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THE AGE OF TIME. "Nunc est mundi senectus."

WH

HAT is that anachronism of speech, or confusion of ideas, which calls the last years of mortality its old age, and the early centuries of this world's creation, its old times? How gratifying would it be to the fading beauty of fashion, to find her latest day, her youngest too; and how content to be complimented and flattered on the wit and graces of her early ancient days? Surely the world was young at its creation; and even the first and only pair of its inhabitants, though innocent and happy, were not wise; nor have transmitted that inheritance to any of their numerous descendants. But if human wisdom be a plant of slow growth, it seems, in the species, as in the individual, to grow with his age, and strengthen by his experience. What is the cause, and how do we justify this habitual appeal to antiquity for its wisdom, while all history gives us honest evidence of weakness, folly, and crime in all its series. Even Moses, Solomon, and David not altogether excepted. Are we not always referring to some superhuman communications to man, in the beginning, of which we cherish even the earliest and slightest glimpses we can still discern?

Our moral system is, perhaps, yet far from its maturity. We should then do better to strive to honor our advance, and to justify our progress in science and experience; to acknowledge and to evidence by our improvement that we have fallen on the "olden times," and not to fancy an impotence, or fashion false excuses for not profiting by the teaching lessons of the earlier and younger periods of the human society.

Oct. 7.

T

ALPHA.

THE SALINE AND THE SACCHARINE. HE qualities, virtues, and powers of salt, alimentary, stercoraceous, and medicinal, and its various and many uses and benefits to mankind, have been known and acknowledged in the earliest times. "Ye are the salt of the earth," was said to those who were to amend and advance the moral condition of nan; its physical powers justified undoubtedly the strength and propriety of the metaphor. There was a salt known formerly (about 2100 years ago) of which the name has come down to us, with some few specimens of its happy effect, even on that delicate organ of

production, the human brain. This was the "attic salt of ancient Greece." Why is this precious "saline top-dressing," so little sought, and so rarely produced in these latter times? Is its importation prohibited? or is the native production and the curious chemistry of its forming precipitation too much checked by the heavy stamp-duty on our diurnal folios, the ready receptacles of its smallest granulations?

To no one of the natural and universal elements of our uses, is the "ne quid nimis" more applicable, or the caution required, than to salt of every kind (the attic alone excepted): salt is sauce for our appetites and physic for our soils; not food for either: used too copiously, it is scurvy for the body, and sterility to the land. The health of the inhabitants of the European quarter of the globe, the absence of the intermitting plagues by which they were formerly visited and afflicted; the infrequency of the scorbutic habit; the reduced virulence of all the variolous affections, which yield now so easily to the mercurial and vaccine remedies, are all much to be referred to the desuetude of the too constant diet of salted meats and fish. The use of the other salts, which has been introduced or extended by our advance in the sciences of medicine and chemistry; and in particular of that vegetable salt of the Atlantic islands, "the saccharine," has contributed to our health, comfort, and delectation: have rendered our temperaments more bland" by cooling the blood and sweetening the juices;" it would be well did our experience allow us to say truly, that they have lessened fighting among us, as much as they have relieved fretfulness, and lessened " scratching." For though we are not of opinion that sugar-candy and lollipops have sharpened our wits, they seem to have tended to sweeten the breath, dulcify the temper, and soften our speech, and with the Chinese leaf, to have smoothed the association of our intercourse, eased the matrimonial yoke, and to have relieved our females from much of the' stinking and stupifying effects of ardent spirits, and tongue-tying tobacco.

Why then should the financial economy of the British Isles take so much pains, in the short-reaching policy of au unreflecting imitation of Norman bad custom (the gabelle), and a half-indolent adherence to the practice of long past times, which we inost simply call the

"olden times," though it is the last hour that is the oldest, if not the wisest since the creation; to neutralize, cramp, or annihilate our peculiar advantages in the abundant salt of our sea coasts and springs, and its cheap conversion by our ready and inexhaustible coal; neglecting or preventing all or much of its great use and value, in all its chemical varieties of application to our fish, food, manures, manufactures, medicine, cattle, and corn?

