Title: Cussons' Horncastle Compendium, 1837
Author: D. Cussons
Release date: December 20, 2016 [eBook #53777]
Language: English
Credits: Transcribed from the 1837 edition by David Price
Transcribed from the 1837 edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
1837.
On the north, Lincolnshire is bounded by the Humber, which separates it from Yorkshire: the German Ocean and an arm of the sea called the Wash, bound it on the East; on the South it abuts on Rutlandshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, its general form is an irregular oblong. It is in the Province of Canterbury, the Diocese of Lincoln, and in the Midland Circuit.
Lincolnshire being proverbially a County of Fens, has obtained a name for an unhealthy climate, which, however, just it may have been in some parts in bygone times, is now by no means applicable; for the causes of the cold, damp and aguish character, have been for many years declining: the progress of drainage, and a more complete cultivation, have gradually contributed to render the air more dry, and consequently more healthy. This remark may be made relative to all districts, which become more salubrious in proportion as they are more cultivated; and more friendly to human life, in proportion as the means of supporting human life are increased in productiveness. The centre of the County and the district of the Trent is very healthy: the air on the coast is very salubrious, and numbers flock to it every summer in search of health and relaxation.
There are two ranges of very high land running though the greater part of the County from North to South: that in the East may be called mountainous and p. 2is called the Wolds; the Western range, on which stands the County Town, is called the Cliff; more westward still is a fine extent of rich pasture, along which the Trent passes.
Eastward of the Wolds lies also an extensive tract of fine feeding land, which is watered by overflowing springs; on boring the substratum of clay, fine spring water gushes up, and in most places will rise ten feet above the surface, if confined in a tube: these cheap artificial springs are general, and many hundreds are continually running, contributing greatly to the fertility and value of the land.
The fens form the most prominent feature of the County: where fully cultivated and completely drained their produce is incredible; but it is a subject of great regret, that no general system of drainage, including every district which can be made to communicant with the sea, has yet been effected: nothing short of one uniform and connected plan can be of full avail: and so many apparently rival interests are at stake, and so little real public spirit exists, notwithstanding that it is so much boasted of, that such an universal plan is more to be wished for than hoped for.
The soil of Lincolnshire is so various as to include all sorts of land that are to be found in the whole kingdom, and its management varies accordingly.
Rabbits have always been an article of great consideration and attention in the light soils of this County, and immense warrens are kept for the purpose of supplying London with the skins; this was once as profitable a stock as could be attended to; but latterly many warrens have been laid down to other put poses.
It is impossible to speak too highly of the cottage system of this county. Round Folkingham and other places, when inclosures took place, during the late war, by the acts of parliament, at least three acres of land were assigned to every cottage; this, of course includes a garden and keep for a cow: thus land, gardens, p. 3cows and pigs, are within reach of the labouring classes. On views of humanity and benevolence only it is gratifying to the considerate breast to see in comfortable circumstances that class of people on which all other classes depend.
Males |
Females |
Total |
158,717 |
158,527 |
317,244 |
Of which the following shows the larger numbers.
|
Males |
Females |
Total |
Lincoln, City |
5,644 |
6,199 |
11,843 |
Grantham, Borough, with the soke |
5,216 |
5,564 |
10,780 |
Elloe, Wapentake |
15,193 |
14,121 |
29,314 |
Kirton, Wapentake |
7,469 |
7,308 |
14,777 |
Boston, Borough |
5,094 |
6,146 |
11,240 |
Bolingbroke, soke |
2,729 |
5,590 |
11,259 |
Bradley-Haverstoe, Wapentake |
5,953 |
5,966 |
11,919 |
Calceworth, Hundred |
5,118 |
5,148 |
10,266 |
Corringham, Wapentake |
6,465 |
6,718 |
13,183 |
Louth Eske, Hundred |
6,904 |
7,123 |
14,027 |
Manley, Wapentake |
11,511 |
11,516 |
23,037 |
Yarborough, Wapentake |
9,660 |
9,819 |
19,497 |
For the two divisions of the county.
Lindsey (Lincoln) |
2 Members |
Kesteven and Holland (Sleaford) |
2 |
City and Boroughs |
|
Lincoln |
2 |
Great Grimsby |
1 |
Boston |
2 |
Grantham |
2 |
Stamford |
2 |
Market-days are marked thus, M. Monday, Tu. Tuesday, &c.
p. 5Alford, Whit Tu. and Nov. 8. Tu.
Barton, Trinity Thursday. M.
Belton, Sept 25.
Boston, May 4 for sheep, 5 for beasts, Aug. 5 for fat cattle, Nov. 18, 19, 20, horse mart, Dec. 11 beast mart. W. S.
Bourn, Sep. 30, Oct. 29. S.
Brigg, Aug. 5. Th.
Burgh, May 13, Oct. 2. Th.
Burwell, Old Michaelmas day.
Caistor, Sat. before Palm Sunday, May 19, June 1, Sat. after Oct. 11. S.
Corby, Aug. 26, Mon. before Oct. 11. W.
Caythorpe, April 29.
Crowland, June 28, Sep. 5. Th.
Crowle, last Mon. in May, Nov. 22. M.
Donington, May 26, Aug. 17, Sep. 4, and Oct. 17. S.
Epworth, first Th. after May 1, Th. after Sep. 29. S.
Falkingham, Ash Wed. Palm Mon. May 13, June 14, 15, July 3, 4, Th. after old Mich. Nov. 22. Th.
Gainsborough, Mart Tu. in Easter week, fair-day after Tu. after Oct. 20. Tu.
Grantham, 5th Mon. in Lent, Holy Th. July 10, Oct. 26. Dec. 17. S.
Grimsby, June 17, Sep. 15. F.
Haxey, July 6.
Heckington, Wed. before Lincoln April sheep fair, Oct. 10.
Holbeach, May 17, Sep. 17, Oct. 11. Th.
Horncastle, Cattle mart 4th Th. in Lent, June 22, Aug. 21, Oct. 29. S.
Kirton, July 18, Dec. 11. S.
Lincoln, 1st Thurs. after 2nd Tu. in old April for sheep, Friday for beasts, Mon. and Tu. (same week) for horses, July 5, 1st Wed. after 12th Sep. 3 days, Nov. 28. F.
Louth, 3rd Mon. after Easter Mon. Aug. 4, Old Martinmas day. W. S.
Long Sutton, May 13, 14, Friday after Sep. 25th. F.
Ludford, Aug. 2, Nov. 30.
Market Deeping, Oct. 11, last Wed. in July. Th.
Market Raisen, Sep. 25. Tu.
Messingham, Trinity Monday. Th.
Navenby, Aug. 18, Oct. 17.
