Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

WHILE you and thousands feek the sportive Then close impatient, like the watry main

race,

Where general pleasure smiles in ev'ry face,
While rival courfers all your thoughts employ,
And the hill thunders with the voice of joy;
I penfive fit-my drooping flowers among,
And strive to footh the painful hours with fong;
I call the mufe, to chear the lonesome day,
Intent to steal me from myself away;
Well pleas'd to meditate the tuneful rhyme,
And thus ingeniously deceive my time.
Whom fhall I paint ?The Ballad-fingers feem
(If the mufe favour) a diverting theme;
Delightful "Bourne"! I turn his attic page,
His fweet defcriptions all my foul engage.
Say, will you read an hour, my chearful friend?
Well, wipe your glasses firft, and then attend.

In London town, whoe'er has chanc'd to stray,
Where to fev'n streets fev'n dials count the day,
Muft there have feen two females often ftand,
Two tuneful females of the Syren band.
Hats of plain straw they wear; their taudry neck
Huge beads of amber in a circle deck.
Their beaftly coats appear, knee high and higher,
Dash'd all and ftiff with cakes of crufted mire;
Then dangling down at ev'ry step they go,
Beat hard and rattle at their heels below.
One rocks a bantling at her fluttish dug,
While reams of ballads load the other trug.

Now all in order, and the scene begun,
From ev'ry street the lads and lasses run ;;
Foremost to hear, and most o'erjoy'd of all,
Jumps out the cobler from his neighb`ring stall,
In leathern cap, fome purchase fure to make,
If chance the fong his chearful fancy take;
For many fongs and catches fweet has he
To chafe the ling`ring fun into the sea :-
He fings off many a livelong fummer's day,
And winter nights as wearifome as they.

At length the murmurs of the mob begin;
To hum upon the ears of folks within;
The careful maidens quit the cleanly brush, ̧
And out, all naked to their shoulders, rufh.

Lo! the grim finith, as greedy of a fong,
Strides from his forge, and mixes with the throng;
His iron cools, his breathlefs bellows stop,
And all the bus'nefs of his glowing shop.

The porter too, beneath a monstrous pack, That ftoops him down and bows his double back, Comes flowly up, the huddling croud to view, Nor feels his burden fo a fong enfue; The coming tune fo fooths his patient ears. He halts, unknowing of the load he bears.

So when fweet Orpheus undertook to fing,. And move with music hell's tremendous king; Such charming accents warbled from his lyre, Such melting airs as made the damn'd admire; Made ev'n the astonish'd Sifiphus forget

To feel the incumbent rock's prodigious weight..

The fhip pafs'd forward, fuddenly again.

Now hark! how first she nam'd the fong and faid,

"The perjur'd Sailor and deluded Maid"-
Then fung away in woeful notes the song,
To woeful tales as woeful tunes belong;
Her first fad verse the other plaintive jade
Difmally answers with a verse as fad ;
The Syrens thus, in lamentable ftrain,
Thro' all the fong alternately complain.

With gaping mouths the mob admiring stare,
And catch, and swallow ev'ry word with care;
All anxious feem, all give a lift'ning ear,
This turns his right, that leans his left to hear.
But the fly Sailor's foft deceiving art,
With which he won the witless maiden's heart,
Were much too long and pitiful to read,
A wily fcene of wickedness indeed!

Sudden the rabble, one and all, demand The mournful ftory with impatient hand; The mournful story they again renew, Sing on, and deal it to the fnatching crews No heart but melts amid the various throng, Such magic is there in a moving fong; For moving fongs make ev'n the vulgar feel; From ev'ry pocket easily they steal The laft poor halfpence-and can draw as much From the lame beggar crippling on his crutch; His purfe-ftrings chearful even he unties, His money fquanders, and the ballad buys.

