perufal of Mr. Gifford's Life. It occupies 21 clofely-printed pages: and, when I had travelled to the end, I wifhed it had been longer. Mr. Gifford's journeys on the Continent muft have opened to him new views of life; and I cannot but exprefs a hope that, on fome future day, we may read a edrunuation of the Memoirs that are bere abridged. The Life of Juvenal is a far clearer one than ever has appeared before. The opinions of various commentators, in regard to the time when his different Satires were written, are fairly canvaffed; and the whole Memoir "bears, at least, the ftamp of probability." In the Effay on the Roman Satirifls may be found a neat delineation of the nature and defign of fatire, closing with a new obfervations on the language of Juvenal, Dryden has faid, if we give not the whale, yet we give the most confiderable part of it.' My determination was to give the whole, and really make the work what it profelfed to be, a translation of Juvenal. I had feen enough of caftrated editions to obferve that little was gained by them on the score of propriety; fince, when the author was reduced to half his balk at the expence of his fpirit and defign, fufficient remained to alarm the deli. cacy for which the facrifice had been made. Chaucer obferves, • Whofo fhall tell a tale after a man, "And indeed the age of Chaucer, Ike that of Juvenal, allowed of tuch liberties. Other times, other manners. Many words were in common ufe with our ancestors which raif.d no improper ideas, though they would not, and indeed would not at this time, be tolerated. With the Greeks and Romans it was ftill worfe; their drefs, which left many parts of the body expofed, gave a boldness to their language, which was not perhaps leffened by the infrequency, of which they now constitute the rehnement and the delight. Add to this, that their mythology and their facred rites, which took their rife in very remote periods, abounded in the undifguited phrafes of a rude and fimple age; and, being religiously handed down from generation to generation, gave a currency to many terms which offered no violence to modeity; though, abstractedly confidered by people of a different language and manners, they appear pregnant with turpitude and guilt. "When we obferve this licentioufnels (for I should wrong many of the antient writers to call it libertinifm) in the pages of their hiftorians and philofophers, we may be pretty confident that it raised no blush on the cheek of their readers. It was the language of the times-bæc illis natura eji omnibus una: and if it be confidered as venial in thofe, furely a little farther indulgence will not be mifapplied to the fatirift, whase object is the exposure of what the former have only to notice. "Thus much may fuffice for Juvenal: but thame and forrow on the head of him who prefumes to transfer his groffness into the vernacular tongues! Though I have given him entire, I have endeavoured to make him fpeak as he would have spoken if he had lived among us; when, refined with the age, he would have fulminated against impurity in terms, to which, though delicacy might difavow them, manly decency might liften to them without offence." Thefe remarks, Mr. Urban, are well entitled to the approbation of every lover of letters and of virtue. A VOLUNTEER. Tradition concerning the Kings of CEXLON, communicated by OUDAPALLEH DESSAH, at GONNOROWEH, near CANDIA. THER HERE was formerly an holy mountain on the earth, called Odeagerree paroovatam, on which two Gods defcended from Chatoorm maha ̧ rajakeh devce lokun: from thence they addrefled the inhabitants of the earth, warning them of a deluge of rain, which would latt feven days, and defiring them confequently to be careful of their fafety:-they afterwards returned to Heaven. It is recorded in the Cingalefe Bible, molt virtuous man did not exceed 120 that during the firtt ages the life of the years; and thofe of inferior merit continued upon earth in proportion downwards. And it was decreed by Almighty power, that, when any man fhould prove fufficiently finful to caufe his death after a period of ten years, there would a deluge happen upon earth. The Vitufees, who alone had any knowledge of the fupreme decifion, and from a conviction of the general depravity of mankind, began to take thelter among caverns and on the fummits of lofty mountains; but the finful, heedlefs of their conduct, and unmindful of the divine wrath, experienced all the horrors of the rain.' In addition to the calamities brought on by the overflow of the waters, they ap; peared to cach other as animals, and foon foon began to wage war among themfelves; and thofe which efcaped the death that their own brethren inflicted, were overwhelmed by the waters. The righteous, who efcaped this almoft general deftruction, enacted falutary laws for their better being, and eftablished the exitience of ten fins, five of which were deemed capital, and the others lefs heinous, and atoned for by moderate penance. The age of the virtuous man after this was extended to innumerable years; but, vice again refuming its empire, the period became reduced to what it had originally been. About this time was born a monarch named Sankanam Chakeravarty Rajah. He had a palace on earth, which he poffeffed the power of vititing at pleafure, attended by ten things, including his family and certain neceffary articles. They were as follows; a wife and child, a minifter, a perfon called Pareenackeh Vatne, the general of his armies, and Graha-pattee ratneh, who furnished him with