1796.] 
with J. J. in the propriety and necefliry 
of thefe meafures ; but he fhould confi- 
der, that changes of fuch magnitude, in 
which fuch a number of jarring interefts, 
different tenures, properties, ufages, ec. 
are to be adjufted, cannot be eafily nor 
fuddenly fettled. However, that the ge- 
neral utility of thefe bills is fele both by 
the board and legiflature, cdnnot be dovbt- 
ved; nor that their wifdom will long fuffer 
them to be called for in vain by the ge- 
neral voice of the nation. Your’s, &c. 
Corby, near Carlifle, eae 
Nov. 18, 1796. 
- 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
] THINK every friend to humanity, 
every admirer of the beautiful and 
fublime views which Nature prefents in 
its vat fyftem, and in its minuteft parts, 
will rejoice, while reading the ‘‘ Sretcbes 
of Nature’ (ETUDES DE LA NATURE) 
of BERNARDIN ST. PIERRE, and that 
moft pitiable and affecting feque!, Pasl 
& Virginie, to reflect, that the author 
yet lives, and has furvived the trials of 
various climes and events, ftrokes of 
hardthip, Gcknefs, and years, and the 
defolating horrors which have accompa- 
nied the Revolution of FRANCE, ftill to 
benefit human fociety. 
There is a fubjeét, which he intimates 
he had planned, and colleéted materials 
for the execution of it, which perhaps no 
man could more advantageouily execute : 
A Parallel between ibe Lives, Genius, and 
Writings of VOLTAIRE and ROUSSEAU. 
"The mild benevolence of his heart, and 
the correfponding {weetnefs of his ftyle, 
would render fuch a work highly agree- 
able; and the contemplations and fenti- 
ments it would fuggeft, would make it 
no lefs inftruétive and ufeful. 
At prefent, there feems to me a great 
error in the apprehenfions entertained of 
the political tendency of the writings- of 
RoussEAu. He is charged as having 
been a principal caufe of the crimes and 
miferies which once feemed nearly to 
haye overwhelmed France. More atten- 
tion, and more juft obfervation, I believe, 
would prove, that all which has been 
productive of thofe horrible caiamities 
has been moft contrary to his plans and 
principles of government, his means of 
political melioration, his fentiments, his 
precepts, his example, the tone, fpirit, 
and natural influence of his writings. I 
recolle&t no inftance in which Rouwfeau 
was quoted (and he was often quoted 
+ 
Writings of Bernardin St. Pierre. 
853 
during the height of the conflict between 
the parties in France) wile any room 
was yet left for reafon, in which his au- 
thority and perfuafive energetic eloquence 
were not vouched on the fides of virtue, 
benevolence, peace, and order, of refpect 
to religious fentiments, and to individual 
liberty and life ; and in oppofition to the - 
infringement of general principles, rights, 
and duties, under the plea of revolution- 
‘ary neceflity. But Sr. PIERRE could far 
better prove and illuftrate this, and if 
he does not give a Parallel of the two 
Lives, he may poflibly yet give a Life 
of Rousseau ; for which, by imtimacy, 
fentiment; and talents, he is pernaps pe- 
culiarly qualified. 
Another fubjeét St. Pierre has fo de- 
lightfully treated, that it were to be wilh- 
ed he might farther profecute it: the 
Beauties of VirGIL, refulting from his 
fenfe and expreffion of the Harmonies of 
Nature. The Comment en the 8th book 
of the AnErp, which he has written as 
an Introduétion to his fragment, entitled - 
ARCADIA, has fo much tafte and feel- 
ing, fo much ju and refined obferva- 
tion, that it is highly valuable, and, I 
think, exquifitely pleafing. In general, 
throughout his work, by leading us to the 
obfervation of the infinitely various and 
delicate, but moft firiking evidences of 
FINAL CAUSES throughout Nature, he 
has inexpreihibly heightened the charms, 
and added fupreme, importance to this 
ftudy. Orhers, indeed, had done this ; 
but none with better choice; none with 
more variety, extent, and acutenefs of 
obfervation ; none with more of that ten- 
der and benign enthufiafm, fo well fuited 
to revive and fix attention to this brighteft 
part of philofophy, which perhaps has 
been beginning to be difregarded even 
in ENGLAND. 
I with fome of your correfpendents, 
who are qualified for fach an undertak- 
ing, would examine clofely and impar- 
tially Sv. PrerReE’s Theory of the Caxje 
of the Tides. 1 am by no means equal 
to it :—but though I think the /uwar at- 
traétion on tlie fea in general cannot, be 
rejeGted, I fhould fuppofe the effects of 
the melung of the civewnpolar ice mutt well 
merit to be confidered. | 
With re{peét to the figure of the earth, 
this queftion, one way or the other, feems 
to be acceflible to ftriét geometric proof. 
It will be a fervice to philofophy and 
truth, to ftate the arguments on beth 
fides, in the moft intelligible manner the 
nature of the fubje€t admits, and at the 
fame time the moft ftriét, In this I can 
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