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diff --git a/32405.txt b/32405.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3c574a --- /dev/null +++ b/32405.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1793 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Augusta Triumphans, by Daniel Defoe + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Augusta Triumphans + Or, the Way to Make London the Most Flourishing City in the Universe + + +Author: Daniel Defoe + + + +Release Date: May 17, 2010 [eBook #32405] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUGUSTA TRIUMPHANS*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs, Richard J. Shiffer, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Every effort has been made to replicate this text as + faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant + spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been + changed to correct an obvious error is noted at the end + of this e-book. + + The British Library shows second edition published 1729 + and reprinted by D. A. Talboys, Oxford, 1841. + + + + + +AUGUSTA TRIUMPHANS: + +OR, THE + +WAY + +TO MAKE + +LONDON + +THE MOST FLOURISHING + +CITY IN THE UNIVERSE. + + +FIRST, + +By establishing an University where Gentlemen may have Academical +Education under the Eye of their Friends. + +II. By an Hospital for Foundlings. + +III. By forming an Academy of Sciences at Christ's Hospital. + +IV. By suppressing pretended Madhouses, where many of the Fair Sex are +unjustly confined, while their Husbands keep Mistresses, &c., and many +Widows are locked up for the sake of their Jointure. + +V. To save our Youth from Destruction, by clearing the Streets of +impudent Strumpets, suppressing Gaming Tables, and Sunday Debauches. + +VI. To save our lower Class of People from utter Ruin, and render them +useful, by preventing the immoderate use of Geneva: with a frank +Explosion of many other common Abuses, and incontestible Rules for +Amendment. + +CONCLUDING WITH + +An effectual Method to prevent _Street Robberies_. + +AND + +A Letter to Coll. Robinson, on account of the Orphans' Tax. + + + +By ANDREW MORETON, Esq. + + + +THE SECOND EDITION. + + +_LONDON_: + +Printed for J. ROBERTS, in _Warwick Lane_, and sold by E. NUTT, at the +_Royal Exchange_; A. DODD, without _Temple Bar_; N. BLANDFORD, at +_Charing Cross_; and J. STAGG, in _Westminster-Hall_. + + [_Price One Shilling._] + + + + +AUGUSTA TRIUMPHANS: + +OR, THE + +WAY + +TO MAKE + +LONDON + +THE MOST FLOURISHING + +CITY IN THE UNIVERSE. + + + + +A man who has the public good in view, ought not in the least to be +alarmed at the tribute of ridicule which scoffers constantly pay to +projecting heads. It is the business of a writer, who means well, to go +directly forward, without regard to criticism, but to offer his thoughts +as they occur; and if in twenty schemes he hits but on one to the +purpose, he ought to be excused failing in the nineteen for the +twentieth sake. It is a kind of good action to mean well, and the +intention ought to palliate the failure; but the English, of all people +in the world, show least mercy to schemists, for they treat them in the +vilest manner; whereas other nations give them fair play for their +lives, which is the reason why we are esteemed so bad at invention. + +I have but a short time to live, nor would I waste my remaining thread +of life in vain, but having often lamented sundry public abuses, and +many schemes having occurred to my fancy, which to me carried an air of +benefit, I was resolved to commit them to paper before my departure, and +leave, at least, a testimony of my good will to my fellow-creatures. + +But of all my reflections, none was more constantly my companion than a +deep sorrow for the present decay of learning among us, and the manifest +corruption of education; we have been a brave and learned people, and +are insensibly dwindling into an effeminate, superficial race. Our young +gentlemen are sent to the universities, it is true, but not under +restraint or correction as formerly; not to study, but to drink; not for +furniture for the head, but a feather for the cap, merely to say they +have been at Oxford or Cambridge, as if the air of those places inspired +knowledge without application. It is true we ought to have those places +in reverence for the many learned men they have sent us; but why must we +go so far for knowledge? Why should a young gentleman be sent raw from +the nursery to live on his own hands, to be liable to a thousand +temptations, and run the risk of being snapped up by sharping jilts, +with which both universities abound, who make our youth of fortune their +prey, and have brought misery into too many good families? Not only the +hazard of their healths from debauches of both kinds, but the waste of +their precious time renders the sending them so far off very hazardous. +Why should such a metropolis as London be without an university? Would +it not save considerably the expense we are at in sending our young +gentlemen so far from London? Would it not add to the lustre of our +state, and cultivate politeness among us? What benefits may we not in +time expect from so glorious a design? Will not London become the scene +of science? And what reason have we but to hope we may vie with any +neighbouring nations? Not that I would have Oxford or Cambridge +neglected, for the good they have done. Besides, there are too many fine +endowments to be sunk; we may have universities at those places and at +London too, without prejudice. Knowledge will never hurt us, and whoever +lives to see an university here, will find it give quite another turn to +the genius and spirit of our youth in general. + +How many gentlemen pass their lives in a shameful indolence, who might +employ themselves to the purpose, were such a design set on foot? +Learning would flourish, art revive, and not only those who studied +would benefit by it, but the blessing would be conveyed to others by +conversation. + +And in order to this so laudable design, small expense is required; the +sole charge being the hire of a convenient hall or house, which, if they +please, they may call a college. But I see no necessity the pupils have +to lie or diet there; that may be done more reasonably and conveniently +at home, under the eye of their friends; their only necessary business +at college being to attend their tutors at stated hours; and, bed and +board excepted, to conform themselves to college laws, and perform the +same exercises as if they were actually at Oxford or Cambridge. + +Let the best of tutors be provided, and professors in all faculties +encouraged; this will do a double good, not only to the instructed, but +to the instructors. What a fine provision may here be made for numbers +of ingenious gentlemen now unpreferred? And to what a height may even a +small beginning grow in time? + +As London is so extensive, so its university may be composed of many +colleges, quartered at convenient distances: for example, one at +Westminster, one at St. James's, one near Ormond-street, that part of +the town abounding in gentry; one in the centre of the Inns of Court, +another near the Royal Exchange, and more if occasion and encouragement +permit. + +The same offices and regulations may be constituted, cooks, butlers, +bed-makers, &c., excepted, as at other universities. As for endowment, +there is no need, the whole may be done by subscription, and that an +easy one, considering that nothing but instructions are paid for. + +In a word, an academical education is so much wanted in London, that +everybody of ability and figure will readily come into it; and I dare +engage, the place need but be chosen, and tutors approved of, to +complete the design at once. + +It may be objected, that there is a kind of university at Gresham +college, where professors in all sciences are maintained, and obliged to +read lectures every day, or at least as often as demanded. The design is +most laudable, but it smells too much of the _sine cure_; they only read +in term time, and then their lectures are so hurried over, the audience +is little the better. They cannot be turned out, it is a good settlement +for life, and they are very easy in their studies when once fixed. +Whereas were the professorship during good behaviour, there would be a +study to maintain their posts, and their pupils would reap the benefit. + +Upon second thought, I think colleges for university education might be +formed at Westminster, Eton, the Charter-house, St. Paul's, Merchant +Tailors, and other public schools, where youth might begin and end their +studies; but this may be further considered of. + +I had almost forgot the most material point, which is, that his +majesty's sanction must first be obtained, and the university proposed +have power to confer degrees, &c., and other academical privileges. + +As I am quick to conceive, I am eager to have done, unwilling to +overwork a subject; I had rather leave part to the conception of the +readers, than to tire them or myself with protracting a theme, as if, +like a chancery man or a hackney author, I wrote by the sheet for hire. +So let us have done with this topic, and proceed to another, which is:-- + + +_A proposal to prevent murder, dishonour, and other abuses, by erecting +an hospital for foundlings._ + +It is needless to run into a declamation on this head, since not a +sessions