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1820.]

On Vitality and Animal Organization.

When travelling alone, quite forlorn, un

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befriended,

Sweet the hope that To-morrow my
wanderings should cease;

Then at home, when with care sympathe-
tic attended,
[in peace.
I should rest unmolested, and slumber in
When six days of labour each other suc-
ceeding,
[opprest;

When hurry and toil have my spirits
What pleasure to think, as the last is re-
ceding,
[rest.
To-morrow will be a sweet Sabbath of
And when the vaiu shadows of time are
retiring,
[in sight,
When life is fast fleeting, and death is
The Christian believing, exulting, expir-
ing,
[light.
The Infidel, then, sees no joyous To-mor-

Beholds a To-morrow of endless de

row,

Yet he knows that his moments are hasting away;

Poor wretch! can he feel without heartrending sorrow,

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separate existence, so far am I, for my own part, from seeing any just reason to believe, or even to suspect, that, but for its sensible activity (or power of voluntary motion), I do not at all perceive on what valid ground we can pretend to ascribe to any earthly creature the possession of a sentient nature whilst, wherever the former principle is known with certainty to have been imparted, the latter (without the most palpable absurdity) can never be imagined to have been withholden.

But, whether this opinion be or be not well-founded; to talk, in any case whatever, of one specific faculty or quality being superadded to another, has always appeared to me a mode of speaking altogether unphilosophical. For it seems, by necessary implication, to favour the long-exploded doctrine of abstract principles, of faculties and

That his joys and his life will expire qualities subsisting independently of

with To-morrow.

Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

OMICRON.

March 12.

T is laid down in page 2. of the

any actual hypostasis or substance. Whereas, nothing whatever is, in fact, more obviously inconsistent with the suggestions of right reason, than tơ impute to any two classes of living creatures the least essential difference

I Quarterly Review for Nov. 1819, in their several principles of action

"as the most probable conclusion to which our reason can carry us, that life in general is some principle of activity added by the will of Omnipotence to organized structure; and that in man, who is endowed with an intelligent faculty in addition to this principle possessed by other organized beings, to life and structure an immaterial soul is superadded."

Now, highly as I both approve the principles and estimate the talents of this writer, I can by no means induce myself to acquiesce in the correctness of the preceding doctrine. I object to it, in toto, on the following ground, viz. that of the phænomena for which it professes to account, it assigns a cause wholly gratuitous, and unnecessarily complicated. I readily indeed acknowledge, that, of every animal with which we are acquainted, both the active and the perceptive powers and qualities are so intimately conpected with organized structure, as, for their actual exercise, to depend entirely on it. But, that in the instance of any individual inhabitant of earth, either of the above-mentioned properties is ever found in a state of

and perception; without mentally deriving such difference from a correspondent dissimilarity in the ori ginal constitution of their respective

natures.

But, if such essential diversity in the original constitutions (or elementary substances) of different terrestrial animals be thus indisputably certain, why talk, in any case, of one principle or faculty being superadded to another?

Is it not, beyond comparison, more consonant with the spirit and the language of sound philosophy, to conceive and represent all the various properties and powers which distinguish any given class of living beings, as perfectly coeval? (I mean, as all, ab origine, equally inherent in the essence peculiar to their kind ?) than to regard and speak of them as the respective attributes of different generic natures intimately related and combined?

Let us, for the purpose of illustration, instance in the two following completely distinct properties, perception and activity. These two properties (in a higher or lower degree attributable to every animated being)

reason

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Mr. URBAN,

solely on this ground, proceed further T

to regard them as the specific attributes of two substances or natures essentially different?

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If so, I certainly, for my own part, do not see what limits we can rationally set to the actual variety of such substances, which will obviously be required, in order to perfect the constitution of every individual bird or beast that moves upon the surface of this earth; there being, beyond dispute, in every such individual a variety of distinct faculties, instincts, appetites, and passions; which, on the principle of reasoning above advanced, must needs be allowed to indicate, most clearly, a correspondent difference in the elementary substances to which they severally appertain.

