we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt. You give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be afhamed to fee your creditor: you will be in fear when you fpeak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, fneaking excufes, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and fink into base downright lying; for, as poor Richard fays, "The fecond vice is ly ing, the first is running in debt." And again, to the fame purpose, " Lying rides upon Debt's back;" whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to fee or fpeak to any man living. But Poverty often deprives a man of all Spirit and virtue: "It is hard for an empty bag to ftand upright," as poor Richard truly fays. What would you think of that prince, or that government, who fhould iffue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or a gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or fervitude? Would you not fay, that you were free, have a right to drefs as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and fuch a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourfelf under that tyranny when you run in debt for such drefs! Your creditor has authority, at his pleafure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or by felling you for a fervant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but "Creditors (poor Richard tells us) have better memories than Debtors;" and in another place he fays, "Creditors are a fuperftitious fect, great obfervers of fet days and times." The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to fatisfy it. Or if you bear your debt in mind, the term which at firft feemed fo long, will, as it leffens, appear extremely fhort. Time will feem to have added wings to his heels as well as his fhoulders." Thofe have a fhort Lent (faith poor Richard) who owe money to be paid at Eafter." Then fince, as he fays, "the Borrower is a slave to the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor," difdain the chain, preferve your freedom, and maintain your independency; be induftrious and free, be frugal and free. At prefent, perhaps, you may think yourselves, in thriving cirVOL. XXXIX, cumftances, and that you can bear a litt e extravagance without injury; but, "Frage and want fave while you may, No morning-fun lafts a whole day," as poor Richard says.-Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever, while you live, expence is conftant and certain; and "It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel," as poor Richard fays. So "Rather go to bed fupperless than rife in debt." "Get what you can, and what you get hold; It is the ftone that will turn all your lead into gold," as poor Richard fays. And when you have got the Philofopher's ftone, fure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wifdom: But, after all, do not depend too much upon your own Industry, and Frugality, and Prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blafted without the bleffing of Heaven: and therefore afk that bleffing humbly, and be not uncharitable to thofe that at prefent feem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job fuffered, and was afterwards profperous. And now, to conculde, "Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn in no other, and fearce in that; for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct," as poor Richard says. However, remember this, They that will not be counfelled, cannot be helped," as poor Richard says; and further, "That if you will not hear Reafon, the will furely rap your knuckles." 66 Thus the old gentleman ended his ha rangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine; and immediately practifed the contrary, juft as if it had been a common fermon: for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions, and their own fear of taxes.I found the good man had thoroughly studied my Almanacks, and digefted all I had dropped on thofe topics during the courfe of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one elfe, but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it; though I was confcious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he afcribed to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the fenfe of all ages and nations. However, I refolved D to to be the better for the echo of it; and though I had first determined to buy ftuff for a new coat, I went away, refolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever thine, to ferve thee. July 7.1757. RICHARD SAUNDERS. To the Author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. SIR, THE following loofe reflections I found in the cabinet of a dear friend whom I have lately loft. His mind was of that uncommon frame, which could bear to meditate with complacency and chear fulness on a subject of doubt, anxiety, and difinay. As they may tend to che rith the fame happy difpolition in others, they are prefented to you without apology. "A Materialift, who supposes the foul to be but a quality of matter, modified in a certain manner, fhould be afked, "Where is the change in the modifica tion of matter at the inftant that the fpirit leaves the body?