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Prevention of Forgery of Bank Notes.

tion those of paper, fponge, fmooth mahogany, a piece of glue a little warmed, linen cloth, leather (of which, that, ufed for fhoe-fo es is the beft) &c.

After going through thefe and many other fimilar experiments, I made a fquare deal frame, on which I glued a fheet of paper, I then placed it before the fire, and applied the India rubber as in my other experiments, but the propenfity to electricy was fo weak. that it was only vifible by its attracting a light feather, fufpended by a thread. Hence my opinion that the fluid is collected from the fubftance on which the paper is laid, and not from that by which it is rubbed.

If the paper be rubbed with bees wax previous to its being ufed, it will be found to have a much stronger propensity to the production of electric matter, than when quite clean. I am, fir,

I

Your obedient fervant, THOS. GRIFFITHS. Manchefter, Dec. 20, 1797.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

AM not inclined to controvert the arguments advanced in your laft, by A Sufferer by Forgery, either as to the propriety of adopting every poffible means to prevent the forgery of bank notes, or as to the degree of guilt which attaches to the public, or to any clafs of the community, when they punifh, with feverity, a crime which they have not done every thing in their power to prevent.

His reafoning, on thefe points, goes fo home to the conviction of every man, that I am fure his fuggeftions will not be overlooked; but, towards the clofe of his letter, he starts a queftion which ought not, in my opinion, to have been brought forward, until he had afcertained its truth; and the more fo, as the fact to which it alludes is of fuch a nature, that even more than a common degree of evidence would be neceffary to give it any degree of credibility.

Before I proceed farther, I beg leave to quote your correfpondent's own words: "If there be," fays he, " any degree of culpability on the part of thofe in whofe department it lies, in not having adopted fuch obvious improvements in the fabri cation of bank nores, as the prefent advanced ftate of the arts puts within their reach, will it not be aggravated if it fhall be found, that they have refused a plan tebich would not only have rendered forgery much more difficult than at present, but almost, if not altogether, impoffible

[Jan.

plan, to the excellency of which all the principal artifts in London have borne teflimony?"

I will readily grant, that if a plan, fo powerfully recommended, has been rejećted by the Bank Directors, they are not only deferving of cenfure, but, however juft y the forger may deferve hanging, will be acceffaries to murder, if they ever profecute to death any future forgerv, while their notes continue to be fabricated on the old plan. But to me, and, I dare fay to all your readers, it must appear abfolutely impoffible, in the nature of things, that the fact can be true. Are not the Bank Directors men of the first character in the commercial world, both with relation to property, abilities, probity, and integrity? Could fuch men be fo criminally negligent and regardless of the high trust repofed in them, and of the duty they owe, not only to their immediate conftituents, but to the public, as to refufe a plan calculated to leffen the number of forgeries and public executions? Impoffible,! But even, if we could for a moment suppose them fo devoid of principle, as to allow themfelves to be influenced by a fpirit of patronage and private motives in the employment of thofe who are more immediately connected with this department; could we believe that men of their penetration would be fo blind to their own intereft, as to neglect the means of adding to the fecurity of their individual property? This would be to fuppofe them governed by principles different from thofe which actuate all mankind, and more void of intellect than afs-drivers.

If, by "the principal artifts in London," the " Lofer by Forgery" means Bartolozzi, Heath, Sharp, Fittler, and other equally eminent men, which I have a right to think he does, by the defervedly refpectful manner in which he fpeaks of them, I will allow that their judgment is not to be queftioned on a point of this nature. But it will be no eafy matter to convince the public, that the Bank Directors would arrogate to themselves a right to fet up their opinion, on a question connected with the arts, in oppofition to that of fuch men-of individuals, whofe character, for probity and honour, stands as high as that of the Directors themfeives; for a proper degree of modefty will ever be found to refult from thofe attainments which qualify a man for fo diftinguished a fituation as that of a Bank Director.

By principal artifts, it would be unfair ato fuppofe that your correfpondent merely

means

1798.]

