ranfom of the unfortunate The monk made me a bow but of all others, refumed I, the unfortunate of our own country, furely, have the first rights; and I have left thoufands in diftrefs upon our own fhore The monk gave a cordial wave with his head - as much as to fay: No doubt, there is mifery enough in every corner of the world, as well as within our convent But we diftinguish, said I, laying my hand upon the fleeve of his tunick, in return for his appeal we diftinguish, ny good Father! betwixt those who wish only to eat the bread of their own labour and thofe who eat the bread of other people's, and have no other plan in life, but to get through it in floth and ignorance, for the love of God.

The poor Francifcan made no reply: a hectic of a moment pass'd across his cheek, but could not tarry'. Nature feemed to have had done with her refentments in him; he fhewed none but letting his staff fall within his arm, he prefs'd both his hands with refignation upon his breast, and retired.

THE

THE MONK.

CALAIS.

My heart fmote me the moment he fhut the door Pfha! faid I with an air of careleffnefs, three feveral times but it would not do: every ungracious fyllable I had utter'd, crouded back into my imagination: I reflected, I had no right over the poor Francifcan, but to deny him; and that the punishment of that was enough to the disappointed without the addition of unkind language I confider'd his grey hairs

his courteous figure feem'd to reenter and gently afk me what injury he had done me?

and why I could ufe him thus given twenty livres for an advocate

I would have

I have behaved

very ill, faid I within myself; but I have only just fet out upon my travels; and fhall learn better manners as I get along,

THE

}

THE DESOBLIGEANT.

CALAIS.

When a man is difcontented with himself, it has one advantage however, that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain. Now there being no travelling through France and Italy without a chaife and nature generally prompting us to the thing we are fitteft for, I walk'd out into the coach yard to buy or hire fomething of that kind to my purpose: an old * Defobligeant in the furthest corner of the court, hit my fancy at first fight, fo I inftantly got into it, and finding it in tolerable harmony with my feelings, I ordered the waiter to call Monfieur Deffein the mafter of the hôtel but Monfieur Deffein being gone to vefpers, and not caring to face the Francifcan whom I faw on the oppofite fide of the court, in conference with a lady just arrived at the inn I drew the taffeta curtain betwixt us, and being determined to write my journey, I took out my pen and ink, and wrote the preface to it in the Defobligeant.

* A chaife, fo called in France, from its holding

but one perfon,

PRE

It must have been obferved by many a peripatetic philofopher, That nature has fet up by her own unquestionable authority certain boundaries and fences to circumfcribe the discontent of man: fhe has effected her purpose in te quieteft and eatieft manner by laying him under alinott infuperable obligations to work out his ease, and to fuftain his fufferings at home. It is there only that fhe has provided him with the moft fuitable objects to partake of his happiness, and bear a part of that burden which in all countries and ages, has ever been too heavy for one pair of fhoulders. 'Tis true we are endued with an imperfe&t power of spreading our happiness sometimes beyond her limits, but 'tis fo ordered, that from the want of languages, connections, and dependencies, and from the difference in education, cuftoms and habits, we lie under fo many impediments in communicating our fenfations out of our own sphere, as often amount to a total impoffibility.

It will always follow from hence, that the balance of fentimental commerce is always against the ex

patriated

patriated adventurer: he must buy what he has little occafion for at their own price his converfation

will feldom be taken in exchange for theirs without a large difcount and this, by the by, eternally driving him into the hands of more equitable brokers for fuch converfation as he can find, it requires no great spirit of divination to guefs at his party

This brings me to my point; and naturally leads me (if the fee-faw of this Defobligeant will but let me get on) into the efficient as well as the final caufes of travelling

Your idle people that leave their native country and go abroad for fome reafon or reasons which may be derived from one of these general caufes

Infirmity of body,

Imbecility of mind, or

Inevitable neceffity.

The first two include all thofe who travel by land or by water, labouring with pride, curiofity, vanity or fpleen, fubdivided and combined in infinitum.

The third class includes the whole army of peregrine martyrs; more especially thofe travellers who fet out upon their travels with the benefit of the clergy, either as delinquents travelling under the direction of governors recommended by the magistrateor young gentlemen tranfported by the cruelty of pa

rents