monds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and other pre- | lay on the colouring of his cheek more smoothcious stones thus he innocently spent four ly. But I ask pardon; pray, Sir, proceed. hours each day, in contemplating their innocent little pastimes.

66

diately too, upon one condition." "One con- |
dition," 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."

any man.

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 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." She 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 a 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 a mouse by night, and a woman by day." Though the Prince was an excellent casuist, he was quite at a loss how to determine, but at last thought it most prudent to have recourse to a blue cat that had followed him from his own dominions, and frequently amused him with its conversation, and assisted him with its advice; in fact, this cat was no other than the faithful Princess Nanhoa herself, who had shared with him all his hardships in this disguise.

By her instructions he was determined in his choice, and returning to the old fairy, prudently observed, that as she must have been sensible he had married her "only for the sake of what she had," and not for her persona! qualifications, he thought it would for several reasons be most convenient, if she continued a woman by day and appeared a mouse by night.

The old fairy was a good deal mortified at her husband's want of gallantry, though she was reluctantly obliged to comply: the day was therefore spent in the most polite amusements, the gentlemen talked smut, the ladies laughed, and were angry. At last, the happy night

She

drew near, the blue cat still stuck by the side.
of its master, and even followed him to the
bridal apartment. Barbacela entered the cham-
ber, wearing a train fifteen yards long, supported
by porcupines, all over beset with jewels, which
served to render her more detestable.
was just stepping into bed to the Prince, for-
getting her promise, when he insisted upon
seeing her in the shape of a mouse. She had
promised, and no fairy can break her word;
wherefore, assuming the figure of the most
beautiful mouse in the world, she skipped and
played about with an infinity of amusement..
The Prince, in an agony of rapture, was de-
sirous of seeing his pretty play-fellow move a
slow dance about the floor to his own singing;
he began to sing, and the mouse immediately
to perform with the most perfect knowledge of
time, and the finest grace and greatest gravity
imaginable; it only began, for Nanhoa, who
had long waited for the opportunity, in the shape
of a cat, flew upon it instantly without re-
morse, and eating it up in the hundredth part
of a moment, broke the charm, and then re-
sumed her natural figure.

The Prince now found that he had all along
been under the power of enchantment, that his
passion for the white mouse was entirely ficti-
tious, and not the genuine complexion of
his soul; he now saw that his earnestness after
mice was an illiberal amusement, and much
more becoming a rat-catcher than a Prince.
All his meannesses now stared him in the face;
he begged the discreet Princess's pardon a hun-
dred times. The Princess very readily for-
gave him; and both returning to their palace in
Bonbobbin, lived very happily together, and
reigned many years with all that wisdom,
which, by the story, they appear to have been
possessed off; perfectly convinced by their
former adventures, that 66
they who place
their affections on trifles at first for amuse-
ment, will find those trifles at last become their
most serious concern," Adieu.

LETTER XLIX.

FROM LIEN CHI ALTANGI, TO FUM HOAM, FIRST
PRESIDENT OF THE CEREMONIAL ACADEMY
AT PEKIN IN CHINA.

Ask an Englishman what nation in the world enjoys most freedom, and he immediately answers, his own. Ask him in what that freedom principally consists, and he is instantly silent." This happy pre-eminence does not arise from the people's enjoying a larger share in legislation than elsewhere; for in this particular, several states in Europe excel them; nor does it arise from a greater exemption from taxes, for few countries pay more; it does not proceed from their being restrained by fewer laws, for no people are burdened with so many; nor does it particularly consist in the security

of their property, for property is pretty well secured in every polite state in Europe.

How then are the English more free (for more free they certainly are) than the people of any other country, or under any other form of government whatever? Their freedom consists in their enjoying all the advantages of democracy, with this superior prerogative borrowed from monarchy, that "the severity of their laws may be relaxed without endangering | the constitution.

In a monarchical state in which the constitution 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.

