ny, and declaring that he is ready to perifh with hunger, having tried it in vain at twenty-three places to buy a bit of bread. Farthings, we are told, were formerly called in by the beggars, as they threatened the ruin of their community. I fhould not wonder, therefore, if this public-fpirited people were alfo to put a ftop to the circulation of bad half-pence, by melting them down from time to time as they come into their hands. The experiment is worth making; and I am affured, that, for fome end or other, orders will be issued out from the king of the beggars, to bring all their adulterated copper to their mint in the Borough, or their foundery in Moorfields.

I was led to the confideration of this fubject by fome half-pence I had just received in change; among which one in particular attracted my regard, that feemed once to have borne the profile of King William, now scarcely visible, as it was very much battered, and befides other marks of ill ufage had a hole through the middle. As it happened to be the evening of a day of some fatigue, my reflections did not much interrupt my propenfity to fleep, and I infenfibly fell into a kind of half-flumber; when to imagination the half-penny which then lay before me upon the table, erected itfelf upon it's rim, and from the royal lips ftamped on it's furface articulately uttered the following narration.

I now underwent various hard

hips among his play-fellows, and was kicked about, huftled, toffed up, and chucked into holes; which very much battered and impaired me: but I fuffered moft by the pegging of tops, the marks of which I have borne about me to this day. I was in this ftate the 'unwitting cause of rapacity, ftrife, envy, rancour, malice, and revenge, among the little apes of mankind; and became the object and the nurse of thofe paffions which difgrace human nature, while I appeared only to en· gage children in innocent paftimes. At length I was difmiffed from their fervice, by a throw with a barrowwoman for an orange.

From her it is natural to conclude, I poted to the gin-fhop; where, indeed, it is probable I should have im

or the bafeness of my extraction: and though I feem to bear the venerable marks of old age, I received my being at Birmingham not fix months 6 ago. From thence I was tranfported, with many of my brethren of different dates, characters, and 'configurations, to a Jew-pedlar in Duke's Place, who paid for us in fpecie fcarce a fifth part of our nominal and extrinfic value. We were foon after feparately difpofed of, at a more moderate profit, to coffiehoufes, chop-houfes, chandlers-fhops, and gin-fhops.

I had not been long in the world, before an ingenious tranfmuter of metals laid violent hands on me; and obferving my thin fhape and flat furface, by the help of a little quickfilver; exalted me into a fhilling. Ufe, however, foon degraded me again to my native low station; and I unfortu

foot-foldier, had not wrefted me from her, at the expence of a bloody nofe, black eye, fcratched face, and tern regimentals. By him I was carried to the Mall in St. James's Park; where I am ashamed to tell how I • parted from him-Let it fuffice, that I was foon after fafely depofited in a 'night-cellar.

From thence I got into the coatpocket of a Blood, and remained there with feveral of my brethren for fome days unnoticed. But one evening, as he was reeling home from the tavern, he jerked a whole handful of us through a fafh window into the dining-room of a tradefman, who he remembered had been fo unmannerly to him the day before, as to defire payment of his bill. We repofed in foft eafe on a fine Turkey carpet till the next morning, when the maid fwept us up; and fome of us were al

⚫lotted

lotted to purchase tea, fome to buy fnuff, and I myself was immediately trucked away at the door for The 'Sweetheart's Delight.

It is not my design to enumerate every little accident that has befallen me, or to dwell upon trivial and indifferent circumftances, as is the practice of those important egotists, who write narratives, memoirs, and travels. As ufelefs to the community as my fingle felf may appear to be, I have been the inftrument of much good and evil in the intercourse of mankind: I have contributed no small fum to the revenues of the crown, by my share in each news-paper; and in the confumption of tobacco, fpirituous liquors, and other taxable commodities. If I have encouraged debauchery or fupported extravagance; I have alfo rewarded the labours of induftry, and relieved the neceflities of indigence. The poor acknowledge 'me as their conftant friend; and the

rich, though they affect to flight me, ⚫ and treat me with contempt, are often 'reduced by their follies to diftreffes which it is even in my power to relieve.

