Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

the merchants who might be fuppofed to fell them. The Sultanas, who are the fifters, nieces, or coufins of the Grand Signior, are invited to thefe entertainments, and they, as well as his Highaefs, purchafe trinkets and Nuffs in thefe shops, which they mutually make prefents of to one another; they exsend their generofity alfo to fuch of the Grand Signior's women as are admitted to approach him, or who keep the fhops.-Dancing, mufic, and sports fimilar to the tilting on the water I have fpoken of, prolong these entertainments until the night is far advanced, and diffufe a fort of momentary gaiety within thefe walls, generally devoted to forrow and to duling's. It is alfo from Madame de Tott that obtained thefe relations, which fhe received from the Sultana Hanum, of whom, as I have already fald, her uncle was very fond.

The Englishman in Dunkirk: An Anecdote.

O

confequently refufed with difdain by the indignant Englishman.

"But, after all, gentlemen," faid he, "you will allow that the flockings are mine?"

"O yes, Sir, we entertain no kind of doubt in that refpect.'

[ocr errors]

"Then," returned he, "you can alfo entertain no kind of doubt but that, as being my property, I have a right to do with them what I pleafe.”

To this queflion having alfo received an answer in the affirmative, he counted over the ftockings, one by one; and having previoufly cut them in pieces, he very deliberately, i the prefence of an astonished multitude, trampled them under his feet in the kennel; declaring, that he would travel over the whole kingdom bare-legged, rather than have it faid that he had purchased from a French King the privilege of wearing what flockings

be liked.

Noman world fubmit to the payment of On Company-its Uïs—All Profesions not

with the duty of a good subject, he could poffibly avoid it; and though an Englishman, oppreffed as he is with a ftill epcreating catalogue of national burthens, at home, may confent to bear them without much murmur, as being an unavoidable effect of the embarraffments of the ftate, yet his very foul revolts at every impofition in the form of taxa tion, to which he may find himself exposed by the defpotic police of a foreign power-a power cfpecially which he has always been taught to confider as the natural enemy of his country, and the determined fubverter of all its dearest interests.

Thus it happened lately, in the ftreets of Dunkirk: A gentleman of the Navy-one who, like his Royal Mafter, "born and bred in this country, glories in the name of Briton," on landing at this paltry town, the neft of fuch outlaws, fwinchers, and other vagrants, as England daily drives from her with fcorn, and as France fill blushes not to protect;-found himself furrounded with a parcel of half-ftarved, chop-fallen wretches who, ftiling themfelves Officers, begged to have the bonour to convey his trunk, portmanteau, and other baggage, to the Douane or Cuftom-haule, for the purpose of being

examined.

As chance would have it, the packages of cur countryman were found to contain nothing that the laws of the Grand Monarque declared contraband, except twelve pair of filk flockings, which had been purchaied by him but the week before, at Nottingham, and innocently intended for his own wear during a fhort trip over the continent.

For thofe ftockings, however, he was ordered to pay three livres a pair.-Three livres-The exaction was enormous, and

equally burthenfome to the Mind-Defire of Company univerfal-Abuses of Company -A modeft Hint to Misanthropes-Company how divided and fubdi-videa.

HE inclination which mok men dif

THE

cover towards, company, does not originate in a love of pleafure, or any unlawful paffion. It is a propenfity inspired by the author of our nature, and which furves a moft valuable purpose, In company the mind receives a feafonable, moderate and pleafing relief from those purfuits in which we may be profeffionally engaged. Bulinefs, or ftudy, if interrupted, defeat that indifpenfable vigour of faculty, without which they cannot be conducted, and languor, ill-temper, and narrownefs of fentiment, are the conicquences. Fancies are magnified into facts fufpicions into certainties, and mifconcep tions are as firmly rooted in the mind as the ftrongeft principles can be. But bufinefs, or ftudy, fit us to enjoy company, and company in its turn unburthens the oppreffed mind, and enables us to return to our neceffary pur fuits with additional fpirit. Our minds are incapable of dwelling long on one fubje&; they were not created for felfifhnefs, but for fociety. Man is no fooner a rational than he becomes a focial being,

[ocr errors]

All profeflions do not require augment equally. Care is always to be taken that the moments of amafement bear a just proportion to thofe of labour. Giddy and opulent young people play too much, and when they grow up do nothing but play; hence they become fops and fools. They who work tóc much injure their health, and thereby prevent the accomplishment of their wines, deprive themselves of many enjoyments w

ers.

