ers and thefe millers that they are at all times furnished with a proportionable fupply of what the lands produce, be it more or lefs, it being impoffible for any number of those men to combine together to with-hold their corn from market to any alarming degree, without the poor in their refpective neighbourhoods being apprifed of it; and if any fuch attempt was but fufpected, the refentment of the people would foon prevent it. Gent. Mag. Mr URBAN, Fanuary 1766. IN a late Magazine, you have very judiciously endeavoured to compofe the minds of the industrious poor, and to reconcile them to the circumstances of the times, and the feverity of the feafons, which, for fome years past, have been very unfavourable to vegetation: and though the people of England have felt Jefs of the fatal confequences that have attended this general calamity, than almoft any other European nation; yet fuch is the temper of mankind, that they are prone to murmur on the leaft interruption in the ordinary difpenfations of Providence; and more fo, perhaps, in this kingdom, than in any other upon earth. It is not true, that, notwithftanding the advanced price of all forts of provifions, the industrious poor have felt any real diftrefs for want of fubfiftence; but it is very true that the lazy poor have. There are thoufands in and near this metropolis, and a ftill greater number difperfed throughout the kingdom, who make the high price of provifions a pretence for their idleness, and who ra ther chufe to complain and to beg, than apply themselves to honeft labour, and to work one hour more in the day to make up the defect. And this evil is countenanced by fpeculative writers, who have no real tenderness for the poor, but affect a great zeal for the popular fide of any question; a zeal without knowledge, as is manifeft from their almost total filence on the only effential points that deserve a parliamentary regulation; and thefe are, the vast consumption of breadcorn in the diftillery, and in making ftarch. The writer of this has been credibly informed, that one houfe only in the weft of England, confumes more corn in one year, in the former of those branches [xix. 662], than is produced in the fame time in the whole Vale of Evesham, the moft fertile spot, of the fame extent, of any in this kingdom: and he has been farther well informed, that the house here alluded to, is but little in comparison of other capital houses in and near this metropolis. This is no fpeculative affertion; but what may be proved by the books of excife, whenever thofe books fhall be thought of confequence enough to be confulted by that power which alone can redrefs the grievance. It is a known truth, that the growth of potatoes is of infinite confequence to the maintenance of the poor, in a neighbouring kingdom; but it is as well known, that, were the poor of this kingdom to be driven to the use of them as a staff of life, their complaints would be grievous; and yet the nourishment they afford is both pleasant and falutary. No one can complain of the price of thefe; they have been plenty even to furfeiting. Far be it from me to advance any arguments to the difadvantage of the induftrious poor. I am as fenfible of their importance to the public as the most zealous of their advocates, and would point out every means my weak underftanding could fuggeft, to administer to their comfort and real happiness; but it never can contribute to either, to fill their minds with imaginary evils, and to anticipate their diftrefs, when no fuch diftrefs, perhaps, will ever overtake them. I have been told, that a starch, equal in goodness, if not better than that made from corn, may be made from potatoes, but that there is a law to prevent it. this fhould be fact, furely that prohibition may be taken off, without injury to any body; and the potatoes that now are a dead commodity, may be used in the room of bread corn that is fo much wanted, to the mutual advantage of the ftarch-maker and the community. This alteration, if it fhould be fuffered to take place, would moft undoubtedly lower the price of wheat; but that can by no means operate to any confiderable degree upon the rate of other provifions. No. thing but kindly feafons can make cattle fat; nothing but plenty of grain, more than fufficient for man's ufe, can make the ufe of it general in feeding other animals; and nothing but the kindly production of every vegetable can operate fo as to reduce the price of all kinds of provifions in every part of this island. Murmuring, fcheming, reproaching, profecuting, abolishing the bounties, nor any other means that man can devife, will do much towards promoting plenty, when the seasons are unfavourable. This feems to be fighting against the decrees of Providence. All that man can do upon these occafions is, to lay down fuch rules, and contrive fuch regulations, as to make the advantage refulting from them as general as it is poffible.. Opening our ports to receive fuch fupplies as our neighbours can afford us, ftopping any unnatural confumption of grain among ourfelves, and giving all fitting enouragement to the importation of every neceffary of life, from whatever country it may be fent us, are regulations that bid as fair for alleviating the weight of this heavy calamity, as human prudence can devife. But aiming at impoffibilities by idle and impracticable schemes, and endeavouring to lower