irma 
 il
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 
 f>/'J>/<rrA//r,/A//
 
 DIVIDENDS 
 
 OF 
 
 IMMEJVSB V^LEiUE; 
 
 AND 
 
 MY CLAIM ON OTHERS 
 
 EVIDENCED, 
 BY INDISPUTABLE AUTHORITIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 MISS ROBERTSON, 
 
 Of Blackheath. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 A POETICAL EPISTLE 
 
 TO A FRIEND. 
 
 " O ! for that sympathetic glow 
 
 " Which taught the heav'nly tear to flow, 
 
 " When the prophetic eye survey'd 
 
 " Sion in future ashes laid ; 
 
 u Or, rais'd to hcav'n, implor'd the bread 
 
 " That thousands in the desart fed ; 
 
 " Or, when the heart o'er friendship's grave, 
 
 " Sigh'd, and forgot its power to save." 
 
 Lanohor.ni. 
 
 bonbon : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, 
 
 By J. Cundte, Ivy-Line ; 
 AND SOLD BY J. BADCOCK, NO. 28, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 1801. 
 
 Price Qtfe Shilling and Sixpence.
 
 Entered at Stationers' Hall.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 1 HE respectable authorities from which 
 the following pages are, chiefly compiled 
 renders it unnecessary to offer an apology 
 to the public for introducing them in this 
 little pamphlet they contain a lesson of 
 useful instruction at this crisis, when the 
 detestable vices they protest are so pre- 
 valent. 
 
 " Do they not err that devise evil ? but 
 " mercy and truth shall be to them that 
 " devise good." 
 
 Prov. xiv. 25. 
 
 " He that cover eth a transgression, seeketh 
 " love ; but he that repeateth a matter, 
 " separate th very friends/ ' 
 
 Prov. xvii. .9. 
 
 j',,'(j,
 
 BIVIDEJVJBSi 
 
 xiE is rather unfortunate than faulty, 
 " who, by mistake, hurts one in the dark ; 
 " but he who doth it in the face of day, 
 " with his eyes open, betrays malevolence, 
 *' or wicked intention, which will not ad- 
 " mit of any extenuation." * A stranger 
 to us to our former respectable situation in 
 life to our conduct and deportment, and 
 to the principles we strenuously endea- 
 voured to inculcate in the minds of our pu- 
 pils, may be in some measure excused for 
 the credulity with which they have received 
 and repeated such cruel reports of us ; but 
 how inexcusable are those who have been 
 in the habit of intimacy with us, witnesses of 
 our conduct, nay, even trusted us with the 
 care and tuition of their children ! and 
 
 * Walker, of Edinburgh. 
 
 b who
 
 2 
 
 wliT> were "flattered by an invitation or visit 
 from us : it does not say much for their dis- 
 cernment, and proves them to be persons of 
 a vicious taste, for associating with such de- 
 praved persons, as they now represent us. 
 M The human mind is Very apt to be pre- 
 " judiced, either for or against" but it is 
 wonderful no trace can be discovered of that 
 conduct that induced them to place confi- 
 dence in us. " The more a man is ac- 
 quainted with his own failings, the more he 
 is disposed to make allowance for others ; 
 the knowledge he hath of' himself will in- 
 cline him to be as candid to their faults, as 
 'he is to his own."* In general, the most 
 quicksighted proclaimers of others miscon- 
 *duct, are the most blind to their own.-*- 
 Wi The great God seems to have given that 
 ** commandment (know thyself) to those 
 " men, more especially, who are apt to 
 ." make remarks on other men's actions, 
 '" and forget their own."-f This failing 
 the heathens were very sensible of ; every 
 man (say they) carries two bags with him, 
 the one before and the other behind ; in 
 
 # 1 ?riUso5rcii"St:l ("'Knowledge. f Plutarch. 
 
 the
 
 the former, he puts the faults of others ; in 
 the latter, he puts his own ; by which 
 means, he never sees his own failings, whilst 
 he always has those of others before his eyes. 
 
 Sed praecedenti spectatur njantica tergo. 
 
 Per. Sal. iv. 
 
 Non videmus id roantica quod in tergo est. 
 
 Cat. Carm. XX. 
 
 Self-knowledge heals our animosities, 
 and greatly cools our debates about matters 
 of doubtful speculation, it will lead us to 
 judge rightly of facts, as well as of persons t 
 it will teach us to judge not with the ima- 
 gination, but with the understanding, and 
 will set a guard upon the former, which so 
 often misrepresents things, and gives the 
 mind false impressions of them. There is 
 not one person, as it respects ws, that has 
 acted consistent with the rules of Christi- 
 anity, morality, or even common decency. 
 AVhile all mouths have been open to receive 
 and diffuse the most malignant censures, not 
 one candid, liberal-spirited person among 
 the creditors, or the church society 7 we 
 stood connected with, has come forward to 
 investigate the business with any degree of 
 B 2 reflection
 
 reflection or rationality, all have gono 
 away with a most base, yet superficial, opi- 
 nion of the matter, and have spread the 
 contagion far and near. 
 
 " The low and timid are ever suspicious, 
 " but a heart impressed with honourable 
 " sentiments, expects from others sympa- 
 " thetic sincerity."* My nominal, pro- 
 fessedly christian friends, have shewn the 
 strongest attachment to their own taste, by 
 their approbation of the hospitality of my 
 house, cellar, and purse : as they cannot 
 now have access to them, they would either 
 disown their former intimacy, or atone for 
 their own crime in being an accomplice (by 
 their countenance) of so vile a being, by 
 turning evidence against me ! But the base 
 ingratitude of the world can never deprive 
 us of the conscious happiness of having act- 
 ed with humanity ourselves. 
 
 Nor are our persecutors justifiable by the 
 laws of God or man, in their conduct to- 
 wards us, even if we were the characters po- 
 pular clamor represents. Our legislature 
 has wisely enacted laws for the punishment 
 
 * Goldsmith's Life of Nash. 
 
 Of
 
 of delinquents of all descriptions. It is pu- 
 silanimity in the highest degree to " strike 
 " an unnecessary blow at a victim over 
 " whom providence holds the scourge of 
 *' its resentment."* The common herd 
 of mankind seldom give commiseration; 
 indeed, the lower classes usually treat each 
 other, upon the most trivial occasions, with 
 as much animosity as if in a state of open 
 warfare. Nor is much tenderness or sensi- 
 bility of soi}l to be expected from an illi- 
 terate, profane carpenter ; but that men of 
 understanding and liberal education, con- 
 versant with the sacred writers, and teachers 
 of others, should thus join the rabble against 
 two persecuted females, is almost incredible. 
 
 The cavillers at the motives of attach- 
 ment between my friend Miss Sharpe and 
 self, seem to enter very little into feelings; 
 described in holy writ, such as the friend- 
 ship of Naomi and Ruth David and Jo- 
 nathan our blessed Lord and Lazarus-j- 
 Jesus qu the cross, and his beloved and 
 sorrowing disciple at his feet.| Our -Sa- 
 viour not only approved of an attachment 
 
 * Goldsmith. Martyr of Greenwich. f John xi. 
 t John xix. 26. 
 
 be*
 
 6 
 
 between persons of the same sex, but has 
 himself consecrated friendship, by divine ex- 
 ample. Few subjects are more frequently 
 treated of in conversation and writing 
 cone are so little understood, as christian 
 unity and mutual forbearance. The friend- 
 ship of the world endures only the sunshine 
 of prosperity, the winter of adversity con- 
 verts it into the most inveterate hatred ; but 
 the current of tenderness widens as it pro- 
 ceeds; says Solomon" A friend loveth 
 ** at all times, and a brother is bom for ad- 
 " versity." 
 
 I shew thee friendship delicate, as dear. 
 " Friends grow not thick on ev'ry bough, 
 ** Nor ev'ry friend umetten at the core. 
 " A friend is worth all hazard we can run." 
 
 Young. 
 
 M How sharply should our own thoughts 
 " reprove us, when we give our pride or 
 ** malice a loose to ravage all over the cha- 
 " racters of our neighbours, and deny all 
 ' that is good of them, because they have 
 " something in them that is criminal 
 " and worthy of blame ! It is very dis- 
 2 ingenuous
 
 * s ingenuous to talk scandal in superlatives; 
 ** let each look upon their own conduct, 
 ** and blush to think they have indulged 
 ** such prejudice, such sinful partiality."* 
 <c Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam 
 * c out of thine own eye; then shalt thou see 
 " clearly to cast out the mote out of thy 
 " brother's (or sister's) eye."f Even those 
 who are injwed are commanded to forgive, 
 as they hope for, and stand in need of for- 
 giveness.:}; But most of our slanderers and 
 malignant persecutors, are those who have 
 received many and great benefits from us 
 - nay,even those who eat of our own bread, 
 ** hath lifted up their heel against us,'* 
 
 " A wise man will neither speak, nor do, 
 ** Whatever anger would provoke him to. 
 
 Many have " opened their mouths wide 
 ** against me, and said Aha, aha, our eye 
 ** hath seen it." " False witnesses did rise 
 " up; they laid to mv charge things that 
 " 1 knew not.''f (- Thus was the Psalmist 
 (the man after God's own heart) treated. 
 Job likewise had the revilings of his 
 professed friends; but when " the Lord 
 
 "Watt? + Matt. vii. 5 I Matt. vi. 6, 14, 15, tf Ps. 35. 
 
 '*' turned
 
 8 
 
 *t 
 
 turned the captivity of Job," and gave 
 him twice as much as he had before, 
 " then came unto him all his brethren, and 
 u all his sisters, and all they that had been of 
 " his acquaintance before, and did eat 
 *.' bread with him in his house ; and (thai) 
 " they bemoaned him, and comforted him 
 " over all the evil that the Lord had brought 
 " upon him : every man also gave him a 
 * 6 piece of money, and every one an ear-ring 
 of gold."* What a striking picture this of 
 the friendship of the world ! 
 
 Defamation is an hydra that re-produceth 
 while it seemeth to destroy, when one head 
 is cut off, it instantly produceth a thou- 
 sand more. Prejudice, anger, envy, hatred, 
 malice, detraction, nay murder is closely 
 allied to it. The man who would take a 
 good quality from another and substitute a 
 bad one is_, in the eyes of God, as criminal 
 as the man who would first take your purse, 
 then give you poison. Depend upon it, it 
 is only the fear of the laws of the country, 
 that restrains them from doing the latter. 
 Arrogance often rashly maintains, what 
 
 * Job. xlii. 
 
 it
 
 it has advanced merely because it is too 
 mortifying to yield to conviction, and say, 
 " I am wrong." One bad report enve- 
 noms many hearts, soon excites a party 
 spirit, thunders its anathemas, and hath 
 often been on the point of subverting Chris- 
 tianity itself, by the furious zeal of its pro- 
 fessors in persecuting their fellow-creatures ; 
 for taking some step, or adopting some 
 opinion, they neither understand, or have 
 perseverance to investigate. I really be- 
 lieve there is not an object more hateful in 
 the sight of God than a bigotted self-righ- 
 teous professor of the gospel, who has no 
 changes, " neither is troubled like others,* * 
 such, instead of searching their own hearts 
 and la menting their own depravity are 
 vigilantly seeking out and virulently pour- 
 traying, (and ascribing to the most diabo- 
 lical motives) the actions of others. Plac- 
 ing themselves as Gods to pry into the se- 
 cret springs and inmost recesses of the 
 souls of their fellow sojourners on earth. 
 will not God smite these whited sepulchres ? 
 or, if he has designs of mercy towards them, 
 will he not visit for such things ? How can 
 
 C SUCh
 
 10 
 
 such persons read, study, meditate, preach 
 the doctrine of the gospel? I solemnly^ de- 
 clare, I never heard the actions of others scru- 
 tinized with such asperity, as by some female 
 professors in a vestry, on a sacrament-day 
 at a dissenting meeting-house, during the 
 interim of divine service ! Any absent person 
 was the topic of the assembly I think 
 their conduct quite as inconsistent with the 
 tenor of gospel, as mine in absenting my- 
 self on that part of the sabbath to avoid 
 these unprofitable (if not malicious) stric- 
 tures. Our blessed Saviour rebuked the 
 uncharitable remark of Simon the Pharisee, 
 but cast no illiberal reflection on the pe- 
 nitent Mary: It is recorded in scripture 
 with signal marks of holy detestation, J the 
 conduct of treacherous Judas, who under the 
 mask of friendship, betrayed his friend and 
 benefactor; and who became one of the 
 accusers of the blessed Jesus. Some of my 
 tradesmen are professed christians, they 
 Shudder at the character of Judas yet, in- 
 stead of offering their voluntary assistance 
 to two defenceless ladies, of whom they 
 really know no ill, and co-operating with 
 4 them
 
 them in bringing to justice the pillagers of 
 their property, and defamers of their cha- 
 racters, as . well as injurers of their pros- 
 pects in future life they came forward to 
 an own brother to hire him to betray a sister, 
 and the most liberal friend he had by such 
 means tempting him to conceal property 
 which may prove very serious to him and 
 which can neither benefit the corrupters, or 
 screen the?n, or the weak instrument of their 
 venality, from contempt and disgrace. - 
 All, it is evident, feel guilty of improper and 
 brutal conduct towards me ; not one likes to 
 be the first to own it, or adopt any measures 
 that prove a tacit acknowledgment of their 
 injustice ; no not even to recover the pro- 
 perty that would amply pay them. 
 
 " It often happens that those are the best 
 " people, whose characters have been ?nost 
 " injured by slander ; as we usually find that 
 " to be the best fruit, which the birds have 
 
 " been pecking at." " It is pride fills 
 
 " the world with harshness and severity ; 
 " we are rigorous to offences, as if we never 
 " offended ; unfeeling to distress, as if we 
 
 c 2 knew
 
 12 
 
 " knew not what it was to suffer. From 
 " those airy regions of pride and folly, 
 " let us descend to our proper level. Let 
 " us survey the natural equality on which 
 " Providence has placed us, and reflect on 
 " the infirmities common to all. If the re- 
 " flection on natural' equality and mutual 
 " offences be insufficient to prompt huma- 
 " nity, let us consider what we are in the 
 " sight of God, have we none of that for- 
 " bearance to give one another, which we 
 " all expect from Heaven? Can we look 
 " for clemeney from our Judge, when we 
 " are so backward to shew it to our fellow- 
 " creatures? In the ruffled and angry hour, 
 " we view every appearace through a false 
 " medium. Magnanimity always breathes 
 " gentleness, it leads us to view the follies 
 " of others with pity, not with rancour; 
 " and to treat with the mildness of a supe- 
 " rior nature, what in little minds would 
 " call forth all the bitterness of passion."* 
 
 " Happy is the man who hath sown 
 " in his breast the seeds of benevolence ? 
 
 * Blair. 
 
 ' the
 
 13 
 
 " the produce thereof shall be charity and 
 " love. He rejoiceth in furthering the 
 " prosperity of all men. He censureth 
 " not his neighbour, he believeth not the 
 " tales of envy and malevolence, neither 
 " repeateth he their slanders."* 
 
 " Sympathy is a sort of substitution, by 
 " which we put ourselves in the place of 
 " others, and turning upon pain (or pain- 
 " ful occurrences) may be a source of the 
 " sublime; it always touches with delight; 
 " but is not an unmixed delight ; the de- 
 " light we have in such things, hinders us 
 " from shunning scenes of misery ; and the 
 " pain we feel, prompts us to relieve our- 
 " selves, in relieving those who suffer."-j- 
 
 " Alas ! alas ! 
 
 " Why, rt//the souls that were, were forfeit onre, 
 " And he, that might the 'vantage best have took, 
 " Found out the remedy. Hozv would you be 
 
 * QEconomy of Human Life. This excellent little] volume 
 is held in high estimation by the Quakers - 1 may add the 
 Quakers, in the vicinity of Huntingdon, practise its excellent 
 precepts. 
 
 t Burke. 
 
 It
 
 14 
 
 " If he, who is the top of judgment, should 
 
 " But judge you as you are? O ! think on that; 
 
 " And mercy, then, will breathe within your lips, 
 
 " Like man new made." Shakspeaie. 
 
 How little those principles of humanity, 
 benevolence, christian charity, forbearance, 
 mutual forgiveness, sympathy, and mercy, 
 have been manifested towards us, the can*, 
 did, or self- convicted, will feel ; yet we live 
 in a professedly christian country, a coun- 
 try where laws are enacted for the preser- 
 vation of property and character ! 
 
 I would still hope there are many who 
 are not guided by popular fury, but by the 
 dictates of reason and common seme ; to those 
 I submit the consideration of what is here 
 advanced : " even a fool, when he hold- 
 " eth his peace, is counted wise ; and he 
 " that shutteth his lips, is esteemed a man 
 " of understanding ;"* " but judgments 
 " are prepared for scorners." My enemies, 
 by their folly or malice, may deprive me for 
 a time of liberty, but their jurisdiction does 
 
 * Prov. xvii. 28. 
 
 not
 
 15 
 
 not extend to the secret recesses of my heart, 
 nor can they deprive me of those joys that a 
 stranger intermeddleth not with." 
 
 " I see the jewel, best enamelled, 
 
 " Will lose its beauty : and the-' gold bides still 
 
 " That others touch, yet often touching will 
 
 " Wear gold. And so no man that hath a name 
 
 " But falsehood and corrujition do'lh it shame." 
 
 Shakspeare. 
 
 " The nature of bad news infects the teller 
 
 " With such full licence as both truth and malice 
 
 " Have pow'r to utter/' 
 
 ibid. 
 
 " The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen 
 " As is the razor's edge invisible,-- 
 *' Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen J 
 " Above the sense of sense, so sensible 
 " Seemeth their conference ; their conceit hath wings 
 " Fleeter than arrows, bullets, wind, thought, 
 " swifter things." 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 " No might nor greatness in mortality 
 
 " Can censure 'scape : back-wounding calnmny 
 
 " The whitest virtue strikes. What king, so strong, 
 
 " Can tie the gall up in the sland'rous tongue V* 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 " Millions of false eyes 
 
 " Are stuck upon thee j volumes of report 
 
 Run
 
 h 
 
 " Run with these false and most cmtrariout quests 
 *' Upon thy doings : thousand 'scapes of wit 
 4t Make thee the parent oUheir idle dream/ 
 " And rack thee in their fancies." 
 
 Shaksteare. 
 
 Shakespeare had an idea that the men of 
 his day had a respect for women ; he says 
 even of a banditti 
 
 " Fear not ; he bears an honorable mind, 
 " And will not use a woman lawlessly." 
 
 No ! 'tis slander, 
 
 " Whose edge is sharper than the sword ; whose tongue 
 
 " Out-venoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath 
 
 " Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie 
 
 " All comers of the world: kings, queens, and states, 
 
 *' Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave 
 
 " This viprous slander enters." 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 " Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, 
 (C Thou shalt not escape calumny." 
 
 " Old men and beldames, in the streets, 
 " Do prophecy upon it dangerously." 
 
 " As we do turn our backs 
 
 " From a companion thrown into the grave, 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 So
 
 17 
 
 w So our familiars to our buried fortunes 
 " Slink all away." 
 
 Calumny is a monster of hellish race. 
 
 Shakspeare. 
 
 Spen'cer. 
 
 " Men's evil manners live in brass ; 
 " Their virtues we write in water." 
 
 DEFAMATION. 
 
 N FROM SPENCER.* 
 
 " Him in a narrow place he overtook, 
 
 " And, fierce assailing, forc't him turn againe ; 
 
 " Sternly he turn'd again, when he him strooke 
 
 " With his sharp Steele, and ran at him amaine 
 
 *' With opon mouth, that seemed to containe 
 
 " A full good peck within the utmost brim, 
 
 " All set with iron teeth, with ranges twaine, 
 
 " That terrified his foes, and armed him, 
 
 " Appearing like the mouth of Orcus, grisly grim. 
 
 " And therein were a thousand tongues empight,. 
 
 " Of sundry kindes, and sundry quality ; 
 
 " Some were of dogs, that barked day and night, 
 
 " Some of cats that wrawling still did cry ; 
 
 " And some of bears, that groynd continually ; 
 
 " And some of tygers, that did seem to gren 
 
 " And snar at all that ever passed by : 
 
 " But most of them were tongues of mortal men, 
 
 ' That spake reproachfully, not caring where nor when. 
 
 * Poct-laureat to Queen Elizabeth. He died in 1593, 
 
 ' And
 
 18 
 
 " And then amongst were mingled here and there 
 
 * The tongues of serpents, with three-forked stings, 
 
 *' That spat out poison, and bore bloudy gere 
 
 '* At all that come within his ravenings ; 
 
 " And spake licentious words, and hateful things, 
 
 " Of good and bad alike, of low and hie ; 
 
 " Ne Cesars spared he a whit, nor kings, 
 
 " But either blotted them with infamy, 
 
 " Or bit them with his baneful teeth of injury. 
 
 DETRACTION. 
 
 SPENCER. 
 
 " The other nothing better was than she ; 
 
 *' Agreeing in bad will and cancred kind, 
 
 " But in bad manner they did disagree; 
 
 " For what-so envie good or bad did find, 
 
 " She did conceale, and murder her own mind ; 
 
 " But this, whatever evil she conceaved, 
 
 " Did spread abroad, and throw in th' open wind. 
 
 " Yet this, in all her words, might be perceived, 
 
 ** That all she sought was good names to have bereaved. 
 
 " For whatsoever good by any said 
 
 " Or done, she heard, she would strait-waies invent 
 
 " How to deprave, or slanderously upbraid, 
 
 " Or to misconstrue of a man's intent', 
 
 " And turne to /'// the thing that -well was meant. 
 
 " Therefore she used often to resort 
 
 " To common haunts, and company frequent ; 
 
 " To hark what any one did good report, 
 
 " To blot the shame with blame, or wrest in wicked sort. 
 
 ** And if that any ill she heard of any 
 
 " She would it eke y and make it worse by telling, 
 
 ** And.
 
 19 
 
 " And lake great joy to publish it to many, 
 
 " That every matter worse was for her melling : 
 
 " Her name was hight detraction, and her dwelling 
 
 " Was near to envy, even her neighbour next ; 
 
 " A wicked hagg, and envy'sself excelling 
 
 " In mischiefe : for, herself she only vext : 
 
 *' Put this same both herself and others eke perplext* 
 
 " Her face was ugly, and her mouth distort ; 
 
 " Foaming with poyson round about her gills ; 
 
 " In which her cursed tongue (full sharp and short) 
 
 " Appear'd like aspis sling, that closely kills, 
 
 " Or cruelly does wound whom so she wills. 
 
 " A distaffe in her other hand she had, 
 
 " Upon the whole she little sjiinnes, but spils, 
 
 " And faines to weave false tales and leasings bad, 
 
 " To throw among the good, when others had dispr'ad. 
 
 DISCORD. 
 
 SPENCER. 
 
 " Her face most foule and filthy was to see, 
 " With squinted eyes, contrary ways entended, 
 " And loathly mouth, unmeet a mouth to be ; 
 " That nought but gall and Venom comprehended, 
 " And wicked words, that God and man offended : 
 " Her lying tongue was in two parts divided, 
 '* And both the parts did speak, and botli contended; 
 ** And as her tongue, so was her heart decided, 
 " That never thought one thing, but doubly still was 
 " guided. 
 
 " Also as she double spake, so heard she double, 
 " With matchless eares deformed, and distort, 
 
 " Fill'd 
 D 2
 
 20 
 
 " Fill'd with false rumors, and seditious trouble, 
 
 " Bred in assemblies cf the vulgar sort. 
 
 " That still are led with every light report. 
 
 " And as her ears, so eke her feet were odde, 
 
 " And much unlike ; th* one long, the other short, 
 
 " And both misplac't ; that when th* one forward gode> 
 
 " The other back retired, and contrary trode." 
 
 AGAINST SCOFFING. 
 
 WATTS. 
 
 ** Our tongues were made to bless the Lord, 
 
 " And not speak ill of men ; 
 " When others give a railiog word, 
 
 " We must not rail again. 
 
 " Cross words and angry names require 
 
 " To be chastis'd at school, 
 " And he's in danger of hell fire 
 
 " That calls his brother fool. 
 
 ** When children, in their wanton play, 
 
 " Serv'd old Elisha so ; 
 " And bid the prophet go his way, 
 
 " Go up, thou bald-head, go ! 
 
 " God quickly stopt their wicked breath, 
 
 " And sent two raging bears, 
 " That tore them limb from limb to death, 
 
 " With blood, and groans, and tears. 
 
 " How
 
 21 
 
 " How forcible are right words ! but 
 " what doth your arguing reprove. V 
 
 Job vi. 25. 
 
 " Lord, who shall abide in thy taber- 
 " nacle ? who shall dwell in thy holy hill ? 
 " he that backbiteth not with his tongue, 
 " nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor ta/ceth 
 " up a reproach against his neighbour. 
 " He [or she] that putteth not out his 
 " money to usury, nor taketh a reward 
 " against the innocent." 
 
 PSAL. XV. 
 
 " In the multitude of words there want- 
 " eth not sin ; but he that refraineth his lips 
 " is wise." 
 
 PROV. X. IP. 
 
 " A tale-bearer revealeth secrets; but 
 " he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth 
 " the matter." 
 
 Prov. xi. i3. 
 
 " The simple believeth every word : but 
 " the prudent man looketh well to his 
 " going." 
 
 Prov. xiv. i5. 
 
 " Every
 
 22 
 
 u Every fool will be meddling." 
 
 Prov. xx. 5. 
 
 " Debate thy cause with thy neighbour 
 " himself, arid discover not a secret to ano- 
 " ther ; lest he that heareth it put thee to 
 " shame, and thine infamy turn not away." 
 
 " As an ear-ring of gold, and an orna- 
 ment of fine gold, so is a wise reprover up- 
 " on an obedient ear." 
 
 " By long forbearing is a prince per- 
 " suaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the 
 " bone." 
 
 " A man that beareth/tf&e witness against 
 his neighbour, is a maul, and a sword, 
 and a sharp arrow." 
 
 Prov. xxv. 
 
 *( 
 
 " Blessed are the merciful, for they shall 
 " obtain mercy." 
 
 Matt. v. 7. 
 
 " An evil man out of the evil treasure 
 [of his own heart] bringcth forth evil 
 
 things ;
 
 23 
 
 " tilings ; but I say unto you, that every 
 " idle word that men shall speak, they shall 
 " give account thereof in the day of judg- 
 " ment." 
 
 Matt. xii. 
 
 " Judge not according to the appearance, 
 " but judge righteous judgment." 
 
 John vii. 24. 
 
 " Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, 
 " whosoever thou art that judgest : for 
 " wherein thou judgest another, thou con- 
 " demnest thyself; for thou that judgest, 
 " doest the same things." 
 
 " And thinkest thou, O man, that judg- 
 " est them which do such things, and doest 
 " the same, that thou shalt escape the judg- 
 " ment of God ?" 
 
 Rom. ii. 
 
 " Let all bitterness, and wrath, and an- 
 
 " ger, and clamour, and evil speaking be 
 
 " put away from you, with all malice, and 
 
 " be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, 
 
 4 forgiving
 
 24 
 
 a 
 
 forgiving one another, even as God fot 
 " Christ's sake hath forgiven you." 
 
 Ephe. iv.* 
 
 " The tongue is a litttle member, and 
 " boasteth great things. Behold how great 
 " a matter a little fire kindleth !" 
 
 " And the tongue is a Jire, a world of 
 " iniquity : so is the tongue amongst our 
 " members, that it defileth the wJuole 
 "body, and setteth on fire the course of 
 " nature ; and it is set on fire of hell." 
 
 James iii. 
 
 " Michael the archangel, when contend- 
 " ing with the devil, he disputed about 
 " the body of Moses, durst not bring a 
 " railing accusation, but said, the Lord 
 " rebuke thee" 
 
 " But these speak evil of those things 
 " which they know not" - 
 
 JUDE. 
 
 * How do the calumniators and extortioners of the present 
 day reconcile these scriptures to their practice ? yet they call 
 themselves Christians subjects of a Christian country, where 
 these scriptures are constantly read. 
 
 Detraction
 
 25 
 
 Detraction a detestable Vice, 
 
 u It has been remarked, that men are 
 " generally kind in proportion as they are 
 " happy; and it is said, even of the dev.il, 
 * that he is good-humoured when he is 
 " pleased. Every act, therefore, by which 
 " another is injured, from whatever mo- 
 " tivc, contracts more guilt, and expresses 
 " greater malignity, if it is committed in 
 * those seasons which are set apart to plea- 
 " santry and good humour, and brightened 
 " with enjoyments peculiar to rational and 
 " social beings." 
 
 " Detraction is among those vices which 
 fi the most languid virtue has sufficient force 
 " to prevent ; because by detraction that is 
 "not gained which is taken away." 
 
 " He who filches from me my good 
 
 u name," says Shakespeare, " enriches not 
 
 " himself, but leaves me poor indeed." " As 
 
 e nothimr
 
 2G 
 
 " nothing therefore degrades human nature 
 " more than detraction, nothing more dis- 
 " graces conversation. The detractor, as 
 " he is the lowest moral character, reflects 
 u greater dishonour upon his company, 
 " than the hangman ; and he whose dispo- 
 " sition is a scandal to his species, should be 
 " more diligently avoided, than he who is 
 " scandalous only by his offence." 
 
 " But for this practice, however vile, 
 4i some have dared to apologize, by contend- 
 " ing the report, by which they injured the 
 *' character of an absent person teas true : 
 " this, however, amounts to no more than 
 " that they have not complicated malice 
 *' with falsehood, and that there is some 
 " difference between detraction and slander. 
 ** To relate all the ill that is true of the best 
 " man or woman in the world, would pro- 
 " bably render them the objects of suspicion 
 ** and distrust ; and was this practice uni- 
 <; versal, mutual confidence and esteem, the 
 * ; comforts of society, and the endearments 
 ** of friendship would be at an end." 
 
 There
 
 r 
 27 
 
 a 
 
 There is something unspeakably more 
 " hateful in those species of villainy, by 
 " which law is evaded, than those by which 
 " it is violated and defiled. Courage has 
 " sometimes preserved rapacity from abhor- 
 " rence, as beauty has been thought to 
 " apologize for prostitution; but the injustice 
 " of cowardice is universally abhorred, and 
 " like the lewdness of deformity, has no ad- 
 " vocate. -Thus hateful arc the wretches who 
 " detract with (or without) caution, and 
 " who, while they perpetrate the wrong, are 
 " solicitous to avoid the reproach, or the pe- 
 ct nalty of the law, some say Miss Robertson 
 is a " swindler ! a whore! a Proteus ! nay, 
 some not only say, she can change her sex, 
 " but even dare to surmise site is of the 
 " masculine gender I*) Others with great 
 " professions of concern and horror, say, such 
 " a report has been spread, they know not 
 " how true." Those who propagate such 
 " reports are usually the fabricators of them, 
 " it is no breach of chanty to suppose this 
 "to be always the case ; because no man 
 " who spreads a detraction, would have 
 
 * A minister assigns this reason for Miss S 's attachment 
 
 e 2 " scrupled
 
 28 
 
 a 
 
 scrupled to produce it : and he, who 
 " should diffuse poison in a brook, would 
 " scarce be acquitted of a malicious design, 
 " though he should alledge, that he re- 
 " ceived it from another person, who ij 
 " doing the same elsewhere." 
 
 RAMBLER.
 
 A 
 
 POETICAL EPISTLE 
 
 TO AN 
 
 ABSENT FRIEND : 
 
 WRITTEN THE TWENTY-FOURTH OF JUNE, 
 1801. 
 
 " Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, and be 
 u in health, even as thy soul prospered" 
 
 Johx iii. ver. 2, 
 
 DEUS ME US ET OMNIA.

 
 31 
 
 POETICAL EPISTLE. 
 
 1 GREET my dear Charlotte, and greet her in peace. 
 Whose riches are wisdom, faith, hope, and grace: 
 Believe me, dear friend, 'tis the source of our woe 
 That too highly we priz'd our enjoyments below. 
 Your friend, near the banks where Ouse slowly creeps, 
 Reclin'd in the shade of the wall, sits and weeps; 
 Indulges sweet dreams, that the mind does impart. 
 With a song in my head, and a sigh in my heart. 
 Let the curtain be drawn, I behold, and I sigh, 
 Kings* are more hopeless, more wretched than I. 
 Alas ! from misfortune no station is free, 
 From the throne to the jail from the monarch to ;m. 
 In the midst of all tumult, 'tis wise to be gay, 
 And, in spite of them all, I will carol my lay. 
 Come, dear Religion ! thou king of the mind, 
 In thv arms let me slumber, content and resism'd : 
 And thou, cheering hope ! with a.pect so meek, 
 A beam on thy brow, a smile on thy cheek. 
 
 Alluding to the convulsions in most European kingdoms. 
 
 Pr^c
 
 32 
 
 Pride is a cheat, and will surely deceive, 
 
 She's blind to the truth, this let us believe. 
 
 Contentment's an angel, sent down from the skies, 
 
 Fossess'd but by few those few arc the vrise. 
 
 Grandeur at distance, admir'd for its charms, 
 
 Oft dazzles our eyes, and our reason disarms. 
 
 Scandal and rage from its bosom does fly, 
 
 And envy, pale envy, malignant will lye. 
 
 Why start, then, from reason, and all her decrees ; 
 
 For baubles and trifles, so barter our ease ? 
 
 If a lover is false, and ourselves are displac'd, 
 
 Our plate, books, and china, all fall'n to waste. 
 
 Betray'd by my hopes, by my folly perplext, 
 
 I'll seek in this life the joys of the next. 
 
 The prospect may brighten, we'll vary the scene, 
 
 Tho* ray muse sees here fields of perpetual green. 
 
 O place us, dear Saviour ! in some small retreat, 
 
 Let the banks, strevv'd with daisies, afford us a seat ; 
 
 Where the birds on the boughs do merrily sing, 
 
 And cuckoo proclaims, the gay morning of spring. 
 
 Thy peace for our pillow away from all noise., 
 
 Let us give and receive all friendship's true joys. 
 
 Where the soil it is healthy, and temp'rate air ; 
 
 To add to our prospect, a litle parterre : 
 
 Where a lettuce and rose should be planted with taste, 
 
 And none of the ground be left running to waste. 
 
 Instead of Italians,' 9 * the linnet and thrush 
 
 With harmony greet us, from ev'ry bush. 
 
 Our furniture clean, simple, and plain, 
 
 Not any thing gaudy, expensive, or vain. 
 
 A shelf with good authors we surely would choose, 
 
 That, when serious or gay, might instruct and amuse. 
 
 * Opera singers. 
 
 N*>
 
 53 
 
 No new-fash ion'd novel, or gilded romance, * 
 
 Should there have a place, if it traveled from France. 
 
 Where my Charlotte could sleep on a pillow of down. 
 
 And, O ! from Eliza, may she ne'er meet a frown. 
 
 May our table be spread with good wholesome cheer, 
 
 No kickshaws, or lux'ry, shall ever be there. 
 
 Let not modern extravagance ever get root, 
 
 Our garden may yield a plate of good fruit. 
 
 A glass, too, of port, if health should require ; 
 
 A shade when its hot; when cold, a good fire. 
 
 To add to my comfort, may the Lord bless and lend 
 
 You, my dear Charlotte compassionate friend ! 
 
 But let's not be anxious, vc/ierewe retire 
 
 The lease of my clay tenement soon may expire ; 
 
 As life's but a stage, soul, be warn'd at the thought, 
 
 Behave on your journey as a traveller ought ; 
 
 For homeward you're going, for ever to dwell 
 
 With Jesus, in heaven ; or devils, in hell. 
 
 Let's pray, thro' the spirit, till the earnest we have 
 
 That Jesus,/or us, has -perfumed the cold grave. 
 
 O never, my love ! let us sit down to eat 
 
 Till our souls have their feast of spiritual meat. 
 
 For, tho' not possess'd of o'erflowing bowls, 
 
 We always may have a treat lor our souls. 
 
 Vor let us complain of a difficult task 
 
 Jesus says, " Ye shall have whatever ye ask. 1 ' 
 
 O let thy good spirit our petitions inspire ! 
 
 Then we surely obtain all we can desire. 
 
 Jehovah ! be thou our guide and protector, 
 
 Place us where thou hast an ev'ning lecture ; 
 
 A seat in a church where the gospel is taught 
 
 Redemption in Jesus, and all that he wrought. 
 
 May our hearts be habitually devoted to God, 
 
 Pejoice in his smiles when he frowns, kiss the rod- 
 
 Then 
 F
 
 34 
 
 Then ltt me study my taste to improve, 
 And follow my muse thro' the mead or the gro?e 
 Let Flora, around the green dale as she goes, 
 i'rom her lap throw the pink, the cowslip, and rose: 
 Where Aurora, with dew-drops, besprinkles the thorn, 
 And paints the gay clouds with the blushes of morn. 
 How oft will your bosom partake of my fire ? 
 Be grave, or be gay, asywir Bard will inspire. 
 Indulge the fond tear, that is ready to start, 
 'Tis richer than rubies it comes from the heart. 
 Religion we'll blend with emotions of love, 
 Refinement of taste our souk will approve; 
 And, O ! while you read, may such sentiments roll 
 From your head to your heart, from your heart to your soul. 
 May faith, joy, and peace, be the guests of your breast, 
 And blest he. your Muse, who sings you to rest. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 EL 
 
 IZA R- 
 
 ilunilugdon, June 24th, f 8 CM.
 
 5> 4 
 
 t 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 W, my dear,- Nota Bene is certainly rude}. 
 Yet, if more I've to say, how can I conclude r 
 So here is a verse, at the end of ray letter, 
 To- tell my dear friend, Eliza is better. 
 The raor ning is rainy the lettuces grow 
 I'm visited, daily, by good Mr. Rowe. 
 Surely because ray Charlotte did ask it, 
 He constantly comes, with a neat little basket - 
 Some roses and meat, with a battle af beer, 
 Wine, fish, and fruit, I've plenty, dan't fear. 
 Mrs. Leslie is kind, sends many good books, 
 But strangers intrude, with silly, perl looks. 
 I buiton'd the doofijfr-old Drage* he did stammer,. 
 And off goes my button, with a stroke of the haruraer 
 Takes away my knife, spoon, and platter ; 
 Shake goes his flaps, what can be the matter ? 
 He's angry because Polly 's| stockings had eyes, 
 And scratches his head, which is not rerv wise. 
 But, my dear ! I don't mind such a dusty old nettle, 
 For my pen has a sling, tho'he took the kettle. 
 Mrs. Beeby was fright.-.-fi'd, as tho'he had hit her 
 Old Cox stared aghast- -die birds they did twitter. 
 Here's Su.san,+ she cooks, washes, and scours, 
 
 "* Tiicjailar. f Dragc's daughter. Jailor's ] 
 
 And,
 
 36 
 
 And, into my tea-pot, the water she pours. 
 
 May the Lord wash her soul from ev'ry stain, 
 
 Pray bring her the book, where Jesus does reign : 
 
 O ! should he teach her to lift up her voice 
 
 In prayer to him saints and angels rejoice ! 
 
 Lord, bless the means thus us'd for to win her, 
 
 May she fear and love thee, thou friend of the sinner ! 
 
 Now, my dear ! I believe you've the chief of the news, 
 
 Except that I want a new pair of shoes ; 
 
 For, tho* its not far your Eliza does travel, 
 
 My shoes are much worn by the very coarse gravel. 
 
 We've a huge pile of rubbish dust, litter, and bones 
 
 A smell from the drain a walk, on rough stones, 
 
 A border of parsley a root, too, of sage 
 
 Wit and good health youth and old age. 
 
 Here's labor and sorrow, because there's no water ; 
 
 Of my tea-pot and saucer, I've made a sad slaughter. 
 
 Here's plenty of bread, and plenty of meal ; 
 
 Adieu, my dear friend v now my letter Til seal.
 
 * # * Miss Robertson did not publish the 2uery, (Who 
 
 are the Swindlers ?) as a defence, but merely as a 
 
 statement of the cruel conduct of others towards her 
 
 and her friend. Those booksellers who have adver- 
 
 . tised it as her defence, have taken up an erroneous 
 
 opinion, and were not authorised by Miss R to 
 
 give it that title.
 
 J&U published by the same Author, and may be kad at 
 the places mentioned in the Title Page c 
 
 WHO ARE THE SWINDLERS.? 
 
 A QUERY: 
 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 
 With Additions, price is. 6d. 
 
 * Judge not, that ye be not judged." 
 
 " He that is without sin among you, tet him cast the &st 
 "* stone at her." 
 
 AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 PRICE 6d. 
 
 Defame her not/' &c. ce con. hum. life.. 
 
 Example is dangerous, when copied without Judgment/' 
 
 LORD BOLINCttROKE. 
 
 SISTE VIATOR. 
 
 PRICE 2d. 
 
 A COUNTRY GOALEE, 
 
 PRICE 2d. 
 
 MISS SHARPE's LETTER 
 
 TO THE CONGREGATION, MEETING AT WHITE-ROW, 
 
 SPIT ALFIELDS. 
 
 TRICK 6d-
 
 
 Jan. 1st. 1802, will be published. 
 
 In Two Volumes, 12mo,- 
 
 With a Frontispiece and engraved Title Page, 
 
 VICTORIA ARCANUM. 
 
 4 ; 
 
 Those who wish to take a set, may leave their name and 
 address with the author, or Mr. B a. dcock, 28, Paternoster-Row; 
 which will be esteemed a favour, as it will prevent the Author's 
 having too many printed. ; 
 
 *** Being regularly entered at Stationcr's-hall, by the Author, any 
 other person presuming to pirate them will be prosecuted. 
 
 }. Cundce. Fnmer, Ivy-lane.
 
 TOPSY TURVY: 
 
 ANECDOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF 
 
 LEADING CHARACTERS 
 
 PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, 
 
 IMBELMSHtD WITH 
 
 A CHARACTERISTIC TAIL AND HEAD PIECE.
 
 TOPSY TURVY: 
 
 WITH 
 
 ANECDOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE O 
 
 LEADING CHARACTERS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE. 
 
 BY THE EDITOR OF SALMAGUNDI. 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION", 
 IDitlj Comfiitmj>, an&jfomc abbitionaT .jjiotetf. 
 
 IE PLUS SAINT DEVOIR DE l' HOMME EST L'lNSURRECTION. 
 
 La Faytttt. 
 
 THIS SHEWS HOW PERFECTLY THE RUMP 
 AND COMMONWEALTH TOGETHER JUMP; 
 TOR AS A FLY THAT COES TO BED 
 RESTS WITH HIS TAIL ABOVE HIS HEAD; 
 SO, IN THIS MONCREL STATE OF OURS, 
 THE RABBLE ARE THE SUPREME POWERS. 
 
 Butltr. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; 
 
 AID SOLD BY J. ANDERSON, NO. 62, HOLBORN HILL, 
 
 M.DCC.XCIII. 
 
 Cnterjb at >tatjansr-$alt.
 
 MAN IS BUT A TOPSY-TURVY AKIMAL, HIS Hf AD 
 WHERE HIS HEELS SHOULD Bt. StVi/t.
 
 TO 
 
 THE ASSOCIATION AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR 
 THE ASSOCIATION AT THE ST. ALBAN's TAVERN 
 
 A3 WELL AS TO 
 
 ALL THE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 PROTECTION OF LIBERTY AND PROPERTY 
 
 AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND LEVELLERS, 
 
 T EI I S TRIFLE, 
 
 IN CRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR. 
 
 PATRIOTIC SERVICES, 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 BY THE AUTHOR.
 
 ADVERTISE MENT 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 Objections having been alledged against 
 the authenticity of a Pamphlet (" Flower of 
 the Jacobins") which is occasionally quoted 
 or referred to in the following pages, upon 
 the ground of its being an anonymous publi- 
 cation, the Author thinks it necessary to pre- 
 mise, that he has been able, in general, to cor- 
 roborate the facts advanced in these quotati- 
 ons by the concurrent testimony of avowed 
 and respectable authorities, and sometimes by 
 that of the most authentic French papers. 
 That the major part of the facts advanced in 
 the Pamphlet above mentioned having been 
 since confirmed by a Writer of acknowledged 
 
 character,
 
 ( >v) 
 
 character *, there is reason to suppose the rest 
 not undeserving credit until they shall be dis- 
 proved. At the time of the publication of 
 That Pamphlet the sentiments confidently 
 and widely disseminated even in this country 
 were such as promised no favourable recep- 
 tion to any Writer who should have direcfly 
 avowed himself inimical to the principles or 
 the pra6Hce of French Reformers ; and among 
 our Gallic Neighbours, in order to encourage 
 that glorious Freedom of the Press acknowr 
 ledged by themselves so essential to the cha- 
 pter of a Land of Liberty, Four out of Five 
 Parisian Journalists who presumed to authen- 
 ticate with their signatures an impartial state- 
 ment of Revolutionary Desert, have since the 
 memorable tenth of August, 1792, been effec- 
 tually silenced by Massacre. 
 
 * Fennel, the Author of a Review of the proceedings at Paris 
 during the Summer of 1792, 8vo. professes a strict adherence to truth, 
 ( preface page 8, ) that he resided on the spot where the transcations 
 which he relates took place, and minutely investigated even the most 
 trivial occurence*. Review. P. ;.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Old England is ill at her ease, 
 She a surfeit has got I can tell ye; 
 And the cause of Old England's disease 
 Is the pudding and beef in her belly * : 
 To the French for relief she applies, 
 And their Politic Doctors assure her 
 That they know where her malady lies, 
 And their Grand Panacea shall cure her. 
 
 Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked. Dsut. xxxii. 15, 
 
 B
 
 O TO'SY 'IURVY. 
 
 " Ah ! what Panacea so grand 
 
 <f Can my old constitution repair ?" 
 
 Why, Dame ! on your head you must stand, 
 
 And kick up your heels in the air : 
 
 Then your Health will be eoual and good, 
 
 Nothing else can from ruin preserve ye : 
 
 For Equality, well understood* 
 
 Means to turn all the world topsy-turvy. 
 
 Our counsel you never can say 'tis 
 Like that of Your Medical Elves, 
 Since you find that we offer you gratis 
 The prescription we follow ourselves : 
 It's Blest Operation You 've seen, 
 So 'tis plain that it never miscarries*; 
 And you long in the habit have been 
 Of adopting the fashions of Paris. 
 
 * It is said, in the last S^uaci'ish Address of the National As- 
 sembly to the people of France, that they have not formed their 
 arran^ements upon vulgar practice, but on a theory which iani<ot 
 fail, &c. 
 
 JJurke's Lett, to a Member cf the Nat. Asscmb. Note or: p. 10.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Behold our Republican State 
 
 To perfection advancing apace, 
 
 Ever since, where the Head stood of late. 
 
 We "ve erected the Tail in it's place ! 
 
 All distinctions we nobly despise*, 
 
 Yet who views our Convention must own us 
 
 A groupe who all merits comprize, 
 
 And each Member " Rex et Sutor bonus t." 
 
 There's Pethion first on the lists 
 Of Levellers stands with good reason : 
 He + can shew You that Wisdom consists 
 In burglar}-, outrage and treason j 
 His logick. will make it out plain 
 That allegiance and duty a farce is ; 
 And Dignity none can retain 
 But Rogues without rags to their . 
 
 * Nil ibi Majonnn rcpcclus, gratia nulla 
 
 Umbrarum. Jul). Sat. Z, 
 
 f lioR, Sat. I., i. S 3. 
 Lc plus v',1 citoy-M, c 1 "'. sa bassesse extreme, 
 Ayaul chas.su les Ruia p 'u i etre Roi lui-111 v.ie. 
 
 Voltaire. Brutus, Ad. r. Sc. ;o. 
 ', M. Pthion. -When th: Mob ci" Sum Cuh-tus, P. '. ari'.?s, 
 z Murs<
 
 8 TOrSY TURVY. 
 
 Robespierre*, most renown'd Desperado, 
 Next claims your profound admiration ; 
 Who empties the veins like Sangrado, 
 Phlebotomist chief of the nation : 
 He laments, while a weasand is whole, 
 That his blade should inactive remain ; 
 And (like Macedon's Lord o'er his bowl) 
 Swears that thrice he would slaughter the Slain. 
 
 Marseillois, &c. (Anglice, Tag, Rag, and Bob-tail) had perpetrates! 
 the infamous outrages of the 20th of June 1-92, had violated the 
 interior apartments of the Thuilieries, treated the Royal Famil/ 
 with the grossest indignities for five hours without intermission, 
 and even attempted the life of their Sovereign. Monsieur Pe- 
 trion at length condescended to give them their dismission in the 
 following address : 
 
 " Citizens, Men and Women ! You began the day with Dig- 
 " NlTY and Wisdom ; You have proved that You are \\cc : Finish 
 ' it with the same Dignity, and do like me. Go to bed. " 
 
 See pages 87 and 88 of Fennel's Revievj of the Proceedings at 
 Pans during the Summer of 1792, Sx'o. Williams, Strand. 
 
 * M. Robfspi: pre, originally a poor orplian of Ana?, after- 
 wards Clerk to an obscure Attorney. Fennel, page .^9. 
 
 Who is there that, when the report of recent massacres was 
 made to the Club of the Jacobins, heard him (RobcspL-rre) trcit 
 the tears of widows and orphans as criminal, and pronounce these 
 ever-memorable words: " Un feu du sang de plus tie fait pas '. 
 inal ;" " a few more assassinations can do no harm ;"- and who d -.. 
 not rank him as superior even to a Svi.i.a. 
 
 floiver of the Jacoiuns, page 29. Owen, Piccadilly, 179:.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 In committing to Danton * the Seals 
 We have shewn our.elves wiser than You are; 
 For wherever the State 's out at heels, 
 We 've a Farrier provided to shoe her : 
 He was nurst in the Shambles 'tis known. 
 And now practises Slaughter afresh, 
 To prove " What is bred in the bone 
 " Will never be out of the flesh." 
 
 * M. Danton was the son of a Butcher; he procured the pre- 
 tention of the late Princess de Lamballe by marrying a relation of 
 the maid of one of her Fenimes de Chambre. By the interest of 
 the Princess he was appointed Farrier to the Count d'Artois stud ; he 
 practised also as a Doctor, but was so unsuccessful that the Count 
 constantly threatened any of his servants who displeased him with 
 the attendance of Danton. He was one of the principal instigators 
 ef the horrid massacre committed on his former benefactress, and 
 is now the Minister of Justice. Fennel, page 432. 
 
 He was so abjeit in his mode of paying his court, that he frequently 
 used to caress and kiss the horses, which he said, had the happiness 
 to be the f vourites of the Comte and Countess D'Artois ; and never 
 did he hear their names pronounced, before the 20th of June 1789, 
 without taking oft" his hat as a token of respect, These facts were 
 so well known as to have been proverbial at Versailles. 
 
 Fiozucr of Jacobins, />. 88. 
 
 Hast thou not kiss'd thv hand, and held my stirrop, 
 Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule 
 Aiid thought thee happy when 1 shook my head ? 
 
 Shakipeare, ind Part of Henry VI. 
 
 B 3
 
 lO TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 There's Gorsas who well ascertains 
 
 Of Relative Rights the extent, 
 
 Since he beat out his old Father's brains 
 
 Who begot him -without his consent*. 
 
 Escap'd from the Wheel heretofore, 
 
 At the Gallies he serv'd his probation; 
 
 His proficiency prov d at the Oar, 
 
 He 's advane'd to the Helm of the Nation. 
 
 * Your Practical Phhosophers reject the duties of this vul- 
 gar relation (the relation between Parents and Children) as contrary 
 to Liberty; as not founded in the social compact ; and not binding 
 according to the Rights of Men ; because the Relation is not, of 
 course, the result of Fa.EE Election, never so on the side of the 
 Children, not always on the part of the Parents. 
 
 Burkk's Letter, pages 36 and 37. 
 
 M. Gorsas affords a striking practical exempl ficatxn of these 
 Principles if Modern French Philosophy. 1 he infirmities of a de- 
 clining fa'hei obi ged him torel nquish -he superintendance of a ciav- 
 schooi at Versailles to his Son M. Gorsas, who en^a^ed to aftord 
 him a decent ma nienance during the remainder of Ins I : t e . In less 
 than three months his inhumanity to this a.,ed parent was so notori- 
 ous as to incur the censure of the police; and he soon afterwards, 
 by a blow on the head wi;h a bottle, tut an end to his life. 1 his 
 atrocious act M. Gwi >as wa> doomed to i.xpate u) on the V he!, 
 but at the eiurearv of his brother, a <;roum to t lie Duke dc Politu.ac, 
 that nobleman pi uc u red a in ti-a :on ot Ins | unishuient, and lie was 
 condemned to th'* Gallies for life. In 1788 he found means ot pr 
 
 - petition to the Ambassadors of Tippoo Suib passing through 
 
 1 houlou.e,
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 11 
 
 Marat*, whom all ruffians applaud, 
 Will to slaughter or robbery lead 'em; 
 This tergiverse Champion of Fraud 
 Shall extend the dominion of Freedom: 
 Tho' our Credit (with Cambons good care) 
 As threadbare is worn as our coats, 
 Tho' with famine we groan, and despair, 
 Marat can soon alter our notes. 
 
 Thoulouse, who obtained his enlargement, on the condition that lie 
 ?hould never be seen within forty leagues of Versailles. But in a 
 Revolution efft cted by Massacre and Treason the merits of M. Gor- 
 sas could not fail of ascending to their proper level ; and this Prac- 
 tical Philosopher and Parricidical Doctor of the French School has 
 consequently become a leading Member of the National Convention 
 of France. See Fennel, f>. 434, 13 Floii-er of Jacobins, *. 4a. 
 
 * I led to Slaughter and to Slaughter leave. 
 
 Drydfn. 
 M. Marat, who makes so conspicuous a figure in the Annals 
 of Anarchy, at the time when he was accused of being an accomplice 
 in the forgeries of the Billets d'Fiscompte, or K'otes of the Bank 
 of Discount, established by M. Neckar, bore the <iame of Cham- 
 pion; he judged it expedient however, on this occasion, to turn 
 Us back upon his Name and Country, and take refuge in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 For a farther and more particular account of this honest f>etule- 
 mati, during his residence at Oxford, his depredations upon the As>h- 
 ..:: Museum, ice. &c. See No. I. Additional Notes at the End. 
 B 4
 
 12 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 See Merlin *, Preceptor of Youth, 
 Exemplify Filial Affection; 
 (Bright pattern of honour and truth, 
 Tiie cement of Nuptial connection!) 
 See rev'rend Ciiabot t too conspire 
 To accomplish our regeneration: 
 That adulterous Capuchin Fryar 
 Shali teach us to Jlee Fornication, 
 
 * Qvns ccebim terris non misceat, et mare coelo 
 Si t'ur disphceat Verri ! Homicida Miloni ? 
 Codius accuset maschos, Catalina Cethegum? Ju<v. Sat. j, 
 M. Mi rlin was Under-Usher to a school (in the Fauxbourg of St. 
 An'oine) , he was on the point of being married, but having teceived 
 the la'iy's fortune on the day before that appointed for the wedding, he 
 contended himself with the money and ran away. Fennel, 430. 
 
 His Fiiul gratitude is slightly touched on in No. II. See Additional 
 Notes at the End. 
 
 t M. Chabot, the son of a Baker, was educated by his uncle, an 
 attorney ; he duped with his uncle's wife, and debauched her daugh- 
 ter bv a former husband. He then deserted them both, and induced a 
 IM.i ame Droits to rob ami elope from her husband. For this last 
 explo.t he was imprisoned at Bourdeaux On his enlargement he I .'- 
 came a Capuchin of St. Franc's then an officer of the National 'j;:. rd 
 and once again assumed ihe gaib of an Ecclesiastic and on 'he eve 
 of the infamous 10th ot August, 1792, for two hours together, from 
 the pulpit of L'Eghse des Enfans trouves, inculcated tiie duty and 
 lawtuiness ot insurrection, ic. die. 
 
 See 1'ENNhL, />. 68, and Flower of the Jacoeiks.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. *3 
 
 Atheistic Dupont t for his pains 
 
 With honour 'tis fit we should mention ; 
 
 This globe of the world, he maintains, 
 
 Made itself like our Gallic Convention : 
 
 So, to prove ourselves creatures of Chance, 
 
 We determine, and none shall gainsay us, 
 
 By disorganization of France 
 
 To establish the empire of Chaos : 
 
 j- M. Dupont. Qui Numina Divum 
 
 Sperneret, et nullos aris adoleret honores. O-vid. 
 
 Who Heav'n's best blessings with contempt repays, 
 And bids no incense on its altars blaze. 
 
 " Oil ' ' ^ cs trones sont renverses, les sceptres brists, les rots ex- 
 pirent, et les autei.s des Dieux, restent deeout encore! 
 
 La Nature et la Raison, voila les Dieux de l'homme! voila mes 
 Dieux ! Admirez la Nature, cultivez la Raison, si vous voulez que le 
 peuplc Francais soit hcureux, hatez njous de propager Cis Pritnipts, 
 de les fairc enseigner dans vos ecoles primaires. 
 
 Je I'avouerai de bonne toi a la Convention Jf suis Athee." 
 
 J. Dupcnt, Mor.iteur, 16 Dcccmhvc. 
 
 What! are tlirones and sceptres demolished ? is Royalty expiring ? 
 
 AND ARK THE Al/IARS OF 1 H E GODS YET STANDING ! 
 
 Nature and Reason are the proper Divinities of mankind ' 'These 
 arc my GoJ.s ! Admire Nature, cultivate Reason, it" You will consult 
 th.j happiness of Frenchmen. Accehiau the propagation cj These 
 Pr'rr.aplcs ; make them the subjects ol instruction in \ our schools and 
 semmaries of e lucation. 
 
 For my part 1 shall a> o\v to the Convention, in ^iod earr.cst, that 
 Ji am an Atheist*
 
 1*4 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 What guerdon shall Carra reward 
 
 Whose fame sclf-acknowledgd we dwell on ? 
 
 Who, for Burglary doom'd to the Cord 
 
 A true Philosophical Felon, 
 
 Now prescribes to Reformers a plan 
 
 Of Morality new and uncommon ; 
 
 And the Rights Imprcscriptive * of Man 
 
 Ascertains by the pillage of Woman. % 
 
 * A favourite term with French Philosophers " Droits imprt- 
 scriptibles." Rights against which the antiquated prejudices respect- 
 ing probity, property, honour, &c. arc of no validity. 
 
 M. Carra is so strenuous an assertorof these Imprescript'vve Rights 
 of Man, that lie long ago ventured his neck in sup; ort of them, by 
 an act of Burglary in the Shop of a Milliner. 'lite most notorious 
 depredations of our Philosophical Plunderer v. ere committed on the 
 property of Females. When publickly reminded of the honourable 
 transaction above-mentioned, he acknowledged the truth of the 
 charge, but asserted, as a sufficient apology for the fact, that he was 
 only sixteen years old when he atchieved this his first civic enter- 
 prize. He lias however since demonstrated his unabated attachment to 
 these bnprescripii-je Rights by recent exj !< its of equal celebrity, in 
 delivering his sentiments to the Convention he introduces the Rege- 
 neration of .Morality in the rear of those inestimable benefit* 
 which Mankind are to reap from the Revolution accomplished by his 
 enlightened compatriots. The Additional Notes v. ill iurntsh the 
 reader with a short trait of these sentiments, and shew moie par- 
 ticularly the happy method which Trench Philosophers adopt of re- 
 commending the ingenuity of their Speculations by the purity of tl .it 
 practice. See No. 111. Additional Notes at the hud.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. I5 
 
 Ec elite's t retrogade worth 
 
 Surpasses all praise or rehearsal, 
 
 By scoundrels of ocean and earth 
 
 Unrivall"d Poltroon universal ! 
 
 All Jacobin Murderers own 
 
 His precedence, and hail him " Tu Brute !" 
 
 While Nearness in blood + to the throne 
 
 Makes Regicide relative duty. 
 
 f M. Egalite ci devant Due D'Orlcans, first Prince of the Blood 
 Royal of France. 
 
 1 k:iov. no touch of Consanguinity. Troilus & Cressida. 
 
 The gallantry displayed by this illustrious Patriot, when Due de 
 Chartres, and comma.id'.ng the Third Division of the fleet with 
 which D'Orvilliers engaged Admiral Kc vjel in July 1779, procured 
 him the ironical appellation of" I.'Hi ros o'Our ssant." The most 
 experienced calculators of his numerous negative merits, soon after 
 he had attempted an Acri.d adventure in a Balloon with his usual 
 intrepidity and success, commonly chara_.erized him in the following 
 terms : 
 
 ' IVitron par Pair, poftron par terre, roltron par mer, Escroc par 
 tout." 
 
 " Uniquement occupe tie mon devoir, &c. Je vote pour la Mort" 
 (du Koi.) Egaiitl. Moniteur. 
 
 Intent M.lelv on d : > barging my duly, &c. 1 give my vote for the 
 death (of the King.) 
 
 \ The Sear in blood, 
 
 The nearer Bloody. MACBETH. 
 
 All murders past do stand rxcuAl in This 
 And th s, so sole and so urimatchahlc, 
 Shall prove all deadly Llood>licd but a jest 
 Exaiv.pled by Tins heinous si'lctacle. k. johx.
 
 l6 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Thus You see in how striking a light 
 
 True Merit we strive to exhibit, 
 
 When our Senators sage we invite 
 
 From the gallies, the forge, and the gibbet : 
 
 And of equal desert we can boast 
 
 Legislators, some hundreds or more, 
 
 Who with reason, You'll own, rule the Roast, 
 
 They were, half of 'em, Turnspits before *. 
 
 * M. Isnard, for example, the son of a Cook; and M. Ruelle, 
 a leading Member of the Convention, the quondam Administrator of 
 Roast and Boiled in an obscure Eating-house near London, in whose 
 hands there is reason to cxpeft that the Regenerated Constitution of 
 France, which they have kept so long in Hot Water, must at length 
 go to Pot. 
 
 A Snice of the Science of Cookery appears to be an indispensable 
 ingredient in the composition of illustrious Characters both ancient 
 and modern. 
 
 Homer, if we search his books, 
 
 Will shew us that his Heroes all were Cooks, &C. 
 
 K'ng's Art of Cookery, Isfc. 
 
 C\r J iBU"RN the Sword of King Arthur, and the Sword of the 
 
 renowned Pendragon, were as serviceable in the kitchen as in the field, 
 
 if we may credit their poetical Histunan, John Grub, heretofore of 
 
 Christ's Churcn, Oxford, v\ho ^ays of the last of these Worthies : 
 
 " His Sword would serve for battle or for dinner if you please ; 
 
 ' When it had slain a Cheshire Man t'would toast a Cheshire Cheese." 
 
 The reformatio?!- Dagger of Hudibras seems to have been equally 
 
 adroit and accommodating with the swords ct these Cambro-Britons, 
 
 though of alar less sanguinary tender than the Daggers of Fiunch 
 
 R^rORMEKS. 
 
 It was a serviceable Dudgeon 
 Eithei for h-Jitum or loi diiklging:
 
 TOPSY TURVY, If 
 
 At your folly Mankind will exclaim 
 
 If you share not the fruit of our labours, 
 
 With the sparks of our Patriot-flame 
 
 While we freely enlighten our Neighbours. 
 
 From these sparks You may kindle a blaze, 
 
 If fann'd by some notable fellows, 
 
 And a orand conflagration You'll raise 
 
 Let but Priestley and Paine blow the bellows. 
 
 When it had stab'd, or broke a head, 
 It would scrape trenchers, or chip bread; 
 Toast cheese or bacon ; tho' it were 
 To bait a Mouse-trap, 'twould not care. 
 All will allow the valiant Champion, Guy of Warwick, to have 
 been itque laurca Culina ac Martis insignitus, who have contem- 
 plated his stupendous porridge tot in Warwick Castle ; and Col- 
 brand, his gigantic Antagonist, must have been little inferior to h : m 
 in the former respeft, since he is described by the above cited Poet, 
 Grub, as advancing to the combat 
 
 " Brim- full of Wrath and Cabbage" 
 undoubtedly of his own cooking. 
 
 Nor in an enumeration of i It-roes and Legislators will impartiality 
 permit me to pass over in silence the late Bamblr Gascoigne, 
 (cgregii guslus Sci.u:zr) indisputably the first Broiler of Sprats in 
 Christendom. 
 
 Vet it is evident, from the recent sam; les of State Cookerv which 
 7k cy have given us, that All must yield the Palm to the Conven- 
 tional Cooks ; nay, I am confident that even our ov n justly cele- 
 brated Cooks nj Colcbrooh, if thevare vet in being, will sui rvndcr with 
 pleasure to the ArCHIMACIRI Gallici those Hero: \ titles 
 
 under which themselves have figured in the Old Catch with >uch 
 meritorious distincTon. 
 
 'lhcze wm Si.ici.-Cook, and Slash-Cook, &c. \ r\
 
 l8 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Even now is your Church undermin'd 
 With Priestley's polemical nitre*. 
 Which exploded, You'll presently find 
 The Red Night Cap t take place of the Mitre. 
 As sure as his regimen works, 
 From Old Orthodox Leaven 'twill purge ye; 
 And of Hebrews +, Dissenters and Turks, 
 Make right Apostolical Clergy. 
 
 * We are, as it were, laying Gunpowder, grain by grain, under 
 the old Building of Error-end Superstition, which a single spark may 
 hereafter inflame, so as to produce an instantaneous Explo.-ion, in 
 consequence of which, That Edifice, the erection of which has 
 been the work of Ages, may be overturned in a moment, and so 
 eftVclually, as that the same foundation can never be built upon again. 
 
 PKIESTLEY's Import, of Free Enquiry in Matters of Religion, f. ;o. 
 
 I rejoice to see the warmih with v. Inch the cause of Orthodoxy, 
 that is, long established Opinions however erroneous, and that of the 
 Hierarchy, is now taken up by its friends; becai^e, if their system be 
 not well founded, they arc only accelerating its destruction. In L.ct, 
 thev are assisting Me in the proper disposal ot those trains of gun- 
 poivder which have been some time accumulating, and at which they 
 have taken so great an alarm, and which will certainly blow it up at 
 length as suddenly, as unexpectedly, and a^ completely as the over- 
 throw of the late aibitrary government in 1' ranee. Priestley. 
 
 f The Cat of Liberty with which Fennel tells us (p. 25,) the 
 devout Parisian Reformers have decorated the ima.es ot our Saviour 
 in their Churches. It was brought into fashion by the Jacobin Club: 
 a Red Thrum Cap "without Ears or Bells. 
 
