the nakedness of the spacious walls, whilft the gloominefs of the atmosphere gives a deeper fhade to the gigantic figures that feem to be finking into the embraces of death.

Warily entering the endless apartments half shut up, the fleeting fhadow of the penfive wanderer reflected in long glaffes, that vainly gleamed in every direction, flackened the nerves without apalling the heart; though lafcivious pictures, in which grace varnishes voluptuoufnefs, no longer feductive strike continually home to the bofom the melancholy moral that anticipates the frozen leffon of experience. The very air is chill, feeming to clog the breath, and the wafting dampness of deftruction appears to be stealing into the vaft pile on every fide.

The oppreffed heart feeks for relief in the garden, but even there the fame images glide along the wide neglected walks; all is fearfully ftill, and if a little rill creeping through the gathering mofs down the cafcade over which it used to rush, bring to mind the defcription of the grand water works, it is only to excite a languid fmile at the futile attempt to equal nature.

Lo! this was the palace of the great king! The abode of magnificence! Who has broken the charm? Why does it now inspire only pity? Why; because nature fmiling around prefents to the imagination materials to build farms and hofpitable manfions, where without raifing idle admiration, that gladnefs will reign which opens the heart to benevolence, and that industry which renders innocent pleasure fweet.

Weeping, fcarcely confcious that I weep-O France! over the veftiges of thy former oppreffion; which feperating man from man with a fence of iron, sophisticated all, and made many completely wretched; I tremble left, I should meet fome unfortunate being fleeing from the defpotifm of licentious freedom, hearing the fnap of the guillotine at his heels; merely because he was once noble, or has afforded an afylum to those whofe only crime is their name, and if my pen almost bound

with eagerness to record the day that levelled the Baftile with the dust, making the towers of defpair tremble to their base; the recollection that ftill the abbey is appropriated to hold the victims of revenge and fufpicion palfies the hand that would fain do justice to the affault which tumbled into heaps of ruins walls that feemed to mock the refiftless force of time. Down fell the temple of defpotifm, but defpotifm has not been buried in its ruins! Unhappy country! when will thy children cease to tear thy bofom? When will a change of opinion, producing a change of morals, render thee truly free? When will truth give life to real magnanimity, and juftice place equality on a ftable feat? When will thy fons truft because they deferve to be trusted; and private virtue become the guarantee of patriotism ? Ah! when will thy government become the most perfect, because thy citizens are the most virtuous !

ON THE INFLUENCE OF HABIT,

IN THE

FORMATION OF THE HUMAN CHARACTER.

ABIT is a principle of univerfal influence. It is

by repeated thoughts, affections, and ftates of mind. As ideas, which have been once or repeatedly intro. duced, recur by means of affociation with other ideas, fo entire states of mind, confifting of a great number of ideas in miniature, united into one general internal feeling, recur with more frequency and permanency by means of various affociations. Thus the mental habits are formed, increased, and perpetuated. The period from infancy to maturity may be confidered as that in which the mental powers are forming. From maturity to that period in which the human frame attains its utmoft ftrength and ftability, they may be confidered as VOL. IV. fixing

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fixing or attaining their utmost force and permanence. The leading features of the character will then be ftrongly marked, and whether the caft be either virtuous or vicious, it will be wrought into the whole mental conftitution. Vicious habits will be grown fo obftinate, that no material fudden change can be effected in them, except indeed by fome violent effort which fhocks and debilitates the whole frame. Virtuous ones will have acquired their utmost stability and vigour, the enthufialm of which is gradually chaftened, and their fenfuality purified by the grave meditations of declining age.

