1786. Albertina: An Anecdute. guage was uncommonly bold and figurative, and full of allufions to national cuftoms, and the manners of our ifland two centuries ago, the English themfelves, who had not made a particular study of his work, did not always comprehend their full energy. I added, that to transfufe the foul of Shakspeare into a tranflation was impoffible; and to tafte all his beauties in the original, required fuch a knowledge of the English manner and language as few foreigners, even after a long residence in the capital, could attain. The Prince faid he was aware of all this; yet he was determined to flruggle hard for fome acquaintance with an author fo much admired by the English nation; that though he should never be able to tafte all his excellencies, he was convinced he fhould understand enough to recompenfe him for his trouble; and that he had already ftudied fome detached parts, which he thought fuperior to any thing he had ever met with in the works of any other poet. His Royal Highness attends to military bufinefs with as much affiduity as moft officers of the fame rank in the army; for in the Pruffian fervice no degree of eminence in the article of birth can excufe a remitlion in the duties of that profeffion. He is much esteemed by the army, and confidered as an exceedingly good officer. To the frankness of a foldier, he joins the integrity of a German; and he is beloved by the public in general, on account of his good-nature, affali ity, and humane turn of mind.' Albertina: an Anecdote extracted from the A' -faid the Grand Chamberlain, count de P, to his daughter, one day after his return from court," Albertina, I know, or at leaft I think I can difcover, that your heart is ftill difengaged. Am I deceived, my child?" "My father!"-with a gentle figh, lifped the fweet girl of seventeen; my father why that question? I cannot comprehend ite meaning." "Come and fit by me, my child. That queftion has its motive and its object. It regards your felicity; the fupreme with of my heart, and the governing spring of my conduct toward you, from your birth to the prefent hour. You know, Albertina," added he, embracing her, “that you have the misfortune to be the fole heirefs of a father, who is one of the greatest men at court, and the favourite of the king." "The misfortune?" "I fear you will find it fuch. There is at least one effential point, in respect to which the daughter of a private gentleman muft always have a greater chance for happinefs than you. Should you, for example, 647 be given in marriage without being permitted to confult your heart Albertina perceiving that her father expected a reply, bent down her head in filence, and ftript of its leaves a rose which fhe held in her hand. "My dear child," continued the count, "I have long forefeen that this would be your destiny. It was therefore my duty to be careful that you should have no lover to facrifice. "At eight years of age, Albertina, you loft your mother, and I immediately carried you to a confiderable diftance from the capital. At one of my moft fecluded country feats you were educated under the eye of a woman, with whofe prudence I was well acquainted. I hope you have yet met with no perfon who could make you confider obedience as irkfome. If you know any young man that engages your heart, reveal your paffion freely to a father." \ 66 "I, my father! A young man ?-I-I know none.” "Are you fure of it, Albertina?" replied the count with emotion. "Yes, my father!" fighed Albertina. "So much the better," faid he, "as what you will foon be obliged to do, will appear more eafy for you to comply with, and become lefs difagreeable for me to urge.' "What shall I be obliged to do?" cried fhe, fixing upon her father her large blue eyes. "Know, my dear Albertina!" answered he, "it was not for nothing that I made you quit your folitude, and prefented you at court. Á nobleman of a diftant province, equally diftinguished by his virtues and his talents, whom the king has lately made his minister, and invested with the chief adminiftration of affairs both foreign and domeftic, requests the honour of your hand. Today he will be introduced to you for the first time; and you will receive him, I flatter myfelf, as a man whom your fovereign efteems, and your father refpects." "My hand?" "exclaimed Albertina, in a low voice, and suddenly she taft down her eyes, as if afhamed at having expreffed herfelf with fo little warmth. "It was the king himself," faid the count, "who formed the firft idea of this alliance. He communicated his thoughts to his minifter: the minifter spoke to me; and I have given my confent. This alliance, in a word, which is in a manner ordered by his majefty, will be a great acceffion to the confequence of our houfe. You must, there fore, lay your account, Albertina, with changing your name within a month." Albertina, feated by her father's fide, remained motionlefs: fhe would have spoke, but she could not find words. "Do not think, my dear girl!"