THE LONDON MAGAZINE. MAY, 1749. A Criticifm upon a Book lately pub- To the AUTHOR of the LONDON SIR, W A HEN I read the letter published in your laft January Magazine, relating to the Private Life of a Prince, I foon guefed at the author; and I read that B letter as well as what you have published in your Magazines for March and April laft, as I do every thing wrote by that author, with great pleasure, till I came to the digreffion about Jacobites; but that digreffion is fo inconfiftent with the ufual decency, and good fenfe, as well as knowledge of the reputed author, that I am perfuaded, it has been inferted by fome other hand, and has been publifhed without his approbation. C prifoner, which no gentleman will be guilty of. But this is not the only cause that has made me become your correfpondent. To call a man a fool for facrificing his intereft to his principle, even tho' that principle be fuch a one as borders upon enthufiaftick madnefs, will, I fear, give too much countenance to that doctrine now fo openly avowed, That every man is a fool who facrifices his immediate intereft to any principle whatever; and this doctrine every honeft man, and every lover of focial liberty will certainly difcourage as much as poffible; becaufe, fhould it once begin to prevail generally among the people, the establishment of despotick rule will be the neceffary confequence, and those who have made the deluded Jacobites their bewers of wood and drawers of water, will be then reduced to the fame despicable condition by fome arbitrary and tyrannical monarch; for government can have but two foundations, principle, or felf-interest. The former is the foundation of free government, the latter of abfolute power; and our late happy revolution is a proof, that upon the former foundation it is impoffible, even by all the craft of I hope you will not imagine, that I am fool enough to attempt juftify. D ing the Jacobites, or fupporting their principles. No, Sir; I defpife paffive obedience and non-refiftance as much as the author of this digreffion can do; but at this time of day, and in our prefent happy circumftances, Ipriefs, to erect an arbitrary governdo not think it generous, and con fequently, I cannot think it decent, to call a a Nonjuring Jacobite a fool, or to fay, that every Jacobite who takes the oaths must be a knave. It is like giving bad language to a E ment; for let hireling priests inculcate paffive obedience and non-refistence as much, or as long as they pleafe, the people will refift when they think themfelves ill ufed: Nothing can prevent Ҫс г 200 A Criticism on a famous Book just published. prevent it but an army A May Ely, Chichester, Bath and Wells, Peterborough, St. David's, Gloucefter, Dartmouth, Griffin, Maynard, Brooke, Landaff, and Bristol; and the lords Jermyn, Arundel, Chandos, Leigh, and Delawar; in all thirty eight queftion to be fuch a one as requires Another reafon for fuppofing this a very nice difquifition, is, because that great and learned man, Grotius, in his book de jure belii ac pacis, de. clares it as his opinion, that in counlineal fucceffion, as it does in this tries where the crown defcends by country, the reigning king may abdicate for himself, but that abdication cannot prejudice the right of his children then born †. Now, tho' I differ from this great man: Tho' I diffolves the government then efta think, that an abdication abfolutely blifhed, throws it into the hands of the people, and intitles them to difpofe of it as they may then think moft for the common good; yet, I cannot be fo conceited in my own opinion Dfollowers are enthufiaftical fools and as to think, that Grotius and all his For this reason, were the principles of the Jacobites more enthusiaftically mad than I can think them, I fhould avoid calling a man a fool, or treating him with contempt for adhering to thofe principles. I am fully convinced, that the late king B James, by bis conduct, gave the people a right to refift, and that by his abdication he gave them a right to chufe for themselves what new governor thought fit; and I know, that molt or governors they men are fo wedded to, and fo vain C of their own conceits, in religion and politicks efpecially, that they think every man a fool or a madman who differs from them; but I have always endeavoured to judge with more coolness, and from this judging I conclude, that a man may way of be a Jacobite, without being either an enthufiaft or a madman in all questions which require a very ; for nice difquifition, an honeft man will adhere fteadily to that fide which he thinks right, but there can be no enthusiasm or madness upon either fide of the queftion. E Now, that the queftion relating to the revolution is fuch a one as requires a very nice difquifition, is evident from our hiftory; for