| Citation |
NEWJ.733.024
10 Dec 1733:11 (351)
From the London Magazine for August 1733.
WRONG TURN OF THE ENGLISH MUNIFICENCE.
No body could ever reproach this nation with want of
munificence, but I am afraid it will appear that their
appetite is false, and of course their munificence
ill-bestowed. . . [Para. on horse-racing; on gaming] I am
far from being an enemy to musick: In even think it a
science peculiarly necessary amongst us, to soften our
rugged genius, and prepare the way to politeness. But even
this may be encouraged with too great profusion, and we may
becomes dupes to sounds, to the prejudice of our
understandings: I must needs say we are too extravagant in
our Importation of Italian Airs, and the other courts of
Europe are serv'd full as well, on much easier terms. . .
[para. on taverns]
What I would infer from all this, I have partly hinted
above, that our vices cost us more than would be wanted to
turn them into virtues: And I flatter my self what has been
said is sufficient to prove my first assertion: That our
expence and munificence run in a wrong channel.
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