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mitting the difference between you to my arbitration. Give me leave then, in purfuance of the truft you have repofed in me of arbitrating between you, to appoint one o'clock Saturday noon, at the Bedford-head, Covent-garden, for the place of meeting, over a fall collation and I hope, Sir, you will come with a hearty difpofition to be reconciled, as I fhall to do impartial justice between you. I give the fame invitation by a line or two to Mr Crifp. I fhall only bring with me Mr Wood and Mr Erskine, who were prefent when the offence was given and taken; and I hope we five fhall have reafon to be pleafed and rejoice in one another's company; and particularly in the happy change of the time, place, and occafion of meeting.

To avoid all matter for fresh provocation, on the first meeting of two fuch high-fpirited gentlemen, I have ordered two rooms till I know each of your fenuments, that I may, by a juft and impartial arbitration, gather each of your demands, and be the better able to remove all difficulties when I bring you together, to the happy reconciliation I hope to fee effected between you. am, Sir,

I

Your fincere friend and fervant, THOMAS GILLES.

LETTER VI.

both men of honour, and common friends, I fhall bring them with me. All I have to beg of you is, that you will not, by any youthful heat, frustrate the good end of this amicable meeting: for either you did intend by the words which Mr Orme took amifs, to affront him, or you did not: if you did not, a ready and candid acknowledgement that you did not, will not fail, as I hope, of being accepted as it ought: if you did, and had no juft caufe, it will become a man of honour to own his fault, rather than by perfifting in it to bring matters to cxtremities.

The method 1 intend

to take fhall be this:

1 have ordered two rooms to be taken, in one of which I will attend Mr Orme, to know what he takes amifs, and what he infifts upon: and in the other I will attend you, to know your fentiments in like manner. This I shall do, becaufe as you may both meet otherwife in high fpirits, and with a sense of having been injured in your honours, all fresh provocations may be avoided and when I know both your fentiments, I fhall be better able to arbitrate with that juftice and impartiality which it will become me to obferve; and I hope the event will be anfwerable to my wifhes, and a fincere reconciliation be effected between you; and that you may equally rejoice for all your future.ngthened lives, in the return of a day which

;

From Thomas Gilles, Efq; to Andrew might have been fatal to one or both, Crifp, Efq.

DEAR SIR,

MR ORME has obliged me by confenting to leave the matter in difpute, between you, to my arbitration, as you have alfo done. I have therefore appointed to-morrow, one o'clock, at the Bedford head, Covent Garden, over a httle collation that I fhall order to be on the table by two. As Mr Wood and Mr Erfkine were prefent when the offence was given and taken, and are

I have given Mr Orme notice in writing of the time and place, and befought him, as I do you, to come with a hearty difpofition to a reconciliation; which if it can be effected, as I make no doubt, from the good fenfe of the gentlemen I have to deal with, will be a molt defirable event to

Your truly affectionate
and faithful friend,
THOMAS GILLES.

LITERARY HISTORY OF THE PRESENT PERIOD. IN comparing the prefent century with be found, that fo much has been done. thofe immediately preceding, it will not

toward the improvement of fcience, as

may

may be imagined by fuperficial obfervers, thefe alterations will produce a more and might have been expected from pro- genuine religion, time, the greatest ingrettive experience. The philologifts, ftructor, will fhew how far our mistrust orators, poets, hiftoriaes, and novellifts, is grounded. of the fixteenth and feventeenth centuries, were by no means inferior, and were, in fome refpects, fuperior to thofe of the eighteenth. In auxt mathematics, particularly in aftronomy, fome valuable, at leaft curious difcoveries have been made, from the great improvenient of telescopes, and other inftruments of obfervation. Mechanics have been carried to a much greater degree of perfection; and natural and experimental philofophy have acquired a certitude and accuracy, beyond what they had in any prior period: pharmacy has alfo been purified from the dregs of former times; anatomy and chirurgery have been eager ly and fuccefsfully cultivated; and the principles of the healing art have been fimplified and better arranged.

