ng,--and for not listening to the wise and friendly admonitions of
Dr. Cardanus Rider, who never apprehends he may change his opinions
before his pen is out of his hand, but always enables us to lay in at
least a year's stock of useful information.

At first I took comfort. I said to myself, that, if I should, as I fear
I must, oppose the doctrines of _the last week of October_, it is
probable that by this time they are no longer those of the eminent
writer to whom they are attributed. He gives us hopes that long before
this he may have embraced the direct contrary sentiments. If I am found
in a conflict with those of the last week of October, I may be in full
agreement with those of the last week in December, or the first week in
January, 1796. But a second edition, and a French translation, (for the
benefit, I must suppose, of the new Regicide Directory,) have let down a
little of these flattering hopes. We and the Directory know that the
author, whatever changes his works seemed made to indicate, like a
weathercock grown rusty, remains just where he was in the last week of
last October. It is true, that his protest against binding him to his
opinions, and his reservation of a right to whatever opinions he
pleases, remain in their full force. This variability is pleasant, and
shows a fertility of fancy:--

Qualis in aethereo felix Vertumnus Olympo
Mille habet ornatus, mille decenter habet.

Yet, doing all justice to the sportive variability of these weekly,
daily, or hourly speculators, shall I be pardoned, if I attempt a word
on the part of us simple country folk? It is not good for _us_, however
it may be so for great statesmen, that we should be treated with
variable politics. I consider different relations as prescribing a
different conduct. I allow, that, in transactions with an enemy, a
minister may, and often must, vary his demands with the day, possibly
with the hour. With an enemy, a fixed plan, variable arrangements. This
is the rule the nature of the transaction prescribes. But all this
belongs to treaty. All these shiftings and changes are a sort of secret
amongst the parties, till a definite settlement is brought about. Such
is the spirit of the proceedings in the doubtful and transitory state of
things between enmity and friendship. In this change the subjects of the
transformation are by nature carefully wrapt up in their cocoons. The
gay ornament of summer is not seemly in his aurelia state.