網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

engaged in literature; so that we may say of him with justice,

[ocr errors]

Ten years before, when I was in Paris, I knew but of two public libraries. At that time I knew nothing

Serit arbores quæ alteri seculo pro- of the library of the Jurists, which, sunt."

though not very numerous, was very He had but a very short time before convenient, both for its central situdrawn up an eulogium upon Peter ation and the privilege of taking the First, the late Emperor of Russia, books to one's own residence. This but which, on account of M. Fon- library had, at that time, two strange tenelle's indisposition, was read by superintendants; viz. a youth about another person. In this eulogium he seventeen, and an old woman, who had spoken rather harshly of the Rus- sat in the library and spun by way of sians in general, in order that he might filling up her time. After I had been exalt his hero so much the higher, in the library some time, the old woand to shew what an astonishing de- man very civilly asked what book I gree of trouble he must have taken wanted; I could scarcely refrain from to civilize so rude a people. But the laughing; but I endeavoured to make Russian ambassador, Prince Kurakin, her understand that, for what I wanttook this in such an offensive light, ed, I should apply to the librarian : that it was thought M. Fontenelle but, as she continued to repeat her would incur a great deal of trouble on question, I at length named a book, the occasion. I was very curious to which, to my great surprise, she very know whether, after all, this eulogium readily handed to me. would be published, and he assured me that it would be printed, word for word, as it had been delivered; at the same time he paid a compliment to the learning of the Danes.

The name of the superintendant of the library of St. Victor, viz. Bonami, agrees very well with his name. He is uncommonly friendly and obliging. He shewed me a Those persons who suppose there number of very curious manuscripts are more libraries in Paris than in all among other scarce things. But, bethe kingdom besides, are not in an sides these public and private libraries, error; for, not including the public open in a manner to every one, there libraries of the Mazarines, the St. is also an infinite number of learned Victor's, and the Jurists, there is a societies, into which, having once library belonging to almost every procured admission, no great difficulty cloister and every college, admission remained in becoming a member. to which is by no means difficult. II several times visited an assembly, had formerly, when before at Paris, held every Sunday, by one of the visited that of the Abbè Bignon, but order of the preaching fathers. Here now the library and the proprietor a dissertation was read, written by were no more. The former had been some one of the members in the purchased by the celebrated Law, and course of the week. Upon this proconveyed to England. His librarian, duction every person was at liberty my countryman, of whom I men- to give his opinion, either in the tioned some curious particulars before, whole or in part. A stranger would had already passed some years in a have thought, so great was the freeprison, Few I believe, myself ex- dom allowed here, that this society cepted, knew the secrets of that man's consisted of protestants exclusively, character: however, for the sake of so little is the ceremony with which the Danes in general I could not help, the pope is treated at Paris, and so regretting his fate; particularly as I often is his authority turned into a learned that one Mathias Bagger, jest. another countryman of mine, who had been introduced into the King's library at the recommendation of the Abbe, after obtaining a part of his salary in advance, absconded privately. -This fellow, from all that I could learn of him, was as unsettled as the wind, and a proper perpetuum mobile.

At other times, I frequented a society reckoned extremely gallant, and which assembled at the place bearing. the name of Le Coffee des Beauxesprits (the Wits Coffee-house.) The landlady, being an old woman of the name of Marion, this house was sometimes jestingly called Le Cuffie

des Marionettes. The famous De la no means enter into a dispute with Motte, whose name is not unknown him, he and an old lady continued to to the learned, was to be found here amuse themselves, but always with almost every day, and was also the a reference to me, and still on the president of the society. When all subject of miracles. To counteract these facilities are taken into con- this, I thought it would be the best sideration, it is not surprising that so way to relate a few in my turn, many excellent writings should be which I insisted had been performed produced every year in France. It is, in my country in favour of Protestants. however, agreed among the learned I assured them, for instance, that a that, in the course of the present cen- Protestant woman, being with child, tury, the arts and sciences have un- and having it in her head to change dergone a considerable decline. Fa- her religion, she produced a child ther Tournemine gave three reasons with two heads; and that another, at for this supposition: first, the modern the instant she had conceived the mode of education; this he said was same design was absolutely turned only calculated to increase the num- into a flint-stone. I added, that alber of priests, whose parents imagined most every year several letters, writ them to be sufficiently learned if they ten by the Angel Gabriel, dropped only knew Latin enough to assist from Heaven, in which the Lutherans them in mumbling through the mass. were warned not to become converts The priests therefore, he said, would to the Catholic faith. After I had be found the greatest enemies to the thus repaid them in their own coin, arts and sciences. In this respect these I got completely rid of their imper- | French priests bear some resemblance tinence.

