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Edinburgh Magazine,

OR

LITERARY MISCELLANY,

FOR JUNE 1788.

With a View of the ABBEY of LINCLUDEN.

CONTENTS:

Page

393

ibid

Regifter of the Weather for June, 398 Abbey of Lincluden, Of Filial Piety in China, Of the Patagonians; formed from the relation of Father Falkener, a fefuit, who had refided among them thirty-eight years, Doctor Zimmermann's Converfations with Frederick the Great, late King of Pruffia, Obfervation's made in à Tour in Swifferland in 1786; by Monf. de Lazouki,

Thoughts on the Abolition of the

African Slave-trade, confidered
chiefly in a Prudential and Po-
litical View,.

399

402

405

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421

424

427

434

Strictures on the late, P- -'s
Character confuted,
Letter from a Country Elder, a
member of laft Gen. Affembly, 425
Anecdotes of Frederick the Great,
late King of Prufia,
Letters from the late King of Pruf-
fa to Madame de Camas,
Account of Arabia the Happy, 437
Extracts from a Work in manu-
fcript, entitled Ma Robe de
Chambre, by M. d'Elmotte,
A Sermon on Alms, by the Rev.Mr
Charters, Minister of Wilton, 441
Abu Taib; an Eastern Tale,
Abridgement of M. Metherie's te-

439

443

410

Particulars of the Seizure of the

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Extracts from Papers circulated on

Account of the Manners of the In

trofpective View of the State of Natural Science for 1787,

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the Part of the British Manufacturers in Cotton, relative to the prefent Competition between the. Callico and Muflin Manufactates of Great Britain, Comparative Statement of the two Bills, for the better Government of the British Poffeffions in InVOL. VII. No. 42.

State of the BAROMETER in inches and decimals, and of Farenheit's THE MOMETER in the open air, taken in the morning before fun-rife, and at noon; and the quantity of rain-water fallen, in inches and decimals, from the 31st of May 1788, to the 29th of June, near the foot of Arthur's Seat.

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T

VIEWS IN SCOTLAN D.

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Defcription of the ABBEY of LINCLUDEN.

HE Abbey of Lincluden, about half a mile diftant from Dumfries, is feated on the water of the Cluden. It was founded and filled with Benedictine Nuns, in the time of Malcolm IV. by Uthred, father to Roland, Lord of Galloway. These were expelled by the Earl of Douglas, who fixed in their places a Provoftry, with twelve beadfmen, and changed the name to that of the College.

Part of the house and chancel, and fome of the South wall of the church, are the fole remains of this ancient structure: in the chancel is the elegant tomb of Margaret, daughter of Robert III. and wife of Archibald Earl of Douglas, firft Duke of Terouan, and fon of Archibald the Grim. Her effigy, at full length, lay on the ftone, her head refting on two cufhions; but the figure is now mutilated. The tomb is in form of an arch, with all parts molt beautifully carved. Beneath one of the windows are two rows of figures; the upper of angels, the lower of a corps and other figures; all much defaced, but feemingly defigned to exprefs the preparations for the interment of our Saviour.-Behind the house are veftiges of a flower garden, with the parterres and fcrolls very visible; and near that a great artificial mount, with a fpiral walk to the top, which is hollowed, and has a turf feat around to command the beautiful views; so that the Provost and his beadsmen feem to have consulted the luxuries as well as neceffaries of life.

E

Of Filial Piety in China *.

VERY civilized nation has its civil, as well as criminal laws. By the first, the citizen becomes acquainted with his own rights, and learns to refpect thofe of his neighbour; by the fecond, he is informed what punishment he must expect, if he infringes the former, difturbs the peace of fociety, or tranfgreffes against the inviolable laws of nature. There is ftill a third kind of law, which derives its force more from custom and national manners, than from authority. Filial piety is fo much honoured and refpected in China, that no inftances is known of a legiflator's having been under the neceflity of enforcing it by enacting laws in its favour. In China, it is not confidered as a fimple rule of decency, or duty purely natural: it is a point of religion-and a point of religion that is obferved with the greatest strictness and attention.

It is, at the fame time, one of the main fprings of the Chinese government; it may juftly be called the principal caufe of its exiftence, as the amor patria was that of the ancient republics: but filial piety in this empire is understood in a more extensive fenfe than it generally is in Europe. Its principal object here, is, that the fub jects fhould behave to their fovereign as children, and the fovereign protect his fubjects as the common father of the nation. The ancients called him even the father and mother of the em pire; a mode of expreffion peculiar to the orientals, but an expreffion full of energy.

Filial piety regulates in China the duties of fathers, as well as of children, and thofe, too, of the emperor, confidered as the father or patriarch of all. The authority with which he is invefted correfponds to this title ; 3D 2 *Grofier's General Defcription of China,

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and no attempt has ever yet been made to difpute it. There have been, it is true, fome bad emperors in the course of four thousand years; and there have been alfo fome inftances of rebellion; but thefe have been always viewed in the fame light as thofe momentary phenomena which appear contrary to the established laws of nature. Such phenomena pafs; good order is re-established, and the fyftem of the world remains fill the fame as before.

