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trigues of fate, to record. The alteration of their government and manners produced a change alfo in this refpect. A great many people withdrew themfelves entirely from the offices of life, and became a burden to their family and country, under a notion of ftudy and meditation. One fet of them very modeftly undertook to explain all the fecrets of nature, and account for her operations. Another left nature quite behind, and fell to reafon about immaterial fubftances and the properties of fpirits. A third profeffed to teach reafon by a rule; and invented arguments to confute common fenfe. These philofophers (for fo they ftiled themselves) were to be known from all mankind by a certain air made up of bashfulness and prefumption. To diftinguish themfelves from the vulgar, they forget how to fay or do one common thing like other men.

This rendered their behaviour very aukward, and they were confcious of it; for which reason they came little into company: yet in private their pride fwelled to fuch a pitch, that they ima gined they were arrived at the very top of human merit, and looked down with contempt on the greateft generals and belt fervants of the ftate. Among the various fpeculations that this modern Fashion of philofophizing produced, there were two more pernicious than the rest,

and which greatly contributed to the corruption and ruin of the people, One was, that vice and virtue were in themfelves indifferent things, and depended only on the laws of every country: the other, that there was neither reward nor punishment after this life. It has already been obferved how many defects the Troglodytes found in their laws, and how many quibbles were invented to elude them. But ftill there was fome retain upon their actions, while a sense of guilt was attended with remorse, and the apprehenfion of fuffering in another ftate. But by these two doctrines men were left at perfect liberty to un out of the reach of the law; and virtue was deprived of glory here, or the hopes of recompence hereafter. There was a third notion, lefs impious indeed, but of very ill co fequence to fociety, which placed all goodnefs and religion in a reclufe and contemplative way of life.

The effe&t of this was, to draw off many of the beft and worthiest men from the fervice of the publick, and adminiftration of the commonwealth, at a time when their labours were moft wanted to put a stop to the general corrup tion. It is hard to fay, which was most destructive; an opinion that, like the former, emboldened vice; or fuch a one as rendered virtue impotent and useless to mankind.

LETTER XIX.

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

FROM LONDON,

WHILE the principles of the well as virtue; and they were as ready

people were thus depraved, and their understandings taken off from their proper objects, the court became the centre of immorality, and every kind of folly. Though flattery had been always busy there, yet the former kings, who were frequently at war, had been used to a certain military freedom; and there were not wanting men about them who had courage to tell them truth; but the effeminacy of the prefent fet of courtiers took from them all fpirit, as

to fuffer the bafelt things, as to act the most unjuft. The king, wholly devoted to his pleafures, thought it fuficient for him to wear the crown, without troubling himself with any of the cares and duties belonging to it. The whole exercife and power of the goverment was lodged in the hands of a grand vizir, the firit of that title which the Troglodytes had ever known. It feemed very strange to them at the be ginning to fee the royalty transferred to

This paffage is not to be understood as defigning any reflection upon men of true learning, but as a cenfure of the different kinds of falfe learning; fuch as the fubtleties of metaphyficks and logick, and the natural philofophy of Defcartes and o hers, who prefume to explain and account for all things by systems drawn out of their own imagination.

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their fellow-fubject, and many thought it was debafing it too much. The priests themfelves were at a lofs how to make out that this fort of monarchy was divine; however, they found at laft that the grand vizir was a god by office, though not by birth. If this diftinction did not fatisfy the people, the court and the priests were not much concerned about it. But a prime minifter was not the only novelty thefe times produced.

The Troglodytes had always been remarkable for the manner in which they used their women. They had a greater efteem for them than any other of the eastern nations: they admitted them to a conftant thare in their converfation, and even entrusted them with their private affairs; but they never fufpected that they had a genius for publick bufinefs, and that not only their own families, but the state itfelf, might be governed by their direction. They were now convinced of their mistake. Several ladies appeared together at the helm: the king's miftrefs, the miftiefs of the vizir, and two or three mistresses of the vizir's favourite officers, joined in a po

PAIN

litical confederacy, and managed all mat ters as they pleafed. Their lovers gave nothing, and acted nothing, but by their recommendations and advice. Sometimes, indeed, they differed among themselves, which occafioned great confulions in the ftate; but, by the pacifick labours of good fubjects and the king's interceffion, fuch unhappy divifions were compofed, and bufinefs went quietly on again. If there was any defect in the politicks of thefe female rulers, it was, that they could never comprehend any other point or purpose in the art of government but fo much profit to themselves.

The hiftory of the Troglodytes has recorded fome of their wife and witty fayings.

One of them was told that, by the great decay of trade, the principal bank of the city would be broke. What care I?' faid fhe; money out in land.'

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Another was warned, that if better measures were not taken, the Troglodytes threatened to revolt. 'I am glad to hear it,' replied the; for if we beat them, there will fome rich confiscations fall to me.'

