himself culpable, his Majesty was willing to treat him with clemency, and permitted him to retire to his estate at Viry. The Count, now overwhelmed with confusion, dared not run the risk of appearing before a tribunal, and being found guilty of lezemajesty, but gladly accepted the King's mercy, went back again, and began to build at Viry, to make his exile more supportable. Some months afterwards I passed through Chamberry with Mr. Mackenzie, in his way to Napies, and Madame de Viry came there to meet him, hoping that he would be able to render her husband some service at Turin; but he found that to be impossible, and did not care to interfere in it. The letters of the Count de Viry had opened the eyes of the King on the incapacity of the Marquis d'Aigue-Blanche; yet desirous to shew him some regard, he sent the Cardinal des Lances to engage him to solicit his dismission. The Marquis was very reluctant, but perceiving that the loss of his situation was inevitable, he submitted and retired. The Count de Perron succeeded to his post; corrected disorders that

7

had taken place in the management of affairs, and proved, by a wise and firm administration, how much the happiness of a people depends on the choice of an able minister.

200. LONDON.

The population of London itself equals that of some of the sovereign states of Italy and Germany. If an attentive observer visits this metropolis and views its harbour, the custom-house, the royal-exchange, the warehouses, &c. he will be at no loss to account for the public wealth and the immense riches accumulated by many individuals. The trade and manufactures of England attract the gold and silver of America, and of the less industrious nations of Europe. Agriculture is also encouraged there to such an extent and with such admirable regulations, that the cultivator of land is assured of a certain sale for his commodities either at home or abroad, without the country incurring the risk of the price being augmented to the prejudice of its inhabitants, Laws are enacted which grant

rewards to those cultivators who export corn, when it is at a certain price in the public markets. If so much is exported as raises the price to the home consumer, the. vigilance of government again interposes; the cultivator no longer receiving more than the fixed price in the times of abundance for exportation, finds it more convenient and more advantageous to sell his corn at home than to send it abroad.

201. THE REFORMED ROBBER.

Doctor Lettsom was once stopped by a highwayman, who, in the act of demanding his money, evinced the strongest repugnance of the crime he was committing ; and deplored the necessity that had driven him to such a desperate course. "If that "be the case," said the Doctor, giving

him his purse, " and you will venture to

"confide your history to me, come to my "house to-morrow, and we will concert "together on the means of enabling you "to procure an honorable subsistence." The young man accordingly waited on.. Doctor Lettsom the following morning, who

having conversed with him some time, asked whether he had any objection to serve in the army. The young man readily embraced the proposition, and the Doctor employing his interest, without delay, procured him a commission, and the fortunate youth distinguished himself in the service, and died gloriously fighting for his country.

202. PORTRAIT OF PHILANTOS.

Philantos is generous by starts, liberal from vanity, charitable to relieve himself from a painful feeling which misery excites in him. He admires a brilliant vice; he has a contempt for virtue.

203. PORTRAIT OF ARCHONTE.

Archonte is announced in a circle, he attracts the attention of all the company; he enters with his head erect, a lofty deportment, a step firm and rapid; and casting a glance around, he measures with a haughty look those who have not the honor to be known to him. He continues silent from an apprehension of compromising his dignity; the attention of every one is still

fixed upon him; for, to a very advantageous figure he joins an air and mien the most noble, and the profound respect he entertains of the grandeur of his birth and his elevated rank, makes this mien, which never fails to inspire awe, sit quite easy upon him. Presently he begins to unbend, and you see him assume a pleasant careless deportment, caressing even those whom he intends to distinguish, and he finishes by gaining the unbounded admiration of every one, who only beholding him in public, declare him to be perfectly amiable. It was thus that I judged of him at first; but a person seated by me, did not suffer me to remain "You see Archonte,"

long in this error.

said he, "with too favorable an eye: he is not what he now appears to be; he has a wife and children, and he is their tyrant. He is profuse and magnificent in all that regards his own person and pleasures; but niggardly, to meanness, in the expenses of those who depend on him. He disburses immense sums in repairing and furnishing his palace, yet will deny a hundred pounds to one of his children who has great need of it. In this assembly you see him put on