SKETCHES OF SOCIETY.

FASHIONABLE DIFFICULTIES, WAYS
AND MEANS!

The plan was

Trigger tried to join, but could not. together; and whatever they seem to Just at the commencement of the third win or lose to each other is a blind." course, the Baronet was called out; he "Sir M- was arrested yesterday speedily returned laughing, and pushed morning, (for it was now far on to a second Turning the corner of St. James's about the enlivening glass in double quick day) and you met him with the Bailiff in Street, I was overtaken by Sir Mtime. During the desert, odd or even his curricle: he accompanied him home; M-, in a well-appointed curricle, with was again proposed, but negatived; and and never left the house until the guntwo smart grooms as out-riders, yet ac- I perceived that neither W- -y nor smith went out to sign the bail-bond. companied by the most sulky, stern-look- the Lawyer had joined in the first little Old Trigger looked grave on finding the ing farmer or horsedealer I ever beheld. gambling entre acte. Here Trigger and sum more than what he had bargained "How are you, M-?" said I. He the Baronet were both called out; but for, which doubtless was a trick managed thanked me, and pulled up, without, returned in a few minutes; the former betwixt John Doe and the noble Baronet. however, introducing his companion. I with much gravity; the latter with the When previous to that hoax, you saw a observed that he had changed his set triumphant air of a successful hoax. pause, the wine was out; but the entre of horses, from four greys to as many After the desert, we had two hours acte produced enough to procure more; blacks: 66 Aye," cried he, "and my next hard drinking, in the course of which a and the raffle for the snuff-box, which set shall be duns for the sake of retalia- musical snuff-box was produced by the took place afterwards, paid more than tion; but pray come and dine with me Baronet, much admired by Trigger, and the expences of our splendid entertainat seven say half after, if you please." put up to raffle: thirty-one was the highest ment." Here ended our colloquy. throw; Trigger threw that number; but "B-'s going to the Opera was a great I reached Street about a quar- the Baronet took up the box, and won it disappointment; still a greater, your not ter before eight; all the guests were ar- in at thirty-four. "You've missed, old making up a rubber; as for me, he knows rived; but Sir Mortimer was from home. Blunderbuss," cried Wy: then, that I never play; but he is pleased to Three quarters of an hour had elapsed, turning to me, added in a whisper, "How say that I enliven his party, and that he without any appearance of the Baronet: the old cock hangs fire; I was in hopes cannot do without me. at length W-il-gh-y, who is a witling that he would have gone off long ago." to get B and yourself into deep play and a classic, rung the bell to enquire if By this time, all were gentlemanly drunk, after supper, when you would have susit was all a hoax or not; and when there and Trigger was carried out speechless. pected less by being allowed to win a was a chance of dinner. "My master is A rubber at whist was proposed by trifle at whist. As it is, you see Mr. this moment come in, and the dinner is the Baronet; but W- -y, treading Trigger has paid his shot pretty well; dish'd," said the Butler. "Had you told on my toe, declined; and we thus spoiled and the hazy attorney will be hit for as us that the dinner was just come in, and the party and retired, leaving the Peer, much as he is good for, which the Peer that your master was dish'd, it might have the Baronet, and the intoxicated Lawyer, and the Baronet will divide at a tête a been as well," added W- -y; "for, at vignt et un; Jack B having gone tête dinner, heartily laughing at all the the former we all hope, and the latter we to the Opera. W- -y asked me to parties. The house is not unfurnishing; all know." Here the Baronet entered, give him a cast in my carriage, and we but the porters whom you met, were carin high spirits, and shook hands with us perceived, on leaving the house, a num-rying out the hired plate, glass, linen and all. The party consisted of Lord L-, ber of porters with packages proceeding the hampers of wine which were not Dick W -y, Jack B——, ( a cler- out of the street-door, as if they were used; likewise a legion of empty bottles." gyman), an anonymous Lawyer (for we unfurnishing it entirely. Here the carriage stopped, whilst never heard him named), Mr. Trigger, On our road home, I expressed my W--y concluded by a wretched pun. the gunsmith (a little to our astonishment), surprise to W. -y, who explained" Adieu," said he, "sic transit gloria and myself. all as follows. "Sir M and I were Tuesday; for Mundi, or Monday is Betwixt the first and second courses at school and college together. Since past."-I retired to my bed, yet not to there was a longish pause, and, upon that time, however, we had lost sight of rest; for I was horror-struck with what more wine being called for, the Butler each other, until we met by accident, in had passed, and I resolved to tell my said, that Joseph had mislaid the key, the Pump-room at Bath. I understand story to every incautious young man of but, that if he did not find it in five mi- that he was deeply in debt when he left my acquaintance. The changes which nutes, he would break open the cellar college; and that, in a few years after-take place in our earliest associates after door, and have a padlock put on directly wards, he had spent the whole of his for- leaving school or the University, are after. Lord L- here spoke for the tune. He lost an heiress by being ar- such, that one cannot be too guarded first time, and proposed to the Baronet rested at Brighton, and by the consequent how he gives way to that natural sentito toss up for a few guineas betwixt the exposure of his affairs; and he was equally ment of philanthropy which leads us to acts. It was agreed to: the Baronet lost unlucky in being opposed by too heavy wish, alas! too often in vain "that the twenty to his Lordship; and the thing weight of metal in his election, although friends of our youth may be the comwent round for a few minutes, in which many think that he received a sum of panions of our old age.” time B and myself lost about fifty; money to declare off. Finally, all his while the gunsmith was the hardest hit, effects, stud et cetera, et cetera, are sold; having lost nearly double that sum. and, he lives, (like many other dashing A great lot of Champagne now appear-young men on town) completely by his ed in ice, and the second service put an wits. His horses and curricle are hired, end to further sport. "You are an un-his house is ready-furnished, his servants fortunate sun of a gun," cried W- -y, are on board-wages, and, when he gives tapping old Trigger on the shoulder: a dinner, it comes from a tavern; Lord here a loud laugh arose again, in which Lavender is a brother Greek; they work

