1 fill preferved among the various rocks found in that mountainous country; but at prefent they afford helter to favage animals, or to fome few tribes of wandering Arabs, who at a certain time of the year carry their flocks thither to feed. All the churches and monafteries with which this country abounded are, however, entirely deftroyed, and notning is to be feen of them but fome remains of painting, appearing here and there, amid heaps of ruins, though it may be eafily perceived that they must have been built with great folidity. This deftruction is not to be imputed altogether to the barbarity of the neighbouring people, but to the dreadful earthquakes to which thefe regions have been fre quently expofed, SKETCHES and PORTRAITS from the Life: MONG all the characters it has ment,-in fhort, from their whole A been my fortune to meet with, I know of none fo generally mistaken as Modeftus and Ambio. Thefe two young gentlemen have been the most intimate friends from their childhood; from which period they had been very properly confidered as forming a triking contraft of difpofition and ability. But though it is true that their characters are thus diverfified, I can by no means fubfcribe to the general opinion that gives the palm of excellence to the latter, and confiders the thoughtful Modeftus, as only a kind of foil to his more afpiring and volatile friend. At least I am certain, that if Ambio must be allowed to be the prettieft fellow among the coquets and triflers of the tea table, the other is no lefs certain of making the more confiderable figure in his profeffion; and that the fcience of medicine will confefs its obligations to Modeftus, when the name of Ambio is no longer remembered at the bar: nor have I any doubt that, when, at the lait day, the records of benevolence fall be unfolded to our view, and the motives of action revealed, that the former will be found to have had the warment and moft fufceptible heart: though I believe there is fcarcely an individual of their mutual acquaintance that fufpects this to be the cafe. For my own part, I was no fconer introduced into the company of these young gentlemen, than I fufpected from the lines and features of their faces, from their mien and deport 4 phyfiognomy, that mankind were mis taken in their characters. I therefore refolved to make use of the clue thus prefented to me, to dive into their bofoms, and, by making myself as much as poffible acquainted with their conduct and hiftories, to confirm or confute my fpeculations. A very intimate acquaintance of fix or eight months, has convinced me that phyfiognomy was in the right; and I here prefent to the reader their portraits at full length: premifing that as they are both at that age, when the tender paflion enters into every concern of life, and tinges the whole character, I have therefore delineated them in fuch colours as though I had defigned them to be copied in miniature, to make a pair of bracelets for the fair object of their flames. Modeitus is a man of genius and fentiment; but he has a timidity about him which prevents his fhining before the fex, or in the company of any perfons with whom he is not thoroughly acquainted: and indeed, fuch is his fhynefs and his incapacity of, making any advances, even to thofe for whom he entertains the highest esteem, that it is no eafy matter to become acquainted with him, except by confulting him in the way of his profeffion: though, at the fame time, he has a foul capable of the most warm and lafting attachmentss-as his friends and relatives can very well atteft. Ambio, on the other hand (though a man of fenfe) poffeffes neither the acutenefs acuteness nor the folidity of his friend; yet, from a happy effrontery, and gaiety of fpirits, he is enabled, in converfation, to fine in a very fuperior degree :-perhaps the word glitter would have been more apt and defcriptive; for, indeed, he deals principally in showy exteriors. His fentiments float on the furface of his brain; whence they are always ready to flow in lively ftreams of metaphor; while those of his rival fpring from the warm fountain of his heart, and generally in too full a tide to find an unembaraffed utterance. Were they however to communicate their thoughts to paper, Ambio would be found as inferior in the native graces of compofition, as he is fuperior in the arts of converfation. The fentiments of Modeftus would bear the fterling marks of originality; while thofe of the other would eafily be traced to their borrowed fource. The attachments of Ambio are quick, and fincere, as long as they laft: but they do not ftrike deep, or take a durable root in his heart: they may indeed be faid rather to imprefs his imagination than to interest his feelings; and notwithstanding his long-standing friendfhip with the character I am contrafting to him, I am confcious that, on his fide, the attachment is merely paffive; and that the union receives its fole cement from the affection of Modeftus. They are both admitted, with refpect to the world, to be men of fpirit and integrity. But Modeftus is a man of honour from fentiment and principle; but Ambio from imitation and pride. The former is fufceptible of the most tender and delicate impreffions of love; the latter is captivated by every fhowy form and lovely countenance he fees; and if these are accompanied with the reputation of mental excellence and amiable accomplishments, his ambition aids the enthufiafm of his fancy, and he immediately becomes fired with the moft romantic paffion-and fo he will con tinue, till abfence, or the partial attentions of fome fresh and beautiful coquette, diffolve the charm. Confine this man for a few months in fome little rural village, where there are but two or three agreeable females, he will be in danger of running mad for the most celebrated of them. Nor would any thing restore him to his fenfes, but fending him back to fome gay and populous city, where the