man to man, a more forcible inftance could not prefent itfelf to their thoughts. The agitation of his mind on this occasion, the fenfe of the danger which menaced his own concerns and thofe of his family, as well as of the mischief. Of the ftrength and cultivation of his which mult neceffarily fall on the de- talents, the biographical account of Mr. luded men who had thus forfeited Collins, which appeared fome years every privilege of confidence, preyed fince in our Magazine, furnithes no forcibly upon his fpirits, and he had difcreditable Specimen. It is an ufefcarcely reached his home, when he ful leffon, conveyed in a pleasing ingewas feized with a delirious fever. The nious manner, and demonftrating the iminediate attendance of a Physician value of a judicious application of time alleviated the first fymptoms of this to the purposes of comfort, focial utidreadful diforder, and he was appa- lity, and contentment. But Mr. Ranrently better the next day; but, on dail's praife is of a higher order. the enfuing morning, a returning paroxyim baffled the powers of medicine, and put a period to the earthly existence of this valuable man. He died in the 48th year of his age, leaving a wife and two daughters to deplore his lofs Thofe who, after more than twenty years of uninterrupted happinets, have bent under fimilar afflicting difpenfations, will beft fympathize with the pious forrows of the former. To the latter it is an unfpeakable confolation, that a mother is yet fpared to them, who, unvariably amiable and admirable in her conduct, is at once the example and the reward of domestic virtue. Happy it is for them all, in this hour of diftrefs, that they have learned to place a reliance on the good providence of God, and know how to commit themfelves unto him as unto a faithful Creator. Thele are the documents which we are enabled to communicate respecting Mr. Randall's life. His character might be difcriminately learned from contemplating the real forrow of his numerous affociates who attended the lait folemn rites paid to their friend. There are few men to whom the triumph of worth is allowed without fome accompanying fenfation of envy; but to him, who, that knew him, was not willing to concede it unalloyed? He was actively benevolent to many, without affumption of importance from the favours he conferred, or oftentatious of the pains he fo readily employed in their fervice. He was hum ble, innocent, of a warm and generous heart, eafily moved to anger, and as eafy foftened to pity. Each one, who wept over his grave, was confcious that he had, in the intercourse of life, met with men of more daring energies, of powers of mind more concentrative, and of faculties more eminently com. prehenfive; but of that love of our kind, of that benevolence which binds When a benefit was to be conferred, or a misfortune averted, no instant was loft in commencing the execution of his ever ready purpose, and the zeal of his difpofition allowed him no moment of remiflion, till it was effectually completed. To a mind tinctured with fuperftition, it would feem, from the reftlefs ailiduity of his hours, that he entertained a previous fenfe of their hattening period, of the premature interruption his benevolent designs were to undergo. If The virtuous Emperor Marcus Antoninus has left a fingular record of the feveral excellent qualities he learned from his difcriminate valuation of various individuals. Thofe who defire to look into the world with a fimilar aim, might have found in Mr. Randall's character what would certainly add to the stock of their virtues. they were to draw an example from his conduct in life (and there are few above the reach of much an example), they would imitate the alert Vigilance to which he had habituated his mind in the performance of duties, whether pleafing or painful, and if they could add, from his mafs, one quality to enrich the treatures of the foul, as the Indians believe they can take poffeffion of the virtues of their deceased compa nions, they would tranfplant to their own boloms the Philanthropic Participation of another's joys and forrows, which gave, not only to his words, but to his very thoughts, the fame mental tone and colour that he perceived prevailing in the object of his folicitude, and taught him, as it were, to vibrate to ats feelings. They would with to obtain that unhesitating affection, that heart-expanding charity, that generous profusion of friendly warmth. which, forbidding him to confine his kindnets to any, endeared him to ali. In the relations of HUSBAND and Ccz FATHERS FATHER, the pious fufferings of his family can beft fpeak his worth. In that of FRIEND, thofe who were once fo happy as to share his regard, experienced fo regular and conftant proofs of its continuance, fo ftrict a discharge of thofe kindly duties which always attend on virtuous friendship, that they could fafely recline on him in the moments when confolation was wanted, and receive delight from him in those which were allotted to the enjoyment of rational and cheerful intercourfe. As one of thefe, the writer of this feels a deplorable chafm now made in his life, of which the future hours (even if, fortunately, paffed amidst thofe dear remaining companions whom the affectionate influence of the deceased had collected and united) wear, in profpect, the gloomy hue of infufficiency and difcomfort. Such was the man who, in the strength of life, his mind open to every infuence