Thro fome accidental miftake the plan of Biddiford, which we intended, could not be goe We are obliged to Shakespearianus for his ingenious remarks, but defire him to excuse our not Receipts for collecting the LAND TAX and WINDOW LIGHTS, are given Gratis From the GAZETTEER, Nov. 16. REMEMBER, on 2 gentleman's once expreffing furprize in company how ridiculous cuftoms and fashions could A be made to prevail, a very fenfible lady obferved upon the fubject, that coxcombs and coquets were the first to fet examples, which the weak and vain are always ready to follow: And that they make, together the number for establishing a mode fo great, that people of understanding are always forced, in the end, to B comply with it, to avoid the appearance of being obftinate, affected or particular. This obfervation will appear to be juft, from the modes, manners, and practices of the people of this island. Heaven has endowed us with good natural understandings, which we ourselves feem induftrious to abufe. Feijoo, an eminent Spanish author, delivers it as his opinion, that the Almighty has endowed all nations with an equal portion of capacity. However, he adds, if any one people upon the face of the earth has an advantage in that particular over the reft, it certainly is the English. There is no occafion, in fupport of this honourable opinion of our country, to D urge more than that it is evident, beyond a doubt, England has produced men that have carried the knowledge of most of the grand fciences, and the practice of moft of the noble arts beyond those of any other nation. But let me here lament, that the time for producing fuch E genius's in this nation, feems now to be at an end; and we appear to bid fair to furnish good grounds for establishing an opinion of our capacities directly oppofite to that of the Spaniard, I have now mentioned. November, 1754. So much for our understandings. I now beg leave to obferve, in regard to our perfons, that we are, as a nation, univerfally allowed to have good ones. The Spaniards and Portuguese, fay, in point of beauty, that our men have the advantage of the ladies. The French and Italians, with a much greater appearance of reafon, affert directly the contrary. As to the more northern nations, I do not think their opinions either way much worth regarding; because they are commonly pronounced to be greatly deficient in true tafte. So that I fhall take upon me to affert, from the authorities already given, that to both fexes the preference for perfonal excellence, is, in general, adjudged to our country. Taking, therefore, to ourselves, with due modefty, the praifes that other nations beftow on us for our perfections of mind and body, I will, without fear of offending decency, peremptorily add another boaft we have to make above all other kingdoms upon earth; which is of the noble natural rights, precious freedom, reasonable independence and happy fecurity that we enjoy from our equitable and excellent conftitution. Bleffed, therefore, with fuch advantages, and happy from fuch valuable enjoyments, is it not folly in the laft degree, from wantom wim and reftlefs caprice, for us to be folicitous to adopt the modes, manners and misfortunes of nations confeffed to be our inferiors. A famous picture or a coftly ftatue, an elegant villa or a refined behaviour, are acquifitions not unworthy the emulation of Britons. But I would have Britons remember they have better poffeffions to value; and alfo to reflect, that Frenchmen and Italians have not. Refined politenefs is, very often, little more than refined fervility. We fhould, therefore, even in our manners, Ppp2 be 484 MUSICK, DANCING, and CONCERTS. be cautious of never paffing the bounds Mufick affords an innocent and pleasing amufement; and dancing is an agree able accomplishment. But the true ends of thofe acquifitions feem to be forgot in Britain: For we have imported from abroad a very falfe and pernicious tafle both in one and the other. B Mufick is, for example, from nature and reafon, calculated for a relief to the mind from ftudy and care: And in private practice, is much more elegible than publick. It never was intended by the great Author of wisdom to need any perfection from the impious deftru&ion of the virility of the human fpecies; or, in itself, to become the labour, principal attention, or great bufinefs of a people. Yet, how far, how fcandalously it has of late prevailed, as fuch, in our country, let the fhameful number of concerts now fubfcribed for in this kingdom, declare. And I cannot help obferving, to the re proach of the wisdom of the prefent age, that my countrymen feem not to reflect that musick, tho' one of the fine arts, is not one of the neceffary, great, and D ufeful ones to a state; nay, on the contrary, I must, in oppofition of the fashion, declare, it is most manifestly an effeminate one; and therefore dangerous in a nation of liberty. The abfurdities of dramatick entertainments, operas, as have been elegantly and fenfibly made apparent by the late celebrated Mr. Ad- E difon. And it is certain, a tafte deferves to be defpifed to the last degree, as Gothick, that in any shape contributes to fupport fo unnatural and ridiculous a divertion amongst us. All true taste and excellence have their foundations in nature; that of an opera, its fondest admirers muft allow, has not. Away then to the lands of effeminacy