The following is the Copy of a Letter fent by a Gentleman of Switzerland to the Author of Effays Moral and Literary. As it contains a vindication of his Countrymen from an Afperfion which he mistakenly fuppofes thrown on them in general, it is prefented to the Public literally as it was received. To the Rev. Mr. Knox, Mafter of Tunbridge School, and late Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. Reverend Sir, Berne, in Switzerland, I Am a foreigner, and write in a country very diftant from your own. That previous declaration will, I hope, fufficiently apologize for the inaccuracies of ftyle and language, which I make no doubt I fall be guilty of in this letter. The aukward drefs my thoughts muft appear in may hurt your tafte; but true taste belongs to none but men of feeling, and in thefe fhines generally one of the loveliest virtues that adorns human fociety-benevolence and a fenfe of equity, which fcreens innocent faults from the cruelty of wit, and which, from many parts of your work, I prefume you poffefs, though in one instance you feem to have rejected its influence. My defign, Sir, is to expoftulate with you on a very odious, unjuft, and illiberal expreffion, which dropt from your pen in the 16th page of the fecond volume of your Effays Moral and Literary; a book which does you honour, as a man of found claffical tafte, as a true friend to morality, and as a writer, whofe principles and language infure him the approbation and good-will of his readers. So much the greater was my furprife when I read the opprobrious line I just mentioned. Have you, Sir, before you connected the low infulting word renegado with that of a nation as free and as worthy as your own, have you had an opportunity to ftudy the character of that nation among themfelves? Have you found any apology for that epithet in their annals? it merely the small figure Switzerland makes in a map, that made you fuppofe it was of little confequence whether that epithet was ill or well applied? Is it, Sir, fo eafy a matter to ascertain the reality of national vices? Is it worthy of a writer of character to ftamp infamy on a man or a nation without knowing if they deferve fuch GENT. MAG. June 1780. or is abuse? Is it fair to judge of a whole people by a few scattered individuals ? Have you even in that refpect dealt equitably with us? And have you been unlucky enough to meet with no Swifs in England capable of rectifying your notions and opinion of his country? If you will answer with truth any of thefe queftions, I am convinced, reverend Sir, you will in every one of them find your condemnation. Had you vifited our country, you would have found our liberty more real, our love of it full as ftrong, our manners lefs corrupted, our sense of religion and honour much quicker, our love of letters, our hofpitality, our kindness towards ftrangers, our candid and liberal behaviour in fociety, in fome refpects equal, in others fuperior, to what I have observed in the fame particulars among your own nation. No foreigner perhaps is more prejudiced in favour of England thai. myfelf. I have not imbibed my notions on this head flightly, and without being able to account to myself for it. During my travels, I made a fufficient ftay in England, to be fure that my good opinion of that nation in general is well founded. Though I faw immorality, love of wealth, and the moft unbounded fpirit of party, break down one after another all the fences of civil fociety; though I faw almost the whole people corruption fed on the approach of he diffolution of the last parliament; though I saw many of your own countrymen defpair of the welfare of the nation, pronounce its dignity loft, its primacy gone; though I faw the riches of the Eaft iniure regard and preferment to men totally unworthy of both; though I found the greatest want of difcipline in your univerfities, and the ftate of literature very much altered for the worse, since the times of Addifon, Swift, and Pope; yet I was still just enough not to fettle my judgment on thefe grounds only I attributed much of your degeneracy to the degeneracy prevailing all over Europe; I was unhappy to find fo many faults in fo glorious a nation; and, when drawn by thefe into fplenetic contemplations, cheared myfelf up again by fixing with a fleady eye my looks upon the national advantages and national virtues, which have made me for ever a friend to the English nation, and have endeared that country to me more than any other af ter 1 ter my own. If, on the one fide, I faw vice meet barefaced the broadeft daylight, I faw frequently, on the other, the enthufiafm of manly virtue carried to the highest pitch. I delighted in the daily obfervation of original characters, whofe fingularities