boat, that when a falmon was caught, the waterman was in danger of being o verfet whenever it ftruck the boat. The boats were fo light, that the fishermen ufually carried them on their fhoulders. From a spirit of fuperftitious piety, very peculiar privileges of fanctuary have been given to the Welsh churches. Not only in cemeteries or burial places, but within the precincts of certain bounds appointed by the bishop, all animals had the liberty of feeding in perfect fecurity. The larger churches, endowed with greater privileges on account of their anti quity, extended their bounds of fan&tuary fill farther, as far as the cattle go in the morning and return at night. So facred were the privileges of fanctuary, that if any perfon at mortal enmity with his prince, fought the refuge of the church, his own perfon, his family, and all his property remained in the most perfect fecurity. If any attempt was made to violate the fanctuary, the parties under its protection marched out with great bold nefs, and not only molefted the prince himself, but grievously infested the country.

If the King granted a licence to build a church in any village whose inhabitants were villains, to which a cemetery was affigned, and priests were appointed to celebrate mafs, the village from that time became free. The hermits and other ascetics in this country were in a peculiar degree auftere in the habits of mortification, and in their piety more fpiritualised than the religious in any o ther nation. As it was the difpofition of this people to pursue every object with vehemence, none were elsewhere to be found fo bad as the worst, nor any better than the good among the Welsh.

as rural sports, and as lefs manly; fuckTM as hunting, fishing, and bird-hunting; befides which fundry others were used in families as private amusements, and confidered as literary; fuch as poetry, playing on the harp, reading Welsh, finging poems with ftringed instruments, finging an ode of four parts, and accenting it with proper expreffion; heraldry, and embally. Befides thefe, there were various modes of hunting, particularly hunting the ftag, pursuing a fwarm of bees, and taking falmon; these three were deemed common diverfions. The ftag was hunted with hounds and greyhounds; and this was called a common diverfion, because every person who was at his death had a right to a fhare. Even if a man on his journey happened to pass by at the time the tag was killed, he was intitled by the game laws to a fhare in common with those who had hunted him down. A fwarm of bees was likewife a common property; for whoever found them on his own or other people's lands, unless the finder fhould have put a mark that he firft found them, every one who paffed by had a right to enjoy á fhare; but a fourth part went to the owner of the ground. Salmon were alfo confidered in the fare light; for when they were caught with a net, or ftruck with a fpear, or taken in any other way, whoever fhould come to the place before a divifion was made, was intitled to a part, provided the falmon was taken out of a common water.

It was neceffary that every person who carried a horn should be acquainted with the nine game laws. If he could not give an account of them, he forfeited his horn. Whoever went a hunting with couples, forfeited thofe likewife if he could not properly give an explanation of them. No one was allowed to fhoot a beast that was appropriated for the chace, when at reft, on pain of forfeiting his bow and arrows to the lord of the ma. nor: though he might fhoot at, and kill any fuch, if he could, when the dogs were in full cry; but he was not allowed to fhoot among the dogs.

fuch

fuch tenants. The free natives were those who poffeffed fome degree of freedom, who might go where they pleased, might buy and fell, and enjoyed many o ther immunities. The pure natives were confidered as the entire property of their princes of lords, were fold along with the eftate, and confined within its limits; out of which, if they happened to wander, they were liable to be driven back like brutes with great feverity. The profeffion of any of the mechanic or liberal arts made a vaffal free; but no vaffal could acquire them without the permif fion of his lord.

From the few traits which are here given of the private manners and customs of the Welsh, we may form a lively idea of their genius, and, in some measure, may difcriminate what was peculiar in their national character. Hence, too, we are enabled to account for a variety of fplendid actions which ftrike our wonder, and intereft our feelings for the fate of a brave people, who were fo often thrown into fituations, fudden and rapid in their changes, and which appear to be fingular in the history of nations.

SIR,

I Recollect to have lately read in one of the public prints, a paragraph purporting, that it was in contemplation to appropriate all the unclaimed stock in the Bank, from a certain period, towards the extinction of the national debt; the paragraph inftancing, by way of Nota Bene, that there was, in one fingle article, 10,000l. which had lain there fince the reign of Queen Anne.

If there be any portion of truth in this article of intelligence, may not the propriety and juftice of keeping the effects, of others locked up unadvertised, and therefore unclaimed, be reasonably que ftioned? Moft ignorant individuals (ignorant I mean respecting the property of their relations thus concealed) derive no benefit but through the channel of chance or improper information.

