cation is commenced, the heart is most fufceptible of impreffion. Whatever difpofition tends to foften, without weakening the mind, must be cherished; and it must be allowed, that delicacy of fentiment, on this fide the extreme, adds greatly to the happiness of mankind, by diffufing an univerfal benevolence. It teaches men to feel for others as for themselves; it disposes us to rejoice with the happy, and, by partaking, to increase their pleasure. It frequently excludes the malignant paffions, which are the fources of the greatest miseries in life. It excites a pleafing fenfation in our own breaft, which, if its duration be confidered, may be placed among the highest gratifications of fenfe. The only ill confequence that can be apprehended from it is, an effeminacy of mind, which may difqualify us for vigorous pursuits and manly exertions. In the most fuccefsful courfe of life, obftacles will impede, and difagreeable circumstances difguft. To bear thefe without feeling them, is fometimes neceffary in the right conduct of life; but he who is tremblingly alive all over, and whose fenfibility approaches to foreness, avoids the conteft on which he knows he must be hurt. He feels injuries never committed; and resents affronts ne ver intended. Difgufted with men and manners, he either feeks retirement to indulge his melancholy, or, weakened by continual chagrin, he conducts himself with folly and imprudence. How then shall we avoid the extreme of a dif position, which, in the due medium, is productive of the most falutary confequences? In this excess, as well as all others, reafon must be called in to moderate. Senfibility must not be permitted to fink us into that ftate of indolence which effectually reprefents thofe manly fentiments that may very well confift with the most delicate. The greatest mildness is commonly united with the greateft fortitude in the true hero. Tenderness, joined with refolution, form, indeed, a finished character. The affectation of great fenfibility is extremely common. It is, however, as odious as the reality is amiable. It renders a man contemptible, and a woman ridiculous. Inftead of relieving the afflicted, which is the neceffary effect of genuine sympathy, a character of this fort flies from mifery, to fhew that it is too delicate to fupport the fight of diftrefs.-The appearance of a toad, or the jolting of a carriage, will caufe a paroxyfm of fear. But it is remarkable, that this delicacy and tendernefs often difappear in folitude, and the pre tender tender to uncommon fenfibility is frequently found, in the abfence of witneffes, to be uncommonly unfeeling. To have received a tender heart from the hand of Nature, is to have received the means of the greatest bleffings. To have guided it by the dictates of reason, is to have acted up to the dignity of human nature, and to have obtained that happiness of which the heart was conftituted lufceptible. May a temper, thus laudable in iticif, never be rendered contempti le by affectation, or ufelefs by neglect! ACCOUNT OF A SINGULAR CHARACTER. TH HE village of Threlkeld, in Cumberland, a curacy, was once in the poffeffion of a clergyman remarkable for the oddity of his character. This gentleman, by name Alexander Naughley, was a native of Scotland. The cure in his time was very poor, only eight pounds fixteen fhillings yearly; but, as he lived the life of a Diogenes, it was enough. His dress was mean and even beggarly: he lived alone, with out out a fervant to do the meanest drudgery for him: his victuals he cooked himfelf, not very elegantly we may fuppofe: his bed was straw, with only two blankets. But with all these outward marks of a floven, no man poffeffed a greater genius; his wit was ready, his fatire keen and undaunted, and his learning extenfive; add to this, that he was a facetious and agreeable companion; and though generally fond of the deepest retirement, would unbend among company, and become the chief promoter of mirth. He had an excellent library, and at his death, left behind him feveral manufcripts, on various fubjects, and of very great merit. These confifted of, a Treatife on Algebra, Conic Sections, Spherical Trigonometry, and other Mathematical pieces. He had written fome poetry, but most of this he deftroyed before his death. His other productions would have fhared the fame fate, had they not been kept from him by a perfon to whom he had entrusted them. The ftate they were found in is fcarcely lefs extraordinary than his other oddities; being written upon fixty loofe fheets tied together with a fhoemaker's waxed thread. Mr. Naughley never was married; but having once fome thoughts of entering into that state, he was rejected by the fair one to whom he paid his addreffes. addreffes. Enraged at this difappointment, and to prevent the fair fex from having any further influence over him, he caftrated himself, giving for his reafon, "If thy right eye offend thee, &c." In confequence of this operation he grew prodigioufly fat, and his voice, which was naturally good, improved very much, and continued dur ing his life. He died April 30th, 1756, at the age of 76, having ferved this curacy forty-feven years. Among the extraordinary anecdotes related of him, the Dean, in the courfe of his peregrination, vifiting Mr. Naughley, upon entering into his houfe, found great fault with every article of his drefs, furniture, and all parts of his dwelling.The Dean being about to depart, Mr. Naughley ftopped him, faying, "Dean, you have not feen the most valuable part of my furniture." The Dean looked, but could not perceive any thing even decent. "Ah," faid Mr. Naughley, "there is contentment peeping out of every corner of my cot, and you cannot fee her. I suppose you are not acquainted with her? Upon the walls of your lordly manfion, and in your bedchamber, is written, Dean and Chapter; after that, Bishop. No thought of thefe here; nor ladies, nor equipage. Contentment keeps them off." Mr. Naughley then |