- Each component part of the body retains its form and tuation. The image is ftill painted on the retina of the eye; as may be proved by taking it out of its focket, and placing a white fubftance behind it, which will receive the picture of all external objects. And fo it is with all the organs of fenfe.' Death, therefore, is not a change of modification in the parts of our body; but as the body remains the fame, it must be the feparation of a fubitance perfectly diftinct from the body. 33 In what manner the foul should ever be united to the body, is as incomprehenible, as. that they fhould ever exilt fepaJately and difunited. But we know that the foul is not congenial with the embryo, but united to it at a certain period of its growth; we know likewife, that at another period this intelligent fubftance leaves its material companion: - two facts which prove it to be a feparate fubftance: And it is easier for me to conceive it to be a fubftance capable of a feparate exiflence, than to fuppofe it only a refult of compounded matter. Is there any other compofition of matter but the animal compofition, which forms a refult refembling intelligence? What then, do we fear in death, which is but a change in the mode of our Existence? We made one change when we came into life; and why fhould we fear to make another? Do we change our master in that afterftate? - do we cease to be under the government of that being who took care of us in this life? Have we lefs reafon to trust that He will wifely difpofe of us after this life, than we have, that He will care for us during what yet remains of it? With equal reafon should I fear to live to-morrow, as fear to die. The chief fource of the fear of Death is in the ignorance of the nature of that state which fuccoeds. We dread it as fomething unknown; a dark labyrinth, of which we know not the termination; a path where thousands go before, but there is none to inform us of its infue. Thus we fear every thing that we do not know. The fird nazigator feared to truft his bark out of fight of the fhore ; but experience foon taught him, that the diftant ocean was more tranquil than the thallow bays. The Equatorial as well as the Polar regions, while unknown, were deemed uninhabitable. A blind man fears to tread a path with which he is unacquainted. Fear, therefore, is no proof of the certainty of danger. That terror is childish which arifes tolely from uncertainty. But another fource of, the fear of Death is the dread of the pain fuppofed to attend the feparation of the foul from the body. But here, perhaps, we judge crroneoully. It is certain that an acute difeafe is painful: but if the difeafe is painful, the termination of that pain fhould be pleafant. The last struggle is probably the easiest. The fenfes are gradually abforpt. Now we know that the abforption of the fenfes is rather pleasant than painful. It is pleafant to fink gradually into fleep; and perhaps it is a fimilar abforption of the faculties when we die. The forethought or expectation of dying conflitutes its pain; for were we divefted of that, our laft illness would be no more fevere than others from which we have recovered. Animals which have not forethought or apprehenfion of death, appear to die tafily. When mortally wounded, they clofe their eyes, as in a fleep, and expire often without the fmallett ftruggle. To balance thofe fears which arise from uncertainty, we need but to review thofe confolations, ronfolations, for fome of which we have fought truth; the counfels of Proviwell-founded, and for others abfolute dence fhall refolve the doubts of the Mecertainty. We have the certainty of deliverance from much mifery. Chained to a mafs of matter which is in a continual progrefs to decay, the foul fhares in all the pains and difeafes of its frail vehicle. But loofed from the body, she is emancipated from her bondage, and is free to the exertion of her native powers, with out incumbrance or rettraint. The victim of difeafe fhall exchange his fickly frame for angelic strength and beauty. The wounds of the spirit, more severe than the keeneft anguish of the body, ball then be healed for ever, Patient merit fhall no longer fuffer "the fpurn of the unworthy.' The poor fhall ceafe to bow beneath the rod of the oppreffor. The capricious changes of Fortune, the ftroke of unforeseen calamity, the death of friends and protectors, leaving us comfortlefs and abandoned,- from all thefe, which conftitute the miferics of life, we have a certain deliverance. To these confolations, we add the hopes which arife from Reason and ReLgion. To the good and virtuous man the balance of expectation in an after state is furely comfortable. Whether we fall draw pleafure from the fame fources whence we now derive it, is among the arcana that are for ever fhut to mortal eyes. As our faculties are at prefent conftituted, we cannot cafily conceive other fources. If the foul shall exist through the medium of fenfes, we can figure enjoyments resembling