of the pyre. Cyrus, furrounded by his generals, witneffed the dreadful fpectacle, either from an abominable principle of fuperftition if he had bound himself by a vow to facrifice Crofus as the firft-fruits of his Lydian victory, or from a motive of curiofity, equally cruel and impious, to try whether Crofus, who had fo magnificently adorned the temples and enriched the minifters of the gods, would be helped in time of need by the miraculous interpofition of his much-honoured protectors. Meanwhile the unfortunate Lydian, oppreffed and confounded by the intolerable weight of his prefent calamity compared with the fecurity and fplendor of his former ftate, recollected his memorable converfation with the Athenian fage, and uttered with a deep groan the name of Solon. Cyrus afked by an interpreter, "Whofe name he invoked?" "His," replied Cræfus, emboldened by the profpect of certain death, whose words ought ever to speak to the heart of kings." This reply not being fatisfactory, he was commanded to explain at full length the subject of his thoughts. Accordingly he related the important difcourfe which had paffed between himself and the Athenian, of which it was the great moral, That no man could be called happy till his death. The words of a dying man are fitted to make a strong impreffion on the heart. Thofe of Craefus deeply affected the mind of Cyrus. The Perfian confider THE ed the fpeech of Solon as addressed to himfelf. He repented of his intended cruelty towards an unfortunate prince, who had formerly enjoyed all the pomp of profperity; and, dreading the concealed vengeance that might lurk in the bofom of fate, gave orders that the pyre fhould be extinguished. But the workmen, who had been employed to prepare it, had performed their task with fo much care, that the order could not speedily be obeyed. At that moment, Crafus calling on Apollo, whofe favourite fhrine of Delphi had experienced his generous munificence, and whofe perfidious oracle had made him fo ungrateful a return, the god, it is faid, fent a plentiful fhower to extinguifh the pyre. This event, which faved the life, and which fufficiently attefted the piety, of Crafus, ftrongly recommended him to the credulity of his conqueror. It feemed impoffible to pay too much refpect to a man who was evidently the favourite of heaven. Cyrus gave orders that he should be feated by his fide, and thenceforth treated as a king; a revolution of fortune equally fudden and unexpected. But the mind of Crofus had undergone a ftill more important revolution: for, tutored in the ufeful fchool of adverfity, he learned to think with patience and to act with prudence, to govern his own paffions by the dictates of reason, and to repay by wholefome advice, the generous behaviour of his Perfian master. OF FASHIONABLE COMPANY. HE love of company and of focial pleafures is natural, and attended with fome of the sweetest fatisfactions of human life; but, like every other love, when it proceeds beyond the limits of moderation, it ceases to produce its natural effect, and terminates in difguftful fatiety. The foundation-ftone and the pillar on which we build the fabric of our felicity, muft be laid in our own hearts. Amufe. ment, mirth, agreeable variety, and even improvement, may be fometimes fought in the gaiety of mixed company, and in the ufual diverfions of the world; put, if we found our general happine's VOL. I. No. 8. on thefe, we fhall do little more than raise castles in the air, or build houfes on the fand. As the human mind cannot always be on the stretch, nor the hands always employed in labour, recreation becomes both agreeable and neceffary. Of all recreations, that of the company of a few chofen companions must be allowed to be the most manly and most improv. ing: but, as in thofe hours of recreation we are moft in danger of being milled, being generally at fuch feafons more off our guard than ufual, the greatest care should be taken in making choice of whom to affociate with; for, Hh according according to our choice of them, both our character and difpofition will receive a tincture, as waters paffing thro' minerals partake of their taste and efficacy. This is a truth fo univerfally received, that it is become a proverb both in the natural and moral world, That a man is known by his company. As by chemistry we learn, that difcordant mixtures produce nothing but broil and fermentation till one of them gets the afcendancy of the reft; fo from fcripture we learn, that two cannot walk together except they be agreed. From which we may fee, how impoffible it is for any one to be thought a perfon of real goodness and integrity, whilft he choofeth for his companions the abandoned and