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FOR THE MONTHLY VISITOR.

Αλλ ̓ εἰ θανεῖν δεῖ, καπτθανούμε θ ̓ εὐγενῶς·
Ἤζῶνπες, αἶνον τὸν πάρος γ' εὖ σώσομεν.

EURIP. CYCLOPS. 200.

N taking a retrofpective view of the ample field of

the palm of wisdom, in political inftitutions, with the immortal Solon. By adhering to his laws, Athens fhone forth the glory of the world, by abufing and deviating from them, fhe fell from her towering height, and funk into powerless infignificance. He had learnt from a diligent perufal of the human mind, that neutrality, in public commotions, rarely refults from principle, but generally arifes from the contractedness of self-intereft, or the meannefs of cowardice. His laws therefore declared men of fuch conduct infamous (7.) And here the penetration of the legislator is confirmed by the fuffrage of a modern philofopher, who ftands unrivalled in his knowledge of the fecret workings of the heart.

If then to waver in uncertainty be not confiftent with an honeft and ingenuous fpirit, how much lefs is it compatible with that enthusiasm of patriotic fondness, which the univerfal voice has declared to be the nobleft paffion of the foul. Nor is indifference at fuch a feafon more difingenuous than it is abfurd. In feeking to evade dangers, lays fnares for its own destruction. It counteracts the very purposes which it is defirous to accomplish.

Unanimity, on the contrary, refembles the concentration of the rays of heat into one focus; they glow; they burn but let them feparate and difperfe, they play harmless and inefficient. The laurels won at Marathon, and the blafted hopes of the proud Perfian, are an eternal testimony that if union nerve the arm of an

VOL. IV.

* Lavater.

E

infulted

infulted nation, it needs not be dismayed at the immenfity of a hoft.

Our

In the prefent critical fituation of this island, therefore, we have no certain ground of fecurity, except the whole nation ftand forward as one man. enemy, trembling at her own innumerable armies, is refolved to pour them forth upon us, like a torrent; indifferent whether they bear down every thing in their defolating courfe, or are themselves fwallowed up by the infatiable ocean. She is well aware that thofe men, who have been fo long habituated to plunder and excess, will not fubmit to fink into retired privacy, and earn their fcanty pittance by induftrious honefty. England, therefore, muft either devote them to deftruction, or fall a difhonoured victim to their rapacious phrenzy.But Britons have ever ftood confpicuous for their characteristic greatnefs, and generous energy of foul. The Amor Patriæ has ever warmed their breafts with its pureft fires, and they know that it is fuperior to, and comprehends in itself, every duty of prudence and morality. And while men expofe themfelves to danger in defence of their country, the felf-complacence which their own hearts afford, muft amply compenfate their Jabours. The guardian care, the filial piety, the affectionate tenderness, which glow on fuch occafions, bind more ftrictly "the fond charities of father, son, and hufband." Here the foul expands and rifes above the common level of humanity. Life, without thefe endearments, is, at beft, an unwelcome burthen; and who would not rather hazard that fafety, which is undefirable, with the profpect of retaining all that rivets his affections to earth, than behold, in daftardly inaction, all that is moft dear, torn from his arms, and led with himfelf into loathed captivity? Rather let all the fons of Britain nobly perith! Thus we fhould adorn the hiftoric page, do honour to our country, and draw forth the tear of pitying admiration even from our conquerors.