passes but we see one or more merciless mothers tried for the +murder of their bastard children; and, to the shame of good government, +generally escape the vengeance due to shedders of innocent blood. For it +is a common practice now among them to hire a set of old beldams, or +pretended midwives, who make it their trade to bring them off for three +or four guineas, having got the ready rote of swearing the child was not +at its full growth, for which they have a hidden reserve; that is to +say, the child was not at man's or woman's growth. Thus do these impious +wretches cheat the world, and damn their own souls by a double meaning, +which too often imposes on a cautious, merciful, and credulous jury, and +gives wicked murderers means to escape and commit fresh sins, to which +their acquitters, no doubt, are accessory. + +I wonder so many men of sense as have been on the jury have been so +often imposed upon by the stale pretence of a scrap or two of child-bed +linen being found in the murderer's box, &c.; when, alas! perhaps, it +was never put there till after the murder was committed; or if it was, +but with a view of saving themselves by that devilish precaution; for so +many have been acquitted on that pretence, that it is but too common a +thing to provide child-bed linen beforehand for a poor innocent babe +they are determined to murder. + +But, alas! what are the exploded murders to those which escape the eye +of the magistrate, and die in silence? Add to this, procured abortions +and other indirect means which wicked wretches make use of to screen +themselves from the censure of the world, which they dread more than the +displeasure of their Maker. + +Those who cannot be so hardhearted to murder their own offspring +themselves, take a slower, though as sure, a way, and get it done by +others, by dropping their children, and leaving them to be starved by +parish nurses. + +Thus is God robbed of a creature, in whom he had breathed the breath of +life, and on whom he had stamped his image; the world of an inhabitant, +who might have been of use; the king of a subject; and future +generations of an issue not to be accounted for, had this infant lived +to have been a parent. + +It is therefore the height of charity and humanity to provide against +this barbarity, to prevent this crying sin, and extract good, even out +of evil, by saving these innocent babes from slaughter, and bringing +them up in the nurture and fear of the Lord; to be of benefit to +themselves and mankind in general. + +And what nearer, what better way can we have, than to erect and to endow +a proper hospital or house to receive them, where we may see them +tenderly brought up, as so many living monuments of our charity; every +one of them being a convincing proof of a Christian saved, and a murder +prevented? + +Nor will this be attended with so much charge as is imagined, for we +find in many parishes, that parents have redemanded their children, on +increase of circumstances, and paid all costs, with a handsome present +in the bargain; and many times when a clandestine marriage is cleared up +and openly avowed, they would purchase the first-fruits of their loves +at any rate. Oftentimes a couple may have no more children, and an +infant thus saved may arrive to inherit a good estate, and become a +benefactor where it was once an object of charity. + +But let us suppose the worst, and imagine the infant begot in sin and +without the sanction of wedlock; is it therefore to be murdered, +starved, or neglected, because its parents were wicked? Hard fate of +innocent children to suffer for their parents' faults! Where God has +thought fit to give his image and life, there is nourishment demanded; +that calls aloud for our Christian and human assistance, and best shows +our nobleness of soul, when we generously assist those who cannot help +themselves. + +If the fault devolved on the children, our church would deny them +baptism, burial, and other Christian rites; but our religion carries +more charity with it, they are not denied even to partake of our blessed +sacraments, and are excluded no one branch or benefit accruing from +Christianity; if so, how unjust are those who arraign them for their +parents' faults, and how barbarous are those parents, who, though able, +make no provision for them, because they are not legitimate. My child, +is my child, let it be begot in sin or wedlock, and all the duties of a +parent are incumbent on me so long as it lives; if it survives me, I +ought to make a provision for it, according to my ability; and though I +do not set it on a footing with my legitimate children, I ought in +conscience to provide against want and shame, or I am answerable for +every sin or extravagance my child is forced or led into, for want of my +giving an allowance to prevent it. + +We have an instance very fresh in every one's memory, of an ingenious, +nay a sober young nobleman, for such I must call him, whose either +father was a peer, and his mother a peeress. This unhappy gentleman, +tossed from father to father, at last found none, and himself a vagabond +forced to every shift; he in a manner starved for many years, yet was +guilty of no capital crime, till that unhappy accident occurred, which +God has given him grace and sense enough to repent. However, I cannot +but think his hard-hearted mother will bear her portion of the guilt, +till washed away by a severe repentance. + +What a figure might this man have made in life, had due care been taken? +If his peerage had not been adjusted, he might at least have been a fine +gentleman; nay, probably have filled some handsome post in the +government with applause, and called as much for respect as he does now +for pity. + +Nor is this gentleman the only person begot and neglected by noble, or +rather ignoble parents; we have but too many now living, who owe their +birth to the best of our peerage, and yet know not where to eat. Hard +fate, when the child would be glad of the scraps which the servants +throw away! But Heaven generally rewards them accordingly, for many +noble families are become extinct, and large estates alienated into +other houses, while their own issue want bread. + +And now, methinks, I hear some over-squeamish ladies cry, What would +this fellow be at? would not he set up a nursery for lewdness, and +encourage fornication? who would be afraid of sinning, if they can so +easily get rid of their bastards? we shall soon be overrun with +foundlings when there is such encouragement given to whoredom. To which +I answer, that I am as much against bastards being begot, as I am for +their being murdered; but when a child is once begot, it cannot be +unbegotten; and when once born, it must be kept; the fault, as I said +before, is in the parents, not the child; and we ought to show our +charity towards it as a fellow-creature and Christian, without any +regard to its legitimacy or otherwise. + +The only way to put a stop to this growing evil, would be to oblige all +housekeepers not to admit a man and woman as lodgers till they were +certified of their being lawfully married; for now-a-days nothing is +more common than for a whoremonger and a strumpet to pretend marriage, +till they have left a child or two on the parish, and then shift to +another part of the town. + +If there were no receivers, there would be no thieves; if there were no +bawdyhouses, there would be no whores; and though persons letting +lodgings be not actual procurers, yet, if they connive at the embraces +of a couple, whose marriage is doubtful, they are no better than bawds, +and their houses no more than brothels. + +Now should anybody ask how shall this hospital be built? how endowed? to +which I answer, follow the steps of the Venetians, the Hamburghers, and +other foreign states, &c., who have for ages past prosecuted this +glorious design, and found their account therein. As for building a +house, I am utterly against it, especially in the infancy of the affair: +let a place convenient be hired. Why should such a considerable sum be +sunk in building as has in late public structures, which have swallowed +up part of the profits and dividend, if not the capital, of unwary +stockmongers? + +To my great joy I find my project already anticipated, and a noble +subscription carrying on for this purpose; to promote which I exhort all +persons of compassion and generosity, and I shall think myself happy, if +what I have said on this head may anyways contribute to further the +same. + +Having said all I think material on this subject, I beg pardon for +leaving my reader so abruptly, and crave leave to proceed to another +article, viz.:-- + + +_A proposal to prevent the expensive importation of foreign musicians, +&c., by forming an academy of our own._ + +It will no doubt be asked what have I to do with music? to which I +answer, I have been a lover of the science from my infancy, and in my +younger days was accounted no despicable performer on the viol and lute, +then much in vogue. I esteem it the most innocent amusement in life; it +generally relaxes, after too great a hurry of spirits, and composes the +mind into a sedateness prone to everything that is generous and good; +and when the more necessary parts of education are finished, it is a +most genteel and commendable accomplishment; it saves a great deal of +drinking and debauchery in our sex, and helps the ladies off with