Anecdote of Mr. Burkė corrected.`

means engravers of fhop-bills and clockdials; for, though among these there may be, and no doubt are, many men of abilities and character, it might be no difficult matter for a projector to find, among this clafs, friends who might be influenced to approve a plan on which they are by no means competent to decide., But, even in this cafe, the Directors would certainly have bestowed on the plan the attention to which it might appear to be entitled, by taking the opinion of abler artists to guide them in their determina-, tjon.

Thus, I think, I have demonftrated, from every view that can be taken of the fubject, how extremely improbable it is, that the Bank Directors have refufed a plan recommended in the manner which has been stated; but, if it fhould turn out to be true that they have actually rejected fuch a plan, in fpite of all the inducements for its adoption which it holds out, I know no language which can do justice to their demerits.

The queftion may, however, be brought into a narrow, compafs: if fuch a plan has been propofed, let its author come forward, and let the artifts, by whom it has been approved, declare themselves alfo, This is a duty which they owe to the public; and no motives, of a private nature, ought fo to operate, as to prevent them from its performance.

The public have a right to every fecurity the bank can give them; and if the plan, to which the Sufferer by Forgery alludes, be calculated to increafe that fecurity, I can with fafety promife him, that its merits will be inveftigated by more than one

PRIVATE BANKER.

London, Dec. 22.

For the Monthly Magazine.

TO THE EDITOR,

WITHOUT intending the fmalleft

offence, fir, to your ingenious correfpondent, Modulator, I will be bold to counsel him to obferve correctnefs in his promulgation of anecdotes. No fuch converfation, as he pretends, could ever have poffibly passed between the late Mr. Burke, my old acquaintance, and the worthy doctor alluded to; because the fmall grammatical difpute in queftion really happened in the Houfe of Commons during the American war, and in my hearing. It was between Lord North and Mr. Burke, the former fchooling the lat ter very much, to his apparent mortification, for pronouncing the i short in vecti

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gal; and I believe a guinea wager was betted. The truth is, Mr. Burke, as Lord North well knew, and has often told me, was but an indifferent claffical fcholar, not knowing a letter of Greek, perhaps even unable to conftrue many or moft of his own Latin quotations.

It has been wondered at by many, that your Magazine, acknowledged, at laft, even in our reluctant circles, as the best which has hitherto appeared in our language, thould never have given the public, or even noticed, the character of Mr. Burke, as given by the man who, of all others, knew him beft, the late Gerrard Hamilton. It appeared firft in France, and afterwards, about July laft, in fome of our Magazines. Certain it is, the friends of Mr. Burke did all in their power to fupprefs it, and I believe fucceeded in fome degree. Hamilton's quarrel with Burke is now faid to have been purely of a political nature, and that there are, befides the character in question, certain pieces from the pen of the former, which will one day be highly interesting to public curiofity.

DEMOCRATICUS. Pall-Mall, Sunday Evening, Dec. 17.

For the Monthly Magazine. [The following account of the prefent condition of the United States of North America, in feveral important particulars, is tranflated from the Déude Philofophique, one of the French Periodical Journals.]

IN the United States of America, the

Sciences may ftill be faid to be but in their cradle. Three colleges and one univerfity, of theology, of law, and phyfic; five or fix Academica! Societies, which are but in a paralyzed state; a number of very active Private Societies, inftituted for the purposes of commerce, manufactures, &c.; and a proportionate number of private fchools for the education of youth, conftiture, at prefent, the only

fources of intellectual and moral inftruction. Indeed the general character of the inhabitants of the American States, leads them to ftudy rather the means of augmenting their fortunes, than to cultivate the feiences, and to contribute, pro parte viril, their quota towards the progress and diffemination of knowledge. The public prints, of which there is a great variety, have the fame tendency here, as in Europe, to corrupt the public fpirit, or to cloak the faults of an inefficient government, frequently convulfed by ephemeral factions. A long refidence and diligent obfervation are indifpenfibly neceffary to

develope

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Account of the North American States.

develope the fprings of action. I have devoted confiderable attention to this fub ject, and flatter myself that I have selected a fund of materials which will not be found wholly uninterefting in a commercial and political point of view.

