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my prayers, poor and bad as they are. My kindeft refpects to Mrs. Doddridge and the young gentleman who was with you here; and to Mr. Jones, whom I fhall be extremely glad to fee whenever he has an opportunity of coming my way. Live affured of the most fincere regard of a very unworthy, but truly faithful, and moft obliged friend,

S. HUNTINGDON.

Mr. URBAN, Wood-freet, July 8.

offices of the parts of flowers. I pre. fume, therefore, that thefe gentlemen were the first whofe critical refearches into the œconomy of the vegetable creation produced an idea upon which Linné, in our times, has formed fo complete and fyftematic an arrangement. To leave the vegetable for the more animated kingdom: the reverend author of the Natural Hiflory of Selborne" informs us of the deafnefs of bees and fifhes; and, in another part,

cular fatnefs of partridges, woodcocks,
&c. in frofty weather, or when it should
feem as if they were prevented getting
food, by attributing it to the check that
is given by fuch cold weather to the
The fubje&t is cu-
perfpirable matter.
rious, and I think it very happily, as
well as philofophically, elucidated.

YOUR correfpondent D. N. pp. 414, very ingeniously accounts for the parti415, wishes to know what plants would grow in a town garden. As I have for some vears kept one, I have made bold to offer a few, which, if he pleafes, he may cultivate. I can only fay they always grew well with me; and, if he tries them, hope they will do the fame. The plants I would recommend are, Stocks, Pinks, Carnations, Auriculas, Geraniums, Lilies of the Valley, Wallflowers, Mignionettes, Nafturtiums, and many more, too numerous for me to mention. But, for a more particular account, I would refer

Yours, &c. JOHN FELTHAM. Mr. URBAN,

July 4.

Sæpe exiguus mus Sub terris pofuitque domos atque horrea fecit. VIRG. Georg. I. 181.

him to Curtis's "Botanical Magazine," WILL you be kind enough to al

where he will find the method of cultivation, the foil, and what flowers are fit for town cultivation.

If by thefe means he fhould gain a town garden, I fhall be happy in having had it in my power to employ a few idle minutes of another's, as mine was all cultivated at leisure hours; and, by a little attention, he will become foon a complete town gardener.

A CULTIVATING FLORIST.

Mr. URBAN, Honiton, April 14. IN the course of reading I have made the following remarks; any additi onal information from your correlpondents on them may be as grateful to the generality of your readers as to me. I find that Mr. Grew, in his "Anatomy of Plants," folio 1682, speaking of the apices of flowers, by hun called attire feminiforme, obferves, that their colour, for the most part, is white or yellow, but, he adds, never red. Now, in contraft to this paffage, I beg to inftance the Martagon, or Turk's-cap lily, where the apices are of a very fine red colour. Whether this may be the only flower in which they are so, I am unable to fay. In another part, Mr. Grew mentions his having had fome converfa. tion with Sir Thomas Millington, the teained Savilian professor (thus early), relative to the jexual diftinction and

low me a corner in your Magazine to folicit an anfwer to the following question, which, however trifling fome may perchance deem it, yet I am conof your readers, fident that, to many who, like myfelf, fuffer much from thefe noxious vermin, the enquiry will appear of fufficient importance to occupy a place in your ufeful Mifcellany; and I very much hope that those who are fortunate enough to poffefs a compofition, or any method to destroy them, will do myfelf and the publick the kindness to impart it through the mcdium of your publication.

I have

My houfe has been for a length of time infested with rats and mice; my library fuffers much from the latter, and my whole house and out-buildings greatly from both of them. uled various means to get rid of them, but to very little purpose. I truf, Mr. Urban, you will not think the infertion of this any way beneath your Maga zine; and any of your readers, who will communicate a method or means to destroy them, will be doing a greater fervice to the publick than, perhaps, they themselves may be at firft aware of. Yours, &c. T. T.

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620 Swedenborg, Opinion of Mr. Hare and others concerning. [July,

ent M. F. p. 514, enquiring after the true character of Swedenborg, whofe extraordinary pretenfions certainly demand a candid inveftigation. He will find abundant information in the Preface to the "Treatife on Heaven and Hell;" in the Dedication of "The Doctrine on Influx" to the Universities of England; and in the Prefaces to "The Univerfal Theology" and the "Arcana Coeleftia." The two first were written by the Rev. T. Hartley, a worthy and pious clergyman of the Church of England. When he has carefully read thefe, I truft that he will find every queftion anfwered, and every doubt refolved. But let me caution him, and every one who dips into thofe writings, that they impofe on every one the greatest neceffity of leading good lives; they admit no falfe fubftitutes, no bafe compromife; a man must be fincere and upright, or they will afford him no pleafure, will adminifter no fkreen for his vices or ill-tempers.

