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426

Character of a Tradesman defended against Mr. Godwin.

tion of words, yet the old books would preferve all neceffary information on that fubject. But, is it not to be feared that they would foon become obfolete, and be unintelligible without great labour and application? Who would not oppofe any plan for a mode of fpelling, that would be the means of configning to oblivion the works of our beft authors? Who, that has the leaft regard for literature, would not struggle with all his ftrength against him, who, with rafh and barbarous hand, would plunge into darkness and difficulty, Dryden and Pope, Addifon and Bolingbroke? S. M. fays, "If we are not agreed upon our pronunciation, the fixing of it by an exact orthography is a defirable object." Be it fo. But let us confider the price we are to to pay for this defirable object. We are to give up no less than the means of difcovering the derivation of words. This would be too much, if the design fhould fucceed in its fullest extent. Who then would pay this price, when it is manifeft that it can fucceed only in part?-I am afraid, fir, that I have exceeded the limits which ought to confine me: I will, therefore, fay a word on S. M.'s laft obfervation, and conclude. I did not urge "That we understand each other fufficiently for all the purposes of common life, as abfolutely conclufive. What I meant, is this: that the inequality between the neceffity of alteration, and the facrifices that must be made, if it take place, is fo great, that (comparatively peaking) there is no neceffity at all. Your's,

March 15, 1798.

V. O. V.

plied; becaufe confidence, from which it is fufpended, when once broken, continues fo for ever.

Such being my fentiments, it was with much regret I obferved the tendency of a modern effay, in which trades and profeffions are reprefented in the most difgusting light. Some remarks feem neceffary to counteract the injury of fuch ideas, which I think are unjust and injudicious.

To Mr. GODWIN, the author of that effay (fee" Inquirer," Effay v.), I am fure I have no perfonal dislike. I confider his attempt as dangerous; and no other apology for oppofing him, in this inftance, is neceffary. If I were of his opinion, I fhould no longer defire to live in this world. Existence for me would have no charm; life would have no enjoyment. Who would defire to act in a scene "where all is blank, repulfive, odious where every business and employment is found contagious and fatal to all the best characteristics of man, and proves the fruitful parent of a thousand hateful vices *."

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The ground upon which this accufàtion is made, appears to be this: that selfishness is a hateful vice; that trades, as at prefent conducted, engender selfishnefs; ergo, no liberal man can follow a trade. Such hafty conclufions are furely very inconfiftent with the caution of a philofophical " Inquirer." They impeach his liberality equally with his knowledge. They bring inquiry itself into disrepute.

That avarice is a vice, and that its influence is to eradicate every generous and humane fentiment, is readily admitted. That mankind are too often infenfible to the duties of humanity, is generally just. That the acquirement of wealth by no No reafonable man will feel himself indifferent to means confers generofity, the experience the character he bears. To be in want of the of

fanction derived from the good opinion of others, is an evil greatly to be deprecated. Vide GODWIN's Inquirer, Effay vii. fect. 1. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. I Prefume, fir, there are not many of

your readers who will dispute the justnefs of that fentiment which is contained in the motto to my letter. We all of us know the value of a good reputation. To entertain any doubt on that fubject, would betray the indecifion of an idiot. It has hitherto been confidered as an act illiberal, if not bafe, to attempt to deftroy, by unfounded furmifes, the advantages to be derived from fo inestimable a baffing. Other loffes may be repaired by industry, and other misfortunes alleviated by time; but the lofs of character can never be up

But it would have been confiftent with every day too clearly demonftrates. the ufual practice of Mr. GODWIN's inveftigation, to have entered more fully upon the fubject. He has quoted, but

omitted to follow, the advice of Cato:

"De Carthagine fatius eft filere quam parcius dicere." If trades and profeffions be injurious to the moral character and intellectual acquirements of those who follow them, why did he not furnish us with the contraft of thofe who do not follow them? We should then have had an opportunity of comparison; but the comparifon, I am fure, would not have been favourable to his opinion.

