220 
fhould affect land-holders in proportion 
to the extent of their occupation, and 
dand-owners alfo according to the fize in 
which they let their farms. . Nothing 
could be more juft, more eatily arranged, 
or more beneticial te the public, than 
fuch a regulation in the colleétion of 
the land tax, property tax, and poor’s 
rate. 
Tt would throw much light on the fub- 
ject, if a committee of the Houfe of 
Commons were appointed to enquire 
into, and report on, the number.of farms 
occupied by feparate families throughout 
England and Wales, which exift now, 
and which exifted twenty years ago, 
Similar reports might be made every 
three years; and if each feparate pro- 
perty were {pecitied which exceeded two 
thoufand acres, a fpirit of emulation 
mivht be excited among country gentle- 
men to be difimguifhed by the number 
of their tenantry, and by the compatt- 
nefs and mediocrity of their farms. Ue 
oughc to be. difiinguified as a benefactor 
to his country who fuffered none of his 
tenants to occupy more than two hundred 
and fifty acres of good land; and he ouglit. 
to contribute by proportionate taxation, 
who from indolence, mifplaced. conti- 
dence, or avarice, 
to be monopolized by drones and fpecu- 
lators. ; 
In conclufion, I warn the Legiature 
that regulations in regard to the poor 
will be of little ufe while the caute of 
the grievance is tolerated, and that it 
would be acting the part of a medical 
quack, who fhould palliate the {ymptoms 
of a difeafe, while the difeale itfelf was 
rapidly increating. 
In your next, I fhall crave the atten- 
tien of your readers towards another 
clafs of poor-makers ; namely, thofe ma- 
nufacturers who take numerous appren- 
tices to learn trades in which men are 
never employed! IL am, Sir, your old 
correfpondent,,. ComMon SENSE. 
Feb. 27, 1807. 
Pe 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
NEGLECTED BIOGRAPHY. 
DR. FORMAN. 
\IMON FORMAN, vifionary and af 
G trologer, was born at Quidhampton, 
pear Wilton, in Wiltfhire, in 1552. .He 
was troubled much with dreams and 
viions, fays Wood, at the age of fix 
years; and at eight he was placed under 
ene Rideout, or Ridear, a miuiter, who 
{according to the fame writer) had been 
Neglecied Biography, by Dr. Watkins. 
pernutted his eftate. 
originally a cobler. Of him Simon learnt 
Englih, and fomething of the acci- 
dence, which forming the extent of his 
tutor’s pretenfions, the lad was fent to 
the free-fchool in the clofe at Salitbury, 
the mafter of which was noted for his 
feverity. After.a ftay there of two years, 
he was put under one of the prebenda- 
ries of the cathedral in that city, named. 
Minterne, who, being a covetous perfon, 
would remove his wood from one place 
to another in his houte for the purpofe 
of warming himfelf, without being at the 
expence of making a fire; and the fame 
courfe of economy and exercife he ob- 
liged his pupil to take. In the winter of 
1563, Simon’s father died ; on which his 
mother, who it appears was of a very 
‘unfeeling difpofition, took her fon. from 
{fchool, and jet him to keeping fheep, 
plowing, and gathering fticks. 
At the age of fourteen he bound him- 
felf apprentice to a tradefman in Salif- 
bury, who followed feveral callings, and 
was both a grocer and drugeitt. 
His matier finding him afliduous and 
careful, committed the fhop almoft wholly 
to him; but Forman gave himfelf much 
to reading, for which he was reproved 
by his mafter, who took away his books, 
At that time, fays Wood, one Henry 
Gird, a kerfey-weaver’s jon of Crediton, 
in Devonthire, boarded with his mafter, 
and went to {chool at Salifbury; and 
Simon being his bed-fellow, he learned. 
all at mght which Henry had learned at 
{chool in the day. Though this increafe 
of knowledge was but little, it aflords a 
commendable example of diligence. A 
neivghbour’s daughter fell in love with 
Simon, who, however, was fo intent up- 
on his books as to treat her affeétion 
with indifference, Owing to a quarrel 
with his matier’s wife, his indentures, 
were given up before he was eighteen 
years old, on which he again went to 
{chool; but the want of means. obliged 
him to leave it. His induttry, however, 
had been fuch, that he was enabled to 
fet up as a {choolmafter, whereby he 
gained 40s. in his purfe.” With this fum, 
not a trifling one at that time, he went 
on foot with a companion to Oxford, 
where Simon became a poor fcholar in 
the free-fchool belonging to Magdalen . 
college. 
While at the univerfity, he formed ar 
intimacy with two of his countrymen, 
with whom ke mis-{pent his time in bunt- 
ing and other extravagancies. At two 
years ftanding, he quitted college and 
became a f{choolmatier; ftudying alfo 
afironomy, 