The laws in this country breathe a fpirit of humanity; and the inhabitants, in general, their private intereft out of the queftion, may be faid to be well-difpofed. An exception, however, must be made with respect to the rich, overgrown mer chants, who remember, with regret, the æra of the British monarchy, and entertain a ftrong predilection for titles and other marks of diftinction. By far the majority are favourable to the French; and in the last election for a mayor, and other magiftrates, in Philadelphia, the choice fell upon the avowed partizans of the French Republic.

With refpect to religion, every denomination is tolerated. This renders the inhabitants tractable and gentle, as no religious eftablishment is exclufively protected by government; but, perhaps, there is hardly a Chriftian country where lefs genuine piety is to be met with. Young people are regular in their attendance at church, because they are well aware that, without a due regard to appearances. they could obtain no advantageous firuation, form no eligible matrimonial connections, or eftablish themselves with credit in life. Men of advanced years frequent church through habit, or to obtain the confidence of their respective focieties, and fecure an influence in the direction of their temporal concerns. A few pious fouls there are, who have no other view in their devotion than to commune with the Supreme, comfort their fellow-creatures under afflictions, and inculcate the divine precepts of morality, by actions and virtuous example, rather than by idle ceremony.

In this country no tythes nor royalties are paid. Whilft fubjected to the British government, the United States of America refufed to admit the Catholics to any public office; but, fince their emancipation from the British yoke, this unjuft law is abolished; and men of every perfuafion are indifcriminately admitted to a participation in all the functions of government. Catholics, of the Greek and Romish church, Prefbyterians, Quakers, Turks, and Jews, are all equally eligible to public fituations, and are at liberty to adore the Supreme, according to the dictates of their confcience. There are, likewife, a num ber of Separatifts and Seckers in the coloDies, who belong to no particular feet, but

[Jan.

profefs to follow, as their fole guide, the impulfe of confcience, without attaching themselves to any individual fociety. Toleration in America is carried to an extent greater than even in France. It is but lately that a Prefbyterian church elected for their minifter a negro from Guinea, a man of exemplary character, and of no contemptible abilities, who acquits himself with credit in his new vocation. I have frequently feen him officiate in his robes, and have heard him preach with great fatisfaction; and I make no doubt but he will prove an useful acqui-" fition to his fociety.

The population of the United States amounts to about five millions of inhabitants, exclusive of the western settlements, which are well peopled, and contain, at a moderate calculation, 120,000 perfons. But it must be taken into confideration, that the fum total of inhabitants doubles every fourteen years, as has been clearly fubftantiated and afcertained by exact official documents: this gives a more rapid increase than Franklin has ftated.

Agriculture and commerce form, almost without exception, the principal employment of the inhabitants: and were it not that the rich merchants difcourage, by every poffible means, the progrefs and improvement of American manufactures, in order to monopolize the exclufive commerce with England, by which they accumulate immenfe fortunes in a very fhort time, arts and manufactures would be in a highly flourishing state. The fingle branch of thip-building employs, in this country, feveral thoufands of hands, At this very moment, when France pays after the rate of 300 livres per ton for vef fels built of whole deal, and very moderate folidity, the American fhipwright confructs his veffels of red cedar, or oak, which wood is of a far fuperior quality, and will last double the time, than the timber made ufc of in Europe; yet, notwithstanding thefe advantages, and although the American veffels are built upon a better and more folid construction, they may be purchased at the rate of 170 livres per ton,completely finished, and ready for fea. If the French Republic fhould at any time ftand in need of 20,000 ton, in new veffels, the United States can furnish them at the price above stated, which, in time of peace, would sustain a confider. able abatement.

The annual exports of the United States, according to authentic documents, exceed twenty-fix millions of dollars, exclufive of what has not been entered at the cuftoms."

The

1798.]

United States....Query on Brewing.

