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Thursday, in Paffion Week, the Calvinift preacher was fuddenly taken ill; and, at the request of the congregation, the Lutheran preacher did 'duty for him on Good Friday, and Eafter-day, and fome other days; after which, the Calvinifts fent for a minifter of their own. Both parties, Lutherans and Calvinists, attended the funeral of a Calvinist citi zen, and have thus afforded us fufficient ground to believe, that the difference of religious opinion, between thefe two fects, will be no longer thought of fo much importance as Chriftian love and mutual benevolence.

For the Monthly Magazine. STORY OF GENERAL KIRK RECTIFIED.

W. F.

[The following letter was found among the papers of the late Dr. Smollet, and is now in the poffeffion of a Phyfician, at Wilmington, in North America, who has obligingly favoured us with a Copy of it. We gladly infert it for the purpose of rectifying a ftory, which bas become a part of English Hiftory, and wiping off a stain from the memory of a man, who, bad as he was, does not deferve to be treated with calumny.]

SIR,

THE HE anecdote I told you I was de. firous to convey to Dr. Smollet, was what you will find here below, in order to confute a vile and horrible ftory, falfely told of General Kirk. This ftory chiefly gained ground by a poem of Pomfret's, called Cruelty and Luft, and which is printed with his other works of that fort, and from thence has crept into thofe of writers of history, memoirs, &c.-The story is this:

"A young man being condemned by military law to die, for having been in the Monmouth rebellion, his fifter, in order to fave his life, went to Kirk (the general) to intercede for him. She being a pretty woman, inflamed the general, who attempted to debauch her; but the being virtuous, his attempts were vain, till he told her, that her brother's fate depended upon her confent. To fave her brother's life, the confented, and paffed the night with the general, upon his promife that her brother fhould be reftored to her the next morning-but the general deceived her, for though he restored him the next morning, he was first put to death."-Now the truth of the fact is this:

After the Monmouth rebellion was fubdued, an order came from court to Kirk, then general of the troops in the weft, to take out of the gaols twenty of the rebels, and have them executed by martial law. It is true, this was in defiance of the laws of the land, but thofe were not then much regarded, when they ftood in the way of thofe who were in power. Accordingly, twenty of thefe rebels were taken out of the gaols, to be executed on a market-day, in (I think) the town of Taunton, in Somerfetfhire; but I am not quite pofitively fure that was the town, though I am, in my own mind, pretty strongly perfuaded it was.

There being at that time a notion of a woman going in white to beg publicly the life of a condemned perfon, the morning of the execution, fome of the relations of one of them thinking of this, obtained of Mrs. Elizabeth Row (a lady of a great and moft amiable character, and for which the was defervedly famous all over the Weft) to go in white, and beg the life of this perfon from the general, who, with feveral of his officers, was ftanding in a balcony to fee the execution. She went to him, when the criminals were in the cart, and already tied up to the gallows, and begged the life of the perfon above mentioned. Kirk turned about to one Bush, a lieutenant, who ftood by him, and who was remarkable for being the stupideft fellow in the whole reniment, and faid, in his fhort bluff way, Go and bid the execu tioner cut him from the gallows; taking it for granted that Bufh, who flood clofe to him, heard who Mrs. Elizabeth Row had begged off. But he was mistaken, for that ftupid fellow, Bufh, not only had not attended to the name of the perfon Mrs. Elizabeth Row had interceded for, but even did not think to ask it, but went to the executioner, and faid, You muft cut him down. The executioner replied, Cut him down! which him, for there are twenty? Now it happened, that the man who had been begged off, being attentive to his prayers, had not attended to any thing which had paffed, fo took no notice of what Bush faid; but another of the criminals, who minding fomething elfe befides his prayers, feeing a lady in white in the balcony, with the general, and hearing a talk of cutting down, fmelled out the thing, and told Buth, that he was the perfon the lady had begged off. Buth wifely took his word, and turning to the executioner,

was

faid

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faid, This is the man. Upon this, the executioner cut the rope, and immediately the man jumped out of the cart, and went away. Soon after, the fignal was given for the cart to drive away, and the man who was really begged off, was hanged, the truth being found out too late.

