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A PLAN for a TOWN and TOWNSHIP, to be laid out within the Compass of ONE SQUARE MILE, or 640 Acres.

Containing 40 Town Lots, for Planters or Farmers, having large Out Lots beyond the Township [...] also Town Lots for 4 Public Officers, and for 132 Troulesmen, Clerks, Artificers, Fishermen, Seamen or Labourers, in all 176 Town Lots, with small Outlots, of a Quarter of a Square Furlong, or 2 ½ Acres each, for the said▪ Officers, Labourers & within 1/4 of a Mile from each side of the Town.

A GENERAL PLAN FOR LAYING OUT TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS, ON THE NEW-ACQUIRED LANDS IN THE EAST INDIES, AMERICA, OR ELSEWHERE;

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In order to promote Cultivation, and raiſe the Value of all the adjoining Land, at the Price of giving gratis the Town-Lots, and, in ſome Caſes (as in new Colonies), alſo the ſmall Out-Lots, to the firſt Settlers and their Heirs, ſo long as they poſſeſs no other Land; and on other equitable Conditions.

1794.

EXPLANATION OF THE ANNEXED PLAN.

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THE town (diſtinguiſhed by being coloured red) is contained in a ſquare, each ſide of which is 4 furlongs, or half a mile; having a ſquare furlong, or 10 acres, in the centre, appropriated to public offices (viz. a church, town-hall, guard-houſe, ſeparate penitentiary lots (or priſons) for males and females; alſo ſchools for each ſex, and a public caravanſera for ſtrangers and travellers, under the control of the conſtable on guard by rotation). The Breadth of the ſtreets and highways is propoſed to be the 8th part of a furlong, or 82 feet 6 inches; which will allow room for aquaducts wherever ſtreams of water can be in⯑troduced from ſuperior levels, and alſo room for planting ranges of ſpreading trees to ſhelter the foot⯑paths. And as the bounds of each ſquare furlong meet in the centre of the ſtreets, meaſured from the 4 external edges or ſides of the town (coloured red), which are diſtant, each from its oppoſite ſide, 4 com⯑plete furlongs, or half a mile (4 inches by the ſcale), theſe external edges or lines of the town and the ſtreets muſt be firſt laid out, that the remaining ſpace, in each ſquare furlong of the town, may be divided into town-lots in equal proportions, viz. 2 oppoſite ſides of the town are appropriated to large town-lots of nearly one acre each for PLANTERS or FARMERS; [4]and as theſe large town-lots commence from the ex⯑ternal edge of the town (and not from the centre of the ſtreets, like the ſmall town-lots), their length will be a complete half furlong, or 330 feet: In their breadth there will be ſome variation: The uppermoſt and undermoſt diviſions of ſquare furlongs, being meaſured from the external edges, or red lines, at the top and bottom of the town (as repreſented in this Plan), have a deduction of 41 feet 3 inches for half the width of the ſtreet on one ſide only; which, ſubtracted from 660 feet, the breadth of the furlong, leaves a ſpace of 618 feet 9 inches for the breadth of 5 lots: Which ſpace divided by 5 allows the breadth of each PLANTER'S TOWN-LOT, in the uppermoſt and lowermoſt diviſions to be 123 feet 9 inches includ⯑ing the fences; and the PLANTERS town-lots, in the 4 central diviſions (as the central diviſions have a ſtreet on 2 ſides), muſt loſe 82 feet 6 inches from the width of each furlong, which being firſt deducted from the 660 feet leave a breadth of only 577 feet 6 inches to be divided into 5 equal parts, whereby the width of the PLANTERS lots in the 4 central diviſions, is reduced to 115 feet 6 inches each, including the fences.

The ſize of the ſmall town-lots will alſo unavoid⯑ably vary, and be of two different dimenſions as to their breadth, though all are of equal length: For as they are meaſured from the centre of each ſquare furlong to the centre of the ſtreets, a deduction of 41 feet 3 inches (half the width of the ſtreets) muſt be made from the length of half a furlong, or 330 feet, which reduces the length of each lot to 288 feet 9 inches. And 41 feet 3 inches being alſo deducted [5]from the breadth of the uppermoſt and loweſt ranges of ſquare furlongs, for half the width of the ſtreet, on one ſide of each furlong, the ſpace for the width of 6 lots is thereby reduced to 618 feet 9 inches, which divided by 6 gives 103 feet 1 inch and half, for the width of each lot, including the fences: And 82 feet 6 inches being deducted from the central diviſions, for half the width of the ſtreets on 2 ſides of each diviſion, or ſquare furlong, reduce the ſpace for 6 lots to 577 feet 6 inches, which divided by 6 gives only 96 feet 3 inches for the width of the ſmall town⯑lots in the central diviſions, including their reſpective fences.

