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now but of two sects of philosophers the world that have endeavoured to cate that fortitude is but an imaginary e-I mean the followers of Confucius, those who profess the doctrines of ist. All other sects teach pride under tunes; they alone teach humility. t, says our Chinese philosopher, not surely follows the day, than groans tears grow out of pain; when mis1nes therefore oppress, when tyrants zen, it is our interest, it is our duty, ly even to dissipation for support, kredress from friendship, or from at best of friends who loved us into

Filosophers, my son, have long demed against the passions, as being the rce of all our miseries: they are the ce of all our misfortunes, I own; but Ley are the source of our pleasures too; every endeavour of our lives, and all stitutions of philosophy, should tend this, not to dissemble an absence of an, but to repel those which lead to by those which direct to virtue. The soul may be compared to a field of , where two armies are ready every ent to encounter: not a single vice im has a more powerful opponent, and ne virtue but may be overborne by a bination of vices. Reason guides the s of either host; nor can it subdue one on but by the assistance of another. as a bark on every side beset with ras, enjoys a state of rest, so does the , when influenced by a just equipoise e passions, enjoy tranquillity. I have used such means as my little ne would admit to procure your freea. I have lately written to the governor Argun to pay your ransom, though at expense of all the wealth I brought me from China. If we become poor, shall at least have the pleasure of bearpoverty together; for what is fatigue famine, when weighed against friendip and freedom?-Adieu.

LETTER XLVIII. From Lien Chi Altangi to, Merchant in Amsterdam.

APPENING some days ago to call at a unter's to amuse myself in examining

some pictures (I had no design to buy), it surprised me to see a young prince in the working room, dressed in a painter's apron, and assiduously learning the trade. We instantly remembered to have seen each other; and, after the usual compliments, I stood by while he continued to paint on. As everything done by the rich is praised; as princes here, as well as in China, are never without followers; three or four persons, who had the appearance of gentlemen, were placed behind to comfort and applaud him at every stroke. Need I tell, that it struck me with very disagreeable sensations, to see a youth, who by his station in life had it in his power to be useful to thousands, thus letting his mind run to waste upon canvas, and at the same time fancying himself improving in taste, and filling his rank with proper decorum?

As seeing an error and attempting to redress it are only one and the same with me, I took occasion, upon his lordship's desiring my opinion of a Chinese scroll, intended for the frame of a picture, to assure him, that a mandarin of China thought a minute acquaintance with such mechanical trifles below his dignity.

This reply raised the indignation of some, and the contempt of others: I could hear the names of Vandal, Goth, taste, polite arts, delicacy, and fire, repeated in tones of ridicule or resentment. But considering that it was in vain to argue against people who had so much to say, without contradicting them, I begged leave to repeat a fairy tale. This request redoubled their laughter; but, not easily abashed at the raillery of boys, I persisted, observing, that it would set the absurdity of placing our affections upon trifles in the strongest point of view; and adding, that it was hoped the moral would compensate for its stupidity. "For Heaven's sake," cried the great man, washing his brush in water, "let us have no morality at present; if we must have a story, let it be without any moral. I pretended not to hear; and, while he handled the brush, proceeded as follows::

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"In the kingdom of Bonbobbin, which, by the Chinese annals, appears to have flourished twenty thousand years ago,

there reigned a prince endowed with every accomplishment which generally distinguishes the sons of kings. His beauty was brighter than the sun. The sun, to which he was nearly related, would sometimes stop his course, in order to look down and admire him.

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"His mind was not less perfect than his body he knew all things, without having ever read: philosophers, poets, and historians submitted their works to his decision; and so penetrating was he, that he could tell you the merit of a book by looking on the cover. He made epic poems, tragedies, and pastorals with surprising facility; song, epigram, or rebus, was all one to him, though it was observed he could never finish an acrostic. In short, the fairy who presided at his birth had endowed him with almost every perfection, or, what was just the same, his subjects were ready to acknowledge he possessed them all; and, for his own part, he knew nothing to the contrary. A prince so accomplished received a name suitable to his merit; and he was called Bonbennin bonbobbin-bonbobbinet,which signifies, Enlightener of the Sun.

