صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

ges

of the man, and cease to think when he begins to write.

Yet while we regret that History is

thus liable to be made the vehicle of opinions which are probably dangerous, or absolutely hurtful, it is some consolation that the Historian is so often tempted to bring himself forward, and that, in obtruding his pecuHar principles and accommodating facts to them, he is less capable of disguise than he may suppose. He lays himself open to detection and to refutation. Upon this account, I am inclined to hope, that much mischief has not been done by the prejudices of our eminent Historians, because they have been immediately discovered, and completely answered. If the reader is thus put upon his guard, he may enjoy all that is pleasing and valuable in their writings, without suffering very materially by their misrepresentations. Let it be considered too, that few men are so unwise as to trust their information in the hands of any one Historian. In the history of most nations, and particularly of our own, we have access to various authorities, and do not implicitly give credit to one series of narratives, unless we cannot discover that other evidence is inaccessible.

After all, it must be allowed, that after the tedious process of dry inves tigation is gone through, we revert with pleasure to the Robertsons, Humes and Gibbons; and refresh our memory, where at the same time our taste is gratified, perhaps improv, ed, and our imagination delighted. We had useful Historians before Hume; but where is the history of our country traced with such elegant perspicuity, such connexion of cause and effect, as to leave on the mind an impression of unity, of something whole and entire? Yet Hume could not probably have produced this work, had his mind been less imbued with opinions of one kind, as to polį, tical government. Would the case have been otherwise, if he had chosen to exert his talents on the history of another pation? If Hume had taken the Roman empire, and Gibbon the History of England, should we have seen less of Hume and Gibbon in their respective narratives?

Yours, &c.

P. P.

ADVICE TO YOUNG LADIES.
No. I. CURIOSITY.

THE Presids one of the most emi-
President Moté de Champla-

nent characters in the Parliament of
Paris. His integrity was so incor-
ruptible, that he merited the surname
of Aristides. His perfect knowledge
of the jurisprudence of his country
gave him a great pre-eminence over
the most enlightened lawyers; and
his advice, in difficult and obscure
matters, was looked upon as the most
certain and safe. By these qualifica-
tions his name was rendered famous ;
and his merit was considered so supe-
rior, that his associates, far from be-
ing jealous, confided implicitly in his
impartiality.

The private and public character of the President Mote were equally laudable; for, having lost his wife, in whom his happiness was chiefly centered, he undertook the charge of his only daughter; and succeeded so far, that Amelia's mind was cultivated with all those good qualities which render young persons amiable. Besides an accurate knowledge of her own language, she could speak German and Italian; with regard to the English language, she was so well acquainted with it, that she translated into French the master-pieces of the English authors. Her understanding was not only enlarged by an acquaintance with all the practical sciences, but, what is still more valuable, with the precious seeds of virtue. These had operated on her heart so admirably, that Amelia was modest, without affectation; mild and engaging, without timidity; submissive, without losing her dignity; generous, without prodigality; kind and condescending to the servants, without familiarity aiteutive and respectful to her father, not only from a sense of gratitude, but also from that of affection, tenderness, and love.

The only fault which her father had not been able to correct in her was

Curiosity. Extremely desirous of knowing every thing, she would not let the least thing pass in the house without enquiring into the particulars. If she heard a double knock at the door, she ran to the window to see who it was; if a carriage entered the yard, she was immediately hang

ing

ing over the staircase, to hear whether it was a visitor, or somebody on business; if a visitor, she would run down stairs, and be at the carriage door before the servants of the house; if somebody on business, she continued running backwards and forwards from the staircase to her room, from thence to her father's antechamber; tben down stairs to enquire of the servants who it was, and on what business they came.

The President having often shewn her the impropriety of such mean actions, Amelia dared not apply to him when she wanted to be informed of any thing; but used to bribe his Secretary, by whom she was informed of all that was transacted in her father's office. Thus her inconsiderate curiosity not only rendered her culpable, but corrupted the fidelity of her father's confidant. The President, who had several times discovered that his daughter was acquainted with secrets which he thought were improper to be entrusted to her, could not conceive how she came to the knowledge of them.

When I say secrets, do not suppose that the President improperly withheld any thing from the knowledge of his daughter, on whom he so fondly doated. On the contrary, his great pleasure was to converse with his Amelia on all the affairs of the family; aud he entrusted her with the management of all those matters which he could not attend to himself, or which belonged to her department. The secrets that he kept, from her were not his own; they were either those of the state, or of private people, which he could not have disclosed But at the danger of his life, or his reputation. One maxim which the President maintained was, that he who violated a secret entrusted to him, deserved punishment ten times more than he who robbed you of your property. It was for this reason that he would never abuse the confidence reposed in him by the public, by relating to his daughter affairs which were of no concern to her. M. Moté had more than once explained this distinction to Amelia, whose good sense never failed to assent to so reasonable a discretion. But, though sensible of the truth and propriety of her father's representa tions, her insatiable curiosity brought

that

her always to the same point of wanting to know every thing: so difficult is it to get rid of the habit of Curiosity, whenit has once been contracted.

