not but perceive and know every thing in which he resides, infinite space gives room to infinite knowledge, and is, as it were, an organ to omniscience.

Were the soul separate from the body, and with one glance of thought should start beyond the bounds of the creation, should it for millions of years continue its progress through infinite space with the same activity, it would still find itself within the embrace of its Creator, and encompassed round with the immensity of the Godhead. While we are in the body he is not less present with us because he is concealed from us. "O that I knew where I might find him!" says Job. “Behold I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him on the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him." In short, reason as well as revelation assures us that he cannot be absent from us, notwithstanding he is undiscovered by us.

In this consideration of God Almighty's omnipresence and omniscience every uncomfortable thought vanishes. He cannot but regard every thing that has being, especially such of his creatures who fear they are not regarded by him. He is privy to all their thoughts, and to that anxiety of heart in particular which is apt to trouble them on this occasion: for, as it is impossible he should overlook any of his creatures, so we may be confident that he regards with an eye of mercy those who endeavor to recommend themselves to his notice, and in an unfeigned humility of heart think themselves unworthy that he should be mindful of them.

As

S my correspondents begin to grow pretty numerous, I think myself obliged to take some notice of them, and shall therefore make this paper a miscellany of letters. I have, since my reassuming the office of Spectator, received abundance of epistles from gentlemen of the blade, who, I find, have been so used to action, that they know not how to le still. They seem generally to be of opinion, that the fair at home ought to reward them for their services abroad; and that, till the cause of their country calls them again into the field, they have a sort of right to quarter themselves upon the ladies. In order to favor their approaches, I am desired by some to enlarge upon the accomplishments of their profession, and by others to give them my advice in the carrying on their attacks. But let us hear what the gentlemen say for themselves.

"MR. SPECTAtor,

"THOUGH it may look somewhat perverse, amidst the arts of peace, to talk too much of war, it is but gratitude to pay the last office to its Manes, since even peace itself is, in some measure, obliged to it for its being.

"You have, in your former papers, always recommended the accomplished to the favor of the fair; and, I hope, you will allow me to represent some part of a military life not altogether unnecessary to the forming a gentleman. I need not tell you that in France, whose fashions we have been formerly so fond of, almost every one derives his pretences to merit from the sword; and that a man has scarce the face to make his court to a lady without some credentials from the service to recommend him. As the profession is very ancient, we have reason to think some of the greatest men, among the old Romans, derived many of their virtues from it; the commanders being frequently in other respects some of the most shining characters of the age.

"The army not only gives a man opportunities of exercising those two great virtues, patience and courage, but often produces them in minds where they had scarce any footing before. I must add, that it is one of the best schools in the world to receive a general notion of mankind in, and a certain freedom of behavior, which is not so easily acquired in any other place. At the same time I must own, that some military airs are pretty extraordinary; and that a man who goes into the army a coxcomb, will come out of it a sort of public nuisance: but a man of sense, or one who had not been sufficiently used to a mixed conversation, generally takes the true turn. The court has in all ages been allowed to be the standard of good-breeding; and I believe there is not a juster observation in Monsieur Rochefoucault, than that "a man, who has been bred up wholly to business can never get the air of a courtier at court, but will immediately catch it in the camp." The reason of this most certainly is, that the very essence of

good-breeding and politeness consists in several niceties, which are so minute that they escape his observation, and he falls short of the original he would copy after; but when he sees the same things charged and aggravated to a fault, he no sooner endeavors to come up to the pattern which is set before him, than, though he stops somewhat short of that, he naturally rests where in reality he ought. I was, two or three days ago, mightily pleased with the observation of an humorous gentleman upon one of his friends, who was in other respects every way an accomplished person, that " he wanted nothing but a dash of the coxcomb in him;" by which he understood a little of that alertness and unconcern in the common actions of life, which is usually so visible among gentlemen of the army, and which a campaign or two would infallibly have given him.

"You will easily guess, sir, by this my panegyric upon a military education, that I am myself a soldier; and indeed I am so. I remember, within three years after I had been in the army, I was ordered into the country a recruiting. I had very particular success in this part of the service, and was over and above assured, at my going away, that I might have taken a young lady, who was the most considerable fortune in the country, along with me. I preferred the pursuit of fame at that time to all other considerations; and though I was not absolutely bent on a wooden leg, resolved at least to get a scar or two for the good of Europe. I have at present as much as I desire of this sort of honor; and if you could recommend me effectually, should be well enough contented to pass the remainder of my days in the arms of some dear kind creature, and upon a pretty estate in the country. This, as I take it, would be following the example of Lucius Cincinnatus, the old Roman dictator, who at

the end of a war, left the camp to follow the plough. I am, sir, with all imaginable respect,

"Your most obedient humble servant,
"WILL WARLEY.

32

"MR. SPECTATOR,

"I AM an half-pay officer, and am at present with a friend in the country. Here is a rich widow in the neighborhood, who has made fools of all the fox-hunters within fifty miles of her. She declares she intends to marry, but has not yet been asked by the man she could like. She usually admits her humble admirers to an audience or two; but after she has once given them denial, will never see them more. am assured by a female relation, that I shall have fair play at her; but as my whole success depends on my first approaches, I desire your advice, whether I had best storm or proceed by way of sap. I am, sir,

I

"Yours, &c.”

"P. S. I had almost forgot to tell you, that I havé already carried one of her out-works, that is, secured her maid."

"MR. SPECTATOR,

"I HAVE assisted in several sieges in the LowCountries, and being still willing to employ my talents as a soldier and engineer, lay down this morning at seven of the clock before the door of an obstinate female, who had for some time refused me admittance. I made a lodgment in an outer parlor about twelve: the enemy retired to her bed-chamber, yet I still pursued; and about two of the clock this afternoon she thought fit to capitulate. Her demands are indeed somewhat high in relation to the settlement of her fortune: but being in possession of the