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To the EDITORS of the IT is the good-natured obfervation of Mr.

Addison, that the celebration of the Feftival of Christmas was appointed for the fevereft season of the year, to the end that the charitable difpofitions of minds, inspired by the recollection of that joyful event, fhould find frequent occafions for manifefting themfelves by acts of benevolence and brotherly kindness to the poor. When the exceeding great love of our Mafter and Saviour in difrobing himself of his majefty, and cloathing himself with humility, even with our flesh, that he might become an example of godly life to all men, and a propitiation for their tranfgreffions is contemplated, it surely muft ftrike the hearts of thofe on whom his providence has bestowed abundance of the good things of this world, and placed them in ftations where the pages of knowledge lay open before them; that it is their duty, as followers of fuch a master, to shield from want and mifery the bodies, and to difpel ignorance and vice from the minds of thofe of their fellowcreatures, whofe wretched circumstances expofe them to fuch calamities; that they should imitate, in fome degree, the goodness of their bountiful Creator, and do to their diftreffed brethren as he has done to them. But fuch is the deplorable selfishness of the times, that that the indolent and Pharifaical profeffors of Christianity have invented many wretched falvos for reconciling their want of bowels for the poor with the precepts of the divine author of their religion. They gravely tell us, "That knowledge is apt to turn the heads of the lower fort from their labour, and that the only use they make of their learning is to be wicked with more refinement; that every body can't be rich; and those whom Providence has placed in the inferior ftations of life, must content themfelves with their lot, and do their. duty in it: for their own part, they think they have a right to spend their own fortunes in whatever way pleases them beft, fo they do no wrong to any one; and really things are fo dear, and genteel life fo very expenfive, that they have very little to fpare for charity."

Hard as it is to condemn the pofterity of those who are now become poor, to ignorance of science and literature through all fucceflive ages to confider them as a clafs of men deftined for ever to do the drudgery of the wealthy, and earn for them felves a wretched pittance, by adminiftering to their wants and extravagance; to deny to them through all generations the probable means of raifing themselves to a more comfortable or affluent condition; hard too as it is to hear this cruel fentence pronounced by thofe who were once

OXFORD MAGAZINE.

themselves, or their immediate predeceffors, perhaps of that wretched clafs, and owe their prefent grandeur to a general or particular charitable education; yet, granting all this, can fuch a degree of inftruction, at leaf as is confined to the great duties of our religion, be juitly with-held from the lowest order of men, by the difciples of that Mafter, who gave it as the evidence of the divinity of his miffion, that to the poor the Gospel was preached? How dare any who hope for falvation through the merits of Chrift, cenfure his conduct in taking upon him the form of a fervant, affociating not with the great of this world, but with the ignoble, and chufing his companions and apofiles from among fishermen and artificers, by thus excluding the lower class of men, and even thofe whofe time and labcur are continually employed in their service from all the means of religious inftruction, and im piously supposing that the fcriptures were not written for their learning.'

The misfortune is, that people of fashion are taught to imagine themselves a diftinct race of beings from the reft of mankind, and that the degrees of rank to be found in the herald's office are lines drawn by the maker of all men, and real diftinctions of nature: they never confider that all men are the offfpring of the fame parents, are all by nature equal, and that all diftinctions are political, and the several stations in life only offices, although fome of them may be hereditary, or continue in the fame families for many genetions; and that the revenues they draw from them are not given in perpetuity, nor have. they been granted without account. Let thofe who think all they poflefs is their own look back upon the line of their ancestors, and compare it with the pedigree of the miferable. being who fweeps the dirt from the door, and perhaps they will find that they have only exchanged conditions; that the time once was when their own progenitors earned their miserable food by the meaneft occupations, and the ancestors of that wretch enjoyed the good things of life.

