University of Virginia Library

The Difficulty of describing Town Scenery—A Comparison with certain Views in the Country—The River and Quay —The Shipping and Business—Ship-Building—Sea-Boys and Port-Views—Village and Town Scenery again compared —Walks from Town—Cottage and adjoining Heath, &c.—House of Sunday Entertainment—The Sea: a Summer and Winter View—A Shipwreck at Night, and its Effects on Shore—Evening Amusements in the Borough —An Apology for the imperfect View which can be given of these Subjects.

Several Meanings of the Word Church—The Building so called, here intended—Its Antiquity and Grandeur— Columns and Ailes—The Tower: the Stains made by Time compared with the mock Antiquity of the Artist—Progress of Vegetation on such Buildings—Bells—Tombs: one in decay—Mural Monuments, and the Nature of their Inscriptions —An Instance in a departed Burgess—Churchyard Graves—Mourners for the Dead—A Story of a betrothed Pair in humble Life, and Effects of Grief in the Survivor.

VICAR.

The lately departed Minister of the Borough—His soothing and supplicatory Manners—His cool and timid Affections —No Praise due to such negative Virtue—Address to Characters of this Kind—The Vicar's Employments—His Talents and moderate Ambition—His Dislike of Innovation —His mild but ineffectual Benevolence—A Summary of his Character.

Mode of paying the Borough-Minister—The Curate has no such Resources—His Learning and Poverty—Erroneous Idea of his Parent—His Feelings as a Husband and Father— The dutiful Regard of his numerous Family—His Pleasure as a Writer, how interrupted—No Resource in the Press— Vulgar Insult—His Account of a Literary Society, and a Fund for the Relief of indigent Authors, &c.

Sects and Professions in Religion are numerous and successive —General Effect of false Zeal—Deists—Fanatical Idea of Church Reformers—The Church of Rome—Baptists— Swedenborgians—Universalists—Jews.

Methodists of two Kinds; Calvinistic and Arminian.

The Preaching of a Calvinistic Enthusiast—His Contempt of Learning—Dislike to sound Morality: why—His Idea of Conversion—His Success and Pretensions to Humility.

The Arminian Teacher of the older Flock—Their Notions of the Operations and Power of Satan—Description of his Devices —Their Opinion of regular Ministers—Comparison of these with the Preacher himself—A Rebuke to his Hearers; introduces a Description of the powerful Effects of the Word in the early and awakening Days of Methodism.

The Evils of the Contest, and how in part to be avoided— The Miseries endured by a Friend of the Candidate—The various Liberties taken with him, who has no personal Interest in the Success—The unreasonable Expectations of Voters—The Censures of the opposing Party—The Vices as well as Follies shown in such Time of Contest—Plans and Cunning of Electors—Evils which remain after the Decision, opposed in vain by the Efforts of the Friendly, and of the Successful; among whom is the Mayor—Story of his Advancement till he was raised to the Government of the Borough—These Evils not to be placed in Balance with the Liberty of the People, but are yet Subjects of just Complaint.

Trades and Professions of every Kind to be found in the Borough—Its Seamen and Soldiers—Law, the Danger of the Subject—Coddrington's Offence—Attorneys increased; their splendid Appearance, how supported—Some worthy Exceptions—Spirit of Litigation, how stirred up—A Boy articled as a Clerk; his Ideas—How this Profession perverts the Judgment—Actions appear through this Medium in a false Light—Success from honest Application—Archer, a worthy Character—Swallow, a Character of different Kind —His Origin, Progress, Success, &c.

The Worth and Excellence of the true Physician—Merit, not the sole Cause of Success—Modes of advancing Reputation —Motives of medical Men for publishing their Works— The great Evil of Quackery—Present State of advertising Quacks—Their Hazard—Some fail, and why—Causes of Success—How Men of understanding are prevailed upon to have Recourse to Empirics, and to permit their Names to be advertised—Evils of Quackery: to nervous Females: to Youth: to Infants—History of an advertising Empiric, &c.

No extensive manufactories in the Borough: yet considerable Fortunes made there—Ill Judgment of Parents in disposing of their Sons—The best educated not the most likely to succeed—Instance—Want of Success compensated by the lenient Power of some Avocations—The Naturalist—The Weaver an Entomologist, &c.—A Prize-Flower—Story of Walter and William.

Common Amusements of a Bathing-place—Morning Rides, Walks, &c.—Company resorting to the Town—Different Choice of Lodgings—Cheap Indulgences—Sea-side Walks —Wealthy Invalid—Summer-Evening on the Sands—Sea Productions—“Water parted from the Sea”—Winter Views serene—In what cases to be avoided—Sailing upon the River—A small Islet of Sand off the Coast—Visited by Company—Covered by the Flowing of the Tide— —Adventure in that Place.

Desire of Country Gentlemen for Town Associations—Book-clubs —Too much of literary Character expected from them —Literary Conversation prevented: by Feasting: by Cards —Good, notwithstanding, results—Card-club with Eagerness resorted to—Players—Umpires at the Whist Table —Petulances of Temper there discovered—Free-and-easy Club: not perfectly easy or free—Freedom, how interrupted —The superior Member—Termination of the Evening— Drinking and Smoking Clubs—The Midnight Conversation of the delaying Members—Society of the poorer Inhabitants: its Use: gives Pride and Consequence to the humble Character —Pleasant Habitations of the frugal Poor—Sailor returning to his Family—Freemasons' Club—The Mystery —What its Origin—Its professed Advantages—Griggs and Gregorians—A Kind of Masons—Reflections on these various Societies.