N. B. In old ſettled countries, where land is al⯑ready of conſiderable value, it is not to be ſuppoſed that the proprietors of land can be induced to give gratis more than the ſmall town-lots of half an acre and a few poles each, which with the roads and ſtreets will amount to about 120 acres to be given gratis out of 2560 acres, or leſs than 4 ¾ per cent.; and the improved value of the remaining eſtate, moſt cer⯑tainly, will amply repay the donation; as the value of land is generally doubled by the proximity of a town.

And as even this laſt propoſed donation of 120 acres will be much too large a venture for land⯑holders in general to riſque in ſuch an experiment; it is neceſſary to remark, that they may proceed on the half of this plan, quite as effectually, by dividing the town and townſhip in the centre, whereby the land to be given gratis, or granted in freehold to the ſettlers, will not exceed 60 acres: And even with this [6]large reduction of the plan, ſpace will be reſerved for the families of 20 farmers or planters and of 68 ar⯑tificers or labourers; and as the line of diviſion in this latter mode will paſs through the centre ſquare of the preſent plan, 6 additional ſmall town-lots may be formed in the ſpace of half the ſquare, and half of the public lots around it, which will enable the town, upon the whole, to contain 94 houſeholds. And if 6 cottages for labourers be added at the outer gates or avenues of the eſtate, the community will form a complete hundred of houſeholders, which is a very reſpectable body of people for maintaining peace and good order according to the common law of England.

Whenever only one half of the plan is adopted, the ſide where the central line of diviſion is made muſt be placed next to the water (whether the ſea or river, creek or canal), and care muſt be taken that a ſuf⯑ficient ſtrand, or ſpace of common land, be reſerved be⯑tween the town and the water, that all the inhabit⯑ants may have equal acceſs to the water-ſide.

