A REPRESENTATION of the AMERICAN ARMADILLA, AND An accurate MAP of the County of PERTH, LONDON: Printed for R. BALDWIN, at the Rofe, in Pater nofter Row; confol. Shut Shut 89 89 888 89 29 89 C.1756 C.1758 confol. of PRICES OF STOCKS, &. in FEBRUARY, 1766. præm. 24 O Long 3. P. C.3 per 1 3 per | 4 per C. | 4 per C. | 4 per C. | In. Bond Tontin 1763 Navy 103 101 89 N. E. ra n 9+ 103 101 101 23 0 27 1 N. rain 103 101 101 21 O 94 103 22 O 27 N. froft CHARLES CORBETT, Bookfeller, and Correct State Lottery Office Keeper, facing St. Dunstan's Church, Ficet Street, where the Tickets, Shares, and Chances of Tickets are fold and registered, alfo the Blanks and Prizes bought and fold. London. load 20 ar Devizes. Gloucefter. Hereford, aulss jod bushell on to 25 Sd bu.of. Monmouth. J. dis buch. 10 gal Hay per load 40t0561 THE LONDON MAGAZINE, For FEBRUARY, 1766. To the AUTHOR of the LONDON without any previous appearances of a SIR, MAGAZINE. Hope I shall not be confidered as an apologist for criminals and an encourager of them, if I declare my wifh that none of them, befides murderers, were by our laws condemned to die. The defign of punishments is the reformation of the offenders, or by making them an example (as it is ufually expreffed) to deter others, and reftrain them from the like practices. Now the execution of the legal fentence on the highwayman, the house-breaker, the sheep-ftealer, &c, leaves no room for their reformation. Nor does there feem to be any great probability that others will take the warning given them by their unhappy fate. Such is the infidelity of the prefent age, that numbers have no thought of any existence after death; or at leaft no apprehenfion of any dreadful confequences attending it: And therefore it is but one ftruggle, and all is over. And "why then (the hardened robber and thief will be apt to fay) why then fhould I be fuch a coward as to be afraid to run fuch a venture, and incur the danger of lofing a life which will fhortly end, whatever care I take to preferve it; and while it continues, can be nothing worth if I remain deftitute of the enjoyments of it, which I know not how to obtain without taking fnch liberties as will hazard the lofs of it?"-Such as this (how irrational foever) has, I doubt not been often the reasoning of this fort of people. And herein they have been confirmed by many inftances of thofe who have fet fo low a value upon life, as to be prompted, by their difagreeable circumftances, to put an end to it Feb. 1766. difordered brain. And doth not experience demonftrate that the law threatening death, though frequently put in execution, is not effectual to keep men from the violation of it. I well remember, that not long after the legislature had made theep-ftealing a capital offence, the judge on the bench obferved to the grand jury, that, to his great furprize, he found in the calendar an uncommon number of that fort of criminals. I would therefore humbly afk whether, instead of difpatching malefactors as ufual, the end of punishments might not be better anfwered by making them living, fanding examples, as the wisdom of the legi flature fhall judge proper? Not puting them out of fight by fending them abroad, or hiding them in goals or Bridewells at home, but expofing them to public view; confining them to hard labour in mending the roads-clearing wood or furze-lands for tillage, making navigable canals, &c, all under fuch infpection and management as shall appear to be requifite and neceflary. And whereas the difficulty of keeping them to their work, and preventing their doing mischief, may be objected:-Suppofe a finger were cut off, not only as a part of their punishment, but a mark to facilitate their discovery in cafe of defertion - fuppofe too they were made to understand that they are on their good behaviour:-That if they demean themselves as they ought, they may expect favour, and in time their liberty may be granted them.-If it be faid, that fome highwaymen, who are perhaps originally gentlemen, may chufe death rather than fo ignominious a flavery: The antwer is: Let them have their choice. Nor should any of them, if they prefer the halter, be forced to live and work. But it is not to be imagined there will I 2 be 60 Feb. dictator to my fuperiors, while, claim- The DISCOVERY. Continued from p. 45. HE uncommon impudence which A MERCIFUL SCHEME. be many fuch. The generality of them will be thankful for life: And it may be the favour fhewn them, may make fome impreffion upon them, or their difagreeable fituation may difpofe them to bethink them felves and make penitent reflections on their past conduct. How often is it faid of those who are executed, that they behaved fuitable to their condition: And it is hoped they made a good end. If fo, why may it not be added-if their lives had been spared, might they not have liv'd to good purpofe and been useful members of fociety? A humane heart however can hardly forbear wishing that persons in their unhappy circumftances might be put upon the tryal; and the experiment might be made how they would behave in this cafe. There is doubtless a great variety of tempers among those who fubject themfelves to capital punishment. Many of them would probably be found to be incurable, hardened and utterly incorrigible, and ever attempting an escape: Let fuch be dealt with accordingly, as hinted above. But others, fenfible of their folly,relenting--patiently bearing the punishment of their iniquity, may in time appear worthy of a pardon, and by their future conduct abundantly compenfate for the wrong they have done. And might not many scores of useful'lives be every year faved by this method? And thus an addition made to the ftrength of the nation, which confifts in the number of it's inhabitants; the diminution of which has been lately matter of general melancholy observation. I know not whether I may venture to add--let it be remembered, that while we look upon them as obnoxious to the ftroke of juftice, they are our fellow-beings: And that we have all followed too much the devices and defires of our own hearts, and are miferable offenders. And, if all thofe whofe guilt is equal to that of the sheep-fteaIer, or even the highway-man, and who are chargeable with acts of injuftice not inferier to theirs! If all fuch, I fay, were to fuffer immediate death how greatly depopulated would our country be! But I check myfelf, and conclude; hoping I fhall not be looked upon as a conceited, impertinent not excite fo much horror, as the ftrange drollery, of Clark did mirth in all prefent; and what added thereto were the mortified looks of the Dr. and Mifs Coufens, and the total difconcertion of her maid Betty, who lifted up her hands and eyes, and could not help exclaiming. "Gracious heaven! What, my miftrefs!