Next an old woman, in a rage to hear The failor's knav'ry,, could no longer bear; Her quiv'ring fingers, quick as for the nonce, Dive for the farthing in her purfe at once; The latent coin, as loath to quit its place, Long lingers in the leather's old embrace. But fee! at length the captive mites appear! "And pray now, woman, hand a ballad here,"

She cries pleafe God this roguery fhall be plac'd

Against my wall, with everlasting paste; "That whited wall, where all for warning clung, "Full many a murder is already hung; "With thefe, in meet array, fhall be display'd. "The perjur'd Sailor and deluded Maid; "The Maid and Sailor ever faften'd here, "To future times fhall make this truth appear, "How fond the girls, and easy to believe, "And how thefe dev'lifh failors will deceive." Dorchester, June 8, 1786.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

vincial events attending their journey of life. The prefent generation of Salisbury, and its neighbourhood, will doubtless feel no fmall gratification in reading the following chronological ferics of occurrences prior to, communing with, or keeping equal pace with their progrefs in life, efpecially as the parents or relatives of many were materially interested or concerned.I fhall begin, Mr. Editor, with the year 1737, and if acceptable, you fhall have at leaft one year's hiftory every month; more, if I can find time to furnish it. I am inclined to think my narrative will be found accurate in general, for it is extracted from careful notation, made by diligent and intelligent men. The fpecimen inclosed will give you and your readers an opportunity to exercise your judgments; and if any friend can and will affift my labours by illuftration or correction of what I may furnish, by hiftorical or biographical anecdote, &c. he will deferve my fincere acknowledgment, and I fhould think he will not fall fhort of the thanks of fociety.

I am, &c. INVESTIGATOR.

1737 D
IED at Marlborough, Wilts,,
Jan. 1. Mrs. Shatton, relict of Wm..
Shatton, Efq. Barrister at Law.

7. Salisbury and Blandford coaches robbed near Hartford Bridge, by four footpads.. They took from the paffengers, zol. in cafh; alfo his filver buckles, and a filver dram bottle, from Mr. James Hayter, of Salisbury, holding pistols to his head and breaft.

The Bishop of Sarum has applied to the Court of France, for the apprehending. Hugh Davis, his Secretary.

10. Lewis's Briftol comedians performed the Tragedy of Theodofius, at Langley's theatre, in Winchefter-ftreet, Salisbury.

Lately died, the Rev. Abel Clarke,. Rector of Lidiard Tregofe.

Lately died, Mrs. Eyre, wife of the Rev. Mr. Eyre, Prebendary of Win

chefter.

25. Hugh Davis, late Secretary of the Bishop of Sarum, is fecured at Paris, with great part of the property he had taken from his Lordship.

28. Sir Jacob Des Bouverie came to his feat of Longford Caftle.

Lately died, at Folkstone, in Kent, Jacob Des Bouverie, Efq.

Feb. 4. Died in Sarum, aged 80 years, William Churchill, Efq. late Member for Ipswich.

Feb. 3. Walter Coleman, a barber, of Salisbury, found dead in the fields near the city.

Feb. 14. Prices of corn in Sarum market, viz. Wheat. 4s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per bufhel.-Barley, 17s. per quarter.- Old oats, 135. 6d. -New oats, 11s. to 125.

Beans, 4. to 38. 6d. per bufhel.-Peas, 123 per quarter.

Feb. 11. Three men robbed a woman at Barford, of brandy, while fhe was driving an afs laden with it, and drank themfelves fpeechlefs-One died, and the other recovered with difficulty.

14. The Rev. Mr. Froom inftituted to the living of Tollard Royal, void by the death of the Rev. Mr. Wanfborough.

16. Died, the Rev. Hobey Stanley, Rector of Pewley, Wilts.

Lately died Mr. Necuier, fen. merchant and mafter rope-maker, at Portfimouth. March 2. Winchefter aflizes held by Juftice Comyns and Juftice Fortefcue Maud, when James Matlow and Richard Brooks were fentenced to die, for robbing a farmer near Hurley.

Feb. 12. The fish ponds of Henry Wyndham, Efq. of Salisbury, robbed of

carp.

[ocr errors]

March 11. Rev. Archdeacon Rolleftone, of Salisbury, robbed by a highwayman at nine-mile water, of 61. and his watch.The fame man robbed a gentleman the fame morning at Fixbury Ring, of three guineas.

