In England, on the other hand, the crown gained little by the fall of the nobility. The high prerogative exerted by the Princes of the Tudor race, was of fhort duration.

A third order foon arofe, that, for a time, trampled alike on the throne and the nobles. And, even after the conftitution was at length happily fettled, the Sovereign remained fo limited in power and in revenue, that his court never acquired a degree of influence or fplendor at all comparable to that of the French monarch. London had become fo great and opulent by its extensive commerce, that the refidence of the court could add little to that consideration in which it was already held. This circumstance had a powerful effect on the manners. was looked upon as a virtue at Paris, was in London confidered as a vice. There industry and frugality were fo effentially requifite, that every elegant accomplishment was rejected as incompatible with thofe great commercial virtues.

What

The dark and gloomy fpirit of fanaticism which prevailed fo univerfally in England during the last century, ferved as an additional barrier against the progrefs of politeness and elegance of manners. Add to this, that the

English

English (owing perhaps to the fuperior degree of liberty they enjoy, and to their high. independent fpirit) have ever been more attached to a country-life than any civilized people in Europe; and this last circumstance, flight as it may appear, has perhaps had as powerful an influence as any I have mentioned. A man who lives in retirement, may be fincere, open, honourable, above diflimulation, and free from difguife; but he never can poffefs that ease of behaviour, and that elegance of manners, which nothing but a familiar acquaintance with the world, and the habit of mingling in fociety, and of converfing with perfons of different ranks and different characters, can bestow.

Let us not, however, repine at the fuperiority of our neighbours in this refpect. It is, perhaps, impoffible to poffefs, at once, the useful and the agreeable qualities in an eminent degree; and if eafe and politenefs be only attainable at the expence of fincerity in the men, and chastity in the women, I flatter myself, there are few of my readers who would not think the purchase made at too high a price.

I have, of late, remarked, with regret, an affectation of the manners of France, and a H 2

difpo

difpofition in fome of the higher ranks to introduce into this ifland that species of gallantry which has fo long prevailed in that nation. But, happily, neither the habits, the difpofitions, the genius of our people, nor that mixture of ranks which our conftitution neceffarily produces, will admit of it. In France, they contrive to throw over their greatest excesses a veil fo delicate and fo fine, as in fome measure to hide the deformity of vice, and even at times to bestow upon it the femblance of virtue. But, with us, lefs delicate and lefs refined, vice appears in its native colours, without concealment and without disguise; and, were the gallantry of Paris tranfplanted into this foil, it would foon degenerate into grofs debauchery. At prefent, my countrywomen are equally refpected for their virtue, as admired for their beauty; and I truft it will be long before they cease to be fo.

M

N° 19.

TUESDAY, March 30, 1779.

'Y friend Mr. Umphraville's early retire

MY

ment, and long refidence in the country, have given him many peculiarities, to which, had he continued longer in the world, and had a freer intercourfe with mankind, he would probably not have been fubject. These give to his manner an apparent hardness, which, in reality, is widely different from his natural difpofition.

As he paffes much time in ftudy and folitude, and is naturally of a thoughtful caft, the fubjects of which he reads, and the opinions which he forms, make a ftrong and deep. impreffion on his mind; they become, as it were, friends and companions from whom he is unwilling to be feparated. Hence he commonly fhows a difpofition to take a lead in, and give the tone to converfation, and delivers his opinions too much in the manner of a lecture. And, though his curiosity and love of information concur with that politeness which he is ever ftudious to obferve, to make him liften with patience and attention to the opinions of others; yet, it must be confeffed,

that he is apt to deliver his own with an uncommon degree of warmth, and I have very feldom found him difpofed to furrender them.

I find, however, nothing disagreeable in this peculiarity of my friend. The natural ftrength of his understanding, the extent of his knowledge, and that degree of taste which he has derived from a ftrong conception of the fublime, the tender, and the beautiful, affifted by an extenfive acquaintance with the elegant writers, both of ancient and modern times, render his converfation, in many refpects, both inftructive and entertaining; and that fingularity of opinion, which is the natural confequence of his want of opportunities of comparing his own ideas with thofe of others, affords me an additional pleasure. But, above all, I am delighted with the goodness of heart which breaks forth in every fentiment he delivers.

Mr. Umphraville's fifter, who is often prefent, and sometimes takes a part in those converfations, is of a character at once amiable and refpectable.

In her earlier days, fhe spent much of her time in the perufal of novels and romances; but, though the ftill retains a partiality for the

few