culous and ill-founded prejudices, poffefs minds,

which if we faw no part of them but their fuperior hours, we fhould fcarce credit the weaknefs into which they fall.

No nation is more replete with experiments of this kind, than this which I now live amongst; indeed the inhabitants of the whole earth have the fame feeds of foibles, but the plant does not thrive to the fame degree, which is to be feen here; every thing commonly met with of that kind in England is a caracatura, compared with what is to be found in other kingdoms.

It seems to be the particular defign of this government, as it is now adminiftred, to let the minds and difpofitions of the inhabitants run wild, into all extremes which do not intermeddle in their maxims of ftate.

THERE is one weakness which feems almost univerfal, which is, the unwillingness to allow any merit in the French productions of arts, fcience, and literature; and tho' there are a thoufand inftances, in which, many customs amongst the French might be adopted with advantage,

in the encouraging arts, fciences, learning and

commerce; yet it is fufficient that they are

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French, to inhibit their being introduced into this country.

A PERSON who gives the due praise which belongs to that nation, and to his own country-. men, is confidered as little less than a rebel, and runs no fmall rifque of receiving fome difpleafing expreffions; he will most certainly be ill thought of, and confidered as a well-wisher to the Gallic nation.

THE averfion to all which is the product of that people, is the reigning paffion amongst the number of this island; and many a useful purfuit has been quitted, because it was originally French.

THIS difpofition is of much differvice to the national good, and this envy or hatred is for ever breaking out in companies, where any one fpeaking in the favour of French manners, is generally confidered as depreciating English; tho' the whole intent of that speaker be, to have the fame introduced into his own country, and make

it as perfect as poffible: in truth, to speak well of France, is the fame as to speak ill of EngJand, and is generally received in that manner.

THIS tafte is notwithstanding to be confidered as general, rather than universal, and yet, it is perhaps, as universal as any custom in the kingdom; the people of good fenfe and knowledge of the nation, are not to be numbered amongst them however.

IF you praife the Spanish honor, the Italian mufic, painting, sculpture, and architecture, the German bravery, there is not the least visible jealoufy; an Englishman is the most ready creature to avow their fuperiority, in these particulars; but if the French are mentioned in the like manner, there will be ten thousand difficulties started, he will make a hundred evasions to avoid acceding to that truth, which he cannot abfolutely deny; there is a kind of contempt for all that is French, and yet a base fear of their fuperiority.

THIS has its influence in the statesman also, and under the delufive notion of the superior bravery

bravery of Englishmen, they leave their kingdom unprovided with defence, prefuming that English peasants who have never known the use of arms, because they have never been trusted with them, can repell an invafion from France, of a regular and well-disciplined force.

THIS very neglect is a monftrous expence to this kingdom; it renders a fleet of ships neceffary to defend their coafts in two or three places, which, after all, are ineffectual where the paffage is fo fhort, if the best feamen are to be credited,

By means of this, double the men of war become neceffary for the English, that are for the kingdom of France; the laft destine none to the defending their coafts, and are at ease about the ill effects which any defcent can cause, because they confide in a militia well train'd in arms; the English dare not quit theirs, because they have not land forces equal to repel an invasion,

AN imitation of their neighbours in this refpect would certainly be of infinite use, and 0 4

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preserve the nation from that ruin which threatens it, unless the miniftry may hereafter prevent it, by ruining it themselves: it is difficult to decide with what other view this infatuation, of neglecting all military difcipline, can be suffered amongst the common people.

IN Paris, Í obferved a very different turn of thinking; it is the French fashion to talk much of the fuperior excellency of the English, in arms, science, and learning; to fo great a degrée is that carried, that a gentleman has written a comedy, called the Anglomania; indeed it has never been presented but privately, however, it is fufficient to fhew the present reigning dispopofition of the Parifians.

NOTHING can recommend a thing at Paris, more than having it faid in its favour, that it is of English production; our filks are preferred to their own, and the royal family of France has been more than once cloathed in the manufactures of the English: a gentleman, who is imagined to understand thefe affairs well, has told me, that the ballance of trade between these two nations, illicit and permitted, is in favour of England;