foreign or English fpirits, I am aware that they are not the fubjects I intended to handle. It was my purpofe to offer fone remarks on a few other fpecies of fpirits which are very common in this country, but which, I am of opinion, have not been treated with due regularity either by chemifts or medical writers. Not that I would have you fuppofe that I am to fupply this deficiency; I have no leifure to compofe a fyftem, and the remarks I have to offer are intended only to affift those who may wish to take up the subject on a regular scale. It is only for want of better, that I would fay to you his utere mесит.

First, then, Mr. Editor, there is the SPIRIT of CONTRADICTION. This I reckon a compound fpirit, requiring at least two ingredients, efpecially when made for family ufe. It is of a very warm nature, and if indulged in to excefs, as I have seen in fome very reputable families, produces very pernicious effects. It is not only accompanied with a violent fufhing of the face, as moft other ardent fpirits, but I have even obferved that the children of parents who use it have been affected by it, even after they have grown up. That which is made for public ufe is compounded of various ingredients, and is fuppofed, I know not why, to be good for the lungs, as it is frequently taken in large dofes by the fpeakers of public affemblies, from the fenate of the nation down to the veftry of a parish. Not having an opportunity of analyzing it by chemical procefs, I can only fay, from obfervation, that it expands by heat, and frequently fends out effluvia not of the most agreeable nature. I have fometimes reduced it to a mild state by dropping an argument or two into the glafs, but thofe who are addicted to this kind of fpirit will feldom allow of that.

2. The SPIRIT of INNOVATION. The remark that we eat and drink as much by fashion as by tafte is very juft, when applied to this fpirit, which has been cried up, or prohibited, according to caprice at various periods. It became very fashionable first in the time of Henry VIII. and continued in the fhort reign of Edward VI. Queen Mary prohibited it under the feverest penalties, ordering various perfons employed in the diftilling it to be burnt alive. Queen Elizabeth, however, being a fingle woman, and probably loving a drop, revived the ufe of it. What had been manufactured at this time is yet in high eftimation by thofe who underftand the true nature of such a spirit, but it

would appear that the original receipt was loft about the time of Charles I. when the people being ftill fond of fpirits, a great number of quacks fet about preparing it in various ways: fcarce a drop was genuine, yet the pleasure of intoxication was fuch, that the people drank huge draughts of it, pure or impure, and public butinefs was for a time fhamefully neglected. Robberies, confifcations, and even murder became common. The effects which it produced of a more ludicrous nature were, that the lowest of the people, after they had indulged themfelves in copious libations of this fpirit, took it in their heads to preach, and even common foldiers often mounted the pulpit when they fhould have mounted guard. Some pretended to be inspired, and uttered prophecies. At length, however, whether from being fenfible of the bad effects of this fpirit upon the conftitution, or from its being prohibited, it got gradually into difgrace, and a purer fort of it was made, which being confined to the better fort of people was a favourite liquor at the Revolution; and had the receipt been carefully preferved, and none of the articles omitted, or worfe ingredients fubftituted in their room, this would have been at this time the standard spirit of the nation. A few years ago a quantity of it was fmuggled from France, and having been a fashionable liquor there, of courfe became a fashionable liquor here, according to the ufual courfe of all our fashions, which always originated with that gay and lively people. This fpirit, however, was foon difcovered to be of a very ardent and heating nature, and unfit for the conflitution of the people of this country. For a time its effects could not be prevented, although every poffible, means were taken, because it was confined to private drinkers. Some, notwithstanding, who had taken too great a defe, betrayed it in public, and very fevere laws were enacted against it. Indeed it was fuppofed the legislature took the best poffible method to trike at the root of the evil, by fewing up the mouths of those who were addicted to this fpirit. Having had fome few opportunities to examine it, it appears to me to be very pernicious, and highly inflammatory, unless taken in very small quantities, and that at regular times. The body too must be duly prepared for a courfe of it, for it will not fuit every conftitution, particularly thofe which are either very good or very bad. To the former it is ufelefs or liable to create unealinefs in the head, and to the latter it

in the courts of princes, but was never experienced to be of the leaft fubftantial ufe in preferving their conftitutions, yet they were fo attached to it, as fcarcely to know that the genuine spirit existed.

