of active intellect who would swell the flow | talk, nothing to aim at but to shine, nothing of soul by their contributions, were they to covet but admiration; we should more even tied as closely and constantly to the readily coincide in opinion with this sprightmetropolis as the tavern waiter who draws ly lady. their corks, or the more respectable purveyor who supplies the market with their luxuries.

As we presume that there is at this time at least as much genius, and taste, and literature, at home, as in any capital abroad, consequently there can be no deficiency of the finest materials for enriching and embellishing society, were their possessors a little more disposed to imitate a neighbouring nation in one talent, in which they must be allowed to excel all others-the talent se faire valoir.

A great ancient has pronounced silence to be no unimportant art in society, and points, in a particular instance, at one man, as the wisest in an enlightened assembly, because he knew how to hold his tongue. If there had not been many discreet imitators of this taciturn orator in the London parties, what a diminution would it have been in the number of this lady's delighted auditors, and what a lessening of their own gratification in enjoying the exhibition of her superlative talents!

There are, indeed, 'very frequently sounThere is more sterling weight than show der causes for being silent than deficiency of in the genuine English character; and Mr. talent, or lack of information; and how hapAddison was not the only one of his country-pily would the multitude of idle talkers be men who, with respect to intellectual wealth, diminished, if they never opened their could draw for a thousand pounds, though mouths, but when they had something to say. he may not always have a guinea in his The writer in question ascribes to causes pocket. But if they are incessantly produ- which appear quite new, the reserve and incing all they are worth to every comer; sipidity of the English ladies, when she says, when called out in public situations, in the that the true motive is the fear of ridicule; senate, the pulpit, or at the bar, we see all and that as they are not called upon to enthe energies of genius in all its opulence and liven conversation, they are more struck variety. We see the most powerful rea-with the danger of talking, than with the insoning, adorned by the most persuasive eloquence. With these ample materials for conversation, they are not perhaps driven, like some of their more volatile neighbours, to talk for the sake of talking. Talking is not with Englishmen so completely a besoin, so entirely a natural necessity. They are more disposed to consider conversation as the refreshment than the pabulum of life. Added to this, their professional and laborious duties abroad, may make some of them frequently consider society as a scene in which rather to repose their minds, than to keep them in full exercise.

men.

convenience of silence. She then somewhat unaccountably, goes on to attribute the frigidity of their society to the dread of newspapers; and conjectures, that because they do not delight in political warfare, they keep themselves back as much as possible in the presence of others. We did not know that English ladies were either so political or so discreet, or that vivacity and the graces were such heavy losers from these unsuspected causes. Perhaps this lady did not know that the English educate, or rather did once educate, women of fashion for home. A man of sense will desire to find in his doLearning in this country, is not confined mestic associate, good taste, general inforto academicians, authors, and professional mation, and a correct judgment. In the There is scarcely a man of fortune in course of their literary pursuits and converthe kingdom who, if he be not actually lear-sation together, he will take pleasure in rened, has not, however, been bred to learning. fining and improving her mind; but he The effect of that high institution, brought would not delight in a wife who will be alfrom the halls and bowers of our distinguish-ways introducing subjects for debate, who ed seats of learning, is generally diffused; will be always disputing the palm of victory. it serves to fill and adorn the stations of dig-Competition and emulation do not contain nity, honour, and utility of public, as well as the elements of domestic happiness. He to grace the shade and raise the tone of pri- married for a companion, not for a competivate life. So that an illiterate gentleman is tor. Rivalry is no great promoter of affecmore rarely to be met with in this country, tion; nor does superiority in wit always conthan in any other in the world. When a fer superiority in happiness. A professed learned dignitary of our church enquired of female wit, like a professed devotee to muone of the French emigrant clergy, who sic, will be soon weary of wasting her took refuge in England, if he understood talent on her husband; and even he, though Greek, he coolly replied, Monsieur, nous avons un professeur!'

But to return to the other sex.-Our only fear on this subject is, lest they should not always remain what the writer in question represents them as being at present. If, indeed, we were only sent into this world to be entertaining; if we had nothing to do but to

he might like such an occasional display in a visit to the house of his friend, will find other talents wanting in a constant homecompanion: talents which will not only embellish, but improve society; qualities which will eclipse wit, and outlive beauty.

