it or went out of it, and who were obliged to tell whence they came, whither they were going, or what they wanted. Every evening each houfe was vifited, to learn if there were any ftrangers there. Every man who wore a round hat, or had a dog with him, was arrefted. The village, which had been much frequented becaufe of its beautiful fituation, foon became a defert; perfons turned out of their way to avoid it; and when Paul was perceived at a distance, he was carefully fhunned. Thefe circumftances increased his difpleasure and fufpicions, and he often caufed the perfons, who thus fought to avoid him, to be pursued and queftioned. One day he put all the officers of his battalion under arreft, because they had faluted him awkwardly in filing off after their drill, and he or dered them to be called out for eight days fucceffively to file off and falute before him, fending them regularly back to the guard-houfe till they were able to perform according to his fancy. Exercifing one day his regiment of cuiraffiers, the horfe of an officer threw him. Paul ran furiously towards him, crying. "Get up, rafcal." "Your highnefs, I cannot; I have "broken my leg." Paul fpat upon him, and retired fwearing. Paffing at another time unexpectedly and fecretly by one of his guardhoufes, the officer, not knowing him, did not order out his men : upon which he inftantly turned back, boxed the ears of the officer, and order ed him to be difarmed, and put unZer arrest. One day, travelling from Tzarfko-felo. to Garfhina, of which the road was in the middle of a marfhy foreft, he fuddenly recollected fomething, and ordered the coachman to return. “Presently, your highness," faid the coachman "the road is "here too narrow."-" How, rafcal," cried Paul," won't you turn " immediately?" The coachman, inftead of anfwering, haftened to a spot where it was poffible to comply: Paul, however, called to his equerry, and ordered him to arrest and punish the rebellious coachman. The equerry affured him that he would turn in a moment. Paul flew into a paffion with the equerry alfo: "You are a pitiful fcoundrel like himself," faid 66 he. "Let him overturn the carriage, let him break my neck, but "let him obey me, and turn the in"ftant I command him." During the difpute the coachman fucceeded in turning, but Paul had him chaftifed on the fpot. Since his acceffion, one of his horfes ftumbled with him in one of the ftreets of Petersburg: he alighted immediately, held a fort of council with his attendants, and the horfe was condemned to receive fifty lashes with a whip. Paul caufed them to be given on the fpot, before the populace, and counted himself the ftrokes, faying, "There, Sir, that is for hav 66 ing ftumbled with the emperor." One day, when only grand duke, he met in the gardens a man with a round hat, who wished to avoid him. Paul caufed the man to be brought before him, and found that he was a clock-maker, who came to repair his time-keepers. After having at great length remonstrated with him on the indecency of round hats, he asked his wife for fome pins, and raifing the flaps of the hat, cocked it himself, and then replaced it upon the head of its owner. To balance this multitude of abfurdities, he exhibits many traits of humanity: the penfions which he has bestowed on the unfortunate, the hof pitals which he has founded for his foldiers, the provifions which he dif tributes among his poor officers, and other acts of benevolence and juftice, atteft that he deferves the character rather of a capricious than a bad man. ANECDOTES 9 ANECDOTES OF W. DAKIN, A CHARITABLE ENTHUSIAST. WILLIAM DAKIN is chiefly refident at Cliff Regis, about fix miles from Oundle, Northamptonfhire. He is not more than 45 years of age, though the coarfe dirty habit which he conftantly wears, and the enormous length of his beard, which he fuffers to grow (only now and then clipping it with fciffars,) give him a much older appearance. Nor was he always that filthy and extraordinary figure which he now appears; for his neighbours recollect his being clean-fhaved, and habited like other men. He is not a native of Cliff, but came out of Yorkshire, to refide there upon obtaining a small estate in that place. He is at prefent poffeffed of about 50l. per annum in landed property, and is generally fuppofed to be worth money. There is no doubt of his being deranged; yet, by those who best know him, he is thought a fhrewd cunning fellow. A tinker who made his appearance fome years ago at Cliff, who was an occafional preacher, firft infected the poor man with this enthufiaftic delirium; for, with this itinerant apoftle he formed a strict intimacy; and the warm imagination of the one being fermented by the canting of the other, Dakin began to fancy himself to be Jefus Chrift. His fifter, Hannah Falkner, who lived with him, did not efcape the contagion; and in their frenzy fits they have not unfrequently ran into the water till they were in danger of being drowned, calling on the people "to follow the Lamb." Nay, once they proceeded with lighted torches to fet fire to a hay rick. Such acts of infanity, however, caused them at laft to be taken before a magiftrate, who advised their friends to fend them to fome proper person to be taken care of; and they were accordingly fent to Dr Willis. They were, however, foon liberated; and fince that time Dakin has been Ed. Mag. more reafonable and cautious; not but he ftill is occafionally poffeffed with the idea of his being the Saviour! Some time after he came home from Dr Willis, he cloathed himself in fackcloth, and attended at the parish-church for the purpose of receiving the Sacrament. The officiating curate, however, refufed him ; upon which he made a vow that he would never enter it again; and, in order to have fome place for public worship, he built a meeting-house, and procured a preacher to officiate in it. But this only lasted one year; and it is now unconfecrated, and