112

Horrible Mifchiefs of GIN-DRINKING

March

founded. But again, fuppofe that the folve on, I hope you will not call colonel had no other motives than foldiers to your bar to traduce the what are alledged, I will fay, that character of their officers, unless it would be a very ungrateful return those officers were likewife prefent ; in us, to take a power from the co- therefore, however gentlemen may lonel, which he feems to have ex- think fit to vote as to the principal ercifed purely out of regard to the A queftion, I hope, no gentleman will freedom of our elections; for no- be for having those men now called thing can be of more dangerous conin and examined. If you do refolve fequence to the freedom of elections, to examine them, I hope, for the than the army's intermeddling, or fake of justice, you will at the same the foldiers interfering in any of time give the officers an opportunity those mobs that ufually happen upon to justify themselves; but upon the fuch occafions. If this fhould ever B whole I must think the affair of fuch become customary, as the noble lord a trifling nature, as no way to deferve was pleafed to obferve, another the interpofition of parliament, efpeCaius Marius may arife in this coun- cially as it is of no manner of confetry; for I muft fuppofe that it was quence with regard to the queftion by a mob of foldiers, the Roman now before us. Caius Marius got the candidate for the tribunefhip murdered, who fet Cour next.] up against his intereft. Therefore, whatever the ferjeant might think, a foldier's joining in fuch a mobbish

[This JOURNAL to be continued in

cry at an election, was not fuch a tri- To the AUTHOR of the LONDON

fling matter: It was a matter of fuch
confequence that he ought to have
taken notice of it, and of the man D
that was guilty of it; and he ought
to have made it a part of his report
to the commanding officer upon
guard. His not doing fo was a

MAGAZINE.

To banish GIN, let each good man cọn

fpire,

[fire. As he'd rebellion quench or spreading From a MS.

SIR,

HE effays printed in your pe

geglect of duty; but as this neglect Triodical work, have frequently

proceeded probably from his igno-
rance as to the confequence, the E
punishment, if it can be called a pu-
nifhment, may be thought too fevere;
therefore, instead of coming to this
houfe to complain, where furely
he can meet with no redress, he
ought to have made ufe of his friends
to have pleaded his ignorance for
his excufe, and to have folicited his
being restored, which by this me-
thod he might probably have foon
obtained.

I have faid, Sir, that thefe men cannot furely expect any redress from this house, and I think I am right in faying fo; because it would look like our punishing a colonel for fhewing a regard to the freedom of our elections; but whatever you may re

F

G

inculcated doctrines highly useful to the publick; but give me leave to affert, that you never gave place to a fubject, the due profecution of which could be of more effential advantage to thefe nations in general, as well as to individuals, than that I am now going to lay before you.

fubtile poifon which glides pleasantly The fubject I mean is Gin; that thro' the veins; that liquid fire which parches the entrails; and debauching, and unhumanizing (if I may be allowed the term) the understanding, roufes the mad quaffer to theft, murder, and the moft enormous crimes.

To remedy this horrid, this far fpreading evil, one pencil has been taken up (that of the very ingenious moral painter, Mr. Hogarth) as fome writers

1751. Extracts from the Bishop of Worcester's Dedication. 113

writers of eminence have likewife their pens, among which that of juftice Fielding makes a very confiderable figure.

But among the feveral pieces, on this most interesting fubject, perused by me, none seems fo emphatical, and A fo much to the purpose, as the dedication, (concerning spirituous liquors,) to the lord mayor, aldermen and common council of the city of London, by the prefent bishop of Worcefter; prefixed to a charity fermon, preached by his lordship, at St. Bride's. As I look upon the reflections, the exhortations in that dedi. cation to be excellent; the farther they are spread, the more happy may be their influence: And it is folely in this view that I fend you the following extracts. (See p. 83.)

E

plies for national fervice, by murdering its inhabitants, and leffening trade in numberless branches. It is indeed very true, that there is no pofitive law, no formal injunction, to commit thefe numerous murders. But yet it is as true, that whatever indulgence is allowed in cafes lefs atrocious, in the death of a fubject, the law confiders every perfon concerned as principal, and does not even admit of acceffaries in murder. Nor is it lefs certain, that connivance in cafes of this nature is encouragement, according to the allowed maxim, qui non prohibit jubet. The fword of authority is not borne in vain; and it is the great end and defign in government to preserve life, as well as property; and with C this view, to punish, reftrain, and, if poffible, extinguish wickedness of every kind: And the more enormous and extenfive any vice becomes, theft, for example, in the publick ftreets or private houses, or forgery, or murder, the more ferious and earneft endeavours are in all such cases juftly called for, to difcourage and fupprefs the growing evil."-Surely, every British fenator, who has a foul turned to virtue, and a due regard to the happiness of his native country, will be moved by the above confiderations.

