THE MINIATURE, NUMB. XXIII. MONDAY, November 26, 1804. Turpia quid referam vanæ mendacia linguæ, OVID AMOR. 3. 11. 21. Why tell the falshoods of a silly tongue, Deceitful nonsense from the perjur'd sprung? Why tell the secret nods, the artful games, And words dissembled under specious names? A Celebrated author in one of his humorous and quaint productions, has supposed the human soul to partake of the nature of a Plano-cylindrical Speculum, or looking glass; that the plain side was formed by the Deity, but that the devil afterwards wrought the other side into a cylindrical figure. The plain side represents objects just as they are; but the cylindrical side by the rules of Catoptrics, must needs represent true objects false, and false objects true: and upon this he asserts that the whole system and success of the well-known art of LYING depends; for the first of these bad qualities he alledges to be the foundation of the malicious lie, the second of the miraculous. Some have reduced the whole body of lies into two divisions, which are commonly received, viz. the white and the black. But these in time became so blended and confused together, that it was, and still exists in most cases a task of con] siderable difficulty, and in many of actual impossibility fairly and properly to place them under their seperate denominations. Others again have divided them into the Additory, Detractory and Translatory. The two first of these terms can stand in need of no explanation to render them intelligible. The third it may be demed expedient to explain according to the best authority. "The Translatory is a lie that transfers the merit of a man's good actions to another who is in himself less deserving; or, transfers the demerit of a bad action from the true author to a person, who is in himself more But up deserving of the credit of a good one." on examination these definitions will not prove sufficiently satisfactory, but rather of too comprehensive a nature, as not keeping up a proper and adequate distinction between the separate species. I shall therefore divide them into seven distinct heads, and will suppose them to resemble the six planets, in their regular and never-failing revolutions round the sun, or great body of "FALSEHOOD. The first planet in this wonderful system, which I shall mention as being in situation nearest to the vast mass of DECEIT, and as performing its revolutions with the greatest celerity, is the WHISPERING Lie. Whoever has been destined to fall under the power of this planet, has felt without doubt, the malignant influence of its detractory rays; as it has been observed seldom or never to shed a propitious light. The quickness of its motion, in a small circle, is astonishing. In another respect it likewise resembles Mercury, as being so perpetually invisible; and although we are conscious of its influence, and distinctly feel its effects, yet we are totally ignorant in what quarter to look for it. Its chief inhabitants € C 2 are generally supposed to consist of young wo men, monkeys, cats, and old maids. The second which I shall take notice of, is the FLATTERING LIE, which like Venus, is much admired for the beauty of its light, as agreeable to all, and unpropitious to none. The extent of its power is larger than is generally imagined. For independant of the whole art of courtship. and flattery, which can proceed from no other origin; every person who pays the slightest respect to what are usually denominated good. manners, must of necessity pay an equal share to this also. I have frequently seen a person of the most inflexible probity, holding with justice all the mean and contemptible arts of adulation beneath him, and who would not, even in jest, be guilty of a falsehood; the same being asked when entering a large company, whether he was not cold; without the smallest hesitation replied, that he was perfectly warm; although his whole appearance must have convinced every one to the contrary. From this we generally, without the slightest reproach of our conscience, and the least imputation on our veracity, tell my Lady Bountiful that her preserves are excellent, when we can with difficulty swallow them, and Mr. Alderman Gormand that his stinking venison is perfectly good. So far are we permitted, from the present acceptation of the term, "good manners," to offend against the strict laws of veracity; and so far without hesitation, to give and receive the flattering lie. The effects of the TRADING LIE are so well known, and so universally felt, that they need little description. We may justly say with the Quaker, "that it is a pity lying is a sin, it is so convenient in trade." Hence we are informed in the regions of Billingsgate that stinking turbots are alive and just out of the sea; in Cheapside that damaged tea is genuine congo; and in Bond. street gentlemen are informed that English lace is just imported from the French manufactories. All sorts of false weights and measures, forgeries, Bankruptcies &c. &c. may be considered as under the influence of this planet. Like the Earth it is constantly attended by a satellite, whoes powers over it are of a very wide extent, and which is usually denominated FRAUD, The fourth luminary in this deceitful system I shall mention under rhe name of RUMOUR. This like Mars, generally puts on a very fiery appearance, and usually smells strongly of gunpowder. Within this last year its influence has |