New Bolingbroke, July 10. Tu.
Partney, Aug. 25, Sep. 18, 19, Oct. 18, 19.
Saltfleet, Oct. 3. S.
Scotter, July 10.
Sleaford, Plow Mon. Easter Mon. Whit Mon. Aug. 12, Oct. 20. M.
Spalding, April 27, June 29, Aug. 28, Sep. 25. Dec. 6. Tu.
Spilsby, Mon. before Whit Mon. & Mon. after, 2nd Mon. after if in May, 1st Mon. after 12th July. S.
Spittle, Nov. 22.
Stamford, Tues. before Feb. 13, Mon. before Midlent, Midlent Mon. Mon. before May 12, June 25, Aug. 5, Nov. 8. M. F.
Stockwith, Sep. 4.
Stow, Oct. 10.
Stow Green, July 3, 4.
Swaton, Oct. 11.
Swineshead, 2nd Thurs. in June, Oct. 2 (cheese fair). Th.
Swinestead, Monday after Oct. 11
Tattershall, May 15, Sep. 25, Th. fat stock market first Th. in Oct., and following weeks during the season.
Tedford, Mon. after Easter Mon. Dec. 6
Torksey, Whit Monday.
Wainfleet, 3rd Sat. in May, July 5, Aug. 24, Oct. 24. S.
Winteringham, July 14.
Winterton, July 5.
Wragby, Holy Thurs. Sept. 29. Th.
Aberford, last Mon. in April and May, first Mon. in Oct., first Mon. after Oct. 18, first Mon. after Nov. 2
Adwalton, Feb. 6, March 9, Easter Th. and every Th. fortnight after, till Michaelmas
Aldborough, September 4
Appletreewick, October 20, 27
Askrig, May 10, 17, first Thur. in June, October 28, 29
Astwick, Thur. before Whit Sun.
Barnsley, Wed. before Feb. 28, May 13, Oct. 11
Bawtry, Whit Thur., Nov. 22
Bedale, Easter Tu., Whit Tu., June 6, 7, July 5, 6, Oct. 11, 12, Dec. 13
Bentham, Jan. 25, June 22, Sat. in Easter week, October 25
Beverley, Thur. before Feb. 25, Holy Th., July 5, Nov. 5, principal markets for cattle Wed. before April 6, Wed. before May 12, Wed. before Sep. 14, Wed. after Dec. 25
Bingley, Jan. 25, Aug. 25, 26, 27
Black-Burton, Whit Monday
Bolton, June 28
Bradfield, June 17, Dec. 9
Boroughbridge, April 27, 28, June 22, 23, Oct. 23
Bradford, March 3, 4, June 17, 18, 19, Dec. 9, 10, 11
Brandsburton, May 14, Cattle Market every alternate Wed. commencing with the principal stallion show the nearest Wed. to April 8
Brawby, first Mon. after July 11
Bridlington, Monday before Whit Sunday, Oct. 21
Brumpton, November 12
Cawood, May 13, Sep. 23
Clapham, September 21
Coxwold, August 25
Dewsbury, Wed. before May 13, Wed. before October 11
Doncaster, Mon. before Feb. 14, April 6, Aug. 5, Nov. 26
Easingwold, July 5, Sep. 25
Fordingham, July 10, Oct. 2
Gargrave, Dec. 11, 29
Grinton, Good Fri. Dec. 21
Guisborough, last Tuesday in Mar. and April, third ditto in May, ditto in Aug., ditto in Sep., 2nd Tues. in Nov.
Guisburn, Easter Monday, 2nd & fourth Monday after, Saturday after the 4th Mon., 5th Monday after Easter, September 18, 19
Halifax, June 24
Harewood, last Monday in April, 2nd Monday in October
Hawes, Whit Tues., Sep. 28
Haworth, July 22, Oct. 14
Hedon, Feb. 14, Aug. 2, Sep. 22, Nov. 17, Dec. 6. A market every other Monday in the year
Helmsley, May 19, July 16, Oct. 3, November 6
Holmsfirth, October 30
Hornsea, Aug. 13, Dec. 17
Howden, April 15, 16, 17, Sep. 25, and six following day (the great horse fair) and every alternate Tuesday for cattle and horses
Huddersfield, March 31, May 14, October 4
Hull, Oct. 11
Hunmanby, May 3, Oct. 29
Ingleton, November 17
Keighly, May 8, Nov. 8
Kettlewell, July 6, Sep. 2
Kilham, Aug. 21, Nov. 12
Kirbymoorside, Whit Wednesday September 18
Kirk-Burton, last Mondays in April and October
Kirkham, Trinity Monday
Knaresborough, Wed. after Jan. 13, Wed. after March 12, May 6, Wed. after Aug. 12, Tuesday after Oct. 11, Wed. after Dec. 10
Lee, Aug. 24, Sep. 17
p. 7Leads, July 10, 11, Nov. 8, 9
Leighton, Midsum day, June 24
Leyburn, 2nd Fridays in Feb., May, October and December
Little Driffield, Easter and Whit Mondays, Aug. 26, Sep. 19
Long Preston, March 1, Sep. 29
Malham, June 25, October 4
Malton, Monday before Palm Sunday, Whit Sunday eve, Oct. 11, 12
Masham, September 17, 18
Middleham, Easter and Whit Mondays, Nov. 5, 6
Moor Kirk, June 24
Northallerton, Feb. 14, May 5, Sep. 5, Oct. 3, 2nd Wed. in October
North Duffield, May 4
Otley, Aug. l, Nov. 15
Patrington, March 28, July 18, Dec. 6
Penniston, Thur. before Feb. 28, last Th. in March, Th. before May 12, Th. after Oct. 11
Pickering, Mon. before Feb. 14, ditto before July 6, Sep. 25, Mon. before Oct. 11
Pocklington, March 7, May 6, Aug. 5, Nov. 28, Show of Horses Feb. 24, Dec. 7, 18
Pontefract, first Sat. after 20th day bef. Dec. 25, Feb. 5, first Sat. aft Feb. 13, Sat. before Palm Sun., Low Sun. and Trinity Sun. respectively, Sat. after Sep. 12, first Sat. in Dec. The fortnight Fairs are held on Saturdays after the York fortnight fairs
Reeth, Fri. before Palm Sun., 2nd Fri. before May 13, Fri. before Aug. 24, 2nd Fri. before Nov. 22
Richmond, Sat. after Candlemas, Sat. before Palm Sun., first Sat. in July, Sep. 25
Ripley, Easter Mon. and Tu., Aug. 25, 26, 27
Ripon, Th. after Jan. 13, May 12, 13, first Th. in June, Th. after Aug. 22, Nov. 22
Rotherham, Whit Mon., Dec. 1
Scarborough, Holy Th., Nov. 22
Seamer, July 15
Sedburgh, March 10, Oct. 29
Selby, Easter Tu., June 29, Oct. 11
Settle, Tu. before Palm Sun., Thur. before Good Fri., and every other Fri. till Whit Sun., April 26, Aug. 18 to 21, Tues. after Oct. 27
Sheffield, Trinity Tu., Nov. 28
Sherburn, Oct. 6
Skipton, March 23, Palm Sunday Eve, Easter Eve, first and third Tuesday after Easter, Whit Sun. Eve, Aug. 5, Nov. 20, 22
Slaidburn, Feb. 14, April 15, Aug. l, Oct. 20
Snaith, last Th. in April, Aug. 10, first Friday in Sep.
