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trabard, was in reality the home bred manufacture of Spital-fields.

My family used to be remark. able for regularity in their atten. dance on public worship; but that too here is numbered amongst the amusements of the place. Lady Huntingdon has a chapel, which sometimes attracts us; and when nothing promises us any particular entertainment, a tea-drinking at the rooms, or a concert of what is called sacred music, is sufficient to draw us from a church, where no one will remark either our absence or our presence. Thus we daily become more lax in our conduct, for want of the salutary restraint imposed upon us by the consciousness of being looked up to as an example by others.

In this mariner, sir, has the season past away. I spend a great deal of money and make no figure; I am in the country and see nothing of country simplicity, or country occupations; I am in an obscure village, and yet cannot stir out without more observers than if I were walking in St. James's Park; I am cooped up in less room than my own dog-kennel, while my spacious halls are injured by standing empty; and I am paying for tasteless unripe fruit, while my own choice wall-fruit is rotting by bushels under the trees. -In recompense for all this, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we occupy the very rooms which my lord-had just quitted; of picking up anecdotes, true or false, of people in high life; and of scizing the ridicule of every character as they pass by us in the moving show-glass of the place, a pastime which often affords us a good deal of mirth, but which, I

confess, I can never join in without reflecting that what is our amusement is their's likewise. As to the great ostensible object of our excursion, health, I am afraid we cannot boast of much improvement. We have had a wet and cold 'summer; and these houses, which are either old tenements vamped up, or new ones slightly run up for the accommodation of bathers during the season, have more contrivances for letting in the cooling breezes than for keeping them out, a circumstance which I should presume sagacious physicians do not always attend to, when they or. der patients from their own warm, compact, substantial houses, to take the air in country lodgings, of which the best apartments, during the winter, have only been inhabited by the rats, and where the poverty of the landlord prevents him from laying out more in repairs than will serve to give them a showy and attractive appearance. Be that as it may, the rooms we at present inhabit are so pervious to the breeze, that in spite of all the ingenious expedients of listing doors, pasting paper on the inside of cupboards, laying sand bags, puttying crevices, and condemning closet-doors, it has given me a severe touch of my old rheumatism, and all my family are in one way or other affected with it; my eldest daughter too has got cold with her bathing, though the sea-water never gives any body cold.

In answer to these complaints, I am told by the good company here, that I have stayed too long in the same air, and that now I ought to take a trip to the con tinent, and spend the winter at Nice, which would complete the

business.

business. I am entirely of their opinion, that it would complete the business; and have therefore taken the liberty of laying my case before you; and am, sir,

Your's, &c.

HENRY HOMELOVE.

The Invention of Organs. From Mad. de Genlis' Knights of the Swan. The imprison'd winds, released with joyful sound,

Proclaim their liberty to all around. ANONYMOUS.

Il n'est ame si revéche qui ne se sente touchée de quelque reverence, à considerer cette vastité sombre de nos églises &quir le son devotieux de nos orgues.

MONTAIGNE.

THE two friends having made the promise which he required of inviolable secresy, Giaffer thus entered upon his wonderful story.

"I am thirty-six years old, and my career is completed. I have passed through it with honour, perhaps with glory; both love and fortune strewed it with flowers, till the fatal instant which discovered the abyss in which I was nearly overwhelmed. I have lost every thing, even to my very name; the inhabitants of the East mention it still with benedictions; the affection of a grateful people perpetuates the remembrance of it, and yet it must not be borne by me! Condemned to obscurity, I am be. come a stranger to my own fame, am unable to enjoy it, and dead to all the world; it is in the eternal silence of the tomb that I receive the approbation and the eulogies of my contemporaries! The unfortunate victim of despotism, and the fatal example of human vi.

cissitudes, I am Barmecide." At the sound of this great and celebrated name, the Knights of the Swan rose up. A sentiment of profound veneration and respect rendered them motionless for some minutes to great minds proscription and misfortune tend to increase the interest which genius and virtue fever fail to inspire! The

two friends considered Barmecide with an eagerness of curiosity as if they beheld him now for the first time. The emotion and sym pathy which they felt was painted on their countenances in so expressive a character, that Barmecide was very strongly affected by it. "O! my friends," cried He, " you restore me to my existence." In saying these words, he threw himself into their arms; and having received their affectionate embraces, thus resumed his narration.

