despair. In proportion as the path of virtue is deserted, nature will appear bereft of her charms; and the recollection of that pleasure which the contemplation of them yielded in the hours of innocence, will continually aggravate those harrassing sensations attendant on a consciousness of guilt.

My readers, I trust, will not accuse me of assuming an unsuitable degree of seriousness, if, in addition to what has already been said, I beg leave to recommend to their notice, the precept of our excellent Cowper,

Acquaint thyself with God, if thou would'st taste

His works.

With a few lines from the same poet, expressive of the advantages which such a mode of conduct will ensure to the person who adopts it, I shall conclude the present paper :

He looks abroad into the varied field

Of nature, and, though poor perhaps, compar'd
With those whose mansions glitter in his sight,
Calls the delightful scen'ry all his own.
His are the mountains, and the vallies his,
And the resplendent rivers. His t'enjoy
With a propriety that none can feel,

But who, with filial confidence inspir'd,
Can lift to heaven an unpresumptuous eye,
And smiling say" My Father made them all!"

Task,-Book V.

NUMBER 4.

When female cheeks refuse to glow,
Farewell to virtue here below!

TO THE INSpector.

COTTON.

SIR,-Your functions as an INSPECTOR, I trust, are not confined merely to observing the manners and behaviour of mankind, but have also a view to the distribution of that applause or censure which their conduct deserves at the hand of impartiality. I call upon you, therefore, for your animadversions on a prevalent evil, by which myself and many others have frequently been incommoded.

I am a young woman, Mr. INSPECTOR, and in consequence of my rank and situation in life, am entitled to some little respect. My fortune enables me to dress up to the fashion, and also to attend most of those public places whither the genteel part of the community resort. Except a lively flow of spirits, the consequence of youth and health, but which some few censorious people are pleased to term levity, my character, I trust, is irreproachable; and I hope you will not accuse me of vanity, if I tell you, that there are not wanting persons to inform me that I am both beautiful and accomplished. To yon, Sir, who are doubtless well acquainted with the female heart, it would appear

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affectation to deny, that the homage which is paid to me, on these accounts, is not altogether unpleasing.

For some time, however, Mr. INSPECTOR, I have been pestered by the attention of certain characters, for whom I know not where to find a more appropriate name than that of Starers. These persons apparently place their whole delight in gazing young women like myself out of countenance. If by their impudence they can raise a blush upon our cheeks, they seem to consider it as a trophy of honour. For this purpose, the face of every one they meet is scrutinized as keenly as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza scrutinized the faces of passengers, when in quest of the disenchanted Dulcinea del Toboso. At the theatre, the assembly-room, in our walks, or even at the church itself, the same reason for complaint exists. Could we suppose, Mr. INSPECTOR, that this behaviour was adopted in consequence of any esteem or regard which the gentlemen entertained for us, we might probably be induced to view it with greater lenity, but there seems little reason for such a supposition. Will you have the goodness to write a paper against this shameful practice, for which I dare say you will receive the thanks of all my sex, but in particular those of Sir, yours, &c.

PRISCILLA.

The grievance my fair correspondent complains of, is not of recent origin. The Spectator has informed us that a set of Starers existed in his time; a circumstance of which she appears to be ignorant. An evil, however, is not the less pernicious because it has the plea of antiquity on its side: and I perfectly agree with Priscilla, in thinking behaviour, similar to that she has noticed, deserving of the severest animadversions. I am likewise of her opinion, that it does not proceed from any considerations of merit, or even from any admiration of personal charms in the object; because they who are guilty of such a breach of decorum, are generally insensible to any merit or charms, save what they fancy themselves to possess. Perhaps the conduct of such persons may, in a great measure, be attributed to that proscription of every thing like shame-facedness and modesty, which our present systems of education inculcate. Our youths may wish to shew that they have shaken off the restraint of these antiquated qualities; and indeed candour must oblige us to confess, that nothing could tend more effectually to confirm this opinion than the allegations brought forward by my correspondent. An ingenious friend of mine, has indeed accounted for the effect in another manner. It is ascertained, that those who so assiduously seek to raise a blush upon the cheek of innocence, are generally such as

have long since ceased to blush themselves. He therefore concludes, that these persons are animated by a principle nearly similar to that of the American savages, who believe that the good qualities of a conquered enemy will infallibly fall to the lot of the conqueror; and consequently supposes, that the Starers consider every blush which they are happy enough to raise, as conveying to them the accomplishments of the person against whom the artillery of their eyes is directed. If my friend's conjecture is right, it will give me a more favourable opinion of the Starers; since their conduct must then be considered as occasioned by a consciousness of their want of modesty and virtue:-qualifications, indeed, for which few persons will be inclined to give them credit.

But though the sentiments I entertain of these gentlemen are not more friendly than those of Priscilla herself, I must beg leave to observe, that until I receive some further explanation of her letter, I shall not totally acquit her of having invited that observation against which she so pointedly exclaims. She confesses, that she commonly dresses up to the fashion.-Now, although a very laudable object of female dress is undoubtedly to attract the attention of the other sex, yet it will surely be no crime to observe, that, judging from appearances, this object has of late been carried to an unac