FRENCH MANNERS.
(Maurs Françaises.)
L'ERMITE EN PROVINCE.

The men of other times, and the things of ours. Bordeaux, Jan. 15, 1817-It is six o'clock in the morning, I rise and consult my memorandum book, in which I take care to note in the evening what I intend to do the following day: I To visit the house of Montaigne The Chafind my time for to-day distributed as follows. teau de la Brede where Montesquieu was

of

born and wrote-To dine on board the Two which every lord (in the good old times) had the from the hero to the insect, which came Brothers To go to the play in the Evening. right to confine, without farther ceremony, such under his influence, rested upon many Fame is a brilliant train which Genius leaves of his vassals as gave him cause for complaint: behind it, when passing over the earth; of the it is affirmed that in this very place, Montes- an unprofitable plant, and fertilized many on the liberty of the an ungrateful soil. united lustre of these tracks of light is com- quieu wrote his chapter There were not wanting, hosts of male posed the national glory, to the splendor of Citizen." which few illustrious men have contributed so To pass from one extreme to the other, on and female beings, who exalted his demuch as Montaigne and Montesquieu.-The leaving this dungeon, we ascended by an interior first, by teaching us that doubt is the beginning staircase to the top of a kind of belfry, which sires, anticipated his wishes, and threw f wisdom, may be considered as the founder of is very lofty, and on the walls of which are in an air of dignity over his failings. His that modern philosophy, which has been so scribed the names of the persons who have vi- passions were represented as amiable penmuch calumniated in our times, by men who sited this place. I wrote mine below that of a chants, his errors arising from want of exprove, by their example at least, that it has not Russian gentleman, who made the tour of contributed to the advancement of human rea- France on purpose to visit La Brede. I shall perience were applauded as proofs of son-The other, by throwing light upon the not amuse myself with describing a long suite of high spirit, and his extravagance was dechaos of the laws, by going back to the origin Gothic apartments, which resemble all others nominated becoming generosity. Coffers of societies, to the principle of governments, of that kind, but I should reproach myself if I were offered at his feet; credits, forced has recovered (as has been said to his great glory) passed over the library, on the shelves of which the title deeds of the human race, which had been Montesquieu has written with his own hand the upon him; services, volunteered to supso long lost. Honor to the cradle of these two titles of some of his works: on the beam which port whatever whim he might conceive, crosses the room are figured the twelve signs of and to gratify whatever desire a generous great men! but restless mind might suggest to him in the Zodiac. the high tide of blood, and the fevered delirium of fruition. Abycin my ski

