what is called the religion of Nature, that it furnishes more reafonable notions of the nature of God, and of our duty to him, and teaches the duties of focial life in the utmost purity If then it is the part of an honest man to propagate bis own advantages, to meliorate the temporal condition of mankind, nd to promote their moral and intellectual improvement to the utmost of his power, why is it not his duty, when an opportunity offers, to propofe the doctrines of Chriftianity to an ignorant and oppreffed people? If I had it in my power to abolish the Inquifition in Spain and Portugal, to introduce the Habeas Corpus and the trial by jury into Auftria, or to undermine the flave-trade in Africa, I should abhor myfelf, if would not risk my life in any fuch undertaking. Here was evidently a fimilar opportunity, and it has been neglected by those who had it in their power, without any rifk at all, to introduce a much greater good than any of those just mentioned. The moral and intellectual state of our Indian fubjeĉs (whatever may be said of the mild and beneficent fpirit of Hindoftan) is very deplorable: the proud and impolitic infulation of the cafts, the intolera ble oppreffion and fyftematic ignorance in which the lower cafts are held, the infolence of the higher, and the prodigious wealth, luxury, indolence, and artifice, of the Brahmins (things which powerfully move our indignation when related of Chriftian prieftcraft), particularly require the introduction of a doctrine which teaches that God is no refpe&ter of perfons; and the horrible in decency of all ranks, both in their private life and in their religious places and ceremonies, together with their fuperfition, fo exact in the minutest articles as to contract the human mind almost below rationality; all this proves that few countries on earth have more need of religious inftruction than India. What is it which induces a coniciencious Chriftian at home, when he fees his neighbour guilty of irreligious or irrational practices, to endeavour his amendment? Ought not the fame motive to have the fame effect in India as in England? What was it which in duced the right reverend perfon, alluded to above, to combat with fo much vehemence the religious opinions of Dr. Priefley? Surely, the fuperftitions of India are at least as offenfive to reafon GENT. MAG. July, 1793. and truth as Dr. Priestley's notions, and therefore as well deferve to be oppofed. It may be answered, that, in the one cafe, these opinions are connected with the government of the country; in the other cafe, they are hoftile to it. Thus the blind lead the blind, and one corruption fupports another, till the whole fyftem is corrupt throughout. The go. vernment of India, or rather the civil cuftoms which ufurp the place of government, is as corrupt as its religion; and it might have been fuppofed that, if the Gospel should have tended to introduce an alteration in it, it would have been doubly advantageous; for, it has been confidered by all writers as one of the greateft praises of Chriffianity, that it gradually difcountenanced, and at last totally abolithed, flavery in the Roman empire. But, after all, is it the government alone which fets a value on religion? I diflike Dr. P's writings, becaufe they degrade the Son of God into a mere man, and break down all diftinction between Religion and Philo. fophy. But was it their political tendency alone which moved the Bishop's oppofition? I cannot but now fufpect, what, if I had fufpected before, I should have thought it loft labour to enquire into fuch a man's religious opinions. I am one of those who think the world would be very much the better if there were more Chriftianity in it, both in Europe and in India. Nor is it eafy to fee any evil likely to arife in India if Chriftianity had been allowed an oppor tunity of exerting herself there, and en. tering into a fair competition with the ridiculous fuperftitions of Brahminifin and Mahometanifin. PHÆDO. HAVING, fome months ago, dilco vered a remarkable tomb near Stoneleigh abbey, in Warwickshire, and finding thereon the arms of the antient family of the Vejci, I should take it as a particular favour if any correfpondent can inform me whether any of that name ever refided in this county; it not being, as I have reafon to believe, upon record, that any of them ever inhabited the antient building at Stoneleigh, or any where near it. The annexed (plate II. fiz. 6.) is a drawing of the coffin or cheft filled with human bones. The hinges are fixed into the tone with melted lead, and the arms certainly belonged to the family family of Veci, who, as I am informed, bore, 1, quarterly. Or and Gules; 2. Or, a plain crofs Gules; and, for another branch of them, Or, a plain cross' - Sable, charged with another Argent. A LOVER OF ANTIQUITIES. Mr URBAN, July 12. THE Subfcriber to the College at Hackney, p. 412, tels you very little new; nor has he behaved to Dr. Harwood with the liberality of his profeffion. However he might have reason for refufing his name to an anonymous accufer, he should not deem bim an enemy because he tells the truth: for, that what both of us have advanced was true in the main there is very little doubt, however the friends and fupporters of the inflitution may, after a late ferious difcuffion, unanimoufly have agreed to bolfter it up