thofe which conftitute our prefent happiness. The pleasures arising from the virtuous affections are the higheft of which we can conceive the foul to be capable; -moft certainly, not unworthy of hea ven itfelf. Friends fhall unite, no more to part; -the husband and the wife, the orphans and their father, the mother and her child. taphyfician. The love of Knowledge must then have its higheft gratification, in the difcovery of thofe great arcana which the weak eye of human reafon fails to reach.” To the Author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. SIR, REading, fome months fince, in a pe riodical publication, the journal of a woman of high tafte; and meeting with the following by accident, written, as it appears, by the wife of a man in the country, who had but a scanty income, and was burdened with a family; I thought the contraft fufficiently ftriking, if it has no other merit, to intitle it to a place in your Magazine. "SUNDAY. Rofe pretty early. Refolved to go to church with my family; but a little chagrined when I reflected, that Kitty's gown was very so fo; Tom's breeches wanted feating ;-- Harry's coat much the worse for the wear; little Ned and Bill's fhoes had been cobled extremely, and were apt to run down at heel. However, ill-health only fhould prevent our joining in public worship brushed them up as well as poffible: hufband and felf headed then to church. An excellent fermon from Dr Harrifon : the text, "Take no thought for to-morrow, &c.- much comforted by it. Dined on a shoulder of mutton and potatoes; - good appetites and thankful hearts. At church again in the afternoon.-- Mrs Dulcet's to tea. Mem. A molt excellent woman. Chearful, pious, and friendly. - Two hours flid away imperceptibly in chearful chat, without detraction: not always the cafe that at country tea-tables. Heard the young folks read, and to bed about ten. MONDAY. Waked, full of diftreffing thoughts: the good fermon obliterated, or fwallowed up, by carking care.-Kitty fixteen, no portion,- full of fenfibility, loves reading, has a taste for books, of a delicate frame, cannot labour as a household drudge, likes the needle, is ingenious, and induirious, The moft diftant ages fhall unite.- but no friend to put her in a way whereThe virtuous fhall affociate with the mo- in her talents might turn to emolument. dels of their life, thofe illuftrious cha--- Tom of age to go apprentice, Lut no racters, the wife and good that diftinguished ancient days. The philofopher fhall fad his long money for a premium.- Harry withing for fchool-books, which cannot ba bought. Little Ned and Bill only anxi D 2 ous for bread, fhoes, and stockings. Throw afide these tormenting reflections: -A little breakfaft,- faces all chearful, but my poor man's.-Set down to mending old linen till one.- Dine on cold mutton. Walked out with my daughter. Mem. The spring unfolds its beauties with equal benevolence to all, and the pure fnowdrop courts the hand of Indigence with as much complacency as that of the minion of Fortune.Drank tea. Query, is not that an unwarrantable indulgence? - but we have often fhort dinners. Our small beer is indeed fmall. Thus do we always find excufes for our favourite gratifications.-At the needle till night, eat a cruft of bread, and to bed. - TUESDAY. Rofe at fix; called the poor maid; the fervant of fuch poor people is intitled to that epithet. Set her to washing the linen, (not an im menfe quantity, while Kitty and felf buftled in the other household matters. Breakfafted. The children at fchool. The butcher brought in his bill, viz. a quarter's, amounting to L.5, 108.;told him, I would give it Mr Johnson: he looked furly.- Defired him to send a neck of mutton: - believed he had not one, might have a breaft: - however, a neck was fent.- Broth for dinner.Mrs Dulcet fent for us to tea.- Johnson, felf, and Kitty went: forgot, as ufual, in her sweet society, the cares that weighed me down. She too has been a difciple in the school of Adversity: -her heart is meliorated without lofing its chearfulness : — nor will she allow of for. row, but for guilt, or the death of friends. Supped with her.- Grieved at the report that prevailed of one of the Royal Family being dead, and a general mourn ing. Mem. Hard upon us, to be obliged to get mourning, and yet it can't be difpenfed with in my husband's fituation. Johnfon (who fometimes extracts a jeft from his own poverty) faid, it would be a good fcheme, to get the hatter to immerfe us in his dye-kettle, juft as we were; at which we laughed.—Supped there. came home late; the children all afleep. And fo clofes Tuesday. WEDNESDAY. A fine morning to dry our poor linen. Breakfafted as ufual. This morning's poft brought a letter from my uncle Stapleford: - pref. fes for one year's intereft for the loan of fifty pounds (five years fince), which, if he has not in a week, he will feize for - the principal. Mem. he is worth twenty thousand pounds, has no family, has had five per cent. punctually paid for the faid five years: I am his next heir, but shall moft probably wade to the end of my difficulties, and go to fleep before.Muft write a fupplicating letter for forbearance, for I am fure we cannot pay immediately. At a lofs for dinner: heard fprats cried; - bought enough for feven pence to dine us all. Told Kitty, I would fpeak the next day to Mrs Keen for fome plain work for her to do.