formed my own mind to that composure and stillness, which is the best preparative to a happy repose.

"As soon as I fell asleep, methought I was walking in an immense plain, where I met a figure of great dignity, representing a man in the full vigour of his age, clothed in a purple garment, with a rod of silver in his hand. He accosted me: and I learned from his discourse, that he had formerly lived upon our earth; but that now he was raised to the enjoyment of that felicity, which God had appointed for the reward of prudence and virtue. I see,' said he, 'young man, that you are just returned from the mansion of Ancient Fame; and I perceive by your countenance that you have not been thoroughly satisfied with the goddess of the place, or with the order of that assembly, over which she presides. You mortals are prone to imagine, that the smiles of Fame are always bestowed according to the suffrage of Virtue; but in this you find you are mistaken. If your curiosity incline you to inquire into the management of Modern Fame, the younger sister, follow me, and I will conduct you to her abode.'

"Immediately he led me to a very spacious building, of a mixed and crude sort of architecture, where, though I admired the expensiveness of the materials, yet the ornaments, methought, were ill designed, and of a vulgar taste; like a clumsy ungraceful person, dressed out in jewels and embroidery. I was particularly disgusted to see among the ancient festoons of flowers, pipes, and musical reeds, which were adjusted to the columns of the temple, mitres, and triple crowns, crosiers, and other ensigns of ecclesiastical discipline.

This building was surrounded with an innumerable crowd of people; and at each of the spacious doors, which opened on every side of it, I observed a tall, majestical woman, attended with a crowd of figures, some like men with large volumes in their hands, and others resembling the descriptions which poets have given us of the MUSES. These women, as my conductor informed me, were the guardians or genii of the several nations of the world. The historians and the Muses were for ever moving from one to another, yet, I observed, that they never visited some of the gates, where the women were almost naked, or dressed in turbans and painted feathers.

"We entered the temple:-at the upper end sate the goddess, on a throne of a very uncommon structure. It was composed of different materials, laid up in a beautiful architonick manner. I observed, that military instruments, as standards, swords, and pieces of artillery, most frequently appeared in the architecture; yet I likewise cast my eye on telescopes, rudders, painting pallets, geometrical schemes, and instruments of handicraft. By the looks and motions of people within the temple, I guessed that we were come just in time to be present at some great ceremony; for I observed the Muses and historians stepping ever and anon from some or other of the gates, and whispering the goddess, who gave each of them directions, which I could not hear. I asked my conductor the purpose of this great preparation; and what meant the twenty thrones which I counted round the temple, and why some of them were quite empty, while others were laid hold of by certain

persons, who stood behind them, as if they were waiting for leave to sit down.

"He answered me in the following manner: You are come from the table of Ancient Fame. The goddess there disposed of her honours without reserve or conditional change: her youngest sister is not so constant. Once in every century she reviews her assembly, and frequently makes great alterations, removing her subjects from one seat to a lower, or a higher; admitting strangers, or entirely excluding her former favourites. To-day is the anniversary of her great establishment: the empty seats formerly belonged to those whom she has now entirely banished from her palace. Those persons, whom you see standing behind some of the thrones, have leave to renew their claim; and if no other candidates obtain their place, will continue in the order which formerly belonged to them.'

"While he was speaking, the goddess rose from her seat, and commanded the several nations in her presence to introduce their candidates in the order which she had enjoined them. Upon this all the crowd of spectators disappeared, and the temple was left quite empty. After a short pause, the trumpet of the goddess sounded; the whole fabric shook; and my heart was filled with a rapture and astonishment which I never felt before.

"Immediately the temple was crowded again, and from the uppermost gate entered the most beautiful of those divine women, the GENIUS of ITALY. She led in a middle-aged man, in a very plain dress, who held in his hand a mariner's compass. The spectators, whose coun

tenances expressed the most impatient suspense, gave a confused acclamation, and I heard at once from a hundred mouths the name of COLUMBUS. He advanced towards the goddess, and sat down on the highest place, with an air of ease; as if that seat had long been familiar to him. That,' said my conductor, is the man who has enabled history to outdo fable: nor are the actions of the Grecian Hercules, either for greatness of imagination, or for boldness, or utility, comparable to the discovery of the new world; yet, perhaps, you will, this day, see another take place of him.'

"The trumpet sounded a second time :—while I was expecting some other personage from the gates nearest to the goddess, I observed a great hurry at the very lowest end of the temple. A woman, whom I had before taken notice of among those, who appeared almost naked and wild, advanced from her gate in a robe of furs, and other skins, and approached towards the goddess. The genii at the upper end expressed a mixture of surprise and indignation, that so savage a figure should now dare to step before them. As she drew near, I observed the person whom she conducted; he was a robust man in armour, with his own hair, a black eagle on his breast, and a carpenter's axe in his hand. I knew his habit, and with the crowd pronounced hastily the name of PETER the GREAT. He sat down on the second throne, and I could not help applauding the justice of the goddess.

"The third person who appeared was conducted by the representative of Italy, but the moment he set his

foot within the temple, the Muses and all the attendant powers from the other gates ran up at once to usher him. He seemed between thirty and forty years of age. The lyric, the comic, and the heroic muse, a winged virgin with a lyre, another with a pallet, a third with a chisel and block of marble, and an infinite number of beautiful young figures, did him honour as he passed. He returned their congratulations with smiles of the highest complacence, and seemed pleased with his intro→ duction, chiefly as it secured him such amiable companions. By his pontifical robes I knew him for LEO X.

"But our next personage was ushered in a very different manner. He entered from the German gate; a great noise of disputants and logical terms preceded him ; his face had a very bold, eager cast; his eyes were keen, and his dress monkish. When he came to sit down, seeing Leo on the throne next above him, he fell into a violent rage, and would needs have rose again. Leo, on the other hand, turned from him with a smile of high contempt, and begged of the beautiful powers, who stood around him, that they would hide that rude creature from his eyes, and defend his ears with their harmony, from the jargon which he uttered.'

"I was vexed at his being thrust into so unsuitable a neighbourhood, and asked my guide, who he was? His name,' said he, is MARTIN LUTHER. He has done more good to mankind, than most of those, whose intentions were the best and most heroic; his character, his views, and passions, were contemptible and hateful. Remember what I told you- Fame does not proceed