The New-York Weekly Magazine, or Miscellaneous Repository Part 179

_METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS._ _From the 14th to the 20th inst._

THERMOMETOR observed at 6, _A.M._ 3, _P.M._ Prevailing winds.

OBSERVATIONS on the WEATHER.

deg. deg. 6. 3. 6. 3.

100 100 May 14 46 55 nw. sw. clear lt. wd. cly. do.

15 47 59 s. do. clear calm do. h. wd.

16 50 57 n. se. cloudy lt. wd. do. do.

17 48 62 nw. s. clear l. wd. do. do.

18 53 67 s. do. rain lt. w. do. do. th. lg.

19 51 65 n. s. clear lt. wd. do. do.

20 51 55 e. se. rain lt. wd. do. do. ra.

AN EVENING MEDITATION.

By Miss Carter.

While night in solemn shade invests the pole, And calm reflection sooths the pensive soul; While reason, undisturb'd a.s.sorts her sway, And life's deceitful colours fade away; To thee, All-conscious Presence! I devote, This peaceful interval of sober thought: Here all my better faculties confine, And be this hour of sacred silence thine.

If, by the day's illusive scenes misled, My erring soul from virtue's path has stray'd; Snar'd by example, or by pa.s.sion warm'd, Some false delight my giddy sense has charm'd; My calmer thoughts the wretched choice reprove, And my best hopes are centred in thy love.

Depriv'd of this, can life one joy afford?

Its utmost boast a vain unmeaning word.

But ah! how oft my lawless pa.s.sions rove, And break these awful precepts I approve!

Pursue the fatal impulse I abhor, And violate the virtue I adore!

Oft, when thy better Spirit's guardian care Warn'd my fond soul to shun the tempting snare, My stubborn will his gentle aid repress'd, And check'd the rising goodness in my breast: Mad with vain hopes, or urg'd by false desires, Still'd his soft voice, and quench'd his sacred fires.

With grief opprest, and prostrate in the dust, Should'st thou condemn, I own thy sentence just.

But, oh, thy softer t.i.tles let me claim, And plead my cause by Mercy's gentle name.

Mercy! that wipes the penitential tear, And dissipates the horrors of despair; From righteous justice deals the vengeful hour, Softens the dreadful attribute of pow'r, Disarms the wrath of an offended G.o.d, And seals my pardon in a Saviour's blood!

All-powerful grace, exert thy gentle sway, And teach my rebel pa.s.sions to obey; Lest lurking Folly, with insidious art, Regain my volatile inconstant heart!

Shall every high resolve Devotion frames Be only lifeless sounds and specious names?

O, rather, while thy hopes and fears controul, In this still hour, each motion of my soul, Secure its safety by a sudden doom, And be the soft retreat of sleep my tomb!

Calm let me slumber in that dark repose, Till the last morn its orient beam disclose: Then, when the great archangel's potent sound Shall echo thro' creation's ample round, Wak'd from the sleep of death, with joy survey The op'ning splendors of eternal day!

[[Source:

Original: "Thoughts on Midnight" (1739) by Elizabeth Carter 1717-1806.

Possible source: "A Night Piece" by "Miss Carter", #97 in _Elegant Extracts, or, useful and entertaining pieces of poetry, selected for the Improvement of Young Persons_, 1796 and earlier, ed.

Vicesimus Knox.]]

ON MRS. MONTAGU.

By a Lady.

Why boast, O arrogant, imperious man, Perfections so exclusive? are thy powers Nearer approaching Deity? can'st thou solve Questions which high Infinity propounds, Soar n.o.bler flights, or dare immortal deeds, Unknown to woman, if she greatly dares To use the powers a.s.sign'd her? Active strength, The boast of animals, is clearly thine; By this upheld, thou think'st the lesson rare That female virtues teach; and poor the height Which female wit obtains. The theme unfolds Its ample maze, for Montagu befriends The puzzled thought, and, blazing in the eye Of boldest opposition, strait presents The soul's best energies, her keenest powers, Clear, vigorous, enlighten'd; with firm wing Swift she o'ertakes his Muse, which spread afar Its brightest glories in the days of yore; Lo! where she, mourning spurns the stedfast earth, And, failing on the cloud of science, bears The banner of Perfection.

+ODE to _SPRING_.+

Balmy breezy welcome wind!

Full on thy genial wings reclin'd, Once again to these lov'd climes Returns sweet Spring; returns and smiles, Instant, as the G.o.ddess moves, Resound the woods, exult the groves, Laugh the vales, and down the hills Bright flow the many--warbling rills.

Charming season! lovely Spring!

While all around some tribute bring!

Let me lay before thy shrine These verses on a nymph divine.

Bloomy virgin! blush no more, That sighing swains your charms adore; Seldom flourishes conceal'd The garden rose, when once reveal'd.

As the tender Crocus blows, Amid stern winter's dreary snows; So your fragrant favours bless Your fellow creatures in distress.

Like the Polyanthus too, That blooms the circling seasons thro'; Free from vanity and guile, We always meet you with a smile.

Tho' such sweets around you deal, Like the meek Lily of the Vale, For you shun what merit draws, And seek to bless without applause.

Yet be sure, for fear of ill, To wed some worthy man that will, Florist-like, those virtues past, Uphold and cherish to the last.

_NEW-YORK: +Printed by JOHN TIEBOUT, No. 358, Pearl-Street, for THOMAS BURLING, Jun. & Co.+ +Subscriptions+ for this +Magazine+ (at 6s. per quarter) are taken in at the Printing-Office, and at the Book-Store of Mr. J. FELLOWS, Pine-Street._

THE NEW-YORK WEEKLY MAGAZINE; or, Miscellaneous Repository.

+Vol. II.+] _Wednesday, May 31, 1797._ [+No. 100.+

INTENT OF RELIGION.

If there be any principle fully ascertained by religion, it is, that this life was intended for a state of trial and improvement to man. His preparation for a better world required a gradual purification, carried on by steps of progressive discipline. The situation here a.s.signed him was such as to answer this design, by calling forth all his active powers, by giving full scope to his moral dispositions, and bringing to light his whole character. Hence it became proper, that difficulty and temptation should arise in the course of his duty; ample rewards were promised to virtue; but these rewards were left, as yet, in obscurity and distant prospect.

The impressions of sense were so balanced against immortality, as to allow a conflict between faith and sense,--between conscience and desire,--between present pleasure and future good. In this conflict the souls of good men are tried, improved and strengthened:--in this field their honours are reaped;--here are formed the capital virtues of fort.i.tude, temperance, and self-denial;--moderation in prosperity, patience in adversity, submission to the will of G.o.d, charity and forgiveness to men amidst the various compet.i.tions of worldly interest.

HOPE.

Hope to the soul, when distracted by the confusions of the world, is as an anchor to a ship in a dark night, on an unknown coast, and amidst a boisterous ocean. In danger it gives security;--amidst general fluctuation it affords one fixed point of rest. It is the most eminent of all the advantages which religion confers. It is the universal comforter;--it is the spring of all human activity.