add, that it would be difficult to analyze one of the most finished fatires in our language. I mean Pope's two Dialogues, or, as they are ftrangely called, the Epilogue to the Satires. I am reprefented, as having threatened any perfon who makes inquiry after me or my name. It was not my intention to do fo. I faid, 'It will be more than foolish to be very inquifitive.' I fay fo ftill; for when the avenue to any knowledge is ftrongly and effectually clofed, who would labour after it fruitlessly? To wafte our time to no manner of ufe, is not furely one of the difcriminating marks of wisdom. I maintain it boldly; no nan has a right to demand either my name or my fituation. My book is open to all the accumulated feverity of criticifm and public reprehenfion. I fhrink from neither of them. When I am wrong (I have never been fo in tentionally), I will correct myfelf, and have done fo frequently. In a field fo extenfive, candour, I think, will allow that my mistakes have not been very numerous. As to my poetry or verification, it was not written as a vehicle for the notes, but the notes were compofed to accompany the text. I offer the poetry to thofe who are converfant with the ftrength, fimplicity, and dignity of Dryden and Pope, and them alone. I fubmit both my poems, The Purfuits of Literature, and the Imperial Epiftle,' in this firit and with this confidence to the public. There are men (and women too) who understand. But as to the lovers of exotic poetry, I refer them to the Botanic Garden of Dr. Darwin. My plants and flowers are produced and cherished by the natural invigorating influence of the common fun; I have not raifed them by artificial heat. If the root of a tree is found and vigorous, you ftrengthen The fhoots by reprefling their luxuriance. I approve and would uphold our facred and civil eftablishment. I would, therefore, mark the aberrations and misconduct of men of talents and virtue, who compofe it. I can cenfure, with difcrimination, even where I generally approve, and confider nothing but the intereft of the ftate upon the whole. It is to mifunderftand or to mifreprefent nie, when it is afferted that I attack alike friends and foes. I attack no man in his individual capacity. I have nothing to do with the vanity or injudicious conduct of friends, but as they affect the community; and I have no perfonal malignity against those of whom I am perfonally ignorant. But they fhall neither difturb nor overthrow the state of England, civil or religious, if any obfervations of mine can avail. They may wish to know me; but they may depend upon it I will never give a proof of my fpirit at the expenfe of my understanding. I would fay a few words on another part of my work: I have been under the neceffity, at leaft as I thought, of appealing for illustrations to writers of all ages and in various languages. There is an appearance of oftentation in it, to which I muft fubmit. But to enforce and to illuftrate any pofition, the language of poets, and the dignity and fpirit of ancient eloquence and hiftory, in the original words, are of no mean affiftance. The nature and full force of this work could not have been fuftained without the notes, in which the moft important fubjects, facred, moral, and political, are occafionally difcuffed. But I have generally given, in English, the fubftance of the allu fions contained in the learned languages which are brought forward. "I am told, I am forgiven for my Latin; but for the Greek, not fo eafily. In this particular, indeed, I am rather furprised that no man of wit has faid of my notes, They are Greek invocations to call fools into a circle. Certainly there will be halos round the brighteft luminaries and it must be confeffed that many of my notes have fuch a circular appear. ance. If fome galled theologian were difpofed to banter, and to question the validity of my Greek ordination, he would, perhaps, threwdly remind me of the council of Florence in 14391 when the Greek and Latin churches propofed, as a principle of union, that the Greeks fhould alter their manuscripts from the Latin. "I know you were furprised when you found me befet with poetafters, and rhetoricians, and commentators, and old feventh form boys, that I was fo patient. In truth I thought there might be fome remedy. Yet I will own, that when I fee fo many heads "Shakespeare's As you Like it, act 2.” around around me deprived of the fubftance of fenfe, I am perpetually calling for the ampolla of Aftolpho*, that facred veffel which he brought from the upper regions. But I should have too much on my hands, and I recall my with. In the political, as well as in the mere literary world, there is more to do in that way than I can attempt. A few drops from this ampolla might now and then, on particular occafions, fall on the minifter himself, who now, in his taxes, appears as the political Hecate or