Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Notwithstanding the repeal of about Seven Millions and a Half of
Taxes within the last two years, the Revenue exceeds the Expenditure
to a large amount; and in the most important branches of national con-
sumption, a vigour and activity are displayed, which shew in the most
convincing manner how effectual the relief given by the Legislature has
proved, and how judiciously that relief has been applied. These state-
ments are the surest Indices of real prosperity; they illustrate the re-
turn of the Landed Interest to a better remuneration for its produce,
and diminution of their expence; to the Manufacturer a market for his
industry and his art-to the Merchant unfettered encouragement for
his speculation and his risk-to the Monied Man security for his ca-
pital in the peace and prosperity of the land-to the Poor the assimi-
lation of their gains to the prices of their wants-to the Rich the united
combination of all these effects, as producing on society consequences
reciprocally ensuring to them the security of their property, the tran-
quillity of the country, and the maintenance of constitutional and re-
ligious Establishments, which are the pride and boast of Britons, and
the admiration of surrounding Nations.

In the course of the present Volume we have had the pleasure to re-
cord two instances of Royal Munificence, worthy of our excellent King
-his gift of his honoured Father's Library to the British Nation * ; and
his Donation of 1000 guineas a year to the Royal Society of Literature †.
Both these truly noble acts will, we doubt not, have a beneficial influ-
ence on the Literature of our Country.

We cannot conclude without returning our grateful acknowledgments
to the Publick for the extensive patronage we continue to receive. It
shall always be our earnest endeavour to merit the support we have so
long and so unremittingly experienced. Our learned Coadjutors and
numerous Contributors will also receive our unfeigned thanks; and we
have still to solicit their able and effective aid to our topographical and
biographical departments; by which our "OBITUARY" in particular
has been greatly enriched.-For the variety of articles in every depart-
ment, it may be sufficient to refer to our different Indexes.

June 30, 1823.

* See p. 347.

+ See p. 544.

INDEX TO THE EMBELLISHMENTS.

Those marked thus are printed with the Letter-press.

Altar-piece belonging to the Abbey of St.
Mary de Pratis, Leicester 9
Basaltic Cyclops, near Catania 17
* Britons, Ancient, houses of 69

*

Beacon, Ancient, at Everton, co. Lan-
caster 205

Bossal House, co. York 489
Dorchester Church, co. Oxon 297
*Enfield, site of an ancient camp near 427
* Enfield Church, representation of an
ancient painting in 621
Farley, Roman Bath found at 113
Forty Hall, Enfield 497

Gough, R. seat of, in Enfield 497

Houses of the Ancient Britons 69
Liverpool, St. Nicholas's Church 105
Lullingtone Castle, Kent, Gateway of 577
Martin, The, representation of 209
* Pompeii, side of a street at 255
St. Bennet's Abbey, at Holme, Norfolk 393
St. Mary de Pratis, curious altar-piece
in the Abbey of 9

Seals, Ancient, of St. Mary-le-Bow, Wo!-
verhampton, Maiden Bradley, and East
and West Looe 305

Shadwell, St. Paul's Church 201
Stamford Free Grammar School 577
Swallow, Chimney, representation of 209

Hirundines, British, representation of Tupholme Abbey, co. Lincoln 17

209, 401

Tate, Dr. monument of 133

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr. T. P. COURTENAY has disclaimed being the author of the pamphlet, entitled "Administration of Public Affairs," &c. (see the Preface to our last Volume);-or of the pamphlet published in the last year, under the title of "State of the Nation.". We cannot positively state, in reply to a Correspondent's inquiry, to what AngloSaxon Church our Reviewer alluded; but on reference to Fosbroke's British Monachism, p. 276, new edition, we find, that there is a real Anglo-Saxon Church at Kilpeck in Herefordshire, on the Hereford and Abergavenny road, about seven miles from the former place, and eleven from Ross. It is engraved in our vol. LIX. p. 781. In answer to F.R.S. who " regrets that so excellent a philosopher as Sir Charles Blagdon should have sunk to the grave in a foreign land, unrecorded in the pages of Mr. Urban," and inquires "whether any monumental stone has been placed for him in the cemetery where he was interred?" we can only say that we hoped,, and still hope, to be favoured with an authentic memoir of him, by some one of his many surviving friends.

it being a question of some moment, it would be doing the public an additional favour, by his citing a tried case in point, or showing some Parliamentary or other authority upon which his opinion is grounded.

N. S. observes, "Among the innumerable crude and quack speculations on the Agricultural Distresses, in which scarce a ray of light is to be seen, it is quite a discovery to meet with any thing which contains intelligent and satisfactory reasoning. But such a gem is to be found in a paper by a Mr. Gray, "on the future prospects of the Agriculturists," inserted in the Farmers' Magazine for Aug. 1822, which they who are interested in the question will do well to read."

