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1815.]

Improvement of the Labouring Classes.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.
SIR,

A

SENSIBLE worthy countryman deemed it a crime to inflict upon man or beast, the most inconsiderable degree of pain that could be avoided. He said, those that frame laws, and those that put them in force, in short, all in whose hands power may be vested, ought to remember, that mercy will be required as a duty, for which they must answer to their Almighty Judge. He had a large family of sons and daughters, who were remarkable for good temper, sound understanding, integrity, and industry; and he ascribed their good qualities to the gentle means employed by him and his wife, in forming their habits; and to the pains he took to cultivate their minds. He was an orphan, reared from childhood in a gentleman's family, where he learnt to read and write; and, to the latest period of a long life, a book was to him a luxurious treat for his leisure hours; but he often regretted, that so few volumes, suitable for humble readers, were in circulation. His remarks made so deep an impression ou the writer, that an anxious desire for

apprentice, to the laborious workman, may find somewhat to imitate, some what to amuse, and somewhat to invigo rate, the mind. The exemplary plebeian, whose venerable grey locks, marked countenance, and shrewd remarks, first inspired those thoughts, chiefly maintained his family by rearing horses, which were remarkable for vigour and high mettle, yet not less docile than spirited. He began training his colts at four weeks old, by inuring them to a light saddle, and easy bridle, for ten or twenty minutes, three times in a day. At the age of three months, he strapped upon the saddle a puppet, to represent a rider. This was generally a small sack, filled with straw, and to each lower corner a bundle of rushes, firmly bound together, which touched the sides of the young animals as the legs of a rider. He likewise accustomed them to draw a very light wheel-carriage; and, by this early education, continued to maturity, the horses became perfectly tractable without using the lash.

N.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR,

Tan annual meeting held in Sep

adding to their number, has been a pre. A tember, at Ednam, in Roxburgh

vailing sentiment during many years. Thousands resort to ale-houses at first, merely for want of harmless amusement; and perhaps libraries, adapted to the capacity and pursuit of the lower classes, would prove the most direct means for augmenting the quantum of national virtue.

As facts always carry an authority paramount to arguments, the following quotation from Forsyth's "Beauties of Scotland," (vol. 3, page 107,) abundantly corroborates the present writer's opinion, Speaking of the miners at Lead-Hills, in Lanarkshire, Mr. Forsyth says, "Previous to the existence of the library, the miners were in no degree superior to ordinary colliers; but a taste for lite rature speedily produced its beneficent concomitants-decency, industry, sobriety, independance of spirit, and a desire to give good education to their children. Similar effects have been also produced by a library at the neighbouring mines at Wanlockhead." Cau any Briton, any Christian, read this, without an ardent wish to extend throughout our isle, and if possible throughout the globe, blessings so invaluable? These well attested truths have determined the writer to publish an humble work, entitled, "Popular Models," where the sons and daughters of industry, from the articled 1 MONTHLY Mag. No. 265.

shire, in commemoration of the birth of the poet Thomson, an ode (given in our last Number,) was read to a distin guished circle of the neighbouring gentle. men. It was written for the occasion by George Noble, a Scottish labourer, near Jedburgh, whose powerful genius, and persevering industry, have successfully struggled against all the difficulties of poverty and ignorance, and whose modest merit, it is my present object, through the medium of your valuable miscellany, to bring into notice. Far from being vain of his extraordinary li terary attainments, or anxious to obtrude himself upon public attention, he has toiled and lived in contented obscurity; and it was with unfeigned reluctance, and at the request of a gentleman who has been most truly his friend, that he was induced to consent to the publication of some of his poetical pieces, in a neighbouring provincial newspaper. It will be seen, that they are not the pro duction of a rude uncultivated mind; in fact, this meritorious young man has, by h's unaided exertions, acquired considerable proficiency in geography, astronomy, chemistry, and various branches of natural philosophy; he has more than a common knowledge of history and ge neral literature, and an extensive ace quaintance

C

quaintance with the best British poets. And this has been attained by a youth who, (until the age of manhood,) was only nine months at any school, and that at a common parochial school, where even writing and arithmetic are imperfectly taught; without even those com. mon advantages of education which are usually enjoyed by the Scottish peasantry-without books without moneywithout leisure-without instruction and with the incessant obligation of "earning his daily bread by daily labour." At my request, he gave me his short and artless history, which, if I mistake not, will prove more interesting to your readers than any thing I can say of him. The circumstances of its being written without any view of meeting any other eye than mine, and of its be ing published without his knowledge, will, I trust, be sufficient to protect his simple narrative from the severity of criticism. I have made no change in the orthography, &c. nor any other alteration than that of omitting a few passages.

