He escaped from the arrest, and concealed himself nine months in the house of a woman in Paris. At length, however, a domiciliary visit was threatened, and he was obliged to quit his asylum. He had the good fortune, though unprovided with a passport, to escape through the barrier, and went to the house of a friend at Mount Rouge. Unfortunately, this gentleman was at Paris, from which he was not expected to return in less than three days, during which time our fugitive was obliged to wander about exposed to cold, hunger, fatigue and also the most dreadful suspence. At length his friend returned and found him: but considering it dangerous to take him into his house in the day time, requested him to wait till night, when he would receive and conceal him. Condorcet, on the day his friend had fixed as the end of his miseries, forgot the dictates of prudence: 'for having asked for some refreshment at an inn, his dirty cap, torn clothes, leanness and voracity excited the suspicions of some persons present, one of whom being a municipal officer committed him to a dungeon for that night, where he was found dead next morning. He always carried a dose of poison about with him, and with this he had put a period to his mortal existence, to avoid a trial before the revolutionary tribunal. From Condorcet's character, as emphatically described by Madame Roland, we shall select a few sentences. "The genius of Condorcet," says she,、 "is equal to the comprehension of the greatest truths, but he has no other characteristic besides fear." She concludes thus, " the properest place for him was the secretary-ship of the academy. Such men should be employed to write, but never to act: it is a happiness to be able to draw some utility from them even that is not to be done with all timid persons in general they are good for nothing." It was during his seclusion in Paris, that Condorcet wrote his famous sketch of "The Progress of the Human Mind," to which even his enemy Barueil al

lows the merit of correct composition. The object of this work, is to enforce a belief of the perfectability of man, and the author carried this chimerical delusion so far, as to assert, that longevity and every desirable personal quality were attainable. The end of Condorcet himself, forms a respectable refutation of his absurd doctrine: for although he had so recently philosophized on the subject, and might be supposed thoroughly imbued with the principles he was desirous to enforce, he threw away his life by wanting strength to resist the importunities of hunger for a few hours.

CONFUCIUS, the celebrated Chinese philosopher' was born in the province of Xantung, about 551 years before the birth of Christ. He did not grow in knowledge by degrees, as children generally do, but seemed to arrive at the perfect use of his faculties, almost from his infancy. He took no delight in play, nor in those amusements, which are usual, with children of his age, but had a grave and serious deportment, which gained him universal respect, and seemed to foretel his future greatness. But what distinguished him most, was his exalted piety. He honoured his relations; he endeavoured in all things to imitate his grandfather, who was then alive and reputed a most holy man, and never ate any thing without first prostrating himself upon the ground and offering thanks to the supreme giver of all good.

After the death of his grandfather, Confucius applied himself to Teem-se, a celebrated doctor of his time, under whose direction, he soon made a vast progress into antiquity, which he considered as the source, from whence all genuine knowledge was to be drawn. As a proof of his sentiments upon this subject, we may mention, that when he was only sixteen years of age, he expressed himself in the following remarkable words, to a mandarine, who

was speaking disrespectfully of the Chinese books, on account of their obscurity-" The books you despise," says he, " are full of profound knowledge, which is not to be attained, but by the wise and learned; and the people would think cheaply of them, could they comprehend them of themselves. This subordination of spirits, by which the ignorant are dependant on the knowing, is very useful, and even necessary in society. Were all families equally rich, and equally powerful, there could not subsist any form of government; but there would happen a yet stranger disorder, if all men were equally knowing: viz. every one would be for governing, and none would think themselves obliged to obey."

At the age of 23, having made great progress, both in morals and politics, he began to project a scheme for a general reformation. All the little kingdoms of China depended upon the emperor; but then every province was a distinct kingdom, which had its peculiar laws, and was governed by a prince of its town. Hence it often happened, that the imperial authority was not sufficient to keep them within the bounds of their duty and allegiance, but especially at a time, when luxury, the love of pleasure, and a general dissolution of manners, prevailed in all those little courts.

Confucius, persuaded, that no people could ever be happy, amongst whom avarice, ambition and voluptuousness are predominant, resolved to preach up a severe morality amongst his countrymen; and accor dingly endeavoured to prevail upon them to contemn riches and worldy pleasures, and to esteem temperance, justice, and the other virtues. He also strove to inspire them with such magnanimity as to be proof against the frowns of princes, and with a sincerity incapable of the least disguise. His extensive knowledge and the splendour of his virtues, made him universally known and beloved. Kings were governed by his counsels, and the people reverenced him as a Vol. II. No. 10.

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saint. He was offered several high offices in the magistracy, which he sometimes accepted, never from motives of ambition, but from a desire of reforming a corrupt state; and as soon as he found, that he could be no longer useful in office, he never failed to resign. Thus for instance, he was raised to a considerable place of trust, in the kingdom of Lou, where he had not exercised his charge above three months, when by his councils and management, a great reformation was wrought both in the court and provinces. He corrected many frauds and abuses in the way of trade; he inculcated candour and fidelity amongst the men, and exhorted the women to chastity and a simplicity of manners.

By such methods, he every where established such concord and unanimity, that the whole kingdom seemed united like one great family.

The neighbouring princes began to be jealous. They easily perceived, that a king, under the councils of such a man as Confucius, would quickly render himself too powerful; since nothing can make a state flourish more than good order among the members, and an exact observance of its laws. Alarmed at this, one of the neighbouring kings assembled his ministers to consider of the most effectual methods of putting a stop to the career of this new government. They collected together a great number of young girls, of extraordinary beauty, who were perfect mistresses of all those charms and accomplishments, which might please and captivate the heart; and these, under the pretext of an embassy, they presented to the king of Lou and to the grandees of his court. The present was joyfully received, and had its desired effect. The arts of good government were immediately neglected, nothing was thought of, but inventing new pleasures for the entertainment of the fair strangers, and the court was entirely dissolved in sensuality and pleasure. Confucius had foreseen all this, and endeavoured to prevent it, by advising the

refusal of the present; and he now laboured to take off the delusion they were fallen into, and to bring them back to reason. But all his endeavours proved ineffectual; and the severity of the philosopher was obliged to give way to the overbearing fashion of the court. Upon which he immediately relinquished his employment, exiling himself, at the same time, from his native country, to try if he could find in other kingdoms, minds and dispositions more fit to relish and pursue his maxims.

He passed through several of the kingdoms of the East, but every where met with insurmountable difficulties. He had the misfortune to live in turbulent times, when men had but little leisure, and far less inclination to listen to his philosophy. Hence he often met with ill treatment and reproachful language, and was sometimes reduced to such extremities, that he was in danger of perishing by hunger. Some philosophers amongst his cotemporaries, were so affected with this terrible state of things, that they retired into the mountains and desarts, as the only places where happiness could be found; and would have persuaded Confucius to follow their example. But, "I am a man," says he, "and cannot exclude myself from the society of men, and consort with beasts. Bad as the times are, I shall do all I can to recall men to virtue: for in virtue are all things, and if mankind would but once embrace it, and submit themselves to its discipline and laws, they would not want me, or any body else to instruct them. Human nature came to us from heaven pure and perfect; but, in process of time, ignorance, the passions and evil examples have corrupted it. All consists in restoring it to its primitive beauty; and, to be perfect, we must re-ascend to that point from which we have fallen. Obey heaven, and follow the orders of him who governs it. Love your neighbour as yourself. Let your reason, and not your senses, be the rule of your conduct; for rea

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