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mon to her fex, when addreffed upon this fubject, and remember

"Bleft is the maid, and worthy to be bleft, "Whose foul intire by him he loves possest, "Feels every vanity in fondness loft,

at whofe houfe they are appointed to meetings about the place. They were certainhas thefe emblems fent to him, and fo in ly naked, and continued to lead a kind of rotation. In the morning they hunt; and favage life. The people who lived in and immediately after dinner, as foon as the near the Cevennes, looked upon them as a table is cleared, the boozing begins. The little nation of gypfies, or, as they ufed to "And asks no pow'r but that of-pleafing moft." custom is, that no gentleman fhall fill his call them, Doumaifelles (fairies). Time, own glafs, but that the one who fits next however, diforders, and mifery, at length If you admit him a candidate for marto him fhall perform this office; and in cafe exterminated the whole race. By the bones riage, be much in company with him be- the latter omits to fill a bumper, he himself that have been found in the cave, it is prefore; fee and be feen in face and out of muft drink two glaffes for thus favouring fumed they exifted a long while, and many face, in drefs and difhabille, in humour and his friend; and if any gentleman fills his tools, but clumfily made, that are ftill preout of humour. Permit him the liberty, own glafs, he is in the fame predicament. ferved, give us an idea of their arts and or rather injoin him that proof of friendfhip When any one has occafion to abfent him- their knowledge.-Being looked upon as to reprove all he does not approve, and take felf from the company, a time is limited a fpecies of fupernatural beings, they had the fame yourself. Inform him what indul- for his ftay; before he departs the room, fpread fuch a terror about the neighbourgences you expect when married, that he he ftrips himself of his own coat and hat, hood, that none would venture to approach may have no excufe for denying them af- and fubftitutes the fool's in their ftead; he is the windings and paths that led to the terwards. The marriage ceremony will then permitted to go out, and if he choofes Grotto. M. Lonjou, accompanied by entitle you to his fortune as well as perfon, to wander, he has the honour of being his fon, by the Marquis of Mont Laur, therefore, 'till you are convicted of having abused this truft, never forego this claim.fuch a diverfion feldom occurs. If he ftays and Alut; by the Prefident of Ribes, M. abufed this truft, never forego this claim.- gaped at for the drollery of his garb, but by Metirs. Bouifly, Marfollier, Brunet, I conclude this imperfect fketch with the over the time limited, he is fineable. When Martin de Choify, and one Peter, the moft following applicable lines: the fines of intoxication begin to envelope fenfible young countryman about Ganges, this bacchanalian tribe, a coffin, or rather and the most intrepid, undertook the dan a box, roughly made exprefsly for the pur-gerous task of defcending into the cave, afpofe, is introduced. Heroifm fo far pre-ter having, with the greatest difficulty, vails, that not a man ftarts from his poft, till climbed to the top of the almoft inacceffible (as paddy expreffes it) death fets him to fleep. rock. The mouth of the cavern was furIf a man drops, he is inftantly huddled into rounded with lofty, thick trees, as if inthe coffin, (the ghaftly emblem of his future tended to hide its entrance, and the looking cell!) and conveyed by fervants up ftairs, down the crater was fo terrible and fo dilwhere he is negligently thrown out upon a mal, that Mr. Brunet's large dog, one of bed, and there left to his midnight flumbers. the moft faithful creatures in the world, had Braatentleman of Kil-lemnly is c, tntil only three re-remained round the mouth, barking and This procefs is continued, as the lads fo- not the courage to follow his mafter, but

"All rules are dead, 'tis from the heart you draw "The living lustre, and unerring law." ELIZA.

For the COUNTY MAGAZINE. FOX-HUNTING IN IRELAND. MR. EDITOR,

THE HE following relation was tranfmitkenny, and no less than a jolly fox-hunter. To comment thereon would be needlefs; a moment's reflection must exhibit to the imagination a scene of ebriety, and its concomitant horrors, fuch as my humble pen is by no means able to delineate through all its train of dreadful consequences. Romfey, 9th March, 1787.

N.

THE county of Kilkenny in Ireland is particularly noted as a fine sporting country; of course we may reasonably fuppofe there are many fportfmen dwell in its vicinity; (which is in fact the cafe.) The major part of the gentlemen incline to fox

as a

main, and as foon as one of thefe makes his
exit, the other two, as a token of his fate,
give the death hollow, and rend the ceiling
with a fhout of victory. The ufual ceremony
is then performed upon his body, and the
two victors retire to reft, crowned with their
rofy laurels.

