' PICTURE ENGLAND. PICTURE E N G L AND. CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE LAWS, CUSTOMS AND MANNERS OF ENGLAND. Interfperfed with curious and interefting Anecdotes of PrefentK. Denmark Prince of Wales LateE. M.Therefa Louis XV. Duke de Choifeu! Late D. of Bedford Dut. Dow. Bedford D. Northumberland Dut. of pevonfhirs Lord Bute Lo/d North Lord Mansf.dd Mr. Fox Mr. Pitt Lord Sandwich Admiral Ktppcl General S'tikh Lord Cam a. n Lord Thurlow Lord Kenyjn D. of Briate./ater Lord C Lord Saikvilie General Burgoyne Mr. Luttrell Mr. Wilkes, and IcveraL other ai- de rm^n Mr. Burke Mr. Home Tooke Late Lor;! Ciive Mr. Gib: on Mrs. Ai/ngton Mr. Wed^cwood C!,eva!ier D'Eou Lord Storm int Mr. Vii:e:t- General Ganieli Late Mr. Garrick Mr. Fo .te Mr;-. Cornelvs Mrs. Siddons Br.rrv Woodward Welton Hcnderfou Primer Mr. Kelly, &c,&c By M. D'A R C H E N H O L Z, Formerly a Captain ,n the Service of the AV-zj nf Pn/j TRANSLATED FAOM THE FRENCH. DUBLIN: PRINTED BY P.BYRNE, No. io3, GRAITON-STREET- 1790. e o N TE NTS. T CHAPTER. I. iE IV cf Great Britain Manner of tlitking in Eng- land Privileges and Liberty of the Nation Courts f JuJliceDucbefs of Kingjlsn Coincide la Motbe General Elections Right of the Sovereign Outlines of tie CharaQtr of Gto. III. Miniflsrial Project Ltrd George Gertnaine National Opinions of Equality , Honour Dishonour, and unequal Matches Mr, Luttrrll General Burgyne Saratoga Page i CHAPTER II. Jvatimal Pride Char ad cr Anecdote concerning fame Ger- man Emigrants General KnowledgeLiberty of the PrefsNewfpapen Letters of Junius Mr. Hcrne Toske The Abufe of the Public Prints Their Utility Hiftory and Character of Mr. M'ilket Alderman Crofc by Hit Imprifinm'.nt in the fewer His Releafe and triumph 30 c H A p ' it CONTENTS. CHAPTER \ll. The Fertility of England Its Climate, Preclusions, an.l Indujlry Society of Arts Duke of Bridge-water's Ca- tiuI-^-Extratrdinary Inventions Wedgwood's. Matxifac- tares Mrs. Abit.gton Beggars of Rank Calas Ccls- vel Champigny Societies of Rogues 5 8 CHAPTER IV. Extent of London Contraft betivixt the City and the Weft End of the Town Peculiarities in the Hoj-fes and Public Buildings The Pa'j-ment Affidavit oj Hs"ft) Is London well Lighteed? St. Paul's ;l r ejtmi:;fter A'^bey ^ Anecdate of Charles I. Aaelpbi Manfton I'Lufe Bridges The Bank City MagijlratesPatri'Mfm of Mr. Beckford 76 CHAPTER V. The Sta'e of Religion in England Td -ration Thi Ca'.Lt- iLsThe Cletgy The Puritans The Metbtdijls U f hitfield nctwithftanding all the vices and. imperfections which are the unhap-py lot of human nature; the people of England flill pcfFefs a felicity "worthy to be envied, and of which perhaps other nations can fcarce have a conception: fo difficult it is, in living, under the mildeft yoke, to form juft ideas of a national liberty grounded on the rights of humanity. Nothing ever appeared more 1 jocular to the Eng- lifh than that paffage in the manifefto of France, publiihed at the beginning of the laft war, where it is faid, " that the moft chriftian king fc und him- " felf under the neceflity of protecting the Ameri- " cans, vvhofe liberty and privileges bad been at- *' tacked" In their anfwer, the miniftry did not f teftify afmall fhareof aftonifhment, that they fhould make ufe of exprefTions in France which could not in that kingdom be underftood. It is a truth which will not admit of doubt, that no polifhed ration was ever fo free as the Englifh are at this day ; and thole who are acquainted with the conftitution of ancient and modern kingdoms will not hefitate to fubicribe to this opinion. We cannot but pardon his patnotifm, when a Dutchman or a Swifs flutters himielf with pofieffing as much liberty as an Englifhman. A fuccinct account of Britifh liberty, by affording a companion, will ren- der my argument apparent. Without mentioning the great number of fran- chifes and immunities of every kind, which the great charter and many favourable revolutions "have at different ( 7 )' rUfferer.t times procured to the nation, we m^y ar- range the rights of the people under fix clailes, vis. The Liberty of the,Prefs, The Habeas Corpus Act, Public Courts of Juftice, The Trial by jury, The Right of being reprefented in Parliament* The Privilege of Public Remonilrances. LIBERTY OP THE PRESS. It is with great reafon that the Engliflr bcaft of the liberty of the prefs, and regard it as the palladium or fafe-guard of their civil liberty. It is true that it is otien abuied by the publication of foolifh paf- quinades, and ihameful ; libels; but this inconveni- ence is amply indemnified by the immenie advan- tages produced from it* The moft hardened fervarrt of the crown, who in the cabinet and in parliament btufhes rrot to propofe the mod pernicious plans, and who know? how to endure with the utmoft coolnefs the moil outrageous contradictions and reproaches, is (lop- ped in the mid ft- of his audacious enterprifes by the public voice. Hitherto no Englifh minifter has dared to forget or defpiie this voice. It is this which often renders his bad defigns abortive, and deftroys his b< ft concerted projecls. The libertv of the prels is alio favourable to thofb popular aflembhes to neceiT^ry in a free rtatc ; for the newfpapers inform the public of the time, the place, and generally the olijeft of thole meeting*, vhich they detail in a particular manner to the whole nation. In them every one enjoys the molt B 4 entire * I iriuft fay, to the honour of our cnuntry, that, ex- cept England, there is no othci kinpdnm in t!; where an honeft man may write fo many boU Uutlis, and 6if( ov.r ib many abufes, a^ in Germany. . ( 8 ) tintire liberty of fpeech ; the members of parliament fhemfelves, who often go to them, fometimes find matters better difcuffed there than in either houfe of parliament. The ftatefman whofe meafureshave been difapproved, and the minifter who has been, difmiffed, there find a free atcefs ; there they em- ploy their friends and their credit, and bring all. the arts they' are matters of into play to gain the people to their interefts. Without the liberty of the prefs, it would have been impoifitle for a ftate in which the king is the difpoferof all the offices, dignities, and in a manner of all the riches of the country, to have maintained its independence fo long. The mod iniignificant attempt of a minifler, which in its remoteil conie- quence gives an appearance of a defign on the. nation- al liberty, immediately fets the nation in move- ment i the people become clamorous ; the minifter trembles, and the project is abandoned. If the pub- lic were lefs attentive to trifles, the crown would- icon extend its prerogative, and at laft inienfibly ar- rive at the end which it aims at ablolute power. HABEAS CORPUS ACT. This fhelters the loweft fubject in the (late from oppreflion. By means of this, neither the. minifler, nor even the king himfelf, can keep any Englifhman in prifon it the cauie of his detention is not affigned in a few days ; it alfo provides that he fhall be pro- duced before feme public tribunal, face to face with his accufer... By its means, one of the loweft ot the people is perfectly iecure againil the greateft grandee in the ftate, although he may be aided by the iove- reign authority. Can there be a greater conlraft,. than betwixt this al and the famous letters de cachet, of which the minifters of France were hitherto fo prodigal ? It was fufficient to have offended the under clerkof fome ftatefman, to have been fent to h* BafHle and buried alivei. If we may -believe Linguet ( 9- ) Linguet, this infernal cuftom h ftill in vogue. This fingular man, during his firft vifit to England, tor- tured his genius to abufe in his Annals the liberty enjoyed by the Englifh. Now better inftruted in the fchool of the Baftile, he thinks differently, and regards England as the moft facred afylum. He pub- licly deplores his foolifti patriotifm, and aflures us in this Journal that his cure is radical. - By means of thehiftory of Wilkes, in part forgot- ten, and in part unknown in Germany, I fhall here- after Ihew the great advantages of the at in quef- tion. PUBLIC COURTS OF JUSTICE. Thefe are a neceflary appendage to a free ftatc. In ancient Greece and Rome, all fuifs and procefles were difcufled and determined in public. In fuch a fituation it is difficult to be evidently unjuft, when the auditory confifts of a whole people, who obferve the fligheft ation an^ cenfure the leaft improper word. There never was any judge but the decem- vir Appius, fo audacious as to bully a whole nation, and become guilty of an open injuftice. During the procefs againft the duchefs of King- fton in 1777, a circumftance occured which clearly demonftrates the excellence of a public trial. This lady being the wife of a peer of the realm, was con- fequently tried before the Houfe of Lords. All the peers of England were her judges, under the direc- tion of a lord high fteward, named for that purpofc by the king, his dignity ending with the trial. The theatre of this auguft fcene was Weftminifter-hal!, whofe fpacious inclofure was not luffrcient for the crowd of fpeclalors. The principal evidence on the fide of the duchefs was a bed-ridden old man, whom it was impoflible to carry out ef his chamber. However, the depofition of this man was fofav ur- able to the duchefs, that it was indifpenfably necefla- ry towards the gaining of her caulc. What was to B 5 -be Tbe done > She demanded of her judges, that they would pleafe to appoint a judicial deputation to re- ceive his teftimony at his own houfe. This was in- deed a favour uncommon in England : it appeared, however, fo equitable to a number of the peers, that they were about to make a decree to that purpofe The earl of- Mansfield, lord chief juftice of Eng- land, a man, who to the eloquence of Cicero unites the moft profound knowledge of the laws of his country, feeing the intention of the houfe, rofe from his feat. After having informed them that it was his wifh to allow to the accufed all proper means of j unification, he painted in the moft lively colours the prejudicial confequences of fuch an illegal fa- vour ; he obferved, that a precedent like this, the authority of which is always fo powerful in the Eng- lifli courts of law, would induce and even oblige them to confent to fimilar demands ; that, in all pro- files of great importance, there are Tick witnefles* who wifh to be privately examined ; and would it rot be eafy, added he, to deceive or feduce a fmall number of men entrufted with fuch a commifiion, er even perhaps to procure the election to fall on a thofen few ? Heendedby faying, that this innova- tion would open the doer to venality and fedulton ; that it would give a mortal ftroke to the national liberty ; that it would endanger the right of proper- ty fo facred in thisifland, and even the lives of their fellow citizens. To comprehend the fcrce of this reafoning it is necefiary to cbierve, that in all the Engliih courts of juftice the fentence almoft entirely depends on the depofition of witncfles, and that the oral teftimony of one Tingle evidence is of more avail than a thou- land documents. The fpcech of lord Mansfield made the moft lively impreflion on his audience, Thofe of the peers who were the moft zealous friends of the duchefs immediately dtfifted from their their demand, and her eloquent defenders became filent. Was not this an interesting fcer.ce to a phi- loibphical tbferver ? TRIAL EY JURY. Twelve fv/orn citizens, whom they cill a jury, give judgment in all the courts of juftice. They actually acquit or condemn. It is true, they are af- fifted by one or more judges, whofe bufineis it is to hear the witneffes, take care of the legality of the procedure, ium up the evidence, and pronounce the ientence according to the tenor of the law. Befides this, to prevent the inconvenience that muft natural- ly ante from the pretended criminal's being drag- ged before a court of juftice on flight iufpicicns, every accusation is firft examined by a grand jury, whofe , decifion either annihilates or continues the procefs. The petty juries, who give a final fentence, mull be unanimous, and are Ihut up in a chamber until they bring in their verdiQ: : on the other hand, the pro- ceedings of the grand jury are regulated by a plurali- ty of voices. If one of the twelve jurymen dies, after the arraignment and before the conviction of the fuppofed criminal, he is immediately releaied ; be- caule no perfon can be tried twice for the fame ofi~ence. The great impartially of the Englifh courts of jufticeis interwoven with the very conflitution of the government. Never has the moft powerful rninifter, however great his authority, or however profligate his conduct, attempted to bid defiance to the laws. Whatever may be his power, and how- ever numerous his adherents, if he but attempt to opprefs the lenft of his fellow- citiz.ens, a prccefs wiil immediately iffue againft him, and he will be ob- liged to appear before the judges in perfon. Who- ever knows the value of fuch an inclVimuble privi- lege, will not fail to admire the adminiflration of juftice in England, which can never indeed be imitat- ed but in a ftite equally free. Every ( 12 ) Every inhabitant houfe-keeper, at the end of two years, is obliged to undertake in his turn certain pa- rochial employments gratis,, and is alfo to ferve on juries. Foreigners, although they have not been naturaliz-ed, are likewife liable to thefe offices as well as the natives. The twelve neceffary for the determination of any procefs, are chofen out of a very large number; which renders intrigues im- poffible ; and indeed there has-been no example of an attempt of this kind. By fchefe means,, the trials, are at once quick and impartial. Linguet himfelf, who before he fmarted for his patrioifrn,.had under- taken the tafk of reviling every thing in England, was forced" againfl his own inclination to pay to thefe juridical cuftoms the tribute of his admiration. In a criminal trial, if the acculed be a foreigner, the jury is compofed of fix Englishmen and fix foreign- ers, whofe names are communicated to him before hand, to the end that he may be enabled to reject, without explaining his reafons,, any of them whom he fufpecls to be his enemies. Nothing is more aftonifhing than the mildnefs and humanity with which, criminals are here treated, whether they be thieves, murderers, or incendiaries. Even if their guilt is evident, the bar, the jury, and the judges, all feem to confpire for their acquittal. They iearch the indictment for fome trifling fault that may render it equivocal ; a falie furname, an indeterminate date, a Tingle letter omitted ; allthele are fatal to the procefs, and will immediately put an end to it. The counfel defend the culprit with zeal, and the witnefles againft him are queftioned with much ftri&nefs, and fometimes with much fe- verity. His own conftffion is never demanded, and he can be convicted by the evidence of credible wit- nefles alone. It is repugnant to human nature to fee a man bearteftimory againft himfelf ; and- this phs- lofophical maxim affords a ftrange contrail to the practice of thofe tribunals of which torture is^the grand ( 13 ) grand refource. When all the evidence is ended, it is permitted the accufed to make his defence ; and 1 the greateft attention is paid to every thing he fays. If he is found guilty, a judge announces to him the punifhment whidi the law inflitts on his offence, in a fpeech which, fo far from being compofed of re- proachful and reviling words, is generally filled with tender and compaffionate expreffions. Colonel de la Mothe, the French fpy, executed .^ at London in I 782, who in his own country had been eonfidered as a defpicable wretch, was not a little furprifed at the indulgence he experienced here. They fent to him while in prifon the heads of the accuiation, that he might have time to prepare an aniwer. The moft celebrated advocates undertook his defence without any fee. He received a lift of the jury^ who were to try him ; and, in a word, he was treated in fueh a manner as if the public welfare was interefted in his prefervation. The prefidirig judge, after having with great miWnefs ftatedthe care which the laws had fhewrr to his fituation-, end- ed with thefe words : " It i* thus, fir, that you " have been^ufed in a country, where you had no ** right to expeb the lead favour : but iuch are the " cuiloms of a people whofe deareft interefts you " have attempted to invade." Are not fuch ex- amples fufficient to deftroy thofe vulgar prejudices, by which we are taught to believe that the manners of the Englifh are barbarous ? This is not the at of a few individuals, but ot a nation, difplayed in its conftitution, its manners, its ufages, and its law. Whoever learches into fu&s, and examines them with attention, muft perceive the luperiority of the laws of England'. THE RIGHT OF BELNG REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT., Every freeholder, p >fl"vjflTed of the annual rent of forty millings per annum, has a right to vote at the election ( 14 ) e/Hon of the members of parliament for his own county. This right, however, is not always found- ed on the. fame claim, in the cities and boroughs. In fome of them, every proprietor of a houie has a vote; in others, only the members of the corpora- tion. Some are allowed to name, repreientatives without pofleffing any land at all. The two univerfi- ties of Oxford and Cambridge pofiefs this privilege, merely from the refpecl: that the nation pays to learning and the fciences. The means of corruption give the court great in- fluence at general ekcVions : however, the laft king could not prevent the patriotic party from making the moft. efficacious laws againft this mameful abufe, which is flill continued with impunity. For exam- ple, the candidate goes among the electors, buys all kinds of trifles, and pays for them very dearly ; for inllance, five guineas have been given for a whittle, a fowl, &c. &c. The {hop-keepers know what this fignifies, pocket the money, and give their votes in return. As this is entirely a matter of (peculation, it often happens that the candidate wafles prodigious fumsin vain, when the influence of his rival happens to be greater than his own. Fordyce, the famous banker, expended 30,000}. in an attempt of this kind ; and then, imagining that injufHce had been done him, had the folly to embark in a procefs equal- ly expenfive, in coniequence of which many hun- dreds of the inhabitants were fent to London to ap- pear as evidence. This fecond attempt, however, had the fame fate as the firft, and did not a little contribute to his total ruin. The regard in which a member of parliament is held there, and his influ- ence on public affairs, more efpeciallyif he poffefles eloquence that eloquence which leads to the firft offices of the ftate have fuch powerful attractions to an Englifbman, that they induce him- to make aftonifhing ( 15 ) aftonifhing efforts to obtain a place in the fenateof his country. One of the principal reafons of mo- dern venality proceeds from the great number of nabobs, who, on their return from India, attempt at any price to purchafe a feat -in parliament ; and this is alfo the caufe of the impunity \vhich they ex- perience, for the enormous crimes committed ill that part of the world. There cannot be a more aftonifhing contraft be- tween any two civilized nations, than that v/ith rei- pc& to Italy and England. The Italians celebrate almoft every day in the year a religious holiday ; 4 the Engliih, a political feftival. The latter is as lit- tle known in Italy, as the former in England. No- thing is more common in that ifland than meetings, proceflions, and other teftimonies of public joy, which intereftina very lively manner all thofe who are acquainted with the reafons of them ; but the fineil and moft extraordinary of all is, without contradiction, a general election. One may then behold the fame fcenes which were exhibited in ancient Rome, when the people chole their new magiftratcs. Thofe of the very firft rank, who by their wealth and their talents deferve to be reckoned among the chief perfons in the ft ate, go about fcli- citingthe meaneft of the people for their votes. The har.dfome duchefs of Devonfhire herfelf was not amamed to entreat the lowed mopketpers in \Veftminifter, in bthalf of Mr. Fox. That charm- ing lady's motive was not to oblige this unquiet and turbulent ftatefman, but to pleafe the Prince of Wales, who intereftedhimfelf in his election. The appointed day being arrived, all the electors aflemble in bodies, and range themfelves under their refpeftive colours. The candidates walk in proceiTion accompanied by a crowd of their friends, and the different parties are diftinguifhed from each other by the ribbands xvoin in iheir hats. Before each each are carried colours, on which the name of the candidate and his device are painted. Thefe pro- ceffions, confining of fome thoufands of men, and' which, in London in particular, have always a hundred thoufand fpectators, are made without the nfilftanceof armed foldiers, or the officers ofjuftice, the prefence of whom is regarded as indifpenfable in other countries, who for the mod part, do more ill* than good. The candidates having afcended a kind of am- phitheatre, covered with tapeftry, and erected on purpofe, harangue the people as the Roman orators did formerly in the forum. After this the names of the electors are regiftered without ditlinction of rank or age, and a majority of their votes determines the election of him who, by his new dignity, is em- powered to watch over the interefts and fafety of the ftate, and to enact or annul the laws of his coun- try. On thefe occafions, however great the tumult may be among a people who enjoy fo much liberty, there very feldom happens any ferious affray, fo much difference is there between a people accuftom- ed to abandon themfelves entirely, and without fear, to the impulfe of their own breads, and thofe un* fortunate men, who, bending under the yoke of a frightful defpotifm, fall into the moft guilty excefs the moment that they perceive their chains either broken or relaxed. One neither perceives the glit- tering of fwords or of piftols in the political lifts of the Englifh* however great the animofity of the combatants-. The choice being made, the victorious candidate is brought to his own houfe in trumph. On his election Mr. Fox, in allufion to his fupport from the fair fex, dedicated a banner to them with this motto, " Sacred to female patriotifm" I myfelf was prclent, and never beheld a fpecla- cle which affected me fb much, or which, in- my opinion, opiniorr, was capable of conveying to the human*' mind fuch a noble degree of energy. A celebrated French author, who was alfo there, obferves, "My " fatisfaction was complete, when I recollected '* that this untverfal homage was paid to a fimple " individual, without dignities and without power, " fupported only by his own courage, his own zeal, tf and the attachment of his friends j that the fame " man, the object of this cavalcade and of theic '* honours, thus recompenfed for hisfervices to the " people, and his oppofition to the minifters of the " crown,, would, in every other country, . have- " groaned under pcrfecutions; that Ire would, per- " haps, have terminated his life in a dungeon ; that " in place of this pomp, which feemed. to elcvate- " him above mortality, an arbitrary ">rder would " have precipated him, with the greateit ignominy,. " into the abyffes of a Baftile or a Spandau, or ex- " iled him into the delerts of Siberia. What a- " leiTon !' How truly does- it juftify the pride of " Englifhmen-! How well does it excufe that pre * c ference which fo many great men have even in- " voluntarily given to their conftitutton above all " others!" It is a certain fact, that thofe elections greatly augment the haughtinefs of the Englifh, and infpire them with high ideas of equality. I waswitneis, at a eontelt for the town of NewcafHe, to a very fmgu- lar circumftance. Two candidates had offered them- felves for this place: the one was the friend and' relation of the late duke of Northumberland, who went there on purpofe to aiilll: him, and engage the people in his interefts: the other was patronised by a merchant of London, of tfTfr name of Smith, who had acquired a fortune of ioo-,oool. in the coal-trade, and had aconfiderable inter-eft among the inhabitants. The duke of Northumberland, \vho befides-the advantages of his rank and fortune, had alfo ulfo occupied feme of the mod diftinguiflied fitua- tions in the ftate, did not imagine that fuch a man could oppofe him with any probability of" fuccefs. However, on his arrival at Newcastle he was foon convinced of his miftake. In confequence of thi* he fent for Mr. Smith, who obferved, that he had nobufmefs with the duke, and that his grace muft wait upon him. The duke actually complied, and laid, that if he would allow his relation to repre- fent the borough, his friend mould be returned for a town in the neighbourhood that was entirely at' his own difpofal. Smith upon this roughly refilled' his grace's proposition, faying, " I have promiied {{ my friend that he (hall repixfent this place, and '* no other; and I am not in the habit of breaking' " my word." " Very well," replied the duke, " it " only remains that we fhculd try our flrength," and immediately departed. In fine, each ufed his utmoft efforts ; but the coal-merchant's candidate was elected in fpite of all the intereft of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, whofe little credit be- came the fubjecYof ridicule. In regard to parliament, the great abufe confifts- in the inequality of the reprefentation of the people in the Houfe of Commons. Venality exifts but in a (mall degree in the great cities, and is but of little confequence. What man is able to corrupt an al- moft innumerable crowd, who live at their eafe, who are as rich, and oftentimes more fo, than the candidates who fclicil them ? It was a project truly patriotic, and well worthy of the fon of the great William Pitt, to attempt a reformation ia regard to the little boroughs. Is it not the height of folly to- behold towns which have 40,000 inhabitants, and fometimes even more, without a firgle member, while a few miferable hamlets have a reprefentation equal to the moft confiderable cities ? London, *efl and fubmiflion from their inferiors, dare not form fuch pretenfions there. The fpirit of liberty, . which that clals of men fuck in with their very milk, teaches them to regard all the privileges of their fellow fubje&s as facred. No minifter (notwithftanding the very caprices of fuch men often decide in other countries the fate of ( 2$ ) t>f a whole nation) no grandee of the kingdom will pretend to make any of the populace give way to him in the ftreet ; and, notwithstanding this, they every day walk through the moft crowed part of the metropolis, where they find themfelves fplafhed, fqueezed, and elbowed, without having the leaft wilh tocomplain. Thevaineft Englimman will converfe freely with the lowreft of his fellow citizens; he will take part in their diverfions ; and as in England they do not meafure the difference of conditions by cur fcale, it is not at all unufal to fee two perfons quar- relling, between whofe fituations in life there is the ^reateft difparity. It is true, that thofe of the iirft rank in the ftafe have occafion for the good offices of the loweft of its members, to enable them to realize their ambitious hopes ; and it is not at all rare, at the election of members of parliament, to fee the pooreft citizens receive letters from the moft illuftrious candidates, in which their votes are requefted with the utmolt obfequioufnefs ; ami when they have yielded to theie felicitations, they are always fure of receiving others exprelfive of thanks. Have we not lately be- held the duchefs of Devonfhire beftowing her gold and her kiffes for this purpofe ? that very duchefs, of whom the celebarted Angelica Kauffman has faid, that me looks fo like one of the Graces, as to realize in her own perfon all the ideas of the moft fervid imagination. This affectation of popularity, which fo much aftontfhes (hangers, proceeds from the very nature of the conftitution of a free ftate. The Greeks and the Romans experienced the fame while their re- publics fubfifted. Does it not proceed from this, that ihe nobility of England are the moft intelligent in Europe ? They converfe familiarly with men of learning and artifts, and recompenfe their labours in the moft generous manner. But that which ren- C rfers ( 26 ) tier? them the moft worthy of praife, it, the noble manner in which they fupport their difgrace at court : on thefe occafions the zeal and attachment ot their friends, inftead of being dim.inifh.ed, feems to be re- doubled ; and fo far from lofmg them with the fa- vour of the fovereign, they tetlify greater efteem and attachment than before. It was thus that lord Chatham, who was obliged to refign when the pre- fent king mounted the throne, was almoft idolized by the people, who efteemed and loved him before he loft his place. His portrait was placed in every houfe, as a kind of tutelary divinity ; the ftreets, the taverns, the coffee-houfts, and the tea-gardens were called after his name, and the eye of every paflenger was ftruck with inicriptions in honour ofthis great benefactor to the nation. The Englifh in general form a quite different idea of honour and infamy from other Europeans. A man who is arrefted and imprifoned does not ex- perience any infult on that account, nor is the family of a criminal who has been put to death, ever ren- dered infamous. 1 he lafl duke of Lancafter but one, efpoufed the daughter of an oilier ; me fur- vived him for feme years with the title of ducheis dowager. The honour of the duke was not im- peached on this account, and the duchefs continued to frequent court like asy other lady of quality. A man of distinction retorts one infult by another, and pardons it without either being revenged, or fight- ing with the perfon who infults him. The late duke of Bedford, after having occupied the firft fituation in the ftate, was unmercifully horfe-whip- ped at a horfe-racc*. Neverthelefs, this -did not prc- # George the II. was but imperflftly acquainted with the Fnglifti iarguage. Having received a letter from admind Sir Edwam Hawke, after his celebrated victory over the French f.eet, in winch he informed his majetty, in the blunt but expreffire language of a Erit'fh tar, that he had given vhe euemy a" DR.UUBINS ; " the king requefted of lord Ch<.f- vent him in 1762 from being appointed ambafla- dor extraordinary to the court of France, where he figned the famous peace of Verfsilles. The populace among us, who poiTds a very different idea of honour, would not fcruple to aifert that this manner of think- ing proceeds from a want of dolicacy, and a preva- lence of rude and favnge manners. The philofo- pher, on the contrary, who is able to difcover among the Englifh. a high degree of this very delicacy, who finds it carried even to the higheil pitch of perfec- tion, and who difcovers no tincture of rudenefs in the manners of this enlightened people the philo- fopher, I fay, will, Kike them, view the laws of honour in a different light. Every fu'oie& in a monarchy trembles on account of the moft trifling circumftance. The mod in- different action, a Tingle word, fometimes even ?i uippofition, are fufficient to deprive the miferablc wretch of His fubfiftenee ; nay, it often cods him his fortune, fometimes his life. Upon the leaft of thefe events the welfare and exigence of a family depend : they, therefore, affect an uncommon refinement in manners ; and from thence it appears, that the moil ridiculous prejudices often regulate the laws of that phantom to which they give the name of honour. But in a republic, where thefe ideas lofe a great deal of their force, where the citizen is ignorant of a thoufand confiderations of which the fubjeCl of a monarchy never dares to lofe fight ; in a repubHc this is entirely different. It is to the Greeks and the Romans that I (hall appeal : at a time when their civilization was at the higheft degree of perfection, they thought exactly on that fubjedt as the people of England do at the prefcnt day. C 2 The tersld that he would exp'ain the word. The witty earl, to this quetlion, pointing t<> tl.c ciuke of Bedford, u hole enemy he was, Bravely allured his rmjeiiy, that r.oman in the king- dom could better faulty his.curiolity in regard to that article than his grac^. The Englifh look on hypocrify as the mofidefpi- ,eable of all vices ; and from this proceeds that bold- nefs of fpeech, which, if not foftened a little by the choice of expreflions, would pais for rudenefs. It i* totheir excellent conftitution that they owea frank- nefs of chara&er which is at once fo rare 4nd fo in- eftimable, and which, among them, is generally accompanied \vith an unfhaken courage and a deter- irjinedrefolution. .It is not uncommon to hear ex- preflions both in their courts -of ju (lice and in parlia- jnent, for which one would be tempted to imagine that the party attacked could never be revenged but by the blood of his adverfary : thefe circumftances, however, are feldom attended with unhappy conle- quences. How, indeed, could the parliament of lingland exift without this ? The ftranger who thinks that fuch Tallies areblameable, has furely never reflected on the nature of a free fenate, where the ufe- ful mu ft necefiarily be preferred to the agreeable ; where they do not meet to hear cold and formal Speeches dictated by cuftom ; and whe^e it is im- pofllble for the true patriot, whofe foul is filled witta the importance of the fubjeft, to moderate his elo- quence, ard confine himlelf within the uneafy {hackles of a fervile complai lance. One of the mcft violent of thefe parliamentary- orators is captain Luttrell, a younger brother of the dutchefs of Cumberland. This forgetfulr.els of all the laws of politeneis was fo common to him, that, in a fpeech in the year 1777, he concluded by wifh- ing, that all kinds of barbarous and cruel tortures, which are the dtfgrace of nations where they are Hill praclifed, might be introduced into England, be- caufe lord North could not then efcape the wheel ; and it would be, added he, *' a real pleafure for me to " fee his bones broken by the hands of the executio- rer." Lord North, who was prelent, rofe with his ufual coolnefs, and contented himfclf by faying, rrith with a fi'gh, " that he had better feize the prefent " opportunity of fpeaking, before he (heuld be put '* to the rack." This fame Mr. Luttrell, the very next ye*r, was engaged in a new quarrel with lord George Ger- maine. This nobleman, who after the battle of Minden had been dithonoured by the fentence of a court-martial, knew fo well how to procure again the favour of the then government, that, unhappily for this country, he was appointed to a place in the ininiftry, and formed that ridiculous plan of opera- tions for general Burgoyne, which occafroned the the lofs of all his army at Saratoga. Luttrell re- proached him in full parliament with having been' declared infamous ; aflerted that he had behaved, during the German war, with all the cowardice cf a woman ; and accompanied thefe reproaches with Jo many acrimonious reflections, that at Taft old Germaine loft all patience : however, amiclft all the- rran'ports of his rage, he contented himfelf with calling JJm a bufftw. His opponent's behaviour, however, was fo contrary to the rules of the houfe, that it occafioned a great difturbance. Luttrell, who forefaw the eon r equence, left his feat, and min- gled with the crowd in the gallery, from whence he could hear what paffed below. The fpeaker be- fought the members to help him to appeafe the tu- mult. Germaine acquiefces, but his adverfary is gone. His abferce augments the noife, until at laft he is difcovered. We is then ordered todefcend ; he obeys, but refufes to make any apology to lord George Germaine. At this rcfufal, obflinately pert lifted in on his part, a member of parliament give^ H as his opinion, that he cnght to be fent to the Tower if he does not comply ; but as it is impofli- ble to put fuch a motion to the vote, without being ftcorded, and as no one was at this moment difpofcd to do fo, I*uttrell himfelf exclaims, " / fecond tba C 3 *' motion.'* ( 30 ) i( nation." On this mutual excufes toe* place, and very thing remained quiet. It is not at all uncommon to fee two perfons, who have been abufing each other, converfing in the moft familiar manner after their departure from the houfe. It is only the heads of parties who are con- fined to rules, from which they never depart, and who deteft each other with the utmeft cordiality. The celebrated Edmund Burke, who has always (hewn himfelt a man of principle, during the Ame- rican war exhaufted all the metaphors ot his brilliant imagination a^p.inft the adminiftration which con- dueled it ; he one day fmifhed one of his violent jjjteches, with the moft dreadful maledictions againft the miriiftiy, and allured them, that the firft thing he would teach his grand-children, when they be- gan to lifp, would be alfo to curfe fuch wretches. After having pronounced thefe words of peace, he It It the affembly. The lofs which the Englifh fupported with the greateft difficulty, during the whole American war, was that of their army at Saratoga ; for they had conceived not only the higheft opinion of it, but al- fo of the general who had the command. The un- happy cataftrophe attending its captivity, was alfo the caufe why France threw off the malic, and declared the Americans a free people. Eurgoyne was permitted to return to Europe on his parole, to undertake his own defence ; but was denied the liberty ot feeing the fovereign, ussier pretence of being a prifoner. This circumftance was even urged to prevent him from takir.