If in vain fear your diffidence have rife, Your hand's warm glow I felt, and eye's bright glance, Convert the hail'd me, and, with gefture mild, Where the wind, Autumn's with'ring hand to aid, And deep-drawn fighs inceflant heav'd my breaft. I hung on pledges by fanatics given, And on the fug'tive bafe built hopes of heaven. In vain my thoughts celeftial wayward roll, The heav'n of faints, I'd rush from to your arms. LEISURE LEISURE AMUSEMENTS. NUMBER XII. Says Ned to Sal, "I lead a fpade, I NEVER was guilty of fo much vanity To the Author of LEISURE AMUSEMENTS. You have, no doubt, often obferved, that many quarrels between friends might be prevented, if the parties would fubmit to a mutual explanation of their complaints. It is with fuch a perfuafion I now take up the pen. SHENSTONE. I have perufed your Effays, under the title of "Leifure Amufements," from their commencement, and have had but one occasion to difapprove of the fentiments you have there conveyed to the public. The paffage I allude to is in the ninth Number, in which you fo unrefervedly condemn card-playing. Now, Sir, I imagine on reconfidering the fubject, you will not be fo harth on this diverfion, and confequently the difference in opinion which at prefent fubfifts between us will ceafe. You have faid in that Essay, Time is not loft when it is enjoyed; and, to make good your arguments against card-playing, have afferted, it affords no enjoyment. Such an affertion I can never allow, as I have every reason to believe the contrary. But, as you have no doubt made the affertion from your own experience, to attack it with mine, would have but little effect; I fhall, therefore, reft my opinion on the experience of others, and fupport it with arguments drawn from the peculiar traits of the human character. Although the actions of mankind are feldom founded on truly rational principles, yet it is evident they all arife from fome motive, which, through the influence of the paffions, and other. powerful circuinftances, take for a time a rational appearance. That there are people who play at cards is a fact beyond contradiction; and if the above remark is true, it is equally certain, in fo doing, they are actuated by fome motive. This motive is, the pleasure it affords them. If we were defirous of difcovering the caufe of this pleasure, I fhould fuggeft it might arife in fome degree from habit. In your first Number you have pointed out the effects of that power; and I thall only beg you to have recourfe to that Eflay, for a proof that enjoyment may be found at a cardtable. But is it impoffible to affign a more rational caufe for the pleafure arifing from cards than the above? I think not. You have faid, activity is effentially connected with happiness. If fo, where is the difficulty? It cannot be denied that a game at cards keeps the mind conftantly employed. It gives it fome aim; and in directing all its powers to the attainment of that aim, is there no pleasure produced? Befides, a game at whift is a trial of mental fkill; and the victory affords us pleasure, becaufe it is flattering to our abilities. This is a fufficient ftimulus to exertion; and is, therefore, a great miftake to fay, there is no pleasure except in playing for money. In my opinion, Sir, it is impoffible always to make our actions conform to what is ftri&tly rational. That wifdom fhould be the predominating principle of our actions is univerfally admitted; but I have fome doubts that, formed as we are, a little folly, now and then, is indifpenfably neceffary. Many of our enjoyments, indeed, depend upon it; and even fome you have allowed deferving of that name. I cannot fee any thing more rational in a minuet or country-dance than in a game at cards; and yet you have inconfiftently pre ferred the former. But perhaps you can prove, that wifdom directs the light fantastic foe," and difcover fome hidden moral in the mazes of a country dance; or, is it from deference to the opinions of Socrates? I do not rank card-playing among my favourite amufements, yet I fometimes take my feat at a card-table; and cannot fay I confider myfelf guilty of folly. I agree with you in withing all mankind would qualify themselves for inftructive converfation; but I cannot believe you are fo ignorant of the world, as to think fuch a change can ever take place. Among my acquaintances there are but very few thus qualified. How inconfiftent, then, with common fenfe, would it be, were I, on fuch grounds, to refufe affociation with the majority of my acquaintances! No! I will join in their amusements, although not quite fo rational, and be thankful there are amufements invented, in which we can all partake. Such, Sir, are the arguments on which I ground my approbation of cards; and I flatter myfelf they will make you a convert. With the rest of your Effay I heartily concur. Attack with all your vehemence fuch favage diverfions as cock-fighting, boxing, and horfe-racing, which fo much difgrace the prefent age, and I am confident you will receive the thanks of every humane and enlightened perfon. Thus, Sir, I have ventured to find fault with your productions. “To hide the fault we fee" is not always commendable; on the contrary, it is an old, but true remark, that the mott fincere friends are the most severe critics: and, hoping you will apply that remark on the prefent occafion, I am, Sir, yours, &c. BELINDA. My readers will readily believe I am much flattered by the above letter, and, confequently, cannot be furprised when I return my thanks to the fair writer. I confefs fhe has convicted me of an error: but he has not produced repentance; for had I not been faulty, I thould not have been favoured with her ingenious correction. Thus, though a convicted, I am far from being a repenting finner. It is almost impoffible to be pleased, without wishing a repetition of what has afforded us pleafure. I therefore embrace this opportunity, to request the future correfpondence of Belinda, or any other of my readers, who think me worthy of their favours. Those who are fo obliging as to comply with this request, may addrefs their letters to the care of Mr. Afperne, Cornhill. Feb. 15, 1804. HERANIO. CAPEL HOUSE. [WITH AN ENGRAVING.] CA APEL HOUSE, the refidence of R. H. Boddam, Efq. was built on the fcite of one of the out-offices of the palace of King James, at Theobalds, Chefhunt. It is fituated on the north east quarter of Enfield parish, Middiefex, was built by a Mr. Hamilton, has been fince greatly improved by the Boddam family, and is now a most convenient family houfe, both as to the apartments and out-offices. It is the manor-houfe of the Capel and Honey lands, alias Pontreale's eftate, and has a domain of about two hundred acres of excellent land appertaining to it. VESTIGES, CAPEL HOUSE, near Enfield, the seat of Ramson Hart Boddam, Esq Bulls Published by J.Asperne, at the Bible, Crown & Constitution Cornhill, 1 Mar 1804. |