Sight of the Word Religion in this Paper, turned pale, and grew fick, and left the Table. I myself, fays this Writer, have feen Gentlemen, who call them- A felves Free-thinkers, in the Height of a Fit of Merrimeft, fall into the greatest Disorder at the Sight of a Clergyman. The next Definition is, that Man is a rifible Animal, or capable of laughing. But this does not belong to every Man. There are some Tempers that have an B Aversion to every thing jocular or chearful. It's not certain whether this Averfion be natural, or the Effect of a fettled Perfuafion, that Banter and Ridicule are inconfiftent with the Dignity of our Natare, or the Gravity of a ferious Defign. Let fuch know, that Wit is no fuch wicked Thing as they imagine. Some Argu- C ments, tho' the Subject be grave, are too abfurd to be expofed fo effectually as by Raillery. Thefe ludicrous Batteries have been often played against Religion, and have been turned as fuccefsfully upon the Enemy. An Author, who has a great Share of it obferves, That Wit is one of D the nobleft Faculties of the Mind. And in the Sacred Writings, we have Inftances of the strongest and most elegant Raillery. Shall we fucceed better, if we define O Man a rational Animal? Much worse. What Multitudes are there, who affume the Name of Men, yet are irreconcileable E Enemies to Reafon, and incapable of underftanding its Dictates? either through fome Defect in the intellectual Faculties, or an Incapacity of Attention: They live without Confideration, and read, as they act, for the Employment of their Senfes. The Author having thus expatiated on the different Capacities and Tempers of Men, and declared his Willingness to gratify the Taite of his Readers in general, obferves, that his Defign being various and extenfive, the Manner muit be diverfified as the Occafion requires; hopes he fhall meet with as much Candour from the Publick as 'Squire D'anvers or the profound Mr Osborne; and doubts not of Encouragement, lince his Defign is to promote Religion, Morality, Learning, Good Senfe, and Ingenuity, without abufing either Perfons or Parties. Next follows, in the Literary Articles, Account of a Book entitled, An Examination of Pyrrhonifm, ancient and modern, by Mr de Cronfaz, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, &c. Printed at the Hague, in Folio. F G HE Author's Defign in this Work Tis to combat the Principles of Pyr rhonifm; which he thinks the more neceffary in this Age, as this Sect has met with a powerful Affiftant in Mr Bayle, one of the greatest Genius's of his Time. He defines the Pyrrhonians to be a Sect, who will not allow that a Man can be ' certain of any Truth whatever, either 'General or Particular.' The Idea which Mr Croufaz gives of the Pyrrhonians amounts to this: They are a Sett of Men, who speak and think like the reft of the World, except in two Particulars: 1. When a Question is propofed, they are always of the oppofite Sentiment to that of others. Their Aim, in raifing Difficulties, is not to clear, but darken the Subject; and nothing is more fhameful with them, than to yield the Point in Queftion. 2. The Spirit of Contradiction Thews itfelf moft in thefe Men, when you talk to them of Religion and Morality: Whatever they don't like in either, they are fure to doubt the Truth of. Mr Croufaz then goes on to affign the Causes of Pyrrhonifm, or extreme Scepticifm (for they are the fame.) The 1ft is, A Fondness for Conjectures. This the Author illuftrates by feveral Examples borrow'd from Opticks and Morality. This Inclination puts us fometimes upon pronouncing peremptorily in a Matter, of which we are totally igno rant; fometimes upon concluding, that we ought not ro believe any thing, becaufe we can't prove every thing. The 2d is, An Itch at Difputation, which was much in Vogue among the Greeks, and contributed greatly to the Establishment of Pyrrhonifm. The Study of Divinity, among the Moderns, has furnish'd out a great Number of difputable Questions unknown to the Antients. A Third Occafion of Univerfal Scepticifm is, When a Man, in examining the Articles of his Belief, fancies he di covers one Propofition to be false; and is thereby led to doubt of them all. A fuperficial Mind, An Infatiable Defire of Knowledge, A Difregard of Religion, and the great Variety of Opinions to be be met with among Mankind, are other Caufes of Pyrrhonifm aligned by H this