On Company

252
has appointed for the health of our bodies,
and the equality and refinement of our temp
Men of conftant pleafure contract folly
and profligacy; men of conftant labour con-
tract melancholy, meanness, and avarice. Both
are ufelefs to their friends and to mankind.
The gratifications of the fenfualift never re-
ward him for his trouble. The knowledge of
the afcetic ftudent can neither be communi-
cated nor bequeathed. The riches of the
mifer adminifter to the luxuries of an heir,
The world profits not by any of thofe. It
is deprived of thofe powers of genius and ha
bits of induftry, which placed in a proper
light, and well-employed and regulated,
might have fet many a bright example to
mankind.

its Ujes, &c.

The employments which require to be oftener interrupted than thofe engage the mind which are only mechanical habits of induftry. Many men have loft their reafon from intenfe application to fome favourite ftudy; but no man ever loft his fenfes from an application to the business of a country houfe. Six hours ftudy of Algebra is more weakening labour to the mind, than a week of his employment who thinks he has done enough, if he fweeps out the fhop before breakfail, attend cuftomers, or write into his books all his debts and credits. But ftill even fuch a man (when we confider the cares and anxieties confequent upon the fluctuations of commerce) is more juftifiable in taking amusement than the labourer to whom bodily reft is the higheft fatisfaction, and while meat and drink enable him to return and toil withrecruited ftrength, and activity. A ftatefman, a fiddler, a clergyman, a fine lady, an oilman, a ftudent, and a bricklayer, require very different degrees of amufement, although it often happens that they who need the leaft take the moft,'

A man of fcience, were it not for the chearful circles of friendship, would not only acquire uncouth and difagreeable manners, but he would gradually impair the powers of his mind, and defeat the purposes of his ambițion. He would become morofe to others, and unfriendly to himself. Although his works might receive few impreffions from the general form of his mind, yet a knowledge of his private conduct and character, would foon create public prejudice, and thereby his labours would prove ufelefs to a great part of mankind. A writer is never fo amiable, or fo likely to pleafe, as when men are affured that he approaches near to the virtues which he defcribes. 'therefore, is ufeful to all. Even the idleft Company, class of traders, that which confifts of thofe well-drefed gentlemen whofe bufincfs it is to measure a ribbon, point out a fashionable filk, and fpeak nonfenfe to giddy cuftomers, may find the advantages of company, as in it fome may be found who have formed a

more becoming eftimate of the value of May, youth than to wafte it in effeminate employ ments, which, if neceffary at all, ought cer tainly to be left to women.

[ocr errors]

utility of company? It is a waste of words, But, after all, why attempt to prove the Man is that communicative animal that eagerly feeks after it in every fituation of life. Few afk themselves," Is company at this time necellary to me?" Plenty of leifure hours, and of money, fends thousands intò company, whofe only care is to kill time, and live all the days of their lives."? The firft affembly, rout, hurricane, or drum, at Weftminster, differs only in degree from the meaneft tea drinking at Clerkenwell; the Tame inclination prompts to both. Porter fociety, to play cards, to talk politics, break and punch enable the citizens to meet in glaffes, and keep late hours, juft as much as Champaigne and Burgundy enable the nobility of the west end of the town to enjoy fimilar amufements. A company of lords and 'fquires intoxicate themfelves with French wines, and a company of coblers intoxicate themselves with English ale; and in what lies the difference next morning All men defire company in one shape or another; private houses, coffee-rooms, clubs, focieties have their respective and numerous vifitors; few retire from the chearful fociety of men, except they whom the preffure of misfortune drives into folitude. The love of one another's company is that part of philanthropy which all poffefs. Statesmen and thieves, clergymen and profligates, maid-fervants and fine ladies, aflociate together according to the convenient times and feafons of each. The fight of a numerous company often abates the languor of verfal inclination for company may be per a dull play or entertainment. And this unihaps brought as an argument against thofe who maintain the equality of mankind in fome early age of the world; for, in a com pany of only fix men, there is a visible degree of fuperiority in fome, nor can any amufement or bufinefs whatfoever be cons ducted, without pre-eminence being given to fome one, or more.

But the mind is not only lightened of its
burthens in company, but it is improved.
Many men there are, indeed, who have no
other opportunities of improving their minds,
particularly mechanics, and a great part of
mercantile people. If fuch avoid company,
avaricious. The improvement received in
they never fail to become mean, selfish, and
company, is of that kind which gives no
trouble; it is no additional fatigue to the la-
bours of the day. Inftruction glides imper!
ceptibly into the mind, and we are pleafed
and improved at the fame inftant.

