hundred and fifty pounds per annum, to which was afterwards added, an annual gratuity of fifty pounds for coals and candles; and, in the finishing of the house allotted to the Secretary, adjoining to the public edifice erected for the So ciety in the Adelphi, free from rent and taxes, care was taken to render it as convenient as poffible, particularly by a private stair cafe communicating with the Secretary's Office and the Committee Rooms, independant on the public entrance to the building from the ftreet. In the beginning of the year 1785, or fome time in the feffion of the preceding winter, a worthy Member conceived the idea that an anniverfary dinner, as was the long eltablished custom of other public inftitutions, would have a tendency to promote the increase of the Members of the Society, and to facilitate and extend the knowledge of its general utility. One of the Vice-Presidents, the late Sir Herbert Mackworth, Bart. a gentleman whole fociability was of the number of his amiable qualities, zealously fupported the motion when it came before the So. ciety in that regular form. It was una nimously adopted, and carried into exe cution on the 22d of March, when the Society had their first public dinner at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, being the anniversary of the Inftitution: Sir Herbert Mackworth was voted into the chair; and after dinner, the accustomary loyal toafts having been given, and followed by fuccefs to the Society, Mr More's health was propofed by the Prefident, with a fuitable concife eulogium on his diftinguished fervices : it was accordingly drank with every token of general approbation; and, in return, Mr. More delivered his thanks in a manly, eloquent, and modeft fpeech. The Gold Medal was the next honour beltowed by the Society on their deferving Secretary, which he wore afterwards at the annual dinners, at the annual elections, and upon all other public occafions. Finally, to grace his latter days (if rightly informed), when he had completed the twenty-fifth year of his Secretary fhip, the Society, in a very full affembly, refolved that Mr. More be defired to fit for his picture for the Society, and to choose what artist he thinks proper. He accordingly felected from our many excellent painters, the President of the Royal Academy, Benjamin Weft, Efq. with whom, at the time, he was but flightly acquainted: we need only refer the judicious examiner to the portrait placed over the Chairman's feat in the Society's Committee room, to confirm our opinion, that it is one of the best portraits from the pencil of that eminent artist; and from this portrait, the Society, not two years fince, ordered an engraving by Mr. Sharp, who has done equal juftice to his fubject. The engraving and the impref fions coft upwards of three hundred pounds; but the Society likewife ordered circular letters to be fent to all its Members, inviting them to fubfcribe for the print. The impreffions already subscribed have refunded to the Society upwards of two hundred pounds. In the month of July lat, Mr. More paid a vifit, by invitation, to the Earl of Egremont, at his feat at Petworth in Suffex, where he firft difcovered the approaches of his diffolution. He returned weak and languid; but his affiduity continued, and, as the winter meetings approached, he continued the duties of his office, by preparing papers for the feveral Committees. In this employinent he paffed the morning of Monday the 7th of October; the next day he was confined to his chamber; on the following Thurfday, October 11th, he expired: the period of a gradual decay; having enjoyed a robuft conftitution, fubject to no ferious illness, except temporary fits of the gout. He was in the 75th year of his age, and had he furvived to the zoth of January 1800, he would have been thirty years, an officer of the Society. His funeral was private, but most honourably attended by his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Prefident; Francis Stephens, Efq. F. R. and A. S. one of the Vice-Prefi dents; and his executors combe, Efq. and Captain Towrie of the Navy, both Members of the Society. His remains were interred in the burial ground of St. Margaret's parish, in the Broadway, Westminster. - JJB NS THOMAS MORTIMER, New A very early Member of the Society* Weft-fquare, Dec. 15, 1799. Før an account of this Gentleman, see our Magazine for last April, SIR, IT TO THE EDITOR OF THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. “Αιδως ἔς' ἄγαθον. Cambridge, Dec. 1ft, 1799. › T has been a matter of much dispute amongst those who differ from one another in conftitution and difpofition, whether Impudence or Modefty be the more defirable. The advocates for the former are generally fuch as have either vicious and debauched principles, or those who have received in their foreheads the ftamp of what is called a liberal and polite education. If their affurance arifes from the corruption of their morals, it will display itself in a thousand loose, difhonourable, and villanous actions: if from education, it will be feen by that readiness of fpeech, and easy freedom of action, which diftinguishes the fine gentleman from the awkward fquire. There is another kind of Impudence, properly fo called, which fprings from both thefe fountains conjointly. This is that ineftimable treafure which the rake of quality can boast of as entirely his own: unlefs, perhaps, the gamefter, whore, and jockey, whom my Lord is most intimate with, have wit and credit enough to borrow a little from his large flock. Thefe are all, in a greater or lefs degree, the advocates for Impudence; while Modelly is fupported by a fober filent train, who have neither refolution in themselves, nor intereft with others, fufficient for pleading her caufe effectually. For fhall I, fays the man of pleasure, carry along with me an ingredient that will imbitter my cups, and render them unpalatable and nauseous ? Will those who eagerly grafp at fame, be perfuaded filently to withdraw themiclves, or top their ears, and refufe to hear the voice of the charmer ? Or lastly, Will the man of the world take to his bofom an endower'd virgin, though ever fo beauteous and amiable? It is true, indeed, that Modefty will reftrain us in the purfuit of pleasure, and often hinder us from receiving that loud applause which we have delerved; but it by no means follows, that it will binder us from rifing in the world. A decent affurance and fpirit is fo far from being incompatible with real Modefty, that it feems to me rather the mark by, which it is to be known. If I might be allowed the privilege which the fchoolmen take, of defining words according