DIALOGUE BETWEEN CREDULITY AND SUPERSTITION. Credulity. IF your countenance, madam, be an index of your disposition, you will pardon the liberty I take in addressing you. Superstition. Civility is always sure to command respect, even when our wishes cannot obtain gratification. Credulity. I have frequently seen you in public places, at the church, in the conventicle, among Catholics and Protestants, in religious associations, at the ball-room, the theatre, in private families, and in political parties, and hence conclude that you must be a lady of large acquaintance. Superstition. I would not attempt to insinuate that your remarks are unjust, yet I cannot but infer from your observations, that your visits have not been less numerous and diversified than my own, and that your acquaintance must be at least equally as extensive as mine, and perhaps not more select. I readily admit that I have visited all the companies you mention, and many others that you have not named. I have travelled much on islands and continents, and I believe there is not a nation upon earth in which I have not many friends. Credulity. By using the term believe, which you have twice repeated, I am not without apprehensions that you invade my territories, and enter a province which I have hitherto considered as my exclusive right. Superstition. Your remarks awaken my curiosity, and I shall feel obliged by being made acquainted with your name and family connexions. Credulity. My name is Credulity, and notwithstanding my appearance, I am descended from an honourable ancestry. My father's name is Sophistry, and he is well known in every community throughout the whole civilized world. In the senate, the pulpit, and at the bar, he has at times held a conspicuous rank; and to the assistance which he has rendered to many eminent orators, they owe no small portion of that celebrity for which they are so renowned. In deciding political questions, he has sometimes been known to whisper with the judges on the bench; and in both houses of parliament he has long had a seat. My mother's name was Faith, who, during her pregnancy, was seized with an alarming fever, that brought on a temporary delirium, which terminated in fits of occasional insanity. It was during one of these paroxysms that I was born, and it has been my misfortune to inherit the frailties of both my parents. I have many relations in various parts of the world, some of whom I rarely see; but there are others with whom I keep up a regular correspondence. In addition to these, I have several private friends, who, though they disown me in public, caress me with much kindness in our private interviews. Haying thus replied to your question without the least reserve, permit me to solicit from you a return of the favour? Her Superstition. My name is Superstition, and my ancestors, from time immemorial, have resided in the valley of Apprehension. This place is covered with perpetual fogs, through which distant objects can be but indistinctly seen, while those that are near are perceived in frightful distortion. The vale is also surrounded by mountains, that nearly prevent the inhabitants from holding any intercourse with the rest of mankind. My father's name is Fear; he is a man weak in body, and naturally of a timid disposition, through which he is subject to constant alarms, that present terrifying objects to his affrighted imagination. My mother's name is Error. Her understanding was constitutionally feeble, and unfortunately her mental powers were never improved by education. person, however, was thought handsome by the inhabitants of the valley, and in her youthful days she had many admirers, among whom Laziness, Profligacy, and Impudence avowed themselves as her most affectionate lovers. Fear, however, was the object of her choice; and I have been informed that she preferred him to all his rivals, on account of his domesticated habits, and communicative disposition. I have two brothers, one of whom is named Fanaticism. In his infancy he was sprightly and promising, but advancing to maturity he became insane, and in one of his mad freaks he burnt the Alexandrian library; for many years he has been wandering throughout the world without having any fixed habitation. The name of my other brother is Bigotry, of whom I have no dily believe whatever is told me, I frequently lose through forgetfulness the advantages that I derive from communications. Superstition. I shall be happy to give you all the gratification in my power, I therefore beg that without any hesitation you will propose your question. Credulity. You observed that you had "seen both Bigotry and Enthusiasm in convocations, visitations, and annual meetings, and have traced them in their respective marches, from the palace of the bishop to the hamlet of the clown." The impression made on my mind by this remark is, that you must have accompanied your brother and sister in each of their interviews and excursions. Superstition. In all their travels and exploits I have been, with few exceptions, their invariable companion. Without my presence, my brother would have little influence, and my sister would lose her charms. I have a magic wand, which, though invisible to vulgar eyes, I extend over the congregations that assemble. This awes rebellion into submission, imposes silence on opposition, and takes all power from resistance. We form no preconcerted schemes, but, following the dictates of one common instinct that is peculiar to our family, we accompany each other