by other European travellers. The "ideas contained in that part of the "work relating to the celebrated ruins of Persepolis arofe to the au"thor as he viewed them. A much "more perfect and accurate account might have been given of them, "had his fituation afforded him the "means of procuring the neceffary "implements and affistance for taking views and admeasurements 66 upon the fpot. The latter part of "his remarks, containing the revolu"tion at Bufforah, and the tranfac"tions relative to the fituation of "Perfia, from the decease of Nadir "Shah till the prefent year, will probably be deemed interesting to "the public, as they will ferve, in "fome measure, to fill up a chafm in "the history of Perfia from that pe❝riod. This confideration, added "to the request of many of his par"ticular friends, firft fuggefted to "him the idea of a publication, " and gave him confidence that it "would prove acceptable to his coun"trymen. Should it be fo fortunate

totally changed. Partial defcriptions have been occafionally published; but a treatise, which contained a complete detail of the implements of a modern obfervatory, was still wanting. Mr Vince has undertaken this tafk, and performed it with great judgment. His defcriptions are fimple, clear, and popular, and his directions and remarks are diffuse, and even minute. He explains the principle of the conftruction of the inftruments, and details their ufes and adjustments. He has availed himself of the affillance of Dr Mafkelyne and Mr Ramf den, and has rendered his defcriptions, by means of accurate engravings, intelligible even to thofe perfons who have not had the fortune to fee the instruments.

Literary Relics: containing Original Letters from King Charles II. King James II. the Queen of Bohemia, Swift, Berkeley, Addifon, Steele, Congreve, the Duke of Ormond, and Bishop Rundle. To which is prefixed, An Inquiry into the Life of Dean Swift. By George-Monck Berkeley, Efq; 8vo. 63. boards. Elliot and Kay.

THE private letters of men diftinguifhed for their rank or genius, never fail of meeting with a favourable reception from the public. In writings of that kind there feems to be a charm, which, independent either of novelty or literary merit, peculiarly captivates the imagination. Even the moft trifling circumftances afford pleafure, when related in the form of familiar letters, from perfons of the defcription above mentioned. The editor of thefe Relics, we may prefume, was fufficiently acquainted with this principle in human nature, before he determined on the publication of the prefent epiftolary collection; for it certainly contains nothing which

would

would prove interefting, were it only the produce of perfons in an obfcure fituation. The letters from the three crowned heads to the Marquis of Montrofe confift of the confidential communications of perfonal friendhip, more than of political intelligence; but, in the former of these views, they exhibit the character of the feveral perfonages in an amiable Fight. Thefe letters were copied by a friend of the editor, from the originals; which, with many others, we are told, were lately purchafed from the widow of a refpectable clergyman by the Marquis of Graham.

The following love letter of Dean Swift is curious. It is addreffed to Varina.

cure.

• Madam, impatience is the most infeparable quality of a lover, and indeed of every person who is in purfuit of a defign whereon he conceives is greatest happiness or mifery to depend. It is the fame thing in war, in courts, and in common bufinefs. Every one who hunts after pleasure, or fame, or fortune, is Rill restless and neafy till he has hunted down his game and all this is not only very watural, but fomething reafonable too; for a violent defire is little better than a distemper, and therefore men are not to blame in looking after a I find myself hugely infected with this malady, and am eafily vain enough to believe it has fome very good reafons to excufe it. For indeed, in my cafe, there are fome circumftances which will admit pardon ΤΟΣ more than ordinary difquiets. "That dearest object upon which all my profpect of happiness entirely depends, s in perpetual danger to be removed for ever from my fight. Varina's life is daily waiting; and though jone juft and honourable action could furnish health to her, and unspeakable happimefs to us both, yet fome power that repines at human felicity has that inquence to hold her continually doat

ing upon her eruelty, and me upon the cause of it. This fully convinces me of what we are told that the miferies of man's life are all beaten out on his own anvil. Why was I fo foolish to put my hopes and fears into the power or management of a nother? Liberty is doubtless the most valuable bleffing of life; yet we are fond to fling it away on thofe who have been thefe 5000 years ufing us il Philofophy advifes to keep our defires and profpects of happiness as much as we can in our own breasts, and independent of any thing without. He that fends them abroad is likely to have as little quiet as a merchant whofe ftock depends upos winds and waves, and pirates, or upon the words and faith of creditors every whit as dangerous and inconftant as the other.

