That many of the ancients, and some moderns, have earned applaufe for patriotic virtue, muft not, nor can, with justice, be denied. Through love of fame inen have been known to flight the frowns of adverfity, under the feveral diftrefies of want, hunger, pain, and death itself. if terrors like thefe could not scare them from their purposes, terrors at which we are prone to revolt, it were great injuftice and cruelty to deny them that poor reward of their firmness which they have fo dearly bought, our warmelt acknowledgments. Neither ought we to object to the motives of fuch noble actions as have fignalifed fome of them in the behalf of their country. It is invidious to alledge, that a defire of fame is a felfish confideration, fince felf-love is the primum mobile of all human actions, and it cannot be expected that any one but a lunatic will act for no apparent reafon, or that a hero can intirely divett himself of the character of a man. Love of glory is harmlefs, Jaudable, and ufeful, and fprings from emulation, a nursery of virtue. It is to be highly careffed, when it co-operates with the general good, and ferves the public. The common notions of honour, the care an upright man takes to approve his conduct in life, are built on this principle; and even the bare endeavour to avoid reproach terminates in it. We must not, therefore, be too fond of dabbling in the doctrine of motives, to the prejudice of thofe we judge. With us fallible and fhort-fighted mortals, paft actions alone muft afcertain our characters, when views cannot be discovered, and, as they are more or lefs favourable, we must more or less esteem the agent. But to deny us our motive intirely, is to launch a thip in a dead calm, and expect it will re.ch a port. Who then is a patriot, a fincere and hʊnourable one, who from his heart difdains to accept of praises he has not dearly bought? -I could name fuch a man even in our times, and a little ifland would furnish us the example: A Commander who did not, as Cæfar, trample on the liberty of his country, but bravely defended it against a foreign invader: A hero that refufed a crown to wear the laurel, an enfign of greatnefs, in his opinion, furpaffing the regal diadem. Such a man as this did indeed deserve favour and fupport from his countrymen, for whom he was ready to encounter every danger, and to give up his life, that he might live again in future ages. Virtue like his is more than we have reafon to expect from a fon of nature, in body equally as fenfible of injuries of every kind as the tendereft of us, though endued with a spirit fuperior to them all, Toils of war, hazard of lofing all our fupport, and rifque of life, are bitter pills for mortals to fwallow. On the other hand, pretended patriotifm, patriotifin which runs no hazard of any kind, and veers about with every wind, as fordid intereft and pecuniary views incline, is a defpicable meannefs, and merits only the contempt and fcorn of the world. That man muft poffefs an ungenerous and a little foul, who arrogates to himself a glory which he is confcious he merits not, and for which he is not ready to lay down an adequate purchase. He is to be confidered as bafely taking an advantage of the ignorance or inattention of those who credit his plaufible profeflions, and as very a cheat as the thief that robs us of our money, when our abfence, or unwarinels of his defign, affords him the opportunity. I fall, without question, by some be understood to glance at a celebrated Englishman in the character laft defcribed; but I candidly own no fuch perfonality is here intended, as I chufe not to give my opinion what caricature will refemble him. Ethics are of no party. It would ill beseem a moral writer to inlift on any fide. I only offer a few remarks, to be applied at the reader's difcretion. If he is judged to have rendered service to his country, (as many of its friends affirm) it is political, as well as moral, juftice that he fhould reap the fruits of his labours for the time already past. Whether a man be fincere, or not, it is policy to reward thote actions that are beneficial to the nation, by way of bribe and earnest for future fervices. If it were made worth men's while to be honeft, they would be fo. We ftand on an excellent bottom where virtue and gain cement each other. It is not fo neceffary to the politician, as is generally fuppofed, to inquire whether a man acts from public principles of honour, or from private views, provided he act at al: Whatfoever the motive be, the benefit, or injury, (facts, without my fuffrage, fhall determine which) derived to his country, is just the fame. To confound private with public characters is belide the purpose: They need not he fet in contraft, when they concern not each other. If we make both conceffions, that