We do not find that those brilliant French women, who had spoiled this sprightly wri

ter for English society, reserved their wit for the entertainment of their husbands, or their learning for the instruction of their families. Their most graceful ethic and courtly poet, who had the best opportunities of ascertaining the real value of professed wits in society, has given his estimate in a single line :

Diseurs de bons mots, fades caracteres !

the few writers with whom this accomplish ed peer was not acquainted, recommends, with as much warmth as his lordship, the duty of pleasing our neighbour, But here the two moralists part. The noble writer would have us please others to benefit ourselves. All his precepts originate, proceed, and terminate in that one object-self. The Christian writer directs us to 'please others for their good,' their highest good, their moral 'edification. The essence of the worldly code of ethics is selfishness; that of the Christian is disinterestedness.

Among other deductions from brilliant society in England, this lively writer laments an evil, which, if things proceed as they have now begun, we fear may not always There is a generosity in Christian interremain a subject of lamentation, as coquetry course, the very reverse of that little and is, in her recipe book, the flavour which narrowing spirit ascribed to it by those who gives to society its poignancy: and this zest do not know, or do not love it. It cannot be she complains is not to be found in England, otherwise; for are not those who cultivate except in the unmarried! If, however, it ever the followers of Him, whose sublime the growing imitation of French manners characteristic it was-' that he pleased not should hereafter add this new savour to the himself?" real accomplishments of English ladies, their fathers and husbands may not think it the most desirable finishing. She accounts for the fondness of our ladies for foreign travel in a manner not the most flattering to their purity, by supposing it to arise as much from the desire of escaping from the restraint on their manners, as from the influence of the fogs on their constitutions.

In the society of Christians, every man does not so much look on his own things as on the things of others. Christians do not make conversation a theatre for dispute or display. They consider it as a reciprocation of benignity; a desire to draw out the talents of those who, with more merit, have less pretension. An interchange of sentiment between intellectual and highly prinShe is at no loss to know the true cause of cipled persons confers both pleasure and bea fact, which we are entirely indebted to nefit. To make it at once pleasant and proher sagacity for discovering at all, namely, fitable, there must be an accordance of prinwhy the disgust of life scizes on those wo-ciple, if not of opinion. The conversation men who are confined to these inanimate so- will frequently have a tincture of religion, cieties. Certainly this explanation admits even when the topic under discussion is not the following preliminary question,-Are religious. Topics barely secular are suscepthe movers in these lifeless circles disgusted tible of this spirit; and in pious and discreet with their existence? By the way, we do hands, they will be treated in a way to pronot quite understand whether by le degout mote religion without professing it. de la vie she means a dislike to company, or a taste for suicide.

But let us do justice to her who has in most respects done ample justice to our country. If she is a little sickened with the moody taciturnity, and unassuming manners of our ladies, she graciously redeems their characters by making them a full allowance of the more solid virtues; she acknowledges that sincerity and truth form the basis of their conversation, even where all the graces are wanting. It is somewhat doubtful, however, whether she would not willingly have relinquished the actual, in exchange for the absent qualities.

True religion keeps the whole man in order whether he be engaged in business or in company. It sheds its benign influence far beyond its own sphere, and by a reflex light casts a ray on actions or speculations to which it has no immediate reference. The Christian does not go out of his way in search of wit, or embellishment, though he does not refuse them when they naturally present themselves, when they grow out of the subject, and the story is not invented for their forced introduction, nor any sacrifice made of something better than themselves. The Christian uses his talents temperately, seeks not to eclipse the less brilliant; and While we continue to preserve, or rather had much rather not shine at all, than shine to improve in, this only true foundation of at the expense of another. The religious Christian intercourse, we will less regret man in society finds means for the exercise the want of its embellishments; and while of many christian virtues without descanting reserve is protection, and delicacy security, on them,-candour, charitable construction, we will console ourselves under these minor patience with the less enlightened, and temevils, which are considered as so cruelly de-per with the less forbearing, a scrupulous tracting from the fascinations of polished so- veracity, an inviolable sincerity, a watchful ciety. guard against every vain thought and every Lord Chesterfield, who adorned conver-light expression. He is careful to preserve sation by his wit as much as he impaired it wit unsullied, gayety pure, and vivacity corby his principles, has defined politeness to rect. He is constantly on the watch to inbe the art of pleasing.' Saint Paul, one of troduce subjects of a higher strain; when

the occasion offers, he gladly embraces it, that very sacrifice may perhaps give a keenbut with a due regard to time, place, and er relish to the pleasure of the profane hearcircumstance. Let it be observed we are er, the Christian, not inferior in talent, renot here speaking of select society, associa-jects in horror the reputation for wit to be ting for religious improvement, but of the obtained by any such sacrifice himself, and duty of keeping ordinary conversation with- disdains to sanction or applaud it as the in the bounds and under the discipline of hearer of others. correct principle.

