The country gentleman difdains his Ruffia. He learned the Ruffian native rufticity; and pants with the language, and made fo much prodefire of fhining in the more bril-grefs in it, that he attracted the notice of the Czar: by degrees, he obtained his friendship, and was the firft caufe of the excellence of that greatest of princes. He gained the object of his defires; for his name and story are related by Voltaire. fiant light of a fupple courtier, or affumes the chafter fhade of a patriotic orator. It is to this paffion alone that we are indebted for the inundation of wits, warriors, fcribblers, horferacers, charioteers, and a long et cetera: nor muft the numerous tribe who feem infulated by their peculiarities from the reft of mankind,—I mean that defcription who are generally known under the title of oddities,-be forgotten. This fect seems created for the entertainment of the reft of mankind; to attempt to defcribe them here would be fuperfluous: every one's observation will afford him ample objects of this fingularity. To fall like thofe fubordinate heroes, whose names alone are mèntioned by the poet, : Ambition of this fort, if directed to proper objects, is by no means an inconfiderable virtue and though certainly criminal in the greatest degree if improperly applied, yet no paffion feems more calculated to correct thofe follies or vices to which mankind are fubject: it is the vital fpring of all human affairs, and can never be beheld in a difadvantageous view, if attended by moderation, but by a cynic; and it would be very easy to prove that he himself only affected a cha racter fo oppofite to humanity, in order to gratify this first of paffions: for what induced that infolent feet to abufe mankind, and declare war with all the world, but the luft of fame? What was it that glowed round the heart of Cato, when he madly stabbed himself be caufe he would not be the fecond man in Rome Ambition of cha racter! Ityn, Cloniumque, Dioxippum, Promulumque, muft be a very unpleafing reflection to a liberal and ingenuous mind, 'and can never offer itself to the imagination without concomitant terror. Those who recollect the pains Mr. Pope took to arrive at that height of perfection which he afterwards attained, must be sensible of the truth of this obfervation; and Salluft, a paffage from whofe Hiftory of Catiline I have chofen for my motto, fhows the reader the various ways by which he attempted to arrive at notice. There is a remarkable instance of this defire of celebrity alfo related by Voltaire. A young man of the name of Le Fort, afpiring and fanguine, was fent by his father to Copenhagen, to qualify him to become a factor. He had not been there long, before this rettleffness of obfcurity feized him. He left his fiftant to his Mufe, in spite of poverty tuation, and paffed into the fuite of and the more folid temporary adDanish ambaffador going to vantages which he might obtain It may perhaps be faid that the pleasure of the different ftudies to which thofe individuals applied, who have gained immortal honour, and ftamped their names, with the impreffion of their own genius and acquirements, upon the memory of fame, might greatly conduce to the perfection to which each arrived in his purfuits, as well as the idea of raifing their reputation, and tranfmitting their name and abili ties to the lateft pofterity. Do we not fee that the poet will be con if occafion, yet the history of genius will prove that there never yet exifted a perfon who found his pow. ers of understanding adapted to any peculiar ftudy, that was actuated in the purfuit of it folely for the fake. of the pleasure which he had in the profecution of it. In reality, the defire of fame is perhaps the predominant paffion in moft breafts. It is, as it were, a vortex that swale many vices, and many virtues, are the mere means by which various perfous attempt to acquire it. All other paffions, however, it most certainly renders fubfervient to its own power. The defire of eafe is certainly great; yet we generally find, that, however ftrong this may be, it is overcome; and love itself Who, upon confulting his own feelings, will hefitate to declare, that to acquire riches, and live fplendidly, are great objects of defire? And yet we have often feen men of abilities forfake the means by which they might have acquired eafe and afflu if he turned his abilities to fome other and more lucrative study? And does not Horace declare that he, who was favoured by the Mufes, packed up all his cares and fears, and committed them to the winds, to drown them in the Cretan fea? Does not Callimachus fay, that Apollo does not impart the bleffings of the Mufe to every body; but he whom he favours, is enviable, and he whom he rejects, defpicable?lows up every other defire; and Does not the philofopher in particular find fuch delight in his ftudies, Nat he almoft forgets the material objects which are prefent to his fenfes? And is not the ftudy of philofophy calculated to give a refifh to life, to afford confolation to the wretched, and difpel the evils which may furround us? Add, that the painter feels fuch exquifite plea-is not unfrequently fubdued by it. fure in the fire of his imagination, the correctness of his defign, the life, the warmth, the vigour of his objects, the happiness of his colouring, and the beauty of his light and fhade. And does he not glow with ardor, when he perceives the piece correfpondent and equal to his fan-ence, and attach themselves to a cy, when he fees the mellow tints following the exactness of nature? And are there not equal pleafures attending every fcience and liberal art? And are not all thefe plea fures confidered, by the individuals who feel them, as a perfect good for the time being? And it is very ea fy to deduce this pleasure which they receive, from a certain principle, viz. fuccefs: for fuccefs, of