This account I had more than once from Mr. Martin Kiliigrew, who was at that time an officer in General Kirk's regiment, and was upon the fpot when the thing happened. This I can testify, as will, I dare fay, if applied to, Mr. Bavenall, nephew to the faid Mr. Killigrew, whofe name was Lifter, but he changed it to Killigrew, upon marrying one of fir Peter Killigrew's daughters, which faid daughter of fir Peter Killigrew, was fifter to my wife's grandmother; I remember, I asked Mr. Killigrew, if he knew of any thing relating to this affair he had not mentioned, which might have given rife to this re port? He faid, he knew of none but the violent and univerfal hatred which prevailed all over the weft country against Kirk, and that outrageous, paffionate behaviour, which was fo habitual to him, that it was become even his conftant one, thought it very feldom went beyond words, and of which he gave me an inftance, which he chofe as being a frequent one. When his regiment was out on field days, he would curfe, fwear, and threaten, like a madman, declaring and fwearing he would have the men whipped, hanged, and otherwife punished, fo that a bystander who had not known him, would have thought that a quarter of the regiment was to have undergone punishment; and, after having behaved in this manner for hours, he would go out of the field, and not a fingle man punished, ordered to be punished, or any court-martial called to try any man; and this was his conftant practice. I then asked Mr. Killigrew, if Kirk had not fome woman with him the night before the execution abovementioned? He faid, he did not know; but that it was very probable he might have a woman with him, as he believed that was what at that time happened to him two or three times a week, as it was his cuftom continually to have common proftitutes to pafs the night with him; and therefore, it was very probable, he might have one that night, as well as others; but that if he had, it had no relation to the affair above-mentioned.

I have fent this to you, to communicate to Doctor Smollet; for as I look upon it to be the primary duty of an MONTHLY MAG. No. VII.

545

hiftorian, to convey to pofterity the exact truth of things without partiality, and to do justice to the character of men, efpecially when they have been falfely and injuriously reprefented, fo I look upon it to be the indifpenfible duty of every man, as far as lies in his power, to furnish hiftorians with those lights which will enable him to do it. And in this inftance, I have no other motive than that of affifting the above-named gentleman conveying truth to kind, and doing juftice to one, who, however faulty or criminal in other refpects, is in this, an innocent and injured man.

man

The inaccuracy, and all other faults of this letter, I must defire you and Doctor Smollet to excufe; as, from my present fituation, I have no more time than is just fufficient to it, currente calamo-and had I more, it would be afelefs, as the beft ftyle and manner I could make ufe of, would be unworthy Doctor Smollet, or any other hiftorian, and my only pur pofe is to convey to him the plain matter of fact, together with my proof, which he will make ufe of in the manner he thinks proper. I am, fir,

Your most obedient, humble fervant, JOHN MERRILL. Poland-freet, March 12, 1759.

If it thould be afked, how Kirk could anfwer at court his having hanged only nineteen rebels, when he was ordered to hang twenty the reply is eafily made: Every one who is thoroughly acquainted with thofe times, knows that he was then fo great a favourite there, and was fo intrufted with difcretionary power, that he might without any danger have taken a greater liberty. Befides, every one who knows any thing of him, knows, that he was a man, who did acts and took refolutions, fuddenly and rafhly, without looking to confequences; of which his proceedings, at that time, and afterwards, are most convincing proofs.

There is a thing not to be passed over unnoticed, viz. that a ftory, quite fimilar to this attributed to Kirk, is to be feen in a book, written before Kirk was born, in the Hiftory of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, and related in the Spectator, No. 491, in which the only difference (I mean with regard to the perfons, not the fequel of it) is, that it is a husband instead of a brother, and a governor instead of a general; the place it happened at, Zealand (now one of the Seven United Provinces); the governor's name, Rhynfault; and the husband's, Paul Danvelt. And Shakspeare, who lived long before Kirk, has written a play upon

4 A

that

that plan, viz. Measure for Meafureand in which the condemned perfon is a brother. And it looks a little odd to tell a flory of Kirk, which was well known to the world long before he was born.

It is likewife to be obferved, that Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe, who begged the man's life, was never fufpected, nor was there ever the leaft hint given, that the ever had, either with Kirk, or any one elfe, any correfpondence contrary to the ftrictest rules of virtue or modefty, the having to her death, and ever fince, fuftained the cleareft and most unblemifhed character.

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Not ocean's chafing waves fo loudly roar,
Dafh'd on the ftrand by Boreas' bitter breath;
Not rattling flames, devou.ing in their march
The mountain foreft; nor the angry wind,
Howling with rage ainid the high topp'a oaks;
As 10ar'd the mingled din of either hot,
While, fhouting dread, they rufh'd to mutual.
fight.
IL. xiv. 394.

The expreffive fonoroufnefs of the Greek language is no where more ftrikingly exhibited, than in the original of thefe lines. Virgil has copied the images, but has judicioufly lowered the expreffion, in his application of them as objects of comparison to the hum of bees.

