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in the beginning supposed spread over all the objects I saw.

Upon casting my eyes upon my body, and surveying my own form, I thought it greater than all the object that surrounded me. I gazed upon my person with pleasure; I examined the formation of my hand, and all it's motions; it seemed to me large or little in proportion as I approached it to my eyes; I brought it very near, and is then bid almost every other object from my sight. I began soon, however, to find, that my sight gave me uncertain information, and resolved to depend upon my feeling for redress.

This precaution was of the utmost service; I renewed my motions, and walked forward with my face turned towards the heavens. I happened to strike lightly against a palm tree, and this renewed my surprise: I laid my hand on this strange body; it seemed replete with new wonders, for it did not return me sensation for sensation, as my former feelings had done. I perceived, that there was something external, and which did not make a part of my own existence.

I now, therefore, resolved to touch whatever I saw, and vainly attempted to touch the sun; I stretched forth my arm, and felt only yielding air: at every effort, I fell from one surprise into another, for every object appeared equally near me; and it was not till after an infinity of trials, that I found some objects farther removed than the

rest.

Amazed with the illusions, and the uncertainty of my state, I sat down beneath a tree; the most beautiful fruits hung upon it, within my reach; I stretched forth my hand, and they instantly separated from the branch. I was proud of being able to grasp a substance without me; I held them up, and their weight appeared to me like an animated power, that endeavoured to draw them

to the earth. I found a pleasure in conquering their resistance.

I held them near my eye; I considered their form and beauty; their fragrance still more allured me to bring them nearer; I approached them to my lips, and drank in their odours; the perfume invited my sense of tasting, and I soon tried a new sense— - How new! how exquisite! Hitherto I tasted only of pleasure; but now it was luxury. The power of tasting gave me the idea of possession.

Flattered with this new acquisition, I continued it's exercise, till, an agreeable languor stealing upon my mind, I felt all my iimbs become heavy, and all my desires suspended. My sensations were now no longer vivid and distinct; but seemed to lose every object, and presented only feeble images, confusedly marked. At that instant I sunk upon the flowery bank, and slumber seized me. All now seemed once more lost to me. It was then as if I was returning to my former nothing. How long my sleep continued, I cannot tell; as I yet had no perception of time. My awaking appeared like a second birth; and I then perceived, that I had ceased for a time to exist. This produced a new sensation of fear; and, from this interruption in life, I began to conclude, that I was not formed to exist for ever.

In this state of doubt and perplexity, I began to harbour new suspicions; and to fear, that sleep had robbed me of some of my late powers; when, turning on one side to resolve my doubts, what was my amazement, to behold another being, like myself, stretched by my side! New ideas now began to arise; new passions, as yet unperceived, with fears and pleasures, all took possession of my mind, and prompted my curiosity: love served to complete that happiness, which was begun in the individual and every sense was gratified in all it's varieties.

BUFFON

SIR,

JOURNEY TO PARIS.

To Mr. Fitz-Adam.

I AM a gentleman of a reasonable paternal estate in my county, and serve as knight of the shire for it. Having what is called a very good family interest, my election incumbered my estate with a mortgage of only five thousand pounds; which I have not been able to clear, being obliged by a good place, which I have got since, to live in town, and in all the best company, nine months in the year. I married suitable to my circumstances. My wife wanted neither fortune, beauty, nor understanding. Discretion and good humour on her part, joined to good nature and good manners on mine, made us live comfortably together for eighteen years. One son and one daughter were our only children. We complied with custom in the education of both. My daughter learned some French and some dancing; and my son passed nine years at Westminster school in learning the words of two languages long since dead, and not yet above half revived. When I took him away from school, I resolved to send him directly abroad, having been at Oxford myself. My wife approved of my design, but tacked a proposal of her own to it, which she urged with some earnestness. "My dear," said she, "I think you do very right to send George abroad, for I love a foreign education, though I shall not see the poor boy a great while: but since we are to part for so long a time, why should we not take the opportunity of carrying him ourselves as far as Paris? The journey is nothing; very little farther than to our own house in the north; we shall save money by it; for every thing is very cheap in France; it will form the girl, who is of a right age for it; and a couple of months, with a good French and dancing master, will perfect her in both,

and give her an air and manner, that will help her off in these days, when husbands are not plenty, especially for girls with only five thousand pounds to their fortune. Several of my acquaintance, who have lately taken trips to Paris, have told me, that to be sure we should take this opportunity of going there. Besides, my dear, as neither you nor I have ever been abroad, this little jaunt will amuse, and even improve us; for it is the easiest thing in the world to get into all the best company at Paris.".

My wife had no sooner ended her speech (which I easily perceived to be the result of meditation) than my daughter exerted all her little eloquence in seconding her mother's motion. “Ah, dear papa," said she, " let us go with brother to Paris; it will be the charmingest thing in the world; we shall see all the newest fashions there; I shall learn to dance of Marseille; in short, I shall be quite. another creature after it. You see how my cousin Kitty was improved by going to Paris last year; I hardly knew her again when she came back: do, dear papa, let us go."

The absurdity of the proposal struck me at first, and I foresaw a thousand inconveniences in it, though not half so many as I have since felt. However, knowing that direct contradiction, though supported by the best arguments, was not the likeliest method to convert a female disputant, I seemed a little to doubt, and contented myself with saying, "That I was not, at first sight at least, sensible of the many advantages, which they had enumerated; but that, on the contrary, I apprehended a great deal of trouble in the journey, and many inconveniences in consequence of it. That I had not observed many men of my age considerably improved by their travels; but, that I had lately seen many women of hers become very ridiculous by theirs; and that for my daughter, as she had not a fine fortune, I saw no necessity of her being a fine lady." Here the girl interrupted me, with saying, "For

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that very reason, papa, I should be a fine lady. Being in fashion is often as good as being a fortune; and I have known air, dress, and accomplishments stand many a woman in stead of a fortune." Nay to be sure," added my wife," the girl is in the right in that; and, if with her figure she gets a certain air and manner, I cannot see why she may not reasonably hope to be as advantageously married, as lady Betty Townly, or the two miss Bellairs, who had none of them such good fortunes." I found, by all this, that the attack upon me was a concerted one, and that both my wife and daughter were strongly infected with that migrating distemper, which has of late been so epidemical in this kingdom, and which annually carries such numbers of our private families to Paris, to expose themselves there as English, and here, after their return, as French. Insomuch, that I am assured, that the French call those swarms of English, which now, in a mannner, overrun France, a second incursion of the Goths and Vandals.

I endeavoured, as well as I could, to avert this impending folly, by delays and gentle persuasions, but in vain; the attacks upon me were daily repeated, and sometimes enforced by tears. At last I yielded, from mere good nature, to the joint importunities of a wife and daughter, whom I loved; not to mention the love of ease and domestic quiet, which is, much oftener than we care to own, the true motive of many things, that we either do or omit.

My consent being thus extorted, our setting out was pressed. The journey wanted no preparations; we should find every thing in France. My daughter, who spoke some French, and my son's governor, who was a Swiss, were to be our interpreters upon the road; and, when we came to Paris, a French servant or two would make all easy.

But, as if Providence had a mind to punish our folly,

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