literally metamorphofed into a dove-cote! The fums of money he has diftributed at Cliff are incredible; particularly in Lent, when the inhabitants from all the neighbouring villages for miles around would flock to his dwelling. Some were regaled with hot bread, cheese, and beer; and others fent back with many admonitions and revilings. This expence he was the better enabled to afford by his ftrict and unremitting attention to bufinefs, which is vending the turner's ware of Cliff (for which it is much noted), and the plated goods from Birmingham, and by his farming. Yet, notwithstanding he pretends to a life of holinefs, and a peculiar fanctity of character, his morality, to fay the best of it, is very fufpicious. Among his difciples there is the wife of John Burrell, a turner, his fellowtownfman, who has for many years refided with him, regardlefs of her husband and family, which confists of four fons and a daughter, the eldest about 25, and the youngest about 12 years of age. The occafion of his prefent perambulation is the death of his fifter fome months ago, leaving him a property of about 2cool. to be diftributed Jan. 1801. to to the poor. This fifter, in order to keep his vow, he would not suffer to be buried by the clergyman, but interred her himself in his own meeting house. Her death has much affected him, for he had perfuaded himself that neither of them could die; and he has determined to make a year's pilgrimage (as he fays) to difpofe of her legacy. He fet off from Cliff fome time ago, travelling SouthWeft, accompanied by Mary Burrell, They had three affes laden with wooden-ware, plated goods, &c. which, it appears, they fell exceffively dear. When asked, at what time he fhould return home, he anfwered, at Christmas; but he rather thought never, as by Christmas he fuppofed the world would be at an end. His fifter's fate bore so hard upon him, that he has neglected to cultivate his land fince that period. The wheat crop indeed was in the ground when fhe died; and this he has commiffioned one John Nutt, of Cliff, to harveft, that, if he returns, he may give it to the poor. The rest of his land is lying useless and uncultivated. His political opinions are dubious; for he has appeared at the head of two or three mobs; one particularly at Oundle when the fupplementary militia was ballotted for. Cliff is a town not unknown to the world, being many years the abode if not the birth-place, of the famous William Law. THE ACCOUNT OF THE ATHENEUM AT LIVERPOOL. 'HE following brief statement of the rife, progrefs, and full eftablishment, of a new library and newsroom in Liverpool, under the name of the Athenæum, ought to be recorded, as a fplendid example of literary fpirit; and that too in a commercial town, where the minds of many abforbed in business, in the purfuit of wealth, may be fuppofed, by the generality of the world, to have neither leifure nor inclination for literary pursuits, or the cultivation of the fciences, however these finer arts may tend to foften the manners, or to embellish the fruits of mercantile labours. It ought to be recorded alfo, and no fmall degree of honour attaches itfelf to the fact, that it is the firft inftitution of the kind hitherto eftablifhed in the kingdom; therefore, no precedents can have operated upon. the minds of the people as ftimulatives for fuch fpirited exertions, but is a proof what may be effected upon the foundation of found and rational principles; and which may ferve as fome apology for laying the proceedings before the publick, fince the fame means may operate as caufes of exciting fimilar exertions in other communities. The gentleman who claims the merit of being the projector of this inftitution is Mr Thomas Taylor, a native of Norwich, and grandfon to the late learned Dr. Taylor. Mr Taylor has been an inhabitant of Liverpool nearly 30 years, and has frequently diftinguifhed himself in the promotion of many public natters. But, at the fame time, it must be acknowledged, that the whole has been foftered, matured, and perfected, under the patronage of its prefent active prefident, Alderman Geo. Cafe, Efq. the celebrated Mr Rofcoe, Dr. Currie, (the author of the Life of Burns, and the editor of the laft fplendid edition of his Works,) and Dr. Rutter. The inftitution began with 350 fubfcribers, who each paid ten guineas admiffion, and two guineas in advance for the first year's annual fubfcription, making together a ca... pital of 4410l. The building erected confifts of a news-room, on the ground-floor, containing 2100 fquare feet, feet, and a library and committee room of the fame dimensions above, with accommodations for the librarian and master of the news-room. This building was contracted for, and erected by, Mr Taylor, jun. architect, for 3050l. It is univerfally admired for its elegance, fimplicity, and convenience. The news-room opened on the first day of the new year, 1799, according to contract made for that purpose. As many perfons that had not fubfcribed were yet defirous of be. coming members; and on trial it having been found that a greater number might be accommodated; another fubfcription was opened for the admiffion of 25 members more, but at the advanced fum of 20 guineas each fhare; and again, in the prefent year 1800, July 1, a farther augmentation of members was admitted at 30 guineas each fhare; and on both thefe occafions the additional number of fubfcribers was filled up with the greatest avidity. With this fund, arifing from the additional fubscriptions, the Committee have been enabled to provide a well-chofen col. lection of rare books; and with the proportion of income appropriated to the purchase of books will additions be continually made. The number of fubfcribers at this time being 5co, who each pay two guineas per annum, the annual receipts are therefore 1000 guineas; and these have beeu appropriated (after the payment of all incidental