62 Plan for the Eftablishment of Small Farms. Governor Hutchinfon has acknowledged, in his answer to an addrefs from the Council, that fome of the letters bear his fignature. They ftand therefore as matter of record, the verity of which cannot be affected by the manner in which they were obtained: not that I have heard it even infinuated by any reputable perfon that they were procured by any undue means. It feems, therefore, that the objection is not, that they were unfairly obtained, but that idle, perhaps impertinent, curiofity is not gratified by knowing how they were procured, When a noble Lord, for fo his patent obliges me to call him, produced the Effay on Woman in the House of Peers, was any inquiry made into the manner of procuring it? On the contrary, though it was foon proved that the mode of obtaining it was in violation of all honefty and good faith, did not both houses of Parliament proceed to the fevereft cenfure, and the Court of King's bench to the heaviest judgment, against the oftenfible author, upon the evidence of that Effay fo flagitiously, obtained? And are we now to be told, that the malefactions of Mr. Hutchinfon ard Mr. Oliver fhall efcape punishment upon this pretence?. I have dwelt too long upon an objection utterly contemptible, and which, but for the high and dangerous ten. dency of it, would not merit a moment's confideration. My Lord, the fingle queftion is, Whether men, who have rendered themfelves univerfally obnoxious to the people, shall be continued in authority over them? To determine in the affirmative, is to fet the fentiments of the people at defiance. Is there any man fo wicked as to with, or fo weak as to expect, that a government, conducted on fuch principles, would be fecure or lafting? The folly of govern. ment may be fometimes forgiven, its injustice never : but when folly and injuftice unite, it must be odious, weak, and contemptible. A little time, my Lord, will fhew that government, in the hands of obnoxious men, is too arbitrary, too inconfiftent with the ge nius of the people, to be long endured. No reafoning can reconcile them, no orce can fubdue them to it. It is juf tice only that can enfure fubmission a for as Judge Blackftone obferves, "It is found by experience,that, whenever the unconftitutional oppreffions, even of the fovereign power, advance with gigantic ftrides, and threaten defolation to a ftate, mankind will not be reafoned out of the feelings of humanity, nor will facrifice their liberty by a fcrupulous adherence to those political maxims which were originally eftablished to preferve it." My Lord, an attempt to establish government in America by military force, must be ultimately fatal to this country. It will commence in folly and injuftice-it will end in diftrefs and humiliation. RALEIGH. Mr. URBAN, THE remarks of the great Lord Bacon, in his life of Henry VII. are fo very applicable to the prefent times, that the revival of them cannot fail of producing fome good effect. The fame grievances, it appears, subsisted in thofe days, as are complained of in thefe. The wildom of those days found a remedy; but in these days a remedy is thought impracticable. Let me ask, if a claufe in every bill for new inclofures, enforcing the building of houfs on the plan herein recommended, would not in lome meafure remedy the complaint of monopolizing farms. Yours, &c. Y. D. "Inclosures at that time began to be more frequent, whereby arable land (which could not be manured without people and families) was turned into paflure, which was eafily rid by a few herdimen; and tenancies for years, lives, and at will, (whereupon much of the yeomanry lived) were turned into demefnes. This bred a decay of people, and, by confequence, a decay of towns, churches, tithes, and the like. The King, likewife, knew full well, and no wile forgot, that there enfued withal upon this a decay and diminution of fubfidies and taxes; for the more gentlemen, ever the lower books of fubfidies. In remedying of this inconvenience, the King's wisdom was admirable, and the parliament's at that time. Inclotures they would not forbid, for that had been to forbid the improvement of the patrimony of the kingdom; nor tillage they would not compel, for that was to ftrive with na ture and utility. But they took a courfe to take away depopulating inclofures, and depopulating pastu rages Pedantry in Converfation. A Story written to expofe rage, and yet not by that name, or by any imperious exprefs prohibition, but by confequence. The ordinance was, that all houses of husbandry, that were used with twenty acres of ground and upwards, fhould be maintained and kept up for ever; together with a competent proportion of land to be ufed and occupied with them; and in no wife to be fevered from them, as by another ftatute, made afterwards in his fucceffor's time, was more fully declared. This upon forfeiture to be taken, not by way of popular action, but by feizure of the land itself, by the King and Lords of the fee, as to half the profits, till the houfes and lands were restored. By this meant the houses being kept up, did of neceffity enforce a dweller; and the proportion of land for occupation being kept up, did of neceffity enforce that dwelJer, not to be a beggar or cottager, but a man of fome fubftance, that might keep hinds and fervants, and fet the plough a going. This did wonderfully concern the might and mannerhood of the kingdom, to have farms, as it were, of a standard fufficient to maintain an able body out of penury, and did in effect amortize a great part of the lands, of the kingdom unto the hold and occupation of the yeomanry, or middle people, of a condition between gentlemen and cottagers or peafants. Now, how much this did advance the