lows? But even this is not all-Look, Mr. PROJECTOR, once more at the catalogue on your table, and read the following article: "Peché mortel, with down fquabs and cotton cafes!" Now what in the name of wonder do you take this to be? Why, they tell me it is a kind of couch, or fopha, and for what purpofe truly! Peché mortel is in plain English a deadly fin: and don't we pray every Sunday," from fornication and all other deadly fins, &c "I dare fay there was fome fine anecdote in the annals of French gallantry which gave rife to this manufacture: a pretty origin for an article of furniture that may be innocently and ignorantly bought up by fome fober and decent citizen-a fine Trojan horfe for him to introduce in his family-No, Mr. PROJECTOR, we do not pretend to be immaculate: fymptoms of frailty have of late years been difcovered in the court and the alley, as well as in the mall and the fquare. We have our failings and infirmities, and proof enough that wickedness depends not on wealth, and that temptation affail from a whiskey as well as a Dickey; but let us guard against hypocrity, and not imagine that a fine name will conceal the depravity of a bad action and whatever we do, let deadly fins, with down may us have no 66 fquabs, and cotten cafes." P. O's letter would have been used fome time ago, if upon revifion it had fuited the plan of the Projector. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 1. ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH, WEST The change wrought on the exterior of the building at this time is but of little moment, as, fome 50 or 60 years paft, nearly the whole of the feveral fronts underwent the trial of receiving new forms according to the Fantaftic Order, then a new creation; and the only original parts then left were the firft tier of windows on the North fide of the church; they were extremely beautiful; but they are now no more. This tier of windows, with the corre fponding ones on the South fide, and thofe on the fecond ftory, North and South, have all been new-constructed. The fecond tier may pafs, the windows there being fomewhat like the old ones; but thofe of the first tiers are altogether deformed, and wholly without precedent or geometrical figure, that is, with regard to Antiquity. Common house parapets have been given to each story; and an open porch on the South front, a true Fantaftic Batty Langlean design, has had its fides filled-in, with two pointed door-ways. One of thefe doorways is without any moulding either to its jamb or arch. If this is improving on Batty Langley's porch, and is meant to fhew that it is now what it ought to be, in conformity to the rest of the new attempts at imitating our antient architecture, where, I pray, is the example that fhews clufiered columns fupporting (as is the catt in this porch) an entablature? Not in our pointedarch ftyles I am confident, fuch a feature being only to be met with in the Roman and Grecian ftyles. In the interior St. Margaret's antient characters are not entirely done away; for we fee many of the original columns and arches dividing the body of the church from the fide ailes. The Welt termination is filled up with galleries, pews, and an organ, the lines or finishing of which glance at the pointedarch manner; where, notwithstanding thefe attempts, we find fuck up among them a modern decoration from Coade's manufactory, containing the royal arms. The fide ailes are alfo filled-in with galleries and pews: two Buzaglo floves are among thefe accommodations. The imitations introduced on them are very inconfiderable. Not fo the pulpit and reading-defk: for they, by the load of work laid over them in the pointedarch manner, evince that the utmost attention fell to their fhare; the formation of which is altogether new and fanciful, I muti confefs. The plan of the pulpit is an hexagon (or fix fides); three of which are fupported by detached and flying buttrefles; the other three fides fhift for themselves without any feeming fupport, the fiem in the centre of the pulpit being indeed its real fiandard. The afcent to the pulpit is by a flight of fieps at its back, all combining in one mals to hide from view the altar, before which it it is, according to modern ufage, piled up. The cieling has a flat pedimental rife; and from the piers between the windows of the upper flory fpring ribs, as a fort of fubdividing medium between the feveral compartments, conftituting the embellishment of this overhead covering. Thele ribs are half a Straight curved line (this must be feen to be understood) and half a pedimental one. Confidering this part of the edifice as peculiarly adapted for an aile or body of fuch a religious erection, I can in no wife now refer to any example, in aid for the general caft of this cieling, except to fome low avenues or paflages which I recollect to have feen in our colleges. The Eaft end of the church has received an octangular termination in manner like the choir of the adjoining abbey-church. As St. Margaret's pile is but of the common fize and proportion ufual with parochial edifices, the change, therefore, is not to be approved of; fuch graud terminations fuiting more important buildings, as we find them applied only in our cathedrals or abbey-churches. We allow that an air of magnificence is here diffufed, but it is not in unifon with the contour of the building, unlefs we are to fuppofe a new addition to the Eaft end had been made (as we fee in Antiquity), then our objection falls to the ground. I the more readily give into this apology, as that fpot, fet