Author. From pointing out the Nature and Cautes of this Diftemper, He goes on to prefcribe the Remedies for it, the Principal of which is a prevailing Love of Truth. This will infpire a Fear of falling into Error; it will put us upon Diligence in our Enquiries; and, instead Other Remedies against Pyrrhoniim are, Not to be in hafte to build Systems, To embrace or reject no Sentiment upon Motives of Party, To fettle diftinctly, and purfue exactly, the State of the Queftion, &c. As to Authority, in Matters of Opinion which fome are fond of, as being the fhortest Way of putting an End to all Controverfies, our Author gives it as his Judgment, That in Countries, where Authority in Matters of Opinion is the moft refpected, there is as great a Diverfity of Opinions, as any where; befiles, that the Decifions of Authority • in different Countries is different, nor can we be fure, that the Tribunal, eftablifh'd in our own Country, is effectually in lawful Foffeffion of all the Privileges it pretends to. Afterwards the Journalist informs us of a Dutch Spectator in 3 Vols, printed at Amfterdam, in Imitation of the EngLi Spectator, which, tho' the Author does not pretend to equal, yet as every People has its peculiar Manners, Customs, Virtues, and Vices, he thought it but just that Holland thould have her Spectator, as well as England and France. A Spccimen, in the Character of a Coquet, is given from it, with this Encomium, That the Dutch Spectator wants neither Senfe nor Genius: So that we may expect the Whole in our Language, as they have long had our Spectators in theirs. Die Auburn Jan. 23. No. 5. Was reading Epictetus laft Night, where he compares the Universe to a Drama, contrived by a divine Poet. The Notion dwelt fo itrong upon me, that I was no fooner afleep, but I fancied myfelf in a Place whofe Extent was beyond the Reach of human Eyes. I faw an infinite Multitude, and prodigicus Variety of Creatures in every Element, all employ'd fuitably to their different Natures. B large Plain, bid me tell him what I saw. I fee, faid I, a Herd of Men and Women; fome ftretch'd on the Grafs, others upon the Banks of Rivers, fome gather the Fruits of the bending Trees, fome flake their Thirst at the clear Spring; others fleep; they feem to love Society and live together. "This (faid my divine Guide) was the Life Mankind at first led; how full of Innocence and Happiness!" And obferving my Inclination to become one of them; "The Gods, continued he, when they formed the Univerfe, endowed each Creature with a Capacity for Knowledge, and Faculties answerable to that Capacity : To the human Creature they gave a greater Degree of Capacity, a quicker AppreChenfion, and an Intentenefs of Thought, D above other Animals. From the lowest Degree of Being to the higheft, in the vifible Part of the Creation, there is a reigning principle, a Law of Life, of divine Eftablishment; to keep to which, is the Perfection and Happiness of each Creature, to be falfe to it, its Defect and Mifery. The highest Principle of the animal World is Senfe, to which it keeps. But to the human Creature the Gods have given a higher Principle, a diviner Power. It has a Capacity to know itfelt and Original; and partakes more amply of the divine Nature. The human Nature has Intelligence in it, which the animal has not: This is its reigning Principle and Law of Life. He is a good Actor, and answers the end of the divine Former of the Drama, that enters chearfully into the Part allotted him, and does not think himself fuperior to his Roll: F This is Wifdom, Happiness, Virtue. " E I was going to ask fome Queftions, when, cafting my Eyes upon.the plain, I obferved the Herd of Human Creatures, forming Parties, arming and advancing against each other, feemingly all animated with a Defire of Superiority. The Gold Men, who had not forgot their former Simplicity, interpofed, endeavouring to restore Tranquillity, bur finding their Effects vain, retired together, prepar'd for their Defence, and formed Laws against any Disturbance within. Whilft I was contemplating their dif ferent Pleafures, Oh! why, mult that Creature alone, faid I, for whofe Eafe H and Support all thefe were formed, be more unhappy than they? I was interrupted by the Appearance of an antient Man, who ask'd me, If that was the only Reflection fuch a Scene was capable of railing in me? And leading me to a My