240 
preparation may be devifed, to render 
wood, in general, lefs lable to become a 
fpeedy prey to fre. The great object is 
to gain time. Againft the accident of 
fire it is impofible to guard completely ; 
but the progrefs of its ravages may by 
precautions be checked ; and if time be 
gained, lives and properties may be 
faved. A. B. 
' ——=T > ’ 
Fo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
S you have favoured the readers of 
your excellent Mifcellany with va- 
rious particulars refpecting that enlight- 
ened philofopher and keen fatirit, Lef- 
fing, | am induced to tranfmit the fol- 
lowing anecdotes of him, as related by 
one of his intimate friends, who, from 
experience, can truly fay with the poet, 
‘¢ Large was his bounty, and his foul fincere.” 
When Leffing refided in Wolfenbittel, 
he was one day waited upon by a Livo- 
nian, of uncouth appearance, whofe pale 
and emaciated countenance befpoke him 
“the child of forrow and of mifery.” 
Leffing afked him, who hewas? “Tam 
a philofopher,” replied the firanger. At 
that time (now more than thirty years 
ago) philofophical feribbiers were infi- 
nitely lefs numerous than they are at 
prefent, and Letling was therefore much 
{truck by this fingular. reply. Upon re- 
queiting to know the object of his vifit, 
he put his hand into his bofom, drew 
forth a dirty manuafcript, and anfwered, 
with the energetic warmth of ‘a philofo- 
pher, “I have here begun a treatife on 
the future Deftiny of Man, which I want 
to complete; but I am without a home, 
and deftitute of fuftenance. Grant me 
a room, and fome bread, and I will here 
finifh my treatife.” Pew breafis ever 
glowed with a purer fpirit of benevo- 
Jence, than did Leffing’s: he granted 
the ftranger’s requeft without hefitation. 
A chamber was alloted to his ufe, and 
he received, not only a general invitation 
to his benefaétor’s table, but allo a fum 
of money for his pock ‘et-expences. Here 
fie paffed his time in unreftrained cheer- 
fulnefs, being looked upon. and treated 
ds one of the family. Leffing told me 
that his treatife pofefied many good 
points, but that its diétion’ was both 
farfh and ungrammatical. When he one 
day pointed ‘out thefe defects to him, 
the philcfopher (for he was never known 
by auy other appellation) replted with 
Anecdotes of Leffing. 
| velling expences. 
[Aprilt, 
his.ufual laconicifm : “I am fenfible of 
them ; but a few words by way of pre- 
face may announce to the public that I 
am no adept in fuch matters.” He was 
not only uncouth in his manners, but 
forbidding in his appearance ; and he 
had w ith him a ‘great filthy dos, who 
never quitted his fide, and was extremely 
troublefome at table. Upon my once 
telling Letfing, I could put up with the 
philofopher, but not with his dog, he 
replied with confiderable warmth, “ You 
do not know the hiftory that attends 
this animal; he is the philofopher’s 
greateft ornament. During his pere- 
grinations he found him feeble and ema- 
ciated, lying by the wayfide. The phi- 
Jofopher ‘had but ¢wo fmall loaves in his 
pocket. He threw one of them to the 
poor creature, who greedily devoured it: 
jince that time the grateful animal has 
never forfaken him. Confider, that ia 
thofe two loaves confilied the philofo- 
pher’s whole ftoek of provifions: he di- 
vided them honeitly.—So long as I have 
a loaf,” added Lefiing, “ the philofopher 
fhall have half of it.” 
The Livonian remained about five 
months under Leffing’s roof during the 
inclemency of the winter feafon. When, 
however, fpring appeared, with its long 
days and genial junfhine, he one even- 
ing after fupper unexpectedly faid to 
Leifing: “ To-morrow morning early I 
{hall take my departure.” The good 
knowing his guett’s reiolute mind, there- 
upon took him into a room adjoining, 
and gave him wherewith to pay his tra- 
The next morning, 
before the family was rifen, the philofo- 
pher took up his ftaff, and, accompanied 
by his faithful companion, again com- 
menced his rambles. 
Lefling was extremely attentive when 
in a theatre, and could not bear to be 
difturbed. If the molt wretched aétor 
was performing, he alene would pay 
hin the molt marked attention, although — 
the reft of the audience was clamorous 
in its difapprobation. When he was 
afked, how he could fuffer, his attention 
to he engrofled by fo miferable a bun- 
gler? “e Bungler ! Y Lefiing would far- 
caftically reply, “ do yo think fo?. Well, 
T am of opinion that this bungler, as 
you call him, plays his part better than 
you or I could ; confcquently we Be 
both of us learn fomething from him.” 
Tam, Sir, &e, 
S. 
9 February, 1807. | 
Ta 