But thould we fall tamely beneath the tyrannic fword,

or

or skulk in ignoble fubjection, all that once was fweet will turn to bitterness, we fhall difgrace our illustrious nation, become bye-words for infamy, and fubjects for "the hand of fcorn to point the flow unmoving finger at.”—If then this duty is at all times fo incumbent, how much more are we appealed to for exertion against an enemy, whom no ties, human or divine, can restrain from their career of iniquity; who, not contented with plundering men of all earthly enjoyments, feck to rob them of that ceffation from inquietude, and that eternity of blifs, which are the staffs of hope, whereon the woeworn pilgrim fupports himself through this world's dreary journey? The prefent is no ordinary occafion, it therefore calls for and juftifies uncommon measures and extraordinary exertions. In arts, Oxford has long been emulous of Athenian fame, let her, on the prefent emergency, when the very foundations of religion are attempted to be thaken, and the venerable fabric overthrown, vie in arms aifo with that unrivalled city. We read that the Philani, two noble Carthaginian youths, furrendered themfelves, with pious difinterestedness, to be inhumed alive, in order to extend the boundaries of their country. Of how much greater importance are the objects that demand the efforts of the British youth! The point at iffue with us, is not the enlargement of our dominions; but whether our country, our tender connections, our religion, fhall be violated and destroyed by Gallic phrenzy, or whether the weapons aimed at them fhall fall, like the feeble javelin of old Priam, harmless to the ground.

Though the profpect sometimes appear gloomy, let us guard against defpair; but while we hope the beft, let our preparations be adequate to the worst that may befall. Thus may we expect to fee verified in ourselves the words of the exquifite Lyfias: ὅτι κρεῖτον μετ ὀλίγων ὑπὲρ τῆς αὐτῶν ἐλευθερίας κινδυνεύειν, κ μετὰ πολλῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἑτέρων δουλειας.

OXONIENSIS.

and as he that receives ftolen goods is equally guilty with the thief, fo he that countenances the libel, partakes of the guilt of the writer.

But reafoning apart, let us attend to our own intereft, to which even the most abfurd cannot help paying fome regard. He that is malevolent enough to laugh to-day at his neighbour's expence, fhould confider, that tomorrow he may afford entertainment to others at his own; and he will then too late find by experience, that the fenfibilities of men are not to be dallied with; and may feelingly fay with the frogs in the fable-" what is fport to you, my lads, is death to us.

LEADING TRAITS OF

THE CHARACTERS OF PUBLIC MEN,
WITH ANECDOTES;

Or Helps for the Biographic Hiftorian.

BY A FRIEND OF THE VISITOR,

Long converfant in the Circles of Fashion and Literature,

TH

R. B. S, ESQ. M. P. FOR ST

HIS gentleman poffeffes great political abilities, with more political courage than any other member of the oppofition; and had he been always cautious to preferve himself upon better terms with mankind, and could he have overcome his natural indolence, he would, in this hour of peril, have been able to render fervices of the highest and most important nature to his country. He is endowed with an originality and freedom of mind, which has elevated him above all prejudices, religious or political; and however fhewy his

talents

talents may appear, they are faid to have full as much of the profound as the brilliant. In fine, (notwithftanding the first place is ufually affigned to another gentleman) R. B. S is held, by a great number of near obfervers, to be the most able politician of his party it is farther hinted, that he is only a wHIG in name, and for convenience fake; claffing more naturally with another genus politicum, who are for proceeding far greater lengths than the Whigs ever dreamed of, If ever a revolutionary movement fhould happen in the country, the truth of this schizzo will be fully apparent S- will never emigrate, as the martyr either of royalty or aristocracy.

His wife's voice, which enchanted the ears of his great friend C. F, and his opera of the Duenna, were the foundation ftones of Mr. S's fortune and his fame. He drew the plan of that fuccefsful drama from an old Italian novel; and having finished it, was perpetually dunning Mr. Harris, the manager at Covent Garden, to bring it out at his theatre; but for a confiderable time without effect. S had now

was

just began to attract the public attention, when Mr. Harris, vanquished by importunity, at length one day faid to him, "Well, I am going down to Hampton Court, to dine with Mr. Brummell, who, you know, is a judge of dramatic literature; you fhall go with me, and take your opera in your pocket." This being carried into effect, and dinner over, Mr. Scalled upon by the judges to read his play. After a preface of confiderable length, and much plaufibility, in which he enumerated the manifeft difadvantages a piece of the operatical kind must labour under in a bare recital, he began to read the performance; but had proceeded no great length when the critics began to yawn; he however courageously perfevered, and they preferved their patience with equal refolution, now and then encouraging him with a well, and fo," and, 5 what next, until he arrived at the friars fcene when,

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