eye of youth; but to me it appears one of the most remarkable philofophic publications that the prefent age has produced. The fine style and enchanting colours in which it is written are its least merits. The most distant pofterity will read it with rapture, without enquiring what age the venerable author had attained when he gave to the world this laft proof of his fincerity.

AGE, however advanced, is capable of enjoying real pleasure. A virtuous old man paffes his days with ferene gaiety, and receives, in the happiness he feels from the benedictions of all around him, a rich reward for the rectitude and integrity of his past life; for the mind reviews, with joyful fatisfaction, its honourable and selfapproving transactions: nor does the near profpect of the tomb give fearful emotion to his un-dismayed and steady foul.

THE Empress MARIA THERESA has caused her own Maufoleum to be erected, and frequently, accompanied by her family, vifits, with ferenity and compofure, a monumental depofitory, the idea of which conveys fuch painful apprehenfion to almoft every mind. Pointing it out to the obfervation of her children, " Ought we to be proud or arrogant," fays fhe," when

cc we here behold the tomb in which, after a "few years, the poor remains of Royalty muft "quietly repofe?"*

THERE are few men capable of thinking with fo much fublimity. Every one, however, is capable of retiring, at least occasionally, from the corruptions of the world; and if, during this calm retreat, they fhall happily learn to estimate their past days with propriety, and to live the remainder in private virtue and public utility, the TOMB will lofe its menacing aspect, and DEATH appear like the calm evening of a fine and well-fpent day.

The man how bleft who, fick of gaudy scenes,
Is led by choice to take his favourite walk
Beneath DEATH's gloomy, filent, cypress shades,
Unpierc'd by Vanity's fantaftic ray;

To read his monuments, to weigh his duft,

Vifit his vaults, and dwell among the TOMBS!

Forth from THE TOMB, as from an humble fhrine,
TRUTH, radiant Goddess! fallies on the foul,
And puts Delufion's dufky train to flight;
Difpels the mists our fultry paffions raise,
From objects low, terrestrial, and obscure,
And shews the real estimate of things. ↑

A RELIGIOUS

Pallida mors æquopulfat pede pauperum tabernas
Regum que turres.

HOR. Lib. 1. Can. 4.

CHARLES THE FIFTH refolved to celebrate his own obfequies before his death. He ordered his tomb to be erected in the

chapel

ARELIGIOUS difpofition frequently mixes itself in retirement with the innocent and moral enjoyments of the heart, and promotes, by reciprocal effects, the highest pleasures of Solitude. A fimple, virtuous, and tranquil life, prepares and prompts the mind to raise itself towards its God; the contemplation of the Divine Nature fills the heart with religious devotion; and the sublime effect of Religion is tranquillity. When the mind is once touched with the true precepts of our holy Religion, the vanities of the world lose their charms, and the bofom feels the miferies and torments of humanity with diminished anguifh. All around is calm and quiet. The tumultuous din of fociety appears like thunder rolling at a diftance and the pious reclufe joyfully exclaims, in the words of the Poet,

"Bleft be that hand divine, which gently laid
"My heart at rest beneath this humble shed.
"The world's a stately bark on dang`rous feas,
"With pleasure seen, but boarded at our peril :

"Here,

chapel of the Monaftery. His domeftics marched thither in funeral proceffion with black tapers in their hands. He himself followed in his fhroud. He was laid in his coffin with much folemnity. The service of the dead was chaunted, and CHARLES joined in the prayers which were offered up for the rest of his foul, mingling his tears with those which his attendants shed, as if they had been celebrating a real funeral. The ceremony closed with sprinkling holy water on the coffin in the ufual form, and all the affiftants retiring, the doors of the chapel were fhut. Then CHARLES rofe out of the coffin, and withdrew to his apartment, full of those awful fentiments which fuch a fingular folemnity was calculated to inspire.

"Here, on a single plank, thrown safe afhore,
"I hear the tumult of the distant throng,
"As that of feas remote or dying storms;

"And meditate on fcenes more filent ftill;
"Pursue my theme, and fight the fear of Death.
"Here, like a shepherd gazing from his hut,
"Touching his reed, or leaning on his staff,
"Eager Ambition's fiery chase I fee;

"I fee the circling hunt of noify men

"Burft Law's inclosure, leap the mounds of right, "Pursuing and purfu'd, each other's prey, "As wolves for rapine; as the fox for wiles; "Till Death, that mighty hunter, earths them all."

WHEN Addifon perceived that he was given over by his phyficians, and felt his end approaching, he sent for Lord Warwick, a young man of very irregular life and loose opinions, whom he had diligently, but vainly, endeavoured to reclaim, but who by no means wanted refpect for the person of his preceptor, and was fenfible of the lofs he was about to fuftain. When he entered the chamber of his dying friend, Addifon, who was extremely feeble, and whofe life at that moment hung quivering on his lips, obferved a profound filence. The youth, after a long and awful pause, at length faid, in low and trembling accents, "Sir, you "defired to fee me: fignify your commands, and "be affured 1 will execute them with religious "fidelity." Addison took him by the hand, and with his expiring breath replied, "Observe with "what

3

Death of Addison!

Published by Vernor and Hood