3. Philosophical Apparatus.

A member of the section of physics. 4. Chemical Instruments.

A member of the section of chemistry. 5. Minerals.

A member of the section of mineralogy.

6. Herbs, Grains, and other Vegetable Productions.

A member of the section of botany. 7. Animals.

A member of the section of zoology, 8. Anatomical Preparations,

A member of the section of zoology.

9. Depot of Customs, Arms, Objects of Worship in Foreign Countries.

A member of each of the sections of history and antiquities.

10. Medals and Ancient Monuments. A member of the section of antiquities.

The Conservatory of music for the teaching of the art, is under the superintendance of five inspectors, chosen from among composers, and nominated by the Institute. A national, that is, a Parisian library of Music, is formed in the conservatory, and is open, at certain periods, to public inspection. These professors prepare the different pieces of music which are executed at public shews, processions, and festivals. Several

of

of their symphonies and savage war-songs, have already reached England.

On the 5th Frimaire, year X. the Institute decreed, that on the decease of a member, the three presidents, the senior of the two secretaries of each class, and the two members last elected into each class, as well as the members of the section to which the deceased belonged, are specially invited to assist at his funeral. They assemble at the usual place of meeting in the Institute, where the commission for superintending the funds, prepare four mourning coaches for their use, and as many others as may be necessary for such members as are disposed to attend. The procession departs from the national palace of the Louvre, at noon precisely, in order that the moment it arrives at the late residence of the deceased, the funeral ceremony may be instantly dispatched,

Formerly, a hole was dug in the earth, and the philosopher's carcase was quickly deposited in it; but since it is become the fashion to be a Christian, the old service for the dead is to be revived; the conservatory of music are to execute a solemn dirge, black crape is to be worn on the left arm, an historical memoir of the deceased is to be made in the course of the year by the secretaries, and read at a public sitting of the Institute, at which the family of the deceased are to be seated in a distinguished place. The precision with

1

which all these ceremonies are minutely marked out, leaves room to regret, that it has not been prescribed at what signal from the President, the whole Assembly shall begin to cry.

I have thus collected together all the principal rules by which the Institute is conducted; by which, you will be able to form an accurate idea of its nature and objects. You will doubtless expect from me a list of the members of this Institute, with details of their characters previous to, and since the revolution, and their respective claims to literary pre-eminence. I am aware, that such a narrative would on many accounts be very interesting; as the greater part of them have not only rendered themselves conspicuous in the world of letters, but have likewise taken a very active part in some of the most bloody tragedies of the republic. For instance, Bonaparte, Carnot, and Monge, Le Blond, Berthollet, Fourcroy, Revelliere-Lépaux, Cambaceres the monster and Second Consul, Merlin, Talleyrand, Rœderer, François de Neufchateau, Chénier, Thouin, Moitte, have all been known for their assassinations, robberies, and atrocious crimes. To his eternal infamy, Fourcroy stands strongly sus pected of having been the cause of the murder of the immortal Lavoisier. All these ruffians, with others whom I have not yet named, furnish abundant matter for inquiry and reflection; but I have not yet been able to collect materials sufficient to

enable

enable me to write with a certainty of advancing only what is true. I am preparing a "Moral and Political View of France, compared with its ancient self, and with Great Britain," which I shall publish for the use of our people, to cure them, if possible, of their mania for visiting this diabolical metropolis; and before I leave it, you may rely on my procuring authentic documents wherewith to support my reasonings.

Among

other articles, I shall not fail to analyse the characters of the National Institute, for as I have several times observed, they form a very important part of the government. I have already collected sufficient information respecting them to provoke the minutest investigation, and if I escape the tyrant's grasp, and once more reach my country in safety, I will drag these philosophical murderers and thieves out of their national palace, strip them of their silken disguises, and expose them, in all their naked deformity, to the execrations of mankind.

In vain do they flatter themselves, that by the arts of a meretricious rhetoric, they can elude the vigilant pursuit of injured innocence, and affronted justice-in vain do they suppose, that they shall court foreign applause, by associating the learned of other countries with them, and shrowd themselves from infamy under the sanction of virtuous and respected names.

It is

a dis

a disgrace, and a dishonour to be favoured by the National Institute, while a band of sanguinary miscreants pollute the halls consecrated to science, learning, and virtue. No honest foreigner can, with a safe conscience, become a partner in their labours, while those pests of society are suffered to remain among them. Whoever lives under a government, where religion, morals, and public freedom are revered, ought to reject their silver medal and their proces-verbal, as he would cast away from him food administered with poison; he should shun their society, as he would avoid the infection of a lazar-house.

These are the opinions of one, who honours learning and science, who has passed the greater part of his life in an humble cultivation of them, as a student merely, but who prefers absolute ignorance itself, with an unspotted integrity, to the most splendid acquirements of mental knowledge, associated with the most downward, abhorrent vices. If it be an honour to be elected a member of a society, learned indeed, but fundamentally vicious and depraved, why not petition to be admitted a member of the national palace of Pandemonium? The devils in Hell, are full as knowing as the members of the French Institute, and for aught I know, have not done more mischief to mankind. They are the fittest colleagues for such men, and not the upright

and