It produces terrors, of all others, the most to be dreaded and ftrove againft; for although they cannot be entirely overcome, yet by giving the leaft way to them, life is at once made uncomfortable and difagreeable. I give myself up to his direction. Grafville Abbey was fituated near Montferrat in Italy, and but a little diflance from the Gulf of Genoa; Its lofty turrets, on one fide, commanded a view of Piedmont, and the profpect was bounded by the towering and majeftic fummits of the Alps: The other wing looked over the perspective scenery of Parma, Placenza, Mirandola, and the river Po, while at the extremity of the profpect, in an oblique view, Venice might just be obferved. The back front looked over Valentia, Cafal, and Vercil, and terminated in a distant fight of Savoy. From childhood we are taught to believe in the existence of fupernatural beings, by the prattle and fimple ftories of thofe, who, in general, abuse their care of children, by inftilling into their young minds terrific and horrid ideas. As age advances, they are more likely to increase, than decline; and the number of relations, feemingly authentic, which are continually in circulation, serve greatly to confirm the horrors of imagination. Whether fuch hiftories proceed from the vifionary remorfe of guilty confciences, from affectation, or the tongue of falsehood; from infanity, weakness, or oppreffion of fpirits; from nervous disorders, or romantic thoughts and contrivances; is equally as difficult to be ascertained, as whether fome of them are not actually true, and the works of a Supreme Deity, for wife and unknown ends. Many men of great learning and genius have differed widely on this point, and though even the immortal Addison could not pofitively give a decifive opinion on thofe topics, yet his words on the fubject will ever be remem-lemnity, both in the external and bered and admired. "I know but one way of fortifying my foul against these gloomy prefages and terrors of mind, and that is by fecuring to myfelf the friendship and protection of that Being, who difpofes of events, and governs futurity. He fees at one view the whole thread of my exiftence, not only that part of it which I have already passed through, but that which rus forward into all the depths of eternity. When I lay me down to fleep, I recommend myfelf to his care; when I awake, But none of thefe countries could be feen but from the top cafements of the two towers; the lower part of the Abbey being entirely furrounded by thick foliage, pines and cyprefs-trees, with many ancient cedars. The building was in every refpect calculated to infpire awe and fo internal appearance. After the death of the count Maferini, many ftrange accounts were talked of by the penfants; and count D'Olifont's fudden departure ffom it, at the funeral of his uncle, feemed to confirm thofe reports that had before been circulated through the furrounding country. From that time it was thut up, without any of the furniture being removed, and no one had been known to enter it till Signor Maferini, fon to the late 4 Spectator. No. VII. count, tecture, but extremely noble, though heavy in the defign. It was fupported by large gothic columns ; the capitals were chiefly decayed, the fhafts were compofed of stained marble, and though of a confide count, and father to Alfred and Matilda. His fudden and remarkable difappearance, raised the horror of the place, if poffible, more than ever; even those who had before laughed at the fuperftition of their neighbours, were extremely alarm-rable height, the diameters were ed at fo dreadful and uncommon an occurrence. No perfon ever walked beyond the entrance of the grove, that led to the gates; and the only human habitation that ftood near it, was a cell which contained an old hermit, who had lived there ever fince the Abbey had been forfaken, and fubfifted on the charity of the neighbouring cottagers. greater than the firit rules of that kind of architecture would admit. The top opened in a large dome and gallery, the wal's of which had exhibited beautiful paintings, that were now nearly deftroyed: a large painted kylight terminated the height, and additional light was received from four elevated cafements on different fides of the hall. Pilafters of the fame dimenfions upwards flood opposite the pillars, between each of which were niches that held ftatues larger than life; these were in fome preservation, as the count had them placed there, when he first came to the eftate. Two large fire-places ftood at each end, which feemed to fhew that hofpitality and the comforts of The travellers remained in the hall till day light, when the storm abated, and they began to wifh for fome repofe. Leonard pulled two arm chairs, which stood in a recefs, towards the fire, and Agnes and Matilda ftrove to fleep in them; while Alfred and his fervant laid themselves down on an old bench that stood near the spot. After fome hours they awoke, and found them-life had once been enjoyed in this felves much refreshed. Leonard was immediately difpatched to fee that the gates were clofe in the fame manner as they were before, to prevent fufpicion of any one having paffed them. They then opened their portmanteau, and found they had food and drink for that day: this circumftance was extremely fortunate as they could have time to contrive fome method of replenishing their fore. Leonard had alfo got victuals for his furviving mule. They had now an opportunity to take a more particular account of their fituation; and Alfred, fmilingly afked his fifter, if he had any objection to explore with him the apartments by day-light; fhe chearfully confented, but Agnes was terrified at the idea of attending them, and equally afraid of remaining in the hall by herfelf, but at last refolved on the former. The hall was of ancient archi dreary and melancholy abode. The pavement was of black and white marble, the ftones of which were of a confiderable fize. In the front ftood a large pair of heavy folding doors that led to the apartments on the east and weft wings of the Abbey. Two ftone ftair-cafes appeared on each fide, which wound to the. chambers above. Alfred refolved firit to examine the lower apartments, and accordingly opened the folding-doors, which difcovered a fmall paffage, füpported by Tuf can pilla:s; at the further part of it was a defcent of feveral fteps, which were in many parts broken and decayed; at the bottom of them was a pair of large iron gates, through which they perceived the remain of an extenfive and noble chapel; this part they fuppofed had ftood nearly in the fame itate from the first foundation of the building, as then intended for a place of re