If, however, it be once admitted that the striking difference observable in the two properties above referred to affords no kind of rational presumption, that two equally distinct essences are indispensably required for the purpose of completing the specific nature of an eagle or a horse, are we not (by parity of reason) equally constrained to own, that, in the mysterious substance which constitutes the human soul, there may be combined, together with those lower attributes of which man confessedly partakes in common with the rest of the animal creation, the incomparably nobler principles of intellectual ability and moral feeling? And that, without the least impeachment of the soul's simple and homogeneous nature; any more than we can justly be regarded as impeaching the integrity, or perfect soundness of the musical string, merely by ascribing to it its well-known power of producing an infinite variety of tones?

Mr. URBAN,

A. Z.

March 20.

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March 9.

HE dismal apprehensions and angry feelings entertained and expressed with regard to the national debt and taxes, very much diminish the sum of human happiness in this country. The two portraits of a Colony, without and with taxation, sent herewith, I am greatly in hopes, are calculated to assuage the one and allay the other. If so, there can be no means more effectual than through the extensive circulation of your Magazine.

Suppose 2500 families agree to emigrate, and they obtain a grant of land from a parent state. The first rank, we will suppose, to consist of 250 persons, taking with them four thousand pounds each, making a total of one million: the second rank are 500, taking out stores, &c. with a view of becoming traders: the third rank are 1750, mechanics, labourers, &c. each person having as much store as will last till the colony is established. By previous arrangement, all offices, civil, ecclesiastical, &c. are to be administered gratuitously by the upper ranks; the labourers are to prepare the houses of the opulent, and be rewarded by small grants of land for the erection of their own cottages.

All being thus settled, the houses built, and the stores which each individual had taken out for immediate sustenance being exhausted, the two lower ranks of the Colony must now, by traffic or labour, Jook out for future maintenance. The traders have goods to sell; and they, as well as the upper ranks, need the assistance, in various ways, of the labouring people: hence wages are given. The money expended by the upper ranks, either for necessaries purchased of the traders, or for the hire of the lower ranks, now forms the circulating medium of the colony; and, supposing the up. per ranks to live at the rate of 2001. per annum, each family, the circulating medium will be at the end of the first year fifty thousand pounds; of the second, one hundred thousand; and, at the end of twenty years the whole million will have been put into circulation.

Let us now take a view of the state of the settlement at this period. For twenty years all has gone on joyously: no taxes, no tithes, no placemen, no rent, the lowest rank has had plenty

of

1820.]

Effects of National Debt and Taxes.

of employment; the middle rank a constant sale for their commodities; but! --the higher ranks have spent all their money; many of the labourers have, by various means, become unable to work; the middle rank has accumulated all the wealth, and with it all the power. The population may be supposed to be very much increased; the labourers in greater plenty, and consequently worse paid; and all articles of general consumption become, year after year, dearer and dearer, in proportion to the increased circulating medium. There will be a numerous poor, and no provision for them; the ministers, the magistrates, the teachers, will all have become paupers, and their influence gone. Then will arise a peremptory obligation to form some new kind of government: a levy of rates and an imposition of taxes will become inevitable.

The new system must embrace the means of letting and lending, or there will be no retiring: and the toils of commerce can be solaced only by the hope of a tranquil enjoyment of lei sure when life is declining.

Let us now suppose the colony established as before, the same number of persons with the same property. Two years go on in the same manner, and one hundred thousand pounds have been expended by the upper rank, forming then the circulating medium of the colony. At this period they are attacked by the natives on whose territory they have settled; and, being unable to resist, are compelled to treat. The higher ranks lend the whole of their remaining money, and the land is purchased; all the community having agreed to pay their proportion of interest for the sum borrowed; and taxes are accordingly agreed upon. The circulating medium being one hundred thousand pounds, the public debt nine hundred thousand, the taxes at five per cent. will be annually forty-five thousand pounds, which is nine shillings in the pound on the circulating medium. This sum, raised and paid by quarterly dividends, becomes the perpetual support of the higher ranks, being one hundred and eighty pounds per annum for each of the 250 families of the upper rank, which, in a colony where the circulating medium amounts to no more than one hundred thousand pounds,

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will be an ample fortune and which must be continually returned into circulation, they paying taxes equally with the rest of the community, and being neither traffickers nor labourers, must give employment to those that are; and this state of things may continue for ever.

These very 250 persons, having first preserved their country, will now pay twenty thousand two hundred and fifty pounds of the taxes raised for the interest of their own money, furnishing employment for a great proportion of their labouring compatriots, leaving only twenty-four thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds to be raised upon all the other 2250 persons, and the descendants of the whole community. The money that was sent away will make that which remains much more valuable; and commodities will, from time to time, become cheaper and cheaper.

