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THE

CONNOISSEUR.

VOLUME THE FOURT H.

No CV. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1756.

MTM

GAUDET ÉQUIS, CANIBUSQUE, ÉT AFRIČI GRAMINE CAMPI.

TO SPRING A COVEY, OR UNEARTH A FOX,
IN REV'REND SPORTSMEN, IS RIGHT ORTHODOX.

Y Coufin Village, from whom I had not heard for fome time, has lately fent me an account of a Country Parfon; which I dare fay will prove en tertaining to my town readers, who can have no other idea of our Clergy than what they have collected from the fpruce and genteel figures which they have been used to contemplate here in doctors fcarfs, pudding-fleeves, ftarched bands, and feather-top grizzles. It will be found from my Coufin's defcription, that thefe reverend enfigns of orthodoxy are not so neceffary to be difplayed among ruftics; and that, when they are out of the pulpit or furplice, the good paftors may, without cenfure, put on the manhers as well as drefs of a groom or whipper-in.

DONCASTÉR, JAŃ. 14, 1756.

DEAR COUSIN,

Am just arrived here, after having paid a vifit to our old acquaintance Jack Quickfet, who is now become the Reverend Mr. Quick fet, rector of parish in the North-Riding of this county, a living worth upwards of three hundred pounds per ann. As the ceremonies of ordination have occafioned no alteration in Jack's morals or be haviour, the figure he makes in the church is somewhat remarkable: but as there are many other incumbents of country livings, whofe clerical characters will be found to tally with his, per

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haps a flight fketch, or, as I may fays rough draught of him, with fome account of my vifit, will not be unentertaining to your readers,

Jack, hearing that I was in this part of the world, fent me a very hearty letter, informing me that he had been double japanned (as he called it) about a year ago, and was the prefent incumbent of; where, if I would favour him with my company, he would give me a cup of the best Yorkshire Stingo, and would engage to fhew me a noble day's fport, as he was in a fine open country with plenty of foxes. I rejoiced to hear he was fo comfortably fettled, and fet out immediately for his living. When I arrived within the gate, my ears were alarmed with fuch a loud chorus of No mortals on earth

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are fo jovial as we, that I began to think I had made a mistake; but it's clofe neighbourhood to the church foon convinced me that this could be no other than the Parfonage-houfe. On my en trance, my friend (whom I found in the midst of a room-full of fox hunters in boots and bob wigs) got up to welcome me to , and embracing me, gave me the full flavour of his Stingo by belching in my face, as he did me the honour of faluting me. He then introduced me to his friends; and placing me at the right-hand of his own elbow-chair, affured them that I was a very honeft Cock, and loved a chace of #Gz

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five and twenty miles an end as well as any of them: to preferve the credit of which character, I was obliged to comply with an injunction to tofs off a pint bumper of Port, with the foot of the fox dipped and squeezed into it to give a zeft to the liquor.

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The whole ceconomy of Jack's life is very different from that of his brethren. Inflead of having a wife and an house-full of children, (the most common family of a country clergyman) he is fingle; unlets we credit fome idle whifpers in the parish, that he is mar ried to his housekeeper. The calm amufements of piquet, chefs, and backgammon, have no charms for Jack, who fees his deareft action in the field,' and boats that he has a brace of as good hunters in his table as ever leg was laid over. Hunting and fhooting are the only bufinefs of his life; fox hounds and pointers lay about in every parlour; and he is himself, like Piftol, always in boots. The estimation in which he holds his friends is rated according to their excellence as fportfmen; and to be able to make a good hot, or hunt a pack of hounds well, are most recommending qualities. His parishioners often earn a hilling and a cup of ale at his houfe, by coming to acquaint him that they have found an hare fitting, or a fox in cover. One day, while I was alone with my friend, the fervant came in to tell him that the clerk wanted to Speak with him. He was ordered in; but I could not help fmiling, when (inftead of giving notice of a burying, chriftening, or fome other church bufinefs, as I expected) I found the honest clerk came only to acquaint his reverend fuperior, that there was a covey of partridges, of a dozen brace at least, not above three fields from the house.