I confider a tradefman as a refpectable

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Character of a Tradefman defended against Mr. Godwin.

character. I do not quarrel with him, because" has the audacity to call himself a man." He has a right to that honour; and often a much better right than many of those who refufe it to him. The act of fupplying others with what is ufeful, and at the fame time providing for his own comfort, deferves neither cenfure nor difgrace. It may be done, I know it frequently is done, with uprightnefs and honour. Mr. GODWIN's habits may have prevented him from having much acquaintance with the mercantile world; but I may affure him, that it frequently abounds with inftances of difinterefted virtue. If I had to select the best half of mankind in a civilized state, I should not hefitate a moment to prefer the trading part. In general, I can fafely affirin, that the greater number of avaricious and contracted perfons, is certainly to be found amongst those who live independent of trade. This may appear a paradox: to me it is not fo. The habits of commerce have a tendency to open the mind; they occafion reflection; they prevent inactivity and ftagnation; they frequently compel their votary to be generous; and convince him that it is his intereft to be fo. But here is the love of gain. I grant it; but even the love of gain is often fo regulated by the God of nature, as to produce effects the most beneficial. It may, perhaps, be affirmed, that this has more fhare than any other motive in advancing the work of improvement, in carrying to the highest pitch every art and science, in extending the intellect of man, and promoting the happiness of his fpecies.

To be fond of gain is natural to man. The chief distinction here is, that the tradefman chearfully fpends what he has eafily obtained. Exceptions certainly are numerous; they always must be fo on a general affumption; but its strongest bearing I conceive to be favourable to my argument.

But a tradefman is an enemy to improvement. How is this fhewn? Let me afk Mr. GODWIN who have contributed moft to the improvement of our nature? Do not their very, employments inftigate them to improvements every day? Confider what the whole worth of England was twenty years ago, and what it is now. A little wood, a little fire, and a little water, have been converted by men, whom Mr. GODWIN condemns as enemies of improvements, into the means of providing comfort for thousands of his fellow-creatures.

The fearch of gain corrupts the mind,

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But without the fearch of gain in the prefent itate of things, how should we exift? It is the duty of many frequently to think of it; it is the duty of all to keep it in fubjection, never to fuffer it to influence the delicacy of their feelings, never to bias the impartiality of their judgments, never to deftroy the kindness of their nature.

Tradefieu are charged with employing infidious artifices of pretended politenefs to invite custom to their fhops. No excufe can be offered for fo contemptible a practice. Only let it be remembered, that if fuch a practice be found, the defeet belongs more to thofe who buy, than to those who fell. The fawning driveller would foon alter his habits, if he found they operated to his difadvantage. Tradefmen, therefore, have no more thare in this charge than the reft of mankind.

To finish the black catalogue comes a more formidable accufation: that they indulge towards each other the most inveterate hatred; and that nothing can exceed the animofity they bear to a rival. This, if confined to particular cafes, is certainly true. When it is applied as a general maxim, it is flatly contradicted by general experience. The readiness with which they accommodate one another, and the civility that exists amongst them, are well known to those in mercantile fituations. Mr. GODWIN'S affertion, as it now ftands, is very much like thofe indictments in law, where abfurdity vies with falfehood; where John Doe is charged with breaking the head of Richard Roe, &c. &c.

Here

He has confidered all thofe as equally dangerous, and all equally dishonest. we agree no better than before. I with the flave-trade, and one or two more, not to be confidered as belonging to my argument-they are not trades, they are fif tematic robberies. Yet these cannot be faid to have injured the morals of those who conduct them, because they must, first of all, take the previous ftep of divefting themselves intirely of morality or virtue.

Mr. GODWIN, if not professionally, is, at least, practically, AN AUTHOR. I confider fuch a vocation every way as objec tionable as thofe he has condemned. Since he has ftigmatized every other existing line of bufinefs, it is but fair to call upon him to fhew the peculiar advantages of that which he has chofen.

