in every other respect, become fubjected and enslaved to this vice. If, indeed, like truth, a lie had but one face, we should be upon better terms with it, for we fhould then take for certain the direct contrary of what the liar faid. But the reverfe of truth has a hundred thoufand faces, and is indefinite. The Pythagoreans tell us that good is certain and finite, evil infinite and uncertain. A thoufand roads divert from the right way, one only can reach it. I really do not think that I could bring myfelf to tell a formal and an impudent lie to procure my deliverance from a great and imminent danger. One of the ancient fathers of the church tells us, that we are more pleafed with the company of a dog with whom we are acquainted, than with that of a man whole language we do not underftand; and how lefs agreeable to the nature of man is an untruth than abfolute filence?" Montague, fpeaking rather what he thought than what he read, has an energy of thought, and a racinefs and force of expreffion that we but rarely meet with in any of our effay writers, except Jeremy Collier. His eflays would well bear another tranflation than that which Cotton made of them, in whofe flimfy language the fpirit and nerve of the honeft and fpirited Gafcon lofe all their ftrength and effect. Account of Elizabeth Woodcock, who remained buried in the Snow, without Food, for eight Days; from Annals of Medicine. Remarkable and well-authen ticated cafe, of a woman furviving nearly eight day's buried in the fnow, without food, has occurred this fpring, near Impington, in 'Cambridgeshire. An account of it has been publifhed by Mr. Okes, furgeon, from which we extract the following particulars: Elizabeth Woodcock, aged forty-two, of a flender delicate make, on her return from Cambridge, on the evening of the 2d of February, being fatigued and exhaufted with running after her horfe, which had started from her, and becoming incapable of proceeding, from the numnefs of her hands and feet, fat down on the ground. At that time but a fmall quantity of the frow had drifted *The following account of the mischiefs of telling an untruth was given to the compiler by Daniel Braithwaite, efq. of the post-office: A bank note had been stolen out of a letter; it was traced to the Bank, the clerks of which faid they had paid it to a young man that very much resembled a perfon who was obferved to have been prefent when the letter was delivered at the General Poft-office. This was ftrong prefumption; to make it, however, much stronger, the character of the young man was inquired into, and it appeared by the evidence of his brother clerks at the office, that he lived in a manner fuperior to what they could afford, and that he had often told them that they did not live well enough for him. This had great weight with the jury; he was convicted and executed. It appeared unfortunately foon after his execution, that the young man had lived in the most frugal manner to fupport his aged and diftreffed mother; and that, to prevent his being teazed by his young friends for not living in the way they did (which would have completely put a flop to his pious exertions in favour of his mother), he had recourfe to an untruth, which terminated fo fatally and fo difgracefully a virtuous, ufeful, and benevolent life, tainted only by a little foolish vanity. near near her, but it began to accumulate very rapidly; and when Chefterton bells rang, at eight o'clock, he was completely inclofed and hemmed in by it. To the beft of her recollection, fhe flept very little during the first night, or indeed any of the fucceeding nights or days, except Friday the 8th. On the morning of the 3d, the firft after her imprisonment, obferving before her a circular hole in the fnow, about two feet in length, and half a foot in diameter, running obliquely upwards through the mafs, and closed with a thin covering of ice or fnow, the broke off a branch of a bush that was close to her, and with it thruft her handkerchief through the hole as a fignal of diftrefs. In confequence of this, the external air being admitted, the felt herfelf very cold. On the fecond morning, the hole was again clofed up, and continued fo till the third day, after which time it remained open. She heard diftinctly the ringing of the village-bells, noifes on the high-way, and even the converfation of fome gypfies who paffed near her, but could not make herfelf heard. She easily diftinguifhed day and night, and could even read an almanack she took from her pocket. The fenfation of hunger ceafed almost entirely after the first day. Thirft was throughout her predominant feeling; and this fhe had the plentiful means of allaying, by fucking the furround ing fnow. She felt no gratification Zom the ufe of her fnuff. On Friday the 8th, when a thaw took place, the felt uncommonly faint and languid, her clothes were wet quite through by the melted fnow, and the aperture became en 9 larged, and tempted her in vain to attempt to difengage herself. On Sunday, the 10th, a little after mid-day, he was difcovered. A piece of bifcuit and a fmall quantity of brandy were given her, from. which the found herself greatly recruited; but fhe was- fo much exhaufted, that on being