1799 ] 
block in the way of all who have written 
on their marine affairs; it would be a 
great fatisfaction to the curious, to be pof- 
fefled of the opinion of fo eminent an en- 
quirer as Ifaac Cafaubon, on a matter fo 
much difputed ; efpecially as that opinion 
appeared fo fatisfactory to his fon Mertc, 
who muft have been acquainted with what 
had been advanced relating to it, by the 
various authors who had made the art of 
war of the ancients by fea and land the 
obje& of their refearches. 
I have therefore ventured to trouble 
you, Sir, with a requeft, that you will be 
pleafed, in your own way, and at your 
own conveniency, to invite your numerous 
learned readers and correfpondents to com- 
municate to you what they may know 
concerning any manufcripts of I/aac Ca- 
faubor on Polybius, fuch as the Commen- 
taries mentioned by his fon. 
That work muft (from the expreffion 
** Had my father’s Commentaries been fi- 
nifbed and printed)” have been very diffe- 
rent from the notes which accompany 
Ifaac’s tranflation of the above admirable 
hiftorian, and was probably among the 
papers of his fon Meric, many of which, 
and of his books, he fays in the work 
which gave rife to this application, were 
difperfed during the troubles in this coun- | 
try, before and after the death of Charles 
the Ths, '..: 
Dr. Meric Cafaubon refided much at 
Canterbury, where he enjoyed fome eccle- 
fiaftical preferment: he had alfo a living 
in Somerfetthire ; but in Canterbury, or in 
London, it is moft probable, that fuch of 
_ his books and papers, as were not difperfed 
and loft, remained. 
If the nature of my requeft is not in- 
confiftent with the plan of your excellent 
mifceliany, Mr. Editor, your noticing it 
in fome future number will particularly 
oblige Your moft obedient fervant, 
May 20, 1799. MoNANDER. 
P.S. Ina work publifhed feveral years ago 
by governor Pownall, an explanation is given 
of the opinions and experiments of general 
Melvilt on the external form and internal diftri- 
bution of the ancient Roman war-galley: but 
this is done in a way too fuccinét for the infor- 
mation of the generality of readers. Itisa pity 
therefore that the world is not favoured with a 
more ample and accurate account of the fenti- 
ments entertained on this fubject by a gentleman 
foeminently qualified to decide the queftion 
Suh judice, as general Melville mutt be allowed 
to be: for, notwithftanding the prefeni highly 
improved ftate of naval archite¢ture and tactics, 
as well as of the art of navigation itfelf, yet 
many ufeful practical hints might, deubt not, 
Common Polybius—Refeue from Proftitution. 
523 
be derived from a more perfect knowledge of 
the ideas which our great matters, the Greciang: 
and the Romans, pofleffed on thofe fubjectss 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, ue 
HE charitable inftitution propofed: 
in your valuable Magazine, p. 429,’ 
I fincerely hope will meet with the co-> 
operation and fupport of the benevolent ~ 
and affluent part of the nation; who, I- 
traft, by with-holding their patronage, will 
not faffer a plan to drop, which may even-. 
tually be the means of faving hundreds 
from the depth of vice and mifery ;—for 
T believe that hundreds of the unfortu- 
nate females who infeft our ftreets, at the 
commencement of their career in vice, 
would moft gladly have fheltered them- 
felves in a friendly afylum, and have glad- 
ly betaken themfelves, could. they have 
found the means, to an honeft employment 
and virtuous courfe of life *. They, in- 
deed, are objects of diftrefs, which, to the 
feeling mind, cannot but excite the moft 
poignant reflections. It is hardly pro- 
bable that innate depravity, or bad ex- 
ample, were the only caufes which have 
reduced them to this method of acquiring 
their livelihood. Other caules prefent 
themfelves to my mind. The inexorable 
and cruel feverity of parents in difcarding 
a female from their roof and protection, 
who has unhappily fallen a facrifice to the 
{nares of fome inhuman wretch, or who 
has perhaps offended them in a lefs feri- 
ous mamner, appears to me.to be one great 
fource of this evil. A female, thus de 
ferted and expofed to the wide world, is 
driven to defpair, and compelled to rufli 
into difipation which the at firft abhors, 
but which in time becomes familiar,° 
merely to fave herfelf from abfolute want. 
Another caufe may be found in the ill 
nature and favage tyranny of mafters and 
miftrefles, who fometimes difcharge fe- 
male fervants ata day’s notice, where no’ 
adequate caufe for {uch feverity can be af- 
figned, and afterwards refule to give them 
a character; or, if.they be compelled to 
Give it, itis given in fucha manner (and 
furely much depends upon the manner), 
that it becomes of little or no ufe. In- 
quire into the caufe of this behaviour, afc 
whence proceeds this fatal wrath >—Per- 


* See 6 Plain Fa&s, in Five Letters to @ 
Friend;’ printed for Jordan:—a pamphlet in 
which many fubjects relative to our police are 
difcufied with great ability, and with all thé ar- 
dour of a mind intent on the public good.’ 
haps 
