MRS. *****, Dean's Yurd. MR. EDITOR, I am an humble admirer of your entertaining Paper, and sincerely hope that every one may be as well disposed towards it as myself. As I perceive that you invite Correspondence, I am emboldened to write to you, partly, I believe, by that secret vanity which cannot resist the temptation of seeing one's own reflections in print, and partly in the hope that you may set me right in an affair which greatly perplexes me. You must know I have lately come to this school from a home where every moment of my time was employed under the direction of my father, whose last advice to me was, never to let slip any opportunity of improvement during my stay here. Not being blessed with a very good capacity for learning, what I do know is acquired with much difficulty, but I have endeavoured by industry to make up for this deficiency; and have so far succeeded, as to be seldom behind my brighter school-fellows in the accomplishment of our studies: but on the contrary, I am occasionally consulted by them in any difficulty which appears to require more trouble than they choose to exert themselves to perform. I was once in hopes that this would at least induce them to wish well to my labours: but alas! Mr. Editor, the case is far otherwise; for once in an unlucky hour I vowed that I liked books, and this my companions seem to have regarded as a declaration of hostilities: ever since I have been distinguished by the cant appellation of a Muz, and as such their whole delight seems to consist in throwing impediments in my way; such as tearing and hiding my books, and a variety of other ingenious contrivances to torment me. Why, Mr. Editor, can this be? there surely is no harm in muzzing, yet as one who is addicted to this crime, I have led such a miserable life for some time past, that I had almost resolved to abjure my heresy, and welcome skipping school and cheating the ushers as my future studies: but the appearance of your second paper has left me in a state of indecision, as the stupid Muz, which appears to be the counterpart of my character, seems to have steered his course in the world far better than the genius.. However, Mr. Editor, your opinion will be my Fiat, and if these lines should be so fortunate as to attract your notice, I hope under the sanction of your opinion, either to pursue my studies in peace, or to attempt celebrity in the more fashionable amusements with which this school abounds. I remain, Mr. Editor, Your sincere well wisher, Q. No. VII. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1816. I see men's judgments ANTHONY and CLEOPATRA. THERE is a maxim frequently held forth, that every man should be able to give an account of his actions, and think twice before he attempts to act: it would be well if some of my acquaintance would take the trouble to render themselves an account of their opinions, and think once before they fix them; for it is by their opinions as well as by their actions that their characters will be judged of :—their opinions may stamp them for fools or for sensible persons, where they have had no opportunity of shewing themselves either the one or the other by their actions. But in the rising generation at Westminster I daily discover a strange mixture of presumptuousness and weakness; always ready to suppose whatever they hear to be true, if received through the medium of those to whom they are accustomed to look up; which indeed might be a very laudable failing if only suffered to proceed so far; they go farther, and what they have listened to with too much respect in the beginning, they are without any farther consideration prepared to defend, not only to the utmost of their abilities. with the greatest degree of enthusiasm, but beyond their abilities to the greatest degree of absurdity. And this is the more strange, as it is not the peculiar failing of those who affect to domineer over the circle in which they move, by the brilliancy of their wit, or the superiority of their talents, and who attempting to astonish, fall into absurdity; it is a fault not unusual in such as have the reputation of |