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LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

CONSISTING OF

ORIGINAL PIECES,

and

SELECTIONS FROM PERFORMANCES OF MERIT,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC,

Work calculated to diffeminate ufeful Knowledge among all ranks
of people at a fimall expence.

'

BY

(
; JAMES ANDERSON, LLD,
FRS FAS. S. ’
Honorary Member of the Society of Arts, Agricalture, &c. at Bath; of the Philofophical,and
ef the Agricultural Socicties in Manchefler; of the Society for promoting Natural

Hifio:
®Zondon ; of the Academy of Arts, Sciences; andBelles Lettres, Dijon ; and Corciangaeete:
Mocmber of the Royal Society of Agriculture, Paris; Author of feveral wT fee OE

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VOLUME FIFTH. 7258 aks
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APIS MATINE MORE MODOQUE. Pre ys

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ARTS

EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR JAMES ANDERSON, IN TUE YEAR MDCCXCI, |

THE BEE,
OR
LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER;
FOR

i 7

WEDNESDAY, September 14,-1791. | -

To the Editor of fea Bee.

Sketch of the Lifé of the late Sir James Stewart Derdian
Baronet, Author of the Principles of Political Oceco-
nomy, and many other valuable Writings, by AuBa~

NICUS.
With a Portrait.
Sir;

T is with great fatisfaCtion that I comply’ with
your requeft, to accompany the portrait of Sir James
Stewart’s perfon with fome account of his life and of
his writings. He was the fon of Sir James Stewart of
Goodtrees, baronet, folicitor-general for Scotland, by
Anne Dalrymple, daughter of Sir Hugh Dalrymple 6 .
North-Berwick, baronet, prefident a the gollege of
juftice, and was born-on the roth of O&ober, O.S. in
the year 1713, at Edinburgh.

Vor. V. A

2 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART. Sept. 14,

The firft rudiments of his education he received at
the ¢rammar-fchool of North-Berwick, which, at the
time of his father’s death, he quitted at the age of 14,

with the reputation of being a good fcholar, but with- _

out any extraordinary advancement in knowledge.

It is remarkable, that many men who have been fin-
gularly ufeful to fociety have not fhown early fymptoms
of the greatnefs of their intelleCtual powers. A great un-
derftanding muft be the offspring of happy organiza-
tion in a healthy body, with co-operation of time, of
circumftance, and of infltitution, without being forced
into prematurity by exceffive cultivation.

This holds with refpe& to the growth and perfection
of every creature; and the* truth appears remarkable

with refpe& to our own fpecies, becaufe we are apt to .

miftake the flimfy attainments of artificial education for
the fteady and permanent foundations of progreflive
knowledge. From the fchool of North-Berwick Sir
James was fent to the univerfity of Edinburgh, where
he continued until the year 1735, when he paffed ad-
vocate before the Court of Seflion, and immediately af-
terwards went abroad to vifit foreign countries. He
was then in the twenty-third year of his age, had made
himfelf well acquainted with the Roman law. and. hif-
tory, and, the municipal law. of Scotland... He. had
likewife maturely ftudied the elements of jurifprudence,
and was verfed in the general, as well as the particular
politics of Europe; and was bent upon applying his
knowledge in the inveftigation of the ftate of men
and of manners in other nations,’ with a view to pro-
- motethe benefit of his own, and:to confirm himfelf/in
the love of ‘a free conftitution of government, by con-
templating the: baneful effects of anlimited monarehy
in Germany, Italy,-and Spain, and of ridiculous:at-
tachment to a king and nobility, to war and to perni-
cious {plendour in France. He travelled firft, however,
into Holland, with a view to ftudy the conflitution of

the empire before he fhould yifit'Germany, and to at-.

‘
:

hI7OT. LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART. A3

tend fome of the leftures of the moft eminent profefforsat
Utrecht and Leyden, on public law and politics. From
thence he pafled into Germany, refided about a year in
France, travelled through fome part of Spain, where
he had a fever, that obliged him for his perfect reco-
very from its effects, to go by the advice of his friends
to the fea coaft of the lovely province of Valencia ;
from thence returning he crofled the Alps, and by Tu-
rin, made the tour of Italy, where, chiefly at Rome and
Florence, he refided till the beginning of the year 1740;
when having fpent five years on his travels, he return-
ed to Scotland, and married the Lady Frances Wemyfs,
eldeit daughter of the Earl of Wemyfs, about two years
after his return.

A few months after his marriage the reprefentation
of the county of Mid-Lothian became vacant, by the
member being made a lord of trade and plantation.
The candidates were the late members and Sir John
Baird of Newbyth. On the day of election Mr Dun-
das of Arnifton, one of the fenators of the college of
juftice, was chofen prefes of the meeting. He, from
fome prejudice again{ft Sir James, omitted to caufe
his name to be called on the roll of freeholders. For
this illegal ufe of the prefiding power Sir James intti-
tuted a {uit againft Arnifton; and refuming the gown
as an advocate, pled his own caufe with great energy
and eloquence, with the applaufe of the bench, the bar,
and the public. With this appearance Lord: Arnifton
was fo much moved, that he came down from the
bench and pled in his own defence at the bar.

This bufinefs excited very general attention in Scot-
Jand; and had Sir James continued at the bar, he muft
_ have rifen to the head of his profeflion inScotland, in fpite
of the controuling jealoufy and power of Mr. Dunks,
But on his travels Sir James had contracted friendships
with Lord Marifchall, and other eminent men, attached
‘to the pretenfions of the royal family of Stuart, and
had received flattering attentions from the Pretender

A 2

4 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART; Sept. 14,

to the Britifh throne ; the impreffion arifing from which,
added to the irritations of his controverfy with the
powerful party in Scotland attached to the court, led
him, unadyifedly, into connections with the movers of
the late rebellion in the year 1745.

As he was by far the ableft man of their party, the
Jacobites engaged him to write the Prince Regent's
manifefto, and to affift in his councils. Information
having been given of his participation in thefe affairs,
he thought it prudent, on the abortion of this unhappy
attempt, to leave Britain; and by the zeal of Arnifton
he was excepted afterwards from the bill of indemnity,
and rendered an exile from his, country.

He chofe France for his refidence during the ten
firft years of his banifhment, and was chiefly at An-
goulefme, where he fuperintended the education of his
fon; from thence he went to Tubingen in Suabia, for
the benefit of its univerfity, in profecution of the fame
dutiful and laudable defign ; but in the end of the war
56, having incurred fufpicion of the Court of Verfailles
of affording advice to the Court of London, was feized
.at Spa, and kept fometime in confinement ; from which
being liberated, after the acceffion of the prefent king of
Great Britain, he came private, by toleration, to Eng-
land, and refided at London, where he put the laft hand
to his Sy{tem of Political Oeconomy, the copy right of

which he fold to Andrew Millar; and being permitted | ;

to dedicate this work to the king, he applied for a zo/i
profequi, which, after fome malicious objections, he
obtained, and had the comfort of returning to his fa-
mily eftate in Scotland.

Having nothing profeffional to do during his long
refidence in France, the a€tive mind of Sir James was
occupied in ftudy. His book on the Principles of Political
Oeconomy contains moft of the fruits of it. He turned
himfelf, in the intervals of leifure, to confider the re-
fources of France, that he might the better compile that
part of his great work which was to treat of revenue and

}

|

*

E791. .LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART. §

expenditure. It was by ftudying the language of the
finances, without which nobody can afk a proper quef-
tion concerning them, fo as to be underftood, that he
attained his great purpofe.

As foon as he could afk queftions properly, he applied
in familtar converfation to the intendants and their
fubftitutes in the proyinces where he refided, whom he
found extremely defirous to learn the ftate of the Bri-
tifh finances, under the branches of the land-tax, cuf-
toms, excife, and other inland duties. This led him
to compare the ftate of the two nations. The informa-
tion he gave was an equivalent for the information he

_received ; curiofity balanced curiofity, each was fatisfied
and inftructed. The department of the intendants in
France were confined to the taxes which compofed the
receties generales, namely, the taille, the capitation, and
the ¢wentieths, or vigntiemes. All the intendants had
been Maitres des Requetes, bred at Paris, and could not
fail to have much knowledge of the general fermes and
other branches of the revenue. He carefully noted down
at all times the anfwers he got; and when he came to re-
fide at Paris he obtained more ample inforgyation, both
from the gentlemen of the revenue, and from perfons
of the parliament of Paris, who, to the number of
twenty-five had been for fifteen months exiled in the
province where he had fo long refided at Angoulefme.

With thefe advantages, with much ftudy and atten-
tion to arrangement, he was enabled to compofe the
fixth chapter of the fourth part of the fourth book of
his Syftem of Political Oeconomy, a portion of that
great work well worthy the attention of thofe who with
to know the ftate of France, in refpe€t of revenue,
and are not to be fatisfied with the piratical books that
have been fince publifhed on political ceconomy, and
particularly fuch as regard the fituation of France, with
refpect to debts and refources.

And fince France has become lately an immenfe
fubject of interefting {peculation, and that it behoves

6 LYFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART. Sept: 14,

Britain to confider well the ftate of that country, I
fhall ‘here produce Sir James’s view of the debts of
France, as they ftood at the peace of Paris, in the
year 1763, and of the plan which was then concerted
for paying the intereft, and for extinguifhing the capi-
tal. And Ido this the rather becaufe no account has
hitherto been given of this matter by any perfon not in-
terefted to deceive the public either in France or in
Britain.. At the peace of Paris, all the debts of France
‘then out{tanding, which had been contracted previous
to the war 1744, were reduced to the old debts which
chad been arranged in the year 1720, after the Mifhiflippi

_ ‘operations. Thefe confifted in ggo millions of livres,
perpetual annuities, at two and a half per centum, dif-
tributed into contratts, on the town-houfe of Paris,
-and in 94 millions, at the fame rate of intereft, owing
-by the King to the company of the Indies, which was
alfo conftituted in the year 1720.

The intereft of thefe debts, in 1762, amounted to
‘twenty-feven million one hundred thoufand livres,
and, by the account between the King and the com-
-pany ‘of the Indies he was bound to pay them, annu-
ally, forthe difcharge of the dividends of their ftocks,
‘two millions four hundred thoufand livres.

‘Thefe two fums of intereft amount, together, to
29,500,000 livres,which were fecured upon and paid out

of the king’s ordinary revenue. ‘lhe war, which be-. |

gan in'1744 and ended in 1748, involved France in
new and great debts. Notwithftanding the impofition
-of the tenth, during this war, and all other extraordi-
‘nary impofts, credit fell very low in the year 1745,
until Monf. de Monmartel, the King’s banker, and
‘others, opened a bank; and, in order to fupply the
public demands, borrowed money from the country at
Jarge, at one-half per cent. per month, the capital pay-
able on demand, to fecure the circulation of their
motes. ‘This bank preferved its credit till the peace

I7QIe LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART... ~ 3

| 1748, at which period a very large fum, was.dae to. it
by the king.

| The method fallen upon to difcharge the debts con-
tracted during this war was to impofe, at the peace
1748, the firft twentieths, inftead of the tenth; which
had. then ceafed, and thefe twentieths, with the
amount of allocated taxes, amounting to fifty-two mil-
lions three hundred and thirty-eight thoufand livres a-
year, were fuppofed to be fufficient, in twelve years,
to extinguifh the debt.

We now come to the war 1756, which ended in the
year 1763, by the peace of Paris, during which period
amazing {ums were levyed in France every year, and
an amazing fum of debt was ftill due at the, peace.
You will find, in his Political Oecon. from p. 420
onward, eu particular account of the ways and
means employed during every year of this war, for
raifing the fupplys ; and in the third branch, p. 431,
are {tated the taxés impofed for difcharging the debts
contracted during the war, amounting to the annual
fum of 68,690,787 livres. ‘The whole amount of the in-
_tereft of debts at the peace of Paris, the Miffiflippi, the
war 44,and the war 56, amounted to 121,028,787 livres.
The plan, therefore, at the peace, was to difcharge gra-
dually the immenfe debt, by keeping up the three.
twentieths, with all other war taxes, during the peace
but the éxtravagance of the court and other circum-
ftances, rendered this plan abortive, at leaft in a great
meafure.

i France came to prote& our revolted Chlaniog
in America, thefe mortgaged revenues were diverted
-from their purpofe of extinguifhing capital debt to car-
ry on the American war ; and it ended in fecuring the
independance of the United States of America, by the
_ capture of Lord Cornwallis, and the acknowledgment

of their independance by the peace 1783.

Thus, our aftonifhment muft ceafe on the remem-
brance of the efforts France made to humble Great

8 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEWART. ~~ Sept. 14;

Britain during the late American war, without the im-

pofition of new taxes, while Great Britain was running -

the hazard of crippling both her trade and manufac-
tures ; not to fpeak of poor old agriculture, /o little
heeded of late, by impofing new and heavy taxes, to an
unexampled amount. But France was diverting, with ill
faith, her revenues from the public creditors, while
the Britifh minifters were boldly meeting the evil of
war, with taxes more than fufficient to borrow the fums
neceffary to carry it on.

By fimilar means, our prefent minifter has increafed
our public credit, at the expence of the people, whofe
patience, if it be not interrupted or deftroyed by fome
violent exertion, may enable him and his fucceflors, to
fatisfy the moneyed intereft of Britain, and by the price
of the funds to keep up the fpirits of the people, who
confider thefe as the barometers of public profperity.

- France,.on the other hand, by diverting the fifty-five
millions of annual revenue allotted to the payment of in-
tereft and capital of debt to carry on a war, have now a
deficit amounting to that fum, which has rendered a
revolution unavoidable. Itis needlefs to talk to orators
about finances, but fuch ought not to imagine that de-
clamation will pay debts; or prevent the neceflity of
a change of Government, when that which exifts is found
unequal to the prefervation of the community. This
diverfion of revenue in France has proved the caufe of
a change, however, that I truft will difappoint the
croaking auguries of thofe monarchical gentlemen who
are pleated to dignify themfelves with the title of the old
whigs of England: ’
‘ (To be conthiued. )

“ Whether Iam praifed or blamed, fays a Chinefe
fage, I make it of ufe to my advancement in virtue.
Thofe who commend me, I conceive to point out the

way I ought to go; thofe who blame me; as telling me .

the dangers T have run. sta fa

—oo

£79%: TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 9

TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS,
f Continued from Vol. IP”. p.2.96.)

Or the common people in this part of France,—the
men are generally robuit and well limbed,—the women
neat, and well dreffed. They are remarkable for what
the French call bien coiffe,” that is, a pretty head
drefs ;—but neither of them have the healthy counte-
nances and frefh complexions of our cougtry people and
villagers. Youvery rarely fee thofe fine creatures we
call borry laffes, and blooming lads. The provifions for
living are fufficiently plentiful here, and, in feveral artis
cles, good,—-particularly lamb, mutton, pidgeons,
hares, partridges, &c. The beef is not good,—and we
are not pleafed with the poultry, unlefs we feed them
ourfelves, or bring them from diitant parts. They have
yery few cows, and no proper pafture for them, except
en diftant hills; fo we can have little milk or butter
_ that is tolerable.—I had very good butter of cows milk
fent me from Toulon, three times a week, at the rate of
- about two fhillings per pound.—They might have plenty
and variety of excellent fith from the Mediterranean; but
their native fithers are miferably deficient, both in {kill
and induftry.—During every {pring feafon the Genoefe
carry on a profitable and very confiderable trade of fithing
on this coaft, in the beft manner,-—and even fupply the
French markets: thus thofe republicans, with {uperior
enterprife and induftry, excited and fupported by wife
preemmeacnenits and regulations of the ftate, like the

utch on our coafts, divert to themfelves thofe fources
of plenty and wealth which naturally belong to our own
‘people. Men interefted in the people’s profperity, and
intelligent in the means to promote it govern republics,
Kings and courtiers are chiefly ftudious of their own
fecurity, and for that they rely en the force of merce»

Vat. V. + B

‘To - ‘TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS: = Septiwy

nary armies, and the influence of mercenary priefts. A
Frederick rarely, Very rarely exits} 2 Monarch who
had capacity to conceive, and virtue to practice the
golden rule of government,—That ‘the people’s profpe-
rity is the only fure fowadation of a.monarch’s honour and
inter efte inves ; Teak
- Phe horfe I’ purchafed ‘at: #is! ferves’ me well ;—
for ‘amufement, exercife, change of air, I frequently
jnake jaunts upon him as far as Toulon, | there be-
came acquainted with a Vonf. Caffarilli, liedtenant of

a ‘king’s -fhip y from “his company and converfation I»

jave derived is:uch pleafure and information.—I alfo
had the good fortune here to be further acquainted with
the celebrated Abbe Raynal.--At the age of feventy-four;
he has, for fome years, lived with an-extraordinary ab-
ftinence of dict.t“He drinks no fermented liquors, and
fubfifts “Altogether on cow’s-milk and bread; by this

regimen he-enjoys perfect héalth’and high fpirits ; he |

talks inceffantly, ‘but is conftantly ‘entertaining, ‘often
inftructive ; and in converfation “he exprefles: himfelf
with the fame propriety and peffpicuity as he does ia
his writings: ) bobs yas Beal ei ar
‘~~ The many good offices of my banker’ Frances. Grenety
And other gentlemen of this country, confirm an opinion
ZT have formed of the French ‘character in general,
that they are:not merely polite, but really friendly and
beneficent-—A Monf. Bouffe, at' Hyeres, is. remarkable
for obliging attention ‘to ftrangers, -efpecially the Bri+
tifh—He has-‘imeritéd my regard’ by numberlefs good
éificés.—-I found him engaged in a projeét of building
~ anew and commodious hotel, in’ an’excellent fituation,
I difcovered ‘that his finances were rather “deficient,
and I granted fome aid,--I hope it ‘thall profper.""
©“During my ‘refidence at” Hyeres T have’ amufed my

felf very agreeably, and effectually, in making collections:

of natural‘Curiofities; fhells andother maritime bodies,

foffils, fpars; and minérals.’ In this favourite object

srs réingrkebly “afftted: by my! old Scotith fervent
» , SS ae

¢

Hot. 2 TRAVELLING WEMORANDUMS. ti

James s—he difcovers a natural taftey which excites art
extraordinary keenefs arid itiduftty in his‘ fearches. As
often'as he could be'f{pared \he traverfed the coafts and
hills, far and near, returning always with ftores,—-many
of them’ rate .of) pretty..'"Some of my Frénch ac«
quantan¢és, obferving his merit in this\and other fingu-
larities, joined to avery uripoliflied appearance, called |
him te fige favage,—the wife Savage. In the courfe
of! thefe excurfions he ‘met: witli Waridus? adventures;
‘ forme of them odd,‘dndJudicrous enough? I fhould re-
late them at full lengthy: were difpofed:to ¢mitate the
éxamplevof niinute travellersy’ who wiite’ fof the famé
and ‘profitof ample publications. I was fiade acquaint?
éd witha Pere Urban, a dominican prieft:of the con-
vent of St. Piérre, at Toulon; ‘he had eolle&téd a {malt
eabinetof natural hiftoryy/ which was for fale, I pur-
chafed the ‘moft part of it.. “After this commerce with
himiy he“appearéd to be‘attached to me, madé me~re-
peated! wifits here,‘ and afittéd me in other purchafes.’
Phad fome proofs éf his kindiiefs, and fone of his craft.
Upon the whole, howeverjwe were mutually well pleaf!
6d.) He’ amafed!me, ‘and-F believe I paid®him in a
mantet! fufficiently’ Jiberal ‘and! comfortable.’ I muff
againimake honourable mention of a‘barber.—He fer!
ved me ‘at ‘this place,—his name “is ALon/. Arena ;—f
fét i#down for recolléQion, if ever I fhould réturn here,
and that I may recommend him‘to others, for ke is an’
excellent ‘honeft fellow.’ He was an amateur of na-
tural hiftory ; he: fométimes volunteered as a. guide
to’ James, and -otherwife ‘materially affifted me ;—
at “length he fuggefted a’ fhrewd experiment, which’
I fhall try:in other retired’ fituations; though it may
feem -whimfical it fucceedédwell/ . He publifhed a pro-
¢lamation bythe’ commen cryer in the village, and
» “neighbourhood, that a foreign gentleman, whofe place
_ of refidence he exprefied;was willing to pay reafonably
~ for all articles of natural hiftory, which were partly
- Specified. liad daily, and very amufing: levees, chiefly cr
B2

12 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS.- — Sep. 145

failors and fifhers, or their widows and kindred, from
whom I purchafed, at moderate rates, with God’s blef-
fing into the bargain, many curious articles, from the
Eaft and Weft [ndies,as well as the Mediterranean coast
and from. the mines and quarries of this country.—In
the courfe of my dealings for collecting articles of nae
tural hiftory I met with a yery innocent adventure,
which both entertained and interefted me much.—Mifs
F———h, a young lady of the Britifh party here, equally
amiable by elegance of perfon and manners, recom~
mended to my attention a Spanith Lady of fingular
fortune and aralets whom fhe countenanced and
patronifed from the pureft difpofitions of a good heart,
This Spanith lady’s name is Madame Raquier, now paft |
fixty years of age; when young and handfome the wag
married to a Frenchman, who had a good land eftate
in this country, and carried on trade for many years,
at Cadiz, with eyery appearance of fucceis and grow-
ing affluence; they had no child, Having fettled his
land eftate on arelation who lives at Toulon, in truft
wholly for behoof of this lady, his wife, he died about
ten yearsago, There is reafon to doubt if this truft
was. faithfully adminiftrated; however that may be;
the fact is, that all his effects. in Spain were feized by
his creditors there, and the adminiftrator in this coun-
try having fold the land eftate, rendered an account,
that all was exhaufted by debts and expences of ma-
nagement ;—fo that, when the lady arrived here, im
full expe€tation of an eafy fortune, fhe found herfelf
deftitute even of common neceflaries, in a country
where fhe was entirely a ftranger. A prieft, who was -
chaplain to her, family, when in opulence, had, about

this time been fettled in a {mall living near Hyeres ;—~

with him fhe has ever fince been entertained, She

works diligently at fine laces, and thereby contributes

to their fupport. She has made his little habitation

the moft exquifitely elegant cottage, I believe, in the ,
world,—I have repeatedly vifited it with freth adnair«

1791s «TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. ~ 3

ation. She has born this fevere and unexpeéted reverfe
of fortune, with fuch firmnefs of mind and chearful
fpirit, that fhe is highly refpected, and commonly cal-
led Ja femme forte, or the brave woman. I found it no
eafy matter to afford her a moderate relief, without of-
fending her delicacy. She obftinately declined to re-
ceive any thing as a prefent, or charity; but by Mifs
Fs prudent and humane mediation, I purchafed
from her fome choice articles of natural hiftory, even
below an adequate price. I with to give her fome far-
ther fupply, but I doubt itis impracticable ; and fo does
Mifs Fh. [have frequently converfed with her ;
her fenfe and fingular pleafantry quite charmed me.
A good poet might make her, at leaft 4 match for the
man of Rofs; an excellent character, but too artificially
drawn by Pope. ¢
_ No mifer can accumulate pelf with more avidity than
I do thefe articles of natural hiftory.—I have accepted,
without any feruple or ceremony, many prefents from,
erfons of condition,—particularly from the Duchefs
of Saxe Gotha, and Lady D-s~s, who have promifed
to give me more; froma French bifhop, occafionally
here, a veryrefpectable and pleafant man ; from Madame
Bourgare, my friend, Mr Jaumes, and Monf. Roberts, a
very worthy curate here, who has a good living; from
my countrymen Mr N—t ; honeft MrF——h, &c. On
my tranfaCtions in natural hiftory I make this remark,
that if money mifers underftood their own intereft right~
ly, they would aét liberally,—-whereby the rich may
be induced to make them prefents, and the poor to give
them penneyworths. :
Tam in the courfe of perufing Mollier’s admirable
comedies :—TI have juft read the Mifer. In a collece
tion of works by an author of original genius, we are
d to form our judgment, and decide for ourfelves
this queftion—which is the beft piece or chef @aewvres,
‘True genius refembles the power of cloquence,—in
which the laft fpeaker is predominant. Whew I have

t4 ‘TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. | Sep: 15)
jufteread one of SHakefpear’s capital plays, I’think it
“his beft, till Dread another: at this moment I think
thes4vare is Mollier’s beft comedy ;—I may alter my opi-
nion: without abating myeftimation of it, when I fuc-
eeifively perufethe Tartuffe, andthe Mifanthrope, &c.—
We may obferve in ‘real Jife, that if the mo% notorious
milér had fenfe enough to avoid certain pitiful, trifling,
andscontemptible’favings, ‘he might be allowed to me-
rit the character of a wife. and cautious man.—Mol-
lier’s* mifer) would’ pafs for a. rational good old many
prudently: reftraining the’excefies of his inconfiderate
and unexperienced children.—If. :you. retrench thofe
grof{s.and ridiculous fooleries, which indeed are infe-
parable from the ‘nature,of avaricei—His /ending, in
place of giving a good day, feems outre; but he-is truly
natural and comic, when he gives his fteward dire€tions
abcutythe entertainment. ©“ Plenty‘of foup mai — to
<écloy their {tomachs.;. and provide what' may-ferve a
“company of eight, which will-be fulficien t ‘for twelve
or fourteen.” . tne
)»Harpagon’s ludicrous agitations on di Gedney of the
robber y havea remarkable: and very curious refemblance .
to: Shakefpeare’s Shylock ‘on ‘a‘fimiliar oceafion.. Itis _
pleafant.to mark fuch comparifons of genius in differ-
ent countrics. Here the fimilitudeis delightfully ftrikimg.
« Fyeres, March 20, 1787. bift of. French books,
occafionally’ rebsingdeended by intelligent friends here:
— Montaigne—V oltaire’s edition of Corsieilley—Racine;
Crebillon—M ollier e— Boitequ— Diiionaire raifonnce uni=
wérfel d Hiffoire naturelle, par Monf. Vainont, feven
volumes—Voyage d’un amateur des arts,—Elemens de
Phiffoire de France, 3 vols. par [Abbé Milot—Memoires
de chimie, par Monf. Sage—Hifroire d Efpagne, par Ma-
riana—Hyiftoire de Henri quatre, par Perefixe-—Tableau
de Paris, many vols.—Guide des amateurs et des etrans
gers vayeageures a Paris—Schruchzer’s natural hiftory
of Switzerland.—Monf. Jaume promifes toigive me a
lift of the moft efteemed memoirs and trahflations in
the iaeaths language.

$79t.°. TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. ~ - rg

March 23. This day I was joined by my nephew,
—am excellent companion—and we immediately fet
out on our return northward. In pafling at Toulon
we vifited Mr. and Mrs. Ck}. who, for fome time,

_were yery agreeable members of our Britifh party at
Hyeres ;—and I finally fettled my commerce withthe
prieft. —

March 30,1787. Marfeilles;—we are fome* days
very agreeably here. My ftores of natural hiftory col-
Ye&ted in thofe parts.are now carefully packed in fif=
teen or fixteen cafes, and fhipped, by my banker, for
London *. +I alfo revifited Monf. Colet’s fine cabinet,
with a letter of tecommendation from Madam Bour-
gare. 1 fhall ever warmly remember his kindnefs,
and with for any proper occafion of a grateful return.
He prefented to mea cafket, containing a felect, though
frnall colleétion ‘of curious and rare* articles in natural
hiftory ;—and on the footing of a liberal and friendly
commerce, I received from him a lift of articles which
he defired to have from different parts of Great Britain.
Moft unhappily I have miflaid this lift, and earneftly
with, by the mediation of fome obliging and good na-
tured traveller, to have it replaced, that I may be en-:
abled to pay what I may properly call a debt of honour.
For my own recollection, and to'inform other curious
travellers, I fet down that during this fhort ftop: at
Marfeilles I hadifome. ufeful:commerce with a new
acquaintance, a‘ fair dealer: in natural: hiftory ;—his

-“pame and addrefs is— Th. Ville, au coin de la caribiers

vers le ti a Marfeilles. } st
ac: c: me

BA% tris certainly one,/and ‘a remarkable pri (though in: ay i
Prance of little moment), of the eftablifhed regularity and fafety of com-
} merce, that, though I purchafed numberlef articles of natural hiftory,

“through the whole’ courfe of my exténfive travels, and left them in
4 arcels to the charge of many different merchants, to he fent by various
bunnels to different ports in Britain, I have fufered! no lof or eny-
; Acment gvortby of mention ; almoft alls how are in my potletiion. «.

oe ws > Sle aG :

16 QuINTus TO MARCUS TULLIUS crckRO. Sept. 14

To the Editor of the Bee.
Sir,
My tranfiations of the Letters to Capito and He/zi-
dius Prifcus have been fo well received by your readers
that I meditate the publication of the originals, to-
gether with the whole of the volume in which they
are contained.

Doubts, I find, are entertained of their authenti- —
city, which will be removed by putting the learned in
noflefion of the manufcript, by depofiting it in the —
Britith Mufeum, and printing a copy of it, without
deviation from the text. Meantime I fend you a
tranflation of an Epiltle from Quintus to his brother
Marcus Cicero, which bears internal evidence of its ©
being one of thofe written from the Camp in Britain, ©
to which Tully refers in his 17. of the 4. b. to Aticcus, |
and the 3. Ad. Quintum fratrem, 1. § 7. 1am Si,
with regard,

your humble Servant.
A. B.

You are defirous, my excellent brother, that I fhould
give you a minute account of the progrefs of our affairs
in this ifland, and of my own particular fituation; but
Cxfar being now returned to the army in Gaul, and
the weight of military. affairs having fallen on my
fhoulders, hardly can IJ find fufficient leifure to write,
or opportunity to enquire concerning thefe things
that might amufe you, as I did heretofore, when, like
Trebatius, I confidered myfelf rather as a gueft and
companion, than an affociate in the command and au-
thority of the emperor. Indeed fo little occafion has
there been for civil arrangements in the communities
that have been brought under the Roman dominion by
Cefar, that Trebatius enjoys his books and his fogiad

“2791 QUINTUS TO M. TULLIUS CICERO: 7

pleafures in Gaul, while Iam looking forward anxiouf-

ly for the return of a meflenger from the Emperor,

that I may prepare the troops for marching to the

fhore, and the reception of hoftages for the preferva-

tion of fidelity, before our re-embarkation and return
to the continent.

Few are the objects, my dear brother, in this favage
ifland, that can contribute to the amufement of a po-
lite {fcholar, but many to excite the attention and con-
templation of a philofopher. Here you behold rude Na-
ture in her primitive and awfully interefting forms and
varieties, and mankind, as it were, in its cradle, begin-
ning only to lifp the feeble accents of the focial lan-
guage that will call hereafter for laws and ‘for police to,
unite them happily with the miftrefs and paironefs of
nations. | ,

To thefe objects, therefore, I have turned the whole
of my attention during my feparation from Crefar 5
having had the choice of my own quarters, and with a
ftrong guard, and with gifts to obviate the danger of
devious excurfions, enquired diligently into the nature
‘of the foil, and fituation, and manners, of the country.
Nor have I been negleétful of examining the religion
and language of the people, which diifer lefs than you
would imagine from thofe of our anceftors, as related
in the Sybilline ‘Tables, and yet to be traced in the
language and manners of Magna Grecia, and the other
extreme provinces of Italy. be
_ The temples of the Britains are raifed in the depths
of woods, conftructed in a circular form, with obilifes
of ftone, over which are impofts of the fame material,
‘and all of huge dimenfions, untouched by the chiffel.

_ One of thefe I faw, while it was ereCting by the rude
and unfkilful hands of the natives, as a peace-offering
their Grianus, or Apoilo, to mediate the good offices

Cefar.

» The huge ftones of which it was compofed lay fcat-
eed by the hand of Nature on the plain; thefe, with
6. Vou. V. + c

5 .

18 QUINTUS to M. TULLIUS CICERO. Sept. 145

myriads, of the votaries of the god, to afford their _
labour, the high prieft, who dire€ted the operations,
caufed to be rolled up upon inclined planes of folid
earth, which were formed from the excavation of
trenches, until they were brought to a heighth |
equal to their own altitude; then pits having been
dug, they were launched from the terrace, and funk
fo as to ftand perpendicularly at due and equal
diftances in the circle, and over them were placed
others horizontally; and after having compleated one
circle they form another that is concentric, at fome
diftance, and towards the extremity of the area of the
inner circle, they place a huge ftone for the perform-
ance of their religious rites. When the fun enters the
fign of Cancer is their great feftival of the god: and
on all the high mountains and eminences of the country
they light fires at the approach of that day, and make
their wives, their children, and their cattle, to pafs ©
through the fire in honour of the deity. Deep and
profound is the filence of the multitude during this ce~
remony, until the appearance of the fun above the ho-
rizon, when, with loud and continued exclamations, —
and fongs of joy, they hail the utmoft exaltation of —
that tranfcendant luminary, as the fupreme triumph of —
the god of their adoration.
From the Eaft, they fay, they drew their original 5
and their religion actually refembles that of the Hyper-
borean nations.’ In their temples, furrounded by ve- —
nerable and deep forefts, and adjoining to pools of wa- —
ter, they annually worfhip, (by wafhing in’ the living ©
itreams) a rude image, reprefentative of the mother of §
the gods, and giver of fruitful feafons. ‘This goddefs §
they-call Andateé, or Anaité, and her temples are moft J
facred. By her they fwear, to her they offer facrifices,
and by her name I caufed them to vow fidelity to the
commonwealth. Into ten tribes they are divided in
their refpeCtive communities ; and to the king, who is
alfo king of the facred things, ‘as well as fupreme go-
vernor, is allotted the tenth of all the fruits of the

T7911, ~ QUINTUS TO M. TULLIUS CICERO, 19

earth, from which he maintains the government and
the priefts, with all the coftly apparatus of their reli-
gious ceremonies, their facrifices, and their proceflions.
Other contributions, to the king or to the priefts\they
, know not, nor will they fuffer, except on the marriages
of the fons and daughters of their chiefs *.

Their two great divinities, which, by different names
and rites they diligently worfhip, are the heavens and
the earth +. ;

Perfons who arrogate to themfelves the knowledge
of future events they have, and thefe, covered with
goats fkins, and lying proftrate on the ground, utter
ftrange, confufed oracles, which, when refufed, they
are extorted sby blows-given by rods, or by the pizzles
of bulls, prepared for the purpofe, until they become
propitious to the votaries.

Concerning the language I can only fay that it re-
fembles that of Gau!, with a mixture of what has been
infufed by mariners, who have for ages frequented the
fhores in fearch of the precious metals ; and that Ihave,
by the aid of my interpreters, difcovered a great many
words that exactly refemble the ancient dialects of
Italy, of which I give you the following, without pre-
tending to fhape the barbarous founds of their lan-
guage to a Roman ear; nor, as they are unacquainted
with the art of writing, to make them intelligible to
the eye,

* This origin and intention of tythes is highly interefting and curi-
‘ous, and deferves to be maturely weighed by ecclefiaftical antiquaries.
Af ever the neceffities of modern times fhould render a chaage unavoid-
_ able in the difpofal of the revenues of the church of England, [beg leave
‘to obferve, that without facrilege, the venerable clergy of England
“might, upon recurring to their ancient and indefeafible right of tythes,
_be obliged to maintain the king and the civil government, to the infi-
| ae eafe and comfort of the people, and glory of the church.
§ ¢ “ Duanuming que precipue Colunt, Terram et Ccelum variis no-

he minibus et nitibus diverfis, ubique reperimus,” tc,

7

Z ‘ C.2 \-

20 QUINTUS TOM. TULLIUS cicrRo. Sept. 14,

A River, A Horfe.
A Fife, A Bull,

A Whale Dignity,

4 Man, Heighth,

And many others, which hafte will not permit me to
mention in this Letter. May the gods’enable me to ©
beftow my time better than in unfolding the barbarous —
manners of a barbarous people, and reftore me quickly
to the feats of philofophy and empire. Farewell, my —
Marcus; take care of your health, and may your life
iong remain for the fafety of the commonwealth.

XV of the Kalends of September.

* Ad Fines cum Excercitu. —

-
——

To the Editor of the Bee.

ORSERVATIONS ON FROISSART.
Sir,

I am highly pleafed, (andIam fure fo will every friend |
to literature in Europe,) with the communication of the —
particulars relating to Mr. Johnes’s valuable Books and ©
MSS. and Linvite you in the name of many refpedctable
readers of your Mifcellany, to be free and frequent in
the publication of fuch notices, becaufe they will lead
to the compofition of new hiftorical works that will —
contain new views of human nature, to enrich philofo-
phy and politics, and not merely to fafcinate the ear «ff
or the eye with the tinfel of fine periods, or the melo-*
dy of high founding antjthefis. When Lord Auchin-
leck was firft told of Dr Robertfon’s hiftory of Charles
the Fifth being publifhed, ‘« Well, (faid he), I fancy it
“¢ will be nothing but a new toot upon ane auld horn.”
Now, really, Mr Editor, notwithftanding Lord Auchin-
leck’s perfifflage upon horns, I fhould like to take a toat
upon honeft Froiflart’s auld horn, without attempting
any new toot of my own, and hope the repeated expref-

I7Q1. ON FROISSART. 21

fion of a general defire to fee that book in 2 genteel
Englith drefs, will produce an edition of him, for
which, if a fubfcription be neceflary, I have no doubt
of its being fuccefsful. Hayley’s chara€ter of him
might, with . great propriety, be placed in the front of
‘a new tranflation.

*« Here Courtefy, with generous Valour join’d,
Fair twins of Chivalry! rejoice to find
© A faithful Chronicler in plain Froiffart ;
“* As rich in honefty as void of art.
** As the young peafant, led by fpirits keen
“ To fome great city’s gay and gorgeous fcene,
«© Returning with increafe of proud delight, '
* Dwells on the various fplendour of the fight ;
* And gives his tale, tho’ told in terms uncouth,
“« The charm of Nature, and the force of Truth.
“ Tho’ rude, engaging; fuch thy fimple page
«Seems, O Froiffart! to this enlightened age.
“ Proud of their {pirit, in thy writings fhown,
‘© Fair Faith and Honour mark thee for their own;
** Tho’ oft the dupe of thofe delufive times,
“ Thy genius, foftered with romantic rhymes.
* “© Appears to play the legendary bard,
“ And trefpafs on the truth it meant to guard.
« Still fhall thy name, with lafting glory, ftand
§© High on the lift of that advent’rous band;
“ Who, bidding Hiftory fpeak a modern tongue,
“« From her cramp’d ‘hand the Monkith fetters flung,
* While yet deprefs’d in Gothic nigh€ fhe lay,
* Nor faw th’ approaching dawn of Attic day.”

Iam, Sir, with regard,
HISTORIOPHILOS,

To the Editor of the Bee.

ON THE NEW BRIDEWELL.
Sir,
By a claufe in the lately obtained Bridewell-A&t for
_ this county and city, it is enacted, That towards the an-
_ nual expence of that inflitution, there fhall be levied
1s. on each houfe valued at 5]. and upwards, and Is. on
¢ach plowgate of land.

22 NEW BRIDEWELL. Sept. 14,

By a pamphlet lately publithed relating to the free-
holders in Scotland, it appears, that in this county the
number of freeholders is 85. Suppofing each of them
to pofiefs a houfe liable to the above tax, the fum, in
whole, that can be levied upon the fréeholders of Mid-
Lothian for the. fupport of the Bridewell, will be an-
nually Four Pounds Five Shillings Sterling.

By a ftate of the public road funds, printed about
four years ago, it appears that the number of plowgates
in this county is 1170.

Thus the zenants, or proprietors in the capacity of
farmers, will have to pay for the fame purpofe 581. 10s.
that is, nearly fourteen times more than the lairds.

I would be glad to know on what principle of equity.
the above affeflment is thus laid on?

When the firft turnpike road affeffment was inftitu-
ted in this county, the gentry of that age had the mo-
defty to get themfelves exempted from its influence.
The gentry of the prefent day, to their honour be it
f{poken, act with more magnanimity and gencrofity ;
they difdain to lay the whole burden on their tenants,
they have, on the contrary, with much liberality, fo

_ contrived this bufinefs of the Bridewell, that from an
annual revenue of above 100,000l. Sterling, they are
to pay collectively the very confiderable fum of Pour
Pounds and Five Shillings per Annum!

Mid-Lothian,

ENANT,
Aug. 10, 1791. Pa Bal

To the Editor of the Bee. ;
On the Benefits to be derived from the general Diffufion
of Knowledge.
SIR, -

{ REJOICE to find your Literary Journal in fo good a
train. I hope nothing will now obftruét this ufeful

1791. BENEFITS OF KNOWLEDGE. 24

work. We have lived to fee fome part of the value of
the general diffufion of knowledge. Your fons will
ftill fee more extenfively its happy effets. Reafon
and Truth are the natural rulers of mankind, when
the obftructions between their throne and their fubjects
are fairly removed. Defpotifm and Vice, their na-
tural enemies, will flee before them, and’Europe be-
come a garden peopled with Adams and Eves, before
their fall. I have never relifhed the doétrine of moral
evil being a neceflary part of the fyftem. What many
individuals avoid, may be avoided by all. We fhali
by and by get a hunting of Happinefs inftead of Riches,
and fee people efteemed for the tranquillity of their
_ minds inftead of the extent of their poffeffions. I
look alfo for another beneficial effe€t from the improve-
ment of the moral fyftem. ‘That the higheft and low-
eft orders of the ftate will learn to adapt their ftile of
living fo exactly to their circumftances as to live hap-
pily, and within bounds. I mention the extremes, be-
caufe it is precifely thefe who refemble each other the
moft in the diftrefs of their circumftances, it being al-
moft as difficult to manage a great asa little income.
How rarely, and how imperfe@tly do we find the art
of ceconomics treated amidtt all our publications, though
a favourite topic among the ancients, and leading toin-
finitely more important confequences in common life
than many of the higher branches of philofophy.
Gunnery tells us how to point cannon of all calibers ;
ceconomics would teach us alfo the range of our for-
tuncs, what could, and what couid not be attained by
them. Adam Smith fhews clearly the wealth of na-
tions depends upon the ceconomy of individuals; and
_ that a ftate muft grow rich when each of its inhabi-
tants faves annually fomething of his income. I find
I have got on a topic that it would require a volume to
unfold all my ideas upon, or a month to comprefs them
into the fize of a letter. I would have plans of houfes,
lifts of fervants, wines and meats, cloaths and equi-

24 - BENEFITS OF KNOWLEDGE. Sept. 144

page for every flage of fortune, from sooool. to the ,
loweft income of the ftate, calculations of expence,
mathematical demonftrations to fhew a man on fonkg
ing at the ftile of his houfe, and lift of his fervants,
that he muit be ruined; to foretell the precife mo-
ment, to prefcribe, the certain remedy. Somet hing very
popular, and quite new, might be done on this fub-
je&t by Genius and Induftry. A book of this fort
would be as much bought, and perhaps now a days
more read thanthe bible. Give us fomething of ‘this
fort when you can find leifure for it in the Bee.

Ant B: :'T:

Detached Obfervations. =

THE prefence of thefe whom we have injured, and
who have generoufly pardoned us, is in almoft all cafes
difagreeable, even where we do not hate them; be-
~caufe it brings back the recolle€tion of a fault commit-
ted, and of a benefit received ;—a fault which has be-
come the more humiliating for us by the benefit which
has fucceeded it. We fee in them our benefactor,
and the witnefs of cur injuftice. We fee them
placed fo much above ourfelves, that the thought is -
too humiliating for human nature not to prove ex-
tremely unpleafant. We never ought to offend any
perfon ; becaufe that is unjuft, and becaufe the offence is
afource of reciprocal enmities. Sometimes we break with:

thofe whom we have offended, without their breaking «|

with us; we hate them ae hicie their ceafing to love us.
There are many occafions when it would not be yery
unreafonable in us fay, I conjure you to forget and to par-
don me for the injury you have done me.

Tt is a mark of a great mind to be able cordially to
efteem, and have a finccre friendfhip for the perfon
whom we have once confiderably injured. Such a
mind alone can gpmprehend the polhibality of fincerely
forgiving the offence, and of courfe be fatisfied that
the marks of friendthip beftowed are not effaced.

1791. POETRY. 25

j

One of the greateft beauties Scotland ever produced happened to
live in Edinburgh fome years ago, oppofite to a gentleman, who
was fully fenfible of her charms. ~ The illufion was mutual,
but contrary to the opinion of their parents. The Lady ufed
to open her window /butters, and placed the candle to be feen
by the lover. He haftened with the eagerne/s of youth and im-
patience ; but unfortunately the firft fignal was difconcerted by
the unexpected vifit of the mmiden aunt, which occafioned the

| taper to be put out. The Verfes below were fent ive next day
by a Cady.

VERSES to a Lady by ber Lover, who thought fhe jilted bim.

Woauen Hero from the watch tow’r head
» Her taper light difplay’d ;
With’eager hafte Leander fped,
And fought his beauteous maid.
But foon, alas! black ftorms arife,
White waves on high are toft 5
By ruffian winds the taper dies,
And poor Leander’s loft.
A piteous tale! unhappy youth!
_ How cruel was thy fate !
Who for thy conftancy and truth
_ Awatery grave didft meet.

Wretched indeed ! but think, dear maid,
Who doft thefe lines perufe,

Hero her taper ne’er difplay’d,
Leander to refufe.

;
The Honey Moon. A Song.

‘Wuen maidens enter into life,
And blufhing Mifs becomes the wife, ©
The female heart’s in tune ;
When love beat’s high, and reafon’s hid,
And dearie does whate’er he’s bid,
Then {prings the Honey Moon.
D 1)

Vol. V.

26

POETRY, - Sept. 14,

‘When trinkets, rings, and fuch bijoux,

Are bought to pleafe the lovely fpoufe ;
And jaunts are made to town 3

‘When fmiles bedeck the pleafing face,

The new caught husband fhines with grace,
More bright the Honey Moon.

- When all is mutual, all is love,

The maid a turtle or a dove ;

And morning peeps too foon :
The youthful pair inereafe in charms, ’
And breathe love in each other’s arms,

Full orb’d the Honey Moon.

When reafon through a cloud is feen,
And bufinefs wakens from a dream,

And Auguft thinks on June;
When family matters call for aid,
The wife fits ealy on the maid,

And wanes the Honey Moon.

When orders come from lips fo {weet,
And, money, money, they repeat,
And miftrefs dare prefume,
The fetter’d lover feels his chains,
And ftruggles but t” encreafe his pains,
Then droops the Honey Moon.

When, “ Sir you muft come in at three,
«¢ There’s company to dine with me,”
And hufband’s brows fall down ;
Then madam rules with iron rod, ;
And purfe and patience feels the load,
Then fets the Honey Moon.

Let reafon’s planet then be bright,
?Twill gild the lonely. winter’s night
With friendfhip’s cheary bloom :
No family broils will cry aloud ;
Good nature’s fun peeps through the cloud,
Nor changes like the Moon.
; EXPERIENCE.

r7or. TYTLER’S CALLIMACHUS, 27

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR, :
Franxty acknowledging the decided fuperiority of the Englith
nation over the Scots ever fince the age of Buchanan, in erudi-

tion, in claffical tafte, and in all the departments of laborious

inveftigation, I beg leave, through the medium of your refpec-
table Mifcellany, to recommend to the attention of that furpaf-
fing and generous nation, the undertaking of Dr Tytler, of
Brechin, to put the works of Callimachus in an Englith
drefs, with the tafte and fpirit of the original, and to exhibit
the firft fpecimen of fo great a claflical work attempted in
Scotland, of which'I take the liberty of communicating two of
the Epigrams, which have been handed to me by the author.
J am, Sir, &c.
. ALBANICUS-

EPIGRAM XXII. BEING CALLIMACHUS’S OWN EPITAPH.

Whror’sr with hallow’d feet approaches near,
Behold Callimachus lies buried here.

I drew my birth from fam’d Cyrene’s fhore,
And the fame name my fon and father bore.
My warlike fire, in arms, much glory won,
But brighter trophies grac’d his favour’d fon ;
Lov’d by the tuneful nine he fweetly fung, .
And ftopt the venom of th’ invidious tongue:
For whom the Mufe beholds, with fav’ring eyes,
In early youth, fhall ne’er in age defpife.

EPIGRAM XXIV.

Cleombrotus, high on a rock
Above Ambracia ftood,

Bade Sol adieu, and as he fpoke
Plung’d headlong in the flood.

From no mifchance the leap he took,

’ But fought the realms beneath ;

Becaufe he read in Plato’s book
That fouls live after death,

‘ . ft 7
28 SILK REARED IN SCOTLAND.

!

Intelligence concerning Arts.

SILK REARING IN SCOTLAND.

[r is a true obfervation, that “ example is more powerful —

than precept,” 4nd in ‘regard to arts aud improvements, ‘there
are unanfwerable reafons may be urged why it cuyht ever to
be adhered to as an invariable rule of conduct. On this
principle, I cannot help congratulating the public in being
now able to ‘announce, that I have now in my poffeffion-a
fwatch* of the firft web of filk that ever was made in Britaint,
of materials reared entirely in this country.—Mr Andrew

Wright of Paifley has the merit of having fet the example of the -

practicability of this undertaking, as appears by the fellowing
Jetter. When this fhall become a great national objeét of at-
tention, which it undoubtedly will be in time, I hope the
name of this patriotic gentleman will be celebrated, ‘as that of

Beukelfzoon in the Netherlands, whofe tomb was vifited by —

the Great Emperor Charles V: as one of the principal
benefactors of his country, by having taught his ‘fubjets the

* Tam aware I here make ufe of a term, that may perhaps be
accounted Scotch, that is wearing out of fafhion, I think, very

improperly. One, who affected to write fine language, would —

have faid a-partern;.but_a pattern properly. means a thing that is

exhibited-tor the fake of being imitated by a workman; itcould |

not properly have been uted in this fenfe here, as it was not
fent to me for that purpofe, Why thould we confound words?
we fay a ample of grain, and a fevatch of cloth, both implying
that a {mall portion is taken froma larger, to fhow what quali-
ty it is of. I fhall not be furprifed to fee fome affected perfon
fay an example of grain.—Why banifh words from the language
that contain diftinét ideas? A man would be reckoned an
ignoramus, who fhould now make ufe of the word bundle. He

appropriated meaning, different from bundle.

+ I fay Britain ; for although the Society of Arts in the Strand
have, for feveral years paft, advertifed a confiderable premium
for rearing filk in England, Ihave not yet heard that ever they
have had any of it made intoa aued. nae

mutt forfooth fay parce), although that word has a diftinét and —

“Sept. 146 z

se

¥

:

T7QUs: | SILK REARED IN SCOTLAND. 29

art ®f curing herrings, which had in the courfe of ages be-
come a fource of great wealth and profperity to the nation.
Nor Jet thofe who have not turned their attention to mat-
ters of this nature, look upon this enterprife with any eye of
‘defpondence as a diftant event :—improvements, when once be-
gun upon rational foundations, advance withimmenfe rapidity.
It is not above fifteen or fizteen years, fince the writer of this
article found a man, who, with much labour and ingenuity,
difcovered' a method of weaving a {mall web entirely of cotton,
fo fine as to be fit for being ufed as cravats.x—This was thought
before that to be impoffible, and it'was looked-upon as a great
curicfity—yet, fo rapid has the improvement in this refpeé&
been, that Britifh muflins are now brought into competition:
with the fineft that have been made in India; and it has be
come a great and growing manufafture, and an object of im-
menfe national importance. The late King of Pruffia, I have
‘already remarked, began to introduce the rearing of filk in his
dominions, about, as nearly as I:can recolle@, the year 1760,
and he had the {atisfaétion to live to fee that it had beeome a
very great national obje&.—His Prime Minifter, Count Hertz-
berg, gives the following account’of it in the year 1785: “¢'The
*¢ fk manufactures in Pruffia, fays he, employ more than
000 perfons, who manufadture to the value of above two
millions, and who fabricated laft year at Berlin, 1,200,250
ells of ftuffs, and 400,000 ells of~gaufe : they'employed above
700,000 pounds of raw filk, of which a fixth part is already
the produce of the country.. The produce of filk im the year
7784 in the Proffian’ eftates, including ‘Silefia; was 1 32432 1.
of which ‘the great ‘part is very fine, and equal to that ‘of £ France
and the ordinary fitks of Italy. —
| “ What is faid above, only, comprehends the samba
‘of Berlinand the Marche: we have, befides thefe, at Crefelat,
4n the principality of Meurs on the Rhine, the greateft and
the fineft filk manufaGture perhaps in Europe. This eftablith-
ment was effected by the able and worthy merchants the
| Meffrs Layens at pear own expence—they there manufacture
annually to the value of feveral millions of ecus of the beft
ftuffs, which they difpofe of to the north, and even to the Se
raglio of Conftantinople.x—This manufa@ure, in which is ems
ployed five thoufand workmen, has given to the city of Cre-
feldt, formerly inconfiderable, a population and neatnefs which

bal

30 SILK REARED IN SCOTLAND. Sept. 14.

ot) be compared in that refpeé to fome of the towns in Hol-
and.”

- What has been done elfewhere may be done here ?—Perfe-
verance and indultry overcome every obftacle, except bad laws,
which inevitably prove'the deftruétion of induftry and every)
great enterprife. The following letter clearly proves, that the at-
tempt is not only feafible i in phat but can cafily be carried
into Praétice.

To Fames Anderfon, LL. D. Editor gf, the Bee,
Edinburgh. a

STR,

Tuts finall piece of crape filk gaufe*, I made from the filk of —
worms of my. own rearing in Paifley. From the. cloth, you will
fee that it is of an excellent qualityt, and will ftand a compa-
rifon with any imported from Italy: Being the firft piece of —
filk gaule made from the produétion of Scotland, I thought ©
that it would not be'an unacceptable prefent to you, who, from |
your effays on this fubjeét, appear to be a lover of your native ©
country.

Although I have made a fmall quantity of filk each year for
feveral years patt, for the amufement of a leifure hour, I am |
not able to fay any thing new on the fubjeét. As the na- —
ture of my bufinefs requires all my attention and moft of my
time, I have not got the various experiments made that I |
intended. I only obferve that this climate agrees very well
with the filk worms 4; for of the few that I reared this year, I~
did not lofe above five or fix per 100 by death; alfo the —
young mulberry trees I planted about three or four years fince, —
are thriving exceeding well.—Upon the whole, I am of opinion,

* In order that you may judge of the quality of the filk, I
have fent the gaufe in the fame ftate that fuch kinds of goods
are taken from the weavers hands,

+ Each thread confifts of five ends of the worm.

{ In order to afcertain the length fpun by one worm, I warp-
ed off one of their cafes on a warping mill, and found that it

had fpun upwards of 550 yards.

1791. ‘ BATH SOCIETY. 3r

hat. were the rearing of filk eftablifhed in fome parts of . Scot-
and, where living is cheap and the price of labour low, it
vould turn out to be an object of importance to places of the
ibove defcription.
"Should any of the ladies or gentlemen of your acquaintance,
or readers, who have time and opportunity to make experi-
nents to find out the beft method of rearing filk in Scotland,
‘will fupply them this year with a few eggs of that ufeful infect,
e filk worm moth.
Sir,

: 4 I Remain your moft obedient fervant,

+ ANDREW WRIGHT.
Aug. 31. 1791-

aifleys

he following circular Letter has been lately received by the Edi- -
tor of this Mifcellany 3 as it refpects a fubje& of great impor-
tance, he refpectfullp requefts the favour of any of his readers”
who may have bad occafion to obferve any faéts relative to
the objett of enquiry, te communicate them (poft paid) to him,
which he Jha take care to forward to the Bath Society. He
‘remembers to have feen, feveral years ago, a good many Fir
trees, in the ifland of Arran, gnawed through above ground, fo
_as-to make them perifh, and was told this was done by the
Sorew moufe.—He never faw any wild fquirrels in Scotland
himfelf, but has beard there are fome of thefe animals in Sal=
ton and Humbie Woods, in Laft Lothian. ,

To the Editor of the Bee.

Bath and Weft of England Society for the Encou-
ragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures,
and Commerce.

x \
oik, : be

Tuts Society has been informed by. feveral gentlemen refident

in the counties of Somerfet and Wilts, that of late years very

great damage has been done to their Fir-plantations, efpecially
among the Scotch Firs, by /guérrels preying upon the bark, in-

LS

32 BATH SOCIETY. - Sepé: a"

fomuch that a general deftruétion of that part of their woods is
apprehended. The time when thefe little animals moft.com-~
monly attack the tree, is the Spring, after their Winter hoards §
are exhaufted; and their manner of doing it is by gnawing the

bark quite round the leader of the tree, a few feet below the
top, chewing it for the fake of the moifture, and dropping the

woody parts like faw-duft, which may be found {cattered on

the ground beneath. The tree, thus barked, decays in that
part, lofes its top by the firft rough wind, and of courfe gradu-

ally perifhes. One gentleman near Bath, whofe plantations |
are about 40 years old, has loft the greater pet of his beft |
Scotch Firs in this manner within the laft feven years. a

The Society, taking this fubje€t into confideration, has

thought proper to inftitute an enquiry by letter, through diffe.
rent parts of the nation, how far this complaint is general. You
are, therefore, refpectfully requefted to enquire among your
friends who have Fir plantations ; and be fo obliging as to fay
how far, from fuch enquiry and your own obfervation, you
have reafon to think plantations are generally fuffering from’
the aforefaid or any other caufe.

. And as, from the fuppofed negle& and fearcity of oak timber,’
planting and the prefervation of Woods is become an obje& of
great national confequence; you are alfo refpectfully requefted
to give your fentiments on the prefent {tate of oak plantations
in general ; and how far you think the larch, or any other tree,
(capable of being fubftituted to advantage, for oak, in any
branch of thip-building) has been attentively cultivated in your
neighbourhood. Such, with any other communication on ru-
ral affairs, which you will be fo obliging as to make to this
Society, on or before.the firft of November next, will be thank-
fully received. '

By order of the Society,
With much refpeét,
Wn. MATTHEWS, Sec.
Bath, Fuly 30th 1791. ; :

‘

3 79 “6 FOSSILE ALKALI. 33

“To the Eéitor of the Bee.

id. Copy of a Letter from the Beibnind 5, Wasson to the
Tiivern Fa * asaptaned

AR.. 35>%.f Sisexvokn, Auc. 23. 1791.
“DE. sg
fa the ad Vol. of the Bee, I fabmitted to the pitpnbilid a few as
fervations concerning a method of feparating the foflile alkali
from Glauber’s falts. In a letter, «which lies before me, you
have been fo kind as to fend mean account of fome objections,
‘which have been made to the method which I propofed.

_ The obje@tions which you have mentionéd are contained in
the following words ; ** ‘Fhat your procefs would indeed fepa-
$¢ rate the alkali, but would produce a hepar of lime, ‘foluble
* in the liquid, from which it would be impoffible to wath out
“ the alkali; and that by expofure tothe air, the fulphur would.
s&s again become acid, and re-unite itfelf with the alkali, leav-
st ing the procefs where it began.”

That a hepar of lime is not produced by: my procefs, ‘will, I

be abundantly clear from a few remarks.’ 1 mix fulphur

of foda and charcoal together, put them in a furnace, and'af-

ter the watery fufion is over, 1 continue the procefs till they
are melted by a {trong heat, and form liver of fulphur.

'. [then diflolve the hepar in a plentiful quantity of water,
and allow it to ftand for a few days, till the hepatic fmell is
“moftly gone ; then I draw it off clear, and evaporate it to dry-
mefs. When this is done, I mix it with a fixteenth part of its
weight of chalk or quick-linte, and put it into a furnace {trong-
ly heated, where it is kept till the whole: is blended into one
mafs. As foon as it is taken out, and cooled, it is fit for ufe.

‘That it is not in this ftate a liver of fulphur, 1 is apparent from
its having no‘effe@ on filver, even though kept among it for 4
- ‘eonfiderable time.
/ ‘T have made an experiment tha feparating the alkali from
Veinaber $ falts, fince I received your letter, which has occafion-
ed thefe obfervations ; and the alkali, which I feparated, has
Vol. V: E +

34 FOSSILE ALKALI. Sept. 14.

lot tinged filver, which has been kept in contaét with it thefe

-feveral days*.

It fhould feem from thefe circumftances, that there is very
little fulphur remaining in the foda, and:mutt be at leaft great-
ly weakened.

When the hepar fulphuris is diffolved in water, the fulphur,

being fearcely foluible.in’water, is in’ part difengaged from the
alkali, and finks to the bottom.

While the folution is evaporating, more of the fulphur is
feparated, and adheres to the fides and bottom of the veffel.
This may be removed by conveying the folution imto another
veffel, when the procefs of evaporation draws towards an end.

-A part of the fulphur which ftill remains, is probably volati-

lized in the furnace before the heat becomes fo: ftrong@as to
burn it. In fhort, by the various parts of the procefs, fo little
fulphur remains, that the alkali may be applied to many ufeful
purpofes. Though afhes muft always be valuable in propor-
tion to their purity, yet it is not abfolutely neceflary, that, in
every cafe, they fhould be perfectly free from fulphur. By exa-
“mining the lies of American pot afhes, you will find, that they
contain a confiderable deal of fulphur, and yet they are very
ufeful in bleaching.

Without faying any thing of the glafs-houfe, or the manu+
fagture of common foap, the foffile alkali, feparated according
“to my directions, will, I hope, be found to be beneficial for
boiling or bleaching {trong goods in the firft {tages of bleach=
ing.

It is {earcely neceflary to remark, that the purity of the
foda, either with refpeét to fulphur or neutral falts, muft de-
pend; upon: the degree of accuracy which has been obferved in
condu@ting the operation.

I by no means fuppofe that my feheme is free from imper-
fedtions, but it has at leaft novelty to offer in alleviation of its
defects, and time aided by experience will, it is hoped, render
it more worthy of approbation.

* Since the above was written, Ihave made fome farther ex-
periments with ftill greater accuracy ; the refult is this: In no
cafe have I ever found that the alkali obtained by my proceis
has, in its dry fate, tinged filver, and in one cafe a folution of it
in water did not affect filver ; but I have fince made lie of the
alkali that does tinge filver a little;

179I- FOSSILE ALKALI. 33

Many fruitlefs attempts have been made to feparate the
alkali from Glauber’s falts, by the intervention of charcoal, and
to leave it uncombined with any confiderable~ portion of ful-
phur; therefore, if mine be found in any tolerable degree to
an{wer the purpofe, it may perhaps efcape without the feverity
of cenfure. If any gentleman withes to make trial of this
_ {cheme upon a large fcale, it will afford me much. pleafure to

give him all the affiftance in my power.

Should any unforefeen difficulty occur on a large feale, in
pled Th fulphur from the alkali, metallic calces may be

appli is you fuggefted to me in your letter, and at the
fame time juftly obferved, that the ‘+ feales of hammered iron,”
which are to be found in every fmithy, would anfwer the pur-
pofe.
If this method be followed, the metal muft be ufed in the
-moift ftage of the procefs, for in the dry way fulphur has a
ftronger affinity to fixed alkali, than to any other known fub-
ftance.

When the hepar has been diffolved, and the folution moftly
evaporated, it muft be triturated or beaten with the iron
- feales, in order to form an union between the fulphur and the
iron,,and to leave the alkali difengaged- The remainmg part
_of the procefs may be carried on according to the former direc-
tions.

Tam, Sir,
with much efteem,
your fincere friend, &c.
J. WILSON.

36 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Sept. 14. ~ ft
I? A1e26¥ +10

J 7
Proceedings in Parliament.
CONVENTION WITH SPAIN. oVaM

Tue next bufinefs of importance that was agitated in Parlia-
ment, was the Convention with Spain. —

Mr Mainwaring indeed, in the fpéech he thadé previous to
moving the addrefs, gave 4 long and warm eulozium on the
convention; ftating in a very ample manner t s that
refulted fram peace, and giving the minifter redit for
the infurance of that peace, by means of the armament and fuc-
ceeding convention with Spain.—The fending out, faid he, fo
large and powerful a fleet in fo fhort a fime, would tend ma-
terially to fecure us the continuance of peace, by deterring other
powers from infultmg us. He alf® expatiated on the extent of
territory, through which our expanding trade was now fuffer-
ed to range, the perpetual enjoyment of the fouthern whale fifhe-
ry, the policy of our fupporting the balance of power in Europe,
and the ineans by which we and our allies had been enabled to
effect not only that, but to reftore the tranquility to contending
nations. }

Mr Fox was far from agreeing with him in opinion ¢ofcern-
ing the convention, and voted for the addrefs on other grounds).
declining to enter on the confideration of the convention til}
the papers refpecting it fhould be laid before the Houfe.

Friday, Decémber 3. 1790.

Mr Pitt, at the bar of the Houfe, prefented a copy and tranfla-
tion.of the Declaration on the part of his Majefty and the Catho-
lic King, figned at the Efcurial on the 12th of May laft, and
the Convention, figned on the 23d of Oétober, which were as
follow : t " r

DECLARATION.

His Britannic Majefty having complained of the capture of cer-
tain veffels belonging to his fubjeéts in the port of Nootka, fitu-
ated on the north-weft coaft of America, by an officer in the
fervice of the King, the under-figned Counfellor and Principal
Secretary of State to his Majefty, being thereto duly authorifed,
declares,-in the name and by the order of his faid Majefty, that
he is willing to give fatisfaction to his Britannic Majeity tor the
injury of which he has complained, fully perfuaded that his faid
Britannic Majefty would aét in the fame manner towards the
King under fimilar circumftances: and his Majefty further en-

t 79 I. , ‘ PARLI AMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. ‘ 37

gages to make full reftitution of all the Britifh veffels which were

‘eaptured at Nootka, and to indemnify the parties interefted in

thofe veffels, for the loffes which they fhall have fuftained, as

foon as the amount thereof fhall be afcertained. ;

"It being underftood that this declaration is not to preclude or

“epg the ulterior difcuffion of any right which his Majefty
ay claim to form an exclufive eftablifhment at the portof

Nootka: :

'»* In’ witnefs whereof, I have figned this declaration; and

“fealed it with the feal of my arms. At Madrid, the 24th

welts abe eS

Signed, ob
Le Comte de Florida Blanca.

_ Ss COUNTER DECLARATION. ;

His Catholic Majefty having declared that he was willing to
give fatisfaction for the injury done to the King, by the capture
of certain veffels belonging to his fubjeéts in the bay of Nootka;
and the Count de Florida Blanca having figned, in the name and
by the order of his Catholic Majefty, a declaration to this effect,
and by which his faid Majefty likewife engages to make full re-
ftitution of the veffels fo captured, and to indemnify the parties
ipretelied in thofe veffels for the loffes they fhall have fuftained ;
the under-figned Ambaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of his Majefty to the Catholic King, being thereto duly and ex-
prefsly authorifed, accepts the faid declaration in the name of
the King; and declares that his Majefty will confider this decla-
ration, together with the performance of the engagements con-
tained therein, as a full and entire fatisfaction for the injary of
which his Majefty has complained. .

The under-ligned declares, at the fame time, that it is to be un-
derftood, that neither the faid declaration, figned by Count Fio-
rida Blanca, nor the acceptance thereof by the under-figned, in

€ name of the King, isto preclude or prejudice, in any refpea,
the right which his Majefty may claim to any eftablifhment. which
his fubjeéts may have formed, or fhould be defirous of forming
in future, at the faid bay of Nootka. :

\. In witnefs whereof, I have figned this counter declaration,
and fealed it with the feal of my arms. .At Madrid, the
24th of July 1790. fife

Yoh Signed, ;
(Li.S.) a Alleyne Fitz herberte

CONVENTION,

‘Their Britannic and Catholic Majefties being defirous of ter-
nating, by a f{peedy and folid agréement, the differences which
€ lately arifen between the two crowns,: have judged, that

38 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Sept. 14.

the beft way of attaining this falutary object, would be that
an amicable arrangement, which, fetting afide all retrofpecti
difcuffion of the rights and pretenfions ofthe two parties, fhouk
fix their refpective fituations, for the future, on a bafis confo
able to their true interefts, as well as to the mutual defire wit!
which their faid Majefties are animated, of eftablifhing wit
each othex, in every thing, and in every place, the moft.perf
friendfhip, harmony, and geod correfpondence. «In this vie
they, have named and conftituted for their plenipotentiaries, vi
on the part of his Britannic Majefty, Alleyne Fitzherbert, Efg
one of his faid Majefty’s Privy Coun reat Britain and Ire
land, and his Ambaffador extraordinary an ntiary t
his Catholic Majefty ; and, on the part of hi j
Don Jofeph Monino, Count of Florida Blanca,
Crofs of the Royal Spanifh order of Charles III: Counfellor o'
State to his faid Majefty, and his principal Secretary of State.
and of the difpatches; who, after having communicated to ea
other their refpective full powers, have agreed upon the follow
ing articles: dos ea Pha DAMP ACME, 2%

Article I. Itis agreed that the buildings and tracks of land
fituated on the north-weit coaft of the continent of North Ame
rica, or on iflands adjacent to that continent, of which the fub
jects of his Britannic Majefty were difpoffeffed, about the month
of April 1789, by a Spanifh officer, fhall be reftored to the {aid
Britifh fubjeés. apg regen: bi ihe

Article 1. And farther, that a juft reparation fhall be made
according to the nature of the cafe; for all aéts of violence or'
hoftility, which may have been committed,’ fubfequent to thi
month of April 1789, by the fubjeéts of either of the contraét-
‘ing parties againtt the fubje€ts of the other; and that, in cafe
any of the faid refpective fubjects fhall, fince the fame period,
have been forcibly difpoffeffed of their lands, buildings, veffels,
merchandize, or other property whatever, on the faid continent,
or on the feas or iflands adjacent, they fhall be re-eftablifhed in

-the poffeffion thereof; or a juft compenfation fhall be made to
them for the loffes which they fhall have fuftained. *- - Wi

Article III. And, in order to ftrengthen the bonds of friend-
fhip, and to preferve, in future,-a’ perfect harmony and good
underftanding between the two contracting parties, it is agreed,

‘that their refpective fubjects fhall not be difturbed or molefted, |

_ either in navigation.or carrying on their fifheries in the Pacific
Ocean, orin the South Seas, or in landing on the coafts of thofe
feas, in places not already occupied, for the purpofe of carrying
on their commerce with the natives of the country, or of ma
‘ing fettlements there: the avhole fubject, neverthelefs, to
pant aa and provifions fpecified in the three followin
Articles.

it 791 ) PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 39
4 ‘ [

_ Article IV. His Britannic Majefty engages to take the moft
effectual meafures to:prevent the navigation and fifhery of his
Aubjeéts in the Pacific Ocean, or in. the South, Seas, from be-
ing made a pretext for illicit trade with the Soanifh fettlements;
and, with this view, it is moreover exprefly ftipulated, that
Britith fubjects fhall not navigate, or carry on their fifhery in
‘the faid feas, within the {pace of ten fea leagues from ,any- part
of the coafts already occupied by Spain.
. Article V. It is agreed that, as well in the places which are
‘to-be reftored to the Britith fubjects, by virtue of the firft Ar-
ticle, as in all other parts of the north wetftern coafts of North
America, or of the iflands adjacent, fituated to the north of the
arts of the faid coaft already occupied by Spain, wherever the
fubjects « f of the two powers fhall have made fettle-
‘ments fince the month of April 1789, or fhall hereafter make
any, the fubjects of the other fhall have free accefs, and fhall
carry on their trade, without any difturbance or moleftation.
Article VI. It is farther-agreed; with refpe& to the eaftern
and weftern coafts of South America, and tothe iflands adjacent,
that no fettlement fhall be formed hereafter, by the refpective
fubjeéts, in fuch parts of thofe coafts as are fituated to the fouth
of thofe ‘parts of the fame coafts, and of the iflands adjacent,
which are alrealy occupied by Spain ; provided that the faid
Fefpective fubjeGis fhall retain the liberty of landing on the
coafts and iffands fo fituated, for the purpofes of their fifhery ;
and of erecting thereon huts, and other temporary buildings,

ferving only for thofe purpofes:

+ Article VII. In all cafes of ‘complaint, or infraction of the
Articles of the prefent Convention, the officers of either party,
without permitting themfelves previoufly to commit any vio-
tence or act of force, hall be bound to make an exaé report of
the affair, and of its circumftances, to their refpective Courts,
who will terminate fuch differences in an amicable manner.

Article VIII. The prefent Convention fhall be. ratified and

egnfirmed in the {pace of fix weeks; to be computed from the
dy of its fignature ; or fooner if it can be done.

In witnefs whereof, we the underfigned Plenipotentiaries of
_ their Britannic and Catholic Majeftiés, have in their names, and

in virtue of our refpective full powers, figned the prefeat Con-
- vention, and fet thereto the feals of our arms. .
, Done at the Palace of St Laurence, the 28th of Odto-

ber, 1790.

E! Conde de Florida Bll
; / Alleyne Fitzberbert.. tied

~ Mr Pitt alfo prefented an Account of the Expences incurred
the Navy during the late armament, and that of the Board
Ordnance, as far as it could be made up.

40 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. — Sept. 14.

~Thefe papers were all ordered to lie-on the table.
Mr Grey faid there was a great variety of papers which th
Houfe would think it right to have before them previous to an
decifion on the fubje&t, He fuppofed fuch papers were intended
to be produced...
Mr Pitt replied, that he had prefented fuch papers as he had
in command from his Majefty. What other papers Gentlemen
might chufe to move for, he could not forefee ; but as far ashe
could judge, all the papers were now on the table which Were
neceffary for the difcuffion, or proper to be produced.

Supply. ;
_ The Houle refolved itfelf into a Committe
Speech ; Mr Gilbert in the Chair. ila Pri) > :
A fupply being voted to his. Majefty, in the indefinite
manner which is cuftomary in opening the Committee of Sup;
ply, the Houfe refumed, and, ‘after ordering the Report to be
received to-morrow, adjourned. oe
Mr Piti gave notice, that he meant to bring forward. the dif-
ceffion upon the merits of the Convention, on Monday, the day
preceding the call of the Houfe;—and that on the expences of
the late armament on the Wednefday thereafter,—and hoped
that if any gentleman wifhed for the production of any other
apers, a motion of that nature would occupy their attention
one day before the great bufinefs of the Convention, 5
Mr Grey faid, he intended to move for the produétion of
other papers than had been already prefented, but waited till a
fuller Houfe for that purpofe;
Mr Pitt {aid he fhould ftrenuoufly oppofe any motion for the ~
production of other papers than thofe prefented by Govern-
ment. !

Friday, December to.

In a committee of fupply, Mr Gilbert in the Chair. it
The different papers and accounts of expences incurred fa
confequence of the late armaments, being read, Sieh
The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, ‘ That it is the opi-
nion of this Committee, that a fum not exceeding Sixty-four
Thoufand Pounds, be granted to his Majefty, towards defray-
‘ ing the charges incurred by the late Armament, as far as the
fame was made up at the War Office.” ; ‘
Pt fae Burgoyne did not mean to oppofe the motion, being ©
€

nlible that when expences were incurred for the public |
fervice, they muft be paid ; but he ftated his objeétions to fome
part of the accounts, alledging that the mode that had_ been
adopted of raifing new levies was uneconomical, and contendin,
that 2 confiderable faving would have been made, had the old
corps been recruited inftead of raifing new enes.

THE BEE,
LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER;
rok

WEDNESDAY, September 21, 1791.

\- ‘LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART DENHAM,
{ Continued from p. 8.)

A truce Sir James Steuart’s leifure, during the
firft ten years of his exile, was chiefly employed in fo-
cial intercourfe with the moft learned, elegant, and po+
lifhed characters in France, who delighted in the con»
verfation and friendfhip of a man who poffeffed at once
immenfe information, on almoft every fubjeét, import-
ant or agreeable to fociety, and the talent of clearly
and beautifully exprefling his fentiments in flowing and
animated converfation ; yet he did not allow the plea-
fures of the circle and of the table to blunt the fine
eelings of a man of genius and fcience. The labour

f colleCting materials for his great political work was
oppreffive, and he relieved himéelf with various enqui-

Vox, V. F
he»

42 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. Sept. 21,

ries, fuited to the exalted ambition of his cultivated
underftanding, while he turned the charms of conver-
fation to the permanent delight of his affociates, and of
pofterity.

The motto of Apelles, ‘* Nulla dies fine linea,” was
the emblem of Sir James’s employment, and it is ama-
zing what may be done by daily attention for improve-
ment, without appearing to abftract any extraordinary
time from the common offices and rational pleafures of
fociety. ‘This is the art of idlenefs which I admire,
and have endeavoured to practife and explain.

In the beginning of the year 1755 Sir James wrote
his Apology, or Defence of Sir Ifaac Newton’s Chro-
nology, which at that time he intended to publifh, but
was prevented by other engagements. It was com-
municated to feveral perfons of eminence in France
and Germany in MS. and produced, in the month of
December that year in “ the Mercure de France,” an
an{fwer from Monf. Defbaulieres, to which Sir James
foon after replied.

The great Newton, applying aftronomical and fta-
tiftical principles to the ancient chronology of Greece,
had chaftifed the vanity of nations, and arrefted the
progrefs of infidelity, in delineating the hiftory of the
world, ; gs
© 'That wonderful man, whofe fame will émbalm the
reputation of England, to remain long after it fhall
have funk politically among the nations of Europe, has
fixed the Jand-marks’ of hiftory where they had been
overturned or removed by the careleffnefs of the old,
or the vanity of the new, recorders of antiquity.

Loft in the gonfufion of exceffive pretenfions to an
antiquity beyond all meafure, and difgufted by the fu-
perftitious aids that were afflumed to fupport thefe pre-
tenfions among-ancient nations, the revivers of learning
in our Europe, during the laft and the preceding cen-
tury, turmoiled themfelves with controverfies between
the comparative’ merits of the ancients and moderns,

-*

mea 4. =

rjgt. °Lavb"Or' Sie’ fies sTEUART! ae
and the abetters of the latter, entrenching themfelves.
behind the falfehoods of the ancients, on the fcope of
their remote hiftory, gave the lie to all antiquity, and,
in defpair, plunged themfelves into the ocean of fcep-
ticifm.

Happy had it been for fociety if this fcepticifm had
confined itfelf to the hiftory of ancient nations in ge-
neral; but the fame fpirit, taking difguft at the horrors
of Chriftian ambition and bigotry, and contemplating.
with derifion the ridiculous legends of modern miracles,
gave the lie to all religious fcripture of the Jews and
Chriftians, and attempted to banifh divine intelligence,
the fuperintending providence of Deity, and the true
dignity of the human fpecies from the face of the earth!

It was a noble undertaking, therefore, in Sir James,
to attempt to difperfe this mift of error, by dif-,
paffionately and fcientifically explaining and fupporting”
the chronology of Sir Ifaac Newton.’ He has done it
with great precifion and effeét ; and it is a book well
worth the perufal of thofe who with to read ancient
hiftory with improvement, or to prevent themfelves
from being bewildered in the mazes of modern con
jecture.

And here I cannot help obferving, that the virtuous:
and judicious f{tudent, may, in the perufal of Sir Ifaac*
Newton’s chronology, provide himfelf with an antidote,
again{t one of the mott fubtle poifons of modern infi-
delity, which infinuates itfelf through the medium of
the Mofaic hiftory. The improvement of mankind,
fays that infidelity, is fo flow, that we are forced, up-
on rational principles, to deride the fuppofition of fo
fhort an interval between the plantation of our fpecies
and its high improvement, in ages almoft toa remote to
be the fubject of hiftory. But from the firft fettlement
of the conquerors of Greece, to the age of Greek per-
fection, in all the arts of life there did not intervene
more ‘ei eight centuries.

- Bia

44 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. Sept, 24,

Greece was fettled by a people in a migratory and
barbarous ftate, though not quite fo barbarous as the
unhappy wandering tribes of the Celts, who thinly
peopled Greece, and the marfhes and forgfts of old Eu-
rope, as the unpolifhed American people did the gon-
tinent of Columbus when it was firft vifited by its con-
querors,

Social man, therefore, is rapid in his improvement,
beyond all the calculations, of philofophical hiftorians,
The poifon is expelled, the virtuous ftudent revives.—
He treads on the firm ground of his own rational
powers, and fpurns the dark and infidious affaflin of
his religious belief.

A painter, itis faid, in Italy fhowed a picture.of the
crucifixion to his fon, who was about to publifh fome-
what againft the religious prejudices of his country,
‘and- pointing to it faid, ‘* My fon, behold the fate of a
¢* Reformer ;” but if my fon fhould meditate a defence
of religion, and fear the fcorn of philofophers, I would,
fhow him a portrait of Sir Ifaac, and fay, «* My fon,
§* fear not to be a Chriftian; remember the fentiments
‘$6 and the reputation of Sir [faac Newton,” .
Vhis work of Sir James Steuart was printed and pub-
lifhed at Francfort on the Maine, for John Barnard
Eichemberg the elder, in the year.1757, in 4to,
_ In the year 1758, and the following, the Britith
Houfe of Commons took up the confideration of a fta-
tute to regulate a general uniformity of weights and
meafures throughout the united kingdoms, which had
been fo often unfuccefsfully attempted,

This called the attention of Sir James, not only to
the inveftigation of the particular fubje& that engaged
that of the Houfe of Commons, but to devife a method
of rendering an uniformity of weights and meafures
univerfal. He thought the caufe of former difappoint-
ments in this ufeful purfuit had been the miftaken no-
tion that one or other of our prefent meafures fhould be
adopted for the new ftandard. After the plan had

T7QI- LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. 45

_ been relinquifhed by the parliament of England, he die
gefted his notes and obfervations on this important dif,
guifition into the form of an epiftolary differtation,
which he tranfmitted to his friend Lord Barrington,
and refolved, if there had been a congrefs affembled,
as was once propofed, to adjuft the preliminaries of

‘the general peace in 1763, to have laid his plan before
the minifters of the different nations, who were to pre-
are that falutary pacification of the contending powers.

This epiftolary. differtation Sir James afterwards re-
duced, at Coltnefs, in the year 1777, intoa form more
proper for the public. eye, and fent a corrected copy to
a friend, referving another for the prefs, which was

rinted laft year for Stockdale in Piccadilly.

In this tract the author fhews from the inefeétual
attempts that have been made to alter partially, by in-
novation, the ftandards of meafures, or weights *,
that the effectyal plan to be adopted, is to depart en-
tirely from every meafure whatfoever now known,
and to take, ad libitum, fome new mafs inftead of our
pound, fome new length inttead of our ell, fome new
ipace inftead of our acre, and fome new {folid inftead
of our gallon and buthel,

For this purpofe Sir James propofes as the unit, a
mafs to be verified with the greateft poflible accuracy,
equal in weight to ten thoufand Troy grains.

The pendulum as it {wings at London, to beat fe-
conds of time, he propofes to be the meafure of length.

Sir James, after having laid down his fundamental
principles, propofes an ingenious plan for rendering
their adoption univerfal all over the world, for the par-
ticulars of which, [ mutt refer to the treatife itfelf.
| He propofes that the folemn verification of the ftane

‘dards fhould take place in London, which, on the

‘ground of the acknowledged fame, and ancient fuperi-~

rity of Rome, once the capital of Europe, I wquld

* Perhaps it might be made appear that motives of convenience and
ticular intere‘t has ftill more effectually oppofed thefe reforms, than
motives affigned in the text. dit.

40 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. Sept. 21.

have to be performed in that city. England finking,
as it is daily, in real importance, can never hope to
take the lead in future fchemes of glory, and emi-
nence; and therefore I hope that the American
ftates may have the advantage of verifying the noble
project of our illuftrious Scot.

Generations, writes he, pafs away, kingdoms and
empires change, but mankind may be faid to be im-
mortal. It is, therefore, no objeétion againft any
fcheme for their improvement, that time is required
for the execution of it. A thoufand years to mankind
are not equal to a day in human life. Weights and
meafures once properly eftablifhed would furvive the
greateft revolutions and convulfions of ftates; and
therefore the only poffible method by which fuch a
plan can be brought to bear 7s by time, the profpect
of eafe and utility, and by the medium of fcience and
of the arts. I am forry to have flighted my own
country and nation in the courfe of thefe remarks.
But Great Britain never had in the eye of a true philo-
fopher, and politician, the ftamina of a found and laft-
ing conftitution + Her features indeed were bold,
and her temper amiable. She once obeyed the laws of
nature and nations, of juftice, and of humanity. Her mo-
rals were purer than thofe of the furrounding nations,
Such a nation deferved, if I may fo fay, the counte-
nance and approbation of the God of juftice and mercy,

+ This pofition will be controverted by many. Why this defpon-
dency refpecting Britain ? Scotland, at leaft, is certainly in a ftate of rapid
progreflive improvement ; and is not knowledge more generally diffuled
now than formerly. Why then fhould Britain decline? At what period,
and in what country do we not find defects; but where is the political
conftitution that can boaft of its /adility with that of Britain? What
marks of decay have we yet experienced ? Let men of fenfe but fet them-
felves fteadily to oppofe hurtful regulations as they occur, and we fhall
fee them decreafe. Without this attention can any nation exift? and
have we ever yet feen an inititution where the exertions of individuals
can produce greater effect than in our own? Why then defpair! From
defpondency, a ruinous inactivity infues; from active exertions prof-

perity muft as neceffarily fellow. Edits.

1;

E7QI- LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. 47

and the God of battles ratified her pretenfions by his
over-ruling providence. ;

Thefe times are paft +.

Sir James after having obtained his pardon, retired
to Coltnefs, in the county of Lanark, the paternal eftate
of his family, where he turned his attention to the im-
provement of his neighbourhood by public works and
police, and drew the firft good plan for a turnpike bill,
fuited to the circumftances of Scotland, which has
been fince generally adopted. He repaired his houfe,
planted, improved, and decorated his eftate, and in

} Notwithftanding the refpect due to the very ingenious writer of thefe
memoirs, it isnot poffible to perufe thefe remarks without feeing that
they muft have been written at an unguarded moment. Where, I
would afk, is the people whofe morals are more pure than thofe of
Great Britain? If we confider individuals, does not every man know, of
his acquaintance, perfons of the moft refpetable character; and if foreign-
ers are to decide, what nation is more refpected than Britons, as indivi-
duals? In their dealings as merchants who has heard the Britifh charac-
ter ever impeached? And where is a more generous and liberal fpirited
enemy to be found? In what nation is private charity carried to a greater
height? Was not Howarp a Briton, and where elfe could we look for
the developement of fuch a chara&ter? Is not beneficence the ftriking
feature of the Britifh character, and has not the exuberance of that dif-
pofition given rife to innumerable charities; many of which tho’ well-in-
tended have been productive of very ferious evils? Are not the Britifh
more fertile in devices, from motives of kindnefs, for refcuing, even the
vicious, from the jaws of deftruction, than any other nation? Did not
the idea of ‘Sunday {chools originate here? Is not the PHILANTHROPIC
fociety, that moft beneficent of all inftitutions, intirely of Britifh origin?
And thall we ftill fay that this people who are conftantly bufied in fuch
tefearches are deftitute of virtue ?

* As a nation, where is juftice more faithfully adminiftered ? Where are
the rights of nations more refpected ? Where is the public faith more
facred? Where are the perfons and property of foreigners, as wellas na~
tives, more effectually fecured? Has ever Britain, like that ftate which
is here held up to view as afmodel of purity of morals.—Has ever Britain
like that ftate protected her fubjects againft the juft demands of her fo-
reign creditors, and bya public law, encouraged individuals to. practice
bi ice? if this be the morality we are bid to imitate, long may we
in at a diftance behind!
; pMational prejudices ought not to be fomented. Let us ftrive univer-

y to’ extirpate error, andto diffeminate ufeful knowledge, without
drawing invidious parallels, which have an oppofite tendency, and we
Aball bett difcharge our duty to the: public.

48 LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEVART. Sept. 2;

focial intercourfe rendered himfelf the delight of his
neighbourhood, and country.

Never was there a man, who with fo much know-
ledge, and fo much energy of exprefhion in cohverfa-
tion, rendered himfelf more delightful to his company,
or was more regretted by his acquaintancé when he
died. Nor was the active mifid of Sir James unem-
ployed for the general benefit of his country during
his retreat. He was engaged by the directors of the
Eaft India Company of England to digeft a code for
the regulation of the current coin of Bengal; the plan
for which important regulation he printed, and re-
ceived from the court of dire€tors a handfome diamond
ring, as a mark of their approbation.

He prepared for the prefs, but never publifhed, an
antidote to the /p/ime de la nature by Mirabeax, wherein
the paralalogifms, and foolifh reafoning of that infidel
work are examined, detected, and confuted. It is
written in French, and were the work of Mirabeau
worth refutation, might be printed with much advan-
tage to Sir James’s reputation as a controverfial writer.

Non tali auxilio non, defenforibus iftis tempus egit.

Sir James died in November 1780, and was buried
at Cambufnethan, in Lanarkfhire, on Tuefday the 28th
of that month; the Duke of Hamilton and his neigh-
bours performing the laft offices to the remains of that
truly interefting citizen, and bedewing his afhes with
their tears. Ihad the honour and comfort to attend
him till he became infenfible by the fever that carried
him to his grave. On Sunday the roth of November
I faw, for the laft time, this excellent perfon, and left
him at two o’clock in the afternoon, when he took te
his death bed. On the Friday preceding, I faw him
fign his laft letter to Sir George Colebroke, guiding
him in his refearches on the revenue of France.. Wit
his own hand he wrote the following note fubjeined
‘to his name : 4

a

T7091. LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. 49

Written at Coltnefs, in the month of Oétober 1780,
and now tranfmitted, while in the hands of furgeons at
Edinburgh, the 17th of November.