How many families have been undone in this country by religious perfecutions, by civil wars, and other public calamities? And how many others owe their prefent happy circumstances to the fame event? And fhall the defcendants of thofe who embraced the fortunate party call their acquifitions their own, when they fee the miferable condition of thofe who took the unfuccefsful fide, and not look up to him who is the great author and disposer of all Events? Shall the children of the lucky reformatifts tell the starving heirs of the aich, Abbot, the non-juring Gg 2 bishop

my's camp, or the gainful contracts of a suc cefsful war, will not pretend to a better title? who indeed, in any ftation or condition of life, can lay their hands upon their hearts and fay it? For are not the cafualties of deaths, marriages, favour of friends, and all other means by which fortunes are acquired, equally the difpenfations of Providence?

bifhop, or the lay papistical bigot, what we poffefs is our own Shall the rich Oliverian tell the ruined cavalier on whofe eftate Le riots, what I have is my own? Can the fuccessful revolutionist look upon the fupplicating jacobite, and not feel to whofe providence it is that he owes his rank and poffeffions? Had the illue of a battle been different from what it was, had a fingle life been taken, had a counsellor advised a contrary measure at a certain moment, the Roman Catholic might now have been the established religion in England, and an abfolute monarchy our conftitution of government; or if at another time the like events had fallen out otherwife than they did, prefbyterianifm might have been the mode of worship, and a republic the form of government.

In either cafe, how many of our prefent great ones would have been reduced to poverty; and how many that are now begging their bread would have been bafking on their spoils? See where the defcendents of the O'Neils, the O'Connors, who were once princes, the pofterity of the Saxon kings in the time of the Heptarchy, and cf other famous and powerful men, are now rotting in prifons for debts neceffity compelled them to contract, or perishing for want upon the dunghills in St. Giles's. In the fame places might we have feen the children of thofe who owe their wealth and greatness to the fuccefs of the reformation, the restoration, or the revolution, had thofe events been differently difpofed by the Almighty. Can any of thefe then look up to heaven, and fay, what I have is my own? And if they cannot fay fo, who derive their fortunes from a long train of ancestors, furely thofe who have drawn it from profperous returns in trade, from the plunder of an ene

Come down then ye great and wealthy from the thrones your felfish pride has erected for you; and whilft you are profeffing thankfulness for the benefits of Chrift's coming, make it by your bounty a joyful anniversary tɔ your wretched brethren, who are equally with you objects of his care and love, but whofe fufferings in this life chill their hearts, and fhut out the warm feelings of gratitude for their deliverance from eternal mifery. Look into their gloomy and loath fome abodes; fee their faces pale and worn to the bone for want of bread, their languid eyes funk deep into their heads, and dimmed, as it were, with the shadows of death; hear the cries of their ftarving children, re-echoed by the groans of their wretched parents, enfeebled by distempers to an impoffibility of affording help, or cut off from their labour and fhut up in a noifome prifon by the cruelty or perhaps diftreffes of a creditor, and then ask yourselves, if these be your brethren? joint heirs with you of Chrift's kingdom? and whether you cannot and ought not to do fomething to rejoice their hearts, and make them keep the feaft of his coming with gladness? Something to reconcile to them the unequal diftributions of Providence, to give yourselves a title to what you poffefs, and to fhew, that whilft you profess gratitude for your Saviour's birth, you do not deny him by your actions, nor refuse to direct your lives after his blessed example?

T. L.

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Directions for the Sick. From Letters to Married Women.

THE chamber, proper for the patient, is

of no fmall moment. There ought to be a free circulation of air, whether it be in the fummer or winter. I never would have any perfon confined to a room without a chimney; it is equally neceflary in the warmer season for the purpofe of difcharging the offensive vapours of difere, as it is in cold weather, by means of a little fire, to bring the air to a due temperament, which alfo contributes to remove the like offence.

In every diforder, phyfic and good nurfing, ought to go hand in hand; and I am the more defirous of giving my opinion with respect to good nurfing, as I mean to oppofe it to poor and bad nurfing; which has been too much the unlucky, and mifiaken practice, of the fick

chamber: for under the vague idea of inflammation, and inflammatory diseases, even bread and water have been fometimes accounted too great a fupport for the patient. But, with pleafure, we now fee phyficians act upon more rational principles; and I would wish to convince you, ladies, whofe province it is, of the propriety of fupporting patients under every difeafe.

