rooms where an artificial heat, like that of a hothouse, ferments their digestion, leaving them at waking, pale, languid, and spiritless. This is the common mode: but where experience has opened the eyes of some, and travel informed others, such injurious customs are set aside; and we behold, as in England, the blooming cheek of a Hebe rising brightly with the morn; and the athletic form of manhood moving with all the freshness of health, all the elasticity of youthful vigour.

I am interrupted by a message from my friend at the ambassador's, that great news have arrived from England! I go to learn the tidings; and hope, before I finish this letter, to congratulate you on some glorious event for our country and for Europe.

Days have elapsed since I could return to this paper. An event indeed! great and momentous to the whole world! "How have the mighty fallen, and weapons of war perished!" Nelson, our brave, our invincible Nelson is no more! Heaven, then, in the moment of victory, took from England her never failing hope. Dear has our country paid for the glory of Trafalgar: but it is a glory that will cast the Corsican star into shadow: it must shine in every British heart for ever; and at the hour of danger, whether in the field or on the wave, go before them like a pillar of fire to light them to fame and victory. Yea, even though hosts oppose them, will not his last words rally their souls to stand? " England expects every man to do his duty!" What a war cry is that! What an arousing call to those who have been his compeers! What a summons to deeds of honour to generations yet unborn! To dwell on the bright name of a departed hero, how does it inspire the mind to emulate his example! To die like a Wolfe or a Nelson, is a destiny so great, that cold must be the heart which is not awakened to enthusiasm and patriotic zeal when it recals their life and death to remembrance. Who would not partake their bed with joy? Defending your country, opposing your breast as a shield between England and her enemies, let the balls come: if they strike, it is for thousands your life is given. VICTORY! Safety to your country, the preservation of relations,

friends, countrymen, all are in that word! So Wolfe died, and so Nelson fell! The shout of triumph arose, and the soul took its flight to heaven; angels receive it, and as a benefactor of mankind, it takes its happy seat amongst hosts of kindred, blissful spirits! Here, this is the bright career of the real hero. His sword is drawn for justice alone; to defend, not to oppress; and thus his laurels are immortal as the fields of paradise. But those of the mere conqueror, the invader of neighbouring countries, the usurper of others' right, where are they? What is he? Though his exterminating brand laid the whole universe at his feet, he is still only a conqueror, a murderer of mankind; and though fame may speak of his deeds, glory can never surround them. Glory can be attached to nothing that is not virtuous. We fear the tyrant, but it is only the hero that we revere. Where were the tears which fell for the Timurs of any age or nation? Behold those which flow for Nelson! England mourns him as a parent, as a protecting genius ravaged from her shores. And distant nations, they mingle their sighs with her's: to every quarter where his victorious and guardian standard flew, have the news of his death been sent; and grievous has been the lamentation. In being the champion of liberty and honour, he was the champion of all mankind; and as such, he who fought for all, is wept by all.

The account of this memorable event was transmitted to the Russian army on the frontiers, and there read to the emperor Alexander by his surgeon, a Scotch gentleman, who is as worthy of the country in which he was born, as of the imperial confidence. The tidings struck the emperor in the most forcible manner; and while his brave eyes filled with tears, he uttered such an eulogium on the merits of the departed hero, as, could he be sensible of human tribute, must be a sweet incense to his immortalized spirit. Indeed I should not do justice to the Russians were I not to say that the general feeling they express for our Nelson is that of men regretting the loss of a dear brother. Their rejoicings for the victory of Trafalgar are chastened by the idea that the hand which won it is now disabled for ever in the grave.

