other amphibia, can support a long absti nence, and requires but a very small quantity of air.

come, sometimes, more remarkable than the principal fabric. To speak yet more narrowly, there never was any thing ugly or misshapen but the chaos: wherein, notwithstanding, to speak strictly, there was no deformity, because no form; nor was it yet impregnate by the voice of God. Now nature is not at variance with art, nor art with nature; they being both the servants of his Providence. Art is the perfection of nature; were the world now as it was on the sixth day, there were yet a chaos.— Nature hath made one world, and art another. In brief, all beings are artificial; for nature is the art of God."

You start you shudder-you look with a kind of horror on the toad; nor are you singular in this respect; I am sorry to say, that many very sensible people have been guilty of feeling the same antipathy against this poor, defenceless, and inoffensive creature: you, like a silly girl, when I have tried to reason you out of your repugnance, have always cried out, "Oh! but it is so ugly!" Let me conclude this subject with the remarks of an elegant writer of the seventeenth century, and treasure them up in your memory, deducing from them a re- || quisite and important lesson.—“ There is a general beauty in the works of God, and, therefore, no deformity in any kind or species of creature whatsoever: I cannot tell by what logic we call a toad, a bear, or an elephant, ugly; they being created in those outward shapes and figures, which best express the actions of their inward forms. And having past that general visitation of God, who saw that all that he had made was good, that is conformable to his will,¦¦ments, and you will fulfil every wish of your which abhors deformity, and is the rule of fond and affectionate mother,

order and beauty; nature so ingeniously contriving the irregular parts, as they be

|

In my next letter I will give you some account of your favourite amphibia, the lizard tribe. Continue to improve yourself under your worthy governess, for the short time that you will now be under her fostering care few women who undertake the education of youth are so well qualified by depth of understanding, elegant manners and accomplishments, with true maternal tenderness, for the arduous task; emulate her virtues, and strive to attain ber acquire

:

ANNA.

THE SOJOURNER.

"WHAT charms can this, as it is called, gay world, have for you? You, who have glided through all its mazes, and enjoyed its pleasures, even to satiety? Leave, then, a place no longer endeared to you, either by friendship or by love, and retire to scenes more congenial with that time of life to which you are arrived-a time of life which longs for repose; and, with a little world of your own, make some pastoral spot your home, where you may behold what you never have beheld-the sun rise and set in all its magnificence. Except when your body and mind have been under the dominion of enervation, you have retired to your rest at a time when CoventGarden's laborious sons are beginning the day of labour."-This was the advice of Meanwell, as we sat together in one of the capacious chairs of the Green Park, where

hundreds passed us; and who, like us, the victims of satiety, came in search of novelty where that deity was least likely to be found at the edge of the basin, or the beaten track from Piccadilly to St. James's gate: whose faces I had viewed from year to year-altered, indeed, somewhat by time, and, like the streamers and ribbands on their bonnets, were still of the same material as they were twenty years ago, but va ried in colour by time or circumstance.— What! leave the charms of town? the Theatre? the Opera? and continued variety? Yes, we were not long in taking Meanwell's advice. A chaise was soon at our door, for the baggage was not long knocking down to the best bidder, and my better half, a desiguation I am wont to give her when in my best humour, had not a murmur of dissent; and a few weeks saw

us settled in a pleasant house not far from C—

To

To one who had scarce ever emigrated farther than Richmoud, or beheld a mole or a viper, except at Exeter 'Change, it was no wonder if, at first sight, the country seemed, in the commencement of autumn, the only desirable place of existence the admirer of picturesque scenery, the sublimity of the views round K- could not fail to fill the heart with the most enthusiastic pleasure; in fact, at first we ac tually trod on fairy ground-the Regent's Park was nothing to it. But views cannot always be enjoyed: rain will fall-books will tire-and, as I am neither painter nor poet, I did sometimes long for Hookham's, the Ring, and Almack's rooms. It is good to know some oue, said my wife, just to vary the scene: so we returned the many calls we had been honoured with, and accepted some of the many civilities showered upon us, as new comers.

of poverty, not prudence; and my wife's bonnet, à la Flora, purchased at Madame de Chenin's, in Paris, was declared to be a fright, because, at that time, it was the first arrival in C

In six mouths time we were left to our own cogitation, and, like the jessamine at our door, to "waste our sweetness in the desert air." As one of my motives for retiring to the country was economy, silly mau that I was, I confessed it; and rather choosing to act frankly than involve myself in an air of mysteriousness, or by living as others did, run headlong into ruin, i had the courage to give such dinners as my forefathers were glad to give, and such as the forefathers of those, who now turned up their nose at it, could never taste.— At first, the hop merchant's wife, whom I could not shut out, for she would play at friendship, pretended that my meals were the only ones for comfort; but she, with the lawyer, whose father was once a respectable shoemaker, now came no more, and a power of professions were all forgotten. I returned them to him, for I knew he would want them at the next general election; and now when I offer my mution and plain port, I save it through the medium of a prior engagement.