lifted into the chaife, the fainted. Mr. Okes faw her that day on her way home. He found her hands, and arms fodden, but not very cold, and her pulfe did not indicate the great debility which might havebeen expected. Her legs were cold and her feet in a great measure mortified. She was directed to be put into bed without delay, and to take fome weak broth occafionally, but no ftrong liquors, and not to be brought near the fire. Next day fhe was affected with fymptoms of fever, her pulle was rifing, her facewas flufhed, and her breathing fhort, occafioned probably by hav ing taken too much food, and being. incommoded by the crowd of vifitors. Her feet were alfo in a com- plete state of mortification, her ancles cold and benumbed, and the integuments puffy. Cloths wetted. with brandy were applied to her feet, fome antifebrile remedies and a little opium were given her. The mortification, however, proceeded; and on the 17th of March, all her toes were removed, and both offa calcis were bare in many parts. On the 17th of April, the date of the last report, the fores were free from floughs, and diminishing daily in fize; her appetite was become tolerably good; and her health was improving. Notwithstanding thefe favourable appearances, we find her death announced in the public prints. of September, 1799. Defence H Defence of the City. Mr. Editor, SI find by the papers that one of our corps has written a letter, in which he complains that no two corps belonging to the city have been drilled in the same manner; and propofes therefore, that we fhould be incorporated into one grand body under the fame difcipline, you will permit me, I hope, to make fome remarks on the fcheme which ftrikes at the independence of the city corps, as well as at their ufefulness. It is very certain, fir, that no two companies or aflociations have been drilled in the fame manner; but this letter-writer ought to have known that no two companies have the fame duty to perform. Does he really think that the gentlemanlike tactics neceflary for the prefervation of Broad-street Ward, the emporium of Ruflia merchants and bankers, would aufwer any purpofe in the narrow defiles of Thamesfireet, or among the tortuofities of Dowgate or St. Mary Hill? Does he imagine that the changes of pofition neceflary in Cripplegate could be effected by the hollow fquare in Walbrook; or that, though an oblique alinement may be wanted in Crooked-lane, the fame motion would be expedient in the heights of Caftle Baynard? Believe me, fir, this gentleman has very strangely mistaken the matter. Each of our corps has a certain property to defend of a certain fpecies, and has accordingly been drilled for that purpofe, and no other. It would have been per ly unneceflary for thofe who are to defend the grain in Mark-lane to be taught the fame manœvres that will be practifed in defending the Tower. And undoubtedly thofe brave men who may be posted in the narrow pafles ofatling-ftreet may perform the duty intrufted to them, although they have not been taught the more roomy ma nœuvres of Threadneedle-street. The burthen, as we fay in the city, is fitted to the back; and, if each ward and parifh is defended in its own way, of what confequence is it that the whole corps have not been taught the fame, difcipline? Surely, if it were neceflary to multiply inftances, I might ask whether the fame kill that might be fuc cefsfully employed against the ene my in Cheapfide would be any protection in 'Change-alley? or, whe ther thofe who had gained vaft credit on the Royal Exchange might not be in danger of tarnishing they glories in Leadenhall-street? It is impoffible, Mr. Editor, that one fet of manœuvres would answer for the whole city. You might as well endeavour to raise a corps of one height, one age, or one face. The great advantage of the variety of our difcipline is, that every corps defends that in which it is most interefted, and which it beft underftands. The fame difcipline that would fuit a fquare would be loft in an alley; and a thoroughfare would require a degree of military experience fuperior to a halfpennyhatch. Befides, fir, let us only confider the vaft advantage we have over the enemy by knowing exactly every inch of the groul. Hence it will be found that the oldest inhabitants of every parith have been moft diftinguifhed for their fkill in pofitions; fome recommending to fortify the veftry, and others others to keep a ftrong detachment in the public house. I hope therefore, fir, that we fhall hear no more of this grand incorporation plan. We might thereby be all taught alike; but I fhrewdly fufpect we fhould be all alike ignorant of our more immediate duties. Love of our country is, I grant, a general principle; but it is too general for actual service. It gives way to love of our city, and that to love of our ward, of our parish, and A Letter from the Pepper-box to the Sall-box; from the Gentleman's Magazine. Kitchen-dreffer, Sept. 12, 1798. My dear Sal, OT having an opportunity of laftly, of our house and shop. Now, N approaching near enough yef fir, in tracing this backwards, we cannot go farther than our ward; and there, I prefume, for all neceffary purposes, we ought to ftop. Not that I would have