Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-25
From a late British Publication.
MY GRANDsoN's LIFE AND TINES.

ordinary course of events, that should be &C
ouainted with many facts well calculated both
to interest and surprise those who are now IN
tbe;r vourh: but some of the changes which
| b..ye seen. are so singular, that those TO whom
they are told will wonder, not that things are
&C thew now are, but that sucha state Of society
| ever could exist as that which was witnessed
in ENGLAND within the last century.
Ofpoltical changes may speak hereafter,
but here particularly aude to alterations in
the general economy oflile
A century ago, nay, within my own rccollec-
ton, the circulating medium OF this country
consisted Of gold, silver, and copper. The
mines of South America had furnished but few
SAMPLES Of the first and second, and, in conse-
quence Of their scarcity, they were called the
"pre cious metals 3" Ludicrous as it must sound
to persons Of our habits, the production OF Il
few small pieces of gold would readily obtain
all the articles in common use. F2r these the
mechanic gave his labour, the merchant his
goods, and the doctor his medicine.
was but lad when the mines were brought
into full play The effects Of what was called
the success of the spectators who worked them
was curious enough. Individuals, who had
been wonderfully enriched, from the uncom-
monty high charges for all the articles of daily
consum ption, soon found that their present in
comes would not purchase more than an eighth
of what the same money could formerly have
bought. Fo: a time, larger and larger sums
continued TO be demanded; but, in the end, no
quantity of bullion would procure the neceSsa
ries oflife. The old denominations were still
in use, but articles could only be bought by
barter Nothing was more common than for
butcher, when asked the price Of leg OF NUT
ION, 10 reply, Cit is half a crown pound, but
we cent take gold or silver"
The lawyers, who, at the beginning, had raj
sed their fees from six shillings and eigh,pencc
10 thirteen and fourpence, soon found that, with
this increased charge, they could not get pow
der for their wigs. Besides the bags in which
their briefs were carried their clerks were now
charged with Others in which were usually de-
posted their fees, which were commonly paid
in bottles Of wine, calves heads, and geese, raw
and roasted
AT the theatres, as it was Of no use to pay or
receive money, an alteration was made in the
price of admission. At the door, turkey was
paid for admission to the boxes, capon Tor the
pit, and pounds and half pounds Of picked
pork for the first s second galeries-watcheS,
household furniture, and wearing apparel were
also received for admission, but these 1t was ne
cessary TO send to the box office, where proper
inspectors were appointed 10 attend. Except
ing poultry, no fresh meat was received at the
doors, save on those nights when free admis-
sions were allowed, which, according TO the an
cient custom, was always announced by The
words, "no orders can be admitted" A spa
cious soup kitchen was erected in the rear OF
each theatre, from which the actors received
their salaries by the day, In oaSonS. SUCCESS
full authors, in lieu of the receipts Of the third
night, received perpetual free admission to
the kitchen.
The parsons, especially the Dissenters, found
il difficult to arrange their collections Instead
Of having persons 10 stand with small plates,
as had once been the practice, to receive shil.
lings and sixpences, two trucks were stationed
right and left of the doors, on the outside, into
which the congregation paying as they went in
instead Of as they cane out, pitched bread,
beef-stakes, lunches Of carrots, mouse-traps
tinder-boXes, and other articles. l remember
once, on attending sermon, preached for the
advantage of Rev. Gentleman who had been
disabled by paralytic stroke, contributed a
new wicker cage with cock magpie who had
lost his voice.
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer was obliged
to give up his customary budget, and Introduce
new system of duties in kind had an OPP
portunity of hearing Right Hon. Gentleman,
who filed that situation, very pathetically Ia
nent that the "over production" Of gold then,
was as great evil as the "over production"
of grain had been formerly. Once he added,
the difficulty was how to get gold; then, the
question 10 be put was, how to spend it; for the
nation already resounded with the lamentations
Of those vino had been creditors of the state,
but who had been paid off with gold, which
was useless, as it would buy nothing.
The physicians complained that they suffer-
ed from not being judges of the articles which
they claimed as fees. At last, however, they
understood the value Of commodities, general
ly, better than the complaints Of their patients
have seen Dir. Lancet with his carriage so
crammcd with the various articles of furniture,
that he looked like broker, or dealer in ma.
rine stores, making his escape before quarter
day.
ga new circulating medium" we must have,
ga new circulating medium was the cry Oh all
sides. 1t was necessary, as the metals, once
called precious, now began to be used for the
meanest purposes. 1t will create establishment
at the present.day to state il, but l actually
stared like a conJuror when first saw warm
ing pan of solid silver; and, verify believe,
that'if we had then seen, what is now an every
day spectacle, poor ragged laborer, cooking
beef sausages in golden frying-pan, we should