thole men our patriot has fo roughly handled are the bafe tools he has reprefented them to be; and that he himself is as totally devoid of principle; yet, even on thefe fuppofitions, if he be really at enmity with them from pvate refentment, the public may paffibly be availed of his endeavours, as one knaveis an excellent inftrument to expose the bafenefs of another: It were almost too coarfe to add, that, when rogues fall out, honest men come by their right.” Allowing he is really interested at heart in repreffing the incroachments of arbitrary power, (fame fays he is) he is imbarked in a worthy caufe. I with I could fay as much in favour of the lower clafs of people who feem to have espoused it. I fear they are to be efteemed greater ficklers for him, when they compel the inhabitants of a city to illuminate their windows whether they will or not, than the most defpotic Minister to fupport himself. I am much of the opinion of Machiavel, that, in general, only the name of liberty is contended for by the heads of a people. Few ages afford examples of integrity in adminiftration. Intereft has too large a gripe. The general good is fwallowed up in the views of individuals. If the prefent be bad, it is no novelty. A perpetual round of the fame caufes cannot fail of producing the fame effects, Men of difhoneft principles are often fixed on for the ftewards of a nation, and not fufficiently accountable to those who appoint them. The temptations they lie expofed to are great, and their virtue to refift them is none at all. The people fix the price of their liberties, and then repine if the Minifter lays down the purchase. Hence the tears they fed. But to take leave of our patriot: If, after all his profeffions of patriotifin, and pro-. teftations of integrity, (like fome that have gone before him) he meanly deferts his caufe, through duappointments of fordid expeña-, tion, or unworthy allurements, he must not hope to be numbered with former worthies, thofe moral comets, who ftemmed the torrent of corruption and oppofition to the laft, and would fuffer an injury from having their names made honourable mention of with his. Idea of Landfkip or Picturefque Gardening. Icturefque gardening confifts in pleafing of beauty, or variety. Convenience merely has no fhare here, any farther than as it pleafes the imagination. Perhaps, the divifion of the pleasures of imagination, according as they are ftruck by the great, the various, and the beautiful, may be accurate enough. There feem, however, to be some objects, which afford a pleafure not reducible to any of thefe heads. A ruin, for instance, may be neither new to us, nor majestic, nor beautiful, yet afford that pleafing melancholy which proceeds from a reflection on decayed magnificence, Objects fhould, indeed, be lefs calculated to ftrike the immediate eye, than the judgment or well-formed imagination; as in painting. It is no objection to the pleafure of novelty, that it makes an ugly object more difagreeable. It is enough that it produces a fuperiority between things in other refpects equal. It seems, on fome occafions, to go even further. Are there not broken rocks and rugged grounds, to which we can hardly attribute either beauty or grandeur, and yet, when introduced near an extent of lawn, impart a pleasure equal to more shapely fcenes? Thus, a feries of lawn, though ever fo beautiful, may fatiate and cloy, unless the eye pafles to them from wilder fcenes; and then they acquire the grace of novelty. Variety appears to derive good part of its effect from novelty; as the eye, paffing from one form or colour to a form or co lour of a different kind, finds a degree of no very mediate fatisfaction. Variety, however, in fome inftances, may be carried to fuch excefs as to lofe its whole effect: Cielings have been obferved fo crammed with ftucco-ornaments, that, although of the most different kinds, they have produced an uniformity. A fufficient quantity of undecorated space is neceffary to exhibit fuch decorations to advantage. Ground fhould first be confidered with an eye to its peculiar character: Whether it be the grand, the favage, the fprightly, the melancholy, the horrid, or the beautiful. As. one or other of these characters prevail, one may fometimes ftrengthen its effet, by allowing every part fome denomination, and then fupporting its title by fuitable appendages. For instance, the lover's walk may have affignation-feats, with proper mottoes urns to faithful lovers-trophies, garlands, and the like, by means of art. What an advantage mut fome Italian feats derive from their circumftance of being fituate on ground mentioned in the claffics? And, even in England, wherever a park or garden happens to have been the scene of any event in hiftory, one would furely avail one's, felf of that