"My father, born in the dominions of Gerold, had a passion for travelling. He inspired my mother with the same inclination, who was always his inseparable companion. I drew my first breath in Persia ; my father was my only instructor, and he taught me by facts and observations founded on experience, and not by lessons derived from books. I had the misfortune to lose this excellent parent when I was twenty years of age; my mo. ther had been dead some time before. I had three brothers. We had always lived together in the most perfect union, and were determined not to separate. Having often heard of the extreme magni. ficence of the Court of Aaron Raschid, we determined to visit Bagdat. Arrived at this superb capital, we became acquainted with several Europeans of our own age, and we Iiz

lodged

lodged all together under the same roof.

"My brothers played on several musical instruments, some of our new acquaintance bad the same talents, and as we could not enjoy at Bagdat the free excrcise of our religion, we agreed, that on the solemn festivals we should meet in a room, and chant the mass. Our apartment was towards the street, and the people, stopping to listen to us, soon discovered the motive of these religious exercises. Mahometan intolerance was alarmed; and obtained an edict from the Caliph, which was published through out the city prohibiting the Christians, under pain of death, from assembling to celebrate their religious rites. They were allowed, however, the privilege of perform ing them individually.

"This prohibition offended me so highly, that I considered what means could be devised to elude it. I had always a genius for mechanics; and, after some reflection, I conceived the idea of constructing an instrument which might imitate all those with which I was acquainted, and even the human voice. I endeavoured to supply it at the same time with so prodigious a volume of sound, that it might produce to the car the effect of a concert. I worked at my invention night and day, and in less than six months produced an instrument of an enormous size, to which I gave the name of Organ, and which perfectly answered my intentions. I then placed myself near my window, and played on it every morning and night, chant. ing the service at the same time. At the end of some days, informa. tion was sent to the Caliph, that

the Christians, notwithstanding the rigour of his prohibition, had begun again their religious concerts, and with more audacity than ever. The Caliph issued his orders in consequence; and one morning, while I was playing on my organ at the usual hour, I heard a violent knocking at my door. I shut up my organ, and rose to inquire into the cause; when at the same instant a number of armed men came into my room, and testified the greatest astonishment at finding me alone. The captain of the company asked me, where were my accomplices. I replied, that I had none. He paid no attention to this answer, and sought in vain in all my closets for the other musicians. He passed several times in the front of my organ, without imagining it to be a musical instrument; which was in some measure owing to my having given it the appearance of a chest of drawers. length, not being able to compre hend how my companions had escaped, he ordered me to follow him. I desired to be conducted into the presence of the Caliph. replied, that he was conveying me thither. In fact, the prince had resolved to see me, and to interrogate me himself. He re ceived me with a gloomy and severe air, considering me sometime in silence; and struck with the serenity of my countenance, "Indiscreet young man," said he, "what could inspire thee with so much audacity, and so much con. tempt for life?" “Sir,” said I, in reply, "nothing so effectually encourages innocence as the aspect of an equitable judge.”—“ Thou canst not," answered he, "deny thy disobedience. I myself have been

At

He

under thy window; I myself have heard the sound of instruments and voices; and yet none but thyself has been found in thy chamber. Where are thy companions? "I have,” said I, "none." "Listen," replied the Caliph; "thy physiognomy interests and pleases me, and thy youth excites my pity. I am willing to pardon thee, but I expect a sincere confession." "No, my lord," answered I," you will not pardon a man who shall be mean enough to inform against his companions and friends." "Well!" exclaimed the Caliph with violence, all the Christians at present in Bagdat shall be this day put in irons." "They will be in that situation only a few hours," said I in a tranquil tone; "and who shali set them free?"—" I, my lord." At this answer the Caliph became mute with astonishment, and doubted whether he should pronounce my sentence, or dismiss me as a person insane. I began therefore again thus to address him. "Sir, I can venture to protest to you, that I have not disobeyed your orders, and that I was alone, of which it will be very easy to convince you, if you will deign to send for the chest of drawers, which is in my chamber. I will open in your presence this mysterious article of furniture, and you will find in it a complete evidence of my innocence." The Caliph, whose astonishment was augmented by this discourse, issued immediately the order for which I solicited, and my organ was conveyed into his apartment. While I employed myself in putting it into order, the Caliph, who waited with as much curiosity as impatience for the ca. tastrophe of this singular scene, went out for the princess Abassa

