his evidence, however we may use it, with contempt. Political exigencies may require a ready reception of fuch private advices: But though the neceffities of government admit the intelligence, the wisdom of it but barely encourages the intelligencer. There is no name fo odious to us as that of an informer. The very alarm in our streets at the approach of one, is a fufficient proof of the general abhorrence of this character.

Since these are the confequential conditions upon which men acquire this denomination, it may be afked, what are the inducements to the treachery? I do not fuppofe it always proceeds from the badnefs of the mind; and indeed I think it impoffible that it should, in one who only defigned to gratify his own loquacity, or the importunity of his companion.

The Continence of Scipio Africanus.

HE foldiers, after the taking of New Carthage,

ΤΗ brought before Scipio a young lady of fuch dif

tinguished beauty, that the attracted the eyes of all wherever the went. Scipio, by inquiring concerning her country and parents, among other things learned, that she was betrothed to Allucius, prince of the Celtiberians. He immediately ordered her parents and bridegroom to be fent for. In the mean time he was informed, that the young prince was fo exceffively enamoured of his bride, that he could not survive the lofs of her. For this reafon, as foon as he appeared, and before he spoke to her parents, he took great care to talk with him. "As you and I are both young," faid he, "we can converfe together with greater free-"dom. When your bride, who had fallen into the

hands of my foldiers, was brought before me, I was informed that you loved her paffionately; and, in :❝ truth, her perfect beauty left me no room to doubt of it. If I were at liberty to indulge a youthful "paffion, I mean honourable and lawful wedlock, "and were not folely engroffed by the affairs of my "republic, I might have hoped to have been pardoned "my exceffive love for fo charming a miftrefs. But "as I am fituated, and have it in my power, with "pleasure I promote your happiness. Your future "spouse has met with as modeft and civil treatment "from me, as if the had been amongst her own pa"rents, who are foon to be yours too. I have kept "her pure, in order to have it in my power to make "you a prefent worthy of you and me. The only "return I ask of you for this favour is, that you will "be a friend to the Roman people; and that if you "believe me to be a man of worth, as the states of "Spain formerly experienced my father and uncle to "be, you may know there are many in Rome who refemble

G 2

"semble us; and that there are not a people in the "univerfe, whom you ought lefs to defire to be an "enemy, or more a friend, to you or yours." The youth, covered with blushes, and full of joy, embraced Scipio's hands, praying the immortal gods to reward him, as he himself was not capable to do it in the degree he himself defired, or he deferved. Then the parents and relations of the virgin were called. They had brought a great fum of money to ranfom her; but feeing her restored without it, they began to beg Scipio to accept that fum as a prefent; protesting they would acknowledge it as a favour, as much as they did the reftoring the virgin without injury offered to her. Scipio, unable to refift their importunate folicitations, told them, he accepted it; and ordering it to be laid at his feet, thus addreffed Allucius: "To the portion "you are to receive from your father-in-law, I add "this, and beg you will accept it as a nuptial prefent.” So he defired him to take up the gold, and keep it for himself. Tranfported with joy at the prefents and honours conferred on him, he returned home, and expatiated to his countrymen on the merits of Scipio: There is come amongst us," said he, "a young hero "like the gods, who conquers all things, as well by "generofity and beneficence, as by arms." For this reafon, having raised troops among his own fubjects, he returned a few days after to Scipio with a body of 1400 horse.

Liberty

ISGUISE thyfelf as thou wilt, ftill, Slavery, ftill thou art a bitter draught; and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no lefs bitter on that account. It is thou, Liberty! thrice fweet and gracious goddefs! whom all, in public or in private, worship; whofe tafte is grateful, and ever will be fo till Nature herfelf fhall change. No tint of words can fpot thy fnowy mantle, or chymic power turn thy fceptre into iron. With thee, to fmile upon him while he eats his cruft, the fwain is happier than his monarch, from whofe court thou art exiled. Gracious Heaven! grant me but health, thou great bestower of it and give me but this fair goddess as my companion; and fhower down thy mitres, if it feems good unto thy Divine Providence, upon those heads which are aching for them.

Pursuing these ideas, I fat down close by my table; and, leaning my head upon my hand, I began to figure to myself the miseries of confinement. I was in a right frame for it, and fo I gave full fcope to my imagination.

I was going to begin with the millions of my fellowcreatures, born to no inheritance but flavery but, finding, however affecting the picture was, that I could not bring it near me, and that the multitude of fad groups in it did but diftract me, I took a fingle captive; and, having firft fhut him up in his dungeon, I then looked through the twilight of his grated door, to take his picture.

I beheld his body half wafted away with long expectation and confinement; and felt what kind of sickness of the heart it is which arifes from hope deferred. Upon looking nearer, I faw him pale and feverish. In thirty years the western breeze had not once fanned his blood-he had seen no fun, no moon, in all that time, nor lattice. His children-But here my heart began to bleed, and I was forced to go on with another part of the portrait.

He was fitting upon the ground, upon a little ftraw, in the fartheft corner of his dungeon, which was alternately his chair and bed. A little calendar of small fticks was laid at the head, notched all over with difmal days and nights he had paffed there. He had one of those little fticks in his hand; and, with a rusty nail, was etching another day of mifery, to add to the heap. As I darkened the little light he had, he lifted up a hopeless eye towards the door-then caft it down ~~shook his head—and went on with his work of affliction. I heard his chains upon his legs, as he turned his body to lay his little stick upon the bundle. He gave a deep figh.-I faw the iron enter into his foul.

burst into tears.-I could not fuftain the picture of confinement which my fancy had drawn,

On