Not that it's necessary to have this Principle always in View; it is fufficient to recommend and justify an Action, if it have fome Connection or other with what is manifestly our Duty. Nay, fome Actions are directed to no diftinct End at all, may become rewardable by virtue of certain Habits, whereof they are Confequences, and for which we are accountable. Thus a Servant sufficiently deferves both the Title and Reward of being Faithful and Obedient, if he have acquir'd fuch Labour and Diligence in his Master's Business, as will carry him regularly thro' it, tho' he feldom confider the End of all his Labour, or think of his Mafter in it. Dniversal Spectator, Feb. 3. No. 226. T Of Englishing the Laqus. Attorneys, in Condescension to the Capacities of their Client, may poffibly read Navidavy for Affidavit, Form of Paper for Forma Pauperis, Hizy Prizy for Nift Prius-----and Zezzerero for Certiorari---... Yet as these Alterations do not obftruct A the Hearer's implicit Faith or explicit " That which has obstructed the rendring our Laws into plain English was the unfuccessful Attempt made by Cromwel's Parliament, under their Speaker Barebones: But these Fellows being Transla HE Time is at Hand, when the C tors only in the Roman Cobler's Senfe of Laws of our Country, and the Proceedings thereupon, are to be in our own Tongue. We are perhaps the only free and civiliz'd Nation under Heaven, whose Natives have been govern'd by a Law in the Language of Foreigners. The Ro-, mans carried both their Laws and their D Language into all the Countries they fubdued. Other Conquerors took the fame method; whence our mixture of Roman and Saxon Laws, Danish and Norman, who being the laft Conqueror, the LaruFrench, introduced by him, continued the the Word, could give no better Accouns of the Law, than they had done of the Gofpel; they left their mark on the Bible as well as Stature Book. For the Book of Kings they read the Book of Parliaments; they scratch'd Finis out of the laft Page, and inferted Forefpeech instead of Preface. Some Advice may be seasonable to those engag'd in the present Undertaking. ---Our Statutes, tho' generally worded in intelligible Terms, have fome Expreflions which may be render'd in more fignificative English, fuch as-Special Mat longer among us. The Introduction of E ter-Reprizes-Effoigne Pledge or Wa ger at Law - Imparlance-which has really given Offence to fome honeft wellmeaning Justices in the Country. Foreign Laws and Languages was a notorious Mark of our Dependence and Vaffalage, and therefore to be abolish'd with the first Opportunity. The unconquer'd Welch were in the mean Time free from this Reproach; the Laws of their King Arthur, and of Howel the Good, were in F famous Neck Verse, so long laid afide; their native Tongue; as were probably the Laws of Kent, fo far as related to the Rights and Tenures of a People, whom the Conqueror did not care to difoblige. The retaining so many strange and un. defin'd Terms and technical Expreffions in our Laws, is not owing to Gentlemen of G the long Kobe, as imagin'd, but to the Client, whose Avarice, and eager Defire of Conqueft; together with the Artifices, Ignorance, and Knavery of his Under Agents, multiply Cafes, and add to the Increase and bulky Burden of our Laws, Since there appears fuch an Averfion to our Laws being in the learned Languages, of which we have an Instance in the and fince these other Expressions - Totos Barnos, Stabulos Outhout capable of fo easy a Tranflation, the Verfion therefore may be as pure and terfe as possible. Whether the Law-French is wholly laid afide, or how the following Expreffions are render'd, Feme Coverte-Oufter le main-Sans affault de mesme, may be worth examining into. The Book De Natura Brevium will give our Law-Translators a good deal of Trouble, and when those noble Terms and the Dilatoriness of the Proceedings H Qui tam-Quare claufum fregit-Simul of our Courts. (See Vol. I. p. 10б.) As Things now stand, every Attorney or Solicitor is not only an Interpreter of the Laws, but likewise Reader to his Client, otherwise he may continne a Stranger to his own Bill: Ani tho tome cum-Nifi Frius-Non Affumpfit --Quin dena Pafch'- come to be truly render'd, how will the People be furpriz'd at the amazing Difcoveries conceal'd under those oracular Expreffiors ! K If If our Wits and Writers should happen to be at Leifure from the present Glut of Translations, they may join the Lawyers, and the one be a Cheque upon the other, From the fame Motives we have been The Lawyers should be employ'd who A induced to lay high Duties and Impofiri wearing their own Manufactures, and living chiefly upon the Produce of their own Country. have already given us Specimens of their Lignorum minorum, Anglice, A Hundred ons upon all forts of foreign Commodities for Confumption and Luxury. But hitherto the