Such are the parts of fcience, with refpect to which our age can boaft fome fort of fuperiority: for, with regard to the fine arts, as they are termed, we apprehend they are rather languishing than acquiring vigour. A partial or local improvement, in fome of them, may have taken place, and has, no doubt, taken place in this nation; but we greatly miftak, if, on the whole, they have not loft more than they have gained.

Whether in political, moral, or religious knowledge, we are a whit wifer than our forefathers, appears to us a problem, that may be difputed with equal plaufibility on both fides of the question.

New fyftems of ethics have been creat ed, and bases of various forms have been contrived for the ftatue of Virtue; yet we think it must be confeffed, that the goddess is not more fincerely worshipped, nor her votaries more numerous than in the days of our predeceffors; we fear the reverfe is true.

As to theology, or the science of rei on, it has certainly undergone fome confiderable changes within thefe fifty years, and is apparently on the eve of ftill greater alterations; but whether

One thing, however, may be advanced as true: religion in general wears a more amiable face; intolerantifm is no more her infeparable companion; and mankind feem willing to go to heaven, without juftling one another on the road. The principles of religion too have been more minutely examined; many inveterate prejudices explored; revelation grounded upon more rational motives of credibility; a number of various corruptions climinated from the facred volumes with which the hand of time had tarnished them; and biblical criticifm established on fuch principles, and guided by fuch rules, as muft neceffarily tend to its perfection. This, therefore, is all well: yet if all this conduce not to meliorate the heart of man, to inspire him with a greater degree of the love of God and of his neighbour; what will religion profit by it?

On the other hand, it is but too true, that irreligion has made great ftrides during the fame period. The metaphyfics of Hume, the eloquence of Bolingbroke, the learning of Freret, the wit of Voltaire, and the fascinating logic of Rouffeau (not to mention a numerous but lefs formidable tribe of inferior writers) have inflicted severe wounds on Chriftianity, and fpread the contagion of infidelity far and wide: even Atheifm, who before lurked in corners, and covered his face with a deceitful veil, has recently shown himself without disguife; and Hammonds and Dantons have appeared, have boldly dared the DEITY to punish them for disbelieving his exiftence. And this is called The Age of Reafon!

Having thus given a fhort view of the prefent state of literature in general, we will next, in as few words as poffible, and we flatter ourselves with ftrick diftributive juftice, affign to the different nations of Europe their refpective thares. (To be Continued.)

REMARKABLE HISTORY OF DON PEDRO KING OF

PORTUGAL,

AND OF HIS UNFORTUNATE CONSORT DONA IGNEZ DE CASTRO.

CONTIGUOUS to the tranfept of thought it prudent then to conceal the the church belonging to the royal mo- fact.

nastery of Alcobaca, fifteen leagues The nobility also had intimation of north of Lisbon, there is a Gothic the marriage, and the preference given maufoleum of hewn ftone, in the midit to Ignez had awakened their jealousy. of which are two magnificent fepulchres, Hence they took every opportunity of of white marble, containing the remains reprefenting her as a woman of the. of Don Pedro the first, King of Portu- greatest ambition, and pretended that gal, and of Dona Ignez de Castro, his very fatal confequences were to be apconfort. prehended from such an alliance: they also condemned the prince as a rash and difobedient fon.

There are but few perfonages recorded in hiftory, who have been oftener celebrated by dramatic writers than this Princefs. There have been no less than fire tragedies formed from her pitiful narrative; viz. two in English, one in French, one in Spanish, and one in Portuguefe. The latter, perhaps, approaches the nearest to the truth of hiftory, and is not inferior in point of poetical merit. The author, Senhor Nicola Luis, had no occafion to refort to fiction to heighten the paffions of an audience, as the fimple facts are fufficient to fill up all the scenes of pity and terfor, and to fhew to what lengths love and revenge are capable of tranfporting

the human mind.

The King, who was a man of weak understanding, gave ear to their calumny, and they worked upon his paffions to that degree, that he refolved to murder the unfortunate Princefs. Accordingly, he fet out to perpetrate the horrid deed, accompanied by three of his courtiers, and a number of armed men.

Dona Ignez at this time refided in Coimbra, in the palace of Santa Clara, where the paffed her time in the most private manner, educating her children, and attending to the duties of her domeftic affairs.