As converfation, then, is not only the
mof

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

moft faccessful way of improving the mind, hut alfo the most agreeable, I have often regretted that it is so often abufed by the untowardness of vice and ignorance. Man carries not with him all his principles when he goes into company. Often when his wit is brilliant it out hines wifdom, and he is brutal and unfeeling; refentments, quarrels, and often bloodshed, enfue. We repent that wego into fuch company, and make re folutions againft company in general. Often we find that men of learning are not communicative, that their expreflions are feeble and barren; and that men of piety and good fenfe forget that the younger part of the company are to look up to them for an example. Often the abfurdities of fashion get the better of the operations of common fenie, and we voluntarily run into exceffes and fol. lies, which we neither can defend, nor pretend to excufe. Gaming or intoxication, deftroy our pleasures, and injure our health, our fortune, and our integrity. Often a man is in the cyes of his company "very focial," when in the eyes of a man of fenfe he would fcarcely appear to be rational; and a company into which we entered with pleafure, we are often obliged to leave with a regret that embitters every remembrance of it.

Hence the really fociable and ufeful part of mankind often complain, that they feldom can go into company fuited to their difpofition. They find companies to be dangerous affociations for the purpofe of idlenes, the appetites of the luxurious, or the retreats of the ignorant, where they may drink and be "jolly fellows." Certain tempers cannot brook the errors and abufes of company, having read more of a virtuous world than they have feen, they feldom make allowances for the frailties of nature and education, or the follies of fashion. By revolving in their mind the abufes they have feen, and viewing them only in one light, they aggravate into crimes, what perhaps more liberal men might call "levities." They think him a wife man whofe converfation is entirely with his own heart, and whofe fociety is with the dead. Knowledge of the world, they call knowledge of vice and folly, and they feek for thofe communications and inftructions from books, which it is in vain to look for from the fociety in which they are placed.

By fuch arguments have many reafoned themselves out of fociety, and have left a world, which their extenfive abilities, exemplary integrity, and gentleness of manners, might have adorned and improved. But this precipitation does no credit to their know ledge of human nature. They feem not to know that a good man muft ever live in a state of oppofition to the profligacies of his age, and that his prefence and example are

the only means to correct thofe. By retirement he neither benefits himself nor others; his virtue is of that felefs, untried kind, which, like the courage of a coward, is fufpected by all men.

Let us not relinquish the pleasures of company too haftily, nor allow the milk of human kindness to be foured by gloomy reflecti ons on abfurdities, which it is probably in our power to remedy, Let us take a calm revew of the employments which fill up the hours allotted to company. Perhaps it may be pof fible to fuggeft fome confiderations that may tend to remove the improprietics so often complained of.

The employments of men in company may be referred to thefe heads, converfation, cards, dancing, and drinking. For method's fake, converfation may be divided into three branches, politics, fcandal, and miscellaneous matier. This arrangement is not perhaps juft, but custom authorifes it. In nineteen companies out of twenty, politics or news, are the favourite fubjects. Fielding, who has left us a very fenfible pamphlet on conversation, divides it into three kinds,- "With God, with ourselves, and with other men." It is the laft only, however, which comes to be confidered here. Of the others, I fhall only fay, that he who converfes much with his God, is moft fit to converse with himself; and he who converfes moft with himself, is moft fit to converfe with other men. Tragic Story of Abdullah and Zarima at the Siege of Bochara,

From the Arabian Writers.

any my learned readers, fkilled in orien of languages, hall chufeto turnover the thirty and three volumes of Abulfagi, the Arabian hiftorian, they may find the following ftory: Near one hundred leaves of the Papyrus have been expended in the relation, but I have been at the pains of compreffing it into one paper.

In the beginning of the 11th century Abderama, the laft defcendant of the Samarian family, who reigned over the territory of Bucharia, was besieged in his capital of Bochara by Mamood the Great, who afterwards reduced all India to his command. This mighty conqueror, who may be filed the Alexander of the Arabian hiftorians, made twelve irruptions into India, and in each expedition fwept away as much wealth, and made as great a devaftation of the hu man fpecies, as Nadir Shah in his. Mamood was the fon of the ufurper Subuctagi, wha expelled the father of Abderama from Samarcand, and reduced his empire to the poffeffion of Bochara only and its depen dencies.

