frame, deranged all its powers, and corrupted its fprings of action. But were we to lay afide for a little, this obnoxious term, and the difagreea ble ideas which it is apt to recall, we will be convinced that the fentiment of feeling which pride expreffes, is a neceffary part of our conftitution, and to be applauded or condemned only as it is properly or improperly applied; that a fenfe of dignity founded on mean or trifling qualifications becomes a vice, but when raifed on a noble and permanent foundation, it is a virrue; and that our duty is not to extirpate, but to regulate and reftrain it within reasonable bounds. When man contemplates himself in the dignified form of his body, and in the godlike faculties of his mind, he naturally adopts the fentiments of Hamlet. "What a piece of work is man, how noble in reafon, how infi. nite in faculties, in form and moving how exprefs and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehenfion how like a God !" So much wisdom and art, have not been lavished on him by the Almighty in vain: He finds himself at the head of the vifible creation: He turns nature herfelf to his purposes, and reduces the beafts of the field under his dominion. He does not indeed furpafs the elephant in ftrength, or the horfe in fwiftnefs; his body is not armed with fuch deadly weapons as the horn of the bull, or the talons of the tiger. But by pol felling a mind active, intelligent and fkilful, he foon conftrains thefe animals to minifter to his wants or his pleafures. Surely he is not to difhonour his Creator, by comparing himself to the worm that he tramples under his foor. All other animated beings but himself, are guided by the invariable impulfe of blind inftinet; he exults in being the arbiter of his own conduct, the former of his own character, and the artificer of that happiness of which he is fufceptible. Thefe honours impel him to claim kindred with higher orders, and to act fome great part on the thea tre of this univerfe. The idea of felf importance is excited in the mind, by every exertion of it own powers. Of course, whenever human liberty or power is controuled, the most humiliating fenfations are fel, accompanied with a violent inclination to regain its freedom. Obferve the pun gent diftrefs which racks the child, when thwarted in his inclinations by domineering authority; and when permit ted to do what he pleases, mark the delightful fenfations that lighten p his countenance, in exerting his lite ftrength, and deranging whatever comes in his way. See what confcious pride gliftens in the eye of the boy who comes off victorious in the combat with his equal; and fay not that malice urged him to the fight; for who can fhew more affection than he to his rival, after the victory is de cided. The general at the head of his army, and the orator who bends the will of thoufands by his eloquence, are equally impreffed with the fame high fenfe of perfonal importance. But let this feeling give way to irrefolute nefs and timidity, and all the force of the mind is relaxed, its powers are unhinged, and ruin pervades the in tellectual fyftem. A certain degree of this confcious pride, therefore feems neceffry to every man in the exercile of any great talent, or in the discharge of any important duty. But that fpirit of independence, which the confciousness of power and liberty engenders, is raifed to a higher pitch by a fenfe of virtue. The man who acts according to the dictates of his own reafon and confcience, naturally affumes a look of fatisfaction and confidence. The tone of his feelings is highly dignified. All other rewards appear infignificant in comparison to the applaufe of his own mind. Is not then the fenfe of dignity evidently deftined by our Maker to attend virtue? We are furely not to believe that con fcicus rectitude fhould be attended by the the timidity and felf-degradation which vice alone ought to infpire? If confufion and terror fhould properly har row the foul of the criminal, and make him fhrink into infignificance; why is not real worth intitled to affume an air of confidence, and a look of felfcomplacency? Without a fenfe of perfonal importance, a man becomes miferable in the extreme. The gripes of poverty, and the rack of the tyrant, may be fuftained with firmnefs and compofure, but to feel one'sfelf contemtible in the world, is too galling for humanity to hear. Such an elevation of mind as arifes from virtuous con.. duct, and fuch a conviction of fuperiority in the fcale of intellect, as will encourage a man to act a great part on the ftage of this world, is a rational, becoming, and useful pride. It is a fentiment well calculated to elevate human conception; to prevent this noble workmanship of God from demeaning himself by the purfuit of trifling ends, and from compafling them by unworthy means. So far therefore pride is the incitement, the fupport, and the reward of virtue. In the fcale of eftimable qualities which is here observed, virtue holds the higheft place. But what do we fay to the common remark, that genius and talents are more courted than moral endowments, that we feldom envy a perfon his piety or benevolence, and would rather be accounted knaves than tools. Vice itfelf is rewarded with general admiration and applaufe, when attended by feats of heroilm and addrefs. A thief whofe dexterity has often eluded the strictest search, holds up a face of effrontery and