intellectual excellence. Men, with advantages. But intellectual excelno other claim to notice, either from lence raises those who have no other birth or fortune, do universally com- dowry in the world, to a rank with mand the esteem and respect of the most exalted, as the lives of litheir fellow citizens by the mere terary men sufficiently testify; and possession of a cultivated mind; while it ennobles the humble and and many, who, born in low situa- the poor, it adds splendour to wealth, tions in life, could have no pros- and confers dignity upon titular supects beyond the same dull road in periority. How many thousand earls which their fathers trod, have, by and dukes have passed into eternity, the improvement of their mental unnoticed, and unremembered, exfaculties, risen to fame, opulence, cept in the family genealogy, while and dignity. It is, indeed, a remark- the manes of Shaftsbury, Bolingable circumstance, that almost all broke, Musgrave, Roscommon, our men of genius have been of Clarendon, Buckingham, Orford, low origin; Johnson was the son Montesquieu, Montaigne, &c. &c. of a bookseller; Akenside, a most are registered in the annals of possublime poet, was the son of a terity, for every thing except their butcher; and Shakspeare was a sort titles! of shepherd's boy, and so low, in I have extended my remarks so far, life, that he was forced to leave that I must postpone this subject to Stratford, his native place, in con- another letter: I hope, however, I sequence of some petty robbery. shall not weary you. Farewel! From this it would appear, that Yours most affectionately, these men early felt the advantages of intellectual cultivation, as the only means left them to obtain distinction in society.

[To be concluded in our next.]

COINCIDENCE between AKENSIDE and GRAY.

THOU

I have hitherto spoken of intellectual cultivation as advantageous succedaSir, neums for birth and fortune. I will now shew its advantage to HOUGH we are sometimes too those whom rank and wealth may apt to consider as an imitahave placed above this compulsion. tion in writers, what may have been So universal is the homage paid only an accidental coincidence arising by mankind to intellectual superio- from the same subject, occurring rity, that even the splendour of to different minds, yet I think the Akenside's fortune, and the attractive power following lines from

of titles and rank, are capable of Pleasures of Imagination have more receiving additional honours from than a casual similitude with a stanza its possession. I do not deny, that of Gray's. with the mass of mankind depth

The various lot of life

of purse goes beyond depth of mind; Oft from external circumstance assumes but the vulgar have in all ages been A moment's disposition to rejoice the same, and the aurum popularis In those delights, which at a different hour, has been always despised by truly Would pass unheeded. Fair the face of great and wise men. To a man

spring

who appreciates things justly, mo- When rural songs and odours wake the ney, (unless united with virtue,

morn

and virtue is the child of cultivation), To every eye; but how much more to his, is but the gewgaw of children; and Round whom the bed of sickness long dif though no man, I will venture to

fus'd

hales

sun

say, can despise money in itself, Its melancholy gloom! how doubly fair for it is and must be the source of When first, with fresh-born vigour he inall human comfort, yet, I do hope The balmy breeze, and feels the blessed and believe, for the honour of human nature, that thousands now breathe who heartily despise it, when it is made the pretence for obtaining esteem, unconnected with personal UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XL

Warm at his bosom, from the springs of

life

Chasing oppressive damps and languid pain.

B

Gray, in his beautiful posthumous pen, if the balance of trade continues fragment on the pleasures arising every year in our favour, and thus from vicissitude, has the following occasions an accumulation of specie, lines:

The hues of bliss more brightly glow
Chastis'd by sabler tints of woe;
And, blended, form, with artful strife
The strength and harmony of life.

See the wretch, that long has tost
On the thorny bed of pain,
At length repair his vigour lost,
And breathe, and walk again
The meanest floweret of the vale,
The simplest note that swells the gale,
The common air, the sun, the skies,
To him are opening paradise.

which, circulating only within ourselves, produces no increase of real (however it may add to our nominal) wealth.