I am a villain if I have not been poring this half hour over the paper merely for want of fomething to fay to you; or is it rather that I have fo much to fay to you, that I know not where to begin, though at last its all very likely to be arrant repetition?

Two ftrangers, a poet and a beg gar, went to cuffs yefterday in this town, which minded me heartily to curfe both employments. However, I am glad to fee those two trades fall out, because I always heard they had been conftant cronies: but what was the best of all, the poet got the better and kicked the gentleman beggar out of doors. This was of great comfort to me, till I heard the victor himfelf was a most abominable bad rhymer, and as mere a vagabond beggar as the other, which is a very great offence to me; for ftarving is much too honourable for a blockhead. I read fome of his verfes printed in praife of my Lady Donegall, by which he has plainly proved that Fortune has injured him, and that he is dunce enough to be worth five thoufand pounds a-year. It is a pity he has

not alfo the qualification to recommend himself to your fex. I dare engage no ladies would hold him long in fufpence with their unkindnefs; one fettlement of separate maintenance, well engroffed, would have more charms than all the wit or paffions of a thousand letters. And I'll maintain it, any man had better have a poor angel to his rival than the devil himself if he was rich.'

The enamoured author concludes with this paffionate apoftrophe.

Oh Varina, how imagination leads me beyond myself and all my forrows! 'Tis funk, and a thousand graves lie open!-No, Madam, I will give you no more of my unhappy temper, though I derive it all from you.

• Farewell, madam; and may love make you a while forget your temper to do me justice. Only remember; that if you ftill refufe to be mine, you will quickly lofe him that has refolved to die as he has lived,

All yours, JON. SWIFT.' In another of the letters, Bishop Berkely thus defends Swift from the charge of impiety:

To the horror he entertained of this vice must be attributed the cautious manner in which he concealed that fenfe of religion which feems to have been early impreffed on his mind. For what but a fenfe of religion, and a moit refined one too, could have withheld him from enter ing into orders till he had firft obtained the refufal of fome poft, by means of which he could obtain to himfelf the bleffings refulting from independence? To what but a fenfe of religion can we attribute the unequalled attention and decency with which he discharged his duty as dean of St Patrick's for I believe no man is fool enough to charge Swift with being a flave to appearances. Lastly, It is a certain fact, that whilft the VOL. XI. No. 65.

Y y

power of fpeech remained, the dean continued constant in his private devotions; and in proportion as his memory failed, they were gradually fhortened, till at last he could only repeat the Lord's prayer. That, however, he continued to do till the power of utterance for ever ceafed. This information I had from the fervant who attended him. Now, an addrefs to Heaven by one whofe reafon was on the wane, must have rifen from habit. Hypocrify cannot be fuppofed to have influenced him, who` was unmindful of the paft, uaconfcious of the prefent, and indifferent to the future."

An Hiftorica! Developement of the prefent Political Conftitution of the Ger manic Empire. By John Stephen Putter. Tranflated from the Ger man, with Notes, and a compara- · tive view of the Révenues, Population, Forces, &c. of the refpective Territories, from the Statistical Tables lately published at Berlin. By Jofiah Dornford, of Lincoln's Inn, LL. D. 3 Vols. 8vo,› s. Boards. Payne and Son.

Tappears from the original that this

work was undertaken at the exprefs defire of our gracious queen, whofe requeft was communicated to profeffor Putter in May, 1775; and, in the month of March following the production was published in Germany; when her majefty, we are told, was fo well fatisfied with the treatife, that the condefcended to teftify her approbation of it in a letter to the author. We are glad to find, on a perufa! of the work, that we can moft readily acquiefce in the juftrefs of her majefty's opinion; ast the author has developed the fubject of his inveftigation with equal perfpicuity and difcernment.