It struck eight. I went to call on M. Abriac, as we had agreed the day before, and we got

into a carriage to go to the Chateau de la Brede. Before we left the city, we stopt in the street of the Minims, where my guide pointed out to me a mean looking house (No. 17.) There lived the anthor of the Essays. The door, the gothic form of which is seen only in its upper part, is the sole remains of this monument, which time, and men liave spared; no mark, no inscription consecrates the memory of it, and even interest which turns every thing to account, has not taught the successive proprietors of the spot, how much they would increase the value of it, by placing it under the protection of these words "Here lived Montaigne."

The person who did the honours of this Chatean, had the politeness to shew the originals of some familiar letters of the illustrious author; I extract a few lines, in which he speaks of La Brède.

Whilst the tide of pleasure flowed in copious streams to satiate bis satellites, the Chief of the Kymri felt sympathies, indulged benevolence, and was a living romance of boundless munificence. The earth seemed too little for his bounteous hand; and, if he could have given worlds to the companions of his festive hours, to the associates of his pleasures, to the par takers of his confidence, he would have bestowed them on every favorite male and female, and still he would have thought them scarce enough.aspett

"To the Abbé de Guasco-I much fear that if the war continues I shall be obliged to go and The air, the plant cabbages at La Brede. grapes, the wine, of the banks of the Garonne, and the dispositions of the Gascons, are excellent antidotes to melancholy; I anticipate the pleasure I shall have in taking you to the country where you will find a Chateau, which is in deed Gothic, but adorned with charming woods, the idea of which I got in England. I can say We arrived at 10 o'clock at La Brede, four that La Brède is as agreeable a place as any in leagues from Bordeaux : we were received France; excepting the Chateau, nature is there there by a friend of M. Abriac's, a relation to in her robe de chambre, and as one may say, just an old man of the name of Montesquieu, who is rising from her bed (au château près, la nature A gloom appeared, a chilly hour of now proprietor of the Chateau. The Chateau s'y trouve en robe de chambre, et pour ainsi dire of La Brede, is a hexagonal building, with a an lever du lit.) I shall be there in the month of winter froze his halcyon days, a cloud drawbridge, surrounded by a double moat of August. passed over his refulgence. Then the Orus! quando ego te aspiciam !” running water and faced with free-stone. It stands in a charming situation surrounded by During breakfast, which was served up in Mon- fawning, cringing, officious tradesman woods and meadows. We alighted in a long tesquieu's chamber, the friend of M. Abriac, claimed his bill; the selfish usurer grew avenue of oaks, where Montesquieu used to a well informed and sensible man, very politely impatient for his illegal gains; the base walk every morning in the fine season, medi-replied to some questions which I put to him on tating the chapters of his immortal work. M. the present state of science and literature at parasite saw age disgracing his groveling Abriac's friend who came to meet us in this Bordeaux. Now, as formerly," said he, "we office, and the haven of independence at avenue, pointed out to us the very spot, where have at Bordeaux an Academy of Sciences and a distance. The profligate's ambition had the author of the Spirit of Laws was accus- Belles Lettres, a Philharmonic Society, an now consumed him in high society, and tomed to give audience to the peasants belong. Athenæum, a Museum, a Free School of Draw. ing to his estate, whose disputes he used to ing and Painting, Schools of Surgery, Medicine, ruinous banqueting with the Chief, and decide, conversing with them in the Gascon Botany, &c.; but I am forced to confess that he panted for a place or a pension: the patois. Over the door by which you enter this parade of public institutions is purely no-frail seducing fair wished for lucrative minal, and that the Sciences, the Arts, and par- and honorable retirement, as a reward ticularly Literature, are nothing less than flourishing in the ancient capital of Guienne. We for misleading an erring mind, and for vitiating an easy heart.

are these verses.

Berceau de Montesquieu, sejour digne d'euvie, Où d'un talent sublime, il deposa les fruits; Lieux si beaux, par le temps, vous serez tous détruits; Mais le temps ne peut rien sur son divin genie. The interior of the Chateau is vast and well arranged, but the windows are ill placed, and the apartments are almost all in want of light. I stood long in respectful silence in the room, where the great man used to work; all the fur

nitare of it is preserved, with a care which does

live here on our recollections.

