As we entered the church yard, the refpectful how do you's' of the young, the hearty fhakes by the hand of the old, and the familiar gambols of the children, fhewed how their old paftor reigned in the hearts of all. After fome refreshment at the nearest houfe, we went to church, in which my veteran prieft read the prayers, the pfalms, and chapters of the day, and after all preached a fermon in a manner that would have made no one advert to his defect of fight. At dinner, which, it feems, four of the moft fubftantial farmers of the Vale gave in turn, he gave me an account of the progrefs of his memory. For the first year, he attempted no more than the prayers and fermon; the belt readers of the parish making it a pride to officiate for him in the pfalms and chapters. He next endured the labour of getting them by heart; and at prefent, by continual repetition, there is not a pfalm or chapter of the more than two hundred appointed for the Sundays, that he is not perfect in. He told me alfo, that having in his little school two fons of his own, intended for the Univerfity, he has, by hearing them continually, conftrued the greateft part of Homer and Virgil in his me mory. 'herefore, neceffary for him to inform you, that you must not regard any of his affertions. Thefe encomiums may probably be relifhed by counfel learned in the law, but I affure you, Sir, they never would puff me up with vanity. The plain English of fuch compliments is literally this: "The learned counfel who oppofes me, is certainly a very able man, and has it in his power to mislead a parcel of ignorant people like yourfelves: he is, however, a damned infamous fcoundrel, and will certainly exercife that power, if it fhould appear to him to be neceffary, and for the advantage of his client: I charge you then, if you would wish to do juftice and redress the grievances of the injured, to give no manner of attention or credit to his infamous falfehoods; for falfehoods they will certainly be, though my learned opponent, with his ufual ingenuity and addrefs, may cloath them with the robes of truth, purity, and innocence.” This may be the etiquette of the bar, and fuch a fpecies of panegyric may be food for the vanity of the gentlemen of three tails; but I would not thank any one for commendations of my head, at the expence of my integrity. I fear, indeed, that I should make a very indifferent pleader, for I could not be prevailed on, by a fee of The Art of Complimenting, among Law- the firft magnitude, to prostitute my abi I SIR, yers. To the Editor. Have frequently obferved that, in the arguments of counfel, much of their oratory is difplayed, and their valuable time wafted, in paffing compliments upon each other. The advocate who ftates the cafe, frequently interrupts his own narrative, to acquaint the gentlemen of the jury, that the learned counfel on the oppofite fide is a gentleman of fuch wonderful abilities, that he can make right appear wrong, and wrong right; and that he never fails to exercife his aftonishing talents to miflead thofe who are to decide upon the merits of the caufe, provided fuch conduct may be advantageous to his client. It is, lities, poor as they may be, by throwing a glofs upon impofition, oppreffion, or injuftice. The gentlemen at the bar, though forming altogether but one regiment, are divided into feveral companies or corps, according to their refpective departments. Sound lawyers are thofe who have acquir ed judgment by experience, and are capable of giving a good (a found) opinion. Thefe are not, however, the beft advocates, for they can fpeak only to the purpofe, and confequently have not much to fay. Another corps has acquired the name of the feeling troop, from the extraordinary fenfibility of fome of its members-I have known one of these pathetic pleaders enter fo heartily into his client's caufe, and become fo feelingly energetic, that he has more than once fallen into a deadly fwoon. He has drawn drawn tears even from one of his brother advocates, and is always very moving when he pleads the caufe of the injured cuckold, againft the adulterer who has feduced the wife of his bofom. The corps of chicanery are a fort of irregular troop, and are always upon duty. One of the members of this company is as fond of fearching for flaws, as a country 'fquire is of hunting after foxes. to create and detect errors, and to oppofe the proper current of juftice, by noticing an omiffion or a miftake in a word or letter of no real confequence. These are a fort of fpecial advocates. There are alfo many fubdivifions in this fraternity, which I am incapable of enumerating permit me, however, to with that mankind may become fo honeft that there may be no occafion for lawyers, and fo virtuous and good that there may be no occafion for fpiritual paftors! If you approve of my wish, you will infert this epiftle, and oblige Your moft obedient fervant. IT is On Domeftic Economy. A.B. By the Marquis D'Argenfun. T is at prefent required of mafters and miftreffes of families, not to appear too much taken up with the care of doing the honours of their tables, &c. Nothing appears more ridiculous than to fee the lady of the houfe torment herfelf, give her keys to fervants to fetch different things fhe has in her own particular keeping, which fhe diftributes with circumfpection, on great occafions; afterwards preffing people to eat of what the thinks good, as if they had it not in their power to have as good things fet before them every day. Thefe manners are fo impolite, provincial, and ruftical, that they are even banished from the genteel citizens houfes of Paris, from the provinces and chateaux. A house fhould be fo well regulated, that by a fign, or a word, from the mafter or mistress, every thing fhould be in its place, and the company well ferved. But if, in the courfe of the day, they fhould be difengaged from company, the miftrefs fhould referve to herself moments of recollection, in private, with her fervants, when fhe fhould reckon the expences of the preceding