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EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR JULY 1806.

JAMES ASPERNE, having purchased the entire property of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, begs leave to affure its Readers in particular, and the Public in general, that no efforts fhall be wanting on his part to render it deferving, not only of retaining its prefent honourable tation in the public favour, but of a still more extended circulation. This, he is aware, cannot be effected by any fudden or ferious innovation on the PLAN upon which it has fo long been conducted with general approbation: he fhall, however, confider it incum bent upon him to attempt to add to the variety, as well as utility, of its gene ral contents; and to aid him in this endeavour, he earnestly folicits the com munications of ingenious perfons in every department of literature, fcience, and art, to which the most respectful attention fhall be paid. The Editors of the European Magazine have, on a former occafion, pointed out the contributions which they would prefer, and think it not improper to repeat them. They are Elays, Moral and Literary, and fuch as illustrate dark Pallages of Hiftory; Biographical Anecdotes of Men of Eminence, either living or dead; Letters on Erudition and Criticifm; original Letters of cele brated Perfons; and Accounts of new Inventions, or remarkable Characters. They therefore flatter themfelves, that fuch as have any useful knowledge to communicate, or any hint that may improve the Mind, polith the Manners, refine the Tafte, or amend the Heart, will be as glad of such an opportunity of communicating, as the Editors of the European Magazine will be always ready to convey it to the Public.

As the Volume now printing is the FIFTIETH, and as complete Sets of the Work are fcarce, it is intended to commence the Year 1807 with Vol. I. of a NEW SERIES OF THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE; which will accommodate new Purchafers, without the smallest prejudice or inconvenience to those who have been Purchafers from the commencement of the original publication.

THE

THE LATE MR. JOHN SEWELL.
[WITH A PORTRAIT.]

HE Proprietor avails himself of the very earlieft opportunity afforded him, by his recent purchase of the property of THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, to pay a due tribute of respect to the memory of a gentleman in whofe concerns he for five-and-twenty years bore an active part, and to whole bufinefs he had the happiness to fucceed, by the fpecial recommendation of the deceased in his Will, accompanied by a legacy, mentioned as being in confideration of long and faithful fervices. But, unless he is greatly mistaken, the following brief Memoir of Mr. Sewell (accompanied as it is by a PORTRAIT)

For the last fixteen or seventeen years, to our knowledge, Mr. Afperne had almoft the fole charge of felecting the embellishments for the Magazine.

will not be unacceptable to many perfons of the first character in the city of London, with whole friendship and acquaintance that gentleman was for many years honoured.

Mr. JOHN SEWELL was born at Oak. ham, in Rutlandthire; we prefume, in 1735; as we find that he was baptized on July the 27th of that year. Of his family we know no particulars; but learn that he came to London in 1752, and became the apprentice of Mr. James Brotherton, who afterwards received him as a partner; and that connexion continued till 1775, when Mr. Brotherton died, and left Mr. Sewell the whole of his property, with the exception only of a legacy of 30l. to an elderly lady,

Mr. Brotherton was an eccentric fort of man; and Mr. Sewell certainly in herited, with his fhop and bulinets, B 2

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[John. And at night Mr. Constable's great as Sir Enthron'd here he fits, mid his myrmidon [his hand With his powerful peace-keeping staff in While fome of his cruizers before him are hawling [ing. An amorous couple furpriz'd catterwawl

fome of his harmless whimsicality. "The candle fhines out when bright When, in 1779, he was chosen Con. ftable for the Ward of Cornhill, it was expected that he would act by deputy, as had been usual; those who judged fo, however, knew but little of John Sewell's way of thinking: he chose to ferve in perfon; for which he affigned as a reafon," that the office was of too much importance to be executed by every one;" and to fhow that his acting himself did not arife from the paltry motive of faving the money ufually paid to the fubftitute, as was objected to him, zol,, he gave that fum to a lying-in charity. Those who are now, and were at that time, living in Cornhill Ward, mult remember the many excellent regulations which he intro. duced refpecting the nightly watch; fuch as the abolition of an old temporary watch-house (against which he had long vowed vengeance) erected nightly

under the South Ealt Piazza of the Royal Exchange; the removal of all the watch-boxes; and the conftant patrolling of the watchmen, from that period, from their head-quarters, every quarter of an hour; fo that at that interval of time, every inhabitant had a watchman país his houfe regularly through the night; and Mr. Constable himfelf as regularly took his tour of duty whenever it came to his turn to fit up (every fourth night): on these occafions he converted his back fhop (which then food where what is now called the Lounging-room has been erected) into a watch houfe; and here many of his friends, inhabitants and others, have kept watch, and gone the rounds with him, until the regular time of going off in the morning.

