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preached up repentance, and boldly prophesied that the next shock would take place precisely a month from the last, and totally destroy the cities of London and Westminister. "The churches," says Smollet, "were now crowded with penitent sinners: the sons of riot and profligacy were overawed into sobriety and decorum. The streets no longer resounded with execrations, or the noise of brutal licentiousness; and the hand of charity was liberally opened. Many who, in the beginning, combated these groundless fears with the weapons of scorn and ridicule, began insensibly to imbibe the contagion, and felt their hearts fail in proportion as the danger approached: even science and philosophy were not proof against the unaccountable effects of this communication. In the evening preceding the expected visitation, the open fields that skirt the metropolis were filled with an incredible number of people, awaiting, in fearful suspence, the fulfillment of this fearful event!"
A few years ago, one Brothers predicted in London that the world was to end with the year 1799 which grave prophecy many respectable men seriously believed, among whom was a certain member of parliament, who, strange to tell, strenuously defended this fanatic and his doctrines! Very lately, too, we heard of a poor man being shot dead by a person in London, who mistook him for a ghost, that had for some time past been terrifying, chasing, and beating the good people of Hammersmith! Honest John Bull is steady and brave against
