dont je voudrais pouvoir vous décorer, il prouvera, du moins, & la nature de vos services, & combien je les sais apprécier.

Recevez, je vous prie, Madame, avec autant de satisfaction que j'en ai à vous l'offrir, cette faible marque de tous les sentimens que vous m'avez si bien inspirés.

TRANSLATION

LOUIS.

Of a Letter of his Majesty LQUIS XVIII. King of France and Navarre, to MADAME VICTOIRE AIMEE LIBAULT GOUIN DUFIEF.

MADAM,

Blanckenburg, 23d of January, 1798.

I am by no means uninformed of any of the services you have rendered to the cause of the Altar and the Throne. I know that, not satisfied with forming, at your own. expense, the first meetings of the illustrious and unfortunate Vendée, you would participate in the glory and dangers of her heroes, whilst the fields of Grandville, Pontorson, Mans, Pont de Cé, &c. have witnessed your valor. In recalling to your mind transactions so glorious to you, you may be assured, I have it less in view to convince you that I am informed of them, than to indulge my grateful feelings. I regret that the regulations of the Order of St. Louis do not permit me to confer upon you the Cross belonging to it, as the reward of bravery; but, instead of the Cross, permit me to offer you my portrait; and in wearing it with a ribbon attached thereto, similar to that of the Order, I would wish to decorate your person, it will, at least, prove the nature of your services, and how highly I appreciate them

Accept, I request you, Madam, with as much pleasure as I feel in offering it to you, this small proof of the feelings which your meritorious deeds have inspired me with.

LOUIS.

PRELIMINARY DISCOUrse.

"Take Nature's path, and mad Opinion's leave.”

Porz.

THOSE who have consulted the historic page, as observers of men and things, have discovered that trifling incidents have often given rise to such events as have prepared and accelerated revolutions greatly influential on the destinies of man.

In like manner circumstances uninteresting in themselves, have had the same powerful influence on the progress of genius, or called its researches into action, on subjects intimately connected with the welfare and improvement of mankind, and which would otherwise have remained in impenetrable darkness. Could a history of the influence of trifling circumstances be always traced, it would be not only curious, but might lead to a discovery of the means of informing genius of its existence,* rous

• At some future period, when circumstances will permit, it is contemplated to offer to the consideration of the public a "Series of Simple and Easy Experiments to be tried by parents on their children at various peri"ods of their lives, in order to ascertain the particular bent of their genius " and the extent of their capacity."

As this work will comprise the means most proper for conducting the expanding understanding of children up to those sublime truths of our divine religion, that precious inheritance transmitted by our forefathers to their posterity, and to the view of those immutable principles of that excellent government under which we enjoy so many valuable blessings, it must necessa rily embrace a "complete body of moral education. The extensiveness of such a work, and the extreme difficulty of treating the subject (a subject perhaps far above my capacity, though certainly not equal to my ambition to serve the community) will not admit of prescribing any particular period for the completion of this undertaking. Suffice it to say, that every effort shall be made to accomplish it as soon as possible. In the mean time the observations and ideas of every reflecting mind on that subject, through whatever medi um may be thought most eligible, will be thankfully received.

VOL. I.

b

ing it from lethargy, or unbinding the fetters by which it is too often restrained.

These thoughts were suggested by reading an account of the fortuitous circumstance that first directed the observing spirit of Locke towards the human understanding. To society, the result of his reflections, on this occasion, was a work which may be considered one of the most valuable gifts that philosophy ever conferred.

The apple falling from a tree, awakening the exploring powers of Newton, and gradually leading to the investigation, and afterward to the glorious discovery of the eternal laws that govern the universe, was immediately presented to my mind.

Convinced that the relation of incidents, however trifling they may appear at first view, must be highly interesting, as a direction to intellectual researches, and, consequently, that they must tend to the benefit of society; it is hoped that it will not be deemed presumptuous, after quoting the immortal names of Locke and Newton, to inform the public, what influence trivial circumstances had in producing this work, which, it is confidently expected, will answer the important purpose of pointing out a way to the acquisition of language by far more easy and expeditious, than any other that has ever yet been published.

At first, I attempted an analysis of the proposed subject, without entering into the details which gave rise to it; but I found that the best arguments in its favour might be drawn from those very details, which a false delicacy had, at first, prompted me to suppress.

Without dwelling longer on the subject, I shall enter into that part of my history which is most intimately connected with the work before us.

I arrived at Philadelphia from the West-Indies in the latter end of 1793, and soon became extremely anxious to learn the English language. For this purpose I purchased such books, as were thought likely to be most conducive to that attainment. These chiefly consisted of the works of the three great English historians, with those of Thomson and Milton, two grammars for the advantage of the French, Boyer's dictionary (in quarto), and Sheridan's for pronunciation. I had just agreed with an English teacher, to begin, as is usual, a course of grammar, and grammatical exercises on the rules, when alarming reports were spread respecting a new disease (not unlike the plague in its dreadful symptoms and fatal effects) which baffled then, it appears the utmost skill of the physicians.

Amidst the general consternation that then prevailed in the city of Philadelphia, it was thought best to retire to some place where I might pursue my studies in more secu"rity. Of the country towns in the vicinity, a preference was given to Princeton, celebrated for its healthy situation and a college, happily flourishing under the direction of Doctor Witherspoon, and Doctor Samuel Stanhope Smith, gentlemen of the greatest celebrity in the republic of let

ters.

Having procured a retreat, my mind was next turned to my English books; but it was discovered that my two grammars had been left behind. I wrote to Philadelphia for them, in vain, as all communication with that unfortunate city had been forbidden. I was affected more sensibly by this omission than by all the misfortunes that had befallen me in the French revolution; for it was deemed impossible to learn English without the help of these books.