much. We have been often reproached, by foreigners, with the variability and inconstancy of our climate; but why should our conjurers, who are really very loyal subjects in the main, encourage such slanders at the expence of their country? And, setting aside this consideration, why should they make such arrangements of weather, that a party cannot venture on a jaunt for a week, without being interrupted by some of Mr. Moore's" drizzly rains," or of Mr. Partridge's "cold winds ?”

I must remark too that I see no very encouraging prospects in either the spring or the summer we are to have. These prognosticators have indeed provided some showers, and some heat; but, on the other hand, it must be observed, they are more than usually niggard of their thunder, and that a good deal of their lightning seems procrastinated beyond its usual time. Their winter, too, is not mixed up with their usual judgment. They seem very premature with their snow, and give us an intolerable quantity of frost, which will think very hard. At the same time, I am willing to acknowledge, that they manage some parts of their winter very decently; their foggy morn ings are few, which will be mighty convenient in these invading times; and it will not be dif

many

ficult for most people to keep at home during the small quantity of sleet they have provided. It is but justice to state this last circumstance in their favour. I certainly am inclined to represent the matter fairly as it is, and I only wish they had been as cautious as myself to advance nothing but what is strictly seasonable.

To what this perceivable falling off in the certainty of our annual prophecies is owing, I shall not pretend to determine; but I may be permitted to speculate for the good of all parties. I have hinted at one cause, and there may be others. Nonnunquam bonus dormitat Homerus. Even astrologers may have their moments of mental relaxation: and, as they are all men of very advanced age, they may probably not see so far into futurity, as when younger and more lively. If, however, it be mere inattention on their parts, I hope they will take the hint that is thus kindly given them, and apply with more precision to the weather and politics of 1806, the "mundane affairs of which may very remarkable."

be

But, as a farther proof of my impartiality, I shall close this paper with an attempt towards an apology for my old friends, which is probably not far from the truth. We all know that

"mundane affairs" have most wonderfully increased of late years, and that the foresight of only one branch of them is really as much as can reasonably be expected from the small number of prophets we keep in pay. Now, it is certain, that if we give a man ten times the work he has been accustomed to, and do not give him ten times the ability to perform it, we ought not to complain if some of it should not be very well finished. This seems to have been precisely the case with our prophets. “Mundane affairs" have increased upon them in the inverse ratio of their time and knowledge; and yet we expect that they should be as copious and correct as when politics and weather were more regular and intelligible. Some addition, therefore, seems absolutely necessary to be made to the number of these gentlemen. Borrowing a hint from the Government, in which we find Secretaries of State for the home department, and Secretaries of State for the foreign department; I would likewise have conjurors appointed for these departments (I mean in the almanacks), who ought not to interfere with each other. Some I would appoint to watch the mo tions of France, and others those of Holland, Spain, Turkey, &c.; and some I would confine

entirely to our own climate, and to the useful business of supplying farmers with regular quantities of rain and sunshine. All writers on political œconomy are agreed on the wonderful effects of the division of labour; and I hope I may suggest, without disrespect, that our conjurers have hitherto failed, principally by the distraction necessarily attending a multiplicity of business it was not to be expected, for example, that a man watching the motions of foreign courts could at the same time be equally assiduous in bringing thunder-storms and hailstones among us; and I must add, that when a prognosticator was dipping into the secrets of statesmen, or attending to the fate of armies, it was not respectful to call him from such important affairs, to explain the Northern Lights, or gauge the water at London-bridge.

I have now ventured to suggest some reflections on these momentous topics; and I hope there will be time to take them into consideration before our prophets begin to consult the stars for another year. Had I not prolonged my lucubration to its full size, I meant to have suggested some other improvements, but these I shall reserve for a future occasion. Perhaps the time of peace, should it ever come, will be more proper for new attempts, because then the

failure of them will be of less consequence.

It

is during war only that we have to lament a lack of conjurors, and a want of foresight.

THE PROJECTOR. N° 40.

*Pleasure's the mistress of the world below;
And well it was for man that pleasure charms :
How would all stagnate, but for pleasure's ray!
How would the frozen stream of action cease!
What is the pulse of this so busy world?

The love of pleasure: That, through ev'ry vein,
Throws motion, warmth, and shuts out death from life."

YOUNG.

January 1805.

AT the commencement of a New Year, it is usual, with persons of a serious disposition, not only to indulge themselves in reflections on the shortness and uncertainty of time, but to divert the attention of others to topics which, if they are not often recollected and improved, will, one day, recur with such irresistible force, and with such a weight of conscious neglect, as to overwhelm them with despair. The Clergy generally lay hold of this opportunity of exhorting