1796.] Original Anecdotes.—Gregoire . union with the French republic: the amicable difpofition they now thow towards France, has been chiefly excited by the great virtues of this popular reprefentative. The higheft eulogy that can be pronounced on his character, is the fingular observation, that fince the commencement of the revolution, he has claimed the admiration, and won the confidence, of all the different factions that have, by turns, prevailed in the French government. Under the bloody regimen of Robespierre, a fyftem of profcription had been commenced against all men of letters and profeffed religionifts. Such, however, was the veneration with which M. GREGOIRE was regarded, although eminent in both thefe characters, that no one was found hardy enough to attack him. A ftranger to perfonalities, and divefted of private paflions and ambition, his faculties were wholly abforbed by his concern for the public welfare. As a member of the Committee of Public Inftruction, M. GREGOIRE has laboured more abundantly than all his affociates, in foftering the growth of the arts and fciences, and in encouraging their profeffors. He has already addreffed, in the name of the Committee, fome valuable reports to the National Convention, which, if collected and printed, with due regard to fyftematical arrangement, would furnifh the public with an excellent mifcellaneous compofition, or mélange. The boldeft ftep taken by M. GREGOIRE, fince his commencing a public functionary, was his addreffing an encyclie (circular letter) laft winter to the bishops of France, requiring their aid in the convocation of a national council, for the purpose of reftoring the clergy, agreeably to the decrees of the Council of Trent, the fynod of Borromeo, and the liberties and independence of the Gallican Church. It was taken for granted at that time, that M. GREGOIRE would have incurred a profecution, on this account, from the exifting government! - He was allowed, however, to pafs with impunity. The following skizzo, felected from his Report on the Bounties to be conferred by the Nation on Men of Genius, may affift the reader to acquire fome infight into the character of this celebrated man: "A great man is the public property. A prejudice vanquished, or a truth difcovered, are often of greater national utility, than the conqueft of a town. A man of genius is the foremost of his century; outstrips it, and is, as it were, from thence (dépayse) expatriated. As virtue united with beauty, is liable to peculiar temptations; fo a genius, poffefling the gifts of fortune, is particularly expofed to the anathemas of the fickle goddefs." And, in another pamphlet, we find, "Books confecrated to the nobleffe, treatifes of genealogy, works calculated to flatter defpotifm, or pamper greatnefs, enthrined in Morocco leather, have always had a place in our most fuperb libraries; while the immortal works of Milton, Althufius, and Hubert Languet, have lain neglected in an ignoble corner, under the humble covering of parchment. Works which laid open the crimes of princes and minifters of state, which demonftrated the just rights of the people, were, fo to fpeak, the Sans Culottes of our libraries." And, in a paftoral letter addreffed to his clergy, foon after the restoration of religious worship, after deploring the former errors of religious factions, he adds, “You, I trust, have not yet forfaken the faith. which you once profeffed; yet can I wonder, if even fome amongst you, through the contagion of example, have been perverted? - Alas! our religion, like our native country, has alfo its EMIGRANTS!" The character of GREGOIRE may be beft collected, from a view of his writings at large. He is about 50 years of age, in his temper extremely good-natured, and no lefs-lively in converfation. [Thefe Anecdotes will be REGULARLY ORIGINAL LETTER. AS I obferve it is a part of your plan to I am your's, &c. To the Rev. Mr. Turner, Wakefield. DEAR SIR, Richmond, July 13, 1769. I RECEIVED the account which your ac eptable Letter brought me of your fafe arrival at home with great pleasure. May God lengthen out your time for the good purposes to which you employ it, with as much earthly comfort as is confiftent with that portion of difcipline