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a houfe for fparrows to make honey, he now intends to erect a church, for the edification of the faints. Thus doth one folly fucceed to another, in the breast of him who is void of all permanent principle-May the mind of Maandaara be furnished by Ganefa with the protecting fhield of judgment, and preserved from the evils of inftability!

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As this letter will be fent by a fmall veffel called a packet, which carries difpatches from this government to the coun. cil of Calcutta, it will probably reach the happy region of Almora fome weeks before thy friend.

I anticipate the comments which thou wilt make upon its contents. Thou wilt observe, that to extend our knowledge of the world, is but to become acquainted with new modes of pride, vanity, and folly. Thou wilt perceive that in Europe, as in Afia, an affected fingularity often paffes for fuperior wisdom; bold affertion for truth; and fickly faftidioufnefs for true delicacy of fentiment. Thou wilt fee that the paffions of men are every where the fame; and that the variety made by the Idol of Doctor Sceptic (exifting circumftances) is not in the paffions themselves, but in the complexion of the objects which excite them. Thou wilt remark, that though vice and

folly have the appearance of being every where predominant, that it is only the fuperficial obferver, who will from thence infer the non-exiftence of Wisdom and Virtue. These have been traced by Maandaara to the bofom of retirement, where he will have obferved them scattering the sweet bloffoms of domeftic peace: and though the torch of vanity glares not on their dwelling, and the trump of fame founds not at their approach, he will nevertheless have remarked with pleasure the extent of their filent reign, and, with Zaarmilla, will pity the man who can form a doubt of their existence.

Of the various religions of the English, I have given you a full and diftinct account. You will perceive by it, that notwithstanding the progrefs of philofophy, and the report of Sheermaal, that that of Chriftianity is not yet entirely extinct; but that, like Virtue and Wisdom, it has still fome adherents, in the retired fcenes of life. You will, perhaps, not have been able to discover how the practices enjoined by its precepts can be injurious to fociety; and inclined to think, that the love of a Being of infinite wisdom and goodness, and fuch a government of the paffions, as enables a man to love his neighbour as himself, can do no great harm to the world. --ObnoxiVOL. II. L

ous as the precepts which command purity of heart, unfeigned humility, fanctity of morals, and fimplicity of manners; may be to the philofopher; you will conclude, that they have, in reality, been found as little detrimental to the repofe of the individual, as the expectation of everlafting felicity has been to his happiness. I am forry that the want of fuccefs attending the experiments of the worshippers of System, prefents me with nothing to oppose to your conclufions better than affertion: but if

you have half the complaifance of the people of England, you will think that ought to be fufficient to overturn the dictates of common fenfe, though confirmed by the experience of ages!-Such faith do thefe good people put in the affertions of philofophers.

I am called from my pen to witness a ceremony called Signing the Settlements, which is preliminary to the marriage of Mr. Darnley and the blooming Emma." The day after to-morrow is fixed for their nuptials, and on the day following, the amiable bride departs with her husband, loaded with paternal bleffings. Though every thing is to be conducted in common form, and exactly in conformity to Chrif tian prejudices, I do not know but this gentle and unaffuming girl may have as

great a chance for happiness, as if she had gone off with her lover on an experiment of abftract principle.

May the conduct of those who act "well, afford pleasure to the mind! May you, ye good, find friends in this world! May virtue be for ever to be found!"

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In reading the letters of a friend, may the goodness of his intention be put in the balance with his errors.; and where the former is found predominant, may the latter be configned to oblivion! What can I fay more.

FINI S.

BOOKS OF MERIT,

PRINTED BY

H. COLBERT, No. 136, Capel-street.

I. Prayers and Meditations, compofed by Samuel Johnson, L. L. D. and publifhed from his manufcripts, by George Strahan, A. M. Vicar of Iflington, Middlesex, and Rector of Cranham in Effex, the fourth Edition, Bound. 3s. 3d.

II. Sermons by the late Rev. George Carr, Senior Clergyman of the English Epifcopal congregation, at Edinburgh, 2 volumes in i. The feventh Editi

on, Bound, 6s. 6d.

III. The Footftep to Mrs. Trimmer's Sacred Hiftory, for the Inftruction and Amusement of young Perfons, Is. 7dh.

IV. Principles of Virtue and Morality, or Effays and Meditations on various Subjects. The Third Edition, Bound, 2s. 2d.

V. Tears of Affection, and other Poems, by the Rev. Mr. Hurdis, Profeffor of Poetry, in the Univerfity of Oxford and Author of the Village Curate. Sewed, Is. 7dh.

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VI. La Campagne de la Jeuneffe, ou Entretiens, D'Une Inftitutrice, avec fon Eleve. 3s. 9dh.

Bound,

VII. The Gardener's New Kalendar; directing the neceffary Work to be performed every Month in the Kitchen, Fruit, and Pleafure Garden, as alfo in the Wilderness, Nurfery, Green House and Stove, by Sir James Juftice Bart. Bound, 3s. 3d.

VIII. Evenings at Home, or the Juvenile Budget Opened; By Mrs. Barbauld, and Dr. Aiken. Bound, 3s. 3d.

IX. Triumphs of Reafon Exemplified in Seven Tales, affectionately dedicated to the Juvenile Part of the Fair Sex, is. id.

X. Edwy and Edilda, a Poem. Bound, 25. 8dh.

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