atlantic state may give the fatal blow to European Politics, and America perhaps arife the deftined feat of a future Empire. When we compare Tacitus's treatise on the Manners of the Germans, with Lafitau's account of the American Tribes, we cannot but be ftruck with the fimilarity of the subject; and we may remark, that at the period when Tacitus wrote, when the Roman Empire was in its meridian glory, Germany, Gaul, and Britain, now the feats of Science and Literature, were nearly in the fame state of unpolished nature, which is the present characteristic of the American Tribes, whom Lafitau describes. Europe has now nearly arrived at the highest pitch of refinement and civilization. It has been obferved, that the human mind will never remain inactive, but will always have either a progreffive or retrograde motion; will either gain the heights of Excellence, or fink into the abyss of Depravity; and there is a degree in both, beyond which it can neither foretold, what a recent event has juftified, "Speculative reafoners, during that age, raised many objections to planting remote colonies; and foretold, that after draining their mother country of its inhabitants, they would foon shake off her yoke, and erect an independent government in America." Vol. 6. Page 127. By referring to the original text, the reader will find, that the Hiftorian was no friend to this doctrine; but the event has juftified the prediction. neither rife or fall, but like the flood, when it has gained the highest fhore, will naturally retreat, and when at the loweft ebb, will gradually recover its former height. The truth of this obfervation has been already too fevery exemplified to be doubted; may not a fimilar corruption of manners produce a fimilar decline in the arts and military prowess? and is it an extravagant conjecture, that in process of time the fame fate may overwhelm us, which deftroyed the Empires before us? But it is time to reftrain the lawless efforts of Imagination, and to recall the attention of the mind from a fpeculation, in whofe windings and labyrinths our directing clue may be loft; where the powers of delufion may fascinate the mental eye, and involve us in inextricable darkness and error. If the reader will indulge me a few moments longer in the felf-created phantoms of my brain, I fhall give way to the melancholy-pleasing ideas of my fancy; and pursuing my speculation, fuppofe what may be the probable state of Great-Britain at that period, when we shall no longer exist as an independent nation; when the chains of Slavery fhall have gall'd our limbs, and Liberty be only that that "magni nominis umbra," that "Shadow af a mighty name," which wrinkled Beldams Teach to their grandchildren as fomewhat rare, That anciently appeared, but when, extends Beyond their Chronicle.-GRAY'S AGRIPPINA. Perhaps the inquifitive Genius of Curiosity may then vifit this ifland, from the fame motives which now attract the traveller to the venerable ruins of Athens or Rome; the Antiquary may collect a series of British, with as much avidity, as he now arranges his Roman or Grecian coins ; a true George the Third may engage the attention of Virtú as much as a genuine Auguftus or Trajan; the older edition of Shakespeare, Milton, or Pope, may authorize a different reading, as much as an alder manuscript of Homer, Cicero, or Virgil; the monumental records of Westminster-Abbey may be confidered as the authentic teftimonies of illuftrious actions, as much as the infcriptions collected by Montfauçon or the Arundelian Marbles at Oxford. The ruins of an Univerfity may attract the admiration of the traveller; the plans and defigns of the different buildings may be preserved with that reverence which we now pay to the ruins of Palmyra or Balbec. May not the fame fpirit which infpired Cicero when he beheld the porticos porticos of Athens, feize fome future Philofopher? the one has paid, the other will pay the homage of admiration due to departed Genius. As the one beheld with reverential awe thofe feats which had been dignified by the presence of a Socrates, a Plato, and an Ariftotle; the other may behold with pious gratitude thofe, where the immortal Milton planned his Paradise loft; a Newton pierced through the clouds of philosophical error; and the comprehenfive mind of a Bacon burft the fetters of fcholaftic Pedantry, and boldly afferted the incontrovertible laws of Nature, Truth, and Learning. To contract myself to a narrower fphere, may not reflection heave a figh, when she beholds the vestiges of this nursery of Genius, where fo many Patriots, Philofophers, and Poets, each in their respective lines the boast of their native foil, first caught that generous enthusiasm for folid glory, which proved the fource of fuch renown to themselves and their country; by which they reflected a mutual light on each other; and which enabled the one to immortalize by his pen, thofe exploits, which the more active abilities of the other had emboldened him to perform. A I beg leave to lay before my readers the following Poem, produced by reflections of a fimilar kind. THE SLAVERY OF GREECE. Unrival'd Greece! thou ever honour'd name, Thou nurfe of Heroes dear to deathlefs Fame ! Tho' now to worth, to honour all unknown, Thy luftre faded, and thy glories flown, Yet ftill fhall Memory with reverted eye Trace thy paft worth, and view thee with a figh. Thee Freedom cherish'd once with foftering hand, And breath'd undaunted valour through the land. Here the ftern fpirit of the Spartan foil, The child of Poverty, inur'd to toil. Here lov'd by Pallas and the facred Nine, Once did fair Athens' tow'ry glories fhine. To bend the bow, or the bright faulchion wield, To lift the bulwark of the brazen fhield, To tofs the terror of the whizzing spear, The conqu❜ring ftandard's glitt'ring glories rear, And join the madding battle's loud career, } How fkill'd the Greeks; confefs, what Perfians flain The rufh of nations could alone fuftain, While half the ravag'd globe was arm'd in vain. How great Epaminondas fought and fell! |