Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

the thought, that I ftill live in your esteem and affection as much as ever I did; and that no accidents of life, no distance of time or place, will alter you in that respect, It never can me, who have loved and valued you ever fince I knew you, and fhall not fail to do it when I am not allowed to tell you fo; as the cafe will foon be. Give my faithful fervices to Dr. Arburthnot, and thanks for what he fent me, which was much to the purpofe, if any thing can be faid to be to the purpofe, in a cafe that is already determined. Let him know, my defence will be fuch, that neither my friends need blush for me, nor will my enemies have great occafion of triumph, though fure of the victory. I fhall want his advice before I go abroad, in many things. But I queftion whether I fhall be permitted to fee him, or any body, but fuch as are abfolutely neceffary towards the difpatch of my private affairs. If fo, God bless you both! And may no part of the ill fortune that attends me, ever purfue either of you? I know not but I may call upon you at my hearing, to fay fomewhat about my way of fpending my time at the deanry, which did not feem calculated towards managing plots and confpiracies. But of that I shall confider----You and I have spent many hours together upon much pleasanter subjects; and that I may preferve the old custom, I fhall rot part with you now, till I have clofed this letter, with three lines of Milton, which you will, I know, readily, and not without fome degree of concern, apply to your ever affecMonate, Fran. Roffenfis."

"Some natura! tears he dropt, but wip'd

them foon:

The world was all before him, where to chufe

His place of reft, and Providence his guide."

As to bishop Atterbury's character: he was not without failings and defects. He certainly was too ftiff and arbitrary in his manner; and, as in his temper he was naturally ambitious, and had probably before the death of the queen cherished fome afpiring views, his difappointment by her death was fo much the greater, and might make him lefs able to bear any rebuke, or the leaft affront, with moderation was likewife in fome refpect imperious;

He

and wherever the church was concerned, he used too much zeal, which often hurried him beyond proper lengths. To relate one inftance: he fufpended the curate of Gravefend, Mr. Gibbin, for allowing the ufe of the church of that place, to the chaplain of the Dutch troops (who came over here according to treaty, at the time the plot was first discovered) to preach in one day. He certainly must have conceived a diflike to Mr. Gibbin, on fome prior occafion; otherwife, it is not easy to account for this feverity. "The profanation of the church by the Dutch Prefbyterian worship," (the bishop's words) could not be the fole occafion of this proceeding. The inhabitants of Gravefend were much offended; they fubfcribed a fum to Mr. Gibbin, more than double the income of his church; and the king gave him the rectory or Northfleet. He was a pious man, and of an excellent character, and died in 1752. To return to the bishop: he was a moft tender father. His letter to Mr. Pope, on the death of his daughter, is a proof of his extreme affection, and grief for her lofs. He was nicely fcrupulous of his honour, and could not bear to be accounted of a mercenary difpofition. Neither would he difpofe of preferments in his gift to any of his relations, fo afraid was he left the world fhould think he blindly bestowed them, without any other confideration than that of aggrandifing his own family. Of this we have a remarkable example, in his refufal of the arch-deaconry of Rochefter, to his elder brother Lewis Atterbury, tho' fo greatly importuned by him. He was fatisfied his merit or abilities; but he thought it inbrother was not difficient in point of decent, that the elder brother should be in an inferior ftation in the fame fee, under the younger brother, who was bishop and head of it: fo that he collated the duke of Chandos's brother, Dr. Brydges, to this benefice; and affured his brother, that he would endeavour to procure him fome good dignity in the church, with which in quality of bishop of Rochester, he had no connection or intereft; "Such (fays he) as you and I, and all the world should agree, is every way proper for you."

Whether the bishop was, or was not concerned in the confpiracy, is not in our power to decide: and if we could deelare

clare our fentiments, they would be nothing more than an opinion only. Befides, as we profefs the utmost impartiality, we would fo conduct ourselves as to offend no one, fince we are of no other party than the party of truth and justice. It has been faid, that if Dr. Atterbury was guilty, he was one of thofe tories who are faid to be drove, by the violent perfecutions against that party, into Jacobitism; and return to their former principles as foon as that violence ceafes. But whether this be the true ftate of the cafe: whether he was actually concerned in the plot from principle, rather than forced into it; or laftly, whether he was abfolutely, innocent; are the various opinions, which have fo greatly divided the world, and probably may ever continue to do so.