Such is the drawback to our triumph: and I am sorry to say, that we anticipate even another alloy to our joy. It is

rumoured that a battle has been fought between the combined forces of Austria and Russia, with those of France; and that the result obliged the emperor of Germany to make an immediate peace with the enemy. The emperor Alexander and his forces, indignant at what has happened, are on their return home. Long before this arrives in England, you will have received from the scene of action, more certain intelligence of this disastrous affair. At present the report is, that the principal failure lay on the side of the Austrians: nay, if it be true what is said, failure is too gentle an epithet for their conduct; rather baseness and treachery, in the worst sense of the words. The rumour goes that a large body of the Austrians not only deserted to the French, but even fired upon the Russians, whom they had brought thither as their allies and protectors; thus adding ingratitude to their deep dishonour. How must such a stigma on his countrymen pierce the heart of the Archduke Charles! But he still exists, and virtue may yet revive in Austria.

The loss which the brave Russians have sustained, they say, is very considerable. The enemy too, have had a most dear victory. But I have no doubt that in the usual style of these ci-devant republicans, it will be proudly set forth as an achievement of their arms with little damage on their side, and no infamy whatever. In those accounts which they give to the world, nothing is said of their bribery, their corruptions, their deceits, their falsehood: the net is nowhere spoken of that is spread by wiles under the feet of monarchs; the golden draught is nowhere mentioned which poisons their counsellors, and lays their honesty and vigour asleep. Ministers, not their sovereigns, often seal the misery of thousands.

The public are cajoled by being told that all the conquests of France are the effects of dauntless bravery alone: hence its leader is deified as a kind of god. But look under the purple that invests him, and there you will see the serpent's wily train. He is bold, he has great talents, and insatiable ambition; and he was placed on a stage where he might exert all. In such a situation, when once a man forgets that he is an accountable being, when he determines to live to his desires alone, how easy is it for him to glut them to the utmost. No check

menaces him but that of fortune: bowing to no God but his ambition, faith, honour, life, death, are as nothing in his hands: he throws them to the right or left as they impede his course; and makes straight forward over the neck of groaning nature to his goal.

Bonaparte has now all Germany at his command. Kings, they say, are to be speedily created, and the whole of the country to be newly divided. Intermarriages between the Corsican's relations and ancient princely families are to be formed; the better to build up the foundations of the universal empire he seems to meditate. He does indeed "bestride the globe;" and sets its rightful sovereigns to "peep about beneath his huge legs to find themselves dishonourable graves." There is something very awful in the idea of how great may be the fall of this colossus. He is a tremendous object; a chastising instrument in the hand of Providence! And, when the nations have undergone the scourge, what may then be the "wo to him by whom their evils came?" These are mysteries beyond my comprehension: but they are mysteries of heaven, and it becomes us to adore in silence. Adieu.

P

LETTER XIV.

St. Petersburgh, December, 1805.

ALL is too true! The allies have been defeated, and a fearful blow has been given to the great cause of Europe. But, as I said before, you have better accounts of the affair than we can have here; so I will no further enlarge on what must so deeply affect us all. I know the disaster has happened; but I am yet ignorant of the particulars, for there are here no public national prints, except one or two in the Russ language, very sparingly communicative. Even the English newspapers which come hither, are delivered so irregularly, that the chain of their information is miserably destroyed. However, we shall learn more in a day or two, as the emperor is hourly expected. When he arrives you shall have my sentiments of this amiable and idolized monarch. Meanwhile, I will interest you in the virtues of the illustrious widow of his predecessor, the good dowager empress.

How can I do it better than by giving you a sketch of an institution which reflects the highest honour upon its august patroness? Ever since the death of the late emperor the occupation of this princess's life has been to institute, protect, and advance charitable foundations of every description. In short, we have in dear England scarcely one from which she has not drawn some philanthropic hint. To the proper regulation of these charities almost the whole of her time is dedicated.

The hospital in question, was instituted forty years ago; and is in truth but a branch of one more extensive at Mosco. It is designed for the reception of foundlings. The number of little deserted souls now within the walls of this blessed asylum at St. Petersburgh, is nearly six hundred. When I went over the house the matron showed me eight lovely infants which had been left that very day at the place appointed for their reception. To obtain admission for her child, the mother of one of these poor little beings at a certain hour repairs secretly to a given spot, where depositing her charge in a wicker basket, along with some relic of affectionate remembrance, (perhaps