LETTER from the late M. MIRA- (From a French periodical work, IT As foon as we landed we took poft in company with an Irifliman (whom I fhould have believed to be an honest man, if I had not always thought that to be a character which is the ne plus ultra of divine providence), a French lady whom the Irishman had ftolen from her family by the right that every Irishman has to appropriate to himLondon, Auguft 30, 1784. felf a rich heirefs; and with an is from this fovereign city, English clergyman, a mild, modewhich, built with bricks, and rate, and well-informed man. We without either elegance or dignity, fet off poft, I fay, not from any prinpoints to the Thames and its fuperb ciple of pride; but all the fashion of bridge, and feems to fay:-"To England, and the brilliant part of what dare you compare me? Let the court being at Brighthelmftone, the ocean, let worlds bring hither where the prince of Wales was drinktheir tributes; "-it is from this citying the waters, there was not a fingle that I write to you in hafte, my eyes diftracted by a crowd of objects; my mind occupied by a thoufand painful folicitudes about the prefent and the future; but my heart and my imagination ftill full of you. diligence in which we could procure places; befides, pofts, which are excellent, and furnish coaches comparable to our gentlemen's carriages, are fcarcely fo dear as in France, though much longer, and paffed with three times the fpeed. It refulted, however, from this mode of travelling, that in fpite of the economical talents, and Irish induftry of our companion, whom I created quarter-mafter-general of the expedition, our journey coft us thrice what it ought to have coft us, confidering that the packet-boat not failing till three days after our arrival, and the difficulties about a paflport becoming alarming, I freighted a fhip. If I were not afraid of divulging fecrets, which may be of fervice to fome honeft fellows, as they have been of fervice to us, I would demonftrate to you, that the fublime formalities of our inquifition, called the admiralty, are ufelefs for every purpofe, but that of putting money into the pockets of the infpectors-excellent effect of every regulating legiflation. Our voyage would ferve for a romance; you are acquainted with one part of the inconveniences that preceded our departure; you have undoubtedly experienced at Paris the fame weather we met with on the road but of our paffage you can form no idea until you have been in a tempeft. Twice were we on the point of perishing; once by the fole force of wind and waves, which made our weak bark crack again, and once at the entrance of the Adder, that is, as we were off the port. In tacking about, a mistake in the management of the helm had nearly funk us; the water was knee-deep in the hold. The captain, a moft intrepid failor, gave up himself for loft, and would not, he declared, outlive his hip. Happily, my poor friend was in that horrible state called fea-ficknefs, the moral effect of which is a careleffness about every thing, except about the We dined at Brighthelmftone, hope that the fea will fwallow up upon the best butchers' meat I ever both the punishment and the punish-cat; and as the fingle act of touching ed. I, who never am fea-fick, vo- an English bed drains the purfe, mited blood; and my nerves have not particularly in the neighbourhood yet regained their tone. of the court (for gold is the mandra3 E Бога VOL. XXVII. gora of all courts), we flept at Lewes. I tages; it is that here every thing inAre you not fhocked at an Englifhorms me that the people are fometown bearing the name of one of thing; that every man has the deveour kings? From Lewes we traverf lopement and free exercife of his ed the finest country in Europe, for faculties, and that thus I am in a variety and verdure, for beauty and new order of things. richness, for rural neatness and elegance. It was a feast for the fight, a charm for the mind, which it is impoffible to exaggerate. And be affured, my friend, that this is fo really the true caufe of the effect upon which reafoned, that after I arrived at London, and had paffed the fuperb Thames (which must not be compared to any thing, because nothing is compara de to it) nothing either astonished or pleafed me more, except the pavements which made the good La Condamine fall on his knees and exclaim-God he praised! this is a country in which foot-paff ngers pafs for fomething! All the reft appeared common, and even pitiful to me. The approaches to London are through a country for which Holland affords no parallel (I fhould compare to it fome of the vallies of Switzerland): for, and this remarkable obfervation feizes immediately an ex perienced mind, this fovereign people are, above all, farmers in the bofom of their ifland; and that is what has fo long faved it from its own convulfions. I felt my mind deeply and ftrongly intereffed as I I will willingly fay, with the cold travelled through this well cultivated Italian, that there are streets on the and profperous country, and I faid, left and on the right, and a road in to myself whence this new emo- the middle. All the cities are alike, tion? Their caftles, compared to unlefs you grant to this the advantage ours, are but pigeon-houses Se- of that admirable propriety which is veral cantons in France, even in the extended to every thing, embellishes poorest provinces, and all Norman- every thing, which has an almost dy, which I have juft vifited, are equal charm for the mind and the finer, by nature, than these fields. eye, and has dominions which no Here we find in this place, and that ancient city ever poffeffed; for the place, but every where in our coun- reft, a frightful obftruction of the try, fine