Leaving, however, this matter to be weighed at leifure, permit me, Sir, to inform fociety at large, without being thought an impertinent individual of it, how this lapfe of stock has been hither to in general occafioned; fo that, if nothing be restored to ourselves, we may check, at leaft, an accumulating lofs to pofterity.

Let us fuppofe, then, that Thomas

Smith, a person of whatever description, dies poffeffed of 1000l. ftock, and his fon, or his nephew, John Smith, is appointed his fole executor. The will is proved, and the dividend duly received by the executor as fuch, who, in the courfe of his own life, buys roool. ftock himself, and dying inteftate, his brother, or next of kin, takes out letters of adminiftration, and repairing to the Bank, in fearch of his effects, finding 10001. ftock in the name of John Smith, described of the place in which he died, receives the dividend, as adminiftrator, and is fatiffied with the clerk's declaration that it is all the stock he poffeffed. We will fup pose this relation's name to be William Smith, who foon after dies, and leaves a young family, appointing his widow fole executrix, and two friends, as trustees, to execute the purposes of his will; but before his death he also had been able to purchase 1000l. ftock; which being found there, in his name, as he found his brother's before, the widows and trustees inquire no farther; but, after having it transferred into their names, according to the will, and having regularly made a fearch throughout all the funds, add the reft of his effects to this truft, and fit

themselves down fatisfied that all is right. Now, this is not only a probable, but I take upon me to fay, mutatis mutandis, an actual statement, and by no means likely to be a fingle event; if we confi der, on the one hand, the averfion which too many fenfible men have to the ma king a will, and a difinclination, from very miftaken notions, on the other, to acquaint their wives and families with the particulars of their affairs; the loose manner alfo in which many men, even in bufinefs, keep their private accounts; and what numbers there are who keep no account at all;-in this one inftance, then, it is obvious, that 2000l. stock, principal and intereft, that is to fay, 1000l. remaining in the name of John Smith deceased, and the other in the name of Thomas Smith deceased, are actually dead to the widow and children of William Smith, who was heir to both; but how are his reprefentatives to know it ? Who is to acquaint them? So that here is 2000l. lapfe, never likely to be recovered fairly, but by public advertifement, when the children of this William Smith could easily substantiate their claims; for every thing would unravel itself.

boat, that when a falmon was caught, the waterman was in danger of being overfet whenever it ftruck the boat. The boats were fo light, that the fishermen ufually carried them on their fhoulders. From a spirit of fuperftitious piety, very peculiar privileges of fanctuary have been given to the Welsh churches. Not only in cemeteries or burial places, but within the precincts of certain bounds appointed by the bishop, all animals had the liberty of feeding in perfect fecurity The larger churches, endowed with greater privileges on account of their anti quity, extended their bounds of fanctuary fill farther, as far as the cattle go in the morning and return at night. So facred were the privileges of fanctuary, that if any perfon at mortal enmity with his prince, fought the refuge of the church, his own perfon, his family, and all his property remained in the most perfect fecurity. If any attempt was made to vi. olate the fanctuary, the parties under its protection marched out with great bold neis, and not only molefted the prince himself, but grievously infefted the country.

If the King granted a licence to build a church in any village whofe inhabitants were villains, to which a cemetery was affigned, and priests were appointed to celebrate mafs, the village from that time became free. The hermits and other ascetics in this country were in a peculiar degree auftere in the habits of mortification, and in their piety more fpiritualised than the religious in any o ther nation. As it was the difpofition of this people to pursue every object with vehemence, none were elfewhere to be found fo bad as the worst, nor any better than the good among the Welth.

It was natural that a warlike people would employ their leisure, during the fhort intervals of peace, in the habits of domestic feftivity, or in the pleasures of the field. A variety of exercises, fome more violent, others more gentle in their nature, were in common ufe among the Welsh. Of these, many which were the more peculiar diverfions of men, were feats of strength; namely, pitching a bar of iron, throwing a fledge, a large ftone or quoits, running, leaping, fwimming, wrestling, riding, archery, and throwing the javelin; fencing with fword and buckler, the two-handed fword, and playing with the quarter staff. There were several other diverfions confidered

as rural sports, and as lefs manly; fuck as hunting, fishing, and bird-hunting; befides which fundry others were used in families as private amufements, and confidered as literary; fuch as poetry, playing on the harp, reading Welsh, finging poems with ftringed inftruments, finging an ode of four parts, and accenting it with proper expreffion; heraldry, and embaffy. Befides thefe, there were various modes of hunting, particularly hunting the ftag, purfuing a swarm of bees, and taking falmon; these three were deented common diverfions. The tag was hunted with hounds and greya hounds; and this was called a common diverfion, because every person who was at his death had a right to a fhare. Even if a man on his journey happened to pafs by at the time the ftag was killed, he was intitled by the game laws to a share in common with those who had hunted him down. A fwarm of bees was likewife a common property; for whoever found them on his own or other people's lands, unless the finder fhould have put a mark that he first found them, every one who paffed by had a right to enjoy a fhare; but a fourth part went to the owner of the ground. Salmon were alfo confidered in the fame light; for when they were caught with a net, or ftruck with a spear, or taken in any other way, whoever should come to the place before a divifion was made, was intitled to a part, provided the salmon was taken out of a common water.