For the COUNTY MAGAZINE.

hunting as a more manly and vigorous THIS gry M. Lonjou, an inhabitant of

amusement than any other fimilar fport, and, as is ufual with their brethren in every other place, make a liberal facrifice at the fhrine of Bacchus. Like true fpirits they defpife those who stand on punctilios, when freedom impels the bumper; and that no evafions fhall deftroy their harmony, they adopt the following mode. In the feafon for hunting, a party is formed, who regularly meet at each other's houfe every Sunday, when they spend the day with great conviviality, and appoint days in the enfuing week whereon to hunt. If any gentleman fails in his attendance at thefe meetings, he is liable to a fpecific fine. They have a coat of patchwork, and a hat refembling that of a merry andrew's, which they call the fool's coat and hat. The gentleman

yelling in a most plaintive tone till his master caine out of it.

The firft curious object which ftruck our intrepid travellers eyes was an altar, as white as alabafter, about three feet high, perfectly oval, with regular steps. The altar-flab is of a bright enamel, formed by different layers, like artichoke leaves. Á little further are four fluted pillars of a yellowish hue, but tranfparent in many places, notwithstanding their thickness. Their height could not be afcertained, but

Defcription of LA BAUME, or the LADIES they imagined they reached the top of the
GROTTO, at St. Bauzile near Ganges, ftupendous vault; for at fome diftance there
a Town in the Cevennes, in Languedoc. was an obelifk that stood alone, and feem-
fpire; and from the foundation to the top
HIS grotto has been lately discover-ed higher than a fteeple: it ended in a
ed by
Ganges, and a great lover of natural cu- it was carved and chafed with the utmost
riofities. It lies about two miles from the exactnefs. One of the wonders of the
town in a wood at the top of a very fteep grotto is a coloffal ftatue, representing a
and high mountain, called the rock of Sau- woman holding two children in her arms.
rach. A report is fpread in that part of This morceau, fays M. Marfollier, who
the country, that a numerous family in writes the defcription at large, deferves a
the times of the bloody wars on account of place in the most curious mufeum of the
religion, had retired, in order to avoid per- greateft monarch of Europe, if out of its
fecution and death, to this cave. Some of natural fituation, it could preferve the beau-
them were often feen in the evenings, ty and the proportions it poffeffes in the
quite naked, pale, and disfigured, hunting cave. It is impoffible, continues he, to
for food, and trying to catch the wild goats give an idea of what we faw without incur-
that dwelt among the rocks. It is imagin-ring the danger of our veracity being call-
ed that the children which were produced
by this little colony of wretched beings The Author of Nina (the Maniac in Love), a
lived only upon grafs and roots, and what comedy, acted with univerfal applause at the Ita-
they could catch by chance in their hunt-lian Theatre.

ed in question. After having examined all the friends of our holy religion-in pro-
with aftonishment thefe precious wonders portion are they culpable and defpicable
of nature, where numbers of ftalactites who neglect their public duty. The ad-
and ftalagmites enrich one of the most spa- miffion of ignorant and other improper
cious fubterraneous rooms perhaps ever perfons into the church was growing into
vifited in France, we left the place with an alarming evil, till a fenfible and spirited
regret; not, however, without leaving our publication, which appeared a few years
names and a description of the means em- ago on the fubject, addreffed to one of our
ployed for our defcent in a bottle fufpend- beit prelates, gave a check to an enormity,
ed where there is little probability of its highly difgraceful to all concerned in it, and
being broken. Some countrymen, who I hope will prove to have put an effectual
had followed us, feemed fo fond of thefeftop to it-In this hope I am fure to be join-
fubterraneous and awful prodigies, that they ed by every fincere friend to the Church
unanimously cried out, give us but fome of England, and fuch as have a proper re-
bread and water, and we'll stay here for a gard for the valuable part of its priesthood.
week."
How any man who has taken the oaths,
which every clergyman takes, can neglect
his parifh, or can directly or indirectly be
concerned in the buying or felling church
benefices, is to me wonderful and fhocking;
and I will venture to affirm, that fuch
omiffions of duty, and fuch practices, have
done more real injury to the cause of our
religion, than all its other adverfaries unit-

This enchanting spot is not, perhaps, as a natural curiofity, inferior to the celebrated Peak of Derbyshire.

