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TRUTH quotes the example of all history to prove that, to maintain your national independence, it is necessary to husband your resources, and to consider your agriculture and manufactures as the primary sources of your public welfare and power. TRUTH declares that no great nation can ever be conquered till its resources have been drained and exhausted by the long continuance of wars; and that the strength which results from the prospe rity of peace is the only perfect security which any country can acquire.

TRUTH asserts, that one country has no right to meddle with or disturb the government established in another; it recognizes the peaceful authority of the Chinese and Japanese, to restrict and forbid intercourse with foreign nations; it legitimatizes the alliance of free states with the tyrants of Algiers and Morocco; and it denies the justice or necessity of wars founded on changes of other governments or dynasties, on the internal policy of other countries, or on the reported character of the heads of other governments.

TRUTH Solemnly declares, that, if wicked and corrupt ministers of a free people, at any time, involve those people in foreign wars, with no justifiable object; such free people, so abused, are not bound to become partizans in the war of such ministers, which is not a war of the country, or for the country; on the contrary, they are bound to exert themselves to procure the speedy restoration of peace, by all constitutional

means.

TRUTH declares it to be a great crime to carry on war without some assignable cause of sufficient magnitude, and commensurate with the evils of war; and that amme but defensive wars, provoked by notorious and definable aggressions of the enemy, are justifiable in a moral or religious sense.

Such, O my countrymen, are the dictates of Truth! May they sink deep into your hearts and govern your practices! It is, however, too certain, that such truths, incontrovertible as they are, will find few votaries! Passion, Prejudice, and Pride, will vigorously resist and assail them! Sophistry will employ all its arts against them; and, great Truths as they are, they will be often denied before their authority is established! Unhappily they do not appear with a Royal signature, nor have they the sanction of any Church, or of any Cabinet Council. Their only recom. mendation is their absolute Verity! There 1.

is, however, this prodigious difference be tween the effect of eternal truths, and the influence of frauds and falsehoods, that at the end of a thousand genera tions, the former will retain their original force and vigour; while the sophistry of corruption and the tricks of dishonest statesmen are generally detected, exposed, despised, and rejected within the passing year!

Their most active enemies will be those traders in politics and great events who mislead the public, and pollute, by their sordid calculations, all the ordinary channels of Truth. These persons are the conductors of our venal newspapers, a race of people who live upon public credulity, and who foster all the unhappy prejudices and passions of mankind. Never was a blessing so perverted as the power of the press by these corrupt speculators in news, many of whom care not whether they blast and wither half the world, if they can but procure the sale and ascendency of their newspapers.

Such are the struggles of Truth, even in its connection with its grand agent and natural guardian-the Press! Can we wonder theu at the unhappy fate of men, who in different ages have had the temerity to attack public prejudices, aided by no weapons besides those of a good cause? Can we be surprized at the poisoning of Socrates—at the roasting of Cobham

at the perpetual imprisonment of Galileo -or at the martyrdoms of Truth and Virtue, which have disgraced all ages?

Public ignorance, generating prejudices which are humoured by statesmen, cherished by the priesthood, and pampered by unprincipled writers and editors, is consequently that many-headed monster which in all ages has opposed itself to the progress and ascendency of Truth. The first considerations of every polilic statesman, are not what would he right-and what would be consistent with truth; but, what is the most agreeable to the public feelings and in what degree can right conduct be reconciled with existing prejudices! He would be deemed a rash statesman whose measures preceded, rather than followed, the preiudices of the public; and, if his conduct is measured by any other consideration equally powerful, it is only that of his interest. A public wrong is perpetrated, but the statesman who inflicts it excuses himself by referring to the public opinion and voice, by which he says, he is go verned-the priest, who often becomes the moral apologist of the statesman,

consults

consults in like manner the prejudices of the public-and the Journalist, the echo of the public voice, in like manner consults the public wishes! A concordant result is thus produced at the very moment in which great public errors are committed! Discords may arise, followed by repentance and mutual accusations; yet the mischief cannot be recalled. Hence the Histories of Human Life, and of the Transactions of Nations, are composed almost entirely of a catalogue of Errors, Calamities, Repentance, and often of Vengeance, for crimes which arise less from the fault of individuals than from a defect in the constitution of human society.

