,transcriber's note3 ,the errata listed at the end of the work have been corrected where they occur in the text4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,new ,,catalogue ,,of ,,vulgar ,,errors4 ,,by ,,stephen ,,fovargue1 ,a4,m4 ,,fellow ,,of ,,st4 ,,john',s ,,college1 ,,cambridge4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in many ,cases one with ,amazement hears the ,arguings1 and is astonished at the ,obstinacy1 of a worthy ,man1 who yields not to the ,evidence of ,reason1 tho' laid before him as clear as ,day-light4 ,,locke4 ,sunt delicta tamen1 quibus ignovisse velimus4 ,,hor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,cambridge1 ,printed for the ,,author3 ,sold by ,,fletcher ,,hodson in ,cambridge2 ,s4 ,,crowder in ,pater-noster-,row1 ,j4 ,,dodsley in ,pall-,mall1 ,m4 ,,hingeston near ,temple-,bar1 and ,g4 ,,kearsly in ,ludgate-street1 ,london2 ,j4 ,,fletcher at ,oxford2 and the ,booksellers at ,norwich1 ,lynn1 ,york1 and ,newcastle4 #agfg4 7,price ,,half ,a ,,crown47 99 99 99 99 99 ,,preface4 ,to explain the ,use of ,education1 no ,method can be more effectual1 than to shew what dull ,mistakes and silly ,notions ,men are apt to be led into for ,want of it4 ,these ,mistakes are so numerous1 that if we were to undertake to divulge all the ,errors that ,men of no ,knowledge in the ,sciences labour under1 the shortest ,way would be to publish a compleat ,system of ,natural ,philosophy1 which ,learning1 as it may be acquired by reading the different ,books1 which have already been wrote upon that ,subject1 in this ra of the ,sciences1 such an ,undertaking would be quite needless at this ,time1 even supposing the ,author capable of that laborious ,work4 ,if the following ,sheets do but serve to divest ,men of some of those unreasonable ,obstinacies with which they and their ,forefathers have long been prepossessed1 the ,time will be well laid out1 both of the ,writer and ,reader4 ,be not affronted1 gentle ,reader1 at my taxing thee with ,error1 with ,obstinacy1 or the like2 thou mayest not be one of that ,stamp2 for any ,thing ,i know you may have studied the ,sciences1 you may be well versed in ,mechanics1 ,optics1 ,hydrostatics1 and ,astronomy2 you may have made the ,tour of ,europe1 if not1 you may soon do it in ,post-,chaises1 and be almost as wise as you was when you went out2 or you may be one of those whom bountiful ,nature has blessed with a most excellent ,understanding1 a quick ,apprehension1 and a discerning ,judgment1 and yet not have been so fortunate1 or unfortunate1 which you think proper to term it1 as to have been brought up a ,scholar4 ,scoff not when we dwell so much upon ,scholarship2 for ,i would have thee know1 whether thou thinkest proper to believe me or not1 that had it not been for the four ,branches of ,learning abovementioned1 thou wouldest not have been smoaking that ,pipe of right ,virginia1 which in all ,probability 7whether thou art a ,farmer in the ,country1 or a ,mechanic in ,london7 thou art now most pompously blowing to ,ashes3 ,neither would that charming ,bowl of ,rum and ,brandy ,punch mixed1 have waited at thy ,elbow to inspire thee with generous ,sentiments 7which ,punch1 let me tell thee1 if thou drinkest in ,moderation1 may keep thee from the ,ague1 if thou livest in the ,hundreds of ,essex47--,nay1 thou wouldest not even have known what it was to have tasted a ,plumb-,pudding1 which1 tho' now1 thy ,palate being vitiated with salt ,pork and ,mustard1 and bottled ,beer1 thou hast no ,relish for1 yet thou mayest remember the ,time when thou didst think it most delicious ,food4 ,to ,philosophy art thou beholden for all these ,dainties and ,comforts of ,life1 which if thou dost contradict1 and dost still obstinately persist in thy own ,opinion1 and wilt not be convinced of thy ,errors1 know1 ,dust and ,ashes1 that thou art not sensible whether thou movest or standest still2 and dost imagine1 that the glorious ,sun is an extempore ,whirligig4 ,wonder not1 ,reader1 if thou art a ,man of ,sense1 that thou shouldest be mistaken in many ,things3 ,for what ,mortal can pretend to such ,knowledge as never to be mistaken8 ,truth is more difficult to be found out than is generally imagined3 ,error is easily fallen into2 by so much the easier as the ,odds are against us3 ,for in the ,disquisition of any ,point1 there are numberless ,wrongs1 but there is only one ,right4 ,numberless ,falshoods and ,errors may be raised about any ,thing1 but ,truth is invariable1 and remains the same to all ,eternity4 ,the following ,sheets will not contain many philosophical ,terms2 we shall rather avoid such a ,step as would hinder a great ,part of our ,readers from understanding us1 and shall endeavour to explain ourselves by such ,methods as the meanest ,capacity will be able to comprehend4 ,moreover1 all such ,subjects will be avoided as may interfere with any religious ,tenets1 it not being the ,intention of this ,pamphlet to deprive ,men of their ,rest1 by tearing from their ,consciences those fixed ,protestant ,principles of ,religion 7let them be what they will7 which they and their ,ancestors have long and peaceably enjoyed4 ,but our ,disquisitions will be chiefly confined to natural ,objects1 and the ,phnomena which daily present themselves to our ,view4 ,we shall likewise endeavour to rectify some of those ,mistakes in the common ,arts of ,life1 whether of ,business or ,pleasure1 which ,men by an accustomed ,tradition are apt most obstinately to persevere in4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,introduction4 ,the third ,error is one which ,sir ,thomas ,brown has taken ,notice of2 and it must be acknowledged1 that the inserting of it here was a ,mistake4 ,however1 we hope that it will be excused1 since it is seven ,years since the ,author of this little ,pamphlet had the ,pleasure of reading a ,part of ,dr4 ,brown's ,vulgar ,errors1 and then he did not see that ,error2 it being not regularly placed among the others1 but in a separate ,detachment from the main ,body4 ,notwithstanding the general ,perspicuity of this ,author1 we are apt to think that he never heard a ,bittern himself1 but only went by ,hearsay with respect to the ,noise which is made by that ,bird1 however skilled he shews himself in the ,anatomy of it4 ,he says1 that it differs but little from the croaking of a ,raven4 ,we can assure the ,reader1 that neither the ,noise it makes when it draws in the ,air1 nor the ,sound it gives when it throws it out again1 have the least ,resemblance to the ,croaking of a ,raven1 as he calls it4 ,a ,raven makes a much shriller ,noise than any of the ,crow ,kind1 notwithstanding it is a larger ,bird4 ,i make no ,doubt but the ,voice of a ,raven is twelve or thirteen ,notes higher than the ,voice of a ,rook2 besides1 he makes his ,notes quick and sharp one after another2 whereas a ,bittern takes near five ,seconds between every ,sound1 and 7as will be affirmed7 in as deep a ,note as the fourth ,string of a double ,bass4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,error ,i4 ,that the more ,ammunition is put into a ,fowling ,piece1 the farther it will do ,execution4 ,this ,error is often of very dangerous and dreadful ,consequence2 ,i have known ,people so obstinate in it1 that even ocular ,demonstration would not convince them of their ,mistake4 ,it proceeds from a ,notion1 that the more a ,gun recoils1 the better and stronger will be the ,force with which the ,shot fly out4 ,there is nothing which requires more ,nicety and ,exactness than the finding out the proper ,charge of a ,gun2 it is something similar to finding out the ,tone of a musical ,instrument2 of which more in its ,place4 ,it will be sufficient here to say1 that every ,gun has a certain fixed ,quantity of ,ammunition1 with which it does the most ,execution4 ,i have seen ,lectures in the ,art of ,gunnery1 which come under the ,science of ,mechanics1 and even the ,author himself1 though a ,man of ,learning and ,abilities1 seems to have been ignorant of the ,art of charging a ,gun1 when he says1 ,if you put in a ,gun1 a ,ball upon a ,quantity of ,powder as 7#a71 it will throw the ,ball to such a ,distance2 if you put in a ,quantity as 7#b71 it will throw it as far again4 ,this seems to be a ,mistake2 because1 if that was the ,case1 a ,person would have nothing to do but to put ,powder enough into his ,gun1 and have the ,barrel made strong enough1 and he need not fear killing at any ,distance4 ,as to the ,recoil it would give1 if the ,gunner was a strong ,country ,gentleman1 and a keen ,sportsman1 and an ,englishman1 it would be the least of his ,thoughts whether it struck him a great ,blow or a small one4 ,but to the ,point3 ,there is no better ,way of finding out the proper ,charge of a ,gun1 than by the ,report it gives4 ,if there is too much ,powder and too little ,shot1 the ,report will be a kind of a deep ,roar2 if too little ,powder and too much ,shot1 it will be an insignificant1 short1 narrow ,smack2 but if it is charged properly1 the ,report will be a smart1 shrill ,clap1 something resembling ,thunder4 ,this is the ,reason why the ,report of a ,sportsman's ,gun is so different from that of a ,field-,keeper's4 ,the ,field-,keeper has1 or ought to have1 no ,shot in his ,piece2 the ,sportsman's is properly loaded4 ,in short1 there is a ,tone in the ,barrel of a ,gun1 and the better the ,temper of the ,metal is1 the more shrill will be the ,report1 and the farther it will do ,execution4 ,i have dwelt the longer upon this ,subject1 because a ,gun is an ugly ,weapon in the ,hands of those who are either ignorant or careless1 or both4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ii4 ,that the ,heron makes a ,hole in the ,bottom of her ,nest1 through which her ,feet hang1 when she sits upon her ,eggs4 ,what seems to have led ,people into this ,error1 is1 the ,appearance which a ,heron makes upon her ,nest3 ,you may sometimes see her ,feet when she is sitting4 ,now it seems unaccountable1 how a ,bird should sit upon her ,eggs on a ,tree1 and yet her ,feet appear to a ,spectator below4 ,for any ,person who takes ,notice of a ,bird sitting upon her ,eggs1 will find that she doubles them up under her1 and that they are hid among her ,feathers and the ,eggs2 so that if this is the ,case1 there can be no other ,way of seeing her ,feet1 but by a ,hole through the ,bottom of the ,nest4 ,but this is not the ,case with the ,heron1 nor the ,bittern1 another ,bird resembling the ,heron4 ,when these ,birds sit upon their ,nests1 their ,legs lie straight out behind them1 in a ,line parallel to the ,plain of the ,horizon1 in the same ,posture as when they fly4 ,this accounts for the ,phoenomenon of the ,feet appearing on the outside of the ,nest4 ,these ,birds have ,legs of a remarkable ,length1 as every one must know1 for they are a very common ,bird2 and when they sit1 or rather lie1 upon their ,eggs in the abovesaid ,posture1 the ,nest is unable to contain these long ,legs1 and by that ,means they hang over the ,side of it1 and are seen by those who are under the ,trees on which they build4 ,with regard to any ,thing of a ,hole through the ,bottom of the ,nest1 nothing can be more fabulous3 ,i once had the ,sight of a large ,tree1 which had been blown down in a high ,wind1 and was full of ,heron's ,nests4 ,they are built exactly in the ,form of a ,crow's ,nest1 and of the same ,materials1 only as the ,nests were larger than those of ,crows1 so there were some larger ,pieces of ,sticks than ,crows generally make ,use of2 and so far are they from having a ,hole at the ,bottom1 that it was impossible to find a ,passage through any ,part of the ,nest1 with a stout walking ,stick1 so firm was the ,texture of them4 ,if any one doubts of this1 if he will take the ,trouble to climb any ,tree in a ,heronry1 he will be convinced of the ,truth of what has been said1 by ocular ,demonstration4 ,but ,i would not advise him to do it when there are young ones4 ,as the ,bittern has been mentioned in this ,section1 it will not be amiss to put in a ,word or two concerning an ,error1 which passes very current in ,countries where this ,bird is found1 and which we may venture to assert is equally fabulous with the former4 ,it is1 ,,iii4 ,that the ,bittern puts his ,bill or ,beak into a ,reed1 and that the ,reed gives1 by the ,breath and ,motion of the ,beak of the ,bird1 that deep and loud ,note which we so frequently hear him make as he lies in a ,fenn4 ,this ,bird1 on ,account of the ,noise he makes1 which is much such a one as if a ,person was to express the ,word ,bump in a deep ,note1 is in many ,countries called a ,butter-,bump3 ,nevertheless the true ,name of him is ,bittern1 as may be seen in several ,books4 ,one particular ,proof that ,bittern is the true and ancient ,name1 may be seen in ,stephens's ,monasticon4 ,the ,author is giving us an ,account of some ,expenses which the ,abbey of ,peterborough was at1 and among others there is a ,bill made of the ,expences for the ,supper at the ,funeral of one of the ,abbots of that ,convent1 in which1 among a great ,number of other costly ,dishes1 and a ,hogshead or two of ,wine1 which were drank1 and an incredible ,quantity of other ,things too tedious to mention1 there is a ,sum set down for a great ,number of ,bitterns2 from which we may venture to conclude1 that they were esteemed very delicate eating amongst those ,connoisseurs4 ,i hope the ,reader will pardon this ,digression from the ,point in ,hand1 when ,i take ,occasion to observe1 that here is another vulgar ,error1 which supposes1 that the present ,times are more luxurious than the past4 ,for to convince us of this ,mistake1 we need go no farther than the aforesaid ,book1 and there we shall find1 that as much ,money was laid out1 7in ,proportion to the ,scarcity of ,coin in those ,times7 upon the ,funeral of one of those ,abbots1 as in the present ,age will pay the ,expences of a whole ,college for a ,twelvemonth4 ,but to return to our ,bitterns3 ,that they were esteemed very delicate eating at that ,time1 is plain1 by their being served up at so splendid an ,entertainment2 and we think it may be called another vulgar ,error1 in a ,farmer to suffer so fine a ,bird to lie upon his ,dunghill1 while he and his ,wife and ,family are regaling upon restie ,bacon2 which1 as great an ,error as it is1 ,i have known done1 and a ,person who knew the ,value of the ,bird1 has taken the ,bittern from off the ,dunghill1 and dressed it1 and made a delicious ,meal4 ,but it is now ,time to say something concerning the ,error about the ,noise it makes4 ,it is very absurd to suppose it possible1 that this deep ,note can proceed from the ,bird's putting his ,beak into a ,reed1 even if it's ,beak was formed for the ,purpose4 ,every one who knows of what vast ,dimensions an ,organ-,pipe must be1 to give such a loud1 deep1 bass ,note as the ,noise of a ,bittern1 knows also1 that a ,reed is incapable of making such a ,noise as that4 ,it must be something with a hollow ,tube of a much larger ,diameter than a ,reed1 and the ,wind must be thrown in with the greatest ,exactness1 both in regard to the ,quantity of the ,wind1 and the ,manner in which it is let in2 and moreover the ,tube must have a proper ,aperture made towards the ,end of it1 of an exact ,dimension according to the ,size of the ,tube1 before it will give any thing like a ,tone at all4 ,but here is a ,sound as deep as the fourth ,string of a double ,bass1 given by an ,animal1 that may be heard four or five ,miles off1 in a still ,evening4 ,the most probable ,conjecture is1 that the ,noise is made by the ,animal itself1 with the ,assistance of ,nature alone2 and we shall have the more ,reason to be of that ,opinion1 if we examine the ,throat of the ,bird1 which is of so uncommon a ,size1 that a moderate ,hand would go down it4 ,now a ,sound given from the ,windpipe into such a ,cavern as this1 may very probably be the ,cause of this deep ,tone4 ,it acts upon the same ,principle as when a ,person closes his ,lips1 and sounds a deep ,note with his ,voice4 ,perhaps after the ,reader has made the ,experiment1 7as in all ,probability he will do7 he may be convinced that it is a vulgar ,error1 to suppose that a ,bittern puts his ,beak into a ,reed1 when he makes that remarkable ,noise ,which is heard in a ,fenn4 ,it may not appear foreign to the ,purpose1 when ,i say that ,i have heard a ,bittern make the ,noise abovementioned1 and that ,i have gone to the ,spot1 which was coarse ,grass or ,flags1 just mowed1 where there were no ,reeds2 and the ,bird rose up before me4 ,here ,i must beg ,leave to put in a ,word or two1 by way of corroborating what has been said about the ,heron and the ,bittern lying flat upon their ,nests1 with their ,legs parallel to the ,plain of the ,horizon4 ,when the aforesaid ,bittern rose up1 ,i shot1 and wounded him slightly1 and marked him down again in the same ,kind of ,grass or short mowed ,flags4 ,as the ,grass was not higher than one's ,shoes1 and it was wounded1 ,i was in ,hopes of having the ,pleasure of seeing him lie on the ,ground very plain4 ,however ,i let my ,pointer go first1 knowing that he would stand at the ,place4 ,accordingly made a dead ,point at it4 ,i came up as silent as possible1 to take a ,view of it1 but to my great ,surprize1 nothing was to be seen4 ,there was indeed something which appeared long1 like two green ,weeds lying among the ,grass1 and there was something like a large ,spot of dryed ,grass or ,flags a little before them4 ,while ,i was looking at the ,place1 the ,dog1 being out of ,patience1 seized ,hold of this ,phoenomenon1 which proved to be no other than the ,bittern itself4 ,those ,things which seemed to be green ,weeds1 were it's ,legs extended at the full ,length1 behind the ,bird1 as it lay quite flat upon it's ,belly2 and that broad ,spot of brown or dried ,grass was the ,body1 with the ,wings extended to their full ,stretch1 quite flat upon the ,ground1 which1 ,i believe1 formed as compleat a ,deceptio ,visus as any ,thing in ,nature4 ,thus we see how wonderfully these ,animals are formed for their ,self-,preservation2 so wonderfully1 that though they are near as large as a ,heron1 and much of the same ,shape1 it must be a keen ,eye that distinguishes their long green ,legs from ,weeds1 and their brown ,backs from dried ,grass2 but this ,deceptio ,visus is so notorious in ,partridge1 and many other ,species of ,game1 that there is no ,occasion to dwell any longer upon that2 only what has been said may serve to convince the ,reader of the ,truth of what has been observed in the foregoing ,section1 concerning the ,posture of a ,heron and a ,bittern on their ,nests4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,iv4 ,that the ,tone of a ,violin is to be brought out1 by laying on like a ,blacksmith4 ,before we can convince such of our ,readers as have no ,knowledge in that ,part of ,pneumatics which is called ,harmonics1 of this ,mistake1 it will be necessary just to give a short ,account of the ,cause of ,sound in stringed ,instruments4 ,in the first ,place1 all ,sound proceeds from ,undulations in the ,air1 which is an elastic ,fluid2 and with regard to these ,undulations1 is much of the same ,nature as ,water1 which is another ,fluid1 but differs from ,air in many ,respects4 ,now when a ,person throws a ,stone into ,water1 these ,undulations or ,waves are raised in the ,fluid for some ,distance1 by the ,force and ,action of one ,wave upon another4 ,this is the ,case with regard to ,sound2 only the ,air being an elastic ,fluid1 these ,undulations are more quick and brisk in their ,motions than in ,water4 ,so much for ,sound itself4 ,now for the ,cause of this ,sound1 or of these ,undulations4 ,these ,undulations are caused by the ,vibration of some elastic ,body1 which is put into ,motion by a ,stroke of another ,body against it4 ,it must be an elastic ,body 7take notice7 for upon that ,word depends the ,truth of what is going to be alledged4 ,to convince the ,reader of the ,truth of this1 he has nothing to do but to take a ,rolling ,pin1 and strike it against a ,pound of ,butter1 and he will find very little or no ,sound at all1 because ,butter has very little ,elasticity or ,spring in it2 but if he strikes the aforesaid ,implement against the ,table1 he will find ,sound enough1 because most ,tables are made of ,wood1 which is a very elastic ,body4 ,if there is no ,butter in the ,house1 ,wax will do as well or better1 for it will prove that a ,body may be hard without being elastic1 and which will be very much to the ,purpose4 ,it will be necessary1 before we can get any further1 to explain what ,vibration is1 a ,word very commonly made ,use of among ,musical ,men1 tho' but little understood4 ,to be as short as possible2 a ,piece of ,lead hung upon the ,end of a ,string1 which moves backwards and forwards of itself after being first put into ,motion1 is called a ,pendulum1 and that ,motion backwards and forwards is called its ,vibration2 it is upon this ,principle that elastic ,bodies are the ,cause of ,sound4 ,it will be best illustrated in a ,musical ,instrument1 besides that is the ,point in ,hand2 and to be more to the ,point still1 we will suppose it a ,violin1 though any other stringed ,instrument would answer the same ,end4 ,here we have four ,strings stretched out upon a ,bridge1 or thin ,piece of ,wood1 which communicates to the ,belly of the ,instrument1 from which ,belly the greatest ,part of the ,tone proceeds4 ,now a ,string drawn tight at both ,ends1 when it is struck1 will have a ,vibration or tremulous ,motion1 which ,vibration1 or tremulous ,motion1 acts upon the same ,principle as a ,pendulum does in a ,cycloid1 or1 to speak as plain as possible1 as a ,pendulum does when it is put into it's proper ,motion4 ,it is upon this ,principle of ,vibration then1 or tremulous ,motion1 that the ,string of a ,violin1 being moved by the ,bow1 is to act3 ,the ,string immediately communicates it's tremulous ,motion to the ,bridge1 and the ,bridge to the ,belly of the ,instrument1 which ,belly being made of a very elastic ,wood1 by it's ,vibration and free ,motion1 acts upon the ,air in the ,manner abovementioned4 ,as it is the great ,elasticity of the ,wood which is to cause the ,tone1 it ought to have as little ,confinement in it's ,vibrations as is possible2 the ,weight of the ,strings must indeed press against it1 otherwise they could not communicate their ,motion to it4 ,we should therefore be careful not to over-string the ,instrument1 since it so plainly contradicts the ,principles of ,pneumatics4 ,it is easy to hear when an ,instrument is over-strung2 and sometimes an ,octave in a ,harpsichord1 by it's additional ,number of ,strings1 shall render the ,tone of the ,instrument so dead1 that1 though it gives a ,sprightliness peculiar to an ,octave1 yet it sometimes hardly compensates for the ,loss of ,tone which it causes in the ,unisons1 by it's too great ,pressure upon the ,belly of the ,instrument4 ,and yet notwithstanding all this1 what is more common than to see a ,performer1 with his ,waistcoat unbuttoned1 laying ,strokes on a ,violin1 heavy enough to fell an ,ox4 ,the ,truth is1 managing the ,bow is slight1 and we must make ,use of ,art more than ,strength in our ,performance3 moreover1 it is an ,art which cannot be wrote down upon ,paper1 nor explained in ,words1 but must be learned by the ,example and ,direction of some assiduous ,master4 ,however what has been said may serve to shew1 from ,philosophical ,principles1 the ,error of leaning too hard upon the ,instrument1 which was the ,thing intended to be done4 99 99 99 99 99 ,v4 ,that the farther you go ,south1 the hotter is the ,climate4 ,gentle ,reader1 as thou art a ,person of ,understanding1 thou wilt pardon the ,want of ,connection and ,form which thou findest in the different ,subjects which are here started for thy ,entertainment3 ,it would be very easy1 in the fair ,copy which will be wrote over1 to range them1 in an ,order1 suitable to the different ,branches to which they belong2 but why should ,i pester thee with ,form1 when there is nothing so agreeable to a ,man of ,taste as an easy ,variety8 ,therefore1 though it is ten to one that1 before ,i have done with thee1 ,i shall have some more ,discourse with thee about ,musical ,instruments1 yet ,i shall not humour thee as a ,critic so much as to give thee it now2 well knowing1 that if thou art determined to ,review me1 thou mayest find ,abundance of other ,opportunities for it in this ,book3 ,and likewise1 that if thou dost approve of what is here discussed1 thou wilt1 if thou art a good-natured honest ,fellow1 pass by a little ,incorrectness2 for what else can a ,man hope for in a ,book which treats of nothing but ,blunders8 ,however the two following ,sections may afford thee some ,entertainment1 if thou art a ,man of ,learning1 and if thou art not a ,man of ,learning1 they will give thee some ,instruction2 and to tell thee the ,truth1 the ,subject of them is so ,philosophical1 that if we were not fully convinced of the ,truth of what will be alledged1 we should be afraid to undertake it4 ,for in this little ,pamphlet1 ,philosophy will be avoided as much as possible1 that is1 it never will be introduced at all1 unless it is absolutely necessary to call in it's ,aid1 in order to prove the ,truth of any ,thing which shall be asserted4 ,but to the ,point2 which is1 to rectify the vulgar ,error1 which supposes1 that the farther a ,person goes ,south1 the hotter will be the ,climate4 ,this is so well known to be an ,error1 by all ,men of ,science1 and by all ,navigators1 that it is needless to say much about it1 only just to relate the ,truth1 that those who are mistaken in their ,way may be set in the right ,road4 ,but to proceed4 ,the two ,poles of the ,earth1 that is1 the two ,north and ,south ,extremities of the ,globe1 are in such a ,position1 or are so inclined to the ,sun1 or to the ,plain of the ,ecliptic1 as never to have any ,rays fall directly over their ,heads1 or they never have him any higher than a little above their ,horizon1 or the ,surface of the ,earth2 for which ,reason it is always cold at the ,north and ,south ,poles1 which will naturally be the ,case1 as any one may experience by the different ,position of the ,sun1 in ,summer and ,winter1 in our own ,climates4 ,the ,case is exactly contrary at the quator1 or on the ,middle of the ,globe1 which is farthest from the two ,poles1 for there they have the ,sun over their ,heads at ,noon all the ,year round2 for which ,reason it is always hot under the ,line1 yet not always the hottest of any ,part of the ,globe1 as has been sometimes philosophically supposed1 and which shall be the ,subject of the next ,chapter1 to introduce which this was principally intended4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vi4 ,that exactly under the quator is always the hottest ,climate on the ,globe4 ,this ,error by no ,means ought to be called a vulgar one2 because it is a ,course of ,philosophical ,study1 joined to a ,want of ,experience1 which gives ,occasion to it4 ,it is the ,result of a ,knowledge of the general ,cause of ,heat and ,cold1 in different ,degrees of ,latitude upon the ,surface of the ,earth2 which ,knowledge is apt to apply the ,rules of ,astronomy1 that explain the ,phoenomena of ,nature in general1 to every ,purpose that offers itself1 in all ,cases1 without being able to search into the individual ,parts of a ,system1 on ,account of the ,distance of the ,objects which are the ,subjects of ,enquiry4 ,for though1 as has been said before1 for a just ,astronomical ,reason1 the ,position will hold good1 that those ,inhabitants who are under the ,line1 live in the hottest ,climate in general1 yet it is proved by the ,experience of ,navigators1 that in several ,parts under the quator there is a fine1 mild1 soft ,climate1 even excelling any of those in the temperate ,zones2 so happily are ,things disposed for the ,purposes of ,animal ,life1 by the ,author of ,nature4 ,this is a ,truth which we are constrained to believe1 as we have so many living ,witnesses in our own ,country1 who are ready to assert it4 ,we have one accurate ,account in ,anson's ,voyage1 where the ,author reasons very ,philosophically upon the ,subject4 ,this ,author tells us1 that the ,crew of the ,centurion were in some ,uneasiness about the ,heat of the ,climate1 which they expected they were to undergo1 when they came to that ,part of the quator which is near the ,american ,coast1 upon the ,south ,sea2 but that when they came under the ,line1 instead of those scalding ,winds which sometimes blow in immensely hot ,climates1 they were agreeably surprized with the softest ,zephyrs imaginable2 and that1 instead of being scorched by the perpendicular ,rays of the ,sun1 they had a fine ,covering of thin grey ,clouds over their ,heads1 and just enough of them to serve for a ,screen1 without looking dark and disagreeable4 ,many other ,beauties of the ,climate the ,author describes1 which need not be mentioned here1 as it is easy to see the ,book4 ,he accounts for the extraordinary ,mildness of the ,climate in ,words to this ,purpose3 ,there are ,mountains on the ,sea ,coast of this ,latitude1 of an enormous ,height and great ,extent1 called the ,andes1 the ,tops and ,sides of which are covered with everlasting ,snow4 ,these ,mountains cast a ,shade and ,coolness round them1 for several ,leagues1 and by their ,influence it is1 that the ,climate is so temperate under that ,part of the ,line4 ,but1 says the ,author1 when we had sailed beyond the quator1 into four or five ,degrees of ,north ,latitude1 and were got out of the ,influence of those ,mountains covered with ,snow1 we then began to feel that we were near the ,line1 and the ,climate was as hot as we could have expected to have found it at the quator itself4 ,there can be no ,doubt of the ,truth of this ,account3 ,no ,man would have made such ,assertions as these1 if they had not been true1 when there were so many living ,witnesses to have contradicted such an idle1 needless ,falshood as this would have been4 ,and indeed the ,appearance of wise ,design in the ,author of ,nature is no where more conspicuous than in these ,instances of his ,care for the ,preservation of the animal ,system4 ,what could we have expected more than ,mountains of ,snow in ,greenland8 ,and even in those frozen ,regions we have as great ,instances of the same ,providence3 ,when the ,springs are all frozen up1 in that severe ,climate1 they have sometimes1 even in the middle of ,winter1 such mild ,south ,winds as serve to thaw the ,snow1 so as to cause ,water to settle in the ,valleys1 and to run under the ,ice in ,quantities large enough to serve the ,purposes of animal ,life2 not to mention the great ,quantities of ,timber which the ,surf of the ,sea brings upon that ,coast1 from other ,countries2 without which the ,inhabitants would have no ,firing1 nor ,timber for their ,huts1 nor ,shafts for their ,arrows1 as there are no ,trees in that ,country4 ,and now ,i hope it will not be thought too bold an ,analogy if we presume to say1 that as1 contrary to all ,expectation1 at the quator 7where intolerable ,heat might be expected7 the ,inhabitants are provided with ,mountains covered with ,snow1 to qualify their ,atmosphere2 why may not we suppose1 that at the very ,poles themselves there may be some ,cause1 unknown to us1 which may render the ,climate serene and mild1 even in that supposed uninhabitable ,part of the ,globe8 ,why may there not be hot1 burning ,minerals in the ,earth at the ,poles1 as well as snowy ,mountains at the quator8 ,we have ,reason to think that the ,composition of the ,earth1 at that ,part of the ,globe1 is of an extraordinary ,nature2 as the magnetic ,quality of it is to be apprehended1 from it's immediate ,attraction of the ,needle4 ,we are entirely ignorant of the ,soil1 of the ,place1 and of the ,constitution of the ,inhabitants1 if there are any4 ,we are certain that1 near ,greenland1 there are ,sands of so extraordinary a ,nature1 that the ,wind will carry great ,clouds of them several ,leagues to ,sea1 and they will fall into the ,eyes and ,mouths of ,navigators1 who are sailing past the ,coast1 at a great ,distance4 ,this ,instance only serves to shew1 that we may be quite ignorant of the ,nature of the ,soil which is under the ,pole2 we cannot tell whether it consists of ,mountains or ,caverns1 fiery ,volcanos or craggy ,rocks1 of ,ice1 ,land1 or ,water1 cultivated ,fields or barren ,desarts4 ,what has been laid will seem less strange1 if we look back into the ,notions which the ,ancients had of the ,torrid ,zone4 ,it is not long since it was thought1 that only the ,temperate ,zone on this ,side the quator was habitable2 so far were they from attempting to find out another ,temperate ,zone beyond the quator1 that nobody dare approach near the ,line1 for ,fear of being roasted alive4 ,this is the true ,state of the ,case2 and if it be so that the ,ancients were1 for such a vast ,number of ,years1 under a mistaken ,notion1 concerning the ,possibility of living under or near the ,line1 why may not we1 who are neither more daring nor more ingenious than the old ,romans1 be likewise mistaken1 or rather totally ignorant of the ,climates at the ,pole8 ,and here ,i beg ,leave to offer a ,philosophical ,reason1 why it should not1 according to the ,nature of ,things1 be any colder at the ,poles themselves1 than ten ,degrees on this ,side of them4 ,not that ,i by any ,means insist upon the ,truth of what ,i am going to say2 ,i only just offer it as a ,subject to be discussed by those who are more learned1 and are able to take more exact ,mensurations of the ,phoenomena of ,nature than myself4 ,what ,i would offer is1 that there is no ,reason to apprehend more ,cold at the ,extremities of the ,poles than ten ,degrees on this ,side of them1 on ,account of the ,figure of the ,earth4 ,the ,figure of the ,earth is found1 by ,observations which have been made1 upon the ,difference of the ,vibrations of ,pendulums at the quator and near the ,poles1 and by other ,experiments1 to be not a ,sphere1 but a ,spheroid2 it is not exactly round1 neither is it oval1 but 7if ,i may make ,use of the ,comparison7 more in the ,shape of a ,turnip4 ,now the ,climate is hotter at the quator than in high ,latitudes1 on ,account of the ,inclination of the ,poles to the ,sun1 as has been said before3 ,what ,i would urge is1 that the ,surface of the ,earth1 at ten ,degrees on this ,side of the ,poles1 is as much or nearly as much inclined to the ,plain of the ,ecliptic as the ,poles themselves4 ,if that is the ,case1 no ,reason can be given why the ,poles should be colder than ,greenland1 where1 if we may believe the ,accounts of ,navigators1 though in the ,winter the ,cold is so intense as to freeze ,brandy1 yet1 in the middle of ,summer it is sometimes so hot1 that ,people have been glad to strip off their ,cloaths1 for an ,hour or two in a ,day1 in order to go through their ,work4 ,but to return to the ,surmise1 that the ,poles are no colder than ten ,degrees on this ,side of them1 on ,account of the ,spheroidical ,figure of the ,earth4 ,i must trouble the ,reader with a very plain ,figure1 in order to illustrate the ,meaning of this4 ,illustration ,by this ,figure we may observe1 that any ,rays of the ,sun ,a1 which fall upon a ,place situated ten ,degrees on our ,side of the ,pole ,b1 and ,rays which fall on the ,pole itself1 do not make so large an ,angle1 as they would if the ,form of the ,earth was a ,sphere2 for if we extend the two ,points ,b and ,c so far as to make a compleat ,sphere1 we must be obliged likewise to move the ,line ,d along with it to the ,point ,e1 which would make a larger ,angle1 and in that ,case the ,surface of the ,earth at the ,pole ,b would be more inclined to the ,plain of the ,ecliptic than it is1 and consequently it would be colder1 as the ,cause of ,heat and ,cold in different ,parts of the ,globe is owing to the ,inclination of the ,poles to the ,plain of the ,ecliptic1 and not to the ,distance of the ,sun from the ,earth at the different ,seasons of the ,year2 for if that was the ,case1 we should have colder ,weather in ,july than we have in ,december1 the ,sun being rather nearer to us in ,winter than in ,summer4 ,i hope that this little ,philosophical ,effort1 which has been made here1 will not be looked upon as unseasonably introduced in this ,place2 and ,i likewise hope1 that while ,i gaze with ,wonder on the stupendous ,frame of the ,universe1 ,i shall not be thought presumptuous in having taken a little ,survey of one of the ,wheels which duly performs it's ,revolutions in that glorious ,machine1 the ,solar ,system2 the exact and regular ,movements of which inspire the curious ,beholder with a more awful ,idea of the ,greatness of the ,fabricator1 than it is possible for any one to conceive1 who is entirely ignorant of the ,accuracy of the ,construction4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,vii4 ,that the more ,hay is dried in the ,sun1 the better it will be4 ,as ,hay is an ,herb which is dried in order to lay up all the ,winter1 when it cannot be found in the ,fields1 and as it is intended for the ,food and ,nourishment of ,animals1 that ,nourishment must consist of such of the ,juices as are left behind in the ,herb4 ,it is very possible1 by the ,art of ,chemistry1 to extract from ,hay all the separate ,salts1 ,spirits1 c4 of which it is composed4 ,now in a ,chymical ,preparation1 there is always something left behind in the ,still1 out of which it is impossible to extract any more ,juices2 that the ,chymists call ,caput ,mortuum4 ,this ,caput ,mortuum is of no ,service1 and is entirely void of all those ,salts and ,spirits with which every other ,substance on the ,surface of the ,earth abounds more or less4 ,the ,sun acts upon ,bodies much in the ,nature of a ,still4 ,he1 by his ,heat1 causes the ,vapours of all ,kinds1 which any ,substance contains1 to ascend out of their ,residences into the ,atmosphere1 to some little ,height1 from whence either the ,wind carries them1 if there is any1 or if there is no ,wind1 they fall down again ,upon the ,earth by their own ,weight1 at ,sun-set1 and are what is called ,dew4 ,since this is the ,case1 and the ,sun acts upon ,bodies in the same ,manner as a ,still1 we should take ,care not to make ,caput ,mortuum of our ,hay1 by exposing it too long to his ,rays2 for by that ,means we shall extract from it most of those ,salts ,spirits of which ,food must consist1 and of which all ,animal ,substance is composed4 ,the ,botanists are sensible of this3 ,when they dry their ,herbs1 they lay them in a ,place where no ,sun can come to them1 well knowing that too much ,sun would take off their ,flavour1 and render them unfit for their different ,physical ,uses4 ,not that ,hay would be made so well without ,sun1 on ,account of the ,largeness of the ,quantity1 and at the same ,time it ought to be dryed enough1 and no more than enough2 for it is as easy to roast ,hay too much as a ,piece of ,meat4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,viii4 ,that the ,violin is a wanton ,instrument1 and not proper for ,psalms2 and that the ,organ is not proper for ,country-,dances1 and brisk ,airs4 ,this ,error is entirely owing to ,prejudice4 ,the ,violin being a light1 small ,instrument1 easy of ,conveyance1 and withal much played upon in ,england1 and at the same ,time being powerful and capable of any ,expression which the ,performer pleases to give it1 is commonly made ,use of at ,balls and ,assemblies2 by which ,means it has annexed the ,idea of ,merriment and ,jollity to itself1 in the ,minds of those1 who have been so happy as to be ,caperers to those sprightly ,english ,airs1 called ,country ,dances4 ,the ,organ1 on the other ,hand1 being not easily moved on ,account of it's ,size1 and expensive on ,account of the complicated ,machinery which is necessary to the ,construction of it1 is not convenient for ,country ,dances2 and at the same ,time being loud1 capable of playing full ,pieces of ,music1 ,choruses1 ,services1 c4 is made ,use of in most ,churches where the ,inhabitants can afford to purchase this fine ,instrument4 ,nevertheless1 notwithstanding these great ,advantages1 two or three ,violins and a ,bass1 are more capable of performing any solemn ,hymn or ,anthem than an ,organ2 for the ,violin1 as has been before observed1 is capable of great ,expression1 but especially it is most exquisitely happy in that grave and resigned ,air1 which the common ,singing-,psalms ought to be played with4 ,when the ,bow is properly made ,use of1 there is a ,solemnity in the ,strokes of it1 which is peculiar to itself4 ,and on the other ,hand1 on ,account of the ,convenience of ,keys for the ,readiness of ,execution1 nothing can be more adapted to the ,performance of a ,country-,dance1 than an ,organ4 ,for the ,truth of which ,assertion ,i appeal to those who have been so often agreeably surprized with those sprightly ,allegros1 in the ,country-,dance ,style1 with which many ,organists think fit to entertain the ,ladies1 in the middle of ,divine ,service4 ,if ,jack ,latten is played at all1 it is ,jack ,latten still1 whether it be played in ,church or in an ,assembly ,room2 and ,i am only surprized1 that ,people can so obstinately persist in the ,denial of a ,thing1 concerning the ,truth of which it lies in their ,power to be convinced every ,sunday4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,ix4 ,that the ,organ and ,harpsichord are the two ,principal ,instruments1 and that other ,instruments are inferior to them in a ,concert4 ,notwithstanding the great ,advantage which these ,instruments have of playing several ,parts together1 there is nevertheless one ,imperfection which they have1 or rather they want one1 or more properly a thousand ,beauties contained in one ,word2 which is no less material an ,article than that of ,expression4 ,there is no ,word more frequently in the ,mouths of all ,sorts of ,performers1 than this of ,expression2 and we may venture to affirm1 that it is as little understood as any one ,term which is made ,use of1 in the ,science of ,music4 ,above three ,parts in four make ,use of it1 without having any ,meaning of their own1 only having heard some one else observe1 that such or such a ,person plays with great ,expression1 they take a ,fancy to this new adopted ,child1 and become as fond of it1 as if it was the legitimate ,offspring of their own ,brain4 ,some who are more considerate1 think that the ,meaning of it entirely consists in playing ,staccato2 and indeed these ,people come nearer the ,mark than the others1 but they have not picked up all the ,meaning of the ,word4 ,one who plays with ,expression1 is he who1 in his ,performance1 gives the ,air or ,piece of ,music 7let it be what it will7 such a ,turn1 as conveys that ,passion into the ,hearts of the ,audience1 which the ,composer intended to excite by it4 ,dryden1 in that masterly ,poem1 his ,ode in ,honour of ,st4 ,cecilia's ,day1 has given us a true ,idea of the ,meaning of the ,word2 the ,beauties of which ,poem1 though they are enough to hurry any ,man away from his ,subject1 shall not be discussed at present1 not being to the ,point in ,hand4 ,we shall only make ,use of an ,instance or two out of it1 to illustrate what has been said4 ,handel was so sensible of it's being capable1 by the ,help of ,musical ,sounds1 of raising those very ,passions in the ,hearts of the ,audience1 which ,dryden fables ,alexander to have felt by the masterly ,hand of ,timotheus1 that1 by setting it to ,music1 he has himself boldly stepped into the ,place of ,timotheus4 ,in this ,performance called ,alexander's ,feast1 it may easily be discerned1 that ,expression does not consist in the ,staccato only1 or in any one ,power or ,manner of playing4 ,for ,instance this ,air1 ,softly sweet in ,lydian ,measures1 c4 would be quite ruined by playing it ,staccato2 and again1 ,revenge1 ,revenge1 ,timotheus cries1 c4 requires to be played in a very different ,style from the foregoing ,air4 ,passions are to be expressed in ,music1 as well as in the other ,sister ,arts1 ,poetry and ,painting4 ,having thus explained what is meant by ,expression in ,music1 we will return to the ,point1 viz4 that the ,organ and ,harpsichord1 though they have many other ,advantages1 yet want that great ,excellence of ,music1 ,expression4 ,surely it may not be thought a ,straining of the ,meaning of ,st4 ,paul's ,words too far1 when ,i surmise1 that he1 who had a fine ,education1 and in all ,probability knew ,music well1 might have an ,eye to the ,want of ,meaning or ,expression of the ancient ,cymbal1 when he says1 ,tho' ,i speak with the ,tongues of ,men and of ,angels1 and have not ,charity1 ,i am become as a sounding ,brass1 and a tinkling ,cymbal4 ,that is1 though ,i have ever so much ,skill in ,languages1 and the ,arts and ,sciences1 my ,knowledge is vain if ,i am without the ,virtue of ,charity1 and my ,works will have no ,force1 and will in that ,respect resemble the ,cymbal1 which1 though it makes a tinkling1 and plays the ,notes1 yet is destitute of the main ,article ,expression4 ,for we must not suppose1 that so refined a ,scholar as ,st4 ,paul was1 could have such a settled ,contempt for the ,science of ,music1 as to make ,use of it even as a ,simile for what is trifling4 ,we may venture to think1 that the ,apostle alluded to that ,want of ,power in the ,cymbal to move the ,passions1 which other ,instruments have4 ,this is the very ,case with the modern ,harpsichord2 it is very pretty1 notwithstanding it's ,imperfections1 with ,regard to the ,change of ,keys1 7of which more in it's ,place47 ,but no one can say1 that it speaks to his ,passions like those ,instruments which have so immediate a ,connection with the ,finger of the ,performer1 as to sound just in the ,manner which he directs4 ,in that ,case the ,powers are great2 you have the ,numbers of ,graces which have ,names to them1 and the still greater ,number which have none2 you have the ,staccato and the ,slur1 the ,swell and the ,smotzato1 and the ,sostenuto1 and a great ,variety of other ,embellishments1 which are as necessary as ,light and ,shade in ,painting4 ,to convince the ,reader of this1 let him hear any ,master play ,handel's ,song1 ,pious ,orgies1 pious ,airs1 upon the ,organ or ,harpsichord1 and he will find1 that1 though it will appear to be ,harmony1 yet it will want that ,meaning1 and 7not to make ,use of the ,word too often7 ,expression1 which it is intended to have given it by the ,word ,sostenuto1 which ,mr4 ,handel has placed at the ,beginning of the ,symphony4 ,now a fine ,performer upon the ,violin or ,hautboy1 with a ,bass to accompany him1 will give it that ,sostenuto1 even with greater ,strength than the human ,voice itself1 if possible4 ,i by no ,means intend to debase that noble and solemn ,instrument the ,organ1 nor the ,wonders that are done upon it1 nor the great ,merit of the ,performers who execute them1 by what has been here said2 only to discuss a little upon the ,perfections and ,imperfections of different ,instruments1 as the more the ,imperfections of an ,instrument are looked into1 the more likely is the ,ingenuity of ,mechanics one ,day or other to rectify them4 99 99 99 99 99 ,x4 ,that every different ,key in ,music ought to have a different ,effect or ,sound4 ,this is an ,error which belongs chiefly to those who play a little upon the ,harpsichord2 it arises from the ,imperfection of their ,instrument4 ,as a greater ,number of ,keys would be inconvenient to the ,performer1 they are obliged to make one ,note serve for another1 such as ,b flat for ,a sharp1 and many others1 which necessarily renders some of the ,keys imperfect4 ,but we are not to take ,notice of the ,imperfection of any one ,instrument1 and regulate our ,ear by that alone2 we are to consider what is the real ,scheme of ,music1 and