_ If for the manes of the juft any place be found; if
as wife men hold, great fpirits perifh not with the body,

-pleafing be his repote. Let us adorn his memory with

deathlefs praifes, and, as far as our infirmities will al-
low, by purfuing and adopting his excellencies. ‘This
is true honour; this the natural duty incumbent on his

affectionate relation.
ALBANICUS,

An Account of Samar, one of the Philippine, or Biffayan
Ifles, from the Travels of Monf. Pages, lately pub-
lifbed.

Tur adventures of Robinfon Crufoe have been much
read, and univerfally admired, on account of the intereft-
ing picture they exhibit of a man ftruggling againft the
difficulties that folitude occafion, and furmounting
them by perfeverance, ingenuity, and induftry. All na-
tions, in the firft ftages of civilization, exhibit a fpetacle
fomewhat of the fame nature, and are particularly in-
terefting, efpecially where gentlenefs and kindnefs
form the prevailing trait in the character of the peo-
ple. On this account the difcovery of the Pelew iflands
forms one of the moft enchanting parts of the hiftory
of mankind, .‘Thofe who are accuftomed to look upon
all nations as barbarians who are ftrangers to the many
inventions that European ingenuity hath difcovered,
will perhaps be inclined to look down with contempt
on the mild inhabitants of the iflands here defcribed ;
but others, who obferve with what ingenuity they fup-
ply their wants, and With what fimple implements they

perform the various operations they find neceflary for

their accommodation, will be willing to allow, that in
voy. Vv. G

ive) ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. Septs 2B,

every fituation, the fuperiority of men over other ani-
mals is manifeft, and that, wherever the human race
exifts, he needs not be afhamed to embrace the indivi-
duals he may meet with as his brethren. It is not a
little remarkable that we difcover lefs favage barbarity,
and more native gentlenefs of difpofition among the
inhabitants of the iflands in the Indian ocean than any
where elfe on the globe. This is a pleafing exception,
to account for which may give rife to fome very inte-
refting fpeculations. Our ingenious traveller thus def
cribes this happy ifland:

EXTRACT.

‘‘ In this ifland the foil is extremely fertile, eafily
cultivated, and rewards the induftry of the labourer at
leaft forty fold. Befides other grain, the Indians
fow a confiderable quantity of rice, but which is wholly
intended for the ule of the parochial clergy*, the fet-
tlement of Manilla, and the governor of the province.
The common food of the natives confifts chiefly in a
fpecies of potatoe, yams, and a root named gaby. A-
greeably to the example of the Indians, I lived here en-
tirely on roots, whofe fugary ftafte is much more plea-
fant than the uniform infipidity of boiled rice. At firft
they feemed heavy and flatulent, but they foon became
familiar to my ftomach; and I was fatisfied in the end
that they were more nutritious to the conftitution, as
well as more felifhing to the tafte. I ate likewife a
good deal of pork, which is lefs in fize, and runs more
into filaments, than ours. ‘This flefh, though black, and
confifting of ftrong fibres, like thofe of the ox, is much
fweeter, and by no means difficult of digeftion. ‘The
Indian has a furprifing dexterity at difcovering the

.* The parochial clergy were here all of the order of the Jefuits at
the time our author was there, who liad an influence over the people
nearly as great as that they enjoyed in Paraguay, which, we muft do
them the juttice to fay, feems to have been exerted chiefly in augmenting
the general happinefs of the community.---Esrr,

1791. ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. Si

Tabon's * neft, and is fometimes fo lucky as to light
upon no fewer than forty in one hoard ; but from the
fhort experience that I had of this aliment, I thought it
heavy and indigeftibie. 3

“ From the fap of the cocoa; nipe, and cobonegro-
trees, they obtain the materials for an excellent fpecies
of brandy. ‘The laft of thefe owes its name to: the
black colour of its fibres, which are manufactured by
the natives into cables and: different kinds of cordage.
Another article of Indian food is the fubftance of the
cocoa-nut, which is eaten in the firft ftage of congela-
tion; for after it becomes folid, and acquires in fome
degree the tafte of a frefh almond, it ceafes to be equal-
ly digeftible.

«© The only inftrument ufed by the Indian, either for
the purpofes of war or induftry, is a kind of couteau-de-
chaffe, named, as is above-mentioned, cris, or campilan,
an in{trument which, after ferving him againft the ene-
my, enables him to cut down the largeft tree in the
wood, to be formed into a canoe, or fplit into deals for
more ordinary ufes, When the campilan is fo much
worn as to be of little further fervice to him, it is {till
employed by his wife to grub up a light foil, in which
fhe plants yams, potatoes, and other roots. Ina fpace
of two months they are dug up in a ftate of maturity,
and of a wonderful fize; infomuch, that within the

* The Tabon our author defcribes as am animal no bigger than a tur=
tle dove, whofe eggs are as large as thofe of a goofe. When the female
tabon is about to lay fhe makes a deep, winding hole in the fand, and
having depofited her egg, inftantly fills it up, and {mooths over the fur-
face as before. In procefs of time the fun, having hatched the eggs, the
chicks begin to fcratch their way for the light, but in this attempt many
of them perifh.

One of the greateft benefits to be derived from travels is, that of ob-
taining a knowledge of fuch animals and vegetables as may become ufe-
ful to man; fo that I confider thofe who defcribe thefe with care, a$
_ among the great benefactors of the human race.” In this view our au-
thor will occypy a confiderable rank, though neither a profefled zoolo-
gift nor botanift :—but Dampier continues {till to hold the firft rark
among this clafs of writers. —Epir.

G 2

52 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR., Sept..2ty

compafs of eighty yards, the Indian finds his annual
fupply of thefe articles for the maintenance of a numey
rous family.

«¢ The fugar-cane, cabbages, garlic, onions, melons,
the Chinefe-orange, lemons, vegetables, and, though in
{mall quantity, feveral other kinds of fruit little known
in Europe, are cultivated in this ifland. It abounds in
figs, of which I reckon no fewer than thirteen or four-
teen different {pecies, with a great variety of perfumes *.
The natives are inftructed, to, give particular attention
to the culture of the cocoa-tree, which grows here te
an uncommon fize. ‘Their woods produce the pample-
mous, a {pecies of orange, near five inches in diameter,
pepper, honey, and wax. Indeed all thefe iflands are
eminently diftinguifhed by the labours of the bee; and
hence Ihave feldom made an excurfion into the soaihs
without meeting numbers of bec-hives, fufpended in
form of oblong gourds, from the branches of the trees,

« The bounty of Nature in Samar is no lefs vifible
in the variety and excellence of its game. ‘The woods
{warm with birds almoft of every defcription, particu-
larly the common fowl, which is diftinguifhed, how-
ever, from ours by the fhortened proportions of its
body and legs. The colour of the hen is grey, with
feathers {potted like a partridge. ‘There are three dif-
ferent fpecies of turtle-dove; the firft grey, and as
Jarge as a puilet; the fecond feems, however, to be
only a dwarfifh breed of the firft; the third is green,
and when prepared for the table affords delicate eating:
I met with a kind of bird peculiar, I believe, to thefe
iflands, named ca/ao, as large as a goofe, and agreeable
to the tafte, but extremely {hy and difficult to approach.
He frequents low fenny grounds, perches on the talleft
trees in their vicinity, and flits through the air with a

* Might it not be of importance to try to naturalize fome of thefe va~
rieties in Europe ? This obfervation applies equally to fome of aia ani-
inals after mentioned, raga

1791. ACCOUNT-OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. 53

flight fingularly rapid. This bird may be diftinguifhed
by a large red oblong crown, which feems to be of the
fame fub{tance with, and, indeed, only a continuation
of, his bill. This ornament, added to his fize, gives
him a kind of majeftic air. The feathers are black, -
mixt with adufky red. I had the good fortune to ob-
tain a very beautiful head of the ca/ao, which I had the
honour to prefent to the Academy of Sciences at Paris.
The parroguet, cockatoo, and other pretty little fpecies
of the fame genus, no larger than a linnet, are furprif-
ingly common. ‘There is alfo found here a very {mall
bird, of the diminutive fize of a wafp, whofe colours,
confifting in a fhade of yellow, mixed with red and
blue, are particularly vivid and beautiful. Many kinds
of monkeys, one of which is remarkably large ; roe-
bucks, wild buffaloes, and other quadrupedes, abound
in the woods. I was told a great deal concerning the
difference of fize, and peculiar qualities of their fer-
pents; but I confefs I faw none either fo extremely
large, or furprifingly fmall, as to juftify the reports of
the natives.
_ In thefe favoured ifles Nature feems to have been
poeatentty mindful of the cloathing, as well as the
ubfiftence of the inhabitants. The foot of a tall fpe-
cies of the fig-bannan confifts in numberlefs folds of
bark, which, in a certain period of putrefa€tion, are fe-
parable without art or difficulty. ‘Thefe, pieced toge-
ther, afford them a {pecies of fine linen, harfh, indeed,
and difagreeable to the fkin, in its natural ftate, but
which they have learned to render fufficiently foft and
pliable by a preparation of lime. Befides ferving them
as the materials of linen cloth, it is likewife ufeful to
them for the purpofes of cordage.
_ Man, in fine, is fed, cloathed, and lodged in Samar
fat little expence of toil, cither in mind or body. His
fivers are every where fhaded with the bamboo, and his
oods fupply him with the nipe and routan, two
fhrubs which are made to anfwer all the purpofes of

54, ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. _— Sept 21,

nails; and fuch is the dexterity of the Indians in unit-
ing the different pieces of bamboo, that in the whole
conitruction of his but, neither iron nor any other me-
tal are'to be found. Two months induftry in the year
fuflice to provide for the wants of a people whofe inno-
cent and gentle manners are, to me, the ftrongeft
proofs of the real happinefs they enjoy.
(To be concluded in our next.)

SSS

Lo the Editor of the Bee,

Striftures on Scottifh Poetry, particularly that of ALLAN
Ramsay.
Sir, _

For about five years paft we have been amufed by the
bookfellers with an inceflant chorus of verfes in the
Scottifh diale&t. Every county in Scotland has anum-_
ber of words and phrafes peculiar and intelligible to it-
felf only, and it is ufual for the bard to borrow, with-
out fele€tion, the provincial vulgarifms to which he has
been accuftomed. Before an author can pleafe he
muft make himfelf underftood. To a native of Annan-
dale the dialeéts of Aberdeenfhire and of Somerfet are
equally difcordant. ‘The fame of fuch poetry can
hardly be extenfive or Jafting. But befides, thefe wri-
ters commonly deform their pages with every antiqua-
ted phrafe which perverted induftry can difcover ; and
it would not be difficult, though indeed invidious and
ufelefs, to point out paffages where vulgarity itfelf is
evidently mifunderftood and mifapplied. =“

When a man of fenfe intends to publifh in rhyme,
he will firft make himfelf familiar with at leaft a few of
the beft and moft popular Englifh poets. By an atten
tive comparifon of their works with his own, he will
either learn the art of elegant compofition, or the pro-
priety of filence.’ When a perfon difcharges upon the

3791. ON ALLAN RAMSAY. 55

ublic a volume of dull and tirefome verfes, it is cha-
ritable to believe he is unacquainted with Swift and
Dryden. In knowledge of books, the clafs of poets I
mention are fometimes deficient ; and thus between ar-
tificial grofinefs and, aCtual ignorance, there is no won-
der that they often fall fhort of perfeCtion.’ It is in+
deed a principal argument with their admirers, that a
poet of true genius does not require the help of learn-
ing. The author of a quaint effay on original compo-
fition feems inclined to fanétify this chimera. But Ho-
race more properly fays, “I neither fee what learning
© can accomplifh without genius, or genius without
“ learning.”

Their advocates have adduced Shaksfpeare as an ex-
ample of uncultivated excellence ; but thofe critics talk
at random who affert him to have been illiterate. He
underftood both French and Latin, though perhaps
imperfedtly. His extenfive acquaintance with ancient
nd modern hiftory, and the compietenefs of his ideas
on every fubject, atteft, with a force far beyond the
marade of citations, that he muft have been a very dili-
ent reader. When he reprefents Bohemia as a mari-
ime country *, and an Illyrian as referring to « the
€ bells of St Bennett,” we can only fuppofe that he
as {porting with hisaudience. His ftyle alfo, where-
ver he chufes to exert himfelf, is more various, more
ervous, and more elegant, than that of any Englith
riter of the fixteenth century.

Of poets in the Scottith diale&t, the befl and greateft,
eyond all comparifon, is Allan Ramfay. He appears
have ftudied heise {tyle with much attention,
nce his verfes flow with the moft pleafing volubility.
fis provincial phrafes are few, when compared with
ofe of fome of his imitators; and he has felected
em with fuch happy dexterity that they are almoft
jually familiar in every part of the kingdom. . But

* Winter's Tale. t+ Twelfth Nigh:.

56 ON ALLAN RAMSAY. Sept. 21,

this is only a fecondary part of his praife. A vein of
folid good fenfe, a nice difcrimination of character, a
nervous elegance, and a pathetic fimplicity of expref-
fion; in a word, the genuine language of nature, of
paflion, and of poetry, place his paftoral comedy almott
beyond our praife. From the chemift and aftronomer,
to the girl at her fpinning-wheel, his eloquence kindles
every heart, and rae ek commands our tears. It is
true that we have here no bawdry, no jealous alderman —
éuckolded, no amorous fuicide, no wire-drawn folilo-
quy, no pedantic ill-jointed epithet, no raving defpot,
fuch as never exifted but in the frenzy of a modern
play wright. But the GenrLE SHEPHERD does not reft
its reputation on the caprice of a theatrical audience
Were all the copies of Ramfay’s comedy annihilated,
the grateful memories of his countrymen would eager-
ly fupply the lofs. Many of his readers have almoft
the whole poem by heart ; and what other Scottifh au-
thor can pretend to fuch univerfal admiration ?

It has been faid, that Ramfay did not write this
poem; and when that {tory was no longer tenable, it.
has been loudly affirmed, that at leaft a great part of
it was written by fomebody elfe 5 and.the whole cor-_
re€ted by gentlemen who were the author’s patrons.
‘The word patron is pronounced, by men of fenfe, with
atone of contemptuous pity. If thefe critics fug-
gefted any proper alterations, this feems to have
been the only a& of benevolence which they be-
ftowed on the author: for, in the proper ftyle of pa-
tronage, they fuffered him to live poor, and die bank-
rupt *. i
In Scotland, the firft circulating library was kept by
Allan Ramfay. His original profeflion is often men-
tioned by himfelf; and to thofe who are weak enoug
to defpife it, we may reply in the words of an elegan

|

* His debts were afterwards paid by his fon, the famous painter.

Mote PONVATVAN RAMSAY 2 87

critic, Ramfay; was not a man. who could become
‘© mena by.a. mean employment +.”

Laurence-kirk, Timotuy THUNDERPROOF.
12th Sept. 1791. |

. The foregoing remarks, in as far as they fefpect the
impropriety of adopting local phrafés that are not ge-
nerally known, and much more efpecially, in guard-
ing againft the improper ufe of thefe phrafes, (a thing
too often little attended to by writers in the Scottifh
diale) will be uniyerfally admitted as juft, and highly -
deferving the attention of every writer. It is alfo be-
lieved, that, few, perfons who are acquainted with the
Scottith dialeét will difpute the juftnets of the éulo-
gium on the Gentle Shepherd; which, in regard to
purity of language, ftands unrivalled in this country ;
and in refpeét to a juft and natural delineation of rural
chara¢ters, amiable from their native fimplicity of
manners, equally devoid of a quaint affectation of deli-
cacy on the one hand, or rude rufticity on the other,
admits not of a parallel in any age or country, if fome
of Shakefpeare’s rural fcenes be excepted. But as to”
the further remarks contained in the above critique,
opinions will differ ;—-and much may be faid on both
fides. It is not a little remarkable, however, that
Allan Ramfay, who is fo fingularly chafte in the ufe
of the ~Scottith diale& in the Gentle Shepherd, is in
his other writings equally licentious in his application
of Scottifh phrafes as moft of the writers who have
fucceeded him. This circumftance has perhaps tended
more to cherifh the idea that he was indebted to others
for the principal excellencies of this work, than all
others put together. But though none of his other
works can be equalled to-this admirable drama, there
runs through the whole of them a rich yein of poetic

” } Jehnfon’s Life of Milton,
Vou. V. H
}

58 GLEANINGS OF BIOGRAPHY. Sept: 215

fire, that would have juftly intitled him to a very high
rank among the mufes, had that performance never
exifted. ; '

Gleanings of Biography.
To the Editor of the Bee.
Sir,

| ae body knows the ftory of Wallace, the Scottifh
patriot giving the Englifh a great overthrow at Stirs
ling, by letting part of their army pafs over a wooden
bridge which was then at that place, and then feparat-
ing them from the reft by means of a carpenter, who
had prepared matters fo, that the bridge fell down by
the pylling out of a pin. ;

The defcendents of this carpenter ftill remain at
Stirling, arid take the furname of Pin, or the Pin; as
John the Pin, Robert the Pin, &c. A much moré
honourable furname this than Plantagenet or Bourbon.
Plantagenet in particular took its origin from the tri-
fling circumftance of broom being worn in the hats of
fome of the chiefs of that houfe of Anjou in battle.

Some time or other we may know how to confer
true nobility, without the diftin@tions of ranks and pri-
vileges. Felix fauftumque fit! Wher I vifited Stirling,
after I knew this tradition, I fent for the Pin, and made
him one of my beft bows, as it were to the fhade of
the great Wallace !

Eft hic, eft animus lucis contemptor,
Eriftum qui vita bene credat emi honorem.

Oo
JOHN LAW OF LAURIESTON

Was the eldeft ton of a goldfmith burgefs in Edin-
burgh, by Elizabeth Campbell, heirefs of Lauriefton,

179%) LAW OF LAURIESTON. 59

near that city, and was born about the year 1681.
When avery young man, he recommended himfelf to
the King’s minifters in Scotland, to arrange and fit the
revenue accounts, which were in great diforder at the
time of fettling the equivalent before the Union of the
kingdoms. Mr Law’s father died about the year 1704,
John was bred to no bufinefs, and lived on the rents
of the fmall eftate of Lauriefton. In his perfon he
was of a yery genteel and handfome addrefs, much
given to gallantry and finery;‘and, giving a fort of
tone at Edinburgh, he went commonly by the name
of Beau Law. Law’s immediate younger brother was
bred to his father’s trade of goldfmith; but, when his
brother fucceeded in France, left his occupation, and
blazed at Paris, during Law’s adminiftration of the
finances of France, with much fplendour of equipage,
and magnificence of table. On the burfting of the
Mifiifippi bubble, and his brother’s difgrace, he re-
turned to Scotland ; and in confequence of his younger
brother’s becoming Roman-Catholic, claimed the
eftate, which had been entailed by the mother (who
was heirefs) upon the third fon after John’s deceafe 5
and his claim was fuftained by the Court of Seffion.

The papers relating to this procefs are in the Advo-
eate’s Library at Edinburgh, where’ feveral facts and
dates may be obtained by the biographers of the unfor-
tunate projector.
~ John Law fought a duel, for which he was forced
to fly his country in the midift of his gallant career. In
fome of the French literary gazettes, it is faid that he
run off with a married lady.
_ Lady Catherine Law his wife, lived, during his
power in France, in the moft ftately manner, and was
courted by all che worfhippers of Plutus. But poor
Law went to Pluto unregretted at Venice, and was
there buried, without any diftin@tion, and, I believe,
without a monument to record his extraordinary for-
tunes! .

ae

~

69 LAW OF LAURIESTON. Sept! 2iy |
“La Fama th invagifce a un dolee fuono, £AF 1h 39a
Ot Gli fuberbi mortali, e par fi bella,
Eun Echo, un Sagno, angi d’un Sogno
_ UN OMBRA
Chad ogni vento fi dilegwa € fgombra-

:

_, The truly elegant and excellent Horace Walpole has
a fine picture of Law by Rofalba; perhaps her chef
@Ocuvre,. It is certainly yery like him whom it was
painted for :;—were the flowing wig converted jnto a
female drefs, it would be the exact refemblance of his
daughter Lady Wallingford. I have given thefe par-
ticulars to aflift my countrymen in writing a life of
Liaw, for which they will find abundant materials in
the French pamphiets of the years,1721 and 17223 in
Sir James Steuart’s Political Oeconomy, who. gives
the moft accurate account of his fcheme; in Jufta~
mond’s private. life and memoirs of the reign of Louis
Quinze, in Monf. Anquetil’s hiftory and memoirs of the
Court of France, during the reign of Louis Quatorzey
aud in many other books of thofe times.
Iam, Sir, your humble Servant,
ALBANICUS,

For the Bee.

To the learned and entertaining Writer of the Travelling
Memorandums. ,

Sir,

bag been your companion on your travels ever
fince they began to make their 21 in this Mif-
cellany, and I cannot deny mytelf the pleafure of ac-
knowledging the inftruction and amufement they have
afforded me, Iam particularly pleafed with your ac-
count of Marfeilles, to which I beg leave to add the fol-
lowing fhort notices. Monf. Groflon, of the acade-

Typ1 oN THE’ TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. «6B

mies of Marfeilles and Lyons, has publifhed an excel-
lent colleGtion of the antiquities and monuments of
Marfeilles, containing many interefting particulars tes
hating to its hiftory, both ancient and modern, and the
fine arts, in five chapters, illuftrated by many plates; the
whole work confifting of 296 pages in quarto, ptintéd
at Marfeiles, for Moyfy, 1773. ;
* The Almanac Hiftoriqué de Marfeille, begun in 1740,
and continued, I believe, to the prefent time, is full of
many very Curious particulars, fuited to vifitors. ‘The
motto of this Aimanac ought to excite attention : (

Mafiilia difciplinam atque gravitatem, non folum Greciz fed haud
fcio an cuncijs gentibus.anteponendam jure dicam,

‘cmon ‘ Cicero OrarTio, p. Flacco.

_ Marfeilles has been prolific in learned and eminent
men; for not to fpeak of Ofcius, the celebrated ancient
orator, and the ftill more ancient Pithegs and Petronius,
it has produced many celebrated modern lawyers, phy-
ficians, and artifts. .

Monf. Papon has written a large book, entitled,
Fiifloire. generale de Provence, dedicated to the States,
and printed by their order, It is arranged according
to five epochas; and in each he mentions all the emi-
nent perfons who have adorned, that country, as well
as all the remarkable cireumftances that are worth at-
tending to in the different departments of hiftory and
{cience. _Monf. Papon was librarian of the college of
the fociety of the Oratoire. .

_ The Academy of Belles Lettres, Sciences and, Arts,
at Marfeilles, does not admit ftrangers to their mect-
ings as viiitors, which is to be regretted. ‘The fame
Sega I believe, takes place at Lyons and elfe-
where in France, The coral fifhery at Marfeilles is a-
culiar article of commerce, and worth the attention
of the traveller. It is free on the coaft of Provence,
and the mart for it is at Matfeilles. They affort the
coral in nine different parcels, according to the colour,

.

62 ON THE TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. Sep. 215 _

from the deep red. of the poppy, to light carnation; —
and it finds its way to India, China, the Levant, and |
Arabia. The Mahometans, it is well known, bury
their dead with collars formed of this beautiful pro-
duction; of which, when large pieces of a fine colour
are found, of an inch or more in diameter, they are
turned of a fpherical form, and have been fometimes
fold at Leghorn for fifty guineas a-piece.. I cannot
conclude this letter without thanking you for your ex-
cellent teftimony to the tranfcendent merit of Corneille,
your defence of Shakefpeare, and chaftifement of
Voltaire.
Iam, Sir, .
A Traveller in my Elbow-chair.

ON FROISSART.
To the Editor of the Bee.

Sir, Spring-Place, Kentifotown, Sept. 5, 1791.

Fhe that in the Bee 25th May 1791 there is
fome notice of Froiflart as an hiftorian of England,
and a with expreffed for an accurate verfion of his
work; and in that of 15th June a manufcript of his
Chronicle in the library at Breflan is mentioned as
being fuller than any which is printed. Give me Jeave
to add, what has perhaps efcaped the notice of your
correfpondents, that there is a verfion of him in old
Englifh, which is exceedingly fearce; that we have
two moft magnificent manufcripts of his Chrgnicle
written in the fifteenth century, in the King’s lib-
rary; that they and the editions all vary widely from
each other, fo that, to do juftice to a new edition in
French, or a tranflation, would be a work of prodi-
ous labour, no lefs than a careful collation of the
whole manufcripts and editions. It is however a

1771. ON FROISSART, REARING SILK, &'c, 63

work, which Ihave had in contemplation to attempt
at fome future period, provided there appears a pro
bability of the expence of publication being defrayed
by the public; for though I am willing to devote m
time and labour to-the illuftration of our antient hifs
tory, et terri dum profim patrie, | cannot afford to do
it at my own expence. What renders Froiffart pecu-
liarly valuable with me, is, that he is one of the very
few original and authentic’ writers, who throw any
light upon Scottifh hiftory, and that what he relates,
is not compiled from the works of others, but from his
own knowlege.

In confequence of your effays upon the filk-worm,
and of my warm wifhes for the profperity of Scotland,
I have had fome converfation with a gentleman who is
acquainted with the method of treating them in Italy
and France. . He apprehends the greateft danger will
be from the latenefs of the leaves coming out upon the
trees *, and recommends the Siberian mulberry as the
moft likely fpecies to come to perfection in Scots
land +.

Have you ever confidered the mode of managing bees
hear Athens, which is defcribed in Wheeler’s Travels
in Greece, whereby the lives of the bees, and the ge-
nuine flavour of the honey are preferved? Bees are
fond of heather, and like the fmell of falt-water ; cir-
cumftances which render the Highlands and iflands
yery fit places for rearing them.

In confequence of your requeft on the cover of the
Bee, 29th June, I have fent you the inclofed extracts

* It has been already remarked that in this climate the eggs of filk
worms can eafily be kept without hatching, till any time required. The
mulberry here begins to leaf in May. Were it July there would be
fufficient time for the filk worm to finifh its operations; fo that this ob-
jection is net of any weight.—Zdit. .

+ The editor will be obliged to Philalban, or any of his readere

Who can inform him where plants or feeds of the plant, ora good de ,
feription of it can be found,

6% RARE BOOKS: on: to Septs at:

from fcarce Scottith books of the fixteenth’ century, to
make fuch ufe of as. you think proper. . If you find the
infertion of them an advantage to your mifcellany I
fhall reckon my time well ‘employed: in contributing to
a work, which, L.obferve ‘with pleafure, differs from
fome other periodical, publications by. rifting. in merits
inftead of falling off, and may perhaps fend you.a fury
ther fupply. ple [

Wifhing you. all manner-of fuccefs|in your! laudable
undertaking. Lremainy.. .y . 2 od

; Your moft obedient Servant,
PHILALBAN.

—_----_

Accounts of nondefcript places\in Scotland, will, J
dare fay, prove agreeable to every clafs of your readers,

jean de Beaugue is another French writer, whofe
little work, entitled, ‘ Hiffoire de la guerre d Epifcoffe,”
ought to be better known in Scotland than it is. He
ferved under Mr Defle, and was an actor and eye-wife
nefs of what he relates,

Detached’ Obfervations.

To accufe one of being unpolite is one of the moft
diftreffing reproaches that can be made to perfons of
a certain caft. A man who has a certaih portion
of genius, a reafonable charaéter, who has been well
educated, and who has feen good company, eannot be
what is properly called unpolite—he can only be lefs
polite than another. Hence, unpolitenefs ptoperly fo
called fuppofes certain things very degrading,

After poverty, fays the author of the Spirit of Laws,
nothing vilifies more in France than the want of po-
htenefs. :

Politenefs is perhaps in one fenfe even more im-
portant than the qualities of the heart. One can ab-
folutely difpenfe with friendfhip and friends—but it 1s
impoflible to live without fociety—and there can be
ne fociety without politenefs,

1701. > POETRY, Fs 65.

Infcription for a Rural Arbour, by a Gentleman
of India.

Heenress wanderer, come not here
With clamorous voice, or footftep rude;
For Harmony’s {weet fake forbear
To violate this folitude.

For ne’er the Nightingale forfakes

This haunt when hawthorn bloffoms fpringi
Veil’d in the fhade of tangled brakes,

She calls her neftlings forth to fing.

Hark ! catch you not their warbling wild,
. That foftly flow the leaves among?
Now loudly thrill, now fweetly mild,
The defcant of their thrilling fong.

The earlieft primrofe of the year,
Beneath delights in flowers to {pread 5

The clufring hare-bell lingers near
The cowflip’s dew-befpangled bed.

And whilft the weftern gales allay
The keennefs of the noon-tide heat,
They tell where, pleas’d to fhun the day,
The vi’let fcehts her low retreat.

If tempted by the twilight fhade
Beneath the fmooth-leaf’d beach to ftray,
Soon will the charms that drefs the glade
Bring {weet oblivion of your way.

But, heedlefs wand’rer, come not here,
This feaft was not prepar’d for thee’;

Unlefs thy heart feels nought more dear
Than nature and-fimplicity.

; Vol. Vs I

POETRY. Sept. 21 -

The Kifs of Love,
An Ode, fent to Eliza with a Bathing-cap, Fune 1774-

“ How blythe, O June, thy jocund morn !
“¢ How rich, ye blofloms of the thorn !
“ That flow thefe groves among!
“¢ How bright, ye flowers of varied dye!
** Ye fky-larks warbling as ye fly,
“ How gay your artlefs fong!

‘¢ Thus, freed from care, and guilt, and pain,
¢¢ Smile annual Summer’s gaudy train
¢¢ Till Winter’s deaths deftroy 5
“ While wrapt in reafon’s boafted drefs,
“¢ Man, lordly Man, {till finds diftrefs

“¢ To check the coming joy !”

Scarce was the murm’ring plaint expreft,

When from the ftream, and flightly dreft,
Appear’d Eliza fair !

Soft glow’d each charm with rofeate youth,

While fmiles of innocence and truth
Adorn’d her native air.

Struck with each grace, and fir’d with love,
Like the free fongfters of the grove,

I fnatch’d the rapturous Kz/s—
"Twas then, thou know’ft, {weet blufhing maid,
By yon white hawthorn’s fragrant fhade,

' Each murmur died in blifs.

Ere fortune brought my charming fair,
Ienvy’d every tuneful-pair

That carol’d as they flew ;—
Each bloffom buriting from the fpray ;—
Each flow’ret opening to the day :
. In tints of varied hue.

I 791. PORTRY. 67

€ome then, O thou! whofe chafte carefs
Can folly’s thanklefs plaints fupprefs,
And foothe my foul to peace,
Can fill this breaft with rapturous fire,
Attune the: Mufe’s melting lyre,
And ev’ry joy encreafe.

O come! and in thy recent guife
Delight and feaft my ravifh’d eyes
With beauties heavenly fair !
Frefh from the ftream, and flightly dreft,
With down-caft eye, and fnowy breaft,
And lovely-waving hair.

O hafte! my Jove! with blufhing cheek,

And in foft fighs and murmurs fpeak
The harmony of blifs ;

And while with melting eye I rove

O’er charms that kindle chafteft love,
Yield, yield ! the rapturous kiss !

To Ella.

Srame, {trike again thy filver founding lyre ;
Ella, thou darling of the God of verte,
Again, in thy clear claflic ftrain, rehearfe
Decay’s fore’d ravage, with a poct’s fire.
So when the fainting fun’s !aft golden rays
. Have glimmer’d o’er the foam-white bellowy fea,
Dve heard a Seraph’s voice in heavenly lays,
Oft bid me think on dread eternity !
“6 Thy feeble {tar now fhoots its paley beam,
“¢ Dim?d by difeafe, o’er life’s tempeftuous furge,
_ © And foon the murmuring waves fhall found thy dirge,
«¢ While deep thy ftar is funk beneath the ftream;
“ Then fhall it rife in the bright realms of truth,
Deride decay, and {mile eternal youth,”

BIRTHA.

63 LITERARY INTELLIGENCEs ‘ Sept. Zle
ST Le UPNE! Cae eee eno e
For the Bee.

Intelligence refpefing Literature, and Hints to the Learned.

Germany, which for many years paft has been ir various ter-
ritories agitated, firft by the imprudent quarrel of the late —
Emperor with the King of Pruffia, about the Bavarian and
Palatine Pads, and then by the foolifh novelties introduced
into the Belgie States, ard Drincipality and Bifhoprick of Liege,
begins now, under the mild adminiftration of Leopold, to look
forward to better proipeats.

Reformed rehgion, liberty and learning, unfettered by ari-
ftocratical and violently monarchical! prejudices, will be gradu-
ally advanced by the new conftitution of Poland, and it feems
highly defireable that our Britifh Republic of Learning fhould
diffufe as much as poffible its attainments on the Continent,
and receive from thence in return as much ufeful erudition, as
a quick and free participation of mutual knowledge can af-
ford.

The libraries in Germany contain treafures of learning that
have been little examined ; and German writers, overawed by
their refpeétive Sovereigns, have not been able (however willing)
to make a proper ufe of the materials for hiftory and biogra-
phy which are in thefe repofitores.

Profzfor Schmidt (whole hiftory of Germany is now tranf-
lated and publifhed in French at Berlin), tho’ he had fupe-
rior advantages as Infpector of the Imperial Records, has been
prevented from ufing them, when he came to treat of the fe-
paration of the Proteftant Church from the Roman,

In free converfation, however, all over Germany, and even
at Vienna, many reputable and refpeéted clergymen, and men
of letters, avow the principles of unlimited toleration, and thefe
writers {cruple not to confefs that the Roman Catholick
Church was much amended by the Reformation ; that the’
fpringing up of fects forwarded toleration and the cultivation
of the feiences ; and that fince the Reformation, the Roman
Catholic world has become more enlightened by the new doc-
trines and fpirit of us heretics.

17QI« LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. 69

Mr Hegewi/h, an author of great hiftorical talents, Profeffor
of Hiftory at Kiel, has united in his works judgment, learn-
ing and philofophical reflection, with an entertaining manner.

Profeffor Planks, of Gottingen, has fome years fince favoured

he world with a Hiftory of the Reformation, in which he un-
folds the proteftant doétrine and fy{tem in a manner very clear
candid, and likely to gain attention. His book is the
ulleft, and beft exifting, on the German and Helvetic Reforma-
ion, He had accefs to many fcarce materials and records,
nd ftudied diligently the original works of Luther, Zuinglius,
lancthon, and Erafmus, efpecially in their too much ne-
leéted correfpondence by letters, whereby he has made his
work an “ Hiftoire raifonnée de P Efprit Humain du tems de
la Reformation.” It is delightful to follow this author in his
inveftigation of the gradual rife of the fun of truth in Luther’s
oul, and in the clearing up the ideas of the firft reformers and
ir contemporaries. The whole hiftory is very philofophical, ©
e dition noble and pure, yet for adepts fomewhat too dif-
fe.
Profeffor Heberlin’s Hittory of Germany is an immenfe ma-
azine of annals in the manner of our Carte. He had the ufe
@f the records and library of Wolfenbuttel, the moft compleat
German hiftory that can be imagined. Thefirft 34 volumes
this book, printed in oétavo of a great bulk, bring his hifto-
ry down only to the year 1594!

In the Gottingen library there is a MS. Colleétion of Chan-

ellor Viglius Zuichemus’s letters, in twenty-four volumes folio,
ontaining important information relating to the hiftory of the
reign of the Emperor Charles V. It contains the fpeech he
de on his abdication in the Netherlands on the 25th of
Odober 1555.
In the fame library there is a “ Sommaire des voyages faits
r Charles V. depuis 1514, jufques 155%, recuillex et mis par
ript, par Fean Vaudeneffz, controlleur, ayant fuivi fa Mayefte en
tour les di&s voyages.’ This journal is dedicated to Cardinal
anvella. he author afterwards continued it to 1560. ‘Tho’
itten inthe fimple ftile of a diary, it contains many remark-
ble unknown facts.

Very little ufe has been made of thefe MSS. by the Jate Mr
Dieze, who correéted Guthrie and Gray’s Hiftory of Spain and
ortugal, which coireétion is to be found in the German tranf

4 "a
HD LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Sept. 255

Jation, or rather transformation of that work, inthe 12th vol. _
publifhed at Leipfic 1774.

It cannot be too much regretted, that there exifts. no white
in Europe an independent literary prefs for the publication of
fuch books as are not to be hazarded by a bookfeller, on ac-
count of their not being fufficiently popular.

Two hundred and fifty copies of a. book in general indem-
nifies the publifhers.

If 250 fubfcribers could therefore be obtained, of fuch as
have baneione fortunes and form libraries, delighting likewife
in employing their leifure in the reading books of real erudi-
tion, to give five guineas a-piece annually, to Support a prefs
at Edinburgh, which is a cheap mart for the printing of books,
the fubferibers would be indemnified, by receiving the books
coming from fuch a prefs, and the aétive part of fuch a fociety
might be enabled to form a fund for the purchafe of valuable
MSS. for their prefs, to the great enrichment and delight of the
republic of letters. I beg leave to propofe this noble and
liberal undertaking, which, by whomfoever it fhall be put if
execution, will immnortalive the founders, and lay a foundation
for the future glory of literature.

ALBANICUS,

ee

Hints to Manufacturers on the Spinning of Wool
by Machinery.

Since Mr Arkwright difcovered a mode of fpinning cotton by
machinery, feveral attempts have been made to fpin wool in
the fame way; but hitherto, yarn fpun in this way has not
given that fatisfaction in work that could be wifhed, unlefs for
a very few purpofes ; the caufes of that failure, it is believed,
will be found to be merely accidental, and may be removed by
a’ little attention.

The very ingenious contriver of the carding machine adapt-
ed it with much accuracy to the purpofe he withed to effect,
and to the nature of the materials he was to work upon.
Though the principle upon which it is conftruéted may therefore _

ete a

1791. HINTS TO MANUFACTURERS. 7%

be applicable to wool, it is neceflary to adopt fuch alterations as

the nature of the materials require. Almoft every perfon, I
fuppofe, now knows that this machine confiits of a large cylin-
der of wood, upon which is fixed a great many cards of the
ufual kind and fize that had been ufed for carding cotton wool,
with blank {paces between, of fuch a breadth as- that the cot-

“ton wool which adheres to the one card cannot reach the other,

=

fo that the row, when catt, falls down without being entangl-
ed; but the fhorteft wool of fheep is longer than cotton, and
many kinds of wool, that may be carded, are three’or four
times its length ; it follows, that unlefs the blank {paces be-
tween the cards be made much larger than is neceflary for cot-
ton, fheeps wool would reach between one card and another fo
as to adhere to both, which would occafion the row of one
card, when caft, not to fall off freely, but to be entangled with
the other. To avoid this evil, the cards fhould be placed on
the cylinder at fuch a diftance as to prevent the longeft wool
that is intended to be carded from reaching acrofs the {fpace.
With this flight alteration of the machine, and adapting the
teeth of the cards to the wool to be employed *, there is no
doubt but wool may be carded upon this machine as perfeétly
as cotton. If it cannot be roved on the machine, of which
fome doubts are at prefent entertained, the expence of that ope-
ration by hand is very trifling, fo as not to be much worth re-
garding.

In drawing the thread, however, a different mode of mani pu
lation + becomes neceflary between cotton and wool, in order to
adapt each of them moft perfeétly to anfwer the purpofes to

— —__ Oooo
™ The teeth of wool cards muft not only be longer and more
bent than thofe for cotton, but they muft be differently arranged,
as every card-maker knows ; fo that to give more particular
direétions for thefe here would be fuperfluous.
+ This is rather an unufual term, but it ought to have a place in
our language, becaufe we have no word entirely equivalent toit

Procefs applies, in ftrict epi to chemical operations only.
Manipulation in like manner applies, in ftriét propriety, to me-

_ chanical operations alone. Operation is a general indefinite term,

that has no reference to any particular refpecting the nature of

the bufinefs,

1% HINTS. TO MANUFACTURERS. Sept. 20,

which they may be applied. Cotton wool is fine, fhort, and
comparatively unelaftic ; and in order to make the thread ad-
here, and have the proper degree of ftrength, it is neceflary it
fhould be twifted much harder than it is proper for wool in
almoft any cafe to be, and fo much harder than fuits fome
purpofes, that it has been found fome yarn fpun in that way
cannot be properly employed for the purpofes intended. Slack-
nefs of twine is, in particular, neceflary in all thofe woollen
goods that. are to be fubjected to the operation of fulling, with-
out which they do not felt, or eaver well, in the technical Jan-
guage of the manufadturer. _ As wool, however, is longer than
cotton, fo much twift is not required, even for making the yarn
of that fort ftrong ; and, therefore, in the operation the ma-
chine fhould be fet to twift much lefs for wool than cotton, and
the whole mode of drawing the thread fhould be carried on in
a different manner. Hence it muft neceflarily follow, that in
the firft attempts to. make yarn of wool in this way, if the per~
fons be employed. who had been accuftomed to {pin cotton, they
will perform the operation in an imperfect and improper man-
ner, fo as to make the yarn much worfe than they would be
able to do after a little praétice hadenabled them to difcover the
proper mode of manipufation for that purpofe. But though it
fhould be found that it is difficult, or, even impoffible, to fpin wool-
len yarn by machinery fo flack as is neceflary for the perfection
of many kinds of work, that circumftance ought not to prove
any bar to the ufe of machinery ; for 1 hall thow, in a fucceed-
ing number of this Mifcellany, that, by an apparatus extreme-
ly fimple, and certain in. its operation, yarn may be untwifted
to any degree that fhould be judged proper in the operation of
reeling, at next to no expence. In this way, it is alfo probable,
that machine fpun yarn could be made. more equal in its tex-
ture, and even more loofe andvopen in the thread, than can be
done by any other mode of fpinning that has been yet invent
ed; and that of courfe it will anfwer better for the purpofe of
makin cloth, and other fabrics which require to be fulled to
make them cover well, than by any other mode of {pinning that
has been hitherto pradtifed.

Manufa@turers who have hitherto attempted to {pin wool by
machines, complain likewife that they find it impoflible to draw
the thread in this way as fine as can be done by hand. This is

179!. HINTS TO MANUFACTURERS. 73

evidently owing to a circumftance, that admits of béing eafily
remedied by the apparatus I fhall defcribe. Wool being longer
in the ftaple than cotton, requires to be lefs twifted during
the time of drawing the thread; but where a long thread is
drawn at once from the rove, it hecbmes, 7 in fome meafure, ne-
ceffary to twift it a good deal to make it draw equally. But
‘the filaments of wool, on account of their greater lenoth, as has
been faid, entangle wail each other much fooner than thole of
cotton, fo as to {top the thread in its progrefs, and prevent it
from being drawn at one operation, nearly to the fame fineneis
with cotton. To obviate this evil, it muft be neceflary, either
to twift the thread much lefs during the operation, or what
will anfwer the purpofe {till better, to rove the wool twice, (7. e.)
after the thread has been drawn to that finenefs it will admit
of by the ordinary operation of the machine, to draw it over,
a fecond time, toa greater degree of finenefs. But without the
untwifting. machine this would be altogether impraéticable, as
the filaments of the wool are, by the twift, fo compaélly join-
ed together, that they could not be feparated till the twift be
again taken off, and the thread fo much opened in its texture
as to admit of the filaments being drawn out to a greater
length by a fecond, or even by a third operation. By means
of the apparatus I am to defcribe, this can be done in an eafy
and effectual manner ;, fo that there is no reafon to doubt, but
that wool may thus be fpun to the utmoft degree of finenefs of
which it is fufceptible, and probably to a much greater finenefs
than ever could be done by hand alone, at the fame time that.
it might have all the flacknefs that could be wanted. By the
fame means, there is no doubt but cotton wool may be fpun to
a greater degree of finenefs than it has been poffible hitherto to
attain ; fo that | make no doubt, when this fimple apparatus
fhall. be generally adopted, we ad be able to produce finer
muflins than ever India afforded, if we take care to obtain the
fineft cotton wool ; and much fics fabrics of wool than ever
yet has been bow:

It is fearcely neceflary here't to remark, becaufe every manu-
facturer of wool knows it, that it is of great confequence for the
fine {pinning of wool, that it be kept in a very confiderable de-
. gree of heat during the Whole operation, as ifit be cold, the oil

Vol. V. Kk

a4 MISS LINLEY. Sept. 24.

neceflarily employed becomes fo clammy as to impede the ope-
ration. This circumf{tance has been here brought into view,
merely that it may not be overlooked by thofe who may think
of making a trial, by way of experiment, of fpinning wool, after
being roved by the hand, upon cotton jennies,

GLEANINGS OF BIOGRAPHY.

To the Editor of the Bee.

What Son or Daughter of Harmony has not heard of Mifs
Linley ?

"Tue following account of her death may be depended upon
as authentic:

«¢ FOR ten days before the clofe of her life, though in a ftate
of delirium, fhe was almoft continually finging, not interrupted
pieces, but in a feries of inchanting melody, as perfect as ever
fhe fung in her life.

« A \ittle before her death, fhe went through the whole of the ©
charming fong, ‘‘ I know that my Redeemer liveth.” Then —
finging a beautiful Italian air, expreffive of happinefs, fhe funk
on her pillow, and expired immediately. _Doétor Harrington,
who attended her, faid he newer heard her fing better, if fo well,
and he was fo much affected that he left the room before the
conclufion.”’

This account was communicated to the late learned and
worthy John Loveday, Eiq; of Caverfham, bya friend at Bath,
who had occafion to know its authenticity. A gentleman to
whom he read it, obferved, ** That the effect of Mifs Linley’s
delirium was indeed extraordinary, and muft have greatly affeét-
ed all prefent, though fhe herfelf fuffered little, if we may
judge from our dreams, and that the immediate caufe of this
exhibition may be traced in affociation and vibration of the
nervous fyftem in the brain, which had been previoufly exerted
by rapturous mecitation on religious fubjects.”” ;

r7gl. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 75

_. ) bees St ee

Proceedings in Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Friday, December 10.

Iw a committee of fupply, Mr Gilbert in the Chair.

The different papers and accounts of expences incurred in
confequence of the late armaments, being read,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, ‘¢ That it is the opi-
nion of this Committee, that a fum not exceeding Sixty-four
Thoufand Pounds, be granted to his Majefty, towards defray-
ing the charges incurred by the late Armament, as far as the
fame was made up at the War Office.”

General Burgoyne did not mean to oppofe the motion, being
fully fentible that when expences were incurred for the public
fervice, they muft be paid; but he ftated his objections to fome
part of the accounts, alledging that the mode that had been
adopted of raifing new levies was uneconomical, and contending
that a confiderable faving would have been made, had the old
corps been recruited inftead of raifing new ones.

This gave rife to an uninterefting converfation, in which the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, General Burgoyne, the Secretary at
War, Colonel Phipps, Mr Francis, Mr Fox, Colonel Tarleton, ad
Mr Thomfon, the new member for Evefham, were fpeakers.
The chairman at laft put the queftion, which was agreed to.

Mr Chancellor Pitt obferved, that the 40,o00l. ftated for the
army levies, included only the bounty money, and that there
would certainly be an addition for the half pay. The refoluti-
on was agreed to.

Mr Pitt further ftated, that the. expence in the ordnance
department had been 301,476 1.—of this 150,000 1. had been re-
ceived on the vote of credit; there remained 151,476 1. to be
voted—Agreed to.

‘The fums iffued for provifions for the troops in the Eaft and
Wekt Indies, amounted to 81,099l.—of thisjo,cool. had been
paid out of the vote of credit, and 41,099]. remained to be vot-
ed.—Agreed to.

Mr Gilbert left the chair, and the report was ordered to be
received on Monday.

rh ae PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. , Sept.-ate

Convention with Spain.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Monday, December 13. 1790:

Lorp KINNOUL, after a fhort preface, moved, ** That an
e¢ humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, praying kim to
«¢-order copies of the memorials, &c, that had paffed between
¢¢ our minifters and thofe of Spain in the late difpute, to be laid
«¢ before their Lordthips.”’

‘The Duke of Montrofe oppofed the motion as being in his opi- _
nion unneceflary ; he befides complained that the noble Lord
had taken the Houfe by furprife. : :

Lord Kinnoul explained. After a few words, the queftion was
put, and the motion negatived without a divifion. ‘ig
- The Duke of Montrofe then rofe again ; faid he felt no doubt,
but their Lordfhips would agree with him in prefenting an
humble addrefs to his Majefty, for the happy termination of
our differences with Spain, and the peculiaradvantages we have
gained by the Convention, which he confidered as a ftrong

roof of the wifdom and capability of thofe who had condu&ted
the Convention. He had. heard infinuations without doors
thrown out againft the expences that had been incurred by the
armaments to which fo much-was owing. If any were of that
opinion in that Houfe, he invited them to come forward and
ftate their objections,—he himfelf being convinced in his own
mind, the public would think them very moderate.—His Lord-
fhip now produced the addrefs, and moved accordingly.

Lord Glafgow, in a few words, feconded the motion.

Lord Coventry {aid the wifdom of adminiftration had been
above all praife, for they had fecured us peace upon the moft
folid grounds, much ftronger than by parchment. Treaties,
he faid, might be broken, but our minifters had fhewed them
a fleet of-feventy fail of the line, an argument of too powerful
a nature to be trifled with; and therefore, if they had put the
nation to the expente of a million or two, it: was more than
probable they had faved us from a war that might have coft us
an hundred. ‘

, Lord Rawdon profeffed great affe€tion to the Sovereign,
The addrefs, in as far as it concerned his Majefty, did not come —
up to his wilhes; at the fame time it went infinitely beyond them

1791- PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. yor

with regard to adminiftration. How was it poffible fof their
Lordfhips to commend what they could -not underftand, as the
neceffary information was withheld? As tothe expences incur-
red, it was yet to be explained, whether thofe expences were
neceffarily incurred, or whether Spain gave us any juft caufe of
complaint. No fuch matter of fact was before the houfe. That
confideration would induce him to move the previous queftion.:.
Lord Sydney faid, adminiftration muft have been very much
changed fince he acted with them, if they had involved the na-
tion in one /hilling additional expence unneceflarily—He fup-
ported the original motion.
_ The Marquis of Lanfdowne allowed, that liberal confidence
was due to thofe who fuftain the fevere refponfibility of office ;-
but in return for this, minifters ought to give a clear account
when the day of reckoning comes. If, inftead of this condud,
they fhall attempt to fhelter themfelves under the protedtion of
a majority, by refufing to give the neceflary information when
properly called for; after the time of danger is paft, the matter
is ferious indeed. The conftitution is wounded in its vitals.
Is it poffible that after the ratification of the treaty is made,
minifters can call for commendation, and yet refufe to produce
the documents that can alone ferve ‘to fhow whether they de-
ferve it or not? this is only infulting the Houfe. The noble
Vifcount fays, that his Majefty’s minifters muft be ftrangely
changed firce he fat among them, if they are now difpofed to
involve their country in unnecefflary expences. Ican fay with
truth they are much changed fince I was conneéted with them.
Here the Marquis entered into a panegyric of the peace of 1782,
and ran over the adminiftration of Mr Pitt in relation to exter
nal politics, in which he found minifters, down to the year 1786,
obfervant of the principles on which they fet out. The firft
incomprehenfible aét, an act, the meaning:or fenfe of which he
could not yet difcover, was the conceflion made to Spain by
that memorable convention. And from that moment to the
prefent, he was bound in confcience to declare the! whole iyf-
tem had been a marked and violent departure. from the prin-
ciples, of the peace, and from the fyftem on which they had fet
out. Here he entered into a violent phillippic againft the mini-

fter, reprefenting him as officioufly interfering with the bufinefs

of every cabinet in Europe, fomenting quarrels by his intrigues,

and deferting his allies after he had involved them in war; and
- concluded by obferving, that they had all the difgrace of at-
tacking their neighbours when their houfe was on fire, and had
gained nothing out of the flames. They had been mifchievous
without ambition, and had quarrelled for cats, when they
might have demolifhed navies.

98 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Sept. 21.

- Lord Grenville denied that any-more papers were neceffary
to enable their Lordships to come toa decifion upon the ad-
drefs. Laft Seflion the houfe had been informed that Spain had
infulted the honour of the country ; and their Lordfhips had
unanimonfly addreffed his majefty, pledging themfelves to fup-
port him in retrieving that honour. In confequence of this, mi-
niftry had proceeded, and they found the caufe of complaint to
turn upon two points—the honour of the Britifh flag, and the
trade of the country. Previous to entering into any particular,
it was firft thought requifite to havé the point of honour fettled 5
and this was no fooner done, than the declaration, eftablifhing
that point, was laid before their Lordfhips: from that they pro-
ceeded to inveftigate the other bufinefs ; and Spain had in the
end acceded to our claim, and promifed to make good the in-
juries our fellow fubjects had fuftained: they had alfo made
confiderable conceffions as to our eftablifhing fettlements in that
part of the world, which, whatever might be our claim, they had
never recognized before. His Lordthip combatted moft of the ar-
guments urged againft the addrefs, and concluded with hoping it
would meet the concurrence of their Lordships.

Lord Stormont followed the noble Lord through moft of his
details, combatting his arguments as he went along, and fupport-
ed the motion for the previous queftion. tea

The Marquis of Lanfdowne explained, after which the queition
was put on the previous queftion, when there appeared,

Contents 30—non-contents 73—majority againft the queftion
43:

Remarks on fome Englifhb Plays, continued from
Vol. IV. page 40.

Florizel and Perdita ; or, the Sheep-/oearing : A Dramatic Paf-
mt toral. or

SHAKESPEARE is here mangled as ufual; yet it fhines in this
Golleétion of modern Farces. :

High Life Below Stairs-

Ir is quite inconceivable, how this piece, flat, and infipid in pe-
rufal, fhould be fo managed, as to afford a run of entertainment
on the ftage. There is in it a juit fatire on the infamous licen-

1791. ON ENGLISH PLAYS. 99

tioufnefs of Englith fervants, and a low kind of humour, moftly
affected, and wholly unnatural. The beft part of the fatire is
levelled againft high life, and is an aukward imitation of the in-
comparable Beggar’s Opera.

The Mock Dodtor.

THE naiveté, fpirit and humour of Moliere, a true dramatic ge-
nius, are happily enough preferved in this tranflation, incompar-
ably fuperior to the former modern pieces in this volume. The
fongs are in the true unmeaning modern Englifh tafte, and no
part of the original play.

The Virgin Unmafked : by Henry Fielding, E/q;

THE affected ftyle and character prevail fo much in this piece,
that I wonder not it isin vogue. The fongs too are wretched.

The Upholfterer.

THE outré prevails in every character and fcene, to pleafe a Lon=
don populace.

The Mayor of Garrat: by Foote.

Tue fimple Jerry Sneak, and his termagant fpovfe, are comical
-charaéters. Jerry was created to fit the peculiar humour of
Wefton the player, and probably will never be fo entertaining,
by the performance of any future a¢tor. Major Sturgeon, acha-
racter outré, as ufual in modern comedy, fuited the extravagant
‘drollery of Foote, the author. The reft is infipid.

The Reprifal. By Dr Smollet.

Tuis gentleman had humour, and parts, of which his Roderick
Random, and fome other pieces, will be a lafting monument.
In that now before me, the character of the Irifhman and Scoti-
man are natural and entertaining. Heartly and the Lady are ro
characters at all. And tofuit the ungenerous pride of a’Lon-
don rabble, the Frenchmen are too much debafed, and treated
with illiberal contempt ; though Captain Lyon’s concluding
fpeech makes fome amends for this fault. The fongs are in the
low modern ftyle. Hearts of Oak is borrowed.

' 7 q
*

So ON ENGLISH PLAYS: Sept. 2r. :
Lethe.

Tue fcene which exhibits Lord Chalkftone is good. The reft
are trivial, and quite in modern tafte.

The Deuce is in him.

Tuis piece has uncommon merit. The plot is well fancied,
and agreeably managed. The dialogue is natural and. charac- —
teriftic, without flatnefs, or that ftudied compofition of the poet,
which appears, for the moft part, in‘our modern comedy, Iam |
greeably furprifed to find in this very modern Collection, one
piece on which I can beftow fuch commendation.

The Knights.

THE plot.is foolifh enough, and the foolith. characters are lu-
dicrous and diverting enough, to pleafe very highly a London
audience.

The Chaplet.

Tue Beggar’s Opera is the only mufical enteftainment of true
genius in the Englifh language, I mean of the comic fort. The
‘Comus of Milton is in a high ftyle. Whoever can read .thefe
pieces, or has feem them performed on the ftage, and can bear
with patience this, and all the reft of our Englith operas,

66 May juftly be reckon’d an afs.””

I except.our charming Scots paftoral, the Gentle Shepherd, and.
defpife all diftinétions of South and North Britain ; happy, and
vain to think, that Shakefpeare, Milton, &c. were my country-
men, in fpite of fhallow partial pride.

Tafe.

I venture to affert, that this age has produced no genius for co-
Mic entertainment, but Foote alone. Yet even he is far fhort of
the fterling humour, fenfe, and happy expreffion of the old poets.
He was a diffipated pleafant fellow, and could not afford the
pains or patience of forming a complete piece of regujar come-, —
dy, ifthe Minor isnot one. Yet his farces are amufing on the
ftage, and in the clofet.

THE BEE,

OR
LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,
BOR

WEDNESDAY, September 28, 1791.

Additional Biograpbical Remarks on Lonp CHATHAM.

Yo the Editor of the Bee.
SIR,

I HAVE have read your characteriftical fketch of the
political life of the late Lord Chatham, in the 6th num-
ber of the 4th volume of your excellent Mifcellany,
with much fatisfaction, as it contains in general very
juft outlines of his extraordinary career, fhaded with
the foibles and follies of the people of England.

But, though I beftow this merited encomium on the
fketch, I cannot think of allowing it to pafs to pofteri-
ty without ftri€ture, becaufe it contains errors that are
injurious to the memory of.a man, who, with all his
faults, furpaffed in every thing that is politically valu-
able the Pitts and patriots of the prefent day, as much

VoL. V.

®
84 LORD CHATHAM. Sept. 28,

as Mr Addifon’s tranflation of the twenty-third pfalm
does that of Tate and Brady, or Sternhold’s and Hop-
kins.

Lord Chatham was bred at Eton college, and was fo
remarkable for his progrefs in learning, that Dean
Bland, the mafter, continually boafted of him, and
ufed to exhibit him to his vifitors as a prodigy. He
was the pride and boaft of the fchool, and notwith-
{tanding his brilliant fuperiority of talents, was fo frank
and pleafing in his manners, that he was univerfally
beloved by his companions. —

At Utrecht Mr Pitt was no lefs remarkable for his
attachment to fcience, and his advancement in every
branch of polite literature; and there he fometimes a-
muted himfelf with poetical effufions, feveral of which
are ftill extant, and {how not only a very claffical, but

_ truly rich vein of genius in verfification. My father
and he lived together at Monf. and Madame de Vions ;
they were almoft infeparable ; and from him I learnt
that Pitt began there to ftudy Britifh politics, and to
addict himfelf to oratory, in meetings of the ftudents
for {peculative and political difcuflion. He came over
to England in the year 1729, and having obtained a
feat in the Houfe of Commons as foon as he was of
age, (for he was born on the 4th of November O. 5,
1708,) he foon diftinguifhed himfelf on that great
theatre of political eloquence, in a manner that imme-
diately excited univerfal attention and applaufe.

Sir Robert Walpole. hardly ever heard the found of
his voice in the Houfe of Commons without, being
alarmed and thunderftruck. He ufed to tell his friends
that he would be glad at any rate to muzzle that
terrible cornet ,of horfe. His eloquence was not
that of his fon William’s, fmooth, long-winded, and
ielf-fufficient;, but noble, fiery, and energetical5 he
pawed, like Job’s horfe in the valley, and rejoiced in his
{trength.

.

s

I7OI. LORD CHATHAM, 83

Denofthenes, whofe orations he had feduloufly flu-
died, were the models he copied, and he copied them
with fuccefs. Yet he was equally mafter of the plea-
fing, diffufe, paffionate, and curioufly arranged periods
and per-oratory addreffes of Cicero.

He fafcinated the people of England in the gallery,
and confounded the minifter below on the bench
of adminiftration. John Bull muft have blood abroad
and violence at home, and Pitt was refolved to give him
enough of it. With all this, to compafs good ends, it
was neceflary for him ‘to flatter and bribe the king’s mif-
trefs, to bubble the king as’ Ele¢tor of Hanover, and
pleafe the tories by running down Walpole. | Had he
not done all this he never could have got into the fad-
dle; for Britain in thofe days was a very different
country from what it is at prefent,

Parties had not then been broken and mingled to-
gether to be trampled in a crowd by the fovereign, but
were within the accurate focus of the moft ftupid of the
ftupid people, and were accordingly, by the people at
large, diftinguifhed by the difference of their principles.

War is certainly a ruinous project for any nation,
but particularly’ for one that is commercial and manu-
fafturing ; but if war muft be undertaken to pleafe a
king or a people, it ought to be profecuted precifely as
it was profecuted by Pitt. For if a nation, fituated as
Britain was in the year 1756, is to hope for fuccefs in
war, it muft begin by cutting off the refources of a dan-
gerous rival, ang by ftriking all at once fo many hard
blows on different parts of the enemy, as to incapaci-
tate him from taking the advantage by perfeverance. I
have often heard Pitt fay that this was his mafter-
piece of policy; and if you compare this with the mi-
ferable tifflue of the American war, you will under-
ftand at once the whole ftrength of my encontium of
Chatham.

I would not be underftood to deal blows at men
whom I individually efteem, by praifing the contraft

L 2

\

84 LORD CHATHAM. Sept. 28,

of their conduct in the great Lord Chatham, but I
would be underftood to fay, that if war is to be under-
taken by a naval power that has extended commerce,
it muft be done fuddenly and violently, and in fuch a
way as to obtain a monopoly of the feas and of com-
merce during the continuance of the war, to enrich the
people, and reconcile them to exceflive taxes, which
are the neceflary confequenees of great undertakings.

The moft glaring errors of Lord Chatham, which
have hitherto efcaped the obfervation of a filly public,
are his having omitted to oppofe the ftamp-act for A-
merica when it was firft propofed in the Houfe of Com-
mons, during its different {tages of pafling through the
Houfe, that he might raife afterwards a higher idea of
his political forefight. His having confented to the
impofition of the duties on paper, glafs, and other com-
modities in America, which being a repetition of the
invafion of their petitions of right in the matter of the
ftamp-act, leflened his popularity in America, and ex-
pofed him to the contempt of every man in Britain who
had common difcernment. His overturning the ad-
miniftration of Lord Rockingham, who being a trac-
table, amiable man, would have eafily yielded to his
f{uperior pretenfions to be prime minilter, under the
mafk of the feals in the foreign department, and his ri-
diculous choice of Lord Camden for a confidential po-
litical friend.

As for his voluntary retirement to the hofpital of in-
curables in the year 1766, it was occafioned by the ill
ftate of his health, and particularly by a wandering
gout, which occafionally affected -his underftanding,
and rendered him often unfit for public bufinefs. You
have reprefented fome features of Chatham’s character
juitly as bearing a refemblance to that of Cromwell ;
but there was one lefs known that was very obfervable
to thofe who had bufinefs of great importance and dan-
ger to tranfact with him. He could be fluent and ap-

parently communicative without faying one word that

1791. _ LORD CHATHAM. 83

could convey-a precife meaning; he would flutter, and
foar, and fing like a fky-lark, and come down upon you
unawares with a vigour and effect that was quite a{to-
nifhing and inexplicable, while he was all the time
watching for your opinions and fecrets as a cat watches
in a buth for a bird; and when he had got his prey, he
played with it and dandled it with a grace and manner
that furpaffed all defcription. His old fecretary Wood
faw much of this, and often attempted to defcribe it;
but thefe oral authorities, on which true hiftory is fo
dependent, are too fugitive, and too difficult to be af-
certained, to admit of much weight with the public.
Iconfider Lord Chatham’s real death to have taken
place in the month of March 1767. After that period
his body was no longer able to maintain the greatnefs of
its inhabitant; and his filly fpeech in the Houfe of
Lords, in anfwer to the Duke of Richmond, where ke
talked of America as a part of the unalienable portion
of the Princefs Sophia, was more like the cant of an
old nurfery maid, than the mafculine fenfe of an in-
formed ftatefman. Yet this foolifh fpeech was the
luckieft for his family he ever made; and I am per-
fuaded, that had not this accident coft him his life, he
would have died out like an airy meteor, and left no
trace behind him more than Poulteny, and other
would-be patriots, who had gone before him. For-
tune, not prudence or forefight, regulates the affairs of
this world. A man who had been for many years the
execration of adminiftration, and by no means the fa-
vourite of oppofition, is after his death immediately
held up as a demi-god, at the defire of a king who
would not employ him, and buried by the nation with
the funeral pomp of a prince; ‘giving to his family, to
the lateft pofterity, more than he had ever enjoyed
in his life-time. All this Reafon fays is folly, nonfenfe,
and contradiction. But Fortune fays ail was perfectly
as it ought to be.

"Bees... LORD CHATHAM. Sept. 28,

All thefe pretty doings were bonefires, lighted by
mén of both parties, who rejoiced in the death of a
man who had been terrible in his youth, and had be-
come troublefome in his old age. ‘The la{t fpecimen I
have been able to difcover of Lord Chatham’s perfect
underftanding after -his illnefs at North-End, Hamp-
ftead, in the year 1767, or of the colour and. fubftance’
of his great mind, may be feen in the following copy
of a letter he wrote to a friend, who meditated a tour
of North America in the year 1773:

Lyme Regis, Fuly 5th, 1773-
, © The very obliging letter with which you honout’d
me, (of the 12th paft,) found me at laft in this place,
where I came about a month fince from Burton Pyn-
, fent, in order to try fea-air, after a winter of much
gout; and I have received great benefit in my limbs
trom it. ;
' _ Your kind remembrance of the paft is every way
pleafing to me, and the favourable fentiments you en-
‘tertain of my attachment to the caufe of Liberty, and
zeal for the hihdut and profperity of my country, make
me not a little vain; and, (may I add,) fuggeft withal
to my refieGtion better comfort than political vanity
could adminifter in the clofe of a dangerous and flip-
pery fortune.

Vixi et quem Curfum dederat Fortuna peregi.

«¢ And I am at prefent among the forgotten things
of the great World of the Dey; happier far than in it.
You tell me you intend to crofs the Atlantic next fpring,
with a view to difcover the real fituation of America.
‘You will fee a world not yet enervated by luxury or
tainted by corruption.—Of courfe ardent and refolute
for liberty. How affeCting will be the fpe€tacle! How
does the honeft daughter fhame the profligate mother!
My belt wifhes will follow you and if you fhall meet
with as much pleafure and advantage where you ar¢

1501. LORD CHATHAM. oy
going, as thofe wifhes would afign you, your portion
of good things will not be feanty.”

There is both head and heart in this letter; and
more of them than will probably be found in his pofte-
rity, or in thofe who are now thought to be the props
of the Britith conftitution.

I acknowledge Lord Chatham’s failings, but they
were the failings of a fuccefsful Britifh ftatefman.
‘I remember his good qualities, and his fhade would not
frown upon me in the Elyfian fields, nay, not even on
this fide the Styx, when the method of relating hem

ere remembered.

I fhall clofe.this letter with fome remarks on ae
learning and genius of Chatham.

That he was learned I have already proved, from the
teftimony of his teachers, when his fituation in life
could not occafion the fufpicion of flattery.

That he was poffefled of genius and tafte will fuffi-
ciently appear from the fpecimens of them, and from
the teftimony of the moft eminent judges.

Lord Chefterfield admired and envied him; Lord
Lyttleton once loved him, and certainly had a high
opinion of his claflical knowledge, and happy. power of
applying it to charm in converfation, the moft delight-
ful, though the leaft valued, department of focial hap-

fat,

i He was honoured by Garrick, ind praifed by the
honeft, independent Thomfon, in his immortal Sea-
fons. Speaking of Stowe in his Autumn, he fays,—

And there, O Pitt! thy country’s early boaft,
There let me fit beneath the fhelter’d flopes,
Or in that Temple, where,in future times,
‘Thou well thalt merit a diftinguifh’d name; .
And with thy converfe blef, catch the laft {miles
Of Autumn beaming o’er the yellow woods.
While there with thee th’ enchanted round I aes:
‘The regulated wild, gay Fancy then

Will tread in thought the groves of Aitic fand;

88 LorD CHATHAM. | Sept, 2%.

Will from thy fandard tafte, refine her own,
Correct her pencil to the pureft truth

Of Nature, or the unimpaffioned fhades
Forfaking, raife it to the human mind.

Or if hereafter fhe, with jufter hand,

Shall draw the tragic fcene, infiruct her thou,
‘To mark the varied movements of the heart,
What every decent character requires,

And every paffion fpeaks : Q thro’ her ftrain
Breathe thy pathetic eloquence! that moulds
Th’ attentive fenate, charms, perfuades, exalts :
Of honeft zeal th’ indignant lightning throws,
And fhakes Corruption on her venal throne.

I am, Sir, your’s,
BIOGRAPHICUS.

P. 8S. For Lord Chatham’s poetical talents fee his
epiftle to Garrick from Mount Edgecumbe, in the New
Foundling Hofpital for Wit, vol. 2. p. 195. edit. 17895
and in other colleétions. Many others are in the hands
of his friends. But let no Bofwell dare to butcher
him, like the butchery of poor Johnfon.

TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS,
( Continued from p.15.)
Arx, April 3, 1787+

Rerorxep to 4ix,—where I had the good fortune
to find Mr N. t and his family in company together,
and conducted by our moft obliging banker, Monfeur
Gregoire—,we vifited a cabinet of paintings, which I
had not an opportunity to, fee when formerly here.—
It belongs to Monf. —__——, a very polite and agree+
able old gentleman.—Four fpacious and elegant apart-
ments are filled with choice colle€tions of books and
paintings, which are arranged with fngular order and
tafte.—The paintings are felect, original pieces, of the
Flemifh, French, and Italian fchools——They art

wy

1791 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 89°

efteemed the beft and moft valuable private colleCtion
in France—Though no connoifleur, I pafled fome
hours in viewing them, and in hearing the worthy
owner’s defcriptions of them, with inexpreflible plea-
fure.

April 12. We fet out for Montpelier. Near St.
Remy, on our route there, we faw thofe celebrated ob-
jects of antiquity, which are fit only to be feen and ad-
mired.—TI think it is impoffible to convey any juft idea
of them by defcription ;—at leaft I never attempt fuch
deferiptions.—If made by fcientific men, they are dull
or unintelligible; and if by men of tafte, deficient.

Montpelier, April 14. We arrived here in the
evening, and put up at the hotel of the Cheval
Blanc.—There are two other hotels, none of them re-
putable; which is ftrange, as the refort here is very
confiderable.—This is reckoned the beft.— When I de-
fired to know what we could have for fupper privately,
the landlady told me there was nota morfel in the houte
which was not ready to be fet down at the tadle de
Phote to fupper.—For change, we were very well dif-
pofed to join this cafual and uncertain company.—1!
was furprifed at the goodnefs of our fare ; we had va-
riety of the beft things for the feafon, well cooked, and
at one-third of the expence for a private entertainment.
—The company was numerous, talkative, and merry,
without much drinking ;—all quite at their eafe, and
wearing their hats on.— We were not qualified for the

' rapidity of a promifcuous French converfation, and re-

tired early, though we met with every mark of atten-
tion and politenefs.-Next day I hired a pleafant and
commodious private houfe, well furnifhed, in the Far-
dins de Fin, and adjoining to the walls of the town, at

| Bv0 louis d’ors per week.

In this town they reckon above twenty thoufand in-
habitants, and that a fixth part of them are proteftants.
—Their minifter, Monf. — » has the general re-
putation cf a learned, moderate, worthy man, and

: Vou. V. + M

90 | TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. _— Sept. 28,

an excellent preacher:—he performs divine fervice
every Sunday at ten o’clock, forenoon, in a field, about
a mile from the town, without any moleftation.
Montpeiter has a very pleafant fituation, on a rifing
ground, furrounded by an extenfive, and for moft part,
fertile plain, within fight of the Mediterranean.—The
air is uncommonly pure and fharp ;—-hurtful in con-
fumptive cafes, but falutary to weak nerves, fo I find
it agrees with my conftitution :—though for an extra+
ordinary continuance of near three weeks, the weather
has been very cold, and the menftral winds blow very
high.+The siies of Languedoc affemble here in wim-
ter; when, I am told, the moft noble and opulent fa-
milies maintain an elegant and exemplary hofpitality,
without excefs either in luxury or play.—The provifions:
are good and plentiful, but generally dear ;—frefh and
good fifh of all kinds, particularly the rouger, fole, and
turbot, fell at very high prices.—'The ftates are not in-
attentive to the profperity and interefts of this great
province ;—yet they have hitherto failed to eftablith
proper rules and regulations for the improvement of
their fifheries, which are very ili-managed.+—Their uni-
verfity long poffeffed great reputation, efpecially in the
medical line.—They are allowed to ufe the King’s gar-
dens, which are extenfive, though neither beautiful nor
richly ftocked with botanical plants.—In this garden
Narcifja, (on whofe death Young raves with all the ro-
mantic wildnefs of poetical phrenzy in his Night
‘Thoughts,) was fecretly buried.—The fpot, a little
loomy grove, is known ;—I faw it;it is indeed a
doleful fbade. Some generous and liberal-minded |
French perfons of diftinction lately made a coutribu-
tion to erect a monumental tomb over this burial«
place.—The propofal has occafioned ferious contefts,. »
not yet fettled—The orthodox are greatly offended
that fuch a monument fhould be ere€ted over wnhal-
lowed ground, and to the memory of a heretical girl.
—Lhe two grand walks, the “/plenade, and the

3791. TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS, 9I

Pera, are juftly admired as the fineft in France ;—and
the adjoining great aqueduct makes, as I think, a mag-
nificent appearance, though it is a modern work, and
though my friend Smollet peevifhly treats it with con-
tempt.—The perfumes and fgueurs which are made
here are highly efteemed all over Europe, and are the
ftaple branch of their commerce.

In a party with Lord D s and his family, we
made an excurfion to view the great canal of Langue-
doc, and the Moxtagne percée, the pierced mountain) ;—
beautiful gbjects of high and curious art, even to thofe
who have feen fuch noble and ufeful works in England
and Scotland.—I am firm in an opinion that all minute
defcription of fuch monuments of genius or public
benefit are tedious and unfatisfaGtory.—In fuch cafes I
forbear any defcription, and I apply the Roman maxim,
Sentio tantum— monftrare nequeo.

In the courfe of this excurfion I made and fet down
a material obfervation, that there is one article of Ca-
tholic religion, which, though a hearty proteftant, I
would gladly embrace ;—That in feed-time and harveft
they work diligently, and I think, devoutly, in the
fields, except during the a€tual performance of divine
fervice.—Ii fenfe and found reafon were allowed to de-
termine points of religious faith and duty, it would be
as practicable and projfitable for nations to agree in ar-
: ticles of faith as of commerce, which is not regulated

by metaphyfical arguments, nor by the art or influence
of interefted men, but by the obvious principles of
common fenfe and commen utility.

When at Montpelier, I had the finguiar happinefs
to become well acquainted with Lord C—lf—d, and
his moft amiable family.—I can in no due meafure

prefs the eftimation which, in my heart, I entertain
~ for him.—In thefe unpremeditated notes I fet down juft

what Ithink and feel.—i think England produces fome

of the beft—and fome of the worft of mankind,—with a

wonderful diverfity of intermediate characters between
M2

92 “TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. _— Sept. 28,

thefe extremes.—A wife and well-informed, cheerful,

benevolent Englifhman, does the higheft honour to hu-
man nature.—Even an honeft, good-natured, blunt
Englifhman, with fenfe, though deficient in knowledge
and manners, is a worthy and refpeCtable character :-—
but on the other hand, a low-bred, furly, ignorant, in-
folent, and, add to all, a purfe-proud Englifhman, is the
moft offcalive animal that crawls on two legs, between
earth and heaven.—One of their noblemen, equally fa-
mous for his wit and profligacy, fays of human nature
what is certainly applicable to his countrymen ;

«« Man differs more from man than man from beaft.”

T was furprifed when informed that there were no
lefs than nine hundred chairs ufed in this town.—Eve-
ry lady of any fafhion has her chair, and generally
iheir own fervants act as chairmen.—For great part of
the year, however, the bulk of them are carefully laid
up, and in general only employed when the ftates are
affembled, and the place is crowded with good compa-
ny from all quarters—Manufactures, particularly in
filk, cotton, and verdigreafe, with confequential popu-
lation, are here in a manifett progrefs.

I have made a very agreeable acquaintance with an
Englifh gentleman and his lady, occafionally here, Mr
and Mrs P. n, and I have hopes to meet them again
in the courfe of our travels.

In my vocation of colle€ting wherever I go, curious
articles of natural hiftory, [have been fuccefsful here,
and have feen feveral good colleétions.—I have made
fome precious acquifitions from a Monf. Plomd, an emi-
nent and experienced dealer.—His ufual practice i is to
decline any retails, and fell only large parcels ; happily
for my views he is at prefent overftocked, and conten

to fell at moderate prices fuch pieces as ae cuftomers
choofe to have.—I am barely an amateur, and can never
le to the character of a connoiffeur ;—yet by practice

T make fome progrefs in diftinguithing capital pieces,

‘1791. TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS, 03

and I am occafionally aided by perfons of real fkill_—I
purchafed from this man a fmall collection of beauti-
ful mineral pieces, and rich chryftals, from Dauphiny
and the Pyrenees.—By perfeverance in this mode of
traffic I may be able to form a cabinet of diftin@ion at
home, without very great or improper expence ; and
in the meantime [ enjoy a variety of innocent and rare
amufements.

In the view, that I may determine to pafs next win-
ter in Spain,—TI have read Swinburne’s travels with un-
common fatisfaction.—I think they are written with
eafe, good tafte, fenfe, and perfpicuity. —Rare ingre-
dients in modern books of any kind.

Lefteem Afon/. Sabatier, of this place, as a fagacious,
Jearned, and honeft phyfician.—I fhall never forget his
fair, laconic, and fenfible advice to my nephew, who has
pulmonary complaints, his words were,—‘*A/lez! Allez!
s© Il ne faut pas refier ici; fouvenz vous toujours de le
« confeil que je vous donne, boucoup de menagement, et jort

SM peu des remedes.” — Depart! depart! this climate is
«* improper for your cafe; but pray remember the ad-
“ vice I give you. You cannot take too much care of
«© yourfelf, nor can you take too little of medicines.”

_ This doctor gave me afimple receipt for an inflammation
of the eyes, which, as it proved very fuccefsful, I fet it
down for the benefit of others.—** Bathe them fres=
quently with rofe and plantane wate s, in equal
« quantities.”

Cete. I took up my refidence for Rie a week at
Cete, as a convenient fituation, from which I could
eafily refort to, and try the famous mineral waters of
Bulleruck—Cete itands on a peninfula in the Mediter-
ranean, about twenty miles from Montpelier.—Great
part of the territory lying between thofe towns is very
barren.—The village of Froxtinian lies on this road,
within five miles of Cete. It is remarkable for the
rich wine called Frontiniac, produced in its neighbour-
hood, and for its very unhealthy fituation, occafioned

4 SRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. _— Sept. 28,

by neighbouring marfhes, which, in hot fummers, in-
feft the inhabitants with mortal diftempers. Some-
times the furviving people abandon it, and return
again in winter.
The fituation of Cete is beautiful,—on the bottom
-of a hill which is cultivated, inclofed, and covered
with vines to the top.—The accefs to the town has a
fingular appearance ; and is finely romantic.— We pafs
by a handfome and very extenfive bridge, which crofles
part of a great fea lake iffuing from the Mediterranean.
—The harbour and port of Cete isa work of extra-
ordinary folidity ; and it is the moft commodious and
ufeful in the gulph of Lyons.—Their trade in Langue-
doc wines and brandy is very confiderable.—They
have alfo a great manufactory of tobacco, which em-
ploys from five to eight hundred men, women, and
children.— Burnet, Durnos, and Co. are the moft emi-
nent merchants. ‘Their cellars and warehoufes are of
greater extent and conveniency thar any I ever faw. I
had a letter of introduction to Mr Burnet from Mrs
A n, an excellent. member.of our Britifh fociety at
Hyeres—I had my credit on Mr Burnet from my
banker at Marfeilles—He is a native of Scotland, yet
has no intention, or defire to return home.—No won-
der, he has been fettled here in a profperous courfe of
bufinefs for more than twenty-five years, and is married
toadeferving French lady,by whom he enjoysa good land
eftate, near Lunnel/le.—He is, however, on all occafions
. remarkably attentive and obliging to the Britifh people,
without any of the vile diftin€tions between fouth and
north, which are only kept up by perfons who difhonour
both. e
During my ftay here, I happened to meet with two
captatns of trading veffels from the Frith of Forth: I
was very highly pleafed with their fpirit and converfa-
tion.—I vifited their fhips, and they dined fometimés
with me.—I fet down from their information a few
particulars which I do think material, or interefting.—

A ig::
17916 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. oF:

Their names are Grey and Greig: They had both
ferved in the Britifh navy, during laft war.—I am con-
vinced that fuch men are better qualified to give
true ideas of facts and characters than perfons of rank
in the fervice.—They are not fo liable to the influence
of party connection.—They exprefs plainly and biuntly
the fenfe, and fincere opinions of our honeft tars.—
Under fuch favourable imprefftons of them, confirmed
by their natural, and unaffected manners, I liftened to
their informations, as curious and important.—They
‘¢ faid the public difgrace and punifhment inflicted
s¢ on an inglorious admiral, in the former war, was
“¢ of great fervice.—They freely cenfured fome of our
_ & admirals who ferved in the laft war. Without any
‘¢ partial favour for Keppel, they roundly and feverely
«© blamed Paliifer ; and were clearly decided‘in opinion
« that if the twoadmiralshad unitedin braveand vigorous
«© exertions we fhould have obtained a complete and
« great victory.—They beftowed no encomiums on
«© Graves. Their favourite heroes were Kempenfelt,
«© Hood, Douglas, and captain Young.—They faid
« the beft and moft ferviceable failors in the world,
“© undoubtedly are the Britifh, the Dutch, and the
«© Norwegians; that the French and other nations
*¢ are now ina courfe to rival them; that the Czarina
« could never have formed a refpeCtable fleet if fhe
«¢ had not had the fagacity to engage, and employ Bri-
*¢ tith failors, particularly admiral Greig, and an Eng-
« lifh carpenter, whofe name I do not recollect;
‘© that fhe wifely encouraged, rewarded them liberally,
«and committed to them the whole direétion and
«© charge of her naval affairs.”——It was with pleafure, -
and I own, with a fort of national pride, that I heard
~ fome French merchants of my acquaintance very frankly
exprefs their efteem for thofe two britifh failors ;—
they faid they were diftinguifhed in the port for their
{trong ruddy complexions, and ftout make, but flill
more for their proper, and regular behaviour.

(To be continued. )

y
>: j
96 DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Sep. 28.

‘

Defects of the Laws of Great Britain in certain Cafes,

pointed out, with a View to their Improvement:

To the Eniror of the Bee,
SIR;

"Lat imaginary cafe (though, for ought I know it
may, perhaps, be a real cafe), put by your correfpondent,
Mr, Hairbrain [vol. iv. p. 317.] brought to my recol-
le€tien two real cafes that have actually occurred in
the hiftory of this country, which tend to fhow that it
is either a matter of great difficulty to devife laws fuf-
ficient to guard againit all forts of crimes, or that
fomething very detective prevails in the legiflation of
this country, fince very glaring enormities may be
committed, not only with impunity, but may even be al
lowed to pafs without reprehenfion: As you, Sir, feem
to have national profperity much at heart, which can
be beft promoted by having the lives and property’ of
every individual perfectly fecured from injury, where
no tranfgrefhon of the law has been incurred, I doubt
not but you will give the following obfervations a place
in your ufeful mifcellany, that the public, being
through its extenfive-circulation, generally informed of
thefe important faéts, may devife fome mode of ob-
viating {uch glaring abufes of power in future.

The firft of the two cafes I fhall here mention is that
of VALENTINE Morris, Efq; late Governor of St.
Vincent, as written by himfelf, and publithed: by
Hooper in London, in the year 1787, the truth of no
one item in which narrative has been, or it is believed,
can be impeached. The evidence, indeed, of the
principal facts are eftablifhed by undoubted documents
in the publication referred to. The cafe is fhortly as
follows : :

2

14gT. DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Of

In the year'1772 Mr Morris was appointed Lieuten-
ant Governor of St. Vincent’s, it being then ‘fub-
ordinate to che government of Granada. His conduét
in the difcharge of that office having been approved by
his majefiy, the iland was made a feparate government,
and Mr Morris received a commiilion as governor of
it, in the year 1776.

uring the time ‘of his being leutenaut-governor,
he had frequently acquainted the governor of Grenada
of the very defencelefs ftate of the ifland. “There ap-
“pears to have been a fhameful, and dangerous defici-
ency of every article of ammunition; many batteries and
forts werel-without guns; there were not fix gun-car-
Yiagés in the ifland fufficient’ to bear the weight of a
gun, much lefs to permit it to be fired; and all the
powder and balls, if collected together, not fufficient

‘for a fupply of two hours, in cafe of neceflity; and
‘every thing elfe refpecting the fortifications, ‘and mili-
‘tary arrangements, m ancqually ruinous, and neglec-
‘ted ftate. Mr Morris had orders froim home to put the
“aftand into a fate of defence. We did fo. The neceflary
“expences in repairing the old, and ereGing new build-
ings, have not: yet (1777) been paid, though it has
not even been alledged that any part of his eondué& was
blameable, or improper. Mr Morris fent his bills to
the treafury, and, although they were allowed, yet they
ftill were left unpaid. Under what pretext this could
*have been done, itis dificult to conceive ; but fo it was
“that this worthy man, profecuted by his creditors, was
obliged to feli his property for /half the vaiue he had
“formerly refufed for it. His family reduced to want,
‘and he himfelf worn-out with anxiety, and ovetwhelm-
ed with difficulties, died without having been able to
“obtain payment of his juft claims upon goyernment.—
“The facts refpeGting his public condudl do not depend
upon Mr.Morris’s bare aflertions alone, they are.confirm-
ed by the original letters which pafizd*between him
and the fecretaries of ftate, and lords of treafury. The
Vor. V. t N

i 98 DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Sept. 28.

fale of his valuable, and beautiful eftate of Pierce-field,
near Chepftow, fo well known by every traveller of
tafte, he thus feelingly mentions: ‘‘' This place, he fays, —
where I had for many years lived in profperity, refpect,

and credit, and where, after a right difcharge of the

duties of public life, I had fondly hoped to have paf-

fed in tranquillity the years that might remain, and —
have breathed my laft ;—this place was at length forced

to fale for 26,1ool. for which, at former periods, the |
different fums of 46,0001. 47,000]. 48,000]. and once

52,000]. had been offered ; an event which would have —
been effectually prevented, had I received only an in-—
coniiderable part of what was then, and ftill is due to
me by government.” Is the adminiftration of a country ©
where fuch things can be done, I afk, under proper

management ?—Are the individuals of that nation duly —
protected in their rights and properties ?”? Whatheartcan _
read the following pathetic paffage without being
melted into tendernefs, or roufed to indignation! ‘The
man who wrote it is now at his reft. Born down with ca-
Jamities, he funk into the peaceful grave,—and we are |
left to mourn his fate. ‘* My fovereign, fays he, and)
my country, are welcome to the faithful —fervices
I have, in fulfilling the duties of my pubye fta-
tion, performed; yet may the injuftice I have re-=
ceived, and the fatal confequences of it from the
unfeeling, infenfible flate of all political public cha-
exacters, with the official former delays, arifing from
temporary necefities end in met? I have known
profperity, with the honours and comforts of it.
i have fuffered adverfity, with its train of ne-
glects..and mortifications; I have, however, with

+ And are the neceflities of the ftate, fuch as to filence the claims o
jultice ?—Curfed be the economy that confifts in defrauding the credit
of his due! Is it to furnish money to pay election bills that fuch ftop
pages are made? Muft the innocent be facrificed, that favourites ma
be foes into. the national fenate, againit the will of their confi
cuents ?

1791. . DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. 99

becoming fortitude, learned the leffon of refigna-
tion, and fhall, -while I live, endeavour to prac-
tife the duties of it. May furviving friendfhip fym-
pathife in my misfortunes! May the truths I now
publifh refcue my character from undeferved obloquy !
May my country refpect that conduct ever dictated
by the moft earneft with to ferve it ! and may my fuffer-
ings, and the caufe of them, ferve as beacons to warn
others from letting the warmth of their public zeal
overheat their judgement, or make them infenfible to
the cooler dictates of private prudence ! May they thus
sfeape that fatal wreck, not barely of their fortunes,
but alfo of their hope, health, charaéter, and happi-
nefs, I have unhappily incurred !

elix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.”’

