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from my hand.-Oh, Thomson, never did your Mufe feel fuch a fun !What a world, and what magnificent order! I trod, with regret, on the flowery plants, endued, like that which we call fenfitive, with a quick and lively feeling; they bent under my foot, only to rife with more brilliancy: the fruit gently dropped, on the first touch, from the complying branch, and had fcarcely gratified the palate when the delicious fenfation of its juices were felt glowing in every vein: the eye, more piercing, fparkled with uncommon luftre, the ear was more lively; the heart, which expanded itfelf all over nature, seemed to poffefs and enjoy its fertile extent: the univerfal enjoyment did not disturb any individual; for union multiplied their delights, and they esteemed themselves lefs happy in their own fruition than in the happiness of others.

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This fun did not refemble the comparative palenefs and weakness which illuminates our gloomy, terreftrial prifon; yet the eye could bear to gaze on it, and, in a manner, plunge itself in a kind of ecftacy in its mild and pure light it enlivened at once the fight and the understanding, and even penetrated the foul. The bodies of thofe fortunate perfons became, as it were, transparent; while each read in his brother's heart the fentiments of affability and tenderness with which him, felf was affected.

There darted from the leaves of all the fhrubs that the planets enlightened, a luminous matter which refembled, at a distance, all the colours of the rainbow; its orb, which was never eclipfed, was crowned with fparkling rays that the daring prifm of Newton could not divide. When this planet fet, fix brilliant moons floated in the atmofphere; their progreffion in different orbits, each night formed a new ex hibition. The multitude of stars, which feem to us as if fcattered by chance, were here feen in their true point of view, and the order of the

universe appeared in all its pomp and fplendor.

In this happy country when a man gave way to fleep, his body, which had none of the properties of terrestrial clements, gave no oppofition to the foul, but contemplated in a vifion, bordering on reality, the lucid region, the throne of the Eternal, to which it was foon to be elevated. Men awaked from a light flumber without perturbation or uneafinefs; enjoying futurity by a forcible fentiment of im mortality, being intoxicated with the image of an approaching felicity, exceeding that which they already enjoyed.

Grief, the fatal refult of the imper. fect fenfibility of our rude frames, was unknown to these innocent men ; a light fenfation warned them of the objects that could hurt them; and nature removed them from the danger, as a tender mother would gently draw her child by the hand from a pitfal.

I breathed more freely in this habitation of joy and concord; my existence became most valuable to me; but in proportion as the charms which furrounded me were lively, the greater was my forrow when my ideas return. to the globe I had quitted. All the calamities of the human race united. as in one point to overwhelm my heart, and I exclaimed pitcoufly-"Alas! the world I inhabited formerly refembled yours; but peace, innocence, chafte pleafures foon vanished.-Why was I not born among you? What a contraft! The earth that was my forrowe ful abode is inceffantly filled with tears and fighs; there the smaller number opprefs the greateft; the dæmon of property infects what he touches and what he covets, Gold is there a god, and they facrifice on his altar, love, humanity, and the most valuable virtues.

"Shudder, you that hear me ! The greatest enemy man has is man; his chiefs are his tyrants; they make all things bend under the yoke of their pride or their caprice; the chains of oppreffion

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are in a manner extended from pole to pole; a monfter who affumes the mafque of glory, makes lawful whatever is moft horrible, violence and murdet. Since the fatal invention of an inflammable powder, no mortal can fay, Tomorrow, I shall repofe in peace;-tomorrow the arm of defpotism will not crush my head ;-to-morrow, dreadful forrow will not grind my bones;-tomorrow, the wailings of an useless defpair, proceeding from a diftreffed heart, will not efcape my lips, and tyranny bury me alive as in a ftone coffin !

“O, my brethren! weep, weep over us! We are not only furrounded with chains and executioners, but are moreover dependent on the feafons, the elements, and the meanest infects. All nature rebels against us; and even if we fubdue her, the makes us pay dearly for the benefits our labour forces from her. The bread we eat is earned by our tears and the fweat of our brow; then greedy men come and plunder us, to fquander it on their idle favourites.