South Cave, Trinity Mon., and Oct. 24 for cattle
Stokesley, Sat. before Trin. Sun.
Stamford Bridge, Dec. 1
Tadcaster, last Wednesdays in Apr., May and Oct.
Thirst, Shrove Mon., April 5, Aug. 3, 4, 5, Oct. 28, 29, Dec. 14
Thorne, Mon. Tu. and Wed. after June 11, same days after Oct. 11
Tollerton, Aug. 15
Topcliffe, July 17, 18
Wakefield, July 4, 5, Nov. 11, 12
Weighton, May 14, Sep. 25
Wetherby, Holy Th. Aug. 5, Oct. 11, Th. before Nov. 22
Whitgift, July 22
Yarm, Thur. before April 5, Holy Thur., Aug. 2, Oct. 19
York, principal fairs Whit Mon., July 10, Aug. 12, Nov. 22. Principal markets, every other Thur. in the year. Principal Fairs for Horses, on Mon. in the race week, and Mon. in the first whole Week before Dec. 25
Payable to Bearer, or to order, either on demand, or otherwise, not exceeding 2 months after date, or 60 days after sight. |
Exceeding 2 months or 60 days after sight. |
|||||||
|
s. |
d. |
|
|
|
|||
Amounting to |
£2 |
and not exceeding |
£5 5s. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
Exceeding |
£5 5s. |
and not exceeding |
20 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Exceeding |
20 |
and not exceeding |
30 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
Exceeding |
30 |
and not exceeding |
50 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
Exceeding |
50 |
and not exceeding |
100 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
Exceeding |
100 |
and not exceeding |
200 |
4 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
The Stamp to be provided by the party receiving the money, except when in full of all demands, in which case it is to be paid for by the person requiring such receipt.
Amounting to |
£5 |
and not |
£10 |
Three Pence. |
Amounting to |
10 |
and not |
20 |
Six Pence. |
Amounting to |
20 |
and not |
50 |
One Shilling. |
Amounting to |
50 |
and not |
100 |
One Shilling and Six Pence. |
Amounting to |
100 |
and not |
200 |
Two Shillings and Six Pence. |
Where any sum therein expressed to be received in full of all demands, Ten Shillings.
If the sum does not exceed |
£50 |
One Pound |
|
Above £50 |
and not exceeding |
100 |
Thirty Shillings |
Above 100 |
and not exceeding |
200 |
Forty Shillings |
Above 200 |
and not exceeding |
300 |
Three Pounds |
Above 300 |
and not exceeding |
500 |
Four Pounds |
Above 500 |
and not exceeding |
1000 |
Five Pounds |
Probates and administrations with Wills annexed.
|
Value of Effects. |
Duty |
|||
Above If |
£20 |
and not |
100 |
£0 |
10 |
|
100 |
|
200 |
2 |
0 |
|
200 |
|
300 |
5 |
0 |
|
300 |
|
450 |
8 |
0 |
|
450 |
|
600 |
11 |
0 |
|
600 |
|
800 |
15 |
0 |
|
800 |
|
1000 |
22 |
0 |
|
1000 |
|
1500 |
30 |
0 |
|
1500 |
|
2000 |
40 |
0 |
|
2000 |
|
3000 |
50 |
0 |
|
3000 |
|
4000 |
60 |
0 |
Duties on Legacies—value £20. or more.
|
per Centum |
To Children, or their Descendants, or Ancestors |
£1 |
To Brother, or Sister, or their Descendants |
3 |
To Uncle, or Aunt, or their Descendants |
5 |
To Great Uncle or Aunt, or their Descendants |
6 |
To all other Relations, or to Strangers |
10 |
Husband, Wife, and Royal Family pay no Legacy Duty. |
For every inhabited dwelling house, containing:
Windows |
£ |
s. |
d. |
8 |
0 |
16 |
6 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
16 |
3 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
2 |
13 |
3 |
14 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
15 |
3 |
10 |
0 |
16 |
3 |
18 |
6 |
17 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
18 |
4 |
15 |
3 |
19 |
5 |
3 |
9 |
20 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
21 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
22 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
23 |
6 |
17 |
6 |
24 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
25 |
7 |
14 |
3 |
26 |
8 |
2 |
9 |
27 |
8 |
11 |
0 |
28 |
8 |
19 |
6 |
29 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
30 |
9 |
16 |
3 |
31 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
And for every window above 180 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
Every Window that exceeds 11 feet, by 4 feet 6 inches, to be charged at two windows, except those so made before April 5, 1785, and those in shops, warehouses, &c.
All sky-lights, windows in staircases, garrets, cellars, passages, and all other parts of dwelling-houses, whether adjoining or not, are to be charged. Windows giving light to more than one room, to be charged as separate windows, Windows in dwelling-houses, used solely for the purpose of a manufactory, warehouses or workshops, and not having any communication with the dwelling-house, are exempt; and also windows (not exceeding three) in front shops and warehouses on the ground story, though communicating with the dwelling-houses.
These Duties, as now consolidated, amount to 20s. for every Greyhound and to 14s. for every Hound, Pointer, Setter, Spaniel, Lurcher, Terrier, or Dog of any other denomination, to any person keeping more than one Dog.—Any person inhabiting an assessed house, and keeping only one Dog, of another description than the foregoing, is liable to the duty of 8s.—Persons compounding for their Hounds to be charged £36.
