nis flatterers, still poorer than himself; very dinner he gave them they reed an equivalent in praise, and this ali he wanted. The same ambition acteates a monarch at the head of an y fenced my father at the head of tables he told the story of the ivy-tree, that was laughed at; he repeated the of the two scholars and one pair of eches, and the company laughed at t; but the story of Tally in the sedanair was sure to set the table in a roar: ispleasure increased in proportion to sure he gave; he loved all the world, he fancied all the world loved him. As his fortune was but small, he lived to the very extent of it; he had no terms of leaving his children money, that was dross; he was resolved they ld have learning; for learning, he used serve, was better than silver or gold. purpose, he undertook to instruct self; and took as much pains to our morals as to improve our undersing. We were told, that universal Aence was what first cemented g: we were taught to consider all ants of mankind as our own; to rethe human face divine with affection #steem; he wound us up to be mere nes of pity, and rendered us incaof withstanding the slightest immade either by real or fictitious ks: in a word, we were perfectly inared in the art of giving away thoubefore we were taught the more necesalifications of getting a farthing. cannot avoid imagining, that thus el by his lessons out of all my susand divested of even all the little ng which nature had given me, I led, upon my first entrance into Kasy and insidious world, one of those ators who were exposed without ar in the amphitheatre at Rome. My er, however, who had only seen the don one side, seemed to triumph in my or discernment; though my whole ck of wisdom consisted in being able klike himself upon subjects that once re useful, because they were then topics the busy world, but that now were erly useless, because connected with busy world no longer.

"The first opportunity he had of finding his expectations disappointed was in the very middling figure I made in the university; he had flattered himself that he should soon see me rising into the foremost rank in literary reputation, but was mortified to find me utterly unnoticed and unknown. His disappointment might have been partly ascribed to his having overrated my talents, and partly to my dislike of mathematical reasonings, at a time when my imagination and memory, yet unsatisfied, were more eager after new objects than desirous of reasoning upon those I knew. This did not, however, please my tutor, who observed, indeed, that I was a little dull; but at the same time allowed, that I seemed to be very good-natured, and had no harm in me.

"After I had resided at college seven years, my father died, and left me-his blessing. Thus shoved from shore without ill-nature to protect, or cunning to guide, or proper stores to subsist me in so dangerous a voyage, I was obliged to embark in the wide world at twenty-two. But, in order to settle in life, my friends advised (for they always advise when they begin to despise us), they advised me, I say, to go into orders.

"To be obliged to wear a long wig, when I liked a short one, or a black coat, when I generally dressed in brown, I thought was such a restraint upon my liberty, that I absolutely rejected the proposal. A priest in England is not the same mortified creature with a bonze in China: with us, not he that fasts best, but eats best, is reckoned the best liver; yet I rejected a life of luxury, indolence, and ease, from no other consideration but that boyish one of dress. So that my friends were now perfectly satisfied I was undone; and yet they thought it a pity for one who had not the least harm in him and was so very good-natured.

Poverty naturally begets dependence, and I was admitted as flatterer to a great man. At first, I was surprised that the situation of a flatterer at a great man's table could be thought disagreeable: there was no great trouble in listening attentively when his lordship spoke, and laughing when he looked round for applause. This

applause. "To what purpose," cried I, "does this unmeaning figure make his appearance? is he a part of the plot?"Unmeaning do you call him?" replied my friend in black; "this is one of the most important characters of the whole play; nothing pleases the people more than seeing a straw balanced: there is a great deal of meaning in a straw: there is something suited to every apprehension in the sight; and a fellow possessed of talents like these is sure of making his fortune."

The third act now began with an actor who came to inform us that he was the villain of the play, and intended to show strange things before all was over. He was joined by another who seemed as much disposed for mischief as he; their intrigues continued through this whole division. "If that be a villain," said 1, "he must be a very stupid one to tell his secrets without being asked; such soliloquies of late are never admitted in China."