Diana † in their triple forms. Some of it alfo might be fpared for Earl Fitzwilliam with good effect; but I fhould be unwilling to wafte the precious liquor on the noble Some head of his Grace of Bedford. * "Ariofto, Orlando Furiofo, cant. 38." "For the Diana triformis look at the gems of Fulvius Urfinus." "No attentive reader of the Purfuits of Literature will, I think, deem the following speech exaggerated, notwithstanding the thin veil of modefty occafionally affumed by the author." "The author, in one of his prefaces (fpeaking of his determination to remain concealed), fays, I diffuade every perfon from flippant and random application of my fuppofed name: it is as unjust as it is abfurd. Flebit, et in'fignis tota cantabitur urbe, was faid of old; and I recommend to every gentle• man and lady of uncommon fagacity to remember, that there is darkness which may be felt.' In the preface to a fubfequent part he adds, 'It will be more than foolish to be very inquifitive.' "The above malignant threat would excite indignation by its audacious prefumption, did it not provoke laughter by its egregious abfurdity. He who 'threatens the world,' fays Dr. Johnfon, is always ridiculous; and furely in no inftance more fo than in the prefent. If the author expected his poem would pafs wholly unnoticed, why did he publish it? If (as he fays himself) he ima gined it would attract attention, could he fuppofe that the very circumftance of his concealing his name would not excite curiofity? Or could he hope to reftrain it by his impotent menace? Yet, though fuch a menace could not avail to reprefs curiofity, he thought, perhaps, it might operate to refrain merited cenfure. It might indeed be proved, by a comparison of different parts of his work, that a fyftem of espionage (into the converfations of literary men) is practifed by this author. He takes infinite pains to inform himfelf what is faid of his work, and by whom, and diftributes (in fubfequent parts or editions) his praife and his cenfure accordingly. If the literary world will fubmit to fuch treatment, they deferve it. But what are we to think of fuch a writer? Has he not good reasons for concealing his name?" P. 18. LETTER 1. Dover to Calais -- Calais described-III. Arrival of Lord Malmesbury-Repartees-Theatre-IV. Boulogne fur Mer-A Beggar-Diftrefs of an Emigrant-Abbeville-V. Prefent State of Abbeville-Account of an Emigrant Family-Anecdote of a Magiftrate-VI. Amiens - Municipality worsted by Females - ClermontChantilly-VII. Chantilly defolated -Luzarche-Church of St. Denis -The Tombs ravaged-VIII. Paris, the Pantheon, &c.-IX. Paris continued St. Sulpice-Luxembourg -Hall of Audience-Manner of prefenting Petitions-Theatre d'Egalité -X. Palais d'Egalité-Female Jobbers-Lyceum of Arts-Hotel des Monnoies Le Sage's mineralogical Cabinet-Society of Nuns-XI. Council of "Five Hundred"-Courcil of Elders-Thuilleries-National Museum-XII. Cathedral of Notre Dame-Palais de Justice-Cochon, Minifter of Police-Hotel des Invalides-Champ de Mars-XIII. Lalande, the Aftronomer - National Library - Hotel Dieu Botanical Garden-Cabinet of Natural History -Importations from Italy-Political Converfation - XIV. Theatres Dancing Affemblies-Ladies' Dreffes -Change of Manners fince the Revolution Ci-devant Baftile-XV. Foreft of Senar-Robberies and Mur ders frequently committed thereMelun-Montereau-XVI. SensAuxerre--Avelon--Reflections on the French Character-XVIII. Gothic Church near Dijon-Reflections on War-Auftrian Prifoners-Dijon XIX. Auxonne-XX. Dole--Detachments of marching Troops--Arbois-XXI. Joigné-Enter SwitzerlandXXII. Laufanne--French Emigrants- XXIII. Sécheron-XXIV. Carouge Picture of juvenile Republicanifm St. Juliers-Dangerous Precipices -XXV. Rumelly-Aix-Chamberry-XXVI. Ancient and present State of Chamberry-XXVII. State of Piedmont-Political ReflectionsGrenoble-Its ancient and prefent State-Chartreufe-XXVIII. Lyons -XXIX. Return to Sécheron-Elec toral Affemblies—XXX. Fête in ho nour of Peace with Auftria-XXXI. Conclufion-Politics, Religion, Morality, Arts and Sciences, Agricul ture, Commerce, and Finance. EXTRACT. THE DIRECTORIAL PALACE. " ARRIVING at the Luxembourg fome time before the hour of admittance à l'audience du directoire, we took a furvey of the principal buildings that compofe this fuperb palace, appointed for the refidence of the five directors, Workmen of every defcripbellishing it; and, till their labours tion were bufy in repairing and emare completed, the directory can inha. bit only a part of the building, or, more properly, a continuation of the Luxembourg, formerly called les petits apartements. Noble and majestic is the appearance of this palace. All must allow its right to the pre-eminence it of the fame kind in this great city. It every other building has claimed over was erected after the model of the palace of Pitti at Florence. Mary de Medicis, wife