many +an idle hour, which sometimes might probably be worse employed +otherwise. + +Our quality, gentry, and better sort of traders must have diversions; +and if those that are commendable be denied, they will take to worse; +now what can be more commendable than music, one of the seven liberal +sciences, and no mean branch of the mathematics? + +Were it for no other reason I should esteem it, because it was the +favourite diversion of his late majesty, of glorious memory; who was as +wise a prince as ever filled the British throne. Nor is it less esteemed +by their present majesties, whose souls are formed for harmony, and who +have not disdained to make it a part in the education of their sacred +race. + +Our nobility and gentry have shown their love to the science, by +supporting at such prodigious expense the Italian opera, improperly +called an academy; but they have at the same time shown no small +partiality in discouraging anything English, and overloading the town +with such heaps of foreign musicians. + +An academy, rightly understood, is a place for the propagation of +science, by training up persons thereto from younger to riper years, +under the instruction and inspection of proper artists; how can the +Italian opera properly be called an academy, when none are admitted but +such as are, at least are thought, or ought to be, adepts in music? If +that be an academy, so are the theatres of Drury-lane, and Lincolns-inn +Fields; nay, Punch's opera may pass for a lower kind of academy. Would +it not be a glorious thing to have an opera of our own, in our own most +noble tongue, in which the composer, singers, and orchestra, should be +of our own growth? Not that we ought to disclaim all obligations to +Italy, the mother of music, the nurse of Corelli, Handel, Bononcini, +Geminiani; but then we ought not to be so stupidly partial to imagine +ourselves too brutal a part of mankind to make any progress in the +science? By the same reason that we love it, we may excel in it; love +begets application, and application perfection. We have already had a +Purcel, and no doubt there are now many latent geniuses, who only want +proper instruction, application, and encouragement, to become great +ornaments of the science, and make England emulate even Rome itself. + +What a number of excellent performers on all instruments have sprung up +in England within these few years? That this is owing to the opera I +will not deny, and so far the opera is an academy, as it refines the +taste and inspires emulation. + +But though we are happy in instrumental performers, we frequently send +to Italy for singers, and that at no small expense; to remedy which I +humbly propose that the governors of Christ's Hospital will show their +public spirit, by forming an academy of music on their foundation, after +this or the like manner. + +That out of their great number of children, thirty boys be selected of +good ears and propensity to music. + +That these boys be divided into three classes, viz., six for wind +instruments, such as the hautboy, bassoon, and German flute. + +That sixteen others be selected for string instruments, or at least the +most useful, viz., the violin and bass-violin. + +That the remaining eight be particularly chosen for voice, and organ, or +harpsichord. That all in due time be taught composition. The boys thus +chosen, three masters should be elected, each most excellent in his way; +that is to say, one for the wind instrument, another for the stringed, +and a third for the voice and organ, &c. + +Handsome salaries should be allowed these masters, to engage their +constant attendance every day from eight till twelve in the morning; and +I think 100_l._ per annum for each would be sufficient, which will be a +trifle to so wealthy a body. The multiplicity of holidays should be +abridged, and only a few kept; there cannot be too few, considering what +a hinderance they are to juvenile studies. It is a vulgar error that has +too long prevailed all over England to the great detriment of learning, +and many boys have been made blockheads in complaisance to kings and +saints dead for many ages past. + +The morning employed in music, the boys should go in the afternoon, or +so many hours, to the reading and writing school, and in the evening +should practice, at least two hours before bed-time, and two before the +master comes in the morning. This course held for seven or eight years, +will make them fine proficients; but that they should not go too raw or +young out of the academy, it is proper, that at the stated age of +apprenticeship, they be bound to the hospital, to engage their greater +application, and make them thorough masters, before they launch out into +the world; for one great hinderance to many performers is, that they +begin to teach too soon, and obstruct their genius. + +What will not such a design produce in a few years? Will they not be +able to perform a concert, choir, or opera, or all three, among +themselves, and overpay the charge, as shall hereafter be specified? + +For example, we will suppose such a design to be continued for ten +years, we shall find an orchestra of forty hands, and a choir or opera +of twenty voices, or admitting that of those twenty only five prove +capital singers, it will answer the intent. + +For the greater variety they may, if they think fit, take in two or more +of their girls, where they find a promising genius, but this may be +further considered of. + +Now, when they are enabled to exhibit an opera, will they not gain +considerably when their voices and hands cost them only a college +subsistence? and it is but reasonable the profits accruing from operas, +concerts, or otherwise, should go to the hospital, to make good all +former and future expenses, and enable them to extend the design to a +greater length and grandeur; so that instead of 1,500_l._ per annum, the +price of one Italian singer, we shall for 300_l._ once in ten years, +have sixty English musicians regularly educated, and enabled to live by +their science. + +There ought, moreover, to be annual probations, and proper prizes or +premiums allotted, to excite emulation in the youths, and give life to +their studies. + +They have already a music school, as they call it, but the allowance is +too poor for this design, and the attendance too small, it must be every +day, or not at all. + +This will be an academy indeed, and in process of time they will have +even their masters among themselves; and what is the charge, compared +with the profits, or their abilities? + +One thing I had like to have forgot, which is, that with permission of +the right reverend the lords spiritual, some performance in music, +suitable to the solemnity of the day, be exhibited every Sunday after +divine service. Sacred poesy, and rhetoric may be likewise introduced to +make it an entertainment suitable to a Christian and polite audience; +and indeed we seem to want some such commendable employment for the +better sort; for we see the public walks and taverns crowded, and rather +than be idle, they will go to Newport market. + +That such an entertainment would be much preferable to drinking, gaming, +or profane discourse, none can deny; and till it is proved to be +prejudicial, I shall always imagine it necessary. The hall at the +hospital will contain few less than seven hundred people, conveniently +seated, which at so small a price as one shilling per head, will amount +to 35_l._ per week; and if the performance deserve it, as no doubt it +will in time, they may make it half a crown, or more, which must +considerably increase the income of the hospital. + +When they are able to make an opera, the profits will be yet more +considerable, nor will they reap much less from what the youths bring in +during their apprenticeship, when employed at concerts, theatres, or +other public entertainments. + +Having advanced what I think proper on this head, or at least enough for +a hint, I proceed to offer, + + +_That many youths and servants may be saved from destruction were the +streets cleared of shameless and impudent strumpets, gaming tables +totally suppressed, and a stop put to sabbath debauches._ + +The corruption of our children and servants is of importance sufficient +to require our utmost precaution; and moreover, women servants (commonly +called maid-servants) are such necessary creatures, that it is by no +means below us to make them beneficial rather than prejudicial to us. + +I shall not run into a description of their abuses; we know enough of +those already. Our business now is to make them useful, first by +ascertaining their wages at a proper standard. + +Secondly, by obliging them to continue longer in service, not to stroll +about from place to place, and throw themselves on the town on every +dislike. + +Thirdly, to prevent their being harboured by wicked persons, when out +of place; or living too long on their own hands. + +As for their wages, they have topped upon us already, and doubled them +in spite of our teeth; but as they have had wit enough to get them, so +will they, I doubt not, have the same sense to keep them, and much good +may it do those indolent over-secure persons, who have given them this +advantage. However, if they are honest and diligent, I would have them +encouraged, and handsome wages allowed them; because, by this means, we +provide for the children of the inferior class of