circumstance, to make it more interefting to the imagination. Mottoes thould allude to it; columns record it; verfes moralife upon it; and curiofity receive its fhare of pleafure. In deligning a house and gardens, it is Y 2 happy happy when there is an opportunity of maintaining a fubordination of parts; the houfe fo luckily placed as to exhibit a view of the whole defign. There may be room like wife for it to refemble an epic or drainatic poem; and it is rather to be wished than required, that the more ftriking fcenes may fucceed thofe which are lefs fo. Taite depends much upon temper; and this occafions the different preferences that are given to fituations. A garden strikes us moft, where the grand and the pleafing fucceed, not intermingle with each other. The fublime, however, has generally a deeper effect than the merely beautiful. Landskip is expreffive of home scenes; profpect of diftent images. berlefs little artifices; but it is ever to be remembered, that high hills and fudden defcents are most fuitable to castles; and fertile vales, near wood and water, most imitative of the ufual fituation for abbeys and religious houfes; large oaks, in particular, are effential to thofe latter: Whofe branching aims, and reverend height Admit a dim religious light. A cottage is a pleafing object, partly on account of the variety it may introduce; on account of the tranquillity that feems to reign there; and perhaps on account of the pride of human nature. Apparent art, in its proper province, is alProfpects should take in the blue diftant moft as important as apparent nature. They hills; but never fo remotely, that they be contraft agreeably; but their provinces ever not distinguishable from clouds. Yet this fhould be kept diftinct. Where fome artimere extent is what the vulgar value. ficial beauties are fo dextrously managed that Landskip fhould contain variety enough to one cannot but conceive them natural, fome form a picture upon canvas; and this is no natural ones are fo extremely fortunate that bad teft, the landskip-painter being the gar- one is ready to fwear they are artificial. dener's beft defigner. The eye requires a But the fcenes are the better, the more unfort of a balance here, but not fo as to in- common they appear, provided they form a croach upon probable nature. A wood, or picture, and include nothing that pretends hill, may balance a houfe or obelifk; for ex- to be of nature's production, and is not. actnefs would be difpleafing. We form our The fhape of ground, the fité of trees, and notions from what we have feen; and tho', the fall of water, is nature's province. could we comprehend the universe, we Whatever thwarts her is treason. Art theremight perhaps find it uniformly regular; fore thould never be allowed to fet foot in yet the portions that we fee of it habituate the province of nature, otherwife than clanour fancy to the contrary. deftinely and by night. The eye fhould always look rather down upon water: Customary nature makes this requifite. It is not eafy to account for the fondness of former times for ftraight-lined avenues to their houfes; ftraight-lined walks through their woods; and, in fhort, every kind of ftraight line; where the foot is to travel over what the eye has done before. To move on continually, and find no change of fcene in the leaft attendant on our change of place, must give actual pain to a person of täfte. Ruinated ftructures appear to derive their power of pleafing from the irregularity of farface, which is variety; and the latitude they afford the imagination, to conceive an enlargement of their dimenfions, or to recollect any events or circumstances appertaining to their pristine grandeur, so far as concerns grandeur and folemnity. The breaks in them fhould be as bold and as abrupt as poffible.-If mere beauty be aimed at, (which, however, is not their chief excellence) the waving line, with more eafy tranfitions, will become of greater importance. Events relating to them may be ftimulated by num Whenever the is allowed to appear there, and men begin to compromise the difference, night, gothicifm, confufion, and abfolute chaos are come again. How fhall a lawn look parcelled out into knots of fhrubbery ; or a mountain inveffed with a garb of rotes? This would be like dreffing a giant in a farfenet gown, or a Saracen's head in a Bruffels night-cap. Water fhould ever appear, as an irregu lar lake, or winding ftream. Iflands give beauty, if the water be adequate; but lesen grandeur through variety. Thus art is often requifite to collect and epitomife the beauties of nature, but should never be fuffered to fet her mark upon them effecially in regard to thole articles that are of nature's province; the fhaping of ground, the planting of trees, and the difpofition of lakes and