About the tenth of August, 1792, the most considerable men in the Government held a meeting to deliberate upon the deplorable condition of France, and came to a resolution to protest against all innovation. This meeting was held at the President Moté de Champlatreux's house; and, as the resolution to be taken was of the highest importance, there was a numerous and respectable assembly; the sitting was prolonged until eight in the morning.

You cannot conceive the impatience and curiosity of Amelia during the time of the deliberation: she did not let a single servant pass, without enquiring the number of persons at the meeting, the time of their arrival, and the motive of their remaining so long. As the servants knew nothing of the matter, the less she could get from them, the more was her curiosi ty inflamed. During the whole of the night she could not shut her eyes; nay, she could not even lie in bed, but walked a hundred times from her apartment to the door where the company were deliberating.

About one o'clock in the morning she heard the door open, and saw her father conducting two young magistrates, very secretly, toward the garden door: the latter were carrying a leaden box, apparently very heavy. At this sight the heart of Amelia throbbed with joy: she followed them at a distance, and perceived them digging a hole about seven feet deep in the garden, into which they put the box. After this they filled the hole, which they covered with grass, that no appearance might be left. Amelia observed every circumstance; and, when she saw them returning, flew back to the top of the stairs, and retired to her chamber.

The magistrates had taken so much precaution to prevent a discovery of the place where they had concealed the box, that they could not suspect Amelia's having seen them; besides, they supposed that she was too well bred to descend to so mean an employment as that of a spy.

The next morning the artful Ame

lia began to coax her father more than usual; who giving a loose to his tenderness, she inquisitively asked him what they had been doing during the whole preceding night. The vir tuous President answered, that they had been deliberating upon matters of great importance, but of which he could say nothing, since all the members present had taken an oath of secrecy. "However," said he, with a smile of affection, "this business does not regard our family affairs, and therefore you may be quite easy about it." He then turned the conversation upon another topic; but, being called out, he left Amelia rather vexed, and still more embarrassed in her mind than before. For two or three days she was melancholy and thoughtful. At last, being unable to resist her curiosity to know what was in the box, she got up one night, went into the garden, and began to dig in the place where she had observed her father deposit the box: she worked for an hour, but had hardly dug half the way before she was tired. Herstrength now failing her, but her restless curiosity preying more strongly upon her, she determined to call one of the servants to her assistance.

The President had a valet de chambre, of whom he was very fond, and who, from having lived nearly forty years in the house, was much attached to Amelia. Amelia, therefore, going to his bed-room, desired him to get up softly, and follow her into the garden. The valet de chambre obeyed, and, being desired to dig the remain der of the hole, he did it so heartily, that in less than half an hour he reached the box. Imagining that it was full of money and jewels, he advised Amelia to have it broken open: they, therefore, broke the lock, and, to their great astonishment, found nothing in it, but a paper, upon which was written the resolution beforementioned, signed by all the Presidents of the Parliament of Paris, and by more than twenty counsellors, men of rank and dignity. It was a simple protestation against the proceedings of the National Assembly.

At the reading of this paper, which Amelia could scarcely understand, her curiosity was strangely baffled; she began to regret all the trouble that she had taken for a trifle, from which

As

she could derive no satisfaction. morning began to dawn, they hastened to put the paper into the box, and buried it again in the same hole, with all possible precaution. After this they went to bed; Amelia being heartily disappointed, and the valet well pleased to discover a secret which was of far greater importance than Amelia suspected.

Some months after, the tyranny of Roberspierre had obtained its highest pitch, and great rewards were offered to any persons that would inform against those who were disaffected to Roberspiere's party; the valet de chambre of the President, blinded by the hopes of receiving a large sum, went to the city hall, and told the officers, that if they would search in a certain place in his master's garden, they would find a paper of great consequence. Like another Judas, this monster received the reward agreed upon, and conducted the gang to the place where the box was hidden. Thus the prying curiosity of a child was the cause of the perfidious treachery of a servant who had been faithful to his master for nearly forty years! The paper was delivered to Roberspierre. The next morning all the Presidents who had subscribed to the protestation were arrested, and among them, of course, the President Moté, who was thrown into a dungeon, in which, however, he did not languish long; for, three days after, he and about forty others were tried, condemned, and perished on the scaffold. Thus the silly, mean, and culpable curiosity of a child of fourteen, was the cause of the ruin of her father, and of a number of virtuous and innocent men.

Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 10.

