and human nature, rendered him a very incompetent judge of the best method to be pursued for that purpose. The generality of his friends advised him to enter into parliament, in which situation they assured him his great talents would shine with peculiar lustre. But Sir Charles was a better judge of the character of a good statesman than his advisers. He saw an evident impropriety in being the representative of a country, and a despiser of the religion established by its laws. Other friends suggested how useful he might render himself by engaging in some literary pursuit, where his extensive knowledge might be displayed for the benefit of the community at large. But the acquisition of knowledge was more congenial to Sir Charles's disposition than the dispensing of it. At length some gentlemen in his neighbourhood made him a proposal, with which he instantly closed, and which engaged his attention and approbation in an uncommon degree.

A manufactory for woollen-cloth had long been wished for in the neighbouring town, but for want of pecuniary aid, the wish had been hitherto unproductive of any effect. The immense fortune enjoyed by Sir Charles removed this impediment, for he entered with the greatest alacrity into the scheme, and undertook the largest share of the necessary expenditures. The

praises bestowed on him for his benevolent assistance in this undertaking were unbounded, and indeed he deserved them. It was a project worthy of an exalted and liberal mind, and in all the transaction, generosity and disinterested kindness distinguished Sir Charles.

But let us now turn to the humble friend whose prayers and ardent wishes followed his young master to the University. The learning of a college, new acquaintances, and new pursuits, had not obliterated, from the mind of the noble youth, the recollection of his honest adviser Roger Trusty. He was well pleased that his cottage and nursery-grounds were within half a mile of his own mansion, since that circumstance afforded him a frequent opportunity of seeing him, a satisfaction he had enjoyed from his earliest years, for Mr. D---'s house, in which Sir Charles had resided from the death of his father to his removal to the University, was not very remote. He frequently spent an hour in conversation with the man he had, from infancy, esteemed. And we propose in our next, to relate what passed between Sir Charles and Roger Trusty on one of those opportunities.

CHAP. IV.

How far peculiar Circumstances may justify Familiarity with Inferiors, the Readers are requested to consider, and we hope they will, in this Case, be of the Author's Opinion. A Conversation between Sir Charles and Roger Trusty.

'A

GENTLEMAN of rank and learning condescend to hold long conversations with an ignorant, low-bred gardener!" exclaims the reader. "The idea is extravagant and absurd; the principal character so degraded, we will lay the book instantly aside." But we must intreat this may not be the case, at least, till we have offered some apology for the conduct reprobated. Far be it from our wish (were the thing practicable) to abolish the distinctions which Providence, and the rules of society have established, or to encourage the love of low. company in the mind of youth. This would, indeed, be productive of serious evils, so obvious to every thinking mind, that they need not to be enumerated. In the present instance, we wish

to apply the old proverb---" There are no rules without exception." The peculiar circumstances (already related) under which Roger Trusty was first known to Sir Charles, will, we think, render his condescension in his boyish years unreproachable.

On his return from College, Roger was the first to congratulate him. He had, during Sir Charles's absence, bestowed unsolicited attention to many of his favourite shrubs and trees which otherwise would have perished; and surely it is no mark of an ignoble mind, to be grateful for services received éven from an inferior. Sir Charles had strong feelings, and he found it impossible to treat with reserve, a man he had been, from the first moment of recollection accustomed to esteem. The character, too, of Roger Trusty was of no common cast; his intellectual powers were very good, and had he possessed the advan tages of education, he might have made a consi-* derable figure in the learned world. But his youthful and mature studies were confined to two objects---the book of God, and the book of human nature. Those who understand and attend to these two important volumes, will make no great mistake in their actions. Since from their knowledge of the first they have à just rule of conduct pointed out for themselves, and from their acquaintance with the latter, they are

taught to practise a prudential circumspection in their intercourse with the world.

The sagacity and foresight of Roger Trusty were proverbial; he was consulted, by his neighbours on all questions of moment, and intricacy; by his arbitration he healed numerous breaches, and by his prudent advice prevented many misfortunes. Had he lived in the days of superstition, he would have been accounted a conjuror, and perhaps have fallen a victim to his superior wisdom. The conversation of such a man could not be low and vulgar, especially as he had never associated with persons of that description. His dialect, though simple, was free from every species of vulgarity; and his just discrimination of the proper behaviour which was due to every person, rendered him pleasing to all.

In confidence that these united considerations will more than justify Sir Charles, we now proceed to state the conversation alluded to. " is your

"What, Roger," said Sir Charles, "is opinion of this new scheme of mine, in establishing a manufactory?"

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I think very highly of it, sir," he replied, "for there is nothing like giving poor folks employment; it is better, a great deal, than maintaining them without work: and in the manufactory you propose, there will be employment for women and children, as well as men. But I