to the Russians before the reign of I had previously formed the resoPeter I. They were then supposed lution to pass the winter in Paris, as to be sufficiently qualified for the I found the air so agreeable to my priestly office if, without stopping for constitution. Besides, I had transrecollection, they could pronounce the words hospodi pomilio ten times running. Another cause urged by Father Tournemine was, the prevailing luxury of the times; this reason I could not altogether admit, though I know that drinking is much more fashionable then it was when I was in Paris ten years since. But the third reason which he urged was, I think, the most forcible; that is, that the stipends and bounties formerly allowed to the learned had been consider ably diminished; and it cannot be denied, since the death of Louis XIV, rewards conferred upon men of genius being withheld, must have a sensible effect.

I also remarked, that the Parisians have no longer that zeal for the dissemination of the Catholic faith which they used to have, nor for the conversion of heretics. When I was at Paris ten years ago, I scarcely heard of any disputes but about religion. However, on my return from Paris the last time, I rode in a carriage with an old captain, who related that some Protestant soldiers in his company had lately been convert ed by a miracle; but, as I would by

lated two of my comedies into French, and my friends thought it would be worth my while to make a trial to get them represented on the French stage. From effecting this I was hindered by a variety of circumstances, and, in the end, obliged to alter my purpose. In the mean while, I found that both the companies of performers were out of town at Fontainbleau, where they were to remain till Christmas; however, I sent my Political Pewterer to the manager of the Italian company, and he, at first, gave my friends great hopes; but, as I afterwards learned that he had shewn it to some of the French managers, they, I presume, did every thing in their power to prevent its forth coming. Another hindrance to the adoption of a regulai comedy, as that certainly is, I was given to understand, would have been the perverted taste of the Parisians, and which was the cause that nothing of the kind had been patronised for some years. It was acknowledged, that if even Moliere himself had been living, so different was the taste of the present times from the preceding, that the best comedy he could produce would have been played to emply

benches. In fact, my own experience provided me with a confirmation of this opinion; for, during one month, in which there had been a pretty re

REMARKS upon the ARGUMENTS of J. B. in FAVOUR of SUICIDE and DUELLING.

gular succession of stock pieces, there To the Editor of the Universal Mag.

were scarcely any auditors; but when the opera Le Bois des Coquagines, with its dauces and other fanfarade, was produced, the house was ton small. In a word, the Parisians had entirely lost their taste for their own stock-plays, and it would scarcely be thought they would attend to the production of a stranger, adopting the taste then in a great measure exploded.

[To be continued.]

A PHILOSOPHICAL QUERY. Sir,

Tuseful Magazine I beg leave to HROUGH the medium of your ask, of some of your philosophical eorrespondents, the reason for the following fact:—

Having a mineral water, whose component parts I wished to discover, I began by trying whether the acid or alkali were the most abundant in it; and for this purpose I used a solution of litmus, which was instantly changed to a red colour. I then became satisfied that there was in the water an uncombined acid: but the other day, happening accidentally to pour some of the same water into a glass in which some syrup of violet was, a beautiful green was produced, Repeating the experiments, I still find that the water changes the tincture or solution of litmus red; and vegetable blues (for I have taken fresh flowers and steeped them in a water to get a clear blue, for the purpose of trial)

green.

Not being deeply versed in chemical enquiries, I am at a loss to account for the phenomenon, which seems to imply that there is an uncombined acid and alkali, or an acid and alkali in excess, in the very same water.

If any of your correspondents can point out the error of my process, or account for the effect here men tioned, they will oblige, Sir,

September 10, 1810.

Your's, &c

TYRO.

UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XIV.