expences) one-third to the purchase of news-papers, commercial, political, and periodical publications; thefe for the ufe of the news-room : the other two-thirds for the purchase of books, in which are included books both in the learned and foreign languages. Of fuch works as the Committee may judge proper for circulation duplicates are to be provided, there being a positive law, that one copy of every book purchased fhall remain in the library, it being a principal object of the inftitution to provide scarce, rare, and valuable works, for the special purpose of reference or confultation. Upon this ground handfome prefents of books, maps, prints, &c. have already been made to the library; which probably would not have been the case had such valuable gifts been liable to the injuries which are incident to circulation. The Corporation of Liverpool too, with a becoming liberality, that does the body credit, besides a valuable collection of charts, have prefented the trustees of the Athenæum with the reverfion of the leafe of the fite of the ground on which the building, yard, and offices ftand, a donation of not less value than 500l. Both the newsroom and library are open every day in the year from feven in the morning till ten at night. The library is conftantly attended by one librarian, there being two appointed, who relieve each other at intervals. And it is with pleasure obferved how well the library is attended in an evening by young people. Under this view, this inftitution, by its good effects produced upon the rifing generation, may prove a bleffing to fo populous a place. Nay more, if true what fome have afferted, that the frequent meetings and converfations in the news-rooms, of which this town had, previous to this last establishment, numbers, has promoted that fociability for which the town is remarkable. Whatever may have been the caufe, and what fo likely as that before noticed; the fact is certain, that the inhabitants of the town of Liverpool are noted for their focial intercourfe. Whatever difference of opinion, religious or political, they all meet together; nay, after the most fevere conteft for the election of reprefentatives in parliament, than which nothing in general more embitters the minds of individuals, nor leaves longer and more lafting impref fions in other places; yet fo it is, that here, and that too the day after the conflict, the different partizans are feen to meet, to converfe, and transact business, as if no contrariety of opinion had previously exifted. This liberality of fentiment has been frequently remarked as a ftriking characteristick in the inhabitants of Liverpool. Notwithstanding what has just above been stated, unanimity can, feldom be obtained in small matters: no wonder that so novel a scheme of fo great magnitude did not meet the fupport of the whole town. But the motives of men are different, and various are the ftimulatives that urge to action. But who can forefee or foretel the different effects produced by the fame caufes? Perceiving the ample funds, the high eftimation, and increafing reputation, of the new inftitution, with the advance of the price of fhares, thofe who had hitherto afforded no encouragement towards its fupport, feeing what had been in fo fhort time atchieved, turned their thoughts towards an old and refpectable inftitution in Lord-ftreet, a circulating fubfcription library, which had been established more than half a century, first in Princes-ftreet, afterwards in John-ftreet, and laftly, remoyed to Lord-street, into a building erected by a tontine fubfcription. This old library became the bafis of another inftitution, for which a new building upon a magnificent plan is to be erected in Bold-ftreet, and which, like the Athenæum, will confift of a news-room below, and a library on the floor above. There are 892 fubferibers to this, who have each advanced 12 guineas on admiffion, and who are to contribute one guinea per annum each towards the fupport of the news-room. In order to unite the news-room with the library, no one has been admitted to be a proprietor of the former, who was not previously a fubfcriber to the latter. The confequence of this regu. lation has been, that 398 members have on this occafion purchased shares in the library, at five guineas each, in order to enable them to become proprietors of the inftitution. Many of the members of this new inftitution are alfo members of the Athenæum, who wished to fupport fo spirited a work. The library of this new inftitution has now a fund ready for the purchase of books to the amount of 2089l. 10s. with an annual income of 4681. 6s. to be laid out yearly. Although this laft fubfcription was filled almost inftantaneously, and that too with perfons of the highest refpectability, yet the value of fhares in the Athenæum has, in the mean while, rifen to the amount of forty guineas each. A third fcheme is under contemplation, a profpectus of which is drawn up for public infpection, the eftablishment of a Botanic Garden and Library of Natural Hiftory, and which is likely to meet with a fuitable degree of encouragement; a fketch of which is as follows: The fociety to confift of an indefinite nuber of members, each to pay twelve guineas admiffion, and two guineas per annum. Ground is to be purchafed, inclofed, and planted; fuitable buildings, ftoves, and glasshoufes, erected, with rooms for the books. A gardener to refide on the fpot, to fuperintend the whole, and explain and anfwer questions. Every fubfcriber to have the privilege of cuttings, feeds, and fpecimens of the different plants, under certain regulations; and to have the liberty of introducing strangers, both ladies and gentlemen, at any time, into the garden, buildings, &c. As a beginning, the proprietors of this work have already purchased the Herbarium of the late Profeffor Forster, confifting of a very valuable collection of plants from many dilant parts of the |