Setting humanity afide, we may obferve, that if in
ances of injuftice of this fort be tolerated, it is eafy
0 perceive the confequences muft be fatal. Whena
man in the exercife of public truft finds that expences
muft neceffarily be incurred, will not this example
tare him in the face, and arreft his operations ? at the
fame time, it muft be owned, that a military perfon
hus circumitanced will feel himfelf in an unhappy fitu-
ution.—If he did not make all poffible exertions, that ~
money might have enabled him to make, after having
received orders for it, he may be tried for improper
conduct, under the pretext that his draughts would
aave been honoured at home.—In every point of view,
he conduct of government, in this initance, muft be
sondcmned as a like, impolitic, mean, inhuman, and
injuft. If there is'no method of eafily bringing thofe
9 juitice who are guilty of fuch enormities, our laws
we certainly defective, and ought to be amended.

‘The fecond inftance I am to adduce of fevereop--
oreffion unredrefled, is of a very recent date, and muft
»¢ freth in the recolleétion of every one that reads this
memoir. It is the cafe of Mr. Fames Sutherland, who,
: N 2

' ‘

{OO DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF Gs BRITAIN. Sept. 28:

on the 17th of Auguft laft, was driven from defpair of
ever obtaining redrefs, deliberately to put a period to
his exiftence, in the prefence of his fovereign; hop-
ing, that from the manner in which the act was per-
petrated, it would make fuch an impreflion on the
public as to tend in fome meafure to check the prac-
tice of fuch enormities in future. i

Every perfon knows that Mr. Sutherland had drawn
up, and-caufed to be printed before his death, a
pamphlet containing an account of his cafe, which he
gave orders fhould not be publithed till twelve o'clock
on the fatal day he ‘had refolved to perpetrate this def-
perate deed, ‘That pamphlet is now before the pub-
lic, and from it the following faéts have been. ga«
thered :

Mr. Sutherland had experienced all the horrors of a
clofe and rigorous confinement, while in the execu-
tion of his duty, and the immediate fervice of the
ftate ; he was ftill fubje& to the deplorable effects of
a dangerous malady, occafioned by his imprifonment
in a foreign goal; he had been fufpended from ‘an
honourable and lucrative employment, without the
afignment of a reafon, by the ftrong arm of power ; after
having cbtained the verdict of a jury of his country-
men for damages, means were {till found to deprive
him of his right; for feven long years ke had peti-
tioned, in vain, every branch of the executive govern-
ment of his country, from the monarch on the thronc,
to the clerk of the under fecretary of ftate; from
affluence he was reduced to mifery ; from refpect and
efteem, to a commiferation bordering on contempt.
He was purfued by the harpies of the law; he was
overwhelmed with the diftrefles of a fickly wife, and
a helplefs family looking up to him for phyfic and for
food. He tried every method in his power tc extricate
himfelf from this diftrefeful fituation, and at laf was
obliged to fuccumb,

r7Q1- DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. ro¥

‘The publication confifts chiefly of papers which
Mr. S. had written in vindication of his charaéter, or
to obtain vedrefs, and which he has here colleéted to-
gether, with an cvident intention, in the firft place, to ,
preferve the memory of himfeif from public blame;
and, in the next place, to operate asa preventative to
firnilar ilis in future, by roufing the attention of the
public to the circumftances that drove him to defpair.

The firft paper that occurs in this collection is the
copy of a petition from My 5. to the King, dated art
April 1785, {tating that he had already addrefled Lord
Sydney, one of the principal fecretaries of State, but
that he had not been honoured with any anfwer, and
praying for immediate relief,

The fecond is’ the copy of a humble memorial to his
Majefty. In this he flates the circumftance of his ful
penfion by General Murray in 1780; his two actions
brought againft that gentleman, in each of which he
obtained a verdict in his favour, 9c. &°c.

The third is a letter to Lord Sydney, recapitulating
his fpecific claims for money expended in the fervice
of government, requefting a remuneration of his lofles
and expences, &’c.

A variety of petitions and memorials, prefented to
the King at St. James’s, Kew, and Windfor, in 1785,
1786, and 1789, follow in fucceffion. All of thefe
proving ineffcétual, Mr Pitt, Mr Rofe, Mr Steele, Dr
Prettyman, Mr Smith, and Mr Nepean were applied to
in fuccefion: fome of thefe gentlemen feem to have
heard him with a frigid apathy, and others never con~
defcended to take the leaft notice of his applications»
In this ficuation Mr S. had recourfe to Mr Alderman’
Sawbridge, who, in the laft feffion of parliament, was
about to prefent his petition to the Houfe of Commons,
but withheld it on being informed by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer that he would enquire into. the na-
ture of his pretenfions, and, if well founded, recom-
mend him, in his Majefty’s name, to the ébiniderition
of the Houfe. Relying now on the merits of his

YO2 DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. Sept. 285

4 ° .

caufe, our author expected a fpeedy period to his cala-
mities, and was particularly afliduous in {purring on the
minifter to his promifed enquiry ; but, although he be-
fieged his houfe daily, he could never obtain accefs, or
even procure a fingle letter in reply, either from him
or any of his fecretaries. In this dilemma Mr Saw-
bridge read his petition to the houfe, and mentioned a
day in which he intended to prefent it in form; but,
- on that very day, we are informed, Mr. Pitt gave
afflurances that the petitioner fhould be attended to at
the treafury, and that he might depend upon difpatch ; in
confequence of which the ill-fated ‘petition was once
more withdrawn. : ~3

After an interval fufficient to afford ample room for
imveftigation and enquiry, Mr. S. wrote another letter
to Mr. Pitt, {tating his urgent neceflities, and afirming
that he had not the means of /ub/ifting longer, as he had
hitherto fupported himfelf by felling every little thing of
value that he had, and row had not any thing more to fell.

« Let me then, Six,” continues he, ‘ implore you
by every thing you hold dear, to preferve him from the
effects of defpair ; a perfon, who, fince he is driven to
egotife, holds himfelf up as a man of worth and honour;
who has never merited any thing of his king and coun-
try fo much as favour and reward; who has ever been
ready to prove this, and to remove wrong impreflions,
if any charge had beef openly made againft him, and
he could have obtained the’ fatisfaction of being called
upon for a defence.—And permit him to add, that his
feelings, were he not a father, would have inclined him
rather to have perifbed, than to be importunate in thig
language *.”

* Ts not-this language improper? . Why fhould a man fubje& him-
{elf to ferious evils to avoid demanding what is juftly his due from any
perfon ? J have never been able to conceive a good reafon why a man
fhould not demand, with equal peremptorinefs, the debts due to him
by the public, that he would be biameable in not demanding from an
individual. If there is greater difficulty in forcing payment from go-
yernment, which it would feem there is, thefe disliculties ought certainly
to be removed.

1791. DEFECTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. 103

All this, however, ftill produced no effe&.. Th
following memorandum, dated Auguft 5th, 1791, clofes
the publication, and clearly fhows with what delibera-
tion he had refdlved upon the fatal cataftrophe :

* « The machine feems to be worn out by anxiety,
vexation, and difappointment. The tree mutt fail! I
have not a with to prop it after the appearance of this
‘publication. ButI have a moft ardent one, that in the
-next feffion of parliament there may be a virtuous ma-
jority in the Houfe ‘of Commons, who fhall think that I
-have fair claims on government ; and that I have aright
to transfer them, as I hereby do, to my daughters
Mary and Louifa Sutherland.

James SUTHERLAND.”

I with nate Sir, to occafion difturbance by an appeal
to the paflions, but I wifh that fuch momentous facts
fhould be known and attended to by all. As you yourfelf
profefs, fo I declare, that I have no prejudice againft
any of the perfons concerned in thefe tranfactions to
induce me to take pleafure in expofing them ; but nei-

ther have I fuch partiality as to wifh to fereen any per-
fon from: public obloquy who may deferve it. I have
perufed the whole of this account with indignation and
with horror, as I believe every other perfon muft do. I
with it to be made as public as pofible, that thofe in
power may feel, that if it even fhould be potlible to evade
the lafh of the law, it is not poflible to avoid public
obloquy when they difregard the dictates of juftice and
humanity in the difcharge of their duty; and as your
work has a circulation in foreign countries, I am par-
ticularly anxious this paper ihould appear in it, fo as
that thefe faéts may be known in the uttermoft parts
of the earth, and be preferved to futurity, On thefe
accounts [mutt requeft the favour that you will not refute
ita place. What is done already muft, [know, remain—
but the confcioufnefs of a public expofure, may, per-
haps, prove fome fort of check to a fimilar conduct in
future. ;

ad

104 DEFECTS IN THE LAWSOF G. BRITAIN.: Sept. 28,

I with not, however, that the matter fhould reft here.
if my weak PE a could have any influence, it
fhould be exerted to induce the members of lepifla-
ture to devife fome mode by which fimilar negle & of
duty in the public fervants of the crown fhould be ob-

viated in future*. At prefent, it would fcem, from
thele rugged facts, that no mode of relief thatis eafily ac-
ceflible by aiman im ordinary circumftan 16eS, but that
of petitioning parliament to interfere in their be-
half; and this, I would warn thofe who have the.
@ireCtion of the executive power in this nation, feri-
oufly to guard againft, as it may tend to imtroduce a
very dangerous innovation in the. conftitution: of this
country. This, I take it, can only be guarded againft
by never giving any veal caufe for that ‘interference.
Yoo often of late have individuals been compelled to
refort to this dangerous remedy ; and it is in the re-
colieQtion of every reader, that many perfons have thus
obtained juftice who-could not otherwife have-had it.
This, I repeat it, is a dangerous innovation that every
wife minifter will ftudy to guard againft, and that
every well-wifher of his country will wifh to avoid.

Hamppen.

P.S. Whether the family of Mr. Morris thas got
any indemnification from government fince his death,
I know not; but the public have been informed, that
fince the death of Mr, S. Mr Pitt has had a wolibcvenice
with his fon, and has granted a fuitable compenfation
to the wife and daughters of that unfortunate fufferer.

* Mr. S. in the introduction to this pampl:let, felemnly requefts
the electors of Great Britain to inftrudt their reprefentatives to pro-
cure a law, affording rclicf to every perfon whofe character may be
afperfed in a petition to the Moufe of Commons, and alfo an act of
parliament, “to affure the commiunication of the Royal will by bis
Daj »/y's miniflers, to every fubject who may in future prefent fuch
a petition to the King.”"—I pretend not, however, to fay in what way
the evil complained of may be beft remedied, all I prefume to affert is,
that it isa ferious evil, that loudly calls for redrefs,

149%. POETRY. 105

On Grandeur. An Ode.

Szpius ventis agitatur ingens

Pinus ; et celfe graviore cafu

Decidunt turres, feriuntque Juminos

, ulmina montes. Hor.

How varied lies the chequer’d fcene !
Domrer* capt with {now ;
While humbler fmiles in vernal green a
The fun-clad vale below ;
Gay Spring her.cheering tafk performs,
Regardlefs of the wintry {torms
That {weep proud Ochil’s lofty fide 5
And fhelter’d from the whirling gale,
Secure fmvoth glides the winding fail
Down Forrn’s meand'ring’ tide.

Alas! how like the chequer’d {tate
Of Man’s contrafted lot !
The ftorms that beat at Grandeur’s gate !
The lowly thelter’d cot!
Difgufted pride with wintry brow!
Contented labour at his plough, ;
Still cheer’d by health’s unclouded beam 5
While fafe from paffion’s whirling tide,
— Calm hope and refignation glide
Down life’s untroubled ftream.

To meditation’s mufing mind ‘
Still moral pidtures rife ;
. Ambition dafh’d by fortune’s wind,
When towering to the fkies 5
Exalted beauty doom’d to move
In climes unwarm’d by genial love, ,

Seer ee eee carmnarnmen Geel
“® One of the higheft of the Ochil Hills, near Stirling.
Vol. V. “~ @ t

106 POETRY: Sépt 28.

Whirl'd by the ftorms of vernal ftrife !
While nurtur’d in fome vale obfcure,
The humbler fair-one blooms fecure,

The miftrefs and the wife.

But late, in ftrength and beauty’s prime,
The towering PLANE arofe ;
Proud o’er Sriruina’s height fublime
It way'd its mantling boughs ;
At eve, when Vefper gilds her ftar,
The trav'ller fpied it from afar,
And, raptur’d,; wonder’d where it grew;
Fond fancy plae’d its magic height
>Midft regions ftreak’d with golden light,
And fkies of azure hue!

» Embofom’d in the bank below
That courts the fouthern breeze,
The humbler wawruorw’s doom’d to blow.
Mid kindred fhrubs and trees :
Obfcure, it drinks its balmy dews,
Unmark’d, fave by the moral Mufe
That nightly’ breathes its rich perfume.—
How weak is Grandeur’s empty fhew !
Ambition, mark !—the pxane’s laid low! *
The HAwTHORN’s left to’ bloom.

Written on the Spaw called St Bireoeds Weill,.

near Edinburgh, on Lord Gardenjftoun’s Birth-
day, 24th Fune 1790, by an American Lady.

Cuarm’p with fuch aéts as mercy’s felf may claim,
Aéts that will fpread thro’ time thy deathlefs name 5
Oh! Garpen, e’en the {tranger’s humble mufe,
Thus ftrongly charm’d, will not her aid refufe, ~

* The cutting down of this beautiful tree, which gave uni-

verfal diffatisfaction, occafioned the prefent Ode.

T79%- POETRY. 107

Though in'the fimpleft {train, to pour her lay
In warmeft wifhes on thy natal day ;

That ev'ry choiceft blifs. may e’er attend

The mind which mifery calls her hindef? friend.
Hail day ! below’d, when forrow’s tearful, band
Receiv’d from Heaven a patronizing hand ;
While nature fix’d his birth ’mid fummer hours,
To crown fuch worth with tributary flowers;
‘Then, Flora, let this day propitious wear

The fweeteft garland that adorns the year ;—
Here, Zephyr, ev’ry flow’ret’s fragrance bring,
_To breathe around the patron of the Spring ;
And numbers here who court Hygeia’s charms,
While grateful pleafure ev’ry bofom warms,
Shall hail the hand, which, while it plenty fhow’rs
To blifs the land, ssdorbes Hygeia’s bowers.

May then no cloud? s dark veil the day obfcure,
But Phoebus here his brighteft radiance pour!
Emblem of Garpen’s bright expanfive mind,
Where Bounty has her warmeft beam confin’d!

Sonnets

‘Now o’er the world hath fober ev’ning fpread

Her ebon tinctur’d veil—the ftars appear—

The {miling moon in mildeft beauty clear,

As on my hand I prefs my penfive head.
While not on earth is heard one echoing tread,
Look thro’ the fouthern uprais’d window near,
Down on my cheek tear courfes after tear,
I think on abfent friends, oni pleafures fled.
Now all their actions iivinad in my fight,
Awake new mournful pleafures in my foul,
And every moment gives a frefh delight.

Do not fuch joys my fair one’s mind controul?
They do;—I fee th’ affenting tear defcend,—
‘And the will love this trifle for the friend,

. {i : ELLA.

o

108 HINTS TO MANUFACTURERS. Sept. 28

ee __

Hints to Manufadturers on Spinning of Combed
Wool by Machinery.

Iw the Jaft number of this work, fome hints were given re-
fpecting the fpinning of carding woah by machinery. I now
proceed to make fome obfervations on the {pinning of eonibed
wool by machinery alfo.

Ijhave not heard that any thing of this fort has been yet
attempted; it feems to me to be very praéticable, though the
procefs muft be, in feveral refpedts, different from that praétifed
fer carded wool.

A mode of {pinning combed wool prevails in Aberdeenthire,
jn Scotland, that I have not met with any where elfe, which
fuggetts a hint for {pinning combed wool by machinery: yarn
fpun in this manner is there called fas. A common wheel
that was ufed for {pinning cotton, before the introdu@ion of
Arkwright’s ma achinery, was ufed for that purpofe, The fpin-
ner takes in her left-hand a tape * of combed wool, enters that
to the point of the fpindle, and with the right hand turns the
wheel ; as the {pindle is turned round, the thread is drawn out
by pulling back the left hand, exaétly as in {pinning carded
wool from reqws ; and when it is twifted enough, the wheel is
turned a little back, and it is then put up on a pirn with great
neatnefs and expedition: this manceuvre is repeated very faft,
the thread, at one time, being drawn out only about a yard at
fartheft, the tape of wool being held loofely in the hand, fo as
to be brought gradually forward til] the whole is fpun, when
another is joined to it, and fo on. In this way a woman will

. fpin eafily, in the courfe of a day, about double the quantity of

yarn fhe could do in any other way. The thread is generally
little twifted and flack, from which circumftance it has ebtai ined
the denomination of fia.

* A tape of wool, in the technical language of the manufactu-
rer,.15 a long counésied parcel of wool, in the ftate it comes
from the combs Several of thefe are ufaally put up together, fo
as to make a pound weight, and twifted a little, in which ftate
this kind of wool is ufually offered to fale.

rm

q

: mR TL
I79I. . HINTS TO MANUFACTURERS. ~ 109

In this way combed wool might eafily be raved, fo as to
make it fit for being afterwards fpun by the machine; and if,
in the roving, the thread were left pretty thick, a woman might
do a good many pounds in a day ; fo that although this opera-
tion were done by the hand, it would {till be fpun, fer the great-
eff part, by the machine, and muft of courfe prove a great ac-
celeration of work, and confiderably diminifh the expence.

But it does not appear to me a matter of any difficulty to
contrive a machine that would perform even this operation ;
and as it is “well known, that where machinery is employed,
the work is always performed with much more accuracy than
by hand, I think fome pains fhould be beftowed to effe& this.
The only difficulty that occurs in this department, is that which
arifes from the unequal thicknefs of the tape of wool. As that
comes from the combs, it is thickeft at the middle, and goes

_ tapering {maller and {maller, till it comes to a point at either
end. When fpinning by the hand, this form is not attended
with any confiderable inconvenience, becaufe it is cafy to let it
flip.fafter or flower through the hand, as fhall appear to be ne-
ceflary ; but this cannot be done bya machine, which muft go
iteadily and equally along, in all parts of the operation. But
if the tape of wool, after it comes from the comber, were drawn
out by hand in the middle, fo-as to make it fmaller there, and
were brought to an equal thicknefs by joining another tape to
the former, where the two ends are fimall, fo as to bring the
whole to an equal thicknefs ; and were that winded up, it
might then be pafled through the machine, which might be fo
fet, that at every pull of the thread, an equal quantity might be
given off, fo as to leave the thread, or rove, of an uniform
thicknefs, and a perfectly equal. twiit throughout its whole
Jength. »

In this way, yarn, of no great degree of finenefs, might be
{pun from comb-d wool, at one operation; but where it was
wanted of a fyperior decree of finenefs, this firit operation
fhould only be confidered as a finer kind of roving. The de-
gree of twift will in this cafe, however, be much greater than is
required for roving, where it is to be drawn over again. But, by
paling it through the untwifting machine, it may be opened
to any degree that the circumitance of the cafe: fhall require 5
and in this way, combed wool may doubtlefs be drawn to an
exceeding degree of finenefs, and at an inconceivably fmall ex

VO EFFECTS OF FROST. Sept. 28.

pence ; and as it is very eafy, in all cafes, to have the yarn un-
twifted to any degree that may be wanted ; and as, where the
wool is long, a very {mall degree of twift is fufficient to make
the thread cohere enough for being wove ina light loom, where
the foft Shetland wool is employed, fabrics of wool may be thus
made, not only much finer than any that have ever been feen,
but even fofter in texture than the fineft Indian fhawls, which
have hitherto been unrivalled by any European manufaéturer.
[N. B. If not difappointed by ihe engraver, the figure and de-
Seription of the untavifiing machine will be ake in our next.

Farther Obfervations on the Effects of Froft on Corn.
To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

In looking over No. 6th, Vol. IV. of your ufeful publication,
1 obferved an extra&t from iny ftatiftica! account of the Parith
of Linton, relative to the effects of the harveft frofts.—Whe-
ther from inaccuracy in my original report, or inadvertence in
thofe who prepared it for the prefs, I find a conclufion fet
down, without a precife ftatement of the faéts from which that
conclufion is deduced.

It is in the Jaft paragraph of page 218. immediately after
the fentence, it is certainly the cafe with cats. The facts, which
‘T either did {tate, or ought to have {tated in confirmation of
the preceding averment, as to the froft having dittle effed on
the ears of oats, when their guices were watery, and had not at-
tained to the-con/iftence of Brckijh milk, are as follow; “ In the
“6 year 1784, the fro{t was on the night betwixt the 17th and
*¢ 78th of Auguft—t had that feafon a field in the ecrofts ad-
S¢ joining to the village of Linton, fown with Polifh oats, a
“¢ {pecies of oat about three or- four weeks earlier than the
“© Tweedfide oat, then commonly ufed; the uppermoft grains
“¢ (which in every fpecies of oat ripen fooneft) had in that
“6 field attained to the confiftence of thick milk; thefe were
“¢ all frofted four or five grains down the head; the grains
+ below thefe all ripened well. The rough bear in the conti-
*¢ suous fields, which might be about equally forward with

1791. STATISTICAL CORRECTIONS- rf

«6 the top grains of thefe oats, or poffibly from their being a
“ more tender grain, was fo totally deftroyed, that the ftraw
‘¢ was afterwards ufed for thatch, without ever being thrafhed.
““ The field of Polifh oats was indeed remarkably thick and
“ ftrong ; the ripening of the undermoft grains might there-
“ fore haye been in fome meafure accounted for from the
fhelter afforded by the uppermoft grains: but as a proof
“ above all exception, that the froft does not greatly burt
“<‘ oats while the juices in the. ear are watery, there were feveral
adjoining fields fown with Tweedfide oats, whofe beft ri-
“ pened grains wereno farther advanced than the undermoft
‘© grains in the field above mentioned, which all ripened very
‘¢ well, though equally expofed to the froft.”

In addition to the confirmation derived to this. fuppofition
from Dr Roebuck’s experiment, it may be fubjoined, that in
fpring 1783, fome farmers in a muirith parifh not far diftant,
who fowed feed oats of their own growth 1782, upon their
good feed, as they conceived them to be, running fhort, fowed
fome ends of rigs with the out-dightings, which laft produ-
eed’ the béft crop*. 1

In page 219. in the laft paragraph but one, and firft line,
for crops cut and flacked, read crops cut and fooked. :

In looking over the account of Linton, in the volume of re-
ports publifhed by Sir John Sinclair, I perceive feveral things
publifhed, which perhaps might as properly have been omitted :
thefe are of little confequence ; fome corrections, however, are
abfolutely neceffary to render the account applicable to the
real ftate of the parifh ; and thefe I beg you would infert, as
I know no more proper mode of communicating them to the
readers of the ftatiftical account of Scotland.

In page 226th of the volume publifhed by Sir John Sinclair,
article /oil, line rft, for, the foil of the hills is clayey, read, the foil
of a few of the hills is clayey; line sth, for the remaining parts
read the greateft part.

Lad
o

‘

* The fame thing happened in Aberdeenfhire that feafon, as
Thad particular occafion to remark ; a phenomenon that then
furprifed me not a little, as I never before had had an oppor-
tunity of feeing frofted corn of any fort, Edit.

112 «STATISTICAL CORRECTIONS.. Sept 28%

In page 135. laft fentence of the uppermioft paragraph, read
thus : ‘* Old breeding ewes from the hills fold to the butcher at
« Martinmas, weigh from fix to nine pound averdupoife per
‘ quarter, yielding from three to.five pound tallow, as taken
‘¢ out by the butcher 3 fuch as have had no lambs the preced-
“¢ ing feafon, yielding more in proportion, both in weight of
*¢ carcafe and tallow.”

In page 139. article Corn farming, after mention of Magbie-
hill oats, it fhould be fubjoined that thefe are the red oats, now
commonly fown by Dawfon in Frogden, he having got the
feed originally from Linton.

In page 140. .dele the two notes at the foot of the page,
which fhow the abridger to have been no Scotfman.

In page 142. article Population in 1791, the inhabited houfes
in the village of Linton are faid to be 59 inftead of 95, and the
total inhabited houfes in the parifh are made by confequence
to be'178, inftead of 214.

Iam, |
Yours, &c. .
‘CHARLES FINDLATER,.

a

Manfe of ebemerats ;
26th Auguft 1791,

re Lhe 2 My BI,

ge iow C7 Oh ab Iart

Y
he
a
Tr

]

¢

LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

> e

te : , FOR Ae i
na head
’ sea Re
0 WEDNESDAY, O&ober 5> 1791.
De «ty -
ae
|) +) -HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE,
~ it : er:
/ e - [With a Prare.]
Pee MER! - 343!
a4 J j 4
po 4. | Lo the Editor of the Bee.

DEING compleatly tired, as Timagine all Europe will
‘be very foon, of impertinent, coxcombical, mounte-
k human orators, { beg leave, in profecution of my

:and ufeful defign of defcribing the Art of Idle-
lo prefent your readers with my lucubrations con-
the Nightingale; an orator -of greater emi-
ame, and antiquity; than Demofthenes, and who.
will continue to charm the world after all our prefent
nonfenfe with the Millenium, the Crufades, the Pope,
the Devil, and the Pretender, fhall become topics for
‘the refearches of antiquarians,

Peron, V. + P

;
£4
122 HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. O&. 5,

I fhall begin with defcribing his perfon. His fize is

that of the linnet, in fhape he refembles the robin red-
breaft. His head is fmall, his eyes large, with a pale
iris. His beak dufky coloured, flender, and pretty
jong. His head, neck, and back, of a gre; vith brown.
The upper part of his wings have a tinge of red, of
which there is more about the tail. His throat, breatil

and belly are of a pale whitifh grey. His tail is shite
- underneath, and the thighs are alfo covered with white
feathers; but the knees are furrounded, as it were,
with rings of grey. With refpect to his country, the
bountiful Father of the univerfe, who is attentive to
the amufement and comfort, as well as the fuftenance
of his children, has given the Nightingale a patience of
diverfity in climate, that he may attend the only crea-
ture capable, by a fenfible foul, of deer ieragcy the
fuperior beauty of his fong.

Credo Deum immortalem fparfifle animos in corpore humana
ut effent qui terras tuerentur, quique cgleftium ordinem contem-
plantes imitarentur Eum vitz modo atque conftantia.

This alfo extends to every thing that lives, and
moves, and has a being, in proportion to fenfibility, re-
pulated in every circumitance by perfect adaptation !

In moft of the temperate regions of the earth, where
there is abundance of food and fhelter, and a connec-
tion, uninterrupted, with highly cultivated and inclofed
lands, the Nightingale is to be found. _ I believe he has
not been heard in Britain north of the Trent, or the
Were at the utmoft. In Scotland, Ireland, and Wales he
is unknown. Scotland and Wales might, in the courfe
of ages, obtain him as.a gueft, by colonization natural-

ly produced from conjoined cultivation ; but as I think ©
it will in time fuihciently appear that the Nightingale is
not a bird of paffage, Ireland muft transfer him from ~

Britain or from the continent.
‘The Czar Peter the Great is faid to have Mee b

at a confiderable expence, various finging birds tohisgar-—

sy -
1791. HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 123

dens, in the neighbourhood of St Peterfburg or Mofcow,
and among the reft the Nightingale ; but I could never
obtain any authentic confirmation of this common af-
fertion, though I took fome pains to enquire; and I
agree with Mr Daines Barrington in doubting the truth
of it, becaufe, as he fays,-the trouble and expence
feemed unneceflary, as moft of our finging-birds are
common all over the well cultivated {pots of the north~
eaftern diftrict of Europe, Denmark, Sweden, and

Ruffa.

Mr Henfhaw informs us that the Nightingale in
Denmark is not heard till May, and that his notes are
not fo {weet or various as in England*. Fletcher,
(who was minifter from Queen Elizabeth to Ruflia,)
fays that the Nightingales in that part of the world —
have a finer note than the Englifh Nightingales.—See
the Life of Fletcher in the Biographia Britannica.—
Which of thefe two is moft to be relied upon is doubt-
ful; and it will be well if any of your correfpondents
can fettle this moot point.

The Nightingale’s favourite food is the little earth
grub, or maggot, but he can vary his food, as all other
birds can, from neceflity.

According to the feafon, the Nightingale builds her

“ neft, and hatches from the end of March to the middle

of April, or even to the end of that month or begin-
ning of May. ‘The thorn-brake, or low thick buthes,
are the ordinary fituations of the Nightingale’s neft.
Nature having given this bird a fuperior ftile of fing-

‘ing, and a turn for finging in the dark, has protected

him from injury as much as poffible, by modeft plum-
age, and a retired difpofition. The Nightingale fings
commonly for about two months ; and not being heard
or diftinguifhed again till the return of the fpring, na-

4 3 aa)
turalifts, who are generally ftronger in the cabinet than

* Birch Hift. R. Soc. vol. iii, p, 189.
Pa

124 HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE, O84,

in the field, and, like all fcientifie men, lazy énowe¢h,
and very fond of hypothefis, tell us that he is a bird of
_ pafiage. If, fays the excellent judge Barrington, a bird
which is fuppoted to migrate, pafles almoft under the
nofe of a Linnean naturalift, he pays but little atten-
tion to it; becaufe he cannot examine the beak, by
which he is to clafs the bird. Thus, I conceive, adds
he, that the fuppofition of the Nightingale being a bird
of paffage arifes from not readily diftinguifhing it when
feen in a hedge, or on the wing.

When I lived at Walcot, in the neighbourhood. of
Bath, I was often convinced, a8 were feveral of my ac-
quaintanice, that we obferved the Nightingales in win-
ter hopping about the hedges in that neighbourhood ;
but I cannot fay that I ever thot any of them at that
feafon of the year, though I have heard the bird cateh=
ers fay that they got them fometimes with other fmall —
birds, during vigorous winters. Perhaps this hint may
induce people in the fouth-weft parts of England,
where Nightingales are common, to enquire in this
manner about their frequentation during the winter.

Mr Barrington affures us, that he was informed by
a perfon well acquainted with this bird, that he has
frequently obferyed them during the winter; and the
treatife entitled, didologue, publifhed at Paris 1751, in-
forms us, that they have been frequently feen in France
during the fame feafon,

Sir Robert Sibbald, in his natural hiftory, afferts the
Nightingale to have been heard in Scotland. His pa-
triotifm may have fafcinated the good Doé¢tor’s éar, or
he may have blundered like a good honeft Scot, who,
being joked by an Englifhman on the want of the fweet
Nightingale in Scotland, « Hoot awa maun,” faid
Sawney, “have na wee the Nightingale, think ye, in
Scotland ?” «Have you faith,” faid John, “ pray what
kind of note has he? Is it like our Nightingale’s note ?”
6*I dinna ken,” faid Sawney, as to that maun, bur

r791. HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 125

he cries Whoo! whoo! whoo! and I fancy juft as cle-
verly as your’s do +.”

The nightingale is perhaps one of the moft-local of
all'finging-birds ; he feldom flies above thirty yards,
and in general keeps very clofe among the hedges and
bufhes. At night he perches on a branch, and begins
his love elegies, or fprightly madrigals, to his miftrefs.
His tone is mellower than even the {weet, harmonious,
plaintive wood-lark: his execution and compais fuper-
lative ; and there is in the round of his fong a delight-
ful intermixture of fprightlinefs that prevents his beau-
tifal love-ditty from cloying the ear with too much
unction.

But it is not only, fays the noble hiftorian of the
Nightingale, in tone and variety that this bird excels;
he fings, if I may fo exprefs myfelf, with fuperior
judgment and tafte. I have therefore commonly ob-
ferved that my Nightingale began foftly, like the an-
cient orators, referving its breath to {well certain notes,
which by this means had a moft aftonithing effect, and
which eludes all verbal defeription. ,

This circumftance I have often with high pleafure ob-
ferved in Somerfetfhire. I was a great admirer, at that
time, of old Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham’s fpeaking,

+ Mr Macquhirter of Inglifgreen, near Edinbureh, bleacher, a
gentleman, though no profeffed naturalift, who is yet fo attentive an
obferver as to allow nothing to efcape notice that comes within the ~
iphere of his obfervation, informs me that he has for feveral years paft
been much delighted with the finging of a bird which is heard all nicht
long; during 2. certain part of the year, Ir firft, he fays, begins to be

_ heard fome time in April, and continves to fing till about the end of

ee The note he fays is foft, plaintive, and varied; but he does not
feribe its powers with all the rapture that poets exprefs in deferibing
their favourite Philomel. It isa imall bird he fays, of brownith plum-

"ge, it is feldom feen, Whether this be the true Nightingale, as
oy tobe probable, or if it be only the Red-ftart, which, from its
Ni

ging alfo during the night-time, has been called by fome the Mock-
ightingale, 1 fhall not pretend to fay; but it feems impoflible to deny
that it muft be cither the one or the other; a little time and experience

_ will foon difeover which it is. As no buildings are near, nor thick

Woods, it is againft the P.ed-ftart.——Evit.

426 HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. O&. 5,

in the houfe of Commons, and I ufed to think he had bor-
rowed his manner from the Nightingale. When I after-
wards heard his fon, young Pitt fpeak, I thought his ora-
tory morerefembled the notes of the {parrow, continually
yerking at the American war {.—So much for orators,
and the oratory of the Nightingale. I come now to’
confider with what degree of probability, and in what
manner Nightingales may be transferred from one
country to another.

The appearance, or rather the fong of the Night-
ingale which leads to his being obferved, is expected by
the bird catchers in the neighbourhood of London the
firft week of April. At firlt, few but cocks are taken,
which I afcribe to the circumftance of their being eafieft
diftinguifhed by their note, and being moft upon the
wing in purfuit of the females. -‘They build their nefts
generally about the middle of May, in quickfet hedges, |
from whence they feldom remove at any diftance. “Bhey
do not congregate, or pack, like other birds that are fup-
pofed to be birds of paflage, in March and Odtober,

- but hop from hedge to hedge, and are very local, not
only in England, but wherever this charming bird is to
be found in Europa, or Afia.

. Now thefe circumftances acknowledged by Mr Pen-
‘nant, and all the other advocates, for the migration of
Nightingales feem fuflciently to prove the reverfe of
their fuppofition: more efpecially when we reflect
that if Nightingales left England in flocks to the
continent, they would be obferved there in winter, and
in returning, would as naturally take their occafional
flights to Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, as to the fpots
they are feen to frequent. The great difeafe that affiiéts
our literary republic is fyftem. We need a Lord Bacon at

} Perhaps fome of our readers will think, that like Mr Pitt with
the American war, or Mr Hume with the clergy, or Mr Gibbon at the
Chriftian religion, our ingenious correfpondent does not diflike to\go a

little out of his way to get a hit at the minifter., Edit,

1791. HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 127

leaft once ina century, to whip forth the buyers and fellers
of filly hypotheses out of the temple of Apollo. O! for «
thong, and an arm fit to ufe it, that I might drive them to
their cloyfters, and teach them to remember that they are

but fchool-boys !

The plan I would venture to recommend for the in-
troduction of Nightingales into any country, is to re- -

move a large quantity of the eggs, keeping them in Balneo
mario, or by artificial regulated heat, according to the
meature neceflary for bringing forward the procefs of in-
cubation, and placing them in the neft of the Red-ftart,
and other congeners of the Nightingale; bringing down
a competent number of the fineft caged Nightingales
to place in the fields where the eggs are to be
hatched, together with a number of Canary birds that
fing the fineit round of the Nightingales fong with fuch
agreeable intermixture of other notes as may be molt
agreeable to the undertaker.

Then, not to depend upon this arrangement alone, let |

a number of neftling Nightingales be brought aboard a
fhip from London, under the care of hen fky-larks as
nurfes ; the moft ready and tender for this purpofe, with
plenty of Nightingale meat, to be made daily by an atten-
tive hand that is hearty in withing fuccefs to the under-
taking; and taking care to have two or three capital’
cock Nightingales from Covent Garden market, or
from the bird-men in Holborn and elfewhere in Lon-
don, from which the neftlings might receive the pro-
per inftructions. Ihave not the leaft doubt, Mr Editor,
that the delightful Philomela might be brought to’
abound in every part of Europe where food, fhelter,
and climate admitted of their exiftence.. What a proud
circumitance it would be for the teacher of the noble
Art of Idlenefs, could he have the pleafure to hear the
melodious Nightingale in his native country, brought
thither by his invitation, and applauded by all the dy-
ing fwains, and love fick maidens of the Land of Cakes!
How much more delightful would: it be to hear our

(428 © HISTORY OF THE NIGHTINGALE. O&. 6s

dear bucks, and bloods, and our gentle macaronies
chattering over their cups, of this little Nightingale,
and that little Nightingale, than of this little beagle,
and ef that little beagle! and then indeed an elegant
young idle gentleman of diftin¢étion or fortune, might,
if ftarting the firft Nightingale in Scotland or Wales,
or in the fpirited Ireland, with propriety affume the
title, the noble enviable title, of a buck of the firft feather’!
and fo much am I perfuaded of the fuccefs of my pro-
pofal for the introdu€tion of thefe feathered choirifters
into new countries that I fhall beg leave to prefent you
with a prophetic fong on the fubje€&t from a Nightin-
tingale in Glaftonbury Thorn, fung on midfummer
evening 1786, which may perhaps not be unacceptable
to thofe who like to attend to the mufic of the groves.

Begin, begin the evening fong,
’ The wood-lark is afleep,
There’s nought but filence here among
The owls that watch do keep:
Save that athwart the mirky aifle
The filthy bats do fiitt,
Our little offspring to beguile
While qn the {pray they fit.
Ah! f{weetly fweet is this repofe,
My Philomela fair!
* One touch of thee can cure the woes
My heart, that harbour there.
Renew, renew the nightly fong,
The wood-lark is afleep,
The eglantine that winds along
My thorn, my fafety keeps.
They fay the people here are flaves,
And guli’d by filthy priefts;
Come let us crofs the briny waves
And fly their filthy feafts
But ah! alas! the briny fea
Weu'’d brave our ftrongeft wing;
Come then to Scotland let us flee,
To men and freemen fing. .

I am, Sir, with continued attachment to the de-
lightful ineffable art of idleneis, "
35 Your well-wifher, and humble Servant,
ALBANICUS,

.
;
4
7
4
:
.
\

B7Q%. ACCOUNT OF THE iSLAND SAMAR. i129

ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR.
( Continued from p. 54.)

Tue deportment cf the men is eafy, open, and af-
fable ; the women are gay and lively, and poffefs in
fome degree the flippancy of the coquette, without,
however, being inclined to the vice of proftitution.
The Indian has little propenfity to labour, but he can-
not be accufed of avoiding it when any emergency ren-
ders it expedient. Vanity, and lying are the only im-
moralities I could difcover among them; and though I
have not found them prone, either to jealoufy or theft,
they feemed, however, confiderably keen in their deal-
ings with the Europeans. I am difpofed to believe that
fenfibility of mind in the Indian is particularly nice and
delicate, having obferved in the exercife of his friend-
fhips a warmth and opennefs of heart which I have not
difcovered, in an equal degree, in any other people.
A falute, the common token of love between the fexes,
and of affection among relations, is here preceded by
a gentle afpiration of incenfe on that part of the face
. to which the lips are meant to be applied.
The Biffayan Indians in general difcover a natural
tafte for mufic, and a propenfity to the mechanic arts ;
and Iam convinced nothing but want of experience
prevents their attaining a very high degree of eminence
in thefe purfuits. The flexibility of their nerves and
mufcles may, perhaps, fcarcely be credited; but the
fa& is, that they handle {mall objeéts with their feet
with equal eafe and dexterity as we do with our
hands, and can exert a force in pinching with
their toes, not lefs than that of a European when
he pinches with his fingers. With the afliftance of
his camplian alone, the Indian makes his fiddle, or
guitar, cuts down the largeft tree in the foreft, and
fhapes, and excavates it into the form of a canoe. At
ou. V. +

¥30 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. Ot. 5g.

one time it is ufed to carve on the bamboo defigns of
no mean effect, for the ornament of his houfe; at ano-
ther, it is turned againft the enemy for his perfonal
defence. ‘This, in fhort, feems to be the only edged
tool known, or at leaft in ufe among the Indians of
Samar.

Amofg their productions of art, the Indian mat
merits particular notice, which is a fpecies of manufac-
ture of fuch finenefs, that a piece of fix feet went eafily
into my pocket. It is executed in various handfome
defigns, and painted with very lively and elegant co-
Jours, which they-have the art of extracting from dif-
Jerent trees. :

Silk, cotton, and the fibres of the fig-bannan above
mentioned, furnifh the Indian with the raw materials
of his beft manufa€tures in cloth. He makes a kind of
Jace, and embroiders his filk ftuffs with furprifing ele-
gance and addrefs. Each family is provided in a loom
for its own domeftic purpofes. At fea you find the In-
dian a fhip’s carpenter, fail maker, and caulker ; on land,
a rope maker and fhip builder; but though he exer-
cifes occafionaliy, almoft all the mechanic arts for his
own amufement, or convenience, he is never found to
profecute any one of them exclufively of the reft. I was
informed, but with what degree of certainty I will not
pretend to fay, that even the art of writing with a kind
of pencil on the leaves of the cocoa tree, once exifted
in this ifland.

They have a cuftom, implied in the word mafarer,
of cracking the joints, and pinching the fleth in diffe-
rent parts of the body, which, as they conceive, tends
to promote the free circulation of the blood, and hu-
mours. ‘That of rubbing the childrens limbs with oil
is likewife common, ufagés, which as they are not pe-
culiar to them, but prevalent over the whole continent
of Afia, may be prefumed fo have long been found to
have a falutary efrect. In place of cupping they ufe
f:vere pinching on the neck and fhoulders, which they

LyQI. ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR, 131

\
continue to exercife until they are fatisfied they have at-
tained theirend. They let blood by means of incifions
made in the fkin; and as to phyfic, they are wonder-~
fully verfant in the virtues of many flowers, balms,
and plants, the ufe and application of which they owe
to nature, and their own experience alone,

The hair of both fexes is remarkably fine, particular-
ly that of the women, which they are accuftomed to
comb with great care, and to annoint frequently with
oil of the cocoa nut, in order to ftrengthen, and render
it of a deep black. ‘Their nofe is fhort and deprefled,
but the noftrils are by no means dilated like thofe of
the negroes ; nor, indeed, have I often obferved an ug-
ly or ill favoured woman in thofe iflands. The features
are {mall, not always regular ; but they have beautiful
eyes, and faces uncommonly interefting and expreflive.
They ufe pitchers of the bamboo, and fome of them
have a light fort of leaf hat, fimilar to what is worn by
Indians of the firft diftinétion. One of the moft beau-
tiful objects, in my opinion, that can meet the eye of
a painter, is a fine young Indian on her way to fetch
water from the well. ‘The large leaf hat, the delicate
arangement of the thin tranfparent petticoat, anda light
bamboo pitcher in each hand, beftow a furprifing
grace and dignity on her perfon. In the remote parts
of the country, and efpecially at a diftance from the
miflionaries, perfons of both fexes appear almoft naked.

The natives of Samar have fifh in plenty. and va-

‘riety from their rivers, as well as the fea-coaft, the lat-
ter of which fupplies them’ with yery elegant pearls;
and their manner of fifhing, from its fingularity, merits
notice :—There is a certain pea, of an intoxicating
quality, named coco, found in the ifland, which being
reduced to a powder, is [cattered by the Indian, at
low-water, all over the fand. Upon the return of the
tide, the filh which have eaten the bait, appear floating
in a tate of infenGlvility on the furface of the wates,

Q2

132 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. O€. 54

and are picked up with eafe, in what number the fith-
erman judges convenient.

The iron-tree, ebony, and dying-wood, grow in
every part of the ifland ; and gold duft is found in fome
quantity in its more interior regions; but the monks,
in their concern for the morals of the people, have been
careful to get this dangerous branch of traffic into their
own hands. The Spaniards themfelves are forbidden
to refide in the Indian villages, under pretext of pro-
tecting the innocence of the natives againft the cor-
ruption of European manners. The council at Manilla,
however, has lately reftrained, by various regulations,
the exorbitant power affumed by the clergy in thofe
iflands.

It would require the elegant genius of a Virgil or
a Theocritus to make the reader conceive the natural
advantages of Samar. The country, of all thofe I have
yet feen, or that perhaps exift.in this planet, the moft
eminently beautiful. How often have I envied thé
Biffayans, (for, except the natives of Luconia, it is thus
they name all the inhabitants of the Philippine ifles,)
the happy retirement of this little infular paradife! If
in the province of Tegas the mind of the traveller is
conftantly roufed and agitated by objects of grandeur
and magnificence, in the ifland of Samar he is-foothed
and enchanted with an elegant and rich difplay of
fimple beauty. In the former, the eye flits in fuccef-
fion over Nature’s ftupenduous works, from the noble,
‘but gloomy foreft, to the widely extended plain, bound-
ed by the diftant horizon; and thence to rivers and
Jakes, the noife and vaft furface of whofe waters are
formed to imprefs the mind with the awful majefty of
the Creator. In the latter are the emanations of his
goodnefs, fprings, fountains, and riyulets; land{capes
elegantly compofed by various blendings of woods and
Jawns, curioufly interfeCting each other, as they feem,
to float over the varied afpeét of the foil. Woods, it
is true, without the extent and magnitude of the Te-

ifgl. | ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. 139)

gan foreft, but which, enlivened by the bloffoms of
-{pring, or loaded with their antumnal fruits, yield bal-
fam for the wounds, and odours for the refrefhment of
the natives. The wild bee-hive hanging from the
branches; the air highly perfumed with a very fra-
grant fpecies of wild jeflamy, and the fweet rofes of
China; every thing, in fine, prefents Nature im adolef-
cence, fuch as fhe exifts before the folly and caprice of
man have learned to disfigure or efface her native
charms.

Here I was often at a lofs to determine which had
the moft claim to my admiration, the beauty of the
country, or the gentle and innocent manners of the na-
tives. Having continued my travels half round the
globe, I had become lefs addicted to local and illiberal
partialities, and, in fome meafure, fenfible how little
the narrow prejudices of education accord with the
fentiments of an open and candid mind. Hence, if I
envied the Biflayan’s country, I was ftill more covet-
ous of his fociety, of that fincerity vifible in the whole
tenor of his conduct, and, above all, of that calm fere- .
nity of mind but little exhibited by the more polifhed
circles in modern Europe. I furveyed, with {fatisfac-
tion, the fmalleft of Nature’s works, which the levity
of a refined imagination has in no inftance taught the
Biflayan either to impair or deftroy. My heart was,
enchanted in my attendance on their religious worfhip,
which is accompanied with a very fimple, but intereft-
ing and expreflive {pecies of mufic. Under thefe and
fimilar impreflions, [ became particularly difpofed to

acknowledge the goodnefs of divine Providence, which
had led me, as it were, by the hand through my wan-

derings ; and my thoughts being turned towards rel
| gion in general, I gave more attention than ufual té
the confideration of my own,

134 CLEANINGS OF BIOGRAPHY. O&: 5,

For the ret
> GLEANINGS OF BIOGRAPHY.
ft. From the Diary of Mr Fames Melvil, Sept. 1582.

BUCHANAN.

jh tae the vacance my uncle, Mr Andrew, prin-
cipal of the new college, Mr Thomas Buchanan, pro-
voft of Kirkhaldie, and I, hearing that Maifter George
Buchanan was weakly, and his hiftory in the preds,
pafled over to Edenbrugh anes eirand to vifit him, and to
fee the wark. Whan we cam to his chalmber, we
fand him fitting in his chaire, teaching his young man
that ferved him in his chalmber to fpell AB, EB, IB,
toc. After falutation, Maifter Andrew fays, “ if fee
Sir, you are not idle.” 's* Better this, (quoth hee,) than
ftealing fheipe, or fitting idle, whilk is als ill.”

Admirable man! Fine image of all that was valua~
ble in the philofophy of Greece and of Italy !

2dly. Scougal, Son of Scougal Bifhop of Aberdeen,

AurHor of that beautiful little book entitled, T/e ~

Life of God in the Soul of Man, was born at Sattoun in
Eaft-Lothian, where his father was rector, to whom
bifhop Burnet fucceeded,

Scougal, the father, was a truly pious and excellent
man, and trained up his fon in the habits of virtue and
holinefs of life, which appeared afterwards, both in his
conduct and in his writings.

He was in ftri€t habits of friendfhip with Dr Burnet,
Andrew Fletcher of Salton, and all the beft men of his
time; but abftracted himfelf much from the buftle of
. ambition, and dedicated himfelf, as every good clergy-
man ought to do, to the duties of his function.

After he had gone through his carcer of parochial
charges in the country he »was made profeffor of divir

179%. ° GLEANINGS OF BIOGRAPHY. 143

nity in King’s College, Aberdeen, where he ended his
days in a room now fhown in the fteeple of the church
of St. Mahar. He became fentimentally enamoured
of a married lady in Aberdeen, with which fruit-
lefs paffion he was fo much moved and hurt, that
he fecluded himfelf from the world, and became fo
corpulent, from want of proper exercife, that his
corpfe could not be got down ftairs from his apart~
ment, and was forced to be let out by the window.—
There is a portrait of him in King’s College hall at
Aberdeen, which ought to be engraved for his works.
And there is likewife in the fame hall a portrait of the
Bifhop; the countenance ftrongly expreflive of the
fweetnefs and devotion of that amiable and worthy pre-
late, whofe tomb, well executed in very good tafte, is
in the cathedral church of Old Aberdeen.

A Li Bs

Hints refpecting the New Settlement at Botan;-Bay.
To the Editor of the Bee.
SIR,

Tx a late number of the Bee you informed us, on of.

- ficial authority, that previous to the 18th of March

1791, two thoufand and twenty-nine convicts have been
fhipped from England for New South Wales. We alfo
earned, that prior to the oth of February in the fame
oe the expences of this eftablifhment amounted to
three hundred and feventy-four thoufand pounds. Be-
fides this fum we are told of contingencies, ‘that can-
mot as yet be ftated.” It was for the minifter’s cre-
dit to make his proje¢t appear as wife as poffible, and
to fupprefs a part of this enormous expenditure to ferve
the temporary puryofes ‘of debate.— We may fafely af.
firm, that the contingencies referred to make n> trifling
fum. Six additional months fall now alfo to be added
to the account; and it is not unreafonable to compute

gies, a ps a
236 ON BOTANY BAY. Oct. 5,

the total expence, up to this date, at fix hundred thou-
fand pounds. Each of thefe unhappy perfons has, there-
fore, coft this country three hundred pounds Sterling :
and fuppofing, that on an average, they furvive tranf-
portation for twenty years, the total expence of each
convict will, at this rate, amount to perhaps about fif-
teen hundred pounds Sterling. It may indeed be al-
ledged, that before that time the country will be redu-
ced to a ftate of cultivation. Buta circumftance men-
. tioned by the governor fufficiently fhows the great dif-
tance and uncertainty of fuch a profpett. It coft him.
and a party five days to penetrate thirty miles into the
defart ; and the fatigues they underwent during this
journey were exceflive. In the fame paper you tell us,
that eighteen hundred and thirty additional conyicts
were then under orders for fhipping. It is impoflible
to eftimate, with any degree of certainty, what may be -
the annual expence of this colony before the end
of the eighteenth century. By a very moderate
computation we may fuppofe, that before ten years
elapfe, the colony will receive at leaft ten thoufand ad-
ditional convicts; and it is but fair to compute, that of
the whole number by that time tranfported, ten thou-
fand will then be alive, and maintained at the expence
of Government. Now, if each of thefe gentry thall
coft us only thirty pounds a year, the whole annual ex
pence will amount to three hundred thoufand pounds,
At the end of twenty years it may rife to double that
fum. Wiil the Britifh nation, with its eyes open, walk. —
into iuch a gulf? Had each of thefe criminals been
difcharged from the bar, it is very unlikely that he
would have committed one tenth part of the mifchief —
by abufing his liberty at home, which he entails on us |
by enduring flavery abroad. q
_.. Thefe premifes, or at leaft by far the greater part of —
them, are unanfwerable, and we muft infer bis the §
Botany-bay fcheme is the moft abfurd, prodigal, and ~
impracticable vifion that ever intoxicated the mind of 7

DE eH

L794. ON BOTANY BAY. 137

man. A poor fellow fteals a watch, or a horfe worth
five or ten pounds. The lofs is paltry, but mark the
confequences. His trial, in Scotland at leaft, colts
the public, between expence and perfonal trouble to
individuals, perhaps, four times that fum; and’ then,
his tranfportation, the devil knows where, and the devil
knows why, perpetuates.a burden upon his country to
the amount of ten times the lofs incurred by the rob-
bery and trial put together. .In the modern ftate of
things, a criminal does not deferve that title for break-
ing a fhop, ora ftable; but, becaufe, if he efcapes the
gallows he plunders the public treafury of three, or
five, or fifteen hundred pounds. ‘Tranfportation to
North America was, in comparifon, but a ride before
breakfaft. New South Wales is at the diftance- of
fix or eight thoufand leagues, if we include the
windings and turnings neceflary on the paflage. In
the former country, the price of a felon, when landed,
was fufficient to pay the expence of his voyage. But
in the latter, a convict, the moment we fet him on fhore,
is enrolled with many other right honourable gentlemen
in the refpectable and ufeful band of national penfoners.
There is not an old Woman in the three kingdoms
who could not have fuggefted a better plan. A bride-
well in each county, on the plan of the ripe ries an
and under 2 few obvious regulations, would effectually
difpofe of convicts ; and inftead of cofting the nation
an enormous annual expence, would produce.a. large
annual revenue. Mr Pitt has, however, pledged his
character and abilities in fupport of this project, and
he will, no doubt, adhere to it with his ufual frmne/s,
till the period of his refignation. -If he fhall continue
in office for ten years longer, every fool in this country
will fee what every man of fenfe fees already. By that
_ * This isa prifon on a new and improved plan, by which prifonerg,.
can be kept entirely apart from each other, without a poflibility of cor-
rupting each other, or being maltreated themfelves, ice vol. % p. 77s
and vol. 3. p. 152.
Vou. V. + R

138 THREE LUMINARIES OF THE ROMANS. O&, 5e

time the project will be treated with univerfal execra+
tion, as a millitone hanging at the neck of public credit;
and the new minifter, as a {pecimen of his importance,
will immediately abandon the fettlement. But indeed
its invaluable inhabitants may very poflibly fave him
that trouble, by cuting the throats of their tafk-mafters,
and embarking on board their fhipping in the bay. Could
this revolution be accomplifhed without bloodfhed it is
in itfelf an event extremely defireable.

TUMBLEDOWN.

Sketch of Three Luminaries of the Romans, by the late Sir
Fames Foulis of Colinton, baronet.

To the EDITOR of the Bee.
sa book entitled Gulielmi Bellendeni Scoti, Tria Lu-

mina Romanorum is a very extraordinary performance.
Cicero is introduced as if he had fpoken or written the
whole from beginning to end. It is divided into fixteen
books. In the firft feven is contained a very concife
abftra&t of the Roman Hiftory, from the foundation
of Rome till its 647th year, in which he was born.—
‘Then he becomes more p4fticular in the account
of his own times, and enlarges very fully on all
that happened after his firft appearance in public: bufi-
nefs. He gives an account of the moft remarkable of
his orations, and epiftles, and the occafions on which
they were written, as alfo of fuch of his philofophical
works as have come down to us, and of fome other
pieces that.are now loft, ending with a letter he is fup-
pofed to have written to Ofavianus, afterwards named
Auguftus, which letter, however, is fuppofed to be
fptrious. On the whole, there cannot be a more
complete hiftory of the life of Cicero, and of the tu-
iultuous times in which he lived, and in part of which
*. was a very confiderable actor ; and all this is des
livered in the language and words of Cicero himfelf.
It is very remarkable that Bellenden has copied
Cicero fo clofely that I'verily believe there’ is not an

;

1791- THREE LUMINARIES OF THE ROMANS. ‘139

expreflion, perhaps not a fingle word in the whole
book that is not to be found in the writings of Cicero.
It is written a good deal in the manner of the pieces
called Centos, but without the incoherence ufual in
fuch pieces, this being in an eafy and flowing flyle, and
I dare fay, there never was, and perhaps never will be
a Cento of fuch length, and on matters of fuch im-
portance, in which the excerpts from the original author
are inferted with fo much propriety.

I am perfuaded that he muft have been able to re-
peat by memory the whole works of Cicero, as it is
f{carcely poflible that the life of one man could fuffice
to compofe fo large a work by turning over the leaves
of the book to find the various expreffion and ipfi/ima
werba {uited to the various occafions on which they
could be properly ufed. For this purpofe he mutt
have had them all treafured-up in his mind, from
which, as from a rich ftore-houfe, he‘could take out
each particular, according as he found occafion.

Some few notes, well worth reading, are interfperfed
by Bellenden. As no authors are mentioned in the book,
but only referred to in the margin, I cannot precifely
determine who are the other two befides Cicero, who
are entitled the Luminaries of the Romans, unlefs they
be Plutarch and Ovid, to whem he often refers, and
‘particularly to the Fa/fi of the latter.

The fate of this book has been extraordinary. Bel-
lenden lived in the Court of James the firft of Britain,
and is faid, in the title page, to have been Supplicium Ii-
bellorum magifter ; after his death the MS. fell into the
hands of one Touffains du Bray, who printed it at Paris,
and dedicated it to our K. Charles the fecond, in the
ey 1663. He would probably keep fome few copies,

ut tranfmitted the reft, faid to have been a thoufand,

to London. ‘The thip, on board which they were put,

was wrecked on the paffage, and only four or five co=

pies, fent by other conveyances, ever reached Britain.

One of them was in the hands of a gentleman in Lon-
R 2

14® THREE LUMINARIES OF THE ROMANS. OG. 5,

don about thirty years ago, who refufed twenty-five
guineas for the ufe of it toa perfon who wifhed for
ait. The gentleman dying, it was fold to Mr’ bn ir
the bookfeller at London, with the reft of his books *
Conyers Middleton being fortunate enough to get anos
ther copys | knew the value of the prize, and made his
own wfe of it. For here he found the life of Cicero
in his own words, and every thing propérly digefted in
chronological order; fo that he had little more to do
than to take the trouble of tranflating, and publifhing -
it in three large o¢tavo volumes, under the title of the
life of Cicero, by which he procured money, and repu-
tation to himfelf. ;

Trufting to the rarity of the Tria Lumira, he expected
to pafs undifcovered, and never once mentioned Bel-
lenden, to whom he was indebted.

The Hon. Mr Baillie of Jarvifwood, one of the Lords
of the Treafury, in the late King George the Firft’s
time, had a copy of the Tria Lumina, which his grand-
fon, with the franknefs and humanity becoming a mano
quality, and a’man of letters, communicated to the Earl
of Buchan, beforethe obtained the copy from Mr Payne,
from which I have deduced thefe remarks ; and cannot
but exprefs a fincere with to fee a new edition of this
remarkable book, the intrinfic merit of which, approved
and confirmed by the reputation that Middleton ac-
quired from his plagiarifm, render it fo worthy of re-
publication 5 or rather, as one may fay, of ne Te=
icued from obfcurity.”

‘Thus far Sir James Foulis, a man of fingular merit,
whote exceeding modefty hid him from the notice of
the public.

* This book belonged'to Alexander Strachan Efg; late deputy pay~
mafter of the forces in the reign of Georgé the firft, and tranflator with
Johnfon and Mallet of the firt fix books of Virgil’ s /Eneid. Lord
Buchan, on Sir James Foulis’s information, applied to Mr Payne, and
bought the book for the S. of S. Antiquarics.

I791. THREE LUMINARIES OF THE ROMANS. ¥4t

In his early days he dedicated himfelf to a learned
profeflion, and was candidate for tlte chair of a profef-
forfhip in the univerfity at Edinburgh: afterwards he
became an officer in the army, and ferved with great
honour and gallantry, both in India and Portugal. Had
he remained in the former, he would probably have oc-.
cupied a great and lucrative fituation, which his high
fpirit and nice fenfe of military honour prevented him
from obtaining. After the peace he left Portugal, and
retired to his paternal acres of Collinton, where he de-
dicated himfelf to ftudy, and the correfpondence of the
learned.

He was eminent in philological learning; and with
a view to the more perfect underftanding of ancient

languages, acquired in his old age the Gaélic, and ap-
- plied his knowledge of it to the examination of the
Arabic and Greek primitives, and the primitives of the
other ancient languages of Europe. May thete lines
remain, and be handed down to diftant pofterity asa
memorial of the friendthip of
ALBANICUS,

ae

On the Emigrations from Scotland.

Bi Lo the Editor of the Bee,
Sir,

W: boaft of our philanthropy as individuals, of our
wifdom as politicians, of our fkill as manufaéturers, and
of our knowledge.as merchants; but I would fain with
to know how all thefe epithets can be applied to a na-
tion who can quietly fit {till, and, with an unconcern-
ed apathy of mind, behold without emotion, many +hun-
dreds of their beft people leaving their homes for ever,
and going elfewhere to find that fubfiftence that their
Own native country refufes them? That thefe emi-

ca
\

1.42 EMIGRATIONS FROM SCOTLAND. — O&. g,

grations are going on at the prefent moment is well
known.— Were we poffeffed of our boafted philanthro-
‘phy, would we not feel that the people muft be unhap-
py before they could once think of adopting fuch vio-
lent meafures ?—Could we then behold it without en-
deavouring to difcover the caufe of this uneafinefs, and
trying to alleviate it ?— ‘That the ftrength of
every nation, both in, refpect to furnifhing men for the
eperations of war, and in- affording a revenue at all
times, depends upon the number of our people, cannot
be denied :—If then we were politically wile could we
fee the vital fources of internal vigour fapped at.its very
foundation, without attempting to difcover a cure for
this mortal difeafe, and applying it ?—That manuface
tures require hands for carrying them forward and that
the wages to be given muft be angmented.as the num-
bers for carrying on thefe operations diminifh, every one
knows.— hat this fearcity of hands. muft both retard
the operations, and enhance the price, are felf-evident
propofitions.— Were we therefore {kilful manufactu-
rers we would be fenfible of the evils that this deranged
ceconomy is about to bring upon us, and would there-
fore exert every poflible power to prevent it.—As mer-
chants, was our knowledge as great as we are willing
to affume to ourfelves, would we met perceive, that by
diminifhing the operators, and enhancing the price of ©
goods, the export trade muft be retarded ;—and by tak-
ing from the number of confumers, the import trade
muft be decreafed ?—From this plain induction then, I
am forced to conclude, that were our merchants, and
manufacturers, and. politicians, really pofleffed of that
knowledge, and {kill, and wifdom, with which we idly
compliment them, or were our people at large endow-
ed with that philanthropy we boatft of, all thefe orders
of men would unite with one voice in deprecating the
evil with which this mation’ is threatened, and in trying
to difcover the caufes of it ; that a {peedy and effectual
remedy may be applied to it—While, therefore, we
fit {till and quietly behold thefe things, without bettir-

1791. EMIGRATIONS FROM SCOTLAND. 143

ring ourfelves, every perfon of fenfe, who hears us ap-
plying fuch complimentory epithets to ourfelves, muft
fee that we are a parcel of idle chatterers, who deferve
to be -pitied for our ignorance, and defpifed for our
vanity.

f, as an individual, would attempt to enquire into the
cauie of this great evil; but what encouragement has
_ an individual to exert himfelf, when he fees others dif-
pofed to difregard what he fays >—The caufes are affu-
redly not extremely difficult to be afligned ; nor does the
cure exceed the bounds of poflibility.—But fo long as
every man is difpofed to fit {till, and inttead of lending
his aid to forward the work, fhall be contented with
faying, Be ye.warmed, and, Be ye cloathed, things mult
be futfered to goon from bad to worfe.—Till, there-
fore, I fhall fee fome appearance that the public at
large are likely to be interefted in this difcuflion I thall
leave it ;—regretting only that I fhould have lived at a
time when heaven and earth was moved, and the whole
ftate thrown into the moft violent convulfions to re-
move a fancied evil, which had no real exiftence ; and
_ which, when removed, as Paddy would fay, was not
removed at all;—while this moft ferious of all evils
did not attract the fmalleft {hare of the public attention,

oe Lam, Sir,

A lover of Philanthropy, an admirer of Political
Wifdom, an encourager of Manufactures, a
friend to Commerce, and, confequently, a de-
cided opponent of

Ifland of Lifmore, _, EMIGRATIONS.

Sept. 12,1791.

rR
Charagter of Peter the Hermit by Mr Gibbons.

£ was born of a gentleman’s family, (for we mutt:

now adopt a modern idiom,) and his military fervice
was under the neighbouring counts of Boulogne, the
heroes of the firft crufade. But he foon relinquithed
the {word and the world ; and if it be true, that his wife,

however noble, was aged and ugly, he might withdraw, -

¢

144 YETER THE HERMIT. O&. ¢,

with the lefs reluctance, from her bed toa convent,
and at length to an hermitage. In this auftere folitude
his body was emaciated, his fancy was inflamed ; what-
ever he wifhed he believed; whatever he believed, he
faw in dreams and revelations. From Jerufalem the
pilgrim returned an accomplifhed fanatick; but as he
excelled in the popular madnefs of the times, pope Ur-
ban If. received him as a prophet, applauded his glori-
ous defign, promifed to fupport it in a general council,
and encouraged him to prochim the deliverance of the
Holy Land. Invigorated by the approbation of the pon-
tiff, his zealous mifonary traverfed with fpeed and fuc-
eefs the provinces of Italy and France. His diet
was abftemious, his prayers long and fervent, and
the alms which he received with one hand ‘he diftri-
buted with the other: his head was bare, his feet
naked, his meagre body was wrapt in a coarfe gar-
ment; he bore and difplayed a weighty crucifix , and
the afs on which he rode was fanétified in the public
eye by the fervice of the man of God. He preached
to innumerable crowds in the churches, the ftreets, and
the highways: the hermit entered with equal confi-
dence the palace and the cottage; and the people, for
all was people, was impetuoufly moved by his call to
repentance and arms. When he painted the fufferings
of the natives and pilgrims of Paleftine, every heart
was melted to compafiion; every breaft glowed with
indignation when he challenged the warriors of the
age to defend their brethren and refcue their Saviour :
his ignorance of art and language was compenfated by
fighs, and tears, and ejaculations; and Peter fup-
plied the deficiency of reafon by loud and frequent
appeals to Chrift and his mother, to the faints and
angels of paradife, with whom he had perfonally con-
verfed. ‘The moft perfeét orator of Athens might have
envied the fuccefs of his eloquence: The ruftic enthu-
fiaft iafpired the paffions which he felt, and Chriften-
dom expected with impatience the counfels and de-
crees of the fupreme pontiff.

179 I. POETRY- 137

-

The Effects of Spring.
rCompetisiins Piece.] .

Tranflated from Virgil’s Geor. B. II. 1. 3x5.

NEC TIBI TAM PRUDENS, &Xc.

= none Bic vail with thee, however fam’d
For wifdom, to difturb th’ obdurate earth
While Boreas blows.. For Winter then with ice
Fetters the glebe, nor fuffers the chill’d root
To faften inthe ground. But Jet your vines
Be planted during the foft-blufhing Spring,
When ftorks abhorr’d by trailing fnakes return ¢
Or when the colds that march in Autumn’s rear
Are felt, what time the raging heat retires,
And ere the fun has reached his wintry goal.—.
But Spring the foreft, Spring the wood arrays
With leafy verdure : and in Spring the foil,
Swelling with moifture, feeks prolifick fhowers.
“Ether, all-powerful fire, in genial dew
Defcends into th’ embraces of his f{poufe,, .
The gladden’d earth, and propagates the race
Of fruits that nourifh, and of herbs that heal.
The pathlefs- unfrequented brakes refound
With tuneful birds ; while fportive herds indulge
In rites connubial : and to vagrant gales,
Favonian, now the cultur’d fields expofe,
Their furrow’d bofom. Dewy rains diftill,
With intervals of fun-fhine.. Herbage dares
Arife in prefence of the new-born day :
Nor fears the vine-branch the tempeftuous fouth,
Nor icy arrows of a northern blatt ;
But, joyful, bids her buds unfold, and waves
Her watiton foliage to the Sportive breeze.
Such were the Seafons, when the recent world,
Appear’d in early prime: fuch, then, the courfe
Vol. V. Ss +

138 POETRY. | O&. 5

Of happy days and years. Spring ever reign’d ¢
And her dominion was in every clime ;

Nor fuffer’d interruption from the rage

Of wintry Eurus. Cattle then, both herd

And flock, drew vital breath: th’ unyielding race
Of human-kind rofe from the ftubborn glebe :
Wild beafts the foreft, and the ftarry hoft

The firmament, in bright battalion, rang’d.—
Yet could not earth, exhanfted all and weak,
The labour of creation {till endure,

Unlefs refrefh’d with intervals of reft,

Or refpite interpos’d, between th’ extremes

Of heat and cold: and if indulgent heaven
Knew or regarded not her feeble frame.

Stirlingshire. ‘ PHILERGQNe

>

ee eee
The Choice of a Wife.

For the Bee.

Ye Gods attend !—I long for honey,,

And all the fweets of matrimony $

But as I won't run helter-fkelter,

I with to bargain for my halter.

Affift, ye powers, who guide thro’ life,

And give a tender virtuous wife.

No forward mynx, with giggling air,
Whole tongue an inch or two might fpare
Lavifh of drefs, yet never clean,

Intent to fee and to be feen ;

Whofe heart beats pat—produce a man.
Shed teaze me as fhe plagues her fan.

No formal prude, with decent {mile,
Emblem of innocence and guile.

No fqueamifh Mifs, who can’t bear health 7
» With coffers fill’d with ftore of wealth,

“~~ Tho’ jolly, blooming, fair, and fat,

An heire/i mutt be delicate.

I want not flippant vain conceit, -

Nor thofe who won’t at table eat ;

2791.

POETRY,

Or, by the jing, I'll be her fentry, -
Whene’er the fteals off to the pantry.

I hate malevolence and pride, a

Tho’ wealth fits dangling by her fide.
Keep far from me a damfel ftupid,

Or make me deaf, thou devil Cupid!

Nor give, to make me moft unhappy,
The lafs whom Scotfmen call a taupy.

I want not paffion ever blind,

‘Nor one who leaves her fex behind.

Tho’ bleft with millions—what are riches,
If I mutt ‘feel fhe wears the breeches?
Send me a pair of eagle’s wings,

To fhun thofe who fhun facred things,
That heart muft be devoid of good,

Who flies from heaven and gratitude.
But fhe who taftes of love divine,

Sure never could prove falfe to mine.

Keep to yourfelves Mifs Affe@ation,

Ox the who flights for provocation ;

Like yonder beauty, lo! fhe comes ;

A murmur haftens thro’ the rooms;

Look at the pretty fmirking creature,
Well placing ev’ry thadowy feature ;

For ’tis the glafs that gives her art,

And paint and patches make her {mart ;
Behold the {miles—now fearce is civil—
The angel now—and now the devil.

On all fhe deals fome mark of favour. ’
The puppies gape, but none will have her :
Her lot will be, if married, cares ;

Jf not, the jilt muft walk up ftairs,

And take her ftocking, primly fitting,
And mind her monkey or her kitten.

The fly coquet whom grace adorns,
Would fill my dreams with horns, horns, horns.
Give me no languid {queamith creature,
Wearied for ay, reverfe of nature :

But let me choofe—The girl for me,
Mutt wear auld-fa/hion'd modefty ;

139

140 POETRY. 0&9.

Sweet, kind, and virtuous, ever pleas’d,
Nor e’er with jealous humours feiz’d 5,
Soft, winning foft, not prone to fpeak,
‘Where bluthes deck the lovely- cheek ;
Accomplith’d, innocent and gay,

Devoid of airs, nor bent on plays

Who could a houfehold well attend,

Yet be a comforter and friend.

She would excufe my foibles all ;

Tf large, her love would make them {mall ;
Whofe every word fome good inftills,
With Jearninig that ne’er faw novels ;
Winning always by her yielding :

Heav’n ! what a caftle am I building?
Give me fortune, give me favour ;

Do be kind, and let me have her.

When marriage {prings from fuch a fource,
Ne’er will the world behold divorce ;

But joy will conquer envious {trife,

And peace be kept ’twixt man and wife.

A PHOENIX-HUNTER:

_————_— —___—_—_—_——________ EERIE

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

Iw addition to the obfervations upon the Bridewell A&, which
I formerly ufed the freedom of tranfmitting to you, and
which you was fo indulgent as to infert in your Mifcel-
lany, page 21. permit me to fay, that Jaying an afleflment up-
on the tenantry, anda heavy affeflment is laid for the erec-
tion of this public work, is a grievance, becaufe it ‘is making
thofe who have only a temporary conne¢tion with the county,
during the fhort period of modern leafes, liable in the ex-
pence of a work that may laft for ages.

The next ftep, I fuppofe, in oppreffion, will be to make the
tenants pay the expence of the building of churches!

1791. ON THE BRIDEWELL ACT. 14¥

_ At the time this bill was under difcuffion at one of the
county meetings of the heritors, it was afferted, from a re-
fpectable quarter, that there was a probability that this Bride
well might become a profitable concern: That the monies arif-
ing from the labours of the confined would be more than fufhi-
cient to fupport them, and thence a revenue would arife; for
fuch had turned out to be the cafe in former Bridewells in
England. Should ever this happen to be the cafe with the
Edinburgh Bridewell, is it-at all probable, that the tenantry
will be received into a participation of thefe profits? If not,
how unjuft is it to make them ereét, or contribute towards the
erection, of a work which is to add to the revenues of their
lairds, or to the gaod town only? Should they even be allow-
ed a thare of the profits, which is very improbable, the injuf
tice now done them would be ftill more glaring, becaufe the
tenantry of that day, although the fucceflors of thofe of the
prefent, would in few inftances, or perhaps in no inftance at
all, if the time was remote, be the heirs or aflignees of the pre-
fent ; of confequence the revenue arifing from the monies ex-
aéted from the prefent tenantry would operate as an induce-
ment for others to compete againft them for the pofleffion of
their farms. ‘Thus their own money would be made to ope-
rate again{t their own intereft.

The proprietors are not, however, in this predicament : if any
reyenue fhould eyer arife from the Bridewell, it: will go, if not
to the heirs, at leaft to the affignees of the prefent race of
Jairds, and as fuch would be a real advantage to their families.

It ought to be adverted to, that the tenants who have leafes
of their lands, took them in the idea that no addition to the
rent could be laid upon them during the currency of thefe
Jeafes, without their own confent. ' But thefe Bridewell affeff-,
ments are real additions to the rent, for they are laid upon the
Jand itfelf, which the tenant cannot diveft himfelf of ; fo that
hehas not even the femblance of an option; unlike to the gene-
rality of revenue taxes, which, although ftriétly exigible upon
certain commodities or luxuries, yetas no man is abfolutely ob-
liged to ufe them, fo it becomes optional with a man to fub«
ject himfelf to the payment, or not, as he pleafes. Let it be
alfo adverted to, that although the Jairds, very properly in:

took care to be informed of every particular relating to
this Bridewell, before they confented to fubje& themfelves to
bees :

542 ON THE BRIDEWELL ACT. . , O€. 5.

the Aeavy affeffment of a fhilling each per annum; yet no
notice on this fubje& was ever given to the tenants, notwith-
ftanding that they have to pay a vaft deal more, in propor-
tion, than the Jairds themfelves ; nor will the greater part of
them have fo much as seard of the nature of this impofition,
untill it becomes Jeviable upon them ! How does this condué&
correfpond with the idea generally entertained in this country,
that in it no man’s property is liable to be legally wrefted from
him without his confent ?*

The farmers in this county have long been in the praétice of
affeffing themfelves annually in a confiderable fum for the fup-
port of their police, by their fociety for profecuting rogues.
The benefit thence refulting to the country in general, has
doubtlefs been great, and is, I believe, generally acknowledged.
One would naturally have thought, that in any new fcheme
for the corre€tion or punifhment of rogues or vagabonds, as
the farmers already pay more towards that purpofe than other
people, they would, in confequence, have now been fubjeéted
to a /efs affeffment. For from this, by the Bridewell A&, they -
are to pay not only a vaft deal more than their Jairds, (poor

-men!) but even much more than any other defcription of peo-
ple whatever !

* In addition to what this fenfible correfpondent has fo pro-
perly urged on this head, allow me to add, that, by a ftandin
order of the Houfe of Commons, no bill can be introduce
there until the nature of it has been fully ftated to the public,
in an advertifement properly promulgated, many months be-
fore the bill is to be introduced, in the view that every perfon
who is to be affected by the bill may have an opportunity to ap-
pear at the bar, and ftate their objections to it before it be
paffed. But it does not appear that the tenants of Mid-Lothian
were previoufly advertifed, in any way, of the claufe intended
to be put into that bill for affefling them to the amount with
which they are now burthened ; fo that they had no opportu-
nity of watching over their own intereft before the Houfe. If
fo, it would feem that, either intentionally or accidentally, the
order of the Houfe had been virtualiy eluded, though it was
nominally complied with ; fo that this permiffion to tax them ig
an unjuft manner has the appearance of having been at leaft
improperly obtained. ait.

1791. ON THE BRIDEWELL ACT. 143

I fee no claufe in the Bridewell A@ permitting the farmers
to participate in the management of this Bridewell, or its
funds. Indeed it is unneceflary. No profit that ever may
thence arife will fall to their fhare. And as this is an age in
which is manifefted a-{pirit of levelling and reducing to a kind_
of equality the various diftinétions of fociety, fo, probably from
the fame principle, it has been wifely provided in this bufinefs,
that as the lairds have taken the burden of contriving it upon
themfelves, together with the great burden attending the
management or dividing the profits; fo the tenants have the
Aonour conferred upon them of paying the greater part of the
annual expence ; thus reducing the funétions of both parties’
more nearly toa par. i have the fezour, Sir, to remain

A TENANTe

County of Edinburgh,
Sept. 20. 1791.

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

"To me it has often been matter of wonder, that men of the
firft education and genius fhould. mark profeflions as the ftan-
dard of abilities, and treat mechanics and peafants (I mean
in opinion) as if their bufinefs formed their intelleftuals, Sta-
tion no doubt, and independence, give full force to the exertions
of the mind, end muft make fuperior one of two, fuppofed to
‘have equal faculties; but this alone is the difference, and the
ériterion_to fix upon. I allow cuftom has an amazing effect
on all, and ftamps, as it were, the manner. which diftinguifhes
all profeffions; and from thefe appearances, it would feem phi--
Jofophers draw their conclufions: Thefe cbfervations ftarted
‘to my view on reading your Bee, Vol. IV. page 17. where
your traveller is furprifed at a barber having fo much wit as
to obferve.Ais judgment to get quit of a long beard. The tra-
veller’s fanciful defeription may be juftified in the tradefman he
he met with; but he forgets ¢hat all the world is a flage, and
all the men and women merely players! That a fenfible barber

144 ON ENGLISH PLAYS. OK

never allows his judgment or wit to be fuperior to his employ-

er’s ; in fact, in that re{peét we are really actors ; for whatever —

may be our obfervations, there are few want difcretion. « I

am, Sir, &c, _A BARBER IN EDINBURGH.
September 5. 1791.

Remarks on fome Englifh Plays, continued from
page 80.

The Devil to Pay—by Charles Coffey, E/gs

Comicat actors in Jobfon, Nell, and the Lady, make this piece:
laughable on the ftage. In private perufal, it is low, flat,‘and
ablurd. There is one good fong in it, page 68 and 69. The reft
are execrable. Indeed, the bulk of this Colleétion of celebrated
Farces, are fuch, that if you with to have entertainment in fee-
ing them acted on the ftage, you fhould never read one of them.
It you want to read theatrical pieces with tafte and pleafure,
you muft go back to the old poets. Gay’s “« What d’ye Call
<€ it?” is the beft modern little piece or farce, but is not to be
expected in a Bookfeller’s Colle¢ction*. That muft be fuited to
his own and the popular tafte; and fo what good ones you
have, fall in by mere chance.

The Pea Valet—by David Garrick, Efg;

We have here a foolifh plot, no natural or interefting character,
and as little true original wit, or humour. Garrick, in all his
pieces, copies from plays, not from nature; and-yet by his
great abilities as an a¢tor, and by his art as a manager, he gain-
ed, and long maintained, a fovereign direction over the Lon- .
don tafte. >

This fort of familiar gentleman, and pert fpeech-making foot-
man, are characters very current in modern comedy ; and efpeci-.
ally in the plays of Vanburgh, Congreve, and Cibber, but are
not to be found in nature or reallife, nor in the old plays of
true genius. ,

ie When this collection was publifhing, our critic advifed the
compiler to infert this piece, but his advice was rejected,

1791. Parliamentary Proceedings. 145

Proceedings in: Parliament.
; HOUSE OF COMMONS.
On the Produétion of Papers refpecting the Convention
. with Spain.
Monday, December 13. 1790.

MR GREY {aid, no man could have more refpect than himfelf
for that part ofthe Conftitution, which entrufted to the execu-
tive power, the determination of peace and war, and the ma-
nagement of treaties. Of the advantages of this arrangement
he was fully fenfible, in the confidence and fecurity which it
produced, and the refpect which it preferved to the State among
Foreign Nations. When this power, however, was entrufted, it
certainly was not meant that its exercife fhould not be the fub-
ject of explanation. Upon this ground he founded the motion
which he intended to make. In the courfe of the difpute with
Spain, and the conduét of the negociation, circumftances had
occurred which required to be explained ; and it would cer-
tainly never be afferted, that the executive power was exempt-
ed from fuch an explanation, as it would then be a power with-
out controul, and fecure from infpection. Upon this principle
he had made the motion in the former Parliament, for. produ-
cing fuch papers as appeared to-him to be neceffary for explain-
‘ing fome circumftances in the commencement of our difpute
with Spain. Now, after the procefs of. an ¢xpenfive armament,
and a protraéted negociation, fuch an explanation had become
ftill more neceflary. It was proper to inquire, whether the dif-
ute had originally been occafioned by the ambition and vio-
lence of the Court of Spain, or the rafhnetssignorance and pre-
fumption of our minifters? It was likewife proper to inquire,
whether the negociation might have.been conduéted with lefs
expence or delay? whether peace ‘might ‘have been fecured
upon better terms, or whether the terms that had been obtain-
ed might have been had without the facrifices with which they
had been attended ? When he reflected on the propriety of thefe |
inquiries, he fhould not have apprehended any oppofition to
the motion for the evidence by which they were to be eluci-:
dated. But what was his furprife, when he had heard it inti-
mated, and from the moft refpectable authority, that a majority
of the Houfe would concur in oppofing the motion for produ-
cing juch evidence. But whatever was the decifion of the
HBoufe, whatever line of conduét on the prefent occafion their
fentiments of duty might induce them to purfue, he confidered,
it as his duty to ftand forward to move for the neceflary docu-
ments ; and in this perfuafion would proceed to enumerate the
grounds upon which he founded his motion.
He then went into a wide range of argument, to fhow the
propriety of this meafure,—flated the conduct of adminiftra
Vol. Y, ys T

146 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&. 5.

tion in regzrd to the convention of 1739, and with regard to
the difpute about Falklands Hlands,—4howing that full informa-'
tion was given to the Hovfe before their approbation of mea- ,
fures was afked for—Without this, he contended, it was impof-
fible for the Hovfe to judge of the propriety of ! the meafures
that had been acopted. Peace, he allowed, was preferable to
war,—almoft on any terms ; but had this peace been the very
beft, inftead of the worft, as it appeared to him that ever was
concluded, it was ftill a proper object of inquiry. A meaftre, he
contended, by which the weight of our debt, already enormous,
has been aggravated, and the number of our taxes encreafed.
The inquiry becomes mere neceffary before it receives appro ati-
or when there is reafon, as in the prefent initance, to conclude
that the difpute was improperly,commenced, that the. nmegocia+
tion was unneceflarily protracted, and that the Convention, from
the conduct of ‘miniftry, was at laft obtained: upon worfe
térms, and at a much greater expence, than otherwife it might
have been. In proof of thefe affertions, he took a review of
the circumftances that had taken place during the negociation ¢
Adminiftration had at an earlv period announeed, that the Court
of Spain had agreed to give fatisfaction for the infult Britain
had fuftained ; yet the armaments went on with encreafed vi-
gour. The principles with which our Court fet out, had in the
Gonvention been relaxed cr abandoned ; and what had been
demanded as a matter of pofitive right, had been obtained only.
on the footing of a conditional treaty. Jn thefe circumftances,
he contended that an enquiry was neceffary before the Honfe
could approve of the Convention, and that the motion he meant
to make for a preduction of papers was proper and necefiary.
He then defired that the motion might be read-from the
journals for papers relative to the origin and .progrefs of. the
difpute about Falklands Iflands+The motion was, for copies of
all papers and propofiticns by Spain, relative to Falklands Iflands,
and the aniwers that were returned: ‘
For copies of all letters and intormation received at the fe-
, veral offices, relative to a&ts of hoftility committed, by the fub-
jects of Spain, againft the Britith fettlements upon thefe iflands :
For copies of all demands or -requifitions for fatisfaction, of
the anfwers returned, reprefentations exchanged, and. in-
ftruétions fent to the Britith minifter to the Court of Madrid.
It appeared alfo to have been divided into three diftiné moti-
ons, which had been feverally carried. ;
Mr Grey faid, he fhould begin with a motion fimilar to the
firft, and follow it up, if carned, with motions fimilar to the
other two.—He concluded with moving, ;
‘© That an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, that
*¢ he will be gracionfly pleafed to give directions, that there be
‘< laid before this Houfe, copies of all claims and reprefentations:
s« made by the ‘Court of Spain, relative to any fettlement that
‘¢ has been made on the north weftern coaft of America, and

7 gts) Parliamentary. Proceedings< 147

€* to the fifhery carried on by Britith fubjects in the’South Seas,
** together. with the anfwers that have been given to fuch claims
*¢ and reprefentations, with the relpective dates thereof.’

_ Mr Pelham, before he feconded the addrefs, faid, it was ap-
prehended that fome farther defign was in view, than merely
preparations again{t Spain.—It hoftilities were {till apprehend-
ed from any other quarter, and the fame fecrecy was equally
eceffary as be‘cre, which the increafe of the navy eftablifhment.
eemed to intimate, he fhould, on receiving intimation to that
effect from miniftry, move, that the inquiry in all its parts fhould
be poftponed till a more convenient feafon. That affurance
not being given, he teconded the motion for the addrefs.

.; Mr Wiiberforce defended adminiftration. Said that the motion

eould only be intended to fatisfy an zd/e curiolity, or to ffs out

fomething affording matter for acculing the miniftry.. In oppo-

fing the motion, he made ufe of fome expreflions that were not
pon either refpe€ttul to the Houfe, or proper for the occa-
on.

Mr Wyndham analyfed this fpeech, and with great force of
irony endeavoured to bold it up to view as abfurd, and the
doctrines it inculcated as highly pernictous. He infifted on the
propriety of that Houfe watching minilters, and not relying on

- any of their affertions as proofs without examination. ‘The fe-

¢urity of the country depended upon it. He contended that
war, bad as-it always was ior.the nation, might fill in fome,

-eafes be better than a dad peace. The following reatons, he faid,
‘might be faflicient to make us fufpeét the prelent was a bad

ace; Firit, we were denied the requeft of having liberty of
Inquiring intoit ; fecondly, that created a fufpicion ; and laftly,

-that fufpicion taught us to believe, that where fuch exift, doubt

mof defervedly was attached ; and where we fixed doubt, the
very doubt fo founded, and the very fufpicion fo excited, in the,
name of reafon, juftified us in declaring that fuch a peace was
a bad one. The terms made ufe of by Mr Wyndham, called up

Mr Wilberforce to explain. + -

Sir Willian Young contended, that until proofs could be ad-
duced, which authorifed gentlemen to carp at the confidence
in minifters, he thought they were fairly entitled to.it; and that
no fuch proof could be adduced in the prefent cafe he. endea-
voured to prove by a favourable review of the conduct of ad-
miniftration pending the treaty. athea’

Mr Fekyll remarked, that he was well aware that. feveral

'perfons amongft both the reprefentatives and conftituents; were,

notwithftanding that they did not appear inclined to. caft a cen-
fure upon minitlers, extremely anxious to fee the, papers now
moved for, in order to know what opinion to form on the Con-
yention, and to afcertain how fo Jarge a fum had been employ-
ed, as the expence of the armament amounted to, and what
were the objcéts acquired, and their relative value by fo long a
negociation, and fo éxpenfive a preparation for war. Doubts

* ih inal. oe Alias i i Ss
148 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&: gs
(were entertained of the value of that fur-trade, which had giveri
rife to this difpute, as well as of the importance of that fifhery
which the Convention had apparently obtained. Thefe doubts
it would be at leaft proper to remove.

Mr Sergeant Watfon contended, that thofe papers which had
been already produced were fufficiently adequate for explain-
ing the grounds and termination of the late difputes, and |
blamed the motion as being calculated merely to fatisfy an idle.
cnriolity.

Mr Lambton, with fome warmth, contended, that fo far was

the motion calculated to fatisfy an idle curiofity only, that un-
lefs the prayer of it was granted, it was impoflible for the Houfe
on any rational grounds to grant their approbation of the Con-
vention. +

Mr Burdon reviewed the conduct of adminiftration, in the
light of meriting the confidence of the Houfe,

Lord North declared, that he thought the feafon of confidence
was paft, and that inftead of ufing that plea now, the Houfe
fhould rather require the conviction of their own fenfes, to
juftify that confidence which they had in times paft repofed in
the prefent adminiftration.

Lord Carysfort, while he admitted that the Houfe’ had ‘a fu-
perintending power, and duty equally binding upon them to
watch over the executive government of the country, yet was
decidedly adverfe to the prefent motion, as being wholly unne-
ceffary, and without any ipecitic object :—he contended, that as
Parliament had had no doubt of the propriety of arming at
firft, it was not neceflary for adminiftration now to clear up
that point.