for one year longer. Let them enjoy the beauty and commodioufnefs of their fituation fɔ near a corrupt metropolis, which they are at liberty to reform if they can. Their mode of difcipline, or rather the weakness of it, is pretty notorious, and the weapons of their "arfenal" muft, fooner or later, recoil on themselves. Let me not, however, be underfood to threaten any confequence from without, but only to predict a natural and inbred confequence. A CONSTANT READER. P. S. I am forry to read your correfpondent L. B. S's obfervation, p. 497, on the omiffion of memoirs of Dr. Miles's Environs of London, as I am confident it proceeded from no fuch opinion. I am glad to hear an edition of Bishop Lowth's valuable Commentary of Ifaiah is foon to appear in an octavo fize. If the reprefentation of the Village Curate, p. 508, be true, let us never more hear of the revocation of the edict of Nantes, or the Bartholomew act. If Mr. Howard had fuch veneration for his native house that he would never let it upon leafe, how came he to prevail with himfelf to SELL it? p. 513. to print Latin, he should have got a friend to have corrected gled into gles, agr into agn, and anc into auc, p. 270. Where does Mr. Ruggles defcribe the Haverhill coins, p. 513? Is not St. St D the fame with St. Syth, or St. Ofyth? Has Mr. Polwhele any account of Heanton Sackville, the feat of Lord Clinton, larely deftroyed by fire? Your correfpondent L. L. p. 527, is wrong in his correction of himself; Vefpafius for Vefpafian*, p. 394, col. 2, 1. 52. If he wants to be convinced, let him read the 16th chapter of Suetoniusa Life of the Emperor Vefpafian in Pitifcus's edition. If by Vefpafius he means Vespucius, the discoverer of America, he is more mistaken. But he knows beft his own meaning. P 553, col. 2. I. 17, dele comma af ter Scotia. Can L. E. p. 531, find no folution of his difficulties in the various accounts of South Wales lately publifhed, from Capt. Tench, LIX. 342, to Philips and Hunter; or has the change of name + from Kangarou to Gamgaroo mifled him? Your correfpondent B. A. LVIII. 42, who, lamented the want of patronage of young Crotch, will not be displeafed at hearing that he has been now some time organist at Chrift-church, Oxford. Where are Lord Mansfield's directions for the study of antient and mo dern hiftory, for the ufe of the Duke of Portland, to be found? S. E. and J. C. are much happier in their folution of the alehouse chequer than J. B. Such a grant as he mentions could not have efcaped our genealogifs or record-mongers. Mr. Copley, p. 536, will find portraits of Sir Benjamin Rudyerd by HolJar and by Payne, after Mytens. Sir John Hotham, a 4to print, on horfeback, anonymous, in the collection of Sir William Mufgrave, bart, as recited in Mr. Bromley's excellent Catalogue. Your's, &c. CORRECTOR. Our ingenious Meteorological Journalist, bading taken an Excurfion to London, bas favoured us with the Result of bis Obfervations during bis Journey. 1793. HOLMES CHAPEL June 19. Ar rived here from Walton, about feven o'clock, after travelling over the roads in good order in a moft agreeable manner. The method (open chaife) is novel to me, gives an opportunity of partaking every profpect that offers, and enjoying the refreshing breeze; and, if any thing can infpire pleafing sensations, it must be my tra velling companion, who has the management of the horse, an ingenuous and obliging youth, in the heyday of fpirit, and on the utmost pinnacle of expectation: to make ufe of his own phrafe, he is quite delighted; and who but muft partake of the influence!-At the inn, met with a gentleman preparing to leave this country for the New World; a practitioner in Lichfield. His religious and political opinions did not agree with the inhabitauts. He faid he was the only R. C. in the city. He had brought a coach from Liverpool to fetch his family from Lichfield. To his great regret, when he arrived there, he found his family had fet off for Liverpool, and they had miffed upon the road. Spent an agreeable evening with the gentleman; his converfation lively. Amongst other difcourfe, he told me he preached laft Sunday at chapel for a fro. lick which started betwixt him and the preacher on the road; his text, "Lay not up treasures on earth," &c. "Did the Doctor feel embarrassed?" "No; quite cool; would have preached two hours without hefitation; the people attentive," &c. Lureplied, "the firft R. C. who ever before preached to a Pref. byterian congregation probably." How many frolicks of this kind are, probably, committed! Trentham. The Marquis of Staf ford's bailiff informs me he intends to begin to mow grafs the first Saturday in July, nine days later than last year. He always choofes Saturday, because the mowers molt generally get drunk the day after they begin. On account of Sunday, this is reckoned to him no lofs of time. The price he pays per acre 21. with ale after the rate of fix quarts per man. The bailiff could ne ver manage more than eight quarts per diem. The Marquis fiaughters 700 deer annually. 20. Woofely Bridge. Slept there. Hay. making begun. 