thors of the laft and prefent generation, and this is nied when we fay that they have coined new words. At what time this Liberty was firk taken with the Mint, 1 knów not; it may, perhaps, be coeval with the mint telf. Our coinage, it is well known, was greatly reformed in King William's reign, when tive mill was adopted inftead of the kemmer: but perhaps the phrafe en ig words may, as I have hinted, be much older; for, from the way in which fome of our new words are excented, from the want of a clear head, a legible Anjeription, and a proper reverse, we may fay with as much propriety that they are hammered, as that they are milled. But in whatever way this queftion may be determined, I am as fond of fimilitude as Jolin Bunyan, and canhot therefore but difcover many beauties in comparing the manufacture of a new word to the operations of the Alint, fince fome words are coined which are really as good as gold," while others are not worth more than counterfeits, and can only pass among sa mumber. And as there are fome coins which cm only be found in the cabinets of the curious, or in the pockets of the rich, fo there are fome of our new words which become the mouths only of the learned or the great. But, Mr. Projector, you cannot be ignorant that the practice of coining new words has occafioned many dit putes in the learned world, which every lover of peace and uniformity would with to fee fettled by a fixed fandard. Some confider it as a capital felony, for which the convicts deferve to be drawn on a hurdle through Pater-nofter row, pillóried in Grub-fireet, and af terwards executed in the Reviews aecording to the ftatute of criticifi, while others are of opinion that certain perfons may be privileged to coin words which the literary world are then to receive into currency. their beauty, or fuppofed beauty, thas from any defect in the regular illues from the authorized mint. I fhould myself incline to the latter opinion, if it had been previously agreed who were the perfons to whom a privilege fhould be given, which, as far as refpects money, has been in all nations referred by the exilling govern ments as too dangerous for any fubject to poffefs. But authorities are here filent, and within the last century words have obtained a circulation among us, which we can with foine difficulty trace to the coiners, but which have been adopted, more - for And this, by the way, faggefts to me a previous question, and of more importance than even that of the privilege of coining: I mean, whether there is fuch a defect in our regular circulating fpecie, as to oblige us to call in any part for re-coining, of to have recourte to an entire new coinage? This queftion feems to be deter aided in the affirmative by various clafles of people, and, in general, by all who readily adopt whatever new-coined words appear, whoever may have been their inventors. People of fashion, in particular, havd a fet of new words, very fhining and polifhed in appearance, which obtain among them a large circulation, however unhapely and uncouth they may feem in the eyes of collectors, and although they are refused in all legal tenders. They are admirably adapted, however, for the traffick of certaiti great honfes in Pall Mall and St. Janies's fireet, and from their being very widely circulated, in loafe change, by certain female Bankers and lettered Counteffes*, they are, in compliancé with a very customary pronunciation, known by the name of BRAM-igams. Perfons in a lower rank of life, who content themselves with the matiners of fashion at fecond-hand, have likewife a pretty extenfive coinage of words, fuch as bore, quiz, twaddle, tippy, &c. which are poorly-executed as to the die, and may be very eality counterfeited. They are of fniali va lue, and given among the poor in the parks and play-houfes, and, if I underftand the matter right, frem t# come under the denomination of tradija, men's tokens. Modern philofophers are another clafs who have long-deplored the fear city of our fpecie for their wants, and have confequently entered into the coming life, melting down the good old metal of religion, order, govern ment, focial affections, into fuperfti tion, bigotry, energies, perfectibility. and other counterfeits which have lately been too much in circulation, but are now principally confined: 16 My correfpondent feems here to al Inde to thofe ladies who keep. Faro Bank's and E. O tables, and whom he late wo thy Chief Justice of the King's Bench noticed in terms not very gallant. their their own narrow circles, or are to be found in the cabinets of thofe collectors who form mufcuins of any kind of trash whatever, more with a view to record the abfurdities of their times, than from any value they fet upon the articles themfelves. It is much to the eredit, however, of our legal coinage, that when thefe philofophers began to eftablish their trade, they could not find in our language words which could poffibly be hammered into their meaning. By the ule of a proportion of French metal, mixed with fome of the bafe kind from their own mines, they endeavoured for a while to make their principles pals with the unfuipecting; but the cheat was foon difcovered by weighing a crown againit any quantity of their counterfeits, and cfpecially was brought into difgrace when fome of the coiners attempted a few years ago to get at the Tower mark. There is another clafs who, although it does not firictly come within the imputation of coining, has an equal fhare in the debatement of our current coin. This clafs is compofed of thofe who, taking up the fame opinion of the want of a circulating medium, are eager to import foreign