people, who otherwise +could not maintain themselves; nay, sometimes tradesmen, &c., reduced, +are glad when their children cease to hang upon them, by getting into +service, and by that means not only maintaining themselves, but being of +use in other families. But then there ought to be some medium, some +limitation to their wages, or they may extort more than can well be +afforded. + +Nothing calls for more redress than their quitting service for every +idle disgust, leaving a master or mistress at a nonplus, and all under +plea of a foolish old custom, called warning, nowhere practised but in +London; for in other places they are hired by the year, or by the +statute as they call it, which settles them in a place, at least for +some time; whereas, when they are not limited, it encourages a roving +temper, and makes them never easy. + +If you turn them away without warning, they will make you pay a month's +wages, be the provocation or offence never so great; but if they leave +you, though never so abruptly, or unprovided, help yourselves how you +can, there is no redress; though I think there ought, in all conscience, +to be as much law for the master as for the servant. + +No servant should quit a place where they are well fed and paid, +without assigning a good reason before a magistrate. On the other hand, +they should receive no abuse which should not be redressed; for we ought +to treat them as servants, not slaves; and a medium ought to be observed +on both sides. But if they are not restrained from quitting service on +every vagary, they will throw themselves on the town, and not only ruin +themselves, but others; for example, a girl quits a place and turns +whore; if there is not a bastard to be murdered, or left to the parish, +there is one or more unwary youths drawn in to support her in lewdness +and idleness; in order to which, they rob their parents and masters, +nay, sometimes, anybody else, to support their strumpets; so that many +thieves owe their ruin and shameful deaths to harlots; not to mention +the communication of loathsome distempers, and innumerable other evils, +to which they give birth. + +How many youths, of all ranks, are daily ruined? and how justly may be +dreaded the loss of as many more, if a speedy stop be not put to this +growing evil? Generations to come will curse the neglect of the present, +and every sin committed for the future may be passed to our account, if +we do not use our endeavours to the contrary. + +And unless we prevent our maid-servants from being harboured by wicked +persons when out of place, or living too long on their own hands, our +streets will swarm with impudent shameless strumpets; the good will be +molested; those prone to evil will be made yet more wicked, by having +temptations thrown in their way; and, to crown all, we shall have scarce +a servant left, but our wives, &c., must do the household-work +themselves. + +If this be not worthy the consideration of a legislature, I would fain +know what is. Is it not time to limit their wages, when they are grown +so wanton they know not what to ask? Is it not time to fix them, when +they stroll from place to place, and we are hardly sure of a servant a +month together? Is it not time to prevent the increase of harlots, by +making it penal for servants to be harboured in idleness, and tempted to +theft, whoredom, murder, &c., by living too long out of place? and I am +sure it is high time to begin the work, by clearing the public streets +of night-walkers, who are grown to such a pitch of impudence that peace +and common decency are manifestly broken in our public streets. I wonder +this has so long escaped the eye of the magistrate, especially when +there are already in force laws sufficient to restrain this tide of +uncleanness, which will one day overflow us. + +The lewdest people upon earth, ourselves excepted, are not guilty of +such open violations of the laws of decency. Go all the world over, and +you will see no such impudence as in the streets of London, which makes +many foreigners give our women in general a bad character, from the vile +specimens they meet with from one end of the town to the other. Our +sessions' papers are full of the trials of impudent sluts, who first +decoy men and then rob them; a meanness the courtesans of Rome and +Venice abhor. + +How many honest women, those of the inferior sort especially, get +loathsome distempers from their husband's commerce with these creatures, +which distempers are often entailed on posterity; nor have we an +hospital separated for that purpose, which does not contain too many +instances of honest poor wretches made miserable by villains of +husbands. + +And now I have mentioned the villany of some husbands in the lower state +of life, give me leave to propose, or at least to wish, that they were +restrained from abusing their wives at that barbarous rate, which is +now practised by butchers, carmen, and such inferior sort of fellows, +who are public nuisances to civil neighbourhoods, and yet nobody cares +to interpose, because the riot is between a man and his wife. + +I see no reason why every profligate fellow shall have the liberty to +disturb a whole neighbourhood, and abuse a poor honest creature at a +most inhuman rate, and is not to be called to account because it is his +wife; this sort of barbarity was never so notorious and so much +encouraged as at present, for every vagabond thinks he may cripple his +wife at pleasure; and it is enough to pierce a heart of stone to see how +barbarously some poor creatures are beaten and abused by merciless dogs +of husbands. + +It gives an ill example to the growing generation, and this evil will +gain ground on us if not prevented; it may be answered, the law has +already provided redress, and a woman abused may swear the peace against +her husband, but what woman cares to do that? It is revenging herself on +herself, and not without considerable charge and trouble. + +There ought to be a shorter way, and when a man has beaten his wife, +which by the by is a most unmanly action, and great sign of cowardice, +it behoves every neighbour who has the least humanity or compassion, to +complain to the next justice of the peace, who should be empowered to +set him in the stocks for the first offence; to have him well scourged +at the whipping-post for the second; and if he persisted in his +barbarous abuse of the holy marriage state, to send him to the house of +correction till he should learn to use more mercy to his yoke-fellow. + +How hard is it for a poor industrious woman to be up early and late, to +sit in a cold shop, stall, or market, all weathers, to carry heavy loads +from one end of the town to the other, or to work from morning till +night, and even then dread going home for fear of being murdered? Some +may think this too low a topic for me to expatiate upon, to which I +answer, that it is a charitable and Christian one, and therefore not in +the least beneath the consideration of any man who had a woman for his +mother. + +The mention of this leads me to exclaim against the vile practice now so +much in vogue among the better sort as they are called, but the worst +sort in fact; namely, the sending their wives to madhouses, at every +whim or dislike, that they may be more secure and undisturbed in their +debaucheries; which wicked custom is got to such a head, that the number +of private madhouses in and about London are considerably increased +within these few years. + +This is the height of barbarity and injustice in a Christian country, it +is a clandestine inquisition, nay worse. + +How many ladies and gentlewomen are hurried away to these houses, which +ought to be suppressed, or at least subject to daily examination, as +hereafter shall be proposed? + +How many, I say, of beauty, virtue, and fortune, are suddenly torn from +their dear innocent babes, from the arms of an unworthy man, whom they +love, perhaps, but too well, and who in return for that love, nay +probably an ample fortune and a lovely offspring besides, grows weary of +the pure streams of chaste love, and thirsting after the puddles of +lawless lust, buries his virtuous wife alive, that he may have the +greater freedom with his mistresses? + +If they are not mad when they go into these cursed houses, they are soon +made so by the barbarous usage they there suffer; and any woman of +spirit, who has the least love for her husband, or concern for her +family, cannot sit down tamely under a confinement and separation the +most unaccountable and unreasonable. + +Is it not enough to make any one mad to be suddenly clapped up, +stripped, whipped, ill-fed, and worse used? To have no reason assigned +for such treatment, no crime alleged, or accusers to confront? And what +is worse, no soul to appeal to but merciless creatures, who answer but +in laughter, surliness, contradiction, and too often stripes? + +All conveniences for writing are denied, no messenger to be had to carry +a letter to any relation or friend; and if this tyrannical inquisition, +joined with the reasonable reflections a woman of any common +understanding must necessarily make, be not sufficient to drive any soul +stark staring mad, though before they were never so much in their right +senses, I have no more to say. + +When by this means a wicked husband has driven a poor creature mad, and +robbed an injured wife of her reason, for it is much easier