4 Of the MULTIPLICITY of our LAWS. to take a mean and cowardly advantage of his Pruffian majesty's feeming ditres; and their behaviour in the electorate of Hanover, no doubt, contributed not a little to confirm the Ruffians in their opinion, that the war was not undertaken for the re A B C Jan. in is well known, that one laborious gentleman fpent near FIFTY YEARS making a grand abridgment of the law cafes, and published above twenty volumes in folio-Still fuch was his arduous task, that he died before the whole of his work covery of Saxony, as they affected to give was published. Since his death, the reit out. The Austrians employed in the mainder has been ushered into the world recovery of Silefia, and the French in the by the means of a very learned body, and deftruction of Hanover, prove allo, beyond make compleat 23 volumes. I have heard contradiction, that Saxony was out of the it alfo averred, upon a certain occafion, question; the unprecedented cruelties of that if a man had in his custody all the the French, in the last mentioned electo- acts, law cafes, and other matters that rate, fhew that the blow is levelled at have been paffed and wrote relative to the England; and their eagerness to do their law, and they were placed in a waggon, work effually, has made them over- five able borfes could not draw them; and fhoot the mark; for, inftead of fending it is against one of our ftatute laws to add 24,000 men into Germany, which, by the a fixth, unlets the waggon has broad treaty of the firft of May, 1756, they had wheels. Nevertheless we are bound, as engaged themfelves to furnish, Europe faw, becomes good fubjects, to pay a dutiful with amazement, 120,000cruffing the Rhine. obedience to the laws, let them be ever fo Can it with reafon be imagined, that this voluminous, and to endeavour to underprodigious army had no purpofes of their ftand them, as far as we are able. As own to ferve? Can it be fuppofed they we are fpeaking of the law, it puts ine in mean only to affist the queen of Hungary, mind of what our own, as well as foreign already an over-match for the Pruffins, Gazettes, have proclaimed, in relation to without the affiftance of either Ruffians or feveral noble acts, which the most illustrious Swedes? Does not her bafe and ungrateful king of Pruffia has performed, for the fharing in the fpoils of Hanover, prove a D good of his people; two of which I fettled defign, not only of ruining the king thall here mention. First, His majesty has of Pruffia, but also those who fhall dare caufed to be collected all his fcattered to affift that prince in the glorious effort laws, and taken them into his ferious he is now making, to fupport his own in- confideration, and, after the example of dependency, and the liberties of Europe? the immortal Juftinian, reduced thofe Does not this mean, fcandalous, and cow- laws into a new and concife code, which ardly league, call upon the friends of li- E is extremely valuable, feeing that all afberty to affift, by every means in their fairs refpecting property, and the adminipower, the glorious defender of it? He firation of justice, are now very quick, and has had great and unexpected fuccefs: eafily determined. The plant becomes a His virtues deferve it, and his wifdom will tree. Secondly, The king has introduced, improve it: If we fecond him, as our into his army, a new military exercise, own intereft, nay, our prefervation feems which has been found, from experience, in to require, we have every thing to expect F feveral late battles, to be very ufeful, and from his valour and prudence. Let not is fo much approved of here, that our murmuring at paft mifcarriages divert our troops are learning that difcipline. It has attention from the main point; we are not been remarked of late years, that a parcel fo far gone in effeminacy and floath, but we of youths have been received into feveral have got fome men, who are willing offices, to the prejudice of old, brave, and and able to retrieve the nation's honour. experienced men, who are too often left without employ: And as we fo much approve of the Pruffian exercife, fome wellwifhers to the welfare of their fellow fubjects, think the Pruffian laws might alfo be equally ufeful, if they were known here; and to make them fo, they believe it would be highly commendable in our H governors, if they would be fo good to fend fome of these youths, at the publick expence, to ftudy thofe laws, and learn the manner of conducting the proceedings in their courts of justice: And that we may not fuffer at home for want Let us emulate the king of Pruffia; let not a few misfortunes deject us: We have yet power, let us make a proper ufe of it. We find that, with their united force, prodigious as it is, they are not able to crush him. Of the MULTIPLICITY of our LAWS. Europe, whofe conftitution is better calculated for the liberty of the fubject, than that of Great-Britain: Yet it is