^ a feat in the Houfe of Commons : however, the htter attempt proved unfuccefsful. Burgoyne there tried to juftity his conduct, but in a general and vague manner, as he ftill wifhed to fcrec-n the minifters : they, however, being anxious alone for their own prefer vation, kept no mealures with him, and forced this this unfortunate man, who is one of the few Englifh officers who under (tand any thing' of military tac- ti cs, to refign all his employments. Burgoync upon this appealed to the nation at large, in a memorial which is a mafter-piece, not only on account of the matter which it contains, but alto from the affecYmg manner in which it is compofed. In this production he fully developes the ignorance and bafenefs of the minifters. He had before re- prefented the impoflibility of penetrating with his little army through the woods of America ; but fo far from attending to his judicious remonltrances, they were pleafed to reiterate their orders, in the moft pofitive terms, to attempt the undertaking. Burgoyne was a foldier ; he faw himfelf ruined beyond hope, but he felt it his duty to obey. He ima.incd that, by thus facrificino; himfelf and his little army, the minifters intended to realife fchemes of a much greater importance to the nation. As a citizen, his own private feelings were loft in the interelts of the ftate ; and as a warrior, he was obliged to confoie himiclf with the idea, that the brave commanders had of ten experienced the fame fate. This production of general Bursroyne's accompa- nied with documents which prove all that he has afferted, full remains unanswered. C 4 CHAP- CHAPTER II. National Pride Cbarafler-*- Anecdote concerning fom German Emigrants General Knowledge Liberty of the Prefs Newfpapers Letters of Junius Mr. Home Tooke The Abufe of the Public Prints Their Utility Hijiory and Charafler of Mr. Wilkes Alderman Cr:Jby His Imprisonment in the Tower His Releaje and Triumph. THE national pride of the Englifli is a natural confequence of a political confritution, by which every citizen is exempted from any other dependence than that impofed by the laws This pride is carried among them, to a great length. Indeed, how is it poflible to know and to feel all the merit of fuch a fyitem of liberty, without attaching an uncommon value to it ? This Tame fentiment, with which we fo violently reproach the Englim of the preient times, has always been felt by the moft enlightened nations in the world. The Greeks and Romans carried it ftill farther* This laudable pride, which with th_em was united l o a lively and fervid pairiotifm, occafioned thofe heroic a&ion* which will forever be engraved in the record* of immortality. If the modern hiftory of England ( 33 ) England be equally filled with glorious achieve- ments, it is to a love of their country that aH this ought to be afcribed ; a love which, carried 10 :!:c extreme, as it has been, by thole haughty ifianders, cannot be conceived without a certain degree of . of contempt for thofe nations who do not poffefs fimilar fenfations. This fault, if it is one, is (till more common amongft the Spaniards than them ; but being found- ed on no folid grounds, it has become very juftly a fubjeft of ridicule. The Englifh themfelves arc hated on this account, although their very enemies, at the bottom of their hearts, pay tribute to their extraordinary merit. Envy will glide into nations, as well as individuals. There are, perhaps, no people in Europe who poiTefs fo much natural pride as the French : it will be eafy, with a little penetration, to reconcile this with that urbanity and thofe polite manners for which they are fo diftinguiflied. It is under this mafli. that the fly Frenchman conceals thofe marks* of envy with which he views his Englifh neighbours. It was this oflenfive pride of the Englifh that fo many nations ftrove to humble during the Ameri- can war. Many even of the ftates of Germany, among whom the fpirit of imitation exercifes fuch a defpotic rule, that they neither think, live, nor exift bur after the French, were animated with the lame defire. They carried their madnefs fo far as to fcrget the blood and the treafures, which that nation, in the prefent century, had facrificed for the advantage and repofe of their country. They even wifhed, without knowing why, to fee the fource of her greatnefs dried up. It ought, however, to be remarked, that the principal m mbersot the empire, guided by a more found and judicious policy, trembled for Erg! and ; C 5 even ( 34 5 even Switzerland, which was neither conne&etfc with her by politics nor commerce, offered up con- tinual vows for her prefervation. A traveller, more efpecially if he paffes imme- ciiatcly from France into Great Britain, in looking for that politenefs at once fo fplendid and fo trifling, which he has been ufed to, will- not fail to imagine the Lnglifh rude and uncultivated ; and ihis merely hecaufe he does not give himfelf the trouble to learvh beyond the Jbrface of their chara&ers.;* Croflcy, a member of the French academy, re- counts, with feme humour, in one of his letters, a circumftance that happened to him. He had gone to England, prejudiced with the idea, that he was- about to vifit the moft unpolifhed nation in Europe. A few days after his arrival he went to the theatre. The pit was very crowded ; and being there alone, and exceedingly inquifitive, he began to recollect the little Fnghfh of which he wasmafter, and put feveral queftions to the perlor, next him. His- neighbour, who did not undeiftand a word of the jargon which he uttered, riles precipitately, turn* his back to him and departs. GrofJey was but little furprifed at this conduct, fo extremely ungenteefr in appearance, and which, for feme rnomeats, - ii'y fervtd to confirm him in his former opinion : but he was loon put to the blufh when he faw the Eng- lilhman return. This good-natured snan had per- ceived at the other end of the pit, one of his friends who (puke French ; and having pierced the crt.wd which feparated them, he returned with much dif- ficulty, leading him in his hand. I afk, whether this is true poliienefs or not ? A Frenchman, by paying him a har.dfcme compliment, would have i imagined that he had done enough ; the GrigJifl*-. man en the contrary, thought that he ought to do more, and he acccrdu gly did it. If it is then in ac- tions, and not in fimple words that real urbanity con fids ( 35 ) confifts, one is obliged to confefs that the Englifh are the moil pclimed nation in Europe. The principle of Inch actions is there aifo more pure, becaufe a beggar has no occafion to humble himfelt before the moft wealthy, and a citizen in _ eafy circumftances knows no bounds to his indepen- dence. - The moral character of the Englifh has indeed degenerated, but, notwithstanding this, it is ftiil eilimable : for it is not from its parliaments, its oriental depredators, and the crews of its privateers, who all aim at a certain end, that we ought to judge of the nation. Many members of parliament afpire at eminent fituations, and allow themfelves to be corrupted ; fo alfo do the adventurers who leave Europe with an intention to plunder Alia ; and it is the very nature of pirates to rob and {laughter. Is it from the refufe of a community that we are to imbibe cur opinions cf the moral character of a people, or from a multirude of godlike actions, which arc performed every day, by thouiands in this ifland ? An extraordinary event, which occurred a few years iince, will ferve to elucidate the noble and generous manner of thinking among the Englifh. The emigrations from the empire, of which fuch fad complaints are made, even at this day, and which are founded on reasons partly juft, and partly imagi- nary, gave an opportunity to a German gentleman to form a very fingular fcheme. The name of this projector and his intentions, are ftill unknown ; the arts alfo which he pra&ifed to put in execution fuch a well -concerted pi in, are ei| lUv cbfcure : it is however, certain, that a com- roor- cenius durft never imagine, far Icfs be able ro p in execution, an mrerpriPe of this nature. In the year 1 765, he went to England at the head of 800 ( 36 ) Soo adventurers, confiding of men, women, and children, whom he had collected in the Palatinate, Francoriia, and Suabia, by promifing them that they would be much more happy in the Englilh, colonies. .On their arrival at the port of London, this fingu- lar man difappeared, and hasnever fince been heard oL At once miferable and difappointed, thefe unfor- tunate wretches, neither knowing the language, nor being acquainted with any of the inhabitants, and with only a few rags to cover them, were entirely, bewildered in that exter.five capital. Without any afylum, without even bread for their children, who afked for it with the mod piercing cries, they knew not to whom they could addrefs themfelves. In hopes of a lefs cruel deftiny, they lay down in. the open air, in the midft of thofe ftreets nearefl to the wharf where they had been landed. In every other city, even in Paris itfelf, the unexpected ar- rival of a colony of eight hundred perfons, would. have been talked of every where, and proper mea- fures taken accordingly : but the landing of fuch a, numerous body was for a longtime unknown in London. The inhabitants, indeed, of that part of the town, andalfothe paffengers, were greatly afto- nimed at the appearance ol this fmgular groupe, who bewailed their misfortunes in an unknown lan- guge ; but not being able to dilcover the caufe > they gave themfelves but little concern on the fub- jea. Two days palled in this manner, and thefe poor people remained expofed to the inclemency of the elements, and the cravings of hunger. Some died for want, on the third day. Their mifery was- now at the extreme, for their arrival was unknown any where elfe than in this little corner of the fuburbs : not a fingle word of it had tranfpired tither in the city or Weftminifter. The ( 57 ) The inhabitants in the neighbourhood were not, however, unfeeling fpetators of fo many calamities : they aided them as far as they were abl ; but what are the feeble luccours of poverty at fuch a crifis ? The bakers were accuftomed to fend their fervants every morning loaded with bafkets of bread, which they diftributed according to the directions of their matters. One of thcfe happening to pafs near the place where thefe emigrants were encamped, heard that they had been feveral hours without any fubfiftence. " If it is fo," fays he, at the fame time placing his pannier in the midft of them, " our " cuftomers muft have patience to-day ; were my " matter to lofe them all, he would not be angry. I " will," added he, "aid thefe poor creatures, if I c< pay for it out of my own wages." I truft that the behaviour of this man does not need a com- mentary. The reverend Mr. Wafchel, a clergyman of the German church^ who lived near to them, at laft re- folved to advertiie this fin^ular event inthenewf- papers. In a letter which he inlerted, and which was figned with his own name, he particularizes, in a moft affecYmg detail, the milery of his country- men, and implores in their behalf the generous com- paflion of the Englifh, on which thefe wretches had fo much relied wlien they left their native country. The effect of this was incredible and beyond ex- peclation. The morning papers are generally printed at eight o'clock ; by nine a man arrives on horfeback from one of the moil dirtant parts of Weft minifter, and brings to Mr. \Vafchel a bank note for lool. fterhng The nieflenger would not mention the donor, but it was afterwards found to be the old countefs of Cheftei field, who performed fo charitable an aUon. This might be called the earnefl of the whole nation. It feemed to rain bank notes and guineas upon upon the good prieft. Coffee-houfes were opened for fubicriptions, attendants were appointed to fup- ply them with neceflfaries, as they themfelves were not able to buy them ; phyficians and apothecaries were afligned, and nurfes and interpreters appointed to them : in a word, the wants of this deferted band were fatjsfied, their forlorn fituation removed, and they themlelves infpired with the Iweet hope of letter profpe&s before the middle of that very day. In the mean time thefubfcriptions continued open, and there never, perhaps, was fuch a general con- tribution. There were but few rich people, of a certain rank, in all the kingdom, who did not afufl: on this occafion. I myfeli" have read the lift of ihoie benefactors to my countrymen, and have counted more than twenty who guve a hundred pounds each, and fome even more. The fum total is unknown to me ; it was, however, iuflficient to entertain this numerous body of people, dunngfive months, in London ; at the end or that period they were carried to Carolina, in veflels hired for the purpofe, and provided with proper neceflaries. They had a very excellent paflage to America, and received, at the inftant- of their arrival, not only every thing neccflary for their eftablimment, but alio the remainder of the money which had been collected tor them. It may be imagined that the Germans, fettled in London, (hewed themielves equally generous to- wards their countrymen as the Englifli. Not only thofr in eafy circumftafices, but even pulent peo- ple, to whom the nation had confided the care of thefe unfortunate wretches, received money for their fervices out of the fund arifing from the fub- fcriptions, and charged at the higheil rate ! It has been oblerved that the common people in England are more intelligent and judiciou.- than vn any other country. The free and unreftraincd manner ( 39 } manner in which they fpeak and write, on every fubje&, is the real caufe of this. One is aftonifhed to hear Come of the very loweft of the populace rcafon concerning the laws,, the right of property, privileges, &c. If the Englifh * newfpapers generally contain a ( large portion of dull and trifling matter, on the other hand they often abound with paflfages worthy to be read and preserved. Sometimes a politician will infert an efiay on a fubjeft \--hich concerns the welfare of the whole nation, and every body, even a nfh-woman, is able to co-nprehend it. It is not at all uncommon to obferve fuch perfons reading and commenting on the public prints. Befides original intelligence, ihe prodigious num- ber of advertiiements make them entertaining, and are often attended with the ftrangeft confequences. J know a woman who ran away from her huf- bard after having robbed him. Without the aflift- ance of the newipapers the defpair of this repentant wife would have been unknown, and the dishonour of her fpoufe made public ; but a lucky advertile- mcr.t informed them ci each o'.her's fitur.tion, a^nd their reconciliation was equal!'-- quuk and fecrct. The hufband having given out that his wire was gone into the country, addrefled a letter to her, without either inferting her name or refidence, but couched in fuch terms, that fhe could readily com- prehend it. In this he pro'.niitd to forget and- for- give all that had happened ; and me having ac- cidentally read the paper, lent an a^f-.vvr by the fame conveyance, mentioning her terms, ard at the end of thiec days returned to him without having cccc-fioret. the k-ft !u : p:cion by her ahfence. The printer isp-.idior tlus kind of correipond< ^ce, and in general all artici; t w! :ch rathei iiv.ereO i':tl;. i- * In the year 17-' , reprinted \/ every week. ( 40 ) !uals than the public. He neither inquires con- cerning the name, the bufinefs, the intentions, cr place of reftdence of the advertifer. Thofe fpecula- tions which are written on national affairs and articles of intelligence are inferted gratis. The author is always fure of remaining undifcovered, by means of a box which opens towards the rtreet, and through which any perion may thruft a manu- fcript. If you choofe to make yourfelf known to the printer, he is obliged to obferve fecrecy. No- thing can force him to violate this, for were he to do fo, he would not only lofe his blifinefs, but alfo. have his houfe expoied to the fury of the popu- lace. He is obliged to anfwer for every thing he prints, whether it be a libel, a piece of fcandal, or a pafqui- nade. The offence, in any of thefe cafes, will lub- je& him to a procefs. If the king or parliament is attacked, the attorney-general is the accuier ; and en fuch occafions it is not unufual to fee the pub- lifher defended by themoft famoui advocates at the bar. Woodfall, the punter of the Public Advertifer*, once the moft famous newfpaper in London, was tried on account of Junius's celebrated letter to the king, which is a matter-piece of eloquence, boldnefs and truth. All England wasinterefted in the iffAie, and the rnoft famous lawyers were employed, not {imply to defend an individual, but to lupport that inviolable liberty which every Englishman arrogates, of (peaking or writing openly and without referve his fentiments of public affairs. Woodfall wa? de- clared innocent, and the procefs was terminated in fuch a manner, as made it impoffi'ble. to difcover the ingenious author, whoM name remains unknown to this very day. The critics pretend that it is the mofl perfect profe competition in the Englifh lan- guage. Certain expreffions, and a peculiar kind of genius ( 4' ) genius exhibited throughout the whole, have made fome fuppofe that the celebrated Edmund Burke IB this fame Junius. It is not at all uncommon to fee a printer put in the pillory, or dragged to gaol : by naming the author they efcape thefe indignities: this, however, they never do without his content. The reverend Mr. Home Tooke, curate of Brentford, was fo generous as to avew hirnfelf on an occafion of this kind in the year 17/8. This fingular perfon, who, as a man, a patriot, and an orator, has acquired fuch high claims to the general efteem, and to the remembrance of his fel- low-citizens in particular, as the founder of that celebrated * fociety, the end of which was to fup- port the rights and privileges of the nation, had, in a newfpaper, defcribed the laft war in America as a maflacre ; and the court party, who inftituted and fupported it, as fo many aflaflins. The printer be- ing profecuted, and urged by the author, named him ; and the intrepid clergyman was fentencedto twelve months imprifonment. Refpe.t;-r, and equal to him in patrictifm. Oliver wa, ;.,,< i man of character, ar;d had i nuble and independent v.ay of thinking. Guided ( 55 ) Guided by thefe men, Crofby calls in the printer, hears his complaint, and orders the ferjeant at arms- Jro he carried to prifon. This aft of authoi uy occafioned a predisrious dff- turbance ; and Crolby, Oliver, and Wilkes were furnmoned ro appear before the Houfe of Commons. The two fipil obey, and go in procefilon from the city, aitendtd by feveral hundred carriages belong- ing to people of the firflr rank. Wi'fkes alfo accom- panies them to the door; but,, as he would not be permitted to appear as one of the members of Mid- dlefex, he proceeds no further. Ai their arrival, they -are received with fhouts of app!au f ~e bv a prodigious concurfe ot people, who furrounded the boufe, and mal-treated all thofe who .were of the court party.. I,_ord North, who ha*l been the rnoft violent ,againil the city ma^iilrates, had procured two hundred of the guilds to protect himfclf and his fjjen.is ; but fearing that fo fmall a- number could' not lave him from an inccnfed populace, who threatened his deftrucUon, he gets intoahaclcney .coach, accompanied by a valet,, and attempts to fteal into the houfe in difgui'e. This prcjecV, however, was unfuccefsful ; he is known, the horfes are flopped, and he himfclf is cirag^ed by tbe hair, and expoied to a thoufand in- di^.: : tiCS. The exiftence of this man, to whom Kng'and nnfortimately gave birth, now hvm-J iu'p-encled by A thread : but th.e dcftinies refolved that lie fhoulcl rtili live for the unhappineis of thoufand s of his eqir-ds. r rhc (oldiers having come to his afTill.ince, and two of his creatures having generoufly (hi elded him with iht-ir own bodies-, he was at laft "(hatched from a c"r v ain death. Having thus efcaped th e fate of the unhappy De Witt, he repairs to parVia" Jiuciit, diafigured and almoft unknown. He begins D 4 with with recounting his fad adventure, while his eyc ftrearn with tears, in that hypocritical tone which had been ib fuccefsful wirh Cromwell He be- jfeches Heaven to bear witnels to his innocence, and the nprightnefs oi his intentions ; which having no other end than the good of the nation, gave him a claim on the gratitude^ rather than the curies of his fellow-citizens. In this (late of anxiety and'grief, trembling left the horrible fccne, from which he had jtift efcaped, "thould- be renewed, he propoiVs to the accufed mem- ber to repair, by an immediate apology, the irregu- larity of their conduft ; affuring them, that the houfe was difpofed fo accept a very flight one. Oliver rejects this propofii.ion with the utmoft } orn ; sd< ; ing, that to expect an apology from Tl ofe who h,;d ; uj ported the rights of their ftliow- u iz,ens, was the groffeft infult ; and th:U he and I ti adherents ought rather to offer excufes to- he whole nation for their rn il-admirillration. Crofl3y bti'g of the fame opinion, they were, by a plurality of voices, fent to the Tower. The Tower is rot a horrible prifon, like the Baflile ; it rather refembles a litile town, abound"- irg v/irh tradefir/en and arti/.ans of every kind, A prodigious number of people reflde there, and the apartments are very commodrous, Crofby nd Oliver, on their arrival, hired two little lioufes ; and the numerous vifits of thtir friends (carcely allowed them to perceive that they were pri Toners. \\ hi ! e confined here, extraordinary honours were conferred on them ; and it might be ef- teemed by both as the moil happy epocha in tluir lives. Kveiy ward in the city lent them deputations. Thefe went in fo-m, accompanied by an immenfe crowd of carriages, ar.d in the u^r.e of the people of England, thanked them for ( 57 ) for having courageoufly defended the rights ofthe;r fellow-citizens, and facrificed fo gene:oufly their wm liberty for the public welfare. Befidt:. U : c , feveral cities, counties, and aifociations returned them thanks ; Tent them their freedom and ac- companied it ukh gifts. London in particular prefented them with two mafTy cups of gold, on which the arms of the city were engraved. It is impofiible to recollect without admira- tion the fervour and patriotic enthufiafm which prevailed every where during ilvee weeks,, at the end of which time the parliament was proio- gued. On this occafion the magiftrates of London, clothed in their robes the fheriffs of the county of Middlefex, the common-council, all the mili- tia of the city, and an immenfe crowd of dif- tinguifhed perfons, repaired to the Tower, ac- companied by drurm, cymbals, and trumpets, to receive the two prifoners. Being placed in the (rate-coach, they were conducted to the Man- fion-houfe in triumph, amidft the ringing of bells, the firing of cannon, and every other demonftration of joy. The windows were crowded with beau- ties, who waved their handkerch efs and added to the public triumph. The general enthufiafm cannot be well described : I myfelf faw many weep for joy, and realife tlie v\itty remark of of lord Shatteftmry, who fays,, that enthufiafm is epidemic, and, like yawning, affects every body around. Let the reader recollect, that all this was tranfotted, not in the corner of a diftant pro/- vince, but in the mid ft of the refidence of a poweriul monarch ; that the mii;ifters, whofe authority is very great, were the enemies and the profecucors of. the two prifoners ; and that this was not a tumult or a revolt, but a public D 5 *a ( 53 ) ?.<<* 'A hich .the laws, far from prohibiting, feemed raiher to authoiife. f ihall never forget this memorable fcene ; wiih me it llmlj always be facred. It is engraven J'i my mind in never-fading; chara&ers, and caa only be effaced with my exigence. CHAPTER III. 'Jilie Ftrt/litv of England Its Climate, Productions t and Indiijlry Society of Arts Duke of Bridge - water's Canal Extraordinary Inventions l-J'idgewGod' s Mani/jaftures Mrs. Abington Beggars of Rank Calas Colonel Chamfigny Societies of Rogues.. J_ HE fouth of Great Britain is almoft an entire {i at, and contains but very few mountains. If" the the principality of Wales, and fome of the northern counties, be excepted, all that immenfe ifland re- fcmbles a garden, adorned with fine views and ro- mantic profpects, which do not yitld in any thing to thofe parts of Italy which are fo much extolled. The riches of the inhabitants; the neatnefs and cleanlinefs of chtir manner or li\ ing, which is dif- coverable in the very cottages i the noble roads ; und a fertile and well cultivated foil, form one great whole, vhich the moft phlegmatic obferver is forced to admire. The re- ate ft objection that can be urged a?ainfl I.ngland is the infalu! rity of the air, and the incii- j^nfable cuilo.ii of burning coals. It ( 59 ) It is true that the di.vate is fubjel to frcqrrrrt changes, hut it is generally fupporlalle both in the fumnivrand winter. It is not bad health, but a love of, variety and diilipaticn, that drives fo many rich Knglilh.nc-n to the fouth of France, either to iquandei; tiitir guineas rhtrc, or to ctonoav.fc in a country where ev,rv th'ng is fold at a low price, afitt they ha\v hurt their fortunes at home. A., the rcaibn of the r e journeys is not very .flattering to their pride, they ciifguife it under the pr.tence of the oaunxfs of the r native air. , As to the EnJ'ili uho have fptnt part of th ir ftves in the Indies, and who have be-e n of couril- u'eet to a warmer fun, it is very evident that they mull rev. I, in a vtrv lively manner, the difference on their return, and that the air of Provence will be more genial to them than that of Fn.land. It \vasthiscircumftance whit h obliged the celebrat- ed lord Ciive to fpend two years of his life at Mont- ptli- r ; where he hoped a long time, but in vain, te> dilTipate thofe hypochondriac humours with v. hie h he was tormented. He carried them back to I up- land where they changed to a profound melancholy : which, after preying for fome time on hi- body, at lail became victorious and contra ned him, as -it were, to deprive himftlf of exitknce. Notwith- flanding the care of his fan-.ily to conceal the r.iann r of his death, all the wcrld foon kricvv, ;h. t the vanquisher and fcoirrge of Aha, hanged him tu" in his own bed chamber. What will 1'uHy evince, how little the climate and u(l of. coal-fires are hurtful tothe h..-al hoi" the Fng- fifl 1 , is the grcav,t , ^. ere'ure, and extraord ; nary gooelnefs. From hcnte proceeds the unecunmon attachment of the 1 n<;Iim to iltofe tine lawns, which they fmooth aiui keep even by means of (lone rollers : the\ arc fome- tinies fo very reaultr, that \ ou may play at bov> h on them with as nuivh nicety as you could on a Lilliard table. Thii is a favourite eilvcrfitn, and is often en- j'oj ec! by people of the frit rank. Every part of the country abounds w-i^h- parks, vh : ch is Rat at all extraordinary. The laboureres who unload thefe colliers receive nine fhUUngs per day. The coal-mines of Newcaftle were not difcovt red till the fifteenth century ; they are equally valuable as it they produced gold. The trade ot this mineral fo ne- ctffary inGreat Britain, isincreafing,and has even been doubled fince the year I *jOo.- It is eafy to conceive a proper idea of tl>e wealth of that town, formerly fo little known, by obforving that the revenues of the corporation amount to rine thoufand pounds a year. An increaie of buildings b vifible in all the great cities throughout England : in refped to London, ir is greatly ciifapproved, and not without reafon. This, however, does not immediately proceed from itfelf,- for the villages with which it is iurrcunded, and which augment daily, by their additional popula- tion, contribute greatly to its inhabitants. The town of Stockton, which wa* but a hamlet a few years fince, now fends upwards of a hundred and fifty, veffc-ls every year to the metrcpc Us. In 1778, fix hundred thouiand flieep belonged to Dor- cheiler alone. Commerce increafe? daily in Hull, Briftol, Ply- mouth, Liverpool, &c. it is the fame with manufac- tures. Neither the revoluiion that has taken place in regrrd to trade, n. r the lols of the American colo- nies, has in the leaft decreafed them. The city of v Exeter vended fluffs in the year 1/79 to the- a--icu.it of a million fterhng, a liun which almoft feems Lncredibl- . Trade now flourifhes in almoll an equal propor- tion in Scotland. Edinburgh, Glafgow, Aberdeen, and Elgin are full of excellent manur ttlures. "Jhe Scots -hitherto neglecledthe hen ing fi(hery ; they left it entirel, to the Dutch, who came s-.nu- ally to their coal 1 , -eel, ondilturbed, that 'lucrative branch of conmtrcv : they the .r.-ivt-s BOW participate in its idvanunges. 'Ihe t- >v; or' Invcrnef? Tnvernefs al'or.c employs five hundred vefiels and three thoufand fifhermen. Eight hundred fhallops and fix thoufand fifhermen are employed in the river Forth, which this fifh frequents during twa moirths ot'the year, and procure a fufficient quantity to fill forty thoufand barrels : one ftxth part is con-- fumed in the country ; the reft is exported. This exportation produces .annually twenty thoufand poiwids fterling, Several of the neighboring towns alfo partake in the fiihery ; Glafgow itfelt* mips three thoufand barrels every year for the foreign- marks*. It is the fame in regard to the falmon, Aberdeen fends a hundred quintals annually to London, and Yarmouth ninety. Many naturalifts are. of opinion that in Hampfhire, where the air is pure and the climate warm, the vine and fig.-tree might be culuvated to great ad- vantage. A letter is preferved in the Philofophical Tranf- a&ions of the Royal Society, from Henry Barharn to Sir Hans Sioane, written in the year 1719, in which he aiTerts that he hadproduced fUk.at Cheliea 9 which thofe who were conv.erfant on the fubje&j had declared to be equal to that of Piedemont. It is well know that there were many vineyards formcly in England. That old and celebrated re- cord, called Dbomfday-book, exprelily favs, that, before the Norman coi;queft, wine was made in the county of EiTex. It is but a few years fince this interefting produc- tion was discovered. It begins with the time of William the Conqueror, and contains a circumftan- tial detail of the inventory which that monarch caufed to be taken of ailthe produce of the kingdom ; and a lift of all the mauois, fiefs, rents, &c. This book is very difficult to decypher, being a mixture of French and bad German, written for the molt part part in Gothic chara&crs. In confequence of this there are but very few, even of the learned, who can read the manufcript. The Englifh, for a long time, looked upon it as merely an hieroglyphic, of which they could only interpret fome paiTages, till, on the arrival of Rafpe in England, it happened to fall into his hands. That illuftrious and intelligent man, who had been for many years employed in the German libra- ries, was very capable of cutting this Gordian knot :- of this he gave fufficient proofs. The government was eager to know its contents ; but as many of the fiift families in the kingdom imagined themfelves in fome fhape interefted in the tranflation, they did not think it prudent to entruft it to a foreigner. A learned Englifhman was therefore preferred to Rafpe, on whole afManee he greatly depended, on accepting this important and difficult commiflion : unhappily, however, they quarrelled, -ndDoomk book was not tranflated. The induftry of the Englifh has often received a jiew degree of energy from the afiiftance of my countrymen, the German One of them called Spielman conftru&ed, in the reign of Elizabeth, the firl> paper-mill. Gottfried Box, another, 1590,. erected the firft machine for the manufacturing of brafs-wire, and afterwards another for copper-plates. Under the reign of the fame qu^en a third built the frft powder mill. At this very day the led book- binder in London, and an artift fo famous in hi* trade, that his equal has never yet been found,, is alfo a German. My country was very near fnatching from the Englilh the honour of producing the bed clock- maker, an art in which they fo much excel, and of gaining the premium which the parliament had aflignedin thetin;e-piece which woul- 1 heft d ; * the longitude at fea. The fum allotted for this ufe- ful difcovt ry was twenty thoufand pounds. A grert number of the firft artifts in Europe, animated by the allurements of glory and of gain, became can- dilates for this reward; but an Englimman,,of tire name of Harrifcn, carried away both. It is, how- ever, probable that a watch-maker of the name of Thiele de Brerne would have fuppfaiitc-d him. if this excellent art! fan had carried his watch to London before the payment of the reward : for, in the opi- nion of the EngHfh themfelves, his mechanifm was more ingenicufly confrructed, and much more like- ly than Harrifon's to obtain the end propoted. It is incredible how much, and by how many dif- ferent* means, rnchiftry is excited in England. Without reckoning the ufnal fums which parlia~ ment votes annually in bounties,' new objects arc continually craving- their patronage. ' Several patrio- "tic focieti.es, uhich labour with a zeal f< r the general", good, worthy of admiration, follow their example. The rnoft numerous one that has ever exi.fred i.n Europe, is the fociety lor the encouragement of arts, manufactures, &c. It was founded in r753, ty William Shipley, and confifted 1 , in 1784, of fix thoufand feven hundred members. The ftrfl: no- blemen in the ra;ion btl< tig to this inftituiirn. Every member pays two guineas a year, and this fubicription from a fit r lufflcient for the diftribu- tiort of a great many premiums, and thofe of a con- fiderabFe value. Thefe rewards are always dcftined to per fen- v ho by crio-iHal invrnMcms have become ferviceable to mankind, or by an -improvement of former difcove- ries, have carried them to 2L higher degree of per- fection. Their meeting rarely confifr of more, than two hundred per'bns ; the reft very feldom attend, and content themfelves with contributing, by their pecu- niary afllilance, to the noble defign of this ufefol eftablimmer.k ( 66 ) amu'ements, drefs, and manner of expreflion, oc- cafions a kind of hatred between the inhabitants of each. Thofe in the city charge the people \v}o live at the well end of the town with luxury, idle- nefs, effeminacy, and an attachment to French famions ; while the others fptak of a citizen as a dull, fat animal, who places all his -merits in 1 i* ftrongbox. But it is more efpecially vhen the lord mayor,. fheiifTs and common council have an audience at St. James's, to prefenl a petition, cr complinvnt his majefty on fome great event, that the courtiers at- tempt to ridicule them. One may eaiily imagine that a fimpk tracLfman, totally unacquainted v. i.h the modes and cuftoms of a court, will not be able to acquit himlelf on fuch folemn occafions with the eafe of a courtier, who has made etiquette his chief and his only ftudy, ard who looks upon it as the rcoft intcrciting and the moft afeful of all accom- This antipathy is fo notorious, that it is menti- oned in ballads, noticed on the iiage, and is not for- gotten even in the Parliament itfelf. In Italy they E 4 would i So } would arm themfelves with poignards, and fpill each others' blood on a fimiiar occafion ; but fo far h'om being attended with fatal confequences in England, it ferves only to banifh the fpleen of the nation, The Englifh nobility generally live three quarters of the year in the country. This ancient cuftcm of flaying but a fhort time in the capita!, is the rea- fc.n why there are fo few magnificent manfions in London. It is obferved, however, that the metro- polis having latdy acquired more attractions, people of diflin&ibn now ref.de there longer than they were wort to do: however, they ftill look on their country feats as their principal habitations. Many families who have twenty thoufand a year, have but a few apartments in town, and, as they keep a prodigious train of fervants, are of courfe confined in regard to room. In a fhort time this inconvenience will no longer exifr, as a number of people of fafhion are now building fuperb palaces. It may be thought that this cuftom is encouraged by government ; but although the chief defign of all-courts be, to draw around them the greater part of the nobility to add to their fplendour, and take away from them the power of raifmg difturbances in the provinces ; I am, however, of opinion, that nothing but the pleafures of the metropolis influence the Englifh. 