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perhaps a matter of belief with fome of the old fchool, has been more efpecially obvious to the meaneft capacity durit g thofe months of this year which the Almanacks, and the Almanacks only, have agreed to call Summer. Thoufands have been deprived by inceflant rains of the only means of gratification for which nature and education feemed to have fitted them, and have often been furioufly contending between alroad and home, as we have heard of armies pent up between the enemy behind and the fea before, where force was ufelefs, and flight impoffible. Surely not lefs perilous is their fituation, when a torrent of rain begins to pour down, who confider a mob as fociety, and home as an inhofpitable defert.

When we contemplate the powerful influence of curiofity, and the effect it has to depopulate our houfes and fireets, and cover our fields and roads with human beings, waiting patiently for many hours to look up to an object which probably in a few minutes will elude their fight, we muft furely lament that this vaft crowd fhould be produced in a climate fo unfit for their existence, or that human felicity, under fuch circumfiances, fhould not have been made water-proof by the dexterity of fome ingenious Projector. One amufement after another, in trembling fuccellion, has been announced this fummer for public view; and "all the world" has Bocked to fee it; but, juft when all the world" expected to be gratified, a deluge of rain has interrupted between them and the object, and they have been precipitated back to a premature home, with no other refource for the reft of the day than to change their apparel, and to tell of their difirefs.

Amidft this general calamity, this perpetual recurrence of difappointment, this wringing of hands and of cloaths, the author of the PROJECTOR is not afraid of being thought felfifh when he announces, that he has enjoyed fome advantages which are not always to be met with, and that he has turned the misfortunes of others to the benefit of his own fpeculations. The fluctuations of hope and difappointment which my neighbours and friends have experíenced, have afforded me many choice opportunities of meditating on the pallion of curiofity, by obferving the various objects which excite it, and the different influence of each; and, by

ftudying thefe trying cafes, I have acquired that knowledge which would have been impoffible in a more favour able feafon. It is well known that, in order to confummate our skill in any diforder to which the fpecies is liable, we must refort to the places where it is moft prevalent, as young phyficians go to New York for the yellow fever, and to Conftantinople for the plague. In like manner for many weeks paft, wh le a dripping and a drenched publick was patling by, I have been from my windows making dry reflections on the power and effects of curiofity,

Curiofity is, I believe, generally allowed to be the ftrongest and most lafting of our paffions; the ftrongest, probably, because it is not refifted by any confiderations which prevail with man kind in other cafes, fuch as the danger of watting health, time, or money; and the moft lafting, becaufe, of the crowds who indulge it, the aged are by no means an infignificant proportion.

To these characterifiicks I would add, that it is the most impartial and indif criminating of all our paflions; it makes no diftinétion of place, person, or object; and this I mention, not as altogether a new difcovery, but to reprefs the pride of thofe who have the honour, as they call it, to raife curiofity; and who, having counted the number of fpectators, are ready to flatter themselves that they have a majority "on this day's gaze." The candidate on the hutings may proudly eftimate his popularity by the number of men, women, and children, who are gaping and liftening to him, rending the air with huzzas, or drowning the voice of his opponent with hiffes; but he ought to reflect, that it is more than probable that, mutatis mutandis, he would be equally popular on the feaffold, or in his way to the gibbet. The difference, indeed, in point of curiosity, between an election and an execution, is fo very finall, that it requires the aid of extremely nice calculation to afcertain it. The proprietor of a balloon may alfo think that he has got the world on his fide, when he fees a populous city emptied into the fields and highways; but he ought to remember, that, of the vaft crowds who are looking up to him, one half have probably juft returned from feeing a man ftand in the pillory, and the other half from feeing a thief whipped round Towerhill.

Thefe

Thefe are circumftances of a very humiliating kind; but yet fuch is the confitution of curiofity, and fo impartial are its impulfes The feers of fights" have but one fenfe to gratify, and that fenfe fo very comprehentive, and fo little apt to make faftidious diftinctions, that they will follow a wife man or a learned pig in equal numbers; and press with the fame eagernels to behold an eminent character, whether he be in a triumphal chair or at the tail of a cart, whether he be coming into place or going out of the world. Proceffions are always in great demand with the curious; but have fo little connexion with the thinking faculty, that it is very feldom enquired what the nature of them is, or whether a preference ought not, in fome cafes, to be given to one over the other. We obferve the fame number collected to view the march of a regiment, and the proceffion of a parish feast, equally enlivened by marrow-bones and cleavers as by clarinets and horns; and the fuccefsful candidate, who rides triumphant on men's thoulders, and harangues an applauding populace, knows full well that he could raife the fame number next day by promifing to ftand upon his head, or dance on the tight rope.

