To what purpose doth that mortal ftand fo intent, fo riveted on the view of the deferted pile? And now he wrings his hands, he ftrikes his forehead: how wildly his eye balls glare! "Hoh! my friend; may I pafs within thefe portals, as I am eager to afcertain the ftate of the buildings fince the unhappy fire?" The man at these words caught me by the throat, and roared out, "Why tell me of fire? You cannot fay that I did the deed? I received no fee from him who had in contemplation a plan for a new villa, to be built on the fite where the prefent walls ftand; no, I am clear from all con..... My fituation was now become so very unpleasant, that, had I not by a violent ftruggle laid my affailant on the ground, moft certainly I fhould have been firangled. The fellow lay very contented on his mother earth; and fo I left him, and took the quickest way into the ruins; the particulars of which may be made out in this manner. The whole of the walls, except the range on the North fide of the court, in tolerable order; the roofs, cielings, floors, and all kind of timber works, with the glazing to the windows, entirely gone. The range where ftands the gate of entrance has fuffered the leaft. The porch of the hall prefents fill its curious groins, though much fcorched. In this place were two of the remaining carved ftags that had decorated the hall; which hall, with regard to its ftone and other work forming its fhell, has been but little damaged. Such, likewife, is the condition of the parlour. Here I could difcern fome of the paintings on the walls, though in fmall and detached particles. In the chapel (I beg the protection of friends against the cenfures and vilifiers of antient cuftoms for the recital,) I found the altar, and its feveral embellifhments of the table, figures of faints, and other fubjects, according to antient religious ufage, had not fuftained the leaft harm. The grand ftaircafe, excepting the flight of steps, has not received much detriment. Noticing thus fome of the most prominent parts of the manfion, the architecture of which gave the Tudor æra, I may remark, that whenever a legal inheritor takes poffeffion of Cowdry, I think it very poffible that the whole of the buildings are capable of being restored, with due at tention, so as to realize in fome measure its priftine appearance. This manfion was with regard to defign and arrange ment of offices, chambers, &c, one of the most complete fpecimens of the refidence of our antient nobility, and the leaft altered, improved, or other wife, that can be fought out in the kingdom. On my return from out the walk, my fierce antagonist had recovered his pofture and his gefticulations, in the practice of which he was fo much ab forbed, that I paffed by him unnoticed. Certainly, by this perfon's behaviour, there appeared fomething more than meets the ear; and as I bent my courte along the green, I could not but ra minate on the fate of thofe our antient buildings, when configned to be repaired or modernized, as in this prefent inftance. Nay, to go farther, it is likewife a melancholy confideration, when we find fome illuftrators of cathedrals, churches, &c. having at their mercy the name or well-being of fuch works; the titles of their publications fetting forth affurances that mankind is to be informed and instructed thereby: in lieu of which, what loads of abuse, obloquy, rancour, what unchristiansike conftructions, are raked together, not alone to difguft Englishmen with the characters of their forefathers, but to undermine, by fuch artful and infidious means, the very existence of a certain learned Society, whofe dearest interests have of late met with fuch irreparable injury! Thefe pretended followers of the ftudy of Antiquity feek only into its hidden treafures to ruin its fame; and only talk of the feveral properties thereunto belonging, Architecture for inftance, to use them as falfe pretences to cover the malpractices of profeffional imitators of the noble art, when caught in the fact of fubftituting what is called improved ideas for faithful copies. In conclufion, thefe Antiquarian pettifoggers, by every literary loop-hole, quirk, or quibble, feek to do away the evidence, and render the informers odious, who have arrainged their clients be fore the unbiaffed tribunal of public opinion. AN ARCHITECT. S. p. 1095, is given to understand, that fculptures on Saxon capitals are not confidered as "rude," but plain or fimple carvings; that capitals of this order icarcely ever fhew two embellished Mr. URBAN, Dec. 4. HE following letter, in the handwriting of Mr. Quin, the celebrated comedian, fell into my hands while in the West Indies a few years ago. It was written to a gentleman of the name of King, who had large eftates in the island of Antigua, colonel of a regiment of militia there, and, if I miftake not, lieutenant-governor of it. It fhews how ftrong Quin's ruling paffion was. I have copied it verbatim et literatim. R-. "Dear Sir, Stoke, July 27, 1755"Your many friends here are very uneafie at a report of your being extreamly ill in London. I went yesterday to Mr. La Roche, who fayd that he heard the fame from a perfon at Bristol, but could not fay who he was; this circumftance gives us fresh fpirits, and makes us hope to fee you in full health in a few days. "I came