ful." Catherine maintained the po mp of majesty with an air of eafe and grandeur united; and Peter ufed frequently to exprefs his admiration at the propriety with which the fupported her high station, without forgetting that the was not born to that dignity. The following anecdotes will prove that the bore her elevation meekly; and, as Gordon afferts, was never forget ful of her former condition. When Wurmb, who had been tutor to Gluck's children at the time that Catherine was a domestic in that clergyman's family, prefented himself before her after her marriage with Peter had been publicly folemnized, the recollected and addreffed him with great complacency, "What, thou good man, art thou still alive! I will provide for thee." And the accordingly settled upon him a pen fion. She was no le fs attentive to the family of her benefactor Gluck, who died a prifoner at Mofcow: the penfioned his widow; made his fon a page; portioned the two eldest daughters; and advanced the youngeft to be one of her inaids of honour. THE HERE are objets, fays an excellent writer, which have a natural aptitude to pleatfe or offend, or between which and the contemplating mind there is a necefl àry congruity or incongruity; and though the actual perception of the understanding, and confequent feeling of the heart, in contemplating the actions and affections of moral agents, may exift in very different degrees, on account of the incidental obftructions arifing from bodily indifpofition,, mental prejudices and biaffes, and the affociation of ideas; yet, to ev ery rational mind properly difpofed, morally good actions must for ever: be acceptable, and can never of themselves offend; and morally evil actions must for ever be difagreeable, aiad can never of themselves please. What is right in actions and characte rs is beautiful and , amiable, and gives leafure; what is wrong is deformed" and odious, and If we may believe Weber, the frequently inquired after her first husband; and, when the lived with prince Menzikof, ufed fecretely to fend him fmall fums of money, until, in 1705, he was killed in a skirmish with the enemy. But the most noble part of her character was her peculiar humanity and compassion for the unfortunate. Motraye has paid an handsome tribute to this excellence." She had, in fome fort, the government of all his (Peter's) paffions; and even faved the lives of a great many more perfons than Le Fort was able to do: the infpired him with that humanity, which, in the opinion of his fubjects, nature feemed to have denied him. A word from her mouth in favour of a wretch, just going to be sacrificed to his anger, would disarm him; but if he was fully refolved to fatisfy that paffion, he would give orders for the execution when he was abfent, for fear the fhould plead for the victim." In a word, to use the expreffion of the celebrated Munich, "Elle etoit proprement la mediatrice entre le monarque et fes fujets.” DEFORMITY. excites difguft: right and pleasure, wrong and pain, are as distinct as caufe and effect. It is no less abfurd to maintain, that the perception of virtue is nothing diftinct from the reception of the pleasure resulting from it, than to infer, with fome metaphyficians, that folidity, extenfion, and figure, are only particular modes of fenfation, because attended, whenever they are perceived, with fome fenfations of fight or touch. Thus does this author fhew, that moral beauty and deformity are real qualities of certain actions; in which confifta their aptitude to please or difguft. With refpect to natural beauty, he obferves, that uniformity amidst variety pleases, becaufe of the natures of variety and uniformity, which are fuch, that, whenever united, they are adapted to please every free unbiaffed mind that difcerns them. He accounts for the pleasure they afford, without re ferring ferring them to an arbitrary internal fenfe, by the following circumstances that attend them. They are more eafily comprehended by the mind: order and fymmetry give things their ftability and strength, and fubferviency to any valuable purpofe; regularity and order evidence art and defign. Disorder and confufion, whence deformity arifes, denote only the negation of regularity and order; or any arrangement and difpofition of things, which are not according to a law, rule, or plan, and prove not defign. These are not pofitively displeasing; except where we previously expected order, or where impotence or want of kill appear, and the contriver has either failed of his defign or executed it ill. In the Fugitive Pieces is preferved an excellent effay on Bodily Deformity by the late William Hay, Efq. who was himself what he defcribes, and who, while he rallies his own figure with great pleasantry, difcuffes the general fubject in a manner equally inftructive and agreeable. It is certain, that the human frame, being warped and difproportioned, is leffened in ftrength and activity, and rendered lefs fit for its functions. Scarron had invented an engine to take off his hat; " and I with (fays our author) I could invent one to buckle my fhoe, or to take up a