viting, it foftened as foon as they obferved our company. The gates ftood wide open, in which fituation I was told they always remain. Afcending by eafy fteps, we entered. I was transported with the beauty and nobleness of the place: the height and circumference of the doine filled and fatisfied the eye: the taste of the whole fabric was fimple and folemn. There was no need of adventitious decora tions, and there were none.

At the upper end of the Temple, on a Throne of ftate, appeared the GODDESS: but how fhall I defcribe her fuperior form Her complexion was clear, healthful, and animated with a native glow more perfect than art can confer. Her features were regular, raised, and graceful, but not without a mafculine air. Her eyes were blue, beautiful, and piercing as light. In all her mien there was discoverable a happy mixture of the modeft and the great. Not a fingle ornament about her perfon, but what was decent and natural.

Her hair flowed down her neck in artless ringlets. A fprig of laurel was wreathed round her temples. She wore a robe of the pureft purple, that was girt with a zone about her waift, from which it fell in ample and eafy folds. She held in her hand an Imperial Sword, the emblem of Power and Authority. Before the Throne, which was of alabafter, were placed various enfigns of Dominion, a globe, crowns, scepters, batons, fafces, tables of laws, fuits of armour, inftruments of war, trophies, and the feveral fymbols of the Finer Arts,

The prefence of the GODDESS overwhelmed me with veneration and extacy. I ftood for fome time immoveable, as if abforbed in fublime ideas. When I was a little recovered from a ftate which mortality cannot long fupport, my Protectress, pointing to the Throne, faid, "There fits the Divinity of the place,

3

the daughter of those immortal Powers,

Wisdom and Love. She was brought "forth at a birth with HAPPINESS, her "fifter, and her companion; and fent

down from above as the best friend "of men, and the fureft directress of life; "the guardian of youth, the glory of "manhood, and the comforter of old age. "By her inftructions and laws, human "fociety is formed and maintained; and "human nature, by converfe with her, "becomes Godlike."

My Conductress then called off my view to the numerous attendants of VIR→ TUE. On either fide of the Throne, as its fupporters, ftood two illuftrious perfonages, whofe names were Prudence and Justice, with their well-known symbols. The votaries, as they approached, were introduced to the Prefence by a young virgin of the most lovely appearance, who could not perform her task without blufhe ing. Her name was Modefty. On the right hand of the GODDESS ftood Domestic

Tenderness, Chaflity with a veil, meek-eyed Charity, facred Friendship, and Heroic Indignation of a ftern afpect and awful mien, grasping the Imperial Sword which VIRTUE reached out to him, and leading

Public Zeal, Magnanimity, and Honour,

up perfons of a fearless countenance and noble deportment, with feveral more whofe names I do not now recollect. On her left hand were placed, among others, Honefty in her tran'parent veft; Sincerity, of an ingenuous face; Refignation, leaning on a column, and looking to Heaven; Clemency, holding an olive branch; and Hofpitality, of a liberal and open manner, joining hands with Politeness. Behind the

Throne might be feen unruffled Serenity 3 fmiling Chearfulness; ever-blooming Joy, with a garland of flowers in her hand; and the Graces encircled in each other's arms. There too ftood ranged Industry of a hale and active appearance, and Peace crowned with laurel, fupporting a cornucopia between them; Credit linked hand

in hand with Commerce; and both introduced by Civil Liberty with her proper types. In VIRTUE's train, I likewife beheld Rhetoric, of a bold enthufiaftic air; Poetry, with her lyre and her look of rapture; Philofophy, with her speculum; Hiftory, with her pen; Sculpture, Painting, and the reft of the Sciences and Arts, diftinguifhed by their respective attributes. The pre fence of the GODDESS feemed to inspire the whole auguft and amiable band, and added a fresh luftre to their beauty.

The area of the Temple was filled with a glorious "multitude, which no man "could number," collected out of all tribes and nations, who lived in holy union, and conversed together with perfect efteem and confidence. Stationed near the Throne, was a diftinguished company, on whom the GODDESS fmiled with correfpondent fatisfaction. My Guide informed me they were a fet of illuftrious Worthies, who had approved themselves