MIRABEAIT'S LETTERS FROM ENGLAND.

TIM attention of the world having lately been re-excited on the subject of the once famous MIRABEAU, by the publication of the Recollections of D11712021t, this work may be expected to attract more notice than it would have done had not the present genera- tion been so prepared.

The history of these letters is somewhat remarkable. They owe their seeing the light to the rage for autographs which once existed, and of which here and there vestiges still remain. In

1806, a lady, through sonic members of the BONAPARTE family, made interest. with CAMBACERES, and, under his direction, the

Keeper of the Archives was instructed to forward to her as many

autograph letters as might be at his disposal. Between two and three thousand letters, -written by celebrated men of the Revolution,

were accordingly despatched to Brussels. The translator was pre-

sent on their arrival. Madame DE BATHE (the sister of Sir W IL LIAM DE BATHE), the lady to gratify whose taste for autography the ar-

chives of the empire had been searched, requested him to select

those which might appear the most interesting. Having done so, he was then allowed to transcribe such as he chose, and also to submit the originals to the inspection of several of his friends. The letters of MIRABEAU, here presented, are only a portion of those which he transcribed : two more volumes—we presume of a more miscellaneous kind, and by various hands—are now in pre- paration for the press.

We do not doubt the correctness of this story, though the public -faith has often been sorely abused on such points. Most of these letters, we are informed, had passed through the Bureau Noir, and been stopped by the inspectors charged to open them; or, as is more probable, they consist of letters found among papers seized at the residences of individuals arrested during the Revolution. The letters which compose these volumes evidently tbrm a part of

the materials for a work projected by the all-projecting author, entitled A Year's Residence in England. It must necessarily have been an interesting one from such a man as MIRABEAU. It was

a species of work the author was likely to write himself, and not by deputy, as he was so constantly in the habit of doing; besides which, his mind was of a description to seize with force and de-

scribe with vigour the distinctive and characteristic traits of a nation-. Consequently, in no French work have we more correct

indications of the true character of this country,—applieable, of course, to a state of things nearly "sixty years ago." The lively and original manner of MIRABEAU is a great preserver, and his descriptions might in most instances have been written yesterday. In addition to this source of interest, is another : perpetual indi- cations may be discovered of the future "man of liberty." The author writes as if secure that great destinies awaited him, and as if he were well aware of the road he had to travel. Every thing that relates to the freedom of our institutions, or to the condition of the people, rivets his attention; and he more than once de- clares his intention to bring about great changes, if the power of an individual may avail.

Like every other traveller, MIRABEAU was struck by the strong contrast between England and the other side of the Channel ; and few have expressed their feelings more eloquently. The con- trast half a century ago was greater than it is now : at least it is

• not now a passage from a land of slaves to one of freemen.

I felt my mind strongly and deeply agitated while passing over these fertile and happy lands; and I exclaimed—" Whence arises this sudden emotion? These mansions, compared to ours, are mere cottages. Many parts of France,

.even the least agreeable provinces, and the whole of Normandy, which I have just traversed, are certainly more favoured by nature! Here and there, indeed, -are-to be found—but certainly in every province of our country—splendid edi- fices, gigantic monuments, great public works, magnificent instances of the mighty efforts of man! Yet, all 1 now see affords a more real satisfaction to

any mind, than the sensation of astonishment excited by what I have left. Na- ture is here in a meliorated, but not in a forced state; and these narrow, but excellent roads, make my heart sink with sorrow when I reflect upon the degra- dation of the corvoyeurs. This admirably cultivated land shows that property is respected ; this care, this universal cleanliness, is a positive symptom of com-

fort. This rural wealth proves, that the inequality of fortunesis not excessive —a source of so many evils ! As with us, magnificent edifices are surrounded with huts, every thing tells me that, here, the people are something; that here, each man possesses the full and free exercise of his faculties; and that, therefore, I find myself in a perfectly new state of things." Now observe, any dear friend, this is so truly the cause of the effect, that, on my arrival in London, nothing struck me snore forcibly than the sight of

those flag-stone pavements which caused that excellent man, La Condamine, to fall upon his knees, and exclaim, "Thank God ! I am in a country where they who are obliged to go on foot have not been forgotten !"

It is probable that the impressions made on MIRABEAU during his visit here produced a great effect on his future character, and materially influenced his political course: He studied our toots; he listened with assiduous attention to our orators : but, as might be expected, the character of Lord CHATHAM'S eloquence most of all fixed his imagination. At that time, though he could not hear it, he lived among men in whom its impression remained with all its original force.