provitions, an elephant, a horfe, a ruby by which he obtained his withes, a holy Palmirah tree, and a fpecics of gold infirament termed Shackrum *. Soodo denah Maha Rajah was born in this family, and had for his wife Maha Mana Derce; her fon was named Seidharta Komarech, who reigned as king, and his wife Yafohderah Devee, by whom he had a fon called RahooJah Komareah. The father was not at home at the birth of this fon; bu', having afterwards returned, and while he had one foot within and the other without the houfe, he difcovered on the bed both mother and child; from which moment he determined having nothing farther to do in family affairs. A month after this, he directed his minifter to provide him a horfe of a particular description, which he mounted and rode, until he had crofied the Anomanany Gangava (river). from whence he fent him back with his jewels, &c. to his father, and thaving his head, turned hermit. Brahma on this occafion defcended from Heaven to fupply all his wants; and on his return took with him the hair of Seedharta Komareah, which fill continues to be held facred there. He after this retired to the wildernefs, where he re The Chank and Shuck rum are fymFols, with which two of the four hands of Vishnoo are ufually furnished. 1 mained fix years in conftant devotion having returned, he wrought great miracles, which, as well as his principal actions, are recorded in three books, called Vineh peetakch, Sootra peetakeh, and Abee d'herma peetakeh. The fon of Seed harta Komareah had iffue; and of his defcendants was Vijee Rajah, the first king of Ceylon: the prefent king is the one hundred and fortieth in defcent from him. The prefent capital of the kingdom of Candia is called in Cingalefe, or the common dialect, Singedda Gullah Nuarch. In the Palee, it is called Sree vardena pooree noowereh. Tradition concerning the God BHOODDHA, communicated by a Prieft at Gou NOROWELL, near CANDIA. There was a monarch of the three fold worlds, or Univerfe, named Veffantara Rajah, whofe daily care was to diftribute charities to all. Liberality and bounty are faid to have carried him fo far, that he at length prefented the people with his very eyes. At times he fed the infects that furrounded him with his own blood, and at others gave up his fleth to be devoured by animals; in like manner as he in the first inflance gave up his wealth to the poor, fo did he his wife and children to thofe who flood in need of them. Having at length departed this life, he afcended into heaven, where he en joyed a bleffed ftae for a long time, ambrofia being his food, and nectar his drink. Four gods then in heaven, Dertahrakterreh, Veeroodha, Veeroopaakehé, and Wacefhfhravanah, requefied this fanctified perfon to defcend upon earth under the name and form of Bhooddha. At the fame time there was another god in heaven named Bodee Satyo, who began to confider into whole womb Bhooddha should defcend, who was to become his father, who his mother, and in what country he fhould be born. The country's name appeared to be Dumba Deeva Madda Defe, the city Kimboolwatpooree; the father Seedoo-dena-Maharajah; and the mother Mahamaya Decvee, who, after a lapfe of ten months, was delivered of him in a flower garden, called Lumber Neenam. At the time of his birth, the great Brahma attended and received the infant in a golden bafon; after which he handed him to the god Hatterah-verrang Deyo, to called from poffefling poffeffing four attributes, and by him given to mankind. He on The infant after this feated himself down, and viewed the four quarters of the globe, thinking whether the guardians of thefe quarters exceeded him in greatnefs; alfo whether he was excelled therein by the fun or moon. grew up daily until the age of twentyone; when all the gods appearing in his prefence, defired him to aflame the name of Bhooddha, having previously gone by that of Seeddaaria Komarah. After this he repaired to a river called Ne angenunang Genga Watta, Horfeback, ditant 120 leagues, which he performed in one day. On the banks of this rer, at a place called Anoomanantotedce, the great Brahma appeared before him, and gave him three preces of yellow cloth, which he put eh, that infiant the horse expired, and spirit afcended to heaven. Bhood ha then journeyed to a fandy plam ed Orooddaiiano, where he remained performing penance for ix years, during which the Almighty provided him with food, which fometimes confifted of a Tibbot berry, and at others of a grain of ginger, upon which he fubfified; never clofing his eyes the whole time, being conftantly taken up in meditation and prayer. He afterwards left this place, and went to Senaneenam-neeangamata, where flood a Negrodha tree, under the fhade of which he remained. He no fooner arrived here, than a virgin of angelic beauty, who had waited his coming for many years, prefented him a golden cup containing milk and boiled rice; having accepted this offering, he took it with him to the above mentioned river, whither he returned, and then ate fifty-one handfuls of victuals. This done, he placed the cup on the furface of the water, where it defcended to the world of ferpents, called Nagabawanab; he afterwards took fhelter under a tree named Salwanee Satapilla, fituated in the midft of a wilderness, where he remained the entire of that day. In the mean time. the gods were bufied in clearing the country, and making roads for his future progrefs, which he began that evening. As he journeyed on his way he met a Brahmannee boy* with a bundle of the grafs called Kuffa, which he