English Opinion of French Society.

itself.

Though the late sanguinary revolution in France overturned law, order, government, and religion; and had given a more emphatical character to crime of every description; It may at first sight be censured as a de- yet if we take a cursory view of the period parture from the general design of these immediately preceding it, we shall see that slight pages, to introduce any allusion to the this tremendous convulsion rather aggravamanners of foreign countries, as exhibited in ted than introduced many of its moral cortheir own journals, memoirs, and letters. ruptions. To be convinced of this, we need But when it is considered how deeply our not travel so far back as the period which own manners are now becoming assimilated the natives consider as the acme of human with theirs, it may not be thought quite ir-glory-the age of Louis Quatorze, of Richerelevant to the subjects under consideration, lieu, and the Academy, the immortal Forty, to take a cursory view of the habits of socie- as this academy had the modesty to call ty in a neighbouring metropolis, so far as they may be likely to affect and influence those of our own country, avoiding every thing public or political, or general, and confining the few cursory remarks to be made, to the fashionable circles of private society. Paris has been long looked up to by many with admiration, as the centre of all that is brilliant in wit, or fascinating in conversation. In a capital, which before the Revolution was said to contain twenty thousand men of letters, high society was not likely to want eulogists. The extravagant encomiums bestowed on these societies by their own people, and echoed back by ours, may prevent What arts of refinement could neutralise its being thought inexpedient to give a su- the evil, when all the bounds of moral reperficial sketch of a few of the leading cha-straint were so far broken through, as that racters which seem to have set the superi- the royal wife and the royal mistress were ority of the circles over which they presided every where received with the same apabove all competition. It is, we repeat, the pearance of respect, when they were even apprehension that this boasted superiority met together in the same societies? inay kindle undue admiration, and even excite envy, in the ardent and ingenuous mind of young persons of taste, who feel themselves precluded from the enjoyment, which must apologise for the freedom, whilst it explains the motive, of these observations.

It is indeed wounding to delicacy to speak explicitly on things which should not be so much as named. Yet though it is painful to touch on such topics, how shall we be so likely to prevent evils, as by exposing them? Perhaps it may check the desire of imitation, lightly to touch on a few of the bad characters who preside over these good so

More sober thinkers are, however, of opinion, that what characterised that splendid reign, was unbounded extravagance, elegant profligacy, and tolerated debauchery. Surely these, which were its notorious distinctions, are practices which contribute little to the real grandeur of a country; unless, indeed, it can be proved that, according to the fearfully unguarded expression of the otherwise moral Burke, that the exhibition of vice in a better taste, by taking from it all its apparent grossness, takes away half of its real turpitude.

Louis has lately obtained, in certain quarters, a kind of resuscitation of his buried fame, by the only method perhaps by which it could have been raised,-a comparison with the prisoner of St. Helena. But surely to have committed fewer crimes than the man who has committed more than any other man, is not to have attained a very high degree in the scale of moral excellence. Are splendour in decoration and magnificence in expense a mantle broad enough to cover that injustice and those exactions on a plundered people by which they were purchased? The piety of the king's latter days is frequently thrown into the scale against the That many have escaped their pollution, disorders of his earlier life. But surely the is a thing more to inspire wonder than to ex- transition from profligacy to persecution is cite imitation. All do not die of the plague no great improvement in the human characwhere the plague rages; but the preserva- ter. Were not his false virtues even more tion of the few is no proof of the salubrity of destructive than his avowed vices? Did the air, where so many have been infected. matters take a better turn, when the moIn certain societies the difficulties of being narch, by exchanging gross immoralities witty is materially diminished by the readi- for the exercise of a superstitious and intoness of the speaker to make any sacrifice, lerant religion, indulged himself and his diboth to piety and modesty, to the good thing rectress in a long and bitter persecution of he is about to utter. While the feeling of his own subjects? a persecution accompa

cieties.