as a shadow follows its substance, and impart mutual assistance by the unison with which we act. doubt you have often heard, his character being well known, and the pages of history are filled with his marvellous exploits. His learning is very considerable. He has visited all the universities in Europe, and in councils and synods his voice has commanded homage. While on his travels he visited Rome, where, ascending through all the gradations of office, he was honoured with a cardinal's hat, and on several occasions he has been called to the papal chair. Dressed in all the insignia of office, he was for a considerable time in habits of intimacy with the British monarchs; and although for a season, in the days of Henry VIII. his reputation suffered severely, and he could no longer appear in public, yet, on changing his raiment, he walked about in disguise, and was kindly received by his numerous friends. Sometimes he has appeared in the garb of war, and at others he has assumed that of theology. He has always had the art of accommodating himself to circumstances, and by these means has contrived to burn the Palatinate, to murder the Huguenots, and to light up the fire in Smithfield. I am sorry, however, to observe, that of late years his authority has been greatly diminished; and if the Bible Society continues much longer, I fear that his influence will be brought to an end. I have also a young sister, whose name is Enthusiasm. She is an active girl, and very religiously inclined, but she possesses a liberal spirit; and, with- Credulity. I am glad to find that out being confined to any particular you have candour to acknowledge the sect, she occasionally visits all, in- favours which you mutually receive fusing into their assemblies an arti- from each other, nor am I disposed to ficial life, which scarcely one among dispute the merits of your venerable them has either the power to resist, or family. Justice, however, compels me magnanimity enough to own. I have to observe, that you hardly seem aware seen both Enthusiasm and Bigotry of the full extent of your obligations. appear in convocations, in visitations, I invariably visit the assemblies to and in annual meetings, and have which you have resorted, and even on traced them in their respective the most humble individual you could marches, from the mitred head to the produce no effect without my assistpale artist and the illiterate clown. ance. Invisible as well as yourself, Pride, also, sometimes arrayed in I am always your companion; and, gaudy, and sometimes in plain, attire, mixing with those on whom you opeis intimately connected with our fa- rate, I present before them an illusive mily. She wasglass, into which they look with eagerCredulity. I am sorry to interruptness, and after gazing for a few mothe interesting narrative with which you have entertained me, but there is one point to which I would beg to call your attention before it escapes my memory, for although I can rea ments, absurdity to them assumes the character of rationality, fictions appear as realities, improbabilities seem reasonable, and even impossibilities put on the garb of truth. In the mean while their ears and mouths are the same reply. Hence, according to insensibly receiving an enlargement, his modes of reasoning, for he was a and by these means they are prepared great logician, if the same characterto believe and swallow whatever Bi-istics apply to two individuals or fagotry dictates, or Superstition recommends. Superstition. I must candidly confess I did not know that we had so powerful an auxiliary, and I am almost inclined to believe that, could we trace our pedigree, we should find ourselves primarily originating in one common stock. I am not intimately acquainted with our family history, but I have understood that my grandmother's name, by my mother's side, was Ignorance, and that the family was exceedingly large. In fact, both my father and mother, I have heard frequently boast of their numerous relations and wealthy kindred, but they have said very little of those that have peopled Newgate, furnished Botany Bay with inhabitants, and supplied Tyburn and the drop with victims. milies, it must follow that these individuals or families are the same. Such was his conclusion, and I never felt any scruple, or made any difficulty, in believing it. Superstition. Whatever doubts may arise from the obscurity of records, or the difficulty of deciphering hieroglyphics, I can perceive in your countenance certain evidences of kindred which physiognomy pronounces to be infallible. I observe that you are short-sighted, that your eye possesses a strong magnifying power, and that it has a peculiar cast. Defectiveness in the organs of vision, through which all objects were either discoloured or indistinctly seen, has through all ages distinguished every branch of our family. Credulity. It also appears that our pursuits and avocations have been much the same, that we have acted in concert without design, and united our talents to extend one common empire; and I am fully satisfied, that while we thus continue to harmonize in our co-operations, we have nothing to fear from revolution or invasion. Credulity. If numbers could be admitted as an evidence of consanguinity, there can be no doubt that we should soon make out the family connexion; but I am not very willing to grant an alliance with Ignorance, when my father was so much renowned for his ingenuity, and for the arts Superstition. Much, however, of of legerdemain which