of science and truth, and his heart to every fentiment of piety and huma nity, funk a victim to the ingratitude of thofe, whofe fortunes he had * estab⋅ lifhed, whofe well-being he had foftered, and whofe real intereft he had never deferted. Thofe unhappily mifguided men will long have caufe to remember, that their tumultuary conduct has deprived them of him who, during a fluctuating courfe of profperous and adverfe times, maintained towards them the fame steady, unvarying tenor of protection and fupport; who at one particular period, when he found himself wholly unemployed, either by the Government or by individuals, de vised schemes of work, of which the wri ter of this account can bear witness that the chief aim was to create a temporary provifion for the numerous Shipwrights belonging to his docks, whose services, he faid, had contributed to raise his fortunes, and whom, therefore, he would not forfake or turn adrift in the hour of their need. For these men he was content not only to fufpend his profits, but even to diminish his capital, in the juft confidence that when different circumstances thould arife, their exertions would amply reward his affectionate care. Of the melancholy reverse of his expectations, as many of thofe men as are endowed with honeft natural feelings will bear the recollection deeply engrafted amidst the regrets of their bofoms; and that one who dared, in the hour of tumult (if it be poffible that fuch were the fact), to lift his hand again't his benefactor, may know that, although he dealt no deadly, or even dangerous blow, he gave a fatal wound to that peaceful and benevolent spirit ; and may take home to his confcience the indelible reproach of having haftened the diffolution of his belt and conftant friend. (Our admiration of the amiable character of Mr. Randall, who has left a very numerous clafs of friends to lament his lofs, had induced us to hope that we might have been able to prefent a PORTRAIT of him to the Public, in addition to the foregoing Memoir; but the delicacy of a near and dear relative bath hitherto opposed an obstacle to our intention; and we refpect her feelings too much to be importunate on the fubject.) THE DISCIPLE OF J. J. ROUSSEAU. DISCONTENTED with the picture whelmed, as it were, with offers of fervice, with protestations of attachment. Politenefs, affability, embellithed every countenance. At twentyfive the charm vanithed; he then ima which fociety affords, Maurice, for whom it had fo many charms, began to be difguited with it. He was convinced of the illufion of the Hattering reprefentation formed by his imagined he faw nothing but falfehood, gination, at the age of twenty. When he entered the world, he heard from every quarter the language of benevolence, in every look he read the exprellion of affection. He was over malice, jealouly, crimes, and odious paflions Maurice has gone from one excefs to the other. He is mistaken now as he was mistaken before. To reconcile him with mankind, 1, *This appears from the fund which they have amaffed from the furplus of their wages, and which it is known they have applied to the purposes of ungenerous refiftance to their employers. the the other day, propofed a little excurtion of about forty miles from Paris. He agreed to it, upon my promifing to take him to a mifanthropist of the most gloomy difpofition, to whom he might communicate all his unfavourable fentiments of mankind. We therefore took the road to Fontainbleau, where we arrived on the evening of the 12th of May. We had ftill ten miles to go. It was one of thofe delightful fpring days when na. ture, blooming and gay, embellished with the fun's luftre, presents to the eye of fenfibility an enchanting fpectacle. The earth exhaled a healthfraught odour: a multitude of trees in flower mingled with it their delightful perfumes. The more back. ward oak had not yet expanded all his leaves; but the early birch already waved its aerial foliage, and the elegant acacia dropped from its branches feftoons of a delicate green. The vi. gilant lark, almost motionless in the iky faluted our ears with his melodious notes, the prefage of a fine day. If Maurice had quarrelled with mankind, he had not with nature. We proceeded without either uttering a word, and in a continual ecftacy. When enjoying the grand fpectacle of nature, there is at firit no room for reflections; the faculty of thinking feems for a time fufpended. One feels, the heart experiences a delicious intoxication : this is the feat prepared by Nature. We arrived between two hills covered with trees, near a rivulet, whofe meandering courfe we followed, keeping along a hedge planted on its banks. Upon the two hills we obferved umbrageous thickets, groves, clumps of trees, and grey rocks, which heightened the beauty of the verdure. Farther on was a mill; its wheel was motionless, and the dam diminished the current of the rivulet. We advanced in filence: the hills foon approach, join, are confounded in each other, and in the angle which they form we perceive a charming habitation fituated between two beautiful ftreamiets shaded by ancient trees, which the axe has refpected. This was the limit of our walk. This rural abode is the alylum of happiness, of virtue, of friendthip; it is the retreat of a fage whofe peaceful days are spent remote from ambition and its illufions, far from the deceitful paflions and their empty pro. mifes. We entered. We were told that the owners