selling the king, at the moment they are labouring to subvert his throne, that "he must know their devotedness to his sacred person, and the share they have had in his dangers, his misfortunes, and his exile!"

Such a documeut as this is obviously calculated to produce all the evils it affects to deplore. But it contains, we believe, too faithful a representation of the disorder and disaffection which pervade France, and which nothing but an union of extraordinary vigour in act, with great wisdom and moderation in council, is likely to prevent from exploding in another revolution.

Much discussion having arisen respeeting the propriety of restoring to the different countries of Europe the monuments of art of which the French armies had plundered them; and the allies, in sanctioning this restoration, having been charged with a breach of the convention of Paris; the duke of Wellington has addressed a letter to lord Castlereagh, in which he vindicates the measures which have been pursued. The French commissioners who concluded that convention, he observes, had wished to introduce an article which should provide for the security of those monuments; but this was positively refused by the allied commanders; and it was distinctly notified by them at the same time, that they had the promise of the king of France himself for their restitution, and that it was their purpose to avail themselves of it. The allies being in possession of the Museum, could have done nothing which was more proper in itself than to restore the works of art to those from whom they had been taken, in contempt of the received usages of civilized society, during the frightful periods of the French Revolution and the tyranny of Bonaparte. In 1814, the allies, indeed, bad hoped to conciliate the French army, by leaving the Museum undisturbed; but circumstances were changed, now that that army had proved traitors to their king, and drawn together Europe in arms crush their nefarious attempt to re-scat Bonaparte on the throne. That army has been defeated and dissolved, and its wishes need no longer be consulted. There was no reason why the sovereigns should now hesitate to do justice to the claims of their own subjects in order to please the French. The very expectation of it marks the uational arrogance. They wish to retain the works of art as the fruits and trophies of conquest. A similar sentiment may be supposed to operate on the minds of the allied sovereigns and their subjects to effect their restoration to the lawful proprietors. Besides all this, it is desirable both for the happiness of

to

France and of the whole world, that if the French are not yet sufficiently convinced that Europe is strong enough to restrain them, they should be made to feel that the day of just retribution must at length arrive. In the opinion of his grace, not only would it be unjust on the part of the sovereigns to humour the French in this instance, but it would be impolitie, as it would deprive them of the opportunity of giving a great moral lesson to that people.

The opening of the chambers took place on the 7th instant. The king's speech is remarkable only for the caution with which it shuns every topic of peculiar interest at the present crisis, and confines itself to vague and general expressions of regret for what has passed, of gratitude for the affectionate attachment he has experienced, and of confidence in the devotedness of the nation and the zeal of the two chambers. He invites them to a frank and loyal union with the king in maintaining and, if need be, ameliorating the constitutional charter; and to join in his efforts to make religion re-flourish, pacify minds, found liberty on respect for the laws, give stability to credit, recompose the army, heal the wounds that have but too deeply torn the bosom of our country; in fine, insure internal tranquillity, and thereby make France respected without."

The proceedings of both chambers have hitherto exhibited little that is remarkable. It is evident that the party which professes attachment to a mixed constitutional monarchy, has the preponderance, and that the ministers are of this description; while some of the royal princes, supported by the more violent of the returned emigrants, and the more bigotted Catholics, are eager to establish the monarchy and the hierarchy in their ancient plenitude of power, splendour, and influence; and, perhaps, to degrade the Protestants from that equality of rights, and to deprive their clergy of that public pecuniary remuneration which they enjoy by the constitutional charter. The professed constitutionalists, however, it is obvi ous, though by far the larger body, are composed of very discordant mate, rials, including within their pale, not merely the sincere though moderate royalists, but the jacobins and the Bonapartists. These two last descriptions of men are only to be relied on as a barrier against the unmeasured royalism of what may be called the Angoulême party, and are not likely to support the government in those measures of vigour and firmness which the present exigency requires. In the addresses of the houses to the king, a call is made upon him for justice on the

agents in the late Revolution, which gave rise, it is said, to warm discussions; but in general the terms of these addresses partake throughout of the vagueness and tameness of the king's speech. The propositions made by the minister of justice, for a law to repress seditious cries, and for another law similar in its effect to the suspension of our Habeas Corpus Act, furnish a strong proof of the unsettled state of the public mind in France, while we fear they will go but a short way towards a cure of the evil.