rivulets. exhibit to us the variety, the orderly proportions and difpofitions of the fyftem. We perceive many breaks and blemishes, feveral neglected and unvariegated places in the part; which, in the whole, would appear either in perceptible or beautiful; and we might as rationally expect a fail to be fatisfied with the beauty of our parterres, flopes, and terraces; or an ant to prefer our buildings to her own orderly range of granaries. But, though art be neceffary for colketing nature's beauties, by what reason is the authorifed to thwart and to oppose her? Why fantaftically endeavour to humanife thofe vegetables of which nature, difcreet nature, thought it proper to make trees? Why endow the ve getable bird with wings, which nature has made momentarily dependent upon the foil? We cannot view with pleafure the laboured carvings and futile diligence of Gothic artists. We view with much more fatisfaction fome plain Grecian fabric, where art, indeed, has been equally, but lefs visibly, induftrious. In ufeful or ornamental buildings, it is the intereft of art to be feen as much as poffible; and, though nature appear doubly beautiful by the contrast her structures furnish, it is not easy for her to confer a benefit which nature, on her fide, will not repay. To the PROPRIETORS of the UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN, April 9, 1779. In your Magazine for February, I read, with great Pleasure, an Account of Tamerlane's Jubilee; but what firuck me most in it was his Speech that clofed it, Nothing can well merit greater Attention. It was a Picture of his noble Soul, of bis excellent Qualities; which may appear more amply exemplified in the Sketch of bis Character which I here fend you, if you think it worthy of a Place in your valuable Collection. T Amerlane was remarkable for his fincere piety, great veneration for religion, ftrict juftice, and unbounded liberality. As to his birth, his ninth grandfather was Tumena Khan, of the race of Buzenjer Khan, Chief of a branch of the tribe of Kayat, defcended froin Turk, the fon of Japhet. Jenghiz Khan was defcended from the fame tribe Tamerlane's grandfather and father having abdicated their kingdom, he may be faid to have been the Founder of his own power, and to have brought the Crown into this auguft family, he being the first Emperor of it. At the age of twenty-five, he attained the higheft dignities, with furprifing courage, and an ambition admired by all the world. Endeavouring to perfect the great talents which he had received from Nature, he fpent nine years in different countries; where his good fenfe and great genius appeared in Councils and Affemblies; while his intrepidity and valour, whether in perfonal combats or pitched battles, drew upon him the admiration of every body. He made himfelf Mafter of the three empires of Jagatay Khan, Turki Khan, and Halaku Khan; fo that his power, riches, and magnificence, were greater than we read of other Monarchs, or even than can well be imagined. But the chief proof of his power was, whatever kingdom he made war upon, he foon conquered it, and gave the government to fome of his children and Officers; not acting like ancient Conque rors, who were contented with those tokens of fubmiffion which vanquished Princes might make by the payment of a tribute. One thing farther remarkable, in this Monarch's conduct, was, that, although he obferved the wholesome maxim of holding Dyets, yet he never folely confided in them, but conftantly did what his own genius inipired him with. He could not be shaken in his refolutions, and had the policy to be prefent at the execution of his molt important enterprifes, whether they concerned the State, or Religion; but, in peace and war, he would put forward every thing himself. There remain infinite monuments of his grandeur in the cities, towns, castles, and walls, which he built; in rivers and canals which he dug; as well as bridges, gardens, palaces, hofpitals, mofques, and monafteries, which he erected in divers parts of Afia in fo great a number, that a King might be accounted very powerful and magnificent, who fhould have employed 36 years only in building the great edifices which he caufed to be founded. Are not all the caravanferas in the great roads of Afia, for the accommodation of travellers; the magnificent monafteries and hofpitals, from which the poor, the fick, and passengers, reap fo great advantage by the alms diftributed there; the good works of this pious Emperor? As to his perfon, he was very corpulent, tall, and exceeding fat, but very well shaped. He had a large forehead and big head. His countenance was good; and his complexion fair, very ruddy, and not at all fwarthy. He wore a large beard; was very ftrong and well-limbed; had broad fhoulders, thick fingers, and long legs. His