In vol. LXV. p. 1066, I mentioned that I had been advifed by foine refpectable members of both Univerfities, to lay my inventions and difcoveries before the Univerfity of Cambridge, for their patronage and afliftance; that learned body being fuppofed a more proper judicature than any other to apply to for that purpofe. My father, having applied to a learned friend of the university of Cambridge, received the following anfwer; which it may not be improper to infert, as clearly fhewing, that I was encouraged to fend the works to Cambridge for examination, that, if approved, they might obtain the ufual patronage of the Univerfity; which is to be published at their expence : "Dear Sir, Trin. Coll. Jan. 18, 1796. "I fhould be very happy in being in ftrumental in obtaining for your fon, Mr. Uvedale, the patronage of the Univerfity, to which, from his extraordinary attainmeats in the Hebrew language, he is fo justly entitled. The contents of your letter have been communicate to the Mafter, He acknowledges that he knows but little of Hebrew; but if your fon will fend his papers to Cambridge, I believe it to be Dr. Poftlethwaite's intention to fubmit them to the examination of a learned and competent judge. I was very forry that Mr. U. was not of fufficient ftanding to be a candidate for the profefforfhip of Hebrew. Had the University prefented a gratulation on the marriage of the Prince, the Hebrew veries fhould have been inferted t. "P. S. I have delayed to write, for a poft or two, in order to have the Mafter's opinion;-whether it be expedient to apply for the affiitance ufually granted by the University, can only be determined by perufing the works." The interpofition of the late Mafter of Trinity College, and the intention which he entertained of fubmitting my performances to the examination of a learned and competent judge, I confidered as a fortunate circumftance, as it had always been my with that the ricteft enquiry might be made into the merit of niy works by a perfon the beit *The late Rev. Robert Uvedale, D. D. rector of Langton, Lincolnshire. + That profefforfhip became vacant, in 1795, by the nomination of Dr. Porter, the prefent bishop of Clogher, to the bithoprick of Killa and Achonry, in Ireland. Some licbrew vertès on the marriage of the Prince of Wales, which were tranf mitted to Cambridge, in order to their inferton in the Gratylatis Cantab, qualified to make it. Such encourage- tion, and not only approved of them, The affiftance of a friend (a tann of great eminence in the republic of letters, and a Fellow of the Royal Society), in procuring admittance to the Royal Society for this invention, had been requested; but he thought the University a more proper jadicature to appeal to on fuch a proposition. works works have been examined in two or three days, he would chearfully have undertaken it; but that, as it would neceffarily take up two or three weeks, he muft decline it for want of tinre." It is not needful, after what has been advanced, to offer any obfervations on this excufe; I fhall, therefore, only take the liberty of ftating, that the fiudy of the Hebrew is confeffedly, at the prefent period, much neglected in the University of Cambridge, where the time of the ftudents is chiefly occupied by abftrufe and abftract fpeculations, though it fhould feem that the Hebrew is effential to all thofe ftudents who would be proficients in theological learning, and, confequently, who would fulfil the intention of the founders of the Univerfity, by adorning and fupporting the cominon caufe of Chriffianity, and the Church Establishment of the kingdom*. unprovided for in the church, I refpectfully fubmit my, cafe to the further confideration of the Univerfity in general, and of Trinity College in particular, whether I may not be thought entitled to fome favour or affittance for the publication of my writings on the Hebrew language, and for the continuance of my ftudies in that important branch of learning, which the fellowthip I applied for would have procured me. For, though I am confcious that the works are defective, and far from being so perfect as to be incapable of improvement, yet I flatter myself, that what may remain to be done will bear little proportion to what has been performed; and I hope it will not be forgotten, that they have been executed with indefatigable labour, and attended with great expence; and that, if by firiking out into a new path they fhould, in any degree, clear up what was before obMy family, for near a century and a fcure, or confirm what was uncertain, half, have been particularly connected fome indulgence may be claimed for with the University of Cambridge; my imperfections, fince great is the differ father, grandfather, and great-grand-ence between following a beaten and father, having fucceffively been Fellows of Trinity College; and this very remarkable fucceflion (added to my father's partiality to the place of his education) was one of the chief reafons for admitting and continuing me there. In 1797, I was encouraged to offer myfelf a candidate for a fellowship of the fociety, and, by the advice of one of the electors, refided in college two months previous to the election. That Trinity College was defigned to be a College of Divines is certain; and therefore (as nothing could be alleged against my moral character and conduct) my father, and fome of his literary acquaintance, imagined that the approbation of my Hebrew works, by the Arabic profeffor, poffibly might in fome degree afford me a better chance of fuccefs. Having, however, been unfuccefsful in my application for a fellowship 1, and being at prefent totally What fenfe Luther had of the utility of Hebrew Studies, will appear from the following pallage: "Scio quantum mihi profuerit contra hoftes meos Ebræa lingua, quare pro hac quantulacunque cognitione infinitis millibus aureorum carere nolim." †This is apparent from the charters and ftatutes of the fociety, particularly Charta Augmentationis Reginæ Mariæ, and Coll. Stat. cap. 12. The limits ufually allowed to Mr. Urban's correfpondents, at prefent confine me to a general furvey of the fubject; but tire an unbeaten track. To fay that I have perfectly executed my fchemes, or completely fucceeded in my defigns, would, indeed, manifeft a high degree of prefumption; and though, with all due deference, I prefume to fay, that the principles upon which my inventions are built will remain firm and un fhaken, and that any objections in ge neral that may be made to them, I fhall be willing, and I think able, to anfwer; yet I truft I fhall always be attentive to the advice of the intelligent, the opinions of the ingenious, and the remarks of the learned. Yours, &c. ROBERT UVEDALE. THE PROJECTOR, N° IV. "Nec te que veris extra. Nam Romæ quis non? Ah fi fas & cere!" PERSIUS. GREAT as the rejoicings are for the refloration of peace, there are fome fober and and ferious perfons among us, who will neither be fo deafened by Appendix to the writings on the Hebrew language contains a full account of the proccedings relative to thofe works with the original letters; and a particular difcuffion of the only reafons affigned for my ill fuccefs at the election; in which I have thewn that the founder of Trinity College, and the founders of most of the respective colleges, meant to encourage and promote the study of the Hebrew language. the he guns, or blinded with the lights, as not to revolve the confequence that may enfue from entering into bonds of amity and fellowship with a nation not the moft remarkable of late upon account of its religious or moral characier; and I am informed from all quarters that we are now in imminent danger of being inundated with French follies and vices. I confefs this is an opinion to which I cannot fubfcribe; yet, as the grounds of the apprehenfion deferve our moft ferious confideration, I fhall have performed a very acceptable fervice if any thing that follows can tend to alleviate it, and to prove that our fears may be kept at home for our own ufe. I do not fesuple to repeat that I am not of the number of those who dread an inundation of follies, as a neceffary confequence of the peace with France. I confider the commerce of national follies in the fame light as any other fpecies of commerce. No nation will take more of an article from another nation than it wants; and no nation will venture to export a greater quahtity than there is a demand for. I know that alarms prevail refpecting the manufactures of France; it is faid that the French are an ingenious people, and that, enjoying a fertile foil, with low rents and cheap provifions, they will be able to carry on our manufactures as well as their own, to foch a degree of perfection, both as to quality and price, as to be able to underfell us in our own markets. And, therefore, it is apprehended that, among other articles, they will be able to flock us with follies and vices of a auch genteeler fabrique, and better calculated for fashion, fhow, and wear, than our own. Or if they are not ic ally fo, fuch is the predilection for every thing of foreign growth among a certain clafs of people, that it is feared patterns of filks and laces will not be more frequently brought over than famples of iniquity and models of lipentioufhefs. But although it be very true that there are in this country too many who give an unfair and abfurd preference to foreign manufactures, and encourage finuggling, to the great detriment of the revenue and of the honett trader, yet, as we have of late years been rather more out of humour with the French than daring any former war, I hope we have pride enough left to refufe being dictated to by any nation whatever, in the shape, turn, twift, or fold, of ou morals, and that we will (if only for a moment, which will be quite fufficient,) confider the abfurdity of laying out our money in foreign markets, for commodities which we may pur chafe at our own doors of equal quality and durability. To fuppofe that the French have monopolized all kinds of folly is really conceding too much, it is a mean difiruft in our own talents; becaufe there is no abfolute proof of the fact, and there are many reasons to think that it is a mere piece of vanity, spread abroad by a people who, forfooth, would not be thought inferior to the nations of Europe in any refpect. Now I, as a true-born Briton of the old fchool, cannot fuffer my country to be run down in this manner; and、 therefore I, for one, declare that I am not afraid of any inundation of French follies; because I do believe, and