by the degree it attains of his favourite how more fenfibly alive to a variety of manner. He errs, because impartial exquifite ftrokes which the other has men of taste are addicted to no manner, not yet perceived? the author is familiar but love whatever is exquifite. We with every part, and the reader has but often fee readers draw their degree of a vague notion of the whole. How comparative merit, from the manner of many noble conceptions of Rousseau are their favourite author; an author does not yet mastered? How many profound the fame, that is, he draws it from him- reflections of Montefquieu are not yet felf. Such a partial standard of tafte understood? How many fubtile leffons is erroneous; but it is more excufable are yet in Locke, which no preceptor in the author than the reader. This obfervation will ferve to explain feveral curious phenomena in literature. The witty Cowley despised the natural Chaucer; the claffical Boileau, the rough fublimity of Crebillon; the forcible Corneille, the tender Racine; the affected Marivaux, the familiar Moliere; the artificial Gray, the fimple Shenflone. Each alike judged by that pecaliar manner he had long formed. In a free converfation, they might have contemned each other; and a dunce, who had liftened without taste or understanding, if he had been a haberdasher in anecdotes, would have haftened to repofit in his warehouse of literary falfities, a long declamation on the vanity and envy of thefe great men. It has long been acknowledged, that every work of merit, the more it is examined, the greater the merit will appear. The most masterly touches, and the referved graces, which form the price of the artist, are not obfervable till after a familiar and conftant meditation. What is most refined is leaft obvious; and to fome must remain unperceived for ever. But afcending from these elaborate ftrokes in compofition, to the views and defigns of an author, the more profound and extenfive these are, the more they elude the reader's apprehenfion. I refine not too much when I fay, that the author is conscious of beauties, that are not in his compofition. The happiest writers are compelled to fee fome of their most magnificent ideas float along the immenfity of mind, beyond the feeble grafp of expreffion. Compare the ftate of the author with that of the reader; how copious and overflowing is the mind of the one to the other? can teach! Such, among others, are the reafons which may induce an author to exprefs himfelf in language which may found like vanity. To be admired, is the noble fimplicity of the ancients, (imitated by a few elevated minds among the moderns,) in expreffing with ardour the confcioufnefs of genius. We are not more difpleafed with Dryden than with Cicero, when he acquaints us of the great things he has done, and thofe he purposes to do. Modern modefty might, perhaps, to fome be more engaging, if it were modefty; but our artificial blufhes are like the ladies' temporary rouge, ever ready to colour the face on any occafion. Some will not place their names to their books, yet prefix it to their advertisements; others pretend to be the editors of their own works; fome compliment themfelves in the third perfon; and many, concealed under the fhade of anonymous criticifm, form panegyrics, as elaborate and long as Pliny's on Trajan, of their works and themfelves; yet, in a converfation, ftart at a compliment and quarrel at a quotation. Such modeft authors-refemble certain ladies, who in public are equally cel.brated for the coldeft chastity. Confcioufnefs of merit characterises men of genius; but it is to be lamented, that the illufions of felf love are not dif tinguishable from the realities of consciousness. Yet if we were to take from fome their pride of exultation, we annihilate the germ of their excellence. The perfuation of a juft pofterity smoothed the fleepless pillow, and fpread a funfhine in the folitude of Bacon, Montefquieu, and Newton; of Cervantes, D 2 Gray, Gray, and Milton. Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are fuch, long before the tardy confent of the public. They have alfo been accused of the meanest adulations; it is certain that many have had the weakness to praise unworthy men, and fome the courage to crafe what they have written. A young writer unknown, yet languishing for encouragement, when he first finds the notice of a perfon of fome eminence, has expreffed himf.If in language which gratitude, a finer reafon than reafon itfelf, infpired. Strongly has Milton expreffed the fenfations of this paffion, "the debt immenfe of endless gratitude." Who ever pays an "immenfe debt" in fmall funs? From D'Ifraeli's Effay. OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PORTUGUESE. FROM MURPHY'S TRAVELS IN PORTUGAL. THE inhabitants of Lisbon may be ranked under four claffes, viz. the