Or, Centaur's foot; or heart of Lion;
Or, studded belt of rough Orion.*

Or, tail of smaller bear on high,
Polar star of northern sky ;
Or, sparkling in the Virgin's eye;
Or in her fair hands, gifts divine,
Bring to mankind, bread and wine;

Or in the Galaxy'st bright field;
Or in Sobieski's shield;

Or in Cassiopeias chair,
Or Berenice's sacred hair;

Or dire portents, wo presaging,

And war'gainst human life still waging,

"Rough Orion "-I have often thought that this constellation was treated. harshly by the ancients-it is termed cloudy, blustry, stormy, and what not. Now I have frequently asked why? Other constellations or stars. by their appearance were said to indicate fair or foul weather; but this beautiful constellation is loaded with, forbiding epithets by the ancient mariners, and what is worse, by the poets, not indeed, because its appearance indicated storms, for, that I believe was always considered the harbinger of fair weather; but because its nonappearance indicated the storm-as if this non-appearance implied that Orion went away to prepare the storm. Can any thing be more unjust? Virgil terms him "Nimbosus Orion."

The Virgin's right hand is marked by the star, Spica Virginis, of the first magnitude, or the Virgin's ear of corn; and on her left arm is the star Vindesmiatrix, of the second magnitude, or the feminine of wine presser, or wine maker, indicating the time of harvest and vintage. The sun enters this constellation the 22d of August.

The Galaxy or Milky-way, is a whitish luminous tract which seems to encompass the Heavens like a girdle, of a considerable though unequal breadth, varying from about four to twenty degrees. It is composed of an infinite number of small stars, which by their joint light, occasion that confused whiteness which we perceive in a clear night, when the moon does not shine very bright. All stars smaller than those of the sixth magnitude, are termed Nebulous or cloudy; so that the Milky-way is a continued assemblage of Nebula.

Cassiopeia is represented as a beautiful woman, seated in a graceful attitude in an arm-chair, occupied in arranging her dress. She was the queen of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, and the mother of Andromeda whose history is so interesting. We seldom meet, either in our reading or in real life, an instance of a beautiful woman who is ignorant of her charms-accordingly we find that Cassiopeia was unfortunately too well acquainted with hers, and proudly boasted herself more beautiful than Juno and the Nereides. She was,

-that starr'd Ethiope queen, who strove

To set her beauty's praise above

The sea-nymphs, and their powers offended.

MILTON.

Bernice was the daughter of Philadelphus, and the wife of Evergetes. Her husband going on a dangerous expedition, she vowed to dedicate her hair to Venus if he returned in safety: Evergetes returned victorious, and the locks were accordingly deposited in the temple of the goddess. Some time after, how ever, they disappeared, and Conon the astronomer, swore that Jupiter carried them up to Heaven, and made them a constellation. Coma Berenices is situated between the Lion's tail and Bootes.

Thou art dreaded* Sirius raging,
Where from Sol he just emerges,
On the horizon's eastern verges;

Or in Medusa's head you stand,
Grasp'd by Perseus't potent hand:
He that hated Gorgon slew,
Who petrified those she could view,
And her with'ring glance evaded;
By black Pluto's helmet shaded:

Or with royalt Cepheus' daughter,
Who chain'd near Joppa doom'd to slaughter,
When a hideous monster sought her:
Perseus heard her piteous cries,

And instant to her succour flies,
And the horrid monster dies;

Or in that Crowns which Bacchus gave,
To her who Thesus' life did save,

• The heliacal rising of Sirius, and the commencement of the dog-days, are too well known to require any illustration.

Perseus was a great hero, and every way worthy of being placed among the constellations. He was greatly favoured by the Gods. From Pluto he re ceived a helmet, which had the power of rendering the wearer of it, invisible; without this he could not have succeeded against the Gorgons, as Medusa had the power of turning any person she looked at, into stone. From Mercury he received a scythe of adamant, and also wings for his feet. From Minerva, he received a shield of brass, so bright that it reflected the images of things like a looking-glass. Thus equipped, it is not to be wondered at, that he performed such great exploits.

+ Andromeda is represented by the figure of a young woman chained by her wrists. She was the daughter of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, who to preserve his kingdom was obliged to give up his daughter to be devoured by a seamonster. She was accordingly chained to a rock on the shore near Joppa, in Syria, and at the very moment when the monster was about to destroy her, she was rescued by Perseus.

§ When Theseus was shut up in the Labyrinth in Crete he had two powerful enemies to contend against,-the one, was the Centaur, from whom he delivered himself with his good sword; the other, and perhaps the more formidable, was the intricacy of the place, which was such as almost to forbid the possibility of escape. In this perilous situation, he found assistance and relief in a quarter where perhaps they were but little expected. Ariadne the daughter of Minos, King of the island, loved Theseus, and resolved to deliver him from his danger. For this purpose she drew a clue of thread along those walks of the Labyrinth, which led to their final issue into the open country, and by this means Theseus effected his escape. Ariadne followed the fortunes of Theseus in his return, as far as the island of Naxus, where he perfidiously and ungratefully deserted her. In this deplorable situation, Bacchus took pity on her, married her, and gave her a beautiful crown, illuminated with seven stars, called Gnossia Corona, which after her death was carried among the stars, and made a constellation. In modern times it is known by the name of Corona Borealis or the Northern Crown,

Or in that Lyre.

which Orpheus, strung,

When to the infernal powers he sung.

Whatever be thy place or name,
Our inference is still the same,
That all thy uses to our earth,
Seem unequal to thy birth.

