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Our propensities must be governed, like princes, by a balance, or common sense will be continually in danger from some aspiring folly. However, as we are not like to be overpowered with sentiment at present, it may be as well for us to retain what we have, for the sake of good fellowship. Some tempers of mind are more easily got rid of than resumed, and the time probably may arrive, when, disheartened by the coldness of the world, we shall sigh for those emotions, which we assisted to suppress. Among the vexations which 1 pray to be delivered from, is the vexation of indifference; for next to a bad character, in my estimation, is no character at all.

By thus consulting our interest before our affections, and sacrific ing to lucre in preference to love, we are unwisely neglecting that which makes poverty rich, and without which riches, at best, may be regarded as poor. Like Midas, whose touch it is fabled afforded nothing but gold, we are exposing ourselves to repine in the midst of unprofitable plenty. Were the punishments, attending this mercenary spirit, only felt by the sordid, one might sit down contented and see them inflicted. But, in forming the connexion which we are considering, there are many who are guided by motives of affection, and it frequently happens, that such fall a sacrifice to the insensible and mercenary. And when this is the case, it is but natural in us to feel both resentment and pity; resentment for the counterfeit, who assumes the appearance of love to conceal the intent of a traitor, and pity for the unfortunate, who, deceived by professions of tenderness, submits her fortune and destiny to the conrol of niggard. A crime com

mitted in the moment of passion may sometimes be palliated. And the libertine, though unpardonable, may plead the warmth of his feelings to extenuate his excesses; but to what sophistry, even, can they resort to soften their conduct, who, with their spirits collected, profane the ordinance of marriage by hollow promises, and forfeit their integrity to serve their convenience. Hence originate half the calamities in society: hence cold-heartedness, inconstancy, and lying servility. Hence the domestick fire-side becomes the insipid region of infectious yawnings and mutual oscitancy. Hence entertainment, excluded from her native residence, and pursued through the crowded circles of fashion and foily, is seldom perceived returning, excepting on the giddy wheels of visitation, or in the discordant summons of the knocker. Hence--but something too much of this, Horatio.

In attributing the evils which I have mentioned to our neglect of the heart, I expect to be thought more fanciful than wise: but, let my readers regard me in what light they choose, I am convinced that my hypothesis is correct in the main. I am not prepared to think contemptibly of the head, or to disturb its speculations when rightly indulged, though I will not consent, that Sir Gravity shall preside as chief arbiter alone. I would, were it admissible, correct the head by the heart, the heart by the head, so that one should be held in check by the other, and both be improved by a mutual dependence. In this way, each organ would answer the design of its formation, and produce that healthfulness of mind, which gives nobility to the individual and sentiment to society.

For the Anthology.

SILVA, No. 24.

nec erubuit sylvas habitare Thalia.

SOME of our readers have inquired, what is the definite meaning and object of this department of our Journal? We reply, that "Silva" literally means a Wood, and our effort and ambition is, that it should be a wilderness of sweets, and a repository for curious remarks on men and manners, and literary fragments and novelties. The origin and design of literary Melanges is fully explained in the Evening Lucubrations of KNOX, a liberal and learned scholar, and an orthodox divine, who disdained to make merchandize of divinity, to turn a sacred profession into a mercenary craft, to pander for the devil, and seduce souls to Satan.

"Sylva is one of the most elegant, as well as commonest titles to the miscellanies of the ancients. The origin of it is the Greek, Hyle; and the authors, who first assumed it, modestly intimated by it, that they had collected a store of timber, which themselves, or others, might hereafter use in erecting a regular structure. The Sylva of Statius are supposed to be more valuable than his finished compositions. In imitation of him, many modern writers of Latin poetry have entitled the miscellaneous parts of their books; and our own Ben Jonson, alluding to the ancient title of Sylva, denominates some of his smaller works Underwoods. "Quintilian describes the works distinguished by the name of Sylvæ, as struck out with the impulse of a sudden calenture, subito excussa calore, and assigns causes for the appellation, similar

to those which have been already mentioned."

Knox thus correctly estimates the utility of these miscellanies for filling the interstices and intervals of time, which happen in the lives of those most active and busy :

"There are fragments of time in the life of every man, in which, from inconvenience of circumstances, he is unable either to read with continued attention, or to enjoy the advantages of select company. In those intervals, such books are pleasant, as amuse and inform in very short sections or chapters, in an easy and perspicuous style, resembling, as much as possible, the variety and familiarity of conversation.