-con- at the nuptial ceremony. Measures wat tinued the Grand Chamberlain, as if reliev- even fo well concerted, as to keep the fered from a great weight," do not think we vants ignorant of the business, when the will afk from you any thing that is not with- marriage was celebrated at a villa of the in your power to grant. The king, the mi- count de P―, within a few leagues of the nifter, and I, understand it is your hand court, only that you give. If the heart will not fol ow it, you are at liberty to keep it. Nor will any one ever pretend to blame you, if you fhould afterwards difpofe of it according to your inclination. On this point, you are left in the most perfect freedom." "And be at the fame time his wife?" cried Albertina, in aftonishment. "Yes, his wife," anfwered the Chamberlain gravely. 1 Is it you, my father! that I hear?" replied Albertina. "Before you have lived fix months with us at court," faid he," you will understand me. Good girl! the authors who have written our books of morality, without examining the weight of our chains, have prefcribed to the Great what they ought, in ignorance of what they can do. Promife, Albertina, and give me that hand as a pledge of your obedience, promife that without murmuring you will confpire with the will of your fovereign, and the wifhes of your father, to the aggrandizing of your family.". Albertina had never feen the Minifter, nor had the ever been in love. Overawed by paternal authority, the therefore gaye her hand to her father, in promife of obedi ence. A few hours after that promife was given, the Minister arrived. Albertina viewed with horror a little deformed man, with a glafs eye, and hump-back. Ready to fall into a fwoon, fhe was obliged to retire, in order to recover from her fright. This embarrassment feemed very excufable in a youug lady, who had not been above a month in the great world, and was to fay yes to what she had not yesterday the fmalleft idea of. The Minifter imputed her palenefs to timidity, and was by no means offended at her behaviour. Albertina returned. The Minifter, full of confidence, in confequence of what the Grand Chamberlain had faid him, feized her trembling hand, and asked her confent. "Yes!" replied fhe, in a eeble voice, but fuddenly left the room. Nothing could induce her to endure his prefence. In the evening, the threw herself at her father's feet. Muft I use my authority?" faid he, fternly, and inftantly retired, his eyes fparkling with rage. Albertina law the neceffity of fubmiflion. The Grand Chamberlain, count de P, and the Minifter, wished to avoid the parade of a public marriage. They accordingly agreed, that, except the king, and the neBellary witnelles, nobody fhould be prefent Albertina took the firft favourable oppor tunity, after the nuptial benediction, to write to her husband a letter, which the begged him to read attentively. He read thus: "My Lord, "In obedience to the will of my father, I have become your wife. Rely on my word, that I will ever preferve the conjugal vow inviolate. At prefent I can fay ne more; my heart is faut. In the mean time entreat my father to permit me to return to my f litude, with the perfon under whom I wa educated, and who was witnefs to our may riage. If you refuse this request, you only increase my mifery; whereas, if you grant it, you will augment that refped which I have for your merit." The Minifter was furprised, embarrasse, and distracted; but what could he do?He waited on the Grand Chamberlain, and fhewed him his daughter's letter. Charmed with her generous confidence, he determi ed to exert himself zealously in her behali In order to promote the request of his with, he declared to her father, that fuch a fepare. tion fhould not break the good understanding between their families. The count, r firft refolved to rush furiously into her apart ment; but reflecting that she had beca it fome measure forced to compliance, he con fented to her removal. And it was agreed, that all who had been prefent at the marriag fhould keep it a profound fecret, until tim and circumftance fhould change the fente ments of Albertina. (To be continued.) Comparative View of the Faculties of Man and other Animals; by Dr. Moore”. T cannot be denied, that with the exter nal fenfes many of the brute creatio are endowed, in common with man, with feveral faculties of a more refined nature. Some people, whether from a high opini of other animals, or a humble one of he man nature, I fhall not take upon me to fas have ftruggled hard to bring the one as nei N Τ E. *From Medical Sketches. This work : divided into two parts; the first of which contains, fketches on the practice of med cine, of digeftion, circulation of the blow fecretion of particular fluids from the blood: abiorption, refpiration, nervous fyftem Part fecond, of fevers in general, indammatory fevers, remittent or mixed fever, and nervous fever, 8vo, 75. 