of the Norton Line, and Frimneffes, and 104 for what he pleafe. I did, at the Birth of his Son, give him my Confent to renew his own and Son's Lives after me, of Old Alesford, with the A Bishop of Winton, which would be a confiderable Gift to them, at my Years. I do give and devife to my Brother John Chichley, my Gold Chain and Medal thereto belonging, which was left to me by our Grandfather Sir John Lawfon, Admiral, aod alfo my Brilliant Diamond Ring, which was left me by our Mother, fince fet round by me with 17 fmali Brilliants. I do likewife give and devise to him all my Jewels of precious Stones, which I may have by me at my Death; excepted out of this Gift, thofe which are before or hereafter excepted. B I do give and devife to my Sifter Elizabeth Hughes, her own ficure, a half Length, with C all my Silver Plate whatfoever, except my Shaving Bafon, and Ewer thereto belonging with all my Linen and China Ware, except my Wearing-Linen; likewife I do give and devife to her all the Goods and Furniture in the Green Damask Bed Chamber in Southwick Houfe, with my large Tonquin Cheft, and all Things in it, hereby is excepted the Church Plate which I gave to the l'arish Church of Southwick, and the fmall gilt Chalice and Paten ufed in my Chapel. I do give and devife to my Brother, Richard and William Chichley, 101. each, for what they please. D I do give and devife to my Coufin, Mrs Henrietta-Maria Maynard, of Woodley, near E Reading in Berkshire, 2001. after the Death of her Husband, Mr Maynard, but if she dies before her faid Husband, then I do give and devife the faid 200l. to her Children, Share and Share alike. I do give and devife to my God-daughter and Coufin, Mrs Sujan Meredith, my Halflength Picture of Sir John Lawfen, with her Grand-mother, St George's Picture, Half-length, and my leaft Diamond Buckle, and a Gold Coronation Medal of K. William and Q. Mary, I having two of them. I have given my God-fon Robert Philips, his Life in a Copyhold. I do give and devife to my God-daughter Mrs Elizabeth Bignell, Daughter, to Mr John Bignell, of Suffolk ftreet, Sadier, deceated. 201. I do give and devife to Andrew and James Philips, Brothers, of Southwick Parish born, 20. to each of them. I do give and devife to my God-fon Thomas Brandon, Son to William Brandon, late of Portmonth, Alderman, 107. I bound Apprentice to Mr John Cook at the I do give and devile to Richard Hirft, my I do give and devile to Ifaac Friend, my own Apprentice, sol. I do give and devise to Edward Wynn, my Servant, 500l. one of my Gold Coronation Medals of K. Wm and Q. Mary, my Gold Watch, with the GoldChain and Seals thereto belonging. I do give and devife to the faid Edward Wynn, my two Parlour Clocks, my Mortgage on one - Pye's Houle at Fareham, to make the belt of it, unless I fhould fell or dispose of it before I die, together with my Coach, Chariot, Chaife, and Chair, and all my Horfes, Mares, and Colts, and Harnefs, Bridles, Saddles, &c. whatfoever, upon this Condition nevertheless, that if he the faid Edward Wynn fhall faithfully and punctually do and perform all and every Thing and Things that are required of him in my faid laft Will and Teftament, or by any other Direction I shall or may give him to be observed at or after my Death, either Verbally or in Writing, or elfe thefe Gifts fhall be, and are totally void, and of none Effect. I do give and devife to my Tenant The. Bird, upon the very fame Condition only as abovefaid, all my Cows, Hogs, or Pigs, and also gol, in Money. I do give and devife to the Servant who dreffes me at or about the Time of my Decease, my Silver Shaving Bafon and Ewer belonging, my Gold Buttons at my Hand-wrift Bands, and all my Wearing Linen and Apparel whatfoever. I give and devile to the Inhabitants of Southwick, in the County of Southampton, the two Silver Flaggens, Chalice, Paten, Balon, and Spoon, all gilt, and engraven with my poor Name, &c. for the Ufe only of the moti Holy Sacrament for ever. I do give and devife the fmaller Silver gilt Chalice and Paten for the Ufe of the moft HOFly Sacrament, to Southwick Houle for ever. I do give and devife to Jn.Hall of Havant 15!. I do give and devife to Tho. Knight, Organbuilder, formerly Apprentice to the famous Father Smith, in Suffolk Street, London, 5l. All my aforefaid Legacies and Gitts and Deviles, are to be paid by my moft Noble Execu tors, out of my Perfonal Eftate, if it may aGrife to to much, as I truft it will without Charge I do