of Henry the Fourth of France, purchased the fcite on which it ftands of the Duke of Finey Luxembourg, to whom the ground belonged (hence the origin of its name), and began the now exifting building in 1615; but it was not entirely finished till 1621. The form of its structure is that of a regular fquare, at each angle of which is a pavilion, and a large court in the centre. Its architecture is of three orders, Tufcan, Doric, and Ionic, with rich entablatures and baluftrades of stone that go quite round the building. Towards lions join by a terrace, which has a its capital entrance two of the pavirotunda in the middle, terminated by a kind of dome, executed with tafte, and of excellent proportions. I have inquired, but have not as yet been able able to learn, where the famous gallery of Rubens, which contained the allegorical paintings of the life of Queen Mary of Medicis, has been removed. That part of the Luxembourg inhabited by the directory, is feparated from the other by a large fquare court, in the middle of which is a faisceau d'armes, furmounted by a cap of liberty. This emblem of the French indivifibility is fupported by two twelve pounders, and further, in the fame court, are four more of the fame calibre, which are guarded by a detachment of artillery regularly relieved. At the outward gate ftand two huffars, completely caparifoned, on horfeback, with drawn fwords, whilft two grenadiers, with bayonets fixed, parade backwards and forwards. In the different avenues leading to the palace, the number of the military daily on duty, we have been told, is not lefs than 600, including cavalry and infantry. Now, my friend, what fay you to this? Does it not favour a little of the pomp and state of the ancient regime? and may we not infer from hence that a confiderable degree of fear and fufpicion pervades the rulers of this government? As the hour of admittance drew nigh, we found the concourfe of people much greater than we had expected; but this, we were told, was only what was ufual, and repeated daily, except on the decades, on the tenth day of every month, which are regularly kept as holidays by the government and public offices, and by them only. One thing, however, which might apparently increase their number, is, that not being permitted to enter even the outward court until the clock ftrikes the given hour, the people are under the neceflity of affembling in the street contiguous to the palace, which, from not being very wide, is foon filled; fo that, in order to be gratified, we were forced to mingle with the crowd, compoted of the pooreft clafs, and chiefly females. During this fcene, which was truly novel, we were much amufed at hearing the different opinions that fpontaneoufly itfied from thefe fair petitioners relative to their prefent fituation, the whole of which was uttered with the greatest degree of French volubility. One in particular, a milerable-looking woman, with an infant in her arms, who, doubtlefs fatigued at waiting, had been pro voked to push by thofe who were be fore her, in the hope of getting in fooner, was thus jeered at by the others, who turning round and looking at her with contempt, faid, Regardez, comme cette citoyenne pouffe avec fon petit dauphin dans ses bras. -Ne diroit on pas qu'elle va à la féance de Louis XVIII. ?-Pour ⚫ nous,' continued they, nous ne nous 'donnerons par cette peine; car il 'faut bien qu'on nous reçoivent. N'eft ce pas les magiftrats de notre fa'brique 'Look,' faid they, how 'that citizeness pufhes with her little 'brat in her arms.-Would not one 'fay that fhe was going to the fitting of Louis XVIII. As for us,' continued they, we will not give ourfelves that trouble, for they are obliged to receive us. Are they not magiftrates of our own making › Thefe words fcarcely uttered, than admittance was announced, and the impatient throng rushed in like an impetuous torrent, making their way up the grand staircase helter skelter, whilit we, at humble distance, followed their fteps, paffed through the anti-room, and entered the falle d'audience. Thefe apartments, as well as the ftaircafe, are lined with guards. Here I was truly aftonifhed; for though the director had not made his appearance, the contrast was ftriking between the behaviour of the audience without, and that which they put on within; for all was filence and refpect. The petitioners are admitted within a kind of barrier, which divides the room, by the huilliers (who are dressed in a coftume truly Vandyke), and there feat themfelves on fauteuils, or arm chairs, ranged in a circular form, whilft the lookers-on are only permitted to ftand in the back ground; but being introduced as a stranger, I had l'honneur de la féance (the honour of the fitting), and was confequently admitted within the circle. In a few minutes the director (Carnot) entered the apartment, wearing the grand