608 
own ftyle, with this little alteration only : 
But becaufe human judgment is gradually 
- gaining upon certainty, though it never 
becomes infallible, and approbation, 
though long continued, &c. &c.”” 
Now, Sir, with all due deference to 
Mr. Collard’s logical acutenefs, I muft 
own, it is my decided opinion, that he 
has totally mifunderftood the turn of the 
argument in this fentence. Dr. Johnfon 
did not propofe to appeal from the judg- 
ment of a former to that of a latter pe- 
riod, but to claim the right and affert the 
propriety of privatejudgment at al/times, 
and of non acquiefcence in opinions, how- 
ever long eftabiifhed cr popular, without 
previous invefiigation. To render the 
meaning ftill more evident, let us fuppofe 
the {catence to be extraéted from the writ- 
ings of an author hoftile to the reputation 
of our berd.—Notwithftanding the judg- 
ment of fucceffive critics, andthe applaufe 
of fucceffive generations (Voltaire for in- 
{tance would have faid), I think it proper 
to fufpend my opinion, till I fhall have in- 
quired for’ myfelf by what peculiar excel- 
Jencies Shakefpeare has gained and kept 
the favour of his countrymen; becaufe 
human judgment, though it be gradually 
gaining upon certainty, ever becomes zz- 
falhible, and approbation, though long con- 
tinued, may yet be only the approbation 
of prejudice cr fafbiow.—Now the reafon- 
ing, whether coming from Johnfon or Vol- 
taire, is precifely the fame, though the ob- 
jects which they have in view are diame- 
trically oppofite; both are anxious that 
Shakefpeare’s own evidence alone fhould 
be admitted on his trial; the former in 
full confidence that the poet’s paramount 
merit would thereby be rendered more 
. con{picuous and impreflive; the latter 
with the hope of fhewing, that much of 
his fare refts on no other foundation but 
national prejudice and partiality. 
- Inaccuracies ‘of thinking or writing, 
when deteéted in any fpecies of compofi- 
tion, ought to be expofed for the improve- 
ment of criticiim; but ma treatife on 
logic, or the art of reafining, they deferve 
fiill more particular attentions: and on 
this ground the prefent article folicits ad- 
mifiion into your valuable mifcellany. 
Yours, &c. TNT BS 
May 20, 1799. | rae 
i 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
OT being ufed to 
infpection, I have need of your ut- 
moft indulgence for any: inaccuracies } 
Critique on Coliard—Briftol Houfe of Indufiry. 
write for public 
[ Sept. 
may be guilty of. Indeed I fhould not 
have dared to haye taken up the pen at this 
time, but that I felt it a duty to contradié& 
affertions made by your correfpondent A. B. 
on the Hofpital for the Poor «in Briftel.. 
I muft beg here to exprefs my furprife, that 
a gentleman, who certainly appears to 
be well informed on every other part of 
his fubjeét, fhould venture (on this) to 
exprefs himfelf from report ; for I think it 
impoffible he could have vifited the Houfe, 
or he would not have faid of it ¢¢ that 
light and air ftruggle almoft in vain to get 
admittance.” I feel an honeft pride in 
faying, that I have taken a very active 
part in its direction for upwards of three 
years pait, and during that peridd it has 
been in a progreffive ftate of improvement. 
Tt is within that time the manufaéture for 
coarfe woollens has been introduced, no- 
ticed by your correfpondent, not with a 
view to immediate profit, but rather to in- 
ftil habits of induftry in the rifing gene- 
ration. If A. B. has refided for any 
length of time in the city of Briftol, it is 
{carcely peffible but that he muft have 
known the prefent Direétors have conftant- 
ly expreffed a wifh, that their fellow-citi- 
zens would infpeét the improvements, and 
point out any others, they might wifh to be 
introduced ; an advertifement to this ef- 
fcét was fent to all the Briftol papers.— 
This Houfe of Induftry, as it is now 
called, is fituate on the banks of the river 
Avon: the tide flows immediately under 
its walls; the windows of moft of the 
wards look towards it, and from fome of 
them the profpeét is extenfive and beauti- 
ful, equalled by few, furpaffed (I had al- 
moft faid) by none. Having myfelf feen 
moft of the Houfes of Indutiry in this part 
of the kingdom, I have no hefitation in 
faying, however refpectably many of them 
are condudied, I never faw one more clean; 
more healthy, or in which the poor are 
better fed or better clothed. I am not 
informed what may be the dimenfions of a 
Norfolk barn; but, for the information of 
your ccrrefpondent, I direéted that the 
ground on which the hofpital ftands fhould 
be meafured, and find it to be, 227 feet i 
length, and 108 feet in width.’ There are 
four wards, each 53 feet by 213 three 
ditto 73 by 283 three ditto 54 by 21; 
three ditto 58 by 20; two ditto 67 by 18; 
and two ditto 39 by 213 befides thefe, 
there are many other rooms of lefs dimen- 
fions, with kitchens, brew-houfe, bake- 
houfe, cold and warm baths, furgery, apo- 
thecary’s fhop, and every other necefiary 
éonvenience for a houfe .of this defcrip- 
tion. The average number of the family, 
hore including 