give and devife to Edward Buckland, H who I bound Apprentice to Mr Toronfend, a Stone Mafon, 20. I do give and devife to Mr John Mills, my long Acquaintance, living now in Drury-Lane, my Pulling Clock in my Bed Chamber. I do give and devife to James Miffing, who on the Real. now Deputy Governor of Portsmouth, 50l. It he fhould die before me, I give and devife the fame to his Son Mr Peter Hawker. Witness my Hand this 3d Day of March, 1725. RICHARD NORTON. A I do give and devife to my former Servant William Ware, tol. Witnels my Hand the 12th Day of Angust, 1725. RICHARD NORTON. Whereas I have added in these Papers of my Legacies 200l. more to my Legacy to Edward Wynn my Servant, which makes fool. to Edward Wynn aforesaid, with all my Mare or B Mares, Colt or Colts added alfo. Witness my Hand, the 20th Day of August, 1725. Item, I do give, devife and bequeath unto the faid Edward Wynn, my Walnut-tree Cabinet, with the Drawers under it, with all that is in them, not the Glafs Cabinet, except fuch Papers as may belong to my Eftate. Witness my Hand, this 8th Day of September, 1725. RICHARD NORTON. C Whereas I have given unto my Sifter Elizabeth Chichley, the Wife of Mr Edward Hughes, all my Plate, Linen, China, and all my Furniture in my Green Damask Bed-Chamber, I do hereby declare my Intent of the Devife to be, and do appoint that the faid Elizabeth Hughes fhall have and enjoy the Ule and Ufage of all D the aforefaid Effects, for and during the Term of her natural Life only, and that immediately from and after her Deceafe, all the faid Efets fhall be divided in equal Value, among futh Children of the faid Elizabeth Hughes, as fhall be living at the Time of her Deceale, to whom I give and bequeath the faid Effects accordingly witnefs my Hand, this 8th Day of E September, 1725. RICHARD NORTON. My Directions to my Servant Edward Wynn, concerning my Death and Burial. I would be embowelled by a good Surgeon, with all Privatenels poffible, as foon as may be, at leaft within 24 Hours after my Deceafe: my Bowels to be put into a fquare leaden Cafe, and laid at my Feet in my Grave. You must Jay forth my Body decently with the help only of Men Servants, placing it into a Lead Coffin as foon as you can; both the Cafe and the Coffin to be fodered up immediately as finished. But before my Coffin is fodered up, I would have you lay a plain Plate of Lead upon my Breaft, cut deep with the Sign of the Crofs, and the Words following, as the Day Year and of my Death fhall happen. RICHARD NORTON, of Southwick, was Born the 4th Day of May 1666, and Died the and the very fame only to be cut on the Lid of my Coffin outfide. F ed by my Will for Funeral Charges and Servants Mourning only, you are to buy a new black Velvet Pall, to be carried over my Coffin to my Grave, and then and there to be thrown over me; and prefently the Grave is to be arched over with Brickwork: The faid Pall to remain over me in the Grave. You to fee this done; you and my Tenant Tho. Bird are appointed by my Will to direct my Funeral, and I have given to you both Legacies, worth your Pains for fo doing, or elfe you are to have nothing. And in my Will I have ordered 100l. and no more, to be laid out upon my Funeral, in which Mourning for my Ser vants, and 20l. to be diftributed to the Poor of Southwick, on the Day of my Burial it must be are all included; and to thofe that shall carry me to my Grave, give 20s. a-piece, rather than Drink, to buy them a Gold Ring; or do you buy them for them. I have faid I would have no Pomp nor Efcutcheons, fo no Pall. Bearers have I thought of at all. I would have all Candies lighted in the Church that time, as ufual, to be at any Time you have feen, excepting where it cannot be, because of the Grave; and I earnestly with that our Anthem out of the 106th Plaim, with every Verle and Chorus, might be fung or read during the Burial Office; the very fame Verfes as are in that Anthem; and no other, or more of the Pfalm: And I will have no other Part of the Service to be performed, remember this, but only the Burial Office. You need fear no Threats from any Pretenders to my Eftate. If any should be fo barbarous to endeavour to hinder you, or either of you, to perform this last good Office to me, you are both named and authorized by my Will for fo doing, which will fhew who Iappoint to be my Heirs. I intend to lodge onein the Hands of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, having two in the fame Words; and the other I fhall keep by me, which you are to open and read before three Witneffes, as foon as I am dead. Tho. Bird will fee, I trust him; fo, good and faithful Ned, ufe my Body with all Decency, and fee me laid eafily, quietly and fpeedily in my Grave, according to there my Directions. What Money I have by me, or due to me any ways, are by my Will charged with my faid Funeral Expences; and this hall be fufficient Authority ard Power to you Edw. Wynn, and to you Tho. Bird, both and either of G you to act and do according to thele Directions afore-written. Witnels my Hand, this 7th Day of Novemb. 