Should M. F. defire further information, I fhall willingly communicate any knowledge which I have gained, or any obfervations which I have made.

Lætus aliis, fapiens fibi,

is a good motto for one who is fecking after wisdom. CANDIDUS.

Mr. URBAN,

Southminler, Effex, July 12. CORRESPONDENT, M. F. p. A 514, wishes to know the general opinion of the Learned concerning the works and veracity of that most extraor dinary man Swedenborg.

If you think the fentiments of an obfcure individual will tend to illuftrate his character, they are at your difpofal, for I do not profefs to know the general opinion.

M F. concludes him either one of the molt favoured of mankind, or one of the greateft impoftors. I muft beg leave to diffent from both thefe conclufions.

Neither his fanatical affectation of fuperior fanctity, nor the hiftory of mankind, nor reafon, nor Revelation, warrant us in believing him to be little lefs than a fecond Melliah, who, in his miffion, has reverted all the natural order of things by converfing with angels, having immediate intercourte with the Divinity, giving us the whole organization of Heaven and Hell, and many more fuch ab. fura reveries, contained in his works.

With refped to the idea of his being an impoftor, there do not appear fufficient

grounds to lead us to fuppofe a man would renounce all claim to Heaven, in order to propagate what he knew to be falfe, without wishing or enjoying any temporal advantages to induce him to make fuch a facrifice.

The way in which his character will fuffer leaft, in the eyes of pofterity, is that of fuppofing him to have been deranged in bis mind. And that he was affected with a fpecies of infanity is my fixed opinion. We have abundant data in his writings to corroborate this; and it would be trifling with the understanding of your readers to argue further, at prefent, in confirmation of it, than by referring them to a perufal of his writings, which are filled with abfurdities and moral impoffibilities.

Should his difciples object, that this idea is incompatible with the whole tenor of his life in other refpects, my answer is, that an acquaintance with the history, rife, and progrefs of this unhappy malady, proves to a demonftration, that the moft incredible combinations of reafon and folly often exift in the fame perfon.

I fome time ago faw an infane vifionary of this clafs: he poured forth his vifion in ejaculations that would have done credit to the whole Bench of Bishops: he could neither read nor write, and was extremely illiterate; yet my faith does not extend fo far as to think him either infpired or an impoftor.

What led me to trouble you, Mr. Urban, on this fubje&t was, that I conceive it to be of great importance to the inte refts of mankind to attempt to place in a proper point of view a perfon likely to become the founder of a feet of New Je rufalemites, whom I neither wantonly mean to offend, nor to screen myself from their choler by an anonymous fignature.

Mr. URBAN,

YOUR

LANCELOT HARE.

July 13. YOUR correfpondent M. F. difcovers a candour and goodness of heart which it would be unpardonable to infult. But if he poffeffed an equal knowledge of human nature, he would fcarce. ly be fo folicitous to obtain fatisfaction touching fuch an enthufiaft as Swedenborg, who impoted on himself before he attempted to impofe on the world, and is just as worthy of general atten tion as Jacob Behmen, or the French. Prophets. In every century of English history we have feen fectaries arite. No ages have been fo fertile in them as the pitlent and the preceding. Nothing,

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in the whole circle of enthusiasm, is so furprizing as felf-denial. It will at tract admiration in a bad as well as a good caufe, from the Indian Fakirs to our modern courters of martyrdom. All true followers of Jefus Chrift will believe him in preference to the innumerable pretenders to a divine miffion, who, as he forewarned his followers, will fay, "Lo, here is Chrift, or there. For there fhall arife falfe Chrifts, and falfe prophets, and fhall thew great figns and wonders; infomuch, that, if it were poffible, they would deceive the very elect." Let us attend to the aweful caution that follows: "BEHOLD I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE. Wherefore, if they shall fay unto you, Behold he is in the defart, go not forth; behold he is in the fecret chambers, believe it For wherefoever the carcafe is, there will the eagles be gathered together." (Matt. xxiv. 23-28) Wherefoever there is credulity to work on, there will always be found pretenders to make dupes, and to make a prey of them. What need have we of credentials when we know the Chriftian s the laft revelation from Heaven? Shall we, who live under its brighteft difplay, feek after the glimmerings of a fechle enthuliaft? Can we learn more from Swedenborg, or Priestley, than from Jefus Chrift? or are they not bedimming and putting out "that light which illu minates every man that cometh into the world," to make their own candles fhine the brighter? Does it not remind you of fome lines in Quarles' Emblems?

not.

Blow wind, made ftrong with fpight, When thou haft puilt the greater light, Tby leffer (parks may thine and warm the

new-made light.