at that, time it stood a debate for many days in the houfe of lords, was at laft de- F termined by a majority but of two or three, and was protefted against by the dukes of Somerfet, Ormond, Beaufort, Grofton, and Northumberland; the archbishop of York; the earls of Exeter, Clarendon, Ailebury, Nottingham, Litchfield, Rochefter, Fever G ham, Berkeley, Pembroke, Scarsdale, Abingdon, and Craven; the bishops of Winchester, Lincoln, Norwich, madmen. Nor can I think, that there is fuch See the Hiflory of England by an impartial bend, Vol. II. p. 50, 51. Je jure belli ac pacis. lib. 2. cap. 7. feci. 26. † Grotius, 1749 A Criticism on a famous Book just published. afterwards continued attached to the Lancafter family. The difference does not therefore confift in a man's fetting up his private authority, or confcience, againft the laws of his country, but in the juftice and folidity of thofe laws; and, I believe, A it will be admitted by all unbiaffed men, that the laws by which the revolution was established, had a more juft and folid foundation than either of the other. B C D So much for the fools of Jacobites: And now as to thofe whom this author, or rather the editor, has been pleased to call knaves, meaning all those who take the oaths to the government, in order to entitle themselves to the rights and privileges of British fubjects; in order to determine whether this be fuch a harsh appellation as they deferve, we muft inquire what penalties and disabilities a recufant convict is liable to by the laws now in force. In the first place, no man can hold or enjoy any place of trust or profit in the government of his country, nor can he elect or be elected a member of parliament; nay, he cannot fo much as be a tutor, fchoolmaster, usher, preacher, barrifter, attorney, folicitor, advocate, proctor, clerk, or notary, without taking the oaths, among which that of the abjuration is always one. And E in the next place, it is in the power of any two neighbouring juftices, perhaps out of perfonal pique, to tender the oath of abjuration to any man they please to fufpect of difaffection; and if he refuses to take the fame before them, or in court the next term following, he is from thenceforth to be adjudged a popish recufant convict; the penalties of which are fo various and fo fevere, that a man must have fomething of the spirit of martyrdom in him, if he fubjects himself to fuch a conviction, G rather than take any oath that ever was invented. But fuppofe a Jacobite takes the oaths in order to qualify himself for electing or being elected a member of parliament, and F 201 that he does this to prevent the choice fal- of the least seeming evil upon any confide- Infani fapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui, I fhall fuppofe farther, that a Jacobite takes the oaths in order to qualify himself for following his bufinefs as a lawyer, &c. or even to enable him to hold some lucrative poft in our civil government; furely, fuch a man deferves as little to be called a knave, as a freethinker or diffenter, who communicates with the Church of England for the fame purpose. In all these cafes, therefore, I must think, not only that the terms made ufe of by this author are harsh, but that the cenfure is unjust; and were it otherwife, I should avoid making use of the terms, both as a gentleman, and as a good subject to the illuftrious family now upon our throne; for I must observe, that the intereft of the royal family is in this refpect directly con accident, been bred up in and have always trary to the intereft of those who have, by profeffed revolution principles. No man is anfwerable for the principles he at first imbibes, because they proceed from the tutors and inftructors of his infancy, or perhaps the company he accidentally falls into in his youth; and if a man behaves like a good fubject, and seems willing to lend an ear to fuch arguments as may be brought in favour of other opinions, fuch as a crime, by any well advised prince of principles will never be imputed to him our prefent royal family; for it is their interest to have every Jacobite in the kingdom converted, and to prevent any from being educated in fuch principles for the future. But as to those who have been bred up in, and have always profeffed revolution principles, it is their intereft to prevent the converfion of any Jacobite, and to have a great number of our beft families brought ap in fuch principles, because it prevents any increase in the number of their rivals for for power, and for the many lucrative posts that are now thought neceffary for keeping the wheels of our government in a proper motion. For this reafon they will always treat the Nonjuring Jacobites with contemptuous language, because they know, that nothing contributes more towards