British subjects residing abroad bore no debts with punctuality, on which account proportion whatever to the present immense his credit stood high; his good sense regumass. It is indeed painful to see so great a lated him as to dress, for which reason he body of people migrated from different na- was rather imitated than caricatured; lasttions; in the times first alluded to, and ly, it was no cheap thing to travel like a even in the short peace, not only was the gentleman, and it was not the fashion to go number of inhabitants of the Three King- abroad meanly meanly and miserably in diligences, and to frequent low eating-houses, and to lodge in sky parlours at a franc or two per night; what a woeful alteration! There is now an influx of tradesmen, adventurers, half-educated boys, and low spe doms en voyage considerably smaller, but they were mostly composed of the higher classes, and much fewer of these resided on the continent than within these last eight years. If you saw an English family, in former times, travelling on the Continent, culators, ruined pigeons, and gazetted the object of their journey either was to Greeks; of bankrupts, and of characters give the last polish of education to their who can no longer be tolerated at home, children, or to recruit their debilitated or spread over the half of Europe. an extenaltered health; the nobility and the richest sive list of the half-pay of the army and class of the gentry, visited the Continent navy fills up this measure to an astonishing for these purposes only, and three years ab- magnitude, and these honourable men are sence from England was ordinarily deemed confounded with the raggamuffin tribe who a sufficient period to answer all the purposes misrepresent old England. A word too en of the former object, the latter depending passant of the half-pay of the army; a long on circumstances, could not be limited as to and sanguinary contest with many powerful time, but its duration was generally infinitely nations, made it necessary to have an imposhorter than the time required for polished sing military force, to officer which it was education, or for seeing the world. When impossible merely to select the nobility and three years were allotted to travelling, one, gentry, men of talent, or the children of ofat most, was dedicated to France; when ficers, or to procure young men to purchase sickness was the cause of migration, the commissions, hence ensigncies were given southern provinces were generally the seat of residence; it is true, that a few dashing extravagant youths used occasionally to run over to the French metropolis for a short period, and I once remember lord A starting from a masquerade in London, and travelling day and night, until he joined the masked ball at the Opera House at Paris. There were, doubtless, also a few families which lived abroad from economy, or to bring up a mortgage estate; but for one of this description then in France, there are now one hundred. The description of English already named were all known to their ambassadors, and a great many of them were presented at the French court, to persons for raising a certain number of men, subalterns were allowed to volunteer from the militia, and these militia commissions were not limited to landholders or to officers coming from the half-pay, but were given (often for a vote at an election), to different classes in society; I make this remark with all due respect for the militia, many recruits of which have distinguished themselves on the plains of glory; but I must observe that such a formation of a large part of the army has sent to the Continent very many young men narrowed in their circumstances, disappointed in their views, with unfinished educations, and deprived of the means of living elegantly, or (what a falling off!) and indeed diplomatic of representing the English man of fashion protection and ambassadorial hospitality, were very different in those days, and were more fit to be extended to these the higher classes, than to the motley group now scattered over France, Flanders, &c. Tribes as various as the dyes and of information in all his forms, and with all his requisites. A horrid drawback to the respect due to the army and navy, and to the respectable civilians, also, is the shopkeeping train of puppies dressed a la militaire, and the adventurers ruining the character of the gentry, and giving themselves unbecoming airs, which are easily detected and as soon despised; lastly, the many ne The Englishman then was an object of cessitous men who take refuge on the contirespect, the knowledge of the French lan- nent, and the rebellious, radical, disaffected guage formed a part of his education, and part of society who bring the country into thence he was not ridiculous in society; the disrepute, and whose feelings (when they circle in which he moved at home, introdu- have any), whose politics, and whose conced him