A new and concife fyftem of geography. By the author of the continuation of Salmon's geographical grammar, &c. 5s.; or 6 s. with coloured maps. Hill. Effays on the active powers of man. By Thomas Reid, D. D. F. R. S. Edinburgh. Prof. of Moral Philofophy, Glasgow. 4to. 1. Is. Bell, Edinburgh. G. & J. Robinjons, London. Sketches of the history of man, with additions and improvements left by the author. By Lord Kames. 4 vols. 8vo. 11. 45. Straban and Cadell, London, Creech, Edinburgh. The husbandry of the ancients. By Adam Dickfon, A. M. 2 vols. 8vo. 125. Dickfon and Creech A political index to the hiftories of Great Britain and Ireland. By Robert Beatfon, Efq; edit. 2. 2 vols. 8vo. 15 s. boards. G.G. J. J. Robinfons, London; Gordon, &c. Edinburgh. Practical obfervations on the book of Revelations. 15. Cheyne. A Series of letters. By Mrs Jean Marshall. 65. boards. Elliot. A critical inquiry into the motion of the fun and ftability of the earth. By Godfrey M-Calman, furgeon in Greenock. 8vo. 45. fewed. Robinfons, London, Bell, Edinburgh. A natural, commercial, and medicinal treatile on tea. With a concife account of the Eak-India Company, thoughts on its government, &c Alfo, an advice as to the use and abufe of tea, the qualities of waters and veffels employed in its infufion, with other mifcelaneous obfervations. To which is added, an appendix, recommending the diftillation of freth from falt water, on board merchant hips, by a new procefs. By Godfrey MCalman, furgeon in Greenock ød fewed Bell table and my precepts easier to follow, than theirs. I shall first speak of the training of boys. As foon as the child comes into the world, have a nurse provided, (if you poffibly can afford one), however found the mother's conftitution may be. Let it remain in the houfe till the great dinner and drink is given on the brat's getting a name, ufually called the chriftening. This will, perhaps, be the happiest day the father will experience upon its account; and his guests will probably be made fo drunk upon the joyful occafion, that they will curfe him and his brat for many days after. This being over, fend it off with the nurfe. It is not fit that the mother in her poor weak way, or the father, with his company, thould be disturbed by the fqualling of the child, or the lullabies of a vulgar crea, ture of a nurse. The woman may be directed, however, to bring it with her when the comes to receive her quarter's payment; but if it should be dead, the may bring any other child of the fame age- the father and mother won't know the difference! When the child is weaned, it must be brought home, no doubt; for one does not know what to do with it. By being gaudiły dieffed, it may, however, ferve the pleafing purpose of fometimes gratifying vanity. Take fpecial care to have a handsome smart young woman to keep the child. Defire her to be always fhowy in her appearance. It is not fit that your child should be carried a bout by a perfon who is only plain and clean, and whofe attire is fuitable to her wages. Give her a half-worn filk gown and flounced petticoat, with other fhowy articles of dress. If he is tolerably well-looked, he will con trive to keep up the show for your credit, and your child will have the advantage of being early introduced into company, and of feeing the world much sooner than you are aware of. When the child begins to prattle, let it be brought to table after dinner, and let the father, for the amufement of the company, teach its weak organs to pronounce what are I called bad words; learn it to lifp oathsfwearing is a fashionable accomplishment, and thould be taught early, that when he is old he may not depart from it. Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, It is very diverting to a company to hear the first efforts of speech exerted in attempting the bon ton language Befides, the fervants will affift you in this, as private tutors below stairs without additional wages. When the child is peevith, and defres what it should not have, don't let the poor thing fret, but give it what it wants. By en Some parents have a foolish way of teach- who will fit with you and take his bottle, join in your toafts, liften to your feats of drinking or hunting, and fuch gentlemanlike fubjects of difcourfe;-one who will not be too strict in looking after your boy, or give him a head-ach by keeping him too clofe to his leffons. Let your fon often fit with you after dinner, and teach