day, and give her orders for prefent and fucceeding ones; fhould know what every thing cofts, and what becomes of it. In houfes where mafters and miftreffes are too elevated to defcend to thofe minutiæ, a trufty and faithful fteward ought to be charged with it; but, as in a well-managed theatre, the machinery and decorations fhould be fo well prepared as to make every thing appear at the moment of representation, to be the effect of the ftroke of a magic wand. I know a good citizen's houfe, the mafter of which is rich and eafy, wherein the common order of things is reverfed. The lady commonly charges herfelf with the daily expences; there the contrary is the cafe; the miftrefs of the houfe prides hericlf upon her wit; and one great means the employs to gain a brilliant reputation is, to give regularly, on certain days, a dinner, on others a fupper, to thofe who are reputed, to have moft wit and information. The fortune of her husband is equal to thofe expences; he kindly gives into them with a good grace, and is as well pleafed as the company with her elegance of taste. But, although he feems not to be interested in the differtations at which he is prefent, afks no queftions, and never fays a word, I know, from good authority, that he amufes himself with them. How do we know that he does not liften as a critic; it is certain, that this man, who fays not a word, except in helping his friends at table, in the moft polite manner, who seems in the house, as an humble friend to the lady, and to give orders about any thing, fpends all his morning in regulating the family expences, and writing out the bill of fare for dinner: he fcolds his fervants when they fail in the leaft part of their duty, and prefcribes them precife and exact laws for the future; his people tremble before him; he takes the liberty to reprimand his wife, when, by her fault, the expences are too great, or the dinner is not good enough. There is nothing which a pilofophical obferver may not turn to advantage; and this gentleman might find in the ftudy of thefe little domestic affairs, an interest of confiderable magnitude. Solid Reafons which ought to be adhered to by the Youth of both Sexes, that they may not feel the heavy Hand of Af fiction in their Old Age. vide againft old age, fhould prevail with us alfo to provide againft the want and infirmities of a diftemper.-Let us rather depend upon the produce of our purfe, than on the pity of a phyfician. A very healthy perfon is foon reduced to his chamber, and we are all liable to diforders. It often happens, that fout people in the very vigour of existence, THE prefent pleafures, produced by are brought to fuch a ftate as to dea large expence of money, by no pend upon the fervitude of others for means balance the future miferies of a affiftance, of thofe very points, which wafted patrimony, diffipated fortunes, in a ftate of health, they would blush and a decayed conftitution; there is to make known to any other perfon. great reafon for us to make a referve of If thefe feebleneffes continue for any property, against the day of decrepi- length of time, fick fpendthrifts are tude; becaufe, in old age, we want therefore horrid fpectacles; their nurse thofe comforts which only money can becomes negligent, their phyfician calls procure a comfortable house, a warm now and then on the fcore of humanity fire, delicate living and a little fhare-they want the ftrengthening and refof authority; which in the laft ftage of life, is exceeding foothing and acceptable. Perhaps fociety cannot fhew a more pitiful figure, than either a very old man or woman, who having spent their fubftance in the flattering gaieties of youth, are reduced in the most helplefs fituation, to live upon accidental ftrokes of generofity, and to be at once ridiculed and relieved. If old perfons expect to receive the leaft degree of attention from the world in general, or even from their relations in particular, it must be from the force of happy circumstances in their favour; fuch, as for inftance, arifes out of a fortune, accumulated by the induftry or ingenuity of youth, this will render them refpectable amongst their domeftics, and make even their utmoft infirmities fupportable. Whereas, if old perfons have no teftimony of their oeconomy to fhew, they will crawl contemptuoufly about the world to be upbraided for their former prodigality, even by their own children, who, having no hopes, will confider them as an incumbrance, and wanting the various attentions which are neceffary to the accommodations of the laft fcene; their continuance in the family will be irkfome, and their lives probably fupported by the contributions of the charitable, they will die unmourned. (Keep the Staff in thine own Hand.) The fame principle of prudence which makes it neceffary for us to pro toring comforts, both of the kitchen and arm chair; and what is worfe than all, rebuke themselves for having fquandered, in the hour of fuperfluity, what should have been referved for the moment of exigence. Art thou rich? Place then circumfpection as a centinel over thy paffions, left that which thou poffeffeft, become a prey to artifice.