affembled here with gloomy faces and been the inftruments of his vices. Berfable habiliments? Is this the welcome nard only, and a few more, who from you give your new lord?-I think you the meanness of their fituations had emight have fpared thefe trappings of fcaped his notice, were ftill permitted woe for a departed mafter, to wait with to occupy their feveral departments. joy the commands of his fucceffor." Inftead of the condefcenfion with which An univerfal filence fucceeded this un- their late lord had treated all around gracious harangue, which fo exafpe- him, the new mafter of thefe domains rated the Baron, who expected to be kept them at an awful diftance; and received with acclamations of pleafure, Lever permitted the plaints of poverty that he broke forth in the following to reach his ear, or the groans of op words: "Depart, you minions of that preffion to plead for mercy fuffering indolent fupineness, which marked the virtue never obtained redrefs from his character of him whom you mourn in compaffion, nor innocence from his vainquit my caftle, and if you have juftice. He had lived a life of luxury any bufinefs to tranfact, I refer you to and debauchery, which had involved my steward, who has attended me hi- his private fortune in difficulties, from ther, and who will impart to you my which this great acquifition was calcu commands." Awed and fhocked to lated to extricate him. A multitude of filence, the humble train retired from the prefence of a man, whofe dominion over them, promised nothing but the exertion of tyranny and oppreffion. In a day or two after his arrival, the fyftem of affairs was entirely changed. The old fteward was difcarded, and his place fupplied by a man, who had gained the confidence of the Baron by the abject fervility of his flattery.

importunate creditors difturbed the first moments of his fmiling fortune; and inftead of appropriating to the payment of his debts, a part of the princely revenue, the enjoyment of which he fo little merited, fuch was his mean avarice, that he immediately devoted to the axe, fome lofty rows of venerable trees, for many fucceffive centuries the greatest pride and ornament of the caftle of

The faithful fervants were discharg- Clairville. ed, and fucceeded by others, who had

(To be continued.)

FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS
WORKS OF E. GIBBON, Esq.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 681.

ANECDOTE OF MR WILKES.

IN the year 1762, while Mr Gibbon was an officer in the Hampshire militia, he formed an acquaintance with Mr (then Colonel) Wilkes; and the following curious anecdote is extracted from the Journal which he conftantly kept." Sept. 23d, Colonel Wilkes, of the Buckinghamshire militia, dined with us, and renewed the acquaintance Sir Thomas and myself had begun with him at Reading. 1 fcarcely ever met with a better companion; he has inexhauftible fpirits, infinite wit and hu mour, and a great deal of knowledge. He told us himself, that, in this time of public diffenfion, he was refolved to

make his fortune. Upon this principle
he has connected himfelf closely with
Lord Temple and Mr Pitt, commen-
ced a public adverfary to Lord Bute,
whom he abufes weekly in the North
Briton, and other political papers in
which he is concerned. This proved a
very debauched day: we drank a good
deal both after dinner and fupper; and
when at laft Wilkes had retired, Sir
Thomas and fome others (of whom I
was not one) broke into his room, and
and made him drink a bottle of claret
in bed.

CHARACTER OF MR CIBBON,
BY HIMSELF.

JOURNAL, May 8. 1762.-This was

my

my birth-day, on which I entered into cuit of Paris, and the neighbourhood; the twenty-fixth year of my age. This to the vifit of churches and palaces congave me occafion to look a little into fpicuous by their architecture; to the myself, and confider impartially my royal manufactures, collections of books good and bad qualities. It appeared and pictures, and all the various treato me, upon this inquiry, that my fures of art, of learning, and of luxury. character was virtuous, incapable of a An Englishman may hear, without rebase action, and formed for generous luctance, that in these curious and costones; but that it was proud, violent, ly articles Paris is fuperior to London; and difagreeable in fociety. Thefe fince the opulence of the French capiqualities I must endeavour to cultivate, tal arifes from the defects of its governextirpate, or reftrain, according to ment and religion. In the abfence of their different tendency. Wit I have Louis XIV. and his fucceffors, the none. My imagination is rather ftrong Louvre has been left unfinished: but than pleafing. My memory both сара- the millions which have been lavished cious and retentive. The fhining qualities of my understanding are extenfive nefs and penetration; but I want both quicknefs and exactnefs. As to my fituation in life, though I may fometimes repine at it, it perhaps is the beft adapted to my character. I can command all the conveniencies of life, and I can command too that independence, (that firft earthly bleffing) which is hardly to be met with in a higher or lower fortune. When I talk of my fituation, I muft exclude that temporary one, of being in the militia. Though I go through it with fpirit and application, it is both unfit for, and unworthy of me. COMPARATIVE STATE OF THE ARTS, &C. IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PEACE OF_1763.

