ufe of to induce them to do it, but the only feeling one that ever can be made use of, their own intere ?'

He then fhews the inconveniencies under which agriculture would labour, if there was no other market for the produce of the fields than what was obtained by means of commerce at a distance. And although he confiders commerce, when under proper regulations, as highly beneficial, and worthy of encouragement, yet he fhews, at great length, that unless it is viewed in this fubfervient capacity, the ftate may be reduced to the lowest degree of debility, while its commerce continues to flourish:

Still, however, the merchants, by pufhing on trade to a great degree; by importing and re exporting, might continue to bring vait fums of money into the nation, and accumulate riches to an aftonishing degreee,-while the people,-the only true riches of the itate, were reduced to mifery.

Such, in all probability, was the state of ancient Tyre. Such for certain was the fate of Carthage, which, from this mistaken idea, that riches could conftitute the strength of a flate, fuffered her merchants to be exalted to the highest degree, while her people were miferable flavcs. But when the trying hour of danger came,-when fhe was furrounded with difficulties on every fide,-fhe felt her internal weakness:-her own people deferted their oppreffors, and affifted the virious foe;—her mercenaries forfook her and fled;and the felt, when too late, that he had trufted to a pointed rod, which, when he was obliged to lean upon it for fupport, pierced her to the heart, and made her fall like a mighty monument erected by folly upon the unftable fand, which, when it was fiercely affailed, tumbled headlong a ftupendous ruin, the wonder and aftonishment of all furrounding nations.

Let us not therefore deceive ourfelves by faife appearances.-A nation may carry on a gainful trade, while its ftrength and vigour are declining.Its merchants may be enriched, while the ftate becomes nervelefs and exhaufted.-Its great men may be wallowing in luxury, while flavery approaches with hally frides; or may be intoxicated in the giddy whirl of varied amufements and refined delights, when it flands to:tering on the very brink of deftruction.

Manufactures too, as contributing to the advancement of agriculture, when properly conducted, and as furnishing a basis for commerce, he commends as highly beneficial. But when, from want of attention or want of knowledge, they are fo improperly conducted as to retard the improvements of agriculture, the apparent profperity which they for a time produce he compares to the glowing luftre of a brilliant meteor, that for a time delights the fancy with the moft agreeable ideas, but when it difappears, leaves nothing but darkness and gloomy defolation

behind.

Such are the general principles eftablished in the publication before us. The work itfelf comprehends a number of particular cafes relating to the internal police of Scotland, by attending to

which, it is fhewn, the profperity of that ftate might be greatly augmented. The reafoning is, throughout the whole, illuftrated by appofite examples, drawn from hiftory, ancient and modern; and thefe details are frequently curious and interesting. In our next we fhall take a general view of the fubjects difcuffed in this performance, in the order wherein they occur; and give fome idea of the chain of reafoning by which they are connected. Buricola

ART. III. Sele& Letters between the late Duchefs of Somerset, Lady Luxborough. Mifs Dolman, Mr. Whiler, Mr. R. Dodsley, William Shenfione, Efq; and others; including a Sketch of the Manners, Laws, &c. of the Republic of Venice, and fome Poetical Pieces; the whole now first published from original Copies, by Mr. Hull. 2 Vols. 8vo. 12 s. bound. DodЛley. 1778.

OTWITHSTANDING that fome " trifles, light as air," may be found in these volumes, many of the Letters are fo far worthy of the public attention, as to afford an ample compenfation for the inferiority of their unimportant companions: on the whole, therefore, the lovers of this fpecies of literary entertainment, are obliged to Mr. Hull for the collection. Some agreeable picces of poetry are interfperfed; among which, The Diamond, an original poem, in two cantos, by Mr. Shenstone, merits diftinction. One of the Editor's ingenious female correfpondents prefers it to Pope's Rape of the Lock, as poffeffing, in particular, greater delicacy of fentiment.-The Rape of the Lock, however, with deference to the Lady's judgment, is, yet, an unrivalled performance.

Among the Letters, thofe of the late Duchefs of Somerset feem to claim the preference. They truly deferve the character prefixed to them by Mr. Shenftone, in his transcript, viz. "Copies of Letters from her Grace the Duchefs Dowager of SOMERSET (formerly Countefs of Hertford) in which is dif cernible a perfect rectitude of heart, delicacy of fentiment, and a truly claffic eafe and elegance of ftyle. There are many of them tinged with an air of melancholy, through the loss of her only fon, Lord Beauchamp."