PORTRAITS IN HIGH LIFE.

PORTRAIT I.

THE CHIEF OF THE KYMRI.

Now debt, difficulty, complaints and blame met the Chief at every avenue; the paternal heart was frozen into adamant; courtiers and advisers misrepresented every action of his life; his liberality was represented as prodigality, his love of his people as undutifulness to a

This Chief was gifted by nature with beauty of person, kindness of disposition, honour to the present owner of the Chateau. The furniture, such as it was formerly, con- and quickness of conception; in so much sists of a very plain bed, some arm-chairs of a that he charmed by his appearance, won father, his amusements as profligacy, his gothic form, and a gallery of family portraits. hearts by his amiability, and surprised by foibles as vices, his debts as injustice and The apartment is wainscotted, but not painted; his talent. Born of colder and more dishonesty. In vain did he supplicate in the very place where Montesquieu used to

write, one sees on the left side of the chimney money-loving parents, his warm mind a share of the savings of extreme prua place worn by his foot which had the habit of looked for something further than frugal dence; the bosom and the coffers were resting there. A window of this room looking habits, domestic order, and cold con- locked with the same iron key; and the to the South, affords you the prospect of a mea dow of immense extent. On going out of this jugal complaisance. His affections, like noble spendthrift then became an exemchamber you find a narrow steep staircase, by a genial ray of the generous sun, darted plary instance of self-denial, and mortified which we descended into the feudal dungeon in on all around him, warmed every thing, privation.

1

a

Affections misapplied, false friends un-, known that two unprovided sons of quon-us, that all is not satisfactory, and though masked, and fallacious enjoyments having dam men of property, and a foreign no- we may not be able to prove that they are disappointed him daily, an offer of mar-bleman serving in his father's army, re-wrong, we feel with conviction that it is imriage, and a settlement of all incumbran-ceived 500l. per annum each, out of his possible they should be right. They are certainly right in blaming those, ces were held out. Here, however, the private purse? Is it known that he dis- who are rendered vain by the possession of Chief was again deceived. Misrepre- tressed himself to pay the debts and to beauty, since vanity is at all times sentation had promised him a lovely enlarge the establishment of one who, fault: but there is a great difference between bride, connubial enjoyment, and perma- by her hatred and ingratitude, deserved being vain of a thing, and being happy that nent tranquillity: reality produced in the least of him? Yes; all this is known: we have it; and that beauty, however little evitable disgust, undeserved reproach, but the days are come when self-interest merit a woman can claim to herself for it, is tormenting disquietude, and no ameliora- guides every action and thought, and really a quality which she may reasonably rejoice to possess, demands, I think, no very tion of circumstance. All these griev- when suffering wickedness upbraids all laboured proof. Every body naturally wishes ances were enhanced by the sympathy of but itself for the pangs it endures. It is to please. To this end we know how imhis people, for that sympathy was ill quite unsafe for a benignant chief to un-portant it is that the first impression we probestowed on his consort, who had then bend to his subject, and to share the ban-duce should be favorable. Now this first acted only in private the afflicting part quet with him, to offer the exhilarating impression is most commonly produced which she subsequently displayed to the cup to a guest, or to bestow condescen- through the medium of the eye; and this is whole world!-Happily, however, for the sion on any one, lest they reproach him frequently so powerful as to resist for a long time the opposing evidence, evidence of subcause of truth and justice, she herself for the debility attending excess, for the sequent observation. Let a man of even thus gave at once the most public and the hope which an inebriated fancy had held the soundest judgment, of the most cultimost triumphant vindication of her lord. out of advancement, for the disappoint-vated understanding, be presented to two But, meanwhile, youth was consumed, ed swellings of unsatisfied ambition. pleasure palled, delusion lost its power,

hope faded, and regret blasted the flowers ON THE RELATIVE VALUE OF GOOD SENSE of blissful promise.

AND BEAUTY IN THE FEMALE SEX.
To the Editor.

