was fo mean as to join in the fame requet: feveral prelates, among whom the cardinal of Winchefter was the only Englishman, were appointed her judges. They held their court at Rouen, where the young king of England then refided; and the Maid, cloathed in her former military apparel, but loaded with irons, was produced before this tribunal.

which he had been accufed, aggravated by herefy; her revelations were declared to be inventions of the devil to delude the people, and the was fentenced to be delivered over to the fecular arm.

Joan, fo long furrounded by inveterate enemies, who treated her with every mark of contumely, brow-beaten and over-awed by men of fuperior rank, and men invefted with the enfigns of a facred character, which the had been accustomed to revere, felt her spirit at last fubdued, and those vifionary dreams of infpiration, in which he had been buoyed up by the triumphs of fuccefs, and the applauses of her own party, gave way to the terrors of that punishment to which she was fentenced. She publicly declared herfelf willing to recant; fhe acknowledged the illufion of those revelations which the church had rejected; and fhe promised never more to maintain. them. Her fentence was then miti gated; fhe was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and to be fed during life on bread and water.

She first defired to be eafed of her chains. Her judges anfwered, that fhe had once already attempted an escape, by throwing herself from a tower. She confeffed the fact, maintained the juftice of her intention, and owned, that if she could fhe would ftill execute that purpose. All her other fpeeches fhewed the fame firmnefs and intrepidity. Though harraffed with interrogatories during near the course of four months, the never betrayed any weakness or womanish fubmiffion, and no advantage was gained over her. The point which her judges pushed moft vehemently, was her vifions and revelations, and intercourfe with departed faints; and they asked her whether he would fubmit to the church the truth of these Enough was now done to fulfil all infpirations?--She replied, that fhe political views, and to convince both would fubmit them to God, the foun- the French and the English that the tain of truth. They then exclaimed, opinion of divine influence, which had that he was a heretic, and denied the fo much encouraged the one and dauntauthority of the church. She appeal-ed the other, was entirely without ed to the pope. They rejected her appeal.

foundation. But the barbarous vengeance of Joan's enemies was not fatisfied with this victory. Sufpecting that the female drefs, which he had now confented to wear, was difagreeable to her, they purpofely placed in her apartment a fuit of men's apparel, and watched for the effect of that temptation upon her. On the fight of a drefs, in which he had acquired fo much renown, and which fhe once believed fhe wore by the particular ap

They asked her why fhe put truft in her ftandard, which had been confe crated by magical incantations ?-She replied, that he put truft in the Supreme Being alone, whofe image was impreffed upon it. They demanded why fhe carried in her hand that ftandard at the anointment and coronation of Charles at Rheims? She answered, that the perfon who had fhared the danger, was entitled to share the glory.pointment of heaven, all her former When accused of going to war, contrary to the decorums of her fex, and of affuming government and command over men, the fcrupled not to reply, that her fole purpose was to defeat the English, and to expel them from the kingdom of France. In the issue, she was condemned for all the crimes of

ideas and paffions revived, and fhe ventured, in her folitude, to cloath herself again in the forbidden garment. Her infidious enemies caught her in that fituation: her fault was interpreted to be no less than a relapse into herefy. No recantation would now fuffice, and no pardon could be granted her. She was

Refletions on the prefent State of Great Britain.

condemned to be burned in the mar ket place of Rheims; and the infamous fentence was accordingly executed. This admirable heroine, to whom the more generous fuperftition of the antients would have erected altars, was, on pretence of herefy and magic, delivered over alive to the flames, and expiated by that dreadful punishment the fignal fervices which he had rendered to her prince, and to her native country..

REFLECTIONS on the PRESENT STATE of GREAT BRITAIN.

TH

HIS glorious, rich, and beautiful ifland, which has long been the envy and terror of every other nation on earth, is finking, we fear, into the jaws of ruin-into the arins of deftruction. Long has the flourished, long has the enjoyed a happy conftitution, and uninterrupted tranquility; but now her numerous enemies are aiming at her vitals; they threaten to overwhelm her; all their warlike artillery are preparing to vanquish and destroy her.

