235 
1821.] Stephensianci.-*~No. L 
LETTER from, the EARL OP BUCHAN to 
MR. s., relative to thomsoniana.* 
Dear Sir,—Mr. Cuthbert, of Ednam, 
shewed me, when I was last in London, 
two or three interesting letters of 
Thomson’s, which would be an acquisi¬ 
tion to the editor of the Thomsoniana. 
Mr. Cuthbert, I believe, is now in town, 
and on proper solicitation would, I 
dare say, communicate copies of those 
letters. Mr. Thomas Parke, I should 
suppose, through George Dyer and 
others, is acquainted with Mr. Cuth¬ 
bert, and none can possibly think of, 
refusing to communicate what really 
belongs to the publick. 
In the Kelso newspapers, and others, 
and in many of the periodical publica¬ 
tions, there appealed, three or four 
years ago, a series of juvenile letters of 
Thomson, which may be fit for Thom¬ 
soniana—but I have not considered 
them with sufficient attention to say so 
with certainty. 
> .Mr. Sargent, of Sussex, son of Sar¬ 
gent the friend of Thomson, mentioned 
in the curious letter which I gave you 
some time since, is possessed of several 
letters from Thomson to his father, and 
of an original picture of the Poet, which 
was given by him to the said Sargent. 
The Poet is represented in dishabille , 
but with a green velvet night-cap, selon 
la mode de scs jours. This is a maiden 
portrait, and should lie engraved for 
the frontispiece of the Thomsoniana. 
Old Sargent used to say that he never 
heard his friend the Poet tell an inde¬ 
cent story but once, which was to illus¬ 
trate the power of excessive pleasure, 
to remove female modesty and restraint 
V 
in the union of sexes. 
This, and the prayer to a certain no¬ 
ble member, are the only amatory pieces 
or anecdotes of a grosser nature relating 
to Thomson, the poet, I have ever met 
with, and are not jit for publication . 
Thomson had his rambling days in his 
youth, and suffered in the wars of the 
Cyprian Queen. Some pieces written 
by him at this time I have treated as 
heretics, as well as the p'rima cara of 
Burn’s holy Willie’s prayer, which ac¬ 
cidentally came into the hands of, 
dear Sir, 
Your obliged humble servant, 
Ed. April 21,1804. Buchan. 
INFLUENCE OF LIBERTY. 
William the Third, actuated like his 
* A work once projected by the Editor 
of-the Monthly Magazine. 
subjects, by noble principles, became 
the umpire of Europe, bolding the ba¬ 
lance in his own hand ; for his people 
were just and free. 
■ . BATHS. 
The French are cleanly in their per¬ 
sons, though dirty in their houses. 
Tinned copper baths are preferred to 
marble—Chinese baths on the Italian 
Boulevards—common ones in a noble 
building near the Palais Royal—float¬ 
ing ones on the river. They read, 
work, and eat in them, the refreshment 
being placed on a floating cask, in the 
shape of a vase. 
MILITARY REGIMEN. 
Under Bonaparte all feudal distinc¬ 
tions vanished—equality was preserved 
by equality of service—wealth obtained 
nothing—military merit every thing. 
All the Lycees might be considered as 
military bodies ; their studies, their re¬ 
pasts, and even their exercises, were 
regulated, not as before by the bell, but 
by a drum. The Royal Military College 
at Sandhurst, is exactly modelled after 
the French military schools. 
FRENCH POLICE. 
The Minister of Justice was at the 
head of the police, when Bonaparte at 
once suppressed and subdivided this de¬ 
partment, by a division of powers. 
Fouche, with four counsellors, super¬ 
intended the four different quarters, 
while the Maires and subordinates were 
anxious on their parts to defeat, de¬ 
nounce, and seize on all suspected per¬ 
sons. 
All France was subdivided like Paris, 
with a subordinate chief in each, and a 
Lieutenant de Police, like a spider, 
placing himself in the .centre, with 
lines of communication on every side, 
felt every impression, and generally 
inveigled the wretched victim in the 
midst of that web, which he spread 
for his destruction. 
The General Police, in the year end¬ 
ing Jan. 1, 1804, cost the sum of 
194,887 francs, or about £8120. accord¬ 
ing to the budget, but this was surely 
too small for so many superior, and so 
many subordinate officers. 
LADY HAMILTON. 
Lady: Hamilton was a servant in the 
family of Mr. Thomas, at Bewardine, 
in North Waleswas horn there, and 
brought up till 17. In her prosperity 
she sent some remittances to Mr. Tho¬ 
mas and two of his sisters. 
EAR-RINGS 