here laft Thursday; indeed I fled for my life, for the corks flew about fo thick at the Wells, that I was forced to betake myself to the hills for fafety. "I have been frequently at Mr. Berk. ley's, and twice with Coll. Towfend *, where your health was bumpered, and both join in best refpects. I dined yefter. day at Treader's upon a very small turtle of Mr. Pear's t, which was extreamly good. I know you will be expected at the Merchants' hall next Fryday, when there will be most high feftivity. Mrs. Hefter + fends bere moft respectfull duty, and is extreamly unhappy under the uncertainty of your health, which I believe might receive much amendment in the fweet air and cool retirement of your own beautiful villa §; for God's fake haften hither and make it and your friends happy. I am, dear fir, your ever obliged and most obedient fervant, JAMES QUIN. P. S. Mrs. Hefter fays that the newspapers have not come here thefe ten days, which is a great lofs in this inquifitive time. I beg the favour of a line with your first leisure. * The prefent Marquis Townshend. + A Weft India gentleman. Housekeeper to Col. King. Col. King had a villa near Stoke. Mr. URBAN, O&. 15. SHOU! HOULD we not (p. 516; col. 1, 10.) for "Sir Thomas Hoblyn," fubftitute "Robert Hoblyn, efq." whofe library was fold by auction in March 1778? "A claffed catalogue, taken by Mr. Hoblyn," was advertised at the time, price five fhillings. P. 520, col. 2, in Bishop Tanner's "Notitia Monaftica," occurs, under Lincolnshire, the following article: "Neus, Neuahus, or Newhoufe, or Newefham, or Newfome. Here was the first monaftery of the Premonftratenfian order in England, which was built by Peter de Goufla, or Goufel, A. D. 1143, as fome; and A. D. 1146, as others." The query relative to the family of Jones, in 1800, p. 437, col. 2, ftill remains unanswered. In 1801, p. 381, col. 2, 1.,54, read "Magdalen hall;" and in p. 625, col. 1, 1. 2, (and in the Index to Books reviewed,) read "1800." SCRUTATOR. Mr. URBAN, Winchefter, Jan. 8. fubmit in filence to the chaftifement which your Hebrew correfpondent, p. 1091, has been pleased to inflict upon me, for my criticisms on the Tavistock chapel; though I greatly doubt, after all he has faid in its commendation, whether it will ever be copied by any intelligent perfon, who has been in the habit of reading your Magazine during the laft eight months. I fubmit alfo, with becoming patience, to the epithets which this foe "to fcurrility" has thought proper to beflow upon me, for my Hiftory of Winchefter, and my controverfy with Dr. Sturges. But when he leaves me, by way of punishment, to "the fevere he speaks a language which I do not chaftifement" of the latter gentleman, understand, and which, I am fure, is not warranted by what paffed in either of the Honfes of Parliament concerning this bufinefs two years and a half ago. The whole purport then of the prefent letter, is to requeft your correfpondent to inftruct me and the publick (after having looked into the fecond edition of the Reflections on Popery, and the fecond edition of my Anfiner to it) what fingle point at iflue between us that learned gentleman has made good; except proving that certain dramatical works were not compofed compofed by a late bishop of this di ocefe, but by his fon, the late chancellor of it. The fubject is the more inviting, as it has been overlooked by the Reviewers, though exprefsly recommended to their notice, on the occafion alluded to, by the prefent Lord Lieut. of Ireland. On the other hand, I again engage, Mr. Urban, not to lead you into any controverfy, by attempting to refute any statements your correspondent may think proper to make. I could only with, that, as no doubt he has a refpectable name, fo he would condefcend to pledge it to the publick, for the juftice and propriety of what he may advance, inftead of giving them three Hebrew characters. J. M. Mr. URBAN, Winchester, Jan. 9. WHEN I wrote to you laft, I had not caft my eye on the letter of J. P. Malcolm, p. 1118, which fhews a candour and liberality of mind for which I had before given him credit. With this idea of his difpofitions, I am perfectly confident, I fhould induce him to retract or explain the whole of his statement of one of the most intricate points of theology, if I were at liberty to explain it at large with profeffional accuracy. But, Mr. Urban, I know the length of my tether; which, however, I hope I do not go beyond, when, in anfwer to that gentleman's call upon me through your publication, I barely deny that we have any noble buildings (or other kind of buildings) whofe walls have arifen" in the manner he defcribes; or that there ever was, in antient or modern times, a bishop guilty of fo much impudence, abfurdity, fimony, and blafphemy, as to fay to any fellow creature, in exprefs or equivalent terms, If you will give me fo many pounds, or marks, I will releafe thy foul from 40, 60, or 100 days torment in purgatory." Mr. M., must be convinced that I have fome little knowledge of the fubject in quefsion; and that I am fpeaking in the hearing of many perfons who are not inclined to fpare me if they find me tripping. I would willingly add a few words in defence of J. C. whom I take to be the fame perfon with the Surveyor by Inclination, did I not confider his iranfcendent merit, in quality both of an Architect and anArtifi, as raifing him above the grammatical and other mi nute criticifims which envy has launch- Mr. URBAN, HA Jan. 10. AVING every reafon to fuppofe that the Tavistock chapel "coltroverfy" had run its courfe, I was not a little furprifed to fee it revived, p. 1091, by a fresh advocate for the beau ties of this novel ftructure. In what way muft the publick conclude, when fuch different opinions arife? 