edifices, proud buildings, body politic, fewers morally, and, great public works, the traces of the as elfewhere, phyfically infamous. most wonderful works of man; and Men crowded together, and infected yet this contents me more than thofe by each other's breath; an eternal things aftonifh me. It is that nature conteft between the corruptors and is here ameliorated and not forced; the corrupted,-the poor and the that the narrow but excellent roads rich,-the titled mob and the untitled recall not to my mind the perfons mob. It is better or worse than liable to the corvées, except to mourn Paris or Babylon, as you please. over the countries where they are I am little interefted which it is. known; that the high state of culti- Remark, however, that I have yet vation here announces the refpect feen little, and that London will for property; that this care and certainly afford me more than anuniverfal neatnefs is a living fyftem other great commercial city, a mean of well-being; that all this rural of activity and emulation which wealth is in nature, by nature, ac- cannot fail to intereft me. But I cording to nature, and does not dif- give you an account of the first im clofe that extreme inequality of for-preffion, which has always a strong tune, fource of fo many evils, like the infufion of truth in it. fumptuous edifice furrounded by cot- During the journey we met with the the rencontre of gentlemen. What fenfe the people have! The nickname of thieves is here the word gentlemen! They watched, and rode two or three times round our little troop! I was determined to give them nothing, because I am far from having too much money: I put the women in front in one chaife, three men in the chaife that followed, and one on horfeback; our order of battle was fo good, and our armed array fo firm, that the men suffered us to pafs. I fhould encroach upon the rights of my Henrietta, who will write to you when he can congratulate you on your recovery, if I were to fpeak to you of the English women, whofe cold and fneering manner, and ftitf and affected air, did not much please her at the first view. For my own part, I fhall not easily give up my long paffion for the English women, particularly as fome men whom Henrietta paffed, ftopped, and exclaimed, what a pretty English woman! She is therefore very well fatisfied with the men. With refpe&t to myfelf, I pretend to have, and I am told I already have, as English an air as Jack Roaft Beef himself. Our females have not, however, always been fo well treated; they experienced a very difagreeable event: the fineness of the weather had tempted them to go on foot from the inn to their lodgings, for we are already lodged, and dearly lodged; they were dreffed very much in the French manner, particularly Henrietta. The people murmured; a crowd collected; we were followed; a kind of an alehoufe Ariftophanes began finging before us, with the moft demonftrative geftures and great freedom of expreffion, fongs not very witty, which diverted the populace. My friend, accustomed to the whims of the populace of Amfterdam, laughed, the Parifian was in a real Parifian paffion. For my own part, my phlegm was not to be moved; but, however, I was afraid of being angry; and the denouement made me uneafy. Already had feveral Englifhmen, well dreffed, and on horfeback, dealt feveral blows among the runaways, and ftopping their horfes, entreated us not to take the mob for the nation. They then gave us advice, which we did not understand. At length a Frenchman made his way through the crowd, diftributed fome money, and made a difplay of English eloquence; then carrying us into a fhop, he went and fetched a coach, which put an end to a scene, which, though laughable, was rather difagreeable. DE COURVILLE CASTLE; "I A ROMANCE. By a YOUNG LADY. Conducted Julia safe to the baron's. He received her with tranfport, and bestowed numberlefs bleflings upon you for your honourable conduct.-He entertained me with liberality, and defired you would haften with all poffible fpeed to receive your reward; then difmiffed me with a handfome prefent. "I rode at a moft furious rate for fome miles, till both myfelf and horfe were thoroughly fatigued.-I looked round me, and perceived that I had miffed the beaten track, in my hurry, and had purfued one which led to quite a different part.-Night grew on apace: I feared to return, left I fhould involve myself still further in the intricacies of the path. "As I looked round and round, I thought I faw a faint light glimmer through the hedge; I looked over, and found I was not deceived; but how to find the fpot was the greatest difficulty.-I, however, determined, let what would be the event, to proceed forward.-I fpurred my horfe, and went onwards. 3 E 2 "I foun "I foon found myself at the entrance of a kind of cave, at the further end of which I faw a lamp hung, which no doubt was the light of which I was in purfuit.-I was at a lofs whether to enter or not.Perhaps, thought I, it is the quarters of fome of the banditti with which this place is infefted.-Upon fecond confideration, I alighted,-and, tying my horfe to a tree, liftened attentively at the mouth of the cave. -I heard a low murmuring voice, feemingly in prayer. "Oh ho! (faid I to myfelf)there is no harm here-banditti never pray." ing orifons, I heard a deep figh, not many yards from me.-I rofe immediately, and-haftened to the entrance of the cave, where I found a woman lying on the earth.-Her drefs was rent in many places,- and her hands and arms, which were beautifully white, were terribly fcratched.