The law, in this case, like an indulgent parent, still keeps the rod, though the child is seldom corrected. Were those pardoned offences to rise into enormity, were they likely to obstruct the happiness of society, or endanger the state, it is then that justice would resume her terrors, and punish those faults she had so overlooked with indulgence. It is to this ductility of the laws, that an Englishman owes the freedom he enjoys superior to others in a more popular government: every step, therefore, the constitution takes towards a democratic form, every diminution of the legal authority is, in fact, a diminution of the subject's freedom; but every attempt to render the government more popular, not only impairs natural liberty, but even will at last dissolve the political constitution.

Every popular government seems calculated to last only for a time; it grows rigid with age, new laws are multiplying, and the old continue in force; the subjects are oppressed, burdened with a multiplicity of legal injunctions; there are none from whom to expect redress, and nothing but a strong convulsion in the state can vindicate them into former liberty; thus, the people of Rome, a few great ones excepted, found more real freedom under their emperors, though tyrants, than they had experienced in the old age of the commonwealth, in which their laws were become numerous and painful, in which new laws were every day enacting, and the old ones executed with rigour. They even refused to be reinstated in their former prerogatives, upon an offer made them to this purpose; for they actually found emperors the only means of softening the rigours of their constitution.

The constitution of England is at present possessed of the strength of its native oak, and the flexibility of the bending tamarisk; but should the people at any time with a mistaken zeal, pant after an imaginary freedom, and fancy that abridging monarchy was increasing their privileges, they would be very much mistaken, since every jewel plucked from the crown of majesty, would only be made use of as a bribe to corruption; it might enrich the few who shared it among them, but would in fact impoverish the public.

As the Roman senators, by slow and imperceptible degrees, became masters of the people, yet still flattered them with a show of freedom, There is scarcely an Englishman who does while themselves only were free; so it is not almost every day of his life offend with im- possible for a body of men, while they punity against some express law, and for stand up for privileges to grow into an which, in a certain conjuncture of circumstan- exuberance of power themselves, and the pubces, he would not receive punishment. Gam-lic become actually dependent, while some of ing houses, preaching at prohibited places, as- its individuals only govern. sembled crowds, nocturnal amusements, public If then, my friend, there should in this counshows, and a hundred other instances, are for- try ever be on the throne a king, who through bidden and frequented. These prohibitions are good-nature or age, should give up the smalluseful; though it be prudent in their magis- est part of his prerogative to the people; if trates, and happy for the people, that they are there should come a minister of merit and po. not enforced, and none but the venal or mer-pularity-but I have room for no cenary attempt to enforce them. Adieu.

more.

LETTER L.

TO THE SAME.

As I was yesterday seated at breakfast, over a pensive dish of tea, my meditations were interrupted by my old friend and companion, who introduced a stranger, dressed pretty much like himself. The gentleman made several apologies for his visit, begged of me to impute his intrusion to the sincerity of his respect, and the warmth of his curiosity.

As I am very suspicious of my company when I find them very civil without any apparent reason, I answered the stranger's caresses at first with reserve; which my friend perceiving, instantly let me into my visitant's trade and character, asking Mr Fudge, whether he had lately published any thing new? I now conjectured that my guest was no other than a bookseller, and his answer confirmed my suspicions.

Item, the young clergyman's art of placing patches regularly, with a dissertation on the different manners of smiling without distorting the face. Item, the whole art of love made perfectly easy, by a broker of 'Change Alley. Item, the proper manner of cutting black-lead pencils, and making crayons; by the Right Hon. the Earl of ***. Item, the muster-master-general, or the review of reviews-" Sir, cried I, interrupting him, my curiosity, with regard to title-pages, is satisfied; I should be glad to see some longer manuscript, a history or an epic poem.

