so severely instituted, if now and then, on other occasions, they glide into narrative, partaking of marvellous description, such characters plead a sort of indemnification, and by the consent of society are privileged, "to tell lies with a better grace than other men."

The practice therefore of telling entertaining falsehoods, for the sake of their contagious evils, and lest they should involve the real anecdotes of life with uncertainty and suspicion, should only be tolerated under the most prudent management.

However, after all, discreditable and malignant lies are readily to be distinguished from those to which we have now alluded.

To the honor of heathen virtue it is recorded of Epaminondas, that he could not be prevailed on to digress from truth; and of Xenocrates it is said, that the people entertained so high an opinion of his veracity,

that

that when he once approached the altar to confirm by oath what he had asserted, the Judges unanimously declared that his word was sufficient.

"Truth," says a venerable writer," is the beginning of heroical virtue, 'tis the most lively resemblance and imitation of Him who is absolutely perfect, 'tis the bond and cement of society, a virtue composed of amiableness and divine features; but a lie is unreasonable, and ugly as the shadows of night."

ESSAY VIII.

DETRACTION.

FEW, but those of the weakest heads, or most depraved taste, can derive satisfaction in wantonly publishing the misconduct of others, or imputing to any action a bad motive, where a good one may as fairly be assigned.

It is not sufficient to say in justification of this offence, that only the truth was spoken, for if even it were so, (and that with slanderers is seldom the case,) yet, if truth itself be officiously intruded to the injury of another,

another, it partakes of detraction. In palliation of the crime, the defamer perhaps will say, that he is not the author of the tale, but he is nevertheless guilty of encouraging the circulation of it; the receiver of stolen goods is properly made as obnoxious to the law as the thief himself; and the busy promoter and even the patient hearer of detraction are alike the abettors of it.

The great law of charity and justice demands of us not only to avoid an injurious act to our neighbour, but moreover requires us to suffer no harm to be done to him, which may be in our power to prevent. Those who are addicted to this vile practice of the tongue, conscious of the odiousness justly attached to the abrupt introduction of slander, usually smooth the way to reproach, by some previous commendation, and to give their designs better effect, not unfrequently appear to build up, in some few instances, the very character which

which these vultures have pounced upon to mangle afterward.

By preparatory declarations of regard to the family, or esteem for the talents and many good qualities of the person, against whom, they have a poniard concealed in the bosom, and the poison of asps is under their lips, they better disguise the intentions: proceeding by an artful climax of insinuation to positive assertion, like a terse epigram, they twist about the dragon tail, till opportu nity serves, of darting in, at a certain point, the corroding sting: "they can smile and murder while they smile."

"Slander, in whatever manner it is ushered in," says an elegant writer, "is a vice impure in its source, dangerous in its effects, general in its influence, irreparable in its consequences: a vice that strikes at once three mortal blows; it wounds him who commits it; him against whom it is committed; and