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Reafons for a Parliamentary Interference to Check Smuggling.

THE

HERE is nothing fo loudly calls for purchase the articles for fmuggling, from the vigorous interference of the Le-our rivals in trade, with the coin of the gislature, as the present ftate of fmuggling country, or with bills of exchange, or in this country; not only for the fake of raw wool. Smuggling corrupts our fea revenue and morality, but for the fake of men, who are become vifibly less attached trade, it is abfolutely neceffary, ftrong to their country; it habituates them to measures thould be adopted. It will fight against their country; it gives them hardly, be found practicable to check the the expectation of higher wages, which, evil, unless duties are in part lowered, exclufive of the expence, is mischievous, and the Parliament can reconcile itfelf to rendering them idle and debauched; these fome of thofe neceffary feverities which lawlefs perfons facrificing one principle, are exercifed against fmugglers in other readily give up all others, and in time of countries. Illicit practices ruin the com- war take part with the enemy; betray merce of the country in the hands of the their country by carrying intelligence; fit fair merchant, and promotes additional their veffels as privateers commiffioned by burthens upon the people at large. There the enemy; at the fame time fmuggling is good foundation for faying, that if all on the coaft, and capturing British veffels. the articles liable to pay duty, and con- Thefe were, in a great meafure the Amefumed among us, did pay duty, the re- rican privateers which appeared in thefe venue would be increafed two millions at feas in the late war, several of them even leaft; and in addition to the mischief, now carrying upwards of 20 guns, are fmuggling is, in a very fmall degree, a the prefent fmuggling veffels. trade of barter. Those concerned in it,

Religion of the Ruffians; Ruffian Clergy; Ceremony of Confecrating

ON

the Waters.

From Richardson's Letters.

Religion of the Ruffians.

N no confiderarion would a Ruffian peafant omit his faftings, the bending of his body, and the regularity of his attendance on facred rites: fcourge him if you will, yet you cannot oblige him to erofs himself with more than three fingers; but he has no fcruple to fteal or commit murder. Were I not an eye witnefs, I could scarcely conceive it poffible, that men fhould fo far impofe upon their own minds, as to fancy they are rendering acceptable service to Heaven by the performance of many idle ceremonies, while they are acting inconfiftently with every moral obligation. Judge of their religion by the following anecdote. A fhop-keeper came on fome business to the houfe of an English merchant, on the evening before the day confecrated to St. Nicholas. The Merchant was engaged, and begged he would return on the morrow. To-morrow," faid the pious Ruffian," you are doubtlefs an infidel! "The very Tartars have more decency "cach of them will spend his rouble to"morrow; and, in honour of St. Ni"cholas, get becomingly drunk."

year. Of thefe, Lent is of the longeft duration and one of the moft folemn ceremonies of their religion is performed at Eafter, in honour of the refurrection of Chrift. In fome churches, the very act of refurrection is dramatically represented; and all the miniftering priefts, moving in proceffion, cry with a folemn voice,

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Chrift is arifen!" The ceremony begins about two in the morning, when all the churches are crowded with vast mul titudes of people. The following week is fpent in revelry and rejoicing. Hardly any business is done; for the Ruffians of all ranks and opinions, nobility and pea fantry, believers and unbelievers, betake themfelves with the utmoft licentiousness to the pleasures of the table. They all embrace one another, faying, "Christ is "arifen," and prefent eggs to one another, painted with various figures, and infcribed with different devices. Some of thefe devices are religious; fome amorous; and fome both together: fo that it is no unufual thing to fee St. Athanafius with a crofs, on one fide of an egg; and on the other, a lover falling at the feet of his mistress. Wherever they meet, The Ruilians obferve four fafts in the whether they are acquainted with one

another

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another or not, they embrace and give the customary falutation. Nor is it unufual to fee two drunken peafants, announcing the glad tidings, embracing, and tumbling into the kennel. In the vacant places of the city, vaft crowds affemble, and fing in their flying chairs, and partake of every fort of amufement. Mean time, every perfon who chufes, goes into the churches, rings the bells as long as he thinks fit, and believes that he is thus glorifying God, or making expiation for his fios. The week before Lent is in like manner dedicated to riotous diverfion; with this difference, that when they part with one another on the evening before the faft commences, they take leave as if they were going on a far journey.

