we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt. You give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to fee your creditor: you will be in fear when you fpeak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, fneaking excufes, and by degrees come to lofe your veracity, and fink into bafe downright lying; for, as poor Richard fays, "The fecond vice is ly - ing, the first is running in debt." And again, to the fame purpose, " Lying rides upon Debt's back;" whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to fee or speak to any man living. But Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: "It is hard for an empty bag to ftand upright," as poor Richard truly fays. What would you think of that prince, or that government, who should iffue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or a gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or fervitude? Would you not say, that you were free, have a right to drefs as you pleafe, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and fuch a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny when you run in debt for such drefs! Your creditor has authority, at his plea fure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or by felling you for a fervant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but "Creditors (poor Richard tells us) have better memories than Debtors;" ́ and in another place he fays, "Creditors are a superstitious sect, great obfervers of fet days and times." The day comes round before you are a ware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to fatisfy it. Or if you bear your debt in mind, the term which at first seemed fo long, will, as it leffens, appear extremely fhort. Time will feem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. "Thofe have a fhort Lent (faith poor Richard) who owe money to be paid at Easter." Then fince, as he fays," the Borrower is a flave to the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor," difdain the chain, preferve your freedom, and maintain your independency; be induftrious and free, be frugal and free. At prefent, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving cir VOL. XXXIX. cumftances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but, "For age and want fave while you may, No morning-fun lafts a whole day," as poor Richard says.-Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever, while you live, expence is conftant and certain; and "It is eafier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel," as poor Richard fays. So "Rather go to bed fupperless than rife in debt.” "Get what you can, and what you get hold; It is the ftone that will turn all your lead into gold," as poor Richard fays. And when you have got the Philofopher's ftone, fure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes. This doctrine, my friends, is reafon and wifdom: But, after all, do not depend too much upon your own Industry, and Frugality, and Prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blafted without the bleffing of Heaven: and therefore afk that bleffing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember job fuffered, and was afterwards profperous. And now, to conculde, "Experience keeps a dear fchool; but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct," as poor Richard fays. However, remember this, "They that will not be counfelled, cannot be help ed," as poor Richard fays; and further, "That if you will not hear Reafon, fhe will furely rap your knuckles.” Thus the old gentleman ended his ha rangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine; and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common fermon: for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions, and their own fear of taxes.I found the good man had thoroughly ftudied my Almanacks, and digested all I had dropped on thofe topics during the courfe of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one elfe, but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it; though I was confcious that not a tenth part of the wifdom was my own which he afcribed to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the fenfe of all ages and nations. However, I resolved D te to be the better for the echo of it; and though I had firft determined to buy ftuff for a new coat, I went away, refolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever thine, to ferve thee. July 7.1757. RICHARD SAUNDERS. To the Author of the ScoTS MAGAZINE. SIR, THE following loose reflections I found in the cabinet of a dear friend whom I have lately loft. His mind was of that uncommon frame, which could bear to meditate with complacency and chearfulness on a fubject of doubt, anxiety, and difmay. As they may tend to che rifh the fame happy difpofition in others, they are prefented to you without apology. A Materialift, who fuppofes the foul to be but a quality of matter, modified in a certain manner, fhould be asked, "Where is the change in the modification of matter at the inftant that the fpirit leaves the body?