558 Query relative toa Legacy in Dr. Frankiin’s Will. 
The whole terminates with the anthem 
in D: 
«6 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and tri- 
umph in the name of the Lord our God. Hal- 
lelnjah.” 
This short sketch of the principal beau- 
ties of Joseph, is submitted to the judg- 
ment of the lovers of Handel, as a speci- 
men of an investigation into that expres- 
sive union of music and poetry which con- 
tributes te the heightening of beth. 
A more remote object also may be ob- 
tained from the enquiry: in such a clas- 
sification of the princzpal airs and clio- 
russes as the present criticisms will form, 
a very clear view will be given, how far 
Handel did or did not consider the choice 
of key as essential to the character of 
the piece. Even in this short analysis, 
the firm and composed melancholy in the 
key of E minor has been mentioned, and 
the brilliant effects of D major have not 
passed unnoticed. My present numerous 
avocations will not justify a hasty pro- 
mise, but it is my wish to continue this 
series reoularly through the Scripture His- 
tory, as jt is found in the works of Han- 
del. 
if, for the sake of technical memory, 
we might give this paiticular oratorio 
one decided term to express its general 
character, it seems to require no better 
than that of Resignation. 
Kensington Your’s, &c. 
Gravel Pits. J. W. Caxcorr. 
Se 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
AVING lately met with Doctor 
Franklin’s Lite, to which his will is 
annexed, my curiosity has been much 
excited relative to 2,000]. bequeathed in 
a codicil to the said will, 1,000!. to the 
citizens of Boston, and 1,000l. to the cor- 
poration of the city of Philadelphia, to 
be let out at interest at five per cer® in 
different sums, to such young artificers 
under the age of twenty-five, as had serv- 
ed an apprenticeship in the said towns, 
and were married. If any person can 
gratify my desire to know whether the 
said legacies are appropriated agreeable 
to the patriot’s will, through your 
justly admired miscellaneous collection, 
he will much oblige your constant rea- 
der. Tt 
Dublin, February 22, 1807. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monihly Magazine. 
REE, 
T must certainly be matter of gratiA- 
cation to the philanthropist, that, 
notwithstanding the animosity of parties, 
[July 3, 
and the exterminating conflict of nations,” 
there are yet those among men whose 
aim is the happiness'and the preservation 
of their species. Your. Correspondent, 
Common Sense, in his communication of 
last month, has made known an easy 
method of escaping from a house when 
on fire; and for which, I may venture to 
say, that no one of your readers will re- 
fuse him the commendation, or feel less 
than grateful. 
Permit me; Sir, through the same me-~ 
dium, to make a few remarks on the pro- 
bability of still further lessening those dan- 
gers to which our lives are daily exposed. 
*€ For, to know 
That which before us lies in daily life - 
Is the prime wisdom: whatis more, is famie, 
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, 
‘And renders us in things that most concern, 
Unprac’ised, unprepared, and still to seek.” 
People who do not consider how much 
their peace and safety depends on little 
things, will hardly be prevailed on to 
care about the security of their doors 
and windows, stoves, &c.; but I ‘would 
particularly recommend every master or 
mistress of a family to aecustom them- 
selves to arrange and secure their effects 
In such a manner, that in case of those 
too common and dreadful alarms, their 
lives and valuables might be® better pre- 
served from the hands of midnight rob- 
bers, or the ravages of fire; for it is more 
than probable, that when such calamities 
befall us, the perturbation of our spirits, 
and the want of time, will be fatal to our 
safety. How many valuable lives might 
have been saved by the precaution “of 
sleeping in rooms which are favourable 
to escape in such an emergency as 1s 
produced by fire, by the aid of a rope, or 
the alarm of a rattle!—On keeping the 
window free from the blockade of chairs, 
tables, flower-pots, &c. much of our safe- 
ty depends. 1 have always thought that 
a window is generally preferable to any 
other part to escape from, when our dan- 
ger is pressing, because from this part of 
the house we are conveyed at once iato 
the street; but, in cases of midnight 
alarms by “fire, by the time Jost in at- 
tempts to unlock and unbolt doors, to 
descend stairs, and dia through passa- 
ges, we may fairly conclude many a per- 
son has died the most terrible of all 
deaths! 
Dreadful as the alternative must be, I 
am yet inclined to believe that a leap 
from a window is often preferable to the 
more certain destruction by suffocation 
and fire; and though our neighbours 
should neglect to strew their beds to re- 
celve 