PROOF OF THE MEASUREMENTS.
  • In one Quarter of the Town.
    • 5 Large town-lots (marked A. B. C. D. and E.) of 330 Feet - Inches by 115 Feet 6 Inches or = 0 Acs. 3 Rds. 20 Pis. each = Amounting together to 4 Acres 1 Roods 20 Poles
    • 5 Do. do. (marked F. G. H. I. and K.) of 330 Feet - Inches by 123 Feet 9 Inches or = 0 Acs. 3 Rds. 30 Pis. each = Amounting together to 4 Acres 1 Roods 30 Poles
    • 15 Small town-lots (numbered 1 to 3 of 288 Feet 9 Inches by 96 Feet 3 Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 22 Pis. 907/10890 1-half = Amounting together to 9 Acres 2 Roods 11 Poles 2722/10890 1-half
    • 15 Small town-lots (numbered 10 to 15 and of 288 Feet 9 Inches by 96 Feet 3 Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 22 Pis. 907/10890 1-half = Amounting together to 9 Acres 2 Roods 11 Poles 2722/10890 1-half
    • 15 Small town-lots (numbered 22 to 27 of 288 Feet 9 Inches by 96 Feet 3 Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 22 Pis. 907/10890 1-half = Amounting together to 9 Acres 2 Roods 11 Poles 2722/10890 1-half
    • 18 Do. do. (numbered 4 to 9 of 288 Feet 9 Inches by 103 Feet 1½ Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 29 Pis. 4083/10890 3-4ths. = Amounting together to 12 Acres 1 Roods 8 Poles 8167/10890 1-half
    • 18 Do. do. (numbered 16 to 21 and of 288 Feet 9 Inches by 103 Feet 1½ Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 29 Pis. 4083/10890 3-4ths. = Amounting together to 12 Acres 1 Roods 8 Poles 8167/10890 1-half
    • 18 Do. do. (numbered 28 to 33 of 288 feet 9 Inches by 103 Feet 1½ Inches or = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 29 Pis. 4083/10890 3-4ths. = Amounting together to 12 Acres 1 Roods 8 Poles 8167/10890 1-half
    • 1 Public lot in one quarter of the central ſquare is 3 Acres 2 Roods 0 Poles
    • 44 Town lots in one quarter of the town 33 Acres 1 Rood 30 Poles
    Meaſurement of the Streets in one Quarter of the Town.
    • Half the width of the centre ſtreet (horizontal on the Plan) from the middle gate (on the Eaſt, or right hand) to the public ground in the central furlong 990 Feet 0 Inches by 41 Feet 3 Inches = 0 Acs. 3 Rds. 30 Pis.
    • The whole of the next parallel ſtreet below, from the ſide of the town to the centre of the middle croſs-ſtreet 1320 Feet 0 Inches by 82 Feet 6 Inches = 2 Acs. 2 Rds. 0 Pis.
    • The upper part of the croſſing-ſtreet in the centre of the quarter, meaſured from the corners of the lots at each end 577 Feet 6 Inches by 82 Feet 6 Inches = 1 Acs. 0 Rds. 15 Pis.
    • The lower part of do. do. do. 618 Feet 9 Inches by 82 Feet 6 Inches = 1 Acs. 0 Rds. 27 Pis. 5445/10890 or ½
    • Half the width of the upper part of the croſs-ſtreet in the centre of the town, meaſured from the corners of the lots 288 Feet 9 Inches by 41 Feet 3 Inches = 0 Acs. 1 Rds. 3 Pis. 8167/10890 1-hf. or ¾
    • Half the width of the lower part of do. do. 618 Feet 9 Inches by 41 Feet 3 Inches = 0 Acs. 2 Rds. 13 Pis. 8167/10890 or ¾
    • 6 Acres 2 Rood 10 Poles
  • In 4 quarters of the ſame, as above, containing 176 lots, viz. for
    • 4 public officers
    • 40 planters or farmers
    • 132 labourers, tradeſmen, &c.
    multiply by 4
  • 176
  • Total of acres in the whole town of half a mile ſquare 160 Acres 0 Rood 0 Poles
  • Number of acres in the whole town (coloured red) being half a mile ſquare 160 Acres
  • The leſſer TOWNSHIP of ſmall Out-Lots, extending 2 Furlongs from each Side of the Town. In one Quarter of the leſſer Townſhip.
  • 34 Out-lots of 2 ½ acres each, meaſured to the centre of the adjoining roads 85 Acres
  • 1 Square furlong of common land interſected by the diagonal road 10 Acres
  • 1 Quarter of a ſquare furlong of do. do. do. 2 ½ Acres
  • 1 Quarter of the common land adjoining the ſides of the town 22 ½ Acres
  • Total of the common land in one quarter 35 Acres
  • Total of all the land in one quarter of the leſſer townſhip 120 Acres
  • multiply by 4
  • In four ſuch quarters of the leſſer townſhip, extending two furlongs from the ſides of the town 480 Acres
  • The whole town and leſſer townſhip in one ſquare mile contain acres 640 Acres
  • A farther extenſion from the leſſer townſhip of ½ a mile, for 10 large out-lots of 40 acres each, to be added on the outſide of one quarter, with 70 acres of reſerved land and a common of 10 acres 480 acres.
  • multiply by 4
  • And if a like extenſion be made on the outſide of all the 4 quarters of the townſhip, it will include 192 ſquare fur⯑longs of 10 acres each, which will allow room for 40 farms of 40 acres each, with a proportionable quantity of common and reſerved lands, that may be afterwards wanted for other purpoſes 1920 acres.
  • Add the contents of the central town, and its leſſer townſhip of ſmall out-lots in one ſquare mile 640
  • Total: In a ſquare diſtrict of 2 miles, containing
    • town
    • townſhip
    • farms
    2560 acres.

[9] Conditions on which the Grants of Land ſhould be made, for the peaceable Regulation of the ſeveral Towns or Communities.

