rative fo many graces of ftyle, had no occafion to go back to ancient times. The entire paffage would draw us into great length; and to give it piece-meal, or condenfed into an abridgment, would be an injury to a very interefting and beautiful ftory. The conclufion gives us reafon to imagine that this pleafing tale has its foundation in truth. Having acquainted us with the manner of Conftantia's death, the Author thus addreffes her departed foul:

Farewell! thou gentle and benevolent fpirit. If, in thy present fcene of happier exiftence, thou art confcious of fublunary occurrences, difdain not this imperfect memorial of thy fufferings and thy virtues and if the pages I am now writing fhould fall into the hand of any indigent and dejected maiden, whofe ill fortune may be fimilar to thine, may they footh and diminish the difquietude of her life, and prepare her to meet the clofe of it with piety and compofure.'

The Charity of old maids, in the next place, attracts the author's notice, and, in this chapter, he has given a view of fome very agreeable fcenes in human life. Such reprefentations are, as Dryden expreffes it, the theft of the poets from mankind. We wifh it were confiftent with the limits of our review to lay this whole chapter before our Readers; but fince that cannot be conveniently done, we will not do fo much injuftice to the Author, as to give the broken members of his work. Whoever has a mind to enjoy the plea'ure arifing from the contemplation of amiable characters, drawn with truth and elegance, is referred to the original for the account of Charieffa, the portrait of Meletina, and, above all, the exquifite hiftory of Angelica. The power of charity and benevolent affections, to fill the mind with folid enjoyments and true happiness, is here difplayed in the most beautiful colouring:

Mr. Hayley concludes his first volume with faying,

Perhaps, if a juft chronicle of old maids had been kept fince the creation, it would have prefented to us many examples of virtue and benevolence. But of the ancient virgins of a remoter period fhall fpeak at large in the fubfequent part of this Efay. I thall, to the utmost of my abilities, collect all the fcattered rays of light, with which antiquity can fupply me, for the illuftration of fo interefting a fubject. To rival the curious researches of our prefent moit celebrated antiquaries, and in the wide field, which I have chofen, to leave no bush or bramble unexplored, I fhall enquire in the firit chapter of the fecond volume, if there ever exifted an ANTIDILUVIAN OLD MAID.'

The Author keeps his promife, and, indeed, with great humour; having given, in a vein of ferious pleafantry, his profound refearches concerning virgins before the Deluge, he goes on, in feveral fubfequent chapters, to enquire into the ftate of old maidifm among the Jews, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the

Roman

Roman Veftals before the Chriftian æra, and the increase of old maids after that period. This part of the work is a pleasant frolic of imagination, and a lively fatire on the learned labours of thofe profound antiquarians, who fpend their lives in the inveftigation of important matters which nobody values but themfelves. The opinions of feveral of the fathers, fuch as Saint Gregory of Nya, St. Ambrofe, and Chryfoftom, are placed in a ridiculous light. The monaftic old maids, who diftinguished themfelves by their talents, are here recorded, and fome old maids of the new world are added to the lift. These materials, with fome other mifcellaneous obfervations, and a fermon to old maids, compofe the fecond and third volumes of this ferio-comic performance.

The first volume coming more home to men's bufinefs and bofoms, is the most interefting; and fhews that the Author has talents for that fpecies of compofition, called the comic novel. In the fubfequent parts, he difplays his reading, and at the fame time laughs at the antiquarians in a pleafing ftyle of ironical gravity. The whole is interfperfed with curious paffages from ancient authors, and the reader is occafionally relieved with agreeable compofitions in verfe. Were we to hint a fault, we fhould fay that the enquiry into antiquity is carried to too great a length. It is a part of the Author's plan, which, from its nature, cannot be interefting to the generality of readers. The firft volume, we repeat, is interefting, and fhews that the Author is not only an attentive obferver of life, but that he has the talents which conftitute an elegant moral painter. ...y.

FOREIGN LITERATURE.

