Moemaker, however, has on the whole, a confiderable profit upon his labour in America, beyond what he had in Europe, as he can add to his price a fum nearly equal to all the expences of freight and commiffion, rifque or infurance, &c. neceffarily charged by the merchant. And the cafe is the fame with the workmen in every other mechanic art. Hence it is, that artifans generally live better and more eafily in America than in Europe; and fuch as are good œconomifts, make a comfortable provifion for age, and for their children. Such may, therefore, remove with advantage to America.

In the old long fettled countries of Europe, all arts, trades, profeffions, farms, &c. are fo full, that it is diffi cult for a poor man, who has children, to place them where they may gain, or learn to gain a decent livelihood. The artifans, who fear creating future rivals in business, refufe to take apprentices, but upon conditions of money, maintenance, or the like, which the parents are unable to comply with. Hence the youth are dragged up in ignorance of every gainful art, and obliged to become foldiers or fervants, or thieves, for a fubfiftence. In America, the rapid increase of inhabitants takes away that fear of rivalship, and artifans willingly receive apprentices from the hope of profit by their labour, during the remainder of the time ftipulated, after they fhall be inftructed. Hence it is eafy for poor families to get their children inftructed; for the artifans are fo defirous of apprentices, that many of them will even give money to the parents, to have boys from ten to fifteen years of age bound apprentices to them, till the age of twentyone; and many poor parents have, by that means, on their arrival in the country, raised money enough to buy land fofficient to eftablish themfelves, and to fubfift the reft of their family by agriculture. These contracts for apprentices are made before a magiftrate, who regulates the agreement according to reafon and juftice; and having in view the formation of a future ufeful citizen, obliges the mafter to engage by a written indenture, not only that during the time of fervice ftipulated,

the apprentice fhall be duly provid ed with meat, drink, apparel, washing, and lodging, and at its expiration with a complete new (uit of clothes, but also that he fhall be taught to read, write, and caft accompts; and that he thall be well inftructed in the art or profeffion of his mafter, or some other, by which he may afterwards gain a livelihood, and be able in his turn to raise a family. A copy of this indenture is given to the apprentice or his friends, and the magiftrate keeps a record of it, to which recourfe may be had, in cafe of failure by the mafter in any point of perforinance. This defire among the mafters to have more hands employed in working for them, induces them to pay the paffages of young perfons, of both fexes, who on their arrival agree to serve them one, two, three, or four years; thofe who have already learned a trade, agreeing for a fhorter term, in proportion to their skill, and the confequent immediate value of their fervice; and thofe who have none, agreeing for a longer term, in con. fideration of being taught an art their poverty would not permit then to acquire in their own country.

The almoft general mediocrity of fortune that prevails in America, obliging its people to follow fome bufinefs for fubfiftence, those vices that arife ufually from idlenefs, are in a great meafure prevented. Industry and conftant employment are great prefervatives of the morals and virtue of a nation. Hence bad examples to youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable confideration to parents. To this may be truly added, that ferious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but respected and practised, Atheism is unknown there; infidelity rare and fecret; fo that perfons may live to a great age in that country without having their piety fhocked by meeting with either an atheist or an infidel. And the Divine Being feems to have manifefted his approbation of the mutual forbearance and kindness with which the different feЯs treat each other, by the remarkable profperity with which he has been pleased to favour the whole country.

A

A Defcription of the Iland of Madeira, with an Account of the Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants.

HE appearance of the Ifland of Madeira as odd almoft beyond poffibility of defcription; it is one ridge of mountains, of an amazing height, running eaft and weft, rifing quite from the water's edge to the fummit, in length about fixty Englifh miles, and about thirty fix in breadth not the leaft flat near the water, but rifing inftantly from a rocky shore, to an horizon broke by the beautiful irregularity of the fummit of the hills; nor is this range one continued flope, but its fides interfperfed with an infinite number of fmaller hills, and little hollows between them, of fo odd forms, as are not to be equalled even among the Welch mountains. I can only give you fome idea of it, by comparing the appearance of the flope from the fea, to places, where, by fearching after coal or mines, the whole fur face is torn up. In the whole part which I faw, and that was the eaft and fouth fide of the island, there abfolutely is not naturally twenty feet fquare of level ground. The whole ridge, and all the fmaller hills, and valleys, are almoft entirely cultivated and green, chiefly with vineyards, and have therefore a fine appearance, more efpecially as the fole neglected fpots are rock, rifing up, and the very tops of feveral of the fmaller hills on the fide fo amazingly fleep, as to be literally inacceffible. Those very tops of the hills are highly ornamen tal by their peculiar, and yet natural bright crimson colour, which intermixed as they are, greatly enlivens the univerfil verdure. What I have told you about the impoffibility of finding a level fpot, is confirmed to me by the people of this iflaud, who fay that, except on the north fide, which is extremely barren, you can. not poffibly find any.

