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wards the world, with the History of Tom Jones.-But for Mr. Murphy's account of this work, we

muft refer to the next Number of our Magazine.

[To be concluded in our next.}

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On CONTENTMENT.

A FABLE.

To the Authors of the BRITISH MAGAZINE.

HOR.

GENTLEMEN, Nolint, atqui licet effe beatis. Am inclined to think that the misfortunes, as they are termed, of life, are not so often owing to the want of care, as the having too much, and being over-follicitous to acquire, what Nature the great fubftitute of Heaven would effect for us, if we would be contented to follow her dictates. The brutes, led on by that inward impulse we call Inftinct, never err in their pursuit after what is good for them; but man, enlightened by reafon, that particular mark of Providence which diftinguishes him from the rest of Beings, obftinately refuses to be conducted to happiness, and travels towards mifery with labour and fatigue. It would be abfurd to fay a rational creature would voluntarily chufe mifery, but we too frequently do it blindly. Every thing, as the philoJophical emperor obferves, is fancy; but as that fancy is in our own power to govern, we are justly punifhed if we fuffer it to wander at will; or induftrioufly fet it to work to deceive us into uneafinefs. The moft fure and speedy way to detect any mental impofture is by foliloquy or felf-examination, in the way laid down by our great restorer of ancient learning; if our fancy ftands the teft of this mirror, which reprefents all objects in their true colours, it is genuine, and may be accepted by the mind with fafety; but if it re

cedes from the trial, or changes in the attempt, 'tis fpurious, and ought to be rejected. This will inform us that the great mistake of mankind in the purfuit after happiness, is cafting their looks at a distance for lands of paradife, whilft the prospect, fo much fought after, blooms unbeheld around them.

At Ifpahan in Perfia, there lived a young man of a noble family and great fortune named Achmet, who from his infancy fhewed the earliest figns of a reftlefs and turbulent fpirit; and though by nature endowed with an understanding fuperior to any of his age, was led away with every guft of paffion to precipitate himself into the greateft dangers. After having a little experienced the misfortunes that accrue from fuch a difpofition, he became fomewhat more diffident of his own abilities, and determined to take the advice of thofe who had been moft converfant with human nature, how to proceed for the future. There dwelt not far from the city, in a little cell among a ridge of mountains, an old hermit, who many years before had retired from the world to that place to spend the reft of his days in prayer and contemplation. This good man became fo tamous thro' the country for his wifdom and exemplary life, that if any one had any uneasiness of mind, he immediately went to Abudah (for so he was called) and

never failed of receiving confolation, in the deepest affliction, from his prudent counfel; which made the fuperftitious imagine, that there was a charm in the found of his words to drive away despair and all her gloomy attendants. Hither Achmet repaired, and as he was entering a grove near the fage's habitation, met according to his wifhes the venerable reclufe; he proftrated himfelf before him, and with figns of the utmost anguish, "Behold, faid he, O divine Abudah, favourite of our mighty prophet, who resembleft Allha by diftributing the balm of comfort to the diftreffed, behold the molt miferable of mortals."--He was going on, when the old man deeply affected with his lamentations, interrupted him, and taking him by the hand, "Rife my fon, faid he, let me know the caufe of thy misfortunes, and whatever is in my power shall be done to restore thee to tranquility." ." "Alas! replied Achmet, how can I be restored to that which Lnever yet poffeffed! for know, thou enlightened guide of the faithful, I never have spent an eafy moment that I can remember, since reafon first dawned upon my mind; hitherto, even from my cradle, a thousand fancies have attended me through life, and are continually, under the falfe appearances of happiness, deceiving me into anxiety, whilst others are enjoying the most undisturbed repofe. Tell me then, I conjure thee by the holy temple of Mecca, from whence thy prayers have been so often carried to Mahomet by the ministers of Paradife, by what method I may arrive, if not at the facred tranquility thou enjoyeft, yet at the harbour of fuch earthly peace as the holy Koran has promifed to all thofe that obey its ce

