An ESSAY on the hereditary Genius of FAMILIES. ༞ རྩྭ ་༞ ་ ་མཚོན་ Then of istural cafes, which con HERE is often an invifible prepara. nature. A thousand circumstances indeed may warp a constitution from any line of character, and be deftructive of all hereditary symptoms; but if thefe fymptons are often found to be concomitants of birth, and are visible in the extremes, they will fubfift, though less apparently, in other fituations; and our reafoning, how falla cious foever, if applied to individuals, juf curs with the civil order of things in prolonging the honours or even the infamy of a race; and hereditary characteristics are interwoven into the genius and effence of the mind. Hence the milder glories of the Valerii; hence the unfeeling obftinacy and infolence of the Appian blood. And, perhaps, it will be found that the judg-tifies the general conclufion. If that turn ment of the crowd in thefe, as in many inftances, though fwayed by imagination, has however a foundation in experience, and is, in part, conformable to general laws To vindicate the principle on which this judgment proceeds, let us review the condition of family emerging from rudeness into the dignity of civil life. Let us fuppofe the founders constituted in a state of independence, and of decent affluence; graced with every circumstance that can command respect, improved by all the advantages of moral and of civil culture, and exalted to a mode of thinking, and of acting, fuperior to vulgar minds. Some traces of this fpirit, we may affum, without being charged with exceffive refinement, are likely to adhere to their immediate progeny. But, how fcanty or latent foever this inheritance at first, if the caufes are not difcontinued, the constitutional effect will be more confpicuous in the fecond generation. If the former impreffions are not effaced, the third generation will have their conflitution more ftrongly impregnated with the fame elements; till at last, by happy alliances, and by preferving the line on one fide long unbroken, there shall refult an affociation of qualities, which, being confolidated into the conftitution, form the characteristics of a race. The fame reafoning is easily transferred to a family of an ignoble line. Inttean of competence, independence, culture, fubftitute indigence, fervility, rudeness. Extend this allotment over an equal series of pofterity, and you will probably reverfe all the propenfities of of imagination, thofe infirmities of intel let, which mark infanity, or delirium, or folly, are so often confeffed hereditary, fhall we not allow to all the noble endow ments and talents of the mind the fame prerogative? But there is no need to infer from analogy what might be established by the most cop ous induction, were it not tedious to enumerate particulars, where the experience of common life is fo decifive. Thefe communicable qualities are fubjec to many contingencies: fome are oblitera ted; others, checked in their growth, lie dormant for generations, yet again revive: it is only an affemblage of great talents, or the long predominance of fome one ftriking quality, that attracts the observation of the world. The great qualities of the last Athenian King flourished in the Archons for above thice hundred years. The Incas of Peru, during a far longer period, were eminent for every princely virtue. The daughter of Scipio was mother of the Gracchi. The heroism of the younger Brutus was the heroifm of his remote progenitor. The houfes of the Publicolæ, the Meffala, and Valerii, were illuftrious for fix hundred years. The Decii, retaining, equally long, their primeval character, attempted the revival of Roman virtue in the decline of the empire. And, if expectation might be raised upon fuch foundations, a Briton might almost anticipate fome of the actors on the public ttage at a future æra, without mentioning those living names on which we might ground our pleafing anticipations. Account of the New Comic Opera, called FIRE AND WATER, performing at the Theatre Royal in the Hay-Market. with Fripon and Commode, who were in troduced by Ambufcade as French Nothe better to impofe on Launch in The fable of the piece is briefly is on his daughter. The piece af ter this concludes with Frederick receiving Nancy's hand, and a hearty execration on all our invidious foes. The above piece, though evidently a hafty production, has confiderable merit; it is principally founded on the general confternation which the appearance of the combined fleets occafioned laft fummer. The character of Sulphur is meant to re prefent Dr. F-n. The plot is fimple, and rather unconnected. In the first act there are many humourous ftrokes and fitua tions; but the laft act falls off in point of merit. Upon the whole, it was very favourably received by the audience. The performers in general acquitted themselves very ably, particularly Meff. Wilfon, Edwin, and Wewitzer. Mifs Harper fung with her ufual tate. INDEX to the SIXTY-SIXTH VOLUME A. ADDRESS to youth, page 176— To the aged 240 Antiquarian Society, lift of the new Pre- Arcadians, fhort account of the academy Ay and No, a tale from Dublin 228 B. Bank, lift of the Directors of 220 Bathurst, Allen Earl, memoirs of 81- Berwick, Duke of, characters drawn by Birds, reflections on the annual migration of 283 Births 53, 109, 166, 222, 270, 334 Books published 55, 167, 271, 335 land navigations, memoirs of 113- British valour, remarkable inftance of 188, 269 Bunker's-hill, defcription of