Guide, gueffing at my Thoughts, relieved my Admiration, as follows. "You fee, fays he, the Bonds of Union that kept this Herd together are dif folved, and they are obliged to maintain by Art, what they before fupported by Nature only. Ail this is owing to their being falfe to their reigning Princi ple, and Law of Life. From hence may be deduced the Origin of Government, Civil and Military. Whilst the first Simplicity of Manners and Innocence remained among the Herd; while they continued true to thofe Principies the divine A Former and Director of the Universe gave them, there was no Occafion either for Arms or Laws: So foon as they became falfe to their reigning Principle, and lif tened to their lower Faculties, Diftrufts and Jealoufies, Greediness of Power, extravagant Love of Self, and all the Evils that proceed from being falfe to Truth crowded in upon them. To prevent the Disorders confequent hereon, wife Men eftablished Laws, and made ufe of Arms." Striving to make a Reply, I awoke. T B C Daily Courant, Jan. 23. The Craftsman on the Army anfwer'd. IS no Security, fays D'anvers, to the Publick, that our Troops are commanded by Men of Family and Fortune; for the Troops of other Nations are commanded by the Nobility, and yet D the People are Slaves.] By this he would fuppofe our Nobility to be in Vafalage, and as dependant on the Crown as the French and Germans, tho' no two Bodies of Men are more unlike. After this Infinuation of their Honesty, he fays, Suppofing our Officers of Quali ty fould continue Friends to their Country E in fpite of Bribes, they are liable to be removed, and a Sett of Defperadoes put in their Room; and fo the Business is done, and we are made Bond-Slaves for ever.] But can any one imagine that thefe brave Officers, who had Spirit enough to refuse to enflave their Country, would tamely fit down, and fee it done by others? F Mr D'anvers takes it for granted, that the Militia are able to ftarve 20,000 Foreigners.-Will it not be as eafy for them, efpecially when headed by the above dif banded Officers, to do the like by 18,000 G of their own Countrymen? How the fage Mr D'anvers blunders into Abfurdities! His next Objection to the prefent Military Eftablishment is, that 'tis giving too much Power into the Hands of the Sovereign, whose personal Virtues, tho' never fo great, are no Security from the H Abuse of it.] This Affertion is abfolutely falfe; for it has ever been obferv'd, that could a Line of virtuous Princes continue uninterrupted, even an arbitrary Government would be most eligible. A 27 Prince's Virtues therefore are his People's Security; and I know of no Action of his prefent Majefty, that can lead us to miftruit his. jefty could not give greater Proof of his If a Land Force was neceffary, his Mafincere Attachment to the general Good, than by giving the Command of it to Gentlemen who had Eftates to preserve, and Families to continue free. This Circumstance, no doubt, was intended to quiet the Fears of the most Doubtful, and prevent the Calumnies of the most Malicious; tho' it has proved a fruitless Expedient, as the Conduct of the Craftf man and his Adherents has already prov'd. Szubstreet Journal, Jan. 25. No. 161. Blue to Gold and Silver, yet are more RASS and Iron, tho' inferior in Va doubt, they are kept at Home, when the But Copper, or Brafs, wihch may be Here Here end the Axioms; then follows Chap. xi. De arte legatoriâ, or the Art of Embally. Mercurius dulcis, was one of the A archeft Wags that ever was fent of an Errand; but a notorious Filcher; and had certainly loft his Place, had not fome of his Superiors gone halves with him. If ever he got a Finger into a Pie, he generally fcoop'd out the Meat and Under-cruft, leaving it fair to the Eye as before. B В Some may object, that the Kingdom of Utopia was never baked in an Oven, and therefore the Simile fails. Granted-Suppofe then it be compared to a Hodge-pot, as Ld Coke has it, confilling of Meat, Pudding, &. Suppofe this firred with a long Pole, the Plumbs would fink to the Bottom, where the experienc'd Pole-man would fecure the greateft Share to himself, allowing his Companions a few now D and then to please them. There was one, a fhort, fquat Man, he would not fuffer to come near; who in great Indignation, would every now and then hold up his Ladle; but the political Stirrer knowing his Adverfary's Ladle too short to reach