Here, an unforeseen event, a deep SIR,-In looking over my portfolio, I have misfortune called on the Chief to quit the found the original draft of a letter adbower of luxury, and to preside over dressed many years ago to a lady of distinpublic affairs in a difficult crisis, and anguished rank on the Continent, with whom hour of peril. Never did firin hand, dar-I had the pleasure of corresponding for a ing courage, enlarged views, and exten- considerable time after the opportunities of sive policy, perform more in a short time personal communication, had ceased. As I than the Chief of the Kymri did. Glory you a copy for your perusal. think it might suit your publication I send crowned every enterprize by land and sea; seemingly interminable war ceased; usurpers bent beneath his arms; justice resumed her reign; peace smiled upon his endeavours; and tranquillity revisited a world convulsed by revolutions, torn by wars, agitated by contending factions, and exhausted by continued strife.

What has been his reward? For his generosity and kindness to his bacchanalian companions, he has received only reproaches for not providing for them all; for a chivalrous spirit in hiding a female's faults by a dignified separation without exposure, he has got only public censure and disgrace; for superbly representing a great nation, he has been

I remain, Dear Sir, Yours, &c. H. E. L. DEAR MADAM,-Though I have delayed longer than I intended, to throw together my observations on Sense and Beauty as you requested me to do, I flatter myself, that if the subject has again occurred to your mind, you have not attributed the delay to any backwardness to oblige you, which it is impossible I can ever feel, or an inattention to your requests, which I shall always honor as commands, and cherish as favors.

You wished, if I rightly understood you, to have my ideas on the respective worth that Sense and Beauty in the female sex have in the eyes of ours, the grounds upon which our esteem is built, and how far that esteem is in general well or ill-founded."

women, equally strangers to him, but the one extremely handsome, the other without any remarkable advantages of person, he will, without deliberation, attach himself first to the former. All men seem in this to be actuated by the same principle as Socrates, who used to say, that when he saw a beautiful person, he always expected to find it animated by a beautiful soul. Nay more; the two ideas are so singularly combined in our minds, that even the converse of the Socratic position is also true. Do we by any means become acquainted with the sense, the amiable disposition of a woman, before we have seen her person, we inevitably embody the fair spirit that has charmed us, in a form on which we bestow, with lavish hand, every attraction of external grace that our fancy can furnish. Should we find on a personal acquaintance, that the reality falls very short of this creature of our imagination, we not only feel vexed and disappointed, but are sometimes so unjust as to withdraw a part of that approbation, which we had before bestowed, and to fancy that we have been too lavish of our praise; so that it often requires a considerable time to regain our good opinion.

If such be the influence of external beauty, surely no woman can be blamed for wishing to possess it, or for showing it in the most advantageous light; nor can those branches of education, which tend to heighten the effect of a graceful figure, or to mend the

The subject is indeed a difficult one, and I should almost fear to discuss it, except with a lady who possesses both these excellencies, accused of extravagance; for shutting in a sufficient degree to banish all appre-deficiencies of a bad one, he considered as his eyes to all feeling but a nation's wel-hension of offending her, by giving the prefare, and for a heart-rending separation ference to either. from men whom he loved, but whose Notwithstanding the lessons of moralists, measures he disapproved, he has had im- and the declamations of philosophers, it canputed to him treacherous inconstancy; not be denied that all mankind have a nafor a change of men and measures found-tural love, and even respect for external beauty. In vain do they represent it as a ed on necessity, he has been blamed for thing of no value in itself, as a frail and forgetfulness, levity, ingratitude and de-perishable flower; in vain do they exhaust

sertion of his adherents!

Was ever chief more foully misrepresented?-more basely used? And is it

known that to distressed noblemen and gentlemen his liberal hand has afforded unboasted-unknown support ? Is it

frivolous and unimportant. Those only are to be blamed, who pay so much attention to the cultivation of the form, that they disregard the improvement of the mind, though both may very well go on together. This is, unfortunately, too common an error, both of women who possess beauty, and of those who are entrusted with their education. The far greater part of the other sex who apall the depths of argument, all the stores of proach them, must necessarily be persous fancy, to prove the worthlessness of this who have no more than a slight general acamiable gift of nature. However persuasive quaintance with them, and perhaps not even their reasonings may appear, and however that. Every man of liberal education will natuwe may, for a time, fancy ourselves con- rally wish, when in the company of women, vinced by them, we have in our own breasts to render himself as agreeable to them as he a certain instinct, which never fails to tell can, and for this, there is no better means