1 he nation already begins to be lefs attached to hunting, and to feel a greater paffion for the fine arts, and every thing that can add to the pleafures of a fenfual life. It is alfo certain, that the next generation of the nobility will refide, like thofe of France, entirely in the capital. When one con- fiders that, fince this cuftom has prevailed, thofe commotions which the great ufed formerly to fo- ment, have altogether fubfided ; and that' in Eng- land and Poland alone, where the nobility refide on their eAates, difturbances of this kind have happened in the prefent age ; it muft be allowed that luxury, againft which fo. much declamation prevails, has been attended with at leaft fome good ccnfe- quences. This new inclination, by which the wealthy are induced to live in London, has given to projectors the idea of building large ftreets. and exteniive fquares, adorned with excellent hcu es. Thcfe hr.ufes, which may be regarded as fo many palaces, are very lofty, exceedingly ccmmodiru^, and have each of them two fccries under ground, to which fufficient light is communicaced, by means of a fore- court. The Tenants are bdged, and the kitchen, ftore-roomr, &c. are placed there, fo that the reft of the houfe is entirely at the difpofal of th\; matter. The builders have generally a leafe of rtinoiy-ninfc years, and at the end of that term are obliged either to give up the premifes, or renew the agreement on paying a fine. The duke of Portland hat thoufand buildings erected in this manner on his cftate in the neighbourhood of town. It is to this cuftom that the want of fblidity >n the houfes, and the few mafter-pieces of architecture which we meet with in London, may be fairly at- tributed. If this reafon did not exift, rich indivi- duals would glory in decorating the capital of their native country. However, the difadvantage is in a great meafure recompenfed by the commodiouf- nefs of the buildings. Every houfe is abundantly fupplied with water, by means of pipes, which diftribute it to all the ftreets in London. This profufion is of the srreateft ufc in cafe of fire, by placing the engines fo as to receive a conftant fupply, One need never be afraid of a fcarcity of this preciou r . commo:-,.ty ; for, not contented with making the Thumbs ro run through all parts of the town, they have brought the New River from the county of Hertford for the E 5 fame ( 82 ) fame purpofe. By means of engines at Lonclon- britlge they raife the river to a prodigious height, and then circulate it through \>,:>oden pipes. They are careful in England not only to infare their houfcs and their {hops, but even public build- ings, fuch as churches, hofpitals, and theatres. This precaution is not ufed in Paris, notwithftanding its boafted regulations are railed to the flues. Any one may alfo infure his goods and wardrobe ; nay, every thing but his ready money. This excellent eftablifhment is, however, fometimes abufed : more than one rogue has burnt his own houfe ; and as this kind of crime is very difficult to be proved, the office is generally obliged to pay the amount of the demand. Immediately after the fire, the affurers become en- titled to their money, having firil tranfmitted the amount of their loffes, and attefted the ftatement by an oath. Notwithftanding the number of houfet annually confumed in London by the flames, a mere trifle is given for the rifk : it is ufually no more than in the proportion of half a crown for a hundred pounds. No part of Europe exhibits fuch luxury and mag- nificence as the Englilh difplay within the walls of their dwelling houfes. The ftaircafe, which is co- vered with the richeft carpets, is fupported by a baluftrade of the fined India wood, curioufly con- (rra&ed, and lighted by lamps containing cryftal vafes. The landing-places are adorned with buffo, pictures and medallions ; the wainfcot and cielingi of the apartments are covered with the fineft var- nifh, and enrimed with gold, bafs-reliefs, and the moft happy attempts in painting and fculpture. The chimneys are of Italian marble, on which flowers and figures, cut in the moft exquifite ftile, form the chief ornaments ; the locks of doors are of fteel damaflced with gold. Carpets which often oft three hundred pounds a-piece, and which one reraples fcrnplcs to touch with his foot, cover all the rooms ; the richeft fluffs- from the looms of Afia are employ- ed ai window curtains; and the clocks and watches with which the apartments are furniihed, aftonifh by their magnificence, and the ingenious complica- tion of their mechaniim. The Engliih have alfo introduced a new fpecies of fculpture ; this confifts in medallions of ivory, cf which the workmahfhip is equally delicate and tlegant. Thefe are placed upon black velvet co- vered with glafs, and contained in a frame of the richeft workmanmip. The prefent fafhion of adorning the capital by the magnificence and the luxury ofr their manfions, every day increafes among the great, and perhaps will at laft deftroy a cuftom, of which the lovers of painting and fculpture have fo long complained ; that of embeliifhing their country-houfes with all the wonders of art, and which, thus entombed in the heart of a remote province, are for ever loft to the \vorld. Where is the artift who has time and money fufficient to facrifice them in fearching for a production which he may not perhaps find ; or which, if he does meet with after a long and pain- ful fcarch, he can only view in a tranfitory manner, without ftudying its beauties at his eafc ? Exclufive of St. Pauls' cathedral and the col- legiate church of Weftminfter, London contains one hundred and two parifti-churches and fixty-nine chapels of the eftablimed religion ; twenty-one belonging to the French proteftants ; eleven to the Germans, Dutch, and Swedes; thirty-three to the anabaptifts and quakers; twenty-fix -to the inde- pendants: twenty-eight to the prefbyterians ; nine- teen to the catholics ; and three to the jews; the number confecrated to the wormip of the Divinity is three hundred and forty edifices. In this account I do not include twenty-one churches which do BOfe ( 8+ ) 7:tit belong to any particular parifli. The foregoing lift was afcerfair.ed in 1779: I make this remark., kecaufe the anabaptifts, quakers, &c. &c. augment, K minim, and often change the houfe where they itiTemble. No city is adorned with fuch fine fquares as London. They are all compofed of noble and handfome houfes : there are neither fhops nor \\arehoufes to befeen in them : in the centre there is ufually a piece t f ground laid out in a beautiful manner, which ferves as an agreeable walk. Some are adorned with ftatues and obeliflts. Markets, fo common in other capitals, never diigrace them with iheir dilguftful appearance. The Iquares in Lon- don offer fuch objects to the eye as announce the opulence and good tafte of the inhabitants : thofe who refide there, befides this, have the advantage of breathing a pure air, and are never difturbed by any iioife. The markets in the metropolis, which are very Dumerous, have certain fixed itations, where neither the buyers nor leilcrs need fear being run over by the \\heelsofcarriagc:, or trampled upon by the hoofs of hoifes, being, by means cf their {itu which conftitutes the chief pride of the nation. It is only the refidence of fovereigns that they dignify with the name of a palace ; every other edifice, however large and however fuperb, whether it belongs to the king's brother, or even the prince of Wales, is fimply called a houfe. The moft noble works in architecture contained in London, are the churches, the bridges, the hof- pitals, and fome other public edifices. The cathedral of St. Paul's is not unworthy of the nation. Notwithstanding all its faults, it would be much more admired if the fite, concealing its pro- per point of view from the fpe&ator, did not at the fame time hide all its beauties. It is generally known that it was built after the model of St. Peters at Rome, and yet it only refembles it in its ftiape and dome* dome. The front towards Ludgate-hill is more fu- perb,. and has an effect infinitely more interefting than St. Peter's : it waffs, however, the admirable fituation, the celonade, ihejttfTeaU) and the obe- lifk of the latter. There are a great number o.' engravings of the de- fign after which Sir Chiiftopher Wren, the architect, intended to have executed this building. His plan was in the pureft Grecian ftyle ; and if his advice had been followed, London might now boaft the glory ofpofTe fling the mafter-piece of modern archi- tecture. The confent of the chapter of St. Paul's being unfortunately neceflary on this occafion, they rejected the idea, obferving at the fame time, ** That " fuch an edifice would rather referable a Pagan ** temple than a Chriftian church." There is no other example of a (ingle architect having begun and executed a building of fuch an af- toniming immenfity. It was the labour of thirty- feven years, and coft a million two hundred thoufand pounds fterling. Divine fervtce is celebrated in only a fmall part of it ; all the reft is empty, and without any orna- ment, which has a very difagreeable effecfc. It is at laft perceived how much this fuperb edifice faffers by its fad and doleful vacuity.; for which reafon they have for fome time paft formed the defign of furnim- ing it with monuments to the memory of illivftriom Engliflimen. In confequence of this project, the king was petitioned by the common council of London, in the year 1778, to. permit the monu- ment to be placed there, which the parliament had voted to the memory of lord Chatham. The minifter, whowimed as much as poflible to detract from the reputation of that great ftatefman, did not choofe to acquiefce in the demand ; the funeral trophies were therefore banimed into one of the inoft obfcure corners of Weftminfter abbey, where the ( S8 ) the effeft is entirely loft. The fculpture has alfo teen confided to an artinSwho is but little known. If the minuter had acceded to the propofition of the citizens, St. Paul's would have been infenfibly filled with the nobleft memorials of national glory. The church cr abbey of Weftfninfter is, perhaps the moft beautiful fpecimen of Gothic architecture now in exiftence. The grandeur of its columns, the boldnefs of its arches, its immenfe extent, its ornaments and their diltributibn, taken altogether, make this a moft extraordinary edifice. It was formerly a convent of Benedi6tines ; Cromwell con- verted it into a ftable for his cavalry. In no part of the world is fuch a multitude of fuperb monuments to be metwith ; for, notu uhtfandirg the prodigious fpace within the walls, in a few years there will not be room for any more. This is the burial-place of the Kings of F.n^land, and of many celebrated aitn, to whom either their friends or the nation at large have erected memorials. If any place is capable of infpiring holy awe and religious tenor, it is this. Thisfpot is alfo facred to men of letters ^neliy,'ous terror is not what agitates his foul at that moment : the founds of the trumpet fix all his attention ; his arms, which he elevates, his ear, with which he liftens, every feature in his counter, .nee feems to irdicate, that, entranced in this celeftialhnrmcny, his foul is unable to attend to any thing elfe. The infcription beneath the buft of Shakefpeare, is taken from a fine paffage in one of his dramatic pieces called " The Tempeft." The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, The folemn temp'es, the great globe itfelf, Yea, all which it inherits, fhall dilfolve ; And, like the bafclefs fabric of a vifion,. Leaves not a wreck behind. Gay fo celebrated on account of his Fables, has the following lines on his tomb : Life is a jeft, and all things fhew it : I thought fo once, but now I know it. Thefe monuments, erefted to the manes of great men, and which have eternized the very aitirts em- ployed y ( 90 ) ployed in them, form a fpeclacle equally impreflive and magnificent. England is undoubtedly the country in Europe were learning is moft nobly re- compenfed : it is thisfentiment which has been ex- prefled wiih fo much truth and propriety by Engel on the tomb of Letting. Wenn er elnTeut fofier nicht, werm erein Britte waere. So fchlofie feinen farg die Gruft der Koenge ein. So wurd ein Yolk, gefuhlvoll fur die Ehre, Ihm cefftntlid) e!n ewig Denkraal vveihn. '* If he had been an Englishman, inftead of a 41 German, his body would have been entombed ** among kings. A nation to whom honour is fo '* dear, wotua have ere&ed a monument to his " memory at the public expence, and rendered hii *' name immortal !" Weftminfler abbey alfo contains the bodies of many fovereigns ; among others are the monuments of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. Their fucceffors have not been equally honoured, Elizabeth herfelf has only a ftmple epitaph. Inflead of fculpture, they have of late adopted the fingular and ehildifli cuftom of placing a portrait in wax over the grave, which becomes hideous at the end of a few years. In the reign of queen Anne the parliament grant- ed four thoufand pounds fterling for the repairing of this church. This is the place to recount a fingular anecdote, to which the bed Englifh hiftcrians, although, they were tco prudent to declare it on account of the honour of the nation, are yet neverthtlefs faid to have given credif. If we are to believe tradition, the body of the un- fortunate Charles I. was immediately after decollati- on buried in the chapel of Windfor caftle; it is ftiil faid to remain in a vault under the choir, of which ao one either does know, or at lead chcofes to own the ( 9* ) the fituation. This ftrange ignorance of fuch a remarkable circumftance, arul which leaves fo much to iuppofiticn, is an argument in favour of what I am about to relate. It is afleited, that fome royalifts conveyed in the mod fecret manner the remains of their fovereign from Windfor to Weftminfter abbey. On the ref- torationof Charles II. the fuppofed body of Crom- well was dug up, dragged through the ftreets, and expofed on a gallows. Now it is pretended that, either through a miftake, or a concerted defign, this was actually the corpfe of Charles I. which ex- perienced this ignominious ufage ; for when, in the prefcnce of an innu.nerable crowd of fpectators, the executioner was about to cut off the head, to his utter aftonifliment, he found the ceremony had been already performed. The more modern churches in London are built with a confiderable mare cf taile: but I (hall only mention St. Martin's, the front of which is an imitation of the Pantheon at Rome. The connoif- feurs, however, ar much difgufted to fee in ail of them fteeples and belfries, in [lead of domes, which are fo much moremajeftic, A metropolis poffeffed of fuch immenfe riches, and-which boafts of, per- haps, two of the beft architects in Europe *, ought to excel in this fpecies of buildings. Adam has erected towards the Thames a pile of buildings, called the Adelphi, which, on account of their convenience and fituation, may be quoted as models. All the houies are built on arches, whofe grandeur and folidity deferve to be compared to thole magnificent common fewers which at this very day are accounted among the wonders of ancient Rome. Many of the Englifh, with great propriety, imagine that, if the prefent king had a tafte for ar- chitecture, * Mr. Adaias aftd Sir William Chambers. ( 92 ) chitecture, and would tife his powerful influence in raifmg palaces and other public buildings worthy .of the nation, London would actually become the moft fuperb city in FAirope. It is extremely, piobrible that, if the unfortunate American wa* had not taken place, and the flounfh- ing trade of thefe proud iflanders had continued, in twenty years lime their capital would have excited the jeilouiy of all the furrounding nations. The Manfion-hcufe> where the chief magiftrate of the city refides during his mayoralty, ought alfo to be mentioned. It was built about half a century aro, at a period when the Englifli were not initiated in the fine RI ts. The common council being atTem- b!ed en purpofe to examine the plans laid before them for this edifice, a nobleman who had been in Italy fent them a defign of Palladio's, which he had brought uiih him from that country; and which as they were determine d to fpare no expence, was by its elegance and grandeur peculiarly adapted for the purpofe. Thefe refpe&able citizens, however, were entire- ly unacquainted with Palladio ; they def.red to know who he was, and wanted very much to fee and con- verfe with him. After a long debate, an' ?.lderman obferved, that Palladio was a foreigner who had been dead for fome years, and that it would be exceeding- ly ridiculous to execute the plan of a ftranger, when London produced fo many excellent archirels. After this he propofcd a fhip-carpenter, who was immediately accepted without any difficulty. This man accordingly planned and executed the building, as may he eafily ieen at the firft glance ; for the front exactly refembles the Jlern oj a man of war. The apartments are obfcu-e and badly di- ttibuted, and the ftairs, which look like ladders^ are very ill contrived. It is in this edifice, which taken altogether has nothing abfolutely difagreeable in it* appear auci ( 93 ) appearance, that the lord mayor is obliged to refide, not\v ithftanding he may have -a houfe of his own in the neighbourhood. The beauty and grandeur of the three principal bridges acrofs the Thames, are a high proof of the wealth of the nation, ardof its pi.ifion for great en- terprifes. I mould blufh to compare the Pont Nfuf and Pent Royal at Paris to thofe ofr Weftminfter and Blacktiiars. An Englishman is proud, but he is not a boafter ; we therefore hear but little of thefe mafter- pieces of architecture, which by their grandeur, magnificence, and convenlency, are the firft works of this kind that are to be found in Europe, I will not even except the Rialto at Venice ; for the un- polifhed blocks of marble with which it is compofed, have nothing magnificent in their appearance. Even the fingle arch of which it confilts, and which is fo famou^on account of its grandeur and extent, has been rivalled in great Great Britain by a bridge acrofs the Don in Ayrfhire, the two extremities of which are placed on the oppofite banks of the river, and are 90 feet diftant from each other. The fpan of the Rialto is exactly of the fame dimenfions. The new bridges at London are equally grand and commodious. That of Weft ninfter is i223leetlong, and 44 broad. It is extremely well paved ; the fides are adorned with ftone balustrades ; the foot-paths are broad ; the lamps are numerous, and the alcoves, placed at proper diftances, fhelter the paflengers from the rain. It has fifteen arches; the centre one of which is 66 feet in width ; they are all adorn- ed with columns, and remarkably well vaulted. This immenfe pile, which was twelve years in building, coft one hundred and fifty thoufand pounds. The prodigious expence did not, however, pre- vent them from immediately la) ing the foundation of another, called Blackfriars, which is placed in the centre ( 94 ) centre of the city, and joins it to the county of Surry. It is ftill more elegant and magnificent than that of Weftminfter. Its arches are adorned with columns of the Ionic order, and placed two and two; their bafes touch the river, and have a fine effect- This bridge was entirely conftru&ed at the expence of the citizens, and coft one hundred and fixty thcuiand pounds, which was repaid by means of a toll on carriages, hories, and foot paflengers. Some years fince another was pi ojecled, betwixt the two new ones: the execution, however, of this has been deferred. Notwithstanding London bridge is a very good one, yet it is nothing comparable to the others. The folidity of it, however (for it was built more than 800 years fince), gives us a favourable idea of the ancitnt manner of building. Its arches are low, and very narrow : circumftances which, together with the rapidity of the flream, occafion many ac- cidents. Formerly this bridge was covered with houfes, like Notre Dame at Paris. Near to this ftands a column of the Doric order, commonly called the Monument ; it was built to perpetuate the memory of the fire by which Lon- don differed fo feverely in the year 1666. Being erected in the very place where the conflagration began, all its beauty is loft by the badncfs of its fituaticn. It is two hundred feet perpendicular, and consequently exceeds in height that of Trajan iit Rone ; it has like it a winding flair-cafe in the in- fide. The fum appropriated to its erection was thirty thoufand pounds fterling. As its fall is continually apprehended, and would be attended -with vhe moft fatal confequences, it has been often propofed to remove this immenfe quarry of ftone. 'The ( 95 ) The Royal Exchange and the Bank ought not to be forgotten. The exchange is not the largeft, but it is certainly certainly the moft magnificent in the world. It is decorated with the ftatues of the kings of Great Britain, and furrounded by a prodigious number cf coffee-houfes, where the merchants tranfacl their bufmefs. Its fuuation is extremely convenient, being only a few fteps from the Pod- office, the Manfion-houfe, Guildhall, the India- houfe, &c. &c. &c. Although the bank is only one (lory high, it is neverthelefs a fine building. Moft of the apartments are lighted from the top, and the ftoves are con- trived with fo much art, that neither the door nor the tunnel can be perceived: each of thele coft a hundred pounds fterling. As the bank is the pro- perty of the nation, all the offices in this immenfe edifice are open to every onej in the outer hall, there are tables on which pens, ink, &c. are placed for even the loweft of the populace, although they may have no bufmefs there. However trivial thefe lirile circumftances may appear to fome people, I- cannot but admire even in them that republican fpirit which animates the whole nation. The fhops and warehoufes, which join each other, and fomet-imes extend for a whole mile without in- terruption, ftrike a foreigner with furprife. The part towards the ftreet geneially confifts of a bow- window and a glafs door, through which every ar- ticle that is elegant and fafhionable may be feen, arranged in the utmoft fymmetry. Mathematical inftruments, and every thing curi- ous in that fcience, which for rarity and perfection are not to be furpafled in the palaces of princes, appear in abundance. Nothingcan be morefuperb th.m the- filver-fmiths' mops. In looking at the pro- digious quantity of plate piled' up and expofed there, or.e can only term a proper idea of. the riches of the nation. ( 96 ) ration. The greateft (hops in St. Honor?' at Paris, appear ccrit'emptible when compared with thole in London. 1 have iecn in Cheap fide (and it is a well known fat) a warehoufe of this kind, the contents of which were eltimated at a hundred thoufand pounds fterling. The print-Chops are actually fo many galleries of painting. To the number of privileges enjoyed by thefe iilanders may be added that of publishing caricatures, which ridicule the occurrences ot the times. The French compofe fongs ; the Dutch, of a duller caft, ftrike medals ; but the Engiiih have chofen engravings as the moft proper vehicle tor their fatire. , In 1 784, when Mr. Fox carried every thing before him in the Houfe ot Commons, he was re- prefented fitting at a mirror which reflected the pic- ture of Oliver Cromwell. The government of the city is an exacl copy in miniature of that of the whole kingdom. Like the latter, it is divided into three diftin6t branches ; the lord mayor reprefents the king ; the court of aldermen the houte of Peers, and the common coun- cil the Houfe of Commons. The latter are chofen by the livery, who form a body of nine thoufand citizens. There are no emoluments attached to the rank of alderman ; it is the honour, the influence, and the hope of becoming the chief magiftrate, which makes that fituation defirable. However if the office of alderman is not lucrative, no exptnce is entailed on. the execution of it : but that of a fheriff often amounts to two or three thoufand pounds fterling in a Tingle year. When Wilkes was appointed to this office, his friends fubfcribed the neceftary fums. This being the firft ftep towards the mayoralty, the court em- ployed every artifice to prevent him, but in vain. As the influence of the minifter is very trifling in the corporation, ( 97 ) corporation, it fb happens that the citizens of Lon- don are not very much in favour at St. James's r they, however, confole themftlves with the beft grace in the world. They repeat with great plea- lure a witty expreifion made ufe of by one of their body, in the reign of Charles II. That monarch being greatly difcontented with the citizens, who would not confent to lead him certain fums to Tup- port his foolifh diflipation, one day menaced a de- putation who prefented him an addrefs, with the threat of leaving London and keeping his court at Oxford. An alderman on this occafion, turning towards a courtier, obferved, *' That the king feemed to be in a great paflion." " I hope, however," adds he, " that when his majefty re- *' moves, he will not carry the river Thames along- ' with him." This fally had its proper effecl:, and no Englim monarch has ever fmce thought pro- per to exprefs a fimilar intention. No perton can become a liveryman of London without being admitted into one of the twenty-fix companies, of which that body confifts. A mem- ber whofe name is rendered in any of thefe may atpire to the firft employment in the capital, not- withilanding he may be one of the very dregs of the people ; fuch as a taylor, a blackfmith, &c. &c. "When princes and people of quality are prefented with the freedom of the city of London, they are always requefted to name their trade ; and it is generally that of the lord mayor that is fixed upon. The preient king of Denmark is a member of the goldfiniths' company. , The lord mayor fits every day at the manfion- houfe to diftribute juftice, which he does without appeal in trifling difputes ; in matters of greater coniequence the culprit is fent to prifon, and takes his trial in the ufual manner. F If ( 9S ) If the chief rrugiftrate for a moment fhould de- part from the line of conduct prefcribed to him by the laws, he is obliged to fubmit to juftice like one of the meaneft citizens. As there are nojurtices of the peace in the city, the aldermen fupply their place, and fettle petty differences. Like all other magiftrates, they are obliged to releafe a prifoner on giving bail, except in the cafes of high-treaibn and felony. The office of lord mayor is not only very honor- able, but has alfo a conilderable revenue annexed to it. The citizens look upon him as their kin*. The number of his attendants, his equipages, and his rich liveries, give a certain degree of fplendour to his dignity. He is addrefleu by the title of " My Lord," even by the fovereign. A prodigious num- ber of privileges are attached to his office. The military cannot enter the city without his permiflion, nor can any feaman be imprefled there, unlefs he backs the warrant. He is alfo conservator of the Thames. The principal part of his revenue proceed? from the fale of places that become vacant during his mayoralty. It is always cuftomary, on entering upon his charge, to give a great entertainment which concludes with a ball : all the nobility are invited on the occafion ; very few, however, attend. It is very uncommon to fee the fame perfon twice" lord mayor. William Beckford, however, who to uncommon knowledge and great patriotifm united a revenue of thirty thoufand a year, was for the fecond time inverted with this dignity in 1769. He was confequently in that office in 1770, the time when the city, and a great number of the Englifh counties, petitic. d the io^ereign to call a new parliament ; for tliat had, by its conduct in regard to "Wilkes, entirely loft the favour of the public: but ( 99 ) but the king who thought it his intereft to continue it, conftantly refilled the requeft. The city of London, however, reiterated their complaints ; and the lord mayor, the flier iffs, and common council were continually going to St. James's, where his majefty, according to cuftom, received them on the throne ; the anfwer, however, was uniformly the fame, viz. " That the king was content with " his parliament; but, a* he always fhould efteem " it a pleafure to attend to the felicitations of his " people, that he would confider of their petition, &c. &c. Beckford, who was difgufted at being obliged, on account of his fituation, to at the firft character in this farce, fecretly refolved to treat the affair in a more ferious manner. In confequence of this, he repairs with a nume- rous train to court, reads the petition, and receives the ufual reply. It is then the cuftom, after kiffing his majefty's hand, to retire; but Beckford, who had rot gone there on account of a ceremony fo little conformable to the genius cf a free people, turned towards the king, and adu'refled him again in * fpeech delivered with the moft profound refpeS, but at the fame time with the moft undaunted firm- refs, befeeching his majefty " not to treat the petiti- f( on of the firft city in his kingdom with fo much " indifference, but to yield to the continual folicita- * tions cf his people." This addrefs was not only unexpected, but even without example. I rnyfelf was one of the fpeSa- tors, and I confefs that I never in my whole life have been witnefs to fuch an extraordinary affair. The cor.fufion and difmay of the courtiers were perceptible in their countenances, while the citi- zens fhewed in the me ft unequivocal manner, that the courage of their chief magiftrate gave thtm the higheft fa"tisfadion. Yz In ( 100 ) In the mean time Mr. Beckford flood before them, and with the utmoll tranquillity expected the royal anfwer. As the king, however, was not prepared, a profound filence reigned for fome minutesin the audience chamber, during which the fpe&ators ap- peared mute and ftupified. At laft the lord mayor, ..thinking it time to put an end to fuch a .ftrange fcene, bowed and departed. One may eafily imagine how much they were difgufled with this conduct at St.' James's, where they termed it impudent, and threatened to com- init his Lordfhip to the Tower: in the city, how- ever, he was prefented with the thank? of the cor- poration, which were accompanied with the moil flattering marks of regard and efteem. Being obliged eight days afterwards to return fo St. James's, to congratulate his majtAy on the fafe delivery of the queen, the lord chamberlain, after having mentioned his former behaviour, informed him at the fame time, that a repetition of fuch a conducl would occafion the city of London to be deprived of the privilege of prefenting their petitions to the king -while fitting on the throne. Beckford on this requefted that the declaration might be given him in writing ; and, on the rtfufaJ of the chamberlain, obferved, that he fhould con- fider fuch a menace as if it had not been uttered. This great patriot happening to die a few months afterwards, the city of London erected a monument to his memory in Guildhall. It is .of white marble, and as large as the life. He is drefled in his robes; Jlands in the fame pofition as when replying to his majefty'sanfwer ; and, inftead of an infcription, the fpsech itfelfis engraven on the pedeftal. It is not at all uncommon to fee an orator turn towards this ftatue, invoke the manes of Beckford, and conjure .his fellow-citizens by the memory of this great man, never to loie fight of the public welfare. \rcifare. It is in this manner that thcfe i'luftrious iflanders fo glorioufly imitate the ancient Romany and prove by their actions how advantageous pa- triotifm is to a nation, notwithftanding it may times be carried to a blameable excefs. CHAPTER V. the State of Religion in England Toleration Thg Catholics The Clergy The Puritans The Me- tbodifis Whitfield Sunday Anniverfary of tkt Martyrdom of Charles I. Quakers Anabaptifls. DeifmTbe Reverend Mr. Williams Suicide Hon. Mr. Darner Lord dive The Jeivs Dulor Fatten The Pbthfopber't Stone LingueX V OLTAIRE obferves that, if th:-re was orfy me religion in England, defpoti'm would infallibly enlae ; if there were but two, adds he, they \\ ou'd t ut cne anothc r's throats ; but as fuch a number effects 9re thtre ti Lrated, who worfhip the Su|^reme Being in fa many different manners, a b'y entbufiafm never troubles th/ ir minds, and they live in quiet and tran- quillity. This remark js undoubtedly jtift ; and ilia tLimu.lt in 1780, in which the name of the rroteflant religion was made life of as a pretence, proves no- thing to the contrary . 1 he legiflative power has reduced the principles of toleration to a fyftem which fcems to have at- tained the hightrt degree of perfection ; and il oiu'ht to be remarked to the honour of the Erglim parlia- ment, that at the moment when they were furround- ed by a furious multitude, and the life of every mem* danger, no one propofed the repeal of the F 3 bill ( 102 ) bill in favour of the Roman Catholics, which had occafioned the tumult. If the tenets of the eftablifhed faith were alone permitted, the people would foon groan under the preflure of flavery; for the king is head of the tl.prih, and in that capacity his power is unli- mited. Perfecuticn, a praSice which the chriftians have borrowed from the Jews, and which they have made ufc of againft them, will never, in all probability, tvike root in England. The prodigious number of tiifienttrs; the liberty with which mankind are there xllowc-d to think and to zSt as th?y pleafe ; their in- rercourfe wi'.h foreign nations, which is the fource t.f their riches ; and a thoufand other confideration?, all tend 10 eOablim that toleration to which the kingdom owes its grandeur, its opulence, and its prosperity. It may not be improper to quote here a celebrated frying (tf Lord Chefterfield's to a monk at Rome. The holy zealot having allured him that he was about to make a voyage to EngLnd, with the fole view of converting the inhabitants to the catholic faith, and that be ivas ready to fujfer every thing for the fake of religion : " You will be too late, " my good father," replies the earl : " it is in vain " that you are felicitous to obtain the crown of " martyrdom; alas! my ungrateful countrymen " beftow it now no more." To obtain any employment under the government, it is neceflary to take the oaths of fupremacy and al- legiance ; but as the catholics either cannot or will not take them, they are deprived of a great many advantages, and excluded from a number of offices, to which their birth and merits fully entitle them. The firft and moft ancient family in England is in this predicament : it is that of Howard, of wh : ch the duke of Norfolk is the head j to this title the office office of hereditary marfhal of England is attached ; his religion, however, not only precludes him from executing the duties of this high employment ire perfon,but affo from taking his feat in the Houfe of Peers* The catholics in England have their bifhops as well as the proteftant: thefe commonly refide in London, and live en eleemofynary contributions. Among thefe titular prelates there is an archbifhop of Canterbury, v ho is their head. In the year 1778 there were forty th uland members of the church of Rome in the capital ; I doubt whether there are at prefent fo many in all ihe other parts of the kingdom, as the chapt Is of the foreign mi raf- ters attract prodigious numbers to the metropolis* There are a great many, houever, in Lancafhire, Staffordfnirvi, w and Suffe'x. Notwithfbmding the clergy of the church rf England have large incomes, and its digni aries !we in great magnificence, they are but ve~ry little re- fpetted by the people. The reaion is evident. The various fe&sthat prevail in that ifland, weaken the interells of religion in general, and i fpire but little efreem for thefe ecclefiaftics, who live, for the moil part, according to their 6\vn caprice. The exceiTes alfo, and the depredations they commit, leflen the refpeft that their facred function oiv^ht to inipir.e. /Soon after the execution of Dr. Dodd for forgery, another prieft was punithed for debauching young efirls from ten to twelve years of a^re, whom he had been employed to inftru ceremonies of religion, for a mere trifle. They do not now celebrate clandeftine marriages: formerly it was not neceffary to run to Scotland to marry againft the will of parents and guardians ; a number of wretches were ready at all times of the day to beftow the nuptial benediction for the lum of two millings. When one of them had pawned his gown a circumftance not at all un- common he ufecl to officiate in a brown or grey coal, and tie the happy pair as firmly together as a prelate -clothed in his pontifical veftments, and ad- mi niftering the ceremony at the altar of his ca- thedral. The church of England is governed by two archbiihops and twenty-four bifhops. The arch- bimop of Canterbury, who is the chief, is at the fame time primate of England, and ranks next to the princes of the blood. He has twenty -one bi- fhops under him ; the remaining three are fuffragans of the archbiftiop of York. All thefe prelates fit in the Houfe of Peers., and are commonly devoted to the interefts of the court. It is very uncommon to fee them take part in the political debates, even if they ar-e eloquent, for fear of expofing their dig- nity, which the peers in oppofition would not, per- haps, have the modefty to refpet. As the clergy in all ages, and among all people, coula never brook contradiction; and as this pre- rogative, which they arrogate to themfelves, it not allowed in 'England, they have very wifely re- folved to remain iilent, and be altogether paflive in parliament. Jn the ages of barbarity and ignorance a law was enacted in favour of the church, equally fingular and ridiculous; and a it formed one of the privi- leges ( 10$ > leges of a numerous and powerful body it would be very difficult, even now, to repeal it. At the time when the civil and ecclehaftical ftates formed two feparate and diftinft bodies, and when none but the priefthood had any knowledge of learning, if a culprit was able to decypher a few of the Gothic characters in which the Bible was then written, he was allowed to efcape from puniftiment. As every one is able to read at this enlightened, period, the penal ftatutes have now always a claufe, excluding the benefit of clergy. The principles of toleration adopted by the Fng- lifh, account for the littfc zeal displayed by them in making profelytes to their religion. Scarce a Tingle miflionary is to be met with in all their immenfe territories in Afia. There are only a few methodifl, and fome anabaptitls, led thither by enthufiafm. The laws oblige every ftiip navigated by a hun- dred men to carry a clergyman with them ; this is fti ictly obferved in all the king's fhips ; the Eaft India company, however, regarding the church as a very unprofitable part of a cargo, take only ninety- nine men on board, and thus evade the ftatute. That opulent body never trouble themfJves about religion ; for throughout all Bengal there is neither church nor chapel. The Puritans are properly nothing elfe but Cal- - vinifts; for all their ceremonies and principles are founded on the doctrines of that reformer. The French proteftants, however, do not join in their con.murion, but as in Gemany, follow their own liturgy, and perform divine fervice to this day in the French language. Their countrymen are ready to -conclude from thence, that to reftore fo many thoufands to their native foil, -the free exercife of their religion is orly wanting. I doubt, however, whether fuch a toleration would make any im- F 5 preffion pre*fion on the refugees in England or Holland, and iar Icfs on thofe who reftde in Germany. The methodifts form a very numerous body: Whitfield was their founder. He was a man of profound knowledge and inflexible virtue, and has only died a few years fmce. It was cuftomary with him to prea.ch in the mod frequented ftreets and fquares in London. His intention was to reform and purify the morals of his fellow- citizens. The novelty of his fermons, and the place where he de- livered them, always procured him a numerous au- ditory. The clergy were alarmed, and all the pul- pits refounded with imprecations againft this man, who was defcribed as at once a fool and a fanatic. From that moment the people began to perfecute this zealous reformer, wherever he had the cou- rage to appear. To outrage he oppofed fweetnefs of temper and invincible patience ; and, by means of this fas;e conduct, multiplied the number of his adherents. People of diftinCtion, who vifited him from curiofity, often became hisdifciples. Hisfobriety and discretion were vtry remarkable : his honefty alfo was unimpeachable; for he diftri- buted, with a fcrupulous exadiitfs, the alms that were confided to his care. At length, being jncapaUe of adrriiniftering the duties of his million tofuch immenfe crowds as attended him daily, he called in the affiftance of fome of his friends, and