430

A Caution against Sharpers, Houfe-breakers, &c. Sept.

that they may have an opportunity of
telling the farmer what a topping dealer
he is, and where he lives, (but it
must be in fome country place) and that
his note is worth five hundred pounds:
The mafoner foon returns, and fays, I
cannot find the gentleman I have a draft
upon, and do not know what to do for A
money to pay for the goods I have bought
to-day; I must order them to meet me
at fuch a place, and the person's name
where he knows the farmer ufes; the
farmer hearing this, fays, I know them
very well; the mafoner then asks him whe-
ther he comes that way, and the farmer
telling him he does, he fays, that is right
then; tell me the lowest price of your
cattle, I cannot pay you now, but I will
pay you next market day, at the place
as before mentioned, I fuppofe that will
not be any difference to you farmer; no,
anfwers the person that brought him in,
your note is worth a thousand pound,
you will give your promiffory note for
the money, and any dealer in the fair C
will take it paying a final discount, for
it is as good as the Bank of England. This
generally makes the agreement, the note
is taken, and the cattle drove away, and
fold directly to another dealer, toll free.
There are dealers waiting on purpose to
buy such goods, for they buy them cheap,
because they know them to coft no money
but paper.
The poor farmer goes to the
place appointed, thinking to receive
the money, but to his grief finds himself
bit.

3. Ringing Tuggs, and Seats, that is,

watch an opportunity of taking off their own faddle, and changing it for a good one, putting it on their own horse, and tying the cloth over it with a farfangal, and then take their horfe away, and put him to another inn.

4. Milling of Kens, that is, Breaking of

H

Houses.

OUSE-breaking is always done in the night; the perfons concerned take a view of the house or shop the day before to fee what is to be taken, and where to make entrance; it is generally done at midnight, and if there is any fcouts, that is, watchmen, one of the B gang takes him away, under pretence to light him home, or fhow him fome diftant house, and in the mean time the work goes on. If they get entrance they have a dark lanthorn, and fall to rifling the house, for which purpose they carry facks, and always know where to fell the goods before they take them; the world may be fure if there was no receivers there would be no thieves, for they are the whole encouragers of vice. To prevent fuch robberies, I beg leave to acquaint all fhopkeepers, and housekeepers, to put the fore lock of the bolt faft with a good fpring, and to have good infide bolts to their doors, or a chain across them, and a small bell to their doors and D windows, and to keep a little dog that will bark; you may be affured if fuch things as thefe be done, of not being robbed, becaufe if a dog barks, or bell rings, they will not attempt any further.

changing Great coats and Saddles. EOPLE in fairs or markets in the fummer, are apt to give their great E coats to the maid, and put their names on it with a piece of paper; the fervant cannot remember every coat, and the fharper comes in and writes his name on his coat that is worth but little, but changes his note to another coat; he then goes out, and coines in presently and calls for the coat with fuch a note on it, and the fervant delivers it without difpute, and they fond another to fetch their old coat; they often get fix or feven coats in a day with that old one: To prevent this, the landlord or fervant ought to write two notes, both in one hand, and to deliver one to the owner, and pin the other on the coat, and if the perfon that comes for the coat cannot preduce G the note as above, let him ret have the coat without good proof, and that will prevent many diforders.

Changing faidles is done by the fame fort of people, their horfe having a rug or horfe cloth on it for that purpofe, they

A little Differtation having been lately publifhed, intitled, An Explanation of fome PROPHECIES in the Book of DANIEL, by a Prefbyter of the Church of England, as it is upon a very curicus jubjeti, and feems to be more irgenious than usual, we shall gives our Readers the following Extract from it.

HE author, after fhewing that the little horn mentioned in the 8th chapter of Danicl cannot be underflood F to mean either Antiochus Epiphanes, or Titus, goes on thus: But let us underAtand the little horn to mean the Mahometan kingdom, and the explanation of this vifion may very fairly be accounted for.