We fhall firft confider the influence of parental inftruction and example upon the minds of children. It is a general fact, (though not without fome ftriking exceptions) that those who have been bleffed with pious and virtuous parents, experience the good effects of it through the whole courfe of their lives. The example and inftructions of the parents being daily and perpetually exhibited to the children during their earliest years, leave fuch an indelible impreffion on their minds as can never afterwards be effaced. That affectionate concern and affiduous attention which characterize the con. duct of virtuous parents toward their children, begets a gratitude and ardour of affection in their young minds which can scarce ever forfake them. Toward all perfons and all objects the genial affection is extended in different degrees, and with different modulations, according to the relations of perfons and the nature of objects. Filial affection, when cultivated in its due ardour and purity, will ascend by a most easy and natural tranfition to the univerfal parent! It will be extended toward relations, acquaintance, and even strangers, with a fincerity and delicacy which diftinguish an affectionate mind. It will furvey the brute creation with an humane benevolence, which can be better conceived than expreffed. Even inanimate objects will fometimes attract the overflowings of affection, and become the means of exciting gratitude and admiration, and of fulfilling the defigns

defigns of kindness and benevolence, which are fometimes transferred to the objects themselves.

Such is the influence of parental example and inftruction (efpecially where the mutual attachment has been great), that the very fhades of character and of difpofition in parents are often obfervable in their children. Affectionate parents, provided their affection does not degenerate into a foolish fondness on the one hand, nor into an unfeasonable aufterity on the other, have generally affectionate children. But the children of thofe who are deficient in affection are generally no lefs retmarkable for a cold, unfeeling hardiness of temper. Affection, and the want of it, being the two great charac teristics which diftinguifh good and bad parents, are of the most general influence in forming correfpondent difpofitions in their children.

But there are feveral other moral qualities which probably, in proportion to the degree of attachment between parents and their children, have a powerful influence in forming their characters. The love of money, in particular, as it has often fo powerful an effect on the minds of individuals, fo it is often entailed on their defcendants. Sometimes, indeed, the real or fufpected avarice of the parent may have a contrary effect upon the fon, impelling him, through prejudice and difguft, into the contrary extreme of prodigality. But where there is any confiderable degree of reverence and affection (the contrary of which may be a ftill more radical evil), the immoral taint can fcarcely avoid extending its unamiable influence over the young and tender mind. Avarice, indeed, is very difcordant with the generous ardour of youth, and therefore it not unfrequently gives rife to a prejudice and coldness of affection toward the parent, which terminates in fome oppofite vice. Originating in the confiderate care and anxiety of advancing age, and being often augmented by increafing gain, and apprehenfion of lofs, it is afterwards inculcated by example and precept upon the mind. As foon as young

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the

the intellect can comprehend the dull doctrine, and the generous fpirit fubmits to its reftraints, it is induftriously inftilled! Enfamples of the fordid spirit are daily exhibited; the leffons of avarice, under the more decent garb of prudence, are perpetually inculcated; till at length, to gain, and to keep, become the objects towards which the mind and the affections are continually directed. Thus the generous eniotions to which they are opposed are almoft overwhelmed, and gradually difappear!

Parents generally impart a confiderable degree of their own peculiar genius and difpofition to the minds of their children. A man of fcientific and enlarged mind, who is at the fame time an affectionate and affiduous parent or inftructor, fows the feeds of fcience and refinement in their young minds. This he does, not only by expressly affuming the office of a teacher, but by the ufual turn of his converfation, in which, accommodating himfelf to their respective capacities, he endeavours with an engaging manner to combine entertainment and useful inftruction. The knowledge which is imparted in this way frequently makes the deepeft and beft impreffion; being often a feasonable gratification of youthful curio. fity delivered with a freedom from the stiffness and aufterity of obligation.

The importance of early connections is well known. The characters of feniors among relatives, muft of course have, in a degree, a fimilar influence on the minds of young perfons with that of their parents. But it is probable that their younger relations and acqaintance, with whom they affociate as companions, may influence their difpofitions ftill more. Where there are strong attach ments of long continuance, there is almoft univerfally a refemblance in difpofition and manners. They are con tinually entering into each other's views, wishes, and diflikes; engaging in fome purfuits about which they are fimilarly affected. The participation of each other's feelings, fo far as they are innocent, have a very falutary influence by producing that mutual good humour and af fection,