Jack's elder brother, Sir Thomas Quickfet, who gave him the benefice, is lord of the manor; fo that Jack has full power to beat up the game unmolefted. He goes out three times a week with his brother's hounds, whether Sir Tho. mas hunts or not, and has befides a deputation from him as lord of the manor, configning the game to his care, and empowering him to take away all guns, nets, and dogs, from perfons not duly qualified. Jack is more proud of his office, than many other country clergymen are of being in the commiffion of the peace. Poaching is, in his eye,

the most heinous crime in the two tables; nor does the care of fouls appear to him half fo important a duty as the prefervation of the game.

Sunday, you may fuppofe, is as dull and tedious to this ordained sportsman, as to any fine lady in town: not that he makes the duties of his function any fatigue to him, but as this day is neceffarily a day of reft from the ufual toils of fhooting and the chace. It happened, that the first Sunday after I was with him, he had engaged to take care of church, which was about twenty miles off, in the absence of a neighbouring clergyman. He asked me to accompany him; and the more to encourage me, he affured me that we should ride over as fine a champaign open country as any in the North. Accordingly I was rouzed by him in the morning before day-break, by a loud hallooing of Hark to Mer

riman! and the repeated fmacks of his half-hunter; and after we had fortified our stomachs with several flices of hung beef, and a horn or two of Stingo, we fallied forth. Jack was mounted upon an hunter, which he affured me was never, yet thrown out: and as we rode along, he could not help lamenting that fo fine a foft morning should be thrown away upon a Sunday; at the fame time remaking, that the dog might run breast high.

Though we made the best of our way over hedge and ditch, and took every thing, we were often delayed by trying if we could prick a hare, or by leaving the road to examine a piece of cover; and he frequently made me ftop while he pointed out the particular course that Reynard took, or the fpot where he had earth'd. At length we arrived on full gallop at the church, where we found the congregation waiting for us; but as Jack had nothing to do but to alight, pull his band out of the fermon-cafe, give his brown fcratch bob a shake, and clap on the furplice, he was prefently equipped for the fervice. In thort, he behaved himself both in the defk and pulpit to the entire fatisfaction of all the parish, as well as the fquire of it, who, after thanking Jack for his excellent difcourfe, very cordially took us home to dinner with him.

I fhall not trouble you with an account of our entertainment at the fquire's; who, being himself as keen a sportsman as ever followed a pack of dogs, was

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Bugely delighted with Jack's converfation. Church and King,' and another particular toaft. (in compliment, I fuppofe, to my friend's clerical character) were the first drank after dinner; but thefe were directly followed by a pint bumper to Horfes found, Dogs healthy, Earths ftopt, and Foxes plenty.' When we had run over again, with great joy and vociferation, as many chaces as the time would permit, the bell called us to rening prayers; after which, though the fquire would fain have had us stay and take an hunt with him, we mounted our horfes at the church door, and rade home in the dark; because Jack had engaged to meet feveral of his brother sportsmen, who were to lie all night

at his own houfe, to be in readiness to make up for the lofs of Sunday, by going out a cock-fhooting very early the next morning.

1 must leave it to you, Coufin, to make what reflections you please on this character: only obferving, that the coun try can furnish many inftances of thefe ordained sportsmen, whofe thoughts are more taken up with the table or the dog kennel than the church; and, indeed, it will be found, that our friend Jack and all of his stamp are regarded by their parishioners, not as Parfons of the Parish, but rather as Squires in Orders.

I am, dear Coufin, yours, &c.

N° CVI. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5; 1756.

NON HEC SOLENNIA NOBIS

VANA SUPERSTITIO, VETERUMVE IGNARA DEORUM,
IMPOSUIT. SAVIS, HOSPES TROJANE, PERICLIS
SERVATI FACIMUS.-

VIRG.

THESE SOLEMN RITES NOR'SUPERSTITION VAÍN,
NOR FEARS FROM BLINDER IGNORANCE ORDAIN:
SAY'D FROM THE SHOCK, FROM DANCERS YET UNKNOWN,
HIS MERCY WE IMPLORE, WHOSE POW'R WE OWN.

