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frivolous and pernicious amusements in which the votaries of this world delight; but 1 am not aware that it has an anti-social tendency, unless you mean by that expression, that its tendency is to keep up the essential difference between a real Christian and one who bears only the name.' "But we arc all Christians,and good Christians too; but our Christianity does not teach us to wait the arrival of death before we can be happy.' Yes, Sir, there are the pleasures of sin, which you know who forsook for the recompence of reward; and his example we are required to follow." "And, Madam, there are the pleasures of innocence, which are as sweet and as sacred as the joys of angels." "But Sir, I cannot suppose that you include card-playing as the game of innocence." "Most certainly!" "Do you imagine that our old friend, Mr. L-, is of the same opinion, who, in an evening, was reduced from a state of comparative pauperism?" "Why, that was an unlucky night for him, certainly; but, you know, we do not play for more than we can afford to lose." I think, Sir, with all due deference to your judgment, that every one who plays at this game of innocence, stakes more than he can afford to lose." "You are, I know, an ingenious casuist, and I wish to know how you can prove the correctness of your assertion." Can you, Sir, afford to lose your temper ?" "If I do I can easily recover it." You may, Sir, but can others?" "If they cannot, they are to blame." Then, Sir, this game of innocence is found, on experiment, first, to destroy the placidity of the temper, and then to involve its abettors in censure. But there is often more staked in this game than the loss of temper." "What, Madam ?" "The loss of friendship. You know that the families of the O-'s and the H-'s have never met in any party since the fracas which happened two years since at "Why, that was a serious affair, certainly, but you know that such a fracas rarely happens. s." "Nay, Sir, it often happens, only friends interpose, and effect a reconciliation. But with such facts imprinted on our memory, can we say that such a game is the game of innocence ?" "I think, Madam, you are rather too severe; for you must allow that sometimes it does no injury; it beguiles away many a languid hour." "Which, Sir, ought to be spent in preparation for immortality."

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Stereotyped by 1. HADDON; and Printed by 3. 5. HUGHES, 63, Paternoster Rois

[No. 18

"There was at Mr. Stevens's a select, but not a large party. The conversation was of a desultory nature till after tea, when Miss Roscoe was requested to favour the company with a tune on the piano."-Page 3.

London:

THE RELIGIOUS PARTY.

"These men never tell you what Christianity is; they have nothing to do with its dogmas, and as for faith, the atonement, and spiritual renovation, these they leave to the initiated into the mysteries of fanaticism, who are weak enough to believe that religion ought to be the business of man, and immortal glory the object of his pursuit."

ANON.

I

"WHAT do you think," said Miss Denham to her mamma, as they were walking home, "Miss Roscoe is become so religious, that she refused the Rev. Mr. C as a partner this evening, and said so many things against cards, and brought forward so many arguments from some old puritanical book, that he was at times quite disconcerted ?" "Yes, my dear, and it is enough to disconcert any good Christian, to have religious subjects introduced at our convivial parties.' "O yes, mamma, exactly so. think if we are religious on a Sunday, it is as much as ought to be expected. I wonder how it is that Miss Roscoe has become so religious all at once.-What a pity. I suppose she must be very unhappy." "Yes, my dear, that you may depend on. Her parents are nearly broken-hearted. Dear Mrs. Roscoe told me this evening, that all their peace is sacrificed; and they really dread the consequences. She has positively refused to attend our concert on Friday." "Dear mamma, is it possible? I wish I had known it, I would have reasoned the point with her." "Ah! my child, when this evangelical religion, as it is called, takes possession of a person's mind, it is no use to attempt to reason, -reason has nothing to do with it." ‘Then, mamma, it must be a very unreasonable thing." Exactly so, my dear, and I hope you will avoid its snares." Dear mamma, I really wonder that you should consider it necessary to suggest such a hint; I assure you, that I have no prepossessions in its favour. Indeed, it is not my intention to trouble myself at all about religion yet; of course, I shall go to church along with you and papa." Exactly so, my dear; but still, it will be necessary to avoid all intercourse with those religious people who are known to be evangelical; for the Rev. Mr. C- — says, he thinks that there is something of a bewitching nature in it, as it is known sometimes to subdue those who