535

commit "violence every one with his neighbour:" and fhall fuch irreligion and profanenefs, fuch treachery and infidelity be ftill fuffered to reign in the land? or fhall fuch offenders as thefe come off with impunity?-Noere long they fhall "meet with the reward of their works, with the defert of their evil doings, for the Lord has a controverfy with this finful land and will, (unless the inhabitants thereof, humble themselves and repent) take vengeance on his adverfaries, and sweep it with the befom of deftruction."

Hear this ye backfliders, ye children of wickednefs, "ye that weary yourselves to commit iniquity," hear this and tremble. Confider the evil circumftances you are in, and the danger which furrounds you on every fide. Break off your intercourse with folly, lament and mourn, for deftruction is pouring in upon you like a flood, and threatens to entirely overwhelm you. Lift up your eyes, and fee the portentous cloud, which hovers over your head, ready every moment to burst into an immediate florm. You ftand on the verge of ruin; look beneath you and fee the difmal abyss into which you are in danger of being plunged! Cry aloud, cry aloud, for the enemy is on your coafts, and war brandifheth his haughty fpear! Defolation marches on apace, and threatens to fpread itfelf over all the land. And will you fill, ye fons of violence, be infenfible of your danger? Will you Atill hug your tranfgreffions, provoke the Lord to anger, and fin with a high hand? When flander and malice, Jux

Poor Britain how dreadful, how alarming is thy prefent condition! Diftrefs and anguish are come upon thee! Vexation and trouble, forrow and mifery prey upon thy ftrength, opprefs and beat thee down, fo that thou walkeft heavily like a woman (fad and afflicted) who mourneth for her hufband-Poor Britain! I pity thy fighs and groans, and deplorable fituation! I reflect with horror on thy degenerate children, who are entered into a leagueury and excefs, profaneness, irreligion with vice, and have brought upon thee all this mifery, and all this woe! They are gone aftray from the right way, they are toffed about in the eddy of fathon, and fwim in luxury, excefs, and voluptuoufnefs. Almoft every one is turned afide, or bewildered in the paths of religion. The ge-nerality of mankind are immersed in wickednefs; and floth and fenfuality "cover them like a garment."

The fons of iniquity talk with audacious fronts through the ftreets, and

and infidelity walk in triumph through our country, and fhed their baleful influence into the hearts of the people-when vice and fenfuality, lewdnefs and impiety, walk hand in hand, and with their fafcinating powers draw after them the whole country, both high and low, rich and poor, what can we expect, but that deftruction will follow after? It will certainly come, and united scenes of inteftine treafon and foreign invafion are already in view, and have begun to cominit

their hoftilities among us. "The Lord our God hath put us to filence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have finned against him. We looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of health, but behold trouble..*”

them fly before us. Should they attempt an invafion, let us call upon the Omnipotent Warrior of heaven and earth! Let us truft in him for strength, and rely wholly upon him, so shall we not be defeated.

In the mean time let us apply to the Happy Britain, whofe fields fmile Sovereign Difpofer of all events to afwith plenty, and over whofe plains fift and fupport us in this great encounroves fair Freedom unmolefted, thy ter!-Let us humble ourselves before empire is finking, and all the glorious him for our manifold tranfgreffions, and advantages which have fo long diftin- fall proftrate at his footftool, befeechguished this realm, begin to totter on ing him, with fervent fupplication, to their foundation! The bloody fword remove from us this evil which we have of war is unsheathed, havock and ruin brought upon ourselves, to repel the threaten to invade us, and death and united forces of our combined enedevastation with haughty ftrides are mies, to affuage their malice, and advancing to spread terror before them thwart their intentions; fo fhall peace and deftroy this happy land! Oh! again be re-established, and love, harmay Providence interfere on our be- mony, and tranquility fmile upon us, half, may he ftretch forth his hand in happiness and joy fhall attend us, and this time of need, may he baffle the in-bloodshed, war, and confusion be batentions of our numerous and perfidi- nifhed from our dweilings. ous foes, may he avert the impending Market-Lavington. ruin which threatens to overwhelm us, turn it with aggravated confufion on the authors of our troubles, and not fuffer them to render this happy land an univerfal field of blood.