leftial precepts; for fure the damned, who remove alternately from the different extremes of chilling frofts and fcorching flames, cannot fuffer greater torments than I undergo at prefent." Abudah perceiving that a difcontented mind was the fource alone of the young man's troubles, "Be comforted, my fon, faid he, for a time fhall come, by the will of Heaven, when thou fhalt receive the reward of a true believer, and be freed from all thy misfortunes; but thou muft ftill undergo many more, before thou canst be numbered with the truly happy. Thou enquireft of me where happiness dwells. Look round the world, and fee in how many different fcenes fhe has taken up her refidence; fometimes, tho' very rarely, in a palace, often in a cotrage; the philofopher's cave of retirement, and the foldier's tent amid the noife and dangers of war, are by turns her habitation; the rich man may fee her in his treasure, or the beggar in his wallet. In all thefe ftations fhe is to be found, but in none altogether. Go then and feek thy fortune among the various scenes of the world, and if thou fhouldft prove unsuccessful in this probationary expedition, return to me when feven years are expired, when the paffions of youth begin to fubfide, and I will inftru&t thee by a religious emblem, which our great prophet fhewed me in a dream, how to obtain the end of all thy withes." Achmet, not understanding Abudah's meaning, left him as difcontented as he came, and returned to Ipahan with a full refolution of gratifying every inclination of pleafore or ambition, imagining one of thefe, must be the road to felicity. Accordingly he gave up his first years entirely to those enjoyments

which

which enervate both mind and body; but finding at length no real fatiffaction in the poffeffion of these, but rather diseases and difappointments; he changed his courfe of life, and followed the dictates of avarice, that was continually offering to his eyes external happiness feated on a throne of gold. His endeavours fucceeded, and by the affiftance of fortune he became the richest subject of the eaft. Still fomething was wanting. Power and Honour prefented themfelves to his view, and wholly engaged his attention. These defires did not remain long unsatisfied; for by the favour of the Sophy he was advanced to the higheft dignities of the Perfian empire. But alas! he was still never the nearer to the primary object of his moft ardent wishes! Fears, doubts, and a thoufand different anxieties that attend the great, perpetually haunted him, and made him seek again the calm retirement of a rural life. Nor was the latter productive of any more comfort than the former Atations; in fhort, being disappointed, and finding happiness in no one condition, he fought the hermit a fecond time, to complain of his fate, and claim the promise he had received

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before the beginning of his adventures.

Abudah feeing his disciple return again after the ftated time, ftill difcontented, took him by the hand, and fmiling upon him with an air of gentle reproof, " Achmet, faid he, ceafe to blame the fates for the uneafinefs which arifes alone from thy own breaft; behold, fince thou haft performed the task I enjoined in order to make thee more capable of following my future inftructions, I will unfold to thee the grand myftery of wifdom, by which the leads her votaries to happiness. See (faid he, pointing to a river in which feveral young fwans were eagerly fwimming after their own fhadows in the ftream) thofe filly birds imitate mankind; they are in purfuit of that which their own motion puts to flight; behold others that have tired themselves with their unneceffary labour, and, fitting ftill, are in poffeffion of what their utmost endeavours could never have accomplifhed. Thus, my fon, happiness is the fhadow of contentment, and refts, or moves for ever with its ori ginal."

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Account of the Precautions used in electing a King of POLAND.

WHEN

HEN a king of Poland dies, they lay him on a bed of ftate, guarded by a certain number of fenators, as well ecclefiaftic as fecular; nor is he interred till after the nomination and proclamation of his fucceffor. The throne is no fooner vacant, by death, abdication, or depofal, than the interrex, or regent, for the time being, fummons a general affembly of the gentry to meet at Warfaw.

Before the meeting, the little diets take care to fecure the roads from thieves, and to guard the fron tiers against invafions; and fpies are fent into all the neighbouring countries, to difcover their defigns. No perfons are fuffered to come or go out of the kingdom without paff ports, till the election is over. All foreign letters, though to fenators, are intercepted; nor muft any be written to the army. The highways are blocked up with trees, and ambufcades are placed about them; and during this interval, the ufe of fire-arms is forbid to the people, and all taverns are fhut up. Commiffioners are employed at the fame time to take an inventory of the crown treasure, which is kept at the castle of Cracow, and of which they give an account after the coronation.

