the multitude, and of unquestionable prejudice to the acknowledged interests of society in general—instigating all sorts of sullen or furious passions by magnifying ordinary evils-inflaming and directing them by malicious insi¬ nuations against the probity, prudence, and even the persons of those whom it is their bounden duty to respect, to obey, and to honour in their authority -urging violent counsels upon the heated tempers of ill-informed, and therefore often discontented people-corrupting the simplicity of some by false notions of their calling and qualifications-tempting the credulity of others by images of eventual elevation-stimulating the pride of one class by allurements of personal grandeur-goading the poverty of another by incentives of cupidity filling the heart of every giddy or profligate adventurer, with the passionate desire of popular distinction-directing every knave through the pursuit of it-iuciting on all sides the natural lust of power, to declare openly against all systems of dependence or subordination—preaching up an undefined good, (as they call it) as the effect and reward of a general concurrence in a scheme of opposition to all that is "lawful and right," and ridiculing or proscribing for fools and cowards, those who refuse to contribute their example to convert the nation altogether into a people of malefactors?

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If the detection of these writers in acts of this kind should excite, as it. justly might excite, the suspicion, and more than the suspicion, of their innocence, by betraying these evil designs against our social system; we hope that you will rise still higher, and with the conscious security of your escape from the present danger of the surprise meditated against you, ask yourselves, what these writers promise themselves by imposing their antisocial and perilous doctrines upon you, in the name, too, of what they call, the "Constitution of England," as if the privation and possession were the same thing! we shall then be ready to assist in the developement of this question; and we think we shall be able to shew you, that some of these persons would write, (that one has writ) with equal indifference on either side of any subject, provided only, that some agitation shall be produced: that others, like Demetrius, only pursue " the craft" by which they live, and care little though you be poisoned in the way: but that there are some who promise themselves something, which they are so convinced that you would refuse to aid them in acquiring, if you had your wits about you, and suspected them of aiming at it, that they would keep it if they could for a certain time, as sacred as the apple of their eye, for they reveal it only, and that by a sort of mute intelligence, to long initiated and kindred spirits. Their secret is hid from distant, and not very curious observers; but it has not escaped the penetration of keener and more vigilant attention. You are all a means, and they would make you all panders to the pleasure, profit, and fortune of their scheme-necessary instruments in their machinery-excellentTM puppets for their exhibition: and if we are right in our scent of the mischief, you may serve to hunt their game, though you are not destined to fatten að their banquet: those among you who have empty bellies, which they pro

ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE,

mise to fill at the end of the chace to which they instigate you, may crave the very husks of the little food you can procure now, and you will be repelled or betrayed by your pretended patrons if even they should survive the scene you would have helped them to produce. You are all, all, in the eye of their mischief: how can it appear to be less, if it should appear, as it will, that they comprehend in the scheme of their malice every party, faction, sect and schism; every order, division, and individual in the country, whom they can by any art compound together for the purpose of promoting, if they cannot at once unite with the hope of accomplishing, the unanimity which they would direct to objects of general revolutionary tu mult? We hope you will at length ask yourselves, what you have to do with such blind guides? and we doubt not that you will finally discover that among the most subtle arts of these blind guides' contrivance, the chief has been to make you as blind as themselves, and that the most probable event will be, that both will fall into the same pit together. It might be well, there, fore, to remind you, that though it is not always impossible to retrace the steps which have led to the brink of a precipice, it is never possible to redeem that which has plunged you headlong into its gulph.

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17.

We wish you to be assured, that our desire to arm you against the intrigues of all this designing and self-interested crew, does not render us insensible or indifferent to any of those grievances, inconveniencies, or evils in general of your present condition, which appear to be remediable by honest and regular means. We are very far from pretending any necessity, or any less imposing reason, to curtail any of the possible means of your acquiring innocent and useful knowledge, upon any subject in the consideration of which you may be interested, and to the understanding of which you have any aptitude or qualification whatever. Truth is truth from whatever pen it issues: and though the company in which we find it will sometimes make it appear less respectable, we must remember that its authority is never degraded. There are some writers of popular addresses, (as a late fugitive, for instance, who is said still to fire his rifle from behind his transatlantic entrenchments,) who together with lies, misrepresentations, mistakes, contradictions, and malicious insinuations, mix many sound, useful, excellent and incontrovertible maxims upon almost every subject. In all these writers, there is some sterling, with mụch base coin. Be it our mutual endeavour to distinguish one from the other-it is all we desire or counsel, for though it does signify, with what design a truth is exhibited, it does not signify from what source it issues, if you will take it only for its own sake.