particularly of the celebrated Mr. Wefley. Soon after he built a church in the neighbourhood of Mocrfields, called the Tabernacle, which is ft.il held in high tftirnation by his followers; many of Vv'hcm have erected houfcs in the neighbourhood. Whitfield went four times to America to preach this do&rine, and was amply rewarded for his ze,.l. It ever the chief or a fet merited the efteem of a philcibpher, it is without contradiction this fingular man. Without being impelled by ambition, or ( '07 ) avarice, to carry on his projected reformation, he remained lill his Lit moment faithful to his aim ; which was, to make mankind better by means of a purer fyftem of morals. It is> eaiy to perceive from the phlegm with which the Englifn perform the duties of their religion, that they are very little impreffed by a fenfe of its aw- fulnefs. Even in a collegiate church, when they are cbanntin% in full choir, the cc.ld, -inanimate, and fometimts irreverent manner in '.vhich they acquit themfelves, mocks the feelings of a ftraqger. The clergy and the laity who wilh to pafs for good chriftians, fcem to think that abftaining from all works and worldly affairs on a Sunday entitles them to fuch denomination. This Judaical and popular cuftom is fupported by a ftaujte which was ena6ted when puritanifm was in full vigour, and whick has not a little contributed to that gloomy taciturnity which forms fuch a confpicuous feature in an Englishman's character. The above law prohibits the amufements of mu- fic and dancing on the only day v. hen the tradefman or mechanic has time to divert himself. We cannot but deplore the weaknefs of human nature on beholding great and enlightened men be- corrvng the zealous partisans of ridiculous and even pernicious cuftoms. The learned Dr. Johnfon was fo attached to this in particular, that, on his death- bed, he conjured Sir Jothua Reynolds to grant him one requeft : The Englifh Apelles promifed his aflent and found it to be " That he would not paint on a Sunday" The pulpit is often made ufe of in the capital to infinuate and propagate political principles. The court party generally make life of this method, which is notwiihftanriing always hurtful to their interefts. The clergy on fuch occafions are invari- ably led by the hope of preferment : no one, how- ever ( io8 ) ever, is duped by their conduct. When 'they con- fine rhemfelves to fubje&s in which politics are not concerned, they are for the moft part heard with attention. Soon after the earthquake at Lifbon, they de- claimed againft maiquerades, and occasioned the abolition of that fpecies of amuiement for many years. By proving that inoculation was an ufeful and a neceffary operation, they brought it into fafhion: they even went fo far as to intereft the conicience of parents, and make it appear a duty. Allfafts are appointed by the king, -as head of the Church. Thofe days are not fo folemn as Sundays : they are, however, literally penitentiary to the poor, who by means of them are prevented from procur- ing food for their wives and children. The anniverfary of the unfortunate Charles I. which is celebrated on the 3Oth of January, has now degenerated into a mere farce. Wilkes once afferted in the Houfe of Commons, that this day was the moft glorious in the annals of his coun- try ! I beg leave to obfcrve here, that the opinions concerning any monarch of modern times have never been fo contradictory, as in refpe6t to that fovereign. Among many, he paffes as a ftate cri- minal who merited his fate * the greater number, however, revere him as a faint who was the inno- cent victim of a party compofed of fanatical and ambitious men* The famous Hume has not a little contributed, in his Hiftory of England, to propagate this latter opinion. The end he propofed was undoubtedly to facrifice the public confidence, of which every hif- tcrian ought to be ambitious, on the altar of riches and preferment. At the reign of Elizabeth he leaves the right road, and ceafes to follow the track of ( 109 ) of truth. Thofe who wiih to inveftigate the hlftory of that country under the government of the houfe of Stuart, can follow no better guide than Rapin de Thoyras ; an impartial writer, who has proved all his afiertions by authentic documents, and by that means acquired and maintained an extraordinary degree of reputation in England. But if we will fuppofe for a moment that the inno- cence of Charles is only imaginary, it muft be allowed that a free people, who have eftablimed certain principles of their own concerning the laws and the rights of human nature, are alone capable of judging whether, in fuch a cafe, a head encir- cled by . a royal diadem merits the hatchet of an executioner. The philofopher of onother country can only think in his clofet on this tragical and me- morable event.. I now return to my fubjet. The Quakers in -England, twenty years ago, amounted to fixty thoufand : they are not io numerous at prefenr. The young men, in whom religious fervour is not io ardent as formerly, abjure a faith which excludes them from all employments and dignities. The young women, too, are by it limited in their am- bition, with regard to marriage ; and their vanity ]$ rot a litte mortified, with refpett to drefs, which is fo natural to their age and fex. As they cannot ufe fancy colours, nor wear powder, feathers, ribbands, nor jewels, they ufually wear the deareft fluffs : this does not, however, compenfate for what they lofc in regard to other parts of their apparel. The coats of the men are generally without but- tons and without plaits; the hats are alfo large and round : many, however, neglet all this, and ap- pear like other people. The moft zealous of the h& are thofe only who (till prefer ve an outward dif- tintion : their averfion to oaths and criminal prole- cutions is a charac/terillic common to all. The ( no ) The legiflative power has been exceedingly in- dulgent towards them. Their folemn affirmation is admitted in every cafe where the life and liberty of the fubjecl: is not interefted. One never fees a quaker ihe profecutor in a criminal action. Their averfion to war is fo great, that, during the invafion of thefavages of Pennfylvania in 1775, they allowed their country to be ravaged, and their fellow-citi- zens to be maflacred, without choofing to revenge them. They remained deaf to all their calarnities and misfortunes; and it was not till defpair had jtaken pofleflion of their fouls, and the dead bodies of their flaughtered brethren had been expofed be- fore the ftate-houfe at Philadelphia, that the quakers had cojnfented to take up arms. The anabaptiftsdecreafe in numbers, and for the very fame reafon as the quakers. They do not afreft to diftinguim themfelvcsfrom the reft of man- kind by the originality of their drefs, manners, or language. It is at Chelfea, a village beautifully fituated on the banks of the Thames, where their principal place of worfhip is, they have alfofeveral others in London. Notwithstanding the prodigious number of differ- ent perfuafions in England, deifm makes a rapid progrefs. The reverend Mr. Williams, in the year 1776, formed the refolution of efbblifhing a new feel:. In confequence of this, he hired a chapel in the metropolis, and procured a great number of fubfcribers. This hardy attempt made much noile. Two letters, one from the late king of Pruflia, and the other written by Voltaire to this clergyman, in which thefe two great men beftowed many praifes on his undertaking, helped to make the attempt ftill more remarkable. A? this projector joined fome talents to a great knowledge of the world he put in pra&ice vcry fcheme to eilabiifh his enterprise. One ( lit ) One might then fee a circumftance before unexam- pled in the annals of mankind : a numerous aflem- bly compofedof people of all religions united under ore head, laying afide all manner of myfteries and ceremonies, and adoring the God cf the univerfe inconcert. The fervice had fomething in it very engaging on account of its fimplicity ; but its fame- nefs was not fufficiently fafcinating to mankind in general. To the deifi it was, however, too cere- monious; becaufe it is very difficult to periuade him of the utility of any form of wcrfhip whatever. In fine, the fcheme failed. Thefe meetings have not been held thefe fome years paft ; and the chapel is now become a conventicle for methodifts. Wil- liams has publifhed his liturgy. It is an excellent work ; has had much fuccefs, and is ftill read with pleafure. / Deifm is in a great degree the caufe of fuicide a crime at prefent fo common in England. The Englifh have actually a form of prayer, in wl.idvthey be- feech God to banifh from the hearts of his fervants fuch a frightful temptation ! The crime, however, is as frequently committed at Paris as in London ; a circumftance which proves very forcibly to me, that this epidemical diforder proceeds lefs from the climate and the ufe of fea- coal fires, than we imagine on the continent. The Englifh view it as a difeafe of the foul, which, far far from deferv ing reproach, ought rather to excite compaflion. The punimment, which, to the dif- grace of reafon, is ftill in many countries attached to (elf-murder, never reftrains defpair, which mocks it, but falls wholly on innocent and afflicted fa- mil its. This malady (for I can call it no other) often givea cccafion to the moft fingular fcenes. I one day be- held an iil-dreflcd' man, with a countenance dif- lortedby a thoufand pafllons, who walked backwards and and forwards on the baluflradeof Blackfriars-bridgr, and feemed to be in the profoundcft reverie. The danger that he was expofed to, foon made him re- marked, and occafioned great inquietude tothepaf- fengers. One perfon having urged him to defcend^ he made no anfwer : at length fome of the fpeta- tors becoming more prefling in their entreaties, he aiked one of them if he would do him a favour. On being anfwered in the affirmative, he befought him to find out a certain perfon, whofe dwelling he def- er ibed with the utmoft exactnefs, and recount to him what he had feen. With thefe words he leapt into the Thames. The condud of the honourable Mr. Darner, only fon to lord Milton, was dill more extraordi- nary, and gave rife to a thoufand melancholy re- flections. Young, handfome, tenderly beloved by his father, nearly adored by the ladies, and with all the honours and dignities of the ftate within his reach, he conceived a iudden difguft to life. Having repaired to a bagnio, he commanded twelve of the moft handfome women of the town to be brought to him, and gave orders that they mould be lupplied with all manner of delicacies. Having afterwards bolted the door, he made them undrefs one another, and, when naked, requefted them to amufe him with the moft voluptuous attitudes. About an hour afterwards he difmiiTed them, loaded with prefents, and then, drawing a piftol from his pocket, immediately put an end to his exiftence. This happened ,in the year 1776. It is mortifying to reflect that this hatred to exig- ence mould have taken pofluflion of the mind of fo great man as lord Clive, who alfo terminated his glorious career with his own hano 1 . It 'is neither his rank nor his immenfe riches, bin his great abilities and his extraordinary exploits in Afia, which make him appear great in my eyes. I am convinced that this ( "3 ) this nobleman, as a general and ftatefman, would have been equally eminent ia Europe as in Afia> Let it be remembered, however, that I fpeak of nothing but his talents, as I am very careful of fay- ing much about his private character. If the clamours of plundered and oppreiled Indians and Europeans had never reached from the borders of the Ganges to- the banks of the Thames, his im- meirfe riches alone would have attefted his infatiabie avarice. All his treafures, however, could not pre- vent a profecution againft'him, which expofed his character to obloquy, and his conduct to obferva- tion ; and which, by infenfibty augmenting the melancholy that had long preyed upon his mind, precipitated that fataf refolution which delivered mankind from the fcourge of Afia. The- Jews are allowed in England, as well as in Holland, the free exercife of their religion; their numbers- and their riches are-therefore continually augmenting. One is aftonifhed a< the prodigious difference between the Portugueie and German Jews tihblifhed in that ifland. Drefs, language, manners, cleanlinefS) are a-11 in favour of the former, who indeed can fcarce be diftingutfhed from Chrifti- ans. This extends even to their prejudices and their public \voifnip: the features peculiar to the whole race are the only peculiarity that they have in common. The famous Toland, in the year 1715, recom> mended the naturalisation of this people ; a circum- ftance that actually took place in 1752, by means ef an act of parliament. However, the general difcoatentof the nation, occafioned by the German Jews (a clufs of men w.ho may be looked upon as the very refufe of human nature) obliged the le talents. The preliminary articles having been figned, were foon known in Paris, and the next morning an EngUfh. Jew requefled an audience of ..* of Bedford. This man, who had been G 3 for ( 126 ) for many years in Afia, made his grace f<.nb!2, that, from an ignorance of the trade and even the geography of that country, he had committed fuch gj of& faults that the Eaft India company would lofe feveral thoufand pounds fterling yearly by his means, and ihat the treaty itfelf would be the occafion of r.fcw quarrels between the two nations. 1 he ambaffa^or faw that the Jew was in the right, and refolved inftamly to repair his fault. Having procured the new articles in writing, he immediately departed for Verfailles, and befoughl the duke to have them acceded to. " I did not " think," obferved Choifcul, ' that I had been ** negociating with a novice in politics, but with " the minifter of a powerful nadon, who knew the '* validity of a treaty figned with his own hand." The duke of Bedford replied to this withal! the boldneis sm-i noble frank nefs of a true Englishman. " You " are in the right 1 am but a novice, and rot an * experienced minifter. I have erred through *' ignorance; but I (hall rot by a bafe trtafon " aggravate the fault which I have committed, for " to be filent in a cafe of this importance would be " actually to merit the name of a traitor. Choofe " therefore for yourfelf either content to make " the propofed alteration which I have mentioned " to you, or I mail inftanlly depart and lay my " head at the mercy of the Fngliih parliament." A peace was then abfolutely neceffary for France : the duke de Choileul agreed to lorne of the propofitions; and, if we may believe report, the negociation was hatlened by a prefent. The profeflion of commerce is highly efteemed in England, and is honoured and considered as the fource of all the wealth of the ftate. A merchant may become a juflioe of the peace, cr a member of p-rliament j in tine, he may afpire to the firft dig- nitles, provided his taknts correfpond with his ambi- tion. Even tradefmen are hel'd in fome degree of refpet, and indeed feem entitled to it both by their behaviour and their riches. Some of them are ex- ceedingly affluent. I myfelf know that the late duke of Newcaftle owed his butcher no lefs than i i,oool. at one time. The love of convenience, to which the Eoglifh are fo much attached, makes them confide ill ir cafh to the care cf a banker. Not only merchants, but alib weakhy people in private life, and fo.iie- times even the public offices, depofit their money in this manner. There were forty eight banking houfes in the metropolis in the year 1784. The eminent merchants alfo open accounts with the bank cf England, which receives more th.m hah" the ready money in the kingdom, and in return circulates its own paper. Ncne but very rich people ever become bankers ; of thefe two, three, or four, generally afibciate to- gether, and depofit a large fum of money to anfwer ths neceffary demands. The duke of Marlborough generally keeps 1$, or 20,000!. in the hands of Child ; Drummond often has ioo 5 oool. fterling belonging to the Admiralty and War-office. About twelve years fince Sir George Colbrooke exhibited a wonderful example of that third after ,\vealth, with which fome men are fo unfortunately curled. This gentleman was a membrr of parlia- ment, the fir ft banker in London, and for many years chairman of the Eaft India Company. He gave great 'entertainments kept a numerous retinue of fervants, and could command any fum of money. Would it be imagined that fuch a man could ever be ruined by a fpeculation upon alum ? It is actually a fa&, that having attempted to monopolife this ar- ticle, and by that means acquire a new acceflion to G 4 his his immenfe fortune, he failed in his project, and became bankrupt. His poverty was at length fo great that he was obliged to folicit fupport from that very company whofe affairs he had formerly directed with unbounded fway. Having obtained with fome difficulty an annuity of two hundred per annum, he went to France, and lived for many years at Boulogne. On the commencement of the war, in the year 1778, the court of France, who had given orders for the departure of all the Knglifh from that king- dom, were fo affected with hiscataftrophe, that an exception was made in favour of him and his fa- mily. The order and regularity which prevail in the bank of England are truly admirable. It is reckoned that the rotes loft annually by 'fhipwreek, fire and other accidents, pay all the expences of this great efta- blimment. The duke de Choifeul once attempted to ruin its credit ; for fome days there was a conti- nual demand upon it, and the directors taking fright, began to pay in filver, which was counted out very flowly by the clerks. The emiffaries of France every where prognofticated its downfal ; all England was alarmed: it was faved, however, by the public fpirit cf the merchants, the principal of whom affociated together, and agreed to take its notes in payments. The Eaft India company keep their money in the bank of England, and have been known on (he arrival of a fleet, to give a draft of 160,000!. fterling for the duties, on a fmall flip of paper. Some years fmce a Hertfordfhire farmer applied to one of the clerks of the bank for the loan of 8ool. for a few days, on a note of io s oool. which he held in his hand, and offered to depofit with him. The clerk refufed him, obferving that fuch a thing was unufual, at the fame time offering either to pay him him the whole amount in cam, or exchange it for lef- fer notes. This, however, would not'fatisfy the far- mer, who ftill per'.eyered. What would have been done to a peafant in fuch a cafe, eiiher in France or Germany ! He would have been beat by the do- meftics, and then pufhed into the ftreet. He may thank his (Urs for having been born in England. Inftead of fuch treatment, at his own requefl he was waited upon by Mr. Payne, one of the directors, who inftantly lent him the money re- quired. Having returned, according to his promife, at the end of eight days, and punctually repaid the fum which he had borrowed, on being aiked, why he had fuch an attachment to that particular note, he frankly replied, " Becaufe I hare the fellow of " it at home." Notwithstanding it is extremely difficult to coun- terfeit" a bank-note, more efpecially on account of the water-mark, which is imprinted on the paper while making, yet the allurements arifing from fuc- * cefs have induced many to make the attempt. In ' the year 1776, a great number were iflued, in which the original was imitated with wonderful art. The fraud was not difcovered until notes to the amount of thirty-fix thoufand pounds fterling had been circulated among the public. After prodigious trouble and expence, the bank at laft difcovered, feized, and imprifoned the inge- nious culprit. This circumftance gave occafion to an event, which puts human nature to the blufh ; it is, in- deed, fo diabolically atrocious, that one would rea- dily believe it to be an anecdote borrowed from the annals of the infernal regions. The perfon who had committed the forgery \vas of the name of Morton ; he was a young man of a reputable family, and as foon as apprehended was G 5 carried to gaol, and being put in irons, languimed amidft all the horrors naturally infpired by a criminal profe- cution. The governors of the bank were exceedingly re- joiced, as they hoped, in the courfe of the tryal, to ditcover the whole of this myfterious affair, which levelled at the very iburce of their credit. It was on this idea that a pretended friend of Mor- ten's founded his infernal project. This perfon whofe name was D , repairs to the prifon, informs the young man how much he was affefted with his unhappy deftiny, and aflures him that he is difpofed to attempt every (Iratagem to fnatch him from ine- vitable deftruclion. A friend in fuch a fituation is always welcome. The prifoner, who expected nothing elfe than an infamous and fpeedy death, thinks that he fees his guardian angel before him, and puts his defiiny entirely jn the power of the traitor, who in a fhort lime, by means of money and ingenuity, accomplishes Jiis efcape from the dungeon where he was confined. Every thing being prepared for flight, Morton next morning has the inexpreflible fatisfacrJon of feting himfelf at liberty, and in the dominions of France. He changes his name, takes the road to Flanders, and arriving at Bruges, refolves to refide there. D , in the mean time had not loft fight of his plan. He propofes to the bank, who were greatly embarrafied at the efcape of Morton, to deliver him into their hands on condition of receiving the fum of 5000!. as a reward. The governors thought that this was too high a premium, and perhaps imagined, with great juftice, that a man who offered to betray his fiend for five fhoufand pounds, would find no great reluctance in commuting the fame villiany for one-thouiand j and he lie feeing that he could obtain no more, at length gave his confent. In the mean time that paffion which the Englifh entertain for their native country preyed fo violently on the mind of Morton, that all his \vifhes pointed folely towards England. Four months were already elapfed, and he was ftiil at Bruges ; from hence he had kept up a con- ftant correfpondence with D , who from time to time had fent him fome trifljng fupplies of money, when he received the joyous news that he might novr go back to England in fafety ; as his family had fucceeded in the negociation with the bank, for that purpofe. Thus what neither the fignature of all the governors, nor the very word of the fove- reign himfelf could have accomplifhed, was inftant- ly effected by a fimple letter from his perfidious cor- refpondent. Full of a blind confidence in his deliverer and benefactor, who had defired him to return immedi- ately, he arrives in London, and is arrefted; the profecution is immediately commenced, D re- ceives the reward of his treachery, and Morton was executed in a few days after. CHAPTER ( '32 ) CHAPTER VIII. Public Executions ; Earl Ferrers Alderman Sayre* The celebrated Chevalier d'Eon Monf. de Mo- rande Dr. Dodd An Anecdote Barbarous Pu- nijbment in Scotland Singular Law with regard to women Prohibitions again/} Swearing Hunt- ing of Animals The Lord Chancellor Free Ma- fons Strifl Obfervation of the Letter of the Law. E/NGLISH Liberty would actually be what it appears to the ^ignorant, a mere chimera, it the laws of that country did not aft with the fame vi- gour againft the nobility as the people. An infra&ion of them, whether it is in regard to property or life, is punimed without any refpeft to the rank or fortune of the culprit : and although jio bounds are fet by the conftitution to the mercy of the king, yet he .never protects thofe criminals >vho furrounded with titles and dignities imagine that they are thereby flickered from the punimment which the law denounces againft their a&ions. It is indeed certain that in England, as in all other countries, a thoufand machines may be put in mo- tion, and a multitude of intrigues pra&ifed to blind the eyes of the monarch, and procure pardon for f liminals of diftintion ; this is a cuftom which neither the fovereign nor the legiflature can abollfti without overturning the conftitution. I mail produce fome examples of this impartiality from the hiftory of cur own times, a method which I intend ( 133 ) I intend to purfue as often as poflible in the courfc of this work, and which is undoubtedly more en- tertaining and inftructive, than long and fatiguing arguments. Among other advantages it will enable the reader to fupply my incapacity by allowing him to form his own judgment on facts, for the authen- ticity of which I pledge myfelf. Every body knows that after the battle of Cul- loden many noblemen were executed for their at- tachment to the hcufe of Stuart: but for more than a century before that no peer of the realm had been condemned to death for any other crime than treafon. The earl of Ferrers, uncle to the prefent lord of that name, about twenty-eight years fince offered a melancholy inftance of fuch a cafe by murdering his fteward, not in the heat of pafiion, but in a cool premeditated manner. As he lived fome time after the wound, his lordfhip fent for a furgeon, v/ho finding that it was mortal, informed a magi- trate of the circumftance. The earl was upon this arrefted and carried to the tower of London. As every citizen has a right to be tried by his equals, and the peers of England are a diftinct body, the Houfe of Lords are confequently fole judges in this kind of procefs. On thefe occafions they are all fummoned, not as legislators, but as members of a judicial tribunal, and their aflemblies are not con- voked in the ufual place, but in Weitminfter-haH, which is more commodious on account of its fitua- tion and immenfe fpace. This was the auguft tribunal which took cog- nizance of the procefs againft lord Ferrers, and condemned him by an unanimous decree. The laws ordain that the body of a murderer mail be anato- mifed, and thiscircumftance afflicted him in a very fenfible manner. He heard his fentence pro- nounced with the utmoft compofurej but when that ( 134 ) that part which mentioned his difTecVion was read, he inftantly exclaimed " God forbid !" It was in vain that he requefted to be beheaded inflead of being hanged on a gibbet; he defired to die in the tower where his anceftor the earl of Effex had been executed, but he was told that he muft prepare to fuffer at Tyburn in common with the vileft cri- iriinals. The only favour they would grant him was to allow the ufe of his own carriage in the journey in- ftead of being drawn in a cart: an indulgence which Dodd and others afterwards experienced. He accordingly repaired to Tyburn in a mourn- ing coach; his horfes covered with crape, and his fervants clothed in black. On his arrival he mounted the fcaflbld, and was obliged to remain there a whole hour with the rope about his neck. This period being elapfed, one of the fherifFs who ac- companied him mentioned that his time was ex- pired, and took leave of him. His Lordmip on this immediately took a leap; the fcaffold was removed, and the body left fufpended in the air. The corpfe was afterwards carried to Surgeon's Hall, where it was expofed naked for three whole days, that the law might be fulfilled in every point. The hangman mewed the rope with which he had been executed, and fuch is always the folly of the people, that many thoufands paid a milling a piece for the fight of it. The body was afterwards de- pofited in the family vault, and the brother of the defunct immediately took the title. The peercfies enjoy the fame privileges in regard to trial as the peers themfelves, and it was in recol- ledion of this that an illuftrious * princefs thrown into prifon a few years fince, and dubious of her deftiny, exclaimed, " Why am I not in my own ? dear country, where my tiial would have been " conducted * The la^e queen of Denmark, ( '35 ) tf conduced publicly, and by the inoft noble " judges ! It was in the year 1776 that the duchefs of Kingfton was accufecl cf bigamy, while me was at Rome. * At the firft news of it, fhe immediately departed for England, notwithftandingfhe was fick, and even obliged to perform ihe journey in a litter. Soon after her arrival her trial commenced. I had the fatisfa&ion of being a witnefs to this fingular fpe&acle, which not a little refembled the pomp with which divine fervice is performed in catholic countries. Foreigners ridiculed the Englim for treating fuch trifling matters with fo much import- ance, while engaged in an unfortunate war ; it was however impoflible, without overturning the very foundation of the conftitution, to refufe to hear her accufer or deny herfelf the privilege of defending her caufe before that tribunil which her rank af- figned to her. The trial was public and attended with the ufual ceremonies, but with an uncommon conccurle of people. The prefident whom the king appoints for the occafion, bears the title of the Lord High Steward, a very eminent dignity, and which ends with the trial, The chancellor was inverted with this dig- nity, perhaps the greateft in the world, and pre- fided holding a long taper wand in his hand as a mark of his office. Wcftminfter Hall, the height of nhich is fuperior to moft churches, allowed ample room for the amphitheatres which were cre&ed on the occafion. The feats and boxes ap- propriated to the royal family, the peerefles, the members of the Houfe of Commons, &c. were co- vered with the richeit tapeftry. It feemed to be a general gala ; the paffages were guarded with fcl- t.ier5, who do notufually appear on thefe occafions : the peer?, to the number of almoft two hundred, the biihops and the judges in their robes, forming a femicircle femicircle, together vrith the high-fteward at the foot of a throne ereded for the king, although he is never prefent, formed altogether a fuperb and elegant appearance. At fome diftance a large table was placed for the fecretaries of this great tribunal, and the centre of the circle was referved for the ac- cufers and accuied. The duchefs had two of her women attend- ing on her, a phyfician, a fu-rgeon, an apothe- cary, a fecretary, and fix advocates. She was drefled in black, and her conduct, which was at once firm, and noble throughout the whole, gained her the admiration of all the fpectators. She her- felf addrefled the aflembly with an inimitable dig- nity. Neverthelefsfhe was convicted by the peers, who gave their judgment by rifing up one after the other, and with their hands on their breafts declar- ing on tljeir honours that fhe was guilty. The youngeft baron begins, and they rife in order of rank and creation. The punHhment inflicted by the law for bigamy, is a red hot iron applied to the hand; the nobility however are exempted by an ancient privilege. The counfel for the duchefs claimed this as aright, and the adverfe party denied it: it was then that for the firft time this unfortunate w/oman feemed to lofe her refolution. She fainted nnd was carried away. She was at laft allowed this favour, and efcaped with a reprimand from the Lord High Steward, who concluded with an obfervation " that this was " the laft time when {he could experience this in- " dulgence." Such was the conclufion of this fingular procefs, which lafted fix days. Thefe fix days feemed to be afeftival to the whole nation. Although the court did not fit till ten o'clock, the hall was full by five in the morning. There were even ladies who re- paired thither by break of day, magnificently drefled ( 137 ) and ornamented with jewels, nd remained till five at night. As it happened in the fummer, a period when all the gentry are in the country, thou- fands were continually arriving from the remo.efl corners of the kingdom. Thofe wno had not tick- ets, offered for them twelve, fifteen, and even twenty guineas a piece. A lady, who after all her endeavours could not procure one, being quire in- confolable for the bad fuccefs of her attempts, avowed in company that me would fooner facrifice fifty guineas than not be a fpeftator. The duchtfs, on hearing of this ardent curiofuy, chferved, " If " this lady longs fo much to be in the hall, I am " difpofed to refign my place to her for nothing, " and (he will not then fail to fee and be feen * c by all the world." She well knew that it was only the vanity of mewing herfelf that tormented her countrywoman, and not a wifh to behold a fcene which, although very interefting, had nothing agreeable in it. This kind of trial is peculiar to the nobility, and cofts an immenfe fum to government. It was alfo during my ftay in London that Sayre the banker was accufed of high-treafon. This gentleman, who is a native of America, it well known in the north of Germany, by his in- trigues there in favour of his countrymen. He is now fettled at George-Town in Maryland. He was an inhabitant of London, and in high reputa- tion, when he had the audacity, at the beginning of the American conteft, to attempt the execution of a project at once rafh and imprudent. As almott the whole nation was difcontented during that unfortunate war, he refolved to make himfelf mafter of the perfon of the king, carry him to the Towtr, and keep him prifoner there until he had agreed to whatever was propofed to him. For thi$ purpofe he makes the neceflary arrangements. He communicates part of hi* plan to Richardfon, a captain ( 138 ) capta : n of the guards, and requefts his afilffonce. That ofBcer promifes to confider of i:, and repairs inftantly to the earl of Rochford, one of the fecre- taries cf ftate, to whom he recounts the fmguhr propofition that had been made to him, and con- firms the truth of it by an oath. As this attempt was high treafon, that minifter imagined that it was his duty to take immediate cognizance of it. He- accordingly iffues a warrant, Sayre is apprehended and conducted to his houfe. In the mean time the fecretary of flate having fent for Sir John Fielding, and procured the at- tendance of Richardfon, began the examination ; the prifoner however was too cunning to fay any thing before the arrival of his counfel, to whom he had found means to fend a note, informing him of his fituation. He was not miftaken in the zeal of that gen'le- man, who, throwing himfelf into a carnage as foon as he received the letter, made fo murhhafte that he anived a few minutes after the prifoner. He immediately requefts to fpeak with Mr. Sayre; but the minifter, on being informed of his bufmefs, refufes to permit an interview. This anfwer pro- vokes the barrifter, who immediately fends word that be infifled on feeing his client, and mujl fpeak to him that very moment. What recompenfe would the boldneffi of this gentleman have met with in any other country? Such a meflfage to a fecretary of (rate armed with fuch an extenfive authority, in his own houfe, and in an affair of high treafon! the moft moderate would without doubt have or- dered him to be thrown out of the window. In England, where nobody is above the laws, and where the moft powerful dare not to infringe them with impunity, they regulate their matters in another manner. Th C '39 ) The council was immediately introduced, and he publicly informs the prifoner, that he ought net to ar.fwer to any interrogatories in that houfe. Sayrc on this turning towards his Lordfhip obferves, that he will follow the opinion of his Liwyer, and that, as it was intirely ufelefs, he befeeched him to a(k no more qmftions. On this the minifter commits him to the Tower. Bail is offered and refufed. How- ever, at the end of fix days he is let at liberty, as the policy of the ftate did net then admit of his trial. Sayre however had no motives to prevent him fro'm profecuting the minifter : he accufes him of having arrefted him without fufficient caufe, affirms that the warrant vvaj> illegal, commences an action- for falfe imprifonment, and a verdict is found againft the fecretary of ftate for three thoufand pounds. The power of the laws and the extent of Englifh liberty was never better illuftrated than in the fuit between the count de Guerchy and the chevalier d'Ecn. Asa particular account of this has never reached Germany, and the chevalier, with whom I was intimately acquainted, is not unknown there, it may not be improper here to mention fome of the chara&eriftic traits of this fingutar being. D'Eon had already diftinguiftied himfelf by his military and political talents at the courts of Warfawr and St. Peterfburgh, when he was fent to London w'uh count de Guerchy, in the year 1763, in qua- lity of fecretary of legation. Soon after his arrival, the count, who was ambaflador from France, re- turned to fpend a few months at Paris, confiding the care of every thing to the chevalier, who was inverted with the rank and title of minifttr plenipo- tentiary at the court of London. His tranfa&ions in that ftation having given great umbrage to the ambaflador, he on his return teftified his difplea- lure. This was foon followed by an entire rupture. Both Both of them complain to their court. The friend* of the count were more powerful at Verfailles than thofe of the chevalier ; perhaps he had alfo th better caufe ; however, it is certain that his anta- gcnift was difgraced. Thinking that he had now no occafion to preferve moderation, the chevalier foon broke all thofe ties by which he was connected with France. His refentmer.t, which knew no bounds, made him even difcover thofe flate fecrets vhich had bten confided to his honour. He fpoke openly concerning the late peace, affirmed that it had been purchaftd for troney, mentioned the traitors, and even the (urns that had been paid. A fpeech of this kind mufl neceffarily excite the moft lively fenfations. It was not however thought pro- per to inftitute a fuit againft him, and his aflcrtien was treated as an attrocious calumny. D'Eon, to fiLnce fucli infamous rej orts, offered to adduce ir- refragable teftimony, and befidtsto particularife the very Turns tha: had been fent from France to Eng- land for that purpofe. This intrepid conduct im- mediately abaflitd thofe concerned in this dimonour- able affair, and d'Eon x#Hs induced to conceal- ment by a propofuion not very ungrateful to the deranged ftate of his finances. It is well known that after this he lived feveral years in London per- fectly at his eafe. But his fituation was no ways to be envied. The court of St. James's and its partifans hated him as a traitor, who had been inftigated to perfidy by the moft venal motives. The people defpifed him for deviating from his refolutions en account of the moil