cable must be fubmitted to; and none but fervants were changed; and at this time
the ignorant or the unreasonable would the driver's indolence difappointed me and
murmur, though a few hours delay may a friend of our paffage in another stage,
fometimes be productive of very great in-and we were obliged to travel fifty miles
convenience to individuals.- Even the in poft chaifes to recover the lofs of time.
mail coaches, where the greateft poffible
expedition is practifed, are fubject to this
misfortune, though none attempt to blame
the endeavours of the perfons refpectively

concerned.

This predicament, about twelve months after, I had reafon to apprehend from a fimilar caufe; but a firm and refolute language at the inn where we changed horfes, that I would never travel by that But can it be faid, with any degree of carriage again, if any other could be pro- . truth, that the proprietors of thofe car- cured, prevented it. My time was juft riages, the mail coaches excepted, take the faved, my paffage in another vehicle was neceffary measures for expediting them as fecured, and in little more than half an faft as is practicable? I do not mean at hour I was again on the road. But the prefent to infinuate, that good horfes are practice of taking up paffengers, already not provided for the purpose, though per- mentioned, was again too glaring; and haps that might be objected to; but, fup- what furprifed me was, that no enquiries pofing this to be the cafe, are they fuff-were made whether the coach had been delayed on the road by these means: and as I had another carriage in view on quitting this, to fave my time again became an object, and the fame exertions in the latter ftages equally neceffary, which again were effected.

ciently attentive to the credit and honour
which they have pledged, and, I add, to
their intereft, in endeavouring to correct
the abufes fo glaringly committed? They
tell us, Mr. Editor, that fhort paffengers
are not to be taken up, without an imme-
diate entry on their way-bills. How do Allow me, Mr. Editor, juft to ask a
the proprietors difcharge this part of their question or two, from whence to draw
engagement? Do they not fuffer their the mode of redrefs, and I have done.
fervants, without any questions afked, to Do the proprietors know of this fcanda-
carry two, three, or more passengers fre- lous abufe, or not? If they do, what in-
quently, ftage after ftage, which never famy is it to fuffer one perfon to be car-
appear on thofe bills, and for which con- ried 50 or 60 miles, or more, for perhaps
fequently they are never a fingle fixpence about two fhillings fpent on the drivers,
the better? Every perfon who travels for which others, even on the outfide,
knows this to be the cafe. But if the car-pay nine or ten: if they do not, why do
riages are thus loaded, either their progrefs
must be retarded, or the poor animals
must severely fuffer; though perhaps it
would be right to conclude, that both con-
fequences follow from the fhameful prac-

tice.

Before I draw the inference, and deduce the remedy, I will point out an inftance which fome time ago happened on the Western road, and the means employed on a future occafion to prevent a repetition of the fcandalous tranfaction. The

To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. indolence of many of the drivers is well

SIR,

known, and the impertinence of others
is not lefs notorious; but I have feen fo

to

not they afk fome of the paffengers, as a check upon the drivers, whether any fuch practices have been committed. It would very feldom happen, that a civil queftion, properly introduced, (however untoward the paffengers fometimes are) would fail of a fatisfactory anfwer; it would raise the credit of their carriages, the horfes would be lefs abufed, and of courfe would hold out longer; the drivers would be in fear of offending, and the paffengers would compliment them with pleafure. If the proprietors of carriages would take this method, they would feldom fail of their travelling full, and all oppofition (and fuch are found upon most roads) would disperse like fmoke.

PERMIT me to call your attention to many examples of both, that were, I ho are found u

ufeful mifcellany. Perhaps you may have experienced what myfelf and others have frequently done, the impofitions continually practifed upon paffengers in ftage carriages. I would with to point out a mode of redrefs, in which, as a matter of general utility, I doubt not your entire

concurrence.

It is generally known that stage vehicles of every kind can feldom reach the refpective places of deftination for fome hours

travel much by thofe conveyances, the
proper method of treating them would no
longer appear difficult. Myfelf and a
friend having paid our paffage in one of
the western diligences, we were huddled
with a third perfon into a fmall poft chaife,
with very bad horfes, though we had a
prior claim to the other conveyance; and
fo from ftage to ftage throughout the road,
fhifting our baggage from carriage to car-
riage, and Mr. Cap-in-Hand at every
place expecting to be complimented. Be-

I am, Sir, yours, &c.
Feb. 8, 1787.

J. M.

For the COUNTY MAGAZINE.