into one of the same rank abroad; duct are so justly odious to a monarchical his sphere in life enabled him to live ele- government, and to polite and well ordered gantly on the Continent, and his birth and society. The consequence is, that if a riot education gave him that honourable princi- occurs in the street, the mob will cry out, ple which made it a law to discharge his "Voila les Anglais d'aujourd'hui" if a man pass a female in a coffee-house or a shop with his hat nailed to his head, it is an Englishman of the present day; if a brace of fools come in drunk to the play, or opera, they are the English of these times; if awkwardness and pride, arrogance and vulgarity stand blended together in one compound, the English of the present day are saddled with it, and the Frenchman will not be at the pains of selecting the plebeian from the patrician, the outcast from the man of family and property, but is too happy to confound all characters together; first from an implacable dislike occasioned by the late war and its results, and secondly, from the comparison by which they gain (this gain fellow merely); and they will not take into consideration, that the cheap rate of travelling, the water carriage, steam-packets, &c., have caused an overflow of the dregs of the people on the shores of France and Flanders; so much so, that when an illdressed passenger bumps on shore, Englishman of to-day!" re-echoes from every quarter; -the French and Flemish nice disought, on the contrary, to make a crimination betwixt man and man, and, ere being that of the man above "an they asperse the British character, they should inquire who is this man who calls himself an Englishman? Is he a gentleman, or a vagabond, one come for honourable purposes, or a refugee? a traveller or a sharper?-then would the national charac ter be duly appreciated, for vagrants and sharks belong to all countries, but merit ought to be identified with none. Touching dress, I was about to protest against the charges brought in accusation of Englishmen, and had just taken up my pen to state, that neatness and cleanliness, a decent gravity, and that sort of harmony which is called in a picture its being in good keeping, characterize the Briton, when a fat man of low stature waddled into the court-yard of my hotel; he had a brown hat, ared face, grey hair, a purple nose, a dark blue cravat, a white* loose coat, a yellow waistcoat, olive coloured pantaloons, and drab linen half gaiters; the Iris was nothing to the variety of his hues; it will probably scarcely be believed in the twentieth century that such a figure existed in the nineteenth, although the thing be attested and signed by THE WANDERING HERMIT. * There is a faint drab which is almost pure white, much worn in loose morning coats or tunics, by our beaux of the nineteenth century. Writings of wit or genius, in the present times, is but lighting a candle to the blind. -It supplies them only with a glare, but affords them no view. To the Right Honourable Lady Mary Creighton, at the Earl of Loudon's, in the Privy Garden, White-hall. WHAT answer is to be made to a letter like yours? I can say no new expressions of gratitude to answer to perpetual new obligations. Why was you so scrupulous? Why, with so much reluctancy, give me a pleasure that could be allayed by nothing but that reluctancy? Think yourselfe obliged to me, that Icheck the violent inclination that I have to praise you. Why will you not permit me to say (I could not say how much) I esteem and value you?-'Tis now candle light; my eyes hardly suffer me to see what I write; but yet, I cannot (if I had not promised it), I cannot forbear writeing. I will no longer, since you have the goodnesse to hear them, the indulgence to excuse, and the softnesse to pity, make any scrupell of entertaining you with every thought of mine, however extravagant or even faulty it might appear to the rest of the world. In you I dare confide every thing: your partial friendship will excuse it to yourselfe, and your fidelity conceal it from others. The partial men, unto our sex unjust, LETTER II. You do me wrong supposing I should be displeased at your letter; I find nothing in it but an occasion of thanks. Amongst my many faults, I have not that of takeing a just reproofe, otherwise than a real obligation. You have gained my esteem a thousand ways, but in nothing more, than so freely telling me what is ill in me. I acknowledge all your advice to be good, and to be delivered in the kindest manner; yet, you reduce it to two heads useless to me :To gain the esteem of the world-I despise the world; the whole esteem, nay, admiration of it, would not give me a minute's satisfaction;-My future happinesse-I have none, nor I expect none: my despair only urges me to avoid thinking, to run upon every thing can give diversion to my pain, without a design, or endeavouring at one. I am one wretched beyond a hope; lost happinesse, and