Every praile that can be heftowed on the appearance of the country, is reverfed with regard to Fonchall, the capital,and to the appearance of the inhabitants. It is a long, and rather large town, narrow freets, not two

of the houfes of an equal height,

varying fometimes immediately from a fhed to one the height of a London house, built with a dirt coloured rough ftone, flone doors and windowframes, windows unglazed, which wooden fhutters, flamed canvas, of latts nailed checquer-wife, fupply; bare walls without platter or ceiling, fingle boarded partitions and floor, fo ill jointed as to render every room publick, makes the infide of their houfes exactly correfpond with_their outward appearance. Sea flores, lees of wine, and the intolerabie dirti nefs of the inhabitants, form a complication of offenfive fmells, which is finely contrafted by the fragrance of the country.

Having in part defcribed the town, you probably will not be forry to have fome account of the inhabitants of the island, who generally, more efpecially the men, are not a degree removed from Mulattoes 10 their complexion, fome are even darker; and as here are great numbers of Negroes of both fexes, all flaves, or fervants, I cannot help fufpe&ting they have a little contributed to that tinge. All the lower fort of people are barelegged, although the hilly, flony country, and ill paved freets, render walking, even in fhoes, not very pleasant or eafy the men have loofe coarfe linen breeches, and a pitiful vaft cloak, reaching, if they can afford it, even to their heels, but moftly to the knee; the one end general. ly wrapped round them, and thrown over the left shoulder; this is of a thread bare fort of ferge, or coloured woolen cloth, and you would take them for beggars with an old rug to keep them warm a woollen cap completes the drefs. In proportion as their circumstances admit, they mend the length and quality of their cloak; and a coat, and waiftcoat underneath, a wig, and hat, fhoes, and ftockings, are added: but their very richeft inhabitant's cloaks, coats, &c. are of cloth too coarse for Enghth liveries: fome of the coats, however, are turned up at the cuffs (which are of a fize too enormous to be credited) with fluff damafk, and printed linens, all as glazing and party coloured as poffible. (To be continued.)

Memoirs

thousand men while the Auftrians were in Alfatia.

Had I related my adventure to any good Parifian, with the fe vice I had done the flate, he would not have made the leaf doubt of my having been promifed a good place. I will tell you what was my recompenfe. The Dutchefs de Chateauroux was vexed the negociation had not been brought about entirely by her means; The had likewife an inclination to have M. Amelot turned out because he fluttered, which trifling defect the found offensive, and the farther hated him because he was governed by M. de Maurepas; he was accordingly difmiffed eight days after, and I was included in his difgrace. Upon the death of this lady, which happened in confequence of the paffions into which he was thrown, at being dif miffed by the King, in a dangerous illness, he was fucceeded by Madame de Pompadour.

This new miftrefs had been well educated, was prudent, amiable, very graceful, had great talents, a fine understanding, and a good heart.

I was tolerably intimate with her, and was even the confident of her amours. She confeffed to me, the had always had a fecret fore-thought that the King would fall in love with her.

After he was certain of her royal lover, the told me the was firmly perfuaded of the doctrine of predeftina tion, and the bad fome cause so to be. I paffed feveral months with her at Etiole, while the King made the campaign of 1746

I hence obtained rewards which had never been granted to my works or my fervices. I was deemed worthy to be one of the forty ufelefs memhers of the Academy, was appointed I flonographer of France, and crea ted by the King one of the gentleinen in ordinary of his chamber. From this I concluded it was better, in order to make the most trifling fortune, to speak four words to a King's miftrefs, than to write a hundred volumes.

My connections with Madame du Chatelet was never interrupted; our friendship, and our love of literature, were unalterable; we lived together

both in town and out of town. Cirey is fituated upon the borders of Lorraine, and K ng Standaus at that time kept his little agreeable court at Luneville. On a vifit to that Prince, Madame du Chatelet died in his palace, after two days illness; and we were fo affected, that not one of us ever remembered to fend for prieйl, jefuit, or any of the feven facraments. It was we, and not Madame du Chatelet, who felt the horrors of death. The good King Stanislaus came to iny chamber, and mixed his tears with mine few of his brethren would have done fo much on a like occafion. He wished me to stay at Luneville, but I could no longer fupport the place, and returned to Pars.