"Bless me," cries the man of industry, "now you speak of an epic poem, you shall see an excellent farce. Here it is; dip into it where you will, it will be found replete with true modern humour. Strokes, Sir; it is filled with strokes of wit and satire in every line." Do you call these dashes of the pen strokes, replied I, for I must confess I can see no other? "And pray, Sir," returned be, "what do you call them? Do you see any thing good now-a-days, that is not filled with "Excuse me, Sir," says he, "it is not the strokes-and dashes?-Sir, a well-placed dash season; books have their time as well as cu- makes half the wit of our writers of modern cumbers. I would no more bring out a new humour. I bought a piece last season that work in summer, than I would sell pork in the had no other merit upon earth than nine hundog-days. Nothing in my way goes off in sum-dred and ninety-five breaks, seventy-two ha mer, except very light goods indeed. A re-ha's, three good things, and a garter. And yet view, a magazine, or a sessions' paper, may it played off, and bounced, and cracked, and amuse a summer reader; but all our stock of made more sport than a fire-work." I fancy, value we reserve for a spring and winter then, Sir, you were a considerable gainer? “It trade. I must confess, Sir, says I, a curi- must be owned the piece did pay; but, upon osity to know what you call a valuable stock, the whole, I cannot much boast of last winter's which can only bear a winter perusal. "Sir," success: I gained by two murders; but then I replied the bookseller, "it is not my way to lost by an ill-timed charity sermon. I was a cry up my own goods; but, without exaggera- considerable sufferer by my Direct Road to an tion, I will venture to show with any of the Estate, but the Infernal Guide brought me up trade my books at least have the peculiar ad- again. Ah, Sir, that was a piece touched off vantage of being always new; and it is my by the hand of a master; filled with good way to clear off my old to the trunk-makers things from one end to the other. The author I have ten new title-pages now had nothing but the jest in view; no dull about me, which only want books to be added moral lurking beneath, nor ill-natured satire to to make them the finest things in nature. sour the reader's good-humour; he wisely conOthers may pretend to direct the vulgar: I sidered, that moral and humour at the same always let the vulgar direct me; wherever po- time were quite overdoing the business." To pular clamour arises, I always echo the mil- what purpose was the book then published? cried lion. For instance, should the people in ge- I. "Sir, the book was published in order to neral say, that such a man is a rogue, I instant- be sold; and no book sold better, except the ly give orders to set him down in print a vil- criticisms upon it, which came out soon after: lain; thus every man buys the book, not to learn of all kinds of writings, that goes off best at new sentiments, but to have the pleasure of see- present; and I generally fasten a criticism upon ing his own reflected." But, Sir, interrupted I, every selling book that is published. you speak as if you yourself wrote the books you published; may I be so bold as to ask a sight of some of those intended publications which are shortly to surprise the world? "As to that, Sir," replied the talkative bookseller, "I only draw out the plans myself; and though I am very cautious of communicating them to any, yet, as in the end I have a favour to ask, you shall see a few of them. Here, Sir, here they are; diamonds of the first water, I assure you. Imprimis, a translation of several medical precepts for the use of such physicians as do not understand Latin.

every season.

"I once had an author who never left the least opening for the critics! close was the word, always very right, and very dull, ever on the safe side of an argument; yet with all his qualifications, incapable of coming into favour.

This idea is well ridiculed by our late excellent poet, Cowper, who in his Table Talk, has given the following admirable description of

"A Prologue, interdash'd with many a stroke,
An art contrived to advertise a joke,
So that the jest is clearly to be seen,
Not in the words-but in the gap between."

LETTER LI.

TO THE SAME.

England, those who carry much upon their clothes, are remarked for having but little in their pockets. A tawdry outside is regarded as a badge of poverty; and those who can sit at home, and gloat over their thousands in silent satisfaction, are generally found to do it in plain clothes.