The noise of clapping interrupted me once more; a child of six years old was learning to dance on the stage, which gave the ladies and mandarines infinite satisfaction. "I am sorry," said I, "to see the pretty creature so early learning so bad a trade; dancing being, I presume, as contemptible here as in China."-" Quite the reverse," interrupted my companion; "dancing is a very reputable and genteel employment here; men have a greater chance for encouragement from the merit of their heels than their heads. One who jumps up and flourishes his toes three times before he comes to the ground, may have three hundred a year: he who flourishes them four times, gets four hundred; but he who arrives at five is inestimable, and may demand what salary he thinks proper. The female dancers, too, are valued for this sort of jumping and crossing; and it is a cant word amongst them, that she deserves most who shows highest. But the fourth act is begun; let us be attentive."

In the fourth act the queen finds her long lost child, now grown up into a youth of smart parts and great qualifications; wherefore she wisely considers that the

crown will fit his head better than tha her husband, whom she knows to b driveller. The king discovers her des and here comes on the deep distress; loves the queen, and he loves the ki.. dom; he resolves, therefore, in order possess both, that her son must die. 1 queen exclaims at his barbarity, is fran with rage, and at length, overcome w sorrow, falls into a fit; upon which 1 curtain drops, and the act is concluded

"Observe the art of the poet," cries1 companion. "When the queen can s no more, she falls into a fit. While th her eyes are shut, while she is support in the arms of her Abigail, what horr do we not fancy! We feel it in eve nerve: take my word for it, that fits a the true aposiopesis of modern tragedy."

The fifth act began, and a busy piece. was. Scenes shifting, trumpets soundin mobs hallooing, carpets spreading, guar bustling from one door to another; god demons, daggers, racks, and ratsban But whether the king was killed, or tl queen was drowned, or the son was pc soned, I have absolutely forgotten.

When the play was over, I could n avoid observing, that the persons of th drama appeared in as much distress in th first act as the last. "How is it possible, said I, "to sympathise with them throng five long acts! Pity is but a short-live passion. I hate to hear an actor mouth ing trifles: neither startings, strainings nor attitudes, affect me, unless there b cause: after I have been once or twic deceived by those unmeaning alarms, my heart sleeps in peace, probably unaffected by the principal distress. There shoul be one great passion aimed at by the acto as well as the poet; all the rest should b subordinate, and only contribute to make that the greater; if the actor, therefore, exclaims upon every occasion, in tones o despair, he attempts to move us too soon: he anticipates the blow, he ceases te affect, though he gains our applause.”

I scarce perceived that the audience were almost all departed; wherefore, mixing with the crowd, my companion and I got into the street, where, essaying an hundred obstacles from coach-wheels and palanquin poles, like birds in their

hat through the branches of a forest, t various turnings, we both at length home in safety.-Adieu.

LETTER XXII.

From the same.

letter which came by the way of nema, and which you sent me unaed, was from my son. As I have rated you to take copies of all those Set to China, you might have made no remony in opening those directed to Either in joy or sorrow, my friend d participate in my feelings. It give pleasure to see a good man sel at my success; it would give Izstequal pleasure to see him sympaLet my disappointment.

very account I receive from the East to come loaded with some new tion. My wife and daughter were from me, and yet I sustained the with intrepidity; my son is made a among the barbarians, which was y blow that could have reached my : yes, I will indulge the transports tature for a little, in order to show I ca overcome them in the end. True animity consists not in never falling, an rising every time we fall.

When our mighty emperor had pubred his displeasure at my departure, seized upon all that was mine, my was privately secreted from his re-entUnder the protection and guardianp of Fum Hoam, the best and the est of all the inhabitants of China, he for some time instructed in the learnof the missionaries, and the wisdom the East. But hearing of my advenand incited by filial piety, he was ved to follow my fortunes, and share distress.

He passed the confines of China in se, hired himself as a camel-driver a caravan that was crossing the deserts Thibet, and was within one day's mey of the river Laur, which divides at country from India, when a body of adering Tartars falling unexpectedly on the caravan, plundered it, and de those who escaped their first fury ves. By those he was led into the ex

tensive and desolate regions that border on the shores of the Aral lake.

