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fince it is the fame as to fay, he fhould prefer another's fa tisfaction to his own; that is, that a real or apprehended good is not the fundamental end of action; contrary both to reafon and fact.

The argument refts here: As there can be no action without a motive, fo man in being reasonable ought to act in a manner becoming fuch a creature. But that will ever be efteemed the most reasonable motive, which is beft adapted in its nature to make him moft exquifitely and durably happy; because, being born for happiness, the larger aggregate of this he acquires, or the further his progress in it, the more judiciously and compleatly he gains his end. Hence were there no principle capable of influencing men in the dark, or restraining them upon fuch conjunctures of time and place as afforded them opportunities of practifing roguery with fuccefs, it is fcarce poffible they fhould fubfift. From A's fituation in life, or thro' his fuperior fkill in the arts of tricking and diffimulation, arise a thousand ways by which he may build his own eafe upon B's ruin: and his own intereft, the ground and measure of all the obligation he knows or can know, would certainly compel him to it.

To conclude, the various wants men labour under, from their firft entrance into the world to the time they leave it, will, on their coming to plan out a scheme of life, unavoidably produce an oppofition of engagements and pursuits. Hence A's mifery will appear at certain feafons to be B's happiness; or, the producing this will neceffarily occafion that. And if they be not firmly perfuaded in their minds of the reality of a first great cause, that will treat every one here or hereafter suitably to his deferts; each man's private pleasure will certainly be accounted his real happiness; and what he judges fo, will ever be the motive of his actions. And nothing can reconcile or make compatible views which look fuch different and contrary ways, but the fense of a Being who will make it the ultimate intereft of all particulars, under the various circumstances in which they may

happen

happen to be plac'd, to observe those ways of acting with regard to one another, as will most effectually promote the general happiness,

[To be continued. ]

R

The reafoning in this letter will perhaps ftartle fuch of our readers, as are not used to abftract fpeculations. All that follow will be under a more popular form.

On FEMALE PATRIOTISM.

Nefcio quâ natale folum dulcedine captos
Ducit.

OVID.

S I have engag'd myself a voluntier in the service of the

A LADIES, I fhall make it the bufinefs of my future

fpeculations to recommend and promote fuch virtues as tend to make them more agreeable; and to decry and paint in their proper colours fuch vices or follies as blot over their beauties and render them ridiculous. But as it is much more noble to commend than cenfure, I have chosen for my prefent fubject the recommendation of a virtue which feems not to have had due honour done to it, and yet is one of those which moft eminently adorn the fair fpecies.

PATRIOTISM is acknowledged a virtue of all others the nobleft, and moft becoming human nature: and I think a very good reafon may be affigned why it is fo: because in fo noble and unlimited an affection all inferiour friendly and social affections must neceffarily be included. Yet tho' this is acknowledged fo rare and noble a virtue, 'tis a very common, and I fear, a very true complaint, that there is little of it extant in the world. If then PATRIOTISM, which feems a virtue peculiarly appropriated to the male fex, is so seldom

to

to be found in its proper place, one would expect to find nothing of a nature fo heroic in foft female bofoms.

In them 'tis graceful to diffolve at woes
With every motion, every word, to wave
Quick o'er the kindling cheek the ready blush
And from the smallest violence to fhrink
Unequal, then the lovelieft in their fears;
And by this filent adulation, soft,

To their protection more engaging man.

19

THOMSON'S Autum

Yet how great a paradox foever it may seem, I'll venture to affirm, that this virtue is not only most productive of that agreeable softness and tender delicacy the poet mentions, but alfo, whatever the fons of the camp may think of the matter, more truly possest by the LADIES than by two parts in three of those heroic gallants; who too commonly decry this affection as madness, and looking superficially on the outside of their actions, condemn as frantic and abfurd those great fpirits of old Greece and Rome.

History would fupply us with very numerous inftances of PATRIOT affection in female characters: but I chuse not to fwell my paper with inftances from antiquity; when every man's daily experience must furnish him with living exam ples of Fair and British PATRIOTS. There furely can be no man of fpirit, but has been elevated with the warm and charming PATRIOT ardour of the fair-fex difplay'd on every proper occafion in their difcourfes for it is the foftness of the fex only that permits them not to display it in a noble manner. I have frequently obferv'd, during our late wars, with what tender zeal they have been follicitous after the fuccefs of our arms; and how nice and delicate in their care after their country's honour, joining at the fame time the most fympathetic concern for the fufferings of the poor

foldiers,

foldiers, and the miferies of fuch as are involv'd in the ca lamities of war.

A charming young LADY, whose particular affection for her country gain'd her the name of the PATRIOT amongst her acquaintance, had, I am affur'd, on account of her regard and generous concern for the good of the common-wealth, more admirers than even for the fake of her beauty, though that was of the firft rank. And happening, in the time of our last campaign, to be charming the wrapt audience with her ufual grace where a gentleman of very fuperiour fortune was prefent, he could not help burfting out in this paffionate exclamation, "Gods! how happy a man must that ર be, who is blefs'd with fo foft, fo generous, fo noble"hearted a creature!" In fhort, he was ravish'd, paid his addreffes, and finds in that excellent LADY every virtue he fancied, and enjoys a life of the most confummate felicity.

And whose heart but must be fired at the fight of so sweet a creature, with fuch elevated paffions ftruggling in her breast? When her looks, her eyes, her words all speak the nobleft affections, who but muft burn with true PATRIOTISM? And when with foft concern the commiferates the unfortunate, who but muft melt with her forrows, and feel the growing tendernefs in his bofom? The LADIES who cultivate fo noble an affection can never fail of admirers, and the happy man never want a friend, a companion, and a heaven in one so nobly tender-hearted, fo delicately heroic.

I might expatiate much more largely on this virtue, but the limits of my paper forbid it; however poffibly I may take some future occafion. In the mean time I would by all means recommend my fair PATRIOT's example to the confideration of all my female, and her prudent lover's, to that of my male readers: and by the bye I could be glad, all our warriours, who in the times of tranquility recompense their labours with the fweet converse of the LADIES, would improve from thence as much as they can of this no

ble

ble ardour, and learn from the fair lefs of their softness, more of their elevated heroism: for I would by all means believe, they are fo great favourites of the LADIES, only because they expect to find in them that true love of their country, which they themselves poffess in so refined, so exalted a manner:

D.

A

From my own Apartment in

College.

S I am determin'd to preserve a constant impartiality, I shall give the following letter a place in this number: tho' I believe all my readers are convinced, that the Effay on FIDDLING inferted in our laft was defigned, not to decry Mufick in general, but to ridicule an abuse and too great practice of it in an University.

To the STUDEN T.

Good Mr. STUDENT,

N your last number I find fome invectives by a Trinitonian

IN

of our's against FIDDLING; which gave rife to the following remarks. He levels his indeed against fiddling in particular, but as they feem equally applicable to mufick in general, I fhall chiefly confider them in that light, and ama from the banks of Cam to thofe of Ifis,

Your affectionate kinfman,

C. C. C. Cambridges

April 5, 1750.

GRANTICOLA.

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