It was my deftiny to run from King to King, although I loved liberty even to idolatry. The King of Pruffia, whom I had frequently given to underftand I would never quit Madame du Chatelet for him, would abfolutely entrap me, now he was rid of his rival. He enjoyed at that time a peace, which he had purchafed with victory; and his leisure hours were always devoted to making verfes, or writing the hiftory of his country and campaigns. He was well convinced, that in reality his verfe, and profe too, were fuperior to my verfe and profe, as to their effence; though as to form, be thought there was a certain fomething, a turn, that I, in quality of Academician, inight give to his writings; and there was no kind of flattery, no seduction, he did not employ to engage me to come.

Who might refift a Monarch, a Hero, a Poet, a Mufician, a Philofopher, who pretended too to love me, and whom I thought I alfo loved. 1 fat out once more for Potzdam, ia the month of June, 1750. Aftolphus did not meet a kinder reception in the palace of Alcina. To be lodged in the fame apartments that Marfhal Saxe had occupied; to have the royal cooks at my command, when I chofe to dine alone; and the royal coachman, when I had en inclination to ride, were trifling favours.

I worked two kr pan a day with s Majesty, corre&be his work.

Memoirs

never failed highly to praife what. ever was worthy of praife, although I rejected the drofs. I gave him de tails of all that was neceffary in rhetoric and criticifm, for his ufe; he profited by my advice, and his genius affifted him more effectually than my leffon's.

I had no court to make, no visits to pay, no duty to fulfil; I led the life of liberty, and had no conception of any thing more happy than my then fituation.

Behold me then with a filver key gilt with gold hanging at my buttonhole, a crofs round my neck, and twenty thousand livres, or eight hun dred guineas a year. Maupertuis fell fick, and yet I did not perceive the occafion.

At that time there was a phyfician at Berlin, one La Metrie, who was the moft frank and declared atheift of all the physical people of Europe. He was a gay, pleasant, thoughtlefs fellow. His writings pleased the Kng, who made him, not his phy. fician, but his reader.

One day after the lecture, La Me trie, who fpoke whatever came up permoft, told his Majefty there were three perfons exceedingly jeal ous of my favour and fortune. Be quiet awhile, faid Frederic,we fqueeze the orange, and throw it away when we have fwallowed the juice. La Metrie did not forget to repeat me this fine aponthegm, worthy Diony fius of Syracufe. From that time I determined to take all poffible care of the orange peel. I had about twelve thoufand guineas to place out at intereft, but was determined it fhould not be in the territories of my Alcina. I found an advantageous opportunity of lending them upon the eftates which the Duke of Wurtem berg poffeffed in France.

On the death of La Metrie, which happened shortly after, Maupertuis, who knew the anecdote of the orange peel, took an opportunity to fpread a report, that I had faid, the place of King's Atheift was vacant. This calumny did not fucceed; but he af terwards added I had alfo faid, the King's poetry was bad; and this anfwered his purpose.

From this time forward, I found the King's fuppers were no longer fo merry; I had fewer verfes to correct, and my difgrace was complete.

I fent him back his order, his Cham. berlain's key, and his penfion; he then did every thing in his power to make me flay, and I every thing in my power to depart. He again gave me his crofs and his key,and would have me to fup with him; I therefore once more fupped like Democles, after which I parted with a promise to return, but with a firm defign never to fee him more. Four of us left him in a short time, Chafol, a Frenchman, one of his best officers, Darget, Algaroti, and I.

In fact, there was no fuch thing as Aaying. It is well known how much must be borne from Kings, but Frederic was too free in the abufe of his prerogative. All fociety has its laws, except the fociety of the lion and the lamb. Frederic continually failed in the first of thefe laws; which is, to fay nothing difobliging of any of the company.

Polnitz and d'Argens were often the objects of his illiberal raillery, and yet thefe two victims remained. Polnitz having wafted his fortune, was obliged to fwallow ferpent's for bread, and had no other food; and d'Argens had no property in the world, but his Jewish Letters. As for Maupertuis, who had been filly enough to place out his money at Berlin, and not thinking a hundred piftoles better in a free country than a thousand in a defpotic one, he had no choice but to wear the fetters which himself had forged.