"Weep, weep with me, my brethren! Hatred purfues us; revenge fharpens its poniard in the dark; calumny brands us, and even deprives as of the power of making our defence; the object of friendship betrays our confidence, and forces us to curfe this other wife confolatory fentimenta We must live in the midst of all the trokes of wickednefs, error, pride, and folly."

Whilft my heart gave a free courfe to my complaints, I faw a band of thining feraphs defcend from Heaven; on which fhouts of joy were immediately fet forth from the whole race of thefe fortunate beings. As I gazed with aftonishment, I was accofted by an old man, who faid, "Farewell, my friend! the moment of our death draws near; or rather, that of a new life. The

VOL. VII. No 41.

minifters of the God of clemency are come to take us from this earth; we are going to dwell in a world of still greater perfection."-"Why, father," faid I," are you, then, ftrangers to the agonies of death, the anguish, the pain, the dread, which accompany us in our last moments?"

"Yes, my child," he replied; thefe angels of the Highest come at ftated periods, and carry us all away, opening to us the road to a new world, of which we have an idea by the undoubted conviction of the unlimited bounty and magnificence of the Crea tor."

A chearful glow was immediately fpread over their countenances; their brows already feemed crowned with immortal fplendour; they sprang light ly from the earth in my fight; I preffed the facred hand of each for the last time, while with a fmile they held out the other to the feraph, who had spread his wings to carry them to Heaven.

They afcended all at once, like a flock of beautiful fwans, that taking flight raife themfelves with majestic rapidity over the tops of our highest palaces. I gazed with fadnefs; my eye followed them in the air, until their venerable heads were loft in the filver clouds, and I remained alone on this magnificent deferted land.

I perceived I was not yet fitted to dwell in it, and wished to return to this unfortunate world of expiation thus the animal efcaped from his keeper returns, following the track of his chain, with a mild afpect, and enters his prifon. Awaking, the illufion was difpelled, which it is beyond the power of my weak tongue or pen to defcribe in its full fplendour: but this illufion I fhall for ever cherish; and, fupported by the foundation of hope, I will preferve it until death in the inmost receffes of my soul.

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As many of our readers, who have tion of aerial meteors treats of the

no opportunities of feeing the Literary Journals of France and Germany, may be defirous of fome information concerning the ftate of foreign literature, we therefore propofe to give occafionally, in the future Numbers of this Mifcellany, a short account of the nature and character of the moft refpectable literary publications which appear, from time to time, on the continent. Our readers will not expect, however, under this article, a compleat analysis of the publications which Thall be thus announced to them: It will be enough for us to mention the name, the subject, and the general merits of fuch works as we may take notice of.

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“M. l'Abbé Bertholon of Languedoc, already well known in the philofophical world, has lately published, at Paris, a valuable work on the Electricity of Meteors. His work is divided into feven parts, or fections. In his first section, he treats of the electricity of the atmosphere in general; and here he gives an account of the obfervations of the ancients concerning the phenomena of natural electricity; mentions thofe modern philofophers who first conjectured thunder to be an electrical phenomenon ; and details the brilliant experiments by which the truth of that conjecture was fully ascertain ed. He next divides meteors into four different fpecies, igneous, aqueous, aerial, and luminous. Each of these fpecies forms the fubject of a separate fection. Under the denomination of igneous meteors, he confiders thunder and lightning, earthquakes, the aurora borealis, falling ftars, the ignis fatuus, and thofe appearances which the ancients diftinguished by the names of Helena, and Caftor and Pollux. Was ter-fpouts, fnow, hail, and all the arious forms which vapour affumes in the air, are included under the name of aqueous meteors. The fec

winds in general, trade-winds, hurricanes, &c. The luminous meteors are, the rainbow, halo's, parrhelia, &c. In this work we have an account of all the late experiments and difcoveries concerning the operation and effects of the principle of electricity; for a confiderable number of which the world is indebted to the ingenuity and induftry of M. l'Abbé Bertholon. The various memoirs which this indefatigable obferver of nature formerly publifhed on fubjects connected with the knowledge of electricity, and which have been often reprinted, as well as tranflated into feveral foreign langu ages, gave the Public reafon to regard him as highly qualified for fuch a work as the prefent; and his readers will probably acknowledge, that their hopes are not difappointed."