THE

OCCULT ASSASSIN.
FOE to science, and to generous worth,

after the time appointed. When this is ing however in no good humour at the A Th Occult Affaflin fpits his venom forth;

occafioned by bad weather and heavy roads, and when proper horfes are provided by the proprietors to perform their engagements, things that are impracti

ufage, I confined myfelf to the common
cuftom of the road at the end of my jour-
ney, as I had always done, and not before.
On my return, after fome months, the

O were his genius equal to his spite,
How would he wound, when he fits down to write!
But Providence, indulgent, has thought fit,
That all thould fee his malice-none his wit.

parture from that facred and primeval law, And not oppofing, wed them to wed, to yield-tain, that the Treaty would give to England

It had

By this Treaty we fhould not injure other countries; for in the first place, we had referved a power to continue to Portugal all the rights we had fuffered them to enjoy under the Methuen Treaty; and had the option of extending to Spain what benefit we might think proper.

tical tendency; but before he went into thofe arguments, he begged leave to read the petition from the Chamber of Commerce. He then proceeded to make fone fevere animadverfions on the petition, remarking on its fallacy and contradiction. They wished to know whether by the 4th article artificers might emigrate, and whether tools and raw materials were to be fuffered to be exported. The article, he faid, could bear no fuch conftruction. England might not only continue her prohi bitions on raw materials, on fuller's earth and wool, but might increase those prohibitions. They withed to know what acts it would be neceflary to repeal for admitting and exporting glafs, woollens and cottons. But it was fufficient for their purpole to know, that thofe articles were to be reciprocally received. After further obfervation on the petition, he proceded to the political part of the Treaty. It had been afferted that France was, and is our unalterable foe. That she had been our foe must be granted; and it must also be granted, that thofe measures were political, which might tend to alter that foe to a friend. If the Treaty tended to weaken the strength of the nation, and diminish her revenues, he would be the firft to oppofe it: But its tendency was quite the contrary; for, by increafing our commerce, we should increafe our powers for war; we should increase our Navy and Army. We fhould gain by this Treaty far more confiderable refources than France could gather from it. France would gain a confiderable market for her produce; we fhould gain a more confiderable market for our manufactures; we fhould have 20,000,000 of customers, fhe 8,000,000. If France fhould export 500,000l. of her produce, fhe could gain but little in the export, while we, by the £. import thereof, fhould gain more than 10,000 cent. per cent. for our duties thereon. 160,000 What France gains would be by her foil; 20,000 what Britain gained would be by the hardy labour of a nation of freemen. If we refufe benefits to France, we fhould refute ourfelves greater benefits. He claimed no merit from this Treaty; it was made in confequence of a fortunate coincidence of circumftances; it was the duty of Minifters to embrace the opportunity offered them; by their neglect they might have waved it; if peace failed in eradicating the feeds of war, they were not blameable who made fuch an experiment.

confiderable boon, and at the fame time would be enabled to judge of the benefits would augment our revenue-it would be by thoroughly inveftigating them. The of confiderable advantage to us, and at the arguments in favour of the Treaty were fame time a great favour conferred on plain, broad, and fimple. It had been France. The reduction of the duty would faid that France had always been our inoperate against the fmuggler, and not veterate rival, and fo would ever remainagainst the revenue. The diminution of that no Treaty could be made between the duty on rum, in 1784, was founded in England and France with advantage to this good policy, and anfwered the end pro- country; for the Treaties which had fubpofed by it: We should not then be un-fifted between this country and France willing to grant the reduction on French had always been highly detrimental to brandy. He had been informed, through England. The contrary he averred to be fome very refpectable channels, that the the fact. So far was our trade from being average quantity of French brandy, an-injured by the treaties which had fubfifted nually imported into Great Britain, did between this country and France, that it not amount to more than 600,000 gallons, was well known that the prohibitions had whilft the fimuggled brandy amounted to conftantly been begun on the part of the three or four millions of gallons. Every French, and only retaliated by us. It had reduction of duty would increase the mar-been faid, that no change of circumstances ket for the fair dealer, by taking from the could fuffer the two countries to trade; fimuggler the premium of his adventure. but could any reasonable man fuppofe, Vinegar and oil could not be confidered as that two nations, the beft fituated for articles of general ufe; they certainly friendly intercourse, should invariably inwere luxuries, and the admiffion of them jure each other, and fpill each other's could not materially affect any branch of blood on every opportunity? the trade of this country. The admittance of cambricks, he was certain, Gentlemen would not confider as a new fpecies of trade, for the evidence of their eyes would convince them to the contrary; it would be a new article of revenue, and what had been illicitly imported, would now be legally imported, both to the benefit of the fair trader and the revenue. The introduction of linen could not be deemed detrimental either to the linen manufactures of this kingdom or of Ireland; for the linens imported from France were to pay the fame duty with thofe received from Holland and Flanders, which linens now pay a higher duty than those from Germany and other countries. Our admittance of the goods of France, without difadvantage to the goods of this country, would enable us to furnish better affortments for foreign markets, and thereby increase our general commerce. Though the French were fuperior to us in fome part of the glass manufacture, the reciprocal importation of glafs could not injure us; for though with plate glafs they might fupply, or enter into a competition with us, yet we fhould be able to furnish their market with coarse glafs. The article of fadlery, which was to be admitted reciprocally on a duty of 15 per cent. muft certainly operate in our favour; for in that branch of manufacture they could hold no competition with us. The introduction of millinery would not be injurious to us, as had been afferted; it would not be allowed to be imported, as by many stated, for no ribbons must be worked up in any millinery, as they continue prohibited, nor was lace to be confidered in any fhape as millinery, but must continue to pay a diftinct duty. Thefe, he faid, were only the outlines of the bufinefs: Gentlemen