him to drink his glafs and give his toaft. Let him fee you get drunk now and then. This is the true method to prevent bis catching unfashionable manners. Follow my paradoxical friend Rouffeau's advice as to RELIGION. Let all instruction On this fubje&t come as late as poffible. Children, who learn with wonderful facility all other branches of knowledge, cannot conceive that they shall be accountable for their actions; that the Deity is witness to all they do, and will reward the good, and punish the bad. Such doctrine checks the propensities of nature. But let the paffions open, and let habits be acquired, and you may then preach religion as much as you pleafe; for it will have as little effect as I with it to have. Your own practice at home will also confirm your fon in the belief, that it is all a farce, and that there is nothing fo tirefome. That I may not appear fo, I shall at prefent conclude, and resume the subjec in my next.-I am, &c. BELZEBUB. SLAVE TRADE. rious writers, to prove the injuftice of the Slave-trade, it may be worth while to re peat the propofitions on the fubject by Dr Ferguson, the very able author of " Institutes of Moral Philofophy," which are these : "No one is born a flave, because every one is born with his original rights. Some harth parents have also a practice of chaftifing their children, when they are obtinately capricious or deceitful. Most mothers, however, will agree with me, that it is fhocking to put the poor little creatures under any restraint, for they look so vastly pretty when they are pleased, and then it hurts one's feelings to fee them out of hu-Hile fo much argument is ufing, by va mour. When he is fit to go to school, give special charge to the mafter not to challife your dear boy. Indeed you won't have your child beat, whatever his faults may be. Pay, however, handsomely, that you may not be affronted by your fon being very low in the clafs.-The notice he cannot attrac by his own application, you may try to obtain by a handfome quarter's payment; and be fure to raise his reputation in the fchool by a genteel donation at Candlemas. Having been accustomed to constant indulgence, the noble feelings of refentment and revenge will glow with ardour in his breast on any attempt to control him. If his mafter fhould chastise him, he will shew that he cannot brook contradiction, by giving a blow. If a companion fhould accidentally offend him, he will feck revenge for the offence, and forrow and contrition he will ut terly difdain.Every appearance of gentleness, tenderness, modefty, or affection, fhould be checked early, if you wish him to be a man of fashion, and a modern fine fellow. You may get a private tutor to attend your fon, and pray pay attention to the character of the one you chufe. Do not let him be of a ferious or ftudious turn, but one who is acquainted with life; one who wishes to ap pear as little of the clergyman or scholar as poffible, but what is called A JOLLY DOG, "No one can become a slave, because DO one, from being a perfon, can, in the language of the Roman law, become a thing, or fubject of property. "The fuppofed property of the mafter in the flave, therefore, is matter of ufurpation, not of right." If faves were fufficiently enlightened to be capable of close ratiocination, these reasons would be fufficient to make them confider themselves as free men, were not their mas fters to convince them of the contrary by Atronger arguments. It may however conduce, in fome fmall degree, to the abolition of this cruel trade, to have repeated thefe preceding propof. tions; for among thofe interested in its continuation, there may be fome apt to be influenced by the force of reafoning; and among thofe who are thus apt to be influenced, there may be fome lefs willing to encourage a traffic when they are convinced of its natural illegality. Το To the Author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. SIR, Forfar. A melancholy accident happened here, in the month of January last. Three young lads were skating on the Lake of this town one evening, when unfortunately part of the ice gave way, and two of them plunged together into the water; and as the other, (who was the only perfon within hearing), could give no affiftance, they were both drowned. The body of one of them was got out that night, and that of the other next morning. They were both buried in the fame grave, univerfally lamented. If you think the following