 Ste Preface to that ex. client Story, " Tin: Monkies IN R. r D 
 Caps." Addressed to the Jacobins. Dcbrett, 1792. 
 
 % I am told that the Sons of Jew- i ,1.1, c rs have been made !) : heps, 
 persons not to be suspected of any Chri ,tian Superstition. Bt;- he.
 
 TOPSYTURVY. 1Q 
 
 Strike the flint of his Heart on the steel 
 Of Freedom; Lawn Sleeves be the tinder: 
 Well brimstone your match with his zeal, 
 And again make St. Pauls a huge cinder*: 
 Rare news for the Shade of good Price."!"! 
 With joy he will sing like a throstle: 
 So let Perigord + post with advice. 
 To exhilarate Freedom s Apostle . 
 
 * Consumed formerly in the Fire of London. 
 
 T How ought we then to be affected, who firmly believe that, in 
 so short a space of time, (i. e. about fourteen or twenty years agree- 
 ably to a previous accurate calculation,) we may see our deceased 
 friend again, and be able to tell him, what he will be as eager to 
 learn, how those things, about which he most interested himself, 
 vent on afier his death ; and such is the ; rosj'ect now opening be- 
 fore us, respecting the enlargement of civil and religious Liberty, 
 that the longest liver will have the Best Neivs to cany him. 
 
 Priestley' 1 ! Sermon on the Death of Dr. Pr'iee. 
 
 % iVT. Tallzyrand-Pkrico: d, ancicn Kve\|ue d'Autun, who 
 testified li s extraordinary ;.:; it 0.1 lor the Sacred Order, bv recom- 
 mending the confiscation of the 1 report) of the trench Clergy; and 
 who (after the reim.il if it!! the ar.tiuU Prcl.i'es, nut excepting the 
 Arch-apostate oi Sen ) read l\ t horded his minijlry in consecrating 
 the Nev\ Constitutional Bishw) .->. 'J he convent'on, v liicii he has lately 
 dc erted, having no ianliei oica>:on 1< r h.s si. . ces ; ! ive ground, 
 he cannot be better di>] o->cd ( 1 than in an mbaxs) a J Inferos, 
 
 $ 'I he most August As^mbly in the World, L\ which 1 wish to 
 be uni'ei t'oh 1 the Nati >nai Asskmiily of Franc/, havejustly 
 styled him (Dr. Price) 77.; -i'j ule oj i'reeihm. 
 
 Priestley* St man w the Death of Dr. Price, />. 3.
 
 20 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Then serve up a dish piping hot 
 
 Of the Calves heads that govern the Nation; 
 
 And, reviving Guy Faux 's old Plot, 
 
 By Murder effect Reformation: 
 
 Lords and Commons exalt to the skies, 
 
 Taught by Friestley new flights of devotion. 
 
 When Both Houses together shall rise, 
 
 And each Member at once make a Motion, 
 
 His Birmingham thunder shall 'wake 
 
 Those blind Watchmen * your Bishops suffragan, 
 
 And the pillars of Monarchy shake; 
 
 Paine calls it the Temple of Dagon: 
 
 Like a Sampson t he lustily strains 
 
 To pull down that Pile Anti christian, 
 
 Which shall tumble, and beat out the brains 
 
 Of each Aristocratic Philistine. 
 
 * His Watchmen are blind : they are all ignoran*-, sleeping, lying 
 down, loving to slumber. Isaiah lxvi. 10. A prophetic passage 
 which charitable Dissenters aver to be typical of the Orthodox Tran- 
 quillity of our Right Reverend Bench. 
 
 f Sampson took, hold of the two middle pillars upon which the 
 House stood And he bowed himself with all his might, and the 
 House fell upon the Lords, &c. 'judges xvi 29, 30.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 21 
 
 For instru&ion repair to Paine's School, 
 
 And observe what a picture he '11 draw, 
 
 Of a Brother of Mahomet's Mule, 
 
 Call'd, " The Church as establish'd by Law*;* 
 
 By the Hierarchy 'got on the State 
 
 That with fishes and loaves loads his crupper, 
 
 While Sectaries Squint at the bait, 
 
 And get nothing but kicks for their supper. 
 
 Nor believe the assertion that Those 
 Who would level the Altar and Throne, 
 Who all faith and allegiance oppose, 
 No Religion can have of their own; 
 For David dcscrib'd long ago 
 Some Lambs of this very same Fold, 
 Whose Religion was Rapine I trow, 
 Since " their Idols were Silver and Goldf." 
 
 * By engendering the Church with the State, a sort of Mule Ani- 
 mal, capable only ok* destroying and not breeding up, is produced, 
 called The Church established by I.uzv. It is a stranger, even from 
 its birth, to any parent mother on which it is begotten, and whom 
 in time it kicks out and destroys. 
 
 Paine's Rights of Man t p. Si. 
 f Psalm exxxv. ver. 15. 
 
 C
 
 \ 
 
 22 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 Some say that with coin to supply us, 
 The spoils of the Church we engross, 
 And as for our Churchmen so pious, 
 Neither Pile we have left them nor Cross*; 
 But 'tis false. t The True Church we restore 
 By our conjiscatorial process ; 
 And her sons, like the Christians of Yore, 
 We make them All take up their Crosses. 
 
 * Whackum had neither Cross nor Pile, 
 
 His plunder was not worth the while. Uudibras. 
 
 Your Assembly tell the People that they have brought the Church 
 to its primitive Condition. In one re/peel their declaration is 
 undoubtedly true; for they have brought it to A state of Poverty 
 and Persecution. Let. from Mr. Burke to Nat. As. 1791, p. 17. 
 
 f To obviate the inconvenience resulting from the tedious forms 
 of the Old Government, the regenerated Rulers of France, superior 
 to all the narrow prejudices of humanity, have adopted a Summary: 
 Procefs which at once evinces their paternal tenderness towards the 
 subjects of their government, and, by a judicious disposal of their 
 persons, effectually prevents all remonstrance against the equity of 
 Democratical Legislation. 
 
 Take the following instance from Fennel, page 457. 
 
 " On the 19th of August, the Assembly, being informed that the 
 Administrators of the Department Du Var, sitting at Toulon, (un- 
 authorized by any existing laivj had transported their refractory 
 priests, very warmly applauded the conduct of that department, and, 
 upon a proposition of M. Cambon, instantly decreed that a 1.1, Eccle- 
 siastics, who have never taken the Oath, or who, having taken it a 
 have afterwards retracted, shall be transported." 
 
 The operation ot the French Edcls resembles the operation of an 
 Infallible Nostrum, whose learned Vender assured his patients: " Af- 
 " ter swallowing One Box of my incomparable Pills, Nobody never 
 * needs take No more of Nothing."
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 23 
 
 What! shall Prelates or Nobles forsooth 
 
 In fine cloaths shew their insolent riches, 
 
 And basely oppose Naked Truth 
 
 By Philosophers taught without breeches*! 
 
 No Let us of Raiment bereave 
 
 All Aristocratical Sots, 
 
 For our ancestors Adam and Eve 
 
 Were, at first, like ourselves, Sans Culottes. 
 
 Modern Legislators of France tell the people, to comfort them 
 in the rags with which They have clothed them, that they are a Na- 
 tion of Philosophers. Burke's Reflccl. $th Ed. p. 199. 
 
 Whatever veneration maybe due to the Paraphernalia of the Anti- 
 diluvians, i. e. Antidiluvian Breeches, (or this genuine acceptation 
 of the word is sanctioned by our renowned T exicographer's elucida- 
 tion : " Paraphernalia Goods in the Wife's disposal") Im- 
 partiality must acknowledge Modern Breeches to be no other than 
 the vitious Incumbrances of Aristocratical refinement, and the adop- 
 tion of them altogether as preposterous as the unnatural affectation, 
 so justly reprobated by a Noble Author, Lord Monboddo, of ]Valk~ 
 ing on Tivo Legs instead of Four. 
 
 Since the circumstances of French Philosophers have obliged them 
 to discard these Vestments of Supererrogation together with 
 all antiquated prejudices, what they have lost in florcntinc and fustian 
 they have gained in Soldier: hip and Sagacity: for the most inveterate 
 Antigallican will not venture to maintain, in their present circum- 
 stances at least, that " the Heart of a Frenchman lies in his Breeches,'' 1 
 a position fundamentally false and paradoxical. And in admitting 
 that the causes of their posterior Denudation have equally contributed 
 to the di vli.op i.mpnt of their Genius wc are warranted by 
 Sound Classical Authority: 
 
 Jngenium res 
 
 Adversac nudarj solent. Hoi: Sat* 
 
 C 1
 
 2 4 TOPSY TURVY.' 
 
 But, no longer in Innocence dress'd*, 
 When they courted the Figleaf s protection 
 And green breeches put on, 'tis confess'd 
 They were fall'n from their pristine perfection : 
 Then survey Us so dauntless and bare, .. 
 Nor dispute the perfection We claim 
 Who rival The Primitive Pair, 
 Unincumbered with Breeches or shamet*. 
 
 Dr. Johnson has ungenerously endeavoured to -veil the naked Gracet 
 tf French Philosophy by a most opprobrious illustration of the word 
 Galligaskins : " Caligae Gallo-Vasconum," i. e. Breeches of the 
 Antient Gascons. But this unheard of imputation must be ascribed 
 to that philological perverseness which gives " Trousers" to the Erse 
 instead of the congenial monosyllable to which they naturally belong 
 (See Dictionary). Seneca has attempted to prove Breeches no impe- 
 diments to prowess and manhood by using the word " Caliga" 
 to express the condition of a common Soldier ; " Marius a Caliga ad 
 Consulatum perductus est." But even these powerful authorities 
 must yield to M. L'Abbe Spallanzani, who has demonstrated that 
 Frogs, by which he means Frenchmen, (substituting, by learned 
 licence, the Food for the Feeders, as Milton and Euripedes are said, 
 by a Rt. Rev. Critic, to substitute Effects for Causes, and Tears for 
 Cinders. See Note xvith signature (H) on the Words " Melodious 
 "Tear," in Lycidas. Warton's Second Edit, of Milton s Poems. 
 This accurate and humane Experimentalist, I repeat, has satisfactorily 
 demonstrated that Frogs that is to say, Frog-eating Fr inch- 
 men, when breech'd, tho' with but so slight a texture as waxed taffety, 
 are thereby utterly disqualified for all vigorous exertion, and rendered 
 totally incompetent to the grand purposes of life. 
 
 See Spallanzani's erudite Dissertation on the Ghneration OF 
 THL Gkn Frog. Diss. v. ii. p. 13.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 2 5 
 
 IF our Counsel with scorn is repaid + 
 We shall bring an old house o'er your ears 
 At our bidding, to swallow your Trade 
 All Europe shall send privateers : 
 Tippoo-Sultan Your Factors shall dread, 
 When back'd by French blades he shall fix a 
 Huge price on each Englishman's head 
 In Bengal, in Bahar, and Orixa. 
 
 Galligaskins properly, Gaskins. See Shakespeare's Twelfth 
 Wight, Act i. Sc. iv. 
 
 " I am resolved on two points." 
 " That if one break, the other will hold, 
 " Or if both break your Gaskins fall." 
 Leaving Dr. Johnson to fetch his small cloaths from Gascony or 
 from Rumford if he chuses it, we shall pronounce Gaskin to be 
 derived from the Saxon Gaskinnan erubcscere (that warlike people 
 blushing to be seen with breeches as much as their descendants would 
 blush to be seen without them) and not from the dorsal blushing of 
 the Picts, who painted their posteriors with Red Oker. 
 
 * This Robe of Innocence was not precisely of the same descrip- 
 tion as That of which a certain Dutchess boasted in her well-known 
 correspondence with S. Foote, who was malicious enough to insinuate 
 that her Grace's Robe of Innocence might possibly be a little the 
 worse for 'wear. 
 
 \ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not 
 ashamed. Gen. ii. 25. 
 Tlie References to the above Notes are given in the preceding page. 
 
 \ " If we consider," says that Mirrour of marine Oratory M. 
 Kersain r to the Convention, (Seance Jannj. 1, 1793.) Ifweconsidcf 
 the vast field this daring resolution opens on which to display 
 
 C i the
 
 26 topsY TURvr. 
 
 Our ordinance launch'd on the Tagus # 
 
 Shall ring a Republican peal, 
 
 We'll make Lisbon one grand Sarcophagus 
 
 And plunder the mines of Brazil. 
 
 We '11 nip the Dutch Navy in Zealand t, 
 
 On their demi-despotic J Stadholder 
 
 Set the PATRiots, his guilders to steal, and 
 
 The Head that looks over his shoulder. 
 
 the courage and activity of our Seamen, if you fix your thoughts 
 upon that multitude of vessels richly freighted which will be tire 
 prey of your privateers, if in a Naval War, you call together 
 those numerous and desperate Adventurers which are to be found in 
 all nations of Europe, if you adopt them, and associate them in jour 
 enterprizes, Sec." 
 
 " We must attack Lisbon and the Brasils, and dispatch an Auxili- 
 ary Army to lippoo Sultan." 
 
 * " Portugal is absolutely incapable of defence : the Fleet, with 
 which we shall penetrate the Tagus, after having exhausted the coun- 
 try by contributions, after having destroyed the arsenals, must termi- 
 nate its successes by first taking and then liberating Brazil." 
 
 *< f If you push on the war in Zealand with vigour you will v':p 
 In the bud the Naval Force of the Stadholder, and the patriotic party 
 which, so long since, called you to its assistance, will, with your sup- 
 port, easily prevent it from expanding into maturity." 
 
 Kersaint. 
 
 X Ce Demi despote qui vous tyrannise, Sec. Le Gen. Dumourier 
 mux Bsta-jes.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. fj 
 
 Batavia We next will attack*, 
 And to Ceylon establish our claim: 
 Fed on Spices wash'd down with Arrack, 
 How fiercely French courage will flame ! 
 Our Drawcansirs none shall escape, 
 Fleets and armies we '11 fit out by dozens, 
 Expel the Mynheers from the Cape, 
 And fraternize our Hottentot Cousins f. 
 
 * " An Expedition directed against the English East Indies, shall 
 at the same time threaten the Establishments of Holland, the impor- 
 tant Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia, Ceylon, Sec. &c. 
 There yon will meet only with men enervated by Luxury, soft beings 
 that will tremble before the Soldier of Liberty." Kersaint. 
 
 Our great Orator is here a little mistaken in his conjecture, it be- 
 ing well known that the Native Troops of India, under the com- 
 mand of British Officers, have frequently encountered the bayonets 
 of the French Grenadiers with uncommon firmness and intrepidity. 
 
 f The French may reasonably claim affinity in Blood to a people 
 with whom some of their most ingenious writers have taken consider- 
 able pains to establish the closest affinity in Principle. M. Vaillanr, 
 in his account of the Hottentots, rejects it as a most cruel indignity 
 ottered to this brave people, to suppose them capable of having ar.y 
 Religion. 
 
 ** Would You desire better fellowship, Master Matthew i' r 
 
 Beaumont & k'leteher* 
 C 4
 
 28 TOPSY TURVY. 
 
 All Africa thence we '11 affright 
 
 Scare lions with Morbleus ! and By-Gars I" 
 
 And to France by Decrees re-unite 
 , The Department o/Monkeys and Tigers*; 
 Gregoire t we '11 make Pope of the Blacks, 
 And teach Bruce, without garlic or onion, 
 By Raw Cutlets + from murder'd men's backs. 
 To enrich his Repasts Abyssinian, 
 
 * "Ah! the Monsters! !'' exclaimed Candide : "What! arc 
 a people, eternally capering and singing, the perpetrators of such 
 Hokross ! Can I fly with too much precipitation a country where 
 Apes inculcate ferocity to Tigers! (ou des Singes agacent des 
 Tig res.) ' Voltaire's Candide. 
 
 f M. L' Arbe Grtgoire, principal of the Society " Les Amis 
 des Noirs, ' a most formidable adversary of the prejudices of his Or- 
 der. See Characters at the End of Additional Notes. 
 
 J A Cannibal people, devouring the dead bodies of their victims! 
 A Brother, while dying, drenched with the blood of his flaughtered 
 Brother! -Obsernjat. du Che-J. Bintinaye, p. 109. Debretr, 1791. 
 
 For a particular detail of some of the horrid circumstances of 
 French Cannibalism here alluded to, as well as of Mr. Brute's bloody 
 Abyssinian Banquet, see No. IV. Additional Notes. 
 Nos miranda quidem, sed nuper, Consule junio, 
 Gesta super calidae refercmus maenia Copti ; 
 Nos vulgi scelus, et cuncfis graviora cothurnis. 
 Nam scelus, a Pyrrha quanquam omnia syrmata volvas, 
 Nullus ap d tragicos populus facit. Accipe nostro 
 
 DlRA QJJOD EXHMPLUM FERITAS PRODUXERIT XVO. 
 Asp cimus populos quorum non sufhcit irae 
 Occidisse alquem, sed plctoba, brachia, vultum 
 Crediderint genus esse cici. Juv. Sat. 15*
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 2 
 
 In the Silks which Italians export 
 Shall our shirtless Philosophers shine; 
 While for Rome, that idolatrous Court 
 Our new Priests have a tickler in brine: 
 We '11 shew the poor fools, who confide in 
 Infallible brains that are addle, 
 Evangelic Democracy 'striding 
 Superstition's old Catholic Saddle t. 
 
 " The Republicks of Italy offer you maritime prizes, of which 
 the lofs will fall on English Commerce, &c. klr saint. 
 
 " Pontiff of the Romish Church, prince, as yet, of a state on the 
 point of renouncing your control. You can no longer preserve both 
 your State ami Church but by the disinterested profession of thofe 
 Evangelical Principles that breathe the purest Demo. 
 CRAC Y." Le Cons. Exec. Provis. au Prince E<veque du Rome, 1792. 
 This friendly Address to the Pope, exhorting his Holiness to pre- 
 serve his temporal and spiritual dominion by renouncing his authority^ 
 if it had not borne the Signatures ot the Executive Councilof France t 
 might from its peculiar consistency, have been mistaken for the ad- 
 vice of Hibernian Counsellors. Should his Holiness be disposed to fol- 
 low it, we may apply to him the well known Epigram of Martial. 
 Hostem cum fugeret se Fannius ipse peremit, 
 Qms furor, O Fanni ! nc moriare Mori! 
 How mad was Fannius, from the foe when flying, 
 To think of disappointing Death by dying! 
 f This identical Saddle was heretofore in the occupation of an 
 Aristocra tical Dowager of the fir ft rank and fashion, who 
 maintained little more reserve in her Morals, and somewhat less in 
 her Mode of Riding, than our Equestrian Heroines of the present 
 day. 
 
 Doth not the Whore of Babylon ride 
 
 Upon her horned bca.t astride? CUTLER.
 
 3<3 T0PSY TURVY* 
 
 Should Spain to the Bourbons prove true 
 
 From the Dons their mustachios we '11 crop, 
 
 Spoil Mexico, pillage Peru*, 
 
 And spend all the Gold in their Shop, 
 
 All around us, east, west, north and south, 
 
 Insurrection and Anarchy foster t, 
 
 Sail to Hell with the Winds in our mouth, 
 
 Nor care three-pence for Libs, Notus, Auster. 
 
 * " The Spaniard bears in the recesses of his soul, that character 
 ef energy which renders him worthy to be free, In Europe he would 
 weakly defend the caule of the Bourbons, in America he calls to 
 You, and You ought to march to Mexico while you menace the 
 English." KERSAINT. 
 
 f " Let us wage war with all Europe. Your Armies at the mo- 
 ment in which they are reduced to the most deplorable situation have 
 atchieved Prodigies of Valour. Every one of our private Soldiers 
 believes himself a match for two hundred Slaves. If you should 
 command them to march to> Vienna they would march to Vienna 
 or to Death." Danton. Moniteur, Jan. 25, 1793. 
 
 This is a very sublime Stroke of Oratory, but for the honour of 
 Old England, we must acknowledge that it appears to be borrowed 
 from a strenuous Antigallican English Poet: 
 
 " All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows, 
 
 And bid him go to Hell to Hell he goes." johnson. 
 
 We mav fairly conclude that the Courage and Capacity of French 
 Republicans will speedily attain their Ne plus ultra, of perfection ; 
 their growth and expansion having been found to keep pace, in an in- 
 verse ratio of progression, with the tenuity of their diet. Their Health 
 also must be wonderfully improved. Sublata morbi Causa tollhur 
 Effeclus : Liberty and Famine having shook hands in France, they 
 must be entirely free from the grand cause of disease, Indigestion. 
 
 " Our Food has disappeared in proportion as our Liberty bat 
 extended." St. Just. Moniteur, Dec. i, i:ya.
 
 TOPSY TURVY. 31 
 
 That the good of Mankind We 've in view 
 Our extreme moderation denotes : 
 Then French Tenets embrace, or, Morbleu I 
 We '11 invade you and cut all your throats*. 
 In the teeth of the Tower of London 
 Hurl the Head of your KiNGt in defiance, 
 His Beef-eaters knock ev'ry one down, 
 And enfranchise Hyzenas and Lions J. 
 
 * We will make a descent on England. We will lodge there fifty 
 thousand Caps of Liberty. We will plant there the sacred Tree. 
 The tyranny of their government shall soon be destroyed. 
 
 Letter of the Minister of the Marine Monitcur, Jan. 20, 1793. 
 
 Our fishing vessels are always ready to transport thither one hun- 
 dred thousand French, for by This Expedition we muft terminate 
 the quarrel, and ;'/ is upon the Ruins of the Toxuer of London that 
 you must sign with the English people, undeceived, the Treaty which 
 shall regulate the destiny of Nations, and shall found the Liberty of 
 the World. kersaint. 
 
 The Reader is desired to notice an Observation on these quotations 
 from M. Kersaint's Speech. See No. V. Additional Xotcs. 
 
 f They threaten you with Kings! You have thrown them your 
 Gauntlett: That Gauntlett is the Head of a King: it is 
 the signal of their approaching death. dan ion. 
 
 Stance du 31 Jan--v. Monitcur, Feb. 1. 
 
 X These Oppressed Animals have an indisputable claim to the Fra- 
 ternity of the Parisian Philosophers, a claim admitted not long sir.ee 
 by the Exhibitor of a Tiger which he li;<d always been lieu to deno- 
 minate Lc grand Tigre Royal, but -oon after the Revolution, when 
 the term Royal fell into disrepute, by one of the most heppy applica- 
 tions of the word that njcas substituted for Royal, he invited ail tht 
 pasicngcis on the Pont Neuf to see 
 
 Lc Fraud Tic he National,
 
 3* 
 
 TOPSY TURVY 
 
 To perfection as yet never reach'd 
 
 The World 's in a state of progression, 
 
 Heretofore, like our Patriots un-breecii'd 
 
 Soon 'twill swagger at Years of Discretion*; 
 
 While the Nations, enlighten d, agree 
 
 To propagate Rapine and Slaughter, 
 
 Blest Scyons of Liberty's Tree, 
 
 Which We plant, and the Devil willw at er, 
 
 * The Human Race has commenced in a state of I nfancy. It com- 
 mences This Day its state of Manhood. Carra Monit, Jan, 4, 
 
 New Breech'd with Manhood. Paine's Rights of Man. 
 
 h ..$
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 M. MARAT. 
 
 Ok his arrival in England the aftive disposition of M. Marat 
 would not suffer his useful talents to lose their energy for want 
 of exercise. lie however modestly endeavoured to suppress the 
 publick testimony which his friends on the other side of the 
 Water had given to his ingenuity, and although he had 
 Jigured as a Man of Note in Paris, he condescended to open a 
 shop of Tambour-embroidcr'd waistcoats at Oxford, under 
 the assumed appellation of " Le Maitre de Marat," and dis- 
 played the attractions of an handsome Wife to engage the 
 notice of Academical Customers, to whom he offered his 
 services at the same time as a teacher of the French Lan- 
 guage. His house was contiguous to the Ashmolean 
 Musacum, in visiting which, as a professed votary of Virtu, 
 he became desperately enamoured of a Cabinet of Gold 
 Medals; and foreseeing the approaching scarcity of Specie 
 in his own country, he endeavoured in the true spirit of 
 Gallic patriotism, to supply the deficiency by breaking into 
 the Musacum, and undertaking the clandestine conveyance 
 of these Valuable Coins to France ; but before he could 
 complete his purpose he was ungenerously apprehended and 
 brought to trial; when this fast Friend and Advocate of Demo- 
 cratic Equality found it convenient to shelter himself under 
 the Old Feudal distinction by which the breaking into a Repo- 
 sitory of this description, is not striclly deemed an Act of 
 
 Burglary,
 
 34 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 Burglary, and escaped the halter. Constrained, however, to 
 relinquish his Ashmolean Spoils, he accepted a temporary 
 accommodation among his brother patriots, exerting themselves 
 for the good of their Country on board our Hulks at Woolwich, 
 and, after having signalized himself with equal Eclat in the 
 Northern parts of Great Britain, he returned to France, 
 where, having been no less than Nine Times decrete de prise 
 de corps, his integrity, honour, and moderation, &c. have de- 
 servedly enrolled him among the Legislators of the French 
 Rcpublick. 
 
 The following circumstantial detail, which carries with it 
 internal marks of truth, and corroborates the above Oxford 
 intelligence respecting M. M. I shall insert verbatim from the 
 Star of Monday, March the 4th, 1793. 
 
 G las cow. 
 il From an investigation lately taken at Edinburgh, it is 
 said that Marat, the celebrated Orator of the French Na- 
 tional Convention, the humane, the mild, the gentle Marat, 
 is the same person who a few years ago taught Tambouring 
 in this city, under the name of John White. His conduci. 
 while he was here, was equally unprincipled, if not as atro- 
 cious, as it has been since his elevation to the Legislatorship. 
 After contracting debts to a very considerable amount he ab- 
 sconded, but was apprehended at Newcastle, and brought 
 back to this city, where he was imprisoned. He soon after 
 executed a summons of cessio bonorum against his Creditors, 
 in the prosecution of which it was found that he had once 
 taught in the Academy at Warrington, in which Dr. 
 Priestley was Tutor; that he left Warrington forOxFORD, 
 where, after some time, he found means to rob the Musceum of a 
 number of Gold Coins and Medallions ; that he was traced to 
 Ireland, apprehended at an Assembly there in the. character 
 of a German Count, brought back to this country, tried, con- 
 victed,
 
 ABDITIONAt NOTES. 35 
 
 vicled, and sentenced to some years hard labour on the 
 Thames. He was refused a Cessio, and his creditors, tired of 
 detaining him in gaol, after a confinement of several months, 
 set him at liberty. He then took up his residence in this 
 neighbourhood, where he continued about nine months, and 
 took his final leave of this country about the beginning of 
 the year 1787. 
 
 " He was very ill-looked; of a diminutive size; a man 
 of uncommon vivacity, of a very turbulent disposition, and 
 possessed of a very uncommon share of legal knowledge. 
 It is said that, while here, he used to call his children 
 Marat, which he said was his family name." 
 
 No. II. 
 
 M. MERLIN. 
 
 The portion of which he had despoiled his intended 
 Bride M. Merlin speedily dissipated by gambling at Spa. To 
 repair His losses he broke open the strong box of Madame la 
 Baronne Vanderberg, who lodged in a chamber adjoining to 
 his apartment borrowed a horse which he sold at Nancy, and 
 afterwards, in a state of extreme distress, was (for the second 
 time) received with kindness, and his enormities freely for- 
 given by an affectionate Father, whom, in return for his libe- 
 rality and indulgence, this Bright Exemplar of Filial Grati- 
 tude denounced to the Convention as a Feiulliant, and moved for 
 his accusation in Nov. 1791. Flower of Jacob, p- 71. 
 
 In proof of the general candour and impartiality which 
 actuated the self-constituted Judges of their unhappy 
 Monarch, let us not forget the humane sentiment expres- 
 sed in the Sitting of December 3, by this amiable cha- 
 racter,
 
 g6 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 rafter, M. Merlin, who avowed to the Convention " his re- 
 gret that he had not poniarded his Sovereign, when He threw 
 himself on the 10th of August upon the protection of the 
 National Assembly." See Lc Monitcur, No. 339. 
 
 No. III. 
 M. CARRA. 
 
 " What then does the Revolution denote ? It denote* 
 that the Regeneration of our Politics has preceded, as it ought, 
 the Regeneration of our Morality : for it would be absurd to 
 rest our claim to the distinguishing chara6ter of a nation 
 of philosophers on the mere subversion of that general 
 despotism which surrounds us : The grand epoch of the New 
 Birth of Liberty can only cemmence from the moment when 
 the very sources of abuse shall vanish before the eternal 
 Rights of Man. Let us labour to annihilate them among 
 our neighbours. Carra Moniteur, Jan. 4, 1793. 
 
 M. Carra's piivate praftice, like that of some other philoso- 
 phical moralists, appears to have been somewhat at variance 
 with his publick principles. The Regeneration of his Politics 
 having taken place subsequent to that of his Morals. Of Re- 
 generate Morality he gave an early exemplification by break- 
 ing open and .pillaging the house of a Milliner in his six- 
 teenth year, the Proces verbal of which transaction was 
 detailed in a French paper " La Feuille du jour" of Feb. 
 1792, and authenticated by his own acknowledgement before 
 stated in page 14: but had his Policy been regenerate at that 
 I, it would most probably have prevented his apprehen- 
 sion and condemnation 10 the Callows, the mitigation 
 f
 
 ApDITIONAL NOTES. $7 
 
 f this sentence having been effected solely by the interest of 
 some respectable friends of his Uncle. 
 
 During his subsequent exile from France he taught lan- 
 guages at Vienna, where he gave a farther exemplification 
 of regenerate Morality, as well as of regenerate Liberty, by 
 making free with a gold watch the property of the young 
 Countess of Hardeck his pupil. But his policy either was yet 
 in embrio, or little better than a Regenerate Abortion ; and a 
 second detection and degradation obliged our felonious 
 philosopher to take French leave of Vienna. 
 
 Seer Fennel's Review, &c. 
 
 It is a singular hardship that the fair sex should have 
 been such sufferers (as appears from the two instances above 
 cited) by the Regeneration of Morality and New Birth of Philo- 
 sophical Liberty, &c. and we fear lest it should render them 
 averse from Novel Generation of every kind, and strengthen 
 their honest prejudices in favour of the old Domestic Prac- 
 tice of their grandfathers and grandmothers. 
 
 The following Jeu d' Esprit, which I recollect having met 
 with in some periodical publication, may shew that 
 jemale prejudices of this description arc not extinct. 
 
 On a late invented Dance on the Stage, called 
 " A N e \v Way o f Wo oinc." 
 A Dance they perform a' the Play-house, cries Sue, 
 'Tis "A New Way of Wooing," I'm told; 
 A plague on 't, quotli Nell Let who will take the Xe:.', 
 I like None so Well as The Old, 
 
 D No. IV. 
 
 r ^ '
 
 38 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 No. IV. 
 ACTS OF FRENCH CANNIBALISM. 
 
 The following Relation is literally translated from " M. 
 Montjoye's accurate and authentic Account of the French 
 Revolution, (a Paris, 1792, page 95)." It forms the Sequel 
 to his circumstantial detail of the unexampled persecution 
 and most savage Butchery of the brave M. Berthier, In- 
 tendant of Paris, which exceeded, if possible, in cruelty and 
 horror, the studiously protracted Murder of his relation the 
 aged Fou lon : a faithful and minute account of both is given 
 in the same Work. 
 
 " The wretch who had seized the heart of M. Berthier 
 was deserted at the foot of the stair-case of the Hotel dc Ville 
 by his accomplices, who ran to cut in pieces the remainder of 
 the bodv. As for his part, satisfied with the portion of which 
 he had possessed himself, he was eager to have a relish of it. 
 Yes ; to have a relish of it*! He rushed into the 
 Coffee-house that is opposite to the Arcade of St. John, 
 bv the street of the Tannery. There were then in the 
 Coffee-house to the number of thirty persons, most of 
 whom attested this to me, and they engaged to deposit, where- 
 evcr I should desire, a written attestation of the fact with the 
 signatures of thirty witnesses. 
 
 " ; The, apparition of this Monster his garments spotted 
 over with bleed what he carried in his hands inspired sen- 
 sations which no one but those who felt them can express. 
 They durst not fly. The place dc Grcvc was idled with a 
 throng through which it was impossible to penetrate, and 
 
 Oui dc la savoup.es. ! (gouter avee attention ct avee plaisir. boykr). 
 
 they
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 39 
 
 they feared, in attempting it, lest they also should fall by the 
 hands of these Men-eaters. 
 
 " The Wretch passing behind a table seated himself, and 
 called for a glass of brandy. It was brought him: " Now 
 bring me," says he, " a glass of lemonade." They gave it 
 him. He then poured the contents of the small glass into 
 the large one, looked at the mixture, and said, " this is not 
 sufficient: Another glass of brandy !" When they brought 
 it he added it to the former ; he then took the Heart in both 
 his hands, held it over his glass, twisted his lingers together, 
 closed them, and squeezed out the blood in drops, which 
 mingled with the liquor. When he had expressed from this 
 mass of flesh all the blood that it contained, he took the 
 glass, swallowed with pleasure this infernal beverage, struck 
 the glass with a noise on the table, and viewed the Bystanders 
 with fixed eyes, a wrinkled brow, and hair creel. He 
 opened his mouth to shew them the blood with which it was 
 filled, and which flowed in dark currents from either #e 
 of it. 
 
 " The Cannibal having finished his horrid repast, paid, left 
 the room, and went to rejoin the other Anthropophagi, 
 who were quarrelling for their shares of human flesh" 
 
 More than one Journalist, and particularly the Calumniator 
 Prudhomme, have stated that this Wretch, who regaled on 
 the Heart of M. Berthier, was the son of a man whom M. 
 Berchier had killed. This is a falsehood as black as the 
 crime for which it is intended to apologize. Berthier could 
 not reproach himself with the death of a single individual. 
 
 Another Monster, who had carried oil in triumph a piece of 
 the flesh of Berthier, went into the Collec-house of the street 
 cd St. Ilonoie, near that of Richelieu, ordered a glass of le- 
 monade, steeped in it tiiis morsel of bleeding flesh drank 
 
 D 2 it
 
 4<D ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 it and, applauding himself afterwards for his brutal ferocity, 
 asserted that he had never tasted a more delicious beverage. 
 
 Was I to make an aftual enumeration of those who insti- 
 gated this Assassination, of those who rejoiced in it, of 
 those who aftcd as accomplices in it, and lastly of those who 
 have suffered it to be perpetrated with impunity, I should 
 not exaggerate in asserting that One hundred thousand Indi- 
 viduals, Men and Women, were accessarv to this crime. 
 
 The persons of superior condition who have been seen to 
 excite and encourage Assassins form a Catalogue which 
 proves that, in this Age, wherein we so loudly boast of the 
 New Lights which we have acquired (des lumieres acquisesj 
 Ferocity is a quality by no means confined to the Vulgar. 
 
 " The Historical Sketch of the French Revolution" 
 (published by Debrett) records a similar acr. of Atrocity. 
 " At Caen," says the Author, p. 204, " M. de Belzunce, an 
 Officer, was murdered with all the cruel circumstances of 
 Cannibalism which Paris " had taught the Provinces." The 
 fat has since been solemnly attested by a French Gentleman 
 now in England, who to as present at this scene of horror, and 
 actually saw these Monsters devour part of the flesh of this 
 unfortunate Officer. 
 
 This instance of French Cannibalism is also referred to by 
 the Chevalier Bint in aye. in a Note on the page of his 
 Observations before quoted. 
 
 The following account is given by a gentleman of unim- 
 peached veracity, a relation of General Dillon, who has been 
 recently at Lisle, and was at considerable pains to investi- 
 gate and ascertain every circumstance relative to and con- 
 nected with his horrid assassination. 
 
 " On the morning of the day in which That atrocious and 
 inhuman Murder took place, alady who lived with the General 
 wasdelivcrcdof a child : Even in this state a removal was judged 
 absolutely necessary, as affording the only probability of pre- 
 venting
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES, 41 
 
 venting the savage treatment which it was too justly appre- 
 hended that she might undergo. This precaution was fruit- 
 less ; the unfortunate lady was discovered and immediately 
 shut up in a cellar. After she had endured the misery of this 
 terrible confinement for six and thirty hours, without any 
 kind of sustenance whatever, an Heart was presented to her, 
 on which she was told that she must either satisfy her 
 hunger or starve. 
 
 It was the Hfart of General Dillon ! ! !" 
 The Narrator of the above Fat confirms Fennel's asser- 
 tion, that a Woman was seen to devour the heart of the 
 Princess dc Lamballe. 
 
 FARTHER REFINEMENT OF FRENCH CRUELTY. 
 
 One of the wretched Victims who suffered at the Con- 
 ciergeric, a woman, was executed by nailing her feet to the 
 ground, cutting off her breasts, and introducing fire into her 
 body. 
 
 A Colonel, whose name was the Count of St. Mart, one of 
 the sufferers at the Abbaye, was first transfixed through the 
 body with a pike, and then constrained to crawl to and fro, 
 on his knees in this dreadful situation for the amusement of 
 his butchers, whose delight it was to behold his contortions 
 and to hear his groans. The whole number of those who 
 were murdered by the Jacobins with the mockery of Justice 
 on the 2d, 3d, and 4th of September 1792, in the eight dif- 
 ferent places of confinement at Paris, was One Thousand and 
 eighty-eight. 
 
 The instances that have lately occurred in France of peo- 
 ple eating the flesh and drinking the blood of their fellow- 
 creatures for the sole purpose for which the savages do the 
 
 D 3 same.
 
 41 ADDITIONAL NOfES. 
 
 same, namely, to gratify their revenge over a prostrate enemy, 
 are innumerable. 
 
 An English Gentleman who lately resided at Rouen, and 
 who is allied to some of our best families, hearing that his 
 friend whom he had entertained but eight clays before at his 
 house, was in trouble, set off to render him service. Ar- 
 rived at his journey's end, he beheld the corpse of his friend 
 broiling on the embers of his Castle which had been con- 
 sumed, and the furies that surrounded it tasting his flesh. 
 
 Mons. B having been deputed by the Section du Con- 
 
 trat Social of Paris, to rescue two persons of the said Section 
 who were confined at the Abbayc for some ordinary offence, 
 and having succeeded (after wading ankle deep in human 
 gore to the bloody tribunal) in convincing the President and 
 the other Judges in this jail delivery, that his clients were 
 neither guilty of the crime of Priesthood nor of Aristocracy, 
 an elegant young man darted from the multitude of victims, 
 and throwing himself at his feet, exclaimed ' ; O, Sir, save 
 my life also!" In an instant he was cut down bv the ruf- 
 fians, and one of them exclaiming to Mons. E " You 
 
 shall now sec the heart of an Aristocrat," soon tore it from 
 his heaving breast then squeezing the warm blood into a 
 goblet which he borrowed from a companion, he hist drank 
 of it himself, and then presented the infernal beverage to 
 
 Mons. B , who was constrained, through fear, to move 
 
 it to his lips and to pretend to taste of it. 
 
 A Priest, who was flying out of Fiance into Switzerland, 
 after the Massacre of the Second of September 170 -. having 
 fallen into the hands of some National Guards in the 1 
 bourhood of Lyons, thev first cut ofi his cars, and then by 
 torments endeavoured to make him eat them. 
 
 On the dav the populace of Paris were 1 1 to sr.'izc upon 
 their King, it is a fact Unit the bread every where disappeared 
 
 Q "
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 4J 
 
 out of the Bakers shops, having been bought up in order to 
 render the people desperate through hunger. It was after- 
 wards found in the nets of the River Seine. 
 
 The foregoing Relations are taken from the Notes in pages 
 29, 30, 31, 32 of The Funeral Oration on Louis XVI. pro- 
 nounced at St. Peter's Chapel in Winchester, April 12, 
 
 *793> b y the 
 
 Rev. John Milner, F. S. A. 
 
 Chaplain to the English Catholicks in that City. 
 
 The honors of the 10th of August 1792 are also said to 
 have been aggravated by acts of Cannibalism. In the St. 
 James's Chronicle a very particular account was given of 
 some facts of tliis kind, which the Author declared to have 
 been within his own positive knowledge. 
 
 Many other assassinations, in different parts of France, are 
 said to have been accompanied with similar circum stnecs of 
 savage atrocity ; and direct evidence can be adduced of 
 some particulars, equally or perhaps still more shocking, 
 which decency will not sutler to be mentioned. 
 
 To the foregoing Details I shall subjoin Mr. Bruce's Nar- 
 rative of Abyssinians banquetting upon a living Ox ; termed 
 by that Writer " Part of tin History of a Barbarous Peo- 
 ple". As such I conceive it may be admitted by way of 
 Under plot, or humble A ' :nt, of the Relations which 
 
 precede it; and will serve to shew what infinite imnrovement 
 African Barbarity might derive from the practice of the 
 Philosophical Savages of France, who have so generously 
 undertaken to <; regulate the destiny of Nations, and 
 emancipate tiie World from ail moral and religious Pre- 
 judices as well as Despotism. 
 
 D 4 ' ; A long
 
 44 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 " A long table is set in the middle of a large room and 
 benches beside it for a number of guests who are invited. 
 Tables and benches the Portuguese introduced amongst them 
 but bull hides spread upon the ground served thorn before, as 
 they do in the camp and country now. A Cow or Bull, one or 
 more, as the company is numerous, is brought close to the door 
 and his feet strongly tied. The skin that hangs down under 
 his chin and throat, which I think we call the dew-lap in 
 England, is cut only so deep as to arrive at the fat, of which 
 it totally consists, and by the separation of a few small blood- 
 vessels, six or seven drops of blood onlv fall upon the 
 ground. They have no stone, bench, or altar, upon which 
 these cruel assassins lay the animal's head in this opera- 
 tion. I should beg his pardon indeed for calling him an 
 Assassin, as he is not so merciful as to aim at the life, but, on 
 the contrary, to keep the beast alive till he be totally eat up. 
 Having satisfied the Mosaical Law, according to his concep- 
 tion, by pouring these six or seven drops upon the ground, 
 two or more of them fall to work. On the back of the 
 beast, and on each side of the spine, they cut skin deep ; 
 then, putting their fingers between the flesh and the 
 skin, they begin to strip the hide of the animal, half way 
 down his ribs, and so on to the buttock, cutting the skin 
 wherever it hinders them commodiously to strip the poor 
 animal bare. All the flesh on the buttock-* is then cut off, and 
 in solid, square pieces, without bone, or much effusion of 
 blood; and the prodigious noise the animal imikes, is a signal 
 for thecompanv to sit down to table. 
 
 There are then laid before every guest, instead of plates, 
 round cakes, if I may so call them, about twice as big as 
 a pan-cake, and something thicker and tougher. It is un- 
 leavened bread, of a sourish taste, far from being disagree- 
 able, and very easily digcsled : made of a grain caiied Tcti. 
 
 It
 
 ADDITIONAL N O T E S . 
 
 45 
 
 It is of different colours, from black to the colour of the 
 whitest wheat bread. Three or four of these cakes are gene- 
 rally put uppermost, for the food of the person opposite to 
 whose seat they arc placed. Beneath these are four or five of 
 ordinary bread, and of a blackish kind ; these serve the mas- 
 ter to wipe his fingers upon, and afterwards the servant for 
 bread to his dinner. 
 
 Two or three servants then come, each with a square piece 
 of beef in their bare hands, laying it upon the cakes of Teff, 
 placed like dishes down the table, without cloth or anv thing 
 bene.-.th them. By this time the guests have knives in their 
 hands, and the men have the large crooked ones, which they 
 put to all kinds of uses during the time of war. The women 
 have small clasped knives, such as the worst of the kind made 
 at Birmingham, sold for a penny each. 
 
 The company are so ranged that one man sits between two 
 women; the man with his long knife cuts a thin piece, which 
 would be thought a good beef-steak in England, while you 
 see the motion of the fibres yet perfectly distinct and alive in 
 the flesh. No man in Abyssinia, of any fashion whatever, feeds 
 himself, or touches his own meat. The women take the 
 steak and cut it lengthways like strings, about the thickness 
 of your little finger, then crossways into square pieces, some- 
 thing smaller than dice. This they lay upon a piece of the 
 TefF-bread, strongly powdered with black pepper, or Cayenne 
 pepper, and fossile salt ; they then wrap it up in the Teff- 
 bread like a cartridge. 
 
 In the mean time, the man. having put up his knife, with 
 each hand resting upon his neighbour's knee, his bodv stoop- 
 ing, his head low anil forward, and mouth open very like an 
 idiot, turns to the one whose cartridge is first ready, who 
 stufls the whole into his month, which is so full that he is in 
 constant danger of being choked. This is a 'nark oj grandeur. 
 
 The
 
 46 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 The greater the man would seem to be, the larger piece he 
 takes in his mo'th : and the mote noise he makes in chewing 
 it, the more polite he is thought to be. They have indeed a 
 prove] b that says, " Beggars and Thieves only cat small 
 pieces, or without making a noise." Having dispatched this 
 morsel, which he docs very expeditiously, his next female 
 ne ghbour h .Ids forth another cartridge, which goes the same 
 way, and so on. till he is satisfied. He never drinks till he 
 has finished his eating, and before he hegins, in gratitude to 
 the fair ones that fed him, he makes up two small rolls of the 
 same kind and form; each of his neighbours opens her 
 mouth at the same time, while with each hand he puts their 
 portion into their mouth. lie then falls to drinking out of 
 a large handsome horn; the ladies eat till they arc satisfied, 
 and then all drink together. i ' Vive la Jo\ e ct la Jeuncsse!'' 
 A great deal of mirth and joke goes ground, very seldom 
 with any mixture of acrimony or ill humour. 
 
 All this time the unfortunate victim at the door is bleed- 
 ing indeed, b it bleeding little. As long as they can cut 
 off the flesh from Ids hones they do net meddle with the 
 thighs, or the parts where the great arteries arc ; at last they 
 fall upon the thighs likewise, and, soon after, the animal, 
 bleeding to death, becomes so tough, that the Cannibals who 
 have the rest of it to eat, find very hard work to separate the 
 flesh from the bones, with their teeth, like dogs." 
 
 Bruce's Travels, vol, iii.pa^e 301, Sec, 
 
 No. V.
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 47 
 
 No. V. 
 
 KERSAINTs SPEECH. 
 
 The Notes signed <{ Kersaint" are extracted from the 
 Translation of that Officer's memorable Speech lately 
 published by Ridgway : but it has been found necessary 
 to correct, them by a faithful collation with the Original 
 Speech, as given in the Moniteur or Gazzette Nationale. 
 In the last of these Extracts, where the Orator talks of the 
 Treaty to be signed with this Country, the publisher has 
 prudently forborn to give any intimation of the place whereon 
 it is to be signed; "5r/wRuiNES(fe^TouR de Londres;" 
 as well as to notice the significant epithet {i detrompe," (the 
 English of both which expressions are distinguished by 
 Italicks in the Extract alluded to) for fear, it is presumed, of 
 wounding the patriotic sensibility of his Anglo-Jacobin 
 Readeks. 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 HOTTENTOTS, APES, AND ATHEISTS. 
 
 The Work of M. Vaillant referred to in the Notes of page 
 27, has been reviewed by the learned M. de la Meiherie and 
 the other ingenious conductors of the ,: Journal Physique." 
 Of Their very curious Comment, upon M. Vaillant's in- 
 teresting information, together with the text, I shall subjoin 
 a faithful translation, as it affords additional proof of" the ge- 
 neral prevalence of Atheistical Fanaticism, which al- 
 though Mr. Sheridan thinks it :; a ddicate w.'j.J." has been 
 
 openly
 
 4 3 A D D I T- 1 V A L K O T i i . 
 
 openly avowed and triumphantly vaunted at various times, 
 and on various occasions by many persons of Republican 
 Eminence besides Mr. Jacob Dupont in his celebrated 
 speech before quoted in page 13. 
 
 " The Author (M. Vaillant) has refuted all that Kolbe has 
 advanced respecting their Religion, &c." 
 
 " I have not perceived among this people (the Gonaquois 
 ii Hottentots) any trace of Religion, any thing which ap- 
 *' proaches even towards the idea of a Being who shall pu- 
 " nish and reward. I have lived a considerable time with 
 * : them, I have been domesticated with the.-n in the bosom 
 " of their peaceable deserts I have in the company of these 
 " brave people made excursions into very remote regions. 
 " In no part of them have I met with any thing which has 
 * : a resemblance to Religion." vaillant. 
 
 Here we have a grand problem, in the history of the hu- 
 man race, resolved. It has long been pretended that no 
 human society could subsist without religion ; that they who 
 would endeavour to obliterate every religious idea were no 
 other than the most perverse of men. The Gonaquois have 
 no idea of religion, and yet they are the gentlest people upon 
 the earth, and most rigidly observe all the laws of humanity ; 
 they arc well-disposed, humane, hospitable, generous ; their 
 lips enlivened with smiles and gaiety are cxpress-ve of the 
 constant happiness which they enjov. Such is Alan as he 
 comes from the hands of Nature he scabs onlv to supply Ins 
 wants. These charming climates of the Torrid Zone which 
 are his native countrv as well as That of ail n rm n [pedes 
 of Apes (son frays natal, comme celzi d& touie; la autres especes dt 
 singis, Sec.) might furnifh him abundantly with every thing 
 that is necessary Why should lie be more vicious (plus 
 mechantj than the Apes themselves? Why, in order to he 
 happy and to live in society, should hi huvc cvy more c < <
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES.' 49 . 
 
 for Religion than they ? M. Vaillant depiftures every in- 
 stant the happiness he enjoyed in these peaceable retreats, 
 and continually regrets the charming^moments which he has 
 passed there. Oh! how infinitely prefer tblc are these pure 
 pleasures of Nature to those which we seek to substitute for 
 them in the social state /" 
 
 Le Metherie, Journal de Physique Page 453. 
 
 December 1789. 
 
 TRAITS OF FRENCH CHARACTERS. 
 
 For the accommodation of such Readers as will not be at 
 the trouble of exploring the recent productions of French 
 Writers it may not be unseasonable to subjoin a few striking 
 traits of different personages who are indebted for their ce- 
 lebrity, or, more properly for their notoriety, to the French 
 Revolution. They may be reasonably allowed to bring up 
 the rear of those Worthies, of whom the preceding 
 Stanzas have faintly attempted to touch upon the birth, pa- 
 rentage, education, life, character, and behaviour, &'c. Hap- 
 py the liard who shall celebrate the last Dying Speech and Con- 
 fession of the whole illustrious Groupe ! ! 
 
 The Extracts are principally taken from " Le Veritable 
 Portrait dc nos Legislateu rs, a Paris, 1722." The just 
 title of these Legislators to the compliments here paid them 
 few will be inclined to dispute, and certainly no one who lias 
 the slightest acquaintance with the original publication, that 
 publication yielding the strongest internal testimony of tlic 
 Democratic Principles of the \V liter, evidently a staunch 
 friend and advocate of the On 1. fan-, party, who professes to 
 have bee;;, himself, an Actor in the (J rand Scene which lie de- 
 scribes, and ready to make oath of the veracity of his asser- 
 tions. See Lc Vintabk Pvrirui.', &>.p, 2.
 
 ^O ADDITIONAL NOTES, 
 
 LA FAYETTE. 
 
 La Fayettf. is tall, thin, and well proportioned, with 
 light hair inclining to reel, his eyes wandering and gloomy 
 have a sinister character, while his mouth, artificially opened, 
 smiles on all the world : las speech is not inharmonious, but 
 slow, and seems to be always afraid of betraying his thoughts. 
 La Fayette, a Despot in his own family, and accessible to 
 those only who were entirely devoted to him, assumed, 
 amidst the popular assemblies, a tone of modesty and an air 
 of precision carried almost to absurdity. Ever cap in 
 hand to the multitude, although surrounded with a numerous 
 company of Adics-de-Camp, the vulgar were grossly duped 
 by this contrast of pride and meanness, which could not but 
 excite the contempt of men of sense and reflection. 
 
 Always preceded or followed by his emissaries who strained 
 their voices till they were hoarse with the exclamation, 
 " Vive La Fayette !" The mob reiterated the cry by instinft. 
 The General bowed with condescention, and returned home 
 with the satisfaction of believing himself adore'. 
 
 " Lt Veritable. Portrait de nos Legislat." p. 42. 
 
 If Fa Fayette had been endowed by Nature with any rcc- 
 ot heart, or compass of Understanding, lie would have 
 endeavoured, from the very fust, to have moderated and con- 
 trouled the furious progress of insurrection ; bur, on the con- 
 trary, he excites, he precipitates, lie ]et>tihes it : what shall 
 I say! II;. sanctim: .^ 11' in pronouncing witii emphasis 
 this maxim, which will be his condemnation: " Insurrec- 
 tion IS THE MOST SACKED OF DUTIES." , I' IllSUrrCCliOTl CSt 
 
 h Plus saint des devoirs. J 
 
 Peltier, " Tableau dc Paris 1 ' Xo. 1, Appendix, p. 5. 
 1 lis
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 5 1 
 
 He grows daily more abjecl in his adulation towards th 
 people; with his voice and his pen he thus addresses even 
 the common porters of Paris: " To execute your orders, 
 " to die, if obedience to your wills demand it; such is the 
 " sacred duty of Him whom You have condescended to name 
 " your Commandant General." So abjccl is the language 
 of this Eldest Son of Liberty who hath overthrown a Court for 
 the privilege of creeping in the Streets [qui n'a renverse une 
 Cour que pour ramper dans les rues). Ibid page g. 
 
 V ABBE S YE YES. 
 
 A profound Metaphysician, naturally endowed with the 
 capability of a&ing the principal part in the New Organiza- 
 tion of the French Government, the Abbe Sycyes was almost 
 an useless Member of the National Assembly. 
 
 After the night of the Fourth of August, the Epoch of 
 the Abolition of Ecclesiastical Privileges and Tithes, the 
 Abbe Sycyes proved in a most unphilosophical and extrava- 
 gant discourse, that Interest is the Primum Mobile of Man- 
 kind. 
 
 The Abbe Syeycs, seated in the Committee of the Consti- 
 tution, has by no means answered the expectation of his Col- 
 leagues and of the Publick. This man, morose in disposition, 
 bigottcd to his own opinions, could never accord with his 
 Coadjutors, and appeared to abandon his party. 
 
 All the produce which the Assembiv has reaped from his 
 talents was a detestable discourse on the Liberty of the Press, 
 and the Plan of a Decree worthy of a Sartinc and a Lenoir. 
 
 Le Veritab. Portrait. 
 
 B A ILLY.
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES, 
 
 BAILLY. 
 
 It is astonishing that we should have scarcely any thing to 
 say of a man who, in the next degree to La Fayette, has 
 shared all the honours of the Revolution, and who was in- 
 debted to chance alone for the first place of trust, the Mayoralty 
 of Paris, as a recompcncc indicative of that estimation he 
 little merited. 
 
 From the time when he was honoured with the first presi- 
 dency of the Three Orders united, the Great Man has disap- 
 peared, and we have seen, in the Mayor of Paris, nothing 
 more than the passive Tool of La Fayette, of a corrupt Mu- 
 nicipality, and of all the Ministerial Cabals. 
 
 Lt Veritable Portrait, p. 54. 
 
 VOL KEY. 
 
 If the Nation bestows a recompence on Individuals, in 
 proportion to the Means which they possess of serving her, 
 Volncy deserved her rccomnence : but if she bestows a re- 
 compence proportionate to the real service which Men of 
 Talents render her, Volney ou^hl to refund all that lie lias: 
 received. Lc Veritable Portrait, p. 75. 
 
 BARN AVE. 
 
 Tins young man, in the next degree to Mirabeau, occu- 
 pied the public attention during the session ol the Consti- 
 tuent Assembly. He has been represented with two faces. 
 For my pait I have never remarked any other other expres- 
 
 kion
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. gj 
 
 sion in his countenance than that which was occasioned by 
 the circumstances of the times, accordingly as those circum- 
 stances operated on his Self-love, the sole principle of his ac- 
 tions'. 
 
 Barnave will never possess any real talent ; his heart is 
 Cold, his discourse prolix, abounding with tautology, amplifi- 
 cations, adverbs, which, appearing to be accumulated in 
 every phrase, only for the purpose of affording the protrac- 
 tion necessary to a sluggish imagination, sufficiently prove 
 that Barnave is no better than the retailer and amplifier of 
 the sentiments of another, and formed to the business of in- 
 trigue by a crafty cabal, who have possessed themselves of 
 him from the very commencement of his political career, 
 and will never again relinquish their instrument. 
 
 CHAP ELI ER. 
 
 This Counsellor of Britanny, known at Rennes for a 
 Busybody, had shaken oiF the dust of his shoes against his 
 country before he quitted it 
 
 A man of talents, a good Logician, but corrupt, and born 
 with all the vices of that description of persons which was 
 lately styled " Good Company." Chapelier had too much un- 
 derstanding not to perceive that, in the great Scene which 
 was opening on the publick, Men of Artifice and Intrigue 
 would play the principal part ? He therefore distinguished him- 
 self by a direct opposition to the Court, in order afterwards to make 
 Kith that very Court terms more advantageous to his own interests. 
 
 Le Veritable Portrait. p. 8j. 
 
 ROBESPIERRE.
 
 54 
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 ROBESPIERRE. 
 
 General of the Sans Culottes, Enemy of all Sove- 
 reignty, intrepid defender of the rights of the people, Robes- 
 pierre wanted only natural consequence, Eloquence d la 
 Danton, and something less of presumption and obstinacy. 
 
 This man, nurtured with the Morality of Rousseau, has 
 had the courage to form himself upon his model. He pos- 
 sessed his austere principles and manners; his savage cha- 
 racter and unaccommodating spirit ; lie had not indeed his ta- 
 lents, but Robespterre was, nevertheless, no ordinary man. 
 
 Le Veritable. Portrait, p. 107. 
 
 RABAUD DE SAINT-ETIENNE. 
 
 In the infancy of the Revolution, Rabaud wished to dis- 
 tingu.fh himself, and succeeded; some premeditated and set 
 discourses, well drawn up, procured him success; but from 
 the moment in which Men of great talents came forward, 
 Rabaud was silent. In this he shewed his discernment. 
 
 He is not deficient in understanding, nor even Oratorical 
 talent, but he has little pretensions to character. His publica- 
 tions respecting the National Gendarmery, and the organiza- 
 tion of the National Guard, are destitute of common sense: he 
 should have confined him--elf to objects that were familiar to 
 him, and not have been so conceited as to a ; m at every thing. 
 Th'S is a failing common indeed to men of merit, but muck 
 more so to blfkheads. and posterity, which views things 
 only in their eilects, makes no distinct 'on between them. 
 
 Le rental). Portrait, p. 152. 
 
 I' ABBE
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTE6, 55 
 
 V ABBE GREGOIRE. 
 
 Originally Cure of Embermen.il near Nancy, at present 
 Bishop of Blois by the election of the people, the Abbe Gre- 
 goire in the assembly of the clergy, was the most strenuous 
 combatant against the prejudices of his Order. He seemed wil- 
 ling to give one sigh to the abolition of the Ecclesiastical 
 Tithes, but this momentary weakness was speedily atoned for. 
 
 Le Veritab. Portrait, p. 118. 
 
 ALEXANDER LAMETH. 
 
 Of all those vile instruments of Despotism who are deno- 
 minated Couitiers, perhaps the most artful, the most traiterous, 
 the most hateful was Alexander Lameth. 
 
 It was at the very moment in which the Queen had con- 
 ferred accumulated obligations on his family, that he coolly 
 deliberated on the means of subverting the throne of his Be- 
 nefactress. Enveloped for a long time in the most profound 
 policy, possessed of too much address to discover himself 
 openly in the commencement of a Revolution to which he 
 was afraid to trust, but of which he secretly directed the 
 springs, it was not until he had rendered himself the chief, 
 and in effect the despot of the Military Committee, that he 
 gave the reins to his ambition. A very indifferent Orator, but 
 a refined Politician, his forte consisted in sowing dissention 
 among different parties, in embroiling them with each other, 
 in order to manage them afterwards at his pleasure. 
 
 The enemy of all domination, lie would himself be the 
 only despot. For a considerable time he governed the Jaco- 
 bins under the mask of Patiiotism. 
 
 Le Veritab. Portrait, p. 87. 
 E 2 T ALLEY-
 
 66 
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 TALLEYRAN D-PERIGORD. 
 
 ANCIEN EVEQUE d'aUTUN. 
 
 His country owes to this Prelate a particular acknowledg- 
 ment on account of his condul respecting the sale of National 
 Property, and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. He has dared 
 to take his stand between the Church and the People, at a 
 time when the Revolution was not established, and uu 
 conduct has fixed the wavering measures of those, who, 
 although well-wishers to the interests of the publick, were 
 afraid of venturing too far. 
 
 We were in want of Bishops of the old establishment for 
 the purpose of consecrating our Constitutional Bishops ; all 
 the French Prelates, even the Archbishop of Sens, had re- 
 fused their assistance. He (Perigord) has cut the Gordian Knot, 
 and has afforded his Ministry for this purpose. After these 
 signal services, What has France to do with his Gam- 
 bling, his Pleasures, his pretended Stock-jobbing? 
 
 Lc Veritable Portrait, p. 145. 
 
 This noble Ecclesiastic cannot like many others be justly ac- 
 cused of ingratitude to his Royal Master, as it is well known, 
 that he was advanced to the Prelacy much against the incli- 
 nation of that unfortunate Monarch, his promotion being 
 extorted by the urgent and importunate entreaty of a dying 
 father, as appears from the following account by the Che v. 
 Bintinaye. 
 
 " Who could dare undertake the apology of the Bishop 
 of Autun, the name or sight of whom is sufficient to convey 
 an idea of the most abjeft turpitude and the blackest per- 
 verseness ; Him } of whom the deceased Mirabeau asserted,
 
 ADBITIONAL NOTES, 57 
 
 " For lucre he would sell his soul, and he would be in the right, for 
 " it would be exchanging Ordure for Gold. 
 
 We can however exculpate him from the charge of having 
 purchased his Bishoprick. Every body knows that the King 
 had resolved never to make him a Bishop, and that the royal 
 resolution yielded to the prayers of a valued and dying fa- 
 ther, who had been^deceived by his hypocritical promises of 
 reformation. Obs. du Chev. Bintinaye. Pages 73, 74. 
 
 M. CONDORCET. 
 
 fronte politus. 
 
 Astutam vapido servus sub peclore, vulpem. 
 
 Persius, Sat. 5. 
 
 The place of Secretary to the French Academy before it 
 belonged to M. Condorcet, was held by M. Granjean de 
 Fonchy, a respe&able character, in the decline of life, and 
 in moderate circumstances. 
 
 A person of learning and opulence, deceased, had be- 
 queathed a sum of money to the Secretary of the Acadcmv, 
 besides a pension of 1200 livres, as an augmentation of the 
 salary of his office. Of this bequest M. Condorcet and some 
 of his very intimate friends had the earliest intelligence, 
 while the party concerned, was wholly ignorant of the 
 matter. Under these circumstances a treaty was entered into 
 and very expeditiously concluded with M. De Fonchv, for the 
 purchase of his place, which he resigned to M. Condorcet, 
 who possessed himself of the bequest and pension, and who 
 graces at this hour, the post which lie acquired with so much 
 ingenuousness and liberality. 
 
 He had a principal share in bringing to Paris the Assassins 
 who were dispatched from hence to murder his pupil and 
 beiicfaclor, the Due de Rochfoucalt. 
 
 E 3 BR1SS0T.
 
 58 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 BRISSOT 
 
 Was known before the Revolution, by the name of Brissot 
 de Warvillc. He was the confident of La Mottc, who was 
 executed in this country as a spy. He so frequently mistook 
 his Neighbour's pockets for his own, as to occasion the pro- 
 verbial application of the the word Brissoteur, to a Pick- 
 pocket. Flower of the Jacobins. 
 
 M. Brssot was, a few years fmce, well known to some of 
 the Police Officers of this country as a pick-pocket '. but upon 
 their endeavouring to obtahi a more intimate acquaintance 
 with him, he withdrew to France, &c. Fennel, p. 430. 
 
 ARCHBISHOP OF SEXS. 
 
 The Archbishop of Toulouse, who became Archbishop of 
 Sens, Cardinal of the name of Lomenie, afterwards Apos- 
 tate, afterwards Nothing the most rapacious, and at the 
 same time the most incapable Minister that ever existed. 
 It is a circumstance unprecedented in all countries of the 
 globe, even in Constantinople, that, in so short an administra- 
 tion, one man should ha ,- e monopolized so many favours, 
 should have accumulated so much wealth, and given su many 
 proofs of fully aid. immo >; i:v. 
 
 Note in Va?e 27 of La Fie de Louis XI 1. par M. de Limon. 
 
 Wuh the advancement of the Archbidiop of Toulouse, 
 afterward Arc 'bishop of S: ns, to the Ministry, commenced 
 the misfortun :sof Fiance, &c. Page 71). 
 
 It was under his administration that Lettres dc Cachet re- 
 sumed their empire. Page 80. 
 
 It
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES* (jQ, 
 
 It was under his administration that people began to talk of 
 doubling the numbers of the Third Estate, and of confound- 
 ing the orders of the States General. Page 86. 
 
 The Archbishop of Sens imagined that One Sole Assem- 
 bly, whose deliberations were decided by the votes of indi- 
 viduals, and which was balanced by no counterpoise of au- 
 thority, would be the sport of his intrigues ana the prey of 
 corruption. He exprfted to establish despotism upon the 
 ruins of the pillars of the Throne. 
 