The effects the Treaty would have on
the revenue were not at all alarming; for if
we fhould lower duties full 50 per cent. it
would only be taking off a prohibition.
We muft, in the first place, confider what
would be the lofs of the revenue on the
reduction of French wines; fecondly, what
the lofs would be to the revenue on the
confequent reduction of Portugal wines;
and 3dly, the reduction on brandy.

The lofs on the wines of France
would be about

On the wines of Portugal
And on brandy

Three obfervations hence arofe; the firft of which was, whether a furrender of revenue was not contrary to the policy of this country-the fecond, whether fuch reduction was wifely made, and a fufficient equivalent was gained-the third, how the country could bear it. If the wine trade with France fhould be increased one half, we fhould gain more by the low duties on their wines than we did by the higher. If Portugal fhould conclude amicably a Treaty with us, of which he had no doubt if fhe understood her own intereft, the reduction on her wines would not diminish EPITAPH on a COBLER buried near his our revenue; the trifling defalcations that three WIVES. might remain, would be amply made up by our increase of commerce.

Having concluded the commercial part
of the Treaty, he begged the attention of
Committee whilft he adverted to its poli-
Ff.

HAPPY with each, thrice happy muft I be

Now I enjoy at once my wives-all three !,
No man on earth, or in it, is so bleft-
Three wives all round me, and none break my rest.

For the COUNTY MAGAZINE,

THOMAS and SUSAN,

ASON G,

In Imitation of HORACE, Book III. Ode 9.
THOMAS.

A

S long as, fweet Sufan, I liv'd your delight,
And none befides me your fair bofom e'er
prefs'd,

No where could be found fo contented a wight;
Not Britain's great monarch was half so much

blefs'd.

SUSA N.

As long as you, Thomas, gaz'd on me with love,
Nor any nymph elfe could command e'en a kifs;
How vast my joys with you in yon fhady grove!
No queen upon earth felt a tythe of my blifs.

Iffuing from the gothic wood,

See the ftream romantic pour,
As the long defcending flood
Smites the lofty echoing tow'r.
See the reed encircl'd fire,

Where the nightly fisher lay,
Scarcely fmoke, and now expire,
Fainting at the stronger day.