nobility, the clergy, the traders, and the labouring people. The obfervations I am about to offer on each class, contain very little more than may be collected by every one in the streets or the roads, in markets or cottages. To proceed in the most natural order, we should begin with the pedestals of the state; but, for once, we shall reverfe the order of the structure, and commence with what is called "the Corinthian capitals of polished fociety." The nobility may be confidered as a body entirely diftinct from the other three; the principal affairs of the ftate are committed to their truft; they refide in the capital, or its environs, and feldom visit their eftates in the provinces. They esteem it an honour to be born in the capital, and alfo to dwell there. They are educated likewife at Lifbon, in a college founded for the purpose by King Jofeph. Hence it is called the Collegio dos Nobres, the College of Nobles. Prior to the eftablishment of this college, they were educated at Coimbra, a place apparently much better adapted for that purpose, as it poffeffes many advantages not to be found in a commercial city. The Fragrance of the air, the fillness of the Country, and the delightful profpects with which Coimbra abounds, are great incitements to ftudy; befides, it is enriched with immenfe literary treafures, the accumulation of ages; and its build ngs are very magnificent. Now, the feminary at Lisbon is deficient in all thefe points. It appears, therefore, that the nobility have made a bad exchange. There is a wide difference between a college of nobles and a noble college. The nobility, comparatively fpeaking, are not very rich; for though their patrimonies are large, their rents are small. I doubt if any of them has ever seen a map of his cftate, or exactly knows its boundaries. If ever they defign to turn their attention toward the conftructing. of roads and canals, and not confider agriculture a purfuit unworthy of gentlemen, they will become the richest nobility in Europe, on account of the vast extent of their landed poffeffions. In the diftribution of their fortunes, they fhew great prudence without the appearance of parfimony. A country wherein there are no race-horfes, licen fed gambling houfes, or expenfive miftreffes, a gentleman may live fplendidly upon a moderate income; fortunately thefe allurements to diffipation are unknown to them. Nor do they excite the envy of the poor by midnight orgies or gilded chariots. Their time is fpent between their duty at court, and the focial enjoyments of private parties. The fine arts, which, to the fuperior claffes of every nation of Europe, are fources of the most refined pleasure, are almost entirely neglected by the nobility of this country; neither do they appear to take much pleasure in the cultivation of the fciences, though they pof fefs It is true, that in all the learned profeffions, men will be tound who would render more service to the community in an humbler sphere, and among the clergy there are, I am forry to add, but too many of this defcription, who are better calculated by nature and education to follow the tail of the plough, than to difcharge the important ties of that facred profeffion. fefs most excellent capacity for both. through this laudable channel, and the Their lives are an even tenor of do- world is deprived of their experience mestic felicities, not remarkable for bril- and wisdom. liant actions, and but rarely ftained by vice. The fame of their illuftrious anceffors juftly entitles them to every honour and refpect; but while they glory in the remembrance of their atchievements, they feem to forget their maxins. It must be allowed, however, that they poffefs many amiable qualities. They are religious, temperate, and generous, faithful to their friends, charitable to the diftreffed, and warmly attached to their fovereign; whofe approbation, and a peaceful retirement, conftitute the greatest happiness of their lives. With refpect to the clergy, I was not furnished with information fufficient to form an accurate estimate of their true character, and I fhall not profume to fpeak from report of fo refpectable a body. Among those with whom I had the honour to be acquainted, I found fone poffeffed of great liberality and talents; in proof of this, I need only mention his grace the Bishop of Beja, whole piety and learning would do ho Dour to the Apoftolic or Auguftan ages. I might also inftance the Abbé Corrêa, chaplain to his Grace the Duke de Alafocus, and Father de Souza, author of feveral pieces on the Arabic language. The merchants are remarkably attentive to bufinefs; and, as far as I could learn, juft and punctual in their dealings: they live on a friendly footing with the foreign traders, who refide here, particularly the English. Bankruptcies are feldom known among them, and they are careful