uncultivated and favage nature: and therefore those who would wish to palliate their want of this qualification, by accusing the natural refervedness of their difpofition, confefs only, in other words, their want of that discipline which manifefts the well-bred perfon. We should, therefore, earnestly recommend it, as worthy the attention of every youth, early to acquire an affability of address, fince it is the cheapest facrifice we can offer; even a tribute which costs nothing; but for which, in return, we receive no less than the goodwill of MEN. * * * NOTES HISTORICAL. Henry I. made the length of his own arm to be the true standard of an English ell. He commanded halfpence and farthings to be made round (they were fquare before): in the coining coining of them they were almost struck through across, so as easily to be divided into halves. A. D. 1113. Value of a sheep at this time, eighteen pence; value of an ox three fhillings. Fatal confequence of intemperance. A. D. 1120. Henry returning from Normandy to England, prince WILLIAM his fon, being detained by fome accident, went on board a new ship belong.ng to Thomas Fitzftephen, whofe father had carried the Conqueror in his first expedition against Harold; and the young nobility, to the number of three hundred, crouded into the fame vefiel; where they caroused to the utmost intemperance; even the failors were indulged with wine to extreme intoxication; and the mafter himself was fo much flustered, that, being in a hurry to follow the king, they carried the ship upon a rock, where the immediately foundered. The prince was put into the long boat, and had got clear of the fhip; when, hearing the cries of his natural fifter, the countess of Perche, he ordred the feamen to row back, in hopes of faving her; but the numbers who then crouded in foon funk the boat, and the prince with all his retinue perished. Above an hundred and forty of the young noblemen of the principal families in Eng land land and Normandy were loft on this occafion. A butcher of Rouen was the only perfon on board who escaped; he clung in the maft, and was taken up next morning by the fishermen. Fitzftephen, the captain, took hold alfo of the maft; but, being informed by the butcher that prince William had perihed, he said, that he could not survive the difafter, and he threw himfelf headlong into the fea. Henry entertained hopes for three days, that his fon had put into iome distant port in England; but, when certain intelligence of the calamity was brought him, he fainted away; and it was remarked, that he never after was seen to fmile, nor ever recovered his wonted chearfulness. STEPHEN STEPHEN. CHARACTER OF STEPHEN. per ENGLAND fuffered great miferies dur ing the reign of this prince: but his fonal character, allowing for the temerity and injustice of his ufurpation, appears not liable to any great exception; and he feems to have been well qualified, had he fucceeded by a just title, to have promoted the happiness and prosperity of his fubjects. He was poffeffed of industry, activity, and courage, to a great degree; was not deficient in ability, had the talent of gaining mens affections; and, notwithstanding his precarious fituation, never indulged himself in the exercise of any cruelty or revenge. His advancement to the throne procured him neither tranquillity nor happiness. Died 1154. HUME. ANOTHER ANOTHER CHARACTER OF STEPHEN. STEPHEN was a prince of great courage, fortitude, and activity, and might have reigned with the approbation of his people, had he not been harraffed by the efforts of a powerful competitor, which obliged him to take fuch meafures for his fafety as were inconsistent with the dictates of honour, which indeed his ambition prompted him to forego, in his firft endeavours to afcend the throne. His neceffities afterwards compelled him to infringe the charter, of privileges he granted at his acceffion; and he was inftigated by his jealoufy and refentment to commit the most flagrant outrages against gratitude and found policy. His vices, as a king, feem to have been the effect of troubles in which he was involved; for, as a man, |