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in the month Nisan, in the 20th year, and therefore the 20th and 32nd would be coincident. How this could be accounted for I was at a loss to say, in the two volumes I laid before the publick in 1817. But on defending the book of Daniel against Count Volney, noticed in vol. xcí. ii. p. 335, from having in getting out a history and genealogy of the Widdrington family, been perplexed with the two epochs of beginning of Charles the Second, the one in 1648, when his father was beheaded, and the other in 1660, when he took to the kingdom; it occurred to me that Nehemiah's two epochs might have a similar origin. On closely looking at the history and chronology, I saw Darius Astyages succeeded Belshazzar in the kingdom of Babylon, in right of his wife, and as the famous solar eclipse determined the ending of his 35 years in 3454, Cyrus in right of his wife, the only daughter of Darius, would then take the kingdom. But being opposed by Nabonides, and not getting it by force of arms till 3466, there would, as in the case of Charles the Second, be twelve years between these two epochs of beginning. The kingdom was given at the death of Belshazzar, first to the Medes, whose title was Ahasuerus, and then to the Persians under the title of Artaxerxes. Cyrus did not make his grant till 3468, the period I suppose he took Nabonides, who fled from Babylon, which grant was reversed as it respected the temple, &c. in his third year 3471, by his son Ahasuerus, who then began a joint reign. Nehemiah after this, it appears, was appointed governor in the 20th year, reckoning from 3454, when Cyrus became king of Babylon by right, who returned to Babylon, and acted at Jerusalem by a deputy. Twelve years from the date of his commission, Hannaniah visits him in the ninth month, in the 20th year, reckoning from 3466, when Babylon was taken by arms. In the month Nisan, the same year, Nehemiah obtained leave to visit the holy city, which would be in 3485, the 32d year from 3454, and 20th from 3466. This is plain from his calling the 20th year, in the first verse of the second chapter, the 32nd year, when he has occasion to refer to it in the sixth verse of the 13th chapter, where he has regard not to the date of his leave, but to the date of his original commission.

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And having occasion to refer to this commission, in the 14th verse of the fifth chapter, he says: "from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the 20th year even unto the 32nd year of Artaxerxes the king," i. e. he had from the Persian authority at Babylon, under the title of Artaxerxes, been at that period twelve years governor : when Hannaniah arrived in the ninth month, the usurper Smerdis would have the authority, and this may account for Nehemiah's not using the term Artaxerxes, in the first verse of his book, merely mentioning the 20th year. Within three months Darius obtained the kingdom, and the circumstance of his making a grant of leave to Nehemiah, on condition of his return by a certain time-of providing for a quick passage, and a guard of horse to attend him, together with the great haste he made in getting up the walls, intimates that Darius had upon his mind the great feast he intended to make the following Nisan, which in the Divine providence fell in with the close of the seventy years captivity, when the grant of Cyrus became confirmed to Zorobabel. This Darius it appears became Artaxerxes at the neighing of his horse at sun-rise, which seems alluded to by Isaiah, when he says, " from the rising of the sun he shall call upon my name," chap. xli. v. 25; for that the Jewish nation had great regard to this peculiar circumstance, is evident by the attention paid to it by Josephus. And this connected by Darius confirming the grant of Cyrus, whom Isaiah calls by name, distinguishes these two kings by name, higher than the Persian title Artaxerxes.

The son of Cyrus, Cambyses, took the title of Ahasuerus on becoming a partner with his father, and is so styled in the whole book of Esther. But Esdras (for it seems Josephus knew nothing about a book called Ezra in the Hebrew Bible when he wrote), when he tells us the temple was finished in the sixth year of Darius (3489), notes it as done by the command of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia, by which it seems the names of the two former, from the regard God had to them, was more honourable than the Persian title Artaxerxes, by which the son of Cyrus is distinguished. The seventh year of this Artaxerxes, when he made

Ezra

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Ezra his grant, would be coincident with his thirteenth year as Ahasuerus, and as this would fall in 3483, it may be considered Hannaniah was sent to Nehemiah at the instance of Ezra, and the latter have been sent under the great alarm by Artaxerxes, at the defeat of Haman's party. This view of the chronology in Esdras, Esther, and Nehemiah, is not only fatal to Mr. Bellamy's hypothesis, but to all others who extend the weeks in Daniel to Christ.