Oh! what hours I here could pafs,

Slumb'ring with compos'd content,
On the peeping flowers and grafs,

Ne'er till then fo rudely bent.
See the linnet from the fedge

Picks the rush that's foft and light;
Hark! the chirrups in the hedge,

While the moulds her mansion right. Oh what blifs to cross the heath,

BONES; however, the anecdote we are going to relate of him, affords a striking inftance that military men are not always to be judged of by appearances. When Captain Suckling commanded a fhip under the late Commodore Foreft, they were cruizing, three in company, off the Island of Hifpaniola, when being obferved by FIVE French fhips of SUPERIOR force then lying at Cape François, they immediately got under weigh with a view of capturing the British thips. The Commodore judged it adviseable to make the fignal for the other two fhips to come within hail, in order to confult their captains on what was beft to be done.-The brave Suckling without hesitation replied,"WHY, ENGAGE THEM TO BE SURE." This fo much astonished the ship's company, that they voluntarily gave FINE. BONES three hearty cheers. He then called his First Lieutenant to him, and faid, "Sir, I am fenfible there are many reflections and prejudices againft my character; if therefore any part of my conduct, during the approaching engagement, fhould betray the leaft marks of impropriety or fear, I defire you will send me forthwith below deck, and take the command of the fhip." In fhort, Captain Suckling behaved with the utmost intrepi-Pleas'd I'd mufe, retir'd and still, dity throughout the action; and this little fquadron gave the haughty MONSIEURS fo fevere a drubbing, that they returned in the most fhattered condition to the Cape, to the great mortification of the inhabitants of Hifpaniola, who had prepared a grand entertainment for the reception of the British prifoners. Commodore Foreft's Once more should unite us in love's pleafing fquadron had fcarcely a mast standing when they put into port.

THOM A S.

Now Peggy, fmart Peggy, possesses me whole;
(The love the returns me, O would it but
thrive ! )

Her voice and her lyre fo ravifh my foul,
I'd die the dear angel to fave still alive.
SUSAN.

Now Roger, brisk Roger, but gentle of heart,

With mutual affection his Sue does inspire ; For whom twice from life she would fooner depart, Than once fuch a youth fhould be forc'd to

retire.

THOMA S.

But what if, old fweetheart, thofe vows which we broke,

chain ;

When the frozen grass is dry,
And the breath in many a wreath

Smoaking curls and fpreads on high.
And the spots of green appear,

'Midft the froft where herds have flept; While the earnest bleat I hear,

When the flocks from feed are kept.

Many an hour on yonder hill,

While the air was fresh and cool,

Viewing landfcapes on the pool. Yet when ev'ry thought was warm,

Oft fome fifh (that rudely came) Darting at the infect swarm,

Shook the painting from the ftream. Thus when Spring, with hasty step,

Tripping through the fnows, came on, When the falmon's airy leap,

Told the Seer the frofts were gone.

This was blifs, as nature gave

Spirits, ftrength, and grace to fing Now I flumber on a grave,

Now I touch a breaking string.

Starry nights and golden days
Never vifit where I tread;
Never let the vernal blaze
Glitter round my finking head.
Let the ftorm's gigantic fons

Pluck and mighty climb the hill,
While the mountain torrent runs
Down the channel of the rill.

Let the spreading tempeft long

Screen a wretch from mortal view,
As my melancholy fong
Sounds beneath this dying yew.
Only let the clouds divide,

Where I hear the village bell;
For the abbey's ruin'd pride

Suits my meditations well.

Here may woeful hearts rejoice,

Here their mournful rites perform, While the raven fends his voice,

As unfeen he beats the storm.

What is Spring, that boasted time,

Wayward childhood of the year, Changing round to ev'ry clime,

Parent of continual fear!

Give me Winter's`stedfait gloom,
When familiaris'd to pain;
Travell'd nature on a tomb

Would a little rest obtain.

Silence fuits the folemn mind,

Darkness is the friend of woe, Chearful objects are unkind,

When the eye with grief would flow.

With the abbey juft in fight,

As his fober eye he cast, Here a bard could taste delight,

Such as bears the trying blast.

