A ftate, than what is abfolutely neceffary burthenfome; when it is equally, and for the prefervation of the whole.— as feverely punishable, to defraud the Power is the offspring of vice: and a cuftoms, as to break an houfe, the comvery tender and careful daughter fhe mon people will foon learn to make no makes; for fhe never lets her parent difference. All the confideration will want any thing fhe can procure her. be, where is the best booty?-Thus murBut thofe, who are not in love with the ders, robberies, and all breaches of moral family, ought to keep both under.-Let laws, as well as the invafion of property, it be always remember'd, that people in will become more familiar and frequent, power, who want to enlarge it, are en- where penal laws abound.-The remif deavouring to incroach upon others; and fion of crimes may enlarge power equal those who defire to reftrain them, are B to the bestowing of largeffes; and it is only struggling to fecure themselves. a much cheaper benefaction: for all men had much rather be freed from What pow'r was fit, I did on all beflow; Nor rais'd the poor too high, nor press'd the exaction of a fine, which might pofpunishment than gain preferment; and fibly ruin a man and his family, might terrify him into a refiftance, where a bribe, of a much greater value, would cumftanc'd, I can eafily conceive that not be receiv'd: for in a country, fo cira man in trade may innocently fall within the letter of the laws.—When there are any popular elections, how fatally this truft may be us'd by bad men, is very evident. too low The rich, that rul'd, and every office bore; poor. Both parties I fecur'd from lawless might; See Plutarch's Life of SOLON. C D In raifing Taxes, Excifes upon homeconfumption, penalties upon fome Exports, and Jeveral Imports, it may be neceffary (for the fupport of government, and in order to encourage beneficial commerce) to make penal laws, and to render actions punishable, which before were no E crimes in themselves. But the Exigency of ftate only can juftify thefe laws; which fhould be very cautiously and fparingly made; for as that man is beft, who hath the fewest faults, lo that country will be moft virtuous, which hath the feweft fnares and temptations for offences. I COMMON SENSE, Jan. 20. Have belonged to the fea-service above five and thirty years, have been in feven engagements, five times wounded, and once taken prifoner. The fufferings I mention I think of with pleafure, and am willing to ferve my counF try with the laft drop of my blood. But fome hardships of another nature, which we feamen have of late years been fubject to, I cannot but express with fome refentment and indignation; and that is, our being fo frequently taken into G fervice, and every now and then difcharged, with io little regard and decency, that we are not used even with common humanity. These hardships, which I have too oft feen and suffered, and the inconveniencies of which I at this time labour under, have led me to reflect on the little encouragement given to the navy, compar'd with the advantages attending the land-fervice. Thefe laws are commonly put under the management of magiftrates, who are paid for their time and care. Their ftrinefs recommends them to farther preferment, and their neglect lofes them a beneficial office.-The fubordinate magiftrates, who have the execution of the laws, merely moral, are not upon this foot in many countries; fo that unless they are endow'd with a H more than ordinary fhare of virtue and publick Spirit, there can be no great wonder that the moral lares fall afleep, whilft the others will not let any body reft. Where the penalties of these laws are That our fleets are the honour, the defence, the ftrength of Great Britain, the fupport of our trade, the dependence of A of our friends, and the terror of our ene- but rods for the people's backs. It was an excellent obfervation of the present Cardinal de Fleury: The English fleet awes their enemies; their army, themfelves. When ill ufage has driven half our. feamen into foreign fervice, the nation will, too late, be fenfible which ought to be most respected and encouraged, the gaudy butterflees or the rough honeft tarrs. Yours, SAMSON MAINMÁST. The Weekly Mifcellany, Jan. 27. Ontains a the for ber and falaries of Colonels, to defcend CC the bette propulation of the Stage: E no lower) Brigadeers, Major-Generals, It puts my blood into a ferment to hear the use of a standing army extoll'd by the penal tongues of court-favourites. I know no other use these land-locufts are of to the publick, but to opprefs their quarters, harass the country by their marches, infult the Gentry whofe eftates pay their fubfiftance, awe the boroughs, influence elections, and make the people uneafy and difaffected. Thefe BROOM STICKS (for from their use they may justly be fo ftiled) are fit for nothing F The intention of which is, to prove, that the immorality and fcandalous lives of the majority of our modern Comedians, is the great obftacle to the Stage's recovering its antient reputation; and that while those who most shine in our Dramatick performances, are known to be vicious, they will never be looked upon with pleasure by the virtuous part of mankind, nor be fo capable of reprefenting those characters which ought to appear with most advantage, as they will those which tend to the depravity of the audience; and confequently, that a man who has been guilty of fuch enormities as have been found notoriously criminal in the eye of the law, ought never more to be admitted upon the Stage, left by the propriety of his action, and the melody of his voice, he ingratiate himself fo far into the favour of our lefs guarded youth, as to make them judge too lightly of an offence G committed by a man with whom they are fo much