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Carticeya, brandishes in his hundred arms a hundred instruments of destruction. These terrible Genii are said to judge of books by the smell, and when that has happened to be offensive to their nostrils, have been known, by one well-aimed dart, to transfix an unfortunate book to the shelves of the booksellers' shops for ever. But with the powerful is found mercy. Instead of the dread weapons of war, these imitators of the sons of the Mountain-born Goddess, sometimes condescend gently to tickle the trembling adventurer with a feather plucked from the plumage of the Peacock.

Ah! if ever friend of Zaarmilla's venture to send forth a book into the world, may it find these terrible Reviewers in this favourable mood! May its perfume be pleas

* The Hindoo God of War. He is represented with six faces, and a number of hands, in each of which he brandishes a weapon. He rides upon a peacock, and is usually found in company with his Mother Parvati, or the Mountain Goddess, one of the characters of the consort of Seeva. See Asiatick Researches, vol, ii.

ing to their nostrils, and its form find favour in their sight!!

I HAVE just received a letter from my friend Severan, it contains the desirable information, that a ship will in a few weeks sail for India-the commander of which, is his particular friend. In it I shall take my passage and if the powerful Varuna is favourable to my prayers, shall, in the progress of a few returning moons, again behold the blessed shores of Hindostan. O thought replete with extacy! How does the bosom of Zaarmilla pant for the period of thy realization!-Yet shall I not purchase that felicity, without having paid the debt of anguish, in many a tear; before my eyes can be solaced by beholding the companions of my youth, they must have been moistened with the sorrow of an eternal

separation from every English friend.

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From this amiable family, from the worthy Denbeigh, and the excellent Severan, I shall have been parted for ever. But the remembrance of their virtues shall be the companion of my life; and the idea of their happiness shall solace every hour of my existence.

Nothing can equal the delight of my friend Severan, at the success of his experiment; which has opened a new field for discovery, of which he will not be slow to take possession. It is a peculiar advantage attendant upon science, that the gratification it affords is not more delightful to the individual, than beneficial to society; and it is this consideration that enhances every enjoyment of the scientifick philosopher.

I cannot help thinking, that this sort of philosophy is more favourable to the happiness of its votaries, than that sort professed at Ardent-Hall; but this may be owing to the advantages enjoyed by the former, of a happier method of conducting their experiments. It certainly does not arise in the

latter from any want of zeal, or from a backwardness to repeat experiments, that have already been found unsuccessful.

As

a proof of this, my friend Severan informs me, that Mr. Axiom has persuaded Miss Ardent to accompany him to the Continent, on an experiment of abstract principle, which, he says" should put a learned female above the censure of the world." My friend seems to doubt whether the result of this experiment, will bring peace to the poor Lady's bosom; and adds, "that it would be no less surprising, to see the flame of the taper brighten, on being plunged into mephitick air, than that a female, who bids defiance to modesty and decorum should preserve her honour and her peace."

Miss Ardent has resigned her charge of the younger daughter of Sir Caprice, to Lady Grey. The eldest daughter of the Baronet, the Novel-reading Julia, has, it seems, suffered much from the unexpected metamorphosis of a charming swain; who, soon after he had introduced himself to her

acquaintance, as a hero of exalted sentiment and tender sensibility, was unfortunately recognized by certain sagacious men, from a place called Bow-street, to be one of the tribe of Swindlers-the discovery gave such a shock to the nerves of the young Lady, that she has been ordered to a place called Bath, for the recovery of her health. Thither her father and mother have accompanied her; and there the former, at the instigation of a teacher of a sect called Methodists, has renounced the poojah of System; and, .instead of building a house for sparrows to make honey, he now intends to erect a church, for the edification of the saints. Thus doth one folly succeed to another, in the breast of him who is void of all permanent principle-May the mind of Maandaara be furnished by Ganesa with the protecting shield of judgment, and preserved from the evils of instability!

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