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from equity; but there is a justice still more exten- A French priest, whose name was Godinot, went
sive, and which can be shown to embrace all the for a long time by the name of the Griper. Here-
virtues united.
fused to relieve the most apparent wretchedness,
Justice may be defined to be that virtue which and, by a skilful management of his vineyard, had
impels us to give to every person what is his due. the good fortune to acquire immense sums of money.
In this extended sense of the word, it comprehends The inhabitants of Rheims, who were his fellow-
the practice of every virtue which reason prescribes, citizens, detested him, and the populace, who sel-
or society should expect. Our duty to our Maker, dom love a miser, wherever he went, received him
to each other, and to ourselves, are fully answered, with contempt. He still, however, continued his
if we give them what we owe them. Thus justice, former simplicity of life, his amazing and unremit-
properly speaking, is the only virtue, and all the ted frugality. This good man had long perceived
rest have their origin in it.
the wants of the poor in the city, particularly in
The qualities of candour, fortitude, charity, and having no water but what they were obliged to buy
generosity, for instance, are not, in their own na- at an advanced price; wherefore, that whole fortune
ture, virtues; and if ever they deserve the title, it which he had been amassing, he laid out in an
is owing only to justice, which impels and directs aqueduct, by which he did the poor more useful
them. Without such a moderator, candour might and lasting service than if he had distributed his
become indiscretion, fortitude obstinacy, charity
imprudence, and generosity mistaken profusion.

A disinterested action, if it be not conducted by justice, is at best indifferent in its nature, and not unfrequently even turns to vice. The expenses of society, of presents, of entertainments, and the other

whole income in charity every day at his door. Among men long conversant with books, we too frequently find those misplaced virtues of which I have been now complaining. We find the studious animated with a strong passion for the great virtues, as they are mistakenly called, and utterly for

helps to cheerfulness, are actions merely indifferent, getful of the ordinary ones. The declamations of
when not repugnant to a better method of disposing philosophy are generally rather exhausted on these
of our superfluities; but they become vicious when supererogatory duties, than on such as are indis-
they obstruct or exhaust our abilities from a more
virtuous disposition of our circumstances.

pensably necessary. A man, therefore, who has taken his ideas of mankind from study alone, generally comes into the world with a heart melting at every fictitious distress. Thus he is induced, by misplaced liberality, to put himself into the indigent

True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed upon us by law. It is a rule imposed upon us by reason, which should be the sovereign law of a rational being. But this circumstances of the persons he relieves. generosity does not consist in obeying every im- I shall conclude this paper with the advice of pulse of humanity, in following blind passion for one of the ancients, to a young man whom he saw our guide, and impairing our circumstances by giving away all his substance to pretended distress. present benefactions, so as to render us incapable of future ones.

"It is possible that the person you relieve may be an honest man; and I know that you who relieve him are such. You see, then, by your generosity, you only rob a man who is certainly deserving, to bestow it on one who may possibly be a rogue; and while you are unjust in rewarding uncertain merit,

Misers are generally characterized as men with
out honour or without humanity, who live only to
accumulate, and to this passion sacrifice every other
happiness. They have been described as madmen,
who, in the midst of abundance, banish every you are doubly guilty by stripping yourself."

pleasure, and make from imaginary wants real ne-
cessities. But few, very few, correspond to this
exaggerated picture; and, perhaps, there is not one
in whom all these circumstances are found united.
Instead of this, we find the sober and the industri-
ous branded by the vain and the idle with this
odious appellation; men who, by frugality and
labour, raise themselves above their equals, and
contribute their share of industry to the common
stock.

SOME PARTICULARS RELATING TO
FATHER FREIJO.

Primus mortales tollere contra

Est oculos ausus, primusque assurgere contra.
Lucr.

