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thofe ftudies which were undoubtedly knowledged ardour and impetuofity of

the primary object of his education. Here he is faid to have read nine or ten hours every day, for the whole term, without interruption or inconvenience from a series of nocturnal rambles, in which he feemed equally affiduous. And though his vacations were generally fpent in town, and devoted, with his ufual fpirit and avidity, to every fuperfluity and excefs of unreftrained indulgence, he could always difengage himfelf at pleafure; and, fuperior to all the fafcination of the moft fplendid and romantic ftratagems of luxury, returned regularly to College, and refumed his ftudies with unremitting eagernefs and feverity.

"It does not a little expofe their partiality, perhaps, who frequently make him the fubject of their attention, that his erudition is altogether loft in an affected admiration of his oratorical and political abilities. Others, unable to doubt, or depreciate thofe about which all parties have but one opinion, not perceiving in him the qualities of a lexicographer, feem unwilling to allow him even the common philological accomplishments of a gentleman. But invariable fimplicity is one of the most prominent features of his character. The leaft approach to oftentation is, therefore, a weakness he never knew; and few ever poffeffed more of that manly referve, which uniformly marks and fupports the dignity of fubftantial merit, than he does. His great talents are never exhibited but on adequate occafions: and who has not been furprifed at the pertinence and force of his fine and numerous quotations from the most difficult and illuftrious authors of antiquity; his ftriking allufions to their picturefque defcriptions and romantic imagery, his various references to their popular opinions and ufages; his profound acquaintance with the moit remote and intricate periods of their history; and his minute attentions to every specific modication of their civil and political

inkitutions?

"It may very naturally, however, be conceived, that the tedious uniformity and laborious abilreétions of a college did not much concfpond with the ac

his genius. Such talents as his were never intended to wafte their vigour in obfcurity, or confine their exertions to the frigid acquifitions of fcience, and the fluggish enjoyments of a contemplative life. In fact, after loitering but a fhort time in these venerable shades of literature and philofophy, he began to figh in earnest for more active and enterprifing fcenes. It was with this view that he now follicited, and obtained, his father's permiffion to travel.

While infenfible to nothing that fatiated his appetite in the form of luxury and dilipation, his defire of knowledge was alfo infatiable. This reconciled him to every kind of drudgery which intellectual improvement renders indifpenfible. To fatisfy fuch an invincible curiofity, and glut that eager appetite for enquiry, which, amidst all his eccentricities and anxieties, had not once, from infancy to manhood, forfaken him, he refolved on going abroad. And, certainly, no man was ever better qualified to derive inftruction from fuch an endless fucceffion of novelty and variety as travelling affords. The moft ample materials for contemplation and research are every where to be found in fuch ftaple commodities and manufactories, works of genius and difcoveries of the learned, agriculture and commerce, laws and customs, manners and policy, curiofities of nature and monuments of art, as more or lefs diftinguish every nation. And, though few particulars of this tour have ever tranfpired; though it is generally allowed that he indulged in all the follies and exceffes fo incident to youth of fortune and family; and though a forward, or premature, exhibition of any qualifications was never ranked among the catalogue of his foibles, it is obvious, from every debate in which our intereft or connection with foreign courts is either immediately or obliquely difcuffed, that the fcience and ideas he then accumulated were equally pertinent and profound. The various obfervations, which to a mind like his perpetually and unavoidably occurred from the different forms of fociety he contempled, and from the extreme diverfity

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of civil inftitutions which every where prefented themselves to his view, were probably not made, however, from any prefentiment of his prefent political confequence, or any forefight of their utility in the frequent investigations in which he was deftined to act fo important a part. But, furely, it was impoffible for his keen and ardent powers of reflection to mifs either amufement or inftruction, in fcenes thus replete with the choiceft objects of his earliest attention and ambition. "Whatever influence his own perfonal accomplishments, the welfare of his country, or the honour of the fpecies, may be fuppofed to have had on his ftay in foreign parts, it is generally prefumed he was not a little reluctant to leave them. We can easily imagine how fufceptible his heart muit have been to the fafcinating charms of French vivacity, and, at the fame time, how very natural it was for one of his temper to fwallow the intoxicating draughts of Italian luxury. Whether it was the fplendour of foreign courts, the feftivity of felect focieties, the power of beauty, the charms of fcience, or the delirium of the gaming-table, that arrested him, is uncertain; but it