Mr Powys obferved, that during the negociation, the Houfe
with propriety confided in adminiftration, becaufe, at that time,
it would not have been proper to divulge the fecrets of Govern-'
ment; minifters knew what they were,'and the Houfe placed
confidence in them conditionally, that they fhould ata proper
period fhow that this confidence had not been mifplaced. _
This was the refponfibility of minifters, of which they often fo
much boafted ; then was the time of confidence, that the hands
of the executive government fhould not be fhackled ; noqu is
the time of explanation, to fhow that that confidence was not
mifplaced. The doétrine, therefore, that had been now adduced,
that becaufe confidence had been given once, it ought to be al-
“ways continued, was at the fame time the moft unconftitutional,
and the moft contradictory to common fenfe he had ever heard |
urged in that Houfe. J

Mr Drake, without combating the argliments, contented him-
felf with complimenting the oratorical powers of the oppofition
members, and giving a warm eulogium on the minitters. >

_ Lord Belgrave declared himfelf decidedly againft the motion.

What if gentlemen fhould obtain thofe papers, of the nature of

t791. Parliamentary Proceedings 149

which it was plain they were ignorant, by their afking for
them ? Were they fure, that in obtaining them they would not
gain too much, and by expofing thofe minutiz of inveftigation
and negociation which had taken-place, ruv the rifk of offend-
ing that wife fenfe of honour which fo eminently diftinguifhed
that country with which we had been involved in difpute.

' Lord Fielding fupported the motion. :
- Mr Martin thought it his duty to enquire, before he could
decide upon the merits of any peace, however defireable. No
fatisfactory reafon had been affigned why information fhould
be now withheld ; therefore he fupported the motion.

*\ Mr Fox rofe juft as the Speaker was putting the queftion, and
in a fpeech of contiderable length, in which, however, he addu-
ced no new argument, he ran over the whole that had been ad-
duced by the different fpeakers on his own fide of the queftion,
placing their arguments in different. points of view, and enforc-
ing them with his ufual warmth of elocution. He reprefented
the arguments of the opponents of the motion as highly uncon-
‘ftitutional, and deftructive in their confequences, if admitted.

Rather than acquiefce in fuch reafoning, better; faid he, would
it be to recur to the ancient defpotifm of the kingdom, in the
-‘moft arbitrary times, and confider themfelves as met there to
vote away the money of their conftituents, without inquiry.
He then took a rapid view of the arguments that had been ad-
duced by his opponents ; reprefenting them one after another
as abfurd, contradictory, inconclufive,; and highly pernicious
in their confequences, if acquiefced in by that Houle. Formerly,
faid he, the firft duty.of every member of the Houfe of Com~
mons was, that he fhould regard every act of adminittration

with jealoufy, and watch their conduét with the moft vigilynt

attention. Now, blind confidence was held out as the great
function of that Houfe ; and they were defired to vote away
millions of the national money, without infpecting in what
-Manner it had been expended. He’ reprefented the defire to
-withhold the neceffary information on that occafion, as pro-
ceeding from confcious guilt alone ; and cencludea this animat-
*ed ‘harangue with a fhort fummary of the whole.
«- The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had feemingly referved
himfelf for this occafion, now rofe, and in one of thofe mafterly
‘fpeeches for which he is fo eminently confpicuous, endeavoured.
‘to take off the impreffion that thefe obfervations might have
‘made. This fpeech, indeed, deferved not to be held up to view
asa mditerly piece’of reafoning, but merely as a mafterly piece
of argumentation, as being well adapted to produce the effeét
intended. After an exordium of fome length, in which he pro-
feffed great alacrity and readinefs, to meet, in the moft direé
terms, all the arguments of his opponents, and relied upon the
‘candour of the Houle, to lay afide all perfonal confiderations,
~He defired that this attention might be dire¢ted folely to the

150 Parliamentary Proceedings. Ok.

meafures, and not to his own perfonal imperfections. If -
mover of the queftion, he obferved, could.not come to a deci, i
fion concerning it, without having feen the papers moved for, bo
ifhe could not approve, fo certainly. neither could he d:fa] i
prove of the meafure. Mr Fox, who was now fo violent for th 8
production of papers, had, he faid, ona former cccafion, per-| ©
fuaded that Houie to vote an approbation of a peace, without}
the production of any papers. The declaration, and counter
declaration and convention lying on the table, he contended,}}
conveyed all the information that could be wanted, for ena
ing any one to judge on the prefent. occafion. If the expen
of three millions of money was now thought too much, h
begged to know what would have been the expence if war had
taken place. He reminded the Houle that the condu& of mini
iters had been approved in reipeét to the recent tranfactions}
with Spain,. both by the laft and prefent, Parliament. After a
great many obfervations of a fimilar nature, tending to draw o}
the attention of the Houfe from the main queftion to particu-
lars of lefier importance, he reverted again to the condu& of
his right honourable opponent, who on former occafions had
fhown no more defire to produce papers, than he himfelf now
did ; and after politely apologifing to the Houfe for having de-}
tained them fo long in refuting what he doubted not a great’
majority of it would confider as unneceflary, he concluded }
with faying, he fhould give his hearty negative to the motion. .

The queftion being called for, ftrangers were defired to with-
raw, and after fome more debate the Houfe divided.

Ayes, 134. Nod, 258. Majority, 124.

‘Thus was ended, for the prefent, a debate, on a fubject of
greater national importance, than the public feem inclined to.
believe it. A philofophical obferver cannot help remarking on.
this, and many other occafions, the great mifchief which refults
trom the prevalence of a party fpirit in all political arrangements.,
In parliament, it is not for truth or juftice that fpeakers contend,
but for victory. Men there follow their refpective leaders, al-
together regardlefs of the merits of the caufe for which they.
contend : and the public at large, drawn away by their example,
too blindly follow, and adopt the fame pernicious practice.

The queftion agitated this day, is nothing lefs than whether
minifters fhall be allowed, while they poffeis a certain degree’
of popularity, toa entirely without controul, or the reverie ?
Nothing can fo much tend to check improprieties on ail occa-
fions, as a certain conviction, that the public at large muft be
made acquainted with the real and true ftate of facts refpecting.
every important tranfaction that may occurs and the public, if
they with to prevent abufes, ought, on no account to difpentfe
with this compliance. It is eafy for a minifter to obtain a
venal majority in Parliament ; and as every man who is poffef-

379%. . Parliameniary Proceedings. 15

te) fed of power, muft nnavoidably with to exercife it with as
4.) little controul as poflible, it is very natural for every minifter
to with to avail himfelf of a majority, however obtained, to ef-
feét his own purpofes. This reafoning applies to all minifters,
»| at all times, and in all circumftances, fo that thef2 obfervations
cannot be underftood,.as being in the fmalleft degree perfonal.
Change fituations as oft as you will, exclude the prefent mini-
fter, and introduce his opponents, the cafe will not be altered.
4 It continues jor ever to be the duty of-an unprejudiced pub-
Tic to-watch the a¢tions of the minifter, and to be particularly
ferupulous to require the fulleft information in regard to every
tranfaction where great national expence has been incurred,
that they may be enabled to judge, whether that expence has
been neceffarily and unavoidab!y incurred, or the reverfe,
~ In every fituation this is neceflary ; but in the ftate Britain is
in at prefent, it becomes doubly requifite, becaufe of the amaz-
ing amount of our ordinary public expenditure. Wars are ever
ruinous and deftructive ; and infignificant difputes about national
precedence ought to be avoided. During the continuance of ne-
gociation, it may be improper to divulge certain important facts
at that time: the minifter, who knows thele facts, ought to be
allowedto go forward, and not be urreafonably interrupted
in the difcharge of his duty: he has then a juft claim for public
confidence ; and unlefs he has given previous reafon to fufpec&
that he will abufe it, he ought to receive it without referve : but
he ought to receive it at his peril. It is this which conftitutes
the reiponfibility of minifters : but when the hour of negociation
is paft, he ought to be called upon, and he ought to be called
upon in an authoritative manner that will brook of no evafior,
to give the fulleft ‘and moft explicit ftate of facts that the nature
“of the cafe admits.. If he refufes to do this, what check have
you over his conduct? will not the fame majority which, con-
trary to reafon, fcreens him in one cafe, fcreen him in any other
cate? fo that it he has adroitnefs enough to fecure this majority,
he muft continue to be abfolute and uncontraulabie as long as
he pleates.
__ The chief arguments adduced in this debate againft the pro-
duction of papers were the following: ‘* That the mover of
the queftion wifhed to pick holes, and to diminifh the influence
of the minifter.”’ Be it fo 5; but if the mirifter’s condu@t be what
At ought to be, why fhould he be afraid of difclofure? An honeft
- man is afraid that his conduct may be artfully mifreprefented ;
but he withes only fora fair opportunity of making truth tri-
umph over falfehood. This argument, therefore, is much againft
the intereft of the party who urged it.

Tt was alfo faid, “* that the members who on this oceafion
acted contrary to the withes of the minifter, did wrong, becaufe
they could nut know whether the papers they called for might

Bes: ith ‘

152 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&. 5,

not fhow that he was in every refpeét deferving their approba-
tion.” This alfo feems an unfortunate argument ; the minifter
himfelf and his friends muft know this particular; and if he
knew the production called for would operate in that way, why
was it withheld? ~ ihe.
It was alfo urged, “¢ that were the papers difclofed, it might
hurt the nice point of honour of Spain,”? by which it muft be
underftood, that her condu& had been fo mean and humiliat-
ing as not to bear the light : but where is the minifter, I will
afk, who had been able to make any foreign court crouch fo
low, who would not have boafted of it in the higheft-ftile, in
the nationa! Gazette, and all the papers ? , :
And lafly, the minifter himfelf refted his defence folely on
-two points: Firf, ‘that tlre laft and the prefent Parliament
had both on fermer occafions concurred with him, and there-
fore they had no right now to demand any explanation.” This
is an old and a ftale method that has been often tried to weaken ©
the point of refponfibility by fome of his predeceffors, whofe
condvét he would not on other occafions wifh to be thought
to imitate, the fallacy of which has been juft now pointed out 3
but the pernicious tendency of which, were the reafoning ad-
mitted, it would take a volume to difplay. ‘The next argu-
ment that he relied upon with great feeming complacency was,
«¢ that his opponent had done the fame thing’ on a ‘fimilar oc-
cafion,”? This might be fo if he were in the fame fituation, and
had reafon to fear that a difciofure would prove detrimental to
his own intereft : who’can doubt, -but, if he could, he certainly
would avail himfelf of every means in his power to fcreen him-
felf? This, therefore, is but a forry argument to be offered to
the world at: large. The inference the public have to draw
from itis, that if both, either have aéted, or would a&t-impro-
perly if they had it in their power, both of them fhould be
alike watched, and neither of them obtain any credit for a
tranfa&tion which they ftrove to involve in obfcurity; when they
were called upon for an‘explanation. ° :
Totally regardlefs, therefore, of all the parties in Parliament,
all of whom wifh to effect their own views at-the national ex-
pence, a well informed public, while it acquiefces with alacrity
in beftowing confidence on the minifter of the day, during any
important negociation, in order that he may not, by being too
much hampered, be obliged to neglect the intereft of the nation $
ought, with a fteady firmnefs, to infift on a fair and clear ftate
of the expenditure of every farthing, and the ftéps that led.to
that expenditure by the conduct of the negociation, when that
negociation is at an eid. ‘This was certainly not complied with
on the prefent occafion ; which gives room for fufpicions, that ,
ought, moit undoubtedly, to be removed. uae
Amicus Plato, amicus Arifoteles, fed magis amica veritas, ought
to be the motto of every gocd citizen. :

SI in US ses So

oR

WEDNESDAY, October 12,1791.

Hiftorical Difquifitions concerning the Britifh Conftitution,
Parr Il.
[Continued from Vol. IV; p. 135.]

Is all thofe kingdoms that were founded in Europe
on the ruins of the Roman empire, we find evident
traces of that kind of political inftitution, the funda-
mental principles of which have been developed in the
former parts of this effay. The ftriking characteriftical
features which peculiarifed thefe inftitutions were,
that the deliberative yoice remained with the people,
while the executive power was entrufted to a particu-
lar officer appointed for that purpofe, under the various
names of Duke, Margrave, Prince, or King :—A poli-
tical device that has been gradually matured into a
more perfect fyftem of government than was ever be-
fore known on the globe.
Vou. V. + U

162 ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. O€. 12,

But as government is not natural to man, being
merely an artificial device, calculated to correét the
evils that inevitably {pring up in every kind of civil fo-
ciety, it will neceflarily follow that every political infti-

Y tution muft be at firft very rude and imperfe&t.—No
provifion can be made to remove evils to which the a
{tate of fociety, at the time, could not have given birth ;
nor can any attempt be made to correct abufes, till |
thefe abufes fhall have prevailed, and the ill effects
of them have begun to be felt... In the early periods of
fociety, therefore, the adminiftration of government
mutt be in all cafes rude and imperfect ; and if it would -
*be a vain attempt to difcover what it really was ata
very early period, it would be equally abfurd to recur
‘to thefe firft attempts at forming what we now
call a conftitution of government, as a model of poli-
tical perfetion, by which the good or ill of future in-
ftitutions might be eftimated. In attempting, there-
fore, to trace a flight outline of the gradual progrefs of =~
the Britifh conftitution, it is not my intention to incul-
cate the abfurd idea of bringing it back to its original
{tate. Political regulations ought in all cafes to be
fuited to the ftate of fociety at the time they are made.
The inftitutions that might fuffice for a few favage rov-
ing tribes, would but ill accord with a civilized, agri-
cultural, manufacturing, and commercial people.

Mankind, as they come from the hands of the crea- .
tor, we fhall admit, are all equal in refpe& of rank;—
but nothing can be more diverfified than they are in re-
gard to natural talents, perfonal endowments, and in-
ftinctive propenfities: fo that in every pofhible cafe
where men aflociate together, a diftin@tion of rank will
inftantly take place. By diftinétion of rank I mean a
difference in regard to the reipectability with which
one man is beheld by the general body of the people when
compared with another. One man is aétive, induftri-
ous, enterprifing; another is indolent, flothful, and
fluggith. ‘The firft provides for himfelf ftores of the

~—

‘

1791. ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. 163

neceflaries of life, whatever they may be; the laft neg-
le&ts this important duty. This laft, however, feels he
mutt be fed, and lodged, and clothed ; nor does he find
any method of obtaining thefe fo eafy as offering cer-
tain fervices to the firft. He becomes a humble de-
pendent, or retainer; by whatever name you pleafe to
denote it ;—an inferior perfonage to the firft. He is
in fhort of an inferior rank to the man who fupports
him. To this man he looks up as to one of a fuperior
nature; he feels himfelf obliged to refpec the chil-
. dren’and other connections of the fuperior; and the
children and dependents of the inferior perfon feeling,
at an early period of life, their wants and dependence,
when compared with the other, cannot fail to do the
fame. It is in this way that_a difference of rank muft
in all human focicties be inftantly perceived ; nor is it
in the power of any human device ever to prevent it.
if liberty be given for the human faculties to be fully
exerted this cannot be avoided:

Now, if certain individuals muft ever poflefs a great-
er refpectability than others in every fociety, it will
follow that thefe individuals will have more influence
in that community than others, and they will become
leading men in all public deliberations, or-in other
words, men of high rank. ‘Their opinion will have in-
fluence in the national affemblics; and wherever an
enterprife of great difficulty is to be atchieved, or a _
public truft of great importance is to be difcharged,
thefe popular perfons will be entrufted with the charge
of executing it. They will, in fhort, become the fu-
preme executive officers of the {tate ;—in other words,
the King.

In the infancy of focieties, it is true, public acts of

executive adminiftration will be fo feldom required,

that neither will the national aflemblies be frequent,

nor will the want of a fupreme executive officer be felt

but upon uncommon emergencies occurring. On

thefe extraordinary emergencies alone therefore will a
U2

164 ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION, O&. 12,

fupreme executive officer be wanted ; and on thefe oc-
cafions the moft popular perfon will be called upon,
without any particular form or ceremony, to difcharge
that particular duty; nor will it be underftood, either
by himfelf or the community at large, that he is to in-
termeddle in any other affair. If he does this in a man-
ner that is generally approved, he will naturally be cal-
led upon on any future emergency of a fimilar nature
while he lives. During this {tage of fociety, influence
is merely perfonal; nor have men as yet acquired any
idea of hereditary influence. No regulations, there-
fore, can as yet be made with a reference to this un-
known order of things. Power has hitherto been al-
ways voluntarily conferred ; no idea has yet taken place
that an attempt could be made to extend that power
farther than was intended; fo that no regulation can
have been adopted to guard againft this evil. The
people hitherto have met together by a fort of unani-
mous accord, when extraordinary emergencies called
for it; nor have they as yet thought of any fpecial re-
gulations that fhould be adopted refpecting this parti-
cular.

By degrees, however, this order of things muft be
altered. A man who has been often exalted to the fu-
preme command comes to be confidered as enjoying it
for life ; and as the fociety encreafes, and public af-
fairs become more numerous, it at length becomes ne-
ceffary to have a perfon invefted with a permanent au-
thority to watch over thefe affairs. And as it would be
inconvenient to be calling a national affembly to delibe-
rate on every particular affair, this permanent execu-
tive officer is enttufted with certain difcretionary pow-
ers to act from his own authority. ‘Thele, at the firft,
will feldom be abufed; nor will any provifion be made
to guard againft thefe abufes. Every individual refts
fatisfied with the idea that the’ officer may be turned
entirely out of place whenever his conduct becomes
difagreeable: and no provifion is yet thought of to

1791. ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. 165

guard againft the improper exertions of power. In
this ftage of things the firft magiftrate may be confider-
ed as elective, and his office comes tacitly and imper-
ceptibly to be held for life, without any exprefs regu-
lation for that purpofe.

The perfon entrufted with this power will gradually
perceive the great influence it gives him in fociety. By
the emoluments he has to difpofe of, by the favours he
can confer, his influence is gradually extending. He
thus acquires a fet of dependents, and retainers, who,
from motives of convenience, and hopes of favours, be-
came attached to him and his family. Other men of
eminence perceiving this, afpire to the throne.—They
court popularity, they form parties, and try to geta
majority of votes in the national affemblies. Intriguesbe-
gin to be formed for the purpofe of accelerating, or re-
tarding thefe meetings, and for obtaining a greater num-
ber of voices at them. Now, it comes to be dii-
* covered that the rude and inaccurate mode of convo-
eating thefe affemblies, and of voting by acclamation,
were not fufficiently accurate, and that particular rules
fhould be prefcribed, and adhered to in the meeting of
thefe people.—Their powers, as well as that of the
executive officer, begin to be defined, and limited; and
the rudiments of fomething that might be called a con-
ftitutional form of government begins to be faintly per-
ceptible.—In this ftate of fociety the regal authority
may be faid to be firmly eftablifhed for life, though the
appointment to it be elective.

During this ftate of things, it may fometimes hap-
pen, from.accidental circumftances, that the power of
different families will be fo nearly equal as to prevent
any one of them from obtaining an eftablifhed claim
to the fupereme authority for a long time; and the
crown will be ftill elective; but in general, fome par-
tigular family will acquire the afcendency : the princes
will be fo often chofen from that family that it will
be confidered as in fome meafure exclufively entitled to

166 ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. Od. 12,

the crown, and in time it will become entirely heredi-
tray, without any attempt at an election, or a particu-
Jar nomination for that purpofe.—This, however, can
feldom happen, but in thofe cafes where circum-
ftances have rendered the convocation of the ftates.
troublefome, and burdenfome to the people at large ;
that is, where no particular regulations have been

adopted for diftinguifhing the people into different |

clafles, and by exempting the inferior orders from
the trouble of attendance, forming a convocation of a
{maller number of the fuperior orders, who, with
a view to preferve their own dignity and importance in
the ftate, will not grudge the trouble that fuch an at-
tendance requires. — Wherever this circumftance has
not been advefted to, the meetings of the people have
been gradually difcontinued; the regal authority has
gained ground. Ih thofe cafes the king has not oniy
been vefted with an uncurbed power of executive ad-

miniftration, but he has alfo aflumed a right of Jegifla-"

tion, fo as to become defpotic.—Such is the gradual
changes that an inattention to the varying fituation of
things neceflarily produce *

* In this tketch I have not taken any notice of the ufe that has been

' made of religion in all ages for ferving the purpofes of defpotifm. In
Europe, the ‘Chrittian religion has been moft fhamefully perverted for
this purpofe,—Happily, in the northern parts of Europe thefe prejudices
have long fubfided, and a line has been drawn to difcriminate between
the boundaries of civil and religious powers.—But long did all Europe
groan under the load of religi ous defpotifm, which, in a mott effectual
manner ferved to eftablifh the unlin nited {way of arbitrary power in ci-
vil affairs.—A fter the blalphemous phrafe of infallilility was applied to
the Pope, and the perions of all the clergy were declared facred and in-
violable, it was but a {mall ftep farther to declare the perfons of kings
alfo, who were confecrated and fet apart by the priefts, facred and in-
violable, and to lay’a foundation for their claim of a divine right of
doing whatever they thought proper on this earth,—Let a magiftrate be
obeyed when d ifcharging his duty ; let thofe endowed with civil autho-
rity be refpe&ed when executing the decrees of the law.—This, a due

fubordination, which is neceflary for the well being of the community, re-

quires; but farther than thig, no man is entitled to claim from nother: :

When the mind was bound by the fetters of religious defpoting x, it
Was not in a condition to guard againit the encroachments of arb bitrary
fway in the civil magiftrate.

e
+

”

I7Q!I. ON THE BRITISH-CONSTITUTION. 167

In other cafes, however, where accidental circum-
ftances of ufurpation, or competition have taken place,
fo as to render it neceflary for the competitors for pow-

_er to court the popular favour, this great evil has been

avoided ; and to this peculiarity Britain in particular
owes that fortunate conflitution of government, which
fo happily diftinguifhes her from all other nations.—
Some of the moft ftricking features of this conftitution
I fhall endeavour to delineate in a fucceeding eflay,
and mark the changes that have taken place with re-
fpe&t to this objet, within the era of certain hiftory ;
an object that ought to attract the attention of every
Britith fubjeét, if he wifhes to reafon confiftently on
many of the topics of public difcuffion that daily occur,
or act with propriety in endeavoring to fecure to pof-
terity thofe invaluable privileges on which we with fo
much juftice plume ourfelves.

In the mean while, it was judged proper to give
this fketch of the natural progreflion of government,
not only to point out the remote origin of many of
thofe inftitutions we now fo properly value, but alfo
to give fome flight notion of the caufes of thofe ftrick-
ing differences in the forms, and efientials of the vari-
ous governments in Europe, which are evidently now
fo diverfified in their tendency with regard to the liber-
ties of the people, and the powers of the king, though
they all moft obvioufly derive their origin from one com-
mon fource, as it tends ftrongly to inculcate a maxim
that never ought to be loft fight of by any people who
value their liberties, viz. That it is by carefully watch-
ing the progre/s of the ruling powers at prefent, and by
- guarding again/t the effects of modern encroachments that
the circumffances of the times may not render very unpopu-
lar, and by this alone, that the effentials of freedom can
ever be preferved. It would be eafy to fhow, did
our limits permit, that every ftep in the progrefs of
defpotifm has been effected by encouraging changes,
that the indolence of the people, or the particular bias

168 ON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. O&t. 14,

of their prejudices, made them tolerate at the time as
a fort of indulgence, in Which they were well pleaf-
ed to acquiefce, It is not by violent fteps, but by im-
perceptible gradations that defpotifm has ever been
eftablifhed among a free people, It is by corruption,
often cloathed in the moft patriotic pretexts, by cajol-
ing the people with {pecious arguments, by allaying
the fears, and foothing the vain propenfities of the vul-
gar, that defigning men have eftablifhed their power,
and not by openly attacking the previleges of the people.
It is the fmooth and the crafty politician, and not the
_ outrageous tyrant whofe operations ought to be chiefly
regarded by thofe who are the guardians of national frec-

dom.

‘For the Bee.
HINTS TO THE LEARNED.

lie the famous convent near Chalons in France, where
the unhappy Abelard fell a facrifice to the love of the
air Heloife, there is a folio containing reprefentations
of the Britifh monafteries about the middle of the 15th
century, or about 1450, wherein a gentleman informed
me he had feen fome of our Scottifh.convents repre-
fented as they were when entire.

The prefent {tate of France is favourable to the dif-

perfion of thefe curious monuments of antiquity, which

ought to be bought, if they fhall come to fale, for pub-
lic libraries in other parts of Europe, that they may not
run the rifk of going to the cartridge pouch.

Thefe conventual libraries may contain remains of
the Greek and Roman claflics, hitherto inedited, and
they ought to be looked for. Monf. de Peirefe of Aix,
in Provence, was the laft of the fucceflors of Petrarcha
who diligently fought for the inedited claflics in con-
ventual libraries, and he was fuccefsful in cbtaining
fome of them in Germany. ss

=

-

1791s .HINTS TO THE LEARNED, 169

Fragments of the Decades of Livy were found not
very long ago on battle-doors for fhuttle-cock!

Many fine things were loft at the Reformation in
England, and probably many valuable MSS. afterwards
went to the {nuff-fhops, when James I. of England
was publifhing his filly blaft againft tobacco. O what
a blaft of tobacco, if copies of the immortal Livy or
Polybius have gone to wrap up that wretched poifon
of America ! :

Spain certainly contains many unknown valuable re-
mains of literature, Greek and Roman, in its provincial
convents, that ought to be diligently explored, and it is
entreated of the worthy brethren of thefe houfes in
Spain that they may convey to the Bee a general def-

_cription of fuch MSS. as are hitherto unregiftered and

undefcribed in their conventual libraries. Where there

.are illuminated MSS. of an hiftorical nature, and {till

-more where they are geographical or biographical, it is

_entreated that fuch old pictures may be defcribed.

The ancient Roman hbrary, now unfolding at Por-
tici, goes on fo flowly that a century may be required

_ to give the public a lift of its contents.

It would be humane and noble if the King of the

. Two Sicilies would permit foreign potentates and fo-

reign focieties to employ poor learned brethren to un-
fold thefe interefting volumes, which would prove a
comfortable aid to thefe unfortunate men, who fee the

church crumbling under their eyes all over Europe.
_ The volumes fhould be all partiaily unfolded to know
and tafte their merit and importance, before the im-
_menfe labour of recovering them fhould be attempted.

The Vatican library and Caftle of St. Angelo'con-

tain treafures of hiftorical and claflical knowledge hi-
“therto unimagined, and which might be obtained, if
_ funds were found for exploration, fince nothing can

execed the liberality and goodnefs of the reigning
pontiff, or of the Sacred College in opening the avenue

_ to ufeful curiofity, as has been experienced by the au-

thor of thefe hints.

'y50 ‘TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 0&8, 14,

TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS, *

_ > (Continued from P:95-)
Bulleruck Mineral Waters.

Botrerucx is a {mall vijlage, about ten Englifh miles
from Cete, .by an excelfent road, lately made at the ex-
pence of the province. It is fituated near the brink of
the great fait water lake called Tov.—The lake extends
about thirty miles in length, and ten in breadth; near
the extremity of it, where the famous Languedoc canal
begins, the city of Beziers, and its environs make a de-
jightfulappearance. ‘The territory adjoining to Bu/ler-
wick is exceedingly rude and barren.—lIt is, however,
very capable of cultivation, as appears by fome experi-
ments of improvements on {mall detatched fpots, where
vines and olives are propogated, and thrive.—It is a
fingular and comfortable circumftance that thefe waters
are innocent, and operate their falutary effects, if at all,
in a very fhort time :—when ufed for drinking, a con-
¢inuance of fix or feven days is generally found fufh-
cient; and few invalids ftay, for bathing, or douch+ |
ing, above a fortnight.—Monf. J/eckit, treafurer of the, —
province, is proprietor of this watering place.—The well
known beneficence of his character is moft pleafingly
manifefted to ftrangers, by the apparently chearful, eafy,
and happy condition of the people.—At prefent the
beft accommodation.and entertainment are to be had at
the bathing-houfe.—I made choice of my refidence at
Cete, that I might be obliged to rife early, and take exer-
cife.—All articles of lodging, entertainment, and ufing ©
the waters, are regulated, and very moderate.—The in-
habitants here feem yet in a ftate of innocence; and I 7
never fawsany watering place where there.is fo little ap- —
earance of a difpofition to impofe en ftrangers.—They |
haye one phyfician, a Dr Pouzaire. His fee is half.a }
2.

BOTs TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. ivt

crown for every vifit, or a louis d’or for two weeks attend-
ance.—lI think he is a well-meaning man; and he cer-
tainly is experienced in the proper ufe of thefe waters:
—He has publifhed a fmall book on them. It has lately
been tranflated, literally enough, by an Englith travelling
Dr. B— Pugh, with fome additional obfervations, and
cafes.—The waters have certainly performed wonder-
ful cures in recent cafes of fuch palfeys as affect on-
ly part of the body, alfo in partial ob{truétions, rheu-
matifms, and fiaticas.—They are not proper in cafes of
general relaxation. Many are hurt by drinking them
exceffively.—I have experienced that when drank with
due moderation, it is the fafeft, gentleft, and moft ef-
fe€tual of all phyfic ; and Ihave felt the falutary effects
of it for my complaints of decayed appetite, and indigef-
tion.—I never exceeded eight {mall glaffes, taken at a
quarter of an hour interval.—The quantity very com-
monly taken is three or four times as much. It iso
very hot fulphureous water, with fome mixture of fale
and {teel.

Here they have charitable funds, under a well regu-
lated adminiftration of certain managers, or truftees.—
They have executed confiderable, and convenient ac+
commodations, and afford {mall penfions for poor inva-
lids.—The princefs of , from an uncommonly ra=
tional fentiment of piety, and gratitude for her recovery
of health by means of thefe waters, made a donation
fome years ago of 10,000 livres to this charitable founda-
tion.—Such bounty, Iam convinced, will give her high-
nefs a better claim to good fame in this world, and a
crown of glory in the next, than if, in imitation of fome
wonderful emperors, empreflés, kings, queens, princes,
and princeffes, fhe had alienated valuable territories to
the Holy Father at Rome, or if fhe had burdened her
_ people and drained her treafury by fplendid and rich

gifts to the Holy Mother at Loretto.

xX 2

172 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. Oé. 125,

Montpelier.

12th May 1787, we returned to Montpelier, diffatis-
fied with our hotel at Cefe ; I revifited the beft cabinets
at prefent in this place.

iff, The cabinet of Monf. Fouvent—an elegant,
though not a great collection of fhells, minerals, and
paintings, with a handfome library of books. He has
a more confiderable cabinet at Paris.

ad, A colle€tion of birds which belongs to Mon/-
Fauziere, and is kept in a fine apartment belonging to
the academy of fciences.—The colletion is large and
beautiful.—But due prefervation is neglected.

3d, A colle€tion of paintings, the property of Aon/.
Deuchie—Small, but choice and well arranged, with
a good library—TI obferved here, what was new and
very pleafing to me,—a number of glafs frames, about
a foot and a half fquare, refembling the form of a lan-
thorn, with gilded pillars__—Thefe ferved as fo
many little cabinets for birds, fhells, fine minerals, and
feleét fmall itatues.—They have a very pretty effect,
properly placed in a large cabinet, or library.

4th, Vhe moft curious and valuable cabinet of paint-
ings in this place belongs to Mon/: Bourgaire. ,

Jutt before we fet, out Lord D————-s and I, jointly
purchafed from Burnet and Co. feveral parcels of the
beft wines produced in this province, particularly Fron-
tiniac, Lunnel, Braziere, and a red wine which, after
being bottled fome years, grows excellent.--The Braziere
is a delicious cordial—It grows on a fmall territory
of this province, and is fo much efteemed that it is all
bought up on the fpot.—None of it goes in the courfe
of ordinary commerce. The Lunnel is a pleafant wine,
largely vended in commerce.—It has dangerous effects,
if immoderately drank. ,Our wine merchants, to con-
firm this information, told us a curious. fact, that if
any oftheir workmen are difabled by violent Cramps}
theumatifms, or convulfions, upon enquiry they feldom

L791. TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. © 144°

fail to difcover that they have embezzled and drank to
excefs their Lunnel wines. ,
Nifmes. ae

14th May 1787, we arrived at Ni/mes, at the hotel
de Louviere, where our entertainment was good, and
teafonable.—For a fufficient defcription of the precious
remains of Roman tafte, and grandeur which are to
be feen here I refer to Smolett’s little tefty book of
travels, vol. 2. letter roth.—Ni/mes has increafed pro-
digioufly of late years in manufactures, and confequent-
ly in population.—They reckon fixty or feventy.—I
I have reafon to believe there are fifty thoufand inhabi-
tants.

A filk ftocking manufaCture is their capital branch,
in which they are generally allowed to excel, both for
quality and cheapnefs.—They have alfo a confiderable
cotton manufacture. I bought fome cotton handker~
chiefs, on which fine pieces of mofaic work are very
well ftamped.—They have’ feveral thoufand ftocking
frames, but-many of them are at prefent unemployed,
which they attribute to a late ordinance of the king of

_ Spain, prohibiting the importation of filk manufa€tures

from France.—All manufactures are liable to fuch oc-
cafional viciflitudes; but if well eftablifhed and regu-
Jated, they recover their ground, or find new channels
of circulation.

I think the climate here is milder than at Montpelier.
—One half of the people are proteftants—They have
three very refpectable minifters, who perform divine
worfhip in a delightful fituation near the romantic rock
which fronts the fine fountains, and curious old Roman
baths. On folemn occafions they affemble to the num-

er of twenty to thirty thoufand people, “who are

watched by military troops, but unmolefted, as they
are always decent and innoffenfive, never tumultu-
ary. ‘There was fuch a numerous meeting, very
lately, when our Duke of Cumberland was one of the
audience. An honeft burghefs in relating the circum-

ah

174 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS: O&. 12,

ftances of this affembly to me, faid, « O! fir, we wept
sé for j joy to fee fuch a meeting, ead at the fame time
Boge! prince among us

When we fet out from this place, on our route. to
Avignon, we paid half a poit of additional hire for a
fmall deviation to fee the famous Pont de Gardes.—
This is a cuftomary exaction—though not unexception-
able, itis more tolerable than the monarenicel foolery of

a © poffe royale,” that is, double hire at every ftage where
the king has any palace or refidence—as if an exorbitant
impofition was a token of honour to their king.

Avignon.

17th May 1787, arrived at Avignon —My worthy
acquaintanee Mr F. h had refided here for a con-
fiderable time.—He gave me feveral letters-of recom-
mendation, particularly one to Chevalier Paris, who
has retired to this place, as many French perfons of
quality do, to repair the damages of early diffipation,

and learn to live with elegant ceconomy. For this vir-:

tue French people of fathion are diftinguifhed, and I
found him a very remarkable and agreeable example of
ui

Ican find no particular book which gives a proper or
fatisfa€tory defcription, and hiftery of this fine country.
There are tranfient {ketches of it in fome of the books
of travels I have referred to. The life of Petrarch, lately
publifhed in French, 1 is very amufing, and contains fome
illuftrations of its ancient hiftory, and ftate-—The in-
habitants of this beautiful and fertile territory, though
in the heart of France, and fubje& to the Pope, enjoy

a great meafure of liberty, fecurity, and eafe.—They

complain only of too much celefiaftical power; yet it
certainly is not fo opprefiive.as in other fituations.—

The great and weil governed.cities of AZar/eilles, Lyons,
and iNi/mes, have fo engrofled all capital articles of
trade and manufactures, that the people here, though
in a yery advantageous iituation, have not been able ‘to
acquire, Of maintain any confiderable thare of either.

i7gi- TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. 175

—Their chief dependence is on the refort of noble
and fafhionable people who refide here for eafe, and
independence.—It is remarkable that they practife here
a more unlimited liberty of the prefs than any where
‘on the continent.—They have between twenty and
thirty different prefles much employed; and they pub-
lifh, without contrcul, all kinds of prohibited books. —I
purchafed fome remarkable books of this kind, which
are not to be had openly in any other part,of France,
and particularly the private life of Lewis XV. which is
amufing, and contains many true and curious anec-
dotes, not very conducive to raife our veneration for
Kings and Courts, nor to remove prejudices againft
them. , ;

The Pope is fovereign of Avignon, and the adjoining
territory of Contade.—Their right was anciently derived
from tranfactions, ably managed, with a weak and bi-
gotted princefs :—indeed the Popes have in many in-
fiances been great gainers by female godlinefs.

The ‘Pope’s Legate exercifes all powers of govern-
our and chief magiftrate.—His jurifdiCtion, in matters
criminal, is abfolute and final:—in civil queftions
an appeal is competent to the Court of Rome.—He has
only 100 men as a, military guard to maintain order
and regularity.—He pofleffes a noble palace; but his
income, not exceeding 150ol, Sterling a year, he lives
without ftately oftentation or much expence. The
Popes appoint an Italian to this office almoft without
exception.—Their adminiftration has moftly been, and

_ mow is, impartial, moderate, and popular.—In the fin-
gular pofition of this country any degree of rigour
would be dangerous, and oppreffion would be fatal to
the fovereign power.—The Popes have only a {mall ter-

_ sitorial revenue, and they have never ventured to im-
pofe or exact any taxes whatever.—'The reafon they af-
fign for this fingularity is fatisfaCtory—'They fay,

° ‘The King of France cannet, and the Pope dare not

impofe taxes.” Its value to the Pope confifts

176 TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. O€. 12,

chiefly of the ecclefiaftical preferments in his difpofal.
—There are four bifhoprics.—That of Avignow is reck-
oned worth 30001. Sterling per annum.
The town of Avignon has no magiftracy nor jurifdic~
tion; but they are allowed to enjoy certain privileges, and
have right to an annual revenue of no lefs than 25,0001.
Sterling.—This revenue is faithfully adminiftered by
three confuls; one chofen by the. Pope, one by the
nobles, and one by the burgefles.—They compute that
five or fix thoufand of this revenue is neceflarily and
actually expended every. year in erecting new, and re-
_ pairing old bulwarks, to defend this town and fertile
country from devaftations by the two rivers Rhone and
Durance.—Sometimes this expence amounts to greater
fums.—From 7 to 8oool. is annually neceflary and ex-
pended to fupport their three great hofpitals—The
river Durance is very remarkable for its rapid violence
and deftru€tive wafte through all its courfe.—The peo-
ple have this common proverb, ‘¢ That the country of
«¢ Provence is afflicted by three plagues; the parliament,
¢ the menftral winds, and the river Durance.”—They
complain of vexatious delays, and-excéflive expence of
Jaw duits, carried on before that parliament *.— The pa-
pal nobility within this territory of Avignon are few in
number, and inconfiderable in wealth.—The land pro-
_perty is moftly divided into fmall eftates—The rich
and great at Avignon are French nobility, generally
from Provence, Languedoc, and Dauphiny; who by their ~
refidence here are entitled to certain privileges, without
affecting their rights as French fubjects——They keep
up the diftinCtions of rank and birth to a high pitch.—
They avoid intercourfe or fociety with burgeffes and
other untitled people.—They even contemn the papal
_nobility, and in derifion call them by the name of

Papifts.

* The Parliaments in France are merely courts of juftice ; Det pro-
porly legiflative affemblies, as in Britain.

(To be continued. )

“I

17O1: _ ON POETICAL GENIUS. 17

On the Effential Qualities of Poetical Genius:
The fuccefsful Competition Effay-

To the Editor of the Bee.
SIR,

Tx an_age fo much addicted to poetry and criticifm as
_ the prefent, it may not be improper to afcertain and il-
Juftrate the Effential Qualities of Poetical Compofition:
Are they not fully, though briefly, exprefled by Horace
in the two following lines ? s

* Ingenium cui fit, cui mens divinior, atque os
« Maena fonaturum ; des nominis hujus honorem !”

. In thefe lines three particulars are mentioned ;—Jx-
genium—mens divinior—os magna fonaturum. Invention;
a divine mind, or a mind unufually elevated, and ta-
-lents of powerful expreflion. We fhall make fome’ob-
fervations on each of thefe feparately.

I. By ingenium may be here under{tood invention, in-
genuity, or that great creating power of the poet which
depends on imagination. It is by this talent that the
poet makes a proper choice and arrangement of thofe
circumftances in an object, which, in fuggefting it he
means to employ. For though we afcribe to him crea-
tive powers, it is not meant that he forms beings alto-
gether new, or of materials that never exifted till he

_ produced them: we only mean that he works on the’
materials prefented to him by nature ; he feparates and
throws them into new combinations. He thus by al-
tering, and new modelling, makes new objects; with
a view to excite ftronger emotions than they would
otherwife occafion.

Poetic genius is diftinguifhed by the exercife of in-
vention and imitation; for they are in fa& the fame.
The poet invents, that is, he throws circumftances into
a new form ; but that form is intended to reprefent, fo

VoL. V. + ¥

178 ON POETICAL GENIUS. O&. 12,

as to make a ftronger impreflion, fomething that does
exift, or has exifted. ‘The great object of all imitation
is Nature, either inanimated, fuch as woods, vales, and
rivers, or animated, as birds, beafts ; but above all, the
actions of mankind. It is not enough merely to de-
Jcribe, the poet muft zmitate. He-is not only, for ex-
ample, to difplay anger by defcribing the pale face and
quivering lip; but he mutt, by {peaking the language, dif-
play the feelings of the angry man. As he chiefly imi-
tates human nature he, muft fuppofe himfelf the very
character he invents. He muft {peak what every one
of the perfons he reprefents would naturally fpeak, and
feem to perform actions fimilar to what the perfon
would have done in that fituation.
The paftoral poet, for inftance, has to imitate the
manners and cuftoms of the country life. «If any ob-
jects are introduced that are not conneéted with the paf-
toral life, they are improper. The objeéts from which
the poet borrows his imagery muft be fuch as are within
the {phere of the fhepherd’s knowledge. If they fuppofe
great improvement in the fciences, they are improper,
’ and cannot make a part of a paftoral poem. 'The-cha-
racters too muft be fuch as are fuited to that ftate; the
pafhions defcribed muft be modified fo as to be confift-
ent with the fituation of the fpeaker. ‘To fay they
mutt be always gentle, is improper ; becaufe fhepherds
are often reprefented, and with juftice, as being en-—
vious and violently incenfed. But it would be impro-

' per to reprefent them as very ambitious, or carrying
their refentment to violent or bloody excefs. ‘Ihe
fame thing may be illyftrated in epic, dramatic, and
every fpecies of poetical compofition. -In all of them
the poet muft employ: fi€tion, but in all of them he
mutt adhere to probability; and while he i#ven¢s he muft
imitate. He is to excite feelings, and this can only be
done by deferibing particular natural objects.

MW. But the poet muft not only invent,—he muft not
only have ingenuity and thofe talents which depend on

-

1791. ON POETICAL GENIUS. 170

imagination, he muft fce/,—he muft have fenfibility,—
he muft have the mens divinior. This I conceive to be
the meamihg of the term. ‘The expreflion is general ;
mens divinior, a very divine mind, a more than ufually
divine mind. How comes that to fignify fenfibility?
and is not the meaning too arbitrary? By attending
to the following particulars we {hall perhaps judge
otherwile :

1ft, What is it that exalts a mind, or makes it, fo
to fay, divine? Is it not fuch fenfibility as flows out
in exquifite feeling or fine affection? All, or moft
men, have fenfibility to the circumftances that befal
themfelves ; but he whofe mind is fo fufceptible as to
be as deeply aftected with what befals others, and with
imaginary events, as other perfons are with real, may’
be faid to have fine fenfibility, or the mens divinior.

2d, The poet, in this paflage, {peaks like a critic:
at any rate he is not to be fufpected of writing loofely.
He ufually diftinguifhes very accurately, and exprefles
himfelf very correctly. He is not to be fufpected of
diftinétions without difference, or of ufing words that
have no meaning, or are redundant. The difference,
for example, between the ingenium and os magna /:-
naturum is diftin@ly marked. {s it fair, then, to: fup-
pofe that he means no more by the mens divinior than
by the ingenium? By every rule of candid criticifm
we mutt fuppofe that he means fomething different ;
and not only fo, but fomething eflential. He is making
an important enumeration : what is this fecond parti-
cular in his enumeration? ‘This leads us to remark,

3dly, That the poet, in other parts of his works,
where he delivers critical doctrines, dwells very parti-
éularly on fenfibility. He fays explicitly, in his epiftle
to the Pi/os, that without this it is impoflible to enter
into human paffions and affections, fo as to imitate
them, and fo as to move other perfons. Si vis ine
“¢ flere, (fays he,) dolendum eff primum ipfi tibi.” Now,
as the meaning of a writer is always beft known by

ip |
~

t
185 ON POETICAL GENIUS. O&. 12,

comparing him with himfelf, fo to fay, and fince Ho-
race fets fo high a value on fenfibility, and fince here
he does not mention it in a formal enumeration of poe-
tical qualities, and as in this enumeration we meet
with an expreffion which feems general, but which
may have this particular meaning, we mutt, in fairnefs,
conclude that the poet is confiftent, means fenfibi-
lity, and apprehends that he announces it fufficiently
by the epithet divinior.

That fenfibility, the power of feeling, or fully con-
ceiving the paffions, affections, or actions we would
delineate, is a neceflary ingredient in poetical genius,
needs {mall illuftration, ‘Che paflage now alluded to
in Horace is fufhcient, .

‘¢ Non fatis eft pulchra effe poemata, dulcia funto,

‘¢ Et quocumque volent animum auditoris agunto. —
Ut ridentibus arrident, ita flentibus adfient,
Humani yvultus. Si vis me flere, dolendum eft
** Primim ipfi tibi; nunc tua me infortunialedent,
** Telephe, vel Peleu; male fi mandata loqueris,
** Aut dormitabo, aut ridebo. Triftia meftum
** Vultum verba decent, iratum plena minarum,
*© Tudentem lafciva, feverum feria dick.
«« Format enim natura prius nos intus ad omnem
*« Fortunarum habitum ; juvat, aut impellit ad iram,
** Aut ad humum marore grayi deducit, ct angit ;
« Poft effert animi motus, interprete lingua.

{II. But what fignify invention and fenfibility, if the
thoughts and feelings of the poet are not well expref-
fed. He muft have the os magna fonaturum. He muft
be capable of adequate expreflion, adequate to the great
objects, and paflions he would difplay. He may ima-
gine the fineit objects, he may be moved by the moft
exquifite affections, but he cannot pleafe or move
others, unlefs he makes them fee as he fees, and feel
as he feels. But he cannot transfufe his foul into theirs.
He mutt ufe fome intermediate yehicle for conveying
his thoughts to thofe whom he would affeét. Lan«
guage is this vehicle. He muft {fpeak, and fpeak per-
{picuoufly, and accurately, and fully ; he muft fpeak,
and with energy, and in a manner adequate, as way

a
n

a

j

%
17gI. ON POETICAL GENIUS. 181

faid, to his fubjeGt. He mutt have the cs magna fonatu-
ram. This quality, fo effential in poetry, as it is moft
capable of cultivation, deferves the more to be at-
tended to, and cultivated. Perhaps nature muft
confer imagination and fenfibility ; but force and ele-
gance, at leaft perf{picuity and correétnefs of expref-
fion may be attained by ftudy. What that ftudy, or thofe
exercifes may be which tend to the improvement of
expreflion, is foreign from our prefent fubje&t.. Suffice
it that we have fhewn, that invention, fenfibility, and
expreffion are the effential qualities of poetical genius.

Ingenium cui fit, cui mens divinior, atque os
Magna fonaturum; des nominis hujus honorem.

CRITO,
ON TALE-BEARING.
To the Editor of the Bee,
Where there isno Tale-bearer, the Strife ceafeth. SoLomon,
Sir, al a ag

A\none the ufeful and ingenious effays that have ap-
peared in your Mifcellany, I fee none on the fubjeG@ £
have chofen.—I propofe, therefore, Mr Editor, to
point out fome of the bad confequences which follow
this moft deteftable of all vulgar vices.

Vices that terminate in immediate deftruction are
feldom extenfively fatal, becaufe they are carefully
guarded again{ft, and rarely practifed; but cunning,
fraud, and hypocrify, produce their effects without
being adverted to.

Slander is the effence of tale-bearing ; and flander
affumes fo many fhapes to miflead, that the moft cau-
tious are not always able to refift its influence; and
by its concealed venom it becomes the moft excruciat-
ing fcourge to mankind! It difturbs the peace of fo-
cieties, families, and friends.

182 ON TALE-BEARING. AOR oR,

Miaft not he be a great coward who always attacks
you behind your back, and in circumftances where it
is impoflible for you to ftand upon the defenfive ?—
Such a coward is the 'Tale-bearer, who finds it necef-
fary to ftab in the dark; and who takes the opportu-
nity of my abfence to murder my character.

Good name in man or woman, dear, my Lord,

Is the immortal jewel of their fouls.

Who fteals my purfe fteals trath ; ’tis fomething, nothing :

? T'was mine, tis his, and has been flave to thoufands.

But he that filches from me my geod name

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed ! Shake/peare.

The ftratagems of Vice are fo many and various, fo
complicated and myfterious, that they require the fki.l
of a mafter to maturate them. Hypocrify is an
aggregate of all that is bafe or abject in nature ; it is
the badge of a reprobate mind, the garb of a villain.—
Under this unhallowed mafk, that noxious thing, a Ta/e-
bearer is reared, nourifhed, and protected. He muft
appear what he is not, that his tales may gain credit
with others: otherwife the virtues which he mutt dif-
guife would alleviate the faults which it is his bufinefs
to expdfe.

Falfehood, the ghaftly mother of this unfeemly child,
is ever ready to afhit the Ta/e-bearer, to gratify his
withes, and fill up his plan.—Facts are not always at
hand, nor always convenient for the fchemes of deceit.
—He means to reveal nothing but what you mean to
conceal; to tell nothing but what detracts from your
merit;—and what can anfwer all thefe purpofes fo
well as Falfehood ?

“ Idlenefs is the predominant bias of every weak and
worthlefs temper, and the fruitful nurfery of the moft
baneful habits. He who has no bufinefs of his own,
muit naturally turn his attention to that of others.—
Your late ingenious efiayift, Mr Editor, has juftly
pointed it out to be an inlet to every vice; and thofe
who are addicted to it fhould take the hint of the For-

17gt. .ON TALE-BEARING. 183

iunate Idler, in the 21{t number of your Bets and leave
it off in time.

Spite is that great fermentatory principle which fets
all the Tale-bearer’s paflions. a boiling.—Extra& this

from his temper, and there is not a duller, more infipid,
infignificant animal in nature.
_ Su/picion, that felf-tormenting principle, muf likewife
be added, and this completes the fhocking compound.—-
Conicious of hisown wicked intentions, he diitrufts all
-mankind.—Not a circumftance happens but awakens
his jealoufy, andgaggravates his dread.—_He knows un-
der what a variety of unexpected forms he has affailed
others, and his fear of being in the fame manner affail-
ed makes him continually anxious to guard againit it.
He is afraid he fhall be wounded by fome invifible
hand, and trembles for the confequence. Poor, mifer-
able being! it is the tribute he pays for his perfidy ; it
is a part of the punifhment which heaven hath appoint-
ed for his guilt.

In vain does fuch an execrable being appeal to reli-
gion, to friendfhip, and to good manners. In religion he
cannot believe, in friendfhip he can put no confidence,
and good manners to him only appear a mafk for vil-
lainy. From the confolation thefe afford to other men
he is entirely excluded. In the midft of fociety he is
in folitude, and the hand of every man that looks upon
him he thinks is ready to deftroy him. Our deteftation
of fuch a character is almoft loft in pity, when we con-
template it in this point of view: and our gratitude to
the fupreme Being, ought to be ftrongly excited, when
we perceive that he hath fo infeparably annexed the
punifhment to the practice of this deteftable vice.

I might extend thefe obfervations, and fhow that a
perfon ‘of this charaéter can neither expect to find con-

_ folation in religion, nor experience the foothing balm
of friendfhip nor domettic peace. Independent, theve-
fore, of the mifchief it does to others, this vice muft,

184 ON 'TALE-BEARING. O&. 12,

ina particular manner, tend to render the unhappy
perfon himfelf who pratifes it, the moft miferable of
all beings.

But fearing I fhould ralitendts your limits, T fhall
only obferve, that fince the evil tendencies of this def-
picable habit are fo numerous, let young perfons be
cautioned to guard againft it with the utmoft attention ;
for when it has been once fuffered to grow into a ha-
bit, it is a difficult tafk indeed to lay it afide.

I am, Sir,
Your conftant reader and humble: ree atls
URANIA.

Detached Obfervations. -

They tell me that fuch a one hates me. Should I
upon that account fet myfelf to hate him? Iwould
not be fo befotted an enemy to myfelf. I will endea-
vour to deprive him of his hatred of me.

We are too much afraid of being defpifed, and too
little dread being hated. We difcover in this the bad-
’ nefs of our heart, but we act at the fame time contrary
to our true intereft ; for it imports us much more to be
beloved than to be efteemed. T’riendihip is the fource
of the moft folid advantages we can derive from other
men. It is not to thofe we only efteem we.take pleafure
in doing good. Efteem by itfelf is not at all beneficent.

Probity and juftice are the foundations of fociety ;
they form its furety.-Goodnefs and beneficence, its
utility 3—gentlenefs and politenefs, its charms.

I have fometimes feen free-thinkers, men of talents,
difputing about religion with knowing theologians, and
if a movement of compaflion had not ftopt it, I fhould
have been tempted to laugh. It feemed as if I liftened
to a woman difputing with a geographer about the ex-
iftence of the Antipodes.

3791. POETRY:

For the Bee.
The End of All;

Is youth, how blithe, how fweet and gay,
__ Life’s fmiling face appears,—
Our pleafures drive, and we obey,
Nor think of changing years.
In ev’ry flow’ry path we rove,
Nor fpurn the giddy call,
Till thus reminded from above,
That Death’s “* the End of All.7*

Love glides within the tender breaft

.. With {weet feducing aim ;

The dear idea is carefs’d,
And blown into a flame.

But age will mark the furrow'd cheek,
The genius too will fall;

The faultering tongue will faintly fpzak,
Is this ** the End of All?”

The Syren call of pleafure draws
With mercilefs controul ;

While vanity invites applaufe,
Ambition warms the foul.

But if pale ficknefs peeps abroad,
Such comforters are {mall ;

The fweets of life increafe the load :
Such is “ the End of All” s

The glare of riches charms the fenfe,
. And honour’s pulfe beats high ;
The ferious thought is driven hence,
. And fhadowy phantoms fly.
While reafon yields to flavith fear,
This thought will tafte like gall;
Perhaps the next revolving year
May mark * the End of All.”

Vol. V. Zz

x78 POETRY- O& 12.

O blend thefe fafcinating joys
“= With thofe of higher fame ;

Let Gratitude’s melodious voice
Call on its Maker’s name.

Religion will her charms difplay,

f And fimiles will meet the call’;

Terror will yield to hope’s bright ray,

Which gilds “the End of All.” ~ MASeA.

A Poem, faid to be written by Major Mordaunt
during the laft German War.

Never before Publifped.

Go, lovely boy *! to yonder tow’r,:
The fane of Janus, ruthJefs King !

And fhut, O! fhut the brazen door,
And here the keys in triumph bring.

Full many a tender heart hath bled,
Its joys in Belgia’s foil entomb’d :

Which thou to Hymen’s fmiling bed,
And length of {weeteft hours had doom’d:

Oh glory ! you to ruin owe
The faireft, plume the ‘hero wears :
Raife the bright helmet from his brow ;
You'll mock beneath the manly tears.

Who does not burn to place the crown :
Of conqueft on his Albion’s head ?

Who weeps not at her piaintive moan,
To give her haplefs orphans bread?

Forgive, ye brave, the generous fault,
If thus my virtue fails; alone

My Delia ftole my earlieft thought,
And fram’d its feelings by her own.

i S Sen eee SM a i ge cn gi
* Cupid.

1791. POETRY. 199

Her mind fo pure, her face fo fair;
Her breaft the feat of fofteft love ;

It feem’d her words an angel’s were,
Her gentle precepts from above.

My mind thus form’d, to mifery gave
The tender tribute of a tear :
_O! Belgia, open thy vaft grave,
For I could pour an ocean there.

When firt you fhow’d me at your feet
Pale liberty, religion tied,

I flew to fhut thie glorious gate
Of freedom on a tyrant’s pride.

Tho’ great the caufe, fo wore with woes,
I cannot but lament the deed :

My youth to melancholy bows, .
And Cloths trifles with my thread.

But ftop, my Clio, wanton mufe,
Indulge not this unmanly ftrain +

Beat, beat the drums, my ardour roufe,
And call the foldier back again.

Sound, found the clarion, fill the fife,
Throughout the fenfual world proclaim,
One crouded hour of glorious life
"Is worth an age withouta name.

Go then, thou little Jovely boy,

I cannot, muft not, hear thee now ;
And all thy foothing arts employ

To cheat my Delia of her woe.

oat
-

“If the gay flow’r, in all its:youth,
__. The feythe of glory here muft meet 3
~ Go, bear my laurel, pledge of truth,
And lay it at my Delia’s feet.

a. aa 5

Her tears hall keep it ever green,
To crown the image in her breaft ;
‘Till death doth clofe the haplefs feene,
_ And calls its angel home to ref.

UNTWISTING MACHINE.

1791. UNTWISTING MACHINE. 18

Defeription af a Machine for Untwifting Yarn.

[See the Plate, svbich reprefents the Machine as viewed from
vila lor ' — above. |

A is the handle of a winch fixed on the avle of a reel, an
felting on two fupports BB, into which it is let down about
‘am inch) but'is open at top for the conveniency of allowing it
to be readily lifted out or put into the-ftands at pleafure. On
the azle of the reel is fixed a wheel ¢ with teeth in its edge,
and pins D D on its fide: ‘Thefe pins, when the reel is put in-
to motion, lay hold of the’ribs of the trundle E, fo as to put
it in motion, and: with it the fheeves G, which are fixed on the
fame arbour. An endlefs therm-band being’ ftretched over
one of thefe fheeves, is madé to go once round each of the
bobbins FFF, and then carried acrofs the fheeve G2,
and returned below, in the manner reprefented by an
énd view of this- part of the apparatus at Fig. 2. The
two fheeves G and G 2 are fo formed that the barid is equally
ftretched when put upon any one of the fheeves. When the
machine is put in’ motion, it therefore follows, that «he bob-
bins FFF will be put in motion with a greater or {maller
degree of rapidity, in proportion to’ the diameter of the fheeve
G that the band goes upon. The axle’ of the bobbins F being
protraéted, is divided and bent into the form of checks, which
receive the pirns HHH * 3; the thread being paffed through a
hole made in its centre for that purpofe, which thread, in its
paflage to the reel K, is turned once round the bobbin I that
turns freely on its axis. Now, while the reel K, in revolving
round, pulls off the yarn from the pirn H, the bobbin F, with
the pirn annexed to it, is turning rapidly round, with a motion
__ teverfe to that which it acquired m‘fpinning; and confequent-
_ Jy that part of the yarn which is between H and I is untwilt-
- ing: and as this may be augmented or dimiinifhed at pleafure,
When the machine is once fet to the pitch that is judged pro-
per, it muft go on till it be altered, untwifting every inch of
yarn during the operation, precifely to an equal degree, whether
the reel go faft or flow.

* By atrifling miflake of the engraver, a fmall addition is
fnade at the end of each of the pirns improperly.

a

182 UNTWISTING MACHINE. O&. 12.

The reel KK being in this manner filled with as much yarn
as, it is thought preper to put upon it at one time, is then lifted
out of the ftands B B, and placed upon the fimilar ftands LL,
another empty reel, exactly the fame in every refpea, being
then, put into the ftands B B in its ftead; and the handle and
winch being taken from the full reel, and put upon the empty
one,—(N. B. There is a fmall error in the drawing, the winch
being reprefented as a continuation of the axle, inftead of be-
ing a {quare ilip winch, as it ought to. be,)—the operation of
yecling is begun again as before. But obferve that the teeth of
the one wheel ec catches the teeth of the fimilar wheel ¢ of
the full reel ; and of courfe, while the reel on the ftands BB
is turned one way, that on the ftands LL muft be. turned
precifely with the fame degree of velocity in an oppofite di-
rection; fo that if the yarn be winded upon the prns OO O
in proportion as it is let off the reel NN N, an equal quanti-
ty of yarn will be taken off the ree] N that is put upon the
reel K at the fame time, fo that the reel N will be entirely
emptied by the time that the reel K has received the quanti-
ty that is allotted to be put on it at one time; Now, if that
quantity be afcertained at the -beginning, the fame length of
yarn muft be put upon each reel at every future filling, fo
as to meafure the whole quantity of yarn, merely by keeping
an account, of the number of folls of the reel.

When the reel N is empty, it is-then lifted from its ftand,
and the reel K being then full, is alfo lifted out and put into
its place, the two being interchanged, and thus you go on iz
infinitum.—(N. B. The two reels are reprefented in the fi-
gure as being each half full, and at that period of the opera-
tion when only they are precifely alike).

The pirns O OO are fized upon a fpindle that turns freely
in an axis, and upon one end of the axis of each fpindle is
fixed a fmall fheeve PP P: over this fheeve is taken one turn
of a {mall therm-band, which goes over a much larger fheeve,
that is not reprefented here, and upon the fame axle with that
larger fheeve is fixed a {mall fheeve, which, when this part.of
the machinery is winded up, receives a {mall cord, in fafhion,
the fame (though much {maller in fize) with that of an ordi-
nary jack (an end view of which {mall arbour is given at Fig.
3.). The weight conftantly a@ing, though with a gentle
force, turns round the arbour P, and thus gives motion to

479I1- _... UNTWISTING MACHINE. © 183

the pirn O, fo that as the: yarn is let off from the reel N,
it is regularly winded up on the pirn O, fo as to be fit for
being put into the loom for,weaving. It. is {carcely neceflary
‘to obferve, that this yarn may be winded at pleafure, either
upon bobbins having ends to each, or pirns fit to be put into
the weavers fhuttle, as fuits the purpofe intended to be made
of it.

Thus, by a very fimple apparatus, the yarn may be at one
operation, and at very trifling expence, untwifted to any de-
gree that fhall be thought proper; reeled, fo as to afcertain
its quantity precifely, and done up again upon pirns, or bob-
bins, fit for either warp or woof, without being ever touched
by the hand, or taken from the reel in form of fxains, an ope-
ration (the making up into fkains) that, with flack yarn, is al-
ways produétive of mifchief.

This little apparatus.is fo plain.and fimple, that the above
dcfeription will be altogether fufficient, and give a complete
idea of its principle. To give a perfe& notion of fome leffer
particulars, would require many words, which would only
tend to embarrafs readers, without a great number of plates ;
among thefe particulars are—the contrivance for lifting out
the bobbins I’ F at pleafure.

. The fame for taking cut and putting in the pirns HHB,
and for putting the thread, without breaking it, through the
hole in the middle of the checks that hold the axle of thefe
pirns. atte ‘
_ The fame for taking out the.bobbins III at pleafure.. .

Alfo a contrivance for laying the yarn upon the reel K, fo
as to prevent one thread from ever finking through among the
reft, fo as to be entangled, or to have the end Joft, fhould it
break, as well as to prevent it from rifing into heaps upon
the reel; and a fimilar contrivance for laying it regularly up-
- on the pirns; or bobbins O O, as it is winded upon them ; and
laftly, the apparatus, that has been before but flightly mention-
ed, for communicating the neceflary motion to the pirns by
means of the fheeves P P. ?

A diftin& notion of thefe particulars could be beft convey-
ed to manufaéturers, by having a machine of this fort aétually
made, and exhibited to them in a working ftate, from which
as a model others could eafily be made. '

. ;
184 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&. 12:

N. B. Though for the fake of bringing the figure within 4
thoderate compafs, only three pirns are here reprefented, it is
éafy to fee that any number that fhould be required might be
added, merely by extending’ the width of the apparatus in pro-
portion to the number wanted, and that inftead of ci
it turned by the hand, it might be turned by machinery i
judged neceflary. nd

Proceedings, in Parliament.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Convention with Spain.
Tuefday, December 14. 1790.

"Tue order of the day being read for taking into confideration.
the Declaration and Convention between his Majefty and the Cas,
tholic King, ;

Mr Duncombe rofe, and after expatiating on the commercial
benefits that had been already derived from’ the termination of
the difpute with Spain, and the patriotic exertions of minifters,
he moved an addrefa to his Majefty, ftating, that his faithful
Commons had taken the fubjeét of the Declaration and Conven-
tion into their ferious confideration, and afterwards exprefling:
fentiments correfponding to thofe in his fpeech.

Mr Alderman Watfon feconded the motion. big bring

Mr Pulteney confidered the whale-fifhery, and thé trade to
Nootka-Sound, as of too little importance, and the infult to the
Britifh flag as of too infignificant a nature to authorife the ex-
pence that had been incurred on this occafion, He hinted at
the propriety of rather embracing the opportunity that their
cafual alienation from France offered to break the family com-
pact, by conciliating the. good will of Spain, as a matter of much
greater confequence to this country, than that of eftranging
her by ftiff and uncomplying exactions.

Mr Alderman Curtis made his maiden fpeech ; he applauded’
the Convention, ard was full in his encomiums on the Souther
fithery.

Me Stanley (member for Wootton Baffet) applauded the con_
dué of adminiftration, thought the papers produced were alto...
gether fufficient to eriable the Houfe to judge fully of the me_

1791. | Parliamentary Proceedings: 185

rits of the cafe, dwelt upon the indignation that was univerfally
felt, when the news of ‘the infult that had been offered to the
nation arrived: ‘‘ Reparation, however, he added, has been given
for this offence, ample and unequivocal reparation. We have
received an apology highly grateful to our feelings, and a con-
ceffion from arrogant and infulting pretenfions as advantageous
as we could wifh : we are now authorifed to navigate undifturb-
ed the Pacific Ocean, and to fettle on all its unoccupied fhores.
He then compared the condué of the prefent admiriftration
with that of Sir Robert Walpole, and made the parallel turn out
highly in favour of the former. He infifted that Spain would
not have made this great facrifice unlefs the armament had been
carried forward :- he alle¢ged Spain had long been arming in {e-
cnet, and that the infult was determinedand deliberare, but that
by our {pirited exertions their defigns had been fruftrated.

*He then made a‘ grand difplay of the advantages that we
would derive from the Convention, among which, an: increafe
of our trade with China was not omitted. “ But independent,
faid he, of thefe advantages, which in the map are certainly
very important, it would have been a mortifying circumftance,
had we tamely left to the Spaniards the undifturbed_ poffeffion
of half a world! Were we to be excluded from feas which
we had explored at a great expence ? A fpirit of enterprife is
now excited—fhips ate fitting out for that trade ;” and fhall we,
by refufing to arm in defence of ourrights, fuffer this f{pirit
to evaporate in fruitlefs preparation ?—Certainly not. —

Tho’ Britain, he obferved, had not obtained an exclyufve
right of fettlement on the North-weft coaft of America to her-
felf alone, tho’ other nations are allowed to participate in it, |
*¢ we alone have redrefled the general grievance, and punifhed
the arrogance of the haughty and ambitious Spaniard : we have
forced him to relinquifh his ufurpations to unbounded em-
pires and we meet with the reward of our generous exertions.” °

e for thefe reafons gave the Convention his firongeft fupport-

Mr Grey infited, that if the pofitions of the laft fpeaker-were ,
true,‘they could not vote for the addrefs, becaufe Parliament
would then fanétion an aé of flagrant injuftice, and a violation
of national faith: for if that country had been confirmed to
Spain by the peace of Utrecht, and the Conventions of 1739 and -
1767, we had noright now toclaim them. It was to prevent .
any errors of that kind he had moved for the papers. He con-
tended that by the Convention it did not appear that we were ‘
to have right to a fingle foot of ground. By the 3d article, the
parties were to reflore or make reparation for fuch places as
were taken fubfequent to April 1789. Spain might choofe to
make a compenfation: he could difcover nothing, but in the
third article a liberty of fifhing, on which all other articles were
teftrictions. He could not conccive what was meant by the

Vol. V. Aa

186. Parliamentary’ Proceedings. OG. 12:

s
words free acce/s. If it meant intercourfe, we were interdicted
all accels, in thofe parts where the Spaniards:had fettlements al-
ready ; andif there fhould remain any, place fo much to the north
of the Spaniards as to admit of a fettlement on our part, the pro-
vifion made for free accefs to them muft be an eternal caufe of
difference and hoftility, which, whatever others may think, the
prefent Convention was more likely to accelerate than retard.
He again adverted to the third Article, and thought it fo ob-
{curely worded, and fo pregnant with future difputes, that in
comparifon he could not help admiring the Convention which
put the difputes refpecting Falklands Iflands in the fame condi-
tion which they were in before. After touching on the expen-
ces incurred, the great extent of the armament, andthe length
of the negociation, he concluded with moving, ‘ That the
Houfe do now adjourn.” :

Mr Dundas in reply contended, that if gentlemen had doubts
as to the right which Spain claimed, thefe ought to have been
ftarted when the Houfe unanimoufly addreffed his Majefty on
the fubject of the iafult by Spaiz. He then turned his atten-
tion ** to the unparallelled benefits which the commerce of this
country muft draw from the immentfe fifheries of the greateft
ocean in the univerfe, and the boundlefs traffic of a new an
almoit unexplored world.”? He faid, ** the explanation of the
Convention by Mr Grey was ridiculous ; and infifted the mean-
ing was clear, that the reftoration was to be direét and _ pofitive
where ¢errifory was in queftion, and the compenfution only to
apply to matters of property, which might be injured or deftroy-
ed.’ He confeffed, that an additional burden of three millions
of money was a very ferious fum to levy on the people of this
country, oppreffed as they already are with debt. But he muft
remark, that all burdens are comparative ; and though the coms
mercial benefits of this treaty could not be eftimated at fo low
a price as this fum, yet there were other advantages of ftill more |
moment, which would ‘efult from the vigour of thefe arma-
ments: *¢ For when the aftonifhed univerfe has beheld the fineft
fleet that ever the ocean bore, riding thus fuddenly upon its
bofom, each ftate will naturally feel that the force which’ gives.
good treaties to this country, has given it at the fame time the
_ power to retain them.’ its d

Mr Rolle declared himfelf a zealous advocate of adminiftra-
tion, and was happy in fo duing, that he complied with the
withes of his conftituents, the frecholders of Devonfhire. _

Mr Ryder tpoke a few words in favour of adminiftration.

Mr Fox condemned, as improper, the practice of introducing.
the opinion of conftituents into that Houfe, alledging that every
member there ought to act as his own judgement direéted, or
ifthe opinion of his conftituents weighed with himf{elf, it was
not an objeét for difcuffion in that Houle, | Inftead. of reforting .

i

‘

4791. ) Parliamentary Proceedings. — i87

to this authority, he wifhed to enter into the difcuffion of the
Convention, on the grounds before the Houfe. He infifted, that
by refufing the papers that had beén called for, the Houfe had
been precluded from knowing the circumftances on which the
merit or demerit of the negociation effentially depended, and
of courfe it rendered cenfure and approbation equally improper.

If the armament had been carried on for other purpofes than
that of fettling the difpute with Spain, as there were fome rea-
fon to fufpect, from hints that had occurred during the debate,
and otherwife, he fhould not then enter on the policy of the
meafure ; but if minifters had kept up an armament for one
purpofe, they ought not to call upon the Houfe to pay for it
under colour of another. It was, he faid, a fundamental prin-
ciple of our government, and a principle never to be departed
from, that the Houfe of Commons was, on no pretext, to vote
money for one purpofe, when the expence had been incurred
for another.

He faid, that by the Convention, the national honour kad
been compromifed ard yielded in a very material point. Ho-
nour to nations was, perhaps, the only juftifiable or rational
ground of conteft. Wars for the fake of conqueft, of acquiring
dominion, or extending trade, were equally unjuft andimpolitic;.
and on this ground he wifhed to examine the Convention. The

reparation was much lefs than had been obtained in the conteft
about Falklands Iflands. In that cafe there was to be a com-
plete reftoration ; in this, only a declaration of a difpofition to,
reftore. He then entered into the comparifon more at large,
and pafling to the arguments that had been adduced in the de-
bate, he faid, ** it had been amplified as a great acceffion of na-
tional honour, that we had broke through an unreafonable
claim, not only for ourfelves, but for all other nations, and that
it became the dignity of a great nation to deftroy fuch claims’
wherever they were found.. But would any man ferioufly de-
fend this romantic dottrine ??? He admitted that the time «was
proper for fettling the difpute refpecting the undefined claims of.
in ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he prefented

his Majefty’s mefiage to the Houfe, faid, that full and complete
fatisfaction muft be obtained for the infult offered to the natioral
honour, previous to any difcuffion of the contefted right, and’
that no {fatisfaction would be confidered as complete, which
did not take away the ground of future quarrel.

This termination the Houfe adopted, and he rejoiced in the
profpect of avoiding the trouble and expence of a tedious dif-
cuffion of a queftion of right. In the conduét of the bufinefs,
however, a contrary mode had been adopted. We had con-
trived to bring the queftion of right into difcuffion almoft in ‘he
very firft inftance, and after fatisfaGtion for the infult was of-
fered and accepted, the Convention, which thus became a dif-

188 Parliamentary Proceedings: O&: 12%
’

tinct object, had coft as much as the reparation for. our injuted
honour. It was therefore fair to try it. by the expence and thé
price we had paid for it. In the early:part of the debate’ he
had heard nothing but rhodomontade about our acquifitions. .
An honourable gentleman who fpoke immediately before
him (Mr Ryder) had put the queftion on its frne footing. “He
had, from the contag on of particular phrafes, talked of gaining
and acquiring, but in his argument had very properly faid) that
we had made no acquifitions, but enly got fecurity for what
we. had before. This was precifely what we had. got; an ad-
vantage, no doubt, in as much as it was often wife to: give up
part of our rights, in order to poffcfs the reft in fecurity 5 but
an advantage to be eftimated by what it had coft.: He would
therefore enquire what we poffeffed before the Convention, and
what tt. fecured to us ? We poffeffed and exercifed as our un-
doubted right the free navigation of the Pacific:Ocean, without
any reftraint or limitation. We poffeffed and exercifed the
right of carrying on fifheries in the Sotith Seas, equajly unlimit-
ed. This was no barren right, but a right of which we had
availed ourfelves, as appeared by the papers.on the table, which
thewed that the produce of it had increafed in five years from
twelve to.ninety-feven thoufand pounds. This -eftate we had
improved and were daily improving ; it was not to be difgraced:
by the name of an acquifition. The admiffion of part of thefe
rights by Spain was all we had obtained, and it was of fome: _
value, It.remained to inquire what it had coft. Our right
before was to fettle in any unoccupied part of South or North.
Weft America, and we were now reftricted to fettle in certain
places only, and under certain reftrictions. » This .was an. im-
portant conceffion on our part. Our right of fifhing extended to:
the whole ocean, and now it too was limited, and to be carried
on within certain diftances of the Spanifh fettlements. -Our
fight of making fettlements was not, .as now,.a right: to build
huts, but to plant colonies, if we thought proper. : Surely thefe
were not acquifitions, or rather conquefts,. if we might judge
by the triumphant language held refpecting them; but great
and important conceffions. He then went into a particular ex-
amination of many affertions.that had been made in the courfe.
of the debate by his opponents, endeavouring to fhow that if
they were well founded, we had aéted unjuftly by Spain, and!
ought to be accounted the aggreffors. i ty
He proceeded, in like manner, to, analife the articles’ of the
Convention, fhowing that they were unfatisfactory and contra-:
di€tory ofeach other. By the third article, fays he, we are au-)
thorifed to navigate the Pacific Ocean and South Sea unmolefted,
for the.purpofe of carrying on our fifheries, andto land on un- °
fettled coafts for the purpofe of trading with the natives; but af-»
ter this pompous acknowledgment of right to navigation, fifhery, .

2791. Parliamentary Proceedings. 189

}, and commerce; comes another article, (the fixth), which takes
away all right of landing and erecting any temporary huts for
any purpofe, but that of carrying on the fifhery, and amounts to
a complete. dereliction of all right to fettle, in any other way, for
the purpofe of commerce with the natives. _What’might be the
advantage, we could derive from fettlements in that part of the

_ world, he did not.pretend to know; but he knew that the Spa-
niards were at all times extremely jealous of having any other
civilized people fettled in the neighborrhood of their colonies,
and therefore, in effecting this exclufion, they muft have looked
upon it as a great point gained by-them. ‘In renouncing all
right to make {fettlements in South America, he faid, we had
given.to Spain what. fhe confidered as ineftimable, and in return
had been contented with drofs.” ’ i
) Ifthe Southern whale fifhery was of the great importanee it
was ftated.to be, he contended, that in regard to it alfo we had
made a conceffion of great moment ; a reftri€tion. from ap-
proaching within ten leagues of the coaft, was a demarcation of
limits. not calculated to. give fecurity, but to create’ difputes::

His Majefty engaged -hy the fourth article to take the moft
effectual meaiures to prevent the fifhery from being made a pre-
text for fmuggling, which if he did not.do, the whole treaty fell
to the-groun’. Here.is another pretext for difpute ; who are _
to judge whether his Majefty has taken the mof? effe&ual mea-
fures for preventing {muggling there? It is known, that the ut-
moft exertions of Government cannot prevent fmuggling on our
own Coaft, far lefs can it be poffible for-us to prevent it there.
Every trefpafs of this fort therefore annuls the treaty : in other
words, the treaty may be annulled under the faireft and mof le-.
gal pretexts, whenever Spain fhall find it convenient for her to
do it. Perfons alfo might innocextly come within the préfcrib-
ed limits ; but by which rule was it to be afcertained, that one,
man had gone within it innocently and unintentionally, and ano-.

ther wilfully and fraudulently ? How was that proteétion to the
innocent, and punifhment to the guilty, to which all his Majefty’s
| fubjects were entitled, to be meafured out? It is impoffible to
be done: Arbitrary acts of oppreflion will be winked at by the

Court, while the minifter withes to be in friendthip with Spain =:

whenever he alters his mind, the conduét they are authorifed

by this treaty to purfue, will be an immediate pretext for 2
war.

He then went largely into the confideration of the extreme
impolicy of leaving the limits of Spanith occupancy entirely un-
defined. Certainty, he faid, was of much more value than ex-
tent of territory, and therefore, he would have thought. it good
policy to obtain a precife line of demarcation in the firft inftance,.
on fuch an account as Spain chofe to give of the -limits. of her
accupancy, even if it fhould have been obtained at the expence

_

190 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&. 12

of a few leagues of coaft. Thus we had given up a right to fets
tle, except for temporary purpofes, to the fouth of the Spanifh
fettlements, or in the intervals between them, where they haps
pened to be diftant. .We had indeed obtained an admiffion
of our right to fettle to the north of them, but where either thé
fonth or the north of thefe fettlements was, no man could pre-
cifely tell. What a copicus fource of difpute! What fine feeds
for future wars! Thofe who had extolled the late negociation
for the opportunity it had given to fhow the vigour and promp+
titude of the national refources, might write in the margin of
the treaty,—T4is cvill afford an admirable opportunity for a fu-
ture difplay of the power and energy of Great Britain. Jn this
point of view the treaty muft be conlidered as a mafterly per-
formance. é
After feveral other arguments of lefs importance, and: a good
many declamatory flourithes, he at laft concluded with faying,
he fhould vote for the motion of adjournment. ' \
Mr Pitt began with faying, he thould anfwer the material
points that had been urged by the honourable gentleman. He.
cenfured thofe who held up Nootka Sound as not worthy of
contention, ard he conceived the nation at large confidered the
conduét of adminiftration as highly meritorious, He defended’
fome of his leffer partizans from the ftrokes that had been aim-
ed at them. With regard to the obtaining better terms and 2
more fpeedy difarmament, ifthe pofition of the right honour-
able gentleman could be eftablifhed, then the executive govern-
ment fhould be branded with cbloquy. \
Asa commercial nation, it is much more commendable to
cultivate than to alienate the affections of the Spaniards. Gen-
tlemen might cavil at evesy meafure of government, and con+
demn in general terms the late armaments; but he was fully,
convinced, that to thofe efforts may be attributed the happy
‘eonclufion of peace. When the Spanifh Court found our natio-
nal mind united, and the public force concentred to refift an’
indignant and potent enemy, it was then they receded from
their hoftile intentions. Confcious of having aéted with probi-

ty to the public intereft, he would fcorn to dread an inveftiga~

tion. Should peace, as he flattered himfelf it was, be eftablifh-’
ed upon the broad bafis of general friendfhip and general inter-
eft, the genius of commerce would receive a. new portion of
energy, by embracing new fources ofopulence. The very-{pi-
rit of the Convention affords every reafon to imagine that the
‘terms of amity between the two kingdoms will be formed upon!
a bafis conformable to their true interefts. The paper itfelf
profeffes in the frongeft manner to have thefe defireable objects
inview. In this ftrain of argumentation he went on to point,
out the complete reparation that was to be given for the injury
that had been received at Nootka. He then expatiated, in the

i791. Parliamentary Proveeding’. rgf
bd

fame ftrain of forcible reafoning, on the new fource of wealth
opened to the induftry of this nation, by the fitheries in the
South Sea, without any diflurbance or molcfation. The Con-
ventidn, He then faid, has obtained fubfantially all that it

rofeffed : all the objections that have been made to it are
founded on /uppofition : thofe who oppofe him call alond for
miore papers, when they are convinced that every document.
has been prefented that could be conceived for the purpofes of
elucidation.

He afferted that the prefent negociation was, in every view,
better managed, and more for the intereft of Great Britain,
than that refpecting Falklands Iflands had been. He once
more reverted to the benefits of peace and concord ; but tho’
an advocate for peace, he reprobated, at a critical juncture of
affairs, indolence, falfe fhame, or indifference. ‘The adoption of,
fach a conduét he confidered asa criminal exceis. He withed
to know in what fingle inftance his opponents had difplayed
their tranfcendant fkill as negociators. When in office they had
not evinced that portion of political fagacity they now fo highly
extolled: their conduct had been fuch as to induce the nation
to drive them from the feat of power.

“The confirmation of our rights at Nootka, he once more faid,
was a matter of the greateft importance. Here he drew a glow-
ing picture of its prefent ftate, contending that the people who
were now deemed favages, might foon fhake off their fymptoms
of rudenefs and barbarity, by making a rapid progrefs toward
refinement. ** Who can conceive, fayshe, the firit dawnings of
antiquity, compared with the maturity of the prefent moment ?
may not fuch a revolution of manners happen among the people
whom the honourable gentleman reviles and affects to treat with
contempt?” He denied that the Convention was a conceffion
on either part, nor had he any hefitation in faying, that by a
candid confideration of the meafure, it would be found a fub-
ject worthy of general approbation. Hence, whatever novelty
or bitternefs the farcafm of his enemies might produce, he
would reft perfectly contented in having difcharged his duty
With the utmoft zeal and fidelity. Inftead of finking in an ago-
‘ny of confufion on an examination of every circumftance which
led to the Convention, his Majefty’s minifters, and he believed
the peoplea t large, had cautfe to rejoice at the termination of
hoftilities. He proceeded in the fame ftrain of general elo-
gium ofthe minifters, and praife of the Convention, forfome
time. -He afferted once more, that the South Sea fifheries were
fources of great wealth, and were now fecured to the utmof
extent of the human imagination. The lines of demarcation
would be properly afcertained. The fpace of ten leagues he
confidered as a fufficient diftance. If the {pace agreed to was
Open to cavil, fo was ally other. The latitude of 45 or 50, might

192 Parliamentary Proceedings. O08. 12.

be made-a fubject of difpute by thofe who were determined
upon it, but not by perfons of rectitude and honour. a

The adjuftment of the whole wasleft to the Duke of Leeds:
and the Marquis del Campo, in this kingdom, and Count Florida ’
Blanca and Mr Fitzherbert abroad... :

The queftion of adjournment was put, and the Houfe divided,

For the adjournment 123—Againft it 247—Majority for the
Miniftry 124. oy"

eit! ta. s yh Pyetis F Ne ahs D mk i
oOoSS—S——————————————eee————————ee

Card.

"Tue Earl of Buchan, as Chairman of the Society for erecting’
a Monument on Ednam Hill, prefents his Compliments to the
admirers of the Poet, and informs them, that he has obtained ’
the promife of a grant of the fpot.required from the Curators

of Mr Cuthbert of Ednam. That he does not think it con-’
fiftent, either with the memory of Thomfon, or to his own

dignity, to hand about fubfcription papers for, defraying the

expence of the propofed Monument; but informs them, that

Meffrs Coutts, Bankers in London, and Sir William Forbes,

and Co. Bankers in Edinburgh, will receive contributions for

this laudable defign ; and that it is propofed to ere& a fimple.

Doric Column, with a Statue of the Poet on the Capital, a

Wreath of Laurel to afcend in a f{piral and crown the Bard. |
The whole expence of which, in the manner propofed,. may

not exceed twelve hundred pounds. If that fum cannot be |
obtained, the’Column will be erected without the Statue, and:
with the fubftitution of an Urn,

Dryburgh Abbey, Sepiember 22. 1791.

THE BEB,

LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

FOR

WEDNESDAY, O&tober. 19, 1791.

Curfory Remarks on Grecian and Gothic -ArchiteGture, cons
ay Jidered as an Objeé?-of Take.

Parr Il.

Is the foregoing part of this eflay I was enabled to

roceed with fome degree of fteady firmnefs, becaufe
a principles about which I reafoned were fixed and
certain: in what follows, a’ greater degree of caution
is neceflary ; as no fixed principle hath been yet difco-
vered on which we could with certainty rely. If errors
therefore fhould be difcovered, the reader, it is hoped,
will'treat them with indulgence. I no where attempt
to decide : all that is aimed at is merely to guard againft
error, and to induce men to treat the opinions of others
with 4 greater degree of ‘indulgence than*is ufual in
cates of this fort. we

Vor. V. + . Bb

19} GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. O&. 19,

That fome natural objects are in themfelves more
beautiful than others will fcarcely be denied, even by
the moft fceptical reafoners. I fhould not think it pof-
fible, for example, if a toad and a peacock were
prefented together, that any human being could be
found, who would not at once, and without hefitation,
admit that the peacock was the moft beautiful object
of the two. ‘This example, if the fact be admitted as
here ftaced, would feem to prove that there is fome
univerfal ftandard, or cziterion of beauty, altogether
independent of fancy, fafhion, or caprice; fince it is
fuppofed that all mankind agree in one uniform deci-
fion. In this, however, as in many other cafes, though
the oppofite extremes be clearly diftinguifhable from
each other, yet where they deviate, even but a little
from the extremes, the diftin@tion becomes lefs appa-
rent, and foon is loft in confufion. We are thus led to
believe, that if there be a real {tandard for beauty, that
itandard is of a nature which cannot be eafily recog-
nifed. Even in regard to natural objects men will
differ ; but in refpeét to artificial objects, this diverfity
of opinion is fo great, and fo liable to perpetual fluctu-
tion and changes, that an attentive obferver finds him-
felf at a lofs to form any decided judgment whatever.
{t is found by experience that long habit reconciles us
to fafhion in drefs, fo entirely, as. to make us think, in
ume, a thing is extremely elegant and becoming, which
at the firft appeared ridiculous and difgufting, and
which, in-a fhert time, we again ridicule as frightful
and antiquated. Should any one afk why the prefent
fathion is beautiful beyond others, abundance of rea-
fons, would be affigned, which would for the moft part
fatisfy the perfon who adduced. them ; nor would he
be at a lofs to turn into ridicule the abfurdity of the.tafte
of thofe who preceded him. But this is onlya proof of the
verfatility. of the human genius, gnd the art by which
felf-love impofes on the human mind. So omnipotentis
the power of habit, in regard to this particular, and fo

E791. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. 195

totally it overpowers every other confideration, that
whole nations may be found to adopt a tafte for cer-
tain ornaments which they look upon as beautiful,

which the general tenor of their reafoning would de-
monttrate, in the cleareft manner, to be ridiculous and
abfurd. A itronger example of this need not be pro-
duced than the tafte which has long prevailed in Eu-
rope for the {quare cut, and other peculiarities of the
French fafhion in drefs for men, which is in gencra

among us thought to be not only not ridiculous, but
even elegant and becoming. At the fame time, how-
ever, that we admire the {tiff formality of that cut of
‘clothes, fo unlike to any thing in nature, as applied to
animals, we find no dititculty in now laughing at the,
{tiff formality, fo fimilar in kind to this, which our
forefathers efteemed fo. beautiful in the difpofition. of
their gardens. The long avenue, bordered with paral-
Jel rows of trees, the flrait walk, confined by high
hedges; the trees cut into Preeti and 2 in ae the
rivulets led in ftone troughs; the formal, ditch-like
canal; the ftreight walls, and fharp caps of the in-
clofures : all thefe, and the other objects of garden-
beauty, fo much admired at that time, we now look,
upon with the moft fovereign contempt, as the very
reverfe of every thing that is beautiful ; and in its ead
we prize, and we think with reafon, the open lawn,
the meandering rill, the eafy fweep, and the artlefs
negligence of nature. But can any thing more nearly
refemble thefe formal, ftiff, angular beantics in our
garden, than the prefent cut of men’s clothes? Ho-,
garth’s French dancing-matter, teaching the Apolle
Belvidere to hold up his head, fhows, in ‘a ftriking
imanner, the juftice of this benark’s and the propriety
of this ridicule has been acknowledged by all: but
Strange’ s print, Apollo rewarding Mit, thows, if pof-
fible, 3 in a ftill more forcible manner, the aukwardnefs
of that form of drefs. hefe things are admitted 5 but
our drefs, notwith{ta Te is {till in fathion, and

Bb

196 GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. O@. 19,

praifed every day, by perfons who rretend to be judges
of tafte, as the moft elegant, though, at the fame time,
it mutt be admitted to be the moft Bacatural that could
be conceived.

