and fool: therefore she sent for four others; || great fools as the simple women whom she but the Lord told her that their judgment feeds with heavenly lamb and manna. would not be right, for their wisdom was too weak; and that too she was told in six lines of poetry.

She met the six, however, for the purpose of reading to them a few chapters of the Bible, and of explaining them, together with a few prophecies, and some remarkable instances of her life; so that she was to have all the talk to herself, whilst the clergymen were to keep silent for an hour. This they did, but we see no great mystery in that; if indeed Joanna herself had been silent for an hour, we might have acknowledged that the age of miracles is not gone by." Great was the mystery explained," she says-but to whom?-to the clergymen, one might have expected; but no!" to me, as the watch was laid on the seals, by which were inclosed the names of the twelve men. When the hour was past, I demanded their judgment; and quitted the room while they consulted. In some time they came to me and said they had agreed, and must see the prophecies. I said they should, if they judged|| them to be of God. They came again, saying they must know who the ministers were. A third time they came, and said they must break the seals with the ministers' names. I told them that should only be done in presence of the twelve themselves. But curiosity made them break the seals; and (thus breaking all their wisdom) they said it was from the devil, or myself, or they could not perceive it to be of God; and therefore they persuaded me to give it up, forgetting what I had read to them, and that they had fulfilled my writings. The meaning and mystery of this meeting I shall explain another time. Next day I was persuaded to yield to their wisdom; but I was answered, that it should be fatal for me; for the Lord would not resign to their wisdom: therefore I should not give it up to them. Thus 1 ended with the dissenting line." And surely, by her own account, there never was a poorer attempt at a religious juggle, a mere business of watches and seals, of cups and balls, such as Gyngell or any other conjuror would get up ten times better at Bartholomew fair! The silly woman thought the clergy, both established and dissenting, were as

In 1796, she was ordered again to renew the attack upon the church ministers, and in her account she exhibits a very pretty mode of becoming a prophetess, for whenever she is about to do any thing, she writes it down, and then fulfils it herself!

But the prophecy in 1799, was one which she herself could not fulfil, unless Ike Phaeton, she could have set the world on fire; for in a letter to a diguified cler gyman (in which she modestly averred, that she had met with an "instance such as had never happened to any human being since earth's foundation was placed before;" nay, that the deepest inspired penman, the most learned divine, nor the deepest philosopher that ever wrote, ever had such thoughts of divinity or philosophy as had been revealed to her by the spirit of revelation); she asks him, if he will be astonished when she tells him that the end of all things is at hand! But more than that, she is to destroy Satan! and doubtless if his infernal Highness, like the French poet, could be killed by bad verses, there was a dose in the letter to the Bishop that must have done his business:

:

"It is men must raise thy hand,
"And tell thee to grow wise,
"Like Herod's damsel to go on,
"Then all shall gain the prize.
"When men begin as she did then,

"And like Herodias burn,
"To wound the foe, as she did do,

"I will like Herod come."

After this came a long story as how, “ The man strengthened the woman's hand by the fall, and he must strengthen her hand to bring it back ;"-how, "the Lord made the woman to complete the happiness of man, and by her it must be done;"-likewise, since the sun rises and sets, and dust returns to dust, &c. so "all centre in the same place, and so man must centre at last." After which she tells the Bishop that it is all over with the bench, for the Saints must judge the earth, and then her writings will be proved "such writings as never were before since earth's foundation stood!"-truly, Joanna, thou sayest well.

(To be concluded in our next.)

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

A TOUR THROUGH FRANCE.

IN A SERIES OF LETTERS FROM A LADY TO HER COUSIN IN LONDON, IN 1814.

