customed to quaff your nectar, that it has become insipid to me; but I have persuaded thousands to drink so deeply of it as to produce complete intoxication."

He then looked up to Philosophy with a vivacious air, and thus expressed his pretensions to her favour: —“ All beauteous Idol, behold thy warmest advocate, who comes to lay the wreath of genius at thy feet. 'Tis to thy irresistible influence, O Philosophy! that I owe the success of my endeavours to immoralize Europe! I have disseminated thy doctrine among the higher classes of mankind, many of whom have adored thee as their tutelary Divinity; by my ridicule of religion, and the artful exhibition of sensuality, under the guise of nobleness of mind, I have at once effected the depravation of taste and morals. In Germany, France, and England, my Dramas have, in co-operation with Deism and Atheism, turned the current of popular opinion in thy favor. In France I found but little difficulty to establish my sentiments, as that nation has ever preferred pompous processions and extra-, vagant ideas to simplicity and good sense; but in England I met, and still continue to meet, with several obstacles, among a people who have hitherto been accustomed to consider the passions as the auxiliaries of Virtue. The genius of my translatois, however, has partly triumphed over the obstinate taste of their countrymen, and prejudice is vanishing before thy effulgence.'

The Goddess replied, "My dear KOTZEBUE, thou hast been an active and indefatigable servantreceive thy reward. She then touched him with her sceptre, and his raiment was suddenly changed

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to a purple robe, bestudded with brilliants, Fashion then led him to a seat beside that of his coun

tryman.

Several other candidates for reward now came forward, among whom I recognized PAINE, and a celebrated modern Lyrist. The Goddess them gave all a most gracious reception, but she conferred par ticular honours on the facetious Bard. "Welcome," said she," my witty, my incomparable son; to thy genius am I indebted for the progress of my power in Britain. Thy more than Orphean Lyre has transformed many who were formerly discreet into satyrs of dissipation. Fashion, crown thy favourite Poet with his well earned laurel, and let the wreath be sufficiently thick to defend his venerable head from the cane of an insolent adversary. Place him beside his illustrious compeer KOTZEBUE."

A whimsical-looking individual, apparently toxicated, now approached the throne. I discovered that he was a Senator, who had written a Romance which was prejudicial to the cause of virtue, The Goddess beckoned to Sophistry, who conducted him to a seat beside the Poet.

A party of females now entered the Temple.Their dress was in the extreme of the mode; each wore a wig, and seemed to take a pride in the exposure of the neck and bosom. One of the train bore a standard, with this inscription, EQUALITY OF THE SEXES. The air of self-sufficiency, the broad and scrutinizing stare, the authoritative brow and masculine stride of these ladies, excited my surprise; and although I did not see any offensive weapons, I fancied for a moment that they were a detachment of Amazons, (See Frontispiece)

Their Leader thus addressed the Goddess :"We are come, O celestial Philosophy, to worship in thy Temple! to prefer our vows, and supplicate thy inspiration. We have formed a new class of intelligent beings, and are known by the denomination of FEMALE PHILOSOPHERS. Our enemies have stigmatized us with the name of Voluptuaries, because we inculcate the unrestrained indulgence of the passions, and invite mankind to enjoy the pleasures of life; but the feeble opposition of our calumniators must shrink into non-existence before the enchanting delights which thou hast prepared for thy votaries. To prove our claim to thy protection, we have disseminated thy principles by every means which wit uld suggest or genius promote. We have written Poems, Romances, and Novels, for this purpose, and translated every work that we conceived would tend to inflame the heart and corrupt the morals of others, and we have been success→ ful beyond our most sanguine hopes. It remains for thee, O beloved Philosophy, to reward us ac cording to our respective merits; and when each claimant has detailed her labours in thy service, there is little doubt but thou wilt at least place us upon an equality with the other sex, and realize out long-wished for love of power."

When this fair orator concluded her speech, another female advanced with a most graceful and theatric air, but she was prevented from the exertion of her eloquence by the Goddess, who expressed her approbation of the party with smiles of triumph. "Glorious æra!" she exclaimed; "when Woman has assumed her natural equality, and demonstrated that "the love of pleasure and the love of sway" pre

dominates in every exalted female mind. Yes, my beautiful votaries, you shall be placed upon an equality with your admirers, who sit at my right hand. There is no necessity for each of you to mention her claims, for, though I have long been convinced of the eloquence of the sex, and doubt not that your orations on this occasion would fill a folio volume, I would recommend it to you to reserve your rhetoric to persuade your husbands, lovers, and mankind at large, of my superior title to their devo

tion."

Although the Ladies seemed disappointed at not being permitted to speak successively, yet when Sophistry conducted them to a seat equally elevated with that of the Male Philosophers, and when they surveyed the superb canopy above their heads, 1 could observe their eyes sparkle with pleasure.

These distinguished Female Philosophers being seated, Sophistry addressed the motley throng who filled the area before the throne, and whom I discovered, by their discourse, to be Pamphleteers, who had writen in favour of the Goddess.

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"Beloved Auxiliaries!" cried Sophistry, of you shall go unrewarded. Philosophy is ever be

neficent to her adorers. You shall- -." Here she was interrupted by a confused noise from without, and a female, called Terror, rushed into the Temple, vociferating, with frantic gestures, "The enemy is coming!" These dreadful sounds produced dismay throughout the Assembly. Even the Goddess trembled on her throne, and all her worshippers seemed thunderstruck. A vivid splendour now illumined the portico, and the next moment RELIGION entered. Her stature was tall, her

countenance majestic and serene; a diadem of the three hues of the rainbow surrounded her head, and her robe was light azure of the most delicate tint of the celestial regions, whence she had descended. On her right appeared her faithful attendant Truth, who held a burning glass in her left hand, and a fiery sword in her right. The other attendant of Religion was Morality, who appeared on her left, clothed in white, and holding in her left hand a Bible, into which she looked with reverential love.

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Religion now approached the throne of her enemy, and, with a voice at once melodious and impressive, thus addressed the Assembly:- Unhappy beings, yourenmity against me has effected your own destruction. By embracing the delusive pleasures of Sensuality, whom you misnamed Philosophy, your minds are incapacitated for the enjoyment of my simple but permanent delights; it only remains, in obedience to the dictates of immutable justice, that you should be punished for your impious writings, which have misled such numbers of your fellowcreatures. Advance, O Truth! my faithful attendant, and with thy resistless sword destroy these soul-slayers, and let their influence cease from this

Truth instantly touched the throne of the NEW PHILOSOPHY with her fiery sword, and a wonderful metamorphosis took place throughout the Temple. Philosophy fell from her throne, and was changed into a viper; the metaphysician was transformed into a mole; the dramatist into a goat; and the other sages into monkeys of different kinds. The female philosophers were changed into parrots,