Deluded mortals! tell me, when your daring breath has blown Heaven's taper out, and you have fpent

your own,

What fire will warm you then? Let Dr. Pricfley, in the fpirit of Catholicifm, to fwell the number of Diffenters from the Etablishment, embrace Swedenborgians, and every new religionist that can add a chapel and a hamlet to the over-extended buildings of Birmingham, where fools are fpeculating away their own little property, and enfaaring as much of others' as protefted notes and discounted bills will allow. But to us, who hold the faith as it is in Jefus, and adhere to it with a confidence which hath fo great recompence of reward, though an angel from Hea

ven preach any other gofpel unto us than that we have received, be accurfed: for it is not another (or it is nothing other, nothing more or less) but there be fome that trouble us, and would pervert the Gospel of Chrift. The original word is ftrong: METAETPEITAI, overturn. St. Paul, we fee, lays under interdict not only men that preach beyond or befide (IAP' O) what had been already preached, but even angels; how much more then communication with angels and God men who pretend to have had perfonal himfelf? St. Paul, who had been himbut in what way he knew not, and in felf carried up into the third Heaven, Paradife heard the unspeakable words which it is unlawful for any man to utfelf as fuch a man, nor grounds a single ter, modeftly declined boasting of himargument on his extafies, vifions, and alone. How different from the self-derevelations, but glories in his infirmities luded Swede, who glories in nothing but extatic vifions!

Mr. UREAN,

B. A.

July 10. YOUR correfpondent W. p. 509, has fo well handled the principles of Hackncy College and its conductors, that it might feem almoft fuperfluous to enlarge upon it. A circumftance, however, refpecting its difcipline, which has lately come to my knowledge, deferves to be made public, as a specimen of the difcipline obferved in the college. A young man, placed by his guardians under the care of one of the tutors, who keeps a private boarding-house, being found not to have made the expected progrefs, his tutor had no better way of accounting for the deficiency than by telling the complainants that he was fo afraid to correct the youth's difinclination to bufinefs, that, should he even fly into a pasion, and beat his occafional instructors in drawing, French, or other branches of polite education, he fhould apprehend the fame treatment to himfelf, for noticing it. Now this mode of difcipline, Mr. Urban, feems fo perfectly confonant to that want of fubordination which, if the National Affembly do not inculcate, they find themfelves forced to connive at, that it is impoffible to be furprized at the eager concurrence of our own revolutionifts with thofe of a neighbouring country.

To the above anecdote might be add

622

Medical Topography wanted." Sent to Coventry." [July,

ed another, respecting the fame feminary, that when the collector of certain public taxes applied to one of the occupiers of the house for certain taxes, or rates, he was told that they were overrated, but that was of little confequence, for fuch levies would not laft long.

Let the parties contradict thefe affertions if they can; and let them, if they can, conceal the debt they have contracted, and the deficiency of their friends;-if, indeed, the laft anniverfary fermon does not fufficiently imply this. Yours, &c. Qvoz.

Y

Mr. URBAN, July 11. YOU did me the favour, fome time fince, to infert a letter of mine, on the advantages of a fyftem of medical topography of this country. I did not fend you any plan, becaufe I was in hopes fome more able hand would have approved my thoughts on that fubject, and improved the hint I gave. That, however, has not been the cafe; and a view of England, agreeably to the plan I wifh, is not likely ever to be attempted. It is, undoubtedly, a propofition for an immenfe work; and the collecting materials and the labourers in fuch an undertaking must be very numerous, and years elapfe ere its completion.

In every natural hiftory of any particular county there is ever the leaft faid on the, fubject I with examined. General remarks only are made on the air, water, prevailing winds and difeafes, &c.; no notice taken of the peculiari ties of particular towns, villages, or fpots, in which many fingular circumfiances prefent themfelves, deferving notice, but as yet unnoticed, or attempted to be accounted for, and fcarce. ly known, except to refidents, the generality of whom can only wonder.

County history is gaining ground now apace: it is a depderatum, and I hope will be purfued by every county throughout the kingdom. But that, though it takes-in its natural history, is general only, and not fyftematic and particular enough for application to the object I have in view,-the benefit of all perfons refiding, or difpofed to takeup a refidence, in any city, town, village, or fpot, throughout England or Wales; and that this work might direct choice, without dear-bought experience, which happens to many. To this may be added, the benefit to be derived by a medical practitioner, on his

first fetting-up to practife in any place, from a work of this kind, founded and formed on the most established authority and accuracy of information. The philofophic private gentleman would be gratified by fuch a work; and the country derive a benefit hereafter, at this inftant not thought of. This work fhould be aided by maps, or rather furveys, constructed to convey information, not only of the exterior furface, but alfo the interior circumftances of each fpot.