"I was born in the parish of Bedrule, at a house on the farm of Newton, called Old Kerssfield, which is now fallen down: it was a lonely place, nearly a mile distant from any other house, and it was occupied by my grandfather, who was a shepherd and labourer. I lived there till I was about ten years old. My grandmother had taught me to read at a very early age, and the first circumstance I can recollect, was, reading the Proverbs and the new Testament to her. Being a pious woman, she was very careful to instruct me in the principles of the Christian religion. During this period of my life, I scarcely ever saw any person, and was very seldom in company with children of my own age; and con. sequently, having nothing to occupy my attention, I read such books as my grandfather possessed, which were all of a religious nature, except a copy of David Lindesay's Poems, great part of which I learnt by heart. I likewise perused the common Almanacks, of which he had formed a tolerable collection, buying one every year; and this, I verily believe, was the first thing which gave me an inclination for astronomy. My curiosity for information at that time was very ardent, but seldom or never gratified; and, from my earliest years to the present moment, I have had the same strong desire for knowledge of every

Near Jedburgh, in Roxburghshire,

kind.

I believe, my inclination for poetry was first awakened by reading Hervey's Meditations and Barnes's Collection, together with some ballads, when I was about twelve or thirteen years old. Soon after I got a loan of Thomson's Seasons, which I read with a high degree of pleasure. I next read Young's Night Thoughts, and Milton's Paradise Lost, neither of which I then understood, but I was charmed with some of the descriptions in Milton. About this time, I had a great desire to read Homer and Virgil, but I could not get them. When I was about fourteen, the Arabian Night's Entertainments fell into my hands. These extravagant fictions engrossed my whole attention. I believed" each strange tale devoutly true," and resolved at a future period to visit those places where its scenes are laid; to obtain access to the magic li brary in the cave of Dom. Daniel, and to search the enchanted caverns for Aladdin's wonderful lamp and mystic ring. Soon afterwards, I read some novels, Roderic Random, Joseph Andrews, and some others, whose titles I do not recollect. To the truth of them all I gave implicit credit; but, as my views were enlarged, I was greatly chagrined to find that they were built upon fiction.

“When I was between eight and nine years old, I was half a-year at the pa rochial school of Bedrule, where I read in the Bible and learnt to write, or rather to form the letters, for I made no further progress at that time. At ten years of age I went to service in the summer, and, excepting the following winter, when I was at school another quarter, and the winter after that, when I was at home doing nothing, I continued at service, herding cows and sheep, &c. until I was fifteen; after which I wrought regularly at farm-work, and this I still continue, and all my spare time I spend in reading. When I was twenty-one, I began to study arithmetic, and I went for a quarter of a-year to an evening school, where I proceeded as far as the Rule-of-three, and the rest of the science I learnt myself, by the assistance of books. The only time I had was at night, the greatest part of which I have often spent in solving questions. About three years ago I went to the same evening school for half-a-year, where I went through a course of land-surveying, plain trigonometry, mensuration, &c. of which I was very fond; but, not having any occasion to make use of them, I

Mr. Pilgrim on Concord.

1815.3 have almost forgotten them. My desire for natural philosophy was first roused in 1804, when the first battalion of volunteers was quartered in Kelso. I then used to frequent the house of Dr. R. who was so kind as to allow me the perusal of some of his books, on those subjects. Ever since that time it has been my favourite pursuit, although I have made but little proficiency in it. Last year, Mr. Jorden, esq. of Bourjadward, had the goodness to allow me the use of his extensive and well-chosen library; and it is to the disinterested kindness of this amiable gentleman, that I am indebted for the unmerited share of public favour with which I have been honoured.

"My grandfather and grandmother died when I was twelve years old; and my mother afterwards rented a house, and, being of a weakly constitution, received a small supply from the parish, which, with what I could afford to give her, maintained her until she died, two years and a-half ago. Since her death, I have kept a house myself, of which you may form some idea, if you recollect Goldsmith's description of a poet's dwelling, only with this difference, that his was in a garret, and mine on the ground-floor."

His letter contains nothing more of general interest. To those who can admire the spectacle of untutored genius triumphant over every obstacle of fortune and society; who love to trace the gradual progress of the human mind, when left to its own unassisted resources; the short and simple annals of this poor peasant will be highly interesting. They will rejoice, that not even

"Chill penury repress'd his noble rage, Nor froze the genial current of his soul." Unbiassed by prejudice or partiality, and so completely unconnected with George Noble, that, until September last, I had never even heard of his existence; a wish, that modest merit and indegent genius should not linger unnoticed, has alone prompted this attempt to make

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SIR,

TH HE question respecting the pro " priety of using the words "is" and small compass. are," may be reduced within a very number or quantity is spoken of, the Whenever a given word "is" appears to be most applicable; as, for instance :-" Multiply 10 by 12, what is the product?"-answer, sixth part of 72?-answer, "The sixth "The product is 120.”—“What is the part is 12."The number of men employed in that undertaking is 60," &c.

