ture, calculated to turn the attention of the people to some objects which are too much overlooked, but which greatly tend to retard the prosperity and improvement of his country. In doing this, I hope you fhall find me at all times candid and impartial, totally regardless of men, and only attentive to the measures that tend to promote the welfare of the people, or to retard the prosperity of this country. I have two reasons for offering these lucubrations under the title I have afsumed. The first is because in consequence of the businefs of an informer, having been confined merely to that of aiding the revenue officers against the subject, the term has fallen into reproach, and the efsential duties that belong to it have been neglected. I with to free it from this obloquy by bringing it back to its original standard, that of informing the people so as to enable them to withstand the unjust encroachments of revenue officers, when they extend their power to objects that are subversive of the purposes for which they were created; and I hope so to conduct myself in the discharge of this duty as to fhow that it is an useful, a respectable office, and a necefsary imployment. 1 The second reason for this title is, that it is evident, members of parliament are often misled in regard to things of this nature, by the false representations of ministers, and their satellites, whose study it must ever be to encrease their own power, by deprefsing that of the people; and as these gentlemen have often much need of information with that in these efsays I fhall not state an cannot be fully authenticated by unde dence at the bar of the house of comm it should be called for; and that as I go out of my way to inculpate any pers ther fhall I turn aside for the purpose pating any human being whatever. Je crains dieu, cher Abner, & n'ai point d'autre crai If Mr Telltruth keeps up to his profe lucubrations fhall be always welcome; moment he shall depart from that strict lity he boasts, his performances must s ther channel of publication than the Bee. ANECDOTE. WHEN Oliver Cromwell first coined his an old cavalier looking upon one of the new 'read this inscription on one side, God with the other, The commonwealth of England. said he, God and the commonwealth are on a gides. SIR, To the Editor of the Bee. By giving the following beautiful little poem a place in the Bee, you will much oblige, Yours, &c. I. RESOLV'D, said the poet, of Calia to sing, II. Of sunshine and breezes I next thought to write; III. The clouds of mild ev'ning, array'd in pale blue, While the sunbeams behind them peep glittering thro', To rival her charms can never arise; Yet methought they look'd something like Cælia's bright eyes. IV. At length a fine fruit tree in blofsom I found, Which nature array'd, and fhed fragrance around: The Muses methought, then, had smil'd on my pray' v. The colour so pleasing at summer's gay fall, VI. So Calia, when youth, that gay blossom, is o'er, ON THE APPROACH OF WINTER. That would on earth be bleft. Oh! make it thy divine employ, E Eternity of soul. To virtuous minds new joys arise, Nor death's cold hand which on them steals, For them more gay, the vernal bloom, Roll swift away ye fleeting years THE BIRD's NEST. YES, little nest, I'll hold you fast, And little birds, one, two, three, four; I've watch'd you long, you're mine at last : Poor little things! you'll 'fcape no more. Chirp, cry, and flutter as you will, Ah! simple rebels, 'tis in vain. What note of sorrow strikes my ear? Flies round and round, to seek their neft. And is it I who cause their moan? No, no; together live and love, See! here they are; take them, I pray. Teach them in yonder wood to fly; And let them your soft warbling hear, Go, gentle birds; go, free as air! And listen to your song so sweet ON THE ADVANTAGES OF MISCELLANEOUS READING. Lectura testis est temporum, vita memoriæ, TULLY. UNMETHODIZED reading is adapted to the many; regular study is confined to the few, whom leisure or opulence attend, to smooth the rugged paths of science. The knowledge acquired from pursuits thus dictated by choice, makes perhaps more useful imprefsions, then all the learning of the schools, on persons who have had some previous formation as to taste, and whose natural dispositions are not prostituted to depravity. Periodical publications are the chief sources from whence the readers above alluded to draw their information; and it must be allowed they have diffused morę general knowledge, then any other species of writing, whatsoever. Their brevity allures the indolent, loca |