they would afford admirable and constant lessons of Experience, if read with that view. Many days in the year, for sixpence only, a man may learn to avoid three or four different ways of losing his life or limbs; and if some of their readers would pay as much attention to what passes in the streets and highways of this kingdom, as they pay to the transactions of the cabinets and camps of Europe, I am persuaded they might in the course of a few months lay up a very profitable stock of Experience, both good and cheap.

They would learn, for example, that what happened the other day in the Park is not the first thing of the kind within the memory of man. It is not the first time that weak ice has given way; and persons who remained long under the water were in former days in danger of losing their lives. They may also collect some very curious and useful particulars respecting horses; as that a horse that is not suitably prepared to draw in a chaise, will sometimes run away with it, and sometimes overturn it, or both; and that unbroken horses, and what are called "bits of blood," are too mettlesome and fiery for the many objects which the streets of London present to frighten them. It may also be gathered from the ex

perience of sundry young, as well as old gentlemen, that a man who is accustomed to drive horses has some few advantages over one who has perhaps seldom taken the reins in his hand, or who endeavours to manage four horses, not because he knows how, but because it looks genteel. These may appear to be very simple instructions; but there is reason to think they might now and then be useful.

Another lesson which may be learned at these day-schools is, that a certain number of persons collected in one place constitute a mob; that the parties are very apt to squeeze one another, without reflecting that every man requires a certain degree of room in order to perform the common functions of life; and that when such squeezing or compressing takes place, the bills of mortality have been increased in a very surprizing manner. It may also be inferred from the same narratives, that the female sex is least able to combat the dangers of mobbing, although it appears that they have no little inclination to make the attempt, and that, in taking the poll on such occasions with as much accuracy as possible, caps have been known to exceed hats. As for children, particularly those at the breast, some very useful lessons of Experience may be derived from

reading the newspapers. But whether it be that their mothers cannot read, or that they have become converts to certain new doctrines about the mischiefs of a too great population, certain it is, that many of these babes are indebted to mobs, kicks, and cart-wheels, for a happy release from worldly cares,

With regard to the management of gigs, and other carriages, and boats, we learn that many persons never think themselves so fit to drive, or to row, as when conviviality has deprived them of sight and recollection. But the newspapers, who in this may be credited, for it is no party matter, assure us that such persons are now and then very much mistaken. They prove that, upon the whole, intoxication has no direct tendency to qualify a man for clearing a way-post, or a coal-barge; and that in all cases where life may be endangered, it would be requisite for him who manages such matters to possess rather more senses than fewer. I own that many young gentlemen are very tardy in admitting these facts; and it is for that reason that I wish to recommend to their study a course of casualties, such as may be found in any newspaper, Perhaps, too, our bills of mortality might be rendered more useful, if they recorded those accidents more fre

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quently and more particularly; how many were killed by a horse, how many departed this life in a boat, how many went to their long home in a barouche, and how many passed through the Serpentine River in their way to the other world.

Why Experience, when it presents itself in such various shapes, should be neglected, is a question on which I shall not at present enter. If it be thought to be owing to any rapid decay of memory, we have still such frequent opportunities of being reminded, that I should hope this cannot have any very great effect. If it be owing to a contempt for the Experience of others, and a desire to possess a stock of our own, I can only say, the means will never be wanting to accumulate such a stock; but, as already hinted, this ambition may be carried too far; and to instance only in one case, when a number of thoughtless persons have perished by venturing to skait on thin ice, it is not of much consequence to wish that it had been thicker.

THE PROJECTOR. N° 78.

"PEOPLE may have more wit than does them good, As bodies perish through excess of blood.”

POPE.

December 1807.

WHILE the mercantile world takes alarm at the impediments by which the belligerent powers are about to prevent the regular progress of importation and exportation, it must give every friend of his country pleasure to reflect that there are various articles which are so peculiarly of our own growth, and calculated for home consumption, as to be very little affected by the vigorous measures now in agitation. Among these, WIT seems to stand foremost as an article for which the demand is still adequate to the quantity on hand, and the quantity on hand fully able to answer every purpose of the consumer.

There are two kinds of WITS, differing much, it is true, in point of merit, but indispensably necessary to each other those who make Wit,