almost always indicated a free fpirit and a good heart: I found in your conftitution, in your mode of life, in your multiplied public inftitutions, in the manlinefs of your character, and in many other topics of obfervation, ample compenfation for what difpleafed me; and in the ftudy of your language and your books, I fecured to myself a fund of entertainment, which I ftill cherish with the moft partial fondness. This is the way, Sir, that entitles a man to form a judgment of the national character of a people; and give me leave to tell you, you did not follow it, when, to round a period, you beftowed the afperfion Swifs renegado on thofe Gentlemen to whom many of your Nobility and Gentry truft the care of their children for their education, and during their travels. You may fay, that the epithet is only applied to individuals: it is fo, but it is given in a manner which throws contempt upon the whole nation. You may imagine that I am an advocate in my own cause, because I fhew myfelf fo much hurt by your expreffion; but in this you would be mistaken. I travelled for myself, and improvement was my only view. You may find me over nice in expoftulating with a man I never faw, on a word which nobody perhaps, except myself, has taken particular notice of but in this I am juftified by the natural rights of the public over authors, and by a right much dearer to men of character, that of doing justice to my country whenever I fee it wronged by thofe whofe good opinion I deem valuable. I certainly would not have given myfelf the trouble of writing, nor to you, reverend Sir, that of reading this letter, if I had not been highly pleased with your work. It is full of fenfe and good advice; as much as I am able to judge, well written; and bears evident proofs of your being, like mot good English writers, thoroughly acquainted with ancient learning. But why, Sir, do you flatter the taste of your overbearing nation, by undervaluing every thing foreign to it? If it was my bufinets, I could collect a multitude of proofs of this affertion; but I am no critic. : I read to please myself, not to find out faults and fpecks where I have no right to expect perfection: but I have a very good right to call the word Swifs Renegado ill-judged and undeferved abufe. I hope, Sir, from your candour, you will upon reflection find it fo likewife, and that you will do yourself the justice to alter that paffage in a third edition. I know you might quote fome of your countrymen who have gone much greater lengths than yourself in abufing my nation. But examples, reverend Sir, prove against you. Nothing is more naufeous to elegant minds than low and fcurrilous attempts to be witty merely to raife a laugh. The infamous character of Canten in a play of fome theatrical merit, the Clandeftine Marriage, reflects infamy against none but its author; I maintain, that amongst the loweit dregs of our nation no model for fuch a caricatue could be found out; it is againft all the rules of the ftage, for it has neither truth nor decency in it. Shakspeare might as well have called his Caliban Canton as the author of the Clandeftine Marriage that part which he wrote for the upper galleries of your play-houfes, of which he would be a worthy member. He deferves to be cudgelled by every Swif's he meets in his way; but that is the only manner in which a Gentleman would expoftulate with fo defpicable a being contempt is the only answer he deferves; and I have mentioned him only to fhew you, Sir, how dif graceful it is even to look into the road trod by fo vile a writer. I hope, reverend Sir, this may induce you to enquire more particularly into the character, hiftory, and manners, of a nation you feem little acquainted with. There are fome modern travellers among your own countrymen who can materially affift you in the enquiry. Coxe and Moore, though fometimes very inaccurate, have thrown much light upon the fubject; and I hope Mr. Brydone may be prevailed on one time or other to publish the obfervations, which his long ftay in Switzerland has enabled him to collect, on our civil, moral, and natural hiftory. Though it is unfair in general to judge of a nation from thofe individuals, who, through want of fortune, inconftarcy of mind, love of wealth, or bad conduct at home, have been induced to emigrate from their mother country; Letter to Mr. Knox. -Letter from Dr. Lettfom. country; I believe, Sir, the numerous body of Swifs people fettled in London would alone be fufficient to rectify your notions of their character. They are known as fair trade:s, and trusty fervants; their clergy is compofed of men of learning and exemplary life; their fober indultry afpires not to large fortunes; they generally retire from bufinefs with a small