nied with every act of the most unrelenting | sion, seems the effect of some remains, not cruelty. Exile, proscription, torture, death, of principle, but of good taste. It is the were the rewards of four millions of his cool-bloodedness of a heart stagnated by faithful protestant subjects! To these ri-long habits of impunity; for while the pasgorous exercises of arbitrary power, he was sions are inflamed by criminal indulgences, encouraged and impelled by a woman who the sensibilities of the soul are chilled. The had herself been educated in the faith she mind insensibly loses that delicacy of pernow endeavours to exterminate. We pass ception which nicely distinguishes not only over this intermediate government of the the shades of evil, but the very existence of godless Regent trembling at a star,' in the distinction between vice and virtue. whose character, in addition to the most dis- This deadness of principle, and liveliness of graceful vices, we see a shocking, but not language, it is which makes this writer, and uncommon union of the wildest superstition others we could name, so peculiarly danwith the most avowed infidelity.

gerous.

During the reign of the next equally cor- Women of fashion, of the very worst derupt successor, we have endless records of scription, to whose parties the writer referthe state of society among persons in the red to was familiarly admitted, are named higher walks of life. These notices are to with unbounded admiration, not merely of be found in a multitude of the letters and their talents, but their virtues. The charms memoirs of the individuals who were them- of their conversation, and the amiableness of selves actors and interlocutors in these their characters, are the theme of his unscenes of familiar life. These fashionable mixed panegyric. Incidentally, however, societies are all that come within our present as a thing by the by, as a trifle not requiring designs. Many of those works have pre- to be named expressly, as a thing not invaliserved the history of characters, principles, and sentiments, which had they been consigned to eternal oblivion, religion would have had less to mourn, and virtue less to regret.

dating any of their perfections, it comes out, that these women, so faultless and so panegyrised, are living in an illicit commerce with different men-men, whose wives are, with the same uncensurable guilt, carrying Many of these writings, for life would be on similar connexions with the husbands of too short, and time ill spent to peruse them other women! Sobriety, chastity, the conall, are adorned with elegancies of composi-jugal and maternal virtues, are not thought tion, and graces of style, which, had they been devoted to the purposes for which they were given, might have benefited the world as much as they have injured it. Out of all these mischievous but lighter writings, we shall only mention one or two; nor would they have been noticed in a little work of this nature, but for the popularity they have obtained among us, and our dread of that natural progress, the tendency of admiration to produce imitation.

necessary to be called in to complete their round of perfection. Impurity of heart and life, dereliction of all the domestic duties, are never brought forward as any deduction from the all-atoning merit of graces of manner and vivacity of conversation.

Divine Providence seems to have intended advanced age as a season of repose, reflection, and preparation for death; and to have sent its infirmities, sufferings, and debility, as gracious intimations of our approachIn the Life of Marmontel, written by him- ing change, and with a merciful view of our self, we have an extraordinary specimen of attaining by those remembrances, to the decorous vice and accredited infamy-of end of our faith, even the salvation of our abandoned manners, to which reference is souls.

frequently made, at least to the characters But one of the unhallowed projects on which exhibit them, without the slightest which these accomplished societies seem to feeling of their turpitude. Vices abound have congratulated themselves, was in deand are revealed without the least apparent feating this providential procedure. It was suspicion of their guilt. The intimations, their boasted aim to cheat old age of itselfindeed, are not repeated in the way of boast-of its present inconveniences, its decays, ing, but look as if the writer did not think and its prospective views, by a more amusing that concealment of the vice would raise the method. They contrived to divert the stage character he was eulogising. If there are of infirmity into a scene of superinduced no offensive descriptions of vicious manners, gayety and increased levity. Instead of deit seems to be because they were not under- siring to invest it with the peaceful attristood to be vicious; and if gayety of spirit butes of calmness and resignation, they inseems to conceal from the writer the com- vented the means of making old age lose plexion of his own morals, gayety of style itself, as it were, in youthful images, not seems almost to make the reader lose sight only by indulging in light reading, but loose of the character of the company in which composition. One of them was so successhe is passing his time. In fact the delinea- fully boiled in Medea's kettle, that his eulotion of those characters consists rather in a gist triumphantly tells us he translated Arimorbid insensibility to sin, than in an ambi-osto, and published tales exhibiting pictures tious display of it. The slight veil thrown of voluptuousness without indecency; and over corrupt manners by decency of expres- these boasted exploits are adduced as add

ing fresh laurels to a being on the very verge of eternity!