"As he was very powerful, and yet unmarried, all the neighbouring kings earnestly sought his alliance. Each sent his daughter, dressed out in the most magnificent manner, and with the most sumptuous retinue imaginable, in order to allure the prince; so that at one time there were seen at his court not less than seven hundred foreign princesses, of exquisite sentiment and beauty, each alone sufficient to make seven hundred ordinary men happy.

"Distracted in such a variety, the generous Bonbennin, had he not been obliged, by the laws of the empire to make choice of one, would very willingly have married them all, for none understood gallantry better. He spent numberless hours of solicitude in endeavouring to determine whom he should choose one lady was possessed of every perfection, but he disliked her eyebrows; another was brighter than the morning star, but he disapproved her fong-whang; a third did not lay white enough on her cheek; and a fourth did not sufficiently blacken her nails. At

last, after numberless disappointment the one side and the other, he made c of the incomparable Nanhoa, Quee the Scarlet Dragons.

“The preparations for the royal tials, or the envy of the disappoi ladies, need no description; both the and the other were as great as they c be the beautiful princess was condu amidst admiring multitudes to the r couch, where, after being divested of e encumbering ornament, she was pla in expectance of the youthful bridegre who did not keep her long in expectat He came more cheerful than the morn and printing on her lips a burning 1 the attendants took this as a proper sij to withdraw.

"Perhaps I ought to have mentic in the beginning that, among several o qualifications, the prince was fond of lecting and breeding mice, which beir harmless pastime, none of his counsel thought proper to dissuade him from: therefore kept a great variety of th pretty little animals, in the most beaut: cages, enriched with diamonds, rubi emeralds, pearls, and other precious ston thus he innocently spent four hours ea day in contemplating their innocent lit pastimes.

"But to proceed: the prince and pri cess were now in bed; one with all t love and expectation, the other with the modesty and fear, which is natural suppose; both willing, yet afraid to begi when the prince, happening to look t wards the outside of the bed, perceiva one of the most beautiful animals in t world, a white mouse with green eye playing about the floor, and performing hundred pretty tricks. He was alread master of blue mice, red mice, and eve white mice with yellow eyes; but white mouse with green eyes was what h had long endeavoured to possess: where fore, leaping from bed with the utmo impatience and agility, the youthful prin attempted to seize the little charmer but it was fled in a moment; for, a'as the mouse was sent by a discontente princess, and was itself a fairy.

"It is impossible to describe the aga of the prince upon this occasion;

ht round and round every part of the n; even the bed where the princess was not exempt from the inquiry: he ei the princess on one side and the , stripped her quite naked, but no he was to be found; the princess herwas kind enough to assist, but still to pose.

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Alas!' cried the young prince in ay, how unhappy am I to be thus pointed! never, sure, was so beautianimal seen: I would give half my om, and my princess, to him that ... find it.' The princess, though not pleased with the latter part of his Endeavoured to comfort him as well the could she let him know that he hundred mice already, which to be at least sufficient to satisfy any her like him. Though none of had green eyes, yet he should learn Heaven that they had eyes. She him for she was a profound moralist) curable evils must be borne, and seless lamentations were vain, and man was born to misfortunes; she e entreated him to return to bed, and would endeavour to lull him on her on to repose: but still the prince conted inconsolable; and regarding her 3 stern air, for which his family was markable, he vowed never to sleep in royal palace, or indulge himself in the xent pleasures of matrimony, till he had Ithe white mouse with the green eyes. *Prythee, Colonel Leech," cried his hip, interrupting me, "how do you that nose? don't you think there is thing of the manner of Rembrandt -A prince in all this agony for a e mouse, oh, ridiculous!-Don't you k, Major Vampyre, that eyebrow stipvery prettily?---But pray, what are green eyes to the purpose, except to se children?-I would give a thouand guineas to lay on the colouring of s cheek more smoothly. But I ask alon; pray, sir, proceed."

LETTER XLIX.

To the same.

