Part 18 (1/2)

[C] The Emperor _Maurice_ being, says _Montaigne_, advised by dreams and several prognostics, that one _Phoeas_, an obscure soldier, should kill him, questioned his son-in-law, Philip, who this Phoeas was, and what was his nature, qualities, and manners; and as soon as Philip, amongst other things, had told him that he was ”_cowardly and timorous_,” the Emperor immediately thence concluded that _he was cruel and a murderer_. What is it, says Montaigne, that makes tyrants so b.l.o.o.d.y? 'Tis the solicitude for their own safety, and their _faint_ hearts can furnish them with no other means of securing themselves, than in exterminating those who may hurt them. See his Essay ent.i.tled, _Cowardice the Mother of Cruelty_.--Vol. 2d, chap. xxvii.

[D] _Fire places_ gave rank among the Romans. It was a privilege to be a Roman soldier, and in the best days of Rome no man was allowed to be in the ranks of their army, who had not a _fire place_ in his house.

In the reign prior to Queen Elizabeth, there were scarcely any beds, or brick fire places in the houses of the common people of London.

[E] What Mr. Adams has written on this subject, has put _impressment_, or _man-stealing_, beyond all future controversy. His masterly pamphlet was a warlike trumpet in the ears of our nation.

[F] If any man wishes to see the true character of the English, let him read the 8th chapter of HUME'S History of England, especially where it treats of severities and barbarities toward the virtuous Mr.

PRYM.

[G] Our youngest readers need not be told, that by _John Bull_, we mean the English nation _personified_. See Dean Swift's admirable history of _John Bull_, his _wife_, and his _mother_, and his mangy sister Peg.

[H] Queen Elizabeth.

[I] The letter writer, we suspect, had not studied, carefully, the laws and customs of England, where all landed property belongs to the king; who allows the _eldest male_ of a family to possess it _during his good behaviour_.

[J] _This Oration was first printed in England._

[K] _The celebrated Earl of Chatham._

[L] An Irish word, meaning: a distraction of attention by reason of words striking our intellect through _both ears_ confusedly.

[M] Some of these were so exquisitely wrought, as not to disgrace the first cabinets in the world.

[N] _s.h.i.+rk_--s.h.i.+ft, turn, twist, accommodate, and make the best of a disagreeable situation. It also means contrivance, cunning and evasion.