The prefent exact scrutiny into our conftitution has, indeed, very much obftructed and embarraffed my travels; though I could not but rejoice in my • condition last Tuesday, as I was debarred having any share in maiming, ⚫ bruifing, and deftroying, the innocent victims of vulgar barbarity: I was happy in being confined to the mock⚫ encounters with feathers and stuffed

I fhall conclude, Sir, with informing you by what means I came to you in the condition you fee A Choice Spirit, a member of the Kill-Care Club, broke a link-boy's pate with me laft night, as a reward for lighting him across the kennel. The lad wafted half his tar-flambeau in looking for me; but I efcaped his fearch, being lodged fnugly against a post. This morning a parith girl picked me up, and carried me with raptures to the next baker's fhop to purchase a roll. The mafter, who was churchwarden, examined me with great attention, and then gruffly threatening her with Bridewell for putting off bad money, knocked a nail through my middle, and faftened me to the counter but the moment the poor hungry child was gone, he whipped me up again, and fending me away with others in 'change to the next cuftomer, gave me this opportunity of relating my adventures to you.'

When I awaked, I found myself so much invigorated by my nap, that I immediately wrote down the strange ftory which I had just heard; and as it is not totally deftitute of use and entertainment, I have fent it to you, that by means of your paper it may be communicated to the public.

I am, Sir, your humble Servant,
TIM. TURN PENNY.

A

AMONGST all the beauties and excellencies of the ancient writers, of which I profefs myself an admirer, there are none which strike me with more veneration, than the precepts they have delivered to us for our conduct in

fociety. The fables of the poets, and the narrations of the hiftorians, amaze and delight us with their refpective qualifications: but we feel ourfelves particularly concerned, when a moral virtue, or a focial obligation, is ft before us, the practice of which is cur indifpenfible duty; and, perhaps, we are more ready to obferve thefe inftructions, or at leaft acquiefce fooner in the propriety of them, as the authority of the teacher is unquestionable, the addrefs not particularly confined or levelled, and the cenfure confequently lefs dogmatical.

Of all the virtues which the ancients poffeffed, the zeal and fidelity of their friendships appear to me as the highest diftinctions of their characters. Private perfons, and particular affinities amongst them, have been long celebrated and admired: and if we examine their conduct as companions, we fhall find, that the rites of their religion were not more facred, more strongly ratified, or more feverely preferved, than their laws of fociety.

The table of friendship, and the altar of facrifice, were equally incontaminated: the mysteries of Bacchus were enveloped with as many leaves as thofe of Ceres; and the profanation of either deity excluded the offenders from the affemblies of men: the revealer was judged accurfed, and impiety was thought to accompany his fteps.

Without inveighing against the prac tice of the prefent times, or comparing it with that of the past, I fhall only remark, that if we cannot meet together upon the honeft principles of focial beings, there is reafon to fear that we are placed in the most unfortunate and lamentable era fince the creation of mankind. It is not the increase of vices infeparable from humanity that alarms us, the riots of the licentious, or the outrages of the proffigate; but it is the abfence of that integrity, the neglect of that virtue, the contempt of that honour, which by connecting individuals formed fociety, and without which fociety can no longer fubfift.

Few men are calculated for that clofe connection, which we diftinguish by the

appellation of friendship; and we well know the difference between a friend and

an acquaintance: the acquaintance is in a poft of progreffion; and after having paffed through a courfe of proper experience, and given fufficient evidence of his merit, takes a new title, and ranks himself higher. He must now be confidered as in a place of confequence; in which all the ornaments of our nature are neceffary to fupport him. But the great requifites, thofe without which all others are useless, are fidelity and taciturnity, He must not only be fuperior to loquacious imbecillity, he must be well able to reprefs the attacks of curiofity, and to refift those powerful engines that will be employed against him, wine and refentment. Such are the powers that he must constantly exert, after a truft is reposed in him: and that he may not overload himself, let him not add to his charge, by his own enquiries let it be a devolved, not an acquired commission, Thus accoutred

Sub iifdem

Sit trabibus, fragilemque mecum
Solvat Phafiles.