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
Agreements containing not more than 1080 words |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Ditto containing more than 1080 words |
1 |
15 |
0 |
And for every additional 1080 words, above the first 1080, a further progressive duty of |
1 |
5 |
0 |
Affidavits |
0 |
2 |
6 |
Awards |
1 |
15 |
0 |
Bills of Lading for Goods exported |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Bonds of Indemnity |
1 |
15 |
0 |
Deeds |
1 |
15 |
0 |
Inventories |
1 |
5 |
0 |
Letters of Attorney |
1 |
10 |
0 |
TOWNS |
FIRMS |
DRAW UPON |
|
Boston |
W. S. |
Claypon, Garfit and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
H. and T. Gee |
Roberts and co |
Ditto |
|
Joint Stock Bank |
Barclay and co. |
Ditto |
|
National Provincial Bank |
Spooner and co. |
Brigg |
Th. |
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Caistor |
Tu. |
Ditto |
Ditto |
Falkingham |
Th. |
Holt and Kewney |
Barclay and co. |
Ditto |
|
Hardy, Turner and co. |
Jones and co. |
Gainsborough |
Tu. |
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Ditto |
|
Smith, Ellison and co. |
Smith and co. |
Grantham |
S. |
Holt and Kewney |
Barclay and co. |
Ditto |
|
Hardy, Turner and co. |
Jones and co. |
Holbeach |
Th. |
Gurneys, Peckover and co. |
Barclay and co. |
Horncastle |
S. |
Claypon, Garfit and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Lincoln |
F. |
Smith, Ellison and co. |
Smith and co. |
Ditto |
|
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Louth |
W. S. |
Claypon, Garfit and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Market-Rasen |
Tu. |
Smith, Ellison and co. |
Smith and co. |
Ditto |
|
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Sleaford |
M. |
Peacock and co. |
Barnetts and co. |
Spalding |
Tu. |
Claypon, Garfit and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
Joint Stock Bank |
Barclay and co. |
Spilby |
M. |
Claypon, Garfit and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
Lincoln and Lindsey Stock |
Prescott and co. |
Stamord |
M. F. |
Eaton and co. |
Masterman and co. |
Ditto |
|
Joint Stock Bank |
Barclay and co. |
Few men takes his ADVICE who talks a great deal.
And no wonder: for “he who knows but little, presently outs with it.” And, though silence is not necessarily, not in itself a proof of good judgment, excessive talkativeness shows a want of it. The following is an old Grecian adage, translated:—“Tongue! whither goest thou? To build a city and then to destroy it!” signifying, says Erasmus, that the tongue affords great blessings to mankind, and that the same member becomes a cause of dreadful mischief! Our English poet, George Wither, who wrote in 1634, observes in his emblems,
No heart can think to what strange ends,
The tongue’s unruly motion tends.
In vain does he ask ADVICE who will not follow it.
“Few things,” says Dr. Johnson, “are so liberally bestowed, or squandered with so little effect, as good advice!”
This ancient proverb is found in Horace; and there is one in Italian like it. The BEGINNING only is hard and costs dear.
We often have great reluctance in setting about an appointed task, the apparent difficulty continuing to increase with delay; but once engaged in it, we proceed with pleasure until it is completed. It is the case in those “trifles which make the sum of human beings.” The young scholar wants courage to set about his lesson in time; the friend, or man of business, to answer a letter or acquire some point of useful information: and to go higher in the application of the maxim, it tells us, that to begin to do good leads on to continued improvement. So the Italians say, BEGIN your web, and God will supply you with thread! Akin to this, are two valuable proverbs, which chide us for indecision and needless hesitation, Procrastination is the thief of time: and
To do what’s right make no delay,
For life and time slide fast away.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Persons of similar manners are fond of associating together; but the bad particularly: indeed, when their characters are known, they cannot easily get other companions. Hence it is a saying,—
Tell me with whom thou goest,
And I will tell thou what thou doest!
These who sleep with dogs rise up with fleas. It is bad company that brings men to the gallows. Burckhardt in his collection of Arabic proverbs, gives the following remarkable one:—He who introduces himself between the onion and the peel, goes not forth without its strong smell. But on the other hand we have in the Spanish, Associate with the GOOD, and thou shall be esteemed one of them.
One Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush; and the Italians say, Better have an egg to-day than an hen to-morrow. But this carries the idea too far. Ray, quotes another, which is much better.—
He that leaves certainty, and sticks to chance,
When fools pipe, he may dance.
This adage, like the fable of the dog and the shadow, advises us not to part with what we actually possess, on the distant prospect of some doubtful or uncertain profit. It seems a kind of madness in any one who has a competence, or is exercising with fair success any business or profession, to hazard all in pursuit of some new scheme, which, however promising in appearance, may fail and involve him in ruin. And yet how many are the victims of this! How many instances in our own country do the records of the year 1825 supply.
The ordinary business of each day is, in letters in the inland office alone, 35,000 letters received, and 40,000 sent (23,475,000 annually); exclusive of the numbers in the foreign office department and the ship-letter office, and altogether independent of the two-penny post. The number of newspapers daily varies from 25,000 to 60,000 (on Saturday 40,000, and on Monday 50,000), of which number about 20,000 an put into the office ten minutes before six o’clock. After that hour each newspaper is charged one half-penny, which yields a revenue of fully £1,000 a year, and of which 240,000 newspapers are annually put into the office from six to a quarter before eight o’clock. The revenue derived from charges for early delivery in London is £4 000, and the sum obtained by the charges of one penny on each letter given to the postmen, who go round with bells to collect the letters, is £3,000 a year, giving 720,000, or pearls 2,000 daily. The revenue of London is 6,000 a week, above £300,000 a year; and yet of all this vast annual revenue there has only been lost by defaulters £200 in twenty-five years. The franks amount in a morning to 4,000 or 5,000, or more. Newspapers can only be franked for foreign parts to the first port at which the mail arrives; after this they are charged postage according to their weight, in consequence of which an English daily paper costs in St. Petersburgh £40 sterling per annum.
Every one that flatters thee |
But if fortune once do frown, |
Cure for Drunkenness.—A man in Maryland, notoriously addicted to this vice, hearing an uproar in his kitchen one evening, had the curiosity to stop without noise to the door, to know what was the matter, when he beheld his servants indulging in the most unbounded roar of laughter at a couple of his negro boys who were mimicking himself in his drunken fits; showing how he reeled and staggered,—how he looked and nodded, and hiccupped and tumbled. The picture which these children of nature drew of him, and which had filled the rest with so much merriment, struck him so forcibly, that he became a perfect sober man, to the unspeakable joy of his wife and children.
Mr. Locke was asked how he contrived to accumulate a mine of knowledge so rich, yet so extensive and deep. He replied, that he attributed what little he knew, to the not having been ashamed to ask for information; and to the rule he had laid down, of conversing with all descriptions of men, on those topics chiefly that formed their own peculiar professions or pursuits.
