proper exertions for the attainment of his object. The grand duke of Tuscany was reputed the richest prince on the continent. To him the most urgent representations were rendered unsuccessful by the interference of sir Horace Mann, the British envoy, who had the audacity to receive from the post-office, papers and letters, addressed to the agent. No discouragement, however, prevented him from pursuing with eagerness the employ which he had undertaken. Many well-written and pertinent essays were disseminated through the continent, tending to exhibit the importance of the independence of the United States to Europe. By the arrival of Dr. Franklin and Mr. J. Adams, who were deputed as envoys from America to the courts of Versailles and the Hague, it became no longer good policy for Virginia to maintain an agent abroad. Mazzei, therefore, returned to the United States in 1785, to give an account of his stewardship. From the council of Virginia he received honourable testimonials that "he had conducted himself with assiduity and diligence, and that the unsuccessful issue of his agency was attributable in no ways to him, but to the concurrence of circumstances over which he had no control."

We again find him at Paris, whither he went, after recrossing the Atlantic. In 1788 he wrote his work, entitled "Researches, Historical and Political, on North America;" which obtained general circulation, and was considered the most authentic and meritorious performance then published on that subject.

The abbe de Mably, more known for his voluminous writings than their intrinsic excellence, was instrumental in disseminating many errors, respecting the soil, natural resources, and government of the United States. Raynal, in his historical work on the two Indies, committed similar blunders. These two writers received credit, and were proud of their exclusive ability to instruct the world on the subject of America. Mazzei was induced to take up his pen, in aid of his adopted country, and contributed not a little to dissipate the silly errors propagated by vanity and ignorance. About the same time, and we believe for reasons somewhat similar, Mr. Jefferson published, in France, his celebrated Notes on Virginia.

In 1788 Mazzei was engaged in a new and honourable employment. The king of Poland, the late Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, being in want of a proper person to transact the affairs of the diet of Poland at the court of Versailles, tendered him the office of charge des affaires; which was accepted, and which led to an intimacy and friendship more constant and affectionate than usually subsists between kings and subjects.

During the troubles of the French revolution, which commenced in 1789, Mazzei was no inattentive observer of the state of affairs. He continued to furnish the king of Poland with a history of the progress of events, occurring under his own eye, until obliged to fly beyond the reign of terror.

It would increase this sketch of his life to an inordinate length, were we to detail his observations on this revolution. The following extract from his memoirs before alluded to may be interesting.

"I do not pretend to write a history: this would be impossible, not having materials; but I believe I. am capable of giving some information respecting the royal family; in which particular I do not know one writer who has not been partial, or badly informed. The good king Louis ardently wished for the reform so justly demanded by the nation; which might have been established on a foundation calculated to insure the felicity of his successors, and the whole kingdom; but he had the misfortune to have a wife, who added to her extreme beauty the most refined duplicity, that finally conducted her husband and herself to the scaffold. The king had no intention to go out of the kingdom: he was possessed of a much greater share of understanding than was usually attributed to him: he was anxious to render the happiness of his subjects complete, and would have effected it; had he not been trammelled by the party of his wife.

"When he made known his determination to call the states general, the commons met in various parts of the kingdom, and protested against the prevalent abuse of taking the votes of the states by orders, thereby giving them but one vote against the nobility and clergy, who had two, and who formed but a very small proportion of the population. The king desired an accommodation; but the queen, proud and imperious, regarded the com

mons as a vile canaille,' and would not suffer them to reclaim their rights. The party of the king vainly attempted to bring her over; they begged an interview in the audience chamber; tò which she consented: but after a short conference, withdrew with a countenance indicating the greatest rage and displeasure. The two brothers of Louis XVI, Monsieur and the count d'Artois, were in her party. Their wives were sisters to the king of Sar, dinia. The elder, who was ugly, and of ́a most unamiable disposition, sympathized with the queen on all occasions, while the younger, beautiful, and mild in her temper, was despised by her, and neglected by her husband. She obtained permission to return to her father, and leave the turbulent scenes of Paris. I happened to be at Versailles on the day of her departure. The inhabitants, particularly the women, collected on the grand square, to witness her departure. When she appeared, they fell on their knees, invoking the blessings of heaven on her journey. The princess, by her gestures and countenance, endeavoured to console the women. The scene was tender and highly impressive. When the carriage drove off, the crowd gave vent to their passions, by cursing the queen, and inveighing against her conduct in general, but particularly for her treatment to her eldest son, who died in his eighth year. He was a promising boy, possessed of great talents, and was unusually beloved. His sayings were admired by every one; but, as he had the rickets, he was not handsome, and his mother had no tenderness for him. The king loved him—visited him often in his chamber-which obliged her to do the same, for the sake of policy. She, however, formed a scheme to relieve herself of this burden. Under pretence of fresh air, she urged the king's physician to remove him to Medon. This spot is pre. cisely of the same elevation of Versailles, and does not enjoy any advantages of purity of atmosphere over it: besides, it is well known that there is no particular benefit to be derived from change of air in rachitis. But this arrangement suited the queen admirably: there was plenty of room at Medon, and she could ride out with her favourites with a good pretence. Upon her arrival at the palace, she used to salute her son- Comment va-t-il, mon fils?' (How do you do, my son?) and then turning to the gentleman of the chamber, inquired's'il avait bien dormis' (if he had