For whereas Herod was, in order of time, prior to Mahomet; whereas he was mighty, not by his own power, but by the decree of the Roman fenate; by making his peace with the Romans did destroy many; appeared in the latter end of thofe kingdoms into which Alexander's was divided; and attempted to deftroy the Prince of princes, the Log

5

of

1753. The Little HORN in DANIEL explained. 431

of life and glory, and was at last broken without hand; it was very proper to fpeak of him in this place, to characterize one of the greatest tyrants that ever plagued mankind.

A

Again, the manner in which this kingdom fpread, as well as the exceeding extent of it, will exactly agree with the defcription of it in Daniel. Toward the eaft it waxed exceeding great, when those vaft countries, Perfia and India, were fubdued. In the fouth, the Æthiopians were at its steps, received its yoke. Nothing now is wanting to compleat the defcription, but the conqueft of Judæa, and the neighbouring countries. But it is well known, that thofe regions foon B fubmitted to Mahometan arms. Now I fuppofe, that, if a particular application of Daniel's and St. John's numbers can be made to this kingdom, this will be no fmall confirmation, that the Mahometan kingdom is defcribed to us under the name of the little horn.

tioned in the other place. I confidered far ther, that whereas the particular event from which the 1335 days were to be computed was exprefly mentioned by Daniel, if from the time of that event we added 1335 days, and from the year fo found out fhould reckon backward 2300, and fhould come to the very year in which the first remarkable event happened, which is prophefied of in the vifion mentioned in the 8th chap, this would make it more than probable that we had difcovered what daily facrifice it was that should be taken away by the little horn.

3. To the end of the wonders revealed to Daniel, that is, the beaft's making war with the faints, and overcoming them, was to be a time, times, and a half; that is 3, or 1260 years. St. John likewise fays (Rev. xi. 2.) that the Holy City fhould be trodden under foot 42 months, which is the fame period as before, 1260 years. Not here is wifdem, let him that bath understanding count the number of the beaft: For it is the number of a man, (or a way of reckoning ufual among men) and his number is 666 (Rev. xiii. 18.) Now I fuppofe that this number denotes the year from whence we are to compute the time of the Holy City's being trodden 1260, and we hall done to tie year of Chrift 1926. And from this year I fupD pofe the Mahometan kingdom will de

1. Daniel wanting to know how long C fhould be the vifion concerning the daily facrifice, was told, that it should be until 2300 days, at the expiration of which time the fan&tuary is to be cleanfed. Now the only difficulty here is to fix upon a proper æra at which to begin our computau. Now nothing can be more probable, than that the era of this vifion begins with the first remarkable event which the vifion is defigned to inform us of. Now this was the deftruction of the ram by the he-goat; and this happened in the year before Chrift 329. For, though Darius was flain in the year before Chrift 330, yet, as Beffus was retired with fome for. ces in hopes to regain the kingdom, the Perfian kingdom cannot be faid to be de- E stroyed till this defign was brought to nought; which was not till the year after, viz. the year 329. To this number add 2300, and we fhall come to the year of Chrift 1971; the year in which the fanctuary fhall be clearfed, or the restoration of Ifrael compleated.

2. Bled, fays Daniel, (Chap. xii. 12.) is be who waiteth and cometh to the thoufand three bundred and five and thirty days; viz. from the time when the daily facrifice was taken away; that is, from the year 636; for then Jerufalem was taken by the Saracens, and then alfo was the daily facrifice taken away. To the year then 636 add 1335, and we shall come to the year of Chrift 1971, as before.

The reafons upon which thefe calcuJations are founded are thefe: I confidered the 12th chapter of Daniel as a comment upon the 8th chap. I confequently interpreted the bleffednefs in the one place, to mean the cleanfing of the fan&tuary men

F

--J

cline apace.

4. From the time that the daily facrifice fhall be taken away thall be, fays Daniel, 1290 days, that is, years. Now Jerufalem, as we have before obferved, was taken by the Saracens, A. D. 636. To this number add 1290, and we fhall come to the year of Chrift, 1926, as we did alfo in the laft article.

The conclufions to be drawn from thefe premifes are there.