in avoiding litigations; for it is a well known fact, that the gentlemen of the long robe in Portugal, are not to be furpaffed even by their brethren of the English court of Chancery, in the art of protracting a fuit. A Lifbon merchant paffes his hours in the following manner: he goes to prayers at eight o'clock, to change at eleven, dines at one, fleeps till three, eats fruit at four, and fups at nine: the intermediate hours are employed in the counting-houfe, in paying visits, or playing at cards. To vifit any one above the rank of a tradefman, it is neceffary to wear a sword and chapeau; if the family you visit be in mourning, you must also wear black; the fervants would not confider a vifitant as a gentleman unlfs he came in a coach; to vifit in boots would be an unpardonable offence, unless you wear fpurs at the fame time. The mafter of the houfe precedes the vifitant on his going out, the contrary order takes place in coming in. There are feveral other men of emiment talents among the clergy, but concealed in gloomy cells; and what is extraordinary, the greater are their talents, the more careful are they in fecluding themselves from all communication with the world. It may be asked then, why they do not oblige the world with fome of their acquirements? The reafon is very obvious; the Portuguese language is fo little known, that there is little or no fale for books written in that language out of the country, and in it, reading is very far from being general; The common people of Lifbon and very few books, therefore, will defray its environs are a laborious and hardy the expence of printing and paper, ef- race; many of them, by frugal living, pecially if they treat on fcientific fub- lay up a decent competence for old age; jects. Thus are men of letters deter- it is painful to behold the trouble they red from making themfelves known are obliged to take for want of proper implements to carry on their work. Their cars have the rude appearance of the earliest ages; thefe vehicles are flowly drawn by two ftout oxen. The corn is fhelled by the treading of the fame animals as in the days of the Ifraelites; hence, probably, the scripture proverb, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth the corn. They have many other cuftoms, which, to us, appear very fingular; for example, women fit with the left fide toward the horfe's head when they ride. A poftillion rides on the left horfe. Footmen play at cards while they are waiting for their mafters. A taylor fits at his work like a fhoemaker. A hair-dreffer appears on Sundays with a fword, a cockade, and two watches, or at least two watch chains. A tavern is known by a vine bufh. A houfe to be let, by a piece of blank paper. An accoucheufe door, by a white cross. And a Jew is known by his extra-Catholic devotion. The lower clafs, of both fexes, are very fond of gaudy apparel; we obferve even the fish-women with trinkets and brackets of gold about the neck and wrift. The fruit-women are diftinguished by a particular drefs. All the drudgery is performed by Galicians, who may be called the hewers of wood and drawers of water of this metropolis; they are patient, induftrious, and faithful to a proverb. One of the principal employments, in which they are daily engaged, is fupplying the citizens with water, which they carry on their fhoulders in fmall wooden barrels from the different foun tains. Every Galician, in this fervitude, is obliged, by the police of the city, to carry one of thefe veffels, filled with water, to his lodgings, every night, and, in cafe of fire, to haften with it to affift in extinguishing the flames, at the fiift found of the fire-bell; any neglect in this refpect is feverely punished; on the contrary, they are fure to be rewarded in proportion to their vigilance. But the people are feldom vifited by that dreadful fcourge: during my refidence here, there was not an inftance of any accident by fire. In the houses of foreign merchants, the Galicians are the only servants employed, and many of the Portuguese prefer them to the natives in that capacity; they cook the victuals, clean the rooms, and make the beds. If there be any female fervants in the house, under the age of five and thirty, they are invifible, except to the mistress and her daughters; after this age they are left to their own difcretion, as their charms are then fuppofed to be fufficiently faded to render them fecure from the invafions of gallantry. The ladies feldom breath the pure air, except in their fhort excurfions to the next chapel, which they visit at least once a day. The Portuguese ladies poffefs many amiable qualities! they are chaste, modeft, and extremely affectionate to their kindred. No woman goes out of doors without the permiffion of her husband or parents. To avoid all fufpicion, men, even though relations, are