Barbacela, Queen of Emmets, is not used to contemptuous treatment." She had no sooner spoken than her fiery chariot appeared in the air, drawn by two snails; and she was just going to step in, when the prince reflected, that now or never was the time to be possessed of the white mouse; and quite forgetting his lawful princess Nanhoa, falling on his knees, he implored forgiveness for having rashly rejected so much beauty. This well-timed compliment instantly appeased the angry fairy. She affected an hideous leer of approbation, and, taking the young prince by the hand, conducted him to a neighbouring church, where they were married together in a moment. As soon as the ceremony was performed, the prince, who was to the last degree desirous of seeing his favourite mouse, reminded the bride of her promise. "To confess a truth, my prince," cried she, "I myself am that very white monse you saw on your wedding night in the royal apartment. I now therefore give you the choice, whether you would have me a mouse by day and a woman by night, or a mouse by night and a woman by day." Though the prince was an excellent casuist, he was quite at a loss how to determine, but at last thought it most prudent to have recourse to a blue cat that had followed him from his own dominions, and frequently amused him with its conversation, and assisted him with its advice; in fact this cat was no other than the faithful princess Nanhoa herself, who had shared with him all his hardships. in this disguise. By her instructions he was determined in his choice, and returning to the old fairy, prudently observed that as she must have been sensible he had married her only for the sake of what she had, and not for her personal qualifications, he thought it would for seve ral prince. All his meanesses now stared him in the face, he begged the discreet princess's pardon an hundred times. The princess very readily forgave him; and both returning to their palace in Bonbobbin, lived very happily together, and reigned many years with all that wisdom, which, by the story, they appear to have been possessed of. Perfectly convinced by their former adventures, that they who place their affections on trifles at first for amusement, will find those trifles at lust become their most serious Adieu. concern. LETTER XLIX. From Lien Chi Altangi, to Fum Hoam, first President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin, in China. Ask VOL. III. How Γ Eow hen are the English more free for more free they rani are than the seacle of lay other Count or under any other form of rovernment whaterer Ther fetom emsists ʼn their enjoying ail the uivantages of femocracy via dis superior prangave loved im nenar, that the wrerty of her lar; nay be shared virunt endangering the institution. In a monarchical state, in which the constitution istmest. the laws may be relaxed without danger, for hongh the people shenid be unanimous in the breach of any one in partieniar, yet still there is an effective power superior to the people, capable of enforcing cherience, whenever it may be proper to inenicate the law either towards the support or welfare of the community. But in all those governments, where laws derive their sanction from the people alone, transgressions cannot be overlooked without bringing the constitution into danger. They who transgress the law in such a case, are those who prescribe it, by which means it loses not only its influence but its sanction. In every republic the laws must be strong, because the constitution is feeble, they must resemble an Asiatic husband who is justly jealous, because he knows himself impotent. Thus in Holland, Switzerland, and Genoa new laws are not frequently enacted, but the old ones are observed with unremitting severity. In such republics therefore the people are slaves to laws of their own making, little less than unmixed monarchies where they are slaves to the will of one, subject to frailties like themselves. In England, from a variety of happy accidents, their constitution is just strong enough, or if you will, monarchical enough, to permit a relaxation of the severity of laws, and yet those laws still to remain sufficiently strong to govern the people. This is is the most perfect state of civil liberty, of which we can form any idea; here we see a greater number of laws than in any other country, while the people at the same time obey only such as are immediately conducive to the interests of society; several are unnoticed, many unknown; some kept to be revived and enforced upon proper occasions, others left to grow obsolete, even without the necessity of abrogation. There is scarcely an Englishman who does not almost every day of his life offend with impunity against some express law, and for which in a certain conjuncture of circumstances he would not receive punishment. Gaming houses, preaching at prohibited places, assembled crowds, nocturnal amusements, public shows, and an hundred other instances are forbid and frequented. These prohibitions are useful; though it be prudent in their magistrates, and happy for their people, that they are not enforced, and none but the venal or mercenary attempt to enforce them. The law in this case, like an indulgent parent still keeps the rod, though the child is seldom corrected. Were those pardoned offences to rise into enormity, were they likely to obstruct the happiness of society, or endanger the state, it is then that justice would resume her terrors,and punish those faults she had so often overlooked with indulgence. It is to this ductility of the laws that an Englishman owes the freedom he enjoys superior to others in a more -popular government; every step therefore the constitution takes towards a democratic form, every diminution of the legal anthority is, in fact, a diminution of the subject's freedom, but every attempt to render the government more popular, not only impairs natural liberty, but even will at last dissolve the political constitution. 0 2 Every |