Perhaps the justice of these reasonings will be generally admitted, and the writer may probably have credit for purity of intentions and moderation of language, in making the exposition. Far be it from him by any asperity of invective to confirm or irritate the prejudices which he is anxious to diminish and subdue by a sober appeal to the reason and good sense of his readers!

Should his arguments tend further to prove the necessity of educating the whole population, as one means of eman cipating the majority from the dominion of the prejudices of crafty men-should it tend to rouse statesmen to think for themselves, and to instruct, rather than mislead, those whose interest they are appointed to direct-should it develope to pious and well-intentioned Clergymen, the mischiefs to which they may contribute by fostering prejudices; they may probably be led to think that they shall better serve their country, and obtain the more substantial gratitude of their su periors, by enlightening, rather than blinding, those whose mental powers they govern-should Journalists perceive that truth is the most easily maintained, and may, if perseveringly supported, become as advantageous to their interests, as the gratification of the public prejudices; they may perhaps be led to try the experiment for a limited period, till Truth becomes fashionable should it lead the numerous creatures of their prejudices, the primary authors of public wrongs aud errors, to examine themselves in regard to the grounds and origin of those opinions which, at any time, disturb the repose and happiness of the world should it establish more correct views of the cause of the overwhelming influence of prejudice, and illustrate the moral phenomena which accompany the rise,

progress, and decay of national Errors should it, in fine, tend to promote the influence, or establish the authority, of Truth in the great questions which arise in the progress of society-the Ambition of the writer will, in either of those results, be abundantly gratified! COMMON SENSE.

For the Monthly Magazine. MEMORANDA LUSITANICA; by JOHN

ADAMSON.

Andrade Caminha.

EDRO DE ANDRADE CAMINHA

PED

was a Fidalgo, descended from an ilustrious family in Castile, from whence his ancestor Fernao Caminha emigrated, in 1967, to Portugal, and was presented, by King Dom Fernando, with the seigneury of S. Estevao, for the services which he had rendered that monarch.

The family of Caminha had, after this event, made frequent alliances with the Portuguese gentry, and was, at the birth of the poet, divided into two branches.

Affonso Vaz Caminha, the grandfather, had two sons. Vasco Fernandez, the elder, was Alcaide Mór of Villa-Viçosa, chamberlain to Doin Theodosio, Duke of Braganza, and father of Alfonso Vaz Caminha, a very celebrated and learned man. Joaō Caminha, the younger, served under Affonso de Albuquerque, in India, where he gained great reputation, and, returning to Portugal, was nominated Comptroller of the Household of the Infanta Dona Isabel, afterwards the consort of Charles V. Joao espoused Dona Filippa de Sousa, and, after living many years with great felicity, died on the same day as his wife, leaving several children, of whom the subject of this memoir was the eldest.

He entered early into the service of Dom Duarte, Duke of Gunnarsēs, and employed his tune in the cultivation of literature, and the attentions required by his office. Dom Duarte was a prince of extensive erudition; he was a sincere friend and patron to men of ability, and his death was deeply feit and regretted. In his service, Pedro de Andrade, corresponding with some and mixing in the society of others, secured the frendship of the most enlightened poets of Portos gal.

Enjoying a lite dedicated to literature, Andrade lived contented and quite unambitious of that advancement, to which his residence in the palace of a prince might have raised his expectations.

* Chief magistrate.

In the Royal Archives, a grant is enumerated, hearing date 15th July, 1556, from Joao III. to him, of part of the duties imposed upon the wines at Oporto, which had been before conceded to his mother, as a recompence for the services of her brother Gaspar de Andrade, who was slain by the Moors.

