The general eagerness to obtain watches of his invention soon became so great, that the watch-makers of Geneva engraved his name, instead of those of Tompion and Graham, on the common watches made at that place *.

It was not among foreigners only that he enjoyed so flattering a consideration. In his own country he was distinguished as he merited. He obtained in 1739 apartments in the galleries of the Louvre, and the title of clock- and watchmaker to the king. Cardinal Fleury, when he sent him this title, told him that his majesty, pleased with his services, might hereafter add to this favour by granting him a pension. Our artist, however, thought that a sovereign, like the father of a family, could not settle one of his children above the level of the rest, without altering in some degree the patrimony of the others; and therefore, that the wishes of an honest man and a true patriot ought to be satisfied when he has obtained some mark of esteem and benevolence from his sovereign.

"If this celebrated artist," adds his son, has enriched clock-and watch-work so much by his discoveries and workmanship, his generous conduct to those who, under his direction, cultivated this art, has not less contributed to its perfection. I appeal to all those who were acquainted with him, to prove the truth of this assertion. Never was any man more accessible, more communicative, or more prodigal of his knowledge. Has he not taken as much pains to place his work before the eyes of the gentlemen of the art, as the English took at first to hide theirs? What artist is ignorant of the trouble which he gave himself to expose new inventions, when they were as rarely known as they are now common? Who does not know that he sacrificed a part of his fortune that he did not confine himself merely to the encouraging of them by his example, but that he even added

I met with the following anecdote lately in a French work:

Voltaire called one day on Pierre Le Roy the son, and the conversation happened to turn upon the father's improvements in watch- and clock-work. After Le Roy had expatiated on them for some time, Voltaire replied, “ Yes, yes, my friend, marshal Saxe and your father have beat the English."-T. S. E.

recompenses,

recompenses, as far as his circumstances would permit? After a life so spent, can we be astonished at the concourse of workmen who followed his funeral? Can we be surprised. at their expressing with sorrow, that they had lost their supporter! their friend! their father?"

After having considered the good qualities for which Julien Le Roy was so much admired and cherished as an artist by all who were intimate with him, let us turn to a few traits in his life, from which we may judge of those that distinguished him as a man and a member of society. He had been very intimate with Henry Sully; and the pleasure which these two celebrated men found in discoursing together of their art, so far from exciting envy, had formed between them the bond of the closest and most sincere friendship., When the watch-manufactories of Versailles and St. Germain were broken up, Sully tried to persuade his friend to accept a pension from the English ambassador, and to go and reside in London: but it was to no purpose; he never would consent to expatriate himself, and carry his discoveries and knowledge out of his native country. When Sully died, which happened in October 1728, Julien Le Roy was pressed to solicit the pension from the king, which Sully had received; but he constantly refused it, because madame Sully had requested the king to continue it to her. The same zeal engaged him to undertake every thing that could do honour to the memory of his departed friend; and it is to him we are indebted for the little that is known of Sully's life. Notwithstanding his continual occupations, Le Roy undertook the reprinting one of his works, and enriched it with every thing that could recommend it. He might have intermixed his own subjects with Sully's; but he chose rather to bring forward his name and writings after those of his deceased friend, and to print a part of his Memoirs at the end of the Règle artificielle du Temps.

Such was this celebrated man; to whom was given, if I may use the expression of a celebrated journalist, the art of chaining down time, and forcing matter to represent with the utmost precision the rapid flight of our years. The king deigned to honour him with his regret when he heard

of his death. By his marriage with Jane De Lafons he left four sons worthy of such a father; and who have all distinguished themselves in the departments which they have chosen :-Peter Le Roy, the eldest, who has succeeded his father as clock- and watch-maker to the king, and who is the inventor of the marine watches; John Le Roy, of the Royal Academy of Sciences; Julien David Le Roy, professor in the Royal Academy of Architecture, and of the Institution of Bologne, author of the Ruins of Greece; and Charles Le Roy, of the Royal Academy of Montpellier, correspondent of the Academy of Sciences of Paris, and professor of medicine in the University of Montpellier.

III. An Essay on Commerce, as at present carried on by different Nations; with some Hints, which the Writer thinks would tend greatly to the Advantage of every Country. By Mr. JAMES GRAHAM, of Berwick-uponTweed*.