There is no doubt on my mind but that our Lord suffered in his 35th year, in the 4th of the 202nd olympiad, and that the darkness of Phlegon and the Evangelists was the same; hence Mr. Benson, who makes his age 32 and a half, is also erroneous. For the sake of preserving Dean Prideaux's application of the weeks to Christ, it was (if I mistake not) that the testimony of Phlegon was struck out of Boyle's Lectures. Bishop Watson, in connecting them together, as evidence, met with a severe censure from Dr. Francis.

A Hebrew critic, in the British Review, No. 34, apparently conscious of injury done to the Christian cause, in extending them to our Messiah, labours for a reading of 77 sevens sixty and two years, amounting to 601, which applying to 3468, the grant of Cyrus, he extends them to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. But leaving this critic as well as Mr. Bellamy, by listening to the voice of reason and common sense, they sound strong in my ears, that as the authority at Jerusalem was taken to Babylon for seventy years, till the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths, agreeably to the word of the Lord, as it went forth by Jeremiah, the seventy years penance was for a seventy weeks transgression. And as the word of the Lord made known to Jeremiah that a righteous Lord from a righteous branch of David should reign, such Jewish Messiah would be born seven weeks from the word being read. And as sixty-two weeks from such word being read the last time in the temple, in the ninth month 3398 (Jer. xxxvi. v. 9), was to be followed by one week of desolation, the circumstance of the authority at the end of such 62 weeks being sold by Antiochus, and a fresh family dedicating the altar in the ninth month 3839, it becomes to me demonstration, and for ever to set the matter

[May,

at rest to all capable of understanding, and disposed to bow down to the truth. Let but the Jewish Messiah be considered as typical of our Messiah, and the devastation by Antiochus typical of Jerusalem's final destruction, and it will make every thing our Lord said easy to be understood. For so sure as the 62 weeks ended with Antiochus, so sure every new view in applying them to Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem, which came upon the Jews for rejecting him, will, like every new Messiah the Jews have since set up, be found a delusion.

Since I printed my thoughts on the Chronology of the Apocalypse, with an Appendix, I have seen Dr. Lightfoot's works. And though in some things it may be said of him as it appears to have been of Sir Isaac New ton, "unheard-of frailties cheat us in the wise," he nevertheless was a learned, valuable writer, and am glad to see a new edition of his works, under the sanction of so many of our Bishops. Hebrew readers are too often not only indifferent to the Greek books after the captivity, but also often disposed to apply much that the prophets have said of the righteous state of the Church during the seven jubilees that Zorobabel's line, in connection with the high priests, to a supposed future restoration and return of the Jews, and the fancied thousand years they suppose will follow. But this fallacy, so much admired in the present day, that are more disposed to govern than to be governed, the wise and pious Dr. Lightfoot reprobates by sound reason and solid argument.

Your long standing and valuable Miscellany has been the source by which many truths have been developed; and as sacred Chronology can only enable us to transpose what is out of due order, both in the history and prophecy of the Old Testament, should it, through your indulgence, at length set at rest such points as materially concern the well-being of the religious community, it will show the eye of that Providence to whom you are so much indebted, still over you for general good.

I intended saying much more, but a want of time on the one hand, and a fear of trespassing too far on your pages, bids me close.

Yours, &c.

JOHN OVERTON.

Mr.

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SOMERSETSHIRE.
"Ah! sad the reflection-scenes lovely as thine*
The hand of the Tyrant will frequently mar;
Will disseminate hemlock, and root up the vine,
And sully such glens with the horrors of war!
Not far from this spot have such scenes of disgust
(In ages absorb'd) been observed on the plain :
The blood of the Soldier has tinted the dust,

And LANSDOWN been covered with wounded and slain.
There stands a remembrance, a COLUMN of stone
Erected by man, as a record of fame :

But it seems to the optics of Fancy to moan,
While it proudly exhibits the Warrior's name."