conftitution was perfectly hale; but he was maimed in one hand, and lame of the right fide. His eyes appeared full of fire, but were not very brisk. His voice was loud and piercing. He feared nothing; and, although near fourfcore years of age, his understanding was found and perfect, his body vigorous and robuft; his mind conftant, and unfhaken like a rock. He did not like raillery, and could not bear a lye. There was no joking or fooling before him; for he loved the naked truth, even although it was to his own difidvan tage. He was neither grieved, if he mifcarried in any attempt, nor appeared overoyed on any good fuccefs. The device of his feal was, I am fincere and plain.' He never admitted of any lewd difcourfe in his prefence; nor ever talked of flaying, plundering, ravages, making flaves, or the like violences: Yet was bold, courageous, feared, and respected. He had a clear and fubtle understanding; was furprisingly fure in his conjectures; vigilant and active where requifite; and unfhaken in his refolutions. He could fee into the most hidden intrigues,, and difcover the moft fubtle artifices; could diftinguish the truth from fophiftry; and, by the ftrength of his reafon, faw things in their caufes, as others fee objects prefent to their eyes. He took great delight in reading history, or hearing it related. He was fo well verfed in the ftate of countries, provinces, and cities, that the natives were aftonished to find him as knowing as themfelves; and, when he arrived at any city, would ask thofe who came first to wait on him, What news of fuch and fuch perfons? What was it that happened to fuch a one, at fuch a time, and in fuch an affair? How did fuch an undertaking fucceed? What end did such perfons make of the difference that was between them?' And would often tell them of the difputes and converfations they had with others. This made them think he had been among them in difguife; and fome affirmed they had feen him; but this intelligence he gained by pies and correfpondents, which he had in all laces. His fratagems, inventions, and their effects, looked like inchantment. His conjectures came furprisingly to pals: Among the reft, when he arrived before Siwas, which had a very ftrong garrifon, he faid to his men, Mark what I sell you; we shall have this place in eighteen days: Which actually happened. It is moft certain, fays Arabhah, an hiftorian, who wrote to his difcredit, that this limper was either directed by Heaven, or doomed to eternal torments, by the ill ufe which he fhould make of temporal felicities.' He was a great diffembler, and studied ways to deceive every body. He would pretend that the things, which above all others he hated, or defired to avoid, were moft agreeable to him; and feemed not to like thofe which he was paffionately fond of. He would affemble his Officers, to confult which way they should march next; and, when they had come to a refolution, would iffue orders accordingly; and at the fame time affign the reafons for taking such a route; but, as foon as every thing was rea dy, and the army began to move forward, he on a fudden countermanded his orders, and obliged them to march a quite contrary courfe. He was fo artful, that, when an enemy advanced to meet him, he would often, as in Syria, fpread a report, that his foldiers were fatigued and dispirited: He would even retreat, under pretence that his troops wanted provifions or forage: All this was done in order to animate the enemy, and make them keep their post, that he might the more easily furround them with his forces. When he refolved on any fiege, or other enterprife, though ever fo difficult and ha zardous, he was not to be diverted from his purpose, and it was dangerous for any body to advife him to defift. Mohammed Kawjin, the greatest of all his favourites, having undertaken, at the follicitation of the chief Commanders, to give over the fiege of a Caftle in India, built on a very high rock; Tamerlane ftripped him of all his wealth, and turned him adrift. This Prince, when he undertook any thing, never ceafed labouring, both with his hands and head, to bring it about. One time, that he befieged a Cattle, he contracted a fever by too much fatigue, yet, not being able to reft, without feeing how things went on, he ordered himself to be carried to the door of his tent, which stood on an eminence, from whence he beheld the attack. He was fupported under the arms by two perfons; but, being very weak, foon ordered them to lay him gently on the ground; which they did. Then, fending one of them away, faid to the other, named Mahmud of Marazm, Contider my feeblencfs, and how destitute I am of ftrength. I have neither a hand to do any thing, nor a foot to walk: If fhould be attacked, I cannot defend myself. Should I be abandoned, in · the |