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every end is anfwered: justice is strictly done to all to whom it is due: peculiar connections are confidered: even partiality is not wholly disappointed: and in this manner all parties are pleafed.

'It may not be amifs to elucidate these general reflexions by fome particular in

itances.

'In Denmark the poffeffions of married people compofe one common fund between them; of which it is not in their power to make any other partition, either among themfelves, or their children, than that ordained by law. Conjugal affection is indeed fo far encouraged and refpected, as to allow a husband to behave with generofity to his wife, either by prefenting her with a genteel fum of money, by way of nuptial gift, or by fubfequent donations. But his generofity is bounded by the law, and cannot exceed a ftated proportion; and even this is not allowable, till all debts and incumbrances on his eftate are entirely cleared.

In conformity to this principle of the community of poffeffions in the married ftate, whoever furvives inherits the half during life. The other goes to their children. Out of their fhare, nevertheless, a certain proportion is deducted, which devolves to the furviving parent. The intent of this diminution of their inheritance, is very wife and confiderate: it becomes a fecurity to the children for the attachment of their parent, who forfeits it to them, on contracting another marriage.

Married perfons without iffue, having no ties to restrain their reciprocal partiality, are allowed to indulge it in a very extenfive degree. They may fettle the whole of their eftate on each other during the furvivance of either; and are even permitted to bequeath the one half of it to each other, and their respective heirs for ever.

In cafe of no iffue, widowers and widows are also allowed to give away the half of their inheritance according to their own discretion: and the whole of it, if they please, in pious and charitable legacies; fo favourable is the Danish law to a fpirit of piety and munificence.

• When there is a confiderable difproportion in the feparate fortunes of individuals, on their engaging in wedlock, the legislature permits, on their having no children, that, befides the ufual portion decreed by law, a fourth part of the

original estate of the richest, devolve to the other party, on the demife of the former. This practice never fails to take place, where people have lived in love and union; and is indeed looked upon as an honourable teftimony of the departed in favour of the furvivor.

The sentence of the law is decifive in the diftribution of estates among children; and no deviations of any fort are connived At; they inherit the fortune of both parents. The only advantage enjoyed by the males, is that the share of

fon is double to that of a daughter; and that fuch manors as have any peculiar privileges annexed to them, are affigned to the former. A preferance which carries with it no injuftice; as the maxim, that “ axor fulgit radiis mariti, a wife receives dignity from her husband," prevails in Denmark, as in all other countries,

The death of a child, previous to that of a parent, makes no alteration in the manner of fucceffion to the fortune of the latter: the grandchildren claim the fhare of their parents, as being his reprefentatives; and in cafe of their own deceafe, the fame right devolves to their pofterity.

On the other hand, children who die without issue, are fucceeded by their father; who enters alone into the poffeffion of what they leave. The reason of paying this compliment to the male fex, is, that it should always be fupposed the education and qualifications of children are owing to the care and folicitude of the father; whofe knowledge of the world enables him to train them up to business and induftry; and who is, at the fame time, confidered as the fittest adminstrator of a fortune, which, in fact, reverts to his other children.

'But if the father is dead, the mother, together with the brothers and fifters of the deceafed, inherit in equal proportions; not forgetting the reprefentatives of the latter, in case of death, and their defcen dants.

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The benignity of the law is ftill grea ter in the refpect of the natural ties that fubfift between a mother and her child. The unlawfulness of the connection fhe has indulged, cannot be fuppofed to make any difference in the affection fhe feels for a progeny fhe blushes to own; and ought, indeed, to render it the dearer on that very account: as the lefs the dares claim the public affiftance and countenance of her friends, in its favour, the more it is incumbent on her to exert herself in its behalf. Swayed by this confideration, and by the certainty, that, whatever doubts her character may occafion concerning the re

debts, incumbrances, demands, and pretenfions on them are discharged, to make fuch a settlement of them as they think proper. This, no doubt is a wide deviation from the general tenor of the law: but then we fhould reflect, that Denmark contains even now a pretty numerous body of nobility and gentry, who have enjoyed this right from time immemorial; whom the court is not willing to offend by ftripping them of all their immunities; and whom, indeed, according to the ideas prevalent in all European monarchies, it may well be understood to view in the light of neceffary intermediators between the crown and the people; and as the fureft fupporters of royality of the father, ftill fhe is the indubialty, while they are allowed to partake of those honorary diftinctions and benefits, that remove them from the vulgar, and approach them nearer to the fovereign.'