LETTER XX.

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

AINFUL experience had, by this time, taught the Troglodytes what their fathers were too happy to fufpect, that buman nature was not perfect enough to be trufted with unlimited pow ar: they law an evident neceffity of reftraining that which had been given to their kings, as well for the dignity of the crown itself, as for the good of the commonwealth.

The whole nation unanimously concurred in this refolution, and that una nimity could not be refifted: they therefore confidered by what means to reform their government, and did it with equal vigour and moderation.

It was

decreed that the crown fhould be preServed to the prince then reigning, out of refpect to the family he was of; but that he fhould wear it under certain limitations which divided his authority with the fenate.

To prevent the mifchiefs that might arife from evil minifters, and the too cat power of any favourite, they de

FROM LONDON,

clared, that the ministers of the king were the fervants of the people, and could not be protected by the court, if they were found difloyal to the nation.

Under thefe wife regulations the that tered state recovered itfelf again; their affairs were managed with more difcretion, and many publick grievances were redreffed. They thought that, in lmiting their monarchy, they had cut the root of all their evils, and Battered themfelves with a permanent felicity. But they quickly difcovered that this new fyftem was not without it's inconveniences. Very favourable opportu nities were fometimes loft by the unavoidable flowness of their councils, and it was often neceffary to truft more people with the fecret of publick bui nefs than could be relied on with fecurity. There were many evils which the nature of their government obliged them to connive at, and which grew as it were cut of the very root of it. The abuse of liberty was infeparable, in

many

many points, from liberty itself, and degenerated into a fhameless licentioufnefs. But the principal mischief attend ing on this change, was the divifion of the fenate into parties. Different judgments, different interefts and paffions, were perpetually clashing with one another, and by the unequal motion of it's wheels the whole machine went but heavily along.

Yet one advantage arofe from this diforder, that the people were kept alert,

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and upon their guard. The animofities and emulation of particulars fecured the commonwealth; as, in a feraglio, the honour of the husband is preferved by the malice of the eunuchs, and mutual jealoufies of the women.

Upon the whole, the Troglodytes might have been happy in the liberty they had gained, if the fame publick fpirit which established, could have continued to maintain it.

LETTER XXI.

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

FROM LONDON.

HERE was in the fenate a cer- ⚫ which want does not difgrace, or a vice tain man of great natural cun- which riches cannot dignify? Has not ning and penetration, factious, enter- luxury infected all degrees of men prizing, verfed in business, and, above ' amongst them? Which way is that luxall, very knowing in the difpofition ofury to be fupported? It must neceffa the times in which he lived. This man came fecretly to the king, and entertained him with the following discourse.

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rily create a dependence which will 'foon put an end to this dream of liberty. Have you a mind to fix your power on a fure and latting bafis? Fix it on the vices of mankind: fet up private intereft against publick; apply to the wants and vanities of particulars; 'fhew thofe who lead the people, that they may better find their account in betraying than defending them. This, Sir, is a short plan of fuch a conduct ( as would make you really fuperior to all restraint, without breaking in upon those nominal fecurities, which the Troglodytes are more attached to a great deal than they are to the things themselves. If you please to trust the management to me, I fhall not be 'afraid of being obnoxious to the fpirit of liberty, for in a little while I will extinguish every park of it; nor of being liable to the juftice of the nation, for my crime ifeif fhall be my protection.

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LETTER XXII.

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

FROM LONDON.

Tplexioned girl, who lodges in a houfe over-againit me. She was always ftaring at me from her window, and feemed to folicit my regards by a

HERE is a very pretty, fair-com- thoufand little airs that I cannot de

fcribe, but which touched me till wore than all her beauty: at I became fo enamoured of her, that I refolved de mand her in marriage. Accorgi, I D 2'

went

went to vifit her in form, and was received by her mother, a widow gentlewoman, who defired very civilly to know my business.

Madam,' faid I, I have a garden at Ipahan adorned with the finest flowers in the eaft; I have the Perfian jasmine, the Indian rofe, the violet of Media, and the talip of Candahar: but I have lately beheld an English lily more fair than all thefe, and for more • sweet, which I detire to transplant into my garden. This lily, Madam, is now in your poffeffion; and I come a fuppliant to you, that I may obtain • it,'

not know what a jointure fignified. At laft the explained herself by demanding of me how her daughter was to live if I fhould die.

I have an Indian wife,' answered I, that intends to burn herself as soon as I expire; but I would not recommend that method to your daughter.'

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How!' faid the; you are married then already!-Yes," faid I; 'in Perfia we are allowed to take as many women as we can keep; and fome, I am fure, of the most fashionable men in England, do the fame, only leaving out the ceremony.`

It is a very wicked practice,' anThe old lady, not conceiving what I fwered the: but fince it is your religion meant, began to affure me very faith-foto do, and that my daughter's fortune fully that I was mistaken, for the had neither lily nor rofe belonging to her.

