expected to overthrow all the obftaclces placed in the way to their ambition by the reprefentative fyftem. The late Prefident was the head of the federalists, and his reelection was the grand point on which their fuccefs depended: they confidered him as a fit tool for all their purposes, though they found him too prudent to declare his unfeigned affent and confent to all the measures which they intended to introduce. Their defeat in the attempt to make him again their Prefident, and the re-election of a man decidedly adverfe to their whole fyftem, declared very strongly the feelings of the bulk of the people in the United States; and Thomas Paine was welcomed on the political stage, when he came forward to expofe the fchemes of what he calls the junto, and to point out the dangers to which the conftitution had been expofed. The Americans are a religious people; and the most strenuous abettors of their revolution are the least likely to embrace that wild oppofition to revelation, by which the religious writings of Mr. Paine are diftinguished. He might therefore expect on this account to meet with a great degree of coolness from his former friends: but the rifing odium was much foftened on two accounts; first, because he had not entered into the schemes of the European atheifts and infidels, but retained his belief in a fupreme Governor of the world, and a Providence; the fecond, because he was a strenuous affertor of that toleration which the Americans conceive due to those of a different religious opinion, and which makes them as little curious to know the chapel or meeting which each other frequent on a Sunday, as the coffee-houfe or tavern where they may choose to fpend the evenings on the other days of the week. Hence, Mr. Paine's free, and we might fay ridiculous, opinions, fince many of them are founded on total ignorance or mif conception of the book which he profeffes to attack, have not excited that degree of malevolence which is apt to prevail on the fame fubject on this fide of the Atlantic; and they who abominate his religious opinions ftill look up with reverence to the apoftle, as they think him, of their political liberty. Thus, in the evening of his life, this extraordinary man may be faid to have arrived to an enviable post. After fuffering every fpecies of diftrefs for his political opinions ; being burnt in effigy in every village of one kingdom, and confined eleven months in the dungeons of its neighbour, he is at laft in a land, where the majority think with him, and where he is at full liberty to form what fentiments and to express them as he pleafes: Et foutire quæ velit et quæ fentiat dicere. To add to the fingular events of his life, he is now a rich man his friends in America had taken good care of his property, fo that, on his return, he found himself worth fix thoufand pounds, which in that country will produce him four hundred a year. This income is more than competent to all his wants, and he has full employment for his leifure time. His mechanical experiments, in which his genius particularly fhines, are carried on on a great fcale, and may be of much ufe to a rifing country; and the papers which he intends to publish relative to the affairs of Europe will be found very interesting; among them, the most curious and most important probably are, the Hiftory of the French Revolution, which, it is faid, will be republished in England, as foon as a copy can be procured from America: they who have feen extracts from itin the manufcript speak highly in its praife; and, from the fituation of the writer it cannot fail of throwing great light on that very intricate subject, R To the Editor of the Univerfal Mag. MR. EDITOR, THE fate of the arts in this country will always be a matter of ferious and interefting contemplation to every cultivated and elegant mind: to the politician it is of no mean confequence, both in a national and commercial point of view, as tending to entertain and humanife the mind of man, and as having a confiderable degree of influence in giving elegance to a great variety of our manufactures. The two great fources of art are painting and fculpture; and although engraving be deemed inferior to thofe divine arts, yet it poffeffes the power of diffeminating at an eafy expence all their excellencies, except colours and fubstance, and is therefore to a commercial nation of equal confequence. In times and countries where painting has been properly encouraged, the painter fpread his canvafs at the inftigation of patrons and lovers of his art, and the engraver followed and multiplied his exquifite productions: then engraving was fupported by painting. In England, at prefent, the cafe is very different, for paintings are moft commonly executed purpofely to have engravings made from them, and the print and book fellers are become the principal patrons of hiftoric painting. Thus engraving with filial piety nurtures the parent that gave it exiftence and support. I have been led into thefe reflections by obferving in the Monthly Magazine, for September, a notice of a Society of Engravers forming a fund for the purpofes of alleviating the diftredes arifing from ficknefs, age, or accidents to its member, and of providing a fupport to their widows and children, under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. A defign fo laudable in appearance, and with fuch an honourable fanction, could not fail of attracting the attention of every perfon in terefted in the welfare of the arts: the fuccefs of fuch an appeal, and on fuch an occafion, when addreff. ed to the British nation, might be readily calculated upon, if attempted to be carried fairly and honourably into effect, and the artift and the public have an undoubted right to know how far their fupport and liberality may effect the purpofes intended, and what the precife