To excite diftruft, to banish confidence, and to deftroy the advantages derived from the good opinion of one another, is evidently the tendency of that fentiment

which

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Mr. Houfman's Tour continued.

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TOUR OF ENGLAND.

(Continued from page 277.)

Journal of a Tour through almost every county in England, and part of Wales, by Mr. JOHN HOUSMAN, of Corby, near Carlife; who was engaged to make the Tour by a gentleman of diftinction, for the purpofe of collecting authentic information relative to the state of the poor. The Journal comprifes an account of the general appearance of the country, of the foil, furface, buildings, &c. with obfervations agricultural, commercial, &c.

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TOW, the feat of the Marquis of

from this place: the house, the very fine, extenfive park, gardens, pleafuregrounds, &c. are far beyond my powers of defcription, nor do fuch defcriptions come immediately under the concife plan or nature of my notes; these places have been fully and repeatedly defcribed by able writers, who fcarcely condefcended to notice the humble fubjects of my principal attention. Refpecting Stow, fuffice it to fay, that, taken altogether, it is generally allowed to be one of the fineft feats in the kingdom.

September 8. I left Buckingham and went to Winflow, in Buckinghamshire, fix miles. The foil ftrong, and produces much wheat, oats, and beans. In this diftrict I paffed feveral parishes where the fields are open, and the farmers mowing .beans and oats. Where the land is inclofed, it is moftly in pafturage. Roads are made with whitifh freeftone, mixed with flinty gravel; the country is open, though enclosures contain a great number of trees, principally elm; the furface generally level. Winflow is a mall pleafantly fituated market-town, containing 1100 inhabitants; many of the lower claffes of women are lace-makers. The

adjacent country is level, and abounds with game, particularly hares, which, it is faid, the lord of the manor protects with an iron hand.

September 9. Went from Winflow to Leighton Buzzard, in Bedfordfaire, nine

miles. The ftrong clayey foil continues; part of the country is in open fields, and part of it inclofed; the latter is mostly in grafs, and fome of the paftures seem to have lain fo long, that much of the furface is covered with ant-hills, and, confequently, the produce must be diminished. The produce of the arable lands are middling crops of wheat, beans, barley, and oats. The furface is rather irregu lar, but the afpect of the country is pleasing enough;` and, towards Leighton, the beautiful fields, furrounded with ftately timber trees, and fine verdant meadows, are truly delightful, The people bufy in getting in their wheat and` barley, and mowing beans. Small sheep are herded in flocks upon the stubbles and in the lanes. Leighton Buzzard is a pretty market-town, brick built, but the streets are mostly unpaved: it is furrounded with a pleasant country, and several open fields. The manufacture of lace continues.

Buckinghamshire is a small county: it feems in general to have a strong loamy

very either for

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but very injudiciously managed. great quantity of common field indeed produces wheat, beans, barley, and oats, in as large quantities as could be expected from perpetual tillage; but, were the whole country inclofed, and a regular fyftem of husbandry to take place, by the old paftures being brought into a proper fucceffion of grals and corn, and the now corn fields put in the fame rotation, I am confident the produce would be very confiderably more.

September 10, Went from Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, fix miles. A bye-road, which leads over common, or open fields, almost all the way, in which beans are a principal crop. Part of this diftrict is quite level, very fertile and beautiful; a chalk foil commences here, and is, in fome places, within the reach of the plough. The hills about Danftable are feen at a great diftance; they are high protuberances of chalk, and covered with a green fward of poor grais.

