20 G7-ace before and after a Play. — Slate of the Poor. [Aug. I, 



thrown at random on ihe front of the )ueans of improving tlie vigour of our 

 building, many a destructive fire migbt minds, make every sensual pleasure but 



be prevented. C.Cameron. 



London; ApnlG, Iblb. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SfK, 



THE following short prayers were 

 found among the papers of au 

 eccentric literary gentleman lately de- 

 feased, who, I have no doubt, expressed 



a source of intellectual delight, — and glo- 

 rify thee by daily acquiriiig new wisdom, 

 and contributing more and more to th« 

 happiness and refinement of mankind. 

 Grace after a Play. 

 To the Divine Intellect. — O Source of 

 all till- pleasures of the soul, while olher.s 

 tliank an imaginary assemblage of jar- 

 ring passions (which they erroneously 



the sincere and serious disposition of his call God), for enabling them to eat and 



mind ou the occasion. Some persons 

 may doubt the pro])riety of intermixing 

 devotional exercises with the innocent 

 recreations of life; but others hold, that 

 whatever is projier for a Christian to 



to drink, we thank, or ratiier we sympa- 

 thize « ith. thee, who art really our bo- 

 som friend, in the delight wiiich thou 

 hast generated amidst animal life by 

 creating an intellectual world. We 



tnjoy, it is his duty to return thanks for, thank thee lliat there are beings who 



conformably to the injunctions of St prefer tlic relincmenls of civilized so- 



Paul,—" whether ye eat or drink, or ciety to the gratifications of their palate, 



■whatsoever ye do, &c. in every thing and who have this night provided lis the 



give thanks." The practice of saying intellcctiiai repast, which, by uniting 



grace at dinner is extended to tea by the tliriil of intellectual transport with 



many serious Chi'istians in Essex and the refined stimidus of love, has added 



Cambridgeshire; and, surely, if one ce- vigour to our bodies, and happuiess to 



remony be proper, the other cannot be our souls ; that so we may the more glo- 



less so. With the same consistency I rify thee and advance thy kingdom upon 



knew a very conscientious married gen- cartii, which thou alone canst cou\ert 



tieman deem it right to return thanks 

 for every enjoyment he was about to 

 partake of; who transferred the grace 

 from his dining-table to his bed, and 

 from his wife to his snufl-box. Most 

 Christians consider theatrical amuse- 

 ments to be lawful and proper; they 

 must, therefore, be both pleased and 



into a heaven of heavens. 



To l/ie Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 

 silt. 



Til I'i present state of the poor must 

 excite every one's feelings ; and 

 even the hardest heart must be softened 

 by the cries of the distressed, that now 



edified by the following expressions of are heard in every quarter. But pity 



gratitudefor the enjoyments such amuse- cannot help them, or tears relieve their 



ments afford. At any rate, they must wants. Something ought to be done, 



admit that these prayers are )nuch more publicly, efl'ectnally to assist them; and, 



Christian-like than a public thank.s- without it, I fear the consequences, as it 



giving for the result of a bloody battle 

 between two nations of Christians. Per- 

 haps, in the common affairs of life, the 

 silent expression of our feelings, as prac- 

 tised by the Society of Friends before 

 meals, is to be preferred ; but no one 

 can decide for another, and the only 

 good rule on such occasions is that laid 



respects the nation. 



i'here are, and I consider them x 

 blessing to the couutr}', many, very 

 many, benevolent persons, who have 

 exerted themselves in very extensive 

 subscriptions; but, alas! the largest of 

 those subscriptions have been devoted 

 Xo foreign objects. 1 wish not to under- 

 iiown by tiie Apostle, " let every man be valne the praiseworthy exertions of 



satisfied in his own mind," 



B. 



Grace before going to the Play. 

 O thou Giver of all things really good, 

 who hast inspired us with wisdom to de- 

 sert the pleasures of the table for the 

 i-efinements of mental exertion and ima- 



tlio.se gentlemen, or lo insinuate that 

 we ought not to do good wheiever we 

 can; but there is an old saying, and a 

 just one, which we should always keep 

 in view, " that charity begins at home;" 

 and how would tiie opulent and benevo- 

 lent be loaded with the blessings of 



ginary delight, enable us to derive hap- their compatriot poor, if occasionally a 

 jniiess and improvement from the adven- column of a newspaper were devoted to 

 lures and illusions we are aliout to eon- .a list of siibscriplions for them. What 

 template; that so we may justly consider should we think of that man who, sut- 

 (bating and drinking but as steps and feriiig" liis own clui(Jjea to starve, sup- 

 ports 