Undifturb'd he might, unfeen,

practicable means to ward off the blow; of this his fpeech, after the difcovery of the and proves a certain fource of various ftra- impofition, is a fufficient proof; but the tagems and schemes for preventing its ef- encouragement which the Almighty gave fects. Hence it is, that every opinion to Jofhua to march against the five conwhich in its confequences, has a plaufible federate kings, plainly declares the divine tendency to divert it, is readily heard and approbation. Above all, when we confiapproved; and every expedient, as it more der the ftupendous miracle which was or lefs inclines to remove the evil, is at-wrought in their favour, and that the whole tended to, as having fomething to recom- courfe of nature was fufpended, the fun mend it. and moon, and all the hoft of heaven standOur prefent enquiry leads us to the Gi-ing ftill for a whole day, to render the vicbeonites. These were no fooner informed tory more effectual and complete, all of the victories of the Ifraelites at Jericho objections fhould furely ceafe, and every and Ai, and the fuccefs they had met with cavil be put to filence. on the other fide of Jordan, than they took The Ifraelites, indeed, notwithstanding the alarm, and trembled for their own fate. fo fignal an interpofition of providence, Their fituation was dangerous, but their were confeffedly culpable in a high degree. eyes were open to the threatened deftruc- The Almighty had exprefsly charged them tion; and they had recourse to the moft" utterly to deftroy all the people of the curious ftratagem, to avert the effects, of" land and yet they engage in a covewhich perhaps all hiftory, whether facred nant with those very people, whofe deftrucor profane, cannot furnish a parallel:- tion had been fo folemnly denounced."They did work wilily, and went and God's approbation and confent were not "made as if they had been ambafladors." fought for; they had obvious means of Every appendage of a long and tedious doing it, but they neglected thofe means: journey was procured, fuitable to the oc- this gave the whole congregation too juft cafion; and with these accoutrements they an occafion to murmur against the princes, fallied forth to meet their enemy, and to and laid a foundation for all the misfortry their fortune. tunes that befel them in future ages from A business which was of fo much im-the natives of the land. A fevere judgment portance, especially as it was founded in was denounced against them, but, as thefe deceit and fraud, required difpatch. They might have been fufpended, perhaps avertdenunciations were feldom abfolute, this came with all hafte to Jofhua" to the camp to Gilgal," and with much feeming ed, by their repentance and reformation: fimplicity, but with great fervency, relate one condition at least is plain, that if they their errand. The Ifraelites indeed were had confulted the Almighty's will, their IF you think the following Extract from not altogether unfufpicious; they had much images, and every thing tending to their a genuine MS Sermon now in my reafon to entertain doubts whether the fpeformer idolatry, would have been destroyed. mercial Treaty, or Treaties, now agita- beonites had wifely, at leaft politicly, pre- which, it is probable, their zeal for their poffeffion, any way applicable to the Com- cious hiftory was not forged; but the Gi-But the Gibeonites obtained their end without these ftipulations, ftipulations ting, it is at your fervice. It was actually concerted their measures; and their great idols would have incited them to refift at preached feveral years fince, and your in-humility in fubmitting themselves to be the the hazard of their lives; they obtained a fertion of it will oblige your readers, and fervants of Joshua, and at the difpofal of the hazard of their lives; they obtained a enfure fimilar favours of a political nature from, the people, quickly diffipated all their covenant, and they also preferved their fcruples. And the men took of their gods, the confequences of which are too victuals, and afked not counfel at the notorious to need repetition. "mouth of the Lord; and Joshua made peace with them, and a league, to let "them live, and the princes of the congregation fware unto them."

Drop his tears, and ftrike his breast, Think of Heav'n, and look ferene,

Sing of nature, death, and reft.

THEATRICUS.

To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE.

SIR,

Sir, yours, &c.

J. M.

Feb. 19, 1787.
JOSHUA IX. 3, 4, 5. And when the Inhabitants
of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Je-
richo and Ai, they did work wilily, and went
and made as if they had been Ambaffadors
and took old Sacks on their Afles, and Wine
Bottles, old, and rent, and bound up, and old
Shoes, and clouted upon their Feet, and old Gar:
ments upon them; and all the Bread of their
Provifion was dry and mouldy.

WHATEVER antiquity the obfervation may plead, that Neceffity is the fruitful mother of invention," and fets all the human faculties and powers in motion, not only the history of preceding ages, but common experience affords fufficient proofs of fo important a truth. An apprehenfion of danger naturally leads perfons of common ingenuity to exert every probable and

On the other hand, we must observe, that the Gibeonites had no extraordinary bargain: a flavifh fubjection quickly followed their borrowed humility; the meaneft occupations were affigned to them; What the confequence of this hafty and they became "hewers of wood and drawprecipitate covenant was, may be collected" ers of water," which was the portion of from the following part of their hiftory. fervants, and the lot of flaves. A mortiThe Ifraelites foon difcovered with whom fying condition this to the inhabitants of they had engaged in a league of amity and a great city," which was even " as one friendship, and that their very near neigh- of the royal cities," who had not been bours, the Gibeonites, had put this trick accuftomed, as we may reasonably fupupon them. From hence fome would be pofe, to fuch debafing and fervile employready to imagine, that fuch a fraud was in ments! They had covenanted, it is true, itfelf fufficient to make void the contract, for their lives; their lives were granted and render the league and covenant invalid. them, and the contract was fulfilled; but, But Jofhua's reafonings on the fubject ter- fweet and precious as life is to frail flefh minated in making this conclufion unwar- and blood, there are but few who need to rantable: as the bond. of friendship was be informed, that mercy does not always figned and fealed, he held himfelf obliged confift in the mere prefervation of life. to maintain it with a fcrupulous exactness: Ffz

(To be concluded in our next.)