Here he lived by hunting; and was obliged to supply every day a certain proportion of the spoil, to regale his savage masters. His learning, his virtues, and even his beauty, were qualifications that no way served to recommend him; they knew no merit, but that of providing large quantities of milk and raw flesh; and were sensible of no happiness but that of rioting on the undressed meal.

Some merchants from Mesched, however, coming to trade with the Tartars for slaves, he was sold among the number, and led into the kingdom of Persia, where he is now detained. He is there obliged to watch the looks of a voluptuous and cruel master, a man fond of pleasure, yet incapable of refinement, whom many years' service in war has taught pride, but not bravery.

That treasure which I still keep within my bosom-my child, my all that was left to me - is now a slave. Good heavens! why was this? Why have I been introduced into this mortal apartment, to be a spectator of my own misfortunes, and the misfortunes of my fellow-creatures? Wherever I turn, what a labyrinth of doubt, error, and disappointment appears! Why was I brought into being? for what purposes made? from whence have I come? whither strayed? or to what regions am I hastening? Reason cannot resolve. It lends a ray to show the horrors of my prison, but not a light to guide me to escape them. Ye boasted revelations of the earth, how little do you aid the inquiry! How am I surprised at the inconsistency of the Magi! Their two principles of good and evil affright me. The Indian who bathes his visage in urine, and calls it piety, strikes me with astonishment. The Christian who believes in three Gods is highly absurd. The Jews, who pretend that Deity is pleased with the effusion of blood, are not less displeasing. I am equally surprised, that rational beings can come from the extremities of the earth, in order to kiss a stone, or scatter pebbles. How contrary to reason are those! and yet all pretend to teach me to be happy.

Surely all men are blind and ignorant of truth. Mankind wanders, unknowing his way, from morning till evening. Where shall we turn after happiness; or is it wisest to desist from the pursuit? Like reptiles in a corner of some stupendous palace, we peep from our holes, look about us, wonder at all we see, but are ignorant of the great architect's design. Ŏh for a revelation of Himself, for a plan of His universal system! Oh for the reasons of our creation; or why were we created to be thus unhappy! If we are to experience no other felicity but what this life affords, then are we miserable indeed; if we are born only to look about us, repine and die, then has Heaven been guilty of injustice. If this life terminates my existence, I despise the blessings of Providence, and the wisdom of the giver; if this life be my all, let the following epitaph be written on the tomb of Altangi :-BY MY FATHER'S CRIMES I RECEIVED THIS; BY MY OWN CRIMES I BEQUEATH IT ΤΟ POSTERITY!

LETTER XXIII.

To the same.

YET, while I sometimes lament the case of humanity, and the depravity of human nature, there now and then appear gleams of greatness that serve to relieve the eye oppressed with the hideous prospect, and resemble those cultivated spots that are sometimes found in the midst of an Asiatic wilderness. I see many superior excellences among the English, which it is not in the power of all their follies to hide: I see virtues, which in other countries are known only to a few, practised here by every rank of people.

I know not whether it proceeds from their superior opulence that the English are more charitable than the rest of mankind; whether by being possessed of all the conveniences of life themselves, they have more leisure to perceive the uneasy situation of the distressed; whatever be the motive, they are not only the most charitable of any other nation, but most judicious in distinguishing the properest objects of compassion.

In other countries, the giver is generinfluenced by the immediate impuls pity; his generosity is exerted as muc... relieve his own uneasy sensations a comfort the object in distress. In E land, benefactions are of a more gen nature. Some men of fortune and versal benevolence propose the pr objects; the wants and the merits of petitioners are canvassed by the peop neither passion nor pity find a plac the cool discussion; and charity is t only exerted when it has received approbation of reason.