Verfes to their memory worthy of a place in your Maga zine, by inferting them you will oblige A Conftant Reader. Sunt lacryma rerum ; et mentem mortalia tangunt. Virg. YE gentle fwains, whofe sympathizing Luxurious fhare with forrow at the bier; Whofe bofors feel the pang which grief imRefufe not here the tributary tear. [parts, To late pofterity the bard fhall tell The mournful story in the filent gloom, Shall fing how Damon,-how Philander fell; How foon, alas! they dropt into the tomb. For me, whene'er I wander thro' the fhade, When near the dismal place I lonely stray, With anguifh will I view the fatal bed, With grief o'erlook the spot, where once they lay. Remembrance then shall shew the fadd'ning tale, Shall bid the breast with tender paffions glow; And while the wave refounds the paffing gale, The murmurs foft fhall bid my forrows flow. While with Amyntor oft I pass an hour, While oft with him at eve, devoid of care, From worldly pains and troubles all fecure, I range the lawns, the fragrant fweets to fhare; With gentle calm of thought, and mind fe Thy fond companions, in their early bloom Sink-helpless fink, into a watry grave. A future hour-an hour by thee defign'd To youthful joys, with pleasure's sportive train, May bring the former fadd'ning scene to mind, And shew by past experience, “ all is vain." For you, whofe lives to filent grief a prey, Ye forrowing parents doom'd to future woe, For you, the Mufe affumes the plaintive lay," For you, unfeign'd the penfive verfes flow. O could my lines the woes they fing affuage, Could they but breathe one comfort in your ears, Then furely useless would not be the page That stops the current of a parent's tears. Shall I in ftrains which ev'ry Poer fings Call in Religion's comforts to your aid, Dwell on the pleafure "heav'nly converfe" brings, And how that all our earthly joys must fade. This would, I fear, be vain-No certain cure. No mound fo ftrong can ftem Affliction's ftream; 'Tis mankind's lot-each muft his hare endure; Grief is attendant on our mortal frame. In vain Philofophers fo idly boast, "Virtue alone is happiness below;" Review the world, the pleafing dream is loft; For this, we find, no pleasure can bestow. Another world in Contemplation's eye, Not thus delufive, tranfitory, vain ; A world where cares and troubles all will fly; Where calm content, and bliss eternal reign. To this our thoughts and actions all should tend; For it alone deferves the serious mind. On thoughts and actions all our hopes depend; To these our everlasting fate is join'd. And when our fleeting moments all are o'er, When Time with us has run his ample round, When fighs fhall ceafe,-when tears shall be no more, And virtuous pleasures ev'ry where abound; Then happy thall we view our former fate, Our former ftate, unworthy of regard, Our trivial forrows, as a dream relate; And fmile at woes which once we counted hard. On the affertion of a Poet, That it is a Point of Duty, and the Will of Providence, to cultivate Poetry, Painting, &c. PROUD artift, fay! by what command Did Heav'n ordain each lofty dome? Those monuments of Art's difplay, Has Mufic all her charms combin'd? Points out unerring rules to man, And fhort and simple is the plan. Pope, who thy genius far excells, With views of loftier flight elate, The neat attire, the artless grace, To keep fweet woman in her place. But lovely woman's gone for ever. To prudent housewives did advise. Sighs for a wife that makes a pudding, Ś I R. To the PRINTER. S, during the prefent trial, little business ftruck with the various and fantastical forms I am, Su, your humble fervant, Q. TO SUCH LADIES as it may concern. Say, what has martializ'd each grace, Can nodding plumes, the warrior's meed, Or think ye Cupid is decreed Left Fame might tell this truth with joy, Each head's much lighter than its feather. A poor Sweep, who was never taught to ET one poor Sweep, bright Fairly-fair, Let him his dufky thanks indite Oh, in return, may each black care Pardon théle aukward lines, which move A is done in either Houfe of Parliament, They had run better, but my mafter and our accounts from abroad are fo little to be depended on, the fashion of the times prefent themselves as the principal and most ready topics for obfervation Amongit thefe, the high plumes of feathers, worn by the ladies in their bead-drefes, are, in more fenfes than one, truly fupereminent; and I was forcibly [ill, (Of all black woes the