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KINGS," continued I, "at that time *re different from what they are now; ey then never engaged their word for

anything which they did not rigorously intend to perform. This was the case of Bonbennin, who continued all night to lament his misfortunes to the princess, who echoed groan for groan. When morning came, he published an edict, offering half his kingdom, and his princess, to the person who should catch and bring him the white mouse with the green eyes.

"The edict was scarcely published, when all the traps in the kingdom were baited with cheese; numberless mice were taken and destroyed; but still the muchwished-for mouse was not among the number. The privy council was assembled more than once to give their advice; but all their deliberations came to nothing, even though there were two complete vermin-killers and three professed rat-catchers of the number. Frequent addresses, as is usual on extraordinary occasions, were sent from all parts of the empire; but though these promised well, though in them he received an assurance that his faithful subjects would assist in his search with their lives and fortunes, yet, with all their loyalty, they failed when the time came that the mouse was to be caught.

"The prince, therefore, was resolved to go himself in search, determined never to lie two nights in one place, till he had found what he sought for. Thus, quitting his palace without attendants, he set out upon his journey, and travelled through many a desert, and crossed many a river, over high hills, and down long vales, still restless, still inquiring wherever he came; but no white mouse was to be found.

"As one day, fatigued with his journey, he was shading himself from the heat of the mid-day sun, under the arching branches of a banana-tree, meditating on the object of his pursuit, he perceived an old woman, hideously deformed, approaching him; by her stoop, and the wrinkles of her visage, she seemed at least five hundred years old; and the spotted toad was not more freckled than was her skin. 'Ah! Prince Bonbenninbonbobbin-bonbobbinet,' cried the creature, 'what has led you so many thousand miles from your own kingdom? what is it

you look for? and what induces you to travel into the kingdom of the Emmets?' The prince, who was excessively complaisant, told her the whole story three times over; for she was hard of hearing. 'Well,' says the old fairy, for such she was, I promise to put you in possession of the white mouse with green eyes, and that immediately too, upon one condition.''One condition,' cried the prince in a rapture; 'name a thousand I shall undergo them all with pleasure. Nay,' interrupted the old fairy, 'I ask but one, and that not very mortifying neither; it is only that you instantly consent to marry me.'

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"It is impossible to express the prince's confusion at this demand; he loved the mouse, but he detested the bride: he hesitated; he desired time to think upon the proposal; he would have been glad to consult his friends on such an occasion. 'Nay, nay,' cried the odious fairy, if you demur, I retract my promise; I do not desire to force my favours on any man. Here, you my attendants,' cried she, stamping with her foot, 'let my machine be driven up; Barbacela, Queen of Emmets, is not used to contemptuous treatment.' had no sooner spoken than her fiery chariot appeared in the air, drawn by two snails; and she was just going to step in, when the prince reflected, that now or never was the time to be possessed of the white mouse; and quite forgetting his lawful princess Nanhoa, falling on his knees, he implored forgiveness for having rashly rejected so much beauty. This well-timed compliment instantly appeased the angry fairy. She affected a hideous leer of approbation, and taking the young prince by the hand, conducted him to a neighbouring church, where they were married together in a moment. As soon as the ceremony was performed, the prince, who was to the last degree desirous of seeing his favourite mouse, reminded the bride of her promise. To confess å truth, my prince,' cried she, ‘I myself am that very white mouse you saw on your wedding-night in the royal apartment. I now, therefore, give you the choice, whether you would have me a mouse by day and a woman by night, or

mouse by night and a woman by day?'

Though the prince was an excellent cas he was quite at a loss how to determi but at last thought it most prudent to } recourse to a blue cat that had follo him from his own dominions, and quently amused him with its conversat and assisted him with its advice: in 1 this cat was no other than the fait princess Nanhoa herself, who had shi with him all his hardships in this disgt 'By her instructions he was determi in his choice, and returning to the old fa prudently observed, that as she must been sensible he had married her only the sake of what she had,' and not her personal qualifications, he thoug would, for several reasons, be most venient if she continued a woman by and appeared a mouse by night.