D

How falutary, how delicate, how fagacious are the following reflections of the bishop! "Is the lofs of a fingle fubject by murder, or is a fingle robbery made capital, and actually punished with death? And is it of no confequence, is it below all attention and regard, if thousands of lives are every year deftroyed; and the publick defrauded of the manifold advantages, all the riches and ftrength, that would arise from the multitudes of its loft fubje&ts? The antient precaution, Ne quid detrimenti capiat refpublica, is a primary confideration in every well ordered ftate: And if any species of liquor, tho' perhaps fomewhat flower in the operation, does yet prove as pernicious and fatal as infected meat or infected goods, is there not the F fame reason in true policy, and the fame juftice to the community, to lay reftraints upon liquid, as upon folid poisons". Is it poffible for any reflection to be more alarming?

E

Thefe which follow appear to me no lefs fo." Unhappy Britain, and G undone for ever! If the boasted wildom of the prefent enlightned age, even in a time of publick peace and tranquillity, can only raise fup

March, 1751.

The fubfequent extract claims the most serious attention of every inhabitant in our island, as all are more or lefs concerned in it." How many commodities, and how many utenfils does this pernicious gin fupplant or fupply the place of, to those wretches addicted to it, who as yet crawl about, a publick nuifance? How much lefs bread corn, malt, hops; how much less meat of all kinds; how much lefs cloaths, both linen, woollen and leather, &c. &c. &c. do thefe befotted, miferable creatures confume, than an equal number of fober and laborious fubjects of the fame rank? Look in upon the dwelling of a regular, industrious

P

work.

114 LETTER to the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. March

workman of the like occupation
with the flaves to Gin: How many
trades have been employed to pro-
vide cloaths, and furnish a homely,
but decent and cleanly habitation
for himself, his wife, and healthy
children, while the noisome and fil- A
thy abode of gin-drinkers, if they
have any fettled abode at all, shall
be void of every thing decent, or
even neceffary? And no wonder,
for this intoxicating liquor, which
confumes the little that they earn
(and very little they do earn) does B
literally become their victuals, drink
and cloaths; as variety of tradesmen
daily find by fad experience."

C

To tranfcribe every excellency, in the dedication in queftion, would be tranfcribing the whole. But as neither juftice would permit me to do this, nor the limits of your useful Work, I fhall conclude with the following striking reflection." If the growing evil (fays the bishop,) is ftill neglected, and debauchery, vice and murder are fill to increafe; if death and hell are to open their jaws yet D wider, what can be hoped for hereafter?-Hereafter, when every pretence, I cannot fay argument, for this indulgence will have acquired new force; when, like other bad practices and bad habits, this alfo will fpread and gain ftrength by time; when E private profit will become more extenfive, and of courfe its efforts more powerful; and when large additions will be made to the produce, of this tax. What is then to be expected, if no redrefs, no remedy is provided now? The ruinous fcene F that muft, in this cafe, e'er long appear, is too plain to need defcription, and too dreadful to be looked upon without the utmoft grief and horror!"

That the above patriot reflections
may have their due weight with
those whofe province, whole duty it G
is to remedy every publick evil, is
the hearty prayer of,
SIR,

Your humble fervant,
LYCURGUS.

A LETTER to the Rev. the Vice-
Chancellor of Oxford, to be read
in Convocation.
Mr. Vice-Chancellor,

N the courfe of feveral years

IN

which I had the honour to be chofen, without follicitation, one of the reprefentatives of the univerfity in parliament, I have never imputed that choice to any merit of my own, but have always understood that mark of the favour of the univerfity to me, to have been the effect of fer. vices, which the ability and good fortune of my ancestors enabled them to perform to a fociety deferving of the best services; and which a fociety lefs deferving would have long fince forgotten.

Intent to acquit myself of this great truft to the utmost extent of my ability, I have confidered it neither as the means of cabal nor advancement, but as a civil truft; in the execution of which it has always been a circumstance particularly agreeable to me, to find myself the reprefentative of a free and independent fociety. And tho' I have not been able to ferve that fociety in other refpects as I have wished to do, I have ferved the univerfity free however, and independent; independent not only of ambition and intereft, but of party too; without which there is no independence.-Dependent only upon the great maxims of juftice, and upon the fpirit and forms of the conftitutiou of our country.

It has been in that view, particularly, that I have found fatisfaction in every confirmation of the choice of me by the univerfity, as a demonftration to myself and to the world, of their approbation of the impartiality of my conduct; and which, in that light, has reflected perhaps no difhonour upon themfelves.

But as I believed from the first, and have long experienced, that a

traft

1751. Supplement to the Economy of Human Life. 115

A

B

C

truft of fuch a nature, and so under-
ftood, is no light undertaking, I
have for fome time perceived my
health particularly unequal to that
service; unable to perform the duty
of attendance in the house of com-
mons; unsatisfied to let any perfo,
nal confiderations of my own (even
that of health itself) interfere, how-
ever neceffary, with my fervices
which I owed to the univerfity, and
to my country: Convinced too, be-
yond a doubt, from fome experi-
ence, that my continuance in the
houfe of commons would produce
no advantage to either, I pleafe my-
felf in thinking that I do the best
fervice I can now do to the univer-
fity, in giving them an opportunity
to make a better choice. And I
have therefore accepted the honour
(which his majefty's goodness would
perhaps have conferred on me fome
years ago) of being called up to the
barony of my father, in the house
of lords: An honour which I have
received now with the greater will-
ingness, because I had full confidence D
that I fhould occafion thereby nei-
ther prejudice nor inconvenience of
any kind to the university; whofe
interefts and honour I must ever have
at heart, and whofe quiet and unani-
mity, if poflible, I must therefore
particularly with preferved upon all E
occafions, and especially in the ex-
ercife of this great privilege, in
which they have fo fingularly main-
tained an independence and dignity,
fo glorious to themfeives, fo exem-
plary to the rest of the nation, fo
truly preferving the fpirit as well as F
the forms of the conftitution of Eng-
land.