ART. XIX. Der Zustand des Staats, der Religeon, der Gelehrsamkeit, and der Kunft in Gros Britannien, gegen das Ende des Achtzehnten Jabr Hunderts. Von D. Gebh. Friedr. Aug. Wendeborn, Prediger in London. The State of Government, Religion, Literature, and the Arts, in Great Britain, towards the Clofe of the 18th Century. By D. G. F. Aug. Wendeborn, Minifter of a German Church in London. 3 Vols. 12mo. Berlin.

FEW

EW works are read with more eagerness, or afford more rational amufement, than those which defcribe the customs, manners, laws, political conftitution, &c. of foreign countries. It is however to be lamented that the popularity of the fubje& tempts fo many to undertake it who are difqualified for the bufinefs. Indeed, from the nature of the fubject itself, very few travellers can be fuppofed competent to the task. It requires free accefs to the genuine fources of information and capacity to make a due improvement of this advantage: it requires an extenfive knowledge of various countries, in order to

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difcern what is peculiar to each: it requires that the author fhould diveft himself of every prepoffeffion, and that he should know where to praife, and where to cenfure. Every country has its advantages and difadvantages; and in fome, thefe are fo nicely blended that it may be difficult to discover in which either of these predominate; the inconveniences in the one, being counterbalanced by conveniences of which others are deftitute. And where climate, government, or manners are the moft inaufpicious, oppreffive, or difgufting to a stranger, the evils are not felt or perceived by the natives. In the former cafe, the difficulty of investigation arifes from the nature of the fubject itself; and in the latter from thofe involuntary and almoft pardonable prepoffeffions, which require the strongest efforts of the human mind to conquer them.

Dr. W. feems to poffefs no inconfiderable portion of these requifites. He is well known among us, as a man of learning and abilities. He has refided almoft twenty years in the metropolis of England, and has employed much of the time in making obfervations, and in collecting copious materials for the work before us. Where the facts are of fuch a nature that they could not fall under his own immediate obfervation, he affures us that he has been careful to obtain information from the moft authentic fources; and his remarks, in general, are fuch as fhew him to be a philofophic obferver of mankind.

The fubjects treated in thefe volumes, fome of which are examined with a critical minutenefs, and others give rife to many pertinent remarks, are, The Form of Government-Power of the King-House of Peers, and different Orders of Nobility—House of Commons-The People-Land and Naval Force- National Expenditures, Debts, and Refources-The Poor-Trade and Manufacturescontraband Trade. Thefe compose the first volume. The fecond treats of The Laws and Courts of Justice-London-Character of the English-Directions to Strangers. The third is devoted to the State of Religion in Great Britain, and contains strictures upon the Epifcopal Church-Methodifm-Toleration-Diffenters, under which title are comprehended, Prefbyterians, Independents, Roman Catholics, Quakers, and Jews-The Church of Scotland, with the Seceders and Nonjurors-Religious Opinions, from the extremes of Antinomianifm to Atheism; nor is the State of the Foreign Churches in London, omitted.

Dr. W. profeffedly intends this work for his own countrymen; being encouraged by the favourable reception of a smaller treatife upon England, published fome years ago. He acknowJedges, that, in his attempts to give a more accurate, circumftantial, and impartial account of this celebrated island than his predeceffors have given, he is actuated by the defire of moderating, in fome degree, the indifcriminate and enthusiastic

admiration

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He

admiration of it, which prevails fo much, in Germany. fays, that upon his firft arrival, he was under the influence of all those prejudices which flattering defcriptions had excited. But, after a more intimate acquaintance, and deeper researches, these prejudices were removed. England (fays he) ftill remains, in my opinion, one of the firft, if not the very first nation upon the globe; but it is time that the extravagant notions entertained by my countrymen fhould be fomewhat reftrained. I obferve (fays he) much good; I fee many beauties; but by no means fo much and fo many as I had expected. I have difcovered, and I feel many advantages poffeffed by England over my native country; but I have alfo learned that Germany has feveral advantages unknown to England.'