- Importuned by a poor beggar (with many tears) for a dry cruft; wept with her; gave a flice from the loaf, and the remaining fprats.-The boys will come home hungry, but there is cheese; tea will fupply my fupper. My poor Johnfon came home much dejected, Suich the tailor, whom he owes feven pounds, had infulted him at a public houfe: -- defired him not to mind it ; - put him in mind that on Friday he would receive twenty pounds: - but then there is the butcher's bill; -- would not remind him of that then. A melancholy evening :-to bed at eleven, after talking over all our embarrassments, to which appeared no end. THURSDAY. Rofe, I truft, in no ill frame of mind: - our habitation gloriously illuminated by the morning-fun : - poured out my heart to that GREAT BEING, of whom the fun (powerful ashe is) can give us but a faint idea; thankful that we wanted not a meal,. which, though fcanty, thousands wanted.- Breakfasted. — Ironed linen. — Afraid to fend to Haunch's for a joint of meat: at last took courage, procured a piece of beef, which, with the addition of a pudding, will furnish out to morrow's dinner.-In the afternoon drefs'd a little, and waited on Mrs Keen. - Coldly received.- Afked for work for Kitty: the is furprised that I let the girl wear her hair so high; — wonders, now fhe is fo old, I do not do without a fervant; - thinks we might get Tom out without much money; — many London tradesmen would be glad of fuch a lad; he might be an errand-boy at firft indeed; but as he can write so well, and fo forth, he would get higher; - Johnfon himself, fhe thought, might teach the little-ones, and fave their schooling; - and he will have time enough, perhaps foon, as the hears there is a new regulation in his office, by which means his duty duty will be lefs, and confequently his red Mr Johnson to take an account of every thing,-give them all,-- and let us croud into a garret, and live on bread and water. But fee the ways of Providence! - Before I had well done speaking, comes a fpecial meffenger from my uncle's houfe, with the news of his death, and that he had left me every thing. Mr Johnfon fet out immediately,- dined luxuriously with my children, though not on dainties: our gratifications were of the mental kind. Mrs Dulcet congratulated me with heartfelt joy.- Mrs Keen likewife paid her compliments : and fo great an alteration has taken place in a few hours, that Kitty is genteel, fenfible, and well-educated; my boys are fine, promifing children; and I have always been the beft of managers, wives, and mothers. Such is the miraculous effect of money: - but I, from the bottom of my heart, fay, "Lord be with us in all time of our wealth." Such, Sir, is this week's journal, on which I shall make no farther comment, but am, &c. A B Revious to the first blow given in the war which commenced in the year 1740, a Captain English, who happened to be on board Ld Aubrey Beauclerk's fhip, in the Weft Indies, told Mr Leflie, (then his Lordfhip's Lieutenant), that he had a prefentiment that his own life would be the first facrifice in that war. A few days after, Lord Aubrey fell in with a fleet of French men of war; whom he hailed, and called upon to lower their top-fails. The Frenchmen refufed, and Lord Aubrey ordered Mr Leslie to go forward, and fire one of the forecastleguns among them. As Leflie left the quar terdeck, he clapt his hand upon Capt. EngSATURDAY. Waked Kitty betimes lith's back, and said, “Now for it, my to fit close to her needle. Whilft we friend; the game is going to begin." The were chearfully at breakfast, comes a Frenchmen returned a broadside before Mr letter from Mr Collins in London, to Leflie got back to the quarterdeck; where whom my husband was bound for a bun- he found Mr English dead, and the only dred pounds for his coufin and friend man who had received any perfonal injury Bristow, giving us to understand, that on board the fhip. But this was not all: when the body was ftript, no wound appear Bristow was gone off, and if he (Mr Co-ed, nor was the manner of his death to he lins) had not the money immediately, he accounted for, till fome hours afterwards, would bring an execution into the houfe. when it was found, that a fhot of the ene-Overwhelmed with this intelligence, my had ftruck against one of the muzzles of and the more fo, as I had perfuaded the a quarterdeck-gun, and fome particles of the poor man to be engaged from a grateful spray or honeycomb of the gun, had penemotive, as Briftow was the means of trated through the skull into the brain. This procuring him his prefent establishment. is a fact, and I dare fay there are inany yet -Burft into tears. Mr Stapleford will living who remember it. be exafperated beyond measure.- DefiA WONDERER. Gent. Mag. NEW |