provifions, by perfecuting those who make it their livelihood to furnish them, are ftrange methods of proceeding. I would ask thofe worthy magiftrates who have tried the experiment, What mighty effects have been produced by profecuting butchers, hig lers, grafiers, dealers in cattle, or other ingroffers, by what denomination foever ftigmatized? Has this exertion of the magifterial authority lowered the price of any of the neceffaries of life, in the places where the laws against these people have been carried into execution with the utmost force? I declare I know of none; but I know where these proceedings have had the contrary effect. I know a city of no inconfiderable note, where the magiftrates carried the laws into execution with fuch rigour against those they deemed ingroffers, &c. that, though a plentiful market before, none of those people who used to fupply the neighbouring villages, dared to come to it to buy their little stock; the confequence of which was, that most people who were wont to furnish them, ceafed to bring in their provisions to fell; by which means the course of the market was diverted to another channel, and the price of provifions was advanced upon the inhabitants at least one third. In this corporation the zealous governing magistrate, lest the man who bought four pigs on a market-day fhould caufe a fcarcity, made feizure of the monopoly, and dif. tributed the number very equitably; the informer had one, the conftable had one, the ferjeant the third, and the fourth was dreffed for the magistrate's own dinner. This is a notorious fact, that can be at tefted by numbers. And are these the laws that are likely to operate fo as to reduce the neceffaries of life to a moderate price for the poor? Surely not. The regulations for the production of plenty are of a deeper reach; they must take their foundation from the nature of things, and must rise into act by slow degrees. The depravity of manners among the lowest clafs of poor in and near this metropolis, is notorious; their idleness, debauchery, infolence, inhumanity, and brutishness, but, above all, their roguery, appear more and more glaring every day; infomuch that cheating and overreaching among them is approved and applauded as a proof of genius, pilfering is encouraged, and thievery unaccompa nied with acts of violence, is scarcely attended with any reproach; nor is the company of the thief thought difgraceful among his poor neighbours. To fuch a pitch of wickedness are the poor of this kingdom arrived! If, for these things, the divine difpleafure is poured forth upon us, and famine fhould enfue, it will be in vain to cry to man: relief must come from a fuperior being. Let us, therefore, instead of increafing their complaints, endeavour to awaken their understandings, and convince them, if poffible, that it is for their crimes that they are justly punished. Could this be effected, (which is the end of all divine chaftifements), the calamity that is now complained of will be productive of the happiest confequences. The honest industrious poor will then no longer groan under the intolerable burden of fupporting the lazy, wicked, and abandoned poor; and every one will then bear his own burden with patience and refignation. How many thousands are there now in this metropolis, and in many other parts of the kingdom where the grievance is ftill more feverely felt, who, when the money is drawn from them for the use of the poor, (as they are called), have no money left for the use of their own halfnaked families. This is a fact well known to those who hold the office of collecting this moft oppreffive rate [xi. 132.]. Here then lies the grievance, and here the remedy must begin. A reformation of manners among all degrees of people, particularly the lowest class, who are no toriously the most profligate, must be earnestly endeavoured; fome neceffary regulations A feduction of our workmen pointed out. 36 A reward of 51. a-year, or more, to a poor industrious family, to be obtained by certificate at a full veftry in the parifh where they refide, where the character for good morals, honeft principles, and Taborious diligence, fhould be the only confiderations to obtain it, would operate more to encourage industry, than any proportion of poor's money, as now affeffed and applied, that could be appropriated. A fund for this purpose might eafily be raised, and many other ways devifed for the encouragement of labour and good morals among the poor. Suppofe that after a certain period, for inftance twenty years labour in the fervice of the public, with fair characters, and in their on parifh, every fuch poor husbandman's family fhould have a certain proportion of watte land allotted them, which they might either fell or occupy in any of the uncultivated forests of this kingdom, which are now a burden to the crown, and of little ufe to the public. One foreft might be appropriated without injury for that purpose, by way of trial, as the prefent great officers who hold it, and derive no inconfiderable emoluments for fo doing, would probably be at reft before the first claimants would be intitled to their proportions of it. The hope before thefe poor families of being one day made freeholders in their native country, would infpire many with the spirit of industry and activity, who now are gro⚫ velling under the weight of dejection and diffipation, as hopeleis of