A Propoſal to prevent Murder, Diſho⯑nour, and other Abuſes, by erecting an Hoſpital for Foundlings.

IT is needleſs to run into a Declamati⯑on on this Head, ſince not a Seſſions paſſes, but we ſee one or more mercileſs Mothers try'd for the Murder of their Ba⯑ſtard-Children; and to the Shame of good Government, generally eſcape the Venge⯑ance due to ſhedders of Innocent Blood: For 'tis a common Practice now among them, to hire a ſet of Old-Bedlams, or pre⯑tended Midwives, who make it their Trade to bring them off for three or four Guineas, having got the ready rote of ſwearing the Child was not at its full Growth, for which they have a hidden Reſerve, that is to ſay, the Child was not at Man's or Woman's Growth. Thus do theſe impious Wretches cheat the World, and damn their own Souls by a double Meaning, which too often im⯑poſes on a cautious, merciful and credu⯑lous Jury, and gives wicked Murderers means to eſcape and commit freſh Sins, to which their Acquitters no doubt are acceſſary.

I wonder ſo many Men of Senſe, as have been on the Jury, have been ſo often im⯑pos'd [10] upon by the ſtale Pretence of a Scrap or two of Child-Bed Linnen being found in the Murderer's Box, &c. when alas! perhaps it was ne'er put there till after the Murder was committed; or if it was, but with a view of ſaving themſelves by that deviliſh Precaution; for ſo many have been acquitted on that Pretence, that 'tis but too common a Thing to provide Child-Bed-Linnen before-hand for a poor Innocent Babe they are determin'd to murder.

But alas! What are the exploded Mur⯑ders to thoſe which eſcape the Eye of the Magiſtrate, and dye in Silence? Add to this procur'd Abortions, and other in⯑direct means, which wicked Wretchesmake uſe off to ſcreen themſelves from the Cen⯑ſure of the World, which they dread more than the Diſpleaſure of their Maker.

Thoſe who cannot be ſo hard-hearted to murder their own Offspring themſelves, take a ſlower, tho' as ſure a way, and get it done by others, by dropping their Chil⯑dren, and leaving them to be ſtarved by Pariſh-Nurſes.

Thus is God robb'd of a Creature, in whom he had breath'd the Breath of Life, and on whom he had ſtamp'd his Image; the World of an Inhabitant, who might have been of uſe; the King of a Subject; and future Generations of an Iſſue not to be accounted for, had this Infant lived to have been a Parent.

[11] It is therefore the height of Charity and Humanity, to provide againſt this Barba⯑rity, to prevent this crying Sin, and ex⯑tract Good, even out of Evil, by ſaving theſe Innocent Babes from Slaughter, and bringing them up in the Nurture and Fear of the Lord; to be of Benefit to themſelves and Mankind in General.

And what nearer, what better way can we have, than to erect and endow a pro⯑per. Hoſpital or Houſe to receive them, where we may ſee them tenderly brought up, as ſo many living Monuments of our Charity; every one of them being a con⯑vincing Proof of a Chriſtian ſaved, and a Murder prevented?

Nor will this be attended with ſo much Charge as is imagin'd, for we find in many Pariſhes, that Parents have re-demanded their Children, on encreaſe of Circumſtan⯑ces, and paid all Coſts with a handſome Preſent in the Bargain; and many Times when a Clandeſtine Marriage is clear'd up, and openly avow'd, they would purchaſe the Firſt-Fruits of their Loves at any Rate: Oftentimes a Couple may have no more Children, and an Infant thus ſav'd, may arrive to inherit a good Eſtate, and become a Benefactor, where it was once an Object of Charity.

But let us ſuppoſe the worſt, and ima⯑gine the Infant begot in Sin and without [12] the Sanction of Wedlock; is it therefore to be murder'd, ſtarv'd or neglected, becauſe its Parents were wicked? hard Fate of innocent Children, to ſuffer for their Pa⯑rents Faults! Where God has thought fit to give his Image and Life, there is Nou⯑riſhment demanded; that calls aloud for our Chriſtian and Human Aſſiſtance, and beſt ſhows our Nobleneſs of Soul, when we generouſly aſſiſt thoſe who cannot help themſelves.

If the Fault devolv'd on the Children, our Church would deny them Baptiſm, Burial, and other Chriſtian Rites; but our Religion carries more Charity with it, they are not deny'd even to partake of our Bleſ⯑ſed Sacraments, and are excluded no one Branch or Benefit accruing from Chri⯑ſtianity; if ſo, how unjuſt are thoſe who arraign 'em for their Parents Faults, and how barbarous are thoſe Parents, who, tho' able, make no Proviſion for them, becauſe they are not Legitimate: My Child, is my Child, let it be begot in Sin or Wedlock, and all the Duties of a Parent are incum⯑bent on me ſo long as it lives; if it ſur⯑vives me, I ought to make a Proviſion for it, according to my Ability; and tho' I do not ſet it on a Footing with my Legiti⯑mate Children, I ought in Conſcience, to provide againſt Want and Shame, or I am anſwerable for every Sin or Extravagance [13] my Child is forc'd or led into, for want of my giving an Allowance to prevent it.

We have an Inſtance very freſh, in every ones Memory, of an ingenious, nay, a ſober young Nobleman, for ſuch I muſt call him, whoſe either Father was a Peer, and his Mother a Peereſs: This unhappy Gentleman toſs'd from Father to Father, at laſt found none, and himſelf a Vagabond, forced to every Shift; he in a manner ſtarved for ma⯑ny Years, yet was guilty of no Capital Crime, till that unhappy Accident occur'd, which God has given him Grace, and Senſe enough-to repent: However, I can⯑not but think his hard-hearted Mother will bear her Portion of the Guilt, till waſh'd away by a ſevere Repentance.

What a Figure might this Man have made in Life, had due Care been taken? If his Peerage had not been adjuſted, he might at leaſt have been a fine Gentleman; nay probably, have fill'd ſome handſome Poſt in the Government with Applauſe, and call'd as much for Reſpect, as he does now for Pity.

Nor is this Gentleman the only Perſon begot, and neglected by Noble, or rather Ignoble Parents; we have but too many now living, who owe their Birth to the beſt of our Peerage, and yet know not where to eat. Hard Fate, when the Child would be glad [14] the Scraps, which the Servants throw a⯑way! but Heaven generally rewards them accordingly, for many Noble Families are become Extinct, and large Eſtates ali⯑enated into other Houſes, while their own Iſſue want Bread.

And now, methinks, I hear ſome over⯑ſqueamiſh Ladies cry, what would this Fellow be at? would not he ſet up a Nurſery for Lewdneſs, and encourage Fornication? who would be afraid of ſin⯑ning, if they can ſo eaſily get rid of their Baſtards? we ſhall ſoon be over-run with Foundlings when there is ſuch Encourage⯑ment given to Whoredom: To which I an⯑ſwer, that I am as much againſt Baſtards being begot, as I am for their being mur⯑der'd; but when a Child is once begot, it cannot be unbegotten; and when once born it muſt be kept; the Fault, as I ſaid before, is in the Parents, not the Child; and we ought to ſhew our Charity towards it as a Fellow-Creature and Chriſtian, without any regard to its Legitimacy or otherwiſe.

The only way to put a ſtop to this grow⯑ing Evil, would be to oblige all Houſe⯑keepers, not to admit a Man and Woman as Lodgers, till they were certify'd of their being lawfully marry'd; for now-a-Days nothing is more common than for a Whore-monger and a Strumpet to pretend Mar⯑riage, [15] till they have left a Child or two on the Pariſh, and then ſhift to another end of the Town.

If there were no Receivers there would be no Thieves: If there were no Bawdy-Houſes there would be no Whores; and though Perſons letting Lodgings be not actual Procurers, yet, if they connive at the Embraces of a Couple, whoſe Mar⯑riage is doubtful, they are no better than Bawds, and their Houſes no more than Brothels.

