behold without compassion the neglect into which a man sinks on the first symptoms of declining intellect, much more is due to the decay of good looks in woman; because this change takes place earlier in life, while the feelings are all alive to the mortification, while health, heart, and understanding are as young, or, I should rather say, as good as ever, perhaps even improving.

It is hard to behold the signal for the contempt and indifference of the world, (grey hairs,) and to feel that its approbation is about to desert you, at the moment of all others, when, perhaps, you are most deserving of its applause. All that has been said concerning the cultivation of the understanding applies equally to either sex; but, unfortunately, it is not always according to their real worth that women are estimated. A little vivacity, to make small talk agreeable; a few flimsy accomplishments, to please the ear or the eye; a little good humour, at least on the surface; and a large share of good looks, without which all the rest often go for nothing,-these are what the world admires in woman. What resource can she then find against the ravages of time, and the scorn of that ungrateful world, that, seeing what she is, so soon forgets what she has been? If she endea

vour by art to supply the defects of nature, alas! what position is so mortifying, so heart-rending, as that of a faded beauty, struggling, in vain, against the encroachments of years, forcing into notice, by her unavailing contrivances, the decay which they are intended to conceal, and eagerly seeking to receive the mockery of that admiration, which was once her due!

She can

If she possess talents, and have not neglected them, she may bring them into play, to attract that notice, which she finds it so hard to resign. And what follows? The half-contemptuous title of a reading woman, or the absolutely opprobrious one of a blue stocking, is her reward. not perpetuate youth or beauty; she was once the world's idol, and is now without value in its eyes; and these odious grey hairs may be worn during the larger half of her existence in this world. Some palliation is surely to be found for such an evil; none, if she depend for it on that selfish world, that values her on the qualifications proper to an automaton, a doll, or a butterfly. But, my young friend, none will be wanting, if, happily, the pursuits of youth have been such as to render you independent of its empty adulation. If you have been solicitous so to form your principles,

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and improve your understanding, that you may grow old gracefully in the bosom of your family; if you have accustomed your thoughts to dwell calmly and frequently on a better state of being; if you have sought for happiness in the steady performance of your duties, and in the affection of a few beloved objects, who know and feel your value; how will it then concern you with what eyes an indifferent multitude behold your declining years? Will the sister, or the friend, in fellowship with whom you have passed into the vale of life; the husband, to whose happiness your brighter days have been devoted; the son, whom you have reared in your bosom; or the daughter, whose early years employ your most tender care; will these behold your grey hairs with any feeling but that of increased affection? And will not the natural decay, which loosens the fetters of worldly vanity, draw closer the holy ties of sister, friend, wife, and mother? Oh! be assured, that age is only to be dreaded by such as have misemployed their youth; be timely convinced, that it imports you all, even the very youngest of you, to be earnestly and carefully preparing comfort and honour for your grey hairs.

ESSAY VII.

ON FIRMNESS.

"Tous les maux de ce monde, excepté la mort, viennent du défaut de fermeté." M. GEOFFRIN.

DARE to be wise! This appears at first sight to be a most unnecessary exhortation. How can courage be requisite to manifest and make use of that wisdom which all men wish for, and many labour all their lives to acquire? To be foolish may require some daring, as we thereby incur the contempt and ridicule of men. To be wicked needs yet more audacity, since it exposes us to punishment and opprobrium in this life, and to an irreversible doom of misery in the world to come. But to be wise; to maintain the dignity of human nature; to shew, by our example, how it may be exalted by virtue, ennobled by fortitude, enriched by talent, improved and polished by the habitual practice of temper and benevolence-that this

should require courage in a being capable of acting so enviable a part, is scarcely comprehensible; yet experience proves it to be true.

It is a melancholy sign of our weakness, and inability to do right of ourselves, that many a man possessed of bravery sufficient to despise every sort of personal danger, would resign his noblest pretensions, I mean his claims to piety and rectitude of conduct, rather than dare to incur the sneer of the infidel, or the senseless scoffing of the dissolute. He will tread on the very verge of those forbidden paths, which he inwardly shudders to behold, connive at those evil deeds from which his soul revolts, and esteem himself fortunate if he can purchase the privilege of adhering to his own opinions without molestation, by remaining a silent observer, and thus an abettor of wickedness in others. This is a very imperfect fulfilment of the duty of a man and a Christian. We are not on every occasion called upon to attempt the arduous task of reforming the depraved, nor are we required to live in open hostility with all whose lives are ill regulated, and whose practices are evil. But it is clearly our duty to refuse even a tacit assent to mischievous and immoral doctrines, or a passive compliance with vice and folly. We should fear their influ