I have thought it necessary thus slightly to recapitulate my former argument, 'as it may serve to recal the chief outlines of it to the mind of the reader, and shall now proceed to sketch out the leading features of the systems pursued by legislators in consequence of the erroneous ideas they have formed of the nature of money and trade, and shall give a brief delineation of the most important The Pleasures of Imagination were effects arising from those systems. published in 1744, and the lines of But before I enter on these particuGray were written, probably, twenty lars, it may be necessary to take a years after. It is not therefore chi- cursory view of commerce in general, merical to suppose that he may have and of the effect which it produces had the recollection of Akenside's on a state, under the various heads of imagery upon his mind when he national and individual wealth, nawrote, though, probably, no distinct tional strength, morality, and consciousness of whom it belonged pulation, and then proceed to consider to, or whether, indeed, it belonged the injury which will arise to a country to any but himself. If we admit, from any leading error in its commerhowever, that he is a plagiary, we cial regulations, and the impression must also admit that he exceeded such error will make on the character, his model, by the superior elegance resources, and importance of the naof his language, and the added pro- tion. priety of his ideas.

I remain, Sir, &c.

F. G.

The trade of any particular state is either carried on between the individuals that compose it, or with the neighbouring kingdoms. The former is always of far greater importance to the commonwealth than the latter, on account of the greater frequency OBSERVATIONS on the COMMERCE of of mercantile transactions, the su

Lancaster, Jan. 1, 1899.

I

this COUNTRY.

(Continued from Vol. X. p. 498/

SIR,

perior number of individuals engaged, and consequently the magnitude of capital employed in it. This superiority of the inland, over the external trade, is greatly increased by the TRUST I have in my former security and unchangeableness of the essay on this subject, proved to former, while the latter is exposed to the satisfaction of the unprejudiced continual dangers and vicissitudes. reader, that the balance of trade in All commerce with other nations our favour (as it is erroneously stated) must occasionally suffer from shipis so far from being a benefit, that it wrecks and wars, exclusive of the is on the contrary, an injury to the chance of fluctuations in the marnation; as it is evident upon a mo- ket, occasioned by a thousand events ment's consideration, that money which affect the states with whom being the mere representative of real it is carried on. Nay, the very wealth, can never enrich a state, un- protection of such trade must often less at some period or other exchanged plunge the nation into contests, for the commodities it represents, a which, in a few years, consume circumstance which can never hap- the profits of a century. On the

other hand, the internal, mercantile ministers are eternally fraught with transactions of the country are wholly boasts of the, prosperity and wealth free from any such drawbacks. It of the country, which they curimust, however, be confessed, that ously prove from the preponderance each species of commerce is neces- of our export, over our import sary to the prosperity of the other, trade. This imaginary prosperity and undoubtedly the trade carried also, encourages them to continue on between individuals would be fighting and taxing, while every extremely cramped, were it not individual, from the peer to the aided by the productions of other peasant, feels his comforts either countries, which are procured by abridged, or annihilated, and the means of foreign or external trade, middling class of society are almost But to return to the principal sub- crushed to the earth. A second ject of our present enquiry. Com feature of this system, is, the acmerce, when conducted on a rati- quiring of colonies, to secure to onal system, has a most decided our export trade a still greater exinfluence on every branch of the tension; and the third, and last, economy of the state. It alters the a continual readiness to engage in opinions, and civilizes the manners any war,, however dangerous or of men, by the communication expensive, by which any part of which it opens between the great this notable system is to be deand enlightened of every climate, fended, acted upon, or improved. and of every age. It increases the The evils arising from these cirwealth, revenue, resources, and cumstances, are far too numerous strength of the nation, by giving for me to attempt to recount; but a new spring to the industry of I shall endeavour, as succinctly as individuals, and by pouring into the I can, to point out some of the general stock the produce of every most striking and important. other country. It causes a great One of the first consequences of improvement in the arts and sci- our enormous balance of trade, is, ences, and has very considerable the introduction of a vast quantity effects on the morality and popu. of money, or (which is the same lation of the country. How great, thing in effect) of notes, which, then, must the injury be to each exceeding the real necessities of of these, should the whole system trade, must necessarily sink in be found erroneous, and the very value, and exchange for a less reasons on which it is founded, af quantity of goods than it otherwise ford the most powerful arguments would have done. That this is against it? Such is our present the case, is obvious, from the presystem; and, as I have, I hope, sent high price of every article, completely exposed the fallacy of that is to say, the large quantity the principle on which it is founded of money which it is necessary to in my former essay, I shall merely give in exchange for any quantity point out its principal features, and then proceed to consider its effects on the interests and happiness of the