thing from the ground, which I can fcarcely do without kneeling, for I can bend my body no farther than it is bent by nature. For this reafon, when ladies drop a fan or glove, I am not the first to take it up; and often reftrain my inclination to perform thofe little fervices, rather than expofe my spiderlike shape. And I hope it will not be conftrued as pride, if I do not always rife from my feat when I ought; for if it is low, I find fome trouble in it; and my center of gravity is fo ill placed, that I am often like to fall back. Things hanging within the reach of others are out of mine; and what they can execute with eafe I want ftrength to perform. I am in danger of being trampled upon or ftifled in a crowd, where my back is a convenient lodg. ment for the elbow of any tall perfon that is near. I can fee nothing, and my whole employment is to guard my VOL. I. No. 11. perfon. I have forborne to attend his majesty in the house of peers fince was like to be squeezed to death there against the wall. I would willingly come thither when his majesty commands, but he is too gracious to expect impoffibilities. Befides, when İ get in, I can never have the pleasure of feeing on the throne one of the best princes who ever fat on it. Thefe, and many others, are the inconveniences continually attending a figure like mine. They may appear griev ous to perfons not ufed to them, but they grow easier by habit; and, tho they may a little disturb, they are not fufficient to deftroy, the happiness of life; of which, at an average, I have enjoyed as great a fhare as most men. And perhaps one proof of it may be my writing this elfay; not intended as a complaint against Providence for my lot, but as an innocent amufement to myfelf and others." As to what effect deformity may have on the health, it appears natural to imagine, that, as the inward parts of the body muft in fome measure comply with the outward mould, fo, the form of the latter being irregular, the first cannot be fo well placed and difpofed to perform their functions; and that generally deformed perfons would not be healthy or long-lived. But this is a queftion beft determined by facts; and in this cafe, the instances are too few or unobferved to draw a general conclufion from them: and health is more than is commonly thought in a man's own power, and the reward of temperance more than the effect of conftitution; which makes it ftill more difficult to pass a judgment. Elop could not be young when he died; and might have lived longer if he had not been murdered at Delphi. The prince of Orange fcarcely paffed the meridian of life, and the duke of Luxemburgh died about the age of fixty-feven. The lord treasurer Burleigh lived to feventyeight; but his fon, the earl of Salifbury, who died about fifteen years after him, could not reach near that age. It is faid that Mr. Pope's father was deformed, and he lived to feventy-five; whereas the fon died in middle age, if he may be faid to u die, die, whofe works are immortal. "My father (adds our author) was not deformed, but active, and my mother a celebrated beauty; and I, that am so unlike them, have lived to a greater age, and daily fee my acquaintance of a stronger frame quitting the stage before me." But whether deformity, abftractedly confidered, be really prejudicial to health, in its confequences it appears to be most commonly an advantage. Deformed perfons have a lefs fhare of ftrength than others, and therefore fhould naturally be more careful to preserve it; and, as temperance is the great prefervative of health, it may incline them to be more temperate. Another great prefervative of health is moderate exercife, which few deformed perfons can want ftrength to perform. As a deformed perfon is not formed for violent exercife, he is lefs liable to fuch disorders as are the natural confequence of it. He will alfo efcape many accidents to which men of athletic make, and who glory in their strength, are always expofing themselves to make trial and proof of it. If he cannot carry an ox, like Milo, he will not, like Milo, be hand-cuffed in the oak by attempting to rend it. He will not be the man that fhall ride from London to York in a day, or to Windfor in an hour, for a wager; or that shall be perpetually performing furprising long journeys in a furprising fhort time, for no earthly bufinefs but the pleasure of relating them. Confcious of his own, weakness, he will be cautious of running into places or occafions of danger. Nature, too, warns deformed perfons to be careful not to offer such affronts as may call them forth into the field of false honour, where they cannot acquit themfelves well for want of ftrength and agility; and they are fecurer from fuch affronts them felves, fince others will confider the little credit they will gain by compelling them to appear on that fcene. On the whole, therefore, it may be concluded, that deformity is a protection to a man's health and person; which (ftrange as it may appear) are better defended by feebleness than Atrength. The influence of bodily deformity on a man's fortune may next be