III. When the Money fubfcribed shall amount to the Sum of 5000?. a Houfe to be built on a convenient Spot, at or near London, to be called the MERITORIOUS MANSION, wherein the Trustees, for this Fund for Happiness may meet and do Bufinefs; who fhall confift of Six LADIES and SIX GENTLEMEN, of Probity and Honour, to be first appointed by the PROJECTOR hereof, continuing their Office for a Year, and then others to be chofen by a Majority of the laft in Office. If any Lady or Gentleman Trustee fhould happen to die within the Year of her or his Office, another Trufice is to be forthwith chofen by the Majority of the Survivors of that TRUST. IV. The Refidue of the Money, over and above what is expended in Building this MERITORIOUS MANSION, fhall be lent out on Intereft, or granted, according to the Difcretion of the Trustees, to fuch honeft and industrious Tradesmen and others, in Neceflity, whofe approved Recommendations and Characters fhall entitle them to this Help, on their own Security. Who, after a certain Time, fhall be obliged to return the Money, lent them, in Cafe of their Profperity, for the Ufe and Benefit of others; who, ftill meeting with Difficulty or Misfortunes, but giving Proof of their Fidelity and Industry, fhall not be oppreffed for the Payment; but fhall be excufed the Debt, if the Trustees fhall think fo fit; and alfo be farther affifted. But, if they waftefully, neglectfully, and wilfully fquander and mifapply the Money lent, or given them, defigned for their Benefit, they fhall be cut off from all farther Charity and Affiftance. And Gifts fhall be bestowed, at the Discretion of the Trustees, and a public and printed Account given of the fame, to all Perfons of remarkable Merit, doing confiderable Acts of Virtue deferving Encouragement and Reward; on fufficient and uudoubted Proof thereof, and having their Characters duly afcertained. V. A Lift of the Subfcribers and Benefactor's Names, to this Fund for Happiness, to be annually printed in Alphabetical Order, with the feveral Sums fubfcribed thereto, and the Ufes to which applied, and when, in a Book to be delivered to every Benefactor or Subfcriber, contributing in that Year the Sum of one Guinea for the good Ends propofed. In which annual Book fhall be contained an Account of all Gifts beftowed, the Purpofes, with Money lent, and for what Purpofes; with the Improvement of Stock and Sums returned; and of the Stock remaining in Poffeffion, to the 31st of December each Year. For the keeping of which Accounts, as many Clerks as fhall be found neceffary, and no more, fhall be appointed and paid out of the Stack by the Governors and Governeffes of the Truft for the Time being. VI. As the Sum fubfcribed fhall be advanced, more Perfons of Merit, either in Diftrefs, or doing Acts of Virtue, deferving Reward, fhall be affifted and rewarded accordingly, as their feveral Needs or Merits fhall require. Perfons of all Ages, Sexes, Profeffions, and Denominations, making good the Chara&er of Merit in Diftrefs, or Merit deferving Reward, thall be intitled to the Benefit and Encouragement of this benevolent and generous Subfcription. (The Meritorious, not in Want, to be rewarded with a Gold Medal) and the Indolent, the Lazy, Extravagant, Forthlefs, and Immoral, fhall be only excluded partaking of this NOBLE SUPSCRIPTION, to commence from January 1st, 1753. VII. For 2 VII. For a farther Encouragement of Virtue and National Happiness, by discountenancing of Vice in general, it is humbly propofed, that all Servants fhall be provided for in private Families, according to their Merit and Virtue certified and approved. And all Perfons likewife to be provided with Places and Employments under the Government, according to their Degrees of Virtue and Merit duly certain d, as proper Rewards. And all Perfons of immoral Character, now living in private Families, or enjoying Places under the Government, to be difcharged, to make Room for the more deferving: Without refpe&t to Perfons, their Rank or Diftinction. That Mafers and Mitreffes ray apply for Character to the faid Truflees, who are undoubted Judges of Merit and Virtue, and of the contrary, who fhall finally determine