pence in his houfhold and government, and detach himself intirely from the accurfed farm of Yeffo, which fome evil genius had fixed upon the breech of Japan, as a cancerous ulcer thro' which all her blood and fubftance would be discharged. These maxims were generally just enough in fpeculation, but fome of them were altogether impracticable;-for example, that of forming an adminiftration equally compofed of the two factions, was as abfurd as it would be to yoke two ftone-horfes and two jack-affes in the fame carriage, which, inftead of drawing one way, would do nothing but bite and kick one another, while the machine of government would stand stock-ftill, or perhaps be torn in pieces by their dragging in oppofite directions.The people of Japan had been long divided between two inveterate parties known by the names of Shit-tilkumf-heit, umf-heit, and She-it-kumf-hi-til, the first fignifying more fool than knave; and the other, more knave than fool. Each had predominated in its turn, by fecuring a majority in the affenblies of the people; for the majority had always intereft to force themfelves into the adminiftration ; because the conftitution being partly democratic, the Dairo was ftill obliged to truckle to the prevailing faction. To obtain this majority, each fide had employed every art of corruption, calumny, infinuation, and priest-craft; for nothing is fuch an effectual ferment in all popular commotions as religious fanaticifm. No fooner one party accomplished its aim than it reprobated the other, branding it with the epithets of traitors to their country, or traitors to their prince; while the minority retorted uponthem the charge of corruption, rapaciousness, paciousness, and abject fervility. In short, both parties were equally abufive, rancorous, uncandid, and illi-. beral. Taycho had been of both factions more than once.-He made his first appearance as a Shi-tilk-umf. beit in the minority, and difplayed his talent for fcurrility against the Dairo to fuch advantage, that an old rich hag, who loved nothing fo well as money, except the gratification of her revenge, made him a prefent of five thousand obans, on condition he should continue to revile the Dairo till his dyingday. After her death, the miniftry, intimidated by the boldness of his tropes, and the fame he began to acquire as a mal-content orator, made him fuch offers as he thought proper to accept; and then he turned She-it-kumf-hi-til. -Being disgusted in the fequel, at his own want of importance in the coun council, he opened once more at the head of his old friends the Shi-tilkumf-hitites; and once more he deferted them to rule the roaft, as chief of the She-it-kumf-bi-tilites, in which predicament he now ftood. And, indeed, this was the most natural pofture in which he could ftand; for this party embraced all the fcum of the people, conftituting the blatant beaft, which his talents were fo peculiarly adapted to manage and govern. Another impracticable maxim of Yak-ftrot, was the abolition of corruption, the ordure of which is as neceffary to anoint the wheels of government in Japan, as grease is to fmear the axle-tree of a loaded waggon. His third impolitic (tho' not impracticable) maxim, was that of making peace while the populace were intoxicated with the steams of blood, and elated with the fhews of triumph. Be that as it will, GioE VOL. II. gio, gio, attended by Yák-ftrot, was drawing plans of windmills, when Orator Taycho, opening the door, advanced towards him, and falling on his knees, addreffed him in these words: "The empire of Japan (magnanimous prince!) resembles at this inftant, a benighted traveller, who by the light of the ftar Hefperus continued his journey without repining, until that glorious luminary fetting, left him bewildered in darkness and confternation: but fcarce had he time to bewail his fate, when the more glorious fun, the ruler of a fresh day, appearing on the tops of the Eaftern hills, difpelled, his terrors with the fhades of night, and filled his foul with transports of pleasure and delight. The illuftrious Got-hamababa, of honoured memory, is the glorious ftar which hath fet on our hemifphere. His foul, which took wing about two hours ago, is now happily |