[ocr errors]

Now let us hear what his cotemporaries faid of him. His learned friend bishop Smalridge, in the fpeech he made, when he prefented him to the upper house of convocation, ftiled him, A man, who was well acquainted with all parts of literature, long and fuccefsfully exercifed in most arts and studies, and most accomplished in thofe fciences which admit of the greatest perfection." In his controverfial writings, he was fometimes too fevere upon his adverfary, and dealt rather too much in fatire and invective: but this his friend imputes more to the natural fervor of his wit, than to any bitterness of temper, or prepense malice. "Be there then room left (continues he) for pardon, for praise, for gratitude. If fome fharp, warm, and free expreffions have fallen from him, a good natured reader will not afcribe them to refentment, envy, or arrogance; but either to a natural warmth of difpofition, or perhaps to a paffion very excufable in a foldier, who is fighting for all that is near and dear to us, (the rights and privileges of the convocations) and a fon, who endeavours to rescue his mother (the church) from injury and violence. But if many and great beauties fhine in his writings; if he has treated of things, in themfelves difficult, fo as to make them ufeful, and entertaining; if he has confirmed them by the ftrongest arguments; if he has imprinted them in the minds of his readers, by a purity and perfpicuity of ftile; let the learned give due applaufe to his learning, and the eloquent fet a just

value upon his eloquence." in his fermons, however, he is not only every way unexceptionable, but highly to be commended. Exactnefs of method, and juftness of thought, weighty arguments, judicious reflections, and unaffected piety, adorned with the fofteft and fweeteft eloquence, run through the whole; and denote him the celebrated preacher he was, and not undeferving the following commendation given him by his friend: "With what applause has he often preached before the people, the magistrates, the clergy, the fenate, and the court! How often has he charmed the ears of the late queen Mary, now with God; and with what addrefs did he adminifter confolation to her filter queen Anne, almost oppreffed and overcome by her late affliction, for the prince of Denmark, her royal hufband." The truth is, his talent as a preacher was fo excellent and remarkable, that it may not improperly be faid, he owed his preferment to the pulpit, nor any hard matter to trace him through his writings to his feveral promotions in the church. We fhall conclude his character as a preacher, with the encomium bestowed upon him by the author of the Tatler; who, having obferved that the English clergy too much neglect the art of speaking, makes a particular exception to dean Atterbury, (for he had advanced no higher in the church at that time) "who, (fays he) has so particular a regard to his congregation, that he commits to his memory what he has to fay to them; and has fo foft and graceful a behaviour, that it must attract your attention. His perfon (continues this author) it is to be confeffed, is no small recommendation; but he is to be highly commended for not lofing that advantage, and adding to the propriety of speech, (which might pafs the criticism of Longinus) an action that would have been approved by Demofthenes. He has a peculiar force in his way, and has many of his audience, who could not be intelligent hearers of his difcourfe, were there not explanation as well as grace in his actions. This art of his is ufed with the moft exact and honeft fkill. He never attempts your paffions, till he has convinced your reason. All the objections, which you can form, are laid open and difperfed, before he ufes the leaft vehemence in his fermon; but when he thinks 002

he

292

The Hiftory of Banou Raffid. An Oriental Tale.

he has your head, he very foon wins
your heart, and never pretends to fhew the
beauty of holiness, till he has convinced
you of the truth of it."

To conclude, his correfpondence was
eagerly cultivated by the learned, by
whom he was almost adored. His con-
verfation was admirably engaging, fen-
fible, and agreeable, as he could defcant
with great judgment and precision upon
every subject. His acquaintance was very
large and extensive, and with men of the

British

greatest parts and abilities, by whom he fhips were warm and lafting, and uninwas always highly refpected. His friendterrupted; and though by no means de moral and political part of his character, void of many failings, and however the parties, according to their different views may have been reprefented by the opposite and tempers, it is univerfally agreed, that he was a man of great learning, and uncommon abilities, a fine writer, and a moft excellent preacher.

B

The HISTORY of BANOU RASSID. An Oriental Tale.

ANOU Raffid, the fon of AbdalMoal, was born in the territories of Cabul, In his early youth, he had been treated with the utmoft feverity by his father, whom he had never offended; and being at laft tired of his cruelty, repaired to the city of Agra, where he had no means of supporting life, but by becoming fervant to a merchant, who employed him in carrying burthens. Thus

