It would be unjuft to fupprefs a circumftance, which reflects great honour on the Mafter of the Crown-Inn, at Blandford, Dorfetfhire. When the diftreffed feamen arrived in that town, he fent for them all to his houfe, and having given them the refreshment of a comfortable dinner, he prefented each man with half a crown to help him on his journey. An example of liberality, which we truft will have its effect.

The afflicted on the prefent occafion, remember that this event, however melancholy, was the difpenfation of that Being who "rides in the whirlwind, and directs the ftorm;" and that all his purposes, however unaccountable in the weak perceptions of human wisdom, are unquestionably wife, gracious, and ultimately merciful.

But fhould not this be a warning to those persons, who having no neceflity, nor any providential call to quit their native country, will roam to the ends of the earth purely to accumulate riches? Should it not be a warning especially to those parents, who expofe their daughters, to the fatigues and dangers of the fea for what? To get hufbands! Such husbands as having generally nothing to recommend them but large bags of ill-gotten money. It is a miracle of mercy that fo few of thefe, inftead of making their fortunes, do not make their bed in the mighty waters!

On GOODNESS of HEART.

[Extracted from a late Author.]

WHOEVER has made accurate obfervations on men

and manners, will eafily perceive that the praife of goodnefs of heart is ufually accompanied with an oblique infinuation of intellectual imbecility. I believe him to be a well-meaning man, fays the malignant panegyrift; and if there is any fault in him, it will be found rather in his head, than

than in his heart. Nothing could be better contrived by a crafty and envious world, to render this amiable quality contemptible, than to reprefent it as the effect, or as the companion of folly.

It is indeed true, that innocence and integrity are usually accompanied with fimplicity: not however with that fort of fimplicity which is fometimes fynonymous with folly; but with an amiable opennefs of manners, which had rather lofe its objects, than obtain them by deceit; which leads the tongue boldly to speak what the heart honeftly conceives. If we weigh the fatisfactions of an open and upright conduct, of a clear confcience, and of that liberty which we enjoy by thinking, fpeaking, and acting without mean and fervile restraints, it will, I believe, be found that this fimplicity is true wisdom, and that the cunning of the worldly wife is real and egregious impudence.

Goodness of heart, whether it be natural or acquired goodness, is indeed, in every respect the highest wisdom. It is the only quality that can rescue human nature from the dif grace and mifery of its wretched weakneffes, and its powerful tendencies to evil. It raises the poor worm that otherwise crawls on a dunghil, and ftings and bites his wretched companions, to an exalted place in the fcale of being, and caufes him to affimulate with the divine nature.

I fhall exhibit to my youthful readers, whose hearts are yet fufceptible of whatever bias they chufe to give them, two characters in one of which appears goodnefs of heart; and in the other, worldly wifdom, or cunning, or the art of pleasing for the fake of profit. If any one fhould hefitate in chufing whether of the two fhall be his model, he need not hefitate at beginning a reformation of himself; for he may depend upon it that his own heart ftands greatly in need of amendment.

Serpons (for fuch let us fuppofe to be his name) has perfuaded himself that he fees farther into things than the rest VOL. IX.

3 Y

of

of his fpecies. He confiders Religion as Prieft-craft, Morality as the invention of politicians, and tafte and literature as the amusements of fools. His philofophy, and all his better pursuits and ideas, are circumfcribed within limits extremely narrow. Pleafure and intereft are his chief good, his only objects of serious purfuit; and in the attainment of these he is not fcrupuloufly delicate. There is indeed no virtue or good quality, the appearance of which he does not affume; because, while mankind are weak enough to judge and efieem men according to moral and religious prejudices, a plaufibie appearance is effentially neceffary to fuccefs in life. External decency is his highest aim. Sincerity or found principles would but retard his purposes. Compaffion he never felt, and is equally a stranger to love and friendship: though he is always profeffing them to perfons of fortune and diftin&tion; whom he idolizes with religious adoration. And this is the only fentiment which he feels bordering upon Religion.