Sometimes, indeed, a newly-arrived cu

taste my beef; and the exciseman wonders I never invite him; but as I war, and war only, with vulgarity and rudeness, he must excuse me; the man, I am told, wonders at this, because, he says, he is a richer man Several others came, but as [ than I am.

We had hoped to find in the connection which we thus made, if it were not the very first in point of consequence, it were, at least, so in intellect. As I had determined, before I left the capital, to avoid the overgrown and wealthy tradesmen, and rather to encourage the acquaintance of such persons whose minds were well cultivated :in this, my prejudices pointed out the sub-rate, or the surgeon, will condescend to altern in the army, the half-pay navy officer, or the vicar; in one word, men who could never raise my envy, whose talents I could love to see rewarded, and who would not tempt me, by their style of living, to outrun the constable; and from whom I might gain the advantages of the know-found I had been harbouring facetious ledge of science they could impart to me. spies, I no longer invited those who came But, alas! I found that the dissipated habits only to report progress of the new comer. of London, at second hand, had reached Reckless, at length, of joming any parties this quiet spot. The wealth of trade had but those in which I might encounter my corrupted the place; every oue was striving wine-merchant or my huen draper, who for the top of the ladder, and kicking away I chose to stay at were uneducated men, the steps which had raised them. The so- home I was, at first, surprised to find the cial and frugal meal for two or three, with company of these men courted by those a few glasses of port, was discarded for a whose family was much superior to my dinner of three courses, with Freuch wines, own, but I forgot that where the honey is, and ten couple; and by the time we had there will the flies be also: and finding I been here four months, no one dined with could not obtain the society i wished for, I resources for amuseus again, and few cared to visit me, who applied to my own appeared neither willing to flatter their cament. There was, however, I acknowpacities, nor add to their consequence. My ledge, some cause for this to the new thread-bare coat was set down for the effect settler. I had been guilty of many very No. 114.-Vol. XVIII.

P

His figure,

which is not like mine, extremely short and meagre, has a dignified air; the hard services which he has seen has embrowned his cheeks, which, with his style of dress, has given him a foreign air-but it is that of a travelled gentleman. I made a few sacrifices on his account-gave a dinner of two courses to get him connection-and this encouraged him to attend the raceball, gaily dressed; to this he had append. ed the order of some foreign club: this was, perhaps, silly, but he is yet a young man; and the wish to be respectable among strangers, may be construed into an unpardonable weakness. I was, immediately, however, elevated to the dignity of brother to a foreign knight. In vain I told them he was only the son of a private gentleman: -he was overwhelmed with attentions; while the many apologies showered on my wife for past coolnesses, were highly divert

imprudent actions. I had differed in opi-, mine arrived from abroad. nion with many, on things I had seen, and which they had not. I could not assent to their criticisms on literature, music, or the drama-criticisms which they drew from the partial newspapers they had taken the|| trouble to read-the Courier, the Examiner; it is true I opposed to these the Weekly Messenger, but I pinned not my entire faith on the sleeve of the editor of this, although I knew his opinion was often irrefragable: and I was condemned to hear those artists suspected of a want of talents, which I had been taught to idolize in London-suspected of a want of abilities, by those who had never seen the effect of their exertions. Besides this, I was convicted of being seen walking with the editor of a paper, and arm-in-arm with a painter. No wonder, then, that we were left to our own insignificance; and if any passing stranger demanded who we were, no one acknowledged us, save our butchering. Where, then, was it that all the reand our baker, whose bills we were unfashionable enough to pay. However, we only became, in consequence of this, better customers to the music shop. I blew my flute till I went nearly into a consumption, and then my Delia accompanied my voice on her piano; almost as well as any young lady could here.