apart in our churches as the moft facred is, in the difplay before us, rendered truly fo, if we compare this fcene with the Eaft finishings in our modern churches. We earnetly hope no one will think the builder has gone too far with his embellishments, when others in this refpect feem to have forgot there was fuch an object as an altar. I only mention this circumftance to reconcile fcrupulous confciences, who otherwife might be apt to carp and writhe at what they behold altogether. With me indeed it has no fuch effect; my hearty congratulations go with the man who has had the confiftent courage to decorate the furrounding space wherein the reprefentation of our dying Lord is inclofed, with an idea at once to infpire religious awe and fervent veneration. The work then of this Eaft end, fuch as the columns, compartments, niches, groins, are well proportioned, and in many inftances prefent fome tolerable felections from the neighbouring pile, and others of the like fublime antient conftruction. But as all modern art is what it is, fome exceptions must be made to the mixture of ftyles marking the time of Henry III. and VII. introduced in this termination, as alfo againft the enormous plain spaces on each fide between the coluinns. Thefe latter errors cannot be excufed or paffed over, they being hoftile both to architectural fymmetry or antient precedent. The door-ways on each fide the altar offend in like manner. Nay, farther, upon what account, and by what fyftem of imitation, is the centre of the groins finished with a large circular opening, or cupola, to fhew by painted clouds on its concavity an imaginary view of the realms above? As Antiquity cannot be brought to accredit this architectural flight, we fhall, therefore (all referve apart) refer it to the Fantastic Order under its principal head, Improvement. As there are fill left many decorations that made a part of the beautify ings fome few years ago (already premifed), we conclude that, on a fu ture occafion, by the farther aid of public munificence, they will be banifhed, and their places fupplied in a mode of work conformable to that we have been giving our opinion fo unrefervedly upon. To fun up the merits of thefe new glories, cafed over the poor remnants of St. Margaret's former ftate, I declare that they have more claim to approbation as a ftudy from our antient architecture than any other of the like attempts that has come under our obfervation; and though, upon a nice furvey of the minute parts of the work, we fee many things quite irrelevant, as cherubim heads, pannels, arches, compartments without mouldings or tracery; and (putting afide the Buzaglo ftoves, the pulpit, cieling in the body of the church, the large Eaftern plain divifions, the doom-lookup to the painted fky, &c.) we muft do the builder this right by faying, that, when he has arrived at that height in the purfuit of Antiquarian lore which stands at enthufiafim heat, and feels that more delight will accrue from a religious attention to ftrict copy than to futile touches at improving on our pointedarch ftyles, he will not be one of the laft in the profeflional throng who are at prefent fo bufy in what they are pleafed to call a revival of the architecture of our ancestors. CHAPTER CHAPTER-HOUSE OF THE ABBEY CHURCH AT WESTMINSTER. One morning lati fpring, as I was indulging in a walk round the "endlefs aile of the cloifter," I was induced to enter into the chapter house (now a depofit for records), when, on its Eafternmoft fide, I perceived a way had been broke through the wall or ready admittance to and fro from fome new offices raifed on the exterior of the faid wall. In expediting this bufinefs, a few of the preffes, hiding nearly the whole of the eight fides of this grand ftructure, being removed, many of the original enrichments were once more laid open to the day. They were a part of the fione feat and reccffes which ranged round the lower lines of this interior, as we fee in the chapter-houfes at York, Wells, Salisbury, &c. The grounds of thefe recelles were full of paintings, very fresh and perfect. The principal of thefe paintings thewed the Virgin furrounded by a number of angels; and a prodigious quantity of infcriptions were difperfed under our feet. It is hardly neceflary to fay my defire to copy thefe paintings was very great. I, therefore, made application to an honourable gentleman who has this ftructure under his controul, through the medium of fome of his moft intimate friends, for that purpofe. An order was infiantly fent for my free admillion. When preparing to begin the pleating task, I the next day (ftrange to tell!) received a counter order, that I could not be permitted to have accels into the chapter-houfe in the way I had defired, the honourable gentleman having recollected a promife made by him fome months before to another artift, that he alone fhould have the licence to draw from thefe precious relicks. How fuch an exclufive right can reft with any one to grant or to deny, when a public remnant of Antiquity is the prize, I am at a lofs to account. If henceforward this fort of fiat fhould be established, and a man fhall claim as much power over the hiftoric proofs of remote fcience as he does over the deeds of his eftates, farewel that emulation, that truth of drawing, that laudable rivalry, which calls from the pencils of thofe artifts who eflay to imitate the genius of our ancestors, all thofe fine performances which have of late fo graced our topographical publications, and the collections of the encouragers of Antiquarian