Filial reverence (recommended by the most ancient philofophers of the empire, and fometimes forgotten) was reftored to its former vigour by the leffons of the celebrated Confucius, or Con-fou-tfee, whofe writings are entirely confined to morality, and who is confidered as the legiflator of China, although there have been a great many others. The ideas of that celebrated philofopher refpecting filial piety, which he calls the bafis of all other virtues, are as follow:

To filial piety he attributes all the virtuous actions of the ancient emperors whofe reigns were fo mild, peaceful, and flourishing. He fays, that, if the emperor and princes give to the people an example of their obedience

a fon is, confequently, to his father, what a fubject is to his fovereign.

The Li-ki (this is the fourth of the claffical books of the Chinese called the King) is also a kind of code refpecting filial piety. We call it a code, becaufe the precepts delivered in that book have acquired the force of laws. We fhall here felect fome paffages from it.

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A fo, impreffed with a due fenfe of filial piety, liftens, to his parents when they addrefs him he fees them, without being in their prefence,

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A fon poffeffes no property of his own during the life of his parents; he cannot even expofe his life to 'fave that of a friend.'-This precept would ill agree with our manners ; and, on that account, we are undoubtedly no lofers.

An ingenuous youth equally avoids whatever may conceal, or ex pofe his talents, becaufe his reputas tion is not his own; it belongs to his parents.

A fon ought not to fit any where on the fame mat with his father.

When a father or mother meets with any caufe of difcontentment or for

vifits. Is either of them fick-his concern appears in the negligence of his dress, the fadness of his looks, and by embarraffment in fpeaking; he touches no mufical inftrument, and avoids, above all things, being in a paffion.

and refpectful fubmiffion to their parow, a fon neither pays nor receives Tents, no perfon will dare to behave with contempt, or fhew averfion to thofe to whom he owes his exiftence; that, step by step, fubordination will be established in the empire; and that this fubordination will produce tranquillity for, when concord reigns in every family, all the fubjects of the A fon who refpects the Li (that prince will endeavour to promote the is to fay, the Rule of Filial Refpect) internal peace of the empire. Let the takes care that his father and mother emperor give an example of filial re-be kept warm in Winter, and cool fpect; he will be imitated by his cour-in Summer; evening and morning,

tiers; the mandarins will be regulated

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he vifits their chamber, to be fully affured, that they are in want of nothing.

by these, and the people by the mandarins. Of all the works of nature, nothing is nobler than man; the best An ingenuous youth never goes action a man, therefore, can do, is to abroad without acquainting his fahonour thofe who produced him: butther, nor ever enters without going a father is, in refpect of his fon, what to falute him. heaven is, in refpect of its creatures:

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He never fpeaks of infrmities er

old age in the prefence of the authors • of his exiftence.

A fon no where fits upon the fame mat with his father; in his paternal home, he never occupies the middle partment, and never goes out by the middle of the door.

A fon fhould quit every engage

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ment, and without the leaft delay,nour his parents, without any regard to obey the voice of his father, when • he calls.

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A fan who has loft his father and mother, ever after renounces brilliancy of drefs, and abftains from wearing gaudy colours. His mourning is long and rigid: part of it confifts in fafting. During that interval, he can

not eat ficfh, except he happens to

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to their bad qualities; he must care. fully hide their faults, and conceal, even from them, whateret knowledge he has of their defects: he may, however, if he judges it neceffary, remon ftrate with them upon their conduct; and this he is authorised to do three times. Are his admonitions neglected--he vents his grief in fighs; but

be fick. This is alfo the only circum- he remains filent, and continues to ítance which permits him to drink • wine.

A well-difpofed youth never vifits the friend of his father but when he is invited; he does not retire till he obtains permiffion, and fpeaks only when he is fpoken to.'

When he walks in company with his elders, he never turns afide to fpeak to another. Honour, as your father and mother,' fays the Li-ki, him whofe age is double of your

ferve them with the fame refpect and 'affection as before.

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When a fon accompanies his father, he muft only follow him, and keep at the distance of a pace behind. A younger fon must pay the • fame refpe&ful deference to one who is older.

A fon must never quarrel with his father, or an old friend.

If a fon makes any attempt against the life of his father or mother, eve

own; and as your eldeft brother,ry officer and domeftic belonging to him whofe years exceed yours by ' ten.'

A fon who has attained to the age of fifty, is not obliged to carry the abstinence prescribed by the rules of ⚫ mourning, to fuch rigour, as to fuffer ⚫ himself to become emaciated; greater ⚫ indulgence shall be still granted him, if he has reached fixty; at the age of feventy, mourning is confined to the colour of his cloathes.'

When any of the literati is defirous of quitting his country, you ⚫ must endeavour to diffuade him from his refolution, and fay to him• What! will you abandon the tombs of your ancestors?

If any one builds a palace, let him • first construct the hall of his anceftors. The vafes neceffary for the : performing of funeral ceremonies must

the family is authorifed to kill the 'parricide. The houfe fhall be demolished, and rafed from the foundation; and the place on which it stood fhall be changed into a com mon fewer.'

This law, publifhed by Ting-kong, king of Tchou, feems to have been adopted throughout the whole empire; but feldom does there occur any neceffity of putting it in execution. Tingkong impofed upon himself a kind of penance, for not having prevented a crime of this nature; or rather, to expiate the difgrace which it caft upon his reign: he condemned himself to abftain from wine during a whole month.

A fon who wears mourning for his father or mother (mourning which lafts three years) is exempted from

• all

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