Tis not eafy for the mind of man to

panic which has once feized it: for which reafon we cannot be furprifed, that many well-meaning people, who have not yet thaken off the apprehenfions occafioned by the late dreadful earthquakes, fhould be led to conjure up new terrors, and alarm them felves with imaginary dangers. Their fears interpret every common incident, and even the change of weather, as figns of approaching deftruction: if the day be calm and ferene, fuch, they fay, la the ufual forerunner

of a thock; or, if the night prove tempetuous, they can hardly perfuade themfelves that it is only the wind which rocks their houfes. With this propenfity to entertain any unreasonable dread about

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Swift, in his Voyage to Laputa, has a

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tenders to fcience, that I fhall beg leave, to tranfcribe it."

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Thefe people,' fays he, are under continual difquietudes, never enjoying a minute's peace of mind; and their disturbances proceed from caufes which very little affect the rest of mortals. Their apprehenfions arife from feveral changes they dread in the celeftial bodies. For inftance, that the earth, by the continual approaches of the fun towards it, muft in courfe of time be abforbed, or swallowed up.. That the face of the fun will by degrees be encrufted with it's own efflu

via, and give no more light to the world. That the earth very narrow

future events, it is no wonder that weakly efcaped a bruth from the faft comet,

minds fhould be worked upon by little. dabblers in philofophy, who, having gleaned a few barren fcraps from the Magazines, prefume even to foretel the diffolution of the world by the Comet which is expected to appear in 1758.

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which would have infallibly reduced it to afhes; and that the next, which they have calculated for one and thirty years hence, will probably destroy us." Fer, if in it's perihelion it fhould approach within a certain degree of the

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7 fun, (as by their calculations they have reasons to dread) it will receive a degree of heat ten thousand times more intenfe than that of red-hot glowing iron; and, in it's abfence from the fun, carry a blazing tail ten hundred thousand and fourteen miles long; through which if the earth fhould pafs at the diftance of one hundred thoufand miles from the nucleus, or main body of the comet, it mult in it's paffage be fet on fire, and reduced to afhes. That the fun, daily fpending it's rays without any nutriment to fupply them, will at last be wholly confumed and annihilated; which must be attended with the deftruction of this earth, and of all the planets that receive their light from it.

They are fo perpetually alarmed with the apprehenfions of thefe and the ⚫ like impending dangers, that they can neither fleep quietly in their beds, nor have any relifh for the common pleafures or amufements of life. When they meet an acquaintance in the morning, the first question is about the fun's health, how he looked at his fetting and rifing, and what hopes they have to avoid the ftroke of an ap⚫proaching comet. This converfation they are apt to run into with the fame temper that boys difcover to hear terrible ftories of fpirits and hobgoblins, which they greedily liften to, and dare 6 not go to bed for fear."

Let Us, however, banish from our thoughts all fuch vain notions, and let us fortify our minds with a true fenfe of religion, which will teach us to rely on the protection of that Providence which has hitherto preferved us. It is with great pleasure that I remark the unanimous concurrence of almost all ranks of people, in allowing the propriety of the prefent folemn Faft, as a neceffary at of humiliation, to avert the wrath and vengeance of Heaven, and call down it's mercies upon us. It is true, indeed, that no perfons do more prejudice to the caufe of religion, than they who cloud it's genuine chearfulness with the gloom of fuperftition, and are apt to confider every common accident that befalls us as a judgment. They clothe religion in the most terrifying habit, and (as it were) drefs it up in all the horrors of the Inquifition. These people are much to be pitied; and it is to be wished that

their mistaken piety could be better regulated. But there is another set of men of a different turn, more numerous, and much more dangerous to the community, who treat every act of religion as a jeft, and hold it's most facred ordinances in contempt. Set forms and ce remonies, though they have no effential virtue in themselves, are yet indifpenfably requifite to keep alive in us a quick fenfe of our duty. It must be allowed, indeed, that if a man could constantly employ his mind in holy meditations, exercife his virtues, and believe the myfteries of our religion, he would be a true Chriftian, though he never complied with any outward forms, or repeated fo much as a fingle prayer. But it is manifeft from experience, that those who neglect the ordinances, neglect alfo the duties of a Chriftian; and the leaft reflection on the human mind will convince us, that some external rites are neceffary to fettle the wandering ideas, and to fix the attention on it's proper object. The fervent repetition of a prayer infpires us with love and gratitude towards the Deity, and kindles the fparks of des votion within us and it is eafy to con ceive, that, if the celebration of public worship was neglected among us only for one year, it would be a more fatal blow to religion than all the weak at tacks of infidels and free-thinkers.

