at the suggestion of caprice? The proof of my argument is to be found in the abuse of an appellation indiscriminately bestowed on twenty or thirty persons at a time, which, properly defined and understood, necessa rily excludes the idea of such participation. This misapplication is most remarkable in England, where the name of friend is often bestowed on one, whom they merely dis tinguish by the common place civilities of an accidental meeting. I conclude with repeating, that twenty good acquaintances are the change for a friend. I prefer the change to the solid piece, because it actually exists, and is not like the pound sterling, ideal, and not in circulation,

196. PRINCE ALEXIS, SON OF PETER I,

The most authentic details I have ever met with, respecting Prince Alexis, are those I received from a Russian nobleman intimately connected with the Marshal Romanzow,who was son to the General of that name, employed to arrest the unfortunate Prince.

The nobleman, of whom I speak, in

formed me also, that being at Schoenbrun, on a visit to the Count of that name, he was conducted to a small castle, near the Count's domain, and shewn the very apartment in which the Prince Alexis had lived a long time concealed, after his evasion from the Court of his father Peter I.

The Russian nobleman related (as he had heard from the Marshal Romanzow) that the Czar Peter being resolved to bring his son back to Russia, and learning that the Prince had taken shelter in some part of the dominions of the Emperor Charles VI., had written to him (in 1717) to request he would permit General Romanzow to have access to Prince Alexis wherever he might be, in order to prevail on him to return to Russia; promising, at the same time, not to insist on his return if the Prince objected so to do.

The Emperor, who foresaw the probabidity of this measure on the part of the Czar, already advised Prince Alexis to retire to Naples, and had strongly recommended hin. to the care of the Viceroy of that kingdom at that time under the Emperor's dominion.

When, therefore, General Romanzow presented himself at the throne of Charles VI. to perform the commission entrusted to him, he received for answer, that Prince Alexis was not in the Austrian territories. Romanzow then solicited of the Emperor an order to all the Governors of his Italian states, directing them to give General Romanzow admission to Prince Alexis, if he were to be found in any of their provinces. With this order he searched the territory of the Milanese and all Lombardy, but in vain; Alexis was secure at Naples, and the General was informed by each governor he visited that they knew not the retreat of the Prince..

: One day while General Romanzow was conversing in the Russian language with some persons of his suite, a barber, who was present, displayed marks of astonishment, which induced the General to inquire the reason. The barber replied, that he did not understand a word of the language spoken; but he was surprised to hear it, because it seemed to be the same tongue spoken by a great man, a stranger, whom he often

went to dress at the Castel del Uovo. The General, struck with this information, continued to interrogate the man, and with the aid of a bribe, learnt that the young stranger, whose person he described, was served with the utmost respect by his.numerous at❤ tendants; and led a life of the greatest retirement at the Castel del Uovo. From the circumstances detailed by the barber, Romanzow was firmly persuaded he had discovered the Prince Alexis. He hastened to the Viceroy, and again producing the order of the Emperor, assured him that he was convinced Prince Alexis was at the Castel del Uovo, and obtained permission to see him there, on the conditions stipulated in the letter of the Czar Peter to the Emperor Charles. He was accordingly admitted to the unhappy Prince who, at first, absolutely refused to go back to Russia. However, a woman who lived with the Prince and had great influence over him, being gained by the presents of Romanzow, succeeded in persuading him to return to Petersburgh, where he met with the unfortunate destiny that awaited him.

197. Jocelyn,

The family of the Jocelyns is one of the most antient in English Heraldry. They came from Normandy with William the Conqueror; they are Earls of Roden in Ireland. I make mention of them here, on account of a very remarkable fact, which is, that being possessed of an estate in Hertfordshire, called Hyde Hall, for more than 500 years past, they have had for tenants, the same families in succession from father to son. These tenants have been so well used by their Lords, that they have sometimes agreed with one voice, to solicit an increase of rent on their farms. The present Lord Roden (in 1802) informed me, this extraordinary circumstance had once happened to his father; and that at the very time he himself was offered an augmentation of rent.

198. INTREPIDITY OF OUR Monarch.

George III. King of England, the best and most popular of Sovereigns, has been three times in danger of assassination: once