The Virginia Gazette

Who steals my Purse, steals Trash,
I that was mine, 'tis his, and has been Slave to Thousands;
But he who filches from me my good Name,
O, Robs me of that which not enriches him,
But makes me poor indeed.

Shakespeare.

'Twas the Opinion of a very worthy Divine, that a common Liar could neither do Good nor Harm. Such a one (says he) is stuck fast, neither Truth nor Falsehood can serve his Turn. He is a Sort of Bankrupt in the Community, stript of all Credit, and as no body can trust him, he can deceive no body; to what a deplorable Condition must human Nature be reduced, when it comes to this? But there is a Sort of these People, who do much Mischief to Society, by a wrong Use of that Member the most distinguishing Part of rational Beings; when the Tongue is taught to utter Falsehoods for the Sake of gratifying Interest, Malice, or any other Vice. The worst Kind of these may be term'd the Domestick Lyars, who are a Kind of Viper, that destroy wherever they bite, their Poison lies in the Tongue; those Creatures I mean, who are either the Inventors or Conveyancers of Falsehoods in Families. They first blow up little Misunderstandings, then diligently widen the Breaches they have made, till at last they inflame them into violent Enmities, and this too is done under a Pretence of Friendship to both Sides; and when the injured Parties are become determined Foes by Hearsay, then is the Villain who laid the Scheme gratified in his nefarious Hopes, and with Pleasure sees his Mischief take Place. The Malignity of these People's Tongues reaches every where; no Person, no Reputation tho' white as Snow escapes their Calumny; every Virtue is singled out and sullied, and the more Shining and conspicuous, the better Mark it is. The most delicate Part of the whole Creation does not escape them, for they delight to unravel the Fair Sex; an Affair of Love affords their greatest Satisfaction; there they often break Engagements that were never entered, and make others that were never intended or thought of; if any Amour should turn out contrary to their Expectations, they have an unlimited Scope for Detraction; the poor Lady's Conduct is severely scrutiniz'd and censur'd, the free Behaviour of a Woman of Sense is turn'd into the Levity of a Coquet, or a moderate Reservedness into the Affectation of a Prude: Thus is Innocence injur'd in the most tender Part, whilst the disappointed Lover's Grief is greatly aggravated by these bitter Reflections. These People taste no Pleasure, know no Joy so great, as that of cutting up a Reputation; having nothing of that Kind themselves to lose, they try to bring every Thing down to them. What can the private Thoughts be of such as indulge themselves in these vitious Habits of Scandal? Or how do they commune with themselves when alone? Repentance without Restitution cannot avail; Then how can such Wretches bear the Reflection of having blasted, in the Wantonness of their Words, a Reputation they cannot restore.

PHILALETHES.