Such was the formidable general who fat down with his forces before Bochara, and

fuch

fich the hereditary enmity of thefe inveterate opponents: Abderama therefore had no refource but to defend his citadel to the laft extremity. Difabled by his age from active fervice, he put the garriton under command of a valiant Captain named Abdullah. This young prince was of the houfe of Katiba, the general of the Caliph Ofman, who conCered Great Bocharia for that victorions Mahomedan. Abdullah was the moit accomplished perfonage of his time, of admirable qualities and matchlefs intrepidity: In vain fe challenged Mamood to decide the fate of Bochara by fingle combat; he was allo beloved by Zarima, daughter of Abderama, and fole henefs of his crown. The beauty of this princels was celebrated through all the Eaft; more rhaplodies have been compofed and chaunted in the praises of Zarima than even Helen gave a fubject to: Our language cannot reach the defcriptions of thele florid writers; the whole creation has been culled for objects to fet in fome comparison with Zarima; but as the fire of their imaginations would feem like phrenfy to ours, I that not rifque a fall by following them in their flights.

In a furious fally made upon the army of the besiegers, Abdullah at the head of the Bocharians had fingled out the perfon of Mamood, and pushed his horfe up to the breaft of that on which Mamood was fighting; the fhock was furious on both fides; Abdullah received the point of his opponent's lance in his fide, and Mamood was ftruck from his faddle to the ground by the battle-axe of Abdullah: the combatants rushed in to cover their fallen general, and victory was snatched out of the grafp of the brave Bocharian, who fell back wounded amongft his companions, and retreated undifturbed into the town after a furious aughter of the foe.

Whether Mamood was difcouraged by the obftinacy of the Bocharians, o, as fome hiftorians infinuate, was daunted by this attack, which he had fo narrowly efcaped from, fo it was that he let the command of the hege devolve upon his General Kambi, and at the head of a fcouring party made inenrfions into the country to lay it wafte with fire and fword, and break up the fupplies of Bochara.

Kambi had feen the beautiful Zarima; he had been in Abderama's court before Mamood's invafion, and to fee the Princefs was to be enamoured. No facrifice could be too great for Kamhi to obtain a prize fo much above all computation in the heated fancy of a lover: He fecretly imparted to Abderama the conditions on which he would betray his truf, and expofe the army he commanded to inevitable deft.uction,

If these conditions flaggered the aged mo narch on the fcore of honour, fo did they on the fide of intereft. To fave his crown and city was a tempting offer, and the divided heart of Abderama was not more agitated as a monarch for the impending danger of his throne, than it was agonized as a man for the daily fufferings of his faithful people. He fubmitted to receive Kamhi into the town, and to treat with him in perfon on the fubject of his propofal. Abdullah, from whom this was to be concealed, was now recovering from his wound, but incapable of fervice for a time; it was propofed by Kamhi to exchange hoftage against hostage, and Abdullah was inftructed to meet him in the depth of night with one companion on each fide; each general was to exchange armour on the fpot, and fo to pale their refpective centinels; and mutual fecrecy was pledged between the parties.

There was no difficulty in perfuading the generous Abdullah to this enterprize, Abderama giving him to underftand, that the meeting was to adjust the payment of a fum of money, which Kambi was to receive for betraying the army he commanded before Bochara: the tranfaction was to be kept a profound fecret even from Zarima. The unfufpecting Abdullah repaired to his rendezvous at the appointed hour without taking leave of the Princefs, and Kamhi with his affociate pafled the city guard unqueftioned in the habit of his rival. He hafted without a moment's lofs to the palace of the old king, and expounding to him the plan he had devifed for fecuring the performance of his part of the contract, nothing now remained for Abderama but to engage his daughter to make a facrifice, for fevere and difficult as it was, he thought he might depend upon her piety and public fpirit for complying with. In this hope he immediately repaired to her chamber, where he found her repofing on her couch; he threw himself at her feet in an agony of tears, and in the most fupplicating pofture adjured her to arife and fave her father, country and herfelf from impending deftruction. Roufed from her fleep, the beauteous Zarima immediately demanded the region of that folemn adjuration, and what it was that he could do to gain thofe glorious ends. Emulate the magnanimity of Abdullah, replied the father; refign Abdullah, as that heroic youth, to fave this firking city from extinction, has now refigned his Zarima. Afonishment had now deprived her of her utterance, and Abderana proceeded without interruption to ex pole to her the whole purport of his treaty with Kahi, and the conditions on which alone Bochara might be faved, and Mamood's army betrayed into his hands. He

protefied

My fon, my fon! and then forfook him; his attendants bore him off to his litter in the rear, whilst Abdullah turned the faces of his foldiers on the foe, and preiled into the action where it was hotteft.

pretefted to her that Abdullah had been a party in this treaty, that he had left the city for ever, and to convince her of it, he was ready to produce Kamhi in the very habit which her lover had exchanged with him for the purpose of bringing him to an interview with her, and concluding the agreement.