was not till after the most preffing importunities, both from his father and friends, that he determined on returning to England. The extreme prodigality and extravagance imputed, to him, and the vaft debts which he is faid to have contracted in almost every capital on the continent, are among the innumerable defiderata in his ftory, to which no facts yet offered to public inveftigation have afforded any thing like a fatisfactory folution. And, fince no panegyric would be decent or fuiferable, as little cenfure ought to be expected or admitted, even by his enemies, without the moft circumflantial and pofitive evidence."

In political opinions, we wish every man to enjoy his own fentiments. The partizans of Mr. Fox will find nɔ unfavourable account of their favourite ftatefman in this volume. The general reader will find fome information, but be it remembered, that indifcriminate praife will neither defend the weak parts of a character, nor add luftre to thofe which are already brilliant. In fpeaking of this great politician, we keep in our mind, the well-known pailage in Juvenal:

"Medio tutiffimus ibis!"

ART. XXXIV. Tranfactions of the Society, inftituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, with the Premiums offered in the Year 1783. Vol. I. 8vo. Lockyer Davis, &c.

(Continued from our last, p. 442.)

WE now refume our account of the important and ufeful difcoveries recorded in thefe tranfactions.

VI. THE POLITE ARTS. In this clafs the rewards have been confiderable, as the account of their effects proves that they have been well beitowed.

"However confiderable the fums that have been expended by the Society in the advancement of the polite arts, the remarkable fuccefs with which they have been attended may now be contemplated with particular fatisfaction. It foon became evident, from the number of candidates for premiums in the feveral branches of this clafs, that genius wanted only encourigement, to fhine with equal luftre in this as in other countries; and it appears, that the rewards fo liberally diKributed by the Society have been the

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rapid improvement of the arts; and to attract the general attention of the publick towards their performances. And hence, alfo, the royal patronage and protection they have fince had the honour of obtaining, and under which they fo eminently and defervedly flourish, may in fome measure be derived.

The Society having been thus fortunately fuccessful in rearing the infant arts in this kingdom, to fuch maturity, as qualified them for royal favour, have for fome years past confmed their premiums chiefly to the encouragement of thofe youths who may intend to be profeffors of the arts; but fill to diffufe an elegant tafte among thofe in a higher fphere of life, honorary premiums are annually beftowed on young perfons of rank and eminence, who may probably become hereafter the patrons or patroneffes of the fine arts: and it is with the higheft degree of fatisfaction the Society obferve the accuracy and beauty of the productions which are offered in claim of thofe premiums.

"Encouragement has alfo been given to thofe branches of the polite arts, which more immediately tend to improving the manufactures, and confequently promoting the commerce of the country, fuch as filk weavers, callico printers, &c. &c. and the elegance of pattern adopted by them, and which renders their manufactures equal in beauty to thofe of any other country, may with juftice be attributed, in a great degree, to the rewards and attention beftowed them by the Society."

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VII. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. On this clafs we find the following obfervations:

"Befides the premiums and bounties diftributed on account of the feveral articles ranged under the foregoing clales, the approbation of particular fervices rendered to the Society has likewife been occafionally teftified by the grateful acknowledgement of an honorary gold medal; and in fome fignal inftances, where no return in their power could be deemed adequate to the obligation conferred, the Society

have endeavoured to famp a yet more fpecifick value, by the addition of fome exprefs teftimonial engraved accordingly on the medal, and have alfo eccañonally thought proper to extend their encouragement, in behalf of the public, to fome particular objects, not altogether, perhaps, fo #tricly within the ordinary prefcribed limits of their original deign.