any fort, naturally pleafes the mind; and how much more in any fcience or liberal art! Hence, thofe who have found pleasure in fuccefs, connect imperceptibly the idea of plea-refpect for fame? fure with that fcience or art in As this ambition is fo common, which they have been fo fuccefsful. I confefs it has been the caufe of my Is it then wonderful that they fhould daring to publifh my meditations; be fond of that study, in which they and fhould I not fucceed, it will take delight, from the most rational ftill be fomething to have attempted of all motives? Though this and ait. I could here fhow my learning, vaft deal more might be faid upon the by playing off a vast number of 7 fcience to which nothing more could belong than the pleasure they found in purfuing it,-the idea of acquiring Jome portion of pretent fame,-and the ambition of handing down their names, as celebrated characters, to pofterity. Do not Horace, Ovid, and Lucan exprefsly fay, that their names will be remembered to the end of time? Hence we have inconteftable proofs that ambition, at leaft, was not difregarded; and who but the moft phlegmatic can poffibly imagine that a Pope and an Addifon were not actuated by fome quotations quotations upon the fubject, by which I fhould only prove, perhaps, myfelf to be learnedly dull; I fhall therefore content myself with giv ing the public fome account of what they are to expect from me. I fhall for the prefent take leave of my readers. C. DE COURVILLE CASTLE; W It has been remarked by fomebody, no matter whom, that it is effenti.ily neceffary for an author of a periodical paper to acquaint the public with his family, circumftances, and way of living,-whether he be tall or fhort, rich or poor,—as if it were neceffary to be thorough ly acquainted with the machine, before the productions of it could be thought of. As this method has been conftantly purfued, I fhall not dare to deviate from it, efpecially when I recollect I fall gratify a certain paffion of the fairer fex, who may do me the honour to think at all about me. Without farther preface, then, I am of a tolerable family, and fmall fortune, middling in ftature, and fomething turned of feven and twenty,-fo exceffively whimsical and variable in my difpo-gufting noife upon their rufty fition, that what to-day feems to me moft defirable, to-morrow is my utmost averfion; but this wa. vering temper extends not beyond trines, and, instead of racking me with torments, proves a fource of infinite delight. I follow no particular profeffion, but am, in every refpect of the word, an independent dangler. I mix with the gay world, as if pleasure were my only ftudy, taking care never to offend against either morality or decency. Often I fhut myself up in my closet, as if true happiness refulted only from fudy, and an acquainance with the beft authors. I converse fometimes with wit, pedants, and coxcombs, and am proud of the honour of boafting fome acquaintance with the grave, pious, and learned. Such is my character, and uch my occupation; and having thus got over, the difagreeable ceremony of introJucing myself to their acquaintance, A ROMANCE, (Continued from p. 68.) caffle, the man whom he HEN Alphonfo reached the had brought with him as a fubftitute for Philip, appeared not a little difmayed at the defolate appearance of the place; but Alphonfo having by means of liberal offers banished a part of his fears, they rode round to the village, and hired fome men to affift in clearing the ruboish and weeds from the principal entrance of the castle. With fome difficulty they opened the great gates, which creaked with dif hinges, and found the caftle exactly in the fituation he left it. The recollection of the cause of his last quitting it, and the melancholy one of his return to it, rushed with force upon his mind, and he leaned his head against the wall in filent agony. The men ftared at him with ftupid wonder; but recollecting himself, he started up, and led the way to his apartment. A fire was foon kindled by a lanthorn which they brought with them; and Alphonfo then inftructed the men in their feveral de- ̧ partments, and before night the grand hall was rendered fit for the reception of his uncle's body. The vault was then opened. Al, phonfo took a torch and defcended into it; but the noifome damps of the place almoft ftifled him. He caft his eyes around; and a coffin, newer than the reft, attracted his notice. He approached, and viewed the plate. It was that of his father. He He dropt his torch, and knelt by the fide of the coffin." Shade of my reverend parent," exclaimed he, let me not incur thy anger that I thus dare to violate thy fanctuary, to admit the remains of thy murderer: witness my bitter filial tears." He was interrupted by a faint scream, and a noife which feemed as if fome great weight had fallen. pute the found he had heard to imagination; it seemed ftill to ring through his ears with additional horror. His haraffed fpirits demanded reft; and he accordingly retired to a chamber which had formerly been Philip's, and, fecuring the door, funk upon the bed. He had flumbered about an hour, when he was roufed by a loud noife in the He started from his knees, and look-corner of the room. He raised his ed round; but his torch was extin-head from his pillow, and liftened guifhed. He liftened: al was ftill. He drew his fword from the scabbard, and groped about for the fteps. For fome time his fearch was in vain, and he stumbled conftantly over broken pieces of coffins; till at length, at fome diftance, he perceived a glimmering light. For fome minutes he was unrefolved whether to advance or recede. He plainly diftinguished the forms of ieveral men flowly advancing, and heard his own name diftinctly repeated. His fear fo nearly overcame him, that it was fome time before he could recall his fcattered fenfes fufficiently to