against the doctrine of the latter by Pascal, by feveral parliaments of France, and by an anonymous pamphlet wholly unknown*, which resembles that of the Illuminated of Germany;—it is certain, that in 1774 or 1775. a fociety was formed in Bavaria, of which a celebrated profeffor of Ingolstadt is looked upon as the author, which, taking for its motto, "The, happiness of the people," and fuppofing that happiness incompatible with every religious and civil eftablishment now exifting, faid, "Let us fap all their foundations, let us deftroy them all." The Secret Order of the Illuminated comprised in its mysteries all those doctrines which the Jacobins of Paris have fince put in practice; and it has been proved by undeniable documents, that it was closely connected with them even before the revolution. To deftroy the Christian religion, and to overthrow every throne and every government, has been from the year 1776, the conftant aim of the Secret Order of the Illuminated.

The perfons who were to be at first affociated, heard nothing but of the happiness of the people, which was a fure means of raifing recruits, who were prompt and numerous; young men were particularly chofen, becaufe, having as yet no fixed opinion, they feize any one that is offered to them; and men of letters, whom it is fo important to fecure when new opinions are to be brought into operation and accredited. When once they were enrolled, and ftrongly impreffed with the

*Memorial for the Plenipotentiaries affembled at Soiffons; in which it is proved how prejudicial to the Church and to the State is the Society of the Jefuits." 12mo. 1729. The congrefs was diffolved without doing any thing, and the me morial forgotten. It is aftonishing that this energetic compofition was not printed again, when the order was fuppreffed, and that the procureurs generaux, who followed the brethren with fo much animofity, when they could no longer defend themfelves, did not recall it.

idea, fo pleasant to the mind, of the people's happiness, "Let us labour for the happiness of the people,' they became impatient to know the obftacles opposed to them, and the means to be employed to procure that great good: thefe were fucceffively prefented.

The order has five degrees; in the firft the myfteries are not revealed, the minds of the novices are only founded and prepared, and by fmall degrees those who are found worthy are farther initiated.' By the aid of this gradation, and by employing the affecting tone which miffionaries who wish to make profelytes know fo well how to affume, are there any principles that may not be inculcated with fuccefs? It is Mahomet perfuading Seyda that it is a duty to affaffinate his father. The number of the affiliated increased confiderably in a fhort time, principally by the care of the baron de Kn

who firft, in 1782, conceived the idea (fo happy for the increafe of the fect) of illuminating freemafonry, and fucceeded in doing fo from Hanover to Copenhagen and Naples. In 1784, the Illuminated Brethren were unmasked, and driven out of Bavaria. In 1788, the papers belonging to them, which had been feized, were printed at Munich; but to judge from the ftatement which the comte de Mirabeau gives us, what was done against them was fo ill done, that they loft none of their credit. Did not that happen in this cafe which fo often comes to pafs? Did not the public become interested in the caufe of the accufed, on account of falfe accufations being mingled with true ones?

From the commencement of their existence, the best journalists were attached to them, and particularly the authors of the Bibliotheque Univerfelle, then published at Berlin, which was, and ftill is, an excellent journal. The principal director of it had been highly praised by M. Zimmerman, in 1771, as one of the most learned, beft informed, and most amiable literary characters in Germany. A short time after M. Zimmerman's journey to Potzdam, another journal was eftablifhed under

the

the direction of Mr. G. counsellor of the confistory at Berlin, and Mr. B. the king's librarian. Several authors who affifted, remain still unknown. This journal was conducted on the principles of the Illuminated; among fome excellent pieces which brought it into vogue, the faithful allies of the order never failed exclaiming against the fuperftition and prejudices of religion. The edicts which the reigning king publifhed against these kind of writings, only ferved to animate their ardour; and in order to write with impunity, they affirmed that all Germany was in danger of falling under the yoke of the Jefuits, who had inclined all the princes in their favour, and that part of the proteftant princes were about to turn catholics. In the two works which M. Zimmerman published in 1778, upon the king of Pruffia, he ridiculed the fear of the Jefuits. And at this period count Mirabeau discovered the principles of the Illuminated, which he had adopted at Berlin, as a beautiful, noble, and grand project. Muft not every one be aftonished on reflecting upon that circumftance, that the court of Verfailles was ignorant of this work, or that knowing of it, it did not forefee that all which has happened muft happen if it fuffered the ftatesgeneral to be influenced by the protector of this fyftem, or that that court could have been fo deftitute of means, as to be incapable of expelling from that affembly a man against whom there were fo many caufes of reproba

tion?

