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London Chronicle, Tuesday, July 21, 1789.

his vain, ambitious, turbulent, disposi tion. He erected despotism into law; "In consequence of the destruction of and vexations of all kinds were his this dreadful fortress, the grave of many engines. He had even in his own house miserable thousands, or rather millions a (Vade in pacem) an Oubliette, where he of French subjects, such horrid scenes frequently destroyed victims of his un- are come to light, as must make human bounded tyranny. Whilst the arbitrary nature shrink at itself. We are informed, will of the prince, or rather the caprice through the means of a wretched captive, of those who govern under him, hold the who had been confined forty-seven years place of law, such prisons as the Bastille will in those infernal regions of despotism, never want a succession of inhabitants; tyranny, and misery, that when a pri it is an insatiable gulph, incessantly open soner was committed to that horrid for the reception of devoted victims. I place, he was immediately confined in a have been informed, by the Parisians solitary cell, where the sun could not themselves, that every thing done in this penetrate; and whatever food might be place, is mysterious, trick, and artifice; allotted him, was served him by mutes. a series of oppression, and a chain of ini- It was death for either to speak. quities, heaping sorrow upon sorrow. It cannot be supposed, that a civilized nation like the French, delight in inhumanity, especially to their own people, whatever they may do to others. A recent example, however, we have had in one, who has no pretensions to the title of a man. Future ages will scarcely believe, that Monsieur Vaudrueil, governor-general of Canada, and of Quebec, gave rewards to the Indians, for scalping his enemies, an action so repugnant to christianity and human nature, that posterity, and even his own countrymen (who are not entirely divested of humanity,) will ever brand his memory as a monster; continually dining in public with his friends, in a hall, or namented with scalps, arranged in a variety of figures.*

On Tuesday, the 14th of July, 1789, the Bastille was attacked by the citizens of Paris, in the civil commotions for liberty, assisted by some of the soldiery, and taken by them, after the loss of more than three hundred lives, besides those destroyed by the treachery of the governor, who pretended to capitulate, by holding out a flag of truce; after many had unwarily entered at the draw-bridge, which was let down, he suddenly drew it up, and sacrificed those who had entered.

The irritated multitude, then enraged,

stormed the castle, and they took prisoners, the Governor, the Marquis De Launey, the Prince de Montbory, the Fort Major, &c. They were taken immediately to the Hotel de Ville, tried, De Launey and the Fort Major executed, and their heads carried in procession through the city.

* General Amherst, when he took Montreal, humanely buried three waggon-loads of scalps.

"The emancipated author of this narration, having, however, by his good conduct, and the well-known goodness of his heart, excited some feelings in the breast of one of the under officers of the fortress, who had been a servant in his family, was one day permitted to walk on the place of massacre. He describes it to be a pleasant promenade, on which the devoted victim of tyranny is invited to walk, for the benefit of the air. On approaching a particular part, (the signal being given,) it gives way, and he is at once plunged into a horrid gulf, where several engines cut him to pieces."

The duration of this infernal prison, was four hundred and twenty years, and twenty-three days, from its building.

The foundation was laid, April 23, 1369, by order of Charles V. by one Hugh d'Aubriot, a Burgundian, Provost of Paris. It is remarkable, that he was the first person confined therein, at the suit of the clergy, for impiety and he resy. This prison contained about forty separate apartments, for the reception of prisoners, besides those for the governor, his attendants, &c.

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Lord Cochrane's assertion, that the French ships struck in the Basque Roads, and were, one excepted, set on fire by the English: yet the bulletins assert, that this conflagration was made by the French. It is certainly painful, that, while the devil is put to shame by telling truth, a Frenchman should be covered with glory for possessing privileges beyond the fallen archangel. Indeed, every feeling person, who knows the frequent necessity, under which his internal highness must labour, of deviating from truth, must rather think that impudence should have been added: it is still harder, because every word he says, cannot of course be gospel.

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In short, Buonaparte is a mighty genius, but a Charlatan; he cannot command impossibilities: and officers declare, that his success is owing to numbers. In Egypt, and in Portugal, the troops were robbed of that resource, and exhibited no commanding superiority. In point of literature, bravery, and mind, Scotland is perhaps the first country in Europe; and were its resources and population adequate, and itself a continental power, I am inclined to think, that in their struggles for Number I. of which the people of both nations are very fond, the Scots would outdo them,

Independence is indeed the soul of national well-being, because it enables a nation to consult its own interest: but if out of a population of thirty millions, two hundred pounds is paid in France for a substitute, in the conscription, a pretty accurate estimate may be formed of the numbers employed, and the losses sustained, through the remorseless ambition of "the grand human enemy of days of innocence and peace.' The real interest of the poor is a profitable employment of, and market for, their industry; and trade, peace, and the arts were the best interests of France, and of man: but then Napoleon would not die conqueror of the world! what selfish cruelty! Oh, that he had been born and bred a Quaker!

