Î42 STUDIES OF NATURE* 



lier than the children of the peafantry ; and in 

 fuch as labour under fome natural defed, as lame- 

 nefs, hunch-backednefs, and the like, who, in ref- 

 ped of wit, are ftill more premature than others. 

 But, in general, they are all exceedingly forward 

 in point of feeling ; and this refleds great blame 

 on thofe who degrade them, at an age when they 

 frequently feel more delicately than men. 



Of this I fliall produce fome inftances, calculated 

 to demonflrate that, notwithftanding the defeds of 

 our political conftitutions, there ftill exift, in fome 

 families, good natural qualities, or well-informed 

 virtues, which leave, to the happy afFedions of chil- 

 dren, the liberty of expanding. 



I was at Drefden, in 1765, and happened to go 

 to the Court-Theatre : the piece performed was 

 "itbe Father. In came the Eleftrefs, with one of her 

 daughters, who might be about five or fix years of 

 age. An officer of the Saxon guards, who had 

 introduced me, faid in awhifper, " That child will 

 " intereft you much more than the play." In fad, 

 as foon as (lie had taken her feat, (he refted both 

 hands on the front of the box, fixed her eyes on 

 the ftage, and remained, with open mouth, im- 

 moveably attentive to the performers. It was a 

 truly affeding exhibition ; her face, like a mirror, 

 reflcded all the different paffions which the drama 



was 