Mr. Sewell's condefcending to accept the Conftable ship, and turn his fhop into a watch-houfe, gave occafion to one of the earliest attempts at humorous painting of the late celebrated GEORGE MORLAND, which picture is now in Mr. Alperne's poffeffion: it is an exquifite fatire on common hireling fubftitute conftables, in which one fuch and his watchmen are perfonated by apes, and a beau and a lady (prifoners) by cats. A very good engraving from this picture was given at the time in the Weltminfter Magazine, (Vol. VII, p. 593,) with the following verfes under it, written by Mr. John Ellis*:

Of this gentleman Dr. Johnson obServes, that the moft literary converfation

Against the young rake-hell one loudly.
complains, [out his brains.
How his lanthorn he broke, and half beat
"Is it fo," fays his Worship, "young
Squire, (do you fee,) [upon me.
Who my Minifters Arikes, makes affault
In me the King's wounded; and thus, by
fair reason,
[treafon.
You're tried, and convicted of capital
Yet because in your garb you genteelly
[fevere,
And to thow I'm a magiftrate far from
Give the man half a crown for a lanthorn

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and plaifter, [good night, mafter." And fomewhat for drinking, and then Thus one cull acquitted, confederate [some more.

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Is difpatch'd with a charge to decoy in

The subject is further illuftrated, with fome bumour, in p. 660 of the fame volume. When Mr. Sewell first entered on the office of conftable, fome futile attempts were made to render the execution of it vexatious to him; but those who did fo, little knew their man. We remember his being fum. moned for the first time to attend a

public execution, which at that period took place at Tyburn; and never was the Midnight Magiftracy more gravely and decorously reprefented. Mr. Sewell was preceded by all the watchmen of his Ward, two abreast, habited in their long watch-coats, their ftaves in their hands, and each with a new hat and crape hat band (at his fole expense); himself following in a coach, in mourn ing alfo, accompanied by Mr. Afperne. In this manner, with flow and folemn pace, he followed the criminals from Newgate to Holborn Bars; where his duty ending, he returned home: fuch

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a proceffion added much to the folemnity of the fce le *.

In 1783, Mr. Sewell became one of the Proprietors of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE; and in the fame year was the projector, and alfo a liberal contributor to the expenfe, of that highly ufeful, and in his Ward particularly (which fo frequently and fatally had fuffered by fire) important work, the Tank, or Refervoir for water, under the coach pavement at the East end of Cornhill; which, together with its pumn, and

On the occation of his going to a watering-place (we believe Margate,) for his health, during his Conftableship, he printed, and fent round to every houfe holder in the Ward, the following whims cal Advertisement :

"MIDNIGHT MAGISTRATE. To be difpofed of to the lowest Bidder, "For Six Weeks ONLY, from the 30th of Auguft Inftant,

That ancient, powerful, refpectable, honourable, and molt fuperlatively eligis ble Office of Midnight Magiftrate, vul gly called CONSTABLE, of the GENTEEL NEATEST and most

Ward in the Centre of the City of LONDON, Propofals to be fent in, fealed up, (by Perfons legally qualified) to the Quarter Guard of the faid Ward (No 32, Cornbill) on or before the 26th Inftant, where they will be examined at Midnight, and proper Anfwers given at Noon Day.

their

"N.B. The Troops are in good Spirits, well difciplined, and understand ALL the MANOEUVRES belonging to their Duty, being Veterans in the Service; nor are they at all wanting in Address relative to the Nymphs of Eafy Virtue, having had long Experience. As to CLOATHING and GUARD-ROOM, the Advertifer cannot fay much in their Praife, the former being of Seven Years, the latter of Forty Years ftanding, according to the best Chronology, and confequently both a LITTLE out of Repair; but this he apprehends can be but a SMALL Objection, as the Weather will probably not be very Cold. The Advertiser would not Part with fo defirable a Poft, but having had many beneficial EVENTS lately, though not attended with Fatigue, makes a little Relaxation at fome of the genteel Watering Places neceffary for his Health, but would by no Means part with it for a longer Term than before specified; therefore will require AMPLE SECURITY for its being given up to him, with all its EMOLUMENTS and ADVANTAGES, on his return to Town.

bags, conftructed after his defign, to dam up the Channels, has fince proved of great utility in cafes of conflagration. before a fupply of water could be procured by the ufual means,

In 1791, from the most purely patriotic motives, Mr. Sewell itarted the idea of an inftitution for the Improve ment of Naval Architecture; and when fuch a Society was formed, he became a most zealous and liberal promoter of it in every way that occurred to him for ferving its purposes. His collection of books and models was freely acceffible to all who made that noble and national art their study; and the blue covers of his Magazine were made the vehicles for communicating to the public every valuable hint on the fubject. Thefe were afterwards collected, and printed in two volumes, 8vo., but are now become very scarce.