were abfent, but that they would foon return. Whilst waiting for them, we took a furvey of the apartment into which we had been introduced. It was a room of moderate fize, with three windows looking towards the valley. The eye ranged over meadows through which it traced all the ferpentine meanders of the rivulet. Over the verdure of the dale rofe the mill, whofe wheel, caufey, and small canal, were distinguishable. In the interior, the furniture was elegantly fimple; no gilding, no luxury they contribute not to the happinefs of life. Over the chimney-piece were feen the inftrument which thews the time, and the bufts of thofe who knew how to make the best use of it. In front was an open piano, on which a fonata of Steibelt and fome fymphonies of Haydn proved, that in this charming retreat the moit amiable of arts was cultivated. At this fight, Maurice gave me an expreffive look, which feemed to lay that I had deceived him -But the arrival of the proprietors prevented any reproach, any explanation. We were welcomed with that affability that cannot be mistaken. Mere politeness frequently ufes the fame language as benevolence, but the accent is not the fame, and the heart knows how to make the diftinction. This family is compofed of M. de L. about forty-five years of age, his wife, a daughter entering upon her eighteenth spring, and a child of ten years. "Here," laid I, prefenting Maurice, is a friend almost disgusted with life, drenched with the cup of bitterness, irritated at the injustice of mankind, and whom I have taken the liberty to bring hither to reconcile him with the fpecies." A few pleasantries paffed on the youth of the mifanthropist : they feemed to fay to him, But you have yet feen nothing! M. de L. whom I know intimately, was the fon of that Mad. de L. to whom Rousseau wrote several letters, fome of which are inferted in the col lection of his works. An enthusiastic admirer of the author of Emilius, this tender mother had herself nursed her only child. As a recompence for this duty, fo fweet in the fulfilment, Rouf feau gave her a lace he himself had made, and which is moft carefully pre Served ferved. This lady was one of thofe who for the greatest length of time maintained a connection with Jean Jacques, through the medium of her child, whom he was always rejoiced to fee, being fond of children. He had in fome measure directed his education. M. de L. was eighteen years old when he lost his Mentor. Educated .according to his advice, he had been taught the turner's business. At twenty-five M. de L. fixed his choice, married without listening to prudential confiderations, and was happy. Family reasons, to which he had the weakness to yield, and perfecutions, compelled him to leave France at the moment when emigration had become an epidemic diforder, and before it was juftified by events. M. de L. thought himfelf obliged to follow the torrent. He was ftill ignorant that the man who takes up arms against his country can not acquire glory, even if triumphant. He foon perceived that intrigue, vanity, and paffion, continued to reign at the fugitive court. Abandoning it to its fate, and refolving to take no part in the quarrel, he fettled, with his wife and daughter, in a village of Pruflia, where he maintained himfelf by his trade. He then perceived the pro. priety of his matter's doctrine on the fubject of making man independent on fortune. Intelligent, clever, induftrious, he was foon abie, by his labour, to fupport his family; and the fhop of the French toy-man had the moft cuftomers. The love of his country brought him back to France, about two years ago, as foon as tranquility was reftored. His immenfe eftates had been all fold: no hing was left him but the fmall farm where we were, which belonged to his wife. This is briefly the history of M. de L. It contains, as we have seen, no great events; but the picture of his opinions is more interesting, and we shall prefent a sketch of them to the reader. Almost all the maxims of Jean Jacques were engraved on his memory, on his heart He never spoke but with the utmoft veneration of that extraordinary man, whofe fingularities be explained. "The perfecutions," faid he to us, which Rouffeau had experienced, caufed him to read an expreffion of hatred in every countenance; and what he dreaded above all things was to meet any one that knew him. Be ing one day in a stage-coach from Paris towards Montmorency, one of his fellow-travellers called him by his name. Rouffeau made an excufe for stopping, got down from the coach, and returned the fame way without faying a single word, or taking any notice of the coachman, who called after him. "Like you," faid M. de L. addreffing himself to our mifanthropist, "like you, I was early prejudiced against fociety; I did not love, although I had no reason to complain of it. Thefe prejudices were instilled into me by Jean Jacques, in whom they were more excutable than in any other man. He frequently faid to me, that in focial man there were two quite diftin& individuals; the man of nature, and the man formed by fociety. The more, continued he, we preferve the gifts lavished upon us by the former, the better we are. The more we lofe them to fubftitute in their ftead the pernicious favours of fociety, of the lefs value we are. By means of this diftinction he pretended to explain all our contradictions. It is to him I owe my principles on happiness, and confequently happinefs it felf. What