recognife his own attendants, who, finding him continue fo long in the vault, began to be alarmed, and had, though with great dread, defcended in fearch of him; he having wandered in the dark fo far from the entrance, that he did not recollect the fituation fufficiently to prevent his fright at their approach. He forbore to mention to them the fcream he had heard, left it fhould deprefs their fpirits, and only told them that he had let his torch fall, and thereby extinguifhed it. When they had completed their bufinefs, he difmiffed all but the one he defigned to keep in his fervice until the return of Philip. With him he retired to his chaniber, and endeavoured to recruit his fpirits with a bottle of wine (for they had provided themselves with whatever they thought would be requifite): but he vainly endeavoured to im. I attentively: it was filent; and he once more compofed himself to reft. He was again ftartled by a violent flaking of the curtains of his bed. The moon then fuddenly emerged from a cloud; and, by her light, he perceived a figure, of apparently enormous bulk, at his bed-fide. He immediately grafped his sword, and jumped up; when the figure retreated. He started from the bed, and pursued it round the room. The moon was again obscured, and he was left in darknefs. He groped about, 'till a door was flapped with violence in his face. Terror now totally overpowered him, and the fword dropt from his hand. He continued transfixed with aftonifhment, till a violent knocking at his door recalled his fenfes. For fome time he was irrefolute, till the voice of his fervant demanding entrance, cheared him, and with fome difficulty he found the door, which he opened. The man inftantly caught hold of him, exclaiming-"For hea ven's fake, fir, fave me!-Let us quit this dreadful castle to-morrow! You have furely let all the fpirits out af the vault; and they are determined to torment us for difturbing them!" -The mention of the vault revived in Alphonfo the remembrance of his adventure in that place. He was for fome time unable to reply: at length he demanded of the man, if he had heard any thing. "Aye, (faid the fellow) I believe I have. Why, I thought my door would have been burft open: for there This foliloquy was interrupted by his attendants, who entered to know his orders concerning the proposed plan. Alphonfe, after fome confideration, refolved to abide the event. He accordingly defired the men to procure fome wine from the village, and to keep a large fire, there was a rare push against it made it crack again." Alphonfo was more and more furprifed: he determined to discover the myftery, but forbore to urge the man further at that time, left he fhould but augment his fear. Day in a great measure difpelled their terror, and they difcourfed calmly on the fub-two moft requifite things, for fo jeft. Alphonfo after a time, by ex- chearlefs an adventure. The interpoftulation, entreaty, and offers of mediate space between then and the liberal reward, obtained from the time appointed for them to ftation man a promife to watch with him themselves, he determined to fill up the enfuing night. Their attention by infpecting the caftle. He reviwas fo much engroffed, that they fited all the rooms, and found them thought not of repaft; and the ar- as he had left them. The apartrival of a peafant announced the ment where he had before beheld approach of the corpfe, before they the horrible fpectacle, flocked him had broke their faft. The gates were greatly; and closing the door with thrown open, and the body of the difguft, he defcended the stairs.` count decently committed to the The men foon returned with the vault; after which it was once more wine: they took fome flight reclofed by the ruftics, who were hap. freshment, and betook themselves to py to receive their pay, and quit their watch. They drew their chairs fo gloomy an habitation. clofe, and replenished their glasses; Alphonfo, again left to reflection, and the wine circulated pretty brifkpondered in his mind his ftrange ly. All continued quiet the bell deftiny. "Surely," faid he to him- flowly tolled one, and the men befelf, "I am doomed to be the fport gun to nod. Alphonfo' continued of fortune, purfuing, by a strange in a mufing pofture, but was foon fatality, fhadows which vanifh from ftartled by the opening of the door my grafp, while others continually of the fmall clofet, over which the rife to harafs my fpirit, already al- portrait of his uncle had hung. He moft broken by difappointment and concealed the light, the better to forrow. Oh my Julia, even now, obferve what paffed. A figure, perhaps, you may be in need of my flocking to behold, entered; it aparm, to fave you from fome unpeared to be a human form, but the forefeen danger. May you not be at fex could not be diftinguished: a this moment calling upon thy Al- ragged mantle covered its shoulders, phonfo, to refcue thee in vain, while and fell on the ground, and a quanhe is perhaps rufhing into eternity fity of long black hair hung over unbidden, and may, ere to-morrow's the face, and entirely concealed it. dawn, be numbered among the fi- One arm was bare, and dreadfully lent dead Had I not better quit torn, with which it grafped a rusty this horrid foot, by murder ftained, dagger; the other held a human where injured fpirits call aloud for fkull. It walked with a folemn step vengeance, and with my Julia feek to the window, where it continued fome peaceful cot, where, with her, fome time with its arms folded, then I may Spend my future days in do- turned to the bed, and laid the skull meftic happiness, far from the pomp upon the pill w, and groped about and fatigue of grandeur? But Oh! as in fearch of fome other object. my parents; hard is the struggle be- Alphonfo thanked heaven for his twixt love and filial piety." efcape, as he made no doubt he VOL. XXVII. Gg should |