difhonourable impulfe; they faid that he ought to have told all or nothing. The juft refentment of the court of France, which left him every thing to apprehend, added not a litile to his folicitude. He was obliged to be always on his guard ; and was fo fearful of being carried off, that he never went out on 01 an evening unlefs accompanied by his friends. By this prudent conduct he fruftrated many projects, which were formed againll him with equal art and boldnefs. I fhall not pretend to decide whether it is true or not that they tried to take him of by poifon. It is however certain that he complained loudly of the count de Guerchy, who he faid had made fuch an attempt in his ounhoufe. He himfelf applied to a ju^ice of the peace, gave information of the circumftance, fwore to the fa6h, and promifed to adduce proofs. This was in order to commence a criminal procefs againfl the ccunt, who unfortunately thought himfelf, as am- baffador from a peaceful monarch, entirely out of the reach of the laws, He even ridiculed fuch of his friend? as teftified any inquietude on the occafion, imagining that his rank and high favour at court would entirely (belter him from profecution. He was however cited before a juftice, and according to cuitom was obliged to appear in perfon. This fuppofed infult put him into a rage, and he imme- diately went to the minifter, whofe uneafinefs not a little difconcerted the poor count, who meafuring the power of a king of England by that of his own Sovereign, expected nothing but a little pleafantry from the fecretary of ftate. The term when he was obliged to make his , appearance was fhort ; every thing that could be done in his favour was put in practice to prolong it, and thus the minifter plenipotentiary of his mod chriftian majefty gained lufficient time to leave London in the night and efcape to Calais. The chagrin occafioned by this fad cataftrophe brought him in a fhort time to the grave. The chevalier d'Eon remained in London till the year I777,,when fome doubts having arifen con- cerning the fsx cf this extraordinary perfon, feveral policies ( 142 ) policies were opened, and a prodigious number of .belts made on the fubjet. Piqued at thefe doubts, the chevalier mentioned in the public papers that he would fatisfy the whole world whether he was male -or female on a certain day ; and accordingly fixed the time and place. It was a coffee-houfe in the city that he appointed for the exhibtion of this fingular fcene to the curi- ous. The concourfe was prodigious. D'Eon ap- , pears clothed in the uniform of a captain of the French cavalry, and decorated with the crofs of St. Louis. He addreffes himfelf to the affembly, and informs them that he is of the fex whofe appearance he aflumes, and that he comes prepared to prove his aflertion either with his fword cr his cane. The boldnefs of this fpeech had different effects en the auditory, fome praifed and others laughed at .it ; but the greateil part of the fpectators heard with the utmoft coldnefs the menace of the chevalier, who, perceiving that no perfon choie to accept the challenge, returned in triumph. It is neverthelcfs certain, that, to determine the betts, which .amounted to almcfl a million ilerling, he was pro- mifed very large fums of money if he would une- quivocably unveil the myftery. I myfelf know that they offered him thirty-thoufand pounds fterling, which they were prepared to pay in ready money. Such a propofition was very tempting ; and I am fure the chevalier would have dilclofed the fecret for a great deal lefs, if he had not been obliged to fubmit to the indelicate infpetticn of fuch a num- ber of people. As he refufed to accede to the propofal, this uncertainty continued till his departure for France, when two of his countrymen fwcre that the cheva- lier was a woman, and this determined many wagers. But thole who had large flakes would not allow their teltimony was valid, although one of them ( 143 ) them who pretended to be a phyfician, affirmed, that he had cured d'Eon of a certain di'.eafe ; in fine, the generality of mankind are not even now agreed concerning the fex of thisfmgular being. Would it not be childifh to believe that a perfon, \vhoby nature and inclination had fuch a near re- femblance to our fex, belonged to the other ? The habit of a woman, which the chevalier is now- obliged to wear by order of the king of France, and which is difgufting to him, cannot prove any thing, the farces daily afited in courts are fo various, and the occafion of them often fo impenetrable, that the change of drefs is not to be regarded. I confefs that every circumftance in the life of this fingular perfon is wonderful and extraordinary. After having been guilty of the mod perfidious treafon againft his native country, and when ihe baftile feem- ed ready to entomb him in one of its dungeons, he not only receives his pardon, but a penfion of four thoufand livres a year, and that too at a time when, entirely forgotten, he could no longer hurt the ccurt of France. It is pretended that he lived in gre u in- timacy with Louis XV. who kept up a '.cni .nt correfpondence with him, and that it was on condi- tion of delivering up his letters that he -Tcaped punifhment. But how can we reconcile this cir- cumftance with his treafon ? Is it poflible 'hat the French minifter fhould have been ignorant cf his fex, when at thirty-fix years of age he employed him at the court of Lortdon ? The fucceis of a miniftem; intrigue, it is true, has often depended on a difgulfe of this kind ; but it is inconceivable that in the prefent times, and during the adminiftra- tion of a duke de Chcifeul, the court of Verfailles would have nominated a woman for her minifter plenipotentiary to a great nation fuch as England. It is alfo certain that d'Eon entered the college of Masuiine at Pari at twelve years of age, and was educated educated there. A gentleman who is at prefent t confideraLle merchant in London, and who was brought up at the fame feminary with him, betted twenty thoufand pounds that his (chad-fellow was a man. His reafons were undoubtedly convincing. The mother and the relations muft certainly have known the fex of" d'Eon. What mother could have been fo inconfiderate as to leave a young girl at the age of twelve to the mercy of fo many boys ? A miracle only could conceal fuch a circumftance, and it feems that this miracle happened. Neither the amufements of a forward child nor the fuppofiti- ons of the matters ever made this frrange difcovery. D'Eon was even admitted in London to a fociety, which, whatever regard in other refpets it may evince towards the female fex, yet never entrufts them with theit-fecrers. In the year 17 70 he wa* deputy grand matter of the French lodge of free mafons, a body which at that time were quoted as a model, on account of thettriclnefs of their rules. I have thought it my duly to flate my fentiments on this fingular affair, becau r e it feems to me never to have been before confidered in the /ame point cf .view. My own knowledge, confidering my inti- macy with the chevalier, is very limited, and I think that the uncertainty of all impartial perfons is fully juftified until authentic proofs mail hereafter tear away the veU which ftili conceals the truth. I cannot conclude the hiftory of the chevalier without fayirg fomething of his antagonift Mctof. tie Morande; a perfon well known by the fingularity cf his adventures. Having made fome miftakes at Paris for which he was fent to prifon, he went to England on his releafe, and puhlifhecl a book, which at that time made a great noife, entitled Le Cazetier Cuiraffe, or Scandalous ^Anecdotes of the Court of France, written in a free country, an hundred miks diftant from the Bajl'de. Soon after this ( '45 ) this he wrote the Memoirs of the Cottnfrfs Dubarry, and fent a copy of the manufcript to htrlelf, offer- ing to fupprefs it for 2000 louis d'ors. That lady was fo much afraid of the publication of it, that Ihe fent the celebrated Beaximarchais to London, who concluded an agreement with the author, for a yearly penfion payable in London, which was luckily for him figned by Louis XV. a tew weeks before his demife. This gentleman was one of the witnefles who were examined concerning th~ fix of the chevalier. The fate of the unfortunate Dr. Dodd, who was facrificed to the laws of his country, is worthy of a place in thr's work. I myfelf was witnefs to two affecting fcenes occafioned by this event, for I was prefl-nt at his trial, and attended alfo when fentence of death was pronounced againft him. This man was of a noble and interefting appearance, refpecTt- able on account of his profefTion, his eloquence, and hisdiftinguiihed talents. The judges, the jury, the counfel, the fpefitators, all the world was bathed in tears. The priibner alfo wept. *' I defpife," faid " he, " that floic firmnefs which contemns death ; " it is a pagan virtue, in which I would not glory. *' I love life, and I am forry to die." This unfortunate man always flattered himfclf with the hope of a pardon, and his numerous friends interefted themfelves for this purpofe with the fame wannth as if the fafety of the nation depended on his life. The jury who tried him recommended him to the mercy of the fovereign ; whole corporations, the city of London itfelf pre- fented a petition in his lavour; the newfpaper* were every day filled with the good actions he had performed, and quoted the moft interefting paffages in his fermons. His writings were collected and re- printed ; the poets fung his praifes, and in fine every thing was pratifed to excite the fympathy of rhe 11 nation ( '46 ) nation for a criminal fo much beloved. Having fucceeded, his partizans drew up a petition to the king, and never before was fuch a one feen in Eng- Lind. It was carried by a porter who bent under the load, for it took up twenty-nine yards of parch- ment, and was figned by twenty-three thouiand hcufekeepeis. It is 'however remarkable that the great merchants and other people of condition would jiotfubfcribe to this petition, which did notfucceed, as the council refolved that it was not prcper on this occafion to -extend the royal clemency. Dodd himfelf attempted to procure the ccmmife- ration of Lord Mansfield, by a letter couched in the moft affecYmg language. As -it never has been printed I lhall infert it here. " My Lord, " But a few days -and the lot of the moft un- "*' happy of created beings will be decided for ever ! " I know the weight of your Lordmip's opinion. ** It is that which will undoubtedly decide, whether *' I arn to die an ignominious death, or drag out ** the reft of my life in dimonourable banimment. '* O my Lord ! do not refufe to hear what I in *< my humility dare tooppofe to the fe verity of the laws. " I feel how frightful my crime is; the fentence " which condemns me is but too juft : I however " flatter myftlf, that, amidft all the reproaches *' caft againft me on account of my dime, it will *' ft ill be remembered how ufeful my charitable the kjng~ dom of Corftca. As it is exprcfled in the bill, that all infolvent debtors who appear by a certain day fhall be entitled to the benefits of it ; on thofe occafions, you may fee people arriving from the molt diftant parts, of Europe, to acquit themfelves of the debts which they have contracted in England. Not cnly the natives, but foreigners of every nation, profit by the opportunity. Tenducci, the famous Italian finger, who owed more than ten thoufand pounds fhrling, returned to England, in the year 1777, for thispurpcfe. He afterwards was engaged at Drury- Lane theatre, and ran away the very next year, after having incurred feveral thoufand pounds of frefli debts. All the prifcns in England would not be able to contain the prodigious number of debtors, both Engliih and fore : gners, who furrender themfelves at fuch times. In confequence of this, they have adopted a fingular practice, for the accommodation of thofe who have been feme time in confinement, as weil as thofe newly arrived. Thefe latter are not received within the walls of the gaols, but are allowed ( 175 ) allowed to be at liberty, and live wherever they pleafe. To entitle themfelves to this privilege, they are (hut up for a few moments within the prifon : after this, they give an undertaking to appear whenever they are called upon, which they would be fure to forget, were they afraid of the confequences. As the military are wholly fubordinate to the civil power, and as an officer has no right to punifh a foldicr for any thing but the neglect of his duty, it is not at all uncommon to find many of them con- fined in all the gaols of the kingdom, on account of debt, or a criminal profecution. A foreigner, and efpecially a German, who has been ufed to behold the army, on every occafion, treated as a body alto- gether feparate and diftint from the people, is ex- tremely aftonifhed at this cuftom. I have feen a bailiff arreft an officer oft the parade, and carry him off. It is not to the colonel, but to a juftice of the peace, that one complains againft a foldier ; it is a foldier alone who carries his complaints to the commanding officer, who, when the offence is not trivial, does not think himfelf competent to decide upon it, but is obliged to refer it to the civil tri- bunal. An old foldier, who had ferved on the coniincrt during the war of feven years, where he had learned a great many military tricks, fome years after the peace, while a centinel in the park, happening to take off a man's hat who was fatisfying fome of his natural wants, foon found that this German cufton was not tolerated in England. The man immedi- ately applied to a magiftrate, fwore that the foldier had dole his hat, and obtained a warrant. The thief was accordingly feized, imprifoned, tried, condemned, and would have been actually executed, it the king had not granted him a pardon. 14 No No debtor can be arrefted on a- Sunday; frorrv twelve o'clock on Saturday night, till the fame hour on. Sunday evening,, he is in perfect freedom. During that day, he may go wherever he pleafcs, even among his creditors, who have been looking for him in vain during the reft of the week. Thofe who have beentecurity for any man, may, however, arrtft him on a Sunday : nay, even in a church, when he refufes to furrtndei ; and neither any new procefs, nor freih bil, can take him out of their hands. This privilege is the mere juft, as not one in the whole world has greater confidence than an Enalifhman,. or is mere eafily induced to anfwer even for a flrangcf, when the fum is not very great, notwuhftaijding he derives no advantage from his kiru'nefs. It therefore happens, th.U run- ning away from ball,, is looked upon among them as the moft infr.rnous of all aQlons. It is necefiary that the fhetiff's officer fliould em- ploy the utmoft caution in fei/.ing a debtor. A writ is only valid in certain diftridh, and beyond thefe they cannot go, without fuing out anoiher: for ex- ample, the city of London, and the counties of Jvliddleftx and Surry, have each a particular jurif- diclion. There is a certain part of Weflminfter, in the r.eighboui hood of the Park, where bailiffs dare not go, and uhere the debtors may remain in fafety. This precinct, which includes Sr. James'?, the Green and Hyde Parks, is called the verge of the court; and is under the regulation of the beard of " green cloth. Before permiilion is granted to arreft v perfon jefident there, he always receives twenty - four hours notice. All the houfes are full of lodgers, and apartmenis let for more money than any where tie in London. The proverb that an Englifoman's boufe if bis tajile, is not without foundation ; for r.o one cun be rrefttd in his own houfe, on account of deta However, if the bailiff, happening to find theftreet- dooropen, gets to the matter of it and thews his writ, he is obliged inftantly to follow him. There is no kind cf tricks which they do not practife, for this purpofe. They dreis themfelves fometimes as men of condition, at other tunes like women, and on foms occafions they wear a livery. They are not allowed to qpen the ftrect-door; but it is not at all uncommon to fee them pafs the bounds prefcribed by law, hoping in general, that the debtors have not money enough to iniHtute an aQion againft them. They are, however, fometimes deceived. It is now about twenty years ago, that general Ganlel commenced a procefs on this account. That gen- tleman had not a houfe of his own, but hired a frill floor in which he lived. As he owed a large fum of money, his creditors wilhed to feize him. The bailiffs, in confequence of this, having unlocked the out ward door, made towards the general's apart- ments, who wounded one of them v/uh a piftol from the infidc ; but, being obliged to yield to numbers, he was dragged to prifon, and there com-- menced an a&ion againft them. All England was attentive to the decifion on the queftion, whether a lodger enjoyed the fame rights as the owner of a houfe? The twelve judges to the great fatisfaclion of the whole nation, decided in the affirmative. In confequence of this, the fheriff's officers were immediately conducted to gaol, and the general, who was greatly in debt, was removed to the Fleet, where he died a prilonu* fome years afterwards. I 5 CHAPTER CHAPTER X. bt Police of London Highwaymen and Fiotpadt ttiufe -breakers Anecdote Thieves Women of ' the Town Sedufiion Bagnios Singular Excejs 'Unnatural Crimes held in great Abhorrence. J[ HE Englifh have not a Tingle word in their whole language, to exprefs what we term the police ; if one however concludes from thence, that the thing itfelf does not exiil among them, he will be grofsly deceived. Foreigners more efpecially, who cannot feparate the idea of London from that of the highwaymen, who infeft the great roads in its neighbourhood, imagine that it is the worft re- gulated metropolis in the world. London is neverthelefs as well governed as any city can be, which contains fuch an amazing num- ber of men, who enjoy the moft unintenupted liberty. The human foul can never be more tlc- vated than when a philofophical mind furveys this million of men crowded together, whom neither the foldiery nor the fceptre of defpotifm, but the invifible power of the laws preferves in unity, by infufing the order and harmony neceffary for the regulation of fuch a gigantic body. If the wealth of this great city, the voluptuoufnefs of every kind with which it abounds, and the luxury of the prefent age are confidered, ought we not rather to be afto- nifhtd that this prodigious mafs does not, by conti- nual ( J79 ) rmal fri&ion, fometimes emit the mod dangerous fcintillations ? It appears to me wonderful, that the crowds of poor wretches who continually fill the ftreets oi the metropolis, excited by the luxurious -and effeminate lite cf the great, have not fome time or another entered into a general confpiracy to plunder them. The thefts and rogueries praH r ed there, con- fidering every thing, are but, few in number. A uife precaution might ftill di minim the evil; for it is not pofiible that human wifdom mould be able totally to deftroy it; while the metropolis is fo ex- tenfive, while it remains without walls, and wi hout gates, and while the kingdom preferves its preient conftitution. I fhall here give fome account of its prefent police. The poor, in every paiiih, are main- tained out of a certain provifion to which every houfe-keeper is obliged to contribute. A great number of hofpitals, which are the ne plus ultra of that kind of ertablifhments, by their order, their arrangement, and their cleanlinefs, are open to the fick of all nations and religions, whom they entertain by means of annual fubfcriptions. The facets are mofl excellently lighted every evening, towards the dufk, without having any regard to the moon, which is often obfcured by clouds, although it is often ridiculouily allowed for in the economical calculations in other , countries. Thefe lamps are placed for fix or even feven miles along the great roads, on purpofe to light the pai- fengers. You alfo meet with a watch-box, at the end of every hundred yards, containing a man, provided with a gun and bayonet, who, by means of a bell, gives an alarm at the approach of any fufpicious perfon. There- are in London itfelf two thoufand watchmen, each armed with a long pole, and carrying a raitle, with which they aflemble their their companions, at the appearance of any tumult. When they find either doors or windows open, they irform the proprietors; they a!fo cry the hours, tell the weather, and give notice of fires. The precautions which are taken in refpecvt to conflagrations, thofe horrible fcourges of the human race, are alfo very wife. At the fir {1 notice of a fire, you perceive a multitude of men, running from all quarters, with the engines which are en- ttufled to their care. For the firft of thcfe brought to the fpot, they receive a recompenfe cf five guineas, the fecond is entitled to three, and the third to one. The others arc not paid any thing ; however the hope of gaining one cf the three pre- miums, makes them ufe the utmoft induftry and difpatch. All the hcufes^and furniture are infured. Every ftrett, whether larace or. fmall, couits, alleys, &c. have their names painted at each corner. All the doors are numbered, and, befides this, generally have the names of the owners engraven on brafs plates. Every houfe in that immenfe city is pro- vided wiih water by means of pipes which are car- ried urder ground. The pavement, which is of the beft kind, is rendered ftill more excellent, by the great care that is taken of it ; one is alfo afto- jjifhed at the neatnefs of the ftreets, and the great attention to prevent the accumulation of dirt. The hackney-coaches, of which a certain number is afligned to every quarter of the metropolis, are ready at a moment's notice, during the whole day, and dare not, on any pretence whatever, refufe 10 carry paffengers wherever they pleafe, either in town, or within a certain^ diftance from it. The number is painted on two tin plates affixed to the doors; i f " it is ever taken off, the proprietor is fined. The hire of thefe carriages is regulated according fb the time and the c'ifhnce ; and if the coachman coachman takes more than his fare, he is liable to be- fcverely punilliec!. It is the fame in refpect to the wherries that ply on the river, which are not only numbered, but alb have the names and places of abode of the watermen painted on the infide. When any com- plaints are made againft the boatmen, an immediate decifion may be expected. The j nil ices fit du ing the whole day ; if any prciTing bufinefs fhould oblige one of them to be abfent, another may be found at every hundred yards. The aldermen of the city attend Guildhall in rotation, hear all difputes, and fettle petty dif- ferences on the fpot ; this is all done gratis, and in- open court: the judges, therefore, can neither be corrupt nor iinjuft. The lord mayor alfo f:ts daily- at the Manfion-houfe. After this defcription,it wHI be eafy to decide, whe- ther London is well governed or rot. The French and their partifans will determine in the negative, because it is .not the cuftom there, to imprifon and maltreat twenty innocent people, to deter one thru: is guilty. The laws are peculiarly fevere againft highway- men, whofe guilt, when fully proved, is punifhed wuh death. To prevent them from forming affe- ctations, they very wiiely allow a culprit to etcapf , on accufing and convicking his companions. This advantage, which thofe rogues often make ufc of, infpiresthem with diftru'l, and prevents them from uniting in aflociations which would be exceedingly dangercu*. The magiflrates alfo often entrap them, by means of the thief-takers, who difguife thern- felve?,and travel in a poft-chaife, along the moil dan- gerous roads in the neighbourhood of town. Thefe fire their piftols the moment that they are attacked, jump out of the carriage, and are often lucky enough to feize their prey. The highwaymen prin- cipally cipally truft for their efcape in the fpeed of their horles, and their knowledge of the bye-roads. This clafs of men are generally very polite, ihey affure ycu they are very forry that poverty has driven them to that Jbameful recourse, and end by demanding your purfe, in the moft curteous manner. They ften reflore to thofe, who in their fright have given all their money, a trifle to contmue their journey. Some of them convtrfe with the utmoft phlegm, and ride off without any ceremony. Some, befides the cam, take alfo the watch ; othtrs refufe it, well knowing that it often leads to a difcovery. Thofe who are too poor to procure a horfe, com- mit robberies in the ftreets. The town is their place of ation, as the country is that of the high- wayman's. If one doei not travel either very early or very late, there is no fear of being attacked even in the moft fufpicious places ; and on fuch occafions, a perfon or two on horfeback will prevent any dan- ger. The nobility, and all people in affluent cir- cumftances, are generally attended by fervants well armed, and are never (topped, but when they have omitted this flight precaution. They high- waymen are not in the lead dangerous, as they never proceed farther than a menace, never making ufe of their piftols, but in cafe of refinance. On this account, no perfon is imprudent enough to attempt defending himfelf, or he might eafily do fo in a clofe carriage, againft a man on horfeback. I never ufed to carry fire-arms, when it was my fortune to travel in the neighbourhood of town, at any critical hour, being contented with taking the neceffary precaution, in refpet to my money. This confifted in dividing it, and putting in a purfe the part which I deftined for the colle&ors; for as prudence will not allow them to flop long, they arc in a hurry to depart with their fpoil, without flop- in^ ( 1 83 ) ing to examine it. Among the Englifh, indeed, thepriz-e is never very great, for they think it in- convenient to carry much ready money. You will never fee among them a heavy purle, becaufe they think it looks as if they boafted of their wealth, or might be fufpe&ed of fome defign in {hewing it ; thole who are attached to ancient cuftoms; never carry one at all, but keep their money loofe in their pockets. The trade of a thief is divided into different claiTe?, each having its particular maxims, cuftoms, and denomination. The poorec fort, who flop paflengers in the ftreets and neighbourhood of Lon- don, during the night, are ca\\ed foot-pads ; thofe who are mounted on horfeback, and attack travellers in the high-roads, are called highway-men-, and thofe who, by flight of hand, find means to get into apart- ments, and commit depredations, are called boufe- breakers, The pick-pockets are different from all thefe, and are the moft poor and defpicable of any, unlefs they are very eminent in their art, and re- fcrve themffclves for great attempts alone. Thefe different kinds of thieves remain faithful to their particular tenets. A highwayman will never condefcend to become a pick-pocket: he would think himfdf difhonoured, in attempting to empty any one's pockets, by a low trick. Of fuch a falling off there are haidly any examples. I have feen one of thofe thieves, who efcaped the punim- ment infli6tcd by law, on account of turning king't 'evidence, fo much defpife the idea of filching, that he would not take a handkerchief, part ot which happened to be out of a gentleman's pocket, and which he might have cafily fnatched, without being perceived: on the contrary, he warned him of the ciicumftance, and de fired him to conceal it. I pafs on to the other fpecies of rogues, who, not- withftandmg the multitude of watchmen employed ever ( 1*4 ) everywhere in the metropolis, fteal out from their wretched apartments, and plunder houfes in the nighttime. Thefe break open the mutters, force the windows, or faw the iron bars, with the greateft dexteiity, and little or no noife. If they are fur- prifed by the watch, or perceive that the inhabitants are alarmed, they immediately throw their tools away, and take to their heels. They melt down filver plate, for fear of being difcovered by the cy- pher or the arms, and are acquainted with people who purchafe it in ingots, and buy from them all their booty. As thefe, who are termed receivers, encourage theft, by this kind of traffic, they are doubly punimed, and find it impoffible, notwith- ftanding their wealth, to efcape from the hands of juftice. They, ufed formerly to be tranfported for fourteen years, to America, while thieves were only banimed for feven. This has been lately changed into imprifonment; the fame proportion is> , however ftill obferved. It very often happens, that women, on whom* Nature feems to have been prodigal of her favours, league with thefe wretches. They at as fpies dur- ing the day, and at night difguife themfelves, and aflift in profiting by the difcoveries which they have made. By frequently vifiting the courts of juftice, I have had occafion to hear very fingular tranfac- tions of this kind. I one, day, at the Old-Bailey, faw a young woman, fair as Venus, prefent herfelf before the aftonifhed judges and fpedators. Her drefs was in the moft elegant tafte, and (he capti- vated every heart, by thofe graces, and that air of dignity which fne difplayed during her defence. This ravifhing creature, happening to be very much attached to a ycusg man, who belonged to a gang of thieves, had been fo imprudent as to join them. She had afilfted at one of their nocturnal expeditions, and helptd to carry away the plunder. The The houfe where they commited the (depredations ood by itfeH, and the owner being in the country, no body was in it. As they, had not waited tort he- night, but fimply till it was duilc, the robbery was hardly accomplished, when an alarm was given, and the thieves were purfued, Although the fair accomplice had taken the precaution to throw away every thing in her flight, yet me was obftinateiy followed to a houfe into which having run, fhe immediately fhut the door But how did {he appear- to thofe who purfued her ? Reprefent to your ima- gination an old beggar- woman, covered with dirty rags, her face blackened, her hair diihevelled, and, in one word, the moil hideous figure in the world : fuch was the appearance of thi-3 handfome female, when {he faved herfelf from the fury of the po- pulace, The miftrefs of the houfe was a widow, of an unfufpefted reputation, mhe lived economically on a little income, which fhe however knew how to increafe, by a thoufand ftraiagems. In this criiical momei t fne ated her part admirably ; for, as fhe refufed to let any body enter until a conilahle was brought, the had fufficienttime for preparation. On hearing that a thief had taken refuge in her houfe, {lie pretended the greateft fear and "aftcr.ifh- ment. Her officious neighbours helped to fearch every corner after this frightful creature, which fome of them hr.c; fee n enter; they ftund nobody, however, but a beautiful young woman, in an ele- gant unJrtf-, fcwir ;-: in the belt apartment, whom, the lanilhciv, on-. , Billed her re'aiion-. She tcok pj.i;kub,- car< '. v !earc!iin every pait of the Too.ii v v ; ; .d then retired, after-making many a handfome coufin; fo that alter an mcffetuat fearch, the crowd departed without tnc ieail fufpicion. However, a few days after, fome of the gang being feixed, information ( 1 86 ) was given againft the young woman, and fhe was involved in the profecution. Her charms, and her no lefs bewitching eloquence, made a great impref- fion on the minds of the judges and the fpeftators, but the inexorable law felt no compaflion, and fne was condemned to four years imprifonment. The pick-pockets, as I have already obferved, form a clafs entirely apart. It is by trick and ftra- tagem, and not by force, that they attain their ends j therefore they never have occafion for arms. They do not unite in bodies, each perfon ats for himfelf ; and they immediately convert every thing they acquire into ready money. Thtre are fome of them, who, by means of fafhionable clothes, infmuate themfelves into the firft company, and iheir impudence is often crowned with fuccefs. A fellow of this kind, called Bar- rirgton, renowned in London, on account of his great dexterity, elegant manners, and beldnefs un- paralleled, ftill carries on his trade with great re- putation *. Some years fince, having flipt into the ftage box at Diury-lane Theatre, he found means to ileal from Prince Orlow a gold fnuff-box, adorned \\i.h the Emprefs of Rufiu's piSure, fet round with brilliants. His Highnefs having perceived the theft, requeued tiiat the culprit might be immedi- ately punifhed; but when he was infcrmed, that it was nectffary that he himfelf mould appear in perfon, he ftifled his refentment, and the offender was re- lea'.ed. Nothing is more aftonifhing than the fidelity, I may even fay the probity of thefe wretches, in rer gard to one another: this appea r s in the mutual dangers that they run, the fair divifions that they make of the fpoil, and, in fine, is perceptible thro' their whole behaviour. This phoenomenon fully juftifies * He is at prefent in Newgate. ( 187 ) juftificsthe Englifh proverb, that, " there h honour " among thieves" This fliameful trade has been, if I may be al- lowed the exprefiion, immortalized by Gay, in his Beggar's Opera, which is fuch a favourite with the public, that it is reprefented in London, at leall thirty times a year. In thisdramaiic entertainment, you may fee a band of thieves, with piftolsin their hands, celebrating their revels, and finging fongs in honour of their profeflion. Of courfe, much may be faid againft the morality of fuch an entertain- ment ; but it is lucrative to the theatre, on account of the witty fallies with which it abounds, its fm- gularity, and the excellence of its mufic. All the juftices of the peace for the county of Middlefex, befought Ganick, in the year 1771, to flop the performance ; but the Englim Rofcius did rot chcofe to deprive himfelf of a piece, which feemed to be a mine of wealth. Criminals are never carried to the King's-bench, or the Fleet, which are deftined entirely for the confinement ot debtors, but to other prifons, cf which Newgate is the principal. They are there put in irons, but, except this, which prudence evidently dictates, are never maltreated. Their friends may vifit them, and are generally allowed to give them any relief, to alleviate their unhappy fitua*' n, There is however, a great difference be- tween their dungeons, and the places \\here debtors are tnclofed, who can fcarce indeed he confidered as pi foners. At an execution, the thieves, that they may fee their companions die, always prefs as clofe as pof- fible to the place of punifhment : the fpe&ators, however, have never more occafion to look to their pockets than at that moment. A remark of a high- wayman, in which there is fome pleafantry, is often quoted. An acquaintance of his being carried to Tyburn, Tyburn^ after having gravely furveyed irhe gallows, and all the preparations for his fate, exclaimed, " O, what an excellent trade would ours be, if this " d iCd machine was out of the way f" " Fool/'" replies the other, " this gibbet, which you curfe, if *' the left fupport of our facie, for, were it not J or " /'/, every pick-pocket would turn highwayman" Cheats ought vo be mentioned entirely by them- felves. 1'hey never fteal, but employ all the Ora- Ugems that can be devifed, to trick people out of their property, and convert the wealth of others to- their own life. Ht.lf of their bufinefs is to be well acquainted wiih the laws, for they always take care to carry their projects jufbmort of that point where the magiflrate would interfere. They affociate to- gether, hire noble houfes, furnilh them with mag- r i-S cent furniture, and keep the moil fhewy car- riages. 