15 On the Alteration in Times. Candour. It is not then surprising, that they should hold the same language to Miss H- whom they must think so in the highest degree. Don't you remember how all the gentlemen were in her praise? Envy. Well, for my part, I do not think the men half so good judges of female beauty as the women. Miss H has too great a quantity of hair considering how small her head is. Candour. What fault do you find with her person? Envy. She is too tall. Candour. She is not above an inch taller than yourself. Envy. I do not pretend to say she is a great deal too tall. Candour. Can you pretend to say she is too short? Envy. She is neither one thing nor the other; one does not know what to make of her. Candour. That settles the point of her height; let us now proceed to her face. Do you not find something very engaging in her countenance? Envy. Engaging, do you call it? Candour. Yes, I call it engaging. What do you call it? Envy. She is apt, indeed, to smile, but that is to shew her teeth. Candour. She would not smile for that purpose, however, unless she had good fine teeth; and they are certainly the finest I ever saw. Envy. What signifies teeth? Candour. Well, let us come to her eyes. What do you think of them? Envy. They are not black. Candour. No; but they are the sweetest blue in nature. Envy. Blue eyes have been long out of fashion; black are now all the mode. Candour. Blue ones are coming round again; for those of Missare much admired. Envy. Her fortune would procure her admirers among men, although she had no eyes at all. Candour. That stroke lights entirely on the men, and misses the person against whom it was aimed. Envy. Aimed! I have no ill-will against Miss Candour. I am glad to hear it. Envy. Lord, not I, why should I? Candour. I am sure I cannot tell. Envy. She never did me any injury. Candour. I was afraid she had. 16 Envy. No, not in the least, that I know of. I dare say she is a good enough sort of a girl; but as for beauty, her pretensions to that are very moderate indeed. ON THE ALTERATION IN TIMES. THERE is a cynical principle in human nature, which always leads us to complain of the days in which we live. We generally think, that the moment which is passing over us, is fraught with more evils than any that preceded it; and foolishly imagine that the calamities which await us in futurity, cannot surpass in magnitude, those which we have already experienced. Similar thoughts have been our companions through the whole course of our remembrance; and it but rarely happens, that we perceive the advantages which we have enjoyed, until they have departed from us, and some unexpected disaster has appeared to awaken recollection. The case seems to have been much the same with our ancestors and in proportion to the distance of the period in which they lived, our astonishment is excited at the unreasonableness of their complaints. The world is in a state of incessant fluctuation; nor can the most penetrating genius any more anticipate the events and concomitants of life, which are lodged in futurity, than our ancestors who lived three centuries since, were able to discern the condition of civilized society in the age which we call our own. We look back with astonishment upon the subjects and causes of their complaints; and, making a comparison between their condition and our own, smile at their simplicity, and envy their situation. Analogy tells us, that it is not unreasonable to suppose the period will arrive, a few centuries hence, when our successors may reflect on our present state in a similar manner, and wish "Like duteous sons, their fathers were more wise." The abundance or scarcity, as well as the cheapness or dearth, of every commodity, is always comparative; and the good or evil resulting from either, can only be estimated by the proportions which articles bear in their value towards one another. This 17 On the Alteration in Times. is the true ground of rational calculation; all besides being fallacious. These reflections have been occasioned by the following observations, which illustrate the ancient manner of thinking in England. They have been taken from a work on Political Economy, published in 1581, in the reign of Elizabeth, and communicated by IPOLPERROC. What numbers of trifles come hither from beyond sea, that we might either clean spare, or else make them within our realm: I mean looking-glasses, drinking-glasses, and glass for windows, dials, tables, cards, balls, puppets, penners, inkhorns, toothpicks, gloves, knives, daggers, ouches, brooches, agletts, buttons of silked silver, earthen pots, pins, and points, hawk's bells, paper, white and brown, and a thousand like things. Some gentlemen seeing, from the increase of the prices of almost every thing, that they can no longer stand it, (thirty years ago, a pig or goose costing four-pence, that