to create +than to cure madness, then has the villain a handle for his roguery; +then, perhaps, he will admit her distressed relations to see her, when +it is too late to cure the madness he so artfully and barbarously has +procured. + +But this is not all: sometimes more dismal effects attend this +inquisition, for death is but too often the cure of their madness and +end of their sorrows; some with ill usage, some with grief, and many +with both, are barbarously cut off in the prime of their years and +flower of their health, who otherwise might have been mothers of a +numerous issue, and survived many years. This is murder in the deepest +sense, and much more cruel than dagger or poison, because more +lingering; they die by piecemeal, and in all the agonies and terrors of +a distracted mind. + +Nay, it is murder upon murder, for the issue that might have been begot +is to be accounted for to God and the public. Now, if this kind of +murder is connived at, we shall no doubt have enough, nay, too much of +it; for if a man is weary of his wife, has spent her fortune, and wants +another, it is but sending her to a madhouse and the business is done at +once. + +How many have already been murdered after this manner is best known to +just Heaven, and those unjust husbands and their damned accomplices, +who, though now secure in their guilt, will one day find it is murder of +the blackest dye, has the least claim to mercy, and calls aloud for the +severest vengeance. + +How many are yet to be sacrificed, unless a speedy stop be put to this +most accursed practice, I tremble to think; our legislature cannot take +this cause too soon in hand. This surely cannot be below their notice, +and it will be an easy matter at once to suppress all these pretended +madhouses. Indulge, gentle reader, for once the doting of an old man, +and give him leave to lay down his little system without arraigning him +of arrogance or ambition to be a lawgiver. In my humble opinion, all +private madhouses should be suppressed at once, and it should be no less +than felony to confine any person under pretence of madness without due +authority. + +For the cure of those who are really lunatic, licensed madhouses should +be constituted in convenient parts of the town, which houses should be +subject to proper visitation and inspection, nor should any person be +sent to a madhouse without due reason, inquiry, and authority. + +It may be objected, by persons determined to contradict every thing and +approve nothing, that the abuses complained of are not so numerous or +heinous as I would insinuate. Why are not facts advanced, they will be +apt to say, to give a face of truth to these assertions? But I have two +reasons to the contrary; the first is, the more you convince them, the +more angry you make them, for they are never better pleased than when +they have an opportunity of finding fault; therefore, to curry favour +with the fault-finders, I have left them a loophole: the second and real +is, because I do not care to bring an old house over my head by +mentioning particular names or special cases, thereby drawing myself +into vexatious prosecutions and suits at law from litigious wretches, +who would be galled to find their villanies made public, and stick at no +expense or foul play to revenge themselves. Not but I could bring many +instances, particularly of an unhappy widow, put in by a villain of a +husband, and now continued in for the sake of her jointure by her +unnatural son, far from common honesty or humanity. Of another, whose +husband keeps his mistress in black velvet, and is seen with her every +night at the opera or play, while his poor wife (by much the finer +woman, and of an understanding far superior to her thick-skulled +tyrant,) is kept mean in diet and apparel; nay, ill-used into the +bargain, notwithstanding her fortune supplies all the villain's +extravagances, and he has not a shilling but what came from her: but a +beggar when once set on horseback proves always the most unmerciful +rider. + +I cannot leave this subject without inserting one particular case. + +A lady of known beauty, virtue, and fortune, nay more, of wisdom, not +flashy wit, was, in the prime of her youth and beauty, and when her +senses were perfectly sound, carried by her husband in his coach as to +the opera; but the coachman had other instructions, and drove directly +to a madhouse, where the poor innocent lady was no sooner introduced, +under pretence of calling by the way to see some pictures he had a mind +to buy, but the key was turned upon her, and she left a prisoner by her +faithless husband, who while his injured wife was confined and used with +the utmost barbarity, he, like a profligate wretch, ran through her +fortune with strumpets, and then basely, under pretence of giving her +liberty, extorted her to make over her jointure, which she had no sooner +done but he laughed in her face, and left her to be as ill-used as ever. +This he soon ran through, and (happily for the lady) died by the justice +of heaven in a salivation his debauches had obliged him to undergo. + +During her confinement, the villain of the madhouse frequently attempted +her chastity; and the more she repulsed him the worse he treated her, +till at last he drove her mad in good earnest. Her distressed brother, +who is fond of her to the last degree, now confines her in part of his +own house, treating her with great tenderness, but has the mortification +to be assured by the ablest physicians that his poor sister is +irrecoverably distracted. + +Numberless are the instances I could produce, but they would be +accounted fictitious, because I do not name the particular persons, for +the reasons before assigned; but the sufferings of these poor ladies are +not fictitious, nor are the villany of the madhouses, or the unnatural, +though fashionable barbarity of husbands, chimeras, but too solid +grievances, and manifest violations of the laws of God and man. + +Most gracious and august queen Caroline! ornament of your sex, and pride +of the British nation! the best of mothers, the best of wives, the best +of women! Begin this auspicious reign with an action worthy your +illustrious self, rescue your injured sex from this tyranny, nor let it +be in the power of every brutal husband to cage and confine his wife at +pleasure, a practice scarce heard of till of late years. Nip it in the +bud, most gracious queen, and draw on yourself the blessings of +numberless of the fair sex, now groaning under the severest and most +unjust bondage. Restore them to their families; let them, by your means, +enjoy light and liberty; that while they fondly embrace, and with tears +of joy weep over their dear children, so long withheld from them, they +may invoke accumulated blessings from heaven upon your royal head! + +And you, ye fair illustrious circle! who adorn the British court! and +every day surround our gracious queen: let generous pity inspire your +souls, and move you to intercede with your noble consorts for redress in +this injurious affair. Who can deny when you become suitors? and who +knows but at your request a bill may be brought into the house to +regulate these abuses? The cause is a noble and a common one, and ought +to be espoused by every lady who would claim the least title to virtue +or compassion. I am sure no honest member in either honourable house +will be against so reasonable a bill; the business is for some +public-spirited patriot to break the ice by bringing it into the house, +and I dare lay my life it passes. + +I must beg my reader's indulgence, being the most immethodical writer +imaginable. It is true I lay down a scheme, but fancy is so fertile I +often start fresh hints, and cannot but pursue them; pardon therefore, +kind reader, my digressive way of writing, and let the subject, not the +style or method, engage thy attention. + +Return we, therefore, to complain of destructive gaming-houses, the bane +of our youth, and ruin of our children and servants. + +This is the most unprofitable evil upon earth, for it only tends to +alienate the proper current of specie, to maintain a pack of idle +sharping rascals, and beggar unwary gentlemen and traders. + +I take the itch of gaming to be the most pernicious of vices, it is a +kind of avaricious madness; and if people have not sense to command +themselves by reason, they ought to be restrained by law; nor suffered +to ruin themselves and families, to enrich a crew of sharpers. + +There is no playing on the square with these villains; they are sure to +cheat you, either by sleight of hand, confederacy, or false dice, &c.; +they have so much the odds of their infatuated bubbles, that they might +safely play a guinea to a shilling, and yet be sure of winning. This is +but genteel pocket picking, or felony with another name, and yet, so +fond are we of it, that from the footboy to the lord, all must have a +touch of gaming; and there are sharpers of different stations and +denominations, from Southwark-fair to the groom porters. Shame, that +gentlemen should suffer every scoundrel to mix with them for gaming +sake! And equal shame, that honest laborious tradesmen should be +obstructed in crossing the public streets, by the gilt chariots of +vagabond gamesters; who now infest the land, and brave even our nobility +and gentry with their own money. + +But the most barbarous part of this hellish trade is what