delighted; agreeable to what was faid by a Noble Lord in the debate relating to the regulation of the Stage: "It may be very difficult to "make one who is every day at court, H" believe that to be a vice or folly "which he fees daily practifed by those "whom he loves and efteems." The writer of this paper very justly cbferves, that should his propofal be accepted, the theatre would be deprived of fome of its brightest ornaments. His Majefty's most gracious SPEECH to both Houses of Parliament, on Thursday the first day of February, I the 1739. My Lords and Gentlemen, bow fenfibly have been affected with many hardships and injuries fuftained by my trading fubjects in America. I have the honour of my crown, and the true intereft of my people too much at heart, to fee either of them fuffer any prejudice or diminutim, without pursuing the most proper and advantageous methods for their real fecurity and prefervation. Thefe confiderations alone were fufficient to incite me to exert my utmost power, in vindicating and protecting our undoubted rights and privileges of navigation and commerce; and nothing could add to my own zeal in fo just a caufe, but the due regard I always have to the petitions and complaints of my fubjects, and the advice of my parliament. The wisdom and prudence of your refolutions, upon this great and national concern, determined me to begin with the more moderate measures, and to try, once more, what effect and influence my friendly endeavours, and preffing inStances would have upon the court of Spain, towards obtaining that fatisfaction and fecurity, which we were intitled to demand and expect; and your affurances to fupport me in all events, enabled me to proceed with proper weight and authority. Thus fupported by the concurrent advice of both houses of parliament, I left no time in making preparations to do my felf, and my people juftice, if the conduct of the court of Spain had laid us under that neceffity; and at the fame time I did, in the strongest manner, repeat my inftances for obtaining fuch juftice and reparation for the many injuries and laffes alreadfuftained, and fuch an effectual fecurity for the future, as might prevent the confequences of an open rupture. It is now a great fatisfaction to me, that I am able to acquaint you, that the measures I have pursued, have had fo good an effect, that a convention is conrluded, and ratified between me and the King of Spain; whereby, upon confide ration bad of the demands on both fides, that Prince hath obliged himself to make reparation to my fübjects for their loffes, by a certain ftipulated payment; and plenipotentiaries are therein named and ap pointed, for regulating, within a limited abuses which have hitherto interrupted our commerce and navigation in the American feas; and for fettling all matters in dispute, in fuch a manner, as may, for the future, prevent, and remove all new caufes and pretences of complaint, by a ftrict obfervance of our mutual treaties, and a just regard to the rights and privileges belonging to each other. I will order the convention, and the feparate articles to be laid before you. It hath been my principal care, to make ufe of the confidence you repofed in me in this critical and doubtful conjun&ture, with no other view, but the general and lafting benefit of my kingdoms; and if all the ends, which are to be hoped for, even from fuccessful arms, can be attained, without plunging the nation into a war, it must be thought, by all reasonable and unprejudiced perfons, the most defirable event. Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I have ordered the proper eftimates to be prepared, and laid before you, for the wish, that the pofture of affairs would Service of the current year. I heartily have permitted me to retrench the publick expences, for which I am obliged to demand the prefent fupplies: and I make no doubt, but your experienced zeal and affection proper for me and my government, and the concern you have always fhewn for the publick good, will induce you to grant me fuch supplies, as you fhall find neceffars for the honour and fecurity of me and my kingdoms. My Lords and Gentlemen, I cannot but earnestly recommend it to you, not to fuffer any prejudices or animofities to have a fhare in your deliberations at this important conjuncture, which feems, in a particular manner, to call upon you to unite in carrying on fuch measures, as will be moft conducive to the true interest and advantage of my people. A A FLIGHT. C Ibon deat, provoking jewel! P Why will you fill fufpend my joy, And treat me paft endurance, And have no pow'r to win ye, H And-think the devil's in ye. Ille, ille late figna ferens tua, The preceeding Ode imitated. Here, Hymen, lead that fmiling train, No difcord here fhall raise the warm debate, E 2 De Co De Urbe & Ponte Londinenfi. H Hafte to devour their deftin'd prey! "Ow fwift, alas! the rolling years A moth each winged minute bears Great B-t-y, fhould thy critick vein To fhew thy learning and addrefs: Chang'd to a laurel, his coy maid Cafe, fair Aurelia, cease to mourn, Lament not Hannah's happy ftate; You may be happy in your turn, and feize the treafure you regret. With love united Hymen ftands, And foftly whispers to your charms, "Meet but your lover in my bands, "You'll find your fifter in bis arms." SUSPIRIUM. my heart! heart! my wounded Can I longer bear the smart? Where great King Arthur and his Nobles dwell. Man for nobler ends was made, Authors of ev'ry fize and name, read ? With filver clafps, and corner-plate, Fear not from worms nor time thy fate, On the Poet L-t, and his ODES. A Pollo, firft of Laureats, woo'd, And with love-odes and fongs purfu'd In the fenate, at the bar, } ? But can these my mind engage She's the burden of my fong. F All nature's incenfe rife! The |