now costs twelvepence, a good capon for three or four pence, chicken for a penny, a hen for two-pence, which now cost double and treble the money,) either keep a chamber in London, or wait on the court uncalled, with a man and a lackey after him, where he was wont to keep thirty or forty persons daily in his house, and to do good in the country, in keeping good order and rule among his neighbours. I think we were in as much dread or more of our enemies, when our gentlemen went simply, and our serving men plainly, without cuts or gards, bearing their heavy swords and bucklers on their thighs, instead of cuts and gards and light dancing-swords; and when they rode, carrying good spears in their hands instead of white rods, which they carry now, more like ladies or gentlewomen than men, all which delicacies make our men clean effeminate, and without strength. Many a great wise man thinks it better that all our wool were sold over sea unwrought, than any clothiers should be set at work withal, within this realm. They take it that all insurrections and uproars, for the most part, do rise by occasion of these clothiers; for when clothiers lack vent over-sea, there is a great multitude of these clothiers idle. And when they be 18 idle, then they assemble in companies, and murmur for lack of living, and so pick one quarrel or other to stir the poor commons, that be as idle as they, to a commotion. And sometimes by occasion of wars, there must needs be some stay of clothes, so as they cannot have always like sale or vent; at every which time, if the said clothiers should take occasion of commotion, they think it were better that there were none of them in the realm at all. (It is to be observed, that the author is controverting this argumentation.) I have read, that in this realm some time there was such a law, as a man that had trespassed the law of misadventure, might have taken the ploughtail as his sanctuary. When I asked a bookseller why we had not white and brown paper made within the realm, as well as they had made beyond the sea? then he answered me, that there was paper made awhile within the realm; at the last, the man perceived that he could not put forth his paper as good and cheap as it came from beyond the sea, and so he was forced to lay down making of paper: and no blame in the man, for men will give never the more for his paper because it was made here. I was once in a Parliament, when such a thing was moved, but only for caps, that none made beyond sea should be sold here within the realm; and then it was answered by a great wise man, that it was to be feared lest it touched the league made between the Prince's highness and some foreign Prince. When there came a certain vessel out of England to Carmarthen, in the marches of Wales, all laden with apples, which aforetime was wont to bring them good corn, the town commanded that none should buy the said apples upon a great pain, and so the boat stood so long in the haven without sale or vent, till the apples were putrified and lost. And when the owner demanded of the bailiff of the town why he had staid his sale and vent? the bailiff answered again, that the said vessel came thither to fetch the best wares they had in the country, as friezes, broad cloths, and wool; and instead thereof, he should leave them in their country but apples, that should be spent and wasted in less than a week. “And said, bring to us corn or malt, as ye were wont to 19 Anecdotes of Franklin. do, whereof the country hath need, and ye shall be welcome at all times, and ye shall have free vent and sale thereof in our port. Albeit, there be many things laid down now, which beforetime were occasions of much expences, as maygames, wakes, revels, wagers at shooting, wrestling, running, and throwing the stone or bar, and besides that, pardons, pilgrimages, offerings, and many such other things, yet I perceive we be never the wealthier, but poorer: whercof it is long I cannot well tell, for there is such a general dearth of all things, as before 20 or 30 years hath not been the like, not only of things growing within this realm, but also of all other merchandize, that we buy from beyond the sea, as silks, wines, oils, wood, madder, iron, steel, | wax, flax, linen cloth, fustians, worsteds, coverlets, carpets, and all kerseys and tapestry. Spices of all sort, and all haberdasher ware, -as paper, both white and brown, glasses, as well drinking and looking, as for glazing of windows; pins, needles, knives, daggers, hats, caps, brooches, buttons, and laces. I wot well, all these do cost now more by the third part than they did but few years ago; then all kind of vittles are as dear or dearer again, and no cause of God's part thereof, as far as I can perceive; for I never saw more plenty of corn, grass, and cattle of all sort, than we have at this present. I have seen