Not to dwell any longer on Abderama's arguments, (in which, was I to follow my Arabian author, I fhould fwell this recital to an unreafonable length) it will fuffice to fay, that the father prevailed. In the original, it appears as if fome fhare in the fuccefs was owing to female pique; but, as the Arabian authors are very fubtle and refined in finding motives and in fcrutinizing the human paffions, I fhould hope this fuggeftion may be imputed to the hiftorian, rather than to the heroine.

As I chufe to pafs over many pages of my original in this place, the reader will now fuppofe that the traitorous Kamhi is in paffeffion of the beautiful, but reluctant victim; and that Abderama has already made a facrifice more painful than that of Euryftheus, or Agamemnon, when they immolated their daughters. With the firft dawn of the morning Kamhi repaired to the army, and began to fet on foot the project he had concerted with Abderama. When he had given out his orders for dividing and difpofing the troops in fuch a manner as was beft adapted to his defign, he gave the fignal agreed, upon with the king for the fally: The whole garrifon was put in motion on this occafion, and Abderama determined once more to fhew himfelf to his army, and command in perfon. Every thing had been fo prepared on the part of Kamhi, that the impreffion which the Bocharians made upon the befiegers, was immediate, and the flaughter became univerfal: Nothing could have faved them from compleat deftruction, but the unexpected appearance of Mamood and his army in this feasonable moment for their relief. As Mamood's troops were entirely compofed of cavalry, he flew into action with amazing rapidity; the fainting fpirits of the foldiers revived at the fight of their victorious chief; his well-known voice rallied their broken ranks, and they turned upon their pursuers with redoubled fury: Even the guard, that had been planted upon Abdullah, now ran to their armis, and join ed the action. The army of Abderama, no longer fupported by the valour and conduct of the favourite general, began to give way and retreat in diforder to the city; in this inftant Abdullah, rushed from his tent, and prefented himself to the eyes of the difpiritted Bocharians; the army fent up a hout of joy, the aged Abderana funk into his arms, covered with blood and expiring with his wounds; life just served him to exclaim,

The conflict became terrible, every inch of ground was obftinately disputed, and the combatants on either fide fell by whole ranks, as if refolved upon maintaining the conteft to the laft man. Night at length put an end to the undecided fight, and Abdullah led off his furviving followers into the city without an attempt on the part of Mamood to pursue him. His wound in the fide, which was not yet healed, burst open by the violence of his exertions in the action, and he had received others, under which he found himfelf finking, and which he had reafon to believe were mortal: in this extremity he loft not a moment's time in betaking himself to his beloved Zarima; his ftrength juft ferved him to prefent himfelr before her, and to fall exhaufted with his wounds at her feet. Terrible interview ! Zarima was expiring; he had taken poifon.

The fupplications of an aged father, the deliverance of a fuffering city, the falvation of an antient empire, and, above all, the example, as fhe believed, of her betrothed Abdullah, had prevailed with this heroic princess to facrifice herself to the detefled arins of Kamhi: the contract had been fulfilled upon her father's part, but to furvive it was more than fhe engaged for, and an indignity which her nature could not fubinit to. As foon as the battle joined, the put her refolution into act, and fwallowed the mortal draught. Life juft fufficed her to relate this difmal tale to the dying Abdullah, and to receive the account from his lips of the deception which Abderama had put upon him. The body of her dead ather was now brought into the palace; the caft a look upon it, but was fpeechlefs: fainting, and in the article of death, the dropt into the arms of Abdullah; her head fell upon his breaft juft as it was heaving with the last long-drawn figh, that ftopt his heart for ever *.

Louifa: A Character,

OWEVER amiable mankind may apH pear, however praife-worthy may be their actions, though they are fometimes guided by virtue, and led by the genuine dictates of honour, yet it is a true though a melancholy obfervation, that their endea

N

T E.

[merged small][ocr errors]
« ПредишнаНапред »