state.

of real goods. If any one should doubt whether I have attributed the effect to its right cause, let us put a case which may render it The leading characteristic of the more clear. Suppose the produce system of commerce, which this of the whole annual labour of Great country has pursued, and acted Britain were exchanged for specie, upon for many years, is the dis- and nothing imported from abroad, couraging of imports, by imposing would not the quantity of specie vast duties upon them, and the be vastly increased, and the value extension of exports, by bounties, of it consequently fall? Is it not drawbacks, and allowances. Our generally allowed, that a superstatute books, therefore, are filled abundance of any article lowers its with acts imposing enormous taxes value, and raises the comparative on the produce of other countries, price of every other article? If and favouring the exportation of such would be the effect our own; and the speeches of our the whole of our produce to be

were

converted into money, the same an addition to the price of any one consequence (in a less degree) must thing which he has occasion to use, arise from the so converting any and increases the price of his own very considerable part of it. accordingly. A tax operates in a From this comparative dearness similar manner, by necessitating the of real goods, individuals who have dealer to ask a larger sum for it, no share in the advantages of the and thus giving his neighbour a export trade, suffer from its conse- sufficient reason for demanding more quences, particularly those whose for his goods. Add to this, that incomes are fixed, as all annuitants, the seller of any taxed article, exstockholders, &c. &c. Thus indi- pects to be reimbursed by the viduals suffer, while the nation, consumer for the interest of the instead of increasing, diminishes in money he advances to government. wealth. For if I exchange a real Thus if A. employs 5000l. in trade, good for a nominal one, surely my and deals in an article which is property is lessened, not enlarged, taxed so high as to oblige him to and that money is such a nominal increase his capital to 10000l. he good has been already proved. A rationally requires a profit upon second evil resulting from the in- this additional capital, and therefore crease of money, is the increase not only charges the consumer the of taxation. For the necessaries re- original price, and the amount of quisite for the support of an army the tax, but adds the profit which or navy, being, through the low he justly expects to make upon value of money, much dearer than the amount of the tax which he before, (that is to say, exchanging has advanced to government. But for a greater quantity of specie) it the evil is increased if the article becomes requisite that greater quan- passes through many hands before tities of specie should be raised, it comes to those of the consumer. in order to purchase them. The Thus:-If A. imports a raw material, export merchant, indeed, feels not which is taxed 100 per cent. and this advance of taxes, arising from sells it to B. he charges, as I have his trade. The same trade has before stated, the price, tax, and increased his ability of paying them. profit on both. But if B. partly But it is otherwise with the rest manufactures it, and then sells it to of the nation, on whom the stream C. he charges a profit not only on has not so abundantly flowed. They his labour, and the original price, groan, while the merchant smiles, and suffer while he speculates, insures, and exports.

but on the tax also, which he has advanced to C. If C. again completes the manufacture of the article, But all operations in which tax- and then disposes of it to D. he ation is concerned, have, what I imitates C. and demands a profit beg leave to term, a reflective pro- upon the original price, the tax, and perty. Thus the price of provisions the profit of B. which he had paid. influences taxes, and the taxes again If it goes through still more hands, influence provisions; and each article additional profits are charged at of trade, each separate tax, affects every stage, and the original at the long-run, all the rest. Thus tax is thus, perhaps, doubled to the butcher, finding bread encrease the consumer.