Punctuality.—Mr. Scott of Exeter, travelled on business till about 80 years of age. He was one of the most celebrated characters in the kingdom for punctuality, and by his methodical conduct, joined to uniform diligence, he gradually amassed a large fortune. For a long series of years, the proprietors of every inn he frequented in Devon and Cornwall, knew the very day and hour he would arrive. A short time before he died, a gentleman on a journey in Cornwall stopped at a small inn at Port Isaac to dine. The waiter presented him with a bill of fare, which he did not approve of, but observing a fine duck roasting. “I’ll have that,” said the traveller. “You cannot sir,” said the landlord, “it is for Mr. Scott of Exeter.” “I know Mr. Scott of Exeter very well,” rejoined the gentlemen, “he is not in your house.” “True,” replied the landlord, “but six months ago, when he was here last, he ordered a duck to be ready for him this day, precisely at two o’clock;” and to the astonishment of the traveller, he saw the old gentleman jogging into the inn-yard about five minutes before the appointed time.
Advantages of Activity.—As animal power is exhausted exactly in proportion to the time during which it is acting, as well as in proportion to the intensity of force exerted, there may often be a great saving of it by doing work quickly, although with a little more exertion during the time. Suppose two men of equal weight to ascend the same stair, one of whom takes only a minute to reach the top, and the other takes four minutes, it will cost the first little more than a fourth part of the fatigue which it costs the second, because the exhaustion is in proportion to the time during which the muscles are acting. The quick mover may have exerted perhaps one-twentieth more force in the first instant to give his body the greater velocity, which was afterwards continued, but the slow supported his load four times as long.
Capability greater than Performance.—Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.
The readiest method to cure simple chaps is to wash them with barley water, and apply the following mixture of prepared tutty and olive oil, of each equal parts.
Rough and course hands are very unhandsome; the following compound will always preserve them smooth: mix 4 oz. of fresh hog’s lard that has been well washed in common water with the yolks of 2 new laid eggs, and a large spoonful of honey; add as much fine oat-meal as to work the whole into paste.
Women of sanguine complexion and habit have frequently hair growing on their chin, which is very unseemly. To extirpate this, use dulcified spirit of salt on the part, and rub it gently with a linen cloth; this will effectually kill the roots of the hair, and at the end of a week they wither, and fall away.
Acids of every denomination are unfriendly to the teeth; and by frequent use will destroy the enamel; the following mixture not only whitens, but tends to preserve them. Take Peruvian bark, 2 oz. charcoal, half an oz. Armenian bole, 1 oz. mix them altogether in a mortar. If the teeth are washed, take a piece of wood like a butcher’s skewer, made soft at the end, cover it with linen, dip it them in the above ponder, and apply it to the decayed part.
Equal parts of camomile water and white wine, as warm as can be borne, this for a few weeks will make a considerable change in the akin.
A constant attendant upon the scurvy of the gums, and putrefied matter lodged in the hollow teeth; the following gargle stands in high esteem. Take 2 oz. of cinnamon, 6 drams of cloves, 6 oz. of Florentine orris root, nutmeg and mace: bruise them and macerate them in a quart of spirits of wine or French brandy, during 48 hours; when used, let it be diluted with water.
Or, chew at night a small piece of gum myrrh; or chew night and morning a clove, or a piece of orris root, about the size of a bean; or rub the teeth with a piece of rag dipped in the spirits of vinegar.
When meat, fish, &c., from intense heat, or long keeping, are likely to pass into a state of corruption, a simple and pure mode of keeping them sound and healthful is by putting a few pieces of charcoal, each about the size of an egg, into a pot or saucepan wherein the meat or fish is to be boiled. Among others, an experiment of this kind was tried on a turbot, which appeared to be too far gone to be eatable; the cook, as advised, put four pieces of charcoal under the strainer of the fish kettle; after boiling the proper time, the turbot came to the table sweet and firm.
Deformities as of the skin are generally the consequences of a distempered blood thrown upon it. Promoting the ordinary discharges, and rectifying the skin by proper washes, is the only way to get rid of such disorders. When, therefore, any lotion is employed on the skin, the person must always take care that some other emunctuary may be in readiness, to discharge what to lessened by the application of the external medicine. Diuretics are allowed by all to be the best auxiliaries to cosmetics, and it is hardly safe to use one without the other. We will first notice
This deformity consists in a redness of the face, attended with inflammatory pustules, the causes of which are commonly attributed to an acrid, thick blood, that swells and corrodes the small vessels; to clear which, the mass of blood must be sweetened and diluted with proper medicines.
For this purpose, infuse 4 oz. of mustard seed in a quart of while wine, and after 3 or 4 days, drink a wine glass full of it every morning filling up the phial as long as the seed gives any strength.—Or boil 3 spoonsful of mustard seed in a quart of milk, take off the curd, and keep the whey for use. This remedy is an excellent diuretic, and a cordial for the nerves, but it differs from the first in quality. Take half a wine glass full every morning.
Among all the lotions, and the best to use with the above diuretic, is a pimpernel water, which is so sovereign a beautifier of the complexion as to deserve a place on every lady’s toilet. It is prepared by only infusing half a handful of this herb in a quart of water, letting it stand all night. It may be used a little warm, but not hot. If not sufficiently powerful to remove the pimples, take camphor rubbed fine in a mortar, put upon it, a little at a time, 1 ounce of the juice of lemons, when dissolved, add 1 pint of white wine. This is a very good lotion for spots and flushings: it may be used with the greatest safety.
Dissolve the powder of burnt alum in the juice of lemon: wet the place with it, and dry it with the back of a spoon, in the fore part of which put a live coal; and in doing it 5 or 6 times, the iron moulds will be washed out.
Dissolve a little sal-ammoniac in urine: boil your soiled gold therein, and it will become clean and brilliant.
Take sopwort (a herb of that name), bruise it, and strain out the juice; add a little black soap, and mix them well to a moderate thickness; rub it over the stained or spotted place; warm it gradually before the fire, and the stains will rub out with the hand.
Many causes may contribute to this defect, particularly severe colds, breathing an air too full of dust, &c., too much speaking or singing, or being too much exposed to the air, on quitting convivial meetings and other entertainments of jollity.
To remove this defect, drink freely of barley and liquorice water, eat black currant jelly, and gargle the mouth twice or thrice every morning with the syrup of hedge mustard, diluted in a glass of milk or warm water.
It is certainly very mortifying to a lady to have a masculine voice, and yet it is a very frequent circumstance. As a means of contracting the larynx, the extra wideness of which is the cause, you must drink nothing hot; frequently drink lemonade, water acidulated with verjuice, oranges, &c., and gargle the throat every morning with equal parts of verjuice and water.
Take a handful of red sage leaves, simmer them 2 minutes in a third of a pint of water, strain the liquor off; when cold add an equal quantity of vinegar, and sweeten it with honey. These receipts are best for general purposes, and may be used with perfect safety, and generally with the happiest effect.