MUCH has been said for and against Cow Pox Inoculation in your Magazine; but nothing has excited my attention more than the letter of Mr. James Taylor, in answer to P. P. in your last volume, p. 524. This has not been caused by his oh servations, but by those which he has been enabled to adduce, of Dr. Jenner himself. It appears that P. P. was not wrong in asserting that Dr. J. had inoculated his own child with the Small Pox, in 1798, after the discovery of Vaccination. This is a stub. born fact. Dr. J. tries to account for

it

it by saying that the child, having been exposed to the Small Pox, was infected. But how happened this? He had been inoculated by Dr. J. himself with the Vaccine matter. It is true," the appearance excited by its insertion, produced an effect that lasted two or three days only, and then died away." But, if Dr. J. did not know how to judge of the efficacy of this Inoculation, who shall decide upon it? And if he had not supposed his child safe from contagion, would he have suffered him to be exposed to the Small Pox at Cheltenham ?

There is great obscurity in Dr. Jenner's Reply to the Second Question. If the child was infected with Small Pox, what signified it whether or not Dr. J. had Vaccine matter with him? and how did this want of Vaccine matter reduce him to the alternative of immediate inoculation?

I am no party man, Mr. Urban, in any way; but I am a little astonished at Mr. Taylor's mode of refuting the assertion of P. P. A LOVER OF TRUTH.

I

ORIGINAL LETTER from

Dean BATHURST to Dr. BUSBY. REV. SIR, Oxon, Nov. 7, 1682. HAD not made a full distribution of your Benevolence to the Poore, till a little before I left Wells. Being now come to Oxford, I send you an account on the back side hereof; and withall, abundance of thanks and hearty prayers for your life and health, from many weake and indigent soules, who have been comforted by your bounty.

The fourscore pound you was pleased to pay-in to my brother Sir Benjamin Bathurst, I returned here: viz. 107. 1 payd to Mr. Chaunter (Dr. Creighton) for the repaier of the Choristers lodgings: the other 70%. I payd to the Commoner (Mr. Dutton) who reserves 501. of it to the fabrick of the Church; the other 207. he deposited in Mr. Heály's hand, to manage for the Library, with the concurrence and advice of our Brethren upon the place, according to your directions: And we do all returne you our hearty service and thanks for your noble and charitable intentions upon all those publick accounts. How the money is more particularly disbursed, you shall understand in time.

ready to call for your share at all Sealings, whereof ho receives many a half-crown in a year, and I hope accounts to you for them. Dr. Sellek came not out of Stafford-shire till the audit was ended, which was my time of departure; so that I scarce exchanged 2 words with him. I suppose our Brethren will not be wanting to aske what they may, upon your account: but there is some talke, as though he threatned warre.

Sir, If in any thing I can serve you whilst I am in this place, I pray be pleased freely to com❜and

Your most faithfull and affectionate,
RA. BATHURST.
Received by the hands of Dr. £. s. d.
Creighton, 10 Guineas, i. e.
107. 15s.

Given to Mrs. Williams to dis-
tribute by her List of 60 poor
people, as she doth weekly
from myselfe
ToWidow Howell, and 2 others,
by the approbation of the
Chapter

To Mrs Bamfield, to distribute

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

1 10 0

0 10 0

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

02 6

0 5

0 6

[ocr errors]

0 10 0

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Left with some of my Brethren and Mrs. Williams to distribute the day before I went away, the remainder

33

[ocr errors]

0 15 6

:10 15 0

Dr. Holt saith, he hath taken a course to returne his account to you: but (it seemes) thinkes fitt to deduct To the Rev. Dr. Richard Busby, at the

301. for his owne paines. He is very

College in Westminster,

Mt.

Jan. 22.

Mr. URBAN,
NCLOSED I send you my Meteorological Journal from Dec. 16, to Jan. 15,

ENCLOSED I ded to it, this month, a register of the Hygrometer

which I consider to be a useful instrument in Meteorology. For a particular account of the kind of Hygrometer which I make use of, I refer your Readers to Phil. Mag. for November, 1801.

THOMAS FORSTER.

METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL, kept at CrAPTON, in Hackney,
from the 16th of December, 1810, to the 15th of January, 1811.
Thermometer.

Barometer.

Day of

Hyg.

Wind.

Weather, &c.

Month. Max. Min.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Dec. 16. Cirro-stratus disposed in beds of small round spots, this afternoon. Evaporation since 14th, 4°.

17. Cirro-cumulus seen in the intervals of fog A. M. Cirro-stratus P. M. Evaporation, 30.

18. Burr observed round Jupiter.

19. Evaporation, 70.

20. Hard squalls of wind during the night.

21. Very high wind, particularly at night.

25. High wind, accompanied by flashes of lightning all night.

26. The marshes along the course of the River Lee, flooded. Evaporation, 45o. *

27. Evaporation, 3o.

28. Evaporation, 50.

1811. Jan. 4. Very high wind.

5. Black fleeces of Cumulus seen. floating beneath Cirri, in a calm region above.

12. The doors of the house much swelled with damp.

14. Evaporation since 12th, 39o.

16. Evaporation, 18. Cirro-strati and Cirro-cumuli observable.

* That is, 45° evaporated since last noticed.

MR.

« السابقةمتابعة »