"The worthy phyfician felt the utmoft tendernefs and admiration as he liftened to the fentiments of this generous child. He took him in his arms, preffed him to his bofom, and faid to him, 'No, my excellent little lad, thou fhalt not die; God, the father of us all, will take care of thee, and of all thy family. Give thanks to him, that he has fent me to your affiftance: I fhall return to you prefently.'

"He then haftened to his own houfe, and loading one of his fervants with all forts of provifions, he bid him attend him back to Andrew and his, half-ftarved little brothers and fifters. He made them all fit down at a table, and defired them to eat till every one was fully fatisfied. It was a fcene of true delight to this good phyfician, to witnefs the happinets of thefe innocent creatures; and when he went away, he charged Andrew to fuffer no further uneafinefs, promifing to fupply them himfelf with all neceffaries.

"He faithfully kept his word, fending them every day food in great plenty: and many other good and charitable perfons, to whom he told this adventure, imitated his benevolence. Some gave them provifions, others money, and others linen and clothes; fo that, in a very fhort time, they had even more of every thing than they required. "No fooner was Bennet's landlord, who was a nobleman of extenfive fortune and intereft, informed of what the courageous little Andrew had fuffered for the fake of his father, and his brothers and fifters, than, firuck with ad

miration at fuch generofity and fortitude, he fent for the poor man, and faid to him, You have a moft wonderful fon; and I will myfelf, alfo, be a father to him. I will fettle you upon my own eftate; and the reft of your children fhall be educated to whatever trade they themfelves choose, and at my expence: and if they improve as they ought, I will take care to have them all provided for.'

"Bennet returned home almost wild with joy; and, throwing himself upon hisknees, gave thanks to heaven, for having bleft him with fo excellent a child.”

CAROLINE.

"MRS. P, a lady as much diftinguished for elegance of manners, and quicknefs of parts, as for the delicacy of her fentiments, and the dignity of her character, one day gently reproved Prifcilla, her eldeft daughter, for fome little giddinefs, which, though proper for correction, was yet very pardonable at her early age. Prifcilla, touched by the mildness of her mother's reproaches, burst into a flood of tears, from repentance and tenderness. Caroline, at that time but three years old, no fooner faw her fifter weeping, than climbing up by the back of her chair, in order to reach her, she took with one hand her pocket handkerchief, and foftly wiped her eyes, while with the other the flipped a fugar-plum into her mouth; which, with the fimplicity of childish generofity, fhe took from her own. How tender a fubject this, if in the hands of fome good painter*!"

We fhall give extracts from the remaining volumes of the Children's Friend, in the future numbers of this mifcellany.

REFORMATION was never fo loudly called for, or fo much wanted, perhaps, as in the prefent age of luxury and corruption. A reform in parliament is in every perfon's mouth, but whether it proceeds from the heart we cannot pretend to determine.

It is rather contrary to our plan to infert any account of pamphlets in our Literary Review, but there is fo much good fenfe and philanthropy apparent in thefe HINTS, that we think we fhall confer a favour on our readers by bringing them forward to their notice.

The

The author informs us that he has frequently intended to deliver the fentiments contained in these pages from his feat in the Houfe of Commons, but was deterred, by knowing that perfonality was almoft the only topic that could engage attention. He next denies that the people of England, in general, wish for a reform in the conftitution, but fays that the proper fubject for reformation is GAMING, and propofes that an affociation fhould be formed of the virtuous, the honourable, and the powerful, in order to ftop the progrefs of this deteftable and ruinous He then offers to devote his time and fervice in fuch a caufe, and thus proceeds:

vice.

"I fuch a fociety can be formed, the firit meafure which they should adopt must be to lay the ax to the root of GAMBLING! To this dreadful vice mult the lofs of America be afcribed! To this dreadful vice muit every misfortune which has lately fallen on this country

be attributed!

"Does any man contradict this affertion? Has he been the paintul obferver of the progrefs of gaming for the latt twenty years? If he has, he muit affent. If not, let him remember, that a member of parliament here pledges himself, that if this vice is not ftopped in its prefent mad career, before another twenty years are elapfed this country muft undergo a total revolution.