erected on the meditated ruins of his kingdom, the temple of the goddess of reason. Hear a celebrated academician immorPreviously to some of Madame du Deftalize one of the deceased confraternity in fand's numerous intrigues, she had been sehis public oration! In illustrating the cha-parated from her husband, on the ground racter of his friend, who died in extreme which, it is presumed, the laws of England old age, he describes this period as a season would not recognise as a lawful impediment when ingenious trifling is peculiarly grace--that he was a weak and tiresome compaful; a period in which men might give them-nion! She was extraordinarily acute, but selves up to levity with the least scruple and her acuteness, though it was frequently just, the most success. It is in old age, says the was always malicious. It is difficult to say orator, that the mind is disabused on all sub- whether she was more completely deficient jects, and that a man has a right to jest upon in sensibility or principle. She possessed every thing! It is then that long experience all the qualities which attract, but wanted has taught him the wit of concealing reason all those which attach; or rather, she under a veil which may embellish it !* wanted no talent but that of turning those Whoever has cast an eye on the lately she possessed to a better account. Not pospublished letters of Madame du Deffane,—sessing the female virtues, she either did not a most unnecessary and unprofitable addi- believe in their existence, or despised them. tion to the late load of similar literary mis- If she wanted any vice, it was that of hychiefs,—will have beheld such a picture of pocrisy; for she takes little pains to hide the manners even of private and select so- qualities which were not fit to be seen. ciety, among persons of high rank, science, she possessed any virtue, it was frankness, taste, and literature, as must make him look which yet was often disfigured by coarseon these distinctions without envy, when be-ness, and not seldom counteracted by falseheld disconnected with those principles hood. She wanted all the good feelings of which alone render talents estimable. kindness, affection, and tenderness; and

If

In the history of this distinguished lady, possessed in perfection all the bad ones of we find these striking circumstances: they ill-nature, jealousy, and envy; but her ruling present a melancholy instance how com- passion was a selfishness the most deeply pletely in Paris, at that time, a disregard of rooted, and an egotism the most completely all the obligations of duty, all sense of reli- unconquerable. gion, all the charities of domestic virtue, all The dark and hollow character which the purposes of social usefulness, was, on her she takes little pains to conceal, is rendered part, perfectly compatible with her being more broadly conspicuous by the warmth received into the first society. On the part of her colouring, the strength of her lanof her associates, all the objections, insur-guage, and the power of her wit, all fremountable, we trust, in any other place, quently exercised in proclaiming her own were there sacrificed to the reigning idol-impieties. the fondness for display in conversation, the vanity of eclipsing those who eclipsed others. We see also how little splendid talents contribute to the felicities of the life, or to the virtues of the possessor. We even see that, when not under the controul of sound principle, they awfully increase the present capacity for evil, and the responsibility of a future reckoning. Instead of promoting improvement, they carry contamination. In morals as well as in politics,

It is a striking proof of the unrelenting rancour of her heart, that a friend, of the same class of character, whom she had formerly loved as much as she could love any woman; one who had been her select companion in her own house fifteen years, but who had quitted her in disgust, and set up a talking house for herself, which drew away some of the best feathers in her wing;'

on hearing the death of this rival lady, she only exclaimed, I wish she had died many years ago, and then I should not have lost D'Alembert!'

'Great power is an achievement of great ill.' Some of these brilliant societies fostered We learn from her letters, that her splenin their bosoms the serpents that were so did society was composed not merely of wits, soon to sting, not only their own country, but philosophers, and academicians, but of wcall Europe. Here were cherished those men of rank, of nobles, and of statesmen, academical philosophers, wits, and political with one of whom she was connected.economists, who first sounded the alarm for From those, it must be confessed, admirathe simultaneous extinction of thrones and bly written epistles, we profitably learn altars; who first exhibited the portentous much of the hollowness of worldly friendremedies for curing despotism by anarchy, ships, much of the insincerity of mere wits and superstition by atheism; who sowed the and mere men of letters-of persons who first prolific seeds of those revolutionary associate together, partly for the credit of horrors which so rapidly sprung up into the having it known that they are so associated poisonous tree of liberty, and who hurled-who mix acrimony and adulation, ventheir arrows at the God of Heaven, and turing to indemnify themselves for their reSpeech of Condorcet to the Academy on the death ciprocal flattery when together, by their

of Monsieur De Tressen. VOL. II.

63

• Mademoiselle de l'Espinasse.