About two or three miles from Dunitable the great north road appears rifing up a hill towards the town, which is cut pretty deep, to make the afcent more eafy: the fubftance excavated, is pure chalk, as white as fnow, and thrown up in a long, high, irregular ridge. This feemingly wonderful object, which, had it been in winter, I fhould have taken for a large wreath of fhew, excited my curiosity for fome miles,

nor

Mr. Houfman's Tour continued.

for could I conjecture what it really was, till I had nearly reached the place. Chalk is here burned for lime, in the calcination of which, the people use furze instead of coals. Folding fheep on fallows, is much practifed here: they are of a small white faced breed, and have horns. After paffing an extenfive and very fine common, upon which all the cows in the neighbouring village are depaftured in fummer, the road leads me to a high ground, from which I have a diftant profpect on every fide. Few hedges obftruct the view: almost the whole country, for miles round me, are open fields, and immenfe quantities of grain appear, fome cut down, fome standing, but the greateft part the farmers are bufy carting home. The foil here is rather light, and generally pretty good corn land, but least productive where the chalk abounds moft, which, in fome places, even forms a great part of the upper ftratum. One mile from Dunstable, I paffed a piece of antiquity, on the brink of a hill; it is a large circular mound of earth, inclosing about ten acres of ground, and has formerly, I fuppofe, been an encampment. I asked fome labourers, who were mowing oats near the place, what they had heard about it; who faid the country people called it the Castle, and that they had fingular traditions about the cause of its formation; particularly the vague ftory that a queen, in confequence of a wager with the king, that he could encamp an army, of a certain number of men, within a bull's hide, ordered a buil's hide to be cut into ftrings, and the greateft poffible circle to be circumfcribed therewith, which was done at this place, and the encampment made accordingly. Dunftable is a fmall town, containing near 1000 inhabitants: it is a great thoroughfare to the north, and carries on a ftraw manufacture of hats, baskets, &c. to a confiderable extent, of late, which is chiefly done by women, who can often earn more than the men by common labour. The farmers bring a great deal of manure from London, which is 31 miles diftant. This is quite an open country, over which the neighbouring hills command a fine view.

September 15. Went from Dunftable to Market-street, four miles. The country moftly inclosed; fields, fmall and pretty. A large quantity of the finest common in this diftrict. Market-street stands on the north road, is a pretty large village, confiiting of one long narrow ftreet; and is remarkable for being fituated in two counties, and three parishes. The people

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manufacture ftraw-hats, &c. and the houfes are moderately built. Bedfordfhire, or, at least, so much as I faw of it, is an open country, the air feemingly pure, the foil tolerably dry, and mixed with chalk and flint, which are generally, if not always, companions. On account of the great quantity of common field, this country furnishes uncommon fupplies of all forts: the fheep are more fuited to the folding fyftem of husbandry, than yielding mutton and wool. Farms are middle-fized in general; a few are large, but far more fmall ones of from 30l. to 50l. a year. Rent of land, in farming parishes, from 10s. to 30s. per acre. The principal manufacture is straw-work, but which is confined to about fix or eight miles round Dunstable.

September 14.

Market-ftreet to Redbourn in Hertfordshire, four miles-The roads excellent; fields fmall; foil loamy; produces wheat, barley, oats, turnips and clover; furface level; fine hedges, great numbers of trees thereon. The hazel bush fupplies the place of thorn in general, and nuts are growing thereon in the greatest abundance, particularly about Redbourn. This feems to be a fertile and fine country, and the farmers good agriculturifts. Farms are worth from 151. to about 200l. a year; rent of ploughed land 15s. and of meadow 31. per acre. Redbourn is a very pleasant, clean, well-built, but fmall market town, on the north road.

September 15. Went from Redbourn to St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, four miles. This diftri&t much like the laft defcribed; the road extremely fine; the inclofures feem old; elm trees abound; a few of oak and afh appear at intervals; and here I was pleafed with a view of fome pretty streams of clear water. Fields and farms are fmall, in general, and rents not high. St. Albans alfo ftands on the fame great road, is a pleasant town, and contains three parish churches.

September 16. St. Albans to Barnet, in Hertfordshire, ten miles. The furface pretty level, and woody, but the foil lefs fertile, in general, than in those districts I have lately paffed. Furze, which ge nerally indicates a poor foil, while it points to fome agricultural neglect, frequently prefents itself to the eye of the traveller, in this diftrict. The roads continue excellent, being made of fine flinty gravel. An obelisk, purporting that one of the Earls of Warwick was flain there in battle, ftands near Barnet, at the separation of the two great north roads.

