THE PORT FOLIO.

FOURTH SERIES.

CONDUCTED BY OLIVER OLDSCHOOL, ESQ.

Various; that the mind

Of desultory man, studious of change

And pleased with novelty, may be indulged.-CoWPER.

I FEAR good men's censures, and to their favourable acceptance I submit my labours, et linguas mancipiorum contemno. As the barking of a dog, I SECURELY contemn those malicious and scurrile obloquies, flouts, calumnies of railers, and detractors; I scorn the rest. What, therefore, I have said, pro tenuitate mea, I have said.

BURTON.

To Americans, the biography of all eminent men, connected in any degree with the events of the revolution, and the history of the republic, must always prove interesting. Our readers will therefore peruse, with no ordinary emotions, the following sketch of the life of a distinguished European, well known for his honourable exertions in favour of American independence, as well as for his writings in defence of our national character and government, and in support of the principles of civil liberty.

PHILIP MAZZEI was born in Tuscany, Italy, in 1730, of obscure, but respectable parents. He received the best education his country afforded; and early applied himself to the study of Physic. His talents were conspicuous in his youth; for, at the age of fifteen, we find him disposed to doubt, and dispute the orthodoxy of some of the dogmas of the popish church; for which he was delivered over to the inquisitor of Pisa, for ecclesiastical censure and confirmation. Upon the completion of his studies he removed to Smyrna, in Asia Minor, and engaged in the prac

tice of his profession among the Turks and Jews. But Turkey afforded no theatre for the enterprising adventurer. Regions of despotism and intellectual darkness could not long detain a spirit which aspired after objects calculated to stimulate ambition to the possession of honourable fame. In 1755, Mazzei proceeded to London, in pursuit of adventures, and entered, shortly afterwards, into an extensive traffic with his native country.

The fifteen succeeding years were spent principally in England, in commercial business. His were not the ordinary occupations of the counting-room: he mingled with the most intelligent society of the metropolis, and was admitted to the friendship and acquaintance of the most eminent characters of the day. Here he acquired those principles of liberty, which he always cherished, and which rendered him odious in his own state. He was exiled from Tuscany, for some months, by the influence of the court of Rome, on a false accusation of having introduced into Italy, writings inimical to the papal power. To the inquisition he had always shown a decided hostility:-he exposed its flagrant abuses, unfolded its secret cruelties, and contributed not a little to its downfal. The priesthood were in arms against him, and he was universally considered a dangerous and offensive heretic in his native province. It was about the same era that the courageous Carvaglio procured the decree which banished the Jesuits from Portugal.

Some years previous to the American revolution, Mazzei formed an acquaintance with Dr. Franklin, agent for the colonies in Great Britain, and with Mr. Thomas Adams, an intelligent merchant of Virginia, in London. These gentlemen painted to his imagination the rising importance of the colonies, and persuaded him to embark for America. He yielded to the persuasions of his friends, and, actuated by a spirit of honourable adventure, formed a plan to render himself useful, by introducing into Virginia the culture of the vine, olive, and other fruits of Italy. The grand duke Leopold, who had lately succeeded to the dukedom, on the death of Maria Teresa, generously permitted him to take a small colony of Tuscans to aid his projects. Mr. Adams had prepared the way for his reception on this side the Atlantic, by the most friendly recommendations. He landed at

Williamsburg, in December, 1773; and one of the first to welcome his arrival was the illustrious WASHINGTON, who was then a delegate in the general assembly of Virginia.

His agricultural scheme was an undertaking of great moment, and we believe the first regular attempt which had been made to cultivate the vine in America. Mazzei was seconded in his views by the first planters in the colony. Mr. Jefferson, late president of the United States, spared no pains in rendering him pleased with his adopted country, and in promoting his agricultural plan. But the vine did not thrive as was calculated, and the soil was not sufficiently genial to augur great advantages to the colony. The attempt was not completely abortive:-the progress of cultivation was retarded no less by the commencement of hostilities than the ungratefulness of the climate. Mazzei soon found more interest in the political affairs of the province than its rural concerns. His long residence in London; his intimacy with some of the members of the British cabinet, and his knowledge of its determined hostility to the popular measures of the colonies, made him foresee the rupture which was rapidly approaching.