"Thefe are bold words, it may be faid, but they are true. If gambling ftill continues its progrefs, mark the confequence. It will fpread its devaftations more rapidly than peftilence or famine, and every tride will be equally fatal. Great and powertul families will be driven to defperation, by the melancholy effects of play, and if fome fpeedy and active measures are not fpecdily taken to reform this widely fpreading evil, thofe who difapprove of gaming will futter with those who have loft their all by it; for the guilty and the innocent, the poor and the wealthy, will moft probably be plunged into one

common ruin.

"The picture is dreadful. It is, indeed, big with horror. But how may this fcene of confufion be prevented? The reply is ready.

"When the affociation is once begun, its members cannot but be nuinerous. An OBLICATION must be drawn up, by which they muft all bind theinfelves in the most folemn manner, and under very great penalties, to play only to a certain extent. Nor is this all. They muit engage to exert their influence, as far as it extends, to deter others from GAMING. They muit petition the King not to employ any perfon whatever who belongs to a GAMBLING CLUB, or at leaft who has not figned the obligation.

About thirty years ago, there was but one club in the metropolis. It was well regulated and refpectable. There were tew of the mem

bers who betted high. Such takes at prefent would be reckoned low indeed. There were then affemblies once a week in most of the great houfes. An agreeable fociety met at leven o'clock, they played for crowns or half crowns, and reached their own houses about eleven. "There was but one lady who gamed deeply, and the was viewed in the light of a phenomenon. Were the now to be asked her real opinion of thofe friends who were her former play-fellows, there can be no doubt but that they rank very low in her efteem. Let her ask her own heart, life her paflion for gambling had been retrained.

if the does not wish that at her firth setting out

in

"In the prefent era of vice and diffipation, bow many females attend the card tables? What is the confequence? The effects of it are too clearly to be traced in the frequent divorces which have lately difgraced our country, and they are but too vifible in the fhameful conduct of many ladies of fashion, fince GAMBLING became their chief amufement.

“There is Now no fociety. The routes begin at midnight. They are painful and trou blefome to the lady who receives the company, and they are abfolutely a nuifance to thofe who

are honoured with a card of invitation. It is

vain to attempt converfation. All is croud and confufion. The focial pleasures are entirely ba nished, and those who have any relish for them, or who are fond of early hours, are neceffarily banished.

"Such are the companies of modern times, and modern people of fashion. Those who are not invited fly to the GAMING CLUBS,

"To kill their idle hours, and cure Ennui!"

"These nocturnal meetings, as well as thefe baneful clubs, it must be the business of THE ASSOCIATION OF REFORM to restrain under proper regulations, or totally to annihilate. His Majelty would generously and graciously fupport their endeavours, by his countenance and protection. His own children, indeed, are as likely to fuffer from thefe gambling focieties as the offspring of a fubject!

"Minifters could not oppose these plans, and the members of oppofition would not refufe their affiftance. It muit not be forgotten, that when these deteftable CLUBs have ruined any of their members, they will not fupport him in his poverty, and diftrefs. There is no afylum for the loft and indigent GAMBLER. If he be a man of mean abilities he must starve, or perish by the piftol. If he poffetfes powers of language and oratory, he muft bully the minifter for a place, or become a mortgage on patriotifm and oppofition!

"In his plans he will find a very powerful fupport, and before many years are elapfed the GAMBLING CLUBS will become King, Lords, and Commons. They will make laws, and decide by their Magna Charta. If their fchemes fhould fail, and they are not provided for, we may expect to fee a gang of their Majefties in the streets, or on the highways, who will prové equally dangerous with the vagabonds who at prefent threaten our perfons and pockets.

"To give an account of the prefent incumbered fituation of many families, whofe property was once large and ample, would fill a volume. Whence spring the difficulties which every fucceeding day increases? From the GAMBLING CLUBS! Why are they continually hunted by their creditors? The reply is, THE GAMBLING CLUBS! Why are they obliged continually to rack their invention, in order to fave appearances? The answer ftill is, THE GAMBLING CLUBS!

"The father frequently ruins his children; and fons, and even grandfons, long before the fucceffion opens to them, are involved fo deeply, that during their future lives their circumstances are rendered narrow; and they have rank, or family honours, without being able to fupport them.

