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in the middle ages and latter times, which we should hopein most European nations was the case, but that we possess norecords of them. At the time we lament the paucityof such benevolent endowments in former ages, we mustcongratulate our species, and particularly our own country,that of late years the spirit of pure disinterested benevolencehas manifested itself in this island in a very great degree ;we have many similar establishments under various denomi-nations: there is, in particular, one in the City-road, whichis placed under the superintendence and direction of theCorporation of London . We have also an establishment calledThe Refuge for the Destitute, under the direction of gentle-men of the first respectability. This appears to be the ex-treme of all charitable foundations ; for most known cases,there are specific charities; but this comprehends all whichmay be placed out of the nominal pale.
Before the invention of paper, in ancient times, a greatvariety of substances have been used for the purpose of re-cording events, or delineating ideas, of which it becomes ourduty to render some satisfactory account. Although muchmight be said upon the utility of paper, we forbear, be-cause it must be sufficiently apparent to the conviction ofevery understanding.
It is said, that rough stones and stakes were used asthe first known records of the ancient Phoenicians , re-mains of which are reported to be still visible; and to con-firm this persuasion, certain heaps of stones have beendiscovered in the environs of Cadiz , which are currentlybelieved to be the remains of those monuments alleged tobe made by Hercules, in memory of bis famous expeditionto the gardens of the lies’perides for the golden fruit, or asothers have it, against Spain . It is also stated, that theusual mode of recording great events in the north of Asiaand Europe , was by placing stones of extraoij^linary size ;in aid of this, we have a great variety of instances inStrahlenberg’s historiographical description of those parts.And it is also reported that this is the mode which theAmericans practised : some placing bows upon the tombsof men, and a mortar with a pestle upon those of the women.It has also been customary to give names to places andtheir environs, which are said to have reference to memo-rable events there transacted. Of the chief of these circum-
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