Tum fonus auditurgravior, tractimque fufurrant;
Frigidus ut quondam fylvis immurmurat Aufter;
Ut mare follicitum ftridet refluentibus undis;
Æftuat ut claufis rapidus fornacibus ignis.

GEORG. IV. 260.
'Tis then in hoarfer tones their hums refound,
Like hollow winds, the ruling foreft round;
Or billows breaking on a distant fhore,
Or flames in furnaces that inly roar.

Pitt. It is curions to compare Dryden's tranflation with the preceding. He feems to have understood by 'fonus

kr

gravior," a gentler found than ufual;
and has accordingly, with wonderful dex-
terity, accommodated the expreffion of
the compared founds to this idea:

Soft whispers then, and broken founds are heard;
As when the woods with gentle winds are firr'd;
Such ftifled noife as the clofe furnace hides,
Or dying murmurs of departing tides. DRYD.

This is, indeed," roaring like any fucking dove:" but notwithstanding the happinefs of language in this tranflator, it is evident that he has quite mistaken the "mare follicitum firidet," and the "rapidus ignis afluat," of the original.

The Roman poet makes a nobler use
of the murmuring noife of wind, when
'he employs it to reprefent the found of
affent uttered by the affembly of the gods.

-cunctique fremebant
Calicole affenfu vario: ceu flamina prima
Cum deprenfa fremunt fylvi, & cæca volutant
Murmura, venturos nautis fuadentia ventos.
ÆN. x. 96.

the gods divide,

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Or pinnance, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft.

PAR. L. ii. 284.

This fimile is truly Homeric, but in Homer's beft manner. The fcenery, into which the defcription wanders, is highly picturefque, and, though fomewhat digreffive from the main purpose of the fimile, yet is in perfect harmony with it.

The violent action of wind is clofely connected with its found, and still more ftriking to the fenfes. Homer aptly compares a fierce conflict, between the Greeks and Trojans, to the contention of two adverfe winds, rending a forest.

As on the hills, with Eurus, Notus strives,
In fierce difpute, to thake fome thick-grown
Wood

Of

1796.]

Similies of Homer, Virgil, and Milton.

Of cornel, afh, and beech; the wide-ftretch'd
boughs

Mingle with horrid noife, and, breaking, crafh:
So rush'd, amain, the fons of Greece and Troy,
To mutual flaughter.
IL. xvi. 765.

This fimile is adopted by Virgil in fome very fine lines, in which, however, the application is lef happy than in Homer's. He is defcribing neas affailed by the pathetic entreatics of Dido, but withfanding all their force:

Ac velut annsfo validam cum r Lore quercum
Alpini Boreæ nunc hinc nunc flatibus illinc
Eruere inter fe certant; it ridor, & alte
Confternunt terram concuffo ftipite frondes:
Ipfa hæret fcopulis; & quantum vertice ad

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bend,

His bows they fhatter, and his branches rend;

With leaves, with falling maft, they fpread the
ground.

The hollow vallies echo to the found:
Unmov'd, the royal plant their fury mocks,
Or, fhaken, clings more clofely to the rocks;
Far as he shoots his towering head on high,
So deep in earth his fix'd foundations lie:
No lefs a ftorm the Trojan hero bears,
Thick meflages and loud complaints he hears,
And bandy'd words ftill beating on his ears.
Sighs, groans, and tears proclaim his inward
pains,

But the firm purpofe of his heart remains.

DRYDEN. The action in the fimile is furely too violent for a juft refemblance. Of this, the tranflator feems to have been fenfible, from the pains he has taken, even by hazarding fomething of the ludicrous, to heighten the impreffion of the wordy affault upon his hero.

The following comparifon, applied to the Greeks bursting into Troy, is fomewhat different in its imagery, and better adapted to the occafion :

Adverfi rupto quondam ceu turbine venti
Configunt, Zephyrufque, Notufque, & lætus

Eois

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547

South, eaft, and weft, on airy courses borne;
The whirlwind gathers, and the woods are torne:
Then Nereus ftrikes the deep, the billows rife,
And mix'd with ooze and fand, pollute the
fkies.
DRYDEN.
Hector, dealing deftruction among the
Grecks, is, in the following paffage, com- .
pared to a tempeft:

As when the weft-wind drives, with ftormy
gult,

Clouds, by the fouth compell'd, on ocean's

face

Thick roll the fwelling waves; while, dash'd

on high,

The foam is fcatter'd by the founding blast;
So frequent fell the heads beneath the stroke
Of Hector.
IL. xi. 305:

The point of comparifon here is very loofely ftated; for though, in the application of the fimile, the number of the flain is the only circumftance noticed, which has no parallel but the waves, the real refemblence confifts in the force of Hector, compared to a whirlwind, fcattering the Greeks like foam. But this is a negligence, or inaccuracy, very frequent in the Grecian bard. Virgil, in a very fpirited imitation of this fimile, has ap plied it with more correctness :

Ac velut Edoni Boreæ cum fpiritus alto
Infonat gæo, fequiturque ad littora fluctus,.
Quâ venti incubuere; fugam dant nubila cælo:
Sic Turnus, quacunque viam fecat, agmina
cedunt,

Converfæque ruunt acies.