In being thus removed from their immediate fervice, the university, I hope, will do me juftice to believe, I can never withdraw myfelf from my attachment to that fociety. For befides perfonal obligations to myfelf, which I must always acknowledge, I know of what confequence

• See fome extracts from this admired piece,

G

the university is, and ought to be to the good order and to the conftitution of my country, as well as to the enlightning and adorning it. It muft therefore ever be my ardent with, to fee that fource of national welfare unincumbered with whatever may interrupt the conftant course of real knowledge and virtue, which attentive and fenfible difcipline will ever produce, and which are fo effential to the honour and intereft of the univerfity, and to the fervice, the happiness, and the glory of the kingdom neceffarily to be derived from thence.

In my fituation I fhall never lofe fight of these great interefts; and it will always be the highest fatisfaction to me to fee the real interests of the univerfity purfued by themselves, and advanced by others; as it would be the greatest happiness to me to ap. prove myself, upon all occafions, their grateful fervant and their faithful friend.

With these fentiments of my heart, I take my leave of the univerfity, refigning the truft which they repofed in me; and I perfuade myfelf, that they will do me the justice to believe me, with the greatest gratitude and regard,

Their long-obliged,

and ever-faithful fervant, &c.

ASUPPLEMENT to the OECONOMY of HUMAN LIFE *. In the fame

Manner and Stile.

Though in our Mag, for Dec, laßt, p. 550-553.

116

March

wings to the forrowful. Let the penitent fly from the ways of folly, and return no more. Let the tears of contrition prepare for the flowings of mercy.

Of the Old and New STILE. Though her excellency reacheth to the heavens, and her perfection is to endure for ever: Yet man, betrayed by the falfe colouring of deceit, hath defpifed her counfel. Senfual life hath prevailed; and the thick fog of concupifcence hath blinded A his eyes.

The fpotlefs rofe of innocence is withered: And the baleful flowers of destruction are fprung up in her

room.

The delufive path of error hath turned him afide. He hath paft B through the broad and flattering gate of vice: And, loft in the mist of appetite, or cloud of ambition, he wanders in the labyrinth of perplexity and death.

Who can be found to disperse the mift, difpel the cloud, or lay open C the labyrinth, which holds the feet of the strayed?

It is written on the walls of Paradife; it is ingraven in the courts of Heaven; it glows more bright than the rays of the fun over the throne of the Omnipotent One, that D Favour is referred for the children of

man.

An hour fhall come, when the decree of the Moft High will go forth. The declaration of mercy fhall be publifhed on earth, and pardon proclaimed to the man who turneth to E wildom.

It is recorded in the roll of the wife; that a ftar of fpleador, pre eminent in the heavens, fhall precede the divine Meffenger *. O ye who are bound in the fatal fetters of appetite and paffion! be ready to welcome your Deliverer. Strew his way with the beauties of the flowery meadows of Tibet.

Till that hear-rejoicing hour of brightnefs fhall arife, let hope give

F

Take comfort, ye true mourners. Fix your eyes on the dawn of compaffion, till the heavens fhall pour down the mid-day of glory, and Paradise be opened to the children of

men.

As a Bill is now depending in the Houfe of Lords for fixing the Beginning of the Year to the firft of January, inftead of the 25th of March, as well as for altering the Old Stile to the New Stile; (fee p. 92.) for the Reasonableness and Expediency of the former, we refer our Readers to our Magazine for 1747, p. 173. And we think the following concife but clear Account of the Grounds on which the latter Part of the Bill proceeds, cannot be unacceptable.

BY

Y the Julian account the year is fuppofed to confift of 365 days and fix hours. The odd hours, added together, amounting every fourth year to a day, three years fucceffively confift each of 365 days, and the fourth year of 366, which is called leap-year.

But the true folar year confifting only of 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 feconds, there is an overreckoning of 10 minutes and 44 fe. conds every year; which, of confequence, has made a variation of one day, in every 134 years that have paffed fince the first fettling this account: By which means the vernal equinox, or fun's entrance into Aries, is now on the 10th of March, which in Julius Cæfar's time was on the 24th.

Pope

• Our correspondent seems bere to bave in bis eye, what Suetonius and Tacitus, and other heathen writers fay, That an opinion, time out of mind, had prevailed all over the Eaft, that a moft extraordinary person should arise from among the Jews, who fhould obtain the empire of the world; which many chriftians bave applied to our bleed Saviour; and Tacitus faying, that this was contained in the most antient books of the priests, may fuit very well to the OEconomy of Human Life, which, by the Letter prefixed, is fuppofed to be wrote by a Bramin long before the coming of our Saviour.