If, instead of a gratuitous administration of the affairs of Government, salaries are appointed, it will cause a quicker circulation of the medium, which must again revert to the traffickers and labourers.

If, instead of borrowing the sum amongst themselves to emancipate their country, they had agreed to pay tribute; and supposing that tribute to be only the saine as the interest, namely, forty-five thousand pounds each year, they would, in little more than twenty-two years, have paid away the whole of their money; would thus have been left without any circulating medium, and would have fed and strengthened their enemies, while they had ruined themselves; whereas, by the establishment of a fund and taxes, they support their friends; they keep alive a constant circulating medium; and they give employment to a great part of the population.

If the public debt becomes transferable, it will hold out a grand stimulus to industrious emulation; for property, acquired by .exertion, will enable the possessor to obtain quietness and repose, while he leaves a void for one more vigorous and young to fill up, and thus it is that the circulation of money not only supports the circulation of human existence; but an imaginary stock, upheld by a nation's solemn engagement, becomes the resting-place of those who have, while

they

they laboured, contributed to its support; and who, in turn, become partakers of the rest which it affords. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

A LOMBARD.

Feb. 17. H Christ Church, Hants, I visited AVING lately passed through

the fine old Conventual Church there, and was extremely gratified by the great improvements made during the last year in that magnificent structure, which now resembles a Cathedral much more than a Parish Church.

A new vaulted roof of stucco, jointed and coloured so as to imitate stone, has been erected in the Nave, after the early pointed style, from the designs of William Garbett, esq. of Winchester; the proportions of which are extremely fine, and the outline peculiarly bold. The rib-mouldings are a continuation of the springers that remained of the old stone-roof, which the inhabitants have a tradition was carried in by the fall of the centre Tower and Spire; and the bosses of foliage at the intersection of the ribs are copied from some fine key-stones in other parts of the Church; so that the general effect is beautiful and antique.

The lengthened perspective from the western door is very fine: and, since the organ, which is placed on the stone screen at the entrance of the Choir, has been reduced several feet in height at the centre of the framework, the whole of the groined roof of the Choir is now visible from the west end of the Church; and the contrast afforded between that elaborate and enriched canopy, and the simple and beautiful groin of the Nave is very striking. The Gothic columns and the mouldings round the windows of the upper or Clerestory tier of arches, as well as the Norman pilasters and columns, &c. of the Nave, have been restored. The fine stone screen under the organ and the gallery, which, unfortunately, was placed upon it 30 years ago, have been cleaned and repaired; they were both painted of a bright blue colour. The screen has been scraped and cleaned and the gallery painted to imitate dark oak wainscot.

In the Choir, which was (excepting the stalls) restored under the direction of the Rev. Wm. Bingley, A. M. with due care and attention, some years ago, great improvements have now

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been made. The fine lace-work carving in wood running round the top of the stalls, which, on the south side, was much injured, and on the north almost entirely destroyed, together with the rich Gothic crockets, or finials, which had been sawn off from the top at some former period, have been replaced. The Sub-Prior's stall has been removed opposite the Prior's, where it originally stood; and its canopy, which was much broken and destroyed, completed in unison with what remained of the original design. At the back of some of the stalls the carving had been taken away, and the vacant places filled up with plain wood: the carvings have now been replaced. The whole of the stalls, together with the altar, rails, &c. &c. have been cleaned, oiled, and varnished. A trumpery painting in watercolours over the unrivalled stone screen behind the high altar, encompassed with a salmon-coloured frame, which was placed there some 50 years ago, has been defaced, and the groundwork of wood coloured the same as the screen,

Many minor improvements have taken place lately in this interesting building; which reflect the greatest credit on the Gentry, Clergy, and Churchwardens of this extensive Parish.

The expence of ceiling the Nave, as the Sexton informed me, amounted to 8004, which was raised by subscription; and that it was now in contemplation to ceil the western and antient tower as the Nave, and to place a flat ceiling on the south transept similar to that on the north.

In the ailes of the Choir and in the Lady Chapel are some fine Chantries, many grave-stones of the Priors, and tombs of benefactors to the Conventual Church; and some very fine modern monuments; particularly one, by Flaxman, to the memory of Lady Fitzharris, and another by Chantry.