March 9. Affizes at Sarum, when Edw. Pillen received fentence of death for poifoning his wife and child; alfo Tho. Payne, William Dabney, Jofeph Cottrell, Robert Shanks, and John Hayter, for divers felonics, but these were afterwards reprieved.

March 23. A man was robbed near Devizes, of 171. in cafh, by a fingle highwayman, who difmounted him, and pulling off his horfe's bridle, turned him loofe.

Mifs Cooper, a beauty, of Swindon, Jately married to Mr. Kemble, of Cannonftreet, London.

March 24. Rev. Dr. Wynne, Chaplain to the Bishop of Sarum, inftalled to the Prebend of Warminster.

Rev. Francis Coxe inftituted to the living of Childrey, Wilts.

25. The Plume of Feathers Inn, Salifbury, robbed of various goods, the property of people attending the fair.

26. Edward Pillen executed at Fisherton gallows, for poisoning his wife and child; he afferted his innocence to the laft. Lately died, at Tooting, Surrey, the Rev. Mr. Cunningham, a Fellow of Winchefter College.

Lately died the Rev. William Hughes, Vicar of Sunning, Berks.

April 25. Laft week was married Henry Hele, M.D. to Mifs Rolfe, daughter of the late Commiffioner Rolfe, of Salisbury; a fortune of 10,000l.

May 2. Hamptworth woods, in the parifh of Downton, were fet on fire, and zo acres of wood destroyed.

May 12. A load of wheat, the property of Fariner Waters, of Burford, going to Redbridge for exportation, was ftopped near Whiteparifh, by about fixty people; they knocked down the fore horfe, cut the waggon and wheels in pieces, cut the facks, and ftrewed about the corn, and threatened like treatment to all perfons attempting to export corn.-The wheaten peck loaf fold at this time in Salisbury for 2s. 3d. and houfhold at is. 8d.

May 23. The fame mob as ftopped Farmer Waters's corn, ftopped a load of malt belonging to Mr. Cafe, of Salisbury, in Downton-ftreet, going to Redbridge, and though offered a hogfhead of beer, compelled the driver to fell it at their own price the day following. They also stopped a load of wheat, and carried great part of it away, firft deftroying the waggon.

May 23. A perfon late poftillion to Lord Arundell, of Wardour, and coachman to George Wyndham, Efq. of Salisbury, was found hanging in a stable at the Glove, on found hanging in a ftable at the Glove, on the Shafton road.-Coroner's Inqueft Suicide; he was buried with a stake driven through him.

May 26. The barn of Farmer Button, at Troup, near Bifhopftone, fet on fire; it was confumed, with two others, a rick houfe, cart-house, and brew-houfe; alfo two ricks, with other property.

27. Wm. Hobbs, of Bishopftone, fent to gaol on fufpicion of fetting fire to Mr. Button's barn.

May 25. The Archdeacon of Winchefter held his Vifitation of the Clergy there, and made a Latin oration in praife of the County Hofpital lately established there, principally by the pains of Dr. Alured Clarke, Prebendary of the Cathedral.

June 7. Arrived at his Palace, from London, the Lord Bifhop of Sarum.

7. The King's Plate run for on the new round courfe, near Salisbury, and won by the Duke of Ancaster's grey horfe, grafshopper.

9. The City Plate won by Mr. Dodd's brown horfe, Merry Tom.

July 25. Laft week the Rev. Mr. Hawes was inflituted to the rectory of Wily, Wilts.

28. Laft week the Lord Bifhop of Salif bury confirmed about 5000 young perfons at Warminster, Trowbridge, Bradford, Malmbury, and Cricklade, being the first confirmation at thofe places thefe 20 years.

Auguft 1. Lately married the Hon. Nicholas Herbert, brother to the Earl of Pembroke, to Mifs North, of Grofvenorfquare.

July 27. The affizes ended at Salisbury, held by Mr. Juftice Paye, and Mr. Juftice Fortefcue Maud, when William Hobbs was fentenced to die, for fetting fire to Mr. Button's barn, at Troup. Alfo John Elloway was convicted of felling beer on the Lord's Day, fined a mark, and adjudged to be imprifoned three months.

