Riom, where it was depofited in their hofpital. There is no fear of its corrupting, but it is fufpected that it will grow dry, and lofe its freshnefs and flexibility. Some curious perfons who meatured it foon after it had been taken out of the fepulchre, afirm that it is now three inches thorter. To prevent fuch drying, and defend it from the action of the open air, without entirely fecreting fo great a curiofity from the eyes of the public, the governors of the hofpital have caufed a fquare hole to be cut in the lid of the leaden coffin wherein it was found, and is now kept, which hole is clofed up with a piece of glafs, well fixed in with putty.

The fumptuous manner in which this young man was embalmed and buried, denotes him to have been the fon of fome great perfonage, perhaps of a prince; nor is the antiquity of our fubject to be at all queftioned, fince embalming has not been in ufe for many ages in this part of the world. The fepulchres of the great families of this province are well known, and there fubfifts no tradition that there ever was any chapel or burying place in the field where this was found. It has been remarked, that in the hollow which was left upon taking away the tomb, the natural ftrata of earth, clay, &c. ftill fubfift, nor appear to have been dug thro' any where but juft in this fpot.

This hollow, which is fomewhat under the level of the neighbouring brook, is full of water, and one of the peasants who difcovered the fepulchre, does averr, that there was allo water in the coffin, tho' there was no hole in the tomb to let it in. It has been fufpected that those who made the difcovery might find fome medal, or plate of gold or filver in the tomb or coffin, fufficient to give a full light into the matter, which they have concealed but after ftrict examination, and a promife four

I

The WORLD, No. 148.

Was always particularly pleafed with that icene in the first part of Harry the Fourth, where the humourous Sir John Falstaff, after upbraiding the prince with being the corruptor of his morals, and refolving on amendment, forms a very reafonable with, "to know where "a commodity of good names

may be bought." It happens indeed a little unfortunately," that he immediately relapfed into his old courfes, and enters into a scheme for a robbery that night, which he endeavours to juftify, by calling it his trade: "Why, Hal, (fays he) "'ris my vocation, Hal: 'tis no "fin for a man to labour in his "vocation."

As often as this paffage has occurred to me, I could not help thinking that if we were to look narrowly into the conduct of mankind, we fhould find the fat knight's excuse to have a more general influence than is commonly imagined. It fhould seem as if there were certain degrees of difhonefty which were allowable, and that mot occupations have an acknowledged latitude in one or mote particulars, where men may be rogues with impunity, and almost without blame.

It will be no difficult task to illuftrate the truth of this obfervation, by fcrutinizing into the conduct of men of all ranks, orders, and profeffions. This fhall be the fubject of to-day's paper; and I fhall begin, where it is always good manners to begin, with my betters and fuperiors.

1

The tyrant, who to gratify his ambition, depopulates whole nations, and facrifices the lives of millions of his fubjects to his infatiable defire of

conqueft,

conqueft, is a glorious prince. De ftruction is his trade, and he is only labouring in his vocation.

The statesman, who fpreads corruption over a country, and enflaves the people to enrich himself, or aggrandize his mafter, is an able minifter: oppreffion is his calling, and it is no fin in him to labour in his vocation.

The patriot, who oppofes the meafures of the ftatefman; who rails at corruption in the house, and bawls till morning for his poor bleeding country, may, if admitted to a poft, adopt the principles he abhorred, and purfue the meafures he condemned: Such a one is a trader in power, and only labouring in his vocation.

The condefcending patron, who fond of followers and dependants, deals out his fmiles to all about him, and buys flattery with promises; who hakes the needy wit by the hand, and affures him of his protection one hour, and forgets that he has ever feen him the next, is a great man: deceit is his vocation.

The man in office, whofe perquifites are wrung from the poor pittances of the miferable, and who enriches himself by pillaging the widow and the orphan, receives no more than his accuftomed dues, and is only labouring in his vocation.

The divine, who fubfcribes to articles that he does not believe; who neglects practice for profeffion, and God for his grace; who bribes, a miftrefs, or facrifices a fifter for preferment; who preaches faith without works, and damns all who differ from him, may be an orthodox divine, and only labouring in his vocation.

The lawyer, who makes truth falfehood, and falfehood truth; who pleads the cause of the oppreffor against the innocent, and brings ruin upon the wretched, is a man of eminence in the world, and the companion of honeft men. Lying is his

trade, and he is only labouring in his vocation.

The phyfician, who vifits you three times a day in a cafe that he knows to be incurable; who denies his affiftance to the poor, and writes more for the apothecary than the patient, is an honeft phyfician, and only labouring in his vocation.

The fine lady of fashion, who piques herself upon her virtue, perhaps a little too much; who attends the fermon every Sunday, and prayers every week-day; and who if the flanders her beft friends, does it only to reform them, may innocently indulge herself in a little cheating at cards; fhe has made it her vocation.