Another inftance of the benignity of the Danish laws, is the tenderness fhewn to the innocent offspring of illicit connections.

The cries of nature are heard in Denmark; and the voice of compaffion has pleaded fo loudly and fo fuccefsfuly in favour of these tender objects, that the guilt of their parents only is remembered; and the unnatural prejudices which confign them, as it were, to neglect, and confider them as outcafts of the community, give way to milder sentiments.

'Natural children, when publicly acknowledged, according to the forms prefcribed in fuch cafes, are, by the Danish law, received and reputed as legal members of a family; and claim a fhare in the fortunes of their father, in conjunction with his other children born in lawful wedlock,

'But in the mean time, that no encouragement may be given to debauchery and licentiousness of living, and in order to lay as much restraint on the diforderly inclinations and paffions of men, as is confiftent with humanity, illegitimacy of birth deprives individuals of a portion equal to that of a lawful child. They are entitled to half only. Thus mercy is tempered with justice, and a due reverence is preserved for the majesty of the laws.

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table mother; convinced, at the fame time, that the welfare of illegitimate iffue is, in general, chiefly to be derived from the care and folicitude of those who bore them, the Danish law allows ma

ternal tendernefs its full fcope, and places them on the fame level as their mother's legitimate offspring, with whom they claim an equal right of full inheritance.

This regulation, ftrange as it may feem to nations that may pretend to a far fuperior degree of politeness and refinement than what is found in Denmark, is undoubtedly attended with the happiest confequences to fociety.'

It is obfervable that, in accufations of murder, and ascertaining the limits and property of landed eftates, the Danes enjoy the right of being tried by a jury of their peers, as in England; with this difference only, that in Denmark the jury confifts but of eight perfons. This form of trial was probably introduced by Canute, who had feen the advantages refulting from it in our own country, and was a prince that ftudied to promote the happiness of his fubjects.

Befides the trial by jury, the Danish jurifprudence bears a great refemblance to the English in two other points; one is, the enjoyment of perfonal freedom, in certain cafes of accufation, on giving fccurity for appearance; and the other an exemption from torments inflicted on prifoners, to exhort an acknowledgement of guilt.

The author illuftrates the genius of the Danish laws and conftitution in many other important articles; from all which It evidently appears, that the people of Denmark enjoy a much greater degree

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of freedom than the fubjects of any other defpotic monarchy; and that their fyftem of jurifprudence is no lefs remarkable for its mildness and humanity, than for the falutary confequences of which it is productive to the public.

Authentic Memoirs of the Life of Madame La Comteffe de Barre'. (Concluded from page 369.)

foon as it publickly known,

For a long time Choifeul threw every obftacle he could in the way of this ceremony; and for above four months no two ladies of the court could be got to prefent her; each fearing the ridicule of the reit for fuch a debasement objection from a fcruple of confcience, or of her dignity; though not one had any modeft delicacy. But this obftacle the Marquis de Barre found means to furTwo ladies, who were remarkmount.

A that the Kwa had taken to ftrong ably fond of gaming, were prevailed

an attachment to Madame de Barre, the courtiers fought to intereft her in their behalf; but the weakness of her capacity was foon manifeft, and they found, of herself, she was not capable of directing any affairs, or of turning the King's affection to any fteady or fettled purpofe. They therefore fought to make her the tool of wifer heads than her own; and the Dukes of Richelieu and Aguillon prevailed upon the Marquis de Barre, to put her under the joint direction of the Triumvirate,

The Dukes of Praflin and Choifeul, beheld her influence, turned in favour of the above-mentioned noblemen, with the greatest indignation. Choifeul had a threefold caufe of anger against her; one was, he was irritated that the King fhould have an attachment for one who only subjected him to indignity; a fecond was, that by her means his rivals became enabled to make head against his power; and a third reafon was, that the took the upper hand of his fifter, the Countefs of Grammont, fo that neither the brother nor fifter could fo far diffemble their refentment as to treat De Barre with the refpect, commonly claimed by King's avowed miftrefs; but, on the contrary, took every opportunity to violate every rule of common politenefs.

Choifeul carried his refentment fo far at the very outlet of her good fortune, that he firove to prevent the ceremony which the Etiquette of the court had eftablifhed, previous to her being openly declared the King's Miftrefs.