That which may be accounted the chief deviation from their general plan, was the very large fum given for an endeavour to eftablish an effectual method of procuring a conftant fupply of fish from feveral of our diftant coals to the capital, by land-carriage; in which they had the concurrence of the legislature, who not only granted a fum of two thousand pounds for the fame purpose, but also pafled an act, by which the legal obtructions to the execution then fubfifting were entirely removed. This plan, though it has not in every degree anfwered the fanguine expectations of the Society, and the public, yet muft be univerfally allowed to have been productive of great good, not only to the cities of London and Weftminster, but to the country in general; fish, fince the eftablifhment of the land-carriage plan, being brought by that mode of conveyance in great abundance and variety to the metropolis, and to most of the capital towns in the kingdom, and the inhabitants thereby furnished with a delicious and wholefome food, they were formerly in a great degree unacquainted with.

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Another benefit arofe to the public from inftituting a mode of bringing fish to London by land-carriage, which, as it does not at firit fight appear connected with that fcheme, has been generally overlooked in the confideration of the bufinefs. The benefit here alluded to is the improvement of carriages: as fift was very liable to be injured by being brought many miles by land, it becce necellary to provide, if potable, fome means of conveyance, wch fhould obviate that evil. The Society, therefore, offered premiums for inventing ut carriages for that purpofe, and home machines were pre

*For these we muit refer the reader to the book.

duced,

before the above-mentioned plan took place in London."

Then follows an account of the removal of this Society from BeaufortBuildings to the Adelphi, and of the ornamental paintings with which the ingenious Mr. Barry has ornamented their great room.

We thall proceed in our account of this volume in our next.

duced, to which the premiums were
adjudged; thefe have not only anfwer-
ed the intent propofed, but have ever
fince ferved as models for carriages, to
transport glass and other things liable
to be injured in their conveyance by
rough treatment; and this is visible to
every one who compares the light and
eafy vehicles now made ufe of, with
thofe employed for the fame purpofes
ART. XXXV. Remarks on the French
ters; interfperfed with various Anecdotes,
Subie. By John Andrews, LL. D. 8vo. Longman.
THESE letters are entertaining, re-
plete with anecdotes and pertinent
obfervations. The language is fome-
times too grave for the epiftolary ftyle,
but that ftyle is most difficult to attain.
They are feventeen in number. We
fhall give an account of the contents
of each.

LETTER I. On the polite Difpofition and Affability of the French Ladies: their Perfons in general: Sprightlinefs: Converfation: Deportment.

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Dr. Andrews obferves, that the French ladies are of enfy accefs, but that they feldom pleafe at firft fight. The first impreffion made by their perfons is unfavourable, but this is foon effaced by their eafy manners and polite behaviour. The gracefulness of their deportment, and their unaffected addrefs, he fays, farprife and delight forcigners, as in company their fprightlinefs is a conftant promoter of good

humour.

Dr. A. juftly reprobates the custom of painting, but commends their attention to their teeth, in the whitenefs of which, and in the brilliancy of their eyes, he thinks no nation can furpafs them.

LETTER II. "On the Attention and Conduct of the French and English Ladies to their Children."

The queftion refpecting fondnefs for their offspring feems decided in favour of the English women. The French, perhaps, ferve their progeny more effectually. They are influenced by ambition, and their minds are continually employed in hunting out opportunities of gratifying it. They procure for them finecures in the church and army. They recommend them, and fecure the intereft of men in power

and English Ladies, in a Series of Letand additional Matter, arising from the

for their promotion. All their wishes and endeavours tend to infure fuccefs in their future deftination. They fel. dom nurfe their children themfelves, and the love of gay and mixed fociety diminishes the value of domeftic plea fures.

LETTER III. "On the literary Accomplishments of the French Ladies: Ideas of the French in general on the Wit and Genius of the English."

A confiderable number of the French ladies are fond of literature, fome apply even to the mathematics and experimental philofophy. But that portion of morals which is applicable to the practical part of life, fuch as is contained in the Spectators, and other periodical papers, chiefly engages their attention.