And this leads me to remark, that curiofity is not only the molt impartial, but perhaps the most courageous of our appetites. But it is not neceflary to prove this, otherwife than by an ap peal to thofe whom the unfavourable weather of June and July did not ter rify from the rifks which it added to the peculiar dangers of riot. The proportion of females in our mobs is an additional proof, if any were neceflary, that curiofity is a paffion of great forti tude, and the only one that appears to be of no fex. On this fubject, however, it inuft be remarked, that although the ladies of high ton are more expofed to the weather than the gentlemen, they are not fuch extenfive fufferers in the article of wet cloaths, as before the tripping fashion was im ported from France.

Having made these few remarks on the nature of this difcafe, it would per haps be the business of a Projector to fuggett fome care for it; and a corre fpondent has, indeed, hinted at my duty on this occafion; and, while it is no difgrace to fail in that in which no man has fucceeded, I may be indulged in fome whims on the fubject. As to giving advice, however, to curious perfons, which my correspondent recommends, I really know not how Thofe, therefore, who provide ob. that can be performed with effect. Even jects for public curiotity have no great when I cenfure curiofity as being in reafon to be proud of their fucceis, and difcriminate, I muft own I am acmay, perhaps, rom thele prenfes, de- quainted with no rules by which it rive confolation for the want of it. Cu- can be rendered more difcerning, or rio y feeks objects for no other reafon inore nice in the choice of its objects. than that u may fay it has found thein; To grave men, indeed, fitting in their and the grand ambition with molt is to clots, there may appear a difference be able to affert that they have seen the between a balloon and a boxing natch, fight, and to tell the difficulties which a pillory and a proceffion, an election embarraffed them, the many hours and an execution, a ball-baiting and a they had to wai, the dangers they ran common-hall, a meeting of politicians from the crowd, of which they never and a fet of fireworks; but I know of difcover that they make a part, and the no means by which the comparative efrapes they effect from the eagernets merits of these objects can be made oband impertinence, the jofiling and bufi-vious to the devotees of curiofity. They ling, to which they unconsciously contribute. If to this a few bruifes or a broken limb can be added, they are regarded as honourable fears, and as fomething that may hereafter ftop a gap in converfation; and fo far are thefe circumftances from operating as precautions, that they commonly act as the molt powerful incentives. Never does curiofity prompt with greater effeet to crowd to any place in order to fee a fight, than when the chance is that accefs may be impoffible, and the object invisible.

cannot be brought to comprehend the minute diftinétions which the parties concerned in thefe exhibitions have eftablished in their own favour, from the vain hope that they may acquire a preference in the eye of the populace which, however, as already stated, to the great mortification of their vanity, they never have acquired.

I confider any attempts, therefore, of this kind, as doomed to be unfuc cefsful; but, as fomewhat feems to be expected by my correfpondent from ane, I fhall relate a project of my own,

which I adopted during the whole of the rainy featon, and which I have found effectual in my own cafe, and that of a few friends whom I prevailed upon to follow my example.

My rule, then, is imply this: I determine to enjoy all out-door amufements, during a rainy featon, by proxy, and to fee all fights by the eyes of other people. This may appear a little paradoxical; but I can affure my readers that it is one of the most fimple preferiptions that can be taken, and at the fame time one of the most efficacious in preventing all the inconveiencies of curiofity. The medium through which I view all public fpectacles is that common machine called a new paper; and from repeated experiments, as well as the information of my friends, I can aver without hazard of contradiction that fights feen through this medium are far more "fublime, delightful, enchanting, enrapturing, captivating, and unspeakable," &c. than by the naked eye. By indulging my curiofity, therefore, the morning after a fpectacle of any kind has been prefented, I not only obtain a more full view than my own eyes would have furnished, but I am confidently affured 1 fee fomewhat more than the reality, and at the fame time enjoy the picturefque fancy, and copious inventive powers of the relater. Nor will this method of frequenting public amufements appear to very new as fome may fuppofe, when it is recollected that we are in this only following the example of thofe great travellers who explore every part of the globe in books, and endure the fatigues and enjoy the pleasures of fea and land, mountain and valley, without ftirring out of their libraries.

Such is my fcheme: and if the fimplicity of it does not offend, for perhaps fomething more myfterious was expected, I can now very confidently add that it is attended with fome very confiderable advantages, which will thew it to be both economical and falutary. A very great faving is hereby made in the article of time, which I have always looked upon to be of great value, becaufe no man knows how foon it may become fearce. It is not nany weeks ago that, in the courfe of the short hour allowed to breakfast, I beheld all the glories of a review at Wimbledon, an election at Brentford, and a trial at a country alfizes, which, to those who will neither delegate nor poftpone their

curiofity, must have cost at least a whole day. Another great advantage of my scheme is, that it enables me to fee fights in fafety; I am not liable to be fqueezed in a crowd; no ditch is behind, into which the mob may precipitate me; I run no rifk from the prancing of the horfes; I am in no fear of featfolds breaking down; I am not particularly anxious to fecure a coach, or to claim the protection of a pent-house; and my refreshments are at hand, and may be taken without impediment.