In short, Mr. Urban, I was so much delighted with this interesting building, that I could not but regret that my time would not allow me to examine it with more attention.

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P. S. The old Sacristy, which is now the Vestry, presents some curious specimens of antient sculpture, particularly a beautiful head of a female Religieuse. Under the Transepts are subterraneous Chapels, or Crypts.

[ 233 ]:

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS..

38. A short Account of the ancient and modern State of the City and Close of Lichfield. 12mo. pp. 226. Longman

and Co.

of T has long been a source of surprise

"IT has

a city, celebrated for giving birth to several eminent characters, and possessing in itself so many attractions, should be deficient in what other places, of comparatively little interest, furnish to the enquirer, a short account of its beauties and antiquities."

This deficiency is well supplied by the little volume now before us; which, after a good abridgment of the early periods of the history of this antient City, introduce to the principal Videndu.

The "Eminent Characters" form an important portion of the volume. Among these are

"Robert Whittinton, an eminent grammarian, and author of many noted works.

He was with great ceremony created Doctor of Grammar, and crowned with laurel; he was highly esteemed for his learning, and in great favour with Cardinal Wolsey. He styled himself Proto-vates Angliæ; and pretended to cope with Wil. liam Lilly, the greatest Grammarian of his age, in comparison with whom, says Fuller, he was but a crackling thorn." Some of his works were printed in 1524 by Wynken de Worde."

Elias Ashmole was born in Breadmarket-street, May 23, 1617. Gregory King, the laborious herald and antiquary, was born in the parish of St. Chad, Dec. 15, 1648.

"He was son of Gregory King, who practised land surveying and dialling, At the grammar school in Lichfield he learned Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; and in 1662, by the recommendation of Dr. Hunter, was received as clerk to Dugdale, the celebrated antiquary, whom he accompanied in his visitations, taking with him blank shields of arms, which he filled up for such as desired them; he afterwards became archæ ological secretary to Lord Hatton. Returning to his native place in 1669, he employed himself in teaching writing and accounts, painting arms and signs, &c. Becoming Rouge Dragon, Lancaster Herald, and Deputy Garter King at Arms, he conducted several installations of knights: he died at London, and was buried in the church of St. Bennet, Paul's wharf, where there is an inscription to his memory:" GENT. MAG. March, 1820.

Bishops Wetenhall, Smalridge, Talbot, and Newton, were natives of Lichfield; as were John Rowley, the celebrated mathematician, and inventor of the Orrery; Dr. Samuel Johnson,

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loger; and (in his profession) the not less eminent David Garrick.

Sir John Floyer, Knt. F. R. S. physician to Charles II. was born at Hints, and resided at Lichfield.

"He was one of the first to notice the pulsation of the arteries, and is supposed to be the person alluded to in the fifteenth number of the Tatler*.

"Amongst other works, he published, in 1702, the ancient Psycrolusia revived, or an Essay on Cold-Bathing

"He caused baths to be erected at Unites well, a remarkably cold spring, which rises out of a rock near the summit of a hill at the Abenhalls, to which he gave the name of St. Chad's Bath.

"He died in 1733, and bequeathed his library to Queen's College, Oxford.

"Dr. Darwin, afterwards becoming possessed of the baths at Abenhalls, formed a botanic garden; which, under his skilful hands, assumed a form of the greatest beauty. After leaving the baths, the stream was conducted by several falls of highly picturesque appearance to a small pool surrounded by a shrubbery, through whose thickets were wound a mazy path, having, to the stranger, all the effect of an extensive wilderness.

"The following inscription was over the entrance of a grotto:

"If the meek flower of bashful dye
Attract not thy incurious eye;
If the soft murmuring rill to rest,
Encharm not thy tumultuous breast,
Go, where Ambition lures the vain,
Or Avarice barters peace for gain."

"Dr. Darwin resided several years Lichfield, and formed a Botanical Society, of which Sir Brooke Boothby, Bart, well known by his poetical publications, and The translation of the "Linnæan System Mr. Jackson, a proctor, were members. of Vegetables," and "The Families of Plants, were the productions of this society."

In the description of the Marketstreet we are told, that

"On the South side is the house of the

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