our Opinions His Zeal for Roman Liberty and Declamations against the Violators of the Republican Conftitution, only ftand now in the Reader's Way, who wishes to proceed in the Narrative without the Interruption of Epithets and Exclamations. It is not easy to forbear Laughter at a Man fo bold in fighting Shadows, fo bufy in a Dispute two thousand Years paft, and fo zealous for the Honour of a People who while they were poor robbed Mankind, and as foon as they became rich, robbed one another. Of thefe Robberies our Author feems to have no very quick Senfe, except when they are committed by Cæfar's Party, for every Act is fanctified by the Name of a Patriot.

If this Author's Skill in ancient Literature were lefs generally acknowledged, one might fometimes fufpect that he had too frequently confulted the French Writers. He tells us that Archelaus the Rho. dian made a Speech to Caffius, and in fo faying dropt fome Tears, and that Caffius after the Reduction of Rhodes was covered with Glory. Deiotarus was a keen and happy Spirit. The ingrate Caflor kept his Court.

His great Delight is to fhew his univerfal Acquaintance with Terms of Art, with Words that every other polite Writer has avoided and defpifed. When Pompey conquered the Pirates, he deftroyed fifteen hundred Ships of the Line. -The Xanthian Parapets were tore down.-Brutus, fufpecting that his Troops were plundering, commanded the Trumpets to found to their Colours. - Moft People underftood the Act of Attainder paffed by the Senate.— The Numidian Troopers were unlikely in their Appearance. The Numidians beat up one Quarter after another. Salvidienus refolved to pafs his Men over in Boats of Leather, and he gave Orders for equipping a fufficient Number of that Sort of fmall Craft.

Pompey

Pompey had light agile Frigates, and fought in a Strait where the Current and Caverns occafion Swirls and a Roll.-A fharp Out-look was kept by the Admiral. It is a Run of about fifty Roman Miles.Brutus broke Lipella in the Sight of the Army.Mark Antony garbled the Senate. He was a brave Man, well qualified for a Commodore.

In his Choice of Phrafes he frequently ufes Words with great Solemnity, which every other Mouth and Pen has appropriated to Jocularity and Levity! The Rhodians gave up the Contest, and in poor Plight fled back to Rhodes.-Boys and Girls were eafily kidnapped. Deiotarus was a mighty Believer of Augury.-Deiotarus deftroyed his ungracious Progeny.

The Regularity of the Romans was their mortal Averfion. They defired the Confuls to curb fuch heinous Doings. He had fuch a fhrewd Invention, that no Side of a Queftion came amifs to him. Brutus found his Mistress a coquettish Creature.

He fometimes, with most unlucky Dexterity, mixes the Grand and the Burlesque together; the Violation of Faith, Sir, fays Caffius, lies at the Door of the Rhodians by reiterated Acts of Perfidy. The Iron Grate fell down, crushed thofe under it to Death, and catched the reft as in a Trap. When the Xanthians heard the military Shout, and faw the Flame mount, they concluded there would be no Mercy. It was now about Sun-fet, and they had been at hot Work fince Noon.

He has often Words or Phrafes with which our Language has hitherto had no Knowledge.-One was a Heart-friend to the Republic. À Ďeed was expeded. The Numidians begun to reel, and were in Hazard of falling into Confufion.-The Tutor embraced his Pupil close in his Arms.-Four Hundred Women were taxed who have no doubt been the Wives of the beft Roman Citizens -Men not born

B 4

born to Action are inconfequential in Governmentcollectitious Troops.-The Foot by their violent Attack began the fatal Break in the Pharfaliac Field. He and his Brother, with a Politic common to other Countries, had taken oppofite Sides.

His Epithets are of the gaudy or hyperbolical Kind. The glorious News.-Eager Hopes and dismal Fears. Bleeding Rome-divine Laws and hallowed Customs -Mercilefs War-intenfe Anxiety.

Sometimes the Reader is fuddenly ravished with a fonorous Sentence, of which when the Noife is past the Meaning does not long remain. When Brutus fet his Legions to fill a Moat, instead of heavy Dragging and flow Toil, they fet about it with Huzzas and Racing, as if they had been ftriving at the Olympic Games. They hurled impetuous down the huge Trees and Stones, and with Shouts forced them into the Water; fo that the Work, expected to continue half the Campaign, was with rapid Toil completed in a few Days. Brutus's Soldiers fell to the Gate with refiftlefs Fury, it gave Way at laft with hideous Crafh.-This great and good Man, doing his Duty to his Country, received a mortal Wound, and glorious fell in the Caufe of Rome; may his Memory be ever dear to all Lovers of Liberty, Learning and Humanity! This Promife ought ever to embalm his Memory.-The Queen of Nations was torn by no foreign Invader. Rome fell a Sacrifice to her own Sons, and was ravaged by her unnatural Offspring: All the great Men of the State, all the Good, all the Holy, were openly murdered by the wickedeft and worft.-Little Iflands cover the Harbour of Brindifi, and form the narrow Outlet from the numerous Creeks that compose its capacious Port-At the Appearance of Brutus and Caffius a Shout of Joy rent the Heavens from the furrounding Multitudes.

Such

Such are the Flowers which may be gathered by every Hand in every Part of this Garden of Eloquence. But having thus freely mentioned our Author's Faults, it remains that we acknowledge his Merit; and confefs that this Book is the Work of a Man of Letters, that it is full of Events difplayed with Accuracy, and related with Vivacity; and though it is fufficiently defective to crush the Vanity of its Author, it is fufficiently entertaining to invite Readers.

A LETTER

A

LETTER

FROM

A FRENCH REFUGEE in AMERICA to his FRIEND a GENTLEMAN in ENG

LAND.

SIR,

HE Lofer must be allowed to speak; you will give us Leave therefore, who have already begun to fuffer, and who know not what is yet behind, to represent to you some of the Inftances of Neglect on our own Part, and of Ill-conduct and unkind Usage towards us, on the Part of our Mother Country.

I fhall begin with the Policy of the English in ap pointing us our Governors, who are generally Strangers, and have no landed Interest here; and who therefore cannot be supposed to have that natural Affection for us, or that political Attachment to us, which Natives, or those who have a large landed Intereft here, may be fuppofed to have.

Another-Confideration, which tends to break the Tie between us, is, that they generally refide but a little While among us; or, at least, have no Views of continuing for Life; and are too often fent hither only to ferve a Turn. Is it therefore any Wonder that fuch Perfons as thefe fhould be

but