Measures taken by Parliament, in the Articie of Wine, have been ineffectual. If therefore an Excife upon Wine will diminish the Confumption, and render the of Faggots-and the Wits and Criticks B Balance of that Branch of Trade more in our Favour, 'tis worthy a Britiß Parliament. In the Cafe of Wines, the whole Import is confumed among ourselves, and no Profpect of future Gains, by Re-exportation, as in other imported foreign Commodities, is open'd to us. What is still more fenfibly grievous, is, that this Quantity is doubled upon us by deftructive Mixtures, and the People deprived of the only Good that can refult from fuch Importations, viz. The Duties laid on them by Parliament. should confine the Lawyers to fuch an ac- enim Too close a Translation may be attended with Inconveniencies, thus, instead of an O-yez! O-yez! should the Cryer baul out, Hear ye! Hear ye! All manner of Persons who have any thing more to do before my Lords the King's Juftices of Unless before, Hearing and Determining, and General Goal-Delivery, &c. This new Form, after the first Surprize, would attract no more Auditors and Attendants than the old one. And too loofe and rambling a Tranflation may occafion strange Alterations in the Mouths and Mufcles of our best Pleaders. 0 Daily Courant, Feb. 5. Of EXCISES. D E NE confpicuous Characteristick of the Craftsman's Consistency, and of F which he so much vaunts (See p. 12) is thar whenever it serves his Purpose of Clamour and Sedition, he thunders heroically againft Luxury: But when any judicious Step is taken by the Adminiftration to teach us Parfimony and Frugality, then our confiftent Author tacks G about, and fooths the Upholders of what he has to often exclaimed againft. This upon Examination of his late Principles, will appear to be exactly his Cafe. "Tis an allowed Maxim, that the Confumption of foreign Commodities of mere Luxury, is so much Lofs to the Nation as they amount to. The Dutch make use of Excises, to obviate too great a Confumption of Foreign Goods amongst them. The French study to prevent it by Duties of Importation, of Consumption, Tolls, Restraints, visitations, and Prohibitions, But should the Land Tax be taken off; if the Wine and Tobacco Duties be only transformed into Excises, 'twill follow, that cur Wool will become cheaper, and our Manufactures fo of course. 'Tis the common Plea for Adulteration of Wines, that without it they would not fit the Engliß Palate. This is reported by the chief Managers of the Art, the WineCoopers, who, within these few Years have almoft engrofled the Wine-Trade. But as the foreign Luxuries make Gouts, Epilepsies, Apoplexies, and Palfies more frequent among us than in any other Part of Europe, 'tis Time to think of lefs pernicious Liquors. Our native Produce is healthful; and had it once the Sanction of Mode and made the Fashion, the value of Lands would be enhanced, and the Balance of Trade augmented. Since Portugal fupply'd us with Wines, their Lands, being before waite, are greatly improved and cultivared. The Tobacco Merchants are likewife aggrieved at the Thoughts of an Excife upon Tobacco, tho' thereby our Plantati. ons may be faved from Ruin, and that Trade preferved from the Jaws of our Rivals, the French. Commiflion upon the high Duties, Sales and Returns, &c. are H heavy Burthens upon the poor Planters, and call for the Relief of Parliament. The Profits are fo finall after the feveral Deductions of their Faclors, that they muft unavoidably run in Debt; which will oblige them to take Refage in the French Plantations, where they will find more Encou Encouragement for their Industry. Nor have the Tobacco Merchants fuch Reafon to complain; for the large Sums which they are now obliged to expend for Duties, they may employ another way. And A an additional Pleasure to every benevolent Taxes on Necessaries of Life, and make How beneficial then, fays ke, would onr Luxury in Wine prove! It would be if the Planters once work themselves out of Debt, the Factors will receive larger Commissions from them. The common Cry has been, that a Deprivation of Trials by Juries under the Excise will endanger our Liberties. But this is no more than a Pretext. For, let B some other Conveniency of Life, inftead Man, who, while he drank his Bottle much fecurer of his own Health, might then reflect that his Expences were, by the wisdom of the Legislature, directed to the Benefit of a thousand industrious Hands, then labouring to furnish him with of being lavilh'd away, as in great part they now are, on a dishoneft Handful, whose utmoft Skill and Industry is to deceive his Palate, to the tricking him of his Health and Money. (See p. 72) the Revenue be ever so much augmented by an Excife, the Crown has not the leaft Advantage by it. Tho' particular Sums are appropriated for the Payment of the Civil-Lift Revenue, yet if