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to herself, unless clubbed between her, and her dear friend Mrs. Ferguson. I knew either of them to be capable of the work, and from the spirit, wit and manner of it, as well as from frequent hints in their conversation, concerning Dr. Franklin, whose genius and talents they both admired, I knew also that the two last stanzas, as well as three first accorded well with their sentiments. Since this note was prepared for the press, I have discovered by means of a worthy friend (B. R. M. Esq.) that the rev. Jonathan Odell, formerly missionary at Burlington New-Jersey, and now secretary of the British province of NewBrunswick was the real author. I had indeed suspected him to be so, and questioned him accordingly, (for he dined at my house that day), but it seems that he joined with the ladies to keep me in suspence, and in conveying a satirical hint, by means of the verses, that I was a very warm panegyrist.—

VERSES ON THE LATE DR. FRANKLİN.

LIKE Newton sublimely he soar'd

To a summit before unattain'd;

New regions of science explor'd,

And the palm of philosophy gain'd.

With a spark that he caught from the skies,

He display'd an unparrallel'd wonder,

And we saw, with delight and surprize,
That his rod could protect us from thunder.

Oh! had he been wise to pursue,

The path which his talents design'd,
What a tribute of praise had been due
To the teacher and friend of mankind!

But to covet political fame,

Was, in Him, a degrading ambition;
A spark which from Lucifer came,
Enkindled the blaze of sedition.

Let candor, then, write on his urn-
Here lies the renowned inventor,
Whose flame to the skies ought to burn,
But, inverted, descends to the center!

THE HERMIT;

IN

EIGHT NUMBERS.

FIRST PUBLISHED

IN THE

AMERICAN MAGAZINE,

AT PHILADELPHIA;

FROM OCTOBER 1757 TO OCTOBER 1758,

BOTH INCLUSIVE.

TO THE READER.

THE HERMIT, (first published about forty-five years ago,) was among some of the author's earliest writings; and having been well received, by the more serious part of his readers, at that time, he resolved to give it a place among such works of his, as he might afterwards be induced to think, in any degree, worthy of being collected from their original fugitive state; and of being preserved and bequeathed to posterity (or at least to his surviving friends) in a more permanent way, by means of the press.

The subjects treated of by the HERMIT, in his fourth and fifth numbers, and his soliloquies in the second and sixth, having so close a relation to some of the foregoing Sermons, and especially to those from 1. Thess. chap. iv. (On Death, a Resurrection from the Dead, a future Judgment and an eternal World to come) determined the author's choice of this volume, as the proper place, to give the HERMIT'S speculations a chance for longer life. In the manner of composition (though the subjects are allied) there may be found some difference between juvenile writings, and those of advanced age; between compositions for a periodical work, and the public at large; and compositions for the pulpit, or a particular congregation. But the comparison of this difference will not be displeasing to ingenuous readers.

THE HERMIT, No. I.

TO THE

PROPRIETORS OF THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE;

OCTOBER, 1757.

GENTLEMEN,

SEQUESTERED as I am from the world and most of its concerns, your plan for publishing an American Magazine has found its way to my retreat. As I have always been a friend to works of this nature, especially when their chief end is made to consist in advancing the interest of religion, virtue and knowledge, I find myself strongly prompted, both by duty and inclination, to contribute my endeayours, and give all the assistance in my power, for promoting a design that appears so well calculated for the public good. It is, therefore, my purpose, to offer you my reflections, once a month, upon such subjects as correspond with the character which the good providence of heaven has called me to sustain; and these, you may easily guess, will be of the serious, moral, and religious kind.

But that your readers may be the better able to form a notion of the entertainment they are to expect from me, and to satisfy a curiosity natural enough to those who look for any thing of importance from an author, the subject of this first paper shall be my own

history; or, at least, so much of it as has a more immediate relation to the character I bear.

My parents were among the first of those, who left their native soil and dearest connections, with the laudable design of improving their fortunes, and seeking a settlement in this new world. Many were the dangers and difficulties which they encountered, both while they were at sea, and after their arrival here. My father, who was bred a gentleman and a scholar, and consequently unaccustomed to manual labour, was nevertheless obliged to put his hand to the plough, as there was at that time but little other means of getting a subsistence here. My mother, who was descended from a very good family in Yorkshire, and brought up in the most tender and delicate manner, was constrained to forget the softness of her education, and to bear a part, with her yoke-fellow, in most of the labours of his farm. Custom, however, which is justly called a second nature, made even their toils, at length, to become easy and agreeable.

Thus were they employed for several years, till the smiles of heaven upon their industry, blessed them with a comfortable subsistence, and enabled them to pass the remainder of their days, without labour and without care. Happy were they in themselves, and happy in the friendship and good offices of all around them! One thought alone would sometimes give a damp to their domestic joys, and render them a little unsatisfied with all their worldly bliss. They had as yet never been favoured with any offspring, and it grieved them to reflect, that the little fortune which

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