gy,

than to show that he is pleased with them. | her native stone! Thus it is with a fine wo- | deepest importance. It is by the enThis he will be able to do with more success, man, whose only accomplishment is external couragement, the reward, the employif they really possess some qualities, which excellence. She may dazzle for a time; but ment, of such services, that all the talent he may venture to commend without suspi- when a man has once thought "what a pity of a nation can alone be called into accion of flattery. Such is beauty, which is that such a master-piece should be but a evident at a glance, whereas the excellencies walking statue," her empire is at an end. tion, and that it may excel in wealth and of the mind and heart, are rarely to be dis- On the other hand, when a woman, the power, in happiness and grandeur. It is, covered without a longer and more intimate plainness of whose features perhaps pre-on the contrary, by the neglect of this acquaintance, especially when accompanied vented our noticing her at first, is found, encouragement, reward and employment by that amiable diffidence, which in a woman upon nearer acquaintance, to be possessed of talent, in the service of the state, that is peculiarly becoming. It is therefore no of the more solid and valuable perfections of all empires have fallen. Luxury, corrupwonder, that women, who are possessed of the mind, the pleasure we feel at being so tion and vice, to which their subversion both beauty and understanding, should hear agreeably undeceived, makes her appear to themselves much more frequently com- still greater advantage: and as the mind of has been ascribed, are only common covmended for the former than for the latter; man, when left to itself, is naturally an ene-sequences of this neglect. or that men, who have a real and just value my to all injustice, we, even unknown to To confirm this assertion, we would for understanding, should often seem to ourselves, strive to repair the wrong we have ask of the intelligent student of history: neglect women who possess it, to pay their involuntarily done her, by a double portion Was it in the time of its intellectual enercourt to others, every way their inferiors, of attention and regard. If these observations be founded in truth, verted by Cambyses, that the Persian fell except in the more conspicuous attractions that the Egyptian empire was subof external form. The ladies, however, often you will be able to form a tolerable judgment fall into the fatal error of imagining that a of the respective values, which beauty and an easy conquest to Alexander and a fine person is, in our eyes, superior to every understanding in your sex have in the eyes handful of Macedonians; that the Maceother accomplishment, and those who are so of ours. You will see that, though a woman donian, the Spartan, the Athenian, the happy as to be endowed with it, rely, with with a cultivated mind, may justly hope to Carthaginian disappeared in the Roman; vain confidence, on its irresistible power, to please, even without any superior advantages or that the Roman vanished before that retain hearts as well as to subdue them. of person, the loveliest creature that ever of the Goths? Did the Romans subjuHence the lavish care bestowed on the came from the hand of her Creator, can hope gate Greece in the days of her heroism? improvement of exterior, and perishable only for a transitory empire, unless she unite charms, and the neglect of solid and durable with her beauty, the more durable charm of No! Did the Goths inundate Rome in excellence; hence the long list of arts that ad- intellectual excellence. the zenith of her glory? No, no. Ease minister to vanity and folly, the countless The favored child of nature, who combines and indolence had enervated her; fortrain of glittering accomplishments, and the in herself their united perfections, may be tune had taken the precedence of talent; scanty catalogue of truly valuable acquire- justly considered as the master-piece of cre- in the magnitude of her empire she no ments, which compose, for the most part, the ation, as the most perfect image of the longer saw the means by which it was modern system of fashionable female educa- divinity here below. Man, the proud lord tion. Thus it is that the two sexes by mutually of the creation, bows willingly his haughty acquired-the means by which alone it endeavouring to please, mutually spoil each neck beneath her gentle rule. Exalted, ten- could be supported: she forgot that these other. The women, from the above, and si- der, beneficent is the love that she inspires, means were the rewards of talent. Thence, milar reasons, having unhappily conceived a unalterable as the eternal decrees of heaven, her heroism was gone; her glory was notion, that we prefer beauty to every thing and pure as the Vestal fire. Even Time him-tarnished; she fell a prey to anprincipled else, bestow all their care on the adornment self shall respect the all-powerful magic of and cruel ambition. of their persons: and we seeing all their as- her beauty. Her charms may fade, but siduity directed to this point, too often en- they shall never wither; and memory still, deavour to pay our court to them, by extra- in the evening of life, hanging with fond af vagant commendations, which serve only to fection over the blanched rose, shall view, confirm them in their error. Yet so far is beauty through the veil of lapsed years, the tender from being in our eyes an excuse for the want bud, the dawning promise of whose beauties of a cultivated mind, that the women who once blushed before the beams of the morn-patriotism and valour; and it was only are blessed with it, have in reality, a muching sun. I remain, Dear Madam, &c. &c. harder task to perform, than those of their sex who are not so distinguished. In the first transport of admiration which they are sure to inspire, we fondly attribute to them, as before observed, every other quality that can make a female amiable. But however blinded we may be for a time, we soon look for the confirmation of our prepossessions in The HOUSE OF LORDS met on Wednesday, their favor; the stronger these have been, when, after some routine business, and a notice the greater is our disappointment at finding by Lord Grey of a motion relative to the late ourselves mistaken. Even our self-love here circular of Lord Sidmouth upon the subject of takes part against them; we feel ashamed blasphemons publications, a further adjourn