Surely, revenue in its largest receipt and general results, can have no permanent and improving root or source, but in the produce or riches of the seas and the soil, by industry, economy, and skill, by that cheapness which is the consequence of abundance, not of the misery of ill-paid labour, and low-priced land, grain, or manufactures; these, pushed too far, are in no long course, the very opposites to wealth or case, to the improvement of revenue, or the security of the creditor of the state. October 7. OMICRON.

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HISTORY OF PETER PLIANT. (Continued from page 441.) O sooner were the occurrences of the day buried in the " temporary suspension of mental power," vulgarly called sleep, than they rose a second time to my imagination, dressed in all the alluring colours fancy could invent. I will not tire your patience by detailing them, but merely observe, that they revelled in my brain till the dawn of morning was so far advanced, that a gentle knock on my chamber door, from the knuckles of Mr. Somers, dispelled the little train and reinstated Reason in her seat.

My desire to know the cause of his journey to London operated so forcibly upon me that a few minutes only elapsed before I obeyed his summons and eutered the drawing-room.

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My presence is rather unexpected, I dare say, Sir," observed he; but an occurrence has taken place which I thought so expedient for you to be made acquainted with, that I left the mansion in the care of my son, and came myself." Unexpected, certainly, but not the less welcome. What has occurred?”

Your old neighbour, Sir Thomas Thrifty, is dead; and, as I understand, has left his property to a distant rela

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Oh, I had nearly forgot it," returned Mr. S. "the farmer is quite recovered of his accident, and desires me to present his grateful respects for your timely assistance. I lost no time in obeying your summons, and went backwards and forwards occasionally, till he was perfectly restored. He is a much nearer neighbour at present, for old Chickweed, who used to live at the bottom of the lane, having run away in debt and left the cottage vacant, the former took it. He is a kind-hearted soul, and, with his daughter, occasionally enlivens the solitude of the hall. But we hope soon to see you with us."

"The time will not be long now; and, indeed, much nearer than I expected, if your present errand turns out of any consequence. But I must see Mr. Plausible on the subject immediately; and,

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in the mean time, leave you to amuse my aunt and cousins with a detail of my agricultural concerns, and as many articles out of last week's County Chronicle as you think will entertain them." I accordingly waited on Mr. Plausible, and gave him a slight sketch of the circumstance. After a few minutes consideration he thus explained itSome years before your father came into the possession of the estate, the lands in question were mortgaged, and so peculiar was the agreement, that if not redeemed by a certain time, they were to be forfeited. They were so, but, unfortunately, the document proving it was mislaid. This reaching the cars of Sir Thomas, he thought it a good opportunity to revive his claim; but he also having neglected the original agreement of his uncle's, the question could not proceed. Matters have stood in this state ever since, and unless you are fortunate enough to find the lost document, I fear you will eventually lose your claim, as your father's witnesses are not alive."

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I thanked him for his advice, and retraced my steps, reflecting on the uncertainty of fortune and the chance of losing my estate, when I was suddenly accosted with the voice of a gentleman, and turning round beheld Sir E. Courtly-"Ah, Mr. Pliant, hope you are well how are the ladies? eh · thoughtful; what, meditating some scheme upon the dear creatures-0, you're a sad fellow, Mr. Pliant." I smiled at his interpretation of my thoughts, and was going to undeceive him, when the wheels of a carriage whirled swiftly by us, and recognizing in the person of the charioteer

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his dear friend the Hon. Tom Careless," he called to him to stop, and putting his card into my hand, expressing a wish to see me whenever it was agreeable, mounted the box and drove off with his friend.

I could not help smiling at the volatility of Sir Edward; but my attention was speedily engrossed by a different reflection When the votaries of high life condescend to follow those pursuits which more properly belong to their inferiors, we must not wonder that rank ceases to be respected; that John assumes all the ease and importance of his muster; or that Bett apes the de licate foibles of her mistress. But such is the force of fashion; it has the power of colouring over many foibles which would cise disgust ns. The only dif

ference that exists, is, that the social tenor of my Lord's habits, when in company, produces a sensible effect upon the claret bottle, and leads him into a state of inebriation: whereas John's social habits lead him to the sign of the Jolly God, where he gets gloriously drunk. The insinuating af. fected airs, which are reckoned vastly engaging in Lady Betty, are impertinent in her waiting-maid. Rank, får from being an excuse for folly, is an additional reason against it; and, would its followers remember the duty they owe to society, and evince the superiority of their situation by their example, they would possess a double claim to respect, and their nobility would have a better foundation than pride of birth or extent of ancestry.