THE Proprietors of the land ſhould give, gratis, to each male ſettler, of good moral character, and of ability to labour, one ſmall town-lot; and, in new ſettlements where few labourers can be pro⯑cured, alſo one of the ſmall out-lots of 2½ acres, gratis, ſo long as they poſſeſs no other land, but no longer; for ſtrict proviſion ſhould be made in the grants, that no man ſhall hold 2 lots in the ſame town, even if an additional lot ſhould fall to him by inheritance, or be acquired in any other way (for that would deſtroy the ſafety of the town, by de⯑creaſing the number of inhabitants); and that no lot which had once been given gratis ſhould, ever afterwards, be either ſold, or let at rent, to any under-tenant, or be added to any other lot, on the penalty of forfeiture to the firſt granter or granters, or to their heirs or ſucceſſors, to be by them once more beſtowed for the ſame benevolent purpoſe, on ſome other induſtrious tradeſman, or labourer, who has no other land already in poſſeſſion, that the num⯑ber and ſtrength of the little community may be maintained: And if the firſt granter, &c. ſhould neglect ſuch diſpoſal of any forfeited or vacant lot, more than 12 months, the right of diſpoſal, as above, ſhould lapſe, and be veſted in the houſe⯑holders of the town where the forfeiture is incurred, according to the election of the majority of them in common council aſſembled.

But though the ſettlers may not ſell, let, or en⯑large their lots, when they acquire other lands [10]either by inheritance or otherwiſe, yet they may, nevertheleſs, be allowed to preſent in free gift, the poſſeſſion of their lots (when ſo vacated by addi⯑tional landed property elſewhere), on the ſame limited terms, to any perſon whom they ſhall think proper to elect, provided ſuch perſon hath not already any other land in poſſeſſion.

But with reſpect to the larger town-lots for planters or farmers, marked A, B, C, D, &c. they may be as appendages, or homeſteds, to the farms, or large out-lots, extending beyond the leſſer townſhip, and of courſe they may be let, or ſold, with thoſe farms, as the proprietors or granters of the land may think beſt for their own advantage. And ſo likewiſe with reſpect to the ſmall out-lots in the leſſer townſhip, when⯑ever the proprietors of the land ſhall have reſerved to themſelves that power in their original grants.

And for the ſafety and happineſs of each commu⯑nity, the land ſhould be granted on the farther eſpe⯑cial condition, that the ſettlers ſhall promiſe to keep watch and ward by rotation of militia ſervice, under their own elected chiefs, that they may duly main⯑tain PEACE, JUSTICE, and COMMON RIGHT, in their reſpective communities and folkmotes, according to the common law of England in FRANKPLEDGE, which is the only effectual mode of obtaining law, peace, and good government, without expence.

A DESCRIPTION OF FRANKPLEDGE.

FRANKPLEDGE is an ancient patriarchal mode of ar⯑ranging the families, or rather houſeholds, of a nation, [11]in numerical diviſions of TENS (or tythings), FIFTIES, HUNDREDS (or wappentacs), and THOUSANDS * of houſeholders, or maſters of families, including all that either rent a houſe by the year (on which the right of [12] burgage tenure in England is founded), or live in their own houſes, and pay their due proportion of public expences.

All ſuch, by this moſt ancient and ſalutary ſyſtem, were required to pledge each other; and to pledge, (or be reſponſible) for every other individual, living under their reſpective roofs; whereby all perſons were rendered moſt completely, and readily, amenable to JUST LAWS (an indiſpenſable condition of LI⯑BERTY; becauſe, neither LIBERTY, nor JUSTICE, can walk upright and ſecure, unleſs they go hand in [13]hand) for every breach of the public peace, or for any breach even of common morality, or decency, that could be deemed hurtful or inconvenient to others in the judgment of an impartial jury of neighbours, ſubject to the previous challenge of the perſons ac⯑cuſed (or indited), in ſo full and effectual a manner, as to exclude all ſuſpicion of partiality; and this under MAGISTRATES and PUBLIC OFFICERS freely elected by the HOUSEHOLDERS of every diſtrict, for ſhort pro⯑bationary terms of power, never exceeding 12 months, without re-election by a majority of the HOUSEHOLDERS over whom, reſpectively, their dele⯑gated power extended.

