C. Meaning yourself. A. But for thofe of a contrary defcription, retirement is altogether improper C. Meaning me. A. Such people should ftill continue their worldly pursuits and employments; as they are, from habit, and want of mental occupations, incapable of any other. Let the tradefman then, whofe life has been long in the fame course of employment, ftill purfue his bufinefs, although his fortune be far fuperior to his wants and expences-retirement to him is mifery. C. Right, right A. Those who have spent their youth in diffipation are constrained to perfist in the fame courfe, or to do nothing-themost disagreeable state of all others. From From this confideration I am much more inclined to pity, than to blame, perfons of the other fex, who to avoid vacancy, ftill continue to haunt places of gay refort," and tho' they cannot play, o'erlook the cards." Retirement then, is only for those who find in themselves amusement, employment, or happiness. And thus ends my fermon. C. And my vifit-adieu! The The Restraint of Society. ADRASTUS, tho' left “ to pursue his vagaries in peace," as we have already remarked, yet many attempted to seek his acquaintance-fome, because they thought him an oddity; fome, because they thought him sensible, but most, because they saw he fhunned all advances towards intimacy: for mankind has a natural propenfity to teaze peculiar characters, even if the peculiarity be innocent. However, he contrived, by his perfeverance, to carry his point, and by his dence to avoid offence. pru The want of a few neceffaries directed his steps to Brecon one fine morning, which, as customary in a mountainous country, becoming a rainy day, he dined at at the inn with a variety of strangers, whofe converfation chiefly turned upon the spirit of liberty which had broke forth of late in different parts of the world. Perfons who live in fociety, and are in habits of converfation, never make long fpeeches, from a principle of politenefs, and foon exhaust all they have to say upon a fubject. The reverse takes place with the reclufe he having but few opportunities of converfation, indulges those few when they occur; and having treasured up a large ftore of matter, makes an oftentatious difplay of his riches. Adraftus, without duly reflecting on the laws of conversation, at laft had all the difcourfe to himself, and gave a turn to his oration on liberty, as new as it was unexpected→→→ he expreffed himself as follows: ["There is no fubject of late has more agitated the minds of men than liberty; upon the bleffing of which they agree, although they materially differ upon the means means of obtaining it. However, all seem to limit their enquiries to what form of government liberty is most truly attached, and when they have determined the form agreeable to their own ideas, they seek no farther, conceiving the point to be established. The enjoyment of liberty under an abfolute prince feems so much like a contradiction, that blame may be incurred for even mentioning them together. It may be had under a limited monarchy, say the English; it is better obtained by a Republic and Prefident, fay the Anericans; but it is best of all enjoyed when every man is a citizen, and no more than a citizen,* fay the French; who are not contented with having it in this form themselves, but they feem determined that all the rest of the world shall be of their opinion. Thus Mahomet, tho * Written in 1793. roughly |