of having suffered ourselves to be caught, like children, by mere outside, and perhaps even fall into the contrary extreme. Could "the statue that enchants the world," could

H. E. L.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In consequence of the Speaker's illness, the HOUSE OF COMMONS on Monday night adjourned further to the 24th instant.

ment to Monday next took place.

POLITICS.

The neglect of talent, then,-the gradual decline of science and art throughout the Western Empire, was not the consequence, but the cause, of its subversion; for, with knowledge, were lost liberty and

while thus the sun of Roman glory was setting in the West, that the savage bordes of Scythia dared to advance in the twilight, and to witness her night of four centuries' duration,

Shall we, then, while history-the lamp of science, throws such light and splendor over the truth-shall we leave her lucid blaze, and, darkling, search for error in obscurity-shall we assert, that the nations of Europe fell recently before

the arms of France, under circumstances the very reverse of those which all history, all nature presents-at a time when the Venus de Medicis, at the prayer of some us to defer the publication of our re- highest place when, their governments Want of room, last week, compelled merit was rewarded and talent held the new Pygmalion, become suddenly animated, how disappointed would be be, if she were flexions, excited by an important section being most enlightened, their people not endowed with a soul, answerable to the of the First Report of the Select Com-were most powerful?-This we never can inimitable perfection of her heavenly form? mittee of Finauce-namely, the section concede. How would he accuse the Gods of hearing entituled "Mode of Rewarding High and his prayer only by halves, and beg them, if they could do no more, to re-conver: her to

Efficient Political Services."
This subject we hold to be of the

Obvious as is this mighty influence of talent, it has escaped the notice of historians. Tacitus, Machiavelli and Gibbon

have all failed to discover in it the real society and the maintenance of empire ment, employment; must fall with its cause of the rise, revolutions and fall of implicitly depend. neglect. empires; and this has led the last writer That the superintendence of and influ- This train of reasoning, if we mistake on this subject--the Marquis de Chateau-ence over public opinion, which such re-not, exhibits the great error of all writers briand to use respecting it the following ward implies, may enable governments to on the subject of empire. They ascribe memorable words: "In spite of a thousand bias freedom of thought, and so afford its loss to the ignorance of the people, efforts to penetrate into the causes of dis- the very means of despotism, will be as- although that might be removed by turbances in states, we perceive that some-serted by some. Such an objection is government enlightening them; or they thing escapes. It is indescribable, and hid-founded in superficial observation; for impute it to riches, &c., although by the den I know not where, and this indes- the very degree of knowledge and talent impulse of government these might be cribable something appears to be the effi- which such encouragement would pro-directed to the noblest, instead of the cient cause of all revolutions !” duce, would render impossible either vilest, purposes. In short, they forget A very short process of reasoning will, anarchy or despotism. It is the striking that, whenever the people revolutionize, independently of all occurrences, clearly characteristic of this species of patronage the great cause of the downfall of states-prove, not only that it is by attention to to differ from all others in this respect, neglect of talent and the consequent imthis principle that states generally have that while governments are infinitely more becility or annihilation of government risen, and by neglect of it that they ge-strengthened by its means than they can has already existed that society and nerally have fallen, but that by attention be by any other measure, such strength empire are, in a certain measure, already to it states always may rise, and by neg-would be utterly lost by its abuse or im-gone. For the cause of revolution, they lect of it always must fall. proper application-that this greatest of ought to look back to that period which It is indeed true, that it is war and the all strength, having its basis in know- preceded its actual demonstration or most wants and necessities of states that ge-ledge and in talent, would be subverted obvious appearance-to that period in nerally have occasioned the reward of by attempts at despotism, which not only which the diminished knowledge and ener talent, and peace and riches that have has its origin in ignorance, but rapidly gy of government, arising solely from its occasioned its neglect. Hence it might propagates it. As then justice and liberty not employing talent, first loosened the be asserted, that not neglect of talent, are inseparable from knowledge, the bonds of society and shook the fabric of but peace and riches were the cause of adoption of a principle having knowledge empire. the downfall of empires. But this would for its basis, would be doubly valuable be to grant that a nation cannot be from its ensuring them. peaceful and opulent without being ruined, and that war and poverty are the direct means of justice and happiness;