But, upon all other occasions, where the number is more than one, the word "are" must be used. For instance :"The veterans who compose that army are 10,000 in number."-" Sixty men ure employed in that undertaking."Forty persons are assembled together."

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and plural numbers are both used to In the two following cases the singular denote the same amount, according to the rule before observed:-The number of prisoners who are taken is about 2000."-Twenty thousand are the num ber of tickets in this lottery."-Number 20,000 is drawn a prize of 10,000l.

therefore quite correct in reading "twice
Your correspondent "Rusticus" is

2 is 4," and " 8 times 8 is 64;" because
twice 2 is number 4, and 8 times 8 iş
number 64.
E. T. PILGRIM.
Woburn, Nov. 3, 1814.

I

SIR,

am to shew :

him known. I do not wish to represent To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. him as a heaven-born poet, a second Burns: his poems possess great taste and feeling, and are surprising produc tions for a ploughman; but the bent of his genius seems to incline more to science than to poesy; and, considering the wonderful acquirements he has made, and the disadvantages against which he has contended in his ardent pursuit of knowledge, they must excite an admira tion, which will be heightened when the simplicity, the integrity, the indepen

are, in this country, much more frequent IV. That consumption and asthma in winter than in summer. point which requires but little proof, This is a as the experience of almost every Englishman will convince him of the fact. I shall, therefore, endeavarr 12 contract this part of the subject ar chas possible. Different authors that not unfrequently you

C 2

noticed, nersous of whthisica

1805, the total number of patients between the 30th November, 1804, and the 28th February, 1805, was 460. Hæmoptysis and phthisis, 36; chronic catarrh and dyspnoea, 69; together 105, forming between one-fourth and one-fifth of the whole. The total diseases of between the 31st of May, and the 31st of August, 1805, was 507; of which 29 were hæmoptysis and phthisis, and 27 catarrhus chronicus and dyspnoea, together equal to 56, which is one-ninth of the total. Hence, according to Dr. Bateman's statement for 1805, consump tion and asthma are only one-half in summer what they are in winter.

It would be easy to cite various other authorities besides those which are just given. But such citations would merely give a repetition of the same facts; and, I apprehend, that what has been brought forward is quite sufficient to establish the position, that consumption and asthma are, in England, much more frequent in winter than in summer.

Under the two foregoing heads the following circumstances may be noticed: 1. The changes of temperature in this country are very great, having amounted during this present year to 67°. The thermometer frequently rises 10o in 24 hours, and occasionally 20°.

2. The lowest point of the thermometer, during this year, was 18°, a depression to which it rarely descends.

3. Diseases of the chest, of various descriptions, are of very frequent occur rence, forming about one-third of the cases within medical practice, (including consumption and asthma.)

4. Consumption and asthma are extremely frequent, forming about one-fifth or one-sixth of the total number of cases in medical practice, and occasioning about one-fourth or one-fifth of the total number of deaths.

5. These complaints are far more pre valent in winter than in summer. New Broad-street. I. BUXTON.

To

a phthisical disposition, will have many symptoms of incipient consumption during the winter, which, in the sum mer, entirely leave the patients, and in the subsequent winter renew their ap pearance. The disorder will often proceed in this manner, for one, two, or more years, till the disposition to consumption is increased, or till an accidental occurrence produces an aggravated attack: and now the disease is no longer to be arrested by the return of summer, but advances to its fatal termination. Catarrhs likewise, which so frequently induce consumption, are much more prevalent, and of longer duration, in winter than in summer.

With respect to asthma, in most instances where this disorder is observed, we find it attack, at its commencement, merely during the winter. The patient not uncommonly is totally free from disease while the summer continues. But, after a longer or shorter space of time, his intervals of freedom from disorder become shorter; and, finally, during summer as well as winter, his breathing is difficult, and his cough harrassing.

I have before noticed that, of the total number of patients whom I registered in 1811 and 1812, about one-fifth were afflicted with consumption or asthma. In January, 1811, the total number of cases was 161, of whom 56, (S and 53) were ranged under consumption and 'asthma, equal to one-third of the total. In February, the number of cases was 183, of whom 47, (3 and 44) were cases of consumption or asthma, equal to onefourth of the total. In September the number of cases was 219, of whom 23, (5 and 18) were afflicted with consumption or asthma,equal to between one-ninth and one-tenth of the total. In October there were 250 cases, of whom 40, (7 and 35) were affected by consumption or asth ma, equal to about one-sixth of the whole. In January and February, 1812, the number of cases was 458, of whom 133 (13 and 120) were consumption or asthma, between one-third and one

fourth of the whole. In September and

October the number of cases was 525, of whom 77 (10 and 67) were consumption or asthma, nearly one-seventh of the whole. Hence it may be observed, that in my register the cases in the win ter months just given, are double in

number those of the summer months.

