expences of the nation, are apt to overlook their own little concerns, and who become enamoured of round numbers, and speak of millions with a grand and imposing emphasis. This kind partiality for the publick is soon observed to spread over their whole appearance the infallible mark of distinction here noticed. But such are not held in very high estimation; and some of them have been peculiarly unfortunate, partly owing to the inattention of ministers of state, who are always inclined to think themselves the best judges of what belongs to their office, and partly to the ungrateful neglect of the publick at large, so that it frequently happens that a man shall be able to pay the debts of the nation in a few years, who knows not where to procure credit for the next meal. Indeed, there is this fatality attending the financial Projector, that he never meddles with the subject of debt until he is deeply involved in it, and never undertakes any thing for the nation but what he can no longer practise for himself. I have always advised those with whom my advice is likely to prevail, to avoid such dangerous projects as are not to be entered upon without a capital, but I cannot say I have been very successful. For this reason, I am sometimes inclined to think that poverty

and

and seclusion have a natural tendency to bring on fits of financial calculation, and that some men learn to raise budgets and loans as birds are taught to sing, by being confined in a dark room.

I must, however, add with respect to the above classes of political Projectors, that they do not belong to our family: and, however numerous they may have been lately (for some rank them among the miseries of war), the success of their plans is not so frequent or beneficial as to recommend them to wise and considerate persons. I must, therefore, as a necessary recommendation to the favour of my readers, disclaim all connexion with them, as well as with the religious Projectors of late years, who have been particularly distinguished by "extravagance of conceptions ;" and some of them, I trust, have not been deprived of that other characteristic, "shabbiness of dress;" at least, it seems to belong to, and ought ever to accompany those who have attempted to substitute the "filthy rags" of impiety for the more pure "robe of righteousness."

But still I hope that, with the exceptions already stated, it may not be altogether dishonourable to enlist in the band of PROJECTORS; and, among other inducements of a personal nature,

I am

I am encouraged in this attempt by the liberal sentiments of Dr. Samuel Johnson, himself a worthy member of the corps, who thus vindicates the genuine race of PROJECTORS: "By the unreasonable distribution of praise and blame, none have suffered oftener than PROJECTORS, whose rapidity of imagination and vastness of design raise such envy in their fellow mortals, that every eye watches their fall, and heart exults at their distresses." In every another place this eminent author and a most consoling decision it is, "The folly of projection is very seldom the folly of a fool."

says,

In forming a design like the present, it has been usual to bespeak the attention of the publick, sometimes by a description of the author's person, and sometimes by the genealogy of his family. With respect to the person of the PROJECTOR, it would be of little consequence to give a description of what, by the constitution of periodical writings, is meant to be concealed. The best delineation may be suspected where there can be no opportunity to compare it with the original; and the circumstances of stature, complexion, and feature, have seldom much connexion with the movements of the pen. Disregarding precedents of this kind, therefore, I shall wear a short face or a long

one

one as I find it convenient, and shall vary my age and shape according to the subject I may handle, or the character I may perform. Gentlemen seldom are curious in such matters; and

if

any lady thinks proper to inquire, I have instructed my publisher to make me neither old nor ugly.

my

But as to family, were I to indulge so unjustifiable a passion as the love of ancestry at first appearance, I might assert, without the least hazard of contradiction, that the PROJECTORS are a family of great antiquity, and that there are few countries in which some branch or other of the race has not settled, if the word settled can be applicable to persons of so various a turn that they are sometimes said even" to move heaven and earth." We are to be found however in all parts of the globe, and may with great confidence put the

question,

"Quæ regio in terris nostri non plena laboris ?"

Nor is the family more numerous than the infinity of designs by which they have sought to raise their fame and fortune. No substance, created or uncreated, has escaped their inventive or convertive powers. powers. Body and mind are alike subjected to their experiments: and art

and

and nature are alike pregnant with materials for the promotion of their schemes. I must confess however, that this variety, although honourable to that universal genius which is the proud boast of certain moderns, has tended in a great measure to confound the merit of Projectors, and throw an air of ridicule upon their labours when viewed in the lump. Most of our family have felt "the unreasonable disproportion of praise or blame;" and the high honours of philosophical research have sometimes been bestowed on the contriver of only a paltry convenience. Thus the name of the inventor of the telescope is little known to the generality of those who have agreed to keep in perpetual remembrance the illustrious character who first taught us to place a wine-glass on a square piece of linen. There are many disputes among the learned relating to the right of Galileo, while that of Doyley is acknowledged by universal suffrage. And the memory of the parliamentary renown of a once eminent statesman is fast going into the land of oblivion, while it will never be forgotten that he was the first who placed a slice of ham between two slices of bread and butter. More recently still, a young nobleman has thrust himself into the rank of PROJECTORS, by no

other