Rejuvenescence

354

In thequered, Wemie oues from the a fequeftered dwelling, on the banks of

city of Bagdad, lived a venerable hermit named Alganzib. His many virtues and good qualities, had procured him the friendfhip of Dubeker, (the genius that then prefided over the Kalif's dominions), who used often to defcend on the banks of the Eu phrates, and pafз many an hour with Alganzib, converfing on the various scenes and events that the world exhibits. In these converfations, the hermit used frequently to exprefs his forrow and regret at the shortnefs of human life, and the small portion of time which is allotted in this world, for the exertions of goodness or the efforts of genius, and fometimes ventured to question Dubeker, if it would not be much for the advantage of mankind, were they to be allowed, when enfeebled by age, to renew their years, and join the gaiety, alacrity, and vigour of youth, with the wifdom and experience of a mature and lengthened exiftence. To fatisfy Alganzib, the genius at laft affured him, he fhould have an opportu nity of difpenfing the valuable gift of rejuvenefcence, provided he engaged to impart it only to thofe who fhould, upon applying for it, be able to affign a proper and reafonable motive for their requeft, and fhew themselves worthy of the gift, by the use they propofed to make of it. To guard you in this point,' added Dubeker, from impofition, I put into your hands the talifman of truth, which will compel every one to whom you expose it, to utter, how· ever reluctant, the most secret intentions, and wishes of his heart. By tomorrow's dawn, you fhall find in your cell, the celefe tial mill, which is endued with the won• derful property of changing age, and des crepitude into youth, beauty, and vigour; but remember, that before any one can be permitted to experience its falutary grind. ing, his motives and intentions must be tried by the talifman of truth.'

Next morning, Alganzib found his cell provided with this rare and furprising piece of furniture, and loft no time in giving notice of its arrival to the inhabitants of Bagdad, not doubting but among these, many would be found, both defirous and worthy of being fubjected to its ufeful attri tion.

No fooner was the intelligence made pub lic, than the whole city was in a fernient, the old and the decrepid forgot the feeble neís and tottering of their limbs, and hastened with all the eagerness of defire, to the place where they hoped to renew the vipur of their youthful years. Alganzib was

prepared for their reception, and questioned them as they approached, about the motives of their journey. The firft who accosted him was Ubal, an old man with a deep wrinkled front, cheeks corroded by care, and eyes half worn with fufpicion. . May I beg the favour, O Alganzib,' cried he, of a touch of your wondrous mill, to reflore me that strength I have impaired, in induftrious labours for the extenfion of commerce, and providing for the wants of a dependent family; and my renewed life fhall be employed in the fame virtuous, and honeft, and useful industry, equally beneficial to my friends and my country.' That is well,' faid Alganzib, turning on him the talifman of truth; but what are the objects to which your industry is to be

directed?' 'O!' cried Ubal, now compelled to speak out, were I to begin life anew, 'what a glorious profpect I would have! I entered the world without an afper; by parfimony and ufury, I am now worth an hundred thousand sequins, and can load fifty camels with my merchandise ; but I feel myself on the verge of the grave, at a time when I could engage in a commerce more advantageous than any I have hitherto tried. In five years I should treble my ftock; then in five more I would be proprietor of a whole caravan'; by that means I could command the markets and fet my own price on my commodities; I could purchase flaves, and fend them to trade for me into countries the most remote, and thereby get the most ucrative • returns.' 'And what would you do then?" faid Alganzib interrupting him. Why then,' faid Ubal, I would have fuch a command of

་

.

་

cafh I could lend it out in what manner, or at what rate of ufury I had a mind, and 'thereby be able, perhaps to double my capital every tenth year at fartheft. Well,' cried Alganzib impatiently, and what would follow?' 'O,' cried Ubal, I might then get the beft lands in the Kalif's dominions mortgaged to me; and could fo monopolife their produce, that my profits would be immenfe, This money wou d beget money, and new fources of wea th would start up before me.' Begone base wretch,' cried Alganzib, unworthy as thou art of a renovation of life, which would only be spent in the accumulation of wealth, ufeless, upmeaning, and con⚫ temptible.'

་

Ubal was fucceeded by a weather-beaten old man, of a menacing afpect and stately port, who with fomething of a commanding tone, defired to be put into the mill, as he had spent his ftrength, he faid, in the fer