which fort, with refpect to yourself, I doubt not is that for which the unhappy E-1 is to fuffer. But remember, that all vice is gradual; and the greatest monster in guilt was once a trembling beginner. The firft fallies of paffion are to be curbed, and checked in their rife: it is an unmanly and difgraceful evil: it degrades the man inexpreffibly and gives all who fee you vanquished by it, a ftrange triumph over you. And as to paffion, so to the intemperance of drinking, the very firft inclination is to be cut off in the bud.-But I enlarge not upon. this, as your lordship, I am convinced, is even free from the temptation. And I am happy (then while the tear of affection filled his eyes, he took Lord **'s hand) I am happy, my dear fon, in noting your amiable difpofition only let me add briefly (for I perceive we draw near home) do not think it fufficient to be free from grofs vices; I would have you eminently virtuous. which end, cultivate the most awful regard to the Sovereign of heaven, whofe dread behefts it much becomes the highest as well as the lowest to obey. Remember that you live not for yourself: remember that your high rank cannot prevent your appearance at a bar-nay ftart not my lord, for you must one day stand to be tried at a bar, muft one day be prefent at a court, infinitely more folemn and tremendous, than that which we have this day feen: the de

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cifion

N° 7. cifion of which is of all others the most important, for it is irreverfible, and it is eternal.

There can be no fhuffling: there the action lies
In its true nature; we ourselves compell d
Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults
To give in evidence.

There fuperior rank will be fo far from conciliating favour; that the grand rule of the court is, " To whom much is given, of him much will be required." And there of neceffity the amplest distinctions of birth, of honour, of place, of preferments, will be expected to fhew the most commendable productions, and to offer the fruits of faireft efteem, and moft pleafing acceptation".

NUM

NUMBER VIII.

To the VISITOR.

-Your bounty is beyond my speaking:

But tho' my mouth be dumb, my heart shall thank you:
And when it melts before the throne of mercy,
My fervent foul ball breath forth prayers for you;
That heav'n will pay you back, when moft you need,
The grace and goodness you have shewn to me.

SIR,

ROWE.

HOUGH I can fcarcely hope that my

Tmean and unadorned effay can be worthy

a place in your paper, yet I am prompted fo ftrongly by gratitude, that I must make the attempt; and should esteem it particularly kind, if you would enable me to spread as extenfively as I can my prefent felicity, and the bleffed fource of it.

Without further preface, Sir, I must inform you that I am one of thofe, who owe life, falvation, happiness; every comfort and every hope, to that happy place the MAGDALEN-HOUSE. Believe me in what I deliver; for I do affure you in the most folemn manner, that it is the tricteft truth. I was amongst the first who fought

fought that hofpitable dwelling; and alas, it makes my very blood run chill, to reflect upon my fituation, when admitted into that houfe! Good God, was there ever fuch an object of pity and diftrefs! Abandoned by every friend I had; abhorring my dire business, but obliged to continue it for bread; almost naked ; broken-hearted; without a roof to receive me; without an eye to pity me; without any kind christian to look on and rescue me. People, Sir, think, that no hard ufage is bad enough for us in that state: but indeed, if they knew all, they would not think fo. For as bad a creature as I might feem, I would have given the world to have been employed in any honest means of livelihood: though there was a time when I fhould have thought fervile employ much beneath me. But, alas, times were forely changed, and my affliction was greater than could be fancied. If you indulge me by printing this, perhaps, when I can get a little time, I may fend you fome fhort account of my misfortunes, to fhew that we are not all such objects of every body's worst contempt and insults. But I beg pardon for running from my subject; women's pens, Sir, are not used to order.

In my calamitous diftrefs I applied to the Magdalen-Houfe; and I was received with all that humanity which diftinguishes the worthy managers of it. I fancied and foreboded every

good

good to myself, when, on the day of admiffion, I perceived many of the gentlemen wipe their eyes while I was relating fome of my early miferies! For alas, Sir, though I am old in grief, I have yet feen but nineteen years! It is impoffible for me to defcribe, as I ought, the comforts I found in that houfe. I was neatly cloathed, fatisfactorily employed, and had such provifions as the very beft would be contented with. But these were fmall to the comforts abounding to my mind: the divine inftructions I have heard in that chapel, which I muft always think a little heaven, (the door to heaven, I am fure it has been to me ;) those inftructions will never be erased from my mind! They have calm'd my troubled foul, and convinced me that my repentance will not be in vain; that my refolutions of virtue, through grace, will not be ineffectual. Refolutions! Oh, Sir, can it be poffible that any of us who have so much experienced the miseries of vice, can ever return to it again! This, I think, must be impoffible.

To speak of every thing commendable and humane in the house, would exceed my prefent limits. Nothing, furely, can be calculated better for the relief, the comfort, the information, of poor unhappy girls and the gentlemen act like fathers indeed. Satisfied with my behaviour, our worthy and never enough to be applauded treasurer, was fo kind some few weeks VOL. I. Ꭰ

fince