As it is a practice of mine to take daily strolls round the metropolis after the hours of my avocations, for the purpose of amusement; and as it is my honor to mingle very frequently in public assemblies, I have been gradually led into a habit of observation and reflection, on the mind and manners of men one continually meets with in this extraordinary concentration of wealth and poverty, mirth and melancholy, birth and beggary, labor and luxury, this modern Babylon, this characterized capital of muddy streets and ruinous improvements, this other half of Great Britain---in short, this London.

Thus in my spectatorial office, skimming down the surface of society, but not mingling in it, like oil upon water, I flatter myself that I have done some good to my country, and deserve a remembrance in the records of her science, for the important discovery which I have made, and will accordingly promulgate, viz. the existence of that celebrated sect of philosophers termed the "disciples of "Hermes," or, in other words, “ Hermetic Philosophers."

For a length of time I must acknowledge, however, that all my observation was foiled, and my most reasonable conjectures confused, as to their name and character. Go where I would into society, mingle as I might in public places, and I was sure to meet with them; and the more my curiosity was inflamed with the desire of penetrating into their secrets, the closer would they seem to contract within themselves, and be enshrined in a cloak of impenetrable mystery.

Every one must have observed, that has mingled at all in the world, that in all public places there are crowds of certain indefinable beings, who neither deriving possessions from provident ancestors, nor being of any profession whereby to obtain the "aurum palpabile," maintain nevertheless an expensive and fashionable appearance, to the envy of their equals, and the amazement of inferiors. The only answer I could ever obtain, when, in observing this, I have taken a friend aside, or have applied to a bystander and enquired, who Mr. Such-a-one in the yellow dennet, or in the gray horse, or in the blue coat, was, or how he lived, would be "the Lord knows;" which answer one would think should imply, that " He who feedeth the ravens and clotheth the lilies of the field," had thus plentifully prepared for them, imperceptibly to the eyes of all other mortals; but as the lives of these people seem to claim no such indulgence of heaven, I should have entertained, on the contrary, no very com

plaisant opinion of them, if our legislature, by the repeal of the witch act, had not compelled me to believe that all our intercourse with the devil was at an end.

About a century since, a very fanciful performance was ushered into literary existence, entitled "Hermippus Redivivus," or "the Sage's Triumph over Old Age and the Graces;" the author of which, though he modestly sets out upon the purpose of shewing merely the possibility of a man's extending the span of life to a longer space than he now generally enjoys (though upon a worse system, I think, than "Cornaro's"), yet by degrees, almost imperceptible to the reader, he slides into the Hermetic Philosophy, of which he is an enthusiastic admirer, and becomes before the conclusion of the book, as thorough a believer in the power of the " philosopher's stone," and "universal "elixir," as if he had been personally present when an adept had. made the projection. He introduces in the course of the book several most surprising stories concerning philosophers, who being skilled in the arcanum, lived three or four centuries in a state of most unimpaired vigor, both of mind and body; and among others, he gives an account of a stranger who resided at Venice. "It was very

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remarkable," he observes," that this man, though he lived in the "utmost affluence and splendor, was unacquainted with any person belonging to the city before he came thither; that he followed no "trade or profession; that he had no property in the common funds "of the state, nor ever received any remittance from abroad; yet "abounded in wealth, till an accident (which he relates) drove him "from Italy; from whence he suddenly disappeared, and no mortal ever learnt from what place he came, or whither he went."

If this stranger was an "Hermetic Philosopher," in possession of the great secret as the author intimates, I am inclined to think, from a similarity of circumstances, that my presumption is correct as respects the society before-mentioned, and that we have, at this very time, a great number of the same sect in our metropolis, who, for their own enviable advantage, make gold at pleasure. Incited therefore latterly by this idea, I endeavoured to pry deeper into their affairs and connections than ever I had done, for the simple purpose of convincing myself whether they really were no more than mortals, possessing ordinary advantages like myself; or, in fact, belonged to that celebrated fraternity, whose existence is generally believed to have long since expired; and, I must confess, that however indecisive were my conclusions, in consequence of any such attempts, yet, they were always most favorable to the latter opinion. In one or two instances I became acquainted with members of this sect, who, in the fashionable horizon, shone forth for a time like "eccentric bodies,” and then as magically vanished, to the wonder of society at large, and the unfeigned regret of their tailors, hotel-keepers, &c. &c., and no one could ever surmise their point of destination and place of retirement. Believing them, at length, to be really some of the "initiated," I attributed their speedy retreat to their fears, lest the Government should discover from what source they derived their wealth, and force

them to prostitute, for public advantage, this sacred and inestimable science.

This sect appears to be divided, however, into two or three classes; one of which is distinguished by the individuals composing it pretending to be of some profession, or employment, in order to guard more effectually against the observation of justice, which holds them (for reasons already mentioned) in extreme ill favor; and the curious conclusions of people in business who are apt, though I know not from what old-fashioned motion, to regard, with great coolness, those gentlemen, who, making a great appearance in public, do not seem to be in the possession of any solids; such as lands, stockhouses or chattels, wherewithal to support their expenditure.