coin, and particularly French. This has had a very confiderable effect on the commodities in which this country formerly dealt, in fo much that we have now no lovers of the arts, but in their fiead a defcription of people called amateurs: no actor now makes a first appearance, although a great many have this year made their debut. Our ladies, I am forry to betray family fecrets fo much as to make this remark, no longer ufe Shifts, but a fort of, I know not what, they call a chemife; on the other hand, however, I must confefs that female character and chastity have been fo extenfively promoted, that a kept woman is no longer heard of, although fome gentlemen prefer a chere amie to a wife, which I fuppofe is a better fort of domestic; and as to bad women or ftrumpets, as they ufed to be called, there are no fach animals in the kingdom, notwithfand, ing occafionally we hear of a demirep or a fille de joye. The abominable crime of adultery has alfo yanifhed, and it is with fome difficulty that we can recollect the idea of it, by being now and then told of a lady having made a fuur paus, or of a gentleman having a tendreffe for his friend's wife. Thefe premifes being confidered, Mr. Projector, I come now to the purpofe of any letter, which is to fugget to your meditation, the propriety of a project to remedy the evils of coining, and alfo of the importation of foreign pieces. In what manner this is to be contrived, I fhall not pretend to fuggeft, as that might feem to interfere with your projectorial witdom; but I hope you will firft determine the grand queftion, whether our language be fo impoverished by time and fe as to render a new coinage of words neceflary: and then you may with fome propriety enter upon the confideration of what individual or individuals are to be permitted the privilege of coining.. The prefent ftate of our coinage fufticiently thews that it ought to be placed in fome hands of great authority, for the wife reafons that all governments" have thought fit to referve it as a power belonging to the crown; and I truft it will be found that the fame necellity exifts in the commonwealth of letters. I am, fir, your humble fervant, OLD BULLION. became dull. Be this as it may, of late years we feem to be falling into a fpecies of immorality which is not of the kind that is likely to bring wit with it-I mean the habit of curfing and fwearing fo very general in our new comedies. I can remember the time when a very favourite actor, who could prefume a little upon the indulgence of the town, would rap out, as we fav, an oath which was not to be found in his author; yet an actor of lefs popolarity would not at that period have Ventured upon this infult to refined manners, and, I may add, to the.religion of his country. But the cafe now is fo much altered, that our dramatic writers provide their favourite actors with a flated quantity of dam mees, which must be committed to memory with equal attention as any other words of the part, and I fhould not wonder if an actor fhould hereafter be d-n'd for misplacing a curte, or a play be hiffed for being deficient in baths. I have had my attention particularly directed to this fubject by the extracts lately given in the Reviews of fome of thefe new plays, in which the author feems to be upon oath on every thing he fays, and the fpectator, on his return from the theatre, may fay, with all the gravity of a juftice, "Sworn before me, this 26th of February." I cannot help thinking, Sir, that fuch authors abufe the patience of the publick rather too much. The publick allows them the privilege of being as dull as they pleafe; and managers, if we may judge from receut plays, no more expect wit in a play than in a fermon. It is too much, therefore, feeing they are fo highly privileged, that they fhould introduce the language of the fireets, and that of the lowest of the streets too, in a place where we at least expect decent if not elegant language, and polished dialogue. I am convinced, Sir, that the enor, mity of which I complain would appear incredible to those who are not frequenters of the theatre; but I can now appeal to the printed records of the ftage. It well known that the cuftom of writing plays is now to fit a certain kind of language for a certain kind of actor, and this is called " taking his measure" for the part. In confequence of this very wife practice (which, by the way, fhews that our dramatic authors have no eye to difiant fame), I could point out the actors who are thus regularly fupplied with oaths and curfes, because they are fuppofed to have a particular nack at uttering them with a fort of emphatic found which pafles for wit, and in the vicinity of Drott-fireet or Billingfgate really may be wit. I hope, Sir, that when you take into consideration the fate of the the atre, you will not omit this firiking improvement. I am, Sir, yours, A PLAY-GOER.' My correfpondent has at leaf truth on his fide. The abufe of which he com plains is too common and obvious tô require proof. It has been increasing for the latt ten years; but it has been to frequently adverted to in the publie prints without remedy on the part of thofe who are the guardians of the ftage,thatwhat my correspondent recommends feems to be more within the province of the magiftrate than of the moralift. The latter, however, may be permitted to remark as fomewhat very fingular, that an indecency thould be tolerated in what is reckoned our moft refined amufement, which is ba nithed by general confent from all companies, except the lowest. Although thefe letters have completed my allowance of room, I am inclined to admit another from a face. tious