of the lion and the man; but since the ladies have become authors, they can take their revenge, were they not too generous for such a passion. Though they have learnt to paint, their sketches of man are gentle and kind.

But if the ladies were what surly misanthropes call them, who is to blame?-Is it not we who spoil-who corrupt-who seduce them?

Is it surprising that a pretty woman should be vain when we daily praise to her face her charms, her taste, and her wit? Can we blame her vanity when we tell her, that nothing can resist her attractions-that there is nothing so barbarous which she cannot soften-nothing so elevated that she cannot subdue; when we tell her that her eyes are brighter than day, that her form is fairer than summer more refreshing than spring; that her lips are vermilion; that her skin combines the whiteness of the lily with the incarnation of the rose?

Do we censure a fine woman as frivolous, when we unceasingly tell her that no other study becomes her but that of varying her pleasures; that she requires no talent but for the arrangement of new parties; no ideas beyond the thought of the afternoon's amusement? Can we blame her frivolity when we tell her, that her hands were not made to touch the needle, or to soil their whiteness in domestic employments?

Can we blame her frivolity when we tell her, that the look of seriousness chases from her cheek the dimple, in which the loves and the graces wanton; that reflection clouds her brow with care, and that she who thinks, sacrifices the smile that makes beauty charm, and the gaiety that renders wit attractive?

How can a pretty woman fail to be ignorant, when the first lesson she is taught is, that beauty supersedes and dispenses with every other quality, that all she needs to know is, that she is pretty; that to be intelligent, is to be pedantic, and that to be more learned than one's neighbour is to incur the reproach of absurdity and affectation?

Shall we blame her for being a coquette, when the indiscriminate flattery of every man teaches her, that the homage of one is as good as that of another? It is the same darts, the same flames, the same beaux, the same coxcombs. The man of sense, when he attempts to compliment, recommends the art of the beau, since he condescends to do with awkwardness what a monkey can do with grace. With all she is a goddess, and to her all men are equally mortals. How can she prefer when there is no merit, or be constant when there is no superiority?

Is she capricious? Can she be otherwise when she hears that the universe must be proud to

wait her commands; that the utmost of a lover's hopes is to be the humblest of her slaves; that to fulfil the least of her commands is the highest ambition of her adorers?

And are women so unjust as to censure the idols made by their own hands? Let us be just; let us begin the work of reformation. When men cease to flatter, women will cease to deceive; when men are wise, women will be wise to please.

The ladies do not force the taste of the men; they only adapt themselves to it; they may corrupt, and be corrupted; they may improve, and be improved.

JOHN DENNIS.

From a MS. Collection in the Hand-writing of the late Dr. Lyon.

THE 15th instant (April 1734) died the celebrated critic Mr. John Dennis. This gentleman had certainly great merit in the commonwealth of learning, but was unhappy from some peculiarities that his disappointments in the world had seemed to make almost natural to his temper, at least as some were of opinion, who made but small allowances for his unhappy circumstances, His talents, in short, created

him many enemies among the small wits and minor poets, who, in some sort, made it a common cause to depress a judgment of which they had reason to be afraid. If, however, he had causelessly or unjustly offended any one, the wretched circumstances through which he had struggled, to a tedious, an indigent and helpless old age, was a revenge which the most exasperated mind could not wish to its worst enemy : and it will be always remembered, to the praise of two or three gentlemen of exalted genius as well as humanity, that they could overloook his little failings, and do him real benefit, for the sake of his greater excellencies. The political writings of this unhappy gentleman, together with several MSS. which never appeared, manifest his steady love to his country, and strict adherence to the Protestant interest. As to his other pieces, let better judges give them their due character; we shall only add, that we think he may be called the last classic wit of King Charles's reign.

DUKE OF SULLY IN ENGLAND.

WHEN King Henry IV, sent the Duke of Sully to England in the year 1604, to compliment King James upon his coming to the crown,

it happened that the King of England, at the same time, gave a passage to the Constable of Castille and the ambassador which the Archduke Albert had on his part joined. He had ordered vessels for the conveyance of all these ministers, and had given orders to Robert Mansell, who had a command, to give a passage to the ambassadors of Spain and the Archduke, as Vice-admiral Turner had orders to pass the Duke of Sully. This last having arrived at Calais before the others were at Gravelines, where they were to be landed, would oblige Mansell to transport him in his vessel to Dover, and not being able to obtain it by reason of the contrary orders the English had, he entered into the ordinary passage-boat, and put himself in the way of passage. As soon as he arrived in the open sea, he caused the flag of France to be hoisted; but Mansell, believing that it was the intention of the Duke to brave that of the King of England, ordered the gunner to advertise the Duke by the discharge of one of his cannon without ball; and seeing that he took no notice thereof, with the second shot with ball he caused the flag to be battered. The Duke of Sully, on his arrival at the Court of England, where he had many friends, would make a noise, but received not the least reparation, all people commending the resolution.

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Mansell