Mix vinegar and treacle in equal quantities, let a teaspoonful be taken occasionally, when the cough is troublesome. This is a receipt of the excellent Dr. James, of Carlisle.
Half an oz. of cream of tarter, half a dram of cochineal, quarter pound of sulphuric acid. The above mixed with a quart of water, and when wanted to use, mix a little Bath brick with the liquid, to the consistency of paste; and apply it to the iron or brass with wash leather.
Get a sixpenny packet of Winton’s Compound Mixture, (it may be had of any medicine vender), and mix it with a little butter or lard, and scatter it where the vermin resort. Whole parishes have been entirely cleared of them by the above, when it has been generally used.
This plaster will always give relief, and frequently remove them: 1 oz. of Venice turpentine, the yolks of 2 eggs, 2 drams of mercurial plaster, half an oz. of yellow wax; the turpentine and wax must be melted together; mix the other ingredients when fluid. Or, take equal quantities of roasted onion and soft water, beat them together, and apply them as a poultice. This application will instantly appease the pain of the corn.
Take 4 oz. of ivory black, 3 oz. of the coarsest moist sugar, a table spoonful of sweet oil, and a pint of small beer, with half a spoonful of the oil of vitrol; mix them gradually, cold.
Ceplinile snuff in a general way remove the afflicting pain of the head ache. One scruple of turpeth mineral, half a dram of powdered ginger, 1 scruple of powdered nutmeg, 3 drops of oil of rosemary, well mixed, and snuffed up the nose.
Take a lump of white copperas about the size of a pea, put it in a small phial that contains about 2 ounces of water, carry this in the pocket, and occasionally taking out the cork, turn the phial on the finger’s end, and thus bathe the eyes. This will positively effect a cure in a short time.
Is a very painful and well-known complaint, arising sometimes from cold, and frequently from a very acrid blood which stimulates the delicate vessels of the eye, swelling and inflaming them. The following eye waters are very good to cool sharp, hot humours, they may be readily prepared, and will more effectually answer their end if assisted by the use of diuretics at the same time. First, calaminaris levigated, half a dram, rose water, 2 oz.—Second, take white vitrol, 15 grains, rose water, 2 oz.—With either of these, the eyes may be washed at discretion, in all hot defluctions; but when the sight decays from dryness, or a defect in the optic nerve, such things can avail but little.—When a poultice is necessary, you may take half a pint of the decoction of linseed, and as much flour of linseed as is sufficient to make it a proper consistency. This poultice is preferable to bread and milk for sore eyes, it will not grow sour nor acid. In corroboration of the above, we give a letter to the editor of the Mechanics’ Magazine, page 95, vol. I.
“Sir,—Reading your miscellany to a friend, a cure for weak eyes, he had recourse to your receipt, and was cured in a short time, though he had previously spent much money without getting relief from the faculty. I hope your readers who may be in a similar situation, will follow the example.”
This ointment has never yet failed to give relief; yellow basilicon 3 ounces turpentine 1½ ounce.
Mix ¾ of an oz. of fine powdered senna, ½ an oz. of the flour of brimstone, ¼ of an oz. of powdered ginger, in 4 oz. of clarified honey. Take about the size of a nutmeg every night and morning for five successive days, afterwards, once a week for some time, and finally once a fortnight.
One ounce and a half of well-bruised ginger, 1 ounce of cream of tartar, 1 sliced lemon, 1 pound of white sugar. Put these ingredients into an earthen vessel, and pour upon them a gallon of water, boiling; when cold, add a table spoonful of yeast, and let the whole stand till next morning; then skim and bottle it; keep it three days in a cool place it will then be fit for use.
A country woman carrying eggs to a garrison, where she had three guards to pass, sold at the first half the number she had, and half an egg more; at the second, the half of what remained, and half an egg more; and at the third, the half of the remainder and half an egg more; when she arrived at the market-place, she had three dozen still to sell, how was this possible, without breaking any of the eggs?
Solution.—The possibility of this problem will be evident when it is considered, that by taking the greater half of an odd number, we take the exact half—½. It will he found therefore, that the woman, before she passed the last guard, had 73 eggs remaining, for by selling 37 of them at that guard which is the half—½, she would have 36 remaining. In the like manner, before she came to the second guards she had 147; and before she came to the first, 295.
Two Greeks dicing together, one provided five dishes, the other three. A stranger happened to pop in, and requested to join them. On his departure, he gave the Greek who had provided five dishes five shillings, and to the other who had furnished three dishes, three shillings; but the latter was dissatisfied, and had the matter referred to Solon, who instantly decided that the Greek who had provided five dishes should have seven shillings, and he who furnished the three dishes should receive but one shilling.
Solution.—Each Greek paid eight shillings, which are twenty-four shillings for eight dishes, or three shillings per dish. The one who provided five being fifteen shillings out of pocket, had a right to have seven shillings refunded to him, which left him eight shillings, his proportion.
When first the marriage knot was tied, betwixt
my love and me,
My age did then her’s exceed us three times three doth
three.
But when we ten and half ten years we man and wife had been,
Her age came up as near to mine, as eight is to sixteen.
Solution.—The man was 45, the woman was 15.
|
From |
To |
||||
|
£. |
s. |
d. |
£. |
s. |
d. |
Travelling expences per mile one way |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Journeymen, labourers, &c., while detained, per day |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Tradesmen, yeomen, farmers, while detained, per day |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Merchants, gentlemen, auctioneers, clerks if residing in London, and the trial be there |
1 |
1 |
0 |
altogether. |
||
If at assizes |
1 |
1 |
0 |
per day. |
||
Professional men from |
1 |
1 |
0 |
£2 |
2 |
0 per day. |
Attornies’ clerks |
0 |
15 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Families, according to rank |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
The Pelham arrives at the Bull Inn, Horncastle, from Boston, every morning, (Sundays excepted) at 8 o’clock; proceeds at half-past to New Holland and Hull: returns to Horncastle at half-past 6, and proceeds to Boston immediately.
The Defiance arrives at the George Inn Horncastle, from Louth, every morning (Sundays excepted) at half-past 8 o’clock; proceeds at 9 to Lincoln: returns in the afternoon at 6, and proceeds immediately to Louth.
The Mail Cart leaves the Post Office Horncastle, for the North, every evening at half-past 6, and returns the following day at 2 in the afternoon:—the Mail from the South, arrives at 11 o’clock in the morning, and leaves at half-past 2 in the afternoon:—the Letter Bags from Conningsby and Tattershall, arrive by a foot-post p. 20at 11 in the morning, are dispatched at half-past 1 in the afternoon.
Read’s Packet leaves Horncastle every Tuesday morning, for Boston, at 7 o’clock, where it arrives in the evening; leaves Boston the following Friday morning at the same hour, and arrives at Horncastle a the evening.