competency, and acquire it through fair and honeft means. They have lately built a fine church at a confiderable expence; they take care of their own poor, they avoid all intercourfe with the few whose behaviour may difgrace the nation. In one word, they are useful members of fociety, and far from being a load to your state, to whom they have lately, as they had already done in the year 1745, offered the facrifice of their blood and fortunes. There may be fome who don't answer this defcription, but the number is Comparatively fo fmall that it would be most unconscionable to make these few the ftandard of your judgment. We frequently fee in Switzerland English travellers very deficient in morals, manners, and even tolerable behaviour; but we don't burden their vices upon national habits and character we defpife them; but we love and cherish your nation, and I dare fay you will find many of your countrymen, who have refided in this country, fpeak with pleasure of the reception they have met with. There are fome, who think, very prefumptu. oufly, that their money entitles them to every distinction, and to every forbearance: thefe very often find themfelves mistaken; but they deserve it, and, though ill pleased, carry away a useful lesson, if they have fenfe enough to make any thing of it. Now, reverend Sir, let me crave your pardon for having fcolded fo long with you in broken English. I fpoke from the heart, and to a man, who, I truft, will take kindly what my good-will towards him has prompted me to fay. My figning this letter is, I believe, a fufficient voucher for the goodness of my intention; and it is with real pleasure that I once more affure you of the great regard and fincere efteem with which I am, reverend Sir, Your most obedient humble fervant, F. FREUDENRYCH. This is perhaps the bell-written letter by a foreigner in English, which our language can produce, both for fen timent and Bole Mr. URBAN, 263 June 10. WHEN an event has been communicated to the public, accompanied with fuch peculiar circumftances as to excite attention, or demand assistance, the public have a claim to every explanation refpecting the help afforded, and the benefit produced; but where benevolence and humanity have been peculiarly interested, fuch information is indifpenfably requifite, in order to obviate any fufpicion of deception, and thereby encourage the future exertions of public generofity. The cafe I would particularly allude to was inferted in your Magazine for January lat, giving fome account of a poor family in fuch extreme distress, that they must have perished, had not immediate fuccour been extended, which in juftice to the community was fpeedily and abundantly applied. The affurance that a happy change in the fituation of this family has fince taken place, I thought would convey pleasure to many of your readers, and exhibit a ftriking inftance of the favourable estimation in which your Magazine is held by the public. I am perfuaded alfo that the well-timed relief which this family has in confequence experienced, was not the only good effect produced. As the diftress of many of the poor throughout the nation, and particularly in the metropolis, has encreased from various caufes to extreme mifery, a difpofition to beneficence has been proportionally excited in thofe of fuperior fituations; and where want has crept into the habitations of the poor, charity has been animated by a divine ardour to purfue and expel the unfriend!y intruder. When the prefent exigencies of the times are confidered, it is not a matter of furprize, that a poor man, with a large family, from want of employment, or by the vifitation of fickness, fhould be reduced to extreme indigence. This, however, is gradually incurred; the first step towards poverty, with only trivial aid applied in the inftant, is eafily reclaimed, and the progreffive defcent prevented; but as diftrefs encreases, the difficulty of obviating it is augmented: it is, therefore, of the utmost importance to the community to close the wound, on the first application, with the oil and the honey, before it cankers, and becomes incurable. This was the conduct of the good Samaritan, who, without en quiring into the principles, or after the country of the traveller, generously administered immediate relief. It is this kind of attention to the first appearances of want, that enables a religious fociety to boast, that there is not one diftreffed perfon in their community unnoticed or unrelieved. I have often lamented that fuch a system of conduct, which has uniformly fucceeded for upwards of a century, has not been adopted more generally in parishes. On the contrary, the poor fupplicant, instead of finding pity and protection, is too often repulfed by thofe who hold the power of relief in their hands, with threats of a workhoufe, if they renew their petitions and again urge their neceffities.