 The patriots in their turn, have pardoned his excesses, as a 
 recompence for his zeal against the L ? y. the Nobility, and the 
 Parliament; and the the tyrant of 1788 is returned 111 peace 
 to France, since the period of the Revolotion. lie has t. ken 
 the oath of Apostates, and is become the favourite of Demo- 
 crats. It must also be observe i, that miny first-rate patriots 
 of the Assembly, had been the supporters of his administra- 
 tion. Many arc known for such. ..s Tor ft. Goupel, Ker- 
 Velegan. Champeaux, &c. Others who were not known, 
 were deterred from attacking him, lor fear he should deve- 
 lope their real principles. 
 
 To demonstrate to all the world that truthof which I myself 
 have evident perception- 'hat tin- An idrshop of Sens is the 
 primary and principal Author vi the I of France it 
 
 would perhaps be necessary to dilate considerably, to assem- 
 ble and collect a multitude of particular fc.cts which should 
 unmask his secret i n t r 1 ^ .es. 
 
 But this trouble may lie spare I I 1 the month of March 
 1 790, he has dared to buast, in I . mids' of ';i.-,o en Catnedral, 
 in the face of a numerous audience A uil jith : : v n I now rt- 
 ; 
 
 >e an words which the Pope has made use of in speak- 
 ing of tins l'\. , 
 
 E 4 Vix
 
 60 ADDITIONAL NOTES.' 
 
 u Vix enim Cardinalis, exul atque extorris a solo patrio, inchoa* 
 turn crescentemque vidit GalUcani Convtntus opera illam rerum 
 con version em, quam nobiscum ignorabant omncs per eum ip 
 sum. mimsterii sui tempore, desicnatam et paratam fuisse, 
 nulla mora interpositd se contulit ad ecclesiim suam cathedralem 
 Senonenscm j ibiqut, mense Martio anni 1790, veritus minime est 
 sermon em coram omnibus habere, et nov am rerum immutatio- 
 
 MEM PLUR1MA LAUDE CUMULARE, eo USqUC Ut ddem COtl- 
 
 dendx se aliis incitamento fuisse gloriatus sit." 
 
 Observations du Chev. Bintinaye. Pages 87, 88, 
 
 SAINT M IRA BEAU. 
 
 CANONIZED AND U N C A N O N I Z E D . 
 
 Mirabeau was, through life, the most unmoral of men. A 
 bad son an execrable husband .1 brutal lover an impe- 
 rious master: His character sometimes loose, sometimes se- 
 vere ; had in it no fixed principle of action. 
 
 Le Veritable Portrait, p. 1 2. 
 
 Mirabeau, in the space of one ye.r, paid debts to a vast 
 amount, made purchases of land, of moveables, of a very 
 valuable library; he lived in great state, even Ins pleasures 
 although not of a refined, were of a very expensive sort; 
 and ;:s he neglected no kind of trick to gam popularity, he 
 distributed alms in abundance without being either humane or de- 
 vout. From what source could He derive Ins uruhoug'it of 
 Opulence ! fie who, prosecuted by his Creditors for the >pace 
 cf eighteen months, commenced his political career by swind- 
 ling -|B.coo livies from La Favette. Tnis honourable exploit 
 cl the Cheat Mirabeau is detailed in the Note at the bot- 
 tom of page 17, as follows ; 
 
 La Fayettr,
 
 A.BDITIONAL NOTES, 6l 
 
 La Fayette, not content with having enlistee! in his pay an 
 army of spies and mercenaries, to applaud him wherever he 
 should appear in public, wished also to purchase Mirabeau. 
 Well acquainted with his necessitous circumstances, he made 
 him an offer of 24.000 livres. Eight days were employed in 
 concluding the bargain. During this interval La Fayette's 
 trusty friend, Talon, procured the money, and tendered it, in 
 the General's name, to Mirabeau, Talon himself being igno- 
 rant that a banker had already engaged to advance the sum ; 
 Mirabeau lost no time, gave Talon the meeting at seven 
 o'clock, and having taken the money, he stepped into his 
 carriage, and driving off with expedition, received a consi- 
 deration of equal amount from the banker. This little vo- 
 luntary jnistake was reft ficd at the expence of the Civil 
 List, which re-established cordiality between the several par- 
 tics. Page 17. 
 
 M. EGALITE. 
 
 Here you have the implacable Mover of all the insurrec- 
 tions, of all the calamities which have devastated r r:c. 
 When the whole Universe denounce and condemn nun, 
 shall I, bv an unmanly silence, suffer the Assassin of my So- 
 vereign to reap the fruit of his crimes in peace? No. My 
 grief shall he indulged without restraint, since Ms hatred was 
 without pity. Ah! of what import is it tomcat this moment 
 that Providence, to terrify mankind, distinguished his b : rth hy 
 its proximity to the Throne ! lie who poniards my Master, is 
 no Member of his Family. Here the blood of the lio ubons 
 forfeits every title to regard. Ori eans falling fro-)' one abyss 
 of guilt to another is self-sentenced, is self-degraded, lie was 
 
 willing
 
 62 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 willing to level himself with Ruffians that he might be in- 
 titled to command them. He has descended from that rank. 
 in which Chance had mis-placed him. Me has not abjured 
 his name he has resumed it his birth was evidently an er- 
 ror of Nature; an error which she wdl eternally tegret. 
 Unnatural Son, he could never pardon the virtues oi his Fa- 
 ther: Barbarous Husband he tyrannized over the purest 
 virtue, over a mind of the most elevated stamp ; he hhhself 
 was not ashamed to denounce to the Convention this unfor- 
 tunate Princess, whose only error was her esteem for him. 
 A Father, the corruptor of his Children the Execut.oner of 
 his Posterity, he saenfi. ed to the projects of his hatred the 
 very existence oi his descendants. A Prince, the enemv to 
 theTnrone: a Gentleman, tie destroyer of the Nobility: 
 A Citizen, he overwhelmed his native land with ruin, he 
 sold his Country and its powerful Master, and made the Laws 
 subservient to his interest. In each several relation of Sub- 
 ject, Friend, Parent, and Husband, treacherous and peifi- 
 dious. :o consummate h:s infamy, nothing remained for him 
 to perpetrate but the biucherv of his Sovereign, his Father, 
 his pjenetaftor. Dishonour to thy name Scourge of my 
 country all Nature revolts against thee The Universe no. 
 longer yields th.ee an asylum. 
 
 Dread \ our Accomplices, dread the remorse of vour own 
 conscience, dread a people whom you have abused. Man- 
 kind put sue you, and Eternal Justice impends over you. 
 
 La Vie de Louis XVI, par M. de Limon. Pages 55. j6. 
 
 The following Extrafl from Christies Letters on the 
 Revolution of France i^ given verbatim, (those tri/tin? varia- 
 tions excepted which were necessary in order to make it English) 
 and is part of the "Addrlsse alx Provinces," which 
 
 had
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 63 
 
 / 
 
 had a very considerable circulation in France. It contains 
 some striking traits of character, which, although 
 they appear to excite the patriotic indignation of the let- 
 ter writer, who is pleased to consider them as a sufficient 
 incitement to, and vindication of Massacre, yet as they con- 
 vey facts uncontroverted to this hour, I shall not hesi- 
 tate to insert them as a postcript to the preceding chapter of 
 Republican Worthies. 
 
 * I shall give you a specimen of the manner in which some 
 of the principal Members of the Assembly were characte- 
 rized in the famous Addresse aux Provinces, ou examen des 
 operations de 1' Assemble e Nationale.' 
 
 " Whom, I ask, have you chosen as Your Representatives 
 Whom but a paltry Robespierre, who was never known at 
 Arras but by Ins ingratitude to the Bishop, to whom he was 
 indebted for his education. 
 
 " A Mirabeau, escaped from the Gallows, but not from in- 
 famy, and whose very name is become an abomination. 
 
 " A Prince, who was never known anion': \ ou but by his 
 gluttonv, his love of money, and his indirlcrcnce to the opi- 
 nion of the public. 
 
 " A Pcthion de Villeneuve, in whom you have never been 
 able to distinguish anything but the confidence of folly, and 
 who (a vile instrument of factious mei ) resembles the Criers 
 of a fair, stationed at the doors of theatres to make a noise 
 whilst the farce goes on within. 
 
 " A Barnavc, an insolent, ignorant coxcomb, in whom ta- 
 lents supply the room of principle and morality, in a word, 
 what one calls a Droll. 
 
 ' An Abbe Sicyes. whom vou have seen dishonour himself at 
 the Assembly of Orleans, and who, after having tried in 
 vain every method of making his fortune, is come to con- 
 found all conditions, in order that lie may rob and plunder 
 amidst the disorders, 
 
 " A La
 
 64 
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 u A La Bordf, rich by m?ans of Fortv Millions stolen from 
 the state, the financier of the Archbishop of Sens, and then 
 the most faithful supporter of despotism ; but who after hav- 
 ing enriched himself with the slaughter of the unfortunate, 
 wishes (for his own sakc^ the destruction of those ranks into 
 which his Wealth alone could not procure his elevation. 
 
 *'" A Gouy d' Airy, who has not been able to escape con- 
 tempt even in THIS VILE ASSEMBLY." 
 
 Christie's Letters on the Rev. of France, p. 132. 
 
 Upon the circulation of this libel Mr. Christie founds his 
 justification of the Sanguinary French RevolutionSuch 
 are the abominable Truths to be answered only by 
 the Dagger.
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 65 
 
 COUP DE GRACE, 
 
 OR 
 
 GRACE FOR THE GRACELESS. 
 
 As I have begun this little Work with an Address to the As- 
 sociation at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Impartiality in- 
 duces me to conclude it with a short Suggestion to another 
 Society under the same Roof. 
 
 The Friends to the Freedom of the Press, have 
 lately determined to persevere in eating and drinking, and to 
 make free with their own Constitutions, as well as the Con- 
 stitution of their Country. The question was carried against 
 the dissent of a single member, Mr. Noel Edv/ards, whose 
 qualms of conscience on this occasion may probably save 
 him many more serious qualms. This proceeding of the 
 Society, it must be confessed, is not exactly conformable to 
 the rule of St. Paul, who rather than a weak Brother should 
 perish, declares, that he rvould eat no flesh while the World stand- 
 tlh. However as they have not yet pubhckly resolved to 
 establish true freedom of thinking and writing, by tr.e sup- 
 pression of that false, scandalous, and malicious Libel on 
 French Politicks and Philosophy, commonly called The 
 Bible, it is probable, they may be contented for the present 
 to pass for Christians : I beg leave therefore to hint to them 
 the propriety and decency of prefacing their future dinner* 
 with A GRACE. 
 
 There is an Old Form so admirablv suited to their views, 
 that I trust they will think me entitled to Ilonourj'.ie Men- 
 tion in their Proces Verbal, for pointing it out to their Notice. 
 It is the Form which was used by Mr. Erskine's Noble and 
 Royal Ancestors, when (according to his brother, Lord 
 BuchanJ they made Porridge Pots of their Helmets, and Ladles of 
 
 their
 
 65 
 
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES, 
 
 their Basket-hiked Swords. And as that learned Gentleman's 
 ancestors are, next to himself, the principal objetts of his 
 thoughts, I am certain it must gratify him beyond any thing 
 except' his own reports of his own speeches. Indeed it 
 cannot fail to give a patriotic edge to the appetite of his 
 worthy compatriots, the noble friend of Brissot, and other 
 brilliant Northern Lights of the Society, to whose ears it must 
 come peculiarly recommended from the friendly lips of their 
 Chaplain, the Reverend John Horne Tooke. 
 
 " Lord ! turn the World upside down, that Chris- 
 tians MAY MAKE BREAD OF IT !" 
 
 Pennant's Hebrides, p. 399.
 
 
 
 BOOKS 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. ANDERSON, 
 No. -62, H0LB0RN-H1LL. 
 
 TheWorks of the English Poets, with Prefaces Biographi- 
 cal and Critical, by Samuel Johnson. A New Edition, 
 with Portraits, 75 vols. 
 
 The Works of Dr. Samuel Johnson, with an Essay on his 
 Life and Genius, by Arthur Murphy, Esq. 12 vols. 
 
 Murphy's Essay on the Life and Genius of Dr. Johnson, 
 sold separate. 
 
 Dr. Doddridge's Family Expositor; or a Paraphrase and 
 Version of the New Testament: Witn a Practical Improve- 
 ment of each Section. The Seventh Edition. To vv.iich 
 is prefixed a Life of the Author, by Dr. KiPPia, and an ele- 
 gant Portrait by Heath. Aiso 
 
 Dr. Doddridge's other Works. 
 
 Milton's Paradise Lost, illustrated witn Notes fiom Scrip- 
 ture. By John Gillies, D. D. 
 
 Dr. Watts's Logick. A New Edition, price 3s. Boards. 
 
 Cheselden's Anatomy of the Human Body. The Thir* 
 teenth Edition, with 40 Copp; rpk.tes. 
 
 Ol whom nny also he had, 
 
 A GENERAL AS.vJii FAh,N V of the best ENGLISH 
 CLAoSlCKS, in Plain and Elegant Bindings.
 
 ijji, j rg 
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 R. B. SHERIDAN, Esq.

 
 A 
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 OP 
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 R. B. SHERIDAN, Esq; 
 
 WITH A 
 
 CONCISE CRITIQUE 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 NEW TRAJEDY 
 
 ENTITLED 
 
 P I Z A R R O. 
 
 JLonnon : 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. PARSONS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 *799-
 
 
 I
 
 -T , ll --= 3=g 
 
 R. B. SHERIDAN, Efq. 
 
 PERHAPS no fmgle objecl: of biography 
 ever prcfented itfelf poffefiing fo many 
 
 claims to admiration and attention as Mr. She- 
 
 i 
 
 RIDAN. 
 
 Very few indeed, have singly that energy 
 of mind, that vigour of intellect, to which 
 every thing gives Way, which by its own efforts, 
 without any facrifice of time or pleafure, has 
 fmoothed the road to fame, rectified the in- 
 justice of cuftom in the distribution of wealth 
 and honors, and afferted its own irrefiftible 
 claim to pre-eminence. Nature has been al~ 
 moft uniformly a niggard io mankind in her 
 deftribution of fuptnor talents; profufe in uftful 
 mediocrity, which ferves all the common pur- 
 pofes of life, file is very parfimonious in dis- 
 playing the admirable fublimity of cental grcat- 
 
 a
 
 nefs', like the dazzling comet, tranfendent genius 
 blazes but feldom on the world, we are not 
 often' aftonished by its brilliant irradiations; it 
 is rather venerated like afhes in an urn than 
 valued as an exifting gem detraction will not 
 let it live. 
 
 For three generations the family of Sheridan 
 have been confpicuous in the annals of celebrity. 
 His grandfather was the intimate friend and 
 favourite of Swift, the companion of his leifure, 
 the depofitary of his confidence, and the imitator 
 of his wit; his father was the corrector of the 
 Englifh accent, the guide of foreigners in the 
 attainment of our language, and univerfally 
 acknowledged the beft declaimer of Englifh in 
 his day; he was a confiderable time manager- 
 of the Dublin theatre, which the animofity of 
 party compelled him to quit, but in London, 
 both as an actor and a public lecturer, he 
 found emolument and fame. 
 
 The mother of Mr. Sheridan had alfo con- 
 fiderable literary reputation, derived from fome 
 plays, novels, and other works, which poflefs 
 great merit.
 
 3 
 
 Mr. Richard Brinfley Sheridan was born on the 
 paffage from Dublin to Holyhead, about the year 
 
 1750. 
 
 He was educated at Harrow. 
 
 The matter of fuch a fcholar might from 
 hence alone be called of note, but he needed 
 no circumftantial recommendations, he was Dr. 
 Sumner, whofe claflic reading, equal, to that of ' 
 any of his cotempories, was exceeded only by 
 his tafte, and whofe colloquial powers were 
 yet better than either; as elegant as Heathy as 
 ingenuous and almoft as liberal, he was more 
 ftrenuous and enterprifing, fearched better into 
 character, and knew better how to command it; 
 with the diligence of the Weftminfter Smith, 
 he combined the hilarity of the Eton Bernard. 
 
 With fuch a mafter, and fo feconded as by 
 
 ,Parr, now of fuch fame for eloquence and 
 
 latinity, what 'was not to be expected? and what 
 
 was not done? the prefent narrative is to fay, 
 
 they Jc ho oled Mr. Sheridan. 
 
 Some of the fined openings in this extraor* 
 dinary character may be retraced fo far back 
 as that timej he had then the enlightening power 
 
 b 3
 
 4 
 
 of fuperior. fenfe, a generous difdain of all that 
 was felfifh and petty, he feemed better than 
 moft boys to meafure his ftrength, and know 
 how to accomplilh his defires. 
 
 In his fchopl exercifes his- Latin verfes, very 
 properly from the infignificance of the purfuit, 
 were the worft; his Englifh profe, as properly to 
 be cherifhed for its importance, was the. belt; 
 but none of thofe exercifes are now remembered a 
 and on the whole, though he had then the credit 
 of genius, he was dij credited by the negligent 
 ufe of it; he could have done any thing he 
 would, but, would have done nothing if he 
 could. 
 
 It is odd enough, and in a time of omens, 
 it had been deemed aufpicious, that his laft 
 effort at fchool was a public fpeech, and to the 
 Senate too; what Shakefpear has fet down to 
 Anthony; this was much celebrated at the 
 time. Here too it is remarked by a school- 
 fellow, now at the writers' elbow, that he was 
 always fond of acting plays, and ever bufy in 
 managing the preparations, fcenery. Sec. for their 
 performance.
 
 5 
 
 When he left fchool, his predicament was 
 full of peril; his father's chief fupport was that 
 moderate allowance which literature^ ever be- 
 friended by Lord Bute, had got him from 
 the crown; he was unable to fend his fon to 
 college, or indeed to fupport him fufficiently out 
 of it.* 
 
 The world was before him with all that woeful 
 width of drearinefs, when in all before him, a 
 man can fee nothing he can call his own, what 
 therefore was to be done ?t but what he could do 
 
 * Mr. Sheridan's father introduced him at Bath with a 
 view to afliftance in his readings, where the following {lory is 
 told of him; the father, knowing the fon 's excellence at decla- 
 mation, had.caufed his name to be inferted in the advertise- 
 ment of his own reading; the youth mortified at this fuppofed 
 degradation of education and character, went to the printer, 
 and menaced him with chaftifement, if he mould ever again. 
 make free with his name, and the printer remembering the 
 wholefome advice of the old adage, in propria pellc quit/a- t 
 omitted it, and to this circumftatice is imputed the fubfequent 
 mifundcrftanding between him and his father: this an- 
 at lead ferves to fhew Mr. Sheridan's fpirit, and the opinion 
 he entertained of himfelf. 
 
 + Complaints of the flow rewards of eminent endowment 
 have been frequent, long and pathetic ; reams of paper have been 
 moiHencd by the wailings of neglecled literary abilities : L
 
 for himfelf ! all intellectual advance feemed hope- 
 iefs moral failing, was too probably not a little to- 
 be fearedall unhappy tendencies bore hard upon 
 him from without, that they were encountered was 
 his lot, that they were overcome is to the ever- 
 lafting fame of all rare energies within! his vigor 
 
 of argument or reply I ihafl produce and exult (fays an elegant 
 writer,) while I produce the member for Stafford, who after 
 furmounting the obftacles of unpleafing form, narrow fortune, 
 peculiar paternal fituatlon, mitufterial frowns, and unpopular, 
 but I truft and believe a.miftaken opinion of his principles, has 
 attained a pre-eminence which enables him to meet on even ground, 
 the proud poffeflbrs of hereditary honor and wealth ; while to 
 crown his triumphs, foothe his forrows, gild the ftorms, and 
 fhare the funfhine of life, heaven blefled his love with ope who 
 united harmony with fentiment, and foftnefs with good fenfe ; 
 wit, worth, and beauty (hall long lament the early death of this 
 amiable woman, to whom Mr. Sheridan did not know how 
 much he was indebted, till deprived of her interefting fociety ; 
 without this friend, companion, counfellor, and guide, I am 
 perfuaded he never would have overtaken or retained the favorite 
 objects of his purfuits, in literature, connection, and ambition. 
 The following lines were once juftly applied to Mrs. Sheridan's 
 influence on her hufband. 
 
 Hope breathed forth thefe fafcirating fouads, 
 Friendfhip and honor foon fhall heal his wounds ; 
 The voice of nuptial love reforms his plan, 
 And moderation forms the future masu
 
 and capacity mud have had many hard trials ^his 
 fenfe of refponfibility and confcious druggie for 
 uprightnefs, mult have gone through very many 
 more ! 
 
 Talents fuch as, his can never be in want lite- 
 rary amufement and inftruction are in fuch demand 
 that he who can furnifh either, with fuperiority^ 
 may be fure by daily labour to eat his daily bread. 
 
 What might have been the expedients in this 
 cafe are eafily to be imagined; that they were at 
 times ingenious, neea not be doubted. I fliall 
 affirm alfo they were fair"; for if any one of them 
 had happened not to have been fo, who would not 
 have heard it every where bruited abroad? 
 
 The ruffian without a name, too ab- 
 ject to write, and too timorous, had fold the tale to 
 pamper his hunger, or told it, to glut his malignity. 
 
 No fuch thing with gallantry that no obftacle 
 could divert, with honor that was never ltained, and 
 with activity that nothing could tire; he forced 
 
 HIMSELF UP BY HONEST ARTS, not eilOUgh Valued, 
 
 becaufe not enough known. Probably with*nuch 
 honorable felf-denial in piivate ? but with no dimi-
 
 8 
 
 fcution of the expedient mew, and gratifying a&s 
 of a gentleman ! 
 
 With fcarcely enough for himfelf, he found 
 means to fpare not a little for others, un- 
 afked and without any claim for afking, but dif- 
 alter that was blamelefs he gave poor Davies, 
 the bookfeller <zo if this was not virtue;, where 
 is virtue to be found ? they who are now thought 
 ambitious of fair intentions muft be doomed to 
 droop over their own conduct, and look, for felf- 
 approving impulfes in vain. 
 
 Thus he went oiurefpefted and refpectable, till 
 his extraordinary merit met fome of it's requital 
 from the hand of Mrs. Sheridan*; the greater part 
 of his time was fpent at Bath, where his heart be- 
 came fufceptible of the attractions of Mifs LinJeyj 
 daughter of Mr. Thomas Linley, the Compofer, 
 who had crowned thofe gifts which nature, with 
 a lavifli hand, had beftow.cd on his daughter, with 
 every advantage refulting from a thorough ac- 
 quaintance with that fcience, whofe attribute it is 
 " to foften rocks, and bend the knotted oak." 
 Pie married this lady whole reputation he had 
 vindicated with his fword, and whofe amiable 
 
 * Mr. Sheridan has latch' entered the married ftate a fecond 
 time, by an alliance with Mifs Ogle.
 
 9 
 
 qualities he long cohfidered an ample recompence 
 for the wounds he had received as her champion. 
 The powers of her voice have been deemed above 
 all praife j yet the fafcination of her voice never 
 furpafied that of her face, and the charms of both 
 were rivalled by thofe of her mind. Her beauty 
 and talents procured her the diftinguifhed title of 
 the Maid of Bath. With this lady he enjoyed 
 as complete happinefs as the lot of human life 
 allows. If the wants of the day fometimes preffed 
 upon them, they were forgotten in the abundance 
 of to-morrow; and if the circle of their acquaintance 
 was limited, their own fire-fide and converfation af- 
 forded them enjoyments which few can tajie, but 
 which all might envy. This match was in fat 
 every way agreeable in itfelf, but which has not 
 been enough noticed for the more agreeable ufe 
 he made of it; they who knew how to look into 
 the deeds of men, and there faw his magnanimous 
 difdain of money,* difcerned at once what was to 
 
 * It could not however have happened in any other country 
 but England, that a young man, the fon of a player, who was 
 born to no inheritance, who acquired nothing by marriage, who 
 had never followed any profefhon, and who had not been a 
 gamefter, mould refufe, though in very difrrefled circumftances, 
 to let his wife fing at a royal concert, and at an enormous falary, 
 becaufe it would depreciate his character as a gtntleman* 
 
 C
 
 10 
 
 follow that he acled from a confeious certainty 
 of fiiperior powers, and a determined purpofe to 
 pufli them to objecls of all others the molt be- 
 coming. 
 
 i 
 That this gentleman, after having written a fuccefsful piece 
 or two at one Theatre, fhould find the means of raifing fufficient 
 fums of money to become the purchafer of a confiderable Ihare 
 of another, and afterwards the chief proprietor of a third. 
 
 Th a T this Author and Manager, having by the fuccefs and 
 merit of his' productions, eflablifhed his character as a man of 
 wit, and made an acquaintance with the fafhionable world, 
 mould live in a ftile of elegance and expence, that would foon 
 beggar a large fortune. 
 
 That this man offafoicn, being fo embnrraffed as not to find 
 the molt common credit, and apprehenfive even of fatal inconve- 
 niences to his public property, fhould defert the comic mufe for 
 politics, contrive with his lad guinea to get elefted into Parlia- 
 ment, and fet up at once for an aftive politician, exclaiming 
 againft ftatefmen and minifters, and boafting the loudeft zeal 
 for partriot integrity and public virtue. 
 
 That this Senator, after having been black-balled at fome of 
 the fafhionable clubs, having no money to lofe, and being an ob- 
 ject of diflike to fome very refpeclable members of one of th'ofe 
 focieties, lhould be able to prevail on men of rank to procurs 
 him admiflion. 
 
 That this member of B living himfelf in defiance of all 
 
 cconomy> fhould become an ceconoinift for the nation.
 
 11 
 
 Nothing occurred remarkable till his comedy 
 of the RIVALS, when his unforced withdrawing 
 of the play after the firft night Ihewed a facrifice 
 of probable proSt to fame, that a flerted his men- 
 tal bravery on one fide, as much as his affair with 
 Mr. Matthews proved his perfonal courage 
 on the other. 
 
 Initiated into the notice of the world as a dra- 
 matilt at a very early period, he even then foared 
 far beyond every competitor; his dialogue pof- 
 felfes all the wit of Congreve, the eafe of Vanbrughi 
 and the flrength of Wycherley. His Characters 
 are drawn in the deep and discriminating ftyle of 
 jfohnfon. His fables have the molt moral and 
 wholefome fatyrical tendency ; nor is there in his 
 whole writings, one Tingle obfcene expreffion or 
 double entendre, to tinge the cheek of modefty 
 with a blufh ! how few men of genius are there 
 who can boalt this enviable excellence ! but his 
 fancy being a rich inexhauftible golden mine, he 
 had no occalion to dcbafe it by fuch grofs alloy. 
 
 Stick a little progreflivc biographical hiftory is peculiar to old 
 England, a country favourable above a!l others to adventurers of 
 genius. Did he poilefs the wand of Midas, or the Lamp of 
 Aladin, or had he attained the long fought fecret of the Pbilo/i- 
 fhersjlonet what could he have effected more than he has done ? 
 
 C a
 
 With the firft receipts from that comedy^ he went 
 to Wilkie in St. Paul's Church-yard, and bought 
 a fet of law-books, with a determination, which h^ 
 might eafily have kept, of being fecond to no man 
 in Weftminfter-hall. 
 
 Wy cher ley has obferved, that Littleton and 
 the Mufes cannot refide in the fame head, it can- 
 not therefore be a matter of furprize, that Mr. 
 Sheridan, who was paflionately addicted to the lat- 
 ter, mould cultivate but little intimacy with the 
 Former; his proficiency in the ftudy of the law, 
 was fo inadequate to the expectation formed from 
 the vigor of his mind, and ftrength of understand- 
 ing, that in time he was induced to confider the 
 purfuit as defperate, and give up the ftudy ; fimi- 
 lar failures in men, who have afterwards been ce- 
 lebrated for the brilliancy and eminence of their 
 talents, have produced in the vain and in the idle, 
 an opinion that the ftudy of the law is degrading to a 
 man of genius or lively imagination, but in this they 
 err grievoufly; that fome men, under the impulfe 
 of particular genius, have been difcouraged, at 
 the drudgery, of which dulnefs is capable,, and 
 have fled affrighted from the neceffary introduc- 
 tory ftudy required to form an able Lawyer, we 
 are ready to admit; amongil thefe we hear of
 
 l 3 
 Congreve, Cclman, Sheridan, and fome others ; 
 but we hear nothing of the numbers whom indo- 
 lence, incapacity* involution, and the vanity of 
 following fuch great examples, ,have led to a fimt- 
 lar defertion, whom obfcurity and penury have 
 taught to lament their error. In fat the man 
 who abandons the purfuit of a profeffion he has 
 once elected, takes upon himfelf a moft dange- 
 rous refponfibility ; if the event be not extremely 
 favourable both to his fame and fortune, he incurs 
 the cenfure of all the world, and can hardly efcape 
 the flings of felf reproach. 
 
 What fame followed Mr. Sheridan's 
 other works, and how that fame fecured him 
 in the Patent, is too well known to be repeated. 
 Of true celebrity, on the gratification *of wit, and 
 the triumph of virtue, who has had more ? who 
 pan help envying him the bejl verfes of the time, 
 and the moft intellectual comedy* in exiftence t 
 
 * The plan of the School for Scandal, however is evidently 
 borrowed from Fielding's celebrated novel of Tom Jones Charles 
 and Jofiph Surface) are Tom Jones and Blifietd, with the varnifb. 
 of modern manners. Mr. Sheridan, faid a lady, is a fool if he 
 pays a bill, (of which, by the bye, he is not accufed) of one 
 of the tradefmen, who receives his comedy with fuch thunders 
 pfapplaufe ; he ought to tell them in the words of Charles, that 
 he could never make jvfiice^ keep pace ivith his generofitj, 
 and they could have no right to complain ; however fevcre the
 
 It is a prouder boaft, but not lefs ftri&ly true, 
 that hijhory lies in wait for his speech, as the 
 inoft tranfcendant effort any hijlory can call its own ! 
 
 Yet after all, what are words when there are deeds ? 
 who has done more where fo little was to be ex- 
 pected? who has been fo praife-worthy, under 
 circumftances fo dreadfully conducive to blame ? 
 never, it is well known, with more money than 
 wit, and always with lefs ceconomy than either, 
 his is the Jingular praife of refufing twice, three 
 thoufand pounds a year. 
 
 In the firft inftance, when he, with unexampled 
 refinement, deemed his wifes accomplifhments 
 
 farcafm may appear, the inference is juft ; our author has In a 
 mafterly manner blown up and expofed the covered ways, the 
 mines and countermines of hypocrify, cant, felfim planfibility, 
 and cunning; but I fear he has put to flight, at leaft out of coun- 
 tenance, a due attention to the common duties of life, decent de- 
 portment, purity of manners, and regularity of conduct ; in a 
 word, or rather his own words, he has damned fentiment, and 
 brought into difcredit and fufpicion that appearance of morality 
 and ferioufnefs, which has been pronounced the foil for every 
 virtue, and which however at times, ii may have ferved to dif- 
 giife the bafe purpofes of fraud hnd duplicity, was the nurfe of 
 religion, and in a thoufand inftances, highly fcrviccable to. the 
 i-itcreits and convenience of fociety. 
 
 r*
 
 *3 
 
 in ait too precious to be fold, and in the fecond, 
 when true to principle and party, he difmifled 
 with difdain the fuggeftion of felling himfelf! 
 
 Mr, Sheridan is equally the favourite of nature 
 and accident. 
 
 His birth is nolle ! for he was born of people 
 who had talents. His accomplijkmeiits are more 
 ennobling, for he owes them chiefly to himfelf. 
 
 Other people know what it is to feel magnani- 
 mity; he has been enabled moft enviably tojkew it. 
 
 When is good fortune fo enviable as when it 
 can be changed for fomething better? what is 
 better here better even than the friendship of 
 Mr. Fox the admiration of them who know how 
 to admire, and the praife of the praife-worthy, 
 is the felf-depending blifs infpires the whole 
 fpirit of man, where he finds he has fame, and 
 feels he deferves it. 
 
 Men of great genius feel confeious, that what- 
 ever their attention can attral, their minds can 
 embrace ; no purfuit in life, however difficult 
 can deter them when excited by ambition, when
 
 i6 
 
 Simulated by emulation. Thofe grofler fouls that 
 crawl up like the toad, into a niche in the temple 
 of fame by long perfeverance, and the moft painful 
 plodding, they foon outftrip. Their career is rapid, 
 aftonifhing and fuccefsful; the million wonder 
 at their fwiftnefs; their fuperi6fs in birth and 
 fortune are amazed at their progrefs; in vain 
 they attempt to trace their courfe ; in vain they 
 fearch to find the period at which they were left 
 behind; the genius Hill purfues his flights like the 
 voyager in air, while the dullard remains fixed 
 belowj difconcerted by the greatnefs of his daring, 
 and difheartened from purfuing the fame path, by 
 the immenfity of his diftance. 
 
 When Thalia had yielded our genius all her 
 charms, when even the neglefted and ridiculed 
 Melpomene was panting to embrace her agreeable 
 traducer, he unkindly deferted the one, and avoided 
 the other. Satiated' with fuch eafy conquefts, he 
 afpired to objects much more fplendid, though per- 
 haps not more folid ; his defertion was^lamented 
 by all the lovers of the Drama, and his new pur- 
 fuit fneered at by the envious and near-fighted. 
 They did not confider that the man who could 
 tread the moft difficult path of genius wkh eafe, 
 grace and dignity, was completely qualified to walk
 
 *7 
 in an inferior path, only more dignified: by the 
 noble fplendor of the company. 
 
 To the fagacity of Mr. Fox, we are indebted 
 for Mr. Sheridan's introduction into political life. 
 
 On Mr. Sheridan's entrance into Parliament, 
 he had many obftacles to furmount, many points 
 of knowledge to acquire; but the quicknefs of 
 his comprehenfion, the acutenefs of his penetra- 
 tiOnj and the depth of his understanding, joined to 
 tKe never ceafing ardour of his mind, foon over- 
 came every difficulty. His maiden orations 
 breathed modefty and diffidence, but precifion 
 and point; when once or twice perfonaHy attacked, 
 however, he chaftifed the ill-mannered petulants 
 by the mofi keen retorts; the hoarfe ridicule of 
 the majority was their punifhment. There are a 
 fet of human curs in fociety that growl and fnap, 
 like houfe-dogs at every gueft, as if all but them- 
 felves and their partizans were only intruders. 
 Gf this fpccies was his Grace of Grafton, when 
 Lord Thurlow took his feat in the houfe of Peers; 
 his Lordfhip did not wound the Duke with more 
 well-timed feverity than Mr. Sheridan wounded 
 his afiailants; the only difference was in the mode 
 of handling the weapon ; Lord Thurlow knocked 
 
 D
 
 8 
 
 his Grace down with the butt-end of his whip, 
 Mr. Sheridan excoriated the Premier with the 
 feather of the lafh. 
 
 In Mr. Sheridan's rapid acquirement of politi- 
 cal knowledge, he wanted thofe favourable family 
 aids, which ripened Mr. Fox, Mr. Pitt, and the 
 late Lord Lyttleton, into Statefmen, almoft 
 by the time they reached maturity. Genius, 
 judgment, attention, recollection, and perfeve- 
 rance, he certainly commanded; although he pof- 
 feffed not their early information, which nearly 
 equalled intuition; how eafily is knowledge ob- 
 tained, when the mind is green, when opportunity 
 and defire are great, and when the manners are 
 fcholaftic ? If youth be gifted with all the political 
 wifdom of age, it muft be generally through the 
 medium of fuch great mentors as a Chatham, a Hol- 
 land or a Lyttleton ; Mr. Sheridan is a rare and 
 and wonderful exception he {lands alone. 
 
 Mr. Sheridan foon proved his luperiority in 
 parliament, where he difplayed without embar- 
 raflment thofe talents which have raifed his re- 
 putation to the higheft pitch; equally expert at 
 a regular charge, or an unpremeditated reply, he 
 rendered himfelf terrible to the opponents of
 
 *9 
 
 his colleagues, by that vigor -of mind, extent 
 of information, and brilliancy of eloquence and 
 wit, which penetrated their concealed views, 
 expofed their fallacies, and by unexpected flames 
 and retorts overwhelmed them with confufion, 
 and expofed them to the derifion, not only of 
 the houfe but of the public* 
 
 The Shelburne administration was foon obliged 
 to give way to the great abilities by which it 
 was oppofed. 
 
 * The Angular felicity of Mr. Sheridan's allufion to the 
 character of Kastril, in the Alchymist, in reply to an 
 obfervation of Mr. Pitt, in which he illiberally alluded to 
 his dramatic efforts, is an eminent inftance of the cauftic feverity 
 of his manner, and in the probationary odes for the Laureat- 
 fhip, Lord Thurlow is made much in charader to exclaim- 
 
 " Damn Sheridan's wit, 
 
 " The terror of Pitt, &c." 
 In the attack and the defence the angry boy exhibited the 
 moll imbecile inferiority of genius ; he fubitituted fpleen for 
 irony, verbofity for argument, and fcurrility for wit; the 
 houfe fmiled at his defeat, becaufe he moft wantonly and unpro- 
 vokedly began the affault ; he has fince however, always tacitly 
 acknowledged his overthrow, by evading all perfonalities againft 
 his conqueror; this mews the utility of correction, and his 
 docility to amendment, while it has added to the laurels of 
 the victor, has improved the politenefs of the vanquiihed. 
 
 D 2
 
 20 
 
 Mr. Sheridan, in April, 1793s was promoted 
 to be fecrctary to the treasury, under the Duke 
 of Portland, but in this fituation he had little 
 opportunity of difplaying his abilities, except in 
 defence of Mr. Fox's celebrated India Bill. 
 
 From this time Mr. Sheridan has been doomed 
 to labor in the unprofitable field of oppofition^ 
 in which he has been conftant and indefatigable. 
 
 The progrefs of bis life/ from henceforward^ 
 is marked only by the exertion of his talents 
 in parliament. 
 
 In the feffion of 1785 he made feveral happy 
 fpeeches, particularly on Mr. Pitt's tax on per- 
 fumery, and on the celebrated Irijli propofitions ; 
 the former is no lefs remarkable for the brilliancy 
 of its wit and poignancy of its terms, than the 
 latter for its depth, folidity and force of argu- 
 ment. 
 
 The following year he brought forward a 
 motion on the fubject of finance, in which he 
 difplayed the union of mathematical precifion and 
 rhetorical elegance, almoft without a parallel.
 
 21 
 
 But all the fame he had hitherto acquired 
 was as nothing in comparifon with the very 
 celebrated fpeech he made in parliament in 1787, 
 when he opened the third article of the impeach- 
 ment againft Mr. Haftings, on the fubjecl of 
 the punifhment inflicted by him on the princeffes 
 of Oude, for rebellion; the duration of this 
 fpeech was five hours and three quarters, in it 
 were exhibited all the oratorical efforts the 
 human mind is capable of fuggefting; its pathos 
 drew tears even from thofe inclined to fcreert 
 the fuppofed delinquent from trial; its energy- 
 invaded every breaft, and conjured up every 
 fenfation the orator wifhed to excite; its happy 
 turns of wit gave rejief to its more folemn 
 parts, and calmed the minds of the too power* 
 fully agitated hearers; it produced ttfofe enlight- 
 ened plaudits which refult from fatisfa&ion, con- 
 veyed to the minds of the intelligent. To give 
 adequate praife to this admirable fpeech demands 
 talents little inferior to thofe of the man who 
 pronounced it; its general effect was to produce 
 convi&ion and co-operation in a party who before 
 had determined to negative the impeachment, 
 and to extort from the Houfe a tumultuous ap- 
 plaufe, never before witneffed within the wallj 
 of the Britifh Senate.
 
 22 
 
 The event of this impeachment is now generally 
 known, but ill fucceis can reflect no difcredit on 
 the talents exerted in fupport of it; the de- 
 ficiency of fuch evidence as would be deemed 
 legal, could in no wife be forefeen, the decided 
 fanu'on given to the party arraigned, and the 
 difcountenance constantly (hewn to the managers 
 of the impeachment, during its progrefs, by 
 feveral of the- judges, though perhaps in fome 
 degree confident with the merciful fpirit of the 
 law of this country, were obftacles the managers 
 were not, nor could be prepared to furmount; 
 all that induilry and talents, both without parallel, 
 could do, they did. The fpeech of Mr. Sheridan, 
 which lafted upwards of three days, and com- 
 prized all the beauties of which oratory is capable, 
 will never ceafe to be regarded as one of the 
 raoft fplendid efforts of Britifh eloquence- and 
 the impeachment, in fpite of all infinuations to 
 the contrary, demonflrates not only the ability 
 but the integrity of the managers : the event per- 
 haps is as honorable to the Lords, as the conduct 
 of it to Mr. Sheridan and his colleagues, as it 
 demonflrates that palflon or prejudice could never 
 get the better of found judgment and fober 
 refleflion; and that eloquence, almoft fupcrna- 
 tural, could not influence them to forget th<?
 
 23 
 
 neceffary attention to thole laws of evidence, 
 without which a form of trial would be but a 
 mockery of juftice. It has been a fort of fafhioni 
 to reprefent this trial as a fta.in to the jurifpru- 
 dence of the country; we, on the contrary, con- 
 fider it one of its greateft ornaments, a proof 
 that no fituation, no favor, no patronage, can 
 exempt an individual from the purluit of juftice; 
 and that whatever weight of talents, whatever 
 induftry or influence may be employed againll 
 him, he cannot be condemned but on the cleared 
 and molt incontrovertible evidence. 
 
 At the time when, by the vifitation of pro- 
 vidence, the King was placed in the moft deplo- 
 rable fituation to which humanity is capable of 
 being reduced, a profpect was opened for Mr- 
 Sheridan's party to come into power; on this 
 occafion a very great jealoufy was manifeited 
 by his colleagues, on account of his being fup- 
 pofed to monopolize all the countenance at 
 Carlton-houfe. 
 
 Since that period Mr. Sheridan has continued 
 in oppofition, almofl without a profpecl of obtain- 
 ing any official fituation; on the occafion of the 
 French revolution, he firft in the houfe of com-
 
 24 
 
 irtons cxpreffed that difference of opinion from 
 Mr. Burke, which caufed him to fecede from 
 a party with which he had been fo long con- 
 nected; and purfuing the train of politics he 
 has, without any abatement of his mental vigor, 
 or oratorical fplendor, been the conftant opponent 
 of the war, the uniform friend of thofe, whom 
 a fyftem of alarm, of fpies and informers has 
 fubje&ed to oppreffion, and to the credit of his 
 integrity we mention, that he has continued 
 firm to his firft opinions, and friendfhips, while 
 talents with the recommendation of perfidy and 
 political defertion, have met with the moft 
 ample rewards, and been fattened on the dif- 
 refles of the public. 
 
 During the debates on the tobacco excife 
 aft, in which Mr. Pitt had the argument and 
 Sheridan the wit on his fide, the following 
 notes were taken from the fpeech of the fubjeft 
 of this article. 
 
 Borrowing terms from the fubjeel, Mr. Sheridan 
 defcribed the progrefs and manufacture of the 
 bill in queftion: the original leaf, (he ob- 
 " ferved) after a chemical tinge from the crown 
 " lawyer, and being dufted and fifted at the
 
 *5 
 
 <J trcafury, receives a permit from the Houfe of 
 u Commons; but who, Mr. Speaker, fhall guard 
 u againft the difpenfing powers with which the 
 " commiffioners are armed? affifted by the hint 
 * of fome damned good-natured friend, they 
 " may fay to an unfortunate fmuggler, you op- 
 Ci pofed government at the general eleclion, you 
 <c are a. rank blue and* buff, you have long 
 tc carried on a contraband trade, and can expect 
 86 no mercy; but for the good man behind you, 
 <s I fee, by his orange cape, that he is an honeft 
 " fellow, he is not one of the meddling faction, 
 K which on every occafion is voting againfl us; 
 * f his fine (hall certainly be mitigated. 
 
 " Befides the Commiffioners, in an inftance 
 i on record, have obliged Parliament to fanEify 
 s error, and legalized falfe teftimony; they have 
 : determined Clark's hydrometer to be the bed 
 c and only legal ftandard, notwithstanding, in a 
 i public court of jultice, on the trial of a man 
 * accufed of keeping fpirit above proof, it was 
 i determined that this hydrometer was falfe, 
 ; inaccurate, and erroneous, by the united at- 
 ; teftations of many refpectable officers of the 
 i revenue, as well as the declaration of Clarke 
 
 himfclf) the original inventor," 
 % '
 
 ; 26 
 
 M Is it pofTible, Sir, to provide againft the 
 ** capricioufnefs of an Englifh climate, the dii- 
 w ferent qualities, fweatings, and fermentations, 
 <c of an article like tobacco, which, on one 
 " hogfhead has been known to gain ten pounds 
 " weight, and in another to lofe forty, though 
 * s landed together from the fame fhip, and kept 
 tc in the fame warehoufe? Can you controul 
 " fermentation by aft of Parliament? will the 
 c * elements fubmit to the ftatute book? if, how- 
 " ever, means can be invented to obviate thefe 
 ic objections, your excifemen rauft be fent forth 
 " with thermometers inflead of ink-bottles hang- 
 * ; ing at their button holes; permits mu.ft be 
 * iflued for damps and fogs, we muft take fecu- 
 " rity of Chriftmas for froft, and make Augull 
 ** give bond for fine weather." 
 
 x\s to his orations, they are more remarkable 
 for the matter, than the maimer of their delivery; 
 he feems to fhun the exterior pomp of hiftrionic 
 gefture and pulpit declamation ; unlike Mr. 
 Pitt, fomewhat difFerent from Mr. Fox; the Pre- 
 mier, from his ov;n confeioufnefs of a paucity 
 of great ideas, fpins out thofc he has, with all 
 the fkill and fmoothncls of the filk-worm; 
 .their texture is gaudy, but the thread is w T cak;
 
 2 .7 
 
 the grand ideas of Mr. Fox, on the contrary, 
 often outftrip even his rapidity of utterance; he 
 never paufes to fpin, but to curb and to arrange; 
 in the fertility of imagination, however, and in 
 the volubility of the moil articulate expreflion, 
 Mr. Sheridan maintains an equal pace, becaufe 
 he is always pointedly animated, but very feldom 
 warm. 
 
 His language is neat, perfpicuous, and nervous; 
 it has not the tinfel glare of the circumlocutory 
 fophilt, but the plain argumentative brevity of 
 the accomplifhed man of bufinefs; facts are his 
 figures of fpecchj ftrong rcafoning is his meta- 
 phorical language; though Mercury and Momus 
 be at his nod, he feldom calls for their aid: 
 argument is never made the menial to wit, nor 
 is the topic of difcuflion ever facrificed to farcaf- 
 tic plcafantry ; if he fometimes wanders from the 
 Jubject, it is in fearch of the bewildered traveller, 
 .who has loft his way, or the conceited coxcomb, 
 who has fhifted his ground; while he keenly 
 lafhes the latier into his proper path, he kindly 
 points it out to the former. 
 
 From the manner in which fomc orators dcliver 
 themfclvcsj one would imagine, that arguments 
 
 2
 
 28 
 
 danced in the intellectual eye like atoms in a 
 fun beam, and that they were only folicitous of 
 number-, Mr. Sheridan is not impatient to fnatch 
 at every one that prefents itfelf; in the midft of 
 tattle he is cool ; catches the agitation of a grove 
 in a florm, and guards at the very inftant that 
 he makes the defperate pafs; he has learned 
 the art of rejection* : 
 
 His language is always fuited to the fubjefr, 
 fimpl'e where it mould be fimple, and figurative 
 where it mould be figurative; his figures are 
 always philofophically true; his fimiles may be 
 compared to a mirror, in which you may difcem 
 the very lineaments of the thing compared. 
 
 He is peculiarly happy in the feleclion of his 
 epithets and in quotation, but he principally 
 excels in acutenefs and animadverfion; he has 
 attained an uncommon felicity in the combination 
 of his own fpeech, and the analyzation of his 
 adverfary's; of this Mr. Pitt is made perfectly 
 fenfible,' for when he endeavours to throw his 
 arguments into the back ground, Mr. Sheridan 
 is fure to bring them forward in their true colours, 
 
 His reading mud have been great, for no 
 authority can be quoted with which he is unac-
 
 29 
 
 quainted, and if the quotation is falfe or erro- 
 neous it never efcapes inftant detection.* 
 
 Mr. Sheridan has no delight in declamatory 
 fpeeches; he lies perdue to expofe prefumptivc 
 ignorance, to deleft error, and to enlighten truth, 
 and as he never rifes but to rectify and inform, 
 he is always liflened to with the molt marked 
 attention. 
 
 Notwithftanding the number of his theatrical 
 and parliamentary engagements, he is by no 
 means wholly devoted to bufinefs; in the career 
 of pleafure he at leaft proceeds pajfikis acquis. 
 
 As a convivial companion his powers are un- 
 rivalled ; feft ivity, wit, and mirth are his ccnflant 
 afifociates. 
 
 * Lord Belgrave will bear teftimony to this.
 
 A 
 
 CRITIQUE 
 
 THE NEW TRAJEDY 
 
 1NTITLF.D 
 
 PIZARRO. 
 
 yr-i-i r - --
 
 / 
 
 PIZARRO. 
 
 HPHIS tragedy though originally written by Kot- 
 
 zebue, has been in fact re-written by Mr. 
 
 Sheridan, and adapted by him to the Englifh ftage. 
 
 It's outline agrees with the general hiftory of 
 the invafion of Peru, by the Spaniards. The plot 
 derives it's intereft from the contrafted characters 
 of Pizarro and Rolla, the heart of the one 
 being callous to every dignified and virtuous kn- 
 timent, while the other facrificcs his happinefs 
 and his life to the impulfe of the nobleft feelings. 
 
 Elvira, a lady of a bold and intrepid fpirit, 
 accompanies Pizarro in his camp, and detefting 
 his cruelty, interefts herfelf in the fate of Alonzo, 
 
 1
 
 34 
 
 a diftinguiflied young officer in the Peruvian 
 army, taken prifoner by Pizarro. 
 
 The firft- aft confifts of but one fcene, the 
 grandeft reprefehtation of the infide of a tent, per- 
 haps ever difplayed on any ftage, lays open the 
 outline of the plot, and defcribes the characlers 
 that are to appear in it. 
 
 A battle takes place between the Spaniards and 
 Peruvians, the progrefs of which is defcribcd by 
 a boy, a fuppofed fpe&ator, looking on at a dif- 
 tance, and giving the particulars of it to a blind 
 old man, who is highly interellcd in it, on behalf 
 of the Peruvians. The Spaniards at firft have the 
 advantage, but are in the end defeated; Alonzo 
 however is taken prifoner, a circumftance which 
 Pizarro, in his luft of revenge, confiders equi- 
 valent to victory, and he is confined in a cave with 
 a view to being executed the following day. 
 Elvira intercedes for him in vain.
 
 35 
 
 After the vidory, ALONzo'swife Cora, mif- 
 fing her hufband, entreats to know his fate; fhe 
 is told he is a prifoner, and that misfortune is 
 confidered the fame as his death. The diftrefs 
 of her mind upfets her reafon. 
 
 JIolla, another of the Peruvian generals, and 
 the friend of Alonzo, difguifes himfelf as a 
 friar, and obtains admiffion to Alonzo, they ex- 
 change drefles, and Alonzo efcapes; Elvira 
 immediately after comes to the dungeon, to effect 
 Alonzo's liberation, and finding him gone, con- 
 duels Rolla to Pizarro's tent, with a view to 
 have him alfaflinated. Rolla fhudders at the 
 bafenefs of the character of an affaffin, and declines 
 it, but he awakes Pizarro, and fhews him, how 
 much he is in his power. Elvira* enters, and 
 declares, that fhe encouraged the aifaffination, upon 
 which flie is imprifoned, and threatened with 
 death. Here ends the fourth act. 
 
 In the fecond ad are fome happy allufions to the 
 conteft in which we are at prefent engaged with 
 
 F 2
 
 36 
 
 the French, and which were received with burfts 
 of applaufe.* 
 
 In the fifth act, Cora is wandering in the 
 woods, where hearing the voice of Alonzo, fhe 
 lays down her child to purfue it, in which inter- 
 val fome Spanifh foldiers find and conduct iwto 
 Pizarro's tent, where Roll a difclofes who are 
 
 * In apfwer to Ataliba's demand, What U the temper of 
 the troops} Roll a anfwers, M fuch as befits the caufe they 
 *' fupport the monarch they obey- their cry is, victory or 
 " death their univerfal fhout, our king, our country, and our 
 < God," 
 
 Holla's addrefs to the foldiers. 
 " Never wat the hour of peril nigh, when to infpire them, 
 " words were fo little needed. My brave alfociates in aims ! 
 t{ companions of my toils, and of my pains! can Rolla's 
 " voice, add vigor to the virtuous energies which animate your 
 " bofoms? No you judge, as I have done, of the craft y plea 
 ' with which thefe foul invaders would delude you your manly 
 ** fpirit has compared, as I have done, the motives which in 
 *f this war influence their actions. They, fight for power, for 
 " slander and extended rule ; We for out country, our altars ind 
 " our homes. They follow an adventurer whom they fear\ 
 tf nve ferve a monarch whom wc love! a God in v. horn we trriji ! 
 Wherever they move in anger, defolation tracks theirprogrefs 
 t wherever they paufe in amity, affliction mourns their friend- 
 ' Ihip. They boaft they came to injltuft us-to FRti
 
 37 
 it's parents, and the revengeful Pizarro refolves 
 on it's facrifice. Rolla, after in vain entreating 
 for the return of the child; forcibly takes it away, 
 and effects his efcape, but is mortally wounded. 
 About the fame time another battle takes place 
 between Pizarro's army, and the Peruvians, in 
 which Pizarro and Alonzo meet; Pizarro 
 has at fir ft the advantage, on account of Alonzo 
 having broken his fword, but being fupplied with 
 another by the inftantaneous appearance of 
 Elvira Pizarro falls, and the Peruvians are 
 triumphant. Roll a has juft life enough left to 
 deliver up the child to his parents, and tell his 
 tale. 
 
 tf from the yoke of error. Yes, thjey would give enlightened 
 " freedom to our minds, who are tbemf elves the flaves of ava- 
 * rice, cruelty and ambition. They offer us their protection 
 " Yes, fuch protection as vultures give to lambs, co-vering 
 ( f and devouring them. They call on us to barter all of good we 
 f( have inherited and proved, for the defperate chance of fome- 
 " thing better, which they promife us. Be our plain anfwer 
 " this the Thorne we honor is the peoples choice, 
 *< the Laws we reverence are our brave fore- 
 'f fathers i. e gacy . The faith we follow teaches us to live 
 " in bo;vis of charity with all mankint', and to die in hopes of 
 " blifs beyond the grave. We fcek no change, and lcaft of all, 
 C SUCH change as they would offer, us."
 
 After his death, the piece concludes with a 
 funeral dirge. 
 
 Such is the fable of this celebrated play, which 
 from the moment it was announced, excited the 
 moft lively expectation, and which has been hailed 
 as the pledge of returning tafte and genius to the 
 ftage. 
 
 The difcovery of America is one of the moft 
 interefting aeras in the great hiftory of the world. 
 The plot has all the advantage of connection with 
 that great event, and this is not its only recom- 
 mendationwhatever is fplended in fcenery and 
 decoration, that can be conceived to belong to 
 Peru the country in which the fcene is laid dif- 
 linguifhed alike for golden mines, and it's lux- 
 uriant climate, all thefe combine their powers, 
 in a work which, while it charms as a play, may 
 boaft itfelf the molt magnificent fpectacle upon the 
 Englifh ftage. 
 
 Pizarro's pavilion, and the Temple of the Sun, 
 have the moft brilliant efFett.
 
 39 
 
 After the high-prieft has made his invocation, 
 followed by chorufles of priefts and virgins, a ball 
 of fire lights upon the altar, and the whole affem- 
 bly join in the thankfgiving. 
 
 Much of the applaufe bellowed on this fcene 
 may, however, fairly be attributed to what is 
 called Jtage <ffzB y and favors more of pantomime 
 than traged . 
 
 The Characters here briefly alluded to, are 
 drawn by J the hand of a mafler, perfectly ac- 
 quainted with the human heart, with life and man- 
 ners; they have not merely the merit of being jufl, 
 correct and finifhed likeneffes they are original. 
 In Pizarro, we fee the proud fanguinary and 
 ferocious adventurer, mixed with the characlerif- 
 tic jealoufy of the Spaniard; which, the author, 
 true K> nature, qualifies with a Jlight fliadc of 
 Caflilian generofity. In him^ and in Elvira we 
 find the vices and virtues of the European world, 
 ^nely contrafled with the mild, the brave, the 
 jufl difpofitions of the inhabitants of the Ncy
 
 40 
 
 World i thus mutually deriving ftrength from 
 comparifon, intereft from variety, and force from 
 a religious adherence to the faithful records of 
 hiftory, in the true fpfjrit of which they are drawn. 
 
 The conftru&ion of the fable, and the com- 
 bination of thefe characters, fome of which, (par- 
 ticularly Roll a and Elvira>) lay claim to 
 
 novelty, are diftinguiftied by a general, not how- 
 's. 
 
 ever an univerfal exercife of happy ingenuity. 
 
 The dialogue is too prolix, and .a judicious 
 
 compreffure is much wanted. 
 
 y 
 The firft fcene opens with a vew of the Spanifh 
 camp, and Elvira fleeping Valverdc, (Pizarro's 
 fecretary,) kneeling by her, and after waking her, 
 the dialogue between them, is tedious and unin- 
 terefting. 
 
 Part of this fcene is taken up with an ineffec- 
 tual appeal of Las Cafas^ to the humanity of his 
 countrymen, which is alfo very long and very 
 tedious.
 
 4* 
 
 The bufinefs on the ftage is frequently languid) 
 and the machinery ill-condu6ted. 
 
 Rollaj having obtained means to fee Alonzo 
 for a few moments, inftead of flying to him, makes 
 a long foliloquy, in which he introduces a long 
 fimile. Elvira enters with a view to mitigate 
 Alonzo to the murder of Pizarro and finding 
 Rolla in his ftead, defires him to do it, which how- 
 ever he nobly declines, but awakes Pizarro, and 
 makes him fenfible of his fituation, when Elvira 
 enters, and proclaims herfelf the inftigation of the 
 intended affaffination. The fcene that enfues. is 
 highly interefting and animated but when Pizarro 
 calls his guards, and fhe is taken away to be 
 tortured, Rolla makes no refinance, no effort 
 to fave her, although he had fo ftrong a claim 
 upon Pizarro's generofity, and although Elvira 
 had a claim upon his juftice, and his generofity 
 as a man. This is not only ungallant, but unna- 
 tural. 
 
 The fentiments are derived from the very bofom 
 of domeftic and public duties the tender and
 
 42 
 
 pathetic fcenes are finely wrought up from the 
 conjugal and parental virtues; thofe of fublimer 
 caft, from the energies of a free, brave and gene- 
 rous people, fighting for liberty, againft opprcf- 
 fion they are laid in nature, and as fuch, are as 
 applicable to the prefent day as the age for which 
 they are written ; and here the author draws from 
 the pure fountain of nature, without fceming to 
 direcl it's courfe. 
 
 The juftice, truth and beauty of the fcene, 
 where the Peruvian prifoner is interrogated by 
 Pizarro, are fo confpicuous, and the whole fo 
 highly finifhed, that for the firft three acls, we 
 evidently perceive the author referving hisftrength 
 for fome great occafion accordingly, in the 
 fourth a6l, the interefl burjls upon the audience, 
 in the tender forrow of Cora, followed up by a 
 variety of fcenes, vying with each other in force 
 and pathos, viz. 
 
 c; In the pvifon fecne* where the generous 
 CJ Rolla devotes himfelfto fave Alonzo. In 
 " that where his magnanimity difdains the alfaf-
 
 43 
 
 m fination of Pizarro and finally, where his 
 " heroic fpirit refcues the child of his friend, at 
 C the expence of his life all which pleafe by the 
 * truth and beauty of the incidents, and the pro- 
 c; priety and merit of the fentiments with which 
 u they are embellifhed." 
 
 The morality of this play is of the pureft kind, 
 and the ftage is in this inftance, as it ever ought to 
 be, fubfervient to the purpofes of truth and honor. 
 It expofes to indignation and abhorrence the 
 favage cruelty of Europeans, inflamed with the 
 luft of gold, and the fury of conqueft, and at the 
 fame time excites the pity and iffterefts of huma- 
 nity, in favor of an innocent, peaceable and vir- 
 tuous people. 
 
 If any part of this tragedy can be exclujively 
 called Mr. Sheridan's, it is the language, which 
 appears to be faultlefs; it is that of nature attired 
 by the graces, in true exprcfiion, with all the 
 beauties of polifhed ftilc and claflic purity. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 CURSORY REMARKS 
 
 ON 
 
 BREAD AND COALS. 
 
 cft[<d?!9 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 "fr. CLENDINNING, NO. 25, HATTON-CARDEN ; 
 
 ForW. Duncan, near Gray's-Inn-Gate, Holborn ; Sold 
 also by Bei.i., Oxford-Street; Hat-chard, Picca- 
 dilly; We st ley, Strand; Parsons, Pater- 
 noster-Row ; and Richardson, at 
 the Royal-Exchange. 
 
 vt,-X-r 
 
 MDCCC. 
 
 [price one shilling.)
 
 CURSORY REMARKS, &c. 
 
 etscs 
 
 JtliNGLAND is deservedly celebrated 
 among foreign nations for the wisdom as well as the 
 humanity of her laws ; but in nothing is she more 
 truly laudable and worthy of admiration than in 
 the excellence of her noble and multifarious esta- 
 blishments for charitable purposes. To enumerate 
 the various foundations that are instituted and 
 supported by public and private benevolence, and 
 the prodigious sums annually collected for their 
 maintenance, must appear astonishing ; and would, 
 B io
 
 no doubt, be looked upon as incredible, did not t 
 simple enumeration offer a complete and satisfac- 
 tory evidence of the reality, to every person who 
 will be at the trouble to seek conviction of fact, 
 by the test of enquiry. 
 
 Such being the true state of the case, must it 
 not appear very extraordinary that, in a country 
 like this, where the provident care and munifi- 
 cence of the laws, cooperating with the bountiful 
 contributions of every individual, are so happily 
 calculated to afford protection and relief to indi- 
 gence and distress of all kinds, must it not, I repeat, 
 appear extraordinary that, in such a country, 
 wretchedness and poverty should daily stare pas- 
 sengers in the face in every quarter, and the melan- 
 choly cries of the poor, from dire want, be heard 
 in every parish thro'out the Kingdom ? That this 
 is the deplorable situation of the People at present 
 is notoriously true, notwithstanding all the gener- 
 ous influence of public and private charity of the 
 Nation, no on<> can rationally controvert or dispute. 
 Whence can this general calamity arise ? In a 
 
 great
 
 1 
 
 great measure, from the wrong or abusive execution 
 of the Poor Laws. These laws, in themselves, are 
 wise, salutary and fully competent to the purposes 
 for which they were humanely designed, the relief 
 and comfort of all those whom age, debility, or 
 sickness might disqualify for acquiring subsistence 
 by their labor. The abuses and injudicious man- 
 agement of these beneficent laws, have been, for a 
 long series of years past, a subject of frequent ani- 
 madversion and complaint. But the worst and 
 most lamentable consideration is, that a continued 
 perseverance in bad habits and erroneous systems, 
 acquires such strength, by time, as to become 
 almost irresistable. And, as matters are now 
 generally conducted, with respect to the poor laws, 
 there are but little hopes of seeing them carried 
 into execution with more beneficial effects ; unless 
 government should be induced to take the manage- 
 ment of the Poor Rates into their own hands. 
 Then, indeed, reasonable expectations might be 
 entertained of the removal and extinction of a 
 variety of abuses. Many and very considerable 
 advantages might surely be derived from the pru- 
 B 2 dent
 
 8 
 
 dent and judicious disposal of upwards of three 
 millions sterling annual revenue- Such is the 
 amount of the prodigious sums collected from 
 the public, every year, under the denomination 
 of Poor Rates. Great as this sum certainly is, 
 if thereto be added the various sums collected 
 annually, for other extensive establishments, by 
 regular public and private societies, a very con- 
 siderable increase must appear, and, if properly 
 applied, would prove a great additional source of 
 comforts to the distressed part of the nation. 
 What a fund of relief, might be derived from the 
 many donations and bequests, amounting, in lands 
 and other property, to three or four hundred 
 thousand pounds annual revenue, left to charitable 
 institutions, in which great abuses are known to 
 exist ! These revenues, under proper economical 
 regulations, might be so managed as to nearly 
 double the benefits intended by the benevolent 
 donors. A multiplicity of other objects to the 
 support and relief of the State, might be found, by 
 careful investigation ; not to mention the various 
 and rich estates, in the possession of many of our 
 
 Corpo-
 
 9 
 
 Corporations. Among other objects of enquiry, 
 it may not be amiss for Government to examine 
 into the actual state of the affairs of Chancery, 
 with respect to the decrees of that Court. It is 
 probable that there will be found considerable pro- 
 perty pending there, and that has been pending 
 there, for many years, unattainable by claimant or 
 defendant, and more still that may remain in sus- 
 pence, for a much longer term of years. In the 
 mean while, I see no reason why Government 
 should not, for public benefit, avail itself of those 
 Sums, until a final nWrppof the. Chancery has de- 
 termined the rightful owner. How far this may 
 be practicable I pretend not to assert ; but this 
 much may be safely averred, that no injury nor 
 danger to the interests of the lawful proprietor can 
 arise, from Government taking the Property into 
 their own hands, when the Nation is made respon- 
 sible for the immediate payment of the same to 
 whatever person the Property may be adjudged. 
 Abuses, with respect to Donations, are so general, 
 that the experience of every individual, of the least 
 observation, must suggest the remembrance of one 
 
 or
 
 10 
 
 or other of them. In matters of importance, as 
 well as in others of a trifling nature, this reproach 
 and censure will be found just. Even the Badge 
 and Coat, of the value of Ten Pounds, left by the 
 Will of Dogget, for the generous purpose of 
 animating the exertions of our Watermen, (that 
 class of men so useful and so essential, as a nursery 
 for the support of our Navy, the great bulwark 
 of England), has not escaped censure. It is gener- 
 ally said, that this coat and badge, which, accord- 
 ing to the laudable and patriotic intentions of the 
 Worthy donor, chould bo equal to the value of 
 
 ten pounds, are really worth little more than four 
 pounds. Similar abuses may be found, upon en- 
 quiry, in numberless other foundations* 
 
 Leaving these hints to the improvement of others 
 f better capacity, and more influence and leisure, 
 I proceed to offer some observations on other 
 Subjects. 
 