Auguft 1. A fire this day at a Shepherd's at Whaddon, near Salisbury, occafioned by his wife throwing a broom, with which the had been sweeping an oven, on fome ftraw; four other houfes, alfo feveral loads of wheat, two hay ricks, with household goods, &c. were confumed before the fire was got under.

Sept. 5. Lately died the Rev. Samuel Bold, Chaplain to the Bishop of Win

chefter.

Dec. 7. Laft week Jofeph Lamb, of Hindon, Wilts, voided a jointed worm 14 feet 6 inches long, which is preferved in fpirits by Dr. Foote, of Hindon.

ANECDOT E.

HE Count de Soyfons was feated at play one evening, when happening to caft his eye up at a looking glafs that was before him in the apartment, he faw a man at the back of his chair, whole phyfiognomy predicted nothing in its 8. The 151. Galloway Plate won by owner's favour, and gave the Count fufLord Weymouth's chefnut horfe, Car-picion. He had reafon for his miftruft; touch. for he had not fat long before he felt the diamond loop of his hat cut away. He took no notice, but pretended a neceffity to go down ftairs, and defired the thief to play his cards in the mean time, which he could not refufe The Count immediately defcended into the kitchen, and got a large and fharp carving-knife; then going foftly behind the fellow, dextrously took him by the ear, and cut it off; and holding it out to him, faid, " Return me my diamond loop, Sir, and I'll return you your ear."

16. The famous Mrs. Drummond, from London, held forth in the Quaker's Meeting, Salisbury, to a very large affembly.

July. His Majefty lately gave 300l. to the new hospital at Winchester.

Henry Drax, Efq. Member for Wareham, is appointed by the Prince of Wales to be Steward of all his manors in thecounty of Dorfet.

SALISBURY: Printed by B. C. COLLINS; And fold by all BOOKSELLERS, NEWSMEN, &c.

No. VII. Vol. I.

For

DESCRIPTION, of JULY.

Deep to the root
Of vegetation parch'd, the cleaving fields
And flipp ry lawn an arid bue disclofe;
Echo no more returns the chearful found
Of Sharp'ning fcythe; the mower finking heaps
O'er bin the humid bay, with flowers perfum'd.

A

S January is the coldeft, July is the hottest month of the year. The direct influence of the fun, indeed, is continually diminishing after the fummerfolftice; but the earth and air have been fo thoroughly heated, that the warmth which they retain more than compenfates, for a time, the diminution of folar rays. The effects of this weather upon the face of nature foon become manifeft. All the flowers of the former month foon lofe their beauty, fhrivel, and fall; at the fame time their leaves and ftalk lofe their verdure, and the whole plant haftens to decay. Many plants, however, do not begin to flower till July: thefe are, particularly, the aromatic; the fucculent, or thick-leaved; feveral of the aquatic; and of thofe called compoundflowered, in which many florets are collected into one head, as thiftle, fowthiftle, hawkweed, &c. The lily is one of the principal ornaments of gardens in this and with its delicate white flowers, month; gives an agreeable fenfation of coolnefs to

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

1786.

Price Three-Pence.

People the blaze. To funny waters fome
By fatal inftinct fly; where on the pool

They, fportive, wheel; or failing down the ftr eam
Are fnatch'd immediate by the quick-ey'd trout,
Or darting falmon. Thro' the green-wood glade.
Some love to ftray; there lodg'd, amus'd and fed,
In the fresh leaf. Luxurious, others make
The meads their choice, and vifit every flower,
And every latent herb; for the fweet talk,
To propagate their kinds, and where to wrap,
In what foft beds, their young yet undisclos'd,
Employs their tender care. Some to the house,
The fold, and dairy, hungry, bend their fight:
Sip round the pail, or tafte the curdling cheese.

THOMSON.