They who myfteries reveal,
Beneath my roof shall never live,
Shall never hoift with me the doubtful fail
FRANCIS.

There are as few inftigations in this country to a breach of confidence, as fincerity can rejoice under. The betrayer is for ever fhut out from the ways of men, and his discoveries are deemed the effects of malice. We wifely imagine he muft be actuated by other motives than the promulgation of truth; and we receive his evidence, however we may use it, with contempt. Political exigencies may require a ready reception of such private advices: but though the necessities of government admit the intelligence, the wifdom of it but barely encourages the intelligencer. There is no name fo odious to us, as that of an informer. The very alarm in our streets at the approach of one, is a fufficient proof of the general abhorrence of this character.

Since these are the confequential conditions upon which men acquire this denomination, it may be asked what are the inducements to the treachery. I do not fuppofe it always proceeds from the badnefs of the mind; and indeed I think it is impoffible that it should: weakness difcovers what malignity propagates, till at

Jast,

haft, confirmation is required, with all d the folemnity of proof, from the first author of the report; who only defigned to gratify his own loquacity, or the importunity of his companion. An idle vanity inclines us to enumerate our parties of mirth and friendship; and we believe our importance is increafed, by arecapitulation of the difcourfe, of which we were fuch diftinguished fharers: and to fhew that we were esteemed fit to be entrufted with affairs of great concern and privacy, we notably give in our detil of them.

There is, befides, a very general intination amongst us to hear a fecret, to whomfoever it relates, known or unknown to us, of whatever import, ferious or trifling, fo it be but a fecret: the delight of telling it, and of hearing it, are nearly proportionate and equal. The poffeffor of the valuable treasure appears indeed rather to have the advannge; and he seems to claim his fuperiority. I have difcovered at once in a large company, by an air and deportment that is affumed upon fuch occafions, who it is that is confcious of this happy charge;

IT

he appears restlefs and full of doubt for a confiderable time; has frequent confultations with himfelf, like a bee undetermined where to fettle in a variety of fweets; till at last, one happy ear attracts him more forcibly than the reft, and there he fixes, ftealing and giving ' odours,'

In a little time it becomes a matter of great amazement, that the whole town is as well acquainted with the story as the two who were fo bufily engaged; and the confternation is greater, as each reporter is confident that he only communicated it to one perfon. A report,' fays Strada, thus tranfmitted from one to one, is like a drop of water at the top of a houfe; it defcends but from tile to tile, yet at last makes it's way to the gutter, and then is involved in the general ftream. And if I may add to the comparifon, the drop of water, after it's progrefs through all the channels of the ftreets, is not more contaminated with filth and dirt, than a fimple story, after it has paffed through the mouths of a few modern tale-bearers.

'T is well known, that many things appear plaufible in fpeculation, which can never be reduced to practice; and that of the numberlefs projects that have flattered mankind with theoretical fpecioufness, few have ferved any other purpofe than to fhew the ingenuity of their contrivers. A voyage to the moon, however romantic and abfurd the fcheme may now appear, fince the properties of air have been better understood, feemed highly probable to many of the afpiring wits in the last century, who began to doat upon their gloffy plumes, and fluttered with impatience for the hour of their departure.

-Pereant veftigia mille Ante fugam, abfentemque ferit gravis. ungula

compum.

LUCAN.

Among the fallacies which only experience can detect, there are fome of which fcarcely experience itfelf can destroy the influence; fome which, by a captivating fhew of indubitable certainty, are perpetually gaining upon the human mind; and which, though every trial ends in difappointment, obtain new credit as the fenfe of mifcarriage wears gradually away, perfuade us to try again what we have tried already, and expofe us by the fame failure to double vexation.