ligicus ligious worship. They re-afcended | ftances happening in it, for heaven's the fteps, and difcovered in the paffage two large openings, which feemed to lead to the different fuites of apartments. They first entered thofe of the Weft wing. The furniture in the first room had been extremely elegant, though antique; it was in tolerable prefervation, confidering the number of years it had remained there without care; many noble paintings were yet hanging, but fo decayed by damps that it was impoffible to make out the fubjects. The fecond room was rather larger than the firft, but in far worse condition; the tapestry was entirely deftroyed, and both the cafements and fhutters broke nearly to pieces; the columns which fupported it seemed also rotted and decayed. From this apartment they walked through many others that were in the fame condition, and shewed no figns of having contained any mortal within them for many years. In the last room there was a strong door, which they perceived, by a window, opened into a court or ter race. Having returned to the hall, they entered the apartments of the Eaft wing. They were finaller though more in number than thofe they had left; and by the plainnefs of the internal part, they fuppofed them to have been offices for fervants. At the extent of them was a door of the fame fize with that they had obferved on the other fide, and which opened alfo to the other end of the terrace. "The fituation of this place," faid Alfred, "fhews that the inhabitants left it on a fudden; but yet it is amazing that fo noble a building, and fuch elegant furniture, fhould have been left to perish by the ravages of time and neglect." "I cannot fay I am altogether fo aftonished at that," answered Matilda" for after fuch circum fake who would willingly choose it for a habitation?" Her brother fmiled, and having again returned to the hall, they afcended one of the ftair-cafes, but foon perceived that both terminated in one landing. The Abbey here was not divided; the chambers were confequently far more intricate the apartments were fpacious, and had been nobly furnished; the beds were heavy and antique; but all nearly destroyed. They however, after fome trouble, contrived to change one thing with another, till they made up three tolerable beds. Two of them were in a large chamber, and the other clofely adjoining. They deferred, however, finishing their fearch till the next day, on account of airing what they were to lie on at night. Leonard accordingly made a good fire in the hall, and the cloaths were placed before it immediately. After another repaft, Matilda begged Agnes to relate to them thofe occurrences that caufed her to be expofed to the fury of fo terrible a form. "Alas Mademoifelle," returned Agnes, I fhould even before this have related to you my little history, had I not been afraid you would have condemned my conduct; but at leaft (continued the poor girl, with tears in her eyes) you shall never have reafon to reproach me with ingratitude, for the favours I have received from you." Both Alfred and Mati'da defired her, if the relation would bring fresh grief to her memory, to decline it, as in that cafe they would willingly fufpend their curiosity. Agnes declared, that though it might raife in her mind many forrows, yet it would in the end give her pleasure to make them acquainted with her little narrative. The party having feated themselves by the fire, liftened with attention to their artless orator. DESCRIPTION of the CITY of leagues (or about five English PARIS. (With a View elegantly engraved.) PARIS miles) in diameter, and fix in circuit, including the fuburbs: it never was, however, equally populous with London. Before the Revolution, and the abolition of the ancient hierarchy, Paris was an archbishopric, and the church of Notre Dame, the metropolitan church. This is a fuperb ftructure, fupported by 120 columns: the body of the church is 174 feet in length, 60 in breadth, and 100 in height; the towers or steeples are of very excellent architecture. The univerfity of Paris is the moit ancient in Europe, having been four ded by Charlemagne in 790. That aftonishing event of modern times, the Revolution of France, has produced very confi ARIS, the capital of France, is one of the largest and most populous cities in Europe. It is divided into three parts, the town, the city, and the univerfity; and there are 20 cantons called quarters, wherein are 967 thoroughfare ftreets, and 85 through which there are no paffages. It contains 52 parishes, and 20 churches, befides 20 chapter and collegiate churches; as alfo So churches and chapels, which ave not parochial. The number of houfes has been variously estimated, fome making them amount to 200,coo though it is not probable there are fo many. Before the Re-derable alterations in the city of volution, there were 3 abbeys of men, and 5 of women; 53 convents and communities of monks, and 70 nunneries and communities of women, amounting in the whole to 134. There were also eccle3 fiaftical jurifdictions and 31 fecular. There are 57 colleges, of which 10 are much frequented, 15 feminaries, 26 hofpitals, 12 prifons, 50 public fquares, 56 public fountains, 30 quays, 12 markets, 30 bridges, great and fmall, and 8 gardens and public walks. The number of coaches employed in this city are computed to amount to 14,000, and it is lighted by 5,800 lamps. The number of inhabitants has been varioufly stated; fome accounts making the number only 400,000, and others extending it to 800,0v the late convulfions of France have probably rendered the former number much nearcfl the truth. Paris was formerly fuppofed to fland on more ground than London; but this may now, with much reafon, be doubted, fince the great enlargement of the latter capital by the at rage for building. Paris is red to be about two French Paris. The Baftile, that famous, or rather infamous, ftate-prifon, is levelled with the ground, and not one tone of it left upon another the ftatues of the kings, and all memorials of royalty, are removed. The names of the places or fquares which had allufion to their kings or any of the royal family have all been changed. Several of the palaces and public buildings have fuffered considerably in the popular tumults, and the appearance of this great city is in many respects changed. ANECDOTE. felf very witty, gave the folcertain Wag, who thinks himlowing example of it at the London Tavern, where being at dinner with fome gentlemen, and feeing one of fowl, them help himself to a leg of afked what relation was dead that left him the fortune.. An explanation was asked; becaufe, faid he, you have got a leg I fee-meaning a legacy. SKETCHES |