on in silence for some time, the former being entirely lost in astonishment; but at last recovering his former serenity, he could not help observing, that the face of the country bore a near resemblance to that he had left, except that this subterranean world still seemed to retain its primæval wildness.

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Here," cried Asem, "I perceive animals of prey, and others that seem only designed for their "subsistence; it is the very same in the world over "our heads. But had I been permitted to instruct "our Prophet, I would have removed this defect, "and formed no voracious or destructive animals, "which only prey on the other parts of the crea"tion." "Your tenderness for inferior animals is, I find, remarkable," said the Genius smiling. "But "with regard to meaner creatures this world ex

actly resembles the other, and indeed for obvi66 ous reasons; for the earth can support a more con"siderable number of animals, by their thus be"coming food for each other, than if they had lived "entirely on her vegetable productions. So that "animals of different natures thus formed, instead "of lessening their multitude, subsist in the greatest "number possible. But let us hasten on to the in"habited country before us, and see what that of"fers for instruction."

They soon gained the utmost verge of the forest and entered the country inhabited by men without vice; and Asem anticipated in idea the rational delight he hoped to experience in such an innocent society. But they had scarcely left the confines of the wood, when they beheld one of the inhabitants flying with hasty steps, and terror in his countenance, from an army of squirrels that closely pursued him. "Heavens!" cried Asem, "why does he fly? What "can he fear from animals so contemptible?" He had scarcely spoken when he perceived two dogs pursuing

pursuing another of the human species, who with equal terror and haste attempted to avoid them. "This," cried Asem to his guide, "is truly sur

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prising; nor can I conceive the reason for so "strange an action." " Every species of animals," replied the Genius, "has of late grown very power"ful in this country; for the inhabitants at first "thinking it unjust to use either fraud or force in "destroying them, they have insensibly increased, "and now frequently ravage their harmless frontiers.' "But they should have been destroyed," cried Asem; you see the consequence of such neglect." "Where "is then that tenderness you so lately expressed “for subordinate animals?" replied the Genius smiling: "you seem to have forgot that branch of jus"tice:" "I must acknowledge my mistake," turned Asem; " I am now convinced that we must "be guilty of tyranny and injustice to the brute creation, if we would enjoy the world ourselves. "But let us no longer observe the duty of man to "these irrational creatures, but survey their con"nections with one another.'

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As they walked farther up the country, the more he was surprised to see novestiges of handsome houses, no cities, nor any mark of elegant design. His conductor perceiving his surprize, observed, That the inhabitants of this new world were perfectly content with their antient simplicity; each had an house, which, though homely, was sufficient to lodge his little family; they were too good to build houses, which could only increase their own pride, and the envy of the spectator; what they built was for convenience, and not for show. "At least, then,' said Asem, "they have neither architects, painters, "nor statuaries, in their society; but these are idle "arts, and may be spared. However, before I spend much more time, you should have my

"thanks

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"thanks for introducing me into the society of some "of their wisest men: there is scarcely any pleasure "to me equal to a refined conversation; there is "nothing of which I am so much enamoured as wis"dom." "Wisdom!" replied his instructor, "how "ridiculous! We have no wisdom here, for we "have no occasion for it; true wisdom is only a knowledge of our own duty, and the duty of others "to us; but of what use is such wisdom here, each "intuitively performs what is right in himself, and "expects the same from others? If by wisdom "you should mean vain curiosity, and empty spe"culation, as such pleasures have their origin in va"nity, luxury or avarice, we are too good to pur"sue them."" All this may be right," says Asem; "but methinks I observe a solitary disposition pre"vail among the people; each family keeps separately within their own precincts, without society, "or without intercourse." "That indeed is true,' replied the other; "here is no established society; nor should there be any: all societies are made "either through fear or friendship; the people we "are among are too good to fear each other; and "there are no motives to private friendship, where "all are equally meritorious." "Well then," said the sceptic," as I am to spend my time here, if I "am to have neither the polite arts, nor wisdom, "nor friendship, in such a world, I should be glad "at least of an easy companion, who may tell me "his thoughts, and to whom I may communicate "mine." "And to what purpose should either do "this?" says the Genius : " flattery or curiosity are " vicious motives, and never allowed of here; and "wisdom is out of the question."

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"Still however," said Asem, "the inhabitants "must be happy; each is contented with his own "possessions, nor avariciously endeavours to heap "up

VOL. IV.

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up more than is necessary for his own subsistence: "each has therefore leisure for pitying those, that "stand in need of his compassion." He had scarcely spoken when his ears were assaulted with the lamentations of a wretch who sat by the way-side, and in the most deplorable distress seemed gently to murmur at his own misery. Asem immediately ran to his relief, and found him in the last stage of a consumption. "Strange," cried the son of Adam, "that "men who are free from vice should thus suffer so "much misery without relief!" "Be not surprized," said the wretch who was dying; "would it not be the "utmost injustice for beings, who have only just suf"ficient to support themselves, and are content with "abare subsistence, to take it from their own mouths "to put it into mine? They never are possessed of "asingle meal more than is necessary; and what is barely necessary cannot be dispensed with." "They "should have been supplied with more than is neces"sary," cried Asem; " and yet I contradict my "own opinion but a moment before: all is doubt, "perplexity, and confusion. Even the want of in

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gratitude is no virtue here, since they never re"ceived a favour. They have however another ex"cellence yet behind; the love of their country is "still I hope one of their darling virtues." "Peace, "Asem,” replied the Guardian, with a countenance not less severe than beautiful," nor forfeit all thy pretensions to wisdom; the same selfish motives, by "which we prefer our own interest to that of others, "induce us to regard our country preferably to that "of another. Nothing less than universal bene"volence is free from vice, and that you see is prac"tised here." "Strange!" cries the disappointed pilgrim, in an agony of distress; "what sort of a "world am I now introduced to? There is scarcely "a single virtue, but that of temperance, which they practise ;

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practise; and in that they are no way superior to "the very brute creation. There is scarcely an "amusement which they enjoy; fortitude, liberality, friendship, wisdom, conversation, and love "of country, all are virtues entirely unknown here; "thus it seems that to be acquainted with vice is "not to know virtue. Take me, O my Genius, back

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to that very world which I have despised; a "world which has Alla for its contriver is much more wisely formed than that which has been "jected by Mahomet. Ingratitude, contempt, and "hatred, I can now suffer, for perhaps I have de"served them. When I arraigned the wisdom of "Providence, I only showed my own ignorance; "henceforth let me keep from vice myself, and pity it in others."

He had scarcely ended, when the Genius, assuming an air of terrible complacency, called all his thunders around him, and vanished in a whirlwind. Asem, astonished at the terror of the scene, looked for his imaginary world; when, casting his eyes around she perceived himself in the very situation, and in the very place, where he first began to repine and despair; his right foot had been just advanced to take the fatal plunge, nor had it been yet withdrawn; so instantly did Providence strike the series of truths just imprinted on his soul. He now departed from the water-side in tranquility, and leaving his horrid mansion travelled to Segestan, his native city; where he diligently applied himself to commerce, and put in practice that wisdom he had learned in solitude. The frugality of a few years soon produced opulence, the number of his domestics increased; his friends came to him from every part of the city; nor did he receive them with disdain and a youth of misery was concluded with an old age of elegance, affluence, and ease. ESSAY

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