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tain you in the world; I fhall expect your answer to-morThe son retired to his apartment, and having examined the statement his father had put into his hand, he saw, that so far from having room to hope for a rich succefsion from his father, he found himself loaded with excessive debts. The next morning he mounted his horse without speaking to his father, and went directly to the magistrate. "Sir, (said the young man, accosting him,) my father has had the goodness to communicate to me the demand he made of you yesterday on my part; but I am too honest a man to deceive you or your daughter. Behold, (says he,) the state of his affairs which my father has communicated to me,-you will there see the afflicting detail of my misfortune; judge, Sir if my pretensions can be well founded." "Ah Sir! (cried the magistrate folding him in his arms,) I regarded you as a great man both on account of your qualities and your birth; but I admire still more your virtue and your probity, which raise you in my estimation to the highest pitch. My fortune can supply that which you want, if you deign to honour my daughter with your alliance." The marriage was concluded. As virtue had cemented it, true happiness was its natural recompence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MAP OF FRANCE.

ALONG with the last Number was delivered a map of France; but having been uncertain, when that Number was printed, if the map could be got ready to accompany it, nothing was there said concerning it.

Among all the labours of the constituent Convention of France, no one of them has a greater chance to remain unaltered in future times, than the political division

May 29. which they made of that kingdom. Having annihilated all distinctions, and abrogated all privileges, they possefsed advantages for this purpose, that perhaps no other nation ever enjoyed. They had towns formed, fields cultivated, villages established, throughout the whole country, without a single obstruction in their way, arising from ancient tenures, privileges, and customs, which so often thwart the views of other improvers. The kingdom might be compared to a sheet of paper, on which they were at liberty to draw what lines, and establish whatever political regulations they pleased. They chose to divide the whole kingdom into ten Metropolitan Circles, and eightythree Departments, cach Department having a Municipality in which justice is administered. These have only in some cases a reference to the old provinces, which are now totally obliterated; and this new order of things must be attended with such obvious benefits to the inhabitants, that the bulk of the people cannot fail to wish that it may be continued. This is, indeed, the greatest, if not the only benefit the people have derived from the late revolution in France.

Those who are acquainted with the history of France, know, that that kingdom, which is now so compact, consisted in former times of a great many Independent States, which were gradually annexed to the Crown, during the the lapse of many ages, some by conquest, some by dowries in marriage, some by will of the former lord, and so

on.

When these territories where thus acquired, the inhabitants stipulated for certain privileges being granted to them, which the sovereigns could not infringe without a fhameful breach of compact. Hence it happened that certain provinces were e, empted from taxes of particular kinds, while those around them were not. Some provin

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ces, for example, paid no duty for salt, while those around them paid a duty for that article, perhaps equal to three times its original value, and thus laid the foundation of a kind of smuggling throughout the nation, which nothing could prevent, but which was the cause of the absolute ruin every year of many thousands, (Mr Neckar computed them during his time about forty thousand ;) these privileges being now abolished, this enormous evil to which that circumstance gave rise, and many others connected with these, are entirely removed; and were the nation at peace, a freedom of internal commerce would take place which never could have existed while the old system subsisted.

In the map we have given, the Metropolitan Circles and Departments are all marked, with the Municipal Town of each Department; and very few more. As the scale was too small to admit of inserting the names of the Departments at length on the map, these names are inserted on the margin, they being marked on the map itself only by figures of reference. For the accommodation of such as read the newspapers, for whose use this map is chiefly intended, the Departments are arranged first numerically, classed in their different circles; and then alphabetically. The use of this double arrangement fhall be explained by an example.

Supposing you look at the map, and observe the town of Orleans; you wish to know what Department it is in ; you see it is in the 26th, which you find readily in the numerical list; and it appears to be in the Department of Loiret.

Again, supposing you read in the newspaper that such or such events have taken place in the Department of Indre and Loire, and you wish to see where it is. In the alpha

VOL. XV.

T

May 29 betical list you find it to be the fortieth Department; and to direct you still farther, when you lock up forty in the numerical list, you find it is in the sixth, or Centre Circle, which, when the map is coloured, leads you to it at once; on looking to it in the map you find that Tours is the capital of that Department. If you read of the Department of Vendèe, by the same means you discover it is the 64th Department, which is in the 8th, or south west Metropolitan Circle; and on looking the map you find it is in the neighbourhood of Nantes, and that Fontenay is its capital.

But as it is natural to wish to know what was the former name of the province in which any place is situated, this also is indicated in the map; Tours, for example, you see by the hatching, is placed in the xv. division; which on the margin you see was ancient TOURAINE. Nantes, you, in like manner, find to have been in the xiii. division, or BRETAGNE; and the Department of Vendèe you see is in the xiv. or POITOU. The map, while unco

loured, appears to be a little confused; but when coloured every thing is clear and distinct. Other particulars require no illustration.

*In a few of the maps the figures 8 and 10 were interchanged, 10 marking the S. W. circle, and 8 the Mediterranean. A few copies were thrown off before this mistake was observed, but most of them it is hoped were corrected with a pen,

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ANECDOTE OF RICH THE HARLEQUIN.

RICH, the famous harlequin in London, called a coach one evening as he came out of the playhouse, and ordered the coachman to drive to the Devil Tavern in London. When the coach was just going to stop, Rich perceived that a window of the tavern just opposite to the coach was open, and instantly thought of having a little diversion with the coachman; and making a spring out of the coach into the window, concealed himself there. The coachman having stopped, dismounted deliberately, and opened the coach door; but to his utter astonishment found nobody within. Thinking the gentleman had made his escape from the coach to bilk him of his fare, he gave him a hearty curse, fhut the door, mounted his coach box, and turning his coach, was going homeward. Rich watching his opportunity, threw himself with the same dexterity into the coach as it pafsed; and having seated himself again, called out to the coachman that he mistook his way, and was going past the tavern. The astonished coachman dismounted anew, and, trembling, opened the door. Rich stepped out, and scolding the man for his stupidity, took out his purse and offered payment.-" Begone devil! (said the coachman,) I know thee-you want to entrap me -keep your money to yourself ;" and mounting his box with as much haste as pofsible, lashed his horses, and drove off at the gallop as fast as they could run.

*This alludes to a popular belief, that when the devil afsumes the shape of a man, and gives money to any one, who accepts it, that person becomes from that moment the property of the devil, who may call upon him and carry him off when he pleases, exactly as a recruiting officer may carry off any person who has accepted enlisting money, in the king's name.

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