what was the ,intent of having different ,keys introduced into ,harmony4 ,it was intended for the ,sake of ,variety4 ,when the ,ear begins to be surfeited with too much of the ,cantilenam eandem ,canis1 as ,terence expresses it1 then ,contrivances are made1 without infringing upon the ,laws of ,harmony1 to have the ,burthen of the ,song upon a different ,note2 not that this ,key is to differ from the former in it's ,mensurations from one ,note to another1 unless it changes from a flat third ,key to a sharp third1 or vice versa4 ,for notwithstanding all the different ,sounds which an imperfect ,instrument will give1 in different ,keys1 there are in ,reality but two ,keys1 viz4 a flat third ,key1 and a sharp third ,key2 and however the different ,keys upon any particular ,instrument may sound1 we will venture to affirm1 that any ,piece of ,music1 let it be set in what ,key it will1 either is not true ,composition1 or is performed badly1 if it does not sound smooth and harmonious4 ,for though we do agree1 that ,variety is grateful in this ,case as well as in others1 yet that ,variety ought to be introduced with as little ,inconvenience as possible4 ,when we shift our ,scenes1 we should order the ,carpenters to make as little ,noise in the ,execution of it as they can help1 and take ,care that the ,pullies are all well oiled4 ,for shall any ,man entertain me1 by making a most hideous jarring ,discord before he begins what he intends to be ,harmony8 ,it is as absurd as for a ,lady to take you half a dozen ,boxes on the ,ear1 before she permits you to salute her1 and then to tell you she only did it1 that you might have a more lively ,apprehension of the exquisite ,happiness which her unparallelled ,charms should very soon make you sensible of4 ,we may apprehend the ,difference of perfect and imperfect ,instruments1 by listening to a ,harpsichord1 when any ,music1 where the ,key changes often1 is played1 and to a fine ,band1 such as the ,playhouse or the ,opera4 ,we shall find1 in the latter1 that the ,composer has taken ,care to make every ,transition quite smooth and harmonious2 and that tho' the ,music be ever so cromatic1 yet it never departs from it's melodious ,effect4 ,whereas in an ,organ or ,harpsichord1 even the greatest ,performers cannot avoid a disagreeable ,roughness in complicated ,harmony4 ,nevertheless1 as has been before observed1 we must acknowledge the ,organ to have ,powers which other ,instruments have not4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xi4 ,that a ,piece of ,music which has ,flats set before it1 is in a ,flat ,key on that ,account1 and vice versa with ,sharps4 ,this is so well known to be an ,error1 by all those who have arrived at any ,proficiency in ,music1 that very little need be said about it2 however1 it is a very common ,error4 ,a ,key is not constituted flat or sharp1 by having ,flats or ,sharps at the ,beginning of the ,piece of ,music2 but it depends upon the third ,note upwards from that ,note in which the ,music is composed4 ,for ,instance1 if the ,piece is composed in ,d1 and we find that ,f is natural1 or only half a ,note from ,e1 then it is in a flat1 or flat third1 ,key2 if ,f is sharp1 or a whole ,note above ,e1 then the ,piece of ,music is composed in a sharp third ,key4 ,but as there are so many ,books extant about ,thorough ,bass1 which give a full ,account of this1 it will be needless to say any more about it1 only to mention it as an ,error1 among other ,errors4 ,the ,reader shall not be tired any more with ,music at present1 but for ,variety we will shift the ,scene a little while4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xii4 ,that apparitions or ,spectres do exist2 or that the ,ghosts of ,men do appear at1 before1 or after their ,deaths4 ,we would not be thought1 in the following ,discourse1 to call in ,question that great ,miracle of our ,saviour's rising again the third ,day1 and appearing to the ,twelve3 ,what shall be here said1 will rather prove the ,miracle to be the greater1 and therefore more worthy the interfering ,hand of ,omnipotence4 ,but we must not suppose that the ,supreme ,being will condescend to pervert the ,order of ,nature for ,individuals4 ,the ancient ,heathens had a true ,notion of the ,greatness of him1 qui ,templa ,coeli summa sonitu concutit4 ,ter4 ,eun4 ,and ,horace observes1 ,nec ,deus intersit1 nisi dignus vindice nodus4 ,art4 ,poet4 ,since it must be no less than a ,miracle which causes an ,apparition1 ,i shall proceed1 without any ,scruple1 to prove that there is no such ,thing in ,nature really existing4 ,of all the ,errors with which the ,brains of ,mankind have been troubled1 there is none of such ancient ,standing as this4 ,we have ,ghosts and ,hobgoblins even in ,homer2 not that there is ,reason to suspect that ,homer ever believed in them himself2 he seemed too well versed in the real ,phoenomena of ,nature1 to entertain any such chimerical ,dreams as ,truth2 for ,dreams they are1 and no better3 the true ,somnia ,vatum of the ,ancients1 handed down to ,posterity1 even to these enlightened ,times4 ,how many horrible ,nights have been passed in cold ,sweats1 by otherwise very sensible ,people1 owing to nothing else but the ,apprehensions which they have had of these no-existing ,gentry6 ,how was even the ,metropolis itself terrified the other ,day1 by the ,scratching ,ghost at ,cock ,lane6 ,i think enough has been said1 even in this little ,book1 to prove that no ,noise can be made1 unless by the ,vibration of some elastic ,body4 ,if a ,noise is made by a ,voice1 it must be from an ,animal1 which has ,lungs and ,breath to do it2 if a ,scratching is made1 it must be done by something which has ,hands1 and ,sinews to move those ,hands2 and it must have ,nails1 or some other bodily ,substance1 to scratch with1 before it can cause a ,sound to proceed from an elastic ,body4 ,so much for ,scratching1 and dismal ,yellings1 and ,groanings of all ,sorts1 which have been fabled of ,ghosts4 ,it will require a little ,dissertation upon ,optics1 in order to explain the ,cause of ,light and ,colours1 before we can confute the ,possibility of seeing an ,apparition4 ,light is found to be a real ,substance2 it is swift beyond ,comprehension2 if ,i mistake not1 it is calculated by ,sir ,isaac ,newton1 to be only eight ,minutes in passing from the ,sun to the ,earth2 it is very subtle1 passing through the hardest transparent ,bodies2 it is capable of ,refraction and ,reflection1 that is1 either of passing through a transparent ,body1 as a ,window1 or of being reflected from an even ,surface1 as a ,looking-,glass1 or a ,piece of polished ,steel2 so that if we see any ,object at my ,time1 the ,cause of our seeing it1 if there is no ,window between1 is by ,reflection1 or by the ,rays of ,light being reflected from the ,object to the ,eye of the ,beholder1 which is formed for the ,reception of the ,rays which come from the ,object1 in the same ,manner as a ,camera obscura4 ,when the ,rays have found a ,passage into the ,pupil of the ,eye1 they fall upon a thin ,membrane which is called the ,retina1 upon which ,retina the exact ,picture of the ,object is represented1 as may be seen by the ,eye of an ,ox1 properly prepared and placed in the ,hole of a ,window-,shutter4 ,this ,retina is an ,elongation from the ,brain2 and by this ,means it is1 that we receive those various agreeable or disagreeable ,sensations with which we find ourselves affected1 by the ,sight of external ,objects4 ,so that we may observe1 that it must be not only real ,substance which must reflect ,rays to the ,eye1 in order to cause ,vision1 but the ,rays themselves1 likewise1 which come from that ,object1 are ,substance4 ,if this is the ,case1 the ,apparition of a ,person must be a ,substance1 which is reflected from a ,substance1 which belongs to the ,body of him who is dead1 or is going to die4 ,with regard to him who is dead and buried1 one would think1 that he and his ,substance are so safe under ,ground1 that no ,part of him can reflect any ,rays2 but a ,person who is above ,ground1 either dead or dying1 may reflect ,rays to the ,eye of a ,beholder1 and if it happens to be a ,friend or ,relation1 such ,rays will make so strong an ,impression upon the ,retina1 that they shall in such a ,manner imprint themselves upon that pliable ,spot1 as will cause the ,brain and ,nerves of the ,beholder to have the ,sensation of seeing the dead or dying ,person some ,time after the real ,action of seeing him4 ,this will account for most of those positive ,assertions1 which we may hear in any ,village1 of the seeing the ,apparitions of ,people after they are dead1 or just before they die1 'tis all one4 ,we very seldom hear of any such ,thing in ,town1 which corresponds with what has been said2 for in ,town it is so common to have ,deaths and ,funerals1 c4 that ,people are no more affected with the ,sight of a dead ,man than a living one4 ,but the ,case is quite different in ,villages4 ,a ,village with fifty ,houses in it1 situated in a wholesome ,country1 shall not have above one ,person die in a ,year2 this makes such a ,stir1 that all the old ,women in the ,town must have a ,peep at the deceased1 as he lies in his ,coffin1 with his ,shroud on2 which ,alteration of ,appearance in the dead ,person1 from what they remember him1 a little while since1 leaves such an ,impression upon the ,retinas of these old ,women1 that 'tis ten to one but some of them think they see him1 as soon as the dark ,hour comes on4 ,and1 very likely1 a ,person who thinks he sees an ,apparition may not be altogether wrong2 there may be some of the ,picture of the dead ,person still faintly remaining upon his ,retina2 and if so1 it certainly will give the same ,sensation as if he faintly saw the ,person4 ,if this is the ,case1 it is not the deceased come back again to bully us1 as is generally imagined1 if we do apprehend we see him2 but the ,remembrance of him strong in that ,organ the ,eye1 by which we formed the ,idea of him in our ,minds1 when we really did behold him4 ,homer seems to allude to this1 when he makes ,patroclus's ,ghost appear to ,achilles4 ,when ,patroclus was slain by ,hector before ,troy1 the ,body1 after a long ,dispute for it1 between the ,greeks and ,trojans1 was brought to ,achilles's ,tent1 where ,achilles is described by the ,poet1 as making bitter ,lamentations over the ,body of his deceased ,friend4 ,at ,night he lays himself down upon the ,sea ,shore1 and falls asleep1 when the ,ghost of ,patroclus comes to demand the funeral ,obsequies4 ,greek3 lthe d' epi psuch ,patroklos deiloio1 ,greek3 ,pant' auti megethos te kai ommata kal' eikuia1 ,greek3 ,kai phnn2 kai toia peri chroi heimata hesto2 ,hom4 ,iliad4 ,lib4 #bc4 ,homer never introduces an ,incredulus ,odi into his ,works2 he has an ,eye upon ,probability in all his ,fictions4 ,it seems probable1 that ,achilles1 after he had been hanging over the ,body of ,patroclus1 either quite asleep1 or between sleeping and waking1 should imagine that he saw his ,friend's ,apparition4 ,and though ,homer might not have heard of such a ,thing as the ,retina in the ,eye1 7though it is not at all impossible he should1 for he shews himself a great ,anatomist7 yet he very well knew the ,impression which the ,sight of a departed ,friend is sure to make upon the ,mind of the ,beholder4 ,by this ,propriety of ,introduction1 he keeps up the ,appearance of ,probability1 so necessary even in ,poetry itself1 which is generally ,fiction4 ,by this it should seem1 that ,homer was tacitly of ,opinion1 that there is really no such ,thing in ,nature as an ,apparition1 and that it has no other ,existence than in the ,imaginations of ,men4 ,and we have the more ,reason to believe that this was his ,opinion1 as we find that he did not choose to introduce the ,ghost of ,patroclus to ,achilles1 when he was broad awake2 but1 as he thought it might seem to want the ,air of ,probability1 if he made ,patroclus appear to ,achilles when awake1 he takes ,care to compose ,achilles into a ,nap first1 and by that means leaves the ,reader to his own ,opinion1 whether the ,ghost did really come1 or whether ,achilles only thought so4 ,this is one of those ,touches of ,art with which ,homer abounds4 ,but there is another ,reason why we have so many of these ,stories told us of ,apparitions by our ,grandmothers2 and that is1 the ,tricks which the ,priests of the ,roman ,catholic ,times found it necessary to put upon their ,flock1 in order to keep up their ,credit4 ,chymistry was the ,study of those ,times1 and ,lectures were given in them at the ,universities1 as frequently as they are in ,philosophy at present4 ,it is for this ,reason1 ,i apprehend1 that ,shakespeare introduces ,friar ,lawrence1 a ,student in a ,convent or ,roman ,catholic ,college1 with several ,kinds of ,herbs in a ,basket1 the particular ,virtues of which he seems perfectly to understand1 and which he is going to extract from them1 for physical ,uses3 ,had ,shakespeare lived in these ,times1 most likely he would have introduced him with a ,quadrant1 a ,globe1 or a ,prism1 or some other ,philosophical ,instrument4 ,now those who have not seen some little of ,chymistry1 have no ,notion of the ,wonders that are to be done by it2 and these crafty ,priests knew so well how to make ,use of their ,art to the best ,advantage1 that they could frighten a whole ,village1 whenever they had an ,inclination to play their ,pranks4 ,friar ,bacon1 who was perhaps the greatest ,chymist in ,europe1 used to play so many ,tricks1 that he was thought by the whole ,country1 to deal with the ,devil2 and many ,stories of him are now extant1 to that ,effect4 ,one of the most common ,pranks amongst these ,gentry was this3 ,they used to get one who could draw well1 to take some ,phosphorus 7which is a ,chymical ,preparation from ,urine7 in his ,pocket2 having thus armed themselves1 they perhaps would step into the first ,alehouse where they saw a ,light1 and mix with the ,company4 ,he who was in ,possession of the ,phosphorus would get up and go to the ,wall1 under some ,pretence or other1 upon which he would draw what ,picture came first into his ,head1 very likely the ,picture of the ,devil4 ,nothing is to be seen by ,candle-,light1 and it must be dark1 before the ,marks made by ,phosphorus upon a ,wall will appear like ,fire4 ,after sitting a little while1 one of them would either introduce some ,discourse about the ,wickedness of the ,times1 or would tell some ,story about ,apparitions2 in the middle of which another would run against the ,candle1 as if by ,accident1 and put it out4 ,as soon as the ,candle is out1 another of them pretends to have found out this ,figure upon the ,wall1 which will appear like ,fire4 ,you may guess the ,surprize of the poor ,country ,people1 at seeing the ,old ,gentleman upon the ,wall4--,they all take to their ,heels4 ,in the mean ,time1 to improve their ,ideas1 another of the ,confederates sets ,fire to ,brimstone1 or some other stinking ,combustible1 and pops it against all their ,noses1 as they run out of ,doors2 and after these two powerful ,sensations of seeing and smelling1 it would be quite impossible1 by any ,arguments1 to persuade any of the ,company1 that they had not actually seen the ,prince of ,darkness4 ,by these and such like ,arts1 the ,roman ,catholic ,priests so long kept this now well-delivered ,country under their ,subjection4 ,though this ,account appears ridiculous enough1 the ,effect which such ,sort of ,pranks have upon the weak ,minds of ,women and ,children1 are very serious2 and the ,ideas which are received at this ,time of ,life1 make such an ,impression upon some ,people1 that they are unable to get the better of their ,apprehensions1 even when they grow up4 ,i know a ,person of the first ,sense1 and a great ,scholar1 who retains these ,stories so strong in his ,memory1 that he dare as well put his ,fingers into the ,old ,lion's ,mouth at the ,tower1 as go up to a ,monument1 which stands in a certain ,chapel in this ,university1 after it is dark2 not that he really believes any ,thing would hurt him there2 nevertheless he declares he cannot get the better of it4 ,and ,i make no ,doubt1 that not only this ,gentleman1 but ,thousands more of his ,majesty's good and bold ,subjects1 are in the same ,way4 ,i look upon our ,sailors1 to care as little what becomes of themselves1 as any ,set of ,people under the ,sun2 and yet no ,people are so much terrified at the ,thoughts of an ,apparition4 ,their ,sea ,songs are full of them2 they firmly believe their ,existence2 and honest ,jack ,tar shall be more frightened at a glimmering of the ,moon upon the ,tackling of the ,ship1 than he would be if a ,frenchman was to clap a ,blunderbuss to his ,head4 ,i was told a ,story by an ,officer in the ,navy1 which may not be foreign to the ,purpose4 ,about half a ,dozen of the ,sailors on board a ,man of ,war1 took it into their ,heads1 that there was a ,ghost in the ,ship2 and being asked by the ,captain1 what ,reason they had to apprehend any such ,thing1 they told him1 that they were sure there was a ,ghost1 for they smelt him4 ,the ,captain at first laughed at them1 and called them a ,parcel of ,lubbers1 and advised them not to entertain any such silly ,notions as these1 but mind their ,work4 ,it passed on very well for a ,day or two2 but one ,night1 being in another ,ghost-smelling ,humour1 they all came to the ,captain1 and told him1 that they were quite certain1 there was a ,ghost1 and he was somewhere behind the ,small-beer ,barrels3 ,the ,captain1 quite enraged at their ,folly1 was determined1 they should have something to be frightened at in earnest2 and so ordered the ,boatswain's ,mate to give them all a ,dozen of ,lashes1 with a ,cat 'o nine ,tails2 by which means1 the ,ship was entirely cleared of ,ghosts1 during the remainder of the ,voyage4 ,however1 when the ,barrels were removed1 some ,time after1 they found a dead ,rat1 or some such ,thing1 which was concluded1 by the rest of the ,crew1 to be the ,ghost1 which had been smelt a little before4 ,thus we see1 that the bravest ,men of the ,universe1 may be terrified1 if they give way to their own chimerical ,ideas2 and that it is only for want of searching into the ,causes of the ,phoenomena of ,nature1 that ,people disturb themselves in this ,manner1 with such groundless and unphilosophical ,apprehensions4 ,however1 a great deal may be said in ,favour of ,men1 troubled with the ,scurvy1 the ,concomitants of which ,disorder1 are generally ,faintings and the ,hip1 and ,horrors without any ,ground for them2 which leads me to say something upon an ,error1 relative to that ,sea ,disorder1 the ,scurvy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xiii4 ,that ,bleeding is proper for a ,patient1 who is apt to be sick in a ,morning4 ,the first ,person ,i heard remark this ,error1 was an old ,physician1 who1 though he had but little ,practice1 on ,account of his travelling ,disposition1 was nevertheless a ,man of great ,speculation4 ,he had been three ,times over the ,alps on ,foot2 and was in many ,respects1 a curious ,man4 ,the ,company did not seem to take much ,notice of his ,remark1 because he certainly was an ,oddity2 however1 if we may believe the ,accounts of those ,physicians who have lately wrote upon the ,scurvy1 the ,old ,gentleman was in the right4 ,it seems1 that among all the dreadful ,symtoms1 which accompany the ,scurvy1 a fainting ,sickness in a ,morning1 is the most certain ,indication of it4 ,many1 upon ,application for ,relief1 in that ,case1 have been treated as ,consumptive2 when1 upon a more strict ,enquiry1 they have been found to have a violent ,scurvy1 and have been restored to ,health by ,mineral ,waters4 ,if that is the ,case1 and fainting ,sickness in a ,morning1 is a ,sympton of the ,scurvy1 ,bleeding cannot be proper1 as nothing is more likely to encrease the ,fainting1 than ,phlebotomy4 ,i met with an ,author somewhere1 who reasoned upon the ,subject1 in this ,manner4 ,he alledged1 that the ,cause of ,fainting in the ,scurvy1 was owing to such a ,relaxation in the ,blood ,vessels1 that they had not ,power to perform their ,operations2 and by that ,means1 were unable to give their ,contents1 that quick1 spirited ,motion1 which is required1 to keep them in the upper ,parts of the ,body2 and that1 by the ,blood being suffered to fall down to the lower ,parts of the ,body1 the ,head1 ,heart1 and other ,vital ,parts1 were left destitute of that ,fluid1 which is so necessary for the ,preservation of ,life4 ,this he proves1 by the sudden ,change which is caused in ,patients1 afflicted with the ,scurvy1 on altering their ,position4 ,if1 says he1 you cause a ,patient to be raised up in his ,hammock1 though before he was in very good ,spirits 7a ,thing peculiar to the ,sea ,scurvy1 even in the last ,stages of it1 at ,times7 he will faint immediately2 if you lay him in an inclined ,posture1 he will recover again4 ,and he gives this ,reason for it1 viz4 that the ,blood settles downwards1 in the same ,manner1 as ,humours do in a ,dropsy1 when the ,patient is erect2 and that it returns again1 when he is supine2 and by that ,means1 it re-invigorates those ,parts1 which were distressed by its ,absence4 ,if this is the ,case1 and the learned ,doctor's ,position is true1 to take away that little ,blood1 which is left behind1 in the upper ,parts of the ,body1 on a ,scorbutic ,patient's getting into an erect ,posture1 or rising in a ,morning1 is to deprive him of all the ,nourishment which his ,vital ,parts contain for their ,preservation1 and seems to be a ready way to dispatch him4 ,it would be prudent therefore1 in an ,apothecary1 before he lets his ,patient blood1 when he is taken sick in a ,morning1 to examine him well all over1 in order to find out those ,eruptions1 which denote a ,scorbutic ,habit of ,body4 ,for if he is ignorant of the ,patient's ,disorder1 and lets him blood1 though he may survive this ,operation1 he will most likely have such a ,fainting1 as to amount to a ,fit next ,morning2 upon which1 in his ,fright and ,hurry1 he will let him blood again1 thinking it an ,apoplexy4 ,i hope the ,physical ,gentlemen1 will not take it amiss that ,i interfere thus with their ,profession2 only1 as ,i have known some ,accidents happen in this ,case1 by not regular-bred ,practioners1 ,i hope they will pardon the ,liberty1 which is here taken4 ,if any ,person should here object1 that ,i have confounded the ,land ,scurvy with the ,sea ,scurvy1 without making any ,distinction between the two ,disorders2 ,i answer1 that though they may be different in some ,respects1 yet they are very near related2 and moreover1 that with ,respect to the ,faintings in a ,morning1 they are the same1 and the ,faintings proceed from the same ,cause in both4 ,their ,causes may be different1 and yet their ,effects be very similar2 or1 'till all the ,causes of the ,sea ,scurvy are clearly found out1 it is not possible to say1 that they do not both proceed from the same ,cause4 ,for ,i suppose it will be allowed1 that the ,land ,scurvy generally proceeds from too high ,living1 from salt ,diet1 from too much animal ,food1 from too little ,exercise1 c4 ,now let us examine into the ,sea ,scurvy4 ,they are subject to these ,inconveniences in a greater ,degree at ,sea than they are at ,land3 ,in the first ,place1 in long ,voyages they have nothing but salt ,provisions2 then they have no ,greens2 all animal ,diet1 except a little dried ,biscuit2 and then though it must be allowed1 that in a ,gale of ,wind they have ,trouble enough to work the ,ship1 and by that ,means receive proper ,exercise1 yet at other ,times1 when they have fallen in with the ,trade ,winds1 they sometimes have no ,employ for ,months together2 and 7by the bye7 any one1 who takes ,notice of ,voyages1 will find that it is at those ,times1 when the ,scurvy does the most ,mischief4 ,it is then that the ,ship becomes almost a ,prison4 ,for when they go up aloft1 the ,air1 by it's ,friction1 braces their ,nerves1 clears away the bad ,vapours1 creates an ,appetite1 and strengthens their ,joints2 but when a ,ship is going before a fine ,gale of ,wind1 so steady as the ,trade ,winds are1 the ,men have no ,employ1 and having no ,occasion to go aloft1 either loll upon ,deck in the ,day-,time1 or sleep in their ,hammocks at ,night4 ,we do not insist here1 that there is no ,difference between the ,land and ,sea ,scurvy1 or that there are no other ,reasons for the ,sea ,scurvy than are here mentioned4 ,we know that some other ,causes are assigned1 as the being so long absent from ,land1 and thereby receiving none of those ,vapours1 which1 coming out of the ,earth1 may be necessary for the ,preservation of a ,land ,animal1 c4 and these ,causes likewise may correspond with the former1 here mentioned4 ,we shall now beg ,leave to offer a little ,scheme1 for hindering the ,progress of the ,sea ,scurvy1 which however we do not insist upon1 having no great ,opinion of any ,proposition1 which we start new of our own4 ,what ,i would propose is1 some ,help or ,relief to a ,ship1 when she is on a long ,voyage1 and sailing before a ,trade ,wind1 and finds the ,scurvy begin to attack her4 ,in order to which1 it will be necessary to say something concerning the ,nature of that ,element called the ,air4 ,air is an elastic ,fluid1 as has been observed before1 and is subject to an easy ,motion of it's ,parts amongst themselves1 as all ,fluids are4 ,it is subject to ,currents and ,eddies1 in the same ,manner as ,water4 ,a ,current of ,air is commonly known by the ,name of ,wind2 and the greater ,quantity of this ,air or ,wind1 an ,animal who has ,organs for the ,reception of it1 and who cannot live without it a ,moment2 the more free ,passage 7,i say7 a ,current of ,air has1 by such an ,animal1 in ,health and ,motion1 the more wholesome it is for him4 ,now1 ,i will endeavour to prove1 that a ,ship under ,sail1 before a ,trade ,wind1 has but little ,change of ,situation in this ,current1 notwithstanding her ,motion is so swift1 with regard to her ,change of ,place upon the ,surface of the ,earth4 ,we will endeavour to explain our ,meaning1 by a ,cork swimming down a current of ,water4 ,if any one throws a ,cork into a ,stream of ,water1 he will find that the ,cork will be attended1 during its ,progress down the ,stream1 by the same ,particles of the ,fluid1 which it happened to fall upon1 when it first set off2 notwithstanding1 it changes its ,position1 with regard to the ,surface of the ,earth4 ,this is the ,case with a ,ship1 sailing before the ,wind2 she receives nothing near the ,quantity of ,air1 upon her ,sides and between her ,decks1 in a full ,wind1 that she does when the ,wind is upon her ,beam1 or on one ,side of her2 which may be demonstrated by a second ,experiment upon the ,cork in the ,water4 ,if any one takes a ,cork and ties a long ,thread to it1 and throws it into a ,stream1 he will find1 that the ,cork1 when he draws it sideways along the ,stream1 changes its ,place in the ,water every ,inch he draws it4 ,this is so plain1 that there is no ,occasion to say any more about it2 and we humbly apprehend1 that the ,case would be the same1 with regard to a ,ship which is sailing before the ,wind1 or going down a ,current of ,air4 ,we do alledge1 that the fresh ,air running between the ,decks of a ,ship1 would sweeten and clear away the bad ,vapours and ,filth from the ,men in her1 as much more in the ,position of a ,side-,wind1 as a ,stream of ,water would wash more ,dirt off a ,cork1 if it was drawn sideways along it by a ,thread1 than if it was suffered to swim down by itself4 ,for the ,motion of a good ,ship1 when she has all her ,sails up in a moderate ,gale before the ,wind1 is very near1 if not quite as swift as the ,wind itself4 ,therefore1 what ,i would advance here is1 that as the ,sea ,scurvy in long ,voyages proceeds as much from the ,confinement of a ,ship1 as from any other ,cause1 may it not be deemed reasonable1 that any ,scheme1 which serves to make a more free ,current of ,air through a ,ship1 may be a great ,hindrance to the ,progress of the ,scurvy8 ,the ,scheme is only this plain and easy one1 viz4 that when a ,ship is upon a long ,voyage1 before a ,trade ,wind1 the ,captain once a ,day should give ,orders1 to lay her upon a ,side-,wind1 or a ,quarters ,wind1 if he thinks it more safe1 for about a ,league or two1 during which ,tack1 he may open the ,port-holes of her ,windward ,side2 and after going a ,league or two in that ,manner1 she might be tacked about and laid upon her other ,side2 and by doing this1 he would sweeten every ,corner of the ,ship1 and at the same ,time exercise his ,men4 ,now1 though this ,practice would retard him a little in his ,voyage1 would it not be better to lose a little ,time1 and bring a ,ship's ,crew ,home in tolerable good ,plight1 than to have half of them dead1 before they get to the ,end of their ,voyage8 ,i am far from insisting1 that this ,scheme would answer the ,end2 all that ,i know is1 that if ,i was ,captain of a ,ship1 ,i would try2 and if it answered no ,end1 it would but be leaving it off afterwards4 ,and ,i hope the ,sea ,gentlemen will not be angry at this little ,essay1 as it is wrote for the ,sake of their ,health and ,constitutions4 ,they know very well1 that ,wind travels much slower than is imagined by the ,generality of ,landmen2 which brings me to another ,error1 7viz47 ,,xiv4 ,that nothing which moves upon the ,surface of the ,earth1 is so swift as the ,wind4 ,though1 in a ,storm1 ,wind moves with a great ,velocity1 yet in a moderate ,gale1 it is nothing near so swift as is generally apprehended4 ,the ,ancients were so wrapped up in their ,opinion of the ,swiftness of ,wind1 that they were sure to introduce it as a ,simile1 when they intended to describe any ,thing that was rapid in it's ,motion4 ,horace1 for one1 was so fond of it1 that he has introduced it into his elegant ,ode1 ,otium ,divos1 c4 ,scandit ratas vitiosa ,naves1 ,cura2 nec ,turmas ,equitum relinquit ,ocyor ,cervis et agente ,nymbos ,ocyor ,euro4 ,however1 one would think1 that if he was determined to compare ,wind to an ,idea or ,sensation in the human ,mind1 he might have thought of one more swift in it's ,motions4 ,for though the ,east ,wind is a heavy ,wind1 and lays very keen ,hold of a ,sail1 as being cold1 and therefore more condensed1 and moving with greater ,moment1 on ,account of it's ,weight2 yet ,i am very much mistaken if we have any ,east ,winds1 that travel near so fast as the ,south-,west ,winds which we have in ,march2 nay1 so far is it from being swift1 that when it is set in1 we may feel it blow against our ,bodies1 with a more steady1 slow ,motion than any other2 and it is reasonable to suppose1 that it ought to move slower according to the ,rules of ,philosophy3 ,for the ,barometer shews1 that the colder the ,air is1 the more it weighs2 and a heavy ,body takes more ,time in changing it's ,place1 by a ,force or ,cause1 than a light one4 ,however1 we will not tax ,horace with ,impropriety1 in so fine an ,ode2 as we do not know1 what the ,east ,winds may be in ,italy4 ,they had not the ,german ,ocean to pass over1 before they came to ,horace1 and may be warm1 light1 and soft1 in that ,country4 ,but to return3 ,there are many ,things upon the ,surface of the ,earth1 7without being obliged to have ,recourse to the extraordinary ,velocity of ,light7 which move faster than the ,wind4 ,we have no ,occasion to go any further than the ,flight of a ,pigeon1 or a ,swallow1 even for a ,storm2 which we may observe1 by the ,motion of light ,bodies1 such as ,feathers and ,straws1 which have no ,power to resist it's ,force1 and must be hurried away with the same ,velocity as the ,wind itself4 ,we may easily try the ,experiment1 by throwing ,feathers from off a ,church ,steeple1 or any high ,place2 and we shall find1 that though they will be hurried off at a great ,rate1 yet not so swift as a ,pigeon upon her full ,stretch4 ,those who are at ,sea have a much better ,opportunity of observing it's ,motions than ,landmen3 ,nothing is more common1 than to see that the ,wind has chopped about1 by it's ,action upon the ,sails of a ,ship at great ,distance off2 and it is a long ,time before it reaches the ,sails of the ,ship from whence it is first discovered2 and even when a ,storm is seen coming at a ,distance1 they have ,time enough to reeve the ,sails1 and lie in a ,posture to receive it4 ,it would be very easy at ,land1 to take an exact ,measure of the ,velocity of any ,wind1 by watching it when it first comes4 ,it might be done in this ,manner1 viz4 by taking the exact ,distance of all the ,churches in the ,neighbourhood from each other1 and setting ,flags upon the ,steeples of those which stand easy to be seen1 and which are in different ,directions2 after which1 a ,person might go up to the ,top of one which stood in the middle of them1 with a ,telescope1 and as soon as he saw the ,flags upon any of the ,steeples at a ,distance move from the ,directions which they stood in when he first ascended the ,steeple1 he might be certain of a fresh ,gale being come1 and that it had just then reached that ,steeple4 ,upon seeing this1 all that he would have to do would be1 to look at his ,watch and by that ,means he would know how fast the ,gale of ,wind had travelled1 by observing how many ,miles it had gone in such a ,time4 ,for by observing the ,flag on the ,steeple at a ,distance1 he might know when it had reached that ,place1 and by the ,flag upon the ,steeple where the ,observer himself stood1 he might see when it reached him1 and by his ,watch he might know how long it had been coming4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xv4 ,that there is now1 or ever was1 such a ,science as ,astrology4 ,reader1 when thou dost peruse this ,book1 ,i would have thee sensible of the intrinsic ,value of ,truth2 one single ,page of this inestimable ,commodity1 is worth a ,thousand ,volumes of ,lies4 ,i do not intend to impose upon thee1 and lead thee astray1 and laugh at thee afterwards2 even as the ,egyptian ,priests of old did deceive their ,flock1 and at the same ,time did laugh at them1 for worshiping the monstrous ,idols1 which were the ,compositions of their own ,craft4 ,thou wouldest hardly believe that these ,idolaters were so grossly imposed upon1 as to be induced to worship ,garlick and ,onions2 and yet1 we have ,accounts1 that if the ,priests of those ,times did fix their ,eyes upon a good ,crop of those ,vegetables1 they could very easily rank them amongst the ,number of their ,gods2 and1 by that ,means1 render them unlawful to be handled by any one1 except themselves4 ,what might be their ,intent1 in such a ,case1 we will not presume to determine1 but leave it to thy own superior ,judgment4 ,indeed1 thou mayest think thyself happy1 in being a ,native of a ,country1 where the exact ,boundary is fixed to every one's ,property2 and where1 though when thou dost endeavour to defend thy ,right1 thou wilt find some who are ready to go ,halves with thee1 yet1 thou mayest in ,time hinder thy ,adversary from enjoying what is thy ,due4 ,and moreover1 thou mayest think thyself very comfortable1 that thou dost breathe in so free an ,air1 where thou hast the refreshing ,liberty of hearkening to ,reason1 and of thinking as thou dost like best2 for if thou didst live in some ,countries1 thou wouldest find1 that thou must either think as others please to dictate to thee1 or else keep thy ,thoughts to thyself2 otherwise1 it had been better for thee1 if thou hadst never been able to come at the ,knowledge of ,truth1 and had been as ignorant as those ,idolatrous ,egyptians before mentioned2 who1 while their ,priests were studying the real ,science of ,astronomy1 kept the ,laity in the dark1 and amused them with the false ,science of ,astrology2 making them believe that they could foretell all ,things which should happen to them and their ,families1 by their ,knowledge of the ,stars2 and persuading them1 that the ,stars had an ,influence upon the ,lives and ,fortunes of ,individuals2 introducing the ,jargon of being born under particular ,planets1 and the like4 ,to all which their ,impositions they gained the greater ,credit1 by being able to calculate1 and therefore to foretell the ,eclipses of the ,sun and ,moon2 which ,phenomena of ,nature they used to explain so as to answer their own sinister ,views2 construing the common ,motions and ,appearances of the ,heavenly ,bodies1 into ,prodigies and ,wonders2 fortelling the ,deaths of those they hated1 and taking the ,opportunity of that ,time of ,consternation1 to dispatch them1 in order to make their ,words prove true4 ,i tell thee1 ,reader1 thou art happy in being a ,native of a ,country where thou art not deceived by the false ,science of ,astrology2 and where any one who understands it1 whether ,priest or ,layman1 will shew thee as much of the real ,science of ,astronomy1 as thou desirest to learn1 for a ,bottle or two of ,wine1 with all his ,heart2 well knowing1 that it will be a ,means to give thee a more sublime ,notion of the ,supreme ,being3 ,for the more thou dost contemplate the vast ,machinery of the ,heavenly ,bodies1 and the exact ,time which they keep in their ,revolutions1 the more thou wilt be convinced of the immense ,contrivance of ,him who laid the ,foundation of the ,heavens4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xvi4 ,most ,londoners are mistaken when they think that they have ,wit enough to impose upon ,countrymen4 ,this ,error chiefly proceeds from the outward ,appearance of ,countrymen1 when they arrive at the ,metropolis4 ,they are struck with the ,grandeur of the ,place1 and on that ,account keep their ,heads up in the ,air1 as if they were contemplating some ,phoenomenon in the ,heavens4 ,then their ,cloaths1 being calculated for ,strength and ,wear1 are spun thick1 which gives them a stiff1 awkward ,gait1 and this is not a little augmented by the robust ,labour which they daily undergo1 and the great ,burthens1 of different ,sorts1 which they are continually obliged to bear1 through the ,course of their ,farming ,business4 ,this ,aukwardness1 joined to an ,absence1 which the ,contemplation of any ,thing fine is sure to beget1 makes high ,diversion for the ,londoners1 and they are apt to put many ,tricks upon them1 as ,clowns1 which the ,countrymen 7being ,strangers to the ,place7 easily fall into2 upon which ,account1 those ,urban ,mobility1 are apt to tax them with ,want of ,quickness of ,apprehension4 ,but1 ,o ,cives6 let us first examine into the real ,state of the ,case1 and make a little ,allowance for ,robin's ,parallax1 before we are too hard upon his ,abilities4 ,i tell thee1 your right ,clown is the sharpest ,fellow in the ,world2 and if thou hadst any ,dealings with him in his own ,way1 thou wouldest soon find him so1 to thy ,cost4 ,if he came from ,yerkshire1 thou wouldest have no ,chance with him1 ,and we humbly conceive1 that it is upon this ,account that ,countrymen have the ,name of ,clowns given them3 ,for we take the ,original ,meaning of a ,clown to be1 one who is a quick1 bright1 witty ,fellow1 who puts on the ,appearance of ,folly1 while his ,head is at ,work to deceive you4 ,such as these were ,shakespeare's ,clowns1 who knew the ,meaning of the ,word too well to make ,fools of them4 ,these were the ,fellows that he has employed1 when there was any ,business to dispatch1 which required more than ordinary ,address and ,secresy in the ,management of it1 and who were to make ,diversion to crowned ,heads by the ,sprightliness of their ,wit4 ,so that we apprehend the ,word ,clown1 in it's original ,meaning1 does not signify an aukward ,lout1 but a bright1 quick ,fellow1 who does more by his natural ,parts1 than by the ,help of ,education4 ,from hence it was that ,countrymen came to be called ,clowns4 ,they were found1 upon ,examination1 to be much brighter and sharper than they appeared to be at first ,sight4 ,we have a true ,specimen of one of these ,kind of ,geniuses1 in ,the ,journey to ,london1 in the ,character of ,john ,moody2 who1 though he was bewildered in the ,hurry and ,bustle of ,london1 and broke his ,coach1 and lost his ,monkey1 yet we find ,john has ,sense enough to make just ,observations upon his ,master's ,conduct1 as well as his ,mistress's2 and1 no ,doubt1 had ,john been a real ,character1 instead of a fictitious one1 he would have wished in his ,heart1 that he had had the ,offender1 who broke his ,coach1 before his ,master as a ,justice of the ,peace1 at his own ,quarter ,sessions in the ,borough of ,guzzledown2 for if he had once got him there1 whether the ,accident which befel the ,carriage1 was occasioned by his own aukward driving on the wrong ,side of the ,street1 or whether the ,fellow did it on ,purpose1 would have been all one in the ,borough of ,guzzledown4 ,the ,breaking his ,worship's ,coach1 would have been sufficient to have had him sent to ,limbo4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xvii4 ,that a ,pointer1 if he lifts up his ,foot1 when he comes upon ,game1 does it in order to shew his ,master the ,spot where the ,birds lie4 ,this is so well known to be an ,error1 that no ,person1 who is a ,sportsman1 need be informed of the ,mistake1 with any other ,design1 than by ,way of ,ridicule4 ,it truly deserves the ,name of a ,vulgar ,error3 ,however1 we shall put in a ,word or two concerning the ,nature of ,pointers1 and explain by what ,means they arrive at such ,perfection1 as to point at a ,partridge for two ,hours together2 as it will be necessary1 in order to confute the ,error4 ,there are different ,kinds of ,pointers1 some are of ,spanish ,extraction1 some ,portuguese1 some ,french1 and ,i have lately heard of a rough ,breed from ,germany2 in the ,west of ,england1 and in ,wales1 they make them of ,english ,spaniels1 but as that is done by meer ,dint of ,correction1 we shall pass them over in ,silence2 though they are esteemed excellent when they are well broke4 ,what we shall endeavour to explain is1 how it comes to pass1 that a real true bred ,pointer1 shall point or stand at his ,game1 for a short ,time1 without having any ,instructions given him at all by any ,person4 ,i apprehend1 that a ,pointer1 if he was in a ,state of ,nature1 wild in the ,woods and ,fields1 would procure his ,sustenance in this ,manner3 ,he would beat about1 till he came upon the ,scent of something which struck him considerably1 and seemed worth his ,attention2 after which he would1 by the ,direction of the ,scent1 creep a little nearer1 till he found himself quite certain that he was very near some ,game2 upon which1 such is the vast ,pleasure which this ,animal receives from the ,sensation of ,smelling1 his ,limbs are seized with a ,sort of ,convulsion1 which causes him to make a full ,stop1 for a short ,time1 not only in order to contemplate his agreeable ,situation1 but likewise to consider1 how he may best make such a sure ,leap as to seize on his ,prey4 ,reader1 when thou art hungry1 and art going about thy ,business in ,haste thro' the ,city1 did the savoury ,effluvia which arises from roast ,beef never strike thy olfactory ,nerves8 ,yes1 no ,doubt1 thou hast been so agreeably accosted2 thou hast made a full ,stop2 thou hast been so captivated with the ,odour thereof1 that thou hast begun to consider1 even like a ,pointer1 how to seize upon this thy ,game4 ,if thou hast ever had such an ,accident1 thou mayest easily know the ,situation of a ,pointer1 by consulting thy own ,breast4 ,it will be objected1 that a ,pointer wild in the ,woods1 could not support himself1 at all ,times of the ,year1 by catching ,game4 ,in answer to which1 ,i say1 that it is the ,cold which hinders the ,game from breeding continually4 ,now in ,portugal1 and those other warm ,countries1 of which these ,dogs are ,natives1 the ,objection of ,cold is removed1 and for that ,reason there always will be1 either young ,partridges1 or ,young ,pheasants1 or ,leverets1 c4 upon which a ,pointer might live all the ,year round1 though the old ones would prove too quick for him4 ,it will be no ,objection1 neither1 to say1 that a true bred ,pointer will not break or tear his ,game2 for that is owing to the ,care which is taken1 not to let him play with a ,bird too long1 after it is shot1 when he is first entered2 for if once a ,dog has a ,taste of the ,blood1 and gets a ,habit of breaking his ,game1 it will be almost impossible to cure him of it again4 ,it is the ,nature of most ,animals of ,prey1 to play with their ,game before they devour it4 ,every one must have observed how a ,cat plays with a ,mouse1 before she dispatches it3 ,it is a ,kind of a ,suspension of the ,pleasure1 which they promise themselves1 in the devouring so delicious a ,morsel4 ,and though ,human ,nature is apt to reflect upon the other ,parts of the ,creation for ,cruelty1 he is not a bit better himself2 for what ,angler is not sensible of the high ,pleasure of having a ,trout at his ,line8 which he suffers to flounce and spring in the ,water much longer than he has ,occasion1 to which violent ,pain and ,fright of the ,fish he gives the ,name of fine ,sport4 ,not to mention hunting an ,animal to ,death by ,inches1 with ,hounds1 when he might take a ,gun1 and dispatch it in a ,second4 ,the ,truth is1 no ,animal can be taxed with ,cruelty1 so long as he pursues the ,dictates of his ,nature4 ,since then it is the ,nature of most ,animals to play with their ,game before they dispatch it1 we may conclude1 that if a young ,pointer does not devour his ,game when it is shot to him1 it is only because we do not give him ,time enough1 and that1 like other ,animals of ,prey1 it is not his ,manner to do it immediately4 ,having shewn that a ,pointer is an ,animal whose ,prey is ,game1 we may conclude1 that a young ,dog makes that sudden ,stop when he comes upon ,game1 for the same ,reason that a ,cat stops before she leaps upon a ,sparrow2 viz4 that he may dart the surer upon them when he does leap4 ,as to the ,article of holding up his ,foot1 it entirely depends upon what ,position his ,legs happen to be in1 when his ,nose first catches the full ,scent of the ,birds2 he stands in a convulsed ,situation2 and whatever ,posture a ,leg is in1 at the ,time of his first being sure of the ,scent1 in that ,attitude he remains1 whether his ,leg happens to be lifted up or on the ,ground4 ,so that if he does lift up his ,leg1 when he points at the ,game1 it is not in order to shew his ,master the ,spot where they lie1 as some have imagined1 but is entirely accidental4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xviii4 ,that the ,way to make ,boys learn their ,books1 is to keep them in ,school all ,day1 and whip them4 ,though the ,examples which we have of the ,behaviour of the ,ancient ,worthies and ,heroes1 shew1 that neither ,bonds nor ,imprisonment can abate the ,intrepidity of a ,man of true ,courage2 ,yet1 to ,mankind in general1 and especially to those who are but of tender ,years1 ,imprisonment and ,scourging together1 are most likely to blunt the ,understanding1 and take off the ,edge of the ,genius4 ,and indeed1 the ,mistake of imprisoning ,boys in a ,school1 for whole ,days together1 is practised only in ,country ,schools1 where the ,masters of them know no better4 ,at ,eaton and ,westminster1 that foolish ,custom has been abolished for some ,time2 at ,eaton especially1 they perfect themselves in their ,lessons out of ,school1 and only come into ,school to repeat them4 ,and1 not to mention1 how greatly the fresh ,air contributes towards clearing the ,head1 as all ,students must have observed2 the very ,thoughts of ,liberty1 and the knowing that after they have done with their ,lessons1 they can follow their ,amusements1 is enough to make them apply with double ,diligence to what they are about3 ,it is a ,kind of ,fighting for ,liberty in that ,case4 ,whereas1 when a ,boy is confined to ,school for a whole ,day together1 