= £92 on scandal, _ Sune 6. 
» understanding - and language to ‘continue and enjoy it.” 
Thus, perhaps, more properly, though lefs technically 
speaking, we come to consider man in his cal natural state, 
-which is that of society. For.Buchanan says truly *: 
‘ First of all, then, we agree, that men by ature are made te 
liye in society together, and for a communion of life.” 
ON SCANDAL. 
—* Heret lateri lethalis arando.”* 
- Acamge Slander thére is*no defence. Hell cannot boast: 
so foul-a fiend; nor man deplore so fell a foe. It 
‘stabs with a word,—with. a nod,—with a fhrug,—with a 
-look,—with a smile. It is the pestilence walking in 
darknefs, spreading contagion far and wide, which the 
most wary traveller cannot avoid ;———~it is the’ heart- 
searching dagger of the afsafsin ; it is the poisoned ar- 
row whose wound is incurable ;———it is the mortal sting 
of the deadly adder. Murder is its employment,—inno- 
cence its prey, and’ ruin its sport. Maria was a 
fatal instance. Her head was a little raised from the 
“pillow, supported by her hand, and her countenance 
was exceeding sorrowful,—the glowing bluth of eighteen 
vanithed from her cheeks, and fever rioted in luxury: upon 
her damask skin. It. is even-so ;—a bursting sigh la- 
boured from her bosom ;—virtue is no protection while 
-detraction breathes malignity,—while envy searches for 
faults and tortures truth. I might have been happy !—— 
but Oh! ye busy thoughts, recal not to my memory these 
joyful hours! She struggled,—but in vain. The invisible 
power of darknefs closed her eyes, and her heaving breast 
-panted with the last throbbings of a broken heart. ——She 
~ isnow no more,—scandal triumphed over the lovely maid. 
Superior-qualifications made her the dupe of envy, and .a 
fever followed.—She fell a sacrifice to exquisite feelings.! 
* Buchanan of the due privilege of the Scots government, p- 189. 
