dently to divest us of India, as they have done of America. Our fleet must of course decline; and in that case France hopes to dictate to us on all occasions, though the jealousy of other powers may prevent its conquest of this country. Naval power is, in all events, the most uncertain and precarious of any, as all history conspires to evidence. Ireland, by the infamous juggling of the "Propositions," has lost all confidence in this country. Were our shipping and commerce to decline, all is lost, for our debts swallow our revenue. CXV. FREDERIC PRINCE OF WALES. Ir seems fatal to the house of Brunswick to display a constant succession of quarrels between father and son. George II. had quarrelled with his father. Frederic, Prince of Wales, was a worthless son. The cant of liberty, assumed by his partisans, was truly ludicrous, as much so as the prince's pretended taste for poetry and the arts. I recollect none of his ancestors eminent in arms and that any of the family should have a real taste for letters, or the arts, would be little short of a miracle. CXVI. FRENCH BULL. A MARRIED French lady, who had an intrigue, insisted on having her lover's portrait. He remonstrated on her absurdity, and said it would be proclaiming their amour. "Oh," said she, "but to prevent a discovery, it shall not be drawn like you." 66 CXVII. FRENCH CHARACTER. I VISIT Paris often, and have considerably studied the French character. In individuals it is often excellent; but taken in general it disgusts by its petulance and vanity. The French have always been dissolute in their amours; and are thus led to assail the chastity of foreign women, the most unpardonable of all affronts to fathers, brothers, husbands, and lovers. This, and their petulant overbearing conduct, prevent their conquests from being lasting. Yes, I swear to you by the Sicilian vespers, they can never be of much duration. CXVIII. FRENCH NATIONALITY. THE Abbé Raynal came, with some Frenchman of rank, to see me at Strawberry Hill. They were standing at a window, looking at the prospect of the Thames, which they found flat, and one of them said in French not thinking that I and Mr. Churchill overheard them "Every thing in England only serves to recommend France to us the more." Mr. Churchill instantly stepped up, and said, "Gentlemen, when the Cherokees were in this country they could eat nothing but train-oil." CXIX. FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS. I ADMIRE Voltaire and Helvetius. Rousseau I never could like. Take much affectation, and a little spice of frenzy, and you compose his personal character. I D found the French philosophers so impudent, dogmatic, and intrusive, that I detested their conversation. Of all kinds of vice I hate reasoning vice. Unprincipled themselves, they affected to dictate morality and sentiment. The great, from vainglory and want of ideas, encouraged their presence: but they always reminded me of the sophists hired to assist at Roman entertainments. And what reasoning! Every Frenchman ought to be taught logic and mathematics, that his mind may acquire some solidity. Their character is so impetuous, that what with us is sensation is with them passion. The real philosophers of antiquity were distinguished for their moderation, a radical mark of knowledge and wisdom; and they treated the popular religion with respect. Our new sect are fanatics against religion : and surely of all human characters a fanatic philosopher is the most incongruous, and of course the most truly ludicrous. CXX. FRENCH ROYAL AUTHORS. LOUIS XIV. translated from Cæsar, with the assistance of his governor, "La Guerre des Swisses," Paris, 1651, folio, from the royal press of the Louvre. By his successor we have," Cours des principaux Fleuves et Rivières de l'Europe: ouvrage composé et imprimé par S. M. très Crétienne Louis XV. Roi de France et de Navarre. Paris, de l'Imprimerie du Cabinet de sa Majesté, 1718, 8vo."-" The Course of the chief Rivers in Europe, composed and printed by his most Chrisian Majesty Louis XV. &c. Paris, from the King's Cabinet Press." Philip of France, only brother of Louis XIV. trans lated Florus, Paris, 1670, 12mo. It was published by La Mothe le Vayer. It is surprising that Louis XI. should appear among the royal authors of France. He wrote for the instruction of his son, "Le Rosier des Guerres;" a work divided into two parts, the first moral, the last historical. The first is in the form of maxims: for If a king wish to raise pure hands to heaven, let him be contented with his own domain, and the ancient subsidies; the greatest necessity of the public weal can alone authorize the imposition of new taxes." "When men formed communities, and built towns, and appointed masters over them, it was only in order to obtain justice, and help against injuries: hence it is the prime duty of a king to prevent oppression and distribute justice." CXXI. ANOTHER FRENCH ROYAL AUTHOR. THAT assassin Charles IX. of France wrote a treatise on hunting, in which he gives directions for curing the mange and other diseases of dogs. Better to be his dog than his subject! CXXII. ANCIENT FRENCH POETRY. WHEN I mentioned lately that Froissart was the only French poet of the fourteenth century, I was mistaken. Philip de Vitry, bishop of Meaux, about 1350; wrote the poem on the advantages of a country life: the answer is by Pierre d'Ailly, bishop of Cambray. Vitry died in 1361, D'Ailly in 1425. [These poems having great merit, and being very difficult to find, are reprinted.] Combien est heureuse la vie de celuy qui fait sa demeure aux champs, par Philippe de Vitrac, Evesque de Meaux. Sous feuille verde, sur herbe delectable, Frais fromage, laict, beurre fromagée, Sur crouste bise, au gros sel, pour mieux boire. Au goumer beurent, et oisillons harpoyent, Quand eurent prins des doux mets de nature, J'oui Gontier, en abbattant son arbre, "Ne scay," dit il, " que soint piliers de marbre, To wash linen. |