In the firft vifit to Paris I paffed three months and a half, (January 28. May 9.) and a much longer fpace might have been agreeably filled, without any intercourfe with the natives. At home we are content to move in the daily round of pleasure and business; and a fcene which is always prefent is fupposed to be within our knowledge, or at least within our power. But in a foreign country, curiofity is our bufinefs and our pleafure; and the traveller, confcious of his ignorance, and covetous of his time, is diligent in the fearch and the view of every object that can deferve his attention. I devoted many hours of the morning to the cir

on the fands of Verfailles, and the
morafs of Marli, could not be fupplied
by the legal allowance of a British king.
The fplendour of the French nobles is
confined to their town refidence; that
of the English is more usefully distribu-
ted in their country feats; and we
fhould be astonished at our own riches,
if the labours of architecture, the spoils
of Italy and Greece, which are now
fcattered from Inverary to Wilton,
were accumulated in a few streets be-
tween Marybone and Westminster. All
fuperfluous ornament is rejected by the
cold frugality of the Proteftants; but
the Catholic fuperftition which is al-
ways the enemy of reafon, is often the
parent of the arts. The wealthy com-
munities of priests and monks expend
their revenues in ftately edifices; and
the parish church of St Sulpice, one of
the nobleft ftructures in Paris, was
built and adorned by the private induf-
try of a late curc. In this outfet, and
and ftill more in the fequel of my tour,
my eye was amufed; but the pleafing
vifion cannot be fixed by the
pen; the
particular images are darkly feen thro'
the medium of five and-twenty years,
and the narrative of my life muft not
degenerate into a book of travels.

But the principal end of my journey was to enjoy the fociety of a polished and amiable people, in whofe favour I was ftrongly prejudiced, and to converfe with fome authors, whose converfation, as I fondly imagined, must be 5 N 2

far

far more pleafing and inftructive than tween liberty and licentiousness was nè

their writings. The moment was hap-
pily chofen. At the clofe of a fuccefs-
ful war the British name was refpected
Clarum et venerabile nomen
Gentibus.

Our opinions, our fashions, even our
games, were adopted in France, a ray
of national glory illuminated each indi-
vidual, and every Englishman was fup-
pofed to be born a patriot and a philo-
fopher.

ver tranfgreffed by a gefture, a word, or a look, and their virgin chastity was never fullied by the breath of fcandal or fufpicion. A fingulat inftitution, expreffive of the innocent fimplicity of Swifs manners.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

I BEG leave to fubfcribe my affent to Mr Burke's creed on the revolution of France. I admire his eloquence, I approve his politics, I adore his chivalry, and I can almoft excufe his reverence for church establishments. I have fometimes thought of writing a dialogue of the dead, in which Lucian, Erafmus, and Voltaire fhould mutually acknowledge the danger of expofing an old fuperftition to the contempt of the blind and fanatic multitude.