military power of the kingdom, is apparent by the true principles of war, and the examples of other kingdoms; for it hath been held by the general opinion of men of best judgment in the wars, however fome have varied, (and that it may receive fome distinction of cafe) that the principal ftrength of an army confifteth in the infantry or foot and to make good infantry, it requireth men bred, not in a fervile or indigent fashion, but in fome free and plentiful manner. Therefore, if a state run molt to noblemen and gentlemen, and that the husbandmen and ploughmen be but as their work folks and labourers, or else mere cottagers (which are but housed beggars), you may have a good cavalry, but never good stable bands of foot; like to coppice woods, that, if you leave in them itaddles too thick, they will run to bushes and briars, and have little clean underwood. And this is to be feen in France and Italy, and fome other parts abroad, where in effect all is nobles or peafantry: I fpeak of people out of towns, and 63 no middle people, and therefore in good forces of foor; infomuch, as they are inforced to employ mercenary band of Switzers, and the like, for their battalions of foot; whereby also it comes to pafs, that thefe nations have much people and few foldiers: whereas the King faw that contrariwise it would follow, that England, though much less in territory, yet should have infinitely more foldiers of their native forces, than those other nations have. Thus did the King fecretly fow hydras teeth, whereon (according to the poet's fiction) fhould rife armed men for the Tervice of this kingdom." Mr. URBAN, IT happened laft fummer, at a coun try retirement of Eugenio's, that Crater and Philander (his former familiars at the University) made him a vifit. Crater, having always lived within the walls of a college, retained Atill the fame aukwardness of behaviour, and moroseness of converfation, which he had when Eugenio first knew him. Philander, though he entered early into the world, endued with an underftanding capable of making the greatest improvements, generous and frankhearted almost to a fault; yet he fo little confidered, or perhaps fo far defpifed the decencies of life, that it led him often into inconveniences, and rendered his company upon fome occafions (though formed by nature to pleafe) almost as diftafteful as Crater's. Crater thought freely or humanely on no fubject; Philander's judgment was unbiaffed in few things, except in religion. Crater was dilagreeable to all, becaufe, without any real knowledge, he arrogantly gave you to under-' ftand, that his fenfe of things was the only standard of judging rightly; Philander displeafed none, except thofe who were not enough acquainted with his virtues to forgive his little failings. Eugenio, with an eafinefs of carriage that always accompanied him, received his two friends, and ftudied with an air of delight to find out every thing that might be agreeable to them: he fhewed them his houfe, which was adorned with well chofen pictures; he difcovered the fame good tafte in the difpofing his gardens: for every thing that was polite, and contributed to reder life more chearful and easy, belonged to Eugenio. Crater, with an air of contempt, viewed his fine paintings, and 64 A Story written to expofe Pedantry in Conversation. and unwillingly attended the good-natured man, labouring to give him all the amusements bis rural villa would afford. At laft Crater, unable to endure fo much politeness, broke out in this manner : "I thought Eugenio, you had been a man of better understanding, than to have taken fo much pains, and expended fo much time and money, upon things that are mere trifles, and tend to no manner of fervice to mankind. Religion or the world is not bettered by painters, poets, or fine models of gardening; mankind is not the more learned or wife for the knowledge in thefe things. Plato did well to banish poets and musicians out of his republic; for from the time they have been introduced, and gained efteem amongst us, folid learning and religion, which are the ftays and fupporters of morality, are laid afide, to make way for thele gentlemen like amufements." Philander, with his wonted fincerity, was going to fhew him, that religion, as it had been practited of late days, did not fo well confift with morality; but Eugenio interpofed, and with gentle reproofs replied, com "I own,Crater, thefe are trifles, com pared to some other engagements oflife; but why may not thele trifles, as you call them, laudably be the amy'ements of meh of the first characters? It has been always my way of thinking, that what contributed to my own pleasure, at the fame time communicating fome advantage, or at least not pain to others, was a virtuous way of spending time. Though poets, painters, and musicians, have not the good fortune to ftand in the rank of learned men; yet they have fucceeded in foftening the morofe, unfocial fpirits af men, where dry philofophy has failed: they have fupplied us with new pleafures, and the more ways that are explored to give us fatisfaction, the more our patures are ennobled and removed from the brute creation. Religion and learning I would by no means difcourage, but they loofe half their luftre from the tempers of men who generally profefs them: a well bred, goodnatured man has more merit with me, than the bigot or fupercilious scholar. Where is the mighty ufe of your boafted learning, if you want that placid conciliating manner to make mankind attentive to your inftructions? Advice from experience is ineffectual, when they difapprove the advifer. The poets, and the more gentle reformers of the world, proceed in a method more truly philofophical; they take mankind as they are; confider