Now ſhould any Body ask, how ſhall this Hoſpital be Built? how endow'd? to which I anſwer, follow the Steps of the Venetians, the Hamburgers, and other fo⯑reign States, &c. who have for Ages paſt proſecuted this glorious Deſign, and found their Account therein: As for building a Houſe I am utterly againſt it, eſpecially in the Infancy of the Affair: Let a Place con⯑venient be hir'd: Why ſhould ſuch a con⯑ſiderable Sum be ſunk in building as has in late publick Structures, which have ſwal⯑low'd up part of the Profits and Dividend, if not the Capital, of unwary Stock-mongers?

To my great Joy I find my Project al⯑ready anticipated, and a noble Subſcription carrying on for this purpoſe; to promote which, I exhort all Perſons of Compaſſion and Generoſity, and ſhall think my ſelf happy, if what I have ſaid on this Head, may any ways contribute to further the ſame.

[16] Having ſaid all I think material on this Subject, I beg pardon for leaving my Rea⯑der ſo abrubtly, and crave Leave to proceed to another Article. viz.

A Propoſal to prevent the expenſive Im⯑portation of Foreign Muſicians, &c. by forming an Academy of our own.

IT will no doubt be asked, what have I to do with Muſick? to which I anſwer, I have been a Lover of the Science from my Infancy, and in my younger Days was ac⯑counted no deſpicable Performer on the Viol and Lute, then much in Vogue. I eſteem it the moſt innocent Amuſement in Life; it gently relaxes, after too great a hurry of Spi⯑rits, and compoſes the Mind into a Sedateneſs, prone to every thing that's generous and good; and when the more neceſſary parts of Education are finiſh'd, 'tis a moſt gen⯑teel and commendable Accompliſhment; it ſaves a great deal of Drinking and Debau⯑chery in our Sex, and helps the Ladies off with many an idle Hour, which ſometimes might probably be worſe employ'd other⯑wiſe.

[17] Our Quality, Gentry, and better ſort of Traders muſt have Diverſions; and if thoſe that are commendable be denied, they will take to worſe: Now what can be more commendable than Muſick, one of the ſe⯑ven liberal Sciences, and no mean Branch of the Mathematicks?

Were it for no other Reaſon I ſhould eſteem it, becauſe it was the favourite Di⯑verſion of his late Majeſty, of glorious Memory; who was as wife a Prince as e⯑ver fill'd the Britiſh Throne. Nor is it leſs eſteem'd by their preſent Majeſties, whoſe Souls are form'd for Harmony, and who have not diſdain'd to make it a part in the Education of their ſacred Race.

Our Nobility and Gentry have ſhown their Love to the Science, by ſupporting at ſuch prodigious Expence, the Italian Opera improperly call'd an Academy; but they have at the ſame time ſhown no ſmall Partiality in diſcouraging any thing Engliſh, and o⯑ver-loading the Town with ſuch heaps of Foreign Muſicians.

An Academy, rightly underſtood, is a Place for the Propagation of Science, by training up Perſons thereto from younger to riper Years, under the Inſtruction and Inſpection of proper Artiſts: How then can the Italian Opera properly be call'd an Aca⯑demy, when none are admitted but ſuch as are, at leaſt are thought, or ought to [18] be, adepts in Muſick? If that be an Aca⯑demy, ſo are the Theatres of Drury-Lane, and Lincolns-Inn-Fields: Nay, Punch's Opera may paſs for a lower kind of Aca⯑demy. Would it not be a glorious thing to have an Opera of our own, in our own moſt noble Tongue, in which the Com⯑poſer, Singers, and Orcheſtre, ſhould be of our own Growth? Not that we ought to diſclaim all Obligations to Italy, the Mother of Muſick, the Nurſe of Corelli, Handel, Bononcini, and Geminiani; but then we ought not to be ſo ſtupidly partial, to imagine our Selves too Brutal a part of Mankind, to make any Progreſs in the Science: By the ſame reaſon that we love it, we may excel in it; Love begets Application, and Application Perfection. We have already had a Purcel, and no doubt, there are now many latent Genius's, who only want proper Inſtruction, Appli⯑cation, and ENCOURAGEMENT, to become great Ornaments of the Science, and make England emulate even Rome it ſelf.

What a number of excellent Performers on all Inſtruments, have ſprung up in Eng⯑land within theſe few Years? that this is owing to the Opera, I will not deny, and ſo far the Opera is an Academy, as it re⯑fines the Taſte, and inſpires Emulation.

But tho' we are happy in Inſtrumental Performers, we frequently ſend to Italy [19] for Singers, and that at no ſmall Ex⯑pence: To remedy which, I humbly pro⯑poſe, that the Governours of Chriſt's-Hoſ⯑pital will ſhow their publick Spirit, by forming an Academy of Muſick on their Foundation, after this or the like man⯑ner.

That out of their great number of Chil⯑dren, thirty Boys be ſelected, of good Ears and Propenſity to Muſick.

That theſe Boys be divided into three Claſſes, viz. Six for Wind-Inſtruments, ſuch as the Hautboy, Baſſoon, and Ger⯑man-Flute.

That ſixteen others be ſelected for String-Inſtruments, or at leaſt the moſt uſeful, viz. the Violin and Baſs-Violin.

That the remaining eight be particu⯑larly choſen for Voice, and Organ, or Harpſichord. That all in due time, be taught Compoſition. The Boys thus cho⯑ſen, three Maſters ſhould be elected, each moſt excellent in his Way; that is to ſay, one for the Wind-Inſtrument, another for the String'd, and a third for the Voice and Organ, &c.

Handſome Salaries ſhould be allowed theſe Maſters, to engage their conſtant At⯑tendance every Day, from eight till twelve in the Morning; and I think a 100l. per Annum for each, would be ſufficient, which will be a Trifle to ſo wealthy a Body. [20] The multiplicity of Holidays ſhould be a⯑bridg'd, and only a few kept; there cannot be too few, conſidering what a hinderance they are to juvenile Studies. It is a vulgar Error that has too long prevail'd all over England, to the great Detriment of Learning, and many Boys have been made Blockheads, in Complaiſance to Kings and Saints, dead for many Ages paſt.

The Morning employ'd in Muſick, the Boys ſhould go in the Afternoon, or ſo many Hours, to the Reading and Writ⯑ing-School, and in the Evening ſhould practice, at leaſt two Hours before Bed⯑time, and two before the Maſter comes in the Morning. This Courſe held for ſeven or eight Years, will make them fine Pro⯑ficients; but that they ſhould not go too raw, or young, out of the Academy, 'tis proper, that at the ſtated Age of Appren⯑ticeſhip, they be bound to the Hoſpital to engage their greater Application, and make them thorough Maſters, before they launch out into the World; for one great hinde⯑rance to many Performers is, that they be⯑gin to teach too ſoon, and obſtruct their Genius.

What will not ſuch a Deſign produce in a few Years? will they not be able to perform a Conſort, Choir, or Opera, or all three a⯑mong [21] themſelves, and over-pay the Charge, as ſhall hereafter be ſpecify'd?

For Example, we will ſuppoſe ſuch a Deſign to be continued for ten Years, we ſhall find an Orcheſtre of forty Hands, and a Choir or Opera of twenty Voices, or admitting that of thoſe twenty, only five prove Capital Singers, 'twill anſwer the Intent.

For the greater Variety they may, if they think fit, take in two or more of their Girls where they find a promiſing Genius, but this may be further conſider'd of.

Now, when they are enabled to exhibit an Opera, Will they not gain conſiderably, when their Voices and Hands, coſt them only a College Subſiſtance? And 'tis but reaſonable the Profits accruing from Ope⯑ras, Conſorts, or otherwiſe, ſhould go to the Hoſpital to make good all former and future Expences, and enable them to extend the Deſign to a greater Length and Gran⯑deur; ſo than inſtead of 1500 l. per Ann. the price of one Italian Singer, we ſhall for 300 l. once in ten Years, have ſixty Engliſh Muſicians regularly educated, and enabled to live by their Science.

There ought moreover to be annual Proba⯑tions, and proper Prizes or Premiums alloted, to excite Emulation in the Youths, and give Life to their Studies.

[22] They have already a Muſick-School, as they call it, but the Allowance is too poor for this Deſign, and the Attendance too ſmall; it muſt be every Day, or not at all.

