1800. ] 
return from Siberia, a fine eftate in Livo- 
nia, named Worrokil, for life, and free 
trom all taxes and other dues. Thiseftate 
brings in about 3000 rubles annually, and 
the new grantee may enter into the poffeffion 
of it at the beginning of next year. Kot- 
zebue was already making preparations 
for his departure to Livonia, when another 
mark of the Emperor’s favour fixed him 
probably for ever in the capital of the 
Ruffian empire. The Emperor unexpect- 
edly appointed him a councillor, and di- 
rector of the German theatre, with a {a- 
lary of 1200 rubles, a free dwelling,’ wood, 
candles, and equipage, which altogether 
is equal to about 4ooorubles. Till the 
year 1799 the numerous German public 
in Peterfourg had two theatres, at which 
amateurs performed. Thefe were fup- 
prefled at the beginning of the prefent 
year, and permiffion given to open a Ger- 
man national theatre, the eftablifhment of 
which the Emperor him(elf and the Grand- 
dutchefs encouraged by their approbation 
and fupport. At that time a certain Miré 
received permiffion to colleé&t a company 
of German aétors, and the neceffary paff- 
ports had already been granted. Butthe 
whole affair was foon again at a ftand, till 
the Emperor, of his own accord, commit- 
ted the execution of the defign to the Lord 
Chamberlain, and raifed the German tlage 
to the rank of a Court-theatre. Now the 
whole is under the direétion of Kotzebue, 
who has not here, as in Vienna, cabals 
and mortifications to dread, but has full 
power to regulate every thing in fuch a 
manner as he thinks beft; being fubordi- 
nate to one except the Lord Chamberlain. 
Gottingen, OG. 1800. MER 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
F all the doStrines- advanced by our 
new philofophers, or philofophifts, 
as fome affect to cali them, I know of 
none that has been more feverely attacked 
by grave cenfure and by ridicule, than 
the opinions they have given us of per- 
fection, or perfectibility, by which latter 
plirafe they mean, if I underftand their 
meaning, that although mankind-are not 
perfect at prefent, they may be fo by a 
little pains, and that it 1s their own fault 
if they negleét the opportunities of arriving 
at perfection. Now this doétrine appears 
to be fo inviting, fo encouraging, and fo 
flattering, that I am furprifed it has not met 
with opponents, and that many grave and 
learned men, both clergy and laity, will 
voluntarily put up with the frailties of 
human nature, alihough it be given under 
On Perfettion. 
42.9. 
the hands of eminent philofophers, they 
may get rid of them if they have a mind. 
Surely no man can be infenfible that he is 
a daily {ufferer by his imperfections, that, 
not to {peak of the many {crapes which 
his paffions bring him into, nearly halt 
his time is confumed in fleep, a moft vul- 
gar {pecies of inactivity, that his health 
is often impaired by the means be ules to 
promote it, viz. meat and drink, which 
are incompatible with a ftate of perfection, 
and that at laft he cannot fuppore his 
frame above fixty or feventy years, when 
by the fhortnefs of his life he muft be com- 
pelled to fhew to what perfection he has 
Lrought it. 
Doétrines, therefore, calculated to raife 
man above thefe obftructions, one would 
naturally fuppofe, mult be highly accept- 
able; but the reverfe is the faék:-and I 
am the more furprized at the abufe thrown 
upon the perfectionifts, and think it the 
more unjuft, becaufe I am convinced the 
opponents of a ftate of perfection are hy- 
pocrites ; yes, Sir,’ hypocrites; they are 
not in earneit; they pretend to oppofe 
what in fact they wifh to promote, and 
this I reckon a very ftriking perverfion of 
the faculties, and calculated to ‘bring 
among us fuch a confufion of ideas and 
Opinions that it will be difficult to fay 
what the world believes or does not be- 
lieve. 
Eager as thefe enemies of perfection 
feem to be, is there a man among them 
who does not profefs that he is in daily 
fearch of perfection in one article or other? 
Let us appeal to ‘¢ experience and the evi- 
dence of facts.”?> Let us confult not only 
the language of private converiation, but 
thete diurnal vehicles in which the public 
exprefs their wants and wifhes,what apant~ 
ing and a breathing towards perfection we 
find in them! One tor example advertifes for 
a perfec? cook, a phenomenon, I will venture 
to affert, as extraordinary as any thing 
promifed in our new philofophy, the Lord 
Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and of Com- 
mon Councilmen themlelves bemg wit~ 
nefles. Another exprefies his wifhes for 
a young man that has a perfect knowledze 
of herjes. What are we tothink of this? 
What all the farriers in the kingdom, 
and, with refpect be it fpoken, the Vete- 
rinary College at their head, and the 
learned Mr. Taplin bringing up the rear : 
what fuch a combination of talents and 
experience hath not been able to ;roduce, 
is modeftly expected froma young man, 
and fuch a young. man as may be had for 
merely advertifing |! Look againat a third,: 
and you will perceive that he inquires: 
after 