Few perfons are conftrained to keep their chambers, who are not troubled with great lofs of ftrength, or feverish complaints, either as the firft caufe, or as fymptoms accompanying other difeafes. Suppofing then thefe circumftances, the confitution being thus reduced, or nature labouring to throw off a difeafe, the body certainly requires a nourishment of the

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Remarkable Advertisements, &c.

moft fimple kind; by nmple. I mean eafy of digeftion, but let it at the fame time be comfortable. The ftomach and bowels muft, of neceffity, be equally affected with the other part of the body, and confequently unable to perform their offices upon the common fupports of life.

Animal food, therefore, is particularly to be forbidden, and I am forry to be obliged to blame the fondness of parents, and those who affift in fick chambers, for too frequently indulging patients thus unwarrantably. Give me leave to obferve, if flesh be permitted during the existence of a fever, or when the body, by illness, is exceeding weakened, and emaciated, from the incapacity of the digeftive faculties, that the nourishment produced must be imperfect, crude, offenfive; and, confequently, inftead of a fupport, must add an additional weight to the difeafe.

But, at the fame time, let it be remembered, that as a fupport is neceffary, good broths, wine whey, jellies, panado, a beverage of wine and water, &c. are to be difcretionally permitted; and indeed the inclination of the fick perfon will generally determine the propriety of thefe things; for where they are hurtful, an univerfal loathing of them commonly takes place.

Although I would debar patients from animal food, where there is a feverish complaint, nevertheless I do moft earnestly recommend a generous, but difcretionary, fupport of easily digefted, and comfortable liquid nourishment, in every fever. I mean, that barley water, mint, and baum tea, with fuch like drinks, will not fufficiently fupport the ftrength of a pátient under any kind of fever, even for a few days, and much less for as many weeks. As to the diftinctions of inflammatory, nervous, and putrid, it is not my business to enter upon them here; but fuppofing the fever to be inflammatory, the patient is, or ought to be, confined to bed, and a breathing sweat encouraged. Will not then an already almost digefted, and innocent liquid nourishment, anfwer the phyfician's aim, at the fame time that it fupports the patient? Experience has convinced me of its utility. I cannot help, therefore, ftrongly recommending it, for I am too

233 apprehenfive that many lives are daily loft for want of this neceffary fupport.

I am labouring to prevent that mistaken care, which is commonly called ftarving a difeafe, and to fet afide the dreadful apprehenfion that a little innocent nourishment, given to a perfon in a fever, is still adding fuel to the fire. By thefe errors the ableft affiftance is oftentimes baffled, to the coft of the patient, and, not unlikely, to the difgrace of a worthy practitioner. Be affured, that it is more eligible to endeavour to fupport, and build up again, a shaken, diseased and tottering frame. than to attempt to pull it down. Never let this te done but by the exprefs command of wisdom and experience, for it is a ferious affair at all times to deprive a tenement of its foundation and ftrength. It is much to be wished, as it furely must prove a general advantage, that phyficians would particulary direct the regimen of diet in fick chambers.

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I muft fpeak of another miflake, with regard to the managemeut of linnen. tient cannot be hurt by changing wet filthy and offenfive linnen. for that which clean, dry and comfortable, provided this be done with proper care, not to give cold during the time of fhifting the cloaths. Linen which is perfectly dry and clean is. at all times, to be preferred to that which has been used, for the latter may have abforbed offenfive vapours, of which the former must be entirely free. Against this obfervation, I am convinced, there are great prejudices, nevertheless thofe who employ their reafon but for a moment, will fee the propriety of the prefent caution.

A free fucceffion of air is effentially necefceflàry, not only to carry off the offenfive vapours of disease, but also to the recovery of the patient, nay, even to the preservation of those who attend upon the fick. It is true that a fire is proper in cold weather, for reafons before given, but at the fame time the chamber ought to be no more than comfortably warm; for where this degree of heat is exceeded, faint fweats are likely to exhaust the patient's ftrength, whereby he finks, perhaps, under a difeafe, through which, probably, he might otherwife have been fupported.

REMARKABLE ADVERTISEMENTS, &c.