he has no ,encouragement to exert himself in the ,cause of ,liberty2 for when he has fought his ,battle bravely1 and gone through all the ,dangers of his ,campaign1 he is no nearer to his wished-for ,mark1 ,liberty1 than the dullest ,boy at the lower ,end of ,school4 ,but this leads me to another ,error1 7viz47 ,,xix4 ,that clogging their ,parts with long ,grammar ,rules1 will make them bright ,scholars4 ,this ,practice too begins to be left off in the great ,schools4 ,i remember1 when ,i was a ,boy1 though ,i was exceedingly well grounded1 and had the whole ,scheme of the ,grammar quite clear in my ,head2 yet they thought proper to torment me a long ,time1 with ,rules at the ,end of the ,syntax4 ,there was licet1 and there was decet1 and tdet1 and oportet1 and nocet1 and ,abundance more1 ,verbs ,impersonal1 that ought to be tied upon a ,string1 like the ,roman-,catholic ,beads1 before they are given to ,boys to get by ,heart1 without any ,connection between them4 ,i was in ,phdrus's ,fables1 and should have known any of these independent ,gentry1 if ,i had met them singly in any ,country in ,europe1 without being tormented with them alltogether4 ,such ,methods as these1 are apt to make a ,boy apprehend1 that the ,intention of ,grammar is meerly to give ,trouble1 and perplex2 without any ,view of ,advantage1 which may hereafter arise from such an intense ,application4 ,and indeed1 whatever the ,intent of them may be1 a ,lad of such a ,persuasion1 would not be much mistaken1 with regard to the ,effect they have4 ,it must be a very different ,kind of ,genius1 which can attain to the ,repetition of dull ,grammar ,rules1 from one1 who has ,fire enough to digest the ,beauty of such ,lines as these3 ,consedere ,duces1 et ,volgi stante ,coron1 ,surgit ad hos ,clypei ,dominus septemplicis ,ajax2 ,utque erat impatiens ir1 ,sigeia torvo ,littora respexit1 ,classemque in ,littora ,vultu1 c4 ,ovid ,metam4 ,by letting him taste a little of the ,kernel1 without keeping him too long in the disagreeable ,part of getting off the ,outside of the ,walnut1 he would make a much quicker ,progress2 as he would find1 that the ,trouble he had underwent would be rewarded with such ,pleasure1 as nothing but the ,idea of ,business1 or ,force1 which accompanies it1 could render tiresome4 ,it will be objected here1 that nothing can be done without these ,grammar ,rules1 and that however disagreeable they may be1 they are what must be gone through1 in order to make good ,scholars4 ,to which ,i answer1 ,first1 that common ,grammar not only may be1 but is1 contracted into a much less ,compass than is generally made use of4 ,nay1 ,i will go farther3 ,a certain ,clergyman1 whose ,name it is needless to mention here1 was determined to try if he could not teach a ,boy ,latin and ,greek1 without any ,grammar at all2 and he chose to try the ,experiment first upon his own ,son1 who seems to be about twelve ,years of ,age4 ,the ,boy can now construe any ,latin or ,greek1 that is tolerably easy1 very readily4 ,and ,i make no ,doubt1 but as the ,world grows wiser1 they will reduce ,grammar into a shorter ,compass still than ever has been done yet4 ,the ,grounds of ,musick1 are to the full as dry as the ,rules of ,latin ,grammar2 and it was formerly a great ,work to teach ,youth the ,rules of ,composition2 ,nevertheless1 they have lately found out a much shorter ,way of going to ,work1 and every one now begins to have a little ,smattering of ,composition2 which they attain to by reading those little ,pamphlets1 which have been wrote lately upon that ,subject4 ,i heard a ,gentleman say1 that he learned more of ,composition1 by reading a little short ,thing of ,pasquali's1 than he could acquire by having a ,master1 who taught by the old ,method1 in a couple of ,years3 ,it is the very same in ,grammar1 and indeed1 it is the same in all ,sciences4 ,there is an easy ,way of doing every ,thing1 if we could but find it out2 and if any ,thing appears difficult1 it is1 because we are in a wrong ,method4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xx4 ,that teaching ,boys ,bawdy ,books1 will make them religious ,men and good ,clergymen4 ,though most of the greatest ,geniusses among the ,ancients1 have touched upon that ,string2 and though1 reading the ,works of the great ,poets1 who have wrote in that ,style1 does ripen the ,genius1 and teach ,lads an elegant ,expression1 as well as set them forward in the ,languages2 yet1 ,i cannot come into the ,opinion1 that ,youth1 especially those who are intended for the ,church1 should be suffered to read the ,composition of such a ,master of ,intrigue1 as ,ovid2 or some of the ,odes of such a ,libertine1 as ,horace4 ,an ,english ,reader will understand my ,meaning1 when ,i tell him1 that some of the common ,school-books1 which ,boys learn at the ,age of ,sixteen1 are more lewd than any ,thing in ,rochester's ,poems4 ,for though this ,lord was pretty plain in his ,expressions1 and his ,composition is quite ,spiritoso1 yet his ,works may rather be said to instruct a ,person in the ,science of ,wickedness1 than to stir him up to it4 ,the ,case is very different with regard to such a ,writer as ,ovid4 ,he had the great ,advantage of calling in the ,religion of the ,times to his ,assistance1 when he had a mind to be more wicked than ordinary3 ,he could make the most lewd and profligate ,scenes appear sacred ,mysteries1 by giving them the pious ,title of the ,rites of ,venus4 ,then there is a ,softness through all his ,works1 which attacks the ,heart with a seeming harmless ,familiarity1 and differs very much from the ,air of ,rochester2 whose ,strokes may be compared to the smutty ones which ,hogarth has given us1 in some of his ,paintings2 while those of ,ovid have the alluring ,attitude of a ,venus de ,medicis4 ,pardon1 ,reader1 if ,i transgress a little1 by owning1 that ,i have seen such a ,book as ,rochester's ,poems long ago2 and you will the more easily excuse me1 when ,i tell you1 that ,i was taught such a ,book as ,ovid at ,school4 ,what has been said about these ,books1 is intended to shew the ,impropriety of using such ,authors in a ,school3 ,and a ,clergyman need not be ashamed of owning1 that he has read even an ,atheistical ,book3 ,for how should any ,person be able to confute an ,author1 unless he first peruses his ,work1 in order to know the ,fallacy of the ,arguments1 which are made use of in it8 ,after that1 he may fairly endeavour to say something against it1 but not before4 ,what ,i would here urge is1 that ,boys might have many entertaining1 useful ,books put into their ,hands1 which may be very elegant1 and yet very innocent2 without stirring up their ,passions to a higher ,pitch1 than ,nature has intended1 by letting them into the ,history of the ,amours which were carried on among the ancient ,romans1 who were1 if possible1 more lascivious than the modern2 as ,rome was at that ,time of a larger ,extent1 and more wealthy1 and consequently more able to carry on the ,schemes of ,vice1 than at present4 ,when ,ovid wrote1 the ,romans might be said to be at the ,height of their ,luxury1 in which they were not a little improved by their ,eastern ,expeditions4 ,and tho' ,ovid's ,epistles1 which are more usually taught at ,school1 than his other ,works1 are modest enough in themselves1 and would be proper enough for grown up ,people to read1 being nothing but a polite ,correspondence between ,lovers of ,distinction2 yet there is something so tender in the ,style of them1 that they are apt to give ,youth a ,turn for ,love ,affairs1 rather sooner than they would have1 if ,nature was left to itself4 ,for tho' the ,soil of ,england is fertile1 and it may be called a fine1 flourishing ,country2 yet1 the ,weather we have here is rough most ,part of the ,year1 and in many ,parts of it1 the ,air is chill1 and unwholesome2 and on that ,account1 nothing but the hardy ,diversions1 which are generally followed by ,youth1 such as ,hunting1 and the like1 can ever keep them in ,health4 ,excess of ,venery would agree much better with any ,constitution1 in the soft ,atmospere of ,italy1 than amongst the rough ,blasts of ,old ,england2 so that if we give way so their ,vices1 we shall soon find that our ,constitutions will not endure any such ,excess of ,pleasure1 as the ,italians are able to sustain more easily on ,account of the ,mildness of their ,climate1 and the ,frame of their ,constitutions4 ,not that ,i would be thought to justify ,lewdness and ,debauchery in ,italy1 any more than in ,england4 ,i only endeavour to shew the double ,impropriety of suffering ,english ,youth1 to be acquainted with the ,vices of the ,italians4 ,i am for having an ,edition of ,horace printed1 which shall contain only such of his ,odes as do not touch upon the ,affair of ,love4 ,it is in vain to say that ,boys need only be taught the modest ,part of his ,works2 for if they are taught only the modest ,odes by their ,masters1 they will be sure to read the bawdy ones by themselves4 ,but if ,i was to offer ever so many just ,reasons1 for the ,confirmation of what has been here said1 ,i am afraid it would be exceeding difficult to persuade any one to leave a ,track1 which they have long been used to4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxi4 ,that the present ,age is a duller ,age1 and less ingenious1 than those which are past4 ,this ,error is owing to those ,harangues1 which the old ,people entertain their ,posterity with1 over the ,fire in the ,winter1 about what was done in their ,time1 and what clever ,fellows they themselves were in their ,youth1 and how much the ,age declines1 c4 ,in short1 an old ,man1 as ,horace describes him1 is ,laudator ,temporis acti se ,puero4 ,but we must beg ,leave to tell these venerable ,declaimers1 that however they may be wrapped up in the ,greatness of their own ,exploits1 ,england never could boast a brighter ,age1 nor perhaps so bright a one1 as she can at present2 and we challenge any one who contradicts it1 to tell us1 if the ,ancients were greater ,geniusses than the ,moderns1 in what ,art or ,science it was1 that they did so greatly outstrip us4 ,perhaps such a ,person might begin first1 and say1 that they excelled us greatly in ,carving and ,painting4 ,with regard to these ,i acquiesce1 and do acknowledge1 that the ,art of ,carving is not in such ,perfection as in former ,ages1 because it is not practised1 and is not the present fashionable ,ornament of ,houses2 and we do likewise acknowledge1 that the ,art of ,painting on ,glass is very near lost1 and is not likely to be revived whilst the ,window-tax continues4 ,we agree1 ,i say1 that the ,arts of ,carving1 and ,painting upon ,glass1 are almost extinct2 and allowing that former ,ages excelled the present in ,painting in general1 yet1 ,what are these few ,polite ,arts8 ,they are quite insignificant1 when compared to the vast ,improvements1 which have been made in many other really useful ,branches3 ,in ,agriculture1 in ,navigation1 in ,war1 in gaining ,settlements in foreign ,countries1 in ,trading to those ,settlements1 in ,printing1 in carrying on ,correspondence by ,posts1 in ,roads1 in ,carriages1 in the ,breed of ,horses1 in ,manufactures1 and in numberless other ,articles1 too tedious to mention4 ,it must be acknowledged1 that for all these ,improvements1 we are obliged to the ,arts and ,sciences4 ,they are as it were the first moving ,force of ,power in any ,country2 and if we take a ,survey of all the ,nations of the ,earth1 we shall find1 that those ,monarchs1 who encourage ,learning1 and support ,academies1 are able to extend their ,dominions farther than those1 who1 by a total ,attention to ,military ,discipline1 7though even that too depends upon the ,sciences7 neglect the ,cultivation of that ,learning1 upon the ,support of which1 the ,extension of their ,dominions to foreign ,parts depends4 ,it is to the ,invention of ,astronomers1 ,mechanics1 and ,opticians1 that we owe the principal ,instruments1 which are made ,use of in ,navigation2 to their ,ingenuity we owe the ,quadrant1 without which we should never know our ,latitude2 to these we are indebted for the ,telescope1 by which we discover ,jupiter's ,satellites1 and find out our ,longitude2 to these we owe the ,explanation of the ,compass2 to these the ,contrivances of ,pullies1 by which we hale up our ,tackling4 ,in short1 all the ,inventions1 which we find in the different ,machines made ,use of1 either by ,land or ,water1 though by long ,use they are become familiar in the ,hands of illiterate ,persons1 were no doubt originally contrived by the ,study and ,ingenuity of ,men of ,science at ,home4 ,and if ,nature should shew her dislike to a ,stagnation1 and express her wonted ,approbation of a ,vicissitude in ,human ,affairs2 who knows1 but when the ,sciences are forgot in this ,kingdom1 and we1 by that ,means1 lose the ,art of exerting that ,force1 which must keep up the ,dignity of ,england over her ,colonies2 who knows 7which ,heaven avert67 but ,america may see herself the ,mistress of the ,world1 and the ,seat of ,empire1 whilst we are reduced once more to the ,state of unletter'd ,savages2 and shall in vain discharge our feeble ,arrows1 and cast our ill-directed ,javelins1 against the ,sides of their perhaps ,five ,hundred ,gun ,ships of ,war3 ,or the great ,mogul1 with his prodigious ,armies1 for ,want of these ,arts and ,sciences abovementioned1 and for no other ,reason1 may one ,day or other find himself dethroned by a ,prince1 who will be able to reach him1 though his ,dominions do lie on the other ,side of an unfathomable ,sea4 ,and if these ,vicissitudes should in ,process of ,time happen1 they will be no other than what have been before4 ,what is become of ,palmyra8 ,where is ,troy8 ,the stately ,palaces of ,troy are removed into the peaceful ,habitation of the once ,arcadian ,shepherds4 ,and if the ,disposer of all ,things should so order it1 ,daphnis and ,menalcas1 may again sing their rural ,songs on the very ,spot1 where now the ,seraglio of the ,grand ,signior seems to bid ,defiance to a whole ,continent4 ,though there is a large ,scope for ,dissertation1 on the various ,improvements of different ,kinds1 which have been made in almost all ,branches1 both of ,science and ,commerce1 it cannot be expected1 7even supposing the ,author capable of such a ,task7 that they should all be brought into a ,work of this ,nature1 as we have already enlarged more upon this ,subject1 than was at first intended4 ,however1 as it is a disputed ,point1 whether the ,science of ,music is improved or not1 we shall beg ,leave to say a little upon that ,subject4 ,and as ,music is a ,science1 which1 though it is not equal to some others in ,utility1 falls short of none1 for the innocent ,entertainment which it affords to those1 who are so happy as to be formed by ,nature1 with ,organs for the ,enjoyment of it2 we will venture to make it the ,subject of the next ,chapter4 ,and we think it is an ,error to affirm1 ,,xxii4 ,that the ,musical ,composition of this present ,age is inferior to that of the last4 ,though we are very sensible that we shall have a ,multitude of ,mouths open against us1 for being so hardy as to assert what will be the ,contents of this ,chapter1 and shall be exclaimed against by many1 who never yet came to the ,knowledge of any other ,music than ,corelli's ,sonatas1 which must indeed be allowed to be almost the ,foundation of ,music2 and though all those ,performers who live in the ,country1 and either through ,business at ,home1 or other ,reasons1 have not had the ,opportunity of hearing the best modern ,music performed in ,town1 and having tried some of the worst of it over by themselves1 upon their ,instruments1 and finding the ,execution of it too difficult for their ,performance1 on ,account of their being unacquainted with the modern ,manner of bowing and fingering1 together with a total ,mistake of the ,air and ,manner1 in which the ,composition set before them ought to be played3 ,all these ,obstacles put together1 ,i say1 are apt to induce such1 as are not very ready at ,sight1 and labour under the aforesaid ,inconveniences1 to pronounce all ,modern ,music1 of what ,kind soever1 7taking it all in the ,lump1 as one would do ,soap or ,tallow7 to be exceeding bad and foolish1 and therefore not worth a ,gentleman's ,attention4 ,now begging ,pardon first1 for the ill ,manners of ,contradiction1 ,i shall take the liberty to offer a few reasonable ,arguments1 to shew1 that tho' there has lately been a great deal of very bad ,music performed1 yet there has likewise been published a great ,variety of exceeding fine ,composition4 ,without mentioning the ,names of the ,composers1 or the ,names of their ,music1 we shall endeavour to give some substantial ,reasons1 why the present ,composition1 should excel that of those1 who wrote in those ,times when ,masters were but newly become acquainted with the ,laws of ,harmony4 ,the ,case is the same in ,music as it is in all other ,matters2 we find that all ,arts have the greater ,improvements made in them1 the longer they have been introduced into any ,country1 and the more they are followed4 ,this is natural2 because the more ,hands a ,science has to go through1 the greater ,chance it has to meet with ,men of ,ingenuity in its ,progress1 who may forward it towards ,perfection4 ,what a sorry ,appearance would an ancient ,galley make against one of our ,first-rate ,men of ,war1 either in ,sailing or ,fighting8 ,or if it had been possible for ,julius ,csar1 with all his ,romans1 when they invaded ,britain1 to have met with a ,forty ,gun ,ship1 they would have been all sunk by a few ,broad ,sides4 ,this is a ,truth that every one will acknowledge2 and it is as true1 that the present ,musicians do very much excel those who lived some ,time ago4 ,masters of ,music1 by ,practice1 have lately found out a better1 easier1 and stronger ,way of ,performing upon their several ,instruments1 than was formerly known2 and to this new and better ,method of ,performance they have composed suitable ,music1 which admits of greater ,execution1 greater ,variety of ,expression1 and a better ,tone1 than could be brought out of ,instruments before such ,improvements were made4 ,and we find that ,geminiani1 who was a close ,follower of ,corelli1 has thought proper to make ,concertos of what ,corelli intended for ,solos2 well knowing1 that though the ,ground of them was exceeding fine1 yet they were very capable of being improved by adding ,parts to them1 and adorning them with what might be called1 at that ,time1 modern ,embellishments and ,graces4 ,and if one of so small ,judgment as myself1 may say any ,thing about the ,composition of so great a ,genius as ,geminiani1 ,i will venture to think1 that we have ,masters now living1 who are capable of taking some of the ancient ,stiffness of ,style from that great ,composer1 and giving him a more easy1 free1 and flowing ,air2 without taking from the ,greatness of the ,subject1 or varying from the ,groundwork of the ,harmony1 in the least4 ,for the ,intent of ,music is not to puzzle ,people's ,heads1 by consisting of intricate ,harmony1 and stiff ,mathematical ,transitions from one ,key to another2 by that ,means1 it would become the most dry and insipid of all ,sciences1 and fit for none but ,pedants4 ,no1 the sole ,intent of ,music is to give ,pleasure1 which it is more likely to do1 by the ,freedom and ,ease of its ,transitions1 and the ,softness of its flowing ,numbers1 than by a stiff1 starched1 and over formal ,composition4 ,the present ,musicians excel the ancient ones1 as much as the modern ,ladies do those of former ,times in ,dress2 and their ,compositions differ as much from those which were played some ,time ago1 as the elegant ,ease of a modern ,lady's ,shape1 excels the stiff ,stays and monstrous ,hoop ,petticoats of those who had the ,honour to be the ,grand-mothers of the present ,age2 and which are apt to give us the ,idea of an ,engagement of a different ,nature from one where ,cupid is supposed to preside3 ,it rather puts us in ,mind of something ,martial1 and makes us almost ready to apprehend we are going to exchange ,hardiment1 as ,shakespeare calls it1 instead of railing our ,expectations into a ,duel of another ,nature4 ,having now shewn our utter ,aversion to ,stays1 we will return to our ,subject4 ,and we hope the ,reader will pardon the ,digression1 as this is not the first ,time that a ,pair of ,stays have made a ,man turn out of his ,road4 ,but there is another ,reason why the modern ,music should excel the ancient2 and that is1 the ,difference in the ,make and and ,length of the ,bow with which a ,violin is struck4 ,violins are the ,sinews of a ,concert2 they are1 as it were1 the main ,body of a ,band of ,music2 they are the ,roman ,legions of the ,army2 while the other ,instruments are ,slingers1 ,archers1 and ,light-horse4 ,now in the ,time of ,corelli1 who must be allowed to be the ,father of ,harmony1 the ,bows were not above half so long as they are at present1 neither were they so well shaped1 either at the ,heel or ,point1 nor had they the ,spring which the ,bows now made have4 ,so that a ,piece of ,music which is calculated for the modern ,manner of ,bowing1 could not have gone off so well in former ,times3 ,they had not the ,power of swelling a ,note out1 in ,imitation of the ,human ,voice1 which may be done with a modern ,bow2 and the old ,bows were so aukwardly made1 that they could not be held at the ,end1 but were obliged to be kept in a ,kind of ,ballance towards the ,middle2 and we may guess what spudding ,work it must be1 when there were not above a ,couple of ,inches in a ,bow which could be conveniently used4 ,however1 these little short ,bows suited very well for even ,semiquavers and ,quavers1 of which we find the old ,music chiefly to consist4 ,so that we by no ,means call in ,question the ,abilities of the ,composers who lived at that ,time2 since it appears1 that they composed their ,music suitable to the ,instruments which they had to perform it upon4 ,no2 we have a due ,reverence for the ,memory of those very great ,geniusses2 and are fully persuaded1 that if it was possible for them to live again1 with the ,advantages which the ,moderns enjoy the ,benefit of1 they would excel not only what they have done themselves1 but likewise what any one else has done4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxiii4 ,that the ,hearing of ,musical ,performances1 is apt to soften ,men too much1 and by that ,means1 to give them an effeminate ,manner4 ,whether this ,error proceeds from the ,idea of that ,facility with which ,music is able to stir up a ,variety of ,passions in the ,heart1 annexed to the ,idea of that ,disposition which appears to be stronger in ,women than in ,man1 and is called the ,weakness of the ,sex2 or whether it proceeds from a ,notion that ,pity and ,sorrow1 and the like1 are ,passions which are not worthy the ,breast of a ,man1 and are only fit for the timorous ,constitution of ,women1 it favours equally of ,absurdity and ,barbarity in both ,cases4 ,for so far is ,pity from denoting any ,cowardice or ,effeminacy1 that it is a certain ,indication of a great ,soul2 we find it frequently mentioned among the most conspicuous ,virtues1 with which the ,heroes among the ,ancients were said to be endued4 ,and with regard to the ,passions1 which are raised by ,music in the ,heart it depends upon the ,nicety of the ,feelings in the ,nerves of the ,hearer2 and we cannot help observing1 that ,men of the greatest ,sensibility are generally ,persons of the strictest ,honour and the most exalted ,courage4 ,as for those who are so unfortunate as not to be formed by ,nature for the ,reception of harmonious ,sounds1 we do not entirely give them up3 ,but we refer the ,reader to a ,passage1 which he will find in the ,merchant of ,venice1 and which1 tho' the ,observation may hold good in some ,cases1 yet1 we must beg to be excused inserting the ,words