licentious. By herding with fuch, he will not only lose his character, but his virtue; for, whatever fallacious diftinction he may be pleased to make between the men and their vices, in the end the first generally qualifies the laft; and by ceafing to hate them he will foon learn both to love and practife them. In fhort, the fociety of fenfual men is peculiarly enfnaring. The malignity of their contagion doth not appear all at once. Their frolics at first appear harmless; then, when partaken of, they leave a longing relifh behind them; and one appointment makes way for ano. ther, one expence leads on to a fecond; and fo time and fortune are wasted away to very bad purpose. To derive the proper pleasure and improvement from company, it ought to be felect, and to confift of perfons of character, refpectable both for their morals and their understandings. Mixed and undiftinguished fociety tends only to diffipate our ideas and induce a laxity of principles and practice. The pleafure it affords is of a coarfe, mixed, noify, and rude, kind. Indeed, it commonly ends in weariness and disgust, as even they are ready to confefs who yet conftantly pursue it, as if their chief good confifted in living in a crowd. Among those, indeed, who are exempted by their circumstances from profeffional and official employments, and who profeffedly devote themfelves to a life of pleasure, little elfe feems to conftitute the idea of it but an unceafing fucceffion of company, public or private. The drefs, and other circumftances preparatory to the enjoyment of this pleasure, fcarcely leave a moment for reflection. Day after day is fpent in the fame toilfome round, till a habit is formed, which renders diffipation neceffary to exiftence. One week with out it would probably induce a lowness of fpirits, which might terminate in defpair and fuicide. When the mind has no anchor, it will fuffer a kind of fhipwreck; it will fink in whirlpools, and be dafhed on rocks. What, in deed, is life or its enjoyments, without fettled principles, laudable purposes, mental exertions, and internal comfort? It is merely a vapour, or, to drop the language of figure on fo ferious a fubject, it is a ftate worse than non-entity, fince it poffeffes a reftless power of action, productive of nothing but misery. It is recommended, therefore, to all who wish to enjoy their existence, that they fhould acquire a power not only of bearing, but of taking a pleasure in, temporary folitude. Every one must, indeed, fometimes be alone. Let him not repine when he is alone, but learn to fet a value on the golden moments. It is then that he is enabled to study himself and the world around him. It is then that he has an opportunity of feeing things as they are, and of removing the deceitful veil, which almoft every thing affumes in the busy scene of worldly employments. The foul is enabled to retire into herfelf, and to exert thofe energies which are always attended with fublime pleasure. is enabled to fee the dependent, frail, and wretched, ftate of man as the child of nature; and, incited by her difcovery, to implore grace and protection from the fupreme Governor of the univerfe. She There is no doubt but man is made for action, and that his duties and pleafures are often moft numerous and most important amidst the bufy hum of fpent every day by the votaries of pleafure in ferious meditation, would render their pleasure pure, and more unmixed with mifery. It would give them knowledge, so that they would fee how far they might advance in their purfuit without danger; and refolution, PO L fo that they might retreat when danger approached. It would teach them how to live, a knowledge which indeed they think they poffefs already; and it would alfo teach them, what they are often too little folicitous to learn,-HOW TO DIE. A N D. POLAND, before the late iniqui- expected from fo extensive but level a kingdom, almoft fquare, about feven but healthy; the Carpathian mountains, which feparate Poland from Hungary, are covered with everlasting fnow, which has been known to fall in the midft of fummer. Upon the whole, however, the climate of Poland is temperate, and far from being fo unsettled, either in winter or fummer, as might be fuppofed from fo northerly a climate. It is in general a level country; and the foil is fertile in corn, as appears from the vast quantities fent thence down the Viftula to Dantzic, and bought up by the Dutch and other nations. The pastures of Poland are rich beyond expreffion. Here are mines of filver, copper, iron, falt, and coals. The interior parts contain forests, which, furnish timber in such quantities, that it is employed in houfe-building, inftead of bricks, stones, and