Of this tempting, this delufive kind, is the expectation of great performances by confederated ftrength. The fpeculatift, when he has carefully obferved how much may be performed by a single hand, calculates by a very eafy operation the force of thoufands, and goes on accumulating power till refittance vanifhes before it; then rejoices in the fuccefs of his new fcheme, and wonders at the folly or idleness of former age who

have lived in want of what might fo readily be procured, and fuffered themfelves to be debarred from happiness by obftacles which one united effort would have fo eafily furmounted.

But this gigantic phantom of collective power vanishes at once into air and emptiness, at the first attempt to put it into action. The different apprehenfons, the difcordant paffions, the jarring interefts of men, will fcarcely permit that many should unite in one undertaking. Of a great and complicated defign, fome will never be brought to difcern the end; and of the feveral means by which it may be accomplished, the choice will be a perpetual fubject of debate, as every man is fwayed in his determination by his own knowledge or convenience. In a long feries of action, fome will languish with fatigue, and fome be drawn off by prefent gratifications; fome will loiter because others labour, and fome will ceafe to labour because others loiter: and if once they come within profpect of fuccefs and profit, fome will be greedy and others envious; fome will undertake more than they can perform, to enlarge their claims of advantage; fome will perform less than they undertake, left their labours fhould chiefly turn to the benefit of others.

The hiftory of mankind informs us that a fingle power is very feldom broken by a confederacy. States of different interefts, and afpects malevolent to each other, may be united for a time by common diftrefs; and in the ardour of felfprefervation fall unanimoufly upon an enemy, by whom they are all equally endangered. But if their first attack can be withflood, time will never fail to diffolve their union; fuccefs and mifcarriage will be equally deftructive: after the conqueft of a province, they will quarrel in the division; after the lofs of a battle, all will be endeavouring to fecure themselves by abandoning the reft. From the impoffibility of confining numbers to the conftant and uniform profecution of a common intereft, arises the difficulty of fecuring fubjects against the encroachment of governors. Power is always gradually fealing away from the many to the few, because the few are more vigilant and confiftent; it still contracts to a fmaller number, till in time it centers in a single perfon.

Thus all the forms of government inftituted among mankind, perpetually tend

towards monarchy; and power, however diffufed through the whole community, is by negligence or corruption, commotion or diarets, repofed at laft in the chief magiftrate.

There never appear, fays Swift, more than five or fix men of genius in an age; but if they were united, the world could not ftand before them. It is happy, therefore, for mankind, that of this union there is no probability. As men take in a wider compaís of intellectual furvey, they are inore likely to chufe different objects of purfuit; as they fee more ways to the fame end, they will be lefs eafily perfuaded to travel together; as each is better qualified to form an independent fcheme of private greatness, he will reject with great obftinacy the project of another; as each is more able to diftinguish himself as the head of a party, he will lefs readily be made a follower or an associate,

The reigning philofophy informs us, that the valt bodies which conftitute the univerfe, are regulated in their progrefs through the etherial spaces by the perpetual agency of contrary forces; by one of which they are reftrained from deferting their orbits, and losing themselves in the immenfity of heaven; and held off by the other from rufhing together, and clustering round their centre with everlafting cohesion.

The fame contrariety of impulfe may be perhaps difcovered in the motions of men: we are formed for fociety, not for combination; we are equally unqualified to live in a close connection with our fellow beings, and in total feparation from them; we are attracted towards each other by general fympathy, but kept back from contact by private interests.

Some philofophers have been foolish enough to imagine, that improvements might be made in the system of the univerfe, by a different arrangement of the orbs of heaven; and politicians, equally ignorant and equally prefumptuous, may easily be led to fuppofe, that the happinefs of our world would be promoted by a different tendency of the human mind. It appears, indeed, to a flight and fuperficial obferver, that many things impracticable in our present state might be easily effected, if mankind were better difpofed to union and co-operation: but a little reflection will difcover, that if confederacies were eafily formed, they would lofe their efficacy, fince numbers

would