Thither are we tending; thither time is bearing us along, however we may not perceive the fteady motion: and like the river defcending adown its channel, with a conftant and unwearied pace, to discharge its waters into the ocean, so are we haftening to the great ocean of eternity, which must receive all the ftreams of this life, and in the end, fwallow up even time itself! Through whatever windings and intricacies they pafs, the rivers ftill keep on an unvaried course, and travel with regular uniformity to the deftined end. But alas, how different is the human conduct! Affured though we are, that the important day is approaching, we forget to prepare, nay, we live in practices which are immediately oppofite to preparation. We turn our ftreams backward, as it were, and ftrive all we can not only to forget eternity, but to forget it, by fuch methods, as will render it horrible, when we are compelled to launch into it. Wife men will purfue a different method; and remembering, that no human arts or efforts can fave from death; like the ftream, gliding uniformly to the ocean, they will in all their actions maintain a conftant refpect to their end, and move on with time, in the unwearied practice of all thofe duties, which, through their Redeemer, will infallibly render eternity blessed.

NUMBER LVI.

Qui non vetat peccare, cum possit, jubet.

To the VISITOR.

SENECA.

SIR,

TH

HE bufinefs of a periodical writer, is not only to amuse but to inftruct. Not only to inftruct, but to benefit. Not only "to catch the manners living as they rife," to decypher the reigning characters, and develope the reigning follies of his times; but also to offer fuch hints, and propose such schemes, as may be useful to the public, and tend to the advantage of the community. As you profefs yourself not only a man of Candour, but a Philanthropist; I am fatisfied you will be watchful of what may concern the public good, fo far as it is connected with your province; and therefore will not refufe admittance to the remarks which I take the liberty to fend you.

I am pleased, Sir, to obferve, that in our days, fuch a fpirit for improvement prevails, that we rise superior to the prejudices of former times, and can without remorfe, knock down our old incommodious gates, and widen our

many

many inconvenient paffages. This fpirit, I hope, will carry us much farther, than merely external accommodations. It feems already to be operating; and it must be a fatisfaction to every inhabitant of this opulent city, to find that fome methods are taking to deliver us from thofe nuisances in our streets, which are a scandal to our police and religion.

The word Police immediately reminds me of a magiftrate, who, if he were indeed zealous for the reformation of Evil, would by all means ftrike at this prov Yeufor, this deteftable pollution, which opens the flood gates to every evil. I will frankly acknowledge, that I have a good opinion of this person, and would not willingly change it: As I have alfo of another, who, though his rival in magiftracy, is not lefs interested, I persuade myself, in the public good. But I must own, it ftrangely alarms and fhocks me to think, that harlotry and impudence should abound most under these gentlemen's noses, and that houfes fhould be licensed fo near them, which are defiled continually with the most infernal iniquity. Impudence no longer courts the fhade. Let any man walk up a certain ftreet leading from the Strand, and he will fee numbers of unhappy prostitutes, in the broad daylight, plying their miferable trade! Cannot this be prevented? If not, where is decency? If it can, where are our magiftrates? They are not ignorant of these things.

N° 56. We hear with horror of the increase of murders; but we fhall hear of more with the increase of prostitutes and prostitutes will increafe, if they are not discouraged.—Watchful, as they efteem themselves for the intereft of the state, fome I know will cry out, "What then, would you allow no prostitutes, or would you have licensed stews; in the former cafe, greater evils probably will enfue; the latter is inconfiftent with Christianity!" Oh wondrous zeal for Christianity! You can talk of the inconsistency of stews with that holy religion, when you know, that our very refpectable gravity admits of bagnio's and bawdy-houses innumerable; and of houses profeffedly fuch :-let us hear then no more of your religious scrupulofity. As to the total removal of harlots, that is neither poffible to be effected, nor is it at all intended. We only wish that they might not be suffered to triumph in the eye of the fun, and to moleft the capital ftreets of our metropolis, to the deAruction of many, and the nuisance of all.

While I write, a mournful inftance of their pernicious malignity is before me. An inftance which I fear might easily be parallelled. The wife of my neighbour ***, lies in all the diftrefs of that difeafe, which was communicated to her by her husband, by means of an accidental commerce with one of thefe daughters of poifon. He is a man of as much sobriety,

worth,

worth, and integrity, as moft men; but one night spending his evening not far from TempleBar, he was overcome with wine; and in his way home picked up by one of these women, whom, when igorant, alas! of right or wrong-he unhappily attended. The confequence was terrible, more terrible, as his wife fhared in it; more terrible ftill, as he concealed, and fhe did not know the cause of her complaint, which neglected, and ftriking in with other diforders, hath ruined her, and made him the most wretched of human beings! If there were only one such case as this, furely it well deferves the attention of the community, to route these women from their public haunts, and to confine them to the out-lets of the city: But how many fuch. inftances might daily be produced? and how many parents unite with me in the request to all concerned, that they would use their best efforts, and secure their fons from that deftruction, which threatens them so much at present, and in which fo many young people have been over-whelmed, to the inexpreffible anguifh of their brokenhearted parents.

It is certain these common street-walkers merit no compaffion, as the benevolence of our times hath provided a refource for them, from this miferable way of life. Before the inftitution of the Magdalen Houfe, we used to say, and they used to tell us," Alas! where can we