21. Approached Lichfield. Five horses drawing a fingle harrow upon a summer fallow. Whilft viewing the cathedral, the Rev. Mr. W—— in the most obliging manner addreffed me, though an entire franger, and thewed me through this magnificently-grand Aructure. The fenfations I had felt on a former occafion on this occafion had fomething evaporated. Two monuments, to the memory of the late Dr. Johníon and David Garrick, had just been erected, and the fcaffolding taken down; the former at the expence of the gentlemen of the Clofe, by fubfcription, to perpe tuate the memory of their celebrated townfman; the other at the expence of Mrs. Garrick; both fimilar, The following epitaph, it is faid, was requested for Mr. Garrick's, but not used: “WHILE o'er this Marble bends the pen five eye, Here, Genius, breathe the tributary figh: Beneath these groves your Garrick nurs'd his art, That reign'd, refiftlefs, o'er each feeling heart; And here thofe virtues dawn'd, whofe power benign Bids Hope for him celeftial garlands twine: Oft has his bounty, with pervading ray, Chas'd the dark cloud from Want's tempef tuous day, And oft his SILENCE, generous as his aid, Hid from the world, the noblest part be play'd. ANNA SEWARD", Mr. W, after the morning fervice, which I attended, kindly took me through the claffic ground where the Lichfield Mufe meditates; pointed out the willow faid to be planted by Johnfon; a moft vigorous and large plant. Walked through the houfe, and paid my devotions before the picture of the divine Poetefs, Mifs S. not being at home, I had not an opportunity of addreifing the original. Sent for Mr. Francis Barber, thirtyfive years the humble companion of the late Dr. Johnfon; who, with his fa mily, now refides at Lichfield. Francis is about 48, low of lature, marked with the fmali-pox, has lost his teeth; appears aged and infirm; clean and neat, but his cloaths the worfe for wear; a green coat; his late mailer's cloths all worn out. He spends his tune time in fishing, cultivating a few potatoes, and a little reading. He laments that he has loft the countenance and table of Mifs S-, Mr. W--, and many other refpectable good friends, through his own imprudence and low connexions. He was the companion of Johnfon; for, as mafter, he required very fmall attention: Francis brought and took away his plate at table, and purchafed the provifions for the fame. But if Francis offered to buckle the fhoe, &c. "No, Francis, time enough yet! When I can do it no longer, then you may." He was his companion in the evening, when his domellicks made a circle round the fire, where the Doctor chatted and dictated. "Why do not you ask me queftions?" the Doctor faid to Francis. But I never could take the fame liberty with my mafter as with another perfon." A companion in his journeys, and at Streatham, if Francis preferred Streatham; but, when London had more attrations, he returned to London, and left his mafter at Streatham. "You never heard your mafter {wear?" "No; the worst word he ever uttered when in a raffion was, you dunghill dog." The Doctor would never fuffer himself to be denied; which often put him to inconvenience when bufy; on which occafions he either wrote in the night, or retired into the country. Mr. Barber appears modeft and humble, but to have allociated with company fuperior to his tank in life. The benevolence of Johnfon appears ftrong in his treatment of this fervant during life, and in his liberal bequest to him at laft. It feems as out of his power to render him felf very useful as a fervant, yet the Doctor would not caft him off on that account; and, when the mafter was no more, he provided a ftaff to fupport him in his tead: befides, Francis is oppreffed with a troublesome diforder. I had to regret that my fhort flay would not admit lon ger converfation. Shenflone Hall. On this farm, on a field in excellent tilth, under preparation for turnips, was laying a fuperior dreffing of rich dung from the yard; over which was then throwing lime, juft reduced to powder by means of water; fix quarters to the bufhel. Two ploughs at work; the one, four horfes, the other, two; the former made two furrows, the latter only one; no guider of the p'ough, which went upon wheels, only when ing; the driver did that office. Fences, &c. about this eftate excellent.— Whirlwinds in the courfe of the day. Birmingham. Mr. Hutton, the Bir mingham Hiftorian, fuppofed 5000 have enlifted out of this town for foldiers; others report double that number. One gentleman filled his company betwixt Monday and Thursday. The fame week mowing grafs, after having paffed through Stafford. The trees hereabout are ftrangely mutilated, the boughs being lopped off. Crops of beans generally very fhortflemmed. In this neighbourhood, labouring clafs of women wear blue aprons striped with white. Slept at Henley; 22. Where, this morning, I plucked a province-rofe for the fift time this fealon. Stratford-caft my eyes towards that temple which covers the mortal part of the immortal Bard. Had vitited the hallowed ground "which pillows his head” on a former occasion, to pay my devotions. Sheptone. Great fummer- fair for horses, cows, sheep, and pedlary. If we had not paffed through at an early hour, the difficulty would have been greater than it now was. People upon the road from behind Stafford towards the place; and we continued to meet crows preffing with eagerness, on foot, &c. fix miles at leaft beyond the town.; both fexes of all denominations and ages, old men and women tottering and limping upon flicks, downwards to children fucking on the breaft. Women