 The necessary provisions of life arc generally 
 abundant, in this country j and our mines of coals 
 
 are
 
 11 
 
 arc inexhaustible. With all the advantages of 
 these plenteous blessings Providence has so kindly- 
 deigned to bestow, the people, however, are, but 
 too frequently, in a state nearly bordering on starv- 
 ation. Why so ? From no other source, alas ! does 
 this dreadful calamity flow, but from the mere 
 want or negligence of common foresight and 
 prudence on the part of the Public. The proper 
 application of these, might, at all times, secure u 
 against the attacks or even menaces of want. 
 
 In Holland, the scanty and wretched soil pro- 
 duces little for the food and subsistence of man, 
 excepting milk, butter, and cheese; and turf is the 
 only fuel of that country, where fire is so much 
 wanting to the comforts ot the inhabitants, under 
 so dreary and rigorous a climate. The people 
 there, however, are sufficiently supplied with the 
 necessary articles of life, though the whole of that 
 country, by the utmost exertions of the most in- 
 dustrious labor and incessant cultivation, is not 
 adequate to the production of bread-corn, sufficient 
 ior its numerous inhabitants. How is the defici- 
 ency
 
 II 
 
 ency remedied ? By the frugality and temperance 
 of the people, in making no waste, and by the care 
 and foresight of Government, in providing a timely 
 supply from other countries, for the wants of their 
 own. There, bread, flesh-meat, fish, and vegeta- 
 bles, though heavily taxed, are dealt out to the 
 Public, at a certain and moderate price. All these 
 articles, so necessary to the subsistence of man, are 
 placed under the management and direction of the 
 Police of the country, and are brought to a fair and 
 open market. The support of the Dutch Govern- 
 ment is derived from taxation on the necessaries of 
 life, as luxuries could afford but little or none, 
 among a people so frugal and parsimonious, as t 
 scarcely know luxury but by name. 
 
 With us, however, the case is widely different. 
 With us luxuries abound and overflow. What can 
 afford a more just and ample field for censure, in 
 this regard, than the extravagant and shameful 
 waste, hourly visible, in the consumption of flesh- 
 meat ? This waste alone has added considerably 
 to the high price which that very essential article 
 
 now
 
 *3 
 
 row bears : and, if that provident body of 
 people, the Quakers, had not happily discovered 
 the method of extracting a nutritious mess from 
 the offals of meat, thousands in this country would 
 never have had the means of tasting it. Yet all 
 who are thoroughly acquainted with the produce 
 of this Island, as to the article of flesh-meat, upon 
 a fair and candid consideration of every circum- 
 stance, with due remembrance of the various 
 substitutes derivable from our fisheries, orchards, 
 gardens, and fields, must readily allow, that there 
 is but little fear of any want of supply in that 
 respect ; especially when no voluntary waste is 
 incurred. If such be our security, with a little 
 provident attention, against any deficiency of flesh- 
 meat, how far greater our certainty of cfependence 
 for an ample supply of coals, at all times, if we 
 are not wanting to ourselves in the neglect of that 
 plenty, with which Providence has blessed us, in 
 our inexhaustible mines ? We have, however, seen 
 the Metropolis, last winter, suffering the most 
 grievous distress, under a scarcity of fuel ; and 
 though a seasonable caution was then suggested, 
 
 C t>
 
 H 
 
 to the Public, in what manner to guard against a* 
 similar calamity, yet, strange as it may appear, it 
 is lamentably true, that during the present winter, 
 we have laboured, and still labour, under the like 
 distresses, as no steps were taken to prevent it. 
 
 The caution offered to the public, was, that 
 Government should be solicited to take the carry- 
 ing of the Coal -Trade into their hands, and con- 
 tract tor the shipping tor that purpose; committing 
 the conduct and execution of the business to the 
 able management of the Transport-service. A 
 Duty of Tonnage on the Shipping was then pro- 
 posed to be levied on the Coal-Merchant ; or so 
 much per chaldron duty, upon the delivery of 
 the coals ; by these means the market might be 
 supplied with a certain quantity of coals ; the 
 Public enabled to purchase them at a moderate 
 and regular price : whereas now, by the irregular 
 arrival at Port, of the Ships in the Coal-Trade, 
 the Merchant too frequently has it in his power to 
 impose what p ice he pleases, on the commodity, 
 and the Public is often served at an exorbitant 
 rate.
 
 *5 
 
 Hie Colliers, last summer, were employed ia 
 the service of Government, to transpoit our army 
 into Holland ; the consequence was, an immediate 
 rise of Ten Shillings per chaldron, in the price 
 of coals ; and Government, at the same time, 
 must have paid dearly for the hire of these Trans- 
 ports, on such an emergency. Had the Shipping- 
 Colliers, however, been, at that time, under the 
 management of the Transport-service, Govern- 
 ment, most assuredly, would have been served at 
 much less expence to the Nation ; and a tax of 
 ten shillings last summer, and of twenty, nay even 
 of thirty shillings in the winter, had been saved 
 to the Poor. It the Imposition of so heavy a 
 Tax is to be submitted to, by the Public, merely 
 to pass into the pockets of individuals, why may 
 not the Government be allowed to avail itself of 
 a duty so profitable, by taking the carriage of the 
 Coal Trade, into its own immediate hands, when in 
 possession of the Shipping? A still greater advant- 
 age, perhaps, might be obtained, it the Coal Duties 
 were modified, imposed, and collected differently 
 from what they now are ; and the Public, at the same 
 time derive considerable benefit from the alteration.
 
 i6 
 
 Again, it must, upon reflection, appear very ex- 
 traordinary, that the Metropolis should be charge, 
 able with an additional Duty upon Goals, passing 
 from Newcastle, through the Thames ; and that 
 all other Rivers of the Kingdom should be in, 
 dulged with an exemption from similar duties. 
 
 Coal-Mines being inexhaustible, the only pre- 
 caution necessary is, to provide Shipping for 
 bringing the Coals regularly to market, and to take 
 care that they pass through as lew hands as possi- 
 ble, before they reach the consumer. The markets 
 being thus furnished with a regular supply, every 
 District or Parish, throughout the Kingdom, would 
 then enjoy a never failing opportunity of supply- 
 ing themselves with a sufficient quantity of fuel, 
 at a regular and moderate price. But in order to 
 afford effectual relief to the poorer classes of 
 people, in so essential an article to their comforts, 
 it will be highly and indeed absolutely necessarv 
 to establish Magazines, in different quarters, 
 whence Coals may be delivered to the poor, at 
 the lowest rate possible ; now, alas ! they suffer 
 
 great
 
 *7 
 
 great and painful hardships, by paying exhorbitantly 
 for a very scanty supply of coals, inferior in quality 
 and less in quantity than the rich, by passing 
 through so many hands before they can purchase 
 them. The coal-fa&or, lighterman, coal-merchant, 
 coal- dealer, and coal-retailer, all find means to reap 
 a profit, from the exigencies of the public, and the 
 pinching wants of the poor. Such additional du- 
 ties have been imposed, in annual succession, upon, 
 many of the exifling taxes, of so much per cent, 
 that time must at length efFeft a diminution, instead 
 of an increase, in the amount of them ; so that the 
 Minister may be aptly compared to the man lop- 
 ping the branch on which he is seated. 
 
 A Bill was brought into Parliament, some years 
 ago, by the late Lord Mulgrave ; the object of the 
 bill was to prevent notorious abuses in the ship- 
 ping ol coals, in the river Tyne ; but these goo4 
 intentions of the noble mover were unhappily frus- 
 trated by the rejection of the bill. If government 
 should at length take the (hipping under its own 
 direction and management, these abuses might be 
 
 likewise,
 
 i8 
 
 likewise corrected. If the hand of a bountiful 
 Providence had not recently interposed lor the pro- 
 tection and preservation of the numerous and 
 poorer inhabitants of this metropolis, by a gracious 
 and merciful discontinuance of the rigours of the 
 season, how many thousands must have perished, 
 from their incapacity to purchase their necessaty 
 pittance of fuel, on account of the very high 
 price of that more essential article, bread 
 
 Shall we not, therefore, carefully take every 
 precaution to preserve us, as far as possib.le, from 
 being exposed to the danger of so dreadful a cala- 
 mity in future ? Since our mines of coals are 
 deemed inexhaustible, shall so many thousands of 
 this city be liable to perish for the want of a fire, 
 whilst every individual of the citv of Durham, at 
 the small expence ot one halfpenny only, has it in 
 his power to procure a plentiful one ? 
 
 Let it be hoped that these hints, dictated by a 
 wish to contribute to the comforts and happiness 
 of the inhabitants of this great metropolis, and more 
 
 especially
 
 *9 
 
 especially to suffering indigence, so visible in 
 every part, with respect to fuel, may interest the 
 feelings and humanity of our rulers, and induce 
 them to devife such salutary measures as they, in 
 their wisdom, may conceive efficacious to the ac- 
 complishment of so good a purpose as the better 
 reliet and protection of the poorer classes of the 
 people. 
 
 In addition to the want of fuel, there is, unfor- 
 tunately, one still more grievous and distressing; 
 the want of bread. But a considerable degree of 
 alleviation of this awful calamity may likewise be 
 procured, by proper exertions on the part ol go- 
 vernment, and the prudent conduct of individuals. 
 By the calamitous circumstance of a bad harvest, 
 the people are crying out for bread in the streets : 
 but shall the failure of one harvest involve us in 
 such great distress ? Bread, it is true, is rightly 
 denominated the staff of life ; but bread has not 
 usually been made from wheat alone ; v rye, barley, 
 and oats have made, and still make, in some coun- 
 tries, good and substantial bread. Not many ) e.irs 
 
 sincr
 
 20 
 
 since, when the wheaten crop turned out very un- 
 productive, the crops of Rye, Barley and Oats 
 were abundant, yet no one could taste bread made 
 from such meal flour. Was this behaviour wise ? 
 Was it consistent with the duty and submission we 
 then owed and always owe unto bounteous Heaven ? 
 Was it grateful to that Almighty Being ? who has 
 said, " Behold I have given you every herb bearing 
 " seed, which is upon the face of all the Earth, and 
 " every Tree, in the which is the fruit of a Tree 
 " yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Gene- 
 " sis, chap. i. verse 29." 
 
 We had plenty of such grain to make bread, 
 bread nourishing and substantial, such as the inhabi- 
 tants of other parts of Europe generally eat, and 
 bless providence for the possession and enjoyment 
 of it. In the northern parts of this Island the 
 people are scarcely acquainted with the taste of a 
 wheaten loaf ; in the Metropolis the poorest man 
 will eat no other. The want of bread for the most 
 useful part of the people can only be supplied by 
 the farinaceous kinds of food; luxurious, indolent 
 
 anil
 
 1 
 
 and infirm persons may support life and preserve 
 health very well, upon all other sorts of vegetables. 
 When Wheat is scarce, where is the great hardship, 
 or whv should we murmur, at our being compelled 
 to eat any other kind of bread ? How many of our 
 most gallant coutrymen, both by Sea and Land, 
 have known the dire want of bread. How would 
 they have thanked heaven on many trying occa- 
 sions, for a small supply of such'bread as we so often 
 contemn and reject. A Law should be enacted 
 to confine Bakers to the making of one kind of 
 bread only ; but officers must be appointed, in 
 every district, to inforce a strict compliance with 
 the law ; then the Bread must be eaten by every 
 body alike. 
 
 Since the year 1750, Wheat has been seldom 
 exported from this Country ; and notwithstanding 
 the rapid progress and sagacious improvements in 
 Agriculture, from the increased Population and 
 Opulence of the Kingdom, it is always dear. Of 
 late years, many millions have been expended on 
 the Importation of Wheat into this Country ; 
 D whereas
 
 22 
 
 whereas formerly, we exported to the amount of 
 six or seven hundred thousand pounds annually, of 
 the same article. Whence this great change, and 
 how is it to be accounted for ? By luxury and 
 increased Population ; And if every one of this 
 increased Population will be so dainty as to require 
 that loaf to eat, which his father never tasted, all 
 the improvements in Agriculture, all the energy 
 Of industry, all the laborious exertions of the 
 diligent husbandman, will not prove adequate to 
 the supply of such an extensive consumption ; 
 and in particular seasons, necessity must compel 
 us to live without it. Though the harvest has been 
 bad, the blame will lye at our doors, if we neglect 
 the means which foresight and frugality furnish to 
 alleviate our sufferings ; submitting with humble 
 patience and resignation to the Divine Will, which 
 hath, in his allwise dispensations, ordained the 
 seasons for the advantage and comforts of man 
 oftentimes, and sometimes, perhaps, with a view 
 to his chastisement. 
 
 It now being a matter clearly ascertained that 
 
 this
 
 *3 
 
 this country cannot furnish any thing like a suffi- 
 cient quantity of wheaten Flour for Bread, for 
 the People at large, and it being- equally evident 
 that the attention of Government has not been 
 wanting to procure, if possible, a supply of 
 Foreign Wheat, to remedy our own deficiency; 
 but all endeavours have proved unsuccessful. 
 Disappointed as we then are, both at home and 
 abroad, in all hopes of augmenting our Stock of 
 Corn, what other expedient remains for our relief, 
 but the adoption of other Grain, in making Bread, 
 or at least some sure method of husbanding the 
 Stock of Wheat we have, with such severe 
 ceconomy, as to make it hold out to the next 
 harvest ? Without some effectual system of the 
 kind, let us not deceive ourselves, there is scarcely 
 a possibility of securing the nation from the ab- 
 solute want of Bread, before the coming-in of 
 another Harvest. Common frugality and temper- 
 ance can alone secure us. Public bounty can only 
 afford a temporary relief to individuals, but 
 cannot remedy general distress. Though Charity 
 will cover a multitude of sins, it caunpt cure the 
 evil.
 
 *4 
 
 From a perusal of the preceding Pages, the 
 Reader will readily conceive, that the enquiries 
 urged with respect to the Resources of the Coun- 
 try, have been suggested by our present situation ; 
 the better to enable us to carry on the War, which 
 the Councils of the Nation, who are fittest to 
 determine the propriety and necessity of the mea- 
 sure, have determined to continue against our am- 
 bitious and desperate foes. Foes avowedly bent 
 upon the destruction of all orders of Government 
 in civil society. The Expences of this necessary 
 War, must be heavily felt by all classes of the 
 People, but they are unavoidable ; and the neces- 
 sity of prosecuting the War is manifest. Every 
 thing dear to us as a nation, our safety and very 
 existence inforce its continuation. It is, therefore, 
 incumbent on every individual amongst us, who 
 wishes well to, or values the preservation of our 
 happy Constitution in Church and State, to unite 
 with heart and hand in the most zealous and active 
 exertions, in order to frustrate the wicked designs 
 and repel the destructive attempts of those enemies 
 of mankind. Such they have proved themselves 
 
 hitherto,
 
 2 5 
 
 hitherto, by their predatory and sanguinary pro- 
 ceedings, through every country of Europe, into 
 which they have penetrated. Look at their pro- 
 gressive invasion of Holland, Italy, Germany, 
 and Switzerland. Compare the situation of these 
 different Countries, previous to the appearance of 
 these oppressive intruders among them, with their 
 present state. How miserably changed from what 
 they were ! Happiness and tranquility, by these 
 rapacious disturbers of the world, are now con- 
 verted into scenes of poverty and desolation. Not 
 content with stripping the unoffending inhabitants 
 of their property, they have deluged their plains 
 with blood. Nor are these ambitious usurpers of 
 the Rights of Nations, in any degree, better dis- 
 posed towards England, than they have shewn 
 themselves with regard to the rest ot the World. 
 Far, very far from it. Were their powers of 
 injury and oppression equal to the hostile extra- 
 vagances of inclinations, their we should soon feel 
 the destructive weight of their insatiable resent- 
 ment. But, thanks be to Heaven ! the wis- 
 dom of our Councils is not to be duped by 
 
 the
 
 s6 
 
 ihe affected moderation of their artful and insidious 
 Proposals. Every Negotiation for Peace, offered 
 by such unprincipled Enemies, justly becomes 
 obnoxious to suspicion and disbelief ; and has been, 
 I will say, wisely rejected. We have, in prudence, 
 no other alternative left, but either a continuance 
 of hostile exertions, or a submission to the dic- 
 tates of impious men, who, after murdering their 
 meek and truly patriotic Sovereign, robbed and 
 destroyed so many Nations, and would, assuredly, 
 rejoice in our entire ruin and annihilation. Wc 
 can have no security or dependence on the specious 
 professions of such men. In the prosecution of 
 the War against them, we have much to hope from 
 the justice of our cause, from the approbation of 
 every Friend to the Cause of Humanity, from the 
 powerful assistance of faithful and spirited Allies, 
 and, above all, from the zeal and attachment of 
 our own brave and gallant People, and horn the 
 Gratitude they feel for the Blessings they enjoy 
 under the Protection of our benevolent Prince, 
 and the equal distribution of our wise and impar- 
 tial Laws. 
 
 Th
 
 7 
 
 The queftion of peace or war having been deter- 
 mined by the late discussion in Parliament ; all ob- 
 jections made by the opposing Members fully an- 
 swered ; and the necessary continuation of hostile 
 exertions fairly sanctioned by their entire appro- 
 bation, it is to be hoped that Government will now 
 be at leisure to direct their attention to the means 
 of providing against the increasing distresses of 
 the public, and dispelling, by every method possi- 
 ble, the alarming prospect of the want of bread, 
 which continues rapidly rising in price, to the great 
 and severe affliction of the poorer classes of the 
 people. 
 
 The application of some immediate remedy to alle- 
 viate their present sufferings, and remove their ap- 
 prehensions for the future, is glaringly evident. 
 But how is this desirable object to be accomplish- 
 ed ? Without incurring the reproach of presump- 
 tion, may it not be permitted to suggest the expe- 
 diency of an enquiry into the real state of the corn, 
 as to the quantity upon hand, through every dis- 
 trict of the country at large ? It it appears prac- 
 ticable
 
 s8 
 
 ticable to ascertain this nearly, tho not exactly, it 
 may thence be readily determined whether the stock 
 in possession be adequate to the consumption or 
 otherwise. If it should be found insufficient, and 
 all hopes of supply from Foreign Markets, to make 
 up for the deficiency, be vanished and lost ; it may 
 be asked what then is to be done ? The reply is 
 obvious, necessity must drive to the adoption, 
 however sad or painful, of the method often prac- 
 ised on board our ships, when provisions fall short. 
 Ever}' Man's allowance must be lessened, where 
 no other means of relief can be had. We, how- 
 ever, thanks to kind Providence ! are not quite 
 reduced to the forlorn situation, so frequently 
 experienced by many of our brave Mariners. We 
 cannot be said to be in absolute want of Bread, 
 whilst we have left us any other Grain, besides 
 Wheat, for making Bread. With any other 
 wholesome substitute for our relief, in the support 
 of life and health, we should be content , and 
 cheerfully cat, with grateful resignation, that 
 Bread which the beneficent Creator has given us. 
 How would the gallant Capt. Inglefiei.d, and 
 
 the
 
 2 9 
 
 the unfortunate companions of his signal distress 
 and sufferings, during a voyage of 1 9 days, in an 
 open boat ; how grateful would they feel, I say, 
 how bless their stars, if they had Bread of any 
 kind ; the very worst, to silence the cravings of 
 hunger, or mere water, to allay the rage of thirst I 
 The worst situation we can possibly experience, 
 if we are not wanting to ourselves, would fill them 
 with joy and exultation. Let the great but set the 
 example of introducing on their tables such 
 Bread as may be had in the Country, whether of 
 Wheat, Rye, Barley, or Oats, and the People 
 will soon follow it. And if there is a sufficiency 
 of all, or either, to support us to the coming in of 
 another harvest, we should not repine at our lot, 
 with such a security from absolute want. 
 
 Since the foregoing pages have been written, the 
 Parliament has undertaken the very neceflary and 
 important business of enquiring into the state of the 
 Bread-corn of the country ; we have, therefore, just 
 reason to hope, from the wisdom of their investiga- 
 tion of the subject, that effe&ual care and attention 
 will be employed, as far as human sagacity can 
 provide,
 
 3 
 
 provide, to secure the nation against the dreadful 
 calamity of the absolute want of bread. The 
 Committee, to whom this very serious matter has 
 been entrusted, have already proved the utility of 
 their labours, and given material satisfaction, by 
 relieving the public mind from those dire appre- 
 hensions that were universally diffused, to the great 
 disturbance and concern of all ranks of people. 
 Their Reports are, no doubt, founded on careful 
 information, first drawn from persons best qualified 
 to afford such, and afterwards duly canvassed and 
 considered, in every point of view, with mature 
 deliberation, before they are finally made out for 
 delivery. They may therefore be relied upon 
 with safety. For though designing and interested 
 men, whom they may have to consult or examine, 
 in the course of their enquiries, may attempt to 
 mislead their judgment, by artful misrepresenta- 
 tion, the vigilance and penetration of so sagacious 
 a body of well-informed men, such as the Commit- 
 tee must be, would, it may fairly be thought, soon 
 detect and defeat the imposition. 
 
 But
 
 3* 
 
 But much as we hope from the sagacity and 
 deliberative wisdom of Parliament, to guard 
 against the tricks of deceit and cunning, we cannot 
 help entertaining some fears, that the Corn-falors, 
 Millers, Bakers, and all those concerned in the 
 trade of corn, influenced and governed, as men 
 generally are known to be, by their own peculiar 
 interest, and clear-sighted as practice has made 
 them in the pursuit of it, will not be very scrupu- 
 lous in the choice of means to counteract any mea- 
 sure, however useful and salutary to the public, 
 which they may judge capable of lessening their 
 own particular profits. On the Resolution ulti- 
 mately adopted by Parliament, every thing relative 
 to the matter must depend. 
 
 The measure determined upon, which obliges 
 every Baker to suspend the sale or dcliverv of any 
 bread, for the space of twenty- four hours after it 
 has been baked, is truly wise, and will, there is 
 no manner of doubt, prove of considerable econo- 
 my and saving in the consumption of that neces- 
 sary article in families. 
 
 The
 
 3 2 
 The prohibiting any alteration in Wheaten Bread, 
 from the mode or quality in which it is now made 
 and sold, is also prudent and wise, as it is supposed 
 to be done with a view to prevent any fraudulent 
 tricks of Millers or Bakers, who, without such 
 precaution or restraint, might otherwise be tempted 
 to avail themselves of the opportunity, to the injury 
 of the health or interest of the consumers. But 
 tho' we may admit the prudence of the Law to re- 
 strain the baker from the mixture of any other 
 grain with wheat, or from making even the wheaten 
 bread of a coarser quality, we however, from a 
 sincere desire of promoting the public good, can- 
 not forbear suggesting, which we do with diffi- 
 dence, that, in such a degree of scarcity as must 
 be evident to every body, from the almost unpre- 
 cedented high price of bread, it might produce 
 much general benefit to allow bakers the liberty of 
 making and selling bread from any other grain, 
 such as Rye, Oats or Barley, separately used. 
 This would enable the poor man, at his option, to 
 purchase either; and many, I believe, very many, 
 would be glad to purchase one or other, which 
 
 they
 
 
 33 
 they could have so much cheaper than wheaten 
 bread, and some would even prefer one or other 
 to it. But after all that can be said on the subject- 
 when we know the extent of the evil when we see 
 famine nearly at our doors, and the horrid miseries 
 of want surrounding us on every side, why waste 
 time in farther enquiries, in consultations and cal- 
 culations ? Will this prevent or lessen the disorder ? 
 It is a fact perfectly well established, and generally 
 too well known, alas ! that the crops of grain, in 
 almost every part of the Kingdom, have been very 
 scanty, and the harvest most deplorably bad, and 
 yet no effectual steps have been taken, before the 
 approach of winter, to alleviate our pressing dis- 
 tress. This we find cannot be effectually done by 
 the means of importation. Let us then have re- 
 course to that which is in our own power Let us 
 lessen our consumption Let every master of a 
 family set the example of economy in the articles 
 of bread and flesh-meat in his own house Let 
 every individual retrench in his consumption of 
 both much more will depend on the general con- 
 currence of the people in a system of frugality and 
 
 perseverance
 
 
 
 34 
 
 perseverance, in such measures, than all the other 
 plans that can be devised Let an Act of Parlia- 
 ment be made with such restrictions as may be 
 deemed most efficacious by Government ; let it 
 be immediately passed Let the superiors of the 
 Nation set the example in strictly adhering to it, 
 the compliance of the people will quickly and 
 chearfully follow nor would it fail to produce 
 material advantage to the community, if the people 
 of this country for once adopted the practice of 
 Roman Catholics, in abstinence from Flesh, some 
 days inthe week, and fasting one or two days on a 
 single meal I mean such as are not obliged to 
 labor for their maintenance. 
 
 If these Remarks should prove any way useful 
 in themselves, or suggest any beneficial hints to 
 others, more capable of improving and extending 
 them to the ease or comfort of society, the views 
 of the Writer will be fully accomplished. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 f 
 
 ' GT$\&G>G>os>4 
 
 Glcndinning, Printer, No. 25, Hatton-Garden.
 
 ' 
 
 THE 
 
 POLITICAL ' DRAMATIST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 H35- 
 
 > A SATIRE. 
 bt econo tuition.
 
 . I 
 
 
 
 
 *
 
 T ii e 
 
 POLITICAL DRAMATIST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF' COMMONS, ' 
 
 i. i 
 
 A SATIRE 
 
 C6c decani) tuition, 
 
 WITH SOME ALTERATIONS* * 
 . POSTSCRIPT IN 'PROSE, 
 
 XTAINING REMARKS ON' T^E 
 
 . JDECLAR ATIUX OA< T8& Wk HG CLUB, 
 
 On the 23d of January, 1796. 
 
 
 Honnon; 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. PARSONS^, No: 21, f ATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 PRICE ONE SHILLING. 
 MjDCCjXCVI. 
 
 
 
 
 
 < 

 
 * 
 

 
 The 
 
 
 POLITICAL DRAMATIST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 IN 
 
 nss- 
 
 A SATIRE. 
 
 1 HE Houfe was up ; the long debate was o'er; 
 And Addington prefided now no more ; 
 Nor voice, nor vote along the benches crept, 
 And Corn-committees bak'd their bread, and 
 
 flept j 
 Somnus and Ceres no fage members fcorn, 5 
 But own the poppy grows among the corn. 
 His friends from idle terrors to releafe, 
 Pitt cad faint gleams of vifionary peace ; 
 
 B
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 Pleas 'd with the diftant ray fome grew content, 
 And Wilberforce, retra&ing, bow'd afTent. 10 
 Fox pour'd his manly eloquence in fighs 
 O'er emigration's dreadful facrifice, 
 And pious drops o'er gallant Sombreuil fried ; 
 (Burke was not there : and Wyndham fhook his 
 
 head.) 
 Before him rofe to fullen dreary view r 5 
 
 Mifguided plans in treachery's darkefl hue,* 
 The Quiberonian Bay, and facred Ifle,*^ 
 Mifnam'd of God, where heav'n will never fmile. 
 While Moira, (whofe commanding courfe is run, 
 His toils unpaid, and all his journiesjdone,) 10 
 
 * Alluding to the faithlefs conduct of the French themfe'ves, 
 tinder Puifaye and others. 
 
 f The Expeditions to Quiberon Bay, and to L' lile de Dieu. 
 
 X From Southampton to Downing Street, and from Downing 
 Street to Southampton, almoft every other day, during his com- 
 mand of the army encamped in the New Foreft. See ail the 
 Public Pa pers in 1795.
 
 C 7 ) 
 
 Surveys his trophies with Rinaldo's air, 
 Breaks through th' inchanted foreft in defpair, 
 Low-murm'ring quits Southampton's armed 
 
 ftreet, 
 And lays his fame at pious Godfrey's feet. 
 
 In Perfian wealth elate, and blooming pride, 25 
 For mobs and crowds unthinking Bedford figh'd ; 
 Nor faw where, hov'ring o'er th' accurfed 
 
 tomb, 
 Glar'd the red crefl of Orleans through the 
 
 gloom. 
 The fullen moody violence of Grey, 
 Soften'd by love, in raptures died away : 30 
 
 While Erikine, o'er his Hampftead bending 
 
 down, 
 Like Him of Lincoln, look'd o'er half the town* 
 Pond 'ring with lawyer's leer, and felfifh. end, 
 What new-hatch'd treafon he muft next defend- 
 
 B 2
 
 ( 8 ; 
 
 Grant * was compos'd, nor fought the applaufe 
 of youth, 35 
 
 In reafon's ftrength, in fobernefs of truth ; 
 Such as from Fox unwilling praife could draw, 
 For warmth of eloquence, and foundeft law. 
 
 But chief with teeming brain and fancy fir'd, 
 Homejimobferv'd, The Dramatist retir'd: 40 
 Such be the term I feign ; his name I hate, 
 Who without virtue is, or would be, great. 
 The fliackles of a wayward bride he wore ; 
 For fince divine Cecilia was no more, 
 He deem'd, inclin'd to trifle and to toy, 45 
 
 Hufbands have pains, but bachelors no joy. 
 Sunk in his chair, within his troubled foul 
 Strange thoughts in mix'd tumultuous move- 
 ments roll ; 
 
 * William Grant, Efq. Member for Windfor, King's Counfel, 
 &.r. &c. It is much to be wiflied, that this very able and learned 
 Gentleman would deliver his fentiments in Parliament more fre- 
 quently.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 Of Drury firft, (which Holland's art could rear, 
 Fram'd for all ufes, but to fee or hear,) 50 
 
 And fums receiv'd, but to no reck'ning brought ; 
 And fhares theatric, bought or to be bought ; 
 Of works and memoirs from the Gallic fhore, 
 By unfex'd females, and the dubious Moore ; 
 And of the War's neat fketch, * that Auckland 
 
 drew, 55 
 
 Sprinkled with gracious diplomatic dew ; 
 And D'lvemtis's -f ilrong page, with pointed 
 
 force 
 That marks the bound of Gallia's brief re fource; 
 
 * See " Some Remarks on the Apparent Cimimftances of the 
 War, in the Fourth Wtckoi October, 1795." The production of a 
 perlbn accuftomed to think, to i'pcuk, and to write, and all with 
 great ability. 
 
 f " A CurforyYiew of theAfli^nats and RemainingRcfourcesof 
 French Finance, (September 6, 179;.) Drawn from the Debates 
 vi the Convention, by F. IVIvernois, Ffq. A work of fome impor- 
 tance, and which fliould be read with attention, but with much 
 allowance for the warmth of the Writer 
 
 3
 
 ( io ) 
 
 In vain : her arm of terror, as before, 
 
 Draws iron loans, nor fears to plunder more. 60 
 
 Such thoughts awhile The Dramatist 
 purfued, 
 Of public pleafure and of public good : 
 Of fcandal much he mus'd, of treafon more, 
 And fchools for each, and fcholars at his door ; 
 Nor portico, nor learned grove he fought ; 65 
 In fquares he p reach 'd, in theatres he taught. 
 With random wit he any thing could hint, 
 In verfe, in dialogue, in fpeech, in print, 
 In handbills, refolutions, toafts, and clubs, 
 With ftatefmen, players, pimps, or dukes, or 
 grubs. 70 
 
 Chief on the flage unrivalPd ; in that caufe 
 None, but the thinking, e'er withheld applaufe; 
 Nor half, nor whole Menander, * as fome deem* 
 Vice is the prompter of his fubtle fchcme. 
 
 * Tu quoque, tu in fnmmis, O dimidiate ^Icnanda , 
 i J oneris. Julius C a: far of Terence.
 
 ( II ) 
 
 At will he gathers all his various fame, 75 
 
 By Bacchus arm'd againft the tint of fhame : 
 Rich his conception, ready is his phrafe, 
 And his the fpeaker's, his the poet's praife; 
 Round him the Mufes ltrew their fragrant flow'rs 
 From Heliconian fprings, and never fading 
 bow'rs. 80 
 
 From thefe The Dramatist now turns 
 
 with fcorn, 
 
 For other conquefts, other empire born. 
 
 Before him, in confufion's order, lie 
 
 Codes and Digcfts of direft anarchy, 
 
 With all the embryo forms of varied itrife, 85 
 
 Rough-fkctch'd by Gallic pencils from the life, 
 
 How mobs, in act a fenate's power to wreft, 
 
 Hcadlefs or headed, ferve a patriot belt. 
 
 The charts of aberration next are feen, 
 
 What liars are fix VI, what meteors light the 
 
 fcene 
 
 B 4
 
 ( '12 ) 
 
 With momentaneous glare ; what fpells fo proud 
 With fond illuflon cheat a fpungy crowd. 
 Butlaft, his hands with eager hafte unroll 
 Pictur'd devices quaint on many a fcroll ; 
 Infult with folly, fear with pert grimace, 05 
 Mock confuls, regal robes, and taudry lace, 
 
 The trappings of that narnelefs monftrous * fry, 
 That loath 'd abortion of democracy, 
 
 Got by the demon of the dark divan 
 
 'Twixt carnage, luft, and rapine, as it ran. 100 
 
 The lights wax'd faint ; and glimmering 
 
 through the gloom, 
 Specftres arofe, and groan'd their earthly doom ; 
 Who while they breath'd in ilaughterous pur- 
 
 pofe bold, 
 Leagued in damnation, could no concord hold ; 
 
 * The Executive Directoiy of France, Council of Ancients, 
 Council of Five Hundred and all their trumpery, and their ap- 
 proaching tyranny.
 
 ( i3 ) 
 
 Their jargon new, their crimes were under- 
 ftood, 105 
 
 All foul, all guilty of their country's blood ; 
 Frefh from the depths of that unholy ground, 
 Where life and common fin one tomb have found. 
 Before the Dramatist they held a glafs : 
 44 Such things are but occasional and pafs ; 1 10 
 " Unaw'd he fpake ; " they ftamp a glorious 
 
 caufe :" 
 (The Fiends, fo Hell had order d, glar'd ap- 
 
 plaufe.) 
 44 But fay, he cries, what terrors yet re fide 
 44 In Anarchy's pavilion dark and wide ? 
 44 Broad is the curtain ; nor yet half unroll'd ; 115 
 *' 'Twill other lands and chofen iiles enfold : 
 44 Perhaps," (the gricfly fhadows flitted fair, 
 And o'er the Hall of Themis feem'd to calt 
 Vapour aduftfrom their fulphureous home :) 
 4 ' Stephen with Satan may divide his dame 1 20
 
 " Goes it not fo ? the fire may beautify : 
 " Another phcenix may with Gallia's vie : 
 " A new Pantheon Paul may yet difclofe, 
 " And with new faints my Lauderdale repofe." 
 The Fiends fled grimly pleas'd ; a dizzying 
 
 pain 1 25 
 
 Entranced the Dramatist's diforder'd brain, 
 Till all his earthly powers confounded lie, 
 O'erftrain'd in that infernal colloquy ; 
 But fhoit his reft ; the Dramatist awoke, 
 And filence in deliberate accents broke : 1 30 
 
 " Since all that genius, all that wit can give, 
 " Or fovereign Nature's high prerogative; 
 " All that approving tafte may beftenfure, 
 " Fancy's gay bloffom. or the fruit mature; 
 " The (lores of memory, and the treafur'd 
 
 wealth 135 
 
 " Of claffic moments in laborious Health ;
 
 ( is ) 
 
 " Or readied elocution's eafy flow, 
 
 " Thoughts that enchain attention, words that 
 glow, 
 
 ' ' And paint the changeful manners of the age, 
 " Tolift'ningfenateSjOrth'enraptur'dftage; 140 
 " Caft round my name but ineffectual rays, 
 ' ' Or blefs with dry fterility of praife ; 
 " Too late, alas ! I feel, a ftatefman's part 
 " Muft bear the imprefs of an honed: heart. 
 " Scorn'd, though admir'd, mid flaming tern- 
 pelts caft> 145 
 " No laurel faves me from the public blaft, 
 " But ftruck and circumfcrib'd in all my rage, 
 " I fland the fad Bidental * of my age. 
 
 1 ' Better be with the mob ; their fancies cheat ; 
 
 " By human Hackneys dragg'd from flrect to 
 
 flrcet ; 150 
 
 * The word Bidental, in Roman writer?, fi unifies a place or 
 pcrfon (truck with lightning. It was uu;al to indole the place, and 
 r ! , an. n'.iar on the Ipot, / '..' .:.// m ''."
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 * Better go mount the tribunitian chair, 
 44 Hurl wildeft doctrines through the wilder!: air, 
 44 With fophiflry that fits the phrenzied crew, 
 44 Lank, haggard, lean, in black rebellion's hue, 
 " Till cymbals * feem through fancy's ear to 
 rino: 
 
 o 
 
 4 4 In difmal tones around a fuffering king. 
 
 44 Oh, for a virtuous heart, or feeming worth ! 
 
 4 ' What planet look'd thus fparely on my birth, 
 
 44 Cold, though benign ; and on my baby brow 
 
 44 Shed damps of death I never felt till now. 160 
 
 * 4 Subflance within, nor femblance will they find 
 
 44 Of virtuous purpofe, or the upright mind : 
 
 44 In all I ur^e, the Houfc alone will hear 
 
 44 The high-brought diction, or the wit feverej 
 
 f In the ancient facrirh cs offered to the bloody idol of Moloch, 
 it was cuflomary to clafli the cymbals and other inftruments, to 
 overpower the cries and groana of the agonizing victims.
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 " Stage-admiration ! All obtain fome grace, 165 
 
 " All from their purpofe find excufe or praife. 
 
 " Shall Mornington, for three full hours, de- 
 fcant 
 
 " On fcraps and fhreds in commentating rant \ 
 
 41 There is a clock j I wifli my Lord could fee 
 
 " How ill long fpeeches and fhort light 
 
 agree : 1 70 
 
 " Curfe on his words ; conviction ftill attends, 
 " And proves bad means proportion'dtobadends. 
 44 Shall Reeves with Druid * faith and potent 
 
 rod, 
 44 Involve alone the fpirit of the God 
 44 In Britain's central tree, all branches 
 
 broke ; 1 75 
 
 * ' Then feck for made beneath the leaf-lorn oak ? 
 
 * The Druids believed, that the fpirit of their Deir_\ red ieJ : >i the 
 nunk i.r feem of the tiered oak, which o:v\v in the in hi I oi '. ' iorcft 
 of Mona. The allufion here is to the 
 ' I tree, and i' hra:i ' . in tli ' !' 
 
 c :
 
 ( is ; 
 
 Shall mitred Horfley teach, in eaftern way, 
 " Subjects are made for nought but to obey ? 
 " Shall Wyndham, boldeft in the Sovereign's 
 
 caufe, 
 " Call for a vigour frronger than the laws ? 180 
 " Yet all in virtuous meaning feek defence : 
 " I never deviate .into honeft fenfe. 
 
 ' Ah me ! unwilling now my lips I clofe, 
 *' And leave myfelf and England to repofe. 
 ' Lo ! Pi tt prepares the adamantine chain 185 
 41 To curb fell Anarchy, * and all her train ; 
 
 * Read the Bill againft Treafon, and the Bill for effectually pre- 
 renting Seditions Meetings and AfTemblies; and confequently for 
 preventing (and I truft effectually) the overthrow of the lawful and 
 eitablifhed government of thefe kingdom", and of that high and 
 paramount authority, vefled in the King, the Lords and the Com- 
 mons, in Parliament affembied.
 
 ( i9 ; 
 
 " Fir'd with the brand of fome Arch-Calvin's 
 
 rage, 
 " Or hail'dby Reafon, children of her age % 
 " Not whiten'd with the fan&imonious foam, 
 " Blood mud diftain the portal of theix 
 
 dome ; 1 90 
 
 * The lamb they fain would ftrike forGallic guefts 
 " In other pafTo vers, and other feafts : 
 " Gaunt with difcomfiture they now advance, 
 " And wield addreffes, and would wield the lance, 
 " The good alone are free ! Pitt's virtue 
 
 fprings 1 95 
 
 lt To fliield the peafant, and the throne of kings. 
 
 " Why mult I crouch before the illuftrious 
 
 Youth ? 
 " Why hail the guardian of the law and truth ? 
 " If thus he lift Britannia's regal ftatc, 
 " His fame mall be as permanent, as great ! 200
 
 C 20 ) 
 
 " His be the guidance of the public light ; 
 
 *' Hyperion's fteeds, in marfhall'd order bright, 
 
 ' His fteadier hand fhall rein j through heav'ns 
 
 high way 
 i { Advancing roll along the orb of day, 
 " Through various figns, with temperate bold- 
 nefs tried, 205 
 
 " Paufe in the Balance, through the Scorpion 
 
 glide ; 
 '* The wand'ring fires obferve ; with Free- 
 dom trace 
 " The limits of that confecrated fpace, 
 " And juft to empire's delegating fource, 
 ' Abfolve the deftin'd round of his ethereal 
 courfe," 210 
 
 Here ceas'd the Dramatist; and ftrug- 
 gling fighs 
 Burft from his foul, and fears becran to rife :
 
 ( ) 
 
 For now, triumphant in the eaftern world, 
 Old England's ftandard Elphinftone unfurl'd ; 
 High trophies of confirm'd dominion wait 315 
 In orient fplendor on Britannia's ftate ; 
 And while all toil fhe fcorns, all danger braves, 
 O'er Hope's fam'd Cape her bloodlefs enflgn 
 waves** 
 
 * In November 1795, arrived the intelligence of The 
 Surrender of the Cape of Good Hope to the arms of Great 
 Britain, under Admiral Sir G. K. Elphinftone, K. B. and the Gene- 
 rals Craig and Clark, without the effufion of blood. See the Ga- 
 zette, publifhed on the occafion by the Miniftry, who, it is firmly 
 expected, will, in the name of Great Britain, greet this invaluable 
 and moft important fortrefs with an E[io Perpetua ! 
 
 F I N I S.
 
 
 REMARKS ON 
 
 THE DECLARATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WHIG CLUB, 
 
 On the 23d of January, 1796.
 
 REMARKS ON 
 
 THE DECLARATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WHIG CLUB, 
 
 On the 23d of JANUARY, 1796, 
 
 IN A 
 
 POSTSCRIPT 
 
 TO THE SECOND EDITION OF 
 
 A SATIRE, 
 
 ENTITLED, 
 
 THE POLITICAL DRAMATIST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 1 N 
 
 f 7So 
 
 With terrors round, can Reafon hold her throne, 
 Survey the Known, nor tremble at the Unknown ? 
 
 Ccnncn : 
 PRINTED FOR J. PARSONS, NO. II, V A IF 
 NOS I I- R-ROW. 
 
 ". I) OCX C VI.
 
 REMARKS ON 
 
 THE DECLARATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WHIG CLUB. 
 
 >--< " >-<* 
 
 x\S the preceding Poem is profeffcdly politi- 
 cal, there is no impropriety in obferving, that 
 fince the nrft edition of it, the public have read 
 in the papers, " The Declaration of the 
 Whig Club, Jigncd, Charles James Fox," 
 as agreed to at a general meeting, held at the 
 
 B Shake-
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 Shakefpeare Tavern, Covent Garden, on the 23d 
 of January, 1796. In this Poftfcript, I mall 
 blend no remarks on other works, or other 
 writings, as I wifh this Declaration mould be 
 confidered fingly and apart. I mail pafs, 
 
 with equal notice, the writings of the common 
 fcribblers of the day, and of the immortal Au- 
 thor of the Treatifes on the French Revolution. 
 I mail not comment on the names of William 
 Miles and Gilbert Wakefield, or of the 
 Right Honourable Edmund Burke. 
 
 But on public papers of iuch importance, a 
 public opinion may be given; and in the judg- 
 ment of thinking men, I conceive, that a more 
 alarming or a more decifive explication of poli- 
 tical principles, nefarious, abandoned, and de- 
 ilruclivc, could not have been prefented by the 
 art of the fophift, or the ftrength of the orator. 
 It is melancholy to obfervc men of high cha- 
 racter
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 rafter,, wealth, and dignity, in conformity with 
 the example of the^/7? leaders of thejirft Revo- 
 lution of France, propofing and recommending 
 a Catenation of Clubs throughout the 
 kingdom, all linked and combined with one great 
 central affociation in the metropolis, to over- 
 awe and intimidate the government. It is more 
 than melancholy, it is a warning to this country, 
 to hear such men, calmly and upon reflection, 
 recommending (for I ufe their own words) 
 " The Exercife of that just authority, 
 " which the national opinion mujl ever pqf- 
 
 "fefs OVER THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE L/EGIS- 
 
 " lature," without a blufli for the doctrine, 
 and without a fear for the event. 
 
 What is it, but to declare the Whig Club, 
 the common receptacle of all the political abomi- 
 nations of which the French have drunk largely 
 
 o 
 
 and fatally, and prefented the cup to every na- 
 tion
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 tion of Europe ? What is it, but to ftyle the 
 Whig Club the great Jacobin Den of Eng- 
 land, under the aufpices of men, candidates for 
 the government and direction of this great, opu- 
 lent, and eftablifhed empire ; and prof effing to at! 
 upon a principle, on which no government can 
 Hand, no fubordination can be long maintained ? 
 For, in my judgment, the efTence of the "Jacobin 
 Doctrine confifts in this ; namely, to call the 
 People of any country the Sovereign power, in 
 oppofition to the lawful, permanent, and cjia- 
 blijhed authority, vefted in the governors of it ; 
 to call the fenfe of Clubs affociatcd, the fenfe of 
 that people \ and when thofe Clubs have thought 
 proper to deliver and publiin their dodrir.es and 
 refolutions, to declare that the fovereign people 
 have in effect spoken their will ; and that, 
 in conlequence or it, the meaiurcs ui a govern- 
 ment arc to be Changed, minillers depolcd, a king 
 
 dethroned, or a conllitution regenerated: and all 
 
 this
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 this is fpoken with as much coolnefs, and a<? 
 little concern, as if the affairs of a veftry were to 
 pafs from one fet of wardens to anothet. And 
 further, as thefe momentous concerns are carried 
 on chieflv in the metropolis of any kingdom, 
 it is virtually to declare, that, thefenfe of the dif- 
 affe tied part of the people of that metropolis, is, 
 
 THE CONTROLLING POWER OF THE STATE, 
 
 as the government and its mimfters can neither 
 be overawed, nor feized upon in any other place ; 
 and particularly, as all the other difaffected 
 Clubs in the country enablifh their doctrines, 
 and found their refolutions, on the grand metro- 
 politan herefy. 
 
 But I will not pur fue the fophiftry of tkv, 
 declaration ; it is too trifling to miflcad the 
 fenfe of any man who will exercife a found 
 judgment. I will not magnify the Whig
 
 ( io j 
 
 Club ; for, in my opinion, it is contemptible 
 when compared with the great and dignified ma- 
 jority, who maintain and uphold the govern- 
 ment of thefe kingdoms, whatever minifter may 
 direct its meafures. Though the French mifun- 
 derftand that Club, and fuppofe a power, an 
 energy, and even an authority in it, which it 
 never did, and never can poffefs ; yet, I think, 
 the nature and tendency of it in -principle mould 
 be fully underftood in this country, as they 
 pretend to be, and as they are. 
 
 In thisDeclaration, which , we are gi ven 
 to underfland, was drawn up * by R. B. She- 
 ridan, Efq. M. P. the Hon. Thomas Erf- 
 kinc, M. P. Philip Francis, Efq. M. P. and 
 one James Mackintofh, and unanimoufly agreed 
 
 * Sec the Copy of the Declaration, Printed for R. White, Pic- 
 radilly. 
 
 to,
 
 C ) 
 
 to, at the general Meeting on the 23d of Janu- 
 ary, 1796, and adopted as their own; the Whig 
 Club ftand engaged to ufe every legal and con- 
 ilitutional effort, to obtain a repeal of the two 
 famous acts lately paffed ; the one, " Againft 
 " Seditious Meetings and Affemblies " the 
 other, " An Act for the fafety and preferva- 
 " tion of His Majefty's Perfon and Government 
 " againft treafonable and feditious practifcs and 
 " attempts.'* Let all their engagements ftand, 
 and all their efforts be exerted, and all their fo- 
 phiftries diffeminated. I w ill anfwcr with the 
 prophet of old, " May their dream be to them 
 that hate our country, and their interpretation of 
 it to our enemies." I will be bold to an- 
 fvver thefc men in their own words, that the free 
 and loyal people of thefc kingdoms, when they 
 connder thefc ads in the depth of their hearts, 
 and in the folidity of their judgments, will
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 never " forget the meafures of which they are 
 " apart; tlr; difpolition from which they ap- 
 4 * pear to flow ; the reafuns by which theyare fup- 
 " ported ; and the confequences to which they 
 " are intended to lead." For my own part, I 
 know not the words Jeem, and appear ; I 
 would affert the fubftancc ; nor need I the amT- 
 tance of their new ClaJJieal Lent Orator, with all 
 the farce of Roman lecture and tribunitian mock- 
 ery. I want no whining over Felons,* convicted 
 of treafon or fedition, and conveyed to remote or 
 inhofpitable climes, and no longer fuffered, by 
 the juflicc of their country, to trouble and dis- 
 organize the flare. I can wait with patience 
 for the new editions of their Dc Trijlibus and 
 DePonto, by the future Skirvings, Palmers, and 
 
 Read the fine feeling pafiage (ad popn.uni) on Tranfportation. 
 f am at a lofi: to which of the foui illuftiioiis pen-men I am to at- 
 tribute \\\\sj};mfathif.ng fliain. Mr. Erfkine and "Mr. Francis have 
 bs.cn 'niTi'ilcrs into Jcicipn farts. 
 
 Geralds,
 
 ( i3 ) 
 
 Geralds, from the uhores of Botany Bay, and 
 the folitudes of New Holland. 
 
 I hear the Whig Club talk of Love, as the 
 bads of government, when outrage and vio- 
 lence are abroad in our ftreets. I hear them talk 
 of favour and clemency : and who are their au- 
 ditors ? The profelytes of democracy in the 
 heart of London. Thefe are the foundations of 
 their citadel ; this is the bails of their temple, 
 while the dome and the columns are making. 
 Love, favour, and clemency, it feems, fuperfede 
 the neceffity of legal coercion in their new code. 
 Digefl and arrange it who can ; they will wait 
 in vain for the Rcfponja Prudentum, Mr. Chan- 
 cellor Erfkine may talk, and write, and infti- 
 tute ; Thelwall and Wakefield alone will com- 
 ment. I am afhamed of fuch folemn trifling, 
 and of fuch cruel abfurdity in the face v( the 
 
 nation. 
 
 By
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 By mis Declation of theWhigClub, 
 
 figncdy Charles James Fox, wc now fully 
 underftand the inftitution ; we are in pofteflion 
 of the principles of this New Whig Monfler, 
 of principles, the greatefl part of which, thefe 
 candidates for the government of Great Britain, 
 already know and feel they muft abandon, it ever 
 they fucceed to the lawful and conftitutional di- 
 rection of public affairs. The great ftone of 
 the Den is rolled away ; but my own words 
 are inadequate to the ideas under which I labour ; 
 1 have done my duty, and retire. 
 
 Ccelo ofiendantur,?EDiB usqueinformecad a ve r 
 
 FROTRAHITUR ! 
 
 Men, and Brethren, who have read the De- 
 claration of the Whip; Club, and thefe Remarks 
 upon it, warm from the heart of an Engliili 
 
 fub-
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 fubject ; Men and Brethren, I fay, if it be right, 
 in the fight of Heaven and of this country, to 
 hearken unto them more than unto our legal and 
 conjlitiitional governors, judge ye.
 
 
 

 
 Til 
 
 SIGNS OF THE TIMES: 
 
 PART THE SECOND, 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 BY J. BICHENO. 
 
 ftee out of the ic!fl of Babylon; and deliver every rhn his foul : be notcutofT in her ini- 
 quity ; for tii ia it the time of the Lord's vengeance , he will render unto her a re/Compence. 
 
 A'* would have holed Babylon, but (tie i* no* healed ; forfakc her, and let us go every one into 
 ii p o in c#untfy. JEREMIAH* 
 
 LONDON". 
 
 fklNTID hOR THE AUTHOR, 
 VI) SO:. K Y "ARSONS, F AT ER NOS IE K.-RO W ; COTTLE AND JAMJ, 
 BKISiOl. ; LUNX, CAManiDSEj M A R C H , N O R W I C H ; KSWSOM, L K E S J 
 C AMI' BELL, BATH; FILLER., NEWBURY; AND SNARE, XiADiXG, 
 
 l'nce is. 6U. 
 Of whom miy be h.vJ, the First Part, Third Edition, with large Additions, 
 Price is. 61. Alio, the Authoi\ Friendly Address to the Jew.. ani 
 Letter to Mr. U. .Lt vi. Pr;ceis.6d. 
 
 >DCC XCiY.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 JL ME many excellent things which have been written by the 
 friends of liberty, of our conftitution, and of humanity, againfl. 
 the prefentwar, and on the neceffityof reformation, and a change 
 of nicafures, may make it fecm almoft needlefs to fay more than 
 has been faid ; for intcrcftcd men would not believe though one 
 fliould rife from the dead. But although little that is new can be 
 expcclcd to be advanced on a fubject which is fo plain to the dif- 
 pailionate and difintercftcd, yet, as the argument in the following 
 pages is placed, if not in a new point of light, yet, in fuch an one 
 as has not been conlidcrcd in any degree proportioned to its vaft 
 importance, I am therefore induced to fubmit it to the public at- 
 tention. 
 
 It may be thought that the Author has not entered fo fully into 
 the diicuflion of iome particulars as he fhould have done, nor be- 
 llowed the pains upon them which their importance required. 
 As to thofe in the former part of the book, as they have been fo 
 ably treated on by numerous voluminous writers, and as he had 
 bul little to produce that was new, he did not think it neceffary 
 
 A to
 
 11 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 to enter farther into the confederation of them than appeared 
 needful for preparing the way for the vindication of what he ad- 
 vances refpefting thofe Subjects, which fomc may be difpofed to 
 rejeft becaule novel. And as to the execution of the whole, he 
 muSt beg leave to plead theconftant toils of his profeffion, which 
 leave him but now and then an hour for fuch investigations. 
 Nothing but a conviftion of duty could have induced the Author 
 to prefent this to the Public ; he has no felfifh or party views to 
 Serve ; and he hopes for all the indulgence which candor, with juf- 
 tice, can beftow, and no mere. 
 
 The love of peace, anxious apprehenfions for trembling liberty, 
 concern for the fate which threatens our country, benevolence to- 
 wards mankind, and a motive which a Chriflian and a ProteSbnt 
 ought not to be afhamed to avow, urge me again to addrefs my 
 
 fellow-fubjects at this dangerous and awful crifis. May the 
 
 evils which the figns of the times portend, and of which I have 
 fuch Ptrong apprehenSions, never fall upon my country ! May 
 thofe meafures which alone can fave us, be fpeedily adopted ! But, 
 fhould it be otherwile, may the hearts of the true friends of our 
 constitution and liberties never have to accufe them that thev 
 forefaw the approaching evil but wanted virtue to exert their ta- 
 lents, great or fmall, in the caulc of peace and order, juftice and 
 liberty ! Mav the genuine fcrvants of God, who worfhip not 
 the mammon of unrighteoufnefs, nor eiteein the Bible a compoii- 
 tion of fables, never fhiink from their duty, becaufe the world 
 frowns arid Scoffers revile ! 
 
 Religion is a reality; uncorrupted Chriftianitv is the greaielt 
 benefit that ever God be Plowed upon mankind; but the deformi- 
 ties occasioned by the corruptions of priefts, and the pervcrfions 
 of Itatefmcn, have brought it into long difgrace, and prevented the 
 intended good. The all-wile God, ior rcalons infcrutable to us, 
 has permitted it to be fo. This is one of the many myfteries of 
 his providence; but Iris word will be accomplished; the kingdom 
 of antichrift will pcrifh, ar.d uncorrupted Christianity will revive 
 from the moment of its ruin. We are fure of the event ; but by 
 what particular means this is to be accomplished, ;m<t whni, is not 
 fo clearly afeertained. Thefe arc left for events to elucidate. 
 
 Our
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. Ill 
 
 Our duty is to watch the figns of the times, and be readv when- 
 ever the feafon of reckoning may come. That its approach is to 
 be knowable is put beyond a doubt, for otherwife the delineation of 
 the hgns, and the command to inquire and watch, as well as the 
 promife that the wife Jliall under/land, would all be nugatory. 
 
 There is a prevailing prejudice that deferves fo.ne attention, 
 and of which it may be as proper to take notice in this place as 
 any where. It is very ufual to hear people fay of the prophecies, 
 and particularly of thofe in the book of Revelation, " They are 
 Jo obfeure, and the opinions of the learned refpe&ing them are fo 
 various, that it feems impoflible to come at any certainty; and I 
 therefore never trouble myfelf about them." It is true that there 
 are a great diverfity of opinions, and many ftrange and wild in- 
 terpretations and conjectures have been ftarted. But to what de- 
 feription of prophecies does this chiefly apply? Not to thoic 
 which have long been accomplifhed, but to fuch as remain unful- 
 filled ; for though there may not be an exaEl conformity of fenti- 
 ment, as to every particular rcfpe&ing thele former, yet there is a 
 pre'ty general agreement among our writers in their interpretation 
 of them. What wild and incoherent notions had the fathers, as 
 thev are called, the writers of the early centuries, about antichrift, 
 the man of fin, and the bcaft with leven heads and ten horns, in 
 Rev. xiii. And why ? Bccaufe thefe prophecies were not fufti- 
 cicntlv realized. But what Proteftant commentators differ about 
 thefe predhlions now ? Scarcely any. To fay nothing concern- 
 in , ihe piophecies in the Old Tc (lament, which refcried to the hu- 
 miliation ot the Mefliah, 2nd which were never under flood till 
 ;:fter their fulfilment, obferve the progrefs of the elucidation of 
 the hook of Revelation. The prophetic parts, to the end of the 
 i.iiith chapter, are tolerably well underftood, and though there 
 may not be an e.xacl, vet there is a pretty general agreement in the 
 interpretations of our m.ilt approved writers, as there is alio about 
 thole other parts that have, for fome time, been accomplifhed. 
 I'-i inilance, fcarccly any body now doubts but that the hjih and 
 j xtli trumpets refer to the depredations of the Saracens and 
 'links; and almoil all allow that the corruptions and pel {editions 
 of the papal church, and its fupporters. are reprelentcd by the 
 treading undci loot the holy city for forty r.nd two months, and 
 
 b
 
 IV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 bv the witneffes prophefying in fackcloth 1260 days, or years, 
 chap. xi. The rcafon of this general agreement is, becaufe we fee 
 the fulfilment. But, in the interpretation of fome other parts of 
 this hook, authors are very various, and for this obvious rcafon, 
 becaufe unaccomplifhed. But this is not always to be the cafe. 
 When therefore they arc fulfilled, and the correfpondence of 
 events with the predictions fuggefls the true interpretation, it 
 would he the height of folly to reject fuch interpretations on ac- 
 count of their novelty, or becaufe former commentators entertained 
 different opinions. I do not pretend to have any clear and fpc- 
 cific ideas of what remains unfulfilled, but I apprehend that the 
 events fignified in the tenth and in the eleventh chapters of Rev la- 
 tum, fo far as extends to the nations being angry, and the coming 
 of the wrath of God, are now accomplifhed, or accomplifhing. 
 I think this is as demondrable as a thing of the kind can pol- 
 fibly be as demonftrable as that the [event y weeks of Daniel 
 referred to the coming of the Meffiah, or. as that the fifty -third 
 of Ifaiah was a prediction of his fufferings and exaltation. 
 
 Some, it is probable, may think that the Author has expreffed 
 too much confidence rcfpe&ing the fuppofed approaching calami- 
 tics, and too much of what fome will call enthufiafm, for the oc- 
 cafion ; he can only fay. that, whatever diffidence he may enter- 
 tain as to fome fingle and detached hypothefes, both in this part 
 rnd in the former, vet he has no doubt remaining as to the great 
 frets, and expected events ; and under the impl'efiion of this con- 
 fidence it. would be criminal apathv to treat them as common oc- 
 currences, and to feci as though but little were at firke. When 
 jefus beheld the capital of his guilty, devoted countrv. he wept 
 over it. Whether I write as a wild cnthufiaft. or <:.-. one 111 his 
 lohcr Ionics, wiio has lome rcafon for what h.e advances, a fl.ort 
 time will determine; and, if 'he reader will luppiels Lis confines, 
 rind engage himfclf diligently to watch the fi^ns oj (hit tnt:cs but 
 for a jew years only, 1 am willing to refer 10 luturc events for ihe 
 proof that what is now burfting upon us lends to 1,0 common 
 iliac. Yes, it is more than probable, th:.t many will think the 
 Author a millaken cnthufiaft; but were this the univeilal opinion, 
 (which io far from being the caie} he i not dJliuite of fuppc rt 
 ii^aiui't immoderate mortification, 
 
 Ii
 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. V 
 
 If I am deceived by feeming correfpondencus, or led away by 
 tbc illufions of fancy, to adopt fentiments which may have a ten- 
 dency to create unneceffary uneafinefs, I fhall eftecm myfelf un- 
 der obligations to the man who will endeavor, candidly, to con- 
 vince me of my dclufions ; and if fuch an one can produce anv 
 well-grounded arguments to overturn what is advanced in th 
 following pages, or in the former part of The Signs of the Times, 
 I hope I am neither fo pertinacious nor foenthufiaflic, as to be in- 
 capable of conviftion. But while no better arguments are ad- 
 vanced than, " Others have been deceived opinions are various 
 when an author wifhes to fupport an hypothecs of this kind, 
 it is no difficult talk, in any age, to find events fuited to his pur- 
 pofe thefe prophecies might be applied to any other country or 
 events as well as to thofe brought forward," &c. I mud beg leave 
 flill to maintain my confidence. 
 
 Chriftians believe that the predictions of the prophets are fome 
 time to be fulfilled. Whenever that time comes, and a certain 
 number of the predicted events have taken place, it is likely that 
 things will be placed in fuch a point of light as to convey con- 
 viction, to the pious and attentive obferver, of the true intent of 
 the Spirit of God; and it is to be expected, that this will be in 
 proportion to the advancement of the great ichemc to its pcrfett 
 completion. Whether fuch a number of thefe events have taken 
 place, and whether things are now placed in fuch a point of light, 
 I hope the reader will candidly and ferioufiy inquire. The Au- 
 thor thinks it is fo ; and though he does not. pretend to determine, 
 from unfulfilled prophecies, cither the exaft tunc, or manner, of 
 the accomplifhment of any particular event, yet he thinks that, 
 from what has taken place, a pretty pofitive conclufion may be 
 drawn rcfpccling the main events, and that they are very near ; 
 namely, the downfai of the papacy, and of all religious co:- 
 ruptions and ulurpations; the overthrow of all tyranny and op- 
 preilion ; the general reformation and renovation of mankind, 
 and of the overflowing calamities which arc to effect, or orcoarc 
 the way, for all this. 
 
 Such is the temper of the times, that fome filly or party fpiritcd 
 peopl will, poflibly, bs ready to fufpect the Author of want of 
 
 lovlty
 
 VI ADVF.RTISEMFNT. 
 
 loyalty to the king, of veneration for the constitution, and of U>\c 
 for his country, for to fimilar fufpicions wasawifer and better man 
 expofed, (Jeremiah xxxviii. 4.) and all for a conduct which 
 avouched the very contrary, and for which, inftead of perfecution 
 and a dungeon, he deferved the thanks of his country. Should 
 it b? thus, the Author will be content to eoniole himfelf with 
 that confeioufnefs wliich he poflefTcs of the falfehood of fuch lur- 
 mifes, of the reftitude of his intentions, and tke hope of His ap- 
 probation who is the Judge of all, and to whom, and not to the 
 will of men, we ought to live. 
 
 The Author does not profefs to fet himfelf up for the apologia 
 of the French people ; and far be it from him to attempt to juftify 
 their rafh and wicked deeds : he has not even fuppofed that every 
 other people, in like Situations, and with like provocations, would 
 have ,-.lcd the fame part which they have ; for that would be no 
 alleviation of their guilt. The utmoft that he has contended for, 
 or fuggefted, is, that the overthrow of monarchy and popery in 
 that country is the accomplishment of God's word, and in judg- 
 ment for oppreffion and corruption ; that their great leading prin- 
 ciples are good, and that they have a right to legiflate for them- 
 felves, and choofe what fort of government they pleafe, uncontroled 
 by any other power on earth. 
 
 Whether the French be right or wrong, in this or that j is no 
 prut of the queftion which it has been thought necefiary to enter 
 very deeply info ; yet the truth fecms to be, that there is a Strange 
 mixture of the greateSt good and the greateSt evil : much to be 
 applauded and much to be lamented. But the argument again!! 
 the prefent war is drawn from a higher fource than eithci 
 the principles or practices of the French reformers; and the 
 Author thinks that, whether the French be right or wr.>i ; 
 whether theV triumph or pcrifh, yet molt of the nations who 
 have made war upon them have involved themlelves in great 
 Llame bv the rafhnefs of their proceedings, and that they hazard 
 great danger by attempting to fupport that, which not only infpired 
 
 wifdom, but general rcafon, has doomed to fall. But more than 
 
 this; though the war, on the part of the combined powers, wcie 
 ever fo jult, though as juft as that of Ifrael againft the proud king 
 
 of
 
 ADVERTISEMENT; Vil 
 
 of ArTyria, or of any of the ancient empires again ft their cruel and 
 ambitious invaders, it would not at all affect, the queftion. As in 
 their cafes it was for the accumulated guilt of fuccefiive ages, and 
 for the general depravity of their character, and not for the blame 
 of that particular quarrel in which they fell, that God made thefe 
 invaders his instruments for their chaftifement and overthrow, 
 and which deftination Infpiratibn had foretold fo, for the accu- 
 mulated guilt, and general depravity, of modern nations, chaf- 
 tifement is to be expected, and Infpiration has put it beyond a 
 doubt that it will one day come, when the beaft with ten horns 
 will be (lain, and his body deftroyed, and given to the burning 
 flame. (Dan. vii. 11.) From comparing the ftgns of the times 
 with the declarations and indications of prophecy there is great 
 reafon to apprehend that the time is at hand. Whatever, then, Our 
 provocations might be, the danger is much the fame, and there is 
 no hope of efcape or alleviation but byinftant Repentance and 
 
 Reformation. Never, therefore, was that exhortation more 
 
 in time, Retent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at 
 
 HAND. 
 