Your's, &c.

X. Y. Z.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

HERE having been lately discoTvered in this neighbourhood a very singular curiosity, it would be desirable to receive the opinion of learned antiquaries, concerning it; and as your work has such an extensive circulation, I have sent you a drawing of it; persuaded that you will not deem an engraving of this

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is true, that they do not quite resemble Livy, &c. for they boast much, but manners make the man," and the inference is highly honourable to the military literati, who copy the modest victors of Greece and Rome.

Now, sir, it is evident that Buonaparte wishes to be cock of the walk, and to crow over every body. He well knows, that every little makes a mickle; and therefore, by confederations of the Rhine, perpetual conscriptions, &c. is us cool as a cucumber, about the success of his wildgoose projects. Weil knowing the old adage of the nimble ninepence, he is here and there, and every where, over the hills and far away, before we can say Jack Robinson: always with a stout heart, but not probably with a thin pair of breeches; for we do not find by the bulletins, that he ever complains of losing leather. He has a salve for every sore; and therefore never cries stinking fish, to alarm the conscripts. As money makes the mare to go, he takes care to have plenty of Napoleons with him for distribution; and because, a still tongue makes a wise head, takes also good care to keep that cat in the bag. He has heard of much cry and little wool being, in the issue, injurious to repute; and he therefore inverts the effect, by adding, a great deal of wool to much cry: also, because Brug is a good dog, and Hold fast is a better, he wisely keeps both. Nothing venture, nothing have, is a good maxim, if united with playing a safe game; and, though nothing is certain in this world, but death and taxes, people may be brought to think otherwise, by turning geese into swuns. He likes a feast to end in a fray, for out of nothing nothing would come. Some people's noses he soaps first, and pulls afterwards, as the King of Spain's (the Emperor of Russia being now soaping with Castille soap, for Windsor is out out of the question ;) other people's heads he breaks, and then applies a plaster, with a cooling regimen, &c &c. Where he cannot bite, he will however bark; for we find Lord Cochrane, long before his safe arrival in England, driven into the sea by an Italian regiment; and lest his own troops should be rather dispirited, he calls the English soldiers cowards: and though his soldiers shrunk from the bayonet, at Corunna (as every officer and private attests), he gains the victory by that superior weapon, the long-bow. In plain English, the bulletins are always gross and flattering misrepresentations: sometimes downright falsehoods; that is, there can be no reason to dispute

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relic of antiquity, unworthy of a place in your excellent repository.

The monument is a rough stone pillar, situated near the high-road, leading towards Huntly, about twenty-five miles north from Aberdeen; and on it there is deeply cut an inscription of undoubted antiquity; but in such characters, as have hitherto baffled every attempt at explanation. The stone, a granite, is of the rudest and most shapeless form, rising about six feet above ground, without any figures or marks whatever, excepting the five lines of letters, of which the accompanying draught is a fuc-simile, taken on the spot, and of which the accuracy can be fully authenticated. Now, although many monumental pillars have been found in every part of the island, with emblematical carvings and figures ou them, yet it is not known, that any one whatever is now to be seen, with an inscription on it, unless what clearly belongs to the Roman period of our history. In this respect, therefore, it is probably an unique, and highly deserving the attention of the learned; especially, as from the rudeness of the sculpture, and singularity of the characters, it would seem to have been formed anterior to that æra.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

THE

SIR, THE mind of man, like his body, requires occasional relaxation. When the body is exhausted by fatigue, the enjoyment of more rest is sufficient to re-accumulate that excitability which has been expended; but the mind of the well-educated man, always acting, secks for repose, only by employing itself in pursuits of a less fatiguing and more pleasing nature. This faculty, which exalts man so far above other animals, teaches him also, that the hours which he gives up to the gratification of such pursuits, are amongst the most pleasurable of his existence; and it will be found, that their variety will always keep pace in their increase with the progress of refinement and civilization.