Sir,

N your Magazine for July, p. 24,

an ingenious correspondent has transmitted you some thoughts in favour of Suicide and Duelling," and appears greatly to wish that the opinion he there advocates may soon become the ruling principle of action. Conceiving, however, Sir, that this opinion is erroneous, and would be highly dangerous to society, I submit to you a few brief remarks upon the arguments of your correspondent.

As your publication is not professedly of a religious nature, I should wish to keep the arguments on this christianity, out of sight; but it is subject, which may be derived from impossible for me to refrain from asserting, that, from the tenor of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, suicide and duelling appear to me to be strictly forbidden by that Being to whom we are accountable for all our actions. Suicide is directly acting in the teeth of the injunction-“ Thou shalt not kill." By it we release ourselves from the duties of a post, to which we have been appointed by the Lord of Nature; and in which it is impossible for us to say, in any cir cumstances, that we can be no longer useful to ourselves or others.-DuelJing is a mode of redressing an injury which is perfectly at variance with that mild, for giving temper, which christianity, inculcates. If, with a very respectable sect of Christians, we construe the commands of Jesus literally, of letting our conversation be that asks for our cloak; or, in other yea, yea, of giving our coat to him words, if, whatever insults we suffer, christianity enjoins on us forgiveness, unlimited forgiveness, it is inanifestly clear that duelling must be decidedly contrary to its spirit. But if, with most Christians, we suppose the assertions above alluded to are not to be taken literally, but are only levelled against hasty revenge and unconditional retaliation, and that some punishment must be inflicted on evil doers, some redress must be allowed 2 C

[ocr errors]

for insults, on account of the good of lives as for us to cut the thread of exthe community; even then the slow istence at our pleasure or caprice; process of the municipal law is far not to insist that nothing short of a more consonant with the spirit of direct precept from the Lord of Life christianity, giving, in the first place, could justify us in shortening our time for passion to cool; allowing lives; it may surely be doubted whe time for the aggressor to urge what- ther we ever are perfectly useless ever can be urged in his defence; beings; nay, I should rather say, it and, finally, leaving others, and not may be safely asserted that our being the party supposed to be injured, to perfectly useless beings, and, there assess and inflict the quantity of pu- fore, according to your correspondent's nishment merited by the offence.- theory, better out of the world than Much as we may admire the bravery in it, is absolutely impossible; the and valour displayed in the athletic universe being under the direction of exercises, in the pugilistic practices infinite wisdom and goodness. That of ancient nations; much as some God is good, your correspondent, may be anxious to encourage the equally with myself, appears to acsame spirit among us, by frequently knowledge; but our conclusions from presenting to our view prize-fighters, this position, or our reasoning on it, single-stick-players, nay even the appear greatly to vary. He thinks beauteous and sublime sports of bull- that it is incompatible with this goodbaiting and cock-fighting, in whose ness for him to like to see his creabehalf the late Mr. Windham, blessed tures wretched: that this world is be his memory! used his senatorial not, therefore, the desert thorny eloquence; no one, who has read the place some melancholy persons reNew Testament, can say that such present: and that should we by chance practices are becoming a Christian be placed in situations of misery, it nation. Whether christianity be the must please the Deity more to see us glorious system generally acknow- free ourselves from "the thousand ledged, or is a cunningly devised fable, ills which flesh is heir to," by means not fit for man's direction, I am not of a "mere bodkin," than to see us here inquiring; but I cannot see how dragging on an unhappy existence. any one, possessing a real attachment Before, however, I could assent to to a system whose object is to root this doctrine, it must first be made out of our breasts the irritable pas- out that the misery we are so suffersions, can, for one moment, really ing was not, in any way or degree, seriously argue in favour of duelling. brought on us by our own fault: And, being myself attached to this and, secondly, that no possible good system, I cannot but regard the above can arise either to ourselves or others practice as antichristian, and, of by our continuance to bear this misery. course, as unfit for adoption, however It is true your correspondent does applausible and specious may be the ar- pear to limit the propriety of suicide guments brought forward in its be- to those cases in which it is manifest half. no good can arise to the individual, or his connections, by his continuauce in life: but this limitation, which it is absolutely necessary to fix, appears to me completely to do away the propriety of suicide altogether. From what we see in the world, from the study of its frame and constitution, we clearly discern that what we, for the sake of distinction, term evil, is permitted by the Great and Good Author of all things to exist. Reason tells us that it must be permitted for the wisest of purposes; and sacred writ informs us that God doth not afflict willingly, or grieve the children of men, but like as a father correcteth