It is said of Lord Chatham, that he had taken Demosthenes as a model in speaking ; that he had translated some of his orations several times over, and committed them to memory. Should I ever be called lapon to perform a part in liberating my country from slavery, Chatham shall be my model. I feel an en- thusiastic respect for this orator, which I cannot describe ; and this has been in- creased by the three following tributes, which have been presented to me by Mr. Wilkes, and which I suspect tobe his own writing ; although the style of each is different.

MIRABEAIT, among many other characteristic remarks on Eng- lish manners, makes this just observation on our attachment to horses— I will make inquiries about the two horses: they are dear, but nothing eta equal their beauty.

It was natural enough to imagine the story of the Houyhnlanns in this coun- try. Swift would never have conceived such an idea, had he been a native of France or of Germany. There are, I firmly believe, as many horses- in London as there are inhabitants ; they are as clean as the human species—cleaner than many of the Yahoos; and, from the manner in which these quadrupeds are treated, you would be puzzled to know whether they serve the bipeds, or whether the bipeds are not destined to serve them.

He is struck by the contrast presented in the habits of the French and English nobleman. The English nobleman, when he wishes to contract his expenditure, leaves his country-seat, travels, or retires elsewhere : the Frenchman goes to his chriteau, to screw and save. MIRABEAU'S observations end with this remarkable pro- phecy— Should a revolution, or civil war, break out in France, I tremble for the aris- tocratical branches of the kingdom; their chateaux will be reduced to ashes, and blood will be spilt in torrents. The English yeoman, the tenant of almost every landholder, would, I am inclined to think, defend his lord to the last ex- tremity. He, probably, loves and respects him; he would have every thing to lose by his ruin. Not so with the French serf. He would feel delighted in getting rid of feudal injustice, were it even at the expense of his master's life.

While in England, MIRABEAU had the good fortune to live much in the society of Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY, then a young man at the bar,—already, however, remarkable for his talents, and already animated by that sacred fire of philanthropy which was only extinguished by his death. With what fidelity through a long life lie appears to have pursued his benevolent designs ! I have before me a list of crimes—about forty. in number—all punishable with death. The laws of the most despotic countries of Europe are merciful compared with those which are in force here. Every sensible man to whom I have spoken upon this subject entertains a similar opinion; yet no one conies forward to abrogate the obnoxious laws. My excellent friend Romilly tells me, that he has been carefully studying the criminal codes of every nation in Eu- rope. " Ours," he observes, "is the 'very worst ; and when the plan I have in view is sufficiently matured, I intend not to rest upon my pillow until these laws, worthy of anthropophagi, are for ever abolished."

MIRABEAU, while here, depended entirely upon his writing for the maintenance of himself and of a lady by whom he was accom- panied: and his activity and industry seem to have served him well, though with the usual uncertainty of a literary income. He tells his friend in Paris of the dearness of provisions in England, and gives a list of prices, which might serve, singularly enough, almost as well for last week as for the last century— To enable you to form a judgment of the dearness of London, take the follow- ing prices : bread, 2d. a pound; coarse meat, 4d. ; roasting beef, 8d. to 9d.; bacon, 10d. ; butter, Is. ; candles, 7d. • the price of a cow, 12 or 15 guineas; an acre of land, in the neighbourhood (="the metropolis, Si. or 6/. per annum..

He makes a characteristic remark on the difference in the man- ner of working in the English artisan and in the Continental one, which still exists in spite of the Revolution—

Mechanics, of the lowest sort, carry English independence still farther: no- thing but want of money can compel them to work. When obliged to labour,

they, as it were, fight with their task; they go to it like madmen—like people

enraged at being compelled to work. They prefer toiling in this manner, With all their might, and resting themselves from time to time, to passing the whole day gently and easily in their employ. Business is the better carried on for this ardour of the artificer : this is evident from the perfection of all English manu- factures.

MIRABEAU'S observations on political economy are nearly always just ; and be seems to have anticipated the views of posterity, and to be in advance even of many of them. He thus speaks of the commercial non-communication between France and England—

Merchandise or manufactures, the produce of France, is entirely prohibited, or loaded with duties, the enormousness of which is equal to an express prohibi- tion. But commerce is like water, which is making continual efforts to attain its own level; and, if prevented from gaining it openly, it will find it covertly. France ever did, and ever will, find a sure remedy against English prohibitions, by its contraband trade; a remedy the more effectual as the .English have the same prejudices in favour of French manufactures which the French have with regard to those of England,—with this difference, that, while England draws articles of importance from France,. such as wines, silks, &c., they supply the French in return with nothing but trifles of little or no value.

On the whole, the work is very amusing, and not a little sug- gestive of thought: letters are indebted to the translator for a very valuable present A kind of Memoir precedes the work, which serves to convey a tolerably ample idea of the strange, vicious, unfortunate, and yet splendid career of the author; and though it displays neitW much power nor yet discrimination, will serve its purpose.