 Newbury, 
 Match u, 1794.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 A Retrofpe&ivc View of the Events predicted in the fifth, 
 fixth, feventh, eighth, and ninth Chapters of Revelation 9 
 
 Signs of the Approach of the Latter Days 29 
 
 Conclufion : being an Addrefs to the People of Great Bri- 
 tain 53
 
 j * i?- ' - ' - '* ", ~" , -y+"-*T "'*~ :r ' e v - m "" * * "' 1! - -, 
 
 ^ RETROSPECTIVE VIEW 
 
 Of the Events predicted in the fifth, fixth, fe- 
 venth y eighth, and ninth Chapters of Reve- 
 lation. 
 
 lEFORE we enter xipon our inquiries, permit me to puta plain 
 queftion; not whether thou art interested iu the continuance and 
 triumph of corruption in this country, or in the fupport of def- 
 potifm and popery in France ; que (lions proper enough in them- 
 felves, for intcreft has a mighty influence in corrupting the heart 
 and perverting the judgment ; but, art thou a Chriflian ? Does 
 the reader believe that the prophets in old time fpoke and wrote 
 under the infpiration of the Spirit of God, and that the things 
 which they foretold will have their acccmplifhment ? If not, he 
 may be allured that the following pages will rjbt be to his tafte. 
 In a Chriflian Country, when queftibns of the lad importance are 
 in agitation, and the fate of nations is at flake, there is a peculiar 
 propriety in referring to thole facred records which we all believe 
 to be from God, to fee whether they contain any information 
 -which may a (lift us in formir g a right judgment, and thus prevent 
 our purfuing a criminal and ruinous conduct. He cannot be a 
 Chriflian who delpifes this appeal, and efpecially as it is allowed, 
 a'unoft by general content, that we have here delineated th.2 cir- 
 cumdances and fate of nations, to the end of time. 
 
 The apoftle Paul 'Rom. xv. 4.) declare?, refpcl:ng the writings 
 t>f the prophets, tb. t " What foe vcr things were written aforetime 
 
 iS were
 
 1(3 RF. TROSPECTIVEVIEW. 
 
 wcic written for our learning, that wc through patience and com- 
 fort of the icripturcs might have hope ;" and in the beginning of 
 that profound and difficult, but important and inftruftive, book of 
 Revelation, it is written, (chap. i. 3.) " Bleffed is he that rcadcth, 
 and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep thofs 
 things which arc written therein : the time is at hand." Is it not 
 therefore a Orange piece of folly, not to lay profanenefs, in Chrif- 
 tians, to maintain, that thefc prophecies are of a kind which it is 
 as vain as it is unprofitable to inquire into? This is to arraign the 
 wifdom of God, end defpife thofe methods of inftruftion which 
 the Infpircr of prophecy has chofen. Far be this from us! Let 
 us better underftand that faying of the apoftle to Timothy , " All 
 fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable fordoc- 
 ti ine, for reproof, for correction, for inftru&ion in rightcoufnefs : 
 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnifhed unto all 
 good works." Many things in this book may be hard to be un- 
 cle-flood, and efpecially before their fulfilment, or the taking place 
 of fomc events fo immediately connected with them as to afford 
 the inquirer a clue in his invcfligations ; but it does not thence 
 follow, that we are not to fearch into the mind and meaning of 
 the Spirit of God, but rather that we ought to redouble our dili- 
 gence in inquiry, and abound the more in prayer to God, for the 
 teachings of that Spirit who gave the word, and gave it in this 
 form, not that it might never be undcrltood, but that, whilft the 
 purpofes and operations of God, in providence, fhould be hid from 
 the carelefs eves of a wicked world, they might, at the proper 
 fcalbn, be difcoverable to the pious and diligent inquirer, for the 
 tonfolation of the upright, and, in the end, for the general con- 
 viction and edification of mankind. What the angel {aid to Da- 
 niel (chap, xii.j, 10.) is in point as to the prefent queflion, and a 
 ground of encouragement to invigorate our refearches. Shut up 
 the words and feal the book, even to the time of the end. Manx (that 
 is, about the time of the end) Jhall run to and fro, ({hall inquire 
 and invefligatc) and knowledge, fliallbt intreafed. None of the wick- 
 ed Jhall undcrjland, but the wife Jhall under/land. The wicked will 
 not Ice what Cod is doing, though they thcmfclvcs maybe the in- 
 flrumenis ; but the wile, who fearch into the word of God. and 
 < Licrve and compare the f yis of the times with its predictions, 
 
 {hall
 
 RETROSPECTIVE IEW, 11 
 
 fhall underftand.- With thefe fcntiments let us fcnter upon the 
 confederation of our fubjeft. 
 
 Previous to our cofifidcring what is recorded in the tenth 
 chapter of the Revelation, and comparing it with the eleventh ; and 
 from which comparifon I ftippofe fuch figns of the times to be dis- 
 coverable, as may aflift us to form a judgment of the period in 
 which we live, and of the events we have to expett, it will be 
 proper to take a curfory view of what goes before. In the fifth 
 chapter we have an account of a book fealed with feven feals, 
 which Jcfus, the Lamb of God, was alone found worthy to open. 
 This book is the reprcfentation of the providence of God, which 
 is committed to the execution of the exalted Redeemer of the 
 world. The opening of the feals indicaiesto us the different pe- 
 riods of hiftory, from the firft preaching of the gofpel to the con- 
 summation of all things. In the fixth chapter viz have an account 
 of the opening of fix of the feven feals. Thefe bring us to the 
 overthrow of the heathen Roman empire, by the emperor Con- 
 ftantine, who, about the year 311, embracing Chriftianity, effected. 
 a moft aftonifhing revolution in the hiftory of idolatry, and pro- 
 cured for the Chriftian church a refpite from thofc perfecutions 
 which had long harrafied it, and which fecmed to threaten its utter 
 extirpation. Now (A. D. 323) were the four winds of heaven 
 holden, (chap, vii.) that they fhould not blow on the earth, nor 
 on the fca, nor an any tree, till 144.00 of the Servants of God 
 were fealed in their foreheads, with the feal of the living God. 
 The former commotions and perfecutions gave place to peace and 
 quictnefs, till Chriftianity fhould acquire Strength and permanency 
 by the addition of numerous converts. But tares fprung up among 
 the wheat. The feeds of antichriftian error, pride, and domina- 
 tion, had long been Sown-, and now the funfhinc of court favoirf 
 produced a plentiful crop. Chriftianity, or fomething called by 
 that name, was brought to court; fhc was careffed, loaded with 
 riches and honours; was debauched by her alliance with the 
 world, and quickly became the mother of harlots. The true re- 
 ligion of Jel'us Chrift was adulterated with the maxims of ftatei- 
 meiij and the reveries cf enthufiafb. The pcrfecutcd became the 
 pcriecutors, and univcrfal corruption, reviling, and oppicflion luc- 
 cccded. Hence the judgments which follow, 
 
 B 2 Chan.
 
 lH RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 Chap. viii. " And when he had opened the feventh fcal, thelt 
 was filence in heaven about the fpacc of half an hour." Was 
 this filence, as fomc interpret it, the fhort quiet which the church, 
 enjoyed on the late change of circumftances ; or, (for this quiet 
 had been represented before, chap. viii. 1.) was it not. rather the 
 amazement of heaven, on the opening of the feventh fcal, at the 
 corruption which followed, and at the judgments of God, which 
 were about to fuccccd ? There may alfo be an allufion, as fome 
 fuppofe, to a ccremonv among the Jews-, who, while the facrifices 
 were offering, and while the pile ft went into the temple to bum 
 jncenfe, remained filent without, praying to themfclvcs. " And 
 I faw the feven angels which flood before God : and to them were 
 given feven trumjets." Thefe feven trumpets are to be the fignal 
 for the ufheiing in fo many diftincl judgments on apoftate Chris- 
 tians. " And I faw another angel came and ftood at the altar, 
 having a golden cenfer: and there was given unto him mu-eh iu- 
 cenfe, that he fhould oiler it with the prayers of the faints upon 
 the golden altar, which was before the throne. And the fmoke 
 of the incenfe, which came with the prayers of the faints, afcend- 
 ed up before God, oat of the angel's hand." The corruption of 
 the Chriftian church which had taken place, and the evils which 
 quickly followed in its train, became a fubject. of ferious concern 
 to thofe who ftill adhered to the truth; and the vindication of 
 dishonoured Chriftianity, as well as of oppreffed innocence, was 
 the fubjeft of their earncft prayers. God heard them. ' : And 
 the angel took the cenfer and filled it with fire erf the altar, and 
 caft it into the earth : and there were voices, and thunderings, and 
 lightnings, and an earthquake." All thefe cxprelnons are fignifi- 
 cant of wars and commotions of nations, and are intimations of 
 what is to he expected under the following trumpets, or poflibly 
 they were intended to rcprcfent thofe commotions which fhould 
 agitate the Roman empire, between the death of Conftantinc and 
 the founding of the fir ft trumpet, which fhould bring the invaiion 
 of the Goths ; that is, between tire years 337 and 376. In this 
 interval the family of Conftantinc, his three fons, who divided 
 the empire among them, and all his relations, periflied, chiefly by 
 aiTafiination and intcltinc wars-, within the fpacc of twenty-feven 
 .years. And id fierce and bloody w;is the war between Conftan- 
 tiLis, who reigned in Afw and the caft, and. Mugncntius, who had 
 
 pro-
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 1$ 
 
 'procurc'd the affaffination of Cenftans, and hadaffumed the purple 
 in Italv. that, as Viftor obferves, it almoft ruined the whole flrength 
 of the Roman empire. But this was only the prelude to much 
 greater calamities, 
 
 Vcr. 7. " The firft angel founded, and there followed hail, and 
 fire, mingled with blood, and they were caft upon the earth ; and 
 the third part of trees were burnt up, and all green grafs was 
 burnt up." This fvrft trumpet brings a terrible ftorm from the 
 north, the region of hail ; and the nature of the ftorm fhews the 
 .mturc of the judgment, it was hail and fire mingled with blood, 
 which denotes wars, and appears to have been a prediction of the 
 terrible inundations of the Goths, who, about the year 376, broke 
 in upon, and laid wafte a great part of Europe, that third part of 
 the then known world, to which the prophecy refers ; for when 
 the prophecy fpcaks of the judgment falling on a third part, the 
 weflern empire, or Europe, is to be undcrftood. Great were the 
 calamities which were endured, for fcvcral years, from thefe in- 
 vaders. A check was at length given to their depredations : for 
 attempting theconqueft of Normandy, A. D. 402. they were de- 
 feated, their camp and their imraenfe treafures were taken ; the 
 captives were delivered, and as the difperfed wandered about for 
 fafety*, innumerable numbers were flaughtered. But another ene- 
 my Quickly appeared. 
 
 Yci . 8. " The fecond angel founded, and, as it were, a great 
 mountain burning with fire was caft into the lea ; and the third 
 part of the lea became blood," &c. This appears to be a predic- 
 tion of the irruption of the Vandals, who, about the year 406, 
 made a terrible in vafion into the we Hern and maritime parts of 
 Europe, and bore down all before them ; fo that France, Spain, 
 Portugal, and Italy, were made a prey of, arid Rome ufclf was 
 nude to pay for its liberty. Here they fettled themfclves for a while, 
 till toward the period of the third trumpet, they went into Afri- 
 ca, and there founded the kingdom of the Vandals. 
 
 Vrr. 10. " Aral the third angel founded, and there fell /great 
 liar from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the 
 third p;.rt oi the :i . :. and up % :i th-: fountains of water; and 
 
 the
 
 14 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 the name of the ftar is called wormwood ; and the third part of 
 the M'aters became wormwood, and many men died of the waters, 
 becaufe they were made bitter." This blazing dar, or comet, is 
 Attila, who, with his Huns, A. D. 452, made a terrible invafion 
 into the wedern parts, laying wade the countries about the Danube 
 and Rhine, the greatcft rivers in Europe, and efpecially Lombar- 
 dy, which is watered by the Fo. His miffion fecms to have been 
 particularly againd this latter country. Right well did he call 
 himfelf, The fco urge of God, and the terror of man. For fourteen 
 years he {hook both the ead and weft with the mo ft cruel fear, 
 laying wafte the provinces, by plundering, fire, and fword. Af- 
 ter having wafted Thrace, Maccdon, and Greece, he turned his 
 arms againft the wedern empire : he entered Gaul with -CO,CGO 
 rnen, fet moft of the cities on fire, but going beyond the bounds 
 of this trumpet, he met with a fuccefsfui rcfiftancc, on which he 
 turned his force againft Lombardy, took and deftroyed Aquilea, 
 with fcvcral other cities, flaying the inhabitants, and laying the 
 buildings in afh.es. From the Alps to the Appenine, all was 
 flight, depopulation, {laughter, bondage, burning, and defperation. 
 He was preparing to march to Rome, but was diverted from his 
 purpofe by a folemn embady from the emperor, and the promifc 
 of an annual tribute ; and fo concluding a truce, he retired out of 
 Italy, and paffed into his own dominions, beyond the Danube. 
 
 Whoever cafts an eye upon a map of this countrv, which he 
 thus ravaged and depopulated, and which comprehended almoft 
 all the north of Italy, viz. Piedmont, Milan, moft of the territory 
 of Venice, Mantua, Parma, Modcna, and icveral other provinces, 
 he will inftantly perceive the aptitude of the defcription of this 
 judgment : it was to fall upon the third pare of the rivers and foun- 
 tains of water, and the waters were to become wormwood, &c. 
 Bcfide its lakes, no country in Europe is fo interfered with rivers. 
 There arc not many fhort of a hundred, reckoning the numerous 
 branches, with their fcveral oonfidciablc dreams, which fall into 
 the Po. Pei haps, at fomc future time, not far didant, the com- 
 paring of what may take place in the overthrow of Antichrid, 
 with this judgment which fell on thofc countries efpecially whic.li 
 are watered by the Rhine and the Po ; may help us to undcrdand 
 
 that.
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. \$ 
 
 that other judgment, rcprefented in Rev. xvi. 4, 7. by the pouring 
 out of the third vial upon the rivers and fountains of water. 
 
 Vcr. 12. " And the fourth angel founded, and the third part 
 of the fun was fmitten, and the third part of the moon, and the 
 third part of the ftars ; fo as the third part of them was darkened, 
 and the day fhone not for a third part of it, and the night like- 
 wife." This trumpet alfo relates to Europe, and perfects that for 
 which the other trumpets prepared the way, the extinction of the 
 weftern empire. Wc may here recollect what Sir I. Newton, in 
 his Obfcrvations upon the Prophecies, fays, refpeciing this fort of 
 figurative language. " In facred prophecy, which regards not An- 
 gle perfons, the fun is put for the whole fpecics and race of kings, 
 in the kingdom or kingdoms of the world politic, fhining with 
 regal power and glory ; the moon, for the body of the common 
 people, confidered as the king's wife ; the ftars, for fubordinate 
 princes and great men. Darkncfs is put for obfeurity of condi- 
 tion, and for error, blindnefs, and ignorance ; darkning, fmiting, 
 or letting of the fun, moon, or ftars, for the ceafing of a kingdom, 
 or for the dcfolation thereof, proportional to the darknefs ; dark- 
 ning of the fun, turning the moon into blood, and falling of the 
 ftars, for the lame." 
 
 There appear no events to which this extinguifhing of the third 
 part of the fun, moon, and ftars, can be io properly applied as to 
 what took pl?cc towards the end of the. fifth century, when the 
 weftern emperor, and his lubordinate governors, were utterly ex- 
 tinguiihed, and an entire end was put to the very remainders of 
 the Roman Caelars. This was c Heeled by the fourth inundation 
 of the barbarous nations, when the Heruli, under Odoacer, their 
 leader, invaded Italy, about the year 436 A. C. and, having con- 
 quered Auguftulus, gave the mortal blow to the weftern empire, 
 and reduced all Italy under the dominion of the barbarian, who 
 afTumcd the title of king of Italy. About hxteen years after this, 
 Thcodoric, king of the Oftrogoths, at therequeftof Zeno, empe- 
 ror of the call, made war upon thefe invaders in their new lettlc- 
 ment, conquered Odoacer in leveral battles, and obtained, as the 
 fruits of his victories, a kingdom for the Ollrogoths in Italy, 
 which Lub lifted, under various turns of Kit m-, from the year 
 
 4PJ
 
 t6 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 493 to 55 e The ^ cat ^ government was now removed from 
 Rome to Ravenna. This extinction of the imperial government-, 
 and humiliation, of Rome, appears to be that to which the apoftlc 
 Paul alludes, a Thcff. ii. 6, 7, 8. Thus he, or that, which hinder- 
 ed the man of fin from perfecting his fchemes of ambition, Was 
 tiikcn away, and free fcope was given to the Popes to realize that 
 fpiritual monarchy, after which they had fo long panted, but could 
 not fo eafily effeft while the Cefars continued, and the civil go- 
 vernment remained fo near them. 
 
 Thus have we fcen the diffolution of the Roman empire in Eu- 
 rope effefted by the irruptions of the barbarous nations, not at 
 once, but by degrees. From its ruins fprung up the ten kingdoms, 
 wh'ch had been fhewn to Nebuchadnezzar as the ten toes of a great 
 image, (Dan. ii. 42.) and to Daniel and John as fo many horns of 
 monftrous an d lavage beafts. Dan. yii. -j. Rev. xii. 3. xiii. 1. 
 
 fmmm 
 
 WHAT was the effeft which all thefe gre;:t and ronftant cala- 
 mities that we have been reviewing, produced on the minds of 
 the fufferers? Did they put a flop to corruption, and reduce 
 mankind to repentance ? In Mead of this, immorality, fupcrftiuon, 
 prieftcraft and cruel opprcflions, civil and religious, kerned to 
 increale in proportion to the corrections of Providence, and 
 even to outflrip the calamities which precipitated the downfal 
 of the Roman empire. Inftead of turning to God by repent- 
 ance, and feeking to him for protection, they multiplied their 
 gods; and the only exhortations of the clergy were, '< The holy 
 martyrs, our defenders, are prefent ; they would be entreated, 
 and they feck that they maybe fought. Seek therefore unto thele 
 helpers unto your prayers, find out, thefe protectors of yourguilti- 
 nefs. Let St. Peter be now your helper in all thing-, that after* 
 ward he may le r:blc to forgive you your fins. Cant to the crois. 
 
 where n
 
 retrospective view. 17 
 
 wherein i the wood of the Lord's crofs, and the hair of John the 
 Baptift : we fetch alwayj the comfort of our Saviour through the 
 interceflion of hig fore-runner." Thus idolatry was grafted on 
 the Chriftian profeffion ; and thefe antichriflianapoflates thought, 
 by thefe devotions, and by making converts by fire and fword to 
 the holy Catholic church, to atone for their fins, and bribe the 
 Divinity to intcrpofe in their favor. But while they are chanting 
 to faints and relics for peace, and fhedding the blood of the faints 
 as the price of fafcty, behold an angel flying through the midft of 
 heaven, (ver. 13.) faying, with aloud voice, " Woe, woe, woe, to 
 the inhabitants of the earth, by reafon of the other voices of the 
 trumpet of the three angels which are yet to found !" The three 
 laft trumpets are called woe trumpets, and this becaufe the plagues 
 which wfcre to come, cither on account of their much greater fc-r 
 verity or longer duration, would be much more terrible than the 
 fqur former. 
 
 Chap. ix. 1. " And the fifth angel founded, and I faw a ftar fall 
 from heaven unto the earth, and to him was given the key of the 
 bottomlcls pit." Our commentators are generally agreed, that the 
 judgment intended by this trumpet is very obvious, and cannot be 
 ealily miitak.cn. This falling (far, or comet, is the grand impoftor 
 Mahomet, who, in the unieai enable operations of Providence, was 
 the inftrument of preparing a race of men, or monfters rather, 
 for the fcourging of apoftate Chriftians. Mahomet commenced 
 his career about the year of Chrift 608, Then he began to pro- 
 pagate his impoftjre, and to take tohimfclf the title of The Apof- 
 tle of Cod. He did not pretend to deliver a new religion, but to 
 revive that which had been given to Adam. In the year 622 he 
 began to teach his difciples that God had ordered him to propagate 
 ;md enforce his religion bv hie and fword. Accordingly, in 623, 
 th.^y began Lo put in practice this pretended million. Vcr. 2. 
 " And he opened the bottomlefs pit, and there arofe a fmoke out 
 of the pit, as the imoke of a great furnace ; and the iu:i and the 
 air were darkened by reafon of the fmoke of the pit." This fmoke 
 is his erroneous doctrine. Vcr. 3. " And there cair.: out of the 
 nit locuils upon the earth, and to them was given power as the 
 fcorpions of the earth have power." it does not comport with my 
 Hants, nor is it ucccliary to my dciign, to enter into the minutiae 
 
 C of
 
 l8 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 of this part of John'* vilion ; I fhall only obferve, that by thefe 
 locufts we arc to undcrftand the Saracens, the difciplcs of Maho- 
 met, who, for fo many years, were the fcourge of the Greek and 
 I.atin churches, Aha and Europe. Here is no mention made of 
 the third part, as in the other trumpets, but their commiflion was 
 againft all the men who had not the leal of God in their foreheads, 
 that is, who were not the fervants of God, but had apoftatized 
 from the truth to fupcritition, idolatry, and pcrfecution, and which 
 was the cafe with the pretended Chriftians both of Afia and Eu- 
 rope, both of thofe who acknowledged the fupreme authority of 
 the Bifhop of Rome, and of thofe who did not. But thefe locufts 
 were not to kill thefe men, but only to torment them. This does 
 not iignify, in the ftri&eft fenfe, that they were not to inflift death 
 on any, for this they did on innumerable multitudes ; but it means 
 that, though they were to be the authors of numbcrlefs torments to 
 both the Greek and Latin churches, yet, they were not to deftroy 
 them in their corporate capacity. This was to be effeftcd by the 
 future woes. 
 
 As to the time during which thefe Saracen locufts were to tor- 
 ment them who had not the feal of God in their foreheads, it is 
 faid, in the fifth vcrfe, to be five months, prophetic months un- 
 doubtedlv, or 150 years. Again, it is faid, ver. 10. that " they 
 had tails like fcorpions, and there were flings in their tails: and 
 their power was fo hurt men five months;" the fame period of 
 time with that mentioned before. 150 years. There is fome diffi- 
 culty in reconciling this time, which the prophecy allots, with 
 the hiftory of facts. Some fuppofe that an allufion only is here 
 made to iholc hot funrmer months in which locufts arc wor:t to 
 prevail and do mifchief, without intending to maik out any cer- 
 tain time. Some, again,, fuppofe, that as a prophetic month con- 
 tains 30 years, the period of 150 years was intended, and that this 
 refers only to that period in which the Saracens made their chief 
 conqucfU, and occalioncd the greateft calamities. Others imagine 
 that botii thefe five months arc to be reckoned ; and then the 
 period of their tormenting men is fixed to 3C0 years. li :t 
 other* have thought, that here lias been, through the mi fluke of 
 Copvifts, luiiif alieration of the original text. See Whifilo-iCi Hf- 
 a : on the Ji . fattens, p. i<)0, Bv this hypothciis, John is fup> 
 
 poLd
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW.' ig 
 
 pdfed to have written I E or SixxttivtI) and not E or vsrrt, that 
 is fifteen, months inftead of Jive, this being a period which feems 
 to agree much better with the hiftory of the Saracens; for from 
 the beginning of the Saracen empire, or of the impodure of Ma- 
 homet, in 608, to the firft grand downfal.of it, by the rife or* 
 the Turkifh empire, at the inauguration of Tangrolipix, (after 
 the taking of the capital city of Bagdad) A. D. 1057 or 10 5^ arc 
 about 45O years. As it is not effential to my delign, I fhall not 
 labor to folvc the difficulties which here prefent themfelves, it 
 being enough for our prefent purpofe, if this fifth trumpet be al- 
 lowed to refer to the depredations of this cruel people. 1 fhall 
 therefore only beg leave to fugged to the curious, and to thofe who 
 may have more ability and leifurc for the invedigation, whether 
 the firft Jive months may not refer to the fevered period of their 
 conqueds and cruelties in Afia, where they had their beginning, 
 and the latter Jive months to the time of their chief and mod tor- 
 menting depredations in Europe. Thofe who wifh to fee a more 
 labored explanation of thefe trumpets, may confult Brightman, 
 Mcde, Lbwman, Newton, Whifton, and others. The ktter of 
 whom, except Mcde, has the mod originality, and though he may 
 have fome peculiaries, and dart lomc hypothefes which may be 
 thought to be unfupportcd by good argument, yet, altogether, he 
 feems to have had the mod confident ideas, and I acknowledge 
 my obligations to him. 
 
 Ver. 12. " One woe is pad, and behold there come two woes 
 hereafter. And the fixth angel founded, and I heard a voice from 
 the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, faying 
 to the fixth angel which had the trumpet, Loole the four angels 
 which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four an- 
 gels were looted, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, 
 and a month, and a year, for to flay the third part of men." It 
 is almod impolfiblc net to believe that this woe refers to Che 
 Turks, who overthrew and entirely cxtinguifhed all that part of 
 the Roman empire which they affaulted, by the taking and lacking 
 of Condantinople, A. D. 1 4.53, and by the entire conqued and 
 poffeffion of the eallern empire to this day. This people perfectly 
 agree with the following description. They were to be prodigi- 
 oufiy numerous, especially in cavalry, (vcr. 17.) Such has been 
 
 C 2 ihe
 
 46 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 the cafe with the Turks ; for they are reckoned to have rto lefs 
 than 719,000 of them difperfed over the feveral provinces of their 
 empire. They were to have " breaft-platcs of fire, and of ja- 
 cinth, and brimftone ; the heads of their horfes were to be as the 
 'lieads of lions, and out of their mouths iffued fire, and fmoke, and 
 brimftone. And by thefe were the third part of men killed.'' 
 (vcr. 17, 18.) This is, as Mr. Whifton obferves, a moft proper 
 or allegorical defcription of the way and appearance of battles, 
 fince the woeful ufe of guns and gunpowder, which were invent- 
 ed under this trumpet. By thefc they were enabled, in the in r 
 fancy of this art, of killing and laying waftc, to atchievc fome of 
 their greateft exploits. By means of his artillery, Amurath the 
 Second broke into the Peloponnefus, and took feveral flrong 
 places ; and in particular at their moft fatal aftion, the taking of 
 Constantinople, in 1453, fuch enormous guns were employed as 
 had never been feen before. One is defcribed to have been of 
 fuch a monftrous fize, that it was drawn by feventy yoke of oxen, 
 and two thoufand men. If we moreover confider the cavalry as 
 firing over the heads of their horfes, hot only do the men feem to 
 have brcaft-plates of fire, but fire, and fmoke, and brimftone, feem 
 to ilfue from the mouths of their horfes. 
 
 But it being allowed, as it is by almoft all our writers, that the 
 Turks are intended by this woe, what chiefly concerns us is, when 
 was this loofing effe&ed, of which the prophecy fpeaks, and for 
 how long a time were thefe angels prepared to flay the third part 
 of men ? Concerning thefe four angels, fee Mede's Key, p. 108, 
 and Whi/lon's Effay, p. 199. They understand them to be four ful- 
 tanies or kingdoms, which the Turks had at or near the river Eu- 
 phrates, for feveral fuccefhons together, whofe capital cities were 
 Bagdad, beyond that river, and Iconium, Aleppo, and Damafcus, on 
 this fide of it. For a great while they were reftraincd to thefe 
 parts, and could not extend their dominion as they wiflied. Se- 
 veral circumftances operated to effeel this restraint, particularly 
 the expeditions of the crufaders, in the 12th and 13th centuries, 
 and the power of the khans of Perfia, who, till tht- beginning of 
 the fourteenth century excrcifed fome control over them. But it 
 is evident, that the feveral restraints of Providence, which had 
 bound them, began to be taken off towards the end of the thir- 
 teenth,
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 21 
 
 teenth, and the beginning of the fourteenth centuries. All our 
 writers on the ancient Turkifh hiftory, complain of the barren- 
 ness of their materials, and the inaccuracy of dates ; but let us 
 trace this matter as well as we can. Firfl obierve the rife of the 
 Ottoman family itfelf. The firft perfon we read of, of this re- 
 markable race, which has been fuch a fcourge to Chriftendom, is 
 Solyman Shah, who attempted, about A. D. J2i*i, fay fome, later, 
 according to others, to retire out of Perfia, to feck for himfelf 
 and followers a fettlement under the Seljukidae, who then reigned 
 in Aha Minor. In attempting to pafs the Euphrates he was 
 'drowned. This fo difcouraged his fons, that two of them return- 
 ed back into Perfia; but Ortogrul, the third, with his three fons, 
 Cand&z, Sarubani, and Othman, or Ottoman, Mill remained in the 
 neighbourhood of the Euphrates for fome time, till Aladin, the 
 fultan.of Iconium, received him, and gave him, and the four hun- 
 dred families which emigrated with him, a country to inhabit. 
 Ortogrul died about the year 1289, and his fon Ottoman continued 
 he fubjo& and foldier of Aladin. By his valor and fuccefs lie 
 raifed himfelf to great eminence, and the race of the Scljukidx 
 .terminating in Aladin, he fixed upon Ottoman to be his fuccefTor. 
 Oppreflcd with age and infirmities, he is faid, in his life time, to 
 iiave devolved on Ottoman the cares and prerogatives of royalty. 
 Mr. Gibbon fixes this in A. D. 1299 : but it is generally deter- 
 mined to have been in 1300. From comparing what is laid of 
 the length of his reign, and the beginning of the rejgn of his fon 
 Urchan, and other circumftances, there is reafon to conclude that 
 he began his reign in the year of the Hegira (the Turkifh epoch) 
 '699 or 7OO, probably the latter. Now, as the Hegira began July 
 
 15, G>z, A. C. an4 the Arabian years being lunar, and the Turks 
 reckoning them by thirties, nineteen of which confift of 354 
 d.iys, and eleven of 355, their year roo would commence on Sept. 
 
 16, 13OO. Thus the fourth month of the Turkifh year would be 
 according to the Christian era, 13O1. Hiftorians feldom take any 
 notice of this difference in the commencement of the Turkifh 
 years, and thofe of curs; but if an event is laid to have taken 
 place in the 700th year of the Hegira, this year commencing in 
 13CO of our era, it is therefore fet down as in that year. It is 
 probable that Ottoman was inaugurated in the year of the Hegira 
 700; but hiftory docs -cot fay 0:1 what day or month of that year ; 
 
 it
 
 2 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 
 
 it might be towards the latter end of it. Mr. Whifton endeavo 
 very ingcnioufly to prove from certain circum fiances, that he b 
 gan his reign May 19, 13O1. It would certainly afford forne I 
 tisfa&ion, if we could prove to a day or a month from whence t 
 date the beginning of the Ottoman empire. But 1 queilion wht 
 thcr this would be enough to prove the exact time of the loolir 
 thefc four angels, or meffengcrs of deftruetion. In Ottoman, it 
 evident that ail thefe fultanies were united; but perhaps the 
 looting is to be reckoned from fome great and fuccefsful exped 
 tion undertaken fome time after he had mounted the throne, 
 think it is clear that it was foon after the commencement of hi 
 reign ; and if we are not able to prove the exact: day or year, i 
 does not invalidate the concluuon which wc mean to draw. 
 
 According to Chalcocondylas, quoted by Mr. "Whifton, foo 
 after Ottoman was feated on the Turkifh throne, the Turks mad 
 an irruption into Europe, even as far as the Danube, and a fecon 
 foon after. Thisfccond is afcribedto 1302. But let us hear M? 
 Gibbon, (H>jt. of the, Rife and Fall of the Rom. Emp* vol. xi. p 
 443) who cannot be fufpected of wifhing to fervc the caufe 
 Chriftianity. He laments, with all other writers on thefc fubject; 
 the obfeurity of the Turkifh annals. He dates the nrft breac 
 which Ottoman made upon the Greek empire July 27, 1299, bu 
 ?ys it was after the Scljukian dynafty was no more. As author 
 are pretty well agreed as to the uncertainty of the Turkifh date.i 
 and as it is pretty clear that Aladin did not die till 1302, perhap 
 this date is not quite corrett. However this may be, he fays 
 *' The Scljukian dynafty was no more; and the diftance and de 
 cline of the Mogul khans foon enfranchifed him (Ottoman) fron 
 the control of a fupcrior. He was fituatc on the verge of tin 
 Greek empire ; the Koran fanctified his ga~i, or holy war, again! 
 the infidels ; and their political errors unlocked the paffes o 
 mount Olympus, and invited him to defcend into the plains of Bi 
 fhynia. Till the reign of Palcologus, thefc paffes had been vigi 
 lantly guarded by the militia of the country, who were repaid b) 
 their own fafcty, and by an exemption from taxes. The empcroi 
 abolifhed their privilege, and aliumcd their office; but thougl 
 the tribute was rigoroufly collected, the cuftody of the paffes wa; 
 neglected, and the hardy mountaineers degenerated into a trend)' 
 
 line
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 23 
 
 ng crowd. of peafants, without fpifit or difcipline. It was on 
 
 ic 27th of July, in 1299 of the Chriftian era, that Othman firft 
 JiVaded the territory of Nicomedia ; and the lingular accuracy of 
 
 le date fcems to difclofe fome foreiight of the rapid and deltruc- 
 !Ve growth of the monfter." In page 431 he informs us, that 
 
 11 now " all the emirs who had occupied the cities or the moun- 
 
 liins, confefled the fupremacy of the khan of Perfia, who often- 
 
 i.mes interpofed his authority, and fometimes his arms, to check 
 
 llieir depredations, and to prefcrvc the peace and balance of his 
 
 UTurkifh frontier. The death of Cazan removed this falutary con- 
 
 rol ; and the decline of the Moguls gave a free fcope to the rife 
 
 x 
 
 nd progrefs of the Ottoman empire." This event he dates May 
 
 '> l t 1 34* This looks very much like the loofing of which the 
 nophecy fpeaks. Between this and the year 1312 he dates the 
 ;onquefl of the maritime country from the Propontis to the Me- 
 mder, and the ifle of Rhodes, fo long threatened, and fo often 
 pillaged; and that now (p. 437) " the captivity or ruin of the 
 feven churches of Afia was conliimmated, and the barbarous lords 
 jf Ionia and Lydia dill trample on the monuments of claffic and 
 Chriftian antiquity." And but a few years after this, fo humbled 
 were the proud Chriftians of Conftantinoplc, the trembling capi- 
 tal of the emperors in the eaft, that crowds of naked Chriftians, 
 jf both fcxes, and of every age, of priefts and monks, of matrons 
 and virgins, were expolcd to fale in their public markets; and all 
 diey could do was to deplore the fate of their brethren, who 
 were led away to the word evils of temporal and ipiritual bond- 
 age. In 1 357 or 1358 they entered the European leas with a very 
 numerous licet of ihips, and never ceafed their conqueits. nor re- 
 ceived any effectual check, till the latter end of the lad cent u . 
 In 1453 they took and fucked Conftantinoplc, entirely conquered 
 the caftern empire, and made that imperial city the capital of the:; 
 Vail dominions. 
 
 But for how long a period was their triumph to continue f 
 
 Ver. 15. '' And the tour angel-; were looted which were pit pared 
 
 for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a vcar, for to li.y the 
 
 ihiid n.it of men." According to Mr. Br'ghtman, Dr. I I >\ <i, 
 
 ; of V,h.:r:!h:r, Dr. Crcllher. Mr. V.'hi!! u, ..' .:! others.
 
 24 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. , 
 
 396 years, and Tome odd days, arc here fignificd. They reckon 
 with a little variation> thus 
 
 Yfirt D171 
 
 An hour -*-*-- o 15 
 
 A day ------.-1 o 
 
 A montli -------go O 
 
 A year of 365$ * - - - 365 91 
 
 Total 396 106 
 
 It admits of a doubt whether the Jewifh year of 360 days 
 fhould be counted, or the Julian year as above ; but as it docs not 
 affet the hypothefis I mean to eftablifh, I fhall not detain the 
 reader to examine it, Mr, Whifton argues that it is probable that 
 Ottoman began his reign May 19, 1301, and reckoning from thence 
 to September 1, O. S. 1697, wnen prince Eugene overthrew the 
 Turks at Zenta, we have exaftly the time required. And 
 it deferves to be remarked that ever fince that overthrow 
 they have never been able to make any effe&ual head againft 
 the Chriftians, fo called, but in Read of being a plague to the 
 Chriftian nations, in the prophetic fenfe of the term, thefe nations 
 have been a plague to them, and their power has been eonftantly 
 leffening ; for though they have made war feveral times, it has 
 been uniformly to their lofs, at lcaft with refpeft to the old weft- 
 em empire, or the Latin church ; for immediately after this Pro- 
 vidence raifed up Peter of Ruffia, who, by what he effefted among 
 the people of his vaft empire, prepared a fcourge for thofe who, 
 for four centuries, had been fo cruel a fcourge to mankind. This 
 is the melfcngcr who was to bring tidings from the north to trou- 
 ble him, Dan. xi. 44.+ and it is probable that Ruffia will be a 
 principal inftrument of his deftruftion. 
 
 j- It deferves the atrention of the learned inquirer, whether by his planting 
 rhe tabernacle of his palace between the feas, in the glorious hoi)' mountain, be 
 not Signified his making Cor.ftantinople, which is fituated on the fliores of the 
 Bofphorus, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the capital of his 
 empire ; lot as Jerufaiem might be called the glorious holy mountain becaufe the 
 capita! of the Jew fh church, though that church was become very corrupt, and the 
 city pel uted with every crime, fo might this city, which was the capital of tie 
 Gr ek Chriftian ei :m h, and efteemed by them the holy metropolitan city, tho'igh 
 j) ;iinteJ with firr.i.ur abominations, be fjpoken of in '.he fame ft\le. 
 
 What
 
 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 25 
 
 What fomeable writers have faid on this fubjeft deferves atten- 
 tion, as it ferves very much to ftrengthen the argument, which 
 goes to prove, that the hour, and day, and month, and year, for 
 which this woe was prepared, terminated about the er.d of the 
 laft century. The firft whom I fhall'mention is Mr. Brightman, 
 who wrote in the beginning of the laft century. He fays (in his 
 Expoftion of the book of Revelation, p. 324, edition of 1644.) " A 
 year, here put fimply, is underftood to be a vulgar and ufual Ju- 
 lian year, that conhfts of 365 days and fome hours, all which time 
 being numbered from the year 1300, fhall expire at laft about the 
 year 1696, which is the laft term of the Turkifh name, as other 
 fcriptures do alio prove with marvellous confent." Dr. Crefner, 
 and Dr. Lloyd, bifhop of Worcefter, foretold very nearly the 
 peace of Carlowitz from this pafTage. See what Bifhop Burnet, 
 in his Hiflory of his Own Times, fays of the latter, (vol. iv. p. 297, 
 of i2mo. edit.) " Dr. Lloyd, the prefent learned Bifhop of 
 Worcefter, who has now for above twenty years been ftudying 
 the Revelation with amazing diligence and exatnefs, had long 
 before this year faid, the peace between the Turks and the papal 
 Chriftians was certainly to be made in the year 1698, which he 
 made oat thus ; the four angels, mentioned in the fourteenth 
 chapter of Revelation, that were bound in the river Euphrates, 
 which he expounds to be the captains of the Turkifh forces, that 
 till then were fubjeft to the fultan of Babylon,' were to be loofed 
 or freed from that yoke, and to fet up for themfelves ; and thefe 
 were prepared to flay the third part of men, for an hour, a day, a 
 month, and a year. He reckons the year in St. John is the Ju- 
 lian year of 365 days, that is, in the prophetic ftile, each cay a 
 year; a month is thirty of thefe days, and a day makes one, which 
 added to the former number makes 396. Now he proves from hiftory 
 that Ottoman came and began his conquefts at Proujfe, in the year 
 1302, to which the former number, in which they were to flay the 
 third part of men, being added, it mult end in the year 160,8 ; and 
 though the hiftoiians do not mark the hoars, or twehth part of 
 the day or year, which is a month, that is. the beginning of the de- 
 Ihuciion the Talks were to make, yet he is confident if that is 
 ever known, that the prophecy will be found, even in that, to be 
 punctually accomplifhed. After tins he thinks their tune of hutt- 
 ing the papal Chriftiamisat an end. They may indeed ftill do mi i- 
 
 D ch cf
 
 26 R.ETROSPECTI VF. VIEW. 
 
 chief to the Mufcovites, or perfecute their own Chriflian fubjects, 
 but they can do no hurt to the Papilius." 
 
 When I confider the fatts which give us reafen te think thai 
 the four angels, or mini{ler*v of deftru&ion, -which were bound in 
 the riv"i Euphrates, were loofed, when the four fultai.ies above 
 enumerated were united under Ottoman, and freed, not only from 
 the reftraints laid on them by the crufaders, but from the control 
 of the khans of Perfia ; when I recollect that all this took place 
 about the latter end of the thirteenth century and the beginning 
 of the fourteenth, and that between the years 1299 and 1304, the 
 Scljukian race being extinft, and the control of the khans of Per- 
 fia being no more, Ottoman founded the prefent Turkifh empire, 
 broke in upon the territories of the eaftcrn Cefars, and laid wafte 
 the apoftiite Chriftian churches ; when, moreover, I confider that 
 fince the peace of Carlowitz in 1699, though there have fincc 
 been wars between the Turks and the papal powers, yet, that the 
 latter have generally been the aggreflbrs, and that the Turks have 
 always come off lofcrs, fo that their power is fo much broken 
 that their empire totters to its very bafe, I conclude that the hour, 
 and day, and month, and year, in which they were to prevail, ter- 
 minated about the end of the lad century, probably on Sept. 1, 
 O. S. 1697, when they experienced that fatal overthrow at Z.cnta 
 in Hungary, from the army under prince Eugene. 
 
 SIGNS
 
 rrr t-*ts-s 
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS, 
 
 'UT does the violence of the fecond woe terminate as we have 
 endeavored to prove ; and is it becaufe the men, againfl whom it 
 was directed, are brought to repentance ? No. Ver. 20. " And 
 the reft of the men (the members of the papal church) which 
 were not killed by thefc plagues, yet repented not of the works 
 of their hands, that they mould not worfhip devils, and idols of 
 gold, and filvcr, and brafs, and (tone, and of wood, which neither 
 can fee, nor hear, nor walk, neither repented they of their mur- 
 ders, nor of their forceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their 
 thefts." This is the exaft ftatc of the antichriftian nations; 
 they are Mill impenitent, they ftill maintain idolatrous worfhip, 
 and fyftcms of cheating and fraud, robbery and murder, pcrfecu- 
 tion and war. They have not repented. 
 
 Mtift we then give up all hope of better days? Will nothing 
 bring the church to a purer ftatc. and the nations to repentance for 
 their corruptions and murdcis? Alas! the man of fin will never 
 repent ; antichriftian prieftsand tyrants will never ceafe their cor- 
 ruptions and oppreffions, robberies and murders, till tliev, and 
 their abominable fyftems, are utterly deftroved by the avenging 
 judgments of God. But we arc not to defpair. Here, in the 
 tenth chapter, an angel defcends from heaven to brigbj.cn the 
 gloomy icene, and to cheer our drooping hopes, by announcing 
 that the fcventh trumpet fhall foon be founded, and the my fiery of 
 God be huifhed, as he hath deelarcd to his fervants the pro- 
 pee:,. 
 
 D 2 The
 
 28 SIGNS OF THE LATTER. DAYS. 
 
 The gleam of confolation which hrcaks upon us in this chapter 
 i$ very feafonable and reviving ; the great and lading troubles, 
 predicted in the former chapters, and which occupy a fpace of 
 14CO years, are enough to try the faith and patience of the bed. 
 To hear of nothing but of hail and fire, of burning mountains 
 and fcas of blood, of darkening of the fun, moon, and ftars, of 
 horrid monfters which vomit fire, and deftroy innumerable myriads 
 of men: to hear of nothing but woe after woe, without inter- 
 mifliou or profpect of end, terrifies the boldeft fpirits, and op- 
 preifes the ftrongeft faith. The woes of the two laft trumpets 
 had now afflicted the nations for near a tlioufand years; and the 
 enormities of antichrift had prevailed for a lpnger period. To re- 
 vive the fpirits, and to animate the hopes of God's fervants, an 
 angel appears at the end of the fixth trumpet, or the fecond wee. 
 to affure them that the time of corruption, perfceution, and cala r 
 mity, fhali not continue much longer, but that the feventh and 
 laft trumpet (hall foon be founded, and that woe coinc upon antichrif- 
 tian oppreffors which fhall finifh the my fiery of God, and intro- 
 duce among men his glorious kingdom of righteoufnefs, peace, and 
 happinefs. Seeing then that there arc the mo ft cog"nt reafons for 
 concluding that the woe of the fixth truin-pet terminated about the 
 year 1697, near a hundred years ago, and that manv good and emi- 
 nent men have been daily expecting, fmce that time, tine judgments 
 of the feventh trumpet, which are to bring the triumphs of po- 
 pery, idolatry, opprefhon, and wickednefs, to an end, and intro- 
 duce the kingdom of Chrift, it becomes us to attend to "the f'gns 
 of thi times, and fee whether the fig-tree is not {hooting forth and 
 announcing the approach of fummer. May the Spirit of God di- 
 rect and illumine our minds, that we may under (land his word and 
 judge rightly ! 
 
 Chap. x. 1 . " And I faw another mighty angel come down from, 
 heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, 
 and lus face was as it were the fun, and his- feet as pillars of fire ; 
 and he had in his hand a little book open." This little open book 
 appears to be a codicil to that book of which we read in chap. v. 
 containing fomc additional explanatory matter. The book with 
 feven feals contains a general reprefentation of the ftate of things 
 under the fourth monarchy of the world, (Dan. vii. 7, 23.) or of 
 
 the
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER BAYS. 29 
 
 the Roman empire, and the kingdoms and flates into which it 
 has been divided, from the firfl preaching of the gofpel to the end 
 of time, and does not take particular notice of the events which 
 more peculiarly concern the church of Chrift. This little book 
 includes feveral difhinft vifions which reprefent more immediately 
 the Hate of the church, and which are related in the eleventh, 
 twelfth, and thirteenth chapters, and in part of the fourteenth, if 
 not the whole of it. 
 
 The obferving of this is of the grcateft confequencc to the 
 right underftanding of this intcrefling and inftruttive book. 
 
 1 
 
 Ver. 2. " And he fet his right foot upon the fea, and his left 
 foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion 
 roareth, and when he had cried, feven thunders uttered their 
 voices. And when the feven thunders had uttered their voices, 
 I v/as about to write ; and 1 heard a voice from heaven faying unto 
 me, feal up thofe things which the feven thunders uttered, and 
 write thcrn not. And the angel which I faw ftand upon the fea 
 and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and fvvare by 
 H*m that liveth for ever and ever that there fhould be time no 
 longer ;" (?t Xpovo? vJy. ifxi itJ that is, as Dr. Doddridge has 
 weil e.xpreiied it, " the times of the judgments, to be fignificd by 
 the pouring out of the feven vials, fhould not be much longer de- 
 layed." And thus aifo do Brightman and others explain it, as 
 meaning that delay fhould be no longer, but that thefeventh trum- 
 pet fhould now fpeedily found, and the judgments of God bring 
 Babylon the Great to a rapid end. And then (ver. 7.) the my fiery 
 of God {hall be finiihed, as he hath declared to his fervants the 
 prophets. Then the providence of God, in permitting the king- 
 dom of his Son to be lb long and fo fuccefsfully oppofed ; in per- 
 mitting his church to be lo grievoufly harraffed by its enemies, and 
 in fullering oppoiers fo long to triumph, which has been cflccmed 
 among the chiefeft myilcrios of the Divine conduct, fhall be il- 
 lultrated, and all nations fhall fee, in the decifive woe upon Baby- 
 lon, thofe dilplays of wifdom and rightcoufnefs which fhall 
 vindicate the Divine government from all the alperfions of infi- 
 delity. 
 
 Of
 
 30 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 
 
 Of this great event almoft all the prophets have fpoken, and 
 all agree that the calamities will be the moft tremendous that the 
 nations have ever experienced; but the iffue, as it concerns the 
 liberty and happinefs of mankind in general, as well as the flieity 
 of the church cf Chrift in particular, the moft glorious. A glory 
 this very different from that which worldly wifdom and carnal 
 pride, for fo many centuries, have been aiming at. All the go- 
 vernments of the world will be framed on principles of impartial 
 and general jufticc. Pure and undefiled religion will revive. 
 " Glory to God in the higheft, and on the earth peace, good-will 
 toward men," will again be fung ; and both the fettered Jews and 
 the fulnefs cf the Gentiles, will be brought in to fwell the chorus 
 and to g: ace the triumphs of the Son of God. Long have the 
 ryes of believers been looking to the promifes. and obferving the 
 fo;ns of the times, expefting 'the arrival of thefc promifed dzvs. 
 But hitherto the time has been delayed. 
 
 Here, after the fixth trumpet, or the fecond woe, is paft, and the 
 reft of the men, who were not killed, repented not, and after the 
 L-vcn thunders had uttered their voices, the angel fwears by Him 
 who liveth for ever and ever, that delay fhall be no longer, but 
 -the feventh angel fhall found. 
 
 In the next chapter, which contains explanatory virions, we are 
 informed that the feventh angel does not found his trumpet, to 
 bring the decifive woe, -till after the witneffes are rifen from the 
 dead, in "Tome one of thcantichriftian kingdoms, nor till that king- 
 dom, or tenth part of the antichriftian city, is fo fhaken bv an 
 earthquake that it falls. Here it is neceffary to recollect what 
 has been advanced in the firft part of The Si-pis of the Times. It 
 is there endeavored to be proved, that by the Jtioni beaft, which 
 came up out of the earth, (Rev. xiii. 11 18.) the French tyran- 
 nv. as perfected by Lewis XIV. and hipportcd by his fucceffors, 
 was intended ; that it was he who. bv the repeal of the edict of 
 Kants, and the overthrow of ;:ll the remains of civil liberty in 
 France, flew the witneffes for religious truth and nod liberty ; that 
 u was lie who caufed an image to be made to the finft beaft (the 
 papacy) by the eftablifnmcnt of a Ipiritual tyranny hmilar toth*t 
 a: Rome, and which, contrary to the flute oi tilings in any oilier 
 
 country
 
 SIGN'S OF, THE LATTER DAYS. Jt 
 
 country where the Pope's fupremacy in fpirituals has been ac- 
 knowledged, was at once independent of the Pope's authority, and 
 J :t in fupport nf his pretentions and corruptions. I have alfo en- 
 deavoured to prove, that it was here the witneffes laid politically 
 dead for three lunar days and a half, or 105 years; that the revo- 
 lution in France in 1789 was the refurreclion of the witneffes to 
 civil life, and the commotions which have followed, the prophetic 
 ^earthquake here predicted; and that the fall of the tenth part of 
 the cily is accomplifhed in the overthrow of the monarchy or ty- 
 ranny of France. Immediately after this the feventh angel founds, 
 and uflu rs in the third woe, which is to be the means of haftcning 
 the kingdom of God. The nations are angry, (compare chap. xi. 
 18. with xix, 19.) and gather themiclves together to oppofe the do 
 f.gns of God : his wrath falls upon them, and they are deftroyed. 
 This eleventh chapter, we muft remember, is a miniature picture 
 of the hiflory of the Chriftian church, from its firfl beginnings to 
 the end of time, and belongs to the little book which treats of the 
 affairs of the church efpccially. When the vifions of the book 
 with feven feals are refumed, (which book refers to the more mix- 
 ed and general concerns of the kingdoms) as in the JJteenih and 
 following chapters, thefe events of the feventh trumpet, or third 
 woe, arc exhibited on a larger fcale, and related with a more cic- 
 cumflantial detail. 
 
 Now let us compare the tenth chapter with the eleventh. In 
 the tenth chapter we are informed that it was not till alter the 
 feven thunders had uttered their voices that the angel lifted up 
 his hand to heaven, and fware by Him that liveth for ever, that 
 delay fhould be no longer, but that the my fiery of God lhould l e 
 {ijhthcd bv the founding of the feventh angel. Thefe feven thun- 
 ders, I think, evidently occupy the ipace between the ending of 
 the jixth trumpet and the commencement of the feventh. But, 
 what are thefe thunders? John was forbidden to write what they 
 uttered; and hence moil commentators have pad over this part 
 of" the piuph cy without even conjecturing what might be intend- 
 ed, fuppoiing that it would be prefumptuous to do io. But tins 
 has not been the cafe with all. S.r.ne have conjectured that though 
 what they uttered was not to be written at that time, yet they are 
 explained in the after vilions. Bnghtman luppjicd them to be
 
 32 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS.. 
 
 explained in the fourteenth chapter: Whifton imagines that they 
 belong to the laft vial, chap. xvi. But all this fecms very unna- 
 tural. There are others who fuppofc that though it was not pro- 
 per to write down what they uttered at that time, yet that, aftet 
 their accomplifhment, they will be underftood, and fuppofe them 
 to be leven warnings which are to precede either the feventh ! 
 trumpet or the laft vial. It appears to me that as John was for- ' 
 bidden to write down what thefe thunders uttered in vifion, it | 
 would be as prefumptuous as it would be ulelcfs, to inquire what 
 it was till the vifion is realized, and the intent of thefe thunders 
 is ascertained. For as it is likely that it was forbidden to be writ- 
 ten left the prophecy fhould be made too plain before the time that 
 God would have it underftood, fo to attempt an explanation till 
 events have made the archetypes of the thunders quite clear, 
 would be running before God. But it does not hence follow that 
 this is always to be the cafe ; for when the things fignified arc ac- 
 complifhed, they may inform us, in language as plain as events 
 can fpeak, of what we were not to know before. But, to fay no- 
 thing of what thefe thunders might utter, we may obfervc, that as 
 we are not forbidden to inquire what the general meaning of 
 thefe thunders themlelves might be, and as it is probable that they 
 were intended to be fome time underftood, to the end that they 
 might ferve as a guide to direct the inquirer into the figns of the 
 times, and as otherwife the mention of them would be ufelcfs, it 
 is therefore very proper to examine, with modefty, whether this 
 part of facred writ inaynot alfift us in forming a judgment of the 
 times in which we live, that thus wc may be excited to redoubled 
 watchfulncfs, and be ready. 
 
 Our fir ft enquiry fhould be, what is the meaning of thunder in 
 the myftical and figurative language of prophecy ? As in the na- 
 tural world the things of creation are comprilcd in the heavens 
 and the earth, and the heavens are confidcrcd as the nobler paits 
 of the creation, lo in the world politic, in prophetic language, 
 the heavens mean thrones and governments ; the lun, moon, and 
 ftars, emperors, kings, princes, and great men. as well as empires, 
 kingdoms, and ftates ; the earth fignifies the great mais of the 
 common people; clouds mean multitudes; wind, hail, itoim, ai>d 
 thunder, as well as caithiruakc:., figiiify wars aud commotions 
 
 among
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 33 
 
 among multitudes and nations. Thus in Ifa. xxviii. 2. when God, 
 by his prophet, threatens to punifh by war, the language is. " The 
 Lord hath a mighty and ftrong one, which, as a tempeft of hail, 
 and a deftroying dorm, as a Hood of mighty waters overflowing, 
 ihall caft down to the earth." And again, chap. xxix. 6. " Thou 
 {halt be vilitcd of the Lord of hofts with thunder, and with earth- 
 quake, and great noile, with ftorm and tempeft, and a ftameof de- 
 vouring fire." The next verfe explains what this thunder and 
 florin is : " And the multitude of all the nations that fight againft 
 Ariel fhall be as a dream." Sir I. Newton, On the Language of 
 Prophecy , p. 18, fays, " Tempeftuous winds, or the motion of 
 clouds, are put for wars ; thunder, or the voice of a cloud, for the 
 voice of a multitude ; a fiorm of thunder, lightning, and hail, and 
 overflowing rain, for a tempeft of war defcending from the hea- 
 vens and clouds politic." Dr. Wafburton, in his Divine Legation^ 
 book iv. feci:. 4. fays, ' ; The old Afiatic ftyle, fo highly figurative, 
 fcems, by what we find of its remains in the prophetic language of 
 the facrcd writings, to have been evidently fafhioncd to the mode 
 of ancient hieroglyphics both curiologic and tropical. ^-Oi the fe- 
 cund kind, which anfwers to the tropical hieroglyphic, is the call- 
 ing empires, kings, and nobles, by the names of the heavenly lu- 
 minaries, the fun, moon, and furs; their temporary difa iters, or 
 entire overthrow, by eclipfes and extinctions; the definition of 
 the nobility, bv flars falling i':o:z\ the firmament ; hoflilc invalions, 
 Lv thunder and tempeftuous winds ; and leaders of armies, con- 
 querors, and founders of empires, by liens, bears, leopards, goats, 
 or high trees. In a word, the prophetic ftyle feeins to be a speak- 
 ing I1IEKOCLYFIIIC." 
 
 If we examine all the paflages in the facrcd writings where 
 thunder is mentioned in the prophetic ftyle, we fhall find that it 
 generally, if not always, iigniiics war. It is probable, then, that 
 thefe feven thunders were intended to mark out, for tiie ciiicctiou 
 uf the pious inq uiier into trie fi.i.'.ns of the tunes, i-jven wars, or 
 pciiods of war, between the fix th and feventh trumpet, which 
 ihould afflict this wcltcrn part of the world, or thole nations which 
 had given their power to the papal bcait, or winch in any form 
 had afiiimed autichriftian power in religion, and wh*ch Wuii 
 
 ::. ihouiu
 
 34 SIGNS Or TIIF. LATTER DAYS. 
 
 fhould prepare the way for the great fcene which was to fol- 
 low. 
 
 But here it will be proper to afk, (for frequent obfervation has 
 convinced me that fuch queftions are not altogether needlcfs) 
 Does the reader believe that a prophecy can be fulfilled bv the 
 events which take place in his own day, and which pafs under 
 his own obfervation, as well as by thofe of five hundred years 
 back, or of five hundred years to come ? Dors he think the wars 
 and great events of nations which have or may take place in this 
 age, and in thefe countries of Europe, as worthy to be the fubject 
 of prophecy as what was foretold by Daniel, (chap, xi.) respecting 
 the invafion of Greece bv Xerxes ; or of the conquells of Alex- 
 ander, and the fate of his empire ; or of the league which was 
 formed between Ptolemy Philadelphia, king of Egypt, and An- 
 tiochus Theus, king of Syria, by the marriage of Berenice, the 
 daughter of the former, with the latter, and the confequences that 
 followed that conne6tion ? I hope he doe?. 
 
 As the feven thunders appear evidently to occupy the foace be- 
 tween the fixth and feventh trumpet, and as thunder in the pro- 
 phetic writings is allowed to be the lpcaking hieroglyphic of war, 
 and as it is likewife probable that the fixth trumpet, or fecund 
 woe, ended about the vear 1697, it is woith while to inquire whe- 
 ther thefe thunders have uttered their voices, that is, whether theie 
 have been feven periods of war in Europe fince that time. ():; 
 examination, the hiflory of this century will inform us that, tak- 
 ing .ill the nations together which do or have made up t lie bodv 
 of the papal bead, and among whom the remains of religious cor- 
 ruption, ufurpation, &c. continue, (and which almofi all allow to 
 be the object of thelc vinous.} there have been juft feven of theie 
 thunders, or periods of war, neither more nor lels. And it is 
 worthy of remark, that this is :hc cafe whether we take into the 
 account thofe hates and kingdoms or.lv which fprung out of the 
 rums of the old Roman empire, or all thole that compoic the La- 
 tin church, or even the whole of Europe. We fhall confidei 
 thofe wars in which all Europe have been engaged fo far only as 
 the nations which arc or have been fubjccl to the papacy have been 
 concerned in them. 
 
 1. The
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 35 
 
 i. The firfk period of war commenced in 1700, and continued 
 without intermiffion till 1721 inclufive ; for when other powers 
 terminated their dedruciions, and hufhed the roar of war in fome 
 parts of Europe, by the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, and by that of 
 Radadt, in 1714, then, as though alarmed left mankind fliould be 
 too happy, the madman Charles the Twelfth of Sweden roufed 
 himfelf from his bed of afiefted ficknefs at Domctica, and profe- 
 cuted his war againft Ruffia, Denmark, Pruflia, Poland, Hanover, 
 and Saxony, with renewed vigor. In thefe wars the following 
 powers were engaged : Sweden, Ruflia, Denmark, Poland, Eng- 
 land, Holland, the Emperor, Spain, France, the Venetians, the 
 Turks, &c. This was the fird thunder. 
 
 2. The fecond, though very violent, while it laded, was of fhort- 
 er duration than the former, continuing only through the three 
 campaigns of 1733, 1731, and 1735. In this war there were en- 
 gaged the Emperor, France, Spain, Sardinia, &c.+ The interval 
 of peace was fhort ; for, 
 
 3. In 1737 the third thunder began to roll ; nor did it ceafe to 
 lay the faired parts of Europe in ruins till 1748. In the wars 
 which filled up this period of dedruftion the following powers 
 were engaged: the Emperor, Ruffians, and Turks, led the way ; 
 England and Spain quickly followed; France, Pruflia, and Hol- 
 land alio united to increafe the calamity. 
 
 4. In 1755 commenced another period of war, which foon fet 
 all Europe in a flame. Great Britain, France, Pruffia, Saxony, 
 Auftria, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal, experienced its effects. 
 This period of war laded till 1703, and was the fourth thun- 
 der. 
 
 5. The fifth, though extremely violent where it raged, did not 
 extend iifelf lo wide. The parties engaged were the Ruffians, 
 Poles, and Turks. The French and Corficans alfo incrcafed the 
 
 f- About the year 1726 the trcatiei of Vienna 311J Hanover had like to have 
 kinJIeJ a general flame throughout all Europe, but it being happily exrio^uifheJ 
 juft as it \va> breaking out, and the expence of preparation being the chief evil, 
 what happened between us and Spain can by no means be reckoned a thunder. 
 
 E 2 roar.
 
 36 Signs or the latter days. 
 
 roar. Poland was never fo dcfolatcd. This commenced in 1768, 
 and continued five years. 
 
 6. Peace, as ufual, was but of fhort continuance. The difpute 
 of Great Britain with her American colonics, which broke out 
 into an open rupture in 1775, was the ocrafion of a fixth general 
 tempeft breaking upon the chief maritime powers of Europe, and 
 which continued from 1778 to 1782, five years. The powers en- 
 gaged were Great Britain, France, Spain, and Holland. 
 
 7. The feventh and la ft period of war was from 1788 to 1791, 
 inclufive. The parties engaged were the Ruffians and Auftrians 
 againft the Turks; the Swedes againft the Ruffians and Danes; 
 the Belgians alfo, who revolted againft the emperor, increafed the 
 tempeft. Denmark foon became neuter : and as far as the emperor 
 and Swedes were concerned, peace was rcitorcd in 179O. but the 
 Ruffians and Turks continued their (laughter till 2791. This was 
 the feventh thunder. 
 
 This laft period of war feems^ under Providence, to have been 
 among the principal caufes of the fuccefs of the revolutionists in 
 France ; for thofe who may be thought to have been the moft cif- 
 pofed to affifh the French court were otherwife cmplovcd. This 
 circumftance has not been unnoticed by the writers of the day. 
 It has been obierved that it happened unfortunately with refpeft 
 to the arifiocratical party in France, that Europe had fcldom been, 
 through a long courfe of years, in a (late lefs capable of affording 
 the fuccours which were now demanded by the princes, nobles, 
 and clergy of that country, or in which the minds of the people, 
 or the difpofitions of the Sovereigns were lefs calculated for under- 
 taking any cnterprizc, than at prefent. The mad ambition of the 
 emperor Jofeph, under the influence of the overwhelming power 
 and vaft defigns of Ruilia, to which he became fo mifcrablc a 
 dupe, befides the nun andfpirit of re\ r o!t which it fpread through 
 his own dominions, had, in no fmall degree, deranged the general 
 policy of Europe. And it is worthy to be ob.fervcd that juft when 
 this prince was on the eve of making; peace with the Turks, and 
 which being accomplished, he might then have been able to turn 
 his attention to the fituation of his brother-in-law the king of 
 
 I* ranee.
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 37 
 
 France, he died, (Feb. 20, 1790.) His fucceffor, Leopold, imme- 
 diately fet himfelf to accomplifh what death prevented Jofeph from 
 executing; but no fooner was peace concluded with the Ottoman 
 court, and his revolting fubjetts in Brabant brought to obedience, 
 than he diedalfo, (March 1, 1791.) All thefe events counteracted 
 every inclination which the court of Vienna might have to oppofe 
 the progrefs of the French revolution, and gave time for its gain- 
 ing fuch a firm eftablifhment, that before Francis, the prefent em- 
 peror, could be prepared for the meditated attack, the people of 
 France were become too much enlightened into the enormities of 
 the old tyftem, too much informed of their rights and flrength, 
 and too united, to be eahly frightened into a retreat. 
 
