spared? And will it be possible for us, if we put them to death, to avoid the just reproach of having violated the law of nations, and dishonoured our victory by unheard-of cruelty?

9. "What! will you suffer your glory to be thus sullied in the face of the whole world? and will you hear it said that a nation who first dedicated a temple to clemency, had found none in Syracuse? Surely, victories and triumphs do not give immortal glory to a city; but the exercising of mercy towards a vanquished enemy, moderation in the greatest prosperity, and the fearing to offend the gods by a haughty and insolent pride, are glories far more permanent than the most splendid conquests.

10. "You doubtless have not forgotten, that this Nicias, whose fate you are going to pronounce, was the very man who pleaded your cause in the assembly of the Athenians, and who employed all his credit, and the whole power of his eloquence, to dissuade his country from embarking in this war.

11. "Should you, therefore, pronounce sentence of death on this worthy general, would it be a just reward for the zeal he showed for your interest? With regard to myself, death would be less grievous to me, than the sight of so horrid an injustice committed by my countrymen and fellowcitizens."

THE TRUE POINT OF HONOUR.

THE

HE Spanish historians relate a memorable instance of honour and regard to truth. A Spanish cavalier in a sudden quarrel slew a Moorish gentleman, and fled. His pursuers soon lost sight of him; for he had, unperceiv ed, thrown himself over a garden wall.

2. The owner, a Moor, happening to be in his garden, was addressed by the Spaniard on his knees, who acquainted him with his case,and implored concealment. Eat this, said the Moor, giving him half a peach; you now know that you may confide in my protection.

3. He then locked him up in his garden apartments, telling him as soon as it was night, he would provide for his

escape to a place of greater safety. The Moor then went into his house; where he had but just seated himself, when a great crowd, with loud lamentations, came to his gate, bringing the corpse of his son, who had just been killed by a Spaniard.

4. When the first shock of surprise was a little over, he learned from the description given, that the fatal deed was done by the very person then in his power. He mentioned this to no one; but, as soon as it was dark, retired to his garden, as if to grieve alone, giving orders that none should fol low him.

5. Then accosting the Spaniard, he said, Christian, the person you have killed is my son; his body is now in my house. You ought to suffer; but you have eaten with me, and I have given you my faith which must not be broken.

6. He then led the astonished Spaniard to his stables, and mounted him on one of his fleetest horses, and said, Fly far while the night can cover you; you will be safe in the morning. You are indeed guilty of my son's blood, but God is just and good, and I thank him I am innocent of yours, and that my faith given is preserved.

7. In the year 1746, when the English were at open war with Spain, the Elizabeth, of London, Capt. William Edwards, coming through the gulf from Jamaica, richly laden, met with a most violent storm, in which the ship sprung a leak, that obliged them, for the saving of their lives, to run into Havanna, a Spanish port.

8. The captain went on shore, and directly waited on the governour, told the occasion of his putting in, and that he surrendered the ship as a prize, and himself and his men as prisoners of war, only requesting good quarter.

9. No, Sir, replied the Spanish governour, if we had taken you in fair war at sea, or approaching our coast with hostile intentions, your ship would then have been a prize, and your people prisoners; but when distressed by a tempest, you come into our ports for the safety of your lives, we, the enemies, being men, are bound as such by the laws of humanity to afford relief to distressed men who ask it of us.

10. We cannot, even against our enemies, take advantage of an act of God. You have leave, therefore, to unlo

your ship, if that be necessary to stop the leak: you may refit her here, and traffick so far as shall be necessary to pay the charges; you may then depart, and I will give you a pass to be in force till you are beyond Bermuda.

11 If after that you are taken, you will then be a lawful prize; but now you are only a stranger, and have a stranger's right to safety and protection. The ship accordingly departed, and arrived safe in London.

THE HOUSE OF SLOTH.

BESIDE

ESIDE yon lonely tree, whose branches bare,
Rise white, and murmur to the passing air;
There, where the twining briars the yard enclose,
The house of sloth stands hush'd in long repose.

2. O'er an old well, the curb, half fallen, spread,
Whose boards, end loose, a mournful creaking made;
Pois'd on a leaning post, and ill sustain❜d,
In ruin sad, a mouldering sweep remain'd;
Useless the crooked pole still dangling hung,
And tied with thrumbs, a broken bucket swung.

3. A half made wall around the garden lay,
Mended, in gaps, with brushwood in decay;
No culture through the tangled briars was seen,
Save a few sickly plants of faded green;
The starved potato hung its blasted seeds,
And fennel struggled to o'ertop the weeds:
There gaz'd a ragged sheep with wild surprise,
And two lean geese upturn'd their slanting eyes.

4. The cottage gap'd with many a dismal yawn,
Where, rent to barn, the covering boards were gone;
Or by one nail, where others endwise hung,
The sky look'd through, and winds portentous rung.
In waves the yielding roof appeared to run,
And half the chimney top was fallen down.

5. The ancient cellar door, of structure rude,
With tatter'd garments caulk'd, half open stood;
There, as I peep'd, I saw the ruin'd bin,
The sills were broke, the wall had crumbled in ;

A few long-emptied casks lay mouldering round,
And wasted ashes sprinkled o'er the ground;
While, a sad sharer in the household ill,
A half-starv'd rat crawl'd out, and bade farewell.
6. One window dim, a loop-hole to the sight,
Shed round the room a pale, penurious light;
Here rags gay coloured eked the broken glass,
There panes of wood supplied the vacant space.

7. As pondering deep I gaz'd, with gritty roar
The hinges creak'd, and open stood the door;
Two little boys, half naked from the waist,
With staring wonder, ey'd me as I pass'd;
The smile of pity blended with her tear,
Ah me! how rarely comfort visits here!

8. On a lean mattress, which was once well fill'd, His limbs by dirty tatters ill-conceal'd, Though now the sun had rounded half the day, Stretch'd at full length, the sluggard snoring lay; While his sad wife beside her dresser stood, And on a broken dish prepar'd her food.

9. His aged sire, whose beard and flowing hair Wav'd silvery o'er his antiquated chair, Rose from his seat; and as he watch'd my eye, Deep from his bosom heav'd a mournful sigh: "Stranger, he cried, once better days I knew;" And, trembling, shed the venerable dew.

10. I wish'd a kind reply, but wish'd in vain ;
No words came timely to relieve my pain;
To the poor mother and her infants dear,
Two mites I gave, besprinkled with a tear;
And fix'd to see again the wretched shed,
Withdrew in silence, clos'd the door, and fled.

11. Yet this same lazy man I oft have seen
Hurrying, and bustling round the busy green;
The loudest prater in a cobler's shop,
The wisest statesman, o'er a drunken cup;
In every gambling, racing match abroad,
But a rare hearer in the house of God.

ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.

REMEMBER that time is money. He who

can earn ten shillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that day, though he spend but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.

2. Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during that time.-This amounts to a considerable sum, where a man has good and large credit, and makes good use of it.

3. Remember that money is of a prolifick, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six; turned again, it is seven and three pence; and so on till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker.

4. Remember that six pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little sum, (which may be daily wasted either in time or expense, unperceived) a man of credit may, on his own security, have the constant possession and use of a hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an industrious man, produces great advantage.

5. Remember this saying, "The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse." He who is known to pay punetu ally and exactly at the time he promises, may at any time and on any occasion,raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use.

6. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings; therefore, never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever.

7. The most trifling actions which affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer.