the tranfactions recorded in this and the former volumes, we could not help extending our ideas of contraft ftill further, and, through them, deploring the different characters of thofe na tions whole purfuits were, generally fpeaking, warlike; while we exulted in thole of our own country, wherein war is a confequential evil, but whole character is, generally speaking, COM MERCIAL. If war, in ancient times, paralyzed the feelings, and deadened every finer fenfation of the heart; if it only turned the minds of nations to the ebullitions of vain glory, to fenfelefs diffipation and oftentatious fplendour, which was unquestionably the fact; how much ought we to rejoice that, in this coun try, our wars, to which we are impelled by more honourable motives, or driven by the urgency of self defence, are conducted upon more humane principles, and that while a proftrate, a defenceJefs, or a finking enemy, is, by our brave SOLDIERS and SAILORS, regarded as a fon or brother, a fpirit of benevoJence is, with equal energy, operating at home, to avert as far as posible, or to alleviate, thofe evils to which thefe two valuable claffes of our fellow-fubjects, with their wives and children, are peculiarly liable. This fpirit of benevolence, which, we can remember, extended to our molt rancorous enemy, when his fubjects, imprisoned by the chance of war, were neglected by their own country, has arifen to its prefent height, in the firft inftance, from that general philan. thropy which pervades the British character; and, fecondly, from that extenfive, and almoft univerfal commerce, which, while it has with its own extenfion enlarged the mental faculties and powers, has made us better ac. quainted with the accidents and evils attendant upon military and maritime warfare, and has taught us more keenly to feel for others, and till more liberally to open our hands at the call of calamity. We deemed it neceffary to fay thefe few words, because we confider thefe reports as the records of proceedings the molt judicious and humane, and of benevolence the moft ftupendous and beft applied, of any that has ever taken place in this kingdom, which is, in one fentence, making their due eulogium, because in no other was fuch a laboripus, diffufive, and patriotic system of relief ever carried into effect, until our enemies, who had, from the exertions of its primary objects, felt its operation, were glad to imitate its plan: we should have been happy if they had imitated the British character in fincerity as well as in benevolence. Had their imitation extended fo far, although a great part of the people would not have had the opportunity of contributing to a fubfcription which now does them and their country so much honour, yet the public would have had reafon to exult that a great part of thofe evils that elicited its benevolence had been averted, and that the form which expofed the fons of Britain to danger in every quarter of the globe had permanently fublided. To analyze a volume of this nature would be nugatory, to extract from it would be useless: the proceedings it commemorates fhould be read, to be properly appreciated we fhall therefore only quote its preface, which is very elegantly written, as it contains their fummary; and further obferve, that the faid proceedings are on the whole, and in every inftance, marked with a fpirit of liberality, philanthropy, and difcretion, which shows that, while this fubfcription forms a lafting monument confecrated to the humanity and patriotifm of the British nation, this and the preceding Reports will to future ages teftify the exemplary labour, fpirit, perfeverance, and difcrimination of thofe gentlemen who formed the Committee for carrying its benevolent purpoles into effect, and of thole who fo ably planned, and fo affiduously conducted, while they fo liberally, we might tay magnificently, fubfcribed to it, "March 1, 1806. "The Committee for managing the PATRIOTIC FUND, on prefenting to the public the third report of their proceedings, remark, with great fatisfaction, that the confidence in British valour and British liberality, which they expreffed in the preface to their last report, is amply justified. Trophies of prouder fame than the former annals even of Britain can boat, have been added to her naval renown, and her gratitude to her brave defenders has been worthy of their tranfcendant achievements," "On the day appointed by a pious and revered Sovereign, the Nation, by a folemn act of homage, devoutly offered up their thanksgivings to that AlDdz mighty mighty Power whose arm alone giveth the vict ry,' and the eloquent zeal of the nitters of religion added a new impule to patriotiim, which has been felt by every clafs of the community, and manifetted in fubfcriptions of unexampled liberality to this infti tution. "In proportion as the gratuities from this fund have been more extenfively diffused, obfervation and experience have confirmed their beneficial effects. The diftreffed widow, the defitute orphan, the afflicted relative, have found relie, fupport, and confolation. The foldier and failor, unfit for active fervice, have been enabled to retire in comfort to their former habits and connexions; whilft honorary marks of dif. tination, the ju reward of living valour or tribute to departed worth, sti mulate the gallant mind to new exer. tions, and excite the rifing generation to imitate the heroifm of their fathers. "Imitations of this plan have been attempted by the enemy, rather defirous of its effects than actuated by its principles. A fubfcription was opened at Madrid for the relief of the widows and orphans of those who had fallen in the battle of Trafalgar; but an exhortation foon appeared in the Gazette of the Spanish Government engrafting upon it a plan for repairing the damages futtained on that memora ble day "By the statement of the receipt and expenditure annexed to this report, it will be seen, that the fubfcriptions and dividends amount to three hundred and thirty-eight thoufand fix hundred and ninety-three pounds, eleven shillings, and eightpence, exclu * Vide Supplement to the Madrid Gazette of November 29, in the Courier of the 9th of January last. +Vide Buonaparte's Decrees, in the Courier of the 10th of January last. five of twenty-one thousand two hun- The fums paid and voted amount to one hundred and five thousand two hundred and feventy-fix pounds, twą fhillings, and fourpence; by which relief has been afforded to 2140 Officers and privates wounded or disabled, and to 570 widows, orphans, parents, or other relatives, of thofe killed in his Majesty's fervice: honorary gratuities have been alfo conferred in 153 inftances of fuccefsful exertions of valour and merit. A confiderable number of claims, arifing from various actions, are fill expected, particularly from the rela❤ tives of more than 4co brave men who fell in the glorious engagements off Cape Trafalgar and Ferrol. The cafes laid before the Committee continue to become more numerous in proportion as the mode of application, and the certainty of relief, are more generally understood. This voluminous report will show how much additional labour has lately devolved on the Committee. They have, however, cheerfully devoted a confiderable portion of their time to the various duties of the great truft they have undertaken; fatisfied that they are employed honourably to themfelves, and ufefully to their country, whil promoting the objects of this inftitution.' I. M. Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by Himjelf: Containing an Account of his Life and Writings; interspersed with Anecdotes and Characters of feveral of the moft diftinguished Perfons in bis Time, with whom te bas bad Intercourfe and Connexion. 1 vol. 4to. 1806. (Continued from page 128.) However barren, in other refpects, the countries might have been through which Mr. C. paffed in his journey from Lisbon to Aranjuez, where he was met, and most affectionately welcomed, by Mr. Huffey; they certainly were not entirely barren of adventure. The incidents of the road, though numerally few, are agreeably related. The reader will, upon this occafion, observe a triking difference in the treatment of of our author in the Portuguese, and at times in the Spanish territories, and if he happens to be a politician, deduce, from caufes, confequences that may lead to cogitations, It is a curious circumftance, and (as it shows the importance of England in the fcale of nations) we think highly flattering to our patriotifm, to obferve the importance attached by Spain to the riots in London in 1780. Had a Popish plot fucceeded, or Gunpowder treafon taken effect, both of which our tranfmarine enemies were once faid to have been at the bottom of, they might have produced certain fenfations; but for the government of a country that, fostered in her bofom an inquifition, to exult in the fuppofed effects of a protef tant affociation, feems to argue that a defire of revenge may fometimes lead to toleration. The negociation at Madrid, which trembled like the index of a compafs upon a pivot, and however it might fometimes a little vibrate like that di rected to a cardinal point, was now under the influence of polar attraction, either fteady, or fluctuating, according to the reports of the proceedings of a LONDON MOB. This leems to us a trange kind of diplomatic auxiliary, but still, perhars, no more ftrange than many that bave produced concatenations and feparations in the political world. Spain, it appears, had at this period been fo humbled by the triumph of Admiral Rodney, and by the relief of Gibraltar, a circumstance equally triumphant, that he was anxious for peace, and the court, the ecclefi aitics, and military, were profeffedly Antigallican" but mark the sequel:Count Florida Blanca, however warm in the hour of humiliation, vifibly cooled when he was informed, "which information be believed to be true," of the fruition of the wishes of the Spanish government. He therefore, fays Mr. C.," in a lamentable tone fung out the downfal of London, King, Minifters, and Government, whelmed in ruin, and the rebellion of America tranfplanted to England!" We have juft hinted here at tranfactions which are largely difplayed in the work that we are now confidering, for the purpose of giving a fpecimen of Iberian fincerity, of which we have the honour to be in this inftance of the fame opinion with Lord Hillsborough; and now being fatisfied with politics, we fhall proceed to confider what, in more refpects than one, may be termed the lighter part of thefe memoirs; for although this term will not correctly apply to the very serious accident which our author met with while riding on the Pardo road, where, by his mule taking fright, his arm was dreadfully hattered, yet it certainly does to his furgeons, two of whom, fuch as Madrid could furnish, like Dr. Andros and Dr. Oquetos, in Gil Blas, instead of affording immediate relief to their patjent, amufed them felves with difputing and wrangling whether the arm was fractured at the thoulder or at the elbow; while each alternately twifted and tortured it as belt fuited his opinion, another, fent by authority, appeared, who filenced both, although he agreed with neither." At length," fays Mr. C., "my wife, whofe presence of mind never deferted her in danger, took the prudent measure of difmifling the whole trio of ignoramufes, and calling to her affittance a real practitioner in our near neighbourhood, who, under the fign of a brass bafon, profeffed the fifter arts of fhaving and furgery conjointly, by reverfing the practice fo injurious, and applying the bark, refcued me from their hands, and, under Providence, preferved my life." The Efcurial is in itfelf fo interefting, that an authentic account of it, fuch as this of which we are about to quote a part, becomes extremely valuable, efpecially as it is connected with other circumstances that, while they add to the intereft, also increase the amusement of its defcription. "I took," fays Mr. C., nobody with me to the Efcurial but my fervants and a Milanese traiteur, who opened an empty hotel, and provided me with a chamber and my food, "There were, indeed, myriads of annoying infects, who had kept an uninterrupted poffeffion of their quarters, against whom I had no way of guarding but by placing my portable Crib in the middle of the room, with the legs immersed in pails of water. The Court was expected, but not yet ar rived, and the place was a perfect folitude; fo that I had the best opportu nity of viewing this immenfe edifice at my eafe and leifure. I am not about to defcribe it" (minutely); "affuredly it is one of the most wonderous monuments that bigotry has ever dedicated to the fulfilment of a vow. Yet there is no grace in the external, which owes its power of striking to the immenfity of its mafs. The architect has been obliged to facrifice beauty and proportion to fecurity against the incredible hurricanes of wind which fometimes fweep down from the mountains that furround it. Of a scenery more favage, nature has hardly a fample to produce upon the habitable globe: yet within this gloomy and enormous receptacle there is abundant food for curiosity, in paintings, books, and confecrated treasures, exceeding all defcription. There is a vaft and inestimable col lection of pictures; and the great mafters whofe works were, in my poor judgment, decidedly the most prominent and attractive, are Raphael, Ti. tian, Rubens, Velasquez, and Coello; of which the two latt were natives of Spain, and by no means unworthy to be claffed with the three former. ** * "The Court removed from San Jidefonfo to the Efcurial in a few days after I had been there, and I was invited to bring my family thither; which accordingly I did. My reception here was very different from what I had experienced at San Ildefonfo. The King, one of the best tempered men living, was particularly gracious: in walking through his apartments in the Efcurial, I furprised him in his bed-chamber; the good man had been upon his knees before his private altar; when feeing me in the act of retiring, he bade me stay, and condefcended to show me some very curious South American deer, extremely fmall, and elegantly formed, which he kept under a netting, and amongst others a little green monkey, the most diminutive and beautiful of its fpecies of any that I had ever feen. He alfo fhowed me the game that he had shot that morning, of various forts, from the bocafica to the vulture. He was alone, and feemed to take peculiar pleasure in gratifying our curiofity. No monarch could well be more humbly lodged, for his ftate confifted in a small camp bed, miferably equipped with cur tains of faded old damask that had once been crimson, and a cushion of the fame by his bed-fide, with a table which held his crucifix and prayer-book, and over that a three quarters picture of the Mater-dolorofa, by Titian, which he always carried with him for his private altar-piece; of which picture I was fortunate enough to procure a very perfect copy by an old Spanish matter, (Coello, as I fufpect,) upon the fame fized cloth, and hardly to be distinguished from the original. This picture I brought home with me, and it is now in my poffeffion. His Majefty's drefs was, like his perfon, plain and homely: a buff leather wait. coat, breeches of the fame, and oldfafhioned boots, (made in Pall-mall,) with a plain drab coat covered with fnuff and duft, a bad wig, and a worle hat, conftituted his whole wardrobe for the chafe; and there were very few days in the year when he denied himfelf that recreation." The Prince of Afturias, now the reigning Sovereign, "had a small but elegant pavilion at a fhort distance from the Efcurial, which, in point of furniture and pictures, was a perfect gem. He did me and my family the honour to invite us to fee it. At the appointed hour we found it prepared for our reception, with a table fet out and provided with refreshments. Some of the Officers of the Household were in waiting: the Dukes of Alva, Grenada, Almodavar, and others of high rank, accompanied us through