-There is a love of freedom in the human breaft; it is the brithright and boat of an Englishman, who ill-brooks unmerited restraint.-A man with fuch feelings, when oppreffed with unavoidable want, is apt to afcribe every instance of neglect to a contempt of his poverty; and thus chagrin of mind is added to his other miferies. It is therefore the duty of thofe in higher stations, to treat the poor with peculiar tenderness, even where they cannot grant their requefts; and with respect to perfons entrufted with the care and provifion of the poor in parishes, the immediate extention of relief, when first required, would not only render the diftreffed object happy, but eventually fave accumulated expences to the community-it would enable him at an eafy rate to item the prefent torrent, encourage him to future exertions of industry, and thus preserve him from becoming a latting burthen to the parish, and a real lofs to the public. Though I have mentioned freedom as the birthright of an Englishman, I would be far from defending the leaft appearance of licentioufnefs among the labouring poor: but when we confider the immenfe importance of this clafs of people, their executive powers in manufactures, in commerce, in arts, and bodily labour, which are great national concerns, we cannot be too cautious of depreffing this love of independence, the genuine fruits of which are virtue, industry, and public spirit. Indeed our happiness requires us to make this part of our fellow creatures happy, as there is no poffibility of in. tentionally rendering others happy without rendering ourfelves fo; neither is it poffible to procure happi nefs for ourselves, without firft pre curing it for others-Happiness, therefore, is reciprocal, and is of all things the most easily purchased; FOR BENE FICENCE IS THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS, AND THE OCCASIONS OF EXERCISING IT ARE INNUMERABLE. J. C. LETTSOM. P. S. In your Magazine for the last month, a writer, under the fignature of "A Friend to Humanity," has very politely noticed my endeavours in favour of the late Captain Carver, and recommends a new edition of his Travels by fubfcription, for the relief of the widow and children-I approve the writer's scheme, and acquaint him that it has been in part executed. Mr. URBAN, May 9. GIVE me leave to add, by way of fupplement to your account (Vol. XLIX. p. 552) of Mr. Nichols's most ufeful "Account of the Alien Priories," that there is in a little obfcure book, intituled, "Archite&ure Militaire.compofée par le R. P. George Fournier, Par. 1648," 12mo, a view of Mont St. Michel, which, though not fo elegant as that in Mr. Nichols's book, which you have copied as above, feems a more faithful, becaufe more full, representation of that remarkable fertrefs. The tower concealed by the fhip in the later views is in this reprefented as ruined, and half next the fea fallen away, like one in Caernarvon castle. (See Buck's view.) Having pointed out this origina! of St. Michael's Mount, juftice obliges me to expofe the egregious plagiarism of the editor of the Antiquarian Repertory, who has borrowed both Mr. N.'s account and plate to fill up the very last number of a work which profelles to admit only original pieces: bat poverty of genius and correfpondence may, perhaps, be admitted as an excufe. Yours, &c. Our Occafional Correfpondent is requested to enable us to compleat his plan, by communicating the materials. His defeription of St. Lucia is very fatisfa&torg, and fhall be inferted when the map is received. Mr. Burlington's blunders de not come within the limits of our work. We bave cautioned our readers generally agains literary impofitions; but have neither room nor inclination to defcend to particulars.— The Story of Packington in our next.feems to be improperly stated.-Remarks on A. B's propofition is unintelligible, and the principal Paintings in the late Exhibition are poftponed to make room for the Narrative of the late Riots. Rife and Progrefs of the late Tumults. HE Editors of the Gentleman's Ma clofe of every memorable transaction, to collect the principal circumstances that attended its progrefs, as well to gratify prefent curiofity, as to preferve the remembrance of it to pofterity: and hence our volumes of the years paft are generally obferved to afford as much entertainment on the re-perufal as at the time of their first publication. It muft, however, be acknowledged, that, during the long term of our periodical existence, no event has happened that will be read by future generations with fo much furprize and astonishment as what