the colours of a camelion, or the feathers of a pigeon's neck with every motion; he never fails to please himself by pleafing you; and yet the English are called fteady, and the French a fickle nation, the contrary of which is the truth. The fuperiority of the French to the English government, appeared once fo ftriking to a Scotch member of parliament, that it produced the fol lowing story.

IT feems there had been a gentleman of that nation in parliament for fome time, during the reign of Sir Robert Walpole, who had conftant ly given his vote with him, and yet never afked him any favour; this, confidering his country, appeared to the minifter's eyes a more strange phænomenon, than ice in the dog-day's; he could by no means reconcile it to himself, he put together in his mind Scotland, this man, and asking no favour, and could not poffibly bring any folution of this fingular appearance,

靠

•

DISTRUSTING therefore his being of that country, he acquainted a friend of his with this gentleman's behaviour, and defired him to bring him to dine at his houfe; where being come, Sir

Robert

4

Robert thanked him for his friendship, and then afking to what reafon it was owing;

3 I

{

THE Scotch gentleman replied, Sir, I have lived long in France, and from thence am con vinced it is the best government in the world; and in troth as I fee you are advancing with all your powers, to bring about a good work of the like kind in England, I am determined my voice fhall not be wanting to fo laudable an unListo. dertaking.

la mot

SIR Robert fmiled, and there ended the con

versation. I am,

f

Your most obedient.

LET

To the Reverend Father LORENZO FRANCIOSING at Rome, biniv

In dion ni ima

Dear Sir,

ewod 16

MAX it not be faid, that the ruling spirit

Consigue

of a nation is more or less vifible, in the actions of all forts of that people which dwells in it, from the common labourer and artizan, to the firft nobleman in the nation? amidst the lower class it is to be found as confpicuous as mongst the higheft, and the rags and fat living of the workmen of England, speak the idea of liberty, as much as the difregard and inattention. which is to be found amongst the inhabitants of quality and riches.

THE ruling whimfy of the lowest people of England, is to be what they call free, and to be careless of offending any man. To lofe, in drunkenness, all diftinction between birth and obfcurity, nobility and baseness, understanding and ignorance, to affront fuperiors and defy the laws, make

make what are called the effential requifites of li berty by thefe good people of England.

To fupport this glowing spirit as it ought, and keep the heart warmed with its own magnanimity, nothing is fo truly effectual as a large quantity of inebriating liquor in confequence of this, all decoration is neglected, and in this light the shattered coat is to be confidered only as an old enfign, which has been much torn and fuffered in the defence of liberty.

in

**

-A

THEIR daily labour is licentiously swallowed down their throat; liberty is the word and the artist's hands are only employed to find him li quor and infolence. This is the ruling paffion of an English common man, fpirituous liquors. increafe his ideal freedom, and flatter his fenfation of greatnefs, 'till he becomes as great as a lord; liberty plucks juftice by the nofe. "The baby beats the “nurse, and quite athwart goes all decorum.” SHAKESPEAR.

}

OWING to this it is, perhaps, that the Indians of America are all great lovers of fpirituous li quors; it exalts the favourite notions of their

own

own prowess, and every warrior becomes a Her cules by the influence of that inflaming liquor.d

To fhew you what extravagant and unjust ideas the people of England have annexed to the word Liberty, give me leave to tell you what I: faw in the pit of the play-house. lo vinarp

dosteud. De

Ir happened that the king, and fome others of the royal family, were at the comedy that evening; when, according to custom, the company took off their hats; one however, near me, amongst others, kept his on his head; when taking the liberty to speak to him, and asking if he paid no refpect to the appearance of his king? he, knowing by my voice that I was a ftranger, replied, "That, thank God, they were "a free people, and he would not take off his "hat to any king alive."

DON'T imagine this man was attached to the Stuart intereft, it proceeded only from pure caprice or ill manners, which in ten thousand different Thapes is dignified in this land with the celeftial name of Liberty. During an election of members for Westminster, the popular excla