About the middle of this month, the

The infect tribe, however, are peculiarly active and vigorous in the hottest weather. Thefe minute creatures are for the moft part annual, being hatched in the Spring, and dying at the approach of Winter: they have therefore no time to lofe in indolence, but muft make the most of their fhort exiftence; efpecially as their moft perfect ftate continues only during a part of their lives. All infects undergo three changes, in cach of which they are transformed to a totally different appearance. From the egg, they firft turn into caterpillars or mag-fhoals of that migratory fifh, the pilchard, gots, when they crawl upon many feet, and begin to appear off the coaft of Cornwall. are extremely voracious, many kinds of them doing much mifchief in the gardens, and fometimes devouring the leaves of the trees, and even the herbage on the ground. This is their state in the Spring. They next become aurelias or chryfalifes, when they refemble an infant closely wrapt in fwaddling-clothes; being motionless, taking no nourishment, and indeed, having no appearance of living creatures. From this. ftate they burft forth into the perfect infect, fhining in all its colours, furnished with wings, full of activity, capable of propagating its fpecies, and feeding, for the moft part, on thin liquid aliments, fuch as the honey of flowers, and juices of animals. In this ftate moft of them continue but a fhort time. The male impregnates the female; the lays her eggs; and they both die.

Wak'd by his warmer ray, the reptile young
Come wing'd abroad; by the light air upborn,
Lighter, and full of foul. From every chink,
And fecret corner, where they flept away
The wintry forms; or rifing from their tombs,
To higher life; by myriads, forth at once,
Swarning they pour; of all the vary'd hues
Their beauty-beaming parent can disclose.
Ten thoufand forms! ten thousand different tribes!
O

The luxury of cooling fhades is now
peculiarly grateful; and indeed, is scarcely
defired in this climate longer than a few
weeks at the height of Summer.
Welcome, ye fhades! ye bowery thickets, hail !
Ye lofty pines! ye venerable oaks!

Ye afhes wild, refounding o'er the steep!
Delicious is your fhelter to the foul,
As to the haunted hart the fallying spring.
THOMSON.

Bathing too, is a delightful amufement at this feafon; and happy is the fwimmer, who alone is able to enjoy the full pleasure of this healthful exercife. The power of habit to improve the natural faculties, is in nothing more apparent than in the art of wimming. Man, without practice, is utterly unable to fupport himself in the water. In thefe northern countries, the feafon for pleasant bathing being fhort, few in proportion can swim at all; and to those who have acquired the art, it is a laborious and fatiguing exercife. Whereas, in the tropical countries, where from their very infancy both fexes are continually plunged into the water, they become a fort of amphibious creatures, fmimming and diving with the utmoft eafe, and or hours together, without intermiffion.

The exceffive heats of this period of the year, caufe fuch an evaporation from the furface of the earth and waters, that after fome continuance of dry weather, large heavy clouds are formed, which, at length, let fall their collected liquor, in extremely copious fhowers, which frequently beat down the full-grown corn, and fometimes deluge the country with fudden floods. Thunder and lightning generally accompany thefe Summer ftorms. Lightning is a collection of electric fire drawn from the heated air and earth, and accumulated in the clouds, which, at length overcharged, fuddenly let go their contents in the form of broad flashes or fiery darts. Thefe are attracted again by the earth, and often intercepted by buildings, trees, and other elevated objects, which are hattered by

the fhock. Thunder is the noise occa

fioned by the explosion, and therefore always follows the lightning; the found travelling flower to our ears, than the light to our eyes. Juft the fame thing happens when a gun is fired at a distance. When we hear the thunder, therefore, all danger from that flash of lightning is over: and thunder, though fo awful and tremendous to the ear, is, of itfelf, entirely harmless. The effects of the great heat on the human body are agreeably allayed, by the various wholefome fruits which Providence offers at this feafon for the ufe of man. Thofe which are now ripe, are of all the moft cooling and refreshing; as currants, goofeberries, rafpberries, ftrawberries, and cherries. Thefe are no lefs falutary and ufeful, than the richest products of the

warmer climates.

Hens moult, or lofe their feathers, during this month. The fmaller birds do not moult fo early; but all renew their plumage before Winter, when they are in their finest and warmeft clothing.

Young partridges are found at this time among the corn.

