MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
regard all praises conferred upon 
another as derogatory from their 
own value. The arrows of the 
backbiter are generally shot in the 
night ; and the most unspotted in- 
nocence is the game of this infernal 
destroyer. The heads of his darts 
are imbrued in poison; and it too 
frequently happens, that a small 
wound proves mortal to the injured. 
But to drop for the present these 
figurative expressions, I yvould only 
observe, that it is pity a well-regu- 
lated society cannot more effectu- 
ally curb this impious licentious- 
ness of those sons of darkness. | If 
a wretch, necessitated by the cries 
of a starving family to seek illegal 
supplies of bread, shall make an 
open attack on me, the law of the 
tealm consigns such a pitiable ma- 
lefactor to infamy and death. And 
shall this miserable object of com- 
Passion prove the victim of my re- 
sentment, while the backbiter may 
with impunity revel in the excesses 
of his iniquity, and boast defi- 
ance to all laws? As this is a topic, 
however, which hath been descant- 
ed upon by a variety of pens, I shall 
endeavour to enliven it with the 
air of novelty, by throwing my 
further sentiments into the form 
of a vision. 
I found myself, during the slum- 
bers of the night, in a very exten- 
sive region, which was subject to the 
jurisdiction of a fury, named De- 
traction. The fields were wild, and 
carried not the least appearance of 
cultivation. The tops of the hills 
were covered with snow ; and the 
whole country seemed to mourn the 
inclement severity of one eternal 
winter. Instead of the verdure of a 
pleasing herbage, there sprang up to 
sight hemlock, aconite, and other 
baneful plants. The woods were 
ASL 
the retreats of serpents; while on 
the boughs were perched the birds 
of night, brooding in most doleful, 
silence. 
In the midd!e of tbe plain was a 
bleak mountain, where I discover- 
ed a group of figures, which I pre- 
sently made up to, The summit 
presented the fury of the. place. 
There was a peculiar deformity at- 
tending her person. Her eyes were 
galled and inflamed ; her visage was 
swollen and terrible, and from her 
mouth proceeded a two-edged sword. 
A blasted oak was the throne which 
she sat on; her food was the 
flesh of vipers, her drink gall and 
vinegar. 
At a little distance from her, I ob- 
served Ignorance talking loud in his 
own applause ; Pride strutting upon 
his tiptoes ; Conceit practising at a 
mirror ; and Envy, like a vulture, 
preying upon herself. 
The multitudes who paid their 
addresses to this fury, were a com- 
position of all nations and profes- 
sions, of different characters, and 
various capacities. There was the 
mechanic, the tradesman, the scha- 
lar; but the most zealous votaries 
consisted principally of old maids, 
antiquated bachelors, discarded 
courtiers, and the hike. Each 
strove to ingratiate himself with 
the fury, by sacrificing the most 
valuable of his friends ; nor could 
proximity of blood move com- 
passion, or plead exemption from 
being victims to her insatiable pas- 
sion. Some addressed this infernal 
Moloch with the very fruits of 
their bodies, while others were tri- 
umphantly chanting forth the ex- 
tent of her power, and expatiating 
on the numbers of her conquests. 
At this incident arose in my breast 
all the tender sentiments of hu- 
Fr2 manity 