and flavery, with all falfe elegancies and refinements; and let us glory rather in being delighted with the great and manly productions and performances of a Shakespear and a Garrick. Dancing is fo far valuable, as it contributes to an eafy and genteel carriage, G a graceful deportment, or an innocent recreation; but in nothing else. Whoever remembers the dancing of Mrs. Booth, or Mademoiselle Salle, muft recollect they were exhibitions of graceful Nov. attitudes, and polite, decent and elegant manner. It is a fubject of just reproach to us, that we fubmit to be copiers in drefs and fashions, of the people of other countries: But as the coxcombs among us do, and ever muit, act under the influence of the ladies, I fhall submit the reformation of them to their direction; humbly, for the prefent, contenting myself to recommend my admonitions on this head to the more lovely, as well as fenfible, of what we call among us the gay world, or perfons in high life. And first, I fhall obferve, that French women paint to hide bad complexions; therefore I think it is not a wife imitation of ours, by doing the fame to fpoil good ones. Nature, helped by art, may, in fome points, be an excel- Elegant fhapes have always been reck- Neatnefs was another excellence that fet Englishwomen in a most fingularly agreeable light. To which pleafing end, good linen and a great deal of it about their perfons, in a very confiderable de gree contributed': But the difufe thereof in favour of dingy gauze. taudry ribbons, peten-lairs, negligees, facks, halt-facks and bed-gowns, as of late introduced in thefe kingdoms, for the general and publick wear of females, is an indelicate innovation; and fuch as would certainly have made their grandmothers been thought flatterns; nay, I am inclined to believe, even what is worse. Modefty was another allowed charac teriftick of the fair of Great-Britain ; which I think is a good deal given up in their use of male hair dreffers, and their methods of treating, as the fashionable phrafe is. For I heard fome of my own fex, who were frequenters of the polite places of rendezvous laft winter, fay, that 1754. Seafonable Advice to the LADIES. that abundance of fine ladies feemed induftrious to fhew a great deal more than was fit to be seen. The affectation of flighting a better language to talk French, upon many unneceffary occafions, is another fashionable, but abfurd and very ridiculous, folly. A In fine, I would humbly recommend to our ladies to correct themselves into true Englishwoman again, or boldly refolve to become complete French ones at once. And if they should refolve on the latter, and can be at a lofs for knowing what accomplishments are yet wanting for that wife end, I earnestly follicit their getting imported, with all poffible expedition, the following cuf- B toms, very effential for that good purpofe, as they are all I can collect which they are at prefent deficient in. 485 therefore, was very fhort: And the, on her toon after feeing the British minister, told him of what had paffed; adding to this effect: "I cannot bear the infolence of these faucy Frenchmen, who go into all countries and impudently fuppofe every body, in order to entertain them, is to be at the trouble of learning their language. I, for my part, from contempt of their affurance, am fully determined never to fpeak French any more. But as you have been fo complaisant as to learn to talk to me in my countrylanguage, I, in return, will endeavour to learn yours." And he proved as good as her wo d; for the immediately ap plied herself to the study of English, and, I have heard, now reads and understands it very well. Whatever the very obliging and complaifant English ladies may think of this behaviour, 1, for my part, must applaud it, as an infance of an honourable and well exerted fpirit: And the lady, I have C been we!! affured, is an exceeding wellbred one, and of no lefs quality than the blood-royal of that kingdom. 1. The free privilege of receiving in their beds all vifits, as well from their male as female acquaintance. 2. A fufficient number of male bedmakers and valet de chambers, for their own perfonal and particular fervice. 3. The right of lolling upon fellows, without controul, nay, of kiffing them, chucking them under the chin, and of fingering them as much in publick as they please 4. The free liberty of talking aloud in publick places of, and laughing at, the amours of men; and more particularly thofe of their own husbands. 5. The D full privilege of openly gartering up their Rockings in all publick affemblies, without being fo much as obliged to turn about towards the wall. And, 6. The free use of the jordan in all mixed companies whatever. Thefe valuable rights, added to thofe at prefent enjoyed here, will make our females as complete Frenchwomen in their manners as they already are in their drefs. Ladies that travel into foreign countries for amusement, or merely to gratify curiotity, may, I think, be fairly faid to Jaunch out of their proper element; it being a custom practifed by no women but thofe of England. And for them I F think it is in no fhape for their own particular benefit or credit; while to the nation it is great and manifest evil. It has been long allowed a stroke of refined policy in the French court, to endeavour a propagation of their language and cuftoms, in order the better to pave their