This will be an Academy indeed, and in Proceſs of Time, they will have even their Maſters among themſelves; and what is the Charge, compar'd with the Profits or their Abilities?

One thing I had like to have forgot, which is, that with Permiſſion of the Right Re⯑verend the Lords Spiritual, ſome Per⯑formance in Muſick, ſuitable to the So⯑lemnity of the Day, be exhibited every Sunday after Divine Service: Sacred Poeſy and Rhetorick, may be likewiſe introduc'd to make it an Entertainment ſuitable to a Chriſt⯑ian and Polite Audience; and indeed, we ſeem to want ſome ſuch commendable Em⯑ployment for the better Sort: For we ſee the publick Walks and Taverns crowded, and rather than be idle, they will go to Newport- Market.

That ſuch an Entertainment would be much preferable to Drinking, Gaming, or profane Diſcourſe, none can deny, and till it is proved to be prejudicial, I ſhall always imagine it neceſſary. The Hall at the Hoſ⯑pital, will contain few leſs than ſeven hundred People, conveniently ſeated, which at ſo ſmall a Price as one Shilling per Head, will amount to 35 l. per Week; and if the [23] Performance deſerve it, as no doubt it will in time, they may make it half a Crown or more, which muſt conſiderably encreaſe the Income of the Hoſpital.

When they are able to make an Opera, the Profits will be yet more conſiderable, nor will they reap much leſs from what the Youths bring in during their Ap⯑prenticeſhip, when employ'd at Conſorts, Theatres, or other publick Entertainments.

Having advanc'd what I think proper on this Head, or at leaſt enough for a Hint, I proceed to offer,

That many Youths and Servants may be ſav'd from Deſtruction, were the Streets clear'd of ſhameleſs and impudent Strumpets; Gaming-Tables totally ſup⯑preſs'd, and a ſtop put to Sabbath De⯑bauches.

THE Corruption of our Children and Servants, is of Importance ſuffici⯑ent to require our utmoſt Precaution; and moreover, Women Servants (common⯑ly call'd Maid-Servants) are ſuch neceſſary Creatures, that it is by no means below us [24] to make them beneficial rather than preju⯑dicial to us.

I ſhall not run into a Deſcription of their Abuſes; we know enough of thoſe already. Our Buſineſs now is to make them uſeful, Firſt, by aſcertaining their Wages at a proper Standard.

Secondly, by obliging them to continue longer in Service, not to ſtroll about from Place to Place, and throw themſelves on the Town on every Diſlike.

Thirdly, To prevent their being har⯑bour'd by wicked Perſons, when out of Place; or living too long on their own Hands.

As for their Wages, they have topp'd upon us already, and doubled 'em in ſpight of our Teeth; but as they have had Wit enough to get 'em, ſo will they, I doubt not, have the ſame Senſe to keep 'em: and much Good may it do thoſe indolent over⯑ſecure Perſons, who have given 'em this Advantage. However, if they are honeſt and diligent, I would have them encou⯑rag'd, and handſome Wages allow'd 'em; becauſe, by this Means, we provide for the Children of the inferior Claſs of Peo⯑ple, who otherwiſe could not maintain themſelves; nay, ſometimes Tradeſmen, &c. reduced, are glad when their Chil⯑dren ceaſe to hang upon them, by getting into Service, and by that Means, not [25] only maintaining themſelves, but being of Uſe in other Families. But then there ought to be ſome Medium ſome Limita⯑tion to their Wages, or they may extort more than can well be afforded.

Nothing calls more for Redreſs than their quitting Service for every idle Diſ⯑guſt, leaving a Maſter or Miſtreſs at a Nonplus; and all under Plea of a fooliſh old Cuſtom, call'd Warning; no where practis'd but in London: For in other Places they are hir'd by the Year, or by the Statute, as they call it, which ſettles them in a Place, at leaſt for ſome Time; whereas, when they are not limited, it encourages a roving Temper, and makes them never eaſy.

If you turn them away without Warn⯑ing, they will make you pay a Month's Wages, be the Provocation or Offence never ſo great; but if they leave you, tho' never ſo abruptly, or unprovided, help yourſelves how you can, there is no Redreſs: Tho' I think there ought, in all Conſcience, to be as much Law for the Maſter as for the Servant.

No Servant ſhould quit a Place, where they are well fed and paid, without aſ⯑ſigning a good Reaſon before a Magi⯑ſtrate. On the other Hand, they ſhould receive no Abuſe which ſhould not be re⯑dreſs'd: For we ought to treat 'em as [26] Servants, not Slaves; and a Medium ought to be obſerv'd on both Sides. But if they are not reſtrain'd from quitting Service on every Vagary, they will throw themſelves on the Town, and not only ruin themſelves, but others: For Exam⯑ple, a Girl quits a Place, and turns Whore; if there is not a Baſtard to be murder'd, or left to the Pariſh, there is One or more unwary Youths drawn in to ſupport her in Lewdneſs and Idleneſs; in order to which, they rob their Parents and Ma⯑ſters, nay, ſometimes any Body elſe, to ſupport their Strumpets; ſo that many Thieves owe their Ruin and ſhameful Deaths to Harlots. Not to mention the Communication of loathſome Diſtempers, and innumerable other Evils, to which they give Birth.

How many Youths, of all Ranks, are dai⯑ly ruin'd? And how juſtly may be dreaded the Loſs of as many more, if a ſpeedy Stop be not put to this growing Evil? Generati⯑ons to come will curſe the Neglect of the preſent, and every Sin committed for the future may be paſs'd to our Account, if we do not uſe our Endeavours to the contrary.

And unleſs we prevent our Maid-Ser⯑vants from being harbour'd by wicked Perſons when out of Place, or living too long on their own Hands, our Streets will ſwarm with impudent ſhameleſs Strum⯑pets; [27] the Good will be moleſted; thoſe, prone to Evil, will be made yet more wicked, by having Temptations thrown in their Way: And to crown all, we ſhall have ſcarce a Servant left, but our Wives, &c. muſt do the Houſhold-work them⯑ſelves.

If this be not worthy the Conſideration of a Legiſlature, I would fain know what is. Is it not Time to limit their Wages, when they are grown ſo wanton they know not what to ask? Is it not Time to fix 'em, when they ſtroll from Place to Place, and we are hardly ſure of a Servant a Month together? Is it not Time to prevent the Encreaſe of Harlots, by making it penal for Servants to be harbour'd in Idleneſs, and tempted to Theft, Whoredom, Murder, &c. by living too long out of Place? And I am ſure it is high Time to begin the Work, by clearing the publick Streets of Night⯑walkers, who are grown to ſuch a Pitch of Impudence, that Peace and common Decency are manifeſtly broken in our pub⯑lick Streets. I wonder this has ſo long eſcap'd the Eye of the Magiſtrate, eſpe⯑cially when there are already in force Laws ſufficient to reſtrain this Tide of Uncleanneſs, which will one Day over⯑flow us.

[28] The lewdeſt People upon Earth, our⯑ſelves excepted, are not guilty of ſuch open Violations of the Laws of Decency. Go all the World over, and you'll ſee no ſuch Impudence as in the Streets of Lon⯑don, which makes many Foreigners give our Women in general a bad Character, from the vile Specimens they meet with from one End of the Town to the other. Our Seſſions-Papers are full of the Triais of impudent Sluts, who firſt decoy Men, and then rob 'em: A Meanneſs the Cour⯑teſans of Rome and Venice abhor.

How many honeſt Women, thoſe of the Inferior Sort eſpecially, get loathſome Diſtempers from their Husband's Com⯑merce with theſe Creatures, which Di⯑ſtempers are often entail'd on Poſterity; nor have we an Hoſpital ſeparated for that Purpoſe, which does not contain too ma⯑ny Inſtances of honeſt poor Wretches made miſerable by Villains of Husbands.