a cap for thirteen-pence as good as I can get now for two shillings and sixpence; of cloth, ye have heard how the price is risen. Now a pair of shoes cost twelvepence; yet in my time I have bought a better for sixpence. Now I can get never a horse shoed under tenpence or twelvepence, where I have also seen the common price was sixpence. And yet these gentlemen that do enhance their rents, do not enhance it generally to the double; though I confess, that some of us that had lands either given us by the king's highness, that belonged heretofore to Abbeys and Priories, and were never surveyed to the uttermost before, or otherwise descended to us, have enhanced many of them above the old rent; yet all that amounteth not to half the lands of the realm. There is no man can be contented now with any other gloves than is made in France or Spain; nor kersey, 20 but it must be of Flanders dye; nor cloth, but French or Fryscadow; nor ouch, brooch, or agglett, but of Venice making, or Milan; nor dagger, sword, knife, or girdle, but of Spanish making, or some outward country; no not as much as a speer, but that is fetched at the Millaner, (that is, inhabitant of Milan). I have heard within these forty years, when there were not of these haberdashers that sell French or Millen (Milan) caps, glasses, knives, daggers, swords, girdles, and such things, not a dozen in all London: and now, from the town to Westminster along, every street is full of them; and their shops glitter and shine of glass, as well drinking as looking, yea, all manner of vessels of the same stuff; painted cruses, gay daggers, knives, swords and girdles, that it is able to make any temperate man to gaze on them and to buy somewhat, though it serve to no purpose necessary. ANECDOTES OF DR. FRANKLIN. WHEN the American Convention were framing their Constitution, Dr. Franklin asked them how it happened, that while groping as it were in the dark, to find political truth,' they had not once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate their understandings? "I have lived, Sir, (said he) a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that, "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our little, partial, local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future ages." then moved, that prayers should be performed in that assembly every morning before they proceeded to business. "The Convention, except three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary!!" These words, and these notes of admiration, were written by Dr. Franklin himself. He 21 ANOTHER. Edible Birds' Nests. In the middle of the last century, when some doubts were expressed as to the propriety of erecting a new episcopal church in Philadelphia, Dr. Franklin delivered an opinion upon it in his characteristic manner. To build a new church in a growing place,' said he, is not properly dividing, but multiplying, and will really be a means of increasing the number of those who worship God in that way. Many who cannot now be accommodated in the church, go to other places, or stay at home; and if we had another church, many who go to other places, or stay at home, would go to church. I had for several years, nailed against the wall of my house, a pigeon-box that would hold six pair: and though they bred as fast as my neighbour's pigeons, I never had more than six pair, the old and strong driving out the young and weak, and obliging them to seek new habitations. At length, I put up an additional box, with apartments for entertaining twelve pair more, and it was soon filled with inhabitants by the overflowing of my first box, and of others in the neighbourhood. This I take to be a parallel case with the building of a church here. Edible Birds' Nests. MR. EDITOR, 22 be some species of animal substance, while the Author of the account of which is frequently found on the beach; the Embassy to China, believes that the nests are formed of the remnants of the food of the swallows, which consists of insects; and he affirms, that this bird is occupied in building two whole months. But it appears most credible, that the mucilaginous substance of which these nests are formed, is an animal elaboration; and not, as is generally supposed, obtained from the ocean. On the dissection of one of these birds by Sir E. Home, he discovered a set of secretory organs peculiar to itself, by which there is little doubt the mucilaginous matter of these nests is elaborated. The nests adhere to each other, and to the rock on which they are built. Their size is that of a goose's egg, and of a semicircular form. When dressed, they dissolve into a kind of jelly, of which the flavour is said to be peculiarly delicious. They are distinguished into two kinds, of which the one is white, and the other black, the former being considerably the more valuable. The white sort (says