his sister, gave her an account of our conversation, and returned along with her. The princess, coverd with a long veil, which concealed entirely her shape and her face, placed herself on one of the cushions by the side of her brother at a little distance from, and in front of the organ. Then I asked permission of the Caliph to seat myself opposite my chest of drawers; and, at the same instant, I began to play,. and to sing. The Caliph immediately heard those powerful and harmonious sounds imitating so completely flutes, borns, hautboys, and the human voice; when starting from his seat with wonder and delight, "is it possible," said he, "that these drawers are an instrument of music?" "Yes, my lord," replied I, "and I invented it to soften the severity of your prohibition."

"In prohibiting

these assemblies," said the Caliph, "I wished principally to prevent the celebrity and solemnity which the union of different instruments and several voices give to your ceremonies; I did not foresee that there could be such an ingenious contrivance to abrogate my edi&; but it is but just," added he, "that. those who are compelled to obedience should be more inventive than their governors." Saying these words, he turned towards Abassa, to ask her what she thought of this adventure. Immediately the most soothing and delightful voice which had ever yet attracted my ear, requested him in expres cions the most flattering for me, to recompense the author of so wonderful an invention." "Young man," said the Caliph, who then approached me, "I admire the arts and every species of talents; thy person also pleases me. I de

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sire

sire to have the mechanism of this marvellous machine explained to me, and I charge myself with thy fortune: Thus," pursued he, addressing himself to his sister, "you shall be satisfied, Abassa; I shall keep the instrument and its in

ventor."

"The very same day I was established in the palace. I was furnished with an extensive apartment, a multitude of slaves, and several magnificent presents. I had no for. tune, and I was charmed that I had acquired one with so much rapidity and singularity; but I was not less struck with the despotism which this prince mingled with his favours, even those which were most distinguished. He had disposed of me as of a slave, without consulting my inclinations, without condescending to inform himself whether any particular engagement might interfere with the desire he felt of attaching me to him. I made on this subject many melancholy reflections; but I was young, without experience, and dazzled with the brilliant qualities of the Caliph. In truth, he has very exalted ones. I shut my eyes against the terrible effects of his disposition and character, and delivered up my mind to the splendid prospects with which fortune and ambition presented me." The next day the Caliph sent for me, to explain to him the mechanism of my organ. While demonstrating its principles, I perceived in a few minutes that he had no notion of the previous information that was necessary to comprehend with facility the mechanism of a machine somewhat complicated; and, at the same time, had so much self conceit as to desire to conceal his ignorance.

"As he has a fund of intelligence

and good sense, I could easily, by explaining to him some of the first principles, and by clearing up his doubts, have shewn him plainly what he wished to know; but he required a learned explanation; he pretended to understand what it was impossible he could comprehend, so that my illustration was abso. lutely useless to him. He carried away with him only the secret persuasion that he had imposed on ine on the subject of his instruction; and he left in my mind the chagrin of perceiving to what an extent of puerility may be strained the pride of the most enlightened of men, when their mind has been vitiated by a long possession of unlimited dominion.

"He made, however, of my organ, an use which was very grateful to me. The ambassadors of Charlemagne were then at his court, and the Caliph added my organ to the numerous presents with which he entrusted them for their master."

Madame Genlis here informs her readers in a note, that the first organ known in Europe was sent, as appears from history, to "Charle. magne by the Caliph Aaron.

On the Injustice of the Charges brought against the genuine Philosophers. From De la Croix's French Spectator.

ACCORDING to those who suffer from our revolution, all the errors, the acts of injustice and the persecutions, which afflict the friends of humanity, are the work of philosophy. May it not be asserted, with more truth, that it is because men have despised her lessons, and been deaf to her voice, that so many troubles and disasters

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