The fpeculation in land finds employment for a great number of adventurers, fome few of whom acquire immenfe fortunes, at the expence of the major part, who ruin themselves.

I know of no work, published in America, deferving of particular mention, in a grand national point of view. Their Journals are a chaotic affemblage of lies, where even commercial advertisements are altered and disfigured. Some AngloAmerican authors have written efteemed moral works; but thefe are fo voluminous, fo dear, and fo little read, that they ferve here, as in Europe, to fupport the pomp of a library, which is vifited from a motive of curiofity, without reaping any utility

from it.

The grand fource of the riches of the Americans refults from the fertility of their territory, the temperature of the climate, and the cheap price of land, which holds out an irrefiftible temptation to emigrants from other countries. The traffic in land is the first object of attention with the monied men, who may purchase acres by the thousand, at the rate of three fols per acre. This land they afterwards fell to fome poor emigrant for two francs, who is frequently obliged to relinquifh his purchase, for want of hands and money to cultivate it, and fells it for twenty fols per acre, to a new adventurer, before a fingle, plough has paffed over it. Agriculture is, notwithstanding, in general eftimation; but it is only in the interior of the United States that it is purfued with proper activity. The frontiers of this vaft empire confift of a mere affemblage of deferts, inhabited by a few fraggling, unfortunate fanatics, who fubfift upon milk, potatoes, and Indian corn.

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The American manufactures, although difcouraged by commercial defpotifm, are in a state of gradual, though but flow, improvement. Inventions, and machines for manufacturing purposes, are daily brought nearer to perfection, and it may, with ftrict truth, be affirmed, that America, in this refpect, far furpaffes Europe. The truth of this affertion, I hope to eftablifh by a collection of defigns, taken from actual pieces of mechanifm, which I have in agitation to publish. At the diftance of about three miles from Philadelphia, is a water-mill, belonging to a Mr. Johnfon, formed upon a very ingenious conftruction, which, with the affittance of only two men, performs as much work as could be executed on the common principle by the united efforts of 300 perfons. Thefe MONTHLY MAG. XXVII.

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machines, which fimplify labour, diminish the expence of the commodities, fave a multitude of hands, and multiply the manufacturer's profits, are permanent fources of opulence and property. Franklin, Rittenhoufe, and other ingenious mechanics, have enriched the American States with an incredible variety of useful machines, of which Europe has the finalleft idea. I have in my poffeffion exact plans of a great number of them.

not

I have frequently been in company with VOLNEY. Our difcourfe generally turned upon the fubject of our travels. I am at prefent lodged in his apartments, from whence I write this letter. He had undertaken a journey to Carolina and fome of the fettlements on the Ohio. I had visited this year the northern districts of the United States, Long Island, the states of New York, Jerfey, Connecticut, and Maryland. I have entered into an agreement with VOLNEY to visit this fpring the fouthern provinces, with the western fettlements, having been appointed, in the last general affembly of the Quakers at Phila delphia, one of their deputies to vifit the Indian nations, and to establish, if poffible, fome handicraft bufinefs among them, as labourers, fmiths, carpenters, &c. in hopes of introducing fome degree of civilization among the western tribes, which we charitably are in the habit of diftinguishing by the appellation of favages, though, in fact, they poffefs more humanity than many civilized nations. My intention is to vifit the Mohawks, the Delawares, the Shawanefe, in one word, to glean, among the Indian tribes and aborigines of North America, all the moral and phyfical intelligence which may fall in my way.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

Fit is not making an improper use of

your valuable Mifcellany, and occupying a place that might be more ufefully enployed, it would greatly oblige me, and, I doubt not, add to the comfort of many families in the country, that brew their own beer, if any of your numerous correfpondents would anfwer the two following Querics :-In brewing ale, at what degree of heat, on Fahrenheit's fcale, ought the water to be when it is let off into the mash-tub to the malt? Likewife, at what degree the wort fhould be, when the yeast is added to excite fermentation? These two points are well known to all public brewers, but I have not met with any treatife on brew ing in which they are afcertained. Com. brun is become fo fcarce, I have not been E

able

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Plan of National Education....Mr. Dyer on Coins.