THE Spanish nation has, for many centuries past, been remarkable for the grossest ignorance in

Whatever the vain or the ignorant may say, well polite literature, especially in point of natural phiwere it for society had we more of this character losophy; a science so useful to mankind, that her among us. In general, these close men are found neighbours have ever esteemed it a matter of the at last the true benefactors of society. With an greatest importance to endeavour, by repeated exavaricious man we seldom lose in our dealings; periments, to strike a light out of the chaos in which but too frequently in our commerce with prodi- truth seemed to be confounded. Their curiosity gality. in this respect was so indifferent, that though they had discovered new worlds, they were at a loss to possible to repeat all the agreeable delusions in explain the phenomena of their own, and their which a disappointed author is apt to find comfort. pride so unaccountable, that they disdained to bor- I conclude, that what my reputation wants in exrow from others that instruction which their natural tent, is made up by its solidity. Minus juvat Gloria indolence permitted them not to acquire. lata quam magna. I have great satisfaction in It gives me, however, a secret satisfaction to be- considering the delicacy and discernment of those hold an extraordinary genius, now existing in that readers I have, and in ascribing my want of popunation, whose studious endeavours seem calcu-larity to the ignorance or inattention of those I lated to undeceive the superstitious, and instruct have not. All the world may forsake an author, - the ignorant; I mean the celebrated Padre, Freijo. but vanity will never forsake him. = In unravelling the mysteries of nature and ex- Yet, notwithstanding so sincere a confession, I plaining physical experiments, he takes an oppor- was once induced to show my indignation against tunity of displaying the concurrence of second the public, by discontinuing my endeavours to causes in those very wonders, which the vulgar as- please; and was bravely resolved, like Raleigh, to cribe to supernatural influence. vex them by burning my manuscript in a passion. An example of this kind happened a few years Upon recollection, however, I considered what set ago in a small town of the kingdom of Valencia. or body of people would be displeased at my rashPassing through at the hour of mass, he alighted ness. The sun, after so sad an accident, might from his mule, and proceeded to the parish church, shine next morning as bright as usual; men might which he found extremely crowded, and there ap- laugh and sing the next day, and transact business peared on the faces of the faithful a more than usual as before, and not a single creature feel any regret alacrity. The sun it seems, which had been for but myself.

!

some minutes under a cloud, had begun to shine I reflected upon the story of a minister, who, in on a large crucifix, that stood in the middle of the the reign of Charles II., upon a certain occasion, altar, studded with several precious stones. The resigned all his posts, and retired into the country reflection from these, and from the diamond eyes in a fit of resentment. But as he had not given the of some silver saints, so dazzled the multitude, that world entirely up with his ambition, he sent a mesthey unanimously cried out, A miracle! a miracle! senger to town, to see how the courtiers would bear whilst the priest at the altar, with seeming con- his resignation. Upon the messenger's return he sternation, continued his heavenly conversation. was asked, whether there appeared any commotion Padre Freijo soon dissipated the charm, by tying at court? To which he replied, There were very his handkerchief round the head of one of the stat- great ones. "Ay," says the minister, "I knew ues, for which he was arraigned by the inquisition; my friends would make a bustle; all petitioning the whose flames, however, he has had the good for- king for my restoration, I presume." "No, sir," tune hitherto to escape.

THE BEE No. IV.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1759.

MISCELLANEOUS.

replied the messenger, "they are only petitioning his majesty to be put in your place." In the same manner, should I retire in indignation, instead of having Apollo in mourning, or the Muses in a fit of the spleen; instead of having the learned world apostrophizing at my untimely decease, perhaps all Grub-street might laugh at my fall, and self-approving dignity might never be able to shield me from ridicule. In short, I am resolved to write on, if it were only to spite them. If the present generation will not hear my voice, hearken, O posterity, to you I call, and from you I expect redress! What rapture will it not give to have the Scaligers,

WERE I to measure the merit of my present undertaking by its success, or the rapidity of its sale, I might be led to form conclusions by no means Daciers, and Warburtons of future times commentfavourable to the pride of an author. Should I es- ing with admiration upon every line I now write, timate my fame by its extent, every newspaper and working away those ignorant creatures who offer magazine would leave me far behind. Their fame to arraign my merit, with all the virulence of learnis diffused in a very wide circle, that of some as far ed reproach. Ay, my friends, let them feel it : call as Islington, and some yet farther still; while mine, names, never spare them; they deserve it all, and I sincerely believe, has hardly travelled beyond the ten times more. I have been told of a critic, who

sound of Bow-bell; and while the works of others fly like unpinioned swans, I find my own move as heavily as a new plucked goose.

was crucified at the command of another to the reputation of Homer. That, no doubt, was more than poetical justice, and I shall be perfectly conStill, however, I have as much pride as they tent if those who criticise me are only clapped in who have ten times as many readers. It is im- the pillory, kept fifteen days upon bread and water and obliged to run the gantlet through Paternoster- | at last overcame my prudence, and determined me row. The truth is, I can expect happiness from to endeavour to please by the goodness of my enposterity either way. If I write ill, happy in being tertainment, rather than by the magnificence of my forgotten; if well, happy in being remembered with sign. respect.

that might shake even fortitude itself.