they call +setting of young gentlemen, apprentices, and others; this ought to be +deemed felony without benefit of clergy; for it is the worst of +thievery. Under pretence of taking a bottle, or spending an evening +gaily, they draw their cull to the tavern, where they sit not long +before the devil's bones or books are found accidentally on purpose, by +the help of which they strip my gentleman in an instant, and then +generously lend him his own money, to lose afresh, and create a debt +which is but too often more justly paid than those more justly due. + +If we look into some late bankruptcies we shall find some noted +gamesters the principal creditors; I think, in such cases it would be +but justice to make void the gamester's debt, and subject his estate to +make good the deficiencies of the bankrupt's effects. If traders have no +more wit, the public should have pity on them; and make it as penal to +lose as to win; and, in truth, if cards, dice, &c., were totally +suppressed, industry and arts would increase the more; gaming may make a +man crafty, but not polite; one may understand cards and dice perfectly +well, and be a blockhead in everything else. + +I am sorry to see it so prevalent in the city among the trading part of +mankind, who have introduced it into their clubs, and play so high of +late that many bankrupts have been made by this pernicious practice. + +It is the bane of all conversation; and those who can't sit an hour +without gaming, should never go into a club to spoil company. In a word, +it is mere madness, and a most stupid thing to hazard one's fortune, and +perplex one's mind; nay, to sit up whole nights, poring over toys of +pipped ivory and painted pasteboard, making ourselves worse than little +children, whose innocent sports we so much ridicule. + +To sum up all, I think it would be a noble retribution, to subject +gamesters' estates to the use and support of the poor widows and orphans +of their unfortunate bubbles. + +Sunday debauches are abuses that call loud for amendment; it is in this +pernicious soil the seeds of ruin are first sown. Instead of a day of +rest, we make it a day of labour, by toiling in the devil's vineyard; +and but too many surfeit themselves with the fruits of gluttony, +drunkenness, and uncleanness. + +Not that I am so superciliously strict, to have the sabbath kept as +rigidly here as in Scotland, but then there ought to be a medium between +the severity of a fast, and the riot of Saturnalia. Instead of a decent +and cheerful solemnity, our taverns and publichouses have more business +that day than all the week beside. Our apprentices plume themselves; +nay, some scruple not to put on their swords and tie wigs, or toupees, +and the loose end of the town is their rendezvous, Sunday being +market-day all round the hundreds of Drury. + +While we want servants to do our work, those hundreds, as they call +them, are crowded with numbers of idle impudent sluts, who love sporting +more than spinning, and inveigle our youth to their ruin; nay, many old +lechers, beasts as they are! steal from their families, and seek these +harlots' lurking holes, to practise their unaccountable schemes of new +invented lewdnesses; some half hang themselves, others are whipped, some +lie under a table and gnaw the bones that are thrown them, while others +stand slaving among a parcel of drabs at a washing tub. Strange that the +inclination should not die with the power, but that old fools should +make themselves the prey and ridicule of a pack of strumpets! + +Some heedless youths are wheedled into marriage, which makes them and +their unhappy parents miserable all their lives; others are drawn into +extravagancies, and but too often run into their master's cash, and for +fear of a discovery, make away with themselves, or at least run away and +leave their distracted parents in a thousand tears; not to mention the +frustration of their fortune, and the miseries that attend a vagabond +life. Thus honest parents lose their children, and traders their +apprentices, and all from a liberty we have of late given our youth of +rambling abroad on Sundays; for many, nowadays will lie out all night, +or stay out so late to give no small disturbance in sober families. It +therefore behoves every master of a family to have his servants under +his eye; and if the going to church, meeting, or whatever place of +worship suited their religion, were more enforced, it would be so much +the better. + +In short, the luxury of the age will be the ruin of the nation, if not +prevented. We leave trade to game in stocks; we live above ourselves, +and barter our ready money for trifles; tea and wine are all we seem +anxious for, and God has given the blessings of life to an ungrateful +people, who despise their own productions. Our very plough-fellows drink +wine nowadays; our farmers, graziers, and butchers, are above malt +liquors; and the wholesome breakfast of water-gruel and milk potage is +changed for coffee and tea. This is the reason provisions and corn, &c., +are so dear; we all work for vintners, and raise our prices one upon +another to such a degree, it will be an impossibility to live, and we +shall, of course, become our own devourers. + +We strain at a gnat and swallow a camel; and, in this instance, the +publichouses are kept open to furnish our luxury, while we deny +ourselves other necessaries of life, out of a scruple of conscience. For +example; in extreme hot weather, when meat will not keep from Saturday +to Sunday, we throw, or cause to be thrown away, vast quantities of +tainted meat, and have generally stinking dinners, because the butchers +dare not sell a joint of meat on a Sunday morning. Now, though I would +not have the Sabbath so far violated as to have it a market-day, yet, +rather than abuse God's mercies by throwing away creatures given for our +use, nay, for our own healths and cleanliness sake, I would have the +same indulgence in extreme hot weather, as there is for milk and +mackerel; that is to say, that meat might be killed in the cool of the +morning, viz., one or two of the clock, and sold till nine, and no +longer; nor should villanous informers have power to molest them in this +innocent and reasonable amendment of a ridiculous vulgar error. + +I cannot forbear taking notice of the extravagant use, or rather abuse, +of that nauseous liquor called Geneva, among our lower sort. Those who +deny that an inferior class of people are most necessary in a body +politic, contradict reason and experience itself, since they are most +useful when industrious, and as pernicious when lazy. By their industry +our manufactures, trade, and commerce are carried on; the merchant in +his counting-house, and the captain in his cabin, would find but little +employment were it not that many hands carried on the different branches +of the concern they superintended. + +But now, so far are our common people infatuated with Geneva, that half +the work is not done now as formerly. It debilitates and enervates them, +and they are not near so strong and healthy as formerly. This accursed +liquor is in itself so diuretic, it overstrains the parts of generation, +and makes our common people incapable of getting such lusty children as +they used to do. Add to this, that the women, by drinking it, spoil +their milk, and by giving it to young children, as they foolishly do, +spoil the stomach, and hinder digestion; so that in less than an age, we +may expect a fine spindle-shanked generation. + +There is not in nature so unhealthy a liquor as Geneva, especially as +commonly sold; it curdles the blood, it stupefies the senses, it weakens +the nerves, it spoils the eyesight, and entirely ruins the stomach; nay, +some stomachs have been rendered so cold by the use of Geneva, that lamp +spirits have not been a dram warm enough for them. Surely they will come +to drink aquafortis at last! + +On the contrary, our own malt liquors, especially common draught beer, +is most wholesome and nourishing, and has brought up better generations +than the present: it is strengthening, cooling, and balsamic; it helps +digestion, and carries nourishment with it; and, in spite of the whims +of some physicians, is most pertinent to a human, especially a good +wholesome English, constitution. Nay, the honest part of the faculty +deny not the use of small beer, well brewed, even in fevers. I, myself, +have found great benefit by it; and if it be good in its kind, it is the +finest jalap upon earth. + +If this abuse of Geneva be not stopped, we may go whoop for husbandmen, +labourers, &c. Trade must consequently stand still, and the credit of +the nation sink; nor is the abatement of the excise, though very +considerable, and most worthy notice, any ways comparable to the +corruption of manners, the destruction of health, and all the train of +evils we are threatened with from pernicious Geneva. + + +_An effectual method to prevent street robberies._ + +The principal encouragements and opportunity given to street robbers is, +that our streets are so poorly watched; the watchmen, for the most part, +being decrepit, superannuated wretches, with one foot in the grave and +the other ready to follow; so feeble that a puff of breath can blow +them down. Poor crazy mortals! much fitter for an almshouse than a +watchhouse. A city watched and guarded by such animals is wretchedly +watched indeed. + +Nay, so little