slept well), and went away. The poor dauphin was conscious of the cruelty of his mother. Having heard, one morning, that he was going to die, she entered his apartment, with tears in her eyes: nature attempted to enjoy her rights. The gentleman present, from whom I had the affecting story, thrust himself between the dauphin and his mother, fearful that he would be injured at seeing her distress; but he made signs to him to retire, exclaiming, 'Ah! Monsieur, ne m'otez pas la satisfaction de voir les larmes de ma mere' (Oh, sir! do not deprive me of the satisfaction of beholding the tears of my mother). If she had not had the heart of a tigress, she would have fallen on her knees, and prayed for pardon."

In 1792 Mazzei retired to Warsaw, upon the invitation of the king of Poland, who appointed him his privy counselior, and would have conferred other honours upon him, had he not modestly preferred the title of citizen of the United States to any titular appellation.

one.

The misfortunes of the king of Poland are familiar to every After his abdication, extorted by the violence of his neighbours, he took up his residence in St. Petersburg, subject to the barbarous extravagancies of the emperor Paul. It had been agreed by the dismembering powers, who devested him of his crown, and shared his territories, to pay his debts, and allow him an annual pension of 100,000 sequins. This soon became unnecessary, for the unhappy king did not long survive. Mazzei separated from his patron in 1792, without receiving large arrearages due for years of services. He had made no provision for the winter of age, which was fast approaching It was not till after the accession of the present emperor of Russia, that he obtained the just pecuniary compensation, which the miserable state of the king's finances prevented him from paying previously.

Mazzei had the pleasure of enjoying the friendship and correspondence of the principal inen of his time. Upon his retirement to Pisa, in Tuscany, nothing was left him more sulacing than the epistolary communication he kept up with his ancient friends. With the princes Czartoryski, father and son, he was on terms of the closest intimacy. These were the most distin

guished names in Poland, and celebrated through Europe for their talents and virtues. The following letters, from both these noblemen, will be read with interest. It is necessary to preface, that prince Czartoryski, the father, had fallen under the displeasure of the empress Catherine, to whom he would never take the oath of allegiance; in consequence of which, his large estates, in Ucrania, were confiscated. Prince Czartoryski, the younger,-who is now, we believe, at the head of the Polish government, under Alexander, the emperor of Russia, eagerly engaged in the patriotic measures, undertaken for the relief of Poland, and could with difficulty be restrained by his father from joining the standard of Kosciusko.

"Baden, 1st July, 1794.

"I HAVE received, my dear friend, two letters from youone which the count Rzewaski sent me some time since, and which his indisposition prevented him from delivering soonerthe other of June 20th, has just come to hand. I am sincerely affected at the friendly recollections you indulge towards me. You are in the lawful possession of my friendship and esteem, The count R. is re-established in health. It is true that he would have been lost, without the services of Dr. Galtz. I did not fail to read to the doctor your kind expressions respecting his skill, and he was highly sensible of your goodness.

"I have been here for a month, endeavouring to establish my health. My two daughters and myself take the baths; but, alas! it is the work of Penelope; trouble is sure to undo the effects of my remedies.

"They have thought proper to sequestrate my lands, in that part of Poland of which the Russians have taken possession:they have ravaged Putawy;* they have ruined my little territory, from one end to the other. Yesterday I heard fresh intelligence that the barbarians have made me a second visit, and have carried off all the moveables. The Goths and Vandals could not have accomplished their work better. It was necessary to fabricate apologies for their conduct: they have heaped up a mountain of

* The name of the prince's villa.