"How many infamous villains have amaffed immenfe eftates, by taking advantage of unfortunate young men, who have been first seduced, and then ruined, by THE GAMBLING CLUBS? "The ASSOCIATION, therefore, should bind themselves to profecute every person who has taken any illegal advantage of minors, or others. It is well known, that the old members of thefe gaming focieties exert every nerve to inlift young men of fortune; and if we take a view of the principal eftates in this island, we fhall find many infamous Chriftian brokers, who are now living luxuriously, and in fplendour, on the wrecks of fuch unhappy victims.

"After THE ASSOCIATION OF REFORM has taken proper measures, and made regulations for reclaiming those who are come of age, and has endeavoured to protect minors, the next step fhould be to promote a strict discipline in all schools, and in our univerfities, in order to prevent the rifing generation from acquiring the fashionable accomplishment of gambling.

"This pamphlet contains only HINTS. The proper fteps for promoting the defirable reform must be left to the fuperior abilities of the ASSOCIATION, if we are ever to have the happiness of seeing one formed. But of the modern modes of education a few words more may, perhaps, be of service.

At prefent, when a boy has learned a little, from his father's example, he is fent to school, to be initiated. In the courfe of a few years he acquires a profound knowledge of the fcience of gambling, and before he leaves the university, he is perfectly fitted for a member of THE GAMBLING CLUBS, into which he is elected, before he takes his feat in either Houfe of parliament. There is no neceflity for his being of age, as the fooner he is ballotted for the more advantageous his admiffion will prove to the old members.

"Scarcely is the hopeful youth enrolled among these bonourable alsociates, than he is introduced to Jews, to annuity brokers, and to the long train of money-lenders. They take care to answer his pecuniary calls, and the greater part of the night and morning is confumed at the CLUB. To his creditors and tradefmen, inftead of paying his bills, he offers ■ bond or annuity. He rifes juft time enough

to ride to Kenfington-gardenss; returns to drefs, dines late, and then attends the party of gamblers, as he had done the night before, without he allows himself to be detained for a few moments by the newspaper, or fome political publication.

"Such do we find the prefent fashionable ftyle of life, from his grace to the enfign in the guards. Will this mode of education rear up heroes, to lead forth our armies, or to conduct our fleets to victory? Will this mode of education render them bulwarks of the empire in the fenate? Review the conduct of your generals abroad, and of your statesmen at home, during the late unfortunate war, and these questions are answered.

"It has been already obferved, that the King, his minifters, and the oppofition will fanctify THE ASSOCIATION OF REFORM, by their patronage and protection. The people will likewife fupport their meafures, fo that they need not be alarmed with the terrors of unpopularity. At present, tradesmen must themselves be gamblers before they give credit to a member of these CLUBS, but if a reform fucceeds, they will be placed in a state of fecurity. At present, they must make regular families pay an enormous price for their goods, to enable them to run the risk of never receiving a fingle fhilling from their gambling cuftomers.

"To conclude. The author of these sheets is fenfible that he may render himself an object of contempt, and, perhaps, ridicule, to the members of THE GAMBLING CLUBS. But while his confcience vouches for the integrity of his defign, he cannot pay any great deference to their opinion. Even thefe very perfons may be refcued from ruin, by his propofed affociation. Their friends, their companions, and their relations may likewise be faved from deftruction.

"When they relinquish the gaming table, he muft feel the most heartfelt pleasure at beholding them in fuch fituations as they may claim from their rank and abilities. They will then be able to live in town with fplendour and magnificence. In the country, they will have time to examine their own affairs, and not truft themselves to the mercy of their flewards. They will be able to encourage the induftry of their tenants, and improve their eftates. They will then gain the affections of the poor, and the refpect of the wealthy, while their characters will rank high in the estimation of mankind, and they will enjoy the heartfelt fatisfaction which attends thofe who live according to the dictates of reafon, and unite prudence with hofpitality, in the economy of their houfeholds."

We heartily join with the author of this pamphlet, in wifhing that fome fuch method may be taken to check the dreadful confequences which muft attend the progrefs of gaming, and fhould be happy to fee him in the chair, as prefident of the ASSOCIATION OF REFORM.

SCOTCH

our readers.