1 he valtt de chambre and the footmen are all in the lecret, and fhare the earnings of their employer. Sometimes the nv.ifter puts on a livery,, to quiet a clamourous creditor, who, duped with. the brilliant appearance, has left his goods, without ever having feen the. maftcrofthe manfion. Concerning this fubjeti, I could relate a thou- fand anecdotes, of a very uncommon kind, \vhich I heard during my flay in London \ but as thefe agree fo little with the manners and cufloms of all. the other countries in Europe, they would be ac- counted fo many fables. I am now arrived at a fubjecl unfortunately in- exhaufUble, I mean the women of the town. It is well known how handfome the Englifh ladies are, and I am foiry to add, that the greateft part of this clafs of wormn abufe, in the moft mameful manner, die chirms with which nature has fo prodigally endowed them. Londrn is faid to contain fifty thoufand proftitutes, without reckoning kept-mif- vrtfles. The raoft wretched- of thefe live wi.h matron** ( 1 89 ) mutrsttf, who lodge, board, and clothe them. The drefs worn by the very lowefl of them is (ilk, ac- cording to the cuftom which luxury has generally introduced into England. Sometimes they efcape from their prifon, with their little wardrobes under their arms, and trade on their own bottoms, when, if they are unfortunate, or happen rot to be econo- mical, they are foon dragged to gaol by their cre- ditors. The uncertainty of receiving payment makes the houfe- keepers charge them double the common price for their lodgings. They hire by the week a full fkor, and pay for 'it more than the oun^r gives for the whole premifes, taxes included. Without thefe, thoufands of houfes would be empty, in the weftern parts of the town. In the p.irith. of Mary-le-bore only, which is the largtit and beft peopled in the capital, thirty thoufand ladies of pleasure refide, of v.hom feventeen hun- dred are reckoned to be houfe -keepers. Thefe live very well, and without ever being difturbed by the mugiftrates. They are indeed io much their own miftrc-fles, that if a juftice of the peace at- tempted to trouble them in their apartments, they might turn him out of doors ; fcr as they pay the fame taxes as the other narifhioners, they are confe- quently entitled to the fame privileges. Their apartments are elegantly, and fometimes magnificently furnilhed; they keep feveral fervants, and fome have their own carriages. Many of them have annuities paid them by their ieciucers, and others fettlements into which they have furprifed their levers in the moment cf intoxication. The tellimor.y of thefe women, even of tht lowtft of them, is always received as evidence in the courts of juftice. All this generally gives them a certain dignify cf conduct, which can fcarcely be recon- cikd with their prcfeflion. The ( 190 ) The higher claflts of thefe females are uncom- monly honeft ; you may entruft them with a purfe crammed with gold, without running any rifle what- ever. They can never be prevailed upon to grant favours to the lover of one of their companions, even if they are fure that the circumftance will be kept a profound fecret. One of my friends made a propofal of this kind, and was refufed ; he re- doubled his prefents his carefles, but in vain : " I am, fir," fays me, " an unhappy female, obliged to live by this difhonourable profeflion ; and Heaven is my witnefs, that I am in want of mcney ; but I will never confent to have any conne&ion with the acquaintance of my friend. If you were an Englimman, I might not be fo difficult ; hut as you are a foreigner, I cannot. What opinion would you have of us, if I were " to gratify your wifhes ?" Not fatisfied with the excufe, he ridiculed her delicacy, and tempted her with more money ; but, notwithstanding her pover- ty, fheperfifted in herrefufal, and all this from na- tional pride. During the elections for members of parliament, it is not unufual to fee thefe ladies refufe to barter their favours for large fums of money, and referve their charms for the purchafe of votes, in favour of certain patriots, whom they efteem. Such virtues greatly leffen the infamy of their profeflion. I have feen many people of rank walk with them in public, and allow them to take hold oftheir arms, in the mcft familiar manner. I have even beheld more than one minifter plenipotentiary converfmg publickly at Vauxhall, with females of this defcription. Although their rank requireb a de- corum, which would be unneceffary among the Englim nobility ; yet theie gentlemen eafily accede to the cuftoms of a country* when they are in favour of liberty. One Oneof thefe ladies, called Kitty Fifher, wasvery celebrated, about twenty-five years fince, on ac- count of the elegance and delicacy with which (he Sacrificed to Venus. ' She was indebted to nature for an uncommon portion of beauty, judgment, and wit, joined to a moft agreeable and captivating vivacity. The union of fo many perfections pro- cured the efteem and fafcinated thedefires of thofc who prefer Cyprian delights to all the other plea- fures of life. This lady knew her own merit ; me demanded a hundred guineas a night, tor the u!e of her charms, and fhe was never without votaries, to whom the offering did not Icem too exhorbitant. / Among thefe was the late Duke of York, brother * to the king ; who one morning left fifty pounds on her toilet. This prefent fo much offended Mifs Fifher, that (he declared that her doors fhonld ever be fhut againft him in future ; and to (hew, by the moft convincing proofs, how much (he deipiftd his prefent, (he clapt the bank-note between two dices of bread and butter, and ate it for her break- faft. The idea of the pleafures to be enjoyed in the capital infpires the girls in the country wi;h the moft longing de(ire to participate in them. Imagi- nation inflames their little heads, and prefents every object under an exaggerated appearance. The young people of both fexes, who have been edu- cated at a diftance from town, imagine the metro- polis to referable that paradiie promifed to the Ma- hometans, by their great prophet. Is it to be then wondered at, that they form ib many little projects to abandon their homes, and refide in the centre of pleafure ? Or that a maiden, without experience, mould be eafily deceived, when the propofition comes from a lover ? When an amorous couple has no hopes of get- ting their parents' confcnt to their union, they foolifhly ( 192 ) 'fooliihly think that they arc obliged to run sway, and they accordingly make for London. T his fatal _!opement ravfcs the indignation of the young wo- man's relations, who are deaf to her prayers, and the young man becoming more prefling every day, lhe yields to his defires, in the hope of being more happy. The ungrateful lover, after being fatiated with her chjvrms, abandons her: thus It ft w'uhcut any help, alor.e, unknown, (he remains in the rnidit of an immenfe city, where trick and intrigue every day produce the mcfl atrocious rind fmgular fcenes. Some fevere cenfbr may here fay, that in thio de- } iorable fituaticn (he might take the high road, and beg her way to her father's houfe, or having received fome education, (he rrijht get into fervice. Thefe two refources are impofiible in England. The amiable profcfior Mcritz, has already proved, by his own example, that journies en foot are entirely Im- practicable in that ifland. But if they were, could a. young and beautiful creature venture to travel by herfeli ? In the fecoml place, who would employ a perfon, whofe charadtr could not be afcertained, and who has no one to fpeak in her behalf? And if Hie were willing", ard fortunate enough to overcome fo many difadvantagcs, would file be permitted ? Her hoftefs, her creditors, the true or {ham officers of juftice; the mod infernal fchemes, and mcfl: fcandalous practices, sre employed againft the poor wretch, till, yielding to ncctCuy, (lie is ccnfivained to confent to whatever is required of her. One need not be arteniihed, after this, to hear that there are fo many unfortunate women, who often poflefs all the virtues, and all the good qua- lities which we admire and cherim in their iex'; youth, beauty, mildnefs, education, principle ; ar.d even that delicate coyneis, which is the rr.oft power- ful attraction to love. The ladies of pleafure in London actually give us an idea of the celebrated Grecian ( 193 ) Grecian courtefans, who charmed the heroes f Athens, ard whom the fage Socrates himfelf often honoured with his vifits. Let it be recolle&ed, however, that I now fpeak only of a few, for it is very uncommon, not to fay impolTible, to rind fuch precious qualities amor;g thofe vile proftitutes, whofe kind of life ftifles in their breads every feed of virtue, if any indeed ever exifted therein. At all feafons of the year, they fally out towards the dufk, arrayed in the moft gaudy colours, and fill the principal ftreets. They accoft the pafienger*, and offer to accompany them: they even furround them in crowds, flop and overwhelm them with carefTes and entreaties. The better kind, however, content themfclves with walking about till they themfelves are addrefled. Many married women, who live in the diftant parts cf the town, proftitute themielves in Weftminfter, where they are unknown. I have beheld with a fiirprixe, mingled with terror, girls from eight to .y' nine years old make a proffer of their charms; and fuch is the corruption of the human heart, that even they have their lovers. Towards midnight, when the young women have difappeared, and the ftreets be- come deferted, then the old wretches, of fifty or fixty years of age, deicend from their garrets, and attack the intoxicated paflengers, who are oftt* prevailed upon to fatisfy their paflions in the open flreet, with thefe female monfters. Befides the immenfe number of women, who live in ready furnifhed apartments, there are many rioted houfes, fituated in the neighbourhood of St. James's, where a great number arc kept for people of fafhion. A little ftieet called Kittys Place is in- habited by nuns of this order alone, who live under the direction oi feveral rich abbefles. You may fee them fuperbly clothed at public places ; and eve w thofe of the moft expenfivc kind. Each of thef e K convents ( 194 ) convents has a carriage and fervants in livery; for the ladies never deign to walk any where, but in the Park. They pay for their lodgings and their board, and are entirely on the footing of pen/toners, being governed by the rules ot the houfe. The admiffion into thefe temples is fo exorbi- tant, that the mob are entirely excluded : there are indeed, only a few rich people who can afpire to the favours of fuch venal divinities. The cele- brated Fox ufed to frequent thefe places often before he became a minifter; and even afterwards, drunk, as it were, with the pleafures which he had enjoyed, he went from thence to move, aftonifh, and direct the Hcufe of Commons, by means of his manly and convincing eloquence. It is very fingular, that this man, while he facrificed to Venus, and parti- cipated fo often in her orgies, was always regulated by the maxims of an unimpeachable probity, and true patriotifm ; the moment, however, that he devoted himfelf entirely to the ftudy of politics, he .ftifled the fpirit of libertinifm, and with it thefe two virtues.. There is in London. a fpecies of houfes called BAGNIOS, the fole intention of which is to pro- cure pleafure. Thtfe are magnificent buildings, and the furniture contained in them is not unworthy of the palace of a prince. They there procure every thing that can enrapture .the fenfes. They do not, indeed, keep women, but they are inftantly brought in .chairs ; and only thofe who are cele- brated for their fafhicn, their elegance, and their charms, have the honour of being admitted. The Englim preferve their national phlegm in the midft of their very .pleafures. It is impoflible to form an idea of the gravity with which every thing is con- even in thde houfes. Noife and riot are ( 195 ) banifiied; the domeftica fpeak in a whifper; -ami old men, and debauched youths, put every fcheme in practice to'retlore the proper tone to their nerves, which have been weakened by too much enjoyment. This kind of entertainmant is very expenfive, and yet fomettmes the bagnios are full all night long. For the moft part, they are fituated within a few paces of the theatres, or are furrounded by taverns. The protufion of wealth wailed in them, occafioned Beaumarchais, who was not unacquainted with the luxuries of Paris, to affirm, " That more " money is exhaufted during one night in the " taverns and bagnios of London, than would main- ' tain all the SEVEN UNITED PROVINCES foi " fix months." A young gentleman, a native of Hampmire, whole father never would give him perrmffion to vifit London, had fcarce buried the old gentleman, and become mailer of his own perfon, and a for- tune of forty thousand pounds fterlin^, wlien he fet out for town. His paflion for debauchery was fo very great, that, inftead of alighting at an inn, he went directly to a bagnio, and there demanded a lodging. They had never been aflced for th'rs before ; but his inexperience, and his wealth, made them agree to everything; and they immeciiattly kcgan to project plans, which he was eager 10 ex- ecute. Continually furrounded by (harpers, and women of the town ; intoxicated with mufic, love, and wine, days and nights imperceptibly glided on, and followed each other without being perceived. The fcarceft wines were drank by them, in the utmoft protufion ; they even made baths for their feet with champaign. For eleven days this luxu- rious young maniac led this kind of life; when he thought proper, at length, to make his arrival known to one of his friends. This gen.leimn's ^ furprize was extreme: he, howtver, immediately K 2 reaired ( .196 ) repaired to the inconfiderate youth, and painted ttv: dangers and the difagreeable confequences of this kind of life in fuch lively colours, that he conferred to depart immediately. It was, however, firil neceffary that the bill mould be fettled: the hoft demanded for thefe 'eleven days of wild debauchery, no lefs than twelve hundred guineas. The nevr MENTOR however rcfifted the charge with indig- nation : the young man was arrefted, bail was given ; and, to puniih the perfidious addrefs with which he had attempted to ruin an inexperienced lad, a court of juftice reduced the demand to a mere trifle. Were this 'abufe, the natural confequcnce of Juxury and fuperabuqdance, attempted to be re- formed, fuch a reformation, in a country like Eng- Jand, would be attended with the moft pernicious xonieq.uences to trade and commerce. If they were jo eftablifh. a tribunal of challity in London, as \vas formerly done at Vienna, that great city \voulJfoonbe depopulated; the mdancholy of the Englim would become intolerable; the fine arts \vould be frightened away; one half of the inhabit- ants would be deprived of fubfiftence, and that fuperb metropolis converted into a fad and frightful defert. If any proofs are wanting, enter the (hops of the citizens, and aik ih.em who are their heft cuftomers, and who pay them the mod: regularly ? They will immediately anfwer, that they are the unfortunate women, who deny themfelves almoft the neceflaries of life to purchafe fine clothes, and Ipend in one moment the the whole gains of a week. Without them, the theatres would be empty : they not only repair to all public places in crowds, but draw a'.ter them thousands of young men, who fre- quent thefe places, merely to fee and converfe with .them. Every one who knows London, muft be of jny way of thinking A young ( 197 ) A young unmarried Erglifhmarr, wtih a large fortune, fpends but a fmull {hare ci" it on his corn- n.on expcncts; the greateft part is deftined to his pleafures, that is to fay, to the ladies. A tavern- keeper, in Drury-Iane, prints every year an account of the women of the town, entitled, Harris's Lift of Covent-^arden Ladies. In it, the mofr exatt defcription is given of their names, their lodgings, their faces, their manners, their talents, and even their tricks. It muft of courfe happen, that there \vill fometimes be a little degree of partiality in thefe details: however, notvvithfhnding this, eight thou- fand copies are fold annually. The Knglifn women are fo handfcme, and the jjkfire to pleafe them, and to obtain their favours, is l.o aident and fo general, that it is not in the leaft furprifing, that thofe ifUnders fhould held a certain unnatural crime \K the utmoft abhorrence. r j hcV fpcak in na,^; t of the v^orld with fo much horror of this infamous paiTion, as in England. The punifii- ment by law is imprifonmen', and the piilory. With this accufation, it is, however, better tofufftr death at once; lor, on fuch an cccafion, the fury cf the po^ ulace is unbounded, and even the better iqrt of people have no companion for the culpjir. It is very uncommon to fee a perfcn convicted, aiul punifhed for this crime ; not on account of the paucity of the numbers charged with perpetrating it, but beqaule they never yield to fuch a brutal appe- tite but \viih the utmoit precaution. A criminal profecution was commenced, on a charge of this kind, againft Foote, the celebrated comedian, about a year before his death. The intrepid actor foc;n after appeared upon the ftage, in one of his gayeft characters ; but the noife from the pit, and the epithet made ufe of, and repeated from box to box, entirely difconcerted him. At length he obtained liberty to fpeak. He then aflured K 3 the ( 198 ) the audience that he was innocent, and befcueht them not to condemn him unheard : he promifed to- dtmcnfirate before a court of juftice the falfity and the malice of the accufation ; and added that, until he had fully efiablifhed his innocence, he would not afpive to the continuance of that favour with which thepublic had always had honoured him. The fpefiatcrs were appeafed. He afted his part and received the ufual plaudits: he aJib gained hi The cuilom fo common in other parts of Europe, of men's fainting each ether, is looked upon with the utrnoft indignation in England. A foreigner who would attempt fuch a thing in the ftreets of Lcndon, would in all probability be infulted by the populace. Infread ef embracing, \\)ty fiake hands. Thi ceremony repeated m( re or lefs often, exprefles the different degrees of gocd will, fricndfhip and cfteem. People fcmetimes adt this .pantomime in iuch a forcible manner, that they make each others hands and arms ache. If kiffing is not allowed among the men, this prohibition is amply recompenfed by the right of publicly embracing the ladies. The hufbands them- ielves are not vexed at thb agreeable cuftom. Nei- ther jealoufy nor fhame can prevent it : practice has Jhus rendered a fafhion entirely indifferent, which in Italy, would be regarded as a preemption which tiie offender cquld only expiate with his blood. CHAPTER ( 199 ) CHAPTER XL Tbt manner cf living in England Coffee btufif Lloyd's /Iffurance Offices Dome/lie Cuftoms 'The Contrajl between French and Englijb Dinners. Cookery Liquors Drefs Singular Requefl to the King Servnnts--Sunday Good-nature of the People^ Boxing Marjbal Saxis Difpute with a Scavenger The King of Bath; -L HE Endifh live in a very remarkable manner. They rife late, and fpend moft of the mrrnlng, either in walking about town or fitting in the coffee- houfVs. There they not only read the newfpapers, but tranfact bufmefs. Aflbciations, infurances, bets, the truie in foreign bills; all thefe things are not cniy talked of, but executed in thefe public place?. They ihere form connexions, conclude bargain?, talk of the intrigues and cabals of the court, cnticife works of houfe ; fuch as lawyers, the military men, the learned and men of wit. There are feveral dozens of thefe arotind the Royal Exchange, where more bufinefs is tranfa&ed than in the Exchange itfc!f. That of Lloyd's in a particular manner deferves to be noticed ; I do not think that there is another equal to it in all the world. Thofe merchants who fpeculate in infur- ances, and who in 1778 amounted to fix hundred, K 4 sflemblc ( 200 ) there. They fubfcribe ten guineas a pie per annum, and, by means of that fum, carry on an immenfe foreign correspondence with all the coun- tries in Europe. This fociety accordingly receives the earliefl and moft authentic intelligence, refpefiting the politics or the commerce cf all the nations inhabiting the four quarters cf the globe. They often inferm govern- ment of circumftar.ces that they would not know till long after from their ministers and their agents ; and which, perhaps, they v/ould never otherwise hear of. The fpirir of order and exa&nefs, introduced imo their interfiling regulations, is fo perfect, that the moft extraordinary news receives a certain de- gree of authenticity by coming from that place. As thefe geinlemen, in common with the reft of the nation, are famous for their public fpirit, they are not barely contented with informing their par- ticular friends, but tranfcribe their intelligence into a took, for the infpeclion of the nation at large. They aifo publifh the arrival of all veffels, whether Eng- iiih or foreign, that ccme into any of the ports of T'ngland. There is not one of thefe, whofe good or bad properties they are unacquainted with. They alib know their age, the character of the captain, &c. &c. Being compofed almoft entirely of rich mer- chants, there is no danger of lofing the fum allured, but in cafe of a general bankruptcy ; and fuch is their known probity, and reputation, that they are often, in doubtful cafes, appointed umpires by foreign tfates. An Englifh coffee houfe has no refemblance to a .French or German cne. You neither fee billiards nor backgammon tables ; you do not even hear the leuft noife ; every body fpeaks in a low tone, for fesr of difturbing the company. They frequent them piincipally to read the Papers, a talk that is absolutely neceifary in that country. The ( 201 ) The dinners of the'Englim, like all their domcf- tic cultoms, have fornething peculiar to themfclves. B) fuppofing every thing to be entirely oppofite to what it is in Paris, one may form a juit idea of thefe hcu r es in London, where the old fafhiors are fliii kept up. The number of people who live in the Anglo-Gallic ftyle is very fmall. Soup, which is the tirft dim in France, never appears on any table in London. The French eat a great dtal of bread, and very little meat ; ihe Englifh much meat, and little bread. Joints, in France, are either roafted or boiled to rags ; they eat them almoft raw in England. Ragouts, fauces, and made dijbes t are the delicacies of the French ; the Englifh are for what is fimple and natural ; they even pufh this tafte too far. The tables of the for- mer are often too fmall for the difhes ; the enter- tainments of the latter confift of two or three large pieces of meat, or of prodigious pies, in which ibme hundreds of birds are entombed. The defert, in France, is compofed of fruits and confectionary ; in England, of large cheefes. Among one nation, they eat more than they drink ; among they other, they drink more than they eat, and regard their liquors as the chief article in a re- paft. The Englifh are in a hurry during their meals, that they may fooner indulge this paflion. The ladies then leave them to enjoy themfelves with greater freedom. Politics immediately commence, and healths continually go round ; each gueft pro- pofea a toaft in his turn, the mafter of the houfe having firil given his. They then fill their glaffes, . and, naming either a miniller or a beauty, empty them in n moment. Napkins, which have been difufed for twenty years, are LOW beginning to be introduced. Thole who are attached to the old cuftoms, lidicuk* the K 5 ufc ( 02 ) fe cf them. This precaution, they fay, is only peceflary fcr children ; grown perfons have no occa- f on for them, as they can cover themfelves with ihe table cloth, which is of an extraordinary length. They change the knife and fork with every plate. They do not ufe thefe inftruments indifferently in either hand, as in all the other nations in Europe ; the fork is always in the left, and the knife in the right hand. It is by this method, which is infinitely more commodious than ours, that you may imme- diately know an Englifhman before he has fpoken a fjngle word. The difcredit into which Englifli cookery has fallen among foreigners, proceeds entirely from the prejudices entertained a.gainfl their manner of dref- iing victuals. But who, in the whole world, would not prefer flefh fu 11 of fu ecu lent and nouriming juices, to thofe roafted meats which are infipid to the tafte, if rot eaten with an unvvholefome fauce ? I have known ladies brought up very delicately, and ufed to all the elegancies of foreign tables, who, on their firft arrival in London, have been difgufted with the victuals; but they fbon changed their minds, and found them very agreeable afterwards, It is the fimplicity in the drdlingi that alone generates fuch prejudices in the breads of ftrangers. Their drinks alfo are remarkable, on account of the fingular mixtures of which they are compoied. Sillabub for example, is a ccmpofition of red wine, milk and fugrar. The common people enjoy them- felves, during the winter, with warm * beer mixed with bitter eflences, and with ale in which gin, fugar, and eggs have been boiled together. It is their attachmtnt to ftrcng liquors, that makes them Ib very fond of port- wine, which is fold at a high price. Burgundy and champaign, are exceedingly dear, on account of the duties: notvvithftanding this, * Purl. ( 203 ) this, the confumption of thcfe wines is very great in London, where they like every thing that is powerful and beady. Although cyder is allowed to be equally agreeable, yet it is drunk only in the diftant counties. They are peculiarly attached to porter : on this account, there are no lefs than eight thoufand ale- houfes in the metropolis and its neighbourhood. In thefe all ranks are mixed and confounded together : it is not uncommon to meet with even perfons cf quality there. It is well known that Swift and Stern frequented them, to ftudy the human heart. The import on coffee is fo great, that it pays a duty of more than feven pence a pound. This does not, indeed, leffen the confumption j the exorbitant price, however, occafions it to be drunk very weak. This cuPiom is fo prevalent, that even the richeil people will not ufe it when ftrong ; the moft con- temptible tradefman in all Germany drinks better coffee than they do. In refpet to tea, the Englifti are, on the other hand, uncommonly nice : and it is calculated, that they confume more of this commo- dity than all the reft of Europe. Thoufands of people live on this beverage, and bread and butter, which is faid to correct: its bad qualities ; bur they take care that the one is good, and the other (Irong. Our manner of drinking it, would not in the leaffc agree with them ; for that they may the better en- joy the flavour of the herb, they colour it with only two or three drops of milk. They generally eat wheaten bread. The prodi- gious fwarm of Germans fettled in London, have prevailed on Tome bakers to make rye bread ; the fale of it is, however, very confined, for my coun- trymen themfclves foon rrefer the other. I have offered it to their beggars, and even they have re- jected it. It ( 204 ) It is furprifing, that mankind generally have an invincible diguft to all the viands which they have not been ufed to during their infancy. This fingu- lar averfion, which we perceive in all nations, can never be overcome but by the mod preffing want. Sour cront, a compofition long unknown among the Engl fh., has been very beneficial to their failors during diitant voyages ; and yet, it was neceffary to take infinite pains to reconcile them to this antt- icorbutic nourifhment.. It was not until Captain Cook's fecond expedi- tion, that, exhorted and encouraged by the two Forfters, the feamen ufed themfelves to it. During that tedious and dangerous navigation in the un- known ftas, one man alone perimed ; and it was to this compofition that the fortunate circumftance, of which, till then, there had been no example, was generally attributed. Government have there- fore taken the proper precautions, that no fhip of war, deftined for a long voyage, fhould be unpro- vided with this excellent preventive. It is abiblutely neceffary that travellers fhould conform themfelves to the manners of every cli- mate, in refpcct to diet. Difeafe, and even death itielf, are the fad corftquences of this rieglecl: ; and I could cite a number ot examples to this purpofe. 7he.Eaft Indies become graves to thoufands of Europeans, merely becaufe they cheofe to live there in the fame manner as in their native country. Without this caprice, the projecled journey through Arabia would have fucceeded, and NIEBUHR had not returned alone. A foggy air, and nourifhiog food, make it necef- fary to drink ftrong liquors in England. Thofe who ufe water often lole their health, and fomttimes their lives. The fame tffecls would attend the ufe of the Englifh regimen in Italy, where the burning heats require fherbets, cooling liquors, and other c-ufloms, and, in one word, a different manner of living. ( 205 ) Jiving. It is very common to hear Grangers blame the climate, inrtead of the unhappy confequences of impolitic negligence. The Englifh are unfortunately led away, beyond all the other countries in Europe, by the luxuries of drefs, which every day feems to increafe. Twenty years ago, gold and filver lace was not worn but at court, and the theatres ; perfons elegantly attired alvravs rode in carriages. T he people crowded about a gentleman who walked in full drefs, either in the ftreets o: the park ; they never ufed fwords, and the beaus wore their hats. Except the laft cuf- tom, ncne of the others prevail. One now often meets with laced clothes ; even the common people fometimes appear in embroidered vcfts. In general, however, the Englilh {till wear plain broad cloth, both in fummer and winter, but it is of the finetl kind : a common tradefman will ufe no other. They do not cover themfelves with pelijfis, but great ocats, which guard againft the cold in winter, and the rain in the fpring and autumn. It is in this fimple drefs that the mimfters of ftate walk about the itreets and public places, without being followed by a fingle domeftic. The Englifh in general, even thofe of the mid- dling clafs, wear very excellent linen, and change it daily. The finenefs of the fhirt and ftockingp, a good hat and the beft of fhoes, diftinguilh a man in opulent circumftances ; no attention whatever is paid to the coat. The richeft citizens frequent the 'Change in clothes very old, and much worn. The cuftom of wearing rich buttons prevails more than ever within thefe few years; fo that a fimple frock often cofts more than a laced on. It is alrnoft in fpite of themfelves that the Englifh have adopted the cuftom of drafting their hair j the people employed in that buiincfs are the moft inex- pert of any in Europe. Some ( 206 ) Some years fince, the wig-makers of London prefented a very fmgular petition to the king, be- ieechingthe fovereign to cut off his hair, and wear a wig: " Your majefty's example," faid they, "will " be followed by every one ; and our trade, which " is now ruined, wil! foon acquire its wonted con- *' fequence and celebrity." The king laughed at this pleafant requeft, but did not think proper to grant it. I have already more than once had occaflon to mention fome chara&eriftic treats of the Englilh nation. The great difference betwixt them and the reft of Europe, proceeds entirely from the liberty which they enjoy, and which gives occafion to a thoufand extraordinary and fmgular cuftoms. It is not according to our ideas that we ought to calculate ihe fpace that feparates the different claffes of men in that monarchico-republican government. This obfervaticn extends even to fervants. The fir ft man in the kingdom is cautious of ftriking hi domeftics ; for they not only may dtfend themfelvei againft him, but alfo commence an a&ion in a court of juftice : in fuch a cafe, a pecuniary recom- pence, and many difagreeable ctrcumftances, are fure to follow. They obferve with a great deal of reafon, that as poverty and dependance contribute very little to the happinefs of this life, it would be extremely cruel to aggravate the lot of thofe who are obliged to live in fervitude, by a conduct unau- thorifed by the laws. If a fervant commits a fault not punimable by the magistrate, his mafter can only difmifi him. Thofe will be much deceived, who may from thence imagine, that an Englifti footman will confe- quently be impertinent. On the contrary, I am convinced, that no part of Europe abounds with better domeftics. The noble condefcenfion with which they are treated, the fear of not receiving a chtra&er, character, and the largenefs of their wages, all tend to keep them in good order, and infpire them at once with zeal and activity. One is alto aftonifhed at the politenefs and promp*. titude with which he is attended at taverns and coffee- houfes; a circumftance which but ill corref- ponds with the pride of the nation : it muil how- ever, he recollected, that the waiters always expect a gratification, and that, in fome of the principal ~" houfes, this amounts to a great fum in the courfe of the year. The fcandalous practice of giving vails^ fo much in vogue twenty years ago, is now almotl entirely banifhed : it exifts no where but among the lower orders of the people. Formerly a vifttor was obliged to diftribute a great deal of money among the fer- vants, when he dined with a man of quality ; fo that it was much cheaper to go to a tavern, than to accept of fuch an invitation. It is to Lord Chef- terfield that the Englim are indebted for the aboli- tion of this cuftom : his reprefentations had fuch weight with the nobility, that they unanimoufiy agreed to difcountenance it. The appearance of the female domeftics will perhaps, aftonifh a foreigner more than any thing in London. They are in general handfomc and well clothed : their drefs has the appearance of fome tafte, and their converfation fuch as if they had kept the beft company. A {banger is apt to be embarrafled at firft, and can fcarce imagine that they are not gentlewomen. They are ufually clad in gowns well adjufted to their mapes, and hats adorned with ribbands. There are fome who even wear filk and fattin, when they are drefled. Ml their woik confifts in keeping the houfe neat, and dufting the furniture. To this employment they attend for a few hours in the morning ; and after that, ( 208 ) that, all the relief the day is entirely at their own difpofal. As to a lady's tnaid y the eye of the moil ikilful connoij/eur can fcarcely diftinguifh. her from the miftrefs. The appearance of a waiting-woman is that of an opulent and a fafhionable perfon ; me ufually accompanies her lady in public, expels par- ticular attention to be paid to her, and, after (ome years of fervice, generally receives ~a fmall annuity, which makes her comfortable for life. When out of place, fi rvants of all denominati- ons apply to a regifter-office ; a fmgular inftitution, known only in that country, by means of which they are immediately provided with employment. Sunday is very ftriclly obferved in England ; and as all kinds of work, even mufic, are prohibited, that day is therefore ufually deftined to the pleafures of the country. All the citizens who have ccuntry- houfes, repair to them on Saturday afternoon, to make preparations for their friends on the following day. The prodigions number of ale-houfes and taverns, fituated near the capital, is then full of pcrfons of both fexes ; and, contrary to the general ufage, an ordinary is kept for their reception. All the great roads around London are alfo crowded with carriages, horfes, and foot paflengers ; and I may fairly aflert, that three-fourths of the inhabit- ants of the capital keep the Sabbath in this man- ner. It is very (insular, that thtfe weekly revels never occafion any difturbances, or exceffes of any kind. It feems to me, that no better proof need be alled^ed of the good nature of the Englifh; than their deportment on all public occaficns. One is aftonifhed to obferve compaflion, benevolence, ge- nerofitv, ano, in one word, all the focial viitues, carried to fo high a degree of perfection, among the ( 209 ) the lowtft of the people. If a firanger lofes his. way, and happens to aik for any particular ftreet or houfe, the firft perfon whom he meets will point out his road, and even accompany him, without the hope of any recompenee : no one ever experi- enced a refufal. When any embarraffment is occafioned by the joftling of coaches in a narrow ftreet, the people immediately fly* to relieve them, and reitore order; they are perfectly iatistied with thanks. In Paris, it is not unuiual to fee blood fpilt on uich occaficnsj the magillrates, therefore, dillribu.e loldiers in all parts ot the city, to preferve tranquillity. Such 4 precaution is never made ufe cf in London ; yet ths greateft regularity prevails at Ranelagh, th Pantheon, and other public places, notwithftanding the multitude of carriages which are affembled there. The king of England, in 1784, g v/e an amiable inflance of the humanity fo general in that king- dom. Happening to ft roll in one of the agreeable walks in the neighbourhood of Richmond, withcut any other company than that of fome of h ; s fons, he met with a poor villager, who had been felling provifions in the town. His cart was ftuck in a ditch, and having no help, he was attempting in vain to get it out. Without deliberating a moment, the monarch, aided by his children, went to his afliftance, and immediately relieved it with his own hands. The peafant, unacquainted with the rank of thofe who had come to generoufly and opportu- nately to his fuccour,. in the joy of his heart, pro- pofed to carry them to the ntareft ale houfe, and treat them with a pot of." beer. His offer produced a few pieces of gold in rettwn, and their dcparure gave him time to recover from his aflonifhment. The prefcnt which occafioned this charming actiou ( 210 ) a&ien to be known, at the fame time betrayed its author. On any public commotion, when the people run into the ftreets, and afJfemble in crowds, the greateft care is taken left any accident fhould happen to the women and children, whom they either make room for, or carry in their arms, that they may be better feen. A lady of fafhion, the wife of a miniller from one of the German courts, when coming out of the play-houfe, happened to get into a crowd, where the preffure was extreme, and the danger of her fitua'tion the more alarming, as fhe expected in a few days to become a mother. At the moment when fhe was about to faint, a perfon who fup- ported her with his arm, cried out, " Gentlemen " make room, I befeech you, for a lady with child* tf who is fuddenly taken ill." She herfclf has often affured r.ie, that a thunder-bolt could not have more quickly difperfed the mob, than this exclama- tion. Every one immediately gave way, and fhe luckily got to her carriage without any further delay. In the year 1780, when the dregs of the people a&ed the GORDONIAD, and made conflagrations their paftime, thcfj wretches never carried their violence fo far as to attack a woman ; even thofe of the catholic religion were in perfect fafety. When the populace, who were enraged againft the arch- bimop of York, were about to fet fire to his houfe, Mrs. Markham, his wife, appeared at the window, and addreffed them in the following terms : " Gen- " tlemen, a lady has this very moment be:n taken " in labour here ; and as it is impoflible to remove " her and the infant, I hope that you have too " much humanity to occafion their death." This ingenious petition had the proper efret, and the crowd inftamly difperfed. When ( 2" ) When n. quarrel happens in the flreets, the paf- fengers immediately interfere. Perfons of the high- eft rank do not hefitate for a fmgle moment to be- come mediators. The day after my arrival in Lon- don, I had an opportunity of being a witnefs to this practice in an affair where I myfelf was interefted. A young jew, a native of Germany, having at- rempted to cheat me in the moil bare -faced man- ner in the world, I felt myfelf fo much" piqued at the fellow's impudence, that I could not contain my refentment. The cuftoms of the Englifh be- ing entirely unknown to me, I ated exactly in the fame manner as I mould have done in my native country, on finding my honour wounded. I ac- cordingly feized the culprit by the collar, who, fearful of my refentment, cried out with all his might, and foon gathered a crowd around us. As I was not ignorant of the language, I immediately recounted the eii cumfiances which gave occafion to fuch violence. Some of the people, however, in- formed me, in the moil polite terms, that, ac- cording to the la\vs of that country, no offence whatfoevcr could warrant my behaviour. The jew, vho was confcious of his guiit, did not choofe to profecute me, but efcaped as faft as he could, and gave me time to profit by the juft obfervation of thefe worthy people, ard to return them my tha-:,ks. In flmilar difputes, when the parties agree to terminate their differences by a boxing-match, the fpe&ators, far from oppofing them, encourage the idea. This cuflom, which proceeds from certain falfe principles of courage and equality, is net, how- ever, fo much in fafhion as formerly. Even perfons of quality were not heretofore amamed of en- gaging in fuch quarrels. They have of late, how- ever, left the glory of them entirely to the popu- lace Lice, who, being no longer animated by their exam- ple, begin now to have lefs relifh for them. The two combatants drip to the waift, and attack each other with their fifts\ aringiz then immedi- ately formed by the populace. Hisfecond aflifts the perion who falls, wipes the fweat from his body, and re-animates his courage. When they fight on a fiagc, each is alfo attended by a bottle- bolder y who wafhes his friend's face, and uiually fqueezesa lemon into his mouth. 