The influence of this fyftem was fo manifeft, that it is unneceffary to read the journals for a history of the proceedings of the ftates-general; they were to be found in the count de Mirabeau's work, two years before the states affembled; and this influence will be more readily acknowledged by thofe who are capable of tracing the caufes of events. "The French revobution is neither the effect of the monarch's weakness, nor of, &c. &c." The greateft part of those who have appeared like kings in this scene of crimes, were in fact

bur

but theatrical kings, who acted the parts they had been taught, but which they did not understand. Who is then the hero, the tyrant, or the god, that, hid behind the fcenes, moves all the machinery? It is a fecret fociety of pretended philofophers difperfed through all countries, affiliated into an affociation by an oath, and by degrees of rank, who give action to the whole *.

They endeavoured to gain M. Zimmerman. Lwho has been fince banithed from Berlin for having intrigued with emiffaries of the Propaganda, invited him to attach himself to a fociety which he declared would, in a very short time, reform and govern the world. In his work entitled "Frederick the Great defended," he ridiculed L, and laid before the public the means by which they endeavoured to make profelytes. This was difturbing a neft of wafps; for from that time he was attacked by all the journalists in Germany; his book was not criticifed, but burnt. Several pamphlets appeared, not only to refute him, but to blacken his character and infult him; he was called an ignorant fellow, ridiculously fuperftitious, and an enemy to the knowledge which men, more enlightened than himself, wished to propagate. Too wife to reply, though not a little irritated by their invectives, but ftill more by the iniquitous myfteries which he daily faw developed, and animated by a zeal for the caufe of humanity, without replying to all the flanders which had been fo profufely heaped upon him in 1790, in his noble work on Frederick the Great, he attacked without reserve, and with all the energy of his mind and pen, the whole tribe of the Illuminated, or, as he called them, the Enlighteners. It was wirh filent regret that many refpectable perfons faw the evils refulting from the propagation of this diabolical doctrine; but he was the firft who had courage to develope its principles, and endeavour to open the

* Letters to the author of the Quotidienne.

eyes

eyes of the princes of Germany to the danger to which they were liable, by neglecting to oppofe the progress of fo formidable a league. He forefaw all that would happen fome years afterwards.

(To be concluded in our next.}

IT

ARISTIPPUS.

BY PHILIP ST. LEGER. ESQ.

T is most certain, that the contemplation of a culti vated and elegant mind, is a view of the most foothing and delightful of all our enjoyments. It presents to our mental perception the moft heartfelt feelings of happiness; we fee the foul exerting all its innate excellence; we fee it difplaying thofe powers which declare, that in the link of being, it is only one order below the angels. But may not an ardour for mental improvement be carried too far? or rather, may it not be, imperceptibly, directed to harm?

Ariftippus, at a very early period of his life, was thrown into a deep retirement; here his attachment 10 study was formed and fixed. He perufed his books with avidity; and with eagernefs prepared to engage in that mixed fociety into which he was fpeedily thrown. Fond of all excellence to enthusiasm, his heart anticipated, and panted for a full fruition of all his hopes; and he entered with rapture that world he had fo long only known from reflection.

Year after year found him furrounded by a large concourfe of human beings, with whom he was called upon to affociate, to participate, and to improve the vaft ftock of ideas which he had collected in retirement; but he felt it was impoffible-the amufement of his folilitary hours; his propenfities to deep inveftigation, long reflections,