[I extract the following lines from a Poem with which à Corres pondent has favoured me, entitled “ THE SEER.” B. B.] زیتونی Now is the time, the peaceful hour, The livid flashes blaze, The fiery columns raise. " Howl around with murd'rous yell, Hurtles in the đarkend air; Sons of Liberty, beware! gaze, the sudden start- ye chosen few battle's strife renew, And, born to conquer to die, Soldier and chieftain, friend and foes : While faster still the life-blood flows, Who dare the Candour, which loves in see-saw strain to tell boms". nat, Of all the falsities which mankind adopt, either to feign virtues which they have not, or to conceal blots which they have, there is no one species of affectation so odious as False Candour. He whó conceals his real opinion under this loathsome veil is like the general who, fearing to put forth manfullý his whole strength, has recourse to a shifting system of manœuvres. The professors of Candour are divided into two classes-3211 those who pretend to cloak what is true; and those who" I are (as they express themselves) constrained to assert what is false. The first class can often be recognized in those who, meeting you, will say, “I do not think our neighbour's affair so very bad ; to be sure, no woman should admit any one in the absence of her husband; but case allows palliation:” Or, “Well, really I think there are uglier persons than our friend So-and-So," though" he may happen to be one of those it beyou2 h 25 mi? $. 21703 ti 2290ha! In whom all human beauties flourish fair, In his thick lips, flat nose, and flaming hair. is 90 km iu-15 Now these persons think, or pretend to think, that, by-, this mock liberality, they do a great service to the pers. how then her 4 - گزر まおぶこ son mentioned; whereas, to defend a man from the imputation of imperfections which are palpable to every observer, is like a ruined spendthrift pretending to keep up his appearance, and to deceive his already-awakened creditors. If a man has faults, let them be borne, and let not the remedy, by an attempt at an excuse, become worse than the disease. For my part, I do not love to beat about the bush, when my object must be known; and, although there is no necessity for raking up a man’s blemishes, it is still worse to expose them by an injudicious defence. The next class are those who say, “Well, really, I ust say that you are the most hideous personage I ever aw: I am sorry to say any thing h thing harsh, but the truth must be told.” Then, if you mention it to a mutual friend, he will tell you, that the Candid gentleman is a person who will speak his own mind. It is very well for Pope to write, R$ ,odw 920I love to speak out all my mind, as plain fit od 2 muod As honest Shippen, or downright Montaigne, jin: biura w or 011376 on jo 19 The truth is, that though politeness, in its modern sense, has weakened the natural simplicity of manners, it has, at the same time, blunted the edge of bitterness if it has destroyed the warmth of friendship and genuine kindness, it covers the coolness of indifference, and smothers the turbulence of animosityConceive the disturbance which would be caused in female society if every one spoke that which lay nearest her heart. How" many who thought themselves amiable, young, and beautiful, would be hailed by the complimentary appellation of an “ Ill-natured old Crump." In a professor of Candour we never can distinguish whether they are friends; for on one side they are masked under whining hypocrisy ;' on the other, under pretended independence. They are not your real enemies, but those concealed under the appearance of friendship, who are so uncontrolled in their strictures. Gay has warned us against both parties in the couplet, An open foe may prove a curse, But a pretended friend is worse. Give me th' avowed, th' erect, the manly foe, B. P.S. My readers will perceive that I have kept to the Horatian maxim, “ Servetur ad imum, &c.,” for the same author furnished my motto and conclusion. mind; My very keepers seem to me Ah ! when upon the vale I gaze, A thousand thoughts upon me rush, II |