1806.) 
felves to the accidents fo pathetically de- 
plored by your correfpondent, thew, ac- 
cording tohim, thar we have caft off that 
extreme timidity which has ever been our 
reproach, ftill it muft be confeffed, that 
men, difdaining to be equalled, daily fur- 
pats us by braving dangers of the moft 
varied defcription and terrific magnitude. 
I thall, however, confine myfelf to the 
mention only of the principal ¢aufes that 
operate againft their tafety, and which may 
be comprehended under the heads of Dice 
and Dinners, the Chace and the Boitle. 
Wht confirms me in favour of this fe- 
lection is, that the pernicious habits in 
gueftion do not (like fome fickly exotits 
that breathe their malignant influence 
over the artificial regions of fafhion) 
{rink from all expofure to a rougher at- 
mofvhere, but areall, if not incigenous, 
at lealt fo well naturalized amongii us, as 
to threaten fhortly to overrun the whole 
ifland. Yet I might, perhaps; have been 
inclined to pafs in filence the mifchiets 
which refult from five-barred gates, and 
bumpers of brandy, fince they ferve ra- 
ther to weed than to injure the commu- 
nity, were it not that, to borrow the 
words of <* Philogunes,”’ I cannot béhold 
without a /Ludder (not indeed a fympathe- 
tic one) ‘he-hideous confequences that 
refult trom thence: bruifes, diflocations, 
pimples, carbuncies, and a Jong train of 
evils which ic were fruitlefs to enumerate 
—dotage, difeale, and brutality. 
It js well known what are the effects of 
Gaming, and that it generally terminates 
in the ruin, and often death, or in the 
fubverfion of every fentiment of -honour 
and principle of morality, of thofe who 
abandon themfelves to its infatuating in- 
fluence. 
With refpect to Dinners, it may feem 
fuperfluous to comment cn a fubject with 
which my countrymen, owing, doubtlefs, 
to their acknowledged predi!eétion for the 
more folid kinds of acquirement, are {> 
practically and profoundly acquainted. 
Itis, indced, but jultice to allow, that the 
firit of iciences has by them been ftudied 
con amore. 
that none can be profecuted without fome 
inconvenience, fo it has been perceived, 
thatio this the mott fearful] maladies lurk 
like ferpents beneath its flowery paths, 
ready to infufe their poifon into their 
bloated vigtims, who, however, with a 
Jaudable and charaéteriftic perfeverance, 
have never been difcouraged by this un- 
pleafant circumftance, and have accord- 
ingly greatly edified the world by their 
indefatigable refearch and diligent combi- 
i WwW 5 P 
Yet as experience evinces’ 
Male Vices oppofed to Female Foijies. ) ROR | 
nation. Yet one difcovery, it is to be 
lamented, has hitherto eluded the vigi- 
lance of the greatelt adepts, who feem to- 
tally infenfible that the dilguf& whichac- 
companies the exhibition of their powers 
is in others equal to that which followsit 
inthemfelves. But although this has re- 
mained hitherto a myfery, no one will 
venture to deny that fome of the firft per- 
fons in the nation are in this way remark- 
ably pre-eminent, Certain, however, it 
is, that no-pleafure, no bufinefs, can pro- 
ceed without a dinner; by this is fedi- 
tion fomented, or loyaliy confirmed ; by 
this magiftrares are inftalled and miniftries 
formed. Not long fince, on the occafion 
of a public event of great intereft, I found 
an old fiicnd in a very defponding mood = 
Kiowing him to be what in the country 
is confiiered a politician, that is a regu- 
Jar veader of newlpavers, I conjefured 
his diftrefs to be of a public natuie, and 
therefore demanded whether he had an: 
objection tothenew apnointments. No,” 
rephed he witha figh, ¢¢bur Iam convinced 
no change can be effected without much 
being {wallowed; and for one who, like 
me, waits with the greateft impatience 
the arrival of the papers, trembling jeft 
they and their bearer thould be fwallowed 
up in the furrounding bogs, it is rather 
fad to read of nothing but dinners in 
which one cannot partake, and patriotic 
toafts in which one has no opportunity of 
joining. The public good, is however, 
dear to me, and I hope ere long the vi- 
'gorous meafures which we truft will now 
be adopted, may procure the nation fuck 
fucce{s as fhall fet us a-feafting all rhe 
kingdom over. In which patriotic wifh 
we all acquielced. 
But/in favour of predominant abfurdi- 
ties, arbitrary cuftom will doubtiefs be 
pleaded 5 yet if this be allowed any ex- 
cule for the habitual vices of men, fafhion 
furely may extenuate the fl ghter follies of 
women. -Cuftom, which has often the 
force of neceflity, condemns the widows 
of India to a painful deaths; and fhall 
not convenience, Cleanlinef{s, and elegance, 
added to that noble obje&t fo much infitted 
on. by iegiflators, the encouragement of 
national manufaétures, be deemed ade- 
quate reafons for the dangers to which wo- 
men expofe themlelves, and which, inftead 
of involving their families in diftrefs, and 
covering them with fhame, can injure 
them(felves alone. 
Tothe general ufe of our cotton-manu- 
factures may be, in a great meafure, 
afcribed the perfection they have attained ; 
and on their fuperior excellence materially 
depends 
