198 <A Pedeftrian Excurfion through England and Wales [ O&ober 13 
one generic, fpiritual fubflance, the fole 
primary caufe efficient, fubftantial, and 
formal, of all fecondary: caufes and ap- 
pearances whatever,-but endued, in the 
highett degree, with a fublime, providen- 
tial wildom, and proceeding, by ways in- 
comprehenfible, to the {pirits waich emane 
from it.””. hat fpirit from which thefe 
created beings preceed, through which 
having proceeded they live, toward which 
they tend, and in which they are ultimately 
abforbed ; that f{pirit is the Great One. 
Armitrong has made a poetical para- 
phrate : eas 
There is, they fay, (and I believe there is), 
A fpark within us of th’immortal fire, 
That animates and moulds the groffer frame 3 
And, when the body finks, efcapes to Heav’n, 
Its native feat, and mixes with the Gods. 
Meanwhile, this heav’nly particle pervades 
Fhe mortal elements 5 in ev’ry nerve 
It thrills with pleafure, or grows mad with 
pain 5 
And in its fecret conclave, as it feels 
«The body’s woes and joys, this ruling pow’r 
Wields at its will the dull material world, 
And is the body’s health or malady. 
It appears probable, that there are not 
in nature two fubftances of qualities fo 
oppofite, and even contradi€tory, as mind 
and body are iuppofed to be, which is 
nearly demonftrated from the impoffibility 
of two fuch fubftances a&ting upon each 
other, without having one common quality 
between them. New elements are from 
time to time difcovered, fuch as the elec- 
tric, the magnetic, fluids, the wis infita, 
or principle of vitality inherent in the 
mufcular fibre; the principle of acidity, 
called oxygen, which fo long concealed 
itfelf from the Europe2n philofophers, but 
feems to have been early acknowledged in 
India, as a fifth element, under the name 
of <¢ Ahafs 5” all thefe principles and ele- 
ments lately difcovered imply a yet un- 
known variety. The fpirit of animation 
may be an element [till more fubtly mate- 
rial, even fire itfelf ; the new caloric, and 
ancient aniza mundi, which Voltaire has 
fo well defcrived in thefe comprehenfive™ 
lines : 
Iznis ubique latet, naturam compleétitur om- 
nem ; 
Cuncta parit, renovat, difcidit, unit, alit< 
Perhaps it is better not to think too 
much of our fate in futurity. It makes 
us once again children in the dark, and puts 
the mind into a ftate of terrifying ignorance, 
and hypochondriacal credulity, which 
makes it too fubfervient to thofe profeffing 
to be wiler, but, in reality,not a whit wiler, 
in thofe vaft obfcurities than. ourfelves < 
and, in truth, the general behaviour of the 
clergy, their perfonal worldly-mindednefs, 
and political fervility, make the heart re- 
volt from the profefiion. Is not the ex- 
iftence of a clerical order inconfiftent with 
the true principles of Proteftant-diflenters, 
who take the New Teftament as their 
plaineft and beft inftru&tor, who are alk 
equal as members of Chrift’s kingdom, 
and over whom fuch a diftinGton of {piri-_ 
tual-rank muft tend to introduce a human | 
authority ufurpatory of the right of Jefus 
as Chrift? It is curious, that thofe who. 
enjoy life the moft, fhould fear death- ele 
leaft; and, certainly, that moft vivacious 
breed of meri, the French, feem to die, as 
they live, in more apparent good-humour 
than any other. nation in Europe. The 
Turkith idea of its being an inevitable 
deftiny blunts the fharpnels of death; and, 
to my feelings, it gives a degree of focial 
warmth to this chilling change, when I 
think how many thoufands are, at the 
fame infant, fharing in thé companion- 
fhip of mortality. Death, fays Milton, is 
to life the crown or fhame. Certainly it 
is moft honourable, and may be fuffered 
with a fort of enjoyment in the field of 
battle, in the caufe of our country. 
There it becomes produdiive, and has a 
value. Burns defcribes this beautifully : 
Nae could faint-hearted doubtings teize him 3 
Death comes—Wi fearlefs eyes he fees him 3 
Wibloody haund, a welcome gies him 
And when he fa’s, 
His lateft draught of breathing leaves him 
In faint huzzas. 
ee 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
A PEDESTRIAN BXCURSION through ENG 
LAND and WALES, during the SUMMER 
of 1797. 
(Continued from p. 106.) 
T SROOME, SomERSETSHIRE,Friday7. 
‘ To this place, and all its inhabitants, 
I was hitherto a perfect firanger.: 
But I-was not long permitted to remain 
fo. My name foon tranfpired. It flew, 
from hcufe to houfe; and I found myfelf 
fuddenly and unexpectedly in the midi of 
friends. I was too agreeably importuned 
torefilt the temptation of a temporary de- 
lay. Excurfions in the neighbourhood 
were planned ; a cheerful party was form- 
ed for the evening ; and the moft flattering 
attention was paid to my comfort and my 
welfare. F ve ma 
In the morning, we rambled through 
the romantic dell, called Vales Bottom, 
loan inte 
ey a a 
ee 
2 eS 