1731. RICHARD NORTON. Ned, I have in my Will directed that my Body be put into a leaden Coffin, and buried ten Feet deep on the South Side of the Altar, in South- H wick Church; but you are to fee that the Grave be vaulted with Brick Work, rammed with Earth above, and the Pavement laid down as before, You are to bury me as foon as poffible: I will have no Pomp, therefore no EfCutcheons: but out of the locl. I have allow Mr Moody, of Havant, hath a Deed of mine in his keeping, by which I have given you Stony Dean, and many other valuable Things I have given you by Legacy; take care of that Writing fealed ap, concerning my Legacies, therefore written upon and called fo. Southwick-Honfe, Aug. 20, 1725. I do hereby give and devile to Edward Wynn, my Servant, 150 Guineas, fealed with my Seal, in a little Bag, upon this Condition only; That he do pay and defray all and every my Funeral Charges Indorsed on the Inner Cover, in which the A Edward Wynn, and? which we have over the reft of the World. Or either of them, I charge to do as abovefaid, B confume in Salt, after this Duty is laid on, keep this and the Cover of my Will. Indorsed on the outer Cafe, in which the Will and Codicils were Sealed up.. Mylaft Will and Teftament, which I do hereby charge (as they will answer it to God) my Servant Edward Wynn, and my Tenant Tho. Bird, or either of them, to break open and read, as foon as I am dead, before three Witneffes, therein being Directions neceffary and prefently to be known for my Funeral; therefore no Relation of mine need be prefent, but keeping this Paper will be a fufficient Security to them, or either of them, against all Men; and I do charge them not to fuffer this Will to go out of their Hands, neither for Flattery or Fear. RICHARD NORTON. D I come now, Str, to confider this Tax with refpect to the Farmers of England. I hope no Farmer in England is as yet obliged to make his Family dine upon Bread and Cheefe, or upon boil'd Cabbage, with a Bit of pickled Pork, Salt Beef, or Bacon, to give them a Savour. I do not know indeed what they may be brought to; but I must look upon them and their Servants as making Ufe of fome Salt Provifions now almost every Day in the week for the whole Year round In fuch View, a Family of 16 working Persons will above 2 s. worth apiece; it has been computed by Men who understood thoroughly the OEconomy of their Family, that a Family of ten Perfons would for all Ufes generally coft the Master at least 6d. a Week tor Salt, according to the Price it fold at formerly, when this Duty was fubfifting. At this rate there is fcarcely a Farmer in England but muft C pay above 20. a Year towards this Tax, and if he pays a Rack Rent, I do not know where he is to get this 20 s. unless he runs in Arrear to his Landlord, in order to answer what he muft pay to the Tax-Gatherer. In fuch a Cafe, I believe, our Landed Gentlemen will not get much by the Relief that is now pretended to be given them. I believe no man will pretend that any Gentleman of a Free Eftate of 500l. a Year in Land or upwards, is in the prefent Cafe an Object of Compaffion, or that the Relieving of fuch Men from the Payment of 15. in the Pound Land Tax, can have any Weight in the prefent Debate; and as for thofe Gentlemen who have large Eftates in Land, but heavily charg'd with Mortgages, if they will, for the fake of Grandeur, and the Name of having a great Eltate, continue to pay the Land Tax and the Intereft upon the Mortgages, it it certainly their own Fault, and therefore they do not deferve the Confideration of this Houfe. The Landed Gentlemen then, whofe Eftates are under fool. a Year, are the only Perfons whole Condition and Circumstances can in the prefent Cafe be of any Confequence, and as to fuch, let us examine whether, what is now propofed, will prove to be any Relief to 'em. It's well known there are many