perplexities of variety might emancipate him from the chains of individual attachment. These men have both of them vanity: for it is to be remembered, that vanity and timidity are by no means incompatible: the former being an acquired affection of the mind, the latter a natural habit of the animal spirits. The fources of their vanity are, however, widely different: that of Modeftus proceeds from the romantic tenderness of his mind, and the warmth of his imagination, which makes him hope whatever he wishes. It would increase, perhaps, the perfpicuity of language, if this were diftinguished by fome fofter name. That of Am bio is direct, and unqualified: a vanity proceeding from an elevated notion of his own perfections and accomplishments. One is enthufiaftically prompted to believe, that the partial stars have referved more felicities for him, than he dares ever hope to merit; while the other imagines that his merits must challenge and fecure whatever his fondest wishes can defire. Thefe two gallants are, as it happens, both of them, at this time, fuitors to the fame lady; a sketch of whose character will render it pretty obvious which is likely to be successful in his advances. Miranda is a tall and elegant woman, with strong, but not large, or mafculine features, a fine aquiline nofe, a pair of dark fparkling eyes, crowned with an arched eyebrow of a deep chefnut colour, and a complexion beautifully compounded of P red red, and a clear animated brown. With a great deal of delicacy, and fome little of gravity in her own deportment, he has really a high relish for vivacity, and difplays great ambition of being thought equally attached to wit, understanding, and erudition. She has, indeed, from nature, fome portion of what is generally called manly fenfe (though it has been not a little counteracted by the prevalence of certain female foibles, the love of flattery and pleafure); and had from her infancy a tafte for the cultivation of her mind, though unfortunately it was not fufficiently ftrong to break through the prejudices of a bad education, and the inducements to the gratification of her vanity, which theatres and places of public amufement continually offered. Miranda, therefore, is rather a lover, than a judge, of wit and erudition, and is to be caught by the exterior appearances of mental fuperiority, as eafily as a giddy boarding fchool girl, by the affumed far and garter of an Irish adventurer. She would indeed, like the lady of a certain great lawyer, readily relinquith a coronet for the fake of a man of genius, though, like her, fhe is not very unlikely to be mistaken in her man. In all human probability, therefore, Miranda will overlock the perfections of Modeftus; and be for ever blind to the paflion of a man, who, it is not unlikely, will fall a' facrifice to his disappoinment in less than fix months; while Ambio, on whom the will beftow her hand and affections, will, in a much shorter time, become infenfible of the favour, and turn with loathing indifference from charms which poffeffion will caufe to Fade in his eyes, and pall upon his fenfe.' So fuperior, in the eyes of too many of the fex, are the glittering exteriors of vivacity and confidence to all the folid endowments of understanding; and fo much more efficacious are volubility and a happy affurance, than all the artlefs fighs of the most genuine and violent affection. As a portrait painter, for certain obvious reafons, is never introduced into a house to portray the blooming refemblance of fome favourite child, without feeling a longing defire to paint the whole family, and, endeavouring, without regard to wrinkles or decrepitude, fquinting eyes or dif. torted features, to perfuade his employer that all would glow with equal grace upon his canvafs, and be equally admitted by pofterity, to have been worthy of having their forms perpetuated by his pen.il; fo I, though for reasons, perhaps, not equa ly palpable, having ftruck off the likeneffes of Miranda, and her lovers, feel a ft ong defire to prefent alfo the portrait of mifs Deborah Auturan, her maiden aunt, in whofe house indeed the refides: nor do I doubt but that the picture will be equally entertaining with the preceding:-albeit, the first attractions that prefent themselves to my view, are a long thin face, with high cheek bones, a fhrivelled yel-. low fkin, a fmall pair of grey eyes, funk pretty deep into the head, and about half a hundred of whitish bairs decorating each venerable temple. Mifs Deborah then is one of thofe excellent characters, whofe fenfibility is tempered by the most ineffable difcretion, fo as never to be permitted to betray her into any indecorums, or hurry her into any unfashionable perturbations; except only in fuch cafes where felf happens to be particularly interefted. Of fine feelings, *This gentleman, how strange foever it may appear, procured his wife by his abilities in his profeffion; the having been fo charmed with his eloquence in pleading a cause when she was in court, that the immediately refolved to difinifs a noble fuitor, at that time, very urgent for the honour of her hand, in his favour. 