Slack’s Packet leaves Horncastle every Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock, for Lincoln, where it arrives in the evening; and returns the following Saturday morning at 7.
Riggall’s Sociable leaves the Maid’s Head’s, every morning at 8, for Kirkstead, where it meets the Boston and Lincoln Packets; and returns to Horncastle, at 3 in the afternoon.
Clays Fly Waggon leaves Horncastle for New Holland every Monday noon, passing through Wragby, Rasen and Caistor, arrives at Hull on Tuesday, and returns to Horncastle on Thursdays.
Fletcher, Day, Mower and Thompson’s Carts leave their respective houses, every Monday, for Spilsby, and return in the evening.
Day’s Fly Waggon leaves his house every Wednesday morning at 7 o’clock, for Louth, and returns in the evening.
Mower’s Waggon leaves his house for Louth, every Wednesday morning, and returns in the evening; leaves Horncastle for Boston, every Friday morning, and returns on Saturday.
Roberts’ Cart leaves Horncastle for Alford Market, on Tuesday morning, and returns in the evening.
Edwards’ Cast from Sleaford, arrives at the George Inn, every Friday afternoon, and returns on Saturday.
Thompson’s Cart leaves has house Boston Road, for Lincoln, every Thursday evening, and returns the following night; for Alford every Tuesday morning, and returns at night.
Fletcher’s Cart leaves his house Horncastle, every Tuesday and Friday, for Boston, and returns on the following evenings.
Towns and Villages. |
Carriers. |
Inns at Horncastle. |
Alford |
Reed |
Red Lion |
Alford |
Trolley |
George |
Barkwith |
Porter |
George |
Belchford |
Sutton |
Rodney |
Bardney |
Dennis |
Maid’s Heads |
Benneworth |
Wass |
Fighting Cocks |
Bucknall |
Pilson |
Fighting Cocks |
Conningsby and Tattershall |
Cooling |
Maid’s Heads |
Conningsby and Tattershall |
Sharpe |
Red Lion |
Goulceby |
Tomlinson |
Maid’s Heads |
Goulceby |
Vester |
Rodney |
Kirkby |
Wold |
Maid’s Heads |
Kirkstead |
Lewis |
White Hart |
Louth |
Cash |
Maid’s Heads |
Mareham-le-fen |
Codd |
Maid’s Heads |
Martin |
Cawden |
Fighting Cocks |
Minting |
Cartwright |
Black Horse |
Minting |
Addleshaw |
White Hart |
Minting |
Danby |
White Hart |
New Bolingbroke |
Newman |
Maid’s Heads |
New Bolingbroke |
Wood |
Maid’s Heads |
Old Bolingbroke |
Marshall |
Maid’s Heads |
Scamblesby |
Smith |
Rodney |
Scamblesby |
Parish |
Red Lion |
Somersby |
Hewitt |
George |
Spilsby |
Sargeant |
Red Lion |
Spilsby |
Widle |
Maid’s Heads |
Spilsby |
Lilley |
George |
Stixwold |
Warrington |
Black Horse |
Tetford |
Stevens |
Greyhound |
Tetford |
Brackenbury |
Royal Oak |
Wragby and Lincoln |
Silvester |
Black Horse |
Wragby and Lincoln |
Dawkins |
George |
Wragby and Lincoln |
Sandal |
Maid’s Heads |
*** Carriers are requested to inform D. Cussons when they change Inns, time of starting, &c., in order to have them inserted right in the next year’s almanack.
January, 1837.
Periodicals delivered in Horncastle on the First day in the Month.
WEEKLY PARCELS FROM LONDON:
Orders up to Saturday Night, for
any Works of Music not on hand,
will ensure the delivery on the following Wednesday.
What are the objects of such missions? Are they not to make known the glorious Gospel of the blessed God; to institute Christian Schools; to erect places of Christian worship; to collect Christian societies; and thus to banish Pagan ignorance, Pagan vices, and Pagan cruelties, from the earth?
Have not such objects been already accomplished, to a certain extent, in various parts of the heathen world?—This is indisputable. Many in Asia, Africa, America, Australasia, and Polynesia, no longer worship idols; no longer destroy each other. Many mothers no more cast their children to the crocodiles, or drown them in rivers. Many aged and sick persons, who would have been cast out into the woods in age and infirmity, are now cherished by their children. Many thousands of children, in the different Mission Schools in India, Africa, the South-Sea inlands, and other places, are now reading the word of God, worshipping our Saviour, and singing his praises; who would otherwise have been trained up in idolatry, and all its polluting and degrading superstitions. Many adults have been brought to the knowledge of Christ; and many have died in peace and in the hope of heaven, whose sun would otherwise have set amid the dark and lowering clouds of Heathenism. Finally, the work, though in some places feeble, has been begun; it is spreading its enlightening and sanctifying influence among surrounding millions; and it exhibits to our faith and hope the dawn of the universal salvation.
Are you a man?—Do you not then shudder at the miseries, and oppressions, and murders, which Heathenism is daily practising, and which Christianity brings to an end wherever it prevails? On the principle of common humanity and sympathy, you will then surely feel an interest in Missions, nor suffer the cry of slaughtered widows and children, and the voice of distress, pouring out its wailings from all lands, to reach your ears in vain.
Are you a briton? Think of the vastness of the British Empire, comprising, at a low calculation, upwards of a HUNDRED MILLIONS of subjects, most of whom are Pagan idolaters. Why has Providence given us power, but to employ it so that, wherever it is felt, “mankind may feel our mercy too?” Shall we enjoy the advantages of that extensive commerce which so vast an empire gives to us; shall we revel in the luxuries of the West and of the East; shall we turn every colony to gain? and shall we neglect the souls of our fellow-subject? If we do so, we cannot be guiltless before Him who governs the world, and who will bless our blessings, or wither them, as we are faithful or unfaithful to the behests of His Providence. As a Briton, therefore, you are bound to support p. 2Missions, and by them to fill the whole empire with the blessings of that Christianity we enjoy at home.
Do you profess to be a true and lively christian?—Then you love your Saviour, and must desire that all should love and worship Him. Then you pray daily, “Thy kingdom come,” and must mean something when you thus pray, or you offer vain service, and mock God. Then you pity the ignorant, and weep over perishing souls; and, if so, you must, you will, do all you can to point them to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Are you a christian parent?—You look with joy and gratitude upon your rising family. You placed them, by holy baptism, in the arms of Jesus, that He might bless them. They are in covenant with Him. They hearken unto you, and you teach them the fear of the Lord. You send them into life, commended to God as their “sun and shield.” You rejoice in the hope of meeting them all again in the kingdom of Heaven. O happy Christian parent! O favoured Christian families!—families “whom Jesus loves.” But Missions are creating many such families among Negroes, Hottentots, Fejees, New Zealanders, the Friendly Islanders, the American Indians, and the Singalese. Many a Heathen hut resounds with praise; and parents and children, once idolaters, bow before the throne of grace in united family worship. Do not you rejoice in this? and will you not do your utmost to promote the cause of Christ, till all the families of the earth, like your own, are blessed in Him?