have the greatest antipathies against it." "Why, mamma, you quite alarm me. Then no one is safe. Is it possible for my mind to be subdued to a belief of evangelical religion? Oh! I would rather enter a nunnery at once, and take the veil for life." "Yes, my dear, and I would rather you should; but still, I deem it prudent to give you the hint to be on your guard; for I heard you a short time since, drop some expressions when speaking of Mrs. Stevens, which excited considerable alarm." 66 Indeed, mamma! I am not conscious of it. I certainly think that Mrs. Stevens is a most amiable lady; and though she has, in my opinion, rather too much religion, yet she is very accomplished, and a most interesting companion." "She is amiable and accomplished," observed Mrs. Roscoe, "but I think her a most dangerous companion." "Indeed, mamma! What, the amiable Mrs. Stevens a dangerous companion ?" "Yes, my dear, she is, she always aims at proselyting others to her religion; and such is the charm of her eloquence, that she scarcely ever fails. She can easily accommodate herself to the taste of her visitors; she bribes the poor by her benevolence; fascinates the young by her pleasantry; and entangles the thoughtless by her arguments. No one is safe who associates with her. She has destroyed the peace of the Roscoes, by instilling her notions into the mind of Miss Roscoe. "But, mamma, I do not think she would proselyte me, for I have no predilection for religion. It is too gloomy a subject to suit my taste. Indeed, I don't understand it; nor do I wish to understand it. But I am under an engagement to take tea with her and Miss Roscoe, next week, What shall I do?" "Decline, of course, my dear." "But the time is fixed." "You can send a note, and plead indisposition as an apology for absence." "But would that be honourable, if I should not be indisposed?" "You know it is fashionable." 66 Yes, mamma, but I have long felt a secret abhorrence against the fashionable habit of sacrificing truth to expedience. I cannot do it. I have no wish to become religious; but I wish to be virtuous; and I think an inviolable regard to truth, the very foundation of virtue." "Very true, my dear; I am pleased with your

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remark; it discovers a virtuous mind; but you must not be too scrupulous; you will find it impossible always to avoid the customs of fashionable life; for though some of them are open to the censures of the strict moralist, yet they have been too long established to be changed." But, mamma, I should think it wrong to comply with any custom which rality condemns. When I was at Mr. T's, the housemaid, who had been in the family seven years, and who was very greatly respected, was called up into the parlour and discharged at a moment's warning. She wished to know the cause. Mrs. Treplied, I have detected you in so many falsehoods, that I cannot believe a word you say.' She took up her wages, and said, 'Who taught me to speak untruth? When I came into your service, I came uncorrupted; 1 abhorred a lie, but did you not compel me to the habit? Was I not forced to say, when you were unwilling to see company, that you were ill, or from home; and if mistresses teach servants to lie, ought they to be discharged when detected?" "" "How insolent! Did not Mr. force her out of the house ?" "Yes, mamma, he resented the insult, but after she was gone, he said, 'I hope the truth will always be spoken in future; for, if we compel others to falsify for our convenience, can we be astonished if they do so for their own?" "Well, my dear, with your high notions of virtue, which are tinged with the evangelical dye, I do not see how you can excuse yourself from Mrs. Stevens's; but let me entreat you to be on your guard, for we live, as the Apostle says, in perilous times. I would rather fol

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low you to the grave than see you infected with that religious contagion; and I am sure your papa would disown you." "Dear mamma, I wonder that you should harbour any suspicions. It is not my intention to become religious. Indeed, if I were, my religion must tolerate all the gaieties of fashionable life. You know that I am passionately fond of cards and concerts, of balls and plays; and, as for the Bible, I assure you that I have not read it since I left school. It is too grave to suit my taste; and so mystical, that I cannot understand it. Indeed, I have my doubts about it; particularly since our acquaintance with the