the engage ment there 181 Burke, Mr. his plan of political economy 93, 141 C. Cairo, Grand, general account of that Campbell, Major-general, advices from Chivalry, account of the origin of 30 Cormorant, natural history of 25 Coroner's-jury, occafion of inftituting it 332 Correfpondents, acknowledgements to 47, 103, 161, 216, 329 F. FAITH, effay on 212 Fire and Water, a new comic opera, ac- 50 Finland, and its inhabitants, account of 291 Flamingo, natural history of 250 Fleetwood, Mr. his abfurd management of Drury-lane theatre 284-Disposes of his patent 286 France, ceconomical edits of 102-Anfwer of the King of, to the declaration of the Empress of Ruffia 273 Friendship, an ode 160 Froft, a bomb-shell burst by the intenseness of 16 G. Gage, General, commencement of hofti- States-general of the United Provinces 198 Garrick, David, anecdotes of 252, 2849 353 Geneva, defcription of the city, and manners of the inhabitants, 27, 59, 127. Germain, M. de St. his cruel treatment in Egypt 121 Gibraltar, fiege of, a farce, fome account of 259 Goat-fucker, natural history of 283 Gordon, Lord George, his proceedings, as Leader of the Proteftant Affociation 315-Is committed to the Tower 320Memoirs of 377 Granby, Marquis of, a sketch of his chia- Gray, Lady Jane, account of her con- H. Hair-Merchant, a ballad 265 Haymarket theatre, account of the opening Heraldry, queries relating to the principles of 62 HOPE, effay on the theological virtue of 245 Hospitals, city, report of the ftate of 217. I. Iceland, general defcription of 242 Independence of America, cool thoughts Invitation to the feathered race 159 up the Red-fea, and journey from Cofire to Grand Cairo 236, 293, 363 Ifman Abu Ally, great Shaik of the A rabs, his character 195 Jubilee at Stratford, the firft occafion of its being celebrated 356 K. Keppel, Admiral, speech of Alderman 30 Lady Paper, inquiry after a method of dischargeing greafe from 199 Parker, Hyde, Admiral, advices from 138 Parker, Sir Peter, advices from 267 Parliament, debates in 85, 146, 200, 2651 325, 373 Penfions and Penfioners, debates on Sie George Saville's motion for a list 148 Pennsylvania, hiftorical and geographical defcription of that province 169 Peterburg, extreme degree of cold weather there 16 Peutman, Peter, a Flemish painter, account of his extraordinary death 195 Pretender, his tranfactions in Scotland in the year 1715 22, 69 Prologue to Fatal Falsehood 37-To the Deaf Lover 98-To the Elders 263 Promotions 54, 110, 166, 222, 334 Proteftant Affociation, history of Protefts in the House of Lords 87, 110 Pruffia, King of, remarkable inftance of his adherence to juftice in redreffing his fubjects 14-Account of his military difcipline 171 319 Quebec, account of the fiege of by the American rebels 288 R. Rebels in the year 1715, trials of 192, 300 Reflections among the tombs in Weltminfter-abbey 264 Religion, effay on indifference in 7-Sentiments of an Auftrian Lady on 35 Richmond, Duke of, queries addrefled to him in the Morning-poft 266 Riots at London originating from the tu multuous delivery of the petition of the Proteftant Affociation 316 Rodney, Sir George Brydges, account of his defeat of Don Juan de Langara 107 129-Anecdote of him 1 32—Narrative of his engagement with the Count de Guichen 270 Roman Catholics, abftract of the act for the relief of 313-their fufferings from the mob 318 Rome and its inhabitants, sketches of 33 Ruffia, obfervations on the climate of 15 -Expeditious mode of travelling there in the winter 18-Diversion of fliding down hills there 19-Declaration of the Court of, to thofe of London, Verfailles, and Madrid 198-Anfwer of the Court of Great Britain to 272-Anfwer of the Court of Spain 329 Sarsfield S. Sarsfield, General, character of 10 Sellon, Mr. his caufe with Mr. Hawes decided 269 Shaik, Ul Arab, his character 295 Shelburne, Lord, his duel with Mr. Ful lerton 165 Shepherd and Kid, a fable 215 Simmons, Dr. his obfervations on the treatment of confumptions 80 Theological Virtues, effays on 212, 2459 304 Thought at the grave of Joseph Highmore, Efq. 215 Tina, account of that ifland and its inhabitants 325 Toledo in Spain, defcription of that city 45. Tyler, Wat, account of his rebellion 322 Tyrconnel, Duke of, his character ro V. Siphanto, defcription of that island and Verfes on the Omnipotence of God 100 its inhabitants 353 Solitude, a fong 215 Spain, reply of the Court of, to the Emprefs of Ruffia's declaration 329 Stanzas by an unfashionable husband on his wife 160-Written in the defert of Thebais 373 Statuary, ancient, fuperior to that of the moderns 34 Stevens Dr. account of the foundation of Taxes, new, debates on 153 Mentor in ftructs Idomeneus in commerce and policy 73 Temple, Grenville Earl, genealogical account of that family 260-Laft will and teftament of the late Earl 262′ Theatrical intelligence 298 Thebais, adventures of Eyles Irwin, Efq; in his journey through that defert 363 Directions to the BINDER for On an hour-glass 159-On a retired fituation in the country 323-To a young Lady at school 372 Virginia, narrative of the origin of the rebellion in that colony 346 United Provinces, memorial of Sir Jofeph Wager, Sir Charles, anecdotes of 132- Widow of Delphi, account of the new mufical drama of 66-Songs in 99 Wilkes, Mr. elected Chamberlain of London, and his fpeech on that occasion 48 Y. Yorke, Sir Jofeph, his memorial to the States-general of the United Provinces 196 Youth, an address to 176 placing the CUTS in this Volume, |