we are now about to relate. The narrative therefore will not be thought tedious that is intended to record the late defperate attack upon the lives and properties of the inhabitants of this metropolis, by a fet of miscreants, who, affuming the character of men heated with zeal for their religion, and mingling with them, proceeded to commit the most horrible acts of unprovoked defolation that are to be met with in any hiftory. Some previous explanation will, however, be neceflary to thofe who are ftrangers to the proceedings which have of late agitated the minds of many serious perfons, and which, perhaps, have been the innocent cause of that commotion which alarmed every lover of peace, and provoked their keenest refentment. The application to parliament a few years ago, from a confiderable body of confcientious divines, for fome alteration in the liturgy of the Church of England, gave occafion, it is probable, to the Community of Roman Catholics, to review the ftate in which they stood with regard to the penal laws, and humbly to reprefent their grievances, and legally petition for relief. The penalties to which they were liable, it must be confeffed, were intolerable, and fuch as, had they been enforced, must have obliged by far the greateft part totally to abandon the kingdom. Popish Bishops, Priefts, or Jefuits, and Papists, or perfons profeffing the Popish religion, and keeping schools, or taking upon themselves the education or government, or boarding of youth, were liable to perpetual imprisonment t. But what was till more fevere, not to fay unchristian, It is a vulgar error to imagine that there are Popish Bishops appointed for every diocefe in this kingdom. The English Catholics are now divided into four provinces, under the direction of four Bifhops in partibus infidelium. On this act of King William, a perfon was lately profecuted, convicted, and imprifoned, and muft for ever have been confined, had not the doors of the prison been opened, and a hint given him to make his escape. Roman Catholics were rendered incapable of inheriting by defcent, if any of the next of kin, being Proteftants, clained the inheritance; and even children, abjuring the Popish religion, and turning Protef tants, might thereby deprive their parents of their eftates, and reduce them to beggary. At laws fuch as thefe, human nature revolts; and it was thought just, in this enlightened age, to repeal them. For this realon, as alt unprejudiced perfons were equally ftruck with the feverity of thofe penalties, it was thought adviteable to preferve government void of offence, and to charge one of the most popular members of the minority with the conduct of a bill for repealing thofe particular claufes which were thought not only to be unjust, but cruel. Accordingly Sir Geo. Savile undertook the task, made the motion for the tolerating bill, and carried it through the houfe without a divifion, There were a few, indeed, within doors, but many without, who forefaw that this inlet to Popery would be attended with very different confequences from what those who were made the inftruments to pro mote it,expected. Thefe thought they could difcover a bias in government in favour of Roman Catholics, which led miniftry to turn a deaf ear to the petitions of their Proteftant fubjects, and to reject their remonftrances. But this was not all. The Papifts, elated with the favours that had been granted them, instead of prudently and thankfully enjoying the bleflings of freedom from penalties that were judged hard to be borne, began to abuse their new privileges, and to extend them beyond what the laws allowed; for though the heavy penalty of perpetual imprisonment was remitted, and they were put upon a footing in common with other fubjects, respecting the right of inheri tance, and even in the purchase of lands, yet they were ftill left fubject to many profecutions for propagating their reli gion, which they very unwifely difregarded, and became apparently more earneft than ever, in preaching, teaching, vifiting the fick, and making profelytes, to the no fmall fcandal of many pious divines of the established church, whofe duties they ufurped, and to whofe characters they did not always pay due regard. To this it was owing, as we have been credibly informed, that an Affociation of worthy Proteftants was established, with a view only to endeavour by legal means to obtain fecurity against the abuse of the law that had paffed in favour of Catholics, but not to deprive them of the benefits of it. A deputation from this affociation, we are told, waited upon miniftry with their complaints and re monftrances; at the fame time requesting to know how far they might rely upon the fupport of Government to counte падсе |