How forcible are the ties which bind as to home! how sweet the recollection of convivial hours, passed in the society of early friends, and amongst those dear rela- | tives which the traveller often leaves behind! Methinks I hear you exclaim, "Is then the lively Emily turned moralist, or does she mean to present us with an account of her travels, under the form of a new Sentimental Journey, in the manner of Sterne?" No bad pattern, my dear badinante cousin, were I inclined to ape such an original: and as sentiments and reflections occur oftener to the mind of the traveller than to that of any other being under the sun, prepare yourself for mine; and do not think that when you requested me to give you an account of my voyage to, and sojourning in France, with all my different adventures on the other side of the water, that I meant only to send you an hackneyed journal of what I might chance to see, in the same style as if I was hired to write an index to a book of modern travels, or pen a few sheets relative to all the grand buildings and museums, to serve as a guide to those beings who, in search of novelty, may chuse to succeed me in their peregrinations || through France. Not but what all I shall write hereafter may certainly serve as a sure guide, for truth alone shall guide my

pen.

And thus, having sufficiently played upon the word, let me quit the penseroso ideas which first overwhelmed me when I sat down to bid you the last adieu on British ground, as in one hour I shall step aboard the packet which is to convey us to Dieppe, and this letter makes the eleventh and last I have written to-day. The Captain assures us that in less than forty hours I shall be completely in France; and I hope to leave every sombre reflection amongst the then No. 62.-Vol. X.

deserted fogs of England's nervous cli

mate.

My dear and kind monitor, our good aunt, Lady Diana, whose maternal duties have been cruelly put an end to by the loss of her only son in the field of honour, has transferred her affections to her orphan. nephews and nieces, and has kindly consented to accompany me in this tour. When, therefore, my letter borders on the sentimental and serious, imagine to yourself that aunt Di has guided my pen. Fashions, a few slight observations, accompanied now and then with a moral reflection-do not start-will be the production of Emily alone. And when a particular air of mudcapism, pray excuse the new-coined word, runs through my letters, imagine my rattling four-in-hand brother gives the reins to his volatile fancy.

He drove down here on the box of the

road.

Royal Blue coach, in eight hours: apropos, I must say that the coach thus dignified by its high sounding title, is a very easy conveyance for those whose fortune is mediocre, and who are not born, dear cousin, like us, to inherit the easy passport of a barouche and four bright bays. This same Royal Blue goes from the New White Horse Cellar, Piccadilly; where, I am sure, I need not tell you that brother Henry's face is as well known as any mail coachman's on the Bath He arrived here last night, and found my aunt and myself highly delighted with the short stay we have made in Brighton, where our munificent Regent, by his presence, has imparted life and general gaiety. And to shew you our attachment to whatever bears his name, we have taken our passage on board the Prince of Wales packet; though we certainly have a veneration for the name of Wellington, and at first we thought of going in that vessel which is named after him; the master of which, in order to tempt us, said they made up six-and-twenty beds on board. No

doubt the great Wellington, in some of his at Dieppe sufficient to detain us there. quarters, was obliged to experience the Tell my dear uncle, however, that there is inconvenience of many beds in narrow an old castle, the inspection of which, tospace; but as we, in these sweet "piping gether with the piers, would delight him; times of peace," may be allowed to study and be sure also not to forget to inform our convenience, we preferred the Prince of him that, in 1694, Commodore Benbow Wales packet; and in one hour I hope to || bombarded the town of Dieppe, and burnt embark for the land of politeness, gaiety, down the greater part of it. and fashion, and date my next letter from the Gallic shore.

We were much pleased with the city of Rouen; the mountains, which are viewed from its three sides, are sublimely beautiful, and the antiquities and fine buildings scat

Adieu, dear cousin, sweet soother of paternal anguish. O that gout! which deprives us of the company of the dear intel-tered through the city are well worth the ligent General at this period. Tell him it was never more keenly felt in his feet than it is at this moment in my heart and mind; assure him, however, that I promise to send him an account of all the fortresses and bastions which come in my way. Once more adieu! kiss his venerable cheek for me, and wish together a safe voyage to your own

From the emporium of arts, fashion, pleasure, and gaiety, at least, so pictured by English imagination, I date this letter; the reality of our high built ideas remains to be proved.

On our arrival at Dieppe, I found myself so overpowered by the indisposition I had experienced on my first sea voyage, that I could not perform my promise of writing to you on our immediate arrival in France, and our good aunt only told you that we were merely alive and well. However, one thing I am resolved on, which is, not to return the same way I came: but I must hasten to perform my promise of informing you of all that 1 find worthy of record; and here the perpetual round of spectacles, novelties of every kind, and characters of various descriptions, so press and throng on the senses, that I shall find sufficient food for my own remarks, as well as for your gratification.

inspection of the classical and scientific connoisseur. I think William the Conqueror was a most excellent builder; we have some fine specimens in London of his architectural powers, but the cathedral of Rouen is superior to them all; the spire is 395 feet.