Ruffian Clergy; Anecdotes of a Prief.

man was inexorable. His fuppliant was forced to employ his laft refource; it was his corps-de-referve; a goofe, which he had concealed under his cloak. Its eloquence was irrefiftible; its interceffion was powerful; and the effect inftantaneous. For immediately, on fight of it, the countenance of the holy man was changed; his feverity was foftened into complacency, and, from the extreme benignity of his nature, he was difpofed to grant remiffion to a repenting finner, who had given fuch evidence of his contrition.. But one difficulty remained the Penitent's houfe was feveral miles diftant; the day was far fpent; next day was Eafter; and the clergyman was obliged to attend in church. What was to be done? for it was effential, in giving the ufual benediction, that it fhould be pronounced close by the four corners of the houfe. But the goofe quickened his invention, and feemed like infpiration to the man of God. An expedient was immediately fuggefted to him.

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"Hold

your cap," faid he, to the wondering Penitent. He religiously held open his cap. Then the Prieft, croffing himself, bending, and holding his mouth over it, pronounced the benedictions and exorcifms, which he would have pronounced at the man's houfe. "Now," faid he, "hold it close; get home as fast as you

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can, and at every corner of your house, "croffing yourfelf, open a corner of your cap, and my prefence may be difpenfed with." The man obeyed; thanked God, and got drunk.

The clergy are in genral, very ignorant. There are, no doubt, among them men of fome learning and ingenuity; but their number is very fmall. No more learning is ufually required of common officiating parish Priefts, or Popes, as they call them, than that they be able to read the old Rufs or Sclavonian language. They feldom or never preach: and their chief duty confifts in the knowledge of forms, and in reading prayers and portions of Scripture. You may judge of their improvement by the following fact, which happened indeed in the reign of a former fovereign, but which, without mifreprefenting the religious manners of" Ruffia, might have happened at prefent. -At the end of Lent, as I mentioned above, all ranks of people abandon themfelves to fcafting and rioting: but this they are not permitted to do till the clergyman of the place vifits their houfes and gives them his benediction. It happened that a Prieft having had fome difpute with one of his flock, intentionally paffed his houfe, when making his progrefs through his parish, and omitted giving him the benediction which he had given the rest of his parishioners. The man was exceedingly afflicted, to be obliged to faft, and to fay prayers, while all his neighbours were feafting and getting drunk, was not to be borne; it feemed ftill more infufferable to his wife. In all emergencies of this kind, the fair fex are good at giving good counfel. Softened by the admonitions of his help-mate, the hufband waited upon the Prieft; acknowledged his fault, implored his forgivenefs, and craved his bleffing. But the holy

Ceremony of Confecrating the Waters.

One of the most magnificent ceremonies in the Greck church, and that which feems chiefly to draw the attention of ftrangers is, the confecrating of the waters. It is performed twice in the year; but the most splendid difplay of this ceremony is exhibited on the 6th of January, and is performed in commemoration of the baptifm of our Saviour. As I was yesterday prefent at this folemnity, I fhall mention to you fome of thofe circumfiances in the fhew, which feemed to me moft remarkable.

A pavillion, fupported by eight pillars, under which the chief part of the ceremony was performed, was erected on the Moika, a ftream which enters the Nova between the Winter Palace and the Admiralty. On the top was a gilded figure of St. John: on the fides were pictures of our Saviour, reprefented in different fitu

ations;

ations; and within, immediately over the hole which was cut through the ice into the water, was fufpended the figure of a dove. The pavillion was furrounded with a temporary fence of fir-branches; and a broad lane from the palace was defended on each fide in a fimilar manner. This paffage, by which the proceffion advanced, was covered with red cloth. The banks of the river, and the adjoining streets, were lined with foldiers. The Moika, in honour of the event commemorated by this folemnity, is always dig nified, on the 6th of January, with the name of the river Jordan.