certain, that our laws are fo voluminous, that one man cannot carry them-Nay, it G • Mr. Vyner. of 1758. PROPOSAL to reduce the PRICE of CORN.' 5 of corn, by prohibiting the use of it in the diftillery, by allowing the importation of foreign corn, and forbiding the exportation of our own, had not all the good effects which the legiflature reasonably expected from it; but was, in a great meaA fure, fruftrated by the avarice and evil practices of the feveral dealers in it; and as the price of corn is now rifing higher, and may, too likely, if not timely ftopped, reduce the poor of this kindgom to the dreadful alternative of being either starved or hanged; it is the duty of every individual to contribute, as far as he can, towards preventing fo great a calamity: I have therefore again confidered that very interesting fubject, and fent you the following thoughts upon it; and am, of their fervices, thofe well-wishers moft C SIR, Your humble fervant, BRITANNICUs. That a real fcarcity of corn in the kingdom ought to be the only reafon for railing the price of it, will, I fuppofe, be allowed by every one. That there was a general good crop of corn, throughout the kingdom, latt harveft, cannot be denied. ferved a few years clerkship, to be proper- D, That there is as much corn in the king dom in one year, when the harvest is tolerably good, as will ferve all its inhabitants two, is generally believed. That the prefent high price of corn cannot therefore (as none could have fince been legally exported) he owing to any real fcarcity of it in the kingdom, feems to be paft all contradiction. Thit the engroffers, retainers, foreftallers, and regraters, the cornfactors, farmers, millers, and meal men, have all contributed to inhance and keep up the price of corn, under the pretence of a fcarcity of Fit in the nation, tho' the dearnefs of it is owing only to their avarice and illegal practices, feems undeniable. ly qualified to practife and conduct cau- From the LONDON EVENING-POST, A S the aft paffediffeffion of parlia- To put a top, therefore, to fuch wicked and unlawful practices; to prevent the poor from being ftarved by an artificial famine, and to take away all pretence of Ga fcarcity of corn in the kingdom in times of plenty, it is humbly propofed: within That a publick regifter cffice for grain, be appointed in every county; and that, days after they shall be fo appointed and fet up, all perfons, dealers in grain, whofoever, fhall enter the true H quantity of all kinds of grain, according to the best of their knowledge and belief, which they have in their feveral poffeffions; and that all perfons fhall annually, within days, after inning any kind of grain, enter the lame, and the true quantity thereof, to the best of their knowledge and belief, in their feveral counties and regifter offices. 6 INIQUITY of ENGROSSING, &c. Jan. I would alfo further propofe, that the laws against engroffers, foreftallers, and regraters, may be more fully explained B and enforced. To the CITIZEN. AM forry to obferve to what a height of iniquity, we, of this age, and of this nation, have arrived. The fear of fhame is vanifhed, and modefty is no more. We don't fear to fin with a high hand, and in a publick manner. Murder has erected its head, walks the ftreets, and dares to destroy, at noon-day, in defiance of laws human and divine. Murderers do I call the ingrofling confederacy! Are they not worfe? Are not highwaymen and housebreakers innocents, in comparison with thefe? Do they deferve to be placed in fo black a lift, and to be numbered with fuch a tribe? A tribe that may flay numbers, and delights to make thousands and tens of thousands miferable! How And as the illegal practices of felling by fample, and regrating, is one caufe of the high price of corn; and which first begun in our London markets, and from thence fpread itfelf through the do they grind the face of the poor, and kingdom; and as the price of grain C labour to deprive them of the staff and through the nation is, in a great meafure, comfort of life! How thamefully do they regulated by the London market, I would live upon the lives of their fellow-creapropofe, that an effectual stop fhould be tures, and fport in their blood! Don't put to that illegal and wicked practice of they exceed the cannibals in wickedness. ? fample-jobbing, by establishing a legal, Are not they merciful when compared fair, and open market in this metropolis, with thefe? They foon put men out of where every confumer might go and pur- D their mifery, but these protract life to make chafe whatever quantity of grain he wantit wretched! They deftroy at once, but ed at first hand, and prime coft. thefe by piece-meal, and with lingering torWhat a difgrace are thefe men to fociety! What a fcandal to the rational creation! What evils do they occasion ! What diftreffes bring! They not only inhance the price of provifions, but expole our perfons to