7'he fight often lads half an hour, and fometimes longer, till one of the parties de- clares that he is vanquifhed : this they call giving in. The vitor, who is often more hurt than the perfon whom he has conquered, is then conducted home in triumph by the fpetators. It is not in the: power (f prejudice itftlf to ftifle, in the hearts of that people, the efleem which courageous conduct always inlpires. I my ft If hap- pened to be prefent at a fight betwixt an EngHmimn and a Frenchman. The firft was looked upon at a mafter in the fcience of boxing ; the other was ig- uo'rant of the fiiil principles of the art ; he there- fore entirely confided in his flrength, which, in- deed, fo effectually befriended him, that he ftruck hisadverfary to the ground with the firft blow, and rendered him unable to continue the combat. It feemed as if this blow had deftroyed the national hatred, fo forcibly imprefled in the breafts of the fpe&ators; every one was eager to overwhelm the \ittorious Frenchman with praiies and careffes ; they afterwards joined to tr> at him at an ale-houfe. The art of boxing has certain rules, from which no one ever departs : whoever attempts to infringe them, becomes immediaiely expofed to the fury of the populace. For example, when one party falls, his advtrfary muft not ftrike him ; and the combat is immediately to cea-fe, on either of them acknow- ledging himfelf to have been beaten. On On the event of thefe battles, which are fome- times attended with fatal confequences, confiderable betts frequently depend ; it is not uncommon, how- ever, to hear the combatants who are generally in- fligated by hatred alone, cry out, on thefe occafions, " That they fight for love'l" The celebrated Marfhal Saxe was once challenged in this manner, by a fcavenger.who was employed in fweeping the Greets. He, relying on his amazing ftrength, accepted the propofal ; the fcavenger, therefore, began to ftrip according to cuftom ; but he had fcarce taken off his fhirt, when the Marihal feizinghim by the arms, to the great aftonimmeht of the fpectators, threw him with the fame eafe a if he had been a trufsof draw, into his own cart ; \vheie he ftruggled along time with his hands and feet, and was very near being ftifled in the mud. The Englifh ufed formerly" to fight duels in the fame manner as other nations ; but the Puritans dif- countenanced this barbarous cuftom. Thefe enthu- fiafts, who would allow no oilier rule of conduct than that prefcribed by the bible, having found no- thing therein to authorize this fpecies of combat, took a decided averfion to it. At laft, Cromwell, by enacting fevere laws againft this practice, abo- lifhed it entirely. This was, perhaps, the firft time that fanaticifm ever produced fuch happy con- fequences. Within thefe laft fifty year?, however, duels have begun to be again in vogue, in the fame proportion that boxing has declined. But as every thing in that country is different from what it is eHewhere, it fo happens that this cuftom, which in other king- doms is confined to a certain rank, has no bound* among them. You may there fee priefts, merchants, and clerks terminate their differences with a cafe of piftols. Some Some years fince, two negroes in livery fought each other in this manner. As the ftage continually fatirifes fuch extravagancies as thefe, this ridiculous practice is now difcountenanced. The Englifli are ftill very fond of cold baths. There area prodigious number of thefe in London, where one may bathe daily at the rate of a guinea per annum. This practice is much recommended by the beft Englimphyficians. The ancient Romans were alto very much addicted to it. It was by thefe means that Anh nius Mufa, reftored the health of the emperor Augufhis. The fenate, on account of this cure, remunerated him with a magnificent pre- fent, and erected a ftatue to his memory, which was placed with that of Efculapius. Septimus Se- verus made ufe of the cold bath daily; and as he refided a long time in Biitain, it is probable that he introduced the practice into that ifland. The Saxons borrowed the cuftom from the ancient Biitons. England poITefles many mineral fprings, a great number of which ftill retain the names of the faints after whom they were formerly called. The foun- tains where the firft chriftian preachers baptifed their converts, infpired a certain religious veneration, and were efleemed holy. The monks, taking ad- vantage of fuch prejudices, attributed in their legends certain miraculous virtues to thefe places, after they had firft difcovered their natural effects. Of all the waters in England, thofe of Bath are the moft remarkable ; they were known even by the Romans, who confecrated them to Minerva. The Britons call this place EAER PALLADDUU, or the City of Pallas. Bath is a handfome town, and the public buil-1- ings which it contains are really magnificent. It is ot only reforted to by the fick, but even by thofe in health. health, whom the variety of pleafures to be feen there, attra&s from every part of the three king- doms. Thefeafon when it is moft frequented is the beginning of the winter. To regulate the diverfions, and preferve order and regularity amongft fuch a prodigious number of people, who are at the fame time rich and free, it has been thought proper to choofe a perfcn who is ftiledKiNG OF BATH; to whom the moft entire obedience is paid, in regard to every thing that concerns the general good. This convention is made and agreed to by the firft people in the king- dom, who regularly frequent the place, and main- tain their fovereign in his prerogatives. Thisfitua- tion is equally honourable and lucrative, for it pro- duces a revenue of fixteen hundred pounds fterling annually. It is for life, unlefs great and forcible reafbns oblige the fubje6b to dethrone their mo- narch. This eminent port is ufually given to fome gen- tleman, who joins to much experience a confider- able portion ot wit, gaiety, and knowledge of the world. All thefe qualities, together with an extra- ordinary talent for inventing new pleafures, ?nd aranging elegant entertainments, were united in an Englifhman of the name of Nam, who for many years ruled Bath with an unlimited fway. He died in 1761, and was greatly laniented by his whole kingdom. The throne is at prefent filled by a gentleman who was formerly a captain in the army.' CHAPTER CHAPTER XII. Cbarafler of tie EngHJb Ladies Of the Nobility Wbimfical anecdotes Hon. Mr. Montague Lotteries Insurance offices Beits SYr Watkin W. Wynne Lird Baltimore May-day 'Voyage to New Zealand Otabeite Charles I. Anec- dote of a Spaniard National Hatred Averjion ft Anatwiical Operations Mrs. Phillips Ballads. V-F all the remarkable objefts which England offers to the eye cf a foreigner, no one is more worthy of his admiration, than the aftorafhing beauty of the women. It produces fuch a furprifmg effeft, that every ftranger muft acknowledge the fuperioritv of the Englifh ladies over all others. The moft exat proportions, an elegant figure, a lovely neck, afkin Uncommonly fine, and features at once regular and charming, dillinguifh them in an eminent degree. Their private virtues alfo render them capable of enjoying all the felicity of the marriage {late. The pronenefs of the whole nation to melancholy, renders the women grave andferious; their minds are lefs occupied about pleafures, than in folici ucle for the happinefs of their hufbands, and the manage- ment of their domeftic concerns. Even women of quality fuckle their children; they think that the name and duties of a mother have nothing in them which they ought to blufh at, and that no ftation on on earth is comparable to the pleafurci of maternal tendernefs, and the agreeable reflections which refult from it. Notwithstanding vice is often pufhed to the extreme in the capital, it is very uncommon to fee a married woman become profligate, and give way to infa- mous pleafures. To this there is r.l,vays an infur- irountable bar in her love for her family, the care of her houfhcld, and her own natural gravity. I am of opinion, that there is not a city in the whole world where the honour of a hufband is in lt& danger than in London. It is to this ferious and melancholy difpofaion that we ought to attribute the attachment of the Englifh catholics to the cloiftcr, and which has induced fo many of them to retire to France, and ilil! more to Flanders. They have even eflablifhed a fpecies of convents in England, for thofe who do not lik-e to leave their native country. A certain number of ladies live there in common, perform divine fer- vice together, and conform to all the rnftitutions of that ordvr to which their bonfe belongs. Like other nuns, they take the vows, and their drefs is always plain and modeft. I have already mentioned the prodigious attach- ment of the Englith to politics. This paffion is a6tually among them an inducement to marriage. A hufband who can talk of nothing but public affairs, is always lure to find in his wife a perfon with whom he may converfe concerning thofe topics which in- tereft him moft. lie has no need to go abroad, to farisfy his appetite for this darling fubje&. The Englilh are rot ungrateful to Nature for her prodigality towards them. The children are never bound up in fwaddl ing-clothes, but covered with a thin drefs, which gives a perfect freedom to all their motions. The great advantages aiifing from in- oculation, become every day more perceptible. L The The fchools for the education of young people of both fexes, are almoft always in the country. In walking through the charming villages which fur- round the metropolis, one is delighted to fee three or four houfes together, dedicated folely to this piir- pofe. Thefe fupport a prodigious number of lan- guage-maflers, dancing-mafters, mufic-mafters, &c. &c. The ladies trufting perhaps too much to their na- tural charms, often neglect the means of fetting them off to advantage. But a very few, even of the women of the town, make ufe of rouge. Many women of fafhion, when drefled in the moft elegant manner, do not ufe hair-powder ; neatnefs, however, which feems actually to be a rage amongft them, is never neglected. The moft elegant part of an Englifhwoman's apparel is her hat, which is u'ually adorned with ribbands and feathers. No female, of whatever rank, dares appear in the ftreets of London on foot, without one of thefe ; the very beggars wear them. The art with which they place them, is but im- perfe&ly imitated by foreigners, who know nothovr to derive from them all their magical advantages. The charming effect which they produce, made Linguet obferve, that if Homer had been acquainted with this enchanting drefs, he would not only have given a ceftus to Venus, but alfo a hat. The fair fex in that country have a number of cuftoms peculiar to themfelves, and among others, that of riding on horfeback; in this fituation, they may be feen galloping by hundreds along Hyde- Park. On thefe occafions, they are always dreffed like Amazons ; a practice introduced by queen Anne, the contort of Richard" II. and which has continued to the prefc-nt time. The ladies alfo think it inde- cent to {hew themfelves at the window. It is only an extraordinary circumflance that will make a woman of of chara&er open it, to fatisfy her curiofity. The women of the town, however, are entirely above fuch a prejudice. The education among the Englifh, as far as it regards health, is excellent: I cannot, however, fay fo much in refpecl to morals. The abufes whLh prevail in the great fchools are well known ; I (hall therefore be filent concerning them. After a long contention concerning the advantages and difadvan- tages of a public or private education, it feems at laft to have been decided in favour of the former. The young dake of Bedford, who isthe richeft peer in the kingdom, was for feveral years at Weft- minder, where he was brought up as other young men. His table and his bed were entirely the fame as theirs. Two guineas a week were allowed him for pocket money ; and out of his income, which amounts to fixty-thoufand pounds per annum, five hundred only were expended in his education. All the exercifes which tend to bring the mufcles into action, and to make the body healthy and >- robuft, are the daily recreations of thefe public v fchools, which, nctwithftanding their numberlefsdif- advantages, do not, however, make youth effemi- nate. A great number of children of good extraction > are deftined from the earlieil age to commerce, and V educated accordingly. This practice, fo wife in itfelf, and which was the fource from which the Genoefe nobility derived their opulence, and by which the illuftrious houfe of Medicis were raifed to a throne, where they became the benefa&crs of mankind, was not introduced into EngUnd until about the middle of the feventeenth century. The Englifh nobility during the civil war, being almoft entirely attached to the king, were baniihed from all employments by the Houle of Commons, whofe power then preponderated j they therefore Lz hti ( 220 ) had no rcflurce but in trade. Thofe who poflefled abilities a mailed immenfe riches, and contributed by their exam; le to remove the ancient prejudices which ftill fubfifted in their country againft the em- ployment of a merchant. Soon after this, fome of the firft people in the kingdom became the inoil : -zealous partisans of commerce, and embarked their fortunes in it, by which means they at once gave aBivity and vigour to trade. This it is affirmed, v/as the Oiigin of that fplendour and opulence which England foon after acquired. In our own time, we have feen. the fon cf Sir Robert Walpole, formerly prime .minifbr of England, a private b:->rr. , and ..the brother oMord Oxtord, a citizen cf London. .People of rank not only become merchant?, but fome of them have even condefcended to learn trades. It is only however from whim, that a per- fon of quality ever takes fuch a ftrange refolution. I fhall mention, for example, the honourable Wortley Montague, brother-in-law to lord Bute, uho, when a child, ran away from his father's houfe to become a chirnney-fweeper. The rags with which he was covered, the coarfe fare, and llie Hows which he received daily, feemed preferable, in his eyes, to all the advantages appertaining to his birth. For nine months he followed this profefiion, and remained in the capital unknown : at length, however, he was difcovered and brought home, where every thing was pradifed to cure him of his fingular attachments but in vain. Pie fcon afterwards eluded the vigilance cf his relations, embarked as c. cabin- bov in a veffel that failed for Lilbon, and then travelled over Spain as an afllftant to a mule- teer. The life of this man, who died feme years fince in the Kaft, is one of the moft mdincholy and remarkable examples of the -waywardnefs of human nature. Thefe Thefe fantaftical a&ions are very frequent in England ; and they there pafs under the denomira- tron of w&fitir. In the year 1776, a perfon died in Lcf.don, who by means of trade amaffed the fu.-n of fixty tbou- fand pounds {Krlmg. By his will, he appointed on? or his relations his fo'e heir; with t! is pr.ricular condition, howev-er, lhat he fnould repair ev.ry day to the R.oy: 1 Exchange, and rermin there from two till three o'clock. Neither th famous Lord Baltimore, who'e whole life was one uninterrupted feries cf innumerable oddities. His follies, however, never hurt any one : CM the contrary, they were generally attended with un- common marks of goodn.fs and benevolence. His fortune v, as immenfe, for it amounted to nearly forty thoufand a year, the greatell part of v. L 5 was { 226 ) was tranfmltted to him from the province of Mary- land alone. He had laid it down as a principle, to live entirely according to his own fancy; in confe- quence cf this, he never folicited thofe employ- ments and dignities, to which, both on account of his fortune and his abilities, he had a right to afpire. He never went to court. An attachment to the fair-fex was his ftrongeft paflion : a circumftance which was greatly augmented by his travels in the Eaft. On his return to England, he built a fuperb houfe, in the moft pleafant part of London, after the mode of a celebrated HARAM in Corftantino- ple. The edifice being finiihed, he formed it into a feraglio, which he furnifhed with handfome wo- men, to whom, except the permiflion of going out, he refuted nothing. They were, however, regu- lated by certain rules, and to thefe he exacted the ihi cleft obedience. Hislordfhip lived in this man- ner, in the capital of a chriftian country, exactly as if he had been a muflulman. If he difliked any ofr hisfultanas, they were loaded with prefents, and allowed to depart: fomeof them actually received portions, and were enabled to marry in ccnfequence of his liberality. Although this kind of life did very little harm, and the Englifh, as we have already faid, are ex- tremely indulgent towards whims and caprices of every kind, yet the inhabitants of London could rot bear thofe Turksfh cu'toms. Songs and tatires were daily competed en tins Englith bafhaw, and the moft trifling anecdotes of his domeflic life were wrought up into novels and .ornances. The ccur- ' tiers, who never could pardon the contempt with which he treated their manner of living, alio endea- voured to ridicule his conduit. In a fhcrt time, one of the young women whom he entertained, was prevailed upon to accufe him of having committed a rape upon her. A criminal proctfs procefs was inftituted in confequence of this acctt- iation; but his lordthip vindicated his innocence, and triumphed over the malice of his enemLs. This affair, however, made a lively impreflion on his mind; he difmiflfed his miftrefles, fold his houfe, which is at prefent occupied by the duke of Bolton, gave away the magnificent furniture, and in a fhort time left his native country. He died foon after at Naples, in the thirty-fix th year of his age. The immenfe riches poflefled by the Englifh, enable them to indulge the moil: uncommon ca- prices. A wealthy individual, fome years fmce, built a houfe not far from Hyde-Park, merely to ridicule the gothic ftyle. All that was difagree- able and fantaftical in that tafle was here carica- tured. V A young prodigal, having formed the project of laughing the free-mafons into contempt, who uied to walk in proceflion through the capital, on Sr. John's day, affembled about eighty chimney-fweep- ers, whom he decorated with the enfigns, and badges ufually worn by that fraternity, and obliged them to march in a folemn manner through the principal ftreets. One may eafily conceive the great number of people who were attracted by this pleafantry ; and from that time, that fociety have never publickly celebrated the feaft of their patron faint. I myfelf aflifted at a fatiric.il procelTion, but of a kind entirely different from the former. The peo- ple of England, in the year 1770, were extremely di r contented with the adminiftration which at that time governed the affairs of the kingdom, becaufc they imagined that they intended to overturn the conftitution. In confequence of this, about a hun- dred perfons, clothed in deep mourning, aHembted together, to accompany a hearfe covered with black, and ( 228 ) and followed by attendants in the fame manner as at a, funeral. In the infide of this the GREAT CHAR- TER was placed, furrounded with all the emblems of LIBERTY, the obfequies of which they celebrated in the moft folemn manner. The preceflion, fol- lowed by an innumerable crowd, pafled the palace cf St. 'James's ; and this farce, which terminated without any bad confluences, conveyed a very proper leffon -, at lead, the event mewed that it was an uleful and a neceffary one. Thistalle for the EXTRAORDINARY fome years flnce gave rite to a. very uncommon project. It never was heard of in Germany, and is but little known even in England. A Scotchman of the name of Herries, who lived in one of the Hebrides, or Weftern ifles, had been ead in Captain Cook's Voyage, and then, to gam the af- fections of the inhabitants, marry a native of the country, introduce agriculture, and become fove- reigncfthe whole ifland ! A gentleman of fortune conceived the ftrange idea or' gcing to refide in Otaheue ; five of his frierrcis offered to accompany him, with their wives and farriilies ; and actually applied to the younger Forfter, who had been there, for his opinion of the enterprise. Tfie hiftory of England affofds, even in remote periods, a number of the imfl fantailical anecdotes. During the civil mr between Charles I. and his parliament, parliament, at the time when the royalifts begin to defpair of overcoming their enemies, theequeftrian ftatue of the monarch was put up to auction. A cutler, who had a mind \.o fpecnlate on this circura- ftance, bcught it for a trifling fum of money. Be- ing aiked what he intended to cio with it, he replied, that it was his intention to melt it into bandies for knives. Accordingly, he furniihed his {hop with a prodigious number of knives and forks, with^rorzz^ mounting. In a fhort time his warehoufe was full of cuftomers; perfons cf both parties ran to pur- chafe knives, the handles of which were made from a ftatue of a king of England. To the royalifts, it afforded a melancholy but precious remembrance of their dear matter; and as to their antagomils, this extraordinary circumftance was not a little flat- tering to their republican pride. The mechanic, in the meantime, profited by the enthufiafm of his countrymen, and doubled the price of his commo- dity, notwithftanding the lajidity of its fale ; ib that in two or three years, he>e#tiied a confidera- ble fortune. All th's time, however, the public had been duped. The fiatue had not been melted, as the cutler had aflpted, but ooly buried in the ground, and was actually, on the reiteration of Charles II. dug up and reftortd to that piince, who ordered it to be placed on a new baie at Charing-Crofa, where it remains to this day. The emblem on the pedeftal is well appropriated to the fubject : it confifts of two Genii, who, with forrow imprinted on their countenances, fultain a crown of thorns. At that unfortunate period, when the Englifli forces, under the command of general Braddock, were beat in America by the French army; when Minorca was taken by the latter j o\vcr ; and Admi- by the inlrigu.s of the minifhy of the former, ( 230 ) former, had experienced a violent, and as fome ftill affert, an unmerited end ; the nation became furious. In this unfavourable difpofition, the po- pulace having cbferved a foreigner drefled entirely in the French ftyle, near this ftatue of Charles I. immediately furrounded him. As he had juft ar- rived in London, and was entirely ignorant of the Englifh language, it uas impoflible for them to tell what countryman he was. The mob, in the mean time, held a confultation, and at laft it was refolved to place him on his majef- ty's horfe. A ladder was accordingly procured in an inftant ; the unhappy ftranger was obliged to get on behind the monarch, and, after the mod infult- ing language, was about to be pelted with dirt. Luckily, however, at the moment when they commenced the affault, a gentleman happened to be pafling that way, who having afked the reafon of this ftrange behaviour, and learned from the ttrarger himfelf that he was a Spaniard, immedi- ately informed the people of th is circum fiance. No fooner did they know their miftake, than they teftitied the utmoft repentance for their precipita- tion, helped the rider from his uneafy feat, and delivered him into the hands of his preferver. The Engliih populace call every foreigner a Frenchman, whether Swifs, German, or Italian. They in general have the greateft hatred that can be imagined to the whole French nation. Of late years, however, this prejudice feems to be entirely baniflied from the better fort, who now think the language of that polifhed people a neceffary part of their children's eduation. It was otherwise for- merly. The late Lord Suffolk, one of the promo- tors of the American war, actually employed a matter to inftrucl him in the French grammar, after he became a fecretary of ftate for the foreign depart- ment. The The averfion of the Englifh to anatomical dif- fections, is another of the prejudices which charac- terize that nation. The iurgeons have groat diffi- culty in procuring dead bodies ; they are obliged to pay large Turns For them, and are forced to carry them to their houfes with the utmoft fecrecy. If the people near of it, they aflemble in crowds around the houle, and break the windows. What greatly augments the general averfion to fo ufeful a fcience, is, that the fextons are oftentimes induced, by the certainty of a reward, to dig up corpfes from the church-yards. I am aftonifhed that government does not tak,e advantage of this national prejudice, and deliver to the furgeons the bodies of all foot-pads and highway robbers. Murderers, after execution, are always allowed to be differed. The Englifh, far from being felfim in regard to the happinefs and independence refulting from their liberty, on the contrary, wifh to fee all the kingdoms of the earth partake of the fame bleffing: this is another of the traits that chara&eri/s them. At the time that P A o LI and his brave countrymen were obliged to yield to the power of France, the whole nation affirmed, that it was their duty to aid thefe iflanders in the recovery of their liberty. The government, who were not willing at that time to gratify the wifhes of the people, were neverthelefs obliged to appeafe their murmurs, by granting a penfion of a thoufand pounds a year to the Corfican chief, which he enjoys at thib very moment. Every thing in London is made known by means rf hand-bills or advcrtifements in the newfpapers. One ptrfon informs you that his MAD-HOUSE is at your fervice ; a fecond keeps a boarding-houfe for ijcots; and a good-natured man-midwife pays the utmoft attention to ladies in certain fttuationt t and prorr.ifes to ufe the moil fcrupulous fecrecy. Phyficians ( 23* ) Phyficians offer to cure you of all manner of cfif- orders, fora mere trifle, and as for the money tc* pay them, you need never be at alofs; thousands daily making tendersof their fervicesto procure you, at a moment's warning, any 1'urn that you may ftand in need of. A lady of the name of PHILIPS is very felicitous in advertifing her goods, which are undoubtedly very fingular in their kind. Thefe confift of ware which are to be met with in a very few great cities in Europe. The voluptuaries of Italy are but im- perfectly acquainted with them ; and it is only in P.U-JS, and in London, that they are manufactured and ufed. 1 beg leave to mention the BALLADS, among the fjngularuies to be met with in this nation. Thefe it is true, are allb common in France, but not fold publicly as in London. It is ufually females who are employed in this avocation. They wander about the moil populous flreets of the capital, flop now and then and draw a crowd around them, to v.-hom they fing their fongs, which they fometimes accompany with -mufic. In thfjfe, witty exprefiions and humourous faliies arc often contained; and one is fomeiimes ferry to fee fuch talents as the- writers mull undoubtedly poflefs, employed in celebrating the trifling occurrences of the day. The lubjett is generally fome political event, which has novelty- and interefl to recom- mend it. Thefe ballads, being printed on coarfe paper, are fometimes fold for a fanhiiu 1 ', and fome- times for a halfpenny a piece; the quicknefs of the of the fule, however, amply repays the printer, as they ?.re vended by thoufuid?, if they happen to be popular. The populace pu:e Theatres -Italian Opera Jubilee in honour of Sbakefpeare Kelly the Poet -The Contrajl betwixt tbe Engltjb and French Theatres Foofe Carried George Alexander Stevens Mrs. Cornelys Pan- theon Malquerades Debating Societies. JL HE two principal theatres in London, open during the winter, are thofe of Drury-lane, and Covent-garden ; in the Hay market play-houle, which is under the direction of Mr. Colman, they at only during the fumrner months. The Italian Opera generally commences in the month of December, and fhuts in June : the repre- fentations are twice, and fomeiimes three times a week. As the Englifh in general have no great attachment to this exotic entertainment, and are, for the mod part, entirely ignorant of the language, this theatre is treated with the utmoft contempt by the more fenfible part of the people. The nobility alone fupport it ; and they merely becaufe // is tbe fafJiion. There is not any place of entertainment in Eu- rope where the audience yawn fo much as there ; its decoraticns, machinery, and wardrobe, are alto- gether unworthy of the nation. There is nothing tolerable but its mufic. The great fums given by the managers to the caftratos, who are better paid in England than any where, prevent them from lay'mg out any money on the neceffary decorations. The latter Utter confequently enrich themfelves, and the former have been conftantly involved in difficulties. It is very fingular, that the manners, tuftoms, and pleafures of other countries, can never become popular in England. This fingularity extends to mafquerades, and is vifible in regard to operas ; for although the opera-houfe is a noble building, and has cod immenfe fums. It has never yet been able to produce one work whofe merit rofe above me- diocrity. Everything that can chara&erife the Englifh nation, is to be met in their national theatres alone : there all the efforts of art, the elegance ofcompo- fition, and the flights of geniu?, are united. Drury- lane and Covcnt-garden are rivals to each other, and is: is difficult to decide, which of them poffefles that fuperioiity for which they both contend. Thefe two play-houies, for forty days before Eafter, perform oratorios on certain days, and lome- times double the price of admiiTion. Thefe are generally HANDEL'S compoflticns. The fingers are all Engiifii; and it has beew obferved by fome judicious connoifleurs, that they only want Italian rames, and a few journeys to the continent, to pro- cure uncommon reputation. The greatefl part of the foreign muficians who vifit London remain there; for as that great city, is achu.l'.y a PERU to them, they do not choofc: to deprive themfelves of the lucrative monopoly which they thereby enjoy, in regard to their own pro- feflicn. The Englim theatre is faid to have attained its greateft degree of perfection, during the laft years of GARRICK'I life; and without dcubt, this was its moft brilliant period. The principal works of the immortal Shakefpeare, and othef celebrated dra- matic ; -oits, were then reprefented with a juftice, a dignity, and a magnificence, before unknown. It It is true, that even then there was but one GARRICK, but he was feconded by the efforts of other ators, who, without equalling him, were yet worthy of being his affociates in immortalifing that celebrated epoch. Among thefe were Barry, Wood- ward, Wefton, &c. The retreat of the Englifh Rofeius, in 1776, was followed by the decline of thefiage; the other three died in the fame year. Mrs. Abington, the Athalia of England, wifhed alfo to retire, and could not be prevailed upon to remain wi'hout the moft earneft entreaties. . Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Hendericn fupplied, but in an indifferent manner, the public lofs ; they were the only two \\ho diftinguifhed themfelves among the crowd of actors, who were at that time candi- dates for the favour of the public. They made their firft appearance at Drury-lane, and weie loaded with p.pplaufe. The audience, however, began in a fhort time to fee them with a greater degree cf coclrtfs, and became conicquently more fparing of their praifts.. Among the number of peculiarities belonging to the Englifh playhcufes, may be reckoned the after- pieces, called ENTERTAINMENTS. Thefe, for the moft part, confift of a happy mixture of dia- logue, fong, r.nd dance; the decorations are amaz- ing, and the machinery is carried to the moft aflo- nifhing perfection. The people are uncommonly attached to this kind of diverfion. AH the great events that occur to the nation are dramatifed and reprefented on the ftage; for example, the coronation of the prefent King^ the Piince cf Wales receiving the order of the garter ; the grand review at Portfmouth,. in 17^4; the. camp at Coxheath ; and the ficge of Gibraltar. Thefe, reprefentations often laft for an hour and a half, and are ufually given after one cf Shakefpeare's plays. The ( 237 ) The Englifh do not diflike entertainments, hovr- cver long, provided they have variety to recom- mend them. I have feen the Peak of Derby fhire, its grottoes, caverns, and adjoining mountains, and, in fine, every thing that is marvellous in that fpot, repre- fented with an art that feemed to equal magic. But the moft remarkable of all thcfe, is SHAKE- SPEARE'S JUBILEE : that in honour of Voltaire, at the French '1 heatrein Paris, in the year 1777, was a paltry imitation of the Jubilee of the Englifti Poet. When this is a&ed, the fcenes are painted to reprefent the market-place at Stratford. At a cer- tain flpnal, the ftage is filled with a mob of country people, whom they actually take out of the flreet cnpurpofe; and then begins a proceflion, the like of which has never been feen on any theatre. A troop of dancers march firft with a folemn flep ; after them come nymphs, who ftrew flowers around. The principal charaters in each comedy then make their appearance, preceded by a flag, on which the name of the play is infcribed; a triumphal car, in which THALIA is drawn by grotefaue figures clofes the firft part. This is fucceeded by the Mufes, Venus, and the Graces; Cupids, Nymyhs, Fawns, and Dryads, who carry the rtatueof Slukefpeare, and keep time to the found of inftruments of mufic. Tragedy clofes the proceflion, attended by heralds and ftandard-bearers, who walk before her : then not only the principal characters in each piece, but alo the moft (Inking incidents make their appear- ance. In Macbeth the forcerers and their cauldron ; in Coriolanus the tent of that general adorned with the fafcts ; and in Romeo and Juliet the tomb of the Capulets Capulets forcibly imprefs the mind with the recol- lection of the principal incidents in every play. When the perfons of the drama arrive on the flage, they reprefent, in dumb-Jhew, the principal palTages of the tragedy. King Lear exhibits the madnefs with which he is fuppofed to be afflicted; and Richard III. that fury with which he is tranfported in the midft of the battle. Macbeth appears witfi a bloody poniard in his hand, and his lady, as defcribed by the poet, pur- fued by the avenging furies, and wandering about the palace with a lighted torch. Juliet ftaits from her lethargy, and lifts her head from the bier. The liclors and the eagles precede Julius Caefar ; a num- ber of Roman ladies proftrate themfelves before Coriolanus, and implore his protection. The pro- ceflion clofes with Melpomene, who is drawn in a chariot, and holds an uplifted dagger in her hand. The laft fcene reprefents a fuperb temple, the altar of which is adorned with the principal fubje&s mentioned by the poet, depicted in tranfparent paint- ings. This was a real apotheofis, for it was not a literary fanaticifm, but a juft admiration of every thing that is truly great and fublime, which placed the fUtue of this immortal genius in the temple of immor- tality. The a&ors conftantly pay the fame, if not a greater, attention to the galleries than the boxes, Before the curtain is drawn, there is a great deal cf noife; and afterwards the players are fometimes pelted with orange-peel: it is very rare however, that any difturbance is attended with dangerous con- fequences. In 1772, Hugh Kelly, who, from writ- ing in favour of his country, at length defended the rainifter, having prefented'a comedy called, A Word to to the Wife\ the audience were fo exafperated, that they would not allow it to be a&ed. Garrick made his appearance, but for once even he begged in vain: the play therefore was withdrawn, and they inftantly became quiet. The aflion of the Englim ftage is entirely differ- ent from that of the French. When one makes a comparifon between the good a&ors in London and Paris, the diflimilarity of their tones, their geftures, and their expreilions, appear to be wonderful. The marriage of FIGARO, which was repreftnted in the month of December 1784, almoft at the fame time in Paris and London, afforded a wonder- ful inftance of this obfervation. However, an in- timate knowledge of v both theatres, and even of Nature herfelf, will eafily difcover to us, that there is more than one "May to arrive at perfection. The Englim makeufeofa great deal of a&ion and vivacity on the ftage, and are not very ftrift in adapting thefe to the propriety of their characters. Very few of them, indeed, ever acquire a dignified manner. In original plays, taken from their own hiftory, and which confequently exhibit the manners and the cuftoms of the nation, this fault is notfo perceptible as in tranflations, fuch as 2Sara, Iphigenia, the Horatii, &c. in which, it muft be conreffed, that they do not excel. The women's parts are however, better fuftained. The a&refles fupport the honour of the theatres, by means of a noblenels and a dig- nity which charm the beholder. Mrs. Abington is the greateft ornament of their ftage, and unites all parties in her praife. She at- tempts comedy alone, but with fach a happy com- bination of nature and art, that I may affirm, with- out fear, that fo many talents were never united in any other female performer in Europe. She is no\r more than fifty years of age, and yet is able to re- prefent ( 240 ) prefent, with the fame cafe and propriety, either a country girl or a woman of famion. . / The Hay-market theatre was eftablifhed by the V celebrated Foote, the lale duke of Cumberland hav- ing