A Correspondent, who signs "THE RAJAH OF VANEPLYSIA," solicits information relative to the pedigree and pretensions of Thomas Langton, esq. Baron of Walton, and lord of the fee and manor of Newton, who occurs under this designation in Kimber's Baronetage, edit. 1771, vol. I. p. 88, "I am well aware (says he) of the existence of the Barons of the county palatine of Chester, and of the bishopric of Durham. Am I authorized, from the above-stated occurrence, in the course of my reading lately, to infer that the county palatine of Lancaster in earlier periods rejoiced in a similarlycircumstanced provincial Noblesse? It is an interesting, and, I flatter myself, not an illaudable curiosity, to trace

in song.'

< The secret lapse

The present representative, in a direct male line from Colonel Lane, at whose house at Bentley in Staffordshire, King Charles II. was received after the battle of Worcester, and whose sister Jane Lane afterwards conducted his Majesty safely to Bristol, begs to inform R. I. L. that the crest of the Lane family is not, as he supposes (in p. 194), "a Royal lion holding a star in the dexter of streams now lost, and brooks renown'd paw," but "a Strawberry roan horse rampant, couped at the flank, supporting between his feet a regal Crown," alluding to the colour of the horse which carried away the King from Bentley, then and for many years the principal seat of the family, but since alienated to the Anson family. Several of the male descendants of Col. Lane are now living. The representative of the family has for many years resided at King's Bromley in Staffordshire, who is not aware that any branch of his family had their residence either in Warwickshire or Cheshire, as I. L. supposes (in p. 482.)

W. observes, in answer to CIVILIS, in our last Number (vol. XCII. ii. 482), "I beg leave to remind him, that all parochial Rates are quashable, if they are applied in any other manner than the express purpose for which they are made; and although the reasonable expences of Churchwardens are generally allowed, it is presumed that they have no authority in themselves to create new offices at the expence of the parishioners. But as CIVILIS thinks otherwise, and

My friend Banks, contrary to his usual custom, throws no light on the subject."

A CONSTANT READER gives the following extract:"In the first year of King Edward the Sixth, this manor and park (of Brimpsfield) and lands called Hasel-Hanger, were granted to Sir John Bridges, afterwards Lord Chandos, who died seised thereof, 4th Mary; amd livery of the manor and park of Brimpsfield were granted to his son Edmond Lord Chandos the same year, who, died seised thereof, 16 Eliz. and was succeeded in honour and this estate by Giles Bridges, Lord Chandos, his son and heir, who died seised thereof, 36 Eliz.; and left two daughters co-heiresses; Elizabeth married to Sir John Kenida; and Catharine married to Francis Lord Russel of Thornhagh." Our Correspondent then observes, "Perhaps some of your Readers may be able and so obliging as to give the subsequent genealogy of the above noble family, but especially of the elder branch."

THE

GENTLEMAN'S

MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1823.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

Mr. URBAN,

MISTATEMENT OF BISHOP WARBURTON.

Jan. 1.

YOUR Magazine having been dis

tinguished for a long series of years, in a very pre-eminent degree, for the attention paid by its conductors to curious points of literature, I beg leave to bring to public notice, an article of that nature, through its channel, concerning Bishop Warburton. In the celebrated controversy which took place between this most powerful and original Thinker, and Dr. Lowth, it is well known, that Mr. Archdeacon Towne took a zealous part. In 1766 he published his "Remarks on Dr. Lowth's Letter to the Bishop of Gloucester, with the Bishop's Appendix on the book of Job." Annexed to this letter, is a correspondence between the Bishop and Dr. Lowth (the whole pamphlet, in truth, having been got up under the guidance and revision of his Lordship), in which, amidst many other discourtesies, which I am sorry to say were bandied between the Reverend correspondents with the most unbecoming freedom; the Bishop makes the following declaration:"I have neither read, nor seen, nor I believe ever shall, your printed letter to me; not out of contempt of you, but respect to myself." See Appendix to the Remarks, page 4. Now, Mr. Urban, in turning to the very interesting body of letters, left for publication by Bishop Hurd, I find Bishop Warburton, in page 369 of that volume (8vo edit.), thus addressing his faithful friend, and thick and thin devotee, the immortal author of the Essay on the Delicacy of Friendship: "All you say about Lowth's pamphlet breathes the truest spirit of friendship. His wit and his reasoning, God knows, and I also (as a certain critic said once in a

