ony of public bodies.
But why is perfection to be expected, where every thing must
necessarily be imperfect? It is the duty of man to make the _nearest
approaches_ to public and private happiness. And if, as with a sponge,
he wipe away such establishments, genius has little incentive to
exertion, and merit has still less hope of reward. Now cast your eyes
on a different scene."

I obeyed, and, within the same city, saw a great number of Asylums and
Institutions for the ignorant and helpless. I saw youth instructed,
age protected, the afflicted comforted, and the diseased cured. My
emotions at this moment were wonderfully strong--they were perceived
by my guide, who immediately begged of me to consider the manner by
which _epidemic maladies_ were prevented or alleviated, and especially
how _the most fatal of them_ had been arrested in its progress. I
attentively examined the objects before me, and saw thousands of
smiling children and enraptured mothers walking confidently 'midst
plague and death! I saw them, happy in the protection which had been
afforded them by the most useful and most nutritious of animals!
"Enough," exclaimed my guide, "thou seest here the glorious result of
a philosophical mind, gifted with unabatable ardour of experiment.
Thou wilt acknowledge that, compared with the triumph which SUCH A
MIND enjoys, the conquests of heroes are puerile, and the splendour of
monarchy is dim!" During this strain, I fancied I could perceive the
human being, alluded to by my guide, retire apart in conversation with
another distinguished friend of humanity, by those unwearied exertions
the condition of many thousand poor people had been meliorated.

"There is yet," resumed my guide, "another scene equally interesting
as the preceding. From a pure morality flows a pure religion: look
therefore on those engaged in the services of CHRISTIANITY." I
looked, and saw a vast number of my fellow-creatures prostrate in
adoration before their Creator and Redeemer. I fancied I could hear
the last strains of their hallelujahs ascending to the spot whereon I
sat. "Observe," said my Protector, "all do not worship in the same
manner, because all assent not to the same creed; but the intention of
each may be pure: at least, common charity teaches us thus to think,
till some open act betray a malignity of principle. Toleration is the
vital spark of religion: arm the latter with the whips of persecution,
and you convert her into a fien