A SINGULAR FEMALE INSTITUTION.
On his leaving Paris, and his return
to Lausanne, Mr Gibbon thus writes:
"By fome ecclefiaftical quarrel, Vol-
taire had been provoked to withdraw
himfelf from Laufanne, and retire to
his caftle at Ferney, where I again vi-
fited the poet and the actor, without
feeking his more intimate acquaintance, A fwarm of emigrants of both fexes,
to which I might now have pleaded a who efcaped from the public ruin, has
better title. But the theatre which he been attracted by the vicinity, the man-
had founded, the actors whom he had ners, and the language of Laufanne ;
formed, furvived the lofs of their maf- and our narrow habitations in town and
ter; and, recent from Paris, 1 attended country are now occupied by the first
with pleasure at the reprefentation of names and titles of the departed mo-
feveral tragedies and comedies. I fhall narchy. These noble fugitives are en-
not defcend to fpecify particular names titled to our pity; they may claim our
and characters; but I cannot forget a efteem, but they cannot, in their pre-
private inftitution, which will difplay
the innocent freedom of Swifs manners.
My favourite fociety had affumed, from
the age of its members, the proud de-
nomination of the fpring (la fociété de
printems.) It confifted of fifteen or
twenty young unmarried ladies, of gen-
teel, though not of the very firft fami-
lies; the eldest perhaps about twenty,
all agreeable, feveral handfome, and two
or three of exquifite beauty. At each
other's houfes they affembled almoft e-
very day, without the controul, or even
the prefence, of a mother or an aunt;
they were trufted to their own pru-
dence, among a crowd of young men
of every nation in Europe. They laugh-
ed, they fung, they danced, they play
ed at cards, they acted comedies; but
in the midst of this careless gaiety, they
refpected themfelves, and were refpect-
ed by the men; the invifible line be

fent ftate of mind and fortune, much
contribute to our amufement. Inftead
of looking down as calm and idle fpec-
tators on the theatre of Europe, our
domeftic harmony is fomewhat embit-
tered by the infufion of party fpirit: our
ladies and gentlemen affume the charac-
ter of felf-taught politicians; and the
fober dictates of wisdom and experience
are filenced by the clamour of the tri-
umphant democrates. The fanatic mif-
fionaries of fedition have scattered the
feeds of difcontent in our cities and vil-
lages, which had flourished above two
hundred and fifty years without fearing
the approach of war, or feeling the
weight of government. Many indivi-"
duals, and fome communities, appear to
be infefted with the Gallic phrenzy, the
wild theories of equal and boundless
freedom; but I trust that the body of
the people will be faithful to their fove.

reign and to themselves; and I am fatisfied that the failure or fuccefs of a revolt would equally terminate in the ruin of the country. While the aristocracy of Bern protects the happinefs, it is fuperfluous to inquire whether it be found

ed in the rights of man: the economy of the ftate is liberally fupplied without the aid of taxes; and the magistrates must reign with prudence and equity, fince they are unarmed in the midst of an armed nation.

ON ATTENTION TO CLEANLINESS, AND THE PROPRIETY OF INNOCULATION.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 662.);

let it be remembered, what alteration in the treatment of the difease has since taken place, and how much the prefent is fuperior in efficacy to the former mode of cure.

TO this plan I know not that any noculated patients, only 72 died; and ●bjection could be urged. A contrary that, during the fame period, one of conduct has, however, been followed; every fix died of the natural difeafe; to add to the evils incident to their local fituation, the practice of depofiting carrion not many yards from the pavement, is tamely fubmitted to; and a quantity of falted provifions, in a highly putrid ftate, which the juft arm of the law ejected from a cook fhop, went alfo to this marfh, as an aggregation of the evil.

In the year 1770, the little town of Kirkwall received a vifit from this peftilence. Dr Andrew Monro, who then practifed at Orkney, perfuaded the pcoThe propriety and importance of a ple to fubmit 332 children to his care: nice attention to cleanliness, which a- They were innoculated under every diflone can fecure, at all times, a whole- advantage; a fpreading mortality, which fome atmosphere in all populous places, had evidently poifoned the air; filthy will now be fufficiently obvious. It re- dwellings; during the inclemency of mains to confider the other view in the winter months; and with the very which we were to take the fubject of innoculation to combat the religious prejudices of the people, and to inquire how it is inconfiftent with our moral duty to reject the practice?