The tradefman, who affures you upon his honeft word, that he will deal juftly with you, yet fells you his worft con.modities at the highest price, and exults at over-reaching you, is a good man, and only labouring in his vocation.

The infidel, who, fond of an evil fame, would rob you of a religion that inculcates virtue, and intures happiness as its reward; who laughs at an herarfter, and takes from you the only expectation that can make life endurable, is a dealer in truth, and only labouring in his vocation.

The author, who, to infure a fale to his works, throws out his flander against the good, and poifons the young and virtuous by tales of wantonnefs and indecency, is a writer of fpirit, and only labouring in his vocation.

To take characters in the grofs, the gamefter, who cheats you at play; the man of pleafure, who corrupts the chastity of your wife; the friend, who tricks you in a horse; the fteward, who defrauds you in his accounts; the butler, who robs you of your wine; the footman, who fteals your linnen; the housekeeper, who overcharges you in her bills; the gardener, who fends your

fruit to market; the groom, who ftarves your horfes, to put their allowance in his pocket; in fhort, the whole train of fervants, who impofe upon you in the feveral articles entrusted to their care, are only receiving their lawful perquifites, and labouring in their vocations.

I know but one fet of men, who ought commonly to be excepted in this general charge; and thofe are the projectors. The fchemes of all fuch gentlemen are ufually too romantic to impofe upon the credulity of the world; and not being able to plunder their employers, they are labouring in their vocations to cheat only themselves.

I would not be misunderstood upon this occafion, as if I meant to advife all people to be honeft, and to do as they would be done by in their feveral vocations: far be it from me to intend any fuch thing; I am as well affured as they are, that it would not anfwer their purpofes. The tyrant would have no glory without conquefts; his minifter no followers without bribes ; the patriot no place without oppofition; the patron no flatterers without promifing; the man in office no perquifites without fraud; the divine no pluralities without timeferving; the lawyer no clients without lying; the phyfician no practice without apothecaries; the tradefman no country houfe without exacting, the fine lady no routs without cheating; the infidel no fame without profelytes; and the author no dinner without flander and wantonnefs. The gamefter would be undone ; the man of pleasure inactive; the gentleman-jockey would fell his horie at half price; and the fteward, the butler, the footman, the housekeeper, the gardener, the groom, and the whole train of fervants lofe their neceffary perquifites.

The old maxim, that "honefty is the best policy," has been long ago exploded but I am firmly of VOL. XII.

opinion, that the appearance of it might, if well put on, promote a man's intereft, tho' the reality mufst deftroy it. I would therefore recommend it to perfons in all vocations (if it be but by way of trial, and for the novelty of the thing), to put on now and then the appearance of a little honefty. Most men have a natural diflike to be cheated with their eyes open; and tho' it is the fashion of the times to wear no concealment, yet, to deceive' behind the mask of integri ty, has been deemed the most effectual method. To further this end, the appearance of a small portion of religion would not be amifs; but I would by no means have this matter overdone, as it commonly is. Going to prayers every day, or finging pfalms on a Sunday in a room next the street, may look a little fufpicious, and fet the neighbours upon the watch; nor would I advife, that a tradefman fhould ftand at his fhop-door with a prayerbook in his hand, or that a lawyer fhould carry the Whole Duty of Man, in his bag to Westminster Hall, and read it in court as often as he fits down: there are other methods that may anfwer the purpofe of cheating much better." A yea and nay converfation, interrupted with a few fighs and groans for the iniquities of the wicked, loud refponfes at church, and long gra ces at meals, with here and there a godly book lying in the window, or in places moft in fight, will be of fingular utility, but farther than this I would. by no means advise.

To all thofe gentlemen and ladies who follow no vocations, and who have therefore no immediate intereft in cheating, I would recommend the practice of honesty before the appearance of it. As fuch perfons ftand in no need of a cloak, I fhall fay nothing to them of religion, only that the reality of it might be useful to them in afflictions, or if ever they

B

should

fhould take it into their heads, that they must one day die, it might poffibly alleviate the bitterness of fo uncommon a thought. To do as they would be done by, would in all probability render them happier in themfelves, and lead them to the enjoyment of new pleasures in the happiness of others.

Among many other Pieces of Drollery, published on the late Mediterrnean Engagement, the following appear'd, which befides the bumour of it, contains fome fenfible Obfervations.

BY

Ya general court of failors, held the 29th of June 1756, at the Lion and Anchor in Wapping, it was determined that Mr. B. chef d'efcadre in the middle feas, fhould be exemplarily punished for cowardice, and the reafons for fuch punishment be made publick.

By order, T. BOATSWDIN. 1. That he is highly guilty, for ordering the Deptford out of the line, as he ought to have taken all advantages to deftroy the French, and not rifque a battle on equal terms, when he could do otherwise.

