With groans that seem his wretched frame to rend, So Mis'ry breaks each link in Friendship's chain! Thus 'tis with man-with FORTUNE's herd he keeps, O wr' what glee the Muse stravaigs Her ain twa shanks the only naigs Here a' the boys are roving keen, Blue-bells, and roses, fringe the scene, Yonder the lads and lasses group Should drive fowk frae this warl to scoup Beneath yon cliff, high beetling owr, Inscrib'd bi a' wha make that tour Sae strait and narrow is the way, October.] And, O! it's sometimes droll, they say, To see Miss Clack Her wie infirmities betray Bi turning back! Censorious Bess, that dortie dame, Had nearly led to her lang hame, ODE TO HEALTH. WITHOUT thy aid, O balmy Health, Granted, of wealth a mod'rate share, E'en him exempts from increas'd woe; Of thee bereft, the Warrior's arm No longer strikes the foe with fear; No more the Statesman's tongue doth charm Best, richest boon receiv'd below May all who thy full value know EPIGRAM. HEAR A STORY OUT.. 'HAVE you heard that our ancient companion, Tom Idle, Indeed! and for what, pray?'-' For taking a bridle, A very hard sentence, it can't be denied, Had I done the same, I should feel no remorse." W. P. H. THE HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, LITERARY, AND SCIENTIFIC の MAGAZINE, FOR OCTOBER 1799. CONDUCTED BY ROBERT BISSET, LL. D. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER LITERARY GENTLEMEN. THIS NUMBER IS EMBELLISHED WITH A PORTRAIT OF LE THE HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES FOX. LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY G. CAWTHORN, BRITISH LIBRARY, NO. 132, STRAND, TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. THE unexpected length to which the Life of Mr. Fox, from its variety, led, prevents the insertion in this Number of our History of Politics and Literature. In our Number for December will be attempted a Sketch of the LIFE of Mr. SHERIDAN, including his Dramatic as well as bis Political and Intellectual Character: The Patriot's Prayer shall appear in our next, with other Poetical Favours. Respecting the Portraits of Scotch Literati, they will be brought forward as soon as possible. The Editor feels himself obliged to his Correspondents suggestions on that and other subjects, PORTRAITURES OF THE FRENCH, BEFORE AND SINCE THE REVOLUTION. No. I. THE HE following speculations may be considered as a parting view of the French nation, on the eve of its transition from the severest despotism to the extremes of democratic freedom, and during the first scenes of this sudden alteration. The depiction of what so remarkable and mighty a people were, previously to the great changes in their political circumstances, cannot be a matter of indifference to those who love to trace the progress of the human mind through the variety of situations which it is liable to experience, from the vicissitudes of public affairs, no less than from the incidents of private life, and to contemplate how much mankind may differ at one season from what they were at another. No nation, it is presumed, ever displayed so singular and mixed a character as the French have done, since their civil commotions; so fertile in surprising abilities and respectable qualifications, and so notorious for defects and flaws of the meanest kind and most culpable nature; dazzling the world at one time with its splendour, sullied at another with vices and crimes, and courting alternately, as it were, the highest praise and the heaviest censure. From so diversified an object much instruction and utility may be certainly derived, when surveyed without prejudice, and with a determination neither to refuse our applause where it is due, nor to withhold condemnation when it is equally deserved. By reviewing the disposition and frame of mind that characterised the French, antecedently to the revolution that has wrought such unexpected changes in them, several of the causes from whence it originated may possibly be discerned. To effect this purpose it was necessary to observe unbiassed truth and impartiality; and, it is hoped, they will be found throughout these Portraitures to have been carefully consulted. GENERAL IDEA OF THE FRENCH AT THE PRESENT TIME. NOTWITHSTANDING the confusions that have distracted France these ten years past, and the gloomy expectations of what is yet to come; notwithstanding the sanguinary scenes of which the French |