I do not say that envy, hatred, and malice, reign with more arbitrary sway in the country than in London, but I will say || that the mind, undiverted by the every-day occurrences of a market-town, has more time to cultivate the bad passions, and where there is a stronger competition for consequence, it will exert itself for mastery; and that the person unoccupied by a variety of objects, will make employment for itself in scandal and slander. In the country, the idler will live a month upon an intrigue or an elopement. In Loudon, so many incidents follow each other, that the breath has scarce time to dilate on each revolving circumstance: he requires not the minutiæ of circumstance to entertain him, because a fresh tale is every day thrown out, to entertain the whole of public opinion. But to return: I had resided here about thirteen months, when a brother of

straint, deemed once so proper to strangers,
had melted away? I was wearied with in-
troducing persons to my august brother:
the girls were mad to dance with him—the
mammas to talk to him. He received an
invitation to a ball, at a great house, where
I had never been; a card for a dinner party,
from a total stranger; nay, a general invi-
tation from Mrs. Prolific and her six daugh-
ters; and my wife was offered the use of that
lady's carriage, at all times and all seasons.
But, to conclude, will it be believed, that
my brother, after all this, after declaring
the honours he bore were only those of a
private club, put on for a youthful frolic,
was still adored, because unbelieved he
was so. But, alas! in a few days came a
frost-a cutting frost. The waiter of his
inn had declared, that he was always di-
rected to, plain Mr. Nickintop. The post-
master corroborated this, as did also Wil-
liam. He is now passed unnoticed; and
the frippery of what was thought a foreign
court, has for ever deprived him of expe-
riencing the notice of what he is entitled
to—as the son of a private gentleman, and
a man of no contemptible property and at-
tainments.

THE SOJOURNER.

MY UPHOLSTERER.-A FRAGMENT.

He there commenced upholsterer, and succeeded. At first, he undertook the making of some few plain articles of furniture, which, on account of the taste and elegance in the execution, procured him several new customers. He might have married a widow, in good circumstances; several were introduced to him, but he re

had no fortune; because as she could read and write, and understood arithmetic, he thought she would prove very useful to him in his undertakings.

Louis called upon me the other day,

Ir is for want of proper reflection that we wonder at the rapidity with which ignorant men make their fortunes; those people, in general, have the esprit of their || business, which, indeed, is the best in most|| cases. The line which they pursue engrosses their whole attention, is the object of all their thoughts, and the stimulus of their every transaction. The wise mistrustfused them all, and chose a young girl who which they entertain of themselves, naturally leads them to conceive a useful mistrust in others; thence proceed the safe operations they engage in; for a man of shallow intellects will seldom trust to chance. A person in a certain sphere of life har-dressed in a brown great coat, of coarse bours rather a mean opinion of the artisans cloth, that purposely disguised the opuhe employs, but is apt to consider them as lence of the wearer. "Excuse me, Sir," mere machines, the motions whereof he said he, scraping his right foot side-ways; directs as he pleases. He is not aware that excuse me for thus intruding; I am only an uncouth outside, an address of simpli- come to inform you that I have disposed city and candour, are masks to disguise the of my stock in trade, and that, thank God, cunning which he is to be made the dupe I am retiring from business."-"What! of. The idea which he has formed of his already!"—" Why, I am forty-eight, full; own superiority, turns also to his disadvan- || I have fagged very hard for ten years, it is tage; it leaves him exposed, without re-high time I should enjoy myself a little. I serve, to the malicious scrutiny of his de- intend going to live on an estate I have pendents; neither are there many servants purchased in Brie. I there own a chateau, but who know, and avail themselves of, the which I have paid for every sous, and weak side of their masters. which I have had modernized for myself and family. In the summer season we shall inhabit the country, and return to spend the winter in Paris. My eldest boy is nine years old, and, betwixt ourselves, he already is more knowing than his father."-"You have known how to get a fortune."-"True, and I wish Edward may have sense enough to keep it. Why, the dear fellow and his sister Victoire will have, each of them, the best part of thirty thousand francs per annum, earned by the sweat of my brow."- "You were said to be richer."-" So goes the world; people take pleasure in diminishing the credit of those who stand in need of it, and in promoting that of such as can do without.When I began, every body would foretel my failing: my manufacturers were charitably warned not to trust me, as I had neither money, nor the means of making money in the way of business; in proportion as the predictions of those good friends of mine proved false, they proclaimed that

My upholsterer is a man who, for certain reasons, never bore the name of his father; was brought up in an establishment of charity till he was twelve years of age, when he enlisted as a drummer in a regiment of foot. When a grown man he became a grenadier; his Captain wished to promote him, and he would have been made a corporal had he known how to read, but, unfortunately, his education had not been carried so far.