these Sums exceed the Sum fixed by Parliament, the Surplusses will be applied to ease the Land. As to other Parts of the Revenue, the King is no more than a Steward, or Trustee for the People, who conftantly renders an account how every Sum raifed has been applied for their Benefit and Safeguard. Whatever is deficient in one Fund muft be raised by another; therefore the Prince can be no way interested in the Determinations of the Commissioners of Excife; nor the Commiffioner's Com advant ged by oppreffing the Subject; so that every Conteft of this Nature is not a Difpute between the Prince and his Subject, but between the whole collective Body of the People and an Individual of the Com- E What an Horatio have we here? Could munity, and therefore that Barrier to our Liberties between the Prerogative and the People, a Trial by Juries, is not affected by any Point relating to the Collection of the publick Revenue. The Daily Courant, Feb. 7. Benefits of Excising Wines. THE Occafional Financer argues that Law for Excising Wines will be of great Advantage 1. To the fair Trader, as then there will be no sophisticators to under-fell him. The Auditor, Feb. 6. No 9. C Cur in Theatrum Cato fevere venifti? T OM Cynick prevail'd on me laft Week to go to Drury-Lane with him to fee Hamlet. After the first Act was over, I would not, says Tom, take away from Mr Mills the Merit of being a good Actor; but those who have feen him act Horatio, can never relith him in Hamlet. "Tis as impoffible for Mr Mills to take Hamlet's supposed Figure, as for the Spectator to lofe that of Mr Mills. But I suppose, adds he, the top Parts are given to those who have the best Interest, but not the best Pretenfion to act them. D any Person so mistake himself? The second Act being over, a Gentleman addressed himself to Tom, and told him, that tho' in the main his Remarks might be right, yet he thought the great Lofs the Stage had fuffer'd, might in fome F Measure apologize for any irregular Distribution of Parts. Tom replied, he would make as many allowances on that score as he pleased: But, fure, that can be no Reafon for giving Parts to Actors who can never be what they ought to be = While these very Actors have happily ap 2. To the Merchant, by increasing his G peared in Parts naturally adapted to them, Imports, when Brewing of Wines ceafes. 5. To Numbers of Workmen, and to the Nation in general, by increasing our Navigation. 6. To Land-Owners, and Farmers, by taking off the Land-Tax. 7. To the whole Body of Traders, Manufacturers, and our Foreign Commerce; by enabling the Government to abolish the and while others in the House want nothing but Encouragement and Practice, to make them endeavour to compenfate for the Lofs of their Predeceffors, in those Parts from which fome of 'em are by NaHture excluded. There's a young Fellow to-night that acts Laertes: I have feen him act Charles in the Fop's Fortune, in fuch a manner, that I did not mifs Mr Wilks; nay, I think him inferior to Mr Mills in many respects. All I would infinuate is, that it's an additional Pleasure to an Audience, and Advantage to an Actor. A Pleasure of feeing Mrs Charke devour a Pound of Bread and Butter with as much Grace as ever Pinkethman did a Chicken, because it does not fuit your antiquated Notions? Must we lose Miss Raftor's Minuet, because you don't love Dancing? Mr Easy, faid Tom, you may be as witty as you please; I cannot look on this monitrous Corruption Actor, when he not only speaks the Sentiments of the Person he represente, but is in Figure, as like as can be, what we conceive of him. But this is no more a Merit in young Hallam, than it is a Fault in Mr Mills. Mr Wilks, under all the Disadvantages of Age, had the luck to hit this conceived Figure of Hamlet so juttly, that his very. Sight moved Compaffion before he B in the ludicrous manner you do. What C opened his Mouth. Hallam fucceeds him in the Melancholy of his Looks in this Character; and indeed in his Action, Tone of Voice, and Method of Speaking, I think he comes nearest Mr Wilks of any Actor in the House. After the Play was over I prevail'd on Tom with much Difficulty to ftay to see the new Entertainment of the Boarding-School Romps, or Sham Captain. For what? fays he? you know the Author; what can be expected from hin? I told him, 'twas but putting D on his Eccho's, and if he did not like it, he might turn the Pin downwards, and his Ears would be impenetrable. Tom took my Advice. He fat patiently, till Harper (in the Character of Lady Termagant) comingin, dress'd in Wo- E man's Cloaths, Tom rose up in a Paffion, What is it come to this? To please an Audience, must the Stage of GreatBritain dress a fat Man in Woman's a Figure must we make (I refer it to Signior Boccalini) with respect to Foreigners, when fuch Rapsodies of Nonsense are admitted on the Theatre-Royal of