256 
number dificult te be obtained in a Re- 
public, which had only 20,000 citizens. 
The period of exile, which lafted ten 
years, commenced in ten days after con- 
demnation; but it was not followed by 
the fequeftration or confifcation of pro- 
perty. There were determined periods 
alfo for pronouncing the fentence of oftra- 
eifm, which could never extend, at one 
time, to more than one perfon. An in- 
tricue, which threatened the liberty of 
Alcibiades and Nicias, was reflected upon 
its contemptible author, whowas banifhed. 
‘This condemnation,bitherto glorious, funk 
intodegradation and was for ever abolifhed. 
It was the apparent honour which attended 
it, that induced Montefquieu to defend the 
law of oftraciim; but Legrand-Delaleu 
proves, in contradiction to the opinion of 
Montefquieu, that this law, which was ef- 
fentially unjuff, deprived Athens of the 
talents and virtues which conftituted its 
moft iplendid ornaments; and that a 
From the Port-Folio of @ Man of Letters. 
[April 1, 
number of men, among whom Pericles 
may be particularly mentioned, illuftrious 
from their great fervices, but not-pof- 
felling the more than human virtue of 
quietly yielding to a fentence diétated by 
the caprice of the people, or, more cor- 
rectly {peaking, by the intrigues of their 
enemies, filled the ftate with tumult and 
confufion. Thence he concludes, that 
this law cannot have exifted in a well 
organized Government. Baudin, whofe 
lofs is mourned by the Inftitute, Legrand, 
and a multitude of Publicifts, have written 
againft oftracifm, which, though not by 
law, yet, in fact, has been tranfported 
from Athens to France. All of them 
eafily demonftrate that oftracifm, inftead 
of being a fecurity for freedom, is only 
an inftrument of tyranny. The law ought 
to ftrike the guilty ; but a good fyftem of 
legiflation neither can or ought to admit 
of oftracifm. 
(The other Claffes in our future Numbers.) - 
re 
From the Portfolio of a Man of Letters. 

CROMWELL AND WISHART. 
LIVER CROMWELL, when in 
Scotland, was of courfe extremely 
defirous to gain over the Prefbyterians, 
who faw through, and were extremely 
adverfe to his ambitious {chemes. A 
minifter of the name of WISHART, in one 
ef the churches of Glafgow, had the 
courage to inveigh againft the regicides 
in the prefence of Oliver, furrounded by 
the obedient fatellites of his power. A 
general officer, who fat next to Oliver, 
enraged at the unceremonious freedom of 
the preacher, afked him, in a whifper 
loud enough to be heard by others, if he 
fhould rife and. fhoot the old dog. No, 
faid Oliver, fhaking his head, leave him 
tome. After divine fervice, Oliver fent 
to invite the clergyman to fupper, when, 
inftead of the fevere reprimand which he 
expected, he received Oliver’s thanks 
for the ability and zeal which he had dif- 
played in his fermon; lamenting at the 
fame time that his zeal, in fome refpetts, 
was not more under the guidance of know- 
ledge. He then endeavoured to fet Mr. 
Withart right in feveral material particu- 
jars, in which he was mis-informed or 
miftaken, Supper being ferved up, Oliver 
rofe, and, by way of a grace, poured 
forth a long prayer with his ufual fanéti- 
.monious cant and grimace. After {upper, 
he repeated the fame pharilaical tarce, 
In fhort, fo dextroufly did the arch-hy> 
pocrite work on.the good man’s honeft 
iimplicity, that he went home quite con- 
‘vinced of the purity and uprightnefs of 
Oliver’s intentions; and being a very 
popular preacher, he contributed greatly 
to remove the groundlefs prejudices and 
jealoufies, as he now thought them, which 
many of his countrymen entertained againft 
Oliver and_his party. 
i 
DENUNCIATION OF LOUIS xXry. 
A Mr. STIRLING, who was Minifter 
of the Rarony Church of Glafgow, during 
the war, which this and other countries 
maintained againft the infatiable ambition 
of Louis XIV. in that part of his prayer 
which related to public affairs, ufed to 
befeech the Lord, that he would take the 
haughty tyrant of France and fhake him 
over the mouth of hell; ** but good Lord,” 
added the worthy man, ‘‘dinna let him fa” 
iz This curious prayer having been 
mentioned to Louis, he laughed heartily 
at this new) method of punifhing ambi- 
tion, and frequently afterwards gave, The 
ood Scotch Parfon, as a toaft. 
Both the above anecdotes were com- 
municated to the writer by two gentle- 
men from Glafgow, one of the fons of 
Mr. Stirling’s immediate fucceflor; as 
Minifter of the Barony church. 
