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make him in infancy, what he may continue to old age, an 

 epicure and glutton. But more obvious absurdities are every 

 day in use, and we see the foundation laid for habitual ine- 

 briety, by vitiating the long-reluctant organ of taste with un- 

 diluted wines; or, as practised among the inferior classes of 

 Society, with still more powerful and deleterious potions. 



The alarming progress of this most vile and ruinous of 

 habits, surprises the unreflecting and shocks the contempla- 

 tive mind. But when we witness its depredations, over- 

 whelming every barrier opposed to it by superiority of intel- 

 lect, elegance of taste, pride of learning and elevation of 

 genius, the most reflecting mind is most shocked and sur- 

 prised. All prior expectations give way before the almost 

 incredible, but too authentic, history of the unfortunate Der- 

 mody. Born, it is true, in an humble condition, yet quali- 

 fied by transcendant talents and uncommon acquirements to 

 arrive at the highest, we should perhaps have beheld without 

 wonderor envy his encreasing lustre, as a poet, philosopher, 

 or statesman. In our own times we have seen more than one 

 advanced to offices of dignity and emolument, by means of 

 qualifications, such as this ill-fated young man possessed, in 

 a much superior degree — great natural talents, extensive 

 knowledge of languages, and a thirst for general information 

 prompted and governed by a passion for the muses, to which 

 it was subservient. But see the destructive effects of one 

 pernicious habit. A worthless father infected his infant mind 

 with the mania of intemperance. It signifies little whether 



