relates in the preceding chapter, where the faith of the difciples in this fundamental article is exprefsly recorded. And it was "after the things related in that chapter that Jefus fhewed himself again to his difciples at the fea of Tiberias." I obferve, moreover, that Mr. W. himfelf, comparing "the cowardly dif pofition of the Apostles, at the time of their Mafter's laft extremity, with their forwardness and intrepidity within a few days after, maintains, that a perfuafion of the refurrection of Jefus Chrift, upon the evidence of their fenfes, was an ade quate cause for fo great an alteration, and furnishes a complete folution of the problem." Remark XXXIV. How these feeming contradictions are to be reconciled, is what I wish to know, and should be happy to have explained. May I be allowed to add one word more? In Remark XXXIII, Mr. W. confiders the expulfion of the buyers and fellers from the temple; and in this tranfaction he thinks he has difcovered a tacit acknowledgement, on their part, of our Saviour's miraculous power. "A confcioufnefs," fays he, in the traders of the indecency and profanation of their proceedings in proftituting the courts of the Lord's houfe to the accommodation of their worldly purposes in fo degrading a manner, would not, I think, in itself account for this ready acquiefcence in our Lord's conduct. But, if we connect with this an idea of his miraculous power, all difficulties will be removed.... The whole tranfaction appears to me mok mysterious, and per fectly unaccountable, in any other view; but plain, and reafonable, and confiftent, and fatisfactory, in this." Bishop Pearce hath this remark on the subject: “So great a multitude being with Jefus, and ready to support him in what he did, there was no room for the buyers and fellers to make any resistance *."-Who shall decide? T. A. S. readers in general, and particularly to thofe who think, as many do, that nothing more is neceffary for us, as a people, than that we should be made fenfible of our happiness. In exalting the literature of the prefent times above that of paft ages, this ingenious writer obferves," More than a third part of thofe who have had a claffical education can now write tole.. rable verfe. Among the choir of poets, therefore, who charm us with their mingled melodies, that bard must posfefs peculiar fweetnefs who can attract our chief attention to himself. Among the multitude, who rife far above mediocrity, it must require exalted talents to be greatly diftinguished. The fame obfervation may be applied to other fpecies of literature. He, whofe acquirements are now no more than common, would, formerly, have been regarded as a deep scholar, and would not have been overlooked in a crowd of Literati. Perhaps we have, at this juncture, as m-ny writers as there were readers in the age of Elizabeth. And, while the greater part of the community have minds improved and cultivated into elegance, our Poetry is mufical and rich; our History is luminous and elaborate; our Philofophy is enlarged and liberal; and our Theology is fimple and pure. And it may, I think, be juftiy observed, that fo diftinguished an age hath never before exifted, when be, who was educated under the Wartons at Winchefier and Oxford, might converfe on Poetry with a Hayley or a Mafon; on Divinity, with a Huid or a Porteus; on Morals, with a Johnfon; on Hiftory, with a Gibbon or a Robertfon; on Antiquities, with a Gough or a Whitaker; on Anatomy, with a Sheldon; and, after having viewed the Galleries of a Reynolds, might repair to the Theatre of a Siddons.” With respect to morality, Mr. P. ob. ferves" The vice of the prefent age is a diffipated voluptuoufnefs. Still, however, we are gaining ground in vir tue; fince, on all hands, it is confeffed, that we have difcarded the vindictive cruelty, and the furly avaricioufnets, of our forefathers. In many points we are licentious; but we have an ingenuoufneis, and a liberty of thinking and acting, unparalleled by the days that are paft. The higher ranks are more gene rous and condefcending than even their Now refident at Exeter. hofpitable 820 Hair turning grey from Fright ?-Critique on Mr. Newte. [Sept. hofpitable fathers. The clergy are, indifputably, better educated, and, confequently, better able to inftruct the people. The vulgar are fufficiently informed; they have the Sacred Books in their hands from their youth they have read the Scriptures. They too have their vices; but they are more orderly than in times paft: they speak not evil of dignities; they are loyal, induftrious, and temperate...... The fimple form of Chriftianity is again acknowledged and revered; and we enjoy a tranquillity unexperienced fince the primitive Chriftians...... Surely, then, we are no degenerated race, either in literature or morality. Even though a part of this reprefentation be rejected as a painting from fancy, yet I have brought together a fufficient number of facts to prove our advantage over our forefathers. To what end was the learning of a few whilft it was confined to a few? Morofenefs and pedantry. To what end was the Gospel, whilft its moralities were veiled by pomp or myfticifm? Superftition or hypocrify. They are now univerfally diffeminated for the Pictures of terror are drawn with the hair erect. Exceffive fear may, for aught I know, produce fuch an effect, though I never met with any thing like evidence of it; the expression, like many others in common ufe, is probably indebted to vulgar prejudices for its origin. Some animals, when vexed, as cats and dogs, discover it by bristling up their hairs; but I have always confidered this rather as a mark of anger than fear; and nothing like it appears to me to obtain in the human species. Humanus, however, declares very pofitively, that a certain paffage in Swinborne's Travels really and truly "made his hair to stand on end." Is there any truth in the stories, not unfrequently told, of a perfon's turning grey (and that fometimes in the course of a few hours), occafioned by fright*, or exceffive grief? J. A. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 9. happiness of all. And we have now in MR. NEWTE, in his Tour, p. 5, our power more genuine felicity than was ever known at any former period; if we employ our better reafon in fhun ning the vices and delicacies peculiar to a refined people, and in cultivating that tafte, and elegance, and virtue, which were never brought forward, among our ancestors, into a light fo ftrong or fo beautiful." Such are the reflexions of a writer well known in the Republick of Letters; and if Mr. Urban fhould think the inferting them would be peculiarly feasonable at this time, my end will be anfwered. A CONSTANT READER. Mr. URBAN, Gloucefter, Sept. 9. IN your ufeful Mifcellany we fometimes meet with curious, and not altogether unimportant, elucidations of proverbial expreffions, and local cuftoms and phrafes. I fhall be obliged to any of your ingenious correfpondents to tell me, whether we are ever to underftand the common expreffion-one's hair Alanding on end (fee p. 722), literally, or always hyperbolically. Thy knotted and combined locks to part, 4to edit. obferves," that land gained from overfpreading flones is uncommonly fertile." It is a well-known fact, that excellent crops of corn are got from land in cold, bleak fituations, which feems fo entirely covered with flints, that you would hardly fuppofe a plough could work, much less that any thing would vegetate. It is equally true that, the flints having been picked off fuch fields to repair turnpike roads, the crops of corn have failed. Flints fhelter the corn when young; and, wherever you take one up, you will fee the ground underneath has fome moifture.-Qu. Do flints vegetate? P. 6. He dines at Shipfton, and fays, there are no rivers thereabouts. This place is called Shipton-upon-Stour from the river of that name which runs by it. P. 8. "What religion there is in Birmingham is to be found amongst the Diffenters." I deny this: I have been at afternoon fervice there when the church has been crowded. I know few towns where I could fay the fame. P. 15. The remarkable particulars of Dr. Johnfon might as well not have been remarked, S. H. Mr. Haberkorn, who was fome years a printer in London, after escaping from shipwreck, and paffing the greatest part of a night on a dreadful rock, experienced this immediate change. He afterwards died a state prifoner, in the caftle of Elfineur, for a paper he printed at Copenhagen in vindication of a late unfortunate Queen of Denmark. EDIT. BARO. OBSERVATIONS. forwarder than barley. 24. Spanish chefaut begins to bloom. 5. 10. A very deftructive nildew. 12. Wafps destroy every kind The rains of laft month have faved the crops of beans. 28. Turnips very luxuriant. 30. Wafps and hornets become very numerous.-Auguft 1. of fruit; bees fuffer feverely from their attacks on the hives. 14. Heavy thunder-ftorm. Bees flight fo late as the beginning of this month. 3 Spanish chefunt in full bloffom. Very fultry. 6. Outs cut. 15. Wheat-harvest begun. 822 Humane Societies recommended to the Magiftrates. and liberal conduction, and, like the original in Holland, proves uninterruptedly fuccefsful, because all hands are employed in its operations; every one feels himfelf fufficiently inftructed to apply the means, and knows his endeavours will be rewarded. What a benefit is thus bestowed upon the French nation By general exertions numbers of lives are annually faved, and in that furprifing degree of fuccefs, as to recover, upon an average, fix out of feven fubjects treated. It would be an inconceivable advantage to this country were the magiftrates in the counties to condefcend to promote and countenance fuch generous inftitutions, of which not lefs than one hundred are extant in the provinces of France. Many perfons of humane feelings have of late publicly uttered withes of having the knowledge of this beneficial practice extended, taken-up, and encouraged, through the kingdom; but, refting the motive upon evident utility, fome have not indicated any particular mode of excitement for forming local eftablishments: others, more acquaint ed with the fubject, have offered modes which they think would ferve as memorandums, pafting the directions on church doors and all public buildings; fomething of the kind that the London Humane Society has done. One, under the fignature of Publica Salus, makes an Appeal to the Publick for the universal Etablishment of Humane Societies; he propofes no plan for their erection, leav ing that to arife locally from neceffity, charity, and the effect of the energy with which he defcribes the beneficial advantages accruing from the practice to the community. But all these writers will fee nothing arife from their appeals and reprefentations, they will remain at a lofs to point out any thing efficacious. For there is not an active fpirit operating to that end in those who, officially appointed, fhould think it a duty to erect and conduct such inftitutions as abroad, namely, the magiftrates and officers of police all over the country: fome art must be used to raife it. In the prefent apathy, exhortations become fruitless, as will appear from a circumstantial account of what hitherto has been done. The practice was introduced into England from Holland, eighteen years ago, by Dr. Alexander Johnfon, who propofed us cftabliment in the man [Sept. ner in which it was originally conducted abroad. He invited every one to attend, and take share in difpenfing to the nation the general benefit arifing from it. To this end he first published a number of cafes, proving its ethicacy in a variety of critical fituations; and then directly disclosed and diftributed the mode of treatment, which, at the fame time, he offered publicly to teach. He next addreffed, by circular letter, the minifters and veftries of 150 parifhes in and about London, and the hofpitals in it, exhorting them to receive the patients falling within their verge; to combine this new practice with that of their infirmary; and offering to affift them with any relative advice without fee or reward. In procefs of time he conveyed his printed inftructions to all the poft