threw at his feet, and then profirated himself before him. ` Bhooddha taking * A boy of the Brahmin caft, or lect. up the grafs repaired with it to a tree called Bodee (this is the Palee word, Bogaha being ufed in the Cingalefe, or low dialect), fituated in the centre of an antient city in the neighbourhood of Siam, again which tree he refted his back, and holding the bundle of' grafs up in his hands and fhaking it, a dia mond throne thirteen cubits high arofe out of its contents,, upon which he feated himself. About this time the god of the Seventh, or Empyrean heaven, became envious of the miracles of Bhooddha, and fent down an army compoted of angels and evil fpirits to attack him. Their numbers amounted to ten hundred thousand millions, all of which he defeated and deftroyed. Bhooddha then bauifhed love, anger, and every other jarring paffion, from his mind and body, and enjoyed the pureft pleafures on his diamond throne for feven days; at the expiration of which time the great Brahma, and all the fubordinate Gods appeared in his prefence, and acknowledging his pre-eminence, proftrated themfelves and adored him, calling him by the name of Bhooddha After this, Brahma and the other gods attended him through the world, while he bestowed happiness and falvation on mankind; Brahma holding an umbrella over his head, whilft Judra blew a trumpet before him, and Vishnoo fanned him. The Bhoodda-Waroofeh, or æra of Bhooddha, which dates from his afeenfion to heaven, ftands as follows: On the 30th of November, Anno Domini 1796, 2339 years and 17 days had elapfed. Bhooddha was 80 years of age when he died. 29 years of his life were palled with his family; fix in pilgrimage and prayer; and for 45 be exercifed his powers as AN OFFICER. years Bhooddha. Mr. URBAN, Ο a Aug. 5. N Tuesday laft I accompanied an intelligent Antiquary to the antient church of St. Catharine's near the Tower. I knew that it had undergone a repair; and, I own, I had fome fears that it might have been beautified. Thefe fears were not unfounded; Architectural Innovation has been at work; and I beg of your correspondent An Architect, to whom all true Antiquaries are under great obligations, as he values his peace of mind, by no means to visit St. Catharine's. On On a first fight of the Weft end of the church I hardly recognized the antient building once fo familiar to my eves. Here a fine opportunity of refloring the original façade has been loft. Dr. Ducarel has very judicioutly given a print of the church, after a drawing by Hollar, in 1660; where the upper part of the great Weft window appears. This window was obfeured by an extraneous building erected against it, which, I think, was ufed as the charity-fchool-room. A fcientific architectural Antiquary would have removed this "abomination, fanding where it ought not," and would have replaced the tracery of the window where it had perifhed through the lapfe of time, or would have fetched it out where covered by the adfciritious rubbish of the fchool-room. No fuch thing has been done. All the remains of the antient window have been cut away or filled up, and a new one, of an uncommonly fharply-pointed arch introduced; a window and an arch of fuch a form as occurs in no part of the original edifice. Little white finials are put on the top here and there; the whole front is thickly incrufted with a pebbled rough-caft coat, and is executed in a form which exhibits the ecclefiaftical architecture of no age. On entering the door, I was glad to fee the antient heads of Edward III. and Philippa, his queen, fpared. A pretty kind of a coved vaultage is fpread over the cicling of the porch; pretty, but in no way harmonizing with the reft of the building. We next entered the middle aile. Here our eyes were agonized by the fiery red colour, which, by way of imitating mahogany, is given to the pews. The cafe of the organ, which was executed fome 25 years ago in what has been called the Gothic tafte, was originally painted of the fame colour. The form of the cafe is well fancied, only it matches not with the fpecies of Gothic in which the church is built. The antient pulpit, moved from its antient pofition, and deprived of its immenfe founding-board, engraved by Ducarel, is painted of the fame furious bue with the organ and pews. The windows of the fide ailes liave efcaped modernization, and two of them which were built up have been opened; but thofe of the upper feries in the nave have had many tricks played with them, if I remember their old form correctly; particularly a trim kind of rim-like border running round them, which my judicious friend pointed out to me. We then pafled through the gates which divide the choir from the nave: they fill remain; and I am convinced they are the original gates, or doors, if you will, at leaft they tally perfectly with certain ftrongly characterized parts of the Church itself. Thefe doors were condemned when the organ was built, and would have been removed but for the interference of the late venerable Mr. Baxter, many years one of the brethren of this conventual church. At St. Catharine's, as in many antient churches, by fome strange perverfenefs, the fervice is not performed in the choir but in the nave. On entering the choir we remarked the most ugly illdevifed window that ever difgraced an innovating architect, or botcher of buildings rather. I remember the old window well; you may fee it in Ducarel, plate V. It is evident that the mullions which once formed the fpokes of the larger Catharine-wheel, moft appropriately