The Spectator, and many succeeding essayists, Yet, considering things in a prudential light, frequently inform us of the numerous compliments perhaps I was mistaken in designing my paper as paid them in the course of their lucubrations of an agreeable relaxation to the studious, or a help to the frequent encouragements they met to inspire conversation among the gay; instead of addressing them with ardour, and increase their eagerness to it to such, I should have written down to the taste please. I have received my letters as well as they; and apprehension of the many, and sought for re- but alas! not congratulatory ones; not assuring me putation on the broad road. Literary fame, I now of success and favour; but pregnant with bodings find, like religious, generally begins among the vulgar. As for the polite, they are so very polite as One gentleman assures me, he intends to throw never to applaud upon any account. One of these, away no more threepences in purchasing the BEE; with a face screwed up into affectation, tells you, and, what is still more dismal, he will not recomthat fools may admire, but men of sense only ap- mend me as a poor author wanting encouragement prove. Thus, lest he should rise in rapture at any to his neighbourhood, which, it seems, is very nuthing new, he keeps down every passion but pride merous. Were my soul set upon threepences, and self-importance; approves with phlegm; and what anxiety might not such a denunciation pro the poor author is damned in the taking a pinch of duce! But such does not happen to be the present snuff. Another has written a book himself, and motive of publication; I write partly to show my being condemned for a dunce, he turns a sort of good-nature, and partly to show my vanity; nor king's evidence in criticism, and now becomes the will I lay down the pen till I am satisfied one way terror of every offender. A third, possessed of full- or another.

grown reputation, shades off every beam of favour Others have disliked the title and the motto of from those who endeavour to grow beneath him, my paper; point out a mistake in the one, and asand keeps down that merit, which, but for his in- sure me the other has been consigned to dulness fluence, might rise into equal eminence: while by anticipation. All this may be true; but what others, still worse, peruse old books for their amuse- is that to me? Titles and mottos to books are like ment, and new books only to condemn; so that escutcheons and dignities in the hands of a king. the public seem heartily sick of all but the busi- The wise sometimes condescend to accept of them; ness of the day, and read every thing now with as but none but a fool will imagine them of any real little attention as they examine the faces of the importance. We ought to depend upon intrinsic passing crowd.

merit, and not the slender helps of title. Nam quæ non fecimus ipsi, vix ea nostra voco.

For my part, I am ever ready to mistrust a promising title, and have, at some expense, been in

From these considerations, I was once determined to throw off all connexions with taste, and fairly address my countrymen in the same engaging style and manner with other periodical pam- structed not to hearken to the voice of an advertisephlets, much more in vogue than probably mine ment, let it plead never so loudly, or never so long. shall ever be. To effect this, I had thoughts of A countryman coming one day to Smithfield, in changing the title into that of the ROYAL BEE, the order to take a slice of Bartholomew-fair, found a ANTI-GALLICAN BEE, or the BEE'S MAGAZINE. I perfect show before every booth. The drummer, had laid in a proper stock of popular topics, such the fire-eater, the wire-walker, and the salt-box, as encomiums on the King of Prussia, invectives were all employed to invite him in. "Just a-going; against the Queen of Hungary and the French, the court of the king of Prussia in all his glory: the necessity of a militia, our undoubted sovereignty pray, gentlemen, walk in and see." From people of the seas, reflections upon the present state of af- who generously gave so much away, the clown exfairs, a dissertation upon liberty, some seasonable pected a monstrous bargain for his money when thoughts upon the intended bridge of Blackfriars, he got in. He steps up, pays his sixpence, the and an address to Britons; the history of an old curtain is drawn; when, too late, he finds that he woman, whose teeth grew three inches long, an had the best part of the show for nothing at the ode upon our victories, a rebus, an acrostic upon door.

A FLEMISH TRADITION.

