The choofing men of fuch elevated rank and fortune for the office of Veftrymen, was at first neither the effect of chance, nor public fpirit. No. It was the refult of confummate artifice, in order to cover the villainous conduct of the ruling Junto of each parish, and the deep fcheme has hitherto antwered the most fanguine expectations of the contrivers. Would thofe Noblemen and Gentlemen who have fuffered their names to be put in the Veftry lift, give themfelves a moment's time to confider the use that has been made of them by thofe illiterate Juntos, they would be fully convinced of the deftructive confequences that have en fued, and all unite as one man to annihilate an institution, (Select Veftries) fraught with power and principles, inimical to conftitutional freedom and public utility. The choofing men of fuch elevated rank and fortune for parish officers, is an infult to common fenfe; for, as they are all fummer in the country, and in winter too much divided between the bufinefs of Parliament, attendance at court and levees, and what is too often more predominant than all, their pleasures; who but either fools or knaves could ever think of choof ing them to fuperintend the affairs of a parish, feeing many of them can hardly find time to take care of their own? The few inftances to be found in hiftory of impartial juftice and moderation in the exercife of unlimited authority, when compared with the general conduct of rulers in all nations, will make thofe few appear fomething almost more than human; for unlimited power is a continual bane to both the virtue and reafon of man, and not one in a million of the human fpecies has either virtue or wifdom equal to the truft. And if Kings and Princes, Lords and Dukes, and other great men of every denomination, who have had every opportunity of a liberal and refined education, to expand the mind, and give it a comprehenfive view and knowledge of human nature, have in general fwerved from impartial justice and moral rectitude in the exercife of power; can it be fuppofed, that taylors and fhoemakers, blacksmiths and carpenters, mafons and bricklayers, &c. &c. are men proper to be entrusted with unlimited power in any department of the state whatever. The idea is prepofterous and abfurd beyond conception. The delegation is a burlesque upon the legislature, and the fevereft reproach on the government of this country that the mind of man can conceive; and affords ample reafon for exultation in every foreigner, when expatiating on this political infanity which never had an exiftence in any other country in the world. The poffeffion of power elevates the mind of men, too often, even in fuperior ftations; but in felet veftries, it has been productive of fuch haughtiness and fupercilious pride, as renders them intolerat to equals, infolent to fuperiors, and the greatest of tyrants to thofe who are unhappily under their fubjection; I mean the poor, whom they treat with such contempt and difdain, as if they were not of the fame fpecies. Their tyranny and oppref fion in this refpe&t exceeds all belief and defcription, and can only be matched by their own meannefs, in feafting both in town and country at their expence. The particulars of fuch feafts will come in proper time and place, and perhaps too foon and too clearly stated for most of their wishes. At prefent I mean only to fhew by what methods honeft and independent men are kept out of the veftry, and by what means they fcreen themfelves from public detection. In difcharging this duty to fociety, I obey the impulfe of public fpirit and humanity for the poor, nor care a fingle ftraw what numbers of these gentry may be offended at my information. As Select Veftries are without controul from any quarter whatever, they can eica vefterymen from any clafs they pleafe, and for the purposes mentioned in my laft letter, both Lords and Dukes have been honoured with a call to the veftry board, without going through the office of overfeer, but among their own equals every man must ferve in that ftation, before he can arrive at the honour of being a veftry man. But it does not follow of courie, that because a man has ferved in the office of overfeer faithfully, he is therefore intitled to be either a veftryman or churchwarden. Far, very far from it; for that office is only a probationary station, and according to his behaviour therein, he is either approved of, or condemned by the ruling Junto. If a man in the office of overfeer difplays all those moral qualifications that are requifite in a real guardian of the poor. If his integrity is impregnable, fo as he will will neither feaft at their expence, nor connive at fuch villanous practices in others; if he is faithful alike to the parish and the poor in his cafual difbursements by giving to hone through partiality to his brethrens recommendations, withholding it from real objets to ferve their purpofe; all thefe qualifications together effectually damn him in the opinion of the junto, and the expiration of his overfeerfhip te mipates his connection with veftrymen. Such a man is fure never to be called to the office of churchwarden, in which he The would have a ftill greater power to be a Wretched Policy of the East India Company in raifing Recruits for their Settlements. To the Editor of the Political Magazine. SIR, THE authority from which you have given an account of the treatment of the foldiers of the Eaft India Company in the country, is perfectly jutt and faithful, as they ail have it in their power to return, if they choofe it, when the time for which they were inlifted is expired, if they are not inclined to reinft; but the wretched policy that is purfued in fupplying the army there with recruits from hence, is abominable, and could fcarcely be credited if it was not notorious to the whole kingdom. The Directors agree for fo many men, as they would do for fheep, pigs, or bui * October Magazine, p. 311. locks, but care not how they are obtained, and if they get them crammed on board fhip, they are indifferent in what condition; fo that the mult tudes that have perifhed on the paffage to India are incredible. Seventy-eight of thefe poor abused wretches died in the fhip I went in to Bengal, and the Company are prodigious fufferers on the article of recruiting, by the neceffity of again and again replacing thofe that die.