worft disaster) HISTORICAL AFFAIRS. UNITED PROVINCES. On the 4th inftant their High Mightinelles received the following friendly letter from the King of France. "Most beloved Friends, Allies, and Confederates. war against the Turks could no longer [p. 41.] the Emperor's declaration of be doubted. The affected disbelief of that attempt by the Turkish government, though confirmed by authentic advices from all quarters, fufficiently fhew how much the Turks are in dread of the Imperial arms, and how cautious they Our ambassador the Marquis de Verac, were not to give or take offence. What having requested us to recall him, we they feared has however taken place: on readily complied therewith, and there the 10th of laft month war was declared upon ordered him to take his leave of in form at Vienna; and at the same time you in writing, as his ftay at Paris pre- a manifefto, dated Feb. 1o. was delivervented his doing it in perfon. The re-ed by Prince Kaunitz to the foreign mipeated affurances he gave us of his zeal nifters, of which the following is a trans for what was of moment to our fervice, lation: convinces us that be will accomplish the laft tranfactions of his embaffy with equal ardour: be cannot acquit himself in our opinion better, than by giving you the ftrongest affurances of our friendhip towards you, and the great concern we have ever taken for the welfare and profperity of your Republic; we make no doubt but that the Marquis de Verac will, upon this occafion, give fresh proofs of the confidence we have repofed in him; and with which, Moft High and Efteemed Friends, Allies, and Confederates, we pray God to keep you in his holy protection. Done at Versailles, Dec. 30. 1787. Your good Friend, Ally, and Confede. rate, LOUIS. Hague, Fan. 25. The 9th inftant the banks in the jurisdiction of Woubrugge near the Lake gave way, and opened a breach of 228 feet in length, and 54 in depth. The waterentered into the country with fo much rapidity, that it was with the utmost difficulty the people could fave their lives and their cattle; no per fon, however, was loft. Many who had taken fhelter from the inundation, by running to the tops of their granaries at the beginning, remained there till next day before they could be brought off by means of boats. The whole face of this fertile country is changed into a turbu lent fea, being covered with fourteen feet of water, whofe violence not one houfe could refift. The poor peasants have loft their all. The corn is entirely fpoiled, and is feen floating with the hay, goods, and materials of the deftroyed houses. They are working night and day at the other banks to pre ferve them if pofüible from damage. GERMANY. After the hoftile attack upon Belgrade, "All Europe have been witness to the good faith with which the Court of his Imperial Majefty has for many years cultivated peace with the Ottoman Em pire; the fincere difpofition it has manifefted on every occafion to preferve good neighbourhood, and its readiness to interpofe to prevent any rupture between the Porte and the neighbouring courts. Thete pacific intentions were manifefted in the differences between the Porte and the Emprefs of all the Ruffias, when the Emperor, uniting his endeavours with thote of his ally the King of France, omitted nothing which was likely to effect an amicable adjustment of their difputes. And as the demands of the Ruffian court did not exceed what she had a right to expect for the just execution of the exifting treaties, the favourable difpofition of her Imperial Majefty to accommodate matters, left his Imperial Majefty no room to doubt but that his endeavours, joined to those of the court of Verfailles, would have fucceeded to prevent a rupture fo calamitous in its confequences to all parties. But the Porte foon fhewed the inefficacy of this attempt in the united courts, by flighting their falutary advice and preffing exhortations, in peremptorily refufing the Ruffian envoy the neceffary delay for a courier to return with fresh instructions from Petersburg, and infifting on his immediately figning a deed of revocation, not only of the treaty of commerce lately concluded between the Porte and Ruffia, but also of every folemn ftipulation refpecting the Cri mea. And in confequence of his refufing to accede to a propofition, which, independent of its impropriety, exceeded the powers of an envoy, the Porte did not hesitate to confine this minister, N 2 contrary |