ever mending their condition, or being any thing better than day-labourers, during the courfe of their painful lives. Some fuch excite ments as thefe to industry, feem neceffary to roufe the prefent degenerat race of poor in this kingdom, from that fullen and untractable humour into which they are fallen, which not only threatens poverty and want to themselves, but univerfal diftrefs to the community. Y. D. I am, e Vol.xxviii. Birmingham, Jan. 30. you will permit me, by your useful paper, to inform the public of the fol- Many lowing interefting particulars. complaints having lately been made of the growth of Popery among us, and of the arts of its priests in making proselytes, I have lately had an opportunipractice introduty of difcovering ced amongst us, under their patron– age, which is, and must be in its confequences, deftructive to the trade of this kingdom; in the prefervation of which we are all concerned. In the parith of Sedgeley, between Dudley and Wolverhampton, is a large houfe emploved as a school, in which are boarded and educated more than one hundred boys, many of whom are foreigners; whó are put out as apprentices to various branches of trade, in which that country is known to excel, especially in the manufactory of iron and brafs. Now, Sir, as this can only be done to enable them to employ that skill which they acquire among us, for the benefit of their own country, it becomes highly neceffary, in my opinion, this evil fhould be inquired into and prevented, it being equally at pernicious in its confequences, and more lafling in its effects, than the feduction of our workmen by ftrangers, which wẻ have always attempted to hinder by the moft severe penalty. Are not fuch men enemies to this nation in its civil capacity? Should they not be restrained, left the evil fhould be past remedy? Permit me to mention one thing more which has fallen under my notice. A Proteftant, with whom I am acquainted, was strong ly folicited to fend his fon to this school, and it is to be feared many may be unwarily drawn into it on a promise of having their education gratis. However, it is well known that the Papifts, who are numerous, are fupplied with apprentices from this feminary, many of whom are the children of Proteftants, educated at this place; with what view, but for the promotion and increate of the Catholic religion? If what I have related is fact, then it is incumbent on those who have power and authority, to remedy the evil complained of. This they will do, if I am, &c. they regard the prefent or future interVERAX. eft of church or state. P. S. Large additions being nog mas king to Sedgeley park, it is reported, they are intended as a fchool for girls. L. G. A A Catalogue of NEW BOOKS, the Prices and Publishers Names annexed; with REMARKS and EXTRACTS. Antenuptial fornication considered. I s. Becket. [We fometimes fhew from what works we take thefe Remarks; by annexing M. for Monthly Review; C. for Critical Review; G. for Gentleman's, and L. for London Magazine, &c.] mife, between the parties, is not innocent. The author obferves, upon princi-, ples of mere natural light, that every member of civil fociety is obliged by the civil compact to obey all the laws of it; and he thews from revelation, that the antenuptial commerce between Sechem and Dinah, where the parties intended, as far as was in their power, to remove the disgrace, by a speedy and honourable marriage, is styled a defilement. t But although what he has hitherto advanced may be admitted, yet he feems to have adopted a notion of Dr Rutherford,, which may well be disputed. t Dr Rutherford, in his Inftitutes of Natural Law, fays, "When a marriage is folemnized otherwife than the law requires, the parties are not bound to each other as husband and wife. The bargain which they have made in words, is no bargain at all, and produces NO obligation. As they are not therefore hulband and wife, our natural or religious notion of marriage is out of the question: for as there is no contract at all, there cannot be any perpetual contract; as they are not joined together at all, they can not be joined together by God; and, confequently, we have no grounds to con clude that they cannot be put asunder by man." ONE would not have imagined that, any thing could ever have been feriously offered in defence of any species of fornication; and, confequently, we might' naturally conclude, that a courfe of learn ed arguments against a criminal indulgence in antenuptial intimacies, would be totally unneceffary:- although diffuafives, on religious and prudential motives, may have become but too requfite, from the indifcretion or frailty of many individuals. A cafe, however, is here stated, wherein a young gentleman, foberly inclined, and in view of a happy matrimonial connection, was engaged in a debate on the fubject of antenuptial fornication; wherein he found himself unable to maintain the virtuous cause of chastity, against the fpecious reafonings of a fet of able difputants, who undertook to palliate, and even vindicate, a practice, into which the juvenile cafuift was by no means inclined to fall. Our author, therefore, fends him this long and elaborate epiftle, to enable him the better to ftand his ground against his subtle, and eyen learned opponents. To this purpofe, he enters on a critical inquiry into the nature of matrimony; and quotes a variety of paffages from the