This one false motive may account, in a great measure, for the vast number of unhappy marriages; and show why that state, which was intended as the most perfect means of earthly happiness, should, nevertheless, be one of the most fruitful sources of human woe. The greatest blessings are capable of being converted into a curse; and the truth of this proposition is no where more frequently found, than among married people. The motives of beauty, of fancy, of riches, the unhappy authority of parents, careless and inconsiderate connections, make up perhaps one half of the marriages in our enlightened country; which draw after them a train of evils hardly to be numbered or named. Among these may be found, incontinency, want of affection, unmeaning professions of kindness, hypocritical declarations of love, coldness of conduct and conversation, kind offices unreturned, neglect of providing, sour and resentful tempers, harsh, irritating words, jealousies and distrusts, loud contradictions and angry threatenings, absense from home and drunkenness of one of the parties, long quarrels and severe blows, children uneducated, ungoverned, ruined, separations, divorces, and second and third marriages.

I have ten children who are married. They married at different ages and with different ranks in point of riches; but the most of them seem perfectly satisfied with their choice. When my sons had arrived at a suitable age, I gave them repeated advice, but left them to choose. My wife dealt in the same manner with her daughters. One of my daughters, who married a man of small property, resides with me in my own house. They live in the utmost harmony; he treats me as a father, and I respect him as a son. We have all reason to be satisfied with her selection, and have, in this case, a proof of the folly of those parents, who prefer interest to love. Had I obliged my daughter to marry a rich suitor she once had, instead of the person she now enjoys, and thereby rendered her unhappy for life, I should never have forgiven myself.

By this time they were come to the gate of the old friend of Charles's father, before mentioned, whose name was Philanthropos.

9*

CHAPTER XIX.

WHEN they had entered the house, they found Mr. P. at home, who did not at first recognize the features of Charles. He looked at him eagerly for a minute, and said, is this Charles Observator? It is so, replied Charles. He instantly caught him by the hand, and then embraced him with the utmost tenderness; and cried in a transport of friendship, you are welcome to my house as the son of my old friend. But who is this aged gentleman and fellow traveller of yours? It is (said Charles) Gen. Americus, a gentleman with whom I accidentally fell in company on my journey hither. We have travelled together for some days, and he has treated me with so much tenderness, and has interested himself so much in my instruction, that I have contracted a veneration and friendship for him, closely bordering on that of a son for an affectionate father. On hearing this, Mr. P. shook him heartily by the hand, and bid him welcome also to the benefits of his house.

The father of Charles (said Mr. P. addressing himself to the Gen.) is a patriot of '76, who made considerable sacrifices of property and convenience for the good of his country, He is a magistrate where he resides, and holds an honorable military commission; and is respected among his acquaintance as a man of sense, politeness, and religion.

We are nearly of an age, and contracted a friendship for each other when we were quite young. It has never been once shaken, nor suffered the least diminution. While we resided near together, we kept up an almost daily intercourse; and since his removal, we have sometimes visited and often written. When I consider the principles out of which our friendship grew, what changes there have been in men and things, how many connections have been formed under the name of friendship, which like Jonah's gourd have sprung up and withered in a night; I cannot but reflect, how many things are called by this sacred name, and how often the name is prostituted to the vilest purposes.

There are connections of interest, which go by the name of friendship; and they last no longer, than the parties can promote their interest by them. By them the most solemn professions of esteem and fidelity are violated; nor is the interest or happiness of the other in the least regarded. Such

connections seem to be dignified with the name of friendship, only to dress the wolf in sheep's clothing.

There are connections also formed by flattery, and these base adulating wretches expect the name of friends; and by the negligent and undiscerning are too often taken in by that character; such flatter not only to be flattered again, but to inspire others to confide in them, for the purpose of getting their secrets and money. If these are put within their power, it is not long before the full character of their friendship may be easily known. And to obtain these, they will tell you how much they respect your good sense, learning, prudence, and good manners; what a favourable opinion they formed concerning you at their first acquaintance; and, that their good opinion has gone on increasing from the first. They are lavish in promises of inviolable friendship, and make a thousand unasked asseverations of never betraying their trust. They will tell all the secreis committed to them by others, and weep crocodile tears, if you will not tell them all you know. When two such characters meet, or the unsuspecting are taken in by them, mischiefs to an incalculable amount must follow. Perhaps very friends are separated, the reputation of the innocent is destroyed, and a whole neighborhood thrown into distrust, strife, and confusion.