But though forms may be faid to com pofe the body, a good life is the foul of religion, without which the rest is but a, dead mafs. The moft rigid compliance with every ordinance of the church, if it has no influence on our conduct, is rather a folemn mockery, than an atonement for our offences: as they who receive the bread and wine without a firm refolution to lead a new life, are faid to eat and drink their own damnation. Wherefore, a ftrict obfervance of this or that particular day is not a fufficient discharge of our duty, except it serve to rouze us from the lethargy of fin, to awaken in us a defire of becoming worthy the protection of the Almighty, by animating our faith, amending our lives, and working in us a repentance of our tranfgreffions. Thus the Lord's Day is not merely fet apart for devotion, with an unlimited licence to wickedness all the reft of the week; but our being particularly exercifed in acts of piety for one day, is calculated to strengthen our

virtue,

virtue, and give a tincture of religion to our whole conduct through the other fix.

On the prefent folemn occafion, I doubt not but every perfuafive, tending to make this temporary Faft a lafting benefit, will be urged by the Clergy: I fhall therefore content myself with touching on fome laxities in the ufual manner. of keeping a Faft; which, though they are not of fufficient dignity to be taken notice of from the pulpit, fhould yet be pointed out, as the violation of the Faft in thefe particulars is almost uni verfal.

The very name of a Faft implies a day of abftinence, of mortification and felfdenial: which has always been enjoined as a neceffary means of fubduing irregular defires, and fitting us for holy meditations. For this reafon, in former days, when people of quality rose ear, lier than even mechanics now open their fhops, when the court itfelf dined at eleven, that meal was deferred till four o'clock, in compliance with this religious exercife, which was in those times a real abftinence, a true piece of mortification and felf-denial. But if the obfervance of a Faft confifts in not dining till four o'clock, our perfons of fashion may be faid to faft every day of their lives. In truth, the feveral hours of the day are adapted to fuch very different Employments to what they were formerly, that our four o'clock ftands in the place of their eleven: and nothing can be more abfurd, (to ufe no harther term) than to adhere to the form in the performance of a religious act, when by the alteration of circumftances that form fatly contradicts the very meaning of it's original inftitution. I would alfo afk thofe rigid devotees, who obferve this day in all the ftrictnefs of the letter, and would be fhocked at the fight of a Jeg of mutton or beef-fteak on their tables, whether the dining upon falt or other fish may not be confidered rather

as feafting than fafting, if (as is often the cafe) it fhould happen to be a dish they are remarkably fond of. All these methods of keeping a Faft without abftinence, mortification, or felf-denial, are mere quibbles to evade the performance of our duty, and entirely frustrate the defign of appointing this folemnity. There is fomething of this nature very commonly practifed in France; where there are many families who keep the whole Lent with great ftrictnefs, but the last night of it invite a great deal of company to fupper. The moment the clock ftrikes twelve, a magnificent entertainment, confifting of all forts of rich fare, is ferved up, and thefe moft Christian debauchees fit down to indulge in lux ury, without finning against the Canon

I cannot conclude without an earnest with, that the obfervation of the present Faft may awaken in us a serious atten tion to our duty hereafter; that we may not feem to have barely complied with a ftated form, or to have been affected with the fhort-lived piety of a fingle day. As to thofe who require conftant ly to be frightened into their duty, I will for once venture to commence prophet; and let them be affured that my predic tions will infallibly come to pafs. There is a danger more certain than an Earth quake or a Comet, which will inevitably overwhelm us; a danger, from which we cannot poffibly guard ourselves, and which perhaps is even now at our doors. This danger I cannot better fet forth, than in the alarming words of a cele brated French preacher. I know a man, (and I will point him out prefently) who is now in this church; a man, in perfect health; a man, in the flower of his age: and yet this man, perhaps before next Sunday, perhaps by to-morrow, will be in his grave. This man, my dear brethren, is Myfelf who speak to you, it is You who 'hear me.'

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