In when prepared, to be moderately hot, and of a very drying attenuating and cleansing quality; whence reason infers, that its decoction must contain many good physical properties, and cannot but be an incomparable remedy to dissolve crudities,1 comfort the brain, and dry up ill humours in the stomach. brief, to prevent or redress, in those that frequently drink it, all cold drowsy rheumatic distempers whatsoever, that proceed from excess of moisture, which are so numerous, that but to name them would tire the tongue of a mountebank. Where Lastly, for diversion. It is older than Aristotle, and will be true, when Hobbes is forgot, that man is a sociable creature, and delights in company. Now, whither shall a person, wearied with hard study, or the laborious turmoils of a tedious day, repair to refresh himself? Or where can young gentlemen, or shop-keepers, more innocently and advantageously spend an hour or two in the evening, than at a coffee-house? they shall be sure to meet company, and, by the custom of the house, not such as at other places, stingy and reserved to themselves, but free and communicative; where every man may modestly begin his story, and propose to, or answer another, as he thinks fit. Discourse is pabulum animi, cos ingenii; the mind's best diet, and the great whetstone and incentive of ingenuity; by that we come to know men better than by their physiognomy. Loquere, ut te videam, speak, that I may see thee, was the philosopher's adage. To read men is acknowledged more useful than books; but where is there a better library for that study, generally, than here, amongst such a variety of humours, all expressing themselves on divers subjects, according to their respective abilities? In brief, it is undeniable, that, as you have here the most civil, so it is, generally, the most intelligent society; the frequenting whose converse, and observing their discourses and deportment, cannot but civilise our manners, enlarge our understandings, refine our language, teach us a generous confidence and handsome mode of address, and brush off that pudor rubrusticus (as, I remember, Tully somewhere calls it), that clownish kind of modesty frequently incident to the best natures, which renders them sheepish and ridiculous in company. So that, upon the whole matter, spite of the idle sarcasms and paltry reproaches thrown upon it, we may, with no less 1 Undigested matter in the stomach. truth than plainness, give this brief character of a well-regulated coffee-house (for our pen disdains to be an advocate for any sordid holes, that assume that name to cloak the practice of debauchery), that it is the sanctuary of health, the nursery of temperance, the delight of frugality, an academy of civility, and free-school of ingenuity. 80. ON THE GROWTH OF ENGLISH POWER AND WEALTH (1677). Sir William Petty, 1623-87, was the best English authority of his day on the subject which he called "political arithmetic," or, as we should say, political economy. He was a man of wit, practical ability and thoroughness. The passage quoted below is Chapter VI. in his Political Arithmetic; of which work the second title is added, in order that the reader may know what topics Petty deemed worthy his attention as a studeut of politics and society. A Discourse The extent and value of Lands, People, Majesty of Great Britain, and his neighbours of Holland, Zealand, and France. SOURCE.-Political Arithmetic. Sir W. Petty (1623-1687). Arber's Garner. Birmingham, 1883. Vol. vi., p. 378. That the power and wealth of England hath increased this last forty years. It is not much to be doubted but that the territories under the King's dominion have increased; forasmuch as New England, Virginia, Barbadoes, and Jamaica, Tangier, and Bombay, have, since that time, been either added to His Majesty's territories, or improved from a desert condition, to abound with people, buildings, shipping, and the production of many useful commodities. And as for the land of England, Scotland and Ireland, as it is not less in quantity than it was forty years ago, so it is manifest that, by reason of the draining of the fens, watering of dry grounds, improving of forests and commons, making of heathy and barren grounds to bear sanfoin and clover grass, ameliorating and multiplying several sorts of fruit and garden stuff, making some rivers navigable, etc.; I say, it is manifest that the land in its present condition is able to bear more provisions and commodities than it was forty years ago. Secondly, although the PEOPLE of England, Scotland and Ireland, which have extraordinarily perished, by the Plague and Sword, within these last forty years, do amount to about 300,000 above what would have died in the ordinary way: yet the ordinary increase by generation of 10,000,000 which doubles in 200 years, as hath been shown by the observators upon the bills of mortality, may, in forty years, which is a fifth part of the same time, have increased one-fifth part of the whole number, or 2,000,000. Where note by the way, that the accession of negroes to the American Plantations, being all men of great labour and little expense, is not inconsiderable. Besides, it is hoped that New