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The hy, returned I, is your lovely daughter, whom I come to ask of 6 you for my wife.'

What do you propose to settle on her?' replied the. That is the first • point to be confidered.'

I will do by her very handfomely, answered I; I will fertle upon hertwo black eunuchs, an expert old midwife, and fix or seven very adroit female flaves.'

are

• Two blacks,' answered fhe, " well enough; but I should think two French footmen would be genteeler,

However, Sir, we will not quarrel about her equipage. The queftion is, what provifion you think of making.'

Do not trouble yourself about that,' returned I; ' fhe fhall have meat enough, ⚫ I warrant you; plenty of rice, and the best herbet in all Perfia.'

Do not tell me of rice and berbet,' faid the old woman; I ask what jointure you will give her?'

This word stopped me short, for I did

is too small to get a husband among Chriftians, I am not much averse to give her to you upon reasonable terms, because I am told you are very rich.' She had fcarce spoke these words, when my little miftrefs, who had been listening to our difcourfe behind the fcreen, came out from her concealment, and told her mother, that if so many women were to live together, fhe was fure there would be no peace in the family, and therefore the desired ber to infift on a good pin money, (that is to fay, as the term was expiained to me, a great independent allowance) in cafe her hefband and the thould disagree.

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What,' faid I, 'young lady, do you think already of feparating your interefts from mine? And mut I be obliged to pay my wife for living ill with me, as much as I should for livwell?

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No, by Hali! I will never wed a woman who is fo determined to rebel against her husband, that the articles for it in the very contract of her marriage !'

LETTER XXIII.

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

FROM LONDON,

HERE is at London a native of There never was an honefter, more

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form my mind to bear different opinions, as my body to fuffer different climates. Nay, if I may fay fo, I began my travels a good while before I went abroad, by reading, enquiring, and reafoning, about the manners and inititutions of other countries. I had lived long enough under the yoke of an arbitrary government to fee the mifery of it, and value liberty: I am now come into an ifland where that liberty is happily established, and where I may learn to know it by it's effects. This, Mirza, is the ftudy that I purfue; and it demands the utmost attention I can give. In abiolute monarchies all depends on the character of the prince, or of his minifters; and when

that is known, you have little more to learn: but in mixed governments the machine is more complex, and it requires a nicer obfervation to understand how the fprings of it are difpofed, or how they mutually check and aflift each other.

When I talk to Abdallah on this fubject, he tells me it is not worth my while to trouble myself about it; for that any form of government is good if it be well adminiftered. But the question is, which is most likely to be well adminiftered; that is, which has beft fecured itself, by wholefome provision and restraints, against the danger of a bad adminifiration?

LETTER XXIV..

SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN,

FROM LONDON.

SI was walking in the fields near returned I. In Flanders, Sir,' faid he,

A this city the other morning, a dif

'there were fome thousands of fuch ill

in a day of battle, but would make nofigure at a review. Befides, I have no vote for any county, city, or borough,in England; and therefore could not hope for preferment in the arny were I ever fo well made. This lat objection appeared to me very odd; but of all the novelties I have met with in Europe, none ever furprized me fo much, as that a qualification for military fervice thould be supposed to confift in fmug locks and a certain degree of talinefs, more than experienced courage and hardy itrength.

banded follier, somewhat in years, im-looking fellows, who did very well plored my charity; and, to excite my compaffion, bared his bofom, on which were the fears of many wounds all received in the fervice of his country. I gladly relieved his wants; and, being defirous to inform myself of every thing, fell into difcourfe with him on the war in which he had ferved. He told me he had been present at the taking of ten or twelve ftrong towns, and had a share in the danger and glory of almoft as many victories. How then, faid I, ' comes • it to pass that thou art laid aside? Thy ftrength is indeed in it's decli e, but not yet wasted; and I should think that ⚫ experience would well fapply the lofs of youth. Alas! Sir, answered he, I have a good heart, and tolerable limbs, but I want three inches more of ftature: I am brave and able enough, thank God, but not quite handfome enough for a foldier.'

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How then didit thou ferve fo long?'

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If women were to raise and employ troops, I should not, indeed, much wonder at fuch a choice: but God grant our invincible fultan an army of veteran fol diers, though there were not à man among them above five feet high, or a face that would not frighten an enemy with the very looks of it!

LETTER XXV.
SELIM, TO MIRZA AT ISPAHAN.

FROM LONDON,

hid them when we wake. I have sent
thee an epitaph made for one of thofe
men of business. wh ended his life and
labours not long ago.
"Here lies--

HERE is a fit of people in this country, whofe activity is more ufelefs than the idleness of a monk. They are like thofe troublefome dreams which often agitate and perplex us in our feep, but leave no impreffion befcore and ten years in a continual hurry.

who lived three

He

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