It was a juſt and wiſe principle of the ancient con⯑ſtitution of England, to veſt ALL ELECTION-RIGHTS in the HOUSEHOLDERS, paying ſcot and lot (or the ordinary public rates); but a farther extenſion of the franchiſe to every individual of the community (which ſome well-meaning friends to reformation have pro⯑poſed) would be a vain innovation, that might per⯑haps prove as dangerous as it is, certainly, inexpedient and needleſs; becauſe the ancient conſtitution of FRANK⯑PLEDGE (which veſted the right of election in the houſeholders alone) is diſtinguiſhed in the law-books * [...]y the peculiar ſtyle of SUMMA ET MAXIMA SECU⯑ [...]ITAS (the chief and greateſt ſecurity), a title juſtly [...]unded on the practical experience of ages. And [...]erefore, though the firſt plants to be cultivated in [...] colonies and communities are, moſt certainly, the [14]ſacred plants of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, and LI⯑BERTY, yet even theſe indiſpenſable plants cannot ſo effectually take root and flouriſh, as when the happy ſoil of their cultivation is previouſly fenced by the eſtabliſhment of FRANKPLEDGE with a due prac⯑tical knowledge of NATURAL AND REVEALED RE⯑LIGION (the two firſt foundations of Engliſh law), con⯑trary to which no cuſtom, maxim, or even ſtatute can be legal, according to the common law of England; which is only common ſenſe, improved by the written revelation of GOD'S LAWS in the Holy Scriptures.

So indiſpenſable to the conſtitution of England was FRANKPLEDGE deemed by our anceſtors, that they juſtly required "THE VIEW OF FRANKPLEDGE," by an expreſs article of their great charter (chap. 35.) ‘to be at the feaſt of St. Michael without occa⯑ſion,’ i. e. without waiting for any other circum⯑ſtance to authoriſe the view, than the mere annual return of Michaelmas, the uſual ſeaſon of holding it: And "THE TRYTHING" (by the ſame high au⯑thority) is required to "be wholly kept" (or ‘main⯑tained entire) as it uſed to be’ (‘trithing a teneatur [...] integra ſicut eſſe conſuevit’); becauſe the efficacy of FRANKPLEDGE, in the ready adminiſtration o [...] juſtice without expence, depends chiefly on holding "THE TRYTHING," which is the monthly COUR [...] LEET of "three or more hundreds" joined together or, more generally, THE COURT LEET of a third pa [...] of a ſhire, or RIDING; derived from TRYTHING * [15]and as both FRANKPLEDGE and the TRYTHING are thus, expreſly, required by MAGNA CHARTA, they may lawfully be eſtabliſhed wherever a legal Engliſh government is maintained; without any farther au⯑thority than the vote or agreement of a majority of the houſeholders in each diſtrict.

GRANVILLE SHARP.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR, TO A GENTLEMAN IN THE EAST INDIES.

[17]