intentions of the fociety are. When it is confidered how little of certainty there is in the profeflion of an artift, and how comparatively fmall their number must be who can have and hold the favour of the public, it is furprifing that fo many thould facrifice at the fhrine of emulation their health and time, where many are called, but a few only can be chofen. Such a fociety as is propofed, if carried fairly into effect on the principles oftensibly given, would well deferve the fupport of the engravers, and perhaps might have fome claim on the li berality of the public. In order to be acquainted with this, I procured the rules and regulations of the fociety, and have made as impartial an abstract from them as poffible, compreffed into fuch limits as, I fuppofe, will gain an admiffion into your valuable Mifcellany. In your next month's publication I will endeavour to explain those rules and regulations, according to the real intentions of the fociety; and I will fhew how far the plan on its real principles is deferving the adoption of the engravers in general, or the liberality of the public at large. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, No. 28, Paradife Row, Iflington. AN ABSTRACT OF THE RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS, &c. OF THE SOCIETY OF ENGRAVERS. THE profeffed purposes of this fociety, according to the rules and orders, are, to raise a fund by fubfcription of the members, and voluntary contributions, for the relief and maintenance of its members in old age, fickness, and infirmity, and for the relief of widows and children of deceased members. The fociety, to confift of engrav ers by profeffion only, refiding in this kingdom, is not to be limited to any number, nor reftricted by age or fex. The fociety to contain three fpecies of members: first, governors, who fubfcribe a copper plate, or plates; fecondly, members who pay an annual fubfcription, or compound for the fame; laftly, honorary members. All members are to be chosen by the governors, and, in all cafes of election by ballot, two black balls fhall exclude. A recommendation in writing is required before any perfon can be elected, ftating him or her to be a gentleman or lady of good character, and proper to become a member. Governors are for life, and engrave each a plate, value feventyfive guineas, which fhall be publifhed for the benefit of the fociety, and they become thereby exempt from admiffion-fee and annual contributions; but if elected within two years after the inftitution, to pay one guinea admiffion, and after that time five guineas; and at future periods, according to the ftate of the fund, the admiffion-fee to be in proportion thereto nevertheless, each governor shall for his or her plate or plates receive two-thirds of the nominal value thereof, : Governors fhall receive, gratis, impreffions of all engravings and works published by the fociety. Ordinary members are admitted on paying two guineas annually; one moiety on admiffion, and the remainder in fix months; after which their fubfcriptions to be paid quarterly. But if any member shall advance twenty guineas over and above the admiflion-fee, and pay up all ar rears of fubfcription, the fame fhall be confidered as a compofition for all future annual payments, and conftitute the fubfcriber a member for life. This compofition may be paid by inftalments within one year; but should the payments not be completed within that time, all former monies paid become forfeited. Ordinary members may become governors, by fubfcribing a plate or plates, value feventy-five guineas (being firft elected by the governors), for which they shall receive twothirds of the nominal value of the fame; and if they have been ordinary members above three years, all annual fubfcriptions paid for above that time thall be returned; if they have received relief from the fociety, that fhall be deducted alfo. Ordinary members compounding may be admitted governors on the fame terms, and receive back fourteen guineas of their compofition money. Honorary members fhall be ballotted for, and pay a benefaction of ten guineas to the fociety: fuch as fubfcribe their names to works published by the fociety fhall be intitled to proof impreffions, by paying the ordinary price of prints. No more than one hundred and fifty proofs can be taken. Honorary members are to declare, within three months after their election, whether they will or will not fubfcribe to all the works published for the benefit of the fociety. The affairs of the fociety fhall be conducted by a president, vice-prefident, a committee, three truftees, a treasurer, two auditors, and a fecretary, all of whom fhall be chofen from amongst the governors. The committee fhall consist of eleven, whereof the prefident, viceprefident, and treasurer, for the time being, fhall be members; and shall have power to affemble from time to time, and to make and ordain fuch proper rules, orders, and regulations, as to them fhall feem meet, fo as that the fame are not repugnant to the laws of the realm, nor the act conftituted for the encouragement of friendly focieties; and to inflict reasonable fines, and to alter and amend fuch rules, orders, and regulations, as occafion may require, or to annul and repeal the fame, and to make new ones in lieu thereof. But no rule, order, &c. fhall be binding, fo made, until ratified by a proper majority of governors at a general meeting, and confirmed by the juftices of the peace; or if con trary to the aforefaid ad made for the encouragement of friendly focieties. All fums of money received by the treasurer on account of the fociety fhall be paid into the hands of an appointed banker, as the exigencies of the fociety fhall not call for the immediate expenditure of. The committee fhall direct the laying out and difpofal of all fums of money belonging