Say, then, glitt'ring beauteous light,
On which I gaze with aching sight,

What other world's bright radiance, say,

Own thy vivifying sway?

Thou answerest not; then let me learn

Creation's objects to discern,

By the universal plan

Of Nature's laws sublime, and seek those laws to scan.

W.

It is said that this is the Lyre which Apollo and Mercury gave to Orpheus, and with which he descended into the infernal regions in search of his wife Euridice. Orpheus after his death received divine honours, the Muses gave his remains an honourable burial, and his Lyre became one of the constellations.

THE reader will find in the following lively article, a vein of satirical humour of more than usual pungency. It is the production of a clerical friend of the editor; and was written for the same literary society for which the "Portrait of Matrimony," published in the second number of this Magazine, was written. Like that article, it was sent, by the society, to a provincial Journal of very limited circulation, from the pages of which, on account of our knowledge of the author, and of the origin of the article, but chiefly from a conviction that it will afford some useful amusement to our readers, we have been induced to transfer it to our work.

ED.

AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC

In the name and behalf of the Society of Motivemongers. ADDRESSES are become fashionable, and experience shows. they are useful. They have made the world acquainted with

thousands, who otherwise would have passed through life in undistinguished obscurity, and sunk quietly into oblivion. without ́a memento of their existence. O! the astonishing power of addresses! They can hold up for present admiration. in defiance of vices-and hand down to posterity, in spite of insignificance.

It cannot, however, for a moment be imagined, that this address is presented with any such servile view. The public contain within themselves all the vital principles of real great ness, and therefore can receive no additional notoriety. To encrease their importance by any address, would be impossible; to attempt it, would be vain and presumptuous. But lest any one should be inclined to put such an invidious construction on my conduct in this affair. I shall here subjoin for his satifaction a full and true account of every why and wherefore by which I am actuated.

Be it known then, that to lay open to the consideration of the public the nature and design of Motivemongery to enumerate, for their information, the qualifications required in its professors; to point out some of the advantages to be derived from the institution; to detect some pretenders, who impose on the ignorant, and by assuming our name bring disgrace on our society; and to propose some plans for the farther improvement of Motivemongery, these are, may it please your worship, the sole reasons for presenting this address.

Motivemongery is in the conduct of life, what well founded theory is in philosophy: by the one we discover the secret springs of action: by the other we account for the phenomena of nature. Whilst we live in the world, we must judge of the actions of mankind, and pronounce them good or bad according to their natural tendency, or influence on society. But if we judge candidly, our decisions will be influenced chiefly by a consideration of the motives from whence those actions arise. Hence we see the utility and necessity of Motivemongery; which teaches us to discover and estimate motives aright. Would mankind only be what they appear, this art would not then be necessary; but, as long as they continue to make their appearance in masquerade, the design of the Motivemenger is, to strip them of their external deception, and discover what they are in their native dress.

For this purpose very few indeed are truly qualified. Not every one who with ill-natured spleen criticises the conduct of mankind, and delights to expose their failings; nor every one who elevated on the pinnacle of his own vanity, looks down upon the little world below him with a supercilious contempt, and thinks them beneath his notice ;-No. the real Motivemonger is a being of quite another nature. He requires. first, an original power of discernment; and in this respect, like a poet,

he must be born, not bred. This quickness of discernment is an essential qualification; it stands directly opposed to that impenetrable thickness of scull, which learning attempts to overcome with no more success, than "sparrow shot fired against a bastion." But, however penetrative the mind may originally be, it is no more than the foundation on which the superstructure of Motivemongery is to be built; and he who would practice it with success, must, in the second place, be a CAREFUL OBSERVER of mankind. Without observation there can be no true experience, and without experience no just conclusion. The Motivemonger knows, that the proper study of mankind is man ;" he therefore, minutely observes his conduct in the various modifications of prosperity and adversity; under the various influences of religion, superstition, or infidelity; and in the different relations of magistrate, citizen, parent, child, or friend; with many others, obvious to every thinking mind. Upon these observations, he founds his experience; and from this experience, forms his opinions of the motives by which mankind are actuated in all the changeful circumstances of human life. To these he adds mature deliberation. Most men act and think merely from first impressions; but the Motivemonger pursues a very different line of conduct. He compares circumstances, possibilities, and probabilities; examines every evidence before he gives in his verdict, and wherever justice will permit, leans to the side of mercy. The other qualifications necessary to the character of the Motivemonger are good nature, philanthropy, and benevolence. Good nature enables him to bear with seeming faults, until he sufficiently examine whether they be as bad as they at first sight appear; philanthropy rouses him from slothful inactivity, and excites him to exercise his powers in the service of his fellow men; benevolence guides every motion of his soul. and whilst he exercises his abilities for the welfare of a few, be breathes forth a wish of love for the happiness of all. The last requisite is, impartiality. Without this, all others, however specious in appearance, are but like a gilt frame, compared to the solid metal. Impartiality is the spring which must direct the machine, otherwise its motions will be irregular, and its indications false. Impartiality levels the distinctions of party, cancels the accounts of interest, silences the sophistical pleadings of attachment and self-love, patiently listens to the arguments of unbiassed reason, and decides with indifference for friend or enemy. With these qualifications a man may be a Motivemonger.

Endowed with such qualities as have now been enumerated, the Motivemonger will direct every inquiry towards the attainment of the knowledge of human nature, in as far as it may be a means of advancing happiness. He will strip the mas