The farmer's chief employment in July, is getting home the various products of the earth. It is the principal hay-month in the northern parts of the kingdom, and the work-people fuffer much fatigue from the exceffive heat to which they are expofed. Flax and hemp are pulled in this month. Thefe plants are cultivated in various parts of Europe, more than in England. The ftalks of both are full of tough fibres or ftrings, which, feparated and prepared in a particular manner, become fit for fpinning into thread, Of Bax, linen is made, from the fineft cambric, to the coarfeft canvafs. Hemp is used for coarfe cloth only, fuch as facking; it is alfo twisted into ropes and

[blocks in formation]

Extract from HOLWELL'S Differtations on the
Origin, Nature, and Pursuits of intelligent
Beings, and on Divine Providence, Religion,
and Religious Worship, 8vo. 2s. 6d. just pub
lifhed.(Continued from Page 93.)

$45.

inconfiderate rulers, and favereigns; it is notorious, and confirmed by ecclefiaftical hiftory, that all feminaries, colleges, &c. for the drilling and training members for the Church, were founded and endowed at the inftigation of the clergy, for the immediate benefit of themselves or their fueceflors; it is allowed they are also semiTHE above, being the prefent fate of naries for the advancement of ufelefs arts the Chriftian fyftem of religion, and fciences: but, query, have they not throughout all Christendom, without the likewife proved feminaries of vice, liberfmalleft exaggeration, no one, we think, tinifm, and lewdness, to the detriment of will be hardy enough to deny, that a ge- real morals and virtue? - Let it not thereneral reform is eflentially neceffary, and fore appear strange or fingular, or facrilege loudly called for, by the voice of true piety in us, our attempting to divest the Church and reason. The radical cure for any of its temporalities; in fact, it has no legal evil, and its effects, cannot be expected, right to them, nor is it the Church we without minutely tracing it to its original diveft; it is the over-fed poffeffors of them caufe; we have glanced at this already, but we propofe to ftrip, that they may revert now we fhall fpeak more openly, and in juftice and equity to the original rightwithout referve pronounce, that all the ful owners, THE PUBLIC, and be approevils with which mankind has been pefter-priated to the relief of the prefent heavy ed in all ages, fprung from an undue pre- and deplorable exigencies of the STATE. eminence, power, and emoluments, affumed And in this, we have no doubt but we by, and weakly granted to the priesthood. fhall be fupported by the votes of ninetyAccording to the political modes of go- nine in the hundred of the inhabitants of vernment in states, a diftinction of fuperior every Chriftian country; and the Clergy and fubordinate ranks and degrees became themfelves, if they poffefs a grain of coneffentially neceffary; but as Politicks and fcience, public fpirit, and love for their Religion have no relation to each other, country, (which we will not doubt) will but always move in diametrically oppofite not hefitate a moment to fay Amen; efpedirections, there never could have been cially as it is not our intention to fend the any neceffity for thofe ranks, degrees, Priesthood a grazing, but only to reduce and diftinctions, in the government of a them to a respectable level. The abject Church, or in the adminiftration of the flavery and dependance of the fubaitern holy functions. Herein our ancient poli-Clergy has long been a reproach to the ticians committed an egregious and un- Church and Legiflature of every Chriftian pardonable blunder and folecifm in poli-Government; but if our plan takes place, ticks; but they knew not the artful, en- there fhall not be a ragged Curate, in his croaching, Machiavelian fpirits they had to Majefty's dominions at leaft. As Propcdeal with, nor adverted to the Eastern pro-fitions are now become the mode of adverb, which fays, "Give fome people a drefs on all occafions, we fhall adopt it in "finger, and they will foon take your our next fection. "whole hand." Touching the emoluments granted to the priesthood, under the ftile of temporalitics and patrimonics of the Church, the impropriety of the meafure has been manifefted in all ages, by the mifchievous ufe that has been perpetually made of them, as all hiftory demonftrates. A learned and pious Bishop, above a century and a half back, preached and protefted againft temporalities being annexed to the Church, (vide Sir Richard Prop. 2. That a period be put to the Baker's ufcful and laborious chronicles) long, mifchievous, illegal, and irreligious and the opening of our 44th fection are practice of mixing temporalities with fpithe fentiments of a dignified member of ritualitics; and that all endowments of the Church, defervedly celebrated as the whatsoever kind, annexed to Cathedrals, moft acute moral writer that has graced Churches, Chapels, and Colleges, be fethis latter age. All temporalities annexed queftered, restored, and appropriated to the to Popedoms, Archbishopricks, Bifhop-relief of the exigencies of the ftate, and ricks, Deaneries, Prebendaries, Vicarages, heavy burdens of the people. Rectorfhips, Colleges, &c. were originally Prop. 3. That the forms of ordination, alienations from the public flock, furrepti- fubfcription, and degrees, be totally abotioufly and fraudulently obtained, by thelifhed as ufelefs, and to the full as farcical artful fuggeftions and influence the Prieft-as the noli epifcopari; and that the KING, hood had acquired, over the minds and as fupreme head of the Church, fhall, by confciences of their refpective weak and himfelf, or by delegation to his Minifters