In the list of diseases, before adverted to, given by Dr. Bateman, in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, for

the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

told the writer that a Mr. F. who OCTOR L. C. of Campbeltown, resided in the Isle of Arran, assured him, that so far from ever having experienced dreaming, he could not believe it possible that a person in bed, and almost in a state of insensibility, could fancy he was walking, running, riding, sailing, or in conversation with people in an other quarter of the globe, perhaps long since deceased. To assist bis compre

bension

1815.]

Dreaming.-Ancient Manners.

hension, Doctor C. endeavoured to ex-
plain the analogy between making re-
veries and nightly visions; but to those
productions of imagination, Mr. F. was
equally a stranger; and seemed to think
it inconsistent with sober reason to oc-
cupy the mind with any object, but the
business by which they were immediately
engaged. Doctor C. was a gentleman
of strict veracity and superior talents;
be also spoke with energetic fluency;
and after again and again renewing the
subject, at Mr. F.'s earnest request, he
could not impart any adequate percep
tion of dreams, or any other fabric of
the imagination.
TH. N. R.

Ancient Manners.
No. IV.

XVI. TOBACCO.

BARNABY & Ionestie of this age,"

titled "The Honestie of this Age," 4to. Lond. 1614, p. 26, speaking of tobacco, says, "I have heard it tolde that now very lately, there hath bin a catha logue taken of all those new-erected houses that have set uppe that trade of selling tobacco in London and neare about London; and, if a man may beleeve what is confidently reported, there are found to be upward of 7000 houses that doth live by that trade."

XVII. FRANKLIN,

"We were wont to interpose this difference betweene Yeoman and Franklin or Farmer, that the yeoman was a landed man, either freeholder or copyholder; the farmer onely hired another man's land, paying a fine or rent, and so, growing rich, had the denomination of the other, and did not in times past murmure, though you called him goodhusband, or expert plow-man."-Gains ford's Glory of England, 4to. 1619, p. 308.

XVIII. TINNED-VESSELS.

Aubrey, in an unpublished work, entitled "Remains of Gentilisme and Judaisme," preserved among the Lans downe Manuscripts, says, "I never saw tinned potts, scil. brasse-potts tinned, till since the year 1660. 'Tis not every brazier that hath obtained that mystery yet, [1691,] but Madam Ball doeth assure me, that her father had some brasse potts tinned thus, that were her grand-father's, Sir George Bond, lordmayor of London, above an hundred yeares since."

XIX. HACKNEY-MEN.

According to the patent 19 Ric. II. p. 2, m. 8, the fare of the hackney-men,

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or. persons who furnished horses for travellers, from Southwark to Rochester, was 12d.; from Rochester to Canterbury, 12d.; and from Canterbury to Dover, 6d. The fares of intermediate distances to be calculated according to the miles in similar proportion. The horses of the hackney-men, in conséquence of many having been rode away with, were ordered to be marked with a cautery, or iron instrument, at each village where the persons letting them to hire dwelt.

XX. COFFEE-HOUSES.

Misson, in his "Memoirs and Observations in his Travels over England," translated by Mr. Ozell, 8vo. Lond. 1719, p. 39, says:

"These houses, which are very nume rous in London, are extremely convenient. You have all manner of news there; you have a good fire, which you may sit by as long as you please; you have a dish of coffee; you meet your friends for the transaction of business, and all for a penny, if you don't care to spend more."

XXI. MILITARY ENSIGNS DURING THE CIVIL WARS.

Among Sir Hans Sloane's manuscripts, in the British Museum, (M.S. Donat 5247,) is one containing a collection of drawings of military ensigns, in the pe riod of the civil wars: beginning with those of the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Bedford. Lord Essex's is yellow, with this motto on it :-"Virtutis. Comes Invidia."

Sir William Courtney's flag is red, bearing a man in full armour, with a sword in his right hand. Above is the motto," Dum spiro spero."

Captain Sandberd of Devon's flag, has a figure in armour, thrusting a sword into the body of a bishop, on a "red ground. A label, from the mouth of the armed person has," Visue Episcopare." Another label proceeding from the bishop's mouth has, "Nolo. Nolo! Nolo."

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Captain West, a chandler in Cain bridge, bore on a red flag a skull surrounded with laurel: motto,-" Mors vel Victoria."

The Lord Brook's ensign was a laurel wreath, with this motto, on a yellow ground:-" Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit.”

The Lord Fairfax's banner consisted of a sword pierced through a mitre, with the crown wresting on its point, on a white ground. The motto," Viva el Rey y muerra il mal Gouverno." Captain

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