First, that the facrifice prophefied by Daniel is a chriftian facrifice*, which therefore ought to be offered day by day continually. And, fecondly,

Now,

For if, as we have proved, the facrifice That our Jefus is the promised Messiah. fpoken of by Daniel was to be taken away by Mahometans, and has accordingly been taken away by them, the facrifice can be no.other than that which was inftituted by Jefus Chrift. fince Daniel every where fpeaks of the taking away of, this facrifice as of fome G prodigious and unparalleled misfortune, this proves that it was not the inftitution of an impoftor, and confequently that Jefus Chrift was indeed the spoutros. he that was to come; and therefore in vain do the Jews still look for another.

The

• By this the author understands the Eucharift, which the first chriflians celebrated daily.

432

The RETORT.

Sung by Mr. LowE, at VAUXHALL.

Yefair, from man's infidious love, Your tender Hearts defend":

Left the mistaken blifs ye prove, But förrow in the end: Thro

reason scan, each artful man, Nor trust your ear or

eye. Young

maids be-ware, young maids be-ware, young maids beware, men

Poetical Essays in SEPTEMBER, 1753. 433 A New COUNTRY DANCE. PRETTY SALLY..

The first and fecond couple right and left half round, and the first couple hands acrofs with the third couple; lead up to the top, foot it, and caft off the first man back to back with the fecond woman, and his partner do the fame with the third man, both meet in the middle, and turn the first man, back to back with the third woman, his partner with the second man, meet and turn into the fecond places.

Poetical ESSAYS in SEPTEMBER, 1753.'

MONIMIA to PHILOCLES.

Written by the late Lord H-Y,

INCE language never can describe my

SINC pain,

How can I hope to move when I complain?
Yet fuch is woman's phrenzy in distress,
We love to plead, tho' hopeless of redress.
Perhaps, affecting ignorance, thou'lt fay,
From whence these lines? Whofe meffage
to convey?
[demand,

Mock not my grief with that feign'd cold
Too well you know the hapless writer's
hand;

But if you force me to avow my shame,
Behold them prefac'd with Monimia's

name.

Lost to the world, abandon'd, and for

lorn,

Expos'd to infamy, reproach, and fcorn,
To mirth, or comfort loft, and all for you,
Yet loft perhaps to your remembrance too;
How hard my lot! What refuge can I try,
Weary of life, and yet afraid to die?

Of hope, the wretch's laft refort, bereft,
By friends, by kindred, by my lover left.
Oh! frail dependence of confiding fools!
Or lover's oaths, or friendship's facred rules,"
How weak in modern hearts too late I find;
Belinda's falfe, and Philocles unkind.

To these reflections each slow wearing
day,

And each revolving night, a conftant prey.
Think what I fuffer-nor ungentle hear,
What madnefs dictates in my fond despair;
Grudge not this short relief (too faft it flies)
Nor chide that weakness I myself defpife:
For fure one moment is at least her due,
Who facrific'd her all of life to you:
1. September, 1753.

Without a frown this farewel then re

ceive,

For 'tis the laft my fatal love fhall give;
Nor this I would, if reafon could com-

mand,

But what restriction reins a lover's hand ?
Nor prudence, fhame, nor pride, nor in-
t'reft fways,

The hand implicitly the heart obeys;
Too well this maxim has my conduct
fhown,.
[known.

Too well that conduct to the world is
- Oft have I writ, and often to the flame
Condemn'd this after-witness of my shame;
Oft in my cooler, recollected thought,
Thy beauties and my fondness half forgot,
(How short thofe intervals for reafon's
aid !)

Thus to myself in anguish have I said,
"Thy vain remonstrance (foolish maid!)
give o'er,
[deplore."
"Who act the wrong can ne'er that wrong
Then fanguine hopes again delufive reign,
1 form thee melting as I tell my pain.
If not of rock thy flinted heart was made,
Nor tigers nurs'd thee in the defert
fhade,

Let me at least thy cold compaffion prove,
That flender fuftenance to greedy love:
'Tho' no return my warmer wishes find,
Be to the wretch tho' not the mistress kind;
Nor whilft I count my melancholy state,
Forget 'twas love and thee that wrought
my fate.

Without restraint, habituated to range The paths of pleasure, can I bear this change?

Doom'd from the world unwilling to retire,
In bloom of life and warm with young

defire : Iii

434 Poetical ESSAYS in SEPTEMBER, 1753.