S. T.

Rural Pieces, &e. By W. R. T.

SITUATION AND EXTENT.

re

Boundaries, North, the Severn Sea, and part of Gloucestershire: East, Wilt-
shire South, Dorsetshire and Devonshire: West, Devonshire.
Greatest length 68; greatest breadth 47; square 1520 miles.
Province, Canterbury; Diocese, Bath and Wells; Circuit, Western.

ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS.

British Inhabitants, Belgæ.

Roman Province, Britannia Prima. Stations, Aquis Solis, Bath; Ischalis, Ivelchester.

Saxon Heptarchy, Wessex.

Antiquities. Druidical Temples of Chew Magna (the stones forming a circle of a reddish colour); Stanton Drew. British Earthwork, Wansdike (the boundaries of the Belgæans, and the Aborigines). Roman Encampments of Blacker's hills; Bowditch; Brompton Bury Castle; Burwalls; Cadbury; Camalet; Chesterton; Chew Magna; Cow-castle; Doleberry; Douseborough; Godshill; Hawkridge-castle; Hampton-down; Masbury; Mearknoll; Modbury; Mounceaur-castle; Neroche; Newborough; Norton Hautville; Stantonbury; Stokeleigh; Tedbury; Trendle-castle; Turks-castle; Wiveliscombe and Worleberry. Roman Temples at Bath (dedicated to Minerva), a very superb one (supposed to have been dedicated to Apollo, or the Sun), a Sacellum (dedicated to Luna). Saxon Earthwork, Salisbury-hill (thrown up at the siege of Bath in 577). Saxon Encampment of Harold at Porlock. Danish Camp, Jack's-castle, Kilmington. Abbeys of Athelney Isle (built by King Alfred); Banwell (in the time of Alfred); Bath (built in 1137, by Oliver King, Bishop of that diocese); Bruton (founded by St. Algar, Earl of Cornwall, in the reign of Ethelred); Cliff (founded by William de Romare, before 1188); GLASTONBURY; Hinton (founded by the 1st Earl of Salisbury); Keynsham (founded by William Earl of Gloucester); Muchelney (founded by King Athelstan, now a barn); WELLS (first founded by King Ina, re-erected by Bishop Joceline de Wells in 1239; the palace of the Bishop is like a castle). Priories of Barlinch; Barrow; Bath (built by King Osric in 676); Berkley (founded in the reign of John, by one William a Norman Baron); Buckland Sororum (founded about 1167, by William de Erleigh, Lord of the Manor of Durston); Cannington (founded by Robert de Courcy, sewer to the Empress Maud): Chewton; Dunster (built by William de Mohun, temp. Wm. I., now the parish Church); Frome (erected by Aldhelm,

* The Wick rocks, which border on this county.

408

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Compendium of County History-Somersetshire.