refearches. Interceffions did not reft here; a noble perfonage, under whose patronage I have had the opportunity to try the efforts of my experience in architectural matters, has condefcended alfo to become a fuitor in this mighty bufinefs: he expreffed a wifh that I fhould draw from thefe imprisoned paintings—but in vain! Confidering how fhort a diftance divides the space between the chapterhoufe and St. Stephen's chapel, where I, in 1800, loft (by an influence not the moft praifeworthy) the opportunity of fketching from the various enrichments then revealed on its walls, I cannot be over-furprized that, in the prefent inftance, I fill lofe the means to exercife my pencil, which, it may be prefumed, is not entirely unequal to the tafk either to delineate or defcribe fuch antient memorials. These difcouragements, to many, might prove a check fufficient to extinguifh their antiquarian zeal. I contemn fuch ftings; ungracious they are at least; my turn of mind arms me against thefe weak tumbling-blocks; and I am but the more refolved to bring forward proofs how Antiquity is protected, how be fuffers. As I have mentioned St. Stephen's chapel above, I cannot but advert to it again, to plead once more in its behalf, as I early in the laft month faw the workmen had made a beginning to do fomething, in order to contrive a room for fome common occafion, where that moft admirable fereen is fituated at the Weft end of this chapel. I call on that gentleman, who is not only an Architect but an Antiquary, to exert his power, both for the honour of his profeffion, and the true intereft of that learned Society that hails him a brother, to ftay the ruinous intent, and fave from an entire extinétion fo beauteous and fo invaluable a decoration as this fereen, now before the unfatiated rage fo habitual to working men, call you them carpenters, mafons, or labourers, when fet in contact with the works of antient times. J. C. Surveyor (by inclination) of the Antient Styles of Architecture of this Kingdom. *The Genealogy and Epitaph of Peter Baron Herbert, Ambaffador from the Court of Vienna to Conftantinople, who died there in February last, are duly received; and Thall be given in our next Magazine. Mr. AS Mr. URBAN, Affay-office, Aug. 1802. S thofe beautiful examples of human folly and fraud, the contested elections, are now over, I hope you can fpare me a page, as aforetime, for fubjects of another defcription, and at prefent for one which, as it is faid it is to be taken into confideration next feffion, demands to be canvalled in the interim, by any perfon, and every perfon converfant on the fubject. The important concern to which I allude, is the prefent ftate of our current coin, or monies, which I need fcarcely tell you is very generally complained of: Boulton has very ingeni outly relieved us in the cafe of penny and two-penny pieces, as well as halfpennies and farthings; but as to the more valuable monies, I think I can foon convince you, that it is not in the power of that able artift to afford the neceflary relief. And firft, Sir, let me remark, that of all our monies MATRIMONY has of late been mofi debafed. The adulterations of this coin have been uncommonly frequent, as has been proved upon oath in various courts of law, and to fuch a degree, that very little of the original and beautiful impreflion is left, or to be found, unlefs in the cabinets of a few private perfons. The letters round the head are fo obliterated, that you can with great difficulty make out what the impreffion was. In fome inftances exhibited about a year ago, in Weftminster-hall, the only letters that could be made out were H. O. R. N. S. which certain connoilleurs take to be the initials of fome infcription now defaced, but which others think to have been the defignation of the party in whofe hands the coin was mutilated. Of this, however, I do not pretend to give any opinion. On the reverfe, the female figure, originally fo beautiful as to be the envy of every artift, is in general fo deformed as to give one the idea of a common trull: the field is not vifible, and the drapery is almoft worn out. Some think thefe debafements of this once valuable money have been effected by the Jews; but I am more inclined to believe, that it is owing to its having been exported fo often to foreign countries, from which, it may be often obferved, our coin returns in a very mutilated fiate. I have known fome inftances, in which a GENT. MAG. September, 1802. trial has been made before the proper judges, of fome of this coin; and although reputed very valuable when first tried, it has, in a little time, dwindled to no more than the worth of a fevenfhilling-piece. As thefe facts, Mr. Urban, are very well afcertained, and have been amply proved by every perfon who happened to want change, truft I need fay no more to recommend the matter to the confideration of our new legillators. I am forry to add, that there appeared among the laft, a difinclination to confider this fubject in its proper light; and more forry fill am I to add, what has been whitpered to me as the reafon, that there were among that very mifcellaneous body, fome perfons ful pected of adulterating this coin them felves. Certain it is, that from the language and arguments made use of, they appeared to me both clippers and coiners, and that they had little value for what was left among us of the fierling fort. Another coin that wants amend-. ment in this country is PARSIMONY. Of all the money we deal in, I know none fo mean and base as this; it circulates very little, however, being