ture, calculated to turn the attention of the people to some objects which are too much overlooked, but which greatly tend to retard the prosperity and improvement of his country. In doing this, I hope you fhall find me at all times candid and impartial, totally regardless of men, and only attentive to the measures that tend to promote the welfare of the people, or to retard the prosperity of this country.

I have two reasons for offering these lucubra tions under the title I have afsumed. The first is because in consequence of the business of an informer, having been confined merely to that of aiding the revenue officers against the subject, the term has fallen into reproach, and the efsential duties that belong to it have been neglected. I with to free it from this obloquy by bringing it back to its original standard, that of informing the people so as to enable them to withstand the unjust encroachments of revenue officers, when they extend their power to objects that are subversive of the purposes for which they were created; and I hope so to conduct myself in the discharge of this duty as to show that it is an useful, a respectable office, and a necefsary imployment.

The second reason for this title is, that it is evident, members of parliament are often misled in regard to things of this nature, by the false representations of ministers, and their satellites, whose study it must ever be to encrease their own power, by depressing that of the people; and as these gentlemen have often much need of information with

regard to the real state of things, I mean to take that office upon myself, till one better qualified for that task fhall appear. They may rest afsured, that in these efsays I fhall not state any facts that cannot be fully authenticated by undeniable evidence at the bar of the house of commons, if ever it should be called for; and that as I fhall never go out of my way to inculpate any person, so neither shall I turn aside for the purpose of exculpating any human being whatever.

Je crains dieu, cher Abner, & n'ai point d'autre crainte.

THOMAS TELLTRUTH,

If Mr Telltruth keeps up to his profefsions, his lucubrations shall be always welcome; but the moment he shall depart from that strict impartiality he boasts, his performances must seek another channel of publication than the Bee.

ANECDOTE.

EDIT,

WHEN Oliver Cromwell first coined his money, an old cavalier looking upon one of the new pieces, 'read this inscription on one side, God with us; on the other, The commonwealth of England. I see, said he, God and the commonwealth are on different sides.

"

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

By giving the following beautiful little poem'a place in the Bee, you will much oblige,

Yours, &c.

1.

RESOLV'D, said the poet, of Calia to sing,
For ideas of beauty I search'd thro' the spring;
To flowers soft blooming compar'd the sweet maid;
But flowers, tho' blooming, at evening will fade.

II.

Of sunshine and breezes I next thought to write;
Of the breezes so mild, and the sunshine so bright:
But these with my Fair no resemblance can hold,
For the sun sets at night, and the breezes turn cold.

III.

The clouds of mild ev'ning, array'd in pale blue,
While the sunbeams behind them peep glittering thro',
To rival her charms can never arise;

Yet methought they look'd something like Cælia's bright eyes.

IV.

At length a fine fruit tree in blofsom I found,
Which nature array'd, and shed fragrance around:

The Muses methought, then, had smil'd on my pray'
This blofsom I cry'd will resemble my Fair.

V.

The colour so pleasing at summer's gay fall,
Will languish at first, and must afterwards fall;
But behind it the fruit, its successor fhall rise,
By nature disrob'd of the beauteous disguise.

VI.

So Calia, when youth, that gay blossom, is o'er,
By her virtues improv'd, will engage me the more,
Will recal ev'ry beauty, and heighten their prime,
When her merit is ripen'd by love and by time.

ON THE APPROACH OF WINTER.

CEASE, ceafe, frail man from earthly joy,
Vain is the hope, the wish is vain,
That would on earth be bleft.
Oh! make it thy divine employ,
Heaven's long lost favour to regain,
An everlasting rest.
VOL. vii.

E

There are, who seeking higher joys
Than time can give, or earth bestow,
See years with pleasure roll;
Their minds despise the trifling joys,
For which vain sons of earth forego.
Eternity of soul.

To virtuous minds new joys arise,
From ev'ry change that nature feels,
From ev'ry pafsing year;

Not winter with inclement skies,

Nor death's cold hand which on them steals, Can make them yield to fear.

For them more gay, the vernal bloom,
And livelier hues, the flow'rs adorn,

To chear their weary way;
More fragrant gales the air perfume,
For them more sweet the smiling mora
Doth its clear beams display.

Roll swift away ye fleeting years
Your hasty flight cannot dismay

The man that's truly wise.
As ye revolve new joys appear,
The prospect of that glorious day
Which calls him to the skies.

THE BIRD's NEST.

YES, little nest, I'll hold you fast,

And little birds, one, two, three, four; I've watch'd you long, you're mine at last : Poor little things! you'll 'fcape no more.

Chirp, cry, and flutter as you will,

Ah! simple rebels, 'tis in vain.
Your little wings are unfledg'd still;

How can you freedom then obtain ?

What note of sorrow strikes my ear?
Is it their mother thus distrest?
Ah yes! and fee, their father dear,
Flies round and round, to seek their neft.

And is it I who cause their moan?
I, who so oft in summer's heat,
Beneath yon oak have laid me down,
To listen to their song so sweet?

If from my tender mother's side,
Some wicked wretch should make me fly,
Full well I know, 'twould her betide,
To break her heart, to sink, to die!

And shall I, then, so cruel prove,

Your little ones to force away?
No, no; together live and love,
See! here they are; take them, I pray.

Teach them in yonder wood to fly;

And let them your soft warbling hear,
Till their own wings can soar as high,
And their own notes may sound as clear.

Go, gentle birds; go, free as air!

While oft again in summer's heat,
To yonder oak I will repair,

And listen to your song so sweet

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF MISCELLANEOUS READING.

Lectura testis est temporum, vita memoriæ,
Nuncia vetustatis, et novum delectamentum.

TULLY.

NMETHODIZED reading is adapted to the many; regular study is confined to the few, whom leisure or opulence attend, to smooth the rugged paths of science. The knowledge acquired from pursuits thus dictated by choice, makes perhaps more useful imprefsions, then all the learning of the schools, on persons who have had some previous formation as to taste, and whose natural dispositions are not prostituted to depravity.

Periodical publications are the chief sources from whence the readers above alluded to draw their information; and it must be allowed they have diffused more general knowledge, then any other species of writing whatfoever. Their brevity allures the indolent, loca