matter of the like great importance,) are much below the qualities that deserve those names. But the strangest thing of all is this man's boldness, &c. &c." p. 369. And then he proceeds with some other remarks, blurted forth, as usual, with a most fiery spirit, and in a tone of high contempt, but which plainly prove that the declaration made above to Lowth was unfounded in fact; that his curiosity or his fears were more than a match for his pretended scorn, and that he had positively read, with no small degree of inward vexation and resentment, the " "printed letter," which he made pretence to tell the author was unread and utterly disregarded by him. In order to clinch the matter, and fasten unerringly this charge of misstatement on Warburton, it is important to add, that the date of this letter to Hurd is Nov. 14, 1765, and the date of that to Lowth, from which the former quotation is made, is Nov. 21, 1765, so that no Warburtonian (if the breed be not now quite gone by) can say, that his great master had not perused Lowth's famous pamphlet when he sent him the scornful disavowal, but that he afterwards had read it, when he favoured Hurd with this bitter critique upon it. The publication of this detection will, I flatter myself, be interesting to many of your readers, though it should deduct something from the character which Warburton universally has gained, of downright, ingenuous, and fearless dealing with his numerous adversaries in that boundless sea of polemics upon which he launched.

I am surprised it should have escaped the acute and multifarious investigations of Mr. D'Israeli, who, in the Warburtonian Chapters of that most

agreeable

4

Elegance of Bishop Hurd's Writings.-Stepney Chapel. [Jan.

[ocr errors]

agreeable work, the "Quarrels of Authors," has shewn us how keen an eye of observation he had to every anecdote and every circumstance that could tend to pull down, or unsettle on his giant throne, the illustrious author of the Divine Legation; and who, it grieves me to add, has pursued his confidential friend and favourite Hurd, with a spirit of hatred, the most rancorous and unrelenting possible. Let us hope to see this spirit mitigated, and some merciful erasures introduced in the next edition; and this delightful author will excuse me for adding, that another lively chapter to this work might be compiled from a foreign volume now before me, and very closely akin to it, both in talent and in purpose, entitled, "Tableau philosophique de l'esprit de M. de Voltaire, pour servir de suite à ses ouvrages.' It was published at Geneva in 1771, and gives a full and most animated representation of Voltaire's literary quarrels, and the motives of them, with a crowd of contemporary authors, froin Jean Baptiste Rousseau down to L'Abbé Riballier. There is a passage in the preface more applicable, perhaps, to Warburton than to the Philosopher of Ferney. "Nous ne craindrons pas (says the author,) de le dire; il eût été le premier homme de son siecle, s'il n'eut pas été le plus sensible, le plus emporté, le plus intolérant, contre tout ce qui a osé contredire ses pretensions." p. xxxv.

[ocr errors]

I have called Hurd the immortal author of the Essay on the Delicacy of Friendship above, because I' consider that work as exhibiting a higher talent than any thing he ever published, either before or subsequently. It is unquestionably the finest piece of ironical wit the world ever saw; and the author wisely desired it to be republished, after his death, with the collective body of his works. Dr. Parr, it is well known, reprinted it, for a certain purpose, in 1788; and was severely attacked in the Pursuits

1823.

In

of Literature, for dragging it back into daylight with officious malice. But the posthumous injunction of the Bishop above alluded to, blows those strictures into thin air. Hurd is a most graceful model of composition, combining the ease of Middleton with the curiosa felicitas of Addison. truth, his edition of this great English Classic is an invaluable work, and should be studied with fond assiduity by every student who is ambitious of writing Virgilian prose. The swell, pomp, and swagger, so rife in the compositions of the present day, have no place in any of the Bishop's works, though his power of words, and mastery over our language, is unequalled. He thought the latinized style of Johnson was the bane of all good taste, and had such a cordial detestation of his manner as an author, that he could never bring himself (so strong and blinding an effect has prejudice), to speak respectfully of his deserts as a Critic. The most disgraceful trait in the literary character of this most able and accomplished Prelate, was the leaving for publication (without one word of his own to palliate, or excuse, or refute the outrage), the envenomed strictures of Warburton on Dr. Johnson's edition of Shakspeare. See "Letters from a late eminent Prelate to one of his Friends." page 368.

[blocks in formation]

*Stepney Chapel was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of London, on Monday, Jan. 9, The building was commenced about five years since, by the zeal and liberality of a few families, who saw with sorrow the lamentably pernicious consequences which in so populous a parish the neglect of social worship so naturally produced. At twelve o'clock precisely His Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived at the Chapel, and was appropriately received by the Trustees. The Lord Bishop of London, accompanied by the Archdeacon of London, the Rector of the Parish, and a considerable number of the London Clergy, then entered the Chapel. The usual ceremonies were performed, and the service appointed for the consecration of Churches having been read, the Bishop of London preached a most appropriate sermon. As soon as the service terminated, the Duke of York, the Lord Bishop of London, and the Trustees, proceeded to the London Hospital, and partook of a very excellent repast. EDIT.

« PreviousContinue »