- Each component part of the body retains its form and fituation. The image is ftill painted on the retina of the eye; as may be proved by taking it out of its focket, and placing a white fubftance behind it, which will receive the picture of all external objects. And fo it is with all the organs of fenfe." Death, therefore, is not a change of modification in the parts of our body; but as the body remains the fame, it must be the feparation of a fubftance perfectly diftinct from the body. In what manner the foul should ever be united to the body, is as incomprehenfible, as that they should ever exist separately and difunited. But we know that the foul is not congenial with the embryo, but united to it at a certain period of its growth; we know likewife, that at another period this intelligent fubftance leaves its material companion: - two facts which prove it to be a separate substance: And it is easier for me to conceive it to be a fubftance capable of a feparate existence, than to fuppofe it only a result of compounded matter. Is there any other compofition of matter but the animal compofition, which forms a refult refembling intelligence? What then, do we fear. in death, which is but a change in the mode of our exiftence? We made one change when we came into life; and why fhould we fear to make another? Do we change our master in that afterftate? - do we ceafe to be under the government of that being who took care of us in this life? Have we lefs reafon to trust that He will wifely difpofe of us after this life, than we have, that He will care for us during what yet remains of it? With equal reason fhould I fear to live to-morrow, as fear to die. The chief fource of the fear of Death is in the ignorance of the nature of that ftate which fucceeds. We dread it as fomething unknown; a dark labyrinth, of which we know not the termination; a path where thousands go before, but there is none to inform us of its iffue. Thus we fear every thing that we do not know. The firft navigator feared to truft his bark out of fight of the fhore; but experience foon taught him, that the diftant ocean was more tranquil than the fhallow bays. The Equatorial as well as the Polar regions, while unknown, were deemed uninhabitable. A blind man fears to tread a path with which he is unacquainted. Fear, therefore, is no proof of the certainty of danger. That terror is childish which arises tolely from uncertainty. But another fource of the fear of Death is the dread of the pain fuppofed to attend the feparation of the foul from the body. But here, perhaps, we judge erroneoully. It is certain that an acute difeafe is painful: but if the difeafe is painful, the termination of that pain fhould be pleafant. The laft ftruggle is probably the easiest. The fenfes are gradually abforpt. Now we know that the abforption of the fenfes is rather pleasant than painful. It is pleasant to fink gradually into fleep; and perhaps it is a fimilar abforption of the faculties when we die. The forethought or expectation of dying conflitutes its pain; for were we aivefed of that, our laft illness would be no more fevere than others from which we have recovered. Animals which have not forethought or apprehenfion of death, appear to die eafily. When mortally wounded, they clofe their eyes, as in a fleep, and expire often without the fmalleft ftruggle. To balance thofe fears which arife from uncertainty, we need but to review those confolations, confolations, for fome of which we have fought truth; the counfels of Proviwell-founded, and for others abfolute dence fhall refolve the doubts of the MeCertainty. taphyfician. The love of Knowledge muft then have its higheft gratification, in the difcovery of thofe great arcana which the weak eye of human reafon fails to reach." We have the certainty of deliverance from much mifery.- Chained to a mafs of matter which is in a continual progrefs to decay, the foul fhares in all the pains and difeafes of its frail vehicle. But loofed from the body, fhe is emancipated from her bondage, and is free to the exertion of her native powers, with out incumbrance or restraint. The victim of disease shall exchange his fickly frame for angelic ftrength and beauty. The wounds of the fpirit, more fevere than the keeneft anguish of the body, fhall then be healed for ever. Patient merit fhall no longer fuffer "the fpurn of the unworthy." The poor fhall ceafe to bow beneath the rod of the oppreffor. The capricious changes of Fortune, the ftroke of unforeseen calamity, the death of friends and protectors, leaving us comfortless and abandoned,- from all thefe, which conftitute the miseries of life, we have a certain deliverance. To thefe confolations, we add the hopes which arife from Reafon and Religion. To the good and virtuous man the balance of expectation in an after ftate is furely comfortable. Whether we fhall draw pleasure from the fame fources whence we now derive it, is among the arcana that are for ever fhut to mortal eyes. As our faculties are at present conftituted, we cannot easily conceive other fources. If the foul fhall exift through the medium of fenfes, we can figure enjoyments refembling those which conftitute our prefent happiness. The pleasures arifing from the virtuous affections are the highest of which we can conceive the foul to be capable; -moft certainly, not unworthy of hea ven itself. Friends fhall unite, no more to part; -the hufband and the wife, the orphans and their father, the mother and her child. To the Author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. REading, fome months fince, in a pe riodical publication, the