terror do our watchmen carry with them, that hardy +thieves make a mere jest of them, and sometimes oblige even the very +watchman who should apprehend them to light them in their roguery. And +what can a poor creature do, in terror of his life, surrounded by a pack +of ruffians, and no assistance near? + +Add to this, that our rogues are grown more wicked than ever, and vice +in all kinds is so much winked at, that robbery is accounted a petty +crime. We take pains to puff them up in their villany, and thieves are +set out in so amiable a light in the Beggar's Opera, that it has taught +them to value themselves on their profession rather than be ashamed of +it. + +There was some cessation of street robberies, from the time of Bunworth +and Blewitt's execution, until the introduction of this pious opera. Now +we find the Cartouchian villanies revived, and London, that used to be +the most safe and peaceful city in the universe, is now a scene of +rapine and danger. If some of Cartouch's gang be not come over to +instruct our thieves, and propagate their schemes, we have, doubtless, a +Cartouch of our own, and a gang which, if not suppressed, may be full as +pernicious as ever Cartouch's was, and London will be as dangerous as +Paris, if due care be not taken. + +We ought to begin our endeavours to suppress these villanies, first by +heavenly, and then by earthly means. + +By heavenly means, in enforcing and encouraging a reformation of +manners, by suppressing of vice and immorality, and punishing +profaneness and licentiousness. Our youth are corrupted by filthy, lewd +ballads, sung and sold publicly in our streets; nay, unlicensed and +unstamped, notwithstanding acts of parliament to the contrary. + +Coachmen, carmen, &c, are indulged in swearing after the most +blasphemous, shocking, and unaccountable rate that ever was known. New +oaths and blasphemies are daily uttered and invented; and rather than +not exercise this hellish talent, they will vent their curses on their +very horses; and, oh stupid! damn the blood of a post, rather than want +something to curse. + +Our common women, too, have learned this vice; and not only strumpets, +but labouring women, who keep our markets, and vend things about street, +swear and curse at a most hideous rate. Their children learn it from +their parents, and those of the middle, or even the better sort of +people, if they pass through the streets to school, or to play, catch +the infection, and carry home such words as must consequently be very +shocking to sober parents. + +Our youth, in general, have too much liberty; the Sabbath is not kept +with due solemnity; masters and mistresses of families are too remiss in +the care of the souls committed to their charge. Family prayer is +neglected; and, to the shame of scoffers be it spoken, too much +ridiculed. All ages and sexes, if in health, should be obliged to attend +public worship, according to their respective opinions. Were it only to +keep youth out of harm's way it would do well. But it is to be hoped, if +their parents, masters, or mistresses, should oblige their attendance at +public devotion, they would edify by what they should hear, and many +wicked acts would be stifled in their infancy, and checked even in the +intention, by good and useful doctrine. + +Our common people make it a day of debauch, and get so drunk on a +Sunday they cannot work for a day or two following. Nay, since the use +of Geneva has become so common, many get so often drunk they cannot work +at all, but run from one irregularity to another, till at last they +become arrant rogues. And this is the foundation of all our present +complaints. + +We will suppose a man able to maintain himself and family by his trade, +and at the same time to be a Geneva drinker. This fellow first makes +himself incapable of working by being continually drunk; this runs him +behindhand, and he either pawns or neglects his work, for which reason +nobody will employ him. At last, fear of arrests, his own hunger, the +cries of his family for bread, his natural desire to support an +irregular life, and a propense hatred to labour, turn but too many an +honest tradesman into an arrant desperate rogue. And these are commonly +the means that furnish us with thieves and villains in general. + +Thus is a man, that might be useful in a body politic, rendered +obnoxious to the same: and if this trade of wickedness goes on, they +will grow and increase upon us, insomuch that we shall not dare to stir +out of our habitations; nay, it will be well if they arrive not to the +impudence of plundering our houses at noonday. + +Where is the courage of the English nation, that a gentleman, with six +or seven servants, shall be robbed by one single highwayman? Yet we have +lately had instances of this; and for this we may thank our effeminacy, +our toupee wigs, and powdered pates, our tea, and other scandalous +fopperies; and, above all, the disuse of noble and manly sports, so +necessary to a brave people, once in vogue, but now totally lost among +us. + +Let not the reader think I run from my subject if I search the bottom +of the distemper before I propose a cure, which having done, though +indeed but slightly, for this is an argument could be carried to a much +greater length, I proceed next to propose earthly means in the manner +following. + +Let the watch be composed of stout able-bodied men, and of those at +least treble the number now subsisting, that is to say, a watchman to +every forty houses, twenty on one side of the way, and twenty on the +other; for it is observable that a man cannot well see distinctly beyond +the extent of twenty houses in a row; if it is a single row, and no +opposite houses, the charge must be greater and their safety less. This +man should be elected and paid by the housekeepers themselves, to +prevent misapplication and abuse, so much complained of in the +distribution of public money. + +He should be allowed ten shillings per annum by each housekeeper, which +at forty houses, as above specified, amounts to 20_l._ per annum, almost +treble to what is at present allowed; and yet most housekeepers are +charged at least 2s. 6d. a quarter to the watch, whose beat is, +generally speaking, little less than the compass of half a mile. + +This salary is something of encouragement, and a pretty settlement to a +poor man, who with frugality may live decently thereon, and by due rest +be enabled to give vigilant attendance. + +If a housekeeper break, or a house is empty, the poor watchman ought not +to suffer, the deficiency should be made up by the housekeepers +remaining. + +Or, indeed, all housekeepers might be excused, if a tax of only one +shilling per annum were levied on every bachelor within the bills of +mortality, and above the age of one-and-twenty, who is not a +housekeeper: for these young sparks are a kind of unprofitable gentry to +the state; they claim public safety and advantages, and yet pay nothing +to the public; nay, indeed, they in a manner live upon the public, for +(on a Sunday especially) at least a million of these gentlemen quarter +themselves upon the married men, and rob many families of part of a +week's provision, more particularly when they play a good knife and +fork, and are of the family of the Tuckers. + +I beg pardon for this whimsical proposal, which, ludicrous as it seems, +has something in it; and may be improved. Return we, in the mean time, +to our subject. + +The watch thus stationed, strengthened, and encouraged, let every +watchman be armed with firearms and sword; and let no watchman stand +above twenty doors distant from his fellow. + +Let each watchman be provided with a bugle-horn, to sound an alarm, or +in time of danger; and let it be made penal, if not felony, for any but +a watchman to sound a horn in and about the city, from the time of their +going on, to that of their going off. + +An objection will be here made on account of the postboys, to obviate +which, I had thoughts of a bell, but that would be too ponderous and +troublesome for a watchman to carry, besides his arms and lantern. As to +a fixed bell, if the watchman is at another part of his walk, how can he +give notice? Besides, rogues may play tricks with the bell; whereas a +horn is portable, always ready, and most alarming. + +Let the postboys therefore use some other signal, since this is most +convenient to this more material purpose. They may carry a bell in a +holster with ease, and give notice by that, as well as those who collect +the letters. + +That the watchmen may see from one end of their walks to the other, let +a convenient number of lamps be set up, and those not of the convex +kind, which blind the eyes, and are of no manner of use; they dazzle, +but give no distinct light: and further, rather than prevent robberies, +many, deceived and blinded by these _ignes fatui_, have been run over by +coaches, carts, &c. People stumble more upon one another, even under +these very lamps, than in the dark. In short, they are most unprofitable +lights, and in my opinion, rather abuses than benefits. + +Besides, I see no reason why every ten housekeepers cannot find a lamp +among themselves, and let their watchman dress it, rather than fatten a +crew of directors; but we are so fond of companies, it is a wonder we +have not our shoes blacked by one, and a set of directors made rich at +the expense of our very black-guards. Convenient