cantons of Switzerland, were ftedfat

in that belief.

La Revelliere Lepaux obtained the title of high priest of the new fect, which thus raifed into notice became the object of various calumnies. Some afferted it to be a neft of terrorifts, who, under the mafk of religion, and the liberty allowed to every kind of worship, met only to frame the means of bringing round again their late system. Others were affured that this fect was nothing but a band of atheifts and philofophers, who affembled only to propagate principles which, difbelieving themfelves, they intended to make inftruments of rooting out the catholic faith.

Atheists and jacobins perhaps min gle in these congregations; but the mass appears to be compofed of people of decent characters and manners, who, difcontented with their former creeds, have embraced this worship till they are provided with a bet

In their prayers they invoke the Supreme Being as the author and governor of the univerfe; they fing hymns of grateful acknowledgement for his bounties, and fill up the hours of their worship with a difcourfe on fome moral fubject, in which the obligations to maintain liberty, and keep inviolate the laws of the republic are never forgotten. The better-in formed among the theophilanthropes are believers in chriftianity, while others affect to talk with difdain of what they call the christian fect: unwilling to admit, or probably ignorant that chriftianity is the fole foundation on which refts their own fcanty belief.

This new religious fociety has the fupport of government in every way in which its influence can be directed, without infringing that impartiality

in religious matters which the law requires. The modest chambers, in which the founders of this fect first affembled, are now changed for the fpacious churches which can scarcely hold the crowds who refort to their meetings. The hour of the mysterious adoration of the hoft is no fooner paffed, than the affembly of the theophilanthropes begin their fimple rites: and as the places of both worthips are in common, the worthippers of both opinions often mingle together, and learn at leaft the divine leffon of toleration. How far the doctrines of this fociety may contribute to add to the flock of virtue in France it is difficult to determine; but this is certain, that the greateft revolutionary finners, the jacobins, have laid afide their worship of reason, and become the most stedfalt adherents to this creed; and fince the belief of immortality is the most powerful motive to virtue, he who is convinced of the existence of the Supreme Being, and offers up once a week his thanksgivings to the giver of every good, for his loving kindness and tender mercies, will be lefs inclined to facrifice again at the altar of Moloch, and dye his hands in human blood.

The focieties celebrate their worfhip both on Sundays and decades, in order to include the partifans of the old and new divifions of time. Their increasing numbers have compelled them to diffeminate themselves in various quarters of the town, and they are about to apply for the equal ufe of all the churches of Paris, including that of Notre Dame. The people diftinguish the two worships by the names of the mass and morality; and the new convert, inftead of going as formerly à la messe, tells you, if you meet him on the way, that he is going à la morale.

REMARKS

"ing of a barrifter who had a bad "utterance, fome one, to roufe John "fon, wickedly faid, that he was un"fortunate in not having been taught 66 oratory by Sheridan*;" and then, peradventure, in the writings of his refentment, commits him to the laceration of Johnfon and Garrick, which he gloffes with the fubfequent defence:

"i should perhaps have fuppreffed this difquifition concerning a perfon of whofe merit and worth I think with refpect, had he not attacked Johnfon fo outrageoufly in his life of Swift, and at the fame time, treated us, his admirers, as a fet of pigmies. He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he fmarts from itt."

Alas, poor Yorick! 'tis true he could not complain; for he was fleep ing in peace with his fathers before thofe notable animadverfions faw the light. But whofe was the wit? ... Did Mr Bofwell inflict the lafh as a principal, or merely as a proxy? Saving his modesty, we rather think the latter Be that as it may, Sheridan was not the aggreffor; and fuppofing him amenable, the correction was inflicted by anticipation. The difquifi tion mentioned took place in 1769. Sheridan's life of Swift did not appear till 1784, which was the firft inftance of his writhing, if any writhing was in the cafe; but it is pretty plain, others were writhing with a vengeance in the interim. Johnfon ftruck the first blow, and purfued it with unabating acrimony, roufed on every frivolous occafion, wickedly fuggefted, as the text intimates, for the fpace of thirty years. What were his motives?.... Both were engaged in the fame arduous task, though in fomewhat a different line, the culti vation and improvement of the Englifh tongue. Johnson was not an orator, and had but little intercourfe

with the graces, therefore thought flightingly of Sheridan's art. But it was known Sheridan had in contem