confidered. Among the lower clafs, he is cut off from many profeffions and employments. He cannot be a foldier, he is under ftandard; he cannot be a failor, he wants activity to climb the rigging; he cannot be a chairman or porter, he wants strength to bear the burden. In higher life, he is ill qualified for a lawyer, he can fcarcely be seen over the bar; fora di- . vine, he may drop from his hatfock out of fight in his pulpit. The improvement of his mind is his proper province, and his bufinefs only fuch as depends on ingenuity. If he cannot be a dancing-master to adjust the heels, he may be a fchool-master to inftruct the head: he cannot be a graceful actor on the stage; but he may produce a good play: he would appear ill as a herald in a proceffion; but he may pass as a merchant on the 'change: he cannot undergo the fatigue of the campaign; but he may advife the operations of it: he is defigned by nature rather to fleep on Parnaffus than to defcend on the plains of Eolis: he cannot be crowned at the Olympic games; but may be the Pindar to celebrate them: he can acquire no glory by the fword; but he may by the pen, and may grow famous by only relating thofe exploits which are beyond his power to imitate. Lord Bacon (that extensive and penetrating genius, who pointed out every part of nature for examination), in his Effay on Deformity, fays, "that in their fuperiors it quencheth jealoufy towards them, as perfons that they think they may at pleasure defpife; and it layeth their competitors and emulators afleep, as never be. lieving they fhould be in a poffibility of advancement till they fee them in poffeffion." But it is much to be doubted whether this is not more than counterbalanced by the contempt of the world, which it requires no mean parts to conquer; for if (as has been faid) a good perfon is a letter of recommendation, deformity must be an obftruction in the way to favour. In this refpect, therefore, deformed perfons fet out in the world to a difadvantage; vantage; and they must first furmount the prejudices of mankind be fore they can be upon a par with others, and must obtain by a courfe of behaviour that regard which is paid to beauty at first fight. When this point is once gained, the tables are turned, and then the game goes in their favour for others, fenfible of their injustice to them, no fooner find them better than they expected, than they believe them better than they are; whereas in the beautiful perfon they fometimes find themselves impofed upon, and are angry that they have worshipped only a painted idol. For (again take lord Bacon's words) "neither is it almost seen, that very beautiful perfons are otherwise of great virtue: they prove accomplished, but not of great fpirit; and ftudy rather behaviour than virtue. Whereas deformed perfons, if they be of fpirit, will free themfelves from fcorn, which must be either by virtue or malice; and therefore let it not be mar. velled if they fometimes prove excellent perfons, as were Agefilaus, Zanger the fon of Solomon, Afop, Gafca prefident of Peru; and Socrates may likewife go amongst them, with others." Nay, he lays "in a great wit deformity is an advantage to rifing." And in another part of his works, "that they who by accident have fome inevitable and indelible mark on their perfons or fortunes, as deformed people, baftards, &c. if they want not virtue, generally prove fortunate." redeem a deformed one from contempt: it attends him like his fhadow, and like that too is ever reminding him of his ill figure, which is often objected for want of real crimes. For the fame writer fays of the fame great man, "that the misfortunes accompanying him from his birth did not a little add to that cloud of detraction that fell upon all that he said or did; a mulet in nature, like an optic fpectacle, multiplying much in the fight of the people the apparitions of ill." Nor was this contempt buried with him: it trampled on his ashes, and infulted his grave; as appears by an epitaph, which Ofborn cites, as void of wit as it is full of fcurrility; in one line of which there is an epithet, not fo elegant as defcriptive of his perfon, viz. "Little boffive Robin, that was fo great." Such contempt in general, joined with the ridicule of the vulgar, is another certain consequence of bodily deformity; for men naturally defpife what appears lefs beautiful or useful, and their pride is gratified when they fee fuch foils to their own perfons. It is this fenfe of fuperiority which is teftified by laughter in the lower fort; while their betters, who know how little any man whatfoever hath to boast of, are restrained by good sense and good breeding from fuch an insult. But it is not eafy to fay why one fpecies of deformity fhould be more ridiculous than another, or why the mob fhould be more merry with a crooked man, than with one that is deaf, lame, fquinting, or purblind. It is a back in alto relievo that bears all the ridicule; though one would think a prominent belly a more reafonable object of it, fince the last is generally the effect of intemperance and of a man's own creation. So-crates