turnpikes and stoppages +may be made to prevent escapes, and it will be proper for a watchman to +be placed at one of these, fixed at the end of a lane, court, alley, or +other thoroughfare, which may happen in any part of his beat, and so as +not to obstruct his view to both ends thereof, or being able to give +notice, as aforesaid; for the watch ought to be in view, as well as in +the hearing of each other, or they may be overpowered, and much danger +may happen. + +The streets thus guarded and illuminated, what remains but that the +money allotted by the government be instantly paid on conviction of +every offender; for delays in this case are of dangerous consequence, +and nobody will venture their lives in hopes of a reward, if it be not +duly and timely paid. If there is reason of complaint on this head, it +ought to be looked into by those at the helm; for nothing can be more +vile than for underlings to abuse the benevolence of the public, or +their superiors, by sinking, abridging, or delaying public or private +benefits. And it is by no means below the dignity or care, even of the +greatest, to see the disposal of their own bounty and charity; for it +loses but too often by the carriage: and where a nobleman or other +generous person has ordered five guineas to be given, it is well if the +proper object has had even one. + +Something allowed by the Chamber of London to every person apprehending +a robber, would have a good effect, especially if it be not told over a +gridiron, but paid without delay or abatement. And what if the fewer +custards are eat, so it augment the public safety. + +Some of our common soldiery are, and I hope unjustly, suspected. This +may be easily confuted, if strict orders are enforced, that none but +commission or warrant officers shall be out of their quarters after ten +at night. But if we consider, that neither Blewit, Bunworth, or their +gangs, were soldiers, and that of those who have been executed for ten +years past, not one in ten were soldiers, but, on the contrary, seamen +discharged and thrown on the public without present subsistence, which +makes them desperate; but I hope the act now depending for the +encouragement of seamen, &c., will sufficiently remove that obstacle +also. This, I hope, will stop the mouths of censorious persons, who +unjustly arraign our soldiery for the vices of others. However, to make +all easy, I believe the generality of them will gladly submit to the +restraint proposed, merely to show their innocence. + +Mean time, would his most sacred majesty let them partake of his bounty, +as the officers, &c., have done, and raise their pay, were it but one +penny _per diem_, it would be a most royal bounty, would considerably +contribute to their support, and put them above any sordid views: and +there was never more occasion than now, when provisions of all kinds are +so excessive dear. + +Having offered my little mite to the public, I beg they will excuse the +deficiency of my style, and multitude of my errors, for my intention's +sake. I write without prospect of gain; if I am censured, it is what I +can but expect; but if among all my schemes one proves of service, my +desires and labours are amply answered. + + +_Omissions._ + +In my scheme for an university in London I proposed only a hall or +public room; on recollection I find it should be a large house or inn, +in the nature of a college, with store of convenient rooms for +gentlemen, not only to study separately, but wherein to lodge their +books, for it would be most inconvenient to lug them backwards and +forwards. They may indeed breakfast, sup, and sleep at home, but it will +be highly necessary they should dine in commons, or at least near the +college; not that I would have cooks, butlers, caterers, manciples, and +the whole train of college cannibals retained; but for fear they should +stay too long at home, or be hindered from returning to study in due +time, some proper place or person might be pitched upon to keep an +ordinary, at a prefixed price and hour, and for the students only. + +My reasons are these:-- + +First, A young gentleman may live too far from college. + +Second, The college hours for dinner may not agree with those of the +family. + +Third, Company may drop in and detain him. + +These being, I think, the only material objections could be offered, I +hope I have amply provided against them, and rendered my project more +perfect and unexceptionable. + + * * * * * + +One omission I made in the discourse on madhouses, &c., is, that maiden +ladies as well as widows and wives are liable to the inquisition there +complained of, and I am informed a good estate is lately come to a +worthless family by the death, or rather murder, of an innocent young +creature, who being left very rich, chose to live with her friends; but +well had it been for her had she taken up her abode among strangers, for +they staved off all proposals for marriage a considerable time, and when +at last they found the lady would not be hindered from altering her +condition, she was hurried away to a madhouse, where she miserably ended +her days, while they rioted in the pillage of her fortune. Thus neither +maid, wife, or widow, are safe while these accursed madhouses are +suffered; nay, I see no reason, if the age improves in wickedness, as in +all probability it may, but the men, _per contra_, may take their turns. +Younger brothers, &c., may clap up their elders, and jump into their +estates, for there are no questions asked at these madhouses, but who is +the paymaster, and how much; give them but their price, mad or not mad, +it is no matter whom they confine; so that if any person lives longer +than his relations think convenient, they know their remedy; it is but +sending them to a madhouse and the estate is their own. + +Having answered all that I think liable to objection, and recollected +what I had omitted, I desire to stand or fall by the judgment of the +serious part of mankind; wherein they shall correct me I will kiss the +rod and suffer with patience; but if a pack of hackney scribblers shall +attack me only by way of a get-penny, I shall not be provoked to answer +them, be they never so scurrilous, lest I be accounted as one of them. + + + + +TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SAMUEL ROBINSON. + + + SIR, + +I shall congratulate you on your election into the chamberlainship of +the city of London, or otherwise, as you shall acquit yourself in +answering candidly and impartially to the following queries. + +I. whether there is not money sufficient in the chamber of London to pay +off the orphan's fund? Or if not a sufficient sum, what sum it is, and +what is the deficiency? How long it has lain there, and what interest +has been made upon it? + +II. If there are not considerable arrears due from many wards, and what +those arrears are? + +III. Who are these poor orphans we pay so much money to? and whether +they are not some of the richest men in the city of London, who have got +the stock into their own hands, and find it so snug a fund they do not +care to get out of it. + +IV. If it would not be much better to gather in the arrears, join them +to the money in the office, and collect the overplus at once, rather +than suffer the tax to become eternal, and to pay so much interest. + +This is but a reasonable request; and if colonel Robinson is the honest +gentleman fame reports him to be, he will make no scruple to give a +ready answer. And indeed it will be but a handsome return made to his +fellow citizens for their choice of him, to begin his office with such +an act of justice, honesty, and public satisfaction, for many people do +not know what is meant by the orphan's tax; they pay it with remorse, +and think themselves aggrieved. Even those who know the reason of the +fund think it has been continued long enough, wish it were once paid +off, suspect some secret in the affair, and give their tongues the +liberty all losers claim; Our fathers, say they, have eaten sour grapes, +and our teeth are set on edge, we are visited for their transgressions, +and may be to the world's end, unless we shall find an honest +chamberlain who will unveil this cloudy affair, and gives us a prospect +of relief. + +Thus, sir, it lies at your door to gain the applause of the whole city, +a few misers excepted, by a generous and gentlemanlike discovery of this +affair. And you are thus publicly called upon, that your discovery may +be as public and beneficial to all. If you comply, I shall think you an +honest man, above a fellow feeling, or being biassed, and most worthy +your office; if not, give me leave to think, the citizens of London have +made but an indifferent choice. + + I am, + Sir, + Yours, as you prove yourself, + ANDREW MORETON. + + _Sept. 23, + 1728._ + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The transcriber made these changes to the text to correct obvious +errors: + + p. 16, Christain --> Christian + p. 26, coachmam --> coachman + p. 35, nothwithstanding --> notwithstanding + p. 38, sound on alarm --> sound an alarm + p. 38, cary --> carry + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUGUSTA TRIUMPHANS*** + + +******* This file should be named 32405.txt or 32405.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/4/0/32405 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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