rendring men obstinate in their opinions; and the whole bent of their rage will be turned against thofe Jacobites that conform by taking the oaths prefcribed by law; but for my part, as I have no poft or office in view, and therefore can fear no rival, I fhall always be for occafional conformity in politicks as well as religion; because I know, that occafional conformity often begets real conformity: It naturally opens the cheese, and the woollen manufacture is carried on here with great vigour and induftry, as is alfo the linen in fome places. It is upon the whole a wealthy and pleasant county, exceeding populous and well frequented; but tho' it yields much pleasure in the fummer, it is bad in the winter, as A being low, wet and moorish, especially in the middle parts, which renders it then very troublesome to travellers; tho', confidering the great fertility of the county, this inconvenience is eafily pafs'd over by the inhabitants, who have this proverb among them, What is worst for the rider, is best for the abider. This county is divided into 44 hundreds, in which are computed 45,000 houfes, and about 268,000 inhabitants. It contains 3 cities (which no county in England does befides) 5 boroughs, each of which fends two members to parliament, as do the 3 cities; which with the 2 knights of the fhire, make 18 members return'd by this county. It has befides about 30 market-towns, and the parishes in the whole are reckon'd 385. To begin with the cities, which are, B mind, and leads a man out of that narrow If this letter finds a place in your collec- 1. Bristol, parted in the middle by the tion, I may perhaps trouble you with a- river Avon, over which it has a noble nother, upon the true principles of the re- ftone bridge, with houfes on each fide, like volution; wherein I fhall fhew, that tho' that of London. It ftands partly in Somerby thofe principles a fubject may refift the fetfhire, and partly in Gloucestershire, tho' prince who endeavours to ruin and enslave it properly belongs to neither, being a counhis people, yet he cannot by thofe prin- ty of itfelf. It is 94 computed and 115 eiples push that refiftance to the dethrone-D measured miles W. from London, and for ment and exclufion of that prince and his A Defcription of SOMERSETSHIRE. F Omerfetfhire has Wiltshire on the east, Devonpire on the weft, part of Dewoit, fire and Dorfetfire on the fouth, and the Severn-Sea, or Brifel-Channel, and Gloefterbire on the north. It is a very large county, being about 55 miles in length from east to west, and in breadth from north to fouth, about 40; its circumference reckon'd upwards of 200 miles, containing 1,075,000 acres. It is in general well watered, and its chief rivers are the Avon and Parvet. The air is fweet and temperate, and the foil rich and fertile, both for tillage and pafturage, fo that for corn and cattle it G can challenge any of its neighbouring counties. Some parts indeed are hilly and ftony, but thefe not without their advantage in good coal-mines, lead-mines, Er. They make confiderable quantities of good its vaft and extenfive commerce reckon'd the second city in England, tho' for dignity only the third, York having the precedence. It is of a large extent and circular form, the houfes built clofe about the middle, and the streets narrow, thro' which the goods are convey'd on fledges, no carts being permitted to come into the city. The other parts are more fpacious, and the houfes finely built, particularly the fquare about the key, which is large and very convenient for loading and unloading goods. The city is very populous, has 6 gates, and, befides the cathedral, 17 parishchurches, the most beautiful of which is that of St. Mary Ratcliffe, without the walls. Several noble edifices, both publick and private, have been lately erected here, particularly the Exchange for the merchants. St. Vincent's rock near Briftol yields a fine fort of ftone in great quantities, call'd Bristol flones, in appearance like diamonds, but not fo hard; and at the bottom of the rock is a hot mineral spring, famous for what they call Brifol wars, much us'd of late. The manufacture of glass bottles is fo great as to employ 15 large houfes in making them. The markets are on Wedresdays and Saturdays, and it has 2 annual fairs very much frequented. It is govern'd by a mayor mayor, aldermen, 2 fheriffs, a recorder, &c. and fends 2 members to parliament. It gave the title of ear! formerly to the family of Digby, but now to that of Harvey. 