An ACCOUNT of the PUBLIC FUNDED DEBT of GREAT BRITAIN, as the same stood on the 1st of February, 1816.

UNFUNDED DEBT.

An Account of the UNFUNDED DEBT and DEMANDS OUTSTANDING on the 5th Day of January, 1816.

THERE is a natural tendency in man to reason up from effects that are, to causes that are not seen; and the "post hoc, ergo propter hoc," the "mere sequence," is, generally speaking, all that is considered as necessary to establish this connection. The farm er will seldom be difficulted to find out a cause for the rust in his grain; the gardener for the caterpillar, by which the fruits of his labour are so frequently destroyed; or the cornmerchant for a sudden rise or fall in market prices. This tendency to substitute guessing for science, as, sumption for fact, is still more prevalent, and certainly not less absurd, in instances where the causes assu med are more latent, or where the effect may be very plausibly referred to a combination of causes-in such instances, for example, as refer to the appearance of mankind, whether collectively or individually consideredas explain, or, to speak more properly, profess to explain, peculiarities in national or individual character. It was but a few evenings ago, that we were very much amused by a tea party conversation, which referred the present falling off in politeness of our modern Beaux to the introduc

tion of tea-urns; and we have heard of an Individual suspected of jacobitism, who roundly attributed the choaking up of the harbour at St Andrews to the accession of the Hanoverian Dynasty. It is not enough, that on such occasions our speculations be plausible, or, in other words, that, on a cursory view, the cause appear equal to the production of the consequences attributed to it-but we ought, in all fair and logical reasoning, to be able to prove an❝ alibi," of all other causes whatever, or to trace distinctly the bond of connection by which the two facts are united. In considering the present state of education in Scotland, in attempting to point out some of the causes to which that comparatively improved state is capable of being traced, as well as in suggested improvements, or in implied censure, it is certainly our aim to proceed under the chastening and corrective influence of these considerations.

That the great mass of the Scottish population are comparatively intelligent, and well informed, is not assuredly an unsubstantiated assumption, but an universally admitted fact. No stranger travels along our vallies, and

over our mountains, without being struck with the aspect of intelligence and reflection which our peasantry in particular exhibit; and upon entering into their cottages, and examining more narrowly into their attainments; the number, and the descrip. tion of the books, of which even the very poorest are, in general, possess ed, afford a pretty distinct presumption respecting the source whence this natural superiority originates. But how originates this taste for books, and this capacity of turning them to advantage? whence, in short, those intellectual and moral peculiarities which give distinctness, and freshness, and vigour to the national character?

The relation which nature has established betwixt child and parent-that filial affection, upon which repose so softly and so securely the grey hairs and the wrinkled brow-those ties, which, in our own land, are found to be so sacred, and so strong; amongst our southern neighbours are far less powerfully felt. This with them, arises not from any original or constitutional deficiency in point of natural affection, but principally, we believe,' out of that pernicious system of provision for the poor, which enables a child, whenever his parent is disinclined from, or incapable of working, to throw him entirely upon the church wardens' care. Thus the desire of repaying, or of acknowledging parent. al kindness, on the part of the child, is greatly weakened, and the fire-side connection, the social and quiet hour of home-intercourse betwixt years and youth, betwixt the past and the immediately succeeding generation, is, in many instances, unknown. Poorhouses, and other charitable establishments for the reception of the aged and the indigent, come down, like extinguishers, upon the better feelings of the heart, debarring the grandchild, and the niece, and the nephew, from

sharing the company, taking advantage of the experience, or clinging in childish fondness around the knees of age. In Scotland matters are happily, very differently managed. Here, it is no unusual thing to see a labourer struggling under a numerous family, and with no other sources of support than his own daily exertions, dividing his coarse and scanty fare among more mouths than can well be filled, and at the same time, reserving for his aged parent the arm chair," and "the nourishing meal," the all of comfort in point of dress, or of personal ease, which his utmost efforts can procure. Nay, so strongly operative is this principle of filial affection in our yet comparatively unadulterated land, that many a poor widow woman, without any assistance from the parish, not only contrives by her own exertions singly, to rear and educate her fatherless children, but preserves at the same time a roof over, and a pillow under the head of a helpless parent. Nor are these proofs of affection, and of an independent spirit, limited even to the termination of life, for there is a provision of linen in the corner of almost every cottage chest, which has long been appropriated to the decent habiliment of the body, when the blood may no longer circulate, when the winter fire may not warm, nor the summer sun cherish it. So great is the disgrace which still (notwithstanding the impolitic measures which have been adopted in reference to the poor in the counties contiguous to England) very generally attaches to the idea of parish support-and so high is the spirit of independence even amongst those apparently the most necessitous, that it is no uncommon thing to see many contributing their mite at the plate on Sabbath, who have much more occasion to solicit aid, than to confer it, but who are anxious, under this