But though the principles of beauty cannot perhaps
be determined with {uch precifion, or fo far be made to
refift the {way of fafhion and of whim as to enfure a laft-
ing permenancy in the public tafte in favour of any par-
ticular clafs of objets, yet even in regard to works of
art, there are fomé objects which will he found to make
a {trong impreflion on the mind of every beholder,
even tail prejudice hath divefted them of the charm
of fafhion, and which thus extort an unwilling ap-:
plaufe, though fuch approvers dare not venture to call
the things they applaud beautiful.

It will not, for cates I believe, be denied by any
perfon that a ftately fabric, furrounded with awegular
colonnade of maje{tic columns, in the pureft fimplicity
of the Grecian ftyle of archite€ture, is an object that
{trikes the mind with a fenfation of dignity, and has a
tendency to pleafe. It may indeed happen that a na-
tive of China, will think this ftyle of archite€ture not fo
aight and elegant as that which his mind has been long
habituated to contemplate as the quinteflence of excel-
Jence in: architeure; or to a Saracen it may appear
not to poflefs the higheft delicacy of foym that he could
imagine, or be too little ornamented to pleafe his tafte

‘as much as thofe ftruétures he has been long aceuftom-
ed to admire ; but ftill both of them will fay, it is great,
though clumfy, it is magnificent, though deftitute of
that elegance which conititutes the perfection of beau-

ty of this kind. Such involuntary applaufe fhould per-
haps be deemed the higheft teft of excellence; and we
may from this circumftance conclude, that fireh build-
ings are well entitled to be called beautiful tructures.

When we try to inveftigate the circumftances that
produce this general effet upon the mind, we eafily
perceive that the regularity of the columns 1s one cauig

1791. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. 197

of pleafure, and their obvious utility for fupporting the

roof, is another. But neither of thefe confiderations

feparately, nor both together, fhall we find fufficient to
produce ail the efiects that are felt on this occafion: a
fet of flender wooden fpars might be planted as regu-
Jarly around, and equally wel/ fupport the roofs but it
does not appear that thefe would produce an effet
equally ftriking. The fize of the pillars, the maflive-
nefs of the entablature, and even the bulk of the whole

» firuéture, ail contribute in producing this effect: nor

does it feem that by disjoining thefe adjunéts will a
fimilar effet be produced.

From this yiew of the matter, therefore, we would
be led to believe, that apparent utility, though a princi-
pal ingredient in rendering ftructures of this nature
pleafing, is far from being alone fufficient to produce
this agreeable effet. It would feem alfo, that large-
nefs of fize, and apparent folidity of conftruction, are
required to make the Grecian column produce its hap-

ieft effet ; and that the maflivenefs of the entablature,
and the bold proje€tion beyond the wall of that part of
the roof which is fupported by the pillars, are all cir-

cumftances which greatly contribute in producing this
: g y P 8

effect. An attempt to disjoin thefe fhould of courfe
naturally -tend to render ftructures of this kind much
lefs generally pleafing than they otherwife would have
been,
It has happened, however, from that general propen-
fity which the human mind has to acquire from habit

-an inordinate degree of fondnefs, in time, for any

artificial object it has been once led to contemplate
with fatisfaction, that men have wifhed to introduce
thefe ornaments as often as. they could, without ad-
verting to the circumftances that originally contributed
to render them pleafing. Columns have been ftuck*
clofe to the walls, where they are evidently ufelefs ; and
hy wanting the bold relief at top, which gave. them
much of their original. dignity, they become tame and

198 GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Oct. 19,

Jefs ftrikingly beautiful. ‘This may perhaps be con-
fidered as a deviation towards bad tafte, though it may
chance for.a time to be highly.approved of. ‘The fame
thing may be faid of the flattening of columns, when
ftuck upon a wall, which we now diftinguifh by the -
nante of pila/ffers.

It was not however to be fuppofed, that when men
had once acquired a {trong predeli€tion for this kind of
ornament, they fhould ftop here. Going ftill farther
aftray, they forgot that magnitude, as well as i/olation,
were circumftances that contributed ftrongly to render
columns beautiful. In confequence of this overfight,
pillars have been degraded from their original office,
and have been diminithed to the trifling fize of door-
pofts: nay, not content with this, architeé&ts have
crowded them even into windows, ‘Thus, in confe-
quence of the various breaks they there produce in the
heavy entablature and cornice, which muft even here
alfo accompany them, the fimplicity of a large building
is fo much deranged, as to produce an effect altogether
different from what the general ftile of this mafly mode
of architecture was naturally calculated to produce.—
A mind free from prejudice, would feemingly be in-
clined to believe that this inordinate fondnefs for co-
lumns, and the incongruous ufes to which they are
applied, were all deviations towards a bad tafte. And
had not all thefe applications of columns been fo com-
nion among the Romans, and among the architeéts who
revived the Grecian ftyle of archite€ture in Europe, as to
give thefe practices the fanCtion of their author ity, [dhould
be much inclined to believe, that it would be generally
allowed to be a faulty practice. In proof of this opinion,
I would afk at every unprejudiced perfon, if ever his
mind was ftruck with the dignity of the appearance of
thofe puny columns, fo often to be met with, ftuck to
the wall on each fide the door of many modern build-
ings? Or if, when he eae furveys that patt of the
palace of Whitehall which was built by Inigo ones

179I. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. 199

himfelf, the tame pilafters, and unmeaning pillars, ituck
on the outfide of the wall, ranged in rows one atop of
the other, each fupporting its puny entablature, and
the numberlefs little pillars, cluftered around the win-
dows, does not more mark the poverty of invention
that might be expected from a gingerbread baker, than
the lofty ideas of an architect who prided himfelf on
the beauty of fimplicity in compofition, where grandeur
was meant to be difplayed to advantage? ‘This feems
to fhow, that even among great minds, the force of ha-
bit is fometimes irrefiftible.

Nor does our fondnefs for this ornament reft here.
Though the capital of a column is evidently conftruct-
ed of a form that is naturally calculated to fupport a
confiderable incumbent weight, we have not fcrupled
to erect fingle monumental columns, in their wonted
proportions, perfeétly ifolated from: all objects ; though
it can not be denied that by theiz flender form, and feem-
ing top-heavinefs, they appear to totter on their bafes,
and look to be in danger of tumbling down. We have
even carried our partiality for ancient practice a degree
farther than could have been expected, and in fome
cafes have put at the top of the column a {quare piece,
with the mouldings of the entablature, and the heavy,
(thus applied they may be called heavy indeed,) pro-
jections of the cornice, which exhibits fuch a fantaftic
appearance, as nothing, I am inclined to think, not
even long habit, without great efforts of a prejudiced,
mind, could ever reconcile any one to look at without
difguft. Pillars, fupporting projections on.a bridge,
that have been formed merely for the purpofe of ad-
mitting of this ornament, have been alfo adopted in the
capital of this kingdom, though the real ftability, and
much more, the apparent frmne/s and fimplicity of look
fo generally pleafing in buildings of this kind, would
have been confiderably augmented by their abfence..,

Thefe remarks are not intended to find fault with
the file of Grecian archite€ture as an object of tafte, but

\ : ; ‘
200 GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Oct. 19,

merely to fhow that it is probable our partiality for this
art, and the habits of mind we have long been aceuf-
tomed to indulge, have introduced fa/bions in this re-
fpect that are perhaps as little compatible with real
beauty or propriety as the parterres, and walls, and
clipped hedges, fo much admired by our anceftors,
was confiftent with true tafte in gardening; or the
{quare tails and formal plaits of our coats at prefent,
are compatible with that elegance which ought per-
haps to characterife the drefs of a man of cultivated
tafte.
(To be continued.) >

For the Bee.

Eulogy of Thomfon the Poet, delivered by the Earl of Buchan

y on Ednam Hill, when he crowned the jirft Edition of
the Seafons with a Wreath of Bays, on the 22d of
September 1791.

GENTLEMEN,

iz has been the cuftom of that great and refpectable
nation, the French, to pronounce, at the meetings of
men of genius, lcarning, and tafte, the praifes of the
illuftrious dead; and this cuftom has been adopted by
other countries, as emerging from barbarity, they be-
came gradually fenfible of the great fuperiority of men
eminent in fcience, and endowed with learning and
tafte, over the ignorant and illiterate, however high in
power, or dignified by titles. :

They faw and deplored the rude inftitutions of their
favage anceftors—inftitutions which covered men with *
honours, according to the whim or prejudice of illite-
“rate princes, and left the real benefactors: and orna-
ments of focicty to languith in obfcurity. Fortunately,
born as we have bgcn, in the age of a Frederick the

17gt. EULOGY OF THOMSON. 261

Great, and of a Wafhington, all men poffeffed of any
feeling or tafte have rejoiced, and do now rejoice, to
behold the dignity of human nature beginning to ap-
pear amidft the ruins of fuperftition and tyranny, and
the immortal Pruffian ftanding like a herald in the pro-
ceflion of ages to mark the beginning of that order of
men who are to banith from the earth the delu-
fions of prieftcraft, and the monitrous prerogatives of
defpotic authority.

I think myfelf happy to have this day the honour of
endeavouring to do honour to the memory of Thomfon,
which has been prophanely touched by the rude hand
of Samuel Johnfon, whofe fame and reputation indi-
cates the decline of tafte in a country, that, after hav-~
ing produced an Alfred, a Wallace, a Bacon, a Napier,
a Newton, a Buchanan, a Milton, a Hampden, a Flet-
cher, and a Thomfon, can fubmit to be bullied by an
overbearing pedant.

Scotland, gentlemen, though now full of men who
are above fervile compliance with the power of the day,
was, in the days of Thomfen a nation of proud and
poor nobles, and difpirited vaffals. Except Belhaven
and Fletcher, whom he hardly faw, and Argyle, Stair,
Marchmont, and other free {pirits, whom delicacy for- —
bids me to mention, there were few in the kingdom
who could encourage the poet to rife above the medi-
ocrity of a fettered ftudent of divinity, or to infpire his
mind with that ‘noble fentiment of independence by
which his life and his writings are characterifed and
diftinguifhed. In the family of Jervifwood, to which
he was introduced by the kindred of his mother, he re-
ceived the earlieft attentions; and fome verfes of his,
addreffed to one of that family, for the ufe of fome
books, are, I believe, ftill preferved as an early fpeci-
men of his genius.

*That the lady indifcreetly alluded to im the life of
Thomfon, fould have encouraged him to try his for-
You..V. T ; Ce’

\

202 EULOGY OF THOMSON. Ot. tp, |

tune in London is highly probable ; but that fhe fhould
have deferted him afterwards agrees not with the na-
ture of {fpontaneous patronage ; for nothing is more na-
tural to patrons than the defire of feeing due attention
paid to their recommendations, and following out the
objects of their protection to the attainment of honour
that fhall reflect upon themifelves.

The trifling ftory about his lofing his bundle on his

way from Wapping to Mallet’s houfe in London, and
the want of his fhoes, is in the peculiar ftile of malevo-
lence which characterizes the works of Johnfon as a
biographer.
_ The only occafion I had the mifchance to meet John-
fon was at old Strahan’s, the tranflator of the fix firft
books of the ASneid, in Suffolk-ftreet, where I found
_ him and Mallet preparing thefe books for publication ;
and there Iremember to have heard them repeating
this {tory with glee, after having cut down Dryden,
Gavin Douglas, ‘Trapp, and the other predeceflors of
poor Strahan, in the tranflation of the A‘neid.

We are much indebted to Aaron Hill for his kind- ,
nefs to ‘Thomfon, and his handfome lines in compli-
ment to Scotland, now in every mouth; No more
poetry and prophecy, but matter of fact !— How differ-
entan Aaron Hill anda Jofeph Pennant froma Samuel
Johnfon !

Why, fays Johnfon, are the dedications to Winter
and the other Seafons, contrary to cuftom, left out in
‘Thomfon’s colleéted works? I will tell you, fhade of
Johnfon, Becaufe little men difappear when great men
take their proper flation.

Lord Chatham, Lord Temple, Lord Lyttleton, Sir
Andrew Mitchell, Dr Armftrong, Mr Gray of Rich-
mond Hill, and Mr Murdoch, I have often had the
pleafure to hear on the fubjeét of Thomfon. All of
them agreed in the teftimony of his being a gentleman,
as well as a poet, far above the degree of moft of our
modern poets.

1791. EULOGY OF THOMSON. 203 *

Of Johnfon’s criticifm on the poem of Thorfon en-
titled Liberty, I thall fay nothing: but Iam forry to
be obliged to own that Britain, efpecially Scotland,
knows but too little of the Liberty that Thomfon cele-
brates !

Of the elegance of Thomfon’s manners and tafte, I
fhall give you a fpecimen in a letter of his to Lord
Lyttleton, and of his heart in two to Mr-Rofs, and
with thefe I will truft the effe€t of my encomium to
your own reflections.

Thomfon to Mr Lyttleton.

6 Dear Sir, - “ London, Fuly 14, 1743.

«¢ Thad the pleafure of your’s fome polts ago, and
have delayed anfwering it hitherto, that I might be able
to determine when I could have the happinefs of wait-
ing upon you.

. Hagley is the place in England I moft defire to
fee ; I imagine it to be greatly delightful in itfelf, and
I know it to be fo to the higheft degree by the compa-
' ny it is animated with. Some reafons prevent my
waiting upon you immediately ; but if you will be fo
good as to let me know how long you defign to ftay in
the country, nothing fhall hinder me from pafling three
weeks or a month with you before you leave it.

s¢ As this will fall in autumn I {hall like it the bet-
ter, for I think that feafon of the year the moft pleafing,
and the moft poetical ; the fpirits are not then diflipated
with the gaiety of fpring, and the glaring light of fum-
mer, but compofed into a ferious and tempered joy.

«The year is perfect. In the mean time I will goon
with correcting the Seafons, and hope to carry down
more than one of them with me.

«The Mufes, whom you obligingly fay I fhall bring
along with me, I fhall find with you ;—the Mufes of
the great fimple country, riot the little fine-lady Mufes
of Richmond Hill. I have lived fo long in the-noife,

Cc 2

204 EULOGY OF THOMSON. O&. 19,

or at Jeaft the diftant din of the town, that I begin:to
forget what retirement is; with you I fhall enjoy it in
its higheft elegance, and pureft fimplicity.

«¢ The mind will not only be foothed into peace, but
enlivened into harmony. My compliments attend all at
Hagley, and particularly her * who gives it charms to
you it never had before.

‘© Believe me to be ever, with the greateft refpeQ,
moft affectionately your’s,

James Thomfon,”

Thamfon to Mr Rofs. hs

6¢ Dear Rofs, London, Nov, 6, 1736,
s© T own I have a good deal of affurance, after afking
one favour of you, never to anfwer your letter till I afk
another. But not to mince the matter more to a friend,
and all apologies apart, hearken to my requeft. My
fifters have been advifed by their friends to fet up at
Edinburgh a little milliner’s fhop, and if you can con-
veniently advance to them twelve pounds on my ac~

count, it will be a particular favour.

« That will fet them a-going, and I defign from
time to time to fend them goods from hence ; my whole
account I will pay you when you come up here, not in
poetical paper credit, but in the folid money of this
dirty world. I will not draw upon you in cafe you be
not prepared to defend yourfelf; but if your purfe be
valiant pleafe to enquire for Jean or Elizabeth Thom-
fon, at the Rev, Mr Gufthart’s+ and if this letter be
not fufficient teftimony of the debt, I will fend you
whatever you fhall defire. It is late, and I would not
Jofe this poft. Like a laconic man of bufinefs, there-

fore, I muft here ftop fhort ; though I have-feyeral

* Lucy Fortefcue, Lord Lyttleton’s fir wife.

+ One of the minifters of édinbureh, father of Dr Gufthart of Bath:
by that worthy clergyman I was baptized on the 8th of June, O.S. 17
and he was always fo kind to me that I wifh I could perpetuate the me-
mory of his yiztues.

1791. EPLOGY OF THOMSON. 205

things to impart to you, and through your canal, to the
deareft, trueit, heartieft youth that treads on Scottifh
ground. is

«Phe next letter I write you fhall be wafhed clean
from bufinefs in the Caftalian- Fountain.

«‘ J. am whipping and {purring to finifh a tragedy for

ou this winter, but am ftill at fome diftance from the

gaol, which makes me fear being diftanced. Remember
me to all friends, and above them all, heartily, heartily
to Mr Forbes; though my affection to him is not fan-
ned by letters, yet it is as high as when I was his bro-
ther in the Virti, and played at chefs with him in a
poft-chaife.

To Mr Gearge Ros, Iam, dear Rofs,
at the Hon. Duncan root fincerely
Forbes his houfe in and affectionately your's,

Edinburgh. Fames Tohmfon.”

Thomfan to Mr Rofs.

« Dear Sir, Londen, Fanuary 125 1737-

« Having been entirely in the country of Jate, finifh-
ing my play, I did not receive your’s till fome days ago.
It was kind in you not to draw rafhly upon me, which
at prefent had put me into danger ; but very. foon, that
is to fay, about two months hence, I thall have a golden
buckler, and you may draw boldly. My play is te-
ceived in Drury-lane playhoufe, and will be put into
my Lord Chamberlain’s, or his deputy’s hands, to-
morrow. May we hope to fee you this winter, and to
have the affiftance of your hands, in cafe it is acted ?
‘What will become of you if you don’t come up ? lam
afraid the Creepy and you will be acquainted.

« Forbes, I hope,’ is chearful and in good health.—
Shall we never fee him? or fhall I go to him before he °
comes to as? I long.to fee him, in order ta play out
that game of chefs which we left unfinifhed. Remem-
ber me kindly to him, with all the zealous truth of old

206 EULOGY OF THOMSON. | Oct. 19,

friendfhip. Pettie * came here two or three days ago ;
I have not yet feen the round man of God, to be. He
is to be parfonified a few days hence. How a gown
and. coflack will become him, and with what a holy
leer he will edify the devout females !

«© There is no doubt of his having a call, for he is
immediately to enter upon a tolerable living. God
grant him more, and as fat as himfelf.

“ Tt rejoices me to fee one worthy, honeft, excel-
lent man raifed, at leaft to an independency. Pray
make my compliments to my Lord Prefident + and all
friends. I fhall be glad to hear more at large from
you. Juft now I am with the Alderman, who wifhes
you all happinefs, and defires his fervice to Joe. Be-
lieve me to be ever

« Moft affeCtionately your’s,
James Thomfon.”

In thefe letters you fee exhibited the gentleman, the
man of elegant tafte, the kind relation, and the affec-
tionate friend.

In his poems, thofe who are happy enough to be
able to talte and relifh that divine art which raifes the
man of clay from the dirty foil on which he vegetates,
to the heaven of fentiment, where he can roam at plea-
fure in the regions of fancy, will delight in feeing the
- beautiful pictures of nature prefented to their eyes as
{fpectators, and not readers: and after thefe delightful
impreflions are over they will find themfelves happier
and better than they were before. ;

They will behold none of the enervating beauties of
the Sacentala of the Hindoos, or of the dry meditations
of our modern poetafters, but they will every where find
what comes home to the heart, and to the enlightened
underftanding of the admirers of Nature, and the lovers
of Virtue’ I have in my hands a copy of the Seafons,

* The Rey. Patrick Murdoch, the oily man, charaéterifed eon amore,
in the Caftle of Indolence.
+ Duncan Forbes.

1791. THE PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE DELUGE. 207

which my father received from the author, and on it,
fince I have not the buft of the poet to inveit, I lay
this garland of bays.

“ Hail, Nature’s poet! whom fhe taught alone
To fing her works in numbers like her own ! '
Sweet as the Thruth that warbles in the dale,

And foft as Philomela’s tender tale ;

She lent her pencil, too of wond’rous power,

To. catch the Rainbow, and to paint the Flower
Of many mingling hues. Then {miling faid,

(But firft with laure! crowned her favourites head)
‘Thefe beauteous Children tho’ fo fair they thine,
Fade in my Seafons. Let them live in, Thine /

And live they fhall, the charm of ev’ry eye,

Till Nature fickens, and the Seafons die.”

On the probable Caufes of the Deluge.
Lo the Editor of the Bee,

Commmnicated by Cast. Firelock.

So perfect are the laws by which this wonderful fyf-
tem is regulated, and fo effectual that felf-phyfic which
the Almighty has inftituted through ail his works, that
if any fortuitous accident happens in the fyftem, there
requires no immediate interpofition to prevent or cure
the mifchief, each body carrying within itfelf the prin-
ciples of prefervation and cure; an argument of wif-
dom and forefight worthy the Deity.

The planet Jupiter was attracted out of his orbit by
the enormous comet which appeared in the year 1680.
The comet came acrofs the plane of his track, had
a temporary influence upon him; and it is obfervable
he has not travelled by the fame fixed ftars fince that
period which he did before it. When the influence of
the comet had ceafed, and he was again left to that of
the fun, as before, no doubt but his ufual motion
was momentarily retarded, and the fhape of his
orbit altered.—Now if Jupitcr confifts of land and

208 THE PROBABLE CAUSES. OF THE DELUCE. O&. 19,

water, (and by the fpots.feen on his fate it is more
than probable) it is poflible he might experience a re-
volution fomething fimilar to our flood: for that our
flood was cccafioned by the near approach af. #tomet,
is a moft natural fuppofition, and in no wife militates
again{t the fcriptural dotrine of that event; as it was
as eafy and as confiftent for the Almighty to render
_ juftice by a fecondary caufe, as by an immediate in-
terpofition. Nor is his attribute of mercy arraigned
by the promifcuous deftruction the deluge uccafioned ;
for it is evident, by realigning from his works, that be
governs the univerfe by general not by partial
«* laws.”

The veftiges of the deluge are fo remarkable, both
on the furface and within the bowels of the earth,
that, if examined without prejudice, they prove, I
think beyond a doubt, that awful revolution to have
been the work of a.comet. Not that the moifture of
its tail drowned the world, as was unphilofophically
tuggefted by Whifton; but, if the attraction of the
moon be capable of raifing the water of the fea
above its common level, what effects might: not be
fuppofed from the nearer approach of a body perhaps
many thoufand times as large as the moon? If a tide,
by {uch an attraction, was "raifed three or four miles
above the level of the fea, the earth, by turning on its
axis, would have that protuberance dragged over the
Jand, and its furface would be ploughed up into thofe
diequalitics we call mountains ; for that mountains
are not of eternal duration, is evident from: their
growing lefs even in the memory of man: for every
thing ftrives ata level. Rains falling on mountains
wath down their afperities; this matter bemuds the
rivers, and banks our fea; rocks themfelves yield up
their fantaftic figures to the effects of air, water, and
heat; and land has been growing into the water ever
fince the deluge. But why fhould all aflemblages’ of
mountains be arranged like the little ridges of fand om.

1991. THE PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE DELUGE. 269

the fea-fhore? Doubtlefs by having been produced
by a fuperior tide, and left to dry by an unreturning
fea. Almoft all great ranges of mountains run_ north
. and fouth: the Cordilleras of the Andes; the Moun-
tains’ of the Moon in Affica; the —Dofranes, Cau-
cafus, Appenine, Allegany, &c. &c. the Alps and Py-
renees excepted. oe hry
As comets vifit our fyftem in all diretions, why ~
might not that in queftion have its motion from north
tofouth, and, dragging the fea after it, determme the
mountains to thofe points of the compafs? From
whence come the fhells and fith}bones we meet with
on the top of the higheit mountains ?) We have not dif-
covered any power in nature difpofed to work fuch
quantities of them through the ‘bowels.of -the earth;
and, fuperftition has not yet been fo mad.as ‘to carry
them thither: they are not’a fortuitous aflemblage of
atoms afluming fuch forms, not /ujus nature, but
bona fide, dhells and fifh bones, fuch as we meet with
on the fea-fhore. We find them alfo deep buried in the
bowels of the eartlH, far from the fea. We find them
in rocks, and often converted into ftone; nay, why
may not the fat of fith,-joined with vegetable fub-
{tances, form the bitumen of coal? We have experi-
ments that warrant fuch a fuggeftion. Now, if ever the
fea was dragged over the furface of the earth by the at-
traction of a comet, thefe effets muft naturally follow.
In digging into the bowels of the earth, we have ftill
{tronger evidence that the flood was occafioned by the
near approach of a comet. It is well aicertained that
the united attraction of every atom of the earth forms
that earth into a denfe ball, and not any particular at-
traction to its centre. All matter being therefore af-
fected by this power, in proportion to its denfity, onc
might conclude that the heayieft bodies would lie deep~
eft, and the lighte{t near the furface; but this is by
no means the cafe: coal is lighter than ftone; various
minerals lie upon Jight earths, &c. evidently proving

VoL. V. + Dd

816 THE PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE DrLUEE. OG. 19,

that the geieral order‘of nature has at fome time been
difturbed, and the manner’in which matter obeys the
laws of gravity difarrangeds) Hence the philofophic
mifier fipds ftrata of various denfity in digging down-
wards; andin purfuing his vein of ore, finds that ftra~
ta are broken and divideds nay,/if he lofes the vein, he
, can eafily tell where to find it again, by the manner in
which it broke-off. ‘In this he’ is never miftaken: he
fees it as it were through many fathoms of earth! evi-
dently fuggefting that fome revolution in the earth has
broken up its naturally arranged{trata, | and introduced
“* this regulat confufion.”

The warious trata of the earth feldom lie on one
another horizontally s they generally dip, and, near the
dhore, commonly incline towards the fea. On the fouth
céaft of England the rocks incline foutherly ; on the
oppofite coaft of France, they incline fo the north.
Isit not probable that at the deluge the horizontal {trae
tum was broken between thefe countries, and the ends
‘falling loweft at the breach, formed the channel into.
which'the fea flowed when it loft the influence of the
comet, dnd‘dgain obeyed the power of gravity ? Coun-
‘tries feparated by narrow channels, univerfally have
their fhores inclining towards the fea, fhewing that the
General Geography was at that time altered.

It is true, we have an old doétrine revived and fup-
ported by refpectable authority, that mountains were
formed orifinally by thofe eruptions we call volcanos.
The votaries of this theory pronounce the hollows
and cavities on the tops and fides of mountains, cra-
ters, or the cups of extinguithed voleawos; and if the
ftone of the mountain be of a blueifh colour, then it is
declared lava, and the proof of a volcano having ex-
ifted there becomes incontrovertible | Hiftory, how-
ever, affords us vety few inftances of mountains fo
formed. ‘This doétrine has received very juft autho
tity from the late fcientific circumnavigators. ‘The
rocks which furround the iflands of the Pacific Ocean

I7QI. THE PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE DELUGE. 2Ff

generally break off perpendicularly, about a mile out at
fea, which makes their approach very difficult and
dangerous ; and as the ftratum immediately under the
loam of the furface has an afhy or lava-like appearance,
the voyagers very naturally concluded that the immenfe
number of fmall iflands which ftud that extenfive ocean,
were the product of fubaqueous eruptions. If I might
be allowed to hazard an opinion again{t fuch refpectable
authority, I fhould rather apprehend that the Pacific
Ocean had been once a continent, and-that.at the :de-
luge, when the earth’s furface was difarranged. and
broken yy) by the violent motion of the waters, «the
general body of it) funk beneath the level, or ‘was
wafhed away to other parts, leaving only the mere: ele-
vated and folid part remaining. For volcanos throw up
matter piecemeal : iflands therefore formed by them,

' would have a floping or gradual finking fhore y where

as the iflands of the great South Sea are furrounded by
perpendicular rocks that fink in that direction to’an al-
moit unfathomable depth in the fea. Befides how can
we account for that fimilarity of manners, cuftoms,
colour, and even language, among the inhabitants of
iflands fo diftant that no mode of navigation they prac-
tife would ever make them acquainted, or have any-
communication with one another? If thefe iflands
were thrown up from the bottom of the fea, . their sin-
habitants would not be thrown: up along with them,
and all with the fame cuftoms and language. Now
if this immenfe part of the globe was a continent before

‘the deluge, the inhabitants might be alike; and if the

elevated parts were above the waters (a circumftance

more than probable) inhabitants might be faved among

them with every circumftance of :fimilarity we now

find among them; for that.revolution is:not of fo

remote date, but remains of antidelaie- an = manners

might exift at this time.’

frccepe of thefe exerpts from yous sislleaiiichs,
(Cart. FrreLocx.
Dd2

212 ON THE BRITISH FISHERIES. * O&t. 19,

dlccgunt of the prefent State of the infant Settlement at
2 Tobermory, in the Ifle of Mull.

To the Editor of the Bee.
Sir,

if Have obferved with concern, that for fome years
pait you have not appeared in any public manner as a
tavourer of the Britith fitheries. his is fo contrary
to what I expected, when I faw you on tkefe:coatts
in the year 1784, that 1 could not belp remarking it
with fome kind of aftonithment.—Your a¢tivity on
that occafion, and your zeal in the caufe, excited not
my.attention alone, but that of many others, who, like
me, were witnefles to your exertions—-and we hoped
to derive great benefits from your labours —Thefe
expectations were not diminifhed when we perufed-
your account of the prefent ftate af the Hebrides, and
weitern parts of Scotland; which, unfortunately for
us, we find is but too juft a reprefentation of the ftate
of things among us, particularly with refpect to the
falt laws—which is a grievance of the moft oppreflive
fort, that nobody who has {peculated upon this fubject,
but yourfelf, feems to have properly regarded.—But
even you, Sir, are not, I am perfuaded, fully ap-
prifed of all the hardfhips thefe cruel laws are productive
of, to the poor people of this country.—For God’s fake,
then, refume your pen, and exert your beft influence
to get thefe deftructive laws repealed—for nothing lefs
_ than a total abolition of the falt duties can ever poukle
the people of this coaft to carry on the bufinefs of the
fitheries with advantage. Were that once done, the
exertions of the patriotic fociety for encouraging the
Britihh iifheries might do much to mitigate the lot of
the unhappy perfons on thefe coafts, who otherwife
muft emigrate in thoufands. I obferve, by fome

1791. ON THE BRITISH FISHERIES. ° 213

hits in one of your late Bees, that this fubject has
not eluded your notice entirely—But, believe me,
what has already taken place is only a fmall prelude
to much more extenfive emigration that muft foon en-
fue, unlefg they be guarded’ againft by fome general
plan, that fhall put it in the power of the people to
earn a fubfiftence for themfelves, by the labour of their
hands—which is not, in too many cafes, within their °
reach at prefent.

I had occafion to call in at this place on my way
northward at prefent. It is much altered fince the
year 1784, when you was here.—lI with I could make
a good drawing of it—I would gladly fend it to you ;
as the fcenery, if well executed, is not alittle pi¢tu-
refque. But as I am not pofiefled of the talent of
drawing, I muft content mytelf with a feeble defcrip-
tion of the buildings erected here.

The moft ftriking part of the new work here is the
guay—a {trong breaft-work of ftone, that extends from
one fide of the harbour to the other, covered on the
top with free ftone. This ‘is a neat folid ftru€ture,
and has avery pretty effect when viewed from the
' found, or the entry into the harbour. ;

Of the buildings erected by the fociety, the moft
confiderable are—a large commodious ftorehoufe, one
end of the lower flat of which is rented by the board
of cuftoms as a king’s warehoufe; and the other end
of the lower flat is appropriated for private ware-
houfes :—A cuftomhoufe, and houfe for the colle@or—
another houfe of equal fize, divided between the
comptroller and furveyor—and a large and elegant
building for an inn:—A blackfmith’s thop, and a boat-
builder’s fhade. ‘The only houfes below the bank,
befides, are one large houfe built by the Mr. Stephen-
fons of Oban, who are, I find, of your acquaintance ;
in which they carry on the bufinefs of {hopkeepers
and merchants, and in which they have laid up large
ftore of materials for the fitheries\—Another large

214 ON THE BRITISH FISHERIES. Oct: 195

howfe is’ building, and now well advanced, by a Mr.
M‘Phail, who is to fet up in the mercantile line—and
a third large one by a Mr, M¢Lauchlan, who propofes
to let it to tenants. One, Urquhart,,a boat-builder
who came from Leith, has built a large houfe for him- _
felf; and, as he is reckoned a good workman, I am
perfuaded he ‘will find employment enough. The
blackfmith is alfo as. bufy as can be,

On the top of the bank, in Argyll terrace, only one
houfe is yet finithed, which is inhabited by a tailor,
It is very neat, and is covered with a flate roof. An-
other, equally large, is building by a boatman,

On. Breadalbane-ftreet, I think there are fourteen
houfes built.. They are neat and regular, and make
2 very good appearance. ‘They are inhabited by thoe-
makers, joiners, and fifhermen, &c. They expect to get
a pott-otlice eftablifhed here in a few weeks, which
will be a great advantage to the place.

Nothing can be faid of the trade of this place. _ The
euftomhoufe has as yet had but very little bufinefs;
but that will gradually increafe, if the coyntry be-per-
mitted to, thrive, and the fifheries to be carried on with
advantage.

' Among the many wants that a beginning eftablith-
ment, muft feel, one of the moft prefling is the want
of afchool heres I underftand the Rev. Mr. Kemp
was here fome months ago, who faid' that the Society
for propagating Chriftian Knowledge would contribute
one-half the falary of a {choolmafter, if the Society
of Britith Fifheries would advance the other; fo that
hope this inconvenience will foon be! remedied.

Since Ihave been here, the ftir that is going on
zbout the buildings, &c. has tended in fome meafure to
divert the. melancholy I felt im beholding the defolate
flate of fome other parts of this country. But {till
thefe glomy ideas recur when I take time toy reffech;
fo that I fhall end as I began, with earneftly requeft-
ing that you will try to convince thofe who are not

ijot.-- ‘ON THE BRITISH FISHERIES. 215

perfonally acquainted with the real {tate of this country,
of the neceffity of a total repeal of the falt laws, which
alone can ever afford the people here that relief their
circumftances require.

I find my zeal has exceeded my difcretion on this
occafion; but I truft my motive for it will plead with
you as am excufe for the length of this letter.

Iam, with much efteem, and fincere good withes
for the fuccefs of your literary labours.

Sir, your moft obedient fervant,

Tobermory, A HIGHLAND OBSERVER,

Auguft 1791-

For patticular teafors, I omit the precife date of
this letter. Pray can you teil me what became of the
report made’ by captain Huddard, who vifited theie
coafts two or three years ago. I had not~the good
fortune to fall in with him':—but as he was a fenfible
man, and muift have made obfetvations that are of
public confequence to be known, I have often won-
dered what could be the reafon it has not been pub-
lifhed.

I expeét to vifit this place next year, and if fo, will
do myfelf the pleafure of giving you a fhort account
of the changes I {hall there obferve upon it.

N. B. The Editor cannot anfwer ‘this queftion, as
he has never been able to learn whether that gentle-
man gave'any report to the fociety, or the nature of his
remarks. From the character he bears for talents and
accutacy it is very natural to think his obfervations
would be of fuch importance as to require that they
fhould be publithed. Any information refpeCting Te-
hermory or Ulapool, will be very acceptable.

s

B16 & QUERY: Od. 190 |

ae rt

A Query.
Lo the Editor of the Bee.
Sir;

Massy of your readers muft have obferved that the
common red-earth worm delights to pull ftraws, half
withered grafs, o¢ decaying leaves of any kind, into theit
holes. Thave never been‘ able to conceive what ufe
thefe animals make of thefe materials, and will be glad
if you, Sir, or any of your readers can folve this difh-

culty. I never, I think, obferved them try to pull any
leaf while in full health and in vigorous growth into
their holes, not even fo much as a blade of grafs while

growing vigorouily. From this circumftance I fhould
rather be inclined to think they did not feek after’
thele for food;—or do they only feed upon plants
when in a certain degree of putrefaction ?

I am, Sir,
A YOUNG OBSERVER.

Farther Intelligence refpedling the Sparrow and Martini

To the Leditor of the Bee,
SIR,

AGREEABLE to my promife I fend you all the sett
eulars T have been able to gather concerning the hen
{p pony, and cock {wallow ‘that cohabited together,
and am forry it muft prove fo little fatisfactory.°

‘Yhis Gingular pair rebuilt their neft after it had been
deftroyed, and lived together with great cordiality for
feveral weeks ; but no more -eggs were laid. At length
they lefe their neit, and probably their matrimonial
union was diffolved, as is commen with all the birds
that pair, the feafon of incubation being over.

lam, &c.
’ MEDICUS,

T7OX ; POETRY. 219

[Competition Piece. ]

To the Editor of the Bee.

SIR,

Mi a period when I had much more leifure than experience, i
ventured to attempt fomething in verfe, which was not de-
Signed to exceed two or three hundred lines ; the fubje& I chofe
was a neighbouring country villa, remarkable for its natural
beauties rather than the embellifhments of art. It is fituated
on the border of a very extenfive lake, beautified with nume-
rous little wood-grown iflands, and is furrounded with an in-
finity of woods and groves. After defcribing (as well as I
could) the villa and fome of its particular beauties, I ventur-
ed into a defcription of the lake and its iflands, where I could
not but indulge myfelf in the following refiections. Whether
they have any thing of nature in then or no, is left to your

determination, HIBERNICUS.

(CHILDHOOD.

‘Ye happy ifles! full many a chearful day,

Beneath your fhades I fpent in thoughtlefs play,

Where (for a barge conveyed us fafely oer)

Oft have I wander’d from the reedy fhore,

With fellow children chas’d the humming bee,

That led us heedlefs on from tree to tree;

Or pryed induftrious where the berries lay,

Conceal’d beneath fome downward-bending fpray.
, How glad! how fwift ! we ran, when joyous cries

Convok’d the wand’rers to the juicy prize ;

Oft from her Jeafy den the tim’rous hare

Would ftart affrighted,—ftop,.and turning ftare;

Still we purfued her with our wand’ring fight,

And mark’d her feeming Jamenefs in the flight.

But fports like thefe can now delight no more,

“Nor former plays fo pleafing once before ;

Far other fcenes our ripen’d years employ,

And care and labour damp our rifing joy ;

‘No more we faunter o’er the neighb’ring plain,

A loud, a noify, gay, unthoughtful train.

Some, once the partners of our youthful play,

Nipt in the bloom, have clos’d their little day ;

Vol. V. Ee #«

318

N. B. Should the Editor think a defeription of the iflands
prefixed, or a few of the following. verfes fubjoined, would ren:
der the thing more complete, it might eafily be done.

Thefe verfes will be very acceptable. Edit.

POETRY> O&. 19.

No more they laugh, no more they mirthful run,
Their joys, their fports, and all their woes are done;
Some fate adverfe'to wilds and deferts fends, \
Far from their country and their little friends,
Where pathlefs woods obfcuring half the day,
Perplex the Indian in his leaf-{trewn way,
Beneath whofe thades-fell tygers lurking lye,
To feize the prey that wanders heedlefs by.
_ I, only I, of all the harmlefs train,
Amid my native, well known hills remain 5 *
Yet till I love to fit beneath the fhade,
©r crofs the lawns where once we thoughtlefs ftray’d 5
When milder evening with enfeebl’d ray. ek
Remits the buftling labours of the day,
And other fwains in noify bands refort,
To meet th’ affociates of their cuftom’d fport ;
Yet ftill I love to take a thoughtful round,
Along th’ untrodden, {till remember’d ground,
Where high-grown trees oe’rhang with folemn yea
The wild luxuriance of the: graffy, glade’; ;
And where the tuneful fongfters flutt’ring fly
Back through the branches as I wander by,
And. warbling redbreaft quits his evening fong,
To gaze attentive as I mufe along ;
Or as I onward come, he flits away,
Still lightly hopping on from fpray to fpray,
Till at more near approach, he fpreads his wings,
Skims through the branches, lights again, and fings.

The Lady’s Choice of a Hufband.

Suov’p e’er'it come to pafs, that I
A wedded life anr doom’d to try,
Let me in fimple verfe relate
My chief effentials in a mate-
Firft then, as my peculiar aim,
(Far beyond honour, wealth, or fame)

POETRY, ~ 219

A mind Gliese heavenly truth prefides,
Direéts his faith, his praétice guides,
Good underftanding, judgment found ;
Tho? not for dazzling wit renown’d,
A generous, candid, honeft heart !
Above the little tricks of art :
Good nattire enough not to efpy
My failings with an angry eye ;
For gentle treatment ftill muft bind,
In willing chains, a gentle mind !
His outward form, or drefs, or air,
T deem leaft worthy of my care,
For mental beauty thefe excells,
As nuts furpafs the empty shells.
Few will prefume my choice to blame,
Tho’ fome perhaps may thus exclaim ;
“¢ But where’s the writer? we would view
“ Her merits and attra@ions too :”
Alas ! in fober truth they’re few !
Beauty, which captivates the moft,
She has not in the leaft to boaft ;
Nor lively wit’s enchanting grace,
That prompts applaufe in every face ;
Nor yet the fafcinating glare
Of wealth, which multitudes enfnare,
Unikill’d in all the winning arts,
Oft praétis’d in fubduing hearts :
One thing the boafts, aeeaning thefe)
An unaffected with to pleafe !
If this is merit, this alone,
She can with fafety call her own.
But fhou’d I ne’er in wedded life
Suftain the charader of wife ;
~May I with chearful temper ftill
Submit to heaven’s appointed will !
(Knowing, ‘* whatever is, is right,”
Howe’er obfcur’d to mortal fight).
And when the meffenger of death
Bids me refign this mortal breath,
Aided by faiti’s triumphant eye,
Look to the realms beyond the fky,—-
‘Thofe realms ! where peace and pleafure reign,
Beyond the reach of fin and pain. LAVINTAs -

Nam
Ohh

:

/

ce os A ii ~f M
426 INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS. O&. rg.

Intelligence refpecting Arts.
COTTON MANUFACTURE+

Tue cotton manufadure in this part of the country is extend-
ing more and more. Several people from Germany and Holland
have been lately here, giving commiffions fer goods of that }
fort to a very confiderable amount, fo that the bufinefsis now }
fo brifkly carried on, that the demand for cotton yarn from
England can fearcely be fupplied. Although there are now
many cotton {pinning machines in Scotland upon a pretty
large {cale, yet it has been found by an accurate inveftigation
lately made, that Scotland, in the courfe of one year paft, has
paid no lefs than three hundred thoufand pounds for cotton yarn
brought to it from England. In confequence of this fae be-
ing made. evident, it has been refolved on to ereét a cotton fpin-

ning machine, upon a very large fcale, in the neighbourhood
‘of Paifley : the building, it is faid, is to be three hundred feet in

Jength, and other dimenfions in proportion. Might not thofe
who are emigrating from the Highlands to America, find a
fettlement in the neighbourhood of fuch manufaétories ?
Would it not be worth the while of the undertakers to invite
thefe people to come thither to fettle?

So far has the cotton. manufadures in this country:got the
better of thofe of Bengal, that in fpite of the duties that were
impofed on them, with no other intention, as many perfons be-
lieve, than to favour the competition of the Eaft India Com-
peny with our own manufactures, that there is reafon to hope,
fromthe following facts, the conteft may be now reckoned
fully decided. A gentleman, as I have been credibly informed,
who lately returned from Bengal, brought over with him cotton
goods to the value of one thoufand pounds, prime coft in Ben-
gal: thefe were latély fold at the Eaft India Company’s pu-
blic fales, at a lols of three handred pounds below the price they
really coft, reckoning nothing for freight or outlay of money.

We want nothing now to give us a decided fuperiority in
all the branches of this bufinef$, but abundance of the finefi
cotton wool, which is now fearce in Britain, and it is probable:
that article will not be long wanting. Africa is peculiarly fa-
vourable far the growth of the cotton plant.— The Sierra Leone

yor - INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS. 22¥

Company i is now eftablithed. By the care of Dr Anderfon of
| Madras, fome feeds of the fineft cotton India produces were
fent to the Ifland of Saint Helena two years ago. There~can
be little doubt but they have there profpered, and that the
plants before now have perfected their feeds. It is but a ftep
from thence to Sierra Leone: How eafily then may the feeds
oe tranfported thither! and this done, the bufinefs is complet-
ed.
MACHINE FOR SPINNING FLAX.

‘Fue machine for fpinning linen yarn near Leven in Fifethire,
is now at work, and is found to perform’ extremely well, tho*
the owners have not yet attempted to ‘make any fine yarn.
They are now about to make trial of fome of the beft Dutch

flax, and have no doubt of fucceeding perfecttly.—Of this ma~

chine, when fully perfected, a more ‘Particular account will be
given in this work.

ABUSES RESPECTING REVENUE OFFICERS.

Ty is with pleafure Iam fo often called upon thus to remark
the advancement of manufa@ures in Scotland; but it is with
ftill greater regret that I find it neceflary fo often to bewail
the pernicious tendency of the revenue laws in checking the
growing profperity of the nation. The money that is paid in
confequence of thefe revenue laws, conftitutes the fmalleft part
of this evil. It is the abufes to which the ¢olleéting of that
money gives rife, the reftraints upon the freedom of the manu-
fadturer, the interruption to his bufinefs, and the vexatious pro-
fecutions, fines, and forfeitures, with which, he is perpetually
threatened, that render thefe laws obnoxious ‘in a free ftate.
The men who are entrufted with the execution of thefe laws
in the under departments, muft in all cafes be men of the low-
eft ftation and illiberal principles. In fuch hands, ifa dif-
eretionary power be lodged, abufes will be felt, unlefs guarded
_again{t with the ftriteft care: and that fuch abufes too much
prevail in Scotland, is a fact that admits of too frequent proofs,
to be denied.

There was a time when the people of this country were
unacquainted with the principles of trade, and were poffeffed
of no manufactures: There was a long period, during which
this part of the nation was fubjeéted to a defpotic governmont,
and when the people were accuftomed to bend wich reverence

4

Sei

322 INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS, . O&. 19.
to the difum of perfons in power, and. to fubmit to their
mandates with the moft paffive obedience; There was a time
when every fervant of the fervant of the Crown, down.
to the very loweft of their order, was deemed a facred
perfon, whofe operations none durft challenge, far lefs controul :
There was a time not very remote, when every reyenue board
thought it their indifpenfible duty to fupport their officers in,
every cafe, whether they had aéted properly or notin the
difcharge of the funétions of their office: There was a time,
when thefe revenue boards thought they were authorifed to
allow the fines that Jucges awarded againft the officers of re-
veriue for tranfgreffions in the difcharge of their duty, to be -
paid out of the public revenue of the Crown, inftead of being:
paid by the individual who had tranfgreffed the law: But'
now it is to be hoped thefe times are paffed, and that as.man-
kind are become more aétive and more enlightened, fuch. fer-,
vile principles will be held in deteftation, and fuch improper
Modes of aéting will be abandoned, as fuiting only the days
of barbarifm and ignorance.
We ‘can hardly fuppofe it poflible that any_ board of
revenue can now be fo little informed, as not to know that
the amount of the revenue paid by any ulti ber of people, muft
in all cafes be proportioned to the degree of profperity which
that people do actuallyenjoy; we cannot fuppofe them to be fo
little acquainted with the duties of théir office, as not to know
that they are bound alike to guard againft frauds that tend to
diminifh the king’s revenue, and frauds that tend unjuftly to
diftrefs the king’s lieges; we cannot fuppofe them to be fo
blind as not to know, that where injuftice fhall be fuffered to
pafs without redrefs by thofe who are put’ into office, ex-
prelly for the purpofe of giving that redrefs, thofe who fuffer
by it in the prefent age will not complain of it as a hardfhip.
They cannot be fo fhort-fighted as not to fee, that if thefe’
complaints become loud and general, they muft and will be at-
tended to elfewhere. It is impolfible for us to conceive that all
thefe,things fhould not’be obvious, and being obvious, that they
should not be guarded againft, by a ftrié and impartial admi-
nitration of juftice, when they are called on for that effeét.
Liberty is the firfk and greateft bleffing that heaven can
confer upon 2 nation; but licentioufnefs, which fo often affumes

379% INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS. © 223

its name, is the greateft curfe. In proportion, therefore ,as the
} one is cherifhed, the other ought to be repreffed. Men advahce
not to licentioufnefs in any ftate, but by complufion. When
they fufler injuttice i in one inftance, and are compelled to feek
rédrefs by the vigour of their own exertions, who can pretend
to fay, that after they have felt their {trength, they will not
try to make an improper ufe of it? Every ‘wile government,
therefore, will be ftudious, by a mild mode of adminiftration; '
to prevent them ftom being’ ever compelled to” try their
ftrength in the time of reform; nor is any mode of condué&
more eafy, or more certainly efficacious, than this is. . Every
wife man will be anxious to fee ‘all appearance of an oppofite
condu& fuddenly repreffed, and I truft there is as much wif-
dom in this part of the country, as to make .this with general
among thofe who have it in their power to carry it into effe@;.
and prevent this bufinefs from being ever more heard of.

5 NAVAL ‘AFFAIRS.

Carrain Joseru Bronze at Leith, feveral of whofe ingenious
inventions have been already mentioned in the Bee, continues
to exercife his talents in the nautical line, which, if duly attend-
ed to, would prove-highly. beneficial to the public.

He is juft now preparing, and has in great forwardnefs, a
new nautical chart’ of the Eaftern coafts of Britain, from the
South Foreland northward, with many improvements, which
his great experience on that coaft, aided by a peculiar talent
for accurate obfervation, has enabled him to make.

He has alfo finifhed a buoy of a new conftruion, on very
ingenious and fimple mechanical principles, which is calculated
to carry a flag- {tai of confiderable height (with a flag upon
it), which in every poffible fituation of the furge, will retain
its perpendicularity ; a difcovery, the utility of which is too
Manifeft to require to be pointed out. In fome future num-
ber of this work, a particular, defeription of this (COREA SANGRS
iJluftrated with a plate, will be given.

He has Jikewife contrived a boat of a new etic on
which plan aveflel might be built of any fize, and at a fmal-
ler expence, than ufua), and fit to undertake any length of
voyage, that would only draw a very few feet of water, (a.
boat the fize of a paflage-boat at Leith, need not draw above
two feet at, moft,) though there is every reafon to believe, it,

> kl
224 | INTELLLIGENCE ‘RESPECTING ARTS- 0¢ as

could go as near the wind, be equally fteady, and fai
than.any other conftruétion of a veflel that has been I itherto
adopted.

He is alfo conftruéting the model for a_ device Pal fixing
firmly and at a {mall expence, a maft upon the Bell rock, fo
well known. between the Firth of Forth and Holy ‘Mand, in
fuch.a manner as to, remain perfeétly firm, and to ring a bell
continually, from whatever quarter the wind fhall blow at the
time.. But.fome particulars of this contrivance he choofes
not to difeover at the prefent.

_He propofes likewife to communicate to the public foon,
through the. channel of the Bee, or otherwife, fome hints for
eafily extinguifhing | fires in veffels, which are alfo the refult
of praétice and experience, aided by accurate obfervation of
particulars.

In fhort, Britain has reafon to be proud of poffeffing a per-
fon of fo great talents, public fpirit, and knowledge. But
will fhe properly avail herfelf. of thefe talents? Time will dif-
cover.

The Periods of the Sciences.

Tue hiftory of human learning has periods which are marked
by the general prevalence of particular ftudies among the Li-
terati of the time. The philofophers of the early period of
Grecian literature attended chiefly to Mythological Morality.
Among the authors of the moft flourifhing periods of Grecian
and Roman literatuye, until the firft Emperors, Poetry, Hiftory,
and Oratory, were the prevailing fubjects of attention. Under
the latter Emperors, and for fome time’ after, the works of
the learned exhibit, for the moft part, the hiftory of Theological
Controyerfies : tothem fucceeded Metaphyficks and Metaphyfical
Theology. When thefe began to decline, the attention of the
learned awakened to Alchemy, MagicJudicial Aftrolopgy, the doc-
tribe of Signatures and Sympathies, the Myftick, Theofophick,
and Roficrucian Theology, and Phyfiognomy.— Then fucceeded
Claffick Philofophy.—This gave way to Modern Poetry and
Natural Philofophy, to which of late have been joined the ftu-'
dies of Rational Theology, Chemiftry, the Philofophy of Hit
tory, the Hiftory of Man, and the Science of Politics.
St Famer’ 's Chronicle. T. C.

SYS PU

2 Sera meg Me Le ery

Pa

Tedd diya. EE;
oR
LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

FOR

WEDNESDAY, Otober 26, 1791.

Account of the Univerfity of Edinburgh.
Witha Plate reprefenting the Eaft Front-of the New. Building.

ee univerfity of Edinburgh was founded by King
James VI. anno 1598: being but poorly endowed,
_ the teaching reoms were erected ina much meaner ftile
_ than thofe of ‘any of the other Scotifh univerfities.—
_ From the death of James VI. till the revolution, the
times were fo troublefome that this infant feminary”
could not make a diftinguifhed’ figure; but towards
the beginning of the prefent century, Mr M‘Laurin |
in philofophy, and Dr Alexander Monro the elder: in
anatomy, laid the foundation of that celebrity it has
fince attairied. In the medical line, efpecially, Dr Monro
having been ably affifted by the co-operation of Dr
Rutherford the eldér, Dr White, and others, it ac-
Vou. V. t Ff

226 NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. O€. 26,
quired an eminent degree of celebrity, which under
the aufpices of the late Dr Cullen, Dr Gregory, ané
others who are itill alive, came to be accounted the firft
medical {chool in Europe.

This univerfity is diftinguifhed from all others in
Britain, by feveral particulars, which deferve to be
pointed out, as having perhaps contributed not a little,
at the fame time to raife its celebrity as a medical -
{chool, and to render its teaching-rooms inadequate
for the purpofe wanted.

ft, The funds. of the univerfity are fmall, and unlefs
it be thofe appropriated to the library, none of them are
under the direGtion of the fenatus academicus. ‘This
has greatly tended to promote peace in the- univerfity,
and to banifh thofe party cabals which have, in fo many
inftances, rendered other learned focieties contemptible.

2d, The /alaries of the profeffors are very low : fome
of thofe of the firft rank in the medical line are un-
der fifty pounds a year; by this means their chief emo-
luments refult from the fees of their ftudents. Thus it
behoves them, to be fo eminent in their profefhon as to
induce ftudents to attend their le&tures; otherwife
they cannot enjoy that refpect in fociety that their fta-
tion requires. Hence it happens that no man who
does not feel himfelf qualified for teaching with ‘ap-
plaufe, can have any inducement to covet a medical
chair in this univerfity; although, to a perfon pro-
perly qualified, the emoluments of office femetimes
may exceed a thoufand pounds a year. -

3d, ‘The fenatus academicus has no power whatever.
over the fludents ew cathedra, nor are there any rules
prefcribed for the method of ftudy, or any other par-
ticular ; every ftudent being at entire liberty’ to live
where or how he pleafes, to attend whatever clafles
he inclines, and to be punctual or remifs: in that
attendance, as he thinks proper. The regulated
fees are three guineas for each clafs. That df agriculture
alone, which is one guinea, is an unfortunate exception,

mieky

me
T7Q1- NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. 227

As moft of the ftudents who attend here are intended
to follow the bufinefs taught, as a means of earning their
future fubfiftence, and have not much money to throw
away; thefe are found much more powerful incite-
ments to ftudy than any other that ever have been de-
vifed... Hence the clafles are much more faithfully at-
tended. than perhaps in any other part of the world,
and of courfe the ftudents advance in knowledge more
rapidly than elfewhere. ‘The only exceptions to per-
fect freedom of choice in this univerfity, are an innova-
tions of modern daté, which was powerfully oppofed
by the late Dr Gregory, viz. a regulation that thofe who
are to take out a medical degree here muft have ftu-
died a certain number of years at this univerfity, and
muft fhow that they have paid for the tickets of a cer-
tain number of the profeffors, before they can be en-
titled to receive a diploma ; and another, requiring, that
ftudents of law fhall fhow that they have attended par-
ticular clafles a certain time, before they can be allowed
to practife.

_ In confequence of thefe regulations, we find no
‘f{quabbles among the profeffors about money-matters,
no cabals in competition for places of cmolument,
no dependents of great men thruft into the chair from
intereft alone, no profeflors incapable of performing
the duties of their office, and few involuntary fees ex
acted on any account. No diftin@tion prevails here be-
tween the ftudents and the people of the town, which
is the fource of fo many fquabbles in moft other uni-
verfities. They all live together in the moft cordial
familiarity. The ftudents, by mixing in fociety a little,
gradually rub off fome part of that learned rut, and
lofe fome of that overbearing felf-fufficiency which
they often contract when living in a ftate of feclufion
from the world; and what is-of much greater confe-
quence, they avoid the temptations to fraud and other
difhonoural le tricks, fo often adopted, to the perverfion
of morals,among young people, while compelled to live,
. Ez .

228 NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. OG. 26

in numbers together, under fevere reftraint. The pocker,
here, is the only bridle, and a powerful one it is; °a
bridle, which, in every ftation mutt be felt fooner or
later ; and which, in a land of freedom, is the moft eli-
gible, and perhaps the moft powerful that ever could
have been devifed< nor can thofe who muft be governed
by itin the future part of their life learn its ufe too foon.

Under thefe regulations this univerfity has profpered
to perhaps an unexampled degree but as the original
buildings continued nearly the fame as at the firft infti-
tution, they were found to be extremely inadequate for
the purpofe intended, and fome of the profeflors were
under the neceflity of renting other larger rooms for
the purpofe of teaching. . Every ftudent, indeed who
has attended this univerfity, muft own that the teach-
ing rooms were very inadequate for the purpofes re-
quired. ©

The want of proper accommodation in this refpec&
has been univerfally and loudly complained of for
half a century paft. ‘Thefe complaints being fo
general, and their juftnefs more and more felt, as the
elegance of other buildings in this place augmented, the
defire of having an entire new fet. of public teaching
rooms erected became univerfal. Mr Adams the ar-
chitect was defired to give in a plan and eftimate of
an elegant ftru€ture for this purpofe, to be erected on
the fite of the old buildings. He did accordingly pro-
duce one, which was unaniimoufly approved of by the
Magiftrates of Edinburgh, the principal patrons of the
univerfity, and others to whom it was fhewn. The
expence of the whole was eftimated to amount to
about 60,000l. ; and for defraying this expence, a pub-
he fubfcription was propofed, which was no fooner
publifhed than numbers entered their names with an
unexampled liberality. About the fum of 20,000]. has
been, already fub{cribed; and it is not doubted but in
time’ the whole fum wanted will be obtained. ‘The
building, in the mean time, is going on with rapidity.

7791. NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. 220

The eaft, or principal front, an elevation of which is re-
prefented in the engraving that accompanies this num-
ber, is now, October 5, 1791, nearly half finifhed. ‘The
north fide, in which a great many of the teaching rooms
are to be included, is alfo in great forwardnefs; parti-
eularly the north-weft corner, which contains the ana-
tomical theatre, is nearly compleated ; the walls having
been carried to their whole heighth fome time ago, and
the roof being in part finifhed.

Some perfons have objected to this plan, as more
fuperb and expenfive than was neceflary: but when it
is confidered that this is a public work, which will be
preferved to pofterity as a monument of the talte and
{fpirit of the times;—that the Gymmnafia, and other
public buildings in Greece and Rome, fo much ex-
ceeded the ftile of private buildings as to admit of no
fore of comparifon with them; that from the daily
improvements in refpect of elegance of building we
fee taking place in this,metropolis, the probability is,
were we to erect a ftructure rather beneath our own
ideas at prefent, it would be condemned, in a very
few years, as mean and inadequate. Ali thefe things
confidered, it will perhaps rather be thought to fall
fhort, than to exceed, what it ought to have been.

As to the expence, let thofe who object to it, recol-
lect, that when a public building is propofed, the uti-
lity of which is obvious and univerfally acknowledged,
though the expence of its erection may appear difpro-
portioned to the apparent funds for carrying it on,
yet the fpirit of the people in this country is fuch, as
not to leave room to fear that the fupplies will not be
obtained. Never was an attempt feemingly more
hopelefs fet on foot than the building of the Royal In-
firmary of Edinburgh, the foundation ftone of which
was laid by the patriotic George Drummond, when all
the money that had been collected for building and en-
dowing it amounted only to Five pouNDs: nor did
ever aman meet with more oppofition and obloquy for

230 NEW UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. Od. 26,

the /uppofed expenfivenefs of that hopele/s undertaking,
as his opponents were pleafed to call it;—yet this
building was finifhed by public benefa€tions on the ex-
penfive plan he propofed, and is now praifed as one of
the moft ufeful inftitutions, by the defcendants of thofe
who oppofed it, and as having no other defect but be-
ing upon too {mall a feale. Let us ever advert that this
country is in a ftate of great and rapid improvement.
Let us look forward to what it probably qw#// be ina
few years. Let us have this in our eye in every pub-
lic inftitution that is to endure for ages, and we, need
not defpair.

Some Remarks on the Literary Charaéter of George

Buchanan.

‘ee poet was born ata village in the county of
Dumbarton, in the year 1506, and died at Edinburgh
in the year 1582. ‘The chief. incidents of his life are
related with modeft and perfpicuous brevity in a me-
moir written by himfelf about two years before his
death, and commonly prefixed to his works. His in-
extinguifhable genius burft through the darkeft clouds
of indigence and misfortune. In every country where
he fuccesfively refided, his abilities infpired men of
Jetters with admiration. Buchananum omnibus antepono*
was the expreflion of queen Elizabeth. Julius Sca-
liger pronounces him ¢* the god of the learned.” Jor
feph Scaliger, in fome verfes on his death, fpeaks in
in terms of fimilar enthufiafm. Beza and other con-
temporary writers reprefent him as a prodigy of poeti-
cal merit. He was of a carelefs, frank, independent

* « T prefer Buchanan to all the world.” Walpole’s catalogue of
royal and noble authors, Wol. 1. p. $9.

1791.) CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. 23t

difpofition; and as poverty, or rather a neglect of mo
ney did not permit him to purchafe, nor his temper to
court applaufe, we may prefume that it was fincere.
Poetarum fui feculi facile princeps + has been the encomis
um beftowed upon him for two centuries by the gene
tal confent of Europe. ‘ He was,” fays one of his
editors, ‘fo great a mafter of the elegance of the
«¢ Latin language, that the blood of every Roman
«¢ poet feems to have flowed in his veins}.” ‘ The
«© happy genius of Buchanan,” fays Dr Robertfon,
“‘ equally formed to excel in profe and in verfe ;
“ more various, more original, and more elegant than
¢ that of almoft any other modern who writes in La-
« tin, reflects, with regard to this particular, the great-
s eft luftre on his country.” Of -citing fuch attefta-
tions there would be noend. ‘ The name of Buch-
«¢ anan,” fays the late Dr Samuel Johnfon, has
‘¢ as fair a claim to immortality as can be conferred
“ by modern Latinity, and perhaps a fairer than the
© imftability of vernacular languages admits.”

In perufing this great man’s compofitions, the firft
circumftance which ftrikes us is his uncommon fertility.
Though the greater part of his life was {pent in the
talk of teaching,—a profeflion of which he bitterly com-
ae and; though the hiftory of Scotland, in which

has difplayed fuch a profufion of excellence, might
have exhaulted a comprehenfive mind, he has yet
found leifure to write upwards of twenty thoufand
Latin verfes, which are equal to three times the extent
of the works of Horace. Of thefe verfes, about one
third are: occupied in his tranilation cf the Pfalms,
where he has wandered into twenty-nirre different
kinds of metre. In the variety of his numbers, there~

+ © The firft poet of his age.”

¢ “* Tantus erat Buchananus Latini‘atis et elegantia artifex, ut po
© tius auctor quam imiitator, utque omnium poctarum fanguis ejus ve~
* nam compléfle videatur.’’ Vid, preface to an edition of his verfion of
t ¢ Pfalms, printed at Edinburgh in 1737.

‘

232 CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. O€. aby

fore, he leaves every poet ancient and modern, at an
immenfe diftance ; and as if the genius of Rome had not
fuficiently extended the limits of her language, he

has employed a fpecies of verfe, which is faid never to _

have been attempted by any former writer. He is
conftantly attentive to claflical dignity of charaéter.—
Good fenfe predominates in every fentence. He is
not one of thofe thoughtlefs compilers, in whom, to
perufe twenty pages of elegance, or wit, we muft wade
through whole volumes of bombaft, or buffoonery.
We can never fay Interdum bonus dormitat Buchananus ;
for in the whole wildernefs of his poetry, there are
not, I believe, ten lines which his moft judicious ad-
mirer could with to be forgotten. I here fpeak of the
intrinfic merit of the verfes, without endeavouring to
juitify on every occafion, either his panegyric, or his
cenfure.

As an herald of civil and religious liberty, our au-
thor deferves an ample fhare of the gratitude of nations.
Never did the “ rights of man” meet with a more ar-
dent partifan, an advocate more acute, eloquent, phi-
lofophical, and fublime |]. The truly virtuous charac-
ters of antiquity he mentions with the veneration they
deferve. But judgement never drops the reins to
fancy. From his eye the fplendour of conqueft could
not hide its deformity ; and when there fell in his way
a Cefar, an Alexander, a Xerxes, or a Charles the

Fifth, the moralift fet no’bounds to his fcorn and de-~

teftation. When, in 1552, the emperor was re=

| On this head the public will liften with refpect to a writer who
has lately deferved and acquired their approbation. ‘* The firft man at
*¢ the revivalof letters, who united elegant Jearning to original and maf-
‘« cylirie thought was Buchanan, and he too feems to have been the firft
“ fcholar who caught from theancients the noble flame of republican en-
“‘thufiafm. This praife is merited by his neglected, though incompar-
“able trad, De Sfure Regui, in which the principles of popular politics,
and the maxims of a free government, are delivered with a precifion
* and enforced with an energy, which no former age had equalled, and
* uo fucceeding has furpaffed,” ’
Vindiciz Gallic, p. 309 2 edit.

$79. CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. 233

pulfed with the lofs of thirty thoufand men from
the walls of Metz, ‘our author addrefled Henry the
fecond of France in an ode to which Horace can
not often produce a paralell. Where every ftanza is

excellent, felection becomes an office of delicacy.—

Having, with his ufual impetuofity, reproached Charles
asa monfter more hideous than the°GorgonSifters, or
the Hydra, having placed in the moft ftriking point
of view, his barbarity, his ambition, and his power,
he thus, in a tranfport of exultation, defcribes the
anguifh of the defeated tyrant : !

Tu bellicofe dux bone Galliz
Sperare promtam cuncta fuperbiam
Compefcuifti : tu dedifti
Indomitolaqueos furori.
Quis vultus ili?’ qui dolor intimis
Avrfit medullis ? {piritus impetens
Cum clauftra fpectaret Mofellz
Et juvenum intrepidam coronam,

Sic unda rupes fvit in obvias,
Claufus caminis ignis inxftuat,
Hyrcana fic tigris cruento
Dente fuas furit in catenas.

of In Englifb thus, — .

© Thou worthy leader of gallant France haft blaft-
** ed that pride forward to hope for every fuccefs
* Thou haft fixed bounds to fury till now irrefiftible.

«© What were his looks? What agonies convulfed

* eyery nerve, when his impotent haughtinefs beheld

‘¢ the ramparts of the Mofelle +, and her intrepid band
© of youth?

_« ‘Thus rages a wave againft oppofing' rocks ; thus
« fubterranean fire ftruggles for a paflage; thus the
«© Hyrcanian tyger champs his chains with his bloody
*¢"teeth.” .

No reader will expe that the beauties of the ori-
ginial can be transfufed into 4 profe tranflation.

~* © +# Metz ftands on the banks of that river. |

VoL. V. + eg

234° CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. Oét. 26,

In his poem on aftronomy alfo hée has difplayed his
deteftation of conquerors in juft and philofophical
verfes. Having expreffed his regret that the names of
the firft difcoverers of that fcience had not been tranf-
mitted to pofterity, he proceeds thus,—

At nos victuris potius committere chartis,
Barbaricum Xerxis faftum juvat, armaque diri
Cefaris, et facta Emathii fcelerata tyranni:

At bene promeritos de vita hominumque falute
Negligimus Lethes tetra fub nocte jacentes.

** But we choofe rather to record the barbarous —

%¢ pride of Xerxes, the victories of the direful Czxfar,
** or the execrable ations of the Macedonian tyrant,
“© while we fuffer the benefactors of mankind to lie
‘ under the darkeft fhades of Lethe.”

Another prominent feature in the literary chara&ter
of Buchanan was an averfion to popery. His inftinc-

tive abhorrence of monks, and his invincible impulfe ©

to brand them with infamy, produced fome of the
principal misfortunes of his long and adtive life. The
quarrel began by his writing verfes, at the requeft of
James V. in ridicule of the Francifcans. After fome
thort eflays, too flight to fatisfy the refentment of the
monarch, he undertook the memorable fatyr entitled,

Franciscanus; which is probably, fince the fixth —

fatire of Juvenal, the moft beautiful and perfect
performance of that nature the world has ever feen.

The King bafely confented to his deftruétion. Bu-—

chanan fled into England, and addrefled Cromwell, at
that time minifter to Henry VIII. in a thort, but pa-
thetic poem, defcribing the complication of miferies by

which he was overwhelmed. He likewife infcribed to.

Henry himfelf an elegant copy of verfes, which con-
élude with perhaps the fineft portrait of a great and
good monarch that ever was written. His applications
were unfuccefsful, and the verfes remain a monument
to the difhonour of the King and his minifter. His
experience of treachery in one fovereign, and of un-

1791. | CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. 235

generofity in another, may firft poffibly have infpired
him with that difdain of royalty, and thofe levelling
republican principles which formed, as it were, the ef-
fence of his foul. ;
It is true that our author has produced many beau-
tiful panegyrics on fome of the moft eminent perfon-
ages of his time ; but thefe are to be regarded rather as
the {ports of imagination, as the labours of convenience
or neceflity, than as the offspring. of voluntary choice *.
He feems to have owed much of the happinefs of his ~
life to the univerfal veneration excited by his abilities.
No man, perhaps, ever enjoyed a more numerous, il-
juftrious, and 4ffectionate circle of correfpondents ;
and their attachment fhows, that if he did not feel, he
muft at leaft have exerted, in an uncommon degree,
the focial virtues. Indeed, one or two poets excepted,
none has excelled him in difplaying the fenfibilities of
friendfhip, of gratitude, and of love. As a fpecimen
of his talents in this line the reader may perufe part of
an ode addreffed to a young lady.

Camilla, multo me mihi carior,

Aut fi quid ipfo eft me mihi carius,
Camilla, doctorum parentum
Et patrie decus et voluptas :

Ni Gratiz te plus’oculis ament,

Ni te Cameenz plus oculis ament,
Nec Gratias gratas, nec ipfas
Effe rear lepidas Camoenas.

Quz virgo nondum nubilis, artibus
Doctis Minervam, pectine Apollinem,
Cantu Cameenas et lepore
Vel fuperes Charites, vel eques.

*¢ Camilla much dearer to me than myfelf, or than
whatever elfe is dearer to me than myfelf :—Camil-

* We are indebted for the Ode on Alexander’s Feaft to the impor
ponities of a Mufical Club.
Gg2

236 CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. O&t, 26,

* Ja, the glory and delight of thy learned parents, and
«© of thy country ;—

« Unlefs the Graces love thee better than them-
* felves, unlefs the Mufes love thee better than them-
<* felves, I deny beauty to the Graces, or eloquence to
«* the Mufes. |

‘© What virgin befides thee has, at fuch tender
“< years, excelled in learning Minerva, in mufic Apol-
s¢ lo and the Mufes, and in wit equals or excels the
© Graces ?”

It is ufual to fay that we can diftinguifh an author
by the peculiarities of his ftyle, but this rule cannot
apply to Buchanan. ‘The beft idea which can be con-
veyed of him to a mere Englifh reader may be,com-
prifed in five words, “ Dryden always at his beft.”
Indeed there is avery ftriking refemblance in many
points between thefe two poets. Both inherited from
nature, in an equal degree, a moft comprehenfive un-
derftanding, and a moit {plendid fancy. In variety of
numbers, and facility of metrical compofition, they
ftand unriyailed in the refpective languages in which
they wrote. Of wit, that faculty, in whatever it con-
fits of exciting laughter, both poffefled an ample fhare ;
yet their proper element was the ferious and fublime.
"The fmile of Buchanan is the fmile of indignation; and
as Dryden’s tafte was much lefs cultivated, his merri-
ment fometimes degenerates into groffnefs. For the
ftage both poffeffed abilities refpetable, but moderate.
They were by nature, or by habit, better qualified for
the dignity of declamation than the vivacity of dia-
logue. Both have many paflages truly pathetic, but
tendernefs is not the predominant excellence of either. |
Both had ftudied human nature with clofe attention; -
both abound with beautiful portraits of perfonal cha-
rater, and the molt inftru€tive maxims for the con- .
du of life. But the profound learning of Buchanan,
and his long refidence in many different countries, af-
ford him numerous advantages in point of force, va-

i79i- CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN, 237

riety, and correcinefs. From the friend of Afcham and
Scaliger, from the preceptor of a prince, and the pre-
fident of a college, productions more claflical might
juttly be demanded, than from the playwright ofa li-
centious flage, the tool of an ufurping priefthood, and
the reluctant hireling of a bookfeller. both writers
were long the poets of a court; both have left us an
immenfe number of fhort temporary pieces, defigned
merely to pleafe, entertain, or vex a few individuals, but
forcing themfelves on our applaufe by the merit of com-
pofition. The Scottifh poet, at leaft, cannot be ftig-
matifed as ob{cene; but both were fond of advancing
to the utmoft verge of decency. Both were by far the
firft fatirifts of their refpe€tive periods. Both poflef-
fed fuch inexhauftible. talents for panegyric, and both
were poetical tranflators of fuch fupreme {kill, that in
either capacity they have hardly a fingle rival in the
whole records of literature. But the operations of the
poet muft always take an impreflion from the manners
of his age, and the temper of the man. Dryden feems
to have been weak, indolent, and from levity almoft
incapable of principle or attachment. He is therefore
often negligent, and whatever be his theme, he is in
frequent danger of relapfing into a jeft. On the
contrary, his predeceflor is grave, ardent, intrepid, and
implacable. He never attacks by halves. His ridicule
darkens into rage. He combats not for conqueft, but ex-
tirpation. From the pontiff and emperor, to the peda-
gogue and the monk, the victim of his derifion is held
forth not only as the dulleit, but the vileft of mankind.

Every-poflible feature of vice and folly feems anxious to
ftavt from the canvafs. With the abrupt dexterity of a
veteran familiar to victory, he at once clofes upon his ad-
yerfary, tramples him, and tears him to pieces. The
mind bends as it were under the grafp of his eloquence,
and our admiration of the artift forbids us to queftion
the lated of the likenefg.—The annals of the fixteenth

‘
238 CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. OG. 26,

century fupplied inceffant exercife for a mind addiéted
to the language of indignation and defiance. Buchanan
was not only more fteady in the exertion of his talents,
but more fortunate in the objects of his choice. For
the purpofes of a laureate, Elizabeth and Mary were bet=
ter adapted than the penfioner Charles, or the jefuit
James. The foibles of the prefbyterians prefent the
mind with no image paralell to the feenes of impofture
and debauchery fo copioufly defcribed in the Francif-
can.. Even Monmouth and Shaftefbury were but pig-
mies of fedition, when compared with the ftupenduous
atrocity of the houfe of Guife. In his addrefs to
the Cardinal of Lorraine, Buchanan bids him furvey °
the price of his grandeur—a nation of widows and or-
phans—a country covered with blood and afhes—and
fternly affures him, that to fuch a prodigy of guilt,
hell muft be a defireable refuge from the curfes of man-
kind. ‘hefe fallies offend not ‘our feelings, for they —
confift with truth. But they would have been utter!

inapplicable to the heroes of Abfalom and Achitophel.
On Ravilliac and Felton, the laft century would not —
have endured an encomium; but no reader can be ©
much difgufted-when Buchanan refers, with gratitude,
to the blunderbufs of ,Poltrot. Dryden wrote merely
for money, to gratify his own paffions, or thofe of his
contemporaries. His tafte had been early corrupted
by the conceits of Donne and Cowley, and it was the ©
fummit of his ambition to pleafe the audience of a
play-houfe, or the concubine of a prince. Buchanan —
took his flight from higher ground. ‘The greateft part —
of his life was fpent, not behind the curtain of a
theatre, but in the retirement of a college. He held
the ancients ever in ‘his eye. On every occafion how-
ever trifling, he feems to have been mindful of fame
and pofterity ; nor did his meal depend on the caprice
of a purfe-proud tradefman capable of eftimating his
volumes only by their bulk. ‘The diftin@tion is eafily dif-
cernible. Dryden is ever difturbing our tranquillity with

1791. CHARACTER OF GEORGE BUCHANAN. 239

a detail of his talents and his fufferings, of perfecuted
virtue, and neglected merit. Buchanan, too proud for

J oftentation, never mentions himfelf or his writings,

but in a tone of the moft guarded propriety. His mind
was fuperior to vanity or grimace, and yet more to
that pitiful canting ftyle, which pollutes the endlefs
prefaces of the Englifh Laureate. To the Dunciad or
Macflecknoe there is nothing correfpondent in the
verfes of Buchanan. Of contemporary poets he often
{peaks, but always in the kindeft and moft liberal terms.
If he ever had any poetical enemies, the laft traces of
their exiftence appear to have been long fince oblite-
rated, for he never raifed them into antagonifts b
condefcending to revile them. ‘This delicacy, which
marks fuch a manly fuperiority to the petulance of
fome modern poets, deferves the higher praife, as we
have feen that his paflions were violent, his courage
inflexible, and as he has left behind him full evidence
that on every other topic from the civil wars of a king-
dom, to the brawls of a bagnio, he was prepared and
prompt for battle. ;

-Edinburgh,

O&. 11, apie ‘ LBs bee

On the American States.

To the Editor of the Bee. |
Sir,

N. part of ‘the world affords, at this time, a more
pleafing profpect to the lovers of mankind than the
United States of North America.—At the end of the

late war, their population, by the accounts of Congrefs,

amounted to lefs than 2,400,000. By an official ftate-
ment, publifhed in their newfpapers in January latt, it
appears, that including 700,000 negroes, their inha-

_bitants are now 4,000,000. ‘Thus, in the courfe of

240 | POPULATIONIN N. AMERICA. > Oét.26,

eight years their numbers have been almoft doubled,
and many caufes muft tend to produce an increafing
rapidity of population. In reading the Gazette of the |
United States for four, months of this current year, I —
obferved not a fingle. robbery or murder, and but one
execution, that of an Infhman, at Charleftown in
South Carolina. —

Their taxes are trifling, their fituation is in many
refpects better than it ever has been; and if in the
courfe of eight years 2,400,0000 people have multi-+

plied to four millions, it follows by the fame rule, | :

‘that in the next ten years, they muft, if circumftances
continue the fame, encreafe to 8,200,000. But let us
fuppofe, for the fake of moderation, that at the end of
this century they are not to exceed 6,0000,000; andif
we compute, that, after that time, their numbers fhall
doubie only once in every twenty years, the fum total
in the year 1g00 miuft rife to 192,000,c00%. . We can
have no doubt, that long before that zra, they will
expel the European governments from every corner of
both continents of America. ‘the demand for Britifh
manufactures will, perhaps, encreafe an hundred fold.
The riches of Mexico and Peru wilt then, it is to be
hoped, be laid open to the whole commercial world:
The ineftimable art of printing will preferve the fame
of our claflic authors with a fecurity unattainable in
former ages. Ik flatters the pride of a Briton to fore-

‘fee, that in the days of our grandfons, the language
and writings of Wafhington, Franklin, Dryden, and
Shakefpeare, will be ftudied and revered at the mouths
of the Amazon, and the fource of the Miffouri.

* This number will at firft fight appear extravagant; but as we fee -
that the colonifts at prefent have aétually almoft doubled their numbers
in eight years, it is furely but reafonable to allow that they.may here-
after continue to double them-once every faventy years. In Canada, I
have been well affured, that the inhabitants multiply as fafe as in any
other patt of the continent; atid the defcendents of that great body of
people, (befides thofe of Nova Scotia and the two Floridias,) are not —
included in the calculation of the text,

1jpt.\) = POPULATION IN'N. AMERICA. 241

-In-thecrowd of {plendid circumf{tances which prefs
on the fancy, itis one of ‘the moft pleafing to reflect,
that the tyranny of prieftctafe will be buried) in, final
oblivion. The provincial affembly of Virginia had»the
glory of fetting the: firft,exampie to;mankind of anuni-
verfal.and abfolute sight of .confcience. Their edict
on that fubject) deferves| to be tranimitted to pofteriry
onbrais and} marble. ‘With what amazement and hor-
ror, will the Americans of the next century: look back
on our difgraceful hiftory, during this memorable year,
on the, incendiaries of Birmingham, the jurors of War-
wick,,and fome) churchmen, worfe than either, who
vindicate perfecution.

I was led into thefe reflections on the political pro-
grefs of America, by a recent debate in our Houle of
Commons, I. mean that refpecting the conftitution of:
the government. of Canada. |, Many long {peeches
were made, and many violent, expreflions. were em-
ployed. But pafling over the ‘extreme imperginence of
introducing the ,French revolution, I with to afk the
oppofite parties this. fimple queftion; ‘* Pray, gentle-
men, hoy long do you expect to )govern Canada +2)
The province, as I have been, well-informed, contains
at leaft Gjer 700,000 inhabitants, and it.is.perfectly
known, that there is not a fiftieth individual who, would
fire a’ mufket to; fave their rulers from extirpation.—
That fuch a frail edifice has hitherto been {uffered to tot-

_teron the furface of the political worldcan be alcnbed
to nothing but the moderation of the American congrefs.
That it,canjexift for ten years longer, is, in the nature
of human affairs, almoft morally impoffible. ‘The dif-
affection of the inhabitants would alone,be fulhcient

“4 Por fome years pait Lord Dorchefter gave a general permilfion to
the fubjeéts of the United States to fettle in Canada. An acquaint-
ance of mine was affured by his Lordthip’s Secretary, that in 1788, forty
‘thoufand perfons emigrated from the States into the fouthern parts of
‘that province ; and it is generally underftood at Quebecy that the num-
ber of Yankies, as we quaintly term them, fettled in Canada, is fufi
cient to drive the Englith governor out of th: country.

a. M., + Hoh

242 POPULATION INN, AMERICA, O€. i

to produce our expulfion; and the prefent attempt ko
force upon them a kind of ariftocracy can ferve no pur=
pofe but to extinguifh the Jaft fpark of their attach-
ment.

It has been faid, that this government cofts ‘Brigitta’
an annual expence of 600,000l.' We raife no revenue’
from the country, and it would be’mueh wifer to fave
this expence by leaving the inhabitants to fight and le-
giflate for themfelves. The lofs of fuch an important’ |
patronage would give a fevere probe to the mafs of
minifterial corruption. Perhaps, it ‘might diminifh —
by ten or twelve votes, a hireling majority in parliament 5 _
and even in this view alone it is‘'an object of confe-
quence to Britam. ‘The lofs of Nova Scotia muft fol-
low the revolt of Canada; and we {hall be fortunate
in cafting off an expenfive and ufelefs eppendage to our
rickety dominions. . If thefe people want our manufac
tures, they will buy them. ‘Che United States‘are as ~
much eum cuftomers as they ever were *. And as to —
the fifheries at Newfoundland, we have, on the fhores |
‘of Scotland, an abundant field for the exercife of our |
utmoft induftry. On this head, Sir, Iwarmly, with |
your permiflion, beg leave to recommend “fo the pub-
lic your own book on the prefent flate of the He-
brides and the weftern coats of Scotland}. “Lhe reader
will there fee with aftonifhment, that half a million of
ae are fhackled in idlenefs, and confequent beggary
y the tyrannical mode of exaéting falt duties, while,
the tax itfelf is fo utterly infignificant, that it has never
yet once refunded the bare expence of colle€tion. In

* France, itwasfaid, would obtain to herfelf, all the trade.to Ame-
fica. &fhips from New York, were cleared out to France inthe year
1789. And 288 to Britain. Cana more fatisfaGory refutation of that
wild hypothefis be given, fee vol. iv. p.

+ This gentleman, and every other perfon is at full liberty to’ufe my
writings, as he might do thofe of others, whether it be to — or to’
cerroberate the obfer vations thit there oturr. : Edit.

P7gks POPULATION IN N. AMERICA. 243

the whole annals of defpotifm, we fhall not perhaps

find fo ftrange an example of ruinous and abfurd op-
reffion. :
_ Lifmore,

PococuRANTE.
Oéfober 1, 1791. .

in [ Phe extras will be given in a fucceeding number.\«

{Has not this ingenious correfpondent, in fome of his foregoing re-
~ marks, given his imagination rather too loofea rein? This will,
_ perhaps, be beft feen by following out his calculations, p. 240. a little
_ farther,—If, inftead of topping at the end of one century, he had
purfued his mode of calculating to the end of the fecond, third, or '
~ fourth centuries, the refult would have been fuck as to make him
fufpect, at leaft, that there muft be fome fallacy in his mode of cal-
culation. By purfuing this calculation till the laft mentioned period,
it will appear that America would then be poffeffed of a population of
“no lefsthan 2,387,968,000,0c0 of fouls, which is not much lefs than
' three thoufand times more than the whole globe has ever been cal-
culated to contain. 4
Before an hypothefis fo repugnant to the univerfal experience of man-
kind in all other cafes fhould have been affumed, care fhould
_ have been taken that no miftake cou/d have taken place with regard
to the principal fa&t, which yet requires to be proved. If indeed it
fhould be found, (a thing not highly probable,) that in fuch an ex-
tenfive region the population had been doubled in eight or ten years,
or even Is or 20, every perfon muft be fenfible that this could only
have happened in confequence of a very copious acceffion of ftrangers
from other parts of the globe; for no mortal will entertain fo wildan
idea, as that it could have happened in the courfe of natural genera-.
_ tion :—but if European nations are at prefent fo blind as to drive
away their inhabitants, that fource muft foon be dried up, from a de-
fe of people; fo that unlefs men fpring up out of the-ground, as in
the daysof Cadmus, or like mice on the bordersof the Nile, nothing ~
like what is here fuppofed could poffibly take place. Before all this
can happen, our correfpondent muft fuppofe another miracle of great-
er magnitude ftill, which is, that fuch immenfe miHions of millions
of people cancogtinue to live free from corruptiga, vice, wars, and
devaftations.
On thefe accounts, therefore, though a very great deduction mutt
* be made from the amount of the fuppofed population of the Ameri-=
can States, at any future period, yet there can be no doubt of the juft-
— nels of the polition, that if it does increafe, its benefits asa market fox
European commodities will augment in proportion as that popuila-
tion increafes ; and that of courfe, if we také care to increafe our
~ own population, the employment of our people will be thereby aug-
mented, and the ftrength of the nation, andthe amount of its reve-
pue, proportionally sade? ‘Epit.
2

244 LONGIVITY OF ANIMALS. 0&: 26,

On the Longivit 'y of Animals.