It appears, from the singular marks of esteem conferred upon him, that Pedro de Andrade was the favourite of his princely master. Sometime previous to the death of this nobleman, he gave him the Alcaidaria of Celorico de Basto, and a pension of 200 mill-reas, both of which grants were confirined to him by King Dom Sebastiao. In the will of the prince, the name of Pedro de Andrade is frequently mentioned in terms highly in his favour. Besides recommending him to the Infante Cardinal Dom Henrique, amongst the Fidalgos, of whose services be approved, he desires that no account should be demanded from him of the gold, silver, and jewels, which might be entrusted to his care, and bequeaths him bis favourite horse Lina.* In a codicil, he leaves him seven hundred mill-reas, a pension of which the king had given him the power of alienation, and concludes with the following approving and recommendatory sentence. "Pero de Andrade hath served me, as is known to all, for a length of time, and without ever displeasing me in any thing; where fore I beg the Senhor Cardinal, that in all things, wherein he can conduce to his advancement in the favour of my lord the king, he will. For the doing this I confide in his highness. Of this notice, Pero de Andrade is deserving, and it will be a great consolation to my Soul."+

Our poet survived his affectionate master nearly thirteen years, and died

It is not improbable that Pedro de Andrade was indebted to his friend Antonio Ferreira, for some part of the favour shewn him by the prince. Ferreira, in a letter to his Highness, and also in an eclogue, speaks of Caminha in high terms of praise and recommendation.-See Obras de Ferreira, Canta. xiii. liv. i. eclog. x.

"Pero de Andrade me tem servido, como todos sabem com umita continuaçao, e sem nunca me dar desgosto em nada; peço umito per mercê ao Senhor Cardial, que em tudo o que o puder favorecer em suas cousas com el Rey meu Senhor, o faça como en de S. Altez a confio, e me Pero de Andrade merece, porque será grande consolação para

muistra alma."

Monthly Mag. No. 237,

on the 9th September, 1589, as appears by a memorandum in the Chancery of Philip II. attached to a grant made by that king to him; whereby he is allowed to alienate his pension of 200 mill-reas, in moities, to his daughter Dona Marianna and his wife Dona Pascoalla de Guzmaō.

The works of Pedro de Andrade re mained in MS. until the year 1791, when they were arranged for publication and printed at the press of the Royal Acas demy, in Lisbon, in an octavo volume. They consist of almost every description of the minor species of poetry; but epi grams, of which he wrote two on the death of his parents, and several on his brothers, sisters, and relatives, appear to have been his favourite compositions.

His poetry is severely criticised by Francisco Dias; yet that author urges, in extenuation, his ignorance of the learned languages, which conduced, at that time, so much to the improvement of Portuguese literature, and bestows upon him praise for some of his perfor mances. He studied the poetry of Sa de Miranda and Antonio Ferreira, and, where he followed these authors, he has succeeded best.

Although, perhaps, no solid advantage may be derived from the publication of the works of Caminha, by the Royal Academy; yet considerable merit is due to the poet for contributing towards the advancement of his native language, at a period when every effort was required for its amelioration.

The specimen which follows is a son net, written by Caminha, in praise of the Segundo Cerco de Diu (second siege of Diu) of Jeronimo Cortereal, a contemporary poet, of no very brilliant abilities, though much esteemed in his day; and who, besides this poem, wrote the Naufragio de Sepulveda, and the Austriada, upon which Caminha composed a sonnet, commencing

Heironymo aqui escreve, e d'aqui canta, &s,

Cortereal wrote in the verso sciolto, a measure at that time much used by the poets of Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

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carefully instilled into her mind, the principles of virtue and religion.

Lady Colambre did not think it necessary to make a public profession of her faith; she trusted that, in this 'Christian land,' none would have so little Christian charity, as to suspect her of being an infidel."

Clonbrony Castle, Aug. 26, 1812.

For the Monthly Magazine.

LETTERS FROM ATHENS; by M. FAUVEL, VICE-CONSUL of FRANCE at that CITY, and CORRESPONDENT of the IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

STR

Athens, April 4, 1811. IR,-I have had considerable diggings made in this city, and some foreigners have caused still greater excavations to be undertaken; we have been fortu nate enough to make some interesting discoveries. Our search took place o the great road which leads from the Hippades gate to Acharnes, to the left, on going towards those suburbs, at about 180 fathoms from the gate just mentioned, and nearly 140 from the present gate. We there found some ancient burying grounds, about fifteen feet below the surface.