For the County Magazine.
To the CLERGY.

THE

HE encreafing profligacy of the in-writers, from Herbert to Hume, are weak HE encreasing profligacy of the in-ed have been able to effect. The infidel habitants of this country must be and open enemies; a treacherous friend wounds ten times more deeply: we can anfwer and refute our fpéculative foes, but parochial ones quite difhearten us.

matter of the most fincere concern to eve

ry man of moral and patriotic principles; it has its foundation in that difregard for facred obligations which fo lamentably prevails amongst us. If this be strictly enquired into, one of its main caufes will be

found to arife from the inattention of so very many of our parochial clergy. Thofe who receive the handfome allowance which the wisdom and piety of our anceftors appropriated for the refpectable maintenance of church minifters, are bound by the most serious obligations to refide on thefe livings, and there, by inftruction and example, to enforce the great duties of religion; instead of which, how many are there who entirely, or in a great measure,

neglect those duties, after having folemnly engaged to perform them! Can any reafonable man fuppofe, that a Curate, hired for forty or fifty pounds a year, will have that influence, which the perfon who enjoys a large income, and is the real Rector or Vicar of the parith, would have?

Could it be the intent of those who originally endowed our churches, that a fmall pittance thereof fhould only be paid to a clergyman hired to do the duty, while the incumbent refides at a distance, and thereby proves himself regardless of the flock he has, by accepting the living, taken the charge of, and that with a folemn appeal to the Almighty, when he was inftituted. Is this doing the duty of a minifter of the gofpel? What account will hereafter be required of the discharge of fuch facred obligations? That there are still many exemplary clergymen, who refide and confcientioully perform their duty, is certain; and as they are most useful and valuable men, fo they are and will be efteemed as fuch by

From a fincere regard to my country, and that religion which only can fupport it, I have written this folemn addrefs to the established clergy; earnestly recommending it to the ferious confideration of the whole body, and am their wellwifher, &c.

VERA X.

Useful Inftructions on the EDUCATION of

CHILDREN.

delighted with thofe that are eminently
fublime and beautiful. A windmill going,
a fhip failing, a horse galloping, a flock
of fheep or herd of bullocks in motion, a re-
giment of foldiers marching, a large build-
ing, or a vaft concourfe of people, every
one muft have obferved, give wonderful
delight to children. When they are about
five or fix years old, and have learned to
read, the defcription of a lion or an ele-
phant, of an earthquake or a burning moun-
tain, interefts them more than even the hif-
tory of boys and girls, or the defcription
of little and familiar things. This is not,
however, equally true of all; it is chiefly
fo of fuch as poffefs a warm imagination
and an ardent curiofity. To thofe who
poffefs thefe faculties in a lefs degree, the
description of little and familiar things is
more agreeable, because they make their
way more readily to the fancy.-I have,
however, obferved with pleasure, that all
children, whatever be their capacities, are
beft pleased with the defcription of natural
real improvement in knowledge. The
objects, and fuch things as tend to their
only difficulty lies in adapting our de-
fcriptions to their comprehenfions; and
this is to be done, not by lowering our
language, but by prefenting the object
which we would defcribe to their imagina-
tions by one or two of its moft diftinguifh-
ing qualities, or strongest features, and not
overpowering their understanding with a
multitude, at once, of different qualities
belonging to the fame thing.-Mrs. Bar-
bauld, Dr. Aikin, and Mrs. Trimmer,
feem, all of them, to poffefs this talent in
a very eminent degree; and I would beg
leave to recommend the attentive perusal
of the leffons for children and profe hymns
of Mrs. Barbauld, Mrs. Trimmer's Intro-
duction to the Knowledge of Nature, and
Dr. Aikin's Calendar of Nature, to every
mother who wishes to acquire a proper
and inftructive method of converfing with
her children. She might then render eve-.

ry walk which she takes with them in the

AS foon as the infant mind begins to
open, and to be impreffed with any
ideas lefs powerful than thofe of hunger and
pain, it is chiefly ftruck with bright co-
fours, loud founds, and objects in motion. fields not only conducive to their health
By the time it is fix months old, a child will and activity, but likewife to their improve-
listen to the found of an organ, or the noisement in ufeful knowledge.
of a carriage, and look at the moon or the
candle, at a horse or a kitten, with fome de--
gree of attention and evident figns of plea-
fure. As the mind expands, the objects of
attention are multiplied, and the pleafure
of obfervation increased. But children are
not mere obfervers, they are actors; they
are reafoners; they love to produce founds
and to put objects in motion: and they very
early discover a curiofity to find out the
caufes of those founds and actions which
ftrike their attention. They are therefore
more pleased with a kitten or a rattle,
which they have in their power, than with
objects, however beautiful or fublime, that
are out of their reach. But of objects
which are not in their power, they are most
Kk z