“Dae length of life that animals would naturally attain,
has been in. few cafes exactly afcertained. . Domettic
animals, for. the molt part, are either, facrificed for
the purpofes of ceconomy, or deftroyed by accident,
long before they reach the period that nature had af-
figned to them and wild animals, are but in few
cates, the objects of accurate obfervation. It is merely
from accidental circumftances that the natural duration
of the life of either of thefe can be afcertained.
Of all domeftic animals, the fheep, and the cat feem
to be the fhorteft lived. The fheep at five or fix years
of age ufually loffes its teeth fo'much as to be able
with difficulty, after that period to colleét food fuflici~
ent for its fubfiftance; and few.cats outlive the period
of eight or ten years. ‘The dog lives longer, I have
had three dogs myfelf that all attained the age of fifteen
or fixteen, and all of them fuffered violent deaths at
laft. Another that died of old age, was known with cer-
tainty to be more than 21 years old, probably it might
be a year or two more, but this could not be accurately
afcertained. Many horfes have been known. to exceed
thirty, and fome, I think, have been known to live
nearly half a century. The cow feldom continues to
have good teeth beyond ten or twelve years. yee
But of all kinds of terreitial animals, the feathered
tribe feem to be fufceptible of the greateft longivity.
A tame goofe has been known to live a hundred years,
and fwans are apparently equally long lived. Among the
wild fowls 2 few accidental cafes have been recorded, that
tend to prove that they in general live very long. ‘To
which lift I beg to add the following cafe, which I had
from the moft undoubted authority. BK

i

1791. LONGIVITY OF ANIMADS. 245

A great many years ago, Mr Scot of Benholm, near
Montrofe, had accidentally catched a fea gull (vulgo a
fea maw,) whofe wings he cut, and put it into his gar-
den to clear it of flugs and other vermin of that fort.
The bird remained in that fituation for feveral years 5
and being kindly ufed, it became very familiar, fo as to
come, upon a call, to be fed at the kitchen door. Tt
was known by the name of Willie. This bird became
« at laft fo tame, that no care was taken to preferve it,
and its wings having grown to full length, it flew away,
joined the other guils upon the ‘beach, and came back
from time to cine to pay a vifit to the houfe. It fol-
lowed its companions, however, when they left this
country ; at which the family were much difconcerted.
Yo their great joy, however, it returned with them
next {2afon; and with its ufual familiarity returned to
its old haunt, where it was welccmed with great joy,
and fed very liberally with the garbage of fith, its favou-
rite food. In this way it went and returned for for ty
years without intermiflion, and kept up its acquaint~
ance in the moft cordial manner; for, while in the
country, it vifited them almoft daily, anfwered to its
name like any domeftic animal, and eat almoft out of
the hand. One year, howeret. very near the period
of its final difappearance, Willie did not pay his re-
fpects to the family, for eight or ten days after the
general flock of gulls were upon the coaft, and great
was the lamentation for his lofs; as they naturally
concluded he muft be dead. The gentleman from
whom I had this fact, happened to be there on a yifit
at that time, and was witnefs to and cordially joined
in their regret. But to the great joy of the whole fa-
mily, a fervant came running into the room one mor-
ning while they were at breakfait, in extafy, calling
out that Willie was returned. ‘The whole company
got up from table immediately to welcome Willie, and
the humane gueft among the reft. Food was foon found
in abundance, and Willie, with his ufual franknefs,

2.46 ON LORD KAIMS. O&:. 26;

eat of it heartily, and was as tame as any barn-yard
foul about the houfe. In a year or two afterwards,
this grateful bird difcontinued his vifits for ever,.fo
that they concluded he muft be dead, but whether of
old age, or from accidental caufes could never be af-
certained. I did not learn that they difecovered any
fymptoms of decrepitude or decline in this animal,

feemingly the effects of age. J. As

Hints re[peting Lord Kaims.
yLo the Editor of the Bee.

Sir,

I 4M happy to learn that a gentleman of whofe abili-
ties and fidelity I entertain a high opinion *, is about to
offer to the public a literary life of Lord Kaims upon
. the plan I fuggefted in one of my hints to the learned,
inferted in your refpectable paper +. ;

It is very far from my intention to interfere with
the undertaking of an author, fo much better qualified
in every refpect, than I am to give the annals of the
philofopher, but only to obviate by the communication
of a letter of Kaims’s, the infinuation that has fre-
quently been made in literary circles, that he was not
the real author of the elements of criticifm. That he
had obtained the papers containing them from an obfcure
but ingenious and learned acquaintance, and hadbrought
them in to popular form, and fold them to Andrew
Millar without acknowledging, or properly rewarding
the man who had the honour of the compofition.

My dear Friend, Edinburgh, 26th Fune 1764.
In the elegance of converfation, and gaiety of amufe-
‘ment, are not you a felonious creature to take the ad-
" * Mr Smellie of Edinburgh,

_ + The ingenious writer of this eflay does not feem to know, that the
life of Lord Kaims, to-which he here alludes, is already publifhed in
the Encyclopedia Britannica, Edit,

r

E791. © ON LORD KAIMS« 247,

vantage of me, the fingle inhabitant of a large houfe,
plodding over law from morning to evening? *Tis
much (I think) even-to relifh the {prightlineis of your
epiftle, which I do greatly, without the leaft hopes of
making/a fuitable return. It would have been kinder
to havefaluted me with fome puzzling law quettion to
chew. the cud Ging: cages fuitabie to my prefent oc-
cupation. 14

I mutt confefs, Hobbies that though my, modefty
will not :allow me to wéar the praifes you beftew on
me yet, that my vanity is able to extract from your
letter, a fort of flattery, which perhaps you did not
intends! that is, that you mutt have hee opinion of a
man whew you take advantage of him. But indeed my
vanity is not fo-great as to.make it difficult to. yield
you the upper hand witha good grace. 1 will tell you
fincerely that: you-are one of the few young men of
figure, whom I have deftined in my own mind -to be
an ornamént tO your country 3 and it, gives me-real fatis-

faétion,to find that my expectations are in the. courfe
of being fulfilled. ; It is extremely happy for this nar-
row country of Scotland, that by our method of educa~
tion, a man of rank and: figure may be .a good {cho-
lar, and’ at the fame time a mamof the world, and
a fine’ gentleman. What fuperiority muft this give
our men of fafhion above thofe in the other end of the
ifland. I would fupprefs fuch ambitious thoughts :
let us rather turn our whole attention to ‘acquire ufe-
ful knowledge, and te qualify ourfelves for all the im-
portatit duties ‘of life: praife and eftcem will follow,
whether we think of them or not.

I had the good fortune to dine at N with my
namefake, on Saturday lafts’ He promifes ta: and wii!
probably, follow your footftéps.. All I could do. for
him, to teftify my love to you, was to promife him a
ticket to our concert whenever he inclined. “This is‘
mite, “tis true, itis the widow’s mite. If he follow
the law, I may poflibly be able to do more for him af-
terwards.

.

248 ON LORD KAIMS. OX. 255

To tempt you to Scotland, if any thing I could offer,
could besa temptation, 1 have in ttore’for you a treatife
on morality, which, though comipofed for the! ufe of.
my children, may deferve even your attention. if it will
ferve to ‘fill.up a blank in ‘literary chat 5 'youmay in-
form that Treafury: of all arts and fciences, Mr Andrew
Millar, printer and “bookfulier, that thy: Blements) are vat
prefent under a ftri revifion for a third edition.101) 4

Your faithful friend; andobedient fervant, though
‘o'thefe do not well confit together, but the ‘fa-
mfhion is’ all, [pas NUS HENRYSHOME.

Now,‘ though he does not here fay my, but ‘the Ele-
ments of Criticifm, I-have often heard him: talk of the
different fteps he took! to bring his'common-place book
on the fubje@t, to a fhape and: confiftency for a ferious
treatife, and I can hardly fuppofe it:poflible; that any
writer of the book would tamely fubmit ‘tothe plaga-
rifm fuppofed of. even a fenator of the College of
Juftice. Voltaire indeed, faid, that if he was.no better
Judge than Critic, the Lord shave! mercy on the lieges
of Scotland. But this is more witty than wife. The
Elements have much merit, and:many editions of a book
on criticifm are a fufhcient proof of fuper-eminence.

Iam, Mr Editor, your humble fervant,
; BIOGRAPHICUS:

Detached Ob fervations.

The mof amiable of all mankind, in our eyes, is he
whom we have obliged, and, who has a grateful fenfe
of thé obligation ; provided, neverthelefs, that) his gra-
‘titude does not entirely repay it.

Often one wifhes rather to repay one benefit by ano-
ther benefit than by friendfhip, regard, attention, and,
gratitude. ; : |

e.

OKs

POETRY:

249

a

For the Bee.

View of the Laft General Fudgment.

A Competition A Set
“© Venit fumma dies.’

Tue day is come, that awful a

_ When heav’n and earth fhall pals away!

The comet’s train, the meteor’s blaze,
Strike guilty mortals with amaze ;

Dire omens of th’ approaching end!
The hoftile elements engage,

And loud the rolling thunders rage !
Unheard-of woes to men portend!
The fick’ning fun withdraws his light.;

Tis chaos and primeval night * :

“Ye who th’ almighty pow’r blafpheme,

©! read, and tremble at my theme!
Pork. the dread, tremendous found !

Heav’nly glory fhines around !

Earth with utmoft horror quakes !

Heaven to its centre fhakes !

God defcends to judge his foes ;—

Nature’s changing feene to clofe !

?Tis th? archangel’s voice J hear,

Bids the guilty world appear,

Chrift’s tnbunal to attend,

By th’ Almighty Judge aaraigntdt 1
“ Rife, rife, ye dead, awake to doom !’?
Straight they iffue from the tomb!
Le affrighted living die with fear,
obedient dead the fummons hear !
Moriace from their flumbers rife,
And in troops afcend the fkies !
See yon t: -embling band in tears!
There, enthron’d, the Judge appears !
In awful majefty he’s come,

. “ With juttice to reward and doom!”

My God! my God!
Jefus, my Saviour, who was flain, 7

To ezpiate the fins of men!
Thoufands of angels in his train !
Vol. V. Ti

Virc.

250

POETRY. O&. 26.

Thofe firft and faireft fons of day,
Boldly advance in bright array My
-Now, arrang’d on either hand, °

Lo, th’ affembl’d nations ftand !

A multitude in number more —

Than fands upon the ocean’s fhore !

Now th’ impartial doom is giv’n ee

Th’ omnipotent afcends to heav’n !

Angelic hofts his throne furround,

And choirs of faints with glory crown’d !
Now th’ avenging thunders roll!

The livid lightnings flafh from pole to pole !

The planets from their orbits fly,’ . F

Carried “ Jawlefs through the sky he

Nature’siagonizing frame

Is wrapt in the devouring flame t

Well may the fun now'fpare his rays 5

All, all’s one univerfal blaze , :

Doleful fhricks, defpairing cries,

Screams of horror rend the fkies !

While, unmov’d, in heav'nly lays,

Lo, the juft their Saviour praife!

Born to blifs, the faints arife ;— ,

In triumph tread empyrial fkies 5

While, finners, doom’d to death, defcend

Lo woes-which never, never, end ! '
Bleffed.are they in God who truft 5

For God in all his ways is jut.’

He is the upright’s fure defence,

And juttice will to all difpenfe. :

Then fhall this truth be brought to light,

With God, ‘ whatever is, is right.” -.
Mighty God! great king of kings !

Thou, whofe arm falvation brings 5

Mercy with thy power difplay,

In that dread, decifive day} . SOLO:

Song.

O SEEK not to reprefs the figh,
Nov check the tear that fills thine eye :

17Ql- POETRY. 258

Thofe love-fraught eves feem more divine,
When the foft drops o’er pity’s fhrine,
From pearly eyes divinely flow,

To bathe the bruifed heart of woe ;

And. lovely is the bofom’s fwell,

Whole quick tumultuous heavings tell,
That fofteft fympathy is there,

And Laura’s good as fhe is fair,

Px « : . ‘ ree
For the Bee.

Fobnie’s Trance.

J OHNIE was fervant to the Laird,

For whom he had a great regard ;

Wi’s matter aye had been fu’ happy, _

Tho” weel ’twas kend John lik’d his drappy 5
But ae unlucky day for Jolinie,

H’ forgather’d wi’ an ancient croniee—

To drink they went as they were wont,

Nor ever {pent a thought upon’t

As lang’s the bicker gaed about,

Till time and cafh and a’ ran out.

Now Johnie’s time was far mifpent, ;
To find excufe to work he went ;—

That a’ might hae the face o’ chance,

John faid he had been in a trance.

*¢ And pray what faw you? quo’ the Laird,
“© Come tell the truth and dinna f{pair’d :
Quoth John, “ My tale is ftrange to tell,
.% Yet no lefs true—I’ve been at hell!

*¢ Where folk like me ftand at the door,

“¢ Wi’beggars’ brats and many more ;

*¢ T'ts there as ’ts here, for weel ye ken

“© The richeft ay won farreft ben.”
jora,

252 KEVIEW.—WANSEY ON WOOL. O&. 26

REVIEW.

Wool Encouraged without Exportation ; or Praétical Obferwation
on Wool and the Woollen Manufacture; with Strictures on the
antient flate of it in this Kingdom, Jc. By Henry Wanfey
F. A. S. 8v0. Cadell. 1791. 35+

Ty imitation of the cuttle fifh, which, when hard put to i
raifes fuch a cloud about itfelf, that nothing can be clearly
feen, many men, when they find themfelves at a Jofs for argu-)
ments to fupport a party they have undertaken to defend, take}
care to throw every thing into confufion, mifplace fats, muti-}
late quotations, disjoin circumftances that are naturally comm
nected, and conneét others together that have no neceflary re~
lation. By this means, they occafion fuch a confufion of ideas,
that no perfon can follow them ; taking care, at the fame time. |
to make ufe of beld words and ftrong affeverations ; at the}
end of every period they affert, that they have proved pofi«
tions which they have not brought afingle argument to fupport
and, as few people can take the trouble to fet thofe things to
rights that they have confounded, or to reduce that’ chaos to
order, fo a3 to be able to form a diftin& notion of the whole;

- thofe who are of the party find no difficulty in perfuading |
indolent reader that-the reafoning is profound. Thus it hap-
pens, that controverfial performances of this kind, are held up!
to view by thofe of their own party as unanfwerable, and are
applauded as compofitions of fuperior excellence.

Although it might happen that mankind fell upon this kind
of arguing at firft, by accident, yet the benefits that may be
derived from it are fo obvious, that it has, long ago, been re-
dticed, in fome meafure, to a fyftem ; éfpecially in Parliament.
He who difcovers the greateft ingenuity and dexterity in the
ufe of this kind of argumentative Jegerdemain, has’ the beft
chance to rife to honours and emolumenits, as.a valuable parté-
zan in the arduous war of words. * (|) 8% ‘ie

It is by no means improbable, that our author has fome
plan of this nature in contemplation, and that he has em-
braced the prefent opportunity to difplay the reach of his ta-
lents for this fpecies of warfare, asa preparatory ftep to his
being introduced into Parliament, in the capacity of an able

(| £791. REVIEW.—WANSEY ON WOOL. 253

affiftant to a political party in diftrefs. It will not be denied,
that his talents are, in this line, of a very fuperior fort; and
there is little doubt but a difcerning minifter will foon perceive
the ufe that may be made of fuch an able affiftant. -

Tf the author has had any other obje& in view than that
above explained, it feems to have been a defire to convince his
readers, that;the growth of Britifh wool, and its improvement
in quality, cannot be prevented or retarded by the law pro-
hibiting its exportation, but that it will be rather encouraged
and promoted by that law. That is to fay, that a man will
be encourayed to produce a greater quantity of any article,
and be at more pains to render it valuable, if he is to have
a limited market for its fale, and a cireumferibed competition
of merchants, than if no reftraints in either of thefe refpeéts
were put upon him. This pofition, when placed thus before
the eyes of the reader, in its naked fimplicity, is fo inconceiy-
ably abfurd, that the eflayift, who is by no means deftitute of
penetration, perceived the neceflity of wrapping it up in a
cloud of words, the meaning of which, if they haye any mean-
ing at all, few perfons will be able to difcover.

_ The obje& he has chiefly aimed at in this performance is
apparently to invalidate, to the utmoft of his power, the ftate
of facts refpecting Britith wool, and the Britifh woollen manu-
faGures, that had been laid before the public by Dr Anderfon,
in the 4th Appendix to Sir John Sinclair’s Report to the High-
land Society on the fubje&@ of Britifh Wool; but fenfible as he
was, that thefe faéts could not be fgirly controverted (for he
has evidently made fome refearches on the fubject), he has
been reduced to the neceffity of wading in the confufion he
has created. While he admits, in the fulleft manner, the
» truth of every pofition Dr Anderfon has there aflumed, (the influ-
ence of the prohibitory wool laws alone excepted), he has en-
deavoured, by every art he could devife, to weaken the force
_ Of the arguments, which alone tend to eftablifh the truth of
_ the pofitions he himfelf has admitted ; fo that fuppofing all he
contends for fhould be granted, it would not advance his argu-
ment in the fmalleft degree, but only leave his own pofitions
deftitute of fupport. :
_ Thus, Mr Wanfey allows in the moft unequivocal manner, ,
that “* Englifh wool before the year 1579 was fuperior in,
quality to Spanifh wool, and fold in a fair market at a higher

254 REVIEW.—-WANSEY ON WOOL. O&. 26.

price ;” but inftead of admitting, .as a proof of this, the ftrong
ia& Dr Anderfon adduced, viz. that certain Spanifh merchants
claimed from the Court of Britain the price of fome wool that
had been taken by an Englith privateer, in the year 1470, on
its way to the Netherlands; {tating in their memorial, that this
wool would have been worth in the Netherlands 4l. per fack,
aveighing one quintal Spanifp, which is equal to 9l. 12s. per fack
of 364 libs. Englifh ; while the beft Englith wool fold then in the
Netherlands at 18 or 20]. per fack. He contends that the Spa-
niards did not know the weight of their own wool ; and that
inftead of a quintal as they fay their facks contained, he main-
tains that this fame fack of theirs muft have weighed 364
pounds; the Englifh fack being, according to his affertion,
the univerfal meafure for wool over al] the world !!!

Again, Dr A. had ftated a fag on the authority of Rapin,
viz. that, anno 1338, 10,000 facks of Englifh wool had been
fold at 40]. each. On this article Mr W. fays, “it is eafily proved
that Rapin (from whom’ he quotes) miftakes pounds weight
for pounds fterling.” The beft anfwer to this affértion is to
uote the paflage itfelf; which runs thus: ‘ In November laft,
he (the King) fent the Bifhop of Lincoln, and the Earls o
Northampton and Suffelk, with 10,000 facks of wool into Bra-
bant, to make retainers in High Germany, and there, at the

fame time, they fold all their wool, every fack for 40l. which
amounted a all to 400,000.” If thefe words be not clear and

exprefs, I know not where they will be found in any language.
It is indeed true that the King took, in kind, not 40 pounds
only of wool from each fack belonging to his fubjeéts,
but much more at that time; and the wool he . had
thus taken he made up into facks, which were afterwards
fold for the money there mentioned. A few other inftances of
this author’s mode of reafoning fhall be adduced, but fhorten-
ed as much as poflible, to avoid proving tirefome.

Though he admits that Spanifh wool was fo much inferior
to Britifh wool, that in the days of Henry II. a law was made,
ordering all Britifh cloth, in which Spanifh wool was mixed,
to be burnt. He is very unwilling to allow that any cloth of
value was made of that yool in Britain, or that the wool it-
felf fold at a higher rate than other wool, or was coveted by
other nations. He produces Hume and Henry as authorities
to prove that fheep were very rare in England during the gth,

¥791- REVELW.——WANSEY ON WOOL” 255
roth, 11th, and 12th centuries, forgetting that Hume had ex-
prefsly faid, that in the time of Edward I. “ the wool in
Great Britain was equal te half thelands in England ;”” and that
Spelman, whofe words are quoted in the margin, had faid
‘nearly the fame thing *. He reprefents England as being near-
Ty deftitute of theep during the Saxon times; and fays, that
hogs were almoft the only animals that could then be found 5
quoting Doomfday Book for this faét, (a moft convenient book
to be referred to for purpofes of this fort, as it is not in every
perfon’s hands for confultation), But he has omitted to men-
tion that Edward the elder was married to Egwita, faid to
be a fhepherd’s daughter, which, whether true or falfe, ‘fhows
that the popular opinion was fo: And thepherds could not’be-
without fheep. He contends that the manufacture of wool was
Mever an obje& of any national confideration till after the
time of Edward III. But he forgets to account for the general
prejudice fo long ago eftablifhed of calling every ynmarried
woman in Britain a /pinflers If the practice had ‘not been
general, how could they have {tumbled on this incongruous
appellation ? or how could Jervafe of Canterbury, who lived
about the 1200, have been fo far miftaken on this fubject, as
to fay, that ** the art of weaving feemed to be a particular

gift beftowed upon the people of Great Britain by nature?” fo
diftant at that time feemed to be the origin of it. He quotes
an A& of Parliament of 3d Edward IIL. prohibiting the expor-
tation of wool; but hé omits to mention, that that a@
was to be in force only #i// otherwife ordained; that is, the
King fhould have it in his power to obtain a monopoly of
the fale of wool when he pleafed, to anfwer his own purpofes ;
or to extort fines for private licences to export wool : and thefe
were granted in abundance immediately after pafling that a@.
He might have quoted perhaps twenty fuch laws, had he
been defirous of it; all made with the fame intention, whiie

ER PE REE LO eed DS le ad

* Spelman is ftill more precife and accurate in his diftinc-
tions: He fays, «* Hxc ruris pars, ut occidentis reliqua, paf-
cendis ovibus magnopere exponitur. Plereque ville, aut unum,
aut duo, aut tria, interdum quatuor vel quingue millia nutri-
ant; ut intelligas proceres daglie apud Ed. I. de vedtigali lanis
impofito conquerentes, confulto affirmafle, opum regni diimidi-
wm in lanis confiflere.”’ Relig. Spelm. p. 162. é

"

256 REVIEW.——-WANSEY ON WOOL. _ O&. 26,

notwithftanding wool continued, without difpate, the chief
article of export from the kingdom. He fays, that the firft
fubiidy that was laid on cloths exported, was anno 1452,
though he might have known, that in the year 1346 the Com-
mons in Parliament petitioned the King that the duties on
eloth exported might be taken off ; which was refufed. He
contends, that the export of cloth from Britain was next to
nothing till the days of Richard Il. and Henry IV. when.
fome cloths were exported to the Baltic only in return for fith,
which were foon on the decline. But he forgets to remark,
that anno 1245,when commerce was prohibited cum Vallenfi-
bus, among other articles enumerated are, aliquot genus vidiua-
lium, ferrum vel acerum, vel pannom ; alfo, that anno 1362,
merchants aliens were forbid to tranfport woollen cloths, ex-
cept merchants of Almaigne and Gafcoin: And that anno
1389, on account of certain abufes prevailing in the manu-
facture of cloth, there fpecified, it is faid, ‘ that. merchants
that buy the fame, and carry them out of the realm to fell
to firangers,be many times in danger to be flain, and fome
times imprifoned, and put to fihe and ranfom.: Therefore, it
is ordained that no plain cloth, tacked and folded, fhall be
fet to fale.” Nor does he take notice, that by the éntercur.
Jus magnus concluded anno 1496, the Emperor ftipulates ‘ to
remit the duty of one florin, he had been in ufe to levy on
each piece of Englifh cloth imported into the Netherlands 3?
by which it is plain, that the exports of cloth thither had been
before that time confiderable, and long in uj.

He reprefents the woollen manufacture during the war of
the Rofes as gone entirely into decay, and afferts that our
wool was then exported to an unlimited extent : yet he admits,
that by 14tlt Henry VI. neither wools nor wool fels thall be .
exported, except to Calais, at that time a part of the King’s
dominions: That. by 3d Edward 1V._ no alien fhall export
wool, &c. but he does not advert, that by 1ft Edward IV. it is
enacted, “* That all woollen cloths made in any other region
brought into England fhall be forfeited to the King :??—and
that by 7th Edward IV. ‘ no perfon fhall carry into parts
beyond fea, any woollen yarn, or cloths mot fulled, and made
within this realm, upon pain of forfeiture.”

He fays, Henry VTL. effabli/hed the company of merchant
adventurers, whofe fole bufinefs was the exporting of cloths,

I¥OI. _ REVIEW.—WANSEY ON WOOLs oy

which, he juftly fays, was a great’ benefit to England; but he
fuppreffes the well known faét, that this company was original-
ly effablifhed by the 8th Henry IV. for the exprefs purpofe of
exporting cloth; and that Henry VIL. did no more than re-
new their old privileges, as had been done before by his prede-
ceflors, viz. 1{t Henry V. 8th Henry VI. qth Edward IV. and
ut Richard UI? which fhows that this company had been in
exiftence, and ative in their bufinefs of exporting cloth, dur-
ing almoft the whole time of the war of the Rofes. He gives
a long detail of the act granting to James I. a fubfidy on wool
for life ; and reprefents it in {uch a light as to make it feem
this was the firft grant of the kind that had ever been given;
as if it were not a notorious faét, that the fame fubfidy had
been granted for life to Elizabeth, as well as to her predecef-
fors, from the days of Edward LL. almoft in the very fame
terms. He even gues fo far as to affert, p. 43. that “ xo
avool was exported in Elizabeth's time!!! We puts great
faith—pgreat faith indeed—in the ignorance of his readers.

If tiere had been any thing that was not very generally
knowa, communicated in the defultory hints, that are {catter-
ed throughout this work, refpeéting the woollen manufa@ures
of Greeceand Rome ; of Perfia, Paleftine, and the antediluvian
world; on the ezpulfion of the Moors from Spain ; ‘the calci-
nation of fheeps bones; the manufadure of artificial {tone, and
various other particulars, equally foreign to the fubjed ; they
might at leaft have afforded matter of amufement to the curi-
ous reader; but as they are, they only ferve to add to the bulk
of this chaotic mafs, and to contribute their share in diftra@ing
the attention of the reader from the real obje& of difcuffion,

To follow this Will o’ the wifp through his wide and devi-
ous courfe, would be an unprofitable Jabour. To refute his
various unfounded affertions, would be an ungracious tafk ;
and, to quote all the authorities that might be adduced in
confirmation of the pofitions he attempts to controvert, would
fill a volume. In general, only, it may with truth be faid,
that there is not one argument adduced in this pamphlet, that
tends to invalidate a fingle pofition in the eflay he eNdeavours to
refute; and thefe pofitions might be fupported by many other
itriking facts, were it thought neceffary to adduce them. Of
bis own hypothefis, the following may ferye as a fpecimen :

Vol. Y. Kk. :

258 « _ REVIEW.—SWANSEY ON WOOL. O&. 26+
‘ :
This author admits, as has already been faid, that Britifh
wool was originally much finer than Spanith wool. He alfo
‘ allows that Spanifh wool is now much finer than Britifh wool.
The original fheep of Spain, he reprefents as carrying only a
-very coarfe wool, unfit for being wrought into cloth, and inca ©
pable of being thickened. The improvement of the Spanifh —
wool, he attributes gntirely to the permiffion that was given by
King Edward IV. in the year 1465, to King John of Arragon,
to tranfport into his dominions five rams and faventy ewes, of
the Cotfwold breed. And the debafement of Britifh wool, 4z
fays, bas arifen entirely from the improvement of our paftures, 9
_and the introduétion of turnips; which, he aferts (a mode of
arguing very convenient on fome occafions) tends greatly to
debafe the quality of the wool; although from the few ex-
periments that I have made on this fubjeét, it would rather
feem that thefe tend to improve'it. % Laiael
’ \'To a fober thinking perfon, no anfwer is requifite to refute —
thefe notions. 1t may, however, have its ufe, fimply to ob*
ferve, what cannot have efcaped the notice of this gentleman,
that it is not-the wool of; Arragon that conftitutes the fine
wool of Spain, but that of Ca/file, which was a feparate king:
dom for many years after the tranfaction he mentions. But L
shall produce another, and a much more fatisfaétory proof, that
he is entirely miftaken in all his cosjec?ures velpe&ing thé
nature of Spanith wool in antient times, and his fanciful idea
_of its mode of improvement. I have juft now before mea —
defeription of Spain, which was written in Arabic, about the |
year 730, by bulcacim Tarif Abentarique, who was one of
the Moorifh officers who affifted in the conqueft of Spain;
which was tranflated into Spanith by Miguel de Luna, Ara-
bic interpreter to Philip ll. of Spain, and printed in Gra=
nada, in one volume 4to, in the year 1599. This author
thus mentions the fheep of Spain: ** There are, fays he, in
this kingdom (Spain) a great many fheep carrying fine wool,
which are reared in fuch quantities, that its native inhabitants
never are in want of flefh for their fuftenance. They alfo
make of the wool of thefe flocks much fine cloth, of all colours, _
for their veftments*.”” In another place, fpeaking of the

* In cafe I be accufed of miftrarilating, the original.is here
inferted. ‘* Ay en efte reyno de Efpana muchos ganadop ove

$791. REVIEW.—-WANSEY ON WOOL, 289

tlergy, he fays, “ they are clothed in large robes of fine
woollen fluff t.? And, in a deféription of the fame kingdom,
written in the year 715, by Muza el Zanhani, governor of

Spain, to the- Calif, Facob Almanzor, he thus defcribes the
natives of that country, which had been fo lately conquered:
“ Tts inhabitants are a warlike people, and difplay great fpirit in
battle, —the men and women are of middle ftature, very beau-
tiful and difcreet,—their government and civil polity being
‘well adminiftered,—they are cloathed in fine woollen,—they.
are fond of ‘the military art—and breed many and vgry fine
horfes, &c.” + iz

Théfe are proofs fufficient, that there was much fine wool
then reared in Spain, and that it was manufactured into fine
éloths,’ many ages before the period that our author would
perfuade his readers they borrowed their breed of fine woolled
fheep from Britain. _ , ; ;

Mr W. alfo boldly afferts, p. 9. that the fine-woolled fheep
of Spain ‘* is a mere carrion, and never eaten’?!! Where the
author learnt this very curious fact he beft can tell. But I have
been taught a very different Jeffon by the author jut now
quoted; for he fays, “ that the mutton of the native fheep of
Spain is fo excellent as to be compared, for delicacy, to the
pullets of Alexandria §.” If therefore the fleth of their fheep be
now fo bad, it muft have been debafed when their wool was im-
proved by our ,Cotfwold breed:: And whe is fo ignorant as
hot to know that our finall hill and down fheep affords mutton.
that is mere carrion and cannot be eaten!!! To attempt to
refute fuch idle tales would be an affront to the underitanding
‘of the reader. ‘

jas y ¢arneros de jfiva lana, y fe crean en tanta contidad que

Jamas tienen neceffidad de carnes {us naturales moradores para

iu mantenimiento. Tambien bazen de la lana, defle ganado muy

FINOS PANOS para fu vefer de todos colores.”’ p. 61, part 2.

_ + * Tienen tus clerigosy religiofos; andan veflidos con ropas de
lana, bien largas.” Ib. p. 49.

t “Sus moradores fon gente bellicofa, y muy animofos para
la, guerra; las mugeres y hombres fon de mediana eftatura,
muy hermofos y difcretos tienen en fus.republicas bien govi-
erno y pulicia ; andan veftidos de fina lana; fon amigos del arte
militar, y affi crean muchos y muy buenos caballos.”” Ib. part

lL. p- 69.

t p His words are: “ Los carneros defte reyno de Bfpana fu
cdirne es de tan buen mantenimiento y fubftancia como las
gallinas de Alexandria.” p. 6.

260 Parliameniary Proceedings. O&. 26.

Upon the whole, this pamphlet difcovers confiderable inge-
nuity in its author. He has contrived very effe@tually to per-
plex a fubjeé&t that had been prefented to him ina plain and
intelligible point of view, which may render it very unintelligible
to thofe who look into this work for information, and may en-

gender a great many falfe notions that can only tend to be- —

wilder the candid inquirer, and miflead the indolent legiflator.

If the intention of the author was to convince the attentive
reader, that the prefent fy{tem of wool laws are not pernicious
to the country, he has failed in his aim; for he has not pro-
duced a fingle fact that tends to corroborate that opinion, nor
a fingle argument, if bold affertions are to be excluded, which,
if duly weighed, docs not militate again{t it.

N. B. The author has taken fome very unwarrantable free-
doms with the character of Dr Anderfon, of which he thinks

it beneath him to take any farther notice, than barely to ob- ~
ferve, that the faéts he has ftated are before the public; and ~
will be corroborated by others long after Mr Wanfey and him- ~

felf are both in their graves- The little room that could be
fpared for this article, has been appropriated to the produétion
of a very few other facts, illuftrative of the fame general princi-

ples.

Proceedings in Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Weftminfter Election.

Though it is by no means our intention in general to take notice of
petitions to the Houfe of Commons conmplaining of undue elections,
‘yet the following petition is fo different from any that bas ever
heretofore been prefented to the Houfe of Commons, and it will
prve to give to firangers fuch a fingular view of the nature of
that liberty enjoyed by the ‘fubjects of this countrys that it mt

- qwell be entitled to rank as an exception to a very general rule.

Thurfday, December 9. 1799-

MR MARTIN Celivered in the following petition. |
" «To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain, in Par-
liament affembled : :
; The Petition of Yohn Horne Tooke, Efq;
*¢ Sheweth, ‘ F ‘
«< That your petitioner now is, and at the time of the laft

cleétion for Weftminfter was, an elector for Weftminfler, and —

x

791. Parliamentary Proceedings, , 26%

, candidate to reprefent the faid city and liberty in the prefent
Parliament. That in the faid city and liberty there are feven-
een thoufand, two hundred, and ninety-one houfeholders,
ated in the parifh books, unreprefented in Parliament, and
ithout the means of being reprefented therein; although, by
irect and indirect taxation, they contribute to the revenue of
he ftate very confiderably more than thofe who fend a hundred
embers to Parliament. That, at each of the three laft elec-
ions for Weftminfter, (viz. in 1784, in 1788, and 1790,) noto-
ioufly deliberate outrage, and purpofely armed violence, was
fed; and at each of thete elections murder was committed ;
Chat, for thefe paft outrages, asif there were no attorney ge-
neral, no government, no legiflature in the land, not the leaft
drefs has been obtained, not the leaft punifhment, nor even
he leaft cenfure, inflicted ; nor has any remedy whatever been
ppointed, or attempted, to prevent arepetition of fimilar out-
ages in future: That, at the election for Weftmintter in 1784,
ferutiny was demanded in-behalf of Sir Cecil Wray, which
was granted on the 17th of May 1784, and, with the approba-
tion or direction of the then Houfe of Commons, was continu-
d till the third of March 1785, when a very {mall compara-
tive progrefs having been made, (viz. through the fall parifh
of St Anne, and not entirely through St Martin’s, leaving to-
tally untouched the parifhes of St George, St James, St Mar-
geret St John, St Paul, Covent Garcen, St Mary le Strand,
t Clement, and St Martin le Grand,) the faid fcrutiny was,
by the direétion or approbation of the Houfe of Commons, re-
linguifhed without effect, after having lafted ten months, and
with an expence to Sir Cecil Wray of many thoufand pounds
more than appears, by fome late proceedings in chancery, to
be the allowed average price of a perpetual feat in the Houfe of
Commons, where feats for legiflation are as natorioufly rented and
bought as the flandings for caitle at a fair.

** That, on the election for Weftmintter, in 1788, there be-
ing an abfolute and experienced impoffibility of determining the
choice of the eleétors by a fcrutiny before the returning officer,
a petition againft the return was prefented to the then Honfe
of Commons, by Lord Hood ; and another petition alfo againft
the return was prefented by certain electors of Weftminfter ;
and a committee was in confequence appointed, which com-
menced its proceedings on Friday, April 3. 1789, and continu-
ed till June 18, 1789, when the committee, as able and refpedt-
| able as ever were iworn to try and determine the matter of
any petition, on their oaths, ‘“‘Refolved, that, from the. pro-
grefs which the committee have hitherto been enabled to make
fince the commencement of their proceedings, as well as from

\
264 Parliamentary Proceedings. O&. 26: |

an attentive confideration of the different circumftances relat-°
ing to the caufe, a final decifion of the bnfinefs before them”
cannot:take place in the courfe of the prefent Seffion, and that
not improbably the whole of the prefent Parliament may be

confamed in a tedious and expenfive litigation.” ‘¢ Refolved,

that, from the neceflary lepgth of the proceeding, and from the

approach of a general eleGtion, which muft occur not later than

fpring 1791, (nearly two years more,) the profecution of the

caufe, on the part of the petitioners, promifes to be fruitlefs, as_
far as it refpects the reprefentation of ‘Weftminfter in the pre-

fent Parliament. Refolved, that it be recommended to’ the

petitioners to withdraw their petitions, under the fpecial cir-

cumftances of the cafe.”? That, notwithftanding this extraordi-

nary, and, perhaps, unparallelled application from a court of

juftice to its fuitors, Lord Hood, and the other petitioners,

having refufed to withdraw their refpedtive petitions, the pro-

ceedings of the committee continued till July 6.1789, when

a very {mall comparative progrefs having been made, the pe-

titioners, from a conviction of the impoffibility of any decifion

by the committee, were compelled to abandon their petitions,
without any effect, or tendency towards effect, after a tedious

and expenfive litigation of three months and three days; and

with an expence to the petitioning candidate of more than’
14,0001.

-« ‘That, under thefe circumftances, as the petitioner de-
clined demanding a fcrutiny before the returning officer, fo is
he compelled to difclaim all fcrutiny before a committee of the
Houfe of Commons. For although the aét of the roth of Geo.
YI. by which the faid committee is appointed, recites, in its
preamble, that, ‘* Whereas the prefent mode of decifion upon
petitions complaining of undue Elections or returns of members
to ferve in Parliament, frequently obftru¢ts public bufinefs, oc-
cafions much expence, trouble and delay to the parties, &c.°
for remedy thereof, &c.”? yet it would ‘be lefs expenfive, and
Jefs ruinous, to the petitioner, to be impeached, even accord-
ing to the prefent mode of conducting impeachments, and to
be convicted too of real crimes, than to be guilty of attempting
to obtain juftice for himfelf, and the injured electors of Weft-
minfter, by the chly mode which the few remedial ftatute of
the roth of Geo. III. has appointed for that purpofe, however,
well adapted that mode of decifion may be to fettle the dif-
puted.claims of the proprietors of fmall boroughs, for whofe
ufurped and fmuggled interefts alone, the framers of that bill,
and of thofe bills which have fince been built upon it, feem
to have had any real concern.

«< That by the 9th of Anne, chap. 5. the right of electors
(before unlimited by qualification in the objects of their choice)
is reftricted, in cities and boroughs, to citizens and burgeffes rc-

1791. Parliamentary Proceedings. 263

fpectively, having an eftate, freehold or copyhold, for their
own refpettive lives, of the annual value of three hundred
pounds above reprifes. That this very moderate reftriction, _
however vicious in its principle, leaving all citizens and bur-

' gefies eligible poffeffing life eftates, freehold or copyhold, of
the annual value of three hundred pounds, will henceforth
ferve only as a {nare to the candidate, and a mockery of the

~ele&tors, if fuch candidate, poffefling a life effate of three
hundred pounds a-year, muft expend fifty thoufand pounds
(and there is no probable appeararce that a hundred thoufand
pounds would be fiifficient) in attempting, by a tedious, ex-
penfive, and ineffectual litigation, to fuftain the choice of his
conftituents, and to prove himfelf duly elected.

» “That, though your petitioner complains, (as he hereby
does) of the undue election and return of Lord Hood and the
Right Honourable Charles James Fox to this prefent Parliament
for the city and liberty of Weftminfter, yet is your petitioner,
by a perfecution and profcription of more than twenty years,
difabled from making that pecuniary facrifice, which, by. the
prefent new mode ‘of inveftigation, is (but ought not to be)
neceflary effectually to prove fuch undue return; and yet your

titioner fully trufts, that, notwithflanding a very.great ma-
lotity of the Houfe of Commons (for fo it ftill. continues to be
ftyied) are not, as they ought to be, elected by the commons
of this realm, in any honeft meaning of the word commons, and
muft therefore naturally and neceffarily have a bias and intereft
againft a fair and real reprefentation of the people ; yet your
petitioner fully trufts, that he {hall be able to lay before a com-
mittee, chofen and fworn to’try and determine the matter of
this petition, evidence of fuch a nature, as that the committee
will, on their oaths, think proper to report to the Houfe fome
refolution, or refolutions, other than the determination of the
return ; and that the Houfe will make fuch order thereon as
to them fhall feem proper. And your pétitioner doubts not,
that, as an elector, at leaft, he fhall, in confequence, receive

-fuch redrefs, as will be much more important to him, ard to
‘the electors of Weftminfter, than: any determination of the re~
turn. JOHN HORNE TOOKE.”

When this very fingular petition had been read, Mr Pultney
fail, every petition complaining of an undue return, and pro-
pofing to inveftigate the merits of that return, the Houfe was

und to receive, and appoint a gommittee to confider ; but it
did not appear that this petition did in any part propofe to in-
vettigate the merits of the return; for which reafon, he thought
the petition ought to be rejeéted in the firft inftance.

Oa the motion of General Burgoyne, the vetition was read a
fecand time. ; 3 Pk.)

264 Parliamentary Proceedings. Od. 26.

Mr Fekyil thought the petition was highly injurious to the
Houfe, He faid it was a fcandalous and libellous compofition,

hich deferved to be feverely cenfured. He was therefore of
opinion, that the petition ought to be difmiffed with every
ba of contempt, and moved, ‘ that it be rejected according-
woe? \ r

This motion was feconded.

The Mafter of the Rolls faid, as the petition certainly com- |
plained of an undue return, it was from that circumflance en-
titled toa hearing, however improper it might bein other re-
ipects.

The Speaker faid, the petition was a moft impudent and inde-
cent attack oa the character and dignity of the Houfe. It
was unprecedented, which might induce hefitation about. the
proper mode of proceecing ; he thought it ought to be repro-
bated as an outrageous violation of the refpeét due tothe Houfe.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was juft come in, defir-
ed that the petition might be read a third time, which being —
‘done, he faid, that though it was juftly entitled tocenfure, yet,
on this occafion, he conceived the Houfe had no choice ; they
were bound to adhere to the letter of the a&, and were not at
liberty to ufe their difcretion.

Mr Bearcroft, though he admitted that the IIoufe were not
at liberty to ufe their diferetion, when. a proper petition was
prefented, yet he confidered the prefent as not coming under
that denomination, and was for rejecting it in the firft inftance.

The Mafter of the Rolls began now, he faid, to think with —
Mr Puliney, that the petition did» not. contain any complaint
‘that tended to bring the queftion to an iffue, and thought it
might be difmiffed.

Colonel Hartley agreed with the two former fpeakers.

Sir William Young concurred in opinion with them.

Mr Fox faid, it might perhaps appear improper in him to rife —
on this fubje&t, but he was convinced he fhould {peak without —
bias. He faid it was neceflary in this cafe to proceed with-
caution. The people were jealous of their privileges ; and juftly. |
The intention of the law authorifing the Houfe to appoint a
committee for trying elections, was evidently to take the power
of deciding from the Houfe at large ; but if they were to exer-
cife their difcretion in admitting or rejecting petitions in the
firft inftance, they would affume a power that the act evident-
ly intended they fhould not exercife. From this confideration,
whatever might be the libellous nature of the petition, he thought
they could not Jegally prevent it from going to a committee, :

The Chancellor of the Exchequer concurred entirely with him |
in this point, and after a few more obfervations, it was ordered ‘
to be taken into confideration on the 4th of February. |

(The proceedings in this cafe te be coucluded in our next.)

ae TH ae E.

ode Lea a : , pe
LITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,
FOR

_‘wEpnespay, November 2, 1791. ~ i

4

——

ON WIT.
eh ae ch [Competition Pieces)

TE Bb To the Editar of te Beiy-

Phere are whom Heay’ n hath bich with fores af Wit: 2 POPE.

4

Sir, ”

Cao definitions ate the neceflary foundation of : “i
accuracy of conception, and jultnefs of argument.
Whether Wit may properly be called the knowledge
of caufes, relations, and effects; whether, with the poet;
we are to fay it confifts in expreflion, or with Myr

Locke, that it is the art of diftinguifhing refemblances

in objects which differ from each otha 1 fhall not now
be at the pains to enquire, It is the peculjar felicitpof
the wit of which I {peak, that it is of fo multifarious a

defeription as to be beyond the power of definition, and
Vor. Ve + IL 1

if

we

266 ON WIT. Nov. 2,

fo commonly exerted as not to ftand in need of it. In-
deed its nature may be explained by its effets; and
fuch is the difference between this and the ideal learn-
ed wit before mentioned, that .the degree of it, in any
given inftance, may always be moft accurately afcer-
tained by the diftortion of mufcles which follows from
it, or the loudnefs of the laugh which it provokes. ‘The
multitudes of thofe who with to obtain it, the eager-
ne{s with which they ftrive, the exultation they mani-
feft, and the many real fufferings they will undergo for
its fake, all confpire to furnifh ftriking arguments for
the importance of the excellence which I am recom-
mending. And there is another proof of its import-
tance, if poifible, {till more convincing. Mboralifts,
when they wifh to inculcate a virtue, often infift upon
this argument, and a very good argument it is, that
what they recommend will abide with its poffeffor in’
the lofs of other things, and compenfate for the want
of them. Now, how ftrikingly does this apply to wit,
which, by the common confent of mankind, not only
makes up for other deficiencies, but feéms even to
fhine the brighteft, when no other excellence fupports
it; which can make a man pleafed with himfelf with-
out a grain of virtue, and pleafe others without a grain
of common fenfe. Of-{uch importance is Wit.

Purpofing to treat of it in the moft methodical man=
ner, I fhall, in the firit place, mention the different
kinds of which it confilts, and, fecondly, give fome di-
rections for the attainment of it. Philofophers, in-
deed, have feemed to intimate, that Wit is a ftable and
permanent thing; but I thall endeavour to prove, in
oppofition to thefe philofophers, that it is quite the
contrary ;=that not mercury is more volatile, not lefs
changeable the wind.

Of thefe kinds there are three more efpecially fa-
mous ;—the wit of a fcholar, the wit of a man of fa-
ihion, and the wit of a country {quire. ’

791. ON WIT. 267

The wit of the fchclar is fometimes your dry wit;
but the chief excellence of it lies in being as little un-
derftood as may be. What would become of Wit if
we always knew where it lay? Where would be thofe
burfts of mirth which fet the table in a roar; thofe
merry chinkings; thofe widely extended mouths, {peech=
lefs in all the extafy of laughing, were it not from fome
caufe unknown? Yes;*the Wit of which I {peak de-
pends not upon words finely fet together, nor upon
iparkling fentiments, which grow ftale by repetition,

and pall upon the fenfe; it depends upon nature and
natural fympathy, like electric fire it darts from link to
jink, from breait to breaft : its caufe is deep as’philo-
fophy, and like the larum, it rattles till it is down.
The only danger is left we fhould wholly fail in our
attempt : but the prize is great, and we cannot hazard
too much for it. Happy would it be for us, if we can
adopt the language of that honeft gentleman who could
fay, he was equally well pleafed whether the company
Jaughed with him or at him.

The wit of men of fafhion is quite another thing,
All the beauties of affected mifunderftandings,
the delicate double entendre, are theirs: their’s is the
witty pun, and verfes jingling in all the oddities of
thyme. I cannot, however conceal, that none of
thefe are neceflary qualities of this fpecies of Wit;
fince they may be, and, in fact, often’ are, difpenfed
with in favour of another ingredient, namely, /wearing ;
a term which perhaps may need fome explanation.—
Swearing confifts of a number of words, not forming a
complete fentence, but thought to have a peculiarly
grateful effect upon the ear, and fuppofed to unite ina
{mall compafs all the quinteflence of gaiety, fentiment,
and Wit. Scholars, indeed, are vehemently againft
this figure, and never make ufe of it. ‘They pretend
to fay, that the words alluded to by no means anfwer
this defeription, but are naturally harth and difcordant ;
that they have no reafon in them; tlt the fillieft of

L132

268 ON WIT? - Nov. 2,

men may make-ufé; of them, and that the wife never
will. Ifhall not take upon me to decide upon the
controverfy. Let every one judge for himfelf, after hay-
ing faithfully confulted both fides of the queftion. I
mult, however, remark, that I am/of opinion with a
very learned author, that terms more ftriking may be
found; and» that the words bottle and |gla/s, for inftance),
if introduced into every fentence, with that variety of
modifteation of which they are! capable, would moft
certainly produce a much wittier effect. Itlis cut ofa
defire to bring the wit of men ‘of fafhion’ tovits hiphet
perfection that I would earneftly recommend them,
without:delay, to fubititute thefe words inftead of thé
other. Pont a f ‘ i
| The wit of the lcountry fquire ‘is the laft fpecies I
mentioned, and it is eflentially different from the other
two. It confilts of a complete round of merry {tories,
iteafured up in the brain, and brought forth as occa~
fion-may feive. There is great difficulty, however, in
introducing them properly. Hic Jabor hoc opus eft.: The
moft adroit man at this that I know, is my old friend
John Vickerbank, Efq; member of Parliament, who
shaving but two favourite {tories, and both unfortunates
ly on the fame fubject, if the company happen to be
talking of fmoaking chimnies, Irifh‘blunders, no mate
ter which, or what ufed,. when it came tohis turn to
fpeak, moft conftantly begins with thefe’ words ;—
‘© This puts me in mind of a very good ftory about 4
horfe.”. Youthful. feats of hunting, flings at the parfon
of the parifh, and one or two funny tales about the hard-
thips of fchools, might furnifh a .complete circle ot
witticifms, and enable a man to live in the country
with credit, I forbear, however, tovenlarge in defcrip>
tion here, from this confideration, that thofe who have
been in the way of hearing thefe things, will probably
have the pleafure of hearing them again from the foun-
tain-head, and as for others, they may not be able to
tec the beauty ef it.

179%." ON WIT. 269

I proceed to give fome general dire€tions towards the
attainment of this happy talent. And, in the firlt place,
let me recommend {wearing:' I have indeed, in fome
meafure anticipated this, and therefore fhall only
mention one advantage of it, which has not, as I know
of, been infifted on, before. The benevolent origin
and defign of fwearing.. Some:perfon or other, perhaps
in the feodal times, lamentiwg the great -diftance there
was between different ranks: of men, ‘and animated
with true philanthropy, endeavoured, if poffible, to
introduce a practice which would effectually level all
the pride of diftinction,—place the learned: and the
unlearned, the genius and the fool on the fame bot-
tom, and make the heir of a crown, and the fweeper
of a chimney able to appear equally witty, and equally
wile. :

adly, If you would make others laugh, ‘laugh your-
felf. This is agreeable (mutatis mutundis ) to the di-
rect rule of Horace, who tells us in fo many words.
«6 Si bis me flere, dolendum eft primum ipf tibi.” Tf you
laugh, you will, as Shakefpear himfelf informs us, fet
on aquantity of fpectators to. laugh too. But we have no
need to rely upon authority for this. Upon. refle€tion
the plan will approve itfelf to your feverett judgement ;
for confider, your wit will either be fuccetsful or not 5
if it be fuccefsful, having begun with a laugh, you will
be doubly bleffed, and if: not fuccefsful, you will at

_leaft.be upon a level with your luckieft neighbours ;
they have gained the fruit of their labours at laft: you -
got paid before hand.

3dly, Always make long prefaces. O! how many
moft excellent wits for want of this have I feen, as
Gray pathetically defcribes,
“« Born to blufh unfcen, BS
“ And wafte their fweetnefs in the defart air!”

befides itis the rudeft thing in nature, it proves you

unaccuftomed to good company, and is a direét affront
to thofe you converfe with, fuppofing them deftitute of

ly ON' WIT. Nov. 2,

that perpetual abfence of mind, which is the heigth
of gentility. Always, therefore, begin with fome

fuch expreflion as this, ** 1 am now going to. tell the
very beft witticifm you ever heard, This will raife —
curiofity, it will excite admiration.

4thly, If you,would be a real wit, endeavour to get
rich as foon as you can. To fuperficial minds,* this
may feem an odd dire€tion. The wife and experienced,
however, know that a witty faying from a man worth ten
thoufand pounds will always have a much finer effect |
(ceteris paribus ) than another from a man worth only
five ; and fo in proportion for any larger fum. '
Once more let me advife you to: repeat your favou-
rite {tories ovet and over. ‘This will give you a won-
derful facility of expreflion, and happy command of
gefture; you will learn where to paufe, when to look
grave, and the critical moments whenyou mutt boldly
, lead on the laugh. What think you would become of
all,the wit of the play-houfe, were not all the niceties
of ftage-effect ftudied before hand at home? There is
indeed danger here, left’ he who laughed with you
yefterday fhould be your hearer again to day. This is |
awkward, and may fpoil your reputation. There are
two approved methods of getting over this, one by a
fly nod to your friend to bribe him into filence, and
the other by making your ftory into a good old ftory,
I generally prefer the former,. | 1 '
THALIA.

= = ra

On Gothic Architefure, confidered as an Obje of Tafte,
‘ ( Continued from p. 200.)

By a mode of reafoning, fimilar to that purfued in our
formernumber, we might be alfoledtoconclude, that the
infide of aGothic cathederalis conftruéted upon principles
of true tafte; for, I bélieve no perfon who was ever made

~

1791. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, 27%

to enter one of thefe ftrugturesy did not feelhis mind af-
fected with a ftrong fenfation of dignity and grandeur,
communicated by the view of the furrounding objects.
Nothing is indeed more common than to hear thofe
very perfons, who, from the prejudices they have im-
bibed in favour of Grecian pepntieetiene, are perpetu-
ally bufied in criticifing and condemning as barbarous
and incongruous every particular refpecting” Gothic
ftru€tures, acknowledging, at the fame time, that
thefe ftruCtures never fail to produce this ftriking effect
on the mind of every beholder. But if even the force
of habit and prejudice cannot overcome the power of
this fuperior charm, we fhall, I think, be forced to ac-
knowledge that ‘thofe artifts who have been able to
difcover the means by which this effect might be pro-
duced, have not been entirely ignorant of the funda-
mental principles of the beautiful, and the fublime.

Perfons who are entirely niiprejudieed in regard to
objects of this nature, and who have never perhaps
heard of Grecian or of Gothic architecture, or who
know not in what refpects they differ from each other,
in general go farther than the others. ‘They, for the
moit part, are ready to allow that their minds are, on
thefe occafions impreffed, not only with a fenfation of
grandeur and dignity, but with a.chearful elevation
alfo, that produces an inexplicable ferenity and pleafure,
extremely different from that fombre gloom, with
which they g are affected on entering under the maflive
vaulted roofs of the few fuperb churches in this ifle,
which are built in the moft {plendid and expenfive man-
ner, according to the Grecian {tile of apehitecture:
If thefe facts are fo, we fhould naturally be led to con-
clude, that though the Grecian ftructures, when built
upon the trueft model, are indeed calculated to pleafe,
when viewed from suithaues yet that, in regard to the
elegance of internal componia, they are found to be
far inferior to thc beft models that remain of Gothic
architecture.

.-

272 GRECIAN AND, GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Nov..2;

_ In a matter of this confequence, however, I-would
“not be underftood to {peak decifively, or rafhly to draw.
any conclufion. The utmoft that ought to be attempted,
fhould be to refer this point to the determination of
. experiment, and to.abide by that decifion for the pre-
fent, if any decifion can be made, whatever that may
be. i tam ‘oft

Suppofing then the matter to be, ftill undecided,
and that an unprejudiced fpe€tator was to be intros
duced, firft into a Gothic cathedral in its beft ftile,
and then into St. Paul’s, London, which is the moft
fuperb ftru€ture of this. kind in Britain, according to
the Grecian mode, and try if we could perceiye what
would be the objeéts that would moft ftrongly attract
his notice, and the effects they would naturally excite
in his mind. 8 Hea

In the firft place, the delicate round columns of the —
Gothic pile would catch the eye, and by exhibiting a —
pleafing figure, would naturally lead it from the bafe —
along the dhaft to its top, where the {mall ribs divaricat- |
ing in an eafy manner, without unnatural breaks or
chafms of any kind, invite the eyes, imperceptibly to _
fteal along the whole of the widely fpreading roof,
every part of which being light and chearful, excites a_
fort of exhilerating fenfation*. In the mean while, ”
the regular rows of pillars, on each fide, decreafing in
width, and deminifhing in heigth as their diftance in-—

* Apchite&ts have taken pleafure to defcrihe the circumftances that
excited ideas to the Grecian architect, and to point out the objects that
ferved for the models of the various particulars of that ftile of architec-
ture. ‘The bole of a tree ferved as a model for the fhaft of the co«
lumn. A ftone placed below it, to prevent its finkiffg into the ground,
was the origin of the plintts A bandage at top and bottom, to prevent
it from fplitting, gave rife to the bafe and the capital. A beam at top, —
to keep the whole firm and fteady, forrned the architrave, Scantlings,
mortoifed into that beam to {upport the roof, fuggeited the idea of the
Doric trigliph ; and every perfon has heard of the bafket with the acan-
thus leaves growing round it, which fuggeited the hint to the artift for
the Corinthian capital.

ij7gl. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. 273

ereafes, and the diftin& portions of the roof regularly
{pringing from each column, and deminifhing as they
recede from the eye by a natural perfpective, mark the
diftance there in a more regular and pleafing manner,
and with le{s effort of the beholder than ever yet has
been effeCted by any other mode. The mind is thus
led to form, without difficulty or confufion, a diftiné
idea of the vatt dimenfions, and great regularity of the
-whole. ‘When the eye glances too, on each fide, the
columns are fo open as not to hinder its progrefs. The
_ near windows on the fides are diftinétly feen, the pil-
lars that feparate thefe windows, with their divaricat-
ing arches fupporting the roof receding in regular per-
fpective, till they are at laft gradually loft behind the
prominent parts, leaves the mind at freedom to
_ purfue their courfe in idea; long after thefe parts are
hid from the eye. The figures too of men and other
animals that are feen inany part, being always fully il-
luminated, are fhown to great advantage, and ferve as
a natural ‘feale for meafuring the fize of every part.

“o> ‘ ;

No one, however; feems to have examined the Gothic architecture,
or taken the trouble to fpend a thought about the origin of that ftile of
-conftruction peculiar to it; and therefore we have not heard any thing
of the objects that ferved for a model to the artiit; though it feems to
me much more obvious than theie hints refpecting the Grecian ftiles
A growing tree, with all its branches fpreading wide, intermingling
with thofe of others around, and forming above a clofe covering by its
thick foliage, has been obvioufly the architype of the beautiful objects
we at prefent contemplate. The column reprefents the bole, and the
ribs, diverging on every fide, reprefent the branches. ‘The rounded
ribs that frequently are feen to mark the ftem of the tree, a great way
below the place where the branch leaves it, has even given rife obvi-
oufly to the idea of thofe ribs, or rods, as they have been called, of the
Gothic column. ‘The refemblance is fo exact as cannot fail to ftrike
every one as foon as it is pointed out. Indeed no obje& purely arti-
ficial, I ever faw, is fo exa& an imitation of a natural one, (if
the reader will pardon. the finall inaccuracy of calling trees planted int
rows natural objets,) than the gencral appearance of the view along
the aifle of a large cathedral, terminated»by its window, and a vifta
open at the end, formed by ‘parallel ftraight rows of trees; as every
perfon who has been much in the country mutt hive remarked,

Vor. V. + - Mam

274 GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Noy. 2,

Amidft fuch an affemblage of great and ftricking ob-
jects, it is fcarcely pofhible to fuppofe that any human
mind fhould be fo torpid as not to be roufed into ar-
dour, if not exalted into enthufiafm.

On the other hand, on entering into St. Paul’s by
the weft door, the mafly /quare pillars, on either fide,
firft prefent themfelves, and fo totally exclude the view,
that thefe pillars appear to be the walls and bounda-
ries of the church +. ‘The folid vault above, unbroken

Explanation.

+ To illuftrate the reafoning in the text, let us fuppofe the
plate below reprefents the plan of ‘the infide of a cathedral, di-
vided by~a line in the middle, AD, one half of which is laid out in the
way, that cathedrals built in the Grecian ftile ufually are, with thick
walls, and maffey fquare pillars, refembling’ thole of St. Paul’s. ‘The
other half is divided according to the Gothic ftile, with round co-
lumnhs, thin walls, and buttreffcs. In order to illuftrate, in fome

i a et

oe ee

meafure, the different appearance cach of thefe prefent to the eye,a —

perfon is fuppofed to be placed near the door, at G. on looking
around, without leaving his place, he will fee all thofe parts of the
ftructure that are left quite white; but thofe which are concealed from
his eye by the pillars and columns are flightly fhaded. From this view,
therefore, it appears, that were the proportions exactly as here deli-
neated he would get a fight on the Gothic fide, of no lefs than ten
fide windows more or lefs diftinctly, (one of them twice -feen)
which are the whole of the windows in this plan; But on the Grecian
fide he would get only a full view of one window, and a flight peep of
other two. He would likewife fee, more or lefs diftingtly, no lefs than
eight of the outer row of columns on the Gothic fide, with a full view of

rs es r ify Ui;
pip ny Wi
dp, lyyyh ary,

179%. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, 275

by any line that can mark its receding diftance, and
thrown into a deep fhade by the fide pillars, the deep
architrave, and projecting cornice that runs uniformly
along the whole, gives an idea of a long and fombre
vault, a fit receptacle for the tombs of our deceafed an-
ceftors. The mafly fquare pillars too, when at a very
fmall diftance from the eye, have their parts fo indif-
tinétly marked, as to appear merely one folid wall,
forming a long and narrow tube rather than a vifta,
terminated by a diftant window; the only {tricking ob-
jet in the whole. ‘To this window, the eye is initinc-
tively carried, without marking the intermediate ob-
jects, as it is to the aperture of the objedt-glafs of a
telefcope. Thus it happens, that though the church
be, in reality, very large, and the feparate parts of it
magnificent ; yet as thefe parts are fo entirely detached
from each other, as not to be feen in a conneéted view
in any one place the effect is loft, and it is only after

the divaricating ribs of all their arches above, but on the Grecian fede

he could fee only three windows, and oneof thefe-yery flightly indeed.
The one firucture, therefore, from this point of view, muft appear greatly
larger, more diftin@ and lighter (by which term jis here meant lefs
heavy or clumfy, not better illuminated) than the other.

As to lightnefs, properly forcalled, in oppofition to darknefs, or the de-
greé of illumination that ‘each of thefe admits of, the difference in favour
of the Gothic tru@ure is much greater than inregard tothe particular here
explained. ‘This might be illaftrated in the fame manner, by drawing
lines from the edges of the windows to the columns and pillars on either
fide, and reprefenting the fhades produced in either fides by lines of
different tents; but this, to be properly done, would require feveral
plates, and would after all appear fo complicated, as to be intellegible,
only to afew. Men acquainted with fpeculations ‘of this fort, can ea>
fily fatisfy themfelves in this manner, by an actual diagrain of every
particular refpecting this circumftance, but one, ‘which is, the making
allowance for the windows in the middle nef of the Gothic building,
which are totally excluded from the Grecian. When allthefe particu-
lars are conjoined together, it willno longer appear furprifing, that the
one fhould appear fo fpacious, light, exhilerating, and chearful in com-
parifon of the other, though the real dimenfions fhould be the fame in
both; and the quantity of materials confumed on the Grecian plan, and.
the expence of building it, be inconceiveably greater than on the Gothic,

WN. B. Theengraver has, by miftake, made the columns too fmall.
M 2

275 GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.’ Nov. 2,

the whole has been ranged over again and again, as.if
in a large building confifting of many apartments, that
the mind can be enabled, with great labour, to form
even then but an inadequate idea of the fize and magiir
ficence of the whole.

In the above defcription I have taken no notice of the
dome ; becaufe this is an adventitious idea in architec-

ture, entirely borrowed from the central Janthern of .

the Gothic ftructure, not at all belonging to the Gre-
cian ftile. For though Michael Angelo, who built the
model from which St Paul’s was copied, conceived the firft
hint of the beauty of that rotundity of figure from the
Pantheon at Rome, yet it is plain to the moft fuperficial
obferver, that the idea of placing it in the centre, and
of fupporting it upon open pillars, and of illuminating it
by windows oneyery fide, aboye the level of the roof of
the other parts of the building, were all borrowed from
the lantern towers in the middle of Gothic cathedrals,
which were introduced into univerfal practice long be-
fore Buonuoretti was born. If, therefore, this part of
the ftructure deferves praife, it ought to be referred: to
the Gothic, rather than the Grecian ftile of architec-
ture ;—and it will, I believe, be admitted, that though
the dome be the only objeét in this cathedral which
produces a great and ftriking effect, it has that effect
much diminifhed, by its being prepofteroufly allied with
the ponderous mafles, abrupt angles, and heayy projec-
tions of the Grecian ornaments with which it is here
conjoined, in comparifon of what it would have had if
reared in the lighter manner, fo-characteriftic of the
Gothic ttile.

It ought not, however, here to efcape notice, that
though the advocates for the Grecian ftile of architec-
ture infift chiefly on the fewnefs and fimplicity of its
parts, as its moft chara¢teriftic feature of elegance and
beauty, when compared with the Gothic, which is,
{ay they, fo much broken and confufed as to give ng,

@791. GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. 277

diftine&t idea of a whole, and have been fo blind as to
repeat the fame obfetvation times innumerable, after
the dome of St. Paul’s has been erected under our own
eye ; though, when compared with the plain fimplicity
of the infide of any great central tower of our Gothic
cathedrals, it plainly appears to be only a mafs of con-
fufion, arifing from the complication of pillars, archi-
traves, arches, cornices, pilafters, and other various
parts, piled above each other, without any connection,
that affords the snoft ftriking contraft in favour of the
fimplicity and fewnefs of parts of the Gothic, when
compared with the Grecian ftile of architecture in this
-refpe&. Let us not, however, blame the Greeks, the
inventors of this kind of architecture, for thefe abfur-
dities.—They are perfectly innocent of the crime.——.
Their obje€&t was to adorn the external part of their
temples, and they contrived devices by which that could
be,done with good effect; but their imitators in after
times, blinded by an overweening prejudice in favour
of thefe artifts, permitted not themfelves to confider and
weigh the merits of their invention, and calmly to dif-
criminate what were the purpofes it was alone calcu-
lated to anfwer; but with a bigotted veneration idoli-
zed the invention, and deemed it capable of anfwering
every purpofe more completely than any other device
that could be contrived. Ridiculous ornaments, there-
fore, in imitation of the grand and ftately column, have
been carved on maflive pillars, to ferve as abuttments
for arches ;—nor could the architrave, which, as orizi-
nally applied, was a moft effential and neceflary part of
the ftructure, be here difpenfed with ;—mimic co-
Jumns, ftanding on columns, arches within arches, and
cornices encircling one another, have beén introduced
in the infide of our buildings, where they ferve no other
purpofe than to perplex the eye, and to mark the po-
verty of ideas of the fervile imitator who thus mifap-
plied them. Ranges of columns, or the mean imita-
tons of thefe, pi/afers, have been piled above each

949% GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. Nov. 2y

other till they reached the fkies, and till, by the fmall-
nefs of their fize, and poornefs of their relief, they have
even almoft eluded the eye entirely. ‘Thus has the co- °
jumn, which was originally grand, from its maflive di-
menfions, and fublime from the fimplicity of its parts,
been degraded into a puerile and ninny ornament.—
Thefe have often been huddled together into clufters that
exhibit not the flighteft mark of that dignity which
formed their only characteriftic feature at their birth.
The infide of St. Paul's dome affords a moft ftriking
proof of the painful efforts that have been required to
pervert thefe ornaments from their original ufe, and to
group them together into an incongruous mafs for
ferving purpofes that they never were capable of an-
fwering. St. Stephen’s, Walbrook, that ftructure
which has been fo highly praifed, affords another {pe-
cimen of an abortive attempt at mimicking the light-
nefs of Gothic archité€ture, while the Grecian ftile of
ornaments were to be retained.—But this I fhall have
occafion to confider at fome future period.

ON OMENS, ALBANICUS.
To the Editor of the Bee,
Sir,

{ PRESUME it may not be un-entertaining to many of
your contemplative readers to caft their eye upon the
following very remarkable coincidences of political
events, in refpe€t of circumftances, times, and per-
fons, from which, however, I am very far from pre-
tending to draw any particular inferences with refpect
to the intention of Divine Providence, which in its final
caufes and government, muft ever be infcrutable to the _
human underftanding. . :
Among George Ballard’s MSS. in the Bodelyan Lib-
tary, Oxford, theré is afioriginal letter from Dr Geo.

Loney | OMENS, ALBANICUS. 279

Hickes to Dr Charlett, dated January 23, 1710-11,
from which the following paflage was tran{cribed:
«I can defer fending my humble thanks no longer
for your kind new-year’s gift, the {tately almanack, and -
the Orationes ex Poetis Latinis; where, after looking
upon the title-page, I happened to dip in p. 46. where
Icaft my eye on the Sortes Virgiliane of Charles I.

At bello audacis populi vexatis, &c.

«‘ This gave me fome melancholy reflections for an
hour or two, and made me call to my, mind the omens
that happened at the coronation of his fon James II.
which I faw, viz. the tottering of his crown upon his
head, the broken canopy over it, and the rent flag hang-
ing upon the White Tower over againft my door, when
I came home from the coronation. It was torn by the
wind, at the fame time the fignal was given to the
Tower that he was crowned. I put no great ftrefs
upon omens, but I cannot defpife them. Moft of them,
I believe, come by chance, but fome from fuperior in-
tellectual agents, efpecially thofe which regard the fate
of nations.”

General Burgoyne, who was chairman of the com-
mittee of the Houfe of Commons, when the plunder-
ers and oppreffors of the Eaft were fuffered to pafs un-
punifhed, was the firft Britith general who was forced
to behold a Britifh army pile their arms to rebellious
fubjects. { |

Scotland was the great abettor of the unjuft war
with the American colonies, and on St. Andrew’s day
the Parliament of England paffed the refolution to re-
duce America to obedience by force. On the fame
anniverfary, did the whole power of Britain by its re-
prefentative at Paris fign the preliminary articles, by
which America was acknowledged to be a fovereign
and independent nation, and the great Franklin figned
the definitive treaty on the 23d of January, in the
fame drefs he had been infulted in the Houfe of Lords,
that day being alfo the anniverfary of the motion of

286 GMENS, ALBANICUS. Now. 23

Lord Chathain to withdraw the fleets and armies from
North America.

Earl Cornwallis was forced ona point of militery —

honour to ferve againft America though he had pro-
tefted againft the principle of it in parliament.

If he drew his {word againft his will; and againft
his confcience, he was futhciently punifhed by being
forced to furrender another Britifh army, and to put
the laft hand to the dif-memberance of the Britifh em-

ire.

Thefe are inftances of what we call in Scotland,

reading of fins in punifhments. As to the operation of

the elements in determining revolutions, as in the

year 1688 when the prince of Orange’s fleet landed .

without oppofition on the coaft of England, in fight of a
much fuperior force; the difperfion of the Spanifh
Armada, and the like, I leave thefe to fuitable reflec-
tion. I pretend not to make any of my own, but fub-
{cribe myfelf,
Sir, your humble fervant
* ALBANICUS.

AN APOLOGUE. CRESCIT OCCULTO.
To the Editor of the Bee.

[ Competition Picce.|

An apologue may be defin’d,
A fimile fufpended,
‘That archly fhews the author’s mind,
His aim a while extended.
The fimilie, if quaint and new,
And quickly underftood,
And gains the end he has in view,
The apologue is good.
To juftify my definition,
Take Phzdrus from the thelf,
To fupercede a difquifition,
I give you one myfelf,
'

:
i

]
4
i

1791 AN APOLOGUE: - 28%

J Possess a field of confiderable extent.—The foil is
capable of improvement ; and is cultivated with dili=
gence, if not with fuccefs.—The fences are of different
kinds, and are in pretty good repair.

I have divided my poffeffion into yarious. parcels ;—
and to each have allotted trees, fhrubs, grains, plants,
and flowers, correfponding to my ideas of dignity, uti-
lity, beauty, and effect. In the principal divifion are
the trees of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and
Evil. Ihave reared the oak, the fir, the myrtle:—
Many fruit-trees have I planted, and I promife myfelf
much profit from my orchard. I am pleafed particu-
Jarly with the appearance of fruit from the crab, which
thrives: well.

‘Though my trees claim my chief care, I find much
employment and amufement, and much advantage too,
in my corns, my fhrubbery, and my parterres. Here
the vacant hour is agreeably beftowed ;—here conver=
fation is pleafant ;—here imagination is indulged ;—
here devotion is aflifted and cherifhed ;—here beauty
charms ;—here mufic enchants ;—here odours regale ;
—here nature finiles. It isin this quarter, efpecially,
that the bee may find it’s dear and delightful objedts ;
and from them extract it’s wax and food for itfelf, and
for the ufe of it’s mafter.

Is not this the fpeech of Vanity, and of the difeafe of
Authorfhip? The writer, forfooth, confiders himfelf
a man of iufficient prudence to defend and fecure his
powers and his knowledge. He is a theclogian, and
is chiefly verfant in ferious fubjects. He afpires to fub-
limity ;—he ftudies utility ;—he withes to impart plea~
fure. Intelletual and: moral improvement and enjoy-
ment are carefully promoted. ‘The knotty ftaff and
four fruit of fatire he confiders to be ufetul and nes
ceffary. |

Vou. V. + Nin

282 AN APOLOGUE. ~ Nov. 2, |

It is eafy to fee that his fhrubbery, corns,. and
flowers, are diflertations, effays, verfes ; the effufions of
wit and humour, of affection and friendfhip ; and that
he very modeftly propofes to become a contributor to |
the Bee.

December 16, 1790-

Extra of a Letter from Monf. de Crofne to the celebra-
; ted Monf. Neckar.

Lo the Editor of the Bee.
Sir,
"Tue following is a faithful tranflation of an extract
of a letter from Monf. de Crofne, Intendant of Rouen,
to the celebrated Monf. Neckar, then dire€tor-general
of the finances: the letter is dated 17th December 1777.

« At nine o’clock, P. M. on the 31ft of Auguft laft,
a veflel from Rochelle, laden with falt, manned by
eight hands, and having two paffengers on board, was
difcovered making for the pier of Dieppe. The wind
was at that time fo high, and the fea fo much agitated,
that a coafting pilot made four fruitlefs attempts to get
out and conduct it fafe into port. One of the name of
Bouffard, a bold and intrepid pilot, perceiving that the
helmfman was ignorant of latent danger, endeavoured
to dire& him by a fpeaking trumpet and fignals; but»
the captain could neither fee nor hear by reafon of the
darknefs of the night, the roaring of the winds, and
the extraordinary {well of the fea. ‘The veflel, mean-
while, grounded on a flinty bottom, at thirty toifes
from the advanced mole. ;

Bouffard, touched with the cries of the unfortunate |
crew, refolved to fpring to their afliftance, in fpite of |
every remoni{trance, and the apparent impoflibility of |
fuccefs. Accordingly he caufed remove his wife and |)
children, who prefled him to ftay on fhore; tied one |

1791. DISINTERESTED MAGNANIMITY. 283

end of arope about his wafte, faftened the other to
the mole, and plunged headlong into.the boifterous
element. When ,he had got very near the fhip, a
wave carried him off, and dafhed him on thore.—
‘Twenty times fucceflively. was he thusrepulfed, rolled
upon flinty ftones, and covered by the. wreck of the
veflel, which the fury of the waves tore rapidly to pieces,
He did not, however, abate his ardour. A fingle
wave dragged him under the fhip. . He was given up
for loft, but he quickly emerged, holding in his arms
a failor, who had been wathed overboard. He brou ght
him on fhore, motionlefs, and juft expiring. In fhort,
after an infinity of efforts and {truggles, he reached the
wreck, and threw his rope on-board. All who had
force enough left to avail themfelves of this afliitance,
tied it about them, and were dragged to land. ,
«© Bouffard, who imagined he had now faved all the
crew, weighed down by fatigue, and fmarting from
his wounds and bruifes, walked with great difficulty to
the light-houfe, where he fell down and fainted through
weaknefs. Afliftance being quickly procured, he dif
charged a load of falt water, and began to recover his
fenfes. On hearing that groans ftill ifflued from the
wreck, he once more colle¢ted the little ftrength that
was left him, rufhed from the arms of thofe who fuc-
coured him, plunged in again, and had the good for-—
tune to fave the life of one of the paflengers, who was
lafhed to the wreck, and who, in his languid ftate,
had been unable to profit of the afliftance adminiftered
to his companions.—* Two fouls perifhed out of ten,
_ and their bodiesavere found on the following day.”
Monf. Necker addreffed the following lines, in his
own hand writing, to Bouffard, on the 22d December
8777*
Brave Man,
«« | was not apprized by the intendant till the day
_ before yefterday, of the gallant Qed you atchieved on
’ the 31ft of Auguft. Yefterday I reported it to his
Nn 2

284 THE WHISTLE.) Nov. 2,_

majefty, who was pleafed to enjoin me to. communi-
cate to you his fatisfaction, and to acquaint you, that ~
he prefents you with 1000 livres by way of gratification,
and an annual penfion of 300 livres.—Continue to
fuccour others when you may; and pray for your goad ©
king, who loves and recompenfes the brave.” .. - Vs

' OF /

The Whiftle. A true Story, written by Dr Franklin to
rg his Nephew.

AV thn I was a child, at feven years old, my friends,
on a holiday, filled my little pockets with coppers. J
went dite&tly to a fhop where they fold toys for child-
ven; and being charmed with the found of a «uhi/fle
that I met by the way, in the hands of another boy,
1 yoluntarily offered him all my money for one. I
then came home, and went whiftling all over the houfe,
much pleafed with my wile, and difturbing all the
family. My brothers, and-fifters, and coufins, under-
ftanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given
four times as much for it as it was worth. This put
me in mind what good things I might have bought
with the reft of my money—and they laughed at me
fo much for my folly, that I cried with yexation; and
the refleftion gave me more chagrin than the whi/le
gave me pleafure.
' This, however, was afterwards of ufeé to me, the .
impreflion continuing on my mind; fo that often
when I was tempted to buy fome unneceflary thing, I
faid to myfelf, don’t give ico much for the whiffle: arid fo
faved my money. 1
“As I grew up, came into the world,’ and obferved
the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very
many, who gave too much for the whi/tle.
When I faw any one too ambitious of coust-favours
»facrificing his time in attendance at levees, his repofe,

1791. THE WHISTLE. 285

his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends to attain
it, Lhaverfaid to myfelf, This man gives too much for his
whiftle. Seni 3 i

When f faw ianother fond of popularity, conftantly
employmg himfelf in political buftles, neglecting his
owm affaits, and ruining them by-that neglect, 4e pays
indeed, fays1, too much for his whiftle.

If lL knew a mifer, who gave up every kind of com-
fortable living—all the pleafure of doing good to others
—all the efteem of his fellow citizens; and the joys of
benevolent: friendfhip, for the fake of accumulating
wealth 5. poor man, {ays 1, you do indeed pay too much for
your whiftle. ot,

' When'I meet a man of pleafure, facrificing every

laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune,

to mere corporeal fenfations. A4iffaken man, fays I,
you are providing pain for yourfelf inftead of pleafure.—
You give too much for your whiftle.

If I fee one fond of fine cloaths, fine furniture, fine
equipages ‘all above his fortune, for which he contracts
debts, and ends his career in prifon, d/as, fays I, he
has paid dear, very dear for his whiftle.

When I fee a beautiful fweet-tempered girl mar-
ried to an ill-natured brute of a hufband, what a pity
it it, fays 1, that fhe has paid fo much for a whiftle.

In fhort, I conceived, that great part of the mife-
-ries of mankind were brought upon them by the falfe
eftimates they had made of the value of things, and

by their paying too much for their whifiles.
: AM. MUS. 1790.

———- <2 ta

The Traveller.

Doric the fummer of laft year, occafion—no mat-
ter what—called an honeft Englith {quire to take a jour-
ney to Peterfburgh,

236 THE TRAVELLER. Noy. 2

Untravelled, and unknowing, he provided himfelf .
with no paffport,—his bufinefs concerned himfelf alone, |
and what had foreign nations to do with him ? >

His route lay through the ftates of different: powers |
—he landed in Holland,—paffed the ufual examination; |
but infifting that the affairs which brought him there
were of a private nature; he was queftioned and de
tained a fhort time ; but appearing to’be incapable o
defign, he was at length permitted to purfue his jour-
ney.

To the officer of the guard who had detained hindi j
he made frequent complaints of the lofs he might fuf=
tain by the delay:—the officer, after a long paufe,)

ry

firft fet your foot on the land of the Seven United Pro-|
vinces, you fhould have declared you came thither on
affairs of commerce,” and re-placing his Pipes telapfed
into immoveable taciturnity.

Releafed from his unfocial companion, he the next
day arrived at a French poft, where the centinel of the
advanced guard requeited the honour of his permiflion
to afk for his pafiport ;—on his failing to produce any,
he was entreated to pardon the liberty he took of con
du€ting him to the commandant ; but it was his duty,
and he muft, however relu€tantly, perform it.

Monfieur te commandant, received him with pom
pous politenefs; he made the ufual enquiries, and
our traveller, determined to avoid the errour whic
had produced fuch inconvenience, replied, * that com
mercial concerns drew him to the continent.”

“ Ma fei,” fays the commandant, “ ce uu negoti-
ant, ui: burgeois ;—take him away to the guard-houfe,
we will examine him to-morrow,—at prefent we mu
drefs for the Comedie; Allons.” Our traveller {wore it
was uncivil, and unfriendly, and ungenerous ;—five
hundred Frenchmen might travel through Great Bri.
tain without a queition; they never queftioned an

791. THE TRAVELLER. 284

tranger in'Great Britain, nor {topped him—nor im-
rifoned him, nor guarded him.

s¢ Monfieur,” fays the centinel, as he conducted him

the guard-room, ‘ You fhould not have mentioned
commerce to ALonfieur le commandant,—no gentleman in
“rance difgraces himfelf with trade—we defpife traffic.
© You fhould have informed Monfieur le commandant,
hat you entered the dominions of the king of the
trench, to improve in fmging, or in dancing; or in
lreffing ; arms are the profeffion of a man of tafhion.”
de had the honour of pafling the night with a Preach
zuard, and the next day was difmifled.

Proceeding on his journey, he fell in witha Hach:
nent of German Chaffiurs,—they demanded his name,
juality, and bufinefs ;—he came, he faid, to dance—
0 fing,—and to drefs. He is a Frenchman,” faid
he corporal ; “a fpy,” cries the ferjeant ;—he was di-
ected to mount behind a dra; goon, and carried to the
1ext Municipal town.

There he was foon difcharged, but not without a
word of advice. “ We Germans,” faid the officer,
© eat, drink, and fmoke ;—thefe are our favourite
>mployments ;—and had you informed the dragoons
you followed no other butinefs, you would have faved
hem and yourfelf infinite trouble.”

He foon approached the Pruffian dominions, where
lis examination was ftill more ftri€t ;—and on anfwer-
ng, that his only defigns were to eat, and to drink,
ind to fmoke.—*‘* To eat! and to drink! and to
fmoke !” exclaimed the_officer with aftonifhment,
« Sir, you muft. be forw arded to Potfdam—war is the
only bufinefs of mankind.

“he king having learned the character of our travel.
er, ordered a pafiport to be made out for him, obferv-
ing, “It is an ignorant, an innocent Englifhman :—
the Englifh are unacquainted with military dutics, fo
let him pafs on,’

288 THE TRAVELLER. Nove 2s

Being arrived at the frontiers of Poland, he flattered

himfelf his troubles were at an end; but he reckoned
without his hoft. Your bufinefs in Poland ?”. interro-
gated the: officer, I really don’t know, Sir.”—« Not
know your own bufinefs, Sir,” refumed the officer, a |
muft conduct you to the Staroft.”
- For the love of God,” fays the wearied traveller,
“ take pity‘on me; Ihave been imprifoned in Holland
for being defirous oe keeping my own ates to my-
felf.”

6° I have been confined all cede in © a) Fréncl
guard-houfe, for declaring myfelf a merchant.

“IT have been compelled to ride feven miles. be-
hind a German dragoon, for profefling mngielis aman
of pleafure. ueop

& I have been carried fifty miles. a iaeloaon im
Pruflia, for owning my attachment to eafe say good
living.

s¢ If you will have the goodnefs to let me know
how I may render fuch an account of myfelf as not to |

give offence, I {hall ever: confider yeu as my friend ©

and protector.”
ST. J. JOURN.

Iniga, Fones.

This great archite¢t,; though a pupil of Palladio’s,
appears occafionally, in point of grandeur, to exceed
his model. ‘The laft Lord Burlington was fo attached
to him that he publifhed a complete colle€tion of his |
works; and was fo impreffed with the beauty of the
portico that Inigo Jones had added to the old Gothic ~
fabric of St. Paul’s, that on feeing the completion of —
the prefent church by Sir Chriftopher Wren he cried
out, * Wh8n the Jews faw the fecond temple they

reflected on the er of the firft, and cou!d not re ‘i

frain from tears.”

: 179r- POETRY» 286

The Times.

Har happy times, when peace fucceeds each broil,

And flowing plenty crowns the Jab’rer’s toil :

When church and {tate unite in focial: bands,

And growing commerce joins the diftant lands:

When rifing genius feels no deep defpair,

And budding virtue’s nurs’d with tender care:

When dire revenge no more our rights aflail,

| Emmantl’d o’er with feering pious zeal;
Th’ untainted mufe oft courts the glades and {trearns,

And fpreads her ftores before enliv’ning beams :

. Sometimes exploring’ the hiftoric page,

Reviews the adverfe feenes of former age.

When truth and genius fink in fervile fear,

And nobleft virtues form’d no fafe barrier:

Ev’n thou, for whofe unblemifh’d honours rife

The columnhigh, thy fame t’ immiortalize.

Deep felt th’ effeéts of an ungrateful age ;

The fting of envy.tipt with papal rage.

Let grafping av’rice {train with all her might,

And gnawing envy grudge another’s right.

Tho’ vice, with all her {miling train combin’d,

Unfurl her blazing ftreamers to the wind, *

Firm virtue’s pow’rs the nobleft trophies bring,

And wear the garland of immortal Spring.

When envious Jonnson tow’rd the Scotian round,

With narrow foul in frozen fetters bound,

Nor grove, nor tree, nor fertile flow’ry vale,

Could pleafe his optics, or his mind regale.

A barren defart, which no verdure yields,

Unftocked paftures, and uncultur’d fields :

Bent to detraét, malicioufly deferibes _

A barb’rous language, and ungenerous tribes;

A coward race, by nature’s law confign’d +

To ftand uncypher’d, and to fcience blind.

Shrunk from himfelf, he dropt his vir’lent quill,

find own’d thy merit—fore againft his will,

Yol. V, Qo ¢

299 POETRY- Noy. 2:

Hence, when Britannia’s fwains thy works perufe,
Hiftoric, tragic, or thy facred mufe,

Each kindred foul, form’d for celeftial love,

Shall tread thy paths, and his own mind improve-
If thoufand harvefts more with plenty fmile, ,
And bright’ning ftars arife in Britain’s ifle,
They’ll own thy greatnefs, and revere thy name,
And ftill exult in thy immortal fame. F

The jr Ode of pao from the Bocend By
F. Tyfon, LL. De

Wruuretry I'd fing Atreidas,

Willingly great Cadmus praife, r
But my lyre its fav’rite numbers

To gay Love alone would raife-

Such fantaftic notes difdaining,

Quick I check’d each warbling Witey
And to fing the great Alcides,

Struck again the founding lyre.
But conceive my indignation,

When inftead of “ War's Alarms,”
Every note again rebellious,

Sounded fweetly “ Beauty’s Charms.”
Farewell, then, ye deathlefs heroes,

Ino more your fong will raife;
Now my lyre, in notes of tran{j ts

Cupid, thall refound thy praife + :

Thornhill, Auguft Sd 1791.

T.

Ode to Fancy.

In my poor little humble cot, :
As I fat mufing-——God knows what—
To Belles and Beaux Ibid adieu ; .
My time is paft } Tis now for you,

£794:

POETRY. 29r

In myftic dance, your fwains to hand
The opening f{cene to Hymen’s band :
Sweetly fmiling, ever BaY>

Like the fragrant flowers in May 5

Or on the verdant turf to rove,

And fafcinate poor hearts with love. m
Tell me, ye Gods, why thus you teaze ,
Deluded youths, who with to pleafe ?

As fair as Eve, as Cloe kind:

If fuch a one, | ftill could find,

How happy time would glide away,
And every month would be a May.

‘The cot thus bleft in humble ftate,

Id envy not the rich or great. ALEXIgs

. “7 ~ 2 v2 : ad :

‘ Hibernia.

Is ages paft, wher war and fierceriefs join’d

To blunt the native feelings of the mind;
Hibernia’s rugged fons, in martial ftrife,

With favage fury fpent the ftream of life.

Long, very long, the drooping mother fighed,—
And frowning, on her breaft, in liberty they died !
But meliorating time—— \

Sent forth fenfations more fublime ; =

Taught them to drop the tender tear, ,

And banifh from their grafp the murd’rous {pear !
Combining commerce fpread her focial fail—
Improvement gently flow’d from every gale—
To Jawlefs rapine now no more they range.—
The happy parent feels the palith'¢ change,
Which oft thy arts, O peace ! confpire to give.—
Arid, fmiling, now in liberty they live. "

M. G.

2g 3p SILKY WORM Nov. 25
Intelligence refpedting Arts. |
On the Culture of the Silk-Worm in India.

I have had frequent occafion. to mention Dr Fames Anderfon of
Madras, as an affiduous promoter of ufeful undertakings. He
Hill goes forward in his praife-worthy career. The great ob-
fe of all his purfuits is to difcover means of furnifbing con-
Stant employment to the lower claffes of people in India, with a
view to relieve themfelves from thofe diftreffes to which they
are too often expofed, while they /hall at the fame time bene-
Sib the flate. By bis care, the cochineal infed, if not already
eflablifbed there, will foon. be planted in thofe regions, where
there is every reafon to hope it will profper abundantly. But
his views are not confined to one object : he knows that varie=
ty of employments alone can furnifh proper bufinefs for a great
people. In the following letter he points out the propriety of
their cultivating the Silk-Worm, and the probability of its fuc-
ceeding ; during the winter months efpeciall, there can be no
doubt but that infec may. be reared there with great fuccefs. —

To the Honourable Sir Cuartes Oaxexey, Bart. Senior
Member, and Council.

“ Honourable Sir,
« A Neceflary attention to the duties of my ftation, in the
inilitary department, has hitherto prevented my acknowledg-
ment of your favour, inclofing the extraét of a general letter
from the Honourable Court of Directors, dated May 19. 17903
and although a {tafe of war is ever precarious, yet the fuperi-
or difcipline of our troops, and the {kill of their commanders
in maintaining war in the enemy’s territory, will, I tuft, ex-
cufe my writing occafionally on the arts of peace that may be
promoted in this country. Mh) hiner
. Tam pleafed with the approval of the Honourable Court,
becaufe they will fee’ from>my report of September 14. 1790,
the readinels in which their Nopalry ftands to receive the beft
kindof cochineal infeéts from America, where alone they can
be found ; I, therefore, hope that no time will be loft in fend-
ing them here.