Miss Peggy P., and a journal of the weather. All this, together with four extraordinary pages of letter-press, a beautiful map of England, and two prints curiously coloured from nature, I fancied might touch their very souls. I was actually beEVERY country has its traditions, which, either ginning an address to the people, when my pride too minute, or not sufficiently authentic to receive historical sanction, are handed down among the torture, the other only repeated his former exclavulgar, and serve at once to instruct and amuse mation, "Does the villain murmur?" them. Of this number, the adventures of Robin From this period, revenge as well as patriotism Hood, the hunting of Chevy-Chase, and the brave- took entire possession of his soul. His fury stooped ry of Johnny Armstrong, among the English; so low as to follow the executioner with unremitting of Kaul Dereg among the Irish; and Crichton resentment. But conceiving that the best method among the Scots, are instances. Of all the tradi- to attain these ends was to acquire some eminence tions, however, I remember to have heard, I do not in the city, he laid himself out to oblige its new recollect any more remarkable than one still current masters, studied every art, and practised every in Flanders; a story generally the first the peasants meanness, that serve to promote the needy, or rentell their children, when they bid them behave like der the poor pleasing; and by these means, in a few Bidderman the wise. It is by no means, however, years, he came to be of some note in the city, which a model to be set before a polite people for imitation; since if, on the one hand, we perceive in it the steady influence of patriotism, we on the other find as strong a desire of revenge. But, to wave introduction, let us to the story.

justly belonged entirely to him.

The executioner was therefore the first object of his resentment, and he even practised the lowest fraud to gratify the revenge he owed him. A piece of plate, which Bidderman had previously stolen

When the Saracens overran Europe with their from the Saracen governor, he privately conveyed armies, and penetrated as far even as Antwerp, into the executioner's house, and then gave informaBidderman was lord of a city, which time has since tion of the theft. They who are any way acquaintswept into destruction. As the inhabitants of this ed with the rigour of the Arabian laws, know that country were divided under separate leaders, the theft is punished with immediate death. The Saracens found an easy conquest, and the city of proof was direct in this case; the executioner had Bidderman, among the rest, became a prey to the nothing to offer in his own defence, and he was therefore condemned to be beheaded upon a scafThus dispossessed of his paternal city, our un- fold in the public market-place. As there was no fortunate governor was obliged to seek refuge from executioner in the city but the very man who was the neighbouring princes, who were as yet unsub- now to suffer, Bidderman himself undertook this, dued, and he for some time lived in a state of wretch- to him a most agreeable office. The criminal was ed dependence among them. conducted from the judgment-seat, bound with

victors.

Soon, however, his love to his native country cords: the scaffold was erected, and he placed in brought him back to his own city, resolved to res- such a manner as he might lie most convenient for cue it from the enemy, or fall in the attempt: thus, the blow.

in disguise, he went among the inhabitants, and But his death alone was not sufficient to satisfy endeavoured, but in vain, to excite them to revolt. the resentment of this extraordinary man, unless Former misfortunes lay so heavily on their minds, it was aggravated with every circumstance of cruthat they rather chose to suffer the most cruel elty. Wherefore, coming up the scaffold, and dis

bondage than attempt to vindicate their former

freedom.

posing every thing in readiness for the intended blow, with the sword in his hand he approached the criminal, and whispering in a low voice, assured him that he himself was the person that had once been used with so much cruelty; that to his knowledge he died very innocently, for the plate had been stolen by himself, and privately conveyed into the house of the other.

As he was thus one day employed, whether by information or from suspicion is not known, he was apprehended by a Saracen soldier as a spy, and brought before the very tribunal at which he once presided. The account he gave of himself was by no means satisfactory. He could produce no friends to vindicate his character, wherefore, as the Saracens knew not their prisoner, and as they had no direct proofs against him, they were content with murmur?" replied Bidderman, and immediately at condemning him to be publicly whipped as a vaga

bond.

"O, my countrymen," cried the criminal, "do you hear what this man says?"-" Does the villain

one blow severed his head from his body.
Still, however, he was not content till he had