It was neceffary that every perfon who carried a horn should be acquainted with the nine game laws. If he could not give an account of them, he forfeited his horn. Whoever went a hunting with couples, forfeited thofe likewife if he could not properly give an explanation of them. No one was allowed to fhoot a beaft that was appropriated for the chace, when at reft, on pain of forfeiting his bow and arrows to the lord of the ma nor: though he might shoot at, and kill any fuch, if he could, when the dogs were in full cry; but he was not allowed to fhoot among the dogs.

The tenants of bond lands and villages, being inferior to freeholders, were bound to fervile employments, and in many things were at the difpofal of their princes or Lords. A lord had the privilege of parting with his vaffal either by fale or donation. There was, however, a distinétion in point of privilege between

fuch

fuch tenants. The free natives were thofe who poffeffed fome degree of free dom, who might go where they pleased, might buy and fell, and enjoyed many o ther immunities. The pure natives were confidered as the entire property of their princes or lords, were sold along with the eftate, and confined within its limits; out of which, if they happened to wander, they were liable to be driven back like brutes with great severity. The profeffion of any of the mechanic or liberal arts made a vaffal free; but no vaffal could acquire them without the permif fion of his lord.

From the few traits which are here given of the private manners and cuftoms of the Welth, we may form a lively idea of their genius, and, in fome measure, may difcriminate what was peculiar in their national character. Hence, too, we are enabled to account for a variety of fplendid actions which strike our wonder, and intereft our feelings for the fate of a brave people, who were so often thrown into fituations, fudden and rapid in their changes, and which appear to be fingular in the history of nations.

SIR,

Recollect to have lately read in one of the public prints, a paragraph purporting, that it was in contemplation to appropriate all the unclaimed flock in the Bank, from a certain period, towards the extinction of the national debt; the paragraph inftancing, by way of Nota Bene, that there was, in one fingle article, 10,000l. which had lain there fince the reign of Queen Anne.

If there be any portion of truth in this article of intelligence may not the propriety and juftice of keeping the effects of others locked up unadvertised, and therefore unclaimed, be reasonably que ftioned? Moft ignorant individuals (ignorant I mean respecting the property of their relations thus concealed) derive no benefit but through the channel of chance or improper information.

Leaving, however, this matter to be weighed at leifure, permit me, Sir, to inform fociety at large, without being thought an impertinent individual of it, how this lapfe of ftock has been hither to in general occafioned; fo that, if no thing be reftored to ourselves, we may check, at least, an accumulating lofs to pofterity.

Let us fuppofe, then, that Thomas

Smith, a person of whatever description, dies poffelfed of 1000l. ftock, and his fon, or his nephew, John Smith, is appointed his fole executor. The will is proved, and the dividend duly received by the executor as fuch, who, in the course of his own life, buys roool. ftock himself, and dying inteftate, his brother, or next of kin, takes out letters of administration, and repairing to the Bank, in fearch of his effects, finding 10001. ftock in the name of John Smith, described of the place in which he died, receives the dividend, as administrator, and is fatiffied with the clerk's declaration that it is all the ftock he poffeffed. We will fappofe this relation's name to be William Smith, who foon after dies, and leaves a young family, appointing his widow fole executrix, and two friends, as trustees, to execute the purposes of his will; but before his death he also had been able to purchase 1000 1. stock; which being found there, in his name, as he found his brother's before, the widows and trustees inquire no farther; but, after having it transferred into their names, according to the will, and having regularly made a fearch throughout all the funds, add the reft of his effects to this truft, and fit themselves down fatistied that all is right, Now, this is not only a probable, but I take upon me to fay, mutatis mutandis, an actual statement, and by no means likely to be a fingle event; if we confider, on the one hand, the averfion which too many sensible men have to the making a will, and a difinclination, from very mistaken notions, on the other, to acquaint their wives and families with the particulars of their affairs; the loose manner alfo in which many men, even in bufinefs, keep their private accounts; and what numbers there are who keep no account at all;-in this one instance, then, it is obvious, that 2000l. ftock, principal and intereft, that is to fay, 1000l. remaining in the name of John Smith deceased, and the other in the name of Thomas Smith deceased, are ac tually dead to the widow and children of William Smith, who was heir to both; but how are his reprefentatives to know it? Who is to acquaint them? So that here is 2000!. lapfe, never likely to be recovered fairly, but by public advertifement, when the children of this William Smith could easily fubftantiate their claims; for every thing would unravel itself.