here1 as we think the ,remark is rather too severe and too general1 and was introduced by the ,poet chiefly with an ,intent to set his malicious ,jew off in the most odious ,light1 who had been declaring1 that he detested the vile ,squeaking of the ,wry-neck'd ,fife1 and ordered his #a,windows to be shut up1 that the ,sound of them might not be heard in his ,house4 ,and if the old ,poet is a little severe in this ,place1 he does it principally with an ,intention to divest the ,audience of any ,compassion1 which might otherwise be stirred up in their ,minds by the ,misfortunes which will attend ,shylock in the following ,scenes2 and by that ,means the ,plot turns out according to the ,wish of the ,spectators4 ,this is one of those ,preparations of the ensuing ,scene for which ,shakespeare is so notorious1 and which may be observed in all his ,plays4 ,but to return to our ,subject2 it seems that those ,people who have ,organs for the ,reception of ,musical ,sounds1 are affected with such ,passions as the ,composer of good ,music intends to excite in them4 ,and we believe that the ,constitution of a ,hearer may be moulded and formed into various ,shapes by the different ,airs which he hears2 and moreover1 if a ,person was always to be accustomed to soft1 effeminate ,music1 we agree that it might render his ,constitution effeminate likewise2 but as there are such great ,variety of different ,movements1 which are adapted to different ,songs1 all which raise different ,passions in the ,mind1 it is very absurd to tax all ,music in the ,lump with ,softness and ,effeminacy4 ,any one may perceive the ,difference of these two ,songs1 both of which have their ,effect when they are well sung4 ,gently touch the warbling ,lyre1 ,cloe seems inclin'd to rest2 ,fill her ,soul with fond ,desire1 ,softest ,notes will please her best4 ,these ,words1 which are sung to an ,air of ,geminiani's1 cause a very different ,sensation1 from these which follow1 and are set to a suitable ,air3 ,come cheer up my ,lads1 'tis to ,glory we steer c4 ,whatever the first ,song may do1 this last is not likely to make any ,body effeminate4 ,i mention these two common ,songs1 because they are what every ,reader is capable of digesting1 and on that ,account are more proper for the ,purpose than any of those ,songs out of ,operas1 which are not generally known4 ,but we beg ,leave here to make a necessary ,distinction between two ,ideas1 which are sometimes confounded together1 and which is apt to lead ,people into this ,error as much as any ,thing4 ,it would be very proper in us1 before we prejudice ourselves against any ,art or ,science1 to be quite clear in the ,objections which we raise against it2 we should be certain that they are just1 and founded upon good ,grounds4 ,some ,people are apt to confound the ,idea of raising the softer ,passions1 which have their ,residence in our ,nature1 with the ,idea of ,effeminacy1 which1 as ,i said before1 are quite distinct4 ,we have an ,instance of the ,passion of ,pity in the well known ,picture of ,bellisarius4 ,the ,hero1 who stands in the dejected ,attitude1 appears to be very much softened by the ,misfortunes and ,distress to which he sees ,bellisarius reduced2 and yet no one will say that he is an effeminate ,fellow for it2 on the contrary1 it will be allowed that he shews a ,greatness of ,soul2 he is struck with a contemplative ,sorrow at the ,misfortunes of a ,general1 whose invincible ,courage and great ,worth he himself had been ,witness of4 ,and ,bravery in ,distress is not only the ,subject of ,painting1 but it is the constant ,theme of ,music3 ,the ,operas and ,oratorios are full of it1 and though the ,misfortunes of the ,heroes which are the ,subject of them do soften1 yet it is not such a ,kind of ,softness as to beget any ,effeminacy1 but of a contrary ,nature1 and is such a ,sensation as an ordinary ,hearer will perceive at the ,beginning of this common ,song1 which is well enough in its ,way4 ,how little do the ,landmen know1 ,what we poor ,sailors feel1 ,when ,seas do roar1 and ,winds do blow2 ,but we have ,hearts of ,steel4 ,if we are to be moved by such a ,song as this1 what shall we feel at some of the masterly ,strokes of ,handel in his ,oratorio of ,samson4 ,total ,eclipse1 no ,sun1 no ,moon1 ,all dark1 amidst the ,blaze of ,noon4 ,one would think1 by the resigned ,solemnity of this following ,movement1 ,bring the ,laurel1 bring the ,bays1 c4 that he had been reading ,milton's ,paradise ,lost as well as the ,samson ,agonistes4 ,this seems to be the very ,music of the fallen ,angels1 where he says1 they made ,use of soft ,airs1 which inspired true ,heroic ,bravery1 and which he prefers to the noisy1 as it was the ,cause of a lasting1 fixed1 and reserved ,courage4 ,milton says1 that as soon as the ,colours were displayed1 they marched to the ,sound of ,flutes and soft ,recorders3 ,anon they move ,in perfect ,phalanx1 to the ,dorian ,mood ,of ,flutes and soft ,recorders2 such as rais'd ,to ,height of noblest ,temper ,heroes old ,arming to battle1 and instead of ,rage ,deliberate ,valour breath'd firm and unmov'd ,with ,dread of ,death to ,flight and foul ,retreat4 ,in short1 the ,march in ,rinaldo might possibly make ,soldiers seize hold of their ,arms and ,march1 but it must be such an ,air as that in the ,overture of ,berenice which makes them face an ,enemy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxiv4 ,that the ,italian ,operas consist of effeminate ,musick4 ,though it must be acknowledged that the ,language of ,italy is smooth and flowing1 and therefore very much adapted to musical ,sounds1 and though those ,songs which are picked out of ,operas1 and sung by ,ladies at ,home1 are generally the ,love ,songs in the ,opera1 being such as best suit the ,tastes and ,geniussses of such amiable ,performers2 yet1 it is equally an ,error to say that ,operas are effeminate1 or that all the ,songs in them are ,love ,songs4 ,no one will say that ,quilici with his ,bass ,voice1 in the ,character of ,athridates1 acted an effeminate ,part2 he was one of the principal ,characters1 and acted the ,part of a ,tyrant1 to which the ,music was excellently adapted1 which was greatly set off by his deep ,voice and the proper ,carriage of his ,person3 ,so when ,mattei orders her ,general to be disarmed1 the ,majesty of a ,queen is admirably supported4 ,operas are like other ,performances of ,entertainment2 they consist of the sublime1 the cruel1 the tender1 the distressed1 the amorous2 in short1 they must have ,variety of ,scenes and ,incidents in order to make them please the ,audience1 and are like other ,dramatic ,pieces1 not to be taxed with any particular ,style or ,mode of ,acting1 but consist of such ,scenes1 ,plots1 ,music1 and ,decorations1 as are most likely to give ,entertainment to an ,audience4 ,we by no ,means defend the ,impropriety of a ,squeaking ,hero1 and think that it is a ,pity it cannot be altered2 however1 that ,imperfection is generally palliated1 by ,propriety of ,action1 treading the ,stage well2 ,greatness of ,performance1 and many other ,excellencies1 which those who are much used to hear musical ,entertainments will easily discern4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxv4 ,that nothing is ,poetry but what is wrote in ,rhyme4 ,this may truly be called a vulgar ,error1 because it is a ,mistake of which none but the ,vulgar are guilty of4 ,though there is a ,kind of harmonious ,jingle in ,rhyme1 which makes the ,composition have an agreeable ,sound1 yet it is looked upon by all ,judges to be the lowest ,kind of ,poetry4 ,and though ,pope1 and other great ,writers1 have succeeded to ,admiration in the ,improvement of it1 yet it is in ,reality nothing but the barbarous ,remains of the wild ,taste of our ,ancestors2 not to mention how it cramps the ,genius of a ,writer1 after he has hit upon a favourite ,thought1 to be forced to look out for a ,rhyme1 which must1 in ,spite of every ,thing that can be said in ,favour of it1 be exceeding laborious4 ,and notwithstanding ,poets endeavour to hide this ,labour and ,pains they have been at1 and affect to have set down their first ,thoughts1 yet1 as ,horace observes1 the foul ,copy of a good ,writer will always have a great ,number of ,blots and ,alterations in it3 ,this is true of all ,poetical ,composition2 but a ,poem which is wrote in ,rhyme1 must1 according to the ,nature of the ,thing1 be more laboured than one that is not4 ,and even ,prior himself1 whose ,works are allowed to be all ,ease and ,elegance1 is said to have taken more ,pains with his ,composition1 than any other ,writer of ,eminence4 ,that very ,ease and ,elegance1 which we perceive in the best ,poets1 is the ,result of great ,pains and ,study1 and is no other than a judicious ,choice of ,words and ,phrases1 till they have found some that will suit4 ,and however a ,poetical ,author may boast of writing his first ,thoughts1 we cannot possibly have any ,testimony of it but his own4 ,besides1 when we have done all1 ,verses wrote in ,rhyme are nothing near so musical as those which are without it4 ,where shall we find ,verses1 among even the best of our ,english ,poets who wrote in ,rhyme1 which are equal in ,smoothness and ,harmony to these two ,lines in ,theocritus8 ,greek3 ,adion1 poiman1 to teon melos1 to kataches ,greek3 ,tn apo tas petras kataleixetai hupsothen hudr4 ,id4 #a4 ,or these of ,ovid1 which1 though they are far from being the most smooth in the ,book1 are however more harmonious than any we can produce now4 ,sic ubi ,fata vocant udis abjectis in ,herbis1 ,ad vada ,mandri1 concinit albus ,olor4 ,though the first of these ,verses makes a ,whistling like the ,reeds in a ,river1 the last runs so glib1 that it is ready to slip from under one before one would have it4 ,we acknowledge that the ,latin ,language is a great ,help to the ,running of a ,verse1 and if the ,reader insists upon that to be the only pre-eminence which ,latin ,verses have over ,english1 he is very welcome to think as he likes best4 ,moreover1 if he is so fond of ,rhyme1 we can inform him of a ,book which is wrote1 in ,latin ,rhyme1 and is very much at his ,service3 ,the ,title of the ,book is ,drunken ,barnaby2 which1 as it is wrote in a dead ,language1 will most likely remain an everlasting ,burlesque upon the ,barbarity of ,rhyme4 ,but we may venture to go a little farther4 ,it is not necessary for a ,work to be wrote in ,verse at all to entitle it to the ,name of ,poetry4 ,any ,work of a fictitious ,nature1 and which is calculated meerly for ,entertainment1 has as just a ,claim to be stiled ,poetical ,composition1 as one that is wrote in the strictest and most confined ,metre2 ,poetry taking its ,name from the ,matter of which it is composed1 and not from the ,length or ,sound of its ,words2 and we may observe1 that such ,poetry as consists of those ,numbers which are least confined in their ,metre1 is generally the most spirited and sublime4 ,we have an ,instance of this in the ,writings of ,pindar1 a ,poet of whose ,abilities1 ,horace gives an ,account in his ,ode1 ,pindarum quisquis1 c4 ,and indeed we have no ,occasion to go any farther for ,examples of excellent ,poetry wrote in ,prose1 than some of the ,plays in our own ,language2 ,ben ,johnson1 ,congreve1 and many more who wrote in ,prose1 are nevertheless ranked among the ,poets4 ,reader1 when thou seest any ,thing in this ,book which thou didst know before1 it is hoped thou wilt be so candid as to consider1 that although thou art sensible of the ,errors of other ,people1 yet they themselves may not be sensible of them3 ,yes1 even thou1 ,o6 profound ,philosopher6 mayest have some mistaken ,notions of thy own2 for what mortal ,man can pretend to such ,knowledge as never to be mistaken8 ,and we ourselves1 while we are endeavouring to rectify the ,errors of others in this ,book1 are as likely to be mistaken as any ,body4 ,however1 there is one ,reason why a ,work of this ,nature is likely to give some ,entertainment2 it treats of such ,variety of ,subjects1 that there is ,matter for ,argumentation in every ,page4 ,and it may be observed too perhaps1 that it treats of more ,subjects than the ,author himself seems too understand2 which we do very readily acknowledge3 ,and if a ,professor in any of the different ,branches which are here treated of1 who is better versed in the ,nature of the ,subject than the ,author1 thinks proper to rectify any ,mistake which may be here made1 and does it in a liberal ,way1 we shall not take it amiss1 but perhaps may endeavour to answer him1 if we should still differ from him in our ,opinion4 ,on the other ,hand1 we shall be under no great ,apprehensions from the ,criticisms of such ,readers who have not good ,nature enough to be entertained with the ,matter of a ,book1 and only read for the ,pleasure of ,pointing out the ,faults in ,public2 of which ,sort we are very sorry to say that we know too many4 ,these are such ,kind of ,geniusses as read more out of ,parade than with a ,design to be entertained2 and may read4#b----,they seldom acquire any ,knowledge1 having generally bad ,memories and confused ,heads1 devouring every ,thing1 but digesting ,nothing4 ,i tell thee1 a ,man of true ,parts1 and sound ,memory1 will acquire more by reading one ,hour1 than such ,whippersnappers as these are able to attain to by lumbering over a ,folio4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxvi4 ,that kicking up the ,heel behind1 and twisting round upon one ,leg1 is fine ,scating4 ,there are two ,methods of ,scating1 one is made ,use of for the ,sake of ,expedition and ,conveyance from ,place to ,place1 and is practised by the ,boors or ,peasants in ,holland2 the other is calculated entirely for ,amusement1 and answers the ,end of ,shining upon the ,ice1 and therefore is suited for ,gentlemen near ,towns upon ,canals1 and broad ,pieces of ,water4 ,the first of these ,methods is performed by throwing the ,body into such an erect ,posture inclining a little upon the ,outside of the ,scate1 and drawing in the ,hip gradually1 as will describe small ,curve upon the ,ice2 this ,practice of ,scating eases the ,inside of the ,thigh1 and rests it in such a ,manner as to allow it ,time to regain ,strength for the next ,stroke1 and therefore is very useful in long ,journies2 or else as to the ,article of ,swiftness1 a straight ,line will carry a ,person on faster than a ,curve1 because while he is describing a ,curve he has more ,ground to run over4 ,the other ,method of ,scating1 which is known in ,england by the ,name of ,rolling1 is done upon the same ,principle as the former1 only as you have no ,occasion for ,expedition1 you have an ,opportunity of dweling longer upon your ,strokes1 and your ,time2 by which ,means1 instead of describing a small ,curve1 you describe a large one4 ,it will be necessary to explain the ,cause of this ,motion1 before we can make the ,reader sensible of what we intend to say4 ,all ,bodies that are put into ,motion upon the ,surface of the ,earth1 are acted upon by two ,forces2 namely1 a ,projectile ,force and a ,centripetal ,force4 ,the ,projectile ,force is that which is given it by the ,hand or ,strength of any ,person1 and the ,centripetal ,force is that which causes all ,bodies to seek the ,center of the ,earth4 ,for ,instance1 when a ,stone is cast into the ,air to any ,distance1 the ,reason why it does not move on to ,eternity without stopping 7as it ought to do by the ,principles of ,mechanics7 is1 because the ,centripetal ,force keeps continually acting upon it1 till it has pulled it down to the ,ground again3 ,this serves to explain what is meant by a ,centripetal ,force4 ,now1 when a ,person scates1 he is acted upon by these two ,forces1 as other ,bodies in ,motion are4 ,it is the ,projectile ,force which throws him upon the ,outside of the ,scate1 till he has got quite out of the ,center of ,gravity1 by which ,means he would be pulled to the ,ground by the ,centripetal ,force1 if he was not supported by the ,projectile ,force1 which is strong enough to make ,head against the ,centripetal for a little while 7in the same ,manner as it is able to keep a ,stone in the ,air till it is spent7 and by that ,time the ,person scating has recovered himself into an erect ,posture4 ,this ,projectile ,force is given by a ,stroke of the ,foot1 inclined to the ,plain of the ,ice2 by which ,means1 the whole ,edge of the ,scate takes hold1 and is your moving ,force2 and the more of the ,edge of the ,scate a ,person uses in his ,stroke1 the easier he will go to himself1 and the greater ,velocity he will move with3 ,for if he dwells more upon the ,heel of the ,scate than the ,toe1 or vice vers1 he not only loses ,part of his moving ,force1 by losing ,part of the ,edge of his ,scate1 which is absolutely the moving ,force1 but he likewise encreases his ,friction1 which ought to be destroyed as much as possible2 and at the same ,time loses that ,symmetry of ,gesture1 upon which the ,gracefulness of his ,attitude depends4 ,when a ,person scates properly1 he keeps the ,foot that he strikes with in such a ,posture upon the ,ice1 as to make the whole ,scate take hold of it sideways1 without destroying his progressive ,motion2 and instead of kicking up his ,heel behind1 just when he takes ,leave of the ,ice1 with the ,foot which has been striking1 he gives his ,toe a ,turn outwards1 which not only gives him a genteel ,air1 being according to the ,rules of ,dancing1 but likewise sends him with twice the ,force upon the ,outside1 as it adds to that ,projectile ,force which is to make ,head against the ,centripetal1 and to keep him upon his ,legs after he has got out of the ,center of ,gravity2 and which uncommon ,phoenomenon gives that ,surprize and ,pleasure to a ,beholder1 which he perceives at the ,sight of a fine ,scater4 ,i mention this1 because ,i have met with those who have obstinately persisted in it1 that some ,persons who kick up their ,heels behind1 and strike only with the ,toe of their ,scate1 because they can go a ,snail's ,gallop upon the ,outside1 are fine ,scaters2 when they are making ,use of a ,method which is repugnant to the very ,principles of ,mechanics4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxvii4 ,that using hard ,words and long ,sentences1 in ,discourse or in ,writing1 is an ,indication of ,scholarship4 ,it must be allowed1 that good ,language is a very great ,embellishment1 either to a ,person's ,conversation1 or his ,writing2 but as it is intended only to set off what we have to say to the best ,advantage1 we should endeavour to use it with such ,moderation1 as will answer that ,end1 and no more2 otherwise1 we shall make ourselves appear very ridiculous in the ,eyes of ,men of ,learning and ,knowledge4 ,good ,language1 in the ,mouth of a ,fine ,gentleman1 resembles the ,elegance of his ,dress2 it becomes equally ridiculous when ill-judged1 or over done3 ,for as there is no ,doubt but good ,cloaths set off the ,person to a great ,advantage1 when they are made with ,judgement1 and worn with a becoming ,carriage1 so an elegant ,choice of ,words and ,sentences are a great ,ornament to ,conversation4 ,but on the other ,hand1 a ,suit of ,cloaths1 though made of the finest ,materials and covered with ,lace1 will make but an aukward ,appearance if it is ill-made1 and worn by one who has not the ,carriage of a ,gentleman4 ,so it is with ,language4 ,fine ,words1 in the ,mouths of the ,ignorant1 are as unbecoming as ,gold ,lace upon the ,back of a ,porter4--,and not only the ,ignorant are guilty of this ,error1 but even those who do know the ,meaning of the ,words they use1 are apt1 by affecting an elegant ,diction1 to run themselves into ,obscurity2 and while they are attending to their ,language1 and studying hard ,words1 neglect the ,matter of their ,discourse2 to explain which is the sole ,end of ,speaking4 ,the ,use of ,words being only to convey our ,ideas to each other4 ,there is a ,shew-board over a ,watchmaker's ,shop at ,oxford1 which may serve for a ,burlesque upon the ,folly of using hard ,words3 ,i cannot charge my ,memory with all the ,jargon wrote upon that ,board2 however1 ,i remember that it was a long ,account of what the ,man in the ,shop sold1 and what he did2 and among other ,things it said that ,horologies were mundified there2 which ,expression we think is enough to make any ,man sick of the ,languages1 and abjure every ,thing that belongs to ,literature for the future4 ,i have met ,people in the ,street1 whose profound ,ignorance ,i have been well assured of1 who have immediately stunned me upon the first entering into ,discourse with half a ,dozen hard ,words3 ,and it is not long since1 a young ,gentleman came to the ,coffee-house1 and ordered the ,waiter1 when he sent ,coffee and ,tea to his ,chambers1 to let him have an additional ,muffin3 ,the ,man stared at him1 and told him1 that he did not know how to do one in that ,manner1 but he could carbonade him one if he pleased4 ,a ,lady would think it extraordinary language1 upon a ,gentleman's desiring to carry on an ,intrigue with her1 if he was to ask her1 whether she would have an additional ,husband1 or not8 ,however1 as this is a prodigious fine ,word1 and as fine ,words are always made use of in addressing the ,ladies1 we are of ,opinion that it would be proper to adapt this as an ,improvement in the ,language of ,lovers4 ,almost all ,professions are stuffed so full of ,terms of ,art1 that to understand the ,meaning of all the ,words which are made use in any one of them1 is long enough for a ,science of itself4 ,the only ,end they answer1 is to puzzle those who are not of the same ,profession4 ,not long ago1 a young ,man in the ,country1 who had weak ,eyes1 applied to a ,surgeon for ,relief in his ,disorder4 ,the ,surgeon1 upon examining his ,patient1 told him1 that he would send him some ,drops which would refrigerate his ,eye4 ,the young ,man came ,home again1 not very well satisfied1 being not certain what he might have to undergo by this ,refrigeration1 having never heard the ,word before4 ,surely he might with as much ,propriety have been told1 that what was in the ,bottle would put him to no ,pain1 but was only intended to cool his ,eyes4 ,it is incredible to think how cleverly some ,people1 who have not had the ,advantages of ,education1 will manage about ,half a ,dozen of these ,words when they have got them4 ,i have known some1 who1 for the ,space of four or five ,minutes1 would deceive a ,stranger1 and induce him to think that he had met with a ,person of great ,learning4 ,and however odd this may appear1 we think we ourselves can manage the few hard ,words which have been mentioned here1 in such a ,manner as to make an extraordinary ,sentence of them3 ,for ,instance1 supposing a ,person had no other fine ,words but these in his ,catalogue1 and had an ,occasion for them in addressing a ,lady2 we are of ,opinion1 that he might shine by ranging them all in this ,order4 ,madam1 ,i presume your ,horologie will never go right unless it is mundified by an additional ,lover2 therefore1 let me have the ,honour to refrigerate your ,eye4 ,a ,swain of a more happy ,invention1 might make a much finer ,speech out of these ,words2 but as we have done our utmost in the ,attempt1 we shall take ,leave of the ,subject2 having shewn1 to a ,demonstration1 the singular ,advantage of making ,use of fine ,words4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxviii4 ,that the ,way to get a ,sailing ,boat off the ,shore1 when she is fast by any ,accident1 is to let go both or all the ,sails1 and stand at her ,head1 and push with a ,sprit4 ,this ,error1 though it may seem ridiculous to those who have been brought up at ,sea1 and understand ,sailing1 is nevertheless very common in ,inland ,rivers1 where ,sailing is but little understood4 ,you may very frequently see fresh-water ,sailors1 as soon as they find that their ,boat has struck1 immediately let both their ,main-sail and ,fore-sail fly1 after which