him, laugh'd heartily. I don't condemn HORACE's Rifum teneatis, or dulce ridentem, as being falle Latin. with a Gnat; yet feveral of his Predeceffors and Succeffors could cafily fwallow Camels. There were excellent Politicians, Embaffadors, Minitters of State in the Auguitan Age. Tho' Mecanas was much inferior to Sir James Baker, late Knight of the Spur. A very little learning in a great Man, is fill magnified by his Parafites. The little Pains fuch a one now and then takes, (of which the greatest is the telling of Money,) are rewarded with pompous Affluence; and the Fatigue foon wafhed away with Burgundy and Champagne. Whilft all the immenfe Labour I have undergone C in compiling this Treatife can fcarce fecure me a Bottle of muddled Port. But how will our great, great, great Grand Children's great, great Grand Children in the Year 3000, lift up their Hands in Amazement, that I John Gabriel was not made Prime Minifter to the stiff, ftarch'd Potentate of Greenland! -I'll proceed no farther. I don't speak or write for every body. What! hall the Town pretend to fee thro' a Man's Words and Writings; fince the chief End of both is rather to conceal than explain one's Meaning? Were that the Cafe, a Man would hate every Letter in the Alphabet, as cordially, as fome Patriots do an R and a W. Some whimfical Perfons, indeed imagine the Nation would be happy, if every Man had a Window (as the Diffenters faid) to his Conícience, and every Woman a Padlock on her Mind, as Pryor has it. But I am of a different Opinion, fince this would make the Ladies fole Managers of foreign, as well as domeftick Affairs, which are at prefent chiefly under their Direction. E But we forget Ambassador Mercury ; who was a Pimp as well as a Plenipo. But, had Amphytrion been able to de- F tect Jupiter, and bring him coram robis into Westminster-hall, fo that a Middiefex Jury might have given Verdict against him, Olympus muit have been mortgaged, or his Godfhip have icampered away incog, as did Card. Cofcia, the Duke Riperda, &c. It requires great Addrefs to manage State Affairs dextroufly in foreign Nations; the Tempers of the Court Ladics, as well as the Gentlemen, are to be diligently fludied. Some Politicians will cut one's Throat with a Feather. Every Traveller who has been at Rome has not fudied in the Vatican Library. And the Pope durian was choaked G H VOL III. Weekly ESSAYS in JANUARY, 1733 The nearer the Duty upon any B D But the Tobacco Trade has been found liable to fo great Frauds in the Discounts and Drawbacks, that 'tis impoffible to remedy them, but by fome Alteration in collecting the Duty; the fair Trader fuffers, the fraudulent is enriched. The Duty upon the Importation of Tobacco at the Port, which must be immediately paid, or bonded, all Difcounts deducted, is 5 d. and a Fraction per lb. The Merchant gives Credit to the Retailer, both for the Duty, and the clear Coft of the Commodity. How many Merchants and their Bondímen have been ruin'd by this Credit which they are obliged to give, the clear Coft of the Commodity being but two fevenths of it. Tobacco is one of our chief Commodities, and E fhould be encourag'd. The French have large Plantations of it in Orange, and prohibit the Importation of it from hence. The Dutch have planted it in Guelderland. About 9 Years fince the Parliament allowed the whole Duty to F to be drawn back upon Exportation; but this does not answer the End. We have lately had Accounts of the fad Diftrefs of the Tobacco Planters in Maryland. This was partly brought on them by their Factors being oblig'd G to advance Money for the Duties at the Importation; of which grievous Charge they will be eas'd, when the Method of collecting the Duty is chang'd to Excife, and our Ports will then be as Free Ports for that Commodity. How melancholy is the State of the Sugar Trade! we firft gain'd it, by the Portuguese being obliged to relinquifh it. The French have extended their H 29 Plantations fo as almoft to put us in guefe. The leaft Encouragement that the fame Condition with the Portufhould be given to this Trade, is to allow alfo all the Duty to be drawn back upon Exportation. As to Wine, there is a Compofi- vernment is free, and the Laws are The audito, Jan. 26. No. 6. Since my Appearance in the World, I have received feveral Letters recommending different Subjects to my Confideration. One advises me to be very |