Among this class are found, accursed libertines, who glory in deceiving unguarded females, by their artful flatteries; and in prostrating that virtue, which is the glory of their sex. They fail not to extol their beauty and all their feinale charms, -giving them a kind of angelic excellence. They sue for marriage with the most solemn protestations of sincere affection; swearing by heaven to be true, they wish the curses of the avenger to light upon them if they betray. When her confidence is gained by these or like flatteries, they proceed to attack her virtue, and though sometimes repulsed, yet they too often succeed; which is no sooner done, than they leave the ruined creature to weep her life away, for the folly and treachery of an unguarded moment.

I was weli acquainted with an instance resembling the above description. A young female of a neighboring family, respectable and respected, was addressed on the subject of matrimony by one of these libertine flatterers. He made the most solemn vows of friendship, and paid the utmost attention to her they were published, and the day appointed for marriage, (for it seems he could not obtain his end without

going thus far) yet he left her-: for some time she would not believe it; but was forced to the belief of it at last. From that hour she took to her room and appeared in company no more; nor was she ever afterward known to smile-she wept incessantly, and almost entirely refused sustenance. She lived till the fruit of illicit love appeared; but survived only a few days. Just before her decease, she was visited by several of her female companions, to whom she spake freely concerning herself.

I hope (said she) you will take warning by my unhappy fate, and never commit yourselves to the power of such a wretch. Never take a flatterer for a friend. The moment he begins his flattery, that moment renounce him as the most abandoned foe. Though I have been deceived into criminality, I have a hope that God in mercy has washed away my crimes, and that I shall die in peace. I freely forgive the man whose deceit will bring me to an untimely grave. Adieu my young friends-preserve an unspotted character, prepare to meet me in a better world.

Thus saying, she turned away her face, and in a few moments expired.

It is true, that every female, who sacrifices her virtue at the shrine of Venus, is not deceived by the oft repeated vows of a flatterer; nor do all who are thus led astray, give themselves up to grief, and die of a broken heart; but too many find themselves unable to wash out the deep stain by years of repentance; and lament, with unaffected sorrow, that they were ever so unguarded, as to take the words of a base deceiver, for the language of unadulterated friendship.

I am pleased with your remarks, said the Gen. and have often observed how ready the vilest outcasts of society are, to dignify by the names of friend and friendship, their corrupted fellows, and mischievous combinations; which are at the utmost distance from virtue, usefulness, or humanity.The swinish drunkard, the abandoned libertine, the sly thief, the barefaced robber, and the knavish gambler, all have the audacity to call their fellows by the name of friends.

All who have ever tasted the sweets of friendship, said Mr. P. or known the true meaning of that most sacred word will allow, that such are not friends. The long unshaken friendship which has subsisted between me and Mr. Observator, has contributed to prove, that it is not a fable, or a subject of mere ideas. He has proved himself, on all occa

sions, to be worthy of my confidence. Never did he disclose a secret, or violate the oath of fidelity-never did he forsake me in adversity nor flatter me in prosperity.

structure.

When all circumstances are united, some of which do not eommonly occur among friends, I find my friendship stands on no common basis. The sordid views of interest, the base deceptions of flattery, the vile combinations of the profligate, neither lay the foundation, nor form any part of the superAnd what has greatly refined and exalted the friendship of our youthful days, is the joint possession of the grace of God. Under the same outpouring of divine grace, I trust we were both happily brought to Christ. Our hearts were then bound-by a three-fold cord. Where the spirit of the Gospel is wanting, the soul of friendship is also wanting. I should therefore recommend it to all religious young persons, who are forming friendships for life, to seek companions of unfeigned piety.

But are not the most wary, said Charles, sometimes deceived, by the deceptive arts of designing men? And if a man finds himself deceived, what is the most prudent method of avoiding the evil?

He may, replied Mr. P. and for this very reason, he should venture upon his choice of friends by slow degrees,and by every possible precaution. But he should be careful on the other hand, not to allow his precaution to degenerate into jealousy and distrust. This would grieve and disgust those who might be taken into the most intimate and confidential connection; and indeed lead all worthy persons to shun him. Avoid then the two extremes of cold forbidding jealousy, and an unguarded haste, the fruit of a momentary fancy; and let every act of affection be returned, and confide as far as they evidence sincerity, firmness, fidelity and sympathy; united with that knowledge of human nature, which will render them also cautious and guarded.

Suppose, after all, a man is deceived, and he finds one who has been taken into confidence to falsify all his professions of kindness, and become as injurious as he had professed to be kind: He ought to maintain a manly spirit himself, lest, by being put off his guard, he may utter things which may injure him more than the treachery of his pretended friend. It will also be happy in such a case, if he has not committed to the trust of the traitor, any thing scandalous he knew of others, which is likely to be made public, nor his