The only other inscribed stone, that I have seen mentioned, at least in North Britain, is noticed in the first volume of Mr. Chaliners's Caledonia, page 466, where he observes, "that a pillar in the church-yard of Ruthurle, in Dumfriesshire, inscribed with Runic letters, the only one in Scotland, was demolished by order of the General Assembly, in 1644, as an object of idolatry." This is also described and engraved by Gordon, in his "Itinerarium Septentrionale," plate 57, page 160; bat bears not the smallest resemblance to the onc now mentioned, and is evident.y the work of a much later age.

If you will, therefore, have the good ness to get a correct engraving made of this inscription, from the annexed draw ing, with the letters of the same size, and will give it a place in an early number of your valuable miscellany, you will, I am sure, confer on your antiquarian readers a parlar favour, while you will greatly oblige Your's, &c.

The cultivation of music, in all ages, has been one of the most fascinating of these pleasures; and especially of late years, it has so increased in the public estimation, that, at this time, it may be almost considered as an indispensable branch of education, Fashion, however, that "arbiter elegantiarum," not con tent with making the study of music of such prime importance, has, at the same time, introduced a spirit of criticisin, which, while it raises the music of a neighbouring country above its proper standard, has too much debased the mu sical compositions of our own countrymen. Our masters are Italian, our singers are Italian, our music is Italian; and our fair countrywomen, in their desire to imitate the frivolous refinements of their foreign instructors, forget, that what ap pears correct as coming from an Italian singing in his own country, is unnatural in the mouth of an accomplished Englishwoman.

Italian music has charms in abundance; the language is admirably adapted for enabling the voice to produce the most mellifluous sounds; yet as we find diffe rent nations having different styles in composition, it must of necessity follow, that there is some radical difference in the habits, in the constitutions of each particular people, which adapts their feelings to their own music in preference to all others. How is it possible then, that the inhabitants of one country can prefer any other style of music to that which is so natural to them? In our own case it is still more remarkable; the The engraving is given with this Ma- manners, the customs, the climate, the people of Italy are, in every respect, so

AN ORIGINAL SUBSCRIBER. Aberdeen, May 12, 1809.

gazine.

different

rallel in some of our immortal compositions.

Neither shall we be found wanting in performers equal to the most celebrated of our continental rivals. Whilst we póssess Billington, the Harrisons, Bartlenian, Knyvett, &c. we need not fear the united efforts of Catalani, Grassini, Naldi, or the rest of those truly great and accomplished singers.

different from those of England; indeed, I may say, they are so opposite, that it is impossible such a predilection for Italian music should really exist amongst us. We know what fashion can do, and in this instance we cannot deny she has exerted her accustomed influence. A man, however, seldom wants a reason to justify what may further his interest; and as the proverbial gullibility of our nature has made it too much the interest of swarms of foreign miscrcants to keep up this delusion, they have found but little difficulty in producing arguments to prove the vast superiority of Italian over English music. These arguments I shall examine in detail, which will lead me into comparisons between the two styles, which I feel certain will not fail to produce in every English mind, a full conviction that our English music has been degraded far below its merits.

It is abominable to go to seven different London musical parties in a week, and hear nothing but a repetition of vilcly executed Italian music, the value of which is not understood by three-fourths of the company. To understand Italian music, an Englishman must be educated, the Italian style being unnatural to his feelings; he must have an education which a very large proportion of our people are totally unacquainted with; and hence it is, that we so often have the disgusting sight of an English lady mistaking the shrugged shoulder, the unmeaning rattle, the over-stretched emphasis, the yawning, drawling ad libitum, or the unnaturally rapid transition from fortissimo to pianissimo, for that national and characteristic light and shade, with which an Italian comes home to the feelings of a native Italian audience. How many voices, which, if employed in singing some plaintive Scoteh air, would go to the souls of their untutored hearers, are thrown away, and spoiled by attempting such awkward imitations. These are corruptions which cannot be too severely retrobated.

The great argument upon which this unnatural fashion rests for its support, is the supposed fact, that Italian music is in every respect superior in value to the music of our own country; and hence have arisen various heavy charges against English music, which any impartial lover of music must pronounce to be totally void of foundation; there not being one beauty in the Italian school (the language excepted) which, I believe, has not a pa

Actuated by these sentiments, it is my intention to make such observations upon English music, in succeeding, communications, if this should find a place in the Monthly Magazine, as will, I trust, convince its readers, that our own English music ought not to yield the palm of worth to that of Italy, or of any other country. And that these remarks should appear in something like the resemblance of regularity, I know no better plan than that of dividing the subject into dif ferent heads, corresponding to the differrent styles of English music; such as the oratorio, sacred music, the song, the glee, theatrical compositions, &c.

