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Valentine and Unnion.

T the fiege of Namur by the allies, there were in the ranks of the company commanded by captain Pincent, in colonel Frederic Hamilton's regiment, one Unnion a corporal, and one Valentine a private centinel: There happened a difpute between these two men about an affair of love, which, upon fome aggravations, grew to an irreconcileable hatred. Unnion being the officer of Valentine, took all opportunities even to ftrike his rival, and profefs the fpite and revenge which moved him to it. The centinel bore it without refiftance; but frequently faid, he would die to be revenged of the tyrant. They had fpent whole months in this manner, the one injuring, the other complaining; when, in the midst of this rage towards each other, they were commanded upon the attack of the castle, where the corporal received a fhot in the thigh, and fell; the French paffing on, and he expecting to be trampled to death, called out to his enemy, "Ah, Va

lentine!

lentine! can you leave me here?" Valentine immediately ran back, and in the midft of a thick fire of the French, took the corporal upon his back, and brought him through all that danger as far as the abbey of Salfine, where a cannon ball took off his head: His body fell under his enemy, whom he was carrying off. Unnion immediately forgot his wound, rofe up, tearing his hair, and then threw himself upon the bleeding carcafe, crying, "Ah, Valentine! was it for me, who have fo barbaroufly used thee, that thou haft died? I will not live after thee." He was not by any means to be forced from the body, but was removed with it bleeding in his arms, and attended with tears by all their comrades who knew their enmity. When he was brought to a tent, his wounds were dreffed by force; but the next day, ftill calling upon Valentine, and lamenting his cruelties to him, he died in the pangs of remorse.

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The Folly of inconsistent Expectations.

THIS

HIS world may be confidered as a great mart of commerce, where fortune exposes to our view various commodities, riches, eafe, tranquillity, fame, integrity, knowledge. Every thing is marked at a fettled price. Our time, our labour, our ingenuity, is fo much ready money, which we are to lay out to the best advantage. Examine, compare, choose, reject: But ftand to your own judgment; and do not, like children, when you have purchased one thing, repine that you do not poffefs another which you did not purchafe. Such is the force of well-regulated induftry, that a steady and vigorous exertion of our faculties, directed to one end, will generally infure fuccefs. Would you, for inftance, be rich? Do you think that fingle point worth the facrificing every thing else to? You may then be rich. Thousands have become fo from the loweft beginnings, by toil, and patient diligence, and attention to the minutest articles of expence and profit. But you must give up the pleasures of leifure, of a vacant mind, of a free unfufpicious temper. If you preferve your integrity, it must be coarseIpun and vulgar honefty. Thofe high and lofty notions of morals which you brought with you from the schools must be confiderably lowered, and mixed with the bafer alloy of a jealous and worldly-minded prudence. You must learn to do hard, if not unjust things; and, for the nice embarrassments of a delicate and ingenuous spirit, it is neceffary for you to get rid of them as fast as poffible. You must fhut your heart against the Muses, and be content to feed your understanding with plain household truths. In fhort, you must not attempt to enlarge your ideas, or polish your taste, or refine your fentiments; but must keep on in one beaten track, without turning afide either to the right hand or to the left." But I cannot fubmit to drudgery

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drudgery like this-I feel a spirit above it." "Tis well: Be above it then; only do not repine that you are not rich.

Is knowledge the pearl of price? That, too, may be purchased-by fteady application, and long folitary hours of study and reflection. Bow to thefe, and you fhall be learned. "But," fays the man of letters, "what a hardship is it, that many an illiterate fellow, who cannot conftrue the motto of the arms of his coach, fhall raise a fortune and make a figure, while I have little more than the common conveniences of life!" Was it to grow rich that you grew pale over the midnight lamp, and diftilled the fweetness from the Greek and Roman fpring? You have then miftaken your path, and ill employed your industry. "What reward

A

have I then for all my labours?" What reward! large comprehenfive foul, well purged from vulgar fears, and perturbations, and prejudices; able to comprehend and interpret the works of man-of God. A rich, flourishing, cultivated mind, pregnant with inexhauftible ftores of entertainment and reflection. A perpetual spring of fresh ideas, and the confcious dignity of fuperior intelligence. Good Heaven! and what reward can you ask besides?

"But is it not fome reproach upon the economy of Providence, that fuch a one, who is a mean, dirty fellow, fhould have amaffed wealth enough to buy half a nation?" Not in the leaft. He made himself a mean, dirty fellow for that very end. He has paid his health, his confcience, his liberty, for it; and will you envy his bargain? Will you hang your head, and blufh in his prefence, because he outfhines you in equipage and fhow? Lift up your brow with a noble confidence, and fay to yourself, "I have not these things, it is true; but it is because I have not fought, becaufe I have not defired them; it is because I poffefs fomething better: I have chofen my lot; I am content and fatisfied."

You are a modeft man-you love quiet and independence, and have a delicacy and referve in your tem

per

per which renders it impoffible for you to elbow your way in the world, and be the herald of your own merits. Be content, then, with a modeft retirement, with the esteem of your intimate friends, with the praises of a blamelefs heart, and a delicate, ingenuous fpirit; but refign the fplendid diftinctions of the world to those who can better fcramble for them.

The man, whofe tender fenfibility of confcience and ftrict regard to the rules of morality make him fcrupulous and fearful of offending, is often heard to complain of the difadvantages he lies under in every path of honour and profit. "Could I but get over fome nice points, and conform to the practice and opinion of those about me, I might ftand as fair a chance as others for dignities and preferment." And why can you not? What hinders you from difcarding this troublesome fcrupulofity of yours, which ftands fo grievoufly in your way? If it be a small thing to enjoy a healthful mind, found at the very core, that does not fhrink from the keeneft infpection; inward freedom from remorfe and perturbation; unfullied whiteness and fimplicity of manners; a genuine integrity,

if

you

"Pure in the last recesses of the mind;"

think these advantages an inadequate recompence for what you refign, difmifs your fcruples this inftant, and be a flave-merchant, a director-or what you please.

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