It would ill become us, just bursting into existence, to raise ourselves in front of these veteran Goliah's of the age, in this arena of their contests: but whenever we are able to see our way far enough to illustrate any profitable truth which may be on either side, we hope that under the constant influence of good and right intentions, we shall be able at length to extri cate it from the errors with which impatient opposition on both sides had obscured or overwhelmed it.

To CORRESPONDENTS.

The letter signed "Seek-Truth", has been received-though well written, it is less an enquiry after truth, than a defence of infidelity; and as there is an air of sophistry in it, which might tend to embarrass the minds and perplex the understandings of some of our readers, we will not countenance an attempt to seduce the unwary, even though our refusal should cost us a charge of partiality or prejudice.

We are convinced that it is only by fair and open disquisition that religi ous truths can be elicited; but there is not a line in our prospectus, which can justly lead infidels to believe, even from our own assertions and professions, that we are, in their mode of thinking, impartial enough, or, as we should say, wicked enough, to give publicity to a communication, which could for a moment disturb the minds of the credulous. We are ready and glad to insert any well written production, on subjects connected with Revealed Religion, let its particular doctrines be what they may, and whether from a Member of the Established Church, or from a Separatist; for few men are more free from that prejudice which has divided mankind into sects, and made many schismatics, than we are so far, indeed, from rejecting religious contributions, on the score of bias, which is common to sectarists in all countries, and at all times, we invite their appearance, being thoroughly persuaded that a fair and candid discussion on these points, will lead to a general union, in support of social order, and a confirmed disgust for those irreligious characters, who, under the guise of patriotism, seek to undermine the best and truest interests of religion; creeping, unseen, like moles, only to rise and astonish the world by the distance they have travelled, and the devastation they have made.

We would, if possible, avoid the charge of partiality in every instance, and above all, the imputation of being bigoted in religious matters; but, if attachment to the religion, for which our ancestors bled and burned, be bigotry, we confess ourselves bigots in the most extended sense of the term. Huudreds have become martyrs to religion in this metropolis, and their memory is revered by thousands; yet infidels and sceptics laugh and call them bigots: -those martyrs died to rid the church of improper doctrines, and they died nobly; but the cause in which we have embarked is still more noble than theirs. The modern enemies of religion do not attack this or that church, but all they do not condemn this or that religious doctrine, but. every doctrine that savours of revealed religion. Such are the new lights of the world, which, if followed, will lead us into darkness-like the ignuus fatuus, en*icing us o'er field and fold, to plunge us headlong down the precipice.

While we have hearts to feel-minds to discern-and hands to write, we will expose their infamy; and we would desire no higher honour, than to seal with our blood, the cause which we have embraced. Let all professed friends to this good and glorious cause, be but as sincere as we are, and infidels and

SKETCHES FROM REAL LIFE.

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blasphemers must soon "hide their diminished heads" in bitterness and

confusion.

We have to acknowledge several communications which are now under consideration.

MODERN PATRIOTISM.

In an age so surprisingly fertile in unaccountable productions, we must not wonder at any thing we behold: we have wonderful Philanthropists-wonderful Doctors-wonderful Pigs-and still more wonderful-WONDERFUL PATRIOTS!