England; and that a Patent from his Majefty, intended to encourage Virtue, and expose Vice, is prostituted to the vileft and lowest Degree of Buffoonery? Be witty on fome other Topick; and when you speak of this, fpeak of it with a Scriousness equally becoming the Speaker and the Subject. As Frank is one of those happy Tempers which nothing ruffles, Tom's Reprimand did not put him out of Humour, and (the Subject of Converfation changing) the Evening went off as agreeably as usual. Gzubftreet Journal, Feb. 8. No. 163. Mr Bavius, 1 SEEP.10) FIRST, I suppose this Fraternity might as well be called a Society fons. For, tho' they assume the real Art, as well as Name of Masonry; and join with themselves all the antient Architects, Mafons, Geometricians, &c. fince Alam; and amuse the World with their Squares, Angles, &c. yet we may attribute this Gallimawfry to the Restorer of the Society; of whom may be faid, Cloaths? If I stay a Moment longer, I'll give you leave to---- and immediately made his way thro' a crouded F of Carpenters, or Rat catchers, as MaPitt, and amidit the Ralleries of fome, and the Imprecations of others, got fafe to the Door. I impatiently waited for the End of this shameless Entertainment; and in going out faw Frank Easy handing a pretty Lady to her G Coach. After he had done his Ortice I joined him. We call'd for a Coach, and drove to the Club. Tom was before us, and had been venting his Spleen to Sir Charles and Baccalini. Frank, to whom I had related Tom's precipitate Flight, had a Mind to laugh a little, H Really Mr Cynick, says he, it's a Misfortune to have fo nice a Talte, as you have. Must the Town be deprived the -He could coin or counterfeit And his Reafon for propagating this Jargon might be, that the great Arcanum should be thought congruous to the Title of the Club, as in his Days it stood corrupted; for so it will appear by my Argument to prove, That the Mafons are no Mafons. A learned Brother in a late prologue, addreffing himself to this mysterious Science, fays, The Use of Accents from thy Aid is thrown, This Doctrine is also register'd in their Constitution Books: But Masonry hath been often publickly handled, explained, and commented upon by Antients and Moderns. If so, how can modern Lodges ? Name from the Popish Mafs; but this I disallow, because so many Zealous Proteftants, nay even Jews, the conA stant Enemies to Transubstantiation, are accepted Brethren. B Your affectionate Brother A. H. Free Briton, Feb. 8. No. 167. Uman Nature HU was undoubtedly created for Happiness; and Happiness in general muit depend upon the Knowledge of Means most effectual to procure it. This can only be derived from the Understanding, which is properly adapted to investigate Truth and this be the Art, that is thus fecret in C Happiness. What one Man may call the Breafts of the Members of the Truth, may be such to him, but not to another; however, every Man ought to act by, and adhere to, what appears to be Truth in his Apprehenfion. For it is abfurd to think that any Man can or Dought to pursue Happiness, by other Means than that of his own Understanding. But as fome Years pass before Mankind have common Difcernment, and the Happiness of Life, nay, the Joys In the Next Place, There are in the Mafon's Society, a great Number of Brethren not quite Euclidical enough to comprehend an intricate mathematical Demonstration, or even a Geometrical Definition. Neither does it appear, that they are taught in the Lodge to Hew, Square, Mouldstone, lav a Level, or raise a Perpendicular. How then are they Mafons? Lastly, If the Art of Masonry be E Kabeledge any ide, how flyde really and truly vested among them, why then do the Brethren, like fome of the Grubs, build nothing but Caftles in the Air? of an endleís Futurity, depend upon our firable must which we can procure from fuch of our Fellow Creatures, whom Instruction or Experience has made wiser than ourselves? Let us now confider, whence the Word Mason, as applied to this Club, F fer'd with an honest Intention? Is there Admit, that Men are often deceived, is this any Objection against Advice of may be corrupted. They will scarce thank me for acknowledging, that fuch a strange Society may be as old as Chancer, in whose Days the word Mase was used to fignify a Whim, or Fancy; as fay that laborious Anti- G If all were heard with equal Advantage. a better Quality than a fincere Difpofition to improve the Understandings of others? Honours and Emoluments are therefore most justly due to to the Men who reason best, and instruct us most.. quary Mr Thomas Herne, and that as the Opinion most enforced by Reafon The Auditor, Feb. 9. N° 10. Mr AUDITOR, T is searce a Man who does not hope for, and really expect, more Honour, Affluence of Fortune, or Eafe, than he at present enjoys. The great Man for greater Preferment, the Trader top |