The Genius of the LADY'S MAGAZINE, guided by Wisdom to the Ten ple of Minerva, rejects with Difdain the Importunities of Folly to jui her Votaries. To our CORRESPONDENTS. HE additional number of Original Profe Papers we have lately re we be poffefs great many of calls for our fullest acknowledgement. We have in this Number made ufe of as many as our room would per mit-we have fill to announce the following for infertion in February The Cenfor, No. 11, on Attachments. The Continuation of the Account of Cagliostro. Carlos's Addrefs to the Fair Sex on Painting. We decline publishing F. Montford's letter, dated January 6, The fubject does not now require it. We shall endeavour to give place to a part of G. S's article in our next. Mary Homespun to Betfy Lavender is an unpoetical imitation of the Bath Guide. T. L's poem on War and the folly Butcher are improper for infertion, as is the address to Mifs Norris, Soho. The lines infcribed to H. S. Dulwich, are ftolen from Goldfmith, &c. Mr. May's poetry fhall not be forgot, Other poetical articles not noticed here are intended for infertion. N. B. The Scull's Harangue" has been miflaid-perhaps the authoréfs can furnish us with another copy. ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. THE HE utility of Periodical Publications has been univerfally acknowledged. To them is owing much of that refinement which is evident in the manners of the prefent age, and much of that neceffary knowledge which is diffused among all ranks of the people. The ftudied fyftems and voluminous theories of philofophers were not calculated for general ufe. Men inured to a life of literary leifure could not unbend to fuit the common mind. It was an important revolution, therefore, when the plan of publications like the prefent commenced, which might convey amufement without offence to morals, and inftruction without interfering with the more ferious bufinefs of life. Amidft a profufion of abftrufe philofophy, and of fcholaftic morality, fomething was wanting to teach the leffer duties of life, to recommend the focial graces, and to ornament as well as bind more clofely the ties which connect mankind together. Such is the general purpose of works like this; and fuch has been our aim from the commencement of our undertaking. A period of twenty-one years has elapfed fince the Lady's Magazine was offered to the Public, and we cannot but be proud to acknowledge that the Public have received it with a generous welcome, and have bestowed an encouragement which, we hope, they are fenfible we have at leaft-endeavoured to repay. B 2 The (iv) The late arrangements we have made, the affitance w have engaged, and the increase of many valuable contribu tions from perfons of taste and literature, enable us to loo forward with fome degree of confidence to a continuatio of the patronage with which we have been honoured. Th great leading object in our Plan fhail ever be affiduoufl purfued; the entertainment and inftruction of the FAIR SEX We wish to combine all that is interefting to form the character, to polish the mind, and to prepare for the more active scenes of life. We hope, that in thefe refpects, we have been able to add fomething to the ftock of public happiness, and have lent fome aid to parental inftruction. We enter upon our twenty-fecond Volume with the determination that while our own efforts fhall be exerted to the utmoft to improve our Plan, it fhall be ftill open to the communications of our Correfpondents, to many of whom we owe the greatest obligations. It is with pain that we are fometimes compelled to reject an early attempt of the pen, or what perhaps may have given pleasure to the writer. But in a contention with our feelings on fuch occafions, we have found it neceffary to confult firft the advantages of our readers at large. It is not by mediocrity that we can recommend ourselves to their tafte and notice, and while we wish to preferve the ftricteft impartiality towards individuals, we cannot but confefs that the opinion of the majority of our readers is an influence against which nothing can be oppofed. While we fincerely thank our various Correfpondents for their favours, we may add that with their affiftance we are enabled to render our Mifcellany interesting, original, and amufing; and in thefe refpects may, without presumption, claim a degree of fuperiority, fince it is founded on no ungenerous rivalship, and may be afferted by competition only. THE Lady's Magazine; For JANUARY, 1791. THE INDE X. Jedly been eventful. No XX. There are few of us but have experienced fome advancement on the road of life which is worth reflecting upon, or have met with fome change in our lot, that cannot be foon forgot.-Perhaps-melancholy idea!