A MODEL FOR A PRINCE.

F all the affections that attend human life,

OF a

the love of glory is the most ardent, According as this is cultivated in Princes, it produces the greatest good, or greateft evil. Where Sovereigns have it by impreflions received from education only, it creates an ambitious, rather than a noble mind. Where it is the natural bent of a Prince's inclination, it prompts him to the pur fuit of things truly glorious. "The perfection of glory (fays Tully,) confifts in these three particulars: That the people love,us: That they have confidence in us: That they think us deferving of honour. This was fpoken of greatnefs in a commonwealth. But to form an idea of confummate glory in a Monarch, we must add to the above-mentioned happy circumstances, a certain neceffary inexistence and difrelish of whatever does not manifeftly tend to promote the felicity and welfare of his fubjects.

One of the divineft pleafures of human nature, is certainly that of doing good, especially to numerous focieties, and large bodies of men. Peter

the

the Great, Emperor of Ruffia, when he came to the years of manhood, found himself at the head of a vaft and numerous people, mafter of a vast territory, and abfolute commander of both the lives and fortunes of his fubjects. In the midft of this unbounded greatnefs, and plenitude of power, the generous youth turned his thoughts upon himself and his people with forrow. Sordid ignorance, and brutal manners, the diftinguithing characteristics of his country, he beheld and condemned. His judgment fuggefted the neceffity of a reformation, and his courage enabled him to effectuate it. For this purpofe he did not, as is ufual in fuch cafes, fend to that nation which was then in greateft efteem for po litenefs, and whence the reft of the European world had chiefly borrowed their's; but he him, felf left his diadem, to learn the true way to glory and immortal fame, by an application to thofe ufeful and beneficial arts which constitute the true riches of every country that is poffeffed of them. Mechanic employments and operations were, very properly, the first objects of his attention. With this glorious defign he travelled into foreign nations, in an obfcure manner; above receiving little honours in the countries where he occafionally fojourned, when they had the least ten

dency

dency to obftruct what in his eftimation was of infinitely greater confequence, a full information of the nature and advantages of their feveral trades and manufactures, the refpective excellencies and defects of their conftitutions and governments; in a word, their whole arts of peace and war. By thefe means, as fingular as glorious, this great Prince laid the foundation of a folid and lafting fame, by perfonal labour, perfonal knowledge, and perfonal valour.

Others may, in a metaphorical sense, be said to command themselves: Peter did literally put himfelf under his own command. How generous and noble, to enter his own name as a private man in the army he himself had raised, that none might expect to out run the steps by which he himfelf advanced! By fuch measures this truly heroic Prince learned to conquer; learned to use his conquefts. How terrible did he appear in battle! How great in victory!

A RE

A

Peafant, a common foldier in the Guards

of Peter the Great, behaved himself fo well in many actions, (fome of them under the eye of the Emperor himself, that notwithstanding his native obfcurity, and an entire ignorance of his parents, he was raifed to a Captaincy in his regiment-a rank equal to Colonel in field regiments. His father, (a peafant in Siberia) in great want, got a paffport for St. Petersburgh; and, hoping to be kept by his fon in eafy circumftances, fold off his little all to defray the expences of a fatiguing journey to that city. He foon learned the refidence of his fon, and asked the centinel at the gate to get fomebody to inform his fon, (who at the fame time had company with him in the houfe) that his father longed to fee him. The foldiers, flocking together, fcoffed at and derided the poor old man, for the Captain had given it out that he was a gentleman by birth. The noife made in the court, foon brought out this Captain and his company to fee what was doing and he ordered his father to be fe

verely beaten, and turned into the ftreet. This quickly collected a great concourse of people, among whom was a writer, who took the old man into a house, and, for a fmall confideration, drew up a petition humbly fetting forth his cafe, and recommended him the next day to wait at a certain place near the palace, by which the Emperor ufually paffed, and to hold up his paper to his Majefty. In the morning, the Emperor went by in a two-wheeled carriage, attended only by one footman, and obferving the old man, ftopped, took his petition, read it inftantly, and commanded that he should be on the parade next morning, at the fame time telling him the foldiers fhould have orders not to moleft him. Every thing was done accordingly; when the Guards formed a circle, and the Captain commanded to prefent himself. His Majefty then asked him, whether he was born in fuch a village? and of what parentage? and enforced true anfwers to thefe queftions, by intimating his determination to punifh a falfe reply to them with death. The Captain confidering the Emperor muft inevitably difcover a deception, and that putting him to fo much trouble, might not only prove fatal, but provoke him to put him to a moft painful and ignominious death, fell at his feet, confeffed the whole, and intreated forgiveness. Upon this, that wife and wonderful

Prince,