Marsden) sells in China at the rate of 1000 or 1500 Spanish dollars the pekul; the black is usually disposed of at Batavia, for 20 dollars the same weight, where it is chiefly converted into glue, of which it makes a very superior kind. The difference between the two, has SIR,-If you should think the follow-by some been supposed to be owing ing account of the Edible Bird's Nest, of sufficient importance for your pages, I shall be glad to see it inserted. Sir, yours, &c. Edinburgh, 12th Nov. 1820. D. P. A species of Birds' Nests found in Malacca, the island of Java, and in several of the other districts of Asia, are, in many of the eastern countries, used as a most delicate article of food. These are constructed by a small species of swallows, (hirundo esculenta,) which frequent the coasts at certain seasons. Writers and naturalists do by no means agree, concerning the substance of which these nests are formed. Kempfer says, it is mollusca, or seaworms; De Poivre calls it the spawn of fish; Dalrymple informs us, it is sea-weeds; Linneus supposes it to to the mixture of the feathers of the birds with the viscous substance of which the nests are formed, and this they deduce from the experiment of steeping the black nests for a short time in hot water, when they are said to become, in a great degree, white. Among the natives, I have heard some few assert, that they are the work of a different species of bird. It was suggested to me, that the white might probably be the recent nests in which they were taken, and the black such as had been used for a number of years successively. This opinion appearing plausible, I was particular in my inquiries as to that point, and I learnt what seemed much to corroborate it. When the natives prepare to take the nests, they enter into the caves with torches; and, forming ladders, according to the usual mode, (of a single bamboo notched,) they ascend, and pull down 23 The Moralizer.- No 4. the nests, which adhere in numbers THE MORALIZER.-No. 4. Saturday, October 7th, 1820. Dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide, tantum Ir has always been an invariable, 24 and consequently less remarkable, this sensation invariably abates. Thus we find those offenders who are most familiar with vice, to be least susceptible of shame. Encouragement wipes the conscious blush of remorse from the cheek of emboldened impiety; attention ceases to be attracted by a repetition of crimes, which have lost the recommendation of novelty; vice appears less disgusting, the more freely it is practised; successful iniquity banishes the timidity of apprehension; and the breast of the sinner is made impervious to any principles, but those of audacious impiety. In all civilized communities, immoral practices are discountenanced, as well by the instituted laws of that community, as by the general example of its best members; and this circumstance imposes on the practical advocates of infidelity, the necessity of concealing their sentiments, and disguising their purposes. Nor is this the only consideration which arrays them in the specious mask of dissimulation. There are few but would be shocked by the glaring deformities, which a display of such characters must exhibit. Multitudes who would survey the unveiled disclosure of so monstrous an anomaly with feelings of aversion and ridicule, and regard it either as the result of pride or the evidence of imbecility, of sophistry, and sacrificed at the are the first to be inveigled in the toils shrine of atheism. Thus has the odious form of vice been concealed under the spotless garb of truth, and Satan himself been transformed into an angel of light. The ignorant and delusion, have embraced the alluring unwary have surveyed the pleasing phantom, and have either been converted into professed profligates, or have assumed the appearance of virtue, and have, in their turn, beguiled thousands of their unfortunate admirers into the paths of destruction and death. But there is an eye which And in reference to their appear-sible, and which moves through mazes penetrates professions the most plauance, when drawn from their retreat, he adds "The voice of God they heard, "Now walking in the garden, by soft winds "Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, "And from his presence hid themselves among "The thickest trees." "Love was not in their looks, either to God The feeling of shame, however, will be found to be exclusively the result of singularity; hence, in proportion as depravity becomes more common, the most mysterious; in consulting which, iniquity cannot triumph, and innocence need not fear: by whose decision, open hostility shall be less rigorously punished than secret treachery, when death shall tear from the pale visage of the trembling offender, the delusive vizard, expose on his forehead the mark of the beast, and |