If thefe advantages can be proved to refult from my plan, it is certainly worthy of a trial; but, as popular prejudice may run high againfi it, I with to remove that obftruction of all improvement, by recommending to my readers a few reflections on the ufe of feeing fights. I would have them enquire of thofe, who during their lives have been confiant gazers, how far human happiness is actually concerned in the matter; whether most of the duties of life may not be performed, without allowing our eyes to get the better of the reft of our fenfes; and whether all the purpofes of focial enjoyment might not be answered, were men to aflemble together in lefler parties than what confiitute a mob. And to fuch as are apt to feel with peculiar acuteness the difappointments of a holiday, I would fuggeft, that in the courfe of human life there are greater privations to be endured than abfence from a balloon, or a failing match; that there are mitfortunes to be furmounted which may latt longer than wind or rain; and that thofe fpectacles only can apologize for voluntary fatigue and danger, which have fome tendency to enlarge our vir tue, or improve our understanding.

THE coin drawn by B. J. B. (Plate 1. fig. 5.) is an angel of Henry VIII. fomewhat different from that exhibited by the Society of Autiquaries as ftruck in his 34th year.

þENRICS 8. D. G. AGL. FRÃ. Z. þIB. REX

Henricus 8. Dei Gratia Angliæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ Rex.

The archangel Michael piercing the dragon.-Reverfe, a fhip under fal with the crofs for maft; and on a fhield the arms of France and England. Over it, and a rose for mint-mark. PER CRVCE тVÄ' SALVÃ. NOS. XP. REDE. crucem tuam falva nos, Chrifte Redemptor,

Per

Mr.

Mr. URBAN,

THE

July 20.

HE inclofed paper was written, in a mon ent of difappointment and chagrin, on my return from a trial of the Pix (in 179-), where I had been taught to expect much information from the Charge. Other affairs, however, unquestionably more important, had, I prefume, occupied the attention of the noble Lord who prefided ; for his fpeech was fhort, and indicated but little acquaintance with the fubject. What you now receive was intended to fhew that fomething rather more important might have been faid. R. A Charge which was Nor delivered at a late Trial of the Pix. GENTLEMEN,

You have been fummoned to the exercife of a duty of great national importance, and inferior only to that by which you decide upon the lives and fortunes of your fellow-fubjects. You are this day to act as the guardians of the lawful coinage of your country, and to fee that its integrity has been carefully preferved.

In the courfe of your inquiries, you will find ample reafon to contemplate and venerate the wifdom of our anceftors, who have, by the mode of trial now committed to your care, guarded with fuch jealoufy an operation of great nicety, and of the highest concern. But your admiration of their fagacity will be ftill increafed, when you learn that yours is not the fole teft to which the money is fubjected, though it is the laft, and the moft folemn, and, indeed, conclufive in its decifion upon the purity of the coins.

Before the bullion is delivered to the Moneyours, it pafles through a very firict aflay, and, when it is formed into money, cannot be delivered until it has been pronounced to be ftandard by the King's Aliay-mafter. It is then fubinitted to the examination of a number of perfons, who from their profeffions must be well qualified to decide upon it, and whofe fituation in life is fuch as to render their teftimony unexceptionable, and who are bound to return a true verdict by the folemn oath which you have juft now taken.

The origin of this mode of trial, Gentlemen, is of high antiquity. I have not been able to trace it to its inftitution, but an infiance of it is on record in the 9th or 10th of Edward the First, GENT. MAG. Auguft, 1802.

at which time the King commanded, by writ, the Barons of the Exchequer to open the boxes of the Affay of London and Canterbury, and to make the affay in fuch manner as the King's council were wont to do; from which words may fairly be inferred that the manner was well known, and of common ufage.

