ence, of your wife, your days, from that unhappy moment, will lose their relish, and your nights their tranquility; reproaches and debates will sadden your meals, and thwarting measures, perhaps, bring on your ruin.;

Neither flatter yourself that you will proceed but certain steps in the dangerous path of inconstancy. Once astray, it will be one of the most difficult tasks in the world to recover the right road. So many fallacious prospects will present themselves before you, so dark and intricate the maze behind you will appear, that, once in, you will be tempted to wander on; and, though variety of adventures will produce but a variety of disappointments, you will still pursue the ignis fatuus (or will-o'the-wisp) till it leads you to destruction.

But, that I may leave no avenue to this fatal labyrinth unguarded, I advise you, most earnestly, to let all your actions, intimacies, and amusements, be as unreserved, open, and avowed, as pos-. sible. The public eye, though a very severe, is a very wholesome monitor; and many a man has been restrained from evil courses, merely by knowing that he was observed,

But a still stronger argument than this, is, the peace, confidence, and satisfaction, you will feel in. your own mind, from the conscious sense of your right conduct, and the correctness of your

The second point is, that of Keeping Horses, for, though riding is both an innocent and manly exercise, yet in the present day there are great and weighty reasons for dissuading you from ever keeping a horse; at least till circumstances and an improved income, or your health and business, render it necessary. It is now generally observed, that the ancient laudable parsimony and frugality of the city is hardly any where to be found, even in these times of difficulty, and that luxury and expence reign in their place; a very considerable article of which is obviously to be placed to the account of riding, and the almost inseparable consequences of it. The young tradesman is no sooner set up in business, than he buys a hunter; and, having heard the cant terms of jockeyship bandied about among his companions, exposes himself by using them absurdly, and is cheated ten times over before he acquires the necessary skill to avoid it. The enormous charges of a livery stable are now added to those of rent, housekeeping, &c, and opportunities are eagerly sought of shewing his horse, and sharing in the frolics of the age, Rotten-row is sometimes the scene where his horsemanship is publicly exhibited to the town. Seats, palaces, and public places, are first visited in turn; and as such expeditions are previously supposed to be expensive, no article of prodigality is spared, nor exorbitant bills taxed, for fear his spirit or his ability to pay

should

To these excursions succeed

should be doubted. horse-races and hunting matches; whence intemperance in drinking is learned at the one, an itch for gaming at the other, and pride, folly, and prodigality, at both. A country lodging is the next step, which is not esteemed properly furnished without a mistress, who must be kept ostentatiously, to make her amends for moping away the summer out of the reach of her old companions and the amusements of the town. In consequence of all this, business is cramped into one half of the week, that what is called pleasure may be fully indulged during the rest; and servants are entrusted with the management of every thing, who seldom fail to take their share of the plunder, and, by having their master's secrets in their keeping, are less anxious about their own. With so many openings to ruin, is it any wonder to hear of notes being discounted at a greater premium than the most profitable trade can pay; goods taken up at one shop, in order to be pledged at another; and, finally, of bills protested, and then bankruptcies, with scarcely effects enough remaining to pay for suing out the commission? This being the case, as fatal experience proves it, do not commence jockey till you are sure you can sit firm in your saddle, and defy your horse to run away with his rider.

The third point, is, that of Politicks.-In this country, it is impossible for a man in trade, or

who has a vote to give, not to have some concern in public affairs. The talk of the times, the very news of the day, will make him a party, whether he will or no. In your own defence, then, and even to preserve yourself from the fallacies of interested men, make yourself acquainted with the history of the British constitution in general, and that of your own times in particular, which are certainly the most critical that this country ever witnessed; the right of the subject, the privilege of Parliament, the power of the Crown, the pretences of patriots, the views of the seditious, and the designs of ministers; the rise, growth, extent, and importance of our commerce; the expediency of taxes, the danger of a military force, and the real views of all the different parties that exist. But make this your amusement, not your business; that, when you are called upon to name your representative in Parliament, you may be able to judge for yourself of the virtue or ability of the candidate ; explain the services you expect from him; and, if necessary, form a test to know how far he may be depended upon, to enforce privileges, redress grievances, and stand in the gap between the encroachments of power, however disguised, and the liberties and properties of a defenceless people. But I strongly advise you, never to wear the badge of any party whatever. Be assured, it is a badge of slavery, and, under the pretence of procuring

procuring your esteem and confidence, will render you unworthy of both. To be free, is to be independent; and, if you would continue so, consult your own conscience, and act only according to its dictates. Despise flattery on one side, and disdain corruption on the other; and let the venal of all ranks know, that your traffic is not in infamy, nor your gains the wages of corruption.

It will also be proper for you, at this particular period, to make yourself well acquainted with the history of France, and especially with that of the great revolution, which has been effected there within these last ten years, the consequences of which have been so fatal to the peace, happiness, and prosperity, of surrounding nations. A short sketch of the history of Russia, Germany, Prussia, and, in short, of all the continental powers, will' also be of infinite use to you, and, indeed, absolutely necessary to your thoroughly understanding the history of these present times, which are more pregnant with great events than any former period in the annals of nations.

The fourth point, and with which I conclude this division of the work, respects Religion, which I would advise you both awfully to reverence and devoutly to practise; but not as the hypocrites do, as a sort of commutation with the world, for living like a cannibal, and preying upon

your