-There is the wretched poicy which your correfpondent very preperly fays fhould be corrected; but there is a wheel within a wheel at the India Houfe which prevents a remedy being found for fuch iniquity, to the eternal dif grace of the Company. Yours, &c. Prefent State of the Army, Navy, and Finances of France. THREE ftarements have appeared at Paris in the form of tables, which have already found their way into the cabinets of a number of perfons. The first concerns the land forces, which it makes amount 288,000 men, This including the provincial troops. statement gives an account of the actual raifing of all the corps, with the names of their commanders. The second statement is for the marine. By it we learn, that fince the return of peace, nine fhips of the line have been built in their harbours, viz. BREST. Les Deux Freres 80 | Le Superb R. L TOULON. Le Seduifant 74 Le Mercure 74 ROCHEFORT. Le Genereux 74 L'Orion 74 L'ORIENT. L'Audacieux 74 | La Fougueufe 74 741 According to the fame ftatement, France has now 72 thips of the line, 74 frigates, 28 corvettes or chebecs, 36 flutes or gibarres, 7 cutters or luggers, and and 19 bomb galliots or gun boats, in all 256 veffels of war, mounting together $368 guns. The number of men on the peace establishment is 48,000, and on the war establishment -0,000. We fee by this that the marine department has by no means flackened its vigour. The third table is entitled, a View of the Adminiftration of the French Finances for 1785. According to this view, the receipt is divided into three chapters; the first containing contributions or impofts of every kind, which amount to 585,000,000 * livres; and fecond, and King's revenues, as forefts, domain, &c. 25,000,000 livres; the third, the taxes on the colonies 7,000,000 livres; in all 617,000,000 livres-From this fum, how ever must be deducted 10,000,000 livres for feizures and diftraints, the expences of which cannot be entered among the receipts; the effective total of which amounts to 607,000,000: the general a mount being as aforefaid 617,000,000. The expence amounts to 629,500,000, Thus we fee that it exceeds the receipt 12,500,000 livres. But this difference is compenfated, and more, by the 37 millions of reimbursements which have beca ef. fectuated, £ 24, 375,000. This correfponds exadly with M. Necker's fatement of the Taxes annually levied on the Inhabitants of France, The Amount of the Capitals at the Bank, South Sea, and Indis Houfes, with their Intereft per Ann. Corrected to Jan. 5, 1786. Number and Condition of the Spanish Navy, Auguft ift. THE following according to the beft accounts, are the ftate and fituation of the marine force of his Catholick Majefty, as it could be collected up to the first of Auguft laft: At Ferrol,Sixteen fhips of the line, thirteen frigates, and eleven floops, fit for fervice. Four fhips of the line, two frigates under repair. Three fhips of the line and two frigates building. Two fhips of the line and two frigates condemned and to be broken up. At the Groyne.--Nine fhips of the line, feven frigates, and nine floops, fit for fervice. Two fhips of the line, and a frigate building. One hip of the line, and two frigates under repair. At Cadiz.- -Twenty-one hips of the line, feven frigates and eleven floops, or advice boats, it for fervice. Seven this of of the line bulding. Five fhips of the line under repair. Three fhips of the line condemned, and two to be broken up. At Carthagena. Four fhips of the line and two frigates, fit for fervice. One fhip of fixty guns, and three frigates building. Four frigates under repair. Two frigates declared unfit for fervice. At Malaga. Three fhips of the line and five large frigates fit for fervice. One fhip of 70 guns, and a frigate build View of a War among the ing. A fhip of 60 guns, and a frigate of 40, under repair. At Majorca.-Two frigates building, of 38 guns each. One fhip 24 guns, under repair. At the Havanah. -Seven fhips of the line fit for fervice. Five thips of the line building. The total is, according to this account, 72 fhips of the line, befides frigates; a force fuperior to any that Spain has witneffed for two centuries paft. Indians in North America! (From Belknap's Hiftory of New Hampshire; juft published.) HE Indians were feldom or never Teen before they did execution. They appeared not in the open field, nor gave proofs of a truly mafculine courage; but did their exploits by furprize, chiefly in the morning, keeping themfelves hid behind logs and bushes, near the paths in the woods, or the fences contiguous to the doors of houfes; and their lurking holes could be known only by the report of their guns, which was indeed but feeble, as they were fparing of ammunition, and as near as poffible to their object before they fired. They rarely affaulted an houfe unless they knew there would be but little refiftance, and it has been afterwards known that they have lain in ambush for days together, watching the motions of the people at their work, without daring to difcover themfelves. One of their chiefs who had got a woman's riding-hood among his plunder would put it on, in an evening, and walk into the ftreets of Portsmouth, looking into the windows of houfes, and liftening to the converfation of the people. Their cruelty was chiefly exercised upon children, and fuch aged, infirm, or corpulent perfons, as could not bear the hardships of a journey through the wilder nefs. If they took a woman far advanced in pregnancy, their knives ivere plunged into her bowels. An infant when it became troublefome had its brains dashed out against the next tree or ftone. Sometimes to torment, the wretched mother, they would whip