AN. xii. 365.

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north:

The waving harvest bends beneath his blast;
The foreft thakes, the groves their honours
caft;

He flies aloft, and, with impetuous roar,
Purfues the foaming furges to the fhore.

DRYDEN,

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In any defcription of action, applied as a fimilitude, the principal point of comparifon may be either taken from the ibing acting, or that acted upon: both, indeed, ought to have their parallels in the real fcene; but, generally, one is the leading, and the other, the fubordinate figure in the piece. In moft of thofe de rived from the action of the wind, which are quoted above, its power is the main circumftance, though expreffed by different effects. There are others, hereafter to be produced, in which the effects are meant to be brought to view, more than the caufe: fueh are especially' thofe in which the various appearances of a ftorm at fea are minutely painted.

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[To be continued.]

J. A.

REMARKS ON MR. PAINE'S PAM-
PHLET ON THE ENGLISH SYSTEM
OF FINANCE.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

THE pamphlet of Mr. Paine, entitled the Fan of the English Syftem of Finance, having attracted general notice, a few remarks upon it may deserve a place your admired Magazine.

in

Through the whole courfe of this work, in which the author affures us, that the coin of the kingdom is rapidly diminishing; he seems to fpeak of the precious metals and of wealth as fynonimous terms; to infer that a nation which poffeffes but little of the former, cannot have much of the latter; and, that receiving taxes in paper, and paying the intereft of the funds in paper, is all a bubble.

There can be no doubt, that gold and filver coin is wealth, but it is equally clear, that is but a very fmall part of the wealth of any nation; pro ably, not more than one fiftieth part of the wealth of England, which has lately been calculated to amount to between twelve and thirteen hundred millions; while the current coin has been eftimated at between twenty and thirty millions; admitting the medium of thefe two calculations to be near the truth, the one will be exactly one fiftieth part of the other. Now, fuppofing an individual, or a nation, to lofe completely a fiftieth part of all the property either of them poffeffed, let the lofs be either in coin or any other valuable commodity (exclufive of the article of food); the poverty or diftreffes they

would feel, would not be very great; it would, indeed, be fome temporary inconvenience, but no more; to which the in dividual, or the nation, would foon accommodate their habits.

Adam Smith has, with great propriety, compared the coin of a kingdom to the highways through it; Neither of them, fays he, produce any thing; on the contrary, they are both to be kept in repair at a certain expence; but they greatly facilitate the conveyance from one place to another, and from one perfon to another, of whatever the land has produced by agriculture, or what active capital has produced by manufactures and commerce. Paper money, continues he, has the fame effect, that a waggon-way, could it be formed through the air, would have on the highways, it would admit of their being all changed into corn-fields, and producing food for man, inftead of tranfmitting what was produced by the neighbouring grounds from one place to another; in the fame manner, a well fecured paper money has enabled a very confiderable part of the bullion which the exchange of property formerly required, to be fent to foreign nations, and exchanged for the raw materials of our manufactures, whereby it is converted into a productive transfer of other property, from one hand to another.

One of Mr. Paine's objections to paper money is, that it pulls down the value of gold and filver, in those countries where it has obtained most circulation; and that in England thofe metals are not of fo much value, as where paper money is not in ufe.-If this were the fact, I apprehend, that almost all our gold and filver would long ago have been carried away by foreigners, in preference to our manufactures; but we know to a certainty, that Spain and Portugal, the countries where paper money is but little ufed, are conftantly taking our manufactures, and fending us their gold and filver, which of course must be lower in value with them, as much as the amount of the freight and infurance from thence to this country. Some part of thefe metals are generally employed in our manufactures, and the furplus exported to the Eaft-Indies and China, where they are still higher in value than they are here. I do not mean to affert, that the precious metals flow in this courfe from South-America to the EaftIndies at prefent, but that a confiderable quantity of them do fo, in most years of peace. Our author does not apprehend

fo

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