SOME time ago, at Barnstaple in Devon

fhire, a diffenting clergyman having got rather more than merry with one of the candidates to reprefent that town in parliament, the company agreed to fally forth, and break the windows of all the houfes that were not illu

minated; when they came to the MeetingHoule, "D-n me, Jack, (cried the candidate to the parfon) there's a difaffected house!”

"Faith is it,faid the prieft) and I'll have the first fling." Away went the ftone, the mob foliowed his example, and the windows were all demolished in an inftant.

Public Advertifer, Dec. 2.

Efterday morning a man rade over Blackfriars Bridge, with his fon b.hind him, and paid a penny ; but the horse proving larme,

they

they foon returned on foot, leading the beaft, and had two-pence to pay-a penny for the horfe, and a penny for themselves.

Public Advertifer, Dec. 2.

A Proof of the great Erudition of fome of the Middlesex Juftices, from the Public Advertifer, Dec. 2.

MR. Lambe, and Mr. Wegy, and Mr. Car

rington, at Acton, prefents their compliments to Mr. —, and begs the favour of his company to dinner at the George at Acton, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to meet the friends, of Sir W. B. Proctor.

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N old maiden lady at Dover, having taken it into her head that the fhould die in a

few days, gave directions to the fexton of the parifh, to which the belonged, to dig her out a handfome deep grave; but meeting with a young cornet, before the much-apprehended time arrived, fhe was prevailed upon to accompany him to church on a very different occafion. The honeft fexton was hard at work

for her as the pafied by, when the generously clapped half a guinea into his hand, and bid him fill it up again with the utmost expedi

tion.

Gazetteer, Dec. 17.

Whereas a perfon, that had the appearance

of a gentleman, came to Mr. Mackelfon, fucceflor to Mr. Paul Juilion, in Coventry-street, fome months fince, and who, after the manner of Mr. Jullion, made him an entire upper jaw with teeth, and every thing complete to anfer the purpose of eating, &c. and which perfon, after the finishing the work, took out a note of gol. drawn on a gentleman in the city, which Mr. Mackelfon did not know, therefore refused giving him change for fuch now. Mr. Mackelfon has, by accident, come by fome knowledge of this perfon, and is refolved, if he does not call or

fend, and difcharge the debt, he will treat him as he deferves.

Gazetteer, Dec. 17.

If the gentleman could not pay the 30 1. he ought at least to have returned the jaw and teeth but it is, in fome measure, Mr. Mackelfon's own fault; for had he not furnifhed him with the teeth, he would not have been able to bite him in this manner.

Quere, If Mr. Mackelfon fhould happen to fee the gentleman with his mouth open, has he a right to feize upon his jaw and teeth? Though I would rather advise the celebrated dentist to file a bill for an injunction to stop the proceedings of the jaw and teeth.

Wanted, at Derenham in the county of

Suffolk, a man and woman that are qualified as governors of a workhouse, and will take the poor in the faid house by the bead. Such perfons, bringing with them a proper character, may be treated with by applying to the officers of the faid parish. Ipfwich Journal, Dec. 17.

A Lady, whofe accomplishments hath ac

quired the esteem of the beau monde, having lately loft a fecret friend, is defirous of putting herself under the protection of any perfon of rank and fortune. Perfon agreeable; difpofition happy; can fuit herself either to the sprightly levity of the gay, or the more fedate turn of the grave and wife. Though brought up in the bon ton, her reafon is not impaired. Her real fituation is an entire fecret to her acquaintance, which she hopes will apologize for this addrefs. A line, poft paid, for N. N. at the Cecil-ftreet Coffee-houte, Strand, till called for, fhall be attended to. Gazetteer, Dec. 19.

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POETICAL PROLOGUE to the new Tragedy of ZINGIS, By Mr. HOME. Spoken by Mr. HOLLAND. TOO much the Greek and Roman Chiefs The Mufe

engage

they languish on our Stage:

Of ancient mafters, like the Painter draws From models only. Can fuch copies charm The heart, or like the glow of nature warm ?

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POETICAL ESSAY S.