The Prince, unfortunately, was abroad on a hunting party, when the King arrived. The beautiful victim came out to meet him, with her two infant children, who clung about his knees, fcreaming aloud for mercy. She proftrates herself at his feet, bathes them with tears, and fupplicates pity for her children, befeeching him to banish her to fome remote defert, where fhe would gladly wander an exile with her babes.

The subject of this tragical piece is as follows: Don Pedro, fon of Alonfo the fourth, King of Portugal, and heir apparent to the crown, having fallen in love with a lady of the court, named Dona Ignez de Caftro, thought he could not share the crown which awaited him with a more amiable perfon. She united to all the charms of beauty, the moft graceful and accomplished manDers. The prince, waving all confidera- The feelings of nature arrested his tions of birth and fortune, was privately arm, just raised to plunge a dagger into married to her by the bishop of Guarda. her breaft. But his counsellors urging. Notwithstanding the nuptials were the neceffity of her death, and reproachperformed with all the fecrecy imagin- ing him for his disregard to the welfare able, yet they reached the King's ear, of the nation, he relapfed into his forwho had premeditated a confort for mer refolution, and commanded them. Do Pedro in the King of Caftile's to dispatch her; at which they rufhed daughter. He queftioned him as to forward, regardless of the cries of inthe truth of the report; but knowing nocence and beauty, and instantly struck his father's arbitrary difpofition, he off her head! VOL. LVIII.

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This

This affecting fcene forms part of an epifode on the Lufiad of Camoens, thus tranflated by Mr Mickle:

Dragg'd from her bower by murderous
ruffian hands,

Before the frowning King fair Inez ftands;
Her tears of artleis innocence, her air
So mild, fo lovely, and her face fo fair,
Mov'd the ftern monarch; when with cager
zeal

Her fierce deftroyers urg'd the public weal;
Dread rage again the tyrant's foul poffeft,
And his dark brow his cruel thoughts confeft;
C'er her fair face a fudden paleness spread,
Her throbbing heart with generous anguish
bled,

Her beauteous eyes in trembling tear-drops
drown'd,

To heaven fhe lifted, but her hands were bound;
Then on her infants turn'd the piteous glance,'
The look of bleeding woe; the babes advance.
The lovely captive thus:-O monarch, hear,
If e'er to thee the name of man was dear,
If prowling tygers, or the wolf's wild brood,
Infpir'd by Nature with the luft of blood,
Have yet been mov'd the weeping babe to
fpare,

Nor left, but tended with a nurse's care;
As Rome's great founders to the world were
given;

Shalt thou, who wear'ft the facred stamp of
heaven,

The human form divine, fhalt thou deny
That aid, that pity, which e'en beast supply?
Oh, that thy heart were, as thy looks declare,
Of human mould, fuperfluous were my prayer;
Thou could't not then a helpless damfel flay,
Whofe fole offence in fond affection lay.
Ah, let my woes, unconfcious of a crime,
Procure mine exile to fome barbarous clime:
Give me to wander o'er the burning plains
Of Lybia's defarts, or the wild domains
Of Scythia's now-clad rocks and frozen fhore;
There let me, hopeless of return, deplore
Where ghaftly horror filis the dreary vale,
Where fhrieks and howlings die on every gale,
The lions roaring, and the tygers yell,
There with mine infant race confign'd to
dwell;

There let me try that piety to find,
In vain by me implor'd for human kind:
There in fome dreary cavern's rocky womb,
Amid the horrors of fepulchral gloom,
For him whofe love I mourn, my love fhall
glow,

The figh fhall murmur and the tear fhall flow.
In tears the utter'd-as the frozen fnow

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away,

Lies faded on the plain, the living red,
The fnowy white, and all its fragrance fled;
So from her cheeks the rofes dy'd away,
And pale in death the beauteous Inez lay:
With dreadful fmiles, and crimfon'd with her
blood,

Round the wan victim the ftern murderers
ftood.

O fun, couldst thou fo foul a crime behold,
Nor veil thine head in darkness, as of old,
A fudden night unwonted horror caft
O'er that dire banquet, where the fires repaft,
The fon's torn limbs fupplied!-yet you, ye
vales !