As we may naturally fuppofe that the generality of our readers are well acquainted with the principal facts contained in thefe volumes, we fhall chiefly confine our attention to fuch as, from their excellencies or defects, have given our Author occafion to notice them with approbation or cenfure. Thus may we be taught by a foreigner to judge with impartiality of our own excellencies and failings, where his animadverfions appear juft, and where his ardent defire to moderate the too favourable prepoffeffions of his countrymen do not feem to have an undue influence on his remarks.

The boafted and envied liberty of the people, our Author afcribes (in the view he gives of the British conftitution) to their being their own legiflators, by means of their representatives in parliament, and to their being judged by their peers in every criminal procefs. The English (fays he) confider the grant of Magna Charta, in 1215, the Trial by Juries, and the Habeas Corpus act, as the grand pillars of their liberty: which privileges were confirmed and rendered perpetual by grants under fubfequent reigns. These are our advantages; but he confiders the power of the crown, in fome refpects, as more than a counterpoife, as an influence always acting in oppofition to and endangering the liberties of the people. Notwithstanding the monarchy is limited, and the power of the King is in fome refpects rekrained, yet he enjoys many privileges, which give him great influence in the state. His perfon is deemed facred; the laws take no cognisance of his actions. It is an allowed maxim, that the King can do no wrong. The minifters are answerable for every violation of the laws, though committed by royal authority, The King has the right of declaring war, concluding peace, forming leagues, appointing ambaffadors. He is the head of the church, and has the moft lucrative and honourable benefices in his gift.-All appointments in the army and navy are at his difpofal.-He can affemble or diffolve the Parliament at will-and his consent is neceffary to render every parliamentary act valid.-He can create peers of the realm at pleasure. The power of placing his fervants at the head of the Ex

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chequer, in which the annual produce of the taxes, &c. is depofited, alfo increases his influence-In every procefs the King pays no costs, though he should lofe the fuit *; and as to private injuries, if any person bas, in point of property, a juft demand upon the King, he muft petition him in his court of Chancery, while his Chancellor will administer right as a matter of grace, though not upon compulfion.'

On this Mr. W. oblerves, that the Germans, whom English. men proudly regard as flaves, poffefs in fuch cafes more freedom. Their laws enable them to force princes to adminifter juftice, if they are not difpofed to it of themfelves. It is true, the English laws fet the fovereign at a distance from every personal attack; they fuppofe that he cannot do wrong, and confequently that he cannot commit a private injury: but fince his minifters are amenable to the laws, the rights of the people are equally fecure, while the dignity of the crown is preferved. For, as a King cannot mifufe his power without the advice of evil counsellors, and the affiftance of wicked minifters, thefe men may be examined and punished. The conftitution has therefore provided, by means of indiments and parliamentary impeachments, that no man shall dare to affift the crown in contradiction to the laws of the land. May we not add to this comment, that the liberties of the people are more fecure, by his wife courtesy of our laws, than if the King was perfonally refponfible? The conteft between an injured individual and an oppreffive minifter being more equal than between a fubject and his fovereign, the methods of redrefs will meet with proportionally fewer obftacles. Whether the terms of the law call it grace, or compulfion, right is fill adminiftered. Can this be with equal boldnels afferted, in countries where the feudal fyftem has not totally loft its influence; where the prince and his fubjects are confidered as of a different fpecies, and where every intermediate perfon between the injured and his oppreffor, inftead of being ready conductors to redrefs, generally find it their intereft to increafe the injury by neglect, chicanery, and infult?

The Author proceeds to give his countrymen a very circumftantial account of the Peers of the realm, Privileges of the House of Lords,-different ranks of Nobility, Orders of Knighthood; and intermixes with his narrative many pertinent remarks. He obferves, that it reflects no fmall honour on the nobility, that fuch numbers have diftinguished them felves for their learning, and have fhone as authors, and friends to the Mufes. The names of Lords Bacon, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Burlington, Pembroke, OrTery, Littleton, Pomfret, Chesterfield, and others, are well known in the literary and philofophic world.' But he laments that the prefent day does not appear fo favourable to fcience. The modern education of the young nobility is perhaps more expenfive than formerly. Travelling is now the mode, and they travel in multitudes; but very

* Nor does he receive cofts when he gains the fuit.

Blackstone.

few