The diffimilitude of deaths in the natural form of small pox, and that introduced by innoculation, obvious and immenfe as it is, will make little part of this inquiry; because it is admitted by the keeneft oppofers or rejectors of the practice. It was about the year 1765 that innoculation began to be a dopted by the fuperior ranks of the people of Scotland. At that period the Royal Academy of Paris addreffed inquiries about this operation to all the medical schools of Europe; and Dr Monro received thofe which were directed to Edinburgh: He was very zealous in the caufe. All the information which his country could furnish was obtained, from which it is demonftrated, that, during fix months, out of 5626 in

worst domeftic accommodation; yet 4 only died; while, during the fame pe riod, and in the fame town, 39 out of 69 died of the natural disease; and it is worthy of remark, that the people, even then, knew of the falutary influence of this operation; for, during the year 1758, the small pox had killed 70 out of 273 people, when a young phyfician innoculated 60 children without lofing one patient.

C

7

It is a melancholy truth, that religious fcruples fofter this fatal delufion; but it is the tenets of thofe Chriftians whom we now addrefs to be hardy and confident, not only to level the divine attributes with the qualities of the creature, but to afk, and to be confident of obtaining, an interpofition of Providence. Man was made after God's image; this falfe theology, which eftimating his at-3 tributes by our animal faculties, makes God after man's image; this is an off fpring of the doctrine of neceffity; and s

its advocates fometimes proceed further, a good or bad part, fince the fate of every mortal is fixed, and we are not to be judged according to our deeds.~ But obferve—

and with infinite prefumption deny mercy and justice as attributes of deity; becaufe, whenever juftice prompted to punifh, and mercy to fpare, God himfelf could neither be just nor merciful.

:

Our voluntary fervice God requires,
Not our neceffitated; fuch with him
Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for

how

+

Can hearts not free be try'd whether they ferve

Willing or no, who will but what they

By destiny, and can no other chufe!

MILTON.

Mankind were, evidently formed to love virtue, which has a powerful tendency to promote this happiness; this evinces a future ftate of retribution, where virtue fhall be exalted, and vice debafed now this doctrine, though in the abitract univerfally, acquiefced in, is totally inconfiftent with the creed of ne- The Deity, befide the power vefted in ceffity, from which it follows, that all mankind of faving thoufands of their arguments opposed to it, is foolishness. fellow beings, by this falutary operaMany will tell us, that although cer- tion, hath put many other means of tain events must beful mankind, and the good into their power. If they emtermination of life happen at a flated pe- brace them not, the fin is with the riod; yet are they commanded to ufe guilty. The hiftory of mechanics, opmeans for extending that period, and tics, chemistry, botany, exhibit examfor extenuating diftrefs. This pofition ples of powers revealed to the human betrays much littleness of intellect, race, the adoption of which, to the purftrong perverfion of reafon, befide a pal- pofes of focial life, have contributed pable contradiction. If they are com- very much, to the emancipation of manmanded to use means, where can more kind from a barbarous to a civilized glorious means be found than that of state. innoculation, whereby millions have been faved? But if the events which happen do of neceffity take place, why ufe any means? The doctrine of neceffity bears no choice; it will thus avail little to act

44

"Ingenuas didiciffe fideliter artes Emollit mores, nec finit effe feros." OVID

(To be continued.)

STATE PAPERS.

COPY of a dispatch from Count Ofterman, Chancellor to the Emprefs of RUSSIA, to M. de Bulzow, Ruffian Charge d'Affairs, at Madrid, dated Petersburgh, Dec. 25. 1795.

"SIR, The Emprefs was already informed, through the public prints, of the treaty of peace concluded between Spain and the French, and the unpleafant fenfations which this unexpected and difagreeable tranfaction had produced in her Imperial Majefty's mind, were greatly increased when this intelligence was confirmed by the minister of his Catholic Majefty. The Empress, however, has, during the new connection which fo happily fubfifted between her and his Catholic Majefty, met with too many

opportunities of learning the true fenti. ments of that Prince, not to be thorough ly convinced that the concurrence of the moft imperious circumftances can alone have determined him to act in direct oppofition to his principles. No doubt it has been for him a talk infinitely hard, to enter into negociations with thofe, who with their own hands murdered the chief of his illuftrious family, and to conclude a peace with thofe difturbers of the tranquillity and fafety of all Europe. No one knows better than her Imperial Majefty to value and appreciate all the difficulties and obftacles which his Catholic Majefty must have had to furmount, before he could prevail upon himfelf to adopt a measure, which, to all appear

ance,