by their own Judgment. The FIRST and EEST Families in the Kingdom to begin the Example. The TEMPLE of FOLLY: A VISION. The following Vifionary Scenes, if rightly confider'd, convey very inftructive Morals: There you have a real Picture of Mankind furrounded with all their Foibles, Vanities, and Imperfections. A THOUGHT of this Kind, fo capable of affording ufeful Hints, and inoffenfive Admonitions, may not be unentertaining to the Reader, as it is pointed at no particular Perfon, but levell'd at the general Depravity of the whole Nation. FALLING into a DREAM, (after fome late Fatigues) I imagined myself WALKING by the Side of a pleafant Grove, meditating upon my own Inadvertencies, and contemplating the Frailties of human Nature, METHOUGHT, at fome Distance, I obferved a Perfon making haftily towards me: By the richness of his Drefs I took him for a young Heir just enter'd upon Poffeffion of his Estate ; having set up a fplendid Equipage to fquander what his frugal Father with fo much Care and Pains had got together. Curiofity prompted me to give him the Meeting, and to falute him in a Manner fuitable to his Appearance; not doubting but from a compleater View I fhould find greater Scope for Speculation, which fell out just as I expected. Drawing near, I beheld the Hat of this wonderful Perfonage very large, bound with a broad Gold Lace; his Wig was of the Bag-kind; his Waistcoat of various Colours, intermixed with Flowers of Gold and Silver; his Coat was cover'd with fundry Kinds of Hieroglyphics, and about the Middle, on its Back, was affixed a large Oval Plate of Gold, from which a Silken Line hung down, with a bearded Fish-Hook, and above it, on the Plate, was engraven in Capitals, NON CAPIO, NISI CAPIOR. He had Wings on his Shoulders, like a Cherub in his Right Hand he held an inchanted Rod, with which he could render Himfelf and Others invifible; in his Left Hand he held a Toy, or RATTLE, refembling that which Nurfes pleafe Children. Coming up, he addreifed me with fo becoming an Air of Complacency, and fo eafy and graceful a Negligence, as fhewed him to be educated in One of the politeft Courts of Europe. We immediately enter'd into Converfation, and he foon made me fenfible, that I had met with a Perfon well worthy of my Acquaintance: A Perfon! who, notwithBanding ftanding the Oddity of his Apparel, was poffeffed of all the most amiable Qualifications, both of Body and Mind. Having entertain'd me for a while with elegant Difcourfes on different Subjects, the diftinguishing Characteraftic of good Breeding, he thus proceeded. I perceive, Sir, you are in a ferious Mood, I have for fome Time, from a Principle of good Manners, co-operated with "you in Imagination; now do you accompany me, for a few Hours, " and I will place before your Eyes the real Thing which you now fancy "reprefents the imaginary Scene. I am High Prief of the GODDESS "FOLLY, and will conduct you to her TEMPLE, give you a full "View of that flupendous Edifice, and read you a Lecture upon every 66 Clafs of her numerous Votaries." I readily accepted of the offered Favour, when, waving his magic Wand over my Head, we were both, as I thought, inftantly raised from the Earth, paffed fwiftly through the Air, and came to a delightful Plain, or Garden, embellifh'd with Statues, Cafcades, Fountains, Grottos, Groves, Viftas, Walks, Parterres, and every other Ornament of antient and modern Invention. In the Centre of this beautiful Spot ftood the TEMPLE of FOLLY, a very magnificent and amazing Structure! built with Egyptian Marble, curioufly wrought, into which my Guide now conducted me, by an easy Afcent. He first led me up the Temple to his own Apartment, fituated to the right Hand of the GRAND ALTAR, over which the GODDESS herfelf prefided. Paffing along, I obferved,, on each Side, numberless little Chappels, dedicated to different Idols, and furnished with every Article that Nature and Art could produce, in order to captivate the Senfes. When I entered the Place of his Refidence, he feated me in an eafy Chair, cover'd with Crimson Velvet, laced with Gold. Having refresh'd ourselves, he open'd the Door, walking backwards and forwards, before the