did one ftate of diftrefs fucceed to another, and Banou Raffid, who had been before made unhappy by domestic grievances, now suffered almost as much by the drudgery to which he was condemned; he, however, preferred his prefent to his former condition, as the rigour of his father made a much greater impression upon him, than the difficulties which he had to ftruggle with amongst strangers, which to him appeared more fupportable, becaufe he expected them. His state of fervitude did not, however, laft long: the beauteous Zeinabi, daughter to the merchant with whom he lived, beheld him with the eyes of affection, the pitied his fufferings, and her pity was fon convert- · ed into love; for Banou Raffid, though reduced to the condition of a flave, was in perfonal beauty equal to the nobleft youths of Agra, and had fomething ingenuous and friking in his countenance, notwithstanding his mean appearance, and the fervile employment in which he was engaged. After feveral fecret interviews, the paffion of Banou Raffid and Zeinabi became mutual, and rose to fuch a degree of force, that they were both equally difpofed to run any risk, in order

pofed to her lover, to fly with him to to gratify their inclinations. Zeinabi proDelly, the capital of Indoftan, and her lover received the propofal with a transfoon found means to effect their purpose; port of joy, not easy to be expressed. They and Zeinabi having taken care to provide herself with jewels and gold, to a confiderable value, they procured a convenient habitation in the capital of Delly, and foon after their arrival, the Iman joined their hands.

of felicity, not to be equalled; but the They lived for fome time in a state angel of death called Zeinabi out of this world, and Banou Raffid remained inconfolable for her lofs. Whilft he continued plunged in the deepest despair, he received advice from Cabul, that his father had paid the debt of nature, and left mediately repaired thither, and took pofhim inheriter of all his wealth. He imfeffion of his estate. But notwithstandunhappy than when reduced to the coning his opulence, he found himself more dition of a flave. The idea of his belov memory, and rendered all his enjoyments ed Zeinabi, every moment recurred to his beheld his fufferings with compaffion, and taftelefs and infipid. The fage Barud as he had by a long courfe of study, made himself perfectly mafter of all the fecrets of nature, and could cure the difeafes of the mind as well as thofe of the body; efficacy was fuch, that it immediately obhe prefented him with a potion, whofe literated the memory of all paft misforBanou Raffid being thus freed from the painful recollection of an irretrievable

tunes.

trievable lofs, applied himself entirely to the improvement of his eftate. He caufed a fumptuous palace to be erected, and employed the ableft architects of Cabul in the building of it; but an earthquake foon after happening at Cabul, this fuperb edifice was swallowed up, and Banou Raffid greatly regretted the pains and expence which it had occafioned him. His revenues, however, being confiderable, he refolved to have recourse to other pleafures, and accordingly caufed his haram to be filled with the brightest beauties, which could be purchased for gold. But Banou Raffid, whofe mind was endowed with fentiment, could find no fatisfaction in the mercenary careffes of his mistreffes. Their embraces foon difgufted him, and he was feized with a languor, which rendered life almoft infupportable. To banish forrow, he had next recourse to the flowing bowl, and past whole nights in the company of debauchees, in noife, laughter, and folly.

These revellings were followed by difeafes, and Banou Raffid, after having lingered a long time, at last recovered his health; but as he had tried every fort of pleafure, and found by experience, that all enjoyments are productive of pain, in proportion as they are exquifite, he refolved for the future to lead a regular life, yet ftill he found himself unhappy; his attachment to his affairs increafing with his temperance and fobriety. The fage Barud was again touched by his diftress, and presented Banou Raffid with another potion, which was of fuch a na

ture, as to render the perfon who took it infenfible of all prefent grievances. Banou Raffid being now reftored to a perfect tranquility of mind, applied himself to the study of the fciences, and found in the purfuit of knowledge, a fatisfaction fuperior to all the gratifications of sense. But when advanced in years, he was feized with the dread of death; and tho entirely fecure from fuffering by the recollection of past misfortunes, and undifturbed by the prefent, he was rendered compleatly unhappy by looking forward to futurity, and the profpect of death imbittered all the enjoyments of his life. As he had twice experienced the effects of Barud's fkill, he had recourfe to him a third time; but the fage gave him to underftand, that tho' he had remedies against paft and prefent evils, he could never device any against the future, and that death was a tribute to nature, which every mortal was doomed to pay. Banou Raffid, having received this answer, threw himself upon his couch in difpair, and falling foon after into a profound fleep; the angel Gabriel appeared to him, and addreffed him thus: "Omortal! thou haft dedicated thy whole life to the purfuit of vain pleasures, or of fciences equally vain; it is now time for you to apply your heart to wisdom.” The old man was fo affected with this exhortation, that he confecrated the remainder of his days to devotion, and at last joyfully met that hour, the expectation of which had before filled him with terror.

A DESCRIPTION of the MANNERS, RELIGION, CUSTOMS, &c. of the Inhabitants of WHIDAH on the Slave-Coaft. [concluded.]