THAT

HAT the election laws of this part of the united kingdom have put its parliamentary reprefentation upon a very abfurd and unequal footing is a propofition that no impartial perfon can difpute.-A great clamour has been Taifed, of late, againft votes on liferents and wadlets of fuperiority. The abufe, however, does not lie there, but in this, that the number of electors has been by far too much reduced; from which it follows, that the striking off the votes juft now mentioned would, instead of diminishing, increate the evil.

In a letter to the freeholders of a certain fhire, lately published in the newspapers, a knight errant, in the way of reformation, has put himself in a great paffion. Why? Because the number of freeholders upon the roll there amounts to no leis than fifty-feven; and he declares he will exert himlelf to the utmoft, bring criminal profecution, and move heaven and earth-For what purpofe? In order to bring them down to twenty-eight; a very competent number for a whole county. At the fame time, it may be its proportion on a comparifon with others; for, in every one of them, the number of electors is fhamefully and fcandaloufly fmall.

The law of this country has all along, before as well as fince the Union, recognised wadfets and literents of fuperiority, as eitates entitling to a qualification.-Many, however, have been of opinion, that real property only thould give that privilege. But, it to, it is clear, that a lefs proportion of valuation fhould confer a right of voting; becaufe, other wife, the alteration would do harm, not good.

This, accordingly, was the plan of those who, fome time ago, had a real reformation in view. They propofed to strike off the votes on liferents and wadiets of fuperiority, but, at the fame time, to make 2col. or 1ool. of valued rent fulficient for a qualification. Thefe gentlemen, it is plain, meant well, ani deferve applause. But thole who would continue the limitation of the law, as to the qualocation, and do nothing more than put an end to votes on liferents and wadfets of fuperiority, do not mean well, and must act from political or interefted motives; for, the only confequence of fuch alteration would be, to occafion much lofs and hardship to the great proprietors, who have been at an immenfe expence in conftituting and fupporting fuch votes.

It would not be attended with the leaft benefit to the country in general.

A few individuals, no doubt, who call them felves real freeholders, would profit much by it. Having got upon the roll by the injustice and abfurdity of the law, it is their intereft to keep off as many as they can; and it cannot be doubted, that each of them, instead of twenty-eight, would be very glad to reduce the freeholders of his county to half a dozen, provifo that he were of the number; and he would be best pleased of all, if the election of his county were to be made as that of Orkney once was, by a fingle treeholder, if he himfelf could play the folitaire.

The law of this country, it has been already obferved, has all along recognized liferents and wadiets of fuperiority, as eftates entitling to vote; and it fhould feem, that the ideas of the legiflature continue the fame to this day, as the alteration above-mentioned, though feveral times attempted, has hitherto failed of fuccefs.-The few, however, who call themfelves real freeholders, have bethought themselves of an indirect method to annihilate the votes abovementioned, which they affect to call nominal and fictitious: they pretend, now, to have difcovered, that no fuch voter can take the oath prefcribed by the ftatute, without committing the crime of perjury. It muft ftrike every perfon at first fight, that this difcovery comes rather late; for it is admitted, that, for twenty years and more, fuch votes have been common, and have been held, and the oath taken by perfons of the pureft character and unquestionable honour, and of all profeflious, by lawyers, judges, phyficians, officers of the army, and minifters of the golpel. All these gentlemen, according to fome late publications, have peatedly committed the crime of perjury, and are liable to be tried, and punished accordingly. It is furely aitonithing, that a multitude of gentlemen, fo worthy, and to intelligent, fhould have ever fallen into fech an offence, and fil more that they thould have perfifted in it for a long tract of years. It is not pretended that they had any other inducement than a defire to ferve a friend: but farely, in thefe felfish times, that was no adequate confideration for incurring fo much guilt, and running fuch a hazard. No anfwer has hitherto been made to the abovementioned publications; probably, because it was thought they did not merit any. But, as

they

they were undoubtedly intended as bugbears; and, as itrong words and violent threats may have the effect of ftartling and alarming fome perfons who have not thought much upon the fubject, it will not, it is imagined, be thought improper or difigrecable to fubmit some obfervations that have occurred upon the question.