"The cabinet of St. James," he says, in his private memoirs, "were bent on the subjection of the colonies to their mode of legislation. Their rule was divide et impera;' but their insidious plans were happily thwarted by the vigilance of the states. Virginia was at first the principal seat of the machinations of the British government. One of the wisest measures of that state was the resolution of the general assembly to establish committees of correspondence with the other members of the union, and thus prevent the crown from conquering in detail. Dr. Dabny Carr was the mover of this resolution, which contributed to save the colonies."

In 1775, the British troops made a sudden landing at Hampton, and alarmed the whole sea-board. The interior of the state was roused, and volunteers flocked from all quarters, to expel the invaders. The county of Warwick assembled a company of militia, who marched to join the common standard. Mazzei and his labourers were enrolled in this corps, and exchanged their pruning-hooks for the more deadly weapons of destruction. He gives the following account of the expedition:

"Our company consisted of seventy persons, but continually increased. On the second day of our march we met two young men, who had been despatched from the neighbouring county, to concert on a place of rendezvous, before our arrival at Williamsburg. The eldest of the two was James Madison," the last president of the United States. "Having gone half way, we met a company returning, commanded by Patrick Henry, so famous for his eloquence, and who had no equal in the country. He informed us that the British had embarked, as soon as they found the people disposed to repel them. The two companies were drawn up in a body, and Henry returned them thanks, concluding with an address to the three Tuscans present, Vincenzo, Belini, and myself. Poor Vincenzo, when he saw the orator looking stedfastly at us, demanded the reason. When I explained it to him, his countenance seemed to express that he would not exchange situations with the grand seignior.

"Patrick Henry was the most fascinating orator I have ever heard. The cabinet of St. James had made out a list of characters who were proscribed in the colonies; and it well may be imagined it contained the names of some of the most illustrious patriots. Henry, not finding himself included, exclaimed with fervour, What have I done not to be among the number!”

Hostilities gradually increased between the mother country and the colonies. The continental army, it is well known, were destitute of those supplies so necessary for carrying on the war, and congress saw itself almost reduced to bankruptcy, from the poverty of its funds. The great and patriotic state of Virginia was drained of its resources likewise, and it became necessary to devise a plan to recruit its treasury. An agent was empowered to proceed to Europe, for economical purposes, and to pledge the credit of the state to the amount of a million sterling. This important mission was confided to Mazzei, and affords the best evidence of the estimation in which he was held for talents and probity. He was regularly commissioned by the governor and council, and set sail in 1779; but the vessel in which he embarked was captured, off cape Henry, by one of the enemy's cruisers. Sir George Collier then commanded the British fleet at New York. To him he was presented, as a prisoner, with all his pri

vate papers. His instructions had been cautiously thrown overboard, at the instant of the capture; but many suspicions arose respecting the nature of his voyage. The conduct of Collier, on this occasion, was insolent in the extreme-such as a man of sensibility and honour could not easily brook. Mazzei was not then in a situation to express his indignation at the degrading treatment which he experienced. After the peace of 1783, he addressed the following letter to the commodore, which evinced that he had not forgotten his ungentlemanly deportment.

"Paris, Hotel des Colonies, 9th May, 1783.

"SIR-According to the seventh article of the preliminaries of peace between Great Britain and the United States, I request you to return the papers you got possession of, when I was your prisoner, in the summer of 1779—viz, a bill on the liberty of religion, a bill on crimes and punishments, &c. and a letter from colonel G. Mason to his son in Europe.* In regard to your behaviour on that occasion, I shall only mention, that the conduct of general Patterson and captain Clayton was directly the reverse, and such as a gentleman and man of honour must approve. If you should not agree to it, I will meet you at any time, and discuss that point with you. In the mean time,

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"P. MAZZEI."

The reply to this letter was neither satisfactory to Mazzei nor honourable to sir George. After a tedious confinement on Long Island, the prisoner was liberated from his bonds, and permitted to proceed to Europe, in the king's victualling fleet, at the instance of general Patterson and lord Cathcart, aid to general Clinton. The loss of the proper credentials was embarrassing; but he endeavoured to execute his agency until instructions were forwarded from Virginia. He repaired to Paris, and visited Holland, Genoa and Florence; in all which places he made the

* Colonel Mason's letter to his son concluded thus:-" God bless my dear child, and grant that we may meet again in your native land as freemen-otherwise that we may never see each other more-is the sincere prayer of your affectionate father. GEO. MASON."