 The courts of London and Madrid were occupied in a fquab- 
 ble about an object fcarcelv bearing or deferving a name. The 
 king of Sardinia, from the ftate of his finances, of his army, of 
 his fortreffes, was not in a condition to hazard any attempt in favor 
 df the old defpotifm, till tob late. We may add, the immenfe 
 debts, contracted in the wars of the prefent century, (originating 
 from the impolitic and ruinous pra6tice of funding, which muft 
 in the end, and perhaps very foon, terminate in events the molt 
 Calamitous to thufe who have hadrefort to fuch unwife meafurcs) ; 
 thefe debts, I fay, and the consequent derangement of the finances 
 of all' the powers in Europe, proved highly favorable to the caufe 
 of the French reformers ; and however great the fears of fome 
 might be, refpecting the influence of this example, or however 
 much inclined to liften to the fupplications of humbled deipotifin, 
 or to fuppott the caufe of the mortified nobility and clergy, whofc 
 cries lor vengeance filled every court and every country, yet they 
 were fo (hack led by circumftances as not to be able to yield them 
 immediate aUiitance. 
 
 Thus have the wars of this century been preparing the way for 
 the accomplifhmcnt of God's dchgns in the ovcnhiow of the 
 tenth part of the antichriftian city, and the d<_fhution of the 
 power of thofe privileged orders oi men, who had been its chief 
 iupportcrs, which appears to be the flaying of the (even thoui.-.i.d 
 names of men predicted Rev. ;;i. 13. and which events': were to 
 be the prelude to the feventh trumpet, which is to bring thufe
 
 38 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 
 
 judgments that are to perfect the overthrow of papal corruption 
 and tyranny. 
 
 Seeing that God, by his fervants the prophets, has condefccndcd 
 in various known and allowed cafes, (as maybe feen by comparing 
 the writings of the prophets with hiftory) to reveal his purpofes 
 concerning the fate of nations, and that for the confirmation of 
 his word, and the edification of mankind, it certainly becomes us 
 to examine whether there be any tokens or figns by which we 
 may know the prcfent times, led the judgments of God coma upon 
 us when we aic not aware, and find us, inftead of waiting for 
 him, as his faithful fervants, in arms againft his providence, and in 
 league for the fupport of his enemies, and the enemies of his 
 children. 
 
 There never were greater or more important events, fincc the 
 world began, than thofe to which we are witneffes ;. events ap- 
 parently big with the molt awful confcqucnccs. Though w hat 
 we have advanced refpecting the termination of the powci of the 
 Turks in or about the year 1697. and the accomplifhment of the 
 feven thunders, by the feven periods of war which have been iince 
 that time, may not, by itfclf, prove that the time is arrived for the 
 founding of the fevent h trumpet, and for the commencement of 
 that wot which is to bring antichriftian idolatry, corruption, and 
 oppreffion to an end, yet, in conjunction with other prophecies 
 and events, it is poilible that it may form a ftrong probability a 
 probability as near to a demonstration as can be expected on iucha 
 fubject, and in the prcfent ftage of the bufinefs. Compare atten- 
 tively. In that whole-piece picture (if I mav fo call it) contained 
 in chapter the eleventh^ we arc informed that after the two witnef- 
 les, o two defcrintions of witneffes, had lain politically dcc:d ;n 
 one of the fleets of the antichriftian city, the myflical Babylon. 
 for three prophetic days and a half, the iptrit of hie fiom God 
 entered into them, and they flood upon their feet, and great fear 
 fell upon them who law them. This i.-. a Jcwifh manner of dc- 
 fcribing the great political changes of nations from bondage to 
 liberty, as may be feen by comparing this place with I fa. xxv. 6 
 12. xxvi. 12, 19, 21. Ezek. xxxvii. 1 14. What the prophets 
 in the paffages referred to liavc dclcribcd as the rcluncetion of 
 
 the
 
 SIGN'S OF TIPE LATTER DAYS. 39 
 
 the Jews from the dead, is allowed, on all hands, to be their fifing 
 to civil and political exigence, when they fhall be reilored from their 
 difperfions and bondage to their own land and to liberty ; and the 
 fpirit which is promifed, Ezek. xxxvii. 14. to be put in them that 
 they may live, is not that which is promifed Jer. xxxi. 33. and 
 Ezek. xi. ig. but the fpirit of political and civil life, preparatory 
 to that greater bleifing of the renovating Spirit of God. Upon 
 the rifingof thefc witneffes from their Mate of death, thevhearda 
 great voice from heaven, (ver. 12.) that is, from the fupreme pow- 
 er, faying unto them, " Come up hither," affume the privileges 
 and rights of freemen. " And the fame hour there was a great 
 earthquake;" (ver. 13.) or, in plain language, without prophetic 
 figure, a great national convulfion, from the druggies which the 
 lupportersof corruption and tyranny made againft the vindicators 
 of the civil and religious rights of mankind. " And the tenth 
 part of the city fell." This for ages paft has been fuppofed to re- 
 fer to France, the tenth part of the antichriflian city, and events 
 fcem to verify the conjetture. This doubtlcfs appears to point out 
 one of the ten papal hates or monarchies which had been the great 
 .fupporter of the perfecutions and oppreflions of the whore of Ba- 
 bylon, and which was to fall iome little time before the founding 
 of the feventh trumpet fur the great and defoleting woe; and no 
 one of them lias been, all through, io confpicuous in her caufe a* 
 France. 
 
 ' And in the earthquake" not ?.t the moment of the falling 
 of the tenth part of the citv. hut in the earthquake which termi- 
 nated in that event. " were fiain of men (even thoufand ;" or, of 
 the names of i-ien. as it fhould be read. This lias alio, for near two 
 cent;. rie^ back, been hiDpoled to be a prediction of the abolition 
 (. f titles in Fiance, and of the perilhing of thofe privileged orders 
 of men who have been the principal fupporters of defpottfrn, and 
 the chief aftors in the peifccations which have raged againfl God's 
 leivants, as mav be leeti inure at Luge in the Firii Part of Ike 
 Signs of :'.: Tints. 
 
 Immedi.it.lv after the fall of this tenth part of the city, the third 
 woe conuneni . Yci. 14. " I he lecon.l woe is pad. and bchol 1 
 i!\-: third woe i:..>;n:'.li q licki; . And the leveuth an m:1 founded, 
 
 an J
 
 40 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 
 
 and there were great voices in heaven, faying, The kingdoms of 
 this world arc become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his 
 Chrift; and he fhall reign forever and ever." That is, thofe judg- 
 ments now commence which are fpcedily to effect, this happy 
 change ; but Babylon the Great is to fall fn ft, and this is to be ac- 
 complished by terrible things in rightcoufnefs. The nations are to 
 be angry, (ver. 18.) and oppofe the dcfigns of God ; the confe- 
 quencc of which will be, he will gather them together, (chap. xvi. 
 16. xix. 17 2i.)and pour upon them his wrath, and thus deftrov 
 thofe (whether fecular or ecclcfiaftical) who deftroy the earth. 
 
 Let us now return to the feven thunders, and fee whether our 
 interpretation of them agree with what is here predicted refpect- 
 ing the tenth part of the antichriftian city, and the events which 
 have taken place. The laft thunder, or period of war, as we have 
 feen, began in 1788, juft before the earthquake in France com- 
 menced, and continued till 1791, or, if we exclude R.uflia and 
 Turkey, 1790. It entered far into the period of the earthquake, 
 and was a means, under Providence, of forwarding the conie- 
 quences of that convulfion. In this part of the earthquake the. 
 names of men were {lain, that is, the titles and di (Unctions, not 
 only of the ccclcfiaftics, but of the lecular nobility were abolifhcd. 
 The titles of thefe latter were abolifhcd June 9, 179O. Their 
 cries for vengeance excited the lympathy and pity of the lur- 
 rounding courts, but they were at prclent in no condition to-h.lp 
 them. 
 
 The thunder ceafed. Aug. 25.1791, feveral potentates and 
 
 princes entered into a treaty at Piinitz, and agreed to prepare for 
 the invalion of Fiance, and to unite their force-, to reiicic the an- 
 cient delpotilm, and with it the invaded rights of the iiobihtv and 
 priefthood. The affairs of France advance laft towards a criiis. 
 The angel fwears by Him who livetii forever and ever, that dttay 
 
 {hall be no longer. Aug. ic. 179*. the Monarchy falls. 1 he 
 
 feventh angel iounds ihe nations arc angry, and God's wrath i* 
 come. 
 
 Thus, there hitherto appears to have been the n:oft exact con- 
 formity between the rcprelentatious to John, and the events which 
 
 v. c
 
 SIGNS OP THE LATTER DAYS. 41 
 
 we have been confidertng, efpecially as to the rifing and finking 
 of the Turkifh power, and the periods of war which have afflifted 
 the Latin church, or thefe weftern parts of the world, fince the 
 termination of the violence of the Jecond woe, and preparatory to 
 the third j as well as to the revolution in France, and the commo- 
 tions of nations which have followed the fall of the papacy and 
 monarchy in that country. A correfpondence this which is cal- 
 culated to excite the moft fcrious alarm on account of our prefent 
 fituation, and of what we have to expeft. But it is happy to re- 
 flect that this is not all ; it is calculated alfo to cheer the hopes of 
 all thofc who are waiting for the fulfilment of the promifes of 
 God, for the morning cometh as well as the night, and at evening 
 time it JhalL be light. (Zech. xiv. 7.) But, would we efcape the 
 evil, and participate only in the good ? The likelieft means t 
 infure this, is, without delay, to withdraw from this unhappy and 
 inaufpicious war, and apply ourfelves to a univerfal reforma- 
 tion. 
 
 THERE are alfo other figns of the times which very pointedly 
 indicate what we have to expect, but which we fhall only briefly 
 touch upon. From comparing what Ezekicl fays, (chap. xxvi. 
 xxvii. and xxviii.) concerning the fall of Tyrus, and the confe- 
 quent calamities, from the failure of commerce, with whzt is find 
 refpefting the fall of Babylon the Gicat, Rev. xviii. ferious con- 
 cisions might be deduced. As theic might alio, not only from 
 that general indifference which prevails as to every thing which 
 concerns religion, but from comparing Rev. xvi. 2, 13. with ex- 
 isting events. The union of P rote Hants and Paj ills, (though if 
 mult be fuppoicd that they do not in general mean this,) for the 
 
 V fua-
 
 4* SIGNS OF TH8 LATTER DAYS. 
 
 fupport of that which heretofore they thought it their firft duty 
 to oppofe, and for the overthrow of which they pray in all their 
 churches, is a Angular phasnomenon. Yes, charity obliges us to 
 hope that the majority of Proteftants would revolt at the idea of 
 leaguing themfelves with papal tyrants for the direft purpofe f 
 fupporting Popery. I believe that this is not the idea of the peo- 
 ple in this country, and I hope that none of our treaties will ever 
 bind us to fight through thick and thin for the perpetual fafety of 
 all the ftates of Italy. For as the day (if God's word be true) will 
 certainly come, and, it is likely, vcryfoon, when God's wrath will 
 be poured out upon that feat of fpiritual tyranny, this would involve 
 us in an awful fituation indeed, to the tnoft diftant hazard of which 
 no wife Proteftants would expofe their king and country. They 
 who would do this, let them abufe the French infidels as much as 
 they will, are deeper in infidelity than they. No ; the people of 
 this country, in general, think nothing about Popery, or of the po- 
 licy of fupporting it. This is not efteemed even a fecondary end 
 of the war by them. But, it is too evident that the violent advocates 
 for religious hierarchies, tithes, &c. among Proteftants, although 
 they might approve of fome reformation in the Gall-ican church, 
 and would not have found themfelves inclined to oppofe any alter- 
 ation which might have brought it to a nearer conformity to their 
 own feveral fyftems, yet, when the French reformers abolifhed 
 tithes, and reftored to the people their ancient and natural right of 
 choofing their own pallors, and efpeeially wben they abolifhed all 
 religious eftablifhments in that extenfive country, and placed the 
 different fefts upon an equal footing, and made all the minifters 
 of religion dependent upon their feveral flocks for fupport, who 
 might reward them in proportion to their own ability, or accord- 
 ing to the opinion entertained of their dclci ts ; this reduction of 
 things to the original ftate in which Chrift and his apoftles left 
 them, was beyond bcarancc, and they had rather that all the ab- 
 furdities and oppreffions of the old papal eftablifbment fhould be 
 reftored, than fuch a dangerous example be fet up in the heart of 
 Europe. This appears evidently to be the fentiment of thofe who 
 wail and howl fo dreadfully about the contempt into which their 
 ' dear brethren in Chrift" (the Popifh clergy, who can no longer 
 (hew their mitred fronts in Parliaments) have fallen, and for thfc 
 
 over-
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 43 
 
 overthrow of the holy altars of the idolatrous whore of Babylon. 
 
 But let us pafs on. 
 
 - 
 
 When I read or hear the ravings of Mr. B ke, and of fuch 
 like orators, who arc liftened to with admiration and wonder, 
 while they lb feelingly defcribe the merits of the papal pricfthood, 
 the fanclity of all religious cftablifhments, and the enormous im- 
 piety of touching this ark of God; when I hear right reverend 
 prelates, of a Protcftant church, drawing the moft invidious com- 
 parifons between the priefts of the bloody whore of Babylon and 
 the dineri'ting mrnrfters of this country, (than whom, with the whole 
 body of Protcftant di 'Venters, there arc none who arc more fincerc in 
 their loyalty to the king, in their attachment to the conftitution, or 
 more uniform in their obedience to the laws but enemies to corrup- 
 tion, and friends to civil and religious liberty) ; when I hear them, 
 before the moftauguftaffcmblies, breathing out nothingbut brotherly 
 love to the former, and nothing but wrath and bitternefs againft 
 the latter, and all becaufe thefe differ from them in opinion about 
 tithes and religious cftablifhments; -while I hear them exerting 
 all their eloquence, not only to implore our proteftion and pity 
 for the exiled priefts of France as fellow-creatures, (for that would 
 be praifc-worthv, for, if thine enemy hunger, feed him.) but as our 
 brethren, members of Chrijf, and heirs of tht promifes ; " more near 
 and dear to us by far than fomc who. affecting to be called our Pro- 
 tcftant brethren, have no other title to be called Protcftant than a 
 Jew or a Pagan, who, not being a Chriftian, is for that reafon onlv, 
 not a Papift;" while 1 hear them foftening our renunciation of 
 the antichi iftian church of Rome, into an efrangement, and her 
 idolatry and blafphcmous dogmas into ' ( what n-e deem their errors 
 and corruptions ;" r-whilft I hear them wail over the fallen altars 
 and violated riches of papal idolatry and ftiperftition, without one, 
 fentence which may lead ns to adore God, in the contemplation of 
 thofe righteous and awful judgments bv which lie fulfils his word, 
 and avenges the caufe of the innocent; I perceive in this unity 
 of fentiment between Inch exalted Proteftants and the church of 
 Rome a ftgn of the times which indicates no good to the friends of 
 
 civil and religious liberty. But I will leave fuch men to the 
 
 mercv of God, and the public to their own reileclions. Rejoicing 
 I Init the law protects the innocent, I hope that fuch men will nc- 
 
 Y - vcr
 
 44 SIGNS Or THE LATTER CAYS. 
 
 ver be permitted to realize their zeal in any thing beyond inve&ive 
 
 and wailing; and then, let them inveigh, let them wail Jefu 
 
 I know, and Paul I know; but, who are thefe? -Not the genuine 
 friends cither of Protcflantifm, their country, the king, or the con- 
 ftitution, which they make their theme. 
 
 The next fign of the times which I fhall notice refpefts the Ot- 
 toman empire. In Dan.xi. 40 45. we have a prophecy of the 
 calamities which the people of the fourth monarchy, or rather of 
 the papal church, fhould fuffer from the king of the South, or the 
 Saracens; arid from the king of the North, the Turks, who came 
 originally from the north quarter. After enumerating the con 7 
 quefts of this laft enemy, the prophet fays, ver. 44. " But tidings 
 put of the eaft, and out of the north, fhall trouble him; therefore 
 fhall he go forth with great fury to deflroy, and utterly to make 
 away many ;" ver. 45. " yet he fhall come to his end, and none 
 fhall help him." "And at that time'' (xii. 1.) " fhall Michel ftand 
 up, the great prince, which fjandeth for the children of thy peo- 
 ple," (the Jews) " and there fhall be a time of trouble, fuch as 
 there never wa,s fince there was a nation ; even to that fame tim<- ? 
 and at that time, thy people" (the Jews) " fhall be delivered, every 
 one that fhall be written in the book." Then follows a defcrip- 
 tion of their political rifmg, after the manner of the caflcrn 
 ftylc. 
 
 Enemies from the eaft, from towards Pcrfia or Arabia, and fiora 
 the north, arc to be the means of bringing the Turkifh monfter to 
 an end, and this is to be preparatory to the rcjUirn of the Jews to 
 their own country, which the Turks now pofTefs, and at which 
 time i'uch troubles will afflict the nations as have never been 
 known. One enemy is to come from the eaft, and another from, 
 the north ; and it is deferving the attention of thofe who woul^ 
 obferve the progrefs of things towards the accomplifhmcnt of 
 God's purpofes, that at the prefent time the Ottoman empire is at 
 once threatened from both thefe quarters. The new feet of the 
 Vchabis in Arabia, a, re faid to become more and more formidable. 
 Thefe arc Mahomedan infidels, and their doctrine has nothing lei's 
 in view than the deftruction of the whole fyftcm of Mahometan- 
 ifm, as a fyftcm of fupcrftition, opprcfucn, and bloodfhcd. The 
 
 founder
 
 SI.CNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 45 
 
 founder of the feet was the Shiek Mahomed Jbn Abduhl Vehab. 
 This doctrine has been brooding, it is faid, near fixty years, and 
 its advocates now fupport their opinion by force of arms. They 
 have adherents both fecrct and revealed among the Arabians in 
 general. They arc reported to pofi'efs the greater part of the 
 /country from Medina to Bafibra, on the Euphrates, and beyond it, 
 and 40,000 men have been found infufheient to overpower them. 
 The Porte is pursuing meafurcs for their reduction, and we muft 
 Wait the iflfuc before we can form any certain opinion ; but it is 
 probable that Mahometan ifm, as well as Popery, will owe its fall 
 to the prevalence of infidelity. The fecond great enemy which 
 is to contribute to the dedruction of the Turkifh empire, is to 
 come from the north, and this fcems at prefent the moll formidable. 
 Ever fince the time that we have fuppofed the rage of the fecond 
 woe to have terminated, (the latter end of the lad century) the 
 power of the Ruffians has been getting a head of that of the Ot- 
 tomans, and at this moment Constantinople trembles at the. frown 
 of the *S**4% iM*A*K (M/o'^vv.V Gcfc+^lZy 
 
 But here a difficulty prefents hfelf. As the Turks came origi- 
 nally from the neighbourhood of Mount Caucasus, where the fa- 
 mily of Gog was fettled, and as they have long been in pofieffion of 
 mod of thofe countries mentioned by the prophet Ezckiel, (chap. 
 xxxviii, 2 6.) as the invaders of Pajedine, alter the Jews' reflo- 
 ration, it has therefore been thought that the Turks are the people 
 to whom the prophecy refers. But, if the Turkifh empire is to be 
 overthrown to make way for the rcdoration of the feed of Abra- 
 ham, how is this to be reconciled with the prediction of the prophet, 
 and the generally-received opinion *' "Were I to enter into a la- 
 bored confideration of this fubject, it would carry me far beyond 
 the bounds I ha've prefcribed myfclf. I {hall therefore but jud 
 touch upon it, and refer the reader for farther information to Wells.'* 
 Geography of (he Old Tcji. vol. 1, chap. 3, feet. 2. 
 
 Respecting Gog and hi^ aflbciates, mentioned by Ezckiel, it ap- 
 pears that Gog, or Magog, the fon of Japhct, fettled himfclf about 
 Mount Caucafus, and is edecmed the father of the Scythians, who 
 dwelt on the call and north-cad of the Euxincor Black. Sea; Go- 
 jner and his fon Togarmah peopled the northern trat of the Idler 
 
 Aiia ;
 
 4^ SIGNS OF THE I.ATTRR DA VS. 
 
 ATia-:, Mefhech fettled to theeaftward of Corner, in part of Cap- 
 padocia and Armenia, to the fouth and fouth-eaft of the Black 
 Sea Tubal i c ttlcd Mill farther to the caftward, towards the Caf- 
 pian fea. Thcfc two latter were the near neighbors of Gog. 
 From a colony of Tuhal fprung the Ruffians ; and the Mufcovitcs 
 owe their origin to a colony of Mefhcch. Dr. Wells, (vol. 1, p. 
 158) treating on the origin of the Mufcovitcs and Ruffians, fay*, 
 " That the Mofcbvtifo or Mufcovitcs in Europe Mere a colony ori- 
 ginally of Mefiech or Mcfoch, called by the decks Mofdii, is very 
 probable, not onlv on account of likenefs of names, but alio of 
 the rcfpc&ivc filiations of the Afiatic and European Mfhi one 
 to the other. Add to this another confidcration, tlvit whereas in 
 pur and fomc other tranflations the Hebrew text, E/.ek. xxxviii. 
 2. is rendered thus; The chief prince, or (as it is in the margin of 
 our Bibles) the prince of (he. chief of Mefhech and Tuhal ; in other 
 tranflations, and particularly in the Septuagint, it is thus rendered; 
 The prince of Rofh Mffliech, and Tuhal. The thing is, the Hebrew 
 word tyfcO RoJJi, by fiime is taken to be an apnellatfvc^ by others a 
 proper name. The learned Bochart has obferved from the Nubian 
 geographer, that the river in Armenia, called by the Greeks Araxes, 
 js bv the Arabians called Rifh. And hence he not onlv probably 
 infers, from other instances of the like nature, that the people 
 that lived in the country about that river were alfo denominated 
 Ro/h, but alio proves from Jofephus Bengorion, that there were a 
 people in thcfc parts named Rhoffi. Now the Mofchi and Roffi 
 being thus neighbors in Alia, their colonics kept together in Eu- 
 rope, thole of the Mofchi feating themfclves in the province of 
 Mufeovy, properly fo called, that is, the parts about the citv of Mof- 
 ow : thole of the Roffi feating themfclves in the parts adjoining 
 on the fouth. For the learned Bochart has obferved from Tzetzcs, 
 that the people called Tauri, and from whom the Taurica Chcrfo- 
 vcfus took its name, were, in the days of Tzct7.cs, better known by 
 the name of Ros than of Tauri. Upon the whole, therefore, it 
 may be very probably believed, that the Mufcovitcs and Ruffians 
 in Eurppc were colonies of Mefiech, or clfc of Mefiech and Tuhal 
 jointly." Treating on thefituation of Cog, as north of Tubal, &c. 
 lie fins, " This fituation is confirmed bv thefcripturc itfelf, E/.ek. 
 xxxviii, 2. Set thy face againf Cog, in, or cf, the land of M \ 
 ike frxnee of Rofa, Mefhech, and Tuhal, &c. For hence wc learn,
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. , 47 
 
 that the. land of Magog muft be near to that of Rofli, Mejhcch, and 
 Tubal ; and it could be fo only on the north. The learned Mr. 
 Medc hasobferved, that the name Cog fignihcs the very fame with 
 Magog, the letter mem bsing but an hsanantick letter, i. f. not a 
 radical, but an additional letter to the radix or primitive word. 
 And he conceives that it plcafed the Spirit of God to diftinguifh 
 thus between the land and the people of the land, by calling the 
 people Gog, and the land the land of Magog." 
 
 Thus the Ruffians and Muscovites themfelvcs appear to be in- 
 cluded in the enumeration of E/.ekicl, and \vc mav obferve that 
 they have already extended their conqucfts into the neighbourhood 
 or the Black and Calpian Seas, and of thole parts originallv fet- 
 tled by Cog and their anceflor Tubal. The probability is that thev 
 will extend their conquefts (till farther, and be diftinguifhed in- 
 llrurncnts in the overthrow of the Turkiih empire. And having 
 effected this, it is likely that, with the alliitance of their newly ac- 
 quired fubjecls or allies from thq Cafpian to the Propontus, with 
 the Periians, &c. (the people enumerated by Ez.ekiel) they will be 
 the invading multitude marked out by the Spirit of Prophecy. 
 
 There is another fign of the tii/irs alio which ought not to be en- 
 tirely omitted. More than two thouiand five hundred years ago 
 the ten tribes of Ilrael were carried captive into AflVria. About 
 a hundred and fifteen vcars after this, Judah and Benjamin all** 
 were carried away to Babylon. Thcle returned, and lomc few of 
 the other tribes with them, but as a nation, Ilrael was never re- 
 stored. According to Kidras (book 2. chap. xiii. .ji 30. thci 
 took counfel among themfelvcs and emigrated into a diftant coun- 
 try, where never man dwelt ; that the name of this country w .: 
 ArpiTcth, at the diltancc of a year and a halt's journey, where they 
 are to dwell till the latter tune, when God wdl bring them back 
 with great wonders. The prophets abound with p.'o.uiies, no; 
 otdy reflecting the reiteration oi Judith, (the Jews but o: Ilrael 
 alio. From thefc tribes not having been heaid of tor j 1 many 
 ages, and the improbability of Inch a people (.'leaping the notice <>i 
 all travellers, the generality have been induced to conclude thai 
 they no where exift, as a diilincl people, but have long ago ! c ;u 
 melted Ju\va aitua" other nations, except thole that united t
 
 4$ SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 
 
 felvcs with Judah and Benjamin, at their return from Babylon.- 
 That they {hould ftill cxift is certainly a very extraordinary cir- 
 r umftance ; and fhould Providence bring them forward by and 1 
 by to aft a cemfpictfous part in the great fcene which is now open- 
 ing, it will doubtlcls excite great aftonifhment ; but both the event 
 and the furprife were forefcen and predicted by the prophets. 
 They fofefaw that the re- union of Ephraim with Judah would 
 not take place till after the great difpcflion, and their refurrection 
 from the long political death which they were to fufler for their 
 fins. Then are Ephraim and Judah to be one people again. 
 (Ezek. xxxvii. 1622.) And Judah fhall fay, " Who hath 
 brought up thefe ? Behold I was left alone, thefe, where have 
 they been !" ( I fa .- xlix. 21.) 
 
 Independent of the prophecies, there is rcafon to conclude that 
 this people do ftill exift diftinftfrom other nations. The grounds 
 for this conclusion may be iccn in the Afiatic Rrfearches, vol. 2.- 
 That the reader may judge for himfelf, I fhall take the liberty of 
 quoting the cxtraft which we find in the Monthly Review enlarged, 
 vol. 10, p. 502. The account is vrhimfical enough; but conlidcr- 
 ing the number of ages lincc the carrying away Iffael captive, 
 their corrupt itate at that time, their miferable condition fince. 
 their ignorance of printing, &e. it affords as much proof as can 
 be expected, at the firft dawn of their exiftence. When we are 
 better acquainted with them, their MSS. Cuftoms, &c. we may ex- 
 pect more light. 
 
 u On the defcent of the Afghani from the Jew!. 
 
 " The Afghans call themfelvcs the pofterity of Melic Talut, oY 
 king Saul.-^-The defcent of the Afghans, according to their own 
 tradition, is thus whinifieally traced ; 
 
 ' In a war which raged between the children of Ifrael and the 
 Amalekites, the latter being victorious, plundered the Jews, and 
 obtained poileflion of the ark of the covenant. Considering this 
 the god of the Jews, they threw it into fire, which did not affeft 
 it ; they afterwards endeavored to cleave it with axes, but without 
 rucceis : every individual who treated it whh indignity w;is pu- 
 
 nifhed
 
 SICNS OF TH& LATTER DAYS. g 
 
 nifhedfor his temerity. They then placed it in their temple, but 
 all their idols bowed to it. At length tbey'faftened it upon a cow 4 
 which they turned loofe in the wiidernefs. 
 
 * V/hen the prophet Samuel arofe, the children of Ifrael faid to 
 him, " We have been totally fubdued by the Amakelites, and have 
 no king. Raife to us a king, that we may be enabled to contend 
 fur tlte glory of God." Samuel faid, " in cafe you are led out to 
 battle, are you determined to fight ?" They anfwered, " What 
 has befallen us, that we Ihould not fight againft infidels ? Thaf 
 nation has banifhed us from our country and children." At thig 
 time the angel Gabriel defcended, and delivering a wand, faid, *' it 
 is the command of God, that the perfon whofe ftature fhall cor- 
 refpond with this wand, fhall be king of Ifrael." 
 
 ' Melic Talut was at that time a man of inferior condition, and 
 'performed the humble employment of feeding the goats and cows 
 of others. One day a cow under his charge was accidentally loft* 
 Being difappointed in his fearches, he was greatly diftrefled, and 
 .applied to Samuel, faying, " I have loft a cow, and do not poifefia 
 the meaus'of fatisfying the owner. Pray for me, that I may be ex- 
 tricated from this difficulty." Samuel perceiving that he was a 
 man of lofty ftature, alked his name. He anfwered, Talut. $a 
 muel then faid, " Meafurc Talut with the wand which the angel 
 Gabriel brought." His ftature was equal to it. Samuel then faid, 
 ii God ha* r a: fed Talut to be your king." The children of Ifrael 
 anfwered, li We are greater than our king. We arc men of dig- 
 nity, and he is of inferior condition. How fhall he be our king?" 
 Samuel informed them, they fhould know that God had confti* 
 tuted Talut their king, by his reftoring the ark of the covenant. 
 He accordingly reftored it, and they acknowledged him their fo- 
 vereign. 
 
 ' After Talut obtained the kingdom, he feized part of tho 
 territories of Jalut, or Goliah, who aficmbled a large army, but 
 was killed by David. Talut afterwards died a martyr in a 
 war againft the infidels ; and God conftitutcd David king f tb 
 Jews. 
 
 Q * Mclie
 
 50 SIGNS Or THfc LATTER DAYS. 
 
 Mclic Talut had two fons, one called Berkia, and the other 
 Jrmia, who ferved David, and were beloved bv him. He fent 
 them to fight againft the infidels ; and by God's attiflancc they 
 were vi&orious. 
 
 The fon of Berkia was called Afghan, and the fon of 
 Irmia was named Ufbcc. Thcfe youths diflinguifhed them- 
 fc'lves in the reign of David, and were employed by Solomon. 
 Afghan was diflinguifhed by his corporeal ftrength, which (truck 
 terror into demons and genii. Ulbec was eminent for his learn- 
 ing. 
 
 c Afghan ufed frequently to make excursions to the mountains; 
 where his progeny, after his death, cftablifhed thcmfclvcs, lived 
 in a (late of independence, built forts, and exterminated the in- 
 fidels.' 
 
 " To this account we (hall fubjoin a remark of the late Henry 
 Vanfittart, Efq. He obierves, that ' A very particular account of 
 the Afghans has been written by the late Ha Fiz Rahmat Khan, a 
 chief of the Rohillas, from which the curious reader may derive 
 much information. They are MuiTulmen, pertly of the Sunni, 
 and partly of the Shiah perfuafion. Thev are great boafters of 
 the antiquity of their origin, and reputation of their tribe : but 
 other MuiTulmen entirely rcjeft their claim, and conhder them of 
 modern and even ba(e extraction. However their character may 
 -be coHc6tcd from hiftory. Tliev have diflinguifhed thcmfclvcs 
 hv their courage, both fingly and unitedly, as principals and auxi- 
 'liaries. Tliev have conquered for their own princes ami for fo- 
 reigners, and have always been confulered the main ftrength of inc 
 army in which they have ferved. As thev have been applauded 
 for virtues, they have alfo been reproached for vices, h;:v::)i; 
 fomctimes been guilty of treachery, and even acted the bale part of 
 affoffins.' # 
 
 A fpecimen of their language (the PuJhtoJ h added; ami the 
 following note i infeited by the prefident. 
 
 < This
 
 SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 1 
 
 * This account of the Afghans may lead to a very interefling 
 difcovcry. We learn from Efdras, that the tentrircs, after a wan- 
 dering journey, came to a country called Arfareth, where we may 
 fuppofc they fettled. Now the Afghans are faid by the beffc Per- 
 iian hiftorians to be defcended from the Jews; 1 hey have tradi- 
 tions among thcmfelves of fuch a defcent ; and it is even affertcd, 
 that their families are diftinguifhed by the names of Jewifli tribes, 
 although, fmce their convcrfion to the Ifiam, they ftudioufly con- 
 ceal their origin. The Pujhto language, of which I have feen a 
 dictionary, has a manifefh refcmblance to the Chaldaic ; anda con- 
 siderable diftric"t under their dominion is called Hazarch, or Ha- 
 zaret, which might eafily have been changed into the word uied 
 by Efdras. I ftrongly recommend an inquiry into the literature 
 and hi (lory ox the Afghans. 5 
 
 That after the fpace of more than 2500 years the ten tribes of 
 Ifrael fhould be fir ft reftored to notice juft at this period, when 
 fo many figns indicate the approach of their refloration, may be 
 defisned as a hint to us to be readv for what is coming. Let the 
 trifling think what they may, I am fure that the diligent ftudent 
 in the writings of the prophets will be far from eftccrning this 
 lingular circumftance unworthy of attention ; and elpccially as it 
 appears in company with lo many others which prels upon us, and 
 urge us to watch. 
 
 Among other figns of the fpecdy gathering and refloration of 
 Ifrael, this is not the lcaft, that we are threatened with troubles 
 fuch as have not been iince there was a nation. Never did fuch 
 animohty prevail in any war as has manifefted itielf in this. And 
 if we conlidcr the (laughter of human beings in this one campaign, 
 befulc the wrctchcdncfs to which 'Jioufands 01 unhappy fugitive?, 
 who had long been ufed to all the accommodations and elegancies 
 of life, have been reduced, the prolpect is melancholy indeed, and 
 fecms to befpeak fome vifuation more than common. It appears 
 that a greater number of men have perifhed in little more than 
 one year, than in both the late wars which raged in America and 
 Europe for more than fourteen. Should the dcftruc"tion and ca- 
 lami'}' go on with an accelerating devaluation, as we have re a fori 
 
 C, 2 to
 
 Cg SIGNS Of THE LATTER DAYS, 
 
 to cxpeft, if it be that day of troubles wkich we are taught t 
 look for, who can calculate the quantum of human mifery to he 
 endured before the ceffation of this tempeft in which we have fo 
 unhappily mingled ! 
 
 CON-
 
 [ 53 3 
 CONCLUSION: 
 
 BEING AN 
 
 A D D R E S sS 
 
 T p THE 
 
 PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 THUS, my countrymen, we have confidcrcd fome of thofe fignt 
 tij the times which, at this feafon of general agitation, folicit our 
 attention with lingular urgency. Signs which intimate nothing 
 lcls than the general (baking and renovation of things. It becomes 
 us therefore to attend to them with peculiar lerioufnefs, that 
 we may know the meafures which we ought to purfue, and avoid 
 precipitating ourfelvcs into the dreadful confequences of oppo- 
 sing the providence of Qod, who in his word has forewarned us 
 of his purpofes, and by his difpenfations is indicating their fpeedy 
 accomplishment : it becomes us to obfervc them with devout 
 attention, that we may hereby be excited to turn to God by a 
 finccrc and general repentance, and thus be hid until the indig- 
 nation be ovcrpaft: " For behold, the Lord comcth out of his 
 place to punilh the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity ; the 
 earth alio lhall difclofc her blood, and no longer cover her flam."t 
 Now therefore conlidcr your ways, 
 
 I acknowledge that my apprehenhons refpecting our profpefts 
 arc not fo much from the opinion I may entertain of the witdom 
 or folly, the juliicc or injuftice, the piety or impiety, of the prc- 
 f'Cnl war, in a detached view, rs from the imprefiion which the 
 general appearance of things, compared with the writings of the 
 prophets, produces on my mind ; for, did I believe the prefent 
 war (according to the general rule of elUmating thi: g r to be, be- 
 
 j ira.xxv.2e,ti. 
 
 von a
 
 54 CONCLUSION. 
 
 yond all doubt, both politic and juft, even this would not mi:ch 
 IciTcn my appreheni'ion of danger. When \vc look back on ancient 
 hutory, and trace the progrefs and fall of thofc empires and dates 
 which Irifpiration has noticed, we fhall find that the long threat- 
 ened judgments which fell upon them were net for the blame of 
 thofe particular wars in which they perifhed, but for the accumu- 
 lated guilt of fucceflive ages, and for the general corruption of 
 their manners. Thofe wars might be perfectly jiift, becaule dc- 
 fenfive. If wc examine the predictions of the prophets which 
 refer to the chaftifement of the nations, and the deftruction of Ba- 
 bylon the Great, in the latter days, wc {hall find that thofe dreadful 
 judgments which are then to be inflicted, are to be for the (ins of 
 centuries- for blcod which lias never been avenged. The fovc- 
 jeigns and rulers of that day may, perhaps, be among the mo'l 
 mild and juft that have ever excrcifed power; but wc rnuft he 
 Grangers to the hiflory of nations if we do not know that this 
 will be no certain fecurity. To in 'lance only the cafe of Ifracl : 
 Hofhea was the heft prince that ever reigned over that people; 
 the only one that had any mixture of good ; yet, in his days their 
 ruin came. If the great body of the nation be corrupt ; if wc 
 approve the deeds of our fathers, and our iniquity be full ; it is 
 not the piety, or virtue, or juilice, of our princes and rulers that 
 can fecure us. 
 
 - But though this is the cafe, vet our obligations and our interefr, 
 as they refpeel both the policy and the morality of the war. remain 
 the fame. And if it be found that we arc acting contrary to the 
 principles both of policy and the eternal obligations of morality, 
 we are certainly precipitating our fate, and aggravating our ruin. 
 Jt becomes us then, with great feriouhu fs, to consider our wavs : 
 ior ii is not what the French aie that aiccrtams the Safety 01 dan- 
 :.: : of our fituation : they mav be all that they are reprcfented 
 . and yet our cafe be never the better: the worie thevare. the 
 moie fit are they, in fome reipects, to be the inftiumcnts of God's 
 thieatened judgments. 
 
 The wifdoni or fo'dv, the policy or impolicy, of the prefent 
 
 v .. ce;t;.:nly dcfcivcs the moll furious couhtleirtion of all who 
 
 dcilio
 
 conclusion. . 55 
 
 defire the profperity of their country ; but as fo many have writ- 
 ten fo ably on thefe fubje&s, it feems the lefs neceffary for me to 
 detain the reader for the inveftigation of them. But there arc 
 two or three things, which, though they may not fo- generally 
 ftrike the attention, at leafh not fo as to produce any confidcrab'.e 
 apprchenfion of danger, yet, if it be clear that they are connefted 
 with this war. there is fo much moral turpitude in them, that, to 
 thofc who believe in the all-fuperintending providence of the Cre- 
 ator, and the Divine infpiration of the Scriptures, they muft ap- 
 pear of a magnitude fufficicnt to excite the extrcmeft folicitude, 
 and the mod iincerc concern. 
 
 It is impofTiblc for any obferving man, who is at all converfant 
 with what paffes about him, not to notice the unufual animontv 
 which has manifefted itfelf in this contcft, both againft the French 
 and againft all thole who diiler from the fafhionable opinion. So 
 high lias it raged amongft a certain clafs of people, that no words 
 arc equal to the defcription. " But this is a war of religion. The 
 French are a nation of infidels the enemies of all religion ; and 
 
 therefore deferve to be extirpated from the earth." Admirable 
 
 imitators of Him who came not to deftroy men's lives, buttofave 
 
 them ! A war of religion ! O ye pious cruLdcrs ! Ye never 
 
 need to fhcath your (words. There aic \\ icked nations enow 
 
 to gratify your holy z.cal with everlafting bloodfhed. But fhew 
 
 u: your commiffiou. Is it a forgery, or is it derived from llitu 
 <: who makcth his fun to nlc on the evil and on the good, and 
 who fendcth rain on the juft and on the unjuft; and defireth 
 
 not the death of a finner ?"+ But it is poilible that thcaccufa- 
 
 tion againft our enemies may not be exactly juft. Mi.ch as w>: 
 execrate wickednels, yet Ictus be impartial. Perhaps it fliould 
 rather be, <: They arc infidels :he paiti/.ans of no feet." Nobody 
 fufpects them to have much piety, vet, bad as thcyare, the freedom 
 of every description of worfuip is protected by all the force c f 
 the nation ; but as it is likely the majority of the rcprcieiitativcs 
 of the people have no religion themfelves, they have elb'blifhcd 
 none. bt have left religion to take care of itfelf, and work its 
 
 ' Matth. v. i} 4 g.
 
 56 CONCLUSION* 
 
 own way by the native power of truth, juft as it was forced t 
 do for the firfl three hundred years after Chrift, without either 
 emoluments or penal ftatutes in its favor ; but with this difference, 
 that no man fhali perfecute it, nor any one feci perfecute another, 
 but if Christianity be from God, that it fhall have free liberty to 
 make its conquclls. Be our opinion what it may of the utility 
 or mifchief of religious eftablifhments among Proteftants, yet, is 
 not this preferable to the fuperftitions and horrors of Popeiy ? 
 And if God in his providence fees fit, by thefe methods, to over- 
 throw the abominations of Rome, and thus to clear the way for 
 undertled religion, fhall we be angry with his difpenfations, of 
 difpute his wifdom ? t We are not difpofed to palliate crimes, 
 but let us diftinguifh between the crimes of men and the juftice 
 of Him who makes the madnefs of nations the inftrurnont of ef- 
 fecting both his avenging and benevolent purpofes. We are im- 
 pelled upon by names, and founds, and mifreprcfentations, and then, 
 infpired with zeal without knowledge, fct ourfelves up for the 
 avengers of the caufe of Heaven. But let us be difpaflionatc ; 
 let us examine ourfelves as under the eye of God. If neceflity 
 oblige us to maintain war, yet, let us beware of harboring in our 
 bofoms the murderous and unchriftian paflions of rancor and ma* 
 ievolencc. If we are attacked we have a right to defend our- 
 felves ; but benevolence is to be exercifed even towards enemies ; 
 and if they hunger, what are we to do ? We know what the ma- 
 lignant ipirit of party and worldly policy will fay" Starve them." 
 But Chrift fays, " Feed them." If we muft maintain war, ?.nd 
 juftice fa notify it, yet let it be on thole principles of benevolence 
 2nd magnanimity worthy of a great and enlightened nation, and 
 then there might be fome plaulible ground to hope for the favor 
 of Providence. But malevolence wo ud ftamp the jufteft war 
 with guilt. And if this malevolence fhould be fullered to take 
 fuch poiiWIion of us as to infpire our devotions, the guilt would 
 be encrcafed.^; 
 
 But 
 
 1 Soe Sir I. Newton's idea of the fall of the antich:ifti.in tyranny ty the j.re- 
 va'.er.cc of ;r.f:dolit>., as quoted in Pin the tirtt, p. 14, thi d edit. 
 
 I What an elegant writer (the author of ' Reafbrs (cr Natiora! Peniter.ce/) 
 fiys oi '.lis fubjeft^ cLfervei atrention. Among other remark.* on he appoint- 
 
 n-.enc
 
 
 CONCLUSION'. 57 
 
 But that we may be enabled to form a rational judgment of the 
 prefpeft before us, as to fuccefs or ruin, let us confider the connec- 
 tion in which we Hand, and the motives by which We are ac- 
 tuated, whether they be fuch as are worthy of a free and enlight- 
 ened people. 
 
 With refpect to the continental powers, with fome of them at 
 lead, the origin of the prefent war was indifputably urijiift. Is it 
 not unjuit for any one nation to interfere with the internal regu- 
 lations or another independent nation? An independent n?tion 
 (whether right or wrong, as to what concerns thcmfelves, does not 
 li'.cti the queftion) had long groaned under the real or fuppofed 
 oppreftion's of arbitrary princes, infolent nobles, and intolerant, 
 debauched, athciftical, and perfecuting priefts.f They feel their 
 wrongs, they perceive their rights, and are determined to redrefs 
 
 ment of a general faff, lie obferves, (p. 2.) '* If we imagine that we ought to 
 enter our churches, to pour out our fpleen and exprefs our malice to, our ene- 
 mies, and to mingle execrations againft (hem with our prayers for ourfc.'vcs, we 
 
 have grofsly mifund;rftood its purpoie and its principles." (p. ,.) " When 
 
 we approach the altar of peace with our arms dreaming with blood, and our 
 hearts fwelling with meditations of (till more complete and bloody vengeance, 
 we are only difplaying to ;he world a difgufting alliance of the fierccft barbarity 
 with the mart abject f'jperftition." " Let me conjure you to lay afide that fe- 
 rocious and unrelenting malice, which is more calculated for the fynagogues of 
 faun than the temples of the Almighty." 
 
 f I believe that their grievance^ Were re.il, and that their eppreffions were 
 thj mjft enormous iliac ever a great and enlightened nation, for fo long a period, 
 fubmiftcd fo. Some of thefe have been enumerated in the fir ft Part of the Signs 
 cf the Times. 
 
 (J. d forbid tint we fhould withhold cur pity either from the unfortunate or 
 the guilty ! Bur. let u be juft to the caufe of general humanity. Let us take 
 heed that, while we condemn the irregular and wicked proceedings of nun, we 
 do nor alfo cenfure the ways of Providence, and ll.mder and betray the precious 
 rights of mankind. That illuftrious houfe of twenty-Jeven generations, over the 
 fall of which Dr. Horfley laments fo pathetically, was principally illuftrious for 
 oj [ reifion and bloodlhed, for contempt of the poor aid abufc of power ; and, i.i 
 if', fuddeh and awful fall, we ought to adore the avenging juftice of Cjod : 
 for whether his threatened judgments fall on the fecond generation, as in the cafe 
 of the houfe of Alub, ( 1 Kings xxi. 29. 2 Kings ix. 7. x. 1.) or 0:1 the twenty- 
 fevcath, his ban I is ft.U jonfpicuous, nor is his vengeance the left i t't. 
 
 U the
 
 58 CONCLUSION. 
 
 the one, and vindicate the other. They bring to juftice their p- 
 preffors ; they difarm them of their power, ftrip them of their 
 diiguife, overturn their old opprcflivc fy items, and form fuch new 
 ones as they think moft likely to infurc fecurity and happinefs. 
 In effecting all this mighty work, folly is mixed with wifclom, and 
 outrage mingles with jufticc. They folemnly declare, as a nation, 
 that they will refpect the lights and independence of all other na- 
 tions, but will vindicate their own. In fuch a ftruggle for the 
 
 general good, fome mull be fuppofed to fuller cither real or ima- 
 ginary wrongs. Thefe plot againft the nation ; they atfemble in 
 neighboring Hates; are encouraged; prepare for war, andjnvokc 
 foreign aid. 
 
 On Auguft 25, 179O, the neighbouring princes and potentates 
 .hold a meeting at Pilnitz ; a concert of crowned heads is formed, 
 and it is agreed to invite the other fovereigns of Europe to 
 join the league, and make the caufe of the king, and of the 
 other privileged orders of France, a common one. It is de- 
 termined in the mean while to increafc their armies, and prepare 
 for the invafion of France the nrft favorable opportunity, that by 
 the overthrow of the new conftitution, and the re-eflablifhmcnt of 
 the old defpotifm, and the former (late of things in the church, 
 innovation may be fmitten in the root, and all future ones, in other 
 .countries, be prevented. Thus did foreign courts all'umc to them- 
 felves dictatorial power over an independent people, and formed 
 a concert., not only for the purpofe of overturning the liberties of 
 France, but, as if the world were made for princes, nobles, and 
 priefts only, to intimidate all other nations from daring, in future, 
 to attempt to meliorate their condition. + They have fent forth 
 the molt defpotie and bloody manifestos that ever difgraccd Eu- 
 rope. That of the duke of Brunfwic is exprcfTed in a (tyle of 
 fuch undifguifed barbarity, that even Attila, who boaftcd of him- 
 fclf as the fco urge of God, and the terror of men, would have blufh- 
 ed to have been the author of it. They have invaded France ; 
 tnd the French in return have invaded them. Enormous crimes 
 
 j- Let us loo'c at -Poland, and in their hiftory ftudy the juftice 3nd benevo- 
 lence of courts, and learn the benefit robe derived fro:n a concert of princes! 
 In;; lihmcn have much 10 unlearn before they can fubferibe to that reviving -doc- 
 trine, '' Millions were made for one." 
 
 have
 
 conclusion. 59 
 
 have been committed on both fides ; but we have not yet- fecn the 
 end. 
 
 " But the concerns of the French arc fo interwoven with the" 
 concerns and intcrefl of other nations; that thefe have felt them- 
 felves injured, and their language has been fuch as to alarm and 
 provoke their neighbors ; and wc alfo have been offended " This 
 may be true. But have we acted according to thofe excellent 
 principles laid down by Jefus Chrift, Matth. xviii. and Luke xvii. 
 lor the putting an end to ftrifc, and for the prevention of blood- 
 fhed ? Have we remonftrated and done all that negociation could 
 do to prevent the horrors of war; or, has the flaming fu'ord of 
 deftruftion preceded the olive branch of peace, and vengeance 
 gone before remonftrance ? Have we acled from fober judgment 
 and urgent neceffity, or from the di&ates of ambition, and the 
 woikings of pallion ? Our innocence or guilt, refpefting the 
 blood which is fhed, and the forrow which is occafioned, will de- 
 pend much on the anfwer which fats give to thefe inquiries. If 
 this war on the people of France be for the purpofc of dictating to 
 them a form of government, on the hypothecs that fuch an cxten- 
 live republic in the heart of Europe would operate as a dangerous 
 example, it is unjuft. If it be on account of fome of their fool- 
 iih or unjuft decrees, vet, if wc have not endeavored, by negocia- 
 tion, to prevent the fpilling of human blood, and the accumulation 
 of taxes, it is unjuft ; and if, inftcad of this, wc have lpurncd at 
 conccfllon, as though rel'olved on war at any rate, the injufticc is 
 incrcaicd. If alfo it he a war to avenge the execution of iheking, 
 or for their humbling the nobility or dcfpoiltng the priefthood, it 
 ii unjuft: for who appointed us the univcrial judges and arbiters 
 vi nations? 
 
 ' ; But it was ncceffary to the prevention of a revolution, and 
 c f anarchy in this country." So lay a certain defcription of men. 
 But this ii not proved, nor docs it appear that it can be. Perhaps 
 if would he more conformable to their true fentiments to fay, " Wc 
 th;>ught itnecctfary for the prevention of reformation." 
 
 Let us then examine with difpaflionate feiioufnefs the principles 
 of the wai in which wc are engaged, that, if it be unjuft, wc may 
 
 icpci.t,
 
 60 CONCLUSION. 
 
 repent, and do what we legally can to wafh our hands from the 
 ftain of innocent blood. Men under defpotic governments may, 
 perhaps, be filent and innocent ; but Englifhmen are allowed to 
 fpcak. Under a free government, filence is guilt. The nation 
 called for the war; if, after maturer thought, they find themfelves 
 deceived, and apprehend not only its impolicy, but its injuflicc, 
 they are bound to fignify it, or innocent blood (that of our own 
 people, at lead, fuppofmg the blood of Frenchmen to be of no 
 value in the eyes of the Father of all) will cry againft us. 
 
 Let us farther examine whether we are acting worthy of our 
 character as Prcteftants and Chriftians, who are enlightened ir;o 
 the true principles of the religion of Chrifl. It is pojfiblc that 
 our motives and aims may be diffimilar to thofe who are engaged 
 in the fame quarrel; but who are they? The dragon and the 
 beajl. Molt of them have long been the fcourges of the earth, 
 the curfes of humanity, and their end is to perifh for ever. It is 
 p.ojJiblt to fuppofe that we may mean well ; but what arc the inten- 
 tions of the afibciates by whofe fide we are fighting ? To keep 
 popery from falling, to maintain the power and influence of the 
 clergy, and all that error and luperftition by which they faftcn on 
 the minds of mankind, and circuitoufiy iupport their own defpotic 
 power. But be the motives and aims of lome what thev may, 
 every man's duty is to judge himfclf, as in the light of God, that 
 he be not judged; and as it is poffible that that which is highly 
 criminal may meet with the approbation of the majority of a na- 
 tion, and thus great national guilt be incurred, it becomes us to 
 examine ourfelvcs on this important point. 
 
 Our religion teaehes us, and our fathers, the reformers, were zea- 
 lous in imprelling its dictates, that Rome is the whore cf Bsbvlcn,+ 
 the mother of harlots, and no true church of Child; that pc^-civ 
 is fuperfthion and idolatry; a religion, at onc-j ;:t war ;;_;;.. nfb the 
 kingdom of Chriftand the happinefs of mankind; a religion, ty- 
 rannical, blalphemous, and diabolical, in principle, and bloodv in 
 practice. Our religion teaches us that this fame lyfiem of corrup- 
 tion and oppreilion, which impregnates all the government;, whii :i 
 
 f See Homilietof the Church of England, p. i ; -i, 2E-J z8 , edit, oi : ,U . 
 
 receive
 
 CONCLUSION. 6l 
 
 receive it, and all the religions eftablifhments which grow out of 
 it, with its own enflaving and corrupt principles, fhall be brought 
 to an end worthy of its enormities; it has determined and deline- 
 ated the Ggns for the accomplifhmcnt, and charged us to watch 
 their appearance, and to have no alliance with the mother of har- 
 lots, that wc partake not of her fins, and receive not of her 
 plagues. If the figns of the times indicate the approach of theie 
 threatened judgments, our part is to (land at a di fiance and con- 
 template the progrefs of the awful ruin, and not rufh into the coi - 
 flit, to flop the uplifted arm of God's vengeance; then might be 
 fulfilled in our favor that faying, (PL xci. -, 8.) " A thoufand 
 fhall fall at thy fide, and ten thoufand at thy right-hand, but it 
 (hall not come nigh thee; only with thine eyes fhalt thou 
 behold and fee the reward of the wicked." But, if we join iffuc 
 with the declared fupporters of the whore of Babylon, and unite 
 with them to arreft the vengeance of Heaven, what fate have we 
 to expect, but to fhare in their ruin a ruin as dreadful as it will 
 be extenfive ! 
 
 Thus, my countrymen, I have endeavored to fct before vou, in 
 the befl manner I arn able, the figns of the times, and what they 
 portend. I have endeavored to roule your attention to the consi- 
 deration of your ways, and your true intcrcft, that vou may t;:ke 
 fuch meafurcs as mav be the molt likelv to iecuie us from the de- 
 flations of that ilonn which already fnakes the greater part of Eu- 
 rope a ftorm, if our conceptions arc juft, which will ipecdilv 
 lav in ruins all the nations which fhall be found oppoi'mg the de- 
 ii.'^ns of God in the oveithrow of that antichriflian fyflem, (col- 
 lar and eccleliaftical, which has lo long corrupted and de droved 
 the earth. 
 
 As it wa; in trie days of Xoe, before tin flood, they were eating and 
 drinking, marrying and giving i ' marriage, until the diy that Xot en- 
 tered into t/ie ark. and knew not until the flood tame and took them all 
 tiwiv. '. jhall a'fo the coming of the Son oj Man, in the execution 
 ot the divine judgments on the wicked nations, be. Sa) not m 
 your hearts then, * lie delayeth his coining;'" for lie has fore- 
 warned us that he will come as a thief in the night, at a time when 
 liot expe.te:!. Lc; ... therefor- watch and repent. Reformations 
 
 in
 
 6 2 CONCLUSION. 
 
 in governments, if attainable at any tolerable price, are very de- 
 iirable ; but wc deceive- ourfclves if we imagine that this will be 
 fufheient to enfure the general peace and happinefs of focicty. 
 Unlcfs the great mafs of mankind are reformed and Chriftianized, 
 every thing clfe will be infufficient.+ Whilft piide, ambition, and 
 corruption predominate ; whilft meanntls ^nci fervility on the or.e 
 hand, and refraclorincfs and contempt of authority on the other, 
 prevail ; whilft the moral lenfe of the generality of mankind is 
 corrupt; or, as our Lord cxpreflcs it, whilft the light which is in. 
 them is darknrfs, and irreligion and vice triumph, it is in vain to 
 expect any great good. I own I am extremely delirous of feeing 
 a peaceable reformation take place in the reprt fvntation aud in the 
 adminiftration of the affairs of this country, as that which might 
 contribute much to the bettering mankind, and which alone pro- 
 mites any hope of elcaping the calamities of a revolution, or of 
 alleviating the other diftreffes which threaten us. B;:t, if this 
 iiiould be accomplifhed, and nothing but this. I confefs my expec- 
 tations are not very ianguinc as to the great and permanent < T ood 
 which would follow. As a corrupt government diiiufes its cor- 
 ruptions tu iouh the whole imfs of focicty, fo, fhould a few wife 
 and virtuous men effect a pure government, yet, if the great bodv 
 of the nation remained unreformed, they would foon corrupt the 
 belt inftitutions, and the adminiftration of the belt government 
 that the human intellect could deviie, and nothing could frill favc 
 us from the difpleafure of God. Let both thefc reformations, 
 therefore, go hand in hand, and let them fpcedily be commenced; 
 for nothing fhovt of mftant reformation, and an inftant change of 
 
 f- I cannot fo;hear <:> p cfHrp; tie f ttifacVu-n which I feel fio.n the inftiiuti. u 
 c( Sunday lchools. More honor is due to the man who prcjettcd fuch a fi_hcn c 
 of improvement than ro the nn (t Irlli.int conquerors. Should nations become 
 fo wife as o c nven a Jitfie of tint money which is lavifhed i n c om fycopl anrs, 
 or fpent in needlefj and Unjuft wars, to the purpefe of nair.uinig, on a more 
 exter.tivc plan, parochial fchools, which fliou'd be under in' direction of the in- 
 h.ibi:aiits, for the ir.ftruftion of the poor gratis, we tr.if.ht then hepe for amend- 
 ment, both in the principles and condition cf the molt numercus and meft ufefnl 
 j m of mankind. It is 3 debt due to the poor, and thepayrr.cn! of which w.>-,!J 
 enrich the payer. The money f pen in cue needlefs w.r would more than edu- 
 cate a!! our poor for ever ! Hut, alas ! there are too many who think, that Igno- 
 ra&ce-is the mother of o'.hei ufe.ul children 1 .fides Vaiticn. 
 
 mca-
 
 CONCLUSION. 63 
 
 Tneafurcs, can afford us any folid hope of falvation. Did God lay, 
 refpe&ing the profligate Jews, when the whole body politic was 
 difcafed from the head to the foot, 4i Shall not my foul be avenged 
 on fuch a nation as this?" What have the nations, under the 
 Chriftian difpenfation, to expect, if, like them, they become uni- 
 verfally difcafed ? Let us therefore examine ourfelvcs and re- 
 pent. 
 
 What, in a general view, is our moral character as a nation ? 
 Has pur virtue, our moderation, our jufticc, our love of civil and 
 religious liberty, and our attachment to the principles of Proteft- 
 antifm, kept pace with our advancement in the feale of nations? 
 We are called by the name of Chriir, and profefs to be a religious 
 people ; but, do we exemplify in our practice thole holy principles 
 which we profefs ? Do we do juftly, love mercy, and walk hum- 
 bly with God; or, docs infidelity and profanenefs, bribery and 
 corruption, lewdnefs and debauchery, pride and difhpation, per- 
 vade all ranks of men, and threaten auniverfal dillblution ? Arc 
 t]\c rights of confciencc revered ; or, is our fondncls for the 
 wine of the whore of Babylon returning, and are we to judge of 
 the temper of the nation from the flames which bigotry kindled 
 at Birmingham in vinety-ont? Wc arc a nation of profeffed 
 Christians. -'The parlors which we approve, whether of the cfla- 
 blifhcd church or othcrwifc, arc they the meek and humble imita- 
 tors of Him whole fcrvants they are called ? Do the generality 
 of them feck, not filthy lucre, but the felvation of the fouls of 
 men ? Arc they faithful to reprove and warn ; or. do they preach 
 to us fmooth things, and fay, peace, peace, when there is no peace? 
 Are. they diligent .in the difchargc of their duties laboring to 
 inftruft the ignorant, to reclaim the vicious, to comfort the afflict- 
 ed, and to unite men in the bonds of charity ; or, are they proud 
 and worldly ; diligent only after gain; idL- fhephcrds, who care 
 not for the flock, and who low among mankind the feed:-; of con- 
 tention? Do thev recommend and enforce the religion which 
 they profefs by the holinefs and purity, benevolence and pietv, of 
 their lives; or, are they lovers of pleafurc, eating and drinking 
 with the drunken, whofe end ii d-flrurtion, whofe go 1 i< t/wir 
 and whofe glory is in tktir fliame ; who mind earthly things? (Phil, 
 iii. 19.) Arc the great body of the people content to have it 
 
 thus,
 
 C[ CONCLUSION. 
 
 thus, and moved only by what affects their worldly intereft? 
 Should this, on examination, be found to be the cafe, it furcly 
 calls for deep humiliation, and fuggefts that, without a repentance 
 and reformation as general as lincere, fome heavy calamity mujt 
 buiil upon us. 
 
 What Dr. Hartley (in his Obftrvaiions on Man) wrote, fifty 
 years ago, defcrves our fcrious confederation. ' How near" (he 
 l;.ys, vol. 2, p. 368) " the diffolution of the prcfent governments, 
 ' generally or particularly, may he, would be great rafhnefs to af- 
 <; firm. Chrifh will come in this fenfe alfo ' as a thief in the 
 " night.' Our dutv therefore is to watch and to pray ; to be faith- 
 " ful ftewards, to give meat, and all other requihtes, in due leafon, 
 " to thofc under our care ; and to endeavor bv thefc, and all other 
 ' : lawful means, to prcfervc the government, under whofc protec- 
 " tion we live, from diffolution, feeking the peace of it. and fuh- 
 ' ; milting to every ord-nancc of man for the Lord's fake. No 
 ' prayers, no endeavors of this kind can fail of having fome good 
 f* effect, public or private, for the prefcrvation of ourfclves and 
 " others. The great difpenfations of Providence are conducted 
 ' by means that arc either lecrct, or, if they appear, that ars 
 ' ; judged feeble and inefficacious. No man can tell, however pri- 
 ' vatc his (ration may be, but his fervent prayer mav avail to the 
 ' ; kd vat ion of much people. But it is more peculiarly the dutv 
 ' ; of magiftrates thus to watch over their fubjecis, to pray for 
 ' them, and to let about the reformation of ail matters civil and 
 ' ; ccclcliallical, to the utmoft of their power. Good governors 
 " may promote the welfare and continuance of a Rate, and wick- 
 ' ed ones mull accelerate its ruin. The facred hiftory affords us 
 ' indances of both kinds, and they arc recorded there for the ad- 
 4i monition of kings and princes in all future times," 
 
 P. 37C. i: There are many prophecies which declare the fall of 
 ' the cccleiiaftical powers of the Chriftian world. And though 
 " each church fecms to Hatter itfelf with the hopes of being cx- 
 '' empted, yet it is very plain that the prophetical characters be- 
 ' long to all. They have all left the true, pure, fimple religion, 
 u and tei'ch for doctrines the commandments of men. They are 
 all merchants of the earth, and have let up a kingdom of this 
 
 " world,
 
 CONCLUSION. 6$ 
 
 " world, abounding in riches, temporal power, and external pomp. 
 " They have all a dogmatizing fpirit, and perfecute fuch as do not 
 u receive their own mark, and worfhip the image which they have 
 *' fet up. They all neglect Chrift's command of preaching the 
 " gofpel to all nations^ and even that of going to ' the loft fheep 
 " of the houfe of Ifrael ;' there being innumerable multitudes in 
 ** all Chriftian countries who have never been taught to read, and 
 " who are in other rcfpels alfo deftitute of the means of favin'g 
 " knowledge. It is very true that the church of Rome is ' Babylon; 
 " the Great, and the mother of harlots,' and of the ' abominations 
 " of the earth.' But all the reft have copied her example, more 
 " or lefs. They have all received money, like Gehazi; andthere- 
 " fore the leprofy of Naaman will cleave to them, and to their 
 " feed for ever. And this impurity may be confidered not only 
 " as juftifving the application of the prophecies to all the Chrif- 
 " tian churches, but as a natural caufe for their downfal. The 
 ' corrupt governors of the fevcral churches will ever oppofe 
 " the true gofpel, and in fo ding will bring ruin upon them- 
 * felves." 
 
 P. 2>15' " As ^ 1C downfal of the Jewifli ftate under Titus was 
 " the occafion of the publication of the gofpel to us Gentiles, 
 '< fo our downfal may contribute to the reftoration of the Jews, and 
 " both together bring on the final publication and prevalence of 
 " the true religion. Thus the type and the thing typified will 
 " coincide. Tl>e fir ft fruits and the lump are made holy toge- 
 " ther." 
 
 P. 377. " The downfal of the civil and ecclefiaftical powers 
 ' muft both be attended with fuch public calamities as will mako 
 " men ferious, and alio drive them from the countries of Chrift- 
 " endom into tlic remote parts of the World, particularly into the 
 ' ; Eaft *nd Weft Indies, whither confequently they will carry 
 " their religion, now purified from errors and fuperftitions." 
 
 P. 4,50. " That worldly-mindednefs, and n^gleft of duty in the 
 ' : clergy, muft haflcn uur ruin, cannot bs doubled. Thclc arc 
 " the < fait of the earth,' and the ' light of the world.' If they 
 " lofs their favor, the whole nation, where this happens, will be 
 
 1 " ton-
 
 ^6 CONCLUSION. 
 