plation an English Dictionary, and the establishment of a National Academy upon the fame principle, for which he was at the time foliciting patronage. That, in Johnfon's imagination, was an incroachment on his dictatorial confequence, and tho' they purfued very different routes, it rankled in his mind, "I thank thee, Bofwell, for teaching me that word,” and manifeftly gave offence: for in the preface to his Dictionary, fo early as the year 1755, Johnson steps out of his way, and even makes a temporary facrifice of his political principles to have a wipe at Sheridan. Sheridan, more juft to Johnfon's literary reputation, overlooked the in-. nuendo; cultivated his acquaintance, and had him at his table a conftant gueft. In the year 1762, Sheridan's fcheme for a new English Dictionary was published. That memorable year he was nominated for a penfion, and, no way envious of his friend's celebrity, he seized the favourable opportunity: fuggefted the propriety of a provifion for Johnson, and was the firft who communicated to him the Royal Intention. The return Dr Johnfon made him, and fome part of Mr Bofwell's ingenious commentary, we have already feen; but for a more explicit detail, we refer to the work itfelf. Sheridan is blamed for perfevering refentment; we are by no means advocates for perfevering refentment; but if justifiable in any 'cafe, it furely was in the cafe before us.

Sheridan's refentment was an open honeft indignation, arifing from a proper fense of injurious treatment; it was fpirited, not vindictive ; it was repulfive, not mean. Was he again to run his head into the lion's mouth? and what fecurity had he against favage attacks? His refentment was

a

....

Chronicle from the year 1762 to the year 1784 inclufive, no lefs than thirteen times introduces Mr Sheridan, and every time for the fole purpose, it would feem, of abufing him; for almost in every inftance, either directly, or by obvious implication, he is the Butt of reprehenfion, and his character epifodically brought in as the vehicle of fome illiberal reflection. If there be an exception, it is a para graph in the 3d volume, inferted as part of a defultory converfation faid to have taken place in the year 1779 in which Sheridan's character, as a man of merit, is favourably exhibited; nevertheless, even there a fmatch of the old leven is perceivable. The fubject is introduced without any apparent connection, and a compliment to him feemingly intended; but the effence of it is done away, being connected with circumftances of a problematical complexion, and founded on a fact for which there is no authority. Bofwell or Johnfon, Latet anguis in herba. Let the impartial reader determine; the documents, though not numerous, are fufficient. Bofwell, fpeaking of Johnfon, fays "He obferved that his old friend, "Mr Sheridan, had been honoured "with extraordinary attention of his "own country, by having had an exception made in his favour in an I"rifh Act of Parliament concerning "Infolvent Debtors. Thus to be fing"led out, faid he, by a Legislature, as an object of public confideration "and kindness, is a proof of no com"mon merit." [p. 171.]

This eulogium is fpecioufly advanced; but as already obferved, has fomething in it of an equivocal nature and comparing it with the reft, a doubt arifes whether it was serious ly or ironically intended. As the paragraph ftands wholly infulated, there is no forming any judgement from the context; but it comes in a

In

questionable fhape, and must rest folely on its own intrinfic merits. that light it is unluckily featured, and bears confutation on the face of it.

If infolvent acts were calculated generally for the punishment, not relief, of unfortunate defaulters, the ftory of a claufe of exception in favour of an individual might carry weight; but Johnfon was too converfant in parliamentary usage to be impofed on, which makes it difficult to conceive, if the discourse be fairly stated, that he meant it feriously. "Somebody, to roufe Johnfon, might "wickedly have faid it" and that was his method of retorting. He always difputed Sheridan's merits, for which no doubt he had his reafons, and on a supposition that he thought it merely a fpeculation of fome of his old friend's partizans, a report fabricated to enhance his character, the farcafm comes pointed with double force. No Gentleman of informa tion, particulary from Ireland, could confider it as complimentary, for, improbabilities apart, it refts upon a Fact to which had any fuch exifted, they could not be ftrangers. It must have been an affair of public notoriety, open to inspection; but in truth no fuch exception is on record. The particular A&t alluded to, and the Journals of the House of Commons, printed by authority, are now under confultation, and no veftiges of any fuch exception are to be met with in either. Whatever gave birth to it, ftory as related is fictitious, and can do no honour to the memory of Mr Sheridan in the estimation of any intelligent perfon who really refpected him. His merit ftood in no need of meretricious varnish or adventitious fupport; the Public were in full posfeffion of it; but the kindnesfs he experienced was the kindness of private friendship.

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