to the ideas they HES. have of them, I might be led, perhaps to fay, that true Modelty is that fecret check and restraint which a man fuffers when he is near committing an act either infamous or immoral; and the cenfure which he paffes on every thought, as well as deed, that is not strictly conformable to reafon and prudence. Hence it may be seen that a man, though ever fo modelt, may acquire a freedom of air, and readinefs of expreffion; for genuine Modelty is not like the paint which decayed beauty wears in public, but is an ornament never to be put off. It is the friend and conftant handmaid of virtue; attends us in the closet as well as in crowds; pries into our fecret thoughts, and fpies out all our ways. A man poffeffed of this will blush in fecret at the recollection of any little indecorum, even years after the commiffion of it; for he will not more regard the opinion which others may entertain of an action, than his own private cenfures. But as true Modesty will always put us on examining our beha viour, fo will it give us a confirmed and refolute air; for he that is conscious of no ill, is ever bold and courageous. Yet there is a falfe Modefty, not unfrequently combined with the true, which will make us appear diffident, and act with an unbecoming restraint, even in things which we are certain lay within our reach. This latter kind, which I am fspeaking of, is very different from the former, and arifes generally from a ridiculous education. It may not unproperly be called an unfpirited fheepifhnels, which renders its unhappy poffeffor loft to himself, to his friends, and country. When I fee a man of learning and genius browbeaten and derided by aspert infufficient coxcomb, whofe only merit it is to have had a town education, I cannot help lament ing this want of fpirit in the one, while I admire the Impudence of the other. And perhaps the open triumphs which a fet of men, ignorant and debauched, gain over others who are ten times more learned and virtuous, merely by their matchlefs affurance, may give occafion to our frequent difputes here, whether Impudence or Modeity be the most preferable? I shall not pretend to decide a point which is fo much contefted; unfels, by drawing the following characters, it may be gathered how amiable true Modefty is; while a want of Spirit, if it differs from Impudence itself, feems, of the two, rather most odious and contemptible. Eugenio, though he is much indebted to Nature for a good understanding, has received from Art that polish and finifh ing, without which the finest gem would appear rough, and the trueft painting at beft not disagreeable. By mixing frequently with perfons of fashion, his air and manner is easy and elegant; and, by keeping much company, his knowledge of the world above his years. Yet he has acquired the firft, without the leaft mixture of pride; and the latter, without endangering his virtue. See him furrounded with a circle of the wild and gay, and he is ever unconcerned and free: he will not indeed roar out indecent jokes, to oblige the company; or good-naturedly drink every health, at the expence of his conftitution. Yet, though he is a ftranger to vice, he is no enemy to mirth; and while he can join in the laugh confiftently with virtue, he is ever ready when that is impoffible, he is filent. How different from this is the behaviour of Agreftis! When he addreffes you, 'tis in a manner fo uncouth and forbidding, that you are in pain, and pity his rufticity. He will fit hours without ever speaking, and entertain himself and the company with kiting his Your most humble fervant, WALPOLE-ANECDOTES. THE following Anecdotes refpecting that diftinguished Character, SIR ROBERT WALPOLE, may not perhaps be generally known. They are therefore requested to be inferted in your widely-circulated Magazine by widely "A CONSTANT READER. URING the time Sir Robert Wal- Robert's order, for his own convenience, DURING the time Sir Robert Wal indefatigable, prying, fiddle-faddle hunter after news, as we have feen delineated in Mr. Coleman's Farce under the name of "Bufletonian," and of whom we fee many at this time plying about the capital, had been in waiting, walking to and fro fome hours upon the parade before the Horfe-Guards, near the private door of the Treasury-Garden, to catch Sir Robert as he came out thence; for it was frequently the practice of Sir Robert to come out of that door in the morning, and to walk up the Park and through the Mall to St. James's; and I have been told, that that door of the TreafuryGarden was made on purpofe, by Sir that he might not have to walk down the public ftairs leading to the offices, and through the paffages under the Treafury. At laft, the key moved in the lock; Bufletonian's heart leaped with anxious exultation, and out came Sir Robert. "Good morning to you, Sir Robert.” Your most obedient bumble fervant, Sir. "What news, pray, Sir Robert, today?" Really, Sir, I bave not feen the newfpapers this morning." This he faid with much dry humour; but in fuch a tone and manner, and with A BRIDGE OVER THE BA-FING, OR BLACK RIVER. [WITH A TH HE River Ba-fing or Black River is a principal branch of the Senegal: Mr. Park defcribes it in the following terms; We creffed it upon a bridge of Bamboos of a very fingular conftruction; fome idea of which may be formed from the annexed Engraving. The River at this place is fmooth and deep, and has very little current. Two tall trees, when tied together by the tops, are fufficiently long to reach from one fide to the other; the roots refting upon the rocks, and the TO PICKLE BEEF, PORK, &c. AND TO KEEP MEAT GOOD IN THE HOTTEST CLIMATES. O four gallons of water add one Tpound and a half of Mufcavado fugar, two ounces of falt petre, and fix pounds of bay or common falt. Put the whole into a clean pot or kettle, and let it boil, being careful to take off all the fcum, as it ariles. When there is no more feum, take the liquor off, and let it Bland till cold: having put the meat you want to preferve into the vessel you intend to keep it in, pour in the liquor till the meat is quite covered, in which condition it must be kept. If you intend to prelerve your meat a + confiderable time, it will be neceffary once in two months to boil the pickle over again, clearing off the fcum that rifes, and putting in, when boiling, two ounces of fugar, and half a pound of common falt. Thus the pickle will hold good twelve months. It is incomparable for curing hams, neats tongues, or beef, which you intend to dry; obferving, when you take them out of the pickle, first to clean and dry them, put them in paper bags, and hang them in a dry warm place. LORD |