I soon perceived that his bent was for criticism; and, as he was good for nothing else, supplied him with pens and paper, and planted him at the beginning of every month as a censor on the works of others. In short, I found him a treasure; no merit could escape him: but In all other countries, my dear Fum Hoam, what is most remarkable of all, he ever wrote the rich are distinguished by their dress. In best and bitterest when drunk." But are there Persia, China, and most parts of Europe, not some works, interrupted I, that, from the those who are possessed of much gold or silvery manner of their composition, must be ex-ver, put some of it upon their clothes; but in empt from criticism; particularly such as profess to disregard its laws? "There is no work whatsoever but he can criticise," replied the bookseller; "even though you wrote in Chinese, he would have a pluck at you. Suppose you should take it into your head to publish a book, let it be a volume of Chinese letters, for instance; write how you will, he This diversity of thinking from the rest of shall show the world you could have written the world which prevails here, I was at first at better. Should you, with the most local ex- a loss to account for; but am since informed, actness, stick to the manners and customs of that it was introduced by an intercourse bethe country from whence you come; should tween them and their neighbours the French, you confine yourself to the narrow limits of who, whenever they came, in order to pay Eastern knowledge, and be perfectly simple, these islanders a visit, were generally very well and perfectly natural, he has then the strong-dressed, and very poor, daubed with lace, but est reason to exclaim. He may with a sneer send you back to China for readers. He may observe, that after the first or second letter, the iteration of the same simplicity is insupportably tedious: but the worst of all is, the public in such a case will anticipate his censures, and leave you, with all your uninstructive simplicity, to be mauled at discretion."

all the gilding on the outside. By this means, laced clothes have been brought so much into contempt, that at present even their mandarines are ashamed of finery.

nose.

I must own myself a convert to English simplicity; I am no more for ostentation of wealth than of learning. The person who in company should pretend to be wiser than others, Yes, cried I, but in order to avoid his in- I am apt to regard as illiterate and ill bred; dignation, and what I should fear more, that of the person whose clothes are extremely fine, I the public, I would, in such a case, write with am too apt to consider as not being possessed all the knowledge I was master of. As I am of any superiority of fortune, but resembling not possessed of much learning, at least I would those Indians who are found to wear all the not suppress what little I had; nor would I gold they have in the world, in a bob at the appear more stupid than nature has made me. "Here, then," cries the bookseller, "we should have you entirely in our power: unnatural, uneastern; quite out of character; erroneously sensible, would be the whole cry: Sir, we should then hunt you down like a rat." Head of my father! said I, sure there are but two ways; the door must either be shut, or it must be open. It must either be natural or unnatural. "Be what you will, we shall criticise you," returned the bookseller," and prove you a dunce in spite of your teeth. But, Sir, it is time that I should come to business. I have just now in the press a history of China; and if you will but put your name to it as the author, I shall repay the obligation with gratitude. What, Sir, replied I, put my name to a work which I have not written! Never, while I retain a proper respect for the public and myself. The bluntness of my reply quite abated the ardour of the bookseller's conversation; and after about half an hour's disagreeable reserve, he, with some ceremony, took his leave, and withdrew. Adieu.

I was lately introduced into a company of the best dressed men I have seen since my arrival. Upon entering the room, I was struck with awe at the grandeur of the different dresses. That personage, thought I, in blue and gold must be some emperor's son; that in green and silver, a prince of the blood: he in embroidered scarlet, a prime minister; all firstrate noblemen, I suppose, and well-looking noblemen too. I sat for some time with that uneasiness which conscious inferiority produces in the ingenuous mind, all attention to their discourse. However, I found their conversation more vulgar than I could have expected from personages of such distinction; if these, thought I to myself, be princes, they are the most stupid princes I have ever conversed with: yet still I continued to venerate their dress! for dress has a kind of mechanical influence on the mind.

My friend in black, indeed, did not behave with the same deference, but contradicted the finest of them all in the most peremptory tones of contempt. But I had scarcely time to wonder at the imprudence of his conduct, when I found occasion to be equally surprised at the