Never was this island in fo dangerous a condition as at préfent! Never were the inhabitants of Great Britain involved in fuch confufion! At war with our mother country, and what is worfe, every moment expecting a bloody invafion from the united forces of France and Spain, who have long waited and wifhed for an opportunity to attack this island. And furely there could not be a better opportu

nity than at this time, when we are already engaged with and weakened by our enemies on the continent. The French nation we are aflured have made a long preparation for this formidable contelt, and having the Spaniards to aflift them, their hearts beat high with expectation of a conqueft, however we hope to disappoint them. Though they are numerous, let us not be afraid, they were never yet like to overcome us; but we always gave them a vigorous repulfe, and made

• Jeremiah, 8. 15.

J. L-G.

Account of the new Farce, of two Acts, called THE DEVICE, OR THE DEAF DOCTOR, performed at Covent Gar-, den Theatre, for the first Time, on Monday, September 27.

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

Colonel Meadows,
'Squire Wronghead,
Canteen,
Sophia,

Betfey Bloffom,

Mr. Lee Lewes.
Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Edwin.

Mrs. Morton.
Mrs. Wilson.

THE Colonel being enamoured of
Sophia, confults with Canteen

how to get admittance into the family
of her guardian, who entertains com-
pany on account of his daughter's in-
tended nuptials. Canteen introduces
Betfey, who fells nofegays, and the is
bribed to carry a letter to Sophia, ap-
prizing her of his intention.

The fecond fcene reprefents the family hall, and old Sternhold, the parifh clerk, reading a newspaper to the 'fquire, who is wrapped up in flannels, tortured with the gout: but Sternhold, blundering upon the cross-read

Letter from F. Scudamore to Lady Saville

ings, finds that the pope is brought to bed of twins, which the 'fquire obferves will make great confufion among the cardinals.

537

you fo long in fufpenfe, and that at fo critical a period of my story. He will not depart, he fays, without bringing you a continuation of it. Is it politic in him to own this? But he knows that my defire to oblige your ladyship is even fuperior to my wishes to detain him here; to prove which I purfue my narrative.

"I believe it was impoffible (faid Mr. Scudamore) for man to love a woman more fincerely than I loved you, my dear Fanny, when I received. your vows at the altar: let my conduct witness for me, that till our lat fatal journey to London I adored you. Your engaging vivacity at Caftle Melville, and again during the first part of our friends vifit at Bellerne, charmed

The flower-girl is now introduced, and a fcene of humour enfues; the old fellow wishing to kifs her, but is unable to move from his wheel armed chair. In the next fcene Meadows, as a deaf doctor, comes to the 'fquire's, pretending to mistake it for an inn. The company is feated. After fupper he enters the room, calls for wine and tobacco, gives wrong answers to every thing that is faid, and produces fome laughter by his fuppofed blunders. The company difclaim all knowledge of him, till Sophia, fearing he will be turned out of the houfe, pretends to know him by the name of Dr. Hum-me, without railing in my breast the drum, a skilful phyfician. On this he throws down his half crown, as for his fhare of the reckoning; the old 'fquire is pleased with the blunder, and he is welcomed with a bed. A dance of the company ends the first act, which went off pretty well.

The next morning the prefumed doctor prescribes to the gouty man, who fwallows a foporific draught, and while he fleeps, Canteen and his own fervant eat a fowl, and drink a bottle of wine prepared for his fupper.—-It was indeed a dull fupper to all but the eaters. At length the doctor enters, and pronounces his patient a dying man; on which he confeffes he has been a d-d rogue to Sophia, his ward, and will make her fome reparation,He figns a paper, declaring his confent to her marrying her lover; on which Meadows affumes his proper character, and we are to fuppofe that a wedding will follow.

fhadow of a doubt to your difadvantage; and your dejection and languor afterwards, I thought to be the effects of exhaufted fpirits, too great for the delicacy of your conftitution. I beheld your recovery with delight, and was again beginning to tafle the hap pinefs your illness had interrupted, when it was dafhed from me for ever by a barbarian of the worst kind—a falfe friend!--I mean Sir Charles Bolton.