Grand Altar, and fhaked his Rattle for the Space of a Minute, which made a very forill, tho' no inharmonius Eccho; thus declaring himself," The "Drefs I now appear in, which I imagine, Sir, has caufed your Sur"prize, is the regular Habit appropriated to my High Office. This "Rattle you faw me fhake, is to fummons the feveral Votaries to attend "their respective Altars, and perform the Rites thereto belonging. The "Deities, to whom they are raised, receives delegated Power from the "SOVEREIGN GODDESS; and this vaft Congregation confift of fuch Attendants, only, as are inflamed by the Objects of Sense, who give * a Loofe to their inordinate Defires, and obey their irregular Passions, inftead of the Dictates of Reason. Those who can judge rightly of "the Cafes of Action, and diftinguish what ought to be defired from "what ought to be avoided, and put their Judgments in practice, have "no Bufinefs here. The SOVEREIGN GODDESS preffes no Man into "her Service; for her Attendants are all voluntary, pursuant to the "Meaning of her Motto, I bear, Non capio nifi capior.-But the Temple now fills. Take this Wand, go where you will; None can fee you, invifible when the Ceremony is over return to me.' I ftaid fome Time at the Altar, where my Friend officiated, and took a full View of the Sovereign Goddefs, who was feated in a Yellow Velvet Chair of State, under a Sattin Canopy, of the fame Colour her Completion was fair, and her Features agreeable; but much prejudiced by her ridiculous Geftures, and continual Laughter. On her Head was a Crown of Gold, hung round with little Bells, like thofe on a Child's Coral, which made a continual, tho' no inharmonious, Jingling. Her Hoop Hoop extended five Yards on each Side. Before her ftood a Table covered with Toys of all Sorts, the Offerings of her Devotees, with which fhe play'd, and feem'd delighted. Her Votaries were all disguised, looking like a mix'd Multitude, compofed of all Nations upon Earth; and were divided into fmall Parties, whispering and squeezing in a confused Hum. Tir'd of this Station, I took a Turn round the Temple, and having obferved the different Idols, in each Compartment, I went to the Theatre, thence to the Opera-boufe, and laft of all to the Great Room, where fome were dancing, fome gaming, fome cavilling, fome wheedling and flattering for Intereft, and fome betraying their Friends. Having rambled about for a confiderable time, without feeing one Object that could afford me true Pleasure, I obferved the Goddefs of Folly to withdraw, and her Congregation difappeared. I hated to my Friend's Apartment, who obferving me more inclin'd to Melancholy than Mirth, was pleased to entertain me with the following Difcourfe, on the ftrange Sights that fo lately had appeared before me. "Tho' you have had a curfory View, SIR, of all the Follies inci"dent to Mankind, perhaps you may be at a Lofs to guess how fuch 66 a Multitude of Fools could poffibly be affembled: Permit me therefore "to inform you in what Manner I gain fo many Profelites to, and Ado66 rers of, the GODDESS whom I ferve; and for what Reafon we indulge "their feveral ruling Paflions. I travel thro' all Europe, and when I "find a Party addicted to what is call'd Pleafure, but in Fact Curiofity "and wanton Senfuality, I shake my Rattle, and, inftantly, I am encir"cled round; I, without much Conjuration, can readily discern how many "of thefe Fools are fit for my Purpofe. I invite them to my Levee, and "having Allurements fuited to every Inclination, I make them fuch Of"fers of my Favour and Friendship, that, greedily fwallowing the Bait, "or taking my Hook, they lift, with great Joy, under the Banner of my “Patroness. The Inhabitants of your Island, Male and Female, have "many Humours among them, to whom I annually pay a Vifit, and "feldom fail of gaining my Mistress many Profelites: For the Weak"nefs and Depravity of Mankind cannot be more confpicuous than in " employing their Time and Acquifitions there to ignoble Purposes. Hence "you beheld at the grand Altar fo many Devotees of Diftinction, all Mafqueraders! Persons in high Life, who, according to the Proverb, "keep Holiday all the Year. Thefe overact the Vices