In the following year (1792), Mr. Sewell promptly joined (for he was the fifth perfon who entered his name) the laudable exertions, and was named on the firft Committee, of the Loyal Aff ciation at the Crown and Anchor; to whofe indefatigable labours the nation was in a great degree indebted for its prefervation from the most imminent danger of becoming a prey to the trea fonable and feditious efforts of a Jaco. binical confederacy, which feemed prepared to wade in blood, for the purpofe of affimilating the fituation of this country to that of revolutionized France. In furtherance of the purposes of the Affociation, Mr. Sewell appropriated his back shop, in Cowper's-court, to the fale of what was called Affociation Tracts, at one penny each, to accommodate the circumftances of the poorer clafs of fociety; though the expenfe of the printing and paper confiderably exceeded that price.

We have next to record, and to Mr. Sewell's honour we do record it, that at the very critical time when the United Kingdoms were moft justly alarmed by the difgraceful mutiny in our Fleets, during the existence of which our own failors had for fome days the actual poffeffion of the paffes to the river Thames, he formed the bold idea of "A Marine Voluntary Affociation for Manning in Perfon the Channel Fleet," the ancier t and natural defence of Old England *. Fortunately,

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momentous crifis.

The British Conftitution has, within the laft fifty years, encountered many very fe vere fhocks, from circumftances on which (as the retrofpect is painful, and the refection might be ufelefs) it is now perhaps advifeable to avoid animadverfion. Against all these, however, its Genius has oppofed an hitherto impenetrable fhield; and from every conflict it has derived redoubled luftre, and accumulated ftrength. That fuch will be the cafe to the end of time, it would be prefumptuous to affert; indeed the prefent day exhibits fuch an unparallelled fcene, as renders most extraordinary meafores of vigour and unanimity indif penfable to the falvation of all that is honourable to the nation, or dear to its indi

vidual inhabitants.

A most calamitous difaffection has (it is truly to be lamented,) made its appearance in a confiderable part of our Fleets; yet it is very fairly to be prefumed, that patriotifin and loyalty ftill refide in the breafts of Britons collectively; nor is it to be doubted, that if that loyalty, that patrio tifm, be by imperious neceflity called forth into action, the most far-famed deeds of our glorious ancestors will be to us fignals of emulation, not marks of reproach.

The very humble individual who throws out the prefent remarks, is engaged in a pretty extenfive branch of trade: but, perfuaded that he has faithful and able affiftants, he purposes to entrust the whole concern to the management of a confidential fervant (who has a young and numerous family dependant on him,) and to enroll himself on board a fhip of war, to do perfonal fervice as a landfman ;-it being a fact afcertained beyond a doubt, that for every purpose of a ship of war, a proporJames Afperne.

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accuftomed to fuch arrangements than With great fubmiffion to perfous more himfelf, he begs to offer a few hints, which may perhaps ferve as a ground work to fome very grand and patriotic under taking.

I. That we (the perfons fubfcribing) will register ourselves, to serve in what is called the Channel Fleet only: that is to fay, in a fervice for the immediate defence of the Country against the common enemy now threatening an invafion; or for quelling mutinies, or other illegal irregularities, that may unhappily continue to prevail among our mifguided fellow-fubjects.

II. That as foon as the cruife is over, we fhall be permitted to return on fhore to attend to our private concerns: on the condition that we be in readiness to return, on board again after twenty-four (or fortyeight) hours' notice by poft, as the distance may be.

III. That we will provide ourselves, with flops, hammocks, and other neceffaries, or conveniencies, from the Purfer; or, if it be thought fit that thofe neceffaries fhould be furnished by the Government, we will leave them on board at our de

parture for the ufe of the remainder of the crew, or deliver them into the hands of any officer duly authorized to receive them.

IV. That we will (or will not, as may be agreed) receive the common pay of the fervice; but, at all events, we will bear our own travelling charges to and from our refpective fhips; and, at the expiration of a certain number of days or months actual fervice, fhall expect to have a certifi cate, under the hand of the Captain and Fit Lieutenant, entitling us to the benefit of Greenwich Hofpital, or the Cheft at Chatham.