2. Because he did not lead the van, but gave the command, and his poft of honour and danger to his rearchef d'Efcadre; whereas he fhould have led the van, and by example fpirited on the other hips which fhews he did not intend any harm to the

nemy.

3. That he might have prevented his fhips from being raked by the enemy, as he had the windward gage, but did not prevent it

4. That he fuffered his

might have been repaired in a few hours.

N. B. What became of her bowlings, or had the any to her fails?

7. As the enemy was not to be seen for five days, he might have landed his forces, or at leaft peeped into Mahon; but as he did neither, we think he was afraid of meeting the enemy again off the mouth of the harbout.

8. By this ill conduct he left the enemy mafters of the seas.

9. We look upon this account that the enemy failed as three to one, ta be a mistake, owing to a panic; becaufe, if it had been true, they had it in their power, in the attempt they made, to have gained the windward gage, by eating us out of the wind.

10. That it does not appear that Mr. B- intended any fkirmish, if the French had not rudely begun firing upon his fhips.

11. That as the faid B had the windward gage, he might have run clofe on board the enemy, and with his crowd of fail becalmed them; the confequence would have been a victory, as their hips could not have edged away three feet in an hour.

12. As he had 13 fail of the line to the enemies 12, and 52 guns more than they, he ought not to have behav'd as a fribble, and more especially as Mahon was at ftake.

For thefe and many more reafons we expect he fhould be brought immediately to the gang-way, to receive his reward for mildemeanors fo malig

nant.

uftain the fire of the enemy for fome time before he engaged his ad

veríary.

SIR,

You

miralty.

Bristol, June 28,

7OU find by every account, how seasonable the departure of • Sir Edward Hawke and Adm. Saun⚫ders proved.

The warmest advocates for B-g now join in being diffatisfied with his conduct; and his own relation of

it,

it, is held by the people here, to be an empty, laboured piece of obfcu"rity and fubterfuge.

The arts of palliation, for I ⚫ am afraid an irretrievable behaviour, are fo glaringly attempted, and at the fame time fo feebly executed, as to give too ftrong • fufpicions of the want of both head

⚫ and heart.

When I first took up Mr. B's ⚫letter, I was much elated with "the hopes of good news; for "I have the pleasure," was fuch a beginning, as I naturally expected would ⚫ lead me on to triumph. But I fhould have excufed every impropriety of phrafe or incorrectnefs of expreffi⚫on, if the account had but con⚫veyed ever so small a portion of glory or fervice.

The important duty B-g went upon, and the preffing neceffity of its performance, fhould have reminded him to have left no force or ftratagem untried, to have atchieved his ⚫ purpose.

Nor garrifon relieved! nor the ⚫ enemy's fleet difconcerted! The coaft abandoned, from conjectures of poffibilities, by a fleet fuperior to the enemy! whofe bare appear⚫ance must have greatly animated the befieged, whofe abfence muft infallibly accelerate a furrender! Such are the facts we once feared, but now feel, and fuch are thy exploit,, Ol B-g.

lately acquainted the Royal Society, that I had fome doubts, ariling from the pieces I had seen, whether the agaric fent from France, and applied as a typtic after amputations, was the fungus in caudicibus nafcens,

be confirmed in this matter, I wrote to our worthy brother M. Clairaut of Paris, to lay fome queries I drew up before M. Bernard de Juffieu and M. Morand, both members of the royal fociety, and excellent judges of this fubject. M. Clairaut, fince our laft meeting, has been fo kind as to tranfmit to me their anfwer, by which it does appear, that this is prepared from a plant which is called by the botanifts.

Agaricus pedis equini figura. Inft.
Rei Herbar

Fungi arborei ad ellychnia. J. B.
Fungiigniarii. Cifalpini et Tragi.
Boletus acaulis pulvinatus lævis, poris

tenuiffimis. Linn. Flor. Suec. This is the agaric employed for the amadoue; and Mr. Broffart, who first brought this preparation into practice, conceives, that that which grows upon old oaks which have been lopped, is the most valuable; that it should be gathered in Auguft or September, and be kept in a dry room.

The way of preparing it is to take off with a knife the white and hard part, till you find a fubftance so soft as to yield under the finger, like fhammy leather.

This is to be divided into pieces of different fizes and thicknefs; beat these with a hammer, to give them ftill a greater degree of foftnefs, fo that they may be easily torn with the finger.

M. Morand thinks, that the agaric which when growing is of a greyifh colour on the outfide, is better than that which is white. W. WATSON.

Queries fent to a Friend in Conftantinople, by Dr. Maty, F. R.S. and anfwered by his Excellency James Porter Efq; bis Majefty's Ambassador at Conftantinople, and F. R. S. From the Philofophical Tranfactions, Vol. XLIX, Part I.

or the fungus coriaceus quercinus hæmatoides of Breynius, of which I gave a fhort history. In order therefore to

following: HETHER we may know with any certainly, how ma

ny