“ Some mulberry trees, introduced about twenty years ago,
grew fo luxuriantly, that I was at pains to commiffion the
eogs-of the filk-worm from Bengal at feveral different times, .

£791. \ - SItKAworM. : 293

as the firft embarkation could not be hatched; the fecond hatched
on the paflage; but the third, which came in one of the ftore-
fhips in December laft, has fucceeded, and not oné of the
worms have died of difeafe in this climate, or till fuch time as
all their evolutions. were accomplifhed.

_% When I tell you that the Lady Governefs has direéted a
plantation of mulberry trees at the Female Afylum, and that
feveral of my friends are now employed in the care of filk
worms on different parts of the coaft; you will, I am fure,
think with me, that fo favourable an opportunity of eftabli{h-
ing a manufaéture of public: utility thould be expofed to as
little rifk as poflible; efpecially when I likewife affure you, that
I have conftruéted the Piedmontefe reel, agreeable to the plan
in the French Encyclopedie, which has coft the Company many
thoufands of pounds for defraying the expences of Italian artifts
fent to Bengal. :

“¢ The moft authentic accounts I have been able to’ procure,
{tate the contraéts for filk at Coflimbuzar to amount yearly to
60 lacks of rupees, which is not half the value of 22,000
bales, the former produce of that country; indeed I have un-
derftood that Tippoo Sultan has lately fupplied the interior’
parts of the Peninfula with filk made at Seringapatam, yet
the demand is ever confiderables. ary

“¢ As my views have been uniformly direétéd té point out
the means of earning a fubfiftence, at all times, to the meaner
_ and lower claffes of the people, of a nature’ adapted to their
genius and difpofition, it will only be neceffary to Feprefent
to you the mode in which this may be effected.

“ F therefore recommend, that the Revenue Board be iit-
{truéted to direct’ mulberry plantations at every village on the
coatt, which, if I'am not much miftaken, may be done at
little or no expence, by means of the collectors. and natevars
or natives who direét the cultivation. ;

“& The ground for mulberry plantations fhould be a light,
friable foil, capable of being wateted in the hot feafon, and’
at the fame time fo high as not to be flooded in the wet
fiich as the banks of all the rivulets on the coaft. Ay

“ Ais the infedcts can fpeedily be multiplied and diftributed,
whenever mulberry plantations are fufficiently eftablithed, I
haye cawfed as many to be planted in my own garden and at
the Nopalry, as will fupply abundance of cuttings for the

394 SILK-WORM,. Now: de

gardens of all the colleétors, from whence they may ‘be after-
- wards diftributed amongit the villagers. -
_ The ifland of Coffimbuzar, and the banks of the Bur-
thanpooter, where alone filk is made in Bengal, is but a fmall
fpot, compared with the extent of the coaft. In four months
of cold Seafon, ‘neither does the mulberry put forth leaves, nor i
the esgs of the filk-worm hatch 3. whereas our cold feafon here
is fumiciently warm for both, and the filk I haye made is more
brilliant than that of Bengal.
, In Europe the worm undergoes but one: evolution in , the 4
year; whereas mine are in the'third generation fince the 14th —
of December laft. ;

% Several gentlemen have brought filk-worms here fince
I have been in India, which, for want of plan, attention, or
perfeverance, have come to npught ¢ ; and although the war at
prefent is a great hindrance to the full adoption of any plan
for this. purpofe, yet the eafe with which it may be effected, and
the certainty that mulberry cuttings planted before the monfoon
will live, with little farther trouble, I am induced to hope, that
ground will be laid out for plantations as foon as poffible. I
am, Sir, with all due refpea, &c

JAMES ANDERSON.”
Port St ee
April 18. 1791.

To Dr James Awnpgrson.
“ Sir,’

“« TAM directed by Government to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 18th inft. and to acquaint you, that they
have defired the Board of Revenue to give inftruétions to the
collectors for appropriating ground for the purpofe, and to
afford every fuitable encouragement to the cultivation of mul-
berry trees. The colle@ors are to be informed that you will
_fupply them with cuttings; and.Government recommends,
that you afford them,.the benefit of your opinion and advice,
upon application, in order to promote the objeéts which you
have in view, by extending the mulberry plantations. I am,
Sir, &c. , '
_ @ N. WHITE, Sec.’?

Fort St George,
MApril-20. pare

f 179% ig NEW BEACON.” 295

} *.* Dr Anderfon, in a fubfequent letter addreffed to Rich-
ard ‘Molefworth, Efq; informs him that he had made an im-
provement on the filk reel, deferibed in the French Encyclo-
(pedie, in which the fecond re ftands diagonally to the frame,
which expofes the threads to be broken as they pafs over the
hooks at nearly a right angle. To remedy this, he caufed'a

mortoife to be made in the middle of the comer and goer,
through which an inverted T may be moved up or down at
pleafure. In this way the filk is brought over the hooks at
van angle as obtufe as may be found neceflary, and the mo-
‘tion of the wheels amended by placing them at’ right angles
to each other, with the axle parallel to the a

For the Bee.

Beacon on the Bell-Rock.
<p

Suce my firit going to fa, which is twenty-fix years, I have
Wwithed that fome method might be thought of to. put a bea-
con on that fingularly dangerous rock caijled the Cape, or Bell-
rock, which lies off St Andrew’s Bay; and is about twelve
miles from Fifenefs, and nearly the fame diftance from the
Red-head, and not far from the entry into the river Tay,
The difficulty of fixing a beacon here is very great, as the
fea fall out of thirty fathom water on the eaft fide of this

rock, would be fo heavy as to beat down an ordinary beacon
’ in a very fhort time 5 and this difficulty is encreafed by the
neceflity of having bells at its top, to give the alarm to veffels
which fhall approach it in the dark, without which it would
but ill anfwer the purpofe.

I have Jong revolved this fubjeé&t in my mind, before I could
difcover how thefe very great difficulties could be 6s yercome,
and am now more than happy in beiny able to aflure you, and
the public through your means, thofe efpecially who are intereft-
ed in navigation, that I have at laft overcome all obftacles, and
have completed a model of a beacon for that purpofe, on princi-
plesthat I am fatisfied will certainly eff2@ the purpole intended,
which Tam ready to fhow to bd perfon who is a judge of

296 ‘NEW BEACON. “Nov.'2. 9

things of this nature, and which I'am willing to undertake to
erect as foon as I fhall be affured that money peal be provided: '
for paying the expence of it ahem finifhed..
The beacon is to be fupported by fourteen Slag Sei and }
chains, fo contrived that they fhall never flacken, but remain |
at all times tight as at firftt; thefe to'ferve as {upporters- It
is to rife twenty-feven feet above the rock: four bells are to be.
placed about four feet above the top of the beacon on iron
ittauncheons : one of thefe bells will be rung by the. fmalleft}
breeze of wind, from whatever dire&ion it may blow, and in |
a ftrong gale they all four wili ring at the fame time. The
flag-ftaff, which rings the bells, will be ten or twelve feet high, |
with a vane on the top- ‘The whole height will thus be from
forty to forty-three feet ; and fhould a wave break over the
whole, nothing will give way or break, as it will be all fecur-
ed in every part in the firmeft manner, by {trong bindings
of hammered iron,

The utility of this beacon exceeds any defcription -I could
give of it. It would daily prevent many evils that fhipping
fuftain on account of this rock, not ‘only by delaying their
voyages, but by the lofs of Jibes. and wreck of ‘vefléls innu-
metable. In thick foggy weather, there is no means of judg-
ing of the diftance from this rock by foundings, as the depth
and bottom is nearly the fame N. E, and S. E. of it fora
great diftance ; fo that fhips from the fea, that have not made
the land, nor, had an obfervation, give this rock in general
fuch a diftance as often entangles them on the north or fouth
coafts, and has been the caufe of great difafters. I believe
more tee and property have been loft in not attempting to
take this firth on account of this rock, than have been Joft on
the rock itfelf; though;many have there perifhed who have
never more been heard of. The fervice of fuch a beacon to
coafters will be till, if poffible, greater than to foreigners, or
veflels from foreign ports, as, by being able to fee the beacon

' by day, or to hear the bells by night, or in thick weather, they
could crofs St Andrew’s bay direétly at all times, with little
danger compared to what they do at prefent.

To pay the expence of this very ufeful undertaking, I would
propofe that a general fubferi iption be opened ; no money to be
demanded till the plan fhall have been fubmitted to the in-
fpeftion of perfons of fkill, and approved of by them. The
money, when paid, to be put into the hands of truftees, by

1791. NEW BEACON. 297

whom it may be iffued to pay the expences, as they thall fall
due, And as to my own trouble and time, fhould the funds
fall thort, I would gladly contribute as much as I can to
forwardit; and fhould they prove abundant, I would willing-
ly accept what fhould be deemed a reafonable compenfation.
The overplus, if any, to be applied to ere& other beacons, or
Jand-marks, upon the coaft, as far as it could go.
_ Let the amount of the fubfcription be juft what every fub-
feriber thought he could eafily fpare, and no more—Half a
guinea from any perfon in eafy.circumftances, who is concern-
ed in mercantile or naval affairs, would be little mifled, and
wouid do more than effe@ the purpofe wanted. To under-
Writers in particular, the benefits to be derived from this bea-
con would be great, and their profits, in many cafes, confider-
ably augmented ; fo that it can fearcely be doubted, but they
will contribute liberally towards it ; and when thofe of a hu-.
mane difpofition, who have no concern in bufinefs themfelves,
refle& on the anxious hours and {fleeplefs nights which the fear
of this rock oecafions to poor mariners, who are perhaps at a
great diftance from it, and on the many lives that are loft by
Others running upon it, ’ere they are aware of the danger,
few arguments will be neceflary to induce them to beftow a
final pittance of what they can eafily (pare, for helping to pre-
ferve them from a diftrefs that muft be unavoidable until this
work fhall be completed.
’ As I obferve you are always ready to promote any plan
that promifes to be ufeful to your country, I doubt not, but
you will, without hefitation, give this a place in your Bee, and
do what you can to forward fo beneficial an undertaking, I
fha}l in a fhort time Jodge fubfoription papers for this purpofe
in the principal bookfellers fhops ; and in the mean time. {hall
requeft the favour of you to mark down the names of fuch per-
_ fons, with the fums they refpe@ively fubfecribe, as fhall be
pleafed to tranfmit them to yourfelf; and add, if you pleafe,
that I fhall be ready to fhow the model to all who incline,
and will be glad to be favoured with the opinion and fenti-
ments of all who are friendly to the intended work. In doing
this, you will oblige, Sir, your humble fervant,
JOSEPH BRODIE,
Leith, t7th OGober 1791.

Vol. V. Pp ; it

298 NEW BEACON? Nov. r-
Obfervations on the foregoing by the Editor.

"Tue utility of an undertaking of the kind above-mentioned, is
too obvious to need farther illuftration. All that is wanted is,.
that perfons who are judges fhould infpe& the model, and
give a public report, which I have no doubt they will’
foon do. Being myfelf fully perfuaded of the utility of the
plan, and. the candour as well as abilities of Mr Brodie, I beg
leave to teftify my approbation of it, by contributing my mite.
of half a guinea, which fhall be paid when demanded, agreeable
tothe propofals.

I beg leave juft to fuggeft- one thing, which ought
to be adverted to at prefent, left perhaps it might come: too
Jate if delayed till another occafion. As the trouble of ereding.
the beacon will be very confiderable, it is of great confequence
that the materials of which it is made fhould be of the moft
Jafting kind that can be found. Both oak and fir, in
the fituation here propofed, very foon decay. Larix feems to
be the only wood that grows in our northern hemifphere,:
that is capable of refifting the weather for a length of time
in this expofed fituation, and confequently that is the wood’
which fhould be provided for this purpofe, It may be had in
logs of any fize wanted by commiffioning it from Dantzick;.
and no time fhould be loft to order it on this-occa/fion.

The following fa&, which I had from a gentleman of vera-
city, clearly fhows the fuperiority of larix to oak in this fitua-
tion. The owners of decoys in Lincolnfhire, finding it nece-
fary to ftretch. nets over the water by means of ftakes fixed
in the fhallow fea, aré put to.a great expence for wood for the’
ftakes ; one of thefe was advifed fome years ago to try larix
wood for this purpofe. He accordingly put alternate ftakes
of larix and oak. My informant affured me, that at the time
he mentioned it, two fets of oak piles had’ been wafted, and the
larix remained firm, How much longer it may remain, it
is impoffible to fay. .

One hint more :—The power of coal tar to preferve wood:
from cerruption, is now eftablifhed upon the moft undeniable |
evidence. Care ought therefore to be taken to have the wood
as fully impregnated with this as poflible, by ftewing it, if it.
can be done, in hot coal tar before it be ereéted. All parts
of the iron work fhould likewife be dipt in Coal tar while”
hot, as this gives it a power of refifting the weather, and
thereby keeping free from ruft, much more powerfully than
any other preparation that has ever yet been difcovered.

e '

7791. Parliamentary Proceedings. 298

SSeS
Proceedings in Parliament.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Weftminfter EleCtion, continued ‘from page 264.

Friday, 4th February 1791.

Tue accuftomed ceremonies being concluded within and

without doors, the following names were returned as acommit-

tee to try the merits of the Weftminfter Election, &c.
Thomas Powys, Efq; Chairman.

Sir John Ingilby, Hon. John Eliot

Mark Pringle, Efq; Lord Carysfort,

John Pitt, Efq ; Hugh Barlow, Efq;
Marquis of Worcefter, . William Grieve, Efq;
General Bruce, Lord Bayham,
William Pochin, Efq: Thomas Thompfon, Efq;

Nominees—Matthew Montague and Lord Sheffield.

Mr Horne Tooke having waved his right of ‘ftriking out names,

the fame was done by the clerk. ~
Saturday, February 5.

The committee being affembled, Mr. Horne Tooke was call-
ed in to open the grounds of his petition. Mr Powys the
‘Chairman defired Mr Tooke to open his cafe.

Mr Horne Tooke faid, that he was himfelf perfonally much
interefted in the queftions that were likely tocome before the
committee, and he was ftill more fo, on account of the 1700
electors of Wefiminffer who had voted for him. He obferved
that his petition came before the committee attended by un-
ufual prejudices ; he complained of the manner in which his pe-
tition had been treated in the Houfe. He faid, the Speaker
was no doubt acquainted with certain laws, rules, and orders
-of that Houfe, relative to elections; he thought he fhould have
made himfelf perfeétly mafter of every law, rule, or order, that
had ever been made for regulating contefted elections. From
the fate of his petition, however, it would feem he had not
done this: he was afraid the aét which provided him with a fa-
lary of fix thoufand pounds a-year, \aft Seffion of Parliament, had
-engroffed fo much of his attention, that he had totally forgot-
ten all that went before.

On this obfervation the committee room was cleared, and
about half an hour afterwards Mr Horne Tooke was called in.

Mr Powys the chairman faid, ‘* Mr Horne Tooke, I am di-
ected by the committee to inform you, that the fubject ow
which you have entered, is irrelevant to the matter which the

bis

306 Parliamentary Proceedings. Nov. %

committee is fworn to hear and determine. This, Sir, is the
refolution of the committee, and I think it necefizry to add,
that it is expected you will, as foon as poffible, late your com-
plaint upon the undue return of the fitting members for Wef-
minfler??

Mr Horne Tooke regretted that the committee had come to
the refolution he had juft heard expreffed. He underftood, that
by this, he, the petitioner, fhould not be at liberty to ftate what
was faid or done by the Houle upon his petition, what was’ faid
out of doors upon his petition, or what the committee might
report upon his petition. If he ha’ only to fettle a mere mat-
ter of election, or to, argue againft a report, which prejudice
might occafion the committee to make, ard which other coms
mittees had made upon petitions, that of being vexatious and
frivolous, he: would be very indifferent ; but there was fome-
thing much more interefting to the public. As to areform in
Parliament, his fentiments were well known ; but he would fay,
that the gentlemen who had obferved in the Houfe, that he
wifhed to propofe a reform in the réprefentation of the people,
was one who had lately purchafed four boroughs.. ‘ I do not,’
faid Mr Tooke, mention Mr Pulteney’s, or any other name.” |

Heré Mr Powys informed’ Mr Tooke, that the committee
would not fuffey him to proceed if he mentioned any thing
fpoken by any member of Parliament. ey

Mr Tooke faid, if he was wrong in any thing, he faid, he was
forry for it. It was not only his wifh, but his duty to expedite
a decifion of the committee; whether they thought themfelves
at liberty to make a fpecial report, and fay that. his petition
was not only vexatious and frivolous, but feandalous and libel-
lous? He had ftrongreafons for preffing this queftion, which he’
urzed vehemently. He ftood before the committee ina very:
diftreffing condition, when he confidéred the manner in which
his petition had been fent to them. ‘* The petition was fent
with direction to cenfure it; not only as vexatious and frivo-«
lous, but fcandalous and libellous.’? The words were ordered
to be taken down ; and being read, Mr Tooke faid, they were
the words he ufed, and defired that. the following words,
which he likewife fpoke as the explanation of the preceding,
might be likewife taken down. _ “ The minifler of the country,
bred to the bar, in his place, while my petition was difcuffing,.
faid that he faw no reafon why the committee fhould not re-
port the petition to the Honfe, not only as frivolous and vexa-
tious, but alfo as feandalous and libellous.”

The Court was cleared, and when the parties were called iy
again, the Chairman informed Mr Tooke that the committee:
had refolved, and direéted him to fay, «* That the words taken
down are improper, and ought not to have been ufed, in as.
much as they are the fubftance of a debate in Parliament, which.

yg1. Parliamentary Proceedings. gor

is not the bufinefs of this';committee to take into confidera~
ion; and that the committee cannot liften to any animadver-
on on the conduct of any member, or on the proceedings of the
oufe.” And that the committee had likewife refolved, ** That
e chairman do dire¢ét Mr Horne Tooke to go to the matter
f his petition, and {tate the circumftances of the undue elec-
ion, and return of the fitting members, which is the caufe they
to determine upon.’’
Mr Tooke then entered upon a variety of extraneous matter,
nd after a wide and digreffory excurfion, he told the com-
littee that it was his wifh to go back to the elections of Weft-
infter in 1780, 1784, and r788, to bring before them the riots,
he bribery, and the abominable corruption that then prevailed,
nd if poffible to point out the remedy. He faid his petition
ontained many allegations, all of which he was certain he
ould prove. The queftion he much preffed upon the com-
ittee was, “* To what extent they would allow him to carry
is proof, becaufe he would regulate the calling of his witnef-
és by their decifion.” - He fpoke till half paft three, when the
hairman informed him, that the committee. confidered he had
ow concluded his opening, and, in obedience to the directions
f the committee, expreffed in their refolutions, which the
slerk had read, Mr Tooke muft next proceed to ftate the cir-
fumflances of the undue election and return of the prefent
itting members for Weftminfter.
Adjourned to Monday, at ten o’clock.

Monday, February 7. .
Purfuant to adjournment, the committee being met at ten
?clock, Mr Horne Tooke was ordered to proceed. He faid,’
e meant, if he had leave, to call evidence on all the different
allegations in his petition. He then recurred to'the pretended
erjury, riots, and murder that had been committed at former
le&tions for Weftminfter, and faid, he meant to bring proof
f all that he advanced ; but being told by the Chairman, that
o evidence would be admitted, except what was immediately
anected with, and relative to, the matter under confideration,
ind that the committee defired he would proceed to the next
int in evidence that he meant to bring forward, he faid, that,,
f he was refufed, when he begged leave to prove the murders,
c. that he had mentioned, it was in vain for him to proceed,
to give the Committee any further trouble, as, by refufine
at evidence, he was convinced that he had brought his own
mplaint, and the grievances of the electors of Weftminfter,
ore an ad judicature, and muft now think of fome
ther method for obtaining juftice and redrefs. Mr Powys,
he Chairman, then afked Mr Tooke, if he had clofed his
e, or had any thing more to fay in fupport of his petition,
re the committee proceeded to take into confideration

¥

: ees ; t < S
R02 Parliamentary Proceedings. Nov.-4,
what report they were to make to the Houfe of Commons.
He anfwered, that he had nothing more to ftate.

Mr Partridge, as counfel for Lord Hood, and Mr Douglas
as counfel for Mr Fox, then feverally ftated, that as there was
no complaint againft the returning officer for impropriety of
conduét, nor any complaint againft either of the candidates
for impropriety of conduct, fubftantiated even by a fhadow of ©
evidence, they trufted that the committee would decide this —
petition to be vexatious in the extreme, as well as frivolous
and oppreffive.

Mr Horne Tooke faid, amongft the ftrange incidents of hig
life, it would be not the leaft extraordinary, if, on account of
his petition, he was declared to be an oppreffor. He. {poke a
fhort time, and played a good deal upon the words frivolous
and vexatious. He faid he had no doubt the committee
might call it, with fome degree of juftice, vexatious. It was
vexatious to the Houfe when prefented, and it had, he faw,
been vexatious to the committee who had fat upon it, and |
were no donbt vexed at fitting fo long; but how it could be
vexatious to the candidates, or to the electors of Weftminfter,
it would puzzle moft men’s ingenuity to point out.

The room was cleared, and the Committee having deliberat-
ed about an hour, Mr Horne Tooke was called in, when Mr
Powys, the chairman, read to him that the Committee had de-
termined,

‘¢ That the Right Honourable Lord Hood was duly eleéted
a citizen to reprefent the city of Weftminfter in Parliament.

“ That.the Right Honourable Charles James Fox was duly
elected a citizen to reprefent the city of Weftminfter in Parlia-
ment.

Ns That the petition prefented by John Horne Tooke, E({q; is
rivolous. Fr

“ That the petition prefented by John Horne Tooke, Efgq;
is vexatious. *

<< That the oppofition-of Lord Hood to that petition is not
frivolous.

«© That the oppofition of the Right Honourable Charles
James Fox to that petition is not frivolous.”

: Tuefday, February 8. cate

Mr Powys, chairman of the committee, brought up the above
report to the Houfe of Commons. uf

Mr Burke faid, the bufinefs of this petition carried in it —
fomething ferious and alarming. The proceedings before the ©
committee, were the fubject of public notoriety. He thought
it incumbent on the Houfe to enter into the difcuffion of a
matter that might be fo dangerous in its confequences. He
then animadverted with warmth on Mr Tooke’s proceedings
before the committee, contending, that though the committee

|

——————————

179% Parliamentary Proceedings: 303

tiad in the ufual form reported the petition to be frivolous and
vexatious, yet it was not frivolous and vexatious in the commor
way, and concluded with moving, ‘* That a {pecial committee
be appoiated to take into confideration the proceedings of the
committee, &c.”’

Mr Powys rofe to defend the committee, and faid they had
done their duty in reporting as they had done. He added, that
if the Houfe withed to inftitute any farther proceeding with
regard to what had paffed, the regular way. he conceiv-
ed would be to call for a copy of the minutes of the committee,
when he trufted it would be found that the committee had re-
guwiarly difcharged. their duty.

Mr Burke rote to explain, and protefted he meant no reflec-
tion upon the committee, the purity of whofe conduct was be-
yond queftion : he only meant to recommend it to the Houfe,
for the fake of their dignity, to inftitute fome further examina-
tion into a bufinefs of fuch an extraordinary nature.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the difficulty in the
prefent bufinefé was, what was the proper line of difcuffion
which ought to be adopted. He thought it advifable, before
the matter fhould be taker up, to allow fome time to intervene
for reflection and due deliberation.

Mr Burke added &few words expreffive of his indignation
at the infult offered to the H oufe. Hethought it his duty to
ical ay complaint, and left it to their wifdom to provide a
remedy. ;

Mr Fox differed from his right honourable friend entirely,
The committee had fully difcharged their duty in voting the

tition frivolous $and vexatious. The law had’ provided a futf-

cient check againft fuch improprieties of conduét, by declar-
ing that thofe whofe petitions were declared frivolous and vex-
atious fhould pay all the cofts. He thought it becoming the
dignity of the Houfe to take no farther notice of it.

Mr Burke rofz once more, and made one of thofe pleafing
fportive {peeches for which he is fo remarkable, that had little

_ other object in view, than to provoke a good humoured laugh
in the Houfe.
_ The Chancellor of the Exchequer ftill thought that it would
be proper to allow time for deliberation, and that the Houfe
might afterwards refume it or not as they faw caule,
_ Mr Martin began to complain of an attack on fome mem-
bers of Parliament-in a newfpaper, but was called toorder by
the Speaker.

Mr Courtenay faid, the wifeft way would be to treat the pe-
titioner, his petition, and his conduét before the committee
with filent contempt, in which cafe the matter would foon
fimk into oblivion.

403. Parliamentary Proceedings. Noy. Io

The matter was put an end to by calling for the order of the
day. j ot : y

To foreigners who are little acquainted with the nature of
the Britifh Conftitution, this bufinefs will appear- remarkable
under two points of view, The firft is, the indifference with
which the fupreme conncil of the nation permitted themfelves
to be infulted by an individual in his private capacity ; for al-
though a few members fpoke with. fome warmth, the great
majority of the affembly confidered thefe injurious ‘reflections
in much the fame.light with Timoleon, who, after having re-

ftored freedom to Corinth, on being reviled by a citizen in very; —
abufive Janguage, made anfwer; that- he rejoiced ‘to fee the —

time when a private citizen of Athens might with impunity .
revile the higheft perfon.in the ftate ; not that they approved of

fuch conduct, but that they were confcious the laws had pro-
vided a fufficient punifhmentforit, without any irregular inter-
ference on their parts.. Men are here ‘too cool, unlefs when

hurried on by a fpirit of faction, ever to be leds into ‘a Violent

«

mode of conduct from’fudden’provocation. © _

: ‘The-next circumftance that will excite aftonifhment, will be
the concuct of Mr Horne Tooke. Some'would futpeéct that he
was infane, when he fo affiduoufly tried to provoke the affem-
bly by his fitgularly intemperate conduct- This aftonifhment
will fubfide; however, when they are intormed, that in England,
one of the moft effectual modes of obtaining popularity, with
the emoluments that ufually follow it, ‘is to provoke punifh-
ment’ from perfons in power. To obtain the name of a jer-

fecuted perfon is a great point gained, and by contriving to draw

-
2

down punifhment. upon themfelves, feveral -perfons have rifén ~

to wealth and fame, Mr Tooke, however, if this-was his ob-

ject, misjudged the matter very much ; for like an unfkilfiilpo-:
litician, he contrivéd to unite. both the parties of adminiftration®

and oppofition againft bimfelf; none therefore, but a {mall

number of the populace, who had'no other leader but Mr. —

Tooke himfelf, were interefted. in his caufe. - Thus all the
parties looked on with indifference, reafon was allowed to te-
fume ‘het’ throriey and Mr Horne Tooke had the mortification
to feel himfelf amerced in a‘heavy fine, without obtaining a
‘fingle perfon.to commiferate -his cafe.. To have talents to #
eertain degree, without judgment enough to direct how thefe

talents may be applied with: effect, ‘is one of the greateft ‘mis-_

' fortunes that can fall to the lot of man.

THE EE)

CR

_ BITERARY WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER,

FOR

Biographical Sketches of the late Earl of Eerol.

At nos victuris potius comimittere chartis,
Barbaricum Xerxes faftum juvat, atmaque diti
Cefaris, et facta Emathii fcelerata tyranui :
At bene promeritos de vita nominumque falute
Negligimus Lethes tetra fub noéte jacentes.

I; is much to be regretted, that fame fhould more
ufually accompany the deftructive than the beneficent
difpofitions of mankind. ‘The name of the conqueror,
whofe fteps are marked with defolation, fhall be re-
corded in fongs, and tranfmitted to the lateft pofterity,
while the prince, whofe whole life has been fpent in
promoting the happinefs of thofe entrufted to his care,
isnot much regarded during his life, and he no fooner
dies, than his memory begins to fail. The fighs and
‘Vou. V. t Qq

~

306 ANEC. OK THELATE EARL OF ERROL. Nov. g,

tears of thofe who fuffer by the change, are the only
trophies raifed to his memory. ‘The perfons who thus
fectetly bewail their lofs, foon follow in their turn;
and though the effects of his beneficence may con-
tinue to cherifh thofe who furvive ; yet, like the genial
influence of heaven, the hand from whence it pro-
ceeded, is too often unperceived, and thofe who adlu-
ally reap the benefit of his tender forefight, in a fhort
while forget that ever fuch a perfon exilted.

Such, in a great meafure, has been the fate of the
mah who is the fubject of this memoir. ‘Thofe atts of
beneficence which excited gratitude when they were
conferred, are now in a great meafure forgotten ;
many perfons who were benefitted by them, are dropt
into the grave, and the time feems to be faft approach-
ing when not a trait of that amiable character hall be
temembered that once excited the admiration of all
who had an opportunity of obferving it, and called
forth the gratitude of thoufands who participated in
the bleflings it procured them. An attempt to refcue
it from oblivion ought to be received with indulgence.

James, Earl of Errol, was not more confpicuous
for the dignity of his rank *, than for the comelinefs
of his perfon, and the elegance of his manners. His
ftature greatly exceeded the common fize, and the
proportions of every member were fuch as would have

* As to rank, in his Lordfhip’s perfon were united the henours of
Livingiton, Kilmarnock, and Errol. As hereditary high conftable of -
Scotland, Lord Errol is; by birth, the firft fubject in Great Britair,
after the blood royal, and as fuch, has aright to take place of every’
hereditary honour. ‘lhe Lord Chancellor, and the Lord Hieh Cor-
itable of England do indeed take precedence of him, but thefe are only
temporary honours which no man can lay claim to by birth, fo that by birth,
J.ord Errel ranks, without a doubt, as the firft jubject of Great Bri-
tain, next after the princes of the blood royal.

But fortune prevented him from enjoying all the advantages he ought
naturally to have derived from thefe accumulations of honours, by wreft-
ing from kim in his early youth a great portion of the paternai eftates
that ought to have devolved upon him. His father, Lord Kilmarnock,
haying been inadvertently drawn in to efpoufe the caufe of the unfor-

179t. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. 307

formed a moft perfect model to the ftatuary for a
figure of thefe dimenfions. Strength, dignity, ele-
gance, and lightnefs were fo happily blended together,
that whatever action he performed, whether he walked,
or danced, or rode, you would have faid his perfon
had been formed in the happieft mold for that par-
ticular purpofe. ‘The manly and open candour of
his countenance conyeyed an idea of all the mafculine
virtues, while the expreflion was fo foftened by a be-
neficent complacence, as to exhibit a charm that man
had heretofore been accuftomed only to find in female
gentlenefs. No one ever faw Lord Errol but was
ftruck with the extraordinary dignity, beauty, and ele-
gance of his whole appearance : no one ever converfed
with him who did not feel the favourable impreflions
thefe externals had excited, confiderably augmented.
He was admired by all who faw him, and beloved by
all who knew him.

Yet, as if heaven had intended that nothing in
this world fhould be capable of producing unmixed fe-
cility, thefe rare accomplifhments were even perhaps
the principal caufe of giving much pain to himfelf, and
anxiety to his pofterity. ‘Che fafcination of his ele-
gant manners made his company fo delightful to all
who were of his acquaintance, that, in the early part
of life, he was fcarce ever permitted to be one moment
alone. And though, to thofe who knew him at a later

- =
tunate family of Steuart, his life and eftates were both forfeited in the
year 1746; and tho’ Lord Errol himfelf, who before that period bore a
commilflion in the Britifh army, did not allow his fidelity to be fhaken,
er his loyalty to the Brunfwick line in the fmalleft degree abated; yet
he never had the good fortune to recover any part of thefe eftates, and
his family, fince his death, have had the mortification to fee themfelves
excluded from deriving any benefit from the liberal fpirit of the nation,
by the a& which reftored to the heirs of fo many other noble families
the eftates that had been forfeited on the fame account. This was oc-
cafioned by an unlucky arrangement of Government, which, without
any blame on their part, threw thefe eftates into a different clafs from
the former, This, it will be allowed, isa fingular inftance of unmerit
ed bad fortune, that ought not to be overlooked by Government,

Q q 2

308 ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. Nov. 9,

period, it was evident, from his converfation, he had
read and ftudied a good deal, yet it was not eafy for
them to conjecture how he could have found opportu-
nities for attaining thefe acquirements. Hurried, as
he was, from one entertainment to another, and ae
cited on every hand to grace the pleafurable parties of
every friend, it was truly amazing that his head was
not turned, his underflending perterted) or his heart
corrupted by the adulation he received; yet fo very
bountiful had nature been to this fingular man, that
vanity feems neyer to have made an impreflion on his
mind, nor vice to. have corrupted his heart; and though
reafon was not permitted at all times to exert her fove-
reign {way over his aé?ions, yet when fhe was allowed
to refume her feat in de/iberation, her vigour at no time
feemed to be impaired. Of a difpofition, warm, gene-
rous, and humane, prudence was at times difmifled as

a frigid monitor ; and it was not till towards the de-
oline of life that he difcovered how much he had erred
by not feoner attending to her fuggeftions. .

* Lord Errol, while yet a very young man, married
Mits Lockhart, daughter to a gentleman long noted as
a man of eminence at the Scottifh bar, who was after-
wards raifed to the bench by the title of Lord Coving-
ton. This lady, though poffefled of good fenfe,
great rectitude of heart, and beneficence of difpofition,
had the misfortune to inherit from nature a weakly
conftitution, which rendered it impoflible for her to
undergo the fatigue of accompanying his Lordfhip in
the various exaurhians that he, as an officer, was
obliged, or as an agreeable companion was induced to
make. Being thus, too often deprived of a faithful
monitor, which the temptations to which he was ex-
pofed, and his own pliability of difpofition required,
he was drawn, inadvertently, into expences that his for- |
tune was not able to bear, which laid the foundation
of a difirefs that proved the only alloy to his happir
nefs in the latter part of his days.

i791. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. 309

Lady Errol, whofe health had neverbeen re-eftablifhed,
lived inacalm retirement, cultivating the friendfhip
of thofe around her, and delighting in acts of pious
charity. She died at Bath, where fhe had been or-
dered by her phyficians, in the year 1761, much regret-
ted by all her acquaintance. By this lady he had one
only daughter, whofe education was entrufted to the
care of a maiden fifter of Lady Errol, who entertained
a warm attachment for her infant niece.

Lord Errol afterwards married Mifs Carr, daughter
of William Carr of Etal, Efq; in Northumberland, a
lady of great beauty and perfonal attractions.

The greateft bleiling that heaven can beftow upon a
man of an upright difpofition of mind, and a feeling
heart, is a wife whofe approbation will tend to cherifh
thefe difpofitions, and whofe conduct is calculated to
keep alive thofe tender domeftic anxieties that confti- —
tute the chief happinefs of man. Such a blefling Lord
Errol had the good fortune to receive on this occafion.
Young, innocent, mild,—chearful though fympathyz-
' ing, and fenfible without knowing the extent of her
underitanding, the manners of lady Errol were capti-
vating; and her converfation afforded a never-failing
fource of enjoyment, which conitituted the chief hap-
pinefs of his Lordfhip through the remainder of his life.
Having, before this time, left the army for ever,
home now became the object of his tendereft regards. |
He never left it but with reluctance, and always re-
turned to it with joy. In the bofom of his family, in
the innocent prattle of fine children, he experienced
a tender enjoyment, far different from the turbulent
pleafures of his early years, the recolletion of which,
and its confequences, proved the only alloy to his hap-
pinefs.

Lord Errol, now tired of courts, though not difgufted
with mankind, finally retired to his family feat, Slains
caftle, in Aberdeenfhire. Here, indulging this natural
beneficence of difpofition, and beloved by all around

3i0. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. Nov. 9,

him, he exerted himfelf in promoting the welfare of
his tenants, and other dependants in the lower walks
of life. He obferved, with regret, that an envious fpirit of
litigation prevailed among them, which had been ex-
cited, and {till was fomented by the influence of fome
pettyfogeing lawyers in Aberdeen, with a view to pro-
fit by thefe little difputes, and he fet himfelf to corre¢t
it. ‘The honeft and mild influence of Lord Errol’s
character effected what nothing elfe could perhaps
have done. He paid fo much attention to thoie dif-
putes among them that were brought before himfelf as
a juftice of the peace, that the mantic were much bet-
ter fatished with his decifions than any other. But
this was only a partial cure. He wifhed it might be
general.

‘Trifling difputes among country people, he readily
perceived, ought naturally | to be determined, in a fum-
mary manner, “by the ju/fices of the peace. On enquiry,
he found that few or no caufes of that fort were
brought before the juftices in Abetdeenfhire. On
farther enquiry, with a view to difcover the caufe of
this phenomenon, he found that the suffices, in that
country, as in many other parts of Scotland, had been
fo negligent in the difcharge of their duty as to fuffer
abufes to prevail that loudly called for redrefs. The |
juttice of peace courts feemed to meet for no other pur-
pofe than to leyy fines again{t tranifgretiogs of the reve-
nue laws. ‘Lhe few juftices who took an a@tive hand
in this bufinefs, were indeed nothing better than a fet
of humble tools, fubfervient to the will of revenue of-
ficers alone, who apparently influenced them in alk
their proceedings. ‘Ihefe fervile judges were not even
afhamed to become the guekts of the collector of excife,
who treated them on thefe occafions, and aflumed al-
moft a fovereign and dictatorial {way over thefe his
humble coadjutors. In confequence of this, the very
name ef suffice of peace had become a term of reproach,

1791. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. | grt

and the court was there detefted as the fcourge of the
people.

Lord Errol could not behold, without indignation,
fuch a flagrant perverfion of an inftitution which was
originally intended to guard the liberties of the people,
and to afford them redrefs of grievances, at a {njall ex-
pence; nor could he, without fhame, behold an order
of which he himfelf was a member, degraded to fuch *
a vilifying ftate of debafement. ‘He pointed out to the
gentlemen of rank and fortune around him, with great
energy of argument, the impropriety of accepting the
office of a ju/fice of the peace, if they were not determi-
ned to perform the duties of that office: he dwelt up-
on the difgrace that fuch a conduct brought upon
themfelves, by obliging them to participate in the ob= -
loquy that attended the order, from the improper con-
duct of thofe who did act in name of the whole.
He infiited, that in order to free themfelves from this
odium, it became incumbent upon them all either to
‘decline accepting the office, or regularly to attend the
fiated meetings of that court in perfon, to a&t each for
himfelf. It was this conduét alone, he faid, that could
reftore to that inflitution that: degree of refpeability
which it ought to bear in the ftate. He could not but
confider this dereliction of duty as aculpable indolence,
and, therefore, if they would agree to co-operate with
him, 4e would undertake, as one, to meet them always
at the juftice of peace courts, when not prevented
by bad health, or unavoidable avocations.

Thete remonftrances had the defired effect, ‘The,
noblemen and gentlemen of the firft rank and charac-
ter in that country, from that time, attended thefe
courts with great punctuality, as long as his lordthip
lived ; and he himfelf was never abfent but from un-
avoidable neceffity: Lord Errol was generally amorig
the firft that attended, and as he was at pains to make
himfelf perfeily mafter of the bufinefs, he took care
that the clerks had every thing in readinefs when the

$12 ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL oF ERROL. Nov.g,

court met, fo that no time was loft in idle preparations,
and they were thus enabled to proceed on bufinefs at
an early hour,

It will be difficult for any one who has not feen a
cafe of this fort to form an idea of the beneficial change
that was produced on the {tate of the country by thefe
regulations.’ ‘The firft change that catched the atten-
tion of the people, and gave refpectability to the court,
had a reference to the colletor of excife. This officer,
from that period, was treated exactly in the fame man-
ner as any other fuitor before the court. The cafes
he ftated were attended to with due refpect; the evi-
dence he adduced in fupport of his charges were exa-
mined with the moft fcrupulous care ; but unfupport-
ed allegations, from whatever quarter they proceeded,
were totally difregarded. The fuggettions of the col+
lector, with regard to the decifions, had no weight;
and any obfervations he at the beginning ventured to
make, as tending to influence the judgment of the
court, were received in fuch a manner as foon to con-
vince him of the impropriety of venturing upon fuch
freedoms. The fines, in cafe of accidental trefpafles
through ignorance, were moderated ; and if it appear-
ed that the people had been led on by the wilful con-
nivance, or culpable neglect of the ofhcers, with a view
to augment their own profits, at the expence of the re»
venue +, fuch officers were openly and fharply repri-
manded by the court. When the excife bufinefs was
over the collector, like other fuitors at the court, was
ordered to withdraw ; and, if he was afterwards invited

. + It is well known. that half the fines impofed by Jaw upon thofe
who are catched in attempts to cheat the revenue are given to the re-
venue officers. It therefore becomes the intereft of the revenue officers -
that thefe attempts to evade the duties fhould not ceafe. A heavy
charge has been lately and publicly made againft fome of the highelt
revenue offices in this country winking at the manufachurers evading
the duty, in order to induce them to continue in that practice for the
fake of the fines, that they can thus levy when they pleafe. ‘This is no
new prattice. *

S791. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. R13

to dine with the juftices, he fat as their guett ; fo that
feeling, as he did, his inferiority ‘among perfons ‘of
fuch fuperior rank-and education, the change to him
was great, and highty ‘mortifying. | His emoluments
too, being ditninithed,: in confequénve.6f a-decréafe im
the Renter, and an abatement in the amount of thé
fines, he became much léefs eager about Pansing daules
before that tribunal than formerly. ‘The excifgbufi-
nefs.thus decreafed, and many o ther affairs of anothet _
nature came to be agitated ‘there.
' ‘The people in_ general were firmly convinced that
wherever Lord Errol prefidedy juftice would be admi-
niftered with the ftriételt impartiality; or, if ever any
favour was fhown, it would tean towards the fide of
the party which was Jeaft able to ‘vindicate its own
paces All hanoft men, therefore, who found them-
feives engaged in a difpute with others, were anxious
‘to have their caufes brought before that tribanal.—
ge here, every man was allowed to fiate his own cafe,
in the beft manner he could, was confronted with the
other party, . and the truth inveftigated in their pre-
fence. In this manner, with a due degree’ of attention,
his Lordfhip and the other judges were feldom at a tots
to decide according to juitice. So'much fatisfaGion
did thefe decifions afford, that the caufes brought be-
fore that tribunal, moit of them, indeed, of fall Qs
mount in refpect to money, but of great importance ih
_regard to the parties concerned, became extremely nu-
merous. It frequently happened that fome: hundreds
of caufes were decided at Os fitting; yet 1 have not
ANieard that ever one perfon thought of lolighig an ap~
peal from the decifions of this court, duting the courflé
of nearly twenty years that Lord Errol continued to
take an active lead in it.

Thefe may perhaps appear to be very uninterefting de-
tails to perfons who confider nothing as of importance
except thofe which relate to great objects ; ; but to men
who look tipon the profperity of the ftate, and the wele

Vou. V. + : Rr

'

314 ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL: Nov.g,|

fare of the people as of importance, thefe details will
be accounted as highly interefting. Nothing whica
could affect the profperity or the happinefs of the
meanett individual was confidered, by Lord Errol, du-
ring the latter part of his life, as trivial. Without
making an oftentatious parade of humanity, his mind
felt a fenfible delight in contemplating the profperity
and happinefs of all around him, which produced an
uninterrupted tendency to promote the welfare of the
friendlefs. By the prompt decifions that were given
in this court, that rancour of ‘mind which protracted
law-{uits never fail to engender among neighbours, was
prevented.—The expences thefe law-{uits ufed to occa-
fion were avoided. ‘

—The wife and family at home,
feeling themfelves thus in more eafy circumftances,
became more chearful, more kind, more induftrious+.
Home thus became more defirable to the hufband ; his
focial affeCtions were awakened, and a general diffufion
of happinefs was the confequence. ‘The very fight of
this refpeCtable court, and the reflections it excited
in the minds of thofe who came before it, were highly
friendly to the beft interefts of fociety. ‘The poor,
who had been formerly accuftomed to look upon thofe
of high rank as their enemies, now, when they found
them acting as their protectors; when they faw the
higheft men in the country appropriating a confiderable
portion of time to their bufinefs,—liftening with
patient attention to their little caufes of complaint;
carefully fearching out the truth, with a warmth of in-
tereft that they had deemed impoffible; when they
found the juftices protecting them, at times, againit
the improper exactions of fome of the order of
juftices themfelvest, they were obliged to alter their

+ There cannot be a jufter maxim than the old proverb ;—* Whea
Poverty comes in at the duor, Love flies out at the window.”

¢ The following is a cafe of this fort, which deferves to be recorded.
One of the juitices, a man of great fortune, but of a nairow and fordid
difpofition, was fued before this court by one cf his fervamts, for the re»

* perfiited in caufing the beaft to work fo much, an

199%. ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. 315

opinion, and could not avoid efteeming the men they
had formerly detefted. Even the reprimands, or the
advices with which their decifions were often accom-
panied, had a wonderful effect in cherifhing principles
of juftice, order, and ceconomy in the minds of thofe
who heard them. Every tranfa¢tion of this court thus
tended, in the happieft manner, to bring together two
orders of men that had been accidentally eftranged from
each other by erroneous ideas, which the fpirit of the
times had engendered.

In promoting thefe great and beneficent objects, and
in the enjoyment of the peaceful ferenity of domettic
tranquillity, were fpent the laft fifteen or fixteen years
of the life of Lord Errol. Unfortunate it was for Abér-
deenthire that this period was fo fhort ; for had the fame
fyftem of management been rigidly adhered to for half
acentury, the beneficial changes it would have pro-
duced would have been inconceivably great. But no-
thing in this world is permanent. Lord Errol’s friends
beheld, with regret, that his health was impaired.—
During the laft two years of his life efpecially, his de-

covery of wages due to him.—When the mafter was called on to ftate
his reafons for refufing this demand, he faid, the fervant had killed a
mare to him, and that he ftopped the wages as a {mall indemnification
for the lofs he had thus fuftained.—The fervant immediately made an-
fwer, with great energy and native fimplicity of expreffion, ‘ It is true,
Sir, I did kiJl your mare; but I hope in God no man fhail ever be able
to make me do the like in future.-—You know well, and all the fervants
about the houfe know it alfo, that I told you repeatedly, that if you

would not allow her
to get more food, fhe would certainly die ; but you always infifted that
what I faid was nonfenfe, and obliged me to go on, till, God forgive.
me for it! I was forced to drive the poor beaft till fhe died :—but ne-
ver fhall any other man compel me to do the like, if I fhould beg my
bread for it.”,—The tear ftood in the poor fellow’s eye while he uttered
this——The other fervants concurred unanimoufly in afferting the fame
thing.—The mafter was ordered to pay the full wages, and all expences,
and he was, befides, fined as far as the powers of the juftices allow-
ed them to go.—He was alfo feverely reprimanded for the brutality
and injuftice of his conduct, the judges only regretting that their powers
did not extend fo far as to permit them to award a proper punifhment, .
-—It is needlefs to add that this was a very popular decifion,

r 2

916 ANEC. OF THE LATE EARL OF ERROL. Nov. 9,

cline was great, and perceptible to ‘all who faw him.
Still, however, the; beneficence of hig mind continued
unabated ;—nor did his chearfulnefs of difpofition for-
fake him; till at laft he funk to reft, on the 3d day of
June 1778,:in the fifty-third year of his age, leaving
not one enemy behind him.

In this. flight fketch biographical, accuracy has not
been aimed at. ‘The few following faéis and dates it
may prove fatisfaQtory to fome to know. James, Earl
of Errol, was born April zoth, O. 5. 1726.—He was
educated firft at the fchool of Dalkeith, and afterwards
at the Univerfity of Glafgow. He married, 1ft, Re-
‘becca Lockhart, daughter of Alexander Lockhart of
Graig-houfe, Efq. September 15,1749. She died May
ift, 1761, leaving iffue one daughter. He married 2d,
Tfabella Carr, daughter of William Carr of Etal, Efq;
Augutt 34.1762, who furvived him, and is {till in life,
by whom he had three fons and nine daughters.

Additional Remarks on the Poetry of Buchanan.
(Continued from p. 239.)

“Po write a regular criticifm on the poetical works of
Buchanan, or to give even but a faint idea of the won-
derful variety of their contents and beauties would re-
quire a large volume. They were publifhed at very
different times, and a confiderable part of them did not
appear in print till long after his death. No author
appears to have beftowed more attention in the compo-
fition of his writings; but if we except his verfion of
the Pfaims, few feem to have beftowed lefs care upon
their publication. It has been faid, that negligence and
modefty are the common attendants of true genius.—
The example of Buchanan, ‘at leaft in his character as
a,poct, may be adduced to juftity this, maxim. » The
reader may be amufed by a fhort account of each of

}5791- CHARACTER OF G, BUCHANAN. 319

the principal fections into which his original poems
have ufually been divided. It feems unneceflary to
fpeak here of his pfalms, as they are in the hands of
every {chool-boy.

I, It has already been obferved, that, by the defire
of James V. he began a poem»entitled Francifcanus.
After.an exile of twenty-four years he returned to his
native country, “ now,” as he fays, ‘* beyond the
«< hopes of all men, happily delivered from the tyranny
« of montters.” His fatire jeft unfinithed for fo great
a lapfe of time, was publifhed in the year 1564, witha
dedication to his friend, the well-known Ear! of Mur-
ray. Buchanan was now at the age of fifty-eight; he
had rambled over a great part of Europe, had feen, and
fuffered, and reflected much, and he poflefled, in an 'am-
ple degree, the proverbial fenfibility of a poet. We are
therefore entitled to expect a fuperior monument of his
abilities and his vengeance. The Francifcan will fatis-
fy our moit fanguine wifhes. It extends to nine hundred
and thirty-fx lines, and opens by the author enquiring
at an acquaintance, a Erancifcan noviciate, what he
means by this fudden grimace, and affeftation of fanc-
tity in his appearance. He adjures him, in the moft
folemn manner, to {purn the trammels of vulgar fuper-
ftition, to diftruft the pomp of the hierarchy, fo much
admired by the mafters of mankind, and examine Chrif-
tianity by the facred light of reafon: He proceeds, in
a vein of irony, to tell him that he himfelf had once
indulged the fame fort of frenzy, but had been divert-
- ed from it by the fage advice of his friend Eubulusi
The author next repeats his admonitions, in the form
of a harangue, from this imaginary preceptor, who goes
on for a few fentences in a calm, temperate ftile, with
an evident defign to gain the confidence of the reader.
But fuddenly, as if impatient to repair the lofs of time;
Eubulus, or rather Buchanan, burfts out in a torrent of
teproach. A literal tranflation of the poem would ex-+
tend to the fize of a pamphlet. Every fentence aa

318 CHARACTER OF G. BUCHANAN. Nov. 9,

bounds with the wit, eloquence, and fublimity of Ju-
venal; the copioufnefs of fentiment, the facility of ex-
preflion, and the contemptuous rage which diftinguifh
the admirable, though neglected Claudian +. The
Francifcans are exhibited, in every point of view, as
vultures tearing out the vitals of fociety. The writer
defcribes, at great length, their numberlefs arts of im-
pofing upon the mob, and efpecially upon the weaker
{zx. He tells, what we know to be true, that when a
wealthy penitent was at the point of death, it was their
practice to extort, under the terrors of eternal perdi-
rion, an extravagant legacy to their convent; and he
affirms, what is fufficiently credible, that by fuch ex-
actions, many families had been ruined. He enlarges
upon their pride, ignorance, dulnefs, envy, hypocrify,
debauchery, and felfifhnefs ; their factious {pirit, treach-
ery, cowardice, and perfenal naftinefs: their fuperfti-
tion, loquacity, and impudent affectation of taciturnity.
He difplays their progrefs in the various fciences of fean-
dal, pimping, treafon, rebellion, feduction, cuckoldom,
and fodomy. He reprefents the various hazards they run
of being gelded, and affirms that confeflion, purgatory,

and tranfubftantiation are abfurd impoftures. ¢¢ An
s¢ afs,” fays Buchanan,‘ though you cloath him in
«s Tyrian purple, continues to be ftupid, and a ty-
«* ger to be favage. Magpies will always chatter, and
‘ vipers will always fting.” His inference is, that a
Francifcan has an invincible propenfity to every human
vice. Having in fhort, afferted their utter degrada-
tion below the reft of the fpecies, and haying diverfifi-

+ Buchanan, with the tafte of a fcholar, mentions this great author
in the mott refped tful terms. Dryden rafhly and impertinently cen-
fureghim. In many refpects Claudian has a ftrong refemblance to the
two moderns. Indeed, though much inferior to both, he approaches
nearer to their general character than any fingle ancient poet. There
is far lefs nonfenfe in his text than we commonly imagine. Dry-
den has prefumed to condemn him for his bad tafte, and has, at the

fame time, left us fix volumes of plays which contain perhaps an hun-
dred tolerable pages.

179t. CHARACTER OF G. BUCHANAN, 319

ed his performance by fome ludicrous anecdotes, he
concludes by telling the noviciate, that, upon the ex-
poftulations of Eubulus, he had renounced holy water,
the girdle, the cowl, and the fhaven crown, as ridicu-
lous marks of sabiathine. invented for the moit fordid
and infamous purpofes. ‘The whole work is worthy
of Buchanan, the advocate and avenger of infulted
truth; and if confidered merely as an animated and
faithful picture, muft be highly curious and initructive.
As a fpecimen of the fpirit of this poem, it may ”
proper to extract a few lines, fubjoining, as ufual,.
profetranflation. After a long detail of | the.various
circumftances which multiplied monaftic vermin, he
proceeds thus :

« Adjice preterea quos preceps alea nudat,
Quos Venus enervat, quos & potatio pernox
Ejecit patriis laribus, quos urget egettas,
Et quibus haudquaquam res {unt in amore fecunde,
Faftofzque inopes exclufit limen amice,
Quos fcelus infamat, tutor quos urget avarus,

5 Huc, velut ad tutum cunctis eft curfus afylum.
Hoc procerum é numero crefctit generofa propage
Funigeri gregis :. hi patres quibus ille fuperbit
Ordo facer, feges hac orbis moderatur habenas,
Quos metus, ira, furor, mens tarda, ignavia, crimen,
Aunbitio, res adverfz, faflidia vitz,
Durus amor, durus pater, implacata noverca,
Et mendax virtutis amor, collegit in unum.

“ Namque velut quondam cum res adverfa premebat
Ad Jaqueum, ad preceps, ad toxica, flumina, pontes,
Atque traces gladios, caligantefque feneftras,
Curfus erat, duram cupienti evadere fortem :
Sic modo cum {fceleris pudor, aut formido feveri
Judicis, aut gravior cunctis infamia penis
Urget, ad hunc fcopulum Francifci in fyrmate fune
Ciagimur, & tanquam pariter cum vertice radi ' can
Mens ctiam feelerata queat: de facrilegis et
De parricidis de furihus, atque cinzdis,
Nos faciat celi fubitos rafura colonos.”

« Add befides theofe whom dice have hurled into
® ruin, whom venery has enfeebled, or whom mid-
“ night caroufals have driven from the inheritance of

920 CHARACTER OF G. BUCHANAN.’ Noy. 9

*“ their fathers 5 thofe whom downright beggary fweeps |
*« before it; thofe difappointed in love, and againtt
“ whom, for want of meney, an infolent miftrefs bolts
“ her door; thofe become infamous by their crimes 3
* and thofe who dread their punifhment.—Here alto
*« there is a fafe refuge for boys robbed by the rapacity _
“of their guardians. From thefe worthy tribes. are
*¢ embodied the noble band of Francifcans. Thefe are |
“ the fathers of whom this facred oxder is fo proud.
« This is the generation that fteers the heim of the
* world ; mifcreants whom rage, madnefs, and terror;
s¢ dulnefs, lazinefs, and guilt, ambition, poverty, and
s¢ defpair, difaitrous love, a fulien father, an implacable
«© f{tepmother, and a farcical pretence of godlinefs have
*¢ confounded together.

~ © In former days a wretch diftrated by misfortunes
«« had recourfe to a halter, a precipice, a dagger, or a
« dofe of porfon ; or ruthed into a river, or leaped from
«< a bridge, or a high window, that he might avoid the
« fhock of adverfity ; but now, when the pangs of cons.
« {cience, or fear of a fevere judge, or infamy more
«terrible than every other punithment purfues a cri-
«© minal, he binds a cord about his middle, and takes
“¢ refuge under the cowl of St.Francis. And, as if —
«© to fhave the crown could ftifle the agonies of guilt,
«¢ the razor fuddenly confecrates a {warm of devotees,
«* transformed from thieves, parricides, blafphemers,
«¢ and catamites.”

This poem affords a fine counter-part to Dryden’s
Hind and Panther; and how much more honourably
would he have been employed in turning it into Eng-
lith verfe? We cannot wonder that Buchanan wa
perfecuted through life by the blood-hounds of fuper-
ftition, or that his memory has been loaded with a
whole library of reproaches, the moft unjuft and incre-
~ dibie. Tithall difmifs this article by the infertion of
three lines, which may be read with pleafure, but cau

IDI. © CHARACTER OF G. BUCHANAN: or
i

not be tranflated with decency. In feducing a young
girl, our author fays,—
« Et pede tange pedem, dextram dextra, oribus ora :
* Sic, dicia, rides, fic molliter ofcula jungis, a
© Ofcula commiffas inter Ligtntia linguas i—*

Il. Another fection of his works is entitled Fratres
FPraterrimi,and confitts chiefly of fatires, in various kinds
of verfe, again{t the Catholic clergy of every defeription,
from feveral of the popes, one of whom he compares
to Judas I{cariot, down to the monks: he collec-
tion concludes with fome of thofe juvenile eflays which
the author compofed againft the Francifeans at the de-
fire of the Scottiih monarch. Several Englith poets
have, at a mature age, affected to print pieces exactly
as they had been written by themfelves when at {chool.
Milton, among others, has encumbered pofterity with
this fort of trumpery. In the works of Drydea we can
eafily diftinguifh that his ftile is gradually improving
down to his tranflation of Virgil; and the nobleft ode
in any language was itfelf the very laft effort of his mufe.
In the text of Buchanan no fuch diltinction is difcerni-
ble. What he had written in youth he cither com-
mitted to the flames, or improved into a perfect equas
lity with his later productions; and he is above the
paitry vanity of telling usin the title of a piece, that it
was written at twelve or fixteen. ‘The reader has no
thing to do with the age of an author, but with the
merit of his writings. From this digreflion I return to
the Fratres Fraterrimi. ‘This mifceilany confitts of 36
articles, with a humorous dedication to a man of letters.
The worfhip of images and pictures, and tranfubftana:
tiation, the columns upon which popery refted, are
here overwhelmed in a torrent of ridiculé. An ode in-
feribed to Queen Elizabeth, is written in the higheft
{tile of Horace, and contains an eloquent furmmary of
the preceding gloriés of lier reign; among which the
exurpation of monkery ftands foremoft—There is a

Vor. V. + Ss

322. CHARACTEROFG. BUCHANAN. Nov. 9;

ftrange dialogue between a painter and a baker, dif-
puting which of them could make deities fooneft. The
painter founds his pretenfions on his profeflion of
drawing the pi€tures of the faints, while the baker
boafts that he can make ten thoufand holy wafers in an
hour. The mifcellany begins with a poem at the ex~
pence of a rich abbot, whofe life and conduct Buchanan
contrafts with that of the divine founder of Chriftia«
nity. We have alfo a furious invective againft the .
kingdom of Portugal, including a warm panegyric ort
the climate and people of France. But the moft re-
markable piece in this colle¢tion is an ode of eleven
itanzas, upon the conduct of the Portuguefe in Brazil.
He invokes the Angel who deftroyed Sodom and Go-
morrah to hurl his thunderbolts againft the execrable
invaders ; and concludes with an ardent wifh that the
earth may open to {wallow them, or the fire of heaven
blaft them. In a word, it is the fineft invedtive againft
the tyranny of Europeans in America that the world
has probably ever feen. From the peculiar boldnefs
and rapidity of its ftile, a critic of learning would per-
haps venture to fay that this ode comes neareft of al¥
poetry to’ the martial enthufiafm of Tyrteus. . Every
line feems fo flafh from the heart of the writer.— There
is, there can be nothing more awfully fublime.
(To be continued. )

To the Editor of the Bee.
Sir,
I N performance of my promife to continue my tfanfla-
tions of the epiftles in my fele@& volume, formerly
mentioned, pleafe accept of the following from
L. Anneus Seneca to Lucilius.

Lam, Sir, your humble Servant,

é é

tf. L. ANNEUS SENECA TO LUCILIUS. 323

© Your letter delighted me, and raifed me from lan-
gour. It excited the powers of my declining imagina-
tion. You are convinced then, my Lucilius, that the
foundation and preferver of a happy life is the perfua-
fion that to be good is to be happy, and that they only
are truly happy who circumfcribe their ambition by the
attainment ef virtue. . Indeed, how can it be other-
wife? fince they who feek for happinefs on the flippery
and ever-revolving wheel of Fortune, muft become the
miferable flaves of Fortune and her favourites. Here,
you fee one inconfolable for the lofs of children, there,
another becaufe he has none to inherit his eftate : here,
one tormenting himfelf with theseve of another man’s
wife, there, a lucklefs hufband harrafled by the caprices
of his own. He parts with her, and repents. A third,
elevated to the heighth of his ambition, finks in the
mud of luxury, and is overwhelmed by the languor of
fatiated defire, or looks forward to death with horror,
as the approaching termination of his pleafures,

‘¢ The fear of death is the {courge of fenfuality : it fits
on the lap of pleafure with us, and chafes us into the
inmoft recefles of our gratification, nor does it come as
a friend in our uttermoft diftrefs, We ftart at the very
name of the terrible deftroyer of our exiftence, as per-
fecuted birds de at the flighteft noife, even the ruftling
of leaves. No one, therefore can be faid to be happy
who fears this enemy, or who builds his hope upon the
{miles of Fortune. Terror is on the one hand, and
perturbation on the other. Do you, my Lucilius, con-
template Fortune as the holder of a gaming-table, en-
couraging the fuccefsful to fquander what they have
gained, and if fhe gives you a fuccefsful throw, retire,
and learn to be fatisfied, by feeing the reverfes of For-
tune in your aflociates.—To be good is to be happy.

‘* Behold the numberlefs examples of the jufteft and
moft excellent of men, whofe lives have been fpent in
one continued tiffue of diftrefs, from the exercife of
their fympathy, benevolence, and fortitude. Do you

Ss 2

324 L. ANNEUS SENECA To.LuciLivs. Nov.9,

think they could have perfevered if fuperior happinefs
had not endeared to them the paths of felf-denial and
Virtue ?

‘How delightful the rofe to him who travels through
thorns, or the lovely meadow, the river, the foliage,
and the rock to him who wanders through a dreary
wafte; but how infinitely dreadful the thorn to the
rofy votary of pleafure, and the dreary waite to the en-
ervated favourite of Fortune !

«¢ The man, therefore, Lucilius, who orders his life
according to the intention of his nature, by preferring
intelleétua] to animal pleafure, affimilates himfelf to
the deity, and, guided by benevolence on the prin-
ciples of juftice, he contributes to the fame order and
happinefs in others. Formed by Nature to look con-
tinually forward to certain fhining points of attain-
ment, where he thinks he fhall have reft from his la-
bours, when he attains them he is aétuated by undimi-
nifhed defire to fet forward and to afpire after greater,
and thus he proceeds continually, till his frame is ex-
haufted, and he moulders into duft.

‘« Other creatures, when free from pain or uneafi-
nefs, and abounding in the pleafures of fenfe, are tran-
quil and fatished with their condition ; they aim not at
improvement. ‘The {wallow builds her neft to-day as
fhe did in the days of Deucalion; no change or pro-
grefs of improvement is to be obferyed in animated
nature except in man. Man, therefore, is to be con-
fidered as the lord of the world, not on decount of his
fuperior skill and addrefs in fubduing creation to his
purpofes, but, becaufe he alone is able to contemplate
and difcover the nature of that world in which the gods
have placed him. Credo Deum immortalem Jparfiffe
animos in corpora humana ut effent, qui terras tuerentut’y
quique celeftium ordivem contemplanies imitarentur eum: ”
vite modo et conftantia.”

_ * Now, goodnefs or true virtte confifting in being obe-
dient’ to the laws of cur intellectual nature, it is evident,

1791. L..ANNEUS SENECA TO LUCILIUS. 325

that when we depart from thefe we muft be unhappy ;
and what do you think it is that creates that reftle{nefs
and difcontent of mind that we every day obferve in
fociety, but the troublefome efforts of travellers that
have left their road, and arg feeking to regain it by
foolith conjectures of their own, without wifely return-
ing back to the point where they left it, that they may
find all things accommodated to their progrefs.

© The view of diforder and incoherence is naturally
unpleafing ; we delight in the fymmetry of buildings,
and in the intereclunsindations of a houfe or of a tem-
ple, becaufe they make us to underftand the nature and
the ufes of the parts, and of the whole. In like man-
ner, when we act from the impulfes of paflion, and
the gratifications of fenfe, without a final and rational
purpofe, our whole intellectual frame is difturbed, and.
we naturally defire to regain our tranquillity, which
can be obtained only by ftriat conformity to goodnefs,
or Virtue, which confiits altogether in rendering the
body obedient to the foul, in the purfuit of final pur-
pofes that are conducive to its perpetual improvement.

‘¢ Confider, for a moment, the prepofterous attempt to
make a body that is continually fubjeCt to change, and
tending continually to new defires, arifing from the dif-
ferent {tages of infancy, youth, manhood, and age, and
its variety of local fituations, fettle itfelf on determined
objects of fruition, for which its powers, as of fhort
duration and intenfity, muft quickly produce difap-
pointment or fatiety and difguft.

«© Thus the man who fhould place his chief delight in
hunting the ftag or the boar, muft become miferable
when either his infirmities or the want of opportunity
fhouid prevent him from enjoying his purtuit; and
thus the woman who placed her happinefs in the pub-
lic games and fpectacles of Rome, and in the admira-
tion of young men, would languifh in the country, and

326 —«s«sL. ANNEUS SENECA TO LucIL#US. Noy, 9, |

lofe her happinefs when age rendered her incapable of
receiving and enjoying thefe pleafures.

« Let us then, my dear Lucilius, preferve in ourfelves
the eternal and beautiful fpring of intelle€tual nature,
by’flying from the heat of paflions, from the fruits of
luxury, and the gloomy apathy of a wintry old age.

Farewell.”

This epifile of Seneca is written more on the model
of antiquity than any of thofe that have hitherto feen
the light. © Quintilian, or whoever wrote the famous
treatife on the decline of Roman eloquence, annexed
to the works of Tacitus, has defcribed the debafement’
of the Roman tafte by the popular-writers who fuc-
ceeded to the Auguftan age, whofe quaint, flippant,
pointed manner is now imitated by our Gibbons,
Burkes, and Junius’s of England, while Swift, Atter-
bury, Hume, and a few others, remain in our age pof-
fefled of the chafte propriety and dignity of thofe who
have fet up the Greek hiftorians for their models.

How glorious would it be for a band of fuch men to
affociate in Britain for chaftifing the meretricious ‘ine
novators, who are encouraged by the taftelefs people
of the age, to enervate our language and our manners !

St. Auguitine and St. Jerome mention letters of Se-
neta to ‘St. Paul, which are now loft; and others, evi- .
dently f{purious, were fubftituted in dir place, by the
pious fraud-of later Chriftians, to fupport a caufe that
needs no advocates, nor any aids that are adventitious.

For my own part, I am of opinion that Seneca did’
actually attend to the doétrines of the Chriftians, and
was moved and inclined, though fecretly, to fupport
their caufe ; bécaufe he has avoided, in the whole of
his voluminous writings, touching upon any points that
might glance at his being infected by their fuperftition,
fo dangerous, in appearance, to a jealous tyrant ; and
that his profound filence can hardly be accounted for
in any other manner. . In his xli. epiftle to Lucilius he

79f. L. ANNEUS SENECA TO LUCILIUSs 327

has. a. paflage which inculcates a_ belief, “almoft
verbatim, one. of thofe afferted by St. Paul,. Know
you not that the Spirit of God is in you except ye be
teprobate+? and again, He is near unto every one of
you. ,

A. B.

| Anecdote, Sir Chriftopher Wren, :
W HEN he built St. Dunftan’s-in-the-Eaft, the nobleft

monument of his geometrical {kill, had eat certainly in
his eye the High. Church, Edinburgh, and St. Nicho-
Jas’s church at Newc cattle, upon-Tyne. His. towers
that adorn the front of Weftminfter-Abbey were ‘taken
from thofe of Beverly Miniter, i in Yorkfhire. Sir Chrif»
topher intended a {pire for the middle of the church,
but gave it up, from apprehenfion that the fabric would
not bear it. he library of All-Souls- Coliege, i in Ox-
ford, poffefles many original drawings of this great ar-
chitect ; and amongift others, his defigns for the cathe-
_ dral of St. Paul’s. Itis curious to obferve in them the
rogrefs | of Sir Chriftopher’s ideas in the beautiful
dome of that fabric. He had originally intended to
have crowned it with a pine-apple, but wifely decora-
ted it with a crofs, as it now ftands. Sir Chriftopher
was much impeded and harraffed in this great work by
the care of expence of the curators of it. “He had in-
* tended to have had a very fine baldaquino at the altar,
jiké that of St. Peter’s at Rome. Dr. Compton, bifhop
of London, had fent for the marbles for its compofition ;
or rather, as the Parentalia fays, the {pecimens were
‘fhewn to the Architect by that Prelate. ‘Sir Chrifto-
pher not approving of them, the defign was given up.

‘ .
+ Prope eft 4 te Deus, tecum eft, intus eft. Ita dico, Lucili, facer
intra nos Spiritus fedet, malorum bonorumgve noftrorum Cbfervator
et Cultos; hic prout 4 nobis tractatus eft, ita nos ipfe tratat.

ey SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. Nov. 9g,
The prefent Chapter of the Cathedral having ‘ad-
mitted fculpture into it, in the monuments of Dr.
Johnfon and Mr. Howard, it is to be hoped that the
illuttrious archite€t of the fabric will partake of the ho-
nour of a itatue in his own cathedral, the prefent far-
cOpnae a erected to him, with a quibbling kind of epi-
taph, beg feidom feen or noticed by pertons who vifit
the church. ‘The effet of decoration on this at pre-
fent denuded fabric may be feen, by infpecting a plate,
publithed fome years. ago by Mr. Gywnne, in which
the dome and fome other parts of it are feen as orna-
mented according to the intention of Sir Chriftopher.
To make the per{peétive of the church appear to the
greateft advantage, and to be magnificent indeed, the
heavy and immenfe organ that croflés the entrance in-
to the choir fhould be placed on one fide, as is done at
Winchefter, and painted glafs fhould be inferted into
the eaft window.
© Hic jacet
«¢ CurisTorHoruUs WreEN, Eques.
«© Si Monumentum queeris

«¢ Circumfpice,” Pe

is the infcription on the farcophagus that ‘contains the
remains of this great geometer and celebrated architeét.
Itfhould be engraven upon the {tone that is in the middle
of the pavement, directly under the dome of St: Paui’ss

Revolutions of Life.

Indigence and Ob/curity are the parents of Vigilance

and Oecanomy. —Vigilance and O34conomy of Riches and

Honour.—Riches and Honour of Pride and Luxury.—

Pride and Luxury of Impurity and Idlenefs.—Jmpurity

and Jdlene/s of Indigence and Obfcurity.—Such are the
revolutions of life |

*

i791 POETRY. , 329

Ode on the Pleafure arifing from Viciffitude.

Found among the papers of the late ingenious Mr Gray, and ne-
ver printed in his works.

Now the golden morn aloft
Waves her dew-befpangled wing ;
- With vermil’ cheek, and whifper foft,
She wooes the tardy {pring:—
Till April ftarts, and calls around
The fleeping fragrance from the ground:
And lightly o’er the living fcene,
‘Scatters his frefheft tend’reft green.

. New born flocks, in ruftic dance,
Frifking ply their feeble feet 5
Forgetful of their wint’ry trance,
The birds his prefence greet.—
But chief the fky-Jark warbles high,
His trembling thrilling: extacy ;

And lefs’ning from the dazzled fight,
Melts into air and liquid light.

. YMefterday the fullen year
Saw the {nowy whirlwind fly ;
Mute was the mufic of the air,
The herd {tood drooping by :—
Their rapturas now that wildly flow,
No yefterday or morrow know;
*Pis man alone that joy decries,
With forward and reverted eyes,
Smiles on paft misfortunes’ brow.
Soft Refleétion’s hand can trace ;
And o’er the cheek of forrow throw
A melancholy grace :-—
While hope prolongs our happier hour,
Or deepeft fhades, that dimly lour,
And blacken round our weary way,
Gilds with a gleam of diftant day.

*

Vol. V. Tt +

‘\

330 POETRY* Nove ge

Still where rofy pleafure leads,

See a kindred grief purfue ;

Behind the ftep that mis’ry treads,
Approaching comfort view :—

The hues of blifs more brightly glow,
Chaftis’d by fabler tints of woe;
And blended form, with artful ftrife,
The {trength and harmony of life.
See the wretch that long has toft
On the thorny bed of "pain,

At length repair his vigour loft,

And breath and walk again ;—

The meaneft flow’ret of the vale,

The fimpleft note that fWells the’ gales
The glowing fun, the air, the fkies,
To him are opening paradife.

A Song.

Ts hope fupports each noble flame,
Tis hope infpires poetic lays,
Our heroes fight in hopes of fame,
And poets write in hopes of praife.
She fings fweet fongs of future years,
And dries the tears of prefent forrow ;
Bids doubting mortals ceafe their fears,
And tells them of a bright to-morrow.

And where true love a vifit pays,
The minftrel hope is always there,
To foothe young Cupid with her lays,
And keep the lover from defpair.
She fings fweet fongs of future years,
And dries the tears,of-prefenteforrow ;
Bids doubting mortals ceafe their fears,
And tells them of a bright to-morrow’.

Jr7791- AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 331

Agricultural News.

‘SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE 'IN LISBON.

Tuovcu Portugal has made fmall advances as yet in the
ftudy of Agriculture, they now begin to turn their atten-
tion towards that feience. In imitation of the Royal Academy
at Paris, and fo many other places, a fociety for promot-
ing the ftudy of Agriculture has been eftablithed at Lifbon un-
der Royal patronage. One volume, in o¢tavo, of the tranface
tions of that fociety, has been already publifhed, entitled
Memorias da Agricultura, which will probably be followed
by others. This contains the papers that gained premiums in
the years 1787 and 1788.

COPENHAGEN SOCIETY.

A SOCIETY has alfo been inftituted in Denmark, whofe
object is to {pread ufeful knowledge among the peafantry, and
the lower claffes of the people, by collecting proper baoks and
diftributing them gratis. Such attempts, though they may
indicate good intentions in the promoters of it, difplay, at the
fame time, their ignorance of the true principles -of political
oeconomy. The people are flaves, and can be little benefited
‘by any improvement that can be made: Vain therefore muft
“be the efforts to induce them to be ative by any modes of in-

ftruétion. Let the people once feel that every exertion they can
_make will redound to their own profit, and their induftry will
_ be inftantly augmented.—Tel!l me that a people are mdolent,
ignorant, and flow to adopt improvements, and I require no
other proof for affuring me, that there are many and great
radical defects in the fyitem of government that there prevails,
though 1 may know nothing about the nature of thefe defeats.
Long has a great part of our own country groaned under an op-
preffive fyftem of civil polity;—the people have been funk
thereby into mifery ;—they have been accufed of indolence ;—
they are forced to leave their country. Thus do thofe whofe
bufinefs it isto give them relief, inftead of fearching for the

$32 AGRICULTURAL NEWS. Nov: 9.

fault in themfelves, atrogantly load thole with reproach who
are {uifering by their ignorance, indolence, and pride *.

MR DALE

of Glafgow is not to be ranked among this number. This
gentleman, the worthy correfpondent and ‘colleague in benefi-
cence and bufinefs with Mr Dempfter, pitying the hard lot of
the poor emigrants who were put back to Greenock, on their
paflage to America, has prevailed on more than 100. out of 300,
almoft the whole that were not indented, to goto his cotton works
in the neighbourhood-of; Glafgow. Had this been the firft in-
{tance of Mr Dale’s beneficence, I fhould perhaps have taken
fome merit to myfelf for having given the hint ; but his mind
is too enlightened and humane to require any fuch ftimulus ;
and Imake no doubt but he will foon experience the good
effets of this wife policy. How different the condué of this
man, and that of thofe who bend theirschief endeavours to
wreft the-pittance from the hand of induftry, and.to drive the
beft fubjeéts of the ftate to feck for refuge, from the cppreffor,
elfewhere } ; .

———EE ns

* What is here faid applies to the political governors and —
Jegiflators.of this kingdom, and not to any clafs of the inhabi-
tants themfelves. Thefe legiflators multiply abfurd laws, that
tend to cramp every attempt at exertion. They thus deprive
them of the means of yielding any revenue, and then fquander
the money that others have contributed for the ufe of the ftate,
in trying to fqueeze from them what they have not to give,
nor can have, while this fyftem is adhered to. Whole regi-
ments of people are kept in pay, watching, as it would feem
to an intelhgent obferver, with the utmoft anxiety, to prevent
them from ever having it in their power to benefit the com-
munity to which they belong. It is impoffible for contempt
for fuch folly, to fupprefs the indignation that fuch atrocity of
conduét mutt excite ! speed

/

1791. "i National Afembly. : 333

‘

National Affembly of France:

[The National Afembly having put a period to their labours by
the completion of the Conftitutional Code, it may be proper to
give afummary account of the ceremonies which atiended its
acceptance by the King, and of the bufine/s which occupied them
during their poflerior fittings till the 30th September, when they
finally rofe, and gave place to the Legiflative Affembly. |

HE Conftitutional Code having been formerly prefented to
the King by a deputation from the Affembly, on the 13th of
September, his Majefty fent the following Letter to the Affembly,
which, was delivered by the Minifter ot Juftice.

«¢ Gentlemen, )

« | have attentively examined the conftitutional a&, which
you have prefented for my acceptance. Iaccept it, and I will
caufe it to be executed. At another time this declaration
might have been fufficient ; at prefent, I owe to the intereits
of the nation, I owe to myfelf, to make known my motives.

«¢ J have always, fince the commencement of my reign, de-
fired the reform of abufes ; and in all acts of Government, with-
ed to be regulated by the public opinion. Different caufes,
among the number of which may be placed the fituaticn of the
finances at my acceffion to the throne, and the immenfe ex-
pences of an honourable war, long fupported without increafe
of impofts, had eftablifhed a confiderable difproportion between
the revenues and the expences of the ftate.

«« Impreffed with the extent of the evil, I not only fought
the means of remedying ; Ifelt the neceflity of preventing its
return. I had formed the project of fecuring the happineis of
the people upon a fixed bafis, and of fubjecting to invariable
rules, even that authority of which I was the depofitary. I
called on the nation to execute it.

. * In the courfe of the events ofthe revolution, my intentions
never varied. When, after having reformed the ancient inftitu-
tions, you began to fubftitute in their ftead the firft eflays of
your work, I did not delay th: expreffion of my fentiments till
the whole conftitution fhould be known to me; I favoured the
eftablifhment of its parts, even before I could judge of the
whole ; and if the diforders which have attended almof all the
periods of the revolution, have too frequently afflicted my heart,

334 National Affembly. Nov. 9.

I hoped that the law would refume force in the hands of new
authority ; and that, in approaching the term of your labours,
every day would reftore to it that refpect, without which the
people can neither enjoy liberty nor happinefs. I long perfe-
vered in this hope, and my refolution only changed at the mo-
ment when it abandoned me. Let every one recollect the mo-
ment at whichI quitted Paris: The conftitution was almoft
completed ; and, neverthelefs, the authority of the laws feemed
to diminifh every day ; opinion, far from concentering in any
point, was divided into a number of parts. The moit violent
counfels alone feemed to be received with any degree of favour ;
the licentioufneis of the prefs was at its height ; no power was
vefpected. ;

“<< T conld no longer perceive the expreffion of the gencral will
in the laws, which I every where faw without force, and with-
out effect. Then, Iam bound to declare, if you had prefented
to me the conftitution, I fhould have been of opinion that the
intereft of the people (the conftant and uniform rule of my con-
duct) did not permit me to accept it. I had only one fentiment ;
I formed only one project ; I wifhed to get at a diftance from
all parties, and learn what was the real wifh of the nation.

*¢ The motives by which I was then influenced now no longer
fubfitt : Since that time, the inconveniencies and the evils of
which J complained have ftruck you in the fame light as me ;
you have teftified an inclination to re-efablifh order: you have
directed your attention to the want of difcipline in the army ;
you have perceived the neceffity of reftraining the abufes of
the prefs. The revifion of your labour has placed among the
number of laws of regulation feveral articles which had been
prefented to me as conftitutional. You have eftablifhed legal
forms fer the revifion of thofe which you have placed in the
conftitution. In fine, the fentiments of the people appear to
me no longer doubtful: I have feen them at once difplayed,
both by their adherence to your work, and by their attachment
to the fupport of monarchical government.

* IT accept, then, the conjfiitution ; I engage to maintain it at

home, to defend it againft attacks from abroad, and to caujfe it to
be executed by all the means which it puts in my power.
* ¢ T declare, that, informed of the adherence of the great
body of the people to the conftitution, I renounce the right of
concurring, which I had claimed in this work, and being re-
fponfible only to the nation ; no other, whilft I renounce it,
can have a right to complain.

st I fhould, however, deviate from truth, if I affirmed that
I perceived in the means of execution and adminifration, all
- the energy neceflary to give motion and preferve the unity in
all the parts of fo vaft an empire ; but fince opinions are divid-
ed upon thefe fubjects, I confent that the decifion fhould be left

1791. National Afembly: 335

to the teft of experience alone. While I fhall have faithfully
employed all the means which are entrufted to me, no reproach
can be made to me ; and the nation, whofe intereft alone ought
to be the fupreme rule, will explain itfelf by thofe means which
the conftitution has referved to it. 4

«¢ But, Gentlemen, for the fecurity of liberty, for the ftability
of the conftitution, for the individual happinets of all French-
men, there are interefts in which an imperious duty prefcribes
to us to combine all our efforts: Thefe interefts are refpect for
the laws, the re-eftablifhment of order, and the re-union of all
the citizens. Now that the conftitution is definitively fettled,
Frenchmen living under the fame laws ought to know no ene-
mies but thofe who infringe them: Difcord and Anarchy;
Thefe are our common enemies.

<< I will oppofe them with all my power: It is neceffary that
you and your fucceffors fecond me with energy, that law, with-
out attempting to eftablifh its dominion over the mind, may
equally protect all thofe who fubmit their conduct to its decifion;
that thofe, whom the fears of perfecution and of trouble have
driven from their country, be affured of finding at their return
fafety and tranquillity ; and in order to extinguifh the animio-
fities, to foften the evils, which a great revolution always brings
in its train; that law may, from this day; begin to receive, a
full execution, let us conient to an oblivion of the paft. Let
thofe accufations and profecutions which originate folely
from the events of the revolution, be for ever extinguifhed in 2
general reconciliation. I fpeak not of thofe who have been
folely influenced by their attachment to me: Can you regard
them as criminal? As to thoie who by exceffes, in’ which I
¢an perceive perfonal injuries have brought upon themfelves’
the profecution of the laws, I fhall prove in all my conduct to
them that I am the King of all the French.

(Signed) LOUIS.”

«“ P.S. Lam of opinion, Gentlemen, that I ought to pro-
nounce my folemn acceptance of the conftitution in the very
place in which it was formed—and I fhall come in perfor to-
morrow at noon, to the National Affembly.”

September 14.

A fhort debate arofe concerning the manner in which the
Affembly fhould receive the King. M. Malouet moved, «* That
in token of refpect to the King’s function, the Affembly fhould
continue ftanding all the time he is prefent.””, But M. d’?Andre
obferved, that what had been practifed at the opening of the
States Gencral fhould be followed in this inftance—‘* On the

336 National Affembly: _ Nov. 9.

King’s entering the hall, the members rofe—on_the King’s
fpeaking, they fat down, covered.”? This was adopted. =

An officer announced the King’s arrival, who immediately
entered the hall, accompanied by all his minifters, without any
other decoration than the crofs of St Louis. The Affembly
ftood up, the King feated himfelf befide the Prefident, and ad-
drefied the Affembly in the following words:

“¢ Tcome folemnly to confecrate my acceptance of the new
conftitutional, code. In confequence of which I fwear (the
members now fat down) #o be faithful to the nation, and to the
law—to employ all the power with which I am entrufted in”
maintaining the conftitution decreed by the National Affembly, and
to caufe the laws to be executed.” ' :

The King fat down, and the hall refounded. with appiaufes,
after which he proceeded : :

“¢ May this great and memorable epoch be that of the re-efta-
b'ifhment of peace and union, and become the bafis of the wel--
fare of the people, and of the profperity of the empire !””

The hall refounded for feveral minutes with applaufes, and
fhouts of Viwe le Roi!

The Prefident ftanding, faid, ‘¢ Abufes of long ftanding, which ’
had trinmphed over the good intentions of the beft of Kings,’
and had unceafingly braved the authority of the throne, -had
oppreffed France. (The King remained fitting, and the Prefi-
dent fat down, and proceeced)—Depofitary of the wifhes, of the
rights, and of the power of the people, the National Affembly
has eftablifhed, by the deftruétion of all abufes, the folid bafis of
public profperity. Sjre, what this Affembly has decreed, the
national concurrence has ratified. The moft complete execu-*
tion of its decrees in all parts of the empire attefts the general
fentiment. It deranges the weak plans of thofe whom difcon-’
tent has too long kept blind to their own interefts. It pro-
mifes to your Majefty, that your wifhes for the welfare of the
French will no longer be vain.

«¢ The National Affembly has nothing more to defiré on this
ever-memorable day, in which you complete,‘in its bofom, by:
the mo folemn engagement, the acceptation of con/ffitutional
royalty. It is the attachment of the French, it is their. confi-,
dence, who confer upon you that pure and refpectable title to
the mof defireable crown in the univerfe ; and what fecures
itto you, Sire, is the unperifhable authority of a conftitution
freely decreed. It is the invincible force of a people who feel
themfelves worthy of liberty ; iteftablifhes the neceffity which
fo great a nation will always have of an hereditary monarchy.

sé When your Majefty, waiting from experience _ the lig
which are about to be {pread by the practical refult of the con-
ftitution, promifés to maintain it within, and to defend it from
attacks from without, the nation, trufting both to the juftice of

1791. National Affembly. 337

ts rights, and to the confcioufnefs of its force and courage, and
to the loyalty of your co-operation, can entertain no apprehen-
fion of alarms from without, and is about to contribute, by its
tranquil confidence, to the fpeedy fuccefs of its internal govern-
ment.

«¢ What ought to be great in your eyes, Sire, dear to our.
hearts, and what will appear with luftre in our hiftory, is the
epoch of this regeneration ; which gives to France, citizens— |
to the French, a country—to you, as a King, a new title ‘of
grandeur and glory—and to you again, asa man, a new fource
of enjoyment, and new fenfations’ of happinefs,”’

Loud plaudits followed.

The King quitted the Affembly in the midft of fhouts of
Vive le Roi—The Affembly, in a body, accompanied him to the
palace of the Thuilleries, in the midft of acclamations and
fhouts. of joy from the people; military mufic, and repeated
difcharges of artillery. Be

September 15.

M. Goupil moved, that as the conftitution was now finifhed,
it fhould be publifhed all over the empire with all poflible fo-
lemnity : That, after proclaiming it in each municipality, Te
Deum fhould be fung, and that this ceremony fhould be. fol-
lowed with feftivals and public rejoicings ; and that this fhould
be accompanied by a releafe ofall the prifoners of a certain de-
f{cription, —

Thefe propofals were adopted—The laft with fome modifi-
cation. m f

September 16.

M. Duport, in the name of the Committee of Criminal Ju-
rifprudence, recapitulated the articles of the decree concern-
ing the organization of juries, when feveral alterations were
adopted, and it was decreed, ** That: the epocha of the exiit-
ence of trial by jury is fixed for the rft of January 1792.’”

1. © That until the rf of January 1792, criminal proceffes
ee be continued to be carried on according to the exifting

orms:

a. © That the executive power fhall make, without delay, all
the neceffary preparations for the activity of juries, from the
firft of January 1792.” }

Upon the propotition of M.. Emmery, in the name of the
Conititutional and Military Committees, the Affembly paffed
the following decree:

«© The National Affembly decrees, that the officers of the
army fhall take the following oath : :

s¢ I {wear to be faithful to the Nation, tothe Law, and to
the King; to maintain the conftitution with all my power ; to
execute, and to fee executed, the laws and miljtary ordinan-

ces.
Vol. V. Uu

338 National Affembly, Nov. 9.

&¢ The foldiers fhall take the following oath—* I fwear to bé
faithful &c. to defend the conftitution ; never to abandon my
colours ; to obey my fuperiors, and to conform to all the rules
of military difcipline.””

