ing new, and disparaging the established gods: he endeavoured, as Cato the Censor justly remarked, to abolish the customs of his country, and draw the people over to opinions contrary to the laws. In what country, or in what age, would Socrates have fared better? Should such a man appear in England, and maintain principles as unconstitutional, and as abhorrent to those of the lords bishops, as those of Socrates were inconsistent with the laws and received notions of the Athenians, he would awaken a resentment, which might forget for a moment the lenity of law.

"The apostle Paul would meet with a worse reception in England, than he did in Greece, or Rome. If we consider for a moment his letters to the Greek and Roman populace, we shall be surprised at the clemency of those statesmen, who so long tolerated a man whose doctrines, with elevated contempt, not only trampled on their whole national mythology, but entered their cities, and expelled the auspicious, presiding Lares; nay more, which pervaded their social firehearths and exdomesticated the hallowed Penates. What has Paine, Priestly or Price, what has Tooke, Wakefield or Godwin, advanced so offensive to the feelings of the present age, as were the principles of Socrates and St. Paul, to the Athenians and Romans? Now if Christ should appear in En

gland, or in any other country in Europe, and conduct exactly as he did in Judea, what, sir, do you think would be the consequence? He would, doubtless, find many followers, but the scribes and pharisees would feel interested, first to deny, and then to put him to death."

This letter is already too long, therefore you may expect in another the conclusion of the expedition

LETTER XXIV.

LONDON, APRIL 16th.

AFTER the notices to which the nave in the church gave rise, Mr. L. pointing round the horizon observed, with national complacency, You see now the metropolis of the queen of isles. The name of London is connected with the envy, hatred, or admiration of the world.

"Her fame extends as far as winds can blow,
Or ships or fish upon the waters flow."

He added, "There is more public spirit, there is more amor patriæ, there is more obstinacy of resistance, when oppressed, within the circumference of ten miles, than in all the rest of Europe. Then with an energy, which transported to ancient times, he repeated those famous lines of Alcmon.

Οὐ λίθοι, ἐδὲ ξύλα, εδὲ

Τέχνη τεκλόνων αἱ πόλεις εἶσιν,

Αλλ ̓ ὅπε ποτ ̓ ἂν ὦσιν ΑΝΔΡΕΣ

Αυτές σώζειν είδοτες,

Ἐλαῦθα τείχη καὶ πόλεις.

Now cast your eye on the Thames, and contem

plate the innumerable merchantmen. The per

fumes of Arabia, the luxuries of the South, and the elegancies of the East are wafted up this silver stream, and thence distributed through a thousand channels to gratify the senses of this happy people. Here you find what no other people ever witnessed, luxury and liberty, commerce and strength of character.”

Happy the man, thought I, who in the midst of misery and ruin, sees nothing but the rainbow scenes of felicity. Such an one will find flowers in December.

"You seem to be in a reverie," said Mr. L. Yes, sir, I was comparing the English with those blessed spirits of Indian paradise, who reposing, half intoxicated, beside waterfalls, on the banks of their elysium, sleep only to dream of pleasure, and wake only to enjoyment. O, happy people of Wapping, did you but know your happiness! For you, the luxuries of the South and the elegancies of the East are landed at your doors. O, fragrant tatterdemallions of St. Giles', would you but incense yourselves with the perfumes of Arabia !”

Mr. L. smiling at this evaporation, observed that every Picadilly and Pall Mall must have a St. Giles'; and every Fleet Street and Cornhill a Wapping."

He then asked me, "If I had ever traced the progress of civil society, from its first rude endeavours, to its present state of social affection and accommodating polity?"

Mr. L. then observed, 66 Here are nearly a million of people in this small compass, whose interests, views and pursuits cross each other as often as do the streets, or as constantly as do the passengers. Yet human policy has contrived to divest them, in a great measure, of Hobbs' principle, and has rendered them the most pliant, docile and submissive of all animals. In a state of nature corporeal strength assumes over the mental faculty. Here, all the violences of a state of nature are usurped under law, custom, prerogative, privilege, pride, avarice and fashion and what would be considered among barbarians refinement on barbarity is effected here by mutual consent." "I pray you, sir,

particularise."

"Why, for example, do you wish to banish a man from his country? It may be easily effected, at the same time you shall appear to confer a favour. Do you wish to assassinate your enemy? gain his confidence, affect friendship, anticipate his feelings, administer to his desires, allure him to the precipice, and in the degree he approaches ruin, you shall rise in his esteem: but if you wish to imbitter his situation with a knowledge of your own perfidy, throw him into prison, and keep him