1

Nothing can be clearer, as already faid, than that the law of Scotland has always recognized literent and wadict eitates as freeholds, if they are truly held according to their appearance; but if they are not truly what they appear upon the face of the titles to be, they are difregarded as nominal and fictitious, and the matter is brought immediately to the teft, by the claimant's taking or refuting the oath prefcribed for aftertaining their reality. The law never could mean to impofe an oath to determine the merits of a qualification that would have made the claimant's confcience the judge of his title, and confequently must have been a very vague and uncertain mode of afcertaining freeholds. The law his done this itfelt very explicitly and pointedly. It has declared to be titles of freehold, not only abfolute properties, but liferent or wadfet eitates of property or fuperiority. Any perfon holding fuch eitate is intitled to claim a vote as a conSequence of that title.

If this eftate, however, is held either in truft, or defeatible by any latent deed, the law declares it to be infufficient for a qualification, and makes it competent to prove the objection by the tender of an oath. If that be retuled, the law prefumes, juftly, that the titles are not in reality what they appear to be; and they are, therefore, rejected. This is the true legal criterion for determining the fufficiency of a freehold as to this matter. If the titles are really and truly what they appear to be, whether properly liferents or wadfets, and labour under no objection that does not appear from the face of them, the law has not left it to the voter's oa.h to prove that they are legal freeholds; it has itfeli declared exprefsly all titles in that prodicament to be fo: it is only to prove the reality, and that nothing hidden is ftipulated contrary to the tenor of the titles, that the oath may be tendered.

If, therefore, a liferenter or wadfetter, claiming a freehold upon a fair qualification, unclogged with any back-bond or fecret condition, be required to take the oath, it feems to follow, that he is in perfect fafety to fwear that his title is not nominal and fictitious, but really and truly what he fets it forth to be.

If the claimant's titles are truly what he affrms them to be, the motive to, or inductive 'caufe of acquiring, is of no confequence; that makes no part of his title, nor is in any refpeét effential to it. Very probably the chief or Cnly

STATE

motive was to establish a freehold qualification. But what then? A perfon who holds property, and purchales the fuperiority for the purpose of obtaining a qualification, certainly cannot be faid to be a nominal and fictitious freeholder, when he has the most fubitantial right poffible in his perfon, viz. both property and fuperiority. The oath, indeed, is not fo very accurately worded, but that it has been expofed to criticifm; and fome have been fo extravagant as to maintain, that even fuch perfon could not fately take the oath. But this is perfectly abfurd, and the legiflature cannot be fuppofed to have had fuch a meaning, as is very well explained by Mr. Wight, in his Treatife on the Laws of Election, p. 240. If fo, the motive is evidently out of the question; it is not the motive, but the nature of the title that the law regards.

Agreeably to thefe principles, the House of Lords corrected a train of decitions pronounced by the Court of Seffion, upon a different idea. That court, a good many years ago, difrogarding not only the appearance of the titles, but the evidence of their reality from the oath hav ing been taken, investigated the motives of acquiring; and finding it fairly acknowledged in feveral inftances by the claimants, that the titles had been acquired in order to give a right to vote, they rejected them. But the Houfe of Lords difapproved of the principle, and reverfed the judgements. They would not fulfer that court to pafs as an inqueft upon a claimant's title, the law having clearly defined, itfelf, what a fufficient one is.

With regard to the threats of a criminal profecution, that is a mere brutum fulmen. The gentleman above-mentioned, in his printed letter, fays, "If any of you fhall be hardy enough to do fo (i. e. take the oath) I am next to take the liberty to do what I can to bring you before a jury of your countrymen:" from which it is very plain, that he has been advifed, that neither he, nor any other freeholder, has a title to bring fuch profecution; and, with all his boldnefs, he has not been hardy enough to affert, or even hint, that any King's advocate, who may have a title, would think of fuch a step. If any fuch profecutions are to be brought, common juftice will require from that gentleman, or from whoever elfe fhall be the profecutor, that they be not confined to thofe who hail take the oh at the next election, but extended to all thofe who have taken the oath at former elections; and if that be done, it will be a fortunate aia for the Court of Jufticiary. The gift of prophecy, however, is not nectary to foretell that no fuch profecution will be ever brought against any perfon whatever: or, if it be, that the profecutor will meet with the chaftifement and itigma he defervc..

PAPERS.

IT recites, that difficulties have arifen, which

have delayed the carrying into execution fentences and orders of tranfportation of conLOND. MAG. May, 1784.

victs to places beyond the feas; and that it may be fome time before the faid difficulties can be obviated. 36

That