that can befal us. Suppofe we grant the inconfiftent bypothefis of the infidel, yet, ftill it is our intereft to direct ourselves by the dictates of revealed religion-Because it is the trueft friend to human nature-Because it promotes nothing which is not conducive to our quiet and well- The following Narrative, from Letters written in France, in the fummer 1790,' is from the elegant pen of Helen Maria Williams.--The truth of the narrative is unquestionable, as it refpects perfons who are now living, and with whom Mifs Williams lived in terms of the warmest friendship and intimacy.-The feeling mind, while it is pained and frocked at bebold. ing in this narrative the unnatural and inhuman conduct of a father towards an amiable and worthy son, will yet be gratified in the reflection, that that power is gone which licenfed fuch barbarity; and will from this find an additional reafon for rejoicing in a revolution which has freed millions from fuch a fervitude. A E. MEMOIRS of MONSIEUR and MADAME DU F———————. NTOINE Auguftin Thomas du F, eldeft fon of the Baron du F, Counsellor of the Parliament of Normandy; was born on the fifteenth of July, 1750. His early years were embittered by the feverity of his father, who was of a difpofition that preferred the exercife of domeftic tyranny to the bleffings of focial happiness, and chose rather to be dreaded than beloved. The endearing name of father conveyed no tranfport to his heart, which, being wrapt up in ftern infenfibility, was cold even to the common feelings of nature. heritance. On the whole, if it were the great purpose of human life to be hated, perhaps no perfon ever attained that end more completely than the Baron du F—. The Baron's aufterity was not indeed confined to his fon, but extended to all his dependants. Formed by nature for the fupport of the ancient government of France, he maintained his ariftocratic rights with unrelenting severity, ruled his feudal tenures with a rod of iron, and confidered the lower order of people as a fet of beings whofe exiftence was tolerated merely for the ufe of the nobility. The poor, he believed, were only born for fuffering; and he determined, as far as in him lay, not to deprive them of their natural in His fon discovered early a taste for literature, and received an education fuitable to his rank and fortune. As he advanced in life, the treatment he experienced from his father became more and more intolerable to him, as, far from inheriting the fame character, he poffeffed the most amiable difpofitions, and the moft feeling heart. His mother, feeble alike in mind and body,fubmitted with the helpleffnefs, and almoft with the thoughtleffnefs of a child, to the imperious will of her husband. Their family was increafed by two more fons, and two daughters; but these children, being feveral years younger than Monf. du F, were not of an age to afford him the confolations of friendship; and the young man would have found his fituation intolerable, but for the fympathy of a perfon, in whofe fociety every evil was forgotten. This This perfon, his attachment to whom has tinctured the colour of his life, was the youngest of eight children, of a refpectable family of Bourgeois at Rouen. There is great reafon to believe that her father was defcended from the younger branch of a noble family of the fame name, and bearing the fame arms. But, unhappily, fome links were wanting in this chain of honourable parentage. The claim to nobility could not be traced to the entire fatisfaction of the Baron; who, though he would have difpenfed with any moral qualities in favour of rank, confidered obfcure birth as a radical ftain, which could not be wiped off by all the virtues under heaven. He looked upon marriage as merely a convention of intereft, and children as a property, of which it was reafonable for parents to make the most in their power. The father of Mad. Monique C was a farmer, and died three months before the birth of this child; who, with feven other children, was educated with the utmost care by their mother, a woman of fenfe and virtue, beloved by all to whom he was known. It feemed as if this refpectable woman had, after the death of her husband, only supported life for the fake of her infant family, from whom he was fnatched by death, the moment her maternal cares became no longer neceffsary; her youngest daughter, Monique, having, at this period, juft attained her twentieth year. Upon the death of her mother, Monique went to live with an aunt, with whom the remained only a very fhort time, being invited by Madame du F, to whom he was well known, to come and live with her as an humble companion, to read to her when the was difpofed to liften, and to enliven the fullen grandeur of the chateau, by her animating vivacity. This perfon had cultivated her excellent understanding by reading, and her heart flood in no need of cultivation. Monf. du F found in the charms of her converfation, and in the fympathy of her friendfhip, the most foothing confolation under the rigor of parental tyranny. Living feveral years beneath the fame roof, he had constant opportunities of obferving her difpofition and character; and the paffion with which fhe at length inspired him, was founded on the lafting bafis of esteem. If it was ever pardonable to deviate from that law, in the code of intereft and etiquette, which forbids the heart to liften to its beft emotions; which, ftifling every generous fenti-ment of pure difinterested attachment, facrifices love at the fhrine of avarice or