appointed by our heavenly Father to bring forth the peaceable and everlasting fruits of righteousnefs. The company of fuch worthies as Mr. Turner and Dr. Priestley is one of my luxuries, and the last fmall tafte I had of it, will make me long till another opportunity affords me a fecond courfe and I had the lefs relish for the defert (I mean the rambles) as it was a kind of interruption of that converfation for which I am always sharp fet. Friend Lindfey can talk and even difpute on horseback. In that fituation I am fure to fall into reveries, and often forget both myself and my company, and for fomething of that fort, which might look like ill manners, I believe, I ought to make an apology, in our pilgrimage to Mafter Buncle's Cave. Mr. Amory, I find, does not recollect me: the Anecdote of Andrew Wilfon and the Sermon belongs to another young Clergyman of that Day. Andrew had never an opportunity of feeing any Sermon of mine; I am fomething doubtful whether in thofe days I was worth a Sermon. Foxhunting was then my study and employment, which I purfued at a relation's houfe in the Country, when abfent from York, with great folicitude and affiduity. At that relation's Houfe however, I found fome old Books formerly the property of my great grandfather (an Oliverian Juftice) who at the restoration faved himself, his Family, and Fortune by a Match with a female Royalist of Distinction, whofe name you faw in Catterick Church. Thefe books, which, after my faid Ancestors demife, were thrown by among the lumber of the House, I conveyed to my lodging Room, and there became acquainted with the manners and Principles of many excellent old Puritans, and then laid the foundation of whatever approaches towards mediocrity in my own. was ftruck with their unaffected and difinterefted Piety and their zeal for the fpiritual good of mankind, and from them I learned that a Chriftian truly fuch must ever be in a state of warfare with the world, and particularly the principalities and Powers of it. It was their piety which carried them thro' their trials, and their nonconformity to the Luxury and diffipation of the Age as well as to the forms of the eftabiishment that made them more than conquerors. I was in good hope you had much of it ftill remaining among you, and freely own I was extremely hurt to find by good Dr. Priestley that a feventh Day was become in fome 'measure a day of diffipation among some claffes of diffenters. I cannot I own look upon a ftrictnefs in fuch an article in the light of narowness, and I must despair of ever understand I ing my Bible, if the setting apart a feventhday Sabbath, is not a commandment of a moral tendency, and of as indefpenfable obligation as any other of that denomination. But of this enough, tho', I hope, not too much to be excufed by a Man of Mr. Turner's feriousness and Candor. I have not the remoteft profpect of any thing which deferves the name of Reformation in our very uncdifying establishment. But while we believe it to be the cause of Chriftianity—we muft prefs towards the Mark as we can, and work our way with such talents and Inftruments as are fupplied by providence. Poffibly our pofterity may reap the benefit of our movings; or poffibly our Candlestick may be removed. A fad alternative, which I care not to think of; and yet whither, I think, our Church-Politicians are manifeftly driving. I have fent Dr. Pricftley a fragment for his repofitory to be used or laid afide at his dif cretion. I have fome minutes of more things which will take fome time to form, more, I am afraid, than I fhall, of a great while, have to bestow upon them, having upon my hands the equipment of two pretty large Volumes for new Editions, which must be out by Christmas. I expect the Bishop of Carlisle on Monday next, who is communicative, and may furnish intelligence of future ufe. Should that be the cafe, and my leifure permit, Dr. Priestley or you fhall have an account. I request your acceptance of the enclosed Pamphlet, which was rather hurried in the execution, and is in many paffages inaccurate. I fend a lift of the Prælat Errata to Dr. Priestley with a request to communicate them, unless I can difpofe my fon, before I close this Packet, to make a copy for your