dangers at home and abroad. They are not content to pick our pockets themselves, but tempt others to do it. What temptations do they give men to prey upon the innocent, and commit muider and robbery! What a variety of tormenting inftruments do they ufe! What a fcene of woe open! What a difmal tragedy act! Who can plead their caufe, vindicate fuch a character, And, as there is great deceit in felling grain by measure, I would propofe, that all grain, through the kingdom, should be fold by weight. I would allo propofe, that all millers fhould be prohibited from grinding any corn for fale on their own account. And if a proper number of mills were erected on the banks of the Thames, between this city and Kingston, at the publick expence, it would, I apprehend, be a means of fupplying this metropolis better with bread. E F But, notwithstanding thefe, or any other regulations that may be thought of or made, I am very apprehenfive, that the engroffers, and farmers, if they fhould fill be allowed the liberty of hoarding up and keeping back their corn from coming to market, will continue to keep the price of it up, and even raise it to what degree they pleafe; I cannot therefore help thinking it not only very neceffary, but highly reasonable, that, when there is plenty of corn in the kingdom, and yet it fhall be raised to an extrava- H gant price, and the poor thereby reduced to great extremity, by the avarice of the poffeffors of it, they should be compelled, by a ftrong and clear law, to bring it to market. ments. and fuch fhameful behaviour? Think of the difcord and confufion they occafion in families! Bring to your mind the G gloomy confequences of their behaviour! Let the parent, the dying wife, and the ftarving children, be brought upon the ftage, and let their cafe be confidered ! Let the fuicide be exhibited! Let the hanging, the drowning which they occafion, be viewed; this must raise our indignation, and write infamy on the forehead of fuch men. Dare they appear with fuch a character, and glory in fuch an efcutcheon!-Has not God opened his hand, diftributed his favours very liberally, and are not we deprived of the fe 1758. REPLY to CONVEXO. by the iniquity of man? What an attempt is this!Till this grievance is rectified, let us not talk of our excellent laws. Till this horrible wickedness is reformed, let us not pretend to chriftianity, and glory in the proteftant name. 7 May it not therefore be expedient, at this critical juncture, that they should be immediately ftopt at Cork, and to obviate any clamour arifing by fuch a proceeding, that the government fhould take them off the hands of the prefent poffeffors, al CHRISTIANUS. A lowing them fuch a profit, as might be To CONVEX O. SIR, deemed fufficient to indemnify them for any damages they could pretend to, by the faid provifions not going to the markets they were defigned for. In cafe fuch, a ing the enemy, wherever it may be intendftep fhould feem well calculated for weakenBed they are to be attacked; and to prevent the national difgrace of again failing in any future undertaking, one may venture to pronounce, that whatever may bear it, and applaud the measure. be the expence, the nation will chearfully As you was fo candid as at once to al- maintain he does not; if you can alledge Yours, &c. ACADEMICUS. To the AUTHOR of the GAZETTEER. SIR, The government being poffeffed of these provifions, they might be diftributed in Gibraltar; they might be difpofed of, at our fleet; they might, in part, be fent to army of obfervation, which ftands in under rate, to the diftreffed poor, or the degree, be relieved by them: In short, were need of every affiftance, might, in fome D not it better to throw them into the fea, than to fuffer them to be carried to the French, to enable them to cut our throats; or, what is as bad, to baffle our defigns? But yet, after all, if those Dutch provifion fhips are permitted to fail with their loadings from Cork, it is to be hoped UPON reading the following para- E care will be taken that a good convoy graph in your paper of the 27th inftant, viz. "there are upwards of twelve large Dutch fhips at Cork, most of them from Amfterdam, which are taking in provifions, and will clear out for St. Sebaftian's and Euftatia; but we are told, there is too much reafon to believe they are defigned for Louisbourg, where there is a great dearth of provifions at prefent." The following thoughts occurred, which you will communicate to the publick, in cafe they should appear new, or worthy of attention. F of English men of war fhould accompa- 1758. To the AUTHOR of the GAZETTEER. S interested yourself in If the provifions at Cork are not all GA the behalf of the poor, by recom taken off for our own fhipping, it is very reasonable the proprietors of them fhould be at liberty to vend them to whom they can, otherwife the commodity would perith, and the owners be greatly injured in their property, if