HYMN.
Virginibus puerifque canto.
HAST thou beheld the glorious Sun
Through all the fkies his circuit run,
At rifing morn, at closing day,
And when he beam'd his noontide ray?
Say, didft thou e'er attentive view
The evening cloud, or morning dew?
Or, after rain, the watery bow
Rife in the Eaft, a beauteous show?
When darkness had o'erspread the skies,
Haft thou e'er feen the moon arife,
And with a mild and placid light
Shed luftre o'er the face of night?

Haft thou e'er wander'd o'er the plain,
And view'd the fields and waving grain,
The flowery mead, the leafy grove,
Where all is melody and love?
Haft thou e'er trod the fandy fhore,
And heard the reft!efs ocean roar,
When, rous'd by fome tremendous ftorm,
Its billows rofe in dreadful form?

Haft thou beheld the lightning stream
Thro' night's dark gloom with fudden gleam,
While the bellowing thunder's found
Roll'd rattling thro' the heavens profound.
Haft thou e'er felt the cutting gale,
The fleety fhower, the biting hail;
Beheld bright fnow o'erfpread the plains,
The water bound in icy chains?
Haft thou the various beings seen
That sport along the valley green,
That sweetly warble on the spray,
Or wanton in the funny ray?

That shoot along the briny deep,
Or under ground their dwellings keep;
That thro' the gloomy forest range,
Or frightful wilds and deferts strange ?
Haft thou the wond'rous fcenes furvey'd,
That all around thee are difplay'd?
And has thou never rais'd thine eyes
To Him who bade thefe fcenes arife?
'Twas God who form'd the concave sky,
And all the glorious orbs on high;
Who gave the various beings birth,
That people all the fpacious earth.

'Tis he that bids the tempeft rife,
And rolls the thunder through the skies:
His voice the elements obey;
'Thro' all the earth extends His fway.
His goodness all his creatures fhare,
But man is His peculiar care;
Then, while they all proclaim His praise,
Let man his voice the loudest raise.

ODE to FEAR.

By the Honourable ANDREW ERSKINE.

L

OST in the mournful wood at eve,

While round the awful torrents roll, Why fiercely does thy bofom heave, Why weary finks thy fad ning foul? Or what along the dark`ning walle Impels thy steps with eager hafte ; What voice feems rushing on the wind ? Why step? Why dart a glance behind? Alas! thy looks fo wild, thy thoughts so drear, Confefs th' alarming ftrength, th' unbounded pow'r of Fear.

What direful scenes of woe, as fancy deems, Chill the bold heart, and ftrike th' aftonifh'd eye;

The vifionary spectre frequent gleams,
And forms terrific float in horror by;
The heavy clouds are fettled in the air,

Loud fighs the gale, the lonely mountains o'er ;

Deep caverns frowning gloom, and monfters glare,

While ftarting Fear exhaufts her frantic store; By chains unfeen th' imagination guides, And with a magic force o'er ev'ry thought prefides.

Away with all thy rueful train,

Nor caft thy cold pale glance at me,
Left Reafon quit my tortur'd brain,
And each mad thought be full of thee:
Nor ever meet my startled view,
Array'd in robe of fanguine hue;
Nor near my filent couch be found,

When night is wrapt in darkness round: Away, and haunt the murd'rer's care-fraught bed, And probe his guilty foul 'till ev'ry bliss be fled. In vain on him the genial god of fleep

Pours his fweet flumbers, once fo foft and mild; In vain they on his fallen eye lids creep,

Still broke by vifions, favage all and wild; Unnerv'd, and all appall'd, he seems to tread

With toilfome steps the dread funereal way, Where howling phantoms throng athwart the shade, While the wan moon fcarce beams her joyless

ray;

Or high on hanging clifts he seems to go, And views the deep black stream that sleeps so still below.

