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THE

MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

No. 253.]

APRIL 1, 1814.

[3 of Vol. 37.

As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum, of Influence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Miscellany will repay with the greatest Effect the Curiosity of those who read, whether it be for Amusement or for Instruction.JOHNSON.

Sir Joshua Reynolds, on being questioned in regard to the cause of the inferiority of counterfeits and imitators. answered, that their being copyists was of itself a proof of the inferiority of their powers, and that while they continued to be so, it was impossible for them to attain superiority. "It was like a man's resolving, to go behind another, aud whilst that resolution lasted, it would be impossible he should ever be on a par with him."NORTHCOTE.

CONTINUATION of the ACCOUNT of the recent ERECTION of PUBLIC BUILDINGS in various PARTS of the BRITISH EMPIRE.

THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE AT SANDHURST.

THE Royal Military College is diTHE vided into two departments, viz. senior and junior. The senior department was established at High Wycombe, in the year 1799, (but has recently been removed to Farnham, in Surrey) for the purpose of instructing officers in the scientific parts of their profession, with a view of enabling them better to discharge their duty when acting in the command of their regiments, and at the same time qualify them for being employed in the quarter-master and adjutant-general's department.

No officer can be admitted into this department until he has completed the 21st year of his age, and actually served with his regiment as a commissioned offieer for three years abroad, or four years at home. Applications for admission must be made to the governor through the colonel or commanding officer of the regiment to which the individual belongs. Every candidate, previous to admission, must undergo such examination as may be deemed requisite.

The students pay into the funds of the college such sum annually as is determined by the supreme board of commis. sioners. The present subscription is thirty guineas per annum. They are subject to the rules and discipline of the army, as if serving with their regiments. The studies pursued at this depart ment are as follows:-Mathematics in all its branches; fortification; gunnery; castrametation; military drawing and MONTHLY MAG. No. 258.

surveying; the reconnoitring of ground; the disposition and movement of troops under all the various circumstances of of fensive and defensive war; rules for estimating the military resources of a country; and the German and French languages.

There are six professors in this department, viz. one mathematics, &c.; one fortification; two military drawing; one French; one German.

Public examinations on points of science are held half yearly, in presence of the collegiate board, upon which occasion one or more members of the supreme board, not being members of the collegiate board, attend. Those officers who have gone through the regular course of studies, and have passed that examination by which they may be duly qualified for, staff appointments, receive certificates thereof, signed by the board, and sealed with the seal of the college.

The junior department was first esta. blished at Great Marlow in 1802, (but has recently been removed to Sandhurst, near Bagshot,) to afford a provision for the sons of officers who have fallen, or been disabled, in the service of their country; and the means of education to the sons of those officers who belong to any regular regiments. It consists of four companies, of 103 cadets each. They are admitted upon three different esta blishments, viz.

1st. Orphan sons of officers who have a fallen or been disabled in the service, 2 D

Are

are admitted free of expence, except in bringing the first suit of uniform on their admission, and keeping up their stock of linen during their residence at the college. They are provided with beard, clothing, and education, by the establishment, free of charge.

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2d. The sons of officers actually serving in regular regiments of the line, who pay a certain sum per annum (from 10l. to 601.) according to the rank of their fathers.

3d. The sons of noblemen and gen tlemen, who pay 1001. per annum each. Applications for admission must be addressed to the governor. Every candidate previous to admission must pass an examination in Latin and English gram mar, and the first four rules of arith metic. No candidate can be admitted who is under thirteen years of age, or above fifteen.

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senior department, previous to the cadets receiving commissions from the college; and, according to their proficiency in the course of studies, they have certificates of qualifications to serve in the army as officers, granted to them by the board of commissioners, in whose presence the examination takes place.

The studies pursued at this department are as follows:-Mathematics; fortification; military drawing; landscape drawing; history, geography, and classics; French; German; and fencing.

There are seven masters of mathematics; four of fortification; five of military drawing; three of landscape drawing; four of history, geography, and classics; six of French; one of German; three of fencing.

Gentlemen cadets are allowed to purchase commissions at any time during their continuance at the college; but no gentleman cadet can be recommended for a commission by private interest until he has hade. a certain progress in is re-, his studies.

There are examinations held monthly, which are conducted by the professors of the senior department, to ascertain the progress of each cadet, previous to his. moval from one class to another. There The splendid buildings at Sandhurst, are also public half yearly examinations, represented above, are after designs by upon the saine principle as those at the Mr. SANDERS.

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It is erected on the scite of the Old Victualling House, to the east of the Tower, and is an extensive building, containing all the machinery and conve

THIS beautiful building was lately erected after a design of Mr. SMIRKE, jun. and is designed for all those purposes of comage which have usually been carried on in the Tower of London, and at Bir-iences for coining, and also houses for Iningham. As the building happened to be finished just at the time when, owing to the diminished value and forced circulation of Bank of England notes, all specie liad disappeared, and also at the time that the New Custom House was planned, it was wittily observed, by some member in the House of Commons, that we had I new mint when we had no thoney, and a new custom house when we had no trade!

