der the controul only of the minister, and at length of the proprietors of the parish. As it thus happened, that almsgiving continued to be considered as a meritorious thing in Scotland, while it fell into total disrepute in England, there did not exist the same imperious call for a compulsory poor law in the first as in the last. And though the clamours from disorderly persons in Scotland, who were strictly ex cluded from sharing in the poors funds, continued for some time to be so great as to induce precipitant ministers of state to make some raih laws on that head, yet, as the nation at large were at all times perfectly satisfied, that the real poor were abundantly cared for by their own voluntary contributions, under the prudent and economical management of the elders and kirk-sefsion, none of these laws ever received either their countenance or support and being conceived to be dictated by antichristian (the word then used instead of aristocratic at present) principles, they were despised, and suffered to fall into universal neglect. Having thus, I hope, in a satisfactory manner, accounted for the origin of one system of poor-laws, that has gradually produced a species of despotisın that threatens to destroy in time the state in which it prevails, and develope the circumstances that gave rise to another system of management of the poor, necefsarily connected with the form of church-government adopted in this country, which has been productive of salutary consequences, that have not hitherto been much adverted to, I fhall here close the present lucubration. To explain, in a satisfactory manner, the mode of providing for the poor that has been adopted in Scotland, and its singularly salutary tendency, will furnish a subject for another paper. After which shall be given a concise history of the laws that have been made, and remain on the statute book: by which their inefficacy and absurdity will be fully demonstrated; and it will be made evident, that not one of those laws which authorise an involuntary poors rate, are actually in force in this country, at the present moment. READING MEMORANDUMS. How long is the soul kept and nourished in ignorance of itself, and of its original, like a child of noble extraction, by some misfortune obliged to be concealed (and educated as their own) by poor peasants; who, believing himself to be of no higher birth, entertains no other than mean and low thoughts; and designs suitable to such condition! But so soon as his true parents are made known to him, he quickly banishes from his mind all that is base and ignoble; and animated by the knowledge of his true condition and towering expectations, he fhapes his thoughts and his conduct to the greatnefs of his origin, and the splendor of his destination. As a contrast to the beautiful description of Edinburgh given in the Bee, .vol. xiii. No. 7. see the Appendix to the Scots Magazine for the year 1745, page 61, &c. and the description then given. J. C. A. EPISTLE TO MR AIKMAN THE PAINTER BY WILLLIAM SOMERVILLE, ESQ. [Not published in any collection of his works.] Such (AIKMAN) once I was; but ah, how chang'd! Now from my zenith I decline apace, And pungent pains my trembling nerves unbrace; Poets and critics a promiscuous crowd With weaker fhouts, and with unequal fires. POEM ON THE DEATH OF MR AIKMAN, THE PAINTER BY MR THOMSON. O could I draw, my friend, thy genuine mind, * Dennis the critic. Gay converse blest, or in the thoughtful grove, A friend, when dead, is but remov❜d from ́ sight, And when the parting storms of life are o'er, "As those we love decay, we die in part; String after string is sever'd from the heart, "Till loosen'd life at last-but breathing clay, "Without one pang is glad to fall away. 46 Unhappy he who latest feels the blow; "Whose eyes have wept o'er every friend laid low! FARTHER EXTRACTS FROM DR ANDERSON'S CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIA. Continued from Vol. 14 p. 40. The Right Honb. Sir George Younge bart. to Dr Anderson Madras. SIR, I HAVE been favoured with your's of the 6th July brought by the Leopard, Captain Blanket, accompanied by the printed correspondence on the subject of Botany, It can be but little additional praise to you to pay my tribute of acknowledgement which is due to the indefatigable and useful exertions you have made, and the service you have thereby rendered to your country, on the subject of Botany, which I conceive to be a science by no means confined to the ideas of amusement or ingenuity, but to The last eight lines are all that are given in the editions. |