they all run to the ,head of the ,boat with ,sprits1 and begin to endeavour to push her off2 which ,method is contrary to the ,rules of ,mechanics1 and therefore of ,sailing4 ,a ,boat or ,vessel of any ,size 7a #ij ,gun ,ship moving upon the same ,principle as the smallest ,cutter17 is acted upon by the ,powers which are the ,cause of her ,motion as she swims in the ,water1 in the same ,manner as a ,lever of the first ,kind1 whose ,center or ,prop is between the ,power and the ,weight4 ,to explain this1 let us suppose a ,boat1 instead of ,swimming in the ,water1 to be upon dry ,land1 and to have her ,mast run quite through her1 and fastened into the ,ground1 upon which she might be turned at ,pleasure1 as upon an ,axle-,tree3 ,in this ,case1 as her ,mast is rather nearer her ,head than her ,stern1 it would be more easy to turn her ,head round by laying hold of her ,stern1 because there would be a ,mechanical ,advantage1 by the greater ,length from the ,stern to the ,mast1 than from the ,head to the ,mast4 ,and in whatever ,direction the ,stern of the ,vessel is turned1 her ,head must move the contrary ,way1 and vice vers4 ,now1 the same will happen to a ,vessel in the ,water2 if you push her ,head in one ,direction1 her ,stern will move in the other1 and vice vers4 ,so that a ,vessel under ,sail with a ,side-wind1 may be called a ,lever of the first ,kind1 both whose ,extremities are kept in a ,ballance by the ,sails and ,rudder2 ,forces which keep continually acting upon her4 ,the ,rudder may be considered as a ,kind of ,moderator1 which is to interpose when the ,sails which are before the ,mast1 or those which are behind the ,mast1 or abaft1 overpower each other1 and destroy that ,ballance which a ,vessel rightly trimmed very near preserves of herself4 ,it must be observed1 that the ,sails before the ,mast of a ,vessel1 and those behind it1 act in contrary ,directions4 ,those which are before the ,mast turn her ,head from the ,wind1 and those which are behind it turn her ,head towards the ,wind4 ,by this ,time1 we see the ,impropriety of letting both the ,main-sail and ,fore-sail of a ,vessel go1 when she strikes upon ,ground1 and then running to her ,head in order to push her off3 ,for first1 concerning the ,article of going to her ,head to push her off1 if she is a small ,vessel1 the ,weight of two or three ,people at her ,head will press that ,part1 which generally happens to be the ,part upon the ,shore1 still closer down2 which is a ,thing so well known to every ,waterman1 that we shall say no more about that4 ,now1 as to letting both the ,sails go1 they might with as much ,propriety both be set1 for as they act in contrary ,directions1 they destroy each other's ,force1 if the ,vessel is well trimmed2 so that a ,vessel will come off the ,ground no sooner for letting both the ,sails go4 ,the ,method that ,i should take in a ,case of that ,kind1 would be to set the ,main-sail and let the ,fore-sail fly1 and if that would not do alone1 to assist the ,main-sail by pushing at the ,windward-side of her ,stern with a ,sprit1 both which ,forces acting together1 namely the ,main-sail and the ,sprit1 would in all ,probability put her ,head about so as to bring it beyond the ,point from which the ,wind blows1 which ,point after ,i had got her past1 ,i would set the ,fore-sail to the other ,tack1 and let the ,main-sail go2 and by that ,means1 the ,fore-sail would put her ,head almost round2 then the ,main-sail might be set1 and after ,sailing back so far as to get quite clear of the ,place where the ,vessel stuck fast before1 she might be tacked about again1 and pursue her intended ,voyage4 ,i don't presume to say1 that this is the very best ,method of getting a ,vessel off the ,shore2 as those who have been used to the ,sea may have a more ready ,method still3 ,but ,i do say1 that it is a ,method which is consonant to the ,principles of ,mechanics1 for which ,reason1 it may very safely be put in ,execution1 either at ,sea or in fresh ,water4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxix4 ,that planting ,aquatics upon ,banks in the ,fenns1 will preserve and strengthen them1 so as to render them more able to resist the ,force of a ,flood4 ,what will be asserted in this ,chapter is not the ,result of ,surmise1 but is what ,i have been an ,eye ,witness of4 ,be it known then unto all those1 who think proper to do this ,book so much ,honour as to give it a ,perusal1 that the ,author is a ,fenman3 ,why should he be ashamed of his ,native ,country8 ,a ,country1 where they have ,inverted the following ,lines of ,horace3 ,omne cum ,proteus pecus egit altos ,visere ,montes3 ,piscium summ genus hsit ,ulmo1 ,nota qu sedes fuerat columbis1 ,et superjecto pavid natarunt quore ,damm4 ,for here1 instead of those ,places which were the ,habitations of ,doves1 being visited by ,fish1 just the contrary has happened4 ,by the ,ingenuity of these ,people1 barren ,sands1 over which ,ships used to ride at ,anchor1 are changed into pleasant ,meadows and rich ,inclosures4 ,having now shewn how much of a ,fenman we are1 it will be proper to return to the ,subject4 ,there can be no ,doubt1 but that every ,attempt which is made to promote the ,improvement of ,agriculture1 is highly commendable2 and on the other ,hand1 it is the ,duty of every one1 to endeavour to rectify such of those ,attempts as he knows1 as well from his own ,experience1 as from the ,conversation of skilful ,engineers1 to be erroneous3 ,and we are sorry to say1 we are very clear that the ,scheme of planting ,aquatics upon ,banks in the ,fenns1 notwithstanding what has been affirmed about it1 is so far from being likely to strengthen such ,banks1 that it is a certain ,way to destroy them4 ,in order to make some of our ,readers1 who live in the high ,country1 sensible of the ,truth of what will be here asserted1 it will be necessary to explain the ,nature of ,fenn-,draining1 which shall be done in as few ,words as possible4 ,water is a ,fluid1 as has been before observed2 and it is the ,nature of a ,fluid to be always endeavouring to restore an ,equilibrium in it's ,parts1 which we may observe by it's restless ,motion after the ,surface of it is made uneven4 ,it is in order to restore this ,equilibrium1 that ,water rushes down with such ,rapidity1 from the high ,country into the ,fenns2 where1 when it has got1 the ,surface of the whole ,country being even1 and in general no higher than the ,bottom of the adjacent ,seas1 it remains quiet2 ,fenn-,draining1 therefore1 must be a ,work of ,art4--,now let us examine into the ,principles of this ,art4 ,the first ,thing to be done is1 to scour out the ,bottoms of the ,rivers1 which run through them1 from ,sand and ,filth1 and by that ,means to make a good ,outfall2 then to make ,banks of ,earth on the ,sides of those ,rivers1 to prevent1 as much as possible1 the ,water which comes down in a ,flood from overflowing the ,country1 as well as to retain such ,water as shall be thrown into the ,rivers by ,engines4 ,it will be needless here to describe the ,machinery of a ,water ,engine2 it will be sufficient to say1 that ,drains are cut which lead from these ,engines to the ,rivers1 which ,drains are banked likewise1 and that these ,engines1 by the ,help of the ,wind1 have a ,power of ,drawing the ,water from the ,lands which are drowned1 into these ,drains1 till they are quite full1 and till the ,water has got to a ,level which is higher than the ,bottom of the adjacent ,sea2 and by the ,principles of ,hydrostatics is forced to run into the ,sea to restore the ,equilibrium3 ,it is by the ,strength of the ,banks1 the ,force of the ,engines1 and the ,goodness of the ,outfall1 that a ,fenn must be drained4 ,now1 ,i affirm that planting ,aquatics upon ,banks in the ,fenn will not strengthen them1 but destroy them4 ,all ,vermin in a ,fenn are fond of a ,bank2 it is high ,ground1 and therefore dry and comfortable for them in the ,winter1 for which ,reason they are always full of ,moles1 and particular ,kinds of ,rats and ,mice1 with long ,noses1 call'd ,field ,mice and ,rats1 and abundance more ,animals1 which breed incessantly2 and make ,holes and ,burrows through the ,banks in all ,directions4 ,one ,kind of these ,rats builds his ,house so commodious1 that it is worth while to relate the ,ingenuity of this little ,free ,mason3 ,he begins by making a ,hole in the ,top of the ,bank1 and after a ,labyrinth of many ,windings and ,turnings1 he finishes all1 by making another towards the ,bottom of the ,bank close to the ,water's ,edge2 by that ,means he extends his ,territories from the ,top of the ,bank to the ,bottom1 and has a ,supply of fresh ,water1 without being seen by the ,enemy1 who is continually upon the ,watch for him4 ,owls1 ,buzzards1 ,kites1 ,ravens1 ,carrion ,crows1 and other ,birds of ,prey in the ,fenn1 always frequent the ,banks in the ,evening1 and if the ,grass is kept low by ,cattle1 they will destroy most of the ,vermin upon them4 ,but then we must not plant ,trees upon them1 as they will be the finest ,cover imaginable for those ,rats2 ,trees will not only hide them from the ,sight of the ,birds of ,prey1 but will likewise hinder those ,birds from darting down upon them when they have got a ,sight of them4 ,i remember1 near eighteen ,years ago1 several ,sorts of ,aquatics were planted upon the ,banks in the ,fenns near ,thorney-,abbey2 the ,consequence was1 the ,roots of the ,trees served for ,timber for the ,houses of these ,vermin1 and the ,branches were a ,shelter from the ,birds of ,prey1 by which ,means they were full of ,holes1 thro' which the ,water used to run back again to the ,lands as fast as the ,engines threw it out2 for which ,reason the ,trees were ordered to be grubbed up1 by the principal ,engineer4 ,there is nothing which strengthens a ,bank like a good ,covering of ,grass1 close eat by ,cattle2 for if once ,water penetrates through the outside ,coat of a ,bank1 it is not in the ,power of ,aquatics to hinder it from tearing the ,earth away with it4 ,if ,aquatics are planted any where1 they ought to be at some ,distance before the ,bank1 in order to keep the ,lash of ,water from wearing it away4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxx4 ,that those who lived ,two ,thousand ,years ago1 were larger than the present ,race of ,mankind4 ,we are obliged to the ,poets for this ,patagonian ,system4 ,their ,fictions of ,titan and ,briareus1 and the whole ,fraternity of ,giants1 is a ,fable which conveys a ,moral3 ,the ,giants1 upon attempting to scale the ,walls of ,heaven by heaping ,mountains one upon another1 are repelled by ,jupiter's ,thunder1 made ,prisoners1 and bound under those ,mountains upon which they made the ,attempt4 ,the ,moral of the ,fable is only this1 that it is impossible for any ,force to oppose the ,omnipotent4 ,not to dispute whether the ,ancients were of ,opinion1 that at the ,creation of the ,world all the ,animals were of a gigantic ,size1 or what might be their ,sentiments about that ,matter2 it is certain that there has been an ,opinion among ,men1 in all ,ages1 that the ,time in which they themselves lived1 produced ,men of less ,stature than those who lived some ,time before them4 ,this is a ,persuasion which the ,poets all encouraged1 as it suited their ,purpose2 nothing being so great an ,enchantment1 to the ,mind of a poetical ,reader1 as to be struck with the ,marvellous4 ,when ,virgil makes ,turnus throw a large ,stone at neas1 he tells us1 that it was such a ,stone as twelve ,men of his degenerate ,age could scarce have carried upon their ,shoulders4 ,nec plura effatus1 saxum circumspicit ingens3 ,saxum antiquum ingens1 campo quod forte jacebat1 ,limes agro positus litem ut discerneret arvis4 ,vix illud lecti bis sex cervice subirent1 ,qualia nunc hominum producit corpora tellus4 ,a ,person who reads this ,passage1 and really believes that ,men were larger in neas' ,time than in ,virgil's1 reasons thus with himself3 ,the ,works of ,nature degenerate3 ,those who lived in neas's ,time1 were larger than those who lived in ,virgil's2 and those who lived in the ,time of ,virgil1 were larger than those who live now4 ,with regard to those who lived in neas's ,time1 we cannot indeed have any positive ,proof to the contrary2 but it is not impossible to prove1 that the generality of those ,romans who lived in ,virgil's ,time1 were not so tall as the present ,inhabitants of ,great ,britain are at this ,day4 ,the ,english in general are a tall ,people2 we are obliged to a ,mixture of ,saxons and ,danes for our ,stature4 ,a curious ,observer may discover a great deal of the ,dane in many of the ,english1 not only from their ,names1 but likewise from their ,features and ,complexions4 ,those ,people who have straight ,hair between a white and a red1 and have fine ,skins1 but withall a fierce ,countenance1 seem to be of ,danish ,extraction4 ,it is not difficult1 neither1 to trace the ,saxon in many of our ,nation2 such as are tall and lusty1 and of a peaceable and quiet ,demeanor till they are provoked1 and with nothing very brisk in their ,countenances1 seem to have had ,saxon ,ancestors4 ,not to dwell long upon this1 as it is certain that ,england has been over-run by the ,danes and ,saxons 7whom it would be prudent not to speak ill of1 lest we should abuse some of our own ,relations7 we will return to our ,subject4 ,there is no ,cause to apprehend that the ,works of ,nature degenerate in the least1 as it is a ,supposition which is repugnant to all the ,observations which may be made upon the ,generation of ,animals4 ,any one who has bred ,horses1 ,dogs1 or ,poultry1 must have observed1 that instead of degenerating1 they always improve upon his ,hands1 unless he opposes ,nature1 which seems to struggle hard against a ,stagnation1 by confining the ,breed too long in the same ,family4 ,we have two ,reasons1 then1 to suppose that the present ,inhabitants of ,great ,britain are larger in ,stature than the old ,romans were1 viz4 because they are the ,posterity of a taller ,people1 and because the ,breed is so much crossed4 ,but we beg ,leave to offer a ,reason why it may be apprehended that the ,ancients were not larger in ,stature than the ,moderns1 which seems to carry along with it something which has very much the ,air of a ,proof4 ,whoever observes the ,size of the ,remains of those ,people who lived in the ,time of the old ,romans1 or before that ,time1 will find1 that they are no larger in their ,dimensions than the ,remains of those who died fifty ,years ago4 ,i have seen ,abundance of ,stone ,coffins1 which1 as they are found in a ,place which has all the manifest ,signs of having been a ,roman ,camp1 both in respect of it's advantageous ,situation1 the ,name of the present ,town1 which is ,caster1 the ,roman ,coin which is constantly found there1 the ,urns in which the ,coin is found1 the ,inscriptions cut in ,cedar in the ,coffins1 the ,stones of a ,bridge1 which may be felt with a ,sprit1 at the ,bottom of the ,river1 at the ,back of an ,enclosure1 which is called the ,castle ,ground to this ,day2 all these are ,indications of a ,roman ,camp1 and may be seen near the great ,north ,road between ,stilton and ,stamford2 where the ,curious1 by a proper ,application1 may have a ,pocket full of ,roman ,coin for a ,shilling4 ,indeed1 whether these ,stone ,coffins1 which are found in this ,camp1 contained the ,bodies of ,romans1 no one can positively determine1 especially as the ,romans generally burnt their ,dead1 if they had a convenient ,opportunity3 ,however1 as they are found in a ,roman ,camp1 upon the same ,spot where the ,coin is found1 it is enough to make one think that they are ,roman ,coffins1 and that the ,romans did sometimes bury their ,dead2 nevertheless1 we leave that to the ,determination of the ,curious4--,of whatever ,nation their ,contents were1 the ,marks of great ,antiquity are strong upon them2 and we can assure the ,reader1 that none of them were ever troubled with ,remains of a ,patagonian4 ,but these are not the only ,reliques by which we may form our ,judgments2 numberless ,libraries and ,repositories in this ,kingdom afford us ,instances of the ,size of the ,ancients3 ,we have several ,egyptian ,mummies which seem to be of very ancient ,standing1 and must have contained the ,bodies of ,men of less ,stature than the present ,english4 ,upon the whole1 then1 we have just ,cause to conclude1 that in all ,ages of the ,world1 the ,egyptians and ,romans were in general of the same ,size with the present ,inhabitants of those ,countries4 ,it must nevertheless be allowed1 that ,luxury and ,debauchery1 which are the ,concomitants of ,wealth1 do very much tend to decrease the ,stature of the ,inhabitants of those ,cities which have long continued in that ,state4 ,to which we may apply this ,philosophical ,maxim1 ,when any ,thing is so small as to be of no ,consequence to the ,point in ,hand1 it is considered as ,nothing4 ,those ,cities which have acquired so much ,wealth as to be able to commit such ,excesses1 are inconsiderable when compared to the ,inhabitants of the whole ,earth1 therefore they are to be considered as nothing4 ,besides1 so great is the ,caprice of ,fortune1 that even the most powerful ,state in the ,universe1 cannot presume to declare how soon a ,period may be put to its ,grandeur4 ,but having said something upon this ,subject before1 we shall proceed to another ,error4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxi4 ,that ,bleeding in ,may will preserve the ,constitution against ,illness during the ensuing ,summer4 ,this ,hereditary ,whim has long been practised in many genteel ,families in ,england4 ,without consulting any of the ,faculty1 whose ,blood is too thick1 or whose too thin1 who have got too much ,blood in their ,veins1 or who too little1 they send for some ,six-penny ,bleeder1 who performs this ,operation upon the whole ,family every ,year1 on ,may-day in the ,morning4 ,not to examine into the ,causes of ,mortality in ,may1 leaving that ,task to those who are able to assign them1 it will be sufficient to remark1 that the weekly ,bills generally contain more ,deaths in ,may than in any ,month throughout the whole ,year4 ,we are sure to have a ,fortnight of unwholesome agueish ,weather in ,may2 and one would think1 that the common ,proverbs which are made use of in the ,country to that purpose1 would be sufficient to deter a ,person from losing any ,blood at that ,season of the ,year4 ,it is not impossible1 but the ,preposessions which we have in ,favour of the ,charms of this ,month1 may proceed from a ,perusal of the ,latin ,poets1 or their ,translators2 whose ,works are full of the various ,beauties of the ,spring4 ,and very possibly1 in ,italy1 where these ,poets lived1 that ,part of the ,spring may be pleasant and wholesome4 ,in ,england1 we are all of us very sensible of the cold and wet ,weather1 which generally happens in this ,month4 ,and for my own ,part1 ,i must confess1 that ,i think ,may not only the most dangerous1 but likewise1 upon the whole1 the most disagreeable ,part of the ,year2 and am quite certain1 that if ,i was to be let ,blood on ,may-day1 ,i should have the ,ague4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxii4 ,that ,negroes are not a ,part of the ,human ,species4 ,this is a ,creolian ,error1 imbibed partly by the ,prejudice of ,education1 and partly by the compleat ,slavery which these poor ,wretches are so unfortunate as to undergo4 ,the passive ,appearance of these unhappy ,people at their ,work1 which sometimes resembles that of a ,horse in a ,mill1 gives ,master ,tommy ,sugar-,cane an ,idea1 which is the ,cause of an ,opinion1 that a ,negroe is ,part of the ,brute ,creation1 and therefore ought to be thrashed4 ,but indeed1 ,master ,tommy1 if ,i had the ,care of thy ,education1 ,i would teach thee a more reasonable ,way of ,thinking4 ,young ,gentleman1 you ought to consider that the ,works of ,nature are neither better nor worse either for your ,approbation or ,disapprobation of them4 ,that ,black is as good a ,colour as ,white in itself2 and that the ,effect which particular ,rays of ,light have upon your ,eye1 is by no ,means to determine the ,beauty or ,proportion of any ,part of the ,creation3 ,and though your faithful ,negroe does appear rude and uncultivated1 that is owing to his ,want of ,education4 ,let him have ,instructions in ,music1 you will find that his ,genius is greater than your own2 teach him to fence1 his ,activity and ,stratagem will surprize you4 ,in short1 instruct him in any ,science1 and he will discover a ,capacity4 ,therefore1 if you have read ,mr4 ,locke1 7and if you have not1 ,i would advise you to fit out one of your ,ships and make a ,voyage in ,quest of him7 ,mr4 ,locke will tell you1 that it is the ,understanding that sets ,man above the rest of sensible ,beings1 and gives him all the ,advantage and ,dominion which he has over them4 ,and in another ,place the same ,author will tell you1 that it is a wrong ,connection of ,ideas which is the great ,cause of ,errors3 ,these are his ,words1 ,this wrong ,connection in our ,minds of ,ideas1 in themselves loose and independent one of another1 has such an ,influence1 and is of so great ,force to set us awry in our ,actions1 as well moral as natural ,passions1 ,reasonings1 and ,notions themselves2 that perhaps there is not any one ,thing that deserves more to be looked after4 ,this is the very ,case with ,master ,tommy ,sugar-,cane2 a wrong ,connection of ,ideas have lead him into this ,error1 concerning his poor ,negroe2 he has connected the ,ideas of ,horse1 ,slave1 and ,negroe1 so strongly together in his ,mind1 that it is not in his ,power to separate them again4 ,and ,i am credibly informed by those who understand it1 that there is as much ,pleasure in whipping a ,negroe1 as in driving a ,phton and ,pair4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxiii4 ,that ,negroes are the ,descendants of ,cain1 and that the ,colour of their ,skins is that ,mark which was set upon ,cain after killing ,abel4 ,this is a very pretty ingenious ,thought of some one1 who was doubtless in love with his own ,complexion4 ,i have heard it affirmed by some with such ,warmth1 that it seemed in vain to reason with them about it4 ,before we can have any ,grounds for such an ,affirmation1 it will be necessary to prove that it is a ,disgrace to have a dark ,complexion2 for1 if it is no ,disgrace to have a dark ,complexion1 then there can be no ,badge or ,mark of ,infamy in being black2 if it is a ,disgrace to have a dark ,complexion1 then the ,way of ,reasoning must be this3 ,the ,irish and ,scotch having fine ,skins1 are better than the ,english2 the ,english and ,french1 than the ,italians and ,spaniards2 the ,italians and ,spaniards1 than the ,algerines2 and so on1 till we come to the ,line4 ,to me1 this seems so absurd1 that ,i must beg ,leave to quit the ,subject1 till some one has convinced me1 that a white ,horse is better than a black one4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxiv4 ,that ,love is nothing but ,concupiscence to a high ,degree1 or that ,love and ,lust are the same ,thing4 ,love is a ,passion1 which1 though we read of it in the ,classics1 is but seldom experienced in these ,northern ,climates4 ,i never met with a ,north-countryman who would allow that there is any ,difference between ,love and ,lust1 and even in the ,southern ,parts of the ,kingdom it is but slightly felt2 what little we have of it in ,england1 serves only to make ,diversion for the ,girls1 one among another1 and does not often produce any ,thing of bad ,consequence4 ,but in ,southern ,climes the ,effects of it are violent1 as well as much more frequent4 ,the desperate ,actions which our ,tragedies are full of1 will appear more natural1 if we consider what ,country we are in during the ,time of the ,play4 ,in ,england1 we should esteem a ,person1 who killed himself for the ,love of one of inferior ,birth and ,fortune1 but a very