In respect of suicide; what is the boasted advantage which would accrue to society were this practice to be considered as harmless, or, as your correspondent seems to consider it, as a duty? For my own part I can see none: but I clearly perceive that the rules which he prescribes for our practising it, namely, that we ought to rid ourselves of life when life cannot be of use either to ourselves or others, is, in a high degree, fallacious, Not to say that there is no reason to believe that the Deity, who calls us into existence when he sees fit, has ever given as such power over our

his offspring; so, whom the Lord loveth bull-fight, the proud impulse which he chasteneth. Our light afflictions, levels the death-stored piece at an saith the Apostle, which are but for offending brother, or cut the thread a moment, and momentary as our life of its possessor's life, rather than subcompared with that endless existence mit to a father's chastisement from revealed to us by the Gospel, work the hand of Heaven. But, he whose out for us a fitness for a far more wish it is that Britons, while they exceeding, even an eternal, weight are brave, may have nothing feroof glory. The tendency of affliction cious about them; he whose wish is to produce a deep sense of our it is to see those passions subdued dependance on that Being who can "whence came wars and fightings grant or withhold comforts at his will. among us;" he whose wish it is to Its tendency is to soften the mind, found patriotism on the finer feelings to subdue the boisterous passions; and, of our nature, as was the patriotism by making man feel his frailty and of Jesus when he cursed not Jeruhis nothingness, to eradicate from his salem's enemies, but wept over her heart that pride, which, cultivated mistaken notions, which brought ruin under the false name of a "proper upon her as they will upon every and a noble spirit," kicks at the first country; he, I say, who wishes for insult offered to its majesty, and calls these things, will endure all things, up to its defence Revenge, and all the sensible that "whatever is-is right." direful evils of her train. Now, dif- Convinced that God is good, the ferent minds require different degrees command of Jesus will be his rule; of afflictions to produce in them the he will endeavour to be " perfect as same degree of meekness and docility; God in Heaven is perfect:" he will and it is probable the more any mind cherish the benevolent feelings of his is visited with affliction the more will nature, and, sensible that many of the the desirable spirit of meekness be dispensations of Providence we can rooted and cherished in it. Who now only comprehend in part, he will then shall ever say, I have been suf- say, in every situation, "Father, not ficiently afflicted? Who then shall my will, but thine be done :" he will, assert, I have been so drenched with in the most hopeless and apparently the nauseous draught, that no fur- useless situation, with calm serenity, ther potion is needful for my im- "wait the great, teacher DEATH, and provement? But, even supposing God adore." for a moment that little additional good is likely to accrue to an individual from his protracted suffering is no good likely to arise to those who, witness that suffering, from the fortitude exhibited by him who resignedly bears up against the storm, till He who produced it says "Peace, be still? Or will no evil arise to the spectators of that murmuring, discontented man, who, after fretting under his misfortunes for a time, suddenly rids himself of his existence?

The question will, perhaps, be answered differently according as men wish to encourage the meek and lowly virtues, or the more daring and high spirited feelings of the breast. If it be the wish of your correspondent to give Britons bravery at the expence of the milder and more amiable feelings of humanity, with the eccentric Windham, let him adVocate the pugilistic combat, the

Your correspondent, Sir, cannot, I think, be serious, when he hints that the prevalence of the idea of the innocency of suicide would have a tendency to prevent public robbery, as it would open a way of escape from misery to those who now, for fear of misery, commit crimes. For why should we suppose that a highwayman, for instance, should be deterred from suicide, whatever horrors he may expect will attend it in a future state, agreeable to the common opinion on the subject, when we see that, to avoid misery, he deliberately commits the act of murder, to which the God of Heaven has attached, for aught we know, an equal punishment beyond the grave?

But, Sir, will not further enlarge; soliciting an early place for these observations in your entertaining miscellany, I remain, Sir,

Your constant reader, J. F. Isle of Wight, Sept. 10, 1810.

« 上一頁繼續 »