tiles. Various kinds of fruits, and herbs, are produced in Poland, and fome grapes., Poland also produces various kinds of clays fit for pipes and earthenware. The water of many of its fprings is, boiled into falt. The virtues of a fpring in the palatinate of Cracow, which increases and decreases with the moon, are faid to be wonderful for the prefervation of life; and it is reported that the neighbouring inhabitants commonly live to one hundred and fome of them to one hundred and fifty years of age: this fpring is inflammable, and,. by applying a torch to it, it flames like the fubtleft fpirit of wine: the flame. however dances on the furface without. heating the water; but, if neglected to be extinguished, which it may easily be, it communicates itself, by fubterraneous conduits, to the roots of trees in a neighbouring wood, which it confumes; and, about forty years ago, the The air of Poland is fuch as may be flames are faid to have lafled three, Sq. Miles. Chief Cities. 64,800 Podolia -29,000 Volhinia 25,000 Red Rullia 25,200 Great Poland 19,200 Little Poland 18,000 Cracow Polefia 14,000 Mofovia 8,400 Breffici Bielk years before they could be entirely extinguished. The chief rivers in Poland are the Viftula or Weichfel, the Neilter, the Neiper or Borifthenes, the Bog, the Dwina, the Worta, the Weiman, and the Duman. The chief of the few lakes in Poland is Gopto or the White Lake, in the palatinate of Byzefty and Birals, and is faid to dye thofe who wash in it of a fwarthy complexion. Some linen and woollen cloths and hardwares are manufactured in the interior parts of the kingdom. There are fome productions peculiar to Poland,particularly a kind of manna, which in May and June the inhabitants fweep into fieves with the dew, and it ferves for food dreffed various ways. The forefts contain plenty of uri, or buffaloes, whose fleth the Poles powder, and esteem it an excellent difh. Horses, wolves, boars, elks, and deer, are alfo common in the forefts; and there is a fpecies of wild horfes and affes; a kind of wolf, refembling a hart, with spots on his belly and legs, is found there, and affords the belt furs in the country. But the elk, which is common in Poland, as well as in some other northern countries, is a very extraordinary animal : the flesh of the Polish elk forms the most delicious part of their greatest feafts. Naturalifts have obferved, that, upon diffecting elks, there were frequently found in the head large flies, and that the brains were almost eaten away; and it is an obfervation fufficiently attefted, that, in the large woods and wildernesses of the north, this poor animal is attacked, towards the winter chiefly, by a fort of flies, which get through its ears and take up their winter-quarters in its head. This is thought to be the occafion of the elk's being affected with the falling-fickness, by which means it is taken, which other wife would be no eafy matter. From what has been faid of the extent of Poland, it is not eafy to form an eftimate of the number of its inhabitants. Some have fuppofed Poland and Lithuania to contain 15,000,000 of inhabitants, and to be at least as populous as France. The Poles in their perfons make a noble appearance, their complexion is fair, and their shape well proportioned. They are brave, honest, and hofpitable; and their women sprightly, yet modest, and fubmiffive to their hufbands. The nobility of Poland had power of life and death over their tenants and vaffals; but whether thefe miferable fubjects will be in a better fituation under their. new mafters may be the subject of a future enquiry. The Polith tongue, which is a dialect of the Sclavonic, is not copious; and at the fame time it is harth and hard, fome of the words having fix or feven confonants following one another. Its universities are thofe of Cracow, Posnia, and Wilna. The prefent king of Poland, if we may ftill call him by that name, had a very narrow efcape from affaffination on the night of the 4th of November, 1771, as he was returning to his palace from the houfe of prince Czartorinski, his grand chancellor. Not being escorted as ufual by his guards, he was attacked by one Koczinski at the head of fix confederates. After they had wounded the king's attendants, and himself in the head in two places, Koczinski dragged the king into the wood of Marimont, to make an end of him there, having taken an oath to deliver him dead or alive to the confederates; but, hearing the noise of horsemen, who indeed were people in quest of his majesty, the villain appeared perplexed and terrified at the danger he was in; he seemed to ftagger in his refolution, and delayed to give the fatal blow. The king obferved his agitation, and