conftitites the bafis of it is that inward content produced by a confcience pure and free, not only from crimes and faults, but even from culpable defires. Defire and envy almost always accompany each other. If a man defires the ftuation held by another, he is not long before he confequently envies him: thus arifes al.eady a painful fentiment, which muft diíturb his 'tranquillity. By continually dwelling on this idea, he finds himself difpofed, almoft without perceiving it, to with for fome event that may render the fituation vacant, to calculate even the favourable chances, the probabilities on which hope is founded. He is impatient. he accufes Time of delay, he implores Fortune, forgetful that there is behind him another envious man, making the fame complaints, forming the fame wishes. But fuppofe him poffelfed of the employ, the fole object of his defires, will he ftop there? What limits has ambition? Has it ever been feen to fix bounds for itself, and to respect them? No. He will fee above him fome other perfon, whofe merit he will analyfe; and the refult of this examination will caufe him to conclude that he has at least equal merit, and rights rights as well founded as the other; and he will again enter the circle of envy, of calculation, of intrigue, never more to leave it. Thefe reflections are juftified by experience, and I acquired it at my own expence. I therefore haltened to quit my employments, and thought myself more happy in frequenting the brilliant focieties of the capital. But, alas ! what is called pleafure is little deferving of the name. Will you give it to entertainments, where you yawn at a vat expence; to fplendid exhibitions, where you are fatigued in the most ceremonious style? Let us admit that there happiness is not to be found. It was in my toy-hop that I first began to enjoy it. Continually employed with my labour, when I grew tired I thought of my family, of its wants, and that idea gave me fresh courage. In short, it was here, in this retirement, that I became completely happy. Here I give way, with out fear, to the tendereft emotions. I employ myself with the education of my children Anna derives from her mother her virtues and her abilities; my fon Theodore will owe to me a love of labour, a found judgment in a robust body.' M. de L. was ftill fpeaking, when his fon entered. He was a child of ten years, who appeared to be fourteen. He had in his hand a fmall cup of box-wood, which he had juft made with his father's turning lathe. In the education of my fon," said M. de L. "I follow Rouleau's precepts. I fmile at the malice with which fome of thofe precepts are felected in order to condemn the author. I fincerely pity the father wholofes his children by the ule of the cold bath; but he murmurs at Rouffeau whift he ought only to accufe himself. Any medicine is falutary only from the combination of a certain number of fubftances. Each feparately may perhaps be a poifon. I do not contend that Jean Jacques was never wrong in his principles of education; but I am confident that an affectionate and prudent father will know how to diftinguith error, and will never be the victim of it. Amongst the enemies of Jean Jacques you fee no mothe s, you oblerve very few fathers: they are almost all fy ematic celibatists who never tafted an infant's endearing careffes. This remark is worthy of fome attention." Maurice was ferious; whilst contem- " plating the happinefs of M. de L. his dilike to fociety became ftill stronger. M. de L. gueffed it, and faid to him, "It is not furprising that you do not love fociety; but you are not per mitted to hate the individuals that compofe it. Molt of them poffefs virtues which appear only in the bofom of their families. In frequenting the company of civilized men, when their intereft or bufinefs call them together, you would indeed be tempted to believe that every one left his honefty, his virtue, at home, and brought with him into focial intercourfe nothing but diftraft and diffimulation. It is, therefore, the interior of families, and not focieties, that one ought to vifit. A real milanthropist is a character to be pitied; you must avoid becoming a mifanthropist." But we were obliged to leave this abode of happiness; the invitation given us to return thither often dimi nifhed the pain of our regret; and I perceived that the lovely Anna had perhaps ftill more than M. de L. reconciled Maurice with mankind. ANECDOTE OF THE LATE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND. HIS Is Royal Highness was fome years ago at Newmarket; and just before the horses started he miffed his pocketbook, containing fome bank notes. When the knowing-ones came about him, and offered him feveral betts, he faid, "He had lost his money already, and could not afford to venture any more that day." The horfe which the Duke had intended to back was diftanced; fo he confoled himself that tire lo's of his pocket-book was only a temporary evil, as he should have paid away as much, had he betted, to the Worthies of the Turf. The race was no fooner finished, than a veteran halfpay Officer prefented his Royal Highnefs with his pocket book, faying, he found it near the ftand, but had not an opportunity of approaching him before. The Duke generously replied, "I am glad it has tallen into fuch good hands, keep it had it not been for this accident, it would have been by this time difperfed among the black legs and ~ thieves of Newna.ket." |