1 have prefumed to arraign the improprieties of this chapel by the standard of that profeffion of which I am a member (worthily fo, or not). Its vindicators adulate and defend even thofe very ob jects which they confefs are imperfec tions; and, by a happy art, the gift of men tramelled in fcholaftic problems, turn each acknowledged architectural error into fubjects of the first necethiy and convenience. In vain is it for nie, "arrogant" as I may be, to refume the conteft, having exhaufted all my "fcurrility," to bring before the eves of men how much of " chatie imitations" from our Antient Architecture, as modeftly afferted, p. 409, by "Pañcras," fell to the thare of Tavistock chapel," a chapel which it feeins has fo little pretence to expect a fainted guardian, and fhews fo much of contempt for what our ancestors thought, and what many even now fill imagine, to be the due requifites to conttitute a place of divine worthip. Mr. Urban, It is to be hoped J. P. Malcolm, or ... both equally mild and tolerant, will be fatisfed that they have atchieved the palm of victory in defence of the new building (I repeat)" pointed at under the name of Tavistock chapel." J. C. Surveyor (by inclination) of the various Styles of the antient Architecture of England, not from Prints," but from the real Remains of antient Buildings among us. *** What A. T. ftates refpecting a Funeral, is fo very ferious, as to be a fitter fubject for difcuffiou in the Ecclefiaftical Court, than in any Court of Criticifm. 235. Col 235. Collections relating to Henry Smith, Efq. fome time Alderman of London; the Eflates by bim given to charitable Ufes, and the Truflees appointed by him. MR. S. was a native of Wandsworth, ing to the ttuft, and of the parishes in which they are fituated. Richard, uncle to the Earl of Dorfet, had mortgaged Knole houfe, park, and manor, with the manors of Seale and Kemfing, to Mr. S, who leafed them to the duke, as did his truffees to fucceeding dukes, till the house and park were redeemed by an annuity of 1601. and the manors, or Sevenoak eitate, for an annual rent of 2201. from certain lands exchanged; and Lord Amherfi in like manner redeemed lands. leafed to him. in Surrey, about 1548, and died 1627, in his 79th year. He was by trade a filverfmith, lived in Silver-ftreet, Cheapfide, and was elected alderman of Faringdon Without 1608. He was poffelfed of confiderable property both in land and money; and having loft his wife, by whom he had no children, he determined to difpofe of his wealth to charitable ufes. Befides what he gave in his life-time, he conveyed all his eftates in truliees, 1620, referving to himfelf only 500l. per annum. Having by a fubfequent deed releafed the power of revocation in the firft, he filed a bill in chancery against his trustees, who were clearly acquitted from any claim on him; and, his requeft to be allowed the receipt and difpofition of his rents during his life being granted, he added certain new trustees; and, 1626, eltablifhed and directed the difpofition of his whole property; and by his will, April 24, 1627, bequeathed a number of legacies. He died January 30 following, and was buried in Wandsworth church, where he has a flab with a Latin, and a mural monument with an English epitaph, the latter prefixed to thefe Collections." His efiates are next enumerated, and his donation to the principal market-towns in Surrey. An attempt to change the application of his charities by the reprefentative of one of his truftees, 1677, by an act of parliament, was foon overruled. The truft was last renewed 1798. Some account of the original trustees is given p. 38—~pital as they were received, by which a 53. The amount of the rents was, "Small as the gift to his poor relations was, it is now of real service to their defcendants; and perhaps he made ufe of the only poffible method to perpetuate it to their pofterity. The diftribution resting entirely with the trustees, there is nothing that can be offered to fale. Many of thefe relations are now in low fituations, and their predeceffors feem always to have been fo. Each of thefe now receives 281. a year; and there is ftill a furplus, which is occafionally applied to put out their children apprentices, or to relieve particular diftrefs. The allowance used to be very trifling to each, as they were about 15 in number, and there was only 601. a year to divide among them all; but it was raifed to the prefent amount in confequence of there having been for many years no application on behalf of captives (for whofe relief and rantom from Turkish pirates Mr. S. left 1000l. to be laid out in purchase of lands of 60l. per annum). That money had been from time to time laid out by the truttees in the purchase of flock, and the dividends were added to the ca confiderable fum had accumulated. In 1772, the trustees obtained from parliament