use. and a dinner with an honeft Farmer, a little Rambling the other day for meditation fake, higher in rhe Country than you were, I met with a Mr. Benn one of your Brethren: but as fome of the more orthodox were of the party, we could not have much interesting converfation, but I like the Man, and he has promifed to eat part of a Pudding with me, when I hope we fhall understand each other perfectly. I write to Mr. Amory and enclofe the Ticket in this Packet which request you to deliver. Mr. and Mrs. Lindfey, and my younger for Dr Sir y much obliged and FR. BLACKBURNE. Please to add Mr. Amory's Chriftian name, (which, having enclosed his Letter I don't recollect) to the direction of the enclosed. ORIGINAL 1796.] ( 889 ) POETRY. ORIGINAL AN ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH NATION. "Fell Madness, as o'er Life's deceitful way SAY, gen'rous Britons! fhall the arts alone Claim all your fondnefs, and be all your own, While genuine Science in oblivion lies, And none confults the volumes of the wife? Shall godlike Plato's facred page infpire No breaft with rays of heav'n-defcended fire? That page, whofe venerably-myftic lore Form'd fatefmen, poets, krgs, in days of yore. Say, while thro' Matter's labyrinth * you toil, Or o'er wrong readings waste the midnight oil; Shall true Philofophy no vo'try gain, But in deep folitude unknown remain ; Tho' Rapture warble from her facred tongue, Tho' Harmony herself, her lyre has ftrung? Forbid it heav'n!To fouls of meaner rank, The grov'ling Dutchman, or the flippant Frank, Leave fordid toils: while you of nobler kind, Quit words for things, and fenfibles for mind; And thus the nations that around you dwell, Alike in wisdom, as in art excel. Dec. 3, 1796. THOMAS TAYLOR. man, Thine was the foreft malady of all; WRITTEN IN SOLITUDE, BY MR. MOTT, OF CAMBRIDGE. COME, Melancholy, at the close of day, And meet me, in the lone fequefter'd vale, Where oft' I've heard the diftant paffing-bell Forebode the burial of fome friend; fad found!Or lead me, by thy myftic pleasing spell, As the moon wanders thro' the fhades of night, To mould'ring ruins, on fome holy ground, Where the tall thistle skirts the time worn tow'r, That rocks to reft the night-bird, as the gale Blows thro' the tott'ring arches of the pile; For there, methinks, fome Spirit foft will fayPoor Sorrower, on thy fate is feen to fmile Alluding to experimental enquiries. "Thou'rt led by Hope's dim folitary light,” Dec. 15, 1796. To A WRETCH SHIVERING IN THE STREET. THY plaintive voice, fo eloquent and meek, Poor child of Wretchednefs! I never hear, But filently I turn t' indulge the tear Which Pity gives! To me thine accents fpeak,Haply, of her who knows no friend, the fate; Or one, to dark Defpondency confign'd, Or caft to the cold mercy of mankind, On Life's bleak wafte!--But thou, tho' defolate, Shalt find no thelter! thro' her proud abode, Grandeur, in Folly's fplendid robes, fhall flaunt; Riot his fong of merriment shall chaunt : But thou shalt journey friendlefs on thy road, Nor fhall one friendly brother think on thee, Save him, who pitieth poverty, like me! Dec. 19, 1796. To MIRA. IF native dignity and ease, With ev'ry varied pow'r to pleafe; If all that's good, and all that's fair, Can fhield the breaft from anxious care; Then must thy years ferenely flow, Exempt from ev'ry human woe.- L Tranflation of the Lines written by MARGARET of VALOIS, i fried in the Monthly Mag zire for July Luft. WOULD you the Chriftian path explore In which your Saviour Chrift hath trod? Defires of wealth, and power, give o'er, ́ And all that turns your thoughts from God. Scorn woman's dangerous fnares to prove, All worldly gaieties pass by, Leave, honour, pleafure, wealth, and love, Bleft Charity, of power divine, Should guide thy hand, and cheer thy heart, Be fweet forgivenefs ever thine, And let thy foes thy bounty part, M. E. B. THE THE NEGRO BOY. The African Prince who lately arrived in England, being afked, What he had given for his watch replied, "What I will never give again.I gave a fine Boy for it." WHEN avarice enflaves the mind, And selfish views alone bear fway; To fiends that Afric's coaft annoy, I. ifles that deck the western wave, I doom'd the hopciefs youth to dwell; A