to read them, because they cannot be en forced. Briefs, as they are now obtained, confti- tute a serious grievance. cent to tax the national charity with heavy expences in chancery, is at least questionable. But the oaths of able and experienced workmen are often moft fhamefully prostituted. A workman has fworn to the fum of one thoufand pounds, when one hundred would have been fufficient, and to more than the full value of a house and every thing in it, when the damage was inconfiderable. It is therefore propofed, that the magiftrates should view the damaged premises, and take all poffible care that the workmen may not be perjured, nor the clergy be compelled to read notorious falfehoods, ftill more fhocking, because they are read in churches. A proctor in each diftrict might tranfmit the contributions to the principal collector, and the expences of collecting, as well as print ing and circulating copies, would be very materially reduced. Till fomething of this kind be done, the juft contempt of grofs impofition will operate in full force, and with merited fatality. Ut mox 1 Nulla fides damnis verisque doloribus adfit. The tale of real lofs and diftrefs will not be believed. The act enforcing refidence fhould be revised, and all those honourable pleas of exemption fhould be inferted, which good and wife men would admit, that it may not be in the power of any to threaten, when they only mean to defraud, or to indulge the foolish pride of calling forth the incumbent, because he is in their eftimation the greater man. And after all the pleas that can be recollected have been enumerated, fomething may be still left to the discretion of the jury. Every Every Englishman triumphs in the fecurity he enjoys from falutary laws. Yet thefe laws admit of improvement; and the addition of another judge to the court of chancery would be attended with the most happy confequences. Two courts would be opened, and they who must be kept in fufpence for years, would be relieved in a much shorter time. Profecutions for fmuggling would be more equitable, were the accufer bound to pay the cofts, if his evidence were dif proved. The attendance of one judge in populous great evil. towns, during the winter affizes, is also a Men are tempted to fit down under petty depredations, rather than profecute the offenders. Were a senior counsel to prefide at the quarter feffions, fuch accufations would be fooner difpofed of, the guilty fooner punished, and the innocent fooner releafed. The The poor laws are now under confidera tion. Care fhould be taken that magiftrates visit workhoufes in country villages, and order proper repairs and enlargement, if requifite, upon their own view.. Any labourer known to fquander away his time and money in an alehoufe, and perfeveringly to continue idle, when work is offered, should be punishable. In a preface to a Commentary upon Writings, which extend to every concern of man, no apology can be neceffary for these miscellaneous hints. The fupplement to this work confifts of obfervations on the duties of trustees and conductors of publick schools, and of two fermons. The importance of education feemed to juftify a particular difcuffion of those means, by which it may be well conducted. It is the ground-work upon which every thing valuable valuable in life must be established. Many feminaries are juftly complained of as teaching nothing, by profeffing to teach every thing; and many others as not fufficiently comprehensive. The reader will find a plan equally distant from both objections, and which comprehends the fubftance of one published in the year 1783. Electors, parents, and guardians, will after all be cautious not to receive hafty impreffions; and are directed to fome fources of legitimate information, which the wifeft and most virtuous do not always think of. Both the fermons are fo immediately connected with the design of the two respectable moralifts, that an apology is fuperfluous. The first of them was delivered before the University of Oxford; the latter at the Stafford affizes, in the fummer of the year 1794. The substance of the remarks on publick utility, fubfcription, the obfervation of the fabbath, |