[To be concluded in our next.]

ΤΗ

UNCOMMON

GRATITUDE.

HERE was in Florence, a Merchant whofe name was Francis Frefcobald, who through fuccefs, was grown very rich. While he was at Florence, a young man asked an alms of him. Frescobald in fpight of his tatters, reading in his countenance fome fignifications of virtue, was moved with pity, and demanded his country and name. I am, said he, of England: my name is Thomas Cromwell. I came into Italy with the camp of Frenchmen that were overthrown at Gatylion. Frefcobald took him into his house; and at his departure gave him a horse, new apparel, and fixteen ducats of gold. Cromwell rendering him hearty thanks, returned into his own country, where, in procefs of time, King Henry the Eighth, raised him

to

to the dignity of being Lord High Chancellor of England. In the mean time Frefcobald, by great loffes, was become poor: but remembering that fome Englith Merchants owed him fifteen thousand ducats, he came to London to feek after them. Travelling about his bufinefs, he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellor as he was riding to Court. As foon as the Lord Chancellor faw him, he thought he looked like the Merchant in Florence, of whofe liberality he had tafted. Immediately he alighted, embraced him, and with a broken voice demanded if he were not Francis Frefeobald, the Florentine? Yes, Sir, faid he, and your humble fervant. My fervant, faid Cromwell, no; as you have not been my fervant in times paft, fo will I not now account you other than my great and especial friend. I am forry you would not let me know of your arrival. Had I known it, I fhould certainly have paid part of that debt which I owe you. But thanks be to God that I have yet time! Forget not to dine with me this day at my houfe. Frefiobald wondered who this Lord could be; but at last remembered him to be the perfon he had relieved at Florence. He therefore repaired to his houfe. Cromwell came foon after, and was no fooner difmounted, but he again embraced him with fo friendly a countenance, that the Lord Admiral, and the other Noblemen then prefent marvelled. He turned back, and holding Frefcobald by the hand, faid, Do you not wonder, my Lords, that I feem fo glad of this man? This is he, by whofe means I have attained this my prefent degree and thereupon recounted to them all that had passed. Then holding him ftill by the hand, he led him to the chamber where he dined, and feated him next himfelf. When the Lords departed, he would know what occafion had brought him to London? Frefcobald in few words opened his caufe; to which Cromwell replied, It is fit I fhould repay fome portion of that debt wherein I ftand bound to you. Then taking him by the hand, he led him into a chamber, and com manded all to depart. He locked the door, and then opened

a coffer, first took out fixteen ducats, and delivering them to . Frefcobald faid, my friend, here is your money you lent me at my departure from Florence: here are the other ten you bestowed on my apparel, with ten more you disbursed for the horse I rode upon. But confidering you are a Merchant, it feemeth not honeft to return your money without fome confideration for the long detaining of it. Take you these four bags; in every one of which is four hundred ducats, to receive and enjoy from the hand of your affured friend. Frefcobald would have refufed them: but the other forced them upon him. This done, he caufed him to give him a lift of all his debtors, and the fums they owed: which he delivered to one of his fervants, with orders to fearch out the men, if within the Realm, and firaitly to charge them to make payment within fifteen days. The fervant fo well performed the command of his mafter, that in a very fhort time the whole fum was paid in. During all this time Frefcobald lodged in the Lord Chancellor's houfe, who gave him the entertainment he deferved, and oftentimes moved him to refide in England: offering him the loan of fixty thousand ducats for the space of four years, if he would continue at London; but he defired to return to his own country, which he did with the great favour of Lord Cromwell, and arrrived there fafe.

MY

King ALFRED's Dying Words to his Son.

dear fon, fit thee down befide me, and 1 will deliver thee true inftruction. I feel that my hour is coming: my countenance is wan. My days are almost done. I fhall go to another world, and thou fhalt be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee, ftrive to be a Father and a Lord to thy people. Be thou a father to the children, and a friend to the widow. Comfort thou the poor, Shelter the weak, and with

all