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rifes to enthusiasm, is an ambiguous and uncertain virtue when a man is enthufiaftick, he ceafes, to be reafonable, and when he once departs from reafon, what will he do but drink four Tea? As the Journalift, though enthufiaftically zealous for his country, has, with regard to fmaller things, the placid happiness of philofophical indifference, I can give him no difturbance by advising him to reftrain even the love of his country within due limits, left it should fometimes. fwell too high, fill the whole capacity of his foul, and leave lefs room for the love of truth.

Nothing now remains but that I review my pofitions concerning the Foundling-Hofpital. What I declared laft month, I declare now once more, that I found none of the children that appeared to have heard of the catechifm. It is inquired how I wandered, and how I examined? There is doubtlefs fubtilty in the queftion; I know not well how to answer it. Happily I did not wander alone; I attended fome ladies with another gentleman, who all heard and affifted the inquiry with equal grief and indignation. I did not conceal my obfervations. Notice was given of this fhameful defect foon after, at my request, to one of the highest names of the fociety. This I am now told is incredible; but fince it is true, and the paft is out of human power, the most important corporation cannot make it falfe. But why is it incredible? Because in the rules of the hofpital the children are ordered to learn the rudiments of religion. Orders are easily made, but they do not execute themfelves. They fay

their

their catechism, at ftated times, under an able mafterBut this able mafter was, I think, not elected before laft February; and my vifit happened, if I mistake not, in November. The children were fhy when interrogated by a stranger. This may be true, but the fame fhynefs I do not remember to have hindered them from anfwering other questions: and I wonder why children fo much accustomed to new spectators fhould be eminently fhy.

My opponent, in the first paragraph, calls the inference that I made from this negligence, a hafty conclufion to the decency of this expreffion I had nothing to object but as he grew hot in his career, his enthusiasm began to fparkle; and in the vehemence of his poftfcript, he charges my affertions, and my reafons for advancing them, with folly and malice. His argumentation being fomewhat enthusiastical, I cannot fully comprehend, but it feems to ftand thus: my infinuations are foolish or malicious, fince I know not one of the Governors of the Hofpital; for he that knows not the Governors of the Hofpital, must be very foolish or malicious.

He has, however, fo much kindnefs for me, that he advifes me to confult my fafety when I talk of corporations. I know not what the most important corporation can do, becoming manhood, by which my fafety is endangered. My reputation is fafe, for I can prove the fact; my quiet is fafe, for I meant well; and for any other fafety, I am not used to be very folicitous.

I am always forry when I fee any being labouring in

vain; and in return for the Journalist's attention to my fafety, I will confefs fome compaffion for his tumultuous refentment; fince all his invectives fume into the air, with fo little effect upon me, that I still efteem him as one that has the merit of meaning well; and still believe him to be a man whofe failings may be juftly pardoned for his virtues.

INTRODUCTION

TO THE

PROCEEDINGS of the COMMITTEE

APPOINTED TO MANAGE THE

Contributions begun at London, Dec. 18, 1758, for cloathing French Prifoners of War.

THE

HE Committee entrusted with the money contributed to the relief of the subjects of France, now prisoners in the British dominions, here lay before the publick an exact account of all the fums received and expended, that the donors may judge how properly their benefactions have been applied.

Charity would lofe its name, were it influenced by fo mean a motive as human praife: it is therefore not intended to celebrate by any particular memorial, the liberality of fingle perfons, or diftinct focieties; it is fufficient that their works praise them.

Yet he who is far from feeking honour, may very justly obviate cenfure. If a good example has been fet, it may lofe its influence by mifrepresentation; and to free charity from reproach, is itself a charitable action.

Against the relief of the French only one argument has been brought; but that one is fo popular and fpecious, that if it were to remain unexamined,

it would by many be thought irrefragable. It has been urged, that charity, like other virtues, may be improperly and unfeasonably exerted; that while we are relieving Frenchmen, there remain many Englishmen unrelieved; that while we lavish pity on our enemies, we forget the mifery of our friends.

Grant this argument all it can prove, and what is the conclufion ?-That to relieve the French is a good action, but that a better may be conceived. This is all the refult, and this all is very little. To do the best can seldom be the lot of man; it is fufficient if, when opportunities are prefented, he is ready to do good. How little virtue could be practised, if beneficence were to wait always for the most proper objects, and the nobleft occafions; occafions that may never happen, and objects that may never be found.

It is far from certain, that a fingle Englishman will fuffer by the charity to the French. New fcenes of mifery make new impreffions; and much of the charity which produced these donations, may be supposed to have been generated by a fpecies of calamity never known among us before. Some imagine that the laws have provided all neceffary relief in common cafes, and remit the poor to the care of the publick; fome have been deceived by fictitious mifery, and are afraid of encouraging impofture; many have obferved want to be the effect of vice, and confider cafual almfgivers as patrons of idleness. But all these difficulties vanish in the present cafe: we know that for the Prisoners of War there is no legal provision; we see their distress, and are certain of its cause; we VOL. II. B b know

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