And now I have mentioned the Vil⯑lainy of ſome Husbands in the lower State of Life, give me leave to propoſe, or at leaſt to wiſh, that they were re⯑ſtrained from abuſing their Wives at that barbarous Rate, which is now practiſed by Butchers, Carmen, and ſuch inferior Sort of Fellows, who are publick Nu⯑ſances to civil Neighbourhoods, and yet no Body cares to interpoſe, becauſe the Riot is between a Man and his Wife.

[29] I ſee no Reaſon why every profligate Fellow ſhall have the Liberty to diſturb a whole Neighbourhood, and abuſe a poor honeſt Creature at a moſt inhuman Rate, and is not to be call'd to Account becauſe it is his Wife; this ſort of Barbarity was never ſo notorious and ſo much encourag'd as at preſent, for every Vagabond thinks he may cripple his Wife at pleaſure, and 'tis enough to pierce a Heart of Stone to ſee how barbarouſly ſome poor Creatures are beaten and abuſed by mercileſs Dogs of Husbands.

It gives an ill Example to the growing Generation, and this Evil will gain Ground on us if not prevented: It may be an⯑ſwer'd, the Law has already provided Re⯑dreſs, and a Woman abus'd may ſwear the Peace againſt her Husband, but what Woman cares to do that? It is reveng⯑ing herſelf on herſelf, and not without conſiderable Charge and Trouble.

There ought to be a ſhorter way, and when a Man has beaten his Wife (which by the Bye is a moſt unmanly Action, and great Sign of Cowardice) it behoves every Neighbour who has the leaſt humanity or Compaſſion, to complain to the next Ju⯑ſtice of the Peace, who ſhould be im⯑powered to ſet him in the Stocks for the firſt Offence; to have him well ſcourg'd at the Whipping-Poſt for the ſecond; and [30] if he perſiſted in his barbarous Abuſe of the holy Marriage State, to ſend him to the Houſe of Correction 'till he ſhould learn to uſe more Mercy to his Yoke-fellow.

How hard is it for a poor induſtrious Woman to be up early and late, to ſit in a cold Shop, Stall, or Market, all Weathers, to carry heavy Loads from one End of the Town to the other, or to work from Morning till Night, and even then dread going Home for fear of being murder'd? Some may think this too low a Topic for me to expatiate upon, to which I anſwer, that it is a Charitable and a Chriſtian one, and therefore not in the leaſt beneath the Conſideration of any Man who had a Wo⯑man for his Mother.

The Mention of this leads me to exclaim againſt the vile Practice now ſo much in vogue among the better Sort, as they are called, but the worſt ſort in fact, namely, the ſending their Wives to Mad-Houſes at every Whim or Diſlike, that they may be more ſecure and undiſturb'd in their De⯑baucheries: Which wicked Cuſtom is got to ſuch a Head, that the Number of private Mad-Houſes in and about London, are conſiderably increaſed within theſe few Years.

This is the heighth of Barbarity and In⯑juſtice in a Chriſtian Country, it is a clandeſtine Inquiſition, nay worſe.

[31] How many Ladies and Gentlewomen are hurried away to theſe Houſes, which ought to be ſuppreſs'd, or at leaſt ſubject to daily Examination, as hereafter ſhall be propoſed?

How many, I ſay, of Beauty, Vertue, and Fortune, are ſuddenly torn from their dear innocent Babes, from the Arms of an unworthy Man, who they love (perhaps but too well) and who in Return for that Love, nay probably an ample Fortune, and a lovely Off-ſpring beſides; grows weary of the pure Streams of chaſte Love, and thirſting after the Puddles of lawleſs Luſt, buries his vertuous Wife alive, that he may have the greater Freedom with his Miſtreſſes?

If they are not mad when they go into theſe curſed Houſes, they are ſoon made ſo by the barbarous Uſage they there ſuf⯑fer, and any Woman of Spirit who has the leaſt Love for her Husband, or Con⯑cern for her Family, cannot ſit down tamely under a Confinement and Separation the moſt unaccountable and unreaſonable.

Is it not enough to make any one mad to be ſuddenly clap'd up, ſtripp'd, whipp'd, ill fed, and worſe us'd? To have no Reaſon aſſign'd for ſuch Treatment, no Crime al⯑ledg'd, or Accuſers to confront? And what is worſe, no Soul to appeal to but merci⯑leſs Creatures, who anſwer but in Laugh⯑ter, [32] Surlineſs, Contradiction, and too of⯑ten Stripes?

All Conveniences for Writing are de⯑nied, no Meſſenger to be had to carry a Letter to any Relation or Friend; and if this tyrannical Inquiſition, join'd with the reaſonable Reflections, a Woman of any common Underſtanding muſt neceſſarily make, be not ſufficient to drive any Soul ſtark ſtaring mad, though before they were never ſo much in their right Senſes, I have no more to ſay.

When by this Means a wicked Husband has driven a poor Creature mad, and rob'd an injur'd Wife of her Reaſon, for 'tis much eaſier to create than to cure Madneſs, then has the Villain a handle for his Ro⯑guery, then perhaps he will admit her diſtreſſed Relations to ſee her, when 'tis too late to cure the Madneſs he ſo artfully and barbarouſly has procured.

But this is not all, ſomething more diſ⯑mal Effects attend this Inquiſition, for Death is but too often the Cure of their Mad⯑neſs and End of their Sorrows; ſome with ill Uſage, ſome with Grief, and many with both are barbarouſly cut off in the Prime of their Years and Flower of their Health, who otherwiſe might have been Mothers of a numerous Iſſue, and ſurviv'd many Years. This is Murder in the deepeſt Senſe, and [33] much more cruel than Dagger or Poiſon, becauſe more lingring; they die by Peace⯑meal, and in all the Agonies and Terrors of a diſtracted Mind.

Nay it is Murder upon Murder, for the Iſſue that might have been begot, is to be accounted for to God and the Publick. Now if this kind of Murder is conniv'd at, we ſhall no doubt have enough, nay too much of it; for if a Man is weary of his Wife, has ſpent her Fortune, and wants another, 'tis but ſending her to a Mad-Houſe and the Buſineſs is done at once.

How many have already been mur⯑dered after this manner is beſt known to juſt Heaven, and thoſe unjuſt Husbands and their damn'd Accomplices, who, tho' now ſecure in their Guilt, will one Day find 'tis Murder of the blackeſt Dye; has the leaſt claim for Mercy, and calls aloud for the ſevereſt Vengeance.

How many are yet to be ſacrificed, unleſs a ſpeedy Stop be put to this moſt accurſed Practice I tremble to think; our Legiſla⯑ture cannot take this Cauſe too ſoon in hand: This ſurely cannot be below their Notice, and 'twill be an eaſy matter at once to ſuppreſs all theſe pretended Mad-Houſes. Indulge, gentle Reader, for once the doting of an old Man, and give him leave to lay down his little Syſtem with⯑out arraigning him of Arrogance or Am⯑bition [34] to a be Law-giver. In my humble Opinion all private Mad-Houſes ſhould be ſuppreſs'd at once, and it ſhould be no leſs than Felony to confine any Perſon under pretence of Madneſs without due Au⯑thority.

For the cure of thoſe who are really Lunatick, licens'd Mad-Houſes ſhould be conſtituted in convenient Parts of the Town, which Houſes ſhould be ſubject to proper Viſitation and Inſpection, nor ſhould any Perſon be ſent to a Mad-Houſe without due Reaſon, Inquiry and Authority.

It may be objected, by Perſons deter⯑mined to contradict every thing and approve nothing, that the Abuſes complained of are not ſo numerous or heinous as I would inſinuate: Why are not Facts advanced, they will be apt ſay, to give a Face of Truth to theſe Aſſertions? but I have two Reaſons to the contrary; the firſt is, the more you convince them the more angry you make 'em, for they are never better pleaſed than when they have an Opportu⯑nity of finding Fault: Therefore to curry Favour with the Fault-finders, I have left 'em a loop Hole: the ſecond and real is, be⯑cauſe I don't care to bring an old Houſe over my Head by mentioning particular Names or ſpecial Caſes, thereby drawing my ſelf into vexatious Proſecutions and Suits [35] at Law, from litigious Wretches, who would be galled to find their Villainies made publick; and ſtick at no Expence or foul Play to revenge themſelves. Not but I could bring many Inſtances, particu⯑larly of an unhappy Widow, put in by a Villain of a Husband, and now continued in for the ſake of her Jointure by her un⯑natural Son, FAR from common Ho⯑neſty or Humanity. Of another whoſe Husband keeps his Miſtreſs in black Vel⯑vet, and is ſeen with her every Night at the Opera or Play, while his poor Wife, (by much the finer Woman) and of an Un⯑derſtanding far ſuperior to her thick Skull'd Tyrant, is kept mean in Diet and Apparel, nay ill us'd into the Bargain; notwithſtanding her Fortune ſupplies all the Villain's Extravagancies, and he has not a Shilling but what came from her: but a Beggar when once ſet on Horſeback proves always the moſt unmerciful RIDER.

