the poor is generally driven from one ungrateful object to another; for night coming on, he now found himfelf under the neceffity of feeking a place to lie in, and yet knew not where to apply. All emaciated, and in rags as he was, none of the citizens would harbour fo much wretchednefs; and fleeping in the streets might be attended with interruption or danger: In fhort, he was obliged to take up his lodging in one of the tombs without the city, the ufual retreat of guilt, poverty, and defpair. In this manfion of horror, laying his head upon an inverted urn, he forgot his miferies for a while in fleep; and found, on his flinty couch, more ease than beds of down can supply to the guilty.

As he continued here, about midnight, two robbers came to make this their retreat; but happening to difagree about the divifion of their plunder, one of them ftabbed the other to the heart, and left him weltering in blood at the entrance. In these circumftances he was found next morning dead at the mouth of the vault. This naturally inducing a farther inquiry, an alarm was fpread; the cave was examined; and Alcander was apprehended, and accused of robbery and murder. The circumstances against him were ftrong, and the wretchedness of his appearance confirmed fufpicion. Misfortune and he were now fo long acquainted, that he at last became regardless of life. He detefted a world where he had found only ingratitude, falfehood, and cruelty; he was determined to make no defence; and, thus lowering with refolution, he was dragged, bound with cords, before the tribunal of Septimius. As the proofs were pofitive against him, and he offered nothing in his own vindication, the judge was proceeding to doom him to a moft cruel and ignominious death, when the attention of the multitude was foon divided by another object. The robber, who had been really guilty, was apprehended felling his plunder, and, ftruck with a panic, had confeffed his crime. He was brought bound to the fame tribunal, and acquitted every other person of any partnership in his guilt. Al

D 3

cander's

eander's innocence therefore appeared; but the fullen rashness of his conduct remained a wonder to the furrounding multitude; but their aftonishment was still farther encreased when they faw the judge ftart from his tribunal to embrace the fuppofed criminal: Septimius recollected his friend and former benefactor, and hung upon his neck with tears of pity and of joy. Need the fequel be related? Alcander was acquitted; fhared the friendship and honours of the principal citizens of Rome; lived afterwards in happiness and ease; and left it to be engraven on his tomb, That no circumftances are fo defperate which Providence may not

The Acquisition of a Virtuous Disposition a necessary Part of Education.

WHEN

HEN you look forward to those plans of life, which either your circumftances have fuggefted, or your friends have propofed, you will not hefitate to acknowledge, that in order to purfue them with advantage, fome previous discipline is requifite. Be affured, that whatever is to be your profeffion, no education is more neceffary to your fuccefs than the acquirement of virtuous difpofitions and habits. This is the univerfal preparation for every. character, and every station of life. Bad as the world is, refpect is always paid to virtue. In the ufual courfe of human affairs it will be found, that a plain understanding, joined with acknowledged worth, contributes more to profperity than the brightest parts without probity or honour. Whether fcience, or bufinefs, or public life, be your aim, virtue ftill enters for a principal fhare Into all those great departments of fociety. It is connected with eminence, in every liberal art; with reputation, in every branch of fair and useful business; with distinction, in every public ftation. The vigour which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous fentiments which it breathes, the undaunted spirit which it infpires, the ardour of diligence which it quickens, the freedom which it procures from pernicious and difhonourable avocations, are the foundations of all that is high in fame, or great in fuccefs, among men. Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you may poffefs, virtue is a neceffary requifite, in order to their thining with proper luftre. Feeble are the attractions of the faireft form, if it be fufpected that nothing within correfponds to the pleafing appearance without

Sho

Short are the triumphs of wit, when it is fuppofed to be the vehicle of malice. By whatever arts you may at first attract the attention, you can hold the efteem and fecure the hearts of others only by amiable difpofitions and the accomplishments of the mind. Thefe are the qualities whofe influence will laft, when the luftre of all that once fparkled and dazzled has paffed away.

Valuable Opportunities once lost can never be recalled.

L

ET not any one vainly imagine, that the time and valuable opportunities which are now loft, can hereafter be recalled at will; or that he who has run out his youthful days in diffipation and pleasure, will have it in his power to stop when he pleases, and make a wifer use of his riper years. Yet this is too generally the fallacious hope that flatters the youth in his fenfual indulgencies, and leads him infenfibly on in the treacherous ways of vice, till it is too late to return. There are few, who, at one plunge, fo totally immerge in pleasures, as to drown at once all power of reafon and confcience: They promife themfelves, that they can indulge their appetites to fuch a point only, and can check and turn them back when they have run their allotted race. I do not indeed fay, that there never have been perfons in whom the ftrong ferment of youthful lufts may have happily fubfided, and who may have brought forth fruits of amendment, and difplayed many eminent virtues. God forbid! that even the moft licentious vices of youth fhould be abfolutely incorrigible. But I may venture to affirm, that the inftances in this cafe have been fo rare, that it is very dangerous for any one to trust to the experiment, upon a prefumption that he fhall add to the number. The only fure way to make any proficiency in a virtuous life, is to fet out in it betimes. It is then, when our inclinations are trained up in the way that they should lead us, that custom soon makes the beft habits the most agreeable; the ways of wisdom become the ways of pleasantness, and every step we advance, they grow more easy and more delightful. But, on the contrary, when vicious, headstrong appetites are to be reclaimed, and inveterate habits to be corrected, what fecurity

can