barrier to the improving of the state of the poor, that ignorance could have conceived or tyranny imposed. Upon the motives of the framers of that system, I would not be understood to reflect: I believe them to have been benevolent. But these laws increase that poverty they were designed to alleviate, since they prevent that ex> treme necessity of prudence; which alone can operate upon the man who is to save from a scanty pittance, and consequently destroy foresight. They are made the pretexts for oppression and cruelty by those who execute these laws, and sink the characters of those who accept of the provision made by them, to the lowest degree of degradation. Notwithstanding, however, these radical defects, the immediate abolition of this system ought not to be recommended, but merely that such measures should be immediately adopted as would prepare for its gradual, but entire discontinuance.

Most of the objections urged against the system of the poor-laws, apply with equal force to many charities. It is no paradox, however it may sound or seem, that the increase of charities creates poverty. If charity would prevent poverty, let it take a new direction, and instead of providing for the poor, let it be content with

enabling the poor to provide for themselves. That I may illustraté my meaning by an example, for this purpose let a bank be established-let the smallest sums be received at interest, and thus the poor will have motive, as well as opportunity, to provide for contingency and old age.*

If it be objected that the poor will not make these provisions if left to themselves, the appeal may be made to what they have done, by the institution, and very general establishment of their benefit-clubs. This system is excellent: it gratifies the proud but honourable feeling of independence, and at the same time provides funds against disease and contingency. Let this system be enlarged till it become national; let it be countenanced by men of talents, and supported by men of wealth and influence, and it may be made the means both of raising the intellectual character of the poor, and finally of extirpating poverty.

L.

* The author has been recently informed that an establishment of this nature exists in the metropolis: if this be the case it is surely desirable that it should be more generally known, and that agents to the institution should be appointed in every town, village, and hamlet in the empire.

THE PONDERER. No. 29.

Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi.

HORACE.

"Many illustrious characters have flourished of whom there are no records.

IT has always been my opinion, that essays of this nature can be appropriated to few objects, which are capable of exciting more general interest than that of endeavouring to procure for intellectual excellence, the extended veneration to which it has just pretensions. With this design biographical sketches have been occa sionally interspersed with my ponderings, and to it I propose to dedicate the present essay, by laying before my readers a brief notice of John Henderson-a character which has this peculiar claim to attention, that his reputation principally rests upon the testimony of his contemporaries, and, in addition to this, is entitled to the respect of my fellow-citizens in a more than ordinary degree, because his history is in some measure connected with our native city. It is only necessary to premise, that the facts contained in the following

notice, are chiefly extracted from a little volume of Poems, published anonymously by G. G. and J. Robinson, London, 1795. This volume contains a Monody on the death of Henderson, and Sketches of his Character; the author of which describes himself as having been once proud to call him tutor, as having once enjoyed his friendship, and who, in consequence of having thus known him, determines to do honour to his memory, till their spirits should rest together.*

The extraordinary man who is the subject of this essay was born in the neighbourhood of Limerick, in 1756; but his parents came to England soon after his birth, and settled in the vicinity of Bristol. From his childhood he was distinguished by an ardent thirst of knowledge; and so rapid were his acquisitions, that he was capable of undertaking to teach professionally the Greek and Latin languages, in the College of Trevecka in Wales, at the age of twelve years. This circumstance must be admitted, in his case, as an

* The volume referred to is entitled "Poems, containing John the Baptist, Sir Malcolm and Alla, a Tale,

Shewing to all the world

What woman's love can do.

And War, a Fragment." These poems are generally attributed to Mr. Cottle, well known in the literary world as the author of Alfred.

indubitable characteristic of mental superiority, because he is stated to have possessed no regular source of improvement, except that which the native energies of his mind could derive from books. So true is it that genius will create the advantages it does not possess, and rise through apparent impossibilities to distinction.

Whilst engaged in the communication of knowledge, young Henderson was in no degree less industrious in expanding the powers of his own mind, by constant accessions to his intellectual stores. The treasures of the Grecian and Roman mines, however, did not entirely engross his attention; for he was passionately attached to English literature, and not only perused with care the most valued productions of modern authors, but extended his researches to the black-letter lore' and the other literary remains of the two preceding centuries. His memory was so tenacious, that he was capable of retaining not only the sentiments or peculiar opinions of the several writers he perused, but it also enabled him, when quoting their opinions, to employ in general the express language of the respective authors.

It appears that Henderson's father kept a boarding-school near Bristol, and that Henderson assisted him in teaching the classics. How long