These thoughts rack him day and night, and give him an air of such deep melancholy, that it is impossible to look on his countenance-without being sensible that a more than ordinary grief absorbs his soul. He must be about two-and-thirty, although he does not look five-andtwenty. His figure is fine, with a most commanding deportment: but when he talks of his wife, all is subdued: he throws himself along the ground, and either remains for a considerable time afterwards profoundly silent, or weeps with all the bitterness of hopeless sorrow. But when he names those who brought him away, indignation, reproaches, accusations, seem to inflame him to madness; and he walks from side to side with an energy of step, and vehemence of action perfectly savage, but wonderfully striking and grand.

As he found me so ready to enter into his feelings, he spoke with the greater unreserve, and consulted me on his plans. I advised him, should he find, on application to the Emperor, that it would be long ere a vessel could be sent out to the South Seas, to go directly from St. Petersburgh to England; where, I told him, I was sure he would meet not only with the most generous sympathy, but very probably an immediate opportunity of reaching the Friendly Isles.

He heard me as gratefully as if I had had the power myself to transport him to his country; and declared, that were he doomed never again to see it, his life would be misery and his death wretched. "Even to have been cast back again, bleeding on the rocks," said he, "on the fatal night I left it; to have been carried to my home, to have died amidst the embraces, of my wife and children, that would have been happiness! But now, my life is cheerless, I must close my eyes alone!"

His tears rolled over his cheek; and he turned his back, while I heard him sob almost to suffocation.

I hope for the honour of affection, that this feeling, this resolution may last. last. But man is so mutable! Besides, this unfortunate is in the meridian of his days, evidently of the liveliest passions: he is also a European who, having left his country when a boy, knew nothing of the fascinating luxuries of civilization. When he becomes more intimately acquainted with our habits and our comforts; and when, perhaps, some tender European female, like Desdemona, may listen to his story, and love him for the dangers he has past! may not he then too probably forget the Otaheitan Islands? If he do not; should I hear that he has indeed sailed for their distant shores; I shall for ever after admire, as much as I now pity, him; and regard him as a most extraordinary example of constancy and firmness. But should he become reconciled to Europe, and cease to sigh for the simple pleasures of his early years; he will only add another proof to the many already existing of human faithlessness and frailty.

I know you will hoot me for this doubt; and tell me that three years of constancy is quite probation enough to ensure him for the remainder. But those years were past, part on sea, and part in miserable journies. Ease, I dread as the foe to his resolution. Some, that fight like lions when you attempt them by storm, by the sap fall as quietly into your hands as an infant child. So I fear that repose, and the pleasures of society, may undermine the fidelity of our young chief: and then, what is to blame? He was a man, and he fell! True," you

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will say, "but as he is a man he ought to stand: boys may plead the vice of human nature; it is the business of men to conquer it."

A noble principle: and he who aims at it, is more likely to maintain his ground, than he who strikes lower. I acknowledge, that in judging of ourselves, it should be our standard; but when of others, mercy bids us measure by erring mortality, and pity while we condemn. However, I know you would rather have occasion to admire than to pity, when pity is to be alloyed with disesteem; therefore I am happy in the story of my young mariner, as he is yet a hero under all his misfortunes, to give you an object for both sentiments in their purest degree. Should he go to England, I will send him to you; and then I need not doubt all that has been represented to him of my country, being honoured to the word of your faithful friend.

LETTER XXXI.

Mosco, January, 1807: THE HE month of December has elapsed. What momentous tidings has it not brought to Russia! Even the inveteracy of a severe winter is no check to the persevering arms of the French nation. Prussia, with her ill-advised policy, and as ill-placed confidence, has paid dear for her affected neutrality and double-conduct. The country, the army, and what few patriots stood forward in defence of their freedom, are all sacrificed.

The determined ambition of Bonaparte, and the gradual coming to maturity of his deep and widely-grasping plans, have lit the torch of war on the frontiers of a deluded Prince: and the blood of the people, with the extinction of their greatness, can alone extinguish the flame. Well might the fable of the Lion and the Beasts be applied to this conqueror. Many are invited to his court as friends, but when they reemerge it is with mangled members. Friendship with the ambitious, is ever more destructive than their enmity. With an open foe we are prepared for injury; but who can guard against a false friend! And what Sovereign ever yet found an ambitious Monarch not ready to rise upon the necks of all his neighbours, whether enemies or allies? Bonaparte has evinced this spirit: and woe to the next King who, with such an

example as Prussia before him, submits to the yoke of his pretended friendship.* The Sovereign that would be at peace, and maintain his dignity, must be able to controul him. If a confederate nation be not beyond France in power it will soon be within its chains.

In the course of ten days, the military power of Prussia was annihilated: the Duke of Brunswick killed; and a hundred thousand men lost and taken prisoners. French bayonets glittered in the heart of the kingdom. Berlin, Stettin, Custrine, and Magdeburgh, were garrisoned with the troops of France; and cowardice, bribery and treachery, spread themselves over the country. So many betrayed, that all feared to trust; and thus every individual fell an easy prey into the iron grasp of the conqueror.

The only resource left for the unfortunate Frederick, was to throw himself upon the generosity of the Emperor of Russia; and, with the shattered remnant of his once great army, implore his protection. Indeed, so hot was the pursuit directed against him, that at the head of not more than twenty thousand men, he found he had retreated so near to the confines of Russia, that the enemy now stood in check. Alexander's troops had already moved towards the Vistula to cover the remains of unhappy fugitive Prussia. The monarch who had been duped by the flattery of Bonaparte, and the corruption of his own

* The unhappy fate of the Royal family of Spain is a striking example of this simple prediction. It was not read in the stars, but gathered from a common calculation on the tendency of human actions.-R. K. P. 1808.