On the prefent occafion the Archbishop of Novogrod prefided; and the first part of the fervice was performed in the Imperial chapel. The proceffion then advanced, by the paffage above mentioned, to the Jordan of the day. It confifted of muficians, inferior clergy, and dignified clergy, with their ufual parade of tapers, banners, lofty mitres, and flowing robes. They ranged themselves within the pavil Tion, and were foon after joined by another proceffion of fuch of the Emprefs's Court and family as chose to be present at this folemnity; for the Emprefs, owing to fome indifpofition, was abfent. No parade of Priests and Levites, even in the days of Solomon, and by the banks of Shiloh, could be more magnificent. After the rite was performed with customary prayers and hymns, all who were prefent had the happiness of being fprinkled with the water thus confecrated and rendered. holy. The standards of the army and the artillery received fimilar confecration; and the rite was concluded with a triple difcharge of mufquetry.

The Ruffians conceive that the water, thus fanctified, poffefles the moft fingular virtues. Accordingly the multitude who were affembled on the outside of the fence, and the guard furrounding the pavilion, when the ceremony was over, rufhed with ungoverned tumult to wash their hands

and their faces in the hallowed orifice. What pufhing and bawling, and fcolding and fwearing-to get rid of their fins! the Priests of different churches, and many other perfons, carried home with them large quantities of holy water; and believed themselves in poffeffion of a moft invaluable treasure. For they apprehend, that it is not only blessed with spiritual energy, and is efficacious in washing away the difeafes of the foul, but is alfo a fovereign antidote against the malign influences of evil fpirits; and may be prefcribed with great advantage against the pains and maladies of the body.-A lady, as the ftory goes, had a child ill of a fever; many medicines were tried, but without effect: fhe was at length prevailed with to adminifter holy water: it was many months after the time of confe cration; the water was fpoilt; but he did not believe it was fo: for fuch water is reckoned incapable of fpoiling. Be that as it may, the adminiftered a copious draught; and the child died. But hav ing been poisoned by the waters of Jor dan, the mother could not repine.

On the fame principle, all infants who are baptized with the water of the facred orifice, are fuppofed to derive from it the moft peculiar advantages. Parents therefore are very eager, even at the hazard of their children's lives, to embrace the bleffed occafion. I have heard that a Prieft, in immerfing a child, for baptifm is performed here by the immersion of the whole body, let it flip, through inattention, into the water. The child was drowned; but the holy man fuffered no confterna tion. "Give me another," faid he, with the utmoft compofure, "for the "Lord hath taken this to himself." The Emprefs, however, having other ufes for ber fubjects, and not defiring that the Lord fhould have any more in that way at leaft, gave orders, that all children to be baptized in the Jordan, should henceforth be let down in a basket.

The CITY of LONDON SCRUTINY. (Concluded from our Laft p. 243.)

HURSDAY the 29th being the 4th

Tday, the bufinefs began by Sir Bar

nard Turner's declaring the Recorder's opinion concerning the fifteen days, which was, "if extended beyond the time by excluding Sundays, it would prove fatal to the Scrutiny."

Among other votes objected to this

day, was that of a Glover who received letters for the Poft Office. This vote came under what is commonly called Mr. Crew's bill for difqualifying revenue and other officers appointed by the Crown, and is the first determination under that aft.