The execution of this sentence was accordingly ample vengeance of the governors of the city, who performed with the utmost rigour. Bidderman condemned him. To effect this, he hired a small was bound to the post, the executioner seeming house adjoining to the town-wall, under which he disposed to add to the cruelty of the sentence, as he every day dug, and carried out the earth in a basket. received no bribe for lenity. Whenever Bidderman In this unremitting labour he continued several groaned under the scourge, the other, redoubling years, every day digging a little, and carrying the his blows, cried out "Does the villain murmur?" earth unsuspected away. By this means he at last If Bidderman entreated but a moment's respite from made a secret communication from the country into the city, and only wanted the appearance of an as possible. Nature has furnished the body of this enemy in order to betray it. This opportunity at little creature with a glutinous liquid, which, length offered; the French army came down into proceeding from the anus, it spins into thread, the neighbourhood, but had no thoughts of sitting coarser or finer, as it chooses to contract or dilate down before a town which they considered as im- its sphincter. In order to fix its thread when it pregnable. Bidderman, however, soon altered their begins to weave, it emits a small drop of its liquid resolutions, and, upon communicating his plan to against the wall, which, hardening by degrees, the general, he embraced it with ardour. Through serves to hold the thread very firmly. Then rethe private passage above mentioned, he introduced ceding from its first point, as it recedes the thread a large body of the most resolute soldiers, who soon lengthens; and when the spider has come to the opened the gates for the rest, and the whole army place where the other end of the thread should rushing in, put every Saracen that was found to be fixed, gathering up with his claws the thread the sword. which would otherwise be too slack, it is stretched tightly, and fixed in the same manner to the wall as before..

THE SAGACITY OF SOME INSECTS.

SIR,

To the author of the Bee.

ANIMALS in general are sagacious in proportion as they cultivate society. The elephant and the beaver show the greatest signs of this when united; but when man intrudes into their communities, they lose all their spirit of industry, and testify but a very small share of that sagacity for which, when in a social state, they are so remarkable.

In this manner it spins and fixes several threads parallel to each other, which, so to speak, serves as the warp to the intended web. To form the woof, it spins in the same manner its thread, transversely fixing one end to the first thread that was spun, and which is always the strongest of the whole web, and the other to the wall. All these threads being newly spun, are glutinous and therefore stick to each other wherever they happen to touch; and in those parts of the web most exposed to be torn, our natural artist strengthens them, Among insects, the labours of the bee and the by doubling the threads sometimes six-fold. ant have employed the attention and admiration Thus far naturalists have gone in the descripof the naturalist; but their whole sagacity is lost tion of this animal; what follows is the result of upon separation, and a single bee or ant seems my own observation upon that species of the insect destitute of every degree of industry, is the most called a house-spider. I perceived about four years stupid insect imaginable, languishes for a time in solitude, and soon dies.

ago, a large spider in one corner of my room, making its web; and though the maid frequently levelled her fatal broom against the labours of the little animal, I had the good fortune then to prevent its destruction; and I may say, it more than paid me by the entertainment it afforded.

In three days the web was with incredible diligence completed; nor could I avoid thinking, that

Of all the solitary insects I have ever remarked, the spider is the most sagacious; and its actions, to me who have attentively considered them, seem almost to exceed belief. This insect is formed by nature for a state of war, not only upon other insects, but upon each other. For this state nature seems perfectly well to have formed it. Its head the insect seemed to exult in its new abode. It and breast are covered with a strong natural coat frequently traversed it round, examined the strength of mail, which is impenetrable to the attempts of of every part of it, retired into its hole, and came every other insect, and its belly is enveloped in a out very frequently. The first enemy, however, soft pliant skin, which eludes the sting even of a it had to encounter, was another and a much larwasp. Its legs are terminated by strong claws, ger spider, which, having no web of its own, and not unlike those of a lobster; and their vast length, having probably exhausted all its stock in former like spears, serve to keep every assailant at a distance.

Not worse furnished for observation than for an attack or a defence, it has several eyes, large, transparent, and covered with a horny substance, which, however, does not impede its vision. Besides this, it is furnished with a forceps above the mouth, which serves to kill or secure the prey already caught in its claws or its net.

Such are the implements of war with which the body is immediately furnished, but its net to entangle the enemy seems what it chiefly trusts to, and what it takes most pains to render as complete

labours of this kind, came to invade the property of its neighbour. Soon, then, a terrible encounter ensued, in which the invader seemed to have the victory, and the laborious spider was obliged to take refuge in its hole. Upon this I perceived the victor using every art to draw the enemy from his strong hold. He seemed to go off, but quickly returned; and when he found all arts vain, began to demolish the new web without mercy. This brought on another battle, and, contrary to my expectations, the laborious spider became conqueror, and fairly killed his antagonist.

Now, then, in peaceable possession of what was