towns in England, to be read and had at the public office for general information. To render the fubject more intelligible, he enlarged his accounts of it, and divided the mode of treatment into claffes. These papers he then fent, with a particular address, to the chief and other magiftrates and perfons charged with the administration of police, in every town or place of any note in England, Scotland, and Ireland, intreating them to fpread the knowledge of this great difcovery, and to encou rage among the people in their district the ufe of the means fet forth. On the fuccefs of this application he refted his hope for a time, fill diftributing his inftructions, and improving every opportunity of making them known. However, as in an interval of four years he found no steps taken to benefit the counties and towns by this valuable communication, he re-publithed his inftructions on a more extenfive plan, and, with a new exhortatory cir cular letter, fent them to all the places and perfons to which they were before conveyed, informing them of the fmall coft at which a whole diftrict could be fupplied with a number of copies of abridged inftructions, fufficient to in form every one of what, upon emergencies, fhould be done. To make this effort farther as extenfively ufeful as he could, the Doctor did then generally what all along he had partially done, endeavouring to make all other parts of the British empire well acquainted with the difcovery and practice: he fupplied the West Indies and the continent of North America with his pamphlets and inftructions; expecting that, while he thus bufied himself abroad, fome arrangements, to prevent the daily lofs of individuals related in the news-papers, were making in the counties and great towns of England. But nothing appearing to be done, he ventured an attempt to awake feme attention in the fubordinate magiftrates, by refpe&tful addreffes to all the lord-lieutenants of counties, informing them what he had hitherto made free to do, and requesting of them a favourable intervention, to procure the eftablifhment and extenfion of a practice fo justly to be confidered a national object. A twelvemonth elapfed fince the making of this laft reprefentation without an indication of its having produced any effect. Nevertheless, to clofe the whole on his part, the Doctor included in his circle all the kings, minifters, and confuls abroad, for the prefervation of their families and visitors. A few private gentlemen in different counties, moved by generous feelings for the objects loft by ignorance and negligence, have applied to printing houses, and purchased fome hundred copies of the Doctor's inftructions, which they have freely given away to all around them. And from thefe endeavours feveral Humane Societies have been inftituted in the country. But these not contriving any more fufficient provifion of aid to the unfortunate, have applied to the London Humane Society for their rules of management; and thence being compofed or directed by the fame clafs of perfons, have proceeded directly in their confined footsteps; the effect of which is, that, like them, they alienate common feeling from the object, and direct attention only to a few cafes, fach as drowning, hanging, and fuffocating by noxious vapour and damps, cafualties having violent caufes, and happening out of doors; while this falutary practice extends its efficacy to all cafes of fudden death, at the appearance of which nurfes and menial fervants can apply proper means, and immediately relieve the fufferer. But of these numerous accidents within doors, the Humane Societies, and indeed many of the faculty, take no notice. The Reports of the London Society themfelves confirm this partial fuccefs; for the flatement laft published announces, from its inititation in 1774 to the prefent time, only 873 individuals, faved by the means prefcribed for restoration, while it owns (protracted) failures to the amount of 710; an unfavourable account, in contraft with which the French ftands commendably prominent, for of the aggregated two numbers of 1583 persons, affifted during 17 years in London, the French, not medical men, at the abovementioned rate of fix recoveries out of feven treated, would have rescued 1357. It is little to the honour of our country, that a matter of fuch general concern meets with more attention abroad than here. The Doctor is favoured with answers from perfons in eminent ftations in the West Indies, and the refpective States in America, approving his zealous proceedings, and promifing to promote his views. To their praife must be added, that their Humane Societies are upon a more liberal plan than ours. The obftruction artfully oppofed to the induftrious diffemination of the practice in this country, by a determined assumption, has been made and continued in the advertisements, bills, directions, and other publications, of the London Humane Society. The fimple, plain means, eafily learned, and readily applied by perfons of the meaneft abilities, are reprefented as connected with medical knowledge, and beft administered by medical hands, which evidently they are not. The manner of ftating them, and the direction to the difcoverers of accidents to go immediately in queft of a medical affifiant, abandoning the body for the fake of obtaining a reward, have, by crafty proceeding, effectually perfuaded the com mon people that they are not to meddle, but believe themfelves incapable of performing the cures. Thus have they taken the treatment into their own hands, while they cannot but be confcious that their number is not equal to the variety of cafualties, and that those very medical affiftants, they name to be called, are not directly to be found, becaufe they are hourly profeffionally employed among their patients; neverthelefs, they fupprefs the aid of that multitude of hands which is equal to the quantity of accidents, and leave the fufferers unatfifted at the critical moment that aid might reftore them, when the fmall remains of life are in the most fleeting state. It may perhaps be thought, on a subject |