FROM ſome late determinations in the courts of Bengal againſt Slave Dealers, and oppreſſors of the poor labouring natives (accounts of which have been publiſhed in our Engliſh newſpapers), the Public here, in general, are well ſatisfied that the poor natives in India are free, and receive wages for their labour: And, conſequently, all the moſt ſteady friends to the meaſure of aboliſhing the Slave Trade are ſolicitous to promote the uſe and ſale of Eaſt India Sugar, in preference to that which is cultivated by Slaves elſewhere: So that you may be aſſured that the Sugar Trade from India may be immenſely increaſed, and the value of the new-acquired lands in India may be amply advanced for the benefit of the Hon. Eaſt India Company (or of the proprietors of Eaſt Indian lands in general), if due care be taken by the Company's agents and ſervants to ſatisfy Europeans that the Eaſt India Sugar continues to be really the produce of free labour: And care muſt alſo be taken to prevent Weſt Indian adventurers, or others, from forming plantations in any of the new-acquired [18]Indian lands (now become Britiſh territory) on any other plan, than that of free labour; that the baneful and iniquitous practice of ‘exacting la⯑bour without wages’ may be effectually prevented, and be duly deemed as deteſtable among men, as it is, certainly, abominable in the ſight of God! All impoſing contracts for labour ſhould alſo be vigilantly guarded againſt by the adminiſtrators of government in the ſeveral Indian departments; for, next after the abolition of the Slave Trade and Slavery, the moſt important conſideration certainly is, how to place the poor labouring natives of India in ſuch a happy ſtate of permanent eſtabliſh⯑ment, as may inſure to them a general ſubſiſtence independent of the caprice and injuſtice of mono⯑polizers, and the graſping ſpeculations of merce⯑nary adventures; and yet, with ſuch moderation in this little elevation of their condition, that they may ſtill feel ſufficient inducement to prompt their induſtry for the public good. To this point I have lately turned my thoughts, and have reaſon to think, that it may eaſily be effected, not only to the advantage and ſecurity of the induſtrious poor, and to the general promotion of trade in the numerous articles which the labourers, by [...] little elevation of their condition, will be enabled to purchaſe; but alſo, at the ſame time, to th [...] very great advantage and profit of the rich. I mean thoſe that have much landed property, and have thereby the power of carrying ſuch a plan into execution. For by granting a very ſmall propor⯑tion [19]of their lands to induſtrious labourers, upon the conditions I have propoſed in the incloſed paper, they will be enabled to raiſe the value of all the reſt of their lands: For by this means they will never be at a loſs, either for free labourers to cultivate whatever parts of their eſtates they ſhall chuſe to continue in their own hands, or for a ſufficient number of well-known people among them, of approved induſtry, that may be truſted to contract, as renters, for the cultivation of the remainder of their eſtates in ſmall portions, or farms, ſuited to their reſpective abilities, and at their own riſque. And, by the ſame means (I am perſuaded), the value of the new-acquired lands in India may be exceedingly enhanced, as well for the advantage of the natives as for the Hon. Eaſt India Company, and of all their agents and ſervants, in caſe the latter ſhould be per⯑mitted to realize their fortunes (acquired in India) by inveſtments of landed property, purchaſed either of the Company, or of the native proprietors; eſpecially as the increaſing demand for Eaſt Indian Sugar affords great encouragement for cultivating lands in India; and there are many other branches of huſbandry, hitherto neglected in India, as the planting of ſago trees, and a variety of other va⯑luable productive vegetables, which would enrich the occupiers of land; and amply aſſord a due compence to the induſtrious labourers.

I am aware, however, that my propoſal, in the [...]ncloſed paper, of eſtabliſhing Frankpledge among [20]the Indian nations, will be charged with objections too commonly deemed inſuperable by Europeans that have dwelt among them, and who, therefore, ought to be beſt acquainted with their diſpoſitions. The inveterate prejudices of the Gentoos, con⯑cerning the (imaginary) inſcrutable antiquity of the Braminical traditions, and their (ſuppoſed) unalienable attachment to their religion, will be alleged. But how ſhall we venture to rely on the experience and conſequent opinions of moſt of the Europeans that have lived among them, in a point, which they are ſo far from having attempt⯑ed to inveſtigate with candour, that many of them, through a lamentable neglect or ignorance of chriſtianity and ancient hiſtory, have rather been inclined blindly to adopt, than to confute, the ab⯑ſurdities of Gentooiſm?