Are you a christian child?—What do you owe to Christ, whose adorable name you bear! But for the blessed Gospel, you had scarcely known your parents’ tender love. No prayers to the true God would have been offered by them on your behalf. You would have been a worshipper of the ugly, gloomy gods of Paganism. You might have been cast into a river, or turned out to perish in a wood; or, if not, you would have grown up in ignorance, vice, and misery. You would have had no education; never have read the blessed Bible; never have sung a hymn of praise to God, and would not have had, as now, the prospect of a happy, useful life, and a glorious heaven. O what do you owe to Christ! You feel that you ought to love Him, and how can you better show that you do love Him, than by pitying poor, ignorant Heathen children, and contributing some little of your spare money, to send them Ministers, to build them Schools, to buy them the Bible and holy books, and teach them all the blessed truths which you have learned of Christ, the Saviour of the world?
Have you lately been made yourself a partaker of the grace of christ?—How much do you owe to Him who hath brought you “out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay;” and how ought you to pity all who are living “without hope and without God in the world!” When you felt the burden of sin, you heard of Christ, and his willingness to save.
“Dying, you heard the welcome sound,
And pardon in his mercy found.”
But millions of the poor Heathen feel that burden too, yet they know not where to fly for relief; they go from idol to idol; from sacrifice to sacrifice; perform painful pilgrimages, and torture their bodies. But in vain! the sting remains; the fear of the future still pursues them. Do p. 3they not cry, even in your ears, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” and will not you, remembering the sweetness of that hour when you obtained mercy by believing in Christ, make haste to tell them, by the Missionaries you send forth, where pardon may be found? O you not, by your liberalities, cause these blessed words to be sounded in the ears of all such mourning, broken spirits?—
“Sinners, believe the gospel word:
Jesus is come your souls to save!
Jesus is come, your common Lord;
Pardon ye all through him may have;
May now be saved, whoever will:
This man receiveth sinners still.”
Finally, Are you an aged christian?—How often have you prayed, “O Lord, revive thy work!” How often have you longed to see the dawn of the day of Christ upon all nations! Well, now you see it. God has granted you this before you depart to be with Christ. You, you aged servant of God, must rejoice in it. Your long life of mercy has been crowned with this mercy. Tell all about you, how you “saw the cloud arise, little as a human hand;” bid them look to its spreading showers; mark its reviving influence; and hear the “sound of abundance of rain.” Yes, you will encourage our youth to pledge themselves to this cause; you will give it the sanction and aid of your counsel and influence; and you will die in greater peace and higher triumph, since “your eyes have seen His salvation; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel.”
“Let the children of Zion,” therefore, “be joyful in their King.” “Both young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the Lord,” and unite to proclaim “His glory among the Heathen, His wonders among all people,” till the whole earth shall be filled with the honours of His high and glorious name. Amen.
But do any of you ask, What can i do in this cause?—This is an important and serious question, especially when you consider that that day will come when you must “give up your stewardship, and be no longer steward” of your Lord’s goods, whether he has entrusted you with five, three, or only one talent; and when he will doubtless ask you, what you have done to promote His cause in the world.
Well, then, it may be kindly and affectionately inquired of you, whether you do not indulge in some needless superfluities of meat, drink, apparel, furniture, or show, which, even in perfect consistency with your rank of life, whatever it may be, you may reduce, and have more to spend in works of piety and charity at home and abroad? Put this question to your hearts in the fear of God.
If you have no obvious superfluities, yet may not your economy, that is, your management of what you have, be more exact, methodical, and careful? So that even your own affairs will be more prosperous; and, from this good management, you may find much more to give to these great services than even now you are yourselves aware of. Try the experiment; for many have tried it, and have found themselves enabled to become “rich in good works,” almost without cost to themselves.
Ask, What cannot I give? Cannot I spare this penny every week?—p. ixWhy not? Cannot I give this shilling, as a monthly subscription; or this pound, or even several pounds, as a yearly one? Why not? You may have an answer, but see that it is a good one; that it is such an one as you can with confidence give to your Lord, when He calls you to give an account of your stewardship.
Cannot I give my influence to this cause? Why not? I have some influence, perhaps as a master, or as a parent, or as a neighbour, or as a friend. Cannot I employ this talent of influence in inducing servants, children, neighbours, friends, to take a share in all the good which the Lord is doing upon earth among the children of men? Will they not be benefited by it? How many good thoughts will it put into their minds! How probable is it, that they may feel more sensibly the value of the Gospel than before, by considering the situation of those nations who have it not! How much will it enlarge their knowledge, to place before them the publications of a Missionary Society! How much will it ennoble the heart of the poorest and youngest among them, to teach them to live to benefit all mankind! Cannot I take even an active part in this work, if called upon; or may I not humbly offer my services in some department? Why not? Collectors, patient, persevering Collectors, are always wanting; and why cannot I become a Collector, and have the honour and blessedness of begging for a perishing world? Treasurers, Secretaries, Members of Committees, are wanting wherever a Missionary Society is formed, who will be active in their duty, and constant in their attendance. Cannot I then, if called upon, take my share of any of those duties, whenever they are assigned me? Why not? What good and serious reason can I give against it, when, laying my hand upon my heart, I ask, “How much owest thou unto my Lord?” Cannot I converse on these great subjects, and arouse my own languid zeal, and that of others, by this means? Why not? Would not this shut out many trifling things from conversation; and will not the constant reading of Missionary Publications, and accounts of the progress of Christ’s kingdom in the world, furnish conversation with some of the best and most inspiring topics?—and is not this in character, when, as the Psalmist says, “All thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee; they shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.” And cannot I join my prayers, prayers in my closet, in my family, and in the Church of God: thus acknowledging that the work is the Lord’s, and that vain is the help of man,—thus bringing upon all counsel, and upon all effort, the prospering blessing of Him who “worketh all and in all?” Rest not till you have put to yourself all these questions, and then so act as “the answer of a good conscience” shall direct.
WESLEYAN MISSION HOUSE,
BISHOPSGATE-STREET
WITHIN, LONDON.
*** For an account of the Missions conducted by the Wesleyan Missionary Society, see the accompanying “General View.”
LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, 46, HOXTON-SQUARE.