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"The old fairy was a good deal morti at her husband's want of gallantry, tho she was reluctantly obliged to comp the day was therefore spent in the n polite amusements; the gentlemen tal smut, the ladies laughed, and were ang At last the happy night drew near, blue cat still stuck by the side of its mast and even followed him to the bridal ap ment. Barbacela entered the chamb wearing a train fifteen yards long, st ported by porcupines, and all over be with jewels, which served to render more detestable. She was just steppi into bed to the prince, forgetting her pr mise, when he insisted upon seeing her the shape of a mouse. She had promis and no fairy can break her word; wher fore, assuming the figure of the me beautiful mouse in the world, she skipp and played about with an infinity of amus ment. The prince, in an agony of rapi was desirous of seeing his pretty playfel move a slow dance about the floor to 1. own singing; he began to sing, and th mouse immediately to perform with th most perfect knowledge of time, and th finest grace and greatest gravity imag able. It only began; for Nanhoa, w had long waited for the opportunity in "*/ shape of a cat, flew upon it instantly wit out remorse, and eating it up in the dredth part of a moment, broke the charm and then resumed her natural figure.

"The prince now found that he had

ng been under the power of enchantent, that his passion for the white mouse is entirely fictitious, and not the genuine mplexion of his soul; he now saw that $ earnestness after mice was an illiberal sement, and much more becoming a catcher than a prince. All his meansses now stared him in the face; he begged escreet princess's pardon a hundred es The princess very readily forgave im: and both returning to their palace bobbin, lived very happily together, reigned many years, with all that which, by the story, they appear have been possessed of; perfectly conced by their former adventures, that who place their affections on trifles for amusement, will find those trifles st become their most serious concern.' -Adie

LETTER L.

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An Englishman what nation in the enjoys most freedom, and he imtely answers, his own. Ask him at that freedom principally consists, be is instantly silent. This happy emnence does not arise from the Ple's enjoying a larger share in legislathan elsewhere, for in this particular, al states in Europe excel them; nor sit arise from a greater exemption from for few countries pay more; it does proceed from their being restrained by r laws, for no people are burdened so many; nor does it particularly st in the security of their property, property is pretty well secured in every te state in Europe.

How, then, are the English more freemore free they certainly are-than the le of any other country, or under other form of government whatever? eir freedom consists in their enjoying the advantages of democracy, with is superior prerogative borrowed from archy, that the severity of their laws ay be relaxed without endangering the stitution.

In a monarchical state, in which the nstitution is strongest, the laws may be

relaxed without danger; for though the people should be unanimous in the breach of any one in particular, yet still there is an effective power superior to the people, capable of enforcing obedience, whenever it may be proper to inculcate the law either towards the support or welfare of the community.

But in all those governments where laws derive their sanction from the people alone, transgressions cannot be overlooked without bringing the constitution into danger. They who transgress the law in such a case are those who prescribe it, by which means it loses not only its influence, but its sanction. In every republic the laws must be strong, because the constitution is feeble; they must resemble an Asiatic husband, who is justly jealous, because he knows himself impotent. Thus, in Holland, Switzerland, and Genoa, new laws are not frequently enacted, but the old ones are observed with unremitting severity. In such republics, therefore, the people are slaves to laws of their own making, little less than in unmixed monarchies, where they are slaves to the will of one subject to frailties like themselves.

In England, from a variety of happy accidents, their constitution is just strong enough, or, if you will, monarchical enough, to permit a relaxation of the severity of laws, and yet those laws still to remain sufficiently strong to govern the people. This is the most perfect state of civil liberty of which we can form any idea: here we see a greater number of laws than in any other country, while the people at the same time obey only such as are immediately conducive to the interests of society; several are unnoticed, many unknown; some kept to be revived and enforced upon proper occasions; others left to grow obsolete, even without the necessity of abrogation.

¦ There is scarcely an Englishman who does not almost every day of his life offend with impunity against some express law, and for which, in a certain conjuncture of circumstances, he would not receive punishment. Gaming-houses, preaching at prohibited places, assembled crowds, nocturnal amusements, public shows, and a

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