V. That where it may be more convenient, from various circumstances, for a mafter to fend his fervant to ferve for him, the mafter be apprised of the great neceffity there will be for care in choofing fuch an one as is well affected and obedient, and of affuring to fuch fervant the continuance (during his abfence,) of his usual salary and ftation, as an encouragement.

VI That it be recommended to the officers of the respective ships, to felect fuch good failors and marines for the oneeighth proportion, as they hall know to be firm friends to their native land, and

ftaunch

it was conceived was one that was always uppermoft in the mind of Mr. Sewell.

In 1801, when a fcarcity of the materials for paper, operating with other caufes, had advanced that very useful article of confumption to an intolerable price, Mr. Sewell brought forward to notice fome fuccessful experiments that had been made, for manufacturing paper from a fort of Indian Flax called Sun Paat, of which are made the bags that bring over to this country fugar, falt-petre, pepper, bale goods, &c.

Mr. Sewell clofed a very useful and respectable life on the 19th of November, 1802, after a fhort illness, and was interred in the middle aifle of St. Michael's Church, Cornhill, being attended to his grave by Colonel Aubert, Ifaac Reed, Efq., D: Braithwaite, Efq., and a few other friends, fincerely regretting the lofs of an honest and worthy citizen," who, with fome harmlefs eccentricities †, poffeffed a mind

ftaunch defenders of the crown and dignity of their liege Sovereign.

L

and fpirit, of which the energy and va
lue could only be duly estimated by
those who were admitted to his familiar
acquaintance *.”

FRONTISPIECE.

HE FRONTISPIECE to this Volume is
TH
a correct reprefentation of the Mo-
nument which has been erected in
Westminster Abbey to the memory of
CAPTAIN JAMES MONTAGU, who fell
in the glorious action of the it of
June, 1794 t, in which he commanded
the Montague, of 74 guns.

On a circular pedestal ftands a coloffal figure of Captain Montagu, in the British naval uniform; behind which, rifing from a globe, is the figure of Victory, preparing to place a wreath of laurel on his head. At the bale are two lions of proportionate fize. On the front of the pedestal is a reprefentation, in alto relief, of the engagement of the rit of June; and at the back are two figures, in bold relief, deploring the loss of the deceased. The

VII. That a book be opened at under the title (pro tempore) of The MARINE VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION for Manning the Ancient and Natural Defence of Old England; in which book all maftertradefmen, or other refpectable houfeholders, fhall be invited to fign their. names and places of abode, previous and preparatory to fome regular plan of proceeding to carry the foregoing intention into effect.

VIII. A Committee might then be formed from the fubfcribers, which fhould request the aid and direction of fome experienced Naval Commander, as Chairman; and in which Committee thefe very defultory hints might be corrected, extended, and rendered practicable.

It may be proper to fay, that the propofer (though he wishes to avoid the oftentation of standing confpicuous on this occasion,) will be among the first to fet the example, by fubscribing the book; and will, whenever a proper occafion may call for it,) very freely avow himself.-At prefent, he remains under the name of

and grounds at Battersea Rife, on which
he had, in the courfe of a number of
years, expended a confiderable fum of
money. This FOLLY of his, how-
ever, (for fo he named it,) brought
3500l. at the hammer after his death.
A VIEW of it will be found in Vol.
XLIII, page 88. A curious fact re-
fpecting this houfe was, that the outer
part was compofed of no other materials
than milled or pafte-boards, which were
painted, and had fine fand ftrewed over
them, to give them an appearance of
ftone; neither lath nor plaister formed
any part of the inside of the house. In
the vaults he had built a place to receive
an iron coffin, in which it was always
his intention to have been buried.
This coffin many perfons will recollect
having feen in a niche in the back shop in
Cornhill, ftanding on end, ferving as a
depofitory for his account-books, and bearing
this in!cription:

June 13, 1797. BRITANNICUS. * Some interefting particulars of this article, communicated by Dr. Roxburgh, were published on the wrappers of the Magazine, and by Dr. Tennant, in his "Indian Recreations."

+ Mr. Sewell's principal bobby-horse (and who is without one?) was a house

"John Sewell delighted in this spot, 1788."

The weight of the coffin was toolbs. ; and that he was not interred in the place and manner above alluded to, was owing to the difcretion of his executors, who prudently availed themselves of a fair opening for that purpofe in the construction of his will.

See Vol. XLII, p. 397. +Vide NAVAL CHRONICLE, Vol. I, page 20, &c.

extreme

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