It was formerly, though not origiginally, made once in every year, but in 1651 it is found to have been only when the flate pleafed †; and of late years has, I believe, never been used except upon the appointinent of a new Mafier of the Mint, when the old one applies for it in order to obtain his Quietus. I could wish the antient cuftom of an yearly trial were again reforted to, or at least that every confide rable delivery of money fhould be followed by it, and for this reafon. In the prefent mode many millions are fent into currency, for the purity of which the country at large has not the fecurity of a public and open examination, but merely the private trials made within the Mtnt, in the prefence of thofe only who are interested in the depreciation of the money. The conftitution of the Mint, it is true, is exprefly formed to prevent combinaions amongst its officers, whofe duties and whofe accounts are perpetual checks upon each other. But in every thing which concerns the State, not only the probability, but even the finalleft degree of poffibility, of fraud ought to be guarded againft. If the officers individually do their duty, the private trials of the Mint are moft amply fufficient. But, were they to fall from their integrity, and to combine for the purpofe of defrauding the publick, the length of time which is now fuffered to elapfe between the trials of the Pix would afford them ready means for accomplishing their purpofe. I muft not here be understood as intending to caft the lighteft reflection upon the characters of the prefent officers of the Mint, whofe integrity and accuracy of workmanship are fo well known to all who have ever attended thefe trials, that this my prefent caution would be totally fuperfluous, were it not poffible that fome pertons may now hear

Madox's Hift. of Exchequer, vol. 1.

p. 291.

+ Anfwer of the Moniers to Blondeau, p. 25.

п.е,

me, who are unacquainted with the manner in which the bufinefs of the Mint has of late years been conducted.

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Gentlemen, The Pix, which will be delivered into your hands, contains coins taken at hazard from each journeyweight, as it is technically called, of gold and filver. A journey of id is fifteen pounds, from which pieces are to be taken, one for the Pix, the other for the private Aflay. A journey of filver weighs fixty pounds, and two pieces, at the leaff, are to be taken from it, to be applied to the fame purpotes; and they are inclofed in papers fealed by the Matier, Warden, and Comptroller. Thefe different parcels of money will be again mingled together by you, in order to take, without any poflibility of felection, a fufficient quantity for the operation of the aflay. This has ufually been the weight of one pound. But I inuft fubmit to your confideration, whether there may not be a propriety in increafing the number of pieces which are to be fet apart for the trial, whenever the deliveries fhall be fo many that one pound weight will not afford a poffibility that each delivery fhall have contributed its fpecimea; as otherwife fome, and according to the prefent mode very many, of them muft neceffarily be overpaft without any trial. It appears, from the Red Book of the Exchequer, that in antient times this particular circumftance was not overlooked.

In order that a certain and adjufted meafure thould not be wanting with which the purity of the coins might be compared, fandard pieces of gold and filver have been made, at various times, by perfons fworn to execute them of the requifite fineness. The gold of 23 carats 31 grains fine, and half a grain of allay, and the filver 11 ounces two penny weights fine, with 18 pennyweights of allay; both thefe are called the old tandard of England.

Proper portions of the particular ftandard pieces which are fpecified in the indenture under which the Mafler has acted, will be delivered to you, by which you will examine the monies contained in the Pix, and determine whether they come up to, or fall fhort of, the regular standard. You will likewife attend to the weight of the feveral coins, as required by the indenture, which will be read to you.

As, however, no work of human art can be expected to reach abfolute perfection, it is wifely ordained, that a certain quantity, either of fineness or of weight, or of both taken together, fhall be allowed to the Mafter below the abfolute ternis of his indenture. This allowance is called the Remedy and is 1-6th of a carat in the pound weight of gold, and two pennyweights in the pound of filver; and if the deficiency does not exceed these weights, the money is deliverable.

When thefe allowances were origi nally established, they probably were abfolutely neceflary on account of the rude and imperfect manner in which the butiness of the Mint was conducted. But the art of coining has now reached fuch perfection, that later trials of the pix have fhewn them to be much greater than at this time are required: and it is highly creditable to the skill and the integrity of perfons employed, that they have not taken that advantage which the ftrict letter of the indenture might have allowed, but have formed the money with the utmost precifion, both as to weight and finenefs.

By the efficacy of thofe laws which regulate the Mint, our coins have retained a purity of ftandard unequalled by any other nation. From the time of Edward the Firft (and probably much earlier) to the present day, there have been no variations in fineness, except during one difgraceful period, which extended through part of the reign of Henry VIII, and the whole of the reigns of Edward VI. and of Philip and Mary. The fhortness of the two latter reigns, conjoined with other circumfiances, probably prevented

that reformation of the coin from then taking place, which was afterward effected by the wifdom and fpirit of Elizabeth, inmediately upon her acceffion to the throne. Of fuch importance did that enlightened fovereign confider the integrity of the coins, that, when he had compleated the reformation of the fandard, the boafted that he had now deftroyed the monster which had fo long ravaged her king dom.

The weight of the money has not continued fixed like the fineness, but has, from neceflity, varied with the value of bullion; for gold and filver, being articles of commerce, will fluctuate in price according to the quanti

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