beast that Chriftians buy and fell: No pleafing thoughts his mind employ, "Befide the ftream in yonder shelter'd dell, Where hedge-row elms the verdant meads divide, Around yon farm, how ftacks incumber'd swell The farmer's profit, and the farmer's pride ! "Why ftiil that frown? amid the fruitful fcene Which erft the glow of rapture could impart; Thus fpoke Hilario; from my aching breast The conscious figh with painful effort rofe: "Be thine," I cried, with rifing grief oppreft, "To learn the ftory of the poor man's woes. "But late like thee, by vain illufions caught, With joy like thine thefe fcenes I wander'd o'er, Till weeping Truth her mournful leffon taught; I heard with anguifhand I fmile no more. "'Twas venerable Alcon told the tale, Alcon we both in early childhood knew; He own'd a neat small farm in yonder vale, Which oft' our vagrant footsteps thither drew. "Cheerful and mild, of tender youth the friend, His fimple manners our affections won ; "I met him late, beneath yon dark wood's Alas, how chang'd! no more the smile of mirth Illum'd his wrinkled brow; a staff his guide, His wafted form low bending to the earth. "Ifpoke-he deeply figh'd; on days long paft A gleam of recollection feem'd to dwell; A mournful hefitating look he cast, At length recall'd whom once he lov'd fo well. "Sad was the greeting of the wretched man; With forrow I beheld his alter'd state; While thus in falt'ring accents he began To trace the progress of his wayward fate. "All-feeing Heav'n! do not feverely blame, If human weakness at thy will repine: For weeping thoufands feel their lot the fame, And weeping thousands utter plaints like mine. "O fatal was the time, when o'er the land, Which erft fupported many an humble fwain, Monopoly ftretch'd forth its grafping hand, The lord-like tenant of a wide domain. "Still does too faithful memory disclose, As oft' thefe alter'd fields I wander o'er, Where the small decent village-farm arofe, The modeft neighbour of the humble poor. "Where from the low-roof'd barn toward the street, The well-ftraw'd yard before the windows For milk at morn and ev'ning duly drain'd, Unaw'd by distance, round his blazing hearth, "Their mirth is paft; their freeborn spirit Like them depreft their former mafters groan, "Proud property now lords it o'er the plain; "Too far remov'd to hear pale fickness moan, Behold his new-fafhed manfion! now no more The fimple cottage of the rural fwain, Or fow with fkilful caft the golden grain. Left it offend Refinement's nicer eye, "E'en the fleek horfes fhow their mafter's Here man alone feems deftin'd to repine; I almost with their ftate for me and mine. "How happy once the careless life I led! Long pafs'd-yet ftill to weeping mem'ry dear, When fweet content with ev'ry moment fled, That brought that wing'd-that clos'd the rolling year: "My path was humble, but that path I trod Without a hope, without a wifh, to climb; Thankful receiv'd each bleffing Heav'n bestow'd, And felt, but mourn'd not at the flight of time. Happy my fmiling family to view, Around me labour, and around me play, When darkness from the dewy fields withdrew, When grateful twilight brought the clofe of day. "Then liv'd our ancient lord; content at Amid his friends and tenants to refide, "Ah little know the gay unthinking great "His fon fucceeding, ftill we hop'd to prove The kind indulgence we fo long had known, MONTHLY MAG, No. XI, To find matur'd by years the former love, 891 "But abfence had eftrang'd his alter'd mind, "His farms were rais'd, far diftant he with In other feats his gather'd wealth to spend : "Look at these rags! and need I tell the rest! "Our rents exacted by a rigid hand, "My younger children cannot earn their bread, "Perhaps, 'tis true, that he who wealth com- By the large efforts of expensive toil, "But think how many from their envied state "For not with them the fatal ills fhall reft; "Bound by no tender tie, their native spot Nor leave a child who bears its father's name ! Το prop the bafelefs pile that finks away! "Ye fons of fortune, hither turn your eyes, "As your's the pow'r, be your's the will to Let proud monopoly opprefs no more, "Your smile shall foon its wonted pow'r impart, "E'en in the humble peafant's low-roof'd cell VARIETIES, |