LL the children of the Whidanese, eldest fon inherits not only his effects,

cifed. Whence they derived this cuftom, none of them can tell. Their usual anfwer is, they had it from their ancestors. There is no place where greater respect is fhewn by children to their parents, than at Whidah. They never addrefs them but on their knees. The younger brothers pay great refpect to the elder. On a deficiency in this duty, they are punished by a fine, imposed at the pleasure of the brother. By the death of the father, the

that day, he lives in quality of husband. His own mother is excepted: fhe is now her own mistress, has a house appointed her, and a certain fortune for her fubfiftence. This custom prevails as well in the royal palace as among the people.

The extraordinary induftry with which the Whidanefe apply to commerce and agriculture, does not deftroy their tafte for pleasure. They will frequently hazard all they are worth at gaming. When

their

their money and effects are loft, they stake their wives, whom they account as their flaves, and therefore have a power to fell their children likewife; nay fometimes themselves. So many diforders refulted from this mad paffion, that a late king prohibited all games of hazard, on pain of death. Unhappily, this law died with its author, and gaming is now as fashionable and pernicious as ever. Their mufic is by no means defpicable. They have one inftrument, resembling a harp, very agreeable. They play on it with great dexterity, and accompanying it with a sweet voice, dance to the founds in exact time, with a pretty air and manner. They have likewife a kind of kettle drum and trumpet, which they ufe in war; befides flutes, and feveral wind inftruments. No other countries on the coaft can boast of fuch good mufic.

This country has its peculiar difeafes, as well as its games and pleafures. The air is bad, and fevers are frequent. Thefe often prove fatal to the Europeans: dyfenteries are likewife common. The natives are diligent in the ufe of medicines, and offerings to their gods, for the recovery of the fick. So fearful are they of death, that they cannot fupport the found of the word, without visible emotion; and it is death to pronounce it upon any occafion before the king. Bofman relates, that on his firft voyage to this country, he waited before his departure on the king, who owed him an hundred pounds. At tak ing leave, he asked the monarch who fhould pay him at his return, in cafe he died? All the by-standers were fhocked at the queftion; (which it must be owned, carried with it true Dutch bluntnefs) but the king, who spoke a little Portuguese, told him, "Not to give himself any concern about that, for he should always live." The Dutchman perceived his error, took his leave abruptly, and departed. On his return, he fo frequently rallied them on their weak fears, that in time the word grew familiar to the better fort; and the king, who was a jovial fellow, at last repeated it as frequently as any of them. But the people of meaner rank retained their old apprehenfions, which nothing could remove. In general, the most violent prejudices accompany the blindeft ig

norance.

As to religion, the laft mentioned author is of opinion, that the piety of this

country is founded upon no other principles, than thofe of intereft and fuperftition. In the latter, they exceed all other nations: "For allowing (fays he) the ancient heathens to value themfelves upon thirty thousand deities; I dare venture to affirm, that the natives of Whidah may lay juft claim to four times that number." However, he believes they have a faint idea of the one true God, to whom they attribute omnipotence and ubiquity. They believe a Being exifts, the Creator of the univerfe; but they neither pray, nor facrifice to this Being. He is (fay they) too highly exalted to take any concern about them; and the government of the world he leaves to the fetiches. To thefe, as the mediators between God and them, they apply themfelves. On a negroe being asked how they performed their divine worship, and what number of gods they might have, he fmiling, replied, the queftion greatly perplexed him. "Their number (faid he) is infinite: when we undertake any thing arduous and important, we first look out for a fit deity (a fetiche) to profper the enterprize. Going out of doors with this view, we take the first creature that prefents itfelf, whether dog, cat, or the lowest reptile, for a god; nay often a ftone, tree, or the like. To this we present an offering, accompanied with a folemn vow, that if the god will favour our defigns, we will henceforward worthip him. If, accordingly, we fucceed, we attribute it to the influence of this new chofen deity, and pay our vow religiously; if, on the contrary, we are difappointed, the god is rejected, and his worship neglected. Thus we make and unmake our gods; we are their masters and fervants; their number depends on our fortune, and perhaps their worship to our folly." The juft manner of thinking in this negroe was owing to his having converfed much with the French, whofe language he spoke perfectly.

But the chief fetiche is the fnake, who has here fuch extraordinary honours conferred upon him, as cannot but raise our aftonishment. They invoke this wretched reptile on every occafion, when they stand in need of a divine assistance. They make the richest offerings to it; money, filks, ftuffs, live cattle, European as well as African commodities, with elegant entertainments of all kinds, and the best and choiceft food that can be procured. These

« ZurückWeiter »