The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-04-07
THE WISDOM OF VIRTUE.

""'o" (>ayS MS hi"~rarh"r) upon beng
informed that the Earl of Shresburv was
Icing engaged in conversation which
might prove dangerous to his virtue, as
well rs $" his character, to write to him
the following letter, whcl, is Il masterpiece
for the elegance and r"litcncss rs well as
the force and path"s of the rcmo,stramce:
My lord.--lt WIS Il great satisfaction
t" me t" be anyways instrumental in the
gaining your lordship to our religion, which
am really persuaded to he the truth
l'ut am and always was more concerned
that your L"r'l>hip would continue Il vir
tno"s and good man than become Pro
te>tant being assured that the iynor-
ancc and errors of mems understanding
will finl Il much easier forgiveness with
God than the faults Of the will Your
Lor!>hip once .od me that you would en-
! dc;'vcr to justify the sincerity Of your
change by II conscientious regard TO ali other
pa,ts and actions of your life. am sure
YOU cannot more ctlcctually condemn your
own act than 10y being Il worse man after
religion. [ will certainly be one of the
last to believe any thing Of your Loriship
that is hot COOL but always feared
should bc one Of the first that should hear
it, The time last waited upon your lord
ship had heard something that afflicted
me very sensihly but hoped it WIS not
true, and WAS therefore 10th to trouble your
lordohip about it. But having heard the
same from those, who believe, bear no i'll
vii! to your lo.dship, now think it my
duty to acluant You Will, it. TO speak
plainly, have been told that your Lord
ship is of late fallen into conversation
dangerous both to your reputation and vir
tue, Two of the tcnd:rcst and dearest things
i'll the world. l believe your Lorlship to
have great Command and conduct Of your
self; but | am very sensible Of human
tra'!.y, and Of the dangerous temptations
TO which youth is exposed in this dssolute
age Therefore, earnestly Lcseech your
Iord,llip to consider, besides the high prov
ocalion Of Almighty God, anl the hazard
OF your soul, whenever YOU engage in IL
bad course, what u b!emish you will bring
upon fair and unspottcd reputation; What
uneasincss and trouble you will create to
yourself from the severe reflections of Il
guilty conscience; and how great Il vo
lcncc you will offer to your good principles
your nature and your education, and to Il
mind the best made for virtuous and wor
thy things. And do not imagine you can
stop when you please. Experience shows
us tho contrary, anG that nothing is more
vain than for men to think they can set
bounds Tor themselves in any thing that is
bad. hope i'll God no temptation has us
yet prevailed Oh your Lor,lslip so far rs to
be guilty Of any loose act. If it has, as
you love your soul, lc: it not proceed to IN
habit. The retreat is not easy and open,
but will every day become more difficult
and obStrlctcd. God is SO merciful that,
upon your repentance and resolution Of
amendment, he is not only ready to forgive
what is past, but to assist Us by his grace to
do better for the future. But need not
enforce these considerations upon mind
so capable Of and easy to receive good
counsel. | shall only desire your Lor.lship
to think again and again how great point
of wisdom it is, III I'LL our actions, to con.
suit the peace Of our minds, and to have
no quarrel with the constant and nsepara
Llc companion Of our lives. If others dis
please lis, we may quit their company, but
lie that is displcascd with himself is una
yoidaby uhappy, because he has no way
to get rid Of himself.
"My Lord, for Gods SAX &c and your own
think Of being happy, and resolve by all
means to save yourself from this untoward
generation. Determine rather Ipon n
speedy change Of your condition than 70
crafty the inclinations Of your youth in
any thing bat what is lawful and honora
BILE; and let me have the satisfaction to be
assured from your Lordsl,ip either that
there has teen no ground Cor this report, or
that there shall bc mono for the future.
which will be the 'welcomcst news to me in
the world. have only to beg of your
LorlsLip to believe that have not done
This to satisfy the formality of my proes
I,,,, l,,,k tt,.,S
affection and goodwill that one can posi-
bly, bear TO another. l pray God every
day for yonr Lordslip with the same con
stancy and fervor as for myself, and do most
earnestly beg that this counsel may be &C
ceptable and effcctuaI. am, &C."
Feeding Poultry.-Professor Gregory, of
Aberdeen, in letter to a friend, observes ::
AS | suppose you keep poultry, may tell
| IL lIt