Ye distant forests, and ye flowery dales !
When pale and finking to the deathful fall,.
You heard her quivering lips on Pedro call;
Your faithful echoes caught the parting found.
And Pedro! Pedro! mournful, figh'd around.
Lufiad, book 3.

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Soon after the above tranfaction the Prince arrived; but, alas! found those eyes that were wont to watch his return with impatience, closed in death. The fight of his beloved Ignez weltering in gore filled his mind with distraction, and kindled every fpark of revenge within his foul. In all the agony of rage, he called aloud on the avenging hand of heaven to punish thofe monsters who de prived him of all he held dear upon earth. As foon as her remains were interred,

Touch'd by the fpring's mild ray, begins to he put himself at the head of an army,

flow;

So juft began to melt his stubborn foul,
Asmild-ray'd pity o'er the tyrant ftole;

who fympathized with his diftrefs; they carried fire and fword through the

ad-⭑

adjacent provinces, and laid waste the her body was taken out of the fepulchre, eftates of the murderers. The royal covered with regal robes, and placed troops could not oppose them; they on a magnificent throne, around which Red at the appearance of the gallant a- his minifters affembled, and did homage vengers of innocence. But the king, to their lawful Queen. wretched man! could not fly from him- After this ceremony, her corpfe was felf; the cries of his grand children still tranflated from Coimbra to Alcobaca, echoed in his ears, and the bleeding i- with a pomp hitherto unknown in the mage of their unfortunate mother was kingdom; though the diftance between constantly before his eyes. Death at these two places is fifty two miles, yet laft commiferated his fituation, and he the road was lined on both fides all the expired full of repentance for his accumulated crimes. He was an undutiful fon, an unnatural brother, and a cruel father.

way, with people holding lighted tapers. The funeral was attended by all the noblemen and gentlemen in Portugal, dreffed in long mourning cloaks; their ladies alfo attended, dreffed in white mourning veils.

The Prince now afcended the throne, in the thirty-feventh year of his age. He no fooner obtained the power, than The cloud which the above disaster he meditated to revenge the death of caft over the mind of Don Pedro was his beloved Ignez. The three mur- never totally difperfed; and as he lived derers, namely, Pedro Coello, Diogo in a state of celibacy the remainder of Lopez Pacheo, and Alvaro Gonfalvez, his life, agreeably to his vow, there had fled into Caftile, previous to the was nothing to divert his attention from death of the late King. The Prince ruminating on the fate of his beloved ordered them to be tried on a charge of fpoufe. The impreffion her death made high treafon, and being found guilty, on him was ftrongly characterised, not their eftates were confifcated. Next, only in the tortures he inflicted on her he contrived to feize their perfons, by murderers, but also in all the acts of his agreeing with the King of Caftile, that administration, which, from their feveboth fhould reciprocally deliver up the rity, induced fome to give him the apPortuguefe and Caftilian fugitives, who pellation of Pedro the Cruel; by others fought protection in their refpective do- he was called Pedro the Juft: and, uminions. Gonfalvez and Coello were pon the whole, it appears that the laft accordingly arrested, and fent in chains title moft properly appertained to him. to Portugal; Pacheo efcaped into France. The King was at Santerem when the delinquents were brought to him; he instantly ordered them to be laid on a pyre that was previously formed, contiguous to which he had a banquet prepercd. Before the torch was kindled, and while they agonized at every pore under the most lingering tortures, their hearts were cut out, one at his breaft, the other at his back. Laftly, the pyre was fet on a blaze, in presence of which he dined, while they evaporated in flames.

Having thus far appeafed his infatiable thirit of revenge, he ordered his marriage with Dona Ignez to be pubMed throughout the kingdom; then

It must be allowed, however, that he punifhed fome offences rather feverely, particularly in cafes of adultery. In al tranfgreffions of this nature, his laws were more rigid than thofe of Solon, as will appear by the following inftances: he ordered a man to be hanged for having had communication with a woman previous to his marriage with her. Another, detected in the act of adultery, was, with his miftrefs, committed to the flames. A friar, who was difcovered to be the father of a boy who ftruck his nominal father, was put into cafe formed of cork, and fawed through the body.

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