These reflections brought me home; where, having communicated Mr. Plau sible's advice, it was agreed that Mr. Somers should immediately return, and institute a general search for the document wanting. The next day he accordingly left London.

The season of the year had now returned when the birth of a Saviour is celebrated by the Christian world. As is usual on these cases, my aunt had long been accustomed to entertain a large party of friends, among whom I was glad to perceive Mr. Manning and his family. Our observance of the day was divested of those disgraceful proceedings, which too often accompany it; we felt that we had met to celebrate no common event, and looked upon it as a day rather calculated to repress than excite those licentious propensities which are commonly indulged.

Returning frome one evening, in this season of festivity, from Mr. Manning's, at whose house I had become a frequent visitor, a violent quarrel took place in the street, at the head of which I observed Sir Edward Courtly. So loud were the mutual imprecations on both s des, that it was some time before I could attempt to pacify him; but, as soon as I could, I endeavoured to represent the imprudence of such an action-but the more I talked, the warmer they grew-till, at length, Sir Edward gave me a gentle push, and told me he wanted none of my interference. Not disconcerted by this, and considering his situation (being engaged with a par cel of worthless fellows, I still urged my endeavours, till, irritated by my incessant entreaties, he damned me for

an impudent scoundrel, and desired me to mind my own business. I saw all further interference was useless, and left him, telling him at the same time, I was sorry I had engaged in his drunken riots. His rage knew no bounds at this expression, and had not his friends detained him, would have provoked me to have chastised him for his ungrateful insolence, but he vented his anger loudly in words, which I only answered by a smile of contempt, and passed on.

As I was engaged the following morning in my study, looking over my papers for the one relative to the estate, I received the following note from the Baronet:

"Sir Edward Courtly requests Mr. Pliant will meet him this evening at six o'clock, to give him satisfaction for the affront shewn him by his officious behaviour in last night's affray.”

And must a life be sacrificed to satisfy so small a punctilio of honor? Must I, lest Scorn should point her finger at me, accede to this request, and be guilty of murder or self-destruction? Such were my first reflections on the receipt of it, and for a short time I was hesitaling how to act, but as I had been previously employed in examining my father's papers, one of his paternal admonitions fell out, and the word duellist catching my eye, I opened it and read as follows:

"Should circumstances, my son, ever throw you into a situation where you must have recourse to duelling, remember, that if you owe a duty to that society which enjoins it, you also owe one to a higher Power, who has expressly said Thou shalt not murder." The law of honor, as received by the world in general, is a tissue of absurdity calculated to protect those who abide by it from the just reward due to their iniquitous courses, and who, in obeying it, do so from motives of fear. If you dread an imputation upon your courage, rest assured that it requires a greater degree of that quality to refuse than accept a challenge; no law, either moral or civil, sanctions it-and whether it is your interest to obey the dictates of fashion or the commands of a Creator, I leave it to your own reason to determine."

I was now firmly resolved how to act, and looking back to the occasion of the quarrel, saw nothing to justify so fatal a step, sat down to dictate a refusal I felt I was doing right, and

that steeled me against the idle reproaches of the world.

But this step proved unnecessary : for one of Sir Edward's friends having scented the challenge, fearing the consequences, took him early into arrest this, consequently, exonerated me from attending to it further, and I tore the challenge into pieces, regretting that man should reverence laws so inimical to every honourable and virtuous feeling. (To be continued.)

THE GLEANER. No. VI.

There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men deservingly distil it out.
Thus may we gather honey from the weed.