 4 converted into one putrid mafs. If their light become darfc- 
 
 nefs, the whole body politic muft be dark alfo. The degeneracy 
 
 of the court of Rome, and fccular bifhops abroad, arc too noto- 
 ' rious to be mentioned. They almofh ccafe to give offence, as 
 : they fcarcc pretend to any function or authority bendes what is 
 ' temporal. Yet dill there is great mockery of God in their ex- 
 ' tcrnal pomp, and profanation of facrcd titles, which, fooner 01 
 ' later, will bring down vengeance upon them. And as the court 
 ' of Rome has been at the head of the great apoftacy and corrup- 
 ' tion of the- Chriftian church, and feems evidently marked out in 
 ' various places of the fcripturcs, the fevereft judgments are prO- 
 ' bably referved for her. But I rather choofe to fpeak to what 
 ' falls under the observation of all ferious attentive pcrfons in 
 ' this kingdom. The fupcrior clergy are, in general, ambitious, 
 ' and eager in the purfuit of riches ; flatterers of the great, ami 
 ' lubl'crvient to party intercft; negligent of their own immediate 
 : charges, and alfo of the inferior clergy, and their immediate 
 ; charges. The inferior clergv imitate their iupcriors, and in gc- 
 ' neral take little more care of their parifhes than barely what is 
 ' ncccflary to avoid the cenfure of the law. And the clergy of all 
 ' ranks are, in general, cither ignorant, or, if they do applv, it is 
 ' rather to profane learning, to philolophical or political matters, 
 ' than to the ftudy of the fcripturcs, of the Oriental languages, 
 ' of the fathers and ecclchaftical authors, and of the writings of 
 ' devout men in different ages of the church. I fay this is in gc- 
 ' neral the cafe ; i. e. far the greater part of the clergy of all 
 ! ranks in this kingdom are of this kind. But there are ibmc of 
 ' a quite different character; men eminent for piety, iacrcd lcarn- 
 : ing, and the faithful difcharge of their duty, and who, it is not 
 ' to be doubted, mourn in fecret for the crving iins of this and 
 
 other nations. The clergv, in general, are alfo far more free 
 ' from open and grois vices, than any other denomination of men 
 ; amongft us, phyficians, lawyers, merchants, folchcrs. &c. How- 
 ; ever, this may be othcrwile hereafter, ror it is faid, tlut in 
 ' lomc foreign countries the fupcrior clergv, in others the inferior, 
 
 areas corrupt and abandoned, or more lb, than any other ordei 
 of men. The clergy in this kingdom fecm to be what wc might 
 expect from tiie mixture of good and bad influences that aficct 
 them. But, then, if we make this candid allowance for them, 
 
 we
 
 conclusion:. 67 
 
 <e we mull alfo make it for pcrfons in the high ranks of life, for 
 " their infidelity, lewdnefs, and fordid felf-interefl. And though 
 " it becomes an humble, charitable, and impartial man, to make all 
 " thefe allowances, vet he cannot but fee that the judgments of 
 " God are ready to fall upon us all for thefe things, and that they 
 " may fall firft, and with the greateft weight, upon thole who, 
 " having the higheft office committed to them in the fpiritual 
 *i kingdom of Chrift, ncgleft it, and are become mere l merchant* 
 " of the earth/ and ' fhepberds that feed thcmfclves, and net their 
 *' Hocks." 
 
 P. 453. ,: Let me intrrat all parties, as a fincere friend and lover 
 " of all, not to be offended with the great, perhaps unjuftifia- 
 " ble freedom, which I have ufed, but to lay to heart the charges 
 * s here brought, to examine how far they are true, a-nd reform. 
 " wherever they are found to be fo." 
 
 P. 455. c: Thefe arc my real and earned fentiments upon thefe 
 *' points. It would be great rafhnefs to fix a time for the break- 
 " ing of the ftorm that hangs over our heads, as it is blindnefs 
 " and infatuation not to fee it, nor to be aware that it may break. 
 <: And yet this infatuation has always attended all falling ftates. 
 " The kingdoms of Judah and Ifrael, which are the types of all 
 '- the reft, were thus infatuated. It may be that the prophecies 
 " concerning Edom, Moab, Amnion, Tyre, Egvpt, &c. will be- 
 " come applicable to particular kingdoms before their fall, and 
 " warn the good to ilee out of them. And Chriflendom in ge- 
 " ncral feems read}' to ailume to itfelf the place and lot of the 
 " Jews, after they had rejefted their Mcffiah, the Saviour of the 
 " world. Let no one deceive himfelf or others. The prclcnt 
 " circumflances of the world arc extraordinary .and critical, bc- 
 ' : yond what has ever vet happened, li we rcfufc to let Chi i ft 
 14 reign over us, as our Redeemer and Saviour, we mult be ilainbe- 
 " fore his face, as enemies, at his fecond coming/'t 
 
 I 3 1 am 
 
 f Whilft I would bffeech the enemies of reformation to beware th:*t they d 
 not by their violence and obftinacy brinjr ilcfolation nn.l ruin on tlieir coutvry, 
 J vou'. 1 alfo beg leave to recommend w!i it the Dortor fays at p. 369, a* defcrv- 
 .-., :hc a:tcr.:icu of xi! tl.ot'^ lovers of 1 berfy, ^nj thole advou* ts. for rofornr, 
 
 who
 
 68 CONCLUSION. 
 
 I am well aware that there are many who will turn, not only 
 my fentiments, but thefc kindredones of this great and good man, 
 into ridicule, and that more fiill will make light of them : for it is 
 in all our hearts to fay, " All things continue as they were from 
 the beginning of the creation ; the evil will not come in our 
 
 days." Ah i yc deluded men ! though " the Lord is long-fuf- 
 
 fering to us-ward, not willing that any fhould penfh, but that all 
 fhould come to repentance," yet the day of his vengeance w ilL 
 come " as a thief in the night:" "For when they (hall fay, 
 Peace, and fafety, then fudden deftructiori comcth upon them, as 
 travail upon a woman with child, and they mall not efcape." It 
 will be fudden and irrefiftable. It will be as a torrent that no 
 power or wifdom of man will be able to (lay or divert from its 
 courfe. .*. Awake, then, ye fJeepcrs, and call upon God. Rend 
 your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord. It 
 may be that ye fhall be hid in the day of his fierce anger." Read 
 attentively the twenty-fourth, and three following chapters, of 
 Jfaiah. 
 
 Docs the angel fwear by Him that livcth for ever and ever that" 
 dtlay fhall be no longer? '.' Prepare to meet your God." Ye cor- 
 rupters of the holy and benevolent religion of Jeius, and ye op- 
 pred'ois of mankind; ye men of blood ; ye proud blalphemcrs, 
 and ye perl'ecutors of the fervants of God, prepare for the day 
 of reckoning ; for behold, " The whirlwind of the Lord goeth 
 forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it fhall fall with pain 
 
 who, left, by aiming at tpomtich, the remedy fhould be worfe than the diftafe, 
 would wifh, with zeal for the fecurity of our liberties, to unite prudence. " Ail 
 " bodies politic feem, like the body natural, to tend to deltruction and difiolu- 
 " tior., as is here affirmed, through vices public and private, and to be refp ; red, 
 " for certain intervals, by partial, imperfect reformations. There is no cerfi- 
 " plete or continued feries of public happinefs on one hand, no utter mifery 
 " on the other ; tor the difLlution of the body politic is to be confidtred as its 
 " death. It feems as romantic, therefore, for any pne to projeft fhe flheme 
 *' of a perfect government in this imperfect ftate, as to be in purfuit of a uni- 
 " vffrfal remedy, a remedy which fhould cure all diftempers, and prolong hu- 
 41 man life beyond limit. And yet, as temperance, labor, and medicines, in 
 " fome cafes, are of great ufe in prefcrving and reftering health, and prolorg- 
 " ing iife, fo, induftry, jufh'ce, and all other virtues, public ai'.d priva'e, hav* 
 *' n analogous effect in lefpeft of the body politic." 
 
 upon
 
 CON'CLUSIQ, 69 
 
 upon the head of the wicked. The fie* c anger of theT j0 rd (hail 
 not return until he have done it, and an ul he have performed 
 the intents of his heart. In the latter <*y y= mail confidu- it." 
 < Jer. xxx. 23, 24.) Ye who worfhip the rnanmon of unrigite- 
 oufnefs, and facrifice nations for gain; who ha*e carried defolatio* 
 to the utmoft bounds of the earth, and, having enflaved mankind 
 i for filthy lucre, are ingenious to invent apologies for your enor- 
 mous crimes ; Prepare to meet your God. * Go to n<w, ye rich 
 men, weep and howl for your miferics which dull come upon 
 you. Behold, the hire of your laborers, whic* * s of you kepc 
 back, crieth againft you." O Tyrus, the ma* f nations! thou 
 haft faid, I am of perfect beauty; I am Gd ', I fit in the feat of 
 God, in the rnidft of the feas. Tny rovers have brought then 
 into great waters. In the time (if thou repented not) when thou 
 fhalt be broken by the feas in the depth of the waters, thy mer- 
 chandize, and all thy company, in the midft of thee, fhall 
 fall." 
 
 Yc dozing watchmen of our Ifrael, who talk to the people of 
 the follies of enthufirim. till their faith in the Divine predictions 
 which was intended to have been a guard to their hearts againft 
 the furfeiting cares of the world, and to keep them vigilant, has 
 loft all its power, and they are lulled into a lecurity from which 
 nothing can roufe them fhort of the voice of that trumpet which 
 
 will rend the heavens and the earth. Sleep on, and take you, 
 
 reft. But at midnight ye fhall hear a great cry made " Behold, 
 the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." Ye hireling 
 lhephcrds, efpecially, who have converted the religion of Chrift 
 into a ivftem of worldly traffic ; who live in plealurc, and, having 
 fed yourfclvcs with the fat, and clothed you with the wool, abufe, 
 mflead of feeding, the flock ; Prepare to meet your God ; for the time 
 of his judgments fhall be no longer delayed, but they who have 
 beaten their icllow-icrvants, and ate and drank with the drunken, 
 he will cut them afundcr, and appoint them their portion with the 
 hypocrites. 
 
 Let men of all defcriptions and characters (revolving in their 
 minds the f'gns of the times J hear the awful declaration of the an- 
 gel, and take warning. The fins of the great whore who iitteili
 
 JO eNCI-USlOK. 
 
 on many waters, anrl of %t nations who have been drunk with 
 the win/of the wra.Ii o her fornications, are come into remem- 
 brancf Come out of h r, therefore, ye Protcftants, and all that 
 fear/6od, that yc bf no: partakers of her fins, and receive not of 
 hA' plagues. 
 
 To you who obey God, and have never been either the patrons 
 or agents of ippreflion^perfecution, andbloodfhcd, may be applied 
 ihe words of <>ir Saviour; " There (hall not an hair of your head 
 perifh. In youi patience poflefs ye your fouls." Even though 
 that fpiiit, which ;* formtr times filled all lands with violence, 
 fhould again be let lenfe, anl ve fhould be betrayed both by pa- 
 rents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends, and fome of yon 
 fhould die under your fuffenngs. yet in your patience poflefs your 
 fouls, ve (hall not ultimately be lo> V s ; the fcafon is fhort, and your 
 reward is fure ; and whilft the Urne of the wicked {hall rot, 
 vours fliall be had in cverlafting rem*rnbrance. Let the virtuous 
 and good exemplify their principles by following after the things 
 which make for peace; let them with edmnefs contemplate the 
 awful fcene as it opens ; for though it may exhibit fuch events 
 and troubles as have never been fince there wis a nation, yet they 
 will be ialutary; general affliction will produce general ferioufneiif, 
 and the end will be univcrfal reformation and vinivcrfal peace. 
 But that we mav exercife this patience, and poffefs this calmnels 
 of mind, it is ncceftarv, not only to have our iiearts deeply im- 
 p relied with a ienle of the over-ruling providence of God, but to 
 poifcis a prevailing hope as to the iffue. Thcie cannot be attained 
 Without an extraordinarv cultivation of piety, and an intimate ac- 
 quaintance with the word of God. Let us then fhr up ourfclve* 
 to the exercife of a diligence which maybe fonicwhat proportion- 
 ed to the importance of that which we are taught to look for. 
 Thus mav we hope to be prepared tor every event, whether to 
 mourn or to rejoice, to live or to die. 
 
 What my readers may think of the agreement of events with 
 prophecy, or how they may be affected at the profpeft in general, 
 or at the fituation and profpefts of this country in particular, 1 
 cannot tell ; I know that the inattentive Chriffian, as well as the 
 cold Sceptic, will eflecin it the illufion of a heated brain, but i airj 
 
 free
 
 toNCLUSlL. 71 
 
 free to acknowledge that the figns of A times prefent *o my mind 
 a thoufand images of horror, and afflict \ c with the extr m eft an- 
 gujfh, for the part which my country is &in. Whilft I contem- 
 plate the fcenc which Europe now prefenfe, (i fecne which b'q C k 
 ens as it expands) and obferve the exa& conffrmity of the feve-al 
 parts already difclofcd, with the pattern wjiich Infpiration ha-, 
 drawn, I anticipate the future, and feem to feel nothing out canu- 
 ipiakes, to hear nothing but th uiders, to feenothing but flaughtcr ; 
 and I weep for the calamities of my ErKow-creaWSres. For the 
 glimpfe of one pleafant profpecr. wc mult flinch our eyes u> 
 
 years to come. Oh, my country.' how ^ I pained at the 
 
 apprehenfion of thy fate! Thou mihtcft nave dwelt in peace, 
 and even turned to thine own advantage the madneis of other 
 nations : but thou hall been deceived, and chofen war ; thou 
 hail committed thyfelf to the horrors of a temped which 
 threatens to lay in ruins all that is found within the circle of 
 its rage ! " Is there no ba'm in Gilead ?" Are there no means 
 left for the lalvation ci my country ? " Is there no phy- 
 fician there ?" Is then: not one wife and patriotic fkttcfman who 
 loves his country, who loves truth and right moie than gain, and 
 who may be able to conduct a retreat, and heal our wounds ? Ntuit 
 we Hand or fall with antichnfl, and make the fate of papal defpots 
 our own ? Has that warning no longer any validity, ' ; Coiru: 
 cut of her, mv people, that ve be not partakers of her fins, and 
 
 that ye receive not of her plagues?" O thou Father of 
 
 mercies, and Diipofcrof all events, touch the hearts of the rulers 
 of the earth, and let a rav from Thee enlighten their minds! 
 Look witli pity on the bleeding nations ! Speedily aceompliih thy 
 promifis, and revsal thy mercy ! 
 
 V I S I s.
 
 V I 
 
 

 
 V 
 
 T H E 
 
 11 A T !E, 
 
 Altered into RKirae from 
 
 the c JZlank Verse, 
 
 of [R OJiJ.RT J1ZJ1R 
 
 "~T w t T if 2To T JC s{ 
 
 awl Oeeafioual itluft rations 
 
 ^~-- 
 
 Wi. 
 
 \* 
 
 v^fcgy , ..IS ' '< 
 
 "^^" 1//>K'^ erwtrjft in WHufth or form n Jut/it r~J & 
 ^M Bttrlh'thigitfPftBtion ft,rtt>i/f'rr) l rl<t\f , y 
 ^l^Anr/ Jttffito >/><jt tvnehitiefhen X 
 
 Print,,] forlta*rLlCHo, aJ SoMbv.lltne BookfrHoM.
 
 il THE jff 
 
 I! GRAVE, tf 
 
 i i f ^ 
 
 If A P O E M: ft 
 
 I t * 
 
 I I ALTERED INTO RHIATE, 
 
 I i FROM THE BLANK VERSE, 
 
 O F 
 
 ROBERT BLAIR. 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 it 
 
 To which is Added, f $ 
 
 GRAY's Celebrated ELEGY, j I 
 
 WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. | 4 
 
 Both Uluftrated with 
 NOTES, and occasional REMARKS. 
 
 ft 
 
 i 1 
 
 ;* 4 Tell us ye dead, if ye in pity can, J Z. 
 
 "V i Beyond this fphere what is the future plan ? 1 
 
 X 7 Some courteous ghoft, if any fuch there be, f jfc 
 
 x 4 Tell us in after life what things you fee ? i 
 
 j* 4 For fome of you we know in days of old, t 
 
 r I The fatal ftory to mankind have told; ^p 
 
 *" 4 Forewarning them of death j Oh then comply, i X, 
 
 5 f And tell in charity what 'tis to die. * : 
 
 ' 1 * ' 
 
 * ^ But you're withheld. No matter : death mull call, i 7* 
 
 tF * The curtain drop, and time will clear up all. ? I 
 
 ' ? ^-^^ i * 
 
 4. \ LONDON. it 
 
 + * ', + 
 
 * Printed By R. Hawes, No. 7, Queen-ftreer, Moorfields ; 1 
 
 f 1 Forth.- Editor, II. LEMOlNE; jj 
 
 * t * ^ 
 
 t * A'.iilfold ov [. Parsons, Bookfcllu', P.iteino'.tct-kow. * * 
 
 Ji - J ( v 
 
 X h MDCCXC. 6 A 
 v &^)8 - - -.>-. >.-. o^o -.- -.-. -. - ii <-< << --?;;. N,>;
 
 
 P R E F A C L. 
 
 T TOWEVER, widely the opinions of Mankind may 
 differ in matters of religious fpeculation, or in the 
 fundamentals of faith or practice ; the whole world arc 
 agreed in this one point, that, after all their doinp they 
 mult die, and defcend into the grave : refpecling this 
 truth there can be no difTent ; and as there can be no 
 participation in death, nor the rich compound for this 
 univerfal debt, but all muft equally pay down the forfeit 
 on demand, it is highly necefTary, and of the utmoft im- 
 portance for every one, of whatever age or ftation, 
 ferioufly to take this folemn and important truth into 
 confideration, to accuftom themfelves frequently to re- 
 flect on the fhortnefs of life, the certainty of death, and 
 that everlafling and unchangeable Hate towards which 
 we are all travelling, and on the borders of which wc 
 are hourly {landing ; 
 
 " Whether as King?, 
 
 " Of wide command we've fprcad the fpacious Sea, 
 
 " With
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 (i With a broad painted fleet, or row'd along, 
 e In a thin cock-boat with a little oar." 
 
 Dr. Watts. 
 
 Few works of a ferious nature have been more read, 
 and better approved than the Poem of the Grave, by 
 Blair : but many valuable and well meaning characters 
 having objected to its ftyle and ftru&ure, as not being 
 perfect in that form of fpeech, called blank verfe, and 
 admiring only rhime in poetry, they have wifhed it 
 had been originally written in that manner. Thefe with 
 the weighty objections of a late celebrated critic* to 
 blank verfe, induced the editor to attempt a verification 
 of this much admired piece; hoping at the fame time 
 that a preference to this mode of exprcfiion will not 
 draw upon him, or his readers, the imputation of want 
 of tafte in admiring allicient harmony before the auk- 
 ward ftiffnefs of the Roman Verfe. 
 
 To thefe reafons may be added, that, rhime is more 
 eafily read and remembered, requiring lefs judgment in 
 theperufal, and therefore fitter for tender minds, who 
 have not yet acquired that habit of attention and reflec- 
 tion neceffary to follow the artificial combination of 
 ideas when involved in the tranfpofitions and involutions 
 of rhetorical refinement. 
 
 Very 
 
 ;: - ; Pr. Samuel Johnfon.
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 Very little more need be obferved here, by way of 
 preface to this attempt. The arrangement and imagery 
 of the original has been as clofely followed as the nature 
 of the tranfpofition would admit. The figures and the 
 phrafeology have alfo been mod fcrupuloufly retained 
 every where, and the only liberty which has been taken, 
 and that but feldom, is the omitting a redundant thought, 
 a far-ftretched metaphor, quaint or forced conceit, or 
 puerile notion ; for Blair, though generally nervous, 
 fometimes finks into mediocrity. 
 
 But here I muft ftop. It will not, I know be deemed 
 generous to depreciate the labours of deceafed merit, in 
 order to raife my own ; therefore, I fhall conclude this 
 article with the following fhort account of the original 
 author, Robert Blair all that I can collect from the 
 moft diligent inquiry. 
 
 He was born near Glafgovv, about the year 1700, and 
 took his degrees of A. M. in the univerfity of Edin- 
 burgh in 1720, as appears by a letter to the late Mr. 
 Mitchell. He fettled flrfl in the North of Ireland, where 
 he was fometime afhftant to the celebrated Mr. Abcrncthy ; 
 after which he became Paftor of a congregation in 
 Dublin. 
 
 How long he remained here is uncertain, for in 1743, 
 
 when he firfr publifhcd his excellent Poem, The Grave, 
 
 he exercifed his paftoral office in Edinburgh. This 
 
 beautiful little piece prefents us with fuch a fpecimen of 
 
 his poetical abilities that we lament he has left no more. 
 
 He
 
 VJ PREFACE. 
 
 He died during a vifit to his friends at Glafgow, in 
 the year 1751. 
 
 The inestimable value of the Christian REDEMP- 
 TION not appearing, according to the opinion of fome 
 evangelical Chriflians, fufRcicntly infifled on in Blair's 
 Original, the editor has ventured to illuflrate that im- 
 portant truth, from the principal paffages of theGofpels 
 that relate the paffion, death, refurrection, and afecn- 
 fion of our Saviour Jesus Christ; hoping that this 
 ftngle deviation from his author will not be deemed by 
 any, an impertinent interpolation. 
 
 Gray's celebrated Elegy in a Country Church- 
 yard, ufually accompanying this work, has alio been 
 retained in this edition. The propriety of adding it 
 here is obvious. Dr. Johnfon obferves, 
 
 *' The Church-yard abounds with images which find 
 <{ a mirror in every mind, and with fentiments to which 
 " every bofom returns an echo. The four ftanzas be- 
 <c ginning, Yet even tbeje bones, are to me original; I 
 44 have never feen the notions in any other place : yet he 
 *' that reads them here, perfuades himfelf that he has 
 *' always felt them. Had Gray written often thus, it 
 " had been vain to blame, and ufelefs to praife him." 
 
 juiy i2, 179c. Henry Lenioine*
 
 THE 
 
 GRAVE. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 fit he Author's choice of his fubjeEl Invocation, addrefl to 
 the Almighty the Grave defcribed an ancient country 
 church defcribed Ghofts appear a fchool-boy pafflng 
 through a church-yard by moon-light The widow's vijit to 
 the grave of her lately departed hufband apoflrophe addreji 
 to the Grave the fweets of friend fhip mortifying queflions 
 to human pride- embalming the dead, and pompous fune- 
 rals cenfuredan addrefs to undertakers Time dejlroys all 
 the works of men 'the grave buries all diflinflions Beauty , 
 reflections on its frailty -Jlrong man, overcame by f. chiefs 
 philofophers, orator s y and phyjicians, alike fubducd by Death 
 the mifcr, a defpicable character covetoufnejij its bane- 
 ful effeds the vanity of riches the awful departure of <r 
 foul unprepared aflfcElingly reprefentcd the Jblemnity of death, 
 with fuitable and intcrefiing reflexions thereon. 
 
 " THE HOUSE APPOINTED FOR ALL LIVING." Job. 
 
 WHILE fome affect the fun and fonie the fhadc. 
 Or flee the hermitage, or din of trade, 
 With various views, each takes a various aim, 
 
 As fancy guides, to inteicft or to fame* ; 
 
 Let 
 
 * In the moruinp, fays SurcUts, I love to conv^rlc with ihrdeaJ. it n 
 with the living, anil in the evening with myfelf.
 
 2 THEGRAVE. 
 
 Let them purfue their journey to their doom, 5 
 
 The general rendezvous, the filent tomb, ^ 
 
 Where all alike, the great man and the Have, 
 Mull meet companions jn the common grave. 
 Great God ! Eternal King, thy aid I alk ! 
 To guide me through this arduous dreary talk : 10 
 
 Thy potent hand the mighty keys fuftain, 
 Of death, of hell, of" pleaiure and of pain %, 
 
 The Grave ! dread rhing ! Man fhudders at thy 
 name-ts 
 For well he knc vs thy univerfal claim j 
 The trembling rves forget their wonted tone, 15 
 
 And nature fh : s appal'd, before thy throne ! 
 Rueful and faci . / wk extended plains, 
 Where night, ua k night, in folemn lilence reigns, 
 Dark as was Ch >^ 'ere the intent Sun, 
 Had tried his beams, his radiant courfe to run. 20 
 The fickly taper, thr gh thr gloom profound, 
 Scatters a glimmerin ubious light around, 
 Where low brow'd mi ley vaults abforb the light, 
 Furr'd round with mouldy damps, a gloomy light, 
 Whence oft hasiffu'd ftreamsof pois'nous lr*in, 25 
 Adding frefh fubje&s to thy vaft domain. 
 
 Well do I know thee by thy trufry yew, 
 Shading for years the gloomy church- yard view ; 
 Chearlefs, unfocial plant, that loves to dwell, 
 Where fculls and coffins diilblution tell : 30 
 
 Tie 
 ^ ^ 
 
 * Dsath, fays Dr. Toi.iig, commands awiderbmpire than any thai haie 
 yet, or tver may ex:ft. 
 
 -J- In the crave there is no diftinction of perfor.s, which made Dkgrr.es 
 fay, when fcarching n chavnei-houff ; that lie could find no difterrncc be- 
 twixt the f-u!l 01' King Philip and ih it I another man.
 
 THE GRAVE. 3 
 
 The uncouth Epitaphs, in mournful verfe, 
 
 Thy boafted deeds, mortality, rehearfe ; 
 
 And crawling worms, their writhed bodies fhew, 
 
 Fed on the carcafes that rot below. 
 
 Here light-heel'd ghofh beneath the moon appear, 35 
 
 And fpc&res form'd by vifionary fear ; 
 
 Fancy beholds them dance in myftic rounds, 
 
 While horror in each dreary path abounds. 
 
 See yonder ancient fane ; the fumptuous lot||, 
 
 Of names onct known, now dubious or forgot ; 40 
 
 Here buried midft the wrecks of lime thev lie, 
 
 For all their deeds, alas ! like them mud die ; 
 
 Howe'er illuftrious in the lifts of fame, 
 
 A narrow turf is all they now can claim. 
 
 The wind is up, how dreadfully it roars, 45 
 
 Through mould'ring walls, and crazy, creaking doors ! 
 How dreary is the found ! the foul recoils, 
 And fhudders at the view of mortal fpoils.-j , [ ., n f ; \ 
 The night bird, brooding, fhrieks upon th^,/j>i$e, 
 And all the fcene the damps of death refpire ; ' 50 
 
 The leaden manfions of the dead below, 
 Return the found of fSlitary woe ; 
 Whilepalc-eye'd ghofts, rouz'd from their flumbcrsrife, 
 Pafs and rcpafs, and fink with finicking crics-f-. 
 Again the Screech-owl, on the turret fhrill, 55 
 
 WoundsNight'sdull car, and makes the blood run chill. 
 1) Quite 
 
 |] Mortals, furvey this folemn plncr, 
 
 Where fi^hs arc hufli'd, anil forrows I'.te; ; 
 Where (.iid both r^loiy and dif^racc, 
 And all one awtu! fUence keep. FJi.or. 
 
 Hervcy's Meditations contain a fine dc fcription of a Country Church-} :..C . 
 
 ] Now voices more than mortal arehea;.! from va.-' .. ?-.i 
 
 r.votnj i'.Vui from i'.\- hollow tnmb^. /,'
 
 4 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Quite round the pile a row of Elms extend, 
 Their rev'rend age, coeval they pretend, 
 Shook by the winds, Tome half rift down and torn, 
 Their branchlefs trunks look like the place forlorn : 60 
 Some at the top fo thin, that fcarce two crows, 
 Could find a place to rooft within their boughs. 
 Strange things, the neighbours fay, have here appear'd, 
 And from the tombs wild hollow founds are heard, 
 The bell has told unrung, at dead of night, 65 
 
 Alarming all around with fad affright. 
 
 Oft, in the lone Church-yard, at eve, I've feen, 
 "When the pale moon has glimmer' d o'er the green, 
 The School- boy, with his fatchel in his hand, 
 Walk flovvly on, and fometimes make a Hand, 70 
 
 Alarm'd with fear his fhadow to behold J, 
 He whittles loud to keep his courage bold, 
 And lightly tripping o'er each long flat ftone, 
 With nettles fkirtcd, and with mofs o'ergrown ; 
 Sudden httTftafts, and hears, or thinks he hears, 75 
 The found of fomething purring in his ears : 
 Fafter he flies, and ftill a ruftling found 
 Purfues his fteps, nor dares he look around ; 
 Till, out of breath, his fchool- fellows overtakes,- 
 Who gather round to hear the tale he makes, 80 
 
 Of horrid apparition, tall and grim, 
 With flaming eyes, and wild fantaftic limb, 
 
 That 
 
 X Now dreary forms, in Allien ftate, (talk al>ng the gloom ; or, fwifter 
 than lightening, glide along the Ihaiie ; they pals and repafs in unfubltantial 
 ir.iagts, along the forfaken galleries, or take their determined fland over 
 fome lamented grave. Hozey. 
 
 What time the Rufticks, from tradition, fay, 
 
 The bufy fpectre leaves the darkling tomb, 
 
 And dance the fairies in their light array, 
 
 While pale Lutcnia combats with the gloom. Ld'::or.
 
 THE GRAVE. 5 
 
 That walks at midnight, or that lonefome (lands, 
 As keeping watch where fome new grave expands, 
 But when the morning cock is heard to crow, 85 
 
 Then, ftrange to tell, it vanifhes below ! 
 
 The new-made widow, there lbmetimes I've feen, 
 All bath'd in tears, and proflrate on the green ; 
 What pangs of forrow heave within her breaft, 
 Her poignant grief can hardly be expreft. 90 
 
 Prone on the lonely grave, all pale and wan*, 
 She meditates her once dear loving man, 
 While memory faithful to each joy that's paft, 
 Too fofr, too pleaiing, and too fweet to lalt, 
 Muflers again the retrofpe&ivc days, 95 
 
 When pleafure dane'd attendant on their ways; 
 Tenacious of the theme, again flie falls, 
 Grafps the cold turf, and on her hufband calls : 
 Great was her joy ; but now, alas ! deceaf'd, 
 The more her grief, and forrows are increaf'd. 100 
 For know, God i^ives, and takes ; Who can gainfay ? 
 Or who his fentcnee for a moment flay ? 
 Who Hull refill his pow'r ? Lord take thine own, 
 But give us leave, our loiks ro bemoan. 
 
 Invidious grave ! how doll thou rend in twain, 105 
 Two hearts united by love's dearcft chain! 
 A tye fo delicate, fo firm, and ftrong, 
 Might lafl forever, could we laft as long. 
 
 B 2 Friendfhip ! 
 
 * When a hufband is carried to the grave, we at once find excufer, for 
 every weaknefs, and palliations of everv fault ; we recollect a thoufand en- 
 dearments, which before glided off our minds without imprelTion ; a thor.l -a 
 favours unrepaid ; a thoufand duties unperform'd ; and wifh, vainly with, '-. 
 hii lcturn, rtui lo ini'di that we nav rtci: t7i%bcf:v.v happir Is.
 
 6 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Friendfhip ! myfrerious cement of the foulf|, 
 Svveetner of life, fhall death thy power controul ? no 
 I owe thee much, far more than I can pay : 
 Oft have I prov'd thee in the chearful day, 
 When the warm efforts of a generous heart, 
 Did every plcafure, every joy impart. 
 Oh when my friend, and I, by nature drawn, 115 
 
 Have trac'd. the woodland, meadow, or the lawn, 
 Anxious to pleale, hid from the vulgar eye, 
 What happy themes our converfe did fupply. 
 Where on the verdant grafs, or cowflip beds, 
 Or where the violets rear'd their fcented heads, 120 
 
 Or where foft murm'ring ran the filver frream, 
 There happy friendfhip then was all the theme; 
 Methoughtthefhrill-tongu'd thrufh improv'd her lay, 
 The blackbird fweeter hail'd the fmiling day, 
 Each flow'ret bloom'd with fuper-added grace, 125 
 
 As nature wore a more aufpicious face; 
 'Twas then, I thought the longeft fummer's day, 
 Was much too fhort, and ran too faft away ; 
 For ftill my conftant, fympathtic heart, 
 Had to my friend more vvifhes to impart, 130 
 
 But 
 
 jj A gen'rous friendship no co!d medium knows, 
 Burns with one love, with one refentment jlowij 
 One ihould our int'refts and our pafiions be ; 
 My friend mult hate the man that injures me. T'tc. 
 
 A principal fruit of friendfhip, is the cafe and difcharge of the fulnefs 
 and fuelling of the heart, which is caufed by the pafTion*. to which our 
 being is fubjeit ; yet the inllancesof real fiiendlhip are fo rare, that the hiitory 
 of the World, and the fictions of the Poets, together, produce but five or f: x 
 couple. In Sac -ediurit, David and 'Jo, .a:!.--;: : In l]c;er } Actitlts and Fa- 
 : ; in Virgil, N\t'i>s and Enryalcs ; in Cicero, Vyiadcs and Orejics ; in 
 Vc.uhi, Mtn/or 2nd Itlcwachus ; in Arrian, SllcAc.r.dtr and T'tbtf: . 
 
 The tears of friendfhip arc preferv'd by heav'n, 
 
 For future joys, v. htn grief ihail be nu more. Elatkh tk.
 
 THE CRAVE. 7 
 
 But that was happinefs too great to laft, 
 My friend is gone, and all my joys are paflf I 
 Painful remembrance ! when the pleafure's o'er, 
 To think of that which can return no more. 
 
 Dull grave ! thou fpoil'ft the joys of youthful bloom, 
 Robbing life's garden for the dreary tomb ; 
 The dimpled cheek, the innocent and gay, 
 The rich and poor, regardlefs, are thy prey ; 
 The fmiling beauty, deck'd with every grace, 
 The fparkling eye, and heart-bewitching face ; 140 
 The learned and the clown, the high and low, 
 Muft difappear, where millions daily go ; 
 The folemn face, and droll, for laughter made, 
 Or melancholy pining in the fhade ; 
 The iceptre and the mitre in thy train, 145 
 
 Declare how weak is ftrength, and wealth how vain ; 
 For all alike to Death at laft mull: come, 
 And like the turf that covers them, as dumb. 
 No mercy the deftroying tyrant knows, 
 But levels kings, and beggars, friends and foes. 150 
 How near oblivion to the pomp of pride, 
 Let yon old fane of Westminster decide*; 
 Survey the Temple, where we monarchs crown, 
 And lee the fpot where foon they muft lie down. 
 Happy or wretched now ; or, weak or wife, 155 
 
 In death all meet ; there no dillinction lies j 
 Whether in lilk, in woolen, or in lawn, 
 ]ach ileeps as eafy, high or bafcly born. 
 
 Where are the mighty heroes, now, of old, 
 Of which fuch pompous ftories have been told ? 160 
 
 The 
 
 7 \V.'. ; .,,a frirriU parr, 'tis the :::> dies. Yeuu~. 
 
 " ' '', wlr.Tctlv '. 1 11c crowned, isjull LV.rths 
 
 11:..,;. ,' :.
 
 8 THE GRAVE. 
 
 The mighty Cjesars go to war no more ! 
 
 And Alexander's vi&orics are o'er, 
 
 He whofubdued almoft the fceptred Globe,' 
 
 Is heredivefted of his (lately robejj ; 
 
 By poifon flain, he mixes now as low, 165 
 
 As he who died an ideot, or a beau. 
 
 Alas ! the narrow confines of a fhell, 
 
 Of all their grandeur the conclufion tell; 
 
 Once the vaft world fcarce ferv'd their boundlefsaim, 
 
 But now a narrow grave is all they claim. 170 
 
 Proud royalty ! how alter'd is thy cafef, 
 Hojw blank thy features, and how wan thy face ! 
 Son of the Morning ! whither art thou fled ? 
 Where haft thou hid thy many fpangled head ? 
 Where's the majeflic menace of thine eye ? 175 
 
 Low in the dull thy pow'r and glory lie ; 
 Swath'd like an infant, now, all wrapt around, 
 Or like the victim flretch'd upon the ground, 
 That throbs beneath the facrificer's knife, 
 No longer able to maintain the ftrife ; 180 
 
 Thou now art mute, no longer call aloud, 
 And with thy words, infult th' obfequious croud, 
 
 Who 
 
 The moft ancient actions, whofe luflre has prelervc'd their memory, arc 
 the actions of violence. And after all, what remains of all thefe j.reat ex- 
 ploits ? The only real figns of them are the traces they have left upon the 
 canvafsof hiflory : And of the four great monarchies of the world, what re- 
 mains but their names ? 
 
 || Alexander the great 
 
 f I thank you, ye relics of founding titles and magnificent names ; ye 
 }>ave taught me more or the littlenefs of the world, than all the volumes of 
 my library : your nobility arrayed in a winding iheet, your grandeur moul- 
 dering in an urn, ate the molt indifputable pruofs of the r.otbingtirt of all 
 fcz'ca thing'.. tlt'vty en :hc 7emt>s,
 
 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Who now begrudge the little that you have, 
 The humble privilege of a peaceful grave ? 
 
 Arabia's drugs and fpice may balm thee o'er, 185 
 But yet departed life cannot reftore ; 
 What cruel infuk ! all this comes too late, 
 And only ferves to mock thy idle ftate ; 
 For none fo poor, not e'en the fwarthy flave*, 
 But fleeps as quiet in his (hallow grave, 193 
 
 As he with wealth and empty honours great, 
 Who rots a lord in marble vault of ftate. 
 
 But fee the well plume'd hearfe upon the road, 
 Bearing along the great vain-glorious load, 
 Solemn and flow, in all the farce of ftate, 195 
 
 While all the fable tribe upon him wait : 
 Such watch the fick-man's door, and feek the dead, 
 And mimic forrow for their daily breadf, 
 Let out their perfons, but the heart's not fad, 
 For fordid motives make them furely glad. 200 
 
 How rich the trappings, now they're all unfurl'd ! 
 How the vain pomp attracts the gaping world, 
 Whilft glitt'ring in the fun : what fplendid rays ! 
 Not conqn'rors trains, or coronation days, 
 In glory fcarce exceed, what crouds are there, 205 
 To fee the unweildy fight to gape, and ftare ! 
 
 Above, 
 
 * In this houfe appointed for all living, the fi-rvant was equally accommoda- 
 ted and lodged in the fame llory with his mafter; the poor indigent ky as 
 foftly, and lleptai foundly as the moft opulent poflcflbr. Ibid. 
 
 f A barbarous gothic cuftom, which the extravagant excrfr. of modern 
 manners has made two frequent. 
 
 Behold, ye vain, the great and brave, 
 With dull 2nd darknefs covcr'd o'er ; 
 See beauty's tomb, and valour's pr.iv:, 
 And viewing thefe, be vin no more.
 
 lO THE GRAVE. 
 
 Above, below, all ranks and all degrees, 
 Rufh out abrupt, curiofity to pleafe : 
 Wedg'd in by rows, from children to fourfcore, 
 To fee this fhort-liv'd pomp, hang bellying o'er ! 219 
 But tell us why this fond deluiive wafte, 
 In earthing up a carcafe that's difgrae'd ? 
 Difgufting to the fight and to the fmell, 
 Tell if you can, ye undertakers ! tell, 
 Amid the gaudy figures which you fhewj, 215 
 
 Why is the principal conceal'd from view 
 For whom is all this ftir ? Tis wifely done : 
 So a good painter's eminence is known, 
 In fhades he calls what elfe the eye might grieve, 
 That what delights, it may at once perceive. 220 
 
 Proud lineage ! how contracted art thou here, 
 With all this fplendor nodding on thy bier ; 
 Below the envy of the private man, 
 Whofe wife ceconomy contemns thy plan. 
 But honour, that officious trifling ill, 225 
 
 E'en to the grave muft wait upon them flill ! 
 Oh what vain glory ! to fuppofe parade, 
 And pageant trappings dignify the dead* ! 
 
 Abfurd, 
 
 X The duties of interment are juflly called the lafl duties for beyond the 
 funeral, all that is given to the dead is taken from the living. Lamentations 
 that are too long, not only prejudice nature, but fociety likewife ; they ren- 
 der us incapable of the duties of civil life, and one may fay that, out of com- 
 plaifance to thole friends we have loir, they make us wanting to thofe we 
 it ill enjoy. 
 
 Solemn and How it moves upon the tomb, 
 
 While weighty furrows nod on every plume, ~Dr. Wat::. 
 
 * Worldy glory ends with the world ; and for what concerns us, the world 
 em's with our lives. What have we to be proud of ? arc net all things perilh- 
 able ? the bloom of pride is foon withered, and our little greatnefs is loll in 
 eternity.
 
 THE GRAVE. It 
 
 Abfurd ! to think to over-reach the grave!, 
 And from the wreck of death our works to fave ! 130 
 Faft die away the beft concerted fchemes, 
 Only that men pafs fafter than their dreams. 
 Ingenious Artifts, and the laurel'd Bard, 
 Employ their talents but for this reward ; 
 The fculptur'd marble foon fhall fade away, 135 
 
 The brazen buft, the Poet's tuneful lay. 
 
 If fuch Remembrancers to Time mufr. yield*, 
 On fomething permanent begin to build j 
 Intrinfic virtue fhall alone fufrain, 
 The wreck of ages, and unchang'd remain. 140 
 
 The pond'rous Pyramid, Old Egypt's pridef, 
 Whofe lofty top hath fpread its fame fo wide, 
 Which feem'd to pierce the clouds, at length decay, 
 And all its glories now to time give way ; 
 Its myflic cone with moul'dring mofs difgrae'd, 145 
 
 Obfcure the caufe for which the heap was plac'd. 
 The Works of ages, Wonders of the World, 
 Shaken by Time, are into atoms hurl'dj, 
 In huge mifhapen heaps, behold they lie, 
 A fad memento to the human eye ; 150 
 
 C Sepulchral 
 
 Praifes on tombs are titles vainly fpent ; 
 A man's good nam: is his bejl monument. 
 
 * Tho' low in cmth our b . c! its rut, 
 
 Virtue furvives the m.ouliiring wail ; 
 Is fair when columns ?.rc forgot, 
 
 \\ hen temples fink and arches fall. T .kt ,<\ 
 
 -\ Vtr:;t alone outbuilds the '; :mh!t, 
 
 monuments H.all lafl, when Z.Vy .'.- fall . A": ' . Thr - 'is. 
 
 ' ' [ has very fulcmnly aflutcd this truth in the following 
 ; :. J. uccn h .
 
 12 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Sepulchral columns wreftle but in vain, 
 
 For Time o'er all contrivances will gain : 
 
 E'en adamant, and brafs, muft wafte away, 
 
 And all the glory of the earth decay ; 
 
 The deep-cut marble, and the well-form'd bull, 155 
 
 Corinthian columns crumble into dull, 
 
 And like their makers, muft at laft give o'er, 
 
 Sink in the lap of earth, and be no more. 
 
 Here let ambition paufe, and lay alidc, 
 Its vanity, its pomp, its haughty pride*, 160 
 
 And let the troublers of the earth behold, 
 The ruin fpread by lull of paltry gold ! 
 How foon like thofe who laid wide empires wafte, 
 Their own mad fchemes, by others are difplac'd ! 
 Who ravag'd kingdoms thro* vaft lcenes of blood, 165 
 And, fvvept before them, like a raging flood, 
 In cruel wantonnefs for power and fame, 
 Withmadnefs fet whole nations in a flame. 
 Now, like the ftorm that's fpent, their rage is paft, 
 And the keen murdering blade, is fheath'd at laft ! 170 
 Beneath the fwerd each hides his fallen creft, 
 And mixes in the dull, with meaner gueil, 
 
 But 
 
 The gorgeous palaces. 
 
 The foltmn temples, 
 
 The great globe Iijtlf, 
 
 Tea all that it inherits, 
 
 Shall cUJJiilvc, 
 
 slmi, h.ki :ic bafelefs fabrick of a vijlon, 
 
 Leaz e not a Wreck behind. 
 
 * Nature provides for all one common grave, 
 The laft retreat of the dirt re ft and brave, 
 The grave unites, there e'en the great find reft, 
 And blenJedlic th' oppredlr and th' opprcft.
 
 THE GRAVE. 1$ 
 
 But ftili their crimes, by nations yet unborn, 
 Remain on record to be read with fcorn. 
 
 Here too the petty tyrant of the plain, 175 
 
 Who treated his dependants with difdain, 
 Whofe fmall dominion, and whofe little ftore, 
 Was gain'd by pinching from the honeft poor, 
 Who ftill purfu'd them like the beaft of prey, 
 Opprefling all that came within his way, 180 
 
 Deaf to the cries of hunger and diftrefs, 
 The widow and the orphan's mite made lefs, 
 As if the poor were not of nature's mind, 
 Nor had the common feelings of mankind. 
 Now humble as a child that's whipt he's grown, 
 And in the duft with kindred worms lies down, 185 
 
 Tormented by that worm which never dies, 
 Dead, to the worms he falls a facrifice. 
 Here all precedency is laid alidej 
 The heroe's glory, and the herald's pride, 
 Familiar now, within their little room, I90 
 
 Groflly together, fide by fide, confume. 
 
 There are, betray'd by folly, who'd perfuade, 
 That they are ibmething above others made, 
 Such vain pretenfions ibon the grave denies 
 By felf-love flatter'd, vanity, and lies. 195 
 
 Beauty ! thou pretty plaything, dear deceitf, 
 Which caufefl youthful hearts fb high to beat, 
 
 C 2 Gives 
 
 How mifeiable is that man that cannot look backward but with flume ; 
 nor forward without terror ! What comfort will his riches afford him in hii 
 e xtremity ? or What will all his vain and empty titles, robe:, dignities, and 
 honours, avail him in the day of his diftrefs ? 
 
 f On bcaulaus charms no more, ye Fair ! depend, 
 The grave docs a ^> without diftir.ction, blend ;
 
 14 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Gives them a pulfe till now they never knew, 
 
 The grave will claim thee, and thy charms fubdue, 
 
 Thy rofes faded, and thy lillies foil'd||, 20O 
 
 Thy pow'r is over, and thy afpect fpoil'd. 
 
 Where are thy lovers gone ? Alas ! they're fiown k 
 
 The worm is now thy paramour alone ! 
 
 High fed he furfeits on thy damafk cheek, 
 
 Whilft thou haft neither power to fmile or fpeakf, 205 
 
 For this, were all thole vigils at the glafs, 
 
 To make thy features every one furpafs ? 
 
 To keep them in repair ; each youth to charm, 
 
 And every heart, and ev'ry bofom warm ? 
 
 For which the worm not thanks thee for thy care, 2iO 
 
 His food alike the fable and the fair ; 
 
 To him a carrion had been jufl as good, 
 
 For putrefaction is his daily food. 
 
 See how the fair one weeps ! the tears roll down, 
 Thick as the dew drops on the grafs new mown. 215 
 Honeft effufion ! the fwoln heart, in vain, 
 
 Struggles to put a glofs upon its pain ! 
 
 This 
 
 All prefs alike to that fame goal the tomb, 
 Where wrinkled Laura fmiies at Chlos's bhom. 
 See Hervey's addrefs to Fhrilla, in his Meditations among the Tombs 
 Vol, I. p. 4.3. 
 
 j| Tho' numbers now thy form adore, 
 
 As if a being half divine ; 
 Know their loofc talk ihall foor. be o'er, 
 And death the purple fcene confine. 
 
 f / have faid to c^rupthn, thou art my father ; tothfxorm, thou art my 
 K.other and vjyjt/ier. Job, xvii. 14. 
 
 (J Learn hence, ye lively and engaging Fair, 
 
 To make vour minds your chief and greatest Lire ; 
 
 }'..; d -atii ere long will clofe tic blighted eye:, 
 
 L : 1; Mv'n-boin Viiiuc never, never dies, K:,ra. Ch
 
 THE GRAVE. 15 
 
 This ineffectual labour, then furfeafe ! 
 So fhall the beauties of your foul increafe. 
 
 Strength, too thou furly and lefs gentle boaft, 220 
 Who in the village fports can do the moft ; 
 Loud in thy laugh, and jocund in thy tale, 
 Thy ruddy face ft 111 chear'd with nappy ale j 
 A fit of common ficknefs pulls thee down J, 
 And then thy fpirits and thy ftrength are flown. 225 
 
 What groan was that ? a heavy groan indeed ! 
 Another ftill, more poignant does fucceed ! 
 With fh'arper anguifh 'tis from yonder bed, 
 Where the ftrong man has laid his aching head ; 
 A ftronger arm now makes him pant for breath, 230 
 
 Struggling he gafps beneath the grip of Death ; 
 Like a hard-hunted bead, his roomy cheft, 
 Heaves high with pains which combat in his breaft : 
 In vain he ftrives to give his lung- full play, 
 In vain, the fell diforder will have wayj. 23$ 
 
 Ah ! what can all his former ftrength avail ? 
 His finewy limbs, and wcll-fet fhoulders fail. 
 Now fee how carncftly he tugs for life ; 
 But loon o'ercome, weak nature yields the ftrife : 
 Eager he feizes what coines fir ft to hand, 240 
 
 And grafps it hard, but death ftill keeps command : 
 The rank diftempcr fhoofs through ev'ry vein, 
 His bowels burn he groans again with pain 
 
 + Tomorrow is lhll the fatal time when all is to be rectified. Tomorrow 
 eomes, it goes, and ftill we pleafe ourfelves w.th the (hadow, whilft we lnfe 
 the reality, unmindful that the prefer.t moment alone is ours, the future is yet 
 unborn, and the pall is dead, and can only live as parents in their childr.n, 
 in the actions it has produced.
 
 l6 THE CRAVE. 
 
 A louder groan ! now, man of ftrength, thy laft ! 
 Adieu to fame ! thy vi&ories are paft. 345 
 
 Behold he lies, pent in a narrow cheft, 
 Still as a child that cried itfelf to reft ; 
 "Vain boafter ! where are now thofe nerves of might, 
 That with fuch vaunting could provoke the fight ? 
 Doth not the bull, unconfeious of his ftrength, 250 
 Receive the blow that lays him at his length ? 
 All Nature's children, e'en to worms and flies, 
 Feel pangs, perhaps, as when a giant dies ! 
 
 With ftudy pale, and midnight Vigils fpent*, 
 To know the future, and tell heaven's intent ; 255 
 The ftar-furveying fage, applies all night, 
 The magnifying tube to aid his fight ; 
 Eager the courles of the flars to trace, 
 And view them trav'ling through etherial fpace, 
 In extacy of thought, he cries " I've found !" 260 
 But ah poor man ! thou'rt ftill upon the ground. 
 Great heights are dang'rous ; hazardous thy plan 
 Doubtful thyreafons, weak, uncertain man ! 
 Soon, very foon, thy firmeft footing fails, 
 And then thy tubes and knowledge what avails ? 265 
 Loft in the grave thy learning, and thy Art ; 
 Where nor device nor fcience aught impart. 
 
 Difablcd 
 
 * Dr. South, in an cxtafy cries out, " Oh ! how vaftly difproportionate 
 re the pleafures of the fenfual and the thinking man !" As diriment fays 
 he " as an Archimedes in the ftudy of a problem, and the ftillnc-fsof a fow 
 at her wafli !" The pleafure of fpeculation has fomet'mies been Co great, fo 
 intenfe, fo ingrofiing of all the powers of the foul, there has been no room 
 left for other pleafures. Contemplation feels no hunger, nor is fer.:ible of anj 
 thirft but that af:er Knowledge,
 
 THE GRAVI. 17 
 
 Difabled, here the loud-tongu'd warriour lies, 
 Difarm'd, difhonour'd, cold, and clof'd his eyes ; 
 He cannot tell his ail to paffers by, 270 
 
 But quiet in his cell is fore'd to lie. 
 Great man of language, why this dumb defpair, 
 Where that perfuafion which was once thy care ! 
 Infinuation's, fofteft arts were thine, 
 Thy tongue feem'd gifted with a power divine : 275 
 But now reverf'd, and filent as the place, 
 Thy client's fee another in their cafej. 
 A weary cloud hangs heavy on thy bread, 
 And all thy arguments are now fuppreft, 
 Thy flrength of action and thy force of words, 28* 
 The lifted arm that energy affords 
 The well-turn'd period, and melodious voice, 
 The ornamental phrafe, thy curious choice- 
 Alas they're gone, raz'd from the book of fame, 
 While hackney fcribblers vilify thy name, 285 
 
 Infult thy memory, and blot thy tomb, 
 Enough to make thee from thy coffin come, 
 With flat dull narrative, or duller rhime, 
 Which penury has jumbled into chime : 
 Couldft thou but hear what wretched (tuff they 
 
 fpeak, 890 
 
 Refentment's blufh would flain thy pallid cheek ! 
 
 Here 
 
 Here tenninate Ambition % airy fchemes, 
 
 The fyren Pleafure here allures no more ; 
 lire ;;rov'!iri2 Avnct drops her golden dreams 
 And life's fantaltic triiles all arc o'er. 
 
 % Men take more pains for thi world, lhan heaven would cod tarn:, 
 and when they have what they aim at, do not live to enjoy it. The grave li< I 
 unfeen between us and the objefl which we reach after. Where one lives to 
 liatcver he has in view, ten thoufanr! are cut offin the purfuit )f ir.
 
 j8 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Here the great matters of the healing art, 
 
 Who had fuch wond'rous knowledge to impart, 
 
 The mighty mock-defrauders of the grave 
 
 Juft like their patients now themfelves behave. 295 
 
 Where now catholicons, with all their fkill, 
 
 Their plaifters, powders ? Spite of every pill, 
 
 And all their bonded implements of art, 
 
 They and their equipages now muft part ! 
 
 Where now are all their magazines of health, 300 
 
 Vaft cabinets of which procur'd them wealth ? 
 
 Ye rifled ftill from ev'ry hill and dale, 
 
 The woodland, riv'let, and the flow'ry vale, 
 
 For herbs falubrious in the healing trade, 
 
 And all your vail experiments difplay'd, 305 
 
 No drug unfought for, far as fhip could fail, 
 
 Braving for thefe, the fierce tempeftuous gale, 
 
 To waft them home; yet what avail'd this toil, 
 
 What art can death's relentlefs hand beguile ? 
 
 No cordial recipe can bribe that pow'r, 310 
 
 To wave his fummons, now one lingle hour. 
 
 Here the lank mifeiy worft of felons, liesj}, 
 
 Whoftaiv'd himfclf with gold before his eyes ! 
 
 And mean'v fiole from back and belly too, 
 
 To keep his hoard but fwelling in his view, 315 
 
 Eaf 'J of a tax it irk'd the wretch to pay, 
 
 Into the earth at la ft ! He's drove awayf. 
 
 Now 
 
 j| How wre:ch-d *:u''i be the I 1 ite of >h mil t's m'r.d, v.' ho uies his riches 
 as if they were ;. i his own : and when he m'Mu be ha.>. y In I*, ending them, 
 will be miferab'e in hoarding ih'ir. un ; and had rathe: C: i: .;, leave wealth 
 v.'irli his enemu's. i U a n hvinc;, re h've hi' i. i iu!s. 
 
 * The patriarchs before the ficJ who ! v d, f>: - ni hundred year-, 
 ft 1 ccly provided for a few <]: and we who i.\.: out a fow da . I
 
 THE GRAVE. 19 
 
 Now cheaply lodg'd from Nature's craving eas'd, 
 With bills and charges now no longer teaz'd 
 Who ne'er would cherifh a relation poor, 320 
 
 For fear of leffening his idol's ftore ; 
 His gold and tenements arc left behind, 
 The fole delight and pleafure of his mind, 
 For fake of which he virtue's paths forfook, 
 And now forgotten rots in this fmall nook : 325 
 
 Neglected both worlds, for a paltry fum, 
 Unblefs'd in this, and damn'd in that to come ! 
 
 O Death ! How fhocking muft thy fummons be, 
 To him at eafe, who counts long years to fee, 
 Whofe large pofTeffions make him wifh to flay 330 
 In this gay world, nor ever go away ; 
 Kere fix'd would have his everlaftinghome, 
 Unfurnifh'd wholly for the world to come. 
 
 When death demands his breath, may man obey, 
 And melt in virions of eternal day ! 335 
 
 Unfcign'd repentance fhould his hours employf, 
 The bed infurance for celeflial joy ; 
 For 'tis indeed an awful thing to die, 
 And launch at once in vaft eternity. 
 
 When the dread fummons fternly calls us hence, 340 
 How weak and frivolous is each pretence, 
 
 D The 
 
 "lis not the floick's leflon, got by rote, 
 The pomp of words and j'ettant diffcrtation, 
 That can fupport thee in that hour of terror ; 
 Books have taught cowards to talk nobly of jt ; 
 T..,\. when the trial comes, they dart, and (land aghalh 
 
 Rr.vt's n-r Twitnii 
 
 - H.- :lnt ha? paid C.od his woiflv", and man his due, is entertained with 
 rref.'f"'". vrars nil frnvuhlv, ?.nd ev ires : n r'ejfure.
 
 20 THE GRAVE. 
 
 The foul alarm'd raves round her prifon walls, 
 
 Trembling and fearful, and for mercy calls*, 
 
 Runs to each avenue with grief and pain, 
 
 And calls for help, but calls, alas ,! in vain, 34.5 
 
 Looks wifhfully on all (he's leaving here, 
 
 And flill is terrified 'twixt hope and fear. 
 
 Oh ! that (he could a little longer flay, 
 
 To wafh, alas ! her many flains away ! 
 
 And fit her for her paffage o'er the flreight, 350 
 
 That leads from this life, to the narrow gate, 
 
 Paft are the days of revel and delight, 
 When all was pleafure in the young man's fight ; 
 And paft the days of fober thrift and gain, 
 Which oft prevent remorfe that worft of pain : 355 
 The heart-firings break, and every heaving groan, 
 Declares, the man at laft muft pay the loan. 
 Weak is each help, and vain each mortal view, 
 For Death, ftaunch murd'rer, does his aim purfue ; 
 Vain is all conteft, impotent the flrife ; 363 
 
 On ftillhe comes through every lane of life, 
 Nor mifTes once the track, but prefTes on, 
 Till forc'd to yield, his ftrength and courage gone ; 
 He finks at once* to rife on t'other fhore, 
 Where all muft go, and fhall return no more. 365 
 
 END OF' THE FIRST PART. 
 
 * None generally fi nd more diffatisfa&ion in earthly things, than thofe who 
 moft indulge themfelves in the enjoyment of them ; thofe who arc molt in love 
 with the world are frequeutly mod jilted by it; and the longer they live, 
 
 the more teafon they (hall have to acknowledge and lament this melancholy 
 tiuih.
 
 THE 
 
 GRAVE- 
 
 PART the SECOND. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Strioufnefs of the moment of death againfi filicide apojlrophe 
 to the dead The grave-digger Friends fall like leaves in 
 autumn The whole world but a vajl burial ground Death 
 makes no dijlinclion TJje happinefs of man before the fall- 
 Havockjince made by Jin Death mujl render up the dead 
 His power foiled by the tifmg ofChriJl RefurreBion pour- 
 trayedfcattered parts unite. Conclu/ion. 
 
 O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING ? O PRAVI, WHERE IS THY 
 VICTORY? -**^ Paul. 
 
 CELESTIAL Pow'r ! whofe energy divine, 
 Form'd the bright orbs, and taught them 
 how to fhine, 
 Whofe will is fate, whofe laws are juft decrees, 
 Whofe eye all prefent, part, and future fees, 
 Do thou propitious, now by breaft infpire, 5 
 
 With pure Religion's lambent, facred fire ; 
 Aid me this dreary valley to pourtray, 
 The folcmn pafiage to eternal day ; 
 Nomufe, no help, would I invoke but THEE, 
 For thou alone can here affiftins; be ; IO 
 
 Who doit in wifdom and in power cxcell, 
 To teach man knowledge, and thy works to tell. 
 
 D 2 My
 
 22 THE CRAVE. 
 
 My Soul ! 'tis fure, a ferious thing to die, 
 And in the grave, a time appointed lie ! 15 
 
 What a ftrange moment mull it be, when near 
 Thy journey's end, and every thing to fear ; 
 To pafs the gulf which life and death divide, 
 Where none can tell what's done on t'other fide* ? 
 Nature revolts and fhudders at the ft/oke, 2C 
 
 Which frees the ipirit from its penal yoke, 
 Yet part they muff, body and foul muft part, 
 In fpite of all all human help and art : 
 Fond couple, link'd more clofe than wedded pair, 
 Muft feparatc go, alas ! they know not where|| ! 25 
 
 If after death, man nothing had to fear, 
 Many would foon be tir'd of living here ; 
 If, after death, men knew they ceas'd to be, 
 And fearing nought, were certain to be free, 
 How many then would quit life's irkfome pain, 30 
 
 And to their native nothing turn againf ! 
 
 The 
 
 * Cardinal Richelieu, after he had given la-e 'to all Europe, many years 
 toge her, confefled to 1'tter Dv. Mnthn, that being forced upon many irregu- 
 larities in his lifetime, by that which they call Reaftn cfjlale, he could not 
 tell how to fatisfy his Confidence upon fcveral accounts: and being afked one 
 Day by a friend, why he was fo fad ? he anfwered, " The foul is a ferious 
 thing; it muft be cither fad here for a moment, or be fad for even." 
 
 I! " To die to fleep 
 To fleep ! perchance to dream ! Aye thrrt's the Rub ; 
 For, in lhat Sleep of Denth, \vh?.t Dreams mav come, 
 When we have fhuilled of this mortal Coil, 
 Muft give a Paufe. Theic's the Refpeel, 
 
 That makes Calamity of fo long Life," 6ffr. Shakefieare. 
 
 + Nothing has more hotrour than annihilation. The worfr that good men 
 can fear, is the beft that evil can wilh for, which is the diitbl u turn ol :h 
 f.ul in death.
 
 THE CRAVE. 2$ 
 
 The debauchee might flill go on to fing, 
 
 Reel o'er the bowl, and laugh at ev'ry thing : 
 
 Or if world-weary, thro' the ftorms of life, 
 
 Misfortunes, loiles, or domeftic frrifej, $$ 
 
 Who would not then of tortures to be eas'd, 
 
 Slip out at once at any door he pleas'd ? 
 
 For death has many doors, which open wide, 
 
 When inclination once becomes a guide : 
 
 And who could blame the ill-pleas'd gueft to quit 40 
 
 That table where he did not like to fit ? 
 
 To help himfelf as quickly as he might, 
 
 Which in his pow'r, he fur el y thought was right, 
 
 But if there's an Hereafter; In that ftate, 
 
 Self-murder muft an awful doom await : 45 
 
 To rufh, uncall'd, before th' Almighty's throne, 
 
 With hands, imbrued in blood that blood their own 
 
 Into the prefence of the Judge of all, 
 
 To (land without the juftifying call ! 
 
 Whatpunifhment rewards the horrid crime, 5 
 
 He only knows who fees the end of time, 
 
 Who meafures all our days with niceft fkill, 
 
 Declaring we muft wait his fov'reign will ; 
 
 How long, how fliort, it heeds us not to know, 
 
 But bear with refignation whilft below, 55 
 
 JLike centries each ihould watch and patient ftand, 
 
 Untill th' appointed moment of command. 
 
 And thus the truly brave arc conftant found ; 
 
 But cowards bafely may forfake their ground. 
 
 Then flay the time which quickly fhall befhown, 6a 
 
 Norrafhlv venture on that world unknown ; 
 
 The 
 
 X Of all the crimes which a man can commit, the dcliruclion of himfelf is the 
 moil horiiJ, whvn we tonlidrr that repentance cannot lucceed, and that a'.* 
 '' /.'-!;'. . : c:.rc . tc tcx'.t :"e of the tndv h*.*>.annot ftil! dtllroy Uirr.l'Jf.
 
 24 THE GRAVE. 
 
 The ills of life will fpcedily be o'er, 
 
 And you fafe landed on that happier fhore*. 
 
 Tell us, ye dead ! if you in pity can, 
 Beyond this world what is the future plan ? 65 
 
 Some courteous ghoft, if any fuch there be, 
 Tell us what things in after life you fee, 
 I've heard that fomc of you, in days of old, 
 The fatal ftory to mankind have told, 
 Forewarniogthem of death : O then comply, 70 
 
 And tell in charity what tis' to die ! 
 But you're withheld : no matter, death muft call, 
 The curtain drop, and time will clear up all. 
 
 Death's fhafts fly thick ; here falls the village fwain, 
 And there his Lord, the mafler of the plain, 75 
 
 Pamper'd with feafting : yet the cup goes round, 
 And to refufe it, who fo daring found ? 
 
 See yonder maker of the dead man's bed, 
 The fexton, with his fpade and hoary head, 
 With hard unmeaning face, down which ne'er Hole 80 
 A tear, the mark of pity in his ioul. 
 He digs thro' rows of kindred and of friends, 
 And fings and laughs as he his work attends ; 
 For fcarce a fkull upon the ground he throws, 
 But well its owner and his life he knows, gjj 
 
 Thus hand in hand with death twice twenty years, 
 Familiar grown he no Removal fears, 
 But joins with willing heart the revel throng ; 
 Who keep it up, and joins their merry fong, 
 
 Then 
 
 * Thofe who have read Dr H. Moreon the Immortality of the Soul, may 
 recollect the ftory of the Florentine Philofopher appearing after his death ta 
 h : s friend, to confirm the truth of what they had difsourfed toncerning the 
 immortalitv of the loul.
 
 THE GRAVE. 25 
 
 Then reeling home, he fnores it out till day, go 
 
 Regardlefs of the time that deals away. 
 The heedlcfs Boor, unmindful of his trade, 
 Dreams not a grave fhall foon for him be made*. 
 
 As leaves in autumn drop from ev'ry tree, 
 So fall our friends, as we may hourly fee, o 
 
 Yet ftill unnotie'd let the warnings pafs, 
 Nor think of Time till empty is our glafs : 
 Fantaftic fchemes, we eagerly purfuc, 
 And plans for future greatnefs make anew, 
 Heedlefs of death, that foon muft clofe the fcene, 100 
 And leave us juft as if we ne'er had been||. 
 Tho' that fhould be our chief and greateft care, 
 Yet for this world moft ftudioufly prepare, 
 And frolic on eternity's dread brink, 
 In wanton mood, alas ! and never think. 10$ 
 
 Time hurries on, till death winds up the whole, 
 And brings to judgment, each uncautious foul ; 
 Who while he thinks there's nothing here to dread, 
 He fleals the pillow from the mifer's head : 
 To others juft as thoughtlefs then he goes, HO 
 
 And calls them to their folemn laft repofe. 
 
 What 
 
 * Thus airy pleafurc dances in our eyes, 
 And fpreads falfc images in fair difguifc, 
 T'allure our fouls, till juft within our arms, 
 The vilion dies, and all tht painted charms 
 Flee quick away from the purfuing %hr, 
 Till they arc loft in lhades, and mingle with the night, 
 
 Dr. Want. 
 