indeed I am greatly mistaken if I do not clearly perceive, that we are able and willing to furnish a quantity of the fi.id follies more than fufficient for our own confumption, that is, more than we want, or have the leaft occafion for ; and confequently there is not any reafon to fufpect that the courfe of exchange will be long against us in this particular branch of commerce. But as I would not be accused of dealing in vague affertions, and would avoid the national vanity I have juft cenfured, and as this is a matter which feems to prefs for immediate confideration, and engroffes a large portion of our tabletalk, I fhall endeavour to fiateʼa few leading articles in the trade of folly and vice, to prove that as far as they are defirable, and deferving to be manufactured or cultivated, we have no occafion whatever to buy or borrow of our neighbours, or to fend that money out of the country which may be fpent as profitably, or perhaps more fo, within it. If, as is commonly faid, one of the principal follies of the day be mif spent time, I cannot but think we have carried that art to a very high degree of perfection, and must deem thofe perfons very unreafonable who would go abroad in queil of means to get rid of time idly and expeditiously, when there are at home fo many tempting and inviting articles to be procured every morning and every night; not to speak of public amufeinents, which are common to all, and which, as now conducted conducted by managers and authors of wonderful tate and invention, are remarkable good wafters of time. It must be obvious that our domestic engagements are every day, I fhould, perhaps, fay every night, becoming better and better calculated to deftroy, this enemy, time: and what with balls, aflemblies, routs, concerts, auctions, trips, and tours, and card parties, fhould fuppofe it might be proved by arithmetic that the confump tion of time has amazingly increafed of late years in this country, and in a ratio far exceeding that of any neceffary or luxury that can be mentioned. This would appear very evident if we would only follow a practice common enough in other cafes, that of fetting down in a book what we fpend daily. But, unluckily, time is an article of which very few of us take an account, and which we cannot therefore exhibit in figures; and not being yet confidered by Government as an article productive to the state, we can obtain no information by referring to the books of the cuftoms or excife. 1 have mentioned cards among other great fources of the confumption of time; and, perhaps, it would be difficult to find another equally common and extenfive, efpecially if we take into account dice, pharo, and other articles which are modifications of the fame, and which are admirably calculated for the faculties of thofe who ufe them, being like certain elementary treaties, adapted to the meauelt underfiandings." When, however, the time thefe confume is fairly estimated, or calculated only in the grofs (and I am ready to take the lowett calculation any of my readers fhall be pleased to other), I fhould really be glad to know whether there 'can exift the finallett necellity of having recourfe to France for fresh fupplies, or whether, on the contrary, we ought not to pack up and fend abroad the furplus of our own flock? This is not a vague reverie of my own: I appeal to men who know cyphers; I appeal to the difciples of Cocker and Dilworth. Another folly (as fome call it, though others reckon it a vice), is a contempt for the duties and comforts of the married ftate, ending in what is very fhortly expreffed by the two well-known abbreviations, crim. con. I hope I run no risk of contradiction, when I affert that this article has of late years increafed both in quantity and quality, and is fully fuficient for our wants. Of its goodnefs, the publick are fully enabled to judge, from those admirable fpecimens which it is become the fashion to exhibit three or four times a year in Westminster and Guildhall, places felected from the peculiar firong light they throw upon fuch articles. A man must have a very mean opinion of the ingenuity of his fellow-countrymen, who would venture to fay that any foreigner can do more than clain damages for the crime which he commits himfelf avowedly, either by keeping a mifirefs in the next fireet, or by making his house a genteeler fort of brothel. What can any French hufband do more than break his wife's heart? And as to the art and fkill of performing that great feat, why fhould we be indebred to foreign in ftructions when it may be fo eafily ac complished in our own way, by placing a ftrumpet at the fame table with a wife, and compelling virtue not only to affociate with, but even be fubfervient to vice? I do not affect to know all that our ingenious neighbours on the Continent have done, or can do, but I should fuppofe they have never accomplished any purpofe of the kind more neatly and genteelly than this; and which I am the more inclined to quote in favour of my argument, becaufe an inftance of this way of heart-breaking occurred fo recently as probably to be in the remembrance of moft of my readers. Indeed, with refpeét to the abolition of domeftic comforts, although I do not fay that in all refpects we have attained perfection, certainly