I cannot leave this Subject without in⯑ſerting one particular Caſe.

A Lady of known Beauty, Vertue, and Fortune, nay more, of Wiſdom, not flaſhy Wit, was, in the Prime of her Youth and Beauty, and when her Senſes were perfect⯑ly ſound, carried by her Husband in his Coach as to the Opera; but the Coachman had other Inſtructions, and drove directly to a Mad-Houſe, where the poor innocent [36] Lady was no ſooner introduced, under pre⯑tence of calling by the way to ſee ſome Pictures he had a mind to buy, but the Key was turn'd upon her, and ſhe left a Priſoner by her faithleſs Husband; who while his injur'd Wife was confined and us'd with the utmoſt Barbarity, He like a profligate Wretch ran through her For⯑tune with Strumpets, and then, baſely, under Pretence of giving her Liberty, extorted her to make over her Jointure: which ſhe had no ſooner done but he laugh'd in her Face, and left her to be as ill us'd as ever. This he ſoon ran through, and (happily for the Lady) died by the Juſtice of Heaven in a Salivation his Debauches had oblig'd him to undergo.

During her Confinement, the Villain of the Mad-Houſe frequently attempted her Chaſtity; and the more ſhe repuls'd him, the worſe he treated her: till at laſt he drove her mad in good earneſt. Her diſtreſſed Brother, who is fond of her to the laſt Degree, now confines her in part of his own Houſe, treating her with great Tenderneſs; but has the Mortification to be aſſured by the ableſt Phyſicians, that his poor Siſter is irrecoverably diſtracted.

Numberleſs are the Inſtances I could produce, but they would be accounted fic⯑titious, becauſe I don't name the particular Perſons, for the Reaſons before aſſigned; [37] but the Sufferings of theſe poor Ladies are not fictitious, nor are the Villainy of theſe Mad-Houſes, or the unnatural, though fa⯑ſhionable Barbarity of Husbands Chi⯑mira's, but too ſolid Grievances and mani⯑feſt Violations of the Laws of God and Man.

Moſt Gracious and Auguſt Queen Caro⯑line! Ornament of your Sex, and Pride of the Britiſh Nation! the beſt of Mothers, the beſt of Wives, the beſt of Women! Begin this Auſpicious Reign with an Action worthy your illuſtrious Self, reſcue your injur'd Sex from this Tyranny, nor let it be in the Power of every brutal Husband to Cage and confine his Wife at pleaſure: A Practice ſcarce heard of 'till of late Years. Nip it in the Bud moſt gracious Queen, and draw on your ſelf the Bleſſings of numberleſs of the fair Sex; now groaning under the ſevereſt and moſt unjuſt Bondage. Reſtore 'em to their Families, let 'em by your Means enjoy Light and Liberty: That while they fondly embrace, and with Tears of Joy weep over their dear Children, ſo long witheld from them, they may invoke accumulated Bleſſings from Heaven upon your Royal Head!

And you ye fair illuſtrious Circle! who adorn the Britiſh Court! and every Day ſurround our gracious Queen: Let generous Pity inſpire your Souls, and move you to [38] intercede with your noble Conſorts for Redreſs in this injurious Affair. Who can deny when you become Suitors? and who knows but at your Requeſt a Bill may be brought into the Houſe to regulate theſe Abuſes? The Cauſe is a Noble and a Common one, and ought to be eſpouſed by every Lady who would claim the leaſt [...] to Vertue or Compaſſion. I am ſure no [...] Member in either honourable Houſe will [...] ſo reaſonable a Bill; the Buſineſs is for ſome publick Spirited Patriot to break the Ice, by bringing it into the Houſe, and I dare lay my Life it paſſes.

I muſt beg my Reader's Indulgence, being the moſt immethodical Writer imaginable; 'tis true, I lay down a Scheme, but Fancy is ſo fertile I often ſtart freſh Hints, and cannot but purſue 'em; pardon therefore kind Reader my digreſſive way of Writing, and let the Subject, not the Stile or Me⯑thod engage thy Attention.

Return we therefore to complain of de⯑ſtructive Gaming-Houſes, the Bane of our Youth, and Ruin of our Children and Ser⯑vants.

This is the moſt unprofitable Evil up⯑on Earth, for it only tends to alienate the proper Current of Specie, to maintain a pack of idle ſharping Raſcals, and beg⯑gar unwary Gentlemen and Traders.

[39] I take the Itch of gaming to be the moſt pernicious of Vices, it is a kind of ava⯑ritious Madneſs; and if People have not Senſe to command themſelves by Reaſon, they ought to be reſtrained by Law: Nor ſuffered to ruin themſelves and Fa⯑milies, to enrich a Crew of Sharpers.

There is no playing on the Square with theſe Villains; they are ſure to cheat you, either by ſlight of Hand, Confederacy, or falſe Dice, &c. they have ſo much the Odds of their infatuated Bubbles, that they might ſafely play a Guinea to a Shil⯑ling, and yet be ſure of winning. This is but genteel Pocket-picking, or Felony with another Name, and yet, ſo fond are we of it, that from the Foot-boy to the Lord, all muſt have a touch of gaming; and there are Sharpers of different Stati⯑ons and Denominations, from Southwark Fair to the Groom Porters. Shame, that Gentlemen ſhould ſuffer every Scoundrel to mix with them for Gaming ſake! And equal Shame, that honeſt laborious Tradeſ⯑men ſhould be obſtructed in croſſing the publick Streets, by the gilt Chariots of Va⯑gabond Gameſters; who now infeſt the Land, and brave even our Nobility and Gentry with their own Money!

But the moſt barbarous Part of this helliſh Trade, is what they call ſetting of young Gentlemen, Apprentices, and [40] others; this ought to be deem'd Felony, without Benefit of Clergy; for 'tis the worſt of Thievery. Under Pretence of taking a Bottle, or ſpending an Evening gayly, they draw their Cull to the Ta⯑vern, where they ſit not long before the Devil's Bones or Books are found acciden⯑tally on purpoſe, by the Help of which they ſtrip my Gentleman in an Inſtant, and then generouſly lend him his own Money, to loſe a freſh, and create a Debt, which is but too often more juſtly paid than thoſe more juſtly due.

If we look into ſome late Bankrupcies, we ſhall find ſome noted Gameſters the principal Creditors; I think, in ſuch Caſes, 'twould be but Juſtice to make void the Gameſter's Debt, and ſubject his Eſtate to make good the Deficiencies of the Bankrupt's Effects. If Traders have no more Wit, the Publick ſhould have Pity on 'em; and make it as penal to loſe as to win: And, in Truth, if Cards, Dice, &c. were totally ſuppreſs'd, Induſtry and Arts would encreaſe the more; Gaming may make a Man crafty, but not polite; one may underſtand Cards and Dice perfectly well, and be a Block⯑head in every Thing elſe.

I am ſorry to ſee it ſo prevalent in the City, among the trading Part of Man⯑kind, who have introduc'd it into their Clubs, and Play ſo high of late, that [41] many Bankrupts have been made by this pernicious Practice.

It is the Bane of all Converſation: And thoſe who can't ſit an Hour without Gaming, ſhould never go into a Club to ſpoil Company. In a Word, 'tis mere Madneſs, and a moſt ſtupid Thing to hazard ones Fortune, and perplex ones Mind; nay, to ſit up whole Nights, poring over Toys of pipt Ivory and paint⯑ed Paſteboard, making our ſelves worſe than little Children, whoſe innocent Sports we ſo much ridicule.