ambition; the virtues of Monique were fuch as might excufe this deviation. Yes, the character, the conduct of this amiable perfon, have nobly juftified her lover's choice. How long might he have vainly fought, in the highest claffes of fociety, a mind fo elevated above the common massa mind that, endowed with the most exquifite fenfibility, has had fufficient firmnefs to fuflain, with a calm and equal fpirit, every tranfition of fortune; the most fevere trials of adverfity, and perhaps what is ftill more difficult to bear, the trial of high profperity. Monf. du F had been taught, by his carly misfortunes, that domeftic happinefs was the firft good of life. He had already found, by experience, the infufficiency of rank and fortune to confer enjoyment; and he determined to feek it in the bofom of conjugal felicity. He determined to pafs his life with her whofe fociety now feemed effential not only to his happiness, but to his very existence. At the folemn hour of midnight, the young couple went to a church, where where they were met by a prieft whom Monf. du F had made the confident of his attachment, and by whom the marriage ceremony was performed. Some time after, when the fituation of his wife obliged Monf. du F to acknowledge their marriage to his mother, fhe affured her fon that she would willingly confent to receive his wife as her daughter, but for the dread of his father's refentment. Madame du F, with tears of regret, parted with Monique, whom the placed under the protection of her brothers: they conducted her to Caen, where she was soon after delivered of a fon. The Baron du F was abfent while these things were paffing; he had been fufpected of being the author of a pamphlet written against the princes of the blood, and an order was iffued to feize his papers, and conduct him to the Baftile; but he found means to escape into Holland, where he remained nearly two years. Having made his peace with the miniftry, he prepared to come home; but before he returned, Monf. du F― received intelligence that his father, irritated almoft to madness by the information of his marriage, was making application for a lettre de cachet, in order to confine his daughter-in-law for the rest of her life; and had also obtained power to have his fon feized and imprisoned. Upon this, Monf. du F and his wife fled with precipitation to Geneva, leaving their infant at nurfe near Caen. The Genevois feemed to think that the unfortunate fituation of thefe ftrangers gave them a claim to all the offices of friendship. After an interval of many years, I have never heard Monf. or Madame du Frecall the kindness they received from that amiable people, without tears of tenderncis and gratitude. Mean while the Baron, having difcovered the place of his fon's retreat, obtained, in the name of the King, permiffion from the cantons of Berne and Friburg, to arrest them at Laufanne, where they had retired for fome months. The wife of Le Seigneur Baillif fecretly gave the young people notice of this defign, and on the 30th of January, 1775, they had just time to make their efcape, with only a few livres in their pockets, and the clothes in which they were dreffed. Monf. du F, upon his firft going to Switzerland, had lent thirty louis to a friend in diftrefs. He now, in this moment of neceffity, defired to be repaid, and was promifed the money within a month: mean time, he and his wife wandered from town to town, without finding any place where they could remain in fecurity. They had spent all their small stock of money, and were almost without clothes: but at the expiration of the appointed time, the thirty louis were paid, and with this fund Monf. and Madame du F determined to take fhelter in the only country which could afford them a fafe afylum from profecution, and immediately fet off for England, travelling through Ger. many and part of Holland, to avoid paffing through France. They embarked at Rotterdam, and after a long and gloomy paffage, arrived late at night at London. A young man, who was their fellow paflenger, had the charity to procure them a lodging in a garret, and directed them where to purchafe a few ready-made clothes. When they had remained in this lodging the time neceffary for becoming parishioners, their bans were published in the church of St. Anne, Weftminster, where they were married by the Curate of the parish. They then went to the chapel of the French Ambaffador, and were again married by his Chaplain; after which Monf. du F F told me, * Les deux epoux vinrent faire maigre chaire à leur petite chambre.' Moní, du F endeavoured to obtain a fituation at a school to teach the French language; but before fuch a fituation could be found, his wife was delivered of a gil. Not having fufficient money to hire a nurse, he attended her himfelf. At this period they endured all the horrors of abfolute want. Unknown and unpitied, without help or fupport, in a foreign country, and in the depth of a fevere winter, they almoft perished with cold and hunger. The unhappy mother lay ftretched upon the fame bed with her new-born infant, who in vain implored her fuccour, want of food having dried up that fource of nourishment. The woman, at whofe house they lodged, and whom they had for fome weeks been unable to pay, after many threatenings, at length told them that they muft depart the next morning. Madame du F was at this time fcarcely able to walk across her chamber, and the ground was covered M' with fnow. They had already exhaufted every refource; they had fold their watches, their