Henry came to Paris before we did, and I was not sorry that his eagerness made him take a shorter route; he went direct from Dieppe, and his journey was, by so doing, only 110 miles, which is thirteen less than by Rouen: nor did I regret his absence, when we were shewn here the place where the celebrated Joan of Arc was burned; for you well know his ideas of female he roism, and I am sure he would have uttered some bitter phillipic against the Amazonian maid, who is held in high veneration by the French, but in a particular degree of enthusiasm by the inhabitants of Rouen.

What most excited our admiration was

the famous bridge of boats. How many inventions do we not owe to monastic seclusion! and though our good aunt can never forgive the religious inventor of gun. powder, from which she, as well as many others, has so severely suffered, yet she could not refuse her tribute of applause to this wonderfully ingenious construction, invented by an Augustin friar, in the year 1626. A fabric of paved timber rests on || barges of a prodigious size, which fall and rise with the tide.

My aunt's woman, who is passionately fond of the water, came by the Port St. Ouen, with Henry's valet, in the Coche d'Eau, a vessel similar to our Chester canal

We had a delightful journey hither; for being, as I told you, much fatigued, we re-boats; and from St. Ouen they took the solved to stay two days at Rouen before we stage to Paris, a short stage of about five proceeded farther; but we found no charms leagues.

66 Aparement Mesdames sont seules!" said coachman by water: this being settled, we an old French gentleman to us, as my aunt hired the diligence to convey us thither; and I came out of the cathedral. A salu- the emigré advised us to see the famous actation of this kind in England, from an tress, Mademoiselle Duchonois, before we utter stranger, would make us assume a quitted Rouen, who, he was desirous of perpeculiar air of dignity, and the remark of suading us, was a second Siddons. I had the gentleman would most probably cause my doubts; however, we thought we might us to be inflexibly silent; but Lady Diana, as well see the playhouse, which is cerwho has been often in France, immediately || tainly better than any provincial theatre in entered into conversation with him, and England; and I very much admired Matold him that, in order that her nephew demoiselle Duchonois, but a second Siddons should be entirely at his liberty, she had I fear we shall never see. brought her homme d'affaires to accompany us and assist us in transacting our money

concerns.

Our diligence was a curious carriage; the postillion, as they call him, is perched on an elevated seat, and sits almost on one's This intelligent man, for such we found nose: rope harnesses are invariably used, him, was about sixty years of age; and but I am convinced they are better for though a French vivacity was diffused over these roads than any other, the badness of his countenance, yet a secret care was so several in our journey from Rouen to Paris perceptibly mingled with it, that I was might be proverbial. It first strikes the sure he was some victim who had deeply || idea that the French postillions are cruelly suffered by the revolution. The cross of fond of the whip; but all this terrible St. Louis at his breast, and a few expres- claquet never touches the horses; a postilsions that escaped him, shewed his decora- lion, however, is estimated by the loud tion was not that of to-day: but I was smack he gives in the air, with his enorcharmed with that sprightliness, the cha- mous whip, and even the driver of the racteristic of the nation, and which I will voiture, which we hired to carry our bagmaintain, in a well born and well princi- || gage, cracked his with a smile of triumph, pled Frenchman of the old school, has its when we past him, as if no one could be source in politeness alone; a politeness found to equal him. which will not intrude the corroding sorrows of the heart on another.

