with some caution. They first pushed an empty boat into the stream, and, unfortunately for them, and incredible as it appeared to the spectators, who had crowded both sides of the Rhine to see this experiment, the boat went through undamaged. This success, achieved in the presence of five hundred people, was a spur to the foolish pride of the two young Englishmen, who thought that they could not now relinquish their scheme without being laughed at. A second boat was prepared, and the next morning appointed for the experiment. Deputations were sent to them from the magistrates, who strongly remonstrated against the guilty madness of the enterprise, but without effect. Next came some of the clergy, to warn against perdition, and to prophesy certain death. Their efforts were equally unsuccessful; and, on the appointed morning, they sallied forth, both dressed in white waistcoats, without coats, and slippers. They gave their money and watches to their servants: they knew, therefore, that there was a great chance of death. Mr. B- went to the boat with a heavy heart, and even said he would not go, and remonstrated with Lord M-; but his lordship jumped into the boat, and said he would go alone; upon which, poor Mr. B unwilling to leave his friend, went in after him. They pushed off. They had each a long pole, with which they hoped to keep the boat clear of the rocks. On both shores stood an overawed multitude, some crying, all vociferating entreaties to desist, and not to rush into eternity. It was now too late; no human strength could have stopped the boat, when once it had got into the rapid current. To the amazement of the trembling spectators, they went unhurt over the first breakers, and, rushing into the foaming torrent, evaded the first threatening angle. Life was then, for a few seconds, once more in their power. They might have jumped on the rocks, from which they were not more than three or four feet distant. The people on the shore screamed out to them to do it; instead of which, elated with this momentary success, they huzzaed, and waved their hats. Alas! blind, unfortunate youths! that salute was a last farewell to this world; they were just plunging into eternity. With the swiftness of an arrow, they were carried to a tremendous vortex; their boat was instantly overset; they struggled for a short time against the roaring billows, swam even the space of two hundred yards on their backs, calling out for help and mercy. No help could be given. The distressed multitude gazed on them, as they passed, and saw them swallowed up-never to appear again. I did not hear this affecting narrative with a dry eye. The man who gave me the particulars of it, had been himself a witness of the whole, and was much agitated on recounting it. He told me, that not so much as a button of their waistcoat had been seen afterwards; and that two English gentlemen, who had come on purpose from England, had stayed at Lauffenburg some weeks, endeavoring, by every possible contrivance, to find their remains; but they had no success. LESSON FIFTY-SEVENTH. Virtue is the best Treasure Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul, But for one end, one much neglected use, LESSON FIFTY-EIGHTH. Boerhaave. Herman Boerhaave, one of the greatest physicians, and best of men, was born in Holland, in the year 1668. This illustrious person, whose name has spread throughout the world, and who left, at his death, above two hundred thousand pounds sterling, was, at his first setting out in life, obliged to teach the mathematics to obtain a necessary support. His abilities, industry, and great merit, soon gained him friends, placed him in easy circumstances, and enabled him to be bountiful to others. The knowledge and learning of this great man, however uncommon, hold, in his character, but the second place; his virtue was yet more uncommon than his literary attainments. He was an admirable example of temperance, fortitude, humility, and devotion. His piety, and a religious sense of his dependence on God, formed the basis of all his virtues, and the principle of his whole conduct. He was too sensible of his weakness, to ascribe any thing to himself, or to conceive that he could subdue passion, or withstand temptation by his own natural power; he attributed every good thought, and every laudable action, to the Father of Goodness. Being once asked by a friend, who had often admired his patience under great provocations, whether and he had ever been under the influence of anger, by what means he had so entirely suppressed that impetuous and ungovernable passion; he answered, with the utmost frankness and sincerity, that he was naturally quick of resentment, but that he had, by daily prayer and meditation, at length attained to this mastery over himself. As soon as he rose in the morning, it was, through life, his daily practice to retire for an hour to private prayer and meditation; this, he often told his friends, gave him spirit and vigor in the business of the day, and this he therefore recommended as the best rule of life; for nothing, he knew, can support the soul, in all its distresses, but confidence in the Supreme Being; nor can a steady and rational magnanimity flow from any other source than a consciousness of the divine favor. He asserted, on all occasions, the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures. The excellency of the Christian religion was the frequent subject of his conversation. A strict obedience to the doctrine, and a diligent imitation of the example of our blessed Saviour, he often declared to be the foundation of true tranquillity. He was liberal to the distressed, but without ostentation. He often obliged his friends, in such a manner, that they knew not, unless by accident, to whom they were indebted. He was condescending to all, and particularly attentive in his profession. He used to say, that the life of a patient, if trifled with or neglected, would one day be required at the hand of the physician. He called the poor his best patients; "for God," said he, "is their paymaster." He never regarded calumny and detraction, (for Boerhaave himself had enemies,) nor ever thought it necessary to confute them. "They are sparks," said he, "which, if you do not blow them, will go out themselves. The surest remedy against scandal, is, 1 to live it down by perseverance in well doing; and by praying to God, that he would cure the distempered minds of those who traduce and injure us." About the middle of the year 1737, he felt the first approaches of that fatal disorder which brought him to the grave. During his afflicting and lingering illness, his constancy and firmness did not forsake him. He neither intermitted the necessary cares of life, nor forgot the proper preparations for death. He related to a friend, with great concern, that once his patience so far gave way to extremity of pain, that, after having lain fifteen hours in exquisite tortures, he prayed to God that he might be set free by death. His friend, by way of consolation, answered, that he thought such wishes, when forced by continued and excessive torments, unavoidable, in the present state of human nature; that the best men, even Job himself, were not able to refrain from such starts of impatience. This he did not deny, but said, "He that loves God, ought to think nothing desirable, but what is most pleasing to the Supreme Good Such were his sentiments, and such his conduct, in this state of weakness and pain. As death approached nearer, he was so far from terror or confusion, that he seemed even less sensible of pain, and more cheerful under his torments. He died, much honored and lamented, in the seventieth year of his age. LESSON FIFTY-NINTH. Human Frailty. Weak and irresolute is man; |