To ſum up all, I think 'twould be a noble Retribution, to ſubject Gameſter's Eſtates to the Uſe and Support of the poor Widows and Orphans of their unfortunate Bubbles.

Sunday Debauches are Abuſes that call loud for Amendment: 'Tis in this perni⯑cious Soil the Seeds of Ruin are firſt ſown. Inſtead of a Day of Reſt, we make it a Day of Labour, by toiling in the De⯑vil's Vineyard; and but too many ſurfeit themſelves with the Fruits of Gluttony, Drunkenneſs, and Uncleanneſs.

Not that I am ſo ſuperciliouſly ſtrict, to have the Sabbath kept as rigidly here as in Scotland, but then there ought to be a Medium between the Severity of a Faſt, and the Riot of Saturnalia. Inſtead of a decent and chearful Solemnity, our Ta⯑verns [42] and Publick-Houſes have more Bu⯑ſineſs that Day than all the Week beſide. Our Apprentices plume themſelves; nay, ſome ſcruple not to put on their Swords and Tye Wigs, or Toupees; and the looſe End of the Town is their Rendezvous, Sunday being Market-Day all round the Hundreds of Drury.

While we want Servants to do our Work, thoſe Hundreds, as they call 'em, are crowded with Numbers of idle im⯑pudent Sluts, who love Sporting more than Spinning, and inveigle our Youth to their Ruin: Nay, many old Lechers (Beaſts as they are) ſteal from their Fa⯑milies, and ſeek theſe Harlot's lurking Holes, to practice their unaccountable Schemes of new invented Lewdneſſes: Some half hang themſelves, others are whipt, ſome lie under a Table and gnaw the Bones that are thrown 'em, while others ſtand ſlaving among a Parcel of Drabs at a Waſhing-Tub. Strange that the Inclination ſhould not die with the Power, but that old Fools ſhould make themſelves the Prey and Ridicule of a Pack of Strumpets!

Some heedleſs Youths are wheedled into Marriage, which makes them and their unhappy Parents miſerable all their Lives; others are drawn into Extravagancies, and but too often run into their Maſter's Caſh, [43] and for fear of a Diſcovery, make away with themſelves; or at leaſt run away and leave their diſtracted Parents in a Thou⯑ſand Fears: Not to mention the Fruſtra⯑tion of their Fortune, and the Miſeries that attend a Vagabond Life. Thus ho⯑neſt Parents loſe their Children, and Traders their Apprentices, and all from a Liberty we have of late given our Youth of rambling Abroad on Sundays: For many, now a-days, will lie out all Night, or ſtay out ſo late to give no ſmall Diſturbance in ſober Families. It therefore behoves every Maſter of a Family to have his Servants under his Eye: And if the going to Church, Meeting, or whatever Place of Worſhip ſuited their Religion, were more enforc'd, it would be ſo much the better.

In ſhort, the Luxury of the Age will be the Ruin of the Nation, if not pre⯑vented. We leave Trade to game in Stocks: We live above ourſelves, and barter our Ready-money for Trifles; Tea and Wine are all we ſeem anxious for, and God has given the Bleſſings of Life to an ungrateful People, who deſpiſe their own Productions. Our very Plough-Fellows drink Wine now a-days: Our Farmers, Graſiers, and Butchers, are above Malt-Liquors; and the wholeſome Breakfaſt of Water-gruel and Milk-pottage is chang'd for Coffee and Tea. This is the Reaſon [44] Proviſions and Corn, &c. are ſo dear; we all work for Vintners, and raiſe our Prices one upon another to ſuch a Degree, 'twill be an Impoſſibility to live, and we ſhall, of Courſe, become our own Devourers.

We ſtrain at a Gnat and ſwallow a Camel: And, in this Inſtance, the Pub⯑lick Houſes are kept open to furniſh our Luxury, while we deny ourſelves other Neceſſaries of Life, out of a Scruple of Conſcience. For Example; in extreme hot Weather, when Meat will not keep from Saturday to Sunday, we throw, or cauſe to be thrown away, vaſt Quantities of tainted Meat, and have generally ſtink⯑ing Dinners, becauſe the Butchers dare not ſell a Joint of Meat on a Sunday Morning. Now, tho' I would not have the Sabbath ſo far violated as to have it Market-Day, yet, rather than abuſe God's Mercies by throwing away Creatures given for our Uſe, nay, for our own Healths and Cleanlineſs Sake, I would have the ſame Indulgence in extreme hot Weather, as there is for Milk and Mack⯑rell; that is to ſay, that Meat might be kill'd in the cool of the Morning, viz. One or Two of the Clock, and ſold 'till Nine, and no longer: Nor ſhould vil⯑lainous Informers have Power to moleſt them in this innocent and reaſonable Amendment of a ridiculous vulgar Error.

[45] I cannot forbear taking Notice of the extravagant Uſe, or rather Abuſe of that nauſeous Liquor, call'd GENEVA, among our lower ſort. Thoſe who deny, that an inferior Claſs of People are moſt neceſſary in a Body Politick, contradict Reaſon and Experience itſelf, ſince they are moſt uſeful when Induſtrious, and as pernicious when lazy. By their Induſtry our Manufactures, Trade, and Commerce are carried on: The Merchant in his Compting Houſe, and the Captain in his Cabbin would find but little Employment were it not that many Hands carried on the different Branches of the Concern they ſuperintended.

But now ſo far are our common People infatuated with Geneva, that Half the Work is not done now as formerly. It debilitates and enervates them, and they are not near ſo ſtrong and healthy as for⯑merly. This accurſed Liquor is in itſelf ſo diuretick, it over-ſtrains the Parts of Generation, and makes our common People incapable of getting ſuch luſty Children as they us'd to do. Add to this, that the Women, by drinking it, ſpoil their Milk, and by giving it to young Children, as they fooliſhly do, ſpoil the Stomach, and hinder Digeſtion; ſo that in leſs than an Age, we may expect a fine Spindle-ſhank'd Generation.

[46] There is not in Nature ſo unhealthy a Liquor as Geneva, eſpecially as common⯑ly ſold: It curdles the Blood, it ſtupifies the Senſes, it weakens the Nerves, it ſpoils the Eye-ſight, and entirely ruins the Sto⯑mach; nay, ſome Stomachs have been render'd ſo cold by the Uſe of Geneva, that Lamp-Spirits have not been a Dram warm enough for 'em. Surely they will come to drink Aqua-fortis at laſt!

On the contrary, our own Malt Liquors, eſpecially common Draught Beer, is moſt wholeſome and nouriſhing, and has brought up better Generations than the preſent: It is ſtrengthening, cooling, and balſamick: It helps Digeſtion, and car⯑ries Nouriſhment with it. And, in ſpight of the Whims of ſome Phyſicians, is moſt pertinent to a humane, eſpecially a good wholeſome Engliſh Conſtitution. Nay, the honeſt Part of the Faculty deny not the Uſe of Small-Beer well brew'd, even in Fevers. I my ſelf have found great Benefit by it; and if it be good in its Kind 'tis the fineſt Julap upon Earth.

If this Abuſe of Geneva be not ſtopt, we may go whoop for Husbandmen, La⯑bourers, &c. Trade muſt conſequently ſtand ſtill, and the Credit of the Nation ſink: Nor is the Abatement of the Exciſe, tho' very conſiderable, and moſt worthy Notice, any ways comparable to the Corruption of [47] Manners, the Deſtruction of Healt [...] [...] all the Train of Evils we are threaten'd with from pernicious Geneva.

An effectual Method to prevent Street-Robberies.

THE principal Encouragements, and Opportunity given to Street-Robbers is, that our Streets are ſo poorly watch'd; the Watchmen, for the moſt Part, being decrepid, ſuperannuated Wretches, with one Foot in the Grave, and the t'other ready to follow; ſo feeble, that a Puff of Breath can blow 'em down: Poor crazy Mortals! Much fitter for an Alms-houſe than a Watch-houſe. A City watch'd and guarded by ſuch Animals, is wretchedly watch'd indeed.