2. Bath, about 12 miles S. E. of Bristol, and upon the fame river, an antient, wellbuilt city, with two parith-churches befides the cathedral or abbey, a magnificent ftruc- A ture. There are feveral infcriptions and monuments of antiquity about this city; and as to the time of its being united to the fee of Wells, authors are not agreed. It is furrounded with lofty hills, and the ground about it, especially to the westward, is for fome miles fo ftony, that one would take it, when newly plough'd, to be ridges of fo many pitch'd caufeways, and yet it B bears excellent wheat. It enjoys a pretty good cloathing trade, but is most of all noted for its wonderful medicinal waters, which occafion a prodigious refort hither, from London and all parts. It was famous for these waters even in the time of the Romans, which are good for almost all diforders, us'd internally or externally. There C are 4 baths within the city, whose waters are of a different temperature; the CrofsBath, of a mild and moderate heat; the Hot-Bath, fo called because the waters are much hotter; and adjoining to thefe is a Lazar, or Spital- Houfe, for the relief of poor difeafed people. The third and fourth, as joined together, are the greatest and best baths, being feated near the abbey, in D the heart of the city, and call'd the King'sBath, and the Queen's-Bath. The townhoufe is a neat ftone building, fupported by 21 pillars in front, under which the market is kept, which is on Wednesday and Saturday. It is govern'd by a mayor, recorder, aldermen, &c. and fends 2 members to parliament. It gave title of earl formerly to the family of Granville, now to that of Pulteney. A publick hofpital has lately been erected here, which has met with great encouragement. 3. Wells, about 16 miles S. W. of Bath, fuppos'd to derive its name from the medicinal fprings which arife there. It is a very antient sity, small but neat, and much more confiderable formerly than at present, having fallen to decay by the increase of Bath. It is noted for its beautiful cathedral, the bishop's palace adjoining, which is very fplendid, as alfo the prebendaries houfes. The city is governed by a mayor, &c. and fends 2 members to parliament; and has markets on Wednesdays and Fridays. The boroughs, each of which also fends 2 members to parliament, are, 1. Minebead, in the western parts, on the Bristol-Channel, accommodated with a fafe and capacious harbour for fhips of great burden, and is a place of fome trade, espe cially to Ireland. They are lately very much improv'd in the catching and curing of herrings, and export large quantities to the Mediterranean, &c. 2. Bridgwater, on the river Parret, over which it has a good bridge with three fpacious arches; a large and populous town, with a plentiful market on Thursdays. 3. Taunton, or Taunton-Dean, 9 miles S. W. of Bridgwater, pleafantly feated on the river Tone, among delightful meadows. 'Tis one of the best towns in the county, is large and exceeding populous, has fair, fpacious ftreets, and z parifh-churches, and is well inhabited by clothiers, who drive a very great trade in ferges, duroys, &c. Its markets are on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 4. Ilchefter, or Yvelchefter, 15 miles E. of Taunton, an antient fortified Roman town, now govern'd by a bailiff, and 12 burgeffes. The county jail is here, and it has a market on Wednesdays. Roman coins are fometimes dug up here. 5. Milbourn-Port, 10 miles S. E. of ILchefter, an antient borough, which, tho' it fends 2 members to parliament, is no market-town. The members are chofen by the inhabitants paying fcot and lot, in number about 50. The other market-towns are, 1. Portlock, or Porlock, about 5 miles W. of Minehead, an indifferent harbour on the Severn-Sea, not much frequented.-2. Dulverton, about 12 miles S. of Minebead, a pretty good town, feated in a hilly moor, whofe market is on Saturday. There are some leadmines in its neighbourhood.-3. Dunftar, or Dunftar-Cafile, feated upon a flat, on all fides encompaffed with hills, but that next the fea, well built, with a caftle mounted on an eminence, and a good market on Fridays. E-4. Watchet, about 6 miles E. of Dunftar, on the fame fhore, with a pretty good harbour, us'd by colliers, and a market on Saturday.-5. Stowey, or North Storey, about the fame distance S. E. from Watchet. -6. Ilminster, 8 miles S. E. of Taunton, a very antient borough-town, govern'd by a mayor, &c. It formerly fent members to parliament, and has now a market on Saturdays.-7. Wellington, 7 miles S. W. of Taunton, and on the fame river, has a market on Thursdays.-8. Chard, 4 miles S. of IIminfter, a very antient borough, governed by a portreeve, well built, having a confiderable trade in the woollen manufacture, and a market on Monday.-9. Wivelfcomb, about 6 miles N. W. of Wellington, a mean but Gantient town, with a market on Tuesday.— 10. Stoke-Gomer, about the fame distance N. of Wivellcomb.-11. South Petherton, 5 miles E. of Ilminster, has a market on Thurfday.-12. Crookborn, 6 miles S. E. from Chard, has a confiderable market on Sa. F turday. |