not to be cured. Sometimes, when I reflect on the wild things I have done, I am in a manner sorry; but when I fall into my melancholy again, I would exchange it for any other pain, and fly to any thing can put it out of my head. That desire of trifles you condemn, I use all my arts to encrease: I would foment every passion could fill my mind and leave me no room for reflection. I find myselfe but too insensible. The pain of loseing your esteem is something, I own, touches me; but without desireing it I consider, I was born to be wretched, and have nothing to expect but misfortunes. I know what I deserve, and am not surprised you think as ill of me, as I do of myselfe. Lady Margaret, if you love me, I have that real friendship for you, to beg you to forsake it. Why will you fix your affection on the most unworthy, most unhappy creature, of your acquaintance? I was going to say, how can you? but you have said you do, and I have an implicit faith; it is not my fault. I am sometimes long in answering your letters; we live far from the post-town, and often have not our letters till a post or two last thing, you say that a great manny peaple live a bad life with a firm faith. I can never believe it: there are some incapable of governing their lives by reason; I think tis possible for their actions to contradict their beliefe, because 'tis possible for them to do unreasonable ridiculous things: but, when I see a man in right sense passe a whole life in doing a series of unjustifiable actions, I generally conclude that man has read Hobbs, and believes nothing of the matter. Most commonly men are doubtful, and that makes so manny people's lives not of a piece; at sometimes they believe and tremble, nothing can be more devout and abstemious; then infidelity gets the ascendant, and they fly off to their first debaucheries, and argue "why should I debar myselfe of a sure pleasure for an uncertain prospect." Women have most of them too little reason for reflections, and I am perswaded manny of them heartily believe all that is told 'em, and would do if 'twas ten times more, and yet divide their time between their toilet and basset-table, &c. But 'tis a want of good sense; nobody can think and act at that rate. 'Tis possible a sensible and pious man may be transported by a sudden passion, that gives him no time to reflect, to the murder of another : though his conscience knows the unlawfulnesse of it, his passion is his excuse in this world and the next; but a sensible Christian cannot live in a settled course of murder and robbery-will neither be of the banditti or highwaymen. When I hear a minister make an eloquent and learned ora after they come. This is the real truth; Ition against drunkennesse, and know he may have the same fate. I know not how to write a letter that I am not sure will be received. There is a destiny in every thing, and some people are born to be unhappy. I had writ thus far when I received yours, and it has reconciled me to my fortune. I ought not to complain, while you are well and continue me your friendship. I will justify myself from your accusations, (which I take, as they are meant, as proofs of a real friendship.) I will not deny appearances are something against me; my case is like nobody's: I know no younger sister has the circumstances of mine. Was she Lady Mary Schomberge, perhaps, I should use her better than Lady Mary is used. I am very far (too far) from ill-nature-softnesse vanquishes me immediately; but my sister is not altogether that, as she is bred, 'tis amongst a companny of people that are perpetually representing to her the advantages she has over me. Her pride makes her apt to take every thing for an affront, and her folly to tell people she is affronted; which is very ridiculous, both in regard to herselfe and me: nobody thinks the better of her for hearing I think her a fool, or of me for telling her so. I would not insinuate she is naturally proud: had her education been different, she would not have so much valued the external goods of fortune as to think they added any thing to merrit. I should infinitely please my aunt and her, would I show that I thought so too, and was so humble to reverence her 15,0001. as something very much above me. While things are thus, I never intend to make my court to her: she shall never say I made advances to gain her friendship, because it might possibly be of some advantage of me. Perhaps you may blame these sentiments; nay, perhaps you have reason; and 'tis pride which gives me false notions of gene never fail to write the minute I receive yours. LETTER II. In several of your opinions I cannot agree with you, but will not dispute it, since we agree in the main: you believe religion can be demonstrated by reason, and I think faith would then be lost in certainty; and The throne is darkness in th' abysse of light, I take this submission of reason to be a duty more becomeing a