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alone, I conceive that he leaves all other writers far behind him. This peculiarity gives to his writings a charm, that an indolent reader searches for in vain in other performances. And though a man of deep knowledge is disgusted at his political remarks, and the mere tyro in philosophy smiles at his physical observations, yet his writings will be read with pleasure, even by the learned, where they can get over these stumbling blocks; and by the careless votaries pf pleasure and amusement, they will be long prized as possessing inestimable beauties. If you read him with proper discrimination, you' will be both pleased and informed; but never forget that though you may thus obtain a tolerable idea of some of the resting places on the road through which you have travelled, yet you must not depend upon your knowledge of the country from these sources.

Of all the literary men in my time, Benjamin Franklin occupied the first rank in respect of elegance, conjoined with philosophical accuracy, and depth of observation. Every subject he treated, assumed, under his hand, a new and more inviting appearance than any other person could ever give it. His magical touch converted the science of electricity into one of the most interesting amusements that was ever laid open

to the minds of men. Politics, religion, science, in all their branches, which used to be dry and unamiable studies, he taught by apologues, fables, and tales, calculated not less to inform, than to amuse; and these are always constructed with an elegance of taste that is highly delightful. The miscellaneous philosophical works of Franklin, I consider as one of the most valuable presents that can be put into the hands of youth. Read them-with care. If you can lay them aside with indifference, you have not those dispositions of mind I have flattered myself you possess. In perusing them you will find more amusement than in reading a romance, and be more improved than in listening to some sermons. I know no book from which you can derive so much improvement and amusement. Adieu!

THE BEE, vol. xiii. p. 117, February 27, 1793.

I have omitted in this paper the character of Dr. Johnson, as being written with undue severity, and exhibiting strong traits of prejudice and aversion. The author appears to have entertained a most terrific idea of the character and writings of this great man. “Towards the latter part of his days," he remarks, "when he thought he could indulge his humour, there are many strong and luminous flashes, buried among a chaos of rubbish and confusion. Yet even that chaotic mass has something of the terrible and sublime; the flashes that there occur are like the glare of lightning, that serve to make the impression of the gloom more awful.”

No. CLVI.

Heav'n speed the canvass, gallantly unfurl'd
To furnish and accommodate a world,
To give the pole the produce of the sun,
And knit the unsocial climates into one.---
Soft airs and gentle heavings of the wave
Impel the fleet, whose errand is to save,
To succour wasted regions, and replace
The smile of opulence in sorrow's face.---
But ah! what wish can prosper, or what pray'r,
For merchants rich in cargoes of despair,
Who drive a loathsome traffic, gauge, and span,
And buy the muscles and the bones of man?

COWPER.

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THE following jeu d'esprit deserves to be preserved, both on account of the delicacy of the satire it conveys, and the elegance of its composition.

For the sake of our foreign readers, it may be proper briefly to mention, that, for more than three years past, the abolition of the slavetrade, carried on from the coast of Africa to the West-India islands, by British subjects, has been warmly agitated in the Parliament of Britain; that a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed to examine witnesses on that head, who having sat long, during two successive sessions of parliament, and collected a great body of evidence, the same was printed for the information of the members. But as

this consisted of a large volume in folio, an abridgement of the whole was made and print'ed also for the use of the members. Several abridgements of this abridgement were afterwards made and published. These were sent through every part of the nation; and the people, in general, having read these publications, warmly espoused the part of the abolition. Petitions were presented to Parliament, from almost every description of men in the kingdom, praying that this traffic, which they deemed a disgrace to humanity, and a reproach to the name of Christians, might be abolished. The House of Commons, having taken these petitions into consideration, came, in a committee of the whole house, during the present session of parliament, to a resolution, that the. slave-trade was improper to be continued; but that, on account of certain considerations of expediency, it ought to be gradually abolished. A law to this effect was passed, permitting the trade, under certain limitations, to be carried on till the first of January 1796, after which time it should be totally prohibited. When this bill was carried to the House of Peers, they found it was not consistent with the dignity of that house to admit of any evidence, that had not been taken at their own bar, and of course.

they went once more into the examination of witnesses; and as this examination could not be closed during the present session of parlia ment, the bill is necessarily lost for the present year. The allusions to these circumstances in this little performance, will be easily perceived by every reader.

"Sheweth,

"That your petitioners are a numerous body, and, at present, in a very flourishing situation, owing chiefly to the constant visitation of the shipping of your island.

"That by hovering round these floating dungeons, your petitioners are supplied with large quantities of their most favourite food-human flesh.

"That your petitioners are sustained, not only by the carcasses of those who have fallen by distempers, but are frequently gratified with rich repasts from the bodies of living negroes, who voluntarily plunge into the abodes of your petitioners, preferring instant destruction by their jaws, to the imaginary horrors of a lingering slavery.

"That among the enormous breakers and surfs which roll on the shores of your petitioners, numbers of English boats are destroyed, the crews of which usually fall to their lot, and

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