In this country, alfo, a great deal of the fpurious kind is fold, but I am happy to add, there is alfo a great deal of the genuine, and I fhould hope it would gain ground in the popular opinion, as every day's experience muft fatisfy us of its great efficacy in healing conftitutional fores, and procuring rest when every other medicine has failed. There are particular days appointed for retailing the genuine fpirit, and I think that if people would frequent the hops more on thofe days than they do, they would foon acquire the true relish. I grant that it is not retailed either in equal quantity or quality. I have tafted fome a great deal below proof, and fome as much above it. Some likewife mix an acid with it which tends to fpoil the effect, as mildness is effential to its purity; and fome make it of a blooared colour, a miferable compofition which fcon gets into the head, and produces all the effects of the most brutal intoxication. Thefe irregularities in the compofition, however, may be very eafily avoided, by attending to the original receipt, which is published by authority, and may be had of his majesty's printer.

5. I fall mention only one other fpirit, the SPIRIT OF BIGOTRY. This is the moft ardent of all fpirits, eafily inflammable, expanding with heat, and, like the phofphorus, flames most in the dark. It is fo very pernicious in its tendency, that I am furprised it has not long ago been prohibited under the feveret penalties. It is, however, compounded in fo many various ways, as to have been mistaken for almost every one of the fpirits I have already mentioned, particularly the laft, to which, however, it is as oppofite in caufe and effect, as any two things that, can well be fuppofed. It has not always been a favourite in this country, yet the common people fometimes have indulged in it, primarily to the deftruction of others, and ultimately to the deftruction of themfelves. When taken in confiderable dofes, it produces confirmed lunacy of the most extravagant, and yet add, whimsical kind. The poor creatures who are inebriated with it, take it in their heads that they can answer a pamphlet by burning a houfe, and convince a man of an error by cutting his throat. It was a very fashionable fpirit in the days of Queen Mary, and has often

may

been employed on the continent as a fubftitute for the SPIRIT OF RELIGION, and is at this day employed there by the names of SPIRIT of LIBERTY, SPIRIT of

EQUALITY, REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT, and various others; for I must do the parties who drink deepest of this fpirit the justice to fay, that they feem afhamed of its proper name, and always put a fine-looking label on the bottle to deceive their fervants, just as in this country, among certain perfons, drams are fuppofed to be as harmless as water, when called liqueurs, and a bumper of brandy is fuppofed to have no fpirit in it, to thofe who complain of a fpafm!

I have thus, Mr. Editor, endeavoured to sketch the properties and effects of the most fashionable spirits now in use. There are others, undoubtedly, which might have been included, but which I omit for want of fufficient data. There is, for example, the SPIRIT of LIBERTY, which I once flattered myself I understood a little of, but it has lately been mixed with fo many ftrange ingredients, of oppofite natures, one aftringent, another opening, one tonic and another weakening, and this by all the great chemifts of Europe who have employed their alembics in manufacturing it, that I must candidly confefs I know not what to make of it. I am one of the old school, and have not had leifure, perhaps, indeed, I am too far advanced in life, to study the new nomenclature, for every thing is now called by a new name, and that name as little defcriptive of its qualities as well can be fuppofed. I might fay fomething too of PARTY SPIRIT, but I have fo frequently feen the miferable effects of that upon fome unhappy friends who have indulged in it, that I cannot now bear the taste of it; and therefore conclude with hoping that you will continue your Magazine with its ufual SPIRIT, and accept the good wishes of, Yours, &c.