journal of a woman of high taste; and meeting with the following by accident, written, as it appears, by the wife of a man in the country, who had but a fcanty income, and was burdened with a family; I thought the contrast sufficiently striking, if it has no other merit, to intitle it to a place in your Magazine. "SUNDAY. Rofe pretty early. Refolved to go to church with my family; but a little chagrined when I reflected, that Kitty's gown was very fo fo; Tom's breeches wanted feating ;- Harry's coat much the worfe for the wear; - little Ned and Bill's fhoes had been cobled extremely, and were apt to run down at heel. However, ill-health only fhould prevent our joining in public worship brushed them up as well as poflible: husband and felf headed them to church. An excellent fermon from Dr Harrifon : the text, "Take no thought for to-morrow,' &c.- much comforted by it. Dined on a fhoulder of mutton and potatoes; - good appetites and thankful hearts. At church again in the afternoon.- Mrs Dulcet's to tea.- Mem. A most excellent woman. -Chearful, pious, and friendly.- Two hours flid away imperceptibly in chearful chat, without detraction: not always the cafe that at country tea-tables.Heard the young folks read, and to bed about ten. - MONDAY. Waked, full of diftreffing thoughts: the good fermon obliterated, or fwallowed up, by carking care.-Kitty fixteen,- no portion, full of fenfibility,- loves reading, has a tafte for books, of a delicate frame,- cannot labour as a household drudge,-- likes the needle, is ingenious, and induftrions, The moft diftant ages fhall unite.- but no friend to put her in a way where The virtuous fhall affociate with the mo- in her talents might turn to emolument. dels of their life, thofe illuftrious cha-Tom of age to go apprentice, but no racters, the wife and good that diftin- money for a premium. Harry wishing guifhed ancient days. for fchool-books, which cannot be bought. Little Ned and Bill only anxi-. The philofopher fhall find his long D 2 ous for bread, fhoes, and stockings. Throw afide thefe tormenting reflections: -A little breakfaft,- faces all chearful, but my poor man's.-Set down to mending old linen till one.- Dine on cold mutton. Walked out with my daughter. Mem. The fpring unfolds its beauties with equal benevolence to all, and the pure fnowdrop courts the hand of Indigence with as much complacency as that of the minion of Fortune. Drank tea. Query, is not that an unwarrantable indulgence? - but we have often fhort dinners. Our fmall beer is indeed small. Thus do we always find excufes for our favourite gratifications.At the needle till night, eat a cruft of bread, and to bed. - the principal. Mem. he is worth twenty thousand pounds, has no family, has had five per cent. punctually paid for the faid five years: I am his next heir, but fhall moft probably wade to the end of my difficulties, and go to fleep before.Muft write a fupplicating letter for forbearance, for I am fure we cannot pay immediately. At a lofs for dinner: heard sprats cried; -- bought enough for feven pence to dine us all.-- Told Kitty, I would speak the next day to Mrs Keen for fome plain work for her to do.- Importuned by a poor beggar (with many tears) for a dry cruft; wept with her; gave a flice from the loaf, and the remaining fprats.-The boys will come home hungry, but there is cheese; tea will fupply my fupper. My poor Johnfon came home much dejected, Suich the tailor, whom he owes feven pounds, had infulted him at a public houfe : - defired, him not to mind it ;- put him in mind that on Friday he would receive twenty pounds: - but then there is the butcher's bill; -- would not remind him of that then. A melancholy evening :-to bed at eleven, after talking over all our embarraffments, to which appeared no end. TUESDAY. Rofe at fix; called the poor maid; the fervant of fuch poor people is intitled to that epithet. Set her to washing the linen, (not an immenfe quantity), while Kitty and felf buftled in the other household matters. -Breakfasted. The children at school. - The butcher brought in his bill, viz. a quarter's, amounting to L. 5, tos.;told him, I would give it Mr Johnfon: - he looked furly.- Defired him to fend a neck of mutton: - believed he had not one, might have a breaft: - however, THURSDAY. Rose, I trust, in no ill a neck was fent.- Broth for dinner.- frame of mind: our habitation gloriMrs Dulcet fent for us to tea.- -Johnfon, oully illuminated by the morning-fun : felf, and Kitty went: forget, as ufual, poured out my heart to that GREAT in her fweet fociety, the cares that weigh- BEING, of whom the fun (powerful as ed me down. She too has been a dif- he is) can give us but a faint idea; ciple in the school of Adversity: —her thankful that we wanted not a meal, heart is meliorated without lofing its which, though feanty, thousands wantchearfulness : - nor will she allow of fored.- Breakfasted, Froned linen. — Arow, but for guilt, or the death of friends. - Supped with ber.-- Grieved at the report that prevailed of one of the Royal Family being dead, and a general mourn ing. Mem. Hard upon us, to be obliged to get mourning, and yet it can't be difpenfed with in my husband's fituation. Johnfon (who fometimes extracts a jeft from his own poverty) faid, it would be a good fcheme, to get the hatter to immerfe us in his dye-kettle, juft as we were; at which we laughed.