The compofitions of Rochefoucault and Bruyere, and the works of Le Sage, are likewife much admired. Dr. A. fays alfo, that "A circle of well-educated French ladies, may not unfitly be deemed a bench of decifion on literary merit. From these affemblies verdicts of approbation or cenfure are iffued on all ouvrages de gout, works of taste, that is, on all fubjects that are fufceptible of the embellishments of imagination, or of stile. These the ladies have appropriated to themfelves, as a province to the ruling of which they deem their capacities fully adequate.

"In order, however, to give more weight to the judicial authority they have thus affumed, and to render it not unworthy of the refpect which they claim in its favour from the public, they have taken care to provide themfelves with affiftants and coadjutors in this fupreme court.

"Thefe affeffors, if they may be fo

termed, are ufually felected among thofe gentlemen, fo celebrated throughout France under the denomination of Abbés. Numbers of them, for their ingenuity, and upon many other accounts, have the honour of being moft intimately allied with the ladies.

"Thus united, they form a tribunal, of which the decifions have no fmall influence in France; where the opinions of the enlightened part of the fair fex are allowed a credit and confequence which they poffefs not elfewhere in fo flattering a degree.

"In most of the houses of these learned ladies are stated coteries, to which always belong one or more of thefe gentlemen; who may not unaptly be compared to the chaffeurs in the modern, and the velites in ancient armies: their duty being to hunt out and difcover whatever the bufy pens of the literati are employed in.

"Of thefe, while in embryo, they muft, if they mean to fhine in their ftation, have the fagacity to hint the future worth or demerit, by that fort of penetration which we will hazard to call fecond-fight.

"This anticipation of things completely establishes their character, as men whofe forecaft and vigilance nothing can efcape."

LETTER IV. "On the Tafte and Amusement of the French Ladies in the laft Century. On Puriency."

In this letter, the origin of thefe literary focieties among the ladics is traced to the regency of Anne, Queen dowager of Lewis XIII. and mother of Lewis XIV.

"That illuftrious princefs introduced the custom of holding atfemblies regularly in the evening, in order to unbend the mind by agreeable converfations, after the fatigue of the day.

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In these afemblies the fallies of wit and genius were peculiarly welcome, and ufually made the principal fhare of the entertainment, through the countenance and favourable reception they met with from her.

"As fhe was a woman of uncommon fprightlinefs, and tinétured with the notions arifing from that spirit of gallantry fo current in Spain, her native

country, the gave no fmall encouragement to the progrefs of it in France.

"Hence arose those voluminous compilations of ftrange and marvellous adventures, which mark fo precifely and forcibly the taste of that age; and, in numerous inftances, did not a little influence the manners of the times."

"But fetting afide the exceffes of a luxuriant imagination, the tafte of that famous Queen was delicate and refined. She perfectly understood true wit and polite intercourfe, and forwarded the cultivation of both, in a degree that proved highly ferviceable to the intereft and reputation of the fair fex. Their aptitude for improvement in fo advantageous a fchool was quickly perceived, and foon fpread over all France, an acceptable imitation of fo illuftrious a precedent.

"In the following period (the reign of her fon Lewis the Fourteenth) the foundation fhe had laid met with an ample fuperftructure in the countenance which that prince was ever fond of fhewing to the ladies."

During that era, the fpirit of literature and knowledge grew fo powerful among woman kind, as to be fometimes carried to a degree of excess highly blameable and ridiculous."

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Since that epocha, the French women of fashion have ufually taken care to ally an application to the genteel branches of literature, with a refraint on the unneceffary purfuit of more knowledge than is becoming them; in fhort, they have learned to be wife with moderation."

Such coteries, the Doctor tells, were common in England, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, though the taste of the times was vitiated by a fondness for punning. Shakspeare's writings are a fufficient proof of this circunftance. This low fpecies of wit was highly in vogue in the court of James I. but loft its prevalence in the days of his unfortunate fucceflor.

LETTER V. "On the Diverfions and Paftime of the French Ladies. On French Singing and Mutic."

Among the principal amufements of the French ladies are enumerated extemporaneous poetry; and the writing of

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