£799.) 
a bond for the young and gay. And even 
they, who in the firft effervefcence of reli- 
gious zeal, find themfelves delighted with 
fociety, who reflect back the fentiments 
of their minds ; by continued collifion, 
difcover that nothing new can be ftruck 
out ;—uniformity at length tires ;—fo- 
cial feeling grows languid ;—and at lait 
they retire, each within his own domettic 
circle, into a ftate of contemplative and 
folitary enjoyment. 
In this place is a large and ref{pectable 
academy for diffenters, where young men 
are educated for the miniftry. It was 
eftablifhed at frft under Dr. Gifford, who 
was the lait diffenter in this country, who 
fuffered imprifonment for his religious 
tenets. Many able tutors have prefided 
over it fince his time ; among whom was 
the Rev. Mr. Newton, who was the anta- 
gonift of Harwood, known for his tran- 
flation of the New Teftament, and a trea- 
tife on;the various editions of the claffics. 
Mr. Newton was as much a diflenter froin 
principle as any man of his time: large 
overtures having been made him to 
enter into the church, whicn he con{cien- 
tioufly rejected. He was remarkable for 
mildnefs of manners, liberality of fenti- 
ment, and foundnefs of judgment, and did 
honour tohuman nature. At this academy 
“is an excellent library, enriched by the 
donations of many benefactors; among 
whom Dr. Lewellin is the chief. He leit 
alfo two exhibitions to the Univerfity of 
Aberdeen. The library of Mr. Newton 
was bequeathed to this inftitution. Here 
is befide, a large philofophical apparatus, 
with a good obfervatory, and a collection 
of foffils and coins, well worth the infpec- 
tion of the virtuofo. Among the curio- 
fities of this library, a miniature picture 
of Oliver Cromwell fhould not be forgot- 
ten, done by Cooper :—-for this it is faid 
the late Emprefs of Ruflia offered five 
hundred pounds. The prefent mafter of 
the academy is Dr. RYLAND, a man of 
refpectable talents, and for fimplicity of 
manners, and urbanity of difpofition, uni- 
verfally beloved. 
In Briftol is to be foundevery religious 
fe&t, from the fober quaker, to the vifi- 
onary enthufiaft of Swedenborg. Their 
places of worfhip exceed in number even 
the churches of the eftablifhment. Some 
of them are rather fuperb, particularly 
that belonging to the prefbyterians, where 
the Rev. Mr. EsTLin preaches. To a 
manly piety this gentleman unites deep 
erudition ; and has thus qualified himfelf 
to become an able defender of the Chriftian 
relig'on, both from the pulpit and the 
MonTuiy Mac. No xiv. 
State of Manners, Sc. at Briftal. 
369 
prefs. He keeps a very contiderable aca- 
demy in the vicinity of Briftol. 
Within thefe few years many large 
additions have been made to the city ; 
but, fince the war began, the building 
mania has ceafed. Its {quares exceed in 
beauty and extent any in the kingdom, 
out of London: and even there it would 
be difficult to find one equal in beauty 
to Portland {quare. 
But thefe are the abodes of the rich and 
voluptuous. They are cheerful, airy, 
and fpacious. What a contrat thould 
we behold, by turning our eyes to the jail 
of Briftol! where light and air ftruggle 
almoft in vain to get admittance. Tohoie 
who are deprived of liberty, fhould ftill 
enjoy the common benefits of nature. 
Nec folem proprium natura, nec aéra fecit. 
The abufes in the internal policy of 
prifons, and errors in their confru€tion, 
have been honeftly expofed in awork called, 
*“Complaimts of the poor,” by Mr. G, 
Dyer. He has entered into a minute invetti- 
gation of the fubjeét ; and thofe whodonot 
admire his political fentiments, may at leaft 
applaud his benevolent labours, & miti- 
gate by his hints, the fufferings of unfor- 
tunate delinquency. Mr. Howard indeed, 
has gone more at large into this fubje& ; 
but I doubt in many inftances the wifdom 
of his regulations, though not the benevo- 
lence of his intentiens. 
The fame objections apply to the hof- 
pital for the poor, as to the jail. The 
building is upon too narrow a {cale for 
the numbers that refide there. Many a 
Norfolk barn is larger: yet fifteen thou- 
fand pounds are annually collected from 
the inhabitants of the city, for its fup- 
port. The coarfe woollen manufactory 
has lately been introduced ; which an{wers 
two good purpofes, that of leffening the 
poor rates, and giving employment to the. 
idle. 
The public charities of the place are 
very numerous, and fpeak much the liber- 
ality of its inhabitants. Thole of Col- 
fton are truly princely, and furnifh the 
counting-houfes of the merchants with 
their bett clerks. One I believe is unique 
of its kind; it teaches blind perfons to 
work at trades, which require no other 
fenfe for their management, but that of 
touch—fuch as knitting, bafket-making, 
and netting. By thefe means, thofe un- 
fortunate beings are enabled to pafs 
through life, free from that painful va- 
cuity which the privation of fight muft 
otherwife neceffarily produce. It is to be 
wifhed, that fuch a truly benevolent in- 
3B ftitution 