It may not, perhaps, be irrelevant to inform you, that the spot in which are the remains of the Hippades gate, is still called by the Greeks and Turks the Racegate, because it is here that the diversion of foot-races is still performed. One circumstance worthy of notice is, that the competitors run naked, with only a simple piece of linen round the middle. There are three prizes, or, more properly speaking, two, as the third is nothing but an enormous radish, or carrot, which causes the gain er to be rewarded by the hootings of the populace. These roots are here two feet long, and about three inches in diameter.

You know that the moderns have their wrestlers, the same as the ancients had. These persons are naked, except a cloth round the loins, which is steeped in oil, with which the body is likewise rubbed. They also roll themselves in the sand, that they may take a firm hold of each other at the time of the contest. The prize is gained by him who throws his ad

versary.

I found, as I have told you, the ancient soil at fifteen feet below the surface; the tombs were close together. We saw several cippi of different forms, which were overturned, as well as sarcophagi of mar

ble,

ble, and others of common stone; there were some tombs formed of fine tiles, three feet long, which had belonged to grand buildings. On some of these were painted handsome ornaments, as was also the case with those marble tombs, the stones of which must have belonged to grand temples; a fact which it is difficult to make our architects comprehend, as they will not believe that the ancients painted their statues and bas-reliefs. In these sarcophagi I generally found the skeleton lying on a thick bed of oliveleaves, in a burnt state: I also found in them several thin pieces of beaten gold, in the shape of serpents' tongues; and likewise blades of copper, on which was inscribed the name of the deceased. On the ends, or the small columns affixed to these tombs, were brief inscriptions, the letters of which were alternately black and red. There were also bas reliefs, which were painted. On one of these columns I read,

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Many of these tombs contain only the ashes of burnt bones, or handsome urns, in which are likewise ashes. Amongst these I have frequently found the obolus, which has not been paid to Charon.

Respecting this pilot of the shades, I have a representation of him on a vase. He is painted in the act of pushing his bark ashore with a pole, which indicates that the infernal rivers were not very deep. He has no oars in his boat, which is exactly similar to the Piades employed at Constantinople for the conveyance of passengers at that port. This proves that the people of Asia have not changed their customs: hence I am convinced that the large boats of the Hellespont, which are towed along here, and which I have seen on the very parts where were for

merly those of the divine Achilles, are still of the same shape as were those of the ancients; so that, if the son of Thetis could return to earth, he would think he was again beholding his fleet at the Sigeum.

But a circumstance more curious than old Charon is an obolus which I found fixed in the mouth of a skeleton, between the last tooth on the right side and the jaw; I retained it in this situation. Here is an incontestable proof that it was customary to put the coin in the mouth' of the deceased; a practice still kept up in some villages of Boeotia, as I was in** formed by one of the inhabitants of those parts. I also found in one of these tombs a thin sheet of lead, about five inches long by three broad; it was folded in four folds the long way, and then dous bled in half: it contained an inscription of ten lines, which proved to be an imprecation against one Cleophrades and his whole family. (This inscription has been translated by M. VISCONTI, and will be printed in some of the early Reports of the Proceedings of the Institute.)

The following is a description of a handsome vase which I have found :A winged Genius, in a car drawn by four white horses with wings, has arrived at an altar, on which is a tripod: he is using all his strength to restrain his coursers. Another Genius is flying before him, as if to check the horses and seize the tripod, the prize of the race. Another, richly dressed, follows the car, and appears to be watering, from a vase, a laurel, which has grown up in the path of the car. On the car is written XPYEOΣ; on the victorious Genius NIKH, and on the third one ΠΛΟΤΟΣ.

I also found some superb urns about two feet high. On one is a figure of Ceres, sitting, the little Plutus at her feet, near a great fruit basket; by the side of the goddess is a Ceryx, with his caduceus, two Dadouchi, and a Bacchante. On the other side of the vase is a beautiful woman, dancing between two Fauns. On another part Mercury appears, bringing the little Bacchus to Silenus. An Ethiopian king is seen at table, served by winged genji, and by a kind of clownish master of the ceremonies. On another part are Isis and Serapis ; Isis is lying in the lap of Serapis, and playing on the lyre: a youth is bringing fruits, dates, and a species of ananas: the place appears to be lighted by a candelabra; on one table are vases, crowns, and vine-leaves. I am translating an inscription which F D 2

Saw

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