"From the time of his coming to London he would often, when alone with me, affect an abfence of mind, which I had never obferved in him before. I preffed him to tell me the caufe: he always evaded my question, but would often figh and mutter out, "Poor man! - you deserve a better fate!"-and when I bid him explain himself," Never mind me, Scudamore, (would he fay) I know not what I mean my mind is not at eafe!" and once, on my expreffing my joy at my dear Fanny's vifibly amended health, he fmiled, and fneeringly afked, "ls not Lord Belvidere to be foon in town?"-"Yes," faid I, "but what nas that to do with Fanny ?”.

Nay,

nothing, but only her friend Ophelia's prefence may compleat her cure."

"I thought no more of this till the night we paid our vilit in BerkeleySquare-Do you recollect what paffed 3 Z

ой

more was beneath my notice; that i I fought, there was at least an equal chance of my falling, which was an event they most wished.

"Sir Charles had introduced me to a woman, who paffed for aunt to two of the most beautiful girls I ever beheld, and who could boast of every ac

on our return?"-" I do," faid I. He repeated our converfation with Sir Charles to my lord and my father, and then continued--" Your emotions, and Sir Charles's fneer, ftruck me for cibly. After you was retired, I brought him to explain this and his former hints to me, which he did, by telling me that Lord Belvidere was en-complishment, but that moft admiraamoured of my wife, and that my Fanny knew of, and returned his love. "formed like a mad-man, and vowed, in my rage, that both your lives fhould fatisfy my revenge. With fome difficulty he foothed my paffion. He had no reafon, he faid, to think your attachment criminal; and that the fureft way to regain you would be by neglecting my attentions to you-venging myleif on a woman, who, I "Too much bindacfs," said he, “will thought, had injured me, I turned a fpoil the best among women. She will vengeance on myself, who, indeed, debe piqued at your neglect, and feek 'erved it most. that which, till fhe miffes it, the knows not how to value."

ble one of virtue. They lived in a fuperior ftile to the generality of these wretches, and it was only a felect par▾ ty who were admitted to their very elegant fuppers. Sophia diftinguished Sir Charles from the reft of her admirers, and Eliza's fnares were not fpread for me in vain. I gave myselfup to her arts, and in the idea of re

“Sir Charles knew Eliza's influence over me- Let us, my dear Harry, (faid be) leave a place in which you can never be happy. Sophia and Eliza will be our companions. The world is open to us. Let us fly with them.” I confented, the women embraced the propofal with joy, and after writing to you, my love, that cruel note, I left England, as it proved, for ever.

"I fuffered myfelf to be overcome by this abfurd fophiftry. You know the confequence. I plunged into a new fcene of life; was feldom at home, but fpent my time with the refufe of both fexes; yet, let me fay, that moments of repentance would, at times, intrude: but Sir Charles was too fubtle and determined upon my ruin to You will fpare me, my dear friends, give them time to operate. He kepta recital of the life I led from that time me always in his eye, and from time till within a few days. It was a conto time took care to foment my jea-tinued round of riot and diffipation.— Jonty, by placing me in fight of my We lived as one family, till a French wife, when he knew the wis to appear marquis carried off from Sir Charles in company with Lord Belvidere." The his admired Sophia. He foon recoevent at Edy Clarendon's ball com-vered this ftroke, and rambled from pleated my mifery. Sir Charles drew fair to fair; till, at laft, I obferved hint ine, I am convinced, on purpose to the attached in a manner I could not bear. pulour, where he had, by chance, to Eliza, and fome days ago had confeen Lord Belvidere enter to you. vincing proofs of her infidelity to me, My dear Fanny, prepared as my mind though it was all I could expect from was to view every triffe as a proof, is fuch a woman. I fired at it, and inthe wondered that the fight of ftantly drawing my fword, compelled Low Belvidere at your feet, was to Sir Charles to defend hinfelf. After me confirmation ftrong as proofs of a few paffes, Sir Charles wounded me holy writi in my left fide, and almost in the fame inftant received my weapon in his body. It was in a grove near the back of this houfe this accident happened, and fome fervants of the family being a larmed by it, we were brought here,

I had, after your departure, challenged you, my lord, directly, had not Sir Charles refrained me, and in a anner forced me from the houfe.He perfuaded me that Mrs. Seuda

and