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HINTS of OCCURRENCES , &c.

unneceflary all thofe voluntary focietics, commenced by artifice under pretenfions of philanthropy, and gene-rally terminating in private jobs and felfifh advantages.

On our arrival at Andernach, which though an old, is a populous and lively town, we were very happy in con-trading an acquaintance with a French gentleman whofe name is Gratife. This gentleman had ferved in theFrench army; and though his acquaintance with the Englifh had been but fhort, and nearly fatal to him, he hadnot cherifhed any illiberal prejudices againft Englifhmen. He embarked with the party which landed at Jerfeyin the late war; and in the unfuccefsful attack on the ifland, an Englifh ball entered at his right breaft, and wentout at his back; but not touching any vital parts, he efcaped with only long confinement and great pain. Ifound Mr. Gratife to be a Miniature-painter; and was highly pleafed with the corrednefs and truth of his defigns,and the neatnefs and tafle of his finifhing. He fhewed us great civilities ; and we were much obliged to his intel-ligence, as he accompanied us through the town. Indeed many of the obfervations and remarks concerningAndernach, and other parts of the adjacent country, have arifen from the information of Mr. Gratife.

We advifed him to vifit the Englifh dominions with views lefs hoftile than thofe which had carried him toJerfey; and we are happy to announce, that London poflefles this worthy and excellent artift.

Andernach is confidered next to Treves in this part of Germany, in point of fize, antiquity, and importance.

I have been informed by perfons who underftand German, that this definition is implied in the name. It was therefidence of the kings of Auftria; and ruins of their ancient caftles are ftill to be feen: they muff have been verylarge, ftrong, and well fortified. On furveying the city, we were ftruck by its refemblance to a cage; and per-haps the inhabitants of German fortifications, at leafl in former times, might not be unaptly compared to animalsin cages. The buildings are inclofed in a circle of wall forty feet high; fo that the good people on the other fideof the Rhine are for fome time in broad day-light, while thofe of Andernach are buried in darknefs and fleep.

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In the fummer, the fcene on the Rhine, in the view of this town, is extremely interefting. Rafts of wood areconftru&ed in numbers to conftitute a fingular fleet, and of prodigious fize. There are generally eight hundredor a thoufand perfons employed in this work for four months. On the rafts, houfes are ere£ted of fufficient com-modioufnefs for thofe who take the paflage: and the commanding raft has a guard-houfe, where the condu£tors orfailors of this fleet fleep and receive orders for duty in alternate parties. The duty confifts in rowing, and guid-ing the fleet in the winding and rapid pafles of the river.

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