them as creatures made up of various and trong appetites; by lenitives they work their cure, not forcibly endeavouring to root up the whole fyftem, but, as nurses indulge their children, give fomething into their humour, and point out and fhew the medicine in fuch an alluring manner, that they delight in and enjoy the remedy from fuch pleaking hands.” Eugenio was purfuing with transport the praises of poe ry, while Philander littened with admiration to those encomiums which in fome measure regarded himself; when Crater interrupted him with an unbecoming ve hemence : "Poetry, of all the inventions of mankind, is the most prolific in mifchief; the mi fleader of our youth, unfettling their minds in the principles of religion, and placing morality in its ftead; filling them with imaginary ideas, and ever after depriving them of the means of arriving at truth: for when once the understanding is tainted with this art of fallacy, in vain it may look back for honeft fimple truth; you are entangled in the fare, and may refcue yourself if you cau from Circe's charms. You may remember, Philander, that Eugenio, when with us, was a fincere lover of learning, where he had imbibed ufeful knowledge; but the converfation of the world has mif guided him in the conduct of life. Philander interrupted him with great earneftnefs, faying, "that he would exchange ail his acquifitions of Univerfiy knowledge, to have been matter of one Ode in Pindar. What we gained with you (continued he) ferves to no one purpofe in life, and is rather a hinderance than a recommenda tion, when we defire to be thought qualified for the office of an active life. When we first land (as it were) amongst our fellow-citizens, from your leemingly remote colony, we appear like Chinese travelling in the European countries. Our deportment, our language, our dref, is as different from civilized Eugenio and his companions, as are the manners of thofe who live twenty degrees diftant from London.” Eugenio was pleafed with Philander's franknefs; but, fearing his friend might commit fome indecencies in enlarging too far upon a topic he feemed A Story written to expofe fo fond of, took up the discourse, and answered Crater in the following manner: "I perceive, Crater, you are fomewhat unealy at the freedom Philander has taken, but you must impute it to the warmth of his imagination, and not to any difregard he would fhew to your fentiments: however, I cannot think the poets are fo very faulty as you would make them; they have been rather advocates for, than enemies to religion, and you will find morality carried to a higher pitch by fome of them, than by the most fevere philofophers. How! fays Crater, interrupting him, poets advocates for religion! Yes, replies Eugenio; what a reverence for the Gods, and what a folemn regard for religion does there appear in the writings of Pindar? Who has enforced the obligation of oaths, or the respect there ought to be paid to truth, in a stronger manner? I have heard you yourfelf commend the chaftnefs of expreffion and fentiments fo remarkable in Virgil; and would you banish all poets from amongst us, for the indifcretions of a few, who scarce deferve the name ? Confider what a relaxation and unbending of the mind we receive from the affiftance of poetry: a too long application to severe studies, is apt to make us graw heavy and ill-humoured; in this time of distress, poetry relieves us; the power of verfe diverts the melancholy vapours, and gives us at the fame time pleasure and instruction." Crater with uneafinefs heard Eugenio attribute a kind of magick to the powers of poetry; that it helped the dif treffed, upraised the heavy-hearted, communicating fresh joys, when every thing befides was impotent to cheer the drooping foul, "I perceive, (faid be) Eugenio, from your difcourfe, that you make pleasure the main bufinefs of man's life; that, when the mind is affisted, it may lawfully have recourse to any remedy, however uureasonable, that is most likely to relieve it; that our unruly appetites fhould have a plnary indulgence in every thing they fo regularly defire. This is the imperfect way of thinking fo fafhionable among gentlemen of the world. Confider, man was born for other purposes, to travel through this life with penury and prin, in the fervice of that Being who was fo indulgent to give him exiftence, that what promotes his glory, and the fervice of our fellow-creatures, GENT. MAG. Feb. 1774 however repugnant to our paffions (the depraved part of our compofition) ought to be the labour of our lives. And, Eugenio, I cannot help ob erving, that even afflictions, which you gentlemen fo industriously endeavour to remove, are to be efteemed beneficial to mankind: it is then alone, we can be faid properly to flourish; for as they blunt the edge of our appetites, and wean us from the vanities of the world, they further us in our pursuits after more folid acquirements. I do not queftion, Philander, but you will one day be fenfible of the benefit of affliction. Philander could contain no longer, (impatient to hear a human creature talk fo unlike one of the species) but anfwered with warmth, "that no lunatick in his ravings ever framed fo wild a notion of things; that a creature, whofe very effence confifts in his paffions and defires, compofed by an all-powerful and just being, who wanted nothing, nor could he made fuller in power or joy, by any thing he had created, to imagine then, that the duty of that creature confifted in acting contrary to thofe powers which were given him, to gratify the Almighty, and advance his glory, was impious and extravagant. To poftpone our ap petites, to rebuke the intimations of the will, and let it know that God is not pleafed it fhould enjoy