$ 46.

Propofition . It is humbly propofed, that the dignified Clergy under every denomination, be divested of all Rank, Precedence, and Title, in the Church and State; faving and excepting that of Doctor in Divinity only, which every member of the Church fhall indifcriminately enjoy, on the fame refpectable and rational level.

of State, occafionally ordain and prefent men of found and tried morals and understanding, to the beft of their knowledge and information; profound learning, and knowledge in the dead languages, being abfolutely non-effentials.

Prop. 4. That a confiderable reduction fhall be made in the number of churches, and every church be independant, and but one incumbent to each church; and in cafe of fickness, or other inability, his place. fhall be fupplied by the incumbent of the next adjoining parifh, on proper notice given of the neceflary variation of the hour for the commencement of the

fervice.

Prop. 5. That a ftipend of five hundred pounds per annum, exempt from all taxes, office fees, and deductions whatsoever, be eftablished for every married incumbent, and three hundred for every one unmarried, in lieu of all tithes, furplice-fees, and other perquifites, with a decent and commodious parfonage houfe, handfomely furnifhed at all points, in the vicinity of the church, the whole to be kept in repair by the government; the ftipend to be paid from the treasury half yearly, the first half year in advance upon their induction: as thefe ftipends are more than equal to landed eftates of eight and five hundred pounds per annum, it cannot but be deemed a refpectable provifion. Whether the exigencies of the ffate can admit of this ample provifion, the legislature alone are the competent judges.

of enmity, rancour, and contention, be-up and inftigated by thofe then (and now
tween the clergy and laity, and confe- to our reproach) ftiled Fathers of the Church.
quently raife the value of landed property From them thofe diffentions, and confe-
throughout the realin; and are alfo preg-quent cruelties, have had a regular defcent
nant with many other falutary confequen- without intermiflion, to this hour; and
ces, to the honour of GOD and true re-enthufiaftic reformers have started up in
ligion, and the eafe and effentially ne-every corner of the Chriftian world, with-
cellary emoluments of the state; and de-out one grain of charity one to another.
trimental only to a very few individuals in Such have been the direful confequences
comparifon with the whole diftreffed com- of torturing Chriftianity into a non-effen-
munity. We will readily admit, that the tial fyftem, which its original tenets itood
prefent dignitaries of our established church in no need of. The torrents of blood
are as pious, learned, and refpectable a bo- which have been fhel in thefe Chriftian
dy, as ever graced any age or nation; but irreligious diffentions, have ftamped an in-
fill they poffefs and riot in the fpoils of delible ftain on humanity, never to be
the Public, fedulously, fraudulently, and washed out whilft records and memory
illegally obtained by their predeceffors, exift: it was not the caufe of GOD, or
and therefore cannot in confcience main-religion, which excited thefe deplorable
tain their right to them. We are fen- ftruggles, the real objects were, power and
fible, however, we fhall draw on ourfelves temporalities.
the bitter indignation and refentment of
$ 50.
the dignified priesthood of all Chriftian
churches, (it must be allowed they have
fome provocation) but we fhall fhelter
ourselves under the confcious integrity of
our intentions for the good of the com-
mon-weal, and leave the defence of our
caufe to their fubalterns.

$ 48.

$49.