[Jan.

fhould be devoted to fuch as might inure them to fatigue; or, occupied with fuch amufements as might ufefully direct their N. S. T. future labours.

able to procure it, or poffibly might from that have obtained the information I now I am, your's, &c. Ludlow, Dec. 20, 1797.

folicit.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

THE eftablishment of national schools in France may at least be confidered as one benefit arifing out of the progrefs of the revolution, and in proportion as the defign matures and becomes general, muft eminently promote the ends of a good government, inafmuch as every citizen will be taught to feel his weight and confequence in a fiate where talents and virtue form the criteria of promotion. Such inftitutions, on a fimilar plan, have long been the defideratum of this country. In England, the education of youth has been uniformly, except in fome few inftances, intrufted to the moft ignorant and incapable, or to fchoolmen who heated with the prejudices of a college, view the progrefs of the mind with diffruft, and treat its aptitude with neglect.

A few benevolent men, but whofe funds were too fmall to realize their defigns, lately had a plan in contemplation, which though, perhaps, impracticable under an administration jealous of the advancement of knowledge, was certainly calculated to effect much good.

tion.

;

The benefits of their establishment extended to all degrees of people, who were to partake equally in their plan of inftrucA fchool-houfe was to be erected; the experiment was firft to be tried in the country, to which-every man in the vicinity or at a diftance, was at liberty to fend his children. The fyftem of education was likewife different from that generally purfued, it being more the object of the cftablishment to render its pupils practically wife than philologically learned and as those who formed the fociety were fenfible, that "lefs danger is to be apprebended from ignorance than error," a pure and unadulterate fyftem of morality fhould be taught, divefted of scholastic induction, and arifing fimply out of principles of conciliation and mutual juftice. It was like wife intended to inftruct the boys in the common law of the land, and to give them fuch a neceffary infight into the conftitutution of their country, as might enable them to appreciate the value of its fundamendal principles, and qualify them for the difcharge of their duty. All diftinctions, but thofe of fuperior merit, to be carefully avoided; while their leifure hours, as recommended by Rouffeau,

But thefe are fchemes of national improvement to which fociety at prefent does not feem competent. Prodigal and luxurious, tenacious of rank and fond of diftinctions, we facrifice dignity of character and the economy of virtue to useless and fplendid exhibitions, which fink and deftroy the elevation of moral fentiment and the fenfe of public duty. Governments likewife tremble at the throb of public virtue, and feel fhaken to their centres when mankind fhow the leaft difpofition to fhake off their mental ftupor, or to affert the dignity of the human understanding.

If, however, to inform the mind and yet direct it, fo that it may be useful to the community and honourable to its country; and that, while it feeks the enjoyments of literary and philofophical inftruction, it may contemplate without disgust the fubordinate offices, neceffity and want of fortune compel us to recur to; are objects worthy the confideration of the legiflator and philanthropist, we fhould adopt fome fuch inflitution as that propofed, and thus prepare the way for the happiness of mankind. Let, fir, the members of any ftate, who ought all to be the equal care of a wife government, mingle with one another; let them be taught in the fame fchools, where their daily toil will be mutual, their emulation kindred. The dif. ferent fpecies of inftruction are open to all, and the dread, that in proportion as you enlighten a people, you unfit them for the laborious concerns of life, will not be felt where the affections are cherished as reciprocal, and where obedience is lefs the effect of duty, than the inclination of regard.

Jan. 15, 1798.

2. W. R.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

MANY months back, appeared in your

Magazine, fome good obfervations on PROVINCIAL COINS. On perufing them, I was led to pay the fubject a more ferious attention, than I had been accuftomed to do, and wifhed to give the ftudy an ufeful direction; being well aware that many, both writers and collectors,have trifled about medals, and expofed themfelves to deferved ridicule. Ì fent a fhort letter on the fubject to your Repofitory, accompanied with a medal facred to the cause of FREEDOM; it being defigned to preferve the remembrance of the independent

conduct

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