power to give the dividends of that flock to the poor relations when there fhould be no claim made for captives. No fuch claim has been made fince that time." (p. 26.) The name of Dog Smith, given to this benevolent man in feveral of the parishes who receive his bounty, as if he had been a beggar led by a dog, and acquired his wealth by begging, and that he left nothing to the parishes out of which he was whipped, as there is not a parish in the county of Surrey that does not partake of his benefactions, moft probably originates from the picture of a pedlar and his dog in the South South-eaft window of Lambeth church, pretended to have left to that parifh an acre of land, now let at 1001. and in 1505 at 2s. 8d. The publick are indebted for thefe "Collections" to William Bray, efq. the worthy treasurer to the truft; whole truly benevolent patronage of the Hiftory of Surrey by the late Mr. Manning, now in the prefs, cannot be too highly applauded. re 236. A Letter to the Dilettanti Society, reJp & ng the Obtention of certain Matters effentially neceffary for the Improvement of Public Tafe, and for accomplishing the original Views of the Royal Academy of Great Britain. By James Barry, Efq. R. A. Profeffor of Painting to the Royal Academy. The Second Edition; with an Appendix i Specting the Matters lately agitated between the Academy and the Profeffor of Painting. Mr. BARRY objected to the expenditure of the finances of the Royal Academy in what he calls a penfionlift, infiead of purchafing a collection of capital paintings of the beft antient mafters for the improvement of the pupils. He ridicules the Venetian fecret of painting, which cannot be taught them, as the President and fo many of the Academicians are bound, under a forfeiture of 2001., to keep it fecret, as Mr. Malone laments it was from Sir Joshua Reynolds, who knew as much of it as fuited his own views of the art. Mr. M. fhould rather have inferted Sir Jofhua's notes of the difputes which occafioned his refignation of the prefidency, and which, after his return to it, fill continued, fo as to incline him to refign a fecond time, complaining that he felt himfelf rettricted by a low political combination in the Academy, which would not fuffer the inftitution to be made of that importance and advantage to the publick, which was fo eafy to effect with a little elevation of mind. If he had made this fecond refignation, as he was fo inclined, and thought himfelf bound to do, the whole matter of difference had been published by himself; and, as he neither wanted the penetration to inveftigate, nor the temper to manage it, probably it would not have been the leaft ufeful of his literary productions, and would now contribute not a little to weed out that accurfed evil which had given him fo much trouble, and which remains ftill in the Academy in greater vigour than before. "I feel more concerned in this matter as it was at my entreaty this fecond refignation did not take place on the night of the council for fettling the invitations to the last exhibition-dinner before his death. It is wonderful that` Mr. M. notwithstanding his knowledge of thefe differences, and the difficulty that he and the other executors of Sir Joshua had to prevail with this cabal even to fuffer his coffin to be laid out in the Academy on the day of his funeral; it is, one cannot help obferv. ing, moft ftrange and unaccountable that, after all this, Mr. M. fhould not only have made fo little of these differences, but that he fhould fuffer himfelf to be fo far mifled by the cunning and plaufibility of fome of the members of this very cabal as thus to bemire his life of Sir Joshua by making it ferve as the advertisement to trumpet the importance of this pretended difcovery, in the fearch of which his friend had been, as he fays, all his life labouring without effect. Mr. B. is a warm admirer of Sir Joshua, a ftrong advocate for every measure capable of improving the collections of the Academy for the benefit of the pupils, and bitterly inimical to the management of their finances, mitapplied, as he conceives, in penfions to academicians, aflociates, and their relatives, without previously obtaining the royal acqui efcence and fignature, and feverely critical of the modern tafte in painting and ornament. He then flates the treatment he received from what he calls the Cabal, who refufed him a copy of the charges on which they condemned him unheard. "The Profeffor, defeated in the Academy by the influence of the cabal, appeals to the King and the publick in a printed letter addreffed to the Dilettanti Society. He is arraigned by the cabal in the Academy for this public letter, and for certain paffages in his lectures tending to the fame end; and * "The odious difference respecting the funeral of Sir Joshua was, on the part of the Academy, managed entirely by the cabal, who governed in the Council; and the letters that paffed on that occafion he tween Sir Joshua's executors and the Council have, perhaps, heen fuppreffed, as I could not obtain a fight of any thing rela ting to this matter when I called for it at the general meeting of the Academy, eathould fee, a stinging letter which Mr. ger as I was to fee, and that the Academy Metcalfe, one of thofe executors, told me he had fent on that occafion." he |