A late instance of this finely direc benevolence forces itself so strongly my imagination, that it in a manner conciles me to pleasure, and once m makes me the universal friend of man

The English and French have not o political reasons to induce them to mut hatred, but often the more prevail motive of private interest to widen breach. A war between other counti is carried on collectively; army fig against army, and a man's own priv resentment is lost in that of the co munity but in England and France, 1 individuals of each country plunder ea other at sea without redress, and c sequently feel that animosity against ea other which passengers do at a robb They have for some time carried on expensive war; and several captives ha been taken on both sides: those ma prisoners by the French have been us with cruelty, and guarded with unnece sary caution: those taken by the Englis being much more numerous, were co fined in the ordinary manner; and n being released by their countrymen, begs to feel all those inconveniences whic arise from want of covering and lot confinement.

Their countrymen were informed their deplorable situation; but they, mor intent on annoying their enemies tha relieving their friends, refused the lea: assistance. The English now saw thos sands of their fellow-creatures starving i every prison, forsaken by those whos duty it was to protect them, labourin with disease, and without clothes to kee off the severity of the season.

Nations

evolence prevailed over national aniy; their prisoners were indeed enebat they were enemies in distress; yosed to be hateful when they no ger continued to be formidable: forLag, therefore, their national hatred, men who were brave enough to conEr were generous enough to forgive; ddy whom all the world seemed to reisclaimed, at last found pity and fress from those they attempted to subA subscription was opened, ample arities collected, proper necessaries proed, and the poor gay sons of a merry were once more taught to resume er former gaiety.

When I cast my eye over the list of who contributed on this occasion, tite names almost entirely English; one foreigner appears among the b. It was for Englishmen alone to apable of such exalted virtue. I own at look over this catalogue of men and philosophers, without ing better of myself, because it me entertain a more favourable of mankind. I am particularly with one who writes these words the paper that enclosed his bene"The mite of an Englishman, zen of the world, to Frenchmen, ers of war, and naked." I only that he may find as much pleasure is virtues as I have done in ing upon them; that alone will hy reward him. Such a one, my , is an honour to human nature; he kes no private distinctions of party; that are stamped with the divine geof their Creator are friends to he is a native of the world; and Emperor of China may be proud that has such a countryman. To rejoice at the destruction of our nies is a foible grafted upon human re, and we must be permitted to lge it: the true way of atoning for th an ill-founded pleasure, is thus to triumph into an act of beneence, and to testify our own joy by deavouring to banish anxiety from

hers.

our

Hamti, the best and wisest emperor ever filled the throne, after having

gained three signal victories over the Tartars, who had invaded his dominions, returned to Nankin, in order to enjoy the glory of his conquest. After he had rested for some days, the people, who are naturally fond of processions, impatiently expected the triumphant entry which emperors upon such occasions were accustomed to make their murcame to the emperor's ear; he loved his people, and was willing to do all in his power to satisfy their just desires. He therefore assured them, that he intended, upon the next feast of the Lanterns, to exhibit one of the most glorious triumphs that had ever been seen in China.

murs

The people were in raptures at his condescension; and, on the appointed day, assembled at the gates of the palace with the most eager expectations. Here they waited for some time, without seeing any of those preparations which usually precede a pageant. The lantern, with ten thousand tapers, was not yet brought forth; the fireworks, which usually covered the city walls, were not yet lighted: the people once more began to murmur at this delay, when, in the midst of their impatience, the palace-gates flew open, and the emperor himself appeared, not in splendour or magnificence, but in an ordinary habit, followed by the blind, the maimed, and the strangers of the city, all in new clothes, and each carrying in his hand money enough to supply his necessities for the year. The people were at first amazed, but soon perceived the wisdom of their king, who taught them, that to make one man happy, was more truly great than having ten thousand captives groaning at the wheels of his

chariot.-Adieu.

LETTER XXIV. To the same.

WHATEVER may be the merits of the English in other sciences, they seem peculiarly excellent in the art of healing. There is scarcely a disorder incident to humanity, against which they are not possessed with a most infallible antidote. The professors of other arts confess the