ascended by the legitimate roads, but being unable to keep pace with their fellows, or by means of some false step, having fallen behind, seceded in disgust, and formed a party on the rocks which overhung the Rebel camp. From thence they held communication with those below; lending the hand to some, to assist them in scaling; and encouraging all with the language of approbation. Nay, some amongst them leaped, in a seeming frenzy, from the precipice; and were received by those beneath, with shouts of triumph and exultation.

Time not permitting to dwell longer on this scene, we turned to ascend the hill; and advanced towards an edifice, situated mid-way between its base and summit. It was raised upon a level spot; and the façade of the building, with its dome and colonnade, reminded me of something I had seen elsewhere.†

As we approached it, Rekub thus addressed me." To "level this hill would be fruitless toil; if such were, indeed, "the intention of the Factious. The soil we tread, is preg"nant with an active principle, which would speedily throw up "another eminence, in its stead. But much skill has been "successfully employ'd, to adapt the present mound to the "purposes of society, and security of national happiness and "freedom. I should therefore regret its destruction. I should "grieve to lose those improvements, which must perish in its

* Paine.

+ The Parliament House.

"fall; and should mourn the precariousness of human proví"sions, when I beheld inequality restored, by a rude and mon"strous heap, thrust forth by Nature, to supply its place ;-but "destitute of those social ornaments, and accommodations, "which the gradual art of ages had produced.

"The heights on which we stand, are of volcanic origin. "They were raised in the struggles, and heated expansion of "human violence; and, in early times, were alternately the "seat of conflicting Force, and arbitrary Power. But the "explosions are no more; and nothing can now be seen, but "verdure and fertility. Nay, those desolating floods, which "overran its sides, have ultimately, perhaps, served to connect "the hill with the adjoining country; and break the inaccessi"ble abruptness of its precipices, to acclivities of easier ascent, "for those who approach it from the territories that lie beneath.

"Look round upon the island. Except those tedious and "pestilential flats, which are ranged by the tumultuous clans of "Faction, how gradual is the descent from its summit to its "sides! What easy access can Freedom have, to every, the "remotest corner of her dominions, along the gently sloping "paths of gradual subordination!

"But let us not be deceived in the objects of the Factious. "They do not wish to demolish; but to occupy: not to dis"mantle the fortress; but to garrison it themselves: not to "level the hill of government; but to hurl Freedom from her "throne; and exalt Despotism in her stead. I speak of the "leaders. The thoughtless multitude is guiltless of design. "Their crime extends not beyond the savageness of the mo"ment. They are frequently as innocent of the ends they "bring about, as the instrument which is used to perpetrate a "murder. The explosion of their violence does but carry "home the mischief, which engineers of faction point against "the state."

Whilst he spoke, we had arrived; and, on entering the