 !| Fevf take care to live well, but many to live long ; though it is in every 
 man's power to do the former, but in no one's to dn the latter. 
 Happythe man that knows the value juft, 
 Of earthly things, nor ; sfnllav'd to dull. 
 'Tis a rich gift the Ikies but rarely fend 
 To fav'rite fouls. Dr Watts/
 
 26 THE GRAVE. 
 
 What is this world ? look ferioufly around ; 
 What but a wide ftupendous burial-ground ? 
 Strew'd with Death's fpoils, the fpoils of every age, 
 Relih of life, of favage, oroffage, 115 
 
 Happy or wretched, here alike are fpread : 
 And the green turf, on which we carelefs tread, 
 Once breath'd with life ; and we that live muft be 
 Juft the fame lifelefs clod as what we fee. 
 We lend our carcafes to cover o'er, 120 
 
 Thofe of our progeny not long before j 
 They in their turns, too, foon muft cover theirs : 
 Such is the fate of fathers and of heirs. 
 The fhiv'ring Icelander, the fun-burnt Moor, 
 Men of all climes that never met before, 125 
 
 However diftant fti!l their countries lie, 
 Or their opinions vary, they muft die. 
 The lordly prince, the nabob prouder (till, 
 Together meet howe'er againft their will ; 
 For vain are all the ftratagems of courts, 130 
 
 Their Schemes are now no more than idle fports. 
 Here the poor flave, fo long his mafter's feoff,* 
 Regains his freedom, flings his burden off; 
 Here tyrants. vex no more; the weary reft, 
 And the wan lover is no more diftrcft ; 135 
 
 For tho' the fair refufd' to be his bride, 
 Contented now fhe flumbers by his fide. 
 
 Here 
 
 * There the Prifoners reft: together; they hear not the voice of the op- 
 preffor: the fmal! and the great are there ; and the fervant is free from his 
 mafter. 7 ob - 
 
 A little time is enough to view the world in : Nature tread: in a circle, 
 and has much the fame face through the whole courfc of time. Live well, 
 and make Virtue thy guide, and then let death come fooner or later, it mat- 
 
 ter: not.
 
 THE CRAVE. 27 
 
 Here is the large- limb'd Peafant, here the Child, 
 
 An! here the Mother, tender, meek and mild : 
 
 Here friends and f )cs without a quarrel lie|[, 140 
 
 Nor more with wrath each other now defy ; 
 
 The prefbyter, and prelate rob'd in lawn, 
 
 Arlaft are into one opinion drawn : 
 
 The fhrew, the prude, the wanton, and coquet, 
 
 The widow, and the virgin too are met; 14- 
 
 Old age and youth, the candid and feverc, 
 
 The wife, the generous, artful and fincerc ; 
 
 The juft, the good, the worthlefs and the vain, 
 
 The fool, the churl, the pious and prophane ; 
 
 The fubtlc ftatefman, and the downright clown, 150 
 
 Without diltinclion muft alike lie down 
 
 Ufurpers lie by kings they did depofc, 
 
 And factious parties are no longer foes : 
 
 The wreck of nations here at once appears, 
 
 With all the lumber of fix thoufand years. 155 
 
 Poor man ! how happy once in thy fir ft ffate, 
 Created by thy Maker good and great ; 
 Form'd like his image by his Wondrous hand, 
 With pow'r o'er all creation to command : 
 His laft befi: work, well pleas'd he fmil'd and view'd, 
 The body noble foul with fenfe endu'd, 161 
 
 Like twofweet inftruments ne'er out of tune, 
 Untill thy folly broke the union foon ; 
 
 E Then 
 
 || The r.ruv i:, the v ''''' ' ' ' ' ''' v "" I [ ' 5 > a '' Dr 
 
 Young julHy c.V i v , : . v .. - r.i io.iu to ii'.i' . F.verv moment of our 
 lives we trejJ > . 1 . ; ire a J ovrrthew f.ith r: ; fulj-. /Is ever 
 
 tht-ii- kings, |>n : , "i.. i -\ :rj over liie ti r-ones iluv once 
 
 a doled ; yet all lu id . " . '. n ll e.ver, mean n.> of jM'of; eiKy^ 
 
 a . : i ju.
 
 28 THE GRAVE. 
 
 Then no difeafe or rankling pain within, / 
 
 Till purchas'd by thy all deftru&ive fin : . 165 
 
 How blefs'd in Paradife thou might'ft have'ftay'd, 
 
 The happy tenant of that blifsful fliade ! 
 
 The gen'rous foil with a luxuriant hand, 
 
 Without thy toil, around thee did expand 
 
 Rich blooming treafure for thy due repaft, 1 70 
 
 Doom'd by thy indifcretion not to 1 aft. 
 
 Such is man's hift'ry ; fuch the ftate of things ; 
 To-day the mod: delightful pleafure brings, 
 But e'er to-morrow's fetting fun, they pais, 
 Their pleafurcs wain, juft like the fading grafs ; 175 
 Oh dire uncertainty ! like fleeting dreams, 
 All human happinefs together feems ! 
 What flrange viciffitudes ! In man's firfl day, 
 Completely happy but foon led aftray : 
 Satan with jealous eye beheld his mind, i8a 
 
 Where no foul pafiions could admittance find, 
 Burfting with envy, baleful means he fought, 
 How man to fwift deftruction might be brought. 
 Fair Paradife had Icarcely blefs'd his fight, 
 Where ev'ry object charm'd with new delight, 185 
 
 Till man to his Creator gave th' offence, 
 For which in ani;er he was driven thence. 
 The interdicted tree he needs mull: know, 
 Which brought in death, and every human woe ! 
 
 Dreadful 
 
 As in Adam may be considered the root of Ml ev.1, fo in Chrif: may b'. 
 feeii the fountain faring of eternal life. They are like two Roots, that torn- 
 rnunicate each to all their feveral Eranchcs their ov,n diliinct Pro: crt:es : 1* 
 Miiton, Book iii. 
 
 As in T!im perifh all Men, fo in Thrr, 
 As from a fecord Root, (hall be rrflor'd 
 As many as arc relio.'J, whlr.-ut Tlve none,
 
 THE GRAVE. 29 
 
 Dreadful experiment ! by Satan's plan, 190 
 
 Contriv'd in fpite, to be the fall of man. 
 
 Who his rafh error foon beheld, too late, 
 
 For heav'n's decree was paft, and fix'd his fate : 
 
 A flaming fvvord is at the entrance plac'd, 
 
 From which the pair are by an angel chas'd. 
 
 Ah! fatal error ! not to him alone, 195 
 
 Cut to his heirs ; decreed from fon to fon ! 
 
 Foul monfter, fin ! thou greateft ill we have, 
 What havock haft: thou made to fill the grave ! 
 All woes, of cv'ry kind, all fpring from thee : 
 Sorrow and pain of ev'ry fad degree. 2CO 
 
 To other ills has nature fet the bounds, 
 No- can they reach beyond their given rounds ; 
 Thus earthquakes, and volcanoes reach not far, 
 Plagues, inundations, elemental jar 
 Or the fierce conflict of aerial powers, 205 
 
 They J a ft but minutes, or at moft but hours : 
 More dreadful far has fin deftruclion hurl'd, 
 Difpatching not a country, but a world 
 And at one long ana wide-extended blow, 
 Has levei'd millions to the grave below ; 2l# 
 
 A whole creation's beauty haft laid waft?. 
 And lTill purfues with wild dcftrucYive hafte. 
 The fad effects of ourfinr parent? blame, 
 Which brought in death and their fucceeding fk; 1 
 
 But hold ! I've gone too far, too much have faiJ, 215 
 Too much our parents fatal fall diiplay'd : 
 Then let vis paufe, and drop an honcft tear, 
 In filial duly : It becomes us here ; 
 \V hilft muling on the deferts death has fprcad, 
 The chaos of mankind thefe ago- dead. 22<i 
 
 L 2 r I hou
 
 30 TKE GRAVE. 
 
 Thou great man-eater, death ! voracious pow'r* f 
 
 Who, like a glutton fwallows ev'ry hour; 
 
 No interval of abflincnce is thine, 
 
 Nor didfl thou e'er relax or once repine : 
 
 One univerfal carnival doft make, 225 
 
 And all alike without cliftinction take : 
 
 The countlefs multitudes devour'd by thee, 
 
 Mcthinksby this might fatisfa&ion be ! 
 
 But ah ! rapacious flill thou gap'ft for more, 
 Infatiate yet, and greedy as before : 23a 
 
 But know, tho' daily thus thou ftill art fed, 
 A time mail come thou mufl refign thy dead ; 
 And with high intereft too, they are not thine, 
 ]>ut for a feafon fix'd by power divine. 
 A tr.imp celeftial then fhall loudly found, 235 
 
 To rouie thy flceping victims under-ground : 
 Then mud thy gates fly open to difplay, 
 Thy haplefs prifoncrs to the face of day: 
 Forth from their earthy beds then mufl they rife, 
 To meet the arbitration of the ikies. 24a 
 
 There friend and foe fhall ftand up fide bv fide, 
 O'erwhelm'd with fe%.their Judgment to abide; 
 The wicked, trembling for their horrid doom, 
 Vv ouhl fain recede to hold their former tomb, 
 Beating their breads, oppicfs'd with mighty woe, 24^ 
 They call the hills to bury them below ! 
 Whilft pure as filvcr thrice renn'd by fire, 
 
 To promis'd happinefs the good afmrt ; 
 
 To 
 
 J D iitl: i; :h" u,rc<it ; rupr.CMr of all ; k i , : . , and 
 
 : - - : ' ' '1 he .''.,1 hi '.'",'. ; .' : " . ,..;.,. . . ( ' i cIjiv (l.aU
 
 THE GRAVE. 31 
 
 To life, to liberty again reftor'd, 
 
 They now behold without a veil their Lordf ; 250 
 
 The injur'd th-n fhall foon be fet to right, 
 
 And every deed of darknefs brought to light : 
 
 Purg'd from the drops that cloud the mortal eye, 
 
 The ways of Providence we fhall defcry, 
 
 Find all our fuff'rings here, were fent for good, 255 
 
 Altho' by us they were mifunderflood, 
 
 Then let us not repine, if dreams and lies, 
 
 Forg'd by impofture, and dark myfteries, 
 
 Or defpot laws, deep wrought in human blood, 
 
 Opprefs'd whole nations, and for ages flood ; 26* 
 
 Why Rome, or Mahomet fo long have reign'd ; 
 
 Why ftill the eaflern world's in darknefs chain'd ! 
 
 If Jew, Turk, Heathen, Infidel have ftray'd, 
 
 By fin, by error, or by whim betrav'd ; 
 
 Why men the paths of ignorance have trod, 265 
 
 Since only fools have faid (l there is no GOD*.'' 
 
 Suffice it then the great eternal plan, 
 
 Will be reveal'd, and God made known to man. 
 
 The Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, 
 
 O fin ! has foil'd thy pow'r,thoul't furcly find. 2jo 
 
 Him in the grave thou could'fl not hold, for he 
 
 Hath nobly triumph'd over death and thee ; 
 
 When 
 
 f How mull i fpirit, lately efeaped fnm it; corpirfal vehicle on earth, 
 look back ailonilhed on the ways of men, when th? veil is removed that ub- 
 icuitti iis vifion in its former ftatc. to lie ami know their whole lives to be 
 e;:e mtirc uourfeof vain endeavours to forget their graves. 
 
 * If a rmn had armaments fu:licient to > rfoade him there '.: n (1 .J, a 
 nrinite to the contrary, yet the belief 1 f ;'j b'.< .! , fo kind, f,. LYjI-- 
 ent a bcingis fo v ry nccclfary to the quiet, comfort, fa; is faction .ind pre- 
 ferv.uion ofour live:, that a wife man would i?c ~r-: ved to qytt > , leafinj :. 
 ,. ....
 
 32 THE GRAVE. 
 
 When, by his Father fent, us to releafe, 
 
 And in our fall'n irate reftore to peace, 
 
 Yielding and willing by thy pow'r was bound, 275 
 
 Three days rcmain'd thy captive under ground : 
 
 And then felf-vigorous rofe, and brake thy chain, 
 
 Triumphant conq'ror o'er thy dark domain ! 
 
 Full forty days he taught among mankind, 
 
 By faith in him they might falvation find ; 280 
 
 This having done, beyond the ftarry way, 
 
 To heav'n above, he rofe in bright array. 
 
 Nor for himfelf does there remain alone, 
 
 For ftill his holy love's forfinners fhown, 
 
 For e'en the vileft, with incelTant prayer, 285 
 
 He intercedes, for their acceptance there : 
 
 And for his fold, it was his firm decree, 
 
 That where he is, there fhould his followers be. 
 
 Then why fhould man, who fhould fulunit, regret, 
 
 To itay conceal'd awhile in Death's retreat? 290 
 
 A difmal path, but not, we know, untrod, 
 
 For death was vanquifh'd by the Son t of Go d ; 
 
 Anon fatigues and fears away will fly, 
 
 And man immorLal rife no more to die. 
 
 Prodigious change ! no more by Death alarm'd : 295 
 
 Hell is fubdued when fin fhall fall difarm'd, 
 
 For fov'reign mercy has the race reitor'd, 
 
 So lono; rejected and fo lonsr deplor'd 
 
 The Saviour's grace for men fhall fo prevail, 
 
 At lad, that all fhall his Redemption hail. 3C0 
 
 Here let us paufe, nor deem the time illfpent, 
 We now devote to contemplate th' event. 
 How will thev look, who mock'd, who piere'd his fide, 
 How will hi* tors that trying dav abide ? 
 
 For
 
 THE GRAVE. 33 
 
 For all mankind his mortal wounds fhall fee ! 305 
 
 His foes forlorn his friends how happy be ! 
 
 See crouds feraphic lead the joyful way, 
 
 And heaven's bright hoft their glory all difplay ! 
 
 Hail, quick repentance ; faith, in refcue come, 
 
 E'er the dread book unfolds and feals our doom ! 310 
 
 In wrath, O God ! thou fure will not deface, 
 
 Thy image, nor thy Son's implanted grace : 
 
 Thy handy work thou never can defpife, 
 
 Who fay'ft againft thy will the (inner dies ; 
 
 In that great day, O Jefu ! with us fhare, 315 
 
 Look on thy crofs, and man in mercy fpare ; 
 
 For thofa who yet in darknefs are confin'd*, 
 
 Hope leads to mercy, man muft be reilgn'd. 
 
 And you ye grafted olives, grow not vain, 
 
 The caft-off branch we know fhall (hoot again ; 320 
 
 And when the Gentile fullnefs fhall come round, 
 
 It is decreed all Ifrael fhall be found. 
 
 What then fhall our firm love from Chrift divide ? 
 
 Not all this world's vain pomp and empty pride : 
 
 Therefore whatever in our cups may flow, 325 
 
 Whate'er by trials or misfortunes, know, 
 
 Safe in his love, by his example taught, 
 
 Refign'd we'll joyfully drink up the draught, 
 
 A life well fpent infures the happy plan, 
 
 For virtue's happinefs defign'd for man, 330 
 
 And thofc who mod exalt the human mind, 
 
 Immortal happinefs ere lone; fhall find. 
 
 In 
 
 'I ,,. e ; s 1101 ul'.T the ii-n-.: -W . ot thl". Ill >:t li c tolerable, but 
 
 .,, .- : 1: ;. -it of anotlnr; this ma e the wile hcaihens tr.y, that they 
 
 liven it ii [1 'v th u ht ; Ivy were not in !:vc arain, as ! 
 
 ,;\ . ; a ;;-.:'."> 1 v. if thev wen to in ' '. notliirg
 
 54 TIJ E GRAVE, 
 
 In youth be mindful of your riper ycarsf, 
 
 Encreafe your hopes and diffipate vour fears ; 
 
 A virtuous heart, a fpotlefs innocence, 335 
 
 The chriftian's anchor, and his ftrong defence, 
 
 Exceed the bait of worldly things below, 
 
 Which tho' alluring arc but empty (how. 
 
 To pure religion's unmix'd joys give place, 
 
 Superior guide ! gueft of celeflial race ! 34.0 
 
 A promis'd vaft eternity of bills ! 
 
 Each earth-born joy grows vile at thought of this. 
 
 E'en the lag flefli that fuffers death and pain, 
 
 Refts too in hopes of meeting once asrain : 
 
 Nor will it hope in vain : the time will come, 345 
 
 When riling from their long-fcqueiler'd home, 
 
 The foul and body cv'ry way compleat, 
 
 United in a perfect date fhall meet. 
 
 So, when the beaming fun's refradled ray, 
 
 Forms the bright bow, and variegates the day, 350 
 
 Confus'dly regular, the blended hue, 
 
 In crimlbn glows, or lajiguifhes in blue, 
 
 This melts in fhade, that ripens into l'ght, 
 
 And fhine together beautifully b.ight. 
 
 The 
 
 -j- Life is the time toferve the Lord, 
 
 The time to infur the great reward, 
 
 And while the lamp holds out to burn, 
 
 Thevileft iinner may return. 
 The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be inhe'ued (or poffeflVd) by Tic/?; and 
 Blood, i.e. by mere Man, with all his infirmities about him; for thefe 
 words fpeak not the corruption of our nature, Co much as the weaknefs and 
 infirmity of it, ltand ng in need ofcontinu.il fupplies of meat and drink, 
 &x. which our glorified bodies (h all not want, any more than do the Angels 
 or Saints of Heave. 1 ; not only according to the Declaration of the Gofpel, 
 Matt. ?. Y .ii. p. but in the opinion of the fobereft Heathens ; 
 
 For not tlu bread of man heir life feiiain--, 
 
 Nor yv ' .,'.!. , fj^j'l.ci their veins. 
 
 I'ort'i Horr.r:
 
 THE GRAVE. 33 
 
 The time draws on, when not a fingle grave, 355 
 Whether in earth, or in the briny wave, 
 But muft give back its long committed duft, 
 Lent for a while, deposited in truft, 
 And faithfully make up the full account, 
 Of every particle, the juft amount : 360 
 
 Not the lead grain embezzled, or miflaid, 
 For all intirc muft back again be paid. 
 
 Hence ye prophane ! nor afk how this can be,^ 
 
 Who r.ear'd the piece at firft, lb fair to fee, 
 
 He by the lame celeftial fov 'reign art, 365 
 
 Can join the fcatter'd atoms of each part ; 
 
 He can do more ; his arm is ftill the fame, 
 
 Sure as his word, eftablifh'd as his name : 
 
 And what he can, he will ; his word is gone, 
 
 And certain as his promile fhall be done. 370 
 
 When the dread trumpet founds, the flumb'ring earth, 
 
 No more inactive, fhall rife up to birth. 
 
 And ev'ry part poflefs its proper place, 
 
 With a new elegance of form and grace. 
 
 Nor fhall the foul its part'ner e'er miftake, 375 
 
 But 'midft the croud fhall recollecl: its make, 
 
 Confcious itfelf, its former habit know, 
 
 Once the fad vehicle of pain and woe. 
 
 But now renew'd, more perfect and compleat, 
 
 With joy lhall repoflefs again its feat. 
 
 E Juft 
 
 Faith builds a bridge from this world to the ne\t, 
 
 OYr the dark gulf of death, and all its horror hides. Young. 
 
 + The memory of thirns below remains with us after this life, in our 
 future i! ate. " Son, remember that in thy life-time thou receivedlt thy good 
 th tigs," Luke xvi. and Revelations xv. 1 am he that was dead, and ant 
 ahve arjim." 1 Epilt. Corinthians xv.
 
 34- THE GRAVE 
 
 Juft as a trav'ler abfcnt long from home, 
 
 Return'd wTth eager nefs infpects each room, 
 
 And longs to fee the whole ; this meeting o'er, 
 
 Nor time, nor death fhall feparate them more. 
 
 The grave's a night a long and moonlefs night, 385 
 
 From which w'ere fure to rife to endlefs light. 
 
 Thus at the clofe of day, the weary bird 
 Leaves the wide air, and in the brake is heard, 
 Covv'rs down and dozes till the dawn of day, 
 Then claps his vvell-fledg'd wings, and foars away. 
 
 THE END OF THE GRAVE. 
 
 I fhall conclude thefe Notes with obferving, that as a Refurreftion from 
 the Dead is not impoflibie in itfelf, no Man can abfolutely deny it ; as it 
 is highly probable, both upon natural and moral Grounds, all Men may 
 rationally expeft it ; but as it is infallibly certain upon evangelical Princi- 
 ples, founded on the Veracity of the Apoftles, of Chrift, and God himfelf, 
 all Chiiftians ought moll firmly to believe it, And therefore, my Brethren, 
 if yefitdfajl, &C.
 
 AN 
 
 ELEGY, 
 
 WRITTEN IN A 
 
 COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD, 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Afummer's evening defcr'ibed its calmncfs diflurbed by the bee' 
 tle,Jheep-bells,and owl country church-yard defcribed, with 
 it sjleeping tenants the vanity of ambition, power and beauty- 
 the folly of pompous epitaphs and inferiptions true merit ob- 
 fcured by penury rujiic poverty not to be defpijed love of 
 life natural to all what the poc? s fate may be in fome future 
 period, related by old age, with his epitaph. The notes in* 
 elude the variations of former editions. 
 
 Time a Summer s Evening. 
 
 THE Curfew* tolls the knell of parting day, 
 The lowing herd wind flowly o'er the lea j 
 The plowman homeward plods his weary way, 
 And leaves the world to darknefs and to mc. 
 
 E 2 Now 
 
 * The evening Ecll.
 
 36 gray's elegy. 
 
 Now fades the glimmering landfcapc on the fight, 
 And all the air a folemn ftillnefs holds ; 
 Save where the beetle wheels his drony flight, 
 And drowfy tinklings lull the difrant foldsf. 
 
 Save, that from yonder ivy-mantled tower, 
 The moping owl does to the moon complain, 
 Of fuch as wandering near her fecret bower, 
 Moleft her ancient folitary reign. 
 
 Beneath thofe rugged elms, that yew-tree's fhade, 
 Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 
 Each in his narrow cell forgotten laid, 
 The rude Forefathers of the hamlet ileepj. 
 
 The breezy call of incenfe-brcathing Morn, 
 The fwallow twittering from the ftiaw-built fhed, 
 *The cock's flirill clarion, or the echoing horn, 
 No more fhall roufe them from their lowly bed. 
 
 For them no more the blazing heath fhall burn, 
 Or bufy houfewife ply her evening care : 
 Or children run to lifp their fire's return, 
 Nor climb his knees the envied kifs tofhare , 
 
 Oft did the harveft to their fickle yield, 
 Their furrow oft the ftubborn glebe has broke ; 
 
 How 
 
 f The reader oftalle cannot fail admiring the juft and natural fimplicity 
 oi 1 li is picture of a Summer's Evening; the decline of day is here coloured by 
 the hand of a matter. 
 
 j In ihc fir It Edition of this poem, we read the fallowing flanza in this 
 place, which the author upon revifal has omitted. 
 
 Haik ! how the facred calm that breathes arounJ, 
 
 Bids every fierce tumultuous paition cafe ; 
 In flill, fmall accents whifp'ring from the ground, 
 A rrratefnl earneit uf eternal peace.
 
 gray's elegy 27. 
 
 How jocund did they drive their team afield ! 
 How bow'd the woods beneath their fturdy ftroke } 
 
 Let not Ambition flight their ufeful toil, 
 Their homely joys, and deftiny obfcure ; 
 Nor Grandeur hear with a difdainful fmile, 
 \ The fhort but fimple annals of the poor.H 
 
 The boaft of heraldry, the pomp of power, 
 And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
 Await alike th' inevitable hour : 
 The paths of glory lead but to the grave. 
 
 Nor you, ye proud, impute to thefe the fault, 
 If mem'ry o'er their tomb no trophies raife, 
 Where thro' the long-drawn iflc and fretted vault 
 The pealing anthem fwells the note of praifc. 
 
 Can ftoried urn or animated buft, 
 Back to its manfioncrdl the fleeting breath ? 
 Can honour's voice provoke the illent dufr, 
 Or flattery footh the dull cold ear of Death ? 
 
 Perhaps in this neglected ipot is laid, 
 Some heart once pregnant with ccleftial fire ; 
 Hands, that the rod of empire might have fvvay'd, 
 Or wak'd toextafy the living lyre. 
 
 But knowledge to their eyes her ample page, 
 Rich with the (poils of time did ne'er unroll : 
 Chill penury reprefs'd their noble rage, 
 
 And froze the genial current of the foul. 
 
 Full 
 
 || There have been many attempts to imitate :liis Eie^y, though but uv; 
 have anivvJ neat the lim.-livity ui" Gray's manner.
 
 Z$ oray's elegy. 
 
 Full many a gem of purcft ray ferene*, 
 The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear ; 
 Full many a flower is born to blufh unfeen, 
 And wafte its fweetnefs on the defert air. 
 
 Seme village-Hampden, that with dauntlefs breaft 
 The little Tyrant of his fields withftood ; 
 Some mute inglorious Milton here may reft, 
 Some Cromwell guiltlefs of his country's blood. 
 
 Th' applaufe of liftening fenates to command, 
 The threats of pain and ruin to defpife, 
 To fcatter plenty o'er a imiling land, 
 And read their hiftory in a nation's eyes. 
 
 Their 
 
 *' Gray has here imitated the verbofe, but original, Dr. Young. This 
 beautiful companion of the Gem and the Flower, in this ftanza feemstohavc 
 been taken from the Docln's LTniverfal Pallioii, Sat. V. 
 
 M Such bleffings Nature pnurs, 
 
 " O'eritock'd mankind enjoy but half her ftores. 
 " In diftant wilds, by human eyes unfeen, 
 " She rears her flowers and fpreada her velvet green : 
 " Pure gurg'ling rills, the lonely defert trace, 
 " And wafte their mufic on the favage race. 
 " Is Nature, then a niggard oi her bliiS ? 
 " Repine we guiltlefs in a world like this r" 
 
 The following verfc is no indifferent imitation of Gray's manner, and ap- 
 peared in an early edition. 
 
 Full many a lark, high tow'ring to the (kj, 
 
 Unheard unheeded, greets th'approach of light ; 
 Full many a liar, unfeen by mortal eye, 
 
 With twinkling 'uflre glimmers thro' the night. 
 
 See a Criticifm on This Flrgy, publifhed by Cadeli. 
 * The Natural (implicity of thefe flanz^s extorted from Dr. Johnfon one 
 fentence, which deTervcs to be written in letters of gold : that " all claim to 
 poetic honours mulr be finally decided by the talle ot the common, unpreju- 
 diced reader." Dr. Johnfon's Life of Gray.
 
 gray's elegy* 39 
 
 Their lot forbad : nor circumfcrib'd alone 
 Their growing virtues, but their crimes contin'd, 
 Forbad to wade through flaughter to a throne, 
 And fliut the gates of mercy on mankind ; 
 
 The ftruggling pangs of confcious truth to hide, 
 To quench the blufhes of ingenuous fhame, 
 Or heap the fhrine of Luxury and Pride, 
 With incenfe kindled at the Mufe's flame. 
 
 Far from the madding crowd's ignoble ftrife, 
 Their fober wilhes never learn'd to ftray : 
 Along the cool fcquefter'd vale of life, 
 They kept the noifelefs tenor of their way. 
 
 Yet ev'n thefe bones from infult to protect f, 
 Some frail memorial ftill erected nigh, 
 With uncouth rhimes and fhapelefs fculpture deck'd, 
 Implores the paffing tribute of a figh. 
 
 Their name, their years, fpelt by th' unletter'd Mufe, 
 The place of fame and elegy fupply : 
 And many a holy text around fhe {trews, 
 That teach the ruftick morahfr. to die. 
 
 For who to dumb forgetfulnefs a prey, 
 This pleafing anxious being e'er refign'd 
 Left the warm precincts of the chearful day, 
 Nor caftone longing lingering look behind ? 
 
 On fome fond bread the parting foul relies, 
 Some pious drops the clofing eye requires : 
 
 E' 
 
 vn 
 
 f- Nothing can be more natural than thefc reflections, and Dr. Johnfon 
 allows them the firft place amongfl elegiac fentimenti.
 
 4_o gray's elegy. 
 
 Ev'n from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, 
 
 Ev'n in our Afhes live their wonted Fires*. 
 
 For thee, who mindful of the unhonour'd Dead, 
 Doft on this fpot their artlefs tale relate ; 
 If chance, by lonely Contemplation led, 
 Some kindred Spirit (hall enquire thy fate. 
 
 Haply fome hoary headed Swain may fay, 
 'Oft have we feen him at the peep of dawn 
 4 Brufhing with hafty fteps the dews away 
 ' To meet the fun upon the upland lawn. 
 
 * There at the foot of yonder nodding beech 
 * That wreaths its old fantaftic roots fo high, 
 ' His liftlefs length at noontide would he flretch, 
 ' And pore upon the brook that babbles by[|. 
 
 c Hard by yon wood, now fmiling as in fcorn, 
 ( Muttering his wayward fancies he would rove ; 
 ' Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, 
 ' Or craz'd with care, or cros'd in hopelefs love. 
 
 ' One morn I mis'd him on the cuftom'd hill, 
 ' Along the heath, and near his favourite tree : 
 ' Another came; nor yet befide the rill, 
 ' Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he ; 
 
 The 
 
 * Whatever caft our Jot has borne, when we die we wilh to be rerr.cn -.1. . - 
 ed ] and this is to univerfal a wi'v, that we find it even bieathe trom t he 
 dying lips of the vile : criminal. 
 
 The following It an /.a appeared in the '~:;i\ edition, but has fince been omittei 
 j'| Kim have we feen the green \vi >d lide along, 
 
 While o'er the heath we paft, our labour done, 
 Oft as the wood-lark pip'd her farcwcl Lng, 
 With wiltfu! eyes purfuc t'ue fitting fun.
 
 GRAYs's ELEGY. 41 
 
 1 The next with dirges due in fad array, 
 4 Slow thro' the church-way path we faw him borne, 
 * Approach and read (for thou canft read) the lay, 
 Grav'd on the ftone beneath yon aged thorn. 
 
 m 
 
 THE 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 HERE refts his head upon the lap of Earth, 
 A Youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown, 
 Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth, 
 And Melancholy mark'd him for her own. 
 
 Large was his bounty, and his foul fincere, 
 Heaven did a recommence as largely fend : 
 He gave to Mifery all he had, a tear; 
 He gain'd from Heaven ('twas all he wifh'd) a friend^. 
 
 No farther leek his merits to difclofe, 
 Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, 
 (There they alike in trembling hope repofe,) 
 The bofoni of his Father and his God. 
 
 Poor is the friendleft matter of a world, 
 A world in puichale tor a friend is ^ain. 
 
 F I N I S.
 
 SEklOUS AND CANDID 
 
 OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ON THAT PART OF THE 
 
 BISHOP OF LINCOLN'S WORK, 
 
 ENTITLED 
 
 Elements of Christian Theology* 
 
 WHICH CONTAINS HIS 
 
 LORDSHIP'S EXPOSITION 
 Seventeenth Article of the Church of England. 
 
 TO WHICH 13 ANNEXED 
 
 Bishop Heveridge s 
 
 EXPOSITION of the SAME ARTICLE. 
 
 IN A LETTER 
 
 From an Old Christian in the Country, 
 To his Friend in London. 
 
 Hottjon : 
 
 PRINTED FOR W . ROW, GREAT MARLBOROUGH 
 
 STREET, AND J. PARSONS, PATERNOSTER ROW, 
 
 BY W. SMITH, KING STREET, SEVEN DIALS. 
 
 [[price one shilling.] 
 
 1800.
 
 SPEEDILY WILL BE PUBLISHED, 
 
 The Liturgy 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND 
 
 EXPLAINED and VINDICATED, 
 
 So as to appear in perfeeJ Harmony with the 
 
 Scriptures, and very far distant from the Arminian 
 
 System. 
 
 Now first printed from the Manuscripts of 
 
 AUGUSTUS TOPLADY, 
 
 BY THE EDITOR OF HIS WORKS,
 
 Address to the Reader. 
 
 
 JL HE following letter was sent by an 
 unknown person in the Country, to a 
 gentleman in London ; and by him to 
 the publisher. The letter exhibits the 
 marks of age, of sound gospel know- 
 ledge, and genuine experience; on 
 which accounts, it certainly demands 
 reverence and attention. The reason- 
 ing is calm and dispassionate ; the 
 thoughts plain and well conceived: 
 and although there is nothing striking 
 or elegant in the composition, yet the 
 language is clear and expressive; and 
 proves that the Old Calvin ist, is a 
 man of grace and of good understand- 
 ing
 
 ( 4 ) 
 ing, as well as no babe in the Elements 
 of Christian Theology. 
 
 To the annexed letter is subjoined 
 Bishop Beveridge's Scriptural Exposi- 
 tion on the Seventeenth Article of our 
 Church, chiefly on account of the 
 valuable quotations he makes from the 
 Fathers. 
 
 This Bishop's own authority is of it- 
 self highly estimable, as he was a prelate 
 of the most exalted piety, and cannot 
 be suspecled of being either credulous 
 or illiterate, for he understood nine 
 languages, most of them oriental. 
 
 Veneration and affection for the church 
 of England, have been the occasion of 
 printing the subsequent pages, 
 
 - I. . 
 
 S E R I O U 3
 
 SERIOUS AND CANDID 
 
 OBSERVATIONS, &c. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I 
 
 Take the liberty of repre- 
 senting to you, whom I conceive to be 
 a friend to the grace of the gospel, some 
 thoughts which have occured to me, on 
 reading the Bishop of Lincoln's Expo- 
 sition of the 17th Article of the English 
 Church. You will find what I allude to 
 in his second volume of " Elements of 
 Christian Theology." I am induced to 
 do this, from the perusal of the Anti- 
 Jacobin Review, and several modern 
 publications, which assert, boldly and 
 B confidentlv,
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 Confidently, as well as the learned 
 Bishop, That the Articles of the Church 
 of England are not Calvinistical. 
 
 If you look at the article in the Com- 
 mon Prayer Book, you will observe, 
 that Predestination is defined to be, 
 " The everlasting purpose of God, 
 " whereby he has constantly decreed 
 " by his counsel, before the foundation 
 " of the world, which is secret to us, 
 " to deliver from curse and damnation, 
 " those whom he hath chosen in Christ 
 " out of mankind, and to bring them 
 " by Christ to everlasting salvation as 
 " vessels made to honour." 
 
 Here is most plainly described the 
 objetl of this decree or purpose, those 
 whom God hath chosen out of man- 
 kind; the objeel of it then could not 
 be, all mankind. 
 
 Here is the state, they were foreseen 
 to be in, when chosen in Christ, they 
 
 were
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 were liable to a curse and damnation; 
 and here is the means by which they 
 are to be brought to everlasting life, 
 (( by Christ," through whom they were 
 to be rendered as vessels to honour. 
 
 Upon this benefit of* predestination 
 does the article suspend their calling 
 by the Spirit of God; their obedience 
 to the call; their free justification; 
 their adoption; their being made like 
 the image of God's dear Son; their 
 walking religiously, in good works; and 
 at length their attaining, through God's 
 mercy, everlasting felicity. The article 
 evidently makes the good pleasure of 
 God in predestinating them, the first 
 and sole efficient cause of all the bles- 
 sings of salvation which they ever 
 enjoy. Was not this exactly Paul's idea? 
 " Whom he did predestinate, them he 
 also called ; and whom he called, them 
 he also justified : and whom he justified, 
 them he also glorified." Rom. viii. 2. 
 
 B 2 I should
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 I should think, Sir, no unprejudiced 
 man, who understands language, can 
 read the article with an upright mind, 
 without acknowledging this to be the 
 sense of it. I apprehend, it is impos- 
 sible, that words should be more ex- 
 pressive of the following do&rine. That 
 the cause of man's salvation originates 
 solely in the sovereign purpose or mere 
 good pleasure of the Deity; that some 
 chosen out of the rest of mankind are 
 the subjects of it; that these were 
 viewed, when their salvation was pre- 
 destinated, as under a curse, and ex- 
 posed to damnation ; for it would be 
 absurd to suppose that God decreed to 
 deliver them from that to which they 
 were not exposed. 
 
 It surprised me, when I perused the 
 learned Bishop's interpretation; it ap- 
 peared one of the most astonishing in- 
 stances of the perversion of language, 
 and distortion of the sense of a para- 
 graph, that I ever met with; and were 
 
 it
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 it not for a consideration of the imper^ 
 fections of the human mind in some 
 of the most distinguished characters, I 
 should be at a loss to reconcile it with 
 common sense or common honesty. 
 The Bishop writes, " God decreed the 
 redemption of mankind, through Christ, 
 before the foundation of the world." 
 The article has it, (t some whom God 
 has chosen out of mankind." His Lord- 
 ship goes on " This redemption was 
 to be in the nature of a covenant, be- 
 tween God and man, and the salvation 
 of every individual was to depend 
 on his observance of the proposed 
 conditions." The article affims, Their 
 obeying the divine call, and performing 
 the several duties of the christian life, 
 is owing to the benefit of predestination 
 or election. The Bishop evidently hinges 
 it on the will of the individual, or his 
 performing the conditions of the cove- 
 nant. How different are these ideas ! 
 As different as Sinai and Zion, the being 
 saved by one's own works, and the 
 
 being
 
 ( JO ) 
 
 being saved by grace through faith unto 
 good works. The Bishop adds" Those, 
 who, he foresaw, would perform the 
 conditions of the covenant, may be said 
 to be predestinated unto life, for whom 
 he did foreknow, he also did predesti- 
 nate." That is, whom he did foresee, 
 would perform the conditions of the 
 covenant. But, I apprehend, his Lord- 
 ship should have read on, and then he 
 would have seen the futility of his in- 
 terpretation. For those whom he did 
 foreknow, were predestinated to be 
 conformed to the image of God's Son ; 
 which, I think, plainly implies, that 
 they were not thus conformed, when 
 foreknown and chosen or predestinated. 
 For if they were so conformed to Jesus 
 when viewed and chosen, what occasion 
 was there for the purpose decree, or 
 determination of God, to destine them 
 to this similarity or likeness to his Son? 
 So it reads in Ephesians, " According 
 as he has chosen us in him before the 
 foundation of the world, that we should 
 
 be
 
 ( 11 ) 
 
 fee holy and without blame before him* 
 in love." Does not this imply they were 
 not so, when viewed by God in his 
 eternal decree and ehosen in Christ? 
 
 However, it appears to his Lordship 
 " that his interpretation of the article is 
 the only sense in which predestination 
 is reconcileable with the attributes of 
 God, and the free agency of man.'* 
 And again his Lordship writes, " For we 
 cannot conceive that a being of infinite 
 justice and mercy, would arbitrarily 
 select out of his rational creatures a de- 
 terminative number, on whom he would 
 bestow the blessing of eternal happinefs, 
 while he consigned all the rest to eter- 
 nal punishment, or passed them over 
 as unworthy his regard and attention. 
 Such an idea of election ought surely 
 to be rejected." 
 
 Alas! alas! what mean notions must 
 this Christian Bishop have of the grace 
 of the gospel ! According to him it is 
 
 only
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 only justice, for he supposes God would 
 be unjust, if he chose only some of 
 mankind, (and not all,) as the article 
 specifies. But let us recollect ourselves, 
 and examine the Bishop's doclrine. 
 Can it be in a bad sense an arbitrary aft, 
 or unjust, for the Deity to chuse some 
 only out of the number of his rational 
 creatures, who had so rebelled against 
 him as to be justly exposed to his wrath? 
 If mankind were not so lost, as to be 
 righteously condemned and equitably 
 liable to punishment, then justice and 
 rectitude require that they should not 
 be punished and miserable. But will 
 the Bishop affirm that mankind are 
 upon the whole so good as that they do 
 not righteously merit the wrath of God 
 and the pains of the infernal world? 
 Then they do not need a Saviour nor 
 his salvation. For why should the Son 
 of God come to save men, whom it 
 would have been unjust in God to 
 punish? Should not his Lordship ob- 
 ject to the position, that all mankind are 
 
 justly
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 justly exposed to the wrath of God f 
 and the miseries of the infernal world, 
 On the account of their sins; then I 
 argue, if any are left out of the divine 
 purpose of salvation by faith and obe- 
 dience through Christ Jesus, the learned 
 Bishop cannot say, it was a base arbi- 
 trary act. in the Deity, or any ways un- 
 just to pass them by. Had they any 
 claim on the righteous Governor of the 
 world? Could they say, we deserve 
 not thy wrath ? Yea, can those who are 
 saved by Christ Jesus say so? If they 
 had any claim of right upon the Deity 
 to be delivered from hell and misery, 
 God's choice of them was not the mere 
 good pleasure of his will. Grace 
 was not the source of their salvation. 
 God does not show mercy, on whom 
 he will show mercy, but he does only 
 that which he is bound in righteoufnefs 
 to do ! 
 
 I could refer his Lordship to the inter- 
 pretation of this article by Archbishop 
 C Whitgift,
 
 ( '4 ) 
 
 Whitgift, Dr. Fletcher, Bishop of Lon- 
 don, Dr. Mutton, Archbishop of York, 
 and divers others. Let his Lordship 
 refer to the Lambeth Articles in 1595. 
 The time would fail me to adduce nu- 
 merous others of the Church of Eng- 
 land, eminent for their learning and 
 sagacity, who thus understand the 
 article. 
 
 Whatever Burnett, Pyle and others 
 may suggest who disliked the doctrine, 
 the sense which has been given was 
 the meaning of the compilers, and no 
 other grammatical sense can be fairly 
 given. 
 
 But without having any regard to the 
 authority of great characters, there are, 
 as I conceive, but two schemes of di- 
 vinity, however they may be diversi- 
 fied, the one originating from the good 
 pleasure or sovereign will of the Deity; 
 the other taking its rise in the will of 
 man, or in some betterness of character 
 
 which
 
 ( >5 ) 
 
 which is supposed to make one man 
 more worthy of the divine favour 
 than 'another. The one is St. Paul's, of 
 salvation by grace through faith, and 
 that not of ourselves, it is the gift of 
 God ; not of works lest any man should 
 boast. The other, which seems to be the 
 Bishop's, of works, or of him that wil- 
 ieth, and obtains something by his ef- 
 forts which others have not obtained. 
 Though upon the scheme of works, if 
 the subject be closely pursued, it will 
 appear in the issue, that they who have 
 this betterness of character in the case 
 before supposed, must have had some 
 advantages of nature, education or con- 
 nexion, arbitrarily given them by the 
 God of providence, which those other- 
 wise disposed did not possess. But 
 waving this, on the two schemes, that 
 of grace and works, turned the dispute 
 between the reformers and the de- 
 fenders of the popish system. All the 
 venerable Bishops, during the time of 
 Edward VI. and Oueen Elizabeth, al- 
 most to a man, understood the article 
 C 2 as
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 as I have explained it, and were for 
 building the whole fabric of man's 
 salvation on the good pleasure of the 
 Deity, and on nothing in the creature. 
 
 Regeneration, justification, and effec- 
 tual calling, as these are* acts of God in 
 time, all of them depend on the doctrine 
 of the 17th article. For, I suppose, the 
 Deity does nothing in time, he did not 
 intend to do from all eternity. I do not 
 conceive that he has any new thoughts 
 on subjects as man has. 
 
 If these Christian blessings are the 
 result of divine grace, or mere benevo- 
 lence to men, not depending on any 
 exertions or prerequisites in human 
 characters, then the doctrine of the 
 article must necessarily follow. 
 
 The Bishop supposes the free agency 
 of man will be injured, if the sense of 
 the article, which has been given, be 
 admitted. Surely his Lordship has not 
 
 sufficiently
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 sufficiently investigated this subject. My 
 conceptions of free agency are as follow. 
 Every man does what he pleases, within 
 the power of his natural abilities, and 
 without any external constraint. The 
 wicked man who rejects the gospel, acts 
 &s freely as the good man, who is in- 
 fluenced by the Spirit of God to em- 
 brace it, and live under its heavenly 
 guidance. 
 
 The question is, whether any man, 
 as human nature now is circumstanced, 
 would see and receive the gospel of 
 Christ so as to be saved by it, without 
 divine teaching and influence? Or will 
 the Bishop deny, that it is in the power 
 of the Deity so to influence by the 
 evidence of revealed truth, the mind 
 of any man if it so pleaseth him, as 
 that he shall give up all his prejudices, 
 receive the gospel of Christ, and sub- 
 mit chearfully to Ins authority? This 
 is what I apprehend the reformers 
 meant by invincible or irresistible 
 
 grace,
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 grace ; not that it may not for a time 
 J3e opposed by the prejudiced human 
 mind, hut that it should overcome in 
 the issue all resistance, by the force of 
 revealed truth and the beauty and 
 harms of gospel grace. 
 
 The writers of the Anti-Jacobin Re- 
 view boldly assert, the articles of the 
 Church of England are not Calvinisti- 
 cal. And when thev speak of this sys- 
 tem, always add some dismal epithet 
 in their usual declamatory mode of 
 defaming, as gloomy or horrible Cal- 
 vinism. It may appear gloomy to them, 
 who do not understand it, but the 
 most happy, holy, and pious Christians 
 of every denomination that I know, 
 are those who are Calvinists. Calvin 
 himself, though he was exposed to the 
 error, that all the reformers brought 
 with them from Rome, I mean the 
 calling in the sword of the civil power 
 to support their religion and punish 
 heretics, a sentiment which I detest, as 
 
 being
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 feeing contrary to the genius of the gos- 
 jpel and the rights of conscience ; yet 
 was comfortable in his own mind, chear- 
 fui, pious, and holy, and it must be 
 Owned by all who are acquainted with 
 the reformation, that he did more by 
 his elegant and judicious writings to 
 support it, than any other man. So- 
 tinians have acknowledged that he was 
 the first commentator in these later 
 ages, who expounded the scripture in 
 its connexion. I hope the Anti-Jacobin 
 writers will avoid every thing of Cal- 
 vin's spirit of persecution, in their op- 
 position to the evangelical clergy and 
 itinerant preaching. 
 
 Though, Sir, I may perhaps boast, 
 that my character in the world is as in- 
 offensive and good as the Bishop's, yet 
 my sense of the e\ ii of my sins in the 
 sight of God is so just and affecting, 
 that I can plead nothing before him but 
 the same grace which saved the thief 
 Upon the cross, the persecuting Paul, 
 
 and
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 and the abandoned Corinthians. And 
 this is as free for the Bishop or any other 
 sinner that sees it, as for me, therefore 
 1 have nothing whereof to boast before 
 God or man on this topic. 
 
 I will now conclude this long letter 
 with five remarks taken from a late 
 publication on the doclrine of particular 
 eleclion, which contain my sentiments 
 on the subject. 
 
 1. The doclrine of predeftination or 
 particular election, viewed in a scrip- 
 tural light, is rather calculated to en- 
 courage hope than despair; as every 
 one that believes the truth of the gospel in 
 its genuine import, and acts under its in~ 
 fluence, can have no just reason to 
 question his eternal election of God. 
 
 2. No professors can know their 
 election but by their calling, or by their 
 sanctirication of the Spirit and belief 
 of the truth, through which Christians- 
 are said to be chosen unto salvation. 
 
 3- ^
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 3. It must on all schemes be allowed 
 to be a certainty in the divine mind 
 and in the nature of things, who of 
 mankind will in the event be saved, 
 and who condemned; there can then 
 in reality be no more just foundation 
 for obje&ing to the scriptural do&rine 
 of eternal personal election, as tending 
 to generate inactivity and despondency 
 than there is to object on the same ac- 
 count to theabsolute certainty of the 
 divine prescience. 
 
 4. As God has determined to save a 
 certain number of fallen mankind, and 
 the event is absolutely certain (though 
 none can tell how many and who they 
 are) this gives the greatest encourage- 
 ment and countenance to christians, 
 believing parents, and ministers of the 
 gospel, to hold forth the truth freely 
 and fully to all with whom they are 
 connected, as they have opportunity, 
 since its taking effecl: depends not prima- 
 rily on the will of man, but on the good 
 
 D pleasure
 
 ( 22 J 
 
 pleasure of the Deity; and it is known 4 
 from revelation, that many under his 
 blessing will receive it and be saved. 
 
 5. The free and indefinite proclama- 
 tions of the gospel, which address them- 
 selves to every human being wherever 
 it comes, announcing pardon, justifica- 
 tion, and life to everyone that believeth, 
 are by no means inconsistent with the 
 doctrine of particular election, for it is 
 by them the elect; are called, comforted, 
 and sanctified; and no person can be 
 assured, they are not of the election of 
 grace, but by their continuing to reject 
 the kind counsel of God in the gospel, 
 against themselves to the end of their 
 lives. 
 
 You are at liberty to' do with this 
 letter, whatever you think proper, if 
 you should judge it to be calculated for 
 any kind of usefulness. 
 
 Your's respectfully, 
 
 AN OLD CALVINIST.
 
 ^- -.,-:. . or . - 
 
 BISHOP BEVERIDGE's 
 
 SCRIPTURAL EXPOSITION 
 
 Of THE 
 
 Seventeetb Article of the Church of England. 
 
 OF PREDESTINATION AND ELECTION. 
 
 Predestination to life, is the everlasting 
 purpose of God , whereby (before the foun- 
 dations of the -world were laid) he hath 
 constantly decreed by his council \ secret 
 to us, to deliver from curse and dam- 
 nation, those whom he hath chosen in 
 Christ out of mankind, and to bring them 
 by Christ to everlasting salvation, as ves- 
 sels made to honour. 
 
 D 2 Though
 
 ( 2 4 ) 
 
 Though in the other articles we may 
 make use of reason as well as scripture 
 and fathers, yet in this we mufl make 
 use of scripture and fathers only, and 
 not of reason. For as the ordinary 
 priests were not to enter into the holy 
 of holies, so neither is carnal reason to 
 venture upon this mystery of mysteries. 
 For it concerns God's predestination, 
 which must needs be infinitely above 
 man's apprehension. So that a cockle- 
 fish may as soon croud the ocean into 
 its narrow shell, as vain man ever com- 
 prehend the decrees of God. And 
 hence it is that both in public and 
 private, I have still endeavoured to shun 
 discourses of this nature : and now that 
 I am unavoidably fallen upon it, I shall 
 speak as little as possibly I can unto it; 
 and in that little I shall speak to, I shall 
 labour to make use of as few of my 
 own words as by any means I can, 
 speaking nothing concerning this great 
 mystery, but what scripture and fathers 
 have expressly. delivered unto us. * 
 
 Sd. 
 
 * Sec note at the end.
 
 ( 2 5 1 
 
 So much therefore of this article as I 
 have transcribed, contains an excel- 
 lent description of election or predes- 
 tination to life, exactly consonant to the 
 doclrine delivered by St. Paul to the 
 Ephesians, in these words: " Accord- 
 ing as he hath chosen us in him before 
 the foundation of the world, that we 
 may be holy and without blame before 
 him in love : having predestinated us 
 unto the adoption of children by Jesus 
 Christ, to himself, according to the good 
 pleasure of his will, to the praise of the 
 glory of his grace, wherein he hath 
 made us accepted in the beloved," 
 Eph. i. 4, 5, 6. And to Timothy in 
 these words, " Who hath saved us and 
 called us with an holy calling, not ac- 
 cording to our works, but according to 
 his own purpose and grace, which was 
 given us in Christ Jesus, before the 
 world began," 2 Tim. i. 9. 
 
 And what the apostle did here deliver 
 from God, the primitive church learned 
 and taught from him, St. Augustine 
 
 expressly.
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 expressly. 't Before he made us, he 
 foreknew us, and he chose us in his, 
 foreknowledge when he had not as yet 
 made us. But by whom could this be 
 done, but by him, who calls those 
 things that are not, as if they were? 
 For the apostle saifh, Who chose us 
 before the foundation qf the world. 
 
 Though it appears that we are made 
 within the world, yet we were chosen 
 before the world. And again, " Out 
 of those to whom the righteous severity 
 had adjudged punishment, according 
 to the inexpressible mercy of his hid- 
 den dispensation, he chose out vessels 
 which he might fit for honour." And 
 elsewhere, " Firmly believe, and by 
 no means doubt, that the Trinity, the 
 unchangeable God, the certain Fore- 
 knower of all things and w r orks, both 
 his own and men's, before all worlds, 
 did know to whom he would give grace 
 by faith. Without which, none from 
 the beginning of the world to the end 
 
 of
 
 ( 2 7 ) 
 
 of it, can be absolved from the guilt of 
 his sin, original and a&ual; for those 
 whom God foreknew, he did also pre- 
 destinate to be conformable to the image 
 of his Son." 
 
 And thus Prosper also, " The pre- 
 destination of God, no catholic person 
 denieth, &c. But the faith of pre- 
 destination is confirmed from the mani- 
 fold authories of holy scriptures, to 
 which it is not lawful, by any means, to 
 ascribe those things, that are wickedly 
 done by men, who came into that 
 proneness to fall, not from the creation 
 of God, but from the sin or prevarica- 
 tion of the first parent: From the 
 punishment of which, none is freed, 
 but by the grace of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, prepared and predestinated in 
 the eternal council of God, before the 
 foundation of the world." 
 
 Fulgentiiis hath also delivered his 
 opinion very clearly in this case ; " For 
 
 God
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 God, saith he, who made man, did 
 himself prepare in his predestination, 
 both the gift of illumination to believe, 
 and the gift of perseverance to profit 
 and persevere, and the gift of glorifi- 
 cation to reign, for such to whom he 
 pleased to give it : Who also doth not 
 any otherwise perform indeed, than 
 was ordained by his unchangeable will. 
 The truth of which predestination, 
 whereby the apostle witnesseth we were 
 predestinated in Christ, before the foun- 
 dation of the world, if any one refuse 
 to receive with the belief of the heart, 
 or to utter with the confession of the 
 mouth, if before the last day of this 
 present life he doth not lay aside 
 the obstinacy of his impiety, whereby 
 as a rebel he withstandeth the true and 
 living God; it is manifest that he doth, 
 not belong unto the number of those, 
 which God did, before the foundation, 
 of the world, freely chuse in Christ, 
 and predestinated unio the kingdom. 
 
 And
 
 ( *9 ) 
 
 And so I pass on to what follows in the 
 Article. 
 
 Wherefore they which be endued with so 
 excellent a benefit of God, be called ac- 
 cording to God's purpose, by his Spirit 
 working in due season : they through 
 grace obey the calling : they be justified 
 freely : they be made sons of God by 
 adoption : they be made like the image of 
 his only begotten Son Jesus Christ : they 
 walk religiously in good works, and at 
 length, by God's mercy, they attain to 
 everlasting felicity. 
 
 After predestination itself described, 
 here we have a description of such 
 as are predestinated, leading them from 
 grace to grace, and at length conduct- 
 ing them into glory. All which is vir- 
 tually, if not expresslv contained in 
 that excellent passage of the apostle 
 E to
 
 ( #> ) 
 
 to this purpose, from whence t sup- 
 pose this part of the article was taken * 
 where he saith, " For whom he did 
 Foreknow, he did also predestinate to 
 be conformed to the image of his Son, 
 that he might be the first-born among 
 many brethren! moreover whom he 
 did predestinate, them he also called , 
 and whom he called, them he also jus- 
 tified; and whom he justified, them he 
 also glorified," Rom. viii. 29, 30* which 
 words St. Augustine having repeated > 
 concludes, " Of these that are pre- 
 destinated none shall perish with the 
 devil, none of them shall remain under 
 the power of the devil unto death." 
 And the same father again, or as others 
 think Fulgentius, to the same purpose. 
 u Firmly believe* and do not doubt, 
 but that all that God of his bountiful 
 goodness made vessels of mercy, were 
 predestinated of God, before the foun- 
 dation of the world* unto the adoption 
 of the children of God ; and that 
 
 neither
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 neither any of them, whom God pre- 
 destinated to the kingdom of heaven 
 can perish, nor any of those whom he 
 did not predestinate unto life can be 
 saved, for that predestination is the 
 preparation of the free gift, whereby 
 the apostle saith, We are predestinated 
 unto the adoption of the children of 
 God by Jesus Christ to himself." And 
 so doth Bradwardin the Profound also 
 say, " Predestination is the eternal 
 preparation by the will of God, of 
 final grace in the way, and eternal 
 happiness in the country for a reason- 
 able creature." But to proceed ; 
 
 As the godly consideration of predesti- 
 nation and our election in Christ, is full 
 of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable com- 
 fort to godly persons, and such as feel 
 in themselves the Spirit of Christ, mor- 
 tifying the works of the jlesh, and their 
 E 2 earthL
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 earthly members, and drawing up their 
 mind to high and heavenly things, as well 
 because it doth greatly establish and con- 
 firm their faith of eternal salvation, to 
 be enjoyed through Christ, as because it 
 d^th fervently kindle their love towards 
 God, So for curious and carnal persons 
 lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have con- 
 tinually before their eyes the sentence of 
 God's predestination, is a most dangerous 
 doxmfal, whereby the devil doth thrust 
 them either into desperation, or into 
 wretchlessness of most unclean living, no 
 less perilous than desperation. 
 
 Furthermore, we must receive God's 
 promises in such wise as they be generally 
 set forth to us in holy scripture. And in 
 our doings, that will of God is to be fol- 
 lowed, which xce have expressly declared 
 
 unto us in the word of God. 
 
 In
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 In which words there are several 
 things briefly to be considered: First, 
 that to good, holy and religious per- 
 sons, the godly consideration of this 
 doclrine of our election in Christ is full 
 of sweet, pleasant and unspeakable 
 comfort, which we see verified in the 
 example of St. Paul, who having con- 
 sidered the truth of this mystery, im- 
 mediately triumphs with joy and com- 
 fort, crying out, " What shall we say 
 then to these things? If God be for us, 
 who can be against us? Who shall lay 
 any thing to the charge of God's elect? 
 It is God that justified!," Rom. viii. 
 31, 33. Not, who shall lay any thing 
 to the charge of God's people, or of 
 God's servants ? but " who shall lay 
 any thing to the charge of God's elect?" 
 If God hath elected us, it is in vain for 
 men or devils to accuse us: if he be 
 our friend, it is in vain for any one to 
 be our foe. But, 
 
 Secondly,
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 Secondly, Though the godly con- 
 sideration of this do&rine, is the ground 
 of great consolation to the godly, yet 
 for curious and carnal persons to have 
 it continually before their eyes, is a 
 most dangerous downfal, whereby the 
 devil doth thrust them either first into 
 desperation; and so indeed had Su 
 Augustine no sooner explained and 
 confirmed this great doctrine, but 
 Hilarius Arelatensis sends him word, 
 that some were so moved with it, that 
 they say desperation was held forth to 
 men by it ; or secondly, into wretch- 
 lessness of most unclean living, no less 
 perilous than desperation; a sad ex- 
 ample of which St Augustine relates. 
 For, saith he " There was a certain 
 it. an in our monastry, who being re- 
 proved by his brethren because he 
 would do some things that he should 
 not do, and not do some things which 
 he should do, he peremptorily answered, 
 " Whatsoever I am now, I shall be such 
 
 a one
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 & one as God foreknew I would be." 
 Who truly fsaith the father) both said 
 true, and yet this truth did not turn to 
 good, but it so turned to evil, that 
 leaving the society of the monastry, he 
 became a dog that returned to his 
 Vomit ; and yet what he may be here- 
 after, it is uncertain. And* 
 
 Lastly, It is here very opportunely 
 added, that " we must receive God's 
 promises as they be generally set forth 
 in holy scripture." Though they are 
 but some that God hath elecled, yet 
 his promises are made unto all. " Come 
 unto me all ye that are weary and 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest," 
 Mat. xi. 28. And " Whosoever be- 
 lieveth in him, shall not perish, but 
 have everlasting life," John iii. 16. In 
 the application of which and the like 
 promises, we must not have respect to 
 the eternity of God's purpose, but to 
 the universality of his promise. His 
 
 promises
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 promises are made to all, and therefore 
 are all bound to lay hold upon his pro- 
 mises. And as we are to receive his 
 promises, so are we also to obey his 
 precepts as made to all. So that in all 
 our doings, the will of God is to be 
 followed, as we have it expressly de- 
 clared us in his word. Not con- 
 sidering whether God elected me from 
 eternity, but whether I obey him in 
 time : if I obey him in time, I may 
 certainly conclude that he elected me 
 from eternity. And thus do I find 
 St. Augustine advising this doctrine to 
 be so published, as that men may not 
 thereby be brought off, but rather 
 spurred on to obedience. " It is of 
 too much contention therefore, saith 
 he, either to deny predestination, or to 
 doubt of predestination : which not- 
 withstanding is not to be so preached 
 to the people, that it may seem amongst 
 the unskilful and dull-sighted multitude 
 to be reprehended in its being preached. 
 
 As
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 As the foreknowledge of God seems to 
 be reprehended, which they certainly 
 cannot deny, if it be said to men 
 whether you run or sleep, what he that 
 cannot be deceived foreknew you would 
 be, that you will be. But it is the part 
 of a deceitful or unskilful physician to 
 apply a profitable medicine, so as that 
 it either do no good, or else harm. 
 But we must say, " So run, that ye 
 may obtain ;" and in your very run- 
 ning, you shall know that ye were so 
 foreknown, that you would run law- 
 fully; and so if there be any other 
 wav that the foreknowledge pf God 
 can be preached, whereby the idleness 
 of man may be repelled. And in the 
 next chapter, " And that way which 
 we told him that speaks to the people, 
 he ought to use in the preaching of pre- 
 destination, I do not think it sufficient, 
 unless he adds this or something like 
 it, so as to say, You therefore ought to 
 hope for this perseverance in obedience 
 
 F from
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 from the Father of lights, from whbrri 
 cometh every good and perfect gift, 
 and desire it in your daily prayers : 
 and in doing this, to trust that you are 
 not strangers from the predestination 
 of his people, because it is he that 
 enabled you to do this. But be it far 
 from you therefore to despair of your- 
 selves, because you are commanded 
 to put your trust in him, and not in 
 yourselves. " For cursed be every 
 man that putteth his hope in man ; and 
 it is good to trust in the Lord, rather 
 than to trust in man, because blessed 
 are they that put their trust in him. 
 And having this hope, do you serve 
 the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
 trembling." And thus doth this rever- 
 end father annex the same caution to 
 this doctrine of predestination, that 
 after him our reverend convocation 
 did; even that for all the truth of that 
 dodrine, we are still to hope in God's 
 promises and obey his precepts. Or 
 
 as
 
 (. 39 ) 
 
 as it is here expressed^ " We must 
 receive Gold's promises as they be 
 generally set forth in the holy scrip- 
 ture: and in our doings, that will of 
 God is to be followed, which we have 
 expressly declared unto us in the word 
 of God." 
 
 * Although this great and good Bishop assures us, 
 that he always spoke of the high dodhines of divine 
 decrees with the utmost caution, and only as the 
 subject came occasionally in his way; yet it clearly 
 appears from this exposition of the seventeenth article, 
 that he had not an idea of its being of dubious im- 
 port, and liable to be accommodated to the different 
 sentiments of different subscribers: but that taking it 
 in its original, plain, literal, grammatical sense, not 
 drawing it aside any way (according to the royal 
 declaration prefixed) it could not possibly be under- 
 stood in any other view; than as perfectly Calvinisti- 
 cal; much less that it would admit of an interpre- 
 tation as diametrically opposite to that sense, as the 
 terms universal and limited, all mankind, and a selec- 
 tion out of mankind, are to each other. And that 
 both Scripture and Fathers most clearly avow, and 
 maintain the fame doctrine of Predestination and 
 Election as the Church of England does, our godly 
 learned prelate positively affirms and proves.
 
 - . w 
 ^he following BOOKS may be had of 
 W. ROW, Great Marlborough Street 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 i The Church of England Vindicated from the Charge 
 of Arminianism price 3s. 
 
 s Historic Proof of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the 
 Church of England: including a brief Account ct" 
 eminent Persons before and since the Reformation; 
 more especially of our English Reformers, Martyrs, 
 Prelates, . Universities, &c. with a Specimen of 
 their Testimonies. Also a Review of the Rife and 
 Progress of Arminianism in England, under the 
 Patronage of Archbishop Laud by Augustus Top- 
 lady, A. B. late Vicar of Broad Hembury a new 
 edit- 2 vol. 8yo. 10s. boards 
 
 3 The Works of ^Augustus Toplady, 6 voL 8vo. price 
 
 lit 19s. in boards" ' 
 
 4 An Apology for Brotherly Love, and for the Doctrines 
 
 of the Church ,of England, in a Series of Letters 
 to the Rev. Mr. Daubney, occasioned by his Pub- 
 lication, entitled, A Guide to the Church of Eng- 
 landby Sir Richard Hill, Bart. 
 
 5 Reformation Truth Restored, being a Reply to the 
 
 Rev. Mr. Daubney's Appendix to his Guide to the 
 Church by Sir Richard Hill, Bar*. 4s. 
 
 6 Daubenism Confuted and Martin Luther Vindicated, 
 
 with further Remarks oh the False Quotations ad- 
 duced by the Rev. Charles Daubney, in a Letter to 
 that Gentlemen by Sir Richard Hill, Bart. is. 
 
 7 Christ Crucified the Distinguishing Topic of the 
 
 Gospel. A Treatise in Vindication of some of the 
 mest important, Doctrines of Revelation, by Richard 
 De Courcy, A. M. Vicar of St. Alkmond's, Shrews- 
 bury 
 
 8 Principles of Elocution and Suitable Exercises, or 
 
 Elegant Extracts in Prose and Verse, comprehending 
 numerous Examples of Narration, Description, In- 
 struction, and the different Species of Eloquence, 
 intermixed with Remarks on the various Kinds of 
 Composition, and Rules for Reading and Reciting 
 *hem, by John Wilson, 3s. 6d. bound 
 
 I-jnisu; frinud by W. SMITH, K'u.j S:icet, S^cr d:*!s- 
 
 8f
 
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 * 
 
 w 
 
 m 
 
 m LG 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 uc southern'regional library facility 
 
 AA 000 079 210 1