what he made it neceffary to require; that self denials, fufferings, and thwarting our defires, are the only means of making our addreffes, and paying obedience to him; is not this the higheft prophana tion impeaching the goodness of our matter, as if his delight could not confift but in the mifery of his creatures. Suppofe, Crater, that you yourself could poffibly frame a being, (though I am far from fuppofing you any ways partake of divinity) I am fure, Eugenio will agree with me, you would indue it with fuch powers and modes of acting as fhould contribute to its own felicity, conducive to the good of others that in doing service to its fellow-crea tures, it promoted ifs own happiness g that acting fuitably to its nature, was the highest perfection that being was capable of, and, at the same time, paying the greatest deference to its creator ; unlike the wretched creatures you would induce us to believe mankind are, though constituted by the most be nevolent and intelligent being: where as, according to you, our duty to him 66 A Story written to expofe Pedantry in Converfation. is rendered from the sweat of our brow, and our love to our fellow-creatures with pain to ourselves." Thus Philander, who never knew the art of concealing his notions, was proceeding in his argument with the warmth of an honeft mind, when Eugenio difcovered fome uneasiness, and often endeavoured to interrupt him, obferving Crater was displeased; wen immediately the fervant brought him word that dinner was upon the table: fo Crater walked before them up the garden, murmuring to himself at the wickednels of the world, and lamenting the want of an inquifition in this country. Eugenio was behind with Philander, recommending to him "a more complacent behaviour to those who differed from him in opinion; that his treatment was too violent ever to make converts to his way of thinking; that there was a more gentle and availing method of expoling the abfurdities of another, without breaking in upon the rules of decency, which was the true characteristic of a gentleman; that every man, from the laws of fociety, of what country or profeffion foever, though the cut of his habit or understanding differed from yours, has a right of being inoffenfively treated. You will excufe this freedom, Philan der; but having known you often to commit these irregularities, makes me dwell the longer, to induce you to reform this failing. Our hearts are linked together fo closely in the bonds of friendship, that what reproofs we give each other are as kindly taken, as if they proceeded from our own reflec tions." They now fat down to an entertainment, where all things were ordered in the most elegant manner; but Crater could ill enjoy the repaft; the difcompofure of his mind gave every thing he talled a bad relish; the foups, the ragouts, nor the wines, had their proper flavour, though at other times none to fincerely loved them as this unfenfual man, this declaimer against the plea fures of the palate, as lying easily within his reach from the place of his education. Thus remained Crater infenfible of the delicacies on the table, and undelighted with the pleafantry of Eugenio and his friend Philander, when Eugenio's lady asked him, with civility, how he approved the model of the garden and the wilderness, whether the natural harmony of the birds in the woods did not exceed the affected warblings of the Itakans. He replied, with a fcornful fmile, "That he understood no harmony but that which appeared in the general fyftem of nature; that the creation, indeed was difpofed fo harmoniously, that no one thing was unfuitable to another; that, if confidered in the whole, the many feeming, repugnant phænomena's were reconciled, and made up together an amicable conformity." The lady was ftartled to hear the word harmony, which she had generally applied to the nightingale or the concert, fignify fuch a jumble of things which her understanding had never been embarraffed with before. Philander smiled to fee his adverfary fo prettily encountered. She then defired to know of him, whether he abandoned all the diverfions of the world, and fought not fometimes for amusements from external objects. "External objects, madam! you have been under a very great error; they are only the ideas of the mind, what you apprehend, perhaps, to have been real bodies. Have you all this while been fo deceived, as to think the nightingale, warbling so fweetly in the woods, was an animated piece of matter? Sure (fays fhe) Eugenio is a man, and Philander an external object, if I can fee. No (replied he), mere fancy, all ideal; though it ferves to the fame purpose of life, whether Eugenio is a being diftinct from our imaginations, or whether the elegant, the polite Eugenio, and his friend Philander, is only an idea of the mind. Nay, fays Philander, have I been then talking with fo much earnestness to a phantom of my own brain? Have I myfelf conceived an idea only of a Crater, who is no where fubfifting but in my imagination that Crater, who is only an idea of my mind, and I but a notion of his? That the fame ideal Crater fhould ftand up in oppofition to my own proper ideas, is a piece of more refined fcepticism than was ever yet advanced either by Pyrrho or his followers." Here Eugenio fpoke like Neflor of old, foothing the differences of the Grecian chiefs. "Well, Crater, I perceive you can employ, too, fome part of your time concerning trifles, as well as myfelf; the knowledge, or rather conjecture of thefe things, make up only the amusements of a Univerfityman, as gardens, poetry, and paintings, the pleasures of a gentleman. The difference is, you would impofe yourfelves upon the world for ufeful and learned men, upon account of your know |