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the residence of the principal officers. It is composed of a long front of stone, consisting of a ground-floor, with two stories above; the whole surmounted by a handsome balustrade. The wings are orna. mented with pilasters, and in the centre are several demi-columns, over which is a pediment, decorated with the arms of England. The porch is covered with a gallery, balustrades, &c. all of the Doric order.

THE

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THIS building was erected in the years, 1811-12, by Mr. William Bullock, as, an establishment for the advancement of the science of natural history. In mag

nitude and expence, it is presumed to be seconded by the publ continue

unparalleled as the work of an individual. The specimens it contains are arranged according to the Linnæap system, and consist of upwards of fifteen thousand, species of quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, shells, corals, &c. and have been collected at an expence ex-; ceeding thirty thousand pounds..

The building was designed and executed under the direction of Mr. P. F. ROBINSON. In choosing the Egyptian style, the architect has endeavoured to afford a correct, specimen of that mode of building, of which we have not an other in this country.

The museums of France have been, enriched with the spoils of nearly the, whole Continent, and the gallery of the Louvre contains more treasure in paint ing and sculpture, than perhaps, will, ever again be amassed in one collection., But though her active and persevering ruler, desirous of making his capital the, centre of every attraction, has contributed to the Museum Naturale, every specimen of natural history, which, in the present state of the Continent, could be, procured; our unrivalled navy, and the

extension of our colonies throughout the
habitable world, present such advantages,
to this country, that we feel confident, if
Mr. Bullock's exertions
to be.
as they have
bitherto been, he will be enabled to make,
a collection of natural history, surpas
sing any thing of the kind at present in
existence.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

TH

HE enclosed paper it was my inten-. tion to have given you without any preface, for in a publication like yours it, has always been my opinion that we ought not to dilate, but rather give our, projects as concisely as possible; not only. in consideration of the limited space, but because in a company of so many, readers there is every reason to believe, that a great number have a sufficient por tion of sagacity to see at once the probabilities and bearings of any plan, however, slightly hinted at; and such is the "good, ground" we want to sow: for I entertain a firm faith that no good hint is ever lost that is presented by the press to general society; and on, this account I feel it to be my indispensable duty to throw my. thoughts, on many subjects, before the public, by means of a medium so ready and so useful as I have hitherto found, 2 D2

yours

yours to be on all occasions where the country and the interests of humanity were to be benefited.

And thus indeed, without any prefatory observations, it was going to you, when a friend, to whom I read the paper, suggested, that I ought to answer all possible objections that can be thought of, as well by the idle and unfeeling as by the humane and reflecting. My answer is No: for in that case we must write a tedious volume, and commence a controversy, instead of trying an experiment, with very probable grounds of success. One objection, however, I think may be anticipated, because it has already been opposed to me. Will not the plan hold up encouragement to those that are falling into vicious habits, inasmuch as it of fers them an asylum at last? To this my reply will be short, and I trust convincing. If heavenly joys and pardon are offered (by our holy religion) to penitence and amendment, will any one say this is encouraging sin?-How, then, can it be said that by offering an honourable reward for honourable conduct on earth, and sincere repentance, we encourage young people to deviate from the paths of rectitude and virtue?

Let the plan, therefore, take its chance of being supported by publishing it. Time, and the conducting hand of Providence, may ultimately bring it into practice; I have lived long enough to have seen great events proceed from little causes, and cannot forget, that but for Henry Smeath man (an obscure individual,) going to the West Indies to procure the premium of fered, but never paid, to destroy the Termites, who were devouring the canes, we should not have had even the partial abolition of the slave trade which we now have. His philippics against that trade at his chambers in Symond's Inn, with which he invariably concluded the numerous lectures on the white ants, that he so long at his breakfasts read gratis to people of all ranks in society, first kin dled, as I well know, the reflection on the public mind of the infamy of that unmanly, unchristian, traffic.

His motive, I remember, it was then said was resentment for the scandalous fraud practised on him by the planters, in quibbling on the letter of their offer, when he had answered their purposes. His voice was unnecessarily loud; his manner coarse and violent; but his facts were incontrovertible, and his humanity indisputable. I could not help seeing under his rough outside, a heart that did honour to human nature, was his early convert and ready

supporter, and feel no small pleasure in recollecting his consistent and persevering efforts under apparently insurmountable difficulties, the ruin of his fortune, and the destruction of his health, until he gained friends among the Friends in the city, and laid the foundation of that noble edifice that will ultimately be terminated in the complete emancipation of the Negro race.

But let me now proceed to plan:

PLAN.

The disposition of the age in this country is evidently so much in favour of universal philanthropy, that it may be considered as a national characteristic in every thing that relates to im mediate sufferings:-the higher classes supporting charities by their countenance and moderate contributions; the middling with zeal and generosity; and even the poor contributing often, from their hard-earned pittances; nay, the soldier (whose small pay is the price of life,) is known to have joined in sympathy, with the genuine feelings of compassion, and to have abridged his own allowance in favour of the children of misfortune.