procured a patent from George II. for that purpofe. This actor was ftyled the Englffi Arijio- fhanes. Btfides a fatyrical humour which was na- tural to him, and difcovered itfelf the moment that he opened his lips he had the advantage of fuccefs- fully imitating the Greek poets, by bringing his cotemporaries on the flage, and making them the lutt oi his farcafms, and the public ridicule. He may be faid to have invented a middle kind of dramatic entertainment betwixt comedy and farce. It muft be conltffed, that his productions have the merit of being fo many interefting pictures of the manners of the age. He ufualiy chofe fome tem- porary fubjeft, fpun it into three a&s, and made but little alteration even in the names of thofe who had the misfortune to foil under his lafh. He knew how to imitate with great exactnefs the gait and 'converfation of any one, and never forgot to place his hero in the moft foolifh. and ridiculous point cf view. When he played, the hciife, during the whole reprefentation, was affeded wuh a continual and convuifive laughter. His fcitirical vein made him feared by all who approached him, as he fpared no one, and hu witty farcaftic expreffions were never forgotten. But no perfon dreaded him fo much as Garrick, \vho was more arfefted by any pleafantry againft himfelf, than by the highefl eulogiums in his favour. He made ufe of every ftratagem to procure Focte's friendfliip, but in vain, for his natural temper cculd not be confined by any reflraint. J Lord Sandwich, who had been greatly offended at fome of his jokes, happening to niett him one day, day, aflted, " whether he was moft likly to be firft " ***** or hanged ?" *' That entirely depends, my " lord," replied the wit, " whether I embrace " your lordfhip's miftrefs, or your principles." The profefllon cf an actor is not thought difho- r.ourable in England ; on the contrary, he is re- garded and efteemed on account of his talents. Both Garrick and Focte not onl) lived in the moft fa- miliar manner with the firft nobility in the kingdom, but actually went to court, and were well received at St. James's. The funeral of the former afforded the molt convincing proof, how much they refpeCl perfons who among us are treated with fo much contempt. A great number of peers not only ac- companied the coi pie of this great man, but actually fupported the pall. Perhaps it may be here thought that I allude to fome inconfiderate young men of falhion, who, forgetting the refpe, and feveral peopb hired for the purpofe, occupied the centre of the pit, to fecond them in ca!e of need. When the curtain drew up, this ferved as a fignal for the attack. The ftage was inftantly covered with oranges r the ators took to their heels, and the champions from the boxes and pit joined each other fword in hand. In a fiiort time the affray became general : the ge- randolts and the cryllal branches were broken in a tlv.u'anu pieces. The ladies fainted away, and the gin.lemen uho had the ramnefs to draw upon the people, h, 'is plain; they have rot fortified towns to dc- fend, and are in no tear of an invafion. Of courfe there is nothing to in.luce them to an excrcife, from which no utility cou'd refult. Horfe-races are among the number of thofe di- terfions peculiar to the genius of the nation. M 5 ancient ancient Greeks were alfo fafcinated with the fame fimuiement, and fimilar fports were celebrated by the poets of lhat famous people. A foreigner can never feel himfelf fo much interefled in thefe, as an Englishman ; he will be fully fatisfied with having fcen them once. About twenty years fince, a famoui horfe called Cbtlders, who is faid to have been the beft courier ever fttn in England, died. On this occaficn, a thoufand portraits were engraved tf him, and his praifcs were lung in every (beet. On an irfcripticn below the print, it was aliened lhat, after an exa& calculation, this animal had been proved to \& fleeter than the 'wind. T. he paflicn for betting, that prevails on the race- grounds of Newmarket, and Epfcm, is sftoritl.ing. It is not uncommon to fee peribns rife ail their for- tunes there on a Tingle match. Afs-racing is alfo very frequent, in the neighbour- hood tf country towns: they cannot, however, be placed among the number of the national dives ficns ; yet wagers are frequently laid, even upon them. The palTion of betting is io very ftrong among the Engliuh, that the ptnfioneis of Chelfea and Greenwich Holpitals, being unable to indulge them- felvcs in either horfe or afs- races, have been known to wager on the fpeed of vermin. I (hall finifh this fketch of the favourite diverfioas among thefe people, with feme account of their Clubs, which are generally a fource both of plea- fure and utility : thefe clubs add very much to the fociety, and ferve to propagate their republican genius and public fpirit. The number in the ca- pital is afionifhinej. Every rank and fituation of life has one peculiarly adapted to itlelf, and each has its own proper and diftint name. The members of fome of them are fo opulent, and fo rumeious, that they often fubfcribe large fumfi, by means of which they carry their plar.s of p'atriotifm, patriotifm, or charity into execution. Amcngthefe are the Humane Society, which gives premiums ;or prefcrving the lives of their fellow-creatures; the IVbig Club, which guards againft the ufurpaiions of the fovereign ; and the Bill of Rights, whirh watches over ihe piivJeges of the na'icn : this latter was one of thechitf iupports of Mr. VV l.es. But of all theD, the mo ft exir^oidinary without doubt ave the Debating Societies, whole members meet merely to difyute. SuJi ii ftkutions exilt in no other city in Europe. There is one called the Robin Hood, which has ccn irsued from the begin- ning of the prefcnt century, and has had the honour or being frequented by Swift, (joldimuh, Fccte, Garrick, and a crowd of celebrated men. It is in this focittv, that a great i.u.nber of fa- mous lawyers and orators, among whom may be included lord Mansfield, firft displayed their talenl* to the public. I have been often aflv-nimed in thefe aflfemblies (for they are now very numerous in London) to fee theloweft of the populace evince a perfect knowledge of ancient and modern hiftory. The application which they make of this, and the arguments which they oppofed to their adverfaries, appeared to me very wonderful. Thofe of my readers, who are prejudiced againft the Eng!i(h nation, and who, confequently, may be tempted to accufe me of partiaUty in delineating their character, and praifing their noble, generous, and difmterelled manner of thinking and of acting are requested, after the almoft infinite number or* facts which I have recited in the courfe of this work, to read the following, as it will fpeak very forcibly in favour of my argument. I happened one evening in the mcn'h of Decem- ber, 1778, to vifit the Debating Society in Fofter- lane, Cheapfide. The war had juft broke out be- tweea ( 25* ) tween England and France; and it is well known that the Englifh had good reafon, at that time, to be irritated againftall their enemies. The national antipathy therefore, againftthe French, was carried toitsutmoft extent among all ranks and degrees of the people. It was ?.t this critical period that a Frenchman had the tafhnefs to venture into the affembly, and to rife to defend the iondu6t of his countrymen in regard to the American war. I couid fcarce believe my eyes, and I know not whether I was moft aftonifhed at the imprudence of the Frenchman, or the liberality of the Englifh, who allowed him to proceed. Let any one reprefent to his own imagi- nation, this foreigner appearing in the middle of a hcflile nation, and in a barbarous and difagreeable accent abufing them : will he not be aftcnifhed when I inform him that he was heard with the utmcft attention, 2nd fo far from being treated wi'h con- tempt, thanked by the chairman " for having fo *' much confidence in the generofity of the Englifh " nation, as to deliver his fentiments with candour, <* and franknefs, on the moft delicate and interefting fubjeds! !!" CHAPTER CHAPTER XIV. Reflefiient on tbe Finances The Envlijb Liberty *nJ C-inftitution Marine Preffin* of Seamen Green- wich Hofpital Sailors Admiral Keppel--Army. Militia Eajl-lndia Company Arts and Sciences. Britifh Mufeum Style of the English Gardens Conclujivn. 1.F the reader will give himfelf the trouble to \veigh with care the great number of facts and anec- dotes with which I have been anxious to interfperfe my Observations on England, he will find that the pretended declcnfion of that emrire, foretold and announced by fo many contemporary writers, ha* not as ytt 'aken place. That kingdom, however, is ai this very moment in a critic..!, if not a defperate fuuation, notwith- ftanding her foreign connections, her riches, her commerce, and her influence. Great Britain, which cannot naturally be con- fjder.d, in the balance of Europe, but as belonging to the fecond order of kingdoms, has been elevated to the rank < f one of the firft powers in the v\orld by braverv, wealth, liberty, and the happy confe- quences of an excellent political fvftem. For many years that ifland wielded the trident of Neptune in her victorious hand, and, ab r o'nte miflrefs cf the ocean, covered every fea with her fleets. It will be a problem for pofterity to iolve, how that ftate has created and maintained fuch an extenfive commerce, and amafled fuch immer.fc richci, at a time whea tha ( 254 ) the fpirit of induftry had made fo great a progrefs among her neighbours, and even Holland herielf had procured a decided luperiority over ail the other powers on the continent. But although the fun of Englifh greatnefs is not yet fet, it is probable that in a few years we (hall fee the power of that people extinguifhed ; not infenfibly, but all at once* The very firft war that .they are .fo rafh as to engage in, will, perhaps, whatever may be its evenr, precipitate tl,i fatal and too certain cataftrophe. In the political, as in the national world, death has pLn'.ed the feeds of de- ftjutkn along with thcfe cfexulence; and, though thofe may diicover and unfold themfelves, either fooncr or later, yet in the end they will never feel their tiled. Let us recollect that, but a very few years fince. a national debt of a hundred millions gave the utmoft ter.iion that it was then iufceptible of, to the fpring of this political machine. The facility, however, with which they found means to pay off the interelV of this immenfe fum, made them believe, that they poffeffed an inexhauilible fource of riches, and begat the moft dangerous fecurity. They are now, how- ever, though perhaps too late, recovered from this fatal error: a national debt, amounting to the im- nienfe fum of two hundred and fixty n iliions, has at length opened their eyes: the annual revenue is at prefent incompetent to fupply the annual expendi- ture, which, even in time of peace, amounts to more than fourteen millions. If we add to this, th^ intereftof a debt of one hundred millions, which Eng- land mufl contract the firit war (he is involved in, it will be politically impoflible for the natien to fuftain fiich an additional burthen without becoming bank- rupt. If any unforefeen eircumftance fhould cccafion Uais war, the conltquence would be terrible.- The ruin ruin cf the richeft and mod Jiftinguifhed familes >vould inevitably enfue : the commerce and the ma- ritime greatnefsof the Englifh would be attacked in their molt mortal parts; and that nation, now fo powerful, would be reduced fcr ever among the fecond order of European ftates. It is perhaps impoflible to avert this frightful ca- tafbophej the iagert precautions could fcarce di- miniih the evil, or render the c.onfequences lefs ter- rible. . This awful moment is approaching with th mc.ft rapid and alarming celerity ; no cne, however, has the refolution to oppofe it, and all leem to allow themfelves blindly to be led towards the horrid abyfs. I do pot, however, know \\hether a national bank- ruptcy \vbuld involve the bank of England in its rum. That machine which is conduced wuh a coniplicated, but an excellent mechai i m, is the chief fuppoit oi the credit of 'he (late, of all the great trading companies, and of ihe principal mer- chants in the capital, and the provincial towns, both, ot Kmjlar.d and Scotland. Its bufinefsis carried on not by means of gold, but paper; which will be no longer efleemed, than during the opinion which the public entertain of its value. To fee the excellence of the fyftem adopted by this great people, in its full extent, it ought to be recollected, that r.otwithflar.dingthe immenfe com- merce cf England, in every part cf the globe, and her riches, which have become prover ial, yet it is probable, that the quantum of ready money cir- culated throughout the kingdom is very fmall. Ac- .cordirg to the beit calculation, it dots not exceed -twenty .millions of pounds flerling. This fum, which fcarce ferved to carry on the American war for a fmgle year, is but little more than what the e_coromy of a certain German fovereign has hoarded up in a GSort lime, and that too in A country not famous tor itsrichw. Similar compari- fons ( 256 ) fens will give occaficn to many rcfleaions ; and I dare affirm, without either bting abiurd or ridiculous, that a iingle city in the Empire poflefles a larger portion 0. facie than all Great Britain. a hcipiru of attwity and inciuitry, which animates the whole nauun, is the feafon that this deficiency ei co:n & n< t perceptible. As fums or any confe- oucrite are generally paid in bank notes, and every object ct trade is accomj. iifhed -by means of paper, ii utcdiaiii) roilows, that ready money is never em- ployed but iniegaid to trifling demands. -Thisoc- clioiisuiat auonuh.ng and continual circulation, o* which i^.iis and Amiterdam turnii"h us with a very iai ;i iu^a, but which, however, is merely illujiyvvnin the veflelsof other nations, prevails there; and a number of happy inventions, which can only be imitated by foreigners in a very imperfect manner. Thefe veflels are fheatheel with copper, provided with ventilators, ovens, machines for calculating the long'uude, alembics for frefhening fait wat; : .r, &C. &c. The F.nglifh, in fine, have contrived, by a thoufand different expedients, to obviate the dange- rous accidents and difigreeable circumftunces at- tendant on long voyages. The fubordi nation on board their navy is extra- ordinary ; it furpafles the difcipl ne of a Pmflian armv. Even the firft lieutenant, who is the fecond pcrfon onboard, dares never to approach the captain without faluting him \vith the moft prcfound rcfpecfc, and paying the moft implicit obedience to his com- mands. { 262 ) mands. The firft thing that the officers do on a morning is, to inform themfelves what humour the captain is in ; his authority being fo extenfive, that it is absolutely in his power to make the lives of all thofe around him either happy or mi'erable. An old failor, who attended me almcft conftamiy during my ftay at Portfmouth, expreffed this in one (hort and emphatic fentcnce : " A fhip of war," faid he, " is either a heaven or a hell, according " to the character and temper of the com- " mander." Notwiihftanding thefituation of England, which has laid her under the neceflity from time imme- morial to have reconrfe to a navy for fitpport, her marine was very contemptible in former tiir.es. Every maritime town was then obliged to furnith a certain number of veflels in time of war, and thefe ? which were always merchantmen, were filled with foldiers. The city of London fitted out twenty- five veflels, containing fix hundred and fixry-tvvo men, to afTift Edward III. in the cnnqusil: of France. The epoch of the Englifh marine was ihe reign of Elizabeth ; and fince that time it has in- creafed to the aftonifhing degree o\ greatnefs and perfection, whLh it has attained in our days. At the end of the American war, it confuted of three hundred and forty-fix fhips, great and imall. Some of thefe carried one thouUnd feamen ; every one of whom ccft the government four pounds per month. It is al mod impoflible to conceive the prodigiouj quantity of pfovifions, and ammunition, with which the ftore-houfts belonging to tlie navy arc nlL'd. The prircipal magazines are undoubtedly at Portl- mouth and Plymouth ; but even in the fmalicfr., fuch as thofe at Chatham, Dcptford, Sheer nefs, and Woolwich, there is fuch an abundance of every necefiary, that in one of thefe, more naval {lores urc deposited than in all the arfenals of Italy. The The manner of manning the navy In time of war, is of all the cuftoms in England the moft blame- able, the more efpecially as it is not warranted by the laws. As the failors are forced into the fervice, and as they on fuch occafions generally make a ftout refinance, the moft bloody icenes are frequently occaficned by ihufe encounters. Every friend of humanity muft revolt at the idea of a prefs gang in a free country ; a practice that entirely overturns every principle of Englifh liberty. Some of the moft elegant writers have decried this mode of pro- curing feamen, and the greateft orators declaimed in parliament againft fucn a fcandalous perverficn of power ; but the docVtne of necefjity has hitherto ftifled every other Consideration. It was in vain that, during the laft war, boun ies were held out to the feamen ; avarice tempted but a few ; the greater number rather chole to enter on board merchant- men, where there is neither danger nor fubordi- nation. Greenwich hofpital is well calculaled to encourage the navy. It is one of the nobleft and moft beauti- ful buildings in Europe. Its fituation on the banks of the Thames is extremely agreeable, and it is finely embellttlied by majVftic domes, colonadcs, flatues, pictures, &c. This tftablifhment ferves as an afylum for many thoufand invalid failors, and a Mill greater number of out-penfioncrs eat in com- mon, are allowed two clean fhirts a week, and have new beds every year. Each ptrfon fleeps by him- felf. The neatnefs which rc-igns throughout this edifice is truly ainirable, and worthy of imi- tation. The Englifh feamen form a particular clafs by themfelves. From their moft tender infancy, they are more accuftomed to the fea than the land, and never fail to become as boiftcrous as the element* with which they have been familiar. Add to this, the ( 264 ) the prejudices common to the reft of the nation, and you may eafily conceive that this body of men have fomething original about them. The manner in which they fpend their priz,e-money, got in time of war, and the hardfhips which they endure without grumbling, fccm to realife and confirm the proverb fo common in England, " that their failors get their " mcney like hories, and fpend it like <-fles." The higher clafles cf officers in the navy are greatly refpe&ed, on account of their knowledge their valour, and their experience. Of between feventeen and eighteen who commanded fquadrons during the American war, not a fmgle one could be taxed with incapacity. A great number cf their admirals are actually models of hor.cur and probity. Among; thefe, I beg leave to mention admiral Kepptl, who, in the year 1779, by the intrigues oi Lord Sandwich, was tried by a n.ival ccurt-mariial. The captain oi a man ct war is generally a per- fon of feme ccnfidcra; ion in England. I knew an eld gentleman called captain O'Brien, who had the honour of entertaining' the kings of Portugal ai.d Sicily en board his Trip. The pay allowed in the navy is very confiderable, and foreigners, on that account, wifh for employments in the fervice; but the jealoufy of the people prevents it. Commiffions in the fea fervice are never venal, and men of the firtt rank and quality are obliged to rife from the loweft ftations. The great attention paid to the ravy occafions the land forces to be neglecltd. I nine army, cerun.if- fions are be ught and fold: a barbarous ufage, ar.d diametrically oppofite to all the principles of a military eftalliihmenr.. The ambition of a lard officer is entirely ftifled by the little reipetl paid to his profeflion : he therefore nealt&s his duty, and lofes all rclifli for the fervice. There are feme ErgHih Englifh generals, to whom the fubalterns of a Pruflian regiment could give lefibns on the art of \var. As a free people are, with great reafon, jealous of nothing fo much as a large army in time of peace, all the good patriots declare aeainft it. In the commencement of the year 1785, the regular troops in England amounted to only 29,345 : fome members or" parliament, however, (poke of this as an abufe, and wilhed the number to be confiderably decreafed. A (landing army is now become a receflary evil, in ail the European ftates; and the lingliih have at length been contlrained to adopt this cuftom : they art-, however, extremely careful to provide againil the bad confluences refulti ng from i t. The troo ps are paid and maintained by an act rf parliament, cal'ed the mutiny bill; bur as it remains in force lor only twelve months, it muft be renewed, attheexpi- rat.on ofr that period, by the three branches of the legitlature; elfe the army is of courfe annihilated. As long as this law continues unrepealed, the Eng- lifh need never be apprehenfive of arbitrary power. The incredible celerity with which the laft revolu- tion in Sweden was effected, cannot encourage, much leis ferve as a model for, a king of England. The better, nay, the moft numerous part of the Swedifh nation defired to fee the monarch more Independent in refpecl to his authority, and lefs reftri&ed in the exercife of his prerogative : the/ therefore longed for a fignal to fecond his intentions. In England, on the contrary, a fimilar wifh could exift in no other heart, than that of a defpicable courtier, or an inhabitant of Bedlam. The liberty of the nation is allo fupported by a ftill more potent auxiliary, which the people ac- quired inder the wife adminiftration of lord Chatham, This ncufter-piece of policy, like a N thoufand ( 266 ) Ihotifand other intererting ctrcumftances concerning England, is either unknown or undervalued in Germany. I now allude to the militia ; an idea original in its kind, and refpeclable by its confe- quences in the eyes of the philofopher and the flatefman. Although it fomewhat refembles a fimi- lar tflablifhment on the continent, it muft however be allowed by every impartial man, that the militia of Switzerland cannot be compared with that of England. As it was determined that thefe troops were not to ferve in foreign countries, but were only intended to defend their families, their houfehold goods, and the altars of their religion, all the people in the kingdom, refpe&able on account of their wealth, their rank, and their employments, offered their fervices, and were enrolled in troops levied folely for the defence of the nation. Lord Rochford who had been ambaflador in France, the duke of Rich- mond, at this prefent moment a minifter of ftate, and a lieutenant-general in the army, the marquis of 1/anfdowne, the dukes of Devonfhire, Manchefter, &c. all thought it an honour to ferve in this patri- otic body. The duke of Grafton, after he had been difmifled from his fituation of prime minifter of England, accepted the command of a regiment of militia, and actually fubmitted to the orders of general (now lord) Amherft, whom he had a few months before obliged to wait his Icifure in an anti- chamber. The duke, decorated with the order of the gar- ter, was feen during the review at Coxheath, con- founded in the ranks with the other officers. This review was one of the moft fmgular fpetacles that I have ever beheld during the courfe of my travels. The camp confifted of eighteen thoufand foldiers, all of whom, but two or three battalions, were njilitia. For many years there had not been fuch a great great army in the neighbourhood of the capital. Prodigious crowds were, therefore, attracted by the novelty of the circumftance : the fovereign himfelf, to whom it was alfo new, having never before feenr but a few regiments in Hyde Park, wasfo tranfport- ed with the fcene, that he cried out to the com- jmander in chief, " O Amherft, what a fine fight " this is !" This exclamation, as the king was at that time very unpopular, gave occafion to many fharp and fatiiical remarks. A body of eighteen thousand men has not any thing in iis appearance that can excite the wonder of a foldier, more efpecially a German one ; it wa$ fomething more worthy of the eye of a phil ofopher than that of a military man, which attracted my attention. There is no difference either in the difcipline, evolutions, or exercife of the militia and the regu- lars ; at Laft, my eye, al hough accuftomed to the Pruflian exercife, could not perceive any. On the contrary, the former diftinguiih themfelvesby thei? activity, and attachment to their duty. It feems to me, that thofe men who ferve the ftate by choice, ferve it alfo with pleasure. The army is, in general, a ftrange mixture of men, commanded for the mod part by officers whoie necefiities oblige them to follow that pro- fefiion : the nobility prefer the militia. A certain great mcnarch of the prefent age had not a proper idea of this eftablifhment, elfe he would not have been offended with the court of St. James's, for fending a minifter plenipotentiary to him, who had only the rank of major in the militia. The duke of Manchefter, a colonel belonging to the fame body, was actually at that time in the quality of ambaifador at the court of Verfuilles. N a The ( 263 ) The national militia, in the year 1778, formed an army of twenty thouiand men ; fince that time, it has been propofed to increafe them to forty thoufand. The Eail- India company may be looked upon as a political phenomenon. This fociety of mer- chants pofitfles territories, fhe inhabitants belonging to which amount to fixteen millions. England, Scotland, and Ireland, hardly contain half fomany. During the laft war, they maintained at their own cxpence an army of eighty thousand men, The revenues of their dominions amount to more than fix millions of pcunds annually, and fome of their fervants have, in a few years, realized fortunes of little lefs than half a million fterling ! To give a proper idea of their immenfe riches, I have only to remark to the reader, that if the fovereigns of Denmark, Sweden, Naples, Sardinia, and Poland, were to unite the fums yearly levied in their king- doms, they would not amount to fo much as thoie received by the Eaft-India company. It facrifices about two millions per annum, to fupportits military eftablimment in time of peace ; and in time of war the expence is nearly doubled: for they do not pcfiefs the talent in Afia, as in Europe, to perfuade^ or rather to force, the foldier to encounter all the horrors of war, for a morfel of bread, and a drop of water. Not only the Englifh troops, but the fc-poys, receive large pay in that part of the world. The debt of the Eaft-India company, in 1785, amounted toieven millions ; a moderate fum when compared with their revenue, and which, by the adoption of a proper fyitem of economy, they might foon pay off. It is the want of this economy, which at fuch an immenfe diftance from Europe it is very difficult to enforce, joined to the iniatiabte Avarice of their fervants, both civil and military, that ( 1*9 ) that has repeatedly brought the proprietors to the verge of bankruptcy : it is certain, however, that Mr. Pitt's bill put an end to many abufes. In the year i 7 76, the company had a fleet of forty-nine mips, each cam ing twenty guns, in their fervice, wuhout including a prodigious number of fmall vefftls employed in trading en the toafts of Afia. Sixteen of the larger vtflels have fince betn deduced ficrn this number, on account or the re- prefentaticn of the lords or the admiralty, who pretended that fo many vefiels of thtir dimenfions occafioned a fcarcity of timber, which could not be fupplied by any other partof the world but their own for ells. The prefent ftate of the arts and fciences in Eng- land, is too well known to my countrymen, for me to pretend to fay any thing new on that important head. I (hall, however, take the liberty to make a few reflections on that fubjer.. The foundation of literary fociety in that country, is liberty ; that liberty which the natives have con- tinually before their eyes, and which they never lofe fischt cf in any of their purfuits. They do not knowxvhat it is to be excited to ftudy by means of penfions, which are indeed little lefs than honour- able fetters, that prevent us from faying and writing what we pleafe. The Royal Society includes amongft its mem- bers the greateft part of the Englifh peerage, as doe* alio the Antiquarian Society, which firft made u* acquainted with the celebrated ruins of Palmyra, Balbec, and Athens. The nobility do not in gene- ral con.ribute by means of their writings to the fplendour cf letters, and the progrefs of fcience; they willingly, however, employ their riches in defraying the expences of thefeeftablifhments. The learned in other parts of Europe form a ckfs by thcmielves, and are in general either perfc- N 3 cuted cuted cr defpifed. In England, the minifters, the magiftiates, the barrifters, the phyficiar.s,rhe clergy, the artifts, the merchants, and even the military, all in one word, think it a glory to be thought men cf letters, and to forget, when they aflemble together, .every circumftance that appertains to their rank or their occupations. The Royal Academy has a certain part of Somerfct-houfe affigned to the purpofes of their inftitution. In this noble manfion, \vhich may be called a palace (for it is one of the nobleft efforts of modern architecture) they have an annual exhi- bition of the works ot the greateft painters. It is well known that, in England, diftinguifhed merit may afpire to honours and dignities with more certainty of luccefs than in any other country. I could quote examples of this without number ; fuch as thofe of Prior, Addiion, and a great many more, \\hofewruingsraifed them to the moft diftineuifhed offices in the ftate. Locke was appointed to the honourable and lucrative fituation of Mailer of the Mint, and was fucceeded in his employment by the immortal Newton. Bacon, Clarendon, and Chatham acquired their fortunes and their titles folely by their perfonal merit, and their attachment to the fciences. Services done to the nation never fail being remu- nerated in a manner worthy of a great people. The elder Fcrfter is, perhaps, the only inftance to the contrary. He had the misfortune to incur the hatred of a minister unworthy of his high rank, and who, notwithstanding that he had once treated him with the warmed regard, perfecuted him afterwards v ith a decided and unmerited averfion. The deftiny of this learned man was peculiarly unfortunate : at a time when his affairs were very much deranged, he had of his own accord prefented the Queen with a great many birds from the iflands in the Southern Ocean, which it had coft him much labour and many years to coifed and preferve, and which he could < 271 ) could have fold at a very high price in England. Her Mrtjcfty accepted the prelent, and, to the" afto- nifhment of every one, forgot to recompenfe thii celebrated traveller. His fen feems to have been enveloped in the unhappy ck ftiny of his fa;her. England loft Lim while very young, and Germany, to this day, laments his death. Never did any other foreigner write the Fnglifh language with fo much elegance and precifion. Many ot the critics rank the hiftory of his voyages among the number of their claflical works. Baretti, a learned Italian, who has refided more than twenty years in London, has alfo attempted to write in Engltfh, but without fuccefs. This author does not belie the character of hit his nation. Entirely unacquainted with everything that concerns the people among whom he has lived for fo many years ; not devoid, however, of fenfe, but yet fuperftitious in the extreme ; this perfon has not entirely forgotten the ufe of the poignard; for feme time fmce he ailaflinated an En^lilhman, in the open ftreet, who according to his account, had attacked him. Such an attrocious a&ion fubjeted him to a criminal profecuticn: he, however, efcaoed punifh- ment, becauie there was no witnefs to the tranfac- tion ; and the dead man, who alone knew the truth, could not appear to contradict him*. N 4 The * The tranflatpr here begs leave to obferTC, that he fhould do violence to his own feelings, if he did not ftate, that an Enftlifh jury, after a full inveftlgation of this transition, acquitted Mr. Barretti, who, inftead of aifaflinating an unoffending man, as is implied by the text, only dt fended his own life again ft the afiaults of a ruffian. Soire ofthcfirit characters in tta kingdom attended the trial, and gave the moft honourable teftimunies of the worth and goodne-fs of a gentleman, whofe life v\ *s fViortencd by the moft cruel negledl. and whufe very memory has been loaded with uiiraerhwl obloquy. The Britifh Mufeum is rather a monument of the progrefs of the arts and fciences, than the means of giving them a higher degree of perfection. The cabinet of natural hiftory, and the collection of ma- nufcripts, medals mechanical inventions, &x. are very interefting, and in point of value almoft in- eftimable. To theie, the nation every year makes new additions, not unworthy of the wealth and the greatnefs of the people. Sometimes whole cabinets are bought, and incor- porated with this immer.fe collection ; there was one year, for example, when the parliament pur- chafed the cabinet of the celebrated Sir William Hamilton, for the fum of eleven thoufand pounds fttrling. In the mufeum, a copy of Magna Charta is preferved. The printed books are contemptible in point of number, and but ill agree with the reft of this magnificent eftablifhment. They ought to beaugmented. The houfe itfelf is undoubtedly one of the fineft, the mod fpacious, and mcft agreeable manfions in the metropolis; it was built by Montague, the fa- vourite of Charles II. To this noble enterprife, he fet apart a large portion of an immenfe fortune. The mcft famous painters belonging to the court of that magnificent and voluptuous monarch, fuch as La Foffe, RouiTeau, and Monnayer, here exhaufted all the charms and the fecrets of their art. Their works are viewed even at this day with rapture. The order and the airangement which prevail in this inftitution, are not, however, equal to the other parts of fuch a noble eftabliihment. The greatert cclieftion of coins and medals, per- haps in the whole world, beK.ngs to a private gentle- man of London. It is to Dr. Hunter, a famous phvfLian, who amaffed great riches by his pro- feflion, and who died feme years fince, that the nation is indebted for this fuperb cabinet; to the furnifhing ( 273 ) furnifhing of which he dedicated fifty years, and more than one half of an immenfe fortune. It is now ftill more valuable, as it has been greatly aug- mented within thefe laft ten years. An Engtimman of the name of *Duane, poflefled collection almoft equal to the former. A great number of coins flruck by the Parihians, and many other nations ctlel. rated in ancient hiftory, rendered this cabinet uncommonly intercfting. Hunter pur- chafed and added this to his own. The immenfe cabinet of natural hiftory, belong- ing to Sir Aftiton Leverf, is another proof c.f Englifh magnificence. Never, perhaps, has human induftry formed fuch a complete collection of rare and va- luable birds ! The manner of laying out their gardens, is the fole art in which the Englsfh have not taken Tome model for their guide. The difgufting^amenefs, and tedious uniformity, which all Europe had adopted, wasdefpiftd by them: they therefore followed Na- ture ftep by ftep, and only called in Art now and then to their afliftance. This method, for a long , time the fubjeQ: of raillery and difdain to other na- tions, begins every day to f nd new partifans. The traces of labour are almoft imperceptible in the formation of an 1 ngiifh garden : and yet, nevcr- thclefs, the expences are very ccnfiderable : the lawns, which referable fo many verdant carpets, muft be coi ftantly cut, and attended to with un- common care. The gardeners alfo receive great wages. It is fingular, that there is not, throughout the v/holc kingdom, one garden in the French ftyle; they are all entirely in a tafte peculiar to themfclvcs. N 5 The * Mr. Duane is fince dead. ^ Sir Afhton Lever is alfo dead, and his colle&icm is now .in the poifeffion of Mr. Parkbifon. ( 274 ) The moft remarkable, on account of their beauty and extent, are the Marquis of Buckingham's at Stowe, the Duke of Devonshire's at Chatfworth, and the King's at Kew. Other parts of the country abound with parks, fo charming and romantic, that nothing feems wanting but fhepherds, to make the beholder imagine him- felf in the mrdft of one of the mod delicious pro- vinces of Arcadia. The principal of thcfe are fuu- ated at Richmond, Windfor, and Greenwich. I HAVE now given a {ketch of that famous Ifland, the people of which, according to Bofluet, like the ocean that fuirounds them, are in perpetual commotion; an cbfervation which a hundred year* experience leems to confirm. In England, event* are continually taking pl^ce, which merit the at- tention of every philofophical obferver, and elevate the annals of the prefent age to the hiftorical di^niiy of ancient times. LIBERTY, that inexprefiible blefling, is, and has always been, the fource of all thefe heroical snd fublime a&ions, which only excite our barren admiration. Long before the people had acquired, or, if you will, conquered their great ch -rter, Alfred inferred thefe remarkab! e words in his laft will, " The Englifh " ought to be as free as their th- ughts." No peo- ple abhor defpotifm, and everv thing that may lead to it, fo much as thefe proud Iflanders. This aver- fion juftifies the exclamation of Macaulay, the ce- lebrated female hiftorian : ** 7 he fight c f a defpot,'^ fays me, '* has never fullied the purity of my " regards." No nation can boaft of having for fo long a period f time pcffefled fo many focial and political lik flings. bleflings. To fee fo many millions of men, enjoying an uninterrupted pofleflion of rights, worthy of the dignity of human nature, is a circumftance unex- ampled in hiftory. It is in that fortunate ifland alone, that the ac- cumulation of riches, luxury, pleafures, and all their dangerous confequences, has not given fo any one clafs of citizens a pernicious and dangerous afcendancy over the laws. FINIS. University of California N REGIONAL SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. ifl Univ( Sol