not ruined: But if they fell them, knowing them defigned for the French, with whom we are at war, they are guilty of high treafon : It is a very eafy matter to diftinguifh by the houfes at Cork, which ship there provifions on foreign bottoms, whether they are loyal fubjects or not to the king of Great Britain. H mending in your paper, what you thought might contribute to their relief, in regard to the high price of corn and grain (which is now under the confideration of parliament) give me leave to fuggeft to you, what I think well worth attention, as, in my opinion, it will be an infallible benefit to them, and to every perfon who buys corn to grind for the ufe of his family, and that is, an obligation upon farmers, &c. to fell their corn by weight instead of meafure; as the latter is, to the buyer, extremely deceitful in many refpects, viz. in 8 ACCOUNT of SCHWEIDNITZ. J Sukedom of the fame name, in in the difference of measures, the manner of meafuring, and in the quality of the corn. The firit is too notorious, and the confe- dutchy of Silefia, lies in 16° 25' of t quence too obvious to require explanation: longitude, and in latitude 50° 47′, 26 mi And as to the fecond, it is well known, fouth of Breslaw. (See the Map in our that a perfon may, by art, if difhoneftly Vol. p. 528) it was ceded to his Pruff inclined, make a much lefs quantity fill A majefty, with the reft of that dutchy, his measure than there ought to be, as 1742, and was taken by the Auftria was the cafe in regard to falt (which in December last, the garrison furrende was much complained of) whilft that was ing prifoners of war. His Prussian m permitted to be fold by meafure. In re jetty has blocked it up, fince his late gl fpect to the quality of corn, there is ftill a rious fuccefs, and news of its being r much greater difference; for that which is taken is daily expected. (See our la brought in dry, and in its nature good, B Vol. p. 621.) By the annexed beautif will weigh more, by eight or ten pounds in Plan, it appears to be a place of confider a bufhel, than fuch as has received da- able ftrength. mage in the field, is thin in the grain, or not well winnowed and cleaned, tho' the measure is exactly the fame; confequently, in this laft fort, less flour will be produced, and the poor man pays for what C he has not; whereas, was he to buy by weight, there would be little or no deception; for the thinner or lighter any corn is, the more in quantity must be required to any certain weight. We have a law that prefcribes eight gallons to a bufhel, &c. called the Winchefter measure, to be fed throughout the kingdom; but that is difregarded and evaded in almost all parts, except in London; and it is with great reason feared, that if any other meafure fhould be appointed, it will be varied from in the fame manner; which felling by weight, under proper regulations, can- E not be liable to; and by this, the price of corn will, in all places, be more equally fixed, and the affize of bread more easily fettled. D What I have faid above, in regard to the deceitfulness of meafure, is well known to every perfon converfant in husbandry; F and as it may, at this time in particular, be ferviceable to the publick if others were likewife acquainted with it, I give you the trouble of confidering it, hoping that you will communicate it in fuch manner as you think proper, and with fuch additions and improvements, as you shall find neceflary, G and you will oblige, January 25, Your humble fervant, 1758. A COUNTRYMAN. P. S. It is abfolutely neceffary that malt fhould continue to be fold by meafure, as the buyer will be as much deceived in the weight of that, as in the measure of the other; for bad malt will always weigh more than good, for this plain reafon, viz. that part of it is not malted at all, because, having received damage in the field, it will not work, and therefore retains its original weight. (See our laft Vol. P. 542.) H Tranflation of the ODx written by the King o PRUSSIA, immediately after the Via gained, over the combined Armies of Franc and the Empire, at Refbach; which was fe to Mufick, and performed in the Queen of Pruffia's Apartment at Berlin, the fifth of laft Month. Ο I. H thou on whom the nations call, Father, and Lord of all, Uncreated, undefin'd, Whom the rude Indian worships in the wind: By whatsoever name thou would'st be term'd, Immaculate! Supreme! Omnifcient, infinite, eternal Mind! In thankful gratitude before thy throne I II. With foes encompass'd upon ev'ry hand, Depopulating fword, confuming fire, III. But, in thy clear impartial fight, Arm'd with my caufe, at once both spear And lo! their troops give way, They fhrink, they fly; purfue! we win the day: Each foldier feems the bolt of Jove to wield, And ev'ry fingle arm's a thousand strong in fight. IV. To fortune then due praife accord, On the contending multitudes look'd down; And, as the found her fcales, fo the em- |