correspondent; to whom, however, I muft hint, that he has every claim to my attention, except that of originality. To the AUTHOR of the PROJECTOR, SIR, As you recommend brevity to your correfpondents, I hope you will infert this letter, from, your humble fervant, A FRIEND TO DISCUSSION. Mr. URBAN, Feb. 13. IT T is undoubtedly incumbent on every individual of the community to exert himfelf to the extent of his ability in promoting its interefts. Fully fenfible of this, I-do not hesitate in laying before your readers a rough sketch of an institution which has floated in my imagination for fome time past. Many concurring circumftauces, not neceffary to be mentioned, turned my attention to this particular train of thinking. Neither will it be required to enter into an exordium upon libera. rality; that is the peculiar characteristic of Britons. If a charitable endeavour on the part of an individual bears a trace of public benefit, a thousand evi dences 112 Relief of diseased Poor who have remote Settlements. [Feb. dences exift to thew how greatly he is encouraged. My wishes refpecting the poor laws can avail nothing; I will therefore leave them as they are: but, as their defects are within the reach of alleviation, let them be deprived of power in injure thofe whom they were intended to protect. They demand that each parith fhould provide for fuch of its inhabitants as fhall at another time te fide in a difiant dilrict, and require pecuniary aid. A year's fervitude gains a feulenient within a parish; a tenant is equally entitled to it who pays certain taxes for the fame period. Well; a wretched being, influenced by delpair, leaves his parith; he wanders for fubdilience far from his fettlement, and finally refides 40, 50, or 100 miles dif4aut. What fay Law and Custom? Watch over that intruder, left illnels overtake him, and, penury aflifting, he become a burthen to our parish. The humanity of overizers and churchwardens is of no avail; Laty and Custom demand that the interefts of the parish be protecled: how can they be fo, other wife than by fending the fufferer back to his parith? But, is he in a fiate fit for travelling? will be be accommodated with a litter and careful-bearers? are the pangs of illnets to be foftened even by careful removal? No, they are not; neither will his conveyance be a litter; it is nart, a waggon, a flage coach, Can it be believed that the guardians of the poor do otherwile than curfe thole obligations which compel them to fuch meafures? They are innocent; Cufiom only is guilty. My plan is, to relieve them from this neceffity. Let the liberal-minded members of every parish in the Kingdom enter into a charitable allociation and an annual fibfeription for the exprefs and only purple of providing a houfe, muries, phyfician, and furgeon, for the by the introduction of real members of the parish. This plan is fo fimple in ittell, requires fo Title money for its fupport, and is fo neceffary, I cannot but flatter my felf it will he adopted, Surely not fix cafes of this kind will occur (npon an average) annually in each paridh; and the illnets of each individual would probably be of hun fhort duration. Surgeons and physicians migh be found who would attend to finall a number grens. The principal expence would be the houfe, the nurie, furniture, and medicines. Thete are the charges; what the reward? Tuexpreffible fatige faction, exer attendant on the excreite of humanity. If fuch a fociety should be formed in the parish of St. Paneras, I pledge ny felf to contribute two gui cas a year. J. P. MALCOLM, Will J. M. of Winchetter favour me fo far as to explain the real meaning of Indulgences granted to procure money for erecting of churches? Many of thug for building the antient church of St. Paul's I have lately had in my hands. Sir William Dagdale quotes them in his Miliory of that venerable fructure, particularly p. 12. "Roger, furnamed Niger, then Bishop of London, being the main crufe thereof; who procured an indulgenan of XL days pardon to all fuch as thould (de peccatis jais were panitentibus, confeffis, et contritis, being truly co felfed and contrite of their fins) come with devotion thereto; which indulgence was to ftand good alto on the anniverfary of the Lid dedication for ever." What is a releafe from 40 days pe nance? If from penance for crinies to be committed, how are they to be justifed? That that was the cafe the words do certainly imply; and they apply to millions not then born. These questions are put in perfect good will and charity by J. P. MALCOLM. MR. URBAN, Feb. 22. Y fons are too much advanced to reception and cure of thofe whole cases M enjoy the propofed advantage are of the preceding defeription. Define the objects of this charity thus: A man or woman, that the guardians of the poor were about to remove to their own parish, who were ill of any disorder, to be received, and every effort marle for their recovery; in cate of death, the inftitution to bury them. When completely recovered, let them ghon be removed, according to law, to theirown ferlgment, if judged neceflary, Admit one other upon any plea; and provide the mof rigid regulations that can be deviled, to prevent inpofition from Nauticus's plan, p. 6; but it has my beft wifhes, however, for the fake of others. He may command twenty guineas from me towards the outfit; and my agent fall afterwards pay the school five pounds annually. Would not the New Foreft be a proper place for the fite? A grant of a fufficient quantity of land, I prefume, would not be very difficult. WILLIAM PERRY, (Hi) Nany Swigron, at Megrs. R. and A. Toulmin's, Navy Ayonds, Surrey Street, Strandes o |