Nay, ſo little Terror do our Watchmen carry with them, that hardy Thieves make a mere Jeſt of 'em, and ſometimes [...] even the very Watchmen, who ſhould ap⯑prehend 'em, to light 'em in their Roguery: And what can a poor Creature do, in Ter⯑ror of his Life, ſurrounded by a Pack of Ruffians, and no Aſſiſtance near.

Add to this, that our Rogues are grown more wicked than ever, and Vice in all Kinds is ſo much wink'd at, that Robbery [48] is accounted a petty Crime. We take pains to puff 'em up in their Villainy, and Thieves are ſet out in ſo amiable a Light in the Beggar's Opera, that it has taught them to value themſelves on their Profeſſion, rather than be aſham'd of it.

There was ſome Ceſſation of Street-Robberies, from the Time of Bunworth and Blewitt's Execution, 'till the Intro⯑duction of this pious Opera. Now we find the Cartouchian Villainies revived, and London, that us'd to be the moſt ſafe and peaceful City in the Univerſe, is now a Scene of Rapine and Danger. If ſome of Cartouch's Gang be not come over to in⯑ſtruct our Thieves, and propagate their Schemes, we have, doubtleſs, a Cartouch of our own, and a Gang, which, if not ſuppreſs'd, may be full as pernicious as ever Cartouch's was, and London will be as dangerous as Paris, if due Care be not taken.

We ought to begin our Endeavours to ſuppreſs theſe Villainies; firſt by Heavenly, and then by Earthly Means.

By Heavenly Means, in enforcing and encouraging a Reformation of Manners, by ſuppreſſing of Vice and Immorality, and puniſhing Prophaneneſs and Licentiouſneſs. Our Youth are corrupted by filthy, lewd Ballads, ſung and ſold publickly in our Streets: Nay, unlicens'd and [...]ſtamp'd, [49] notwithſtanding Acts of Parliament to the contrary.

Coachmen, Carmen, &c. are indulg'd in Swearing after the moſt blaſphemous, ſhocking, and unaccountable Rate that ever was known. New Oaths and Blaſphemies are daily utter'd and invented, and rather than not exerciſe this helliſh Tallent, they will vent their Curſes on their very Horſes; and, Oh ſtupid! Damn the Blood of a Poſt, rather than want ſomething to curſe.

Our common Women too have learn'd this Vice; and not only Strumpets, but labouring Women, who keep our Markets, and vend Things about Street, ſwear and curſe at a moſt hideous Rate. Their Chil⯑dren learn it from the Parents, and thoſe of the middle, or even the better Sort of People, if they paſs through the Streets to School, or to play, catch the Infection, and carry home ſuch Words as muſt conſe⯑quently be very ſhocking to ſober Parents.

Our Youth, in general, have too much Liberty; the Sabbath is not kept with due Solemnity; Maſters and Miſtreſſes of Families are too remiſs in the Care of the Souls committed to their Charge. Family Prayer is neglected; and, to the Shame of Scoffers be it ſpoken, too much ridiculed. All Ages and Sexes, if in Health, ſhould be obliged to attend publick Worſhip, ac⯑cording to their reſpective Opinions.

[50] Were it only to keep Youth out of Harm's Way, it would do well. But it is to be hoped, if their Parents, Maſters, or Mi⯑ſtreſſes ſhould oblige their Attendance at publick Devotion, they would edify by what they ſhould hear, and many wicked Acts would be ſtifled in their Infancy, and check'd even in the Intention, by good and uſeful Doctrine.

Our common People make it a Day of Debauch, and get ſo drunk on a Sunday, they cannot work for a Day or two fol⯑lowing. Nay, ſince the Uſe of Geneva has become ſo common, many get ſo often drunk they cannot work at all, but run from one Irregularity to another, 'till at laſt they become arrant Rogues. And this is the Foundation of all our preſent Complaints.

We will ſuppoſe a Man able to maintain himſelf and Family by his Trade, and at the ſame Time to be a Geneva-drinker: This Fellow firſt makes himſelf inca⯑pable of working, by being continually drunk; this runs him behind-hand, and he either pawns or neglects his Work, for which Reaſon no Body will employ him. At laſt, Fear of Arreſts, his own Hunger, the Cries of his Family for Bread, his na⯑tural Deſire to ſupport an irregular Life, and a propenſe Hatred to Labour, turn but too many an honeſt Tradeſman into [51] an arrant deſperate Rogue: And theſe are commonly the Means that furniſh us with Thieves and Villains in general.

Thus is a Man, that might be uſeful in a Body politick, render'd obnoxious to the ſame: And if this Trade of Wicked⯑neſs goes on, they will grow and encreaſe upon us, inſomuch, that we ſhall not dare to ſtir out of our Habitations; nay, it will be well if they arrive not to the Im⯑pudence of plundering our Houſes at Noon day.

Where is the Courage of the Engliſh Nation, that a Gentleman, with Six or Seven Servants, ſhall be robb'd by one ſingle Highwayman? Yet we have lately had Inſtances of this; and for this we may thank our Effeminacy, our Toupee Wigs, and powder'd Pates, our Tea, and other ſcandalous Fopperies; and above all, the Diſuſe of noble and manly Sports, ſo ne⯑ceſſary to a brave People, once in Vogue, but now totally loſt among us.

Let not the Reader think I run from my Subject, if I ſearch the Bottom of the Diſtemper before I propoſe a Cure, which having done, tho' indeed but ſlightly, for this is an Argument could be carried to a much greater Length, I proceed next to propoſe Earthly Means in the Manner fol⯑lowing.

[52] Let the Watch be compoſed of ſtout able bodied Men, and of thoſe at leaſt treble the Number now ſubſiſting, that is to ſay, a Watchman to every Forty Houſes, Twenty on one Side of the Way, and Twenty on the other; for it is ob⯑ſervable, that a Man cannot well ſee di⯑ſtinctly beyond the Extent of Twenty Houſes in a Row; if 'tis a ſingle Row, and no oppoſite Houſes, the Charge muſt be greater, and their Safety leſs. This Man ſhould be elected, and paid by the Houſekeepers themſelves, to prevent Miſ⯑application and Abuſe, ſo much complain'd of, in the Diſtribution of Publick Money.

He ſhould be allow'd 10s. per Annum, by each Houſekeeper, which at Forty Houſes, as above ſpecify'd, amounts to 20l. per Annum, almoſt treble to what is at preſent allow'd; and yet moſt Houſe⯑keepers are charg'd at leaſt 2s. 6d. a Quarter to the Watch, whoſe beat is, ge⯑nerally ſpeaking, little leſs than the Com⯑paſs of half a Mile.

This Salary is ſomething of Encourage⯑ment, and a pretty Settlement to a poor Man, who, with Frugality, may live de⯑cently thereon, and, by due Reſt, be enabled to give vigilant Attendance.

If a Houſekeeper break, or a Houſe is empty, the poor Watchman ought not to [53] ſuffer, the Deficiency ſhould be made up by the Houſekeepers remaining.

Or, indeed, all Houſekeepers might be excus'd, if a Tax of only 1s. per Annum were levied on every Batchelor within the Bills of Mortality, and above the Age of One and Twenty, who is not a Houſe⯑keeper; for theſe young Sparks are a Kind of unprofitable Gentry to the State; they claim publick Safety and Advantages, and yet pay nothing to the Publick, nay indeed, they, in a Manner, live upon the Publick, for (on a Sunday eſpecially) at leaſt a Million of theſe Gentlemen quar⯑ter themſelves upon the married Men, and rob many Families of part of a Week's Proviſion, more particularly when they play a good Knife and Fork, and are of the Family of the Tuckers.

I beg Pardon for this whimſical Propo⯑ſal, which, ludicrous as it ſeems, has ſomething in it; and may be improved. Return we, in the mean Time, to our Subject.

The Watch thus ſtation'd, ſtrengthen'd, and encourag'd, let every Watchman be arm'd with Fire-Arms and Sword; and let no Watchman ſtand above Twenty Doors diſtant from his Fellow.