[May, Bishop of Sherborne, before 705); Hinton Charterhouse (founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, in 1227, finished building 1232); Ilchester (founded temp. Edward II.); Kew Stoke (founded by William de Courtenye, about 1210); Montacute (erected by the nephew of William I.); Portbury; Stavordale (founded temp. Henry III., now a farm-house and barn); Stoke Courcy (cell to the Abbey of Lonly in Normandy); Taunton (erected by William Giffard, Bishop of Winton, temp. Hen. 1.); Woodspring; and Yeanston. Nunneries of Nunney; Walton; and Whitehall (founded about 1226, by William Daius). Churches of ALLEN; ASHILL; Axbridge (on the tower of which are two statues, supposed to have been set up, under the Kings of Wessex); Barton David (the North doorway is composed of a fine Saxon arch); Bath, St. James's (a curious specimen of ancient architecture); Bath Easton; CADBURY, NORTH (built in 1427); CAMErton; CHEW MAGNA; Crewkerne; Dunster (built by Hen. VII. in gratitude for the inhabitants having assisted at the battle of Bosworth field *); GOATHURST; ILMINSTER; Keynsham; LANSDOWN; MARTOCK; NUNNEY; Taunton, St. Magdalen, and St. James; Walton (in ruins); Wincaunton; and Yeovil. Chapels of Burrough: Chard (an ancient Gothic building, now used as the Town Hall); Glastonbury (erected in 1246, by Abbot Michael); Hanging Chapel at Langport; Hardington; Hatrow; Hinton; Holloway (built by John Cantlow, prior of Bath from 1489 to 1495); Ilchester, 2 (upon the bridge, and at its foot, now dwelling-houses); Orchard (built by John Sydenham about 1490); Ranehill (dedicated to St. Ranus); Rowdon; Stoke-underHambden; and Widcombe (founded in the 12th century). Fonts of Beckington; Corfe (very ancient); East Camel (curiously decked with sculpture); and Pendomer. Stone Pulpit in Wells Cathedral (erected by Bishop Knight). Castles of BRIDGWATER; CADBURY (built by the Romans); Castle Cary (in which Charles II. sheltered himself after the battle of Worcester); Douseborough; Dunster (built by the Moions Earls of Somerset); Ilchester (built by the Romans); Inglishcombe (the seat of the GOURNAYS); Kenn; Montacute (built by the Earl of Moreton, brother of William I., on this spot there is now a tower 60 feet high); SOMERTON (built by the Kings of Wessex, no remains); Stoke-under-Hambden; Stowey; Taunton (built by King Ina, now in ruins); Trende; Turk's; Walton; and Wiveliscombe. Mansion of Combe Sydenham (the ancient seat of the Sydenhams). Caves at WOKEY (the most celebrated in the West of England).

GLASTONBURY Abbey is said to contain the bodies of Joseph of Aramathea ; King Edgar; and King Arthur. The body of Arthur was searched for by order of Henry II. when a leaden coffin was discovered with a Latin inscription in rude Gothic characters, which was thus translated: "Here lies the famous King Arthur, buried in the isle of Avalon." Beneath was found a coffin hollowed out of a solid rock, wherein were the bones of a human body supposed to have been those of Arthur, which were then deposited in the Church, and covered with a sumptuous monument.

In WELLS Cathedral lies the body of its founder, Ina King of Wessex.

PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE.

Rivers. Avon; Axe; Barl; Bey; Brent; Brew; Cale; Car; Chew; Dunsbrook; Ex; Frome; Ivel or Evil; Ordred; Parret ; SEVERN; Thone; Tor; Wessitire; and Yow.

Inland Navigation. Canal from Frome to Stalbridge (branches to Wells and Bradford); Avon river (through Bath to Bristol); Parret river (to Bristol, Bridgwater, and Langport); Tone river (from Frome to Bridgwater); Canal at the bottom of Hampton Down.

Lakes. Culbone; Camely brooks.

Eminences and Views. Ash Beacon (655 feet high); Blackdown (bordering on Devonshire); Bradley Knoll (973 feet high); Brendon-hills, near Quantock; Broadfield-down; Camalet Mount; Dundon-hill (360 feet high); Dundry

* Most of the Churches in this county exhibit fine specimens of the Florid Gothic; so prevalent in his reign; which makes it probable that they were re-built by order of that Prince, in gratitude for their attachment to his house.

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1823.] Compendium of County History-Somersetshire.

