us to the just ridicule of the reflecting part of mankind. With one who is so entirely under the government of prejudice, the different peculiarities of dress are sufficient to stamp the character, and announce the occupation of the wear er, and the external appearance developes at the first view the internal disposition and qualities of every individual, Notwithstanding all the admonitions of SOLOMON GRILDRIG, the abstract idea of doctorial severity will always be attached to the wig: the gold-headed cane will be considered as the certain emblem of a diploma, and a cropped head of democratic principles.

But our prejudices are not confined to the human species alone; they extend to the brute part of the creation, and certain innocent animals are doomed to suffer the odium and injuries, which should, according to the laws of justice, pursue the guilty, Such weaknesses however are more. common to the female mind, and the instances of their operations are so numerous, that the task of selection is the only difficulty I can encounter in proving their force and ridiculous consequences. Some females will fall into the most violent convulsions on the first appearance of a wasp; others cannot endure the sight of a spider, and rather than touch it with any member of the

body would undergo the worst of deaths; the most inoffensive herd of cattle becomes in this manner terrible, and I could with safety affirm that many would voluntarily walk a considerable number of miles more than was necessary, if by this means they could avoid a rencounter with any thing in the shape of a horned quadruped. Yet in none of the above-mentioned animals was any quality ever discovered so very noxious and fearful, as to be an excuse for the disgust and horror which their presence occasions; they are all on the contrary remarkably quiet and harmless, and totally devoid of any design to injure those who have not given them sufficient cause of provocation. The attempt, however, to reason out of their curious antipathies these victims of prejudice always proves vain and useless; they cannot but confess the folly of their fears, but are unable to overcome them, notwithstanding all the suggestions of their own sense, and reflection, or all the exhortation of their friends. Particular circumstances in the education or mode of life may in some cases diminish or palliate the absurdity of this failing; the very weaknesses of the sex are amiable; but nothing is a clearer proof of a weakness and perverted understanding, than the affectation of what is not really felt. If therefore any female, under pretence of the terror

which the presence of any particular animal, whether horned or not, creates in her mind, puts her whole body in a state of extreme agitation, or closes her eyes in the most interesting manner, I can only recommend her to the derision and contempt of her companions; their laughter will soon recall her fugitive senses, and prevent a repetition of the artifice much more efficaciously, than the most serious arguments of parents, friends, or Grildrigs.

But no class of beings rational or irrational, are so much exposed to the power of prejudice as authors. The majority of readers have, completely settled their decision on the merit of a work, long before they allow it to plead in its own defence, and have assigned to the writer his rank in the annals of literature, without any previous examination of his claims. The sentence of these pre-determined judges is usually regulated by report, or the fashion of the day; and when either of these causes has condemned an unfortunate author to starve and be forgotten, they fall unmercifully on the culprit, abuse his writings, and find an hundred faults, where they would doubtless have discovered as many perfections had his labours been elevated by public favour; in short they shut him out

from the paths of literature, without hope of readmission, because they conceive it their duty to despise what the world despises. So very difficult is it to decide on the beauties or defects of an author, without any reliance on wordly report or pre-conceived opinions, that few will be found, who openly dare to oppose the judgment of the many, or who will allow themselves to be convinced by the perusal of an author's productions, that their previous ideas of his deserts were wrong and groundless.

I would hint at a prejudice frequently entertained by persons of an advanced age against every species of juvenile compositions, if I did not begin to doubt its existence; having received such marked encouragement from a quarter where I tremblingly expected to pass the ordeal of critical severity, that my own case would be an exception to every instance I could produce; and while it acquitted the accused of the failing which I imputed to them, would convict myself of falsehood and ingratitude.

N.

THE

MINIATURE.

NUMB. XIII.

MONDAY, July 16, 1804.

inani

Ambitione furens

LUCAN. 10. 156.

Inflamed by an empty ambition.

AMBITION while confined within proper bounds, and directed to lawful objects is of the greatest utility to mankind; but when either hurried along with too much precipitancy, or permitted to follow frivolous and unworthy pursuits it becomes both dangerous and contemptible. No passion is more universal, none require more to be observed and restricted, none are more liable to degenerate into folly and vice. The characters of illustrious men both in antient and modern times

Q