boldness, eren on the scaffold, and enjoys in his own mind, the eclat which his adventures have gained him. Such a range perverfion in human nature is not eafily accounted for. Some fay what genius is more prized, because it is the gift of nature, and cannot be acquired; but that no man cares wheher his virtue be called in question, as he thinks it is in his power to reform at any time. Others maintained that we ought not to make a feparation between virtue and intellectual ability, becaufe that virtue alone is eftimable which is guided by wisdom, and directed into a channel of more extenfive uf fuinefs by higher exertions of intellect. So far as goodness is merely mechanical or guided by innate difpofition, it is not entitled to applaufe: No more than the fervices of the domeftic animals. When talents are not directed to useful purpofes, but eminent in mifchief; from our love of novelty they may excite our wonder and aftonishment, but never will they gain our admiration and esteem. How far a rational fenfe of perfonal dignity fhould be modified, or affected by comparisons with other men, it is difficult to determine. In our actual experience, fuch comparifons afford the materials by which pride is ufually fed. The proper ftandard by which the estimate of our own merit fhould be taken, is the highest state of perfection, to which human nature has as yet arrived. But we are more inclined to look downwards, on the general mafs of uncultivated minds, and feed our pride at their expence. He who feels in himfelf a decided fuperiority to others, cannot fail to think more highly of himself on that account. But if he is formed for real excellence, he will fix his eye on the ftandard of perfection, which his enlightened imagination has depicted. In this view he will be chagrined at his manifold defects, and will rather be modeft and referved than proud; though of all men he has leait caufe to be fo. But when men, and not perfection, are our ftandard of comparifon, our feelings of felf-complacency muft vary with every variety of human character. One who is enflated with fupercilious arrogance in the company of homefpun clowns, must be constrained to retire into his own infignificance, when he compares compares himself with men of the first- thofe cafes, in which pride takes a wrong direction, and is carried to ex rate genius. In a future paper we will attend to cefs. M. MANUFACTURES OF GREAT BRITAIN. THE Linen manufactory of Great Britain is chiefly confined to Scotland, though fome branches of it are carried on in Manchester and other parts of England. The total quantity of Britifh linen exported during the laft years was as follows: three 14,533,000 yards 20,744,000 21,204,000 1797 1798 1799 If the quantity retained for home confumption is not greater than the export, the value of the whole must be at least 1,600,000l. and it certainly will not be thouglat beyond the truth if the yearly value of the whole of this manufacture in Great Britain, with the thread, and other branches of the flax trade, is ftated at 2,000, oool. and the number of perfons employed thereby at 60,000. That it is not of lefs extent, may be prefumed from the following account of the quantity of rough flax and linen, yarn imported on an average of five years, ending the 5th of January in the year ftated: : ported; the export is, however, prefent confiderable. The annual valu of the manufacture, at the present high prices of the article, cannot be lefs than 900,000l. and the number of perfons employed in it 30,000, The Glass manufactory has been much improved during the prefent cettury, and has greatly increafed of late years; it may now amount to 1,500, oool. and the perfons employed to about 36,000. The Potteries and manufactures of Earthen-ware Porcelain have rapidly advanced during the prefent century, in confequence of the improvements made therein, and the introduction of of many new and beautiful wares both for our own ufe and foreign markets. The annual value will probably not be over-rated at 2,000,000l. and the number of perfons employed at 45,000. The Iron manufactory is fupplied partly by the produce of our own mines, and partly by thofe of other countries with refpect to the first, it is faid, the total produce of pig-iron in Britain does not at prefent exceed 100,000 tons; and reckobing on an average, that 33 cwt. of crude iron produces one ton of bars, and that the manufacture of malleable iron amounts to 35,000 tons per annum, this branch will require 57,750 tons of crude iron, and the value in bars at 201. a ton, which is under the prefent price, is 700,000l.: the remaining 42,250 tons, caft into cannon, cylin ders, machinery, &e. at 14. a ton, is worth 591,5 col. The fupply of foreign bar iron is chiefly obtained from Ruffia and Sweden, and the quantity quantity imported on an average of 12 years, has been 44,135 tons; worth, at 221. per ton, 970,9781. which, with the former fums, amounts to 2,262,470l. This value is greatly increafed by fubfequent labour, but the proportion of the increase cannot be eafily determined, the quantity of labour being fo very different in different articles. Some years ago the value of the iron manufacture was eftimated at 8,700,000l. this fum ap pears too high at present, but including Tin and Lead, the value of the whole will probably not be taken too high at 10,000,000l. and the number of perfons employed at 