“M. l'Abbé Malheu has lately pub lifhed the 4th, 5th, and 6th volumes of his Tranflation of Lucian. This wit, who fo happily ridiculed the religion, the vices, the follies, and fome times even the learning and the virtues of the ancients, is not unworthy of the attention of the moderns. A good translation of his works must be an ornament to any modern language. Cervantes, Rabelais, and Swift, what ever entertainment they may afford, however high the character which they have attained, are not fuperior to Lu cian, and have confiderable obligations to him. The Dialogues of the Dead, which have been fucceffively prefented to the world by Fenelon, Fontenelle, and Lyttleton, are but faint copies of the lively wit, or the found fenfe dif played in the dialogues of this learned and ingenious Greek. Of Lucian, we have a very faithful and elegant English translation by Dr Franklin Indeed, when we recollect the names and the labours of Petter, Franklin, Pope, and Gillies, we cannot help thinking that the English have been

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happier than any of their European neighbours, in tranflating into their language the fenfe and fpirit of the noblet writers of ancient Greece. When M. l'Abbé Mallieu publifhed the three first volumes of his tranflation, the opinion of the Public was, that the pompous gravity of his ftyle was directly oppofite to the fprightlinefs and eafe of the original. He feems to have liftened to that opinion with attention and refpect: and, accordingly, in the volumes now offered to the world, the character and spirit of Lucian are more faithfully exprefséd. Yet this tranflator is fometimes trivial and mean, where he wishes to be familiar and cafy; his fprightlinefs is not always natural, nor his negligence always graceful. However, with all its faults, his work is confiderably fuperior to any former French verfion of Lucian."

together rubbish, while they are endeavouring to pick up gems.'

"While the fine arts are fo generally and fuccefsfully cultivated, their hif tory naturally becomes an object of curiofity and attention. In Britain, the public have been gratified with hiftories of poetry, mufic, and painting; and with biographical accounts of our moft diftinguifhed poets, painters, and muficians. The French and Italians, among whom the fine arts received earlier encouragement than among us, have difcovered no lefs defire to họnour and perpetuate the memory of their illuftrious artists. M.D-, whose father, in 1762, published an Abridg ment of the Lives of the most famous Painters, has lately offered to the Public, as a fequel to that work, The Lives, of the most famous Architects who have appeared fince the revival of Arts and Letters, with a Defcription of their Works. His inquiries have not been confined to the hiftory of French Architects. The Italians and Englifh have alfo engaged his attention; and he does juftice to the me mory of Michael Angelo, Inigo Jones, and Sir Christopher Wren, as well as to Manfart, and Perrault. A fecond part of this work is affigned to the biography of the most famous Sculptors. Artifts will, doubtlefs, confider themfelves as under particular obligations to the industry of M. D, and his work feems well intitled to the favour of the Public in general."