Christian, than a curious definition of what cannot be made plain to humanity; though I don't see why we should dispute whether it can or cannot, since we both agree in the chiefe pointthat a life governed by religion, is both our duty and true interest. I could say several unanswerable things to make good my first position, but I will not have you think further than my opinion is, and am not solicitous to bring you over to an opinion that is neither (in itselfe) good or bad. As to the concludes that very evening with his pipe and his pot, I conclude that man a downright atheist. Either drunkennesse is a sin, or it is not: if not, he is guilty of imposeing on the people more than Heaven commands; if it is, he commits a known wilful deliberate sin. No man of sense does deliberately what he knows he shall be damned for. 'Tis want of a firm faith that makes all violent griefes, impatient desires, &c. This world would not have half the value in people's thoughts, if they was fully perswaded of another; nor would any sensible body be perplexed with them cares that we see they are. Here are my thoughts in few words. I have been at least very sincere, if I have not been very right. LETTER IV. I cannot imagine what to make of your long silence. You have so often said you never could forget ine, I can hardly think that possible. If you were sick, sure I should hear of it. Are you so unjust to believe I have not writ? And aml to be punished for the faults of the post? Perhaps yours CLASSICAL LITERATURE. THE RATS OF HERODOTUS. NOTHING is more astonishing in history, considering the limited communication that existed among the nations of antiquity, than the universal diffusion of the same fables and superstitions among them, while the knowledge they respectively possessed scarcely ever spread beyond the limits of their different empires. The more our acquaintance with the nations of middle Asia extends, the more we find this truth verified; and the reader will, therefore, not be surprised to perceive a version of the singular Egyptian rat story, related by Herodotus, contained in the ancient annals of Khotan, in Little Bokhara, transmitted by the Chinese; and a translation of which has been recently published in Paris by M. Abel Rémusat. The following is the story of Herodotus : At the death of Anysis, he was succeeded by a priest of Vulcan, named Sethon. This king greatly neglected the order of the warriors. When, soon after, a numerous army, commanded by Sanacharib, king of the Assyrians and Arabs, came to attack Egypt, none of the Egyptian warriors would march. The priest-king, alarmed at this refusal, and uncertain what resolution he was to take, entered into the temple of Vulcan, and bewailed at the foot of the statue of the god, the misfortunes that threatened him. While he was uttering his complaints, sleep fell on him, and he dreamed that he saw the god standing by the side of him, and who, encouraging him, told him that with the help he was about to receive he should have nothing to fear from the Arab army. The king, trusting to his vision, as rosity. To me there seems alwaies some-sembled all those who consented to follow thing mean in endeavouring to please with a view of interest; this is my way of acting with every creature that I think fancys I ought to pay a respect to their fortune or authority over me. Love may make me a slave. I can beg for a reconcilement, the first for pardon, and kneel to be forgiven where I love; but never will pay a homage where I see it is expected, to gratify the pride of another. I know my S. E. secretly flatters herselfe she shall be a great lady while I remain in statu quo: if it ever happens, I shall be prouder to her than I am. On the contrary, if it be possible fortune should ever change to my side, I will show I love my sister, but I despise her pride. It is of little avail, what we know, if we do not know ourselves. Beware of those vices, which resemble virtues. him, and marched towards Pelusium, which is the point from which Egypt may be entered, having with him, no soldiers, but a mob of merchants, artists, and tradesmen. He had scarcely arrived, when an infinite number of field rats spread in the enemy's camp, and in the course of one night gnawed so completely the strings of their bows, their quivers, and even the straps of their helmets, that the army, deprived of every species of arms, was compelled on the next day to take flight; and, being followed by the Egyptians, lost a great many people. In cominemoration of this event we see, in the temple of Vulcan, a stone statue representing Sethon with a rat in his hand, with the inscription : "On seeing me, learn to reverence the gods." The Chinese story is rather more curious, inasmuch as it tells us about a king of the rats, who makes the promise of assistance | which they give no account. Of the infinite in his own person. But au fait : diversities of character among