which the consciousness of having exerted himself successfully in their behalf, is calculated to inspire. If he make an improper use of those rights with which he is invested as a father and master of a family, and pay no respect to the feelings and rights of his children, he will probably find, when too late, that the plans which he adopted, though perhaps with a view to their happiness, have terminated in their misery as well as in his own. His dependents may do

their duty by constraint; but their services will manifest none of that alacrity which a courteous acknowledgment of their claims upon him would have produced. If, like Floretta, any persons are led to expect that they alone should engross the conversation and attention of every company, let them remember, that such a want of deference for the rights of others, will lower their characters in the estimation of many, and make enemies of some, whose friendship might otherwise have been to them a most valuable

NUMBER 8.

Nobilitas sola Virtus.

To paint vice in her true colours; to exhibit virtue, as she really is, our only happiness; and to illustrate their respective qualities by example, so as to improve and amend mankind, is alike the grand object of the Novelist, the Dramatist, and the Poet. Each of these enjoys peculiar advantages, and to each are presented peculiar obstacles to be overcome. Whilst the Novelist exerts his descriptive powers in the more humble walk of narration, and the Dramatist, catching "the living manners as they rise," presents our follies as it were embodied to our view, the Poet's magic art or melts the soul by strains of love, or, in our country's cause, with heroic ardour fires our breasts to conquer or to die. Many objections have indeed been urged against novels, as injurious to the morals of their readers; and it is a lamentable fact, that by far the greater number of the ephemeral productions so called, are of the most despicable nature. The poison of infidelity has, by their means, been disseminated among all classes of people; and their baneful influence has extended itself over families, once

the abode of happiness. Under the specious title of benevolence, the greatest irregularities are described; and sensibility, that goddess of the idolatry of the present day, amply compensates for the grossest crimes. I would not be understood to pass an unlimited censure on novels; there are many which deserve greater commendation than is in my power to bestow. But I may be allowed to say, that the best of them too frequently represent things otherwise than they really exist. When those who are brought up in a more humble station, see manners and habits of life depicted of which they were before ignorant,—and when it is considered that these habits are described with every advantage that language can afford-it is certainly not to be wondered at, if envy at the superior fortune of others should obtain a lurking situation in their breasts. To this envy naturally succeeds a desire of imitating the objects represented, and an ambition to become of somewhat more importance in the eyes of the world.

The love of distinction is, in a greater or less degree, an inmate of every bosom; and although, in weak and frivolous minds, it may shew itself in such a manner as scarcely to be observed, or if observed, only with contempt, yet it does not therefore cease to be that same passion, which, whether

its object be laudable or no, is, in nobler minds, dignified with the name of ambition. It is truly ludicrous to observe the change which this foolish pride often produces in the sentiments and behaviour of men, whom perhaps we have long known as useful members of society, in their respective situations. To be addressed as plain Mr. is an affront never to be overlooked; whilst the title of ESQUIRE seems to possess a magic influence over all who, having fortunately scraped together a few thousands, are determined to live like somebody. It is impossible to read the columns of our public prints, without being completely disgusted at the eternal repetition of this word, misapplied in almost every instance. If my grocer or linen-draper takes a wife unto himself, it is announced to the public that Benjamin Bohea, ESQUIRE, was yesterday married to Miss Tripe, daughter of Timothy Tripe, ESQUIRE―and it is not without some difficulty that I recognize, under his new title, the man whom I saw a few days before, up to the elbows in dirt, labouring in the duties of his calling.

Should this ridiculous vanity gain much more ground, we may expect soon to see our taylors and shoemakers start upon us EsQUIRES, self-creAll these men are highly useful in their vocations, but over-stepping the bounds which

ated.

nature has prescribed, they expose themselves to the derision and contempt of those whose good sense teaches them to be content in their stations, and who are sensible of the propriety of the advice" Ne sutor ultra crepidam." Laughable as it is to see a man, prompted by vanity, thus expose himself, when he actually possesses neither talents nor endowments beyond what may enable him to live quietly in the circle wherein he is placed by nature, yet the consequences may prove of more importance than is generally imagined. The indiscriminate ascription of the title of Esquire which legally belongs only to the sacred office of a Magistrate, and to some others which I shall not here enumerate-to persons of every description, does certainly tend to the destruction of civil order and society. Man is so constituted as to render equality impossible; the visionary theory of a neighbouring nation has fallen to the ground, and completely demonstrated, that distinction of rank and mutual dependence are essentially necessary both to our private happiness and political existence. If my countrymen would but be content with those epithets of distinction to which they are justly entitled, their respectability would be placed on a firmer foundation, and the nowprostituted title of Esquire be restored to its