In these observations, it will be perceived, that I have confined myself entirely to vocal music; in instrumental compositions, however, England stands high in the scale of excellence, even if we wåve the consideration, that many of the most celebrated instru mental works of foreigners were cumposed in this country.

May 12, 1809.

MUSICUS.

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THE usual manner of reading "The TAbsolution," which forms a part of our Church Service, is, in my opinion, very inaccurate. I beg leave to submit the following form, as less exceptionable:

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Almighty God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, and (who) hath given power and commandment to his ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins, pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel, &c."

Your readers will observe, that the verbs" pardoneth und absolveth” are principals in the sentence, and that they refer to the nominative case Almighty God." The personal pronoun 66 He"

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which is now admitted before “pardoneth," should therefore be expunged. The construction is similar to that adopted by the translators of the Bible, in 1 Sam. xvii. 37. "The Lord God, that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." It is probable, that, by some typographical error, the punctuation has been altered, by substituting the period for the comma; and that the practice which has till lately obtained of writing the initials of pronouns with capital letters, has misled the reader, and introduced the present inaccurate reading.

Mr. Sheridan, whose remarks on the sense of the liturgy are generally correct, has not observed the grammatical impropriety of this sentence; but has prescribed a form which sanctions the established manner of reading it. Newbury, Your's, &c. May 11, 1809.

WM. ALLEN.

For the Monthly Magazine. The SPEECH of LORD ERSKINE, in the HOUSE of PEERS, on-the second READING of the BILL for preventing malicious and wanton CRUELTY to ANIMALS. -Tuken in SHORT HAND.' * MY LORDS,

I

AM now to propose to the humane consideration of the House, a subject which has long occupied my attention, and which I own to your Lordships is very near my heart.

The Publisher of this Magazine conceives that no apology will be requisite, on his part, for the pains he has taken to procure a correct copy of it, and for presenting the same to the world.

The principles of sound morality and humane policy, which this speech contains, cannot be too widely disseminated; and they may be the means, in this shape, of producing an effect on the feelings and practices of mankind, nearly equal to that proposed by legislative regulations. At the same time the sanction of law can never be more usefully bestowed, than in giving weight to doctrines which are frequently at variance with the prejudices and passions of mankind.

On the whole, it may be asserted, that this speech contains such a condensed view of the arguments in favour of a mild and humane treatment of the brute creation, as to claim a general introduction into families and seminaries of education, and to deserve circulation among the lower classes of society by the clergy, and by all moral and pious per

sons.

It would be a painful and disgusting detail, if I were to endeavour to bring before you the almost innumerable instances of cruelty to animals, which are daily occurring in this country, and which, unfortunately, only gather strength by any efforts of humanity in individuals to repress them, without the aid of the law.

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These unmanly and disgusting outare most frequently perpetrated by the basest and most worthless; incapable, for the most part, of any reproof which can reach the mind, and who know no more of the law, than that it suffers them to indulge their savage dispositions with impunity.

Nothing is more notorious, than that it is not only useless, but dangerous, to poor suffering animals, to reprove their oppressors, or to threaten them with punishment. The general answer, with the addition of bitter oaths and increased cruelty, is, "What is that to you?

If the offender be a servant, he curses you, and asks, if you are his master? and if he be the master himself, he tells you that the animal is his own. Every one of your Lordships must have witnessed scenes like this. A noble Duke, whom I do not see in his place, told me only two days ago, that he had lately received this very answer. The validity of this most infamous and stupid defence, arises from that défect in the law which I seek to remedy. Animals are considered as property only-To destroy or to abuse them, from malice to the proprietor, or with an intention injurious to his interest in them, is criminal; but the animals themselves are without protection-the law regards them not substantively-they have no rights!

I will not stop to exainine, whether public cruelty to animals may not be, under many circumstances, an indictable offence: I think it is, and if it be, it is so much the better for the argument I an about to submit to your Lordships. But if even this were clearly so, it would fall very short of the principle which I mean anxiously and earnestly to invite the House to adopt. I am to ask your Lordships, in the name of that God who gave to man his dominion over the lower world, to acknowledge and recognize that dominion to be a Moral Trust. It is a proposition which no man living can deny, without denying the whole foundation of our duties, and every thing the Bill proposes will be found to be abso

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