"A collection of fugitive profe pieces, lately published at Paris, under the title of Le Confervateur, is not unworthy of our notice. It confifts of fhort original eflays, tranflations, and extracts from fome more voluminous works; most of which, though already in print, and poffeffed of confiderable merit, are yet, from their fize, or the circumitances of their publication, lefs generally known than they deferve. In this collection we find a number of very entertaining tales, a necdotes, and effays; the productions of Marmontel, Raynal, St Evremond, Florian, and other refpectable names "One of the most pleafing literary in the literary world. Similar collec- publications, which have of late aptions have been formerly published in peared in France, is a new edition of England by Dodfley, and other book- a Journey to Provence, by M. l'Abbé fellers. They were not ill received Papon. This work contains an acby the Public, and the defign appears curate and comprehenfive account of laudable. To preferve fuch little pie- the antiquities and the prefent state of ces, by collecting them, as in a de- Provence. The face of the country, tached ftate, would foon be loft and its climate, and natural productions forgotten, notwithstanding their merit are well defcribed. Its prefent popu and elegance is to perform no unim- lation, and the condition of its inhabiportant fervice to literature. Yet let tants, have also attracted the notice of -fuch collectors be cautious of raking this agreeable writer. Provence was

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the country of the Troubadours, who in the 12th and 13th centuries wandered through the courts of Europe, celebrating the valour of knights and heroes, and the charms and virtues of the ladies; and of thefe M. de Papon gives a number of very entertaining anecdotes. Many other interefting particulars relative to the hiftory of Provence, are alfo to be found in this work, which is written in a very lively style. M. de Papon is alfo the author of a very compleat hiftory of Provence, in four quarto vols. which, however, cannot be expected to be equally popular with the work before

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"The illuftrious reign of Queen Elizabeth, and the character and fate of her hated rival, the lovely and unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, which have of late fo much engaged the inquiries of our most refpectable British hiftorians, have also attracted the attention of foreigners. In France, where the fair fex are more ambitious of the favours of philofophy and the mufes, than in Britain, though we are not difpofed to detract from the merits of a Montague, a Burney, and a Carter, Mademoiselle de Keralio has lately published the third and concluding volume of her hiftory of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which the informs the Public is the fruit of ten years laborious ftudy and careful inquiry. In a preliminary difcourfe, the traces the hiftory of the conftitution and government of England, from the earlift period of its existence, through its various revolutions and different ages, Notwithstanding, fome trifling inaccuracies and a few mistakes, it must be acknowledged, that in this difcourfe, the laborious refearches of the antiquary, the accurate know Jedge of the lawyer, and the profound reflections of the politician are jointly difplayed. The lady is not content with pronouncing the elogium of the British conftitution, and celebrating the political advantages which we en

joy; the a fo points out its defects, and the dangers to which it is expofed from its peculiar form and circumftan ces. In entering upon the hiftory of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the takes occafion to recount the caufes which effected, and the circumftances which attended the Reformation of Religion in England. She, with no ble indignation, execrates that tyranny, bigotry, enthusiasm, and barbarity, which, amid thefe convulfions, viola ted all the natural and civil rights of humanity; and, under the pretence of religious zeal, fought the basest ends by the most unjustifiable means. Tho' her work is entituled, The Reign of Queen Elizabeth, yet Elizabeth is not the chief object of our Historian's attention; he feldom appears, and is not exhibited in very Battering colours. In the third volume, the amiable, but imprudent Mary comes upon the ftage; and with all the impartiality of an advocate and a friend, Mademoiselle Keralio defends the character, and laments the misfortunes of that unhappy Queen. Not the doughty Goodall, the acute Tytler, the virulent Stuart, or the diffufe and conceited Whitaker, has more warmly espoused her cause, or more keenly attacked the Murrays, Knoxes, Humes, and Robertions, who have prefumed to call her virtue dubious, or her character imperfect.

"Yet as we have not been altoge ther fatisfied, even with the laborious refearches, and ingenious fophiftry by which the former advocates of Mary have endeavoured to vindicate her from the guilt of her husband's murder, and to brand her brother Murray with that atrocious crime; so neither is it our opinion, that Mile de Keralio, notwithstanding all her pretences of plodding among manufcripts, and confulting original papers, affords complete demonftration of the innocence of our heroine. Indeed the moderation of Hume, and the candour and penetration of the refpectable Robertfor, have induced us rather to join

them

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