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In France, they call impudence, good breeding: in Italy, profligacy is named gallantry; in Spain, they call hypocrisy, gravity; in America, the good citizens keep only one side of their books, and this they call prudence; and in England, we have a turbulent and mischievous spirit, which is called patriotism, MODERN PATRIOTISM! Every nation has some ruling vice or folly, of which it is sensible, and seeks to conceal its coarseness by a false dress, as the haggard prostitute lays a coat of paint upon her cheek to hide the ravages of want and drunkenness. Pretenders of the present day, scorning the plain and uncultivated hardihood of their ancestors, have effrontery enough to call downright impudence, necessary confidence; and noisy dec lamation, honest patriotism. These fellows have as much idea of patriotism, as the French Inn-keeper's daughter had of glory-on being told that the peace was productive of emolument to her father, she replied, "Oh pour cela oui Mons.? il ne nous manque pas d'argent, mais nous n'avons plus de gloire" "we do not want money, but we have lost our glory"-The wordglory, was very pretty in the mouth of a pretty chambermaid, though she knew nothing about it; and patriotism, in that of a sturdy demagogue, issuing from lungs, like those of a Stentor, charms the vulgar, and imposes upon the multitude. The two leading orators of the Ugly Club, are Will Frothy and TOM SOLID. Frothy, in his speeches, makes a great noise about nothing, and Solid says a great deal, without making any noise at all. The difference of their taste is as conspicuous as that of their manners. If a bottle of stout is placed before them, Frothy takes the head, which makes a fine appearance on his lips; and Solid, who is for every thing substantial, drinks the porter. Sam Funny, another member of the Club, who tries to be witty, at the expense of his neighbours, and calls himself a bit of a patriot-says, that the porter resembles the good old patriotism of past times; while the froth is exactly like that of our new pretenders.

MODERN PATRIOTISM, like modern wit, is related to its ancestors, only in about a thousandth degree; for it has been so bastardized from one generation to another, that it has not now a single feature of its first parent. Pa triotism was veneration for the office of the king, and reverence for the laws; it was, in short, attachment to the constitution--It is now,-what? Abuse of sovereignty, and contempt for the laws. True patriotism, convinced that th●

counterpoise and equipoise of the three branches of delegated power, were essentially necessary for the observance of order and the maintenance of national reputation, supported the executive power in all things proper; it was open, candid, liberal, and honest. Modern patriotism is more refined; and sensible of the trouble that must attend an investigation of right or wrong, and the sacrifices that arise from impartiality, is all on one side, and thus spares itself the pains of changing its tone or its argument, according to the varying circumstances of the times. The antagonists which modern patriotism requires, are the ministers-good or bad.—The objects which it attacks are the administration of the laws, and the adoption of new modes, right or wrong: its greatest foe is good order, and its greatest detestation, REVEALED RELIGION. Does a minister speak?-Have a caré says patriotism, he is picking your pocket. Does a prince address his people?-Fairly and softly, says patriotism,—he is humbugging you. Moderu patriotism is-in short what is it not that is vile, base, and infamous?

And what are MODERN PATRIOTS?-Is a merchant unfortunate in commercial speculation?—He condemns the government, as the authors of that calamity which they have not had power to prevent ;-addresses, petitions, and memorials, expecting others to re-imburse sums which fortuitous circumstances have wrested from him, and on learning that ministers cannot interfere for his advantage, he is irritated, and becomes a patriot, hoping to retrieve his fortune by abuse and scandal.

Is a man unsuccessful in trade? He blames the times, and then discovering that they are influenced by the minister; corruption, says he, (for with the modern patriot, corruption and ministers are the same thing) has ruined me? -thus he becomes a patriot.

Is a man drunken, dissolute, or abandoned, and does he sometimes feel the consequence of his errors?-instead of blaming his own imprudence,-the times are bad, says he, taxes are enormous, and the duty on liquors amounts almost to a prohibition: he bestows a hearty curse upon the chancellor of the exchequer, and turns patriot. These are your common patriots, who harrangue the multitude, kick up brawls in the streets, break the glasses in taverns and public houses, and think all men infamous but themselves. Then comes your literary patriot, and what is he? A disappointed author, who, after having spun his brain until he has worn all the nap from his small clothesdesperate in circumstances, becomes desperate in resolution, and tempts fortune, at the risk of a dungeon. To hear him talk, you would think him an angel-to read his writings you would think him a hero, and yet he is neither the one nor the other; but a poor disappointed wretch, who would rather see the kingdom in a blaze, than go without the means of blazing his own spirits by a glass at the ale house.

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Your MODERN PATRIOT is not formed like another man; for though his gait, and shape may resemble those of others, he differs much from the rest of. mankind in the eyes, mouth, and ears. A patriot can hear nothing against.