Old and New Teftaments, both preceptive and hiftorical, relating to this subject: and having confidered how far the idea of the marriagecovenant is conformable to the dictates both of reafon and scripture, he next fhews in what manner thefe dictates are inforced by our national laws concerning this inftitution. He then appeals to the law and voice of confcience; and makes a pathetic address to those who are fuppofed to maintain the argument in favour of that libertinilm which is the point here controverted: concluding the whole with fome pious reflections, and judicious observations, well fuited to the occafion. — The author, though a very grave, is by no means a difagreeable or inelegant writer; expreffing himself, throughout, in a manner becoming the scholar and the gentleman. M. THE defign of this piece is, to prove, that an antenuptial commerce, though in confequence of a folemn, but private proVOL. XXVIII. Now, in the first place, mere natural law requires nothing more to constitute a marriage, than the folemn engagement of the parties to each other. That civil and political institutions require more, cannot be difputed; any more than that those who do not marry according to those inftitutions, where they are established, do not contract a lawful marriage. But although in this cafe they fhould not make fuch a contract as the law will oblige them to full, there can be no doubt but that their moral obligation to fulfil it is the fame. A man is under the fame obligation in foro confcientiæ, to pay a debt which cannot be legally recovered, as to pay a debt which can; and incurs equal guilt by with-holding from his creditor what he owes, which is not lefs his due than if he could recover it by force. Befides, as to marriage, the law will, in fome cafes, inforce a contract made be tween the parties, if it can be proved, though the rituals and folemnities which F it preferibes, were wanting. If two perfons mutually declare to each other, that they take each other for hutband and wife, ufing the words in the prefent tenfe, though it cannot be called a marriage folemnized as the law requires, yet the law deems the parties to be fo joined as that they cannot be put alunder by man, and will compel them to fulfil their engage ment. Can it be imagined, that if a man has folemnly promised to take and provide for a woman as his wife; and that if, in confidence of this promife, the has put her felf wholly into his power; he is under o obligation to keep this promife; and that he may abandon her, and his children by her, to want and infamy, without guilt, merely because his engagement is fuch as the law will not inforce ? Motives, however, can never be wanting to restrain perfons from entering into fuch engagements: "We daily fee," fays This author," with what precaution men think it neceffary to act in affairs of much lefs importance. If it is but transferring merchandife or land, what care is there to have the contract duly testified accor ding to law? and how much more precious, beyond all comparifon, is that property which confifts in perfonal honour and virtue, the loss of which can never be compenfated? When this is to be tranfferred, who but the most imprudent and infatuated would risk their all on a contract without law, and, therefore, contrary to law? In this cafe, how of ten is relief depied under the infirmities of pregnancy? How are children left deftitute of maintenance, inft: uction, and government? How is the regular defcent of patrimonies overthrown? and the national hope of a numerous and healthful offspring precluded? It must be allowed," fays he, "that the legislature has an undoubted right to determine the modes and conditions of an engagement to which the civil advantages of marriage are to be annexed; and if nothing is injoined by the Jegiflature but what has a foundation in reafon and feripture, the earlies the higheft obligation to be lubject to fuch appointments." As many women may reasonably be fuppofed to be feduced to an antenuptial commerce, under folemn promises of marriage, upon a fuppofition that they may confent nd yet be innocent, this author, by proving that they cannot inocently copient, will preferve all tho who will not voluntarily become guilty, from trusting in promifes which are too frequently made only to be broken, and the breach of which can fcarce fail to be productive of every evil by which God is difhonoured, fociety injured, and indivi duals undone. G. LON D 0 N, &c. vols. 5 s. fewed. Henderfon. A letter to Dr Lowth, occafioned by his late letter to the author of the Divine legation of Mofes. By the author of Effays on the Characteristics." Davis & Rymers. I S. A new addrefs to the author of the Eflays, in anfwer to the preceding. 1 S. Urquhart. The hypothefis of a triune fubfiftence in the Deity, as maintained by the author of A feafonable rebuke to an ignorant reviler; examined by a by-stander. 6 d. Wilkie. of God the Father Almighty. To which is An attempt to restore the fupreme worthip now added, A dialogue between an Athanafian and a Unitarian. Written for the ufe of poor Chriftians, by George Williams, a livery-fervant, Edit. 2. with additions, and a preface, by T. A. O. T. C. O. A. D. I S. Becket & De Hondt. Every true Chriftian a new creature. From 2 Cor. v. 17. By J. Townsend, M. A. Dilly. 1 5. An exhortation to beneficence. By Edward Watkinson, M. D. Rector of Chart in |