This, Sir, is an outline of my former hint, which was noticed by a correfpondent of yours at Liverpool in terms of approbation, and mention made of a work on this plan, refpecting that town, from whence he had drawn fome advantage, and feconding the views of, Yours, &c. NESTOR.

N.B. In my former paper I did not mention a map or furvey.

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A

When the fentence of being jent to Coventry is paffed upon a perlon, not one of his former acquaintance will take the leaft notice of, or exchange a fingle word with, him; even in his own houfe every one looks on him as a perfon entirely unknown, and continues fo to do, until he has made an atonement for his fault. This punishment is fometimes carried to a great length. gentleman, on being fent to Coventry, in the North of England, remained refractory, and, to avoid the difagreeable fituation of being treated as a stranger by his greatest intimates, came up to London. Here his friends, being apprized of the judgement paffed upon him, would not feem to know him, when he met with or visited them. From hence he went to Bath, thinking to get rid of the perfecution. There he found things in the fame fituation; all his acquaintance being informed, by letter, of the fentence. At laß he returned quietly to the place from whence he fet out, and, on making a proper fubmiffion, was again received into focity. Whoever peaks to a perfon

who

who is in Coventry, or takes notice of him, he is immediately put into the fame fituation himself, unlefs he makes an apology, or declares it was done inadvertently. H.

Mr. URBAN,

July 8. INP N p. 437, Philanthropos quotes a prophecy, relating to the ten tribes of Ifrael, out of the Lecond book of Efdras: he is not univerfally acknowledged as a prophet, being one of the apocryphal books; but he boldly claims the title, and prophefies very freely. I think Philanthropos fuppofes the Ifraelites to have travelled much further than is neceffary; for there are many parts of Tartary where they may be concealed from our knowledge; and fome of the Tartars have claimed to be defcended from them. Or if, as Efdras fays, they returned over the Euphrates, they may now lie hidden in Arabia or Africa. Wherever they are, I imagine their retreat will not be known till they are about returning; for Ifaiah feems to fpeak of them as a nation "born at once" (chap. lxvi. ver. 8); that is, appearing all of a fudden and Zion, defcribing their return to their own land, fays, Thefe, where had they been?" (xlix. 21.)

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There is another prophecy of the fecond of Efdras, in chap. xi. and xii. where he reprefents the Roman empire as a flying eagle. It is defcribed to have three beads" (xi. 1), which were to be preferved for the laf" (ver. 9). The great- middle head (ver. 4) has been long fuppofed to mean France; and I think that opinion is very probable. It is faid that the middle head "fuddenly appeared no more” (xi. 33); and this is interpreted to be," that one of them fall die upon his bed, and yet with pain” (xii. 26). And in that it is diftinguished from the other two heads, which "fball be fain with the fword" (ver. 27). That is, they fhall be destroyed by a foreign enemy: whereas the middle head feems to perisk on its own bed, and by its own power. This I take notice of as very remarkable at this time, for it looks as if the time was now come, for the late Revolution in France was very fudden and very great; and what the further event of it will be, no man yet knows. At present, it is, according to the defcription given of it, in their own land, and by their own act; for no foreign nation has as yet interfered with it. It now remains

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July 9.

WAS reading your entertaining Mifcellany for May; when a friend came in, and taking it up, he accidentally turned up that part in which the Ab ftract of the Premiums offered by the Society inftituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, is inferted. He furprized me by faying, "that it is the moft illiberal Society in Great Britain!" I requested he would explain himself; which he did, to the following effect:

"Some time ago I faw, in a cover of a Monthly Review, a fimilar Abstract to the one here; and it occurring to me that i might offer myself a candidate to this Society, I fent up a letter, ftating a fact, which I had attested by several juftices of the peace; and, in return, received a very polite answer from their Secretary; the purport of which munication, and that it was referred to their was, thanks from the Society for my com

Committee. Some months afterwards, when

writing to a correfpondent in London, I asked the fate of my paper; when he informed me, that in p. 348 of the VIIIth volume of the Tranfactions of the Society, I fhould find a law, that all the premiums of this Society are defigned for England, Wales, and Berwick upon Tweed; fo, as I dwelled a few miles North of the Tweed, I was excluded."

My friend farther added, that he thought this regulation ought to have been made public, at least in the Abftracts circulated in Scotland.

I could not help, Mr. Urban, feeing the propriety of my friend's remark; and hope the Society, in their future Abftracts, will publish that claufe excluding Scotland from the benefit of their public-fpirited fyftem. A. B. C.

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