I will now fuggeft another cafe, that another man has retired from London with 20,000l. or 30,000 l. in the different funds. After his retirement he shall pur chafe 2000 1. or 3000l. in fome new ftock; or, which is the fame thing, in a stock in which he had no property before. In this purchase his broker, probably by his principal's order, fhall describe him ac cording to his refidence in the country, while his former property bespoke him of fome street in London. The fuppofition, then, is not vague, but rather, for the reafons I have before mentioned, I think probable; it is however poffible, that his reprefentatives, on his decease, shall know nothing of this new purchase, but readily finding the other stock, share it among themselves, by the affiftance of the clerk at the book, as fome old will of the deceafed fhall direct, and, satisfied with more money than they expected, inquire sofarther. But even admitting the fearch through the offices, the proprietor himfelf never having had occafion to fell, and being accustomed to receive his own dividend, felt no inconvenience from these different descriptions; and his Chriftian and furname being common perhaps to hundreds, how were the clerks to divine, that a man of a particular and profeffional defcription in London, and the fquire of a village an hundred miles from it, was one and the fame perfon? I take upon me to fay, that both these examples are in point; they may even unite in one family: the lofs will, of course, be then the greater to the branches of it, and these are the fources to which may be traced the amazing increase of lapsed stock, and in what the Bank call their clearing books and exchequer-accounts. Yours, Lond. Chron.

MONITOR.

Particulars of CHARLES PRICE, Lottery Office Keeper, who hanged himself in To thil-fields, Bridewell.

THIS unhappy man was apprehended about Jan. 15. at Mr Aldus's, a pawnbroker, in Berwick-ftreet: he had paffed only three examinations, and executed himself in Tothil-fields, Bride well, on the 24th, there being only ten days from his apprehenfion to his diffo lation. About 'Change he was well known; and his natural propenfity to difhonefty was the fpring of all his miffortunes; it made him shift from place to place to avoid the abuse of the vulgar, and the clamorous calls of lucky adven. turers. His laft office was the corner of VOL. XLVIII.

King's ftreet, Covent Garden, from whence he was driven, about fix years ago, by a most unaccountable run of ill luck, and efteemed himself happy in a private decampment.

Driven thus to expedients, and having a large family of eight children to fupport, he turned his thoughts to that at tempt which proved so fatal to him. His firft attempt on the Bank was about the year 1780, when a forged note had been taken there, fo complete in all its parts, the engraving, the signatures, the water marks, &c. that it paffed through various hands unfufpected, and was not difcovered till it came to a certain department in the routine of that office, and through which no forgery whatever can pafs undiscovered. This occafioned a confiderable alarm; and notes upon notes flowed in about the lottery and Christmas times, without even the leaft poffibility of tracing out the firft negociator. Various confultations were held, and plans laid, but in vain.

Mr Price had no partner in this bufinefs:-He engraved his own plates; he made his own paper, with the water. marks, and he was his own negotiator; thereby confining a fecret to his own breaft, which he wifely deemed not at eafe in the breaft of another: even Mrs Price had not the leaft knowledge or fufpicion of his proceedings. Having.prac tifed engraving till he had made himfelf fufficient mafter of it, he then made his own ink to prove his own works: having purchased implements, and manufactured the water mark, he next fet himself to counterfeit the hand writings, and fuc ceeded fo far, as even to puzzle a part of the first body of men in the world.

On Jan. 26. the Coroner's Inqueft fat on his body, and brought in their verdict, Self-Murder; and the fame night he was put in the ground in the fields, and a ftake driven through his body. He was 52 years of age.

When the keeper of the prifon cut him down, he found in his breast three letters; one directed to the Bank Directors, wherein he confeffed to them every thing concerning the forgery, as well as the manner of putting off the notes; another to his wife, written in a most affecting ftyle; and one to the keeper of the pri fon, thanking him for the bumanity he had fhewn him. Price's wife was dif charged from prifon; and the rollingprefs, plates, &c. were destroyed by order of Sir Sampfon Wright.

K

PAR