of the Vulgar, "both in private and public Conduct; and are juftly dignified by their "Want of Discretion. Thus, again, if a Man finds himself addicted to "Anger, and fuffers not his intellectual Faculties to perform their "Functions, I create in him, by my Allurements, an infatiable Thirst "for Revenge, that Opportunity permitting him to gratify, dire Reflec tion may fucceed; while he furrenders himself into my Cuftody, and "plays the Fool by furrendering his own Quiet and Happiness at the fame Time. "If any are troubled with Pride, the Attendant on Self-Conceit, and "Ambition gains the Afcendant over them, I allure them to adhere "to thofe Views which entail their Deftruction. "If they delight in pleafing the Palate, or to fupify their Senfes with "Drinking, I allure them to Excefs and Drunkennefs, that they may play the Fool with their Conftitutions, their Health, and their Peace "of Mind. "If to please the Eye, or the Ear, be their favourite Inclination, "allure them to follow Obscenity, Plays, Oratorios, Mufic Meet"ings, Balls, Operas, Affemblies, Gardens, Routs, Drums, Drum Ma"jors, Riots, and Hurricanes! that they may hear and fee Objects for "enhancing their vain Ideas; and inflamatory Luft taking Poffeffion of "them, or a Defire of being diftinguished for Trifles, I caufe them to "fquander their Subftance idly, and to feel Want for their not apply"it to charitable or ufeful Purposes; who are fo great Fools as to think "of nothing but actual Enjoyment with all the fine Faces they meet "among the brillant Fair. "You might obferve the Idol Fafhier, peculiarly ador'd by the Fair "Sex, to which they have fo many different Ways of worshipping, and facrificing. Some you might behold pay their Devotion in the Habits they wear; others, by the Sacrifices they make. Some think the Idol "is a great Lover of Whalebone, or Cane, and therefore I allure them to "be fo filly as to wear several Yards of both Sorts about their Legs, and to "cafe their Bodies with Coats of Mail made of the former; fo that their "Shapes may be reduced to the Form of a taper Tobacco-Stopper. Others, who are inclin'd to think that the Idol will efteem them for wearing frizled Sheep's Heads, or Têtes de Mouton, I allure them to become ridiculously expenfive, by purchafing fham Locks, while Nature "has furnished them with better Locks of her own. Thousands of "the Country Folk I allure with great Zeal to facrifice to this Idol Fashion, "their Time, their Money, their Quiet, and too often their Reputation. "I fhall not pretend to enumerate all the various Inftances of Lewd"nefs, Intemperance and Vanities that have appeared to you at this "curfory View, in the Temple of Folly; but in general, I, like Circe in "the Fable, omit no Arts to allure Perfons of all Degrees and Denominations, and especially Strangers." Here my Friend paus'd awhile, and thus proceeded. << There are "feveral other Meanneffes to which I allure Mankind; fuch as to be-. "hold the Profperity of others with a grudging Eye; to look upon the "Afflicted without a fympathizing Concern; to hug Refentment, when, by "properly fhewing it, a good Understanding might enfue; to be pleafed "with the Imperfections of others; to procure Self-Applause; to be fi"lent when the Caufe of another fhould be maintained; and to be "guilty of other Difingenuities of the like Kind, bordering on Pride and "Envy, are all Objects of my Bait. Folly and Inadvertency are very near Relations, and my Bufinefs is to gain them Profelites, by my "various Snares and Allurements; and my Endeavours seldom fail of "Succefs. "Our indulging Mankind in their favourite Paffions, is by Way of "Chaftifement. You must be fenfible, SIR, that the too frequent Re"petition of Pleafure of any kind makes it naufeous, and palls the "Appetite: It is for this Reafon all that offer Sacrifices to the refpec"tive Idols in the Temple of Folly, are obliged to fubmit to corporal "Punishment, as often as the Goddefs fhall think fit. Hence, the De"votees grow weary of their Duty, and there are Few, but would glad"ly return to good Habits, which we feldom allow. Facile eft defcenfus Averni, Sed revecare Gradus, fuperafque evaderė Auras, But, |