CHARACTERS. 



271 



revels of voluptuousness to a great- 

 er extent. The native of a severe 

 and simple town in Switzerland, 

 directed the luxurious pleasures of 

 one of the most refined courts in 

 Europe. " I was born a Swiss," 

 said he in a public company, "and 

 came to England without a farthing, 

 where I have found means to gain 

 50O0\. a year, and to spend it. 

 Now I defy the most able English- 

 man to go to Switzerland, and ei- 

 ther to gain that income or spend it 

 there." 



We have no particular introduc- 

 tion to the inhabitants of this town, 

 and associate chiefly with the Eng- 

 lish and other strangers, with whom 

 chance or our public table brings 

 us acquainted. I have been intro- 

 duced, however, to Mr. Lavater, 

 Avhose mild and expressive counte- 

 nance, rendered more interesting 

 Wy a shade of dejection, will re- 

 commend him to ail who adopt his 

 principles of physiognomy. I ob- 

 served to him, that it required some 

 courage to present ourselves before 

 a man possessing the powers of pe- 

 netration, whicli he professed : he 

 epiied, that no mortal need fear 

 ihe presence of another, since all 

 must be conscions of defect. He 

 I lives in a small house ; we found 

 him instructive and unassuming 

 in conversation. He speaks French 

 with hesitation and difficulty, but 

 his expressions are forcible. On a 

 second visit he shewed us his col- 

 lection of pictures, wnich contains 

 three or fi.ur pieces by Kolbein, in 

 high preservation : among these is 

 an angel with the instrument of 

 Christ's crucifixion, that has great 

 merit. There are some other va- 

 luable pictures ; one by West, and 

 two or three admirably done by a 

 Swiss peasant ; a variety ot beauti- 



ful drawings, and other things well 

 worthy attention. Mr. Lavater's 

 character, as a minister, is very 

 high. He is now projecting two 

 or three charitable institutions, one 

 of which is designed as a retreat for 

 women after the age of fifty. He 

 is engaged in a pleasant periodical 

 publication of Miscellanies, of which 

 six volumes have appeared for the 

 first year, and one for the second. 

 Hecomplains that our translations of 

 his writings (especially of his great 

 work) are extremely defective. I 

 have since heard him preach with 

 great apparent energy ; but lie 

 preached in an unknown tongue to 

 me. The Vandyke frill, which the 

 ministers wear, gives them a very 

 antique appearance; and the mourn- 

 ing dresses of tiie congregation pro- 

 duce a very grave ciTect in the 

 churciies. I was not much disposed 

 to approve an hour glass, which was 

 placed by the preacher, to direct 

 him in the length of his discourse. 

 After the singing, in which all the • 

 congregation join, there is a great 

 noise ot letting down the seats ; and 

 the people all put on their hats and 

 sit down, to hear the minister pny 

 or preach. Devotion here appears 

 to correspond v/ith Parnti's descrip- 

 tion of it at Genev'a. " A sullen 

 thing, wliose coarseness suits the 

 croud." I reflected, with satisfac- 

 tion, on the rational and decent ser- 

 vice estabiisiied in our church : on 

 premeditated prayers, formed upon 

 sublime principles of pictv and be- 

 nevolence ; and exterior forms, de- 

 signed only to be expressive of re- 

 verence for God, and subservient to 

 the becoming solemnity of public 

 worship. 



The ministry is supported witli 

 suitable maintenance at Zurich, and 

 the peo{<lc secui topro)it.at least i^y 



it* 