200,000. The Copper and Brass munafactures are now established in this country in all their branches. Till about the years 1720 or 1730 most of the copper and brafs utenfils for culinary and other purposes used in this country, were imported from Hamburg and Holland, being procured from the manufactories of Germany; even fo late as the years 1745 and 1750, copper tea kettles faucepans, and pots of all fizes, were imported here in large quantities; but through the perfevering industry, capitals, and interprifing fpirit of our miners and manufacturers thefe imports have become totally un. neceffary, the articles being now all made here, and far better than any other country can produce. The difcovery of new copper-mines in Derbyshire and Wales, about the year 1773, contributed to the extenfion of the manufacture in this country, and it appears to be ftill increafing, notwith, flanding the very great advance in the price of copper during the laft two or three years, which must certainly be attended with fome difadvantage with respect to foreign markets. The value of wrought copper and brafs exported during the year 1799 was 1,222,1871. and there is reafon to believe that the whole value of these manufactures at prefent is at least 3,500,000l. and the number of perfons employed 60,000. The Steel Plating, and Hardware manufactures, including the toy trade, have been carried to a great extent of late years, and many amount in value to 4,000,000l, and the perfons employed, to at least 70,000. It must be confeffed, that many of thefe eftimates are unavoidably defective from the want of public documents refpecting many important branches of trade; they may however, be fufficiently accurate to fhew, in a general view, the relative extent of our principal manufactures, viz. Annual Value. Perfons There are many manufactures, fuch as thofe of hats, horn, ftraw, &c. which, though in themselves of lefs importance than most of those before enumerated, are together of very confiderable amount, and employ a great number of hands. There are likewife fome, which, though not generally included among the manufactures, are certainly fuch in a great degree, and might, with much propriety, be claffed with them. It may be proper to obferve, that thofe who have rated the number of perfons employed in the different branches, very confiderably higher than is here ftated have generally included a variety of collateral employments, as mariners, carriers, miners, &c. whereas the numbers here given are meant meant to include only the perfons directly employed in the various tranfactions and operations neceffary for bringing the raw meterials into their finished confumable ftate. G. ON THE UTILITY OF BIRDS IN DESTROYING INSECTS, And other Productions hurtful to Mankind. WHEN the deftruction and waste of the fruits of the earth, occafioned by birds and infects, is duly confidered, we ccafe to wonder at the anxiety of agriculturists and others, in feeking out means for the deftruction fometimes of the one and fometimes of the other, according as particular circumftances have made the havoc of either more or lefs obfervable on their fields. Indeed, on a hafty view of the fubject the only matter that ftrikes the mind with furprife is, that unwearied and unceafing means have not been generally followed to extirpate many of thofe pefts which all mankind feem equally to have an intereft in deftroying; for, every thing that diminishes the profits of the farmer adds to the price of the neceflaries of life-and, confequently, adds to the quantum of Jabour performed by every individual. But, in waging war against the feathered tribe there ought to be fome difcrimination, and the fact on a clofe examination of the fubject will turn out to be, that we ought to form an alliance with fome of them, as far as protection towards them can favour that end, with the view of the auxiliary aid they may afford us in extir Fating the hoftile bands of worms, infects, and caterpillars, which often destroy the very germs of vegetable life. We are led to these reflections by perufing Profeffor Barton's Fragments of the Natural Hillory of Pennfylvania, lately published at Philadelphia. The utility of the following remarks on infeds, as the food of birds, is our inducement for laying them before our readers; and the more fo as feveral of "It may in the first place be ob ferved," fays Dr Barton," that infects appear to be the first food of almal all the birds of our country. The more I have inquired, the more I have been convinced, that almost all birds live, in fome meafure, upon infects. Even thofe fpecies which confum: confiderable quantities of feeds, ber ries, and fruit, alfo confume larg: quantities of infects: and there are rea lons to believe, that others, whof principal food is the nectar of plants, alfo live partly on thefe infects. Th Mr Brandis found the veltiges of irfects in the ftomach of the trochilus, or humming-bird, one of the last birds one would have fufpected of feeding on animal food. "The greater number of our fmaller birds, of the order of palera, feem to demand our attention and ptotection. Some of them feed pretty entirely upon inf. cts, and others upe a mixed food-that is, infects and the vegetable feeds, &c. Many of them contribute much to our pleafore by the melody of their notes. I be lieve the injury they do us is but small compared to the good they render us, |