The rule was, that whoever was to take that rank, to have the honours of the palace, and have fettled apartments therein, was to be firft prefented to the Royal Princeffes by two ladies of the court, where the was to kifs the hem of their garments; and then to be pub Nely introduced to the King,

upon to make a party at Tredrille with the Marquis; he thought that was the time to work them to his purpose, and accordingly put every finelle in execution, till they had loft near to eighteen thoufand livres each on credit. He knew their circumftances to be rather confined when he first fingled them out; and that neither durft apply to her huband to discharge fo capital a lofs. He treated them with fome degree of harfhness, and theatened to make public in the court their difficiency in difcharging a debt of honour. They both had recourse to tears and intreaties for him to allow them a diftant day for payment, but he remained inexorable, at length, when he found their trouble at the height, he told them if they would introduce the Comteffe de Barre to the Mefdames of France, he would discharge them from their debt. They eagerly fnapped at the bait, and promifed to do it on the next public day.

The Choifeuls got notice of this, and ftrove all in their power, to prevail on the ladies to retract their promife, but in vain; they knew not the powerful motive: When they found it determined, they refolved if it could not be prevented, at least to make the ceremony to be accompanied with every poffible degree of humiliation. It had been ufual on former occafions, when the favourite Sultana was prefented to thePrin ceffes, and knelt down to kifs their robe that their Royal Highneffes would prevent her by raifing up and embracing her; but Choifeul reprefented fo ftrongly to the Mefdames, the base extraction of De Barre, that when fhe was introduced to them, they ftood upright to receive the homage, and fuffered her actually to kifs the hem of their garments, without bending in the leaft to her, or fhewing the fmalleft mark of civility.

Mortifying

Mortifying as this circumftance was, yet Richlieu, D'Aguilion and De Barre were glad the ceremonial was over, any how. Yet another remained, that of her being introduced in form to the King. His Majefty had appointed the time, and was feated on his pavilion to receive her. But Choifeul had fent by his emiffaries, to tell the hour to every perfon in Versailles, and in confequence thereof a great multitude of people affembled in the grand avenue. When the King was feated, he beheld an unufual crowd through the window of the pavilion, and asked the Duke de Choifeul what could be the occafion thereof. The Duke replied, Sire, I fuppofe curiofity has brought them here to fee Madame de Barre introduced to your Majeftyit is a long time fince there has been a like ceremoney, and the people are not willing to lofe the fight of it-nay, they perhaps take this opportunity of teftifying their fatisfaction at your Ma jefty's choice.

Tho' this was spoken with the moft profound refpect, yet the King could not help feeling the keennefs of the farcafm: as anxious as he was, that fhe fhould be fettled in the poft he allotted her; yet his pride was hurt, at their being held in the light of a public fpectacle; he therefore refolved to defer the cere-, mony, till a more private opportunity, when fo many people should not be witneffes of what mufi leffen him their eyes. Accordingly, he turned to the Duke de Richelieu, and ordered him to let de' Barre knew, he would receive her on another day.

Choifeul began now to triumph in his heart, but alas! his triumph was but fhort. Richelieu had feen the mob gather, and gueffed at the cause. He therefore immediately difpatched Monf. Le Bel with orders to bring de Barre in a chair up the back-ftairs, and place her with the ladies in the anti-chamber; fo when he opened the door to go and execute the King's orders, fhe was standing there in the fight of the whole prefence, and he could only fay, Sire, fhe is here already.

Richelieu now triumphed in his turn. Choifeul was ftruck motionlefs with aftonishment and vexation. Madame de Barre was prefented in form, and the King was glad it was over.

As he was then installed, in every

form, the acknowledged miftrefs of the King, and as fhe very punctually followed the inftructions of Richelieu, D'Aguillon, and the Marquis de Barre, fhe took every opportunity of returning the favours of the Duke de Choifeul, and from that moment planned his dif grace which followed fome time afterwards, in fpite of the King's former regard for him; which the found means to deftroy: and as fhe was certain that every obftacle to her receiving the hon. ours of the palace was owing to Choifeul, fhe was not long before the let him know the was fenfible thereof, for being his partner one night at whift, against the King and the Duchefs de Gifors, the faid fhe was up by honours. Madame, faid Choiseul, I believe not, I have not any-I know that, replied de Barre, but I have once more got all the honours, without your help.