clothes, to fatisfy the cravings of hunger; every mode of relief was fled-every avenue of hope was clofed-and they determined to go with their infant to the fuburbs of the town, and there feated on a stone, wait with patience for the deliverance of death. With what anguish did this unfortunate couple prepare to leave their last miserable retreat! With how many bitter tears did they bathe that wretched infant, whom they could no longer save from perishing! Oh, my dear, my ever beloved friends! when I recollect that I am not at this moment indulging the melancholy caft of my own difpofition, by painting imaginary distress; when I recollect not only that these. were real fufferings, but that they were fuftained by you! my mind is overwhelmed with its own fenfations. The paper is blotted by my tears, and I can hold my pen no longer, (To be continued.) * The new married couple kept a faft in their little apartment. The LIFE of CERVANTES.* ICHAEL DE CERVANTESSAAVEDRA, whose writings have given celebrity to Spain, amufed all Europe, and improved the age in which he lived, himself dragged on a miferable exiftence, and died fcarcely regretted. It is but very lately that the place of his birth has been afcertained. Madrid, Seville, Luchen, and Alcala, have feverally laid claim to him. Cervantes, (as well as Homer, Camoens, and other illuftrious men) has, fince his death, been held in the highest citimation, though he lived almoft in want of common neceffaries. The Spanish academy, under the patronage of the King, has at length thought proper to pay-to the memory of Cervantes-thofe honours which were fo juftly his due. An cdition of Don Quixote,' of unparalleled typographical splendour, has been newly published. The editors, having their national honour at heart, fcem, by the extraordinary care and expence beftowed upon the work, defirous to atone for the ftupid, and almoft criminal neglect of the author. Materials for Cervantes's life have been very fedulously collected, and wrought up by a diftinguished mem ber * Prefixed to a late splendid edition of Don Quixote, published by the Spanish Academy. ber of the academy: from which it appears he was of a gentleman's family; being fon of Roderick de Cervantes and Leonora de Cortinas. He was born at Alcala de Henares, a town in New-Caftile, the 9th day of October, 1547, in the reign of Charles V. From his earliest infancy he was fond of books. He ftudied at Madrid under a very eminent profeflor; and foon diftinguished himself from the rest of his fchool-fellows by his fuperior genius. A proficiency in the Latin language, and an infight into theology, made up the learning of thofe days. His parents intended him either for phyfic or the church; thofe two being the only lucrative profeffions then followed in Spain: But, Cervantes had this in common with many celebrated poets-he made verses in spite of his parents. An elegy on the death of Queen Ifabella of Valois,-feveral Sonnets, -and a Poem entitled Filena, were his first productions. The indifferent reception these met with, feemed to our young author fuch flagrant injuftice, that he thereupon took the refolution of quitting his native country, and went to fettle at Rome. There penury constrained him to enter into the fervice of Cardinal Aquaviva, in the humble capacity of valet de chambre. Difgufted very foon with an employ fo little fuited to the ardor of his difpofition, he quitted it to inlift for a foldier; and diftinguifhed himself for his bravery at the famed battle of Lepanto, won by Don Juan of Austria. It was there he received a mufket-shot in his left hand, which deprived him for ever of the use of it. The only recompence he got for his maimed limb, and the difplay of extraordinary perfonal va lour, was the being fent, along with his wounded companions, to the hofpital at Meffina. Little as he had reaped by his firft campaign, the trade of a foldier, with all its ills, feemed to Cervantes preferable to that of a neglected poet. As foon as he was cured of his wounds, he enlisted anew, and ferved three years in garrifon at Naples. As he was returning, after that, to his own country, aboard a veffel belonging to his fovereign Philip II. he was captured by Mami, the moit formidable pirate of those times, and was carried to Algiers. Though fortune feemed to perfecute Cervantes with her utmoft malice, fhe could not break his enterprifing fpirit. Become a flave,-and that to a cruel master ;-almost certain of being put to the torture,and not improbably-to death,-if he made any attempt to gain his liberty; he had the hardiness to concert, with fourteen other captive Spaniards, upon the means of escape. The plan agreed upon was this. One of them was to be redeemed at their general expence; was to go ftraight to Spain, and procure a veflel, to return in as foon as poffible to Algiers; and carry off, under favour of night, his captive countrymen. To put fuch a fcheme in execution was no very eafy matter. In the first place, they had to fcrape together a fum of money fufficient to ranfom the adventurer; and then they had to effect their efcape from their refpective mafters; and to find out a convenient place for a rendezvous, where they could remain concealed until the day of their liberated fellow's return: nor was it to be fuppofed but he would have many diffculties to encounter with on his part. In short, the obstacles were so many and great, that it was next to an impoffibility to effect their purpose. But, what will not the love of liberty incite us to? One |