the progrefs we have made is to great as to merit the full praife of fuch attempts, and ought to make us look at home, before we beflow labour and money in acquiring the arts of other countries. That excellent contrivance, for example, of preferring, in affairs of courtship, contiguity of eftates to fympathy of affection; can any thing be better calculated to give (high) life and fpirit to matrimony? and inftead of looking for the charms of a fair one in her perfon or temper, how much more wife and expeditions to confult that wonderful difcerner of the thoughts of men, the office for the three per cent. confolidated annuities! And then, as to perfonal enjoyments, the dread of retirement, or of being alone, may may be fafely faid to be as well underflood in this country as it can be any where; and with refpect to the dan gers our children are expofed to from improper amufements or company, I flatter myself, we are not greatly behind the moft highly favoured nations, As to fops, fools, jilts, and demireps, if I thought there was any danger of a fcarcity, I fhould certainly be the firft to propofe a bounty on the importation; but I am convinced there are plenty in the country, even if we were not to manufacture" a "fingle article of the kind for ten years to come, or the year ending May 1, 1812. Extravagant expences is a commo dity of which, I am aware, confiderable dread is entertained., But, after a clofe inveftigation of the fubject, and many inquiries into the diffipation of finances in foreign countries, I cannot think that our fkill is capable of receiving any very important addition. Where the intention is to be ruined with our eyes open, the only difference that can poffibly take place muft be in the quickness of difpatch; and whether we fhall be ruined a few days fooner or later (for this is not a queftion of months or years) is furely a matter of no great confequence, or which, at leaft, need not alarm our fears to fnch a degree as fome people affect. We have carried genteel embarraffments and polite difireffes to great perfection; our contempt for independence and moderation is ably supported; and the mauncture of excutes, delays, apologies, put-offs, and other enemics to ftamped receipts, is certainly in a very flourishing ftate; a circumstance which I fhould not advance on my own knowledge, if I could not appeal to the books of many very creditable artificers and fhopkeepers. The French may be good haters, because they have lately been taught to wear hatred to this and that obnoxious article, but I question whether, with their utmolt ingenuity, they can exhibit fpecimens of avertion to pay-day more perfect than occur among us. But, as I undertiand, the principal fear entertained is on account of an expected inundation of irreligions principles. Here I quit the very pofitive tone I have hitherto held, and muft confefs that fomething is to be conceded to the fuperior ingenuity of our neighbours; and therefore I allow that a certain de GENT. MAG. April, 1802. gree of fear may be encouraged. Yet, if we are proud of fuch things, I do not fee much reafon for defpondence; I would not altogether give up a point which is the parent of all others I have been mentioning. Let us only reflect on the many able writings of our own new Philofophers, maie and female, which have appeared within these few years; and it will, I think, be allowed, that we have at least endeuvoured to propagate irreligion with as much induftry and vigour as any na tion upon earth. If we have not fuc ceeded, if neither our foil nor our dif pofitions were fitted for the purpose, the blame does not reft with the able artifis to whom I allude: they exerted their utmost skill in compofing, and their utmoft zeal in diffeminating infidelity enough for our own confumption, and which would have rendered us independent of foreign aid, if the people had taken kindly to the article. But the reafon why we think the foreign manufactory more valuable is, that fuch principles happened to be in great demand there for certain purpo fes which could not be executed without them; and upon that account, and that alone, our neighbours deferve the credit of having carried them to a high degree of perfection, which, after all, was no higher than fach principles na turally tend to carry thenfelves. But that they were the original inventors of them, or deferve the praife of ingenuity, I never will allow, while the names of Hobbes, Bolingbroke, and Hume, are held in remembrance. I might now mention fome other articles, in the manufacture of which our countrymen flow an ambition to excel; and perhaps the very recent attempt to establish a midnight theatre. might be brought as no inconfiderable proof, but I truft I have faid enough to illuftrate my principal pofition. The fubject, indeed, is fomehow or other not very pleafant to me, and the talk I have performed is rather of neceliity than inclination. Perhaps too my readers may not relith it much more than myself. Dry difcuflons on matters of trade cannot be agreeable to the majority: and, in truth, after I have taken all this trouble to vindicate the ingenuity of my countrymen of a certain clats, and to prove that the courfe of exchange of follies between the two countries in queftion is at, or very nearly |