Let each Watchman be provided with a Bugle-Horn, to ſound on Alarm, or in Time of Danger; and let it be made pe⯑nal, [54] if not Felony, for any but a Watch⯑man to ſound a Horn in and about the City, from the Time of their going on, to that of their going off.

An Objection will be here made on Account of the Poſt-Boys, to obviate which, I had Thoughts of a Bell, but that would be too ponderous and trouble⯑ſome for a Watchman to carry, beſides his Arms and Lanthorn. As to a fix'd Bell, if the Watchman is at another Part of his Walk, how can he give Notice? Beſides, Rogues may play Tricks with the Bell; whereas a Horn is portable, always ready, and moſt alarming.

Let the Poſt-Boys, therefore, uſe ſome other Signal, ſince this is moſt convenient to this more material Purpoſe. They may carry a Bell in a Holſter, with Eaſe, and give Notice by that, as well as thoſe who collect the Letters.

That the Watchmen may ſee from one End of their Walks to the other, let a convenient Number of Lamps be ſet up, and thoſe not of the Convex Kind, which blind the Eyes, and are of no manner of Uſe; they dazzle, but give no diſtinct Light: And farther, rather than prevent Robberies. Many, deceiv'd and blinded by theſe Ignes fatui, have been run over by Coaches, Carts, &c. People ſtumble more upon one another, even under theſe [55] very Lamps, than in the Dark. In ſhort, they are moſt unprofitable Lights, and, in my Opinion, rather Abuſes than Bene⯑fits.

Beſides, I ſee no Reaſon why every Ten Houſekeepers can't find a Lamp among themſelves, and let their Watchman dreſs it, rather than fatten a crew of Directors: But we are ſo fond of Companies, 'tis a Wonder we have not our Shooes black'd by one, and a Set of Directors made rich at the Expence of our very Black-guards. Convenient Turn-pikes and Stoppages may be made to prevent Eſcapes, and it will be proper for a Watchman to be plac'd at one of theſe, fix'd at the End of a Lane, Court, Alley, or other Thorough⯑fare, which may happen in any Part of his Beat, and ſo as not to obſtruct his View to both Ends thereof, or being able to give Notice, as aforeſaid; for the Watch ought to be in View, as well as in the Hearing of each other, or they may be overpower'd, and much Danger may happen.

The Streets thus guarded and illumi⯑nated, what remains, but that the Money allotted by the Government be inſtantly paid on Conviction of every Offender; for Delays in this Caſe are of dangerous Conſequence, and no Body will venture their Lives in Hopes of a Reward, if it [56] be not duly and timely paid. If there is Reaſon of Complaint on this Head, it ought to be look'd into by thoſe at the Helm; for nothing can be more vile than for Underlings to abuſe the Benevolence of the Publick, or their Superiors, by ſink⯑ing, abridging, or delaying publick or private Benefits. And it is by no Means below the Dignity, or Care, even of the greateſt, to ſee the Diſpoſal of their own Bounty and Charity; for it loſes but too often by the Carriage: And where a Nobleman, or other generous Perſon, has order'd Five Guineas to be given, 'tis well if the proper Object has had even One.

Something allow'd by the Chamber of London, to every Perſon apprehending a Robber, would have a good Effect, eſpe⯑cially if it be not told over a Gridiron, but paid without Delay, or Abatement. And what if the fewer Cuſtards are eat, ſo it augment the Publick Safety.

Some of our common Soldiery are (and I hope unjuſtly) ſuſpected. This may be eaſily confuted, if ſtrict Orders are en⯑forc'd, that none but Commiſſion, or Warrant Officers ſhall be out of their Quarters after Ten at Night. But if we conſider, that neither Blewit, Bunworth, or their Gangs, were Soldiers, and that of thoſe who have been executed for Ten Years paſt, not One in Ten were Soldiers, [57] but, on the contrary, Seamen diſcharg'd, and thrown on the Publick, without pre⯑ſent Subſiſtence, which made them deſ⯑perate: But I hope the Act now depend⯑ing for the Encouragement of Seamen, &c. will ſufficiently remove that Obſtacle alſo. This, I hope, will ſtop the Mouths of cenſorious Perſons, who unjuſtly arraign our Soldiery for the Vices of others: However, to make all eaſy, I believe the Generality of them will gladly ſubmit to the Reſtraint propos'd, merely to ſhow their Innocence.

Mean Time, would his moſt ſacred Majeſty let them partake of his Bounty, as the Officers, &c. have done, and raiſe their Pay, were it but One Penny per Diem, it would be a moſt Royal Bounty, would conſiderably contribute to their Support, and put them above any ſordid Views: And there was never more Occa⯑ſion than now, when Proviſions of all Kinds are ſo exceſſive dear.

Having offer'd my little Mite to the Publick, I beg they will excuſe the Defi⯑ciency of my Stile, and Multitude of my Errors, for my Intention's Sake. I write without Proſpect of Gain: If I am cen⯑ſured, 'tis what I can but expect; but if, among all my Schemes, One proves of Service, my Deſires and Labours are amply anſwer'd.

OMISSIONS.

IN my Scheme for an Univerſity in London, I propoſed only a Hall or publick Room; on Recollection I find it ſhould be a large Houſe or Inn, in the Na⯑ture of a College, with ſtore of conve⯑nient Rooms for Gentlemen, not only to ſtudy ſeparately, but wherein to lodge their Books, for 'twould be moſt inconve⯑nient to lug them backwards and forwards: They may indeed Breakfaſt, Sup, and Sleep at Home, but 'twill be highly neceſſary they ſhould dine in Commons, or at leaſt near the College; not that I would have Cooks, Butlers, Caterers, Manciples, and the whole Train of College Cannibals re⯑tained; but for fear they ſhould ſtay too long at Home, or be hindred from return⯑ing to Study in due time, ſome proper Place or Perſon might be pitch'd upon to keep an Ordinary at a prefix'd Price and Hour, and for the Students only.

My Reaſons are theſe:

• Firſt, A young Gentleman may live too far from College.
• Second, The College Hours for Dinner, may not agree with thoſe of the Family.
• [59]Third, Company may drop in and de⯑tain him.

Theſe being, I think, the only mate⯑rial Objections could be offered, I hope I have amply provided againſt them, and rendered my Project more perfect and un⯑exceptionable.

One Omiſſion I made in the Diſcourſe on Mad-Houſes, &c. is, that Maiden Ladies as well as Widows and Wives, are liable to the Inquiſition there complained of, and I am inform'd a good Eſtate is lately come to a worthleſs Family, by the Death, or rather Murder of an innocent young Creature, who being left very rich, choſe to live with her Friends; but well had it been for her, had ſhe taken up her Abode among Strangers, for they ſtay'd off all Propoſals for Marriage a conſiderable time, and when at laſt they found the Lady would not be hindered from altering her Condition, ſhe was hurried away to a Mad-Houſe, where ſhe miſerably ended her Days, while they rioted in the Pillage of her Fortune. Thus neither Maid, Wife or Widdow, are ſafe, while theſe accurſed Mad-Houſes are ſuffered: Nay, I ſee no Reaſon, (if the Age improves in Wickedneſs, as in all Probability it may) but the Men, per Contra, may take their Turns. Younger Brothers, &c. may clap [60] up their Elders and jump into their Eſtates, for there are no Queſtions ask'd at theſe Mad-Houſes, but who is the Pay-maſter, and how much; give them but their Price, mad or not mad 'tis no matter whom they confine; ſo that if any Perſon lives longer than his Relations think con⯑venient, they know their Remedy, 'tis but ſending them to a Mad-Houſe and the Eſtate's their own.

Having anſwer'd all that I think liable to Objection, and recollected what I had omitted, I deſire to ſtand or fall by the Judgment of the ſerious Part of Mankind; wherein they ſhall correct me I will kiſs the Rod and ſuffer with Patience; but if a pack of Hackney Scriblers ſhall attack me only by way of a get-Penny, I ſhall not be provoked to anſwer them be they never ſo ſcurrilous, leſt I be accounted as one of them.