individuals they give no explanation: they cannot tell A very numerous army of Heeoang-noo whether genius be original or superinduced; (Turks) was invading the kingdom of Khotan. The king of this country was too weak to oppose such an enemy. He therefore ordered a sacrifice to be offered to the rats of the desert, and begged them to be his auxiliaries. The same night he saw in his dream a large rat, which said to him: " you have claimed our assistance; prepare your troops to fight a battle to-morrow, and you shall be victorious!" The next morning the king attacked the Heeoang-noo unawares. These, thus suddenly roused, hastened to mount their horses, and put on their armour; but it was found that the har they are lost when desired to explain how na tions and families, for centuries together, continue to exhibit a similar character: the theory of dreaming is, in their system, a mystery as inexplicable as the union of soul and body: they give no account of the cause and varieties of insanity: their system scarcely admits the yet notorious phenomenon that in different individuals particular faculties appear and disappear, earlier and later in life than in others; and so on in many other in stances. Now, Phrenology professes to supply these ness of their horses, the clothes of the sol- deficiencies; in particular, it professes to diers, the strings of their bows, the straps of their cuirasses, in short every thing made of wool or linen, had been completely gnawed and torn to pieces by the rats. Thus deprived of the means of defence, they fell under the blows of their enemies. Their make the science of mind practically useful in life, as a sure guide in education and in legislation, and it founds those pretensions on facts. Yet fools call it fancy and raving! To them we condescend no answer: but to another class of objectors we feel a personal general was killed, and the whole army ta- respect that calls for one. They think the a ken prisoners. The king of Khotan, wish- science adverse to religion, because they imagine it to be a system of materialism; and they fear that it is a dangerous one. On the subject of its danger, while we assure these worthy individuals that their alarm is grounded solely on a misapprehension of the true nature of the study, we boldly say, that Since the country was conquered by the Moham- in all inquiries, TRUTH is the grand object of medan Turks, and subjected their religion, this worship of rats has, of course, ceased. THE ESSAYIST. PHRENOLOGY. pursuit, and that where it is, there can no danger be. The objection of materialism again, is purely a mistake. In all systems of metaphysics, the universe is divided into matter and mind of neither of these substances do we know the essence: we know them only by their qualities: the ens which possesses hardness, colour, &c. or exhibits imagination, reason, and so forth, we know WHAT can be more wonderful than that in these times, 2000 years down from the days of Aristotle, the genus omne of metaphy- not at all; though seeing that the qualities sicians should be at sea, even with regard to of each are essentially different, we think their most elementary principles? What ourselves entitled to conclude that the submore inexplicable, than that in the business strata in which these qualities inhere, are of life (in the cure even of insanity, for ex- different in their essence. Again, while we ample) those men who profess to make mind see matter existing separately in every detheir study, never should be referred to for ad- partment of nature, we never find mind vice; that, on the contrary, metaphysicians, unless in conjunction with matter: in this life are proverbially ignorant of men as they ap- the human mind is unknown, unless in its pear in society, and are, in all countries, ridi- actings, by means of the body. Now the culed even on the stage as rapt blockheads? Phrenologists agree in all this. They do not Moralists, poets, and divines, have shown pretend to say what mind is. They believe themselves acquainted with human nature. in the immortality of the soul: they glory in It may be studied with practical use in their it: but scripture has not told, they do not atworks. But metaphysicians have made it tempt to reveal, what is the soul. The only only a sort of mental exercise, a matter to point of difference, therefore, between them be quibbled about; and they have overlook- and the vulgar (metaphysicians included) is, ed the only use and reason of all study, its that they say the mind acts by means of a application to human affairs, and influence on part of the body, the brain, which they contheir improvement. sider to be the organ of the mind; and that But metaphysicians have not merely failed they maintain, that according to the developin making their science available in life. ment of brain in any individual, always is his There are a thousand notorious facts, of manifestation of mind. |