Other divisions of this sect, like the peregrinating Cossacks, may be found living together in hordes on the sea-coast of England and France, particularly at Boulogne; where they are distinguished by their giving out to the "True Believers" in trade, that they possess large castles and estates in Ireland, but that a perambulating bog (an affliction incidental to the country, I believe) has moved over them, and they must wait till it moves off again, before they can collect their rents and revenues. Whether enquiries were ever made as to the truth of this assertion, I cannot say; but if they were, that unaccountable spirit of mystery and itinerancy actuated them on the moment, I imagine, and they went thence, and were no more "seen."

Every one must have observed, that no people lead such easy and comfortable lives as those whom the world pronounces ruined. It is the most common thing to hear of, and to see, these ruined people rioting in luxury and extravagance, while their unfortunate creditors are suffering the greatest privations. Now, as it never appeared very plain to me, how men in that situation could obtain sums of money to appropriate to their peculiar uses and gratifications, without possessing some source of supply totally unknown to the world; I have therefore been led to conclude, that they must have been possessed of the inestimable secret; and, in short, such has been my association of ideas latterly on that subject, that I now never hear of a man's being ruined, but I immediately conclude by the expression, that he has been admitted by the fraternity into the mysteries and emoluments of the "Hermetic Philosophy."

But here let me stop: all the merit that I claim to myself is for the discovery of the existence of this sect; but let me not profanely attempt to penetrate the mysteries which enshroud it, or even to conjecture at the principles of its institution, destined to remain concealed as they are, with the long train of their benefits, from the knowledge of all but the truly "initiated." Let me avoid further remark upon the matter, lest the present sons of Hermes should take umbrage at my impertinence, and transfer the unspeakable advantages which accrue to society from their presence, to cities, and countries, of more faith, and less curiosity.

Think of me, love, when morn's ray is streaming
Fair o'er the landscape, bidding Nature wake;
Or when Sol's self, in noontide glory beaming,
Bids us the plain for shady vales forsake.
When too all faint he gilds yon western mountain,
As tired he seeks his wavy couch, the sea,
Turning to drops of gold each fairy fountain,
Bright as they sparkle-then think of me!

Think of me, love, when the snowdrop, peeping
Forth in the garden, greets the flowery spring;
Nor less when Autumn's whistling winds are sweeping
Branch, leaf, and flower away on rapid wing.
Summer is past, our brows with myrtle crowning,
Joyful no more we wander o'er the lea;

Winter comes on, stern tyrant, darkly frowning---
Yet still, my fair one, still think of me.

Youth's hours are fled, e'en Hope's scenes are fading, Yet thro' the mist of years they still appear, Memory's bright sun, those dear spots re-pervading, Lights up each dewdrop, now, alas! a tear!

Far, far away o'er the darkling billow,

"Tis mine to wander, quitting thine and thee,

Yet still, as resting on thy lonely pillow,
May angels guard it !---still think of me!

Temple, Nov. 1st. 1826.

WESLEYAN METHODISTS.-MACHINERY AND MANUAL LABOR.

"WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY.---On Wednesday a meeting of the Members of this "Society was held in Elim Chapel, Fetter Lane, to meet a deputation from the Committee "of Distressed Printers, Pressmen of the Metropolis. The meeting, after hearing a most "interesting appeal on behalf of the pressmen, came to an unanimous resolution not to "purchase, after Christmas next, any books on religious subjects, either the Methodist "Magazine, or the Society's Tracts, which shall be printed otherwise than by MANUAL "LABOR."---St. James's Chronicle.

It is among the good resolutions which the conductors of the Inspector have formed, and one which they mean strictly to adhere to, not to attack any man, or any body of men, upon any other than public grounds. We never will give any sanction to that want of principle, that profligacy of sentiment, which lead some writers to hold up to contempt large or small bodies of men, merely for the purpose of amusing a certain class of their readers, who do not care at whose, or at what, expense they are made merry. We beg it therefore to be understood, in placing the above quotation from a public print at the head of our article, that we do not intend to go out of our way to speak with the least disrespect of that religious sect, to which the persons who composed the meeting above referred to, professed to belong. Indeed, we take this opportunity of stating our belief, after enquiry, that the conclusions come to upon that occasion, are altogether disallowed by the Wesleyan Methodists as a body, and that the foolish resolution of abstaining from purchasing books printed by machinery, is, by every thinking individual of that society, most unequivocally condemned.

We have reason to believe, however, that not a few individuals who have not given the subject a particular consideration, are much inclined, when witnessing the existing distress and want of employment, to refer to machinery of all kinds, as one great cause of the production of that distress. It will not, therefore, be deemed an improper time to offer a few brief hints upon the important question which continually meets us-" To what extent can machinery be "carried, without producing national injury?"

Political economists have been sometimes charged, and with good reason too, with leaving out of their calculations the different passions and prejudices of men; with omitting to allow for that obstinacy and ignorance which unhappily characterize the great bulk of mankind. We think that we may state, without being subject to this charge, as a grand and invariable principle of human action, that all men, in every society and station, aim, if they aim at any thing, to lead lives of ease and leisure. Every man works as little as possible; that is, having a certain object to attain, which he thinks convenient or necessary, he endeavours to obtain it with as little trouble as may be. The skill of every one is exerted to shorten his labor, or, in the language of political economy, to produce at less