— Art thou poor? Be induftry thy guard, left thou thouldft want the bread of life and in wanting that, the path of dif grace is not remote, and that path will lead you, peradventure to the pit of mifery and deftruction-condefcend not to be the object either of pity or charity, whilft thou haft limbs to toil, imagination to fuggeft, or health to perform; get honeftly, and live cautioufly. Whofo putteth these rules in practice, will undoubtedly live all the days of their lives. Anecdote of Lord Chief Justice Richard fon. From an Ancient Author. Aime depending in the King's Bench before him, which the plaintiff could county-Unhappily the populace of Ireland when they fee a man in cuftody, find a very ftrong inclination to fet him at liberty-hence the neceffity of recurring to the King's troops on the most trivial occafions-His lordship drew a ftriking contrast betwe n the fituation of England and Ireland in this inftance there, when the judges come into a town, the foldiery are ordered to withdraw here, every Englishman revolts at feeing our fefion houses crowded with an armed force, and the culprit conveyed to his trial by a file of foldiers with fixed bayonets and yet the want of an effective civil force renders this abfolutely neceffary-for were the foldiery in this country to withdraw from a town on the arrival of the judges, the judges themselves would do well to withdraw along with them, for there would be good reafon to fear the fecurity of their perfons-he inftanced what occurred in Sligo within the last two years, where the judges, bearing the king's commiffion, were infulted in the midst of the town and at midday, by a fet of rioters, calling themfelves gentlemen and yet this very county was excepted out of this bill, as being in fuch a state of good crder as to render the provifions of the bill unneceffary-As to the exceptions contained in the bill, he was very forry they were fo numerousand he would move to have every one of them expunged did he not fear that by fuch an amendment the bill would be loft in another place, as it might be construed to imply the impofition of a tax on those counties-he was willing therefore that the bill fhould pafs, e even in its prefent ftate, for the fake of establishing a preced int, and making way for a more general bill of the fame kind in the next feffion. Lord Dunfany objected to the bill as inducing unneceffary expence; he moved that the county of Meath be among the excepted counties. The Duke of Leinster made a fimilar motion relative to the co. Mayo, both which were negatived without a divifion. The bill was gone through in. committee, and 'ered to be read a third time to-morrow. The fecond reading of the bill for limiting the number of perfons to be carried on the outfide of Stage, Coaches, &c. was on the motion of the Chince or, poftponed to the 1st of Auguft. The rinciple on which this bill was rejected futile and ludicrous provifions of the was, the bill itself, and that it was yet too early to lay any restrictions on stage coaches which were but very recently in Juced into this kingdom, and were ftill too few. Mail Coach road bill was committed for Friday. The feveral orders of the day were gone through without any fur her debate, and the house adjourned till to-morrow. 21.] A petition was prefented from the inhabitints and proprietors of lands and houfes eaftward of Carlisle-bridge. praying to be heard by council again the Dublin harbour bill (the bill for repairing the South Wall.) The petition was recived and read. The Chancellor obferved, that it was at a very unufual age of its progrefs that thefe gentlemen had thought proper to come forward and oppofe this bill A vote of the other house had been paffed for addreffing the lord Lieutenant immediately to repair the breaches, &c. of this wall-i very confiderable fum of the public money was expended in confequence-not less than 4000l. A bill was introduced by which it was propofed to tax thofe people for the reimbursement of this fum whole property was likely to receive damage from the bad ftate of the walls, and who by their own confeffion were bound to keep them in repur-during the whole of its progrefs thro' the other houfe, no oppofition was made by thofe gentlemen to the bill-but now that the money had been expended, and the bill paffed the lower houfe, they came forward to be heard against it. Duke of Leinster accounted for the petition not having been prefented at an earlier period-the petitioners had not known that it was intended to introduce any bill on the fubject this feffion-and in fact the bill had been introduced at the close of the feffion, and paffed the Houfe in a hurry.The petitioners were ordered to be heard by council to-morrow. A petition was prefented from certain journeymen of the city of Dublin, praying to be heard by council against the bill for preventing combinati on. Alfo a petition from the master carpenters, in oppofition to that of the journeymen, and praying to be heard by council in favour of the bill. The petitions were read by the clerk, and the houfe having refolved into a committee of the whole houfe to take the bill into confideration, the petitions, which had been referred to the committee were read a fecond time. Council were heard on both fides-for the mafters, Mr. Recorder-for the journeymen, counfellors G. J. Browne and Cahill. The claufe objected to by the Council for the journeymen was that which made it neceflary for every journeyman on leaving an employer, to obtain from him a certificate that he left fuch employer with his confent, before any other perfon could employ him, without incurring a penalty of sol.. Council for the mafters fupported the propriety of this claufe, principally by thewing that a fimilar law prevailed relative to the workmen in the linen trade, and had been found to produce the most beneficial effects. The bill being read through, the lord chancellor rofe and faid the bill before their lordships was fuch a fyftem of oppreffion as ough not to be tolerated a moment. He was extremely forry to fee a defire prevail in this country to establish a kind of vaffalage among the lower orders of working people that would difgrace any country in Europe-Nothing could be farther from his mind than to fay any thing that would in the most remote degree promote combination he was convinced that combination had done a great deal of mischief as well to the combinators themselves as to the trade of the town, which it had injured in a very great degree, but the laws already ag inft combination were many and fevere-every man convicted of combination by due courfe of law was liable to imprisonment and public whippingThe prefent bill went to make every man who fhould have the misfortune to offend the caprice of his employer an outcast from May's lev'd image thall in dreams arife. Hide me from the folar rag Lead me to cool and quiet groves, |