-Supped there. came home late ; - the children all asleep. And fo clofes Tuefday. WEDNESDAY. A fine morning to dry our poor linen.- Breakfasted as ufual. This morning's poft brought a Jetter from my uncle Stapleford :-pref. fes for one year's intereft for the loan of fifty pounds (five years fince), which, if he has not in a week, he will feize for fraid to fend to Haunch's for a joint of meat: at laft took courage, procured a piece of beef, which, with the addition of a pudding, will furnish out to-morrow's dinner. In the afternoon drefs'd a little, and waited on Mrs Keen. Coldly received.- Afked for work for Kitty: the is furprised that I let the girl wear her hair fo high; -wonders, now fhe is fo old, I do not do without a fervant; - thinks we might get Tom out without much money; many London tradesmen would be glad of fuch a lad ;* he might be an errand-boy at firft indeed; but as he can write so well, and fo forth, he would get higher; — Johnfon himself, fhe thought, might teachthe little-ones, and fave their schooling; and he will have time enough, perhaps foon, as the hears there is a new regulation in his office, by which means his duty duty will be less, and confequently his appointment reduced.- This news, and her infults, melted me into tears.-She afked me to tea; of which I accepted, not being willing to diftrefs my dear ones by returning with a crying face. Wiped up my tears, and received from her a dozen of shirts for my daughter to make. Mem. This woman was my mother's fervant, but had married a man who had made his way in the world (in the fame manner the had chalked out for Tom) and left her rich.-Supped with fome degree of chearfulness, and retired to reft. Slept late.. FRIDAY, Agreeable dreams. Ought to murmur, if a ferene night fucceeds a forrowful day? Poor Johnfon received his pittance: in a thousand traits how to apply it in the best manner: at laft paid Haunch's whole account,-half Stitch's bill,-poor Sufan's year's wages,-no lefs than three pounds, half a year's rent, amounting to four ditto, feveral fmall accounts with the grocer, &c. no money to come for many months.- Wrote to Mr Stapleford;-muft squeeze out a trifle for neceffary odd matters; - the children muft have fhoes, and I have not a decent apron to tie on; - my green gown muft be turned, and perhaps Kate's triped may bear it too; but that we can do our felves. For dinner cold beef and hot potatoes. Bought myfelf an apron, Kitty a hat, and the boys each a pair of fhoes.- Drank tea with Mrs Latter, who fhewed me a many things, which I truly wanted; but I will not contract debts without fome profpect of payment. -Treated ourselves this evening with a bafon of small punch,- forgot our cares, -retired late, and slept foundly. red Mr Johnfon to take an account of every thing,-give them all, and let us croud into a garret, and live on bread and water. But fee the ways of Providence! Before I had well done speaking, comes a fpecial meffenger from my uncle's houfe, with the news of his death, and that he had left me every thing.Mr Johnson set out immediately,- dined luxuriously with my children, though not on dainties: our gratifications were of the mental kind.➡ Mrs Dulcet congratulated me with heartfelt joy.-- Mrs Keen likewife paid her compliments: and fo great an alteration has taken place in a few hours, that Kitty is genteel, fenfible, and well-educated; my boys are fine, promifing children; and I have always been the best of managers, wives, and mothers. Such is the miraculous effect of money: but I, from the bot tom of my heart, fay, "Lord be with us in all time of our wealth." to the first blow given in the war Previou commenced in the year 1740, a Captain English, who happened to be on board Ld Aubrey Beauclerk's fhip, in the Wet Indies, told Mr Leflie, (then his Lordfhip's Lieutenant), that he had a prefentiment that his own life would be the firft facrifice in that war. A few days after, Lord Aubrey fell in with a fleet of French men of war; whom he hailed, and called upon to lower their top-fails. The Frenchmen refufed, and Lord Aubrey ordered Mr Leslie to go forward, and fire one of the forecastleguns among them. As Leflie left the quarterdeck, he clapt his hand upon Capt. Eng.. SATURDAY. Waked Kitty betimes lifh's back, and faid, "Now for it, my to fit close to her needle. Whilft we friend; the game is going to begin." The were chearfully at breakfaft, comes a Frenchmen returned a broadfide before Mr letter from Mr Collins in London, to Leflie got back to the quarterdeck; where whom my husband was bound for a hun. he found Mr English dead, and the only dred pounds for his cousin and friend man who had received any perfonal injury Bristow, giving us to understand, that when the body was ftript, no wound appear. on board the fhip. But this was not all: Briftow was gone off, and if he (Mr Co-ed, nor was the manner of his death to be lins) had not the money immediately, he would bring an execution into the houfe. -Overwhelmed with this intelligence, and the more fo, as I had perfuaded the poor man to be engaged from a grateful motive, as Briftow was the means of procuring him his prefent establishment. Burft into tears. Mr Stapleford will be exafperated beyond measure.- Deft accounted for, till fome hours afterwards, Gent. Mag. Now |