the apaitments." Such was the attention paid to our author in Spain, when confidered as undiplomatized. It appears, allo, that the Prince had a very high opinion of his tafte, as he ordered every atom of the Chinese ornaments of an apartment to be banished, in consequence of his having (upon application) hinted an opinion that they ill accorded with the elegant and chaite coftume of the rest of the building. Nor were the ladies of Mr. C.'s family lefs noticed, as will appear from the following paffage, which we quote for the double pürpofe of giving a trait of a royal perfonage, and fhowing our author in the pleafing light of a bufband and father exulting in the refpe&t paid to his dear. et connexions. "The Princess of Afturias, now reigning Queen of Spain, had taken an early opportunity of giving a pri vate audience to my wife and daughters, and gratifying their curiofity with a fight of her jewels, most of which fhe defcribed to be of English fetting. She condefcended to take a pattern of their riding habits, though they were copied from the uniform of our guards; and when apprifed of this, the replied, that it was a further motive with her for adopting defcribe, or rather quote, his defcription of the Tiranna, who, it seems, was a tragic actress fo celebrated, that when the played, it was deemed by him a treat, which, he fays, "I fhould fuppole no other ftage in Europe could compare with. That extraordinary woman, whofe real name I do not remember, and whofe real origin cannot be traced, till it is fettled from what particular nation or people we are to derive the outcalt race of gypfies, was not lefs formed to trike beholders with the beauty and commanding majelty of her person, than to attonith all that heard her by the powers that nature and art had combined to give her. My friend, Count Pietra Santa, who had honourable access to the great stage heroine, intimated to her the very high expectation I had formed of her performances, and the eager defire I had to fee her in one of her capital characters, telling her, at the fame time, that I had been a writer for the stage in my own country. In confequence of this intimation, the fent me word that I fhould have notice from her when the wifhed me to come to the theatre; till when the defired I would not prefent myfelf in my box upon any night, although her name might be in the bills; for it was only when he liked her part, and was in the humour to play well, that the wifhed me to be present." adopting the fashion. I remember, lingered too long in Madrid, we must however, that the caufed a broad gold lace to be carried round the bottom of the skirt. She also condefcended to fend for several other articles of their drefs as famples, while they were conforming to the coftuma of Spain to the minuteft particular, and wearing nothing but filks of Spanith fabric, rejecting all the finery of Lyons, and every prefent or purchase, however tempting, of all French manufactures whatever. This lure for popularity fucceeded to fuch a degree, that when thefe young Englith women habited in their Spanish dreifes, (and attractive as, I may prefume to say, they were by the bloom and beauty of their perfons) paffed the streets of Madrid, their coach was brought to frequent ftops, and hardly found its paffage through the crowd. A Spanish lady when the rides occupies both fides of her palfrey, and is attended by lacquies on foot, her horfe in the mean time movens fed non promovens, brandishing his legs, but advancing only by inches. When my wife and daughters, on the contrary, who were all admirable riders, according to the English ftile and fpirit, put their horfes to their fpeed, it was a fpectacle of fuch novelty, and oftentimes drew forth fuch acclamations, particularly from the Spanish guards while we were at the Efcurial, as might have given rife to fome fenfations, if perfifted in, which in good policy made it prudent for me to remand them to Madrid." Leaving the domestic economy and acquaintance of our author, we yet cannot pass over a well turned and elegant compliment of one of them, Count Kaunitz, to him, who, when at the play, the fubject of which was taken from Pamela, obferving that he expreffed, by his features, furprise at one of the characters, who was intended to reprefent a British Captain of a man of war, faid, "I hope, Sir, you will pardon a small mistake in point of coftuma which this gentleman has very naturally fallen into, as I am convinced he would have been proud of prefenting himself to you in his proper uniform, could he have found amongst all his naval acquaintance any one who could have furnished him with a fumple of it." While we are upon this fubje&t, though we fhall probably incur the oblervation that we fear attached to the author, and be thought to have "When fomething more than a week had paffed, I was again invited to the theatre, and permitted to fit the whole reprefentation. I had not then enough of the language to understand more than the incidents and action of the play, which was of the deepest caft of tragedy; for in the courfe of the plot, the murdered her infant children, and exhibited them dead on the stage, lying on each fide of her *, while the, fitting on the bare floor between them, (her attitude, action, features, and tones, defying all defcription,) prefented fuch a high wrought picture of hysteric |