The voter appeared in the Court, aeknowledged

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knowledged the fact, but that upon his fucceeding to his houfe, it having been an old eftablished office, he had acquainted Mr. Todd, that the falary was inade quate to the trouble, and that he wished to relinquish it. That he had been defired, as a favour, to hold it fome time upon trial, which he had done, but had taken out no deputation, nor taken the oaths. Upon a further examination, he acknowledged, that he had held the office on trial ten years, and that by virtue of it, he had been excufed ferving parish and ward of fices. Mr. Douglas contended, that if this was deemed a good vote, the whole intention of the act was in effect inftantly done away, becaufe every Poft-office appointment would receive their places in the fame way. Mr. Garrow contended, that the voter was abfolutely de facto an officer, that it was a perverfion of common fenfe to say, that he was not em"ployed" by the Poft-office, because he had not taken out his deputation. That in a county election even a Clergyman, who had married a poftmiftrefs, was not fuffered by the Sheriff to give his vote. It being suggested by Mr. Cooper how far a determination upon a recent cafe of felony, under the 7th of Geo. III. would affect this question, Mr. Plumer took up that idea, and endeavoured to prove, that as a perfon who had ftolen above fifty letters out of the box in his own of fice being precifely in the fame condition, that is, not having taken out a deputation, was not convicted for that caufe only; fo the Glover ought not to be stripped of his vote. It was answered, that there was a wide diftinction between criminal and civil cafes, that the influence had actually prevailed, and that the act was, to all intent, and purposes, evaded, if this vote fhould be eftablished. The Sheriffs poft poned their judgment until next day.

Mr. Sawbridge this day loft one vote more than Mr. Atkinton.

Friday 30th, Mr, Cooper delivered his opinion refpecting the Glover, who had ten years kept a receiving box under the immediate appointment of the Poft Mater General, viz." That as the Regulating "act went to reftrain a common law right, "he, in conformity with the opinion of "the Judges on the recent cafe of felony, "was clearly of opinion not to advise the "Sheriffs to fet afide the vote." The vote was accordingly declared good.

Mr. Plumer, on behalf of Mr. Atkinfon, opened the cafe of the Girdler, whom he ftated to have been admitted a freeman VOL. VI. May 17.84.

of the Draper's Company in 1761, that not being admitted to the Livery of that Company, he had chofen to purchase his Livery in the Company of Girdlers. That he was not regularly tranflated according to the bye laws of this city, which, as explained in evidence by the Town Clerk, was for fix members of the old Company, and for fix members of the new Company, to attend the Court of Aldermen, and there mutually discharge and receive the member; this he compared with tranflating a Collegian from one foundation to another. He did not prefume to lay, that any of the city's numerous charters warranted fuch procedure, but if he proved that it was an invariable cuítom, confirmed by conftant practice, and that a citizen could not legally bind an apprentice without fuch tranflation, he trufted that the Court would adjudge the vote a bad one.

The Town Clerk and his affiftant attended with the City books to prove the practice, he inftanced only twenty-fix cafes in upwards of twenty years. Being queftioned whether it was the prevailing epinion that Liverymen, not duly tranflated, were esteemed, bad votes? He replied, that agreeable to the opinions of Mr. Mann and Mr. Dobfon, his predeceffors, (now dead) he apprehended they were confidered as bad. Whether fuch a Liveryman could take an apprentice of his old Company? Anfwer," to be fure, Sir." The refolution of a Court of Aldermen of 1682 was then read. It stated, with a variety of other refolutions, that Liverymen not duly tranflated were not qualified to vote. This refolve, or opinion, (as it was afterwards explained) was entered into at a moft unfettled period of hiftory, in the latter part of the reign of Charles 11. and when it is well known the writ of quo warranto was hanging over the city; it was likewife pending a fcrutiny for Mayor. Mr. Douglas afked the Town Clerk whether this refolution had the force of a bye law? Anfwer, "it is the opinion of a Court of Aldermen only; a bye law is a very different thing." A clerk from the Chamberlain's office afferted, that the voter in question was not known in their office as a Girdler, but as a Draper.