The duc de Feltre, the new minister of war, is said to be proceeding vigorously with the reformation of the army, and to have placed at the head of the new regiments none but men whose loyalty is unquestioned. An inquiry is about to be instituted into the propriety of continuing those pensions, whether military or civil, which were granted by the king to individuals who afterwards joined the party of the Usurper.

On a view of the whole subject, comparing the information given by public acts and documents, with that derived from private sources, we are far from sanguine in our hopes of soon seeing France so tranquillized as to relieve her neighbours from the apprehension of another convulsion. We sincerely hope that the allies will not be induced to relax the vigilance which the present agitation of the ferocious spirits in that

GREAT

Our domestic history would present nothing worthy of notice, were it not for the disturbed state of some counties in Ireland, and the insubordination which has prevailed among the seamen on the river Tyne.

In Ireland it has become absolutely necessary to proclaim martial law in several districts; and we trust that the early application of a vigorous resistance will stifle the criminal hopes of the disaffected. The grievance that is alleged as the pretext for the violences which have been committed, and the illegal combinations which have been formed, is the exaction of tithes. This, however, is probably no more than a convenient watch-word, which covers a deeper design than the merely getting rid of this particular burden. At the same time, we should regard it as a measure of true paternal wisdom, if the imperial parliament would maturely weigh the expedicncy of removing this ceaseless ground of tumult and disaffection. The powerful arguments which oppose the abolition of tithes in this country are but partially applicable to the case of Ireland; and we are persuaded that there the clergy would be gain ers by a judicious modification of the

country so imperiously requires, or, out of false tenderness to the king, so to diminish the amount of their force there, as to tempt the disaffected to movements which might issue in the renewal of all the horrors of both foreign and domestic warfare. We really believe, that if the allied troops were withdrawn, or even greatly reduced, very few months would pass before the throne of the Bourbons would be again shaken to its foundation.

SPAIN.

An insurrectionary movement in Corunna and its neighbourhood, headed by a gallant partisan in the peninsular war, general Porlier, afforded a momentary hope that the melancholy despotism, re-established in Spain, might be shaken, if not overthrown. Porlier has paid with his life the forfeit of his attempt. The alarm it has caused to the Spanish Government, has, however, been attended with some salutary effects. Taking counsel of his fears, the king has banished from Madrid the mintons whose counsels have hitherto swayed him, and by whom he had been incited tothe various oppressive and tyrannical measures which have led every friend of humanity and justice to regret his restoration. Whether any change of measures will follow this change of men remains yet to be ascertained.

BRITAIN.

present system. The subject deserves at least to be fully and dispassionately investigated; and, if the resuit of such an investigation should be adverse to the abolition of tithes, the reasons on which the decision would be founded might tend to remove many of the existing prejudices against them. In the mean time we are clearly of opinion, that nothing is to be conceded to bauditti armed with fire and sword, and that their lawless violence must be put down by the employment of force.

On the same principle we are happy to learn that measures of vigour have been adopted by Government to repress the refractory spirit of the seamen at Newcastle, Sunderland, and Shields. The lawless projects of these misguided men may now be considered, we trust, as effectually defeated, and that without bloodshed, through the united firmness and moderation of the naval and military commanders, ordered upon that service.

Some fresh successes are said to have been obtained in India, over the Napaulese forces; but the war still continues to be carried on with ob stinacy.

No. 167.]

THE

LIFE OF BLAISE PASCAL, (Continued from p. 644.) HE disordered state of M. Pascal's health seemed to increase daily, so that he was shortly afterwards constrained to relinquish every literary pursuit. But in the midst of his afflictions, he resolutely adhered to his first maxims; and at those seasons when frail *nature seems to require more than ordinary indulgence, he persisted firmly in rejecting all the blandish ments of sense. M. Pascal had a complaint in his stomach, which required him to live upon delicate food: he was determined, however, to derive no pleasure from this circumstance, and therefore avoided paying attention to any thing he eat. If he were asked, after a meal, whether the viands had been agreeable; he would reply, "I really took no notice of their taste." When any one, in his presence, mentioned with vivacity the excellent relish and delicious nature of any article of diet, he would seriously condemn such a disposition: "It argues," said he, "great sensuality in those who talk thus: they seem to have no better motive for

eating, than the flattering of their appetites." He was naturally fond of acids, and such other articles as tend to excite the appetite and heighten the flavour of food; but lest he should be seduced, insensibly, into the practice of what he so much disapproved, he never permitted any lemon or vinegar to be mixed in his diet. With respect to quantity, at his first retiring from the world, he assigned to himself that portion which seemed