he so success- our success will depend upon the fully practised. I think, however, to concealment of our names, for should remove all uncertainty, we had better we be discovered by the eye of Scruapply to the herald's office, having no tiny, Prejudice would he instantly doubt that we shall there find a satis- called to her aid; and such is her factory solution to every difficulty. influence among mankind, that we Superstition. I have already resorted should be expelled their communities, to that expedient, but was told by and all our efforts would prove aborthose in office, that although they have tive. I would advise you, my dear more applications from the family of friend, to wear one of your mother's Ignorance than from all other branches dresses, such as distinguished her in of the community put together, yet so ancient times; and I have no doubt extensive and complicated are its va- that it will furnish a complete conrious members, that it is scarcely pos- cealment, and prove a strong recomsible to make out their armorial bear-mendation. In the mean while, I inings. On testifying my surprise, I tend to arm myself with the mace of was informed that, such is the anti-authority, and to borrow a cloak from quity of the family that, many remote Zeal for Enthusiasm, which, being adbranches flourished for ages before justed by your hands, will give us a heraldry had any existence, that the respectable appearance. ancient records are half obliterated Credulity. I much approve of your by time, and that such as have been plans, and have little doubt that they preserved in long-neglected hierogly-will succeed. I have long since apphics are become unintelligible. Credulity. This is precisely the amount of what I have heard from my father, who, many years since, made a similar application, and received peared in the assumed character of my mother, and although in some instances I have been detected, multitudes have been unable to penetrate the disguise. To me the habit is THE DEATH OF MOSES. Now when the man, appointed to conduct Where nature, miser-like, had scattered none Of those fair landscapes, deck'd with every grace Which please the eye and gratify the sense Of arid sands and wastes of woful hue, Shed on the Israelites their influence, While dreadful pestilence with awful front The last resource frail nature needs to have,) This faithful man was call'd upon by Him eye Beheld the land of promise; the famed fields Not to be water'd with the human hand; Where milk and honey flow'd in luscious streams, Delightful to the taste; where corn and oil Poured in upon them with profusion great; Where trees and herbage crown'd the flow'ry vales, Of most delicious scent; the gladsome meads And tower'd above the rest of Flora's charms, In company with these were all the tribes Might rest well satisfied in the possession. There tower'd the cedar on mount Lebanon, Clothed in the beauty of the vernal months, Array'd in majesty unequall'd by The rest of its companions. In the wood Were seen the box, the fir that stretch'd its There, with a thousand other things beside, Of crowded cities, and the peopled walk Close by the sloping lawn or loud cascade, The hum of children in the greensward path, With village damsels; swains, whose jocand mirth Right merrily was seen on holiday, Or when the evening sun was pacing hard The patriarch's heart o'erflow'd with gratitude And love to Him who strew'd the starry host Through space unmeasured, who creation spoke From out the womb of nothing, and bade light | God's favour'd people; though they have reTo rise from midnight; who the bounds prescrib'd To yon wide waste of waters which pass o'er "Thou infinite, eternal, great I AM! Amidst the channels of the great Red Sea, Art able also to conduct us on To yon fair Canaan, to those flow'ry fields Whose matchless verdure speaks thy wisdom forth." To whom the Eternal, in a gracious voice, That seem'd like breezes rustling in the leaves Of some majestic forest :-" Fear thou not; O'er states and empires; summon chaos here; Thou seest the land for which I brought thee up To Nebo's mountain; there thou mayst behold The place appointed for a residence To those high-favour'd sons of Abraham's loins, Caus'd me to will thou shalt not enter there. Of cooling water to allay the thirst Of murmuring Israelites, thine anger rose, And in thy fury thou didst smite it twice: Thou fail'dst, in unbelief and needless rage, To sanctify me in the people's eyes; Therefore for this thou shalt not set thy foot Within the boundaries of yon happy land. But thou hast view'd it, and let this suffice That I am faithful to my covenant, Which was renew'd to Abraham for the land. I'll bless his seed, which, like the stars of heav'n, Shall multiply; or like the ocean's sands, up bell'd, And oft provok'd mine anger, yet I'll look Thus the Invisible; then mortal flesh Preferr'd its suit and humbly thus began: "Most glorious Potentate! thou matchless God, Thou who art cloth'd in immortality, When quak'd the mountain as the Deity throne. A sight too great for mortals; if thou dost Grant that thy Spirit may descend upon May Joshua stand before thee, and may he And quell'd the raging of yon mighty flood; And be thon still their patron and their friend. Again the voice of the Almighty God was. "Hear now, thou child of dust; thy prayer is heard, Thy sins are pardon'd, thou hast nought to fear, Israel is mine, and evermore shall be While this round globe continues to revolve Now from the confines of eternal light |