'And fo, mifs,' faid the noble lord, with farcaftic emphafis, you refufe a coronet to be the lady of a barrifter! Yes, my lord,' replied the, with great fpirit and vivacity, for a man of fenfe,' any thing indeed indeed fhe will often talk in terms of the molt eloquent admiration; but it is eafy to difcover that hers, with no other exceptions than fuch as are hinted above, are entirely abforbed by the more noble principle of philofophy. Indeed, the dignity and tranquillity of her mind have never been known to be disturbed, either by the indifpofitions or difafters of even her nearest relations. She never mortified the unfortunate by impertinent and common-place confolations, ncr, by vifiting them in the time of calamity, infulted them by the unavoidable comparison between their fallen, and her own flourishing fituation. She never teafed the fick by reiterated enquiries; nor difturbed their flumber by her anxious care to adminifter the drugs of the apothecary. But the difcharged her duty by morning and evening enquiries. And this (by her proxies) the regularly performed, with the most benevolent impartiality; whether the patient were a fifter philofopher, or a lap-dog; an afthmatic relation, or a moulting paroquet. But as for hovering over the couch of death, with tears or endearments, and thus rendering the expiring more unwilling to relinquish lite, by proofs of friendship and expreflions of regret, this is a weakness fhe has never been, guilty of, fince the time when her father lay languishing of his laft illnefs; and the had reason to fear he would make his will more in favour of her brother than herself. The philofophic dignity of her character is, however, foftened by a peculiar attention to all the graces of drefs, and all the arts and manners, which conftitute a principal part of the allurements of youthful beauty. In fhort, fhe has the higheft veneration for the foft and amiable feafon of youth, and nothing fo certainly roufes the generous warmth and indignation of her mind, as any flattering infinuation of her having attained the more honourable period of life, when wifdom and experience are fuppofed to fuperfede the agreeable levity of the vernal feason. REFLECTIONS ON HAPPINESS. T HE acquifition of happiness has occupied the best thoughts of the best minds, of every age and nation. It is the fupreme with of every human being; and much enquiry has been made, by wife men of every defcription, what it is, and where it is to be found? To folve this Gordian knot, every expedient has been tried; yet, in how few inftances have they fucceeded! But, however few have been the examples of it, ftill it has been attained: it does exift; and can be attefted elfe, why did the Creator of the ends of the earth fo deeply implant the defire of it in every human breaft? The paucity of its examples arifes not fo much from the impoffibility of its acquifition, as from the wrong purfuits in which it has been fought, and from human folly. The truth feems to be, that it may be found, in various proportions, in all conditions of life, though not with equal eafe in all. It is to be found in riches, if content, especially if both content ard thankfulness, be added to abundance, and benevolence be confidered as an indispensable duty of life. But if fought in pomp, luxury, or avarice, it can no more be found in riches, than in its most abject oppofite. It is alfo to be found in vifdom and knowledge, if the defire of excelling be moderated, and prefent degrees of it be enjoyed, and applied to practical purpofes. The rich by doing good, and the wife by communicating knowledge, may poffefs a fund of pleasure and enjoyment, and feel inexpreffible fatisfaction. What is this? It is certainly neither wretchedness nor mifery. Happiness is likewife to be found in power, when exercifed, not to augment dominion, but to excite to noble acts, good or P 2 der,' der, and wife regulations; to defend THO verty. As the rich are not the most happy, fo neither are the poor the molt wretched. Decent poverty has many bleffings peculiar to itself, to which affluence is a stranger. In this path, the wisest and best of men, in every age, have walked. Piety, wifdom, and excellence, have adorned it with transcendent eminence! It is, perhaps, for want of comparative views, that we so often lofe fight of the peculiar advantages of every state of life, and thence fo often murmur and complain. Let all, then, rest affured of one great truth, that in every flation of life-Godliness, with contentment, is great gain! · MORALIS. On CONJUGAL AFFECTION: A Rhapsody. SHAKSPEARE. fancy, and inftruction, when the refources of my mind have been exhaufted by continued exertion, or wearinefs and laffitude would have rendered the volumes of written information tedious and difgufting. Nay, fince the grand object of all study is rather to teach the scholar to think, than to put him in poffeffion of what others have thought, I do not know whether there may not, at times, be more profit attained by the indulgence of this pleafing fpecies of ftudy, than the mere dead letter of books can be expected to impart at least, if we fuppofe a tolerable stock of folid information previoufly attained. Such tricks have strong imaginations. HOSE perfons, of warm and active imaginations, who are alfo lovers of the arts, and indulge themselves frequently in contemplating the ingenious productions of the pencil or the graver, muft have had frequent opportunities of obferving the affiftance which thefe performances contribute to ferious or to tender meditaion, and how often the contemplation of a picture will lead the mind to objects far beyond those, the imitation of which is immediately prefented to the fenfes, till the whole real or probable circumstances of the history or fiction fo partially exhibited by the artist, become prefent to the view; with the addition, not unfrequently, of all the fanciful or fentimental embellishments, which the poet or the moralift would have given to the tale. For my own part, I confefs myfelf fo ftrongly under the influence of this kind of magic, that a painting or an engraving has often furnished the materials of almoft a whole day's, perhaps not unprofitable, meditation; and a printshop, or a picture-gallery, has opened new veins of fentiment, 5 ▾ But not to dwell upon this fubject, I fhall immediately turn to the object of this effay, which is no other than the meditations produced in my own mind by the contemplation of a drawing, which fell in my way just after perufing an effay in the Univerfal Magazine of the laft month, and with which it fo agreeably coincided. Calling the other day at the house of an intimate friend, at a time when he was particularly engroffed by fome important |