The National Register.
London, England, 1811-07-21 00:00:00

CERTIFICATES.

AL

Thomas Docwra, late, of Hackney, dealer.—Mattbeve Har-
rison of Carlisle, Cumberland, stationer.—Clay Hall, of Liver-
pool, merchant.—Richard Crocker, of Caine, Wilts, shop.
Fosbery, of Liverpool, merchant.—Lazarus
So:otoon, of St Martin's-court, • Leicester-square, umbrePa-
rnak,r.—Henry -Lffery,. of . Melconibe Regis, Dorset, linen-
draper—Richard Cowell, of Smithfield Bars, salesman.—Wil-
'tam Phillii,s; late of Liverpool, broiler.—John oodhead
Parkin, of the Wheei, York, tobacconist.—Wiiliarn Coates, of
13uckkrsbury, .Nine-nierchant.—Ebenezer itioppe, of Church-
street, Little Minories, mathematical instrument-inak,:r.

STER.

PRUDENCE.

The third cardinal virtue is Prudence ; which Is the srt of se
tempering our actions to circumstance or situation, that, while
we give the world no occasion to impeach our wisdom, we de
not betray ourselves into a liability of falling into any snare laid
for our virtue.

Through the want of this quality innocence has often incnrrod
the stigma of guilt, the wisest plans have been defeated, the finest
fortunes dissipated, and the most enchanting prospects of happi-
ness destroyed. •
" Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge, but a fool
layetli open his folly," says Solomon, and, " as a jewel of gold,
in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman that is without dis 4.
cretion."

It is a misfortune arising from the imperfection of sublunary
things, that the most wisely circumspect cannot escape censure,
what then must the imprudent expect ? and while the effect
of it on the former is vveakened by the consciousness of not
having deserved it, wjtli the latter it is aggravated by the con-
trary reflection.

\Vial the nature of and necessity for Prudence in the general
concerns of life, and the obvious outline of social commerce,
every one is too well acquainted to need much precept or direc-
tion in the prrctice of it; but so many breaches of this virtue,
arise from an inattention to the minutiae of action, and the ill
timing of actions, perhaps harmless in themselves, that the youn
and thoughtless ol?glit to be put perpetually on their guard; for
it is not enough that we are virtuous, we must appear so---
" Make your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven."

St. Paul observes that, " all things may he lawful, but all
things may not be expedient," that is, a word or action which itit
ore situation may be perfectly innocent, may in another be cri-
minal; and many young and ingenuous minds, in particular, are
too apt to depend upon the rectitude of their intentions, without
at all reflecting upon the possibility of consequences.
In one of Mr. T. Dibdin's comedies (I think it is " Guilty er
not Guilty") the following pertinent observation occurs," More
mischief often comes of meaning no harm than people are aware
of," and l would recommend it to the serious consideration of
every one, that they may neither offend a " weak brother" by a
neglect of the etiquette of virtue, nor unwarily put themselves ha
the way of seduction. It is remarked that Crint Con. actions
multiply upon us, and I would venture to say that three cases
out of five arc the result of this want of caution. Married
people are bound by the strictest tics, and have an indispensible
obligation to keep not only their persons, but their thoughts *sa-
cred to each other : consequently a married woman, in particu-
lar, ought not to allow the most innocent freedoms from the
other sex without the most scrupulous consideration, lest in one
unguarded moment she.should give an artful seducer an opening
to tamper with her virtue, which once entangled is easily lost;
and she should consider also, that what would be an indifferent
action in a single woman might be the reverse with her. The
tame caution is as rcquhite for the married man. People may
talk of ungenerous restraint, but they should recollect that the
age of innocence is past, the age of imperfection present; and
what from the cares of life, the irregularities df temper, the dif-
ferences of disposition, and the trials of calamity, the =lathe'
life, or rath:. r the married constancy, has many drawbacks upeat
it, and it requires all the exertion of virtue to keep inviolate its
obligations. But as I have remarked upon the cares of a married
life, let me also observe that its comforts are more than tanta-
nsount, and certainly exceed those of a single life; and what are
its distressing cares, arise generally from the hymeneal knot hav-
ing been-tied from any other consideration than that of love re-
sulting from esteem; excited by virtue.
To the sitHe youth of both sexes let me also recommend s
soict adherene.e to thii virtia., and advise them to reflect, that