COMMERCE has long been the distinguishing characteristic of this country: it is the great source of our national wealth as well as individual riches. It is commerce that rouses and calls forth the adventurous spirit of our merchants and the persevering industry of our manufacturers. To carry the various produce of our country to the remotest part of the earth gives employment to our sailors, whose valour and intrepidity are the admiration of Europe, and give to Britain. that preeminence amongst the nations which she now possesses. If such are the great advantages derived from commerce to this country, it surely ought to be the study of every individual, as far as his abilities, situation, and circumstances in life will admit, to be acquainted with its nature, and to trace its various connections.

To make some observations on the first principles of trade, or the beginning of commercial intercourse with dif ferent countries, and to point out what to me appears the most

* Read before the Literary Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

likely means of bringing commerce to its highest degree of perfection, is the design of this essay.

If we take a survey of this earth, even those places where nature seems to have been most bountiful, and to have poured out her whole luxuriance, even there we shall find some wants, some articles or produce, which, if obtained, would add either to the ease or comfort of the inhabitants. If we cast our eyes on the more northerly climates, where the sterility of the soil is rendered more barren, from the small degree of that solar warmth which gives life to the whole creation, yet even there we find a superfluity of some articles extremely necessary to the inhabitants of more favoured situations. Such indeed is the diversified nature of the earth we inhabit, that there is no country, however highly it may be favoured, which can produce all that is necessary for the comfort, health, protection, and security of its inhabitants.

From these causes commerce is certainly nearly coeval with man and if men had duly observed these immutable laws of their Creator, and regulated their conduct accordingly, all intercourse would have been so reciprocal, that both national and individual interest, as well as social happiness, would long have continued to bless the world.—But jealousy, envy, and ambition, the most dangerous passions of the human breast, soon made man lose sight of his true interest. When kings, governors or rulers, by whatever name they are called, once turned their attention to raising a revenue, whether for the support of their own kingdom, or to gratify their own ambition, and increase their greatness, the idea of taxing the produce of neighbouring states seems very soon to have engrossed that attention. To a weak shortsighted politician the idea is no doubt flattering: he vainly thinks he shall raise a revenue and increase the resources of. his own people by taxing his neighbours, not recollecting how soon and how easily all will be retaliated. Whoever may have had but small opportunities of observing the intercourse of different nations, and comparing the commercial laws and regulations by which they are governed, will easily see with what exactness they endeavour to counteract each other. I could illustrate this in a variety of instances, but it would

lead

lead me to too great a length for what I intend, viz.-only a short essay. Let one observation suffice: Compare the duty on wine in this country with the duty on English malt liquor in some others. The people in foreign countries are as much astonished to hear the low price at which our ale and porter can be made, as we are to hear the price at which the cultivator of the grape can sell his wine. One can scarcely be prevented from thinking that it is surely a mistaken, not to say a cruel, policy, which thus prevents the great bulk of the people from enjoying those bounties of Providence which the earth sends forth in such abundance. If my memory is to be trusted, it is to this commercial jealousy we owe most of the wars which for more than a century past have tormented mankind, and destroyed millions of the human race: and, what yet is a more melancholy reflection, this dæmon of discord seems only to be increasing in strength and plotting fresh inroads on the happiness of mankind. I will, however, beg leave to observe, that the idea of universal empire, encouraged by successive victories, and of commanding the trade of the world into one emporium, however flattering to the conquering hero or adventurous merchant, both alike are destructive to the general happiness of mankind: and I am persuaded, that as soon will the immutable laws of the universe be changed,-the different climates of this earth send forth the same productions, as either will be realized. A small recollection of his tory will fully convince us, that ambition had no sooner supposed that her wishes were to be gratified, than the mighty fabric has tumbled in pieces, and brought the vain projector to a premature death, or to linger out a few years. covered with shame, disgrace, and remorse. Such, I am persuaded, will be the natural consequence of all overstrained ambitious speculations. I make no doubt but many will recollect several instances of some persons in this country, of large fortunes, extensive credit, and wide-spread connections; who, not satisfied with all these, but prompted by ambition, wished to bring all under their grasp; and in the pride of their hearts have declared, My warehouses, or my granaries, shall be the general depôt of such or such an

article;