ornamenting the Eaftern window of St. Catharine's church, had fallen from their place. An opportunity now offered to reftore them. This was loft, or defpifed perhaps; and the repairer and beautifier has erected a thing of his own, which I will not condescend to deferibe. The antient window had a delicate Gothic ornament of niche-like arches carried up its fides, and flexed over its very top, at the fummit of which it formed a graceful angle. You may fee it faintly expreffed in Ducarel, pl. XV. This is entirely, and moft cruelly and mott wantonly defiroyed, as are feveral ornamental arches which I well remember to have appeared in the wall on each fide of the altar; arches which, doubtless, once were continued along each side of the choir: I found them untouched behind the antient ftalls; which falls, though antient and very curious, were certainly not intended to have occupied the place they hold by the original architect of the church. The carvings under the feats of the falls are as ufual very highly finished, and very fantaftic. The heads of Edward III. and his queen occur here again; not under the feats I mean, but in the angles on each fide of the choir. Now here a firange folly of fended me. I remember thele falls and their appendages were of the natu ral ral colour of old oak. This did not pleafe the innovator; he has tinctured them of a flat reddish chocolate colour; which, befide being frightful, fills up the cavities left by the carver's chiffel charmingly, and takes off what he (the carver) thought a beautiful tharpness. Little did he think how much the innovator fhould improve his work in after-ages by the help of the houfepainter's brush! The beautifier has ftuck little pinnacles upon the tops of the clustered columns of the choir (which has no fide ailes) juft where the arches fpring off. Thefe little white knotty points are about twice the fize of a rolling-pin, and are made of plafter. Such things were never put in fuch places before. As towhat has been done on the out fide of the choir, though, as my good friend obferved, it refembled a prifon rather than a church, I cannot find much fault with it. The walls were much decayed, being originally built of foft Caen fione; the reparation is executed in excellent brick work! The Duke of Exeter's tomb remains untouched by the innovator. It bears the marks, however, of the heavy hands of former innovators, being thickly coated with white-wash. It were an experiment worth trying, whether the white-wafh, which time has made very friable, could not be carefully picked off by the help of a bodkin, or the point of a knife. I am apt to think that a view of the rich carving underneath would repay the labour. I think I have told you all, except that, upon the pannel-work which extends by way of a canopy, richly carved, over the folding-doors leading into the choir, the ingenious innovator has laid fo heavy a charge of dark coloured varnish as to render the beauty of the antient wainscot invifible. This wood-work was of a tolerably light co lour the other day; it wanted no var nifh, but at any rate the varnish should have been colourless. A LONDON CURATE. P. S. You have honoured my character of Dr. Mayo with a place in your last Magazine; there is one fmall error in it-the doctor was not reafaTer to Raine's hofpital; he prefided at the meeting, as the rector of St. George's always does, when prefent; the treafurer is Mr. Blackmore of Well-clofe fquare, a magiftrate for the county of I SHOULD not think the obfervations of Z. X. (p. 424) deferving of any notice, were the perufal of them confined to perfons well acquainted, with our Univerfities. But as the extenfive circulation of your Magazine, will place them before the eyes of many who are inclined and have been accustomed to think well of us, but who have no opportunities of knowing much of the Univerfities but through the medium of publications of this nature, I have thought it right to appeal to your candour, by requefiing you to ftate, that the whole of Z. X's letter is a mifreprefentation, as far as it refpects our Alma Mater, and, I doubt not, her fifter. In the University of Oxford, Gentlemen Commoners are under the fame difcipline as all other under-graduates. For inftance, "they are not. allowed to abfent themfelves from cha pel oftener than others; and they are punished in like manner for any faults whatever." That double tutorage mo ney is paid by them, is certain: but this is not by way of buying off difcipline and correction, but for the purchafe of additional privileges and attentions, not unfuitable to their rank of Superioris Ordinis Commenfales. Without reflecting on the order which I wif to defend, it often happens that Gentlemen Commoners have had private, or, perhaps, neglected educations; in which cafe they are entitled to, and, I believe generally receive, extraordinary affistance from the tutors. Gentleman Commoner's gown was originally defigned for the younger fons of lords, baronets' fons, &c.; but it is now become the habit of many young men, who, having independent fortunes, are defirous of mingling with the feniors of the University, or with younger perfons of rank and fashion; an ambition which, if it incite them to a conduct fuitable to the dignity at which they aim, may at least be termed in nocent. The I think, therefore, I may venture to affert," that the prefent practice does not look as if the whole race of Col lege Tutors were publicly bribed not to perform their duty" and thougla "to mention the fact may be fufficient |