was ugly, but not contemned; and Philopomen of very mean appearance, and, though contemned on that account, not ridiculed: for Montaigne fays, "Ill features are but a fuperficial ugliness, and of little certainty in the opinion of men; but a deformity of limbs is more fubftantial, and ftrikes deeper in." As it is more uncommon, it is more remarkable, and that perhaps is the true reason Uus Ofborn, in his Hiftorical Memoirs of queen Elizabeth, informs us, that "the chofe the goodlieft perfons for her household fervants: but in her counsellors did not put by fufficiency, though accompanied with a crooked perfon; as it chanced in a father and a fon of the Cecils, both incomparable for prudence." It is well known the queen would make the father (Burleigh) fit in her prefence; telling him that he did not ufe him for his legs, but his head. But the fon (afterwards lord treafurer and earl of Salisbury) was not fo civilly treated by the populace; and is an inftance, not only that envy purfues a great man, but that the highest poft cannot why why it is more ridiculed by the vulgar. The laft confideration on this fub. ject relates to those passions and affections which moft naturally refult from deformity. Lord Bacon obferves, that "deformed perfons are commonly even with nature; for, as nature hath done ill by them, fo do they by nature, being for the most part (as the fcripture faith) void of natural affection." But (fays Mr. Hay) "I can neither find out this paffage in fcripture, nor the reafon of it; nor can I give my affent or negative to a propofition, till I am well acquainted with the terms of it. If by natural affection is here meant univerfal benevolence, and deformity neceffarily implies a want of it, a deformed perfon must then be a complete monster. But, however common the cafe may be, my own fenfations inform me that it is not univerfally true. If by natural affection is meant a partial regard for individuals, I believe the remark is judicious, and founded in human nature. Deformed perfons are defpifed, ridiculed, and ill-treated, by others; are seldom favourites, and commonly most neglected by parents, guardians, and relations; and therefore, as they are not indebted for much fondnefs, it is no wonder if they repay but little. It is the command of fcripture, Not to fet our affections on things below; and it is the voice of reafon, not to overvalue what we muft foon part with therefore, to be fo fond of others as not to be able to bear their abfence, or to furvive them, is neither a religious nor moral duty, but a childish and womanish weaknefs; and I muft congratulate deformed perfons, who, by example, are early taught another leffon. And I will now lay open my own heart to the reader, that he may judge if lord Bacon's pofition is verified in me. "I hope it proceeds not from a malignity of heart; but I never am much affected with the common accidents of life, whether they befal myself or others. I am little moved when I hear of death, lofs, or misfortune; I think the cafe is common. Tritus, & e medio fortunæ ductus acervo • JUVENAL. And, as it is always likely to happen, I am not surprised when it does.~ ~`If I fee a perfon cry or beat his breast on any fuch occafion, I cannot bear him company; but am not a Democritus to laugh at his folly. I read of battles, and fields covered with slain; of cities destroyed by fword, famine, pestilence, and earthquke; I do not thed a tear: I fuppofe it is, because they are the usual storms to which the human fpecies are expofed, proceeding froin the juft judgments of God, or the mistaken and falfe principles of rulers. I read of perfecutions, tortures, murders, maffacres; my compaffion for the fufferers is great, but my tears are ftopped by refentment and indignation against the contrivers and perpetrators of fuch horrid actions. But there are many things that bring tears into my eyes whether I will or not; and when I reflect, I am often at a lofs in fearching out the fecret fource from whence they flow. What makes me weep (for weep I do) when I read of virtue or innocence in diftrefs; of a good man helpless and forfaken, unmoved by the greatest infults and cruelties, or courageously fupporting himself against oppreflion in the article of death? I fuppofe it is, to fee vice triumphant, and virtue fo ill rewarded, in this life. May I judge by myfelf, I fhould imagine that few fincere Chriftians could read the fufferings of their Saviour, or Englishmen those of a Cranmer, Rid, ley, or Latimer, without tears; the firft dying to establish his religion, the laft to refcue it from corruption. When I read of Regulus returning to torment, and John of France to imprifonment, against the perfuafion of friends, to keep faith with their ene mies, I weep to think there is fcarcely another inftance of fuch exalted vir tue. Thofe, who often hear me read, know that my voice changes, and my eyes are full, when I meet with a generous and heroic faying, action, or character, efpecially of perfons whose example or command may influence mankind. I weep when I hear a Titus fay, that he had loft the day in |