One of Mr. Atkinfon's fcrutineers was called to prove the mode of tranflating a member from one Company to another; and he gave his opinion along with his evidence; (a mode not very common in other Courts.) Hère the evidence against 22

the

the vote refted, and Mr. Douglas opened. He ftated, that this refolution was merely matter of opinion of the then Court of Aldermen; that it had not the force of law, that it evidently appeared to have been entered into to ferve the purposes of party; that it was at the critical time when Charles II. had diffolved his Parliament, because they had difagreed with him in opinion that the voters of the Commons, the determination of the Lords, the moft folemn adjudication of the Courts of law at that period, were very far from being held in that eftimation, or had obtained *that kind of credit necessary to give them an equal energy and dignity with thofe of the more temperate and healthy times of the conftitution. The general arguments The only held forth (for a moment) admitting the vote in queftion had the force of a bye law, which, from what his learn ed brother had in a former day thrown out, he expected they would contend for; but that in fact the refolve was merely the opinion of the Aldermen; that it was nugatory in itfelf, and in effect no better than a blank paper. Here an old fcrutiny book was produced of 1722, in which this appeared as one of the objections. Mr. Douglas not being apprized of this circumstance, most ingeniously and learnedly turned the book in his favour, becaufe it was published but a few years be'fore the act 11th Geo. I. was made; therefore if the Legiflature had confidered this an intrufion, the act would have provided against it, and the more particularly as the act was framed for the especial purpofe of "fettling all difputes and contentions in the elections." He further contended, if the Sheriffs difqualified this vote, they must by implication introduce a new claufe into the act, which would tend to narrow the rights of election, contrary to the general principles of the com*mon law. He then ftated the hardship, that a freeman would fuftain, fhould he be obliged to continue, what he called a flave to one particular Company. Suppofe the Company (as was actually the cafe, in the prefent inftance, and alfo with the Goldfmith's) would not admit a Freeman to the Livery, nor would tranflate him; the freeman, if fuch a man could bear that appellation, was in a 'worfe fituation than an alien, for the latHer could be naturalized, and obtain his freedom and livery in what Company he pleafed.

Mr. Douglas next proceeded to fhew, that the voter was a Liveryman to every

other city purpose, viz. to follow the Mayor, to attend folemn procefhons, "cloathed in purple and fine linen;" that in the prefent inftance, the voter had ferved Master of his Company, and that to all intents and purposes, he was a Liveryman of the City of London; and that if any doubt ftill remained, as to the effect of any cuftom, founded-upon the abfurd vore in queftion, and the mifprefentation of it, ftill the act for fettling all doubts in elections, cured every defect, for by the oath, which was the only part of the act, that can affect the vote, he fwears," he is a freeman of London; and (in the disjunctive) a Liveryman of the Company of Girdlers;" this, he contended, was conclufive. He moft earneftly intreated the Court to consider the extenfive power, which would fall into the hinds of the Courts of Affiftants, if this vote was rejected; for that the Master and Wardens claiming a right, de facto (he was fure not de jure) to reject, whom they pleased, and admit, whom they, in their fupreme beheft, fhould think proper, they might garble, and felect the Livery, fo as to effect the most dangerous purpofes.

He concluded a fpeech of an hour's length with these positions; that the voter in queftion was, first, a Freeman of London; fecondly, a Liveryman of the Company of Girdlers; and, thirdly, invested with all the privileges, and obligated to perform all the duties incumbent upon a Liveryman of this City. He therefore concluded, that he was a complete Liveryman, and, as fuch, clearly entitled to his franchife.

The Sheriffs declared they would deliberate till next day on a matter of fo much importance. No vote was difqualified this day.

Saturday May 1ft, the Sheriffs declared that the determination on the vote of the Girdler appeared of fo much importance, that they muft further postpone their determination till Monday.

Mr. Douglas entered upon the Gunmakers bufinefs: the objections against the voter were, first, that he had received back part of his livery fine: fecondly, that he had received alms.-Mr. Douglas opened with this legal position, "that if "the voter were as opulent as any Lord "Mavor that ever exifted, or as any

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man on this fide of Hindoftan ever was, yet it fignified nothing, if in any shape "he had received back any part of his livery fine." He then ftated, that the Gun

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