Yet lead him on, and let him feel

The ftings of confcience and remorse,
Their penetrating points reveal,

And wound him with their keenest force:
No refpite let the monster find,
With ev'ry fury rack his mind,

And still each fad, each ling`ring night,
Before him ftalk á haggard fight,

'Till wak'd to misery he raves and mourns,
While ev'ry fume of Hell within his bofom burns.
See at the regal banquet curft Macbeth,
Secure of empire fecretly rejoice;
The fiend seems smiling at the work of death,
And hears, with pleasure hears, the murderer's
voice :

When lo! at once Fear's dreadful pow'r is felt,
As injur'd Banquo points the livid wound,
Cold chilling dews upon his forehead melt,

Fades the gay scene of splendor all around, Drops from his nerveless hand the rofy bowl, While sluggish thro' his veins life's purple torrents roll.

And mark where Richard near his tent
Tates the cool fragrance of the air,
Remorfe within his bofom pent,
And deadly Hate, and black Despair;
Yet once again behold, he fleeps,
Hark! on his ear the low groan creeps;
He hudd'ring ftarts, convulfive shakes,

He heaves, he turns, he leaps, he wakes,
Each feature feems with wild amazement hung,
The fudden pray'r to Heav'n drops fault'ring from

his tongue.

Shakespeare alone thy ghaftly charms enjoy'd, The favage haunts he travers'd undismay'd, In hearing thy awak`ning tales employ'd Where the wood darkens to a deeper shade;

And if I read the magic page aright,

Loud thunders roll'd around th' enchanted spot, While fire-ey'd Dæmons growl'd the long lone night,

And ev'ry tree with flashing fame was fmote; And cries uncooth, and founds of woe were heard, And tall gigantic fhapes their horrid forms uprear'd.

But not alone to guilt confin'd,

Thy furies dart their secret Itings,
They point them at the virtuous mind,
Which each ideal fancy wings;

The penfive melancholy Dane,
Deep mourns his royal father flain;
Th' unnatural murderer muft bleed,

The ghost appears and prompts the deed;
Thy awful prefence felt as his ftern genius rofe.
Even valiant Brutus finking to repose,
Ye Angels fent as guardians of the good,
Swift chafe th' enthusiastic pow'r away,
Clear the low cloud, each grief-charg'd thought
exclude,

Drive hence the fiend that fhuns the eye of day; Ah! calm and gentle fink us down to rest; Let chearfulness the lonely voice adorn, Let her mild radiance gild the fear struck breast, While we with air-form'd terrors cease to mourn; And in fuch raptur'd dreams the fancy steep, As render more endear'd the Deity of fleep.

PRAISE AND FLATTERY.

By PETER PINDAR, Efq.

AIR praife is fterling gold-all should defire it;

FFlattery, bafe coin cheat upon the nation

And yet, our vanity doth much admire it,
And really gives it all its circulation.
Flatt'ry's a fly infinuating screw-

The world-a bottle of Tokay fo fine-
The engine always can its cork fubdue,

And make an easy pris'ner of the wine. Flatt'ry's an ivy wriggling round an oak

This oak is often honest plain John BullWhich ivy would its great fupporter choak,

Whilft John (fo thick the walls of his dark scull) Deems it a pretty ornament, and ftruts

Till mafter ivy creeps into John's guts; And gives poor thoughtless John a fet of gripes: Then, like an organ, opening all his pipes, John roars; and, when to a confumption drain`d, Finds out the knave his folly entertain'd. Praise is a modeft unaffuming maid,

As fimply as a Quaker-beauty dreft:No oftentation her's--no vain parade :

Sweet nymph! and of the fewelt words poffeft; Yet heard with rev'rence when the filence breaks, She dignifies the man of whom he speaks. Flatt'ry's a pert French milliner-a jade Cover'd with ROUGE, and flauntingly array'd➡ Makes faucy love to ev'ry man she meets,

And offers ev'n her favours in the streets. And yet, instead of meeting public hiffes, Divines fo grave-Philofophers can bear her: What's ftranger ftill, with childish rapture hear her; -Nay court the finiling harlot's very kiffes.

Afuccini NARRATIVE of the Impeachment of the Earl of STRAFFORD.

