placed, without the smallest appearance of any change. This is the abode of envy and of hope; while the one torments, the other consoles, and gives birth to agreeable chimeras. Death seizes the inhabitants in the midst of hopes that have been disappointed for twenty years, in the midst of projects which would demand another life. Those who do not know this country, believe it to be a place filled with delights; those who inhabit it, speak ill of it, but cannot leave it. Serve the prince, said a wise man to his son, in his embassies, in his armies, but never at court,, whatever place, or whatever appointments are assigned to you. A courtier said; one day to one of his old college companions, who was a labourer: Wherefore do you not learn to please? you would then be no longer obliged to live by the labour of your hands. And why, answered the other, do you not learn to work? you would no longer. be obliged to be a slave.. On ambition. The best of all good things, says M. Retz, is repose. All the pleasures which nature can bestow, become insipid to him who is agitated by ambition, who is tormented by vanity, or torn by envy. You shall see a man on whom fortune has been prodigal of her choicest fa yours, to whom nature has given, a sound and vigorous body; who is beloved by his wife, and his children, whom he cherishes; whose presence spreads pleasure and joy in his family, where he is only an apparition; who, if he lived on his own domains, would enjoy the pleasure of doing good to a set of numerous vafsals, but he there makes his appearance only three or four times in a year; and is then scarcely seen till he is gone again. This man does not feel the value of health; he does not enjoy his fortune. His life, which might flow on in that kind of animated leisure, which results from the exercise of acts of beneficence, is consumed in agitation and in fear. Independent by his riches, he devotes himself to servitude, and is tormented by chagreen. His sleep, which ought to be pleasing, is troubled by envy and disquietude. He writes, he cringes, he solicits, he tears himself from pleasure, and gives himself up to occupations that are not suited to his taste; he in a measure refuses to live during forty years of his life, in order that he may obtain employment, dignities, marks of distinction, which, when he obtains them he cannot enjoy. PLAN OF SWITZERLAND IN RELIEF. In the city of Lucerne in Switzerland is to be seen one of the greatest curiosities of its kind in Europe ;-a plan, in relief, of the countries adjacent to that lake so justly famed in Helvetic story. This surprising work, which discovers alike the patriotic spirit and unsurmountable perseverance of the undertaker, is carried on at the sole expence of general Pfiffer who has been busied about it upwards of twelve years, and still continues to augment it from day to day. In the mean time he allows strangers accefs to see it with the utmost politenefs. One there perceives, with surprise, the proportional height and form of the rocks; the declivity of the mountains; the kind of trees which grow there, according to the soil and the elevation; the direction of the roads and of the paths; the course of the rivers which divide the plains, the vallies, and the mountains are all marked. The sinuosities of the rivulets, and the falls in cascades; the position of the lakes, cities, burghs, villages, and castles, that of single houses, are all observable, even to the crosses placed along the road, and the form of the houses. This map in relief, comprehends sixty square leagues, and includes the cantons of Uri, Switz, Undervald, and part of the cantons of Lucerne, Zug, and Berne. All the objects are coloured; it occupies a space of twelve feet long by nine feet and a half-broad, and the lake of Lucern e has been taken for the center of the plan. The substance of it is a composition of pitch and wax, except the mountains, for which stone has been employed. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE Editor agrees in opinion with one of the friends of the people, though he doubts if the mode of writing he has adopted be the best calculated for effecting the end he has in view. On that account he will deliberate before he resolves to insert that paper. The facts respecting the viper, which have been received from several hands, fhall be communicated to our readers in due time. The communication by a young observer, is received, and shall have its turn. Yackstrotte's communication on the same subject is also received, and fhall be delayed till he has had an opportunity of seeing the former; as it will tend to supersede some of his remarks. The favour of J. L. is received. The hints of A. M. M. fhall be duly adverted to. Thanks to R. W. for his fhort article. Authentic facts respecting natural history, or the progress of the human mind, that are not generally known, are always acceptable. G. B. deserves thanks for his elaborate afsay. It might be improved, if it were considerably abridged. Should the writer attempt it, he will find it a profitable task in his beginning exercises in composition. Thanks to C. C. for his obliging attention. The traveller by E. G. is thankfully received. A continuation will be very acceptable. The communications by Ein Leibbaber, are come to hand. His farther correspondence is requested.-The Editor feels more sensibly than he can do, the disappointment he has received by a breach of compact with a correspondent in Germany, who undertook in the most liberal manner; but has performed no:hing. There is no bringing such culprits to punishment, except by holding them up to detestation to the public; and this the Editor has been sometimes tempted to do nominatim; but be believes silent contempt is the more manly procedure. The Editor regrets the expence of postage; writing small on large paper would greatly diminis this. It might perhaps be farther diminished did the Editor know his particular addrefs. The book is not translated. The poem Liberty Ball, is written with ease and spirit; but it is too incorrect for publication; and, in some places, the exprefsions are rather harth. The Editor remarks with surprise, some corrections that were found in the Bee box, seemingly in the same hand writing, which appear to be of an opposite tendency to the rest of the poem; of these the fellowing is a specimen. Now the period's come at last, Hence! ye fhameless base usurpers! The Editor suspects that some wag .stanza. who has seen the verses, has Whatever opinion he may form this corrector in the following May the British constitution, And still secure us peace and rest, Without one grievance unredrest! From these specimens the writer will see, that the corrections accord so little with the general tenor of the first edition, that the Editor does not choose to intermeddle in it; though the following lines, which are a very favourable specimen of the writer's composition, give a liberty he never wishes to exercise; because he does not consider himself qualified for the task} nor, if he were, would he choose to exercise it. Cut and carve, or throw away; If encourag'd, Sir, you may PLAIN ENGLISH. To hear from this correspondent, with equal ease and spirit as above, on any subject not connected with politics, will give the Editor pleasure. But, as he wishes to keep all his readers in good humour if he can, he is desirous of avoiding subjects of a political nature at present. There are too few persons who can have the philanthropy of uncle Toby,-to bid the poor annoying insect go quietly about its business; for, though the world is wide enough for us all, to allow others to indulge their whims without being disturbed by them; yet there are many persons of such an irritable disposition, that they cannot be kept at rest, when others are buzzing around and teazing them; so that, like Don Quixote, they get themselves into a passion,--attack sheep, and puppet shows, and wind mills, as they come in their way; and after having occasioned much mischief to others, come off at last with broken bones themselves.-The Editor wishes to avoid these fruitless squabbles. Some articles still omitted 99.. THE BEE, OR LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31. 1792. THE POLAR, OR GREAT WHITE BEAR. GREAT NATURE hath bountifully decreed, that no part of the surface of the earth fhould be destitute of animals. Some are endowed with the faculty of bearing, withBut annoyance, a heat that would roast the greater VOL. Xi. ee |