neither good nor harm, I do not scruple, with the view of its being useful to ourselves, to relate to you what appeared unfavourable in his character. But let us, at the same time, indulge a charitable hope, that we may, after all, be mistaken in our judgment. Indeed, I could wish, as much as possible, to keep him, as an individual, out of sight. I only mean to explain to you, that a person living, and acting, as it is commonly reported he did, can claim no higher appellation than that of a clever fool.

Children. Well papa, now tell us how it was. Father. Nay, stay till we arrive at his house, and have looked about us, and then you shall judge for yourself.

The

Upon their arrival at the destined spot, they were charmed with the beauty of the situation, and the pleasant aspect of the residence. house and grounds rather compact and elegant, than extensive or magnificent: but there was a symmetry and beauty of design which at once pleased the eye, and conveyed an idea of the good taste of the possessor. And as the general view was striking, the detail, when examined, excited still greater admiration. Our party, at first, amused themselves with walking through the park and gardens, which exhibited, at every turn, some ingenious contrivance for pleasure or utility. The gardens displayed a variety of the most beautiful flowers, in the greatest perfection. The green houses were, of themselves, thought worth going many miles to see, they contained so rare a collection of exotics, and other curious plants, disposed in the most exact order: while fruits, in and out of season, yielded their tempt

ing fragrance in rich profusion. Stately swans adorned the river that wound through the park : while shady alcoves, rosy bowers, classic temples, baths and fountains, at every turn surprised the admiring visitor. The recesses of a shady grove, conducted to a cool and beautiful grotto, which was enriched with some of the most rare and curious specimens in mineralogy. Lastly, they visited a small botanical garden, which afforded them much instruction as well as amusement; for the late possessor was a man of science, and took particular pains with this well arranged collection.

The children were delighted; and not less surprised when they were assured that of these various embellishments and contrivances he was himself the designer and inventor; and that it was his own taste and ingenuity that was displayed in every part.

Upon entering the mansion, the effect was not less striking. The apartments were disposed and furnished with great taste and elegance; and continually exhibited some novel invention for promoting ease or pleasure, or for avoiding inconvenience. But, what was most interesting, were the valuable collections in the various departments of art and science with which this house was embellished. A capital collection of old pictures, by the best masters, occupied the long gallery. The library was extensive, and contained a well arranged assemblage of the works of the most celebrated authors of every age, and in every language.

They were next shown a cabinet, containing a valuable assortment of ancient coins and me

dals: after which they visited the laboratory; for it appeared that the deceased possessed a thorough knowledge of chemistry; and had himself made some ingenious discoveries in that interesting science. Another room was devoted to mechanism; and exhibited models of many of the most useful and ingenious machines of modern invention, some of them displaying improvements of his own. Last of all, ascending to the highest story, they reached the observatory, which was furnished with its appropriate apparatus, and contained the largest telescope these children had ever seen. The gentleman, it was said, frequently passed whole nights in this place; astronomy was his favourite study. For all these things were not collected by him (as is frequently the case in the houses of the rich,) as mere appendages to wealth. The curiosities of science, art, and literature, are commonly enough to be seen in the possession of persons of trifling and vulgar minds, wholly incapable of deriving any other gratification from them than as as articles of show, and who value them merely as they do the other expensive ornaments of their dwellings. But, in this instance, they were possessed by a man of taste and science; who derived genuine pleasure from the pursuits in which he was engaged; and who was, therefore, so far, happy, useful, and respectable. When the party descended to the lower part of the house, they found it filled with company, and the great hall exhibited a scene of noise, bustle, and confusion. The auctioneer was, at that moment, expatiating on the value of an article before him, which some were cautiously examin

ing; others were marking their catalogues: each was intent on his own interests, and nothing was less thought of than he to whom all had so lately belonged.

"Let us leave this noisy place, papa," said Julia-" it makes me melancholy."-They soon made their way through the crowd; and leaving the mansion, their father led them through a fine plantation to the outskirts of the park, where they soon discovered a little ivy-clad steeple, embowered in dark chesnut trees, surrounded by a few lowly graves, and adorned with one or two stately monuments." Here," said the father, pointing to one of these "lie the remains of this accomplished person."

"Now then, papa," said Philip" pray tell us though I partly guess, why you call such a clever man a fool." "Because," replied his father"of his whole existence, which he knew would be endless, he apparently provided for no more than the exceeding small proportion of sixty-eight years. It is true, that to make these sixty-eight years pass pleasantly he spared no pains; and we will allow, that he so far succeeded, as to enjoy, during that time, more rational pleasure than most men who live only for this world. But granting this, is it not still the lowest degree of folly for a man to devote all the energies of his mind to securing the comfort and entertainment of so short a period, and to make no provision for an eternal existence ?-There he lies! all that he ever appeared to care for he has lost forever. Those curious collections which he made with so much pains and cost, all those fruits of his patient and laborious studies which

we have been admiring, will, in a few hours, be disposed of and dispersed the cheerful mansion will be empty and deserted; other inhabitants will occupy it; in a few years his name will be no more remembered! so that the only thing that was of any real consequence to him, is that which, it is greatly to be feared, he totally neglected.

"But the extremity of his folly was this ;that this change which he has undergone, this loss of all that he valued, was what he was well aware must, somewhere about this time, befal him. He knew, as well as all other men, that he must die. He knew, too, that the great Creator, whose works he spent his life in investigating and admiring, had, by an express revelation informed him, in common with others, of the only way of securing everlasting life and happiness. Of these things he could not be ignorant; nor did I ever understand that he professed to doubt them; yet, strange to say, that divine volume stood unopened on his shelves. It is said this unhappy man rarely read the Bible! That he, who could spend whole nights in gazing on the heavens, bent not his knee to the Former of them all. That while so plenteously partaking the bounties of His providence, he never (unless with the utmost formality,) acknowledged his obligation; or appeared to feel his dependence. -Even of late, when he knew he must be drawing towards the close of life, he appeared to engage, with as much avidity as ever, in his favourite pursuits; though he loved conversation, and delighted to discourse on other subjects, yet he was never known to talk about the life to come, Vol. I.

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