One Engliſh gentleman, though he is neither de⯑ficient in underſtanding nor in experience and knowledge of the manners and diſpoſitions of the Gentoos, has very gravely informed us of a great ſimilarity between the Moſaical Laws and thoſe of the Gentoos. But this gentleman (whoſe be⯑nevolent intentions I do not at all queſtion, or even ſuſpect) has not been ſufficiently aware o [...] "the myſtery of iniquity, and the working of Satan," the great "deceiver of the nations!" For all tru [...] religion is uniform in righteouſneſs and in juſtice▪ Whereas the code of laws, which he has commend⯑ed, abounds with injuſtice, falſehood, and cruel oppr [...]ſ⯑ſion of the poor, though ſome faint traces of juſtice an [...] [21]morality may ſeem to be diſperſed among theſe laws for the more eaſy ſeduction of indiſcriminate people, as ‘Satan will always endeavour to appear as an Angel of Light,’ and all his votaries wear a maſk of very oppoſite features from thoſe that are hid by it! But ſome even of the very laws which are included in this gentleman's publica⯑tion, and which are, thereby, expoſed to the light of truth and common ſenſe, afford ample confu⯑tation of his own remark; for by theſe it appears, that the Gentoo laws proceed by a ſeven-fold pro⯑portion of IN-EQUITY (i. e. a numerical perfection of IN-IQUITY), extorting from the poor Sooders fines of ſeven times the value that are required of the Bramins for the very ſame offences; though the Laws of God, declared by Moſes (to which they have been very injudiciouſly compared), abſolutely prohibit any reſpect of perſons in judgment. And notwithſtanding the pretended mildneſs of theſe laws, yet the cloven foot is apparent; for the Sooder is doomed to be burned alive for fornication with a Bramin woman, even though ſhe ſhould have been proved the firſt ſeducer; whereas the Bramin, for the abominable and irreparable injury to a female Sooder, even of a violent rape, is let off for a ſmall fine! And this deteſtable and enormous iniquity is even eſtabliſhed by an ac⯑knowledged law! Nay there is an expreſs law to inſure to the Bramins the groſs privilege (which they claim for the indulgence of their luſt) that ‘it is lawful for a Bramin to tell a lie to deceive a [22]woman.’ And yet with all theſe abominable pri⯑vileges, bad as they are, their iniquity is ſtill aggravated by the blaſphemous falſehood, that their deceitful caſt ‘proceeded from the mouth of the Creator, other caſts from inferior parts of his body, and the Sooders from the ſoles of his fect.’ Satan could not ſuggeſt a more malicious calumny againſt, the divine juſtice! It is ſo evident a token of "the myſtery of iniquity and "working of Satan," that we need not ſearch farther in the Gentoo Laws for the declared "Doctrines of De⯑mons," the two revealed marks of "the myſtery of iniquity" by which Chriſtians are warned to know "the man of ſin," or [...], the lawleſs one, that was to prevail in the Roman Empire in the latter times, viz. "forbidding to marry," and ‘com⯑manding to abſtain from meats, &c.’—though the poor Gentoos are alſo grievouſly injured and de⯑luded by the laſt of theſe marks. For as the inter⯑poſition of "deluding ſpirits" is manifeſted, in the apoſtate church of the Roman Empire, by the open aſſumption of a pagan title of prieſthood, PONTIFEX, and, ſtill more eſpecially, by that moſt preſumptuous title of pretended infallibility, and univerſal dominion, PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, through which this dangerous uſurper of unli⯑mited power (under the maſque of religion) be⯑came the true "image of the beaſt," the former IMPERIAL PONTIFICES, or Heathen Emperors, who did not more haughtily ſuppreſs the natural rights of mankind than did their ſucceſſors the PAPAL [23]PONTIFICES, in proclaiming Cruſades, and in ex⯑citing lawleſs Princes to wage bloody and deſtruc⯑tive wars againſt all perſons that oppoſed their image worſhip, and other antichriſtian corruptions; and in eſtabliſhing bloody inquiſitions to maintain this horrible tyranny! So the ſame unnatural in⯑terpoſition may as evidently be traced to its ſpiritual ſource by the baneful fruits and bloody track of inquiſitorial cruelty and tyranny manifeſted in the Laws of the Bramins lately publiſhed; as the cutting off the ‘buttock of a Sooder, for ſitting on the carpet of a Bramin! the cramming a red-hot iron into their mouths for repeating any words of the Beads or Shaſter!’ and the pouring hot wax into their ears for ſitting to hear them read! If the Beads contained any good, it would be con⯑ſummate Popery, thus to prohibit the communi⯑cation of what is good from the vulgar, like the univerſal prohibition of the Scriptures in the ver⯑nacular tongues wherever the beaſt prevails! But there can be no doubt, if the Sooders were duly protected by government from the fear of ſuch frightful penalties, that they would not be back⯑ward to acknowledge their juſt and equal claims to all the rights of mankind. And I need only men⯑tion theſe ſevere laws as ample and ſufficient proofs to confute the prejudices of gentlemen infallibly experienced (as they ſuppoſe) by their reſidence in India, reſpecting the imaginary unalienable attach⯑ment of the Hindoos to their falſe religion; for unleſs the Bramins themſelves had known that the [24]other Hindoos were much inclined to think them⯑ſelves equally men with the Bramins, and to be, thereby, entitled to all equal rights and natural juſtice, they would not have diſgraced their code of laws with ſuch enormities! Frankpledge is the only ſafe mode of reſtoring theſe poor people to their juſt rights, and it was neceſſary for me, thus far, to guard againſt the obvious objections that would be made by many gentlemen who preſume much on their own experimental knowledge of the Gentoos.