Landed Gentlemen in England, whole Eftates are valued to low, that they do not pay above a Groat of a 1. in the Pound Land Tax; it may therefore be reasonable to fuppofe, that all the Land Eftates in England are one with another rated for the Land Tax at one half of the real Value. It has been admitted that a Farmer of 100. a Year, has generally 16 Perfons in Family; I think we may then reafonably fuppofe, that the Landed Gentlemen in England of 400l. a Year, keep one with another, 20 Perlons in Family, and upon thefe Suppofitions let us fee what Relief the Gentleman of 400l. a Year is to receive from the fine Scheme now before us. Such a Man's Eftate is fuppofed to be valued at 2ool, Wrote on a Paper in which Sir John Lawson's Conclufion of Mr. P-Y's ARGUMENT F It has in this Debate been admitted by all, H B a Year as to the Land Tax, consequently at on with me, but those who will reap the greateft Advantage from the Measure now propoled are those who are in good Places, and have handsome Salaries coming in. It is true, that their Salaries are rated at the full Value to the Land Tax: The taking off is. in the Pound Land Tax, is really putting 5 per Cent into their Pockets, which cannot be drawn out again by the Salt Duty, because they either keep no Families, or they keep their Families in Town, where most of their Servants are at Board wages. To fuch Gentlemen the Meafure now propofed will certainly be advangeous, and to fuch only that Compaffion which we have heard fo much of, is properly to be apply'd. Since then it appears plain, that what is now propofed can be no manner of Relief, but will certainly be an Additional Charge upon the Landed Gentlemen of small Eftates; and fince they are the only Landed Gentlemen in England who stand in Need of and deserve Compaffion, I think all the Arguments that can be drawn from Pity and Compaffion, come full against our agreeing to the Revival of this Duty; therefore I may in my Turn plead with all those who hear me, to have Pity and Compaffion upon the Landed Gentlemen in England. How hard will it be to make a poor Landed Gentleman of tool. D a Year, pay 7. in place of sos. Why should the poor Landed Gentlemen be fo much overcharged for the fake of a fmall Eafe to those who have plentiful Eftates in Land, or confiderable Salaries coming in from a Poft of little or no Trouble? This is really, if I may be allowed to make ufe of the Words, Giving to the Rich, and fending the Poor empty away. But in the prefent Cafe, our Compaffion pleads not only for the poor Landed Gentlemen, but for all the Poor of the Nation. Let us but confider how many poor Families are maintained upon 84. or is a Day, which the Father earns by hard Labour and Toil. A Bufhel of Salt is the leaft that can be confumed in a Year by pa poor Man, his Wife and three or four small Children: How cruel is it to take 4 or 5. a Year away from the Support of fuch a poor Family, more efspecially when one half of that Money at leaft is to be made a Compliment of to wealthy or fraudulent Dealers, or to idle and profligate Tax-Gatherers? I hope every Man that hears me, will allow his Pity and Compaffion to exert itself to its utmost height. I hope every Man will confider on which Side of the prefent Queftion are the Cries of the Poor and the Wretched, and the Bleflings of thofe that are yet unborn. The Happiness or Mifery of Pofterity, the Flourishing or Decay of our Trade and Commerce, the Prefervation or Lols of our Liberties, in my Opinion, depend in a great Measure on the Queftion now before us; and therefore I am perfuaded that every Gentleman will confi. der it thoroughly before he determines what he is to do? Having thus fhewed to what fort of People G this Salt Duty will be a Difadvantage, I think it would not be just in me, not to take fome Notice of thofe to whom it will be an immedi ate Advantage. As to all the Gentlemen in England of very large Eftates, it will be an immediate Advantage; But this immediate Advantage accruing to the rich Landed Men will be foon overbalanced by the Ruin that it H will bring upon their Country, and upon their own particular Eftates; and I am glad to find, that most of the Rich landed Gentlemen in England are upon the fame Side of the Quelli [To be continued largely in our next.] Weekly Miscellany, Jan. 27. and Feb. 3. On Morality and Religion. In a Letter to the Author. A implies, that he propofes to himself fome End. This End can be no other than the