On our journey we saw a little chapel in the centre of a rock, to which pilgrimages have never entirely ceased; they will now, I suppose, become more frequent. It is said that the wolves are not yet exterminated in the forests of L'Arrache; we saw none, however; and it was peculiarly pleasant passing through Lomviers, and viewing the fine manufactures for cotton; the

He walked with us to the Hotel de Poitiers where we had put up; and where, my aunt intreating him to be seated, he gave us what many would have thought a laughable account of the transformation his estate had undergone during his absence of six-and-twenty years; he laughed himself, my heart bled to think of the late mas-vineyards of Gaillon had a rich appear, ter of a magnificent Chateau, which teemed with hospitality and French urbanity, now reduced to a chambre garnie, on the third floor of an house in the suburbs of Rouen.

but

Poor Thomas, while this gentleman was with us, came in with a most melancholy length of countenance, declaring the roads were such it would break his poor horses' hearts; that of Thomas was soon set at ease, by the emigrant gentleman assuring us that our carriage might be materially injured by such a journey, and that it was better to send it on to Paris under the care of the

ance, and Vernon, formerly so passionately admired by the English, is sweetly situated on the banks of the Seine; the road, as w● travelled on to Nantes, was delightful. It was with true veneration we beheld the fine Chateau of Rossy, once inhabited by the great Sully; it is now a favourite residence of Talleyrand's, who has a head equal to Sully's, no doubt.

I have seen nothing yet in Paris; my themes will become inexhaustible, when we have visited amongst those circles to which our letters and rank will introduce us; and when we have viewed the multi

tude of museums, institutions, and theatres. || ly flying to Paris, we inspect all that is inWe have taken an hotel garnie, in the su- teresting as we pass along. Adieu! accept burbs of St. Germain; you must be content the best wishes and affection of your in this letter to hear only of my journey; as pleasure and observation was our object in travelling through France, and not mere.

(To be continued.)

EMILY.

ANECDOTES OF ILLUSTRIOUS FEMALES.

PRINCESS ADELAIDE, AUNT OF LOUIS XVI.

But the affection of the Princess for this bird was so strong, that she could never bear him out of her sight; she neglected⚫ the pleasures of the chase, of which she was particularly foud, because her dear parrot could not accompany her; and she often dispensed with paying visits of ceremony, because he could not make one of the party.

If at any time she had resolution sufficient to deprive herself of the sight of him, the moment she returned home she would almost fly up stairs, and run through the several apartments which led to that in which was contained her dear little favourite.

THIS Princess, with her sister, Madame Victoire, were one day on a visit at the country villa of the Duchess de Narbonne, and the Princesses appeared desirous of seeing the young village girls dance. An order was given to that effect, and joy and gaiety began to be displayed around. The heads of all the lasses were well powdered and adorned with a profusion of ribbons on the occasion, and they were already provided with partners for the rural ball. But they had forgot what was of the greatest importance: just as they were about to commence the sprightly dance, not a single fiddler could be found. This was a great disappointment to the Duchess de Nar- One day when the Princess went a huntbonne, who was ambitious of pleasing the|ing, she left him under the care of one of Princesses; when Madame Adelaide said, with great good humor, "Give me a violin, I once knew how to play, and I think I can remember enough to make these young girls dance to my tunes." The instrument was brought, and the Princess played a variety of country dances, till a late hour, while she excited the gratitude and surprise of the astonished dancers.

THE PRINCESS OF ORANGE, MOTHER TO
WILLIAM III.

An anecdote is related in the history of the life of this Princess, of her extraordinary fondness for a favourite parrot. It was certainly possessed of a very superior and peculiar kind of beauty for a bird of that species, being milk-white, with a tuft on the head and the tail both of flamecolour: he was apt at learning, and, in short, was a little creature to whom any one might be attached who was not even peculiarly fond of animals.

her young ladies, requesting her not to lose sight of him; and she reckoned on her return, when she should find him perched on the hand of the lady; but great was her astonishment when the young ladies all fell

on their knees before her.

"Oh! my parrot!" cried she.

"Alas! Madam, the cage door was open, and he flew away. All our search after him has been in vain, we cannot find him." So saying they redoubled their tears and lamentations, dreading the loss of their situations, and the grief of these poor girls is not to be described. When the amiable Princess, whose virtues were well known, and deserving the mother of one of the greatest kings England could ever boast, said kindly to them, "Do not be so foolish, my good girls, to afflict yourselves thus for an animal: beautiful as he was he is not worthy the tears of a Christian. This is but a very slight misfortune; comfort your selves, as I shall; and never let it be mentioned again."