786 Comparative View of the Faculties of Man and other Animals. to the other as they could, or put them quite upon a level, if poffible. By thofe advocates for the brute creation we are told, that they are actuated by the paffions of fear, of grief, of joy, of anger, and of jealoufy, as well as men; that they poffefs the virtues of fidelity and gratitude in a higher degree. That the greatest heroes have not furpaffed them in courage; that they even difplay that quality, independent of any advantage to be acquired, and from no apparent motive, but a generous fpirit of emulation, and a difdain of turning their backs upon danger. That they affectionately tend, and carefully provide for their young; and with a prudent attention to their own future welfare, they prepare for the fcarcity of winter, by carefully heaping up provisions during the abundance of fummer. That to avoid the inconveniences and feverity of northern winters, they crofs vaft deferts and feas in fearch of more genial climes; and prompted by a predilection, a patriotic attachment, they return at the approach of fummer to their native country. That they uniformly follow that plan of life which is moft fuitable to their respective natures, and never misled by vain hopes and fantastic defires, deviate, like man, into the paths which lead to misery and remorfe. That they are not obliged, as men are, to fearch after remedies for their diftempers, by dangerous trials and laborious experience, nor to truft the care of their healths to a combination of selfish mercenaries; but when by accident they are fick, which is feldom the cafe, they find their cure at once, by an intuitive faculty, without any trouble. After having admitted, in its fullest extent, every fair comparison that can be made between man and the moft perfect of the other animals, acknowledging that both have bodies of matter organized in many refpects alike; that the bodies of both are made up of bones, mufcles, and blood-veffels, organs of refpiration, circulation, and digeftion; that both have brain and nerves apparently of the fame fubftance and texture; that in both thofe are the organs of will, of fenfation, and ef motion; that both poffefs five fenles of the fame nature, and have a refemblance in many of their appetites and inclinations; after all thofe conceffions, the internal faculties of the moft intelligent of the brute creation will be found, upon a just eftimation, at a prodigious distance beneath thofe of men. The actions of the one feeming to proceed from the impulse of some want, the incitement of fome appetite, or fome controlling fpring within them, which obliges hem to perform the fame thing in the fame Hib. Mag. Dec. 1786, 649 manner; all their boafted works, the labours of every species, and of every individual of the fpecies, are as uniform as if they had been all caft in the fame mould. This appears in their nefts, in their cells, in the labours of the ant, the bee, 'and the beaver; all their works are formed by an invariable accumulation, a neceffary attraction and depofition of matter, like the growing of a plant or the crystallization of a falt. One race of the moft intelligent fpecies never improves upon a former, nor one individual upon another. At the end of the elephant's long life, what does he know that he did not know at the beginning? What does the young elephant learn from the experience of his father? There is no æra of greater brightness than another in the hiftory of any animal but man; all, from the earlieft records of time to the prefent moment, is one uniform period of far greater darkness than any recorded in the annals of mankind. And if it is urged that there may have been fome unrecorded æra of human fociety wherein men were in a state of equal darknefs, it must be allowed that they have emerged out of it, which equally proves the great fuperiority of their nature. Speech, that wonderful faculty by which men convey to each other every emotion of their heart and every idea of their mind, is natural to all the human race, even to the moft uncultivated negro and favage, but is unknown to the wifeft of all other animals. Is this owing to a defect in the organs of fpeech? No. In fome animals thofe organs feem fufficiently capable of it, and fome have been taught to pronounce fentences, but none to understand what they pronounced; for language implies a chain of connected ideas fuperior to what any animal but man feems able to attain. How comes it, that with fo much fagacity and reflection as fome people contend certain animals poffefs, the strongest and the fhrewdeft among them have not made the weaker and lefs intelligent fubfervient to their ufe? How comes it, that the moft uncultivated of the human fpecies have from the beginning of time made the moft powerful and knowing of the brute creation fubfervient to theirs? If by his external form man has fome advantages over them, by forming an alliance they might foon overbalance this, and free themfelves from fubjection. What human force could stand againft an allied army of lions, elephants, and cagles, if they had judgment to use their fuperior powers? Even attention to their young, the most univerfal and most amiable part of the character of irrational animals, feems independent of fentiments and reflection, and to Naan proceed How different is this from the fenfations of the humane pecies, where the father and mother feel their youth reftored, and their ex ftence multiplied in their children, whom they endeavour to refcue from the allure ments of folly, and by creating in