INS

N the year 1630, Charles the firft, created Sir Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford; and afterwards appointed him Viceroy of Ireland. From the declining health of the Earl of Northumberland, he was, about ten years after, (1640) appointed Commander in Chief of the King's armies, and was confidered as Chief Minister of the State, both on account of the credit he poffeffed with Charles, and of his own great and uncommon vigour and capacity. He had governed Ireland during eight years, with grea vigilance, activity, and prudence, but with very little popularity; and juftly apprehenfive that he might become the object of popular vengeance, he folicited his Royal Mafter to recal him from the government of Ireland; but Charles, ever too confident of his own power, refufed his entreaties, and invited him to England, on the meeting of the then approaching Seffions, under the pofitive affurance, that not a hair of his head fhould be touched by the malevolence of the Parliament."

No fooner, however, was the arrival of this great, but unfortunate Statefman known, than the Houfe of Commons, on the 22d March, 1640, at the inftigation of the celebrated Mr. Pym, voted nine general charges of High Treafon against him, and fent up to the Lords twenty-cight Special articles to fupport their accufation. These articles were framed by a committee of thirteen members of the Houfe of Commons, joined to a fmall committee of Lords, who were vefted with authority to ex amine all witneffes, to call for every paper, and to use any means of fcrutiny, with regard to any part of the Earl's behaviour and conduct. This committee fat four months, and contrary to all ufage and juftice, took an oath of fecrecy; in order, fays Whitlocke, who was the Chairman, to render it more difficult for the Earl to elude their fearch, or to prepare for his juftification. Thefe articles, thus framed, pointed at the conduct of Strafford as Prefident of the Council of York, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as a Privy Counfellor, and as Commander in Chief. They enumerated all the grievances under which the nation laboured, and charged the Earl with having formed a deliberate plan of changing the frame of government, and fubverting the ancient laws and liberties of the kingdom. Upon the carrying up the articles, Strafford was fequeftered from Parliament, and confined to the Tower.

The place appointed for the trial, was the great Hall in Weftminster, where there was a throne erected for the King, on cach fide thereof, a cabinet inclofed with boards, and before it was a terras. Before the throne fat the Lords, and the judges upon wool facks. The ftages of feats for the

Commons, extended further than the mid-catalogue. To pretend, therefore, a kind : dle of the Hall, at the end of which was a of accumulative, or conftructive evidence, defk enclosed for the prifoner and his counfel. by which many actions either totally innoAnd on Monday morning at feven o'clock, cent in themselves, or criminal only in an on the 22d March, the impeached Earl, at- inferior degree, fhall, when united, amount tended by 100 foldiers, zoo trained bands, to treafon-and fubject the perfon to the and 50 pair of oars, came by water from highest penalties of the law, is to have the the Tower to Westminster Hall. The lives and fortunes of a whole nation no King, Queen, and Prince, came about nine longer protected by juftice, but fubject to o'clock, and were fo inclofed in the cabi- the arbitrary and capricious dictates of renets, as to fee and hear all that paffed, venge and malevolence. but to be feen by none. The Bishops The Commons, finding it impoffible, by voluntarily declined interference; the Earl a legal profecution, ever to obtain a fenof Arundel fat as Lord High Steward, and tence against the Earl, they pafied a bill of Mr. Pym opened the accufation, and was attainder against him, but the King refollowed by all the others of the com-futing his aflent, Strafford wrote a letter, mittee. After a large flourish they con- in which he intreated the King, for the tended, that Strafford was impeached, not fake of public peace, to put an end to his with fimple, but with accumulative treafon; unfortunate, however innocent life. The for although that monftrous crime could enemies of Strafford took advantage of this not, perhaps, be collected from each par-very extraordinary ftep-they folicited the ticular article, yet when all was conceived King to fign the fatal warrant in the lanin the mafs, and under one view, he would guage of the times they wrestled him breathbe found the moft wicked and exorbitant lefs--by their inceffant importunities, and traitor that had ever been arraigned at the at laft victus dedit manus. In confequence bar. of this weak, and treacherous compliance of Charles, with the patriotic refignation of this truly great and lamented Statefmanhe was executed; his body embalmed, and carried into Yorkshire among his relations to be buried. But this illegal attainder was afterwards reverfed.

COINAGE.