Several of the younger ladies, too, make a pleafing appearance in this literary group: a Mifs F. is fprightly and humourous; and a Mifs N. is equally fenfible and entertaining.

Some of Mr. Shenftone's Letters are, likewife, worthy the regard of the Public, as they truly mark the writer's character, by that mixed air of chearfulness and penfivenefs which is obfervable in thofe parts of his epiftolary correspondence, printed in former collections of his works.-Poor Shenftone does not

⚫ Of Covent-Garden theatre; author of feveral dramatic pieces.

appear to have been altogether an happy man. Perhaps his retired life was not quite fuitable to his natural difpofition. His rural fcenery was pleasant in the fummer, and while enlivened with company; but in the gloom of winter, and in folitude, he was fubject to the spleen ;-and the limits of his fortune would not allow him to feek relief in the amufements of the town.

The Editor takes notice of a common objection to publications of this kind, "that private letters fhould not be made public without the confent of the writers," &c. Mr. Hull, in his preface, obferves, that this general rule, like many others, may admit of an exception, in particular inftances; and thefe intances are, where a proper mode of introducing them to the world is inviolably attended to. It is a well-known, and equally uncontrovertible, maxim, that perfons of the highest excellence (especially in the literary walk) are poffeffed of the greateft referve and diffidence. Were the private fentiments of fuch to be with-held from the Public, till their individual confent were obtained, what a lofs would it be to the republic of letters, and what an injury to moral improvement! Any perfon's general principles and ideas may be feen, perhaps, in the refpective public profeffion and fituation of life, and their general intercourfe with mankind; but the innate fenfations, the more refined emanations of the mind, are alone difcoverable in the private communications of friendship. There can therefore be no unpardonable liberty in decoying, or even gently-compelling fuch defervers into public notice; nor is it, by any means, uncharitable to fuppofe, there may be many, who would not be violently difpleafed to fee their fentiments in print, however reluctant they might, and, perhaps, ought to appear, if their particular per miflion were applied for.

To illustrate and enforce this pofition, let me be permitted to afk, if the Duchefs of SOMERSET had been requested to have fuffered her Letters to be made public, whether he would have confented? Probably not-Yet what an advocate would moral virtue, pious refignation, and genuine piety have been deprived of, if thofe exquifite tranfcripts of her mind had been concealed from public view!It is, moreover, matter of great doubt, whether we should have been fo well acquainted with the talents of a SHENSTONE, had Providence indulged the wishes of his moft intimate friends and acquaintances, in prolonging fo valuable a life.

Thus it has been, is, and will be, with most people of diftinguifhed abilities; their excellencies muft, in a manner, be forced into day-light, or we should lofe the benefit of their precepts; they might otherwise be faid, like mifers, to have a valuable treasure buried with them, which ought, in common juftice, to be left behind for the advantage of furvivors.'

There is, no doubt, with refpect to the Public, fome weight in what Mr. Hull hath obferved; but there is another reason to be urged in proof of the particular utility of fuch collections: two fightly octavos, with fuch inviting names in the title-page, night chance to produce, to the Editor, no ungrateful returns

for

for the trouble and attention beftowed, in providing for the entertainment or inftruction of his readers-This is a reafon which, we apprehend, has had its weight with the Editors of many fimilar publications; as it notoriously had with the Lady who gave to the world thofe Letters which the late Lord Chefterfield intended only for his fon.

As we have, especially, commended the Duchefs of Somerfet's Letters, a fpecimen of them will, we are perfuaded, be acceptable to the generality of our Readers :

Duchefs of SOMERSET to Lady LUXBOROUGH.

Piercy-Lodge, Nov. 23, 1753.

I did indeed, dear Madam, begin to defpair of having the honour, and (what I felt more fenfibly) the pleasure of hearing from you again. I am so fubject to fall into errors, that I was afraid fome unguarded expreffion in my last letter might have given you offence, and yet my heart bore witnefs, how far I had been from intending it.