To fill the Scene, to-night our Author
brings

Originals at leaft-Warriors and Kings-
Fieroes, who, like their gems, unpolifh'd

fhine,

The mighty Fathers of the Tartar Line, Greater than those, whom claffic Pages boaft, If thofe are greateft, who have conquer'd

moft.

Such is the fubject-such the Poet's

theme,

If a rough Soldier may affume that name;
Who does not offer you from fancy store,
Manners and Men.-On India's burning
Thore,

In warlike toils he pafs'd his youthful years,
And met the Tartar in the ftrife of fpears;
But tho' he liv'd amidst the cannons roar,
Thunder like your's he never fac'd before;
Liften indulgent to his artlefs ftrain,
Nor let a Soldier, quarter afk in vain,

EPILOGUE, by Mr. GARRICK,
Spoken by Mrs. ABINGTON.

235

Ye Fair, who have not yet thrown out your bait,

To tangle Captives in the marriage state, Take heed, I warn you, where your hearts you fet;

O let not Infidels come near your net.
Let Hand in Hand, with Prudence, go your
wishes,

Men are, in general, the ftrangest fishes!
Do not for Mifery your Beauty barter,
And-O take heed-you do not catch a Tar-

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And but one fceptre rul'd the refcu'd land, Then BRITONS, erft a people wild and rude, Whose Mien was furly, tho' their Hearts were good;

I'M fent, good Folks, to speak the Epi- To love of ARTS bade Martial deeds give

logue,

But 'tis fo dul-I'll cheat the fcribbling

Rogue:

Among ourselves, your lofs will be but

fmall

YOU'RE * too polite for Epilogue to call. But as for you it is your joy and prideEver to call but never fatisfied.—

Will you, ye Critics, give up Rome and Greece?

And turn Mahometans, and fave this Piece? What fhall our Stage receive this Tartar Rac Each whifker'd Hero with a copper face?

I hate the Tartars-hate their vile religion

We have no fouls for footh-that's their decifion!

Thefe Brutes, fome horrid prejudice controuls;

Speak, English Hufbands-have your Wives no fouls ?

Then for our perfons-ftill more fhameful work,

A hundred women, wed a fingle Turk '
Again, ye English Husbands, what fay you?
A hundred Wives!. you would not wish for
Two.

Romans and Greeks for me!-O that dear
Sparta!

Their Women had a noble Magna Charta !
There a young Hero, had he won fair fame,
Might, from her Husband, afk a lovely dame;
The happy Husband of the honour vain,
Gave her with joy, took her with joy again:
The chofen dame no ftruggles had within,
For to refufe, had been a public Sin.--
And to their honour, all Hiftorians fay,
No Spartan Lady, ever finn'd that way.-

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way,

And dawning Science beam'd its glorious ray; Their Manners, brighten'd as their fenfe refin'd;

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The focial Virtues opened on their mind:
From Breaft to Breaft the moral duties ran;
The fon continu'd what the fire began;
Each Heart had learn'd to feel another's Woe,
The figh to heave, and Pity's drop to flow.
Succeeding ages ftill rofe more humane;
And perfect CHARITY Crowns GEORGE's
happy reign.

Lo! at your word what Sanctuaries rife ;
A fhield for CHASTITY, an asylum from
VICE!

Ere infant Minds are lur'd to Folly's way
Or Virtue fall of Poverty the prey.
See Magdalens implore their parent sky,
With bended knee and pure uplifted eye;
Sweet peace of Mind, long abfent, to
reftore,

And Grace to follow vicious paths no more!
Hear Foundlings lifp, from cruelty fet free,
And little Tars exult for LIBERTY!

Thefe! thefe are works which Heav'n itfelf delight,

And fuch the Plan your Bounty aids this night.

The Matron's pregnant anguish to allay,
And bring her affspring to the face of day.
Ye truly Great; Oh kindly ftill difpenfe
Your brighter attribute-BENEVOLENCE!
Make the poor race of fad affliction smile,
Like those whofe noble hearts endowed the
pile,

Whofe bofoms melt at forrow's plaintive call,
And like the Sun wou'd glad and cherish all.

They're

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