chiefly burdened with a red cloak under their arm, and bundle in their hands. The drefs of the country belles, almoft univerfaliv, a filk hatedged, filk handkerchief, red cloak, cotton gown, quilted or ftuff petticoat, black ftockings, and leather fhoes-one exception, white flocking-and fweltering under a red cloak over her shoulder, trimmed with fur, the 22d of June. One old man's waiftceat, from the particular cloth and pecular cut, must have been made in the earlier part of the prefent century. Culottes almoft univerfally leather. Just entering into this town of bufinels, met four fellows on fhabby horfes; hats upon each fellow, the crown decorated with a firing, and again decorated at the junction with a fomething that was white; black lank hair, funk eyes, fallow complexion, and general appearance; they gave me immediately the idea of of Indian favages in European habiliments. My young traveller, whilft feeding the horfe a little afterwards, was accofted by a female of the fame picturefque appearance, and, as he judged, of the fame tribe, who offered to tell him his fortune, for two pence, and which he gave her to hear fome filthy nonfenfe, with which he was foon fatiated. Before the entrance into Shipftone, and after paling it, in the common fields were tied to a stake a number of horses, not to feed upon, but to fmell and look at, the furrounding herbage, which their short tether would not permit to touch. Under fuch fhort commons every blade of grafs under their reach was not only vanifhed, but the very roots apparently eradicated. Six miles on the road a horse-chefnut, the fruit forming, and bloffoms difappearing. Saw one as we came along in Chefhire, the particular place forgot, the bloffoms of which were in full perfection. Forgot to remark whether my own at home were in bloom. The first new hay feen upon three loaded waggons, ready for the flack. Hay-making becomes pretty general. About the 72d mile- ftone froin town, wheat beginning to fhoot. Many turnip fields fown. Casts with three wheels. N. B. The form or fashion of carts, and the accent of pronunciation, feem to vary a certain degree, as alfo the figure of the men and women, about every 20 miles. What can be the cause of these varieties of accent, fince the intercourse of men together has now become fo univerfal? And does the fhape of the country, or different labour, or the fancy of the maker, caufe a variety in the carts? Methinks thefe two ideas of vehicles of found and dit muft have affociated together by a strange conjunction! Blenheim. Viewed this fplendid pile; which has been often and ably defcribed. On looking upon my young traveller, after we came out of the houfe, he feemed almost gasping with aftonishment, &c. and declared it would be in vain, after this, to look upon any thing greater, or that could afford more pleasure. "Shail we return then?" "Nay; that would appear foolish too, when fo near London." A fhower in the morning foon after fix. Fair and rather pleafant fince. Wind from, I think, the North. 23. An old woman in her Sunday dreis; one part of which, bas-bleu of woollen, quilted petticoat, brown stuff gown, and old-fashioned wool hat. In an open corner of the road, two awnings fixed upon flender poles, from one of which had apparently lately arifen a male and female of the yellow tribe, and tricked out in their Sunday clothes. The other party in bed, enjoying a free citculation of air from all points, and a good light to view what paffed, without expence of houfe or window tax. Two affes faftened near their tents, and grazing. The fragrant fcent of the bean-bloffoms reaches the traveller upon the road. (To be continued.) IT "Sume fuperbiam Quæfitam meritis." is univerfally confidered, fays an ancient Moralift, as illiberal and offenfive, for a man to fpeak of his own abilities and importance before others. Whatever powers or excellence he may be confcious that he poffeffes, he lofes the whole grace of them, when he be comes his own panegyrift; at least if he ftands forth on this dangerous ground without fome artful difguife. The fame author has a differtation profeffedly written on the fubject of felf-praife, wherein he has given rules for the regulation of this nice and delicate art; and has quoted many examples of great men, who have, on particular occafions, practifed it without offence. But it is only in very peculiar circumstances, and under many restrictions, that this feducing gratification can at any time be fafely indulged. It is noted therefore as a very difgufting practice in Euripides, that he fo frequently interweaves in the action of the drama the mention of himself, when impertinent and irrelevant to the subject. But the poets, from their birth, seem, by the general courtesy of mankind, to be exempted from common rules; and are allowed to start occafionally from the dull path of decorum, which the greater part of mankind are contented, and hold it prudent, to keep. Thus the divine Pindar, who is acknowleged to be the first of this pri vileged order *, though he declares vain boafing to be nearly in unison with madness, is yet very frequent in magni tying his own powers, and fpeaking contemptuously of his rivals: whom he' confiders merely as crows or chattering daws, while he compares nimicif to the foaring eagle: * Το καυχάσθαι παρα καιρον Σοφός |