Perfection of his Being, nothing relates to him but what relates to his Happiness; and if he has Liberty of Will, 'tis impoffible any thing elfe fhould move B or affect him. 6. To prove that the Will of God is our only adequate Rule of Action, and includes perpetual Obligation, he proceeds (Feb. 3.) to fhew the Neceflity of fuch a Rule, and what Kind of Conformity to it will fecure the End propofed, i. e. our Happiness. AS the Deity had no other Defign in framing the World, nor can have any End in preferving, and governing it, but our Happiness, his Will and our Happiness become co-incident, and may be fubititu ted one for the other. He makes the Good of his Creatures the Rule and Reafon of all he enjoins: An abfolute implicit Compliance with His Will may therefore be call'd our ultimate End, and Cought to be cfteem'd and acted on as fuch, in all particular Cafes. Our Knowledge of ourselves and all about us is fhort and imperfect, and we are apt to deviate into Error and Abfurdity; we need therefore fome Rule on which we may conftantly depend and this can only be the Will of that Being in whofe Hands we are, and who is able to reward us to the uttermoft. We must next enquire how we shall fecure this Reward, or what will obtain his Favour; and that is Obedience, or having a Regard to his Will in all our Actions. The Means of attaining this End, must be to recommend himself to the Favour of thofe Beings on whom he depends. But as himfelf and all other Beings depend abfolutely on the Deity, 'tis plain the Favour of God will be the only adequate and effectual Means to attain his End, . e. Happiness upon the Whole: And therefore whatever tends to obtain the Divine Favour, will be of perpetual Obligation. And though certain Actions will recommend us to the Favour of thofe other Beings to whom we ftand related, D and fo may become Duties; yet, fince all the Reafon for pursuing them can only be their Fitness to bring Happiness, which they are not always fit and likely to do, the Will of God muft intervene to enforce thefe Duties. F "Tis not then any Relations of Things, which in themselves confider'd, oblige us E to the Practice of moral Virtue, but the Will of God which enjoins it, and which alone affords an eternal and immutable Reafon for the Practice of it. Therefore to fet alide the Deity, and to teach that Virtue is to be practifed for its native Loveliness and intrinfick Worth, is to miftake the Means for the End. Virtue is lovely for its good Effects; and they who follow it for the immediate Pleafure which attends the Exercise of it, muft either allow, we have fome innate Inftinct or Affection which infallibly directs and forcibly inclines us to what is right; (which is falfe) or elfe they practife Virtue for a Reafon common to any other Practice, and will equally lead them to any. To do what our Judgment approves, or we have fet our Hearts upon, will give us this immediate Pleasure in any Courfe of Life. "Tis not the Matter, but the Intention of the A that makes Guilt or Merit imputable to the Agent. As far as any parricular Action is intended to obey the Will of God, and advance the End of his Government, in preference to any other Intereft or Inclination, fo far it is meritorious or acceptable to him. As far as it is done in compliance with any particular Intereft or Inclination, in oppofition to, or in difregard of the Will of God, fo far is it offenfive and injurious to him. As far as it is done without any diftinct End, or Confideration of the Will of God in that End, fo far it is at beft purely indifferent, and of no Moral or Religious Account at Gall. If the End terminate in ourselves immediately, the Action can be but innocent at beft; we ferve not God herein, but ourfelves: and if we attain the natural good Effects thereof in this Life, we have our Reward. And tho', for feveral Reasons, we cannot properly be faid to merit any thing of God, yet by Covenant and Promife we may certainly be entitled to his Favour, fo far as we comply with those Terms of Salvation which he has propofed, and perform fuch Duties as he hath commanded, purely in Obedience to him, which is the only Principle that can make any thing Rewardable by him. To defcribe Virtue to be following Na. H ture, amounts to this, Do what you like beft, or follow your prefent Humour. They who practife Virtue for prefent Convenience, intereft or Reputation, itand upon more folid Ground, which neverthe lef will often fail them. Not |