in price, demands more for his Thus much for the two first conmeat, and the heightening of the sequences of an increase of specie. price of meat is alledged to the I may, perhaps, again revert to baker, as a reason for a farther addi- them. For the present, however, tion to the price of bread. The grocer, I shall drop the pen, and, in my suffering from both, charges dearer next, proceed to point out a few for his tea, and the clothier, op- more of the pernicious consequences pressed by the three, asks another of our so much vaunted balance of sixpence for his cloth. The price trade.

of cloth operates again on all the former; and thus every dealer, in every article, feels the weight of

[To be continued.]

M.

MEMOIR of Dr. SEWELL.
Sir,

UCH pleased with the "Ob

matica.

in some
measure, be the reason
of his being so warm an antagonist
to the Bishop of Salisbury, whose
zeal had so eminently exerted it-

of Sir Walter Raleigh," by X. X. in As an author, he was undoubtedly the last number of your miscellany, possessed of a considerable share of I take the liberty of transmitting you genius, and wrote in concert with an account of the author, principally several of his contemporary geniuses, copied from the Biographia Dra- particularly in the Spectators and Tatlers, in the fifth volume of the Dr. Sewell was born, in what year latter, and the ninth of the former, we know not, at the College of in which he was principally conWindsor, of which place his father; cerned, as also in a translation of Mr. John Sewell, was treasurer the Metamorphoses of Ovid, and and chapter clerk. He received an edition of Shakspeare's poems. his early education at Eton school, He left only one dramatic piece but was afterwards sent to the behind him, which met with very university of Cambridge, where he great success at first, but has not was entered of Peter-House College, been acted for several years past, and there took the degree of Ba- entitled, 1. Sir Walter Raleigh, T. chelor of Physic, in 1709. From 8vo. 1719. 2. King Richard the thence he went to Leyden, where First, 8vo. 1728. This consists only he studied under the famous Dr. of a few fragments. Boerhaave; and, on his return to London, practised physic in that metropolis, for several years; but his success was not sufficient to induce him to continue there. He then retired to Hampstead, and followed Speaking of the tragedy of Sir his profession with credit, reputation, Waiter Raleigh, the author of the and profit, until three other physi- Biog. Dram. (David Erskine Baker, cians settled at the place; after Esq.) says "it is extremely well which his gains became very in- written the lines with which the considerable. He kept no house, fourth act concludes, have been justly but was a boarder; was much celebrated for novelty of thought, and esteemed, and so frequently invited elegance of expression." to the tables of gentlemen in the neighbourhood, that he had seldom occasion to dine at home. He died the 8th of February, 1726, and was supposed, at that time, to be

Beside several controversial pamphlets, Dr. Sewell was author of The Life of John Phillips-A Vindication of the English Stage-and some Poems.

Jan. 12, 1809.

Sir,

Yours, &c.

of GEORGE Fox.

ARMIGER.

N the dispassionate consideration

IN

of true philosophy few objects are more important than the characters of those singular men who lay the ground-work of. a new order in religious worship. Among these there are not many ab-original religionists worthy of more attentive remark than the subject of my present communication.

in very indigent circumstances, as HINTS as to the REAL CAIARACTER he was interred on the 12th of the same month, in the meanest manner, his coffin being little better than those allotted by the parish to their poor, who are buried from the workhouse; neither did a single friend or relation attend him to the grave. No memorial was placed over his remains; but they lie just under a holly tree, which formed a part of a hedge-row, that was once the boundary of the church yard. He was a man of an amiable I would wish to premise that it is disposition, and greatly esteemed far from my intention to point any among his acquaintance. In his phrases of seeming harshness, into political principles he was inclined which my subject may lead me, at to the Tory party, which might, the existing society of friends. The