-Í endeavoured to raife her from the ground:-fhe had apparently fainted from inceffant fatigue and long fafting, for her body was worn to a mere fkeleton. My efforts at last fucceeded, and I brought her into my retreat-My fcanty fare of bread and water was all I had to offer her-Alas! it was but poor nourishment for one in her fituation. She, however, ate and drank greedily.-I prevailed upon her to lie down upon my bed; and I fat up in my old wooden chair. "Her ftrength was totally exhausted, and nature demanded reft.She flept for a few hours, and awoke much better. She then told me a tale of horror, which I am bound "So I mustered up all my courage, and entered a kind of chamber, rudely hewn out of the rock.-At the further end was a bed, or pallet, upon which lay a venerable looking man. He held his beads in his hands, which were clafped together. He did not perceive me for fome, time: when he did, he feemed rather startled; but, recovering himfelf, ftretched out his hand, faying-never to reveal, and entreated me to "Come hither, my fon.I have not beheld one of my fellow creatures for fo long a time, that the fight of you rather alarmed me; but fare Providence fent you to me at this critical moment, to tafe my mind of a fecret which I feared would die with me. You have an honeft countenance-." "You fee, fir, (faid Philip, interrupting his ftory) the old man had not forgot to compliment. « However, I think, (continued he) I can confide in you." "I affired him that I would do whatever was in my power to affift him. "I am now (faid the hermit) paft ail human affiftance.--I feel the hour of my diffolution approaches faft. Liften then attentively to what I am about to relate. "It is now, as near as I can calculate, about nine months and fome odd weeks, that, as I was at my eyen direct her to fome place where fhe might reft in fafety.-I directed her, in the best manner I was able, to the convent of St. Agnes.-I would have conducted her thither myfelt, but I am too feeble to walk ten yards.-She thanked me in the moft expreffive terms, and departed in tears.-Some time after fhe was gone, I chanced to walk to the mouth of my cave.As I paffed, I thought fomething glittered.-I ftooped for it, and pickпр the picture which I now give ed you.' "I foon perceived (continued the hermit) that it was the refemblance of her felf. I have never been able to get it conveyed to her fince.-What requeft of you is, that you will go to the convent, and find her out, (which you easily wit by the miniature) and beg her to remember poor father Michael." "The "The poor old man (continued | produce of which, except what fuf "I left his corpse where it was, and haftened to the convent.-I fhowed the picture at the gate, and eafily gained admittance to my dear miftrefs.--She, poor foul! did not know me. I related my meffage, and delivered the picture.-The neceffary care was taken to inter the body of father Michael.-I then proceeded to make myfelf known.The dear lady was almost frantic She, with transport, fent me forward to you, and bid me tell you the dies with impatience to embrace her fon. -So away I fled, at the hazard of my neck, to relate the joyful tidings. -Thus ends my story." (To be continued.) fices for their own maintenance, is paid to the proprietor. Sometimes thofe flaves practise trades, or engage in traffic; and all fuch perfons pay a much greater fum yearly to their owners than is done by the labourer of the ground. In fact, a Ruffian peafant has no property; every thing he poffeffes, even the miferable raiment that fhelters him from the cold, may be feized by his master as his own.-A carpenter, being known to have made fome money, was commanded by the rapacious fteward of a rapacious Knaez, to give two hundred rubles to his owner. The man obeyed, and brought the money in copper." I must have it in filver," faid the fteward. The flave, denying that he had fo much, was inftantly fourged till he promifed to fulfil the demand. He brought the filver; and the covetous fuperior retained both the filver and copper. It will eafily be conceived ACCOUNT of the CONDITION of the that men in this fituation, if they are PEASANTS in Russia. HE peafants in Ruffia, that is to fay, the greateft part of the fubjects of that empire, are in a state of abject flavery, and are reckoned the property of the nobles, to whom they belong as much as their dogs and horfes. Indeed the wealth of a great man in Ruffia is not computed by the extent of land he poffeffes, or by the quantity of grain he can bring to market, but by the number of his flaves. Those belonging, fome years ago, to prince Sherebatoff, and conftituting his fortune, were faid to be no lefs in number than a hundred and twenty-feven thoufand. ever enabled to improve their fortunes, will conceal their wealth, and affume an external appearance of indigence and mifery. The owner has alfo the power of felling his flave, or of hiring his labour to other perfons; and i happens fometimes, that a Knaez, or Boyard, fhall give a flave to a neighbouring Boyard in exchange for a dog or a horfe. The owner may alfo inflict on his flaves whatever punishment he pleafes, and for any fort of offence. It is againft law, indeed, to put any of them to death; yet it happens, fometimes, that a poor flave dies of the wounds he receives from a paffionate or unreEvery flave pays about a ruble (or lenting fuperior.-It is faid that, four fillings) yearly to his owner; fome years ago, a lady at Moscow, and, if he be in the way of making the fifler of a field-marthal, was conmoney, the tribute he pays is aug-victed of having put to death above mented. In general, every Ruffian feventy flaves, by fcourging, and by nobleman allots to the pealants that inflicting on them other barbarous belong to him, a certain portion of punishments. It was a matter of land to be cultivated by them; the amufement with her to contrive fuch modes |