you to fuppofe that our difcipline is fo very difcordant that we have nothing in common. I wish to obviate this prejudice. On the contrary, our fhoulders are all equally fquareour heels are all in a line and clofed our knees ftrait without ftiffness -the like hath not been seen in London before! our toes are turned out, fo that the feet of every parishioner (who is a houfe-keeper) forms an angle of 60 degrees; our arms hang near the body; the flat of our hands (where we ufed to take the money) touches the thigh; and our thumbs are all as far back as the feams of our fmall-clothes. To this let me add, fir, that our heads are erect, and neither turned to the right nor left; and, when you confider that this is the cafe with every man paying fcot and lot, you muft allow we have made no fmall proficiency in uniformity of difcipline. I have only to add one argument in favour of our being differently drilled; and it is this, that the more various our manœuvres are, VOL. XLI. terday, during either dinner or fupper, to fpeak to you, I have prevailed upon the coal-box, who has formed a coal-ition with the grate, and is now going to mend the parlour fire, to deliver this letter into your faline hands. Its purpose is to congratulate you on your promotion from this fcene of drudgery and peftilence to the exalted station you now hold on the chimney-piece, whence you can look down upon the fire-hovel, tongs, and poker, lolling at their eafe on the back of the fender with all the contempt that fuch iron-ical floth and luxury can infpire, proceeding generally from fuch polished perfons. As to my own part, I feel a fad reverse: clad in my humble fuit of tin, I ftand upon the kitchen shelf with my hand upon my fide, fubfervient to the will of every menial fervant; and, although I ftare at them with all my eyes (which you know are pretty numerous), and very frequently thake my head at them in a very violent and fignificant manner, yet they regard me not, but rattle. me about, till I am almost induced to cry out, Seven's the main.'Thefe infults generally commence about one o'clock, and continue un til four, when I am dreffed in a tranfparent fuit of cloths with a filver cap, and put to ftand round a maypole with five or fix people of known tafte, clad in like manner, but of various properties and difpofitions. The firft is a Mr. Muftard, who, though esteemed rather thick and clumfy, and fomewhat difficult of accefs, is nevertheless a fharp pungent fort of fellow at bottom, fo much fo, that he has been known to take people by the nose who were not well-bread to it. One day, on his return from the dinner-table, he prefumed to bung up feven or eight of my eyes with the dirt of his coat, upon which I fneezed in his face, and mustered up courage, and challenged him to box (for I was then at all in the ring); but he thought fit to fend an apology the next morning by the froon. The latter is one of his chief leaders, and his mother's name was Pearl. The next to him is a Mr. Vinegar, a fharp crabbed fellow; I with he was mum. The next is a gentlemán I know little about, though I ter known in Europe. Thus, my dear Sal, have I endeavoured to defcribe to you my fituation; and cannot help admiring you, who are reforted to by all perfons of taste, and without whofe affiftance every thing is infipid. To be fure, the tax laid upon you lately was rather a partial and Pitti-ful measure; but you may be affured that it will only ferve to make you more dear to the farmer as well as the public in general. Adieu, my once cryftalized love! I hope we fhall foon mingle over the blade-bone of a fhoulder of mutton, and, making a devil of the cares of this life, crackle many an hour together on the gridiron of fe, licity. Mr. Black and Mr. Cayenne fent their redhot loves; and I remain yours, with the greatest warmth, and at all feafons, Pepper-box. The Univerfality of Genius; from the St. James's Chronicle, Feb. 11. Mr. Editor, OW hear it is connected with my family. How fortunate muft it be, that as well as that of latter gentle man. He poffeffes two extravery ordinary qualities, that of being hot and chilly at the fame time. The next is a Mr. Sugar-cafter (not Pollux), a hypocritical coxcomb, having a powdered head, with his eyes placed on the top, and generally bowing to ladies and children; of an apparently fweet difpofition, but in reality acid at bottom, and one who, vinegar-like, fometimes creates inteftine divifions. Mifs Oil, the laft in rotation, is of a quiet gentle difpofition, and no ways related to the family of the Caftors, being derived from a branch of the Olives, who I wish were bet 9 as we are by wars and rumours of wars," we have leifure to contemplate the vast increafe of genius, which is obvious in every company and fociety with which we may happen to mix. For my own part, I am almoft tired of feeing fo many geniufes, and heartily with we had a peace on the continent, that I might retire to fome quarter where I could meet with a few plain, dull fellows like myfell, and not run the risk of being knocked down by a genius in every turning. It was but the other day that I happened to call at my fhoemaker's for a pair of lift fhoes, to preferve my old bones. Pray," fays I, |