not allowed to vifit their apartments, or to fit befide them in public places. Hence their lovers are feldom gratified with a fight of them, except in the churches; here they make figns and fignals: Addrefs and compliment by vifion, Hudibras. the duenna, the lovers contrive to exNotwithstanding the watchful eye of change billet-doux, and that in fo fub tile whofe breaft glows not with a fimilar a manner, that none can perceive it the altar, are often the meffengers on flame. The little boys who attend at thefe occafions. When one of thefe makes his way through the audience till winglefs cupids receives the letter, he he approaches the fair one, then he his Ave Maris ftella, and beating his throws himself on his knees, repeating breaft; after finishing his ejaculations and crolling his forehead, he falls on his face and hands, and fervently kiffes his face and hands, and fervently kiffes the ground; in the mean time he con veys veys the letter under the lady's drapery and brings back another. At other times when the lovers are coming out of the church, their hands meet, as it were by chance, in the holy water font; by this means they exchange billets, and enjoy the delectable pleafure of proffing each other's fingers. Various are the contrivances to which they are compelled to refort, in order to elude fufpicion; and in no part of their lives do they evince more prudence than during their courtship. Their natural difpofition to fecrecy is the means of their continuing for years under the imprefhon of the tender paffion; and they must have fallen victims to it, were it not that refined, that virtuous, love which Guevara defcribes. "Arde y no quema; alumbra y no danna; quema y no confume, refplende y no laftima, purifica y no abrafa; y aun calienta y no congoxa.-It glows, but fcorches not; it enlightens, but hurts not; it confumes not, though it burns; it dazzles not, though it glit ters; it refines without destroying; and though it be hot, yet it is not painful." Marriage feafts are attended with vaft expence; the refources of the lower clafs are often exhausted in the preparations made on thefe occafions. The muptial bed-chamber is ornamented in the most costly manner, with filks, brocades, and flowers; even the weddingsheets are trimmed with the fineft lace. In their christenings and funerals alfo they are very extravagant; but in other refpects very frugal and temperate, particularly the females, who feldom drink any thing but water; if they drink wine, it gives rife to fufpicion of their chastity, and fufpicion is often held tantamount to a crime. The Emprefs Dona Lea nor, daughter of Edward king of Portugal, endeavoured to introduce the like cultom among the German ladies; but neither her majefty's example or perfuafion could induce them to exchange the "milk of Venus" for the limpid rill. The abftemioufnefs of the Portuguefe ladies is confpicuous in their counteDance, which is pale, tranquil, and mo deft; thofe who accuftom themselves to exercife have, nevertheless, a beautiful carnation. Their eyes are black and expreffive; their teeth extremely white and regular. In converfation they are polite and agreeable; in manners affuafive and unaffected. The form of their dress does not undergo a change, perhaps, once in an age; milliners, perfumers, and fancy-drefs makers, are profeffions as unknown in Lifbon, as in ancient Lacedemon. Widows are allowed to marry, but they do not avail themselves of that privilege as often as in other countries. There are many Portuguese, particularly thofe of the good old ftock, who look upon it as a fpecies of adultery fanctioned by the law. Women do not affume the familynames of their hufbands, as with us. In all the viciffitudes of matrimony, they retain their maiden names. The men are generally addreffed by their Chriftian names, as Senhor Pedro. Supernames are alfo very common here, which are derived from particular trades, remarkable incidents, places of refidence, or striking blemishes or accomplishments. Strangers' furnames are frequently tranflated, efpecially if they bear any allufion to fubftantives or qualities. For example, Mr Wolf, they call Senhor Lobo; Mr Whitehead, Senhor Cabeca Branca. To the Chriftian names of men and women, are often fuperadded thofe of their parents, for diftinction fake. This cuftom obtained very much among the ancient Irish, and is no: unufual at this day in the fouthern provinces of that country. With refpect to the middling class, in their ideas and manners they differ from thofe of the rest of Europe; the unfrequency of travel, except to cir own colonies, excludes them from modern notions and modern customs; hence they retain much of the ancient fimplicity of their ancestors, and are more converfant in the tranfactions of Afia or America than of Europe. Whether it proceeds from a fondnefs for |