moftly confined to coffers and private hoards; old people are very curious in collecting it, but are not obferved to carry any with them when they go to make up their accounts-on this occafion the whole is called in, and re-coined under the name of— PATRIMONY, which has generally a very rapid circulation for a while; and fo carelefs are they who poffefs it, that they drop it by pocket-fulls in taverns, and clubs, and fiables, and even upon the green turf at Newmarket and other places where they happen to take a ride. The confequence is, that notwithstanding repeated coinings of this money, to the amount of ten, fifteen, twenty, or even thirty thousand pounds a year, the whole difappears in a very fhort time, to the general detriment of the nation, and to the particular lofs, and frequently ruin, of a great many very indufirious tradefien. SANCTIMONY is another money which of late years has not been very common, and indeed has been a good deal, but very unjustly, cried down, upon account of its being fo frequently counterfeited. But this furely is no proper reafon. If the original were not not valuable, we fhould not fee fo many counterfeits; the number of the latter ought to be confidered as a compliment to the former. Be this as it may, it is generally thought there was formerly a good deal more of this coin in the kingdom than at prefent; but I am more inclined to be of opinion, that we have a great quantity yet in circulation, only thofe who poffefs it wish to avoid ofientation in difplaying their purfes, and thus it is fufpected not to exit. 1 look upon it to be a moft beautiful and valuable coin; and what particularly enhances its value is, that it will pals in that country, where no other kind of money has the falleft currency. I could with, therefore, that our new Parliament would take fome fteps to promote the circulation of this; we do not want a new coinage, for the die that was caft eighteen hundred and two years ago, is as fresh and as valuable as ever; and the inpreffion ft ong, lively, and perfectly vifible to common eyes. I have only one kind of money more to fpeak of, and that is ACRIMONY. I do not, however, mean to recommend that this fhall be improved or in ereafed it is altogether fo radically bad, the metal fo bafe, the letters fo vulgar, and the figure cut fo mean, that I would propofe the whole to be called in, and re-iffued (if poffible, which I very much doubt,) in another form. The quantity of this money in circulation has been enormous for the laft ten years; it came about that time from France, in return for fome American goods we had made over to thein; and it has fince been the fource of per the legiflature will be at leifure to attend to the ftate of coin in general, we fhall fee ACRIMONY difappear; and that the other kinds of money I have enumerated, will be rettored to the proper fiandard and weight, for the benefit of all ranks in the community, who wish to be rich and happy at the fame time. I ain, Mr. Urban, Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, YOUR OLD SIMON. Aug. 20. YOUR correfpondent, p. 539, does not explain himself very clearly in the queftion he makes relative to the tables of fines, tangents, &c. which in fact cannot be of a very antient date; as to the natural fines and other trigonometrical lines, no doubt the geometricians, who firft invented them, formed tables by dividing them in the fame manner as we do, into parts proportional to the radius, and employed them in their calculations as natural numbers; as we every day fee a ligo multiplied by a lign to produce a furface. It is not very easy to comprehend clearly what your correfpondent means by the proof or demonflration of these formule; the principles from which the greatest part of the formulæ for refolving fpherical triangles are derived may be found in any theoretical treatife on fpherical trigonometry: there are others more complicated, which cannot be demonftrated but by algebra, and fome by the full more difficult parts of mathematics; nothing farther can be added on fo vague a queftion. E. G. H. Mr. URBAN, Sulop, Aug. 14. HE following infeription on a mo petual difputes among individuals and The foot in St. Anne's church families. Nobody will take it without a deal of wrangling; and yet every body is for iffuing it on the moft trivial occafions. During the last two months, it has been in very general circulation, and fome gentlemen affect to have fecured their elections by it; a thing not improbable, as brass and bafe metal are very common on fuch occafions among the lower claffes. I wish I could add, that there is no circulation of this money among politicians of the higher order, controverfial divines, able lawyers, and very profound fcholars; but the truth is, it is too commonly iffued from quarters in which we would not expect it could be found. I am hopeful, however, that during the time of peace, when Blackfriars, to the memory of a truly valuable character, having never appeared in your Magazine, I am induced to fend it, with a fhort account of the monument executed by the late Mr. Bacon. The monument principally confifis of a bas-relief in elegant flatuary marble, of a blunted pyramidical form, which contains a beautiful figure of Faith, with a telescope in one hand, pointing to the Saviour in his fiate of exaltation, and fitting on a rainbow, and the Bible open in the other hand, exhibiting the following text: Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the fin of the world. On one fide of the figure of Faith is an altar, with a flain lamb |