Louis was not thirsty of honours, neither did the disappointment inspire him with a desire of being more learned. He had obtained leave to work in different shops of the towns where his regiment was quartered; and his trifling wages, in addition to his still more scanty pay, answered every call of his ambition. During eightand-twenty years Louis continued in the ranks; till, at last, he had his discharge, and retired to Paris, on the list of outpensioners.

has been considered as a currency which
no one objects to. When I carry my bill
to a man of letters, his censure on my work
I reply to by praising his. If to a clerk in
office, I tell him that I have just heard he
was going to be appointed one of the cabi-
net, and solicit his protection, which he
will scarce engage to grant me, but I get
his bill discharged."-" I must confess,
Mr. Louis, that a tradesman can become a
great gainer by assuming an air of idiotism,
and by allowing himself to be laughed at
without even appearing to pay any atten-
tion to it. How could you acquire such a
profitable talent?"—" Live and learn, is an
old saying, you know, Sir; I see so many
people."-
—“Truly, you must have dealings
with a great variety of characters."—" Per-
mit me to recount what occurred only
yesterday.

my success was not to be wondered atthat they knew of my having an immense capital at command; and both versions, equally erroneous, have, nevertheless, || proved equality beneficial to me: the first only contributed to increase the interest which is felt for a beginner; the latter procured me a consideration, that I had hitherto obtained from my workmen only so true it proves, that unexperienced enemies will sometimes be instrumental in affording unexpected resources to their intended victims."-" So, then, you think yourself indebted to your enemies for your success?"-" Have not they reported me as a simpleton? You, yourself, have been the dupe of my supposed imbecility, like many more.". How so?"-" A man need not have learned to read, to know that men can be led by flattery."- "Monsieur Louis, this mode of thinking—" "Has been conducive to my success. I have had a fresh instance of it lately. I had furnished the chateau of Marshal ; he was quite pleased with every article till I brought in my bill. Those same articles lost much of their merit, in his opinion, when he was told of the price of them; however, instead of quarrelling with him on my terms, I brought him into his drawing-room, and placed him facing a full-length likeness of himself, in the midst of a group of pictures, representing the principal victories gained by his Excellency. At every observation his Lordship addressed to me, I exclaimed on one of his heroic achievements. No sooner had I reminded him of one of his triumphs, than the Marshal, forgetful of the I next proceeded to the Rue de Louvois, amount of my bill, would draw near, and, to complete the drapery of the apartment leaning on my shoulder, would assist me of a young person who, since her being in the recollection of his former career; attached to the Opera house, can no longer the glorious remembrance, by degrees, in- live with her parents. A gentleman, a flamed his imagination; and after listening well-wisher to the family, has taken the for a time to the recital of the battles he charge of directing the new actress; he had fought, and to his being promoted being old and rich, I readily accepted his upon such or such an occasion, I handed to || being security. I had known the girl behim the bill, which he had, inadvertently, fore she had become a lady; I found her placed on the mantle-piece, when his Ex- much altered. I doubt my having undercellency, now in a mood of liberality, sign- gone any alteration in my appearance, yet ed, with cheerfulness, the account which, she did not know me again. She gave out at first, he had viewed with chagrin."—"I her orders with admirable sangfroid, withno longer am surprised, Monsieur Louis, at out allowing me to make the least observayour having made a fortune, if you have tion, and displayed so much taste in the dealt in this same way with all your cus- arrangement of every article she bespoke, tomers."-" Why, Sir, flattery, for ages, that one might have thought she had ever

"At five o'clock in the morning one of my workmen came to inform me that as he was going by the Rue de Vendome, he observed that a lady whose apartment I had just furnished upon credit, was about moving. I instantly repaired to the spot, and with the interference of a magistrate, prevailed on the fair damsel not to strip an elegant sitting-room of its velvet hangings, sofas, chairs, &c. with gold fringe, pier glasses, &c. the walls of which, if bare, would cut but a poor figure. After a little ceremony, the lady agreed to continue in the house; and in order to prevent the landlord being exposed to the repetition of a similar whim, I hired the apartment myself which my dear customer seemed to be tired of.