TO CORRESPONDENTS "A NATIONAL MAN," though a firanger, is admitted and wetcomed. We hope, that we shall never be able to liken him to the guest in an old Ballad, when "He came, he spoke, he warmly pleased; Then fled, and ne'er was heard of more!" "AN IRREGULAR ODE," by Z. is received, and shall appear in our next NUMBER. "May this firfl favour never prove the laft." The REQUEST of a distant friend concerning an Extra&, arrived too late for prefent attention; but it will gain a willing compliance on the first apportunity. The Porм, extracted by C. will appear in our next; he discovers not only fuperior skill in penmanship; but a correct tafte in genuine fentimental humour. We lately received a paper, thickly Sprinkled with defultory thoughts, together with a request that we would entitle them. We must inform the writer, that we cannot receive his work; but if he perfifts in giving it to the public, we will recommend the title of THE FLY-TRAP. ERRATA IN THIS NUMBER. Page 202, line 9 from the bottom, erafe the comma after who. But when the leaden-footed power, That love, at last, of infect breed, THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY, FOR MARCH, 1804. For the MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. THE LOITERER.-No. II. "I fear no mood, ftamp'd in a private brow, So bold and common are these ragged follies, FASHIONABLE prejudice, though it may fometimes af fume the mien of innocence and virtue, not only bewilders the fearch of improvement, but often leads into errors, that are accompanied with mischief and ruin. Even in focieties, where reafon in lovely fimplicity beckons for addrefs, and learning of fers her brightest treafures for the eafy return of acceptance, this prejudice will be frequently found to derive its origin and power from presumptuous ignorance. In spite of the ridicule, or fevere reproof, which it always incurs, in fpite of its own afinary vanity, or fiend-like deformity, which are ever open to the eye of reflection, it ftill triumphantly prevails. Fashion has given it influence; and the inability of fashion to maintain any abfurdity, implies the depofition of folly from her throne. They, who entrust the decoration of their perfons to a taylor, very seldom trouble him, or themfelves, by examining his judgment in real convenience and ornament. His skill in the newest modes of cutting and feaming, is the great, and only object of their solicitude. He, at one time, thinks on lessening. his labour and preferving the customary price; at another time, he is inclined to display more work, for the reputation of his magniloquent bill. He proceeds however according to his prevalent caprice, and thus forms that fantastic deity of drefs, who, invested merely with the attribute of novelty, attracts the devout gaze of more admirers, than all the beauties of nature. This unquiet Proteus, though begotten by the whim of a taylor, is endowed with the wonderful art of conciliating the affections of reverence and love, in the very act of inflicting tribulation. With that quick obedience, which is prompted only by the highest regard, the enfeebled victim of time urges his aching gouty limbs into his narrow fuit; the gewgaw beau, pranked with cramping tightness, freely exchanges the agility of youth, for the clumfy hobble of age; the fair, as well as the foul female, in a fhadowy attire encounters the rough addresses of the wind, though it be often armed in fecret with the arrows of death; it is the dictate of fafhion, and they all fubmiffively endure the affliction. To a fource, not far different, too often may be traced the devious current of popular opinion. In a country, where the fplendour of mental embellishment can be totally eclipsed by the daub of a house, the varnish of a carriage, or the polish of buttons; where the ftupid cant of a gilded dunce has charms more enamouring, than all the melody of an Orphean lyre, falfe and fhallow notions will eafily become public and influential. If, according to the Spanish proverb, fools can gain wealth,—and that they can, all needy authors cry aloud in all their works, they can likewife gain an adequate power in fociety, while wealth continues to be more respected than wisdom. Opinion, it is well known, is moft implicitly received from authorities, which call forth the most earnest attention and reverence. As long, then, as folly can find an extended umbrage, the crude fentiment of an unenlightened dolt may often obtain common and undisputed credit among the multitude, who feldom think seriously, and when they do, think with the thoughts of their leaders. But an abfurd prejudice, however strong may be its prevalence and credit, muft, we well know, be offenfive to reafon and truth; and though the fashion of it may protect individuals from ridicule, it can never prevent those evils, which muft through neceffity enfue. Thefe reflections are defigned as preliminary to fome thoughts on the injury arifing from the prefent heedlefs clamour against the reading of novels. I have lately received a letter from a fair correfpondent, in which she fairly describes, and pathetically laments the progress of infipid dulness among her sex, in confequence of this witlefs and unqualified fatire. It is too long for infertion in this paper; but it shall compofe the next; and as fubfequent to her letter, I fhall offer my remarks on the evils in her statement. FOR THE MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY. REFLECTIONS ON THE ANCIENT DRUIDS. THERE is, in common apprehenfion, a peculiar ftigma of reproach attached to the memory of the ancient druids. They not only fuftain their portion of the contempt, caft upon heathen priests in general, but they seem to have united in their character both odium and terror. Men, on hearing the word druids, figure to themselves a tribe of favages, defpicable for their ignorance, their fanaticism and their extortion, and abominable for their murderous facrifices. We read of them, when first invaded by the Roman legions, terrifying, by their frantic gestures and their horrid yells, thofe veterans, whom the carnage of battle could notdif may. They are reprefented, as flying in every direction before their invaders, accompanied by women in hideous drefs, brandishing torches over their heads, and filling the air with imprecations. We view them rearing their altars on which they immolate their prifoners, and on which they become themselves, in retaliation, the deserved victims. But while we recoil from the druids, there is ftill fomething in them mysterious, fomething, which excites admiration, and forbids our degrading them below other ancient priests. To the primitive inhabitants of Europe, there has been af cribed one common origin. As this has been traced to one of the original patriarchs, it is probable, Europe received by descent some rational principles of religion. The policy of defigning priests, or the gradual tendency of rude minds to fuperftition, introduced that wild religion of nature, polytheism. The fufceptible imaginations of Britons foon became fired by that zeal, which has in fucceffive ages diftinguished the politics, as well as religion of England. There the druids were first diftinguished for their knowledge in facred myfteries, for the independence of their rank, and the veneration, with which they impreffed the people. In thofe dark ages, and in that benighted region, where the effulgence of Grecian genius had not darted one ray, it is grateful to see one order of men rise above the proftrate mafs, and cultivate philofophy and letters. Then were the people ignorant of that leisure of thought, which arises from abundance; and fociety wanted those numerous gradations, which afford opportunity to the humbleft individual of rifing. There was no object, upon which the human mind could extend itfelf. Yet then did the druids invoke in native ftrains the fpirits of departed worthies. While the people could not cultivate the foil under their feet, the draids were measuring the distance of the Atars. The heathen priesthood are generally reprefented not fo fuperftitious, as wicked. It is imagined that the druids had secret tenets, which acknowledged the unity of God and the immortality of man; but it was their intereft to encourage abfurd opinions and expenfive ceremonies. Thus they occafionally collected followers, and with them retired to dismal caves in the receffes of their groves, where at midnight they would repeat the verses, which contained the mysteries of their creed. Though there were druideffes, they were precluded from these fecrets, as it was deemed improper to entrust fo dangerous truths to the unguarded garrulity of women. There are fome obfervances, which exalt the fuperftition of the druids above that of other priests. What are called their temples may be called buildings erected by the Deity. They were receffes in groves of venerable oaks. They were enclosed by a wall to prevent the intrufion of the profane, and in the centre, a plain stone altar announced the ground to be confecrated. They deemed it unworthy to exclude the view of heaven, while they directed their eyes in worship there. As they confidered the fun and moon to be primary deities, they wished them to shine upon their heads with uninterrupted radiance, as a token of their indulgence. Thus when the fun reached the meridian |