coftume, alfo à la Vandyke, fuperb and extremely coftly. As foon as he prefented himself, the men uncovered, and a kind of filent refpect feemed to diffufe itself round the room; which could fcarcely have been carried to, greater lengths in the old regime; the appearance of ftate, and the number of the military difperfed in various parts of the apartments, may proba bly, bly, in fome degree, influence the minds of the people. Splendour and magnificence commonly produce this effect, and hence refults the propriety of a magiftrate wearing an appropriate dignified drefs, when in the execution of his high office. The impreffion of refpect flamped on the mind of the vulgar by the fame perfon, in fcarlet robes trimmed with ermine, and in a brown coat, bob-wig, and dirty boots, would be very different. The petitioners draw near the director, and are prefented by the principal huiffier, one by one. He takes the petitions, reads a part, inquires into the caufe of their grievances; and the anfwer, a week after, is found in an office erected for that purpofe at the bottom of the grand ftair-cafe, called L'Office des Renfeignemens (Office for Information). As foon as the whole of the petitions have been received, one of the huiffiers demands aloud, whether there be any perfon defirous of fpeaking to the director; when being answered in the negative, he retires, and the people difperfe. One trait, which gave me fingular fatiffaction, was the manner in which he attended to all, though more particularly to the forrowful tale of a wretched-looking woman, who had two children with her, and one at the breaft. This poor creature was the widow of a foldier, who had lately fallen for his country, and left her deftitute. Twice he heard her melancholy ftory, and then bade her feat herself near the fire, until he could determine fomething in her favour. This I thought forcboded a good heart, and I was pleafed with the man: but the appearance of the woman was, in one-respect, truly rifible, forming a fingular contraft, by her rags and tatters, with the beautiful ornaments that furrounded her; for the apartment is precifely the fame as when inhabited by Monfieur, not any of the furniture having been removed. The hangings are of crimfon damafk, with a gold border, curtains, fofa, and fauteuils the fame, with the addition of a deep gold fringe. The glaffes are elegant; two of the doors have looking-glafs in the pannels; a noble chandelier graces the middle of the room, while others of lefs fize hang near the chimney; the whole difplaying vaft tafte and elegance. Thus much for the directory and their palace." P. 149. "Our next excurfion was to the ci devant Palais Royal, now Egalité, which, inftead of being, as formerly, a rendezvous for the beau-monde, is degenerated into a receptacle for jobbers, fpeculators, gamblers, rogues, and females of a certain defcription. Here I was firft fhown the paper currency called mandats, and by a very natural miftake, narrowly efcaped infult. No fooner had we entered the piazzas, than we were furrounded with a motley crew of females, who, thrusting printed bundles of paper at us, vociferated, à l'envie l'une de l'autre ? by which they meant to ask us whether we were for buying or felling mandats? Not understanding their meaning, and fuppofing they were offering ballads to fell, I declined their offer, telling them I never fung. Chanter!' inftantly echoed one, indignant at my mifapprehenfion; ce ne font vraiment pas des chanfons, citoyenne, que nous vous offrons, mais de la monnoie nationale. To fing!-thefe are not fongs truly, that we offer to you, but national money; then holding up one of the bundles in a menacing attitude, Eb! Dame!' continued the, je pourrois bien vous en vendre, ་ plus que vous n'en fauriez acheter, 'avec votre air aristocrate.'--' Ah marry! I could fell you more of it than you are able to buy, notwithftanding your ariftocratic air.' I be gan to be alarmed, and was happy, by mingling with the crowd, to terminate this converfation. Under the terrace, which has nothing particular to recommend it, are the three entrances that lead to the first or outward court, where we met the woman above-mentioned. This court is furrounded by fhops, placed in the piazzas or por ticos; and, ftrange as it may feem, in fpite of the late decree, which very ftrongly prohibits every article of English manufacture, these shops are actually filled with them, which they publicly fell without fear or apprehenfion. I am induced to think that the French, government winks a this. Knowing the decline of their own manufactures, they have no objection to be fupplied under-hand from their enemies. Though they pass a decree against English manufactures, they may be fecretly defirous of admitting them into the territory of the republic, From hence, a porch leads into the inner court, which is rather larger than |