In such a country to perceive misery, and not to point it out, would be crimi nal. No one refuses the office; but every one is not always prepared to in dicate how relief may be more effectually extended to that unhappy class of beings, whose sufferings are the bitter fruits of their own depravity; originating both from physical and moral irregularities, neglect of parents, idleness, personal attractions, and the selfish arts employed to corrupt and bend them to base purposes; always used with activity by those who, for the gratification of their own passions, become the destroyers of that sex they were created to protect, and to the legitimate enjoyment of whom, no religion, no government, has ever op posed any bar, not even where the parties were not possessed of the means of supporting a family.

Hence it is manifest, that females owe their seduction from chastity generally to the avarice of men, who seek the gratification of their passions at what they esteem a cheap rate; although every one in the end is destined to feel se verely, that, either in health, purse, reputation, or the stings of conscience, he must at last dearly pay for these attempts to avoid the dictates of nature, and evade those of society, whatever be the course he takes, out of the legal one of conjugally connecting himself with the female sex. To go into arguments to.

show

1814.]

the Protection and Restoration of Females.

show the folly independently of the sin of such a conduct would employ, and well deserve a volume, even after all that has been written to persuade men that "honesty is the best policy." The fact, unhappily, is so; the question is now only, how we can best repair the evil consequences of these dangerous irregula rities, and if a better mode than that hitherto employed might not be easily adopted.

The object I have in view is, the les sening the number of that disgraceful body of common prostitutes, who, to the dishonour of a Christian community, openly parade our cities; and who, provided they are well-clad, unblushingly walk the streets, and lobbies of the the atre; and communicate, without inter ruption, depravity and diseases that are to descend to our future generations; in their turn, taking ample vengeance on that sex, who, forgetting their duties and all moral rectitude, cruelly prepared their destruction, in defiance perhaps of the pleadings of youth, beauty, and in

nocence.

The great cure for these evils in a state, would be to consider cohabitation as matrimony, and to compel every man to maintain the female he had seduced. · But since the pecuniary interests of families have hitherto prevented any community from enacting so just a law, and no nation has yet had the courage to make laws, even to punish, with the severity he deserves, the seducer of females, it only remains for those who are true patriots and christians, to enquire by what means they may be able to diminish the sad consequences of this deplorable evil, and to exert themselves in the laudable pursuit, unawed by the sneers of the prejudiced, or the ridicule of the unfeeling.

The object of the writer of this paper, is a radical care, not a palliative; he has observed with pleasure, the execution of many plans of reform, and highly applauds their exertions; but he knows also, that, for physical reasons, there can be no absolute dependance on the continuance of these reformed in the path of rectitude, beset as they are by their own gratified passions, and the continual assault of the other sex: for should any one, won by their decent conduct, or beauty, offer them marriage, they must either disclose a secret that would wound their reputation, and perhaps defeat the end; or live all their lives in fear of a discovery, which would terminate their peace, and probably expose them to be

201

again abandoned to the wide world, and all the miseries of remorse, distress, and insult. That the younger part of these unhappy females would gladly quit a life so humiliating, so uncertain in its emoluments, and which continually subjects them to the arbitrary will of others; (even of those of their own sex, with whom, for the common purposes of life, they are necessitated to associate;) there can be no dispute, speaking generally: that to be restored to society on the footing of others, they would make almost any sacrifice, the experience of those who have carefully enquired daily proves: but the despair of ever attaining such a situation, may be easily supposed to accompany the wish, when even those, who most of all desire to serve them, know not how to overcome the innumer able obstacles which pride, prejudice, levity, even virtue, place in the way! Shunned by their own relations from resentment for the shame brought on them, and repelled even by the virtuous, from a false sense of shame; despised by men because their ruin is too complete; shunned by their seducers as objects they are satiated with; preyed on by their own sex for profit; hunted by the civil power; disease, punishment, an hospital, a jail, ever before them; their health decaying, their beauty fading, (that fair and fatal fruit that has wrought death into their hearts;) consider all these motives, and let any one ask himself, if among these most unhappy creatures, created by the cruelty of man, there can be any who would not gladly shake off all this impurity and sorrow to be again a respected member of that society she now disgraces, and daily in jures to her own personal injury.

Grant us but this, and we ask no more, to enable us to prove that this end may, without much difficulty, be obtained, and hundreds restored to their families, themselves, their country, and the Christian church; becoming, probably, good wives, tender mothers, and useful mem.. bers of the state: for a female, once embarked in this degrading commerce, may truly be said to have cast away hope. along with shame; she knows that it is not a permanent maintenance, even in the beginning, and affords no prospect but absolute want in the future, even should life be prolonged against proba bility. Any one, therefore, who pre sents her with the olive branch of peace from society, must be hailed as a real friend, and received with gratitude, espe cially if she is not far advanced in her thoughtless

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