way to univerfal monarchy. And fhall the English nation, above all others, difcover a difpofition to rivet the fetters of flavery on their own limbs? No; let us keep our coxcombs and our coquets at home, and at least not suffer such as they are to be the importers to us of infamy and ruin. To travel with the view of improving in neceffary and useful ftudies, is a laudable undertaking, an honourable em ployment. But to gratify a trifling curiofity, or to improve ourselves in folly, foppery and vice, are undertakings that fhould make every travelled Englishman defpicable, nay, hateful to his country men. REASONS for annexing the Isle of Man te the Crown of Great-Britain. From the PUBLICK ADVERTISER. N 12 Geo. I. c. 28. by an act then paíI have heard that when M. Chavigny fed, the lords of the treafury were pa went ambaffador to Lisbon, on his first vifit there to a very great lady, he addreffed her in his own language, with, Madam, I fuppofe you speak French? No, G Sir, faid the in Portugueze, I do not. Nor did the enter into any conversation with him, as he could not speak her Language, and the would not fpeak his, altho' fhe really was qualified to do with the utmost fluency. The vifit, powered to treat with the earl of Derby, and his heirs, for the purchase of all right to the Ifle of Man. And this act was founded upon the almoft impoffibility of preventing fimuggling from that Island, while it remained as a petty fovereignty in the hands of a proprietor. The late lord Derby, from fome notion he had formed of being able to leave the Inle 486 Confiderations on the ISLE OF MAN. on Ile of Man by will, would not treat The Isle of Man is fituate in the midft the noble proprietor's cuftoms in the Inland to lay before them their books of entries, for the last feven years, of goods; 999 parts of which, out of 1000, are fmuggled upon our coafts. Upon fuch an examination of thefe officers the whole fcene would come out. Nov. "They feized his men, who had taken pof'feffion of the dogger; and threw them into goal, where five of them lay long. The captain himself narrowly escaped, with two men and a boy, to Whitehaven; from which place he wrote his complaints to the commiflioners of the cuftoms. If thefe gentlemen were called upon by the House of Commons, not only for thefe papers, but also for fuch informations as they have received, for fome years past,' from the collectors of Whitehaven and Liverpool, and their officers in the Ifle of Man, no doubt could remain of the the abfolute neceffity of annexing this Ifiand immediately to the Crown of GreatBritain. Another pernicious practice, carried on by fome Irish fugitive papifts fettled in the Inland (who are countenanced and protected) is this: They enter tobacco in rolls from feveral ports in Great-Britain, for fome foreign parts, receive the drawback, then carry it to the lile of Man, and run it back again from thence to Scotland, England, or Ireland, and Wales. This must always be attended with perjury, a crime very little regarded by fuch perfons, who first cheated their own creditors, and then rob the publick. Here the customs are actually robbed of great fums of money. The Isle of Man is likewife a great deDtriment to the British diftillery. Moft of the ships that now go from Liverpool to Guinea, &c. touch there for their brandies, wines, and India, and other goods, &c. not of British manufacture. F Of late years, a new and destructive trade has been fet up by fome Irish papists, E who have cheated their creditors, and carried their effects to the file of Man ; and that is, by importing fuch quantities of teas and other India goods, as ought greatly to alarm the India company. Perhaps they do not know to what a height it is come; or else it is hardly pomble they fhould fit ftill, and not complain of whole thip loads of teas, and other India goods, brought in for fome years paft from Denmark, as well as Holland and France; and all smuggled apon our coafts. The captain of a cruifer, a few years ago, did venture to do his' duty, and attempted (as he was warranted to do by an act of parliament) to feize a Dutch dogger, valued at 12,cool. Sterl. which ran from him ahore upon the ifland, where he was bound. But the man found himfelf miftaken. Acts of parhament, and an English commiffion, could me: protect him in that petty principality. These and many other inconveniencies and mifchiefs arife from fuffering this Inland any longer to be, in a manner, independent of Great Britain. The remedy propofed is, to agree with the prefent proprietor to relinquith his right to the Ine of Man, and, in lieu of it, to grant him, and his heirs, an annual fum out of the cuftoms of England, for ever. And fuch an annuity will be a faving to the government of fome thousands a year, expended to very little purpofe in maintaining cruifers, and others, &c. to guard against its illicit and pernicious trade: And ten times the number will never prevent fmuggling from that Island This article alone cannot be less than 15,000 or 20,0ool. a year, including in this eftimation the officers in Ireland, who are kept there on the fame account; befides the lofs to the revenue, upon the moft moderate computation, of at lea 200,000 1. a year; and the lofs to the fair trader; and particularly the India Cumpany, which may be as much more. • See a MAP, &c. of this fiard, in January laft, p. 7, 8, The |