which is evidently absurd.

upon it.

It is, moreover, to be observed, that governments even possess no other means by which they can beneficially influence Such laws as the the public mind.

voted to its service.

In fine, where talent obtains official situation, beneficial results may with some confidence be predicted; but where a government obeys the recommendations of chance and intrigue, chance and intrigue alone are interposed between it and destruction.

Peace is, on the contrary, most desirable; and riches in a state, far from Spartan one, prohibiting particular perConcluding, then, what we have to say being in themselves an evil, are the sons upon pain of death to possess any on the neglect of talent, we may observe, means by which good as well as evil may piece of gold or silver, or laws in any that though the torch of genius too often be effected; for the more enjoyments way regulating the minutiae of moral lights its possessor only to the tomb, yet men are able to procure, the more they conduct, are utterly unavailing. As little its neglect is still less calamitous to ingehave it in their power to render them does it avail individuals to exclaim with nious men than to the states in which selves and others happy. Though riches, Cato the Censor, "O tempora! O mores!" they live. For, to use the language of moreover, may afford an occasion for the or to cry out against luxury, and in favor Lord Bacon in an instance where he has neglect of tulent, so far are they from of an Oppian law. But give only pro- combined Shakespeare's fancy with his being incompatible with it, that they are tection, encouragement, employment to own judgment, "This only I will add, absolutely in a great measure dependent talent-give it a real interest in the wel- that learned men forgotten in states, and fare of the state, and instantly all the not living in the eyes of men, are like the In considering, then, the cause of the energies of mind, and all the bitherto images of Cassius and Brutus in the funefall of empires, a little reflexion will di- misapplied resources of fortune are de-ral of Junia, of which, not being reprerect us to look for it rather in the conduct sented as many others were, Tacitus of the governors than in that of the goIt is further worthy of notice, that all saith Eo ipso præfulgebant, quod nou verned. For, though "society is produced the means by which governments have visebantur."" by our wants, and government by our hitherto in slight degrees beneficially in- Some important letters, say the daily wickedness; though society is in every fluenced the public mind, as by in some papers, have been received from India, state a blessing, government even in its measure promoting national education, to the end of September. Our armies in best state, but a necessary evil :" yet such and occasionally remunerating the dis- the east covered, at that date, the whole at present is human knowledge, that good coverers of useful improvements, have face of the country, and it is the opinion government can alone prevent auarchy on precisely consisted in very partial adop-of very intelligent officers, that the Marone side and despotism on the other; and tions of the great principle which we are quis of Hastings meditated a final settle that, without it, the fabric of society and now enforcing. ment of the Mahratta confederacy. This, of empire would fall to atoms. Hence it From these considerations, then, it ap- it was thought, would be effected by follows that, for this cause of revolutions, pears that not only society and empire, compelling the chief powers to accept of we are not to look to the governed, with but even government on which they subsidiary forces, and probably by rais whom alone society could not exist, nor depend, and without which they cannot ing one or more of the Rajpoot States to empire be maintained, but to govern- for a moment exist, rest upon talent- the rank of allies to the Company, and ments themselves, on which the bonds of must rise with its protection, encourage-freeing them from the galling yoke of the