From that time, to the King's death, fhe continued in full poffeffion of his whole affections, and was the contriver, by the directions of the triumvirate, of every political manœuvre. The King was ufed to her, and the continued to please; perhaps because he was too indolent to change for a new miftrefs and as the triumvirate knew their establishment was folely dependant on her continuing in favour, they took every poffible care to prevent his Majefly from making a new attachment. However, now the King is dead, and the Choifeul's recalled to court, it is not to be doubted, but they will revenge their difgrace, as much as the new King will permit them, Account of the Pantomime at Sadler's

TH

Wells. HE entertainment called " Harle quin Reftored, which was revived laft month at the Wells, is partly an old and partly a new pantomime; it opens with a view of the tomb of Harlequin, and his figure in fculpture, in a reclining pofture; by an incantation performed by a Magician, the figure is animated, and the monument changes into a piece of elegant architecture, decorated with wreaths of flowers, the back view exhibits a variety of Gnomes, Sylphs, little Harlequins, &c. in aerial perspective, Harlequin is welcomed to life by Pantaloon, Pierrot, Punch, and feveral other pan. tomimical characters, and after a few ongratulory ceremonies, the motley K kk 2 Gentlemer.

Gentleman fets off on his amorous peregination; he foon finds a Columbine, and conveys her safe through an infinity of hair-breadth efcapes, till at last his good friend the Magician conducts them to the Temple of Hymen, having decifively forbad their perfecutors to pursue them, or endeavour further to moleft their happinefs. In this pantomime there are a number of ludicrous fituations. The principal changes are a cottage into an elephant and cattle, a country ale houfe into a beautiful Chinese apartment; the entrance of a castle into a representation of Turn-ftile, Holborn, with the Shoemaker's and Upholsterer's fhops; a dairy farm into a country market place, with a pillory and a pair of stocks; and laftly, a dark, fubterraneous cavern, into the temple of Hymen. The mufic was fprightly, and the whole entertainment well received; in the latter part of it the following two-part ballad was introduced.

New SONG, by Two Milkmaids, First Woman, Mifs DOWSON. Sweet morn now invites us, and health

bids obey,

Each Nymph hails the Spring, and each Shepherd looks gay;

The bird's liquid throat, a foft melody yields, [fields. And glittering dew drops be-fpangle the Repeated in Chorus

To furnish the Dairy, ye Milkmaids

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A Hiftory of the Fourth Seffions of the Second Parliament of Ireland, in the Reign of his prefent Majefly, began on Tuesday the 12th of OЯober, 1773, and ended June 2, 1774. (Continued from our Magazine of June, page 334.)

ON Tuesday the 26th of October,

the papers which had been moved for before the recefs, were presented, and Sir William Mayne, Bart. (member for the borough of Cariesfort in the county of Wicklow) moved for fundry others, and alfo for twenty-one estimates (as mentioned above) and then moved for an addrefs to the Lord Lieutenant, that his excellency would be pleafed to give directions to the proper officers to lay before the house the said eftimates.

When this laft motion was made, those who did not think proper to oppofe any of thefe motions fingly feemed willing to leave it in power of adminiftration to give in just as much information as they thought proper, and no more. Mr. John Monk Mason (member for the borough. of Blefington in the county of Wicklow) and Mr. Prime Serjeant, (member for the city of Cork) framed an amendment to the motion, by adding these words: as far as there are materials for that purpose."

"

The motion for this amendment produced a long debate, in which Mr. Prime Serjeant, Mr. Mafon, Mr. Robt. Jephfon, the Hon.Lt. Col. Arthur Browne, (member for the borough of Gowran in the county of Kilkenny) Mr. Secretary Blaquiere, Mr. John Scott (member for the manor of Mullingar in the county of Weft-Meath) Mr. Serjeant Dennis (member for the town of Youghall in the county of Cork) and colonel Wm. Burton (member for the borough of Newton Limavady, in the county of Londonderry) urged the neceffity of the amendment; as it would be abfurd to defire his Excellency to do impoffibilities, for it was abfolutely impoffible to afcertain the amount of feveral of the eftimates which were ordered, and many of the articles were fo fluctuating, there was no method of forming an exact estimate, but from the accounts of the last two years, on the refpective heads. But if the amendment was adopted, then the estimates could be made out in just proportion to the materials for that purpose.

Thefe

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