409

hill (700 feet high); Enmore-castle (a fine view of Mendip-hills); Helston round-hill (rises to a vast height above the bed of the river); HINTON ST. GEORGE; Lansdown-hill (513 feet high; the summit of this hill is attained by a steep ascent of 3 miles); Leighdown; Mendip-hills (extend from Frome on the East to Axbridge, and from Bedminster on the North to Glastonbury); Moorlinch (330 feet high); North-hill; Poultonhill; Prior Park; Quantock-hills (an extensive ridge which runs from East Quantoxhead, through a rich country, as far as the vale of Taunton; a fine view of the Welsh coast); Taunton; Thorney-down (610 feet high); and White-down. Natural Curiosities. Alford mineral spring; Ashill mineral spring; Castlecary mineral spring (resembling that at Epsom); BATH bitumen, nitre, and sulphur springs; Chard spring (conveyed by leaden-pipes to four conduits which supply the inhabitants with water); CHEDDER ROCKS (about a mile and a half long); Culbone; DUNKERRY MOUNTAIN (the base of which is 12 miles in circumference, rising 1770 feet above the level of the sea); Dundry hills (produce Cornua ammonis, and Echinis); East Chenock salt spring (20 miles from the sea); Enmore (the source of the river Ex); Glastonbury mineral spring (near the Chain-gate); Langport (the source of the river Parret); Mendip-hills (the source of the river Frome); Neroche forest; Nether Stowey spring (running from a hill above the Church, covers every thing it meets with a stony crust); Queen's Camel mineral spring; Selwood forest (beginning at Frome and extending near 15 miles); Vallis Rocks (near Frome); Wellington mineral springs; Wells mineral spring; WOKEY HOLE (the source of the river Axe).

Public Edifices. Avon river, stone bridge over from Keynsham to Gloucester, of 15 arches. BATH General Hospital, foundation stone laid July 6, 1738; Guildhall, foundation stone laid Feb. 11, 1768; in Queen's-square an obelisk 70 feet high, erected by Rich. Nash, Esq. Master of the Ceremonies, to the memory of Frederick Prince of Wales, who visited Bath in 1738; in a grove near the Abbey Church, since called Orange grove, an obelisk 30 feet high, to the memory of the Prince of Orange, who here recovered from a dangerous sickness; FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, founded by Edward VI. in 1553; King's Bath, handsome building; Parade; St. John's Hospital, built in 1728, by Mr. Wood the Architect, upon the site of an old hospital erected temp. Elizabeth; St. Catherine's Hospital, founded on the site of an ancient Alms-house, built by two sisters of the name of Bimberry; Bellott's Hospital, founded by Thomas Bellott, temp. Jac. I.; Casualty Hospital, founded by a few inhabitants in 1778; Puerperal Charity, established in 1792; Charity School, founded by Robert Melson in 1711; Bath West of England Society for the encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, &c. established 1777; Philosophical Society, established 1799. BRIDGEWATER FREE-SCHOOL, founded by Queen Elizabeth in 1561; Church, the spire the loftiest in the county; Town Hall; Bridge over the Parret, commenced by William de Briovere in the time of King John, and finished by Thomas Trivet, a nobleman of Cornwall. Bruton Cross; Free Grammar-school, founded by Edw. VI. Crewkerne Free Grammar-school, founded by Dr. Hody, temp. Edw. VI. Exford Charity-school, founded by Mr. Cox and Mrs. Musgrave. Frome Church, 150 feet long, and 54 broad, from the towers rises an octagonal spire, 120 feet high; Free School, founded by Edw. VI.; Almshouse for widows, erected by subscription in 1720. GLASTONBURY cross; St. Michael's tower or tor (where the last Abbot of Glastonbury was executed), stands on a high hill North-east of Glastonbury; Glastonbury pump-room, opened Aug. 12, 1753; Ilminster Free-school, founded by Edward VI. At Kilmington, 2 miles from the Church, is Alfred's Tower, erected by Hen. Hoare, Esq. of Stourhead; stone bridge. Langport Grammar-school, founded by Thomas Gillet in 1670. Martock Grammar-school, founded by William Strode in 1661. Mells Charity School. Shepton Mallet Church; Cross; Bridewell for the county; Almshouse founded 1699. Somerton Free-school; Almshouse. TAUNTON Free Grammar-school, founded temp. Hen. VII. by Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester; Almshouses, one founded by Robert Gray, Esq.; Hospital; Bridewell. Wellington hospital, founded by Lord Chief Justice Popham, temp. Jac. I. WELLS Charity-school, founded in 1714; Town GENT. MAG. May, 1823.

Hall,

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