"Many of the French books, under the title of Ana, are, I think, particularly useful for the purpose of filling up a vacant interval. They are lively and various. They treat of history, literature, and arts, and subjects which amuse, without in such a degree as to fatigue or excite the mind beyond the pitch of a pleasant tranquillity."

REVIEWERS.

THE numerous revolutions and extensive improvements in the various sciences, the facility of multiplying copies of books by the art of printing, the brevity of life, and its necessary duties and avocations, preclude even the most diligent and laborious student from the perusal but of a small portion of the innumerable books, daily issuing from the press. Knox observes, "There were probably as many books, and perhaps as many bad

books, written by the ancients, as the moderns; but the art of print ing being unknown, and consequently the multiplication and preservation of books being attended with great trouble and expense, such as were of little intrinsick value, were not transcribed, copies of them were not increased, and they consequently soon perished by the depredations of time."

Since books are so excessively multiplied, it is our duty to destroy useless, unnecessary, and pernicious productions, as the ancient Grecians exposed their most puny and imbecile offspring to perish. Therefore the office of a reviewer is, in the republick of letters, as beneficial and necessary, though as odious and unpleasant, as that of an executioner in the civil state. They are the porters at the gates of the temple of Fame, and should be as blind and inexorable as Justice, which," in its punishments, rather seems to submit to a necessity, than to make a choice."

Authors who, by plausible professions and false pretensions, defraud the publick of money, dissipate valuable time, and insidiously rifle them of their good principles, are enemies of their kind, and merit the thong of chastisement and the knout of criticism; and he that undertakes the task of analyzing their works, displaying their beauties, and exposing their wicked arts, confers a favour on the publick. Harmless and obscure writers, in their prefaces frequently supplicate the candour of readers, by observing that their hasty productions will not injure, if they do not benefit mankind. But voluntary trifling with the publick is criminal; and lenity to the former is cruelty to the latter. In estimating the merit or demerit of literary productions, the motives and circumstances of the author con

stitute no justification; they must be considered abstractedly, for the republick of letters is not a state of moral probation. Bloomfield, Phillis Wheatly, and many others in humble life, have attracted some attention by their writings, not because they are excellent, but because they are extraordinary; as Dr. Johnson observed that dogs, by art and labour taught to dance, are noticed, not because they dance with ease and grace, but because they dance at all. Sound intellect and real erudition ought to exempt from the lash of severe criticism those who intrude their works on the publick; for in the literary commonwealth there is no hospital for the reception of mendicant vagabonds, no Bedlam for insanity and frenzy, no Magdalen for impunity and defilement, and no Lazaretto for lame and hobbling authors. ors. Therefore a large portion of the multitude of publications are at their birth ripe for extinction; and may be sentenced, as Clarence in his troubled dream fancied he was addressed by an angry spirit, "Seize him, Furies, take him to your torments.”

CELIBACY.

MATRIMONY is rarely contracted but by chance. Hence partners, widely differing in qualities of mind, fortune, and situation in life, frequently form a jarring and discordant union. Many who attmpt to obey the precept "almis adjungere vites," at length discover that it is not the vine which they have wedded to the elm, but the deadly ivy,which destroys whatever it embraces. "Ut hedera serpens vires arboreas necat.”

Some Benedicks, who by chance have crept along to thirty without forming a domestick alliance, determine to take vengeance on tardy Fortune, and bravely forswear

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At times, alas! not in his perfect mind! Holds dialogues with his lov'd brother's ghost.

