"ther," faid young Wentworth; "he has "been here in his Amelia's favourite grove,

We returned to the houfe, and found Mr. Wentworth with the rest of the company. He forced on fome converfation, and even affected a degree of gentle pleasantry during the whole evening.

Such, in fhort, is the noble deportment of my friend, that, in place of finding it neceffary to temper and moderate his grief, I must avoid feeming to perceive it, and dare scarcely appear even to think of the heavy calamity which has befallen him. I too well know what he feels; but the more I know this, the more does the dignity of his recollection and fortitude excite my admiration, and command my filent attention and respect..

How very different is this dignified and referved forrow from that weak and teazing grief which difgufts, by its fighs and tears, and clamorous lamentations? How much does fuch noble fortitude of deportment call forth our regard and reverence? How much is a character, in other refpects eftimable, degraded by a contrary demeanour ? How much

does the exceffive, the importunate, and unmanly grief of Cicero, diminish the very high respect which we fhould otherwife entertain for the exalted character of that illuftrious Roman?

Writers on practical morality have described and analized the paffion of grief, and have pretended to prescribe remedies for restoring the mind to tranquillity; but, I believe, little benefit has been derived from any thing they have advised. To tell a perfon in grief, that time will relieve him, is truly applying no remedy; and to bid him reflect how many others there may be who are more wretched, is a very inefficacious one. The truth is, that the excess of this, as well as of other paffions, must be prevented rather than cured. It must be obviated, by our attaining that evennefs and equality of temper, which can arife only from an improved understanding, and an habitual intercourfe with refined fociety. These will not, indeed, exempt us from the pangs of forrow, but will enable us to bear them with a noble grace and propriety, and will render the prefence of our friends (which is the only remedy) a very effectual cure.

This is well explained by a philosopher, who is no less eloquent than he is profound.

He

He juftly observes, that we naturally, on all occafions, endeavour to bring down our own paffions to that pitch which thofe about us can correfpond with. We view ourfelves in the light in which we think they view us, and feek to fuit our behaviour to what we think their feelings can go along with. With an intimate friend, acquainted with every circumftance of our fituation, we can, in fome measure, give way to our grief, but are more calm than when by ourselves. Before a common acquaintance, we affume a greater fedatenefs. Before a mixed affembly, we affect a fill more confiderable degree of compofure. Thus, by the company of our friends at first, and afterwards, by mingling with fociety, we come to fuit our deportment to what we think they will approve of; we gradually abate the violence of our paffion, and restore our mind. to its wonted tranquillity.

Y

N° 28.

SATURDAY, May 1, 1779.

Currit ad Indos

Pauperiem fugiens.

HOR.

A

ND did you not blush for our countrymen?" faid Mr. Umphraville to Colonel Plum, as the latter was defcribing the fack of an Indian city, and the plunder of its miferable inhabitants, with the death of a Rajah who had gallantly defended it.

"Not at all, Sir," anfwered the Colonel coolly; our countrymen did no more than "their duty; and, were we to decline performing it on fuch occafions, we should be of little fervice to our country in India."

66

Mr. Umphraville made no answer to this defence; but a filent indignation, which fat upon his countenance, implied a stronger difapprobation of it than the most laboured reply he could have offered.

For the fame reason which induced him to avoid any farther difcuffion of the fubject, my friend endeavoured to give the conversation a different turn. He led the Colonel into a defcription of the country of India; and, as that

gentleman

gentleman described in very lively colours the beauty of its appearance, the number of its people, and the variety and richness of its productions, Mr. Umphraville liftened to this part of his difcourfe with an uncommon degree of pleasure and attention.

But, after the Colonel's departure (for this converfation happened during one of my excurfions to Mr. Umphraville's, where Colonel -Plum had been on a vifit), the former part of the conversation recurred immediately to my friend's memory, and produced the following reflections.

"I know not," faid he, "a more mortifying proof of human weakness, than that 66 power which fituation and habit acquire over "principle and feeling, even in men of the beft natural difpofitions.

"The gentleman who has juft left us, has derived from Nature a more than ordinary "degree of good fenfe. Nor does the feem to "have been lefs liberal to him in the affections

of the heart than in the powers of the un"derstanding.

"Since his return to this country, Colonel "Plum has acted the part of an affectionate and generous relation, of an attentive and " useful

L 5.