and beat the child till almoft dead, or hold it under water till its breath was just gone, and then throw it to her to comfort and quiet it. If the mother could not readily fill its weeping, the hatchet was buried in its full. A captive wearied with his burden laid on his fhoulders was ofen fent to reft the fame way. If any one proved refractory, or was known to have been inftrumental of the death of an Indian, or related to one who had been so, he was tortured with a lingering punishment, generally at the ftake, while the other captives were infulted with the fight of his miferies. Sometimes a fire would be kindled and a threatening given out against one or more, though there was no intention of facrificing them, only to make fport of their terrors. The young Indians often fignalize their cruelty in treating captives inhumanely, out of fight of the elder, and when any inquiry was made into the matter, the infulted captive muft either be filent, or put the best face on it, to prevent worse treatment for the future. If a captive appeared fad and dejected, he was fure to meet with infult: but if he could fing and dance and laugh with his mafiers, he was careffed as a brother. They had a strong averfion to negroes, and generally killed them when they fell into their hands. Famine was a common attendant on thofe doleful captivities; the Indians when they caught any game devoured it all at one fitting, and then girding themfelves round the wafte, travelled without fuftenance till chance threw more in their way. The captives, unuled to fuch canine repafts and abfiinences, could not fupport the furfeit of the one nor the craving of the other. A change of mafters, though it fometimes proved a relief from mifery, yet rendered the profpect of a return to thei. home more diftant. If an Indian had loft a relative, a prifoner bought for a gun, a hatchet, or a few skins, mult fupply the place of the de ceafed ceafed, and be the father, brother, or fon of the purchafer; and thofe who could accommodate themselves to fuch barbarous adoption, were treated with the fame kindness as the perfons in whofe place they were fubftituted. A fale among the French at Canada was the most happy event to a captive, efpecially if he became a fervant in a family; though fometime even there a prifon was their lot, till opportunity prefented for their redemption: while the pricfts employed every feducing art to pervert them to the popith religion, and induce them to abandon their country. Thefe circumftances, joined with the more obvious hardships of travelling half naked and bare foot through pathlefs deferts, over craggy mountains and deep fwamps, through froft, rain, and fnow, expofed by day and night to the inclemency of the weather, and in fummer to the venomous ftings of thofe numberlefs in fects with which the woods abound; the reftlefs anxiety of mind, the retrofpect of paft fcenes of pleasure, the remembrance of diftant friends, the bereavements experienced at the beginning, or during the progrefs of the captivity, and the daily apprehenfion of death, either by famine or the favage enemy; thefe were the horrors of an Indian captivity. On the other hand it must be acknowledged, that there have been infances of juftice, generofity and tenderness during thefe wars, which would have done honour to a civilized people. A kindness fhewn t an Indian, was remembered as long as an injury; and perfons have had their lives fpared for acts of humanity done t the ancestors of thofe Indians into whole hands they have fallen. They would fometimes carry children on their arms and fhoulders, feed their prifoners with the best of their provifion, and pinch themfelves rather than their captives fhould want food." When fick or wounded they would afford them proper means for their recovery, which they were very well ane to do by their knowledge of fimples. In thes preferving the lives and health of thir prifoners, they doubtlefs had a view of gain. But the most remarkably favourable circumftance in an Indian captivity, was their decent behaviour to I have never read, nor heard, nor could find by enquiry that any woman who fell into their hands was ever treated with the leaft immodefty; but teftimonies to the contrary are very frequent. Whether this negative virtue is to be afcribed to a natural frigidity of conftitution, let philofophers enquire: the fact is certain; and it was a moft happy circumftance for our female captives that in the mit of all their diftrefits, they had no reason to fear from a favage foe, the perpetration of a crime, which has too frequently di graced not only the perfonal but the national character of thofe who make large pretences to civilization and humanity.' DISCOVERIES and IMPROVEMENTS. Tis reported among the genleman of the faculty, that a difcovery of the high eft importance in phyfick and furgery, hath been made by a young member a native of Cofnwall; we are informed, that he was lately a houfe-pupil to the celebrated Mr. John Hunter. This difcovery confifts, not only in diftinguishing matter, from any other fluid, but alfo in difcriminating the various kind of pus B women. from each other particularly venereal and other matter, capable of contaminating of producing its fpecific effect. There is no faying how far the utility of fuch an im portant difcovery may extend. It promifes immortal fame and unbounded profit to the discoverer, who certainly deferves every emolument that may be derived from it. EAST-INDIA INTELLIGENCE. Y late accounts from India, we learn, that a mutiny had happened in the 52d regiment, that the mutineers feized the magazine, and took out fixty rounds a man; they then proceeded to the commanding oficer's quarters, with a determination of putting him to death, but he having notice of their intention, made his cicape. Two thoufand men were ordered to march against them, but on the approach of this body, they drew up the draw bridge of the fort, where they were in garraion, and planted four pieces of cannon at |