It is a remarkable fact, that many of the brightest luminaries of literature have spent their lives in cold and cheerless celibacy. Pope, Goldsmith, Locke, Pitt, Voltaire, Erasmus, and many others, were bachelors. Swift was merely a Platonist in love. Dr. Johnson was indeed married; but during the life of his " dear Tetty" he seems not to have been very warmly attached to her; his affection was rather posthumous. The most exquisite literary productions have been the effects of exertions to relieve their authors from distressing poverty, want, and necessity. The mind rarely makes great efforts, but to satisfy the cravings of the body. Wives are not among the necessaries of life; therefore they chose not to become bound to encounter the cares of the domestick state, and to exchange the tranquillity of midnight meditation for the bitterness of curtain lectures. They esteemed it less expensive and more delightful, to be wedded to the nine Muses, than to one mortal wife of flesh and blood. For, if they could write verses with the

*Memnonis saxea effigies, ubi radiis solis icta Est, vocalem sonum reddens.-Tacit Annal. 2.51.

facility of Horace's poetaster, and receive as many sesterces for each verse, as Virgil's patron presented him, still a worldly wife would soon dissipate their wealth in the circles of gaiety and fashion.

ALLITERATION.

Those who are fond of "apt alliteration's artful aid," may be amused by the following lines on Cardinal Wolsey.

Begot by butchers, but by bishops bred, How high his honour holds his haughty head.

Ancient authors frequently use several successive words, commencing with the same letter; whether by chance or design is uncertain. They never manifest such an affectation and ambition for alliteration as many of the moderns have displayed. Tacitus, in describing the manners of the Ger man women, observes, "Prima pars pectoris patet."

MOTHERS.

THE education and discipline of the minds of children are more in the power of the mother, than of the father. The former has, or ought to have, her young children constantly under her eye, and can rouse their curiosity, cherish their mild and benevolent affections, and instruct their minds. Cowley, Cumberland, and Sir William Jones, when they had become eminent and distinguished, confess ed that their best powers were strengthened, and their finest feelings cherished by maternal care, vigilance, and anxiety. The biographer of Agricola, in relating the discipline of his early years, respecting Julia Porcilla, his mother, "in hujus sinu indulgentiaque educatus, per omnem hones tarum artium cultum pueritiam adolescentiamque transegit."

To the Author of the Silva, Num- teous hospitality; steals a silver

ber 11.

In looking over the Anthology for the last year I observed in the Silva for January, that some gentleman has discovered so great a resemblance in the story of Par

nell's Hermit to that of the Hermit in the 18th chapter of Voltaire's Zadig, as to induce him to suppose (and not unreasonably) that one of these two writers must in this instance have borrowed from the other. In fact, he has given to one of them a title, which both might have deserved; for one, I believe, has not been more guilty of plagiarism, than the other. The story is much more ancient, than

goblet from their generous host, that treats them with sullen incigives it to the avaricious wretch vility. The fifth day they meet a merchant at the close of the even

ing, as they approach a town; and on his asking them the way to a town," the young man puts him in a clear contrary way." The merchant was loaded with money, and by the "misguiding" of the young man escaped both robbery and assassination.-Howel's letters were first published in 1645, and some of them were written as early as 1618.

A RIDDLE, BY COWPER.

am cold,

And the parent of numbers that cannot

be told.

I am lawful, unlawful-a duty, a fault, I am often sold dear, good for nothing when bought,

An extraordinary boon, and a matter of

course,

And yielded with pleasure when taken by force.

SOLUTION.

I gave my love the other day

A riddle to explain;
And having read it o'er and o'er,

either of these writers; perhaps I am just two and two, I am warm, I indeed its first author may have existed earlier than the author to whom I have seen it attributed. In a letter of the once popular, and indeed celebrated Howel to the marquis of Hartford, he speaks of what he styles "an excellent passage, which a noble, speculative knight (Sir P. Herbert) hath in his late conceptions to his son; how a holy anchorite being in a wilderness, among other contemplations he fell to admire the method of Providence, how out of causes, which seem bad to us, he produceth oftentimes good effects; how he suffers virtuous, loyal, and religious men to be oppressed, and others to prosper." The old hermit, transported with these ideas, meets with a goodly young man," and travels with him for a few days. The young man, in Sir P. Herbert's story, throws a person into the river, whom they meet with on a narrow bridge, strangles the only child of the gentleman who receives them with the most cour

She could not tell the name.
Then on the fair I cast a glance,

And gather'd resolution;
I slily prest her rosy lips,

And stole the true solution.

ANOTHER.

'Tis not alone for love to solve

Thy riddle's magick charm; Ask the fond mother bending o'er

That infant on her circling arm:
Glowing with extacy divine,

She clasps it to her throbbing breast;
And solves the riddle o'er and o'er,
As kisses on its lips she prest.

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