their minds a defire of knowledge and ufeful attainments they fave from the wretchedness of vacancy, and the contempt attendant upon ignorance who encourage their exertions, fupport them under difappointment, whofe chief happiness depends on the profperity of their offspring, and who feel the approach of age without fadnefs, while the evening of their lives is brightened by the rifing reputation of their children. Notwithstanding the analogy which has been pointed out in the ftructure of animals, which is thought to be continued by a gradul and almoft unbroken chain of connect:on from man down to the most inconfiderable of the animal world, and from thence carried equally entire through the vegetable, this analogy is in the bodily ftructure only; for when we turn our reflections to the reafening faculties of man, and the endowments of the human foul, the diftance between this and the highest intelligence of any other animals is infinite. Sketches of the Hiflory of the Auftrian Netterlands: with Remarks on the Conflitution, Commerce, Arts, and general State of thefe Provinces. By James Shaw. HE Auftrian Netherlands, owing to TH the efforts to reflore them to their for mer confequence, though not attended with fuccefs, have of late engaged the attention of the public; whatever, therefore, may tend to throw a light either on their antient hiftory, or their prefent ftate, cannot fail of being acceptable. Thefe Provinces, though now declined from their antient greatneis, ftill exhibit a fair and flourishing country, as populous as any part of Europe of the fame extent. To this flourishing ftate, the fituation and fertility of the foil and the induftry of the inhabitants have partly contributed; but the principal caufe of their antient opulence, as well as prefent profperity, is to be attributed to thofe privileges and that liberty which during fo many centuries they have poffefled. The author of thefe eflays, after efcribing the country, and giving a general Law of the hiftory of it fince the age of Charagne, proceeds to confider the political Aution of Brabant, to which that of the other ftates, though differing in fome refpects, yet having had the fame original, and being founded on the fame principles, upon the whole bears a generalrefemblance. The great charter of the liberties of this province is named the "Blythe or Joyous Entry of Brabant," because the fovereign, when he enters on his government, binds himfelf by an oath to govern according to this great charter, on which the happiness and fecurity of his fubjects depends. In this great inftrument of liberty, the powers of the ftates of the province are afcertained; the conftitution of the tribunals and courts of juftice is determined; the magiftrates and great offices of the ftate are defcribed; the general rights and franchises of all the citizens are recited in many important particulars; even their exercifes and amusements are not omitted; and a remarkable claufe is added, that if the fovereign fhall infringe any articl of the Joyous Entry, his fubjects fhall be releafed from fervice and duty until due repa ration be made. The ftates of Brabant, who form a effential part of the conftitution, are compe fed the three orders-the clergy, the bles, and the third eftate, as it is called, et the commons. The entry into the states > not open to all without diftinction who are born noble, nor can the prince introduct those whom he ennobles into this assemb The nobles who enter into the states mat exhibit proofs of their family having beca noble during four defcents on both fides, and must also poffefs cflates in Brabant of a yearly value proportionable to the r rank. Tw prelates and eleven abbots form the order er exceed the number of thirty; and the com the clergy, the nobles, at present, do t mons are reprefented by feven deputies che fen from the magiftrates of Bruffels, Le vain, and Antwerp. No tax can be impofed or fubfidy grant without the confent and authority of t ftates. When the fovereign requires a fubfer his requifition is prefented in the form of i Petition The ftates deliberate; and the cle gy and nobles, if they give their confent, it in thefe terms," provided that the thir eftate fhall alfo confent." But the depis can give no confent till they have colic ed the fenfe of the cities which they repr fent. For this purpofe, the Great Chamb of the city is affembled, composed of magiftrates, the antient council, confift : of thofe who have been magiftrates, and t rulers, or deans as they are called, of t communities of arts and trades, which an divided into nine bands. To this afiemb the deputies report the requeft of the Print and the confent of the clergy and nobla The Chamber deliberates, and the plural of voices decides. The deputies make the 1786. Sketches of the Hiflory of the Auftrian Netherlands. report to the states, and if the three principal cities are unanimous in their confent, the fubfidy is granted. : Perfonal liberty and fecurity, as well as property, are well guarded by the conflitution of Brabant. No arbitrary mandate aan deprive a citizen of his liberty; his dwelling is facred if he is fufpected of a