silly ,fellow2 whereas in ,spain or in ,italy1 to fall upon a ,sword for a beautiful ,woman1 is looked upon as a certain ,indication of a great ,soul1 and as a ,proof that the ,heart of the ,enamoured was possessed of a ,sentiment unknown to the ,minds of the ,vulgar4 ,not to dwell upon the many ,instances1 which have happened both among the ,ancients and ,moderns1 of ,people who have died for ,love1 ,i shall just make a little ,enquiry into the ,nature of that ,disorder1 for so it may be called1 since it sometimes proves fatal4 ,that ,affection which is called ,love1 seems to be a ,fever1 not only in the ,mind1 but an actual ,fever1 attended with the ,symptoms of that ,disorder2 and differs from all others in this ,particular1 it is what no ,physic can cure4 ,the ,symptoms of it are much like those of that ,distemper1 which the ,east-,indians sometimes die of1 when they pine for their native ,country4 ,if this is the ,case1 ,love is so far from being another ,term for ,lust1 that it rather opposes that ,desire1 which is generally the ,concomitant of ,health4 ,the ,heart is capable of a ,wound from this little mischievous ,urchin1 before ,maturity arrives2 for the ,truth of which ,i appeal to every one who has ,sensibility enough1 to be capable of receiving the ,impression of ,love1 whether he never found himself electrified by a fine ,lady1 when he was about the ,age of thirteen4 ,to conclude3 ,if ,i hear a ,person very positive that ,love and ,lust are the same ,thing1 ,i take it for granted1 that his ,nerves are so coarse and callous1 that nothing less than the ,stroke of a ,blacksmith's ,hammer can possibly have any ,effect upon him4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxv4 ,that the ,hedge-,hog is a mischievous ,animal2 and particularly1 that he sucks ,cows1 when they are asleep in the ,night1 and causes their ,teats to be sore4 ,the ,antipathy which ,people have taken against this ,animal1 is chiefly owing to his ,form4 ,he is ugly and clumsy1 and1 not being able to run away1 like most other ,animals1 is forced to have ,recourse to his natural ,armour1 which1 though it is merely defensive1 is apt to disgust those1 who cannot satisfy their ,curiosity about him2 as there is nothing to be seen but a round ,ball of sharp-pointed ,bristles1 till he is put into ,water1 and then he is forced to open himself and swim4 ,by the bye1 some ,naturalists have affirmed1 that he is like the ,porcupine2 but that1 we can assure the ,reader1 is a ,mistake4 ,a ,porcupine is as large as ten ,hedge-,hogs2 besides1 there is not the least ,resemblance in the ,form of the ,animals1 or in their ,manner of ,defence4 ,the ,hedge-,hog1 upon being discovered1 lies quite still1 and depends upon the ,impenetrability of his ,armour for ,safety2 whereas the ,porcupine is tolerably swift1 and is not able to conceal himself under his ,quills1 as they do not cover above half his ,back4 ,when he is pursued he makes a full ,stop1 and has the ,power of drawing up the whole ,body of his ,quills1 so as to dart them all together into any one who attacks him2 and in all ,probability he will leave one or two in your ,legs1 if you go too near him1 and make him angry1 which is very soon done4 ,i once saw a ,stick put to a ,porcupine1 and he broke two or three of his ,quills against the ,stick1 though they are very hard and tough4 ,some say1 that the ,quills of a ,porcupine are of a poisonous ,nature4 ,but1 begging ,pardon for this ,digression about the ,porcupine1 we will return to the ,error which was mentioned1 concerning the ,hedge-,hog4 ,it may be observed in the ,works of ,nature1 that all ,animals1 of whatsoever ,kind they are1 whether they come under the ,denomination of ,birds1 ,quadrupeds1 ,reptiles1 or ,fishes1 are provided with such ,organs and ,weapons as are convenient for the procuring of their ,sustenance1 as well as such as are formed for their ,self-,defence4 ,the ,lion roaring after his ,prey1 has ,weapons proper for the vanquishing and devouring that ,prey4 ,the ,bull1 whose principal ,food is ,grass1 is provided with ,armour round his ,tongue and ,nostrils1 which is ,proof against the ,thistles and venomous ,insects that make a ,part of his coarse ,diet4 ,the ,monkey is possessed of ,hands for selecting the eatable ,parts of his ,nuts and ,fruit from the poisonous ,rind4 ,the ,hawk is furnished with long ,wings for pursuing1 keen ,eyes for discerning1 and sharp ,talons for taking the granivorous ,birds1 which are his ,prey2 whilst they are provided with ,beaks of a proper ,shape for picking up the ,corn1 as well as ,gizzards1 or strong ,muscles1 which1 by the ,help of ,gravel ,stones1 that are contained in them1 grind the separate ,grains of ,corn1 as they are discharged from the ,crop1 out of which they proceed gradually4 ,the numberless ,instances of this ,kind which might be brought1 are too tedious to mention here2 it will be sufficient to remark1 that there is no such ,monster to be found in the ,creation1 as an ,animal with ,weapons and ,implements improper for the ,acquisition of that ,food which is to be the ,support of its ,life1 or unfurnished with such a ,means of ,defence1 as is most suitable to its ,self-preservation4 ,the ,hedge-,hog is a peculiar ,instance of this3 ,as he is rather slow of ,foot1 if he should happen to be surprized in his ,travels1 he can gather himself up into a ,coat of ,mail1 which answers two ,ends2 as it is a ,deceptio ,visus1 looking like a ,clot covered with dried ,grass2 and as it consists of sharp ,spikes upon a thick ,skin1 which serve both for a ,sword and ,target1 either to secure him against the ,tread of a ,horse1 or the ,assaults of ,dogs and ,hawks4 ,then as his ,habitation is in ,hedges1 he has a ,mouth formed for the ,reception of ,hips1 ,haws1 and ,sloes1 which are his ,food2 and which1 doubtless1 he hoards up in some little ,repository1 known only to himself4 ,his ,nose is formed to search for ,roots near the ,surface of the ,earth1 which must not be very large1 otherwise he would be unable to manage them1 as his ,mouth is remarkably small1 and does not seem capable of containing any ,thing larger than a small ,pea2 for which ,reason we may suppose it not only improbable and unnatural1 that the ,hedge-,hog should attempt to suck the ,teats of a ,cow1 when she is asleep1 as it does not seem formed by ,nature for such an ,operation2 but we will endeavour to prove from ,hydrostatics1 that it would be impossible for him to acquire any ,milk at all by such a ,trial4 ,it is certainly true1 that the ,reason why a ,vessel contains ,water1 or any other ,fluid1 within it's ,sides1 and hinders it from dispersing1 is1 because the ,pressure of the ,air at the ,top of the ,vessel keeps it down2 and it is as true1 that when the ,vessel is turned up side down1 the ,liquor in it will still be kept in1 by the same ,pressure of the ,air1 notwithstanding the ,force of ,gravity1 provided the ,surface of the ,water is not disturbed in turning the ,vessel2 which may be easily proved by the ,experiment of a ,drinking-,glass and a ,piece of ,paper4 ,it is upon this ,principle1 that the ,milk in the ,dug of an ,animal1 is kept in it's proper ,place1 and does not fall to the ,ground2 though it must be acknowledged1 that there may be some other ,causes assigned likewise4 ,now if a ,vessel of ,water is put into an ,air ,pump1 as soon as the ,air is extracted from the ,receiver1 in which the ,vessel stands1 the ,water immediately ascends up out of the ,vessel1 and overflows the ,brim1 the ,air1 which was the ,cause of it's being kept down1 being removed4 ,this is the ,case with an ,animal which gives ,suck4 ,the ,teat is close embraced round by the ,mouth of the young one1 so that no ,air can pass between3 ,a ,vacuum is made1 or the ,air is exhausted from it's ,throat1 by a ,power in the ,lungs2 nevertheless1 the ,pressure of the ,air remains still upon the ,outside of the ,dug of the ,mother1 and by these two ,causes together1 the ,milk is forced into the ,mouth of the young one4 ,but a ,hedge-,hog has no such ,mouth1 as to be able to contain the ,teat of a ,cow2 therefore any ,vacuum1 which is caused in it's own ,throat1 cannot be communicated to the ,milk in the ,dug4 ,and if he is able to procure no other ,food1 but what he can get by sucking ,cows in the ,night1 there is likely to be a ,vacuum in his ,stomach too4 ,it may be objected here1 that former ,legislators have thought proper to allow a ,reward to be given for killing this ,animal1 on ,account of the ,mischief he has been supposed to do4 ,to which ,i answer1 that former ,legislators have thought proper to burn old ,women1 for being ,witches1 if they would not sink when they were put into a ,pond2 and ,i will venture to affirm1 that there is just as much ,sense in burning a ,witch1 as in setting a ,reward upon a ,hedge-,hog4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,xxxvi4 ,that a ,person is the better or the worse for being of any particular ,calling or ,profession4 ,this ,error shall be dressed in a ,clerical ,habit4 ,but ,i fear those venerable ,robes will share the same ,fate here1 which attends them in other ,places2 they will give a double ,force to the ,mistakes and ,failings of the ,wearer4 ,luke ,,xviii4 ,verses the xth1 xith1 xiith1 and xiiith4 ,two men went up into the temple to pray2 the one a ,pharisee1 and the other a publican4 ,the ,pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself2 ,god1 ,i thank thee1 that ,i am not as other men are1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 or even as this publican4 ,i fast twice in the week1 ,i give tithes of all that ,i possess4 ,and the publican1 standing afar off1 would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven1 but smote upon his breast1 saying1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner4 ,the ,oriental ,teachers thought proper to convey their ,doctrines of ,morality in ,parable4 ,doubtless1 the ,method is plain and easy to be understood2 elegantly shewing us the ,truth1 whilst we cannot help confessing that we discern it1 and this without giving much ,disgust by laying open the ,foibles of any ,party2 it is capable of comprehending all the ,figures of ,poetry and ,rhetoric1 and these ,figures are the least liable to be detected1 whilst they are clothed in the ,disguise of ,parable1 which must be allowed to be a great ,advantage2 ,artis est celare artem holds good in this ,case1 as well as in others4 ,and if one ,person has an ,inclination to bring another to his ,way of ,thinking1 he must endeavour to be as plain and simple in his ,manner as possible1 for this ,method alone carries with it the ,appearance of ,truth2 whether we argue on the right ,side of the ,question1 or on the wrong1 this ,method of ,proceeding will hold good in some ,measure2 but especially1 if we want to instil true ,principles of sound ,morality1 it has a double ,force4 ,our ,blessed ,saviour1 doubtless1 for this ,reason thought proper to deliver his ,doctrines of ,morality in this convincing1 self-evident ,dialect2 he saw plainly that the ,cabalistical ,stile of the ,pharisees1 was by no ,means a ,language proper to convey new and wholesome ,precepts into the ,minds of the ,vulgar4 ,no3 ,he chose rather to make ,use of this compact and intelligible ,method of inculcating his ,precepts1 namely ,parable4 ,we have no greater ,instance of his ,skill1 than this of the ,pharisee and ,publican4 ,in the ,handling of this ,subject1 we shall consider the ,human ,species in different ,lights2 as a reasoning philosophizing ,animal1 who thinks he has a right to enquire into the ,phoenomena of ,nature1 and to make ,use of that ,right1 and of those ,senses1 which ,god has given him2 and as a ,person1 who is forced to submit to the the superior ,judgment of other ,men1 and takes ,things for granted as he is told them4 ,the first of these is what we generally understand when we say ,men of ,science1 ,men of ,learning1 ,men of regular ,education1 and the like4 ,these may be ranged into ,variety of different ,orders and ,ranks1 in regard to their different ,professions1 ,studies1 ,turns of ,genius1 ,amusements1 ,abilities1 ,applications1 c4 ,we may with ,propriety reduce all these different ,sentiments concerning ,mankind1 into two ,branches2 namely1 ,men of ,business1 and ,men of ,recreation or ,pleasure4 ,of those who come under the ,denomination of ,men of ,business1 each one is apt to think himself of that ,order which is most respectable4 ,for ,instance1 one who professes the ,law1 may know that ,mankind is apt to tax him with ,injustice and ,dishonesty1 but that1 he comforts himself1 is of no great ,signification2 for what amongst the ,vulgar is stiled ,dishonest1 among ,people of ,fashion1 would be palliated by the agreeable ,name of exquisite ,address4 ,and so he makes himself very easy about what vulgar ,imputations may be laid to his ,charge by the ,mob1 so long as he has the ,gentry on his ,side4 ,and they too may tax him with ,dishonesty if they please1 but he makes no ,doubt but he shall soon have some of them applying to him for ,justice1 as all ,causes must go through the ,hands of those of his ,profession2 and he does not see but ,things are determined fairly enough in the ,end4 ,in short1 he concludes with thinking1 that his ,profession is as useful as any other1 7and in that perhaps he may be right7 and that it is profitable1 and of great ,importance1 and therefore1 that the ,sons of the ,robe may justly be said to be more honourable4 ,the ,physician is of another ,way of ,thinking4 ,he knows full well1 that ,health is of more ,consequence than ,riches1 for 7says he7 what ,pleasure can a ,man have from a great ,estate1 if he has not ,health to enjoy it8 ,the ,lawyer may out talk him perhaps1 but he thinks he has saved more ,lives1 at a much cheaper ,rate than the other has recovered ,estates in ,chancery4 ,they may make light of his ,art1 but he is certain likewise1 that they will all stand in ,need of his ,skill sometime or other2 and therefore thinks1 on ,account of the ,importance of his ,profession1 that the ,sons of ,galen are most honourable4 ,the ,philosopher differs from them both4 ,he thinks1 that all that is wrote upon ,parchment must treat of something very trifling1 with ,respect to what he is concerned in4 ,it may be1 says he1 that this ,parchment may contain some ,conveyance of some small ,tract of ,land1 belonging to some one private ,person2 but what is that8 he has just been taking ,measure of the whole ,earth4 ,he thinks that ,physic may have ,merit in it's ,way2 for a ,man skilled in ,physic may preserve the ,life of an ,animal who inhabits the ,globe2 but what is this to what he has been contriving of8 ,he has been taking ,care of the ,health of the ,universe2 he has discovered a ,comet1 and has been calculating how near it will approach to the ,earth's ,orbit2 he has been settling the ,degrees of ,heat it contains1 at such and such ,distances1 and what ,danger we should all be in1 of being totally demolished1 if it was to approach but a small ,distance nearer2 he has been finding out the ,situation of the ,polar ,stars1 that ,navigators may sail in an unknown ,sea without ,danger2 he has been fixing the exact ,limit of the ,trade ,winds1 where they may be certain of being blown ,home again safe4 ,he thinks these are ,matters of a high ,nature1 much beyond any ,thing else1 and therefore1 that his ,profession is of the highest ,importance4 ,three ,professions have been mentioned1 every one of which is apt to think his own ,order of the greatest ,consequence4 ,we should find it exactly the same1 if we were to take a ,survey of the inferior ,trades1 and mechanical ,men4 ,those likewise1 who think proper to devote their ,time to ,amusements1 if we examine into their ,behaviour1 we shall find them1 in general1 no less partial to their own ,taste than the ,men of ,business2 which we shall easily discern1 if we make ,observations at any ,public ,place1 where many of this ,kind resort to4 ,gentlemen who are fond of ,play1 most heartily despise all the ,noises that can be made upon ,instruments1 all the ,daubings which can be smeared upon ,canvass1 and all the ,nonsense that can he crammed into ,books4 ,the only ,music that can give them any ,pleasure1 is the rattling and spirited ,sound of the all-hazardous ,dice-,box2 the only ,paintings which can strike them1 must be drawn at full ,length1 upon the mercenary ,card-,table2 the only ,books which1 in their ,opinion1 contain any ,sense in them1 are those which treat upon the noble ,science of ,gaming4 ,the ,sportsman wonders what any ,body can see in ,london1 or in those make-shift ,entertainments which are contrived to pass ,time away in ,town2 he cannot bear to sit fretting over a ,card ,table4 ,the only ,music that delights him1 is the chearing ,sensation which he perceives1 when he is awaked from ,sleep1 by the confused ,harmony which pierces his ,ear1 from the shrill ,throats of his never-erring ,hounds1 impatient for the glorious ,fatigue 7as he calls it7 of the ensuing ,day2 which he follows at the ,hazard of his ,life1 over ,dangers of ,mountains1 and ,woods1 and ,rivers1 and craggy ,cliffs1 and returns ,home well pleased and happy with the ,thoughts of his ,exploits3 ,whilst the ,london ,citizen prefers his ,armed-chair1 and a good ,fire1 and the ,daily ,advertiser2 and sneers at all the others for senseless ,wretches1 because they don't understand the ,rules of ,principal and ,interest4--,all these ,examples may serve to shew1 how wrapt-up ,men are in their particular ,engagements of ,business and ,pleasure1 and how in love they are with their own ,opinions3 ,so in love with them1 that they cannot look upon the ,sentiments of others with common ,charity4 ,we all think ourselves of the highest ,importance1 and that there would no existing without us2 how this comes to pass shall be next enquired into1 by returning to the ,matter of different ,professions4 ,we behave with regard to our public ,professions1 in this ,respect1 just as we do in our private ,characters3 ,as we can easily discern the ,vices of other ,men1 and forget our own1 so it happens in the present ,case2 we can easily discern the ,advantage which the ,public reaps from our own ,profession1 but it is with great ,difficulty that we are brought to examinine what ,use we ourselves derive from that of another4 ,this was the very ,case with the ,pharisee in the ,text2 he stood1 and prayed and said1 ,god1 ,i thank thee1 that ,i am not as other men are1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 or even as this publican4 ,he payed ,tithes of all that he possessed4 ,and what great ,merit was there in that8 ,if he had not thought proper to pay ,tithes of his own ,accord1 no ,doubt1 there was as much ,law to compel him in those ,times as in these2 but the ,misfortune is1 this ,pharisee was under the same ,mistake which ,pharisees in all ,ages labour under1 he could see plain enough into what he thought his own private ,qualifications1 but could not discern the ,use which the ,public reaped from his ,companion4 ,the ,publican on the other ,hand did not so much as lift up his ,eyes to ,heaven1 but smote his ,breast1 and said1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner4 ,he acknowledged that he was of a ,profession which1 however necessary it might be in itself1 nevertheless brought upon him the ,odium of his ,countrymen1 and which made him liable to many ,irregularities in his ,behaviour1 made him forced to be guilty of many ,extortions from the poorer ,sort of ,people2 he confessed that his ,profession did necessarily bring all these ,sins upon him1 for which he then implored ,forgiveness4 ,i tell you1 says our ,saviour1 this man went down to his house justified rather than the other4 ,but what ,reason can be given1 why the ,pharisee should not be justified8 ,it might be said1 that the ,pharisee was conscious to himself of living according to the ,laws of his ,country1 and of doing his ,duty1 and that he thought it incumbent upon him to return ,thanks to the ,maker of all ,things1 for giving him such good ,inclinations1 and for putting it into his ,power to make a good ,use of them4 ,this would be very charitable ,reasoning1 if one could be brought to believe1 that the ,pharisee was really such a ,sort of a ,man as he pretended to be2 but it is sufficiently evident1 by the ,stile and ,manner of the ,parable1 that this ,pharisee was intended to be like other ,pharisees in all ,times3 he would be thought to be much better than he really was1 and had worked himself up to such a high ,pitch of ,pride and ,self-,conceit1 as to boast of his supposed ,qualifications even to his ,maker4 ,doubtless this excellent ,parable strikes at the very ,root of all ,hypocrisy1 and vain-glorious outside ,shew4 ,for here was the ,publican1 very probably a much better ,man than the ,pharisee1 who had neither imbibed such high ,notions of his own ,worth1 nor pretended to any such fine ,qualifications2 he very willingly acknowledged his ,faults1 and with the greatest ,modesty and ,diffidence of himself1 that high ,recommendation both in the ,eyes of ,god and ,man1 did not even think himself worthy to look up to ,heaven1 but smote upon his ,breast and said1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner4 ,what has been said may serve to shew the excellent ,morality1 which these ,parables of our ,saviour's contained2 they contained such ,sort of ,lessons as must be useful1 so long as the ,world exists2 for there will always be such ,pharisees as are here mentioned by our ,saviour1 and to whom1 in another ,place1 he repeats the ,words1 ,wo unto you scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites1 so often4 ,isaiah says1 ,chap4 ix4 ver4 #bj1 #ba4 ,wo unto them that call evil good1 and good evil2 that put darkness for light1 and light for darkness2 that put bitter for sweet1 and sweet for bitter6 ,wo unto them that are wise in their own ,eyes and prudent in their own ,sight6 ,our ,saviour did not mean to aim with the ,force of his ,doctrine at ,publicans and ,pharisees alone1 his ,doctrine was of an ,universal ,nature3 ,and we must not suppose that could ever be his ,intention2 and lest future ,ages should hereafter make such a ,mistake1 the ,evangelist has given us his ,opinion what he thought our ,saviour intended by this ,parable4 ,he spake this ,parable1 says ,st4 ,luke1 unto those which trusted in themselves that they were righteous1 and despised others4 ,here it must be observed1 that though our ,saviour was pleased to say1 that the ,publican went down to his ,house justified rather than the ,pharisee1 yet he by no ,means sets either of them as a ,pattern for our ,example4 ,we must not therefore misunderstand this ,passage so dangerously as to think1 that if we be but modest1 we may be guilty of what enormous ,vices we think proper1 because that would be giving the ,words of our ,saviour a wrong ,interpretation4 ,a middle ,character1 between these two ,extremes1 is rather to be aimed at4 ,it is to be wished1 that we could so navigate ourselves through the dangerous ,rocks and ,quicksands of ,land1 as to avoid both the ,sins of the ,publican1 and the vain-glorious ,boasting of the ,pharisee3 ,and by that ,means1 we shall be enabled without ,fear1 to sail through the dark ,sea of ,death1 even into the ,regions of ,eternity1 where the ,gates of ,hell shall not prevail against us4 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,errata4 ,page #ed1 instead of ,conis read ,canis4 #gb1 instead of ,boatman's read ,boatswain's4 #ia1 instead of the read their4 ditto1 instead of amazed read amused4 #aaj1 instead of lighter read higher4 #afe1 instead of jabebat read jacebat4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,notes #a ,what are these ,masks8 ,hear you me1 ,jessica1 ,lock up my ,doors1 and when you hear the ,drum1 ,and the vile ,squeaking of the ,wry-neck'd ,fife1 c4 #b ,rusticus expectat dum defluat amnis4