I remain, with ſincere eſteem, DEAR SIR, Your affectionate friend, And obliged humble ſervant, G. S.
Notes
*

See Deut. i. 13-15. "Take ye" (or rather, according to the Hebrew, "CHUSE YE to YOURSELVES") ‘wiſe men and un⯑derſtanding, and known among your tribes’ (which neceſſarily im⯑plies that the tribes were to nominate), "and I" (ſaid Moſes) "will make them rulers over you" (i. e. the returns of the elections were to be made to Moſes, and he was to inveſt the elected with public authority); "and ye" (ſaid Moſes) ‘anſwered me and ſaid, The thing which thou haſt ſpoken (is) good (for us) to do.’ (Thus Moſes, like a good politician, and faithful public miniſter under God, declared the free aſſent of the people, whereby the important meaſure he himſelf had propoſed of eſtabliſhing Frank⯑pledge by the advice of Jethro, was enacted, and became a public law, or ſtatute, of that nation (Iſrael), as much as it has been enacted to Engliſhmen by MAGNA CHARTA). "So I took" (ſaid Moſes) "the chief of your tribes, wiſe men and known" (that is, "known among the tribes," as expreſſed in the 13th verſe) which neceſſary qualification could not fairly be aſcertained, unleſs the known men were really returned, or named, to Moſes, as ſuch, by the tribes themſelves), "and made them heads over you, captains" (or heads) "over THOUSANDS, and captains over HUNDREDS" (what we call hundreders, or high conſtables), ‘and captains over FIFTIES, and captains over TENS’ (or tythingmen), ‘and officers among your tribes.’

Thus it appears that the officers in general, from the colonel or captain of a thouſand (whether of individuals or families), down to the ſerjeant, conſtable, or tythingman, were recommended, or rather nominated by the people, before they were inveſted with authority by Moſes.

"And I (ſaid Moſes) charged your JUDGES at that time" (whereby it muſt of courſe be underſtood that the JUDGES alſo had been previouſly nominated by the people, as ‘wiſe men and under⯑ſtanding, and known among the tribes,’ agreeable to the pre⯑ceding enacted propoſal); ‘ſaying, hear (the cauſes) between your brethren, and judge righteouſly between (every) man and his brother, and the ſtranger (that is) with him. YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS IN JUDGMENT.’ (Deut. i. 9—17.) Com⯑pare this with Deut. xvi. 18. ‘Judges and officers ſhalt thou GIVE TO THYSELF in all thy gates throughout thy tribes, and they ſhall judge the people with JUST JUDGMENT, &c. and the rule for JUST JUDGMENT is NOT TO RESPECT PERSONS IN JUDG⯑MENT.’ But the colonial legiſlators, in all the European ſettlements of America and the Weſt Indies, in order to favour and tolerate ſlavery, have ſuppreſſed this indiſpenſable rule for "JUST JUDGMENT," for otherwiſe that abominable pagan op⯑preſſion, ſlavery (which had been gradually aboliſhed through the happy influence of Chriſtianity), could not have been renewed under governments which ſtill call themſelves chriſtian! But this hateful mark of reprobacy and delinquency of the nations, or rather "of the fulneſs of the Gentiles," I mean the baneful re⯑newal of pagan ſlavery, will ſurely draw down upon the guilty nations a ſevere retribution from that Supreme Judge, who ‘I [...] NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS IN JUDGMENT,’ if they cannot find leiſure from their bloody wars and deſtructive oppreſſions, for repentance! For the Divine retribution is clearly revealed in the Scriptures, that it will be "meaſure for meaſure;" that ‘ [...] that leadeth into captivity ſhall be led into captivity: He that killeth with the ſword muſt be killed with the ſword:’ For the AL⯑MIGHTY has promiſed to "DESTROY them who DESTHOY the "earth!"

*
See Lambard's Archionomia, inter Leges Edwardi Regis, [...].20. de [...]ibergis, where FRANKPLEDGE is more particularly ex⯑ [...]ed.
*
See Camden's Britannia, Biſhop Gibſon's edition, p. 8 [...] As the word riding is allowed to be derived from trything, i [...] very probable that ruding has alſo the ſame etymology. See alſo "Leges Edwardi Regis," cap. 34. de TRITHINGIS & LEDIS.
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