Although four months had been employed to frame this accufation-although it was carried on against the Earl by fuch powerful and implacable opponents-although all the Earl's anfwers to the feveral charges were extemporary, it appears, that he refuted the imputations, and was free not only from the crime of Treafon, but that his conduct, in his feveral employments, THOUGHTS on the State of the COPPER making allowance for human infirmities, expofed to fo fevere a fcrutiny, was innocent and even laudable. He argued, that HE Copper Coin of this kingdom is although all the charges were in the molt become a fubject of the most ferious Τ ftrict and rigid way or fenfe, verified against importance, and, being the medium of cirhim, yet no interpretation of law could culation among the lower claffes of the convert it into the crime of High Trea-people, demands immediate and effectual fon for that neither the Common Law, reform. When it is confidered how great or Statutes, nor the practice of the Courts, a difproportion there is between the price nor the tongues of men, had ever, till now, of the metal and the exorbitant value at even pretended there was fuch a crime ex- which it is iffued from the Mint, it will ceafe ifting as an accumulative treason, but that it to be a wonder, that the quantity of counwas a word newly coined to attend a charge terfeits now in circulation is fo immense. newly invented, which had never been heard The proportionate price of copper to its of before. That treafon was of a fimple currency in the laft century, juftified theand fpecificative nature, not admitting of value at that time fixed upon the price of accumulation; that the word derived from money called a half-penny; and the article cumulus, a heap, was defcriptive only of of copper being then, and for many years different quantities of homogeneous things, afterwards, chiefly imported from other as a heap of grain, a heap of fand-but countries, it might be wife, for obvious that no accumulation could make that reafons, to give it a value beyond its ineither grain or fand which was not fo be- trintic worth. But now, Britain produces fore- and therefore, that unlefs fome specific more copper than any ftate in Europe,. treafon could be proved from the articles and, notwithstanding the vaft extenfion of of impeachment, although they might make its ufes, can fupply the furrounding naup a heap of oppreffions, errors, mifdemea- tions, and ftill wants markets to take it off; nors, &c. &c. they never can confer toge-every piece of copper coin fhould therether, to make up accumulative treafon. By fore be of the full value of its denominathe 25th Edw. III. c. 2. the law of Eng-tion, deducting only the neceffary expence land has, with the moft fcrupulous exact nefs, defined the crime of treafon; but the ftatute has not introduced an endeavour to fubvert the fundamental laws, into the fatal

of coining. The metal of the coinage ftruck laft year for the Ifle of Man, was delivered at the Mint for lefs than three. hundred pounds, and iflued from there at

the fhameful and enormous value of fix | hundred pounds fterling. Who can, without diftrefs, confider that the great body of the people muft go to market for the neceffaries of life with fuch grofsly overrated coin, and that where the price of their honeft labour ought to be a pound of copper, they carry not half the quantity? The commodity they want is proportionably over-charged to meet the impofition, and a numerous family obliged to ftarve upon the fcanty pittance. When we complain of the high price of labour and of provifions, we ought to complain of the fraud in the coin-and, when foreigners produce their manufactures upon cheaper terms than ours, we fhould look for the cause in the profits of the mint. But, however mifchievous thofe profits are to the public in a civil or a political view, much more hurtful and dreadful, indeed, are their confequences in a moral light. They tempt the wretched artift to counterfeit thofe fhameful apologies for coin, and the nation is deluged ftill with bafer money. To reftrain them, laws have been multiplied without effect. From pecuniary mulets and imprisonment, the punithment is advanced to exile, and, at laft, to fill up the measure of vengeance, the fecond commiffion is written in blood. Thus advancing an offence, which the juftice of our older laws called a misdemeanor only, to the denomination of unpardonable felony, and annexing to it the punishment which the laws of God juftify only against crimes of the greatest moral turpitude. If to enrich a few individuals, millions are to groan under oppreffion-If the conductors of the Mint will not give up their immoderate gains-If they will not deliver out this neceflary manufacture at a fair and marketable price-it is the duty of Parliament to interfere, and, with the ftrong hand of conftitutional power, to reftrain the rapacity of legal plunder, and the impofitions of unfanctioned fraud.

To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE.

T

HE enormous increase of the Poor Rates, has been a matter of general complaint for feveral years paff, and what has added greatly to the alarm is, that every fucceeding year feems to bring an addition to the burden. In order to bring the following obfervations into as narrow a compafs as poffible, I fhall content myself with ftating a few facts, and draw fuch conclufions from them as, I hope, will meet with the approbation of the public.