GEOFFRY GAUGER. Excife-Office, Feb. 12, 1799.

writers could not poffibly know that the letter figned David Savile would precede it; but if they had known it, they could fcarcely have penned, in my opinion, and that of many others, a more complete refutation of it. All that I could have wished for, is voluntarily fubftantiated by vouchers who have been my pupils, fome at the beginning of my academical career; others, during the procefs; and fome at the period of my refigning my office. By your permiffion, Sir, I will now turn to my young friends; and by addreffing to them a few fentences, through the medium of a Magazine fo extenfively circulated, give the public an idea of my views and intentions.

GENTLEMEN,

I cannot but feel the moft lively sense of gratitude for your unfolicited teftimonial to my character, judiciously fupported by an appeal to facts, and for the handsome and affectionate addrefs to me, with which you have thought fit to accompany it. Accept, therefore, my unfeigned thanks; and allow me to add, that my pleasure is heightened, by a consciousness that I am entitled to your esteem, so far as a real concern for your improvement and comfort can deferve it. Beyond this I make no boaft-And now my fidelity in my official department being established, upon the fame ground on which the credibility of the Gofpel itself refts, I mean the teftimony of competent witnesses, can you, can the public expect me to take notice of the infignificant letter figned David Savile? I have, indeed, at laft, drawn forth a name; but to David Savile himself I certainly never intend to addrefs one line fo long as live; becaufe, though I have always treated him with civility, which he acknowledged but two or three weeks before we parted, I am compelled to believe, by an irrefiftible body of evidence, that he is the worst enemy have in the world and because any future representation, by the fame pen, would probably refemble the prefent, in which there is fcarcely a fingle fact accurately and fairly ftated. This I have demonftrated in a paper, which I thought of inferting in the Magazine; but upon reflection have fuppreffed it, perceiving that it would occupy more room in that ufeful work than I had a right to expect, and convinced that your teftimonial, fo trongly expreffed, muft cruth the infinuations of an individual, who was never present at any one of my lectures, during the whole time of his refidence at Northampton. All that I fhall do, therefore, is to felect one Specimen of that writer's rafhnefs and malevolence: and I felect that in particular from among others, because it relates both to you and me. He afferts, with an air of great fo lemnity, that for a ferics of years I have been fending forth men, who have diminished many a once flourishing congregation." Now this, I venture to declare, as a general fer

Here the public, I prefume, will make their comment; and here I fhall leave Mr. SAVILE to his own reflections, only reminding him, in my turn, of a heavenly voice, which fays, "Thou shalt not bear falje witness against thy heighbour."

I am glad, gentlemen, that you have connected the encouragement of FREE ENQUIRY with the faithful difcharge of my duty. I could not confciencioufly engage in any plan of education, where it was restrained or difcountenanced. Nor had I the leaft reafon to fuppofe that this was wified, when I entered upon my office as theological tutor at Northampton. I will conclude, therefore, with an extract from the first address which I delivered to my academical family, to fhew in what light I then confidered myfelf required by Mrs Coward's trustees to conduct the ftudies of my pupils:

It is not the defign of this inftitution, and it is very far from my inclination, to ufurp an authority over confcience, or to cherish bigotry and party zeal. It contributes not a little to the credit of this feminary, that it has been conducted for a series of years on generous and liberal principles: principles which I devoutly with may be ftill cherished, and without which its very existence is, indeed, infignificant and ineligible. Freedom of enquiry, on all fubjects, is the birth-right and glory of a rational being. In this feminary it has been enjoyed; in this feminary it shall be enjoyed. In the honeft fervour of an unfettered mind, I fay, Heaven forbid, that the fatal hour fhould ever arrive, when freedom of enquiry fhall be prohibited or restrained My object, gentlemen, is not to ftamp infallibility on any human fyftem of religion. Not to require your fubfcription to articles of faith before you have examined into the truth of them. Not to bias your minds during the procefs of examination. Not to encourage a fevere and illiberal difpofition towards any clafs of your fellow chriftians. But the highest object of my ambition is to promote a fcriptural religion; and to enrich the church

of