-Then I will never believe there can be any virtue in the world. I am fure fhe is as chafte as myfelf-though I say it that should not fay it.-Marry come up! there's Squire Robinfon of Eaft Sheen, Squire Bertram of the Grove, both fine gentlemen, have been dying for her many a year-and young Mr. Birch, would give his ears to be in her favour-I am fure fhe has no occafion to take up with the doctor-though he is a perfonal man enuf-befides fhe was running from the hearing of fuch doings at Mr. Belmont's and therefore would hardly fall into them herfelf-with a reverend old clergyman too-fo old-and no occafion to go into the highways, when he dines well at her table two or three times a month, and mought oftenerand a good trencher-man he is, at his years, G-d bless him, I fay, and preferve his ftomach!-Its all a vile ftory-all invention-I am as fure as if I had been upon the spot, and will take my bible-oath of it, if your worship pleafes.""There!-There! cries Clark your worship will please to obferve that he'll take her oath of what the never faw-ay-ay-Miftrefs and maid are both of a kidney I'll warrant 'em ;” "You faucy pert baggage, interrupted the doctor, who called upon you, with your impertinent nonfenfe? Your mistrefs was wrong in fuffering you to be prefent, fince you cannot be examined as a witnefs: If I have done your miftrefs the credit of my company, the has in return dined with me, and I be lieve we are not a dinner behind-hand with each other: As to the reft-why -why you are a very impudent, infolent flut; and"-" And, what fir? Pray do not threaten my fervant-I do not understand your behaviour, interrupted the mistress, her face filled with every mark of pride and refentment, whilit her fan, in quick motion, kept time with the doctor's hands at his waistband, and both were almoft foaming at the mouth, to the infinite fatisfaction of their accufer, who thence ventured to draw a fresh proof of their guilt. As to the poor magiftrate whofe character restrained him from fhewing too much levity at this odd fcene, he was in a quandary how to behave; for the drollery of the parties was too extravagant not to call up a fmile now and than, though he did all he could to fupprefs it: But hearing his friend's name mentioned on this occafion, he began to furmize all these parties, by their fevral hints, might have been ear witneffes of a late fcene, and he made many proper reflections, inftantaneously, upon the injury caufed to the public by the bad example of a fuperior, and especially if before remarkable for virtue and goodness : Hereupon, he refolved to dally no more with the caufe, but to finish the hearing of it immediately. "I have reafon, good folks (then, be faid, after commanding filence) to think my lenity and my indulgence abufed by your private altercations and difputes, and by fome impertinencies which have only delayed my time and your own: I thall therefore fuffer no more wrangling in this manner: I have heard both parties, and if nothing remains to be offered by those two witneffes, fhall proceed to a determination in the affair. What have you to fay honeft man?-Hereupon the perfon applied to, advanced and faid, he knew nothing of what might have been the occafion of the disturbance; but having been called to by his neigh bour Bacon, to affift him in fecuring and Conveying Mr. Clark to a place of fafe cuftody it was with difficulty they got him to the watch house, and that he feveral times feemed to laugh and rejoice at what he had done, and that, having an opportunity and feeing him pretty open, he had asked 61 him if he really faw the Dr. and Mifs Coufins in fuch and fuch a posture, and that he returned, d-me what's that to you-however you feem an hearty cock and I'll tell you that its all a bam, a piece of high fun and will make a fine noife in the county:" But (fays the other man) hearing him talk fo to neighbour Stock, I asked him how he intended to get off before the justice to morrow, and whether he would forfwear himself for fun? He clapped mé upon the shoulder and returned-why not you botching old rascal (your worfhip may fee by my apron I'm a taylor) there's not a day paffes over your head but you perjure yourfelf; for every time you fwear you are honeft you do fo, old nip-loufe, and as to your jufti ces I am able to bother a hundred of them; they are queer prigs, d- me, and you fhall fee fuch a dith of sport as will ravish you. This is all of any importance, please your worship, that I can bear witnefs to; or I, fays the other." Your evidence, returned the colonel, honest friends, though brief is very important, and much to the purpofe, and affords me authority for a decifion which I had already come to in my mind, upon the bare appearance of things, before your fhewing: Ifind, young gentleman, addreffing himself to Clark, that you have wantonly and wickedly, without other view of gratification than what refults from fetting perfons agape, raifing mirth, at the expence of thefe worthy perfons, and humming as you call it, them and the juftice: But it may perchance be the worst (if I do not convert it to the beft) of all the buckifh fchemes you ever engaged in. You have offended, and juftly offended that gentleman and lady, you have openly tranfgreffed the laws of God and man, and you have attempted, to deceive and impole upon the magistrate, fitting in the feat of juftice. And who is this man of fuch importance as to think of doing all this with impunity -Why it is, blush, if you can blush, ungracious, rebel youth it is the only fon of my brewer, Mr. Clark of Deptford, an induftrious, honeft man, who by many years of labour and frugality has railed fome thousand pounds and has the misfortune of a fon, the idea of whofe folly and |