The price of labour in England about 50 years ago was nearly on an average one Thilling a day for a labourer. It is now fourteen-pence. Wheat was then fold at 51. per load. It is now 10l. Beef and

mutton were then fold at 2d. per pound, Then follow claufes-regulating the dif which are now 5d. I believe it will appear ferent fums to be taken on pledges-direcpretty clear to every thinking man that the ting pawns to be entered in books, and to price of almoft every neceflary of life is near-give a note defcribing the things pawned; ly doubled within the time above mentioned, penalty againft unlawfully pawning of goods and that the price of labour has only ad- the property of others; penalty on perfons vanced one penny in seven. forging or counterfeiting notes; provifion From thefe facts is it not evident, that if againit pawnbrokers taking in linen, or apa labourer was to be paid in proportion to parel, entrusted to perfons to wash, fcour, the prefent price of provifions, his wages mind or make up; punishing perions not would be nearly doubled? Is the fcanty giving a good account of themselves when pittance of feven or eight fhillings a week offering goods to pawn; goods unlawfully fufficient to find a man, his wife and five pawned, to be reftored by the pawnbrokers; children with the neceffaries of life? Surely punishing pawnbrokers who will not deliver not. It may indeed buy them bread, but up goods to the pawner; perfons producing there are many other things which must be notes or memorandums, to be deemed ownallowed neceflary to fupport the health and ers; upon notes or memorandums being ftrength of a hard working man befides loft, the pawnbroker to give a fresh copy; bread. What are to become of the chil- pawned goods to be deemed forfeited at the dren in cafe of the father's death, his fick-end of the year, but upon notice from the nefs, and a hundred accidents and infir- pawner not to fell, feven days further allowmities which may render him incapable of ed for redemption; account of fales to be fupporting his family by his labour? He entered by the pawnbrokers, and the overcannot have faved any part of his earnings plus paid to the owner of the goods fo pawnin his health, because the utmost exertion of ed; pawnbrokers not to purchafe goods his ftrength was barely fufficient to fupply whilft in their cuftody; time for taking in his family with bread. They muft there- pawns limited; pawnbrokers to place in fore have recourse to those people who have view the rate of profit allowed, in legible had the advantage of their labour at a low characters; difputes between pawnbrokers price, in order to make up the deficiency. and pawners to be fettled by a Juftice of the So that the quantum of poors rates (pro- Peace; their names and bufinefs to be placed vided there is no mifmanagement) will al- over the door; penalty on pawnbrokers ways depend upon the difference between felling goods before the time limited, or inthe price of labour and the price of provi-juring them; pawnbrokers to produce their fions; or in other words, if the poor work books when called upon refpecting felony at low wages when provifions are dear, the or any other matter-declaring who fhall deficiency must be made up by the parifh be deemed pawnbrokers, and the penalty rates. rates. Upon the whole, the poors rates on offending againft this act; churchwardens are like the cheft at Chatham, they are a and overfcers to profecute; this act not to moiety of the wages of the strong and extend to perfons lending money at five per healthy, left in the hands of overfeers for the cent, without farther profit; Juftices not to ufe of the fick, the lame, the blind and the receive any fee or gratuities for acting under aged. I am, your humble fervant, this act; the act to extend to executors, adminiftrators and affigns of pawnbrokers; inhabitants of any place where offences are committed to be deemed competent witneffes; form of conviction; act 24 Geo. II.

PHILODÉMOS.

SHORT STATEMENT of the BILL relating to Juftices of the Peace, and in

FOR REGULATING THE

Trade and Bufinefs of PAWNBROKERS.

HE Bill recites the Acts of the 24th
Geo. III. and 30th Geo. II.

It alfo recites, that the act paffed the last feffion for continuing the act of the 24th of his prefent Majefty expires on the 11th of July next.

That it is expedient that provifion fhould be made for regulating the trade and bufinefs of Pawnbrokers.

It therefore enacts, that the two acts above-mentioned, fo far as relates to the unlawful pawning of goods, and for the eafy unlawful pawning of goods, and for the eafy redemption of goods pawned, and to the trade and bufinefs of Pawnbrokers, be retrade and bufincfs of Pawnbrokers, be repealed.

demnifying conftables and other peace of ficers acting under their warrant, to extend to this act; declaring the fame a public act.

ANECDOTE.

HE celebrated Dr. Saunderfon, the blind Mathematical Profellor of Cambridge, being in a very large company, obferved, without any hefitation or enquiry, that a Lady, who had juft left the room, and whom he did not know, had very fire teeth. As this was really the cafe, he was queftioned as to the means he employed in making fuch a difcovery. I have no reafon to think the Lady a fool, faid the Doctor; and I have given the only reafon fhe could have, for keeping herself in a continual laugh for an hour together.

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