Books an Englifs Ker fe... Wiech Female Society. ’ 
thay be prefumed, had not fallen in the 
way of that ingenious writer; but which 
are much tothe point, and are confidered, 
I apprehend, as pofleffing much merit. 
1. Two Tracts entitled, one, “* Ax 
Effay on the Power of Numbers, and the 
Principles of Harmony in Poetical Compofi- 
tion?” The other, ** Ax Effay on the 
Power and Harmony of Profaic Numbers : 
being a Sequel-to one on the’ Power of Nurm- 
bers and the Principles of harmony in Poetic 
Compojitions." 1749. Thefe pieces are 
anonymous; but it is well known that 
they were written by the Rev. John 
Mafon, M. A. author of .a Treatite on 
Self-knowledge, and feven volumes of 
Sermons, which met with good accept- 
ance ; and many years the relpectable mi- 
nifter of a congregation of Proteftant Dif- 
fenters at Chefhunt, in Hertfordfhire. 
2. * An Effay on the Harmony, Variety 
and Power of Numbers iu general: and 
another on thofe of ‘‘ Paradife Loff,” in 
particular; printed in a polthumous vo- 
lume of the ** Poems of the Rev. Samuel 
Say; for nine years minifter of the dif- 
fenting congregation in Prince’s-ftreet, 
Weftminfter. Thefe eflays have been much 
admired by perfons of tafte and judgment. 
The fecond was written at the defire of 
Mr. Richardfon, the Painter. The editor 
of both, and of the poems, was William 
Duncombe, Efq. youngeft fon of John 
Duncombe, Efg. of Stocks, in Hert- 
fordfhire, the friend of Archbifhop Her- 
ring.* 
3. * Obfervations on Poetry, efpeciaily 
the Epic: accafioned by the late Poein upon 
Leontdas.” ‘The name at theend of the 
preface, authorifes us to afcribe this piece 
to Dr, Pemberton, one of the Profeflors 
at Grefham College, from whence it ‘is 
dated; 9th May, 1738: author of a 
<* View of Sir Ifaac Newton's Philofophy,”’ 
and, if my memory be correét, the laft 
furviving friend of that great man. 
This communication, it is hoped, may 
be agreeable to both your correfpondents, 
and ierve to complete lifts of publications 
on Englifh verfification and profaic har- 
mony. 
I am, Sir, 
' Your conftant reader, 
Taunton, 16th Fan, 1798. Tr 
* See Archbifhop Herring’s Letters to W. 
Duncombe, Efq. p. 71, 72, dec. and the cor- 
re(pondence of John Hughes, Efq. in 3 vols. 
by John Duncombe; M,.A. v. x. p. 19. 2nd 
edition.. For fome Memoirs of Mr. Say, the 
seader is referred tothe ‘¢ Protefant Diffen- 
ters Magazine for Aiguft and September 1794. 
appointed by the ftewards. 
83 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
S female Friendly Societies (through 
. the philanthropy of the Britif la- 
dies) may probably become more general, 
I venture to fend you the outlines of a plan 
of one inftituted at Wifbech in the year 
1796; how far it may reach the benefit 
intended by fuch inftitutions, and how 
‘long the fund’ may be adequate to its 
needful outgoings, I leave to better cal~ 
culators to enquire; but the liberal relief 
it affords in cafes of child-bed; cafes, 
which, amoneft the lower orders of fo- 
ciety, call aloud for fympathy, will, I 
doubt not, incline the humane promoters 
of fimilar affociations, to give ita ferious 
attention. 
Honorary members at its infitution 7% 

Benented do. rar ae eee A So 
Total amount of cath, by donations 
and fubferiptions - - - - (214 14 
Difburfed to fick members = = 34. 9 
Balance remaining - - - 180 65 
The honorary members appoint annu- 
ally three or more {tewards, who are to 
vifit the fick, and carry their weekly al- 
Jowance, thele, with the fecretary and 
ftewards (for the time being) form a coms 
mittee, deemed competent to tranfacting 
the bufineis of the fociety. Each honorary 
member pays on admiflion 5s. for a 
printed copy of the rules 6d. and 6s. 6d. 
for a year’s fub{cription inadvance ; thofe 
benefited pay 2s. 6d. entrance, 3d. for a 
copy of the rules, and 6$d. the firft Mon- 
day inevery month, at any hour or place 
There is a 
{mall fine for non-payment, which is ap- 
plied to encreafing the fund. Annual and 
quarterly meetings are held, but the ex- 
pence of a dinner was thought unneceflary. 
Any benefited member, when taken ill 
or lame, and unable to purfue her ufuak 
employment, (provided her illnefs is not 
occafioned by miiconduct) is allowed 
3s. 6d. a week forthe firft month of her 
confinement, and. 2s. 6d. a week if her 
illnefs continues for a longer time. Mar- 
ried members, in cafes of child-bed) re- 
ceive regularly 5s. a week for one month, 
and 2s. 6d. a*week fo much longer as the 
ftewards judge neceflary. ‘Thofe who re- 
move from Wifbech, -are not entitled to 
any weekly allowance. 
The fum of 20s. is paid to any married 
member on the death of her hufband, and 
-5s.*for each of her children then living, 
under 14 years, upon fuch death being 
duly certified to the Newards. 