England (where few or no women are barren, and most have many children; and where people live long and healthfully) hath produced an increase of as many people as were destroyed in the late tumults in Ireland. As for HOUSING, the streets of London itself speaks it. I conceive it is double in value in that city to what it was forty years since. And for Housing in the country, it has increased at Newcastle, Yarmouth, Norwich, Exeter, Portsmouth, Cowes; Dublin, Kinsale, Londonderry and Coleraine in Ireland, far beyond the proportion of what I can learn has been dilapidated in other places. For in Ireland, where the ruin was greatest, the Housing, taking all together, is now more valuable than forty years ago. Nor is this to be doubted: since Housing is now more splendid than in those days; and the number of dwellers is increased by nearly one-fifth part; as on the last paragraph is set forth. As for SHIPPING, His Majesty's Navy is now triple or quadruple to what it was forty years since, and before the Sovereign was built. The shipping trading to Newcastle, which is now 80,000 tons, could not be then above a quarter of that quantity. 1. Because the City of London is doubled. 2. Because the use of coals is also at least doubled: because they were heretofore seldom used in chambers as now they are; nor were there so many bricks burned with them, as of late; nor did the country on both sides the Thames make use of them as now. Besides, there are employed in Guinea and American trade, above 40,000 tons of shipping per annum; which trade in those days was inconsiderable. The quantity of wines was not nearly so much as now, and, to be short, the Customs upon imported and exported commodities did not then yield a third part of the present value: which shows that not only Shipping, but Trade itself hath increased somewhat near that proportion. As to MONEY, the interest thereof was, within these fifty years, at £10 per cent.; forty years ago, at £8; and now at £6 no thanks to any laws which have been made to that purpose; forasmuch as those who can give good security, may now have it at less. But the natural fall of increase is the effect of the increase of money. Moreover if rented lands and houses have increased, and if trade hath increased also: it is certain that money, which payeth those rents and driveth on trade, must have increased also. Lastly, I leave it to the consideration of all observers, whether the number and splendour of Coaches, Equipage, and Household Furniture hath not increased since that time: to say nothing of the Postage of Letters, which has increased from one to Twenty; which argues the increase of business and negotiation. I might add that His Majesty's Revenue is nearly tripled; and therefore the means to pay, and bear the same, have increased also. 81. LORD JEFFREYS ON THE BENCH (1685). One of the worst blots on the reign of James II. is the favour and promotion which the king extended to Jeffreys, the brutal judge of the Taunton assizes. His conduct on the bench is unparalleled among English cases of judicial unfairness. Take the trial of Lady Alice Lisle. She was an old gentlewoman who had been accused of harbouring fugitives after the battle of Sedgmoor. Jeffreys decided beforehand that she should suffer, and abused witnesses till they were frightened out of their wits. The stigma of such language as follows does not rest on him alone, but must be shared by the government whose tool he was. The outcome of this particular trial was that by Jeffrey's active assistance Lady Lisle was condemned at Winchester and executed. SOURCE.-State Trials. Ed. T. B. Howell. London, 1811. xi., p. 343. Vol. L.C.J. But mind me, prithee: Thou didst tell that honest man there, that my lady Lisle asked thee, whether he knew anything of the business, and thou saidest no. What was that business? DUNNE. That business that Barter did not know of? L.C.J. Yes, that is the business; be ingenuous, tell the truth: Oh! how hard the truth is to come out of a lying Presbyterian knave. Prithee, friend, consider the oath that thou hast taken, and that thou art in the presence of a God that cannot endure a lie, nor whose holiness will not admit him to dispense with a lie: Consider that that God is an infinite being of purity, holiness, and truth; and it would be inconsistent with his being to dispense with the least untruth; and thou hast called him to witness, that thou wouldest testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I charge thee, therefore, as thou wilt answer it to that God of truth, and that thou mayest be called to do, for ought I know, the very next minute, and there thou wilt not be able to palliate the truth; what was that business you and my lady spoke of? [Then he paused for half a quarter of an hour, and at last said :] DUNNE. I cannot give an account of it, my lord. L.C.J. Oh blessed God! Was there ever such a villain upon the face of the earth; to what times are we reserved ! Dost thou believe that there is a God? DUNNE. Yes, my lord, I do. L.C.J. Dost thou believe, that that God can endure a lie? DUNNE. No, my lord, I know he cannot. L.C.J. truth? And dost thou believe then that he is a God of |