M. Beaumetz. read the following decree concerning the gene-
yal amnefty, which was adopted without any cifcuffion : ©

s* The National Affembly, confidering that the objeét of the
French revolution was to give a conftitution to the empire,
and that therefore the revolution ought to end at the period
when it has received his Majefty’s acceptance: That, by how
much the more culpable it will henceforth be to refift the
conftituted authorities, fo much the more honourable it will ‘be
to forget thofe marks of oppolition teftified againft the general
will; and that the time hath at length arrived when diffenfions
oug ht tobe extinguifhed by a general fentiment of patriotifm
and of fraternity for each other, and affeétion for the Monarch,
who has himfelf given the example of this generous oblivion ; It
is decreed—

x. That all profecutions, judgments, and proceedings,
which have the revolution for their object, fhall be irrevocably
abolifhed.

2. * No officer of the police, judge, &c. fhall commence
any frefh profecution.

3. “ The King fhall be requefted to order the Minifter of
Jufiice to draw up a lift of thofe at prefent confined on ac-
count of the revolution.

4. ** That a general amnefty fhall take place in regard to all
military men, accufed or convicted of military offences fince
the rft of June 1785.

5. «© There fhall no lorger be occafion for any paffports, the
ufe of which was only adopted during a troublefome period ;
and every French citizen is hereby empowered to enter or leave
the kingdom according to his inclinations.”

i tember 19.

M. d’Andre faid, that only 240 Deputies to the new Legifla-
ture had entered their names in the regifter, and that the flow-
nefs cf their coming up was to be attributed to the uncertainty
with refpect to the period at which the prefent affembly was
to be diffolved. He therefore propofed, that the conftituting
body fhould terminate its labours on Friday Sept. 30. and that
a deputation fhould be fent to announce this refolution to the

ing.

The minifter of public taxes prefented a report of the receipts
Sor the month of Anguft.

The fum total paid into the treafury was only 18,096,986
livres, from which deduéting five millions fupplied by the fund
of extraordinaries, the amount of the taxes for that month was
reduced to 13,096,986 livres.

r7QT National Affembly. 339

This: fum' was paid chiefly by the city of Paris ; the pay-
ments by the other parts of the kingdom not being yet brought
} to account, in confequence of the new regulations in the mode
of collecting them, and the néceffary attention of the people
to the bufineis of the harveft.

With refpect to the taxes on property real and perfonal,
forty of the eighty-three departments had completed the affeff-
ments forthe year 1791.

The amount of the affeffed taxes for the whole kingdom
was 300 millions.

The report concluded with expreffing the opinion of the Mi-
nifter, that in proportion as the obftacles which muft neceffarily
attend fomany ufeful changes in the mode of collection were
removed, and which he thought only time was wanting to re-
move, the revenue would be found in a very Hourifhing condi-
tion.

eu a September 20.

M: d’Andte obferveds that as the general amnefty had ren-
dered the high court of Orlean$ unneceffary, and as it was at-
tended with a confiderable expence, it fhould now be fuppref-
fed—Decreed accordingly.

Various articles were then decreed on the formality of naval
courts martial, the duties of commiffaries of the army, and
public notaries. M.Duport faid, the Affembly had never paid
any attention to the various protefts againft its proceedings,
becuafe they feemed unworthy of its notice. The obvious
effeét, however, of a proteft, was a retraction of the civic oaths
If it was neceffary to take that oath as a qualification for public
offices, it followed of courfe that they who protefted were dif
qualified. He therefore moved, ‘* That they who have proteft-
ed againft the decrees, or have retracted their civic oath, or
have publifhed or figned a declaration againft the conftitution;
fhall be confidered as not having taken the oath, and confe-
quently, declared incapable of holding any office, civil or mili«
tarv.

‘The motion was carried by acclamation.

M. Bouiffon then moved, ‘¢ That thofe who have protefted,
fhall be deprived of all public functions and penfions ;” but this
motion was referred to a committee.

September 21.

Onthe motion of M.d’Aguillon, it was refolved, that Ma-
dame de Richelieu, the widow of the Marefchal of the fame
name, who is in the greateft diftrefs, fhall receive a penfion, the
fame as the other widows of the Marefchals of France.

In confequence of a report from the Conftitutional Commit~
tee, it was refolved, that it fhould be referred tothe executive
power, to carry into execution the vote for erecting a ftatue,

340. —‘National Affembly. ~~ Nov. 9.

and decreeing public honours to. the memory of f. Jaques
Rouffeau. :
at September 22. “orn ;

The Bifhop of Paris informed the Affembly that he had if
fued a mandate for a Te Deum and folemn mafs in the metro
politan church on Sunday next, to return thanks to God for
his aid and protection in accomplifhing the revolution, to which
he invited all religious perfons and the National Affembly to
attend. . Twenty-four members.are to attend.

September 23. :

It. was decreed, that the Comtat Venaiffin and Avignon fhalk
not form a department, that they fhall not eleét members to
the Court of Appeal, but they fhall fend three deputies to the
Legiflature. Bilis

M. Barnave reported from the Committees of Conftitution, of
Marine, of Agriculture and Commerce, and of Colonies, on
the ftate of the Weft India colonies. He obferved, that the
Britifh colonies were allowed to make laws for their internal
government, while Parliament made laws for their external
government, and prfopofed this as the model.—Deferred till
next day.

September 24.

The affairs of the colonies were again taken into confidera-
tion, when the following articles were accordingly paffed :

1, The Affembly referves to itfelf the exclufive right of de-
termining, with the fanction of the King, on the exterior go-
vernment of the colonies.

‘2. The Colonial Affemblies fhall be authorifed to make, upon
thefe fubjects, all the reprefentations which they think necef-
fary,
i The laws concerning the fituation of perfons not free,
and the-political ftate-of perfons of colour and free negroes, as
well as the regulations relative to the execution of the faid
laws, fhall be made by the.Colonial Affemblies, and hall be
executed provifionally, with the approbation of the Governors
of the colonies, and fhall be dire¢tly prefented for the fanétion
of the King, without any anterior decree being able to obftruét
the full exercife of the right intrufted by the prefent article to
the Colonial Affemblies.

4. The forms to be obferved for the completion of the laws
for the internal government, which do not. concern perfons,
fhall be determined by the Legiflative Body. }

September 25.

A memorial, relative to the prefent ftate of the frontiers, was
read by M. Duportail, and the account which he gave of the
means of defence which had been adopted appeared fufficient.
‘The Minifter pafled great encomiums upon Meff. Luckner and

W793. * National Affembly. 341

Rochambeau, and feveral corps of the army, who at length pay
due mf{pect ta the laws of fubordination and obedience,

It was alfo reprefented by M. Duportail, that it was neceflary
that during the year no leave of abfence fhould be grante@, be-
caufe all, or almoft all the officers being new, it was moft im-

portant that they fhould learn their duty, and fhould, befide, |

complete, by their prefence, the re-eftablifhment of difcipline
in the military corps, and that he had addreffed a circular let-
ter to all the regiments of the army, announcing that leave of
abfence would not be granted.

On a motion of M. de St Fargeau, the Affembly adopted

feveral additional articles in the penal code, the principal of |

which were, that henceforth branding fhall be abolifhed, and

that the moft rigorous punifhment fhall confift in a fimple pri- |

vation of life.

It was agreed, on a motion of M. Camus, that a gratification |

of 44,000 livres fhould be paid to the clerks of the Affembly.
The attendants on the offices were likewife to be rewarded ;
and it was agreed that honourable mention fhould be made,
in the verbal procefs, of the names of thofe enlightened perfons
who, by their views, their zeal, and their writings, have fa-
cilitated the operations of the prefent Affembly.

' A letter was read from the Minifter of War, on the fubject |

of the expences neceflary for defraying the prefent prepara-
tions for exterior defence. He therein ftates, that 1,180,000
livres are neceffary for completing the equipment of a part of
the regular troops. Landan, Givet, and Charlemont, cannot
be put in a ftate to maintain a fiege for lefs than 1,183,000 livres.
Laftly, in proceeding with the ftricteft ceconomy, the gerteral
equipment of the national guards cannot be effected tor lefs
than 9,811,380livres. This letter was fent to the Military Com-
mittee. ,
September 26,

'M. Prieur obferved, that the place in which the meetings of |

the Affembly were held, was, for many reafons inconvenient,
and unworthy of the ufe to which it was applied. He propofed
that one more magnificent and worthy the occupation of the
Legiflative Body, fhould be prepared, either in the palace of
the ancient magiftrature, or built on the ruins of the Baftile.
Referred to the enfuing Legiflature.
September 27.

“M. le Brun ftated, that there were daily fales of private li-
braries, which contain fcarce and valuable books, worthy of |

being added to the King’s library, now called the national k-
brary; that a great number of foreigners, curious in thefe lite-
rary treafures, purchafe, and take them out of the kingdom.
To prevent, in future, fimilar inconveniences, he propofed, that
the fum of 100,000 livres fhould be appropriated to make fuch

342 National Affembly. Now gi

purchafes, which fhould be at the difpofal of the Minifter of
the Interior Department.—Refolved.

M. le Chapellier propofed, that all: perfons who fhould in
future either prefix or annex to their names any of the titles
or diftinétions profcribed by the new laws, fhould be punifhied
by civil degradation, and declared intapable of exercifing any
public functions; and that all writings or agreements in which
they fhall ufe thefe diftinétions fhall be null and void ; and that
all public officers who fhall receive fuch writings fhall be pu-
nifhed by being deprived for ever of their employments.

This propofal was oppofed by feveral members; they hows
ever agreed, that fome punifhment ought to be infli€ted upon

fuch delinquents, which they propofed fhould be a pecuniary -

fine ; and whichin no cafe fhould be lefs than 1006 livres. | All
the other pains and penalties were retained, which have even
been extended to perfons heretofore poffeffed’ of titles; who
fhall wear, or have placed on their carriages, any of thofe dil-
tinétive marks which have been prohibited by the laws.

Ona motion of M. Duport, and in fpite of a vigorous oppofi-

tion from M. Rewbel, the decree, provifionally excluding Jews

from the rights of citizens, was repealed.

At the end of the fitting, the fuppreffion of all the chambers”

of commerce in the kingdom was decreed.
September 28.
The Affembly decreed— :
That the laft decree refpesting the colonies fhould be immes
diately prefented for the royal fanétion :
That the Commiflioners appointed to go to St, Domingo
fhould depart as foon as poffible :

That the general amnefty granted to all Frenchmen fhould be’

extended to thesinhabitants of the colonies.
S@ptember 28.—At night.

The Affembly refolved, that the general amnefty was meant
to extend to military as well as civil offences, and confequently
all deferters from the army ; and the Prefident was directed to
wait upon the King, and requeft that immediate orders might
be given for the difcharge of all fuch prifoners.

M. Broglio prefented the plan of a decree from the military
committee, on the mode of fupplying the army with fubaltern

efficers, which was adopted. By this decree, from and after |

the r5th, of October next, no perfon can be admitted to the
rank of fub-lieutenant without a previous examination, and to

this examination every French citizen, of the age of fixteen,.

who can produce certificates of his morals and good conduct,
is admiffible.
September 29.

On the motion of M. Chabroud it was decreed, that the

King fhall be requefted to prefent his picture to the National

——

17Q91e National Affembly. 343

Affembly, in the a¢t of prefenting the conftitution to the Prince
Royal, to be hung up.in.the hall of the legiflature.

On the application of the Minifter of War, eight Lieutenant-
Generals, and twelve Marfhals of Camp, were added to the ftaff.
September 30.

The Affembly having, by a former decree, refolved, that this
day fhould be the laft of their fitting, and that their fucceffors
fhould take their places to-morrow, met this day to terminate
their labours.

The King had intimated his intention of coming in perfon to
the Afiembly, and the hall and galleries were as crowded and
brilliant as on the memorable day of .his acceptance of the con-
ftitution. The members of the new legiflature being all ad- .
mitted. to the body of the Affembly, and the municipality of
Paris, as well as the directors of the department, being invited
to affift at the fitting, in confequence of addreffes which they
prefented, made it infinitely more brilliant——The Affembly clof-
ed their labours by receiving the laft reports from the commit-
tees on different fubjeéts, particularly the military code, and
by publifhing an account of the ftate of the finances, of the
fums in the national treafury, of the receipt of the taxes, of the
contributions received by the departments, and of the precife

ftate in which they were to deliver over the affairs of the king-

dom to their fucceffors. The accounts were received with the
higheft pleafure, and were confidered as highly favourable to
the nation.—M. Montefquiou ftated, that there were 35 mil-
ions in the national treafury, of which 18 millions were in {pecie;
and the members of the Committee of Finance pledged them-
felves perfonally for the fidelity of the accounts, and that they
would be ready to anfwer for them to the next Legiflature.
Before three o’clock they had done all their bufinefs, and pre-
pared for the royal prefence. Inthe proceedings of the day be-
fore, they had determined to receive the King with more re-
{pect than on the former occafion.—-Qnly one chair of ftate
was placed on the platform, to the left of the ordinary chair of
the Prefident.—At half paft three the King was announced, and
he entered, preceded by the deputation of members, and by
his minifters, who, inftead of being feated on chairs at the bar,
took their ftand behind the King, The Affembly were all
ftanding and uncovered, The King was dreft in purple, em-
broidered, and with the red ribbon and ftar, as patron of the
order of St Louis, He was received with the moft lively accla-
mation. He drew a paper from his waiftcoat pocket, and read
his fpeech. He read it ftanding, which, by the arrangement
previoufly made, kept all the members on their legs. His de-
portment and manner was through the whole much more dig-
nified, collected, and cheerful than on the day of the accep-

tance. In reading the fpeech he was interrupted twenty times

by torrents of applaufe.—The fpeech was as follows :

344 National Affembly. " ‘Nov. 94

ss GENTLEMEN, ee Xe" ; \
«¢ You have terminated your labours—the conftitution is
finifhed—I have promifed to maintain it, to caufe it to be exe-}
‘cuted—it is proclaimed by my orders. ‘The conftitution, from}
which France expects profperity, this fruit of your cares and}
watchings, will be your récompence ; France, made happy by}
your labours, will communicate her happinefs to you.. Re-f
turn to your homes, and tell your fellow-citizens that the happi
nefs of the French ever has been, and ever will be, the object
of my withes; that I neither have nor can have any intereft
but the general intereft ; that my profperity confifts only in the}
public profperity ; that I fhall exert all the powers entrufted
to me to give efficacy to the new fyftem; that J fhall com-
municate it to foreign courts; and fhall in every thing prove}.
that I can orly be happy in the happinefs of the people of France.}
“¢ Tell them alfo that the revolution has reached its period,
and that the firmeft fupport of the conftitution is now the re-}
eftablifhment of order. You, gentlemen, in your feveral de-
partments, will undoubtedly fecond my vigilance and care with}
all your power ;. you will give the firft example of fubmiffion to}
the laws which you have framed ; in the capacity of private}
citizens you will difplay the fame character as in the capacity
of public men: and tie people feeing their legiflators exercife,
in private life, thofe yirtues which they have proclaimed in the]
National Aflembly, Will imitate them, difcharge with pleafure)
the obligations which the public good impofes on them, andcheer-
fully pay the taxes decreed by their reprefentatives. It is by
this happy union of fentiments, of wifhes, and exertions, that]
the conftitution ‘will be confirmed, and that the nation will en-}
joy all the advantages which it guarantees.” :
The Prefident immediately made the following anfwer, which }
was alfo highly applauded: ~ ate El .
6 SIRE
“* The adherence of the nation -ratifies the conftitution de-
creed by the Affembly of the reprefentatives of the nation,
Your Majefty has accepted it, and the public joy is a fufficient
teftimeny of the general affent. It promifes that your Majefty
wiil no longer defire in vain the happinefs of the French. Qn jj
this memorable day the National Affembly has nothing mofe |
to will 5 and the nation, by its tranquil confidence, is ready to
co-operate for the prompt iuccefs of its internal government.’? —
The King then teft the Affembly in the fame order that he”
entered, amidit the fhouts of the people. }
The Affembly continued, and, as it had been previoufly’
fettled, proceeded to read over the minutes of the day, and
finally concluded by pronouncing their own diffolution, and fe-"
parating to meet no more. 5

FOREIGN.
FRENCH CONSTITUTION.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
Saturday, Sept. 3.

‘THE Affembly refumed the
confideration of the Conftitu-
tional Code ; and many, among
which was the one eftablifhing
the right of the nation to
change, whenever it fhould
‘think proper, its form of go-
vernment, underwent fome
flight alterations. The quef-
tion, whether the decree which
takes from the King the power
of pardoning, fhould make part
of the conflitutional code? gave
rife to a long debate; when
the Affembly determined it
fhould not.

Other obfervations of little
importance then took place ;
and it was generally agreed that
na farther addition fhould be
made tothe conftitutional code,
and the Affembly completed it
by the following concluding

SHORT CHRONICLE

OF EVENTS.

EEE

[szrr. 28. 1791.]

On a propoial of M. d’An-
dre, it was then determ ned,
that a deputation of 60 mem-
bers fhould,inthe courfe of the
day, prefent the conftitutional
code to the King.

M,Prilur obferved,thatasthe
conftitution was about being
prefented to the King, it was
likewife neceffary thatthe whole
of France fhould be made ac~
quainted with it: He therefore
moved, that without delay it
fhould be printed, and circulat-
ed throughout all the depart
ments of the kingdom, This
propofal was adopted. *

_M. Delley d’Agier moved, r.
That no member fhould be al-
lowed, even now that the con-
ftitution is completed, to ab-
fent himfelf from the Affembly
without leave.

2. That the prefent Senate,
on reftoring to the nation the
immenfe power with which it
has been invefted by it, fhall
ftyle itfelf The Legiflative A/-

paragraph :—‘* The National | fembly.—Thele two motions

Affembly has refolved, that the
conflitution is completed, and
that no further change can take
place in it.”

7? a

were adopted.

On a propofal by M. Lavie,
the Prefident was authorifed to
appoint Gomembers who fhould

tT

ce

il

prefent to the King the confti-
tutional code.

The Prefident accordingly
read the lift of the members
who were to form this deputa-
tion, after which the Affém-
bly arofe. ‘

The members of the deputa-
tion affembled in the hall at
the hour appointed; but the
copy of the conftitutional code
not being completed, they
waited till half paft 8 o’clock,

when the Prefident, inftead of:

taking the chair, afcended the
tribune,and informedthe mem-
bers prefent that he had an-
nounced to the King the de-
putation of the National Af-
fembly, and that the King had
faid that he was ready to re-
ceive it. The deputation ac-
cordingly began its march, at-
tended by flambe2ux, between
fwo files of National Guards,
and an immenie crowd of peo-
ple on both fides, who kept
great filence. The deputation
was received in the Council
Chamber. The King was fur-
rounded’ by all his Minifters,
and a great number of other
perfons. Astin

The Reporter of the Com-
mittee of Conftitution, M.
Thouret, fpoke as follows :

“¢ The reprefentatives of the
mation prefent to your Majefty
the conftitutional code, which
confecrates the imprefcriptible
rights of the French people,
which reftores to the throne its
true dignity, ard which orga-
nizes the government of the
empire.”

"THE KING’S ANSWER. ~
* T'receive the conftitution

Hiftorical Chronicle.

‘effered to me by the National
Affembly.—I will communicate
my refolution to the National
Affembly as foon as the ex-
amination of fo important an
object will render it poffible.
T.am determined to remain in
Paris.—I will give orders to
the Commandant of the Natio-
nal Parifian Guard, refpecting
the guard for my perfon.”

Tne deputation returned to
the hall of the Affembly by the
fame way and in the fame or-
der in whith they left it, when
M. Thouret gave an account to
the members there of what he
faid to the King, and his Ma-
jefty’s anfwer. ae

September 13.

M. Duport du Tertre, Mi-
nifter of Juftice, prefented to
the Prefident a letter from the
King, (in his Majefty’s own’
hand writing), remarking, at
jome length, upon the prefent
ftate of affairs; declaring his
free acceptance of the conftitu-
tion as decreed by the Aflem-
bly, the power or energy of
which to' govern fo great an
empire, he leaves to the teft of
experience ; recommending a
géneral oblivion of the paft, a
relinquifhment cf all profecu-
tions’ originating from the
events of the revolution, and a
general amnefly to all perfons
who had left the kingdom :—
And that he will come in per-

fon to the National Affembly

next day at noon, to pronounce
his felemn acceptance of the
Conftitution in the fame place
in which it was formed. q

The letter was ,received by
the Affembly with great ap-

laufe, and -yepeated exclm-
ujftions of Vive le Roi! refounde
1, pthroughout the hall.

jf. M- la Fayette immediately

.|rofe and moved, “ That the

, | Affembly do epee a general

‘famnefty—That all perfons un-

der profecution on account of
the King’s departure, fhall be

inftantly liberated—That all

other profecntions on account

of the revolution be annulled—

That a decree be paffed to abo-

lith the ufe of paffports;-and all

other temporary impediments

which may hinder French citi-

“zens from pafling into or out of

‘the kingdom.””—Thefe were all

immediately decreed.

It was alfo decreed, ‘* That
notwithftanding the fuppref-
fion of all infignia of military
‘orders, the King and Prince
Royal thould wear the cordon
Bleu.” ;

, A deputation of 60 members
“Was appointed to prefent the
abové décrees to the King, and |

to exprefs the happinefs his ac- ,
ceptance of the conftitution had |

d

diffufed. ..
_ September 14.

, The King, this day at 12
_o’clock, repaired to the Natio-
nal Affembly; and perfonally
confirmed his acceptance of
the conftitution. The hall, and
a]l the avenues to it, through
which the King paffed, were
crowded with people, who ge-
“nerally expreffed the moft live-
ly exultation. His Majefty
Be very fenfibly affected by
the acclamations of the crowd.
_ The ceremony was conduct-
“ed with mych regularity and
honour, and the effcct was
grand and impreffive. A large

Hiforical Chronicle.

sof
lil

detachment of National Guards
efcorted the King, and the pro-
ceffion moved between two
lines of the fame troops. His
acceptance before the Affem-
bly was: announced by a gene-
ral difcharge from the artillery
of the National Guards.

The King did not appear in
the cordon bleu.

The King, who is nowas pc-
pular as a few weeks fince faw
him contemned, gave new mat-
ter to feed the phrenzy ‘of ap-
plaufe, by refufing to wear the
blue ribband when going to ad-
drefs the Affembly. He faid,
he did not wifh for any exter-
nal mark, dy which he might be
dijtinguifhed from other citizens,
as he confidered himfelf as the
fame with the people, and the
firt functionary of the State.
His rejection of this ornament
has been of nfe to his caufe ;
when the minds of men are in
a itate of fermentation, objects,
trifling in themfelves, are fre-
quently important in their con-
fequences, Jee

Monfieur,the King’s brother,
was, on the 2sth of Auguft,
appointed regent of France,
with the unanimous confent of
all the emigrants, who cele-
brated, on that day, the feaft
of St Louis at Cobientz. They.
all fwore, at the fame time; to.
fhed the laft drop of their
blood jn the caufe of the King.

The Univerfity of Paris have
fent a requifition to the Uni-
verlities of Oxford. and Cam-
bridge, for the purpofe of ob-
taining a copy of the ftatutes
and regulations upon which
thofe. Jearned feminaries are
founded and conducted,

WAR IN INDIA,

The Englith army under the
command of the Governor Ge-
neral, Earl Cornwallis, in the
courfe ofthe month of Febru-
ary, effected the paflage of the
Ghauts.—Theleare high moun-
tains which furround the My-
iore kingdom, the dominions

of Tippoo Siltan.—His Lord-
fhip advanced with his whole
_army, about 27,000 men, to-
wards the fortrefs of Banga-
Jore, a very ftrong, extenfive,
and*well fupplied poft, with a
numerous garrifon, where he
encamped on the sth of March.
Tippoo followed him with an
immenfe army, and took poft
about fix miles diftant, but only
fent out fome fmall bodies of
borfe to harrafs the march of
the Englifh. On the 7th of
‘March, his Lordfhip made an
aflault on the Pettah or out-
‘works of the fortrefs, which he
carried with little lofs.—A re-
gular fiege was begun againft
the fort. But Tippoo fhewing
no inclination to rifk a general
engagement to fave this pott,
his lLordfhip, finding the
army and followers confumed
more forage and provifion than
~he expected, refolved to ftorm.

The following particulars of
this importantenterprifeare tco
interefting to be omitted.

On the r7th March the ene-
my finally drew off his line, }

which had for fome time kept up |

acannonade at a greatdiftance,
and moved parallel to the firft
line of Lord Cornwallis’s army,
confifting of the left wing and
the referve ; but not without
fuffering confiderably from an
eighteen pounder which open-

Hyftorical Chronicle.

on the oppofite fide of the fort.

sf
ed on part of his line, that}
came within its range as he
was drawing off. ;
~The fiege was carried on
with unceafing vigour, till the
aift, when, about eight in the
morning, it was obferved that
the enemy Were approaching.
Our lines immediately turned
out; but it was foon found
that he had drawn up his line

Our firft line remained drawn
up, to prevent any attack on
our baggage: and the fecond
under command of Col. Stuart/
moved off to attack the enemy
but before he could arrive
within cannon-{hot, their whole
army retreated before him. _

Every meafure had been ta-
ken that military genius and
experience could fuggeft, to fe-
cure fecrefy as wellas flrength
to the enterprife.—The ftorm
began at eleven at night, under
command of Lieut. Col. Max-
well.

The forlorn hope confifted
of thirty grenddiers, command-
ed by Lieutenants Evans and
Duncan. All the European
grenadiers were of the ftorm.
The flank-companies advanced
according to feniority; the
36th, 72d, and 76th regiments,
with two battalions of fepoys,’
to clear the covered way. Ge-
neral Meadows led the grena~
diers, and mounted the breach
at their head. |.

Nothing could exceed the
grandeur of the {pedtacle.

|The {plendour of the moon,

the glare of the blue lights

| from the ramparts of the ené-
Fmy, and the thoufand light-

ning-flafhes from all the guns,
dazzled the eye with a new

) day ; while the conftant peals
of mufquetry, and roar of the
“cannon, rendered: the fcene
truly awful.

It was found neceffary to
‘| efcalade in two places, where

fmall trenches had been dug
| by theenemy. A paflage over
one of thefe, where only one
man could go, was fortunately
difcovered by fome of the 36th
regiment. Many paffed by this,
‘and gained the works, while
‘the efcalade was effected by
‘the flank companies, com-
‘manded by Major Skelly,
with equal fpirit and fuccefs.

_ Nothing could refift or ef-
eape the impetuofity of the
troops :—they rufhed along the
ramparts, where heaps lay dead
and dying, and met near the
oppofite gate. Here the crowd,
attempting in vain to efcape
through what they could not
defend, met their promifcuous
fate in multitudes. Many fell
on the bayonet, many by the
bullet, and many were burnt
“by their cloaths catching fire,
and blown up by the explofion
of their own cartridge-boxes.

The flaughter was inevita-
bly great—moie than 1000, it
is apprehended, though its du-
ration was fhort ; and it was as
pleafing to humanity, next day,
to fee the foldiers binding up
the wounds they had infli¢ted,
and giving provifions and affift-
ance to their prifoners, as it is
diftreffing to contemplate the
neceflary calamities of war.

Some of the enemy appear-
ed on the outfide of the fort,
but attempted nothing, and
were foon difperfed by a few
fhot. The fire of the fort was

Hiforical Chronicle:

?

very heavy, but ill directed ;
and all the refiftance on the
ramparts being fo rapidly over-
powered, our lofs happily was
fmall.

The fort is nearly oval, with
two gates covered by the out-
works, but without a draw-
bridge, one to the fouth-weft,
called the Seringapatam-gate—
the other, Oofcottah, to the
eaftward. It appears to be ir-
regularly built, about a mile
and three quarters in circum-
ference, with imall round baf-
tions at the diftance of 50 or
69 yards, incapable of ccntain-
ing more than three guns each.

Six lofty cavaliers in diffe-
rent parts, mounting each eight
or ten guns, command the fort
and the adjacent country ; the
rampart is fufficiently broad
to admit of the heavieft guns
being fired from the curtains;
and the ditch, except in two
places where it is covered by
outworks, is deep and broad,
.but with hardly any water in
it—The fauffebraye wide, and
the covert way very judiciouf-
ly conftructed 3 the glacis, as
Bs ufual in Indian forts, too
fteep.

More than roo ‘pieces of
cannon are taken, with great
quantities of ammunition and
military ftores; abundance of
grain was found in the fort;
and thottgh no public treafure
has yet been difcovered, a vat
variety of private property, im
the hour of plunder, amply
compenfated to the foldiers
the danger of the ftorm.

All accounts concur in ad-
miring the extent and magni-
ficence of the palace, and the

vi Hiftorical Chronicle.

plantations and difpofition of
its garden; exact architecture
-or elegance could not be hop-
ed for, but much more of both
was found than. could have
been expected. In the exten-
five chambérs of the palace, a
rich profuficn of carpets, hang-
ings, and filks, gilded and
fiuted pillars, and walls and
ceilings painted and burnifhed;
and in the garden, walks and
pieces of water well dil-
pofed and planted, with lofty
and fhady avenues, and fruit
and. flowers in, abundance,
But a. fiill more important

proof of the rapid ftrides the’

former mafter of Bangalore
was making in ufeful improve-
ments, was the ftate of the
foundery for cannon and iron-
works which he carried on
there. One very remarkable
machine for boring mufkets
was found; it is worked by
bullocks, and fuch is its force
and contrivance, as to bore
fifty ata time. The venerable

Killedar, Babander Khan, fell }-

in the ftorm of the ramparts,
To the honourable offer
made by Lord Cornwallis, of
fending his body to Tippoo, the
Sultan returned a very thank-
ful anfwer, but declined it ;
exprefling bis high fenfe of the
cffer, but obferving, as the Kil-
ledar had fallen in battle as a
fuldier, he thought he could
not have a n¢bler grave. The
fecond in command.alfo fell ;
and Kiftna Row, Tippoo’s fa-
wourite Bucihce, is taken pri-
foner. }
From thecireumftance of part
of Lord Cornwallis’s-difpatches
to the Counci! cf Madras hav-

ing been intercepted by the |
enemy, no patticular account |.
of the lofs in thefe aétions has
been received.—But the follow-
ing officers are mentioned in ”
private letters to have fallen :
- Lieut, Col. Jofeph . Moor-
houfe and Capt. John Slipper,
both of the Conipary’s artille-
ry.—Capt. Delany, 36th regi-
ment—Capt. Terrot, 52d regi-
ment—Lieut. Welwood, Com-
pany’s cavalry—Colonel Floyd
and Capt. Markham, wounded..
After taking poffeffion of ©
Bangalore, the following ap-
peared in the General Army
Orders. E
Camp at Bangalore, March 22.
1791-
GA Or ?
*¢ Lord Cornwallis feels the
moft fenfible gratification in

| congratulating the officers and

foldiers of the army on the
flonourable iffue of the fa-
tigues and dangers which they
underwent during the late ar-
duous fiege. ‘

¢ Their alacrity and firmness
in the execution of their va-
rious duties has perhaps never
been exceeded ; and he fhall
not only think it incumbent
upon him to reprefent their
meritorious conduct in the
ftrongeft cclours, but he fhall
ever remember if with the fin-
cereft fentiments of efteem and
admiration. _ I p

¢ Thejudicious arrangements
which were made by Colonel
Duff in the artillery depart-
ment, and his exertions, and
thofe of the other officers and
the foldiers, of that corps in
general, in the fervice of the
batteries, are enfitled to his

Lordfhip’shigheftapprobation ;
to which he defires to add,
that he thinks himfelf much
obliged to Lieutenant Colonel
Giels for the able manner in
which he directed the fire dur-
ing the day of the arft.

¢ Lord Cornwallis is fo well
acquainted with the ardour
that pervades the whole army,
that he would have been happy
if it had been practicable to
have allowed every corps to
have participated in the glory
of the enterprize of laft night ;
but it muft be obvious to all,
that in forming a difpofition
for the affault, a certain por-
tion of the troops could only
be employed.

“ The condué of ail the regi-
ments which happened in their
tour to be upon duty that
evening, did credit, in every re-
fpect, to their fpirit and dif-
cipline ; but his Lordthip de-
fires to offer the tribute of his
particular aiid warmeft praife
to the European grenadiers and
light infantry of the army, and
to the 46th, 72d, and 76th re-
giments, who led the attack,
and carried the fortrefs, and
who, by their behaviour on that
eccation, furnifhed a confpicu-
ous proof, that difciptined va-
Jour in foldiers, when directed
by zeal and capacity in officers,
is irrefiftible.

© The activity and good con-
duct of Lieutenant-Colonel
Maxwell, in the command of
the Pettah for feveral days pre-
vious to the affault of the fort,
was, in every refpect, highly
commendable ; but his Lord-
fhip defires that he will accept
pf his particular thanks for the

Hiftorical Chronicle.

Vi

judicious arrangements which
he made for the affault which
wascommitted to his direGtion,
and fer the gallantry which he
difplayed in the execution of
them.

¢ Helikewife returns his warm-~
eft acknowledgments to Ma-
jor Skelly, who undertook the
command of the corps that
commenced the attack of the
breach, and who, by animat-
ing them by his own example,
contributed effentially to our
important fuccefs.

§ Lieutenant Colonel Stuart
may be affured that Lord Corn=
wallis will ever retain the moft
grateful remembrance of the
valuable and fteady fupport
which that officer affords him,
by his military experience and
conftant exertions to promote
the public fervice ; and al-
though his Lordfhip is unwil-
ling to offend General Mea-
dows’s delicacy, by attempt-
ing to exprefs his full fenfe of
the able and friendly affiftance
which he uniformly experien-
ces from him, he cannot avoid
declaring, that it has made an
impreffion on his mind that
can never be effaced.”

The following letters paffed
betwixt Lord Cornwallis and
Tippoo Sultan:

From Tippoo Sultan.
Received March 27. 1791.
** Some time ago your Lord-

fiip defired that feveral matterg
fhould be replied to in writing,
and fent to you. I embrace
this opportunity of writing,
that in matters of great impor-
tance the fecrets of the heart
cannot be known but by the
verbal communication of a per-

ove

Vill

fon of confequence, nor can af-
fairs be adjufted. Therefore,
if your Lordthip pleafes, 1 will
nominate a perfon of confi-
dence, and, vetting him with
full authority, will fend him to
your prefence, in order that by
perfonal converfation our anci-
ent friendfhip may gain daily
ftrength. Your Lordfhip muft
confider me defirous of your
friendfhip, and muft act in a
manner that peace may take
place between us, the difagree-
ments exifting be removed, and
the happinefs and quiet of man-
kind be eftablifhed.””) _
Dated 22¢ Rubany Saul Sut-
ty 1218 Mahomed, or the
2oth Rejeb 1205 Hejery;
27th March r79r.

To Tippoo Sultan.
Written March 27. 1791-

&¢ I have received and have
underftood the contents of your
letter (recapitulate that receiv-
ed the 27th of March 1791).

¢ The moderation which al-
ways marks the character of
the Britifh Government, and
my own perfonal difpofition
and feelings, unite in making
me wifh moft earneftly for the
reftoration of the bleffings of
peace, as foon as a juft repara-
tion can be obtained for the in-
juries and loffes that the Com-
pany and its Allies have fuffer-
ed

‘If the two Circars alone were
engaged in the prefent war, I
should not object to receive the
perfon of confidence whom
you defire to fend to me, and
I fhould liften as favourably to

Hiftorical Chronicle.

1

your propofitions as the duty |.
of my ftation would admit’; |
but fo direct and expeditious a
mode of negotiation is not now ©
in my power: for when I found —
that by your difregard to all
my conciliatory offers, I muft
neceflartly be forced to engage
in a war, I entered into the
moft folemn treaties with Ni-
zam Ally Khan and with the
Pefhwa, declaring, that. we
would affift each other, and
that no one of the Powers |
would liften feparately to any
advances from the enemy, with-
out fubmitting the terms pro-
pofed to the general confidera-
tion and approbation of the
different parties of the confede-
racy. oe ah
‘I cannot,therefore,confiftent
with honour and good faith,

| receive, in the firft inftance, a

perfon of confidence from you,
for the purpofe of adjufting the
feparate terms of peace be-
tween you and the Company ;
but if you would think proper
to tranimit to mein writing,
the propofitions that you are
willing to make, as a foundati-
on upon which negotiations
may be opened, for the refto-
ration of peace and friendfhip
between the Company, the Ni-.
zam, and the Pefhwa on one
fide, and your Circar on the
other, I fhall, on my part, give
them’ the ‘moft: ferious con-
fideration, and, after com-
munication with the other
members of the confederacy, I
fhall convey to you our joint
fentiments upon them.” é
(Signed) Cornwallis.

: Ne account of the importance of the intelligence from France
and India, it was found neceffary to give an additional half
Soeet, which will be delivered with next number. ] — i

t
y

Hiftorical Chronicle.

The Peace betwixt the Cza-; It may appear extraordinary,
rina and the Porte was finally that the burial grofind around
concluded at Galacz onthe 11th Conftantinople extends now in
of Auguft, on the terms pro-, every direction fourteen miles;

ix

gerry the Britifh and Pruf
fian mediators.

» The Plague, according tothe
Tateft accounts, rages with un-
common fary at Grand Cairo,
in Egypt. During one’ fort-
hight about r600 perfons had
perifhed each day: and great
apprehenfions were entertain-
“ed by the inhabitants that this
public ,calamity would rather
encreafe than diminifh, till the
fall of the Nile, when it gradu-
ally fubfides.

_ Conftantinople had’ alfo ex-
perienced its fatal effects ; for
nearly one month upwards of
500 a-day having died. The
narrownels of the ftreets, by
pai the ingrefs and egerfs
of carriages have always been

* precluded, renders the malady

‘much more infectious and
alarming.

It is, however, a curious
fact related by travellers, that
the plague is feli!om equally
deitructive to the various -na-
tions who refide in this city.
Ofthe Turks, Jews, Armeni-
ans, and Greeks, who form the
principal inhabitants, the car-
hhage has been chiefly confined
to the firft defcription of péo-
ple, while few, in comparifon
of the others, have fallen vic-
tims to its fury.

The remedies applied by an
inhabitant of the fhores of the
Euxine Sea, who fome years
ago cured 700 perfons of the
plague, have been adminiftred
ai vain to the affli@ted.

b

fo great for fome years have
been the ravages committed on
the human fpecies.

Sir Robert Ainflie, and all
the Foreign Ambaffadors, re-
fide on the oppofite fide of the
Bofphorus, where the dread-
ful effects of the malady have
not been felt. No intercourfe
whatever is held with the
neighbouring families, the im-
pending danger impelling every
Ambaffador to provide for his
own fafety. : -

It continues to rage with e-

qual violence at Adrianople ;
and the troops who have arriv-,
ed from that part of the army.
appointed tooppofethe progrefs
of the Ruffians, have fuffered fe-
| verely, s000 having been buri-
.ed in the courfe of ten days.
| Smyrna has likewife been
vifited by this irrefiftible difor-
' der sand the natives have been
obliged to fuftain a temporar
ftagnation of commerce wit
foreign powers.

The Nile has nfen higher
this year than known for ages
. paft. It had early in the month
‘of Fuly rifen r9 cubits.
| ‘T’sePachas ot Diarbeck, Da-
| mas, Acre, and Aleppo, have all
{renounced their allegiance to

the Grand Signior. The Pacha
of Damas has plundered the
caravan going to Mecca, and
difperfed all the pilgrims.; and
the Pacha of Acre has expelle
the French merchants, not-
withftanding the firmand which
they received from the Subs
lime Porte,

= Hiftorical .Chronicle.

The Francifcan friars have al- | they will not refufe employing,

fo been driven out of his go- Jin conjunction with their faid |
vernment, and their convent is | Majefties, the moft efficacious |
entirely demolifhed. means, relative to their forces,
On the roth of Auguft the }in order to enable the King of
election of Deputies to the Po- | France to confolidate, in the
lith Diet, according tothe new | moft perfeét liberty, the bafis
form, commenced at Warfaw, | of a monarchial government,
and in all the other cities of | fuitable both ta the rights of
the kingdom. Sovereigns, and the welfare of
On the 23d of Auguft, the | the French nation.—Then, and
Emperor of Germany, with | in this cafe, their faid Majefties
his eldeft fons and the King of |the Emperor and the King of
Pruffia, with his eldeft fon, ar- | Pruffia are determined to aét,
tived at the Palace of the Elec-.| fpeedily, with mutual concord,
tor of Saxony at Drefden; and | and with neceffary forces, to
on the 25th Mr Fawkerer, the | obtain the propofed end in
Englifh Envoy, arrived alfo at} common. Mean while they
Drefden from Peterfburgh and | will give to their troops necef-
Warfaw. fary orders, that they may be
On the fame day arrived | ready for putting themfelves
alfo at Drefden, the Count | in a ftate of activity.”
d’ Artois, the Marquis de Bou- | Pilnitz, Aug. 27. 1791.
ile with his fon, Monf. de| On the 28th the illuftrious
Calonne, and the Prince of | vifitors parted—the Emperor
Naffan. and Archduke fet out for
The bufinefs which occafion-; Prague—the King of Pruffia
ed this meeting was the affairs] and Prince Royal for Potf-
of France, and the following} dam,—and the Count d’Ar-
Convention between the Empe-} tois with his fuite for Cob-
ror and the King of Pruffia was | lentz.—During their ftay at
the refult of the conference. | Drefden, the Elector of Saxony
“¢ His Majefty the Emperor, | gave a grand mafked ball, an
and his Majefty the King cf| opera, fupper, and fireworks,
Pruffia,having heard the wiihes| to the royal perfonages and
andreprefentation of Monfieur, ; the principal nobility.
the French King’s brother, The fellowing is part of 2
and the Count d’Artois, do] letter from the Czarina to the
‘jointly declare, that they look | King of Sweden: “¢ Your Ma-
npoen the actual fituation of his} jefty may reft affured, that my
Majefty the King of France as; fentiments agree with yours
an object of common concern } refpecting the unfortunate Louis
to xall the Sovereigns of Eu-{| XVI. and that I fincerely la-
rope. They hope that this} ment his fate as well as your
concern will, doubtlefs, be ac-} Majefty. I hope that our la-
‘knowledged by all the powers, | mentations will not be fruitlefs,
from whom afiffance is requir-| and that we fhall manifeft the
ed ; and that, in confequence, lively intereft which we feel for

Hiftorical Chronicle.

¥
Aim. The refolution which
you have made in his favour is
‘worthy of your courage and of
your magnanimity, and worthy
of the fucceffor of the great
Guftavus. For the fake of
peace, I have made fome im-
portant facrifices; andI fhould
be willing to make much grea-
ter, in bringing effectually to
‘bear your glorious undertak-
ing. I fhall confider the day
on which I hear that Louis
has recovered his authority and
his prerogatives, and has for-
given his enemies, as the hap-
pieft of my life.”’ -

The Emprefs of Ruffia has
iffued orders for difbanding the
Major part of her Afiatic for-
ces, and for fendingthemhome.
Fach man, exclufive of his
pay, is to have a certain
quantity of agricultural imple-
‘ments, by which means it is
hoped that the at prefent bar-
ren defarts of Siberia will be
cultivated on the return of the
peafantry, who have been’ in
fome degree civilized, by vifit-
ing the more weftern and fou-
thern climes.

Their Imperial Majetties din-
ed on the 31ft of Auguft at
Liebau, a fhort diftance from
Prague ; and afterwards made
their entry, being attended by
&9 ftate-coaches, 550 horfes,

and 800 fervants and officers’

in gala-liveries, where he was
crowned King of Bohemia.
' His Imperial Majefty has re-

eftablifhhed the government of:

the Auftrian low countries, on
the fame footingas it was con-
ducted in the time of his mo-
stad the Emprefs Maria The-
refa.

x1

The King of Pruffia has cen
cluded acommercial treaty be-
tween Pruffia and the United
States of America, and M. Pa-
lefke, a refpectable merchant
at Philadelphia, is appointed
his Majefty’s Conful General.
It is faid that he is to propole a

treaty of alliance between the

two countries, fo that the Pruf-
fian manufactures may.be im-
ported into America under
great advantages.

The following was proclaim-
ed at Madrid, on Saturday the
27th ult. by the Supreme Coun-
cil of War, in all the fquares
and public places of that capi-
tal :

‘Declaration of War by the
King of Spain againft the
Emperor of Morocco.

The good harmony in which
the King, my father, of glori-
ous memory, lived with the
late King of Morocco, Muley
Mohamet, during his reign, is
notorious, more efpecially fince
1780, when that Monarch fent
an Ambaffador to Madrid, to
confirm and renew the peace
which had been broken in 1774,
without any fault on the part
of Spain.

Tt is equally notorious, that
I myfelf preferved the fame
harmony with that Prince un-
till his death; nor is it lefs
public, that his fucceflor, Mu-
ley Eliazit, at his advancement
to the throne, teftified his de-
fire to fign a treaty of peace
with me, &c.

After the above preamble,
the following are affigned as
the {pecific caufes of the war:

1. The eftablifhments of
troops as the advanced pofts

xl

in the neighbourhood of Ceyta,
contrary to cuftom. ny,

2. The prohibition to im-
port corn from Arbeyda.

3- An infinuation to a Spa-
nifh mérckant to leave Africa,
notwithftanding the fervices
done by him to the King of
Morocco, in ‘preventing the
Arabs from pillaging one of his
feaports, by furnifhing him with
artillery, ammunition, &c, |

4. Killmg his father’s Minif-
ter with his own hand, on ac-
count of his fuppofed attach-
‘ment to Spain; ‘nailing his
head to the convent of Miffio-
nares eftablifhed at Mequinez,
and one of his hands to the Spa-
nifh Conful’s honfe at Tangier.
5. The purchafing of am-
munition, provifions, &c. to
carry on a war againft Spain.

6. Ordering the Spanith mif-
fionaries to leave the territories
belonging to the King of Mo-
rocco. ; ,

In confequence of thefe vio-
lations of the law of nations,
and in confideration of no o-
thef means being left in behalf
of my own dignity and that of
my crown, but to revenge thefe
outrages by force of arms, I
have refolved to make this de-
claration public ; and I here-
by accordingly declare war
againft that Monarch, his ftates,
and kis fubjeéts; and I. thall
immediately expedite. orders
for my fubjeéts to break off
all communication with them
whatever, and alfo to attack
them both by land and by fea.

Signed by the King’s own

hand, at> the. Palace, this
yoth day of Auguft 1791.

a
Hiforical Chronicle.

Counter Declaration of: Muley

Alcir, Emperor of Morraco.

I make known to all my vaf-
fals in general, that from. this
day, I declare war by. fea and
land againft the Chriftian Spa-
niards. as enemies, who are
hurtful-to our holy law: my
intention being in the mean
time to get poffeffion of the
place of Medina, which they:
call Ceuta, which they have
ufurped from> my dominions.
T order all my faithful fubjects
to take up arms, and to exert
their yalorous efforts againft
our enemies. I grant to all
thofe who undertake this en-
terprife, every thing they find
in the place, except the artille-
ry and war-ftores, which I re-
ferve for my own fervice. ;

I command likewile, and or-
der a Ramazan, to the end that
our great. Prophet, who is re-
vered in his vaft and incompar-
able temple of Mecca, may af-
ford his protection to all thofe
who take up arms againft the,
Chriftians our enemies. Sign-,
ed the year of the Egyra 1170,
the third day of the moon of
Ramzan, &c. ‘ “

Muuey ALCiR, \ -

‘Fhe Comte-de Lafey, Com-
mandant of Catalonia, fignified
to the Conful of France refic-
ing at Barcelona, that he muft
immediately quit Spain. Ade-
tachment: of grenadiers’. cone
ducted him to the French fron-
tiers. This French patriot was
accufed of having fpoken too’
freely of the Spanifh’ govern-
ment 5 and. at the fame time
too advantageoufly of the
French revolution, ,

een reduced, within.the fpace
of a few centuries, from 20 to
1,000,000. Nothing can bea grea-

ofits government. By the fine-

n the univerfe.
_ The Court of Spain; accord-
ing to report, have it in con-
templation to eftablifh a colony
at Trinidad, which is admired
as an earthly paradife, contain-
Ing all the luxuries and. con-
veniences of life. It is fituat-
edinthe Atlantic, or Ameri-
ean Ocean, feparated from the
province of New .Andalufia in
Terra Firma, by a narrow ftrait,
called Bocca de Drago. In
the year 1498, it was diicovered
by Columbus; in 1598, taken
by Sir Walter Raleigh; in
1676, taken by the French, who
extorted from the inhabitants
| 89,c00 pieces of: eight, to fave
their houfes. It has for more
than a century remained in the
poffeffion of the Spaniards.
Lifbon, Augufi 13. All fo-
yeigners here, who have no
other refidence than inns, have
been fummoned before the
Corregidor, who. has interro-
gated them refpeéting their.
names, their qualities, their
country, and their bufinefs.
Verbal proceffes have been
drawn up in confequence. of
the information taken, and or-
ders have been given to thofe
perfons, whcfe bufinefs or in-
tentions were fufpected, to de-
part the kingdom as foon as
Woffible. We prefume that a

Hiftorical Chronicle.

The inhabitants of Spain have

‘r proof of the wretchednels

nights,

=

fimilar procedure has taken
place in all the towns of Portu-

al. ’ eyes ys ;
K By a letter from Hamburgh,
dated 30th Auguft, we are ine
formed, that the turbulent {pi-
rit of the times had feized the
inhabitants of that city.. The
journey men trades people were
infifting for a rife of wages,
which being refifted, they be-
came fo tumultuous and difor«
derly, that the exertions of the
civil power were totally unable.
to quell them, and therefore
the inilitary were obliged to-be
called out and to: fire upon

‘them, in confequence of which

one man was killed and feveral:
wounded. The Citizens were
under arms for three days.and:
i during .which time”
every kind of bufinefs was fuf
pended, and nothing: but riot:

and confufion prevailed. When:

the accounts came away, peace:
and quietnefS were. reftoredy
and people were-refuming their
ordinary, employment. We
are:happy to add, that the da-
mage done.is inconfiderable,
as the watchful attention of
the citizens and’ military pre-:
vented any very flagrant acts of
violence and outrage.

It is a fact worthy of notice,
that no rum or fpirits of any:
kind were ufed on board the
{hip Brothers, Capt. Jofiah, im
his late voyage from Philadel-
phia to Canton. His men were’
uncommonly healthy, and not:
a life was loft between his.
leaving the Delaware and his
return to’ it. . The conftant
drink of his failors was {pruce
beer. Twenty years. ago, it
was thought as Utopian to
think of navigating a’ véffe]

XIV

without a daily allowance of
rum to failors, as it is now to
think of cultivating rice or fu-
gar without flaves.

The total lofs of our grand
army in India, from the date
of its march into Tippoo’s
country until the 3oth of April,
did not exceed 80 killed and
about 200 wounded.

One poor fellow had a moft
remarkable efcape.—He was
ftruck with fuch violence by
a muiket-ball, a little above the
groin, that it fractured into a
thoufand pieces a bifcuit which
he had fortunately put in his
waiftcoat pocket ;—he. prays
for the baker who made it—
and though he loft a tooth in
the morningattempting to break
it, he faved his life by pocket-
ing the obdurate caufe—he
recommends it to his come-
rades (when bifcuits are attain-
able) never to go to battle
without being well lined with
fuch.a noble defence, and juft-
ly claims the honour of being
the firft in difcovering its good
effects as external armour.’ Be-
ing alittle {welled in the part,
‘he applied the broken pieces of
the fame bilcuit, foaked as a
poultice ;-fo-that in the pre-
ient inftance we are warranted
in faying, that bread is not
only the ftaff, but alfo the fhield
of life.

A private letter from India
relates the following pleafing
incident, which occurred to Ma-
jor Gowdie, fhortly after he
entered Bangalore, with the
other affailants. Laft war he
had been Tippoo’s prifoner,
and was confined with many

¢

Hiftorical Chronicle,

other gentlemen in Bangalore,
where they fuffered every fpecies
of infult, hardfhips, and bar-
barity. A humane and bene-
ficent butcher, whofe bufinefs
led him often to their prifon,
faw and felt for their fufferings;
they had been ftripped of their
cloaths, and robbed of their
money, before they were con-
fined. It would have coft the
butcher his ears, perhaps his
life, had ke difcovered any
fymptoms of pity for the prifo-
ners before his countrymen.
They were allowed only one
feer of rice, and a pice, or half-
penny per day, for their fubfif-
tence ; but the butcher con-
trived to relievetheir neceflities;
on opening the fhcep’s heads,
which they frequently bought
from him as food, they were
aftonifhed to find pagodas in
the brains. Upon paffing the
yard of their prifon, he often
gave them abufive language,
and threw balls of dirt at them,
to teftify his hatred and con-
tempt ; but upon breaking the
balls, they always found they
contained a fupply of money
for their relief, and this he did
frequently for a long feries of
time. Major Gowdie had not
long entered the breach, when
he faw and recolleéted his
friend the butcher ; he ran with
eagernefs to embrace him, fav-
ed him from the carnage, and
led him to a place of fafety.—
The tranfports of the two gene=
rous fpirits at their meeting,
gave the moft pleafing fenfati-
ons to all who beheld them 5
it foftened the rage of the fol-
diers, and made the thirft of

i

.

_ blood give way to the emotions ;

Hiftorical Chronicle. XV

DOMESTIC.

On the 3d _ of September, at
| five in the morning, the King
jand Queen, and, four of the
' Princefies, fet off from Wind-
orcement of 200. elephants.!for for Weymouth, for the
They proceeded from Luck- | benefit of fea-bathing.
now under the charge of Capt.} Wedneflday morningthe r7th
Williamfon, on their way over | ult. about fix o’clock, a perfon
land to Madras. whofe name is Wetton, went

By the laft advices from | to Buckingham Houfe, and in-

of humanity.
The Nabob of Oude hasgene<
roufly and fpontaneoufly fup-
lied Government with a rein-

Bombay, the inhabitants had | fitted on being admitted to the

fuffered confiderably from the | Queen’s apartments. The fer-
drynefs of the feafon. Water | vant at firft treated him with
was fo exceedingly icarce, and icontempt ; but he. infifted in
rice fo high in price, that it was: fuch a boifterous manner on
neceffary to opena fubfcription | having his fir’ demand com-
for the relief of the poor, and | plied with, that they thought
about three lacks of rupees had } proper to take himintocuftody.
been collected. {It appeared that the man is in-

_It appears from a fair and}fane. He faid he-was a fhoe-
certain ftatement of the Orien-| maker by trade, had ferved
tal traffic, that Great Britain , twenty years in the Blues, from
poffefies upwardsof eighty parts which he was difcharged about
out of a hundred of thetonnage | five years ago: that he lately

‘of fhipping employed in the ' came toLondon tofee arelation

‘commerce from Europe andj

the reft of the globe to Afia.

_ At a late public dinner at
Bofton in America, the blefling
was afked by the Rev. Dr Par-
ker, anEpifcopalian, and thanks
returned by Dr Carrol, a Ro-
man Catholic Bifhop. It mui
give pleafure to every one to
fee this friendly intercourfe be-
tween perfons who _profefs
different opinions in religion.

Amorg the few curiolities
imported from Botany Bay is

a leaf of very uncommon pro-
perties. The moft extraordi-
Nary is, that, even without be-

‘ing pulverifed, it goes off, on

the application of a match,
with an explofion fome what
fimilar to gunpowder ; andthe
air is afterwards agreeably per-
fumed.

of his, and was much embar-
rafied for want of money. He
was, fent to the hofpital.as a
lunatic. He is 46'years old.

Two of the Birmingham rio-
ters, John Green and Francis
Rodney, were executed at that
place on the 8th inft. and be-
haved very penitent. Fifher
received his Majefty’s free nar-
don, and Hammond was reipit-
ed during pleafure.

A duel took place lately
at Limerick, in Ireland, be-
tween Countellor O’Callazhan
and Mr Macnamara, a young
attorney,, in confequence of
fome reflections thrown by the
former on the latter, refpeCting
exorbitant cofts, in which the
attorney received a wound in
his neck, of which he died
three days after.

“XVI

On the 14th inft. at ten
o’clock at night, a fire broke
out near Cherry-Garden Stairs,
Rotherhithe, London, which
from the tide being low, and
little water to be had, burnt
furioufly for a \confiderable
time. It began at a fhip-
chandler’s, but ‘how'is not
known—feveral barrels of tar
were on fire before it was dif-
covered. A number of engines
attended, both on the river and
on the fhore; but from ‘the
difficulty of finding water for
the latter, and the impoffibility
of bringing the former near
enough, it was fix or feven
o’clock in the mornirg before
the violence of the flames were
got under, by which time about
fifty houfes were burnt down,
many of them warehoufes,
containing property to a very
confiderable amount. A great
number of poor families have
been burnt out, and their little
all deftroyed; and what in-
ereafes the calamity, few of
them are infured. .

A fhocking a¢écident hap-
pened on the 16th ult. at
Booterftown, near Dublin-—A
young lady went on a vifit to
an acquaintance, who lodged
there forthe benefit of fea-bath-
ing, and was induced to go in-
to the water. Nevér having
gone into it before, fhe was
very much agitated, and two
ladies who accompanied her
very imprudently took advan-
tage of her fright, and threw
her down, with an intention of

| Hiftorical Chronicle.

'may.be eafily imagined on fo

ducking her. In lefs than one}
minute fhe was fuftocated, and |
completely deprived of life.)
The terror of her companions}

dreadful a cataftrophe.—A co-
roner’s inqueft was held on the }
body, and brought in a verdict
of accidental death. -

The foundation-ftone of a}
theatre, upon a new and ele-'
gant plan, ‘wasa few days fince
laid at Belfaft. It will be very-}
large, and faid to be fo admir-
ably contrived as to excelevery |
thing of the kind in Britain.

There is now living ia Brech-.
in, aperfon aged about 78 years,
perhaps the greateft natural ge-:
nius in the kingdom; who,
though he can neither read nor
write, can with the greateft fa-
cility and exadtnefs anfwer any
queftion either arithmetical or
algebraical; the truth of which
is attefted by feveral perfons
eminent for their {kill in thefe
fciences. In a country where
learning and genius are fo
much patronifed, it is a pity a
perfon of the above defcription
fhould remain in the utmoit
obfcurity and defpondency.

At the Circuit Court of Jufti-
ciary held at Glafgow on the
22d inft. George Davidfon, late
writer in Edinburgh, for forg-
ing two billson Mr Honyman,
advocate, and James Plunket,
foldier, for ftreet robbery, were
both found guilty, and fentenc- »
ed to be executed on the a6th

of October next. - :

* WAR IN INDIA.

Tx the former numbers of this
Chronicle we have given a re-
| - lation of the different fucceffes
_Of the Britifh arms againft Tip-
poo Sultan.—The following
etter from Earl Cornwallis,
the Governor General; who
commands the army in perfon,
_to the Directors of the India
» Company, gives a general view
_of affairs in that country : from
_ which it appears, that the mea-
fures to :be purfued are more
highly interefting to Great Bri-
tain; than any that. have: been
-undertaken againit this formi-
dable enemy.
. ©Honourabte Sirs,
- € J thall not trouble your
honourable Court with an ex-
planation of the nature of the
anceffant exertions, both of bo-
‘dy and mind, which are requir-
ed by the various duties of my
prefent fituation ; nor fhould I
now have alluded to them, but
that Iam under: the indifpenf-
able neceffity of ftating them,
as the’ caufe ot my being oblig-
ed, on this occafion, initead of
entering into a detail of parti-
culars, to limit myfelf to a con-
, c

~

SHORT CHRONICLE

OF EVENTS.

[Ocr. 19. 1791.]

cife and general account of our
late operations, and of my fu-
ture intentions. ;

¢ Our preparations for the
campaign having been complet-
ed at Madras, the army march-
ed from Velhout on the 5th of
February ; and having reached
Vellore. on the rrth, we halted
there two days, for the purpofe
of drawing from thence a fup-
ply to my ftock of provifions,
and an addition that had been
prepared to the battering train,
and of ‘receiving fome ftores
and recovered men from At-
nee< Se pec age

‘ § had, previous to my ar-
rival at Vellore, employed every
means in my power’ to obtaiz
accurate defcriptions of the
different paffes that lead into
the Myfore country : and hav~
ing feen fufficient grounds to
be ‘confident that the Moogly
pafs could eafily be rendered
practicable, I turned off to the
right at Vellore, and not only
afcended the pafs without
much difficulty, but, by hav-
ing taken a route that Tippoo
does not feem to have expected,
T-was alfo lucky enough to be
able to advance a conftderable

\ :

XViil

diftance into his country, be-
fore it was poffible for him: to
give us the leaft obftruction.

‘ The forts of €olar and
Oufcottah lay in our route to
Bangalore, and furrendered’ to
us without refiftance; but as
neither of them were in a ten
able condition, nor at that time
of any value to us, Eleft them

Hiftorical Chronicle.

ftances, of which the hopes’ of”
obtaining a fupply of forage
was not the leaft, indueed me
to determine’ immediately to
attack the fort from the Pettah
fide. The Pettah was accord-
ingly affaulted and carried on
the morning of the 7th ; and
the fiege of the fort,. which was
rendered. fingularly arduous,

unoccupied, afterdifarming and | not only by the fearcity of fo-

difmiffing their fmall garrifons.

* Larrived before Bangalore
on the sth of: March; and on
the 6th the engineers were em-
ployedinreconnoitringthe place
both in the: morning and even-
ing ; on their latter excurfion
Lieut. Col. Floyd, who efcort-
ed them with the whole caval-
ry, difcovered the rear of Tip-

rage, and ftrength of its works.
and garrifon, but alfo by the
prefence. of .Tippoo: and his
whole army, was happily termi-
nated-by an affault on the night
of the 21f, in which the Killi-
dar, and a great number of his
garrifon, were put to the fword,,
and our lofs, in proportion to-
the nature of the enterprife,

pools line of march, apparently | was inconfiderable. I cannot,
in great confulion, and unfor- } however, help exprefling, on

‘tunately fuffered himfelf to be

this occafion, my fincere re-

tempted, by the flattering prof- | gret for the death of that brave
pect of ftriking an important ‘and valuable officer Lieut. Col..
blow, to deviate from the or-} Moorhoufe, who was killed at

ders he had received from me,
and to attack the enemy. His
fuccefs at firft was great, but
the -length and ardour of. the
purfuit threw his fquadrons in-
to great confufion. In this
itate they were charged by Tip-

the affault of the Pettah,. on
the 7th of March.

TI have not yet been able
to obtain correét lifts of the
ordnance,. or of. the different
articles that were found in the
magazines of the place; and

poo’s cavalry, and, being out of FI can therefore only fay in ge-

the reach of all fupport, they
were obliged to retire with
great precipitation, and with
the lofs of above 200 men and
‘near 300°horfes. Lieut. Col.
Floyd received a very fevere

wound in the face, from which, |

however, I have the pleafure to
add that he is now. perfealy
recovered.

6 The ill fuccefs of our ex-
amination, the fear of lofing
time, and many other cipcum-

neral, that there were upwards:
-of roo ferviceable pieces of ord-
nance, near 50 of which were

i brafs, a large quantity of grain,

and an immentfe depét of mili-
tary ftores.

© Although Tippoo approach-
ed our pofition, and even can-
nonaded the camp both ‘on the
zthand 17th, yetwn thefe occafi-
ons, and all others during the
fieges he took his meafures with
fo much cautionasto put iteffec>

Hiftorical Chronicle.

') tually out of my power to force
‘} him to rifk an action; and on
the night of the affault he re-
tired, in great hafte, from the
fouth fide of the fortrefs, where
he was then pofted, tmmediate-
ly upon his being acquainted
with ifs fall. After giving
fome repairs to the breaches,
making a number of neceflary |
arrangements, and leaving the
‘train of heavy artillery to be
refitted during my abfence, I
moved from Bangalore on the
28th, with the defign of fecur-
ing a fafe and fpeedy junétion
with a large body of cavalry
that the Nizam had promifed
to fend me, and receiving-a re-
inforcement of troops and a’
fupply of provifions and ftores,
which I had fome time before
ordered to be in readinefs to
join me, by the way of Am-
-boor, from the Carnatic, con-
fidering thofe as neceffary pre-
Jiminary meafures for enabling
me to proceed to the attack of |.
Seringapatam; and I, at the
fame time, communicated my
intentions to General Aber-
cromby, and directed him to
ufe every exertion in his -power,
that might be confiftent with
the fafety of the corps 1nder
his command, to prepare him-
felf in the manner that I pre-
feribed, to give me effectual
affiftance when I fhould reach
the enemy’s capital.

‘ Tippoo having made a move-
ment to the weftward on the
fame day that I marched from,
the neighbourhood of Banga-
lore, I fell in with his rear at
the diftance of about 8 or 9
miles from that place; but,
from the want of a fufficient |

mix

body of cavalry, it was found
impracticable, after a purfuit of
confiderable length, either to
bring him to action,:or to gain
any advantage over him, ex-
cept that of taking one brafs
gun, which, owing to:its car-
riage breaking down, he was
obliged to leave upon the road,

‘ My firft object being to
form a junction with the Ni-
zam/’s- cayalry, I made: fuch
movements, or took fuch pofi-
tions, asI knew would effectu-
ally prevent Tippoo from inter-
cepting them, or even from dii-
turbing their march; but, al-
though I was at great pains to
point out the fafety of the
march to Rajah Teigewunt,
and to, encourage him to pro-
ceed, the effects of my recom-
mendations and requefts were
but flow; and, after wafte of
time, which at this late feafon

.of the year was invaluable, and
“which, almoft exhaufted my

patience, the junction was not

Made till the 13th inft.

¢ It is not eafy to afcertain
the number of the corps with
precifion, but I fuppofe it to
amount to 15 or 16,000: horfe 5

and though they are extreme+

ly defective in almoft every
point of military difcipline ; yet,
as the men are in general. well
mounted, and the chiefs have
given me the ftrongeft affuran-
ces of their difpofition to do
every thing'in their power to
promote the fuccefs of our ope-
rations, J am in great hopes
that we fhall derive material
advantage from their affiftance.

* This junétion being accom-
plifhed, 1 marched on to effect
my next object without lofs of

XX

prefent camp onthe 18th, and
_ ordered the moft. expeditious
meatures to be -taken for tranf-
porting the ftores’ from the
head ot the pafs, I fhall com-
mence my march again to the
weftward. on the 22d; and, af-
ter calling at Bangalore for the
heavy artillery, I truft that I
Shall find it practicable to reach
Seringapatam before the 12th
of next month.

© No ufeful purpofe could be
promoted by my enumerating
the difficulties which I have
already .encountered in carry-
ing on the operations of the
campaign; and it. would be
equally unprofitable to enlarge
at prefent upon the. obftacles
which I forefee to our future
progrefs ; they are, however, of
fo weighty a nature, that under

Hiftorical Chronicle.

time ; and being arrived at my , my original intentions, as both —

the Nizam and Mahrattas have
of late fhewn an uncommon
alacrity in fulfilling their en-
gagements, which, by the fmal-
left appearance of backwardnefs
on our part, would be im-
mediately cooled, ard which,
I truft, will, in addition toour
own efforts, effentially contri-
bute to counteract many of the
difadvantages which the diffi-
culty of the march, the rifk of
{carcity of provifions and fo-
rage, and the approach of the
rainy feafon, prefent againft the
undertaking ; and if thofe ob-
flacles can be overcome, the

capture of Seringapatam will .

probably, -in its confequences,
furnifh an ample reward for our

labours. ;

‘ A few days after our fuc-
cefs at Bangalore, Tippoo re-

ne en Sel i Oe rt ei ee ee Oe”

different circumftances I fhould ; peated his propofitions to open
undoubtedly act with more cau- | a negociation for terminating

tion, and defer the attempt our differences; but whether

upon the enemy’s capital till, with aincere defire to obtain

after the enfuing rains; but, | peace, or with the infidious

acquainted as I am with the hopes of exciting jealonfies in
unfettled fituation of political our allies, by inducing’ me to
affairs. in Europe, and knowing | liften to his advances, is not

that a procraftinated war would | certain.” The line for my con=

occafion almoft: certain ruin to
our finances, I confider it as
a duty which I owe to my fta-
tion and to my country, to dif-
regard the hazard to which my
own military reputation may be
expofed, and to profecute, with
every {pecies of precaution that
my judgment or experience can
fuggeft, the plan which is moft
likely to bring the war to an
early decifion.

‘ T have, at the fame time,
been the more encouraged to

perfevere in the execution of | timents upon them,

Hf

duét, however, was clear ; and,
conformable to our treaties, I
declined, in civil-and moderate
terms, to receive a perfon of
confidence on his part, to dif-
cufs the feparate interefts of
the Company ; but informed
him, that if he fhould think
proper to make propofitions in
writing for a general accommo-
dation with all the members of
the confederacy, I fhould, after

communicating with the other’

powers, tranfmit ‘our: joint fen-
i

=~

« I fhall refer you entirely at

prefent to the accounts that
you will receive from the diffe-
rent goveri-ments of the details
of their refpective bufinefs; and
fhall only add, that the perfonal
attention that [have experienc-
ed frog: the members of the
Supreme Board, and the zeal
‘which they have manifefted
fince I left Calcutta, in promot-
ing the public good, have gi-
ven me yery particular fatisfac-
tion. .
_ © The Swallow packet will
remain in readinefs to be dif-
parce. in Auguft, or fooner
if it fhould be thought expedi-
ent; and I fhall, by that op-
portunity, have the honour of
writing fully to you on feveral
of thofe fubjeéts on which you
muft no doubt be anxious to
receive minute information.
I cannot, however, conclude
this letter, without bearing
moft ample teftimony to the
zeal and alacrity which have
been uniformly manifefted by
his Majefty’s and the Compa-
ny’s troops, in the perform-
ance of the various duties of
fatigue and danger in the
courfe of this campaign, and
_ affuring you that they are en-
titled to the moft diftinguifhed
marks of your. approbation.

: Thave the honour to be, &c.
A CoRNWALLIS.”

Camp at Venkettigherry,

- April 21. 1791. }

In another letter from Lord
Cornwallis to Lord Grenville,
Secretary of State, his Lord-
fhip fays:

“© You will have the fatisfacti-
on to obferve, not only that our

ai

=

ws "

7

Hifrorical Chronicle. : xxi

fuccefs has already beenyconfi-
derable, but that we have -a
reafonable profpect cf humbl-
ing fill further a prince of
very uncommon ability, and of
boundlefs ambition, who had
acquired a degree of power, in
extent of territory, in wealth,
and in forees, that threatened
the Company’s poffeffions in
the Carnatick, and thofe of all
his neighbours, with imminent
danger... SD i coe

© Our fuccefs at Bangalore
has tended to eftablifh, in the
general opinion of the natives,
the fuperiority of the Britifh
arms: and it has, in particular,
made fuch an impreffion upon
the minds of our allies, as will
contribute to induce them to
ufe vigorous exertions in pro-
fecuting the war to an honour-
able conclufion..

* At prefent we can only look
for the fpeedy accomplifhment
of that defireable object, by
proceeding to attack the ene-
my’s capital, which I clearly
foréefee will, from the near ap-
proach of the feafon of the pe-
riodical rains, and the danger.
of a fcarcity of provifions and
forage for the large body of
troops that are to be employed,
be attended with many difficul-
tics. But having received the
ftrongeft affurances of exertions
from the Chiefs of the Nizam’s
cavalry, and the Mahrattas, ¥
am encouraged to entertain
fanguine hopes that all obftacles
will give way to our efforts,
and that the enterprife wili
fucceed.”?

The fortrefs of Darwar, a
ftrong and. well fupplied garri-
fon in Myfore, capitulated to’

-

Hiftorical Chronicles

the Britifhand Mahrattas, aftera
long fiege, on the 3d of April. | the enemies of Abba Thulle. .
The garrifon marched out with! On the rsth of January, a
all the treafure, and a great | dreadful fire broke out at Ma-
part of the cannon. Colonel ; nilla, andraged for afew hours
Frederick died during the fiege. | with the moft deftrudtive vio-
The fortreffes of Horregul and j lence, laying wafte a prodigious
Copul alfo furrendered ypon | number of dwelling houfes, go-

“xii

any infult offered to them, by

terms. A conierable
quantity of Bengal piece goods,
which had been landed at Ma-
nilla, and were unfold at the
time the fire happened, were —
alfo deftroyed. The amount
of the damage fuftained by the ©
above fire, is computed to be
120,000). fterling.

A moft fingular and calami-
fous inftance of the effects of 2
fudden inundation, occurred
on the 18th June, in the ifland
of Cuba, at a place called the
Puentes Grandes, about five
miles from the Havannah, and
where the King’s mills for the
manufacture of {nuff are fituat-
ed. At this place there is a
river, which runs between two
hills, has feveral houfes on its
banks, and is munch ufed: for
bathing by the inhabitants of
‘the city, who, at the time men»
tioned, were there in confider-
able numbers. A gentle rain
had fallen in the earlier part of
the day ; but about feven in
the evening, fuch a deluge pour-
ed down, that a perfon who
was near the fpot, declares
that nothing was vifible but a
huge body. of water ; this con-
tinued falling for near three
hours; at the expiration’ of
which, the river, that on the
preceding day had been near
50 feet below its banks, over-.
flowed, and inundated the ad-
jacent land, ,deftroying in a

Tippoo had retaken a fort
called Chinabalaram, and put
the garrifon, which confifted
of polygars, to the fword. |

A Subadar,. and 4o other
black officers, who had been
prifoners at Copuldroog ever
fince the fall of General Ma-
thews, lately made their efcape,
which was as remarkable as it
was providential, as they were
to bave been all maffacred on
the night oftheir efcape. Hay-
ing, however, received intelli-
gence of this intended aét of
barbarity, they came to. the
defperate refolution of fterming
the gate of their prifon, and
felling their lives at as dear a
rate as poffible ; they found a
favourable opportunity, and
falling upon their guards with
irrefiftible fury, they put them
to the fword, and made their
way good to Lord Cornwallis’s
army.

The Eaft India Company
have eftablifhed a fettlement
in the Pelew Iflands, with the
confent of the natives, and built
a fort, which 'they have called
Fort Abercrombie, in honour
of the Governor of Bombay.
The matter of the Endeavour,
and fifty men, were left in it,
with orders to join in no war,
but to do their utmoft to re-
concile each party, and to take
care to be in a ftate to refent

downs, &c.

'Y}fhort time the whole of the
“ }ftupendous mills, and feveral
dwelling-houfes.. The confter-
nation and terror excited by
this fudden vifitation, may be
more eafily imagined than de-
feribed : near 500 unhappy per-

the damage fuftained is com-
puted at upwards of a million
of dollars.

To cultivate the fpices of
the Eaft in the Britifh Weit-In-
dia Iflands, has been a. defign
meditated for fome years paft ;
and notwithftanding the diffi-
eulty of procuring the neceflary
plants or feeds, on account of

he extreme caution and unre-
mitted vigilanee of the Dutch,
yet fome have been already ob-
tained, and no doubt a fuffici-
ent quantity of all the fpecies
of trees might alfo be procured
from the Moluccas, and the
Hles of Borneo, Java, Ceylon,
&c. The cinnamon plant al- ;
ready flourifhesin Jamaica; and |
there is no doubt but that nut-
‘meg and cloves would grow as
_ well in the tropical regions of

the Weft as the torrid regions °

of the Eaft.

The American prints fay,
that accurate calculations have
been made, by which it is af-
eertained, beyond a doubt, that
there are maple-trees in the in-
habited part of the United

' States; more than fufficient,
with careful attention, to pro-
duce figar adequate to the
confumption of its inhabitants.
It is likewife faid, that refine-
ries are about being eftablifhed

fome wealthy foreigners,
refident in America ; by whom
agents wil be fettled in diffe-

Hiftorical Chronicle. ,

fons perifhed in the water, and }-

Xx!

rent parts, who will loan out
kettles, &c. on reafonable terms
to perfons unable to .purchafe.
“With thefe agents cafh will
‘likewife be lodged to purchafe
all the raw fugar in their pew-
evi

The Indiarr war, the only pu-
blic calamity fuffered by the
Government of America fince
‘its eftablifhment, is at an end.
‘Colonel Proétor arrived at Phi-
ladelphia on the roth of Jure,
after having had a conference
with the Chiefs of the Six Na-
tions, and brought notice, that
a treaty of peace would be fign-
ed between them and Colonel
Pickering on the t5th.

; DOMESTIC,

The ‘marriage ceremony of
his Royal Highnefs the Duke
of York with the Princefs Roy-
al of Pruffia, tock place at Ber-
lin on the’ zgth ult. with the
-greateft magnificence, andevery
mark of fatisfaction was teftified
by the Court and alt prefent
on the occafion.

'On the ath ink. the Michael-
mas Head Court of Freeholders
of the County of Ayr was held
at Ayr. The bnfinefs was to
confider objections lodged a-
gainft no lefs than 108 votes, as
being nominal, fFitious, or con-
fidential.

Sir Adam Fergufon doubted
the competency of the Court
to ftrike any names off the roll,
which had ftood four months
without challenge, and that
there was no evidence before.
the meeting, that thefe votes
were of the above defcription.

To which it was anfwered
by Mr Bofwell of Auchinleck,
that from the opinion of the

XXIV

o
higheft law authority in “this
kingdom, the Lord Chancellor

Thurlow, it was now evident, |

that the fraud, which had been
fo long practifed upon the real
parliamentary reprefentation of
Scotland, might now be reme-
died 3. and from a recent deci-
fion of the.Court of Seffion, it
was clear that every vote was
liable to chalienge, even after
the lapfe‘of four months from
tite date of the involment. The
incompetency of the Court to
challenge fuch votes was deni-
ed and at any rate, as. objec-
tions had been lodged, and
publicly advertifed in the newf-
papers, againft fuch perfons.as
appeared to ftand on that roll,
on nominal, or jidtitious . titles,
any. gentleman who might
think himfelf aggrieved, had
time enough to have lodged
anfwers to thefe . objections,
and have come forward to an-
fwer any inveftigation which
was then ready to be made.
Such gentlemen, therefore, as
did not embrace that opportu

nity muft be held as confeffed.
_ The vote being accordingly
put, to expunge juch votes from
the roll-as might appear zom-
nal, fictitious, or confidential, or
not ; it was-carried by a majo-
rity of taventy-five to fix to ex-
punge thefe votes. a ie

Of the above number, 106
were immediately ftruck off the
roll.

Thus the great county of
Ayr has fet a noble example of
public ipirit and patriotifm, in
decuring theirecdomof ele ion,

| Hiftorical Chronicle.

and deftroying the Parchmen
Barons of Scotland. :
On the 11th inft. about ten

at night, George Davidfon for |}

forgery, and James Plunket,

late foldierin the 35th regiment, |}

for robbery, who were both
condemned. at the Circuit at
Glafgow Sept. 22. and who
were to-have fuffered on the

26th current, found.means to |

efcape out of that prifon. +

On the 12th inft. William |

Smith, alias John Gun, con+

victed before the High Court —

of Jufticiary for the crimes of
houfe-breaking and theft, was
executed on the platform at
the weft end .of.the Lucken-
booths, in purfuance of his fen-
tence, Though -only 32 years
of age, he had been guilty, by
his own confeffion, of many
thefts befides thofe for which
he fuffered. bers

On the sth inft, the fhip
Fortune, Captain M*‘Leods
which failed from Greenock
fome weeks ago, came back
into that port in great diftrefs,
having loft her fore-ma{t and
receiyed other damage.
was bound for North Carolina,
having on board three hundred
and fifty paffengers, men,- wo-
men, and children, emigrants
from. the Iland of ‘Skye, ' &c.’
The croudeaand comfortlefs

fituation of the paffengers ex- _

cited compaffion ; ‘and to fee
fuch a number of perfons leav-
ing their native country, at this
feafon of the year, to feek an!
afylum in a foreign land, is dif-
treffing to every feeling mind.

She.

|

ie

ae INDEX.

\y =
-

hag A,

Abuifes refpeéting revenue officers,
22X

Account of, Samar, - 49, 129

Account of the fettlement at

Tobermory, 212
Account of the Univerity of
Edinburgh, 225

. Addrefs to the eee of the

travelling memorandums, 60
Agricultural news, 329
Agricultural Society of Lifbon, 530
Agricultural S ed of Copen-

hagen, 331
Allan Ramfay, ftriétures on, 54
American States.
Anderfon, Dr. in Madras, let-

ff. from, on the culture of

252
Anecdote of Sir Chriftopher

2

=

Wren, - - 327
Apologue, - - 280
Archite€ture, Grecian and Go-

thic, - 193, 270

Arts, &c. intelligence concern-
ing, 28, 70, 108, 181, 220
Avignon, 174

Bath Society, circular letter

from, 31
Beacon on the Bell Rock; pro-
pofal’ for erecting one, 295

Bellenden’s tria ‘umina Romano-
rum, ~~

Bell Rock, propofal ae
a beacon on,

Benefits of kaoulele;”

Biographical remarks on Lord
Chatham,

Biographical fketches of the late
Earl of Errol,

Books, French, litt of,

138

20

81

305
14

Botany Bay, hints refpecting, 135 | Druids Temples,

)

|
:

Bouffard, anecdote of,
Bridewell, obfervations on the
new one, 231,140
Britain, defeéts in the laws of, 96
Britifh conftitution, difquifition
concerning,
Britifh fifheries,
Brodie, Jofeph, his inventions,

282

I16r
212

221, 295
Buchanan, 134
Buchanan, remarks on the cha-
racter of, - 230
Bulleruck mineral waters, 170
r (Ge
Caufes of the deluge, 207
Cete, account of, - 93
Character of George Bucha-
nan, - 250

Character of Peter the hermit, 143

Chatham, Lord, biographical
remarks on,

Cicero, M. T. letter to, from

8x

Quintus, - 16
Conttitation of Britain, difqui-

fition cencerning, 161
Convention with Spain,

36. 76, 145, 184

Copenhagen’ Agricultural So-

‘ciety; - 331
Cotton manufadture. - 220)"

Dr

Dale, Mr. he gives employment
to the Highlanders, 335
Defeéts in the laws of Great

Britzin, - - 96
Deluge, caufes of, - 207
Denham, Sir James Stewart,

Bart~ fketch of, 1,42
Defcription of a machine for
untwifting yarn, 18t
Detached obfervations, 24, 64;
184, 248

ny

¢ INDEX. wm

E
Edinburgh Univerfity, account

of, 225
Errol, Earl of, biographical
fketches of, * - * 305
Eniigrations from Scotland, I41
Emigrations prevented by Mr.
Dale, ° - 333
Effentiat gutics of Podtical
genins, - 177

Eulogy of Thomton the poet, 200

Fifheries of aaa - 212
Foffile alkali, - 33
Fooulis, Sir James, memoran-
dums of, 140
Franklin, Dr, his vais eh the

whiftle, - 284
French King, letter Fond ac-
cepting the conftitution, 333

French National Affembly con-

cluded, . 333
Froiffart, obfervations on, 20, 62
G.

Gardenftone, Lord, his travel-
ling memorandums, 9, 88, 170
Gardenftone, Lord, his remarks
on Enghhh plays, 98, 144
Gibbons’s character of Peter
the hermit,
Glauber’s falt, method of reco-

143

vering the alkali of, meat
Gleanings of Biography, 58, 74,
134
Gothie and Grecian architec-
ture, - 193, 270
Grecian and Gothic architec-
ture, = 193, 270
H

Hints refpecting Lord Kaims, 246
Wints ref{pecting Botany Bay, 135
Hints to manufacturers, on
f; inning wool by machinery, 70,
108
Hints tothe learned, - 68, 3168
Hiftorical difquifition concern-
ing the British conftitution,
Part IIf,

- 161
Miftery of the Nightingale,

I2y

a |
Inigo Jones, anecdote of, 283
Intelligence concerning arts, 28,
70, 108, 181, 220
Intelligence refpecting litera~
ture, &c, - 68, 168
Intelligence refpeéting the fpar-
row and martin, - 216
K 3
246
22

Kains, Lord,
Knowledge, benefits, of,

L Saneuetotem to Lucilius, 322
Law, John, of Lauriefton, 58
Laws of Great Britain, defects

in, - -
Letter from Quintus to M.
Tullius Cicero, == 16

Letter from the French oe
accepting the conftitutien, 333

‘Letter from L. Annzus Seneca

to Lucilius, ey 322
Life of Sir James Stewart Den-

ham; Bart.’ - ¥, 40
Linley, Mis, - 74
Lifbon Agricultural Roidhig 330
Literary charaéter of George

Buchanan, - 230
Literary intelligence, 68, 168
Longevity of animals, - 244

1
Machine for {pinning fax, 225 |

Machine for untwifting yarn, 188

Magnanimity, difinterefted in-
ftance of, - - 282

To manufadurers, on {pinning

wool by machinery, 70, 108
Marfeilles, account of, 15, 60
Martin and iparrow, - 216:

Memorandums of a tour
through France, 9, 88, 170
Montpellier, - 89, 172

Mortis, Valentine, E{q, his cafe, 95
N

National Affembly of France,

conclufion of the, - 333
Naval affairs, 221, 295
Nightingale, hiftory of, - 128
Nimes, 373

16) i
Obfervations on Froiflart, 20, 62°

INDEX.

Obfervtions on the new Bride-

well, > 23, 140
Obfervations on the Bridewell
act, - -" I40

Obfervations on Marfeilles, r5, 60
Obfervations on Wool, by H.
Wanley, review of, 45%
Omens, on,by Albanicus, 278
P

Page’s Travels, extracts from, 49,

129
Parliamentary proceedings, 36,75,

445, 184, 260, 299
Petition of John Horne Tooke,

Efq. = 260, 399
Philalban, on Froiffart, rear-

‘ing filk, &c. - 26
Plays, Englifh, remarks on,78, 244
Poetical genius, eflential quali-

ties of, - 177
Politenefs, on, - 64
Population in North America, 239
Probable caufes of the Deluge, 207
Proceedings in Parliament, 36,

75145, 184, 260, 299

R

Query, - ‘at
Quintus to M. Tullius Cicero, 16
R

' Rare books, 64
Remarks on Englith plays, 78, 144
Remarks on Grecian and Go-

thic architecture, - 493, 27°
Remarks on the Poetry of
Buchanan, dee

Review, Wanfey on wool,, 252
Revolutions of life, 328
Samar, account of, 49, 129
Science, revolutions of, 224

Scottith Poetry, and Allan
Ramfay, ftri€tures on,
Seougal, fon of Scougal Bifhop
of Aberdeen, - 134
Sea Gull,fingular account of, 244
Seneca te Lucilius, _ 32%
Silk, quantity of, reared in
Prufiia, - - 29
Silk rearing in Scotland, 28, 63

.

54

silk worm, on the culture of

in India, - 2%
Sketch of the three luminaries
of the Romans, - 138

Sketches of the Earl of Errol, 305

Spanith convention, 36, 76, 145»
134

Sparrow and martin, - 455

Spinning wool by machinery, 79,
108

Squirrels deftruétive to trees, 3%

Statiftical correétions, - 49

Steuart, Sir James Denham,
Bart. fketch of, ~ I, 48

Striétures on Scottifh Poetry, 54

Supplies in Parliament, 40

Sutherland, James, Efq. his
cafe, - - 99

T,
Tale-bearing, - - 385
Thomfon’s eulogy, by Earl of

Buchan, x - 200
Thomfon, propofak for ereét-

ing a monument to, - 392
Tobermory, account of the fet-

tlement there, - 252
Trades, on, by a barber, 343
Traveller, - 285

Travelling memorandums, 9, 88,
I-70

Tria Lumina Romanorum, ac-
count of, - 538

Univerfity of Edinburgh, ac-
count of, - = ans
Untwifting machine, = Sr
Wanfey on wool, review of, 022,
Weltminfter eleétion, 260, 99
Whiflle, the, a ftory by Dr,

Franklin, . - 284
Wilfon, Rev. J. Stockport, on

Foffile Alkali, - 33
Wines, valuable torts, 152
Wit, obfervations on, - 465 .

Wool, fpinning by machinery, 70,
108

Wren, Sir Chriftopher, anec- —
dote of, EY:

I

-

S
T

“

;

‘

Wright, Andrew, Paifley, on.
_' filk rearing, thy
POETRY.

ie : A. ’
Anacreon, tranflation from, 290

B,
Birtha to Ella, 5 67

3°

Cc
Callimachus’s Epitaph,
Childhood,
Choice of ahufband, =~
Choice of a wife, ”

E.
Effeéts of Sjring, tramflated

fiom Virgil, - - 137
Ella, addrefs to, = 67
Ella’s-Sonnet, - 107
End of All, - - 1?
Epigrams, - - 27

Fe
Fancy, ode to, - = 290
General Judgment, - 249
Grandeur,an Ode, + 105
H
Hibernia, = a 2X
Honeymoon, a fong, - 25

“INDEX.

en i
Johnie’s Trance, asa.
Kifs of Leve, - 66
Ladies choice ae a hufband, 218
Ode by Mr. ia 329
Ode on Grandeur, = Io5

Pp,
Poem faid to be written by Ma-

jor Mordaunt, = = 178
S.
Song, - - 250
Song, * 33°.
Sonnet, - - 33°
Sonnet ga Ella, - 107
Spring, effeéts of, tranflation, 137
Times, - 289
Vv: ,
Verfes written’on St. Bernard’s
Well, &c. - 106

Veries to a Lady by her lover,
who thought he jilted him, 25
View of the laft General Judge-

ment, - , 249
Ww.
Wife, choice of, 133
‘