to the fociety, either in the public funds or on private fecurity. The tranfactions of the committee fhall at all times be under the controul of a general meeting of the governors. The committee fhall meet monthly, and have power to meet by adjournment, and appoint extraordinary meetings; and at the monthly meetings two guineas fhall be equally divided amongst thofe who are affembled within the first half hour after the chair is taken. There shall be annually, on the first Wednesday in July, a general meeting of all the members, to celebrate the institution; and on the fame day a meeting of the governors to elect the prefidents, committee, &c. and to hear com plaints, and redress grievancies. No converfation either on reli gion or politics fhall be permitted to take place at any meeting of the fociety. If it shall appear that the funds of the fociety are inadequate to its wants, the governors may, in the best and most agreeable manner to themfelves, contribute to raise the money fo wanted, and repay themfelves whenever the ftate of the funds of the fociety will permit. Any member neglecting contributing for two quarterly payments his fubfcription, fhall by letter be requested to pay the fame; and if not complied with in one month from the end of the last quarter, to be expelled, and forfeit all monies formerly paid. A lift of all perfons in arrear fhall be publicly read at the fecond meeting of the committee next after the days of payment of the feveral members; and at all other meetings, as well ordinary as extraordinary, fuch lift fhall be laid on the table, for the perufal of the governors present. Governors retarding the engraving of their fubfcription plates beyond a limited time, fhall forfeit admiffion-fees, and be fubject to expulfion. Any member who shall contemptuously or contumaciously disobey the rules, orders, or regulations of the fociety, or who fhall by speaking, writing, or printing, publicly defame the fociety, or advisedly and maliciously do any thing to the damage or detriment thereof, thall be liable to expulfion. Governors having forfeited their admiffion-fees, and having been expelled for not finifhing their fubfcription plates in time, may be re-elected, according to the foregoing rules; but ordinary members, who have been expelled for neglecting their quarterly payments, can only be re-admitted by petition to the governors, paying up all ar and are alfo debarred from receive ing any benefit from the fociety until the expiration of twelve calendar months from the date of their re-establishment. rears, and the ufual admiffion-fee; and laid before the committee every quarter, and a complete ac count of the fame every year; and as often as it is found that there is a balance in favour of any governor on account of his plate, the committee fhall iffue orders for pay ment of his full balance, and an order fhall be delivered to the governor within two days of the date thereof; and the fame of joint works to each governor whofe plate fhall form a component part thereof. The expences of advertisements, propofals for publications, and all other incidental charges attending the bufinefs of the fociety, to be defrayed by the public fund. The committee have power to felect fubjects, order pictures to be painted, and drawings made; and direct the treasurer to pay for the fame. When a governor is elected, the committee fhall furnish him with a picture or drawing, and alfo with a copper plate whereon to make an engraving from the fame, on which fhall be engraved, before delivered to the new elected governor, "Published as the act directs, by AB and CD, for the benefit of the fociety of engravers.” There shall be a feparate account kept of each and every plate which fhall be engraved for the benefit of the fociety, until the produce thereof shall be fufficient to pay all the expences of printing and publishing, and likewife of the returns (profits) of the fubfcribers to them; fo that each governor fhall by thefe means receive his return from his refpective plate. All plates engraved for a letter prefs work shall be kept in one joint account; and the produce thereof, after all expences are deducted, fhall be divided from time to time amongst thofe governors whofe plates fhall be in the fame work, until the work fhall have produced fufficient to pay all expences, and alfo make returns to the refpective fubfcribers (governors fubfcribing the faid plates). A ftatement of monies received on account of plates and works published for the benefit of the fociety fhall be accurately made, If governors fhall not fufficiently increafe, and their fubfcription. plates (fuppofe those first mentioned of feventy-five guincas value) fhall not be fufficient to complete the works undertaken for the fociety's benefit, or that the produce of the fame fhall be infufficient to raife a fund adequate to the relief of the members thereof, their widows, and children, the fociety fhall, if a meeting of the governors at a general meeting fo determine, employ governors to engrave fubjects for their works, and fhall pay them fuch price as fhall, after the execution thereof, be approved by the committee; and fhall, with the confent of the governors at a general meeting, purchase pictures or drawings, and employ the governors to engrave them, and from the fale of the works and impreffion's form and increafe the funds of the fociety. When the funds of the fociety fhall amount to ten thoufand pounds, the committee fhall have power to beftow the following benefits and penfions: To a governor, fifty pounds per annum, provided the fum does not make his annual income above one hundred pounds. To an ordinary member who has fubfcribed annually for ten years, or who shall have compounded for the fame by paying twenty pounds, a pension not exceeding twenty pounds, per annum, provided it |