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g, was now the universal ; one rode lighter, but the nent. I could not but particudour with which the fair sex esof the different riders on this occaharmed with the unwashed beauties other was captivated with the patibuof Turnip; while in the mean time unloomy Dust, who came whipping behind, red by the encouragements of some, and : all.

contention now continued for some time, Hout a possibility of determining to whom Vicry designed the prize. The winning post appeared in view, and he who drove the turnip cart assured himself of success; and successful he might have been, had his horse been as ambitious as he; but upon approaching a turn from the road, which led homewards, the horse fairly stood still, and refused to move a foot farther. The dung cart had scarcely time to enjoy this temporary triumph, when it was pitched headlong into a ditch by the way-side, and the rider left to wallow in congenial mud. Dust in the mean time soon came up, and not being far from the post, came in amidst the shouts and acclamations of all the spectators, and greatly caressed by all the quality of Brentford. Fortune was kind only to one, who ought to have been favourable to all; each had peculiar merit, each laboured hard to earn the prize, and each richly deserved the cart he drove.

I do not know whether this description may not have anticipated that which I intended giving of Newmarket. I am told there is little else to be seen even there. There may be some minute differences in the dress of the spectators, but none at all in their understandings; the quality of Brentford are as remarkable for politeness and delicacy, as the breeders

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TER LXXXVI.

A Fram to Lien Chi Altangi.

te eopie of Europe are wise; but ... vauum? You say they are valiant wire reasons to doubt of their valour.

eu in war among each other, yet apss their neighbours and ours, for Evading such an alliance argues,at ve and timidity. All subsidies paid Strengthening the Russians, already weakening the employers, already atstine commotions."

beholding the Russian empire as the the more Western parts of Europe; ready possessed of great strength, and, ...re of the government, every day threatme more powerful. This extensive emain Europe and Asia, occupies al

most

most a third of the old world, was, about two centuriesago, divided intoseparate kingdoms and dukedoms, and from such a division consequently feeble. Since the times, however, of Johan Basilides, it has increased in strength and extent; and those untrodden forests, those innumerable savage animals which formerly covered the face of the country, are now removed, and colonies of mankind planted in their room. A kingdom thus enjoying peace internally, possessed of an unbounded extent of dominion, and learning the military art at the expence of others abroad, must every day grow more powerful; and it is probable, we shall hear Russia, in future times, as formerly, called the Officina Gentium.

It was long the wish of Peter, their great monarch, to have a fort in some of the Western parts of Europe: many of his schemes and treaties were directed to this end, but happily for Europe he failed in them all. A fort in the power of this people would be like the possession of a flood-gate, and whenever ambition, interest, or necessity prompted, they might then be able to deluge the whole Western world with a barbarous inundation.

Believe, me, my friend, I cannot sufficiently contemn the politicians of Europe, who thus make this powerful people arbitrators in their quarrel. The Russians are now at that period between refinement and barbarity, which seems most adapted to military atchievement, and if once they happen to get footing in the Western parts of Europe, it is not the feeble efforts of the sons of effeminacy and dissention, that can serve to remove them. The fertile valley and soft climate will ever be sufficient inducements to draw whole myriads from their native desarts, the trackless wild or snowy mountain.

History, experience, reason, nature expand the book of wisdom before the eyes of mankind, but

they

We have seen with terror a xfamished locusts each singly onfrom multitude become hides uus, the face of day, and threa word with ruin. We have seen then De fertile plains of India and Eg n an instant the labours and the bes sparing neither the fruit of the eart eruure of the fields, and changing into a ...u desert landscapes of once luxuriant beauty. ave seen myriads of ants issuing together froin uthern desert, like a torrent whose source was austible, succeeding each other without end. enewing their destroyed forces with unwearied verance, bringing desolation wherever ther Juic, banishing men and animals, and, when desLe of all subsistence, in heaps infecting the wiess which they had made! Like these have bee Jenigrations of men. When as yet savage, and abost resembling their brute partners in the forest. oject like them only to the instincts of Nature.

directed by hunger alone in the choice of a pode, how have we seen whole armies starting wid once from their forests and their dens; Goths Buus, Vandals, Saracens, Turks, Tartars, myriads men, animals in human form, without country, without name, without laws, out-powering by numbers all opposition, ravaging cities, overturning empires, and, after having destroyed whole nations, and spread extensive desolation, how have we seen them sink oppressed by some new enemy, more barbarous and even more unknown than they!

Adieu.

LETTER

LETTER LXXXVII.

From Lien Chi Altangi, to Fum Hoam, first President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin, in China.

AS the instruction of the fair sex in this country is entirely committed to the care of foreigners, as their language-masters, music-masters, hair-frizzers and governesses, are all from abroad, I had some intentions of opening a female academy myself, and made no doubt, as I was quite a foreigner, of meeting a favourabie reception.

In this I intended to instruct the ladies in all the conjugal mysteries; wives should be taught the art of managing husbands, and maids the skill of properly chusing them; I would teach a wife how far she might venture to be sick without giving disgust; she should be acquainted with the great benefits of the cholic in the stomach, and all the thorough-bred insolence of fashion; maids should learn the secret of nicely distinguishing every competitor; they should be able to know the difference between a pedant and a scholar, a citizen and a prig, a squire and his horse, a beau and his monkey; but chiefly they should be taught the art of managing their smiles, from the contemptuous simper to the long laborious laugh.

But I have discontinued the project; for what would signify teaching ladies the manner of governing or chusing husbands, when marriage is at present so much out of fashion, that a lady is very well off, who can get any husband at all. Celibacy now prevails in every rank of life, the streets are crouded with old bachelors, and the houses with ladies who

have

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