Prop. 6. That the reduced Dignitaries, in compenfation for their loffes in temporalities, fhall have the preference on the new prefentations taking place, and next to them the doctors in divinity of the prefent eftablishment; but as our plan only We cannot open our interefting fubject propofes one incumbent for each church, the fupernumeraries in orders, which over better, than with the words and fentiflow the land, must not be left to ftarve;ments of the great Chancellor HYDE, in therefore we propofe an annuity of one hundred pounds fhall be fettled upon them for their lives; and as many of them will drop off annually, the ftate will be foon

releafed from that burthen.

Prop. 7. That the Doctors fhall ftill retain the honorary titles, infignia, and emoluments, (if there are any) of being chaplains to his Majefty and the nobility.

$47.

THE foregoing equitable propofitions put a stop to the oppreffions and grievances of ecclefiaftical courts, to the fcandalous and fhameful trade and traffick of religion, as practifed in all Chriftian churches, for fimoniacal pluralities, lay prefentations, difpenfations, &c. they fet every member of the church upon an equal and refpectable footing; they preclude tithing, pregnant with dire mifchiefs and cruelties in our fifter kingdom, and the never-ceafing fource

It has been manifeft, from the earliest periods fucceeding the death of its founder, that Chriftianity had no fettled and uniform principles or doctrines; and that like rays diverging from a center, the farther it extended, the wider its profeffors differed in their tenets and fentiments; each fect aflerting and arrogating to itself the infal lible marks (as just above hinted) of the THE moft arduous part of our various true Church, by proofs drawn from the fame fubjects, Religious Worship, now only re- fountain, namely THE SCRIPTURES, vamains for difcuffion; and here we muftriously interpreted, as their fpeculative inlament our inadequate abilities for fo im- terefted views and fancies dictated, until portant a matter, relying on the indul- at length they left no precife meaning to gence of our readers, and hoping that any parts of them: the real divine princiwifer heads will correct, fupply, and fill ples, and pure ethicks, they taught, were up, the deficiencies of our imperfect out- overwhelmed and frittered away, and in lines, for we will not presume to arrogate their ftead, fyftems of non-effential and to ourselves any higher merit. incomprehenfible, tenets, and unintelligible jargon, were inftituted, and even thefe without any uniformity whatsoever, as the various and inconfiftent liturgies of every Christian Church exhibit ample proof of. In fuch a perplexed ftate and fituation, what then remains for a rational and anxious enquirer? He cannot pofiibly do otherwife than indignantly fpurn at and reject every liturgy exifting, as warring with reafon, true piety, comour GoD and ourselves. Benevolently mon fenfe, and each other; and unworthy moved for the prefent and future well-being of our fellow creatures, but more particularly for the ftate under whofe protection we breathe, we will humbly atgious worship as fhall not be liable to any tempt to sketch out fuch a form of reliof the above juft ftrictures and objections, enthu-gious worship as fhall not be liable to any and to which all unprejudiced rational beings will not hesitate to conform ; but previous thereto, it becomes effentially neceffary, firft, to remove one ftumblingblock out of our way; and fubfequently to analize the prefent liturgy of our eftablifhed Church, and try it by the laws of REASON and PROPRIETY.

his celebrated fpeech to both Houfes of
Parliament, (the fectarifts of those times)
immediately after the restoration of Charles
the fecond; « How would they (the pri-
"mitive Chriftians) look upon our harp
"and virulent contentions and debates on
"the Chriflian Religion, and the bloody

wars that have proceeded from thofe
contentions; whilft every one pretended
"to all the marks of the true church, ex-
cept only that which is infeparable from
"it, charity to one another." These were
the times, as before remarked, of general
diftraction, when fanaticism and enthu-
fiafm rode triumphant. But what fhall
we fay to thofe earlier times, and to thofe
very primitive Chriftians, whofe examples
were only followed on the fame principles,
by thofe of later times. The early fepa-
ration of the Greek Church marked the
inftability of the fyftem, and the fame
virulent contentions and debates, and the
fame bloody wars, foon fucceeded, stirred

[ocr errors]

(To be continued.).

« ZurückWeiter »