availed himself of it to turn him entirely from his horrid purpose. Kocziniki faid to him," I know that to kill the king is a great fin; but I have taken an oath to kill you." His majesty anfwered, "I fee that thou art not yet grown grey in thy iniquity: if thou knowest that it is a great fin to kill the king, how didft thou dare to take an oath to commit fin?" Koczinski replied, "But I have taken that oath ; and befides, if I do not kill you, I fhall lofe my head." Upon which the king an-, fwered, "If thou believeft me to be a king, thou oughteft to believe that I have power to fpare thy life." At last this man, giving way to remorfe of confcience, confeffed that he fhuddered at the thoughts of killing his sovereign, and and knew not what to do. His majesty' proposed to him to go to Warfaw with him; but the other ftill ftrongly expreffed his fears: "For (faid he) it is common to promise many things in a cafe of neceffity which cannot afterwards be granted." The king then faid, that, if he would not trust to his word, he might leave him alone, and make his efcape. Koczinfki, convinced at length his majesty's fincerity, declared that he would go with the king to Warfaw. They retreated for the prefent to a miller's cottage, whence the king dispatched a billet to general count Cocceji, which was conceived in the following terms: "I am delivered from the hands of affaffins by an immediate act of Providence. Haften to me with forty foldiers. I am wounded, but not dangerously. STANISLAUS AUGUSTUS." ΟΝ When prince Czartorinski arrived at the cottage to which the king had re treated, with thirty attendants, he found his majetty afleep upon a very homely. bed, and his intended affaffin metamor phofed into a faithful centinel to guard him. He was fuffered to fleep till general Cocceji arrived with a coach and two hundred men: he then awoke, entered the coach, and placed Koczinski: at the fide of him. His majefty entered Warfaw, at three in the morning, amidst ́ the acclamations of the people. Happy had it been for this unfortunate monarch, had he even perithed by the hand of an affaffin, rather than to have lived to see his extensive and populous kingdom difmembered of its fairelt provinces; his own power reduced to a mere fhadow; and his faithful fubjects forced to take an oath of allegiance to a foreign power. He is now in the fixty-fecond year of his age. GRATITUD E. Tis impoffible to particularife the he was, and of what country?" " I I feveral expreffions of gratitude, am (anfwered the young man) a native which vary with the character and fitu. ation of the benefactor, and with the opportunities of the perfon obliged; for this variety admits of no bounds. It may be observed, however, that on one part gratitude can never oblige a man to do what is wrong, and what by confequence he is previously obliged not to do: on the other part, it argues a total want of every generous principle, as well as of inoral probity, to take advantage of that afcendancy, which the conferring of benefits justly creates, to draw or drive thofe whom we have obliged into mean or dishonest compli ances. The following is a pleafing example of genuine gratitude.-Francis Frefcobald, a Florentine merchant, defcended of a noble family in Italy, had gained a plentiful fortune, of which he was liberal-handed to all in neceffity; which being well known to others, though concealed by himself, a young stranger applied to him for charity. Signior Frefcobald, seeing something in his countenance more than ordinary, overlooked his tattered clothes; and, compaffionating his circumstances, asked him "What of England; my name is Thomas Cromwell, and my father-in-law is a poor fheer-man. I left my country to feek my fortune; came with the French army that were routed at Gatylion, where I was page to a footman, and carried his pike and burgoner after him." Frefcobald commiferating his neceffities, and having a particular refpect for the English nation, clothed him genteelly; took him into his house till he had recovered ftrength by better diet; and, at his taking leave, mounted him upon a good horfe, with fixteen ducats of gold in his pockets. Cromwell expreffed his thankfulness in a very fenfible manner, and returned by land towards England; where, being arrived, he was preferred into the fervice of cardinal Woolfey. After the cardinal's death, he worked himself so effectually into the favour of king Henry VIII. that his majesty made him a baron, vifcount, earl of Effex, and at laft made him lord high chancellor of England. In the mean time, signior Frescobald, by repeated loffes at fea and land, was reduced to poverty; and cal ling to mind (without ever thinking of Cromwell), |