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not carry it on myself, to communicate my ideas on the subject to fome more opulent philofopher, by whofe means the benefit of the difcovery might be ftill given "Ah! my friend,” inter

to the world.

rupted I, "I now fee that you have no regard for me, or you would have given me the enviable plcafure, the delight of being able to fay to myself, that I too, ignorant as I am, I too have contributed my feeble aid to the advancement of Science, and the benefit of Society."

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you are very good," returned the Doctor," and, I have no doubt of your generofity. But as the action of heat evaporates fluids, fo does the borowing of money, in my opinion, deftroy the independence of the foul: that independence which gives life and energy to virtue, without which, it becomes incapable of being exerted to any truly useful purpofe, No; what I cannot effect by the means which Divine Providence has put into my power, I think is not intended by Providence that I fhould effect at all."

"I was therefore quietly employing myfelf in unfixing that great retort; when this morning, a letter was brought me from my agent in the country, informing me of his having obtained for me, from a neighbouring Squire, the fum of fifty

pounds; for damages done me, by taking through mistake, a piece of my ground into one of his inclofures. Which fum, he inclosed to me in a letter. Thus, you fee, my dilemma is quite at an end. I fhall now go on with fpirit; and as I need lofe no more time, I am just going into the city, to give the neceffary directions to the work-people; who, if they are any way diligent, may have the whole apparatus completely finished in a week." As he fpoke, I contemplated with delight, the glow of pleafure which animated his finely expreffive countenance; a pleasure fo different from the fparkling extacy of paffion, that merely to have beheld it, would have been fufficient to convince the moft devoted fenfualift of the fuperiority of mind, over every enjoyment of mere fenfe.

Having accepted my offer of attending him, we were juft about to depart, when, prevented by the entrance of a Lady, whofe air and manner had in them fomewhat fo interesting, that the unfeafonableness of the interruption was foon forgotten. Grief and anxiety were painted on her countenance. Every feature was labouring with ill-fuppreffed emotion, and when the attempted to fpeak,. the tremor of her voice prevented her words from being diftinctly heard. I,

however, foon gathered from her broken fentences, and the fympathetic replies of the philofopher. That fhe was the wife of an old fchool-fellow, one of his early and efteemed friends-That fhe had been born to affluence, but forfeited the favour of her family by her marriage? her husband having virtue and talents, but no fortune. His talents, however, had been turned to good account; he had employed himself in drawing plans of the effates of the affluent, which his tafte taught him to embellifh in fuch a manner, as gratifiedthe vanity of his employers, by the admiration it excited. He was contented

with the profit, while they enjoyed the praife.

"We were doing charmingly," faid the Lady," and had the profpect of foon getting above the world, and paying off all the little debts, which at our first fetting out in life, neceffity had compelled us to contract. When in the beginning of laft Summer, my husband was feized with a fever, which lafted feven weeks; and left him fo weak, that many more elapsed, before he was able to go abroad. During that time, he loft fome of his moft advantageous fituations; gentlemen who had employed him, having in the time of his illness, contracted with others. Winter came on, and no funds were pro

vided against its wants; my husband, whofe tenderness and affection for his family, feemed to be encreased by the difficulty he found in procuring their fupport, had a genius fruitful in resources. In those months, when the season neceffarily put a stop to his employments, he wrote for the printer of a periodical publication, in which work, he taught me to affift him; and thus by our united endeavours, we contrived till to keep up a decent appearance; and to maintain with frugality our four little ones, whose mnocent endearments repaid all trouble, and made us when we fat down to our little meal, forget the labour by which it had been earned. Ah! my poor babes! it is your fufferings, that, more than his own, now rings your father's heart!

Our

"But where is now my friend?" interrupted Severan, "Is he well? What can I do to ferve him? Where can I fee him?"

"Alas! he is in prifon!" returned the Lady." He is in a loathfome, difmal prifon !-deprived of light, of liberty, of every comfort, and enjoyment; and his dear children, his pretty darlings, of whom he ufed to be fo fond, they too muft go, must be nursed in the abode of mifery, and made familiar with every fpecies of wretchedness!"-Here tears came to her

relief, and for fome time choaked her.

utterance.

At length, recovering herfelf, and affuming an air of dejected compofure,. "I beg your pardon," continued fhe, (obferving the marks of fenfibility, that overspread the benignant countenance of our friend)" I did not mean to distress you, but it is fo few that can feel for one's affliction;-and the voice of fympathy is fo grateful to the wounded heart-that I could not deny myself the confolation of fpeaking to you. But things may yet better. My husband has enough owgo ing to him, to enable him to pay every one. But the misfortune is, that his debtors are all people of fortune, whose favour would be for ever loft, by an un-. timely application for money; and fhould the news of his having been imprisoned for debt, once get abroad, he is ruined for ever! no perfon of fashion will ever employ him more!

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"I cannot think fo," faid the Doctor, with his wonted mildnefs; "we fee daily inftances of the high favour that is fhewn to people of ruined circumftances; many of whom I have known, even when worthless and depraved, to meet with attention and fupport from people of elevated rank and fashion ?"

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