'I have been extremely ill the whole fummér, and for fome weeks believed in great danger; but, by the bleffing of God upon Dr. SHAW's prescriptions, I am at prefent, though lean and ill-favoured, much better; yet still obliged to be carried up and down stairs, for want of ftrength and breath to carry myfelf: but I have great reafon to blefs God for the eafe I now enjoy. When one comes to the laft broken arches of MIRZA's bridge, reft from pain must bound our ambition, for pleasure is not to be expected in this world; where I have no more a notion of laying fchemes to be executed fix months, than I have fix years hence; which, I believe, helps to keep my spirits in an even ftate of chearfulness to enjoy the fatisfactions which prefent themselves, without anxious folicitude about their duration. We have lived to an age that neceffarily fhews us the earth crumbling under our feet, and as our journey feems approaching towards the verge of life, is it not more natural to caft our eyes to the profpect beyond it, than by a retrofpective view, to recal the troublefome trifles that ever made our road difficult or dangerous? Methinks it would be imitating Lor's wife (whofe hiftory is not recorded as an example for us to follow) to want to look back to the miferable scene we are so near escaping from.

I have spent the last three weeks molt agreeably. The first of them, the Bishop of Oxford and Mr. TALBOT, paffed with us, and had the goodness to leave Mifs TALBOT (whofe character I think you must have heard) when they went away. She is all the world has faid of her, as to an uncommon fhare of understanding: but fhe has other charms, which I imagine you will join with me in giving the preference even to that; a mild and equal temper, an unaffected pious heart, and the most univerfal good-will to her fellow-creatures, that I ever knew. She cenfures nobody, the defpifes nobody, and whilft her own life is a pattern of goodness, she does not exclaim with bitterness against vice. We spent a good deal of our time in our own rooms, except in the mornings, but our time is a good deal broken in upon. Soon after nine we meet in the chapel; as foon as prayers are over, we go to breakfast, and after

04

that

that we work, during which, Mr. CowsI.AD, or my chaplain †, read aloud; at eleven we go, if the weather is tolerable, to take the air for two hours at leaft, which Dr. SHAW infifts upon my doing. The moment we get out of the coach, we fee no more of one another till three, when the dinner is punctually upon the table. Dinner and tea are both over by five, when we retire till eight, and then go to prayers; after which we adjourn into the little library, where we work, and the gentlemen read, as in the morning, till fupper, a quarter before ten, and it is a rule to be in all our rooms a quarter before eleven.'

This, to the fine world, as her Grace elfewhere obferves, may feem to be a melancholy, monaftic life. She could not, however, be fuppofed, as the herfelf remarks, to have chofen it from an' ignorance of the splendour and gaiety of a court, but from a thorough experience that they can give no folid happiness.I find myfelf, fhe adds, more calmly pleafed, in my prefent way of living, and more truly contented, than I ever was in the bloom and pomp of my youth. I am no longer dubious what point to pursue. There is but one proper for the decline of life, and indeed the only one worth the anxiety of a rational creature at any age: but how do the fire of youth and flattery of the world, blind our eyes, and mislead our fancies, after a thousand imaginary pleafures which are fure to disappoint us in the end!'

The Duchefs having juftly praised Mifs Talbot, in the foregoing extract of her letter to Lady L. we fhall here copy the following further mention of that amiable perfon*, from her Grace's letter to Mr. Shenftone, written about a month after the letter to Lady Luxborough:

The kind offer you made me, of fending me any thing you oc cafionally happened to write, I look upon as the highest obligation; and you will greatly add to it, if you will permit me to shew them to a very ingenious friend of mine, whofe ingenuity is her leaft praife, fince the even chearfulness of her temper, the candour and integrity of her heart, joined with the most unaffected and honourable piety, muft claim the esteem of all lovers of virtue, who have the happiness of being acquainted with her. You may poffibly have

In another letter, the Duchefs thus expreffes the fatisfaction which he took in the company and converfation-not of red coats and beaux, the ufual favourites of ladies, but of fuch men as the learned Dr. Courayer, and her worthy chaplain; the latter of whom the ftyles "a modeft, fenfible, and truly pious young man."-This gentleman, it appears, from authentic information, was the Rev. Mr. Lindfey, now well known to the world by his writings, and by his confcientious refignation of his church-preferments.

Our Readers will find fome account of this Lady and her family, in the 42d volume of our Review, p. 464. In the fame volume, at p. 478, is announced the publication of her Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week. And in our 46th volume, p. 389, we gave an account of her valuable Ejays on various Subjects.

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