crime, the officers of juftice are not permitted to enter his houfe for the purpofe of apprehending him, unless two magiftrates are prefent. He cannot be detained in prifon without juft caufe within a fhort and limited time, he must be brought to trial. No foreign jurifdiction has any power over him, nor can he be tried by any other than his natural judges. In the cities, the magiftrates are the judges, nominated by the fovereign, from a lift of three for each magiftrate, prefented by the city: and to guard against undue attachment, this charter excludes from the magistracy, thofe who hold certain offices of profit and truft immediately under the prince. These magiftrates judge in civil as well as criminal caufes in the latter, their fentence is final; but in the former, an appeal lies to the tribunal of the province, the council of Brabant, which confits of a prefident and fixteen judges. To prevent the intrufion of ftrangers, it is provided, that the prefident, if not a native, muft poffefs eftates of a certain yearly value in Brabant, and all other judges except two must be natives. The jurifdiction of this trihunal is extenfive; appeals on all civil caufes may be heard in it, and many fall under its cognizance in the firft inftance, particuTarly all accufations of treafon. But the authority of this tribunal is not confined to the adminiftration of juftice, it likewife extends to legiflation. The tates of Brabant do not concur with the fovereign in enacting laws; but the Joyous Entry ordains that no edict of the fovereign fhall obtain the force of a law, till it has been examined and approved by the judges of this tribunal, and fubfcribed by the chancellor. "Such," fays our Author, "are the benefits the Auftrian Netherlands enjoy from that wife conflitution which they have eftablifhed and maintained. Governed according to their own laws, fecured in their own property and perfonal liberty, and charged only with moderate taxes impofed by themfelves, the Flemings enjoy the best gifts of a free conftitution; nor have they caufe to repine, in comparing their fituation with that of other countries, when they behold around them either nations that are fubject to arbitrary fway, or, that enjoying liberty are yet oppreffed with burthenfome taxes, from which thofe provinces are happily exempted." Mr. Shaw in the following fection defcribes the Aufirian Provinces, and gives an 651 account of their union under the House of Burgundy; an æra which conftitutes the moft brilliant part of their Hiftory, when their commerce flourished, and their country was the emporium of Europe. He next enumerates the various caufes that have concurred to deftroy their trade, and which at prefent there feems but little probability of their recovering, unless the inteftine broils their jealous neighbours procure them the free, navigation of the Scheldt. The manufactures, cities, and agriculture of the Flemings next engage our author's attention, and afford him an opportunity of making many pertinent remarks on each of thefe fubjects, particularly the latter. Agriculture, he obferves, "flourishes greatly in Brabant and Hainault, but it is in the province of Flanders that this art has attained its highest praife. Here were made the earlieft improvements in hufbandry. The fields of Flanders never repofe or lie fallow; yet the rich foil fails not to repay the care of the farmer by a conftant fucceffion of fruitful crops. Nor is he fatisfied only with the crops that fummer ripens. Soon as the harvefts are gathered, the earth receives again into its bofom new feeds, or plants, and new crops of greens and vegetables arife, that cover the heids through the autumn and the winter months, till the fpring warns to prepare the ground for the enfuing season. "The farms in Flanders are small, rarely exceed fifty acres, and frequently contracted within a narrower bound: to this he attributes in a great meature the exact culture and populousness of Flanders. In a fmall farm, cach part feen by the eye of the mafter has its due tillage: the work of husbandry is chiefly performed by the farmer and his family, who fpare no pains to cultivate that field that affures their fubfiftence; and the glebe, fubdued and manured with affiduous care, makes a large return to that labour which is beftowed on its culture. A vast population fprings up, and the land is covered with the dwellings of a multitude of cultivators, who find each in the produce of that small farm which he tills a decent and comfortable maintenance. It happens otherwife in a country where the farms are of wide extent. In a large farm, many parts are overlooked or neglected, and a more negligent culture is beflowed by hired labourers, more remifs and lefs interested in the crop. "The other provinces have remarked the advantages whi h Flanders has derived from the fmall extent of the farms, and have imitated that example. The ftates of Hainault have, by an exprefs law, limited the extent of the farms in that province to an hundred and fifty acres, and the good effects of regulation have been fenfibly found; the lands are better cultivated, the country is more popu Nann 2 |