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which the infidel has resorted to in order, if possible, to prove the falsehood of the word of truth as a divine reve

lation, and to maintain his daring assertions, that there is no God who guides the affairs and directs the events which are occupying the attention, and affecting the happiness of his creature, man; he has asked, what greater proof can be required that a superintending Providence is the mere dream of the visionary enthusiast, than the general prevalence of evil in theworld, and the disorder which it has introduced into a creation, otherwise apparently so fair and spotless? And there are times, when the man who has always looked upon himself as a firm believer in those truths, to a superficial acquaintance with which he has been accustomed from his infancy, and who has no doubt of his being thoroughly grounded in the belief of the leading doctrines of that religion which have been impressed on his mind in his youth, and which, connected with the habits of his more advanced age, have appeared to constitute almost a part of his very nature; there are times in the course of the life of even such a man as this, when sceptical doubts may intrude, and operating in some unhappy moment of personal or relative calamity, may appear at one blow to sweep away the foundations of a system, which he has believed because his parents told him it was true; which his early prejudices have confirmed; and the adoption of which has proceeded rather from the assent of the will, than from that rational persuasion which results from a proper exercise of

the judgment; and the application of the powers of the understanding requiring only that inquiry for himself, which, if once made under the influence of a proper spirit, and by applying to the only true source of light and knowledge, must end in the firmest conviction of its truth, and the full persuasion of its high claims upon his regard.

It is not our intention at present to enter the lists with the infidel, or to attempt to urge all that may be advanced as a satisfactory reply to his inquiry. That evil exists, is a fact which our own individual experience fully demonstates; and we hope that the same experience, so far as concerns our personal circumstances as fully demonstrates, that the portion of it through which we have to pass, is nicely allotted by an all-wise Disposer of events; and rather than draw from it an argument against his superintending care and direction, we would rejoice in the consideration that even this proceeds from him, and that "the Judge of all the Earth" must "do right."

If we should at any time be brought into circumstances in which Prosperity shall cease to smile upon us, and Adversity with frown terrifick," shall "scare" away many of the comforts which may now form an apparently in dispensible part of our happiness; instead of arraigning the wisdom of the decrees, and the justice of the judgments of the Almighty, we should do well to enter upon a train of thought, calculated to promote a close self-examination, and a bold and fearless inquiry into all the circumstances which have led to the production of our af flictions. True indeed it is, that we have but little of the disposal of the events that happen around us placed within our power, and a line of conduct, marked by what we may have flattered ourselves to have been the strictest morality and most unshaken virtue, may terminale in calamities as unforeseen as they prove unwelcome. Worth proves no exemption from sickness and discase; and goodness cannot arrest the chilling hand of Poverty: but it may not be useless for us to inquire, if there are not some advantages peculiar to adverse and distressing circumstances, which, when reflected on, may

"Give even affliction a grace, And reconcile man to his lot?" As the punishment of the sin of our

first parents, who abused the privilege which they enjoyed of regaling themselves on the fruits which the Garden of Eden afforded, and which offered themselves spontaneously to their use; the Earth was cursed for their sakes, and man was only to eat that food which was procured by toil, and the sweat of the brow. But this curse became a blessing; and that labour, without which his wants could not have been supplied, contributed to the preservation of his health, and the promotion of his comfort. And thus, in the dark night of affliction, may we learn lessons which will amply compensate for the "rigid love" of our "stern, rugged nurse." Adversity has often contributed more to the ultimate advantage of him who has been the subject of it, than Prosperity with all her smiles, and all her favours. The man who is placed in circumstances of external enjoyment, whose wishes scarcely exceed in number or extent the blessings of Providence which are showered down upon him; whose efforts are crowned by success; whose days roll on in a ceaseless succession of propitious occurrences; whose morning's antici pations are not more sanguine than his evening's reflections on the day's acquisitions are pleasing; who rises from a bed of down to tread a path strewed with flowers; who sees in every countenance the smile that is always ready to beam on the favourite of fortune; and who looks forward with confidence to an age of ease as the reward of a manhood of unceasing exertion; such a man as this is exposed to many temptations, of which he easily becomes the victim; he is apt to forget the Providence which bestows upon him his enjoyments, and the God who allots to him his portion; he is ill-prepared to meet the reverses which may soon take place; and completely engrossed by the

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good things" of this life, he forgets that it is only a preparation for another; and is often led, on a consideration of his possessions and the recollection of his influence, to despise the man of humble worth, and less obtrusive excellence. But, unwelcome as the storms of adversity, or the pains of sickness, may be, yet they carry with them advantages more than compensating for their attendant inconveniences. It is when experiencing the reverses of for tune that a man learns his own weak. ness; feels his dependence upon his fellow-creature; sees that he is not that

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