-perhaps fome, who, at the commencement of laft lear, had all which youth and beauty can give, to whom length of days, and lafting happinefs feems to be deftined, are now mingled with the mouldering dead. Of how many may not this be fpoken after the conclufion of a much shorter period, for no truth is more fully confirmed, and ought to be more deeply im preffed, than the tranfitory nature of human existence ? Α' N Index, on my plan, at the commencement of a new year is probably as neceffary as the index placed at the end of a book. For I hold it to be a duty incumbent on all of us to review our past lives at certain stated times. The cuttom of measuring time into fpaces of twelve months, which we call years, is not unfavourable to fuch a review of our conduct. With most people, too, the end of a year has a fomething of folemnity with which they are not ftruck at any other time. To this, indeed, it may be oppofed, that this many-headed monster custom has established a fyftem of festivity at the end of a year, which I confefs, is not very favourable to reflection, or at leaft, it tends to banish reflection with very many. With others, however, harmless amufement will be no enemy to reflection. It is guilt only which blasts all our joys, makes us tremble at folitude, and try to bury reflection in the tumult and noile of licentious fociety. But I am not addreffing perfons who labour under this unfortunate malady of the mind. Not many months fince, the young and beautiful Eliza paid the debt due to nature, almost before it had been fully contracted. In her were placed the hopes of her amiable parents; fhe was an only child; their hearts were proud to acknowledge her; proud to view her excelling in every citimable accomplifhment. The gay illufions of life, the flattering profpects of future happiness were opening to her. She bade fair for long life, and pro-mifed to ornament the fociety in which the was placed, and decorate the duties of life by a fweetnefs of To many of my readers, the year that lately expired, has undoubt-temper that was irresistibly attrac tive, 8 6 tive, and a goodnefs of heart, that But this was not in the book of The fear of death, although inculcated by many writers, ought to be regulated by principles which will banish all fuperuitious dread, all flavifh fear of dying; and though it is well contrived that we fhould have frequent mementos of the fhortnefs and uncertainty of time, we ought to be fentible that to him who is employed in virtuous industry, who shares modera ely of the harmless amufements of fociety, life will not be too fhort for his duty. It is a very great mistake in many to think that the duties of religion are unfriendly to chearfulness. Good people, on the contrary, are always most chearful, and have al. ways most reafon to be fo. If they forrow, it is for others, not themfelves. Whereas perfons who live in a continual thoughtless confufion of pleafures and gratifications only expofe themselves to a thousand di appointments which injure health, bring on a fplenetic difpolition, and they may be riotous, but can never be chearful. In them, as in cowards, you perceive a most diflardly tenacioufnels of life-hey would here for ever, be content with a millenium of groveling purfuits, unworthy of a rational mind, unworthy of a mind destined for perpetual existence. Shakespear fhall preach to fuch people, and I know not a batter fermon, certainly not a more elegant one on the fubject, than he has given in Mrafure for Meafare I cannot refift the temptation to tranfcribe it entire, because I wifh to point it out to my readers as în condemned to die, fays to the duke, 6 prepared to die." The duke aufwers: "Be abfolute for death; either death Shall thereby be the tweeter. Reaton or life (thus with life ;If I do lofe thee, I do lofe a thing, That none but fools would keep; a breath thou art, Servile to all the skiey influences, That do this habitation, where thou Hourly afflict.-Merely, thou art death's keep'ft, For him thou labour'it by thy flight to [fool, And yet runneft towards him ftill. Thou fhun, [art not noble; For all the accommodations, that thou bear'ft Are nursed by bafenels: Thou art by [no means valiant ; For thou doft fear the foft and tender fork Of a poor worm: Thy beft of rest is [fleep, And that thou oft provok'ft; yet grofsly fear'ft not: art not certain, Thy death, which is no more. Thou are not thyfelf: For thou exift'ft on many a thousand Egrains That iffue out of duft: Happy thou art And what thou haft, forget't. Thou For what thou haft not, flill thou [ftri ft to get, After the moon: If thou art rich, thou For thy complexion fhifts to frange (effea, ait poor: [hows, For, like an afs, whofe back with ingots Thou bear'ft thy heavy riches but a journey, And death unloads thee. Friend haft [thou none; For thy own bowels, which do call thee, fire, The mere effufion of thy proper loins, For ending thee no fooner: Thou haft But as it were, an after-dinner's fleep, |