Barnet

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Boban Upas.-Tour from London to Dublin, &c.

Barnet is a small, but very pleasant town, and contains a number of genteel inhabitants. It also ftands on the north road, and is a fhort ftage from London: the country around it, pretty level and agree. able, and it is needlefs to add, furnished with a great number of country refidences for people in eafy circumstances.

(To be continued.)

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

THE
HE extract which A TRAVELLER
gave in your Magazine for May,

from the letters of Mr. Von Wurb, on
the fubject of the BOHAN UPAS, may,
perhaps, be confidered as fufficiently de-
cifive of the non-existence of the plant.
The miraculous account, however, given
of it by the Dutchman, Mr. Foerfch,
who pretends to have been an eye-witness,
and the facts which he relates, have been
controverted in all their parts, in a Me-
moir of Dr. Lambert Nolft, Fellow of the
Batav. Exper. Society at Rotterdam.
This memoir was procured from John
Matthew Rhyn, 23 years refident in the
Ifland of Java. It is inferted in the
"Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1794,"
page 433, to which I refer fuch of your
readers as are defirous of further informa-
tion on the fubject.

This formidable and deftructive Upas has been mof poetically defcribed by the beautiful and fantastic pen of Dr. DAR WIN, in his "Botanic Garden:" "Where feas of glafs with gay reflections fmile, &c." Part 2. Cant. iii. line 219. Did Dr. DARWIN really credit the exiftence of the Upas? or were the qualities afcribed to it, fo admirably calculated to enrich his poem, that he finned against his better understanding, and deferted his philofophy for the fake of his mufe?

The Doctor has inferted, in his " additional notes" to the fecond part of the "Botanic Garden," a tranflation from the Dutch of Foerfch. A, R. C.

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ticular), as well as by a humane public. The number of women under this defeription relieved in this house, has been, in forty years, 37,615; and the number of children born there in that space of time, 38,291; viz. 20,082 boys and 18,209 girls. Of these women, 667 had twins; 11 had 3, and I had 4 children at a birth.

There are, befides, a great number of other charities in the capital of the sister kingdom; but their external appearance does not claim the attention of travellers. There is, however, one whose institution is very recent, but whofe growth, from its god-like ftamina, has been gigantic, as if fostered and fuccoured by the provi dential and merciful dew of heaven. This is the orphan-houfe for deftitute female children, a receptacle of plain and humble architecture, built upon the verge of the circular road (a fashionable equestrian promenade round Dublin). This inftitution was opened upon the first day of January 1790, in cenfequence of a truly pious and charitable woman, who, in the for the purpofe of adminiftering relief, daily habit of feeking out wretchednefs difcovered (hocking to relate) a number of deftitute infants, at different times, expofed to perifh in ditches and upon dunghills. With her own private purie the began to form an afylum against fuch private friends; and an appeal in behalf barbarity. It foon was affifted by her of this inftitution, was made to the public from the pulpit, by that inimitable orator, the Rev. Doctor Kirwan, which fucceeded admirably. Heaven called away the foundrefs, and her lofs was felt like an electrical shock among the females of fashion at Dublin, under whofe aufpices this little nurteling has increafed within that short space, fo much, as to contain upon the itrength and prefumption of voluntary contributions, no lefs than 130 children, of this deftitute class; and, to the honour of the fifter kingdom be it recorded, that this popular preacher has often fo fuccefsfully pleaded the cause of mifery from the pulpit, as to draw from his auditory a voluntary donation of more than 1000 guineas at a charity fermon. It is now, and for the last five years has been, the custom, at the annual fermon for this charity, for the moft diftinguished peereffes, and other ladies of high rank, to collect the donations of the congregation in the church. hand, preceded by a gentleman uiler, Each of thefe carries a filver plate in her with a white! rod, which nouvelle fight never fails to produce the defied effect.

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