The provinces having fent their deputics, and the diet fat about a fortnight, to regulate the affair of the election, the deputies return home, acquaint their conftituents with what they have done, and the gentry confult what is fit to be propofed at the diet for election. In the mean time all courts of judicature beafe, except the marshal's; fome

fenators are sent to the army to direct the military affairs; and all addreffes by foreign minifters, are made to the fenate, who take upon them the title of Serene; and a gentleman is appointed to attend every foreign minister to prevent his bribing the electors; but avarice is fo predominant, it is to no purpose.

When the time for election is come, they affemble in a plain near the village of Wola, half a league from Warfaw, where the fenators repair to a great booth prepared by the treasurer of the crown, and the deputies fit in the open field. After the nobility have chosen their speaker, he is fworn to receive no bribes, to correfpond with neither of the candidates, and to do nothing without the confent of the republic. They then go to St. John's church, where they put up prayers to heaven for its direction in the choice of their king'; which being ended, they appoint a court of justice, and all the fenators and deputies take an oath before the primate, on their knees, to maintain union among themselves, to own none for king but him who is lawfully and unanimously elected, to vote for none till after the grievances of former reigns be confidered, and redrefs promifed; and to preferve the privileges of the republic. They forbid any body to come to the diet with ftrangers, or with fire-arms. They annul all former decrees and ftatutes against their liberties, and fwear the generals to remove the forces from the place of the diet, and to make no other ufe of them than to opprefs the nation's enemies, to fecure its honour and liberties, to reftrain the

foldiers

foldiers from injuring any perfon, and from receiving money either from the clergy or laity. They forbid the treasurers of the crown and duchy to iffue out any money with out the approbation of the bishop of Gnefua, and his council, excepting only for the payment of his forces. They then give audience to the ambaffadors, who make their harangues in Latin. On this occafion, the prelate, who prefides, anfwers for the fenate, and the marshal of the deputies, for the nobility. The ambaffadors of the candidates must be very liberal in prefents to the fenators and deputies, as well as in keeping open tables; nor muft they forget the other gentry, who come in great numbers, and though they have no votes, often threatch the diet, if they do not ele the perfon whom they propofe; fo that the expence of any candidate is feldom lefs than 100,000l. by which means the members of the diet are fuch gainers, that fome think it the principal reafon why the kingdom is kept elective, tho' they have others that are more fubftantial: As iff, that it prevents the inconveniencies and hazards of a king's minority, which is often attended with confufions and broils. 2dly, The power which fuch elections give them of limiting their kings by the diets, and of redreffing their grievances. After finging Veni Creator, the diet proceeds to the election; and the primate, before they name the king, afks three times, Whether all the grievances are promifed to be redreffed ? And if the answer be affirmative, he declares the king elect: the marthals of the crown, and the

great duchy of Lithuania, do the fame, and Te Deum is then fung.

The next thing they do is to exhibit to his ambafador, if the king himself be abfent, the Pa&a Conventa, Polith bill of rights, to which they add as they fee occafion; and he fwears and figns them in the name of his mafter, who, when he comes, muit fwear to them alfo ; and then the chancellor prefents him with the decree of his election.

It is obfervable, that as the kingdom is elective, all Chriftian princes may put in for the fucceffion, and fend ambaffadors thither, though none but a Roman Catholic can be elected. The only reafon alfo for the pope's fending a nuncio to thẻ diet, is, that he may represent to the republic, how much it is its intereft to choose a papift. It is remarkable alfo, that when the king goes to any ceremony, from the time of his election to the day of his coronation, the marthal's staff is borne bowed before him, whereas afterwards it is always carried erect. During this interval likewife, he cannot exercife the royal authority, nor difpofe of any office or benefice; nor, till his coronation, can the courts of juftice, which, as before obferved, are fhut up, make any decree. On an interregnum, the archbishop of Gnefna is always, ex officio, regent or interrex; or if there be no archbishop of Gnefna, the office then devolves to the bishop of Cujavia, and if that fee be vacant, to the bishop of Pofnania. At prefent the archbishop of Gnefna, otherwife styled the prince primate, enjoys it.

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