CHRIST. OBSERV, No. 167.

requisite for the preservation of his health, and on no occasion whatever would he exceed those limits. If any person, surprised at his precision, inquired his reasons, he would reply; "It is a proper and necessary thing to supply the wants of the stomach, but it is not my duty to satisfy the cravings of appetite." When his sister used to express her amazement, at his taking the most unpleasant medicines, without manifesting the least aversion, or disgust, he would rally her in his ingenious and entertaining manner: "Why do you wonder," he would say,

that I swallow a nauseous potion, without expressing any distaste? Do I not know that it is disagreeable before it is presented to

me? And do I not take it volun

tarily? Surprise or violence may produce aversion;, but how can I pretend to dislike that which is the object of my choice?" Such facetious sophisms as these would lead us to conclude, that the author of the Provincial Letters, while he practised the severities of an ascetic, had not renounced his sprightliness and vivacity.-M. Pascal was well acquainted with the writings of Epictetus: he had formed a just estimate of the tendency of the stoical philosophy, and regarded many of their admired, maxims as being no less subversive of true piety, than their paradoxes were repugnant to the dictates of common sense and natural feeling. Christianity requires no man to violate the constitution of his na

ture; to renounce the precepts of sound wisdom and discretion in the conduct of life, or to extinguish those kindly affections which constitute the bond, and contribute most essentially to the comfort, of society. But it must be allowed to possess this peculiarity, that while it imposes the duties of condescension, tenderness, sympathy, and loving-kindness towards others, it opposes all effeminacy, self-commiseration, and fond indulgence: it commands courage, fortitude, hardiness, patient endurance, and all those manly, robust, and noble exercises of the soul, which qualify the individual to maintain his station as "a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Many persons will probably consider those rigid attentions to the subjugation of the senses, as indicating an over-strained precision, as characteristic of one that was righteous overmuch." Religion, they will tell us, and tell us truly, does not consist in such minute observances, and unrelenting severities. But does it hence appear, that the piety of M. Pascal consisted in humiliating chastisements and corporeal mortifications? The holy Scriptures, indeed, have not assigned the specific manner in which we are to crucify the flesh, with its affections and lusts," but the duty itself is unequivocally insisted on: every one is required to " deny himself," to take up his cross," -not to "mind earthly things," "to be dead to sin and to the world," to be an exemplary follower of the holy Jesus, whose life presents no common exhibition of Jabour, self abnegation, and suffering. Should any reader be in

"

clined to brand M. Pascal with the odious epithet of Pharisee, let him not forget his own vocation, but remember that "except his righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, he shall in no wise enter into the king

dom of heaven."

If M. Pascal's notions of Christian mortification appear excessive

and unreasonable to the "carnal mind," not less remote from ordinary conceptions will his sentiments be found, concerning poverty, and the vanity of worldly splendour and greatness. He saw and lamented that numbers of persons who seemed to possess a serious regard for religion, and professed to be deeply concerned for the salvation of their souls, were nevertheless living in great conformity to the world; complying with customs and usages of a very doubtful and hazardous nature, and obeying the caprices of novelty and fashion, like the rest of mankind. He observed, among those who thought themselves Christians, a frivolous solicitude to emulate others in the gaiety and expense of their appa rel; that they courted applause and distinction from the superior architecture of their houses, the elegant taste and exquisite workmanship displayed in their furni ture; and were absurdly ostentatious of appearing splendid and luxurious in their social entertainments. "Those," he would say, "who aspire to have every thing about them executed in a superior style, and are solicitous not to employ any but the best workmen, seldom consider that they are indulging that lust of the eye, which the Scripture condemns, and are cherishing a disposition, which has a dangerous tendency to extin guish that poverty of spirit, and contempt of the world, which the Gospel requires. Choose the artificers that are poor and honest, without curiously hunting after that sort of excellency which is neither use ful nor necessary, but is a mere creature of the imagination. O! were my whole heart penetrated with those sentiments of poverty which my understanding dictates, what felicity should I enjoy! and I am firmly persuaded, that unless we become in reality poor in spirit,' we shall not see the kingdom of Heaven."—It may be said of M. Pascal with great truth, that he not only exercised a tender com