[ 6; ] 



wildnefs and ferocity, which a moderate acquaintance with hiftory 

 will convince us are flrong ingredients, in the German national 

 charader ? — In confequence of this predominant temper, the civil 

 commotions of the Germans have been peculiarly obftinate and 

 bloody ; and we fhall find, that they have been perpetually agi- 

 tated, with an eagernefs nearly bordering on frenzy, in the pur- 

 fuit of fome ftrange objed. — All Germany was, at one time, af-' 

 failed by the myfterious terrors of the fecret tribunal.* From this 

 unfeen and awful controul, no height of power was exempt. It 

 could reach the moft diftant, with its invifible hand. It filled the 

 ftrongeft holds with difmay, the courts and palaces with mourn- 

 ing. — The attachment to religion was carried to an excefs, and 

 produced in Germany bloody tumults, cruel feditions, wild cru- 

 fades, and horrible perfecutions. Religious bigotry was inflamed 

 to the higheft pitch of fanguinary fury, by contending feds. The 

 groffeft and moft defpicable abfurdities were joined, with detefta- 

 ble cruelty, and tremendous rage. An example will readily prefent 

 itfelf,- to the recolledtion of the reader, in the tragedies, aded and 

 fuffered by the Anabaptifts, under their leaders Matthias and 

 £ocold,a.t Munjler. — The Germans^ living in regions which abound 

 with mines, early applied themfelves, and with confiderable fuc- 

 cefs, to experimental refearches, and made rapid advances, in the 

 knowledge of chemiftry. Many of the fecrets, which they thus 



{ I 2 ) difcovered, 



• There is an interefting account of the fecret tribunal in the work called Hernum 

 of Xlnna. 



